An Answer to "Where's the Outrage"

[Steely_Dan]

I was sitting down thinking the other day about why so few in our county are outraged by the actions of the Bush administration. I mean, after all the 911 hearings, the admission of no WMDs, the lies, the corruption, the outing of a CIA agent, etc.etc. It just didn't make sense to me. After all of this, Bush's numbers are hardly effected. Even when a vast majority of Americans believe that Bush lied, he is still ahead in the polls.

While there are probably a number of reasons for this that escape me right now...this thought did occur to me:

The American people do NOT want to admit that the 700+ troops we have lost, the thousands injured and the countless deaths of innocent civilians go unjustified. They would rather be "in denial" than admit that all of these lives have been lost for "no reason."

This is the only excuse that seems to explain the phenomenon of "Where's the Outrage."

-P

[seabeyond]

1. you are right on

this is exactly it and what we have become as a nation. and why things continually get worse. they are fearful of truth, fearful it will be painful that they wont be able to look it in the eye. so they deny. yet in truth one can accomplish resolution. it is completely opposite of what they create

coulent agree with you more

[Steely_Dan]

4. Thanks Sea

[seabeyond]

11. take it further, the whole republican cult

i see with husband and father. for the last decade it is repug loud mouth cult demonizining the democrat. it isnt just the soldiers, it is leaving their party. turning on betraying. owning that their president could be so bad.

it is a tough battle for them. like walking away from bad parents all you want is love and the parents cant give it, at some point a healthy person has to leave. that is hard to do

all it will take, is for fellow dems, and southern baptist church to speak out loud. when a handful do, more and more will see they can too

i am waiting and waiting for this to start up. they need help from us

[NeonLX]

2. Yer right, "cognitive dissonance" is at work here...

...who wants to face the facts when they are so ugly?

[prodigal_green]

6. Exactly

How can you possibly admit to yourself that you were snookered and that the person you trusted so much f*cked you royally.

It's easier/more comfortable to ignore the facts and continue to believe the lie.

[Windy]

3. As scary as it is....

I think that religious fanaticism has entered american politics. While I hope that this isn't the reason for all the undying support for bush no matter what he does, one has to wonder. As I said in another post, the attitude of americans in this country who continue to support bush angers me to the point where sometimes I think I should just stop reading the papers, the internet and listening to the news...

[democratreformed]

7. You hit the nail on the head, IMO

The religious power at this time is one of the scariest things to me. I keep saying that ten years from now, alot of people are going to be looking around asking "How did the churches wind up will all the money and power?"

[ezee]

20. Agreed

most of my family are "religious right". Even when you sit down and explain it in one syllable terms they still shrug there shoulders and say they will vote for him because he "believe" and that god has control over the situation. They don't seem to be phased by all the lies and corruption that is going on. IT is scary and sad what has happened to our country .

[July]

5. And they will only "kind of" admit it when we get to Viet Nam numbers.

That's the part that drives me crazy. Many more people will have to die before those in denial say to themselves, "Wait a minute, we have lost THOUSANDS of young people, WTF!" In other words, more lives have to be lost for no reason before some people will admit that there was no reason. Utterly pointless.

[Steely_Dan]

8. That Crucial Point

It is sad...
Viet Nam was sort of like that. So many lives lost before anyone takes action. Very sad.

-P

[Jacobin]

9. Agreed.

It's what kept us in Vietnam for 20 plus years. Look what that got us: 55,000 american dead, 350,000 wounded, and 3 million Vietnamese killed............all for naught.

[Homer12]

10. The answers are Fear, Ignorance, and Apathy

Lets face it many people in are country are pathetic excuses for Americans whom have willing given up their duty to question the government and protect the constiution.

Just look at what supposed conservatives have become in this country, the second GW stole office they did a complete 180 degree becoming the biggest sanctimonious hypocrites are country has ever seen. The buzz words and stances they used when clinton was in office mean and mean nohting to them (i.e. personal accountibility, ethical behavior, moral behavior, Big Borhter and protection of Civil Liberties and privacy, etc...) The AM Hate Radio band in my City, Milwaukee, has a few of these hyocritical self-serving Bush Whores, Charlie Sykes, Jeff Wagner and Mark Belling that expounded all these "suppossed" conservatives issues.

