# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/81 "2019-04-24T21:37:31Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The fact that you think the most satirical and hyperbolic partisan hackery I could come up with is true may says a lot about your status. I hope you are paid for spreading such hackery, otherwise it is pretty pathetic. It’s really more of a Poe’s law issue. ETA: And for the record, my snap conclusions are: Republicans are working for Putin! - Some are. Some aren’t. Republicans want the elderly to die in the street! - If the alternative is paying to keep them alive. Republicans want the rich to eat the poor! - False. Republicans want our children to drown in rising waters! - If the alternative is lifting a finger to stop it. Republicans want to control womens’ bodies! - True. Republicans want draconian cuts in spending! - Certain kinds of spending. Republicans want to run up the debt! - True. Republicans don’t run on issues! - Largely true, if you limit issues to _real_ issues. Republicans want to drum up hatred of liberals! - True. ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/82 "2019-04-24T23:43:27Z")
^^^Well, the last three are true of Democrats/liberals; especially the last one as Democrats/liberals want to drum up hate of Republicans/conservatives. Hell–that last one is evident by the 99 percent of the postings at this site. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/83 "2019-04-24T23:48:59Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > ^^^Well, the last three are true of Democrats/liberals; especially the last one as Democrats/liberals want to drum up hate of Republicans/conservatives. > > Hell–that last one is evident by the 99 percent of the postings at this site. False. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/84 "2019-04-25T00:22:36Z")
quoted wrong. Nevermind. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/85 "2019-04-25T02:15:18Z")
> [@TheCuse](#): > > ^^^Well, the last three are true of Democrats/liberals; especially the last one as Democrats/liberals want to drum up hate of Republicans/conservatives. > > Hell–that last one is evident by the 99 percent of the postings at this site. “Lock her up! Lock her up!” You have been living under a rock. ---
**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 25, 2019, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/86 "2019-04-25T02:44:08Z")
“Trump should release his tax returns, as presidents have done for the past 40 years” - This is seen as deranged hatred of Trump. “Hillary is running a child slavery ring in a pizza restaurant, and should be locked up” - This is seen as reasonable commentary, and should be taken seriously “It was wrong for Trump’s son and senior officials to secretly meet with Russian agents who were promising them hacked information about their opponents. There should be consequences” - This is seen as a WITCH HUNT! PERSECUTION! “The news media is the enemy of the people, and is fake” - This is seen as wise words from our leader, and we should agree. Justthesame justthesame justthesame lookaway lookaway lookaway ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/87 "2019-04-25T10:09:17Z")
I have to admit being amused by WillFarnaby’s claim of “I was only kidding!” being met with a calm, sober “Were you, though?” ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/88 "2019-04-25T14:11:54Z")
> [@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. Listen, guy of slightly above average intelligence. We don’t want you to opine on idiotocracy and Trumpism because we need help forming our own opinions on those topics. We want your opinions so we can evaluate _you_. You do seem considerably more sincere and intelligent than the other right-wingers here. OTOH, I was shocked when you couldn’t comprehend how racist your comments are in threads on racism. Let’s start with some easy questions. Who will you root for if the 2020 contest is between Trump and Booker? Trump and Harris? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/89 "2019-04-25T16:46:10Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Sure, I’ll take the bait: > > …isn’t that enough? It’s genuinely difficult for me to figure out what you are asking. Are you actually asking if fearmongering counts as running on something? Then, of course, no. Fearmongering means lying in order to scare people into doing what you want. Are you asking if attacking liberals counts? Then, no. Your principles can’t be “do the opposite of what our opposition does.” What does the GOP stand for now? What are the underlying principles? It sure does seem you guys threw them all out the window for Trump. Not even finding out he obstructed justice matters to you. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/90 "2019-04-25T16:56:52Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > The fact that you think the most satirical and hyperbolic partisan hackery I could come up with is true may says a lot about your status. I hope you are paid for spreading such hackery, otherwise it is pretty pathetic. I don’t think anyone can be blamed for not being able to tell the asinine political bullshit you spew satirically from the asinine political bullshit you spew earnestly. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/91 "2019-04-25T17:19:12Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > I don’t think anyone can be blamed for not being able to tell the asinine political bullshit you spew satirically from the asinine political bullshit you spew earnestly. ++. This sums up **Farnaby**. I sometimes _cannot tell_ whether his opinion is sincere bombast, or the opposite of his opinion and written as sarcasm. And — sorry, \*\*Will \*\*— I seldom care which of the two it is. ---
**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 25, 2019, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/92 "2019-04-25T21:41:51Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s genuinely difficult for me to figure out what you are asking. > > Are you actually asking if fearmongering counts as running on something? Then, of course, no. Fearmongering means lying in order to scare people into doing what you want. > > Are you asking if attacking liberals counts? Then, no. Your principles can’t be “do the opposite of what our opposition does.” Sorry; my point was to line cause and effect up the other way around. That is, it’s not a matter of doing the opposite _because_ it’s the opposite of whatever the other party happens to be doing today; it’s a matter of saying _‘near as I can tell, all we really need to do right now is (a) block various ideas being floated by various members of the opposition party while we (b) work to overturn various laws and policies that, as it happens, the opposition party seems to favor. Man, there sure are some folks with bad ideas in that other party, huh? But it just so happens that we pretty much just have to stop the other side from screwing things up, is all.’_ We can go into detail; but is much more needed, for it to count as a position? ---
**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 25, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/93 "2019-04-25T22:27:08Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Sorry; my point was to line cause and effect up the other way around. That is, it’s not a matter of doing the opposite _because_ it’s the opposite of whatever the other party happens to be doing today; it’s a matter of saying _‘near as I can tell, all we really need to do right now is (a) block various ideas being floated by various members of the opposition party while we (b) work to overturn various laws and policies that, as it happens, the opposition party seems to favor. Man, there sure are some folks with bad ideas in that other party, huh? But it just so happens that we pretty much just have to stop the other side from screwing things up, is all.’