Am I off on this? It seems Republican tactics mirror cult processes.

[Fire Walk With Me]

-Alienate the subject from the familiar and anything that can help them
-Isolate the subject in the same manner, demonizing everything good
-Create as much fear in them as possible
-This is purposely to create dependence upon the cult/cult leader who
amazingly unpredictably will present themselves as your best hope
and the solution to all of the problems (that they've created for you).

This weakens the decision process, which weakens initiative and self-esteem,
and creates a condition of expectation of others' "rescue" or leadership.


This is of course "off the top of the head" stuff but it could merit a closer look. It would also suggest (DUH!) that these people have zero intention of playing nice with others, at all.

[blm]

1. It's not a coincidence that Timothy LaHaye and RevMoon have been active behind GOP for 5 decades.

Especially for the last 30 years.

[Name removed]

12. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tblue]

2. They are masters of manipulation.

That is what they do best, not governing, not economics, not anything. But it sells.

There's an argument for cults on both sides. Hint: Never adhere yourself indelibly to a politician or a party. Judge their actions and always have your eyes open. Hitler is a very extreme but clear example. People swore allegiance to HIM, and look what happened.

[xfundy]

3. [phone]

Well put. Note also the demonization of "the librul media" while offering "alternatives" that are "fair & balanced."

post #1 is correct: Moon is all over the repigs. You never even hear a preacher say anything bad about his cult anymore. They won't touch it cuz he's their primary thinker.

[hifiguy]

4. The Repig noise machine

is designed to do one thing - unite people with authoritarian personality raits and the propensity to be a "follower" in the name of going to war against phony, trumped-up "enemies" in the name of attaining power.

Read John Dean's Conservatives Without Conscience. It explains the whole process and game plan in great, and scary, detail. It's been going on for forty years.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

5. That is fucking brilliant. I never thought of it that way. I mean, yes I've called

them a cult. But this breakdown is right on.

[JNelson6563]

6. It is very cult-like.

You'll find very few atheists on the right. First off, atheists don't live in fear of an all loving god that will send them to eternal misery for any number of infractions, so that basic kernal of fear from gawd-fearin' believers just ain't there.

Fear is tool number 1 baby! there just ain't nothing like it to manipulate the masses.

Julie

[Waiting For Everyman]

7. The Religious Right IS a cult, most definitely, and the politics mirrors that.

You're correct, and it's no accident. I thought everybody knew this - but maybe those without direct contact with the RR do not know it.

The RR is also pointedly anti-rational. It trains people to be afraid of their own minds. This is not an exaggeration. Thinking is actually termed "demonic", and at minimum can't be trusted.

I recommend that anyone who doesn't know the RR personally should visit one of these churches sometime to see for yourself. You know the old saying, "know your enemy". If not, at least read up on it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. They are creating a movement

With true believers.

[kctim]

9. Republicans have been claiming the cult crap

about liberalism for as long as I can remember.
The funny thing is that they use almost the same reasoning as you do here.

[emulatorloo]

10. Republicans are very very good at Projection. Claiming others are doing what you

Are actually doing. That's how a Dick Cheney claimed John Kerry had no strong moral sense of the difference between right and wrong. They do this all the time, it is Republican 101.

[chill_wind]

11. Yes. Seems they too have discovered Eric Hoffer

among other old works:

Right Wing News (blog)
http://rightwingnews.com/quotes/the-best-quotes-from-eric-hoffers-the-true-believer/

The Bush reign and the FR used to have me hunting up his quotes more than occasionally in those years. Neither side likes the comparisons. It's not difficult to understand why.

[Avalux]

13. Wow. You've really got something there. I haven't put a name to it like that.

But it IS the same process.

[bengalherder]

14. No you are not off.

That is exactly what it is.

[Fire Walk With Me]

15. Thank you for all of the replies and further insight and recommendations.

Yes, they have to make you afraid of anything that can help you to question them in any way. I've long said that any group depriving you of the ability to question that group, is automatically disqualified, and there they are...that thinking itself should be demonized...very interesting about Rev. Moon and YES, there has been so little questioning of his own cult recently it's a huge hole once it's pointed out...shows how he's eventually or directly connected with the RW media...

Cheers everyone. Know the enemy and their tactics lose power. Expose their tactics and they crumble.

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. One kick.