Just as Forbes accused Dole of playing sneaky Washington politics in 1996, Bradley now castigates Gore for resorting to the typical Washington politics of slash and burn.
Slimy politicians are the norm in Washington. 
mnli hypothesis: Slimy politicians are the norm in Washington.  premise: Just as Forbes accused Dole of playing sneaky Washington politics in 1996, Bradley now castigates Gore for resorting to the typical Washington politics of slash and burn.