I think I finally found an explanation for the 30 percent that still approve of Bush.

[tjwash]

Brain parasites.

It's the only explanation that can possibly cover how over and over again, these people continually-year after year election after election; keep voting against their own best interests. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and even as every scandal gets exposed; from WMDs to illegal wiretapping to torture, these folks just. don't. budge. an. inch. EVER.

There's a little known about fungi that preys on ants, and that actually manipulates the hosts brain to help itself reproduce.

It's just too perfect an explanation. There must be a human version of this as well:

The carpenter ant in the picture on the left (genus Campanotus), and the bullet ant in the first film clip below (Paraponera clavata), have fallen victim to parasitic fungi of the genus Cordyceps, which manipulate the behaviour of their host in order to increase their own chances of reproducing.

The spores of the fungus attach themselves to the external surface of the ant, where they germinate. They then enter the ant’s body through the tracheae (the tubes through which insects breathe), via holes in the exoskeleton called spiracles. Fine fungal filaments called mycelia then start to grow inside the ant’s body cavity, absorbing the host’s soft tissues but avoiding its vital organs.

When the fungus is ready to sporulate, the mycelia grow into the ant’s brain. The fungus then produces chemicals which act on the host’s brain and alter its perception of pheromones. This causes the ant to climb a plant and, upon reaching the top, to clamp its mandibles around a leaf or leaf stem, thus securing it firmly to what will be its final resting place.

The fungus then devours the ant’s brain, killing the host. The fruiting bodies of the fungus sprout from the ant’s head, through gaps in the joints of the exoskeleton. Once mature, the fruiting bodies burst, releasing clusters of capsules into the air. These in turn explode on their descent, spreading airborne spores over the surrounding area. These spores then infect other ants, completing the life cycle of the fungus.

Hey...if you can think of a better explanation I'm all ears.

[MadMaddie]

1. Inbreeding?

Just sayin....

[KingofNewOrleans]

2. All Hail--

Hypnotoad

[sam sarrha]

3. a certain % of all cultures have the 'PushOver' gene.. just want to be told what to do by a Decider

[bdrube]

4. 30% of Germans still supported Hitler in April 1945. n/t

[Taverner]

8. Of course the Nazi's had killed all the dissidents at that time

Kind of like if Bush killed off all of the Democrats, Greens and anyone but GOP

[LynzM]

5. Something like 13%(?) of Americans have never heard of Global Warming.

I read that today... eek. Not only to not have a developed opinion on, but never heard of. So there's just over a 1/3 of the 30%.

Though, your theory's good, too! :rofl:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

6. Insanity

Any person who is still an ardent Bush supporter at this time is insane. I saw one over the weekend, and he was dangerously insane, threatening and shouting and hurling insults at my husband and me. It took a lot of energy to ignore his tirade and go on about our business.

[patrice]

13. He must have really been something horrible, because you, ayeshahaqqiqa,

always seem to be the most! serene person in any thread I've ever seen you in. So if it took a lot of energy for you, he must have been very Bad!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

14. I was shaken for some time

and it took a lot of focusing on the breath and the use of spiritual practices to get back to a more centered space. He had baited us all weekened with slurs on Islam and on the Democrats (he didn't know our political affiliation but did know our religious one), and we just tried to be polite. But then he suddenly turned on both of us, yelling and screaming. He was really trying to get us to react in a negative way. We didn't, but it was a totally bizarre experience. If I ever see him again, I'll know to be prepared.

For, you see, to be centered and at peace within one's own self I have found to be a most precious commodity. I still work to make sure that anger within myself does not rob me of it.

[Richard D]

7. I think that around . . .

. . . 30 percent of the population has an IQ below 90.

[Duer 157099]

9. The only question remaining is

when do they climb the tree and quietly expire?

