AR, in one respect I agree with you, although I generally feel that way when terms like that are used in frustration in almost any case...I guess it's the old communications major in me. Namecalling usually signifies a lack of something of value to say, and usually reflects back on the person doing it. There are times when it fits the bill, though, I know that.
I do think in some ways it's important to maintain some respect and decorum when dealing with the office, and I personally try to refrain from general namecalling of the President. I can, however, surely understand the reasoning behind many feeling the way they do when they say it, I just wish they could explain it more effectively. I honestly think that probably every President we have ever had has been put in the position of having to lie for one reason or another. So, I guess to call him a liar is probably at least on point, and I think naive to think that he hasn't lied. Publicly? Probably a better way to say it for the good of the country, I guess. As for him being stupid, I don't think that, but I don't think him overly smart either, and I think he is a miserable communicator which makes him look stupid at times. Which I think hurts our country more in many ways than what our people say about him publicly. I think to say he's a crook is probably the farthest off point, because I don't know how that can honestly be proven beyond a reasonable doubt yet. A lot of gray areas in that one, and I think many things about that. I think it's probably the most damaging to say publicly, too. I think it is quite easy to connect dots that he and the people who support him have benefitted financially and professionally more than any group in that office previously, but as for being a crook? Could probably be proven more easily without all the efforts made to hide things and surround the group in a protective shroud of secrecy unmatched in our country's history.
I think we'll learn more in the coming years about all of this tangled web. But to directly address your questions, I think it does hurt the country some, but I definitely think his group has brought on a lot of it themselves.
