Are wingnuts crazy? Well, yes. Duh. But are working class Republicans insane in the same way? Not really, according to Paul Parker, who guest-blogged at Rodger A. Payne's site to critique this Slate article by Timothy Noah:
an adaptive response to a terrifying reality. And one of the ways we deal with that terror is to reinforce our cultural norms; an obvious way to do that is to punish transgressors.
(Read the whole thing, it's difficult to get a suitably snippy quote from it.)
So let me get this straight: because these people have been inspired by such fear, they have become reactionary, intolerant of ambiguity, and this is manifested not only with regard to pro-war sentiments, but with regard to social issues as well, which many obviously put above their own economic concerns -- therefore, they voted for Bush?
If the above is a reasonable interpretation of Parker's critique, then I think I buy what he's selling.
More to the point, I think Karl Rove believes it, too. Which is why he tries to keep the fear going.
posted by RETARDO MONTALBAN @ 8:00 PM
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