The Scorpion and the Frog: A Cautionary Political Tale...

The Tea Party can't help it: It's in their Nature

The scorpion and the frog is a fable about a scorpion who asks a frog to carry him across a river. The frog protests, fearful that he will be stung during the trip. The scorpion argues that if it stung the frog, they would both drown. The frog agrees, and begins carrying the scorpion across. But midway across the river, the scorpion stings the frog, who asks "Why did you sting me? Now we'll both drown." The scorpion replies, "Because that is my nature."

This well worn fable is an excellent metaphor for the way the tea party supporters act. No matter the cost, no matter the facts, the tea party will stop at nothing to "win." And by win, I mean potentially wreck an already weak economy. Why? Because there is only one narrative--CUT--and that narrative cannot be undermined. Any who consider doing otherwise or even "working with the other side" will be summarily stung, even if it means drowning themselves as well.

We Now Live a World where Newt Gingrich is too Moderate...

When he was asked by what he thought of Ryan’s proposal to revise Medicaid so that seniors would receive annual payments to purchase health insurance (also known as "premium support," Gingrich replied “I don’t think right-wing social engineering is any more desirable than left-wing social engineering. I don’t think imposing radical change from the right or the left is a very good way for a free society to operate.” The hew and cry from the right was loud and clear: traitor!.

...and John Boehner "Worships at the Alter of Massive Spending"

According to a piece in The Hill Tea Party Leader: Boehner Must Go: 

Tea Party Nation leader Judson Phillips called on House Speaker John Boehner "to go" and be replaced by a "Tea Party Speaker of the House" in a blog post Wednesday morning, the same day that Jenny Beth Martin, co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, said that her group was looking into the same idea.

"Now Boehner is in the process of surrendering again. He is surrendering not to [President] Obama, but to the status quo in Washington," Phillips wrote. "The House passed Cut, Cap and Balance, which would cut $111 billion from the budget. It would cap spending and set a good course for the future. Martin sounded a similar theme at a breakfast sponsored by The Christian Science Monitor, saying that in a just-completed poll of their members, four-fifths are not satisfied with Boehner and nearly three-quarters would like to have a new Speaker of the House. 

"Maybe we should see about a different speaker right away," she said.

Tea Party to Boehner: "You're Fired."

Phillips was more strident in his criticism. "Boehner has no real interest in solving the problems this country faces. ... He worships at the altar of massive spending," he wrote. "We need a Speaker who is a leader. We need someone with courage and vision. Boehner has none of those qualities. He is not a leader."

Phillips urged readers to call their legislators and advocate for Boehner "to go" and be replaced by a "Tea Party Speaker of the House."

Cut. Cap. Balance. Cut. Cap. Balance.

So, let me get this straight: Boehner, who attacks the president's plans every chance he gets, let Tea Party shill Rep. Cantor steal the initial negotiations spotlight while he enjoyed status as a potted plant, and even today is pursuing the the Tea Party (TP--hmmm, insert pueril 7th grade-level joke here) agenda of cut without consequence of removing tax subisidies, is somehow too moderate for the right? Really.

Drunk with power much? It's clear now (okay, okay, it was never opaque before), that this mindless machine known as the Tea Party will stop at nothing until it's stung its way--and the American economy--to the bottom of the river. 

And the lesson learned in this tale? For Boehner (and now McCain) at least, it's be careful who your friends are--they could just as easily turn out to be your enemies. 
Let the mindless cannibalism continue...