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Location: Moose Jaw, in between the Moose's butt and nose.
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Just wondering. Bush was the most destructive, divisive, imcompentent, dishonest president in modern history, who at least in one election, was never elected by the majority of the people. However, I didn't recall, in the first 100 days of W's 1st term, all the rabid hate (example: threads being started on Obama not wearing a shirt or Obama should be impeached, without pointing out an actual high crime) that the right has shown for Obama. Even Clinton did not go through something like this in 1993. From what little I recall, Reagan was treated with at least a little respect, as was Bush Sr., in their first 100 days by the left/democrats.
My point being is that maybe the left hated Bush as time went on, but not with this craziness on the right. I think the left hate for Bush didn't really even start to be obvious, until he went into (on lies and disception) Iraq in 3/03.
I just think that they saw the unpopularity that Bush got (and merited) and how he put the GOP in the toilet and now are trying everything they can to, in their minds "return the favor".
I have another theory was to why this is going on, all this sudden literal hate for Obama (not overall, he still has a solid approval rating), however that would open up a can of worms.
I will say however, a lot of "code" (like socialist) being thrown at Obama, is not a hell of a lot different than what was thrown at Dr. King 41-45 years ago.
uhh no.... the left wing had been hating on Bush from the first day he was in office. Blogs like www.smirkingchimp.com were started as soon as Bush was elected by leftists to criticize every little thing Bush did and said.
I know because I was reading a lot of these blogs and websites.
The 24-hour news cycle and access to instant communications are to blame (credit?) in my opinion.
Dissent is patriotic. What we're seeing these days is the ability to propogate that dissent in an "in your face" kind of way. I believe the dissent has always been there, we just have new ways of communicating it, that's all.
Hate from the losing side is as old as the Republic. At least Presidents or candidates are meeting in townhalls as opposed to the towns dueling grounds.
Location: Moose Jaw, in between the Moose's butt and nose.
5,152 posts, read 8,524,412 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bostonian123
uhh no.... the left wing had been hating on Bush from the first day he was in office. Blogs like www.smirkingchimp.com were started as soon as Bush was elected by leftists to criticize every little thing Bush did and said.
I know because I was reading a lot of these blogs and websites.
I'm an independant btw
This site does not show when it began, it if had shown that it started in 2001, you may have a point. If not, it's just your word. You did say you remember reading sites "from back then" though.
I paid some attention to politics back then and once W was sworn into office, even though the way he got in was beyond despicable, the left/dems were not nearly was rabid with their hate during the first 3 to 4 months, like the right has been towards Obama.
A significant part of this hate for Obama (again significant, maybe not even most) is, sour grapes, revenge for the Bush hatred and at least a little bit is, folks that don't like the fact that the president happens to be black.
I know some of the people that have beef with Obama are the same people that had beef with Bush. Obama is doing everything that I criticized Bush for. Policing the world, wreckless spending, open borders, too much focus on international issues over domestic issues, massive expansion of the federal government's power, ignoring the constitution, absorbing counter intel, etc ...
Well, Reagan, Bush Sr., and Clinton never cashed in on the constant hate because back then the blue/red divide did not exist (the colors switched each year, blue was always incumbent). We were not established into blue and red states, and the elections yielded non-controversial wins.
However, in 2000 Gore won the popular vote, and Bush won the electoral vote, so right there at election day barbs were slung in every direction. For the first time ever, red was associated with the Republicans, and Democrats associated with blue, forever burned into our minds as the color of the respective parties. It is rather ironic though, because only in the US are the Conservatives and right wingers associated with the color red. After that election came the vast political divide, because now we could pinpoint who voted for who, and what states were to 'blame'.
Right off the bat the Democrats viciously attacked Bush and his every move, however, their argument fell on deaf ears because Bush's approval ratings were about on par with Obama's after the first 100 days. The reason the first 100 days are so important is because it is generally the focal point of any presidency. Usually after an election the incumbent party has the white house and Congress, and are free to do as they please until the mid-term elections. And the opposing party is always going to be in a frenzy during that period.
I honestly believe the vicious hate from the Democrats during Bush's first term cost them the mid term elections in 2002, and the presidential election in 2004. Back then the DNC was in an even worse mess than the GOP is in now.
So no, I do not believe it is revenge, but rather part of the natural ebb and flow of politics.
The internet also plays a huge role in how we carry about political discussion...
Location: Moose Jaw, in between the Moose's butt and nose.
5,152 posts, read 8,524,412 times
Reputation: 2038
I just hope if, God forbid, the Republicans win fair and square (not like in 2000 and 2004) in 2012 or whenever, that the left/democrats will show more class, at least during the start of that persons presidency.
The OP must have a problem with long term memory. Bush was viciously attacked on a daily basis before he ever moved into the White House and the vicious attacks are still going on to this day. Though the internet wasn't around when Reagan was president, the press was almost as hard on him as they were on Bush. They swore that this cowboy was going to start a nuclear war with the Soviet Union. Indeed, during that time the press gave better treatment to the leaders of the Soviet Union than they did our nation's president.
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