Senator Franken, being an upstanding member of Congress, is spending the recess meeting with constituents and discussing the hot topic of health care. That’s commendable. Except, I noticed something quite peculiar about an email I came across this morning from Franken.

MINNESOTA – U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn) has spent his August recess traveling to over 22 towns and health care is on Minnesota’s mind. Wednesday, Franken will host two roundtable discussion on health care reform in the Twin Cities area.

“This issue will be front and center when the Senate reconvenes next month,” said Franken. “I will bring the concerns, suggestions, and personal stories of Minnesotans I have met back to Washington with me to ensure they are heard in the reform debate.”

The first roundtable will feature leaders from faith councils, nonprofit health and human services organizations, and patient, employee, and consumer advocates who want to make sure that health care reform directly improves the lives of Minnesota families and Minnesota workers…

…WHO: U.S. Sen. Al Franken; representatives from Portico Healthnet; the Children’s’ Defense Fund; the Joint Religious Legislative Council; ISAIAH; Take Action Minnesota; AFSCME; SEIU; Health Care for America Now; and Minnesota Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities
WHEN: 10:00am – 11:30am, Wednesday, August 26, 2009
WHERE: Wright Building
Suite 422
2233 University Ave W
St. Paul

Now Franken could say he’s taking the high ground by actually meeting with the “Brown Shirts” (I mean) his constituents unlike Reid, who’s opting out of town halls or “roundtables” for basically a mass conference call -  Reid’s in trouble come election time.

If you caught it earlier in the post, I mentioned that the email came this morning – around 9:00 in fact.

That’s right. If you’re a concerned citizen desiring to voice your opposition to – or even support for – the health care “reform” currently being debated, you had about one hour to change your plans and get off from work.

I thought, “wow, nobody’s going to show up.” Then I noted the various organizations co-sponsoring the roundtable with Franken. Surely, these groups probably got the word out to their members beforehand. Certainly SEIU, the infamous “purple shirts” known for their history of physical harassment and intimidation,will be in force as their members have been bussed to many of the town halls.

Yet, looking over the lists of organizations/special interests involved with the roundtable, it doesn’t look like there will be that much discourse occurring between those in attendance. That’ll make things easier for the “engaging” debate to influence the unemployed in attendance, since they’ll probably be the only ones who could make it to the town hall. Guess Franken figured those dependent on government are his main constituents and so respectfully didn’t host the forum in the evening when all those pesky people who work and pay taxes might interfere.

And thankfully, with the late notice to the general public and the presence of an “impartial” roundtable, the SEIU won’t have to worry about spending their time attacking patriotic citizens (“I beat him because, well, ‘he attacked America’ first by passing out “Don’t Tread on Me” flags?).

But it shouldn’t surprise us that a  Democrat Senator would offer an exclusive roundtable with groups like Health Care for America Now (ran by a former SEIU organizing director) as so much of their campaign contributions come from these special interests – thank you again, Michelle Malkin.

Now, Franken has been known to let his temper get to him at times; he most recently berated alternative energy advocate T. Boone Pickens at a Senate Democratic Policy Luncheon for having donated to “Swift Boaters for Truth” during the 2004 election…and “they” say conservatives seemed to always be stuck in the past. Maybe Franken was just worried about attempted battery charges on his part if someone like this showed up at his roundtable “discussion”.

It is quite contemptible that Senator Franken doesn’t have the respect for the citizens of the Twin Cities to host an actual town hall that is openly and considerately advertised to the public. There is an exigency for concerned citizens to let their admonitions and exhortations be heard by their elected representatives…the stakes from not implementing true, prudent reform are too high not to.

Otherwise, the importunate needs burdening the millions of uninsured, the choking costs and market limitations strangling the livelihood of the already insured, and the risk of even more generational theft oppressing our children by our government will be ignored.

