President Obama stated last night that the “time for bickering is over.”  What this really means is: forget your principles, give up your freedom and do it my way.  It is as if King George told the Colonists, the time for bickering is over.  “The time for bickering is over.  Pay your taxes, forget your freedom and shut your mouth.  It is time for action.” Not likely.

It is a nice technique, to disparage your opponent’s principled disagreements as “bickering,” “politics,” or “partisanship” knowing you won’t be called on it by the press.  But the intent is the same, to dismiss arguments as below you instead of responding to them.