I very much agree with you except about subverting your core values. Everyone has core values. Well, at least serious folks do. But when both sides look at compromise as subverting their core values gridlock becomes inevitable and democracy begins to crumble.

That is why the nation functioned so much better back when there were many more moderates on both sides of the political spectrum. For instance Nixon could never have been impeached were it not for Republican moderates to go along with Democrats.

I too live in Arizona and don’t agree politically with Jeff. But if Jeff is willing to engage positively with Democrats and admit Republican sins that is a giant step in the right direction. We have got to get rid of this insane notion that to deal with the other side is some kind of treason. Where there is no moderation there will at some point be war. In other words both sides end up being dead right. Indeed, there comes a point whereby core values become nothing more than sanctimonious egotism.