Adoring a politician renders the adorer blind

[cali]

to facts. Trusting a politician 100%, forges a bulwark against critical thinking. The two together are like a powerful drug.

Adoring, or loving, if you prefer, and trusting a politician is not a good fit with democracy.

.

[truebluegreen]

1. +a zillion Thank you. nt

[cali]

2. Thanks.

I actually find that mindset a bit frightening. My thoughts keep returning to historical examples.

[eloydude]

3. Right.This ain't American Idol. This deals with REAL LIFE!

Idiots!

[jaysunb]

4. Great analogy

I had intended to write an OP this morning saying, "while I personally support the President on this trade pact, I feel it was good to see independent thinking by all parties involved. If all issues were debated without political or knee jerk reactions, our country would be making great progress, instead of internally com busting."

IOW, let's talk about it.

Good post.

[cali]

5. yes, I'd love to talk

With you about it! As, I'm pecking away on my tablet, now is not a great time.

And thanks

[jaysunb]

8. I meant, it's good for Congress to talk.

Let everyone discuss and evaluate before doing anything that may come back to bite us. No one person has all the answers. That was my point.

[Gregorian]

6. When solving problems you have to look for problems.

I found myself going down that road of which you speak, with Bernie Sanders. I had to wake myself up to reality, and begin the process of asking the questions.

[cali]

7. yep, whether it's Bernie or warren or Obama or

Clinton or anyone else

[tblue]

20. Unconditional love is for family and friends

not politicians. I love Bernie Sanders, but I'll be the first to tell you if I think he's wrong about something. And I'll tell him too.

[First Speaker]

9. It's a temptation that's hard to avoid...

...but it should be. I remember the horrible sense of loss and hopelessness in 1968 when RFK was assassinated. I was only 15, but I had invested a lot in him, and defended him strongly against family members who supported McCarthy. Then came Los Angeles, and I felt a sense of despair--that I, America itself, were Sisyphus, and the stone had run down the hill. We've been trying to push it back up ever since, and investing in a personality, seeing them as a savior, is very tempting. But I have to admit, resisting the temptation has become easier the older I've gotten...:-/...hero worship is for the young, or should be...

[JaneyVee]

10. Is this an actual thing that exists?

I've never seen anyone agree with anyone 100% of the time. I'm highly skeptical this phenomenon exists.

[PatrickforO]

28. Nah, look at the North Koreans. They agree with Kim Jong-un CONSTANTLY.

Because if they don't, they are put to death or at the least sent to some camp for a painful and humiliating 'reeducation' process.

[nichomachus]

54. Then, Apparently

you've never been in the Hillary Clinton room here on DU.

[RufusTFirefly]

55. But, but that's different!

Hillary Clinton is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I've ever known in my life.

[Terra Alta]

11. I don't trust any politician 100%

though I do trust some more than others.

All politicians have their faults; there is no perfect candidate.

[mia]

12. Needed to be said.

Thank you.

[Phlem]

13. What is this "Critical Thinking"?

Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How folks. Dooo Iiiit, I know you can, I know you can, Dooo Iiiiit!

[bigwillq]

14. K and R

[Half-Century Man]

15. I've never had much use for idols.

Rendering them in stone, metal, or other form of permanence:
Done outside, handy place to keep our pigeons.
Done in our houses; handy place to store coats and hats.
Done in our minds, dangerous place to rest our intelligence.

[Thespian2]

16. As soon as a Politician says

"I will tell you the truth" or any variation, you know that this politician is about to lie...

Among RePukians, the phrase would be "I swear to God"...

[tblue]

21. Or says, "Would I do something like that (that you're accusing me of)?

Moi?" If that's the entire defense, it's not much of a defense.

[Agnosticsherbet]

17. Cults of Personality are common in American Politics.

[marym625]

18. K&R!

Though you can love someone and still be able to see the mistakes or worse

It's blind trust that is just plain stupid. Most people can't even trust themselves in some situations. Trusting a politician and never even questioning anything, is just plain dumb

[BeanMusical]

19. I sometime wonder if some of them have an altar in their basements.

[blue neen]

22. Nice.

You put the face of the President on an animal. What kind of ridiculous pictures are you going to make of other Democrats like Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton? How is this helping achieve our goal (as stated in the DU Terms of Service) of getting more Democrats elected?

