Much cogent commentary here, with much discussion of historical events, persons, and parallels. All of which is irrelevant without a discussion of the ideas at play, and how those ideas were/are used, perceived, and promulgated by the various parties, both during the Napoleonic conflicts and now.

Bottom line- the reason that the ‘conservative’ factions in US politics have yet to mount any effective opposition to the rampant totalitarianism espoused by the present socialist administration, is that their core ideas are in essence the same. Unless and until a significant number of people in the USA realize that ‘socialism light’ ALWAYS leads to tyrannical totalitarianism, change their core ideas, and act on the basis of their newfound ideas, there will will be no significant change in the status of the USA.

This is a war of ideas, not a war of political parties, not a war of classes, not a war between haves and havenots, not a war of religions. To some extent, this war can be seen as a war of culture, as one’s culture to some extent subsumes one’s philosophical base, but at it’s root, this is a war of ideas, of PHILOSOPHY.

When the ‘conservatives’ recognize this fact, and consciously adopt a consistent philosophy of individual freedom which is rigorously applied and ruthlessly enforced in their ranks, they will continue to lose this war of ideas.

To wit:

Great Britain was able to win the war against Napoleon when they were able to show Napoleon as a ruthless tyrant bent on European domination TO FRANCE’S ERSTWHILE ALLIES, as well as their own people. The political will to enter and stay in the fray was generated by the meme that Great Britain was a defender of freedom, and Napoleon was a tyrant.

The idea of individual liberty is a powerful ally. When the GOP recognizes that and revamps it’s political agenda to correlate with the philosophy of freedom, then they can hope to beat the present movement. (Of course, then they’ll be Libertarians.)