About six months ago I blogged about the electric feeling of movement and passion and energy being poured into the fight against the government-takeover of the health care system.  Re-reading that post now...it seems like five years ago.

It's been feeling very quiet and still to me for the last couple of months, but now there's movement.

There have been hints at what might happen.  Many obvious, (more rallies, the radio-talk show hosts, the constant polling), some not so obvious.

About a year ago this time I was constantly being cc'd on emails whereby somebody on the list tried to fight back via a "Reply all".  They tried to defend the left, defend Obama, defend their vote.  Lefties are always incredibly nasty in their defense and it always went back to "George Bush sucks."  But something else happened in those exchanges....the sender fought back.  The sender--- rather than be embarrassed that Uncle Dave or co-worker Tom or college friend Suzie had "taken them down" in front of all their cc'd friends-- took the liberal down.  Told them to sit down, shut up, and get their facts straight.  This was new.  Conservatives were used to simply backing down and they finally said "no more."  Those emails stopped many months ago.  It's been quiet.

Last summer we were with family and while most of us were yelling at the TV during the tumultuous townhalls ....there was a small minority who kept their lips sealed. Two of these people are completely 100% apolitical and have never voted.  Then last month one of them forwarded an email to another family member who forwarded it to me....an email about the Obama administration subsidizing Brazilian off-shore drilling.  For this person to become politically engaged was no less than a miracle.  But they are engaged.  With no response from me....I know this person's going to vote next month and I know how they're going to vote.  I'm now being told anecdotes daily of people who haven't voted, who are voting in 2010.

A new young friend (who knows I'm conservative, but doesn't engage,) saw me watching CNN the other day.  I just shook my head and said, "Lindsey, you just need to vote this year."  This bubbly young woman's face turned dead-serious.  "Oh, I'm voting.  I'm voting Republican straight ticket.....and I'm a Democrat."  I was speechless (and that's saying something.)  I offered not one word....not even a "good."  She came to this on her own and it required no gloating.

I was at two local debates this week and at both I had seemingly stoic Minnesota men sitting behind me saying things like 'that's right" and "you tell 'em" almost under their breath, when candidates were speaking about our money and not raising taxes. 

Most Americans get it.  They really get it.  But then there are the "other ones"

I was at a party the other night and got the "Tom Emmer question."  This highly educated person said, "He's so brash, he acts like he knows everything...he needs to tone that down.  Don't you think?"  The prominent frown line between my eyes deepened by an inch as I looked at him completely perplexed and asked, "But what about the issues?"  People who are still in the middle and are approaching me and expecting a sales job will get none.  If you don't "get it" by now that style means nothing...it's substance...then I have nothing to offer you and that's okay because I think we're going to hit our quota....without you.

I've been smiling a lot more this last week.