What do Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney and Lon Chaney Jr. have in common? They are forever known as the faces of the classic monsters Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, Phantom of the Opera, and the Wolf Man. Whether you were frightened by these classic representations or the continual evolutionary adaptations that have followed, we all know these monsters when we see them and we all do the same thing when they are thrust into our faces: we take a big step back.

            As interesting as the creatures themselves is the construction in how they are perceived. With this in mind, no relevant “monster talk” would be complete without addressing the most prevalent but least identified monsters of today. This identification is made if we are smart enough to expand our minds to enlightened ways of thinking and bold enough to shine our torches into the deepest, dankest recesses in which these illusive modern ghouls take refuge. The problem in the end is that when we finally take a bold look, we are more likely to find a beast with a three-piece suit and briefcase than a creature in rags and chains. In place of ravenous, blood-sucking fangs, we are likely to find smiling faces, stacks of ambiguous laws and a well-manicure hand that can whip out a signature in total darkness. Who are these new slithering, sinister surrogates of evil? Without a doubt it is the modern-day politician.

            This is not an indictment of all those who go into this field of public service, rather the recognition of a framing process that takes place where some politicians seem to shine while others are deformed by the monster politician persona. The term “monster politics” serves to describe an environment beyond normal debate and division that highlights the power of the psychological to supersede the theatrical. It is the process by which a politician embraces political circumstances in a way that generates a negative persona, alienating the politician from his or her constituents and creating a dangerous air of unpredictability that is not conducive to future political service. We can appropriately call this the “terminal term,” or the building of the non-re-electable politician. While this is not the inevitable ending point for all who serve in public office, it seems to be the unfolding story of Barack Obama.

            For perspective we should understand that all politicians come into office with a certain population that will always oppose them. Equally assured, all presidents through the course of their term have historically made pressing decisions that inflame segments of their own base constituency. Additionally, all presidents fall prey to the occasional faux pas, but monster politics is not evoked from these actions. Like the theatrical characters from which our perception of the monster arises, it is the actions after the critical incident—the bite, curse or lightening-induced creation itself—that frames the individual as the monster we know. It is the same with the president and it is here that Barack Obama, through his own actions, pushes the polls’ numbers of public sentiment toward the dark, dank depths of monstrous non-re-electability.

            CNN’s August 4, 2010 poll shows that 27 percent of Americans have doubts that Barack Obama is an American citizen. Also, the most recent Pew Research Poll shows that 18 percent of Americans believe the president is a Muslim. This is a 7 percent increase from 2009 poll results. From Democracy Corps’ July 2010 polling results, 55 percent of Americans think Obama is a socialist and 56 percent think he is too liberal. Arguably, both charges may be one in the same. For Obama supporters it is not just the existence of poll classifications such as these that should be disheartening, but also the fact that Obama’s numbers are increasing in these areas over time.

            It is the Obama administration’s inability to deflect, and often its overt actions, which perpetuate these negative attributes that have emboldened the classic monster politics scenario that now surround the president. Is the president a Muslim? Doubtful, but like an overactive Dr. Frankenstein, Obama has created his own monster persona through his own book quotes, Middle East apology tour, anti-Israel stance, and forceful, non-solicited statements such as those recently heard on the issue of the mega mosque fiasco near ground zero in New York. Like the fear and hatred generated by our classic monsters, the motivating force is the same in monster politics. It is the grouping of calamitous actions with alienation and unwanted mysteriousness, the latter two points exacerbating the first, which bring about such negative outcomes.

            That is, in simple terms, the monster truly does bad things, but that is not enough to bring about its bad reputation. It must be in combination with personal characteristics that are in opposition with, or simply alien to the general populace, as well as a mysterious nature that creates an environment of unpredictability. Welcome to the world of Barack Obama. With this knowledge there is little wonder why Obama’s two decades of attendance at a radically socialistic church under the tutelage of Reverend Jeremiah Wright fails to give him public identification as a Christian with a growing number of Americans. It is in part a lack of personal Christian identification, if not hostility toward Christian conservatives in America, which has prompted more and more people to speculate Obama as having alternative religious affiliations.    

