Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Georgia’ Category

Michael Steele and the Georgia congressional playbook

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , on March 13, 2009| 9 Comments »

When it comes to political agendas, east is east and west is west and never shall they me.  Different groups support candidates and incumbents for different reasons.  To avoid awkwardness and drama, the various supporters might need separate rallies and meetings.  For example, the Blue Dog Democrats in the Georgia congressional delegate enjoy traditional Democrat support and a certain amount of Republican support from individuals with particular agendas-farmers, gun owners, military families, etc.

 

In Georgia’s 12th District congressional district, Blue Dog John Barrow received the support of the NRA and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce over a GOP opponent.  Conservative Democrat Jim Marshall continues to get most of Black votes in the 8th District without endorsing Obama or Clinton and he does well with some Republicans.  On the other hand, Republican Rep. Jack Kingston has built a strong network in the Black community.

 

The mini-drama with Rep. Sanford Bishop’s family is evidently driven by envy in the Columbus Black community but notice that the agriculture industry and the Georgia GOP is not saying a word; they are more concerned with Bishop’s ability to keep the Obama White House from gutting the farm-support programs we need.  Remember, did you see Bishop, Scott, Barrow and Marshall actively campaigning against Senate Ag giant Saxby Chambliss last fall and Chambliss would talk about the “liberal Democrats” in Washington—differentiating them from his moderate southern colleagues and supporters.

 

 Recently, I decide to do a little political network by attending a grassroots town hall event for Georgia Senator Johnny Isakson.  While Isakson and Obama are polar opposites politically, the senator was a state official when the Democrats ran state government so he is reasonable enough to say “no” then say “why.” I appreciate that fairness for Obama because moderate Democrats did the same for Bush.  

Meeting Senator Isakson

Meeting Senator Isakson

 

 

When Isakson starts campaign for relection,  our community should think about the fact that congressional Republicans or centrist Blue Dog Democrats represent every major city in Georgia outside metro Atlanta.   In Macon, Columbus, Albany, Savannah, Augusta and Athens, our community votes for conservatives or moderates in the interest of our regional agendas.

 

 

To adapt Kipling’s ballard to Georgia congressional politics: East is East and West is West and never the two shall meet, but if my interests are a risk, them save me a seat.

 

The thought of rural Georgia without military bases and agribusiness should make any reasonable person put party bickering on the back burner.  Because the center controls American politics, Michael Steele needs to steal a play from the Blue Dog playbook and target the center.  Georgia GOP Senators and rural DNC House members might be on to something.  

 

 

 

 

The Ballard of East and West             Rudyard Kipling

 

Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the two shall meet,

 

Till Earth and Sky stand presently at God’s great Judgment Seat;

 

But there is neither East nor West, Border, nor Breed, nor Birth,

 

When two strong men stand face to face, tho’ they come from the ends of the earth.

 

Read Full Post »

Political Agendas: Cannot Serve Two Masters

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , on March 11, 2009| 3 Comments »

In American politics and government, the best interests of the nation should be priority one.  However, only the naïve ignore the political agendas all around us. 

 

Faith

State/Region

Political Party

Movement/Causes

Race/Gender

Profession/Industry

(Did I leave about 100 others out)?

 

Did the Founding Fathers (all landowning White males) think 2009 America would be this diverse or that a Black guy would be in the Executive Mansion without a mop in his hand?  Some southerners think public policy should directly reflect the Bible while others push issues that benefit their businesses, professions or careers.

 

Robert E. Lee’s pre-Civil War dilemma fascinates me.  The son of a former Virginia governor and the husband of Martha Washington’s great granddaughter, Lee turned down Lincoln’s offer of a senior command to fight for Virginia and the Confederacy; he loved his state deeply.  At my Black college, the history and pol sci majors would “trip” over Lee being the epitome of the southern gentleman while fighting for a “jacked up” cause while Grant was a drunk fighting for the right cause.  As a side note, many non-southern Whites did not support the expansion of slavery because slaves provided free labor in jobs White immigrants wanted. 

 

At times, Atlanta has produces liberal members of Congress who put national causes and movements before Georgia.  Residents of Georgia’s cities don’t realize that agriculture/ food processing is the economic backbone of the rural regions so we bump heads on the farm agenda. 

 

In Sunday School back in the day, we were taught, “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and wealth.”   Luke 16:13

 

The parable in Luke 16 seems to speak of political parties, unions, lobbyists and interest groups.  I am not calling them Pharisees because that group seemed to be preoccupied with the letter of the law.  

