@Coot, the neo-con movement is such that it automatically divides people, and inspires strong emotion. It is as close as the US has come since the 19th century to a fullscale cult, at least by its traditional definition:
1) Its claims are not backed by any facts,
2) Its world view is black-and-white,
3) It believes in preemptive attacks on its perceived enemies,
4) It regards deception as a weapon in the pursuit of its objectives,
5) Its goals are based on some mythical, unattainable ideal,
6) Its members are fanatics who are impervious to logic.
If someone were to walk up to you and say that since your views differ from theirs, you're a wifebeater, and that they're going to write your boss to get you fired, you'd probably get angry in response.
The political polarization caused by neo-cons follows a similar experience, but on a national level. They don't simply change policies, as other groups have upon achieving political power in the past. They proclaim it with fervor beforehand, they do it and boast about it, and they chortle openly with delight over all their foes who have lost out. They bait those of other political persuasions, who in the US, because of the winner-take-all system, remain powerless. The neo-cons are, in this respect, the final, most extroverted result of such a system.
I don't know that the US can ever back away from its current path of polarization. The detente of Democrats and Republicans which existed in general cordiality when they worked together for three-quarters of a century is irreperably broken. Even when the neo-con dreams are revealed as nightmares, that will still leave the Republicans with no better alternative to get elected. They will have to keep pushing that button, unless they want to search for new constituencies and new solutions. And they are, in the final analysis, as intellectually bankrupt as their Democratic opponents.
