Damifino, Ron. I agree that that's the way the system works now, but the system isn't going to change by cowtowing to it.

I'm encouraged by the fact that many Republicans in Congress are as dismayed by the recent FCC ruling as progressives -- anything which reduces the diversity of opinions and ideas that reaches the voters is bad, Bad, BAD for democracy.

I WANT to see thoughtful, intelligent debate between differing political philosophies and positions from candidates. I may think most far-right Republicans are pretty loony, but they do occasionaly make a good point. Same for Libertarians, Socialists, or any other stripe.

I think I can put into words what has many progressives bracing for the worst. Progressives and "classic" Republicans (often called "moderates") and Libertarians may disagree on their interpretation, but they all share a fundamental set of political values -- those enshrined in our Constitution, like personal and civic freedoms and balancing the good of the individual with the good of society.

The latest generation of Neo-Democrats doesn't seem to have a political philosophy at all. They're lemmings, or maybe just flotsam on the tide.

And the current ruling Neo-Republicans and their mouthpieces like Rush DO have a political philosophy, but despite their lip service to those shared ideals, they consistently fail to support them, and instead pursue a political philosophy that more closely resembles a medieval dictatorship that would deprive basic rights from all except the wealthy gentry.

You can't compromise with someone who's views are the antithesis of the concept of America. You have to fight them. So who do we have to fight the Neo-Republicans who have a political philosophy, but one they lie about? The Lemmings.

Blech.