 

What about Romans 13: 1-2: “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.” 

 

Personally, I am a Georgian, Methodist, African American, moderate Democrat, and southerner.  But, my sub-agendas must be reconciled with the best interests of the United States of America.  So help me God.

 

http://lcmssermons.com/index.php?sn=209

The parable of the unjust steward

Read Full Post »

Georgia Political Spectrum

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on March 10, 2009| Leave a Comment »

To me, a political spectrum exists that travels five degrees to the left and the same distance to the right.  The players at the extreme polar ends (the Fives) make the largest amount of enthusiastic noise but they might not have the largest numbers.  The Centrists (Zeros, Ones and Twos) are the quiet majority of Americans.

 

Plot Some Players

 

President Obama          Left Two

Senator McCain           Right Two

Senator Chambliss       Right Four

Senator Isakson            Right Four

Rep. Kingston              Right Three

Rep. Bishop                  Left One

Rep. Marshall               Right One

Rep. Barrow                 Zero or Center

Rep. Lewis                   Left Four

Rep. Scott                    Left Two

Rep. Westmoreland     Right Five

Rep. Deal                     Right Four

Rep. Broun                   Right Five

 

If a House District contains voters who are collectively Zeros, Ones and Twos, why run candidates who are Fours and Fives?  Obviously, bringing more new voters into the base is the desire.  However, an incumbent or new candidate could seek support from voters who are slightly over and near the center.  For example, Georgia’s 8th and 12th congressional districts elected Blue Dog Democrats who are comfortable with many conservative elements.  In recent election cycles, the GOP candidates in these two districts were Right Fours who sought to characterize the incumbents as liberal Democrats. 

 

While Reps. Marshall and Barrow voted for Left Four Nancy Pelosi for House speaker and indirectly endorsed other Left Fours as powerful committee chairs, the GOP produced opponents who could not win in centrist districts.  Why not admit that Right Twos and Threes should be cultivated and accepted by the GOP for certain districts? 

 

Before 1992, moderates dominated the Georgia congressional delegation.  These members had to balance the political desires of the entire spectrum—delicately. The post-1990 census redistricting maps created federally mandated Black-friendly districts but therefore made the neighboring districts so conservative that Republicans could be elected who sometimes ignored their Democrat constituents under directions from the conservative movement leaders. 

 

Of course, all politics is local and Rep. Kingston and Rep. Bishop perfected the art of using regional interests, field staff and personal contact to garner support across the spectrum.  These two representatives relish walking into meetings with voters who disagree with them to listen and debate policy decisions.

 

The liberals in the Democrat party learned to peacefully exist with the Blue Dogs Democrats and together they produced the numbers to take the Congress and the White House.  Because the GOP is less flexible, southern moderates and centrists are rare in their party.  Young and energetic Sarah Palin-types had better be Right Fours and Right Fives.

 The core principles of conservatism appeals to Black moderate and centrist Georgia voters because Reps. Marshall, Barrow, Bishop and Scott win regularly.  Michael Steele’s blueprint for GOP party change outlines a new openness to diversity. I am not confident this plan will work because Steele is talking acceptance of Right Ones and Right Twos while the grassroots of the GOP is thinking repent from your centrist sins and move far enough right to be suitable for their party.

Read Full Post »

The Economy, Charities and Congressional Campaigns

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on March 4, 2009| 2 Comments »

In Albany, Georgia, the American Red Cross stood strong with disaster relief when the city was flooded twice.  This important organization almost shut it’s doors this week due to a 85 to 90% downturn in donations—people who would normal give $100 were giving $25 and people who gave $25 were giving nothing.  An area private Christian school is experiencing the same giving dire straits and a friend with a youth sports program near the Georgia coast is facing a serious budget crisis. 

 

It’s the economy, weak stock portfolios and the job cuts.  Of course, state and local governments can’t help because their tax revenues are down.  After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, I thought political candidates would reduce their solicitation; deferring to more pressing needs.  It did not happen.

 

As we prepare for the 2010 elections, parties and candidates should use technology and new media to publicize their positions on issues before the public in a fiscally sound manner.  And if you are running just to be running, you are taking contributions from needed programs. 

 

Senate candidates need big money to run ads in several media markets but most Georgia House candidates are safe.  House candidates in contested races should stay lean and raise money from a few companies and industries with direct connections to our state.  Do you really need a million dollars to beat someone if you are doing your job? 

