Political but non-partisan?

Can Americans still be political without being partisan? Discuss issues without flaming somebody who disagrees? Many political Web sites now abound with name-calling and verbal assault experts. Can something else exist? Is there any hope for intelligent discussion?

We may know the results of this before we know the results of next month's U.S. elections. A newly launched site, Hotsoup.com, is hoping to spur online discussions that focus on facts, analysis and points of view, not verbal antics and put-downs.

Are there Americans who can disagree without anger or accusation? We live in hope. And if that hope is justified, Hotsoup and its issue loops may become as familiar as ballot propositions and congressional scandals.

Hotsoup? One promoter of the site says it's made of diverse ingredients and it's nourishing. The site says its editors include Republican, Democrat and even non-partisan. So will the blogosphere respond in kind? Or in the more familiar cruelty?