But instead, the closest thing to a partisan exchange came as Mr. Kemp chatted briefly with Representative Charles B. Rangel, a Democrat who has represented Harlem for 26 years.

"Otherwise I fear that those who shout the loudest, who tend to be the most partisan, are going to make this into a partisan exchange."

The subsequent investigations held by a Parliamentary Committee were characterized by bitter partisan exchanges between the different political parties, with dispute over who may have been responsible for the bombings.

What followed was as predictable as it was unfortunate: talk shows, Web sites and others responded with a heated, partisan exchange of accusations of who did what when.

Fueled by heavy participation from aggressive outside interest groups, the high-octane confrontation has drawn extensive news coverage, spurred divisive advertising and provoked nasty partisan exchanges.

Republicans said Mr. Bush would be a good president despite the partisan exchanges that have dominated the last five weeks; Democrats said the Bush presidency would get nowhere.

Both sides were plainly warming up for a weekend of partisan exchanges over whom to fault for a veto.

Politicians of both parties expect bare-knuckle partisan exchanges.

That may be true again, although increasingly bitter partisan exchanges in an election year make the outcome unpredictable.

His amendment prompted the first partisan exchanges of the debate.