There is an interesting series of articles over at Orcinus that discuss the fundmantalist authoritarian mindset. One of the things that jumped out at me when I read them was the imnportance of trust in authorities in maintaining the bonds between authoritarians and their leaders. I suspect that the administrations inaction during Katrina strained that trust. I wonder how the latest airline restrictions have effected it? The initial belief was that a "sucessfully foiled" terrorist plot would boost bush's popularity, but it doens't seem to be happening. I think it's possible that people are finally realizing how ineffective this administrations "war on terror" has been. How can we be safer if we have to be afraid of bottled water, baby formula, and mascara?

Having lived among them for several years, I have to say that your standard-issue suburban mother is usually one of the dumbest human beings ever to draw breath. This proves it. The idea that a bunch of SUV-driving mommies could actually care enough about terrorism (whatever that is) to form an identifiable political bloc is so stupid it's scary. The odds of any of them being affected in any specific way by any kind of terrorism are so vanishingly small that if you gave them the same odds that a gun was loaded, and asked them to aim it at their own heads and pull the trigger, they'd be happy to. But, as usual, the fact of motherhood, which is about as universal a human trait as there could be, seems to be license to turn into an overgrown child -- be completely emotional, irrational and self-centered, make absurd demands about things you don't understand and are too lazy to learn about, and become angry when what you want isn't delivered on a silver platter. In the name of the children, who are often actually little status symbols for you (Caitlin! Hunter! Dakota! Time for your French lessons! Get in the Suburban!)you can demand that politicians "keep you safe", as if the rest of the world didn't exist, and history was a movie on DVD.

For the record ... I'm a middle age, middle class mom with kids who play soccer in our suburban neighborhood. I have never voted for Mr. Bush nor have I ever perceived him to offer "security." In my view, the Iraq war and the instability Bush and his Administrative have created makes it more and more likely that one of my three boys will end up dead in some conflict somewhere in the world.

Now, i'm not a big fan of the suburban mom, but, and correct me if i am wrong, you purport to have a wife and chidren, so...uh... is your wife a suburban mom?

Tyler (not as surprised) and LeCastor (LeC, when did such a smart woman like you jump the shark? I'm disappointed...)

Anyway guys what are "rural mothers" like? Do they get it on with farm animals and play banjos? What are "inner city black moms" like? What are "gay people" like?

is pretty hilarious:

http://www.wonkette.com/politics/washington-post/post-politics-headlines-translated-195285.php

jf

Tyler, you're totally the new Brightstar-- blathering troll who has some issue with a former girlfriend / stalking object / whoever and is too cheap to pay a therapist, and so you use Salon to broadcast your hangups about women to people in the guise of "opinions." Please take some time away from Salon and think about talking to a therapist about your anger at women and inability to get some and quit boring us with your thinly veiled mysoginistic screeds. I am really serious about this. You need help.

another so-called 'medical doctor' telling us men how to think. Show me your license to practice, chickie.

Durden is correct that suburban moms 'think' with their emotions. I have known enough suburban moms to understand motherhood is an excuse for women to be childish, selfish and irresponsible.

I disagree with one thing in the article, the article states that suburban moms no longer buy the government's fear tactics. The moms just have not been introduced to the NEXT level of fear from the government yet. When it comes, the moms will yet again fall into the arms of the same fear-mongering doofuses.

One reason for the change of heart by "security moms": for some, their kids now may be closer to draft age or sign-up age--perhaps the reality that their children may go to this mess of a civil war in Iraq for no good reason has changed their minds. That and the price of gas for their Hummers, Tahoes and Excursions is now through the roof (wasn't the invasion of Iraq supposed to bring prices down?).