The author and I share similar ages and experiences. Perhaps I was not a liberal, and because I witnessed all these same things WHILE I was living in the heartland of liberalism: The San Francisco Bay Area. This experience is what belied, to me, the teachings of the left. Those espousing the leftist agenda were very mean, self-absorbed people. As far back as the early 70s? Disagree or dare to discuss the left agenda, with a true believer? They'd come at you so fast with verbal abuse, shaming stick, and they'd tell all their friends about YOU. They showed me that civil rights and civility was not at all what they wanted.
As young as I was, this is what showed me clearly, these people were not about peace, discourse, open minds, dialogue, and the like.
I'm glad the author has seen the light -- it really is so much more liberating to be on this side of the political aisle, than the liberal side.
On this side of the aisle, you can actually stand FOR something. It's a far more honorable life, than the alternative.