>I wish there was some way we as a country could get past all this polarization. Call me naive but I genuinely had hope that Obama would bring people with different positions closer together. After six months in office it is already clear we are still as polarized, if not more so, as we were through the Clinton and Bush years. People don't just disagree any more. Now it has gone way past that into demonization and cries that the other side is leading us on a path to hell.
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>Mike, have you read Beck's book? (or any of his books)?
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>What was it about Obama that brought you hope that people with different positions would come "closer together"?

He didn't just say (repeatedly) that he wanted to do exactly that. We both know politicians say a lot of things on the campaign trail. It impressed me more when he put several Republicans in key roles in his administration.

At least you addressed my main point (the first line was a throwaway joke with a smiley at the end of it). That's more than can be said for Tracy and John. "Never lets the facts stand in his way" -- what I said was clearly opinion. And non-partisan opinion at that. It sort of demonstrates my point that I took potshots the minute I opened my mouth.