Category Archives: conservatives

Stalwarts? Traditionalists? Tribalists? Cultists? Some Evidence

Posted on Monday 5 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

First, I’d thought to post a summary review of the third short philosophy book I’ve read recently — Bertrand Russell’s THE PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY — but as the day turned out, I had time only to do another round-up of … Continue reading →

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Stalwarts and Progressives: Notes from the (Fringe)

Posted on Sunday 4 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Reconsidering how to characterize what I’ve been calling the “fringe”; Taylor Swift and MAGA; Bobby Azarian on why Trump’s supporters don’t believe evidence; Applying the Jack Smith rule to statements from the National Prayer Breakfast. Here’s the thing: I shouldn’t … Continue reading →

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The US Civil War, the Terrible Economy, and the Rule of Christians

Posted on Friday 2 February 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Chinese propaganda says the US is in a civil war; How conservative propaganda ignores or blocks the good news about the economy; How MAGA is right about Trump changing American politics; The current facts about the economy, from WaPo and … Continue reading →

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Tribal Psychology and Racism

Posted on Sunday 21 January 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

What evolutionary psychology reveals about American politics — nothing new here, except to note that these ideas have reached the mainstream press; A former Republican speechwriter summarizes Trump’s vile racist remarks; Short items about Trump’s confusion of Nikki Haley with … Continue reading →

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A Dream of Oceans, and Sunken Cities

Posted on Wednesday 10 January 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Still enamored by R.E.M., which is why I’ve chosen another of their lyrics for today’s post title. Today: more items about trying to understand the modern world. How false information might be the top global risk in 2024; An example … Continue reading →

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Now is Greater Than the Whole of the Past

Posted on Tuesday 9 January 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Three items about how conservatives resist solving problems if those solutions would benefit the Democrats; A survey of readers, books they’ve read, books they own, and some of my own statistics; And R.E.M.’s song “She Just Wants to Be” which … Continue reading →

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Basic Principles of Politics, Economics, and Zealotry

Posted on Friday 5 January 2024 by Mark R. Kelly

Three items today. How the Republican strategy has changed; Zero-sum thinking (by conservatives) vs. division of labor and our modern complex society; And fringe items about God-believers and how God made Trump. There’s a commonly understood explanation for the long-time … Continue reading →

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Sources of Meaning

Posted on Thursday 21 December 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How the Catholic League finds meaning at Christmas only in its own teachings, while presuming everyone else must be miserable; How Republicans have found tribal meaning in Christian Nationalism; How Republicans search for voter fraud only among populations who would … Continue reading →

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Why Progressives Are Moving to the Right: For a Simpler Story

Posted on Sunday 17 December 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

Busy pre-holiday weekend — making rusks and another batch of lemon bars. So only a single item for today, setting aside yet again the more substantial topics I alluded to yesterday. Here’s one of those pieces where I react to … Continue reading →

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Threat or Loser?

Posted on Saturday 16 December 2023 by Mark R. Kelly

How Trump is destroying democracy and democratic culture; Or do Trump’s weaknesses assure he won’t win?; Short items about the Satanic Temple, and a new GOP slogan. Here’s a piece that takes a wide perspective on the presence of democracy … Continue reading →

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