Recently I came across a quote from the 1964 Goldwater speech by Barry Goldwater who at the time was labeled “Extremist in Chief” by the media. It says, “I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice.“
Personally, I am not in favor of Extremism for any reason. Extremism has never solved one problem…ever. The practice has caused death, dismemberment, and rampant stupidity.
Thinking that there must be more to Goldwater’s speech than that, I read it. The next line after the oft used quote states, “And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Does this remind you of the pantie wearing Republican congressmen lining up to give the Supreme Court Justice-ess (Sotomayor) pick a fair and impartial hearing? Why is a hearing even necessary, knowing what we know… that she makes racist comments.
It is a fact that we were raised to associate the word “Extremist” with conservatism. However, now I submit the painfully obvious. The working extremism is all on the other side.
The most Extremist example you can deliver on the right is militias. A few years ago, militias were all the rage with the namby pamby news readers. They did their usual great job running it into the ground and then moving onto the next thing.
It turns out that militias are mostly made up of guys who get together on weekends to shoot paintballs at each other. The only time they are likely to become dangerous is when society ends because a 6 mile diameter meteorite lands anywhere, or the world sets off its nukes. At this point the militias will take over the gubment business.
Wouldn’t this make a great movie? Society crumbles and the Vermont Militia takes over that part of the world. Eventually, they expand and run into the Gangs of New York in the Arkansas Wasteland and fight for domination. Then the winner has to face off with the Gangs Of Los Angeles for the world cup. Which team would you support? The no good dirty Vermont Militia Extremists, or the kindly, understanding, compassionate Gangs of New York. On the weekends when the Vermont Militia is out shooting their paintballs, what do you think the Gangs of Los Angeles are out shooting?

Actually, with a minimum of logic, it is easy to see that the true Extremists come from the far left. The far left, by the way, is the faction in power these days in Washington, DC.
Do you remember democrat president and super liberal, LBJ? He was an Extremist. His glory plan called “The Great Society” was so effective in destroying the fabric of black society that it basically put the Extremist KKK out of business. It couldn’t compete with kindly liberals.
Until we can identify and deal with basic principles like what makes an Extremist, I find it difficult to believe we can ever move on.
In 1964 Lyndon B. Johnson rolled over Barry Goldwater to become President of the United States. More, it was an ultra lib trouncing a super conservative. The country wanted it. Johnson won fair and square. What they got, naturally, was a strategy to lose in Vietnam, the Great Society, and NASA setting up shop in Houston, Texas (LBJ’s state), even though rockets have always been shot off from Florida. Of everything, the Great Society was the super bonehead of that century. If you’re unsure what the Great Society was, there is plenty of information in the history books.
My point is that if you’ll just look around, you’ll find that ALL of the Extremists are on the left, with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid leading the parade.
I’m sorry. Our guys are off taking care of their knitting, or washing their soiled panties. Extremism is always bad, but when is total moderation in the face of total Extremism a good thing?