I have been trying to convey a thought that has rolling around in the empty space in my head like a marble – but I haven’t felt that I really nailed it. The thought is that though I disagree with Barack Obama (and I am sure quite vehemently on most policies) – nonetheless – his is going to be president and has thus earned the respect that is held by that office.
The freak fringe left (and dare I say a growing portion of the middle) refused to give George Bush that respect. As Jeffrey Scott Shapiro writes in the WSJ:
The treatment President Bush has received from this country is nothing less than a disgrace. The attacks launched against him have been cruel and slanderous, proving to the world what little character and resolve we have. The president is not to blame for all these problems. He never lost faith in America or her people, and has tried his hardest to continue leading our nation during a very difficult time.
Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty — a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.
Disgrace, indeed. This country (and it’s repetitive "me" generations) sorely lacks loyalty.
I’ve been rolling a thought around regarding the difference between the outcome and reaction of the Presidential election and the outcome and reaction of Prop 8.
It seems that in one case the American political process “worked” in one instance but somehow it didn’t work in the other. The only difference being the outcome and where one stands on the issues.
Not saying you are saying this … I share your view that McCain’s concession speech was excellent. It’s just something I’m observing the contradiction coming from same crowd that accused Bush of “stealing” the 2000 & 2004 elections.
I think your comments are reinforcing the point (which I obviously have had a difficult time relaying) that I was trying to make.
The nut job left has spent the last 8 years hating George Bush. Most of it, because they didn’t get what they wanted (i.e. Al Gore and his liberal agenda). Instead of supporting the president with respect – they disparaged him with disgusting and appalling attacks.
Same situation with Prop 8. The democratic process is all good – until it doesn’t produce the outcome of the fruitcake fringe marxist left.