My friend Jeff sent a link to this column by Jonah Goldberg. I agree with Goldberg that incivility has been the norm in American politics, but two points need to be made. First, it shouldn't be. That something is the case or always has been the case doesn't make it right. Politics can and should be conducted civilly. Second, there's this thing called hypocrisy. Many of those who now decry incivility remained silent during the eight-year presidency of George W. Bush, who was the target of vicious smears. Only those who complained about the way President Bush was treated get to complain about the way President Obama is being treated.
Addendum: Here is a two-year-old column by Peter Berkowitz.
Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D. 