George Lakoff breaks it down to three types. Those who were raised under a "Nurturing Family" model; those who were raised under a "Strong Father" model; and those who draw from a combination of the two, depending on the situation. Obviously, 9/11 forced the vast majority of this country to fall back on the "Strong Father" model. People who operate in that realm all the time are indeed "authoritarians," and are basically unreachable. But those who are able to access both models are worth a shot. People who strictly work in the "Nurturing Family" model are already liberals, by definition.

It might make sense at first thought to try and "shame" an authoritarian into seeing the misguidedness of his or her "thought" process, but I believe in most of those cases the authoritarian gets reinforcement by being persecuted for their beliefs. Especially from people they already strongly disagree with. It's why shooter and tiberius come back here day after day. So in a sense, you're only fueling the fire by trying to do so. (On personal level though, it IS a satisfying way to blow off steam, even if it accomplishes nothing.)

If they could change, they wouldn't be an authoritarian. If someone is still an authoritarian as an adult, I don't believe he or she is ever gonna change. I think even George Lakoff believes this to be true. I think the best way to politically neuter them is to find issues like immigration that split them apart. Unfortunately, it's events like 9/11 that form a very strong and long-lasting bond for them. And people like Karl Rove continue to use and exploit that bond for dangerously political ends.

Funny, that's what everyone said about Bush before he became governor of Texas. "Don't worry about him, he's an intellectual lighweight." And then again before he became president. "Don't worry, he's a shallow, vapid, empty suit." You need to realize that these idiots are still dangerously influential, even though they are idiots.

It's all there. The narrow-mindedness ("Why listen to anyone I don't agree with?")

The arrogance (As if anyone cares what he thinks).

The ignorance (Misunderstanding every single point he's ever commented on here.)

In short, he's the complete package.

This administration zoomed past the Nixonian mile marker back in the fall of 2001, at least. They have been in rarefied air ever since then. Groundbreaking, lawbreaking, unprecedented stuff. Back in Nixon's era, some the other Republicans actually were disturbed by what he was doing. This group actually applauds much worse conduct.

Someone should remind Scalia who the chief justice is. This is like the vice president telling the president what to do... oh, wait. Sorry. Scratch that.

Imagine the good news bad news nature of Roberts' appointment.

The good news: you'll be the chief justice.

The bad news: we want you to do whatever Scalia says. Period.

What a bunch of fascist wankers.

RealName is bringing up Hugo Chavez again. I was beginning to worry that his attention had become needlessly distracted by lesser issues like a potential War with Iran.

Okay, let’s “be realistic.” In the eyes of the members of the MSM, writing for an “online only” magazine is the same as being a blogger. If you aren’t on telelvision regularly, or in print regularly, you don’t count in their eyes. It’s a very snobbish delineation. Especially since they’ve no right to their delusions of superiority, obviously.

Keep a running count for every time shooter or another troll posts. Keep a running count--twenty-five cents for each post, and when it gets up to $25 or $50, make a donation to your favorite charity or "conservative unfriendly" cause. Planned Parenthood, maybe? Media Matters? ACLU?

That's Hilarious.

Which reminds me... last year around this time I was sitting at my desk reading email, and the Fed Ex guy came in to deliver something. He had one of those obnoxious Bush/Cheney 04 stickers on the back of his clipboard. So I signed for it, and said to myself."The next email from a Democrat me asking me for dough gets $25. Hmmm... lets' see... Bob Casey, it's your lucky day!"

ps--My copy of Tragic Legacy arrived while typing this. Yahoo!!

employ the same tactic of judging all bloggers by the conduct of the few bad apples. Because the potential of abuse of the medium is there, that abuse must be rampant. It's very much the same as judging all newspapers by the conduct of The National Enquirer, or all talk radio by Michael Savage and all television by Fox News.

Ya got me!

This guy, who's name I don't know or remember, said he read somewhere that there's no torture going on at Gitmo. Plus, I got this email that said so, too. I don't remember who sent that, either. Maybe my brother, I don't remember. But he forwarded it from someone else, I think.

So there you have it. Voila! No torture!

Move along folks... nothing to see here.

I fully believe that on some level, the trolls come here because they "need" to be abused. Not because they are into that, necessarily, but because their self-image is not complete unless they feel persecuted for their beliefs. Chris Hedges' "American Fascists" paints a pretty clear picture of the personality type.

My apologies to those who think we should be ignoring the trolls. Most days I do it just fine, but when they start in with the "I never said that, where a quote" thing, I just can't help myself. I'll spend the night tonight in the dog house, and hopefully back in good graces tomorrow.