Is it opposite day again?

Several years ago my wife, son, mother-in-law, and I stuffed ourselves into a Volkswagen van and went for an extended trip through the Lower 48. We cut a lazy path through British Columbia and the Western U.S. Some nights we’d camp and other nights we would stay at a motel. It was the iconic All-American road trip and I’d be happy to bore anyone foolish enough to ask for pictures.

Among our many destinations was the little farm town of Crete, Nebraska, about 15 miles southwest of Lincoln and home to our other son, his wife and our two granddaughters, Zoe and Piper. The girls had more energy than should be legal and spent the majority of the day playing games, fighting, and generally looking for ways to get into and out of trouble. One of their favorite things to do was play opposite day.

I’m sure some of you are familiar with this game, but for those who aren’t; it involves saying something, but meaning the opposite. It’s charming in an annoying, grating sort of way, and thankfully usually only lasts about five or 10 minutes, rather than the whole day.

For example you might say: “Let’s straighten up this place.” Translation: “Let’s make the rest of the house as uninhabitable as our bedroom.” Or, “Pass the broccoli please.” Translation, “Bacon!” Or, “Welcome home Sergeant Bergdahl.” Translation: “Here’s your blindfold. Do you have any last requests?”

It’s a childish game.

All right. I plead guilty of burying the lead, but I did it to make a point. It seems the latest Republican rantings have sunk to level of children’s games. Or at least they would have if it weren’t for the fact that most children I know aren’t nearly as sophomoric and cruel as the GOP.

Let’s start with a few facts. Along with the National Socialist party of Hitler and the Bath party of Iraq, the Taliban is a recognized political entity. Are they Eagle Scouts? No. Are they brimming with the milk of human kindness? Hardly. What they are is part of the official political structure of Afghanistan and as such, those that are captured are prisoners of war, not terrorists.

Since Congress has made it all but impossible to try Guantanamo detainees in court, we are left with few alternatives as this war draws down. Among these limited options is a prisoner exchange. It was done at the end of World War II. It was done when the previous administration released more than 500 detainees after we “Mission Accomplished” ourselves in Iraq. Just recently it was done by President Barack Obama when he traded Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban prisoners that were going to eventually be released anyway.

The initial reaction ranged from euphoria to a qualified, cautious relief. Social media lit up with congratulations and welcome home salutations. Politicians of all stripes dusted off the welcome mat as we prepared to welcome home one of our own. Ah, but this must be opposite day.

Congratulations turned to the vitriol and spite that is unfortunately becoming all too common in American politics. One-term Tea Party Congressman Allen West from Florida chided Obama for leaving Bergdahl in the hands of the Taliban. Translation: Impeach Obama for getting Bergdahl out of the hands of the Taliban.

Bergdahl, who was stationed at Fort Richardson, was at one time the recipient of prayers from our quitter in chief, Sarah Palin. But of course the opposite day translation is: “No, Mr. President, a soldier expressing horrid anti-American beliefs — even boldly putting them in writing and unabashedly firing off his messages while in uniform, just three days before he left his unit on foot — is not ‘honorable service.’ ”

To be fair, the opposite day shenanigans aren’t limited to the tea soaked elephants in the room. President Obama did sign a defense spending bill that had a rider on it mandating he inform Congress 30 days prior to the release of any Gitmo detainees. He included a signing statement that said he believed this add-on to be unconstitutional, but the military had to be funded, so he signed.

As commander in chief, the president is charged with the constitutional responsibility of looking after the well-being of members of our armed forces. That includes the release of prisoners of war through various means including prisoner exchanges. The 30-day congressional notice was in direct conflict with this responsibility and so a pretty sound constitutional argument can be made by the administration.

That being said, the bill was signed by the President. Opposite day Presidential translation: “...we believe it is fair to conclude that Congress did not intend that the Administration would be barred from taking the action it did in these circumstances.” Actually, that’s exactly what they intended.

Even John McCain, himself a prisoner of war released through a prisoner exchange with the Viet Cong, is trumpeting out of both sides of his trunk. At one time he said he would be “inclined to support” the release of Bergdahl through the exchange of these same five Taliban prisoners, depending on the circumstances of the deal. Opposite day translation: “It is disturbing that these individuals would have the ability to re-enter the fight, and they are big, high-level people, possibly responsibly for the deaths of thousands.”

The spite, venom and hypocrisy oozing from this is America at it’s worst. Politicians are attempting to destroy this man and his family to score political points. A celebration in Bergdahl’s hometown has been cancelled due to the endless malevolence being excreted from the right. Once again calls for impeachment can be heard bouncing around the echo chamber that was once a respected Grand Old Party.

In the ensuing years since our epic trip to Nebraska, our granddaughters have out grown their enthusiasm for opposite day. It’s part of the inevitable changes that come with growing up. If only our politicians would age out of these similarly childish games we would be a much better country.