What do gays and New Jersey have in common?

Both eagerly embrace their stereotype for the amusement of strangers.

The sudden glut of Jersey reality shows underscores how the state’s loudmouth reputation has been embraced by its residents, said Rockland, who teaches American Studies at the state’s Rutgers University. “New Jerseyans are now very proud of the fact they have attitude,” he said. “That’s what these shows are doing: flaunting things we used to be ashamed of.”

1/3 of Republicans are conspiratorial wackjobs

Thirty-one percent of Republicans doubt Obama’s citizenship; the doubters also include 31 percent of tea party movement supporters, 36 percent of very conservative voters, and 27 percent of somewhat conservatives.