I really don't find much comparison between the insults/threats Bush has gotten to what Obama is receiving. Many liberals were upset about the results of the 2000 election, but since there was a whole fiasco involving that plus a recount that was halted, it was understandable. Besides, what's the worst thing they did? They egged his limo. Arguably rude, but at least they did not use Molotov Cocktails. After that, most everything quited down, with Bush simply having low expectations from the left. 9/11, everything was up in the air. It wasn't until well into the Iraq war did we go beyond poking fun of him to criticizing him. I can imagine the attacks during the 04 election becoming more vicious, but by then he did SOMETHING. Obama isn't officially president yet, and his attacks are becoming downright nasty and he's even wearing body armor underneath his clothes.
Also, Obama's death threats are much more frightening, when considering people have already tried to kill him, and there were those kids who wanted to kill several blacks as well. I don't ever recall a story of a liberal being caught with a gun somewhere near a Bush residence, nor do I recall some hippies planning to take out church-goers.
There's also the evident racism. Now, not all (and indeed, I hope most are not) conservatives are racists, and there are incidnets where some liberals turn out to be closet racists or develop tendancies, but racism was rampant throughout McCain's campaign. Now, McCain is not a racist, and I appluad him for trying to quiet down the nasty rhetoric going around. But so many still believe that Obama is a Muslim or an Arab, neither of which is correct (and even if they were, his character and policies would matter more). Palin may have been referring to Bill Ayers when she said "Palling around with terrorists", but it seemed obvious that the crowd was thinking of Bin Laden when they heard that word (I have a feeling most of them did not even know who Ayers was). Let's also not forget the South, which for the most part is heavily Republican and is well known for racism (again, to make things clear, I'm not saying everyone who lives in the south is racist, nor does racism exist solely in that region, I'm just saying it's known for that).
The only point I can concede on about the Bush attacks was his comparison to Hitler by MoveOn.org. I don't condone it, but you guys are aware that a Georgia senator compared Obama to Hitler as well, right?
As for Obama being radical, it just makes me roll my eyes when someone says that; conservative pundits think that anything center or center-left of their ideals alone constitutes radical. In terms of political leanings, the only difference I see between Obama and other democrats is that Obama wasn't afriad to pass himself as "liberal"; Clinton, Gore and Kerry had to present themselves almost dead center, sometimes as even having the same ideals as their rivals. From what I hear, the republicans may be entering a similar phase to what the democrats have experienced where they have to govern from the center in order to win on a national level.
Furthermore, I find there to be 3 levels on a political spectrum from both the left and right. Level 1 is more or less moderate with leanings to one side, although such people might have a position or two arguably opposite to most of their beliefs, where I would put Clinton and Biden. Level 2 is when they are solidly commited to one side, and can listen or even get along with the radical faction, but also acknowledges a large portion of people don't agree with them, recognizes what is practical, and will compromise with their opponents. Level 3 I think requires no explanation. I personally put myself as a leftist level 2, and I find Obama to be on that same level as well. If you want a level 3, I'd reccomend looking at Ralph Nader or Alan Keys.
If there is one thing that has really been pissing me off about about politics from the early 90's to now, it's about how liberals were demonized. I don't deny that conservatives have been the victims of rather off-color names, but such behavior seemed to be their entire arguement. I think it says something when an episode of Bill Moyers can actually compare right-wing talk radio to Hutu talk radio right before and during the Rwandan genocide. Hopefully soon, we can stop the demonizing altogether, simply acknowledge fundamental differences in beliefs, and actually work together to solve problems.
As for regarding the Bush=Hitler:
THREE REICHS AND YOU'RE OUT
George Bush isn't Hitler. In the 2004 election, MoveOn.org compared Bush to Hitler, ignoring the first rule for being taken seriously by grown ups, which is: Don't call everyone you don't like "Hitler."
Bush is not Hitler. For one thing, Hitler was a decorated, frontline combat veteran. Also, in the election that brought him to power in 1933, Hitler got more votes than the other candidates.
And Hitler had a mustache. So let's all take a rest from playing the Hitler card.
Unless we're talking about Saddam Hussein. Now, that guy was Hitler.
Do keep in mind the seemingly positive comments about Hitler is a joke, which even my republican grandmother capatalized on in one occasion. She played a game with me and my mom asking us to pick a candidate without knowing their name, but would list some facts about them. The seemingly bad candidates turned out to be FDR and Churchill.
