Those who venerated Bush because he was a morally upright and strong evangelical-warrior-family man and revere Palin as a common-sense Christian hockey mom are similar in kind to those whose reaction to Obama is dominated by their view of him as an inspiring, kind, sophisticated, soothing and mature intellectual. These are personality types bolstered with sophisticated marketing techniques, not policies, governing approaches or ideologies. But for those looking for some emotional attachment to a leader, rather than policies they believe are right, personality attachments are far more important. They're also far more potent. Loyalty grounded in admiration for character will inspire support regardless of policy, and will produce and sustain the fantasy that this is not a mere politician, but a person of deep importance to one's life who -- like a loved one or close friend or religious leader -- must be protected and defended at all costs.
I happen to think Greenwald is being a bit too hard on those who still defend Obama's overall performance, even if they don't agree with several key policy decisions. But what's really worth pointing out is that the left is actually having this debate instead of flooding the echo chamber with a cottage industry of apologists and spinners intent on making every decision Obama makes sound like preordained common sense. That's the difference between liberals falling in love and conservatives falling in line. Right now Greenwald is most likely working on a post accurately cataloging another transparent Obama Justice Department decision that covers-up misdeeds by the Bush crew or embraces the lame "state secret" line, John Aravosis is no doubt furiously pounding out another screed on the importance of immediately turning over DADT, and you can bet Jane Hamsher is once again fitting Harry Reid's testicles into a sling over his handling of health care reform. When it comes to blind devotion within the ranks of the two warring factions, there really isn't a comparison. Engaged liberals are clearly more likely to think for themselves. And if conservatives want to take exception to that then first explain what was going on from 2001 to 2008 when the only internal dispute seemed to be over who could give the sloppiest rhetorical blowjob to a Bush decision and how quickly a boycott of the Dixie Chicks could be organized.
