Posted on 10/06/2004 4:06:31 PM PDT by mlmr
Everybody remembers the "Clinton-haters," the people who disliked our libidinous former chief executive so much they not only spread (mostly true) stories about his amorous exploits but spun rumors about various dark conspiracies in Arkansas and elsewhere.
However, Clinton's enemies were pikers compared to today's crop of people who, while they may or may not hate President Bush, certainly seem to dislike him very, very much.
I'm not referring here to people who merely disagree with Bush on one or a number of issues. It's easy to understand partisans getting upset over an opponent's policies, and certainly U.S. history is replete with examples of using political differences as grist for harsh criticism.
But Bush has been simultaneously portrayed as Hitler; as a moronic puppet of his advisors; as an evil genius; and as Satan.
All that and more (much of it unprintable) leaves conservatives in awe of the depth of rage being targeted at such a genial, outgoing guy - who also happens to be waging a serious war on our nation's enemies, just as a president is supposed to do.
It's possible to identify three basic streams feeding into Bush-hatred. One - let's call it the "Moveon.org stream" - is described by John O'Sullivan, editor of The National Interest, in the current issue of The American Enterprise Institute's magazine: "Most of the time (Clinton hatred) was simply the frustration of the Right with an opponent who was just too quick and too clever for them. Bush hatred is something else, something really significant. It's much deeper - a personalized version of American anti-Americanism.
"There is in this country a considerable cultural self-hatred," O'Sullivan continued. "The adversary culture fears and hates American power. So anybody who comes along and defends America's values self-confidently, and even pre-emptively attacks America's enemies, is going to be regarded by this sect as an agent of the Great Satan. The same hatred was directed at Reagan."
Second, "progressivism" tends to produce a conviction about the essential goodness of its causes, almost as if there were no consciousness of natural human imperfection. Leftists really think people are perfectible, and they believe they are the ones who know how to do the perfecting.
If there is something wrong with the world, therefore, it is not because people naturally screw up. It has to be a plot.
And since Reagan's days, Americans have voted for Republicans on a regular basis. Even worse, not the tame business-executive, country-club RINO type, but real social, economic and religious conservatives.
Even after Clinton (hardly a textbook liberal himself) beat Bush 41 in 1992, the GOP took over Congress two years later, and now the right-leaning party holds the presidency, both houses of Congress (though marginally in the Senate), most of the governorships and is even making strides in state legislatures.
But if you're a progressive, conservatives are dumb and you're smart. They're evil and you're good. They're devious and you're honest. (I know, I know, but that's how they think.)
So they can only come to one conclusion - the American people have been tricked, fooled and bamboozled by these devious conservatives. The left thinks it is entitled to rule, and yet people are spurning it - making fun of it, even. How can that be? It must be a plot, a conspiracy.
In their minds, the idea that people have considered their positions and rejected them is an impossibility, because they are right and conservatives are wrong. By definition.
Thus, leftists had to spin a myth of a "stolen" election in Florida, to prove perfidy where none existed. The alternative - that they, the good guys, could have lost fair and square, by the rules - is not credible to them.
Third, we should briefly note that a commitment to serious, historical, orthodox Christianity is another offense that Bush, and many other conservatives, offer to the progressive mentality. The anger relativists hold toward the idea of eternal moral absolutes knows no bounds.
Now, I have no idea who is going to win on Nov. 2. But if Bush should be the victor, what are all his detractors going to do? Wrap their heads in duct tape so they don't explode like the telepaths in "Scanners"?
No, I suspect they'll do what they did in 2000 - create another myth about a "stolen election."
You can already see it taking shape, in recent claims that Gallup polls showing Bush ahead are biased, or that presidential advisor Karl Rove was the one who gave Dan Rather his famously faked-up memos, or that the Bush campaign created and financed the Swift boat ads.
If Bush wins, it will be because a plot involving the "biased conservative media" did in Kerry.
The fact that no such thing exists will deter them not one whit. The left proved in 2000 that mere facts can't stand in the way of a really outstanding conspiracy theory, and this year will be no different - if Bush wins.
If not, well, I'll have plenty of topics for columns.
M.D. Harmon is an editorial page writer and editor. He can be contacted at 791-6482 or at:
mharmon@pressherald.com
They're the thugs, but we're the fascists. I must remember to show up and intimidate them at their party HQs more often. I guess I'm not a good enough Nazi...
Oh, yeah, and the Eurotroll can kiss my big red white and blue American ass.
*chuckle*
I'm Goth, so I'm naturally frightening to them.
But they'll mistake me for one of their wannabe goths and get into close proximity.
Considering the hatred and bitterness that has spilled out of Carter I question his status as a Christian.
By their fruits shall you know them. Carter has produced some rotten fruit.
AFL-CIO admitted it yesterday.
List O' links about the thugs.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1236613/posts
Yeah, you're right, I screwed up that post. Only one of those things is right, Jimmah is a reborn Christian. But he don't have traditional social values and he ain't going to defend the country, quite the opposite, he puts us in more danger. Wasn't paying attention to what I was doing, your response is appropriate!
I thought the article was pretty much on the money, although I'm still not sure in my own mind, much as I try to account for it, where all the hatred comes from.
Do you think we ought to have a fundraising legal costs for the election freepathon?
1) He looks like Alfred E. Neuman...
2) The son of the previous republican Prez.. smacks of Oligarchy.
3) He's a Unite'er not a Divide'er... even demotrolls know they deserve to be hung.. They don't respect him because he don't see the threat to freedom the democrat party is.. They want some respect as revolutionarys the way Marx and Lenin told them to be.. Course most republicans are in the same boat.. Thats why democrats fool them so easily with talk of "bi-partisanship" which is not bi-partisan at all, but merely a shell game(demotrolls like to play).. and the demotrolls switch the shells.. and take the republicans money... Republicans all being rich folks don't you know..
Yes I'm voting for Alf ugh George but only because I have no other real choice..
He's direct when they disemble
He's faithful when they cheat
He's guided by conscience when they make a virtue of pragmatism
He makes no compromise with evil and they are evil
It's very true that you don't hear that many socialists like Jimmy refer to themselves as reborn Christians.
thanks!
Bu-bye, Troll!!
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He's dead, Jim.
(Click here or on the pic).
OK, my ears are burning - what did #3 say?
I wouldn't know how to go about doing it, but it'd probably be wise to do so.
I'd pitch it to Jim for ponderment and advice first.
Boss, an idea, that I have no idea how to do or even organize, that needs ponderment and advice or "that's already being done" notice on.
With the AFL-CIO and other assorted Dem thugs strong arming their way into Dubya election HQ's in various states, and since it is obviously organized to intimidate, it may be necessary to get a legal cost fund together somehow or somewhere.
Yeah, I have one reason of my own for the hatred.
Bush is a visionary. He might actually, if we give him the chance, succeed in eradicating the terror threat. A success like that could set the Leftist cause back a long long ways. Or so they may worry.
Welcome.
"They hate their own cowardice"
Man...great line!
mlmr wrote:
Do you think we ought to have a fundraising legal costs for the election freepathon?
Is that our new battle cry?
Man, I don't want to give up on Juwesh Modz Rule but that thread calls to me to make a UT II (can we keep both alive?)
He's in a better place...a much hotter place.
[I didn't say it was better for him.]
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