SEB posted this video, and I felt compelled to re-post it here. I’m always a little leery of Olbermann, as I am with most people who promulgate fiery speech. That said, my gut instinct to his comments isn’t one of dismissive banality, but a deep sadness that what he’s saying is true.

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I wonder what the solution is, and I wonder what the repercussions of this period in history will be. I’ve heard it said many times that a solution to health care must be found now, that our current system does not work, and I’ve heard this from every corner. So what does it mean that so many are willing to do nothing then, do nothing but obstruct the ability to find? The rest of this god-for-saken world has found solutions to this problem, but the United States has not. What does that say about us? Is this all about money? Just money? Are the ultra-wealthy so unwilling to become less ultra-wealthy that the would willingly destroy and lay into bondage those that are poorer than themselves?

The Rude Pundit has a good article up.

We have lost the courage again to do really big things in this nation that don’t involve blowing shit up and killing people, things that actually affect people on a day-to-day basis and make their lives easier. Our government only does things within a narrow sliver of possibility, pressed in by corporate money, lies, and fear.

What has totally demoralized me is the number of people out there, ordinary people, people who in fact don’t have health insurance, who are so violently opposing legislation that would benefit them. Such is the power of the lobby, the persuasive rantings of madmen and the effectiveness of their propaganda that their very foot soldiers are destroying themselves to carry out their will. It will be the tea party participants, the makers of Obama as Hitler signs, and those waving the Don’t Tread on Me flags that will in the end suffer the most, while those that moved them as pieces in play look down and warm their hands on fires made of money.
I hope that I’m wrong, that this apparent level of insanity is something I perceive only because I’ve been deluded by liberal influences. Something tells me that this is not the case though. I am not an astute observer of all things, and I am too lazy to research, but as it appears to me there is only one side offering a solution, while the other side only works to prevent that solution from happening. There appears to be no ideas offered from the Republicans, from the conservative fear-mongers and the frothy-mouthed fanatics. They seem only to want to defeat the implementation of universal health care, and at this they seem to be winning, indeed their victory seems nigh. Even as the Democrats stand astride the workings of government with complete control they seem defeated.
What happens next?

The trip to Corsicana in support of the Lorena Leopards was a great experience, though it was incredibly cold hovering in the low twenties. This was the State Quarter Finals for Division II, and it was an extreme blast to see the Leopards make it that far into such a highly competitive Texas High School Football playoffs season. Unfortunately the results of the game were not in our favor, and the boys couldn’t quite keep up with the Carthage Bulldogs who pulled out ahead late and won the game 28-21. That said, Lorena played the #2 team in the state toe-to-toe, and any team without the talent of Carthage would not have been able to beat us on that frigid Friday night.
It was obvious that Carthage wanted to get out ahead of us early, and I couldn’t blame them, in the four games that I saw Lorena play they always played a disciplined time control type of game. I knew they had to be aware of that too. Against Center and Coldspring it was this tenacious style of play that kept us in the game all night and allowed us to win both games. In both of those instances it took us a full four quarters of football to win, and while it was hell on the blood pressure, you couldn’t argue with the results. Unfortunately for Carthage they didn’t come out firing on all cylinders and they ended up making several costly mistakes in the first half, and at the end of all that we were tied 7-7.
The second half was an antithesis to the first with five touchdowns scored between the two clubs. And again, Lorena wasn’t going to go away, though Carthage tried mightily to swat us down and put us away. I think their enthusiasm to get ahead was what lead them to be so confident in their play making ability, and it’s what let the Leopards stay in the game. In the end Lorena drove from its own 35 to the Carthage 48, where a most unfortunate illegal procedure penalty pushed us back to a 4th and 12. That last play ended up with an interception, and our only turn over of the game. Carthage took a knee on the resulting series, and I appreciated their sportsmanship as they could have tried to score again. There again, maybe they had finally learned to respect us, and didn’t want to take the chance of making a mistake. They had lived pretty close to the edge all night, but where we had found a way the last two weeks we couldn’t quite do it that night. We went out swinging though!
I, and I suppose most of Lorena, can’t be more proud of what the Leopards accomplished this season. When mom had told me they had made it into the playoffs I was excited, but didn’t hold out much in the way of expectation. After watching them handily beat Brownsboro I still wasn’t sure we would make it very far, because while we handled them pretty easily we had made a lot of mistakes. When we played Center I began to believe a little more, and then against Coldspring I felt that we could play against just about anyone if we played the kind of ball we played in those two games. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team play such four solid quarters of disciplined, smash-mouth football as the Leopards did in those two games. They protected the ball, they had minimal penalties, and they rammed the ball up the gullet of two very good teams, never giving up, hanging around and winning in the end. They elevated their game to new levels each week, and that a strong testament to the character of the team and coaching staff. That same style of play earned the respect of the Carthage Bulldogs, who had walked over us last year 48-14, and we truly did come within a score of winning that game.
The only downside to all of this post-season excitement is that it makes you want more next season, and I can’t wait to see what little ol’ Lorena will do next year.
Go Leopards!