Politics and Culture

In a democracy, one shouldn't be angry if one's side loses. One made their argument and one's fellow citizens accepted or rejected it. Better luck next time. Now, one who's side continually loses, faces a dilemma: Either accept one's marginality or come up with an extra-fair reason why one's point of view loses. Thus, conspiracy. Big oil, media, academia, religion, the Knight's Templar: They've all, at one time or another, stuck their hidden hands into history's pie. The left's only slightly fantastic conspiracy theory that George Bush really lost the 2000 and 2004 elections has led to the maddest group of people since the invention of the Cubs fans.

Mainstream parties or viewpoints face another predicament as often the same people whose factual impairments discredit one's "side" are the ones most willing to place their time and money at the cause's disposal.

Ron Paul, in one debate, cut loose the 9/11 truthers. Bill Clinton cast away racialist Sister Soulja. McCain recently denounced middle-name fetishists. Obama "rejected" Farrakhan's support. Democrats still haven't dealt with its America-hating, hero-disparaging contingent, but that may be coming up in the general election.

William Buckley wrote the manual for nutectomies with his surgical removal of the John Birch society from conservatism's body. Read the interesting story here.