Mr. Franken, if you dare call yourself the representative of all Minnesotans, then have the decent regard to listen to all Minnesotans instead of having your pockets lined with SEIU and similar organizations while returning to Washington with their special-interest agenda spewing from your mouth. Sir, as much as you are, this isn’t a joke.

Addendum: as Mirianne points out in her comment, the roundtable was not open to the public, which makes the whole situation even worse for those who may have wanted to voice their opinion to Franken. I just talked to some friends in Minnesota who confirmed that,when individuals made the effort to get off work and attend the roundtable, they were turned away; the Twin Cities forum on health care was by “invitation” only. Basically, it was a special interest pat-on-the-back for Franken. Pathetic…

Elizabeth Bernstein wrote a keen piece in the WSJ today about the potential for relational peril in social media.

Clearly, the communicative drawbacks of typing have held many an “IM” conversation in a state of comprehensive limbo. Whether in a tweet, a status update, a text, or an IM, forgetting that “:-)” can be the difference from “X is now single”, “the men in white coats are coming for X”, “I”m getting a restraining order against X” versus “X is such a funny guy”.

Now take a moment and think of all the inutile posts, updates, texts, and tweets you peruse on a daily basis – those posts which probably permanently vitiate your intelligence (not to mention your faith in humanity). Bernstein finds our social media habits, which produce these inutile posts, as rather boring to everyone but our naive selves. Solution: before posting or updating, ask “is this something I’d want someone to tell me” and “is this something I would have said to a friend in person”.

Yet, the very nature of social media (especially outlets like Facebook and Twitter) defeats such a check on our tedious, irrelevant posts.

Take Twitter, for example. It’s a stage. The user/actor has full control for the spotlight to be on him at any moment with a (supposedly) waiting audience – aka followers – that (must) listen to his online orations (in 140 characters or less, of course). Given this chance at instant indulging of one’s narcissistic nature, even the humblest soul will credulously post the most inane tweet at some point believing in its significance.

Thus, it is quite difficult for an individual to impartially evaluate whether his potential post is something of actual importance to others…whether it is something he would be willing to say face-to-face with a friend. I mean it’s not like we ever ignore sum and substance for pointless inputs in actual conversation – “good story, tell it again”; and, it’s not like awkward (“turtle”) statements ever slip into daily discourse.

Another problem is that gauging interest for a tweet or status update is quite relative. One person may find your continual thoughts on classic rockers like Zeppelin, Clapton, Hendrix, and Guess Who annoying, while another person eats it up and replies to you almost all the time.

So, what to do? Well, I personally don’t care what a person posts or how much. Twitter and Facebook help fill psychological and social voids while imparting a purpose and release for some people (interesting to note more older people using twitter – maybe this applies but that’s for another post). True, there are often times that I just want to put a damn “hit” out on the next person who tries to recruit me or asks help for “Mafia Wars”; yet, to each his own. And still, more to the point, Twitter and Facebook are so much more than games like “Spymasters” – if that’s what it’s called – or some teleological pursuit.

I joined Twitter at the imploring of talk radio star Hugh Hewitt, who basically lambasted me as a young politico for not having one. After learning the ropes, I soon realized that Twitter offered an unique experience for each user based on interests, temporal commitments, and tweeting style. I found myself focusing on making connections with many involved in politics and grassroots activism. Link sharing provided me with political news and commentary I either didn’t have time to seek out or had missed. Responding to others allowed me to keep my political prowess sharp when often stuck in the library for long hours studying. I also enjoyed relating with fellow cigar and beer enthusiasts. Some of my followers have even become friends and others have blessed me with opportunities that I would never have come across or known of otherwise. Finally, I often find 140 characters quite restraining and resort to using “TwitLonger” to have truly enjoyable exchanges with others – definitely recommend it.

So, I’m not going to sit here and lecture you about how everyone should post to their facebook walls and twitter profiles. If saying it makes you happy even if you get no responses (if only there was a “dislike” option on facebook), then that’s okay in my book. I mean why is it, in the first place, that we get so bored with all these pointless updates and tweets? You can always unfollow or block on twitter as well as hide the updates of those users who type forth their monotonous musings. Also, maybe you’re spending a little too much time perusing through every single update instead of actually calling and talking to one of your friends or maybe even doing something called “work”.

