In the congested, territorial, steel mill neighborhood where I grew up, you learned as a kid that, sometimes, intimidation is fear in disguise.

The bully is a sham, not a tough guy. He’s worried. He’s sensing a possible loss.

He may be lashing out, but not directly, not in a way that puts you face to face.

I thought of that this week when, for the third time this campaign season, a Democratic Party office in Tempe was struck by gunfire.

The building was fired on at around 12:30 a.m. on Sunday, police said. No one was inside. The office is near Arizona Mills Mall.

Democrats have since closed the field........

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