Bucco, I'm not saying that I agree with all that Alinsky said or proposed. I am certainly not canonizing him. If he dedicated his book to Satan, shame on him. He has that right in this country, but I don't have to agree with him.

I chose not to get into any discussion about Alinsky during the campaign for a couple of reasons. First, he wasn't running for office. More importantly, he died before Barack Obama was even a teen-ager. Why was he worthy of any discussion during the campaign at all? Even his book was out-of-print before Obama began his political career.

But I was surprised to learn that he was non-violent. Should I have known that earlier? Probably, particularly in that I'm from the South Side of Chicago and had relatives who worked in the stock yards. In fact, my Dad went to high school only blocks from the stock yards during the years that Alinsky was so active there. I was surprised because you consistently referred to both Alinsky and William Ayers as "bad guys", almost in the same sentence. Ayers certainly was, and I mistakenly assumed that Alinsky was as well. But my research didn't prove that. Alinsky was smart and effective and operated at the far left-wing end on social issues, but from all that I read did nothing illegal or even immoral.

I can certainly understand why people who are true conservatives differ with Alinsky's social agenda. I'm specifically not referring to the Republican party or even the "blue dog" Democrats because neither have embraced true conservative principles in their legislation and governance in several decades. I'm speaking of true conservatives, who embrace that philosophy in every sense -- fiscal, social and political. I can understand why they might differ with Alinsky's tactics for leveling the playing field between the social and economic classes in the country.

But what was most surprising to me was to read Alinsky's twelve Rules For Radicals. Each and every one of Alinsky's rules have been consistently used by almost all candidates for political office from both parties in the last few elections. I found that quite amazing. He must have discovered something pretty important to have that many politicians embrace his tactics.