_ > > We can go into detail; but is much more needed, for it to count as a position? Yeah but that is all just about being against stuff. It’s just automatically opposing everything the other side wants to do. But what are the plans to make this country better. They talk about make America great again. But as far as I can tell that just means getting rid of the parts they don’t like, including certain types of people. I see no positive plans, no ideas of what we can do to make the country better for everyone. The GOP used to talk about positive things and optimism at one time. Now its just fear and hatred of those evil Democrats and we must stop them at all costs! This is why we’ve had multiple people arrested recently for planning to murder Democratic leaders. All this inflammatory rhetoric and talk of enemies of the people etc is very dangerous. Unfortunately it seems like there’s nothing else there but how evil and awful the other side is. ---
**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 25, 2019, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/94 "2019-04-25T22:36:31Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Yeah but that is all just about being against stuff. It’s just automatically opposing everything the other side wants to do. > > But what are the plans to make this country better. They talk about make America great again. But as far as I can tell that just means getting rid of the parts they don’t like, including certain types of people. I see no positive plans, no ideas of what we can do to make the country better for everyone. The GOP used to talk about positive things and optimism at one time. Now its just fear and hatred of those evil Democrats and we must stop them at all costs! This is why we’ve had multiple people arrested recently for planning to murder Democratic leaders. All this inflammatory rhetoric and talk of enemies of the people etc is very dangerous. Unfortunately it seems like there’s nothing else there but how evil and awful the other side is. But isn’t that begging the question? To the extent that various folks on the other side really _are_ that “evil and awful”, and the extent that things hereabouts would be pretty terrific if various “evil and awful” laws and policies get removed or prevented, then what more would they need to propose? I mean, sure, you can argue that they’re incorrect; but if they _are_ correct, then why would it be unfortunate that they don’t run on much else? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/95 "2019-04-25T22:39:08Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Yeah but that is all just about being against stuff. It’s just automatically opposing everything the other side wants to do. > > But what are the plans to make this country better. They talk about make America great again. But as far as I can tell that just means getting rid of the parts they don’t like, including certain types of people. I see no positive plans, no ideas of what we can do to make the country better for everyone. The GOP used to talk about positive things and optimism at one time. Now its just fear and hatred of those evil Democrats and we must stop them at all costs! This is why we’ve had multiple people arrested recently for planning to murder Democratic leaders. All this inflammatory rhetoric and talk of enemies of the people etc is very dangerous. Unfortunately it seems like there’s nothing else there but how evil and awful the other side is. And now Joe Biden is perpetuating the situation with his rhetoric. Not the right way to start his winning campaign IMO. ---
**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 25, 2019, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/96 "2019-04-25T22:39:39Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > But isn’t that begging the question? To the extent that various folks on the other side really _are_ that “evil and awful”, and the extent that things hereabouts would be pretty terrific if various “evil and awful” laws and policies get removed or prevented, then what more would they need to propose? > > I mean, sure, you can argue that they’re incorrect; but if they _are_ correct, then why would it be unfortunate that they don’t run on much else? So their only idea is “Democrats are bad” That’s it? It’s unfortunate because we are supposed to be looking for leadership in our … well leaders. Where are they proposing to lead us? What is the vision of the America that they want us to have? Those guys suck is not a vision for the future. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/97 "2019-04-25T22:44:10Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > So their only idea is “Democrats are bad” > > That’s it? > > It’s unfortunate because we are supposed to be looking for leadership in our … well leaders. Where are they proposing to lead us? What is the vision of the America that they want us to have? Those guys suck is not a vision for the future. No one has run on “the future” in a long, long time. And the 2020 election won’t be any different: it’ll be about what’s happening _right now_. ---
**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 25, 2019, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/98 "2019-04-25T22:51:21Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > No one has run on “the future” in a long, long time. And the 2020 election won’t be any different: it’ll be about what’s happening _right now_. Obama wasn’t that long ago. Remember the Hope and Change thing? We can talk about what is happening right now but we can’t just all give up on having a direction as a society can we? Aren’t we obligated to try to form a more perfect union, to try to improve things for the next generations? If not, then what the hell are we doing? ---
**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 25, 2019, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/99 "2019-04-25T23:02:01Z")
> [@Airbeck](#): > > Obama wasn’t that long ago. Remember the Hope and Change thing? > > We can talk about what is happening right now but we can’t just all give up on having a direction as a society can we? Aren’t we obligated to try to form a more perfect union, to try to improve things for the next generations? If not, then what the hell are we doing? Isn’t the right-wing position that the government should largely just get out of the way, and it sure would be great if private innovation then puts wonderful stuff out there? You know, everything from useful inventions to works of art, with literary luminaries bringing big fine ideas to society’s attention and so on and so on? ---
**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 25, 2019, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943/100 "2019-04-25T23:22:17Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Isn’t the right-wing position that the government should largely just get out of the way, and it sure would be great if private innovation then puts wonderful stuff out there? You know, everything from useful inventions to works of art, with literary luminaries bringing big fine ideas to society’s attention and so on and so on? The wall isn’t the government getting out of the way, the muslim ban isn’t the government getting out of the way. Passing restrictive abortion laws isn’t the government getting out of the way. Voter suppression isn’t the government getting out of the way. They may talk about that in theory, but that isn’t what they actually do in practice. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-gop-is-the-party-of-authoritarian-bullies-and-gaslighting-now/832943.md?page=6)