re: #98 Salamantis

Many liberals have unfortunately made the mistake of being seduced by communists into confusing completely respectable classical (John Stuart) Millian liberalism with leftism, and then claiming to be left wingers. It is equally regrettable to see many conservatives making the same kind of mistake, and allowing themselves to be seduced by fascists into confusing completely respectable (Edmund) Burkean conservatism with rightism, and then claiming to be right wingers. Because in either case, there is the danger that if enough people believe the lie, then it will become true, and all that nasty baggage will be brought on board. Indeed, much of it already has been - on both sides.

This is pretty well put. Regardless of where Nazis and Communists lie, American politics is quite different than European. Unfortunately, I think the labels are stuck for good, and conservatives will feel forced to defend “the right” because that is what they are always called, when there is little connection from there to here.