The word that is used to describe the criminal trials that will result from Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to move the trials for 9/11 mastermind, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and his four associates to a civilian venue is “Circus.” A few other words come to mind for this act of political idiocy but they are best left in the locker-room or the lyrics of “Gangsta Rap.”

Other thoughts come to mind as well, such as, “what was he thinking?” To speculate on his motives at this point, however, would be nothing more than conjecture and now is not the time for conspiracy theories. What is not speculation is the fact the Holder’s actions in this regard have raised the hackles of mainstream America at a time when they are already suspicious and wary of the direction President Obama and his administration are taking this nation.

The phrase used to describe the failure of both our law enforcement and intelligence agencies to act on the warning signs leading up to the events on 9/11 was, “they failed to connect the dots.” It implies that there was a trail of clues that should have led to action by these agencies to preempt the horror of that day. This phrase applies well to the current administration in terms of avoiding a pending political disaster. 

From the public angst for his domestic agenda, to a foreign policy teetering on collapse, the clues are abundant and the signs unmistakable, they all read, “don’t go there.” In this regard, Barack Obama and those who advise him appear to be seriously “dot challenged.” To now add the idiocy of what will surely be show trials for those who planned and executed the most horrific attack on American soil is beyond challenged, it is serves in essence to give the middle finger to our military and the victims of that day.

To also add to this, “not-so-precision” juggling act now occurring in the center ring, Obama has asked Congress, an independent arm of government, to put their investigations into the murders at Fort Hood on hold until after the completion of investigations now under way by the military and law enforcement agencies.  Those would be the agencies that are directly under Obama’s control. The why of this request is enough to peak one’s curiosity.

If this were not curious enough, all this comes on the heels of Obama “rejecting every proposal he requested from his security team for a strategy for Afghanistan after he rejected the plan he personally commissioned as a result of rejecting the strategy in place when he assumed office.” One can almost hear the Kaliope playing in the background.

The people look to the Congress and the president for leadership in dealing with the current deep recession, rising unemployment rate and spiraling deficit. In return, and over their loud objections, they are being force-fed budget busting healthcare and cap and trade legislation, the inevitability of substantial personal tax increases and penalties on business guaranteed to stifle job growth. 

And now, with this absolutely inane decision by the Attorney General to make an international mockery of our legal system, our military and our national security, you not only have to wonder what are they thinking, you have to wonder if they have a political death wish as well. 

Either Barack Obama and the members of his administration, to include the Democratic leadership in both the House and Senate, are in command of a logic and a strategy of incredible political mastery or they hold the people in such contempt that they believe no one will notice their buffoonery. How else to explain this overt defiance of the passionate objections of the people?

There is much at risk as we evaluate the issues facing this nation and the stakes are extremely high. From the critical questions of how best to proceed in the Middle East to developing realistic economic strategies that will revitalize American businesses, we cannot afford to address these issues in terms of their political price tag. 

The American people have been sending a signal to Washington to govern, not rule and if both the Republicans and the Democrats continue to ignore them, at some point, the people are likely to take matters into their own hands. It is in this regard that many Americans are beginning to look at our government in terms of investment. It is our money that is being invested in government programs and those programs are more and more becoming very high risk. The question for Republicans, is, can they “capitalize” on this attitude?

There appear to be two key factors that will have significant influence on the Congressional races in 2010. First is the growing disappointment among moderate and independent voters with the policies of the Obama administration and the second is the segment of society that was once referred to as the “silent majority.” Both factors could be quite positive for the Republicans in 2010 but it is unclear if the leadership in the Party is paying any attention.

If Republican elites weren't paying attention before however, surely they can't ignore the significance of what has happened in the run up to the special election in New York’s 23^rd Congressional district. To ignore these rumblings from the majority of the American people is to do so at their political peril. 

Of all the events that have occurred since the elections in 2008, of great significance is the phenomenon referred to as “Tea Parties.” Political events have always been organized and sponsored by political party activists, candidates and special interest groups. Tea Parties by contrast, are the clearest example of actual grassroots politics to occur in tens of decades.

