How Stupid is Marjorie Taylor-Greene?

[Moksha]

When she followed that student from the high school massacre around taunting him, I saw an element of evil in her demeanor.

[Res Ipsa]

I think that dismissing Marjorie Taylor Greene as stupid overlooks characteristics of the movement that have some explanatory power.

I understood your argument, but here's the thing: if she's saying idiotic things in order to "fulfill her needs" (reduce boredom, give her life meaning, whatever), then isn't the end result that she's acting like an idiot? What's the difference between being an idiot and acting like one when the act has become your persona?

And, let's face it: if you take up idiotic causes, that says nothing good about your decision making. It's one thing to address the underlying anxiety that led to the MAGA phenomenon (which is a reasonable thing to do), but it's something entirely different to support MAGA with hypocrisy, idiocy, lies and nonsense.

Because when such a large percentage of the country is "acting like idiots," dismissing them in that manner ignores the fact that there are underling causes that could be addressed to reduce or eliminate the current insanity. That's what Nichol's book is all about.

[Some Schmo]

Because when such a large percentage of the country is "acting like idiots," dismissing them in that manner ignores the fact that there are underling causes that could be addressed to reduce or eliminate the current insanity. That's what Nichol's book is all about.

I alluded to the underlying causes, but can't we acknowledge those and the fact that a bunch of GOP pols are acting like idiots at the same time? In fact, we aren't going to really understand those underlying causes unless we acknowledge that idiocy appeals to a certain portion of the country.

[Res Ipsa]

Because when such a large percentage of the country is "acting like idiots," dismissing them in that manner ignores the fact that there are underling causes that could be addressed to reduce or eliminate the current insanity. That's what Nichol's book is all about.

I alluded to the underlying causes, but can't we acknowledge those and the fact that a bunch of GOP pols are acting like idiots at the same time? In fact, we aren't going to really understand those underlying causes unless we acknowledge that idiocy appeals to a certain portion of the country.

Why? How does that make things better?

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so sure of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” - Darth Bertrus the Wise

I asked you, RI, recently how we can get wisdom to stick with the dummies, and you responded, “No clue.” And I think that’s the answer. The dummies are impervious to the things that necessitate informed living in a ‘technocratic’, legalistic, and democratic world. Right now we have a tornado of stupid going on in Spirit Prison that in some respects dwarfs the stupidities put upon this board for the last year and a half. How does one fix that? You don’t. It’s an impossible ask.

And some of them get elected by their own kind. Marjorie Taylor-Greene is a needy, self-absorbed, fantastically daft person who through sheer force of will to be desired has got herself elected via to what amounts as high school bullying. It’s incredible. But there’s no fix.

- Doc

[Res Ipsa]

“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so sure of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.” - Darth Bertrus the Wise

I asked you, RI, recently how we can get wisdom to stick with the dummies, and you responded, “No clue.” And I think that’s the answer. The dummies are impervious to the things that necessitate informed living in a ‘technocratic’, legalistic, and democratic world. Right now we have a tornado of stupid going on in Spirit Prison that in some respects dwarfs the stupidities put upon this board for the last year and a half. How does one fix that? You don’t. It’s an impossible ask.

And some of them get elected by their own kind. Marjorie Taylor Greene is a needy, self-absorbed, fantastically daft person who through sheer force of will to be desired has got herself elected via to what amounts as high school bullying. It’s incredible. But there’s no fix.

- Doc

I go back and forth over whether there’s a fix for what makes our country so dysfunctional right now. If there is, I don’t think it has much to do with getting wisdom to stick to dummies.

The combination of the Marjorie Taylor-Greene article and some comments by Nichols shifted my perspective a little. What is it that was missing from Marjorie Taylor-Greene’s life that left a hole even Jesus couldn’t fill? I mean, if one needs to be part of something greater than oneself, your local church isn’t a bad place to find find that.

I’m wondering if a bunch of what I’m seeing isn’t a reflection of people discovering that their lives are empty. Could the rising rate of suicide among young, white, rural men have something to do with a perception that their lives have no meaning? Is the decline in religiosity in the US a signal that, for whatever reason, religion is no longer filling that need for more and more Americans? These are just things I think about.

More and more I wonder whether the hyper-individualism that has dominated American thought hasn’t cut us off from the thing that actually fills that need - a sense of commonality and purpose, with our neighbors, with our towns, with our states, etc. Perhaps a renewal of what we think of as civics is where we need to start. And it likely would need to be bottoms up rather than top down.

Not any sort of coherent theory. Just coming at the old Problem from a slightly different way.

[Some Schmo]

I alluded to the underlying causes, but can't we acknowledge those and the fact that a bunch of GOP pols are acting like idiots at the same time? In fact, we aren't going to really understand those underlying causes unless we acknowledge that idiocy appeals to a certain portion of the country.

Why? How does that make things better?

Unless we acknowledge why so many people are willing (motivated) to accept idiotic nonsense simply because it comes from people on their team, we won't understand the problem enough to even attempt a fix.

Apparently, Democrats are so bad, idiocy from the right wing is preferable to a lot of people.

I don't think it's a real mystery, though. The right has been fed angry, nonsensical crap for years now from the likes of Limbaugh, Hannity and Carlson, so any real issue this country faces has to be the fault of Democrats, as far as their audience is concerned. Once you've bought that idiotic premise, you are susceptible to all kinds of idiotic nonsense from your team, so long as it demonizes non-MAGAtes.

[Some Schmo]

More and more I wonder whether the hyper-individualism that has dominated American thought hasn’t cut us off from the thing that actually fills that need - a sense of commonality and purpose, with our neighbors, with our towns, with our states, etc.

I agree this is part of it. I suspect social media, the invention of the smart phone and COVID isolation have all contributed to a more bifurcated country, with more individuals than ever feeling lonely.

When I start thinking the Amish have something going for them, I suspect there's a major problem with American communities.

[Gunnar]

Since they were an object of her creation, I'm pretty sure they would follow Marjorie into any chilled kettle. Marjorie has the power to reduncify the Republican Party (she will have the help of many already duncified Republicans nationwide).

I no longer cook for a living, but I identify as a chef as much as I do as a nurse. In fact, my harsh culinary school training prepared me for the even harsher reality of nursing school. I've had three nurses that are veterans tell me nursing school is worse than boot camp. That being said, I don't appreciate her dragging the good name of gazpacho through the mud. It is a simple dish, yet quite delicious. One thing I learned in culinary school is that a chef's true skill can be best tested by how well they make a simple dish. Take for example, cream of mushroom soup. The canned thing that is mostly used for casseroles is disgusting. Have you ever had it made from scratch with fresh ingredients? It isn't hard to make and is incredible. The best foods are simple ones that the true chefs can make into masterpieces from experience and seemingly miniscule decisions made from experience and skill.

Surely you realize, don't you, that her "gazpacho police" comments had nothing to do with cooking or food? She had no idea what "gazpacho" means, though she might have learned, to her embarrassment, what it means due to the ridicule she received because of her ignorant comments.

[Father Francis]

Surely you realize, don't you, that her "gazpacho police" comments had nothing to do with cooking or food? She had no idea what "gazpacho" means, though she might have learned, to her embarrassment, what it means due to the ridicule she received because of her ignorant comments.

Yes, I do. It was just a silly post on my part. It was not meant to be taken seriously. I know she was trying to refer to the Gestapo. From the things she's said in front of a camera I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't even really understand what the Geheime Staatspolizei was.