A. 50% of America is liberal and supports economical welfare to people who refuse to work.
B. The other 50% of America is conservative and claims it does not support economic welfare at the expense of not protecting the sources of welfare, i.e. the industry and the workers who grow the economy... a noble deed of manly protection of "the Garden of Eden" if you asked me.
C. Within that 50% of America supporting the growing of the economy you have 75% of those conservatives who do not want to pay taxes for a military, prefering airline industry bailouts instead of ammo for the army. They whine the minute the economy turns sour, vote for Clinton twice, all because we waged an expensive Gulf war that cost them their jobs. Also most of them would hate to lose their carreer and college progress by bearing arms for the country. If not they do not vote at all.
D. Hence conservatives in America are not conservatives, because they are on army welfare. Worse, they do not even have the courage to vote. They want others to fight for them: arabs, Chinese and what not.
E. Hence America is mostly pro-welfare and to the left. The peace nicks protesting against Nam were not leftists, they also were "conservatives" who did not want to lose a career. Hence, after Nam, liberals were appaled when they saw that their revolution only served to prop up the careers of conservatives while true conservatives were appaled to see that they were betrayed by those calling themselves conservatives. I believe this is what some Nam Vets feel, because THE WHOLE COUNTRY GAVE UP ON THEM, not just liberals.
F. By extention, if we look at women's behavior, the propensity of women to vote for big liberal government follows this pattern. In addition the welfare state provides a bonanza for women, because women can crank kids, kick the men out, and get money from the government for that. Hence the women in America have found the government to be the greatest husband there is, not including the feminists who have successfuly transformed our local courts into man hating and bashing institutions, always convicting men to jail, seldom the women.
G. The gay movement and the nation-wide support of the gay movement goes hand in hand with this pattern where men do not look forward to be men, but to be women, wedded to the government with gay rights social contracts.
H. And yes, it is deplorable that muslim men with cutters were able to get their way, and isn't it ironic that a gay pilot was hailed a hero. It simply fit the pattern that America has come to accept: feminine pro welfare attitude rules in every dimention.
For instance, your assumption that 75% of conservatives don't support taxation to support the military is both unsupportable and just plain wrong. BTW, I served 9 years on active duty including the Gulf War. Also, while I don't support the militant gay rights lobby at all and I find it repulsive some felt it necessary (beneficial?) to "out" a gay passenger who probably participated in the heroic actions on Flight 93, my attitude is that the guy gave his life fighting terrorists and that eclipses whatever personal issues I might have with his chosen lifestyle. If they want to be "in my face" about their "rights" and demand same-sex marriage, I'm against them 100%, but this individual is a hero in my book.
I'm much more interested in people who enlighten me based on verifiable facts and information and not particularly interested in your assumptions. Others' mileage may vary.