well, did you hear about the midnight rambler?...

 In both state-level and national debate of issues, the reason they say, "my friend" - "my friend so-and-so"; "my friend from the Washington Post" - is to maintain civility and cordiality, even when - 

making different points

taking different positions

... Disagreeing.

In England, in Parliament, they refer to the party that is in the minority currently (whether it is the Tories or Labour - or - others...[I think they have some more parties, which, maybe, we should, too...]) as "the loyal opposition."

        That's to remind everyone that if someone disagrees with you, that doesn't mean they are disloyal to the country.  They are the loyal opposition.

        ...To keep people from becoming too divided and getting too mad at each other.

It works.

Part of the time.

In England, and in Washington, D.C., and in state governments.

        Once when I was watching the process in our state capitol, a Democrat state senator and a Republican state senator were arguing different points on the Floor, and the one finally asked the other one, "Do you want to step outside?"

They did not "go outside" and / or physically harm each other, so it worked out OK.

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        Also, referencing yesterday's post here - Just what, exactly, is a "bow-tie liberal"?  When that remark was made, by my favorite rancher, sometime in the late nineties during our state's legislative session, I felt like I knew what it meant, but not really. ...

Checking with Google:

------------------- The term "bow tie liberal" refers to a style of political alignment that combines liberal social views with more traditional, even conservative, aesthetic preferences often reflected in clothing choices.  

        It's not a formal political classification but rather a descriptive label for individuals who might embrace progressive politics while also favoring a more formal, even old-fashioned, personal style, frequently including the wearing of a bow tie.

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        Listening to the Nixon dialogue with reporters from 1973 mentioned here yesterday, I felt like I "knew" Pres. Nixon a little bit.

It was interesting.

        Thinking about Pres. Nixon and President Trump and their problems - 

Watergate for Nixon, and

Epstein files for Trump,

and listening to what Nixon said then,

and Trump is saying now --

I reflected on the observation that Richard Nixon had some intellectual heft, something that Donald Trump does not have.

        

President John F. Kennedy in the Oval Office

(1961 - 1963)

President Lyndon Baines Johnson in the Oval Office

(1963 - 1968)

President Richard M. Nixon in the Oval Office

(1969 - 1974)

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