The problem as I see it is that the more sane elements of the movement have been willing to countenance the crazies for the mere fact that the umbrella of the party cannot be constricted any more than it already is. That, and the fringe of the party doesn’t seem to fit anywhere, and we are somehow the closest thing to their ‘vision’ of the country (probably, at the least, by way of limited government/low taxes).

If nobody among us is willing to move left, then how exactly do these alliances work out? It isn’t even like one has to be a wishy-washy moderate to be a legitimate voice: I’d consider myself hyper-conservative, and share none of those bitter sentiments that the fringe does.

I just believe that ‘hope’ is something for religion – not politics – and that the American people aren’t made of cotton candy. Self-government in its most basic terms is a reality for most of us out here. Of course there are people who need the helping hand of government, but this group constitutes a minority of the citizens, and I don’t think it is wise to build policy based on the parenthesis; exceptions can always be made.

Some have said that if only the Republicans would become an exclusively ‘country first’ party and would drop the values/limited govt hoo-rah, everything would be fine. I don’t know.