There's been a meme on the interwebs recently called "epistemic closure" that was started by Julian Sanchez - basically saying that conservative republicans have so ensconced themselves in a self-selected world that they have lost touch with reality.
The news recently seems to support this contention.
-James Fallows comments on the similarities between Arizona and China: Yet Another Arizona-China Convergence
-The GOP in the south is warning people from supporting moderate Republican candidates based on a loyalty oath: 'Party Loyalty Oath' would prevent Republicans from backing Crist [Yet these same wingnuts went crazy over a satirical piece about an Obama loyalty oath.]
-Oklahoma passed an anti-abortion bill that puts the government in charge of a woman's reproductive health.
-And Utah, apparently not content with being anti-science and anti-education, will now execute a prisoner by firing squad.
