`The Godfather' Fails to Play in U.S. Senate (ANWR): Andrew Ferguson

Andrew Ferguson is a columnist for Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.
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`The Godfather' Fails to Play in U.S. Senate (ANWR): Andrew Ferguson

Dec. 28 (Bloomberg) -- Has anyone who has watched the scene ever forgotten it: the distilled essence of cold-hearted villainy, the icy detachment of self-interested men unbound by conventional morality?

No, I'm not talking about the late-night session of the U.S. Senate on the evening of Dec. 21. I mean the summit meeting held by the heads of the Five Families of organized crime in the film ``The Godfather.''

The great men are trying to make peace. But first there are complaints that must be aired.

" ``We're all grateful to Don Corleone for calling this meeting,'' says Don Barzini, oozing insincerity. ``We all know him as a man of his word, a modest man. He'll always listen to reason.''

``Yes,'' says Don Tattaglia. ``He's too modest. He had all the judges and politicians in his pocket. He refused to share them.''

Don Corleone, the head of the most powerful of the Five Families, is clearly hurt at this suggestion of selfishness.

``When? When did I ever refuse an accommodation?'' he asks, hand to heart. ``All of you know me here. When did I ever refuse?'' "<snip>


And just in case the logic of his argument had eluded his colleagues -- unlikely, of course -- Stevens invoked the time- honored, if unspoken, code of the Senate, mouthing these deathless lines:

``I ask any one of you, has anyone ever come to me as chairman of appropriations or any other function and told me that you need help for your state, that I have turned you down? I am not a fair-weather friend. I have not turned down one person on that side of the aisle in my life without trying to help.'' <snip>

But, it hits the nail squarely on the head.