Why are Republicans so good??

[francolettieri]

Why are Republicans so good at Bullshitting people, scaring people into voting for them, and being able to have tremendous influence even when they are in a minority??? Simple, they have are more DOMINATING/PERSUASIVE/AGGRESSIVE PERSONALITES than democrats. I sure hope that changes. I'd much rather have the political party that is reality based have the more dominating/persuasive/aggressive personality type. Unfortunatly right now its the ideology based party has that personality type. No matter how bad they fuck up, they can always come back and convince people to stick with them. Anyone with common sense political knowledge knows that democrats stand for the middle and lower, and republicans stand for the upper class and cooporations. There are obviously far more middle and lower class people in this country so Democrats should HAVE a huge majority!!! The fact that they don't just exposes the giant fundamental flaw named above in capital letters. If you compare both policical parties to football teams, democrats don't hit hard enough, they don't block hard enough, they miss tackles and they get caughts sleeping on the field (the massachusetts senate race) Republicans hit hard enough to cripple!! they are nasty and they don't give a shit!! 7 republicans on the field can beat a full team of 11 democrats!! They are able to come from behind and win games, despite all their unsportsmanship penalties. Democrats need to become more aggressive and fiery and stop letting republicans bullshit and scare middle and lower class people into voting for them. They need to be able to reach out to poor people and convince them that their vote is important. They need to teach politically uneducated people that they are the party of reality based/down to earth thinking. Republicans have Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Sarah Palin, and Rush Limbaugh to B.S. and scare people. The democrats don't have anyone to talk REALITY into people. The problems are so obvious, and so are the solutions. I just hope it happens soon. Republicans don't need to hold the white house and majorities in congress to fuck things up, they're doing a great job of it in the minority.

[treestar]

1. Maybe it is the voters

Themselves who are hateful people who easily follow the R message of no. I've met Repukes and they aren't just clay you can mold, they are hardened with their smug superiority and their hatred.

[ClassWarrior]

5. Or maybe Rape-Publicans know how to craft a message while we just blame the voters.

:puke:

NGU.

[treestar]

18. Well for god's sake

Are the Democrats responsible for what goes on in the minds of these people?

My evil relatives who think the poor should just "suck it up" (direct quote). The Democrats are responsible for their thinking like that? Really???????

[ClassWarrior]

24. No, the Rape-Publicans are. My point is that the Democrats aren't responsible for any...

...sort of deep, values-based message.

Pay attention, son.

NGU.

[mwb970]

7. Americans are, in general, not very bright.

They are especially ignorant of history and the reality-based version of current events. They are easily manipulated with fear and hate. Fittingly, the ignorant and foolish will eventually get what they deserve as they are rolled over by corporations and the super-rich. Sadly, the rest of us will go down with them.

[ClassWarrior]

9. Wow, superior much?

:puke:

NGU.

[treestar]

19. Aren't you claiming the Dems should mold them and do a better job

of brainwashing them and getting their votes? Like they are mindless ninnies who we can control?

republicans are the ones who think like that.

[ClassWarrior]

26. No, I'm claiming the Dems should better articulate progressive values. When you have the truth...

...you don't need to brainwash and manipulate.

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

30. Here, do some reading...

This is a great place to start:

The Palin Choice and the Reality of the Political Mind

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/george-lakoff/the-palin-choice-and-the_b_123012.html

NGU.

[ClassWarrior]

36. ?

Got something against reading?

NGU.

[otohara]

42. What About The Media

how is it possible to make sure our progressive values are heard when 99.99999% of the corporate media is owned by the GOP - they broadcast Limbaugh/Beck and other hate/propaganda wingnuts on the strongest radio towers (100,000 watts), while our progressive stations get towers that put out a measly 10,000 watts.

When driving from CO to NY during Katrina - It was impossible to find an NPR station or one of our progressive stations - but the hate-machine on the right came through loud and clear.

Then there's FOX.

