“...since they WILL NOT or CANNOT think about their underlying contradictory assumptions...”
This is the point in a nutshell. Liberals have invested so much in their stance, that it is impossible for them to admit they’re wrong. They don’t have the emotional maturity to do so.
Correct. Much of their personality is rooted in their perceived rectitude of their opinions, and the obtuseness of the rest of humanity in failing to recognize that rectitude.
Yep. That's one of the big differentiators. Their views are not based on facts, they're based on dogma. "Global Warming" is an excellent example of this.
Conservatives have a few hang ups of their own. But, IMHO and in general, I think that conservatives are more fact-driven, and liberals are more emotion-driven.
And, I'd argue that's a good thing, until the balance between the two sides gets too far out of whack....which is where we are right now.