Comments on: Tea Party of Not Coolness

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:42:56 +0000

Good point, Rebekah… I’d forgotten that. GWB did have a lot of support after 9/11.

And yet… the Bushes couldn’t walk in their Inauguration Parade in ’01 b/c people were throwing eggs at the motorcade. It was a conflicted relationship from the start.

By: Rebekah

Rebekah — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:22:24 +0000

I have to say that it was not *always* cool to hate President Bush. After 9/11, President Bush had the country and the world on his side. When he decided pursue the war in Iraq, the feelings of patriotism and trust made it decidedly uncool to question the validity of the President’s claims concerning the necessity of the war. Later, of course, there were many questions, plenty of anger, and many unfair and hateful portrayals of President Bush. It is fair to say that hating President Bush became cool, but it was not always cool. He did win re-election, after all.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:17:59 +0000

Fair enough, Adam. Didn’t mean to paint you in broad strokes. You seem a thoughtful person, willing to hear both sides.

I’ve read accounts of Tea Party events from sympathetic observers, and they paint a different picture than the one I see in the media — in general the participants are normal and ordinary. (There are kooks and fringers in every group.)

I still see a double standard. While it’s uncool to hate President Obama, it was always cool to hate President Bush… indeed back then it was the very essence of cool. I doubt this has changed much.

Peace to you and safe travels.

By: adam copeland

adam copeland — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:04:37 +0000

I’m on the road and need to keep things snappy, chris. The post concerned this particular event at this time and I really rather not be bunched in with all liberals in years past. Of course you’re right–hypocracy is always not cool as well. Peace.

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:21:29 +0000

Sorry, Adam… but the ‘hate-mongering is never cool’ response rings a little hollow and perfunctory.

During the Bush years, liberals didn’t object to the hatred of him, even though it was ugly, frequent and often mainstream. There were no calls for civility… those calls have only come now that President Obama is the target.

If you yourself objected vigorously to hatred of President Bush, then my apologies. But in my observation, the left in general didn’t object at all back then… for them now to say ‘hate isn’t cool’ doesn’t work.

By: adamjcopeland

adamjcopeland — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:03:18 +0000

Of course, Stushie, hate mongering is never cool. Period.

By: Stushie

Stushie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:40:04 +0000

Adam, if you’re going to be fair then you have to include liberal descriptions or depictions of President Bush over the last eight years. Hate mongering is not just exclusive to conservatives.

By: Sue Densmore

Sue Densmore — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:34:00 +0000

I agree – SO not cool. I wish we could return to actual intelligent dialogue…