I've always been critical of the 'Bush=Hitler' crowd because it changes the debate away from legitimate criticism of the president, the administration and their policies and toward whether Bush is exactly as bad as Hitler. Bush is not a very good president, but no reasonable person could equate him with Hitler. Using lazy historical analogies does nothing to advance serious analysis of serious problems. Extreme hyperbole discredits the speaker far more than the target of the speaker's wrath. It makes things too easy on the target's defenders.
Pat Robertson is another person who often makes statements so ludicrous that his own words discredit him more than any critic can. For example, he recently told George Stephanapolus of ABC News that the federal judiciary, as currently constituted, represents the biggest threat to America in its history. He warned: "They're destroying the fabric that holds our nation together."
An incredulous Stephanapolus asked whether Robertson was saying that the threat posed by federal judges was more dire than the Civil War, World War II, and the terrorists who struck on Sept. 11. Robertson replied: "I really believe that. ... I think that the gradual erosion of the consensus that's held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings."
For the last three and a half years, we've been told by hysterical officials that al-QaedaSaddamUNTheFrench will destroy the American way of life unless we invade random and sundry countries willy nilly. Now, that demon has been officially replaced by judges who demand legislators respect constitutions, even if traditional ways of doing things have done the opposite. Well, not totally replaced, I'm sure; just as public enemy number one.
On the other hand, if a nut case can squeeze a lucrative book deal out of the libel that all liberals are traitors. then perhaps it's not so surprising that Robertson thinks he can get away with something like this.
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