Maybe understanding the historic events and behavioral roots that have produced these venomously angry polarized times can help us let go of at least a little of our own deep instinct to align with the tribe in the name of safety and protection.

WASHINGTON -- The House has voted to name a federal building after Thomas P. "Tip" O'Neill, the Massachusetts Democrat who served as Speaker from 1977...

As far as 80s trends go, the resurgent popularity of Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill rivals that of skinny jeans and Members Only jackets. But were Reagan and O'Neill really as chummy as some people would have us believe?

New England's brand of Republicanism is certainly on the decline. But the inability of the state party to engage in the long term work of party building that's necessary to bring people into its organization by asking for their affirmative participation has hastened its demise.

The lights are being removed, the podiums are gone, and the cleanup crew is sweeping up the tiny, tiny pieces of Paul Ryan that were left all over the stage last night. Heh. Well, maybe not really, but it certainly seems that way, doesn't it?

As today's leaders seek to overcome the challenge of reaching consensus on economic policy and national security, they would benefit by studying the achievements of Chuck Manatt and Frank Fahrenkopf at the "Making Democracy Work" exhibit in Washington, DC.

The buses have finally left, the barricades are being sent to wherever they came from, and Tampa is getting back to normal, whatever that is. I took ...

What the president needs is a Hollywood agent who knows how to negotiate, how to avoid these endless capitulations and surrenders, and how to close a big deal on favorable terms.

Even though she did a terrific job as leader of the House Democrats, and even though she made history as the first woman Speaker, it's finally time for Pelosi to lay down a sacrifice bunt instead of swinging for the fences.

The smoke signals being sent up locally going into the 2010 midterms all point to systematic failure on the part of the governing party. And yet, when has a party ever been returned to power so soon after destroying the lives of so many people?

Partisanship is healthy in a democracy. However, the hyper-partisanship seen in recent years has damaged people's faith in government and also has proved detrimental to the country itself.

As Brown goes to Washington, he is aware of the history in "The People's Seat." He would be wise to consult Emerson's 1841 quote, "There is properly no history, only biography."

The broad, welcoming grin, the twinkle in the eye and the mirth I remembered were there, but our group was treated to something entirely different.