Definitely not a conservative. In “foolishly” comparing public debt to slavery? In liberal land, a white person can only mention slavery when wearing sackcloth and ashes, and publicly flagellating themselves with thorns, all the while exclaiming how bad and evil they are.
I’m not sure whether he sees Bashir’s loss as a bad thing because of what Bashir said, or whether he’s glad that conservatives no longer have a talking point because he’s gone.
Bingo!
Yes.
Bashir was "indiscreet", but he was also an excellent lightning rod while he was in place.
We do not lack for any number of other "lightning rods". But it takes additional effort to develop a strategy and act to cut off the target from the rest of the herd.
Take them down, one by one, and soon the herd is pretty well thinned out.