Nauseous... My community is DEFENDING Akin...

[1monster]

41. I truly believe that the extremists in politics (right or left) are suffering from a form of madness

or mental illness. For some, it is a something like seaonal affectiveness disorder that comes when the the days grow shorter, but comes with political campaign seasons. They are generally good, generous people who are mostly reasonable -- until campaign season rolls around.

Some how, their very identities have become wrapped up in their political parties and they feel they must defend their chosen (or inherited) party at all costs. They will eschew logic, thoughtfulness, freindship, love, and their absolute beliefs in defense of their party.

After the elections, they used to put alway politics for four years and get back in touch with the reality and practicalities of life and their ability to compromise.

That doesn't happen any more because with the advent of twenty-four hour news coverage, a new campaign season begins even before the current one ends. The respite of reality, logic, and praticality is no more. The madness has nothing to check its progress anymore and grows stronger and more illogical every day.

Unfortunately, this is not an illness that affects just Republicans/conservatives, even though they seem to be more suseptible to it. There have been times enough when many at DU have shown troubling symtoms of this syndrome in the past...

Those who can stand back and see what is happening can only fear for our society and our world.