It's no more surprising that some (if not many) liberals hold some stereotypical conservative views than the opposite. The neocon contribution to definition of the spectrum of political belief was that everyone who didn't feel exactly the way they did about their entire program was not only mistaken, but either a fool, a dupe or a traitor. This is not a policy likely to persuade moderates or convert your opponents. In fact, it's likely to alienate some of your own natural allies.

Like the Communists, who spent as much time fighting other socialists as they did rightists, the issue with them is not general political philosophy, it's about party discipline and complete control of the whole process. By attacking moderates on both sides they succeeded in recasting the political dialog into a completely bipoar, partisan mode. I suppose they were counting on their own organization and discipline to allow them to overwhelm their baffled and naturally contentious enemies. With their intransigence and arrogance, they only succeeded in creating an arena where their greed and incompetence was obvious to everyone.