Is the Republican party a weird cult?

[lovemydog]

On another message board I've tried for years to talk with republicans. I've pretty much given up. Their anger and hatred is so overwhelming that it's difficult to converse. I try to discuss specific policy. They want none of it. They often personalize things immediately and make personal insults or snide comments. I know the republican party isn't a cult in the strict definition of the word. I also know there can be cult like propensities in any party. But democrats seem more willing to discuss specific policy without getting bent out of shape or going all nuclear. Democrats seem less likely to fall in complete lockstep of mean-spirited behavior. Some of these self-professed republicans are really creepy to me. When they had power, they seemed miserable. Now they act like even bigger babies. I don't get it. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? By the way, this is the first time I've started a topic here. Whoo hoo!

[Scuba]

1. You're right, of course....

... the left spends time and energy thoughtfully analyzing issues, seperating facts from frantic fictions, and trying to achieve some semblance of bi-partisanship (when will Obama say "enough" to the Republicans and forge ahead???).

The RW'ers just come up with catchy slogans and repeat the mantra that is assigned to them, apparently without any thought processes involved whatsoever (one of my problems with "faith").

As one DU'er puts it in his/her signature line, ""The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts" -Bertrand Russell"

[lovemydog]

2. thanks

Hey, thanks for the really nice reply.

[Scuba]

5. From one dog lover to another, you're welcome.

[Enthusiast]

13. Nice post, Scuba! nt

[Scuba]

21. Thank you !!

:)

[DFW]

23. Good sig line. I chose a similar one

"Believe those who seek the truth. Doubt those who find it." -- André Gide

Same kind of logic.

[Mist]

3. Liberals welcome new information in forming their opinions and thoughts on things. Conservatives

like things very cut and dried, very black and white, no ambiguity, no grey areas.

A psychologist, David Amodio, has done some research in this area, and finds that the brains of conservatives and liberals are actually different.

John Dean has written a book on how conservatives incline towards authoritarianism.

As to the eagerness to blat party lines, and insult anyone who disagrees with them, that would go to the fear conservatives have of having their ideas and beliefs questioned. Questioning is scary, so they'd rather prevent that. They seem to often be in a "batten down the hatches" mode, keeping themselves from thinking too much.

[Scuba]

4. It's much easier to believe "we're good, they're evil" than to actually study and learn.

[lovemydog]

6. Ah, good points

I've noticed this most of by life, but it's well said the those you cite.

[KharmaTrain]

7. 30 Years Of Propaganda...

They call it the "big lie"...say a lie enough times and people will believe it...many times without questioning. It become an "article of faith" despite not understanding what the lie is or how its being used against them. Since the Raygun days, we've been bombarded with right wing talking points..."lower taxes", "less government", "corporates are good" and so on...and it's been said so often that a good percentage of the population...predominately rushpublican, believe the lies. They turn on hate radio or Faux Noise and have those talking points reinforced so its all but cemented in many heads now. No matter how you prove otherwise, the lies have been so ingrained that no amount of fact or logic will shake the big lie...even if that lie works against the best interst of the fool who has bought the lie.

Dare to question the unquestionable and be prepared to get called names and ridiculed...not based on anything but those lies and talking points...in many ways any attempt to "straighten them out" results in an even more stubborn position and the divide widens.


Good luck and welcome to DU...

[lovemydog]

11. yup

I noticed that most with the onset of the war in Iraq. In my lifetime, I think it's one of the lowest points in our modern history, and the bullshit from right was outrageous. They sure acted dead certain of their convictions too. But do they ever admit they were wrong, now? Rarely. Usually it's 'blah blah blah, talk to the hand'. Or (this one kills me) 'that's old history'. So, they not only appear to have an unwillingness to listen to others (like me who was talking a lot about the mistake of entering the war) but they also have a complete unwillingness to even admit when they were wrong. Like, I've heard some of them say recently 'Oh, everyone favored the war'. Many didn't. You just didn't listen. By the way, I can't understand why anyone sane would vote for most any republican now, considering the epic failure of almost all their policy.


Hey, thanks for the welcome. I've read here for years and now am enjoying posting a bit. I'm hoping to avoid conflicts if possible. I just want it to be enjoyable.

[KharmaTrain]

17. The Cult Of Irresponsibility

Part of the GOOP culture is to feel both superior and a victim. You hit it on the head when you pointed out their self-righteous stances and how they will never own up when they're wrong...or when they're caught, they try to play the victim. They've learned that they can always lie or cheat their way out of a bad situation and leave it to others to clean up the mess. Then they criticize the clean up effort. I find them amusing these days as their hypocrisies now have hypocrisies.

A quick pointer from an old-timer around there places. Good thing you've read before hopping into the waters, and I strongly suggest you keep doing it. I spend only a fraction of my time posting on here...the rest of the day I lurk and follow the ebb and flow. One rule I have here is never to engage in ad hominum attacks here...besides it being juvenile and no one wins, it also plays into the hands of those who want a reaction...sorry I don't get into those games. I'm here to discuss...agree or agree to disagree. Stick to the issues and you'll do fine.

Again, welcome...

:toast:

[lovemydog]

26. thanks

Great advice. I enjoy reading. Especially books. I will read more than post, and avoid attacks. Very much enjoy policy discussion. It's true what you say about the GOP (geezer obstructionist party). They never admit when they are wrong. Which is most of the time. It often makes me laugh. Again, thanks.

[Enthusiast]

19. Yeah, welcome to DU.

You will never have a conflict with me if you continue to write posts like that one. Not that I'm always correct.

