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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

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There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

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Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Dead end MAGA boomers crying about Talyor Swift being a Dem is my kind of music. Turn it up.

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Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

He really is that stupid.

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When we show up, we win.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Pravda on the Potomac makes a funny…

Pravda on the Potomac makes a funny…

by Dennis G.|  February 15, 20113:53 pm| 87 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Our Failed Media Experiment

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The lead in this news item over at Pravda DC (caution Politico link) makes an unintentional funny:

In a shocking finding, more than half of GOP primary voters believe President Barack Obama was not born in the United States, according to a new poll.

It is hard to decide what is more shocking: that half of Republicans believe the lies they are constantly told or that anybody–let alone a self-described “news” organization–would find it shocking.

Facts, reality, science, math, history, logic–none of that stuff has any meaning for these proudly ignorant voters and to seek their support the crazier the story the better.

Take this as an open thread.

Cheers

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Reader Interactions

87Comments

  1. 1.

    BGinCHI

    February 15, 2011 at 3:54 pm

    We’re all Casablanca now.

  2. 2.

    fasteddie9318

    February 15, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    Maybe they meant that the shocking thing is that almost half the GOP voters believe that he was born here.

  3. 3.

    Michael

    February 15, 2011 at 3:56 pm

    Orly Taitz is now mainstreamed. Great job, GOPers.

  4. 4.

    Suffern ACE

    February 15, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    Not linking to the article, but did they mention any of the places where the “people” might have heard that rumor? Maybe naming names of famous or powerful people who might have spread it? Or is this just one of the “My, common people are strange in their thinking” type articles.

  5. 5.

    El Cid

    February 15, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    @fasteddie9318: I was amazed when 7 out of 10 GOP Presidential nomination candidates debating in 2008 stated that they accepted the science of evolution.

  6. 6.

    trollhattan

    February 15, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    Speaking of Republican values (we are, amirite?) here’s an example of special interest purchase power as invested in applied to one congressman:

    http://www.thebusinessjournal.com/government/8351-nunes-cut-funding-for-sj-river-restoration

  7. 7.

    Lee

    February 15, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    I had an interesting conversation with my mechanic today who is Jordanian.

    In passing he made the comment “There will never be full democracy there”. ‘there’ being the middle east in general.

    The conversation moved quickly on so I did not get a chance to ask him why he thought that, but I found it interesting.

    He did recognize how the internet and cell phones have given people more power than ever and these things were part of the reason for the changes. He said there was no way for the governments to keep the corruption quite anymore.

  8. 8.

    danimal

    February 15, 2011 at 3:59 pm

    It’s time for The Rehabilitation of Orly Taitz.

    Let’s make her the GOP poster child.

    ETA: Apparently, Michael is quicker on the draw than I am.

  9. 9.

    A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum)

    February 15, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Why is it such a stretch to believe that Obama isn’t really an American? It isn’t. Quite a few folks believe their god created the Earth a thousand years after the Sumerians invented ink.

  10. 10.

    CF Oxtrot

    February 15, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Surely this is the most important event you have seen in today’s “news.”

    More bashing of Evil Rethuglicans!

    More indirect apology for Noble Democrats!

    We like fascism! But only when a Democrat is in charge!

  11. 11.

    gnomedad

    February 15, 2011 at 4:03 pm

    In a shocking finding, more than half of GOP primary voters believe President Barack Obama was not born in the United States are morons, according to a new poll.

    Fixed.

  12. 12.

    Zifnab

    February 15, 2011 at 4:06 pm

    Why is it such a stretch to believe that Obama isn’t really an American?

    Because his birth certificate has been printed and widely circulated on the internet. Because he’s been vetted a thousand times over from a myriad of different sources. And because if there was ever a shred of a wiff of a spec of evidence otherwise, it would have its own segment on FOX.

    This is less like the theory of evolution and more like the theory of gravity. You don’t need a high school level science degree to figure it out. The facts are readily available for anyone curious enough to take even the most cursory look.

    “Where’s the birth certificate” is the new “Nigger”.

  13. 13.

    jazzgurl

    February 15, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    Gimme a break people. They say they don’t believe, but they know. What, are all Americans so damn dumb and stupid? But yet they claim they are the super power.PBO is right to up the ante in the budget on education, methinks.
    This is all about the black man meme. Lie,distort and be racist,it’s the GOP game!

