The Republicans make me sad. Why are they so hateful?

[Indiana_Dem]

I have one high school classmate and one ex co-worker on my Facebook account that seem so angry that they are considered the underdogs right now. What IS it with them? Nobody is in-your-face to them as many of them were to us! Why are they so angry all of the time? What are they so threatened about!? Did they really get what they wanted under Bush? I just don't understand the hatred. It makes me so depressed. These 2 on FB make me want to delete them but it's also good to hear what the other side is thinking and doing. It will never end will it?

Anyhow, I just had to get that off my chest. I thank Frenchie Cat for the wonderful pictures to make me go to bed feeling so proud, though! Thanks so much you guys and your pics.

[Heidi]

1. They got what they wanted under Bush. They just didn't get _enough_ of it,

and therein lies the problem: selfishness. Their piece of the pie won't be big enough until they can dictate our morality, what morality our children are taught, who we can/can't marry, whether we are "deserving" of a living wage and/or health care, etc.

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. My wing-nut sister-in-law has gone over the edge

She's hardcore partisan Con, a realtor in a down market and "hasn't worked in two years", she's in her late 50's and worked herself into an almost complete breakdown not knowing what she's going to do. They took a 2nd mortgage out a short few years ago to get some work done on it (don't know the exact details of it, but she's claiming they're going to lose their house).

Oh...and all of the above is Obama's fault.

I've been pretty much told it's all my fault and my hubby's, too...and her hubby's, my other SIL and her hubby (we're all Democrats ferchrissake!). I'm just completely tapped out on any sympathy whatsoever after being lambasted for years for being a Liberal.

[Wetzelbill]

73. there are people out there who just won't get it

I know Republicans who will whine about all kinds of things that Republicans have screwed up. They'll blame their own misfortune on Democrats any way they can, and in the most twisted manner possible. Facts do not matter, if some lie isn't drilled into their heads by Master Rush or some other tool they will just make one up themselves. Republicans have an ace in the hole. With Bush they had everything they ever wanted, all the power, the policy, they had it all and it damn near destroyed our country. So when that didn't work they went into Conservative fairytale land. The myth that being "Conservative" is the greatest thing ever and makes all things good. So when they get the man who best represented their movement, an ignorant knucklehead who irrationally served the rich, started foolish wars and divided the country as much as possible and in the dumbest ways, they recoiled when everything they ever wanted proved false. Now Bush wasn't "Conservative" enough. Why? Because in Conservative Fairytale Land, they win wars, balance the budget, have pristine values, serve the common man, and all kinds of things they they don't represent at all. So whenever one of their own predictably fails, they can always fall back on the fantasy impression they have of themselves and what they wish they actually stood for.

[Vanje]

3. Two words:

Talk Radio

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Yep

One of my buddies used to never be very political. All of a sudden he started spewing reich wing talking points and I was so surprised.

I went over to his house one time he had Hannity's America recorded on his DVR. He also kept talking about Rush Limpballs.

These guys are very effective at brainwashing the masses. It's worrisome.

[FrenchieCat]

4. They don't have shit to be satisfied about in their own miserable

existence!

The live to hate.

The fact that our President is a self made Black man doesn't help.
They really can't stand that...cause hell, even Black folks are more successful
than their sorry asses.

[Solomon]

7. You touched on a simple point that is much bigger than you think.

Some white people are finally discovering that, no..., no, they are not "better" than other peoples. That doesn't sit well with them. They are so used to the privilege of believing that they deserve more than other peoples because they are "better:" than other peoples. They would deny this, because they love spouting nonsense about "all men are created equal" but they don't really believe that. They don't believe we should sit down with other people as "equal" partners. Obama continually reinforces the idea that Americans are part of the human family around the globe, not above and beyond. This is what they can't stand and this is why they feel like they are "losing America."

