Redford laments "war zone" nature of Congress

[XanaDUer]

Although Robert Redford has been a regular crusader for progressive causes and candidates, he's pessimistic about how things operate on Capitol Hill nowadays.

“I just think it is really fruitless,” he tells Capitol File in its May/June issue, which hits newsstands April 19. “A Congress that should involve cooperation on behalf of the public interest is actually a war zone. We have two parties that should find some common ground or work together, and it is actually war. And if you lose, it all smacks of war that no matter what this side does, that side is going to attack. One side is only interested in winning the game, but I think their game is not about ideas, substance or representing people. And the other side is confused; it doesn’t know how to tell a story it’s already got. And they don't work together. I just think it’s hopeless, so to answer your question, I’m not getting involved. I believe in the power of grass roots to move the system, and I engage on that level to push bills and action, as well as at the committee level in Congress.”

Redford will be in town Sunday to screen his latest film, “The Conspirator,” the story of Mary Surratt, who was hung by the U.S. government for being a co-conspirator in Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. (Capitol File will host the movie’s after-party.)

http://www.politico.com/click/stories/1104/redford_congress_is_hopeless.html

[DCBob]

1. Unfortunately, I think Mr Redford is correct in his assesment.

Its not about ideas at all anymore.. its simply winning.. especially from the GOP side.

[Guilded Lilly]

2. Fruitless...great choice of word, Mr. Redford. So sadly,I agree.

There is no cause for celebration over the spectacle of last week and before.

They fail. Every time, they fail. Dense punks.

Until the political games and the buzzsaw mentality of We Win We Win Nya Nya Nya is ended by these achingly immature adults in Congress, it IS a War Zone. And WE are the war fodder.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. As the system now exists, it is impervious to negotation, mediation, and compromise.

It really IS war.