            Is Obama an American-born citizen? Probably, but like a vampire that refuses to stand in front of the mirror to be justified, Obama’s secretive, if not deceptive, actions on this important issue breed the mistrust from which caskets are torn open, castles are stormed, moors are patrolled, and approval numbers plunge into the abyss. Is Obama a socialist? The president has done nothing here but reinforce the affirmative by his actions and rhetoric, but even many of the socialists of today have avoided being caught up in the career-ending calamites of monster politics. If the president continues to separate himself from the American people by attitude, rhetoric and policy, he will do more than open  the door to more grim conjectures about his future policies and personal character; he will have created his own forever-told horror story of the one-term president from the depths of monster politics.

Paul A. Ibbetson is a former Chief of Police of Cherryvale, Kansas, and member of the Montgomery County Drug Task Force. Paul received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Criminal Justice at Wichita State University, and is currently completing his Ph.D. in Sociology at Kansas State University. Paul is the author of the books “Living Under The Patriot Act: Educating A Society” and “Feeding Lions: Sharing The Conservative Philosophy In A Politically Hostile World.” Paul is also the radio host of the Kansas Broadcasting Association’s 2008, 2009 and 2010 Entertainment Program of the Year, Conscience of Kansas airing on KSDB Manhattan 91.9 FM, www.ibbetsonusa.com. For interviews or questions, please contact him at? ibbetson91.9@gmail.com

With the Main Stream Media, Pelosi, and others calling the Tax Day Tea Party nothing but “astroturf” as a grassroots movement. It is almost a comedy of farce watching as they once again pull out the Alinsky “Rules for Radicals” in their attempts to discredit main street Americans.

After reading the comments from Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, one would at first, become quite angry. But let’s first look at exactly what her commentary on the Tax Day Tea Parties held all over the nation yesterday:

What we want is a new direction. In fact, in the President’s initiative – in the Recovery and in the Budget – 95% of the American people get a tax cut. This is a tax cut for the great middle class. This initiative is funded by the high end – we call call it astroturf, it’s not really a grassroots movement. It’s astroturf by some of the wealthiest people in America to keep the focus on tax cuts for the rich instead of for the great middle class.

Now, I am totally amused at this statement, because of the simple fact, Speaker Pelosi was nowhere to be seen at any of the protests yesterday. Not a single visit, not a single person was heard, and not a clue what this protest represented. Perhaps we, as Americans, should explain to her that these protests represented the outpouring of anger at the entire arrogance and lack of listening to what the American people are telling our Representatives. It was the idea that we WANT individual liberty and not government solutions to every issue. We desire the ability and the FREEDOM to make decisions that are best for ourselves and our families without the government forcing one down our throats. Additionally, we understand that the government spending levels, without regard to the effect it will have on the future viability and strength of this nation as a whole, as this mounting DEBT is going to have to be repaid or this nation faces real economic collapse that might not be recoverable. This is a burden we do not care to carry nor to pass to our heirs to carry even farther. Those who gathered in towns and cities all across this nation with numbers from a few here to huge numbers in other places took a stand against the continued lack of regard for the role the Constitution of this nation plays, and is being ignored and usurped, that limits the powers of Congress and the Administration.

Then we have the statement issued by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) that even further explains that no effort was made to attempt to understand the ideas presented at these Tax Day Tea Party assemblies:

“The ‘tea parties’ being held today by groups of right-wing activists, and fueled by FOX News Channel, are an effort to mislead the public about the Obama economic plan that cuts taxes for 95 percent of Americans and creates 3.5 million jobs.”

“It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt,”

“Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”

So it is painfully obvious that she really believes that sitting in her office in Washington, with her elitist “I know what is best for you” ideology, that issuing a statement such as that in some way addresses the issues that Americans, yesterday, expressed so eloquently. We, as those in attendance yesterday understand, that these “tax cuts” are going to inevitably lead to higher taxes, massive double digits inflation as the printing presses are rolling to fund the “stimulus”, the Omnibus budget addition, and the trillions of dollars used in the TARP “bailouts”. Now, Ms. Pelosi and Ms. Schakowsky, can you HONESTLY say, you heard what WE THE PEOPLE were saying yesterday? or are your words once again, directly from Alinsky’s “Rules for Radical” to polarize, destroy, and discount the grassroots movement that started yesterday? I don’t think anyone has to read a single thing in analyzing your statements to understand that your vision of yourself is that of Elitism, and that we are totally “beneath your intellect”.

