Our Spidey Sense is Tingling

It’s been almost two years since Secretary of State Swampsow set off our alarm by idly suggesting that, well, you never know what might happen in the kitchen of the Ambassador Hotel. And about eighteen months since Half-Governor Talibunny accused a major-party presidential candidate of “palling around with terrorists.” And just a few seasons since it became the fashion to pack heat at political rallies.

We’ve done our fair share of fretting, while we’ve also tried not to get too excited over each and every twist. We’ve lived through two major earthquakes. You don’t jump for the door every time the couch wiggles.

So there’s nothing particularly unique about the latest news, only a gut feeling that a line is being crossed:

Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

Tea party movement leaders say they’ve discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force. They say the unit would not resemble militia groups that have been raided for allegedly plotting attacks on law enforcement officers.

“Is it scary? It sure is,” said tea party leader Al Gerhart of Oklahoma City, who heads an umbrella group of tea party factions called the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance. “But when do the states stop rolling over for the federal government?”

We haven’t been cataloging every indiscretion, so we can’t say this is the first time that government action has been seriously proposed. But we’re in an extraordinarily contentious election year, and it’s only April.

In other years we’d say the Silly Season has begun, but we really don’t like where this is heading. Not with two years of violent rhetoric gathering steam behind it.

Okla. tea parties and lawmakers envision militia [AP/Yahoo, via Political Wire]