Senator Moynihan has Passed

The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare.
-- (as quoted in NY Times, Mar 2, 1976)

 

This is so sad.

Not a Moynihan quote, but Peter Jennings just said he'd been called "the best thinker who was a politician since Lincoln and the best politician who was a thinker since Jefferson."

 

I remember seeing an interview with him (Russert, I think) back during the impeachment deal. He was by far the single-most objective politician I've ever seen, just based off that one interview. I couldn't believe it.

 

Why not?

 

He was not objective about the Clinton impeachment. In fact, he lied to his constituents.

Moynihan told Russert that if Clinton were impeached, and if Clinton was proven to have lied to the American public in the famous finger waving speech, that Moynihan would vote to convict. Moynihan did not keep his word.

That issue aside, I think Moynihan represented his New York constituents very well. I am sure that he will be remembered in New York as a loyal public servant who cared about his state deeply. RIP.

 

Have you ever heard a politician be objective?

 

Sure. John McCain comes to mind.

 

Eh, he's okay I guess. I was just really impressed by the interview.