I want my country back

Tea Party protesters were in town. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) had been spat on by a protestor. Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a hero of the civil rights movement, was called a "nigger." Henry Waxman (D-CA) was called a "liar and crook." James Clyburn (D-SC) received racist faxes and a noose at his office. And Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) was called a "faggot," as protestors shouted at him with deliberately lisp-y screams. The escalation of threats of violence as noted in the sign to the left, seen being held aloft by more than one protester at the rally, while Republican Reps. Steve King (IA), Michele Bachmann (MN-the banner on her campaign Website read, ""Michelle Bachmann - Amaricas Congress Woman." Hopefully a dictionary was found and a correction made), and Mike Pence (IN) spoke to the tea party crowd, along with actor Jon Voight. I have nothing against protests, having taken part in a few myself over the years, but if you want to make statements, use your voice to talk about the politics not the race or sexual orientation of the politicians.
The Web site Free Republic carried a number of the reactions to the Capitol Police closing the capitol and Congressional office buildings. Most notable to me among the comments was this one:
"We are now oppressed by a tyrannical oligarchic government. These potentates will ignore every aspect of the Constitution, which they recognize in name only."
I guess the idea of the government reforming health care was the proverbial straw for these people after warrantless wiretaps, screened attendance at public political events, torture, and rendition.
I wonder if they have any concept of civility in government or even interest in a democratic process?
Then Bill and I watched the Patricia Neal/Andy Griffith movie "A Face in the Crowd" and I saw that the time is ripe for an updated remake. If you've never seen the movie, a nobody gains public attention, realizes his entertainment value has an affect on people, uses it to advance his career and then becomes a demagogue, attempting to manipulate and control people he really thinks are ignorant sheep. I can think of a few people who fit that description in today's political media.