Wingnuts

November 30, 2006 12:14 PM

The more psychotic the voter, the more likely they were to vote for Bush. “Our study shows that psychotic patients prefer an authoritative leader,” Lohse says. “If your world is very mixed up, there’s something very comforting about someone telling you, ‘This is how it’s going to be.’”
posted by Artifice_Eternity (32 comments total)

This will wendell.
posted by GuyZero at 12:15 PM on November 30, 2006 [2 favorites]

Interesting.
posted by grubi at 12:19 PM on November 30, 2006

My first thought upon hearing this was, oh great, now the retort from the right will be "See? Even lunatics are smarter than Democrats!"

I know, it doesn't quite make sense.

But these days, it doesn't really have to, does it?

*sigh*
posted by Aquaman at 12:22 PM on November 30, 2006

I smell popcorn. Is someone making popcorn?
posted by emelenjr at 12:22 PM on November 30, 2006

Oh, I get it. Crazy people like W, therefore people who like W are crazy! Hey, is there anyway we can work into this thread the fact the Christians are funny?
posted by found missing at 12:23 PM on November 30, 2006

This was just mentioned in a comment on another fpp:

< /popcorn>
posted by Mister_A at 12:25 PM on November 30, 2006

[grind, grind, grind]
posted by prostyle at 12:26 PM on November 30, 2006

Just because you're psychotic, it doesn't mean the Democrats aren't in league with the terrorists.
posted by gigawhat? at 12:26 PM on November 30, 2006

I have to go to the bathroom. If this post is still here when I get back, I will get mad apoplectic.
posted by Mister_A at 12:27 PM on November 30, 2006

If Dean had gotten the nom, would he have captured the crazy vote?
posted by cell divide at 12:29 PM on November 30, 2006

The study was an advocacy project of sorts, designed to register mentally ill voters and encourage them to go to the polls, Lohse explains. The Bush trend was revealed later on.

Um... I don't want to sound totally insensitive, but maybe this was an ill-advised advocacy program.
posted by maryh at 12:30 PM on November 30, 2006 [4 favorites]

OMG! LOL! REPUBLIC4NZ!
posted by ernie at 12:31 PM on November 30, 2006

It's still here. I am, as promised, apoplectic.

*transforms into bile bear*

GRRRHHHAAAAHHRRR~!!!!!
BILE BEAR ANGRY!

*Rapes Scooter Libby*
posted by Mister_A at 12:33 PM on November 30, 2006 [1 favorite]

Is this one of those reality-based research projects funded by Al Qaeda?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 12:34 PM on November 30, 2006

This is news? The right wing always knows what is best for you. If you have no ideas of your own, you will probably do what you are told.
posted by Cranberry at 12:35 PM on November 30, 2006

Why do you all hate science? All science wants is for you to be happy. Help science help you!
posted by muddgirl at 12:38 PM on November 30, 2006

Actually, there's a crazy homeless guy near my work who's always bleating about the Warren Comission. Insanity has gone bipartisan. and retro.
posted by jonmc at 12:38 PM on November 30, 2006

Heh, good deal. The first post was the joke in my head before I even opened this thread. This is stupid.
posted by ninjew at 12:39 PM on November 30, 2006

Also, I always wondered what became of Ross Perot's 19%.
posted by gigawhat? at 12:39 PM on November 30, 2006

I wonder if Bush also captured the schizophrenic vote? I imagine that claiming that God talks to you would make Bush very relatable to that population.

P.S. maryh - I thought the exact same thing when I read the article. Thanks for being brave enough to post it.
posted by melangell at 12:40 PM on November 30, 2006

Could have used some more links -- there have been other studies on this topic or closely related ones.
posted by uosuaq at 12:41 PM on November 30, 2006

BILE BEAR POLITELY REQUEST EVERYONE POST ANIMATED GIF!! NNNNNNGGHHHAAAAARRRRRGGGGG!
posted by Mister_A at 12:41 PM on November 30, 2006

Mr. POTUS and Veg Minds equals crazy delicious.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:42 PM on November 30, 2006 [1 favorite]

LOL RETHUGLICANS IS THE STOOPIDZ CR8ZYS
posted by LarryC at 12:42 PM on November 30, 2006

Hey, psychotics are the next big target demographic. Forget Soccer Moms, next election it's all about the Tin Foil Hat Dads.
posted by InfidelZombie at 12:49 PM on November 30, 2006

A study size of 69 individuals.

Sounds solid to me.
posted by rokusan at 12:49 PM on November 30, 2006

I'll give three shiny blue MeFiPoints to whichever commenter first connects this to the evangelical base.
posted by rokusan at 12:51 PM on November 30, 2006

I would have that sample would go both ways.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 12:52 PM on November 30, 2006

“If your world is very mixed up, there’s something very comforting about someone telling you, ‘This is how it’s going to be.’”

Big sinners need big religion.
posted by Faze at 12:53 PM on November 30, 2006

wait, did someone QUOTE SCIENCE?
posted by found missing at 12:54 PM on November 30, 2006

I has a karot.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 12:55 PM on November 30, 2006

See, this doesn't claim anything like what most people read into it.

It simply shows that mentally unbalanced individuals are unable to make decisions for themselves, thus figures (in politics, in media, in society) that portray themselves as authoritarian and having "knowledge" or "direction" or "leadership" are easier for them to latch onto reality with. This is simply an extension of the Freudian theory of identified fear. They fear that they do not have control, so they gravitate towards things that represent control.

In general, this is simple psychodynamics, not an aspersion of any particular political philosophy or partisanship.


Ah, who am I kidding. Most Republicans are mental cases, best suited for a straightjacket and padded room. Thorazine FTW!!!
posted by daq at 12:55 PM on November 30, 2006