[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

The major movements in American history and many of those in world history have found people divided largely into thirds. One-third is passionate about one side, one-third is passionate about the other side, and one-third is disaffected (moderate).

As Steyn points out, the population growth among the "red staters" in the US is a tremendous counterbalance to Leftist influence and distraction in this country. In a couple of generations, America may find itself in a quasi-revival -- especially if we are surrounded by a growing horde of Islamofascists that are preparing to conquer us.

Steyn is right on target in addressing the middle third. If we can sway them here and abroad, disaster may well be averted. Personally, I don't hold out much hope. They are the middle third precisely because their diet is of tepid water, neither hot nor cold. And they are lulled by the opiate of postmodern relativism. The multiculturalists and disaffected are wading in the Lethe and tasting Lotus leaves while laughing at the rest of the West shouting at them from the banks that there are crocodiles in the river.

[Cicero]

It's hard to get the message out when the academics, the teachers, the entertainment industry, the opinion leaders, and the news media are all dominated by leftists.

I concur with your division into thirds. It was very obvious under clinton, and it's still obvious today. The problem, as you say, is that the undecided middle have been poorly educated about this emergency and poorly educated about patriotism. In the days of the Roman Republic, the populares or people's party was about evenly matched with the optimates or party of the nobility, but whenever there was a threat to Rome's survival they would come together and fall in behind the best leaders. It's none too sure that the leftists and the undecided middle are prepared to do that today.

It might take a few nuclear explosions in our cities to wake people up, something I hope never to see.