Crimestop - Orwell's definition: "The faculty of stopping short, as though by instinct, at the threshold of any dangerous thought. It includes the power of not grasping analogies, of failing to perceive logical errors, of misunderstanding the simplest arguments if they are inimical to Ingsoc, and of being bored or repelled by any train of thought which is capable of leading in a heretical direction. In short....protective stupidity."

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Crimestop, which certainly facilitates, or is a precursor to doublethink, is most readily achieved by those not encumbered with self-awareness.

Morrissey's post is a real knee-slapper, all right!

I agree with everything Glenn wrote about conservative hypocrisy - the sheer audacity is enough to force one to believe they have no operating principles whatsoever. But their "principles" are highly situational and not founded on any immutable ideals which are operative regardless of the issue. For example, if Barack Obama were to become president next January, everything they've said/written about how crucial it is to the survival of the nation to have an omnipotent chief executive will go out the window. If Obama is elected president, you can be assured the conservatives will do everything in their power to ensure President Obama's powers are restricted by whoever is willing to put up a fight (Congress, special investigators, the media, etc).

Therefore the conservatives are not guided by principles to chart a course for them through difficult issues. They react to every given situation as they see fit and then try to fashion the "principle" to fit the situation. Want another example? How about Terri Schiavo. These stalwart people who fight fiercely to keep the government out of our personal lives sure wanted the government to intrude in one family's personal crisis! And don't get me started on how willing they are let the government eavesdrop on our private conversations. Glenn has already pointed out their hypocrisy there (the "hack" of Palin's e-mails).

So, dear liberal friends, we are the only ones weighted down by the responsibility to ensure that we follow the same principles from issue to issue. The conservatives can't be bothered by such obvious nonsense. And we're supposed to cede the high moral ground to those "principled" and "high-minded" conservatives?

Like this guy, back in 2003:

http://www.infowars.com/?p=4750

http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr091003.htm

And again in 2008:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSNnembIJ_c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d73KlhUq1W8

Oh, Cassandra, why did you have to piss off Apollo?

You know, maybe the Republican party is the better party.

They at least make a half-way competent opposition party.

Given that Republicans have shown quite clearly that they're not even half-way competent as the party in charge, obviously we'd all be better off with them as the opposition party. (At least until the current bunch retire.)

But then, what can you expect from a group of people who believe that "government is the problem, not the solution" ... and desperately want to be that problem.

We certainly didn't do that to trade in King George for Czar Henry.

Speaking of King George, it's remarkable that even now, the president, George Bush, remains unmentioned by these brave commentaries from the Right, even though this is his plan, his government.

So the vitriol and gnashing-teeth are aimed at Paulson. Because even now, even after everything that's happened, the Right simply can't bring themselves to question or besmirtch The Leader.

They're beneath contempt.

A few of weeks ago, I saw a You Tube clip of Ron Paul in 2002 on the floor of the House warning about the housing bubble. Now I can't find it. Do you know what I'm talking about?

is not a strong suit of authoritarians.

Indeed, if he sees your post, he will consider it positively insane. And write a screed about how liberals want the Wall Street Czar to make us all goose step and wear burkhas. I wish that were a facetious joke.

And they are part of a pointless agenda to make sure their side dies with the most toys. It's because they are evil, rotten liars whose only purpose is to spread billshit around like they are 12th generation farmers.

Any rational person sees that the average republican citizen is a friggin' moron. They haven't a clue what critical thinking is,... The Republican leadership counts on the average moron: the trusting, the faithful, the Flock following like sheep and never questioning what they are being told. If it weren't for the morons in the flock, the Republican party would just be a handful of rich, greedy, manipulative, obviously Evil fuckers, and they'd never have enough power to keep all their toys. The average conservative moron who listens to these evil mouthpieces believes every word they utter, because they've been taught that to question, or apply a little critical thinking, is "elitist" and you'll probably go to hell, or turn gay, or black, or into a woman if you even dare to try it.

I hate the greedy Republican leadership and thier echo chamber, but in the end I have to pity the fools who believe them, hopefully, they will be forgiven, because they know not what they do.

In short....protective stupidity."

I used to call it willful ignorance.

Now I know it's just a handicap.

Even so, it still twists my knickers.

I think you put your finger on it. It's one thing when unlimited executive power is harnessed to the task of defending American exceptionalism against a brown-skinned, maniacal other in a modern-day crusade that lets us show off our trillion-dollar army.

It's quite another when that same unlimited executive power is used to reach deep into your pocket and line the pockets of Wall Street fat cats. I believe the oligarchy has stumbled very, very badly with this one and that those "low information" voters who typically vote Republican are finally beginning to understand they've been made fools of for years.

McCain is repositioning his campaign furiously to prevent Obama from taking advantage of this blunder. The next 10 days will decide the election. If Obama doesn't find his populist voice in that time, I fear he won't connect with a broad enough base to win in November.

P.S. I've said in many posts on Glenn's blog that I wouldn't vote for Obama in this election because of his stance on gay marriage. Well, once Palin entered the picture, I decided I would rather forgo federal rights (for now) rather than live in Sarah Palin's theocratic police state.

P.P.S. Please vote for Obama!