The mad hatters tea party didn't quite get into full swing, thank fully.
There is, however, an under current of right wing extremism and selfishness in America (thankfully far from the majority) that sits very uncomfortably with most reasonable rational people. It is ironic that they often compare the left as the taliban, when it is they, with a few changes of names and titles, who would fit the Whahhabiate mould best.(Wahhabi? That's the extreme version of Islam that all the nutty blowuppy myself lot practice. It's a bit like burn in hell evangelical stuff gone too far) .
They are their own biggest enemy, but they just don't see it. Is Europe really so bad that they hate the way we go about things?
I feel sorry for Obama as he is struggling against a culture that simply will not change even if it means they will die because of it. I hope it never happens here. David C beware, big society could lead you right there. Unintentionally of course!
Mind you quite a few people voted for Obama originally. So there is a silent majority of rationality. Just wish they weren't so impatient. Mind you most good people are proven by history and not by their popularity at the time. I know it's a cliché, but I had to say it.