Yesterday, President Bush addressed a gathering of Democratic congressmen and had this to say:

“…I welcome debate in a time of war and I hope you know that” …[and] disagreeing with him over the war – as many in the room did – does not mean “you don’t share the same sense of patriotism I do.

“You can get that thought out of your mind, if that’s what some believe,” the president said. “These are tough times, but there’s no doubt in my mind that you want to secure this homeland as much as I do.”

In return, Democrats…applauded.

I hope that in this most unexpected of times when we have divided government and everyone is poised to jump on biting partisanship that that humility and graciousness will beget more of the same.