I have heard a lot of hate rhetoric directed at American presidents over the years from people who are ultra-partisan, generally extreme, and sometimes from conspiracy-theorists of various stripes.

As a kid, I remember the vitriol spewed at FDR by Republicans and other Right-Wingers because he was putting the brakes on the Republicans darlings and supporters, the Wall Street rip-off artists that precipitated the Great Depression. And Truman, who followed Roosevelt and continued his economic policies. And on through the rest of the century. A percentage of the "outs" will say damned near anything, no matter how untrue or personally insulting, about the person in office.

That seems to be the nature of politics. The United States is not unique in this. I've followed English and French politics from time to time, and the same thing goes on there as well.

But I have never heard as many—and such extreme—blatant lies about any American president as I have about President Barack Obama.

Now, despite what Songwronger, GoofBall, and the other Stooges accuse me of (not bothering to inquire, of course) is that I am "brainwashed" into thinking that Obama is the Messiah Returned. Not so! I had great hopes for Obama in the beginning, and I must admit to being somewhat disappointed by what he has managed to accomplish. I thing he is trying too hard to be "Mr. Nice Guy" and willing to compromise in order to get things done. But the Republican Congress has dug its heels in and refuses to compromise on anything. Obviously that tack is not working. So Obama needs to get tough!

Obama may not be ideal, but when I compare him to the other viable candidates (i.e., capable of actually winning the election) on the ballot, I'm glad I voted for him.

And I haven't been "brainwashed" by anyone.

Don Firth

P. S. And who would YOU have voted for, Songwronger?

P. P. S. And by the way, how did you manage to divert this thread into another "trash Obama" thread?

Oh, yes! The Boston Marathon bombings were part of a devious plot by Obama to take over total control of the United States government!