Monday, September 22, 2003
Is he Lincoln or is he Hitler?: Love watching the extremists argue, argue, argue, trying desperately not to lose an argument. One knows they’re off their rockers when they compare Bush to Lincoln and, on the other side of the argument, to Herr Hitler and the Goebbels propoganda machine. ... (Thanks to Reader BK for the Lincoln item; Hitler item via Andrew Sullivan.)
Update -- A handful of readers, whose opinions I respect, gently (and convincingly) chastised me for referring to Victor Davis Hanson as an ‘extremist’ in the above item. Made me think whether Andrew Greeley is also an ‘extremist.’ Answer to both: No. Got carried away. Guess I’m guilty of the same type of rhetorical extremism I’ve been condemning. But I will say this: Comparing Bush to Lincoln or Hitler is absolutely ludicrous. They were both off their rockers for saying so, temporarily. That, I will not back down from. ... One reader suggested I read Victor’s “Meixfornia.’’ And I shall. But after Slavomir Rawicz’s “The Long Walk” and Rick Atkinson’s “An Army At Dawn.”
Update -- A handful of readers, whose opinions I respect, gently (and convincingly) chastised me for referring to Victor Davis Hanson as an ‘extremist’ in the above item. Made me think whether Andrew Greeley is also an ‘extremist.’ Answer to both: No. Got carried away. Guess I’m guilty of the same type of rhetorical extremism I’ve been condemning. But I will say this: Comparing Bush to Lincoln or Hitler is absolutely ludicrous. They were both off their rockers for saying so, temporarily. That, I will not back down from. ... One reader suggested I read Victor’s “Meixfornia.’’ And I shall. But after Slavomir Rawicz’s “The Long Walk” and Rick Atkinson’s “An Army At Dawn.”