  14. 14.

    Nick L

    February 15, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    This is entirely equivalent to how liberals called George W. Bush a liar and a war criminal.

  15. 15.

    scav

    February 15, 2011 at 4:09 pm

    I was rather hoping for an in-depth investigation of how many of that same esteemed pool believed in the tooth fairy and what their estimation of the likelihood of their winning the Publishers Clearinghouse lottery was. Oh, and the color of their belly button lint because clearly, these people are the only ones who matter despite the fact that we tend to move away from them when they sit next to us on the bus.

  16. 16.

    Linus

    February 15, 2011 at 4:12 pm

    @fasteddie9318:

    Actually, they don’t. An additional 21% said they were “not sure,” leaving only 28% to answer “Yes,” Obama was born in the U.S.

  17. 17.

    gnomedad

    February 15, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    @Zifnab:

    “Where’s the birth certificate” is the new “Nigger”.

    This. And they’re not even grateful when you try to defend them as merely being morons.

  18. 18.

    Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel)

    February 15, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Folks are quick on the trigger sugesting new rotating tag-lines but a writer from the Dish told DougJ:

    Usually I don’t take time to respond to your irrationally hostile brand of quasi-trollery

    Irrationally Hostile Quasi-Trollery seems like a natural.

  19. 19.

    dmsilev

    February 15, 2011 at 4:14 pm

    Man, 2012 is going to be interesting.

    I suspect that in the unlikely event that Peak Wingnut exists, we’ll find it in late October of 2012.

    dms

  20. 20.

    A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum)

    February 15, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    @Zifnab: Yep. And no amount of data will change what they already KNOW. They’ve made up their minds.

  21. 21.

    singfoom

    February 15, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    @jazzgurl: Given that a majority of Americans identify themselves as Christians, yet seem to lack the all important love of their neighbors that Christianity was formed on, yes, Americans are that stupid. If I as a long time atheist get the idea of Christianity is love and notice that very few “Christians” have much less empathy than a stone for those unlike them, it’s pretty fucking clear.

    We’ve been playing a shell game of at least 30 years in duration, pretending us plebes have anything to do with the rules that govern our society. It’s all a bright shiny narrative for us to watch and comment on while Rome is burning.

    (It might have been going on longer than 30 years, I dunno, wasn’t around before that, maybe some of our elders here can opine on that)

    It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic. And if the tragedy wasn’t played out in death and ruined lives.

  22. 22.

    BGinCHI

    February 15, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    @Nick L: The only difference is that he was a liar and war criminal.

    Wait, is.

  23. 23.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    February 15, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    I can only fall back on Inygo Montoya, as I so often do:

    They keep using that word. I don’t think it means what they think it means.

  24. 24.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    February 15, 2011 at 4:16 pm

    @BGinCHI: Is. Is.

  25. 25.

    BGinCHI

    February 15, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    @Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel): Great idea. I’d add that Doug is always rationally hostile.

  26. 26.

    Elisabeth

    February 15, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    I hope the President laughs at these dumbasses every night before he goes to sleep in the White House. No matter what they think or aren’t sure about, he’s still president which is something they’ll never be.

  27. 27.

    johnsmith1882

    February 15, 2011 at 4:17 pm

    This really isn’t funny to me. These people vote. They will help determine who the next leaders of our country are. It’s all fun and games and look at how stupid the rubes are until Newt Gingrich or Sarah Palin becomes the next president. Or if Obama gets reelected, some unhinged nutter takes a shot at him. You can call me crazy, but sometime between November 2012 and January 2013 is when Obama gets shot, if he’s reelected.

  28. 28.

    Villago Delenda Est

    February 15, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    The vile sack of fetid shit that is John Boner won’t come out and say, unequivocally, that Barack Obama was 1. Born in the United States and 2. Is a Christian.

    He will not say it without using weasel words to appease the racist scum that are the Teabaggers.

  29. 29.

    freelancer

    February 15, 2011 at 4:19 pm

    @Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel):

    You wanna link to that, maybe?

  30. 30.

    Ash Can

    February 15, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    Chickens, meet roost.

  31. 31.

    A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum)

    February 15, 2011 at 4:20 pm

    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: Inconceivable!

  32. 32.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    February 15, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    It does bear noting, though, that more than half of GOP primary voters is actually a fairly small percentage of the electorate.

