"Am I the only one who longs for those days when political opponents would refer to each other as "my worthy opponent" "my learned and esteemed colleague and opponent" or at least in a civil manner?"
Have you heard about the speech alleged to have been given by George Smathers in the democratic primary in Florida in 1950?
Time Magazine reported that Smathers said: "Are you aware that Claude Pepper is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert? Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to practice nepotism with his sister-in-law, and he has a sister who was once a thespian in wicked New York. Worst of all, it is an established fact that Mr. Pepper before his marriage habitually practiced celibacy."
While Smathers denied ever giving this speech, he did win the primary and served three terms in the Senate.
Time Magazine reported that Smathers said: "Are you aware that Claude Pepper is known all over Washington as a shameless extrovert? Not only that, but this man is reliably reported to practice nepotism with his sister-in-law, and he has a sister who was once a thespian in wicked New York. Worst of all, it is an established fact that Mr. Pepper before his marriage habitually practiced celibacy."
After listening to Hannity's "Man on the Street" segment this past afternoon, I can see how Smathers's tactic might have worked.