Why can't I have a civil debate with RW leaner?

[HipChick]

Colleague of mine and I get into today.I have known him for over a decade, he's smart,intelligent..we have a young co-worker with us, and we are emphasize about the importance of voting. He starts the usual RW talking points..I counter with facts...he starts yelling and cutting me off. I didn't get in his face until he started on about how Palin was for the common people? WTF? Really? Is that why she quit the job she was elected to do, so she could line her coffers? GTFOHWTBS!He wants to completely ignore the facts about what Obama inherited walking into the WH, about the surplus Clinton had and what Bush did with it. There's no getting through to them, they don't want to hear any facts, and they don't want or can't debate the issues. I was more than tempted to make him catch a ride back to the office..

[Taverner]

1. Because they have been trained to hate us

Remember, we are a cancer on America, right?

[Scuba]

2. Republicans: The Fact Free Party.

[stray cat]

3. Are either one of you listening and thinking about what the other says

Maybe you are both just talking at each other instead of a conversation

[HipChick]

8. I am the one doing the listening, but he doesn't want to hear any part of my views

[realisticphish]

4. I have found one

a colleague of mine, early 20's. She's conservative, but thinks Fox News is biased nonsense, and hates Glenn Beck. On the other hand, she likes Sarah Palin. According to her, Palin shouldn't have been president, but "should have been in the cabinet."

Sacred cows can be a tough thing to get rid of, and apparently Palin is this well-educated female's...

But we can have civil debates, and agree on at least the other's conclusions, even if we disagree on premises

[Gold Metal Flake]

5. Republicans are free to lie.

They are also free to hate. There is no chance at discourse. Any typical RWer, dropped into a tea house in 1770, would start an argument, begin with the lies and would no doubt be beaten by the walking sticks of several enlightened men and ordered back to the stables.

[old mark]

6. I despise them, and I just usually keep quiet around them so I don't work

myself into a rage and attack them.

I KNOW how much they hate us, and I just have no good feelings for any of them...sadly, including several relatives and people I have known for years.


mark

[Terra Alta]

7. There's no reasoning with the rabid right wingers.

They have their narrow-minded, bigoted opinions, and don't want anyone challenging their views.

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

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[HipChick]

12. Who are you attacking? We were trying to have a debate..which means argue different point of views

The RW was unable to do that..What part are you missing? And no need to name call..geez

[RKP5637]

10. I'm thinking more and more RW leaning is a compulsion and hence logic will

generally fail with them. They cling to rigid belief patterns with no flexibility. With many of them it's just like talking IMO to someone with a compulsive behavior wherein it's always justifiable to them in their mind. Your discussion with them will generally result in an argument of sorts.

[louis-t]

11. Because they're not civil?

:shrug:

[Ikonoklast]

13. You are not discussing politics with them; you are discussing religion.

To conform with their narrow authoritarian world-view, all political knowledge is bestowed upon them from on high, just like any revealed religion.

Because they lack critical thinking skills of their own, they are susceptible to whatever a figure of authority tells them is the absolute truth.

They are followers.

What you are doing is attacking a belief system that has its own dogma, that is written in stone and is only challenged by infidels or heretics, both of whom must be destroyed.