    Primary voters (raises hand) are the die-hards, people who turn out when no one else will and they are either enormously devoted to an idea, or they are deeply frightened, or both — more so than the average person who identifies with a party.

    There – now I’ve noted it.

  33. 33.

    martha

    February 15, 2011 at 4:21 pm

    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: You and me both. “Life is pain Princess. Anyone who says differently is selling something.”

  34. 34.

    beltane

    February 15, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    When other countries go insane we like to wonder how such a thing can happen. Well, now we know how it happens. With propaganda saturation all things are possible. We are but simple primates and only the most evolved among us can withstand and endless loops of crazy talk.

  35. 35.

    gnomedad

    February 15, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Ten years ago today, Fox aired “Conspiracy Theory: Did We Land on the Moon?”

  36. 36.

    Thoughtful Black Co-Citizen

    February 15, 2011 at 4:23 pm

    Well he’s brown y’see, and brown people aren’t ReaLAMEricans(TM).

  37. 37.

    kd bart

    February 15, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    Keep them ignorant and you can keep them in line.

  38. 38.

    dmsilev

    February 15, 2011 at 4:25 pm

    I’m just waiting for “Shape of the world: Opinions Differ” and “Theory of Gravity vs. Intelligent Falling. Teach the Controversy!”.

    dms

  39. 39.

    geg6

    February 15, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    @CF Oxtrot:

    More bashing of Evil stupid, insane, bigoted Rethuglicans!

    Fixed for accuracy.

  40. 40.

    GregB

    February 15, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    Perhaps we need proof that Speaker Boehner is a human and not a tobacco-Ooompa Loompa hybrid.

    Has anyone seen his birth certificate lately?

  41. 41.

    Malron

    February 15, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    During the 2008 primaries 15-20% of registered voters said they thought Obama was a Muslim. 25-33% of registered voters currently declare as Republicans, so half of that believing Obama wasn’t born in the united States means its the same number of people choosing to believe all manner of stupid shit about the president. Its fascinating how this number remains constant yet the bobbleheads keep trying to repackage it to make it sound like its on the rise.

  42. 42.

    freelancer

    February 15, 2011 at 4:27 pm

    @gnomedad:

    Yeah, and Sibrel was a big enough idiot to show Buzz Aldrin clocking him in the face on National television. Go Buzz!

  43. 43.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    February 15, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    @Ash Can: Indeed.

    @martha: Indeed, again.

    @Thoughtful Black Co-Citizen: It’s apparently also a problem is one isn’t necessarily brown but merely has “the olive complexion” http://bit.ly/gdKSbp I shit you not.

  44. 44.

    Guster

    February 15, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    @Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel): Is ‘irrationally hostile’ the new ‘strident?’

  45. 45.

    Loneoak

    February 15, 2011 at 4:28 pm

    Drudge sirens! Aroo!

    Puppeh update! One month old—this is going to be one huge galoo.

  46. 46.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    February 15, 2011 at 4:29 pm

    In moderation for one too many links! Damn! Here’s what I said:

    @Ash Can: Indeed.

    @martha: Indeed, again.

    @Thoughtful Black Co-Citizen: It’s apparently also a problem if one isn’t necessarily brown but merely has “the olive complexion” http://bit.ly/gdKSbp I shit you not.

  47. 47.

    geg6

    February 15, 2011 at 4:29 pm

    @Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel):

    I like it. Though DougJ, master troll, probably doesn’t. ;-)

  48. 48.

    gnomedad

    February 15, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    @dmsilev:
    “Stork vs. Uterus: Can We Trust the ‘Experts’?” also, too.

  49. 49.

    Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther

    February 15, 2011 at 4:32 pm

    @A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum): I KNOW! One can only hope Mandy Patinkin shows up in time!

  50. 50.

    Sasha

    February 15, 2011 at 4:34 pm

    It’s worse than you think: While 51% believe Obama isn’t American (complete idiots), 21% still “aren’t sure” (dummies). The percent who firmly believe Obama is an American (functionally intelligent) is 28%.

    Apparently in modern GOP circles, KungFu Monkey’s Crazification Factor represents who is sane in the Republican Party.

  51. 51.

    wobblybits

    February 15, 2011 at 4:35 pm

    @Loneoak: What a sweet face. I just want to kiss that nose. sigh.

