Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes

One of the things I really lament is the decades long decline in civility in our political process.  Almost everyone expresses....and I'm hoping they really don't believe it....a deep loathing and contempt for their opponents that in another venue might be considered dehumanizing.

Sadly, the decline continues as the modicum of respect that politicians had for one another continues to crumble.

Presidential candidates have traditionally kept a low profile during their opponent's nominating celebration, but Democrats are throwing those rules out the window in an attempt to spoil Mitt Romney’s coronation as the GOP nominee.

...

"Traditionally, there was a kind of courtesy extended to the party having the convention — the [other] party would basically stay out of the public eye," said Ross Baker, political scientist at Rutgers University.

But that "gentlemen's agreement," Baker said, has been largely abandoned as "a consequence of the polarization of American politics." He characterized the old tradition as a "quaint code of etiquette" destined to become a "remnant of the 20th century."

The Blogfather has the best response from the story lede.

"Bucking protocol, President Obama and the Democrats are planning a full-scale assault on Republicans next week during their convention."

"Wait, “assault?” That sounds kinda violent."

Ah yes.  The language of hate from a party that rarely flinches at such things...unless they come from Republican.

I know that others may have a different perspective, but I am unsurprised to find the Democrats as the first to break with this tradition.  While the GOP is certainly guilty of playing dirty, the pioneers along the way have almost uniformly been Democrats.