Is anecdotal evidence. Do people not get that?

What kind of people comment on blogs? Who knows!?! Are they crazy people? People with too much time on their hands? Are they representative of anyone or anything? Are they mostly computer literate? Do they skew towards IT workers? Do people make crazy comment posts just because they can?

Some random comments are not evidence of anything. If you want to do at least a somewhat rational analysis you would compare the volume of "Cheney should die" comments to other comments. That would still be horribly flawed but at least slightly better.

I can find someone who says Cheney should die, I can find someone who says that 9/11 was what we deserved. I can find someone who says liberals caused 9/11, that Edwards is a faggot and that Obama is uppity.

What matters is *who* is saying this. What stage are they on? What respect are they given?

When someone has best-sellers or a column in a major newspaper you assume they have some support and represent something. When someone is invited to a large conservative gathering as a speaker you assume they represent conservatives in some way.

When someone writes a blog comment there is no indication that they are anything more than a lone voice. I can say right now that I think the world is flat and I'm not speaking for liberals, or for Salon readers. I'm only speaking for me.

I have an opinion. George Bush has an opinion. Random commenter has an opinion. Some opinions deserve more scrutiny than others.

It is amazing that people don't get this. A random blog commenter does not have a national stage, is not invited to conventions, does not go on TV, have best selling books, help shape or justify policy.

Everyone has an opinion but the opinions that deserve the most scrutiny are the opinions of thought leaders. Simple concept.

I find it amazing that so many liberals on this site find it impossible to believe that some of their own are capable of posting vile comments about their conservative counterparts. It is either disingenuous of them to be skeptical of the fact that the left is filled with hateful rhetoricians, or dishonest of them to complain about it. The so-called 'trolls' are, in all probability, fellow travelers of the most radical and offensive wing on the left side of the aisle. Sadly, that wing is increasing, as shown by the pathetic and despicable commentaries on our VP's near miss with assassination. At least Ann Coulter is honest enough to put a face to her opinions; the 'left' is so anxious to appear above the fray, that they supply their own brand of vitriol from behind the comfortable anonymity of the blogosphere.

And while we're at it, on a totally unrelated topic, I wish the left (sorry, capital needed here, the "Left") would stop pretending that it has any interest whatsoever in embracing the faith communities. Obama and Clinton's newfound appreciation of religion seems as calculated as it is insincere. Liberals should stick with their original creed as expressed in this lovely snippet by Pascal "Men never do evil so completely or cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction."

So cut the hypocrisy, friends. It wasn't the 'trolls' making those disgusting commentaries about the VP.

Christine

The so-called 'trolls' are, in all probability, fellow travelers

Proof?

that wing is increasing

Proof?

as shown by the pathetic and despicable commentaries on our VP's near miss with assassination

Oh. No proof. I can think of no worse scenario for escalating the war than having a VP of the US killed in some foreign nation. Lefties don't want the war escalated. Get it?

At least Ann Coulter is honest enough to put a face to her opinions;

She's willing to sell books to her slavering fans, if that's what you mean.

they supply their own brand of vitriol from behind the comfortable anonymity of the blogosphere.

You mean like you're doing, here?

Obama and Clinton's newfound appreciation of religion

Proof?

So cut the hypocrisy, friends.

You first!

...there were rethugs who also advocated the deaths of others but I guess being rethugs they get a pass. Doesn't anyone remember the many death rantins of Pat Robertson, about a variety of people. How about the rantings of the Texass rethugs(Corynyn, DeLay and others) who all spoke favorably and understandingly of those who killed judges. Then there were all those who threatend and spoke threateningly about that Fla. judge in the Terry Schiavo case. Then there is the rethug (Bush, Cheney or someone) who threatened to blow the prez of Pakistan back to the dark ages or something like that. Ann Coulter, the walking cadaver, and favorite of Catholics, my religion, saying threatening things about nearly everybody and does anyone remember that Karl Rove said that he and the rethugs will destroy or abolish the Dems by 2020. Does anyone remember that Bush and the entire Bush Family are great friends of the 15 arabs who blew up the towers in NY. And then Bush prevented our CIA and Special Forces people from capturing Osama bin Laden, who is also financed by the Saudis as are the Suunis who are killing our troops in Iraq. Why does no one ever call the repugs on these issues?

...looking for examples of left wing rage as one poster said. I think the right is MANUFACTURING the so called leftist rage. They are full of fear as the next election gets ever nearer and will manufacture more right wing radical phony made up cognative dissonance as the 2008 elections approachs.

Speaking of ugly people I still think Michelle Malkin is just that as well as a shill for the Catholic Church and people like her and both popes and all the right wing radical pundits like Tim Russert,Robert Novak, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly et.al. are doing a good job of destroying what was once a decent religion until Pope John Paul II installed himself and Reagan in the presidency. The sale of religion for political power is an abomination.

Also speaking of ugly, Chertoff has always looked like a walking cadaver to me. Skull and Bones strikes again.

That may be a bit snarky about Chertoff but he works for George Bush and does Bush's and Cheney's bidding.

And how do we even know that the so called attack on Cheney wasn't planned by Bush and Cheney and Chertoff and a few others.

There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Bush will stage another attack on the US or an american installation or american ship as a way of getting the amercian right wing radicals to support his attack on Iran or some other country that is part of Reagans 'axis of evil' speechs that Booosh has repeated so often.