Helen Dewar writes up Daschles waning moments in the Senate on page A4 of Saturday's Washington Post. In "In Farewell, Daschle Puts Emphasis on Cooperation", she writes thusly:

With few Republicans in attendance, Senate Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle bade an emotional farewell to the Senate yesterday, urging his colleagues of the past 18 years to find a new "common ground" for cooperation.

The South Dakota Democrat was greeted by a long standing ovation at the end of his speech, including applause from galleries filled by his family and staff. He also was hugged by most of his Democratic colleagues in an outpouring of personal feelings rarely seen on the Senate floor.

Only two Republicans -- Sens. Lamar Alexander (Tenn.) and Peter Fitzgerald (Ill.) -- were in their seats for most of Daschle's speech, although they were later joined by several others, including Majority Whip Mitch McConnell (Ky.). Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) presided over the Senate during Daschle's speech.

Although he did not come into the chamber until after Daschle finished speaking, Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), who had campaigned for Daschle's successful Republican challenger, John R. Thune, effusively praised his departing colleague as a man of "integrity" and "true grace."

Call me old-fashioned or just a sentimentalist, but wasn't there a time in American politics when members of the opposing party would show courtesy to a retiring member of the Senate? Wasn't there a code that stated that partisan differences ended with the vote and politicians could have dinner with their colleagues across the aisle later that night?

Republicans ought to be ashamed of themselves for letting pride get in the way of what's right. They should have honored Tom Daschle. This is not a political issue--it's a morals issue, and today the GOP proved that its sense of morality is completely out of whack.