Bookworm’s recent post about her reluctance to come out as a Republican in liberal Marin County really hit home with me (linked in this excellent post). Â It wasn’t just that it reminded me of my own past reluctance and that of other gay conservatives to come out about our political inclinations in gay circles. Â It was also the insight she provided into the mind of a good number of leftists in our nation’s blue enclaves.
I strongly encourage you to read that post.  I expect it will strike a chord  with those gay conservatives who, like me, live in areas similar to Marin.  You may well recognize your neighbors in her description of hers.  While Bush-hatred has become their consuming passion, like her, you still may see them as multi-dimensional human beings:
Barring their monomaniacal animosity towards Bush and the Republicans, they’re otherwise very nice:Â they’re hard workers, loving parents, good neighbors and helpful and reliable friends.Â
I’ve seen the same things among a number of my friends and even critics of this blog who correspond with me. Even as they are consumed with hatred for the president and his political party, they can be accomplished in other endeavors and decent human beings, provided of course they steer clear of political discourse.
But, all too many of them seem all too eager to steer the conversation in a political direction. In late June, Bruce posted on a business dinner he had attended earlier that month. He was enjoying a pleasant repast with a gay liberal Democrat when all of a sudden that latter “let loose,” delivering a string of invective about the president, the vice president and the GOP.
Bookworm writes of similar outbursts:
My in-laws who are, like me, 9/11 neocons (down in Los Angeles) have stared open-mouthed at colleagues who use staff meetings to revile Bush and the Republicans —all to the cheers and huzzahs of the other staff members.
Why do these people find it necessary to turn conversations to politics in situations where politics aren’t even on the agenda? And not a civil discourse about candidates, elected officials, their policy proposals and assorted ideas, but an emotional outburst against certain national figures — and one political party. Â Why, in short, do they repeatedly bring up their hatred of Bush?
Perhaps, this aspect of the post so resonated with me because I first read it on Wednesday, I was wondering why some of our critics insisted on bringing up their hatred of Bush in posts not even referencing the president or his policies. Heck, they weren’t even posts about politics, but instead about movies.
This hatred may explain why there is more profanity on left-leaning blogs.
But, ever trying to understand things, to find their meaning, I wonder not at the explanation for that profanity, but at this obsession with the object(s)* of their animosity? Why must they dwell on their hate?
Their hatred’s not going to go away even if Obama wins.  They’ll find another way to vent.  While they have found a political target for their venom, their hatred has roots deeper than their political convictions and concerns about the incumbent President of the United States and his likely successor.Â
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* I had written object as I began the post, but realized that some on the left are starting to bring up their hatred of McCain even in conversations or in fora unrelated to politics.
I have started hearing the ‘McCain is stupid’ comments from open minded liberals.
I think politics is an easy arena for them to vent, let’s be honest, being a liberals is their religion – so of course they will attack the antichrist.
That is the other area where I hear their venom – when they are attacking religion. Suddenly all the, let’s be a diverse society and learn to get along with different people – flies out the window.
I put it this way, GPW; the more inept Nancy Pelosi has proven herself to be, the more anti-Bush vitriol she’s started flinging.
If liberalism and leftist government worked as well as they claim it does, California (and San Francisco in particular) would be paradise on earth. Instead, they’re cesspools of corruption and incompetence, running massive deficits and dependent on imposing ever more crushing burdens on the competent to fund the promises of lunatic demagogues to the incompetent and lazy.
But, since these leftists and liberals are incapable of admitting that they’re wrong….they project their anger, fear, and frustration onto Republicans and conservatives.
The Onion has found one of GP’s trolls, but he’s too good-looking to be Pinky.
But as for the phenomenon Dan notes, I think part of it might be that people on the right compartmentalize things better. We can isolate the part of us that follows politics from the rest of our lives. But it was the left that coined the expression, “the personal is political.”
Emotional maturity is another factor. The kind of lefties who spout off constantly about Bush in Republicans are still in that High-School-Girl stage of emotional development where you and your clique rag on the kids who aren’t in your clique… especially the jocks and the rich kids you’re so bitterly jealous of.
