Republicans fit the profile of a classic abuser

[Tx4obama]

As a former victim of domestic violence - in another lifetime - I learned a lot about the abusive personality. When it was over, and I was out, I became a domestic violence hotline counselor . . . the classes I took to train me for that taught me, one, that abusers aren't psychotic, but instead have character disorders, and two, the abusive behavior isn't uncontrollable - it's a learned social behavior.

Enter stage left, the Republicans - and their fringe faction that is really no longer fringe, the teabaggers.

The behavior of the Republicans, in general, and most recently around the debt ceiling debate, reminds me vividly of the abusive personality that I engaged with daily, for years, until my divorce. No compromise was ever allowed - it was his way, or his other way. He never talked about the many ways in which he was wrong - it was "look what you made me do." In his mind, the only one whose behavior needed changing was mine. Any abusive behavior of his was justified because, in his warped thinking, I provoked him. He used bullying and fear tactics and threats and intimidation to get his way; in the end, although never abusive to them, he used my kids as pawns in his abusive game. He refused to share responsibility in any part of our relationship breakdown; I owned it, lock, stock and barrel.

If you break it down, how different is the behavior of a classic abuser than the behavior we've seen within the Republican Party - and, in particular, the teabaggers? When Mitch McConnell says that they'll hold the debt ceiling hostage again down the road, I know what that means: Just as abusive personalities aren't normally capable of rehabilitation, neither are the Republicans. Rehabilitation implies that there is a point of normalcy and compassion in the past to which one can return - I have yet to see that point for Republicans. They're beyond redemption. Paul Krugman aptly pointed out that this recent debt ceiling debacle demonstrates that “raw extortion works and carries no political cost,” and that "irresponsible brinksmanship” is now “a proven effective negotiating tactic."

SNIP

Rest of article here: http://www.examiner.com/liberal-in-chicago/republicans-fit-the-profile-of-a-classic-abuser#ixzz1UH1TLOUY

[midnight]

1. Sadly this is a bipartisan beating we are witnessing... The victim is the American Worker...

The Abuser is the teabagger/ALEC lovers who legislate these abusive bipartisan policies to our families and our working communities... Last summer there were people posting stories of our construction crews working without water for fear if they stopped for water someone would replace them... Our construction workers were becoming dehydrated to appease these abusers.. It continues on and our Bi-partisian legislators are allowing this.... They are gunning for our most experienced teachers, and nurses... this abuse is bipartisan!

[liberalla]

2. The thing about being an abuse victim, though

"The thing about being an abuse victim, though - if you're basically strong - is that the day comes when you fight back. The day comes when you pick up a Louisville slugger and look him in the eye and dare him to take one more step in your direction. It's an empowering moment: You realize that bullies can feel fear, that abusers can be dissuaded, that you don't have to fear walking through that doorway - you realize that you have little to lose by asserting yourself.

I'm confident that this day will come for the country, for Democrats, for all progressives - the day when we will look the Republicans in the eye, brandish our symbolic Louisville sluggers, and say, "No more." Domestic violence organizations have engaged the services of big, burly private detectives or cops to accompany women to court to face their abusers; it's interesting, but the one thing abusers respond to is the prospect of being harmed themselves. When faced with a threat, they back down."

snip

"Abusive men say they love us, just as Republicans say they love this country. Republicans say that their behavior is justified to save America from the evil scourge of liberals, just as abusive men claim their behavior is justified to save themselves from a conniving bitch."

snip

"In the movie, "The Burning Bed," the female protagonist played by Farah Fawcett poured gasoline on the bed and lit it on fire, killing her abusive husband. When it comes to Republican policies, Republican hypocrisy, Republican carelessness with our lives, I'm prepared to light the match."

By Julie Driscoll
Chicago Liberal Examiner

A liberal Democrat, Julie has worked in the Chicago legal community for 25 years, and was formerly employed at WBBM-AM and FM radio stations in...


Thank you, Julie Driscoll !


Great piece. I heard it earlier this week when Randi Rhodes read it on air.

[housewolf]

3. Check out John Dean's "Conservatives Without Conscious", it's a classic

on the subject of Conservative authoritarianism, quite enlightening. Lots of your hunches will be validated and light bulbs going off.

http://crooksandliars.com/2006/07/11/john-dean-on-countdown-conservatives-without-conscience

[ProfessionalLeftist]

4. I've been asserting this for years. n/t