I was told last night that liberals are un-American.

[alarimer]

I keep posting this quote by Erick Erickson because I feel it reflects what we are truly up against.

He said, on Twitter, "Finally Americans are back in charge of America."

That, folks, is what we are dealing with here. I'm not sure our elected Democrats truly get this. I live in a part of the country where I'm surrounded by people who despise me for what I believe. I don't think hatred is too strong a word. They vote for Republicans because they HATE us. They don't care what they other side actually does.

Now, perhaps I am being overdramatic. Maybe this is just a speedbump on the way toward a brighter, more progressive future. Three steps forward, two steps back. After all, people in this country are rarely killed for their beliefs anymore. It didn't used to be that way, and I should be glad just to be ostracized instead of murdered. Probably so. Still, it is demoralizing and depressing to know that I am unwelcome in many parts of the country for simply not being a knee-jerk conservative.

I know a lot of this is just people reacting to what they see as a perceived threat to their way of life. In the long run, demographics are on the side of progressives. Do we have to wait until every old white conservative is dead before we see true change? I certainly hope not.

[Cleita]

1. It's long been perceived that America belongs to wealthy, white old guys

of pioneer stock. The Koch brothers are a good example of that. Any one else is tainted and probably unAmerican.

[Orsino]

20. It used to, back at the start.

These days wealthy is the only requirement.

[woodsprite]

2. Many of the older people still see liberals/progressives as hippies,

it doesn't matter that we have suits and ties on now. They associate our concern for the environment, clean energy, minimum wage, social security, etc. as a hangover from the "dirty filthy Beat generation".

As for the younger ones voting repub, they see us as not aggressive, demanding, or authoritative enough, not macho enough, plus we want to take their money and give it away to people who haven't worked hard enough, weren't born with a silver spoon in their mouth, or don't have an offshore banking account.

To many of them, there is no great good than themselves.

[blm]

3. Is that the same Erickson who relies on propaganda 'news' developed by a Korean cult leader

and an Australian extortionist for information and news about America and its governance? Gee....how long has Erickson's brain been exposed to and conditioned by Moon/Murdoch's 24/7 propaganda machine by now....20 years? 25 years? 30 years?

[Octafish]

5. Since before Lewis Powell stained a Supreme Court seat cushion.

1971:

http://reclaimdemocracy.org/powell_memo_lewis/

[blm]

8. *wink* I thought Erickson was younger than that. ; )

.

[louis-t]

28. Wow, even 40 years ago repugs were whiny-assed, crybaby

paranoid 'victims'.

[alarimer]

14. There were plenty of people echoing him.

I should know better. Twitter is even more of a cesspool than the rest of the internet.

I got called a racist for saying I hated Republicans. I think a lot of the name-calling is simply projection. They are forever accusing liberals of doing things they do themselves.

[blm]

15. Those people aren't echoing him, they echo RW propaganda media developed

by a Korean cult leader and an Australian extortionist who were urged to expand their propaganda media empires into the US market by their global fascist crony, GHWBush. They were CONDITIONED to echo the propaganda just as Erickson was conditioned to echo it to further it.

They are the NWO Republicans carrying water for their global fascist masters - and too dumbed down by now to realize it.

[Uben]

4. things just change...

I've lived in Texas my entire life. I'm used to the ups and downs. I came here as a result of the 2000 elections. One thing is for sure, things will change again. It's hard to believe people forget in just 6 short years. We were on the brink of financial disaster, losing jobs at 700,000/mo, in two wars, and Bin Laden wasn't even being looked for. I don't forget....I never, ever vote republican. The party has never done a damned thing for me. So, don't fret. Things will change...probably for the worse before it gets better, but things will change. They always do.

[Octafish]

6. Liberals are why there is an America.

Sam Adams...Benjamin Franklin...George Washington...Thomas Jefferson...

[blm]

9. Christopher Gadsden advocated for common man against excesses of wealthy elites

The TeaParty is filled with know-nothings who now blaspheme the flag of Ben Franklin and Christopher Gadsden.

