July 21, 2008
HE IS WHO BARRY WANTS TO GROW UP TO BE:
From a heckler to a deal maker (David D. Kirkpatrick, July 21, 2008, NY Times)
McCain returned from the 2000 campaign with a new national reputation and a new political sophistication.Over the next eight years, he mastered the art of political triangulation — variously teaming up with Lott against the president or the new Republican leaders, with Democrats against Republicans, and with the president against the Democrats — to become perhaps the chamber's most influential member.
"He was looked upon as the magic ingredient in any legislative deal; the addition of John McCain was going to greatly improve its chances of success," said Ross K. Baker, a Rutgers University political scientist who studies the Senate.
Former Senator Tom Daschle, the Democratic leader until 2004, agreed. With the possible exception of the two party leaders, he said, "I can't think of many senators more influential." Daschle said that McCain's power easily surpassed that of Lott's successor as leader, Bill Frist, because many senators discounted Frist as the White House's agent.
And Harry Reid has done nothing. It's Maverick's chamber.
"And to the Republican leaders, he was a serial turncoat on other domestic matters, marching at the head of a Democratic column into fights over tax cuts, campaign finance restrictions, Alaskan oil drilling, access to generic drugs, gun-show sales, pollution caps, the 9/11 commission and the use of torture."
Hmmm! I sure hope he can dance like Mr. Bojangels.
Posted by: Genecis at July 21, 2008 3:54 PM