[ohioWfan]

Of course the Cold War was real, but there were no deaths that the leftist media could splash on the front pages, and bombed vehicles to proudly display. The left was far more vicious against Bush than it was against Reagan.

The rhetoric was not the same. There were books and movies about assassinating President Bush.

I maintain that even without the "new tone" President Bush wouldn't have been effective.

I don't think McCain followed in Bush's footsteps at all. He campaigned very hard......against Bush. And that's why he lost.

I like Sarah's pushing, btw. I just don't think you can or should insist that someone do something he doesn't believe is the appropriate behavior. I would have been screaming in self-defense if I were President Bush, but that's not what he thought was the right thing to do.

[Lakeshark]

Okay, we'll disagree on the rhetoric level, I just don't see it being all that different. The difference was that W decided not to respond, not to defend himself, and that left a void in public discourse. I found that disconcerting some time around 2005, and still do.

I think you are admitting he didn't: I would have been screaming in self-defense if I were President Bush, but that's not what he thought was the right thing to do.

[Lakeshark]

Btw, I thought McCain lost it for a whole host of reasons, mostly because he was a poor candidate.