Comparing the People's reaction (not the liberal's reaction) to Bush's extreme right wing agenda to Obama's middle of the road policies just don't add up. For a progressive, Obama is far from perfect, and hardly left enough.

It doesn't surprise me that someone living in Scandanavia would view the US political spectrum this way.

List of countries by tax revenue as percentage of GDP
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_…

Denmark 50.0%
Sweden 49.7%
Finland 43.6%
Norway 43.6%
Iceland 40.4%

compare those with the US

United States 28.2%

Given that, it is small wonder that a Scandinavian perspective would think Obama's big government policies as moderate. Most taxpaying Americans would probably not be happy if the US government took another 12.2% – 22.2% out of their paychecks.

As the Beatles sang

Let me tell you how it will be;
There's one for you, nineteen for me.
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I”m the taxman.

Should five per cent appear too small,
Be thankful I don't take it all.
'Cause I'm the taxman,
Yeah, I'm the taxman.

BTW in case your interested:

United Kingdom 39.0%

Comparing the People's reaction (not the liberal's reaction) to Bush's extreme right wing agenda to Obama's middle of the road policies just don't add up. For a progressive, Obama is far from perfect, and hardly left enough.

And it is a mystery to me, worthy of journalistic exploration, why the republicans put forth an agenda that appears to hurt their supporters. I mean of coarse the middle and lower middle classes. I think it is clear if you believe in unbridled capitalism, fundamentalism, anti-equality, deregulation, government small enough to drown in a bathtub, anti-social programs, uber-individualism, etc. The Repubs are your party of choice.

Under the aforementioned conditions, anyone with enough money to invest should in American manufacturers of Guns and weaponry of war. We have changed the laws to allow people to attend group events with automatic weapons hanging off their shoulders. We sell weaponry to whoever wants it, cheaply, and with the least amount of regulation. And we sell to both sides of any conflict. And if we think the competition is too touch we ban the sale of weapons to a country we disprove of…………..it is a laughable riot, unless you follow the money trail…………step right up folks you too can become an instant millionaire….

As someone living in Scandinavia, Obama would be thought of as a bland middle of the road conservative politician with Bush being the more extreme of the two, particularly as it relates to embracing the fundamentalists, war on false pretenses, trashing of regulations, and secrecy.

My point is that condemning heineous acts or behaviour would carry more impact and credibility if such condemnations or disapprovals weren't incessantly and invariably accompanied or followed by a “but the other side does it, or did it, too” Just a personal opinion–nothing to write home about..

And my point is when someone condemns such acts they should look at their own side first and condemn such actions universally instead of trying to attribute them to just one side. When they do not do this and both sides are guilty then the person should be reminded that they are not and that such efforts to attribute to only one side will be called out for the farce they are.

DER: “t's a sad commentary when the only excuse for bad behavior is, 'Well, the other side does it, or did it, too'”

Leonidas: “I think you are in error of the nature of my commentary, I ask you to read it once again. I do not defend such actions, I have called them tasteless on both sides, I merely point to the lack of such an equal application of standards by folks on both sides.”

DER: ” I find it a sad commentary when excuses are made for one side when condemning the other.”

Leonidas: ” My position applied equally to both, something made clear in all my posting in this thread.

Read my comments on this thread again and note I do not single out one side and only ask for equal application of standards. I would think on a blog called “The Moderate Voice” such a moderate comment would be welcomed.”

Again, reread my comments and let me know if you see them differently.”

DER: I have re-read them. My point is that condemning heineous acts or behaviour would carry more impact and credibility if such condemnations or disapprovals weren't incessantly and invariably accompanied or followed by a “but the other side does it, or did it, too” Just a personal opinion–nothing to write home about..

but that this constitutes the bulk of the Republican response

I seriously doubt that, what it constitutes is the coverage of most republican response. Calm and measured responses don't sell papers or drive ratings, being able to locate and interview and film the more outrageous people does. Its media sensationalism trumping journalism.

Dear Leonidas,
I condemn every kind of violence. As I'm not an American citizen (I don't have to choose Democrat/ Republican), I don't have any problem to condemn what the Democrats could have done or said by the past.
I disagree with the fact that for you, it's a “non-new”, because I'm shocked by this message about Obamacare.
I don't believe in any conspiracy : I wanteds to say that, for me, everything which is written or printed by a party is thinked, has a goal.
I was making a link with a story that happened in France years ago. A leader had made an awful joke, “game of words ” with the name of a politician. Later, journalists had showed that it was not spontaneous, but “thinked”, calculated :to be on the headlines, to gain votes, and to see people's reaction.
(This leader was condemned for these word)

Ahh ok, I got you know, I thought you were referring to my link when you responded to me rather than Le Pen. Thanks for the clarification.

I'm also glad you condemn advocation of violence on both sides, as I do. I think you just take these sign wavers a lot more serious than I do. Maybe its because your not an American. I tend to look at most of it the same way I would at someone yelling “Kill them” at a football game, just over enthusiasm without any real threat behind it. yes its distasteful but not particularly new nor alarming, its something that goes back further than my grandfather's day. Be nice if we could end it, but I'm not going to freak out over it and go into hysterics. I find the best thing to do is simply show your disapproval.calmly and dismissively and not try to get in someone's face over it which might escalate.

t's a sad commentary when the only excuse for bad behavior is, “Well, the other side does it, or did it, too”

I think you are in error of the nature of my commentary, I ask you to read it once again. I do not defend such actions, I have called them tasteless on both sides, I merely point to the lack of such an equal application of standards by folks on both sides. I find it a sad commentary when excuses are made for one side when condemning the other. My position applied equally to both.

I merely point out that Liberals are condemning Conservatives for the very same type of things they did and this is nothing new. The pictures of the Liberals during the Bush error are a clear illustration of this. I never said either actions were acceptable, they are not, I merely say this is not breaking news but more of the same stuff we have been seeing for a long time and its not just conservatives. If the truth disturbs you I suggest you to also come out and denounce all those who made such displays as well, not just those who do it on one side of the political spectrum. Well if you don't condemn past acts of liberals can't say its because you didn't know , now that you do know, will you condemn them? I just don't find this anymore alarming than when the same thing has happened in the past with other Presidents.

The pictures pretty much make it clear that this is nothing new, and this isn't some new type of conspiracy, no matter how much the liberal demagouges have their panties in a bunch.

But hey, your entitled to your own opinion, and to decide for yourself if you will also condemn the left-wing for their actions as shown in my photo link, or if only right-winger doing this are bad and left-wingers are to be condoned. The choice is yours not mine, I'm not the one who has to see your face in the mirror.