Letters to the Editor
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Its a bit more complicated than that, klooster.
It's the difference between Left and Right.
The modern "Right" isn't conservative in the traditional sense, but has become the refuge of a collection of cultural reactionaries that by historical chance converged in the Republican Party. Hence the prevalence and prestige of the likes of Coulter, Limbaugh, O'Reily, Hannity, De Lay, Vitter, Cheney, and so on. Any functioning political party with a clear-minded and pragmatic agenda would have excised these idiots and their fellows some time back.
Worse, the political operations of the "Right" depends in large measure upon a disparate gaggle of sectarian groups, both for funding and grassroots work. Moon, Dobson, Robertson, Hagee, and the rest push agendas that have no realistic hope of being accepted in mainstream America, but have the funds and footsoldiers to ensure compliance among whatever officeholder they choose to favor. Its a cynical calculation on the politico's part, but one that's worked semi-well up to now.
In contrast, the "Left" is a diverse collection of interests (both progressive and in some ways conservative), but who lack a singular 'identity' - which is largely what drives the "Right" these days - and no overriding goal that might otherwise minimize friction between those interests. It also lacks a ready source of funds and grassroots organization like the "Right" does, although this appears to be changing.
The only saving virtue of this is that it also lacks a class of punditry and talking heads with the kind of national stature and prevalence enjoyed by the "Right". This means the Democrat's brand isn't as tainted as the Republicans now by the overheated rhetoric Limbaugh, Coulter and the rest trade in.
And given the complete decimation of the Republican party, both in candidates and fundraising, the "Right" may soon be left with nothing but talk radio and the old guard Religious Right. Hence the tendency (somewhat unfair) of associating the "Right" with blind hatred and reactionary policies as those are the trade of both.
The "Left" meanwhile has been building itself from the ground-up and offers a more moderate and responsive agenda. Getting it widely-disseminated is a critical challenge, albeit one that has been helped by the weblog community and tech-savviness.
In short, both sides have their extremists. But those on the "Right" have had the louder voice and less restraint, finally over-reaching themselves in the last 15-20 years (I mark it peaking in the early-90s and beginning a slow but steady decline since the OK City Bombing). Those on the "Left" are so marginal one would be hard-pressed to name a one.
Whether these trends continue or not is beyond any predictative ability. We'll see what the future brings.