The two dysfunctional institutions

Two excerpts from Congressman Obey's retirement letter that struck a nerve:
All I do know is that there has to be more to life than explaining the ridiculous, accountability destroying rules of the Senate to confused, angry, and frustrated constituents.

I am also increasingly weary of having to deal with a press which has become increasingly focused on trivia, driven at least in part by the financial collapse of the news industry and the need, with the 24-hour news cycle, to fill the air waves with hot air.
This is a successful Congressman who is proud both of his wins (stimulus, healthcare reform) and of his losses (budget alternative to Reagan's tax cuts). He has good things to say about his constituents, his staff, his colleagues in the House and the President.

It's the Senate and the press that Obey dings as being dysfunctional.

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