Eric Alterman was on Bill Moyers the other night and pointed out that since becomming president, Meet The Press has never had Nancy Pelosi on, but Newt Gingrich has been the most frequent guest on MTP in 09. http://thinkprogress.org/2009/12/29/gingrich-mtp/

And David Gregory says they haven't made any mistakes since he took over. Newt Gingrich is a mistake that Gregory keeps making over and over.

[ClassWarrior]

48. So give up?

Or try?

:shrug:

NGU.

[otohara]

53. You Tell Me How We Defeat The Juggernaut

known as the corporate media?

Can't shut them up no matter how vile they get. The GOP won't say BOO when their media leaders say the most outrageous/racist/sexist remarks on an hourly basis.

The media is out of our control - Boycotting Beck helped get 80+ advertisers off his show, but Avatar sales are making up for that a gazillion times over.

I used to work in radio for 15 years - TV isn't much that different - WE as progressives/liberals ARE FUCKED everyday on the TV, no make that RAPED.

[ClassWarrior]

60. By using our word of mouth and by organizing for progressive media and by never giving up...

...i.e.,

NGU.

[krabigirl]

44. Well, it's kinda true. Many CHOOSE to be ignorant and uninformed.

[liberalmike27]

13. Jesus, I Can't Say I Disagree

If you don't see Americans as not very bright, you either don't go out much (we'll just assume this is you), or you are not very bright.

Look at the tea baggers. They are all pissed off, and are voting for the party that have done all of the things they seem to hate.

I know people hate the Nazi reference, by my God, is Goose-Stepping a perfect metaphor for republicans? I think of lines of Nazis marching down the road, in their stiff-legged, exaggerated way, and it just fits!

I mean, let's face it--republicans are based in large part on two groups. First, let us be liberal (by all means) and give 20 percent who benefit financially from republicans being in office. It's really more like five percent, but whatever. So that means that 30 percent or so are duped into voting against themselves economically, by putting republicans in power. Certainly most of these folks will get better educations for their kids and themselves, and a more reasonable and measured foreign policy. They will get spending priorities that are at least a little better.

So, long story short, that 30 percent are easily dupable, usually over some bigotry, or hatred, or love of guns, or once again, religious duping. Religious duping is the first step toward republican, or media duping, usually one and the same.

And of course, it helps a lot to have a media that seems to cycle between horridly far right, and center right at best. And they call themselves liberal too, an absurd notion, yet people don't seem to realize that the media itself has been the force that has given itself that name, even though its economic policies are nearly as conservative as slave-holder days.

[ClassWarrior]

15. Yes, it's sooo much more "bright" to simply pull percentages out of your ass.

:eyes:

NGU.

[misternormal]

17. Yeah, liberal media... what a joke...

The media will do whatever it takes for selling more papers, or getting better ratings... If anyone thinks that the media gives a shit about telling the truth, or at the very least, telling a story without the "spin", is sadly mistaken.

The Republicans call the media "liberal", The Democrats call the media "conservative". The joke is, that it is neither. It is no more than a self-serving entity that wants the money. The days of Walter Cronkite and Edward R. Murrow are gone, and gone forever. There is no integrity in the media any more.

It is a business, plain and simple. Losing money because one wishes to work on principle leads to bankruptcy, nothing more.

[treestar]

20. The media is socially liberal and economically conservative

Explaining why both sides can claim it favors the other.

It is conservative politically too, giving RW politicians a pass while scrutinizing left wing ones endlessly. And look at the left going along with it on DU.

It is not in complete control, or Obama could not have won, showing voters do have minds of their own to some extent.

IMO right wingers are actually correct when they say Hollywood disses their values, but that is more than overcome by their ownership of the political/news media.

[liberalmike27]

32. Well, Obama Didn't Run on a Liberal Platform

How did the media treat Kucinich, or Nader? How does it treat Moore? Do you ever see Noam Chomsky on the MSM? If anyone mentions the MIC on the media, do you ever see them again?

The media is so incredibly conservative these days, and the fact that people don't even see, or understand that, has in a large part to do with their success.

