The Wilmington Delaware Riverfront was host to one of the four “TEA” Parties going on in the state. It was nothing more than a two and a half hour therapy session that had Republican speaker after Republican speaker yap and complain about spending, socialism and pork. One after another they proved they know nothing about economics and have the memory of a gnat. The incoherent ramblings poked fun at Obama, mocked the Democrats and cried about the end of the world now that socialism was at hand. All this has been diagnosed in just over 90 days. The past 8 years never happened and the past 90 days confirmed what they already know and the rest of the world doesn’t: Obama is a Socialist. The Democrats are crooks too. Congress should be impeached and we should “Legalize the Constitution” (whatever the heck that means). Democrats also spend money like a sailor on leave. Oh and don’t forget that Socialism is scary and it’s coming (or is already here and has already destroyed the republic even though the republic must still stand since I am protesting to save it). Yes indeed, this was therapy at its best. Bitter and clinging every step of the way.
The one problem with this therapy session is there was no counselor to pat them on the knee and tell them their phobias are illegitimate. The nattering naybobs of negativity found their home today and couldn’t have been happier to be mired in their own cult of misinformation. Overwhelmingly white and bitter they clutched dozens of signs which simply denounced everything from abortion to congress without offering any possible avenues that their pain could be eased except through more complaining.
The bright part of the show came when a College Republican said that at this rate of spending there would be no Social Security for him. The “harrumphing” and “here! here’ing” quickly followed that statement. But, then as you looked around the crowd you couldn’t help but laugh at the Social Security recipients holding up their signs in support of capitalism and damning socialism. The hypocritical statements flew out of their mouths’ faster than the $5 “Pork Sandwiches” they were selling at the door.
If that wasn’t enough our own minor league version of Rush Limbaugh took roll call and asked people to identify if they were an Republicans or Democrats. “Don’t be afraid to say what party you are. Don’t be embarrassed!” As they laughed they started chanting some vacuous battle cry that the radio host was leading. As he ended his speech he asked them to not stop. “Keep at it!” he begged. “This is just the beginning. We have to keep on them.” The heads bobbed up and down like three years olds watching the Teletubbies. Keep at what? Who knew. Just keep at it.
All in all, in Delaware, it was just a way for the losing team to vent and invent new conspiracies and network with other rudderless dingies. But the symbolism of the day was completely lost on these people. The “TEA” Party was held in an abandoned, unrented former retail space that has been empty since the November elections. Oh? Who last rented out the space? The winning Democratic candidate for Governor, Jack Markell.
Note: donviti wrote this and I posted it while he was away from a computer.