I have no illusions about the Democrats. Many of them deserve to be hung for treason and I wouldn't afford them the luxury of a trial. Summary execution will do just fine, thank you.
But there are two dynamics at work. First, as the Dems have gone left over the last 50 years, the GOP has tagged along, albeit at a slower rate. You know the cliche. The train is heading towards socialism with both parties with the only difference being the speed not the direction.
Second, and every bit as important, is that liberals in GOP clothing are the enemy inside the gate. Not only do they keep the train heading toward socialism, they give political cover to their Democrat brethern.
When these so called 'moderates' agree with the Dems in that left leaning agenda it gives credence to the claim that conservatives are the extremists. Since the 'reasonable' and 'moderate' Republicans are willing to work with the Dems, it must be the conservatives that are out of touch.
Allowing the GOP to be co-opted by the liberals is what has the GOP led train heading in the same direction as the Dems. Continuing to allow liberals to run for office under the GOP banner and represent the party will not slow the train let alone reverse course.
As it is, the liberals have two party labels to run under to win office and wield power because we have bought the 'big tent' lie and allowed them into the GOP.
You can't strengthen the party by diluting the philosophy and that is what we have done. For the GOP to grow stronger -- AND, to the surprise of many, LARGER -- we need to take back the GOP from the liberals. We need to hold to much higher standards and the solid principles of a smaller and limited government agenda. Our ideas are better than theirs. We know it. We just need to have the courage to put them to the test and defend them. Being bold will win the day. Being cowardly, acting embarrassed of our ideals, and playing nice will only lead to defeat and loss of liberty.
The Republican Party was led my Nelson Rockefeller from New York and other Northern Republicans. Earlier, the Democrat Party was also led by northern liberals such as Woodrow Wilson and Franklin Roosevelt who were really Socialists-on-the-way-to-Communism. All Southern Democrats were strong conservatives and Southern Republicans were liberals, although by todays standards they would be called moderate.
The real political influence at the time was the result of the rise of Marxism in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. Karl Marx and Frederick Engels wrote the famous Communists Manifesto in 1848. All of this was a reaction to the Royals of Europe and the way they ruled. That is also what gave rise to discontent in the colonies of England here on this continent just a few years earlier. The revolution in this country concentrated on freedom for freedom's sake but in Russia it centered on economics based on Communism.
For whatever reason, Communism caught on with the "intelligentsia." My own opinion is Communism's daring to replace God with Party (Man) was exhilarating to them, as long as they were the Party.
To fast forward, the Communists had greatly infiltrated the Democrat Party in the early 20th century and were key elements in the Roosevelt administration. What you describe as happening to the Republican Party today, and you are probably right, happened to the Democrats 100 years ago. Even with that, the Democrats were still primarily conservative because of the strength of the party in the South. That was the result of the treatment of the South by the Northern Republicans after the Civil War.
Both Parties are presently populated by liberals and conservatives with most liberals in their historical home, the North, regardless of party. Of course the wacky west coast rapidly grew during the last 100 years and have their share of both. Also, most liberals are in the densely populated urban areas. Those Republican moderates, what are called rinos, are simply a product of their area and its historical background.
The conservative/liberal comparison of today goes back to the original differences in philosophies between the founders of the USA and the founders of the USSR. We originally concentrated on individual freedom, religion and morals, and free enterprise. They, then and now, concentrate on the collective and minimize the individual. They also are hostile to God and any religion other than Communism. That is the battle we are fighting in this country today, the individual versus the collective.
Since Communism is contrary to human nature in the whole and hostile to God and morality, they must use deception to gain power and force to keep power. They consider lying to be a virtue to achieve their goals. They say a traitor to the USA will be a hero in the coming revolution. Historically, they have not hesitated to slaughter millions to secure their power. I see nothing that indicates they would be any different once they gained power here.
To summarize, although there are liberals and conservatives in both parties, the Democrats have been taken over by the Communists and are pushing Communists goals. A moderate Democrat and a liberal Republican are about the same politically. The biggest threat to the freedom of the country is Communism and that means Democrats.
Good or bad, this country consist of two effective political parties. The rules are such as to perpetuate that. If we are going to be effective ourselves we must operate within that system. That system means that which ever party has the majority controls the rules of procedure. Those determine what is brought up for consideration and what isn't, in other words, the agenda.
The real fight is for Communism or something else. That something else may not be conservative enough for many of us but it ain't Communism. Communism means the end to all other alternatives. That is the fight.
Wow, you're another firebrand, aren't you. Wouldn't it be better to demonstrate a bit of willingness to work with the other Americans?
Wow, you're another firebrand, aren't you. Wouldn't it be better to demonstrate a bit of willingness to work with the other Americans?