I don't number myself "among those so deluded to accept that the Democrats were less corrupted by power than the Republicans", John. It seems there has always been evidence that sleaze is not exclusive to any one party.
Lincoln said, "You can't dip clear water from a muddy stream." and with that in my mind I find it a bit sad that Daschle got shot down for living the kind of life that a lot of Washington insiders aspire to after public service. He is a sleazeball but one who probably had the juice to effect some positive change in our pathetic health care system. When I go shopping for home protection I'd probably go with the rottweiller with a checkered past over the lhasa apso with the shiny coat.