Can Politicians Hold to Principle without Brutalizing Each Other?

Politicians say they’re willing to compromise — as long as they’re not forced to compromise their principles. As caveats go, this one has been known to lead to more rancor and roadblocks than most. It also leads to more nastiness than voters usually appreciate.

DFLer Roger Moe and Republican Steve Sviggum, two of Minnesota’s legendary legislators, talk about how men and women in public life can remain philosophically true to themselves and find solutions to critical issues while staying clear of besmirching their colleagues’ intelligence, intentions, patriotism, good looks, and family trees.