While sitting in a study room at the Satellite Beach (Florida) Public Library this morning, I was disturbed by a loud voice vehemently proclaiming: "I'm no longer with the Republican Party!! I'm Tea Party. I won't be in the Republican Party again until they get rid of the clowns running it!!"
I looked through the window and saw this old codger--who looked to be about 80--yelling at a couple of younger guys. I couldn't tell what they had said or done, but apparently whatever they did made the old boy go ballistic. But hey, gotta admit, I agree with him about the "clowns" part.
Anyway, when he looked over and saw me, he had to add this, "They don't know how to stand up to that idiot Obama!"
I just chuckled to myself and went back to my work and he huffed off thinking he'd made a point.
But really, I find it interesting and alarming that we share the point of view that GOP leaders are clowns--albeit from much different perspectives. In fact, it's actually very scary that he probably doesn't think people like John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn are conservative, obstructive or hateful enough. Case in point, look at what just happened to Cantor. No doubt, thousands of people in Cantor's district obviously think like that.
I imagine there are millions of Americans who have that mindset...wingnut extremists who hate the federal government, the President and want to take America even farther right or destroy it if they can't.
My encounter at the library was just another reminder of how critical it is for right-minded, progressive citizens to stop worrying about the 2016 Presidential election, get focused on the 2014 mid-terms, vote and get others to the polls...because people like that pissed off old man in the library will.
He's one of the legions of angry old white guys that Lindsey Graham and the rest of the GOP have lost and may not be able to get back, unless of course, they turn up the crazy...which, I fear they will--especially in the wake of Cantor's loss.