Leave it to the Republicans to create the most entertaining train wreck reality show ever broadcasted. On some days I find myself caught between the urge to fall on the floor laughing at their hypocrisy, such as when John McCain proclaimed that he never considered himself a Maverick. Did anyone actually think he was? But on other days Im compelled to run for the hills out of fear for my life. With storylines as fanciful as any soap opera how could I ever dream of not tuning in? I never imaged Id see the words RNC money and Lesbian bondage Club all in the same headline. Yet I’m fascinated with the possibilities of what will be written or rewritten next.
The extended season opened during the 2008 Presidential election campaign as we witnessed the day to day lack of coordination of stories by McCain and Palin. So was Joe the Plumber even a plumber? One can assume that the Liberal Media had a cornucopia of delightful sound bites to pick and choose from that showed not only the disconnection that the ticket had with the every day American but the detachment amongst the two running mates. Perhaps they needed better Hollywood handlers who could have assisted them with their lines.
After the elections, I thought that there would be relief from the tragedy that was the McCain/Palin epic and that Washington would, for once and for all become a place of change, a place for action. Change and action did occur indeed. But not how I expected. But then how could anyone have predicted the creation of the Tea Party or the Birther Movements.
As entertaining as it was watching Palin Go Rogue, I must say that I thought her 15 minutes of fame had expired. Little did I know that by 2010, Palin, with her paranoid frenzy sidekick Congress woman Michele Bachmann, would become the poster children for the Tea Party movement. A movement that still has yet to convince me that they stand for anything except for anything that President Obama supports. I wonder how many of Palins Tea Party followers live in her designated “un-American” regions?
As the Democrats gained a majority in the House, the Senate and the White House, life as we knew it was over. All the joys and benefits we had under Bush are no longer available. Wait? What? Infomercial Break brought to you by the Republican Party.
The Republican Party of 2010 would like us all to believe that life is now worse. But is it? Months after Obama’s inauguration, the “Right” found their voices by saying that the economy has yet to improve under Obama’s direction. It doesn’t take a political scientist to realize that the economy was not going to bounce back instantaneously. But despite the recent release of publicized facts of how the country is starting to see an economic recovery, Republican figureheads brand the situation as a time for all Americans to “RELOAD” Reload what may I ask and what is the intended outcome of reloading?
Did our reality show become a war documentary? No not yet. There is another show in mind first. The spin off to the reality show is the Blame/Take Credit for Game. The Blame/Take Credit for Game has always fascinated me. As a child I was bewildered as to why President Regan was credited with the release of the Iran hostages when he had not yet officially taken office. Then in my late twenties I was left astonished at the claims that it was somehow Clinton’s fault that September 11 happened even though he had not been President for over nine months.
In the latest episode of the Blame/Take Credit for Game, the rules have changed. The Republicans no longer need actual events to blame on the Democrats. Instead it is the prediction of “inevitable” future events, which cast a shameful shadow against the Democrats, especially those of the Liberal persuasion. To rally against health care reform, thanks to the writers at Fox news, the American public is continuously reminded by Republican politicians how we can not allow the bill to be “rammed down our throats”. They tell us that within the reform bill, we will now have an option to euthanize our grandparents and that thousands of IRS inspectors will vigilantly hunt us down if we do not purchase health insurance. Did anyone tell the Republican legislators that the bill can be read in full online and that it clearly does not include any mention of such details?
The actuality of the situation is that this has become more than a realty game show, suitably titled, Fear Factor. Fear is what holds the Republican party together. What is troubling is that the Republican party finds the need to prey on the fears of every day Americans that do not take it upon themselves to see how balanced and fair their information sources truly are. Fears so deep routed with a history of blind ignorance and in many cases social and racial bigotry. Somehow such radical ideas such as making sure hard working Americans can provide themselves and their families with quality healthcare without going bankrupt, opens a gateway to fascism or worse, Armageddon.
Palin may find it amusing to excite her followers to “Reload” but when does speech like this become accountable for destructive actions those who take to heart her words. In the past few weeks, reports of death threats and property damage against members of Congress have been reported. When did we once again use violence to promote our values instead of the power of voting? I suppose some can not wait till November to have their voices heard.
Yes the current administration is comprised of a majority of democrats and it appears that it is an administration trying to work for the American people. This is something that has not been seen in almost a decade. The Republicans had power and as a result of their power our county was left with an enormous deficit (though they were handed a surplus) and two endless wars. Where were all the outraged Republicans then? Has Obama changed so much that it has brought them out of the wood works? Gun in hand and ready to “Reload” I don’t believe so.
Without holding my breath in hopes that the Republican politicians will stop campaigning for the next election in favor of getting back to work on the jobs they already have in Washington DC, I am captivated to what’s to come. I am at a lose at speculating what the season finale outcome will be. If we are lucky this series will be cancelled and those in government can continue without interruption with the change we voted for in 2008. Maybe I will just turn the television off and pick up a book. Perhaps one with a less frightening characters.
