Why do we try so hard to understand Republicans?

[zanana]

We've been beating our heads against the wall for years now trying to understand their motives and why they think the way they do. I don't see Republicans trying half as hard to understand us. And it sure doesn't hurt them politically, as we've seen since Nov.2. Our latest head-scratcher is the Alabama referendum on segregation. Today on DU there are several different reasons pointed out for this, instead of just taking it at face value. Introspection is one thing; so is political strategizing; but let's not waste most of our time trying to psychoanalyze these people. They are what they are. Let's just be what WE are. Any thoughts?

[koopie57]

1. I thought the Big Dog

said something about Democrats think and republicans ... follow. Something like that anyway.

[colonel odis]

2. speak for yourself. republicans are people with values contrary

to the ones of this country. they're about as much fun to be around as a manila file folder. and they dress silly.

rather than try to understand them, i choose to ignore them.

[TwentyFive]

6. I agree. I hate everything Republicans stand for.

Just think about what Republicans stand for and actively promote:

-religious dogma
-imposing their religious dogma on others
-wasteful energy consumption - SUVs, ex-suburban lifestyle
-war and killing
-guns
-vengeance
-racial bigotry
-homophobia
-religious bigotry
-using strength, not to protect, but to exploit
-fiscal irresponsibility
-taxing the poor, while giving tax breaks to trust fund babies...and CEOs that make $50mil a year, while exporting jobs
-greed....couldn't be a republican without massive doses of greed
-corporal punishment...republicans love to beat their kids
-cheapness...money is everything to them
-oh yeah, and really poor taste in clothes....republicans must have a closet full of starched cotton

[Warpy]

3. Understanding what makes them tick makes people think

we can actually reach them. We can't. Ignoramuses "know" what they know, and no amount of facts to the contrary will sway them. Only when they see their party eating its own while its policies start to ruin them personally will they begin to question.

The best thing we can do is sit this one out, document everything we can among ourselves but offer them no organized opposition. The right, deprived of an external enemy, always destroys itself by pursuing ideological purity through purges. We're already starting to see it. Let's sit back and allow it to happen.

Yes, it's going to be difficult, but we've got this forum and others to share information and blow off steam.

Now if we can only overcome the factionalism that keeps the left from ever gaining power, we'll be in a good position.

[ElectroPrincess]

4. I do already understand them ... many of us do but to no avail

As a person who grew-up among far right wing conservative family members, I can tell you it's not hard to see the convenient vetting of information done to support their deluded beliefs.

Our problem as Democrats is a FAILURE to unite and provide just as "morally indignant" talking points to sway the sheeple. We won't have a chance until the next recession/depression but we should be ready. Yes, this is pure class warfare - large corporations and wealthy supporters vs. Working and Middle Class America.

When their standard of living plummets, the right wing working and middle class will be hard pressed to blame the liberal democrats. Not even spinmeisters like Rush will be able to sell their brand of hate in the short term. At that point in time, democrats need to "speak out" about the increasing divide between the wealthy and middle class in America. If we don't make a dent in this propaganda war, Bush Co. will gut the universities of all the so called "intellectual elite" and those of us who call ourselves progressive or liberals will be targeted for censor if not prison time for speaking out against the "ruling class."

If we don't act when the time is appropriate, all our news will be vetted through right wing think tanks such as the American Enterprise Institute. Now that thought is sobering to free thinking Americans.

[Warpy]

10. There's a Newsweek article on the web about the 40 year

decline the party has seen. Coincidentally, that 40 yeer decline began when the party bagan to abandon its core liberal values of economic and social justice for all Americans. It actually began with Kennedy, whose first act was to lower income tax rates on the richest 1%.

Until the party realizes becoming a pallid clone of the GOP is not working, it will continue to decline.

[Gryffindor_Bookworm]

5. We try to understand them because

we will have to persuade at least some of them to join us or we will keep on losing every fucking election!

Gosh, that was hard.

[gottaB]

7. Because they don't make sense

[Gman]

8. What is so hard to understand about the government being overthrown?

There's nothing to figure out here. Its plain as day if people care to look. The government was overthrown by the right wing in 2000. The government went through the motions with a rigged election in 2004. Did people really expect a fair election in 2004? Why?? We've been talking about BBV here on DU for the better part of 2 years. Why is anyone surprised/shocked/dismayed that we didn't "win" the election? We knew it was going to happen, then it did. Why be surprised?

Fact is, there was no election this year to win. Did people really think that a revolutionary government would actually mean it when they said, "Oh sure, we'll have fair elections... trust us."

If the exit polls in this election were actually in another country (e.g. Ukraine), we'd be saying the election was not fair.

Don't try to understand the right wing. They consider you a threat to the revolution. Just know your enemy and then decide what to do about it.

Sorry to hijack this thread by referring to election rigging, but I think trying to understand the other side is a complete exercise in futility. They damn sure don't care what you think.

[SujiwanKenobee]

9. Reason? Hell: Know Thine Enemy! n/t

[Kahuna]

11. "know your enemy,' comes to mind.

nt

[newportdadde]

12. We try to understand them because that is the nature of most liberals, we

We as a group thrive on trying to understand the nuance of a situation the grey between the black and white. For years I have tried to understand the Republican mentality.. thinking that surely if I talked with my Republican friends enough through the dialogue I will get somewhere.

The farthest I have gotten is that its mainly about money followed by certain polarizing issues like abortion but money is foremost. Whats funny is I can actually see their point of view but I've never gotten that reception in turn of my ideas. Their info comes from Fox News and those stupid forwarded bullshit emails.

I've pretty much given up trying to understand and penetrate their armour, even if I chip away at social issues etc I always wind up back at taxes and how Democrats want to 'give it all away to lazy poor people'.

I do believe though that the moderates who vote for them are in play.. but how to steer them I don't know. I made the assumption and a poor one at that, given economic troubles right now we would win large with the middle... guess I was wrong.