The press never reported that Democratic strategist James Carville said he wanted President Bush to fail before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But a feeding frenzy ensued when radio host Rush Limbaugh recently said he wanted President Obama to fail. 

This whole kerfuffle is stupid and results from sloppy use of language. Persons of either political persuasion who want the opposition to "fail" are not in the slightest wishing for the failure of America as a whole, they simply have a different vision of how the country can best succeed. This division is natural and healthy in a republic, but the toxicity of our public discourse over the last few years is not. It's time for a new tone and some good faith discussions on a national level like the ones we have with our friends and neighbors.
(Okay, I know that was naive, but a guy has to dream!)