  52. 52.

    asiangrrlMN

    February 15, 2011 at 4:37 pm

    Tee. They made a funny. God. This zombie meme is so damn difficult to kill off. I wonder why that is?

    @Loneoak: PUPPEH! He’s a big handsome boy, yes he is!

  53. 53.

    Turgidson

    February 15, 2011 at 4:38 pm

    @CF Oxtrot:

    LOL. Troll better, plz.

  54. 54.

    martha

    February 15, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    @Loneoak: squeeee!!! oh what a cute pup!

  55. 55.

    Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel)

    February 15, 2011 at 4:39 pm

    @freelancer: @freelancer: Originally posted by mistermix this morning.

    http://ordinary-gentlemen.com/blog/2011/02/14/pigford-a-tragedy-and-a-non-troversy/#comment-104779

  56. 56.

    Bulworth

    February 15, 2011 at 4:40 pm

    Slightly OT but I’m old enough to remember when I used to enjoy reading Roger Simon. I was so young and impressionable….

  57. 57.

    PurpleGirl

    February 15, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    @Loneoak: Puppeh pictures are always appreciated.

  58. 58.

    Martin

    February 15, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    This is why no moderate GOPer can win the nomination. Half of the primary voters are insane and paranoid. They can’t help but nominate someone who at least pretends to be insane and paranoid, and that can’t possibly carry the general.

  59. 59.

    A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum)

    February 15, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    Greg Sargent pulled this little tidbit out of that polling data:

    A 51% majority of national GOP primary voters erroneously think President Obama was not born in the U.S. 28% know that he was. With the latter, Palin’s favorability rating is 41-52 — other than Ron Paul, the only candidate these voters view negatively. But with birthers, she has a soaring 83-12, far higher than for any of the others.

    Just knock me over with a feather. No one could have known that.

  60. 60.

    KG

    February 15, 2011 at 4:48 pm

    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther: for me, it’s the South Park 9/11 episode, something along the lines of:

    Cartman: The government was responsible for 9/11
    Kyle: That’s retarded
    Cartman: 25% of people believe the government was involved in 9/11 are you saying that 25% of Americans are retarded?
    Kyle: Yes
    Stan: Yeah, yeah, that seems about right
    Kyle: here let’s test it, there’s four of us here, you’re retarded, that’s 25%

    51% of Republican primary voters make up probably (a little less, based on independent registrations) of the general population… it just makes sense.

  61. 61.

    El Cid

    February 15, 2011 at 4:53 pm

    @gnomedad: Liberal elites like you think that a bunch of ivory tower book learners can tell me what happened on the Moon. Whatever happened to Free Speech?

  62. 62.

    El Cid

    February 15, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    @KG: What was brilliant was the conclusion of that show: The Bush Jr. administration had faked evidence making it look like 9/11 had been an inside job in order to look more competent than they were.

  63. 63.

    MattR

    February 15, 2011 at 4:54 pm

    @KG: Kyle’s math was off by a bit. When you take into account Cartman’s size, he counts for an extra 2% which brings us to the magic number of 27%.

    @El Cid: A great ending. After the 9/11 conspiracy conspiracy is revealed.

    Kyle: So then, who was responsible for 9/11?
    __
    Stan: Whattaya mean? A bunch of pissed-off Muslims.
    __
    Frank: [giggles] Yeah. What are you, retarded? [The President and his staff laugh heartily]

  64. 64.

    KG

    February 15, 2011 at 4:57 pm

    @KG: late to add, but link

  65. 65.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    February 15, 2011 at 4:58 pm

    @A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum):

    The question I have to ask though is this, how many of them don’t know/think that Hawaii is part of the US? I mean if the stupidity is that strong it could be that simple of an explanation.

  66. 66.

    Nellcote

    February 15, 2011 at 4:58 pm

    They need to poll on how many of them think Hawaii is a state.

  67. 67.

    freelancer

    February 15, 2011 at 4:59 pm

    @Parallel 5ths (Jewish Steel):

    Ahh, thanks.

    [Goes away to read the thread]

    Jesus, there’s something about LoOGies.

  68. 68.

    KG

    February 15, 2011 at 5:00 pm

    @Nellcote: but then my currency exchange for Hawaiian dollars would be useless!

  69. 69.

    gbear

    February 15, 2011 at 5:02 pm

    @freelancer:That video link was strangely satifying through multiple viewings.

  70. 70.

