BAY BUCHANAN AND DONNA BRAZILE SHOW HOW TO DISAGREE AGREEABLY

Legislators from Alaska and other western states enjoyed hearing two great political commentators at the Council of State Governments West (CSG-W) breakfast program this morning in Anchorage: Republican Angela “Bay” Buchanan, and Democrat Donna Brazile. The friendly debate between the two national political activists, focused mainly our presumptive presidential nominees Barack Obama and John McCain. and how it might affect state politics.

I’ve met Bay Buchanan several times previously: first in California when she was Treasurer of the United States (and she autographed a dollar bill for me – legal for the Treasurer!), and later when she was directing her brother Patrick J. “Pat” Buchanan presidential campaigns.

I first met Pat Buchanan, Bay’s brother, in Corona, California when I was a candidate for US Congress in 1992 and we shared a campaign stage together (I came close to winning the congressional primary with an under-funded campaign. Unfortunately, “close” only counts in horseshoes and hands grenades). Later, in Alaska – before my election to the legislature - I drove Pat Buchanan (a very pleasant, knowledgeable fellow, with an outstanding sense of humor) all over Anchorage and the Matsu to presidential campaign events.

I hadn’t met Donna Brazile before. I liked her. She’s a very interesting and plain spoken lady from Louisiana. She was the first African-American to direct a major presidential campaign (Al Gore), and was instrumental in the successful campaign for the Martin Luther King Holiday. When asked about her preference for president in 2008, she delivered a great line, "Look, I'm a woman, so I like Hillary. I'm black, so I like Obama. But I'm also grumpy, so I like John McCain!”

Bay Buchanan and Donna Brazile demonstrated how well debaters from the far opposite ends of the political spectrum can disagree agreeably, keep their senses of humor, and work together. Perhaps Alaska Legislators can learn a lesson.