TE: Actually they do.
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Let me refine my comment a bit. Rats don't want to identify themselves with patriotism, or patriotic Americans, the way that conservatives traditionally view American patriotism.
They would, as you suggest, like to redefine Americanism or patriotism as Democrat party defined ‘tolerance’ and ‘bleeding heart liberalism’ (read socialism/radicalism).
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American loyalty is seldom offered as a political choice.
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Perhaps not in the past, but more and more now, it seems, we're seeing two pretty dichotomous views.
I agree. I hope more in the GOP will stand up and support a more rigorous view of conservatism. So far most of the energy seems to reside mostly amongst the rank and file.