[QuadsOverQuads]

[ QUOTE ]
What did you expect? If you mention France, even in an offhanded way, conservatives just go off. It's like a red flag for a bull, or like poking a dog in the butt.

[/ QUOTE ]

Let's be more specific : it is a Pavlovian response that is the direct result of a campaign of intentional psychological conditioning. Right wing propaganda is specifically designed to induce these responses in its audience, and these responses are reinforced aggressively by the entire Movement.

And it's nothing new. They've been using this same conditioning tactic to suppress rational debate within their movement for literally decades. It is calculated, it is intentional, and it is (sadly) effective.

"Jane Fonda!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"Hillary Clinton!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"evolution!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

"France!"
*bark!bark!bark!bark!*

This is how irrationalist/fascistic movements maintain their coherency and discipline. Watch for it in action on an AM Radio station near you.


q/q

(PS: and because of this, their answer WILL always be "five", because in the absence of functional reason they have to fall back on imperatives and absolutes handed down to them from Some Higher Authority).