O'Donnell's argument clearly illustrates the utter sham that are the Republican talking points with these simple questions. "Will you move to repeal Social Security, a socialist program?" "Will you introduce legislation to end Medicare, a government run, single-payer, socialist program?" You cannot say that you are against socialist style programs and government run healthcare without condemning these programs. Well, you can, but then you would have to um..... LIE! Rep. Culberson had the best "deer in the headlights" moment that I have seen from a politician in quite some time. And that moment exposed the soft underbelly.

This is the argument that needs to be made to those that would demagogue this issue in those terms, loudly.

Go to GOP townhalls (if those gutless wonders would have them) and ask them these same questions. Signs on display should read "Rep. 'X' why do you want to end Social Security?" And, "Why are you taking grandma's Medicare away?" Submit letters to the editor of your local paper. Write to your Congressperson and your Senator and get them on record as supporting these programs that they publicly say are reprehensible. Go to their offices. Demonstrate! We could use a bit of 60's style activism right now. Arm yourself with the facts, and stridently put them out there and dare them to challenge. For example, here is a fact sheet for HR 676 that lays out costs and benefits of a US single-payer system.

My point is, we all must be the pit bull that O'Donnell was in this interview. It's this tone that is carrying the media battle and public opinion for corporate interests. I know that this kind of intensity may not come easy to those of us on this side of the argument. Education breeds tolerance, which breeds civility. But we need to channel our inner Paddy Chayefsky who penned the phrase in "Network", "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it anymore."

UPDATE Thanks to all, first time on the REC list. And it couldn't come at a more timely moment.

I go into hospital on Monday, where I fully expect to hear the words "you have cancer". My doctor has come out and said everything but those words. If I may be personal, it's cancer of the bladder, but it appears that it was caught early and everything I have read on the subject indicates that bladder cancer has very good outcomes when found early. I have insurance, fortunately, but the deductibles and payouts for me will be somewhere between the moderate and extreme range. Although the immediate outcomes may be favorable, this will now be a constant in my life and a constant in my budget from this day forward.

Switching jobs or starting that small business is out of the question now.

This just got intensely personal for me.