The key point that Republicans must take away from this newfound grassroots activism is to recognize the passion that is stirring in the electorate and tap into it, not view it as simply an emotional outburst from the great unwashed. To misread or dismiss this passion is to underscore exactly why the people are so agitated. Specifically, the government no longer represents their interests and is completely out of touch with real America.

Curiously, the current Republican leadership has been trying to "shush" these vocal members in their Party. They have expressed their concern with the vociferous outcry from the heathen masses that attended Tea Parties and crowded Town Hall meetings this past summer. They demand a more subservient posture, lest the sensitivities of the moderates be offended. 

If the Republican leadership continues to refuse to get on board with this new attitude in America, an attitude that is more than just an organized protest by some special interest group, they will lose far more than a few squishy moderate votes.

The left is in full campaign mode to diminish the momentum that has been generated by grassroots America. They are attempting to demean, humiliate and characterize those now fully engaged in the political process as “knuckle-dragging” Neanderthals. The Republican Party leadership would do well to ignore these taunts; the message their constituents are sending them is “Can you hear us now?”

The cliché is trite but appropriate; the sleeping giant that is mainstream America is now quite awake and is in no mood to be led, coerced, intimidated or threatened. In short, they fully expect those whom they elected to represent them, to legislate, not dictate. Should those in elected office fail to understand that point, they will learn the lesson of high-risk politics the hard way.  

Since the victories by the Democrats in the elections both in 2006 and their big win in 2008, the liberal media has been celebrating the demise of the GOP. Republicans, they say, are in a permanent state of decline. They declare we have no leader and we are without a rudder. Their glee in eulogizing our remains is unmistakable. A survey of the political landscape however, would indicate, to paraphrase Mark Twain, “the stories of our death have been greatly exaggerated.” 

There does however, appear to be a very real split among some who simply identify with the Republican Party and those who also identify themselves as conservatives. It is not a distinction without a difference. There is a clear segment within the Republican Party who find the conservative element distasteful, crude and an embarrassment. We must moderate our voices they tell us, we must be a centrist party and move to the middle if Republicans are to attract the moderate vote. 

To a large extent, these Republican “elites” have directed the GOP platform, designated many of its candidates and set the tone of the debate.  As a result, over the last two decades the Party of Ronald Reagan has drifted from Reagan’s conservative principles, back to a more liberal, centrist message that has sought to marginalize its more conservative base. Until recently, that base still remained loyal to the Republican Party in spite of a growing reluctance to embrace its current direction. 

Being ever the loyal soldiers, they even voted for John McCain over their serious objections to many of his “moderate” positions on the issues. But the times they are a changin’ the saying goes and with that change is a move by the conservatives in the Party to re-establish themselves as power players in what has become for them, a party of political acquiescence.  Increasing numbers of those in the Republican Party are beginning to use the acronym RINO, (Republican in name only) when referring to Republican moderates. 

The term was originally a sarcastic name for the more liberal among elected members in the Republican Party, who found it appropriate to vote more consistently with the Democrats than with their Republican counterparts. For many however, sarcasm has turned to disgust and for them, RINO is now a four letter word. Conservatives, it seems, are tired of holding their tongues, moderating their tone and following directions. They are very much intent on setting the tone, giving directions and admonishing the squishy among them with serious tongue-lashing.     

This new sense of purpose has also awakened the desire to shake off their political lethargy and become active participants in the political process. Nowhere has that desire been more evident than among those who organized and attended Tea Parties and Town Hall meetings in their hometowns and state capitals. Their message was simple and succinct; government works “for” the people, not the opposite.

It is in this regard that the ire of both conservatives and Republicans has been most vocal. Those voices have become louder as their serious concerns and attempts to contact their elected representatives have been summarily dismissed by the Democrat Majority in Congress. Moreover, these concerns, as polls confirm, are coming from a majority of the American people. To say that they are angry and concerned with a government that appears intent on “ruling” and not “governing,” would be an understatement.

The product of that anger has resulted in a majority of Republicans and conservatives who are fed up with a political party and a government that has over-stepped its constitutional authority and consequently with RINOs who support the practice.