What is the emotional hook that the Repub. party has on its voters?

It seems stronger than reason.

at least thats the lie they have bought into.

.

All of the ideals & core beliefs are based on fear - Republicans have more nightmares than Democrats (statistically significantly so); researchers who asked people to contemplate their own mortality (write a short essay about how they might die of cancer) who then watched Bush/Kerry debates rated Bush higher than Kerry.

They want to destroy our very way of life.
We must defend the homeland.
We are people in the hands of an ANGRY God - God will JUDGE you.
Stand on your own two feet - no excuses.
Don't let the government take what is yours.
Don't let the government prevent you from practicing your religion.
WAR ON CHRISTMAS.

Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear! Fear!

or possibly, fear that leads to hatred. The GOP MUST have an enemy to survive (witness the latest "War on Christmas" distraction). Repugs need their guns because they're afraid of dark skinned people, they hate the poor because they are afraid the government will demand a dime of their paycheck to help them. They want to kill nearly everyone abroad who isn't working for them for a bowl of rice because all non-Americans scare them. It's a party for self absorbed, undereducated bed wetters.

fear of whatever, you name it. fear of "displeasing god" which = "hellfire and damnation". fear of terrorists. fear people who seem different in any way whatever...as in, french, italian, highly educated, developmentally disabled, you name it they are afraid of it. and they have ONE response. kill it. (i'd propose they've even done that with their god...anyone seen any "Christ the Prince of Peace" stickers around?)

... and targets.

they believe that everyone is stealing their money. This country is made up of all races and cultures. The majority of their party is made up of white males, they believe they are the only ones who should run this country and they are dominate over every race and culture in the world.They believe every one should believe in God the way they do and that God blesses America and he dosen't give a damn about the other countries, so every country has to look up to the all mighty repugs,because they know whats right for everyone.They claim to stay out of everyones' business and are in everyones pocketbooks, underwear and personal relationships etc... Overall, they believe that their way is the only way.

Republican voters need someone (Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, etc) to do their thinking for them.

That's why you've heard people like Limbaugh say to his listeners "I read the papers so you don't have to."

They see the world as a dark, evil place, filled with gun removing homosexuals who want to destroy God, and kill babies. It's mental disorder, if you ask me.

From Blacks to Jews to Mexicans to Murphy Brown to Homosexuals to Clinton.

Whenever election time comes around the evil ones give the simple ones somebody to hate.

Hate drives this country.

ONE EDIT: I forgot Muslims and Women.

Racism, sexism, etc.


Plus, the social upheavals of the 60's scared the hell out of a lot of people, for some reason. These people will do ANYTHING to get back at progressive politicians and organizations for the supposed slights they incurred back then. And they've trained their kids to think the same way.

Honestly, they're all stuck in a time warp; they're still fighting against Gloria Steinem and Bob Dylan and The Black Panthers, while the rest of the world (and the country) has moved on.


PS. the really old ones are trying to get revenge on FDR. That's the thing about the emotions republicans hold: they allow themselves only two, revenge and hatred.

and the twisted and corrupt definition that some men have about what it means to be a "man".

and religious insanity

greed
fear of others
fear of recognition of their own stupidity

That is the perception of a lot of voters.