Cooler heads and tongues should prevail

Can one deranged individual make a bigger impression on the U.S. Congress than dozens of former colleagues?

How many millions of airline passengers still remove their shoes because one unhinged terrorist-wannabe tried to set fire to his sneakers? How many billions have been spent on all-seeing X-ray machines because one delusional guy stuffed explosives down his boxers?

The senseless shooting of 20 people, including Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, in Tucson has rocked the nation. It has also given the new Congress a powerful incentive to lay aside the vitriol, whether the gunman was politically motivated or just nuts.

Some say they never saw it coming.

Sarah Palin’s staff claims to be appalled, simply appalled, that anyone should think placing crosshairs over congressional districts and urging supporters to “reload” could in any way contribute to such an outcome – although similar online tactics have gotten gynecologists killed in their own kitchens. Tea Party supporters say they are mystified how anyone could possibly come away from a political rally where participants openly carry firearms with the impression they were for armed insurrection.

And media types decry the lack of civilized debate as they scurry from one antagonist to another in what longtime Denver journalist Fred Brown calls the competition of confrontation. People are more likely to listen to a shouting match than a meeting of the minds.

But others who have been there sent a warning, well before the November election.

A bipartisan group of 135 former members of Congress, including Colorado Reps. Pat Schroeder, David Skaggs, Tim Wirth and Ray Kogovsek, called on all congressional candidates to change the tone and rhetoric and work on actual solutions to the nation’s tough problems.

“The divisive and mean-spirited way debate often occurs inside Congress is encouraged and repeated outside: on cable news shows, in blogs and in rallies. Members who far exceed the bounds of normal and respectful discourse are not viewed with shame but are lionized, treated as celebrities, rewarded with cable television appearances, and enlisted as magnets for campaign fund-raisers,” they wrote in a letter available at fmocforcommonground.org. “Meanwhile, lawmakers who try to address problems and find workable solutions across party lines find themselves denigrated by an angry fringe of partisans, people unhappy that their representatives would even deign to work with the enemy.”

Rep. Mike Coffman, a former Marine, thinks it’s time to coordinate his Denver district appearances with local law enforcement.

We think it’s time we all take it down a notch.

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