We always expect the right wing to be mean, homophobic, racist, misogynistic and utterly stupid

[MrScorpio]

And they never disappoint.

[napi21]

1. I agree with all but the stupid one. At least their leaders are NOT

stupid! They're evil, cagey & liers, but they have an incredible aptitude for formulating sound bites that convince a whole lot of the America people that they're great & will make everything wonderful for them. I detest them for all of that but I sure can't call them stupid!

[Chulanowa]

7. They are a variety of stupid

They expect to play for an audience of stupids, and are always hoping their opponents are stupid, as well. Low expectations conditions htem to stupidity as well.

[shraby]

2. Those are the kinds who are malleable and easily

controlled.

[marybourg]

3. Yes. But now they've taken over two institutions: the mainstream

media, and one of our two political parties. Previously most mainstream institutions discouraged and tried to eliminate the worst human traits. Now two major institutions encourage them. That's new in our history. And ominous.

[Big Blue Marble]

4. Sadly ,there is much meanness and misogyny right here

on DU. We do not need to be smug and superior to the other side. I am amazed at how we mirror each other, the right and the left.
But then, we are all human. Compassion and humility go a long way.

[MrScorpio]

5. They consider compassion and humility as signs of weakness to be detested

They don't have any better natures to appeal to.

Attempting to do so would be a mistake.

[Big Blue Marble]

6. Actually, I am talking about us not them.

It is our better nature I am addressing. It is so easy to belittle the "other side" to minimize their value as human beings.
This is the beginning of violence and war to see them as different then us. They are us; and we are them. There will be
no peace in this world until we can live with that truth.

[MrScorpio]

8. Well, I think that it's a mistake to trust them

Doing so, with the expectation that they'd return the favor, is an invitation to be victimized by them.

Right wingers are bullies and should always be dealt in the way that one always should deal with bullies.

By standing up to them and facing them down.

[Big Blue Marble]

10. What you are saying is that we must define ourselves

by our opposition to them. I am saying that is a trap. This exactly what they do, coming from fear and weakness. Their only defense
is to attack and belittle.

This is not about the others; this is about who we are. We stand with our values and to the best of our ability our awareness of truth.
It is our ability to be compassionate that ultimately defines each of us. It is the best of who we are period.

[emilyg]

9. +1

[napi21]

11. I'm afraid that's exactly what Obama believed when he moved to DC.

Just how well did THAT work out for him? He's tried for almost 2 years to be kind and treat the Pubs like equals with login and common sense thinking and in return he's gotten belittled, slamed, and absolutely NO cooeration. I know you have a good heart and good intentions, but in the current political atmosphere it simply won't work.

[Big Blue Marble]

13. Consider reading Jeremy Rifkin's new book

"The Empathic Civilization, The Race to Global Consciousness In a World of Crisis." We do need new ways of thinking to move beyond
our current struggles. The old attack and defend model is killing us all. Compassion, itself, is a survival skill of a higher order in this world of chaos.

And actually, Obama has gotten quite a bit done in a very difficult political climate. Not as much as you and I would like perhaps, but quite a bit.


Edit to add: pretty much every thing wrong in our world could be improved with a shift to compassion. That shift has to start with each of us in
our everyday lives and our everyday thinking.

[Initech]

12. Yup, they're the biggest assholes on the planet.

And they never fail to disappoint.

[SwampG8r]

14. actually,i expect those of everyone

and then i allow myself to be pleasantly surprised when i am sometimes wrong