[alarimer]

12. They seem to forget that, or they try to co-opt them for their own use.

The way everyone conveniently forgets that unions gave us the weekend, for example.

[kydo]

7. You are not being overdramatic.

Fear and hate plus a normal dose of apathy funded by mega dollars won this election. The amount of people that did not vote is just as bad as sheep-people that voted against their own best interests.

In the long run, generations from now, these will be the known as the stupid money driven times, much like they way we look back on the dark ages.

The next two to six years are going to be one rocky ride.

[alarimer]

13. I think the money aspect is crucial.

The Koch Brothers and others fund all those damn commercials. Some of them are very sinister and the whole thing is insidious.

[n2doc]

10. Constant 24/7 propaganda that "liberals hate America"

Constant on AM radio. Constant on Fox 'News'. Nearly constant on other news shows.

Growing up, I never had an appreciation for the power of Propaganda. Once can read about Goebbels/Hitler and Mussolini and Stalin and Mao and Pol Pot and not understand how they got people to do the things they did. But I understand now. It is a gradual process to get normal, rational people to act like animals towards 'the enemy'. But it can be done, and is being done. Very Scary times, and not for the reasons you hear on the 'news'.

[Frustratedlady]

11. It took me a while to realize how proud I should be to be called a Liberal...

The knowledge that TPrs hated Liberals and that I lived so close to a Tea Party chair, made it even more delish since I knew how much it irritated her. I haven't looked, but I imagine she is doing a jig in the street, this morning. I'll just be happy to see her take down those awful yard signs for Ernst and the other Repugs before the snow flies and they further mar the view.

My question is how we became such awful people in their view? Are we too educated, too welcoming to those not like us, too helpful to those who are hungry, cold or homeless? I always thought those were pluses, but I guess if you aren't smart enough to get educated, have a cold/bitter soul and enjoy watching the suffering of those less fortunate, one could become awfully jealous and vindictive.

That's OK. I'll wear my Liberal Label and be mighty proud of it. All she has are those limp, used tea bags and those awful Republican signs in her yard.

[hifiguy]

35. The blight of fundy religidiocy, when combined with the media

propaganda and the blanket of toxic lies funded by the Kochtopus and others, is very nearly impossible to overcome. Particularly when you're dealing with imbeciles who would take a 50% wage cut or burn down their own house if it meant teh gehys couldn't get married and the uppity Negroes and wimmins would be put back in their places. Those imbeciles are on their hands and knees begging every day, all day, for their own enslavement. Too bad they just might take the rest of us with them.

[sibelian]

16. Then you need to find out WHY they hate you. What is it?

What drives this emotion?

[alarimer]

19. I don't mean they hate me personally.

Although I hide my true opinions and never reveal that I am an atheist and liberal. A friend of mine writes a liberal weekly column in the local paper. He gets the worst hate mail, even death threats. Other friends of mine, who are atheists, have kids who get hassled at school because of it. I have other acquaintances who won't come out as atheists or liberals for fear of their jobs.

So, yeah, it's out there.

[sibelian]

21. Yeah, I get that, but WHY?

Why do they hate liberals? What's their actual beef? How can liberals get so may people so twisted up inside?

If their ideas are distorted what's distorting them? It CANNOT be the media, Obama got a landslide in the face of colossal media opposition.

[hfojvt]

17. well, a couple of things

a casual reading of DU will show that there are many of "us" who also hate "them". You know, the "fucking fuckers" who don't agree with us. The racist morons.

And quite often many here will also demonstrate that "we" hate America too. To their perspective, this country, is like the Soviet Union. It is an evil empire that does great harm in the world, and is a police state at home.

[alarimer]

18. False equivalence

We criticize this country when it does wrong because we want it to be better. It has become something of a police state. Look at all the cop shootings, for one. Expressing alarm at issues like this is not "hating" even if it is perceived as such.

