I can't
believe I'm doing this. It must be because it's 4:13
in the morning, and I'm spinning in my life/career
that I'm even contemplating this. But while typing an
entry about Obama and Healthcare, it occured to me I
have that same pit in my stomach that I did when
he was running. The "Crazy" factor is now out of
control, and the Republicans are encouraging it. I
don't think he's safe, and all I could think of
was the song/video I made in January 2008:
"Watching History Again". A video I took down the
instant I put it up because I was scared it would be
misunderstood.
But now? After the
two years I've been through? Fuck, man...
misunderstand me. Hate me, slam me, audit me, knock on
my door, accuse me... just pay fucking attention to
me. You know? Like, sweet holy hell - I had
something to lose in January 2008 (so
I thought)... now? Nada. Zilch. Zero. Zip. So
I post the video:
Here's
the original
entry. I
realize that I should probably make a new one for
2010 with the Tea Party rallies. Actually, let me just
start the entry the way I intended it. I started
writing this on the 23rd when he signed the
bill:
I like
Obama and wish him well. His story is inspirational
to me. I relate many of my own struggles to his. I
am proud he represents our country when I hear
him speak, because his intelligence and pragmatism
is universal. That's it. His "agenda" doesn't
really concern me. Honestly, unless you start
sending our kids to war to kill other kids, I'm not
gonna get too up in arms. Taxes? Whatever. I just
got audited and I don't really
care. Seems a silly thing to rage against. After
riding the bus for 7 hours on what they call
"roads" in Africa I quickly realized where our
money goes and I'm grateful. I would rather there
be less government, but I also believe there should
be public schools and public health care because it
helps EVERYONE. Sick stupid people piss me off.
That's not radical. It's actually conservative.
People without health insurance cost everyone a
shitload of money. That's common sense.
So I'm happy
for Obama today. He did succeed where
many failed. I do still believe a public
option is mandatory to declare "victory"... but
I now understand that what he signed today,
lays the foundation for it. I didn't understand the
nuances when I first mentioned this back in
September
(Random
#12).
What was passed was huge because it sets up the
system. The mandate will bring the public
option. Why? 'Cause the people will demand it. Hell
it may even happen before the mandate goes into
effect. It's gonna take awhile, but that's why it
will work. He did learn from Clinton's
mistakes. He's far more calculated than I gave
him credit for (I wonder when I'll stop doing
that?). He bent over backwards to include the
Republicans when he didn't have to, and they looked
like buffoons because of it. He was calm and
collected when everyone told him how he was failing
and was going to be a one-term president. He let it
play out, and came in when he needed to and
brokered a deal on the abortion issues that was
nothing short of brilliant. I'm just happy for him.
He has the weight of the world on his shoulders and
he's taking it in stride.
<A note to
his "supporters" who are pissed... you're creating
your own loop. You're expecting him to reinvent the
system instead of working within it. That's not how
change happens. You really did drink the kool-aid.
Change is slow, tedious and takes patience. Stop
being so A.D.D. >
That's not
really why I'm writing. I'm writing to disagree
with Joe. This may be a big fucking deal
politically, and even for the health care system...
but in the grand scheme of things? It isn't, and
people need to calm the fuck down. I mean,
really, really, really need to calm down.
I actually believe in total, that people are
angrier about this bill, than going to war with
Iraq. THAT is a big fucking deal. THAT is
something that needs to be addressed, and that is
something that needs our attention. Health Care is
a watered down version of what he said he was going
to do ANYWAY. Why anyone is surprised it happened
is beyond me.
However, what
"The Right" is doing right now is absolutely a big
fucking deal. What was passed was a 1993 Republican
bill. Anyone catch that? The Republicans COUNTER to
Clinton's Universal Health Care Bill in his first
term is nearly identical to what just passed today.
They are treating it like 9/11. I'm not
exagerrating. You have commentators saying today is
worse than that day. The rhetoric is shifting,
dangerously - and everyone reading this had better
pray that there is a sane, intelligent conservative
political figure that comes out of nowhere
REALLY FUCKING QUICK... or we're all in
some shit. There is an appropriate counter-balance
to Barack Obama... and it's not Sarah Palin.
It's not John Boehner. It's not Glenn
Beck. If we don't find that counter-balance? If we
don't get back to normal politics?
Normal debates about policy? This country is
in some SHIT. There's gonna be a militia-style
revolution, and leaders are gonna die. This is
really, really bad. Listen, I want to see the
two-party system die just as much as any
"Tea-Party" numuts wants to... but for some reason,
now doesn't seem like the right time. Hmmm, wonder
why that is? Because after 8 years of fucking
incompetence the likes we've never seen before, we
finally have rational representation of who
we are in the White House? How 'bout we let that
settle into the rest of the world's consciousness
before we go crazy? It's been a year people, calm
the fuck down.
But they're
not. And they're not....
At which point it
hit me. It's 2008 all over again. I have that pit
in my stomach again. I think he's in
danger.
Uploading the
video doesn't really do anything to help or hurt that.
Not like I"m giving anyone ideas, and not like I'm
truly reminding people to "watch the skies"... he's
got people that do that for him, I know. The song
comes from a place in your soul that just cries out.
You want desperately to say something or do something
and you end up stating the obvious. The George of the
Jungle song comes to mind: "Watch out for that
tree...." You think he's not watching for trees
swinging on vines in the jungle? But what else do you
say when you're nervous? And that's all it is. A
scared supporter praying he's safe. Praying he gets to
keep doing his job. 'Cause honestly? Even as someone
who believes in a smaller government, and thinks
they're all a bunch of paid off crooks? He's been
pretty incredible. He's done a fucking lot of good in
a short amount of time. The worst thing you can say is
that he wasted too much time trying to be bi-partisan.
Seriously, that's all I can really say. I've watched
several administrations start and have studied several
more... and... well, he's doin' good.
Anyway, we'll see
what people think of the video. We'll see if the FBI
knocks at my door.