[lovemydog]

25. nor am I

I'm often not correct either. I enjoy chilling out a bit and reexamining things, always. I enjoy discussing policy. Thank you very much for the nice welcome. I really means a lot to me.

[Enthusiast]

16. It's the American Pravda.

I'm watching it on C-Span right now.

[KharmaTrain]

18. Yep, They Carry A Lot of Right Wing Water...

They beating this Sustak non-story...wasting over 30 minutes in spreading the bullshit. Fortunately callers are calling C-SPIN on their bullshit.

[Enthusiast]

20. You are repeating what my

wife is saying nearly word for word. In light of America's continuing many problems we are wasting 30 minutes on this crap.

[Motown_Johnny]

8. I agree with Scuba... and all the others

echo chamber effect. Everyone here believes this or we wouldn't be here.



Welcome to DU... nice first thread



if you are not aware of this, then here is a little gift for you (if you are aware of this then I guess I know how you picked that screen name)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWT2qHVftGk




Edit to add.... I love my dogs too

[lovemydog]

15. thanks

That is sweet. Beautiful song. I just thought of my screen name as something that identifies me. She passed away shortly after I chose it. But she does live on in spirit!

[ThomWV]

9. No, they are not a Cult, they lack the one main ingredient required of all cults

A cult is a group that worships and ideal or a person, and the Republican Party has no ideal and no single person upon whom they heap their adoration. Not even Newt, Glen, Billy-boy or Rush.

[Motown_Johnny]

12. they heap adoration upon themselves

it is a cult who's members love themselves so much that they rationalize causing suffering and even death to others for their own comfort


that is why it is a Weird cult... not a normal cult

[jonnyblitz]

24. Obama followers seem more cult-like to me than anything

coming from the GOP and that is SAD. This is a major theme of discussion for many of us who are creeped out by it all.

[Enthusiast]

10. Thoughts on it? Yeah, they're a weird cult. nt

[DailyGrind51]

14. I know that Libertarians are. They would blame "government" for a rain storm!

[d_r]

22. three things for you

1. "The best lack all conviction, while the worst / Are full of passionate intensity" Yeats, 2nd coming

2.
I've heard and read so many hateful, mean, and well, stupid things lately that I made this graph to help me keep perspective. I pass it along in case it may help you.

and 3. This is a picture of rock in a garden outside the officer's club at Kadena airbase in Okinawa. I realized one day that it would be more worthwhile to hold an argument with this rock than to try to make a point with some folks. The thought somehow gives me peace. It is why our Mom's told us not to talk about politics and religion - when people have deeply held beliefs, they will not necessarily apply reason to them. They take in new information through the lens of the views they already hold. How they interpret the world is colored by the world view they hold. Piaget called it assimilation and accommodation.

[lovemydog]

27. very nice

Those three things are great d_r. Thanks.

[Kablooie]

28. Conservatives are the insecure, weak, scared population that relies on bullying to get their way.

They are innately self absorbed.

They latch onto religion because they know that if they did not have the Damocles of God
hanging over their head they would commit terrible atrocities for self gratification.
They assume that those who don't follow religion are prone to their own faults.

They feel powerless so they covet power.
Power is not used to help others or do good.
Instead power's main purpose is to destroy perceived evils that they think might hurt them.
That is why they want war and to imprison everyone that might be a threat.

They don't realize that in trying to selfishly protect only themselves they call down even
more evils upon themselves and others.

It is the cult of self indulgent cowards that would destroy you and all your issue if they could.

[starroute]

29. It's certainly getting close to some definitions of a cult

Here's one from psychiatrist and brainwashing expert Louis Jolyon West, quoted at Wikipedia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult#cite_note-53

A cult is a group or movement exhibiting a great or excessive devotion or dedication to some person, idea or thing and employing unethically manipulative techniques of persuasion and control (e.g. isolation from former friends and family, debilitation, use of special methods to heighten suggestibility and subservience, powerful group pressures, information management, suspension of individuality or critical judgment, promotion of total dependency on the group and fear of leaving it, etc.) designed to advance the goals of the group's leaders to the actual or possible detriment of members, their families, or the community.

West based his definition on groups like Scientology, which actively isolate their members and subject them to brainwashing-like techniques, and the GOP certainly isn't there yet. But some of his more general statements do apply, especially as we see the more fanatical Tea Baggers and Glenn Beck devotees cutting themselves off from outside sources of information:

- Excessive dedication to certain ideas
- Powerful group pressures
- Information management
- Suspension of critical judgment

The main thing that still distinguishes the GOP or even the Tea Baggers from an actual cult is that they remain relatively open to the larger society. They aren't secretive, don't have a ruling inside circle, and don't forcibly recruit or attempt to control every aspect of their members' lives.

Perhaps there needs to be a new word for something like the GOP or the more mainstream fundamentalist religious groups which are based on tribal loyalty and rejection of competing sources of information -- as opposed to common interests and informed decision-making -- but which have not yet closed the circle to completely isolate their members from the outside world.

[Individualist]

30. Yes,

and so are their DLC pals. "They often personalize things immediately and make personal insults or snide comments."

[MisterP]

31. conservatives in general, who are well beyond party lines

whether machine-politics obedience and gratitude or "liberal pragmatic" "we have to support candidate N no matter how bad his policies, because the Other Cat won't get anything done for the people of Mouseland"

[Peacetrain]

32. Welcome to DU.. I know exactly what you are talking about

I was on another political site since 1996.. and there were people of all political persuasions on the board.. and as they years passed the Democrats just stopped posting because of the venom towards anything Democratic.

So yeah, they have become a cult.. one fostered in hate...