OK. I'll admit it. I'm officially worried.
Not by polls, pols or blowhard pundits. But by inexplicable things I've seen over the past couple of months. Culminating in one last week involving...MY MOTHER, that I still cannot quite grasp.
I have to admit that I've been pretty sanguine about things up until now. I'm on the record here as confidently - and foolishly - predicting a big win for Martha Coakly over Scott Brown, even up to the day before the election. There was no way the citizens of Massachussetts would elect a conservative Republican - even if he wasn't all that conservative according to some. I was wrong. But it was close, and that was months ago...still nearly a year before the November election. That really didn't worry me.
No, that didn't. But in the ensuing months, multiple instances with people I personally know have had the cumulative effect of making me think SOMETHING is happening here - and what it is ain't exactly clear. (My apologies to Buffalo Springfield for that.)
First, a couple of months ago, I noticed a small pocket book in the shirt pocket of a coworker. Assuming it was a Bible, I casually mentioned to him that I hadn't seen him carrying one before (I work with him almost every day).
"That's not a Bible," he told me. "That's a Constitution!" And he proceeded to launch into a diatribe (with excruciating detail) about how Obama is "shredding the Constitution." I don't recall everything he said, but I do remember him blathering about a book by radio blowhard Mark Levin (UGGH).
I didn't reply. Partially because I don't like to talk politics at work, and I have to work with this guy every day. And partially because I'm not confrontational by nature. But also because I was in somewhat of a state of shock. In several years I never heard this guy get passionate about anything besides work - and he's NEVER mentioned politics. And now he's talking about the Constitution like he's a bloody law professor? WTF?
OK, one instance. Fast forward to late March.
The fellow who lives next to me has been my neighbor for six years. And in those six years we've had ZERO conversations. We've waved to each other as we passed, that's it. Which is fine with me.
But then one day in March he knocked on my door. When I answered I thought "Oh, no, did my dog crap in his yard or something?"
Unfortunately, not.
No, he wanted to talk to me about some Tea Party type meeting. This was a guy who never had a political sign in his yard, never had a bumpersticker on his car, and never ever talked to me about anything...much less politics. After listening to him for bit, I was a little more blunt with him about the fact that I had no interest in his group. I heard enough from him, though, to realize that he only recently got involved in politics in any way at all. He had a story about how he felt like he finally had to get involved "for his kids future" yada yada yada.
He never worred about his kids future, I guess, when Bush was sending the nation's kids to illegal wars or turning a surplus into a deficit. NOW he's energized!
Stupid, but worrisome. If two guys like this all of a sudden have the chutzpah to go out recruiting and prostheletizing...how many more are suddenly energized.
But then the coup de grace. Last week I made my weekly phone call to check in on my mother. What's up, how's dad, what's new...same old BS.
Until.
"I'm going to a Tea Party tomorrow!"
"You're what?"
"A Tea Party......
I don't remember much of what she said for the next couple of minutes. My mother has always dutifully voted. And when she's expressed political views they've been fairly liberal. She's pro-choice. She's a little older so she's not for gay marraige, but she's no homophobe either. But NOW she's concerned about "The Constitution," "The deficit," "Our Freedom."
You only argue with your mother so much about this kind of stuff. But I'll be honest, I'm stunned. My mother's never protested anything in her life. I don't know how she got involved and I'm hoping it'll pass. But it has me shaken up.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON??
Some of my friends blame Fox News, but I can't buy it. Big bad Bill O'Reilly, the NUMBER ONE SHOW ON CABLE NEWS, has all of 3 million viewers most nights. That's ONE PERCENT of the population - and he's by far their number one show.
So what IS it? What has all these apolitical people up in arms? My mother doesn't listen to talk radio and I don't think she watches Fox News....I thin she watches "Fox and Friends" in the morning but that's about it.
Someone please talk me down from the ledge. Or at least help me to understand. Can this carry through to November? Maybe not if the economy improves?
I'll admit it. I'm nervous.