Heavy-duty crazy

There is some heavy-duty crazy going on these days, if you haven't noticed.

A fanatic right-wing commentator at CNN - yes, CNN - tells us, in the wake of the shooting of Rep. Giffords, to remember to maintain a "saving faith in Jesus Christ". The guy may have a problem with his filthy mouth and thoughts of cartoonish violence against people he disagrees with - but remember, he has a "saving faith" in Jesus, so that makes it okay.

It's not crazy that crazy people with uncontrollable tempers and nothing to offer the public discourse except stupid religious homilies exist. What is crazy is that major social institutions protect them and offer them an open platform to reach out to other crazies, as well as people who are leaning crazy but just need that little extra push to fall over the edge.

Then there's this: important right-wing people are accusing the Conservative Political Action Conference of having been infiltrated by both radical homosexuals and the Muslim Brotherhood, in an assault apparently led by Grover Norquist. It sounds so over the top that it could be a comical parody of conservative paranoia and ignorance, were conservatives not so likely to take this stuff seriously.