"Hey, look at me, I'm liberal. Oh yea, unions ask for too much, and rich folks are so great, and you are a worthless laborer, and isn't that Warren Buffet great." "Oh yea, did I tell you I was liberal?" "By the way, um...we're going to have to send more of your jobs to China."

[anonymous171]

52. I agree completely. Corporate America is fairly Centrist

It makes sense then that their media would perpetuate those ideas.

[liberalmike27]

28. Do a lot of reading

So the percentages are close to reality. I'm not an exact-a-phobe though. Can't be too anal, it'll make you crazy, which is why they have a word for it, "anal."

Oh yea, I forgot, maybe you hang with an intelligent crowd.

I maintain my position though, people vote based on thinking their economic lives will be better with republicans, and to get elected, republicans always use a bunch of issues, a whole category called "wedge issues." They are called that because they "wedge" people away from where they are used to being, should be, or where they normally are.

Racism, bigotry, love of guns, religion, just a few. Of course they'll rarely point out that all the while, their love of guns might make their job at the factory less secure, or their hatred of black folks may just eventually leave them with a smaller salary or less benefits.

[ClassWarrior]

50. So how do you explain all the measurably intelligent people who have outsourced their...

...thought functions to the Rape-Publican agenda? It's not about level of intelligence. It's about two separate world views. And only when we understand them will we understand how to win the debate:

http://berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/10/27_lakoff.shtml

NGU.

[anonymous171]

43. If Americans are already like that, why do the PTB put out so much propaganda?

If Americans are so fearful and hateful, why does Corporate America and their media need to tell us who to hate and what to fear all the time?

[seabeyond]

2. when willing to lies, cheat, not consider facts, it is easy. when any kind of conscious or

responsibility, .... it is much harder.

we say how smart repugs are. being dishonest isnt about being smart. it is being without conscious. and though that makes it easier, it is dishonest.

[treestar]

21. Republicans also have a lot of gall

DU calls it courage, but they are wrong there. It is the utter gall to stand there and be serious and not choke on your hypocritical words. Some of them are smart enough to know they are being hypocritical. Things it would make me blush to say because I have a conscience exist. Not for republicans.

[Gman2]

3. human nature, they use hypervigilence. To kill conscience. And just react.

[izquierdista]

4. Authoritarian personality disorder

As long as there are simple minded people who need to be told what to do, Republicans will have a voter base.

[treestar]

22. Amen, and yet DUers advocate that we exploit that too.

[anonymous171]

41. What's wrong with that? Authoritarianism isn't always wrong.

[izquierdista]

57. Here, read this

http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~altemey/

[anonymous171]

39. Yes, millions of Americans have a mental disorder that causes them to vote for the GOP

A great way to explain away the dems political impotence and stroke your own ego at the same time.

[OnyxCollie]

54. Authoritarian personality disorder

is a great way to get millions to excuse, through rationalization and condemnation of others, the current administration for following the policies of the last administration.

But, YMMV.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

6. Appealing to emotion is much easier than appealing to reason. nt

[ClassWarrior]

8. There are positive and negative emotions. So why don't we learn? Don't think of an elephant...

NGU.

[anonymous171]

38. Depending on the subject, appeals to emotions are actually sometimes more appropriate

[whyverne]

10. I've never understood why so many people love BS so much.

When I was a young man, I watched old guys crying like babies after listening to a Reagan speech. Now that I'm an old guy, I still don't understand why.

I like good speechifying as well as anybody, but I don't like all fluff and vague ideals.

I'm sure you could find some Chinese leader, smart and a nice guy; and ask him "Why won't you give your people democracy?". And he would say because people are dumb and easily manipulated. It's becoming harder to argue with him.

[ClassWarrior]

11. Are care and responsibility, fairness and equality, freedom and courage, fulfillment in life...

...opportunity and community, cooperation and trust, honesty and openness "fluff and vague ideals?" Or are they our fundamental values as progressives?

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20041206/lakoff

NGU.

[misternormal]

12. Republicans...

... are the masters of throwing a cloak of fear over everything they promote.

