Passion and Anger Are Potent Weapons in the Hands of the Calm and Collected

All right. So the Dems have been swiftboated again. The Republicans throw out a series of outlandish lies worthy of a grade-school playground (whole-scale granny-cide, John Kerry ate human flesh while patrolling the Mekong Delta) and the Democrats try to just laugh it off. The Dems chortle, "Who would ever encourage such nonsense."

Um, how about every single possible news outlet?

Crazy sells. Crazy brings eyeballs to the flat screen. How hard is that to understand?

Even if it's against your nature, a rapid, vigorous counter-attack is the only logical choice.

But the most corrosive effect of Democratic leadership passivity in response to high-pitched lunatic right wing charges is to the Democratic masses. There is nothing more dispiriting than watching the people you've elected to lead you be bullied. Especially when the opponent stands at an historic level of weakness. It's like watching your big, strapping dad get beat up by your scrawny weasel of a next-door neighbor.

The President's poll numbers have fallen not because of policy but because he's being perceived as weak and that weakness scares us.

It doesn't have to be this way. This is health care we're talking about. Actual lives stand in the balance. Why is there only passion on the side of keeping things the way they are?

What we need right now is some fire.

If you're always angry and shouting, like O'Reilly or Beck, folks learn to tune out. However, as in Obama's case, if you're known for your calm, then anger, used judiciously, can be devastatingly effective. As a parent to young kids he must know that. When they're really out of line you have to shout. You have to discipline. Kids constantly test the boundaries of their powers and will take over a household if the parents aren't stern enough. Republicans are the same way. Republicans in the minority are cranky and thin-skinned and shrill. But they are not in charge anymore.

Senator Grassley's betrayal, for example, could have been an excellent, teachable moment. When he jumped on the death panel bandwagon the White House needed to immediately and publicly scold him and kick him out of the Gang of Six. He was given tremendous, unwarranted power and, wham! that power should have been instantly and ferociously taken away. If he wanted to come back and play he would have to say he was sorry and be a good, compliant boy from now on.

Other Republicans and Democrats unwilling to play nice would then be on notice. The President would be saying, "I'm patient up to a point, but if you get way out of line I will be stern and merciless."

Right now, nobody fears the President, and no change that we can believe in will come to policies favorable to entrenched and well-funded special interests without some passion and anger. When kids are acting up they have to know that there are consequences.

You can't well parent a household without a healthy dose of fear.

Follow Trey Ellis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/TreyEllis

Comments

[ATruthBeKnown]

2nd that .... Passion, Anger, Focus, and Commitment

[marinara]

Obama is making President Bush look better everyday.

[overcat]

What's truly scary is that the shrill hysteria from the apoplectic loonies on the right does seem to influence some otherwise moderately rational people. While I and most folks I know are more inclined to kick back, crack open a beer and enjoy the comedy of the rightwing meltdown - it's almost like something dear old Hunter S. Thompson would've written come to life - there are unfortunately untold numbers of folks who are actually influenced by the crazies. Death panels? Obama trying to create a Hitler Youth style army? Concentration camps? It would be some pretty funny stuff if people weren't actually buying into it. Actually it IS some pretty funny stuff, and that fools actually take it to heart just adds to the comedic brilliance of it all. But still, this is our national dialogue, and we've sunk this low? Canada beckons...

[Flavor]

You are so right overcat, you explained it well. You see, there are people who can be misguided not knowing they are being used. They won't do research, and clearly to me anyway they really don't have a clue why? they are mad and upset. Some think (loud) and boistourous makes one heard but it truely is a turn off. I think there are some who can be mislead to do anything we are seeing it now.

[Maxiesid]

We have too many people that believe everything they are told by the press, whose corporate sponsored message is then backed up by the right wing stooges. You don't think the president has said anything about health care? Why? Because the press absolutely refuses to report 99% of the things he says, then complains when he wants to call a press conference to try to get SOME information through the reicht wing filter? Is it possible that we are so gullible that we don't see what is happening?? The media constantly reinforces the right wing message... "the president has betrayed his supporters" "the president is giving into the corporate lobbiests' 'the honeymoon is over' (they started that one two days after the inauguration) etc etc. The only problem they are having is that the mainstream media has lost all of its credibility. The majority of Americans have tuned them out. Let's try to keep our eyes on the prize here, and stand together with the president to successfully take our country back from those that are working hard to destroy it. Don't wait to hear it through the media, it wont happen that way, it can only happen when we stand strong together and don't allow them to influence the end result of what we are working for!.

