> "...but can we perhaps not have these almost bot-like posts of X party is better than Y party?"
I must disagree here. Many of the comments on this thread are actually suggesting that locally elected legislators should do their jobs, in opposition to calls for top-down control at the federal level we're usually treated to by the "botish" commentators.
It's quite different from what's been happening lately, and most refreshing. Further, the "we're better than you" tone (on all sides) is finally muted a bit. I'm seriously wondering if there's a sea-change going on.