I light of Bush's recent comments about appeasement, not to mention constant comparisons between Democrats and Nazi-Appeasers, I feel obligated to point out the obvious facts:
In World War II, Republicans tried to appease the Nazis; it was the Democrats who insisted on war.
First, let us remember that in Franklin Roosevelt's third term, the war in Europe was looming large. Roosevelt was in favor of war against the Nazis; he was positive that it was in America's best interest to aid Europe against Fascism. He saw it as inevitable, and had no desire to placate Hitler.
Unfortunately, his attempts to help Europe against Hitler were thwarted multiple time by two leading Republican Senators: William Borah, and Robert Taft. Both Senators were isolationists. They favored a strong military, but not getting involved in military matters outside of the US. I suppose they were suspicious of them sneaky Canadians. From Wikipedia:
Between the outbreak of war in September 1939 and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941 Taft opposed nearly all attempts to aid Allied forces fighting the Nazis in Europe.
Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, the Republicans refused to endorse either a war in Europe, or aid to our long time allies in Europe. After Perl Harbor, they grudgingly conceded that war was now inevitable, but still refused to fight the Nazis. Again, from Wikipedia:
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the US Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor... Despite the wave of anger that swept across the U.S. in the wake of Pearl Harbor, Roosevelt decided from the start that the defeat of Nazi Germany had to take priority. On December 11, 1941, this strategic decision was made easier to implement when Germany and Italy declared war on the United States.
Thank heavens Hitler declared war on the US... if the Republicans had their way, the British would be speaking German.
In my mind, the Republicans have never forgiven themselves for trying to appease Hitler with their philosophy of non-interventionism. It was a huge mistake, and they are mentally not capable of admitting their error!
Therefore, to protect their own sanity, they use a common psychological defense mechanism: projection. They see in themselves a flaw: the complete inability to recognize a real enemy, and the inability to win a real war. Incapable of admitting this flaw, they project it on some easy punching bag: the Democrats. The Republicans then attack the Democrats on their inability to see enemies, or win a war... and somehow they twist this and cajole the country to declare war against big-talking nobodies, and yet still manage to lose them!
And somehow, the press lets them get away with this...
To emphasize: Republicans make wild accusations comparing Democrats to Nazi appeasers... however, the truth is that the Republicans actually engaged in Nazi appeasement.
Never forget that.
UPDATE: trashablanca reminds us that not only did prominent Republicans try to appease Hitler, they actually sold Hitler weapons so he could more effective terrorize Europe.