"It is impossible to overstate the degree to which the committed liberal derives his personal pleasure from the idea that he is supporting something that embarrasses the caricature of his enemies he makes up in his head.” — Ulrich Kessler.
This is brilliant and on point. I see it as a common malady of vulnerable narcissism. My liberal friends always seem on the verge of a raging emotional breakdown having to admit they are wrong about anything, and would prefer death to their critics and maybe death to themselves rather than accept that truth.
It's also something Douglas Murray mentions a few times, don't psychoanalyze your opponents. Respond to what they say, not a strawman caricature of what you think they said, e.g. things like "dog whistles". I'd also say that while there are evil people, most people aren't evil. That's a trap I see some people on the right fall into.
Good advice. However, the problem with labels is that the political and social game they play is character assassination and it unfortunately works. Probably thank corrupt media and social media. I don’t debate them to win any argument. I attempt to expose them for what they are so others can see it. If what they say is insane, I don’t think it helps to respond as if what they say warrants a rational answer.
Evil in my definition is an action to harm another or others, knowingly, for personal gain.
For a long time there wasn't really a good strategy to counter the character assassination, it was always a bit of a kafkaesque situation where you were guilty the more you defended yourself. One great example is Mitt Romney, when he was accused of sexism because he wasn't considering enough women for political appointments he played into the frame, made a comment how he asked for "binders full of women" and the other side had a field day with that. Contrast that to Donald Trump, when he was accused of sexism which he just shrugged off. Better to not take them seriously when they're hallucinating.
Good observation. However, the character assassination of Trump over his behavior over 20 years ago when he was a billionaire playboy... they actually worked. My conservative wife was a good example... she went off the Trump train for a while because she considered him a sexual deviant P-grabber, etc. It took a lot of my explaining that this was many years ago, and that he has awesome kids and a great marriage and no record of any of that behavior anytime recently and certainly not when he has been in office.
And then there is Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh. Still damaged in their reputation because of the fake claims made against them.
I think if they come after you personally like this, your perspective would shift. Unfortunately it is media branding. Coke vs Pepsi is Coke and Pepsi decided the best way to elevate their brands was to negative brand the other. What would you do in that case? You you just accept it, or would you work to negative brand too?
It would be wonderful if people in general were not so wired to suck on the negative stronger than the positive. Why did the Romans fill the coliseum when the play was death and destruction? People are professional critics and love to see the train wreck. A positive message is much more difficult to craft and deliver and get emotional attention. Ignoring some of the crap thrown at us is good, but then there needs to be a good filter for understanding when the crap is actually a bullet or a bomb and then the need is to return fire or become a casualty.
I think pretty much every man who is somewhat awake is terrified of being falsely accused. I'm wondering, how do the Dems manage to bury the accusations? Is it because they have most of the media on their side? Are they less squeamish about threatening the women ("look what we did to Monica Lewinsky")?
Great collection of quotes, perfect combination of esoteric and populist, and just had a fun 30 minutes of working on these brain teasers: "Is This Quote a Convoluted Leftist Clap Trap Trope OR a Smartly Written Observation On The State of Propaganda in Today's America". That title is too long for TV Guide, but give it a trim and you've possibly got a popular TV game show that will also educate the public on how our brains are getting shredded by the explosion of tech media. Very fun (smart) read!!
the new threat of Christian Nationalism is laughable. since the turn of the century, Christians have been leaving the churches in droves. Consumerism, Progressivism, Materialism have run roughshod over the country. even the Evangelical churches are admitting it. I guess the Regime is running out of boogeymen?
It seems to me that the democrat party, professional sports, celebrities, musicians, the mainstream media, and university professors are directly or indirectly promoting the destructive portions of mostly black American culture to all of society. Do drugs, break the law, be promiscuous, live for now, learning is dumb, whitey is evil, make others think you are important, and focus on what looks good on the outside only.
And this is while those same people do the opposite in their own life. They know what produces better outcomes, they just don't want those outcomes for everyone. If there is no permanent underclass who is going to vote for the meager government handouts that have to be administered by someone with a college degree?
Joy Behar’s braying about an AR-15 used for hunting would render the shot deer pulverized beyond eating demonstrates her ongoing lack of knowledge about any subject she opinions about. While not an deer hunting rifle, the long small slug will not demolish the deer any more that any other long small or long medium sized bullet will. These are rifles not RPGs.
Another morning of "laugh or cry" ... I'm opting to laugh. close call, though.
Another great quotes piece. Thanks Brad.
"It is impossible to overstate the degree to which the committed liberal derives his personal pleasure from the idea that he is supporting something that embarrasses the caricature of his enemies he makes up in his head.” — Ulrich Kessler.
