Mitchell: People always unhappy with Congress> Senator slips up, refers to Dole as majority leader

WASHINGTON — If retiring Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell’s Freudian slip is a sign, Senate Democrats are in trouble.

Speaking of Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole at a National Press Club luncheon Thursday, Mitchell said, “I will say that I think he’s done a very good job as minority leader, and I expect him to continue to do that good job as majority — minority — leader for many years to come.”

For weeks now, Dole has made cracks about his chances of becoming majority leader after next month’s elections, when Republicans expect substantial gains. The Republicans need to gain seven Senate seats to become the majority party in that chamber.

At a tribute to Mitchell on Wednesday night, Dole said he had been confused when his schedule said he was going to a dinner for the majority leader — he thought for a second the dinner was for him.

Mitchell, who retires at the end of this session after 14 years in the Senate, spoke at length at Thursday’s luncheon about lawmakers on the other side of the aisle — expressing his frustration with an increasing number of filibusters and delay tactics on the Senate floor.

He said he could understand why Americans get fed up with Congress. But he also said they always have.

“There never was a time in American history when the legislature was a beloved or revered institution. Americans have always been skeptical about government,” said the 61-year-old Maine Democrat. “That flowed naturally from ours being the first truly egalitarian society.”

“What is new, I think,” he added later, “is that skepticism has become cynicism and the intensity of mistrust has reached unprecedented levels.”

Part of the problem is the changing culture, where campaigns are ruled by short television commercials and the emphasis is on negatives, he said.

“What do political campaigns largely consist of in most states? One candidate says the other’s a bum, and the other replies that this candidate’s a crook,” Mitchell said. “And so millions of dollars are spent to persuade people that the candidates are bums and crooks. We shouldn’t be surprised if people begin to believe it.”

Mitchell said he believes the Senate gets bogged down because of two unique features: Debate is unlimited and any amendment — regardless of its pertinence — can be tacked onto any bill.

“For example, right now, it is possible for a bill, a single bill, to be filibustered six times, six different times, between its taking up in the Senate and its passage,” he said. “Now, we really don’t need to have six obstacles like that in the way of a bill. In my judgment, two is plenty.”