Tearing down the other guy was popular long before they tore into Abe Lincoln (R) for being so ugly.
Politicians are liars, it's really that simple. Some are brilliant and some work long hours, and occasionally one will do something statesmanlike for the good of the country but only if it benefits them as well. But all of the successful ones are great liars, that is their stock in trade.
I was thinking about all of this debating earlier and it brings to mind an image of passengers on the Titanic who, upon seeing themselves in iceberg laden waters, argue vehemently among themselves about whether to play shuffleboard or badminton. They have no say in how the ship is steered but forcing one half of the passengers or the other to play their chosen game gives them a feeling of being in control. But they're all eventually going down together.
Gunnery, gunnery, gunnery. Hit the target, all else is twaddle!
