A Combustible August

The August “district work period” for members of Congress sure has gotten nasty:

Democratic lawmakers are getting shouted down, and discussions about reform are being disrupted by angry conservatives who yell, scream, or chant over speakers. There has been a death threat and an effigy. Supporters of Demcoratic reform have deemed these people “angry mobs,” shipped in by conservative Astroturfing organizations based in DC–dangerous, disrespectful, and manufactured.

The SEIU has been warned that their assistance or attendance at these townhall meetings will “come up against the Second Amendment” against calls that “those with the license to carry… should carry.”

And among the protests are gleeful boasts of “putting the fear of God” in Democrats who dare try to talk with constitutents when they are back home in their districts.

This is the same kind of combustible anger first shown in October of last year, when conservative whites first realized Obama was going to win the election. Only now, the threats and incidents of violence are becoming more brazenly public and more widespread.

Is this what “grassroots mobilizing” is coming to? What’s next? A war between street gangs?

Not a proud moment for American democracy.