It's about 12:30pm Saturday here in California. And I wanted to ask if we could

[EFerrari]

please try to stay together this weekend.

There are sharp differences among us. There will be rumors flying all weekend. Enough of us who have been trying to follow this bill, as best as we can, are probably a little tired and not at the top of our game.

So, when there is a post that seems outrageous or upsetting, can we just take a deep one first before reacting? The status of our health care access is up in the air, so maybe we could try to avoid inflicting or incurring grievous wounds for a day or two until we have more information?

Not trying to be a hall monitor, exactly. It would just be nice if the blood on the floor could be minimized while we surf this process. I don't want to miss any of my friends on either side of this issue on Monday morning.

Whaddya think? You are the smartest people I know.

[cbayer]

1. Works for me!

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

5. My next post was going to be a warning against going out on a boat with a mod.

:rofl:

[cbayer]

13. You got that right. But it's hard to be uncivil when your life is hanging by a string.

:toast:

[WillyT]

19. Hey... "I'm smart! Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!"

Oh... OK...

:rofl:

:hi:

K & R !!!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I like your idea a lot!

And you are one of the smartest people I know...

:hug:

[The Magistrate]

3. Good Advice, Ma'am

It will be a long weekend, but not a lost one....

[msongs]

4. yeah let's all get together and support alan grayson's medicare for all bill :-) nt

[EFerrari]

6. Okay!

:)

[Ozymanithrax]

7. We can put our arms around each other and sing "Goodnight Saigon"

And we'll all go down together

[EFerrari]

16. LOL.

[mdmc]

8. will do my friend

[MineralMan]

9. I'll vote for that. After the vote, though, it's going to get

really, really interesting around here, regardless of how it goes.

[RKP5637]

10. I like this idea!!! n/t

[Cerridwen]

11. You! You!

You, bleeding-heart, kumbaya singing, liberal, you!

I've been working on removing my built-in, snark machine. It's a wee bit tangled and attached.

I'll try to behave. O8)

Afterward, whenever "after" comes, I'm back to business as usual. :evilgrin:

:hi:

:hug:

[EFerrari]

14. "There's GOT to be a morning after".

:rofl:

[Cerridwen]

24. If I get an earworm...

I'll, I'll, berate you soundly on the internet!

:rofl:

[Warren Stupidity]

12. 2nded.

[rufus dog]

15. OK

But if you had a Dodger logo I would tell you to F off.

[EFerrari]

20. And I would deserve it.

:evilgrin:

[Emit]

17. I'm with ya on this

:thumbsup:

I think it's a great idea and a thoughtful post.

[Solly Mack]

18. You evil person, you...trying to impose civility on people.

I'm free, dammit! Free! Teehee...wheeeee



:)

[suffragette]

21. "Not trying to be a hall monitor..."

Ya mean I won't get a pretty, silver star for behaving?

Well, it's all off then.

;)

[EFerrari]

23. The patience our teachers had, sticking all those stars all over everything.

:rofl:

[suffragette]

29. Incredible patience

and lotsa love and encouragement.

Ok, if they could persevere with all those little, sticky stars, guess I can, too.

[EFerrari]

31. I'm out of here for a few hours of work.

Take good care. :hi:

[DesertFlower]

22. i'm agree. nt

[berni_mccoy]

25. It's difficult not to react to misinformation that has been posted over and over...

but I'll try.

[EFerrari]

26. Thanks, bernie.

[mzmolly]

28. Perhaps we can simply post a particular emoticon?

:spray: <<<< Will this suffice? ;)

[johnaries]

40. I agree. But I'll try, too. K&R.

[mzmolly]

27. Most happy to recommend. I agree

fully. :yourock: :)

[JohnnyLib2]

30. K and R, emphatically

[Bluerthanblue]

32. I think you've spoken wise words-

and I'm hoping we can do this.

:grouphug:

[Zomby Woof]

33. The Sta-Puf Marshmallow Man!

LOL! :rofl:

Oh, is that ever a mascot for this forum these days.

I am beyond tired of the polarized mutual demonization coming from all sides of this issue.

Our members not supporting the HCR bill are not "just as bad as the teabaggers!", "pony-seeking poutragers", "delusional purists", or other such libel. They are some of the most committed, passionate, and intelligent members of the site. They bring valid points to the debate which should not be overlooked. They keep this place from being an echo chamber. Do we really want to be a prettier, improved navigation-and-graphics version of FR? Fuck no!

Our members in favor of the HCR bill are likewise, not "corporatist whores bending over for insurance companies, Big Pharma, the DLC, and Rahm Emanuel's grandmother with a strap-on!" or other absurdities. They have legitimate reasons for supporting the bill, and are no less progressive because they do. The bill should not be a litmus test for progressivism. There are moderates who oppose the bill, just as much as there are progressives who support it. There are those who support the bill with a few reservations, some who support it with many reservations, and those who oppose it completely, with others opposing it, but liking some of its provisions.

But passion all too easily overcomes reason (don't I know it personally!), and people on both sides all too often resort to cartoonish generalizations, frothing, crying, and screaming in ways which could make Glenn Beck jealous.

There is awful taunting, childish slurs, and nasty innuendoes coming from all sides. No one here is being paid to disrupt. Are you kidding? People love to do that shit for free! ;-)

Anyway, I suppose I better get my marshmallows and popcorn ready for tomorrow and the next few days, because I suppose the OP's points, as well as mine, will be ignored, mocked, or dismissed by its very targets.

[upi402]

34. upi402 reporting for duty

:patriot: The fight for Public Option is over, I support this bill 100% anyway at this point.

The morning after, my elbows will be out again.

[bridgit]

35. makes sense

[mitchtv]

36. ALL weekend??

I can try

[Nicole]

37. No

It just ain't gonna happen. I've been here over 8 years & I've never see it work out that way.

I try to avoid most fights here, which explains my low post count. :rofl:

Having said that, I'm gonna K&R this for your effort!

[EFerrari]

38. Well, that's honest!

:rofl:

[NanceGreggs]

39. Well said, well proposed ...

... so let it be written, so let it be done.


:fistbump:

[Political Heretic]

41. I'll try not to start it. But once started, I WILL finish it.

[depakid]

42. Game's basically over. The ever popular health insurers won. Again

Now on to Wall Street...

[EFerrari]

45. It's still only Sunday morning here. Let's all make it to dinner time.

lol

:hi:

[AsahinaKimi]

43. I always wanted to be a hall monitor

Told me I was too tiny. SO they made me a Crossing Guard..Yeah, like Some guy in a big truck could see tiny me in the street with a big red stop sign.. at the last minute. Almost got me killed! BRING ME INSIDE!!!

[EFerrari]

44. Omg!

lol

[HipChick]

46. a group meditation and hug would work for me..