I confess to being one who has let my disappointments and frustrations lead me to speak more harshly, with more ugliness, than I should about the president.
On the other hand, the furious defense here of the president, of every breath he takes, is very polarizing and tends to drive some of us who have been occasional critics but are generally sympathetic into complete and angry opposition.
Most of us, I think, react angrily to belittling attacks that to seek discredit not only what we say but our very right to think a dissenting thought or express a dissenting opinion. Often that anger takes the form of shouting back with redoubled anger, at higher volume, and with more unfairness. We hurl more anger at the president than we feel in our hearts. The president gets a lot of abuse that is really a way of hitting back at his aggressive defenders.
I am not saying who is the more guilty in all of this. Many of us feel great passion about these issues and there is heat aplenty. Then, of course, there are agent provocateurs. Quickly passions are aflame and it is quite impossible to say who started it. Maybe one can say, in a particular thread, who is at fault but, of course, the hurt and anger carries over from thread to thread.
Clearly those of us who have said overly harsh things about the president have much to repent. But I am specifically suggesting to his most vigorous defenders to consider whether they are not pouring gasoline on the fire with their own words and demands that he be only praised.
I liked your post. But you need to know that as a Bush defender, I do not demand praise only. I just find the more rabid attacks to be unpalatable and not what I joined FR for.
It comes down to this - words have consequences.
And, we do not respect efforts to destroy from within.
So, in your disagreements, just make sure you show respect and that you do not use this site as a daily rant against your perceived complaint that the government is not 100% to your liking and that it is all Bush's fault.
It is very telling that we seldom hear rants about our congress - just the president. And, a great deal of what is wrong is because of the CONGRESS being wimps - not this president.