# Why the left alienates voters
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073
**Category:** Great Debates
**Created:** [November 4, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073 "2004-11-04T22:51:12Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@BlueGarden](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlueGarden)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/1 "2004-11-04T22:51:12Z")
The pictures speak for themselves.
[SF anti-Bush Rally](http://www.zombietime.com/sf_rally_november_3_2004/)
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### Author:  [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/2 "2004-11-04T23:13:20Z")
No kidding. The Left are a bunch of freaks, wierdos and psychopaths. Every time I walked through Union Square there would be a bunch of them there with Stop Bush (Swastika in place of the S in Bush) signs or they would be spouting some Communist manifesto mumbo jumbo. Not to say that all Kerry supporters or Democrats are nut jobs, but for some reason these people align themselves with the Democrats.
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### Author:  [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/3 "2004-11-04T23:13:56Z")
There you go.
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### Author:  [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/4 "2004-11-04T23:17:30Z")
Oh, yeah? Who do you think Jack Chick voted for?
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### Author:  [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/5 "2004-11-04T23:18:41Z")
I wonder if we can get them to do the same a bit before the 2006 midterms? đ
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### Author:  [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/6 "2004-11-04T23:20:55Z")
And the KKK support Bush. Unfortunately stupid bigoted people of all sorts are allowed to vote.
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### Author:  [@Monocracy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monocracy)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/7 "2004-11-04T23:21:01Z")
I saw John Kerry in one of those photos. He was holding the Anarchy flag while Jane Fonda was standing next to him, lighting up the Bush effigy. Those damn liberals.
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### Author:  [@pokey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pokey)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/8 "2004-11-04T23:21:51Z")
> [@BlueGarden](#):
>
> The pictures speak for themselves.
>
> [SF anti-Bush Rally](http://www.zombietime.com/sf_rally_november_3_2004/)
If by âspeaks for themselvesâ you mean âcreates a topic for debateâ Iâm not sure they do.
Unless the topic is this: People vote to show the world that they donât like fire and swearwords?
This is like if it was 1992 and I showed you a picture of a Klansman and said, âno wonder people donât like Republicans!â
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### Author:  [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/9 "2004-11-04T23:43:23Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#):
>
> And the KKK support Bush. Unfortunately stupid bigoted people of all sorts are allowed to vote.
Iâm calling âbullshitâ on that post.
Cite?
[White Knight Party](http://www.kkk.bz/index1.htm) I think these folks are local only.
[Imperial Klans of America](http://www.k-k-k.com/) I think these fellas are national
Not being an expert on the Klan, I canât say for sure. In spite of occasional rumor, ExTank /= KnatXe (Nazi).
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/10 "2004-11-04T23:54:57Z")
On the hope that there is some ground for calm and rational discussion here, Iâd like to add a few thoughts.
Several years ago there was a presidential election in which I voted Democrat. One of my reasons was that the Republican party, as it then represented itself, made it perfectly clear that they were not interested in me and my kind. There was a LOT of hate speech. I felt excluded and marginalized. What I heard was that people with my opinions were at best dupes and morons, at worst evildoers to blame for all that was bad in society.
In recent years, I get the same feeling from the Democratic party. What I hear is that people with my opinions are at best idiots, at worst a spawn of Satan.
This is probably not the intention of the party, nor true of all its members. It is, however, the impression that is given. If the Democratic party wants to court my vote and my good will, I will have to see more inclusiveness, less shrillness and a less condescending attitude.
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### Author:  [@laigle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/laigle)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/11 "2004-11-04T23:55:04Z")
> [@ExTank](#):
>
> Iâm calling âbullshitâ on that post.
>
> Cite?
>
> [White Knight Party](http://www.kkk.bz/index1.htm) I think these folks are local only.
>
> [Imperial Klans of America](http://www.k-k-k.com/) I think these fellas are national
>
> Not being an expert on the Klan, I canât say for sure. In spite of occasional rumor, ExTank /= KnatXe (Nazi).
And the left wing nuts vote frequently for Nader and various worker parties. Whatâs your point?
