How can so many millions be so STUPID????

[joanne]

I'm so sick to death of reading poll after poll in which Kerry ranks well ahead of Chimpy on the economy, as he well should, but WAY behind on Iraq and terrorism.

Hello?

Who got us into this mess in the first place????

It's like asking an arsonist to put out a fire.

Do people not get any "real" news? Are so many millions really that stupid to think this incompetent, lying, hypocritical FOOL deserves a second term?

I am baffled!!!!!

[Bluebear]

1. I'd rather have a beer with Bush. And he's decisive. And on 9/11...

he stood with the firemen on a pile of rubble and gave the world a can of whoop-ass. And besides, the new Bachelor is coming on. That is all, thank you.

[Mz Pip]

5. Huh??

This is "Everybody Loves Raymond"'s last season.

Don't make me think right now. :crazy:

MzPip
:dem:

[Ilsa]

9. Isn't it all about how the media and campaigns frame the criteria?

Just like what you said: the pollsters and media ask you who you'd rather have a beer with, not who is best qualified to lead the nation. I don't give a shit about whether I'd ever have a beer with any of them. But I'd like to know that they aren't going to squander my taxes or flippantly send our soldiers to die for lies.

[Bluebear]

18. Exactly. Like anyone would have the occasion to have a drink with them.

nt

[Auntie Bush]

35. People keep forgetting bush* can't drink.

So the question should be...Do you want to have a glass of Kool-Aid with bush* or a beer with Kerry?

[gmoney]

2. I came up with a good analogy today...

"Bush is like a guy throwing rocks at a hornet's nest claiming he's protecting you from the hornets"

[Ilsa]

6. That is a good one! eom

[babylonsister]

3. I'm with you.

While I have great hope after being on DU for awhile, it does make you kind of suspicous of Americans, doesn't it? Again I ask, don't people see TV, read the news, go on Internet, etc.? Then again, I go where I WANT to go, and there are many outlets for everyone. Maybe that's the problem. Too bad there's no non-partisan solution.

[Booster]

42. Posted this before, but worth repeating. My very

repug mother told me to get off the internet because everybody she knows who's on the internet are very angry and unhappy. What can you say to that? Duh!

[Sparkly]

4. I ask myself that every day, joanne

Usually several times a day.

Sometimes several times an hour.

It's amazing.

[joanne]

10. Disheartening too

What has happened to this country?

Are we this dumbed down?

I guess so.

:cry:

[givemebackmycountry]

7. I Agree

How can ANYONE listen to this guy speak for more than five minutes and not think that he's completely removed from reality.

This whole evangelical group that's going to vote for him in a block, just because he's "born again" thing scares the shit out of me.

This country, my country, has gone off the deep end.

Micheal Moore is right.

Sheeple.

Good God, save us from what we are about to become.

[Bluebear]

11. He's plain spoken. And not one of the elite. And holy. And a regular guy.

My gosh they packaged him well.

[antigone382]

8. I think Bush is a good leader because he loves Jesus.

He's Jesus's favorite president, because he listens when Jesus talks to him. Jesus told him that invading Iraq was the right thing to do. What was he supposed to do, ignore Jesus? When Jesus tells you to blow someone up, you better blow them up!!!

I just think that we should support our president. He has a really difficult job. That's why he has to spend 40% of it on vacation.

(sarcasm off)

[joanne]

17. Wonder what part of "thou shalt not kill" do these people not understand?

It isnt just the killing of the so called "insurgents" as bad as that is..... CHILDREN and other innocent people are DYING by the dozens each day... this does not take into account the thousands who have died since this illegal, shameful and filthy war started.

[antigone382]

21. Yeah, exactly

My aunt revealed that she may vote for * because he's pro-life. But what the hell is pro-life about blowing up babies in Iraq??

"Well, as long as we save a few babies here, that's all I care about."

:wtf:

[RevCheesehead]

37. tell her to check out Votingcatholic.org and take the quiz

And if she's so certain * will protect the unborn, why has the Supreme Court struck down the abortion issues as unconstitutional?

* cares nothing about the unborn. He doesn't care about those of us already inhabiting this planet.

[Disturbed]

25. Some are ignorant, stupid, scared, shallow or brainwashed.

Some are all of the above. Most Americans are brainwashed by their books and teachers in school to believe that America is the best country in the world and that Americans know what's best for the other countries. Doesn't everybody want freedom?

Intellectuals are the fist group to be killed or interned in a Fascist Takeover.

In HS intellectuals are teased and considered not cool.

There are issues: Abortion, Gays, taxes, gun control, welfare, terrorism, religion that many feel strongly about.

There isn't a simple answer.