[DeschutesRiver]

59. I agree, because I know someone who thinks like that

A whole family in fact. Daddy made a pile of cash doing deals, and over the years, they became a toothless force in a small town. The whole family lives as leaches off what he made, talentless, snotty jerks who honest to god haven't a brain cell among them. I witnessed much talk about how dumb all blacks are, how superior they, the toothless ones, are to them, "just look at history - blacks are always losers", and more - the kind of talk you thought died after the 60s. I witnessed various family members have interactions with black folk who were a hundred times more articulate and smart than these hicks, and yet you know their life was a fantasy as I heard them talk down re how dumb this or that particular person was simply because he/she was black. There is a point where a person can be so stupid that they are not mentally equipped to recognize what a smarter person is saying to them.

Whatever teeth any of them still might have had, must now be gnashed to stubble over not only seeing Obama get elected, but living with the fact that their stereotypes are false regarding black folk. We elected a black president, and no, the world has not come to an end. It won't come to an end. The world is in fact moving on quite nicely without them, and I know that part isn't lost on them. Their cherished racism has doomed them and I confess I'd love to witness how upset they must be; except you couldn't even pay me to resume speaking to them, because, well, they are vile people and I am happily extracted permanently from that unpleasant situation. But it is satisfying to know that this has likely addled them to their core, shaken their belief system on a daily basis.

They now need to work on the term "marginalized", then wrestle with "extinction".

[Number23]

64. Solomon, you win.

You just win. EVERYTHING about your post is spot on. Fantastic.

And these same folks are just SEETHING right now. With anger. With frustration. With a resounding sense of impotence. You can just feel the fear and the "how in the world did this HAPPEN??!" emanating from every pore of their body.

They were brought up to believe that "real" Americans are blue-eyed blonde Christians (because you know Jesus was); that whites are just simply superior to everyone else -- a belief supported by everything from the lack of non-white history in American history books to the blonde dominance of everything from music, movies to magazine covers. In their heads, black folks, Asians, Hispanics, Jews, Muslims etc. have been and always will be the supporting cast to the real stars and the real talent, so seeing this black man and his black family in the lead role is driving them literally insane. It's almost enough to make you feel sorry for them.

[Veruca Salt]

38. Oh that is definitly one of the reasons

and likely the biggest one in my opinion. Also the fact that even though he isn't ultra-liberal Obama is very progressive and they hate that. I think that the dual victories for marriage equality in IA and VT have really driven home the fact that the country is going left and they can't stop it.

[bdamomma]

47. well said FrenchieCat

President Obama a Black man and a Democrat those two things is what the repigs despise the most, and plus what Democrats said for.

[Ken Burch]

6. Rage and frustration are the organizing principles of the Republican Party

If they let themselves be calm and satisfied, the GOP would collapse within a month.

[mwb970]

75. I see the republican party as a 3-legged stool, each based on a negative emotion.

1. HATE - These are the religious extremists, with their notoriously un-Christlike attitude and policies and their twin obsessions, abortion and gay sex. Anyone not just like them is despised. Their stance is "We are helpless victims of evil forces beyond our control."

2. FEAR - These are the authoritarian neocons, like cheney for example, who are terrified of attacks from without on America and its pre-eminent standing in the world. The executive must be all-powerful. Their stance is "They're all after us. Let's fight them there so we don't have to fight them here. Invade! Bomb! Kill!"

3. GREED - These are the Gordon Gecko corporate types who brought us the current economic mess. Created as a powerful force during the deregulatory fervor of the Years Of St. Ronald, their stance is "I've got mine, so screw you. Privatize the profits, socialize the risk."

Hate, fear, and greed. Not much to build a new ruling majority on, true, but a solid basis for some very dangerous mischief that I fear is still to come.

[lunatica]

8. Being angry is addictive

Raging and spewing and blaming is the heroine high equivalent of the emotions. They're addicted to it and so they keep it going by reacting to every little perceived slight. It does't matter to them that they're wrong. They're too busy pursuing the rage high.

[Mopar151]

20. Bingo!!!!!!

I've said for a long time that rightousness has similar effects to cocaine. Throw in religion, that's like cookin' it to crack.

[Lilith Velkor]

58. My sister is like that

Always ranting and spitting against immigrants and poor people and liberals.

