# The Flexibility of Reality and the GOP **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 19, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936 "2005-02-19T21:22:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/1 "2005-02-19T21:22:35Z")
> [@](#): > > “America’s Operation Iraqi Freedom is still producing shock and awe, this time among the blame-America-first crowd,” he crowed. Then he said, “We continue to discover biological and chemical weapons and facilities to make them inside Iraq.” Apparently, most of the hundreds of people in attendance already knew about these remarkable, hitherto-unreported discoveries, because no one gasped at this startling revelation." (Cite is available at _[Salon.com](http://Salon.com)_, you have to sit through a Cadillac commercial…) Congressman Chris Cox, speaking at a gathering of GOP muckety-mucks at the Conservative Political Action Conference. > [@](#): > > …Among those seated at the long presidential table at the head of the room were Henry Hyde, chairman of the House International Relations Committee, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, Minnesota Sen. Norm Coleman, Dore Gold, foreign policy advisor to former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and NRA president Kayne Robinson. Vice President Dick Cheney, a regular CPAC speaker, gave the keynote address. California Rep. Chris Cox had the honor of introducing him, and he took the opportunity to mock the Democrats whose hatred of America led them to get Iraq so horribly wrong… Of special note to us in the People’s Republic of Minnesota (“Stay Away! Don’t Move Here! It’s Too Cold! Iowa! Iowa is nice!”) is the presence of that smarmy little pustule Norm!, who currently infests the Senate seat that was filled by the late lamented Paul Wellstone (you remember him, right? The guy who made the mistake of telling you the truth…) You gotta wonder what planet these people are from. What forms of denial are neccesary to sit quietly and listen to utter crap, applaud politely, and not barf all over your rubber chicken. So…the question I put before you…did anyone in the room _actually_ believe this steaming turd dropped so sublimely into the punch bowl? Or did the speaker know he’s full of shit, the listeners know he’s full of shit, and nobody cares? Or have they managed to divorce themselves from reality so entirely that they sincerely believe this festering gob? Jesus fuck a shit souffle! Are we aligned against people with no concept of reality whatsoever? Is this what the terminal stages of Cognitive Dissonance (number one threat to the Republic!) looks like? (PS: if you go to the Salon site, you are treated to a poster of Uncle Sam as GeeDubya, rolling up his oh-so-masculine! sleeves over his hard, throbbing muscles about to kick somebody’s butt fer sure! Keep a copy on hand for emergencies, better than ipecac if you need an urgent agent for technicolor yawn.) ---
**Author:** ![annaplurabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@annaplurabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/annaplurabelle)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/2 "2005-02-19T21:37:20Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Or have they managed to divorce themselves from reality so entirely that they sincerely believe this festering gob? Jesus fuck a shit souffle! Are we aligned against people with no concept of reality whatsoever? Is this what the terminal stages of Cognitive Dissonance (number one threat to the Republic!) looks like? Yes. But we can only hope it’s in the terminal stage. _In the choice between changing one’s mind and proving there’s no need to do so, most people get busy on the proof. - John Kenneth Galbraith_ ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/3 "2005-02-19T23:50:12Z")
It’s scary. These are the people that control the destiny. Again you will notice there is no main stream news coverage. ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2005, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/4 "2005-02-19T23:51:29Z")
Please insert “of our country” where needed in my post. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/5 "2005-02-20T00:09:06Z")
[url=“[http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.boats/msg/482499dd828f91be?dmode=source](http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.boats/msg/482499dd828f91be?dmode=source)”]Full text of the article available here. That beggars belief. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/6 "2005-02-20T00:10:10Z")
[Whoops.](http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.boats/msg/482499dd828f91be?dmode=source). ---
**Author:** ![Reeder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Reeder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeder)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/7 "2005-02-20T00:10:38Z")
> [@Larry Mudd](#): > > [Full text of the article available here](http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.boats/msg/482499dd828f91be?dmode=source). > > That beggars belief. Sheesh. Fixed link ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/8 "2005-02-20T00:35:40Z")
