Party Over Here: Democratic; Party Over There: Republican.  And still I search. If I could only party like it was 1999.  Back then the political divisiveness centered on Bill Clinton’s moral compass and otherwise the Party in the White House was functional, if crippled.  The Republicans were a royal pain just beginning to feel their oats and not yet “Batshit Crazy.”   Meanwhile, the Democrats were “On the March” to the Center and touting it as the “Brave new World.”  Still, in comparison, those were the “Good Times.”

Then along came the 2000 Presidential Election and the infamous Florida ballot “chads.”  The election was stolen by the other party, by the Supreme Court, by the Electoral College or, if you prefer, by all of them.  And then, shortly after Bush took office in January of 2001, America witnessed the senseless death of thousands on 9/11.  In response, our country was hijacked by political leaders and our own countrymen demanding accountability while trampling on our own civil rights and pushing our nation into a series of endless wars against “Terrorism” and even an untold number of “Expeditionary Wars” in places unknown.  In time the major political parties (are there really any other kind!!) went about perfecting the art of “vilification and nullification.” The American citizenry has been left to pull, push, and cajole Congress out of its entrenched “Rip Van Winkle” stupor.  The White House, meanwhile, has been all but abandoned by free thinking people.  It is as if the general public has been frozen out of the political discourse and, in the name of  “National Security” and its first cousin, “Border Security, have been left to die on the vine.

By the time the 2016 election cycle was completed the Republican Party had been bulldozed into submission by a first rate “Bully” that had never as much as held public office.  Not to worry, the Democratic Party had long since lost its luster and any sense of governance.  The old axiom “if you can’t beat them, join them” had borne fruit and had made the Democratic and Republic parties indistinguishable in the eyes of many.  And so, in earnest, I have intensified my personal search for a Party which will take a stand on principle, will represent “We the People” irrespective of the growing income gap, and which will pay homage (and not just lip service) to “Lady Liberty” and “Lady Justice.”  Let us find a Party who’s “Tent” is not so big that its rank and file members have to spend their days playing “Pin the Donkey” and trusting in “Lady Luck” that they can land somewhat near the heart of the Nation.

The recent Mid-Term elections should serve as a wake-up call to our “Major Parties.”  Instead the Republicans are hoping against all odds to keep their ranks in-line and “on-message.”  Their hypnotic mantra assumes that speaking with one voice will preserve their Party, if not the nation.  These ideologues hail from that school of thought which professes – that when all else fails stay on deck and proudly continue playing your instruments – even as the ship sinks.  The Democrats aren’t fairing any better. They have been shamed by the “bullies” and now recoil at the mere mention of “Socialism.”  For a moment there, it had seemed as though the label “Progressive” had regained traction.  Instead, they act as though they have conceded that there is no room on the scales of “Lady Justice” for “Progress” thought.  The bogeyman has entered the Congressional Chambers and it remains to be seen if anybody has the courage to pick up a broom and sweep him out.

Yes, the Democratic Party did make some gains in the recent mid-terms, just as surely as the government furlough accomplished nothing.  And just as quickly as the government forgot about those federal workers on the soup lines, the Democrats are just as eager to move on.   They are barely able to embrace the “Sisterhood” that has infused their ranks with Edgar Allan “Poe-tential” and more.  As of yet they have failed to stop the “Chief Insane One” from poking and ridiculing “Pocahontas” at will.  Meanwhile, the newbies aim high for a fresh round of consensus and even before they can get their messages out they are attacked from within.   When Rep. Omar speaks “Truth to Power” by speaking ill of AIPAC while paraphrasing James Carville’s line “It’s the Economy, Stupid” into “It’s all about the Benjamins, Baby” she is immediately rebuked.  Message to the Fresh(wo)men class” – “Stay in Your Lane.”  Can I truly place much stock in the “New and Improved” Democratic Party? I think not. Rather, I will continue to search for a Party.  And, while I am at it, I’ll bitch about the true absence of a viable “Third Party.”