... Now all of a sudden the "office" needs respect, not the President. ....
Sure. That's how many felt when Clinton was President as well.
I remember during the Bush years I knew a fellow on another 'chat board' who was about as liberal as they come, and hated G.W. Bush with a venom that was difficult to match (I'll never forget his online meltdown on Election Night 2004). However, he maintained many times over the years that he was teaching his young daughters that 'the office' of the President must be respected even if one felt the current 'holder' was a piece of trash.
Apple