Why People Vote Republican

 Posted by at 12:08 am  Politics
Dec 132011
 

The question I hear most as I go about my day to day work of bringing news to people, that is admittedly and proudly biased, but also factually honest, is: “How can anyone in their right mind vote for a Republican?”  It’s a good question, given that Republicans govern exclusively for the benefit of millionaires, billionaires, and corporate criminals, and do NOT represent you.  The best answer I can give is that Republicans live in a completely different reality.  For the record, I am not a fan of David Frum, a rather extreme Bushavik, and oppose his views on almost every subject.  But when an opponent gets something right,. integrity demands that I give credit where credit is due, and on this subject, Frum is spot on.

FoxSheepConservative columnist David Frum, who was speechwriter for former President George W. Bush, blasted Fox News on Sunday for creating an "alternative knowledge system."

In an article published by New York Magazine in late November, Frum had argued that conservative media like Fox News and talk radio "immerse their audience in a total environment of pseudo-facts and pretend information."

In an appearance on CNN Sunday, Frum cited claims made on Fox News that President Barack Obama was proposing a "new Christmas tree tax," something that was found by both The Florida Times-Union and PolitiFact Oregon to be not true… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Crooks and Liars>

Here’s the video:

Note that Howard Kurtz actually fought to defend the Republican Ministry of propaganda from Frum’s analysis, showing CNN’s Republican bias, albeit less extreme than Faux Noise.

Keith Olbermann reinforced the truth of this in the first segment of last night’s Worst Persons.

So there it is.  People vote Republican, because they have fallen for the hype that their misinformation sources are not only trustworthy, but also the only trustworthy sources of news.  Therefore, their view of the world is completely disconnected from reality.

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  16 Responses to “Why People Vote Republican”

  1. Judi says:
    December 13, 2011 at 2:28 am

    Actually…….it’s pretty frightening to me that these people are that dumb! Look at how Lowe’s made knee-jerk response, as well as some other companies I assume, to the bidding of the RW conservative nut job group in Florida and pulled its advertising from a TV show about Muslim life in the US. All these fascist family values have to do is WHINE……and the rest of the country kowtows to them. THSI HAS TO STOP…..or Canada here I come!

  2. SoINeedAName says:
    December 13, 2011 at 4:57 am

    The reason people vote repubican is the EXACT same reason they believe the lies on Faux New …

  3. TWM says:
    December 13, 2011 at 5:42 am

    The fucking stupid people are the ones on both sides of the aisle who do not bother to get off their ass and really research who they vote for.  I will never vote for this Democrat again as this POS amendment to the defense authorization bill was written by him. Now i wonder if the president will come across with the threatened veto it with the changed language. I doubt it.

     

