Today I read a column in the New York Times by Paul Krugman, an economics professor at Princeton (I think) and an excellent OP-Ed contributor at the Times, talking about the protestors who are “disrupting” the town halls being held by Democratic Congresspersons around the country during the August recess. In his article he points out what the “news” media has been focusing on regarding these protests. For example, there are many who compare them to the protests orchestrated by Tom DeLay after the 2000 election designed to stop the recount in Florida (which was successful). And, I suppose, there are a lot of similarities – so, why not? If it worked once why not try it again, right? Certainly, the Republicans have shown themselves over and over to believe in the philosophy that the “end justifies the means.” This is nothing new for them, they’ve been on this course since I can remember. Krugman also points out that many of the “protestors” have been paid by two organizations: first, Freedom Works – an organization (which seems to be opposing freedom) led by the former House Majority leader Dick Armey (one of many Republicans now bilking the public as a lobbyist after being forced out of Congress for ethics violations) and second, “Conservatives for Patient’s Rights” led by Rick Scott – formerly the head of Columbia/HCA which is a hospital chain most noted for paying a 1.7 BILLION DOLLAR fine resulting from their practice of OVERBILLING the federal government and state governments on medical claims. Scott was thrown out because of this but evidently had no criminal liability (sound familiar? If these Republicans were ever honestly investigated, who knows how much graft would be uncovered?). As every fairminded person I’ve talked to – Republican and Democrat alike – this kind of “dirty trick” is disgusting. The stated purpose of these “disruptors” is to have no debate at all. To stop the debate so that they can stop the legislation supposedly allowing them to DEFEAT PRESIDENT OBAMA.

Now, this is where it gets more interesting. When I look at the crowds on TV and the people who are making the big ruckous one thing comes immediately to my mind. Most of the people shouting down the Congresspeople trying to get a feel for where their constituents stand on the legislation are older than me. That would mean that most of them are Medicare recipients. So, therefore, I see something really DISENGENUOUS in their message. HOW CAN YOU BE PART OF MEDICARE AND ARGUING AGAINST “GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTHCARE” AT THE SAME TIME? That’s the part that really sticks out to me as I watch this soap opera like scenario playing itself out. And, of course, the present legislation is FAR REMOVED from “government run health care.” I watched one lady, who had to be at least 70, yelling how she didn’t want anyone to take away her health insurance. Well, her health insurance is MEDICARE! Ideally, wouldn’t it be great if there was MEDICARE for ALL? Yes, there would have to be a change in the rates paid to doctors and, I’m sure, many other changes and “upgrades” to the system, but I’m pretty sure that the money most of us who are insured are paying would go a long way toward paying for a strong Medicare for all system. In fact, from what I’m reading, everyone could be covered and I would be paying LESS NOT MORE!

Back to Krugman’s point. He finally started to talk about what I’ve been talking about for months (you don’t think he’s one of my 50 viewers per day do you? :o) and that is the strong group of Americans who just can’t handle a “Negro” (my word) as President and Commander in Chief. I watched one pitiful lady CRYING as she wailed out: “I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK!” And a bunch of people in the audience cheered. This was a Town Hall in Arkansas – and it wasn’t health care which was bothering them. Another group in Missouri, at a town hall for a Republican (a friendly audience – no protestors at this meeting) cheered loudly when the Congressman referred to the treatment Democratic Congresspeople were receiving as “Lynchings.” Call it a Freudian Slip, but these people are not hiding anything from me. Blacks are OK as long as they are sports heroes and holding menial jobs. The idea of a Black person (remember, President Obama’s the result of a “mixed” marriage) as President is more than they can handle. When you get all the right wing “talkers” fueling their emotions it starts to get dangerous – AND IT’S STARTING TO GET DANGEROUS.

Barack Obama was RIGHT ON when he pointed out, during the campaign, that many of these people vote against their own self-interests because politicians “play” to their fears and prejudices. This has been clear with the abortion debate over the years, the wars and terrorist claims, and now virtually everything our “Black” President is doing – not because it’s not the right thing to do, but because – WHAT IF HE’S SUCCESSFUL? Would that mean more Black Presidents in the future? Or, what about a Latina President – I mean look at the Supreme Court – we now have a Latina WOMAN on the Supreme Court. The Republicans made it clear what they thought about that in the confirmation process – a process which they knew they would lose right from the start – but one where they felt it necessary to feed the racists in their “base” to “recharge” them after the loss in 2008. I’m honestly not sure what these thugs are thinking – I can only hope that the backlash they receive is severe enough that we don’t have to continually endure this type of degradation. I look back to the eight years of Clinton – and I really hope that we don’t have a repeat of that performance here. The people “protesting” against health care reform stand to benefit from it, just like everyone else. So, to me, the objection clearly is the color of our President’s skin.

