Sure, they make a lot of noise.

However, I don't see any of them funding major think tanks or dominating any state government (not even Vermont), let alone exerting any significant influence at the Federal level.

You think some people on the Left hate America and its values? I think some people on the Right hate America and its values. Different values, though. All I have to hear is the words "Patriot Act" to make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. That is a reckless and dangerous law, which can be used to destroy the liberties for which this nation has historically fought, but the Right thinks that this is OK. I don't understand how anyone can miss this.

I don't even see a lot of real Leftists in the media, per se, but rather people with a gadfly complex: they will bite anyone who's in charge. If the media is run by the Left, why did we have all those reporters rolling over and showing their bellies to the Pentagon, vying for "embedded reporter" positions? Anyone really trying to present an alternative reality would not be handing their copy over to military, um, editors.

I don't think that supporting gay marriage or opposing the war in Iraq based on opposition to "ends justify the means" arguments (currently used by the Administration and its apologists) are especially loonie positions, though. I can see how they would upset some people, but it's nothing that can't be talked about. Is it?

Where is the Congresscritter from A.N.S.W.E.R.?

The people who were part of the '60s Left have either died, moved into alternative communities, or have tuned back out, turned back off and dropped back in. Kids, careers and middle age will do that to people.

Or do you think there are really hundreds of thousands of boomer hippie Leftist Manchurian Candidates out there? Because, if so, when Lindy gets back, I don't want to hear one word about outrageous conspiracy theories. That would top them all.