Keith Olbermann's Response To Rumsfeld's Nazi Appeaser Speech

Keith Olbermann does a magnificent job in this video commentary of pointing out fact from fiction and reality from fantasy. One of the best comments on the Bush administration and their right wing authoritarianism and creeping fascism that I have seen.

Now this is must see tv.

Think about the nerve of this man, Donald Rumsfeld, who has not been right about almost anything involving the illegal invasion of Iraq in the last six years to criticize those who point out this fact to him. The reality is that this is perfectly normal behaviour for an authoritarian and I would advise you to read up on this personality type to learn more. One place to start would be the John Dean book Conservatives Without Conscience.

McCarthyism may seem like ancient history to most people but that kind of thinking and mentality are always lurking around waiting for it's moment in the spotlight and they are always right in their mind and want to root out those "bad apples" who will "bring us down" as they always seem to charactize things. Fear not but be wary and pay attention. Close attention.

Right Wing Authoritarians:

1: Faulty reasoning — RWAs are more likely to:

* Make many incorrect inferences from evidence.
* Hold contradictory ideas leading them to ‘speak out of both sides of their mouths.’
* Uncritically accept that many problems are ‘our most serious problem.’
* Uncritically accept insufficient evidence that supports their beliefs.
* Uncritically trust people who tell them what they want to hear.
* Use many double standards in their thinking and judgements.

2: Hostility Toward Outgroups — RWAs are more likely to:

* Weaken constitutional guarantees of liberty such as the Bill of Rights.
* Severely punish ‘common’ criminals in a role-playing situation.
* Admit they obtain personal pleasure from punishing such people.
* Be prejudiced against racial, ethnic, nationalistic, and linguistic minorities.
* Be hostile toward homosexuals.
* Volunteer to help the government persecute almost anyone.
* Be mean-spirited toward those who have made mistakes and suffered.

3: Profound Character Flaws — RWAs are more likely to:

* Be dogmatic.
* Be zealots.
* Be hypocrites.
* Be bullies when they have power over others.
* Help cause and inflame intergroup conflict.
* Seek dominance over others by being competitive and destructive in situations requiring cooperation.

4: Blindness To One’s Own Failings And To The Failings Of Authority Figures whom They Respect— RWAs are more likely to:

* Believe they have no personal failings.
* Avoid learning about their personal failings.
* Be highly self-righteous.
* Use religion to erase guilt over their acts and to maintain their self-righteousness.