Tom, if I hadn't read you for a while, I'd say you are advocating a dictatorship!! You seem to take anything which doesn't praise, glorify and exult the little monkey as a form of mild treason and betrayal of your beloved country in time of war.

What looks like a slavish devotion of Republican authority figures is unbecoming, and almost as unrealistic as the blanket condemnations I'm prone to write.

There are some realities - he is not consistent, many of his policies haven't been well thought out, and he's not particularly honest.

For instance, the tax cut was necessary because the economy was good, then necessary because the economy was bad. I've watched passionate speeches glorifying "free trade", and read of tariffs on such basics as steel and lumber.

There are people who love their country, and regard politicians as passing shadows on the beautiful tapestry which is our homeland. I know the politicians and their policies are NOT my country, they are temporary blights on my country. I owe and give my country my allegiance, I owe and give the laws my obedience, and I owe and give the Presidency my respect. I neither owe nor to I give GWB a damned thing except what he earns.

And that does not mean I don't love my country as much as someone who thinks criticism of the President is somehow evil. Probably I love it more, as I realize it can be a better place, it can take criticism, and it has a built in respect for my right to disagree with it. It's a duty.

In a way I apologize for the rant. You are entitled to worship the guy, or despise people who don't. That's your duty, too.

The kind of government which cannot tolerate criticism of it's leaders exists, and maybe some people would be happier there.

But to regard disagreement with the government my country as somehow evil is un-American.

Arf