re: #376 WindUpBird

I don’t think the Birchers OWN him, I believe that they’re becoming an instrumental party of the GOP’s ground game. That’s what I mean by activist base. That the GOP is beginning to rely on them to win elections and can no longer “quit them”, as they say on Brokeback Mountain. My evidence is Charles’ evidence. The fundraising, and the TP/Bircher flags at the victory party.

it’s like in Bush’s two terms, an instrumental part of his ground game were social conservative protestants, megachurch attendees, that sort of crowd, and their ground game was energized by all of the anti-gay ballot initiatives, which were designed to increase turnout and keep the base strong.

Fair enough. As to the extremism you project on Brown, we shall have to wait and see I suppose.