I have never seen a compelling explanation why you call them the American Taliban instead of the Republican Taliban.
I was merely a lurker for a long time, but I joined the site because you throw this term away so consistently.
Perhaps there is a compelling reason why a religious fundamentalist movement whose evil you see so clearly and whose politics dominate the Republican Party is not being tied to that very Republican Party. If so, you have not said what it is. I am prepared, in the face of a compelling argument, to back off my stance that you are throwing votes away by your language, which is picked up and amplified everywhere.
The Taliban in this country is 100% Republican. Consider
this Venn diagram. T is the Taliban, and A, R and D should be self-explanatory. The Republican Party benefits hugely from their money and organization. They work day and night to unseat Democrats. They used to hope the Republicans would do their bidding; when that didn't work they began replacing Republican conservatives with Republican Taliban like Sam Brownback, Tom Coburn, Rick Santorum.
It is also true that the vast majority of Republicans who I know are in major denial about the Republican Taliban. Why? Because they see them as the American Taliban - which enables them to still remain in denial and pull the lever for Republicans. By refusing to acknowledge or understand the dominance of the Republican Taliban within Republican politics, they justify voting for politicians whose agenda is this extremist bullshit.
Kos, you do a MAJOR disservice to Democrats, IMHO, by not tagging these people where they deserve being tagged. Are you fearful of some kind of backlash? That Republicans would cry foul if you spread the term around? Well, let them defend their beholdenness to these people. Let them deny the proliferation of money and organization. Why do you think Republicans repeat "Hollywood Liberal" ad nauseam? They sure as hell don't say "Hollywood American." Because it works with anyone who sees themselves as a "regular guy" who resents the rich/privileged.
We both live in the Bay Area. I had a revealing moment after the elction when I learned from a guy I know that he had voted for Bush. While I was surprised, I pressed him harder. It turns out that while he voted for Gore, he voted for Bush this time because he saw the anti-war protests a couple years ago and decided, "I'm not like them."
In our world of politially educated, nuanced understanding of the landscape, this seems cartoonishly simplistic. But we have to face the fact that it is reality for a huge portion of Vague America. They just simply aren't paying attention. They have no idea who Rick Santorum is. The few things that filter down are terms like "Hollywood liberal," and, if you have your way, "American Taliban." That's what makes this a deadly serious issue I'm pleading to you. Terms like this CAN penetrate Vague America because they are shorthand, and Vague America loves shorthand.
People vaguely decide, "I'm not like X." That's how many, many, many people vote. American voters are more aware of the theocratic dangers from Republicans right now than at any time in memory - this is such a critical time to rhetorically cement a connection between Republicans and the Taliban.
"Republican Taliban" speaks simply and directly to that. It calls them out - truthfully - for their deliberate courtship and rearing of this evil beast over decades. They suckled this monster at their political teats, knowing that without their votes and organization, liberals and Democrats would have been running the whole country for all that time. And think of all the policy damage that has been done by Republicans having power. Think of all the real human toll that has taken. And we don't have the courage to call them by their deserving name? It's inexplicable to me, but again, I am open to an argument if you have one.