While the public rather enjoys a feisty political battle every four years during the presidential campaign, we have less appetite for personal attacks, pettiness, hyperbole, and fabrications when it comes to day-to-day governing. Lately, the political rhetoric and name-calling has been particularly mean-spirited, with each side assuming the worst of its rivals.
The acrimony that marks much political discourse has spread like a virus beyond Capitol Hill to blogs, TV, and radio. It is promulgated by former federal officials, politically ...