And I say that in a nice way. Seriously. What has happened to us? When did we decide to let conspiracies and paranoia overrule sense and sensibility? Although we’ve seen glimpses of this new mentality amongst Republicans over the last few years, nothing drives home the point better than the reaction to the release of Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

Here are a few examples.

• Bowe Bergdahl’s Father Gets Death Threats
• Politicians deleted tweets celebrating Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl’s release
• Father of Deserter Bowe Bergdahl Claims the White House for Islam
• Obama smiles at Bob Bergdahl’s “Allah the most merciful” phrase
• Did anyone else find this a little bizarre (implies Obama flirted with Bergdahl’s mom)

Death threats? For wanting your son home? Politicians reversing course because they might lose a few votes if they are happy an American POW returned home? ‘Claiming’ the White House for Islam? Wow, I should walk into the Texas Democratic Party headquarters and ‘claim’ it for Republicans! OMG! Obama smiled at the mention of Allah! Scandal! In the few seconds it took to walk to the microphone in the Rose Garden, Obama tried to put the move on Bergdahl’s mom! Such a stud! Oh wait…I thought he was a pansy?

I find these examples of extremism by Republicans disgusting. Regardless of what anyone thinks of Bergdahl, he is in fact an American citizen and was an American POW. Was he a deserter? The anecdotal evidence sure points that way. But it doesn’t change those two basic facts. And Americans do not leave Americans behind.

Krauthammer has a decent take on the whole matter without being over-the-top ridiculous. Hannity, Beck, Kelly, and the rest of us should follow his lead.