National political roundup, with Mickey Edwards & Bob Edgar

Hour 1

For 17 years, the Pew Research Center has been polling the American public about whether they think their representatives in Washington are cooperating and working together on their behalf, or if they are stuck in unproductive partisan pettiness. And at no time since 1993 – including the Iraq war, the Lewinsky scandal and the impeachment proceedings of President Bill Clinton – have more people responded that Washington is broken and stuck in partisan squabbling – a full 77 percent said they think Democrats and Republicans are unwilling to reach across the aisle. And yet both of the last two presidents arrived in Washington pledging to “change the tone” and promote bipartisanship. What is the state of the middle of the American political spectrum? And what role will moderates play in the upcoming mid-term elections? On today’s Radio Times, Marty will talk to MICKEY EDWARDS, a Republican Congressman from Oklahoma for 16 years; and BOB EDGAR, who represented Pennsylvania’s Delaware County for 12 years as a Democrat, and today leads the watchdog group Common Cause. Together, they’re part of “Former Members of Congress for Common Ground.” a group of former representatives calling for moderation in the hyperpartisan political speech of their successors in Washington.

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[audio: 100810_100630.mp3]