Senator Mike Enzi, Republican member of Baucus' "bipartisan" team, celebrating his ability to delay and block reform of America's healthcare system:
This time, Enzi responded. "If I hadn't been involved in this process as long as I have and to the depth as I have, you would already have national health care," he said.
"Someone has to be at the table asking questions," Enzi said, showing a flash of passion.
He later quoted a favorite saying: "If you're not at the table, you're on the menu."
"It's not where I get them to compromise, it's what I get them to leave out," Enzi said.
Senator Mike Enzi's position among the top recipients of corporate PAC money, as compared to individual contributions from their own constituents (source: Nate Silver):
Number one. And by a wide margin -- three out of four of Enzi's campaign dollars since 2003 have come from corporate contributions.
You don't even have to know the names of the parties at this point. You can predict how a Senator will vote on any particular bill by checking who has paid them what.
I'm not sure how the true character of our Senate can be made any more clear.