And of course, having a potty-mouth makes you look all cool and rebellious, ask any twelve-year old.
Uhh, similar? (ILC averts gaze, down to floor, then up at ceiling)
1. Chronic adolescence. These people are 60s-70s hippies or their cultural descendants, you know.
2. Tribalism. They need to make sure you’re one, too.
3. Displacement. Reality keeps eroding or frustrating the New Age fantasy world that they want to live in. The latest Republican President (may there be more!) symbolizes the intrusion of reality. Better to blame him than anyone – least of all themselves.
In fairness, I’ve started making ‘Obama is stupid’ comments. Then again, I’m not out there claiming to be an open-minded liberal.
Bu$h’s popularity is at its lowest point–lower than Nixon. There are Republicans who hate him pretty much as well. To quote an Ivy League Professor (UofP) at a party I attended who is a Republican (Life Long) he knows the Bu$h family and had met W when he was a kid. He said, and I quote; “He was the dumbest, meanest little bastard I had ever met.”
I have heard the cesspool of a mouth that Bill O’Reilly and Limburger have and of course, who can forget Dick Cheney with “Go f___ yourself.” in Congress? With McSame trying to get Cindy Budweiser to lick a pickle at Ms. Buffalo Chip–all you can say is that the Republicans have a corner on the market on being the lowest common denominator.
Meanwhile, as Sen. Stevens about corruption. Wherever politics goes, Liberal, Conservative, Left or Right–corruption goes, too.
Easy, Dan. Libtards have to spout off profanities and engage in BDS because they are not emotionally or intellectually capable of being patriotic Americans.
Michael Savage is right: liberalism is a mental disorder.
Regards,
Peter H.
Part of the question is why hate Bush at all? Sustaining hatred against someone takes a lot of energy, and what does it do to you besides make you bitter and miserable?
And why Bush? He’s just a mediocre politician. In order to justify their hate, people have made him into some kind of monster, wildly exaggerating the effects of his policies and literally trying to make him into a Hitler-like figure. But if you look at his policies, they’re really pretty moderate.
I think the Obama campaign is a cult of personality, I think Nancy Pelosi is a socialist nitwit. But I don’t put all my time and energy into hating them. I make fun of them, of course, but I don’t go to sleep grinding my teeth in hate, or exploding in rage in completely unrelated fora.
The only joy from an Obama victory would be to see these folks turn their hatred onto their own party members. When they control the White House and Congress it’s going to be difficult for them to blame Bush/Cheney/McCain/Haliburton/Enron/et.alia for all the world’s problems.
I also find it interesting that these folks don’t turn their hate for Bush into support for Obama. One website I go to regularly has smokin’ hot pics of men I like and a lot of Bush hating. I usually ignore the political rants, but lately I’ve been challenging the site’s owner to stop hating “McBush” and start telling me why Obama is so much better. So far all that’s gotten me is some really vile emails.
When they control the White House and Congress it’s going to be difficult for them to blame Bush/Cheney/McCain/Haliburton/Enron/et.alia for all the world’s problems.
Dude, haven’t you heard about the “Truth Commission” Obama’s inner circle wants to convene to prosecute Bush Administration officials for “War Crimes?”
To be realistic, if BHO wins and the House and Senate are in the control of leftists…for 4-8 years get ready for “well it is so bad because of what the corrupt Bush Administration left us.” There needs to be more of a stark difference between the two parties on some major issues. Corruption, energy, taxes, spending, judges are a good place to start. The differences the past 8 years have been blurred a lot. There is a stark difference on terror and the war. Since the war is going better, John McCain has a chance. Can the Republicans use energy to their advantage as well? Eight years from now they need stark differences in order to win the House and Senate back. Simple. To get back to the original post, the leftists want to win, win at all costs and crush their “enemies” the conservatives. They know how to fight. Lie and cheat. They don’t have much of a problem being mean nasty along the way. When conservatives are demonized we more often than not, don’t think the attackers are serious because we know we aren’t evil. Truth be told, they, the leftists really really believe it.
