"I like your comment about the neocon/Randian split coming. I have written about the repeal of the Fairness Doctrine causing the stalemate in congress, but equally responsible, I think, was the inclusion of social issues in the political process injected by the moral majority of Jerry Falwell, amplified ten- fold by today's religious right."

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An interesting thought. I've always felt that the rise of Falwell and his successors was nothing more than a reaction to the horror that social conservatives must have felt from some of the excesses of 60's and 70's permissive culture. But what the religious right does not recognize is that they are nowhere near the majority they think they are. And the more they push, the sooner comes the day when an equal and opposite reaction will come against them. I don't think it's happened yet, but it's coming. A liberal resurgence is next up, but that will bring it's own set of problems including a possible bankruptcy.

I'll add that it's probably not fair to put the inclusion of "social issues in the political process" on Jerry Falwell. The Prohibition movement, among other things, was a prime example of earlier social meddling from the right.

And why is is that the left talks derisively about inclusion of social issues in politics from the right but fails to recognize its own political efforts to tear down the same planks? Both sides use social issues in politics, but neither side recognizes its own culpability.