If you have differences of opinion on policy or issues with any of the Democrats, just state them. Don't stoop to this kind of disrespect.

[BeanMusical]

24. Never heard of the Golden Calf? Did you read the OP?

Oh and I sure as hell want Democrats to win the Elections, so get lost with your ridiculous assertions and pathetic thinly veiled threats by mentioning the TOS.

[blue neen]

27. 1.) I know what the Golden Calf is.

2.) I read the OP.

What you posted was just plain wrong. What animal pictures are you going to make of other Democrats? Again, the question: How is this helping to elect Democrats?

Oh, and by the way, I wasn't making "pathetic thinly veiled threats", I was trying to remind you of the main purpose of DU. If I wanted to alert on your post, I just would have, plain and simple.

[BeanMusical]

32. Have a nice day, officer.

[blue neen]

37. Just as I thought.

You don't have an answer to the question, "How is this helping to elect Democrats?", so you resort to name-calling.

Once again, from the top:

"Everyone here on DU needs to work together to elect more Democrats and fewer Republicans to all levels of American government. If you are bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for our candidates during election season, we'll assume you are rooting for the other side."

Call me any name that you like. Your insults demonstrate your lack of confidence in your contentions.

[BeanMusical]

41. Obama is running again?

That's news to me.

[Maedhros]

56. It helps to elect BETTER Democrats.

By letting them know in no uncertain terms that certain behaviors in office - such as Obama's with respect to the TPP - will not be tolerated.

[BeanMusical]

58. +1

Exactly.

[Maedhros]

59. We need an opposition Party, not a collusion Party.[n/t]

[L0oniX]

62. The new Golden Calf...

[BeanMusical]

64. +1

[LanternWaste]

48. Of course you wonder that.

Of course you sometimes wonder that.

[L0oniX]

61. No ...it's at work

[BeanMusical]

63. Lol!

Good one.

[McCamy Taylor]

23. Applies to Sanders, too. I don't trust any politician.

[PatrickforO]

25. Excellent observation!

This holds true even with iconic figures such as Teddy and Franklin Roosevelt, not to mention modern day heroes like Obama, Warren and even Sanders. In the same way a lock keeps an honest person honest, the ability to think critically keeps our politicians accountable.

[gordianot]

26. Notice my avatar Robert Kennedy.

He had many faults. Over the years I have learned them well. At the idealistic age of 16 he gave me some hope for the future. I miss that, part of me is still stuck in the tragic year of 1968 including the death of Martin Luther King. The decades since that time have not been filled with a lot of hope but I have lived and prospered. I had some hope for Barack Obama who has faced tremendous obstruction from the wanton ignorance and the domestic terrorism, corruption of the Republican Party (some fault lies with Democrats). Current events have caught up with that, the American Middle Class is in trouble and the secrecy surrounding the current trade deal by Barack Obama is profoundly disturbing. Good God Senators are allowed to only to look at it no notes and then make decisions that will impact this country for decades. Where is the criticism that legislators vote on bills they do not read? American Democracy is on the critical list this week. My greatest fear we are on the precipice of another 1968. I do fear for my children and grandchildren. I will still hold on to Robert Kennedy as a symbol of lost idealism and have lost trust long ago.

[woo me with science]

29. We live in a propaganda state now.

Our corporate government is incessantly focused on selling things to us, including policy, and they pour untold numbers of tax dollars into dishonest propaganda to do it.

[BrotherIvan]

34. I don't know, some of it is becoming unhinged around here

[neverforget]

30. They are unable to separate the policy from the man.

Sometimes good politicians make bad policy choices but it doesn't mean you dislike or disrespect them.

[CANDO]

31. Right over their heads

They won't get it. Now quit hating on PBO!

[BeanMusical]

33. Yes and some adorers feel invested with a mission.

In their delusion they see themselves as some kind of police officers with the holly duty to correct the "disrespectful". Sorry but respect have to be earned and it can easily be lost. Yes, those freaks are creepy indeed.

