What happened to political decorum?

Big business, personal greed, lust for power.

Haven't read the book, yet, so this may be a horrendous "two-minute rule" violation.

IMHO, it was killed when:

1. The Press became cheerleaders (regardless of the team) and crusaders post-Watergate
2. Lobbyists convinced politicians that they can "do the right thing after you get re-elected. You can't make changes if you're sitting back in Peoria."

Being killed in a duel by a political rival does not seem very decorous, if that's a word.