CIVILITY AND THE VOX POPULI

For many years, dating back to the Clinton administration, many have called for a return to civility in public discourse. The vitriol of the Tea Party and its counterweighed vitriol from the other side of the political spectrum highlighted by talking-heads like Bill O'Reilly, Rachel Maddow, Glenn Beck, Keith Oberman and others have, to use a Pat Moynihan phrase: "dumbed down" the intellectual level of political discourse while elevating its volume.

The rabid nature of discussions that don't propose solutions so much as they pursue sound-bites bordering on character besmirching of political opponents must stop. Perhaps it's because I remember my GOP maternal grandfather losing a judicial race to a Democrat who was a life-long friend, and their remaining friends until Jim was killed in a plane crash, that I personally know that collegiality and civility can co-exist in a political world where elections to a given office can only have one victor.

For the United States to reclaim the mantle of a society in which politics can be discussed as civics, and done so with civility, we must do without undue reference to war analogies, "cross hairs," and other firearm and/or warfare related terms; while watching some of the more aggressive sports metaphors as substitute adverbs and adjectives. Words have consequences in the same vein as actions have recrimintions and consequences; whether or not they are ultimately adjudged to have been a probable, contributing, or proximate but foreseeable cause of some mentally unstable citizen going totally unhinged.

We must also refrain from demonizing our political opponents while using 'fishing expedition' styled hearings to ham-string free and open debate. With political results and policy the result of discussion, debate, and ultimately compromise, to move forward we must return to the days when a George Herz and a James Roe could face off across a ballot box for a 14 year judicial term and then more on. Move on in much the same way that a Mike Mansfield could have bourbon and branch with Everett Dirksen, Tip O'Neill could share an adult beverage with Ron Reagan, or a Sam Rayburn could indulge in a 'hideaway' drink with a Steve Derounian (R-NY).

If our political ruling class, in honor of Gabby Giffords, would agree to restore civility to public discourse -and insist that their supporters do so too- with the mass media holding both to account for that task, our public servants could go on to have life-long relationships without recrimination, hate, or contributing to the seemingly perpetual polluting of our political arena while our fellow citizens could then see examples of leadership. Leaders that are in fact worthy of being followed--in lieu of being scorned in much the same manner as people dislike the school yard bully and the Joe McCarthy styled demagogue.