Editor’s note: With all the bad news out there, why not bid farewell to the week with an easy-to-digest roundup of our favorite forward looking and generally optimistic stories from the fine folks at The Stimulist. We want to know what you think! Send comments to feedback@takepart.com.

As the “birther conspiracy” continues to ignite debates–and sometimes screaming monologues–across the country, Eric Burns at The Stimulist says it’s becoming increasingly clear that the Right is clinging to a life preserver of fear and hatred to stay afloat. And while some media figures have debunked the Right’s fabrications and labeled them exactly what they are–xenophobia–we can’t expect to hear the same kind of coverage from conservative media any day soon. At a time when the Right is passing off conspiracy theories as patriotic grassroots movements, it’s dire that the media delivers the truth. Media Matters answered the call this week, challenging CNN to take a stand against Lou Dobbs’ support of the birthers.

When they’re not telling untruths, the Right is telling half truths, says The Stimulist’s Sean Braswell.  The Right is drawing “real” people into their campaigns to represent the average American. The problem is that the line becomes blurred between reality and fiction. The Jessica Lynches and Joe the Plumbers of America are the contemporary versions of the “average citizen” actors that characterized attacks on Clinton’s health care plan . The strategy smacks of disingenuity, but represents a practice that has been working to sway public opinion since the LBJ era. But attacking these (at least partly) fictional characters may not be in the best interest of Democrats. While it packs a punch for the Left to turn fictional characters on their heads, victory might lie instead in fighting fire with fire; that is, bringing real people to testify that our health care system needs an overhaul. With enough real voices to drown out the hired ones, the Democrats stand a chance of winning the health care debate. The question is whether Democrats have the patience to build a real strategy and leave behind a reactionary approach to what Frank Rich calls the Right’s “Village People.”

After an exhausting–but worthwhile–fight for Sotomayor and hours spent defending page 425, the Obamas need a break. Their choice of Martha’s Vineyard for vaycay, however, is a questionable one, considering that it’s rather lackluster symbolically.  The Vineyard’s biggest pitfall? It’s dull. At least four other destinations–California, Baltimore, New Orleans, and Texas– could make better use of a visit from President 44. As California’s economy continues its plunge down the tubes and Baltimore suffers from a ghost-town vibe (but boasts some very all-American activities like ballgames), the two locations could be better choices than the Vineyard if Obama wants to set an example. Should the Obamas choose New Orleans instead of the island off the coast of Massachusetts, the still-ravaged Gulf Coast city could see a revival of its restoration efforts. Politically speaking, Texas is a good bet, as a recent Gallup poll shows that Texas is competitive between the Left and Right, with Democrats leading by a two-point advantage. Obama could get his foot in the door and maybe even take a swing at appeasing those Texans hellbent on shutting down Obamacare. But that would qualify as more of a “working vacation.”

Unlike the Obama family, Goldman Sachs is in no position to revive recession-bulldozed cities in California.  Instead, it’s pleading with its employees not to splash until the dust has settled, a wise strategy when many are pointing the economic finger of blame at the company whose employees are notorious for frivolity and indulgence. The problem is, it’s starting to resemble a Goodfellas scene. Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein sounds like he’s planning on breaking kneecaps, not exercising sensible restraint. He could take a tip on public image from Labour candidate Stella Creasy, who’s winning hearts among the Labour party for her idealism and open-armed approach to online activism. With a honed focus on action, she could be the Obama-esque ticket to revitalizing the vigor that once characterized the Labour party during its Tony Blair election days.