[Xenussister]

If there were any justice in the world, which of course there isn't, Jim Cornette's Rant would have gone viral and taught the Progressives a thing or two about how to get angry intelligently. I'm still bitter that he was ignored by everyone, Stewart, Olbermann, Maddow, Colbert, Maher, the bloggers who are supposed to be on top of everything­...this guy should have been all over the airwaves, but no, he was ignored. Figures. It's just another indication of Democrats and Progressive's being too "nice" for our own good.

We could learn a lot from Jim Cornette. He's intelligent, articulate, smart, knowledgeable and passionate. So what if he's a wrestling manager? We need people from ALL walks of life to get riled up and make our opinions known.

==
Listen to this awe-inspiring rant against the right-wing!
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGp043tHAc8
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/jimcornettesrant
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=234778800440

[BOD]

More Barney Frank, Less Max Baucus. And seriously, I love the President as much as any Hope and Change Democrat on the planet, but he needs to channel his inner crazy ninja sometime in the next 30 days, or else his presidency is toast. Milquetoast.

[clsez]

Well said.

You put your finger dead on what frustrates me the most as a progressive and it comes not only from the leaders. The rank and file are just as complacent after a win as the leaders are spineless. O for a Dem congressional cadre made up of Anthony Weiners.

[VideoHammer]

Thank You. I have been completely flummoxed by the total failure of the Democrats, particularly the President, to go after these Republicans/Blue Dogs for their BS. Are you kidding me!

Stand up for something, anything,.­.... I don't get it. The Dem's, the people that I have supported for decades, continue to intellectualize issues, while the opposition justs goes rabid all over them. We are in a fight for the very real future of our nation and perhaps even the planet, while the Democratic Party parses words with people that are actually talking about killing us.

I am really on the verge of surrendering to the foolishness and turning my back on the Democrats for the last time. I will not support a team that will not support me anymore. NAFTA, CAFTA, Homeland Security, Torture, the list of issues upon which the Dem's have capitulated, is as long as my arm, but I will be done with them if they fold on this one. DONE.

[Donnat]

I don't blame Obama as much as I blame the media. The 'conservative' media (there is no liberal media). Only the loud, the angry, the crazy and usually the most conservative views ever seem to get air time. Obama's calm, reasoned discourse is too tame for them. But I and many other Americans want to hear what he has to say.

[jan4insight]

Co-sign!

[julieJgoldengay]

I wish Obama would walk up to a Gun toting Birther, and ask..."You have something you want to say to me?" I was at a Health Insurance Reform Town Hall. The cranky old woman on crack, and a guy wrapped and rolled in the American Flag, got on TV. The other 975 people in favor of reform? We stood to support what is right. It was hard.

[GrainOSand]

The rabid few have hijacked the debate -- which is a non-debate, since the majority spoke last November.

[Poboy]

This is key.

What this tiny and obstinate minority is saying, in essence, is that they will not submit to the majority and that only this minority can rule.

What is this, Apartheid South Africa, where the minority ruled?

[Retrofuturistic]

Not only does Obama's (perceived or real) "weakness" scare us, but it also makes us think that he isn't doing anything because he can't. Because he's been bought by the rich special interests just like everybody else in our government. And that's even scarier and more disappointing than his simply not standing up to the Right and to the corporate oligarchs.

[GrainOSand]

I was not going to comment, but you stated the issue very well. I still trust the president (100%), but to the weak and fickle, appearances are everything (everythang). I mostly lean...tha­t what we are witnessing is masterful strategy, not yet clear and defined to those who observe and those not in the know. However, part of masterful strategy has to concern, informing the people of true intentions at some point, lest support subside.

If the president is a compromised individual, a company man, that would be the straw that breaks the back of many camels of belief that this system is worth supporting, participating in, and saluting as a great power amongst supposed lesser powers. I look for the president to take a hard turn at the mic and deliver the most forceful indictment possible (backed up by irrefutable fact) that the time for status quo is over and that he will not be turned back. I will support the man to the end if he makes a principled stand. I will throw myself in front of whatever to allow him to make that stand. If he makes a compromised stand, increasingly, he will find -- he stands alone. Those who hate him or see him as a tool to manipulate their corporate or militaristic will, who he unfortunately attempts to coddle, will obviously not be standing with him. They do not stand with him now, unless they are trying to stab him in the back.

