Have you noticed that the Republican Party seems to have been high jacked by people best categorized as cuckoo? I’m referring to the “tea party” movement. Although it comes as no surprise to those who know me – I’ve never identified as a Republican nor do I have much love for the party, but I’ve always viewed them as legitimate political party and envied their ability to organize and fund raise. However, lately they have become a caricature – hard to take serious despite the fact they can and will continue to wield considerable power within American Politics.
Tea Party members strike me as quite a mean-spirited and surly group. They never tire of assuring anyone with a camera that they are “fired up” and they love to make up words like refudiate or nucular to sound like they are intelligent. Sadly, this hostile group is not intentionally trying to sound illiterate. I think they believe they are showcasing their grasp of the English language.
I wonder out loud what more traditional members of the Republican Party like my parents make of these quacks. Many in my family vote their wallet. Issues like human rights (waterboarding anyone?), social equality for women, minorities and gays are of personal importance but won’t trump voting for candidates that promise smaller gov’t no matter how hollow that promise turns out to be or where they may stand on issues like gay marriage, domestic partner rights, etc…
Having said that, I know the poor use of the English language regularly spoken by Republican leaders must grind on their nerves – my parents especially. I grew up in a house where we were regularly corrected if we spoke incorrectly and complimented when we were particularly articulate. So I have to wonder what they and others like them make of the new “Republican Elite” be it Sarah Palin insisting that “refudiate” is a real word or the former President Bush (and now half the country) who pronounce nuclear as “nucular”. It may be wrong, but I have a tough time taking someone seriously who shouts angry epitaphs about English only or takes xenophobic stands with regards to immigration reform but can not spell or speak the language they claim to cherish.
However, all those great memories came to a crashing halt when I received my American Express bill earlier this week. Talk about a buzz-kill. The invoice which details every transaction was a record 3 pages long filled with purchases of bottles of champagne (mental note I do need to pick up another bottle), stays at lovely B&Bs in Provincetown, and the more than occassional dinner out. 
