There has always been a segment of our nation composed of low-lifes, the kind who will turn to at a witch-burning and scream in hatred at a Commie-burning or a lynching, who join any mob that makes noise loud enough or on the right frequency, and will comply -- usually in the basest way -- with any button pusher who comes along.

Barnum knew his stuff when he said "There's a sucker born every minute". Carnie sideshows suck them in with mystery. Political manipulators suck them in with hatred and fear. Snake-oil salesmen play on the terrors of potential illness, and convincing people they are the same as their meat-tickets.

Ann Coulter learned that by being as hateful as she can she could make people flinch and throw money. Limbaugh, Hannity, and the deep-voiced flailing preachers of cable TV do the same thing. Everyone wants to fleece the sheep. Unfortunately this reduces them to the same level of idiocy as those they fleece.

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