Monday, March 29, 2010

postscript...

And so it goes...

Not a coincidence, rather a trend.

Friday, March 26, 2010

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.

Monday, March 22, 2010

Maxwell's Silver Hammer?


Nancy Pelosi heads to the East Lawn to play a rousing game of Whack the Mole...

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

What's in that brown bag?













Not sure what's in there but I noticed the word "movement" written on the outside. Eewwww....

Sunday, March 07, 2010

Bloody Sunday Remembered

No, not the Irish event memorialized by U2. The American disgrace known as Bloody Sunday.

45 years ago today, the first of three marches from Selma to Montgomery ended in violence. The perseverance to march again two days later and then, after that one also ended violently, 14 days later, is astonishing. This is the history, both proud and shameful, that we cannot afford to forget.