around like mr. gergen would agree that it didn't used to be this way. after i posted the blog and comments came in, i was amazed at the number of people who said, well, this is just politics as usual. it is not politics as usual. i served in a time when people did not treat each other the way people in politics and in government are being treated today. and there is no use whatsoever for these military and violence-related metaphors to be used in political discourse. >> david, what is your perspective? >> well, i start with the proposition that gary hart is absolutely right about the deterioration in our discourse. when he was in the senate, he brought a loftiness to it and he raised the level. he was one of the people who was more thoughtful. it has declined a great deal since he left. both sides have been responsible for heating this up over the last 10 or 15 years. i do think gary and i part