I fully understand the way you feel and I encourage you to pursue such a mindset.

Hate is a poison worse than any physical kind.

I don't hate Obama.

I'm pretty certain I understand his motivations and drives. Just because I don't share his beliefs or philosophies, is no reason to hate someone. Disagreement can be divested of hate and in fact can then be more productive to compromises.

I'm going to have to disagree with you about Bush and his influence on the nation. Bush is not personally responsible for the mortgage crisis or the gas speculators that bought up huge blocs of oil and kept them out of circulation to drive up prices. The Iraq war has freed MILLIONS who were not anywhere near free before and after only 6 years of turmoil it looks like it is going to have a happy ending after all. We have not had a terrorist attack on our soil since 9/11 and while some may discount the skill required to pull that off - I don't.

Bush has been demonized by hate. If someone in this nation has been abused unjustly by irrational hatred - it has been him. I will be sad to see him go. Unlike his predecessor and successor Bush really believes in his rhetoric and philosophy. He could've passed the buck and deflected the hate - but he didn't. He has absorbed it until it turned each last follicle of hair in his head gray.

Bush is a genuinely "nice" guy despite all the Lindy or Bowser-esque ranting about him. He may make mistakes and he is not nearly as good a manipulator as his critics claim - in fact he is quite lame at manipulation. The Iraq war has taken its toll on him and yet he has never once faltered from the belief that he was protecting America and doing good.

So, yes, I am not ashamed to say I still stand by Bush and Laura too. In fact, I am proud to stand by them. If folks knew what they do, how they live and the endless hours in the service of others they have put in for the country they would be quite ashamed about the hate they have directed towards them. But they have been turned into caricatures long since divorced from reality by their political opponents - including Obama.

Yes, I will be sad to see them go.

It's the end of an era of quiet class, dignity and selflessness.

You keep on being positive REB. That will be your true salvation and hopefully will rub off on everyone.

I'll try to be more optimistic about the changes coming and I will always try to see the silver lining in the darkest thunder clouds. Don't hate me if I warn others to carry an umbrella - just in case. Because from my unique vantagepoint I see a duesie of a storm coming.

Take care Reb!