Why do you think Republicans resort to just plain meanness?

[Winterblues]

Why do "ditto heads" get such enjoyment out of the belittlement of people? Why is being mean a badge of honor among Republicans? Why do they get rewarded with big book deals for calling Liberals "Traitors"? Why are people like Ann Coulter or Rush Limbaugh held in such high esteem, when they preach such hatreds? IMO if Republicans want to ever win in America again they need to "Get Over It". They need to learn empathy and compassion. Not the "compassion" that was a sound bite but true compassion and that seems an alien concept to most Republicans..Mean and Republican seem synonymous with each other. Has it always been that way or mainly just since Limbaugh and Gingrich made such a big splash?

[midnight]

1. I never think about this. But I do think they lack critical thinking

skills that encompass anyone but themselves. Maybe the two are interlinked?

[rudy23]

2. B/c they're in touch with their animalistic side, and it usually works in life.

Very few people stand up to bullies. Bullying usually yields results, for a while. Repubs are all about short term results.

[KansDem]

3. Molly Ivins said it best...

Republicans don't want to govern, they want to rule.

And "ruling" means "bullying" and "meanness."

[codjh9]

4. I can't add much to the Molly Ivins quote, but I do think they're worse than 30-40 years ago. n/t

[aquart]

7. Then you don't recall Haldeman and Ehrlichman.

Or Colson. Or Mitchell.

Or Liddy. Or Hunt.

[mdmc]

5. YES!

Ray-gun was so effective because the sheeple did not really believe that Ray-gun "meant" his meanness.
He was so ill that he really didn't know how mean his policies were.

[Golden Raisin]

15. I think he knew plenty.

Or, like so many Republicans, just didn't care. His campaign for and governorship of California, many years before ascending to the Presidency, showed many of the same mean themes and ugly traits of the ensuing presidential years, long before there was even a faint glimmer of Alzheimers.

[mdmc]

20. I disagree

I think that he was in la-la land - hollywood - and fantasy was reality.

Or to put it in other words - people really were driving Cadillacs to pick up their food stamps. He really thought that this was common, and that it was rare that hard working honest people required assistance.

[Missy Vixen]

6. It makes them feel powerful

They're essentially bullies. What do bullies do?

Plus, the glee they show while belittling and maligning -- it's almost sexual and beyond creepy.

Julie

[SheWhoMustBeObeyed]

8. The answer comes from Michael Scott of "The Office"

On last night's show Michael wanted to get rid of Toby, the HR guy. Dwight suggested they frame Toby for drug possession.

Michael: "That's mean."

Dwight: "But it works."

Michael: "So the end justifies the mean."

And that's just how Republicans think.

[Profprileasn]

9. Loud

I don't think Rush and Ann are mean. They are loud and obnoxious. I do think Gingrich is a really smart guy.

[ElboRuum]

19. Of course they're mean.

They trash people they don't like and encourage other people to do the same. They give no credit, even that which has been earned, to people who don't support their ideology. And they'll resort to outright slurs and name calling where what little reason they may put forth fails them.

Not mean? If this isn't mean, what do you have to do to qualify for mean? How many personal attacks do you have to suffer at the hands of a bully before that "mean" line is crossed?

Gingrich very well may BE a very smart person, but Gingrich is also mean. You can be both.

[Marr]

10. Because the Conservative movement has been fueled by manufactured outrage.

It's a movement for people who feel ignored by the culture, who are largely life's losers and who need someone to blame for it. That petty meanness isn't just what they resort to, it's what they *begin* from. It's the glue that binds the movement together.

[apnu]

11. When the only tool in your bag is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

This is how they operate. They have one tool and one tool alone: hate (which is, IMO really fear, but no matter) Hence the meanness.

[LeftishBrit]

12. Being right-wing basically means thinking that the 'strong' should have the right to trample on the

'weak' - whether 'strong' means 'rich', 'physically tough', 'well-connected', 'in a majority group', or often all of these.

Not all conservatives are right-wing in this sense: many simply distrust rapid change. And 'right-wing' is not always strictly identifiable with party: in the sense that I use the term, hard-line Communists have generally been more right-wing than moderate Conservatives. But Bush/Reagan Republicans, like Thatcher/Tebbit Tories, tend to be right-wing in the harsh sense: if you're in a weak position you deserve it; I'm all right Jack, and the Devil take the hindmost! Compassion is for 'wets' and 'wimps'.

And a right-winger who thinks that God and Morality are on their side is generally even worse than one who is just plain selfish in a straightforward way.

Therefore, meanness is often associated with the Right. For British examples, see the right-wing tabloid writers, especially the indescribably revolting Richard Littlejohn, or for a slightly more upmarket, superficially 'clever', version, Rod Liddle of the 'Spectator'.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

17. Your post reminds me of this WWII era cartoon:

http://br.youtube.com/watch?v=FQqCeEG5hs0

[galaxy21]

13. Honestly, they assume they have the higher moral ground (because of various social issues) so they

can justify being mean and generally behaving however they want.

[hvn_nbr_2]

14. Too easy: Because they ARE just plain mean. nt

[jmg257]

16. Its sort of an elitist attitude, combined with a lack of understanding - just look at these quotes..

"...they lack critical thinking"

"...they're in touch with their animalistic side"

"...the glee they show while belittling and maligning -- it's almost sexual"

"...people who feel ignored by the culture, who are largely life's losers"


Oh wait, those are from this thread! (and that hasen't even touched on the de-humanizing aspect, which runs rampant in these parts)

Apparently "hate" knows no party!

:)

[LiberalPersona]

18. The power of hate and fear is not to be underestimated

they use it as a tool to brainwash the masses.