It's time to Cowboy up.

OK, Mr. President, you have done the right thing for a good long while now. You have reached across the aisle, you have included everyone in all discussions to do with health care reform, even the corporate interests.

And what has been accomplished? Not much. Nothing, actually. Nada. Zip. Zero. Big goose egg.

So it's time.

Time to get pissed.

Time to take action.

You did the right thing. You gave everyone the time and opportunity to do the right thing, to contribute, to discuss, to help, to participate.

And you know what they did? They screwed it up. They buckled to the corporate lobbyists, the scare tactics and the lies. They listened to the hired thugs who broke up town hall meetings.

When most people in America want something done and we want it done now, these few loud buffoons start spewing hateful crap that is so full of lies and distortions as to be laughable if it weren't so utterly terrifying. They distracted our focus. They distracted the focus of Congressmen and Congresswomen like butterflies distract kittens.

Well, now is the time for you to show some real leadership.

Now is the time for you to get fed up and say Enough is Enough, kids. We tried it your way and got nowhere. Now this is what we're going to do and this is how we're going to do it.

We're going to sit down and use plan XYZ to make sure that every man, woman and child in this, the greatest country in the world, has access to health care. We are not going to think about the price tag right now, because you didn't think about the cost when you signed up for these wars we're in. That can wait. Americans are dying now. People should be able to go to the doctor without having to worry if they can pay the rent or buy groceries that week, too. People should not have to look up home remedies online and try to treat themselves because they cannot afford to go get professional care. This is AMERICA. WE. ARE. BETTER. THAN. THIS.

And Congress? You're gonna step into line. Nancy Pelosi? You are gonna whip those blue dog Democrats into line or I'll suggest to the people and to Congress the name of someone who will. Harry Reid? Suck it up, grow a set of balls, or borrow Nancy's if you must, but quit worrying about your re-election and lead your fucking party in the Senate. Chances are your home state would be more inclined to vote for a guy who found something to fight for and did just that, consequences be damned as opposed to some schmoe who changes his opinion with each new Reuters poll.

This country needs universal health coverage. I don't care if that means socialized medicine. I don't care what you call it, so long as it gets done. We need everyone to be able to go to the doctor and get treated. We need for everyone to be able to go to the doctor for preventative care. We need for doctors to earn a decent wage but not be buried with student loans, so how about we forgive those loans after a doc has served in the field for 10 or 15 years? Sound fair? I like it. Also, let's put some restrictions on medical malpractice litigation. That shit's out of control. Do something so doctors won't have to pay half their salaries for insurance. And if a doctor has too many complaints of one kind or another logged against him or her? Investigate and punish. Have a panel of doctors and lawyers do the investigating TOGETHER, and make a recommendation to a licensing board that will hand down any sanctions and have that proceeding be PUBLIC. After all, this is public money going to be paying for all this.

Take the burden of health insurance off the business owners. They're stretched enough. Take over the insurance companies and make them in charge of providing services instead of denying services. Ditch those zillion-dollar CEOs and run the things like the non-profits they should be.

I am not alone when I say that I believe that making a profit by providing life-saving medical care is IMMORAL. Take the money out of it for everyone but the actual providers. Pay doctors and nurses what they are worth, and bureaucrats what they're worth.

It is time, Mr. President!

You did all the right things, and you gave everyone the opportunity to be stand-up guys and they blew it. Now it is time to lead them - by the necktie if necessary - into the place where America deserves to be. We believed in you. We believed in your ability to lead and inspire. Now it's time for you to do it.

Cowboy up, sir!