Reflecting on things historical on this Day of Independence, I might have tended to invoke Boston’s Tea Party, (and it’s burgeoning present-day offspring), as being the most famous, (infamous?), but, Mr. Carroll’s, albeit fictitious, Mad Hatter version is still, by far, the epitome of the traditional consumption of brewed beverages, snacks and the political ramifications discussed, hysterically shouted or otherwise implied.  At the Hatter’s party, the seemingly nonsensical repartee between he, the March Hare, Tweedles Dee & Dum, Alice, et al, prepares one for a journey of misdirection, misconception and misrepresentation to a classically preposterous end that has nonetheless delighted gleeful readers for 145 years.  The Palin party, on the other hand, (polling at a whopping 1/3 of the electorate), while providing comparable dosages of mis-direction/conception/representation, offers no glee, nor purpose, nor promised patriotism.  It has emerged as a completely unfocused, highly volatile assemblage of anxiety-ridden very, very angry individuals, (see “The Rise of Naziism”), stirred by inane slogans and evangelical-esque blathering  There are many more positive ideas discussed around the Hatter’s harried table, (the un-birthday has always stuck with me and could lead to an economical windfall for cake bakers), than have been posited or exchanged during the never-ending rallies of the Tea Bag Nation.  Promoting candidates without knowledge or agenda, solely on the basis of their willingness to affiliate, is not only fundamentally stupid but counter to solving the growing laundry list of problems at the root of most of the anger and angst.

We’re 234 years old today, (ancient in dog years but tween-like compared to most nations), but the pallor of war, a damaged economy and country-wide mistrust of…well, almost everything, will take a toll on the unified, heartfelt singing of the Hill sister’s“Happy Birthday” song.  So, while I certainly relate to the frustration and anger of the growing hordes of Tea Party revelers, shouldn’t someone point out the similarity between the two water-soluble beverages, TEA:COOL-AID?  The cult-like adherence to the Palin doctrine, (there’s an oxymoron in there somewhere), will surely end in Guyana-like tragedy.  Sharon Angle?  Rand Paul?  Really?  It’s as if that nightmare I had where George W. was elected President was real.