[blue neen]

38. "Those freaks are creepy indeed."

Come on now, give us some more examples of your pictures of prominent Democrats pictured as animals. Let's see one of FDR, Harry Truman, Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, Bernie Sanders. We can judge what's creepy from there. You have to be fair about this, or you could be accused of "adoring" or "idolizing" some Democrats over others!

Oh, and in case the subject has not turned to horticulture, you word you are looking for in your attack would be "holy", not "holly".

[BeanMusical]

43. Wow, you're really obsessed.

[ucrdem]

35. I'm going to take that as a confession

and congratulate you for your self-scrutiny.

[cali]

36. flail. who is the pol you imagine I adore?

And then is nothing new here. I've said the same thing for years. My posts give lie to your feeble claim.

[NaturalHigh]

39. Yep. Marion Barry would be a good example.

The guy got caught smoking crack on camera while he was the mayor of D.C., went to prison, got out and was elected to the city council almost immediately before eventually becoming mayor again. That's a definite cult of personality.

[FSogol]

44. Bad example. Marion Barry spent more time on constituent services than any other politician in DC.

If his constituents loved him, it was because they could pick up the phone to his office and get help whether it was filling a pothole or getting a summer job for their teen. When the Feds entrapped him, most of his followers saw it as vindication of the haves vs the havenots issues that he preached.

[NaturalHigh]

49. Interesting. I didn't know all that.

Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy (for a politician).

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

51. Gee, imagine that. People who think they know something who dont, thanks for informing them

it is impossible for me to talk to them anymore...

[NaturalHigh]

53. And yet I admitted I was wrong.

Why is it impossible for you to talk to me?

[alarimer]

40. I agree.

All of these issues: the TPP, drones, etc. would have everyone up in arms, if Bush were the one doing them.

But Obama can do no wrong, according to his fan base. He walks on water, it seems.

[geek tragedy]

42. so does blind rage.

witness the "Obama's a monstrous sexist' brigade here at DU.

[cali]

46. You know I won't dispute the idiocy of that charge

but I don't know that it stems from blind rage. I think it more likely that it comes frustration and yes, anger- which is not synonymous with blind rage. I know you don't engage in what the OP describes, but I've seen a lot of it; a lot of "we should trust the President 100%". That does shock me because it's such an abdication of critical thinking. I'm not claiming that everyone who opposes President Obama is free from being blinded, and I recognize that some of the people advocating trust are mostly being defensive, but I do find it difficult to understand why anyone would hold such an opinion.

[geek tragedy]

50. Every president needs people who will have his back

with zeal and with passion when the chips are down.

[Rex]

67. Cognitive dissonance can lead to obsessive thoughts.

One way or the other, that is human nature and can't really be argued against. I've seen people say the more others bash HRC, the more they support her. Same for Sanders.

It becomes a team vs. team mentality and the most petty issue gets thrown out like raw meat to the lions.

Good point. Probably best never to have faith or rage against someone else, it will bias your opinion guaranteed.

[geek tragedy]

68. Positive and negative cults of personality.

Equally irrational.

[Rex]

69. That's it right there. nt

nt

[LanternWaste]

45. The corollary is also true (if yet inconvenient).

The corollary is also true (if yet inconvenient).

[cali]

47. sorry, what is the corollary?

[NCTraveler]

52. I think this is the flip side of the coin.

Hate is an antonym of adore. Not many would be able to claim this is simple frustration. It is hate. Absolute blind hate.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6659269

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

57. In a democracy, the people aren't supposed to "trust" politicians or candidates.

The shepherd always tries to persuade the sheep that their interests and his own are the same. Marie Beyle (Stendahl)

[Avalux]

60. Adoration is one step below Ignorance.

Not just politicians, it's folly to adore any public figure.

[treestar]

65. Yeah the adoration of Elizabeth Warren

is getting out of hand. If she says it, it's true.

[boston bean]

66. To whom are you speaking...

Or is this just some errant thought you wanted to share?