"...[Republicans] believe that our side is illegitimate..."

Digby, writing in early 2010 but reposting it today:

We are polarized because we believe different things about what America stands for. We define ourselves differently. We have different values. It's not the first time. In fact it's defines American politics.

The problem is that the other side believes that our side is illegitimate and they have no obligation to abide by the government's decisions if they are not in charge. And I continue to be surprised that after a bogus impeachment, an election decided by a partisan Supreme Court decision and a shocking war of choice, the Democrats failed to realize that Republican party no longer believed it needed to abide by the traditions and norms that had been holding together whatever fragile truce existed. This undemocratic streak has been around among the conservatives to some degree or another forever, but it rises up strongly now and then --- and it's been evident since the early 90s that we are now in one of those times when they have become tyrannical fanatics.

I bolded the key point she makes.  This is the root of our problem in America today, the right fervently believes their political religion is the ONLY valid way to heaven (a perfect country).  I call their political beliefs a religion, because like all religions facts have no meaning to them.  Facts bounce off them because they just know they are right, case closed.   And this kind of certainty appeals to a frightened and confused electorate, so watch out for 2012!

--Trakker

Comments

[horsec]

There's nothing sure but death and Texas

Rick Perry - the governor, as both a private citizen and an elected leader, delivering a message to the Lord at a Christian prayer rally he created, while using his office’s prestige, letterhead, Web site and other resources to promote it.

[Trakker]

After reading how bad the current drought in Texas has been for farmers, and now it appears it will extend even longer, one would assume that the Texas governor would use his special relationship with Jesus to ease their pain before worrying about the rest of America.

[Dan D. Doty]

You guys should try looking in mirror some time; spiting so much venom , it ain't even funny.

[Trakker]

Venom, Dan? No I'm making fun of the idiots who believe God is punishing us and we need to beg his forgiveness. Maybe if these same people started thinking for themselves instead of letting politicians and preachers tell them what to believe, we would all be better off.

[Dan D. Doty]

Thinking for themselves?

Don't you really mean thinking like you.

[Trakker]

No, because I don't expect conservatives to agree with me, I just want them to be able to support their positions with facts, not religious babble.

[horsec]

"You guys"

How Should Obama Answer the Stock Market's Wake-Up Call?, by Brad DeLong

If you were to ask me what thing--aside from the complete and immediate collapse of the Republican Party and the resignation of all of its legislators from both houses of the Congress: if the previous fifteen years had not taught me that Republican politicians have nothing useful to contribute to national governance the last three years would certainly have done so ...

Leap of Faith :
The making of a Republican front-runner. by Ryan Lizza, The New Yorker, August 15, 2011

The transformation of Michele Bachmann from Tea Party insurgent and cable-news Pasionaria to serious Republican contender in the 2012 Presidential race was nearly complete by late June, when she boarded a Dassault Falcon 900, in Dulles, Virginia, and headed toward the caucus grounds of Iowa. [h/t, TPM 8Aug11]

[Dan D. Doty]

Trakker, you don't use facts either, its mostly emotional based rants. When I've shown you facts, you just ignor them.

[Trakker]

horsec: ...aside from the complete and immediate collapse of the Republican Party and the resignation of all of its legislators from both houses of the Congress...

Such sweet sounding words! Actually I think the Republican Party will someday collapse, especially if Michele Bachmann somehow gets elected President.

Doty: Dan, on July 24 you wrote: "You're willing to see the two million people who defend themselves with firearms every year dead instead." I didn't ignore you I replied that there is no way guns prevent 2 million deaths a year because we would be seeing 2 million dead non-gun owners a year already (about 50% of American households no not own guns). If I do ignore your "facts" it's because I believe they are inane.

[Dan D. Doty]

Because Trakker you base your everything on emotion, and very little on reason.

The Dark Storm is upon us; decisions are up to you. Do you learn to work with people, or do have the country break down ... maybe into civil war.

Its all up to you.

[horsec]

Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, No. 08-205

Take a Corporation to Lunch day?

Joined by the other three members of the court’s liberal wing, Justice Stevens said the majority had committed a grave error in treating corporate speech the same as that of human beings.

The error was, SCOTUS literalized the (corporate) metaphor. A corporation is a "person" only for convenience under the law. A corporation can be dissolved, a person cannot. A person can be put in prison, sent to war, etc..

Literalizing the metaphor is an error most often seen on the topic of flag burning. "Men died for that flag" is literalizing the metaphor. The flag is a metaphor for the USA. No one dies for a piece of cloth, yet illogical illiterates keep insisting that they, literally, do.

Die for a cat, die for "the Flag," your choice.

Almost every household has a flag and every homeowner who has a flag knows where it is. Pet owners rush into a burning building to save a cat. Is there reported anywhere a case of a homeowner, a passing stranger or a fireman rushing into a burning building to save "the Flag?" Google for it.

SCOTUS majority: because they're mostly lawyers, and they think they could make a case for their ridiculous opinion as an advocate for it before a jury, that this should be the law of the land. This, apparently, is the hurdle for making law, that a lawyer could argue for it. We are in big trouble.

[Trakker]

Is there reported anywhere a case of a homeowner, a passing stranger or a fireman rushing into a burning building to save "the Flag?"

Excellent point. I ever thought about it that way.