BP’s recent post “Dubie Scheduled to Ride the Tiger” referred to the “unsatisfying glimpse” into Brian Dubie’s character revealed in his Facebook page. On the contrary, Dubie’s favorite cultural touchstones provide a clear window onto the man’s soul. I can’t call it “satisfying,” because, in fact, it’s rather disturbing.

First, and least, of all, his favorite TV show went off the air 35 years ago, his favorite movie was released 39 years ago, and his favorite novel came out in Nineteen Freakin’ Fifty-Nine. When exactly did he stop paying attention to popular culture? Has he heard about this newfangled hippity-hop music that the kids are into these days?

But more revealing is the content of Dubie’s top picks.  

Okay, “The Omega Man.” A movie about a single heroic figure (Charlton Heston, natch) who travels an apocalyptic wasteland (taxed-to-death Vermont?) battling armies of homicidal mutants (liberals?). He is nearly burned at the stake by said mutants for the crime of heresy (conservatism?), but manages to escape. Then, he creates an anti-mutation cure from his own blood — shades of General Ripper — and, at the end of the movie, sacrifices himself in an effort to secure the survival of humanity. He dies, according to Wikipedia’s description, “symbolically posed in the traditional position of the crucified Christ.”

Yikes. Well, maybe we can find some balance in his favorite novel. Seek the Fair Land, by Irish writer Walter Macken, is set in Ireland during the period of Cromwellian rule, a time when British authorities were actively persecuting Catholics and forcing them to abjure their faith. The lead character, Dominick MacMahon, sees his wife killed in a bloody massacre and flees to the countryside with his two children and a wounded priest. There, they battle starvation, deprivation, and the pursuit of a relentless government official.

That’s still kind of apocalyptic for my taste. “Gunsmoke” isn’t quite so toxic, but it does speak to the same kind of hero-fantasy: a laconic man (Marshall Dillon never debated his enemies, either) of spotless character and integrity defending his community against the forces of disorder and lawlessness.

As for Dubie’s favorite quotation, “Press On” is rather generic, but I suspect he takes it from the Bible. Specifically, the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians, chapter 3, verse 14 (New International Version): “I press on toward the prize for which God has called me in Jesus Christ.”

If the notion of a political candidate with Messianic impulses doesn’t appeal to you, maybe you’d prefer “Press On” in the other formulation I found online: a quotation from that great visionary Calvin Coolidge. “The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” (Take that, welfare mom!)

To be fair, you can’t necessarily judge a person by their spare-time preferences. You can appreciate The Doors or Kurt Cobain without being a druggie wastrel. Your favorite culinary excess might be a trip to Al’s Frys for the quart with gravy and cheese. You might watch pro wrestling on TV. But, good grief, I can’t help but be a little bit disturbed by the Brian Dubie I see here.