> [@](#): > > The Flexibility of Reality and the GOP But reality is what _is_ **elucidator**. That’s not flexible. The trouble here is that these GOPer’s belief system is not flexible enough to accomodate reality. ---
**Author:** ![Domokun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c77e96/32.png) [@Domokun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Domokun)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/9 "2005-02-20T01:59:51Z")
If you repeat a lie often enough… Seems to work annoyingly well too. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/10 "2005-02-20T02:00:50Z")
And we’re the ones who have to live with the consequences of their “reality”–and many of these folks(everyday Reps) are rabid and not even open to questioning the stuff fed them. It’s like they never learned critical thinking. By no means do I blindly endorse any candidate’s position or any party’s. But as the BS gets piled higher and deeper–I have to question the intelligence of most Bush supporters. then again, most days I can only shake my head in dismay and wonder. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/11 "2005-02-20T04:40:29Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > … > By no means do I blindly endorse any candidate’s position or any party’s. But as the BS gets piled higher and deeper–I have to question the intelligence of most Bush supporters. I put Republican voters in three categories: Millionaires, fundamentalists, and dupes. Millionaires … they’re the only ones actually being served by the current party in power. Fundamentalists … well, they get thrown a bone now and then. Not as much as they think they deserve, but more than they’d ever see from the Democrats. The millionaires and fundamentalists, their support of the Republicans is actually rational. I disagree with they stand for, but, hey, that’s what democracy is all about. Everyone else … that’s where I shake my head. How high does the bullshit have to pile up before these people realize that the modern Republican party is profoundly disconnected from reality? ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/12 "2005-02-20T06:45:00Z")
> [@Domokun](#): > > If you repeat a lie often enough… We have always been at war with Eastasia. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/13 "2005-02-20T11:34:21Z")
> [@Elucidator](#): > > Jesus fuck a shit souffle! Are we aligned against people with no concept of reality whatsoever? Yes. And so are they. They hate Bill Clinton the same way you hate George Bush — not because of anything significant, but because of self control and fumbled speech. They curse your values; you curse their God. They steel your causes; you give them up without a fight. They stop acting like stooges in a funhouse; you take upon your shoulders the role. They think nothing’s wrong with Mel Gibson; you think nothing’s wrong with Michael Moore. They hated _Farenheit 9/11_ even before it was produced; you hated _Passion of the Christ_ same same. The two of you spent years honing and perfecting conspiratorially the political exclusion of every party but your own. Now you hold an unassailable monopoly on power. You’ve made it so that each of you has only one enemy. You’ve created the dichotomy that now divides all issues into black and white. Until a recognizable name or label is attached to a quote or action, you often cannot tell which side to be on. Had this been a declaration that Republicans hate America, you would be here cheering the speaker. You’ve divorced yourselves from reality, both of you. You’re now Godzilla and King Kong, fighting it out as you make ruins of everything around you. You both cover your ears and scream as loudly as you can. Republicans no longer care about how they spend the treasury. Democrats no longer care about how we lose our liberty. You both play to the middle of the political bell curve. And you’re becoming indistinguishable from one another. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/14 "2005-02-20T11:45:13Z")
There are alot of different “you’s” in your post, **Liberal** --perhaps you would like to clarify. The Dems are not to blame for the current black and white thinking that pervades Wahsington today. Famous quote by W:“I’m going to change the tone in Washington” (or words to that effect). He is the one who would not meet with the NAACP, for example. He is the one who, while picking a diverse cabinet (ha!) also picked one with no dissenting voices. To this admin, a political adversary is by neccessity a political enemy. There is no middle ground for them. Their attack dogs have called me, and those who believe as I do, traitors to this nation. Like we’re supposed to just say, “oh, those rabid conservatives! Such cards are they!” IMO, the tone has gotten so ugly b/c of the issues on the table. Moderation breeds moderation–extremists tend to do the same. But, also, IMO, pointing fingers at who is to “blame” (MM vs Mel Gibson?) is missing the point. It is also a non-productive exercise. thank you for roundly chastising us. I’m sure to straighten up and fly right now. If