Timber, I agree that the extremists on both ends of the spectrum come from the same mold, but those on the right do tend to have greater exposure on television and, unfortunately, far too many people believe most of what they see on TV.
As for religion, the Conservatives have it all over the Liberals:
Here is a link to an article about General Boykin, just appointed by Rumsfeld to the number three position in The Department of Defense--(I think it is Deputy Director of Intelligence).
http://www.modbee.com/opinion/story/7619247p-8526519c.html
A couple of excerpts:
He has praised the leadership of President Bush, whom he extolled as "a man who prays in the Oval Office." "George Bush was not elected by a majority of the voters in the United States," Boykin told an Oregon congregation. "He was appointed by God."
In a church in daytona, FL., Boykin mentioned a lieutenant of Mohammed Farah Aidid who said, "They'll never get me because Allah will protect me. Allah will protect me."
"Well, you know what?" Boykin continued. "I knew that my God was bigger than his. I knew that my God was a real God and his was an idol." Atto later was captured.
This isn't light-weight celebrity blathering, this is enormous power in the hands of a zealot. His words sound depressingly like those of Bin Laden.