REPORTS OF THE DEATH OF CRAZY ARE GREATLY EXAGGERATED

David Weigel reports that GOP congressman Nathan Deal -- now a candidate for governor of Georgia -- is a birther; he's demanding proof of Barack Obama's eligibility to hold the office of president. Steve Benen sees this as a regrettable spark of life in a movement that, fortunately, seems to be sputtering out:

As 2009 progressed, it was nice to see "Birthers" quietly slink away. Right-wing activists started investing more time in attacking President Obama, not the legitimacy of his presidency.

The "Birther" legislation in the House (H.R.1503) picked up four co-sponsors in July, and one in September, before Republican lawmakers lost interest. By the fall, organizers of next year's Conservative Political Action Conference announced that there will be plenty of panel discussions at their event, but not one for the "Birthers."

Eventually, Lou Dobbs left CNN; Fox News moved on; and the whole insane crusade was left on the trash heap of stupid political stunts.

It's worth noting, then, that some far-right members of Congress still haven't let go....

But it's not just Deal. Please note that Sarah Palin -- possibly the next Republican candidate for president -- and Representative Michelle Bachmann will be joined as featured speakers at the First National Tea Party Convention by uber-birther Joseph Farah of WorldNet Daily, who wrote today at WND, "I am recommitting my energies and resources to the search for verifiable truth on this matter of eligibility."

Oh, and for good measure, another of Farah's fellow speakers will be Fox News contributor Angela McGlowan.

Anyone think the selection of Farah as a speaker is going to cause Palin, Bachmann, or McGowan to drop out? Me either.