There seems to be a need at both extremes of the political spectrum to continually push the envelope of rhetoric, by picking a truly horrific occurrence (like Nazi Germany or 9/11) and comparing it with something that’s not even in the same league, in order to denigrate their latest object of hatred.

Maybe this need is driven by desire for publicity, or maybe it’s a function of bad brain wiring.

LGF highlights plenty of examples of this behavior from the far left (see the link above), because, let’s face it, that’s where most of the craziness comes from. But today we have an example from the far right in Pat Robertson, who said yesterday that federal judges are a more serious threat than Al Qaeda.

Federal judges are a more serious threat to America than Al Qaeda and the Sept. 11 terrorists, the Rev. Pat Robertson claimed yesterday.

“Over 100 years, I think the gradual erosion of the consensus that’s held our country together is probably more serious than a few bearded terrorists who fly into buildings,” Robertson said on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos.”

“I think we have controlled Al Qaeda,” the 700 Club host said, but warned of “erosion at home” and said judges were creating a “tyranny of oligarchy.”

Confronted by Stephanopoulos on his claims that an out-of-control liberal judiciary is the worst threat America has faced in 400 years - worse than Nazi Germany, Japan and the Civil War - Robertson didn’t back down.

“Yes, I really believe that,” he said. “I think they are destroying the fabric that holds our nation together.”

I’m as critical of federal judges as anyone in this fair land, but Pat. Please.