Re: Health care — it ain’t done yet. We’re damn close, though. The media will try and distort the truth by saying it’s a tainted victory, that the Senate used reconciliation and the House threw out the whole deem-and-pass that “has never been used before,” (even though it’s been used more than 80 times since 2005).

Two major points where Maria’s hammer hit the nail:

1. When this passes, the Republicans will have no one to blame but themselves. Had they “governed from the middle” — as they tell Obama he should — and addressed some of these issues when they wielded power, they would have credibility when talking about reform. But their desire to shrink government put them behind, and now the only way to play catch-up is to take the air out of the ball.

2. Republicans really have trouble with the truth, don’t they? I mean, politicians of all stripes usually have their version of the truth, but a lot of the misinformation is about stuff that’s easily verifiable: Death panels. Birthers. WMD in Iraq. Waterboarding isn’t torture. Climate change.

Are we laughing through the tears?

I even called Homeland Security.

HS: “Homeland Security turn-yourself-in hotline. Can I help you?”
Me: “Ah. … Yes. My name is Dean. I was watching the Glenn Beck Show tonight and I realize I know a lot of extreme Methodists. I’m kind of even one myself. I need to turn myself in.”
HS: “I’m sorry, what?”
Me: “I’m an extreme, radical Methodist, and I want to come clean.”
HS: “And you were watching the … something Peck show?”
Me: “No, Beck. B, as in … Bolshevik.”
HS: “Oh, I see (giggling). I’ve heard of him. We all have.”
Me: “I’m really freaked out about it.”
HS: “So what did you and your … ahem (giggling)… comrades do at this school?”
Me: “Well, we chanted in unison a lot, especially during basketball games. And they forced me into a lot of sociology classes. And religion classes, too. They even set up their own radio station to keep their message of social justice on the air 24 hours a day. And when that didn’t work, I had to take a class on chamber music. I almost didn’t survive that.”
HS: “Anything else, sir?”
Me: “I’m not sure. I think I might have repressed most of it. … Oh, and I get a mailing from them now and then asking for money, so I think you all might be able to seize some funds or something!”
HS: “I see.”
Me: “Do you think I should come down for a debriefing or something?”
HS: “No, no, no. That’s OK. We’ve gotten a lot of calls like yours today. Honestly, I don’t think it’s anything to worry about. You know, social justice isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We’re kind of in that same sort of business, too.
Me: “Really?”
HS: “Don’t worry, sir. You’re not a threat to the homeland. Mr. Beck, on the other hand, is a threat to everyone’s sanity.”