For example, April's very diplomatic first post had all the pleasantness of...well...a hammer a it challenged Jeralyn's statement by turning it into one of absolutes.

Needless to say, it kinda went downhill from there with a lot of invectives followed by passive aggressive "now aren't you being nasty" jabs.

We've got a nice place here. Jeralyn, TChris, and BTD all rock. And generally, except when tempers get heated, the conversation level is pretty even handed.

There are a lot of smart smart people with a lot of ideas re: what's best for the country and what's best for the Party. We don't always agree...but most times we get along.

The influx of trolling (and what the heck is a Sunday Sweetie???)...that's a whole 'nother issue.

So I have a plan (h/t Patrick Swayze)...

Be Nice.

If somebody gets in your face and calls you a $3*&^#@@%, I want you to be nice. Ask him to walk. Be nice. If he won't walk, walk him. But be nice. If you can't walk him, one of the others will help you, and you'll both be nice. I want you to remember that it's a job. It's nothing personal.

Oh...there's one more part of this plan.

I want you to be nice until it's time to not be nice.

Your buttons are being pushed on purpose. One way to defuse these attempts is to stay civil, bite down on the snark, respond with logic, and keep your footprint as small as possible.

So be nice...