"God hates fags."
I'm not a witch.
Tea baggers.
Beheadings.
Pirates.
What a time to be alive. Extremists: it's our time to shine!
Like the tip of a cracked whip, extremists make the most noise and do the most damage. Oh, and get the most press.
Because after decades of defining the humble American dream of owning a home, feeding your kids and having a decent steady job, The Middle has become boring. So boring it's being relegated to a place verging on obsolescence, misappropriated by those who resent its discipline and sense; misnamed and demonized by the greedy and the corrupt so it's easier to dispose of and ultimately destroy. The once peripheral polar extremes are the players now.
But hell, even a cretin of a Creationist will tell you that without a middle, there's collapse. And not just of literal things like houses of cards or pyramids of rictus-sporting cheerleaders but abstract things like ideas, history, education, culture, institutions, nations. But such things don't enlarge when you pinch their screens or pull each other's hair out while wearing Daisy Duke bikinis. Borrrrrinnnng!
Our relentlessly low-aiming and opportunistic media have extrapolated from the sporadic televised car chases (that would ensure hard-on-producing ratings spikes) to giving considerably more air time to the human car wrecks out there, encouraging any lunatic with a flag pin on his lapel take some makeup, hit a mark and talk into a lens, conflating utter cluelessness with ordinary, average Americanism. Talk about hard-on-producing ratings spikes. Why, Roger Ailes has built an entire network on the time honored premise of the freak-show. What's old is new; what was once radical is now run-of-the-mill.
But once again a bill of cheap, shiny goods is being foisted upon to the American public: those baggers/birthers/deathers/haters may get the lion's share of cameras pointed in their direction, and they may speak as though they represent the vast swath of ordinary, normal, put-upon Americans. But they are in reality...now listen up...extremists.
That's right. They're just louder than moderately inclined folks who, seeing a bearded raving nut job ranting on a subway platform, avert their eyes and read their newspapers (read newspapers??? Those elitist bastards.).
Without a sane, moderate middle to form a foundation, the Fox Newses, the Becks, the Limbaughs, the Fred Phelps, the Palins, the Demints, as well as the steady diet of insane-in-the-brain candy "reality" programming keeps the collective IQ down and the levels of know-nothing extremism up.
Time for the middle to reassert itself by voting in the upcoming midterms, by staying strong and focused and restoring the purposely distorted symmetry and repairing the imbalance caused by callous indulgence of forces which serve society best from the fringes.
Before extreme means produce an extreme end.
Follow Steven Weber on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@TheStevenWeber
I can sense that you are disgusted and more than a little disheartened, but now is not the trime for apoplexy. Get in there and give it your best as we come up to the buzzer. I won't enjoy these next two weeks so well without you!
Gee, I wish that option was on the ballot.
Mr. Dooley
On the NEUROTIC end of the spectrum, a person is too afraid to seek satisfaction of their own needs because they’re overly riddled with guilt or shame when they do. Their conscience acts as an internal obstacle to achieving their goals.
On the CHARACTER-DISORDERED end of the spectrum, a person lacks self-restraint when it comes to acting upon their primal urges. They’re the kind of people who have too little conscience.
From the book “In Sheep’s Clothing”:
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Character-disordered individuals (CDOs) have diminished capacities for experiencing genuine shame or guilt…Disordered characters are always thinking of themselves. They don’t think about what others need or how their behavior might impact others. This kind of thinking leads to attitudes of selfishness and disregard for social obligation…Shameless thinking fosters an attitude of brazenness.
…
Extreme (all-or-none) thinking. The disordered character tends to think that if he can’t have everything he wants, he won’t accept anything…This kind of thinking keeps him from any sense of balance or moderation and promotes an uncompromising attitude.
…
It’s our capacity for neurosis that keeps us civilized. In a civilized society, the character-disordered individuals are more problematic than neurotics.
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I believe that most people from the political left are closer to the neurotic side of the personality spectrum whereas those on the right are closer to the character-disordered side.
- Tom
In the middle are secure, assertive (but not pushy) people. Unfortunately, they are rare. Most of us are insecure. On the personality spectum there are two extremes opposites. The enablers and the controllers. Given that everyone would like to have people like them and everyone would like to have control of their lives what terrifies an enabler is the thought of not being loved and what terrifies a controller are things being out of control. An enabler will relinquish control in a mistaken attempt for love, eg., a parent who won't discipline its child for fear of losing love and thus "enabling" the child to do wrong. A controller will reject and repel anyone or anything that threatens his sense of orderliness and control.
