Good short article on Chuck Hegel, one of the few Republicans in the Senate not in thrall to the Orwellian Party Line.

TAP: Web Feature: Hagel vs. Cant. by Brendan Nyhan. March 8, 2002.

However, far too much partisanship these days consists of appeals to emotion or outright irrationalism. Ideologues on both sides assume every action of their opponent is taken in bad faith; viciously stereotype, caricature, and ridicule them; and try systematically to distort policy debates to their advantage. None of this is new, and much of it is inherent to politics. But it has become far more pervasive, and professionalized, in recent years.

That's why we need leaders on both sides of the aisle who can rise above the slash-and-burn partisan tactics that drag down our democracy. That's why we need more Chuck Hagels.