Time to Change the Subject (In a Big Way)

This morning was very much like a lot of Saturday mornings, except the first rain of the season here in the San Francisco Bay Area made it feel just a little cozier upstairs in our love nest, or as I euphemistically call it, the think tank. As always, my lovely wife woke up, and realizing that I was opening my first eye of the morning (not winking), she asked me to turn on some news.
Well, MSNBC was on, and I honestly lasted about five minutes before I turned it off, much to my wife’s chagrin. But then the discussion began, which is, of course, what a progressive think tank does. What I saw that got me so frustrated to the point of being fed up was watching Republican talking head, Alex Conant, being interviewed by host Alex Witt, spewing out the same old BS about Barack’s association with an unrepetent terrorist that must be exposed and a plan to raise taxes on middle class Americans, blah-blah-blah-blah-blah.

Ms. Witt, whom I have never given much thought to one way or the other, simply acknowledged the charges or said, “Okay” after each assertion, and after the interview full of unchallenged inaccurate or completely specious references ended, she quietly said, “Thank you” and moved on to Pat Buchanan so that he can tell us what a breath of fresh air Sarah Palin was in the debate and how she wiped the floor with Joe Biden.

ENOUGH ALREADY! Really. It is time to change the subject, and I mean in a huge way. So what did our love nest/think tank come up with this morning? Well, pretty radical stuff, but I like it! After I turned off the TV, we laid there saying that there has to be something that Barack can do to get the media to begin talking about something else. After all, how many days in a row on dozens of supposed news programs can we listen to pundits and talking heads from both sides belittling the plans of their political opponent? Well, I just can’t watch it any longer. It’s not just a waste of my time; it upsets me and I learn nothing new.

Then it hit me. As the head of the think tank, my ideas go first. Well, I’m self-appointed, so take it for what it’s worth. How ‘bout this? I do feel that Barack is going to be the president, and he isn’t the first politician that has received criticism for talking a good game, but having to wait until he takes office before implementing any of his plans. So instead of doing that, I propose that Barack establish six commissions – think tanks, if you will – on six separate and distinct issues that the new president will deal with upon taking office: The economy, namely establishing new banking and investment regulations for financial institutions and consumers; foreign policy, namely establishing an exit strategy for Iraq and how to deal with terrorism in the region; immigration, namely minimizing illegal entry into the country and establishing the best path to citizenship for current illegals; the environment, namely investigation of alternative energy sources, their efficacy and finding sites around the country that can be utilized for proper conversion and creation of new jobs; for healthcare, namely determining the most effective ways to break the stronghold of insurance companies and providing the best ways for consumers to get affordable healthcare; and education, retooling our schools to compete in a global economy and finding ways to rebuild crumbling infrastructure and locating and empowering new and innovative teachers.

I also have been thinking of who would head up these commissions. For the economy, Mayor Michael Bloomberg . For foreign policy, General Barry McCaffrey. For immigration, Governor Bill Richardson. For energy, Al Gore. For healthcare, Senator Hillary Clinton. And for education, former Health and Human Services Director Donna Shalala. These high profile and dynamic leaders of this country would be announced and would form multi-member commissions that would meet on a bipartisan basis to be ready to submit their ideas and recommendations to the new president after he takes office. In order to avoid undue criticism that these commissions are a bit too presumptuous of Barack Obama, these commissions will be prepared to present their recommendations to the new president, whoever the new president is.

Furthermore, Barack needs an appropriate place to make the announcement of the formation of these commissions, and I credit this idea to my fellow colleague, my wife, who laid there for several minutes to come up with this wonderful idea. Senator Obama should make this subject-changing announcement in Alaska, namely at the University of Alaska Anchorage. For several reasons. Alaska leads the nation or is close to it in school dropout rates, teen pregnancy, rape and incest charges and a generally poor education system. In making this announcement in front of a huge enthusiastic crowd in a traditionally Republican leaning state, Barack could gear his speech toward improvement and the value of education, the need for proper guidance from parents and for appropriate school programs, and he can tie in how vital these commissions will be toward providing a future that young Alaskans can feel optimistic about growing up to inherit.

I feel so strongly that it is time in this campaign and for this country to start talking about something important rather than rehashing the same old talking points and misinformation that is not only frustrating, but counterproductive to Barack’s message of change. This would surely change the landscape subject that all news programs talk about, and definitely would demonstrate that Barack means business when it comes to job creation and making this country a more prosperous place. He would emplify the word change and be backing it up with real world solutions and putting his money where his mouth is.

The Brickman Think Tank is now closed for the day. We reopen tomorrow morning for some more spirited and innovative ideas. Please pick up a lollipop on your way out and thank you for visiting.