Hyperbolic Needles

A hyperbolic needle can be defined as an insult laced barb, dripping in hyperbole with the intent to inject maximum opprobrium upon its intended target. Recently, we have witnessed several hyperbolic needles tossed out so freely by the Democrats you’d think they were Obama phones. Of course, I am referring to the rhetoric by the left hurled at the conservative lawmakers over the battle to fund the government.

Harry Reid has recently taken up calling Republicans anarchists. Merriam-Webster defines an anarchist as: a person who believes that government and laws are not necessary. Certainly, Reid is convinced that laws need not apply to him. They are, in other words, not necessary. This naturally explains his failure to get the Senate to pass a budget for four years as required by – what’s the word I’m looking for? – oh, yes, law. Who’s the anarchist?

Before going further, I need to digress just a bit. Recently Nancy Pelosi tried to find something positive about full-time workers getting their hours cut to twenty-nine hours or less as a result of Obamacare regulations. Ms. Pelosi, ever the optimist (as long as there is a Democrat in the White House), said that this will allow more people to follow their passion. Well, that certainly isn’t true if one’s passion is to work a forty hour work week. But, we can be hopeful that someday soon Harry Reid will follow his passion and be what he was always meant to be – the men’s room attendant at the Flamingo Hotel.

Other Democrats have once again taken up calling Republicans and Tea Party types terrorists. This isn’t new, for every debt ceiling debate since Obama took office has brought out that type of, dare we say, hyperbolic needling on the part of the Democrats. Lets’ be clear, Tea Party members are not terrorists and there are probably thousands of reasons why that is true. Here is just one reason: Tea Partiers pick up after themselves, terrorists don’t. Republicans use language far less tame, yet they are accused of being the aforementioned anarchists and terrorists. Makes perfect sense, right?

Lest those on the right get too worked up about this, we should remember that this type of rhetoric isn’t new. It’s been around since our founding. For example, as I noted in my book, The Constitution – I’m Not Kidding and Other Tales of Liberal Folly, in 1792 James Madison referred to the Federalist party as one that regarded the “people as stupid, suspicious, licentious,” unable to “safely trust themselves” and given to supinely “leaving the care of their liberties to their wiser rulers.” As I think about it, perhaps a more apt description of today’s Democratic Party and their view of American citizens I have not heard uttered. Meanwhile, Alexander Hamilton accused Thomas Jefferson of “a womanish attachment to France and a womanish resentment of Great Britain.” In other words, Hamilton called Jefferson a pansy. Who did Hamilton think he was, Alec Baldwin?

Leading up to their duel, Alexander Hamilton (there he is again) and Aaron Burr hurled more phony names at each other than appear on an ACORN voter registration petition. Heck, Stephen Douglas even referred to Abraham Lincoln as a “hatchet face.” One more slight digression, if I may – after watching John Kerry testify before Congress recently I kept trying to determine who he looked like, now that he has been sufficiently botoxed. It finally hit me – the Muppet newscaster!

John Kerry

May make buying voltaren online you lose your own appetite.. Muppet Newscaster

Alas, conservatives, Republicans, Tea Partiers should not feel slighted by the hyperbolic needles tossed out by the Democrats. It’s in their playbook. Everyone knows they’re coming. Rather, one should react like a hitter at the plate with a three ball, one strike count. He knows the pitcher is going to throw a fastball. Expect it, wait for it and drill it right back up the middle.

Note: Photo of Harry Reid taken by Matthew.

Curtice Mang is the author of the book, The Constitution – I’m Not Kidding and Other Tales of Liberal Folly. He can be contacted at www.mangwrites.com, where one can also purchase his book; or contact Curtice at mangwrites at cox.net.