    Dear Mr. Durfee:
         Thank you for contacting me about detainee-related provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2012 (S.1867).  I appreciate you sharing your views with me.
         The United States has struggled to craft laws and procedures to prosecute the unprecedented kind of war that came to our shores on September 11, 2001.  The courts, Congress and two presidential administrations have gradually, often ad hoc, developed a system that seeks to uphold our values and honors our Constitution while protecting national security.  Congress, the Senate Armed Services Committee in particular, has worked hard to establish in law this important balance rather than rely solely on court orders and executive orders that can change with administrations.
         The NDAA, which was passed by the Senate on December 1, 2011, builds on that work.  Its provisions on detainees represent a careful, bipartisan effort to provide the executive branch the clear authority, tools and flexibility of action it needs to defend us against the threat posed by al-Qaeda.  Unfortunately, much of the debate concerning these provisions demonstrated a basic misunderstanding of what the NDAA would do and attributed to it many things that it would not do.  Because of the many questions that have been raised about the detainee provisions, I feel it is important to clearly explain the language approved by the Senate, a summary of which is below:
    Section 1031: Affirmation of Authority of the Armed Forces of the United States to Detain Covered Persons Pursuant to the Authorization for Use of Military Force.
    ·     Section 1031 reaffirms the military’s existing authority to detain individuals captured in the course of hostilities in accordance with the law of war.  The authority extends to any person who:  (1) planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001; or (2) was part of or substantially supported al Qaeda, the Taliban, or associated forces in hostilities against the United States.  This provision codifies detention authority that has been adopted by two Administrations, has been upheld in the courts, and has a centuries-long foundation in the law of war.  An amendment adopted on the Senate floor by a 99-1 vote confirms that nothing in the provision “shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.”
    Section 1032: Requirement for Military Custody.
    ·     Section 1032 provides that a narrowly-defined group of people — foreign al Qaeda terrorists who participate in planning or conducting attacks against us — shall be held in military custody.  The provision is subject to waiver by the executive branch.  The provision specifically exempts United States citizens.  It also does not apply to lawful resident aliens inside the United States, except to the extent permitted by the Constitution.  The procedures for determining who is covered by the provision are left up to the Executive Branch to establish.  Those procedures are to include procedures for determining how and when persons determined to be subject to military custody would be transferred from civilian law enforcement to military officials, and to ensure that such determinations do not interfere with ongoing intelligence, surveillance, or interrogations.  The provision expressly authorizes the transfer of detainees for trial in civilian courts.  An amendment to strip out this transfer authority (which would have prohibited civilian trials for detainees) was defeated in the Senate Armed Services Committee by a bipartisan vote of 19-7.
    Section 1033: Requirements for Certifications Relating to the Transfer of Detainees at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Foreign Countries and other Foreign Entities.
    ·     Section 1033 continues for another year conditions on the transfer of GITMO detainees to foreign countries which have a track record of being unable to prevent released detainees from returning to battle against us.  The provision continues the requirement that the Secretary of Defense certify that appropriate steps have been taken to reduce the risk of renewed terrorist activities by detainees who are released.  Section 1033 is less restrictive than provisions included in previously enacted legislation signed by President Obama, because it includes a new national security waiver.
    Section 1034: Prohibition on Use of Funds to Construct or Modify Facilities in the United States to House Detainees Transferred from United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    ·     Section 1034 continues for another year the limitation that has been included in past authorization and appropriations Acts, precluding the use of DOD funds to build facilities inside the United States to house Guantanamo detainees.  This provision does not require the closure of Guantanamo, it applies only to DOD funds, and it does not prohibit the use of Department of Justice funds that might be needed in connection with the transfer of a Guantanamo detainee for trial.
    Section 1035: Procedures for Periodic Detention Review of Individuals Detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
    ·     Section 1035 requires DOD to issue procedures implementing the Executive Order issued by the President earlier this year addressing ambiguities in the process for periodic status reviews established for Guantanamo detainees.  The periodic reviews are to determine whether a detainee no longer represents a continuing threat to the security of the United States and therefore can be released from detention.
    Section 1036: Procedures for Status Determinations.
    ·     Section 1036 requires DOD to establish procedures for determining the status of detainees — i.e., whether or not we have legal authority to detain them.  These procedures include, for the first time, a military judge and a military lawyer for any detainee held in long-term military custody.
    Section 1037: Clarification of Right to Plead Guilty in Trial of Capital Offense by Military Commission.
    ·     Section 1037 clarifies the procedures for guilty pleas in trials by military commissions.  The provision requires a separate trial on the penalty with a unanimous verdict needed to impose the death penalty.  The Supreme Court has held that defendants in the federal courts have a right to plead guilty in capital cases.  The omission of this provision would leave defendants in military commission cases without a similar right.
         I hope you find this summary helpful, and thank you again for contacting me on this important issue.
    Sincerely,
    Carl Levin
  4. Ahab says:
    December 13, 2011 at 7:50 am

    This is why it’s so important to have free flow of information — so people have access to alternatives to this kind of propaganda-media. Unfortunately, I doubt that many Fox viewers seek out alternative news sources.

