Conservative?

I look at the political primary process today and I am reminded of Richard Nixon's comments about the "silent majority". Our current political process shows how the silent majority has abdicated their responsibility to participate in the election process. I ranted the other day about what a poor group of candidates the Republican party was putting forward for this election. When you really consider why they are such pieces of shit you can look at the following. About 20% of the population is conservative and about 20% of the population is liberal in their respective political beliefs. In my mind that leaves about 59% of the population in the middle (Nixon's silent majority) and 1% who are just fucking crazy in their political beliefs. If you want to be the Republican nominee for any office you must tailor your message to this 20% who are the most conservative and therefore the most likely to vote in the primary. On primary day the silent majority does not want to declare a political party so they generally stay home. While they look at who is running and say I wouldn't vote for any of those assholes. The same thing happens on the liberal side. When the general election rolls around the silent majority holds its collective nose and chooses the lesser of two evils. They seem not to realize that the lesser of two evils is still evil. The result of moderates failing to participate in the primary voting process is there are no moderate candidates to vote for in the general election. Those elected are from the extremes of their respective parties. It makes compromise difficult if not impossible.

I offer you the following quote.
"Mark my words,if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them."
Barry Goldwater

They didn't come much more conservative than Barry but he was willing to compromise and do what was right for the country. Christian conservatives are now the strongest voting block in the Republican party. They cannot compromise because they are voting based on their beliefs. They are obsessed with the unborn. Abortion for any reason is wrong but if you get born you shouldn't need food stamps or welfare or preschool programs. Those things contribute to the deficit. If you grow up to be a bad criminal we believe in the death penalty. There are limits to their view that life is sacred.
So don't look for the upcoming election to change anything. Gridlock will continue no matter who wins the White House.