As you may be aware, Senator John McCain, reading from a Wall Street Journal editorial on the Senate floor Wednesday, invoked Tolkien, quoting the passage here:

The idea seems to be if the House GOP refuses to raise the debt ceiling, a default crisis or gradual government shutdown will ensue and the public will turn en masse against Barack Obama. The Republican House that failed to raise the debt ceiling would somehow escape all the blame. Then Democrats would have no choice but to pass a balanced budget amendment and reform entitlements, and the Tea Party hobbits could return to Middle Earth having defeated Mordor.

Well not to go all nerd on you, Senator, but they were already IN Middle Earth. They had to return to The Shire. -3 internets to you. And we’ll leave aside that he and the author of the editorial might have found a more timely reference, what with the end of Harry Potter, and therefore life as we know it, so close at hand. The fact is that this Hobbit sees an opportunity for some photoshop fun.

PHOTOSHOP CONTEST!!!

So here are the rules: produce Tolkien themed tea party photoshops and post them in the comments. Or don’t. I’m a blog post, not a cop. Keep it clean. Winners will be announced in their own minds, and the best will probably be destined for Twitter glory. Or not. This is a hypothesis, not the all seeing eye of Sauron. Keep it clean. People who don’t will be cast into the fiery pit of Mt. Doom. By Moe.

So nerd it up, Hobbitses. Let’s see what you got. I’ll start below the fold.

First up, my rendition of the Tea Party Hobbits and Friends (click for full size):

(If you can’t guess who everyone is, blame global warming and ask in the comments.

I wonder how Senator McCain feels about that? Luckily, I have a photo of his reaction!! Again, click for full size:

IT BURNSES US!!

Alright my preciouses. Let us see which ring will rule them all. And by that, I mean make funny pictures in nerd fashion.

FLY, YOU FOOLS!

UPDATE: Some good entries down in the comments. I did one more with the bad guys. Again, if you can’t figure out who is who, blame George Bush or ask in the comments.