The American Thinker and CT's

[Darth Rotor]

From a well formed discussion of the CT phenomenon, by Professor David J Rusin (http://www.americanthinker.com/2007/01/a_conspiracy_of_ignorance.html), it seems that Gravy is on the right track.
Conspiracy theories, like criminal cases, may be contested on three basic fronts: motive, physical evidence, and opportunity. The motive angle is by far the least productive, as it allows for the greatest degree of subjective interpretation. People tend to see events through their own prisms, and ascribe motives which adhere to pre-existing worldviews. It should therefore be of little surprise that the most vehement promoters of September 11 conspiracy theories often display a palpable animus toward America, Bush, Jews, or capitalism - standard hobgoblins which are invoked to explain each new case of human suffering. As such, arguments attesting to the general goodness of America or the decency of the president's character will do little to coax such people back to the realities of September 11. However, better exposing the biases which drive many "Truthers" should help to fortify the general public against their siren song.
David J. Rusin holds a Ph.D. in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Pennsylvania. The article is well worth the read, particularly as one considers that one cannot win if one cedes the field to the foe.

DR

[PerryLogan]

Phrases like "arguments attesting to the...decency of the president's [sic] character" and "winning the Long War" are kind of unnerving, though. This guy wouldn't be just a little right-wing, would he?

[Big Les]

He might. Same goes for that Dunn feller who tore Fetzer a new one a while back. From their perspective, with many of the specifically 9/11 CTists coming from radical leftist backgrounds (or at least styling themselves as such), you can understand a rally around the conservative flag as they attempt to comprehend why anyone would make the claims the CTists do.

But to me as a slightly lefty fencesitter, that's not a concern, it's just affirming: If people across the political spectrum can all see the insanity of the typical CT argument, we're all of us on the right track.

[MarkyX]

Phrases like "arguments attesting to the...decency of the president's [sic] character" and "winning the Long War" are kind of unnerving, though. This guy wouldn't be just a little right-wing, would he?

There is nothing wrong about being left-wing, but as a Canadian Conservative, I do find it kind of nerve-wrecking to see American Conservatives (or Republicans, whatever the hell the difference is) get into the notion that pointing flaws within your leader is a "bad naughty liberal thing". When I say George Bush elected and watched him talk, I shook my head and thought "This is the best American republican for the job" ? Heck, you compare Stephen Harper to Bush, both Christian right-wingers, and the difference is huuge despite same religion and political stance.

Back on topic, the article is rather spot on. Many 9/11 Denier theories really focus on certain key aspects, despite no proof. It kind of make ones wonder on how they come up with such conclusions like "jews did it" or "thermite explosives". Not to mention that if you look at other information presented by these same people, you can see that they are either simple government-haters, anti-semites, bush haters, holocaust deniers, gay bashers, wife beaters, and neo-nazis.

What I find really funny though is that these people claim to be protectors of freedom and patriots, but cheer on the side with the Iranian President (Holocaust Denier, executes women who protect themselves from rape, executes gays for being gay) and Chavez (considers Castro to be a hero, nuff said). Worse, these people claim the government will be beating on opposition or investigating private citizens via patriot act, yet they are the ones threatening people and harassing citizens. I never been threatened by someone from the government, but I have been threatened by hundreds of 9/11 Deniers.

Just remember Perry that right wingers did make the Screw Loose Change blog and helped out with a certain poorly edited video. Not all right wingers are insane, just like not left wingers are. Although I will admit that the Liberal Government under Paul Martin really screwed up my political stances.

[Brainster]

It's a common assumption among conservatives who are not longtime 9-11 CT observers that this is a movement of the Left, and this is not an entirely unreasonable position, although it is mistaken.

Note the common and bitter complaints from the CT crowd about Lefty Gatekeepers; we never hear of Righty Gatekeepers. It is obvious that they see the Left as their natural allies.

There is one common thread among 9-11 Deniers: They all hate President Bush. But for different reasons. Disaffected youth Deniers hate Bush because they hate authority figures in general. Libertarian Deniers hate Bush because they hate the Patriot Act. Conservative Deniers hate Bush because they believe the party has been taken over by Neocons uninterested in their social agenda. And Liberal Deniers hate Bush because they're liberals.

But as I have learned over the last 8 months or so, that does not mean the inverse, that all Bush-haters are 9-11 Deniers; indeed, only a minority have the CT mindset.

[PerryLogan]

I'm convinced the Truther-conspiracy thing has hatred of all government at the heart of it. Alex Jones and the Patriots hate Democrats at least as much as they hate Republicans, though they don't understand a thing about either group. The current adminstration's unpopularity gets more people looking into the Truther thing. But most people quickly see it as nonsense, no matter how much they may dislike the President.