Something is different.

To say with absolute certainty that the hatred for Bush was less than that for Obama is from my perspective completely laughable. While it's certainly possible (and I really don't see how, I'll admit) it is at minimum something to debate over.
And at any rate, when was this golden age of politics in America when the opposing political parties did not viciously denigrate and attack each other, frequently with terms that were definitely not true from an objective standpoint? Was it during the early Republic, when the opposing sides would openly denigrate the other as traitors? Was it during the 1950s with McCarthyism? Was it during the 1980s where Reagan was openly called an idiot to the degree that Bush was (not that I'm denying Bush was an idiot)? American politics has always been like this, and while the Republican party has unfortunately gone a little too far into right-wing nutjob lala land, I don't see what they're doing as something new and just hope they can get out of their stupid fantasies pretty quickly.

 

The legitimacy of the government is being called into question; I don't think I have experienced this in my life time at least to this degree. Obama is governing too far to the left and Congress is seen by many as incompetent. Frankly, I don't think we are too far away from local governments resisting federal directives. If the States begin to rebel and the government starts to use strong arm tactics like the military we may see a full scale rebellion. One thing is certain the two party system is collapsing. The rise of a third party may be more viable than any time in the nation's history. Before you dismiss what I am saying, remember this, approximately 50 percent of the population does not vote. If this great "unknown" becomes politically active, anything can happen.

 

I've been saying exactly this for quite some time now...but you're right that it seems to be worse now than ever...

team sport politics. pick a side and defend it. the other side is evil. our side is great and glorious. that's fine when you're a fan of a pro sports team...but extremely detrimental to a republic and a culture, at large.

 

Probably seems that way because of the freer flow of information. For example, this website allows us to be complete a-holes.

But in truth, it's always been vicious. That's why it's always been considered rude to talk about politics at social gatherings.

 

I'll say this again: A large chunk of the right-wing watched George W Bush get (justifiably) ripped to shreds for several years. Therefore, they have years of pent-up anger and vitriol that gushed out almost uncontrollably ever since Obama was elected. Obama hasn't had nearly enough time to justify the irrational hatred some seem to have for him. It's ridiculous. Bill Clinton faced similar phenomena after his election though not this extreme.

Moreso than lefties, right-wingers are just very sore losers of presidential elections, probably because they are accustomed to winning and lefties expect to lose.

 

So I guess we'll see if the reaction to obama's ripping makes the left respond with even more vitriol the next time we have a GOP president.

 

Yep. And if you'll recall, they (the people running the GOP) felt put upon after the Watergate era. And after the Iran-Contra scandal. And thousands of other perceived slights. They are bullies who immediately turn into wimps and cry-babies when even slightly challenged.

And by the way Mathloom, my hatred for the people running the GOP is completely rational.

 

Both. People cheer for their party and blindy hate the other side (which is funny, because both sides have been incompetent in their own right, yet homerism keeps them from seeing their own teams faults).... And their "team" is not representing the population.

I would disagree that the hatred is worse with obama. With bush, it was amazingly bad.

 

They won't because they're (at least the ones in Washington) wimps. And I say this as a left-leaning Democrat. The problem right now is one of messaging: the right have a central message. They have an organized agenda. Their agenda is "NO!". It's ridiculous, counterproductive, and spiteful, but it is unified and it's sadly effective. Meanwhile, the Democrats in congress are split, with each one worrying about his/her own agenda and political clout. As a result, when they right screams "NO!" the left has no comeback, because they're too busy arguing about what the comeback should be. I put most of the blame for this on Nancy Pelosi. She is doing an abolutely terrible job leading the Democrats in congress, and the country is suffering for it.

As for the hatred for Bush vs. Obama, it think the hatred is somewhat comparable. The difference is this: by the end of his term, Bush had done so many things wrong and been so ineffective and/or downright dishonest, he deserved some, if not all, of the vitriol that was slung his way. Obama has done nothing to warrant the abuse he has received, and it's making us look like fools in the eyes of the rest of the world.

 

people seem to forget the times of burr killing hamilton and senators attacking other senators with canes on the senate floor. it is no more heated than it's ever been, we just have more avenues to display it.

