By people calling themselves “liberals.”

I imagine that napalming one’s political opponents may be, in certain respects, therapeutic. It undoubtedly makes liberals feel morally superior to conservatives. But it won’t win over any converts– and it will probably alienate precisely those voters (independents and moderates) they need. No matter. They are engaged in a rhetorical auto-da-fe, and nothing, certainly not good manners, basic civility, or a sense of respect for those with whom they disagree with, will rein them in.

It’s all very ugly, very discouraging, and very counterproductive. I should add that it would be helpful if the man who based his campaign on unifying Red and Blue America–who promised to listen to us, “especially when we disagree”–would try to calm passions instead of stoke the embers of anger. But Barack Obama has chosen a different, lower road on the path to re-election.

It’s just one of the many lies.