Thoughts on the GOP presidential debate. The main difference between liberals and "conservatives" (really radical rightwingers) is that liberals respect our institutions and the people who represent them. Rightwingers never accept the legitimacy of a duly elected officeholder if he/she is not one of them. Liberals do. As much as we disliked George W. Bush and the way he reached office, we respected the fact that he was President. In Ocober 2001 his approval ratingacoording to Gallup was 90% in spite of the fact that he lost the popular vote. He was our president. Both the so-called mainstream Republicans and the rightwing base do not give Obama (nor did they give Clinton) the respect due the office and the man.