"I'm the cult of personality"

[SHRED]

Poll: Character trumps policy for voters
By RON FOURNIER and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers 1 hour, 1 minute ago

snippet:

"Just one-third look first to candidates' stances on issues; even fewer focus foremost on leadership traits, experience or intelligence."


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There you have it.
The American voters, or at least those polled, are so stupid that they fall for unprovable intangibles rather than concrete voting record policy stances.
No wonder the "cult of personality" reigns in this country.
Not surprising when you look at what's on the idiot box.


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[JNelson6563]

1. "We are a Christian nation"

The American voters, or at least those polled, are so stupid that they fall for unprovable intangibles rather than concrete voting record policy stances.

Indeed. :toast:

[TomInTib]

2. Read my tag line.

Pretty much sums it up.

Problem is, Lee Atwater figured it out first.

[Solon]

3. You know, the Republicans resemble a big suicide cult...

A checklist of dangerous traits of cults:

1.Internal Control: Amount of internal political and social power exercised by leader(s) over members; lack of clearly defined organizational rights for members.

Let's see, Patriot Act, warrentless wiretapping, etc.

2.External Control: Amount of external political and social influence desired or obtained; emphasis on directing members’ external political and social behavior.

Invaded one country without justification, try to intimidate their critics worldwide.

3. Wisdom/Knowledge Claimed by leader(s); amount of infallibility declared or implied about decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations; number and degree of unverified and/or unverifiable credentials claimed.

Didn't Bush say that he talks to God?

4. Wisdom/Knowledge Credited to leader(s) by members; amount of trust in decisions or doctrinal/scriptural interpretations made by leader(s); amount of hostility by members towards internal or external critics and/or towards verification efforts.

What do they call us critics? Not to mention the amount of names, violence, etc. leveled against us.

5. Dogma: Rigidity of reality concepts taught; amount of doctrinal inflexibility or “fundamentalism;” hostility towards relativism and situationalism.

Uhm, creationism, I'm right and your wrong political and religious fundamentalism, and numerous other things about Republicans that I find rather disturbing.

6. Recruiting: Emphasis put on attracting new members; amount of proselytizing; requirement for all members to bring in new ones.

I don't know if this one applies to the Republicans, if you have any examples, please provide them.

7. Front Groups: Number of subsidiary groups using different names from that of main group, especially when connections are hidden.

Fox News anyone?

8. Wealth: Amount of money and/or property desired or obtained by group; emphasis on members’ donations; economic lifestyle of leader(s) compared to ordinary members.

Do I really have to provide examples of this?

9. Sexual Manipulation of members by leader(s) of non-tantric groups; amount of control exercised over sexuality of members in terms of sexual orientation, behavior, and/or choice of partners.

Opposition to gay marriage and gay rights.

10. Sexual Favoritism: Advancement or preferential treatment dependent upon sexual activity with the leader(s) of non-tantric groups.

OK, can't think of examples of this.

11. Censorship: Amount of control over members’ access to outside opinions on group, its doctrines or leader(s).

Uhm, this one may seem tough, but, really, Republicans seem to be the masters of self censorship and deception in this regard.

12. Isolation: Amount of effort to keep members from communicating with non-members, including family, friends and lovers.

In a domestic context, not much that Republicans can do, however, in an International context, they seem to actively discourage learning about other cultures and societies.

13. Dropout Control: Intensity of efforts directed at preventing or returning dropouts.

Can't think of examples off top of my head, someone else want to take a shot?

14. Violence: Amount of approval when used by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s).

Republicans seem to use violence or threats of violence to keep their own and others in line.

15. Paranoia: Amount of fear concerning real or imagined enemies; exaggeration of perceived power of opponents; prevalence of conspiracy theories.

War on Terror.

16. Grimness: Amount of disapproval concerning jokes about the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).

Republicans are humorless, I think this is part of the party platform.

17. Surrender of Will: Amount of emphasis on members not having to be responsible for personal decisions; degree of individual disempowerment created by the group, its doctrines or its leader(s).

They don't encourage freethinking within the group.

18. Hypocrisy: amount of approval for actions which the group officially considers immoral or unethical, when done by or for the group, its doctrines or leader(s); willingness to violate the group’s declared principles for political, psychological, social, economic, military, or other gain.

This seems to be the first point in the party platform for Republicans.

So when all is said and done, the Republican party shares 15 of 18 traits for destructive suicide/homicide cults, very encouraging.

Got the list from here:

http://www.witchvox.com/va/dt_va.html?a=usny&c=basics&id=2877