And now, conversely, I know the true meaning of hatred. It is no longer an abstraction. It is no longer something you just say.

This is a pure hatred. I see no redeeming qualities in those I hate, because they have expunged all humanity from themselves. It's the hatred I would have felt for Nazis in 1945. It's a hatred which is visceral, deep, wounding.

The "hate" I felt for Bush, I now realize, was mere dislike for his actions and policies. Because, just a short ten years ago, we could still discuss policy differences. Such discussions were becoming strained, but still possible. Those discussions became more rare as the Obama era wore on, as the right became more and more lost in sociopathic animus.

And now there is no discussion to be had. You can't discuss with evil. You can't discuss with people who want to do nothing but inflict hurt and pain.

And this is a perilous time. Because the last time this happened we descended into civil war.

Hatred is the breeding ground for conflict. Hatred is easy to stoke. There's no secret to what the false president is doing, he and his minions. His followers thrive on hate like a junkie does on heroin. You have to get larger hits more often, chasing that initial, pure high. And it's no act. The hate emanates from the top.