She's a Democrat. Go figure.

[Fire1]

62. No. She's a fake democrat.

[Lilith Velkor]

66. She's also a fake unitarian.

God (ess)(e)(s) only knows why the church lets her sit on the board instead of booting her out on her screeching, hateful ass.

I guess it's a matter of taking the tolerance thing a step too far.

[ericgtr]

9. My Limbaugh loving father-in-law refuses to ever see me again

and my wife, bless her, has taken it pretty well not understanding where his rage comes from either. Hang in there, all we can do is what we think is right and if hating is their way then it's also their problem.

[Jennicut]

13. I have conservative parents as well but thankfully we all agree to disagree

They won't ever "disown" me because of my beliefs but its sad to realize your own parents are brainwashed. Sigh. They watch only Faux news and listen to Hannity and Rush.

[Cha]

46. limpbaugh, the "brainwashed nazi", takes

another one down with him.

[Orsino]

10. Their sense of entitlement can no longer be fed under a failing economy.

They are discovering that the rich men they worship do not want their company.

[firedupdem]

11. I have one friend who sent me some right wing crap during the

election cycle and I debunked it. She hasn't talked to me since and that is fine. I can't deal with people like that at all. I didn't think it would end our friendship but she chose that route so it's okay.

Hey, I got a friend request from someone on your page! I didn't accept it. Do you think it's because they wanted to fight? LOL!

:scared:

[Indiana_Dem]

31. lol Tell me who it is and I'll tell you if I know them or not. I just got a couple

new friend requests I accepted from DU and through other friends.Just PM me and I'll let you know!

[firedupdem]

44. I pm'd you. Let me know!

Thanks

:)

[Indiana_Dem]

50. Sorry I was home for lunch for a short time and had to go back to work until now.

I couldn't respond until recently!

[firedupdem]

56. That's okay...work is important! I got your message...thanks! n/t

[Teaser]

12. Because they are evil.

It's that simple.

[dalaigh lllama]

14. I have several "conservative" friends on facebook from my old town

But I don't think any of them are as filled with the rage we're seeing from the Rushbots. Like you, I like to keep up with what they're thinking, but so far most of them seem to steer clear of politics. I did have one Facebook "friend" who sent me a racist video by Boortz with the comment "too funny!" After my reply to him, we are no longer "friends." :D

[TwilightGardener]

15. I sometimes read a gardening forum, and even there, where you'd think

it could stay away from the political, the seething hatred of a certain few "dittoheads" still comes shining through, totally unrelated to the gardening topic at hand. Republicans are simply hateful, suspicious, paranoid people--that's really what defines "conservatism" anymore.

[saltpoint]

16. If someone's life is unhappy, then there must be someone to blame,

and the conservative and Christian fundamentalist record tilts toward blaming:

liberals
secular humanists
the liberal media
liberal college professors
rock'n'roll
decadent Hollywood
minorities
immigrants from the "wrong" countries
the "Democrat" party
community organizers
Planned Parenthood

--and so forth.

Redwingers are unhappy so it must be someone's fault, and if they can't figure out what the problem is or who to blame, Limbaugh and Coulter will point a finger at one or another liberal in one or another of those groups.

Republican nutbags figure if you burn the village witch, you rid the village of bad energy, when in fact THEY are the source of the bad energy and the witch is likely innocent.

[Clio the Leo]

17. Well, it's a scientifically proven fact that male members of the GOP have small....

... minds.

Probably has something to do with it.

[GoCubsGo]

18. Inbreeding does that to you. n/t

eom

[Clio the Leo]

19. I live in East Tennessee.....

.... trust me, it aint purty.

(and yes that's "purty" as in "boy, you sure do got a purty mouth")

http://www.epinions.com/review/mvie_mu-1005633/mvie-review-4023-F253B8F-398E3634-prod1

[Mopar151]

21. Moose said it best

"Some a' these bastids got minds so narrow they can look down the neck of a beer bottle with both eyes!"

