Elf Sternberg

I guess that you must have a better sample in the NW. Or perhaps not being completely dominant keeps them a bit more honest. My own experience is that I have met a vanishingly small percentage of local (that would be central Texas) conservatives who could, for example, recognize the name Burke or have the slightest idea (much less have read) what the Federalist Papers are. I have yet to meet one who has any familiarity with the "intellectual" foundations of the neo-con con. Among these I include several lawyers, one judge, and a number of university educated professionals. I knew more about the U.S. Constitution and the original of our system of government as a high school student with only a civics class than most of them do to this day.

I'd have to think more about what makes my objections to republican authoritarianism and attacks on constitutional government "messy".

Sounds like a good time was had by all.