Death Wishes And Other Anomalies

The Political Teen notes a story that Vice President Dick Cheney is to undergo surgery to correct a vascular problem behind his knee.  Well, we already know he has vascular disease, as evidenced by the cardio-vascular disease that caused his heart attack.  The problem behind his knee, if left untreated, can lead to limb loss.

He also discovers the venom and hatred of those on the left boiling up in response.  A sample quote:

• Gravatar Die, you draft-dodging, money-grubbing pig. Amen.

Ian adds:

how people like these are allowed to roam the streets and interact with other beings is beyond me. These aren’t people, these are animals.

Compare and contrast, if you will, the thoughts on the right when Bill Clinton was scheduled for his coronary artery bypass surgery last year.

• Well, I for one, as much as I thought he was the wrong person to be president for this country, cannot wish Clinton ill will.
  So, I'm wishing him well.
• All politics aside, I wish him the best.
• Well, one cannot help but wish him a speedy recovery and health.
  I hope they give him a private room after the surgery. With a sink.
• In spite of it all, I wish him the best and a prayer for a speedy recovery.
• Praying for the Best Mr. Clinton.
  You can beat this one too.

The most vicious Freeper comments had a political slant, but still wished Clinton success and a speedy recovery.

• The REAL question - will he go to a hospital with socialized medicine and wait six months for an any doctor or will he find the best private hospital with the best doctors?
• Is Hillary going to visit him in the hospital for the photo op?
• Despite my disdain for Bill Clinton, no one should wish ill on anyone else.
  Who was he with when he had the heart attack?
  How old was she?

Most were simply this:

• Will keep President Clinton in prayers, and hope for a speedy recovery.

So I ask, what is wrong with the left?  Have they lost their collective minds?  Political disagreement now makes it acceptable to wish all manner of affliction, up to and including death, upon your enemies?    This is the same mentality that allows Saddam Hussein to find gassing the Kurds acceptable - he considers them less than human.  How does your heart become so cold that it is immune to a man's sufferings?  Does the political opponent's death confer a win the debate of ideas?  If you can't beat 'em, hope they die?

Before the left starts winning elections again let's hope they develop some humanity.  They'll find it necessary.

9/17/05 1230: Wizbang COTT XXIX.

9/17/05 1250: Here's another, the Free Republic link to comments immediately after it was disclosed that Elizabeth Edwards had breast cancer.  I'll post the first three comments, but they're all similar.

• She desrves prayers!!!! A rough thing to go through.
• My prayers for her and her family will be said. I'll pray for a swift recovery.
• Prayers and wishes for health for Mrs. Edwards.

Comments

[BR - visitor from Wizbang]

You have illustrated the sad situation well.

Did you see this one? (The second picture, a screen snapshot of a comment at Democratic Underground re VP Cheney.) Apparently the death wisher "Ms Cyr330" is a nurse in San Francisco.

[Zsa zsa]

You are so sweet!... I find it pathetic that these individuals have so much hate in there hearts for others! I have been wrestling with my own issues with the Palestinians! I REALLY don't care for these people! I REALLY don't like how they feel compelled to burn down sacred palces and I think I just might "hate" them!... But I don't wish them ill or dead. I just wish they would not be such sickening, disrespectful hate mongers!...

[jami]

i see you've taken the republican approach to science (picking and choosing to suit one's own selfish goals).

[Zsa zsa]

Picking and choosing to suit one's own goals are what Democrats do best!...Examples of this #1. Social Security needs to be reformed.
#2. Choosing to take the life of a handicapped individual just because it doesn't meet their standards of "QUALITY OF LIFE". Actually the Democrats obsession that dominates their Party over Roe V Wade! .... Seems to me the most self centered individuals are those who don't have any regard for others! The Liberal's prove this everyday by actions like that of the person who hopes Dick Cheney would die! ... I would be interested in what makes JAMI say Republicans pick and choose to suit ones own selfish goals? I could go on BUT I don't have roon!

[Giacomo]

Actually I haven't picked and chosen at all. I've reprinted several comments from each link, but I've also given you the link so you can look for yourself. Go ahead. I'll wait. You won't find any "Die Bill!" comments there at all.

If you're absolutely certain that I've been selective in this post then prove it, Jami. Find some equally vicious comments from conservatives/Republicans. I didn't do an encyclopedic search, but I couldn't find any.

[Zsa zsa]

I wonder if JAMI will be back with proof? It is like Bullwinkle says. These liberals are annoying but they don't have much to back it up! They just take up alot of oxygen...
Giacomo, Why are they so vicious? It seems to me many Liberals are obsessed with death??? I don't get it!

[Giacomo]

I don't think they're obsessed with death so much as obsessed with victory over the opposition no matter what it takes, up to and including the demise of the opposition. Maybe they don't realize that the death of the opposition does not win the battle of ideas for them.

I made the same challenge over in the comments at The Political Teen - produce the quotes if you're going to say that the right is just as vicious as the left. As of midnight last night, 12 hours later, no one had done so.

[Mr. Right]

The DUmmies have the same response to any conservative with health problems. I recall seeing threads wishing death for Laura Ingraham and Tony Snow when they both revealed they had cancer awhile back.

The vitriol is out of control. They are vicious, vile and undeserving of winning anything! Long may they wander the political desert!

[Zsa zsa]

If they are not obsessed with death. They certainly have a fascination surrounding their "Right" to abort, assist suicide, embryonic stem cell research and the Democrats are so fanatical and base their votes on abortion! Yikes...