Now, you might say that’s only rhetoric. But it’s certainly uncharacteristic rhetoric from the likes of Romney, and it’s been backed up by behavior.

So far.

And yes, a great deal more has to happen before the right manages to effectively counter the left, and it is by no means certain that any of it will be successful. But still, it’s a wee bit encouraging.

[We’ll see, but I think that after twenty years of bareknuckled brawling from Schumer et al, Republicans finally figured out that politics ain’t beanbag. — Ed]