When I became a page for the Ohio House of Reps back in the 70's...

[WCGreen]

I was shocked at how congenial everyone was.

I imagined this grand battle between the Republicans and the Democrats and that they never fraternized with each other. I had this West Side story vision of the political world.

When I got there, I saw them going to each others fund raisers, eating out together, going to their kids weddings.

They were operating out of the public eye.

Fast forward 15 years and I was running for a State Rep Seat. Things had changed. The full thrust of the Reagan years was to push much more government down to the state level. Suddenly, there was a whole bunch of money and power there. The battle lines had been drawn and the fraternizing was over.

The press was now covering the House more now that there was more at stake.

Just thought I would add that little observation to the mix.

[spanone]

1. k&r...

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Good observations...

K&R

[Ikonoklast]

3. For a moment there, I thought you were going to say Bob Taft hit on you.

[WCGreen]

9. He was so stiff...

Not a likable guy at all. There wasn't anything there as far as personality was concerned...

I remember Sherrod very well. He was only a year or two older than us and he was a lot of fun to hang with.

The thing is he remembered me years later when I was the treasure of the Party here in Cuyahoga County. He took me and Jimmy Dimora to a Cavs game back in 94 when he was running to get back into politics by running for the House. We had a great time.

I drove the speaker around a lot, stayed late just because I wanted to be one of them so bad I could taste it.

[Ikonoklast]

10. Sherrod Brown is the Real Deal. Like him mucho.

Met him on several occasions, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Colman Club (Old St. Colman Parishioners) I'd really like to see him get more national exposure.

I wish we had another Senator, just like him.


I heard Bob Taft was actually made from a very dense type of wood.

[BrendaBrick]

4. Appreciate your personal experience/perspective

I think one of the things that I am learning to appreciate so much here at DU is not only the wealth of information shared but also the vast array of wisdom and perspective which only comes with age and reflection!

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. and Barry Goldwater's closest friend in the Senate was George McGovern - but that was before the

whole post-Reaganites took control lead by people like Newt Gingrich who believed that they were at war against the anti-American counterculture.

[jaysunb]

6. I saw the same thing in Texas...of all places.

Every night of the Legislative session there are multiple receptions -as they're called- given by different interest groups. These affairs are chocked w/ food booze and general camaraderie.

I saw much horse trading and many compromises made at the events and never once an ill word spoken between the different parties.

That was 30 years ago and the Governor was a Democrat ( Mark White ) Ann Richards was everybody's "gal" as State Treasurer. :shrug: I often wonder what it's like now w/ Republican ideologues running the show.

[KittyWampus]

7. My family owned a bar where many local politicians hung out back in the day- Republican and Democrat

They all got along together even though they slung words in the local papers.

I also noticed that a lot of stuff was hammered out before the public even knew about certain stuff- jobs, properties, businesses.

The first observation does seem to be antiquated, though I think most Democrats TRY to be congenial.

The second observation is surely still operative.

I'd say there's a much more "winner take all"attitude amongst Republicans now. They seem to believe that total capitulation is a good idea in politics.

[WCGreen]

8. the speaker always had a drink with the minority leader every night

while they were in session...