"How the GOP got hijacked by Right-Wing Authoritarians"

[MarcATL]

"How the GOP got hijacked by Right-Wing Authoritarians"
by Fred Gober

As we are witness the unfolding of a rather bizarre health care debate, one can't help but be amazed at the jaw dropping lunacy of the folks on the right who are amply represented by an assembly of "creationists" "birthers", "teabaggers", "screamers" and now "deathers"...

~snip~

... "Conservatives Without Conscience" by John W. Dean, prolific author and former Watergate figure. In a stunning tour de force, Dean's book answered all my questions regarding the apparent success of the right wing to mobilize the pathetic remnants of a once proud confederacy. In chapter two, Mr. Dean postulates that these new conservatives, both its leaders as well as its followers, fit into a distinct personality type described as "Right-Wing Authoritarianism".

In the book, Dean highlights the work of social psychologist and researcher Bob Altemeyer of the University of Manitoba. According to Altemeyer, Right-Wing Authoritarians are especially submissive to established authority and show a general aggressiveness toward others when such behavior is perceived to be sanctioned by established authorities.

At the end of Chapter Two appears a list of those traits that are typically found in Right-Wing Authoritarians. When reading this list, think GOP leaders Limbaugh, Gingrich, Cheney and Palin.

Right-Wing Authoritarian - Leaders:

* Typically men (Palin is the exception but think masculine phrases used to define her such as "hockey mom", "basketball point guard", and "field dress a moose")
* dominating
* opposes equality
* desirous of personal power
* amoral
* intimidating and bullying
* faintly hedonistic
* vengeful
* pitiless
* exploitive
* manipulative
* dishonest
* cheats to win
* highly prejudiced (racist, sexist, homophobic)
* mean-spirited
* militant
* nationalistic
* tells others what they want to hear
* takes advantage of "suckers"
* specializes in creating false images to sell self
* may or may not be religious
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican

When reading the below list of follower traits, think of those angry white faces (actually more red than white) at your typical "teabagger" party and recent Town hall "screamer" secession.

Right-Wing Authoritarian - Followers:

* men and woman
* submissive to authority
* aggressive on behalf of authority
* conventional
* highly religious
* moderate to little education
* trust untrustworthy authorities
* prejudiced (particularly against homosexuals, woman, and followers of religions other than their own)
* mean-spirited
* narrow-minded
* intolerant
* bulling
* zealous
* dogmatic
* uncritical toward chosen authority
* hypocritical
* inconsistent and contradictory
* prone to panic easily
* highly self-righteous
* moralistic
* strict disciplinarian
* severely punitive
* demands loyalty and returns it
* little self-awareness
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican

While reading this list you may have asked yourself why these current followers, who display a deference to authority, are not following the head guy; the President of the United States. The answer is a simple one. The glue that binds the current out of power leaders to their pathetic followers is clearly and unambiguously RACE...

LA Science and Tech News Examiner...

For those who have not read John W. Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" or Bob Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians," , I highly recommend both books in order to better understand Right Wing Authoritarianism. Dr. Altemeyer offers his on line for all of us to read in order to understand and learn to counter them. His advice?

From this link above (referring to the '08 elections, but it holds true for the present, as well):

So what’s to be done right now? The social dominators and high RWAs
presently marshaling their forces for the next election in your county, state and
country, are perfectly entitled to do what they’re doing. They have the right to
organize, they have the right to proselytize, they have the right to select and work for
candidates they like, they have the right to vote, they have the right to make sure folks
who agree with them also vote...

...

You can watch the authoritarians tear democracy apart, bit by bit, bite by bite.
Or you can exercise your rights too, while you still have them, and get just as
concerned, active, and giving to protect yourself and your country. If you, and other
liberals, other moderates, other conservatives with conscience do, then everything can
turn out all right. But we have to get going. If you are the only person you know who
grasps what’s happening, then you’ve got to take leadership, help inform, and organize
others. One person can do so much; you’ve no idea! And two can do so much more.
But time is running out, fast, and nearly everything is at stake.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Yeah listen to a guy named "Gober" great way to get ahead in life

 

[eots]

"How the GOP got hijacked by Right-Wing Authoritarians"
by Fred Gober

As we are witness the unfolding of a rather bizarre health care debate, one can't help but be amazed at the jaw dropping lunacy of the folks on the right who are amply represented by an assembly of "creationists" "birthers", "teabaggers", "screamers" and now "deathers"...

~snip~

... "Conservatives Without Conscience" by John W. Dean, prolific author and former Watergate figure. In a stunning tour de force, Dean's book answered all my questions regarding the apparent success of the right wing to mobilize the pathetic remnants of a once proud confederacy. In chapter two, Mr. Dean postulates that these new conservatives, both its leaders as well as its followers, fit into a distinct personality type described as "Right-Wing Authoritarianism".

