Interesting theory on why the neocons are violent

[FreedomAngel82]

I know, I know. I'm making a lot of posts tonight and I apologize. This just really struck me to be true and wanted to share in case you didn't listen to Malloy (and why didn't you if did not? ;) ). A caller from Japan called in and he made a VERY good and reasonable point on why the neocons are so angry even though they control everything in the government. Apparently he thinks (and I agree) they are losing the audience and people aren't buying what they're saying (just look at the recent poll numbers from MSNBC for example). They realize if democrats or another party come into power there will be investigation's of what has been going on. Of course they'll be angry with this because they'll all be screwed. This guy thinks they can't give up power at this point and can't face an investigation going on in the future. It does make sense on why they're doing what they are doing such as with getting rid of the filibuster. If they were getting things done and people were agreeing with them and their poll numbers would be up and wouldn't all the rightwing radio people be bragging about everything? I think it's really quite pathetic how they control all branches of the government but haven't gotten too much done. I know it's only been five months and twenty something days since the last election but you'd think they would be happy about everything, right? Oh and why is Tom DeLay still around and not in jail?? Malloy also said to this caller a very good point. The thing to remember about neocons is they, in reality, are cowards. If they can't control the message and frame everything they just bully people around. This, to me, is a coward. Malloy thinks they (the necons) would cut and run if it came to an investigation and prosecution and would cut a deal with the people doing the persecution just so they don't get what they deserve according to the law. The caller said that because they push fear into other's it shows how they feel (except for Bush and his people who use fear to control what gets done). I've been wondering lately why they're so angry even though they "won" the last election and control all the government. Could this be the answer? What do you think? It certainly is strange. I've never seen this before. Have you?

[applegrove]

1. Yes - sociopaths project their own issues onto others. When they

kill people..it is to feel alive. When they attack someone in the office, it is usually the person who has the most integrity.

Just a big long life of dumping their inadequacy onto others.

[rumpel]

2. Yup. The typical schoolyard bully.

[ultraist]

3. It's feasible

It is true that they are slipping in the polls, the general public is getting fed up. A recent poll showed that a large majority of the public are dissatisfied with Congress and of course we know Bush's approval ratings are at 43%.

They may be getting desperate. Desperate people take desperate measures. They will go to any lengths to get their way. We do know that. :scared:

[JDPriestly]

4. It has to do with the strict father value system

a la George Lakoff. The strict father is the ideal authority. The strict father punishes. Therefore, to be a good, effective authority you have to punish. The problem for the conservative strict father values people is that now, they are in power. They not only need to be strict fathers, they need a strict father to look up to. There is no such thing in our system. So they are in a quandry. Watch how Frist and the other strict father senators look to Bush to play the strict father role. They obey nearly every one of his requests and dare not step out of line. And of course they resort to violence to enforce their strict father's commands (whether an internalized imaginary father or an external one like Bush or their pastor or some other hero they worship) and to punish those who do not obey. Violence is an inherent part of their value system. That is why they love war so much.

[Swamp Rat]

14. Yes

I am now reading: Robin Tomach Lakoff's book "The Language War." Obvoiusly you are familiar with her husband's book, "Don’t Think of an Elephant!"

Three George Lakoff links:
http://www.linguistics.berkeley.edu/lingdept/Current/people/facpages/lakoffg.html
http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/people/lakoff
http://www.motherjones.com/news/qa/2004/10/10_401.html

[Roland99]

5. The people are breaking through the State's shield.

"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State."
-- Joseph Goebbels, German Minister of Propaganda, 1933-1945

[FreedomAngel82]

6. Great quote

I wonder though. How will they hold onto power? We have elections coming up next year and if all these fed up people go out and vote, and vote democratic, we can take back the country. Since groups have been doing pollings around the Social Security nonsense that has been going on more people are starting to trust democrats more than republicans.

[Melynn]

12. How will they hold to power?

Well, what about this scenario? America gets hit with a WMD and martial law is declared. Unlikely? Perhaps. But if the Repugs are scared of losing power it could be a possibility.

