"It's sad to go through this stuff, but I recommend it, if only in the interests of greater understanding."

It is awful, but I'm not sure it will lead to much understanding.  I live among a lot of conservatives, and while I hear some horribly uninformed junk like what you quoted on the radio on occasion, I don't find that any of the conservatives I actually know hold those sorts of ridiculous views.  In short, Dale is probably right in that the Free Republic really doesn't represent the median of where "conservatives" are. 

Personally, I'd put those F.R. nuts as being way more wacko than most liberals I know.  And further, the inherent meanness of the opinions shared is tragic.  And embarrassing.  On the other hand, they are easy to brand as fools.  (Hopefully their number doesn't continue to multiply).  Some of the wackos on the left, however, are cloaked in respectability and are more like wolves in sheep's clothing.  Which side is more dangerous depends on your point of view . . . and which is closer to the real reins of power. 

And no, I haven't seen much here from even the most liberal among us that would make me put any of YOU in left side wacko territory.  Some of Pat's button-pushing posts, on the other hand . . .