EDIT: i do believe the general vitrol from those on the right is much more venemous that it has been in recent memory. bush received a lot of grief (a lot of it well-deserved), but the talk of violence against him was slim and that was mainly due to the fact that "liberals" are just less prone to resorting to violence as opposed to the stuanchly religious, gun-loving right.

that being said, anyone that thinks a true "rebellion" or revolution is at hand is not in touch with reality. the only people who now all of a sudden feel that we need to "take back our country" are the right-wing gun-toting loons. and that's not to say that i dont think (nor would i completely disagree with) state and local governments resisting federal government initiatives, but the fight sure as hell won't come down to the citizens taking the streets in arms... the fight will end as all major domestic battles do - in court.

 

Bad, but I wouldn't say "hatred," and I live in freaking (and I mean freaking) San Francisco. Occasional lefty would call Bush a "fascist," but people weren't mentioning the antichrist, and there was no major new organization airing editorial pieces calling the president a "racist," "socialist," "communist," and "terrorist." There was no talk of succession, etc, (just look at Solid's post -- there is a real bunker weirdness now with some of these folks.)

Mathloom, I think you are spot on. It is worse now than I have ever seen it in 40 years that includes Watergate.

 

The difference of course is the fact that Bush did so much that was simply stomach turning and BO has concentrated on very little but the stimulus and healthcare so far.

 

which one could also considerer equaling stomach turning, especially with how it has been approached/handled.

 

Are you really going to equate those two issues to the laundry list of things Bush did to anger the American people? If so, please take off your blinders.

 

relax. I'm not trying to equate anything. I was just point out the fact that both have (and will) do things others don't agree with.

And if you think those are the only 2 issues, then please take off your blinders...i just used those because that's what you referenced

For whatever reason, there has been increasing anger and hate towards the president. Maybe it's just the continuing trend from bush hate, maybe its retaliation for bush hate...or maybe it's just because a lot of people don't like the guy and what he's doing. Maybe still, it's just an extension of the world we live in today, i.e. overly fantastical, Enquirer-esqu and worst of all, intolerant

 

I honestly don't think this country has been the same since the 2000 election. It caused people who normally wouldn't do so, to choose a side and DIG IN.

The advent of the 24-hour news channels hasn't helped. Nor has talk radio. Both give people the impression that they are 'informed' when they really aren't even close.

 

at this point in their respective terms there is absolutely NO comparison. it got bad w/ bush over time b/c he was such a crappy president and (most) everyone knew it. but even comparing bush in like 2007 to obama now, the vitriol and outright threatening behavior directed towards obama is far, far scarier.

and which prominent liberals were out there going "i hope bush fails" one month into his term?

which liberal protesters were bringing guns to bush events as a way to protest the federal government?

which liberal protesters were going around carrying signs saying "we came unarmed...this time"?

death threats against obama have gone up 400% over bush. that aint liberals doing that.

 

Everything is always about the money.

For the Bush terms the money was on the inside so the opposition was less funded and less directed.The grass roots opposition took on the varied voices of the people. It was the administration's message that was reinforced by the marshaled forces of money, pounding the singular voice of talking points. And they robbed us till our outrage was galvanized. With an Obama administration in power, the moneyed interests are more on the outside (though not in Congress) so the focus of the propaganda is to foment outrage over reform.

When you pay people to say things you can get them all to say the same things so it appears you have a popular message. When people are expressing their own ideas you get a wide spectrum of viewpoints and disagreement over the details and nuances.

But make no mistake, politics has always been a high stakes, dirty game. It's actually more civilized now than anytime in world history. I'm guessing you won't see Biden coercing the Secret Service to eviscerate the President.
So we have come a long way.

 

Only by right wing Tea Bagging nut jobs. The dumbest seem to scream the loudest.

Please, Obama is nowhere near too far to the left. In fact he is too far to the right in my opinion. The democrats in Congress should just push the agenda that they actually believe in, and step on the throats of Republicans who get in the way. I know that 's exactly what the Republican party would do if the roles were reversed. Congress needs to grow a pair and push through TRUE Universal health care and other Progressive ideas.

Please. This will absolutely never happen.

Again, this is right wing fantasy. If liberals had even hinted at something like this the right would have called them traitors. Oh, that's right they did, for a whole lot less.

The two party system runs on corporate money, plain and simple. In order for a third party to be viable they would need hundreds of millions of dollars to get started. Unless some ultra-billionaire decides to run for President (See Ross Perot) and actually starts a grass roots organization right now, there is no way that a third party can be viable.

The other part of the problem you just touched on. APATHY. If more than half the population cares more about what Lindsey Lohan or Kate Gosslin or the Oct-Mom did this weekend than the fact that in some cities 1/3rd of the population has no health care, the people will rise up for nothing. How could they? They aren't even paying attention.