[Paine in the Neck]

"Seems to me that it's been a leftist virtue for quite a few years now."

Yes, it has - for about eighty years now. I've just been reading The Venona Secrets. It's a heavy, dry read but I highly recommend it for historical background. The leftist crowd that includes Wilson, Plame, Berger, McCarthy, Goodfellow, Kerry, et. al. can trace their lineage directly to the Red "intellectuals" of the 20s and 30s. For younger Freepers looking to understand the historical context of the current leftist coup attempt I recommend reading

• The Venona Secrets by Romerstein & Brendel
• Witness by Whittaker Chambers
• Radical Son by David Horowitz

Anyone care to add other recommendations?

[karnage]

A comment, not an addition to your excellent reading list: I think there's gonna be a new definition for the word, "McCarthyism."

[13Sisters76]

"Politics of Bad Faith" by Horowitz is also a dandy.

[Pelham]

Political Pilgrims, Paul Hollander.
Covert Cadre, Steven Powell.
Hollywood Party, Lloyd Billingsley.