Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumSenate 'Fire Department' seeks to ease partisan rancor
Source: Reuters
Senate 'Fire Department' seeks to ease partisan rancor
By Donna Smith
WASHINGTON | Thu May 24, 2012 7:01am EDT
(Reuters) - Call it a humble effort to douse the flames of dysfunction and paralysis in the U.S. Senate.
Frustrated by an inability to get much done amid the partisan rancor in what has been called "the world's greatest deliberative body," two senators - Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Mark Warner - have decided to quietly reach across the political divide.
They helped pull together a loosely organized group of senators - dubbed the "Volunteer Fire Department" by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham - to have private dinners and try to build relationships to help quell conflicts.
"The idea is basically this: When the Senate runs off the track, when there's a fire, when there's a problem, somebody rings the bell and everybody who can shows up to try to fix it," Alexander told Reuters. "Then we all go back to our usual role."
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
By Donna Smith
WASHINGTON | Thu May 24, 2012 7:01am EDT
(Reuters) - Call it a humble effort to douse the flames of dysfunction and paralysis in the U.S. Senate.
Frustrated by an inability to get much done amid the partisan rancor in what has been called "the world's greatest deliberative body," two senators - Republican Lamar Alexander and Democrat Mark Warner - have decided to quietly reach across the political divide.
They helped pull together a loosely organized group of senators - dubbed the "Volunteer Fire Department" by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham - to have private dinners and try to build relationships to help quell conflicts.
"The idea is basically this: When the Senate runs off the track, when there's a fire, when there's a problem, somebody rings the bell and everybody who can shows up to try to fix it," Alexander told Reuters. "Then we all go back to our usual role."
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/24/us-usa-senate-dinners-idUSBRE84N06J20120524
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
7 replies, 1796 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (0)
ReplyReply to this post
7 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Senate 'Fire Department' seeks to ease partisan rancor (Original Post)
Eugene
May 2012
OP
In other words, we will get Democrats to capitulate to every Republican demand,
denverbill
May 2012
#2
The GOP thinks bipartisanship means "vote our way or we stop the government from functioning".
Arkana
May 2012
#6
"Then we all go back to our usual role." Hmm. Most Volunteer firefighters don't SET the fires.
yellowcanine
May 2012
#7
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,454 posts)1. What nonsense
What are they? A bunch of kids? They just need to do their jobs, plain and simple IMHO
denverbill
(11,489 posts)2. In other words, we will get Democrats to capitulate to every Republican demand,
while they give up nothing.
How bipartisan that will be.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,454 posts)4. Ah yes
The Richard Mourdock definition of "bipartisanship"
Arkana
(24,347 posts)3. Jesus Christ, NONE of this crap is going to work.
All of these guys need to get off their high horses and realize that they're not above any of it. Their job isn't to end the fight. It's to fucking WIN IT.
Proud Liberal Dem
(24,454 posts)5. The time for "winning and losing"
is during campaigns. Once the elections have been concluded its time for our leaders to put aside their squabbles and do what is in the best interest of the country IMHO.
Arkana
(24,347 posts)6. The GOP thinks bipartisanship means "vote our way or we stop the government from functioning".
There is no making nice with a group of people who think this way.
yellowcanine
(35,704 posts)7. "Then we all go back to our usual role." Hmm. Most Volunteer firefighters don't SET the fires.