This isn't really a diary, so I apologize for breaking protocol.
I'm currently having a heated online discussion with one Kathleen McKinley (and someone else, who's apparently a fan of hers.) McKinley's bio says she "blogs politics for The Houston Chronicle & NewsBusters."
Yes, I know, I should just walk away and save myself the aggravation. But I'm in the mood to punch back at someone, so I'm going to hang in there just a little longer.
McKinley's current argument is that George W. Bush was "much more maligned than Obama." Specifically, she claims there were many more instances of protesters waving signs that depicted Bush as "hanged, tortured, shot, Hilter (sic) - not a few times, but over & over."
She also claims that no one was ever arrested for threatening Bush, but that many people have been arrested for threatening Obama.
Her only support for these claims is a link to a rightwing blog from 2009.
Now, my personal observation as a middle-aged news/politics junkie is that Obama's been the target of more vicious attacks than any president in the last 40 years. To help me get that across, I'd like to find a link to a site that has compiled photos of the hateful signs, effigies, etc., that have been directed at Obama.
As for McKinley's claim regarding the number of people arrested for threatening the president, I don't doubt there have been many more investigations into threats against Obama, for the simple reason that the fever pitch of lunacy reached new heights after his election. But if possible, I'd like to find some data regarding arrests for threats made against Bush.
So, these are the two things I'm hoping folks can help me with: links to any websites that have compiled photos of over-the-top anti-Obama signs/displays, and any info regarding arrests for threats directed at Bush.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give. I may have to step away from this page for about an hour, but if I do, I'll respond to any and all questions as soon as I get back.
Oh, one more question: What is it called when someone dumps a bunch of diverse arguments and fallacious claims into a short space, so that's it's virtually impossible to address them all in the time/space allotted? She keeps doing that to me, and I know there's a word for it. Thanks again!
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