Wanted: Statesmanship in Legislature

How much the 2005 Legislature gets accomplished could depend greatly on the ability of Democrats, who control the Assembly, and Republicans, who control the Senate, to get along.

That's always the case, but many wonder if the acrimonious 2003 sessions and December's impeachment trial of Controller Kathy Augustine have created a partisan barrier higher than ever.

A recent article by Associated Press writer Kathleen Hennessey explored that topic with veteran lawmakers such as Sen. Randolph Townsend, who fears things may never be the same.

We hope that's not true, as we're sure Townsend does. There can be sharp disagreements over policy and politics, but we like to think Nevada's leaders are capable of rising above the fray to accomplish in principle the best for the state's residents.

Two years ago, the words heard most often - as being in short supply, anyway - were civility and statesmanship.

We'd like to offer Nevada lawmakers a few famous quotes to ponder and perhaps apply in their dealings in the coming months so that, agree or disagree, they may retain at least a modicum of respect from the constituency of this state.

Hubert Humphrey: "The essence of statesmanship is not a rigid adherence to the past, but a prudent and probing concern for the future."

Edmund Burke: "A disposition to preserve, and an ability to improve, taken together, would by my standard of a statesman."

Charles-Maurice de Talleyrand: "The art of statesmanship is to foresee the inevitable and to expedite its occurrence."

Eric Hoffer: "The better part of statesmanship might be to know clearly and precisely what not to do."

And finally, from a writer who may have learned much about what not to do by watching the early days of the Nevada Legislature, Mark Twain: "Do the right thing. It will gratify some people and astonish the rest."

Legislators, please astonish us.