Bum's Bluff

Wing Nuts and the Polarization of America

For years, I have observed and chuckled at the different attempts of the right side of the political spectrum to regain their Reagan era status. From the frenzied Ken Starr attacks on Clinton's character to Newt's Contract With America to Cheney's dire predictions on Obama's policies; the political right has worked hard to convince Americans of the end of society under Democratic rule.

To be fair, the left was similarly laughable during the Reagan/Bush years. I'm still waiting on the oft predicted nuclear holocaust that was sure to result from Reagan's proliferation policies during his first term.

Thus I chuckled again while reading Grump's latest snippet on our local Wisconsin flavor of dichotomy.

My amusement is not lasting as long these days however. The attempts by the right to denounce and disparage the Obama Administration over the last year are losing their humor and instead igniting a real fear inside of me. The Tea Party movement seemed a cute attempt at pretending to be a grassroots Joe the Plumber style gathering until I realized their real make up.

The violent verbal and physical responses to Congressional members' votes on the Health Care legislation brings into light the danger of the new wingnut. They appear to be attracting a new sort of militia-minded neo-conservative protester that they never before courted. People that are convinced of conspiracies about Health Care Death Squads, Mexico's takeover plot of the Southwest, Obama's citizenship, FEMA's concentration camps, and the New World Order - Obama style.

For a seemingly conspiracy minded population on the right, to assert the Health Care bill is unconstitutional is not very far from declaring that the Obama Administration is dismantling the Constitution. And them could be fighting words, unfortunately - no matter how untrue they may be - because the assumedly civilized thoughtful right is incredibly silent and permissive on this new belief system.

posted by Walton @ 7:33 PM