Bush Hatred Strikes Again

E. J. Dionne takes on this timely subject, launching off of a poll that suggests that John F. Kerry supporters are more likely than George W. Bush supporters to believe that this is the most important election in their lifetimes (37% to 27% for those who are interested.

Of course Republicans want to play down those numbers and so are trotting out that old scarecrow, irrational Bush hatred. But Mr. Dionne has their number.

The phrase "Bush hatred" is invoked to imply a legion of citizens gone mad.

It's an odd argument when it comes from right-wing talk radio and cable television ranters who insisted in the 1990s that hatred of Bill Clinton was the highest form of patriotism. But their reaction is at least predictable. Anyone else who buys into the notion that the passions Bush has unleashed are primarily the product of unreasoning prejudices misses the central dynamic of this year's election.

The fervent opposition to President Bush is rational and its intensity is a direct response to Bush's own efforts to discredit all opposition to his policies. Criticism of Bush comes not simply from the far left or from fans of Michael Moore movies, but also from political moderates, including Republicans, who see Bush's fiscal, social and foreign policies as decidedly immoderate. The passion comes from a conviction that the president would prefer to use the fear of terrorism and cast his opponent as a dangerous appeaser than to risk the loss of power.

Anyway if you are thinking President Bush hasn't done the best job as Pesident, well you're not alone.