I lived through the scary former times, and it does not feel the same to me. 60's leftism had an appealing idealism and purpose that this paranoia lacks.
*PUKE* sorry, when I stop puking..post later.
IMHO these liberal/progressive columnists are as out of touch with reality as the jihadists themselves...what we have is an elite upper crust in the US, educated beyond utility and reason by an Ivy League whose educational objectives are essentially described by UNESCO- http://www.crossroad.to/articles2/IBO.htm-. When this elite sees and experiences a wholesale rejection by society (Red/Blue state conflict) of the cultural and academic paradigm they've paid to buy into -both financially and personally-the rejection acquires apocalyptic overtones.
the real danger of the heightened rhetoric in this country comes from the left. it is the LEFT that has been attacking speakers they disagree with. it is the LEFT that has riots when there are economic conferences. it is the LEFT that historically attacks soldiers who are returning from service to their country.
you don't hear about conservatives throwing pie at Michael Moore (I doubt he'd complain), you don't see conservatives rushing the stage when liberals come to speak, you don't see conservatives staging "protests" to shout down a speaker, you don't see conservatives rioting when an environmental conference is held.
the danger comes from the LEFT.