Keller @ Large: Voters Linked To Washington Clown Show

BOSTON (CBS) - Even for a baby-boomer generation of political leaders known for their nastiness and incompetence, this week's display of partisan eye-gouging by both sides in Washington is quite the display.

As the most bitterly and, at times, unfairly reviled president since, well, the last president, I could sympathize with the frustration that drove President Obama on Wednesday to compare Congressional work habits unfavorably with those of his young daughters.

From his perspective, he inherited a terrible economy and crushing war debts when he took office, and both the Republicans and many of the Democrats who were part of the problem are all too eager to hang it on him.

On the other hand, I don't especially begrudge the opposition their sarcastic reaction to the president's finger-wagging, given his halting efforts to deal with the economy and escalation of our war burden.

And given this president's dubious propensity for leaving the dirty work of major policy, from health care to deficit reduction, up to Congress, his critics are understandably enraged at the sight of him lecturing them for not leading.

Quite frankly, the whole thing is giving me Excedrin headache number 19,909.

Listen to Jon's commentary:

But I can't let the moment pass without noting that the clown show in Washington is merely the bitter harvest of seeds we, the voters, have been sowing for years.

Every last one of us who receives a break or a benefit from government is convinced that however pressing our communal fiscal problems may be, they should be solved on someone else's back.

And just about every last politician we've sent to Washington in recent years has been elected on a promise to fight like a banshee for our perks and prerogatives, usually dressed up as "rights" and "justice."

So when they, at a moment of truth, dissolve in a fetid puddle of posturing, pandering, and fighting like banshees, who can truly be surprised?

It's all rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air, because that's the way we wanted it.

I just hope that somewhere in that mess, our flag is still there.

You can listen to Keller At Large on WBZ News Radio every weekday at 7:55 a.m. and 12:25 p.m. You can also watch Jon on WBZ-TV News.