    MattR

    February 15, 2011 at 5:03 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt: @Nellcote: I would give this more credence if it wasn’t for the fact that they know that Palin’s home of Alaska is a state. Of course I still may be giving them too much credit. They may have learned about Alaska in 2008 but nobody got around to teaching them about that exotic Hawaii.

  71. 71.

    dmbeaster

    February 15, 2011 at 5:05 pm

    Malron at 41

    Your analysis is off. The data is that among people generally, belief in this issue has dropped, but has increased in this Republican subset. Rather than it just being the same, it demonstrates a growing craziness in the hard core, whereas the larger sample has gotten saner. The net result appears static only if you ignore the movement within the two subgroups that keeps the overall result static.

  72. 72.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    February 15, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    @MattR:

    I blame Cokie Roberts. You know she did say that he should vacation somewhere less “exotic” you know real America. I’ll bet you half of those polled don’t know Hawaii is a state.

  73. 73.

    frosty

    February 15, 2011 at 5:07 pm

    @Bulworth: Roger Simon had some funny columns when he wrote for the Baltimore Sun. Usually comparing Chicago’s reaction to snow to Baltimore’s. Hard to believe what he’s turned into.

  74. 74.

    MattR

    February 15, 2011 at 5:09 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    I’ll bet you half of those polled don’t know Hawaii is a state.

    I will never bet against the stupidity of the American people.

  75. 75.

    Bubblegum Tate

    February 15, 2011 at 5:15 pm

    @Emily L. Hauser/ellaesther:

    It’s apparently also a problem if one isn’t necessarily brown but merely has “the olive complexion”

    Ahh, the Fear of a Black Hat defense.

  76. 76.

    vtr

    February 15, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    How many Republicans who believe President Obama wasn’t born in the United States also believe in Remote Viewing?

    Does the name “Orly Taits” make you think of uncomfortable underwear, too?

  77. 77.

    Triassic Sands

    February 15, 2011 at 5:57 pm

    This is one of those surprising versus shocking cases. It is (or should be) shocking to any sentient being that half of Republicans don’t believe Obama was born in the US. But however shocking it is (or should be), it isn’t the least bit surprising. The stupidity of the American people isn’t exactly a secret, and wingers constantly display their own profound stupidity for all to see.

    Of course, their stupidity is so obvious that it should have stopped being a shock long ago — even to the MSM — but if we don’t pretend that Americans (and/or Republicans) are smarter than they are, then one pretty much has to accept that there is no hope for this country. Sometime in the nineties, I decided that the US had amassed a critical mass of stupid people — once that number has been reached, there is almost no possibility that the ultimate failure of the country can be averted. Nothing that has happened since 2000 has made me any more optimistic. Even Obama’s election (and then even if he had turned out to be the progressive champion that many hoped he would be) couldn’t change my conviction that we are racing headlong into the abyss and our brakes were long ago appropriated by M&M Enterprises. Thanks a lot, Milo.

  78. 78.

    Tax Analyst

    February 15, 2011 at 5:59 pm

    @vtr:

    Does the name “Orly Taits” make you think of uncomfortable underwear, too?

    Actually more like “unanticipated anal discharge”.

  79. 79.

    matoko_chan

    February 15, 2011 at 6:38 pm

    Master, what do i keep telling you?
    Conservatism is memetic selection for stupid.
    And fuckers like EDK keep the lies alive, like the foul fetus=slave meme.

    Conservatism– where even the smart people are retards.

  80. 80.

    matoko_chan

    February 15, 2011 at 6:46 pm

    @El Cid: i responded. hate for you to miss it.
    sure looks like bloviating to me.
    The Death of Intellectual Protestantism.

    On the other hand, the Crusades were awesome. We definitely should have killed more Muslims, because they are genetically inferior. If only I could have been with my namesake as he stabbed his sword over and over and over again into the Moors’ tender skins, and washed myself in the blood of the dead infidels. I wish I could have been there laughing when the Muslims fled Granada.

    idc if you wanna be a Malkin/Spencer islamophobe.
    it doenst bother me a whit.

    and…….chu mad?
    lolollllololl

  81. 81.

    matoko_chan

    February 15, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    @El Cid: and that all sounds very familiar….are you jackin’ Pam Geller’s style?

  82. 82.

