One of the things I almost appreciated about losing my TU status after the election was that I believe it happened because I didn't feel the frantic need to comment and post about every, single diary. We won. And we won big. I could exhale a bit and I did. I didn't tune out completely, but I didn't feel like I was in a battle--a WAR--anymore. So, where during the election I'd comment like crazy and even wrote a diary or two, after we won I'd simply click on a few stories and then move on. So, very appropriately, my TU status got snatched, and that really was (and is) okay. That status should be reserved for those who continue to do the hard work in the online trenches, and I had become a blogging slacker. But I was so delirious with joy after the election that I forgot that the fight really had just begun.
I'm sickened by what I see in these townhalls, as I am sure most of you are. While I'm not really surprised at the level of hate we're seeing from these lunatics, I guess I am horrified by how big a story these townhalls have become. Think about it: When is the last time--if ever--you saw a local congressperson's townhall meeting on national television? It's just gotten completely out of control and it's time to take back the message. From HuffPo:
Arianna appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown" Wednesday to discuss the lack of bipartisanship in the health care reform debate and the resilience of rumors about a government "death panel." She argued that President Obama needs to give up his delusion that both parties and industry interests can all come together to achieve real health care reform. She said the president needs to realize that "there is a whole industry here working against reform and the president needs to stop acting as though everybody's interests are aligned." Arianna added that to accomplish meaningful reform with a public option and the ability to negotiate for lower drug prices, Obama should be saying: "If you are with us, come on board. If you are not, get out of the way."
She also said that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid should call for a vote of censure against Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) for his endorsement of the "death panel" falsehood.
I really agree with Huffington here--we've got the freakin' majority and it's simply time to use it. However, in order to squelch these outrageous townhalls altogether, I wonder if it's time to remember the strategies that worked during the campaign, when I was a TU, and when we all were so damn focused it was scary! Is there any merit at all in Obama doing another 30 minute "commercial" that is well-produced and brilliantly shot, much like the campaign one? He appears with so-called ordinary people who are in need of urgent health care, and he's very succint and explicit about the plan. He talks again about his mother's struggle, and then he really just SHAMES the deathers and the Republicans by calling them what they are--fear mongers! He'd do it much more eloquently of course, but he needs to call them out--just as he did during the election. That got us all fired up and ready to go, remember? And more importantly, we had control of the message.
I think when Obama talks to the nation, he's nothing short of brilliant. But I think when he's doing a press conference, he's stuck answering STUPID-ASSED questions that get in the way of real progress. Even a presidential address, while clearly better, may not be as emotionally compelling as a "mini-movie/commerical." I actually don't really like to say he should "do this or that," because I found that during the election, every, single time I thought he needed to "fight back" or "come out swinging!" he always surprised and delivered with a far more reserved and compelling approach. So, I don't have all the answers by any stretch, but I honestly think a well-produced, prime-time, commerical with great interviews and great subjects would be a slam dunk for our side.
It's just time to cut the crap.
But it's also time for lazy, post-election slackers like me to get going again. Thanks to all of you who have kept fighting the good fight!