Actually, it probably began on Nov. 3, 2010.
But the rhetoric escalated sharply today, as the new Congress began its work.
"Jim Himes Disregards American People, Votes to Maintain Job-Killing Agenda by Voting for Pelosi for Speaker,'' trumpets the headline on a National Republican Campaign Committee press release, issued just hours after U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-4th District, began his second term.
"With this first vote, Himes' constituents can clearly foresee that he will continue to support the same job-killing and big-spending policies rejected by the American people at the ballot box,'' NRCC Communications Director Paul Lindsay said in the release. "Instead of learning from the midterm elections and listening to voters, Democrats have rehired the one person who may be most responsible for the reckless agenda that has left middle-class families with fewer jobs and mountains of debt."
The NRCC issued an identical release attacking 5th District Democrat Chris Murphy. (By the way, why Democrats John Larson, Joe Courtney and Rosa DeLauro get a pass?)