Ron Davies[*], it's funny you should say that about Republicans & Bush. I'm the product of a mixed marriage: Dad was Democrat, Mom was Republican. I can remember them discussing politics and events in the news, and pretty much aggreeing on most things. I think this decade (perhaps longer, but I hope not) will go down as the 'age of unreason', when any slight difference of opinion is exaggerated and any issue becomes a wedge to drive people further apart.

This Linda Ronstadt thing...
How many of us who are atheist lefty types have sat there and listened to certain old-time, bluegrass, or country music legends make the odd comment that offended us, without walking out or raising hell? We could talk about it later, we could accept the person was a great musician and realise we were there for the music. We could enjoy a performance without necessarily accepting the whole package. It was more important to look for things we enjoyed and respected than look for things we despised.

Now, it seems like our culture, in the US, at least, is about finding things that piss us off, SAYIN things that piss others off, belittling our 'opposition', and driving the wedge in deeper. Finding common ground is something people did back when they thought tolerance was important and rebels were the ones who thought for themselves and didn't just jump on the big rebel bandwagon with the sign that says "If you think like us, you can be a rebel too!"

I think we had a chance after 9/11. I think people came closer together in grief, and yes, even anger. I think the wars and the defense of that policy have done nothing but polarise us and drive us further apart, and I can't see anybody arguing with that. What you might argue with is that I also believe that unity may have been a threat to some. Better for them that we squabble like little kids, throw tantrums in casinos because of something somebody says, and prove they can't leave us alone without adult supervision and a lot more house rules that we used to have.

[*] My recommendation would be Living in the USA. Some gems and some standards.