# David Brooks is afraid of what Republicans are turning into... and that's saying something **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 18, 2021, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580 "2021-11-18T21:02:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/81 "2021-11-20T17:51:44Z")
You all must not be paying attention or just, for whatever reason, choose not to see the nuttiness of the regressive left. Not only is there a war on biology there is a war on language and objective fact and observed reality being waged by the far left. So you are correct, there is no equivalence on the right to that magnitude of doublethink. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/82 "2021-11-20T17:55:12Z")
Moderating: > [@Fallen](#): > > Muting. Indicating that you’re putting someone on your ‘Ignore’ list is a violation of our rules outside the Pit. Please do not do this again. Not a warning, only guidance. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/83 "2021-11-20T17:56:33Z")
Sure (/s), give us the biological Democratic lunacy equivalent to this: > **[How Republican Vaccine Opposition Got to This Point (Published 2021)](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/17/us/politics/coronavirus-vaccines-republicans.html)** > > In recent months, Republican skepticism of Covid vaccines and their rollout has grown louder: One recent poll found that 47 percent said they weren’t likely to get vaccinated. Mind you, until recent times there were similar numbers of anti vaccine people in both sides (and they **were** a fringe group in both parties), unfortunately the “info-sphere” that many Republicans use has found that the conspiracy minded anti-vaccine people are a significant group to pander. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/84 "2021-11-20T18:01:44Z")
Ok… the anti-vaccine lunacy is what we’d call an “outlier.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fallen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@Fallen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fallen)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/85 "2021-11-20T18:10:40Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > There is no “observation”. You were specifically asked to present your “observation” (an observed case of Democratic irrationality comparable to the observed cases of Republican irrationality) and repeatedly failed to do so. Of course there was an observation that was in essence about humans humaning, within context of a (possibly if not probably rhetorical) question in essence involving/raising the question of why GOP (individuals and entities) suck up/pander to/take advantage of human propensity toward irrationality/an inability to be dispassionate and objective to the point where it hinders or destroys logic and reasoning … but posed in such a way as to indicate what is erroneous: that U.S. citizens in particular (never mind humans in general) only in recent years began a trend toward irrationality. Please see [1] ⬇⬇. My observation does not call for what you refer to as a demand that I produce “(an observed case of Democratic irrationality comparable to the observed cases of Republican irrationality)”. That however many folk prefer to believe what is a universal truth about humans in general and politics in particular is unfortunate and silly. [1] > [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Why are people turning into such irrational creatures, and why is the Republican party sucking up to them? > [@Fallen](#): > > It may be this remark is specifically limited to irrational conservatives, but just in case this is incorrect, I trust it’s acknowledged as true that irrationality knows no particular political or other ideology. The Democratic entities suck up just as hard to their Irrationals.🤷‍♀️ ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/86 "2021-11-20T18:22:47Z")
> [@Fallen](#): > > It may be this remark is specifically limited to irrational conservatives, but just in case this is incorrect, I trust it’s acknowledged as true that irrationality knows no particular political or other ideology. The Democratic entities suck up just as hard to their Irrationals.🤷‍♀️ The nice trick from the irrationals is to convince others that they are not also being controlled by the right-wing way of framing the discussion (about what are the irrational ideas to begin with). > **[How Right-Wing Media Fuels The Political Divide ](https://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2020/11/23/matthew-sheffield-built-a-career-in-conservative-media-now-he-wants-to-free-people-from-it)** > > Matthew Sheffield started his career as a conservative blogger. Now, he says he wants to 'free' people from it. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/87 "2021-11-20T18:51:41Z")
If you are referring to the existence or non existence of transgenderism, I think that you will find that the overwhelming scientific consensus among clinicians support its existence. So for the purposes of factual differences this is just another area along with evolution and global warming where we have to decide whether the scientific method is more valid that traditional gut feeling. As to what pronoun to use that is not a factual question but one of culture and ethics. There is no natural law that says that I should call those who identify as female “her” even if they were called male at birth, nor is the reverse true. Its just a question as to whether altering ones terminology to show respect towards, and improve the comfort level their fellow man, woman, or non-binary is worth the effort it takes to do so. This is entirely different from such factual notions as, “Are Walmarts being renovated with tunnels to FEMA detention centers in preparation for the invasion of Texas.” Due to my admittedly uncivil and now regretted choice of words @Fallen has refused to take me up on my offer to provide examples of nuttiness among prominent Democratic law makers. So I extend the same invitation to you of either providing such examples or withdrawing the claim. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/88 "2021-11-20T18:57:10Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > You all must not be paying attention or just, for whatever reason, choose not to see the nuttiness of the regressive left. Not only is there a war on biology there is a war on language and objective fact and observed reality being waged by the far left. So you are correct, there is no equivalence on the right to that magnitude of doublethink. Was this meant for some other thread? The conversation you’re jumping into the middle of is about whether the Democratic party embraces their nutters like the Republicans do. ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/89 "2021-11-20T19:16:52Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Not only is there a war on biology there is a war on language and objective fact and observed reality being waged by the far left. This is a war being waged by the far right, not the far left. > [@Fallen](#): > > Of course there was an observation that was in essence about humans humaning… That paragraph was too vague and made no point whatsoever. Re-attempt. > [@Fallen](#): > > My observation does not call for what you refer to as a demand that I produce “(an observed case of Democratic irrationality comparable to the observed cases of Republican irrationality)”. Your observation was _supposed_ to have called for what was referred to "a demand that [you] produce ‘(an observed case of Democratic irrationality comparable to the observed cases of Republican irrationality)’”, hence, the multiple requests for you to do so, otherwise, your unsubstantiated claims have no worth, (if you’re hoping to convince anyone here, anyway). > [@Fallen](#): > > That however many folk prefer to believe what is a universal truth about humans in general and politics in particular is unfortunate and silly. Again, a nothing statement that was in no way buttressed by the two posts you linked below it. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/90 "2021-11-20T19:31:52Z")
> [@Guest-starring\_Id](#): > > That paragraph was too vague and made no point whatsoever. Re-attempt. No, no! Please do NOT re-attempt! ---
**Author:** ![Guest-starring\_Id](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guest-starring_id/32/21736_2.png) [@Guest-starring\_Id](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guest-starring_Id)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/91 "2021-11-20T19:35:12Z")
Heh, you could have point, there, **TL**. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/92 "2021-11-20T23:24:30Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Not only is there a war on biology there is a war on language and objective fact and observed reality being waged by the far left. This is frothing bothsidesist nonsense. As Buck\_Godot rightly points out, acknowledging the neurobiological realities of transgender and nonbinary gender identities, and expanding the recognized usage of gendered nouns and pronouns to reflect those realities, is not in any way denying “biology” or “language” or “objective fact” or “observed reality”. > [@octopus](#): > > Ok… the anti-vaccine lunacy is what we’d call an “outlier.” Considering how ardently mainstream Republicans are also embracing climate-change-denial lunacy, and imaginary-election-fraud lunacy, and magical-border-wall lunacy, and endless-tax-cuts-for-wealthy lunacy, and don’t-admit-the-early-US-was-racist lunacy, and imaginary-Chinese-conspiracies lunacy, and a whole bunch of other anti-factual beliefs, I think the grounds for claiming that anti-vaccine lunacy is an “outlier” in the modern Republican mindset are pretty weak. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/93 "2021-11-20T23:28:15Z")
> [@Fallen](#): > > My in box is filled on a daily basis with histrionic and counterfactual material from mainstream left orgs trying to manipulate my emotions and of course attempting to vacuum up my dough. I doubt this very much. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/94 "2021-11-20T23:33:00Z")
I mean, I bet it’s true about the “histrionic” and money-soliciting parts. But I agree that Fallen is certainly getting nothing from “mainstream left orgs” that’s anywhere near as drastically “counterfactual” as the bullshit about COVID denial and vaccine opposition and “election fraud” and so on that mainstream right orgs are spewing nonstop. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/95 "2021-11-20T23:34:45Z")
I doubt that someone who is obviously on the far right of the spectrum is getting daily solicitations from the far left. How on earth would they get his email address? Are there any emails from leftish organizations that say that Obama is still president? That Mole-men are trying to take over from their moon base? That the flat earth is a danger to society as we know it? ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/96 "2021-11-20T23:48:13Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I doubt that someone who is obviously on the far right of the spectrum is getting daily solicitations from the far left. Well, Fallen said it was the “mainstream left”, but again, Fallen hasn’t provided any specific examples of the alleged “counterfactuality” of these solicitations. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2021, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/97 "2021-11-20T23:53:21Z")
I think he’s used to people just agreeing with his bare assertions without asking for evidence. The concept seems alien to him. ---
**Author:** ![Tfletch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tfletch1/32/5340_2.png) [@Tfletch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tfletch1)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/98 "2021-11-21T01:06:18Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is it a natural law? First Law of Bothsidism ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/99 "2021-11-21T01:17:40Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > I doubt that someone who is obviously on the far right of the spectrum is getting daily solicitations from the far left. How on earth would they get his email address? Given that many a staunch eft winger here on the Dope has mentioned finding themselves the recipient of a Trumpian graft request, its not hard to believe that the reverse is sometimes true. Since e-mailing is effectively free there is not of a downside to keeping solication lists broad. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580/100 "2021-11-21T01:29:54Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > Given that many a staunch eft winger here on the Dope What? Efts don’t have wings. They’re strictly centrist. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/david-brooks-is-afraid-of-what-republicans-are-turning-into-and-thats-saying-something/954580.md?page=6)