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coalition_unwilling

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9. Should explain what I mean by "cognitive dissonance." When a person

Mon Jul 16, 2012, 10:44 AM

Jul 2012

holds conflicting feelings about the same subject, the conflict produces anxiety (or 'dissonance') and, as I understand it, the person will try to reduce the anxiety by somehow reconciling the opposing feelings.

Example from recent history:

Bush claimed there were WMD in Iraq before the U.S. invasion and occupation
BUT . . . No WMD were ever found in Iraq

One way to reduce the dissonance (anxiety) is to conclude that Bush was a liar. Another way is to add a belief that the WMD were somehow shipped to Syria before they could be found.

In Romney's case, he was the CEO of Bain from 1999-2002 when it benefitted him to be (back when he ran for governor of MA) but he is not the CEO of Bain from 1999-2002 now (according to papers filed with the FEC in 2011). Both positions cannot be true, as Josh Marshall and others have pointed out, and the cost of trying to maintain both is massive cognitive dissonance.

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What do you think is going through Romney's head right now? I see him [View all] coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 OP

Arrogance.. ananda Jul 2012 #1

His arrogance will be what saves him from a meltdown. This is a person who is not used to the word monmouth Jul 2012 #4

Should explain what I mean by "cognitive dissonance." When a person coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #9

There are some personality types who don't experience cognitive dissonance. nolabear Jul 2012 #31

Thank you for that observation. I had already published a version of my essay coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #32

Close. I say just "air" n/t Duer 157099 Jul 2012 #33

You know that quick, jerky, stubby little walk he has? It's because his sphincter lunatica Jul 2012 #2

A migraine pinboy3niner Jul 2012 #3

Hah! Good one! (But please do see my elaboration upthread!) - n/t coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #12

He's getting that deer in the headlights look... Wounded Bear Jul 2012 #5

His thoughts will be spinning faster and faster because he knows, just KNOWS... randome Jul 2012 #6

I think he's genuinely pissed that us little folk have Solomon Jul 2012 #7

Money SunsetDreams Jul 2012 #8

The bunching up of his magic underwear distracts him 24/7. nt onehandle Jul 2012 #10

Same as always.... Scuba Jul 2012 #11

"Maybe it's time Lovey and I took a three hour tour somewhere." IDemo Jul 2012 #13

Romney has no conception of the connection between actions and consequences. Jackpine Radical Jul 2012 #14

Brilliant analysis that undermines at least a part of my thesis (and with which coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #17

IMHO Rmoney Believes This Is His Turn, His Destiny - To Be The Next President....... global1 Jul 2012 #15

Nice response. It's such a foreign mentality to me that my limited powers of coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #19

Outrage that he is being questioned and not believed on his say-so... Spazito Jul 2012 #16

I have worked for these kinds of people...he is not thinking KurtNYC Jul 2012 #18

pissed off desparation cindyperry2010 Jul 2012 #20

I think he is mad and waiting marlakay Jul 2012 #21

He's an angry, insecure bully ecstatic Jul 2012 #22

I don't know - he seems like a pretty tightly coiled spring right now. I can coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #24

He's thinking about Ed Gillespie GreatCaesarsGhost Jul 2012 #23

I think I have an answer to this question now: coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #25

I don't think he is even considering dropping out. Skidmore Jul 2012 #26

A Ceti Eel larva of course. chknltl Jul 2012 #27

Ha-ha. Good one! :) - n/t coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #28

Air. asjr Jul 2012 #29

Hah! May be the thread winner! Much appreciated! - n/t coalition_unwilling Jul 2012 #30