[Indiana_Dem]

52. Oh that's a good one! nt

[Beacool]

22. They are acting just like we did under Bush.

:shrug:

[TwilightGardener]

24. We went crazy arming ourselves and talking about "re-education camps" in Bush's first two months?

Gee, I don't remember that.

[Beacool]

27. Please, plenty on our side went bat sh*t crazy over Bush, et al.

Justifiably so, but we can't now be hypocritical and expect the conservatives to be on our side.

We have diametrically different political views, but they also have a right to express themselves. We can either rebut them or ignore them. Nothing to get upset over as long as it's people blowing steam and no one is encouraging violence.

;-)

[TwilightGardener]

30. What the FUCK are you talking about? They ARE encouraging violence!

Aren't you the winky-winker that loves to post negative stories from Freepy websites about Obama? Yeah, I got your ticket.

[Beacool]

34. Where does Indiana say that the two people he/she is referring to

are encouraging violence. The thread is about two specific people who are angry because their side lost. If they ARE encouraging violence, then that is reprehensible. If not, they are just blowing steam like we were doing during the Bush years. That's my point.

[Indiana_Dem]

54. I don't expect them to be "on our side" at all--all I was *hoping* for was

some type of unity after the Bush years in order to get something done. If Obama can't bring us together, I don't think anyone can. But the actual truth is I was hoping *we* would decide to be unified as a nation under a commonly well-liked leader. But I guess they don't really like him, although I just can't see how they don't.

[Beacool]

57. There never is unity, we are only united as nation in times of war

and natural disasters. Remember Bush's very high polling numbers right after 9/11? Obama, or anyone else for that matter, will not bring us together because our political beliefs are at opposite ends of the spectrum. The moderates of both parties and maybe the independents will rally around him, but never the conservatives. Did the left rally around Bush or Reagan? Of course we didn't!!!

Just avoid talking politics with these people if you value their friendship. If not, cut them off.

Take care.

:hi:

[ClarkUSA]

25. Then again, you're the one who posted an OP w/ Rush Limbaugh's "Teleprompter-In-Chief" visual...

Birds of a feather... defend each other, eh?

[Beacool]

28. Clark, you can be a bore.............

:eyes:

[ClarkUSA]

29. Beacool, you're so CATTY.Got anymore anti-Obama OPs from Limbaugh or the Telegraph up your sleeve?

[Beacool]

33. Honey, you're the catty one.

Go see if there's a bucket of water you can drown yourself in.

[ClarkUSA]

36. lol! "Go see if there's a bucket of water you can drown yourself in." Did I hit a nerve?

[NatBurner]

32. lol

you're like DU's personal bachmann

bless your heart :)

[Beacool]

35. Oh, please...........

I'm a realist. I don't expect any conservative to be happy about having a Democratic administration. Therefore, they don't upset me. Let them vent all they want. Who cares, or is dissension no longer allowed in this nation of ours?

:shrug:

[ClarkUSA]

37. Funny, you weren't such a "realist" when it came to Chris Matthews' "dissension" last year...

[Beacool]

39. Chris Matthews is a turd in my book.

He's a sexist creep. You want to watch him? Go ahead!! Me, I would rather eat rusted nails.

[ClarkUSA]

40. Remember what you said? "Nothing to get upset over as long as... no one is encouraging violence."

And here is another pearl of wisdom: "Who cares, or is dissension no longer allowed in this nation of ours?"

Take your own advice before preaching to others.

[Beacool]

49. Am I stopping anyone from watching Matthews or MSNBC?

People are free to do whatever they want. That doesn't mean I have to agree with them or watch their program.

Live and let live.......

Shoo, I had enough of arguing with you and your dragon.

;)

[ClarkUSA]

51. But being a "realist" about "dissension" why would you even get "upset" about what Matthews said?

[NatBurner]

41. that's all fine & dandy, but it has nothing to do with your original statement

u said they're acting like we did under bush

i don't recall anybody going on a shooting spree because he was all riled up by some left-wing radio nut

and even though i wasn't here at the time, i'd also wager that there were not daily threads here on DU casually mentioning the assassination of W

but it's all good

u see the world a little differently, and that's ok :)

[Beacool]

53. The original discussion was about two individuals,

not every wing-nut out there.

