Yes, I disliked George W. Bush with a passion but …

Is there a difference between wanting Congress to impeach a man who lied us into a war that resulted in the death of 4346 American men and women and people wanting a president to die because of right wing rumors? Well of course there is.

Pastor Steve Anderson

I disliked George W. Bush. I thought his cowboy attitude was bad for America and our status on the world stage. But I never wished him harm. Things have changed – dramatically! A so-called pastor in Arizona, Steve Anderson recently said, “I don’t want him [Obama]
to be a martyr, we don’t need another holiday. I’d like to see him die, like Ted Kennedy, of brain cancer.”

Now before I go any further, it might help to know that I consider myself a Christian, and as a Christian, I was taught that God hates no one and doesn’t want us to hate anyone either. I do hold people in disdain, I do dislike people, but hatred is such a vitriolic emotion that it will eat you up on the inside if you embrace it long enough. Which makes me wonder how a so-called man of the cloth could say that God hates someone. Once again, Steve Anderson is behind the rhetoric. In a sermon he actually titled, “Why I Hate Barack Obama“, Anderson said, “God Hates Barack Obama, I hate Barack Obama. I hate Him. God wants me to Hate Barack Obama.”

I have to hold people like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh responsible for the
up tick in the public malevolence against President Obama. With Beck saying Obama hates white people and Limbaugh stoking the fires, we are heading toward trouble with extremist that could erupt in several versions of Tim McVeigh and Terry Nichols. Many of these people are already on the fringe of society and just need a little shove to go on a killing spree.

William Kostric

For all the turgidity from the right wing over protecting our country from terrorism, they don’t seem to mind agitating terrorist of the homegrown variety. We have people like William Kostric showing up outside town halls attended by President Obama carrying weapons and claiming 2nd amendment rights to do so. While I don’t have any problem with gun ownership, I do think gun owners need to show responsibility and prudence. The first amendment gives us freedom of speech, but it doesn’t give us the right to yell “fire” in a crowded theater – unless there really is a fire.

When the Department of Homeland Security was created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Conservatives lauded the new department. My how times have changed. When DHS released a report back in April entitled, “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” these same Conservatives were aghast that the department would issue such a warning.

They shouldn’t have been surprised. The last time the Republicans were swept out of office the radical right showered us with events like Ruby Ridge, the Branch Davidians, and the Oklahoma City bombing. What’s wrong with being prepared? Perhaps Condi Rice shouldn’t have dismissed the warning about bin Laden determined to attack the US using high-jacked airliners.

Limbaugh and Beck

The color of Obama’s skin, while not behind all of the rhetoric, does raise the stakes even more. In addition to people being frightened by things like Sarah Palin talking about Death Panels – she even took her grandiloquence to Hong Kong – we also have racists disturbed about a black man being president. Perhaps Obama is right and most of the tea-baggers are simply opposed to his policies, but Jimmy Carter has valid points too. There are racists. To deny this fact is ludicrous. The election of Barack Obama was historic and a huge step toward ending racism in this country, but because of people like Limbaugh and Beck, we may actually be taking two huge steps backward.

I don’t hate anyone, but if anyone wants my respect, they have to show compassion and a willingness to accept change that might actually be good for the country instead of the antipole.

September 24, 2009 • Posted in: General information

9 Responses to “Yes, I disliked George W. Bush with a passion but …”

TomCat - September 24, 2009

Hiya Robert. Guess who’s back online?

I remember when the rare wing-nut from our side of the aisle used to stop by Politics Plus and suggest that Bush or Cheney out to be killed. I always disagreed with them, even though I thought that the Bush/GOP regime was the worst thing that ever happened to this nation. Perhaps it’s because the left comes from a culture of reason, while the right comes from a culture of fear and violence
bill - September 27, 2009

Sometimes, I stop reading a web page when I think “What a wingnut”. This is one of the few times when I stopped because I thought “This guy is making a lot of sense.”

Doesn’t mean we agree on issues, but the willingness to say Hey, lets back off on the extremism — that counts for a lot, with me.
Demeur - September 27, 2009

Beck was just given the key to the city out my way. Rumor has it that most of the citizens there are busy changing the locks.
I don’t wish to see Bush or Cheney die. I’d just like to see them behind bars where they belong.
Mauigirl - September 28, 2009

Great post, Robert. We’re on the same page – I’m sure that racism is behind at least some of the opposition to Obama and certainly people like this Anderson guy are not helping matters. How can he even call himself a Christian? It is unbelievable. And plenty of people are listening to him, sadly enough. I really wonder what is wrong with this country.
Kvatch - September 30, 2009

Bush governs without a mandate, practically dismantles the Constitution, and all we on the left call for is a fair election.

Obama may not be all that I wanted him to be (far from it), but he hasn’t even had time to start dismantling the Constitution as the right claims. Nonetheless they don’t want an election. These whiney-ass mother-f*ckers want a coup.
Human - October 1, 2009

This is as I predicted. As the Sick Far Right sees their power in free fall we can expect more violence from them. Irreverent Anderson worships the God of Death and Destruction not Life and Resurrection. They are not Pro Lifers. They are not Pro anything. And Racism plays a big part. Where was their concern about deficits when Bush was in office?
And I don’t want anyone to die. Even a Mass Murderer like Bush. I want them to be held accountable.
Peace.
right not right wing - October 4, 2009

I lean left but hold a few right wing beliefs. I can’t think of a better reason to have a gun then to protect this country from the right wing crazies permeating all media with hate.
Kvatch - December 31, 2009

Hey Robert…where ‘ya been? Anyway, just popped in to say “Feliz Año Nuevo!”
Weaseldog - February 5, 2010

Is everything alright? I check in now and then to see if you’ve made a new post. Still nothing.

Kvatch as to your remark in September, Obama worked hard as Bush’s manservant while in office, helping him dismantle the Constitution, while he was still Senator.

As Senator he kept giving great speeches about how he opposed Bush’s policies, then he voted for them.

He hasn’t changed at all as President.