SHOCK AND AWESOME: 9-11 SHOW

Yetta Kurland (above), running NY City council joins the dynamic duo at 11 am in the booth to discuss her run for a seat this year. Barack Obama mirrored Fleet week with Speech week, ending up in DC at in front of the joint Congress to talk about health care. Republican Joe Wilson shouted the now famous "you lie!"in the middle of it, while TJ and the TUX enjoyed the drama. Acorn is hooking up pimps and whores with tax forms and hey, it's 9-11. Let's back and honor the fallen but also ask ourselves, where the hell are we with all of this? 

9-11 : STILL AT WAR, NO OSAMA, SOLDIERS STILL DYING

Republicans today are accusing the President of giving a partisan speech Wednesday night. What's up with the thin skin fellas? You mean the "socialist" and the 'Hitler" and the "death panel comments" weren't worth responding to? C'mon guys toughen up. Surely "you are either with us or against us" wasn't a partisan ploy to pressure those opposed to the Iraq war in 2002 right? Instead of crying about Obama's response about "bogus claims" how about giving real alternative ideas  It's not the difference of  your opinions that makes your complaints a political motive, it's the harsh tactics of making Obama out to be  the next Marxist that's causing the problem. Stick to the issues and how to improve them. Now that's an idea.

Acorn gave advice to a pair filming a conservative documentary, who were posing as a pimp and a prostitute. Noting that the pimp should write "performing artist" on tax forms. Damn, that's awful. And brilliant at the same time. In fact, thanks for the free advice ACORN, that's what we're gonna do next tax season. Should of thought of that this year, damn.

On this anniversary of 9-11, let me quote a good friend who posted on Facebook that this morning he "is remembering 9/11. Countrys still at war, no real construction, no Osama, soldiers still dying, fireman still sick...we could have done better as a country." Much will be publicized and politicized as to the heroic efforts of so many on that day and days since. My friend brings up a great point though. Reflection on 9-11 can't stop at the tragedy alone. It's not enough.Today let's look back and honor the fallen, but let's also take stock of where we are and where we are going with all of this. Let's get a complete use out of the emotions of this day.

WILSON'S SLIP IS A WINDOW INTO THE GOP'S VIEW OF OBAMA

I couldn't help but wonder out loud today what Republican Joe Wilson's "You Lie" slip REALLY meant last night. The South Carolina delegate shouted this after Obama claimed that illegal immigrants would not be covered by a public option should one be available in a new health care plan.

It reminded me of my own steaming anger I've had at times at those I've worked with on various projects in Downtown circles since moving to NYC before Whole Foods and Starbucks made it look like Bergen County. Anger and frustration build up under the surface to a point where a tipping point moment happens and without the ability to control emotions, an improper statement is made. Improper in it's timing, yet somehow revealing in it's emotion. The problem with Wilson's apology is that he's been TOO apologetic this morning, and like Obama, has lacked sufficient detail as to what the true basis of his and the GOP's disdain for Obama and his governing style is. 

Wilson was perhaps unintentionally bold in shouting over the President. He's intentionally been a coward since. He sat there like many politicans last night, expecting Obama to risk even more political capital by further detailing a plan that still needs work from the House and Senate. Wilson stood up and got into the fray. NOW Wilson is afraid to take on the risk of his own political capital and make a full and complete case for the GOP as to what about the core of Obama's presidency bothers them. It's too bad. Maybe the GOP missed an accidental moment at finding a face and a voice for some reasonable opposition.

We all saw House members waving their health care plans in response to Obama's suggestion that if the opposition has ideas, show them to him. This falls under the same category in one respect. People need to stop waving papers and shouting out from the balcony and start laying out problems and solutions on the table. In full view. For all of us to see.

I won't rush to judgement on Wilson's "moment." We've all had them: Bottled up and ready to burst,  little issues build to a boiling point where no matter the venue or event, an uncontrollable and unavoidable outburst takes place. I will ask Wilson and those waving papers to help us see what is happening behind closed doors by explaining where the TRUE anger stems from. It can't be from the health care issue alone. 

