The idea that regular, everyday citizens can stand up to the government and say “enough is enough” is the cornerstone of a democracy. Unless, of course, it’s not the “everyday citizens” who get the limelight and drive the movement.

Witness the recent “Tea Party” movement madness that swept the country — coincidentally? — after the inauguration of the country’s first non-white president. Such parties were rife with misspelled signage, vitriolic accusations of “socialism” and “the end of America” and peopled by what at least appeared to be everyday citizens tired of the government (both Democrat and Republican) which was squandering their tax money and listening only to the elite who could afford $1,000/plate dinners.

To some conservatives, it was a dream come true: They had only to stoke the “anti elite” anti-intellectualism that was present in the campaign (anyone remember the Beer vs. Arugula argument?) and they could hamstring the Democratic movement.

But just as things were going their way, conservatives (many of whom are Republicans) screwed the pooch. They had the line-up — Michelle Bachmann and Marsha Blackburn as well as “Sarah!” Palin — those red blooded, “real Americans” who cared that John and Jane America were unemployed and hurting financially while “Washington fat cats” were getting richer by the minute. They had the venue ready — right in America’s conservative backyard! Oh, I couldn’t wait until the smoked ribs and corn-on-the-cob were passed out on paper plates right there in Tennessee!

It was all “We The People … ” right up to the point where the REAL reason for the convention was revealed — to drum up money for Right Wingers. At $550 per person, not including hotel and other incidentals, the FOR PROFIT convention angered those … um … angry Americans who thought it was THEIR movement. Oh, and “Sarah!” was getting paid a fat $100,000 for a short 1 hour speech and a few hand shakes (followed by plugs for Fox News, of course).

“But gosh, don’cha know that that there money’s goin — right back inta th’ cause” says an oblivious Palin about the fee being paid from hard working Americans’ hard earned money. Of course, Ms. “I can see Russia from my house” might just need the money afterall — it must be rough having resigned as Alaska’s president … I mean governor … and I heard Fox News is so closely identified with out-of-work middle America that Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck have foregone their paychecks while fighting the good fight during these dark days in Ameri … what? They’re still getting paid?

Oh …

They must have a good reason, I’m sure. I mean, Glenn wouldn’t CRY on television if he didn’t mean it, right? I mean, that would emasculate him, right? A big, tough-as-nails guy like him weeping like a bitch on TV, right? He’s willing to sacrifice his manly, butch, smart-ass image in a moment of televised, rated and paid-for privacy because he’s truly worried, right? And “Sarah!” is only taking the money as a formality, right? No? What? AND THERE’S NO EASTER BUNNY??? My God! what has the world come to?

Here’s the upshot, my Tea Party friends. If you want to express your voice in a democracy, don’t rely on televised pundits or celebrity “All Americans” because their promises of fidelity are like words written on water.