I enjoy serious discussion and once found it in political debate, serious consideration of issues about which there was substantive disagreement. 

I remember, as a kid, listening to an exchange between Sen. Ed Muskie and my grandfather, who was the midcoast representative in the Maine Legislature. 

Muskie had come out to the island (Vinalhaven) for some occasion, Fourth of July maybe. During an interlude, Gramp, a Republican, and Muskie, a Democrat, found themselves on opposite sides of an issue.  The consideration given to listening, one to the other, was real and I was impressed to think that this great man was only one of many who, representing millions of constituent Americans, made up a deliberative Congress. 

Later, I listened to a spirited exchange between President Reagan and Speaker Tip O’Neill. As Chris Matthews once noted, they didn’t argue, they talked, and it nourished my naïve assumption that Americans were being, and would always be  well-served because varied interests were being given consideration by deliberative people. 

I enjoy hearing all about an issue; why wouldn’t I? I always come away with a greater understanding.  It’s much more profitable than intransigence. So when the House Republicans, given the opportunity to comment, to perhaps voice an opposing view after President Biden’s recent news conference, could think of nothing but to mindlessly characterize a photograph of him exiting the stage as the portrait of a loser, I longed for the days when I could expect to hear something worth listening to from either party.

Phil Crossman
Vinalhaven

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