How difficult it is not to applaud the Clintons' dress-down of David Shuster, and yet what a slippery slope in which we find ourselves after decades of bullying by the Republicans, whether it be directly or via their surrogates in the airwaves.  For years we have listened in frustration as Limbaugh frothed over the Clintons, over the Democrats, and even over the young Chelsea, whom he designated in ways not worthy to repeat, and we wondered whether there were limits to mediatic discourse which would put a stop to such partisan abuse of a fourth estate in sad decline, to which we listened in disbelief as it stenographed dishonest and partisan right wing talking points and oftentimes all-out sludge. 

Democrats were being bitch-slapped, bullied outrageously, unequipped to respond, and there was no diplomacy, no compromising which would appease the gleefully abusive right who spared no opponent, real or perceived, whether it be Nancy Pelosi, Michael Schiavo, the Dixie Chicks, Paul Krugman, or France.  All this was abetted by the mainstream media, and Democrats, especially in Congress, quite often now cower even before the blow is swung, so successfully has the intimidation worked.  To add insult to injury, the same machinery propelling the abuse was effective in averting any real scrutiny by those whose duty it was to do so.  Lies and distortions were seldom addressed, and disinformation leading to a disastrous war was cheerled.  Spying, propaganda, torture, gulags, and the rest of the totalitarian package had until recently received little scrutiny by our sad excuse for a press corps.

So it is with glee that we see the Clinton reaction.  Enough is enough, we tell ourselves.  In fact, the campaign's tendency to imitate the Republican style of attack seems to be one of its strongest assets to many of its followers, a viewpoint one is loathe to criticise following years of horrors from the Republican sludge monster.  These same supporters cringe at what they view as a kumbaya illusion of reality by the Obama campaign and its followers, and dread a crushing defeat in the hands of the Republicans due to a campaign guided by what they perceive as ingenuousness.  Yet embracing the tactics of our enemies is a strategy to be executed with extreme caution lest we become as morally soiled as they.  Just as US conservatives have been embracing increasingly Soviet tactics, from spying to our gulags, in the name of national security and "freedom", we are increasingly tempted to become Carl Rove and Little Green Footballs in order to secure the Supreme Court, our Constitution, and our democracy from the catastrophe of another disastrous Republican presidency.  Yet, as TPM itself has learned with the DOJ, pushback in the hands of politicians is much so easily abused.

An important American symbol, hints at where to draw the line between resisting the thugs and becoming bullies ourselves.  As the eagle holds the olive branch, a peace offering, in its right, and the arrows, the threat of force, in the left hand, so should we balance our standards for civil discourse and reconciliation with a willingness to fight back when necessary.  So it was comforting to see the Obama campaign advance its "she'll say anything to get elected" attack ad in South Carolina, only to pull it back when the other side understood that they meant serious business if push comes to shove.  This approach stated that should the debate deviate from the issues and into Rovian territory, there will be a firm response and that otherwise, policy debate with a message of respect is to be pursued.  I find this a wise message to project and an ideal place to draw the battle lines.  Let us hope the Clinton campaign and its followers do not get carried away in the heat of the battle and avoid attrocities in the name of victory.  At this stage, we deserve better than ruthless means justified by the ends.