[pitohui]

10. oh i absolutely agree

it is a grief to me that one of my closest friends still gets swept up by the wingnut hysteria from time to time and yeah brain parasites is as good an explanation as any

i could tell a story that i went thru today due to his empty headedness but crap it would be mean and also require more typing than i feel like

i hate to say it, but we all know it's true, on average the conservatives just don't have as much upstairs as the progressives, i know, we're not supposed to say that, we're supposed to pretend that everyone is equal and the conservatives just don't bother to use what they have but sometimes i wonder, i really do, some of them honestly do not seem to have anything between their ears but a puff of smoke

[antigop]

11. John Dean explained it on Olbermann --- need for authoritarian leader

John Dean wrote "Conservatives without Conscience" -- he explains that 30% of conservatives look for an authoritarian figure. (That's why you never see Bush approval ratings go much below 30%.)

Watch the video here:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/posts/2006/07/11/john-dean-on-countdown-conservatives-without-conscience/

>>
To put it simply, Dean makes the case (with data he uncovered) that many conservatives of today need an authoritarian figure to guide them and they willingly do whatever it takes to please that figure. Dean cites G. Gordon Liddy as the perfect example of a guy willing to be shot in the street to indulge his master. He highlights the fear mongering that this administration has been using for years now as a model that allows the concept to be implemented. The way Tom Delay controlled the House is another perfect illustration of this behavior.
>>

[cynatnite]

17. Excellent book!

Can't recommend this book enough to everyone here at DU!

[patrice]

12. I'd like to study the corelation between Racism and supporting BushCo.

I heard something on NPR recently about 25% of the American population being characterized by a certain racist attitude (sorry I can't remember what it was right now) and that made me wonder about the similarity between that number and Bush's support.

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

15. Futurama comes in mind(no pun intended)

[B Calm]

16. 30% of the people are suffering with Masochistic Personality Disorder

Self-defeating Personality Disorder is a pervasive pattern of self-defeating behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. The person may often avoid or undermine pleasurable experiences, be drawn to situations or relationships in which he or she will suffer, and prevent others from helping him or her, as indicated by at least five of the following:



1.chooses people and situations that lead to disappointment, failure, or mistreatment even when better options are clearly available;


2.rejects or renders ineffective the attempts of others to help him of her;


3.following positive personal events (e.g., new achievement), responds with depression, guilt, or a behavior that produces pain ( e.g., an accident);


4.incites angry or rejecting responses from others and then feels hurt, defeated, or humiliated (e.g., makes fun of spouse in public, provoking an angry retort, then feels devastated);


5.rejects opportunities for pleasure, or is reluctant to acknowledge enjoying himself or herself (despite having adequate social skills and the capacity for pleasure);


6.fails to accomplish tasks crucial to his or her personal objectives despite demonstrated ability to do so, (e.g., helps fellow students write papers , but is unable to write his or her own);


7.is uninterested in or rejects people who consistently treat him or her well, (e.g., is not attracted to caring sexual partners);


8.engages in excessive self-sacrifice that is unsolicited by the intended recipients of the sacrifice;
The behaviors do not occur exclusively in response to, or in anticipation of , being physically, sexually, or psychologically abused.

9.The behaviors do not occur only when the person is depressed.



Source: The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition

[tanyev]

18. Mad Elephant Disease.

[DireStrike]

19. Toxoplasma...can be carried by humans...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxoplasma_gondii

Main article: Toxoplasmosis

Behavioral modifications of the host

It has been found that the parasite has the ability to change the behavior of rats and mice - making them less fearful of cats. This effect is advantageous to the parasite, which will be able to sexually reproduce if its host is eaten by a cat. <2> There has been speculation that human behaviour may also be affected in some ways, and correlations have been found between latent Toxoplasma infections and various characteristics such as increased risk taking behavior, slower reactions, feelings of insecurity, and neuroticism. <3>

Several independent pieces of evidence point towards a role of Toxoplasma infection in cases of schizophrenia and paranoia. <4>

[Hippo_Tron]

20. Hrmm, sounds like a case for House