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### Author:  [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/12 "2004-11-04T23:59:07Z")
**msmith:** \* Not to say that all Kerry supporters or Democrats are nut jobs, but for some reason these people align themselves with the Democrats.\*
I really think youâll be hard pressed to defend the position that the Left has a monopoly on antagonistic, aggressive rhetoric. Consider a few classic gems from conservative superstar [Ann Coulter](http://www.americanpolitics.com/20020205Coulter.html):
> [@](#):
>
> â[Anti-war Democrats] know that the American people support defending America, unlike them. Their real feelings are coming out as much as they can right now, which is that theyâre desperately dying to provide aid and support to al-Qaeda.â
>
> âMy only regret with Timothy McVeigh is he did not go to the New York Times Building.â
>
> âWe need to execute people like John Walker in order to physically intimidate liberals, by making them realize that they can be killed too. Otherwise they will turn out to be outright traitors.â
>
> âWe should invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.â
And a few comments from other well-known [right-wingers:](http://claudialong.com/blog/2004/03/12/vile_republican_bile.html)
> [@](#):
>
> âI tell people donât kill all the liberals. Leave enough so we can have two on every campus - living fossils - so we will never forget what these people stood for.â - Rush Limbaugh, Denver Post, 12-29-95
>
> âEnvironmentalists are a socialist group of individuals that are the tool of the Democrat Party. Iâm proud to say that they are my enemy. They are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.â - Rep. Don Young (R-AK), Alaska Public Radio, 08-19-96
>
> âGet rid of the guy. Impeach him, censure him, assassinate him.â - Rep. James Hansen (R-UT), talking about President Clinton, as reported by journalist Steve Miner of KSUB radio who overheard his conversation, 11-01-98
>
> âWeâre going to keep building the party until weâre hunting Democrats with dogs.â - Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX), Mother Jones, 08-95
Not to say that all Bush supporters or Republicans are nut jobs, but for some reason these people align themselves with the Republicans.
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### Author:  [@malkavia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/malkavia)
#### Post date: [November 4, 2004, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/13 "2004-11-04T23:59:12Z")
What a bunch of jerks, they look just like those youngsters who rallied during the VietnaâOh, wait.
đ
Face it, 49% of America is just tired of being misled.
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### Author:  [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2004, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/14 "2004-11-05T00:02:19Z")
> [@laigle](#):
>
> And the left wing nuts vote frequently for Nader and various worker parties. Whatâs your point?
**Bippy** said the KKK supports President Bush. I would like proof, or a retraction.
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2004, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/15 "2004-11-05T00:03:57Z")
Both parties would do well to jetison their pet nutjobs. I remember well seeing the âFags Burn in Hellâ signs not that long ago during the Gay Marriage bruhaha in SF.
Are we certain all these pictures are from SF last night? I havenât seen any of it on the news nor did I read anything in the local papers (I live in the SF bay area). Iâll have to pay attention to the local news tonight.
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### Author:  [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/16 "2004-11-05T00:09:28Z")
> [@](#):
>
> After the effigy was burnt to a crisp, the evening came to a shattering conclusion as the protesters ignited an upside-down American flag and cheered in ecstasy while the flames leaped into the night sky.
I laughed out loud when I read that last part. Damn. đ
But the people who wandered around dazed, seemingly oblivious to the fact that Bush won with their election messages on Nov 3? That was just sad. âš
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### Author:  [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2004, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/17 "2004-11-05T00:25:12Z")
Hereâs the [SJ Mercâs article on reaction the Bay area](http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/election2004/10096389.htm). No mention of effigy burning in SF.
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2004, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/18 "2004-11-05T00:31:26Z")
Oh, darn. I was expecting a genuine debate, not some right-wing political porn for **BlueGardenâs** ideological masturbation.
Maybe someone can send this thread to the Pit where it belongs.
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### Author:  [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2004, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/19 "2004-11-05T00:43:02Z")
Itâs true. People are âturned offâ by the left. They want to be insulated from the truth about the current administration, and they resent being made aware of the sumbitch running their country. They mind less that he lied and led them to war, so much, as people reminding them of it.
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### Author:  [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)
#### Post date: [November 5, 2004, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-the-left-alienates-voters/273073/20 "2004-11-05T00:51:23Z")
> [@cricetus](#):
>
> Itâs true. People are âturned offâ by the left. They want to be insulated from the truth about the current administration, and they resent being made aware of the sumbitch running their country. They mind less that he lied and led them to war, so much, as people reminding them of it.
No, thatâs not it at all. I mind that no specific alternative was offered and no concrete proposal. I mind that the other candidate thought that Hollywood was somehow the ârealâ America. I mind that he maligned Vietnam POWs. And I mind that he denigrated the current armed forces and our current allies. And I mind the smug, superior and condescending air exuded by some members of the left wing. I have plenty of issues with certain of Mr. Bushâs beliefs and policies. But there was not a strong and trustworthy alternative offered.
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