The more I think about it, the more it seems that there are some people who just love to hate

[skip fox]

and they gravitate to places (like the Republican Party) where it is acceptable and rewarded.

So . . . it might not be a Republican or conservative trait, but secondary to the condition.

If true, I don't know how this presumptive realization can help anything except perhaps bring more tolerance for true (and non-hating) conservatives.

[Mopar151]

1. Emotionally stunted

Hate is one of the few emotions with enough voltage to get them to feel anything.

[Mopar151]

2. Addicted to anger, stoned on self-rightousness n/t

[Warpy]

4. Very much so

We can get addicted to our own brain chemicals, which is why gambling, shopping, sex, and gaming can all be addictive behaviors. That little rush of endorphin and enkephalin we get when we do this stuff is something we want all the time, more and more, and the addiction is set.

Hate has its own set of chemical rewards but it tends to eat people up from the inside out the way meth does.

There will always be haters. What we need to do is figure out how to keep them powerless against their targets.

[closeupready]

11. Great metaphor.

[graham4anything]

3. I decided to see what Rush was saying today in my car

and I can swear I hear these same sound byte again and again and again every single day since 2008 and the election.

people wanting to tear everything down, with no plan on rebuilding.

Rush Limbaugh and the hate are like arsonists...burning it down just to watch the fire and party in the ashes.

It's a shame

It doesn't have to be like this if we can get that 70-30, 80-20 reallignment from the 50-50

One good thing is, the Rush fans are getting older and older and older

Rush is taking the soundbytes from the Naderites
The Naderites are taking the soundbytes from Rush
and they are becoming the 20%

While the people wanting to move forward are the 80%
Soon it can be a reality.

But its NOT the true conservatives, its the President Obama/Hillary Clinton fans and the women in the red states and all the democraphic groups that can make up the 80%

[davidn3600]

8. Youth is becoming more and more libertarian, I think

What I am seeing, especially in the youth, is an American public that is becoming increasingly socially liberal, but economically conservative. Look at how fast they fell in love with Ron Paul. More than half of Ron Paul's supporters were under the age of 45.

We are seeing progress on civil rights, gay rights, women's rights, etc.. but we are seeing no left-wing movement on the economy. Obama is even protecting the banks, and he's cutting social security. He is no socialist, that's for sure.

[LancetChick]

5. And they're egged on by FOX and each other... it's a mob mentality.

They don't care what the truth is, they hear something that triggers anger and that's it for them. That's why lying works so well for Republicans. I remember during the 2012 presidential race I mentioned the 47% to my very conservative sister. She became infuriated and shouted "The TAKERS!". I tried to explain exactly who the 47% were, and asked if the big corporations who pay no taxes, or the billionaires who pay a lower rate than she did bother her as much. She wasn't interested in knowing because what I was offering were logic and facts, not words that trigger rage against a group of people she had already decided to hate. She is a very angry person, and I feel sorry for her. Anger is exhausting.

[ladjf]

6. Without a doubt. And all the while the hatred is seathing, fed by propaganda, the rich

continue to steal everything from the non-rich.

[treestar]

7. They've got to feel superior to somebody

Somehow they have imbibed the idea that to have any self respect, they must have inferiors, and they have to find somebody to put in that position.

[skip fox]

9. Yes, a "distension of the ego."

One sees this every day (esp. on the highway), and for certain people that ability to insist others are not as human/smart/right than themselves seems central to their personality.

(See Pap's speech on an African American Professor in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Everybody needs a sh*t on as they say. Everyone of this ilk, that is.)

And although there are some liberals like this, liberalism is not conducive to this mentality and dissuades those who exhibit such behavior.

[ljm2002]

10. I think you're right to a point...

...but unfortunately, we have so many ways that their predisposition is reinforced and that is a real problem.

Right wing radio can accurately be described as hate radio, at least a large part of it can. I don't say that because I disagree with the political views espoused there, but because of the way in which their views are espoused. We all know that Rush Limbaugh and Michael Savage (to name just two) are big offenders in this area.

I don't remember as much vitriol in the air when I was growing up even though I lived in a conservative area.

We just seem to be going into a downward spiral these days and I'm not sure what the end result will be but it's not looking good.

[Captain Stern]

12. I've thought about this too.

I think there definitely are people that love to hate, or at least enjoy being angry. And it transcends all walks of life..not just politics. I know some people that are always angry about something, and they seem to revel in it. They actually seem to derive some sort of satisfaction from being furious or outraged. I've wondered if there is some sort of physical component involved.....maybe the release of some sort of chemicals in the body that give some kind of satisfaction?

I tend not to stay angry for long periods of time because I find it unpleasant and exhausting.