Robert Novak: "The Senate Has Hardened..."



(image via cnn)

Our favorite punchy, three-piece suit wearing Dickensian villain, Robert Novak, waxes philosophical this time around:

"On Nov. 16, as Congress raced to adjourn for Thanksgiving, Senate Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin found time to sit down with Republican political activist C. Boyden Gray. It was unpleasant for Gray, who followed with what looked like a prearranged letter of apology to the senator. After that, Durbin was reported to have lifted the 'hold' blocking Gray's confirmation as U.S. ambassador to the European Union.

"That very day, Durbin engaged in public confrontation with Republican Sen. Ted Stevens, the Senate's president pro-tem. Durbin took the Senate floor to accuse Stevens of making it easier for oil executives to lie to Congress. When Stevens demanded an apology under the rules, Durbin refused on grounds the rules did not apply.

"I have been watching the Senate for nearly 49 years, and there once was a time when Durbin's busy Nov. 16 would have attracted attention. But it went virtually unnoticed. The Senate has hardened, and so has Dick Durbin."

Ka-Pow! A cautionary tale from the DC journo with the stiffest right cross in the city ...