Anti-intellectualism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-intellectualism


--------------SNIPPET----------------------

Anti-intellectualism is found in every nation on earth. Americans, among others, have been accused quite vocally of suffering from it, particularly by the liberal literati both in the USA and in Europe. Such accusations are particularly fueled by existence of the political schism between the Republican and Democratic parties which prompt the less scrupulous contenders on both sides use it as a term of abuse for their opponents. By comparison societies in Europe and Asia are much more politically homogenous.

Historically, anti-intellectualism did play a prominent role in American culture. Some of it originated from the commonly held view among conservative Christians of old that education subverts morality and religious belief. The validity of this view, in fact, was well substantiated by the spread of atheism and Deism among the educated during the Enlightenment. Hence, for instance, the New England Puritan writer John Cotton wrote in 1642 that "The more learned and witty you bee, the more fit to act for Satan will you bee."

A much more important historical source of anti-intellectualism has been the 19th century popular culture. At the time when the vast majority of the population was involved in manual labor, bookish education, which at the time focused on classics, was seen to have little value. It should be noted that Americans of the era were generally very literate and, in fact, read Shakespeare much more than their present day counterparts. However, the ideal at the time was an individual skilled and successful in his trade and a productive member of society; studies of classics and Latin in colleges were generally derided in popular culture. Anti-intellectual folklore values the self-reliant and "self-made man," schooled by society and by experience, over the intellectual whose learning was acquired through books and formal study. A character of O'Henry has noted that once a graduate of an East Coast college gets over being vain, he makes just as good a cowboy as any other young man.

Today both of the factors discussed above are pretty much non-existent in America. Christian thinkers, who no longer have much influence in society in any event, no longer consider education in general evil, although they may object to some of its specific un-Christian aspects, e.g. alleged anti-religious propaganda in schools and colleges. The ideal of the self-made man without schooling has also disappeared together with the once-plentiful manual jobs; in today's society education is generally seen as essential and roughly speaking most everybody either graduated from college or is hoping to do so sooner or later.

[crispini]

44. dude, you're exactly correct.

I got almost that verbatim response from a repub at my work.

it was a very weird conversation.

[antigone382]

47. I get it from other girls at college, and from fundie relatives

But that would be dudette, btw :)

[gumby]

12. Mercury poisoning?

And a whole Dr. Moreau island full of environmental poisons.

[Robbien]

13. Having a beer with a person who would never have a beer with you

is so much more important an issue than to have a good person capable of running your country.

It is said Bush can be capabale of having a drink of beer with you, vote him, yah!

[zulchzulu]

Get out the message wherever you are

This is no time to be shy.

If you want to build your own grassroots effort without waiting for the Cavalry to arrive, check out this site:
www.kerrysupport.com

Print the issues out. Print out your own stickers. Get a folding table and chair and go to local events in your town.

You will be amazed how hungry people are for knowledge and support from fellow Kerry fans.

You are the Cavalry and this is war for getting our country back.

[Jean Louise Finch]

14. outside

I am in total puzzled agreement with you. The strangest thing is, living outside of the US for the last three and a half years, on two different continents, I've never met a single person, American or otherwise, that thought of the Menace as anything other than a dangerous joke. I don't understand where his supporters are coming from, or how they see such a clouded picture. It totally and in every way baffles me.

[Robbien]

23. The Menace

Oh how nice it would be if that menace would be portrayed that way here in the propaganda country.

Bush is equal to God, didn't ya know. Here in the red white and blue Bush/God interchangeable.

[RevCheesehead]

40. Welcome to DU, Jean Louise!!!!!!

Glad to have you with us! :hi:

[WiseMen]

15. No, the don't get real news. Mandated Free Campaign time on

all the broadcast networks would totally change politics in the U.S.

Will that ever be done? Not likely. Not much desire for real news.

[marlakay]

16. Feel the same way, its like they have been taken over!

Read michaelmoore.com and his letter today of encouragement to us. Its very good. Reminding us that the polls are full of shit because it is proven they ask more repubs than dems and that they are taken with people who voted last time and people with cell phones aren't asked at all which I didn't know and that means young people and new voters aren't asked at all. ALL of those PISSED people are not being asked in the polls. So he told us to calm down and kerry is going to win.

[joanne]

20. He better win

or I truly fear for the future of this country.

And even so... * will still get millions of votes.... at least 45% by my guess.

Ok going to read Michael Moore right now.

And getting a glass of wine.

[Mabel Dodge]

31. I've notice...

there seems to be many Repubs who are concrete thinkers and who see everything in black and white terms. Bushy is no Einstein, maybe it's a comfort for them that he's simple and easy to understand. That's my best guess...generally speaking I find liberals smarter.