Which gets me to Krugman’s final point. With Rush Limbaugh working for Obama’s “FAILURE” at every opportunity, with the Republicans disregarding anything that would resemble integrity, with reports that white supremist “cells” are springing up all over the country – THE REST OF US HAD BETTER FIGURE OUT SOON THAT THIS REALLY IS THE “WAR WITHIN.” It would be foolish to underestimate these right wing (you put the word in, every word I’m thinking here is inappropriate for a sixth grade teacher). Krugman pointed out that the “base” that got President Obama elected had better get re-energized (my words) or there could easily be a defeat of the health care legislation. I will take it a step further, Obama’s Presidency could well be in the “balance.” There’s a lot of positive news pouring in, which conceivably could counteract the defeat of the healthcare legislation, but Krugman has a good point which might go unnoticed by virtually everyone – including Krugman.

Obama’s support is dwindling. Some of that dwindling comes from the very person writing this post, ME! I’ve been on “Red Alert” for some time. I believe the Republicans are much better than the Democrats at making a plan and sticking to it. They are setting one trap after another for Obama – and the prize is the independent voter (again, like me). Last night I heard Keith Olberman making light of a Republican Senator who was complaining that President Obama was collecting email addresses of “opponents.” Olberman’s point was – this Senator was behind President Bush’s “warrantless wiretapping” program – evidently thinking it (the wiretapping program) was a thing of the past. I’ve got a surprise for Mr. Olberman. THE WIRETAPPING PROGRAM IS STILL ONGOING! President Obama has shown (in my view) a disturbing lack of resolve in reversing many of the abuses of the Bush administration. The reality in my eyes is that “if I have the power, why give it up?” This is what is bothering, I’m sure, many more of Obama’s supporters than me. I’m guessing the number of people who are disgusted that Obama is “looking forward” and not backward regarding the “Bush Crime family” is in the millions. Everytime he takes another “Bushlike” action, the more people will “jump off the bandwagon.” I didn’t vote for President Obama because of the color of his skin and he doesn’t have to prove anything to me – HE JUST NEEDS TO HONOR HIS PROMISES. So, as much as I like most of what he’s trying to get accomplished, if he continues to “cow-tow” to Republicans, if he continues to resist “UnBushing” the executive branch, if he continues to look the other way at crimes committed by our elected leaders my support is weak at best.

If you’ve been following the news lately I’m sure you’ve heard the reports on Blackwater (now called XE – pronounced ZEE) – the militia started by Eric Prince and now infamous for the random killings (more reports surfacing every day) of civilians in Iraq. Prince considers the Iraq war a “crusade” and – based on reports from his former employees – was complicit in encouraging and then covering up many murders of Iraqi civilians during their tenure as “bodyguards” for our diplomats over there. Astonishingly, they are still over there – despite being “banned” by the Iraqi’s. I wrote around one year ago about Blackwater – wondering what they will do once they are no longer employed by our government. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN ARMY – FULL OF DANGEROUS MERCENARIES, SOME FROM THE WORST PARTS OF THE WORLD – THEIR OWN AIRFORCE, AND INTELLIGENCE DIVISION. These guys are affiliated with the militia movement types, like Chuck Norris and the people who are successionists, and THEY HAVE A BOATLOAD OF MONEY. So, this war I’ve been talking about, could become more than a war of words. The inciteful language used by people like Limbaugh, O’Reilly, Hannity, Savage, and others – including many Republican members of Congress – could lead to something tragic. I guarantee you that these people don’t want a BLACK PRESIDENT! Remember what happened to George Tiller – the doctor who was performing late term abortions (virtually everyone of them was the result of a dead fetus or a mother who was fighting cancer and needed chemo which would kill the baby – EVERY procedure was performed to protect the health of the Mother)? Bill O’Reilly led that public “fight” against Tiller which resulted in him being murdered while sitting in church – and, believe me, there wasn’t any regret from O’Reilly and the people he incites.

What’s going to happen if one of these “low-lifes” who are being incited against a Black President does something stupid? Obama definitely needs his “base” to rally around him, but I, for one, need to see more of a progressive statesman than a middle of the road politician. It almost appears that, in this health care debate, Obama and the Democrats are trying to make as many people as possible happy. To me, that is what is threatening to turn me off. When Obama was elected I and, I believe, millions of others like me were tired of Republicans and what they stand for. Now, I’m already tired of President Obama’s trying to get their bipartisan support. The way for President Obama to get my enthusiastic support again would be to fight back as if he finally understands the magnitude of this war. He probably does, and I’m guessing that the reason there hasn’t been the investigations I believe should be MANDATORY is because of the fact Obama knows how these people will react if a Black President and Black Attorney General “go after” their hero – George W Bush. The truth is that these people represent a minority of America – as Cheney so eloquently put it – THE DARK SIDE – and they, along with the rest of us, need to know the TRUTH of what our government has been up to in the past – NO MATTER WHERE IT LEADS US! I, for one, am tired of wondering what despicable act my government is up to today. The fact that I supported President Obama, doesn’t mean that he gets a free pass on despicable acts. Krugman was exactly right, if Obama’s “base” doesn’t get VERY ACTIVE he stands to lose the health care battle. This would threaten his chances for re-election – and once that happens it would then be too late for any investigation. And, in my view, not investigating the “Bush Crime family” would be a despicable act!