 

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will talk someone into running against Senator Isakson of Georgia.  What a waste of money and energy in a clearly red state.  Both Georgia senators caught heat from the far right in recent years for working with Democratic colleagues on immigration, energy, farm and bailout proposals.   In a state as diverse as Georgia, statewide officials must build bridges while their House counterparts answer to a more narrow demographic.

 

In 2004, Isakson face a successful Black businessman and former congressman in the GOP primary and won without a runoff.  In the general election, he received 58% of the vote against Black former congresswoman Denise Majette, a former judge with an undergrad degree from Yale and a J.D. from Duke.  If he won against Herman Cain and Denise Majette, there is no one on the Democrat bench who can seriously challenge him in a state that McCain won over Obama.  If you have money to give to an Isakson opponent, give it to the Red Cross so they can help with a real disaster.

 

They are going to take my original Blue Dog Democrat pin for that last statement but I am more concerned with giving GOP senators the leeway to discuss issues with President Obama than party politics.  Despite the talk radio chatter, Obama is not partisan anyway; check his cabinet and his Super Bowl party list.  Members of Congress should vote against legislation and budgets their find wrong but have a civil dialog first.

Read Full Post »

Limbaugh and the man of Steele

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged on March 4, 2009| 7 Comments »

Be careful what you say aloud.  GOP “defacto” head Michael Steele called Rush Limbaugh an entertainer and had to quickly retract.  Georgia Congressman Phil Gingrey apologized to Limbaugh for saying: 

 

“I mean, it’s easy if you’re Sean Hannity or Rush Limbaugh or even sometimes Newt Gingrich to stand back and throw bricks. You don’t have to try to do what’s best for your people and your party.You know you’re just on these talk shows and you’re living well and plus you stir up a bit of controversy and gin the base and that sort of thing. But when it comes to true leadership, not that these people couldn’t be or wouldn’t be good leaders, they’re not in that position of John Boehner or Mitch McConnell.”

 

Rev. Al Sharpton says Jesse Jackson and he are activists who point out issues of concern while Obama is president, one who presides or governs.  To me, activists on the left and right serve a purpose and elected officials create policy and law that reflect the needs and best interest of the people.  When I was a congressional staffer, House Speaker Tom Foley said from the well that any jackass could kick down a barn but it takes a carpenter to build one.  Since Rep. Gingrey is a physician, he could surgically remove the cancerous cells in southern politics and foster the growth of disease-resistant tissue.    

 

Once and for all, many of the personalities on talk radio and talk T.V. aren’t policy experts or journalists.  They conduct a healthy and lively debate or discussion of issues and interests to attract listeners and generate ad dollars.   I watch Bill O’Reilly and Keith Olbermann, both real journalists, with filters on or (as we say in the south) with a good pair of mucking boots.  But, I don’t see these guys as potential officeholders—Lou Dobbs, maybe.

 

Bottomline: some media personalities mean well and other would say anything to recklessly whip the people into a frenzy—insightful amusement for some but propaganda for the weak-minded.   

Read Full Post »

Calm, Calm, Calm…Calm, Calm Iran

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged on February 11, 2009| 1 Comment »

We must remember everyday that we have troops in harm’s way in two volatile theaters of operation.  A debt of gratitude can’t begin to express what we owe them and they are serving in places and conditions that we can only imagine.  Think about it: in the last century, our troopers fought bloody battles in Europe, the South Pacific and parts of southeast Asia.  While war is never easy, at least there was French wine, Irish lasses, sunny beaches, exotic rainforests, local bars and shipped in American brew. 

 

With Iraq and Afghanistan being faith-based governments, the chilling and partying of past U.S. soldiers isn’t happening and forget about a local sweetheart.  Afghanistan is one of the worst regions for war in the world and Iraq is an unfriendly dessert—-did I mention most soldiers can’t usually have a cold one at the end of the day.

 

The average American wants to focus on fixing America but we know that the War on Terror continues.  To some people, the only matters important in the Middle East are Israel’s right to safely exist, keeping nuclear weapons from certain nations and buying oil.  The “helping the people” or nation-building point might be a façade.

 

American foreign policy for decades centered on the cowboy mentality that we will do what we want and you will like it.  President Obama’s personal history uniquely qualifies him to lead our nation now because he was raised with an appreciation of different cultures, faiths and people.  If you watch the History Channel or remember what was taught in junior high, Iran and Iraq have rich and impressive histories; we are talking about the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Babylon.  But, we know that there are people to this day who still don’t believe the Egyptians build the pyramids when they did without European assistance or that the Moors controlled southern Spain for all those years. 

