Erosion

 Well we ruined it.  Way to go, everyone.  We've thrown every barb, jab, and downright personal affront at every one of our presidents over the last 25 years.  The bar of decorum has been lowered almost to the floor.  Who in their right mind would want the job now?

No one.  No one in their right mind.   Which means we've pretty well guaranteed ourselves that we'll only ever have presidents who can't see straight.  The only people who are going to want the job will be the ones so clouded by ego that there's no way they could serve the country's best interest.  

The argument of course is that each of these presidents has done despicable things; reached levels of incompetence and evil so low that the opposition are thoroughly justified in their reaction.  Maybe, but only if you have that much animus to begin with.  I don't think you can blame the President for dragging it out of you.  Don't try to convince me (or yourself) that it's just your passion for your country that made you print up those "I did that!" stickers, or made you chant "Let's go Brandon!" or create a day-calendar of 365 "Bushisms" to remind people of quotes that weren't his most eloquent.

Just like it's not a good look to trash anybody, I think it's never been a good look to trash the President.  I'm not even talking about respect for the office.  I'm just talking about going off on somebody.  It's generally not well received.  When they go after the President, people think they're in the clear.  It probably makes them feel intelligent and informed to be able to challenge a President's policy on... anything. 

But there's an erosion taking place.  When we stop checking each other as the insults start to fly, the bar keeps lowering.

 

"Slick Willie" - Clinton

"Worst President Ever" - Bush 43 

"Socialist in Chief" - Obama

"Orange Man Bad" - Trump 45

"Fuck Joe Biden" - [you... you figured out which one this was, right?] 

"Fascist, Loofa-Faced Shit-Gibbon" Trump 47

 

So what's left?  What do we call the next president we hate?  And you know, no matter who it is, plenty of people are going to hate whoever it is.  "I love the country so much, I called our new president the most foul thing you've ever heard anyone say!"  Well congratulations on your performative outrage.  I hope it sells you a lot of merch.  And God bless America!