Still, in my opinion, there are certain instances where tweets and updates apply to such a mundane happening or fact that I feel it importune for me to mention. Again, you don’t have to abide by anything I’m about to say; these points are mere suggestions I hope you at least take into account:

SIMPLE SUGGESTIONS

• Twitter–>Facebook: if your tweets forward to your facebook wall, make sure you’re not also forwarding your replies. That’s like you and a friend walking up to a person in between y’all and having a conversation without him.
• Reply! As much as I can be a shameless self-promoter (and thus give leniency and respect to other shameless self-promoters), try to keep a 50/50 cut with your tweets solely focused on yourself versus your replies to others; if possible, have a good majority of your tweets be replies. I’m not following you to simply read how good your Chipotle burrito is – I already know that.
• Lauding food: if you must mention food, like that Chipotle burrito, make an aside or comment that adds some unique life or character to your tweet like “I swear Chipotle is served in heaven – vegetarians need not apply”. Try to spark a reply. P.S. – twitpics give a little more legitimacy to your food posts as well.
• Lauding food II: in general though, just don’t. Unless you’re having a special occasion, you’re are at one of the world’s nicest or coolest restaurants, or you’ve cooked an amazing dinner, I really don’t care if it’s bottomless pasta at the Olive Garden. Now, if you’re slipping each bowl of pasta into tupperware you snuck in, then you better post that as well as some pics for proof.
• Auto DMs: no, no, no! So impersonal and mere pathetic ennoblement. If you want to plug your work or site, take the time to personally address and thank the individual for following you. Also, actually take a sec to look at their profile to see if y’all share any interests or backgrounds; mention that in the DM.
• With family: as much I love spending time with family (and being amused by all the drama), I keep to a minimum letting the world know about it every second I am. Now, I unabashedly share when I’m helping my Momma out or doing something fun with her. In all honesty, this is because I’ve realized that girls love it when guys do stuff like that, and so I proudly and publicly say when I do.
• Zzzzzz: just don’t. If your friend keeps annoyingly posting this, reply with something like “good, now I know I can come over and watch you sleep”. Actually don’t – even a “:-)” won’t stop the restraining order on that one.
• Listening to: this one’s tough as even a simple “I’m listening to X” can spark numerous replies and discussion. That said, out of courtesy, like with food, be creative and expound. Instead of saying you enjoy the acoustic version of Hotel California, also throw in the album (“Hell Freezes Over”) on which the song’s found (for your reader’s reference) as well as maybe comparing the performance to the original.
• Diversify your Twitter portfolio: we already mentioned focusing on replies. Be also conscientious about the content you’re posting. If your self-focused tweets continually resemble mundane points like “X is heading out to do some quick real estate work… (15 minutes ago)” and “X is back and working on tonight’s show (9 minutes ago)” – actual posts of a friend – please stop or keep it to a minimum – those were actual posts of a friend. The “no to monotony” also applies to someone who just copies and pastes links all day. Don’t be afraid to mix it up. Maybe a link here, a self-aggrandizing assertion there, an awesome twitpic next, etc – you get the point.
• Political pontifications: admittedly, I am very biased in my political nerdiness when I say that I find these kind of updates the most interesting and especially engaging. Yet again, don’t be a simpleton in your post – it’s embarrassing to you, eye-rolling (though sometimes amusing) to your friends and followers, and doesn’t really invite progressive discourse. For example, don’t just say “Sarah Palin speaks for America”; provide some endeictic backing unless your point is a priori demonstrable – i.e. “Sarah Palin is hot”.

So I guess, in short, as much as 140 characters or less entails a brief reflection, try not to jade your friends and demean yourself with continually trivial and tedious, vain and vague posts.

