Fragment of a Socratic dialogue between Republicanus and Amicus Candidus, after some recent events

[fpb]

REPUBLICANUS: But that is not my main objection to Liberalism, as it is in our country now.
AMICUS CANDIDUS: What do you mean?
REPUBLICANUS: The thing I hate most is their groupthink, and the way they enforce it on anyone. They all say the same things. There is no individuality. And they police each other. Any time anyone breaks ranks on any issue, they do not argue with him: they shout him down, attack his motives and his personality, slander him, treat him as if he were less than human.
AMICUS CANDIDUS: Well, if that is the case, that is dreadful.
REPUBLICANUS: That is how a lot of us became Republicans. As one of us said, it was not I who left the Democratic Party, it was the Democratic Party who left me.
AMICUS CANDIDUS: So you think the left are naturally persecution-minded?
REPUBLICANUS: Oh, well, I don't suppose that each one of them is, individually. But they are so indoctrinated. You start talking with one, and the first thing you have to do is break through the barrier of commonplace accusations - try and make that person understand that you are not actually out to shut him in a camp or make him wear an iron gag or whatever.
AMICUS CANDIDUS: They are indoctrinated. You aren't?
REPUBLICANUS: I do not think that we treat dissent among us the way they do.
AMICUS CANDIDUS: So, if you found that a man who disagrees with many of you, who likes to strike an independent path - is widely hated, and is said to be no better than any opponent, and people write foaming articles denouncing him as a traitor and a liar, and hideous rumours are circulated about him below the screen of national debate, on the Net, denying even his services to his country, and maintaining that he was a traitor in the pay of the Soviets - ?
REPUBLICANUS: That sounds absolutely appalling. I don't think any of us would do that to anyone.
AMICUS CANDIDUS: What about Senator John McCain?
REPUBLICANUS: [*Turns his back, looks away, starts whistling*]

Comments

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I find internet comments threads very educational. Reading them before the 2004 elections gave me a strong impression that, contrary to popular wisdom at the time, Kerry would lose. I had, you see, come across Vietnam vets and their view of him, and I knew that where most of those people were concerned, the Democrats might as well have nominated Jane Fonda and be done. Vietnam vets are a group the media don't much notice; but they are hundreds of thousands, certainly enough to account for Bush II's majority.

Now I have gone back to reading comments threads in conservative sites, such as this one: http://www.haloscan.com/comments/geraldaugustinus/6703038397459957718/. And given the number and violence of the anti-McCain intervention, I cannot help feeling that this time the Dems will win.

[mrmandias.livejournal.com]

You could be right, but comments closer to the election would be more informative.. One difference is that the grievances of Vietnam vets were basically unappeasable, whereas anti-McCain conservatives can be bought off with concesssions, especially on immigration.

A lot of this noise from conservatives is posturing--I know, because I've been making some of it.