[TomGuy]

it is puzzling-- in fact, amazing-- that we have the furthest left President of the United States in history, as well as the furthest left Speaker of the House of Representatives...

No it isn't puzzling nor amazing.

The opposition party [aka GOP] hasn't offered much of a real alternative, especially after the 2004 election.

They tried to move leftward themselves, open checkbook, open borders with several pushing for amnesty for illegals, and the opening salvos of the corporate bailouts.

Even today, it is difficult to find much difference between the Dem president and the GOP's 2008 nominee.

[Founding Father]

The republican party does not espouse conservation principles. The members are concerned with their reelection and that's it, period. There is no conservative (viable) alternative to dems and pubbies.