Revenge of the Reality-Based Community

It has been fascinating to watch the development of the Republican party as it abandons the center and becomes firmly entrenched on the right. This process started in the Reagan years, and I'm not sure it's over yet. Perhaps the results of the 2012 election may give some thinking Republicans pause, but it seems most of the party and its various mouthpieces are not ready to consider even a slight move to the center. Yet.

I found the analysis of the plight of the party found in Lofgren's "Goodbye to All That" to be fairly on-target. I spoke with a few Republicans when it came out who were willing to admit that maybe, a few of the things he said might be relevant, but the majority of the reactions were pure denial. I've just read an article by Bruce Bartlett, who was a more prominent Republican thinker and opinion-shaper: The American Conservative | "Revenge of the Reality-Based Community" It's another call for Republicans to take stock of their position. I have my doubts whether anybody will listen to him, given his description of the reactions by his former associates to the way his thinking has developed, which exemplify the "epistemic closure" that the party suffers from.

 

Great thread Rec. The Right wing isn't all that complicated. In fact, they are rather easy to understand. They think as long as they have the big money interests locked up by doing their bidding, they can't lose because money will win the day. You never hear the Right talk about the workers, the middle class, the poor, except to disparage those groups as lazy takers. Even when they use he term "small businesses" that is simply code for large corporate interests because you can't give a small business an advantage without giving that same advantage to much, much, much larger corporations. The relatively small number of very large corporations compared to the number of small businesses, actually get the lion's share of whatever the Republicans are bribed into legislating for on their behalf. Yet they talk about small businesses as if they are only focused on them. How deceitful.

 

Excellent links too, "must read"s for anyone truly interested in understanding the seriousness of the situation we are in. Very much along my lines of understanding, but without the porn.

 

I look at Conservatives as "proactive" whereas Liberals are "reactive".....

 

That's fine by me. I consider myself a reactionary, after all. But it's never as simple as that, as I can be very proactive, when properly motivated.

But, if it get's ya through the next four years...

 

A quote from the OP's second link, explaining his increasing "disdain" for Bush, Jr.:

In other words, he opened his eyes. Don't get me wrong, the guy is still somewhat of a tool and I don't like him, but I respect that he found the courage to challenge his own long-held beliefs as much as he has.

I just have to quote this as well, from the same paragraph:

Brings tears to my eyes...it's so poignant...

 

...and that makes you exactly the sort of person lil joe moen & his ilk are looking for

 

The kind of people "they" are looking for are the ones who question their own beliefs. I qualify, as I do it often. For instance: I've had a long-held belief that the women in Algeria are repressed. Since the information I based that on was limited, and the internet allows me to verify or discredit such notions, I researched Algeria the other day and found my previous beliefs to be mistaken. Even though 70% are Islamic, the majority of lawyers, and a considerable percentage of their judges, are women.

I don't intend to be stuck in beliefs that are wrong, I intend to be proactive in challenging them whenever the opportunity arrives. You could too, you know.

 

You may "question your beliefs" when it comes to women in Algeria but you seem awfully rigid in your political views as they are discussed in this forum.

 

I'd actually like to see some conservatives. Been a long while.

 

View attachment 903

 

here ya go, Clem.:

 

All is not as it appears, but yes, I am more liberal than you'd prefer.

 

Recusant (*Rec OK?) provided links to two Republican opinions on the state of their party, and America, and what do Republicans here do? Ignore them. I know I'm not surprised. I know Rec* isn't surprised. I know Joe, TheMistokles480 (we really need to find a shorter name for that when referencing your name, how 'bout "Mist"?), and clembo ain't surprised.

I printed out the first link, to share with a few people here at home. The least you ignorant Reps could do is read the damn thing. I'm not holding my breath that any of you would agree with those two members of your own party, but that's one of their points. Joe calls it a "circle-jerk", the two Reps call it "epistemic closure", but both are accurate representations of why your party is doomed to fail America. The irony is, you all are going down with the rest of us, as a result of your failures, but you'll blame the Democrats the entire trip.

Dumb-asses.

 

TH for short? View attachment 918

 

Not my place to disagree, you crazy son-of-a...but, as you wish, TH.

 

Really IQ? You're more liberal than David would prefer?

For you David. IQ seems awfully rigid in his political views as they are discussed in this forum?
Is that because he doesn't agree with your seemingly rigid political views?

Thanks for the laughs due to the obvious guys.

 

Isn't being rigid in your beliefs the definition of conservatism?

 

I certainly hope not.

Perhaps idiocism would fit better?

 

I'm pretty solid on that.

No cover, no drink minimum...you get what you pay for, you nonignorant nonslut