Thank you for your time. Well, I’m off now to do some effrontery and plug this piece on Twitter and Facebook.

Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al-Megrahi, the Libyan agent convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, has returned home. Megrahi had only spent a total of 11.6 days in prison for each of the 270 innocents killed from his bombing of Pan Am Flight 103.

Having faced difficulty in proving a miscarriage of justice over the years in the handling of the trial, Megrahi dropped his appeal and took the offer of Scottish “Justice” Secretary kenny MacAskill for release on “compassionate grounds”.

Yes, al-Megrahi is terminally ill but does that mean a convicted man should be freed to his country to have a good few months of meals at home? How many children, fathers, and wives on Flight 103 did not get to wish a final goodbye and take joy in being with their family one last time?

Some see geopolitical concerns driving the release as Libya has now opened up its oil reserves for U.K. exploration, and rumors have risen suggesting arms and energy deals were in the details.

Yet, MacAskill asserts that he prudently and autonomously acted in his decision while still maintaining the undeniable guilt of al-Megrahi: “the outrage cannot and should not be a basis of who we are, the values we seek to uphold, and the faith and beliefs that we seek to live by.”

The “take-home” from MacAskill’s cretinous message of abstract asides is clear – the value, faith, and belief society placed on true justice have been overtaken by a “compassion”, which MacAskill purports, reserves justice only for “a sentence imposed by a higher power.”

I’m the sure terrorists understand, Mr. MacAskill, and shutter in fear…

Addendum: due to all the public backlash and criticism, the Scottish Parliament will question MacAskill on Monday to explain his reasoning for releasing al-Megrahi. Of note, seriously ill U.K. prisoners have often been overlooked for release in light of their crimes – an example would be an infamous child murderer, Myra Hindley, who sought release.

And those under-the-table trade and arms deals…well, the U.K. government still denies any such transaction; yet now, Moammar Gadhafi’s son, Saif, has said in an interview that al-Megrahi’s release came about specifically from trade options with Libya, which is now offering oil exploration to the British.

In response to what I had taken as the funniest joke I had heard all day, I almost veered off the road into the nearby creek (aka pulling a Kennedy minus a blonde) after realizing that Tom Delay will actually be a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. And so, the former House majority leader and whip – the “hammer” – will be doing the “hustle” come September.

Now I don’t know what will make Democrats squirm more while tuning in to the show: Delay flaunting pink sequins while doing the polka or Tom Bergeron’s vain attempts at one-liners?

Still, Mr. Delay might excel in the spotlight given his politically “snakish” ways and reputation as House whip. In fact, if you go to Delay’s website (now Dancing with Delay), it’s as if Joan Rivers knows “HTML” as anything relating to or mentioning politics has been cut, lifted, and/or airbrushed.

Conrad Green, executive producer of Dancing with the Stars, remarked that he hoped the appearance of a politician like Delay on the show would encourage former President Bill Clinton to “step up” for “the honor of the Democratic Party” and be a contestant in the near future.

Yet, if only Green had succeeded in acquiring both Delay and Clinton for this season. Clinton could probably fit in a quickstep with his partner before taking the stage and Delay could even provide a finer, Cuban cigar.

But only time will tell if Mr. Delay’s political pirouette will pay off (with votes of course – already tried the laundering route). Otherwise, Mr. Delay’s moves will come off as “an act of barbarianism” to the viewing audience, the watchers will cast their votes, and Mr. Delay’s plug will be pulled.

President Obama, upon entering office, promised to make a difference by placing checks on the influence of lobbyists and ushering in greater accountability. In turn, Obama’s financial go-to-guy, Mr. Geithner, promised, upon being sworn in as Treasury Secretary, to implement rules that would prevent lobbyists from hijacking the bailout process.

And now, after the government has allotted $200 billion to the banking system and with just a hundred days left in the financial-industry bailout program that’s lasted six months so far, Mr. Geithner has yet to fulfill his promise.

I guess that’s change we can just keep believing in…