The Frinklin and Fred Show

My impression is that the most significant point in the descent in political discourse occurred with Nixon's nomination of Clement Haynsworth to the Supreme Court. Haynsworth's opponents decided the nomination must be opposed at all costs, and that ends justified any means.

While there were enough warts in Haynsworth's bacground for the opponents to use, it was also clear the Haynsworth's past was well within the parameters of what was normally considered aceeptable for such appointments. The Haynsworth nomination was one that historically would have been approved as a matter of senatorial courtesy, even with the Senate and the Presidency occupied by different parties.

The actions by Haynsworth's opponents greatly polarized the political atmosphere. You can argue that those changes were due to happen anyway - if it hadn't been the Haynsworth appointment, the polarization would have had some other initiation. Who knows.

But as I recall, Haynsworth is when the process of attack was no longer marginalized. With Joe McCarthy, the attach mode was reeled back in. After Haynsworth, attack became a permanent part of the landscape.

I supported the Haynsworth opponents at the time. At this stage in my life, I don't believe the victory was worth the cost.

When you read what some of our founding fathers said about their contemporaries you'd realize that today's political discourse isn't actually as bad. I mean, VP Aaron Burr shot & killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel because of some slur that Hamilton voiced regarding Burr. Until we have leading politicians facing off with pistols at 10 paces, I won't accept that things are worse now than they were then.