Conservative wordsmith Frank Luntz in the Huffington Post: "Democracy is at its best when its practioners use language to unite and explain rather than divide and attack. The blogs from the Left and the Right be damned, the real center of America is upset but not bitter, anxious but not fearful, restless but not unforgiving. "
"Sure, it's easy to land rhetorical jabs on a staggering opponent - but that doesn't make it effective. The message from the electorate in November was 'work together and compromise.' You need only look at the incumbent governor of California who won a lopsided landslide in an otherwise Democratic sweep. Cooperation works. Compromise wins. But over-heated rhetoric says to the world that you are no different - and no better - than what you replaced."
"Don't get me wrong, it is fun to twist the knife. Sometimes victory is just not enough. Like when the Yankees beat the Red Sox ... Penn beats Princeton ... George Bush beats Al Gore (sort of). I am in no position to preach. I know the satisfaction that comes from delivering that decisive verbal blow. But at the end of the day, people will recognize petty vindictiveness for what it is. And in my experience creating the phrases that so many of you readers hate with such a passion, all vindictiveness will ever get you is a pretty nasty black eye in return."
Given Luntz's history, the angry comments on his post should come as no surprise. However, I think he's right. I guess the truth behind these sentiments becomes more apparent when one is on the receiving end.