  5. Blue says:
    December 13, 2011 at 9:36 am

    I see I’m in good company (because they’re stupid). But also and more importantly because Republicans have gotten very slick at lying their asses off in such a way as to seem credible. It speaks to their moral code: If you can’t win, cheat.

  6. Phyllis says:
    December 13, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Excellent points– Fox is an arm of the Ministry of Propaganda ,;  experts at the use of “A lie repeated often enough “…;. Most people do not have , time, energy , or inclination to search out  more accurate sources of information;.. They come in , turn on Fox , which provides  “The News “— and that’s it– as simple as it gets– I don’t believe they are all stupid– if you really look at the Faux operation , they are very good at what they do–promote Propaganda–  over and over the lies are repeated—-It takes a certain level of sophistication to realize what is going on– and most people are simply not  sophisticated enough  , intelligence has little to do with it–

  7. Tom says:
    December 13, 2011 at 3:14 pm

    Since Americans have voted more conservative than liberal over the last 30 years, maybe they actually believe in something different than a liberal philosophy. The fact that their party is full of greedy, power grabbing people, is not unfamiliar to the Democratic party politicians. Obama is no liberal in my definition, nor does he have the leadership abilities to use majority when he has it. Maybe he does not believe in some Democratic traditional political philosophy? .

  8. Lisa G. says:
    December 13, 2011 at 4:15 pm

    There have been actual studies that show that Fox viewers are low information voters.  Neil Cavuto is one of the worst – just when one of his guests is about to make his/her point, he talks over them because whatever that person says will be out of the world of Fox News and in disagreement with them.  God forbid that they allow a guest to reveal the truth.

  9. Fran says:
    December 13, 2011 at 5:21 pm

    Love the cartoon. It says it all!

  10. Anne barusta says:
    December 13, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    there is no such thing as a neutral news, in fact all news is now entertainment and slightly biased or extremely biased, it is very sad, but we just need to check all the news options and then select the least biased, but that takes time, effort  and patience, that some people do not have for various reasons.

  11. Lynn Squance says:
    December 13, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    Has anybody, other than Faux Noise, done a demographic analysis of the Faux Noise audience?  Is it possible that the greater portion of their audience is under-educated?  Or is it that they are what I call lazy thinkers — people who want to receive, like babies receive pablum, pre-digested information?

    I knew a woman once who changed from my church, a very liberal main stream church, to a very conservative church because, as she said to me, her son’s sunday school teacher, she wanted to be fed and not have to think.

    These are probably the most dangerous because after a while, they become automotons, pliable to the will of whomever is doing the feeding.

  12. Jack Jodell says:
    December 14, 2011 at 6:55 am

    Frum and Olbermann nailed it. Murdoch, Ailes, Beck, and Limbaugh ought to all be jailed for life at hard labor for insulting the public and deliberately spreading lies.

  13. Patricia Wicker says:
    December 14, 2011 at 8:08 am

    People vote Republican because they do not have all the TRUE facts. The Republicans  go against Obama at everything he tries to do that is beneficial to the people, the real people NOT simple the Rich and Powerful. They just want him OUT at any cost.

    Just do your homework people and get the real facts

  14. Samantha says:
    December 14, 2011 at 12:01 pm

    Our society is pushing for more non-thinkers. Too many public schools have uniforms which is just the beginning of the non-thinking! Then we have the moron liberals who bitch about Obama expecting him to be a good person! DUH! ANYONE who is hungry enough to be president is not a good person and anyone who expects them to be is a damned fool! We must still vote and vote for the lesser of he evils and speak out when we see something wrong! No one is perfect and especially anyone who is a politician! Right now Obama is a sad disappointment, but I doubt there will be any president that won’t be! So we must vote and speak out and not go away! I am a liberal, but a thinking and realistic liberal!

    BTW That cartoon is one of the best I have ever seen! Kudos “SoINeedAName”!!!!!

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