This is brilliant and on point. I see it as a common malady of vulnerable narcissism. My liberal friends always seem on the verge of a raging emotional breakdown having to admit they are wrong about anything, and would prefer death to their critics and maybe death to themselves rather than accept that truth.
It's also something Douglas Murray mentions a few times, don't psychoanalyze your opponents. Respond to what they say, not a strawman caricature of what you think they said, e.g. things like "dog whistles". I'd also say that while there are evil people, most people aren't evil. That's a trap I see some people on the right fall into.
Good advice. However, the problem with labels is that the political and social game they play is character assassination and it unfortunately works. Probably thank corrupt media and social media. I don’t debate them to win any argument. I attempt to expose them for what they are so others can see it. If what they say is insane, I don’t think it helps to respond as if what they say warrants a rational answer.
Evil in my definition is an action to harm another or others, knowingly, for personal gain.
For a long time there wasn't really a good strategy to counter the character assassination, it was always a bit of a kafkaesque situation where you were guilty the more you defended yourself. One great example is Mitt Romney, when he was accused of sexism because he wasn't considering enough women for political appointments he played into the frame, made a comment how he asked for "binders full of women" and the other side had a field day with that. Contrast that to Donald Trump, when he was accused of sexism which he just shrugged off. Better to not take them seriously when they're hallucinating.
Good observation. However, the character assassination of Trump over his behavior over 20 years ago when he was a billionaire playboy... they actually worked. My conservative wife was a good example... she went off the Trump train for a while because she considered him a sexual deviant P-grabber, etc. It took a lot of my explaining that this was many years ago, and that he has awesome kids and a great marriage and no record of any of that behavior anytime recently and certainly not when he has been in office.
And then there is Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh. Still damaged in their reputation because of the fake claims made against them.
I think if they come after you personally like this, your perspective would shift. Unfortunately it is media branding. Coke vs Pepsi is Coke and Pepsi decided the best way to elevate their brands was to negative brand the other. What would you do in that case? You you just accept it, or would you work to negative brand too?
It would be wonderful if people in general were not so wired to suck on the negative stronger than the positive. Why did the Romans fill the coliseum when the play was death and destruction? People are professional critics and love to see the train wreck. A positive message is much more difficult to craft and deliver and get emotional attention. Ignoring some of the crap thrown at us is good, but then there needs to be a good filter for understanding when the crap is actually a bullet or a bomb and then the need is to return fire or become a casualty.
I think pretty much every man who is somewhat awake is terrified of being falsely accused. I'm wondering, how do the Dems manage to bury the accusations? Is it because they have most of the media on their side? Are they less squeamish about threatening the women ("look what we did to Monica Lewinsky")?
Great collection of quotes, perfect combination of esoteric and populist, and just had a fun 30 minutes of working on these brain teasers: "Is This Quote a Convoluted Leftist Clap Trap Trope OR a Smartly Written Observation On The State of Propaganda in Today's America". That title is too long for TV Guide, but give it a trim and you've possibly got a popular TV game show that will also educate the public on how our brains are getting shredded by the explosion of tech media. Very fun (smart) read!!
so Salon apparently changed their headline to now read: “Far-right MAGA theocrats: Most dangerous threat to America”
I guess the Hamas analogy was maybe...too much?
I didn't notice the change, good catch!
the new threat of Christian Nationalism is laughable. since the turn of the century, Christians have been leaving the churches in droves. Consumerism, Progressivism, Materialism have run roughshod over the country. even the Evangelical churches are admitting it. I guess the Regime is running out of boogeymen?
American Theocracy in 2003? maybe.
American Theocracy in 2023? gimme a break...
Even in 2003 I think most Christians were far more moderate than most Muslims are today.
It seems to me that the democrat party, professional sports, celebrities, musicians, the mainstream media, and university professors are directly or indirectly promoting the destructive portions of mostly black American culture to all of society. Do drugs, break the law, be promiscuous, live for now, learning is dumb, whitey is evil, make others think you are important, and focus on what looks good on the outside only.
And this is while those same people do the opposite in their own life. They know what produces better outcomes, they just don't want those outcomes for everyone. If there is no permanent underclass who is going to vote for the meager government handouts that have to be administered by someone with a college degree?
Don't shoot deer. Shoot Behar.
Joy Behar’s braying about an AR-15 used for hunting would render the shot deer pulverized beyond eating demonstrates her ongoing lack of knowledge about any subject she opinions about. While not an deer hunting rifle, the long small slug will not demolish the deer any more that any other long small or long medium sized bullet will. These are rifles not RPGs.