Rhubarb Report: Episode 33

I tried. I promise, I tried. Really, I did. I tried to keep politics out of the discussion. The last episode of the Rhubarb Report was politics-free. It is kind of like saying gluten-free or fat-free, only probably far healthier.

But you just can’t get away from it these days. When the reality TV series that is the Republican presidential debates produces countless sound bites, it can overwhelm the airwaves and the senses. In this election cycle, it seems to be getting more divisive, more bombastic, more insane, and more ridiculous. With that thought, I bring to you an all-politics Episode 33 of the Rhubarb Report. Sit back, relax, and enjoy that gluten and fat.

1. Arrogant. Grandiose. Divisive. Those would all be words used to describe Newt Gingrich’s Republican “People’s Campaign”. 

I guess these days you can get away with saying just about anything. There is a fine line between fact and folly or, as Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins of Spinal Tap once remarked, “there is such a fine line between stupid and clever”. It would appear that you don’t have to be able to substantiate your claims, especially once it has created a tasty morsel of sound bite. Gingrich has come up with plenty of them lately. Take, for example, his comments on President Obama is …

“The most dangerous president of our lifetime.”

“… waged a war on the Catholic Church.”

Wow. Please support those claims. What happened to having a deep respect for the office of the President? Frankly, I find that this is insulting to the collective intelligence of those residing within these borders.

While we’re on that second quote, these candidates talk about “going back to the Constitution”, yet in the same breath they seem to forget about the separation of church and state. Ever heard of the First Amendment, Newt? You proclaim to be a historian. There is no place for religion in an election campaign – especially when it provokes fear and animosity and frankly has little to do with running the country effectively.

2. Over the years, the Republican Party has reminded us that “family values” is a foundation for their political platform. And then there is, yes, Newt Gingrich – a man who is a confirmed serial adulterer, who left his first wife when she was diagnosed with cancer, then left wife number two via a phone call after she was diagnosed with MS, and then asked for an open marriage with wife 2 when he was already involved with a mistress. Those are some strong family values there. Oh, wait - “I’ve had to go to God for forgiveness” – well then, we’ll just scratch that from the record, now won’t we?

3. But in the “good things may still come of all of this” department – Governor Rick Perry returned to Texas to a significant drop in his approval ratings. Oh, I wonder if it has anything to do with his little venture into national politics also costing the Texas taxpayers about $800,000 in the process. Or maybe it had to do with the “oops” moment. Or maybe a plethora of reality checks for those living in the great state of Texas.

Photo credits: Wikipedia