By the way, Bob, my family were conservative Jews who built up a clothing manufacturing business for over forty years in Manhattan and sold it for eight figures in the 1980s.

Not once did their hearts bleed for anyone but their own flesh and blood. So suck on that, bubbie.

David Black

Ah, so your parents were selfish, self-centered assholes and you’ve grown up to be just like them. Congratulations. Too bad they reproduced, though; the last thing the world needs is more people like that.

It’s a more complicated question than one might think…. In the traditional meaning of ‘conservative,’ the use of ‘fact-free’ is pure hyperbole. And of course within the context of a blog, hyperbole isn’t just an option – it’s God’s law. Anyone who reads blogs on a regular basis should understand that.

If we were talking about traditional Barry Goldwater conservatives I wouldn’t have a problem with them, really – and it isn’t ‘tolerance’ in that case; rather I find that I can have a decent conversation with real conservatives like that and actually enjoy it.

On the other hand, we have something else going on in America: There is a solid minority in America that could be rightly-classified as lunatic right-wing extremists who have managed to adopt the mantle of ‘conservative’ with the help of mainstream pundits and politicians. Now that group is truly fact-free, and basically exists to make-up and repeat ridiculous claims and accusations. They have become the face of the American conservative movement.

I don’t like it, but it isn’t my fault. The official spokespeople for American conservatism have elevated these fringe nutjobs to the mainstream.
Example: FBI says right-wing groups are planning violence – ‘conservative’ radio and television hosts go ballistic claiming that this is an attack on conservatives.
Example: Many people rightly decry the intentional shutting-down of discussion in town halls by extremists who are there only to shout and prevent dialog – conservative radio/television hosts and Republican politicians can’t wait to get on camera/microphone to call this very proper criticism an attack against free speech.

I’m sure you can come up with a thousand other examples by combing press releases; the bottom line is that conservative pundits and politicians have legitimized and mainstreamed their own extremists and now they have to pay the price of being lumped in with them. They did it to themselves.