I don't know that either liberals or conservatives are anymore than foot soldiers. That's the political theater. Divide and conquer.

Michael Hudson's recent book, Forgive Them Their Debts, goes into the fundamental conflict between government and finance, aka, political leaders and the oligarchy.

The current political row is a lot of heat and very little light. They talk past each other and ignore their own blind spots. It really isn't worth trying to peel apart the many and myriad layers, because the people involved are not interested in much more than having someone to blame. Eventually the dust settles and both sides realize they've been had. Again.