Political Pundit Shares an Insider's Look at the Hill

When the Democrats earned a Congressional majority after the 2006 election, they promised cooperation and a “let’s work together” attitude. That, however, hasn’t been the case, as the change in power has perpetuated an already polarized political environment, said Morton Kondrake, a journalist who's worked in Washington for 38 years.

“If you think your landscape is messy, you should be around here,” he joked during his keynote speech at the Professional Landcare Network’s Legislative Day on the Hill event this week. Kondrake discussed the current state of American politics, which he calls a “totally polarized environment.” 

Since the Democrats took power, Congress has only passed one substantial piece of legislation: the minimum wage hike, Kondrake says. He called the federal government’s failure to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill “the biggest flop of the year” and pointed to children’s health care and Iraq as other crucial issues that aren’t being resolved as a result of partisan politics. “We’re stuck in a place where we’re unable to solve some of the biggest problems,” he said.

While Kondrake hit on important issues that lawn care, landscape and tree care contractors can identify with, he also weaved jokes and lighthearted anecdotes into his commentary. When discussing the many groups that have a vested interest in polarization and political warfare (political consultants and Washington journalists, to name two), he said the motto of Washington journalism is “If you can’t say something nice about someone, let’s hear it.”

Kondrake also offered an outlook of the 2008 presidential election, as campaigns are already in full swing. “I thought ’08 would offer some hope, but that’s already fading,” he said, adding that the primary race is polarizing candidates even more, causing them to pander to each party’s base. 

On the left, for example, both Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and former first lady Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York recently voted against troop funding, which they said they’d never do. And on the right, once pro-choice Mitt Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, is now pro-life. 

Nevertheless, Kondrake predicts it will be Clinton vs. Romney or Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee after next spring.

Though likeable and full of hope, Obama’s demise will come because “the president is not an entry-level job,” Kondrake said, quoting a colleague. As for the downfall of Republican front-runners, Kondrake points to Sen. John McCain’s recent campaign struggles and steadfast support of immigration and Iraq and to Rudy Giuliani’s more liberal stances on gun control, abortion and gay rights that will alienate the Republican base.

And if it comes down to Clinton vs. any Republican, Kondrake hints that Clinton will win. “The country is in a mood for change,” he said, pointing to a quote from actress Mae West, off all people. She once said, “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” To that Kondrake added, “Or the one I haven’t tried in a while,” meaning a Democrat.

Kondrake didn’t express his thoughts on an independent bid from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg until prompted from the crowd. “Bloomberg is not a fool,” Kondrake said. “He wouldn’t run if he couldn’t win.”

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