the choices could not be more clear, the differences in the parties/candidates more stark

[arely staircase]

and it is not a choice between progressivism and conservatism. It is a choice between progressivism and radical reactionary randian social Darwinism. Once upon a time progressives proposed plans to eliminate social ills. Conservatives then expressed their desire to address these social ills and would then propose a watered down version of their own. Sometimes the conservative input might be be a good idea. A perfect example would be the earned income tax credit. Mainstream conservative European parties, for the most part, still operate this way.

But today's Republican politicians are of a different nature. They see any tax whatsoever as theft. The tea baggers would actually like to repeal the 14th amendment which would not only prevent American born children of immigrants from having citizenship but would actually empower the states to return to Jim Crow.

When William f. Buckley founded the modern Conservative movement and launched the national review, one of his first and most important battles was against the john birch society, knowing conservatism would never become a legit. political/intellectual movement if it was associated with crazy, conspiratorial racists.

Now those same people (or their ideological descendants) ARE the GOP.

We have to win.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. We sure do, and I believe we will.

[arely staircase]

6. +100 nt

[PDJane]

2. It's a choice between destruction and slower destruction.

Both of the environment and of the political system.

[arely staircase]

4. i disagree

I think it is a choice between frustratingly slow progress and the destruction a century's worth of hard fought social justice victories.

[datasuspect]

3. they are WORSE than the birchers

where's a bill buckley when you need him?

[arely staircase]

5. they are worse than birchers

In the sense that they control the Republican party. Even Reagan was smart and pragmatic enough to not to let those people run things. Though Reagan deserves much of the blame for the fact those people now do run the GOP. All the crazy PNAC imperialist dogma of W's administration was in reports that the same folks (at then lower levels) wrote that were promptly shelved by the adults in Bush the firsts administration

[arely staircase]

7. and now we have ryan, the john galt wannabe who wants to destroy medicare ans social security. nt

[Philosoraptor]

8. Absolutely, the tea-tards are a real danger

If the GOP ain't bat shit crazy enough for you, you're prolly a tea bagger. It think they are inadvertently energizing OUR side to the voting booths.

[arely staircase]

9. i think ryan energizes our base as much as theirs. nt

[arely staircase]

10. kicked for more comment nt