[GrainOSand]

The president is trying to bring intellectualism and civility to a street fight, where the opposition in unintelligent and uncivil. Right weapons Mr. President -- wrong fight. Think wild wild hun' eds, or K-Town (Chicago hoods), in terms of the type of opposition you face. Mistake not designer clothes, luxury cars, lengthy political careers, and Ivy League bona fides of the opposition to be a sign that you are dealing with anything more than -- entrenched, ruthless, scandalous, and evil -- thug life.

In the hood, when the gang bangers got unruly, the cops would put the clamp down and arrest, interrogate, or otherwise harass anything that moved. It was even worse if a police officer was killed. They are killing your vision Mr. President, time to mobilize all forces and shut them thugs down, lest they multiply like the roaches and rats that they are -- pure vermin! Time to go street, and I know you know how -- bring the other side of a Chicago education to the marks. My mother always says, “I can show you better than I can tell you.” Show’ em Mr. President, who is in charge and what time it is, and how fiercely urgent these times actually are for millions of people. I love every human being in the world, but some of my sisters and brethren have been begging for a country whooping (intellectual and political -- for now). Bipartisanship was DOA. Hunt down the charlatans and bring’ em to justice.

[Hiphopcrates]

Amen!

[gettingitright]

Well stated. Analogies are spot on. We know Obama is capable of ruthlessness since he was able to navigate and eventually beat the Chicago political machine.
It is time to show the American public some of that cultivated toughness that he demonstrated with the Somali pirates.
You can't beat political brutes with finesse, diplomacy and class.
Time for Rahm and Obama to get their hands dirty.
All those people who said they were tired of "politics as usual" will forgive the POTUS.
In the health reform battle, the ends will just have to justify the means.
Obama must pass this reform. Otherwise he will be impotent for the balance of his term.

[GrainOSand]

"where the opposition is unintelligent and uncivil. "

[larry278]

Typo: determine should read determined.

[larry278]

The disgusted [with Pres Obama] are determine to get Universal Health Care with the Public Optione despite of Pres Obama's flip flops & idle dithering. The cold anger of Americans goes far beyond cool, calm & collected. Pres Obama is begging to be frozen out of office. He will become One Term Obama, aka OTO, when he does wrong by the people who elected him.
It would be a good idea if the USA's power elite to support Universal Health Care with the Public Option if they want the money they used to support BHO back.
FYI, Obama became a hired hand for the USA's power elite when he took their support in April, 2009 & their money to make him the Democratic candidate for POTUS & then make him POTUS on election day, 11/4/09. Electing & buying a POTUS is expensive. Both Pres Obama & the USA's power elite know that by experience.

[PhilipTaylor]

37 Trillion Reasons to support Medicare for ALL WHO want it!

HEALTH CARE WILL COST AMERICA $37 TRILLION OVER TEN YEARS?

WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT LESS THAN 2% of THAT BLOCKING REFORM! GIVE ME a BREAK!

At Stake is $37 Trillion over ten years! INSURANCE and Health Care Industries want every DIME they can GET!

Calculations (see table below): ($5+$2.4)/­2*10 = $37 Trillion

And we are worried about $600 Billion, less than 2% or 1.6%

PLUS Savings of $1.3 Trillion/10 years from uninsured NOT using Emergency Rooms!

If you want a Public Option then pass HR 676 Medicare for ALL

And ADD a clause that let people OPT OUT to buy Insurance!

100,000,000 people to 306,000,000 people in Medicare can negotiate "FAIR PRICING" for Health Care Services! Stops the FOR-PROFIT GOUGING!

It works in #1 France and it can work here!

Make MAY0 C1inic the N0RM instead of the Exception!
__________­__________­__________­__________­__________

HEALTH CARE COSTS = THE #1 THREAT TO OUR FUTURE!

$2.4Trilli­on spent in 2008, 17% of OUR GDP
$3.1Trilli­on by 2012
$4.3Trilli­on by 2016
$5.0Trilli­on by 2018

[Rule Of Law]

Philip--please check out the link in my post below. If you've never heard him, you will be amazed. And if he is right, we are truly sk rued.