[MazeRat7]

7. Todays republicans are not leaders...

They are so punch drunk from the one-liners and name calling that the art of cooperative leadership is lost with them. Yes, they have all the power, but you know what.... they don't have the skills to turn that power into "strategic" action. At best they are a party of "tactical" execution bolstered by hubris. This is their time, but daily their stewardship is turning sour... all the while we wail and gnash teeth waiting for this reign of lunacy to end.

MZr7

[gumby]

8. Neocons are violent because that's the way their brains have

been wired. Beating your children, ala Dobson has this desired effect.

The 'strict father' family model is a good place to start on investigating this pathology.

Attributing nuance to neocon followers is an oxymoron. To the 'true believers,' 'thinking' itself is something that must be specifically ignored as a 'test of faith.'

Exploring the pathology of these Neanderthals is a fun exercise, but the POLITICAL grasp that this sub-group supports -- aka the Bush Cabal -- has become nearly invincible.

Uuummm, who's going to stop them? Dan Rather? Newsweek? The Voters?

They might be cowards, but they have closed the back door.

When they go down, so will the rest of this country.

Geeze, sorry to be so dreary.... got any other alternatives to cheer me up?

[MazeRat7]

9. No but I liked this line....

Exploring the pathology of these Neanderthals is a fun exercise....

Indeed it is and I become more fascinated with that exploration daily. To what end, I have no idea...but damn its fascinating.

MZr7

[necso]

10. There are

pronounced elements of childishness in neocon behavior (it is a childish philosophy -- in essence "I wanna, I wanna!") and frustration at the failure of reality to conform to their wishes.

And creating, maintaining, fanning up (etc) anger (hate and other ugliness) is an essential element of the neocon method of operation. Base emotions are the neocon target of choice -- because they are powerful and easily stirred by misleading imagery and poisoned words. Anger, in particular, is often unreasoning, on the lookout for those to unleash on -- and easily exploited and (mis)directed.

And it is those who are best at exploiting people's base emotions that the neocons push forward (both in private and in public). Manipulators, rewarded for being effective (manipulators), nothing but the base is to be expected from these people. (Of course, some of those who are in politics -- unlike (some of) those who are "media celebrities" or are working in more closed forums -- sometimes must show some appearance of "moderation", "sobriety", "thoughtfulness", "compassion", "compromise", etc, etc, in their public behavior.)

[gumby]

13. "I wanna, I wanna"

are the exact childish words I hear Republican United States Senators expressing in their recent rants over a proxy judicial food fight.

So it seems that the once Shining City On The Hill is going to take a major dive due to an infantile tantrum. ???

Is that unbelievable, or what? Boggles my mind, big time.

[necso]

15. Having been a

republican for some time before I was a Democrat, I have seen these guys (the neocons) go from a laughing stock to nearly total power.

As recently as the first Gulf War, other republicans (like me) were literally laughing in these guys' faces when they demanded that we take over Iraq (after winning in Kuwait).

Well, they have their revenge now (on this issue -- but more revenge is on the way)... and it turned out just like we said it would back then.

So no, I am not surprised. Once they turned en mass on the elder Bush (who went way too far appeasing them, I thought), because he didn't invade Iraq (in the sense of taking it over) and because he tried to be somewhat fiscally responsible, then it was all over for the republican party -- because it was clear that the neocons' loyalty was only to themselves -- and that they would attack anyone who stood in their way. And so I left and became a Democrat -- because the neocons must be stopped, and now only the Democrats can do it.

"Save the Republic, we must."

[FreedomAngel82]

17. Interesting

So all this anger is from past issues do you think? And them not getting anything done? I just think it's so strange how they're so angry. Oh and welcome to the party. ;) I'm glad you woke up. :hi:

[necso]

18. Well,

I wrote to what (I think) their anger is about in a previous reply... but, yeah, they have lingering "issues" also.

However, on balance, I think that the anger is mostly a weapon (used against their "enemies") -- and a tool (to manipulate the masses).

I have been a (rank-and-file) Dem since 91. (The year before Clinton was elected, I remember supporting him in the primaries.)

[zann725]

11. Suppressed sexuality.

n/t

[eridani]

16. Neocon is to psychopath--

--as slightly geeky is to nonfunctioning autistic. Human empathy is not part of their brain. Born that way, or beaten out of it? Six of one, half a dozen of the other.