So what is next?

Honestly, I hope that the President, the Speaker of the House, and all those Elitist Socialist/Liberals continue their discounting and bashing of the Tea Party Movement. More and more Americans, even those who supported the promised “hope and change”, are going to wake up to the simple fact that Washington isn’t listening to what we are saying. The beauty of a Republican form of government (for you Liberals, that isn’t a reference to the “party” of Republicans, but since you’re lacking education in terminology, we have a REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC, not a Democracy) is that we the PEOPLE decide who we want to represent our voices in our government.

We want people who understand what we desire, and that being LESS government, not more. We desire that the principles of Constitutional government be restored back to the people of this nation as it was laid out originally. We no longer desire the massive government spending of money we do not have, the borrowing and printing of money that is taking this nation further into debt and one we may never recover from, and the SOCIALISM that we are being lead to believe is the greatest thing since sliced bread. We are tired of being looked at as “radical extremists” by our Department of Homeland Security because we hold views in opposition to the party in power and are being targeted for “watching” by law enforcement.  We do not want your “cap and trade” schemes for controlling “climate change”, that has no foundation in observational science, that is nothing more than an indirect tax that will result in higher energy prices at a time this nation can least afford it.

We are not interested in a government controlled, bureaucracy controlled healthcare system that has failed everywhere it has been tried. We are not interested in your expansion of programs relating to welfare and tax rebates to those who have not contributed to the overall cost of government when they are perfectly capable of becoming productive citizens. We are not interested in your false promises of lower taxes as you continue to expand the spending of government that anyone with a modicum of common sense understands is not sustainable  without higher taxes. We are not interested in your expansion of the national debt, the budgetary deficits, and the spending for things we are not desiring, but only being used to buy another vote at taxpayers expense.

As a movement, we need to focus on these issues and discovering the “gems” we will find to elect to the offices in our local, state, and national governments. We need to let these Liberals/Socialists galvanize our efforts and tell others about what we are doing and encourage others to attend the events being planned on July4th, 2009 and beyond. We need to show that the time has come to an end for those in office that refuse to listen and continue to view this as an “astroturf” movement that has no roots in true American belief. It is time to prove to these closed minded elitists that this nation belongs to us, and that their visions of this nation are in direct conflict with the people of this nation.

America, the New American Revolution has begun as it began in 1773 with the Boston Tea Party. My plan is to keep this going to the point where our government either listens, is defeated in the 2010 election, or history repeats itself. I pray that the latter is the last resort for this nation. Tyranny takes shape in many forms and our founders warned of it long ago as this nation became the grand experiment in Representative Republicanism. We were admonished to take care of our nation and to take our revolt public when tyranny began depriving the rights of the individual man. Tyranny is right before our very eyes today and only one who fails to think for themselves can’t see it.

Yesterday, I saw many people who had their eyes opened and those little light bulbs inside their heads go off in unison. I saw real, honest, hardworking Americans take a stand. I also saw these same people, many who have never been considered “activist” ever before in their life, stand proud and no longer in fear as they found a belief in this nation once again. I saw people cheer as speaker after speaker expressed their vision for the future of this nation and that WE THE PEOPLE are in charge, not our government officials.

I also see those in power, where reality probably hasn’t sat in just yet, discount what we did yesterday to the point where “we” are nothing but ignorant, misinformed, and literally stupid in expressing our desires. What I see from Washington is once again, utter contempt for the people of this nation unless “we” are on board with their visions. I see a main stream media that is using their influence to make this movement and their venue as a platform for sexual innuendos and tasteless, derogatory humor meant only to disenfranchise and discredit us further to those who will listen.

Boy, are they in for a rude awakening.

A little heard of bill just left Barney Frank’s House Banking Committee, “Pay for Performance Act of 2009″, that will impose salary and wage limitations on all incomes on anyone receiving government loans, TARP money, or assistance. Additionally, Treasury Secretary Geithner would get power to determine wages for every business in the nation. How do you like that Government takeover of American freedom now?

