Not that I'd pretend to second guess our President, who seems to be able to keep his head above the fray of petty partisanship with grace and dignity most of the time.  

It's just that I wouldn't have been able to remain so polite.

Here's an alternative version of the scene, as it unfolded in my addled brain, oversaturated as it is  with the recent epidemic of outlandish wingnuttery:

 Obama: "....the healthcare plan will not cover anyone who is in America illegally..."

Republicans: (Generally grunting like Neantherthals and squealing like a pack of unruly preschool students)

Joe Wilson: "You Lie!"

Democrats: Hisses, boos, shocked outbursts. Republicans: More grunts, a few hoots

Obama: " Whoa. Whoa. Hold up a minute there. This is a session of Congress. Not a speaker's corner. Let's take a breath here."

The room quiets down a bit.

Obama: "Representative Wilson. Joe Wilson from South Carolina. That was you, wasn't it, who just called me a liar?"

Silence. Democrats turn all eyes toward Wilson. Republicans start looking around in any other direction but toward Wilson.

Camera finds Wilson in the chamber, red-faced and sputtering.

Obama: "Hey, this is America, you've got a right to speak your mind. Stand up, Representative Wilson. You've clearly got something you want to say. What were your words? 'You Lie'?' (with ironic disbelief) That's what you really said? 'You Lie?'

Wilson looks around in a panic. The camera is on him.

Obama: "I've got to admit, it takes guts - or (with irony) something - to stand up in front of all of your fellow Congressman, in front of the entire United States of America watching today - and openly accuse the President of the United States - your Commander in Chief" - of lying. To feel confident enough to break protocol - and the general rules of decency and respect usually honored in this chamber - to shout out something as clearly inflammatory as that, you must have some pretty compelling evidence and facts at your fingertips to prove your point."

He pauses for dramatic emphasis.

Joe squirms. 

Obama: "Well, Joe? Let's hear that evidence right now. If you're going to call your President a liar, let's hear exactly how you came to that conclusion."

Wilson stutters. He's speechless. Mortified. His fellow Republicans are quiet. Lots of eyes looking at the floor, the ceiling.

Obama: "Okay then. I guess Joe isn't currently prepared to back up his accusations here today. I'm not surprised. And this is what I mean, folks, when I say, I want to hear all real proposals, and real solutions to this problem, but I will not waste time on those who want to shut down the debates solely in the name of partisan politics."

Roar of applause from Democrats. The camera is on Wilson, who looks like he wants to disappear, and the Republicans in his near vicinity, who look as if they want to throttle him then and there.

Obama: "Now, moving on....this plan..."

What Obama actually did, of course was by far the smarter thing politically, taking the higher road. I wouldn't make it as a politician.  I can be a little hot blooded. Like my old pal, Joe "Carolina Liar" Wilson.

But I did get some personal satisfaction when I ran that little scenario for myself in the cinema of my head.