In an interview with the Valley News, John Campbell made it official: he’ll run for re-election to the State Senate and seek another term as its President Pro Tem. And in the process, he delivered a nice little condescending pat on the head to certain freshman Senators (viz.  Galbraith, Benning, and Baruth) who, apparently, were responsible for the Senate’s dysfunction this year:

“I know there was some frustration on the part of some of the freshmen in thinking the power was isolated with the committee chairs, but what I was trying to explain to them is there is a thing called seniority and experience, and just as in anything, you have to put in your time and learn the ins and outs of the institution before you want to run the thing.”

(Linknote: The Valley News’ website is a quirky thing. As of right now you can find the story here, but that may change later on.

Now, now, boys! You just sit quietly in the corner and play with your toys, and maybe if you’re still around in eight or ten years we’ll let you join the adults.

Christ on a cracker, what condescension. This, coming from the guy who got into an argument with a colleague and called him a “horse’s ass” within hearing range of a reporter. Yes, he’s the one to turn to for questions of legislative etiquette.

Truth is, the Senate’s old lions are accustomed to doing things their way, and when someone new comes along they don’t like it. From what I read of this session, the Senate could use more new faces and new ideas, and less of the same old same old.