[RevCheesehead]

41. Hi, Mabel Dodge!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[newyawker99]

49. Hi Mabel Dodge!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[saccheradi]

19. ignorant authoritarian missionary lemmings.

There really are an astounding number of ignorant americentrist spoiled rotten people who think that this administration is good for them, and therefor good for everyone. The only thing that will convince them otherwise is if the nation spirals into a depression, their SUV's are repossessed, and they are denied welfare after their job gets shipped to Tibet.

[ClassWarrior]

22. They're NOT stupid - they're UNINFORMED.

Thank-you spineless media whores. It's up to US to get the word out now. Thank God for the Internet.

23.

[saccheradi]

29. actually, they're stupid AND uninformed.

This nation spits out disproportunate population of moronic losers who think they are the greatest people on Earth... when in truth they are the absolute worst humanity has to offer.

You know precisely those I'm talking about.

[ClassWarrior]

32. No, it's not stupidity. It's hubris.

Arrogance. Willful ignorance.

Definitely not stupidity. I know so-called "morans" who are among the smartest people I know.

23.

[ClassWarrior]

39. I'm so glad you've stepped up and offered yourself...

...as the supreme judge over the best and worst humanity has to offer. You must be one of the greatest people on Earth. You know precisely what I'm talking about.

23.

[saccheradi]

51. *SMILE*

my hypocrisy really only runs as deep as my devil's advocacy.
Nice catch!

[John_H]

24. Do a little test

If you talk to 100 randomly chosen people you'll see most of them are not stupid, IQ wise. The majority just don't make the smallest effort to be informed. Tose people must be reached by GOTV efforts and advertising if at all. Many of them wil just vote the status quo no matter what--that's why incumbents have a tremendous advantage.

A much smaller number makes a marginal effort, using the sources most accessable to them--cable news, local news, and the daily rag. TOnly a tiny fraction of these people make the extra effort to be informed enough to sift through the spin provided to them by these sources.

So what do we do?. There are only 2 things we can do.

1)Our talkers must point out the media's spin while these people are tured into the shows, which means confronting the hosts on air.There is no other time available to do it. Voters just aren't going to go to mediamatters.com or DU to get the other side.

2)Our sspokespeople must obsessively stick to one or two points per day. What will then happen is this: in CNN's case, Roly Poly and King whore will a t least mention Kerry's message, albeit with a pro bush spin. This spin must be overcome by three or four Dem talkers repeating Kerry's message WITHOUT the bush spin attached.

If we do these two things we can win, if we don't we will lose.

[HootieMcBoob]

26. Because of the stupidity of so many millions?

:shrug:

[Gregorian]

27. I watched it happen, beginning in Reagan's first term

Which has me really asking myself if it was indeed the elimination of the Fairness Doctrine.

Years ago, my friends and I referred to these people as "the dead". We were very quiet about it, for whenever we even mentioned it to close relatives, we were criticized. It's only now that I find myself joined by others, like this forum. I went twenty years or more, in a quiet desperation. Now, it's in it's advanced stages. I'm also affraid that the automobile, and our dependancy upon it, plays a great role in this phenomenon. There are other things, which I still cannot discuss, even here, without being criticized. I suppose in twenty years hence, people will finally be crying about those things as well.

Tonight I'm nearing the point of withdrawing again. I see no return from this epidemic. One example I see is Kerry's latest communication to his supporters. I read today, his comments on terrorism, and how to deal with it. I fear Kerry is dead wrong. He's just not as wrong as bush. I'm hoping he is only playing for votes when he says he will destroy all terrorists. WE caused the terrorism. But that doesn't sell to well. The walking dead, in their infinite stupidity, have angered the world. That's what has to change. Lay down the guns, and get smart. That is how we end terrorism.

Rant, rant. Sorry. I don't have the IQ to express myself properly. Oops, blackberry pie is ready. Hand picked blackberries from the driveway. Yay.

edit- you know, it's not really about brains. It's about consideration. And it gets somewhat complicated in real life. I know people who are kind, who are going to vote for Bush. We've tried and tried to convince them that a vote for bush is a vote for war and other bad things. People have many reasons for thinking the way they do. There's a lot of confusion in the world. But the bottom line is what I said. If people care, they will think. A little thinking and knowledge goes a long way. What kills me is when people know, and still don't change. I'll give a very good example, that nearly noone follows. We now know there is global warming. I will not travel, because I care about the world the next generations will live in. I don't know a soul who will stop travelling for the good of someone else. I just looked out my window, and my neighbor was driving in for the sixth time today, in his dually four by four one ton truck. And that excludes the trips his stupid walrus of a wife made, JUST TODAY. We have a society that is so sick. Dependancy on petroleum is a sickness. And it's perpetuated by ignorance. I'm out of steam. Books are written on these ideas. But the answer is simple. WE have to change. WE have to live more like we used to, before the car. Life wasn't THAT bad.

