definition of terms: ultra

[rustbeltvoice]

Many describe the Republican Party as composed of two large subgroups. Often a term that is used is "moderate". This is cloudy and inaccurate. If we start that they are all 'conservative', and the distinction is really that of degree, and the "ultra-conservatives". The press, and the public shy away from saying "extremist"; and there is more than one type of extremist in their ranks.

'Ultra' and 'ultras' have been used in other political and historical contexts elsewhere. I propose that the distinction is to be made between conservative Republicans, and ultra-conservatives Republicans; and relegate the term "moderate Republican" to join the terms "liberal Republican", and "progressive Republican" to the historical past. They have no present currency other than obfuscation.

[MisterP]

1. since '76 they've had four "cores": God-botherers, militarists, right-libertarians, and corporatists

these four interact in a sort of "kite" shape, and each group centers around its own hardliners; they're all extremely well-funded and have purged the party proper (think the old Weicker and Rockefeller Repubs--or even Nixon)

so you have four distinct "ultra" groups