In one regard the Obama presidency is a real eye opener for me:

[howard112211]

I was not involved in poltics in the pre-Bush era, so most of my experience with poltics comes from those times. And back then, I often heard conservatives talk about how the office of the president must be respected and how it is unpatriotic to criticize during wartimes, how Democrats need to "put country first before politics" and so on. I never agreed with those sentiments, and I don't agree with them now, but I always sort of felt like it was hard to argue against someone who holds that opinion, if they hold it universally. But holy shit, after what has been going on during the Obama presidency, I will never ever ever again give the slightest shred of credit to anyone who claims such a thing. The lack of respect and downright treasonous (yes, I will use that word, although I hate the sound of it, but what can you call a politician who actively works to dismantle the country he is elected to serve?) behaviour coming from Republicans is beyond any of my wildest imaginations.

[spanone]

1. welcome to the united states of hypocrisy. whatever fulfills your agenda.

[AndrewP]

2. I learned it during the Clinton administration

[JoePhilly]

4. Me too ... that's when I saw the light as it were.

[KansDem]

3. I believe Joe Wilson shouting "You lie!" during Obama's SOTU was the turning point...

...for me, anyway.

[Dawson Leery]

5. As someone who clearly recalls the 1990's

I will tell you that the right wing never accepted Bill Clinton and actively worked to destroy him. These self described fascist thugs are doing the same thing with Obama.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Yes, but it's much worse now.

I don't recall Clinton being likened to Hitler, having his birthplace questioned, and I don't remember the repukes promising impeachment BEFORE they took over Congress. I don't remember people packing weapons at rallies where Clinton was going to speak, either. The right wing was nuts then, but they're completely batshit crazy now.

[H2O Man]

7. Recommended.

Your OP reminded me of how my father always believed in respecting the Office of the President. He was a liberal democrat, and had really hoped Humphrey would beat Nixon in 1968. Leading up to that election, he used to say something that was common among democrats then -- I have no idea who originated the saying -- that he wouldn't buy a used car from Nixon.

However, after Tricky Dick took office, my father said that people should at very least respect that he was President. That lasted until Watergate. For those of the WW2 generation, like my father, it was devastating to think that a US President could be such a common criminal.

I've often wondered what he would have thought of George W. Bush taking office. I'm sure that he would have advocated the impeachment of Dick Cheney.

[awnobles]

8. Congrats!

Enlightenment comes in flashes.