zab, I read your comments about extremists in the Republican Party and, frankly, find little to disagree with.
I think you are only seeing a part of the picture, however. Much as I think Obamacare was architected to fail, I also think the incredible polar divisions of our elected officials also have a purpose. Not only are the politicians hell bent on destroying those "on the other side of the aisle" (regardless of which side of the aisle they are on), they have inculcated this polarization into the citizens of this fine nation.
That's why you see such vitriolic "discussion" happening on political chat boards and in general walks of life. These people aren't stupid. They know if we all are occupied fighting each other "right" versus "left", then our attention will be diverted from them slowly changing this nation from what was envisioned by our founding fathers and immortalized in our Constitution and Bill of Rights into something far different.
I believe we ALL are being played whether we call ourselves liberal or conservative.
I refuse to play. I can disagree and still be civil. I can discuss and sometimes reach a reasonable compromise. Our "leaders" seem incapable of that. For a reason. I don't trust any of them, whether they call themselves liberal or conservative. It hasn't always been like this.
For me, I am glad I brought no progeny to this earth to live a suppressed existence.