Republicans are victims of the "Stockholm Syndrome"

[Tyler Durden]

When I heard John McCain talking his nonsense about how safe Baghdad is these days, a very, very weird image popped into my head: Patty Hearst, holding a machine gun in front of the "flag" of the Symbionese Liberation Army.

Now that IS weird. But all of a sudden, it started to make real sense.

What happens under the definition of the Stockholm Syndrome? Hostages start to identify with and sometimes even go to the extreme of cooperating willingly and enthusiastically with their captors against their best interests.

So what does this have to do with John McCain? Plenty.

McCain is an ex-Military flier who spent time in the Hanoi Hilton: this is well known. He DID NOT cooperate with the NVA, and was tortured: this is also well known. McCain was dedicated to the country and the Military, so when released he DID NOT identify with the Democratic Party which was linked to the anti-war movement, and instead became a life long Republican.

No matter how one discusses Kennedy and Johnson, Nixon will forever and irreversibly be linked to the active prosecution of the war in Vietnam. After enduring such pain and distress due to the war, why would McCain choose to be (or remain) a Republican? The Stockholm Syndrome.

In McCain's mind, the Republican Party rhetoric of "winning the war" along with heavy support for defense and defense contracting allies him with them against his past enemies: the North Vietnamese. No matter that he was at the very most a Knight on the chessboard of the Republican Party strategy; he was their boy from that point on.

In an odd sense, all Republican Party members (below a certain income level) are also afflicted with the Stockholm Syndrome; their party doesn't have their best interests at heart. In fact, they are consumed with activities and policies detrimental to the well being of them and their families.

So how is this done? The same as hostage takers work: with a little "simpatico" and a LOT of brainwashing.

Are you religious? The Republicans lay claim to the Religious Right with some issue agreement and a ton of talk.

Do you consider yourself patriotic? The Republicans have made the phrase "Why do you hate America?" a cliche.

Are you an economic conservative? "Tax and spend" WHO? Democrats. Genius.

There are many other ways this works. And work it does, extremely well. To the point that grass roots Republicans defend the party the way Native Houstonians defend their city and state. RABIDLY, and believe me, after living there 10 years, I can tell you that if you have a home in Hell and a house in Houston, sell your house and go home. (I stole that from an anti-war poem. I wish I could claim it!)

We can't de-program these people. There aren't enough psychologists in the world, and I'd bet a percentage of them are Republicans too. Thank DOG that the Republicans are starting to self destruct: maybe, just maybe we can out wait them. A few more "Gonzales" scandals just might stop the Republican recruitment effort at the source, and in 20 years or so we can get past this sad and deluded remnant of a grand effort started by Lincoln and finally betrayed by Reagan and Bush.

If we aren't all treading water by then.

[Demeter]

1. I Think It's a Lot Deeper, and Sicker, Than Stockholm Syndrome

I think it's the vast, Right Wing conspiracy in its death throes. The only question in my mind is whether there are enough non-gullible, non-conspirators to mop up after them. The little people were the gullible, and they were gulled to a faretheewell, those with money, power or position were traitors and conspirators, and deserve everything that's coming to them, and more.

[Tyler Durden]

2. If there's a Hell, there's a line of skewers and barbeque pits.....

With name tags on them like seating cards at an RNC fundraiser.

[KharmaTrain]

3. If It Were Up To St. McCain, He'd Still Be In The Hanoi Hilton

Even Nixon wasn't so stupid to realize Vietnam was "winnable" and negotiated...albeit long enough so he could get re-elected and got the Paris Peace treaty done. This regime wants a Groundhog's Day War (a term I heard an Iraqi Vet use recently)...where nothing will change except the casualty figures.

The Repugnicans are stuck boxing with their own hypocrizies...with us and with themselves. They are too stuborn, ignorant and arrogant to admit how screwed not only this country is, but how screwed most of them are as well. Thanks to boooshie, the Repugnican lie of smaller government, less spending, strong military and "compassionate" conservativism has been openly exposed for the big lie it is. Now a majority of us see it for what it is, but they are hellbent on going over the cliff in sticking with their hypocracies than to face the facts.

[Tyler Durden]

4. Lemmings will always be lemmings.

Evolution has made them that way. Maybe we can help...you know, put up some signs, "THIS WAY TO THE CLIFF."

So to speak.

[KharmaTrain]

5. Just Put On The Sign: "Sandy Berger's Pants...This Way"...

That gets 'em every time.

:rofl:

Cheers...

:hi:

[TwilightGardener]

6. McCain isn't a Stockholm Syndrome victim--he's a victim of a certain

military mindset that only sees victory and defeat, and he cannot abide defeat. He still thinks we could have (should have) won Vietnam. I don't think his rabid support of the war is political calculation or Republican Disease. I think it's his own skewed world view that won't allow him to accept the fact that America sometimes doesn't do great things, and sometimes can't win, no matter how obvious it seems to everybody else that the war is an all-out immoral disaster.