I experience a moment of sadness when I hear hate speech — and the most common hate speech I hear is the cliched “I hate [insert Republican here]” rant. Odd that hate is so often justified by one’s belief that their hate is somehow helpful or righteous. Hate is hate. It doesn’t help anybody. These rants disappoint me with human nature more than with the individual who spouts them.
Um, Pinky, do you want to address the point of the post? Or are you even capable of making the attempt to understand ideas different from your own?
I don’t think you even bothered to read the post, but have some kind of psychological “need” to bash Bush and Republicans. And this post ponders that “need.” Too bad you didn’t take the time to consider the questions I posed. If you had the mental capacity to understand what I’m saying, it might help you look inward and wonder about your own obsession.
Your professor is full of shit. If I had a dollar for every “life long Republican” who hates Bush, I’d be as rich as a liberal.
Such as…..
10: Funny, that’s what we’ve heard all along from the Bush administration and its supporters about Clinton – “Oh, well that’s what Clinton did and it’s his fault”. I find it funny that you complain about things that Clinton did, such as DADT or DOMA, but when it came to things like Clinton administration directives on more fuel efficient cars, Bush was happy to quickly and quietly make those disappear within months of getting into the white house.
7: Funny you talk about people spouting profanities when you (and a few others here) regularly engage in childish name calling. your posting here being a perfect example. Not much of a diff from what I can see.
My question, Dan, is why do liberals continue to lie? Every lie they tell is discredited and shown to be the steaming pile of BS that it is. We know they’re frauds of the highest order and yet they keep going.
Oh, one more note to Pinko:
When’s the Obamamedia going to ask Pelosi, Hillary, Reid, Jefferson etc. etc. etc. about corruption? Probably about the same time they ask Edwards about his booty call?
The media was all over Stevens. Jefferson? They couldn’t give a rotten d*mn. Had a white Republican utilized rescue vehicles after Katrina to rescue his cold, hard cash, he’d of been done by now. However, he’s a black liberal faithful to the DNC plantation and you couldn’t care less.
Consider the coverage of Senators Craig and Edwards. Balls to the wall coverage of Craig, couldn’t care less about Edwards. The “Republican” media buried the Edwards story like a cat burying a turd in a sandbox. Why’s that, do you think?
One more thing: How’s the approval rating of Reid & Pelosi’s congress?
And thank God for it. That means thousands of people will get to live. Or would you prefer the deaths of human beings so gaia can continue to seep oil into the oceans?
And how can you see with your chronic rectal-cranial inversion? I’m very curious about medical oddities.
Victor Davis Hanson, Works and Days.
He has a much better way of explaining things than I do.
Btw, he doesn’t personally read those hundreds of emails – That’s my son’s job. To slog through all the emails, summarize them and pass on the best and the worst.
BTW, if my much touted book went over like a fart in church, I’d take a 5 week vacation too. You’ll note that Bush has sold more books than Pelosi could ever dreamed.
Worst failure ever!
“Keep Tibet Progressive”
What PB and Kevin fail to realize is that most people (this excludes foaming-at-the-mouth libs) don’t hate Bush. They may be sick and tired of him (God knows, I am).
I think he’s misguided (e.g. his interference, shot down by SCOTUS, in the Texas execution of that monster who raped and killed the little girls near Houston). But I don’t hate him. I didn’t hate Clinton, either. It is possible for well-adjusted people to disagree with someone; dislike someone… even to hold someone in disdain without hating them.
I think a lot of lefties are just angry people – pissed off about anything and everything. They can’t even be specific about what they’re angry about or why – they just are.
Yes, I’ve been a victim of the new shunning, as well. I was introduced to friends of friends in New Mexico. We had a weekend planned. At their invititation, they had offered to show me around the town. After introductions, the first thing the fellow asked me was who I voted for. I gave a stunned reply, “What?”. He insisted and would not let the topic drop. I gave my answer and asked if he would like to discuss politics. He said no. We had dinner in stoney silence and they became busy the rest of the weekend. Such sad people.
