The latest nationwide polls show a growing optimism about America and a wide majority (up to 70% in some polls) supports President Obama and approves of his handling of the economy. In a survey by the Washington Post just 21% identify themselves as Republicans http://crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/who-wants-be-republican-hardly-anyon . You might have missed this news if you live in the south, one of the last places in America still controlled by the GOP. Yes, even though the Democrats dominated the 2008 elections and now have a clear majority in Congress; it’s still isolating to be a progressive liberal in the south. From the tone and tenor of the letters to the editor, the hysterical rhetoric of the hosts and guests on FOX TV and the visible anger of those attending the tea parties in April, you would think the sky was falling and we were minutes away from total economic and moral collapse.

We are in crisis there is no doubt, due in large part to the actions of the Bush administration and the GOP over the last 8 years, but rather than pull together as Americans and get behind our democratically elected officials and support them in their efforts to shore up our economy and get people back to work, we have folks who are stocking up on guns and ammo, spreading lies and fear, actively calling for the president’s policies to fail and doing everything they can to be contemptuous of our democracy and our nation. It’s hard to understand a political party that was so thoroughly routed and rebuked at the ballot box and yet has no sense of introspection, personal responsibility and patriotism. Rather than be chastened and humbled Republicans and conservatives are acting like a bunch of cry baby losers. More than that they are personally undertaking a campaign to smear our president and his polices to distort his intentions and to stir up hate among us. Even though I did not like or support George W. Bush, George HW Bush or Ronald Reagan, I never doubted that they were good Americans and although misguided, well intentioned. This attitude is apparently not shared by the hardened minority left in the wake of the 2008 elections. They seem unable to move on and gracefully accept the mandate of change approved of the by the majority of the American voters. How sad.

Are these the same folks who tried to destroy The Dixie Chicks for their critical comment of President Bush while in concert in England? Remember their hue and cry that it was unpatriotic to criticize a president on foreign soil? How do they justify calling our democratically elected president names and branding him a communist and a socialist and worse in public on American soil? There is no logic or morality behind their behavior.

The Republican Party’s advocates emulate their hard right views and prejudices including Joe the Plumber who in addition to launching a money making scheme to eliminate income taxes by clicking on some stupid website, is also smearing homosexuals, saying he wouldn’t let ‘queers’ near his children in a recent interview. Rep. Virginia Foxx of NC recently spoke out against the federal hate crimes bill on the floor of the house by repeating lies that the bills namesake Matthew Shepherd wasn’t murdered because he was gay.  These remarks by the way in front of Matthew Shepherd’s mother who was in the gallery.

One gets the feeling that the GOP is against everything the Obama administration supports or advocates. I believe that if the Obama administration discovered a cure for cancer the GOP leadership would oppose distributing the medicine. Republicans don’t offer alternative plans or ideas just criticism and hate. The posters held up at those tea parties were disgusting and also very enlightening. When you call our democratically elected president a fascist or a socialist you clearly indicate your ignorance of both his policies and those political philosophies. Indeed it would appear the 30% of folks opposing President Obama are truly operating on fear and ignorance and are easily led by Rush Limbaugh and his cadre.

The Daily Kos website recently asked voters in various parts of the country about secession and the results are telling. When asked, “Do you think the state would be better off as an independent nation or as part of the United States of America?” 79% overall said no, while just 61% of those living in the South said yes. When asked “Would you approve or disapprove of the state you live in leaving the United States?” 95% of Democrats disapproved, while 63% of Republicans disapproved and 28% were unsure. So…what’s the message here? Republicans love America when things go their way but are willing to leave the union when elections turn their party out.

Whenever I’m confronted with difficult circumstances I harken back to advice my mother and dad offered up when I was a child and I think much of their wisdom would apply in this situation. “If you don’t have anything nice (or constructive) to say be quiet.” “Be a gracious loser.” And when you take an ass whipping have the good sense to sit down and shut up.