The American people have seen jobs go across borders and overseas. They have seen their hard earned cash go flying out the window as the stock market crashed, and then took on the aspect of a roller-coaster ride. They see the big banks get federal money to keep them out of the dumper, while their own taxes go up and up, and their own safety nets rot and fall apart. They see employees of the biggest companies get major bonuses and see their own nest-eggs being dried up.

If these same people are told that their lives will worsen if they do not support a particular school of thought, and that it is the policies of the current administration that are causing them to feel the weight getting heavier, they will more than likely support those that "promise" a "chance" at things getting better.

Most people fail to read the fine print that says, "Results not typical, do not expect these results for yourself."

The fact is, Republicans are better liars.

[belpejic]

14. Love him or not

Newt Gingrich in 1994 showed the Repubs that you could win by shaping language to obscure the truth. They've been doing it ever since, and mostly winning, and Dems either haven't caught on or refuse to play that game. Most voters don't pay attention to more than soundbytes, and Gingrich and Rove understand that perfectly. I think people on both sides are beginning to catch on that they're getting the wool pulled over their eyes by entrenched interests who don't have their best interests in mind, but they either don't have the resources or the inclination to dig up the truth. Hence the teabaggers.

[ClassWarrior]

16. Exactly. And if it's easy to shape language to obscure the truth, think of how much easier...

...it would be to shape language to highlight the truth. But instead, we keep blaming the "stupid" voters and wailing about how they won't listen to "reason."

NGU.

[Moochy]

27. the only ones who listen to reason are the ones

who would have already voted for you. We need the ones who are incapable of reason to be moved to act in all our collective interest, and that's why framing is more important in terms of effectiveness than pure appeals to reason.

[belpejic]

31. I agree

Personally, I wouldn't mind creating a lot more distortion of what the Repubs are doing. Give 'em some of their own medicine, and make them scramble to explain what they really mean (if they get there, no-one will like it). I also don't mind framing Dem issues, as long as the essence of what lies underneath isn't distorted.

[Moochy]

25. And most Democrats think "Framing" refers to the work on their new vacation home

Why should they pay attention to the framing of issues, why bother coordinate the talking points?

When we've got brilliant leaders like Harry "Give 'em heck if they are so inclined and it's not offensive." Reid.
He is a master of recognizing the difference between Standard American English and Black American English and certainly does not need to be reminded of the importance of Framing!

:sarcasm: ( for the totally oblivious. )

[nenagh]

35. Absolutely

Newt Gingrich's "Language a Key Mechanism of Control"

Anyone who hasn't read it should...

Language to control thought..

Kind of a dog whistles + framing x dog whistles and repeat..

[old mark]

23. They look good in comparison to Democrats, who spend more time

attacking each other than we do the republicans.



mark

[Ferretherder]

29. Not that you asked ME, directly, but...

...I'm more than willing to give you my take on this.

I truly believe that, to be a progressive - which most Democrats are, I feel - in today's world, and most especially in America, takes a heart, a conscience, and a fairly deep intellect. One has to first CARE about their fellow human beings, and want ALL to prosper, not just themselves. One has to be willing to consider the consequences of their own actions, and REALLY care if fulfilling their own desires in life is denying others even the most basic necessities for a comfortable existence. And one has to have the depth of intelligence to SEE more than one point of view in any argument, and be willing and able to grasp the implications of one's decisions, and their effects on the good of society as a whole.
This is not an EASY road for most people to walk. It takes opening up your heart, as well as your mind, to allow for full consideration of the issues facing us all. It takes courage and conviction to 'do the right thing'. It takes, possibly, foregoing SOME things that one might want in their own immediate future to allow for greater things NOW, for many.

Now,.......

...consider that YOU have been given the task of SELLING this philosophy to the masses.

Where do you start? What do you say to make people think about more than just themselves and their own pocketbook? Do you take 'baby-steps' with your message of self-sacrifice and cooperation for the 'greater good', or do you try to 'hard sell' compassion and tolerance.

Tough assignment, huh?

