The New Tone in DC...

Remember how the Democrats were going to set a new tone in Washington in 2008? They were going to increase the levels of civility, reach across the aisle, etc., and forgo the politics-as-usual that had been poisoning the air in the eight years of evil George W. Bushhitler's iron reign. Something like that. I remember a lot of talk about unicorns, rainbows, and free mortgages...

Here's your civility:

Where they dine on sushi and dish on politics

Mass. delegation comes together over Chinese

WASHINGTON — Near the Library of Congress, just a couple of blocks from the grandeur of the US Capitol, the well-worn Chinese restaurant sits between a bank ATM and a deli that doubles as a liquor store. Far removed from the typical Washington power spots, this is where the Massachusetts congressional delegation convenes its private powwows, around a table adorned with plastic flowers.

The Bay State’s delegation has met for years in the Hunan Dynasty’s back room to hash out legislative and political strategy, debate foreign conflicts and social programs, and simply to catch up — all while dining, family-style, on General Tso’s chicken, sushi, and vegetable platters.

Sounds all well and good, right? What could be wrong with the representatives from a state all gathering in one place to discuss the challenges facing them? Well, for one:

Now this exclusive little club faces a new wrinkle, presented in the form of the delegation’s newest member, Scott Brown. The all-Democratic delegation hasn’t had a Republican in 13 years, so the newly elected GOP senator brings a potentially disruptive dynamic to the cozy gatherings, which take place several times a year.

So far, Brown appears to have been left in the dark.

“I haven’t heard of it,’’ Brown said of the Hunan and its back room.

Nice.

Once again, the imagination is left to imagine how this story would have been written had the parties been reversed. Racism! They'd cry. Sexism! Elitism! Partisan politics! Those evil Rethuglicans want to squelch opposition and silence contrary voices! They exclude input from those who think differently than them! Idealogues! Zealots! H8RZ!!!

And it gets better:

The last two Republicans from Massachusetts — Peter Blute and Peter Torkildsen — said they had never been invited to any delegation dinners when they were in Washington in the mid-1990s. “I’ve heard of them, but I was never invited,’’ said Blute, who said he would dine with other lawmakers at the Capital Grille, which offers personalized wine lockers.

So, basically, it's a long-standing tradition of excluding GOP party members. Nice. Great tone, MA pols. Way to reach across the aisle and show that petty partisan politics can be overcome by a common goal of superior representation for your state.

I'm so glad the election of Øbama changed the tone in DC, aren't you?

That is all.