Maybe it's more than  just Obama's viewpoint regarding policy. Maybe Washington vets are still seething at how the new kid took the country by storm. Maybe the anger and the dropping poll numbers the President has been receiving this Summer have now taken on a life of their own. Whatever the case may be, Wilson , by apologizing without offering what led him to perhaps become THE window into the mindset of  the entire GOP, has seemingly slipped away. An opportunity lost, with the same congenial, middle of the road behavior that naysayers come down on Obama for.

above: Joe Wilson going apeshit last night during the President's address to a Joint Congress

YOU LIE

Republican Joe Wilson of South Carolina shouted "YOU LIE!" while Obama stated that illegal immigrants will not be covered by a public option. Senator John McCAin called this uncalled for and said that Wilson should apologize, during a post speech interview on Larry King live

OBAMA CHANNELS THE 1969 METS SLOGAN: YA GOTTA BELIEVE!

"I still believe we can act even when it's hard. I still believe." Those were the closing statements

from a President who has regained the confident footing required to present clear public  messages. My favorite moment was his comment aimed towards the "No" strategy folks in the media and in Washington. "If you make up lies we will call you out." 

What were the details? Well..there weren't too many. Broad brush strokes were instead the approach.The major controversy, the public option, was worded as only an element that keeps insurers honest while providing the uninsured with an option for care. Not a plan to run companies out of business. The notion of malpractice reform, a major Republican point of contention, was highlighted by Obama, as was John McCain's campaign desire for catastrophe coverage that won't leave people broke should a disaster occur. 

Obama channeled Ted Kennedy whose major battle was Health care by saying his dream was not a partisan attempt at big government but a heartfelt desire to give everyone a chance. THAT was an essential American quality, not a Democratic or Republican one. This in the attempt to unite the room. The room did not leave united but it's hard to deny that Obama's swagger is back. Questions were still left unanswered and much still has to be done. If the tone was set to allow both sides to work together, something will get done by Christmas. If not, the buck will be passed, an opportunity will be lost, and the ones who will lose the most will be the people. 

CNN analyst David Gergen remarked that had Obama given this speech three months ago while he still held that magical glow, he could've swept the country. We'll soon find out if this speech wasn't too little too late.

OBAMA SPEECH EXCERPTS

We know its minutes away but here's the speech text anyway. Strong yet with the desire for everyone to still work together. Love the notion of calling out the bullshit artists and stiff armers who think saying "no" to everything has any sort of politcal gain to it in 201o and 2012.

read speech text

SHIT OR GET OFF THE POT

It's countdown to the showdown. Will Obama get tough in his tone, keep the public option on the table, and tell the naysayers to shut up and sit down? Tonight's national address before a joint Congress could be as dramatic a political theater as there can be, without talk of some impending war, or domestic catastrophe such as a Hurricane Katrina.

Health care? This is bigger than health care. This is a microcosm. A window into the mind of a politician who up until a few months ago, could do no wrong. Now, after a Summer of Beer diplomacy between the Cop and Professor Gates,  a National Health care message that has been stripped away by and stolen by the stiff arming strategy of the leaderless GOP, the time is ripe for a stand. The President needs to regain that swagger. That believability. That confidence that inspired a nation after the 2008 Democratic convention speech between the Roman Pillars in Denver.

Alot has been made of the importance of this night. That's fair. It's not hype. The pressure for Obama is real. His bipartisan approach has been met with nasty mobs at Town Hall meetings, Tea parties, and right wing Pundits like Glenn Beck who have called Obama "racist." 

How will the president will rise above the fray? Will he use the pulpit to get everyone united, and on the same page? Will he be firm and let the country know that bills will pass regardless of the displeasure from naysayers in both parties? Maybe he'll somehow allow himself the wiggle room to achieve both. Either way, tonight's the night for the President to Shit or Get off the Pot. Issues that will arise from here on out during his Presidency will be harder not easier to corral, unless he shows the ability to lead. In this case lead a Health care bill to the finish line.

Above: A nutjob drops a deuce on the front porch.