It's both more or less than that, Jody.
As I thought about it, and as I've read the comments, it came into focus that I was reacting not so much to the surface issue of politics but more to social and personal issues of two Zoners fighting. Of a feud developing, bad blood, cracks in the community, the possibility of factions.
Sometimes we get too much into each other. The Zone's become a small community, and that makes the interactions more intense. Things get blown out of proportion. People learn how to push each others' buttons. We pick at scabs.
We're small enough to work it out, too. With this bunch, it should be enough to just point out what's going on. Smart people, grownups most of the time...I have faith that the problem's already behind us.