re: #734 legalpad

It seems many topics here are about right wing extremists. I say, ok, there are right-wing extremists, but there is also a genuine conservative movement which has none of these extremist traits. And it is more than a movement: it is a huge chunk of the American people. Just like the left cannot silence or extricate themselves from association with the extreme left, the right has the same factors which come into play in their efforts. Focusing on these extremists to the extent some do effectively misrepresents, even mischaracterizes conservatism in general. It gets tiresome. I can’t imagine what goal one hopes to achieve by this kind of focus. There will be no successful Republican Party without conservatives, including social conservatives.
Let me be clear: except for self-defense, I am very, and verifiably left-wing. But I do not see how one can stop nuts from coming to your public meetings/demonstrations, for instance. The difference is whether one edits out the nuts and their signs out or not; or highlights them. I would love to be directed to this group that has any chance of affecting American policy who has no extremist tag-a-longs. And plugging one’s (and others) ears against those who do not shun everyone you would shun is not going to take anyone anywhere. I had enough of that in religion.

Judge Chamberlain Haller: That is a lucid, intelligent, well thought-out objection.
Vinny Gambini: Thank you, sir.
Judge Chamberlain Haller: Overruled.
- Fred Gwynne in My Cousin Vinny