For Illinois senators, an odd public friendship

[Judi Lynn]

Dec 20, 1:07 AM EST

For Illinois senators, an odd public friendship

By SARA BURNETT
Associated Press

CHICAGO (AP) -- On Capitol Hill, where the partisan divide runs so deep it has shut down the government, it can be unusual for members of opposing parties to publicly join together for much of anything - much less birthday cake.

Yet there was Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, surprising Republican Sen. Mark Kirk with a sheet cake and a round of "Happy Birthday" following one of the breakfasts they regularly hold for constituents visiting Washington.

"I wanted to get one of those Annapolis sabers for you to cut the cake," Durbin told his fellow senator from Illinois, a former officer in the Naval Reserve.

Kirk smiled and quietly noted the significance of the milestone.

"I made it to 54."

More:
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_ILLINOIS_SENATORS_UNLIKELY_FRIENDSHIP?SECTION=HOME&SITE=AP&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Arkana]

1. Kirk's been in and out of the hospital, so yeah, I'd say making it to 54 in his condition

is quite a feat.

[truebrit71]

2. He's still a dick though...

....