US Gov. to shut down

[Woodsprite]

I think you're oversimplifying the whole issue with "loons on both sides" and progressives. The media (what a surprise) has pretty much sealed the arguments of "loon vs. loon" in what we "should" think of certain people (not to mention some of the people you just listed), that "this person's crazy" and "that person is nuts," when there's really much more to it than that, even with people like Bush, Obama, Palin, and Biden.

People read one or two articles from their own side and automatically assume that it must be the be-all, end-all, word and the way, but they don't ever consider to stop and think, "Wait, did I miss something? Is there something more than just a mainstream claim about this person?"

This is what happens so often among those who adhere to one view so much as to ignore any possible rebuttal against it, thereby defeating the purpose of scholarly judgment and discernment.