There are attacks, and then there are attacks

Much has been written about candidates' attacks on each other during the current presidential campaign. Democrats have decried the sparring between Sens. Obama and Clinton in the recently-concluded campaign for their party's nomination. Also, there has been much speculation about the attacks that may occur during the general election campaign now beginning between Sens. Obama and McCain. But in those contexts the word "attack" means a verbal attack. Here is a bizarre story about a physical attack by a House member upon a Senator, during the run-up to the Civil War in the 1850s.

I think there's a misconception on the part of many modern observers of politics, to the effect that back in the "good old days" American political life consisted of gentlemanly debate on a high intellectual and moral plane, and that today's politicians are plunging to new lows in their behavior. History does not bear that out.