And the lion sat down with the lamb

I've found myself spending a lot of time on patios recently, in groups made up of Conservative and media types, as well as Liberals. More than once, the conversation has included appreciation for the fact that, at the end of the day, political opponents can sit down at the same table and bend elbows together, swap jokes and just generally enjoy a summer evening.

So perhaps it's in this spirit that the venerable Stephen Taylor made his last point in this post: "...we ought to raise the level of debate so that we don't blur the lines between the opponents who are working for a better country (but in a different party) and enemies that would destroy it."

I couldn't agree more.

That said, one's voice carries the most weight within one's own political circle. If Stephen genuinely wishes to raise the level of the debate, he can begin in his own back yard. Conservatives have frequently impugned the patriotism of those who have raised questions about the wisdom of our current mission in Afghanistan, or who have opposed national security measures on civil libertarian grounds (it's one of the most unpalatable tactics they've borrowed from the Republican playbook).

So yes, let's raise the level of the debate. And let's do that by challenging our own friends and colleagues to join us in leading the way.