Monday Morning Mutterings: The Mormon, the Moron and the Mouthpiece...

With deepest apologies to C.S. Lewis, but that line just popped into my head this morning as I digested the results of this weekend's Iowa Straw Poll . The three front-runners for the republican nomination became a little clearer, and it is not encouraging for those of us that like to be able to go to sleep at night knowing that when we wake up we will still be in a free and democratic republic. Mitt Romney skipped the whole thing so as not to have his media-gifted title of 'front-runner' tarnished by an ass-kicking from the crazy broad from Minnesota, and Rick Perry was a no-show as he only just jumped into the race and therefore wasn't on the ballot. I am not sure what illness afflicts the poor souls that decided that Michelle Bachmann was a better choice than Ron Paul or any of the other rethuglican crazies, but I sincerely hope it isn't contagious.

From a progressive's standpoint what took place this weekend was merely a precursor of teh stoopid that is about to befall this country over the next year and a half, and it doesn't make for pretty, or soothing reading.  The presstitutes in the M$M were falling all over themselves to cover this extravaganza of hatred, fear and bile, and they went orgasmic following Rick Perry's announcement that he is throwing his (ten-gallon) hat into the ring. Yeah, that's just what this country needs, another fucking Texan in the Whitehouse....

Now I know it's early days, but this field is so utterly and completely dreadful that you can't help but be scared at the thought of ANY of these certifiable lunatics making it into the Whitehouse. As a progressive, Obama has done a decent impression of a moderate republican (yes, they did exist at one time) and he has been little more than a series of let-downs and disappointments when it comes to sticking to liberal ideals, but shit, at least he's sane...The same can't be said about his potential opponents.

Ordinarily I would sit back and laugh at the crazy people playing at being grown-ups, but with the Corporations newly emboldened by the Citizen's United ruling, allowing them to spend untold millions on their favourite whore candidate, and the lapdogs in the media willing to do their bidding, I fear that there is a very real chance that one of these psychopaths could very well end up in the Oval Office.

Understand, in a 'fair' fight, with no interference from either Big Biz or a bent media machine this wouldn't even be close, not by a country mile, but that is not the case anymore, and there is a concerted effort by the right-wing and their Corporate paymasters to make sure that Obama is the first Black President not to get re-elected.

If this was just politics as normal, if this was just political gamesmanship and D.C. insider-type bullshit I would say 'so what' and move on, but the agenda proposed by these lunatics in the gop is so radical, so destructive, and so frightening to any non-crazy, freedom-and-liberty-loving person, that we have to suck it up and back the President, however let-down we may feel by him. Why? Because the alternative is simply too terrifying to contemplate.

Sinclair Lewis famously said "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross". Take a look at the current republican candidates and tell me which one that doesn't apply to....

Not the best start to the week I know, but hey, I calls 'em as I see 'em....

Peace y'all.