Where Do 'Truthers' Come From?

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday May 11, 2010 · 8:24 AM PDT

2010/05/11 · 08:24

A few of years ago, I got into a bit of tussle with a good friend who was insisting I watch a DVD showing how Bush & Company rigged 9/11. I begged off telling her that there was no way that any "expert" could convince me that the Bush team could have pulled of 9/11 even if they had wanted to. So I was pretty surprised to hear Ian Masters complain (Background Briefing, KPFK, May 2, 11:53AM)

Everytime I go to any public event where I have to speak I get heckled by the 9/11 'truthers' who are the first people to rush up to the microphones and shut down the entire event so whatever the subject of the event was nobody get's to talk about it...they sort of hijack it and force you to talk about Building 7 collapsing.

So where DO 'truthers' come from? Are they lefties unrecovered from the Bush regime, or anti-government libertarian/anarchists, or just plain conspiracy enthusiasts?

Poll

78 votes Show Results

Where do 'truthers' come from?

78 votes Vote Now!

Where do 'truthers' come from?

Truthers are lefties and I'm one of them.

12 votes

Truthers are lefties and I wish they'd go away

3 votes

Truthers are anti-government libertarian types and I'm one of them

3 votes

Truthers are anti-government libertarian types and I wish they'd go away

9 votes

Truthers are conspiracy enthusiasts and I'm one of them

3 votes

Truthers are conspiracy enthusiasts and I wish they'd go away

48 votes

Euthanasia Smolders; 'Death Panel' Explodes

seethruit

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday May 05, 2010 · 8:40 AM PDT

2010/05/05 · 08:40

It sure looked like a flash fire but it actually smoldered for nearly a year. In early '09, the Washington Times, George Neumayr, and Cal Thomas linked HCR to euthanasia while "Dr" Betsy McCaughey PhD, the same "expert" who helped torpedo ClintonCare) hoisted repeated bogus incendiaries about health rationing. But it wasn't until McCaughey hit on compulsory end-of-life counseling that she really got things going. Then, with a boost from Michelle Bachmann (R-MN)'s assertion that "Ezekiel Emanual" HCR would cut off health care for the disabled, Palin was primed for full ignition:

EUTHANASIA + RATIONING + BUREAUCRATS = DEATH PANEL

And the blast was AWESOME. The MSM couldn't get enough:

...the Washington Post mentioned the phrase 18 times, the New York Times 16 times, and network and cable news at least 154 times...

In just 2 weeks 86% of Americans to hear about 'Death Panels'. Overheated townhallers screamed and shouted and HCR was nearly collared for failure.

seethruit

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday April 27, 2010 · 9:40 AM PDT

2010/04/27 · 09:40

Some thoughtful and intelligent conservatives are fretting over the "epistemic closing" of the conservative "mind" (Julian Sanchez). Billmon elegantly explores this construct. But can "epistemic closing" really explain the hyperbolic, vitriolic, eyepopping craziness of that "mind"?

I contend that this conservative "mind" has lost control of itself, that it is, in fact, an ADDICTED mind. Douthat, Sanchez, and Frum have become the designated drivers at a party where all their buddies are snorting Rage&Unreason. And their buddies can't quit because Rage&Unreason is WORKING FOR THEM. The GOP is poised to take back the House in November. Sober conservatives worry out loud that their crazy brethren have lost all direction and no longer have any idea what they'd do if they did win. But isn't that the way of addiction--eventually it's all about the drug (Rage&Unreason) and the high (WINNING). The Fox/Rove concoction is flowing free and they just can't stop themselves.

seethruit

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday April 23, 2010 · 8:41 AM PDT

2010/04/23 · 08:41

But it's just an average week at Snopes, the esteemed debunker website.

Snopes is committed to neutrality, so the rightwing designation is mine. I counted any "legend" on the Snopes Top 25 list that directly attacks Obama, Democrats, liberals, etc. or enflames the culture wars. Most are false and they are often wrongly attributed to credible sources. Here are my selections, including Snopes' ranking (based on circulation):

Poll

160 votes Show Results

Have you received viral wingnut emails?

160 votes Vote Now!

Have you received viral wingnut emails?

Yes, lots

11 votes

Yes, lots until the senders didn't like my responses

22 votes

Yes, occasionally

18 votes

Yes, occasionally until senders didn't like my responses

31 votes

Yes, one or two

10 votes

Yes, one or two until sender(s) didn't like my response(s)

12 votes

56 votes

dKos readers give up on winning hearts and minds of Fox lovin' friends and family!

seethruit

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday April 20, 2010 · 9:37 AM PDT

2010/04/20 · 09:37

Say it isn't so, but most dKos readers have given up the strum und drang of political debate with their rightwing friends and kin. In last weeks's straw poll approximately one-third of dKos readers no longer sustained these relationships, while 50% had entered a zone of silence or one-way communication. Only 10% had open, two-way dialog.

There were many insightful and poignant accounts of fractured relationships. It struck me that the two biggest obstacles to communication were a separate "fact" set and a profound divergence in values. Makes sense that you're not going to get very far if you can't agree on what's true and you don't want to get to the same place anyhow. Several commenters recommended Snopes.com, which is always worth a try even though, as they say, you can lead a wingnutter to reality but you can't make them live there.

How are you getting along with Fox-lovin' family and friends?

seethruit

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday April 15, 2010 · 10:10 AM PDT

2010/04/15 · 10:10

MSM can’t get enough of those angry tea partiers – signs, t-shirts, protests, jeers, and all. Apparently, the most aggrieved Americans ever. But have they missed an undertow of alienated progressives who have retreated into white-hot silence, no longer willing to engage with Fox-fueled friends and family?

Poll

128 votes Show Results

How are you getting along with Fox-lovin' family and friends?

128 votes Vote Now!

How are you getting along with Fox-lovin' family and friends?

Open dialog

12 votes

One way dialog - I've stopped engaging

18 votes

One way dialog - They've stopped engaging

3 votes

No dialog - We've stopped talking politics

45 votes

No dialog - We barely talk anymore

23 votes

No dialog - They're out of my life

12 votes

Never had Fox-lovin' family or friends

15 votes

Newer
Older

RSS

Where Do 'Truthers' Come From?

Euthanasia Smolders; 'Death Panel' Explodes

Conservative "Mind" Addicted to Rage & Unreason?

10 of Top 25 Hottest Urban Legends push rightwing agenda

dKos readers give up on winning hearts and minds of Fox lovin' friends and family!

How are you getting along with Fox-lovin' family and friends?