re: #514 BryanS

Gingrich by comparison was as partisan and as much of a lightening rod. He had marshaled a lot of legislation through the House that passed the Senate with many fewer Republicans than there are Democrats today.

Agreed, but it must be said that both parties were of more of a mind to deal at that time (though the government shutdown of 1994-95 was a major collision that Gingrich got worsted in). With the GOP controlling Congress and Bill Clinton in the White House, cooperation was required to do anything. Moreover, the Senate Dems still had a party leader (Clinton) who was an officeholder and had an interest in getting things done. Today, much of the effective leadership of the Republican party is made up of media personalities, who are less interested in results than ratings.