I think it’s less about insulting them, and more a out no longer treating them with the utmost respect. We (and by we I don’t just mean lefties) should have called them weird when they called themselves the the tea party, but we handled absolutely insane rhetoric by trying to meet it from a place of thoughtful and respectful academic discussion. It was always the wrong strategy.

That said it could very easily backfire. Going to far would look really childish. I think weird really hits home with how most reasonable people feel about these guys.

You have some impressive storytelling skill. Have you considered writing a book?