Escaping the Asylum - Journey from Dittohead to Democrat

[kskiska]

By Jason Zasky

If you've ever wondered what goes on inside the mind of a Rush Limbaugh fan, let us introduce you to Jim Derych. For more than a decade, Derych was a loyal, self-assured Limbaugh follower—a so-called dittohead—who uncritically accepted the ideas Rush advocated on his syndicated national radio program. But by the time George W. Bush took office in 2001, Derych found himself questioning the wisdom of Rush's ideology, ultimately concluding that Limbaugh's social, economic and political principles sounded better in theory than they worked in practice. In 2004, Derych deserted Limbaugh and the Republicans and switched his allegiance to the Democratic Party.

Yet Derych couldn't find the words to break the news of his political conversion to his father—an "unreachable" hardcore dittohead—so he organized his thoughts in writing, using the popular blog Daily KOS as a public forum. Derych's insights into the dittohead mindset fascinated readers, and before long a publisher invited him to produce a full-length book— Confessions of a Former Dittohead (Ig Publishing). With Confessions … developing into an underground hit, Failuremag.com sat down with Derych to discuss Limbaugh, the right-wing media and the prospects for converting other dittoheads.

(snip)

Can you describe the typical dittohead? Are they really the smartest, most informed radio listeners in the country?

. I believe that's how they feel. I know I did. Rush makes you feel like an insider—like you know what's going on politically and everyone else is an idiot. Having been a dittohead I can tell you that the only benefit is you really know one side of an issue; you know nothing about the other side of that issue. You maintain a blissful ignorance about anything that disagrees with your worldview.

(snip)

What has happened is that since the Republicans have taken power he has become an apologist for a party that is no longer conservative at all. Plus, a lot of the principles Rush espouses have been destroyed by reality. For instance, lowering taxes is supposed to equal more federal revenue, but for the first three years of George W. Bush's administration, federal revenue declined every year. That's the first time that has happened in the history of this country. Now Rush is defending his principles reflexively, even though there's not a whole lot he can point to that supports them.

more…
http://www.alibi.com/index.php?story=16200&scn=feature

[LearnedHand]

1. Ah, I picked up that issue and read that story yesterday

I love how this guy compares the RW broadcasters and says Coltergeist isn't even Limpballs' league.

[DeSwiss]

2. That's a great piece kskiska...

... and I'm buying the book. Derych hit it on all the points. We are like herding cats and its IS both our greatest weakness and our greatest strength. It always has been.

That's why we're the one's with the big tent. Just like America is. Thanks to the reco.

:applause:

[kskiska]

3. I thought so.

He's got them nailed. No one else but a fellow traveler could fully explain the Dittohead psyche.

[sarcasmo]

4. Kick to the Top. It's so sad that so many are brain washed beyond help.

My brother-in-law will never be deprogrammed.