Enablers tend to be teachers, entertainers, social workers, etc. Controllers tend to be law enforcement, farmers, ranchers, businesspersons, etc.
The two extremes tend to flock together except in personal relationships. A marriage between a controller and an enable has good chance of success. A marriage between two enablers is possible but it will be a mess....Little is done or resolved. A marriage between two controllers is doomed, impossible.
I believe that most people from the political left are closer to being enablers whereas those on the right are closer to being controllers.
More from "In Sheep's Clothing":
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Fighting openly and fairly for our legitimate needs is often necessary and constructive. When we fight for what we truly need, while respecting the rights and needs of others and taking care not to needlessly injure them, our behavior is best labeled assertive. Assertive behavior is one of the most healthy human behaviors.
But when we fight unnecessarily or with little concern about how others are being affected, our behavior is most appropriately labeled aggressive.
There are 2 types of aggression:
Overt-aggression
When you’re determined to have something and you’re open, direct and obvious in your manner of fighting.
Covert-aggression
When you’re out to “win”, dominate or control, but are subtle, underhanded or deceptive enough to hide your true intentions. Avoiding any overt display of aggression while simultaneously intimidating others into giving you what you want is a powerfully manipulative maneuver.
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In this discussion of "the middle," I want to be clear that I'm not referring to what's considered the middle in politics, e.g. centrists, or so-called "moderates." I'm referring to those who fight fairly and are assertive.
Centrism in politics gives false cover to extreme right-wing ideas, while watering-down the strength of progressive principles.
Having grown up with David Susskind and Wm F Buckley yammering on the tube I was spoiled by watching intelligent people having well reasoned discussions across vast philosophical differences. Other than WFB's little on air slip with Gore Vidal in '68 there wasn't the hysteria that passes for contemporary conservatism. At the same time, the Noam Chomsky, Norman Thomas left end of the spectrum got air time.
The last real lefty I've seen on TV was Christian Parenti on PBS after the Iraq invasion, and he was tossed off the News Hour for challenging the legitimacy of our unprovoked aggression. Finally, the producing and editing of these news/opinion shows is atrocious. It makes MTV seem like a Grecian epic. Spare me the food fight dueling sound bytes between the liberal and conservative "pundits." Give me the kind of analysis and depth at least that the History Channel devotes to old time politics.
And like any extremist, Mr. Weber is intolerant of anyone who disagrees with him. He's never specific as to why he thinks the tea-"baggers" are such despicable human beings, they just are(in his mind).
Actually, for all his over-ripe ramblings, his extremist blogs are actually quite boring.
I was too young to watch the Vidal/Buckley debates live, but I have seen them, especially the slip-up you mentioned. Funny. Otherwise, great minds at work.
The other day I was waiting for my mother finish therapy, reading a mystery. This guy I'd never seen before walks by and asks: "Good book?" I nodded. "About gangsters?" It wasn't, but I nodded anyway. Then he says: "First we'll have to start with the White House." That never used to happen. We've become rude.
Baggers repeatedly claim almost half the Democrats agree with principles of smaller government and less spending, but somehow never manage to mention what government the baggers want 'less of' always begins and ends with Social Security and Medicare, and never includes the wars, occupations, defense spending or restoring taxes on the wealthiest that existed when OUR economy thrived a decade ago.
Another lie I keep hearing from right-wingers now is most people that will early vote are republican'ts and have already done so, when most states have not yet even begun early voting, and 2008 early voting was mostly Democrats and liberals. They want liberals and young voters to believe this election is already over when it's far from the truth.
As always, sir, your efforts to shed light on their darkness are - greatly appreciated!
Help The Republican Party Save Those Poor Billionaires
Yes, Billionaires are Suffering Today -
Their poor kids can't afford that 5th Lambergini,
They can't buy their eleventh Vacation Home,
Or that 40th $10,000 suit
and the 30th $50,000 gown is now much too expensive.
Please Help a starving Billionaire Today by voting Republican
Remember Caviar ain't cheap.
* * Please send this message all over the internet !
Howard Scott Pearlman
reduce deficit spending - just as long as we don't touch the pork that's near and dear to their hearts.
