Was Congress Ever Civil?   

   Several times during the Judge Kavanaugh 
hearings, someone in the audience began 
screaming, interrupting the judiciary committee 
until security ushered out the protester. 

   No one gets a "ticket" to that room without approval from a senator. Therefore, one or more Democratic senators promoted incivility without appearing to initiate it.  

   But it was obvious. Their questions to the candidate sometimes were more scolding than scholarly. Even liberal Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was approved by most GOP senators in 1993, denounced the charade.  

   Senate rules allow members one week to submit written questions to be answered by the nominee, on top of the many questions they asked in the hearings. Dems submitted 1,278 questions, more than all previous nominees in our history, combined. Presumably Judge Kavanaugh has until the committee votes next Thursday to answer their "questions." (This is our esteemed U.S.Senate.)  

   Was Congress ever mild mannered? Possibly, it was boring throughout decades when Dems held majorities and Republicans were content to play second fiddle...and before television gave members the opportunity to act out. 

   During the years before Civil War, Congress was sometimes violent, writes Joanne Freeman in The Field of Blood, because the nation was violent. There were riots in cities over immigration, and fighting on the frontier. The system of slavery was grounded in violence.

   Freeman uncovered about 70 violent incidents in Congress leading up to the war. Often, they featured a Southerner trying to intimidate a Northerner into compliance. 

   There were duel challenges, shoving and pulling guns and knives. In 1858 an argument turned into a mass brawl in the House...South vs. North. 

   Some men were elected because they played rough. Their constituents sent them to Washington to defend their interests with gusto. 

   This atmosphere helped push the country toward war. The press played up the fighting, creating an endless loop of anger. (Sound familiar?) 

   The Smithsonian magazine article says "This wasn't just about goofy guys in Washington - what goes on in Congress reflects the state of the nation."

       Jimmy