COOPERATION, BIPARTISANSHIP? IT CAN HAPPEN

As other writers -- Paul Greenberg of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette in Little Rock, for example -- have so ably written on these pages, the tone of political discourse has become strident and whiny. The polarization in Washington has oozed into state capitals in more instances than we care to count.

Since Republicans have had control of both houses of Congress, Democrats have made a career of sniping at every legislative effort of the majority party. Republicans also have become masters of hyperbole. Putting a spin on every twist and turn of government has become a way of life. Who knows, any more, what the real issues are?

Now there is another legislative monster rearing its head: a divided Senate and a House of Representatives with a much narrower GOP majority.

Not so curiously, Democrats have a plan. They want to share leadership, particularly in the Senate. Sen. Robert Torricelli of New Jersey has even proposed joint majority leaders and joint chairmen for all the Senate committees. Such an arrangement, he suggests, is only fair in light of the even split in Senate membership.

Two things need to be noted.

First, there is no even split in the Senate. Under one scenario, there will be 50 Republican senators and 50 Democratic senators, and the vice president will be Republican Dick Cheney, giving the GOP a tie-breaking vote. Under another scenario, the next vice president will be Joe Lieberman, who did not give up his Senate seat to become Al Gore's running mate. Had he done so, a Democrat would more than likely have succeeded him in a special election. But if Lieberman becomes vice president, his Senate vacancy will be filled by appointment -- by a Republican governor who is certain to name a GOP replacement. That would give the Senate 51 Republicans. Either way, the Republicans will be in charge come January.

Second, there weren't any Democrats suggesting any sharing arrangement when they were in the majority. It is unthinkable to consider such a proposal under any other circumstances, and the political facts simply don't warrant joint custody of the nation's most deliberative body.

But something Senator Torricelli said bears repeating: "Whether people like it or not, whether they want it or not, we're going to have to learn to get along, come up with bipartisan solutions."

To do so would be to return to the politics of compromise and cooperation on whatever is good for the country. Let's hope other senators share this same view.