Posted on 11/15/2007 5:29:52 AM PST by PJ-Comix
A very interesting article appeared in yesterday's Wall Street Journal titled, "The Insanity of Bush Hatred." Author Peter Berkowitz stated that even many normally rational members of the left are completely overcome by their absolute hatred of Bush to such an extent that it borders on insanity:
...But Bush hatred is different. It's not that this time members of the intellectual class have been swept away by passion and become votaries of anger and loathing. Alas, intellectuals have always been prone to employ their learning and fine words to whip up resentment and demonize the competition. Bush hatred, however, is distinguished by the pride intellectuals have taken in their hatred, openly endorsing it as a virtue and enthusiastically proclaiming that their hatred is not only a rational response to the president and his administration but a mark of good moral hygiene.
Berkowitz gave an example of his own personal encounter with irrational Bush hatred:
Finally, another guest, a man I had long admired, an incisive thinker and a political moderate, cleared his throat, and asked if he could interject. I welcomed his intervention, confident that he would ease the tension by lending his authority in support of the sole claim that I was defending, namely, that Bush hatred subverted sound thinking. He cleared his throat for a second time. Then, with all eyes on him, and measuring every word, he proclaimed, "I . . . hate . . . the . . . way . . . Bush . . . talks."
This summary of insane Bush hatred was given towards the end of the article:
In short, Bush hatred is not a rational response to actual Bush perfidy. Rather, Bush hatred compels its progressive victims--who pride themselves on their sophistication and sensitivity to nuance--to reduce complicated events and multilayered issues to simple matters of good and evil. Like all hatred in politics, Bush hatred blinds to the other sides of the argument, and constrains the hater to see a monster instead of a political opponent.
As if to prove Peter Berkowitz correct, the response to his article in the Democratic Underground reveals yet more insane Bush hatred:
I hate, despise, loathe and detest Bush with the burning intensity of a white hot sun.
Mr. Berkowitz has it backwards. The insane ones are those who see nothing wrong with bush and his band of criminals.
I hate people who don't hate Bush.
Hating a Torturer is NOT Insane.
...Do I need meds?
You can see a wider collection of these insane BDS remarks at the DUmmie FUnnies.
>> you won’t need to be a subscriber any more to read their articles online
OpinionJournal (http://www.opinionjournal.com), which is the WSJ opinion site, is free, except for their “Political Diary” section. The article NewsBusters was referring to came from there.
The actual Wall Street Journal website(http://www.wsjonline.com) still requires a subscription to read most of their articles.
OpinionJournal, especially “Best of the Web”, is my personal favorite political website, after Free Republic.
Which is, after all, the point.
Demonization of an opponent is a long-standing tactic, most often used against nations, but now it has infiltrated domestic politics.
It’s ironic that they hate him so much, given his very liberal approach to governing.
I guess it comes under the category of “self-loathing.”
In reading the article, we find that P. Berkowitz (as opposed to the DU-implied relationship to D. Berkowitz) is a lefty-progressive and actually supports the political goals of the wing-nut side.
He, though, appears to have avoided the Kool-Aid of BDS. And so, the wing-nut-brigade hates him, vilifies him and rejects him.
...while proving his point.
Good observation ! I've often thought that too. The very people who complain and whine that Bush and his admin are controlling everything, would have no problem whatsoever putting the democrats back in power who have clearly stated that they will control everything.
They should love Bush !
Anne Lamott, a very funny writer BUT lib-nut-job from San Fran, mentions in Plan B that she actively hates George Bush, and that by continuing to hate him, she (and others) will not let him win. It is, to me, significant — that they foment this vitriol daily (in daily prayers?) for that very purpose. SICK!!
By the same token, the vitriol spewed at George Bush has less to do with the fact that he is a lukewarm leader than that he is a Republican who dares to defend American interests at home and abroad. To the Sell America Out crowd, that is the unforgivable sin.
Sure, they hate Bush.
They hate US even more.
They don’t hate him for his liberal spending & immigration & welfare-state policies. They hate him because -— despite all those those liberal tendencies -— he’s willing to defend our country against the barbarians. The leftists all think they’re in love with the barbarians, because it’s just so gosh-darned trendy to proclaim that love. What’s really ironic, is that the leftists would be the first to have their heads cut off when the barbarians are running things.
Also worth remembering: Lenin hated the non-communist socialist far more than he hated the capitalists. Sure, he killed plenty of capitalists, but that was just “business”. When it came to his socialist competitors, he hated them with a rage that equaled the intensity of the left’s hatred for the liberal George Bush.
yeah, liberals always cuts taxes, appoint conservative supreme court justices (who recently struck down partial-birth abortion), speak on family values, and talk about Jesus Christ being their favorite philosopher.
You just mentioned some of his good points. And you are right. And I think he is especially good on Iraq.
But let me ask you: open borders, throwing Border Patrol agents in prison for doing their jobs, expanding the welfare state at a greater rate than any president in our history. Does that sound like a conservative to you?
.Liberal suffering from BDS"From hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee. Ye damned whale".
...
If Bill Clinton were POTUS and his policies were identical to those of Bush, liberals would love him.
This hatred appears irrational, but it's not. They hate Bush because he and Laura are good and decent.
He and his wife project what is noble and good about middle America and present a stark contrast to the depravity and decadence of the liberal elite.
Bush demonstrated courage and steadfastness in the face of adversity while liberals showed themselves to be feckless cowards. And they know it! And they hate the contrast.
It's not about policy and issues. It's about his character contrasted with their lack of character .
The Bush rants began right after the election when it was all in recount. Algore nearly stole the election.
You can find similiar examples of Bush Derangement Syndrome at freedom underground, freedom4em, liberty post, etc etc etc.
The good news in these facts is it keeps these nutcases off the streets, and there has been a drop in stolen grocery carts nationally....(chuckle)
Expanding the welfare state? How is he doing that?
Prescription drugs.
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