I disagree with Feminists for Life the group she is a part of on choice but I won't call them hypocrites. They were instrumental on the fight to get the Domestic Violence Act passed as well as the bill that went after deadbeat dads. I admired their bill that would have provided a safety net for young women who found themselves pregnant in college. (pparently, you can be a feminist and conservative, who knew? ;))

What Sarah did in Alaska in regards to oil was pretty much what Dems were seeking to do. I even remember a debate moment where that was pointed out.

All in all if people want to demonize her, you won't see me on board. Disagree with her? Sure. I even criticized her a bit for her hyperbole on death panels(although I'm not hypocritical enough to pretend our side doesn't do our own share of hyperbole). Is she hyperpartisan? I wouldn't agree. A hyperpartisan would have sent her two pro choice justice choices back and used it as an opportunity to rail. A hyperpartisan wouldn't have vetoed a bill discriminating against same sex marriage on the grounds of constitutionality. I don't see that.

I'm all for her being the new improved face of the GOP brand and she's a huge improvement over someone like Jindal.

For me this is all about moving the paradigm left(and that would mean moving the GOP back to a less extreme more socially liberal position)I'm no longer a party faithful member.

Pat Robertson mobilized them when he ran for president. After he dropped out of the primaries he sold his extensive list of supporters to the party and Republican leaders used it to enlarge their base. These people were pretty easily manipulated and Lee Atwater had the tactics to do so. As a result the party had a core of very passionate advocates that they could motivate to contact the media, Congressmen, etc. and complain vociferously about whatever the Republicans told them to. The trouble is that these people became so powerful that the party is now controlled by them. The leaders are scared to death to cross them. A perfect case of the tail wagging the dog.

It is clear from discussion among the Republican leadership that they are well aware of the problem but still use these people when they see fit, which only makes it worse because it pushes more and more moderates out of the party.

Meanwhile the media is still afraid to stand up to these fanatics. Democrats are pushing back more but there protests still don't counter balance the vitriol from the right. Too many in the media are cowed by the bullying tactics and not a few of them seem to be suffering from some kind of Stockholm syndrome.

Corporate America has also been intimidated by numerous boycotts so they kowtow to the "Christian" Right, too.

Democrats need to realize what they are up against and start speaking up in larger numbers. The far right is not that large of a segment of the population, although they have been able to grow in the past because their outrageous claims have been allowed to go unanswered both by Democrats and the media. As a result of their willingness to speak out against all these "injustices" that are heaped on them, it seems like there are many more people who feel this way. If we all wrote letters to editors, ombudsmen, radio shows, Congressmen this perception would begin to change.