only I had had the benefit of your schooling awhile back–I would have voted a different way… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/15 "2005-02-20T13:10:47Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > You’re now Godzilla and King Kong, _fighting it out as you make ruins of everything around you._ More like two clowns in crappy rubber suits playing monsters for cash. As far as the rest of your post **Liberal** , I do think the right is to blame for starting this whole black/white mess. Don’t get me wrong, the left certainly isn’t helping things. They seem now to be all to willing to go the extreme yelly insulting route in order to get attention. The right simply got the ball rolling by labelling the left as “too liberal,” a phrase which I still don’t understand. Add in talk radio and the various vitriolic authors and you have a force for demonization that the left still can’t compete with. Without “offically” changing the tone, though I may recall some memos from Republican party mucky-mucks about how to fling the shizzle, the right changed the tone and turned politics into a street brawl. The left has simply decided to descend to their level and play on their terms. This of course is very helpful. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/16 "2005-02-20T14:01:33Z")
Those old enough to remember Goldwater know that the dirty word used to be “conservative”. Being painted as an extreme conservative was what destroyed his political career, despite his eloquent response that, “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice.” Continuing the same theme from my post, each of you blames the other. You did this as partners: Demublicans and Republicrats, passing onerous ballot access laws, ignoring parties with alternate views, refusing to debate them, making yourselves into the only two games in town. And now, you’re in the process of fighting it all out. It’s a Janis Joplin get-it-while-you-can world. You’re like two trees that have grown so large that your shade has destroyed all the others, and now your roots are entwined and it’s hard to tell which is which. All the rest of us can do is wait for you to die from the malnourishment that you’ve brought on yourselves. New sapplings will take your place, but not in my lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![DoctorJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctorj/32/2904_2.png) [@DoctorJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoctorJ)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/17 "2005-02-20T14:13:38Z")
Can we please keep this thread focused on the ridiculous assertion described the OP, and not turn it into another generic left-vs-right thread? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/18 "2005-02-20T15:12:33Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So…the question I put before you…did anyone in the room _actually_ believe this steaming turd dropped so sublimely into the punch bowl? Or did the speaker know he’s full of shit, the listeners know he’s full of shit, and nobody cares? > > Or have they managed to divorce themselves from reality so entirely that they sincerely believe this festering gob? Jesus fuck a shit souffle! Are we aligned against people with no concept of reality whatsoever? Is this what the terminal stages of Cognitive Dissonance (number one threat to the Republic!) looks like? Technically, these things are not false. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/19 "2005-02-20T15:28:25Z")
No WMD were found in Iraq. That is fact. No photos, no remains, not items were found. So now, on one hand “they” are saying the stuff was everywhere and they found it. On the other hand “they” are saying in other venues that it was all magically transported to Syria and (maybe) Iran (not found). If you want to lie, you should at least make some effort to keep your stories straight. The UN inspectors said “none found”. The CIA said “none found”. If there was anything at all found it would be all over the news, complete with pictures, items, a big road show, the whole nine yards. If there had been something to find, the old “Iraq has or is working on WMD” story would still be on the president’s lips. Instead, during the debates and elsewhere, the story changed to Freedom. WIthin the “ruling party”, the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. They aren’t even good liars. ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936/20 "2005-02-20T15:33:19Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Technically, these things are not false. This thing is not false? > [@](#): > > “We continue to discover biological and chemical weapons and facilities to make them inside Iraq.” When was the last biological weapons facility discovered in Iraq? When was the last chemical weapons facility discovered in Iraq? When was the last biological weapon discovered in Iraq? For that matter, when was the first biological weapon discovered in Iraq? When was the last chemical weapon discovered in Iraq? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-flexibility-of-reality-and-the-gop/290936.md?page=2)