Cliff LyonConservatives Without Conscience
John Dean, Republican advisor to Richard Nixon has written a deeply disturbing book about the conservative right’s growing move toward authoritarianism and blind loyalty. Its an old concept. It still works, and always will.
This interview with Keith Olbermann gives us a frightening new perspective on the use of fear to gain and keep power.
The book is called Conservatives Without Conscience. Many so easily dismiss anyone who criticizes their tribe.� Thats why this is so important. It is written BY a conservative.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:08 pm
This explains the blatant dividing differences between Americans, the classic think-for-yourself American vs. the frightening authoritarian idolatry that we see in the last remaining 28% of people who support Bush.
I find one overriding factoid about people who still vehemently support Bush. They are angry people, and their children and mates do not like them anymore.
September 9th, 2006 at 6:48 pm
John Dean is just a tired bitter old man.
September 10th, 2006 at 9:32 pm
Ken, you are part of that frightened idolatry Bush supporters that criticizes and belittles anyone with a different opinion. I just read your blog and all I can say is I rest my case.
September 11th, 2006 at 8:50 am
Mr. Mouthy
So are you saying that liberals and Bush haters don’t criticize and belittle anyone with different opinions? OBTW thanks for reading my blog.
September 12th, 2006 at 10:31 pm
Ken -
That just isn’t real criticism, in any sense. Let’s hear some real criticism - informed and at least a little penetrating. (re: tired, bitter old man).
I just picked the book up at the library today. I’m a little afraid that the book will end up being sweeping, unsubstantiated generalizations. We’ll see.
Ruble
December 24th, 2006 at 4:13 pm
[...] The self-organizing phenomena of social networking and blogs in particular, provide immediate access to people most at risk of condoning, supporting, facilitating and/or participating in such evil. Possible only know, right-wing blogs provide us with stunningly consistent confirmation of the traits that define the authoritarian follower — as eloquently described in John Dean’s book, Crises of Conscience. I recommend listening to this interview before reading on. [...]
January 15th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
[...] This morning John of Argghhh! wrote a post jam packed with observations in response to my solicitation of his thoughts on the John Dean interview. [...]
January 28th, 2007 at 10:30 am
[...] One again, I need not point out the eerie parallels to authoritarian behavior as described in John Dean’s revealing book Conservatives Without Conscience. Watch this interview. [...]
June 10th, 2007 at 10:52 am
[...] written about this before, and I’m writing about it again because I find it keeps coming up again for me over and over [...]