It's time to start worrying about the Republican Party. No, I'm not talking about their predicted ability to gain seats in the midterm election. Now that's beginning to appear not too likely. And no, I'm not talking about the party's divisiveness and inability to present a solidified platform that pleases the party's extreme factions. That may indicate a terminal split, but it's not what I am talking about here. What it's time to start worrying about for Republicans is their increasing tendency to come completely unhinged in public.
Hot on the heels of John Boehner's comment about how maintaining his composure while sitting behind the president constituted his "hardest" day of work, we have Republican Congressman Michael Grimm threatening someone with a physical attack, implying a fatal attack. On camera. Live.
Whatever semblance of decorum that used to pervade the Republican Party seems to have vanished. Those poor victimized Republicans just can't stand the unrelenting abuse that their offices seem to attract. They're reacting out of sheer frustration. They've had it. They're mad as hell and they're not going to take this anymore.
Mr. Grimm (R-NY), for example, has been plagued with some inconveniences like business partners being indicted on fraud and racketeering charges, and his own campaign financing irregularities that just might have been against the law. Never mind that all of this goes back over a year ago. He's just now to the point where it's getting to him. He can't take any more of the constant abuse over all of these allegations and guilt-by-association innuendos about his business partner.
Echoing the sentiments of Ted Cruz, who has just this week said he has grown "tired" of all the questions about the government shutdown last year, Mr. Grimm has taken his complaint to the next level. He has chosen to punctuate his dissatisfaction with a little intimidation of his own in the form of a verbal threat to commit assault and battery. Unfortunately for him, there is now some highly popular video footage of him committing the indiscretion. Wasn't it just a week ago now that another upstanding Republican suggested that President Obama should be hanged?
The GOP is in dire straights. They feel so threatened by a few of the little details of life that they are lashing out at their perceived attackers with violent reactions. What does this violence mean for the Republican party? What does this mean for voters? What good can come of all this for the GOP?
Stay tuned for the upcoming midterm election results in November, so we can all view the fall-out from this new and improved three-pronged Republican strategy of physical threats, violence, and thoughtless reaction to problems.