Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is a prime example of how far one can sink when desparately clinging to a rigid, extremist view of the world.
General Colin Powell is a man respected by all but the Bachmann's of the world.
Below are links to interviews with each of these folks. The contrast is quite illuminating and illustrates with great clarity the intellectual and moral bankrupcy of contemporary American conservatism, at least as it is practiced by Rovian Republicans.
General Powell on "Meet the Press"
Congresswoman Bachmann on "Hardball"