Paul Musgrave provides a graphic example of how political incivility wasn’t invented in the last few years.
Certainly not. Has it gotten worse? Has it moved from beyond attack dog functionaries to the candidates themselves? Or all we all pining for a golden age which never existed.
No idea. But I’m not only tired of it this cycle, I’m tired of the conventions suddenly becoming open season to fight the tired battles from the previous administrations. Feh.
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While I do not believe there has never been a “golden age” of civility in this country (just go look at any museum that has political gee-gaws). I think that what you might be noticing is the effect of the Homogenization of the parties. From the “Big Tent”, and St. Ronnies first Rule of Politics (never attack another Republican), to the stead drum beat of both parties not to air dirty linen in public (i.e. the conventions). It’s the political version of not scaring the straights, while keeping your party base fired up with just the right amount of rhetoric.
Also, both parties have staked out opposing positions on almost every idea out there (and a swing either way idea wise, would be a great coup for the victor). Basically no ground or quarter is being given. But, since we are in the convention season, we’ll both parties make their march to the center, so who knows what we’ll see.