I know that there have been times in U.S. history where we've been divided and dissatisfied with the workings of government. But I don't believe that there's been a time when one side has lost all respect for the office of President as many have now. It's so over the top to think that Obama is Kenyan-born; a secret Muslim whose intent is to destroy the country. The stockpiling of guns when he took office. The accusation that he's trying to turn us into a Socialist country. Comparisons to Effen' Hitler, for God's sake.
I largely blame Fox News. In a country where freedom of speech is valued above almost everything else (rightfully so), I think it's responsible for dividing us at this point.
If you already have a belief....or just a suspicion.... and the "Fair and Balanced News" that you hear is totally one-sided, at once confirming your suspicions, adding to them, and denying your ability to "hear the other side of the argument"... How can anyone blame 50% of the country for becoming rabid haters and conspirator theorists? And yes, I know that MSNBC is ALSO not neutral in their reporting, but MSNBC doesn't have near the impact that Fox News has. I see Fox News as an organization that, as a whole and individually by commentators, has made a HUGE amount of money by fear mongering. Whip up the country, say some outrageous things, then put out a book and go on a speaking tour. "Confuse" the news reporting with the commentaries. Shout down anyone who disagrees and call them unpatriotic Socialists.
And the rest of the media is not Left.... it's just that Fox is so far off neutral as a point of reference that everything else looks off-kilter.
I don't agree with everything Obama has done.... nor any other politician.
But I think he was dealt a shi**y hand, and some Americans don't have the patience to realize gigantic problems don't come with overnight fixes...especially the economy. We were in two wars and on our way to a depression when he took office. The fact that people were upset that the economy wasn't perfect within the first six months of his Presidency shows that lack of patience.
I'm tired of it.
The world cheered when Obama took office. While he may have fallen short of the expectations that some had, that doesn't make him a monster either.
