Look, I celebrate your right to freedom of speech, your right to share your opinion on health care, and indeed, your right to call your fellow Americans whatever the hell you please. But here are a few things to consider.

One: People who look like domestic terrorists scare away customers. You are standing in front of a business, and there's a strong likelihood that the capitalist who operates it would like you to go away.

Two: Shit happens. It's only a matter of time before some responsible gun owner comes home from one of these anti-universal Health Care events and leaves a firearm unattended, whereupon his kid will pick up the gun and shoot his baby sister in the face. Now: when that little girl shows up at one of the many trauma centers that those of us who aren't blinded by ideology are struggling to figure out how to pay for, what is your group going to do to help cover her bills? Pass the fucking hat?

Three: As I mentioned before, you guys are using the rhetoric, philosophy and activities of domestic terrorism. It's all just fun and war games until one of your compadres blows up a federal building and with it, a daycare center full of kids. I remember Timothy McVeigh. I remember the day. I remember the faces of the victims, their parents, their children.  I remember one of the dads who lost his wonderful daughter and dedicated his life to trying to forgive that son of a bitch. I remember Tim McVeigh's own dad, a decent enough guy, struggling to understand how his son could have shrugged off the death of children.

Where I'm going with this is that freedom brings with it a responsibility to look out for the common good, and that's what all us so-called "socialists" are trying to do here, figure out some way to provide health care for everybody at a price that won't break the bank. I don't see how standing there like a tool, impeding legitimate commerce, scaring your fellow Americans and putting people in danger is contributing to that goal.

To sum it up, you're free to work for the common good, or you can use your freedom to be a total asshole. Your decision--but if you decide to apply yourself to creating a solution along with the majority instead of pimping out your minority position with firearms, we'll be happy to see you at the solution table.

Now, get out of my way please. I'd like to go in and drink my goddamned coffee in peace. 

I'm still interested in finding a name for the Democrats who hang out on the left side of the party, swimming in the waters between Blue and Green, as it were. "Progressive" seems inappropriate because it's the name of an insurance company, and besides it's not that catchy.

Submit your suggestions as comments. Thanks!

Yellow Dogs, Blue Dogs...I have been trying to think of a new name for Progressive Reps, Senators and constituents, because Progressive is the name of an insurance company and somewhat undercuts our cause, I think.

What about Green Panthers? I think the cat reference gets at the idea that progressives vote Democratic because they find it convenient and could go Green if the Democratic party fails to suit.

I also like it that the inherent similarity to the Black Panther name will bug the crap out of the right. Let's let them fill the blogosphere with wild speculation about us rather than the other way round.

Catchy enough? What do you think?

If the so-called debate about health reform has shown us anything over the past few weeks, it's that the tree of liberty (which apparently must be watered with the blood of patriots rather than good old H20) sure has a lot of nuts.

It's important to understand that every one of these nuts planted at town halls like human I.E.D. stinkbombs has been to some extent, if not entirely, paid for by the opposition. Aghast at the mere idea that our health care system should smell more of compassion than of money, the corporate establishment (which, to their mild surprise failed to purchase enough votes to prevent Barack Obama from being elected) has pulled out all the stops--and all the crazies--in a very serious effort to prevent him from getting anything done while in office.

In short, they have two goals: make the public doubt Obama, and make elected representatives doubt public support for Obama.

So, in addition to the usual tactics of using fear about guns, church, choice and race to bring out every cheaply-bought nut in town, the lucrascenti (new word!) has upped its game. They've doubled down on using campaigns known as astroturf to manufacture fake voter participation on this issue and others like it. (How bad is it when fake constituent letters are ok, but forged fake constituent letters are going too far?)

Of most concern has been their ability to neutralize the house and senate majorities by making it look to centrist democrats as if they'll face massive disapproval from their constituents if they so much as think about voting with their party.  

Once again we're discovering that it's easier to raise a mob than to educate a movement, but we knew that all along. Now it's time to figure out what to do about it so that we can get the Democrats to use their House/Senate majorities. Here are some suggestions.

1. Call all your elected reps, Democrat and Republican. Point out that while the tree of liberty has many nuts, it has a lot more leaves, and people are tired of corporate-run health insurance and health care. Point out that once people come to understand the issues, they generally break in favor of reform. Point out that time is not on the side of those who fail to stand up for what's right.

2. Call your Democrats and tell them what we'll do if they continue to waver. And what we'll do is: refuse to contribute to or campaign for them. I figure the "Green Panthers"--the principled, energetic progressives who campaigned hard for Democratic politicians in the last election delivered many more votes than their own. Point out to these reps that if they're going to try so hard to get the approval of Republicans at the expense of Democrats, they might as well try to get Republicans to work on their campaigns and vote for them in the next election. Make it very clear that deciding to actively support Green Panther (formerly "Progressive") initiatives will be good for them--procrastinating or refusing to support us will cost them votes when votes count the most.

(It will be important to stand behind this one--if your Democratic rep doesn't come out in favor of health care reform immediately, you will need to get your friends to send him or her a letter for the next week, saying something like "I talked with Sally Smith and I want you to know that I won't be campaigning for you either. You can expect to receive more letters just like this one.")

For the specifics on why we need a public option and how important it is, please refer to Bob Reich's excellent article on the subject, and please refer your reps to it as well.

I guess my point is, if we want more than 60 votes, we're going to have to help get them. Harry Reid can't do all the kitten-herding alone. And a little more-than-gentle persuasion might come in handy here.

Right now, we're all wearing ourselves out responding  to the nuts. What we need to do is remind our elected representatives that the leaves are counting on them.