As such, I find myself in good company at Kesher Talk. I too bring a hawkish Jewish (but mostly secular) perspective to the table, although I fall more in the conservative than liberal camp. But when it comes to classical liberalism, such as that expressed Judith and other Kesher Talk contributors, I’m definitely a proponent.

By providing backhanded and sometimes outright support to a regressive and totalitarian ideology in the wake of 9/11, too many liberals betrayed their self-professed principles of promoting human rights and social justice. Anything to remain in the anti-American camp. But the enemy of one’s enemy is not always one’s friend – and that’s certainly the case when it comes to Islamism. Conversely, by throwing in my lot with the truly progressive party in the current conflict, the United States and by extension, western civilization, I felt that I was remaining steadfast to my classical liberal roots.

As Ronald Reagan once said about his own political shift, "I didn’t leave the Democratic Party of FDR. The Democratic Party left me." In my own case, I didn’t so much leave the left as the left left me (try saying that fast three times in a row!). Since that time, my political focus has become more ideological than partisan, but I generally lean Republican.

Of course, all this has made me something of a political misfit, particularly in the leftist stronghold of San Francisco, where I reside. Inspired by The Liberal Hawks, a New York-based online discussion group started by Judith, and seeking out likeminded company, I formed my own group based in the Bay Area, The 9/11 Neocons.

The term "Neocons" has taken on many sinister connotations (to hear the Moonbats tell it), the majority of which I proudly ally myself with. Yes, I’m Jewish and yes, I support a muscular U.S. foreign policy. But I think the most apt definition in terms of the bulk of 9/11 Neocon members, including myself, is literal. As a reader recently pointed out, "neo" means new, so a "Neocon" is literally a new conservative. Nonetheless, the group’s politics cover a lot of territory and I like to think that we offer a pretty wide tent. Unlike the totalitarian impulses of the left, we actually tolerate dissent.

I also like to think of both The 9/11 Neocons and The Liberal Hawks as representative of an emerging political movement. The impact of this movement is still filtering throughout American society, but something tells me it will be felt for years to come.

Indeed our two groups share many members, including bloggers, journalists, photographers, activists and artists, whose work continues to influence each other. I was lucky enough to be in New York City recently for a “Hawkathon” weekend in which I got to meet many East Coast bloggers and Libhawks. As I’ve found with our monthly 9/11 Neocon gatherings in San Francisco, the company of those unconstrained by the self-censorship of political correctness is vastly superior to the dull humorlessness of the left. In other words, we had a grand old time!

So here’s to many more to come….

Cross-posted to CinnamonStillwell.blogspot.com.