I think there is a certain amount of venting that goes on out of sheer frustration. I don't hate them so much as I despair of ever getting through. I cannot fathom the closed-minded bigotry that passes for thought among conservatives. They parrot talking points from Fox News as if they thought of it themselves.

There are differences between liberals and conservatives when it comes to information. The right pretty much ignores all evidence that does not fit their worldview. I don't think you can say the same about the left, most of the time.

[hfojvt]

30. "look at all the cop shootings"

Exactly.

That's what we look at - all of the flaws. That's not what a lover does, that's not what a good friend does.

Point is, you can always find something to criticize, if that's what you want to do. Your friends, your significant other, your family - they are not perfect.

Do you think that if all they ever heard from you was criticism that they would believe that you loved them, or hated them? And then the constant critic is gonna say, "well I only criticize because I want you to be better".

See now is a statement like this, somehow NOT a statement of hate? "I cannot fathom the closed-minded bigotry that passes for thought among conservatives."

What if somebody else said this "I cannot fathom the closed-minded bigotry that passes for thought among liberals."

Is that a statement of hate?

What about this?

"The right pretty much ignores all evidence that does not fit their worldview."

To me, sweeping generalizations like that about large groups of people are not really true, just evidence of bigotry. Most people, right and left, are pretty stubborn about what they believe. Like I always quote "Given a choice between a) changing their mind and b) proving that there is no need to do so, MOST people will get busy on the proof." Most people, right and left.

[dawg]

22. Liberals? What liberals?

Did any liberals lose their elections yesterday? (Were there even any running?)

[jwirr]

23. I was angry enough last night that if someone had said that to me I might have slugged them. This

morning I would just walk away. We cannot undo what happened and that means we must carry on.

[Rex]

24. People that are brainwashed, don't know it.

The M$M and GOP have effectively brainwashed as many gullible people as exist in America. What makes it so dangerous, is their inability to perceive real dangers as opposed to the imaginary ones that are created for the GOP/M$M narrative.

[hifiguy]

33. Josef Goebbels invented the Big Lie, as he admitted.

The modern Repuke party and its captive M$M have polished it to a blinding gloss in more ways than one.

[Cha]

25. Not really Eric Eric Eric.. Unpatriotic a$$holes have the majority of the house and senate.. Pres

Obama is in Charge.

[Politicalboi]

26. Fuck them

We need paper ballots and strict laws against voter tampering. Let those "Americans" dig themselves out of the hole the GOP will put them in.

[Erose999]

27. Don't listen to that arsenozzle Eric Erickson, or let what he says get you down.

I'm am a godless liberal heathen and no election will ever change that. It certainly won't "un-woman," "un-black," or "un-latino," or "un-gay" anybody. This wasn't our year, but Georgia IS competitive now and Eric Erickkkson and the rest of the shitheads on right-wing radio will be running scared soon enough.

[Douglas Carpenter]

29. about 35% to 40% of Americans are incorrigible and utter political ignoramuses

I don't know how many times I will look up the Facebook page of someone I knew years ago and they will have "likes" for Sean Hannity or Sarah Palin or Glenn Beck or whoever. Just try to wrap your head around the mentality of someone who seriously thinks Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin or Glen Beck are oracles of wisdom. Then try to wrap your head around the notion that many of these people outside of politics don't seem that stupid. Then remember that somewhere between 35% to 40% of Americans do indeed think like that. They really do.

[hifiguy]

32. That 35-40% would happily vote for the Nazi platform

if Hitler wasn't the one selling it. And at least half of them would probably vote for Hitler himself. Things are getting dangerous.

[hifiguy]

31. This kind of manipulation of the public has been done before.

One need only look at a well-known European nation during the 1930s. The methods are more sophisticated now but the endgame is the same.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

34. Guy on my facebook feed said:

All you Wendy Davis supporters can SUUUUUCCCKKKK IT!

My responses: Greg Abbott LIED in his campaign ads. Thank you for your kind concern.


I see this guy twice a week in a class I take.