[beanball]

28. The stupid americano

I don't believe most americans are stupid,we are being spoon fed lies by the rightwing,conserative media and we are buying the bullshit they feed us,I say lets turn off fox(faux),CBS,NBC,ABC,and stop buying the shit that the conserative co-operations pay the networks,if we don't buy the lies will stop,after all its about the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

[Morning Dew]

30. It's the mind control drugs in fast food . . .

or so says a good friend of mine.

I think I'm starting to believe it.

It could be the result of chem-trails, though.

[kittykitty]

33. Here. Read Will Pitts latest essay," Your Media is Killing You" @

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/092104A.shtml

You will be baffled no more!!

[Gregorian]

48. That is one of the best articles I've read in a very long time.

He addresses some extremely important issues. He even brings up the massive death count resultant to sanctions imposed upon Iraq.
I am now more certain than ever that the existing media will not change. We are literally doomed unless we can create a new media. And that isn't going to happen. It either is a click away, during dinnertime, or it doesn't exist. The internet is not a substitute. I'm guessing fifty years from now, in a smouldering heap, Americans will surface, to begin over. Very bad, indeed. I wouldn't say this if we had a system of education that was thundering ahead like a massive snowball. It's selfperpetuating, and we haven't hit bottom. Michael Jackson, you're next! Lights, camera, action!

[jackieforthedems]

34. I Know What You're Saying

I feel the same way. I hope people wake up before the dream really turns into a nightmare.

[necso]

36. While I am loathe to defend the herd,

It is really not so much stupidity as that they just don't have perception, perspective, knowledge, understanding, wisdom and stuff like that. (I would use common sense, common knowledge, common wisdom and vision to more or less bound the basics -- with practicality the inevitable outcome of common sense -- and with vision* being a thing of some difficulty, although all may have some.) And while this can lead to what is effectively stupidity, it can be gotten past, whereas stupidity cannot be -- it is part of the definition basically, although idleness or pattern can make any mind look stupid.

We are really talking effectiveness here -- and we have become an ineffective people. -- Many people are simply not using their minds effectively.

And when you call a person stupid, you will insult him, unless you explain to him that he is acting stupidly -- that is, in an ineffective manner and against his interests... And then he can take it either as a further insult -- or as an expression of concern.

Paraphrasing Confucius, he was concerned that sympathy brought him anxiety. -- I disagree, it brings on various duties, which are not to be taken up lightly.

Anxiety, we must dismiss to seek tranquility in our fates -- and effectiveness in all that we do.

And all the best gifts are given anonymously and received in the same manner.

* I use the word loosely, vision is what leaders have and it is a superior sense of what others "see" of what is, what will be and what can be made to be. So there can be no "common vision". And the "vision" that must be "common" is composed of many things such as perception, perspective, knowledge and wisdom. But this is too long a discussion for the text. Moreover, I find little interest in this "common vision". And I do not seek to impose my own views on any man.

[necso]

43. The herd is that which is herded.

The use of the word is harsh but it is descriptive.

And hard times call for strong language. -- And certain things describe themselves.

Excuse me for my concerns about time. I viewed them as a need on this occasion. Sometimes this is true, and sometimes it is not.

And I am loathe, of course, to take on any duty.

[ClassWarrior]

38. And when we call others stupid, we make ourselves look arrogant.

We're know-it-alls. Wonks. Al Gores.

23.

[Mr_Spock]

46. Yeah, it sucks being so smart, but someones gotta do it :o)

Well, they can listen to smart people like us (who can sound arrogaant at times) or just follow the fascist pig corporate leaders like dogs - their choice.

[Mr_Spock]

45. Those same people still think pro-wrestling is real even after McMann

told them it was just play acting.

Yup, the red-neck morons/corporate fascists have a significant voting block - it's sickening to the average person with real Christian values. Just amazing, I agree.

[drdigi420]

50. America is getting stupider

My evidence list:

1. "Reality" shows

2. The popularity of country music

3. The popularity of SUVs

4. The acceptance of an insultingly obtuse media

5. 2000 Election close enough to steal

6. The popularity of religion

7. The sheer number of W04 stickers

[genius]

52. This is the ultimate fight of good against evil. They need to get on the

right side.

[Lady_Liberty]

53. THANK YOU!!!

I've been asking this since the first US troops landed in Korea!!!

[roseBudd]

54. WE must inform them, the message does not lend itself to TV ads

Go to http://somnamblst.tripod.com to download high resolution TIF or PDF files to print.










Let's Michael Moore Bush by showing the sheeple the explicit warning BushCo ignored in 2001!