Ed Perlmutter, Joe Miller and Rand Paul are shown. | AP Photos Losing it: Politics goes nuts

American politics, which has been hovering on the edge all year, has finally gone flying off it.

A spate of recent episodes — including a couple of bizarre incidents over the weekend — show all manner of candidates on the 2010 stage abandoning self-control and embracing a campaign-trail equivalent of road rage.


In Alaska, Republican Joe Miller’s private security guards Sunday night arrested a video-toting reporter — never mind that they had no authority to do so — setting off a round of recriminations that continued to echo Monday. (See: Video-Toting Reporter Arrested)

In Colorado, an impatient Rep. Ed Perlmutter, the incumbent Democrat, irritably swatted the hand of Republican opponent Ryan Frazier during a televised debate, prompting Frazier to warn, “Don’t hit me, man, come on.” (See: Candidate Slaps Away Rival's Hand)

And in Kentucky on Sunday night, Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul was so offended by an ad by Democrat Jack Conway — the spot accuses Paul of belonging to a group known for “mocking Christianity and Christ” — that he delivered a rebuke with echoes of the famous 1950s swat-down of Joe McCarthy: “Jack, have you no decency? Have you no shame?” (See: Rand Paul Outraged by Campaign Ad)

These were only a few of the highlights of a campaign trail that, just 15 days from Election Day, has rarely sounded more peevish or less restrained by the customary civilities, which in a normal year would inhibit candidates from revealing how much they loathe each other.

Instead, it seems the anger of the American voter is expressing itself in the faces of many American politicians — trembling lips, florid cheeks, bulging eyes.

It is the politics of indignation in full blossom. (Related: Outrageous Tea Party Signs)

And the examples keep coming.

In Massachusetts, it wasn’t 15-term incumbent Barney Frank but his boyfriend, James Ready, who showed up outside Frank’s debate with Republican challenger Sean Bielat with a video camera to heckle Bielat in front of the press, according to a local blog. (Related: McCain Disagrees With Daughter)

Bielat, a veteran making a long-shot challenge to Frank, responded: “Are you serious? … You’re really standing here and heckling me? That’s really what you’re doing?”

“You just tried two jokes, and they weren’t even funny,” Bielat’s antagonist shot back.

But this was downright mild compared with the brouhaha in Anchorage Sunday night, when the founder of the news site Alaska Dispatch allegedly pushed a Joe Miller supporter and landed in handcuffs. And that was before the police arrived — Tony Hopfinger’s captors were from the private security firm Drop Zone, which works for Miller’s campaign.

The manhandling of a reporter recalls the year’s most flamboyant threat, from New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, just a few weeks back. Bristling at questions from New York Post reporter Fred Dicker, Paladino warned: “I’ll take you out, buddy.”

“How are you going to do that?” Dicker asked. Paladino answered: “Watch.”

That attitude has spread, even within the Empire State. New York Rep. Maurice Hinchey, an 18-year House incumbent, laid hands on a reporter outside a debate Friday night, joining newcomers like Paladino and Miller in getting testy with the press.

Asked whether he had a personal financial interest in a local development project, Hinchey poked at the reporter for the Kingston Daily Freeman, barking: “Are you still as deceptive as you have always been? ... Shut up.”

Some of the fuming candidates have backed away from their statements — Perlmutter immediately apologized to Miller, and Hinchey and Paladino walked back their comments — but others have not. Indeed, Miller fully embraced Drop Zone’s actions, and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released a statement Monday morning endorsing Conway’s line of attack against Paul. (See: Manchin, Raese Duel Over Obama)

“Rand Paul has yet to deny any charge regarding his membership in an anti-Christian society and/or his activities as part of the group,” the committee noted, and spokesman Eric Schultz insisted: “Rand Paul’s theatrical performances may be distractions, but they are not substitutes for answers.”

But Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said Monday that Conway’s ad was "very dangerous" and "came close to the line" of inappropriateness.

"Candidates who are behind at the end reach, and sometimes they overreach,” McCaskill said. She also called Paul “way too thin-skinned” for refusing to shake Conway’s hand.

Miller, meanwhile, described himself as the real victim in the incident at Anchorage Central Middle School.

“While I’ve gotten used to the blog Alaska Dispatch's assault on me and my family, I never thought that it would lead to a physical assault,” Miller said in a release. “It’s too bad that this blogger would take advantage of a ‘town hall’ meeting to create a publicity stunt just two weeks before the election.”

(Related: Politicians Caught Having Affairs)