no respect

I've been losing interest in politics somewhat lately because thinking, talking, and writing about it (them?) seems so futile most of the time.

But the interest was re-awakened this morning by Frank Rich's weekly Times column, which contains the best political analysis I've ever read by anybody, anywhere.

Ever notice how much disdain the GOP heavyweights -- Rove, Boehner, McConnell, etc. -- seem sometimes to have for the tea partiers, those fired-up ordinary citizens in tricorn hats? Rich explains how and why the teepers allow themselves to be used, like the naive maiden who thinks it must be true love.

That's all. Anything else I might say would be superfluous, so at this point there's nothing left but direct you toward Rich's prodigious work.

The painting of the mad tea party from Carroll's Alice in Wonderland is by Anne Vansweevelt, acrylic on fiberboard.