[Bob J]

Let's do the math.

Hard core liberals = 25% (approx)
Hard core conservatives = 25% (approx)
Needed to win election = 50% plus one (exactly)

Politicians run to the middle because that is how they get elected.
Change the opinions/sentiments of the majority of the middle to your way of thinking = Victory.

How do we get the middle thinking and voting like a conservative? Hmmmm...

Sitting around and arguing which snake (politician) is more deserving of your support while ALL OF THEM run to the middle to get elected is ludicrous. The only reason we have any conservative reps in DC at all is because they are from such solidly conservative districts they don't have to pander to the middle. (There are some exceptions (Bob Barr) but they only prove the rule.).

Watching futile excercises like this makes me wonder if we ever will have the smarts and savvy to take on liberalism on and defeat it.

[nopardons]

Bob, some of us " get it "; the damned Consesrvative ( if they REALLY are Conservaties at all ... and I have my doubts ) purists don't. Unfortunately, the most vocal bashers, are the most politically naive and seem to post far more, than their numbers , on FR, would usually portend.