Paul Krugman once again eviscerates the Republican Party. And to think that many on the left for a long time said there was no difference between the GOP and the Democrats. The persistence of this notion in left circles lies in the fact that too many on the left fear being tagged as insufficiently radical, as an opportunist. Thus protecting one’s left flank became a preoccupation, far more important than soberly looking at reality. This isn’t the only reason for this blind spot, but it wasn’t a minor factor either.