In a recent article, Scott Bauer of the Associated Press dredged up some words spoken by state Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) on the floor of the the GOP-controlled Assembly in March 2008, as a legislative session dragged on until 4 a.m.
"This is unprofessional. This is stupid," declared Sherman, in a roiling boil. "What the hell are we doing?"
In an audio clip of this rant, available here as an MP3 (radio talk-show hosts, start your search engines), Sherman also comments that the room is full of people who "aren't in good health anymore and can't think their way out of a paper frickin' bag."
Now the Democrats are in charge, and Sherman serves on the budget-writing committee that's done much of its work in sessions that drag into the early morning, including one that went until 6 a.m. This is done purposely, to shield the committee's actions from public view. (This moved local songsmith Peter Leidy to a hilarious remake of "Behind Closed Doors" on public television's Here and Now.)
What does Sherman think of this tawdry practice now? Bauer didn't ask, but we did. The inquiry was fielded by an aide, who promised an answer that never arrived. What, really, can the man say? "I'm a frickin' hypocrite"?