The fact is, the left is far more anti-Islam than Bush.
of course it is. and more anti-christian. and more anti-jew. and more anti-hindu. more anti-religion in general. why they have chosen this path, I don't know. but as a political strategy it has been a failure. granted, these faith-based initiatives are a bit controversial, and I'm not sure weakening the separation between church and state is healthy for society, but beyond that, it's possible to be completely uninvolved in religion personally, but not to be an outright bigot toward them. muslims or anyone else, for that matter. I agree that Bush has not been particularly critical of Islam. And I admire him for that, since it would only worsen the view in the muslim world of the Great Satan. Let's hope his successor, whomever it may be, will not be critical of religion either.