THE BELLY AND THE MEMBERS

"One fine day it occurred to the Members of the Body that they were doing all the work and the Belly was having all the food.

So, they held a meeting, and after a long discussion, decided to strike work till the Belly consented to take it's proper share of the work. So, for a day or two, the Hands refused to take the food, the Mouth refused to receive it, and the Teeth had no work to do.

But after a day or two the Members began to find that they themselves were not in a very active condition: the Hands could hardly move, and the Mouth was all parched and dry, while the Legs were unable to support the rest.

So thus they found that even the Belly in it's dull quiet way was doing necessary work for the body, and that all must work together or the Body will go to pieces."

(Aesop - Jacobs' translation - 1894)

Upon the election of Barack Obama , the Republican Party - the party of "just say no!" - decided to field one of the most united partisan teams on the planet. Their goal was to stymie any legislation that was proposed by the opposition. Their logic was: "when the ship goes down we don't want to be on it." They may not be granted their wish and perhaps should have checked the ships manifest for tea.

Various newspapers are writing about the Tea Party's victories in the primaries over those candidates endorsed by the Republican soothsayers. One such source states these victories mirror what they call "anti-establishment energy in America".

However, there appears to be a hitch. That doesn't mean the voters like Republicans any more than some of Martha Stewart's recipes. The both require a lot of patience, effort, and the ability to overcome frustration.

The Republican isolationist strategy noted above appears to be losing ground. The tidal wave of support they expected to allow them to take control of both chambers of Congress seems to have hit the ship before they had a chance to disembark.

Many see this strategy as one that, instead, provoked a groundswell of anger and the formation of the Tea Party. In other words, it wasn't just the Democrats "Wimpy" strategy that has this country in an uproar. The Republicans decision to place themself in legislative timeout apparently has angered their party faithful as well as the unfaithful.

It never occurred to them that the people back home who voted for them actually expected they would put aside their petty needs for the benefit of the constituents. In addition, many feel the party has begun to emulate that antiquated Lionel train engine that fell off my "homemade platform" too many times.

The GOP are seen by many as the Grand "OLD" party. It also appears Newt's revisionist biographical efforts are not going to be enough to allow them to successfully regroup by 2012.

Esquire Magazine may just be the beginning of the end for the "Gray Fox" and his "graying party." Worse yet, Bob Dole may not agree to run again.

The novitiate Tea Party strategists may lack the organizational skills or financial support of the Democrats they will face in November - but, so far, you have to admire their on base percentage in Triple A ball.

Today I read," Senator Robert Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat in charge of his party's effort to hold it's senate majority, said chances have improved because Republicans have run extremists instead of mainstream candidates."

That may be just more inane partisan B.S. . But , a few extremists fighting for the good of all mankind may not necessarily be bad.

If Menedez's prediction turns out to be correct and the Democrats do not lose in the sufficient number the Republicans envisioned and need in November, "the Body will {continue to} go to pieces".

And, "No, Martha. That's NOT a good thing!"