With his latest essay, Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, a native of southeastern Mass., hums a brush-back pitch at Republicans who are leaning in to take a whack at the 14th amendment in the midst of the mid-term election frenzy. E.J. reminds the GOP that the so-called “Civil War or Reconstruction Amendments” to the Constitution are part of the Republican Party’s grand old legacy. Don’t mess with it, he advises. As the 150th anniversaries of Civil War events approach, are Americans going to re-engage on these long-settled principles? Joe Scarborough of “Morning Joe” on MSNBC this morning was scratching his head about these stirrings among leaders of his party. What is my party doing? he asked.  Read E.J.’s column here, and look for the Post online if you appreciate it. Note that the Sun also carries E. J. Dionne as one of its syndicated columnists. Thank you for that.