Besides the polls, I also watch what I call the “anger index” on the local hard-right blogs.
It often rises in the final weeks of elections, with venomous personal attacks against the opposing candidates — and commenters who challenge their views. They are peaking now.
It is happening on abortion (a new subject for “Dr.” Rebane), Hilary Clinton, Agenda 21, Obama — you name it. The volume is on the rise.
In some cases, such as Agenda 21, they are “eating their own” (AKA those with the same political stripe). This former CABPRO guy, Martin Light, is an angry man, for sure. Todd Juvinall @ Sierra Dragon’s Breathe (sic) is an entertaining soul.
I’ve also noted — and this is telling — that the venomous attacks peak just as this group’s opposing candidate are about to lose — George Smyrnos for judge, Sue McGuire for Supervisor, Barry Pruett for clerk-recorder and so on. And yes, the presidential election of 2008 was another example.
We have some strong, sensible conservative voices in our community — Nate Beason, Ed Scofield, Rich Ullery, Ray Shine and Fred Buhler, among them — but I never find them present in the hard-right blogosphere. More like a briar patch over there.
This summer, I volunteered to help distribute some flyers for Fred Buhler to honor Veterans in the Constitution Day Parade (as far as Sacramento and Reno), and we regularly buy fresh, free-range chickens from Chuck Shea, the new CABPRO director.
We never discuss the hard-right bloggers, though. It’s still worth noting that conservative websites — the local GOP and tea party sites — often point to them as “recommended reading.”
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It’s hard to see the Tea Party as anything more than a haven for those who want to embrace and celebrate their defensiveness – up with ideology, down with critical thought – and be around others who want to do the same, or those who have been convinced to come along without giving any critical thought to it. What a shame.
I don’t think your normal (those with political aspirations like Todd aside) conservative is vitriolic by nature. It is a function of values and information. Many of these folks still believe in the American myth propagated after WWII, that we are the good guys in white hats and Lee Harvey Oswald really shot John Kennedy and their really were WMDs in Iraq. To believe otherwise would be to dismiss their own sense of right/wrong and patriotism as a joke and, thus, the lives they have lived. Their sense of culture would be threatened much like Islam fears the Great Satan. When your main source of information is Fox news you are living in an alternate reality. When people are confronted with information that contradicts their own, it creates a state of mental unbalance (cognitive dissonance). If we stay out of balance too long we go crazy, which could explain a lot of things. The first and easiest way to restore balance is to discredit the source, the disgruntled employee argument always used against whistle blowers.
All if this “hate” is easily churned up by the Karl Roves of the world because these people are really confused between what the truth is or isn’t. They are afraid to let go of their beliefs even if they are wrong, it would destroy their sense of self. We live in the golden age of modern propaganda. We need to figure out a way to get the truth out, the non-partisan truth. Personally, I think pretty much all of them are corporate goons. A real third party might help.
Great post Jeff but as an Alta Sierra resident I must disagree with Ed Scofield.
That makes two of us Annie……
I read Religion Dispatches and this last spring a contributing writer described what the right wing church is going to spew from pulpits in mid to late October. It’s vitrol has begun. This last week RS reported that more than 1000 preachers have sworn to defy IRS rules and promote Republican/Teas explicitly from their pulpits until election day.
Facebook is humming with hateful posts from Republicans. There are specific attacks on The Christian Left because it’s been getting attention on MSNBC and NPR. Hate and vitrol is getting personal. This last Saturday my ex-husband was sworn in as a pastor up in Washington he told his own daughter that she lived on the dark side because she’s a Democrat and wanted nothing more to do with her.
Yes, one does have to be a Republican to be a Chrisitan. Now you have to be a Republican to be family.
Christian evangelical and fundamentalist preachers are blatant in promoting the likes of Bush over Obama, Kerry, Gore. John Hagee, a Texan, Paul and Jan Crouch from Santa Ana, Swaggert seems to have toned it down, Rod Parsley, Richard Rogers son of Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson. The list goes on and on. All should have tax exemtions revoked. They don’t seem to have a clue what the idea of Jesus was really about.
I’ll keep harping on this theme as they are spiritually dishonest and opportunistic, with lying and endemic ignorance now being crucial commandments. I used to read eight grade essays that were superior to the tripe found at the Dragon Breath site.
I once split my ticket–no more, not with this morphed out, Vlad the Impaler type of right-winger consumed with meism and hate.