I confess – I read Bookworm’s post after writing my earlier comment. I think Bookworm confirms my suspicion – lefties need to hate.
Just think about it: fabulously wealthy people (thanks to our capitalist system) who live in one of the prettiest places in the world. Yet they need to hate; to loathe. And they have to make a meal of it; to let anyone they come into contact with know how much they hate.
As a prole, I have to wonder just what in hell is wrong with them. They vote for people claiming to be “for the working classes” yet they would eat dirt before letting their inferiors anywhere near them.
16: LOL. Thanks; the amusement never ends when my point is proven over and over…
I think Bookworm confirms my suspicion – lefties need to hate.
Corollary: Haters need to be left; because the Right doesn’t have the level of tolerance for hate that the left does. (Unless, of course, you engage the end-run that says opposing the left’s agenda is hate by itself.)
V, I’m not sure if we of the liberty-loving center-right should get self-congratulatory, because there are jerks in every group. We must remain ever vigilant. (Remember that GP commentor who had cool things to say sometimes, but who would fling names at anyone, left or right, who showed any disagreement with him?)
I would never say there are no haters on right. (Been on the receiving end of a lot of McCainiac vitriol lately.) But hatred as a pathology, a guiding political force… that’s all on the left. Right-wing blogs don’t typically have to close comments when a prominent person on the left takes ill.
Good point.
as far as W being a brat, it is in the eye of the beholder. In my youth I was seen as a b!tch. I teach now, so while I’m a b!tch to some, I’m the kindest, best person to other. So just keep that perspective.
Why is it that a person has to be evil because you disagree with him?
I’ll be d*mned if I can find a post where you’ve ever made a valid point about anything. Nice try dodging my questions with your dismissive snarkiness though. I know better than to expect an actual answer, but I always hope you’ll screw up and actually try defending your worthlessness.
#25 – “Remember that GP commentor who had cool things to say sometimes, but who would fling names at anyone, left or right, who showed any disagreement with him?”
Hey, when did I ever call you a name? 😉
Regards,
Peter H.
One point made reminded me of a problem I have with the local newspaper. A columnist who reviews movies seems to have the need to turn every review into an irrelevant diatribe. (Guess which side he’s on?)
I happen to love movies but avoid his column because I already KNOW how much he hates Bush, et al. Occasionally there’s a review of a movie I do not want to miss, I cautiously begin to read the column, and, yup, THERE IT IS, another irrelevant missive.
Hey, haters, we’re tuning you out. You’re not going to convince anyone, not that that’s your point. But you DO run the risk of having EVERYTHING you say ignored. If you want to remain relevant grow up, stop rolling on the floor foaming at the mouth, stop the tantrums and have a grown-up conversation for a change.
#31 – “If you want to remain relevant grow up, stop rolling on the floor foaming at the mouth, stop the tantrums and have a grown-up conversation for a change.”
I guess that means you won’t be watching the DNC convention this month. 😉
Regards,
Peter H.
Remember that GP commentor who had cool things to say sometimes, but who would fling names at anyone, left or right, who showed any disagreement with him?
Yeah, I remember. I think what happened was there was an issue (in which he took the “liberal” position even though he was center-right) that was personal to him, and he did lash out at anyone who disagreed with him (except me, for some reason), and assuming the worst of their character without even trying to explore if his characterization was warranted. It was kind of bizarre.
Yes, Pat. And I felt sad. I had respected the fellow, until I saw him persistently (a period of months) flinging racial accusations at people whom I knew didn’t deserve it. Thanks for remembering!
Re: #24-27 – Here is an example of a hater on the Right:
http://screwloosechange.blogspot.com/2008/08/9-11-truthers-book-debuts-at-1-on-ny.html
Dr. Jerome Corsi, former helper of the Swift Boat Vets, now sadly and shamefully is a 9-11 Troofer.
“Ah, but doesn’t he really love America?” you ask me. “Isn’t his 9-11 Trooferism motivated by love of America?” Answer: No. 9-11 Trooferism is one of those things that inherently never can be motivated by love. The conclusion is so toxic, and the ‘basis’ for it so false/phony.