It would seem that there are those within the cause who see each brazen act as cause for one-ups-manship, seeing what they can do to top the previous act.
The only thing that draws any hesitance is force. An act unchallenged will be counted as a victory by the enemy.
Our press was more able to visualize the evil that we are facing immediately after 9/11. The left wing power brokers looked in the mirror and saw themselves waving flags and said, "What have we become?". To answer it honestly would mean giving up on the political positions that they've held to for the past 30 years.
It was much "safer" for them to stay as they were, than to be confronted with a midlife crisis.