Trump, who spends most of his time nowadays accusing Democrats of loving crime and illegal-alien gang members, also sang from the unity hymnal in his remarks earlier this afternoon. All it takes to get politicians to turn down the rhetorical volume, apparently, is a homicidal lunatic attempting to assassinate people through the mail.

Good to know most of us can still find the better angels of our nature amid a would-be murder spree.

Hillary, 15 days ago:

I mean, to keep a Supreme Court seat open for a year, to deny a distinguished jurist, they could have voted him down. They could have said, “Well, for ideological reasons, philosophical reasons, we’re not going to vote for him.” But no, they stonewalled. And that was such a breach of Senate ethics and the constitutional responsibility of the Senate to advice and consent on nominations, that you cannot be civil with a political party that wants to destroy what you stand for, what you care about.

That’s why I believe if we are fortunate enough to win back the House and/or the Senate, that’s when civility can start again. But until then, the only thing that the Republicans seem to recognize and respect is strength.

No peace until Democrats are returned to power. That was then, this is now:

“It is a troubling time, isn’t it? It’s a time of deep divisions and we have to do everything we can to bring our country together,” she said at a campaign event in Florida.

“We also have to elect candidates who will try to do the same.”

Trump’s demands for unity will evaporate quickly once the bombing saga is over and the political heat has declined. I wonder how long Hillary’s will last. Either way, although her sentiment is generous and suitable for the occasion, I don’t think “unity” is the problem. There isn’t unity and there won’t be; disunity is practically the definition of politics. We don’t want for unity, we want for decency. Trump and Clinton were both willing and able to say the decent thing today. Tomorrow? I wouldn’t bet on it.

As for unity, it’s too late for that, says Trump’s old frenemy Jeff Zucker:

Statement from CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker: pic.twitter.com/OXyIT6oSLT

— CNN Communications (@CNNPR) October 24, 2018

CNN commentators are reminding POTUS that it was just days ago that he saluted Greg Gianforte for body-slamming a reporter during his first run for Congress. The “unity” nonsense from big-name politicians, although useful in the moment in calming public tempers, is 90 percent ass-covering for intemperate things they’ve said in the past. You know how this game is played. A member of Party A attacks, or tries to attack, a politician from Party B; members of Party B blame the “climate” created by Party A for inspiring the criminal; Party A responds indignantly, insisting that they’d never condone such a thing and that the criminal is responsible for his own actions. Go watch this clip of Pelosi from last year. She’ll be leading the charge to blame Trump for the bomber, if in fact the bomber turns out to be a Trumpist.

Update: The charge has already begun.

In joint statement, Senate and House Minority Leaders Schumer and Pelosi say President Trump's comments today on the wave of pipe bomb packages “ring hollow until he reverses his statements that condone acts of violence.” https://t.co/hK4Eecmjdo pic.twitter.com/DjbunZS0AR

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 24, 2018