As I have said, people have lost their minds. 42% of Democrats believe that the Bush administration either caused 9/11 or allowed it to happen according to a poll commissioned by the loose change truthers. Even sadder, on the ideology section about 30% of libertarians believe it, and have the highest number who believe he actually carried it out at 11.6%. Okay, the sample is too small to get much from that. It amounts to only two respondents.
The Democratic numbers however are a good bit more robust. Throw in that amongst independents the majority of people who believe this twaddle are progressives and leftists, but not Democrats, and the left as a whole probably scores above 50%. Yep, my issue with liberals and the left on this and associated subjects is all broad brush and unfair. Their beliefs about the war in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Bush administration are understandable and derived from a careful consideration of the evidence and the application of steely eyed reason. Ted Kennedy is grinning and his older brother is turning in his grave. They are not to be confused with ANSWER, the Truthers, Michael Moore or anything else. When they go to these rallies they are being led by people of conscience, nuns and such. The data is here from Zogby (pdf.) The party affiliation numbers can be found on page 8. Allah notes some other odd numbers as well.
About Lance
I want to thank everybody who has encouraged me over the past few years to do this. I doubt it will hold but a few people's interest, but that is okay with me. Special thanks go to Peter over at http://www.liberalcapitalist.com.
I value my privacy a great deal, so I will guess you will have to get to know me over time to find out much. I am in the financial services, wealth management, investing or whatever you want to call it business. I have children, my oldest is entering college.
I have no great or imposing academic background, my grades varied from high enough to get invited to an honors program at my university to frustrating enough to cause my father great grief. My major was history, with a minor in ethics. My main interest towards the end was in the history of economic ideas before life took a turn and I ended up never going on to graduate school. However, I have a fair knowledge of history, economics, investing and would probably be considered well read. My tastes are eclectic and I pretty much find the entire world interesting.
I have an enduring interest in how people learn about and analyze the world; my posts here will examine this topic in detail over time. I make no claims to be above the very biases and errors I see in others, in fact it is my belief that we are incapable of escaping them, only moderating their control over us.
I am a member of no political party, but I would broadly consider myself a man of the right. I am inclined to free market economics, limited government and a fairly narrow view of the role of the state. A small L libertarian if you will. However, if you are looking for broad based "the left believes..." or "wingers are so...." types of attacks on liberals, conservatives, neo-cons or whatever enemy you want to slam, look elsewhere.
Lance
On ar15.com, we get quite a few Ron Paul supporters who also happen to be truthers. They really give libertarians a bad name.
At this point, radical whig is perhaps the best term for my political beliefs. Classical liberal causes confusion.