Look at each other, will ya? A headline in today’s Washington Post reads, “Reid-McConnell clash latest evidence that genteel Senate has turned into a fight club.” It tells the tale of
how the formerly “chummiest club in America” has turned into a chamber where everyone is carrying at least a verbal club. The latest evidence being Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Utah) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) who, last week, traded personal barbs about each other’s (lack of) leadership and integrity.
Now, in the Senate to question a Member’s integrity is a slap in the face, worthy of settling in a duel. Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested a shoot-out because it will become #mcconnellreidshoot’emup and will start “trending” on Twitter which means there could be a demand for it to happen. Then it would be promoted with a Facebook page and pay-per-view for $29.95. Sarah Palin will be the color analyst and Al Sharpton will whoop and holler on CNN or Fox or MSNBC or whoever has the fatter wallet.
There is another solution, of course, but the word “comity” doesn’t exist in the Senate anymore. To the late Ted Kennedy or the retired Howard Baker or the still-being-funny-and-wise-after-all-these-years Bob Dole … I quote Paul Simon, "where have you gone?" Is there no one in the Senate who can stand up and say, “knock it off, boys, we’ve got work to do?”
Sadly, I can’t think of anyone. If you can, please let me know. Sadly, too, with the way the Senate has gone, it doesn't seem that our best and brightest are aspiring to serve, so the future isn't looking brighter.
Former Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), who served 24 years in the Senate, is quoted in the Post story saying, “I miss it like an abscessed tooth.”
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is quoted as saying, “The only way you get something is to become obnoxious ... We have turned from a Senate to a theater, and I’m tired of being part of a theater. If I wanted to be part of a theater, I would have gone to New York.”
Problem is, a lot of us are wishing we could tell you all where to go because the comity has turned in a comedy – and it’s not funny.
how the formerly “chummiest club in America” has turned into a chamber where everyone is carrying at least a verbal club. The latest evidence being Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Utah) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) who, last week, traded personal barbs about each other’s (lack of) leadership and integrity.
Now, in the Senate to question a Member’s integrity is a slap in the face, worthy of settling in a duel. Maybe I shouldn’t have suggested a shoot-out because it will become #mcconnellreidshoot’emup and will start “trending” on Twitter which means there could be a demand for it to happen. Then it would be promoted with a Facebook page and pay-per-view for $29.95. Sarah Palin will be the color analyst and Al Sharpton will whoop and holler on CNN or Fox or MSNBC or whoever has the fatter wallet.
There is another solution, of course, but the word “comity” doesn’t exist in the Senate anymore. To the late Ted Kennedy or the retired Howard Baker or the still-being-funny-and-wise-after-all-these-years Bob Dole … I quote Paul Simon, "where have you gone?" Is there no one in the Senate who can stand up and say, “knock it off, boys, we’ve got work to do?”
Sadly, I can’t think of anyone. If you can, please let me know. Sadly, too, with the way the Senate has gone, it doesn't seem that our best and brightest are aspiring to serve, so the future isn't looking brighter.
Former Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.), who served 24 years in the Senate, is quoted in the Post story saying, “I miss it like an abscessed tooth.”
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is quoted as saying, “The only way you get something is to become obnoxious ... We have turned from a Senate to a theater, and I’m tired of being part of a theater. If I wanted to be part of a theater, I would have gone to New York.”
Problem is, a lot of us are wishing we could tell you all where to go because the comity has turned in a comedy – and it’s not funny.
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