Kennedy does hit on the core issue - Republican's willingness to accept and even embrace right-wing ideologies based in a twisted, racist narrative of America's past, and an unrealistic vision of the country's future.

This is an excellent opinion piece. Kennedy uses just the right tone to convey his message. Unlike the Corn opinion piece which was previously reviewed on NT (and is quoted by Kennedy), Kennedy conveys an intellectual, measured analysis of the impact hate speech can have on our society, most especially on our political scene. Quoting Potok from the Southern Poverty Law Center is especially effective in making the connection between hate speech and violent action. Kennedy's indictment of the GOP and their motivations is succinct and convincing.

The story by Dan Kennedy reminds us that being president of the United States is a high-risk enterprise, as Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley and John F Kennedy all found out the hard way. Danger can come at a president from any number of directions. It can come from the lone deranged gunman. It can come too, theoretically, from international terrorism of any variety.

A good analysis of the current situation with the right wing hate groups and the Republican Party.