Historically, Joey is quite right. The nadir of political incivility was likely in 1856 when Representative Preston Brooks beat Senator Charles Sumner with a cane while Sumner was seated at his desk on the Senate floor. Sumner, who became trapped in his seat, was severely injured. (Another Congressman, Anson Burlingame, challenged Brooks to a duel with pistols. Brooks, faced with someone willing and able to fight back, declined.)

However, recently, there was a reasonably civil time in American politics. I do blame the GOP for bringing this to an end.