I thought the author made a reasonable attempt to show how the left and right approach the subject by thinking in different ways. As I've pointed out many time, the right don't really think in logical arguments. They think less in abstractions and more in what is possible, which is a kind of thinking that works better in business.

The problem of civility won't go away soon. The way I see it in this diagram:

Left------------A------B---------------Right

B is the line on an issue where the left is happy enough. A is the line on an issue where the right are satisfied. If A and B coincide then there is general agreement, like on for example protectionism at the moment.

A and B overlap on for example abortion so there is a perpetual war going on in between these positions. Since Bush came to power, since he is more extreme he has pushed the left further away from B and closer to the Republican A, and even beyond A. Not so much on abortion but in terms of what level of socialism the left are happy with.

So until the policy line gets back to near B the left will continue to be enraged, and they will never ever stop being like that. If for example Kucinich was elected (or Sharpton) then the line on many policies would be pushed to B and beyond and the Republicans would be screaming until it was redressed. Bush to the left is that kind of extremist.

A lot of people claim the left should be more civil and accept the status quo but they will never do so until the situation is back between some compromise on A and B.

Bush approaches this like a bargaining tool, he suggests far beyond A and settles for something right on A which guarantees Democratic fury.