Willful blindness
Nice illustration of extremist partisan blinders. With one paragraph you reveal that you haven't actually read one word I've had to say on the subject of authoritarian conservatism.
Yet, on this side of "authoritarianism" you are completely blind. I'm not surprised that people like Stone and Altemeyer firmly believe there is no such thing as leftist authoritarianism. Fish, wet, all that.
That's truly sad, Tom. I have never engaged in any prolonged discussion of the subject without being careful to present that shining example of an authoritarian conservative society, the Soviet Union.
For the last time, Tom: Authoritarian conservatism is not a political ideology. It is the state of mind of frightened people, whether frightened by real or contrived threats, who turn to authoritarian black-and-white dogmas and the strong leaders who wrap themselves in the absolutism and certainty of those dogmas.
Stalin was the authoritarian who led a population of cowed authoritarian conservatives.
Hitler was the authoritarian who led a population of cowed authoritarian conservatives.
Stalin and Hitler are diametrical opposites whose common feature nevertheless is the inculcation and exploitation of the authoritarian conservative mindset in their people.
What authoritarian conservatism really is is the definition of extremism. What's conserved is thought, through reliance on dogma. Authority is what iss obeyed is through submission of one's own judgment and will to the judgment of Authority.
The sharpest litmus test for recognizing an authoritarian conservate isn't just support for authority or conservative thought patterns. The certain indicator of authoritarian conservatism is apologizing for the mistakes and bad judgment of Authority. It's the ultimate expression of My Authority, right or wrong.
It's the mindset you're clearly in when you resolutely look for the silver lining in Bush's foolish military adventure in Iraq. It's sweeping under the rug the false premises and false representations that led us into that war, and trying to rewrite history to substitute more noble goals for all those inoperative previous goals. It's "stay-the-course" in all its shabby mulish glory.
You are the quintessential authoritarian conservative, Tom.