Most Daily Kos readers are fimilar with the Domino theory. In the 20th century it was largely described as having to do with foreign policy. As Eisenhower said in an April 7, 1954 news conference "If Communists succeeded in taking over the rest of Indochina, local groups would then have the encouragement, material support and momentum to take over Burma, Thailand, Malaya and Indonesia." This thinking is being used in Iraq today, in the negative (if Iraq fails the whole Middle East will be an Al-Qaeda safehouse), or the affirmative (if we suceed in Iraq the whole Middle East will be transformed into Democracies).
But what is lost on many Progressives is that Domino theology is central to conservative thought on DOMESTIC policy. Hell I would say on almost all of their politics. It's also for reasons I will later explain, makes in nearly impossiable to compromise with modern conservatives.
I grew up near a gay couple (in my teen years at least), it never made me want to engage in a Wide Stance in the Men's room. I can also say as far as I know all my friends from the neighborhood are heterosexual. But in the mind of a Domino Theorist the fact that there was a committed lesbian couple in my neighboorhood should have endangered my young mind. That's why gay marriage has to be stopped, Domino Theology. That's why we can't allow universal health-care, it's the first step to socialism. Stop selling fully automatic rifles and the next thing you know we will be banning hunting, ect ect.
Now think about how a Domino Theologist would look at compromise. The Democrats are MOVING towards us (what pundits would call moving to the center is moving away from the left). The first step is their realizing we can't quickly leave Iraq, next they will want a small force left, then a larger one, next thing you know we will have enough forces to invade IRAN! YEAH! In the mind of a Domino theorist compromise isn't looking for a midway point between two ideas or position. Compromise is the first step to a REVELATION! See if we get that Jewish guy into church, even if we have to use trickery, it's OK because in the end he will thank us for turning him into a Christian Domionist like Jay Sekulo.
It's like the Overton Window, they see you coming to the center, as you moving to the right (in a sense they are right). Moving to the center either means, you are afraid of standing against their position, or you secretly have a desire to move to their position. First step is center left, then center, then center right, then your in Shawn Hannities Amerikkka.
See there theology makes them believe that you must being having a Revelation. Your moving their way, SOOOO that can be the only reason. Once a person moves their position a little, their way, it's only the first step. Next they will move their way on other stuff, and before long America will be a Christian Theocracy (although we may let the Jews hang out here as long as they don't go all soft and secular on us!).
Unfortunately most of the current GOP is littered with Domino theorist, so people with a Compromise Fetish, are going to have a hard time finding honest brokers. Are there exceptions, of course there are over 300 Republicans in the Senate, House, and Governors, so you can never say "Everyone is that way", but I think a big enough majority think that way, to make working with them very hard.
I had a "friend" who thought Black people didn't vote for the GOP because they "hadn't heard the GOP message" or that "Democrats had them fooled" ect. I asked him "why even Blacks who graduated from College, served in the millitary, or made over $50,000 still voted overwhelmingly Democratic? You don't think Black people are smart enough to weigh the facts and vote based on information? Every Black person gets cable and radio you know." He got a sick look like "how dear you challenge my world view", but luckily I was in a rush and we was able to talk his spin to someone else (he tended to avoid me later if politics came up). You see to a Domino Theorist once people are made to realize "how the world works" the next Dominos will all fall in line.
So you see once you read this diary, you will hit my tip jar, then the recommend button, then before long Daily Kos will be renamed Daily Dopper, it's inevitable!