You're right in this regard. There is nothing wrong with getting vicious in dealing with overseas enemies, and labeling in any way that helps matters is fine by me. But as regards domestic Leftists, vicious is lost; no way to go here. See my earlier post about directness and unapologia.
We've been the victim of this rhetoric for so long, we don't even see how damaging it really is. Half the Republicans I hear spend their time apologizing for their own values instead of attacking the socialists on the other side of the aisle. Reagan was polite, gentlemanly, funny, but he had a hard-as-steel edge when he talked about Communism and taxation--and woe to anyone who got in his way. We need more Pattons of the politcal arena; it's sad that Anne is the only one who can call a Fag a Fag.