Republicans needed a Monster to do their bidding and they made one. Step one: gather miscellaneous parts (radicalized, disaffected, frightened, previously religious-right people) Step two: Assemble the parts (stage rallies/protests) Step three: Add mega jolts of lightening (endless monies from the filthy rich to finance a faux grass roots a.k.a. “Astroturf” party) 

Yes, the Republicans have made a “Frankenstein-esque” like Monster of their very own - known as the Tea Party Freshman – oooohhhh run!. Originally designed to reek havoc against their arch nemesis – the Democrats – the Monster has turned on its’ own – and there appears to be no off switch on this Monster.

Make no mistake, this Monster worked as designed in the beginning. The Democrats lost the majority in the House of Representatives in a very large way, specifically due to this Monster. Since then, Republican filibusters have kept anything meaningful the Democrats wanted to do for the country from happening. Whoever controls the House, controls the dialogue – and the Republicans with their Monster are in the majority. 

But just like in the book and in the movie, the Monster’s creator has very little to no control over it (guys, try a cigar, maybe violin music?) The Monster becomes emboldened and takes on its’ creator and anyone or anything in it’s path. Like the Frankenstein Monster’s mindless reign of terror, the Tea Party Freshman have ravaged our government and put everyone in the country at risk.

Deficit reduction and raising the debt ceiling is at stake. It would appear that rank and file Republicans and their leadership understand the severity of the situation and appeared ready to deal (even though they refuse to use the word “compromise” as it would upset their Monster’s delicate sensibilities). However, the Tea Party Freshman either don’t really know, don’t understand the situation we’re in, or they don’t really care about the ramifications of their actions to a country with a population of over 309 million people. 

The Tea Party Freshman are willing to let the country default in the name of ideology.

Senior members of the Republican caucus have been working hard on trying to come up with something to solve the crisis, but they can’t even get their own house in order - let alone put together something that both Democrats and Republicans would be willing to cast their vote in favor. Instead, they have elected to appease their Monster by going hard right and passing legislation that will be voted down immediately by the adults in the Senate – a complete waste of time.

They should have seen this coming. In primary elections, some long time regular Republicans lost to the Tea Party Monster, depleting their party’s ranks of skilled, thoughtful - even if antagonistic, legislators. Lions eat their young, and this Monster eats what it wants. 

It is going to take the town-folk to rise up against this Monster. Get the pitchforks, rakes, and torches – chase this thing through town until the Monster falls over a cliff. The town must be made safe again.  

Pray that any damage caused by their intransigence is fixable.