They believed many things once — they were idealists. But those ideals lie dead; some betrayed by heros like Nixon, some unmasked by enemies like Clinton, others strangled for no reason at all. Now that they believe in nothing, not even themselves, they can and will say anything. McCain has offered up his dignity to the orthodox, excised with cynicism.

The orthodox believe only in guns and end times — a death cult. A party of useful idiots, many praying for armageddon, led by self-slashing ex-idealists.