As reported today in the Washington Examiner:

The purpose of the legislation is to “prohibit unreasonable and excessive compensation and compensation not based on performance standards,” according to the bill’s language. That includes regular pay, bonuses — everything — paid to employees of companies in whom the government has a capital stake, including those that have received funds through the Troubled Assets Relief Program, or TARP, as well as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The measure is not limited just to those firms that received the largest sums of money, or just to the top 25 or 50 executives of those companies. It applies to all employees of all companies involved, for as long as the government is invested. And it would not only apply going forward, but also retroactively to existing contracts and pay arrangements of institutions that have already received funds.

In addition, the bill gives Geithner the authority to decide what pay is “unreasonable” or “excessive.” And it directs the Treasury Department to come up with a method to evaluate “the performance of the individual executive or employee to whom the payment relates.”

Well folks, this is what you voted for and this is “change” you better not believe in because it is happening right in the bastion of freedom and liberty. Are we as a nation going to sit still, and allow this legislation to pass through the halls of Congress and become law with the Presidents signature? What is going to stop these power greedy Democrats from actually doing it? Sit still because the answer is easy.

NOTHING.

This “new” Administration is seeking unprecedented powers that are going to result it 100% Socialism for the United States of America. The takeover of GM, the proposals for cap and trade energy plans, the regulatory controls over banks and lenders, the continual creating of massive debt and the resulting printing of money is leading us to a cauldron of every single person dependent on government for every single thing we now enjoy freely. Then let’s add health care to the mix and guess what- we are now the United SOCIALISTS State of America with government in control of nearly every single aspect of your life.

This nation is facing a sinister and far more devious attempt to seize power from the very government we entrusted to protect our liberty and our freedom. Instead, they have reached the point where absolute control over individual lives is their goal. There can be no doubt in anyone’s mind that based on legislation that has been introduced, passed, and enacted into law, that this is the goal. If this is the government you bargained for and desire, then simply click that little “X” in the upper right corner and go away. It was your type that put this nation at the brink of complete tyranny with the election of a Socialist Administration and Congress. There can be no hiding the agenda and no hiding the goals and desires of these people YOU elected. Your welcome here is hereby REVOKED and I am asking you to leave.

On April 15th, 2009 in cities all over this nation there is going to be a “Tax Day Tea Party”. I ask that you make plans to attend and to make you voice heard. For information on the location near you, visit the Tax Day Tea Party website. IF you want to organize one in your town, the infomation is there for you to do just that. Volunteers are needed for this grassroots effort and it MUST succeed and will with your support.

Perhaps this is the first step to gaining the attention of Congress. Perhaps not. My fear is that we are going to be facing the “Next American Revolution” in this nation when legislation, such as the above, is actually even considered for passage. Americans have notoriously been smart enough to make their voices known at the ballot box. I am not so sure we are going to be able to wait that long. This government, being ran by Socialists/Liberals/Democrats, is in deep trouble as more and more direct assaults on YOUR freedoms and liberties are happening everyday in the hallowed halls of the Capital. I can imagine that our Founders would be at the head of the crowd calling for the NEXT revolution. I can also imagine that Jefferson would be the very first to call for using those Second Amendment rights to eliminate the scourge of tyranny from our government. We the people, MUST make government fearful of US. Either you will sit on your hands and do nothing, or you will get involved and stop this madness. Take the first, peaceful step, and attend the Tax Day Tea Party rally near you.

While you are here, take the time to also sign the Redress of Grievances Petition. Then tell someone else why you signed it and ask them to do the same. Unless we are able to take our issues directly to the Congress, I fear they are not going listen otherwise. YOUR voice will count and more so this time than perhaps your vote on election day would count. The crossroads for this nation is right here and now. Either we are going to maintain the freedom and liberty as promised by our Constitution or we are going to allow the Socialists/Liberals to remove every single aspect of life from you as you might enjoy today.

If you don’t get involved and reclaim this nation for YOUR children and grandchildren, then what you will end up with will be a far cry from the nation we live in this very moment. At the rate this government is heading, in two weeks, it might be not be recognizable, much less the country of liberty and freedom.