That’s their forte. And when there is a war to be fought, the politicians always seem to have bad knees and get out of service. The Republicans and tea people are about on par with Putin in Russia.
I’d just about stake my life on the idea that Sheldon Adelson could be considered a bigger crook that Carlos Gambino ever was.
Ed I made a decision to not comment on the Dragon site, then after Todd posted a ridiculous claim on President Obama and his wife Michelle concerning their law licenses, a claim he could easily have found out the truth, I felt compelled to point out the truth. As usual Walt jumps in with his typical uninformed Glenn Beck mantra. I responded but I won’t anymore. My dad told me not to argue with a fool, as they drag you down to their level.
My decision to no longer post on the Dragon was based on several observations. The moment Todd attacked you and gave you zero respect for your service in Vietnam was the key reason. I guess to Todd the only good vet is a Republican Vet. How simply moronic. I also think Todd uses his blog to incite. His intention is not discussion but to ridicule anyone that disagrees. Walt does the same with his replies.
Personally I respect your service to our country, your willingness to engage Todd and stand up to his skewed views. The issue is these are just keyboard cowards. No intent to have a rational discussion but to further incite and further divide people. Respect is earned from actions and words. You have my upmost respect.
Ken Jones
Thanks, Ken. I too only check Todd’s blog now and then. When I see him spreading his ignorance via statements so egregious and unsupportable, then sometimes I have to comment. Of course I’m the idiot, as are all who disagree. He does not understand the basics of research, sourcing and the methodology of historiography. Thus, he believes assertions are equal to factual evidence. I could go on, but I’ve said it all before.
This blogging activity is totally new for me, and am now on permanent oxygen, damage done to lungs from radiation and chemo for my 1st service-connected disability, diagnosed in 1970. Now have cancer #4, LGL leukemia–just recognized as service-connected so I am not active, even need prescribed amphetamines to stay awake so I can read. I am not complaining, but when he ridiculed me for being homebound, that’s when I went nuts on the 6’4″ coward and called him out and to come say that stuff to my face. I realized, I guess for the first time, what Internet Bullies are. He has no conception what a 5’9″ combat Marine, with PTSD who has been through more violence and chaos–and near death as much as a litter if cats–than he can imagine is capable of, even though the last thing I want is to do harm to a living soul. That trait–wanting to avoid killing and violence, but when forced, reverts to what he was) is the essence of my book, Killing Woodstock, now an ebook. (I landed back in USA from Nam on the 2nd day of the Woodstock festival–have always wondered who was on stage as the plane. And excuse the plug.)
Thanks for covering my back; I’ve done plenty of that.
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Ed thanks for all you did and do. No greater sevice exists. And the vast majority of thinking people will stand with the 5’9″ combat Marine than the 6″4″ coward.
It’s when he called me a wimp. And all the Swift Boat lies. This site contains the most intlelligent dialogue, contributors and most professional Owner/moderator. I do disagree with some of what is said, but that’s free speach. Nothing to learn in the Dragon’s lair, or from the tea people. That’s how I see it. If the R & R team win, it’ll be the worst catastrophe this county has faced since the civil war.
I’ve learned nothing of value in the realm of the humanities at the right wing blogs but have seen a lot of solipsism warped into hateful vibes.
Fear, marinated in hate, basted with evangelical nutbucketry, blasted on Fox so called news 24/7 (or Rebanes reckless insinuations). Worse than 2008, now it’s “if Obama is re-elected” were going straight to hell in a hand-basket on November 7.-
Suspect Sierra Dragon’s Breathe is Todd idea of Middle English spelling, as in “ye Olde Blog…”
“Breathe” (also a former supe) is going berserk post-debate.
http://sierradragonsbreathe.blogspot.com/2012/10/terror-obama-was-lying-again-and.html
All I can think of is this!
These “Men” (And I Use That Term Loosely) Are Acting Like Their Candidate. An Ineffectual Cross Between Suck Up Eddie Haskell And Know-It-All Ned Flanders. It’s A Combination That Is Unattractive, Desperate And Flailing. After Last Night Is There Anyone That Wants To Hand Over The Nuclear Codes To The Mess That Is Mitt Romney?
I imagine the anger index will really go off the chart after last night’s debate that Obama won.
As a South County resident I too disagree with Ed Scofield. On the Emigrant Trail issue he has chosen to side with the residents of three developments vs many more of his constituents that wish to see this trail built on the original easements.