Yet none of this seems to detract from his reputation as the straight-shooting wise man of the Senate. And so Moynihan and Kerrey's take on Social Security must be more creditable than that of the 40-odd Senate Democrats who disagree with them. But this romance for antiparty mavericks goes beyond shoddy political analysis. Moynihan and Kerrey appeal to many Washington political reporters' disdain for politics. They subscribe to a sort of centrism that is less ideology than an expression of disdain and contempt for the messiness of politics and ideology in general.
Partisanship often gets a bad rap today.
A willingness to criticize one's party when it deserves criticism may be a hallmark of statesmanship. But a propensity to do so, especially with an erratic political compass, is often a sign of querulousness and self-indulgence, jealousy and pique. The high marks Moynihan and Kerrey receive from the national press are less a matter of respect for politics than an alienation from it. The current debate over Social Security reform is terribly important. But Moynihan and Kerrey have precious little to add.