They claim to love the middle class but don't care (or understand) that baggernation
(aka the republic party) is funded by gazillionaires who wouldn't spit on them if they were on fire.
I just finished reading the "Caning of Charles Sumner" and how Preston Brooks' supporters so loved his violent display of supporting slavery that they sent him new canes and praised his extremist behavior. Sadly, we haven't evolved much.
the people who regularly call America fascist or want to saddle us with a healthcare system that will take the economy down with it - thta's not radical to you, is it?
Sadly, your myopic view of teh woprld is shrouded in self-delusion, indlugent to no end - simply meant to make you and your life minded cohorts feel better about the present unraveling of the progressive agenda.
What makes it all ok is that fact that your opinion really doesn't matter anymore. Your ideals failed. And it's time for the so-called extremists to get back in the driver's seat and steer this country back to health.
with them right? well the truck that brought your bread does...........own a company? which set of laws would you want to do away with? contract laws? interstate commerce laws? how out the bank you use - don't care if they go belly up taking your company money with them? and who is going to buy your product or service? how about we take away your mother's, or grandmother's, or aunt's social security and they all can move in with you. you poor thing, you just don't get it do you? you need to stay on your own tinfoilteapartyhatrightwingnutlimpuglican
sites so we don't make fun of you here.
I notice you want to take the country back.
we don't wanna go back. progress means moving forward.
My wordsmithie always says it better.
Entrepeneurship and small business built this country - and they are responsible for the vast majoroity of jobs gained over the 30 years. PROGRESSIVES are destroying them with a staggering number of rules which are all meant to dictate how people should live, think, eat, sleep. You all know what's better for everyone. there may have been a time when liberals did look to the future - but it has become mired in a self-centered, self-destructive path toward socialism - the redistribution of wealth. All the tirades against corporations and rich people is all meant to hide an obsessive hatred of success because you feel so disempowered, so alienated from your own sense of self worth.
The only direction Progressives are headed in is off a cliff - your irresponsibility and inability to understand how money works could have destroyed the economy.
You're done. You're over. Your grand experiment failed.
And it's time for the adults to get back in the driver's seat and steer us to financial health.
Now go sit down like the little child you are and shut up.
Too bad that while that may be who started the group, it has morphed into an uber religious right group bordering on treasonous.
NMultiple polls have shown that the make up of the TP is predominantly middle aged, white, christian (who consider themselves "very" to "extremely relegious") conservatives. And their rehtoric on social issues (which was never part of the initial movement) is now dominating their campaign platform.
Son, the majority of the country is white and Christian. That doesn't make it inherently wrong. Why don't you get off your tired liberal screams of racism and just debate teh facts, which you're unable to do because your ideas have failed. You can't debate - you will lose, as you al;ways do. Your bloated government plans have backfired and so you're left with name calling good people who only want to see their country put back in financial health.
And the "rhetoric" on social issues? You don't know anything about these people. Nothing. You just rant and rave and throw stones hoping that people get hit. All you end up doing is making them stronger. The Crossroads org which Obama has been blasting this week raised a record breaking 50 mlllion bucks!! PLEASE keep denigrating teh tea Party - please keep bringing them attention. It's workign out so well for them!!!
How right you are!! Obama, Pelosi, and Reid make the most noise and have done the most damage, and get the most press.
The mainstream media basically ignores the Tea Party movement except when they dream up some reason to discredit them.
Should we drop the healthcare reform? How about medicare, medicaid, and social security? The EPA? Or how about the Department of Education? We've already seen what deregulation has done since Reagan.
Most (if not all) of the Tea Party candidates are for the repeal of all of these..... including deregulating the deregulations. Funny thing is, without the safety nets in place, you lose a lot of people to the cracks of a lost system. If we choose to disregard our populace in this manner, we are no better than Somolia.
The Tea Party battle cry would appear to be more reasonable if they came up with some real common sense solutions instead of saying that the government needs to have them, yet offer nothing more than hatchet responses.
I do not need the media to dream up reasons to discredit the Tea Party, all I have to do is listen to the very words and hypocracy their candidates offer.
Conservatives have long taken advantage of the apathetic, under-educated people by working to make them even more so. Reality shows, are just one of the mind-numbing diseases that help keep many seated and drooling in their chairs. The loud and crazy get promoted constantly to distract from what is actually happening behind the curtains – like the Wizard of Oz, deceitful and greedy.