# The GOP is the party of Authoritarian Bullies and Gaslighting now **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 23, 2019, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943 "2019-04-23T15:48:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/21 "2019-04-23T18:46:31Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Listen dummy, when there are 50 in the hive you don’t need the 2-3 remaining non hive mind members of this board to join the colony. Thanks for showing on which side of the fence you actually reside. ---
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/22 "2019-04-23T18:46:45Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > And the Republicans have a dreadful anti science wing let’s not forget that. However, pandering and deception is a huge part of the game in a democracy and people are not doing themselves any favors by ignoring that fundamental issue. But there’s a big difference between pandering and deception, and what the GOP is doing: Gerrymandering, voter suppression, lame duck legislatures passing laws to limit the powers of offices that were just lost, refusing to consider judicial nominations, and the like. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/23 "2019-04-23T18:48:35Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Huh? I don’t post on a predominately right wing board. I post here.:dubious: So you don’t bothsides both sides. Ok noted. Consider that the last response from me to your bothsiderism crap then. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/24 "2019-04-23T18:54:38Z")
Come to think of it, I don’t recall ever seeing this “both sides do it” response to a right-wing post on this message board. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/25 "2019-04-23T18:57:45Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Thanks for showing on which side of the fence you actually reside. The non hive side. I thought that was obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/26 "2019-04-23T19:05:21Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > The non hive side. I thought that was obvious. Don’t _both_ sides do this “hive mind” crap you are blathering about? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/27 "2019-04-23T19:06:22Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > The non hive side. I thought that was obvious. You don’t think the foxnewsbreitbartosphere isn’t a hive? If we’re using that term? Come the hell on. Its a damn feedback loop with the tweeter in chief right now. And all the press about the 2020 elections is about how disjointed the democrats are. GTFO with that horseshit. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/28 "2019-04-23T19:06:54Z")
There’s pandering, and then there is demagogy. I will cop to both sides over-promising, if you want to call that pandering, but there is a wide gulf between the parties when it comes to demagogy. Also where the dirty, anti-democratic tricks are concerned. Not sure what took the OP to figure out what he says here today. It has been obvious for some time. But maybe we should grab some popcorn, watch a few more iterations of “the Mueller report contains no evidence of crime, and besides it is bullshit and also not a product of the Justice Dept. but ANGRY DEMOCRATS”, and watch our conservative friends nod along under the influence of whatever it is that has so enthralled them. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/29 "2019-04-23T19:10:41Z")
Airbeck, have you ever read 1984? ---
**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:** [April 23, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/30 "2019-04-23T19:13:23Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Don’t _both_ sides do this “hive mind” crap you are blathering about? :rolleyes: :eek: Yes they do. Good point. Which is why, as I’ve often said, I don’t post at right wing sites. Being part of a hive mind has no appeal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/31 "2019-04-23T19:18:25Z")
Yes, but it’s been a long time. The OP was written in the Mueller report thread as a response to those types of “arguments” we kept seeing from the right. It was obvious that they weren’t trying to convince anyone of their position and the attitude was basically oh yeah well we have the power to prevent any consequences and stay in power, so fuck you. I’ve thought it for years, but finally put it into words. And oddly nobody on the right in that thread ever responded. I got a few hearty agreements though. I still don’t really see anyone on that side actually disputing what I said. Just calling me a hypocrite or spouting that bothsides bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/32 "2019-04-23T19:24:13Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > :eek: Yes they do. Good point. Which is why, as I’ve often said, I don’t post at right wing sites. Being part of a hive mind has no appeal to me. And you get treated better here then I would at any of those right-wing sites where their hive minds dispose of those who differ from them. BTW, if we were really of a hive-mind here how long do you think your sorry ass would last here? The only way you can kicked out this place is if you break the same rules the rest of us have to follow, so your claim that just because there are more of us than there are of you we must be a “hive-mind” rings somewhat hollow. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2019, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/33 "2019-04-23T19:27:48Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > And you get treated better here then I would at any of those right-wing sites where their hive minds dispose of those who differ from them. BTW, if we were really of a hive-mind here how long do you think your sorry ass would last here? The only way you can kicked out this place is if you break the same rules the rest of us have to follow, so your claim that just because there are more of us than there are of you we must be a “hive-mind” rings somewhat hollow. That’s probably true. You’d probably be booted off of most right wing sites. I wouldn’t know for sure though. Just like I’d probably be booted off of most left wing sites. That doesn’t mean that there isn’t a dominant hivemind here. It just means that the moderators for a good amount of time aren’t completely influenced by the hive. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/34 "2019-04-23T19:30:39Z")
I was just reading 1984 last week. Best thing I have read in years, for being so insightful on so many levels besides its own nightmare. Anyway, I was struck by how Big Brother seems to differ from today’s GOP mostly in degree. There is the same deception and lack of any values at all (remember how important the debt used to be to them? Our NATO allies? Family values? Hell, even Reagan talked about the Shining City on the Hill). And if you want to see some doublethink, just tune into any episode of Hannity, or listen to Sarah Sanders, or check out the Twitter feed if the POTUS. It is pretty creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/35 "2019-04-23T19:32:14Z")
Right wing idea of a hive mind: “You guys all believe 2 + 2 = 4!! You tend to draw the same conclusions from commonly available evidence!!” ---
**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:** [April 23, 2019, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/36 "2019-04-23T19:48:13Z")
The GOP have now officially declared that they are open for sale to any foreign buyer. Foreign governments, openly hostile or not, can now work openly with Republican politicians, even commit criminal acts on their behalf, and it’s all OK. I would not be surprised in the near future to see a shift in Republican policy towards Iran, as long as the Iranian government uses their assets to attack Democrats, and hack into their information systems. This seems to be GOP policy now. ---
**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:** [April 23, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/37 "2019-04-23T19:53:04Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > Right wing idea of a hive mind: “You guys all believe 2 + 2 = 4!! You tend to draw the same conclusions from commonly available evidence!!” "Why does nobody here post that 2+2 = 5? You people are all just the same. And you can’t admit that 5 is larger than 4, so it must be better. All we want is to make math great again, and you people are stopping that. Anyway, both sides do it. So you guys are wrong. I’m just being fair, right?" ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/38 "2019-04-23T21:12:57Z")
They’re strongly tied to an oligarchy, and this is the playbook. I’m pretty sure that the very same oligarch is now trying to subvert the young left through Internet Marxists just like he took over the young right with Internet Nazis. I’m not sure whether it’s Putin or some venture capitalist in San Francisco, but on sites that skew younger than this I can see them—trying very, very hard to undermine the very idea of democracy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/39 "2019-04-23T21:42:48Z")
Sure, I’ll take the bait: > [@Airbeck](#): > > What actual things are they running on other than the fearmongering that the liberals are trying to destroy _our_ America and we must do anything to destroy them first. …isn’t that enough? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2019, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/40 "2019-04-23T22:15:01Z")
I dispute the Thread Title. More specifically, the use of the word “now”. The Republican party hasn’t changed. They’re the same party they were with Bush and Reagan. Privatize the government for profit. Stop regulations to further corporate profut. Cut taxes and run up the deficit. Prey on people’s fear and hatred of those different than themselves. Same old, Same old. The only thing that changed is that they’re having a harder time hiding the real motives of their voting base now. They used to be able to dress up the bigotry and fear of their base as a tiny far right bloc that they had to unfortunately deal with. Now we realize what their base really is and just how huge it is. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943.md?page=3)