Bush Derangement Syndrome: Case 978,324

Many of our Democratic-leaning friends, dear reader, feel as if we, the crack young staff of “The Hatemonger’s Quarterly,” make too much of so-called Bush Derangement Syndrome (BDS). Sure, they admit, lots of liberal folks detest President Bush. But that, they add, doesn’t make them the sorts of unhinged lunatics that conservatives assert.

Frankly, dear reader, we haven’t a bone to pick with this contention. There are myriad reasons why people on the left side of the political spectrum—and even many on the right side—would prove critical of President George W. Bush. And we imagine that plenty of such folks have cogent, compelling reasons to contemn our current Commander-in-Chief.

Still, we would be remiss if we failed to mention how common Bush Derangement Syndrome actually is. Although plenty of Democrats offer a reasonable resistance to the current administration, there are lots and lots of unhinged lefty craziness our there.

Don’t believe us? Well, why don’t we present you with a little example?

Perhaps, dear reader, you have heard of something called the Huffington Post. It’s essentially a World-Wide Web-based exercise in self-flattery: Its proprietor, Arianna Huffington, has used this “website” as an opportunity to pretend that she’s deeply important. And she continues to pretend this even though we have a hunch that very few Americans can actually understand a word of what comes out of her mouth.

We mention the ole’ Huff Po because we think that an item on it (only one?) offers a textbook example of Bush Derangement Syndrome. Penned by somebody called Ken Levine, its title says it all: “Lyndon LaRouche for President.” Mr. Levine, a television writer and baseball broadcaster of whom we have never heard, figured it would be fun to produce a semi-serious pitch for Lyndon LaRouche’s presidential aspirations.

You know Mr. LaRouche: The left-wing Marxoid extremist turned right-wing anti-Semitic extremist who’s well known for his conspiracy theories and his attempt to run for president from prison. Sounds like a really great choice, eh?

Well, according to Mr. Levine, he’s a better choice than the current occupant of the White House. After offering a lame introduction to Mr. LaRouche, Levine says:

I don't think she [Hillary Clinton] can win. And, I seriously worry, if that's the case why aren't we backing Lyndon LaRouche? And again, I say that truly believing in my heart that Hilary Clinton would make a fine president.

Hell, Lyndon LaRouche would be better than what we have now.

Voila: Bush Derangement Syndrome at its finest! Why, this is a very locus classicus of BDS.

Wouldn’t you suppose that a fellow with the last name Levine would be a bit more careful about positively comparing an odious anti-Semite like LaRouche to virtually anyone? Ah, you would think so—if he didn’t have a scorching case of BDS.

Sure, Mr. Levine offers his tip of the cap to Lyndon LaRouche with his tongue placed firmly in his cheek. But the very moral obtuseness of his nod to a conspiracy-mongering extremist doesn’t even trouble him, thanks to the effects of BDS.

Gee: If this disease can so ferociously warp the minds of baseball commentators, just think of what it could do to someone with an average IQ.