The right wing has a problem being Machiavellian, for good and ill. They can conceive the notion of using force for their political ends, in theory, but disregard that the most effective tool is lies, or they recoil in distaste. "Lying is dishonourable!" Whereas for progressives, and THEIR Tolkien, George R. R. Martin, honour is, at best, an outdated, meaningless concept.