Ann, Shut Up & Run!!!!!!

How blind and foolish for conservatives to be such stubborn ideologues so as not to embrace those who really stand with them on the important issues, although they may lean toward the left on smaller ones. THAT IS INSANE! Wake up right wing, we will always have a left, and believe it or not a free democracy needs a measure of liberalism in the proper context. To stubbornly hold all the way to starboard will only give the country over to the Pelosi democrats. Extremes will ever breed detrimental radicals. We saw it in Germany circa 1930's, in Cuba 1959.

The labels that we place on each other can be limiting, and inaccurate. Following certain conservative principles can be very liberating, or liberal in thinking. "Liberals" can become fascist in their actions.
What fair minded Americans ought to agree on would be the preservation of the principles that this country was founded upon, and how to best solve the problems and issues we face together without undermining those principles.
If you are on the left or right and agree with that basic statement, then the debate on the issues will result in the preservation of our republic and the freedoms that we hold dear. In fact, having these differing opinions is healthy for the democracy.
What is dangerous is one side or the other not agreeing with those principles, and then attempt to change the country to another form of government. The concern that many conservatives have is that the left is on their way to doing just that, and that is why they are suspicious of anyone willing to meet the left halfway on anything. Are they to blame? Or, is it those who wish to breach the most important contract man has made with other men, The Constitution of the United States of America? I, for one, blame the left/socialists who want to undermine and ignore that Essential document.

"...THAT IS INSANE! Wake up right wing, we will always have a left, and believe it or not a free democracy needs a measure of liberalism in the proper context. To stubbornly hold all the way to starboard will only give the country over to the Pelosi democrats. Extremes will ever breed detrimental radicals. We saw it in Germany circa 1930's, in Cuba 1959."

As you see from the words I wrote in my comment, I already addressed your concern. I do see how the far left has become the problem. I also more thoroughly addressed these issues in my article titled "Hail Reagan! Hail Truman!..."
And I do clearly see how JFK would not recognize or approve of what his party has become. JFK had a totally different idea of liberalism, I mention in his own words - in a memorial article- what he understood liberalism to mean.

So, as you say, "I blame the left/socialists..." It can also be said, it is the "right radicals" who tend to drive people over into that opposite trap of "left socialism" ( a label that you used) But I can assure you I am not one, as anyone can clearly see by my writings.

My frustration with conservatives comes from their failure to use conservative ideas to address problems that face our society. Too many are content to be critics and fail to come up with ideas of their own to solve pressing issues. They allow the left to define the issues, then the left comes up with their solutions that only involve creating a bigger and more intrusive federal government. In order to get this country back on track, conservatives must recognize the problem that needs to be solved, and then formulate a plan that will not result in the federal bureaucracy running our lives. This failure of positive ideas is the reason why the masses find the other side more inviting.