Conservative fundamentalists are in a tizzy now that the core tenets of their philosophy have been proven bankrupt. Lower taxes on the rich? That worked great -- for the rich. Eliminate government regulation and oversight? Definitely a success if the goal was to help create the worst economic disaster since the Great Depression. Privatize public natural resources? We saw how popular that was when energy companies proposed drilling for gas on the Rocky Mountain Front. Ban gay marriage? That's still a crowd pleaser for seniors, but polls show most people under 40 don't give a hoot.

The conservative cranks now denouncing President Obama have no alternative to offer. They ran the show for eight years and produced two costly wars, soiled the nation's reputation abroad, eroded environmental protections at home, and sent the nation's economy into free fall. What a legacy. Now there's nothing left for them to do but throw temper tantrums on Fox News, fling tea bags in protest and threaten civil war. They've become the cranky grandpa on Sunday night who won't stop ranting about America's social and moral decline while the rest of the family rolls their eyes and tries to carry on with dinner.

Tom Dickson

443 Clarke St.