More Wall Scribble: The State of Conservative Activism In Illinois

If you haven't already heard the bloggin' buzz, Ann Coulter decided to call John Edwards a "faggot" while speaking at CPAC, just prior to giving a nod to Mitt Romney as her pick for pres. If this comes as news to you, I encourage you to take advantage of 'the google' and read up.

Blogging coverage has been quite heavy. My friend Pam is bashing democrats over the head with it, and we all know how much I like democrat bashing. Ed Morrissey of Capitain's Quarters states the flat out obvious on the entire gay issue - 'lost cause, get over it'. The more interesting blogging on the topic goes to Andrew Sullivan whom unfortunately is ever-so-correct:

When you see her in such a context, you realize that she truly represents the heart and soul of contemporary conservative activism, especially among the young.

By the way, I've called Andrew Sullivan correct exactly 3 times. I don't like doing it.

Whether in the hohum rantings of 'Toxic' Terri O'Brien, in the blended quasi-scientific, psuedo-Christian ramblings of 'Porno' Peter LaBarbera, or in the misogynistic screechings of Jill Stanek - our 'activists' are a collection of the bitter, the mildly crazy, or the flat out evil.

Part of the problem for those in the vast majority of conservatives who could give a hoot about Christo-Cons ties back to what Sullivan is saying. We small government types don't have sexy issues. It's our lack of sexy issues that makes us whom we are. The keepers of the hot issues are the social cons - who can fire up an extreme element of the base by waxing odd ball conspiracy fables of the 'abortion industry' or the 'gay agenda'. That was the glory of mildly appeasing that base. You can get them fired up without directly giving into them, perhaps just obligatory appeasement from time to time. When they quiet down and start spending too much time watching Judge Judy, we can fire them up again by whispering some faux moral outrage about 'the myspace'.

It wouldn't be so bad to have political pot stirrers around, apart from their astounding political liability. But as we're an increasingly tolerant state, the activists are increasing the toxicity of their spew. Let's face facts: Porno Pete's career ends on page 5 of the news paper while doing something stupid during one of his 'research trips' to Boys Town. Contrary to what most folks believe, I don't mind that we have activists whom can act as operatives to fire up a base of mid-day TV watchers so long as they do it without making fools of mainstream conservatives and thus pushing our precious swing vote into an apathetic non-vote or a vote for a democrat.

Ultimately, it comes down to the very obvious fact that Illinois will always be socially progressive - if not outwardly supporting at the very least apathetically left leaning. It's not a stretch, it's not a leap, it's a fact. Our activists, while good at artificially exaggerating their numbers and power are only serving to confuse and confound an otherwise willing moderate base whom find the activists issue stances to be antiquated and passe or, at the worst, a hate filled turnoff.

The conservative activists are getting too big for their britches. They will constantly attempt to dominate (and forcibly so) our political front end. Their attempts usurp Conservative identity for fanatical Christianist reasons must be fought off even if we have to pay for it in votes for a few years. Things can not get any worse for us - on current course we're headed for permanent minority status. But at least we might get license plates out of it. Tee shirt activism at it's worst - for sure.