The Second Bush does anything wrong they deflect and try to destroy any critisizm ven if it means doing a reversal are their "suppossed stance.

Lets face it, the degredation of the American citizen is self-inflicted and the Right-Wing just fuels it.

In my words, many Conservatives and Republicans are the real traitors in this country and they should be thrown in jail for the rest of their lives becuase they give no quarter or compassion or mercy to their enemies.

They are corrupt to the core.

[vi5]

12. A great letter in the NY times today about this...

There is no outrage because we are getting the war and the patriotic fervor without being asked to be on war footing. There is no draft...we are not being told we have to increase taxes...we are not being told we have to ration. So there's nothing for joe and jane average to be upset about. All they have to do is rally round the flag and the leader and it makes them feel all warm inside.

[rkc3]

13. Correct

I had this discussion with a co-worker this morning. We both feel that such a good job has been by the admin to equate everything with the terrorists and as long as you bring up terrorism in the speech, Bush and Co can say/do whatever they want.

For the most part, Americans like their news on the crawler at the bottom of the screen. Putting two thoughts together is too much work for us.

When you try to point out everything that went wrong or the misdeeds of this group - you get labeled pro-terror. It completely amazes me.

Unless Kerry begins to bring these things up in speeches, no one is going to get angry and we'll have another four years of Bushco.

[Dogmudgeon]

14. Where It's At

Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it isn't there.

The press is downplaying anti-war sentiment, mainly because it's not limited to garishly dressed countercultural youth like it seemed to be during the Vietnam era.

However, the press will become involved once it's clear that their Wise and Courageous Leader is actually a self-absorbed sociopath. But don't ask me to give you a prediction when that will be -- it could be a long time coming.

--bkl

[rock]

15. You're talking about what's reported in the media

Polls and events. Or should I say unreported and misreported?

[Chef]

16. Outrage

It is strange. It is as if everything is upside down. Bush is a war hero? I am beginning to think the public reacts to * like one of those serial killers in prison that gets all kinds of offers from women to marry him.

Bush puts us in this unnecessary war, pisses off the entire world, and the people support him. Its beyond me what it will take to develop any outrage.

[Canuckistanian]

17. Look on the bright side.

Even Clinton at time of impeachment was in the high '60s in approval numbers. At that time, the REPUGS were screaming 'where's the outrage'.
Now, there's a president who's in the low '40s and not moving very fast in either direction. And that's bad news for him.
I think a lot of Americans are giving him the benefit of the doubt when they see FAUX or CNN generally avoiding the big scandals. There is no real outrage in the middle, but rather a growing sense of unease.
Build on that, and and you have what you need to push * off the edge of that cliff.

[seabeyond]

19. thank you for this upside

i needed this upside this morning. you are so right. again thanks

[MallRat]

18. I have another theory.

I think it's called "scandal fatigue."

This administration has done so many things that are illegal or unethical that they've essentially immunized themselves from public opinion. Apathy rules the day.

Until the word "INDICTMENT" is branded on a White House official, these brewing scandals will continue to pile up and collect dust in the far reaches of the public consciousness. No single one of these offenses has risen to the top yet. My money is on Valerie Plame; I still think it's going to take Karl Rove down.

Clinton made the mistake of getting caught in a highly-accessible, made-for-TV scandal. It's hard for sheeple to follow the intricacies of pre-war intelligence or Medicare bill drafting. It's VERY EASY for sheeple to understand a blow job.

-MR

[PAMod]

21. It's especially true to the families of the soldiers.

It would be unbearable to understand that their loved one is in harms way without purpose.

They use phrases like "defending their country" or "fighting to keep America free", etc. etc.

I hear it everyday, and I feel pity for these people and concern for our country.