He is not a tough negotiator. He does not represent the Democratic view very convincingly.

If he is one of our "leaders" in Congress, it is no wonder to me that we are having problems.

He equivocates far too much.

He clearly listens well to the other side of an issue, but he does not seem to have the ability to take the other side's arguments, analyze them really deeply and figure out how to get to the right solution through the language and thought of the other side. Nor does he seem to have the ability to be as offensive as a person has to be to stand for something important.

Prior to this video I had not seen much of Durbin, but based on this video, I would not want him representing me in negotiations of any sort. He lacks a certain kind of strength. He wants too much to be liked. That's fine except when you are fighting for others, for the weak, for the needy, for the hungry, for the sick, you do not compromise on satisfying their basic needs. And he would compromise anything. The Republicans no doubt know that and like him for it. So Democrats think he is a good negotiator. But I would not trust him.