and he knows the sun rises in the east and that the earth is a globe.
maybe you just generally know stupid people?

Your friend is probably a more moderate Republican. The GOP does not want any moderates.

Sadly you are right. I am surrounded by a sea of ignorance where I am. The Republicans that I know around here are pretty radical. We have at least 6 fundy churches within 2 miles of my house. We have a huge fundy church in the general area that runs radical candidates every election. They have been trying to take over the school board in the 2nd largest school district in our state. We beat two of the most complete idiots I have ever seen. But we still have one lady who is completely crazy like Bachman.

I've never seen such an overpowering partisanship and angst; and you're right: I do notice the very common and sudden use of canned rhetoric ( or paraphrased canned rhetoric by the more clever of them so as to look objective ) more so than the actual point-counterpoint and dissection that marked discussions in the past. They're not being intellectually honest, and they know it. It's all about hate/fear. It's made worse by those I know that suddenly became conservative because a black man was elected president.

Despicable.

Repubs up here at my job, none of them are as ignorant as what you describe, in fact I have never heard anyone ever suggest the things you are suggesting the repubs say. But either way i'm sure your friend really is this ignorant.