The United States' budget crisis is over. But the country merely bought itself a little more time before January, when it will likely re-enact the spectacle. The sad truth is that the US political system, which depends on the goodwill of those who participate in it, is being paralyzed by a small bunch of ideologues hell-bent on nothing less than dismantling much of the US government at all levels.

Perhaps, it's more accurate to say that the Republicans have a cancer, and that cancer is called the Tea Party, which is no party at all, and about as much fun as an aggressive tumor threatening the body politic.

I never thought that I'd have any real sympathy for a Republican leader but my heart goes out to John Boehner, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. His main job is to organize his 234 to 201 majority to speak with one voice and to force the Democratic Senate and President Barack Obama to negotiate and compromise. Yet with the Tea Party being the tail wagging the Republican dog, he cannot control his members.

US House Speaker John Boehner. [File photo / Agencies]

The Tea Partiers, and they come from both mainstream parties, are a motley and diverse crew, who fervently believe that government is best when it governs least. On one side of the spectrum are highly principled Libertarians like former Congressman Ron Paul, and his son, Senator Rand Paul. On the other are a collection of nut jobs ranging from survivalists, who are busy preparing shelters and stocking them with food, water and ammunition against neighbors or other enemies when the expected chaos comes, to various militia members, ready to fight against a government they consider illegal.