How do you deal with this crap?

[Michael_UK]

When you're discussing politics with a rabid conservative, and they come out with crap such as "the terrorists, including Saddam, bin Laden, al Qaeda, Mullah Omar, Hamas, Hezbolla, Arafat are all your fellow leftists", what can you do?

How do you challenge this type of thinking?

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

1. Alcohol.

And lots of it.

[Kazak]

2. Hand them a copy of the US constitution?

:shrug:

[BlueEyedSon]

3. Scream "Allah Akbar!" and push the button on your explosive vest.

:)

But seriously, ask them to define terrorist/terrorism. Then show how the US behaves like a rogue ("terrorist") state.

[Michael_UK]

8. What pisses me off

is the sort of black v mentality, us v them mentality that these people have. For these fools, good = conservative, bad = lefist.

It's so frustrating. I suppose they save time having to think.

[BlueEyedSon]

13. Exactly, they "don't do nuance"

The media and the current crop of idiots have fostered the mentality that foreign polity can be reduced to sound bites. It cannot be done so with any accuracy or understanding.

[Semi_subversive]

4. Simply state

"What the f*** have you been smoking?"

[demnan]

5. Define leftist

Tell me why dissent is un-American?

[rockymountaindem]

6. Tell them that they are true conservatives.

The whole goal of the conservative movement is to stop change. Like George Will said when he quoted from a British philosopher, "Everything that happens is bad. Therefore we must try to ensure that as little happens as possible". People like OBL, Hamas et. al. want to return to what they view as an ideal past, when the Koran ruled the lives of men and women and when the infidel begged for their mercy. Reverting to the past is a hallmark of conservative thought, hence the "this kind of thing didn't happen in the '50s" remarks the Repubs. are so fond of making.

Leftists and progressives stand for the dignity of all through our support for democracy, equitable wages, civil rights etc. OBL and his terrorist cohorts care for none of these things.

[Michael_UK]

11. exactly

Bin Laden wouldn't be there protesting for religious liberty or women's rights. To these conservatives, these people are bad, and therefore they're liberal, and therefore they're bad.

Ahh, I could scream at the mentality of some of these people

[LisaM]

7. The KKK, Timothy McVeigh, Michigan Militia,

John Birch Society, Randall Terry.

[Kazak]

10. Hitler, etc...

Uh huh.

[mflaker]

9. With ideas, not accusations!

Just present some logical, fact-based ideas as arguments. Ideas and solutions to problems are the best tool to win people's minds over.

Anyone who jumps into name calling doesn't have an argument worth listening to.

[Catfight]

12. they forgot Bush in that list as a cheerleader for terra....if Bush

ever wanted to be a real leftist, he wouldn't be able to do it, we demand accountable, intelligent, leaders. Not chickenhawk, lying, afraid to testify under oath, homophobic misleaders.

[Cleita]

14. Point out that they don't know what the politcal left means.

If this were so all of the above would be bleeding heart liberals out saving trees instead of heartless, cruel dictators and terrorists.

[kentuck]

15. Remind them of the photo of Rumsfeld and Saddam...

and point out the Republicans that cozied up to Saddam, Mullah Omar, Osama, and all the leaders of those "left-wing" groups you mention. It is the fellow fascists that have been in bed with the terrorists - not the leftists. Read up. The information is out there...

[Minstrel Boy]

16. You could try telling them

Saddam was Rumsfeld's pal.
bin Laden and Bush share business interests.
Al Qaeda is a creature of the CIA.
Mullah Omar was coddled by US oil.
Hamas was funded by Israel.

But you'll just be called a "goddamn communist."

[mmonk]

Most know not to hit me with such stuff

because they know I'm more informed than they are on what's going on from their previous attempts.

[kaitykaity]

17. "Oh, you got your RNC talking points fax today, didn't you?"

"Thought maybe you'd drink the Kool-Aid antidote I left for you last night."

[shaolinmonkey]

18. Most if not all are NOT leftists:

Saddam: big fan of Stalin, but certainly no socialist
bin Laden: wants to implement a theocracy. that would be right-wing
al Qaeda: see bin Laden
Mullah Omar: see bin Laden
Hezbolla: aren't they backed by Iran? if so, theocracy again, right-wing
Hamas and Arafat? Hamas carries out suicide bombings in the name of Allah, so that would be right-wing... and Arafat is a Christian, if I'm not mistaken.

Anyway, it's hard to argue with people who have no interest in anything other than veiling their racism with ad hominem.

I'd go with the alchohol.

[bowens43]

19. None of those listed are 'leftists' and they're certainly NOT liberals.

In fact , they are for the most part religious fundamentalists and conservatives. Not an inch of difference between the goals these of folks and the goals of the bush administration.

[Iceburg]

20. Give them this ...

Saddam is now looking like a saint by most standards ...
The "ceasefire/massacre" in Fallujah; the rape and torture of prisoners in Abu Ghraib and other prisons in Iraq. Only "God/Bush" knows whats going on in Guantonamo Bay???

While 50% of Americans sponsor these activities, the other 50% are content to blame "this Administration". At some point we have to ask ourselves -- Is attributing blame really enough?

No one can terrorize a whole nation,

unless we are all his accomplices.

Edward R. Murrow

[Wetzelbill]

21. yeah and they all did business with Conservatives too