Did your mommy teach you to write thank you notes?

The House vote on health care legislation, scheduled for Saturday, precedes the Thanksgiving break. HCAN (Health Care for America Now) is urging St. Louisans to turn out and thank the two St. Louis Congressmen who will vote in favor of it: Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan.

Next Monday, Nov. 9, at 11:00 a.m.

That’s short notice, I know, but do your best to get there. Progressive activists should be aware that party politics isn’t unlike personal relationships. If you only complain when your friends do something you disapprove of, but you never compliment them for their thoughtfulness, don’t expect tight bonds.

If you’re in Clay’s or Carnahan’s district, did you phone either of them to thank him for his ACES vote? I thought not. Have you ever complained to either of them about their stands on  issues? Right, just as I figured. When you think about the heat they’ve been taking–and I twice last summer watched Carnahan deal with rude tea partiers over the health care issue–they need to hear some appreciation. They’re not voting automatons; they’re people.

And besides, attending such an event is a chance to celebrate what we as progressives have accomplished on health care since the Alice in Wonderland contingent almost killed the public option last August.

Lacy Clay’s office is at Delmar and Euclid. The address is 624 North Euclid, Suite 326. Russ Carnahan’s office is at Brentwood Blvd. and Manchester. The address is 8764 Manchester Rd., Suite 203.

A similar sort of event is probably being planned for thanking Emanuel Cleaver. Feel free to post that info here if you know of one, and I’ll add  it as an update on the front page. And if there’s an event to give Ike Skelton the raspberry, I’ll be happy to post that info as well.