In the book, Dean highlights the work of social psychologist and researcher Bob Altemeyer of the University of Manitoba. According to Altemeyer, Right-Wing Authoritarians are especially submissive to established authority and show a general aggressiveness toward others when such behavior is perceived to be sanctioned by established authorities.

At the end of Chapter Two appears a list of those traits that are typically found in Right-Wing Authoritarians. When reading this list, think GOP leaders Limbaugh, Gingrich, Cheney and Palin.

Right-Wing Authoritarian - Leaders:

* Typically men (Palin is the exception but think masculine phrases used to define her such as "hockey mom", "basketball point guard", and "field dress a moose")
* dominating
* opposes equality
* desirous of personal power
* amoral
* intimidating and bullying
* faintly hedonistic
* vengeful
* pitiless
* exploitive
* manipulative
* dishonest
* cheats to win
* highly prejudiced (racist, sexist, homophobic)
* mean-spirited
* militant
* nationalistic
* tells others what they want to hear
* takes advantage of "suckers"
* specializes in creating false images to sell self
* may or may not be religious
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican

When reading the below list of follower traits, think of those angry white faces (actually more red than white) at your typical "teabagger" party and recent Town hall "screamer" secession.

Right-Wing Authoritarian - Followers:

* men and woman
* submissive to authority
* aggressive on behalf of authority
* conventional
* highly religious
* moderate to little education
* trust untrustworthy authorities
* prejudiced (particularly against homosexuals, woman, and followers of religions other than their own)
* mean-spirited
* narrow-minded
* intolerant
* bulling
* zealous
* dogmatic
* uncritical toward chosen authority
* hypocritical
* inconsistent and contradictory
* prone to panic easily
* highly self-righteous
* moralistic
* strict disciplinarian
* severely punitive
* demands loyalty and returns it
* little self-awareness
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican

While reading this list you may have asked yourself why these current followers, who display a deference to authority, are not following the head guy; the President of the United States. The answer is a simple one. The glue that binds the current out of power leaders to their pathetic followers is clearly and unambiguously RACE...

LA Science and Tech News Examiner...

For those who have not read John W. Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscience" or Bob Altemeyer's "The Authoritarians," , I highly recommend both books in order to better understand Right Wing Authoritarianism. Dr. Altemeyer offers his on line for all of us to read in order to understand and learn to counter them. His advice?

From this link above (referring to the '08 elections, but it holds true for the present, as well):

So what’s to be done right now? The social dominators and high RWAs
presently marshaling their forces for the next election in your county, state and
country, are perfectly entitled to do what they’re doing. They have the right to
organize, they have the right to proselytize, they have the right to select and work for
candidates they like, they have the right to vote, they have the right to make sure folks
who agree with them also vote...

...

You can watch the authoritarians tear democracy apart, bit by bit, bite by bite.
Or you can exercise your rights too, while you still have them, and get just as
concerned, active, and giving to protect yourself and your country. If you, and other
liberals, other moderates, other conservatives with conscience do, then everything can
turn out all right. But we have to get going. If you are the only person you know who
grasps what’s happening, then you’ve got to take leadership, help inform, and organize
others. One person can do so much; you’ve no idea! And two can do so much more.
But time is running out, fast, and nearly everything is at stake.

wow someone sure is fearful of everyday people expressing their thoughts

 

[MarcATL]

Yep. you got me pegged. I'm afraid of "everyday people."

 

[Oddball]

Right-Wing Authoritarian - Followers:

* men and woman
* submissive to authority
* aggressive on behalf of authority
* conventional
* highly religious
* moderate to little education
* trust untrustworthy authorities
* prejudiced (particularly against homosexuals, woman, and followers of religions other than their own)
* mean-spirited
* narrow-minded
* intolerant
* bulling
* zealous
* dogmatic
* uncritical toward chosen authority
* hypocritical
* inconsistent and contradictory
* prone to panic easily
* highly self-righteous
* moralistic
* strict disciplinarian
* severely punitive
* demands loyalty and returns it
* little self-awareness
* usually politically and economically conservative/Republican

Project much??

 

[WillowTree]

ditto that,,

 

[AllieBaba]

Even more ridiculous is the idea that the GOP is CONSERVATIVE anymore. The fact that they veered away from conservatism is the fucking problem.

 

[Avatar4321]

Since when has the desire to significantly reduce government spending and taxing, empowering the people and ending government corruption been authoritarian?

 

[Maple]

No kiddin.

 

[Maple]

Since when has the desire to significantly reduce government spending and taxing, empowering the people and ending government corruption been authoritarian?

Since the liberals came to power.

 

[xsited1]

He quoted a debunked statistic!

One web-site which ranks IQ by state (using a formula.....), reflects the bottom 10 states (states with IQ's of 98 or less) as voting for George Bush in 2004.

http://www.isteve.com/iqhoax.htm

 

[Oddball]

Since when has the desire to significantly reduce government spending and taxing, empowering the people and ending government corruption been authoritarian?

Problem being is that republicans have said all that stuff, but never come across.