    Suffern ACE

    February 15, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    @A Commenter at Balloon Juice (formerlyThe Grand Panjandrum): Regarding that Palin connection, are these guys getting their news from WorldNetDaily, like Palin asked them to?

  83. 83.

    And the Horse He Rode In on

    February 15, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    @dmsilev: And that, my liege, is how we know the world to be banana-shaped

  84. 84.

    Jebediah

    February 16, 2011 at 4:06 am

    @Loneoak:
    Thanks for that – right about now I REALLY needed a dose of high-powered cute.
    Wotta face!

  85. 85.

    bob h

    February 16, 2011 at 7:34 am

    When you consider that two-thirds of them deny manmade global climate change and evolution, this Birther figure is hardly surprising.

  86. 86.

    matoko_chan

    February 16, 2011 at 7:43 am

    Look. the leaders of the right have an unimpeachable argument.

    Right: we will give you tax breaks, cut the deficit, and help you impose your illiberal religious doctrine on other citizens. Gawd-n-country, America fapfapfap markets!
    Left: its impossible to balance the budget with tax breaks, and the constitution guarntees citizen rights for all Americans.
    Right: Look! the liberals think you’re stupid!

    That is why EDK and McMegan and Douthat are equally loathesome. They have abdicated their responsibility to educate their base IN ORDER TO WIN.
    Has EDK ever retracted on fetus=slave? nope.
    They think their base is too stupid to learn.
    and after 50 years of racebaiting and IQbaiting, they could be right.
    Only conservatives have been observed to exhibit backfire effect. That is where conservatives ideas (like AGW denialism) increase in salience after being corrected.

    Jay Rosen:
    Hi Jonah. You said… “And it’s worth pointing out that this irrationality applies to both sides of the political spectrum.)”
    __
    But you overlooked something in the Boston Globe article you were writing about. The article is mainly about the so-called “backfire” effect, wherein contrary information not only doesn’t inform but actually strengthens the existing (and incorrect) belief, thus backfiring. Seems irrational, right? Here’s what the article says about this irrationality applying across the board:
    __
    Nyhan inserted a clear, direct correction after each piece of misinformation, and then measured the study participants to see if the correction took.
    For the most part, it didn’t. The participants who self-identified as conservative believed the misinformation on WMD and taxes even more strongly after being given the correction. With those two issues, the more strongly the participant cared about the topic — a factor known as salience — the stronger the backfire. The effect was slightly different on self-identified liberals: When they read corrected stories about stem cells, the corrections didn’t backfire, but the readers did still ignore the inconvenient fact that the Bush administration’s restrictions weren’t total.
    __
    In other words, the backfire effect did not occur “across the board.” It was observed among conservatives and not among liberals, at least in this portion of the study. However, blocking out facts that were inconvenient did occur among liberals, as well. This shows that liberals are not immune to these irrational tendencies, but it does not show that the irrationality discussed in the Globe article is evenly distributed across the political spectrum. I think that’s an important qualifier.
    __
    I also think that there’s a danger of PC thinking taking over here. In being careful not to encourage fantasies among liberals of being immune from these tendencies, which is an entirely valid thing to do, some writers, I have noticed, are too quick to suggest that a kind of symmetry reigns over political behavior. I don’t think we should be doing that.
    __
    Posted by: Jay Rosen | July 13, 2010 1:48 PM

    That is why I was banned at LoOG, because i wanted EDK to stop pandering and try to educate people. I wanted him to stand and deliver on conservative ideology. Those guys just slide out from under conservatism with a wink and grin– we are libertarians, or liberaltarians, or classic liberals…..but they arent. They are CONSERVATIVES because they SUPPORT CONSERVATIVE IDEOLOGY w/e they SAY they are.
    Don’t look at what they say, look at what they do.
    Mistermix and Cole are high on imaginary unicorn farts. Those guys are not open to discussion or exchange of ideas. They are fighting for a dying ideology, and they dont fight fair. They are dishonest.
    And when i POINT THIS OUT people get mad at me.
    fucking shoot the messenger, you stupid cattle.
    they are not the same as us. EDK and Conor will do anything to win.
    so lower your dumbass cow heads for the kerbstomp you are surely going to get.

  87. 87.

    Bob

    February 16, 2011 at 8:41 am

    The problem is that the media and political class has a wink wink nod nod game going on. They don’t actually believe half of what they say, but they act shocked..SHOCKED…when the people they lie to believe what they’re told.

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