As for getting riled up, there are plenty of crazies out there. It looks like the stress of the economic situation is driving many people over the edge. There's been too many mass murder - suicides in the last few months.

We live in scary times........

:scared:

[NatBurner]

55. oh ok, i see what u just did there

it's totally about those two people indiana was referring to

gotcha ;)

[AtomicKitten]

43. * snort *

:thumbsup:

[firedupdem]

45. LOL! Hillarious!

:rofl:

[gauguin57]

23. They're hateful because someone took away their lollipop in November.

Wah wah wah.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[TwilightGardener]

26. As Jon Stewart said, being in the minority is SUPPOSED to taste like a shit taco.

[AtomicKitten]

42. A shit taco. Excellent visual!!!

[Cha]

48. Their leader is a "brainwashed

nazi".

[jesus_of_suburbia]

60. Honestly most Republicans are selfish, self-centered assholes.

Not all... but most.

[FrenchieCat]

61. And it's not just Republicans who are hateful.

Just watch here at this site how everything that the Freepers talk about
is all that we seem to talk about. Hella boring.

[blonndee]

63. I think they're Republicans BECAUSE they are hateful.

Why are they hateful? I think they're fearful people, honestly.

[Hansel]

68. Fearful, self-loathing and extremely insecure.

This is why they can't ever take responsibility or admit that they are wrong. And why they have to control the world around them instead of living in it as it is.

Almost everything they rail against is either something they do themselves or are afraid they are going to do. It's about guilt and shame and, for them, the answer to all of their fears is control and authoritarianism.

[Zavulon]

65. "Anger" does not necessarily mean "hate."

I'd need some more specific examples of what you mean. I was a Republican until Bush 41's incompetence set me straight in my mid-20's, but that didn't make me "hateful."

I'm sure I can speak for hundreds and hundreds of people here at DU by saying that when we were in the minority after the Bush siege, we were angry - and most of us even hated a fair number of Republicans - but that didn't make us "hateful" as a whole. If you insist on applying "hateful" to everyone who doesn't agree with you, you may as well assume that EVERYONE is "hateful" in one aspect or another.

I, for example, HATE the Toronto Maple Leafs.

[Indiana_Dem]

71. I refrain from making derogatory remarks about their party and certain members in it in their

presence. I expect the same. If I post something of a political nature on Facebook, it is something that is positive about my party or someone in my party, or of a cause I believe in. I do not make smart remarks on their pages. I don't post inflammatory clips that would offend them. However, they do. I try to be sensitive to their beliefs despite my opposition to their beliefs. So, maybe the better word is "inconsiderate" or "inflammatory" rather than hateful.

[Twinguard]

67. I feel your pain.

My dad is über-conservative. He thinks we should shoot anyone who dares question conservative values. He thinks all illegal immigrants should just leave (unless they are white Europeans). He thinks the gays should stop being gay because he doesn't like it. He thinks that fox news is, at times, too liberal. He loves to piss and moan about paying taxes, and in the very next breath says that there should be cops on every street corner. He listens to Boss Limbaugh regularly, but denies it when I call him on it. And for the record, I know he listens because it's on the radio regularly when I go to visit. He thinks Palin is fantastic, and he thinks McCain lost the election because the repubs went to far to the left.

He and I can no longer talk about politics, because it always turns into a shouting match. The conversations now have to revolve around my kids and shooting pool.

[Joey Liberal]

69. Republicans love to hate

It is a sad thing. I'm living in Oklahoma, the home of hateful republicans. It's a trip.

[Indiana_Dem]

72. My sympathies. nt

[Joey Liberal]

74. Thanks - I keep up the good fight though:)................ nt

[and-justice-for-all]

70. They are not happy unless EVERYONE is miserable...

and even then, they could still find something to bitch and moan about.