Or,....

...instead, I ask you to sell to the general public the notion that the ONLY thing in this world that matters, at all, is the consideration for one's OWN wellbeing.

Now I have an easy one for you.

To which political party is given the task of promoting these respective messages?

Startin' ta git tha' pitcher?

[Bonn1997]

33. Republicans' message is more suitable to corporate sponsors...Democrats have to balance what their

base wants with what their corporate sponsors demand. There's no similar balancing act for Republicans (on most issues at least).

[blm]

34. Because they were clever enough to buy control of broadcast media in the 80s and 90s.

And that is the ONLY reason why their BULLSHIT is so easily consumed by the dumbed down masses who lap it up.

[Bonn1997]

59. That's a brilliant way to put it!

[anonymous171]

37. It's all about language and framing.

Go to this thread for more:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7554881&mesg_id=7554881

[Codeine]

40. They do their homework.

People don't realize that the Pukes spent a decade in the 70s building the social framework of evangelical church groups, AM radio, and conservative think tanks to advance their cause before they made their big move in the early 80s. They immediately attacked our own framework of organized labor and destroyed it, undermining our efforts longterm while cementing their own.

So succesful were they that you can read anti-labor posts even on this board.

[HughBeaumont]

55. Isn't that the truth.

My Red-X Toilet is loaded to the rim with pro-Laissez-Fail stooges that call themselves "Democrats" without putting the word "Reagan" in front of it.

[krabigirl]

45. Well, some Dems like Kucinich are not authoritarian, but they certainly don't mince words, either.

Sadly, the only Dems that get elected are the spineless ones with centrist ideas

[reformist]

46. Greed is a powerful motivator?

They all have dreams of cashing in big on the positions they take.

[IcyPeas]

47. IMO Fox News has a lot to do with it...

and all that right wing radio talk stuff - as you said Hannity/Beck et al. Imagine for a minute that all we had was Fox news and we all thought that was the truth. Just imagine. It's got ridiculously high ratings. People who watch that don't turn on Keith O. or Rachel M. for a different side of things -- they only watch Fox. Every republican talking head is interviewed on FOX - spewing lies, but the viewers don't know they are lying..... each side is preaching to the choir. And then we have things like Air-America filing for bankruptcy! People like Rachel Maddow are very cerebral IMO and the people who watch Fox would NEVER watch her. She makes you think. Thinking is hard for some people (i.e., the teabaggers) They want to be told what to think by Hannity and O'Reilly and Beck (I mean Beck????? - you've got to be kidding me!). It's is sooooooo frustrating that there are so many of them.

[Kablooie]

49. Also the basic conservative message is "be selfish". It gives people permission to be selfish.

[OnyxCollie]

56. Funny, that's the same basic theme to Satanism.

THE NINE SATANIC STATEMENTS

1. Satan represents indulgence, instead of abstinence!
2. Satan represents vital existence, instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom, instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!
5. Satan represents vengeance, instead of turning the other cheek!
6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible, instead of concern for psychic vampires!
7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his "divine spiritual and intellectual development", has become the most vicious animal of all!
8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
9. Satan has been the best friend the church has ever had, as he has kept it in business all these years!

-Anton LaVey, The Satanic Bible, p. 14.

Edit to add:

THE BOOK OF SATAN IV

1. Life is the great indulgence - death, the great abstinence. Therefore, make the most of life - HERE AND NOW!
2. There is no heaven of glory bright, and no hell where sinners roast. Here and now is our day of torment! Here and now is our day of joy! Here and now is our opportunity! Choose ye this day, this hour, for no redeemer liveth!
3. Say unto thine own heart, "I am mine own redeemer."

-Anton LaVey, The Satanic Bible, p. 19.

[kenny blankenship]

51. Because the passivity and doubt of the Democrats does 90% of the Repukes' work for them

Republicans care about winning. I'm not real sure what Democrats care about.

Not offending rich people, I guess, is the Democratic common denominator.

[brettdale]

58. One reason

MASS MEDIA.