PJ Media

Well, I made it through the first several comments before I had to roll my eyes and give up. Same tired old strawmen (“fascist!” “neocon!” “AIPAC!”) from the same perpetual adolescents. Blech. Way to sour a great article and inhibit a discussion. I guess I should’ve known it would go in that direction, as it always does.

Stephen, I actually laughed out loud when I read your words about Reason. I was once a subscriber as well. I also quit reading before my subscription ran out, and was tossing it in the trash rather than reading it when it went silly and hipster. Of course, I’ve never been a L/libertarian, either–just a devout capitalist. Idealism and the “ultimately unserious” in politics just isn’t my thing.

Anyway, I don’t think you’re a “black sheep Republican,” I think it’s just that the so-called religious conservatives (or whatever the word du jour is) are a hell of a lot louder than the rest of us. You aren’t a black sheep because I’m sure most Republican voters are pretty much like you are. There are always factions claiming to be the base, screaming that they’re the “true conservatives” (I’m lookin’ at you, Ron Paul/John Birch Society types) but they’re just a really noisy minority (same goes for the SoCons).

I do find it interesting how many people on the intertubes think insulting someone’s beliefs is an effective recruiting strategy, and the comments to this post are a perfect illustration of the point. Then again, the hostile commenters are drawn to a shrill, angry candidate, so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.