PERSPECTIVE FROM THE 19^TH HOLE: This is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus use an image from my favorite sport, golf. Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all of my professional positions, including as a Congressional press secretary in Washington, D.C., an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and a private sector lobbyist. This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.

On many of my trips down by blog lane, I have bemoaned the lost art of political compromise.

I often have called it the lost art of finding the “smart middle” in political discourse and policy-making. Those on both sides would rather criticize each other, often in crude terms, than find areas of agreement.

So it was this morning that I read a piece by former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker, who served under President George W. Bush, in which he lauded the late Senator John McCain for his ability “reach across the aisle” and find compromise.

For me, there is no better way to underline the goals of the smart middle than to quote excerpts of Baker’s excellent commentary.

• “The death of Sen. John McCain is not just a moment to commemorate the life of an extraordinary man; it is an occasion to reflect on his principles. McCain was a hero and patriot, but he also was a politician who understood the importance of compromise. A staunch Republican, he nonetheless was able to reach across the aisle when he thought the interests of the American people demanded it. “
• “Few lawmakers today follow McCain’s example of compromise. Whatever one party proposes, the other opposes reflexively. When a legislator attempts to bridge the gap, his constituents often consider it a betrayal. No wonder so much of the public’s business is left undone. Government has become incapable of tackling critical issues. Instead, the parties ping-pong blame back and forth depending on which side is in power.
• “In my 88 years, I have never witnessed a problem as vexing as the continuing deterioration of America’s political dialogue. Although other threats during my lifetime have jeopardized our security—five hot wars and a cold one, the Great Depression and the Great Recession—Americans conquered them by working together rather than against one another.”
• “Sadly, however, civility, compromise and respect for the political center are being replaced with vicious language, pernicious partisanship and crippling polarization. The problems recur at every level of our political system, as our once firm center has given way to a destructive hyper-partisanship.”
• “In addition to this dislike for each other, distrust of politicians and institutions also has grown. Rather than address the real problems of the day, Americans and our representatives spend time blaming one another for our ills—both real and perceived.
• “There have always been partisan political fights in this country—that’s part of the democratic debate that has helped the American experiment work so well. But in the past leaders demonstrated common civility toward each other to reach the elusive center in governance. Doing so required each side to take positions that both could accept.”
• “In a statement publicized after his death, McCain stressed that Americans should take time to listen to one another, because brokering solutions requires measured collaboration, not torrents of outrage.”

Baker concluded by writing that, while there many causes behind this partisan divide, if it is left unaddressed, the void “threatens to undermine our democracy. “

Well said. Where are the James Baker types when we need them?