 

Respect is the key.  If we cut back on being global bullies and acknowledge that not everything great in history happened in Europe, these developing nations might stop viewing us Goliath to their David.  We could also consider that C, D and E of history follows the actions of A and B.  For example, Native Americans current conditions and attitudes (D and E) are based on losing the homeland and culture (A, B, C).  In other words, some people have a real reason to be upset with past American actions—actions by the government or by American corporate interest.  When PBS or the History Channel does a comprehensive program on Iran, it is clear that our oil companies got our government to help put the greedy Shan of Iran in power for oil reasons (and to put military bases in the region.) 

 

The Shan stayed paid Royce Rolls-style while his people starved.  When the religious fundamentalists took over and stormed the U.S. embassy, I was upset and chanting “Bomb Iran” with my classmates.  Diplomatic stations should always be respected but overall the hungry people had a right to dislike America.  They could have disliked the corporations and governmental leaders that assisted in the economic exploitation of their oil-rich region but the average American had no “beef” with them.  Wait a minute; we drove around in big gas-guzzling cars. 

 

The United States is a superpower and we don’t little nations who don’t listen to what we are telling them for their own good.  It is my understanding that the average person in Iran does not hate America like Iranian President Ahmadinejad.  President Obama, Secretary Clinton and the new foreign affairs team are smooth as smooth can be.  Iran needs to calm down and understand that we know we played them like punks in the past but the current administration respects their history and their developing role in the world community.  But, understand this: you won’t get nuclear weapons while pretending to develop energy resources and if you foster terrorist groups hell-bent on harming us, you will meet you ancestors real soon.

Read Full Post »

Combat Duty: The Fun Side

Posted in Georgia, tagged , , on February 11, 2009| 9 Comments »

CNN just reported that military enlistment is surging because private sector job opportunities are low.  Young people can benefit from the security and maturity the armed services provide.  In the Black community, the “service” has long been the door into a new, different life. These web videos show that our forces are having a little fun and bonding in the war zone.  Have fun, stay safe.  Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Read Full Post »

The Campaign Industry and Willacoochee, Georgia

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on February 9, 2009| 1 Comment »

The campaign system is driven by the “campaign industry” –those professionals more interested in finding candidates who can afford their services rather than candidates who want to change how Washington works.  It’s that revolving door President Obama describes where friends bounce between the administration, the congresss, lobbying firms and campaign/consulting firms.   The situation is just another example of what the jam band Cameo termed “Talking out the side of your neck.”

 

If you are a Black voter in Willacoochee, Georgia, your two senators and one congressman are Republicans.  While you might prefer Democrats in those positions, you should consider developing a functional relationship with those officials—like Republican voters in Blue Dog Democrats’ districts.  And, if you know a Democrat won’t win a seat anytime soon, consider supporting the GOP candidate who has the most reasonable approach and sincerely attempts to connect with our community.  For the record, Willacoochee is in Congressman Jack Kingston district and Jack has a reputation of listening to everyone in his district and hires many Black staffers in key positions.

 

The center of the Democrats efforts in Georgia will always be voter-rich liberal Atlanta.  But, Black economic interest outside Atlanta is more conservative, supportive of the military and supportive of agriculture.  Those campaign industry professionals won’t tell GOP candidates that because they don’t know the South.  If Black Georgia is not moderate to somewhat conservative, why do Congressmen Marshall, Barrow, Bishop and Scott enjoy great success in the Black community? 

 

Bottomline: GOP candidates from moderate districts should be moderates on some level or their campaigns are a waste of time, energy and resources.  Let’s stack the deck with good Democrat candidates and not so bad GOP candidates. 

Read Full Post »

Mindless Crime

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on February 4, 2009| Leave a Comment »

The sun came up in the east in Sylvester, Georgia, today.  It rose over an old pecan grove and the tranquility of the morning was broken by news that two area 80 year old women were beaten and robbed in separate incidents by males who look like me and the two seniors.

 

I can hear the accuses already, “I was just trying to provide for my family because the man is holding me down.”  Sylvester, which has a Black police chief, is in a state with a Black Attorney General.  The state is in a country with a Black Attorney General who was appointed by a Black President.  I guess I should add that a Black Georgian sits on the highest court in the land.

 

If the man is trying to hold criminals of any hue down, let’s hope criminals stand up—cuffed and ready for transport.

 

While working as a congressional staffer in D.C., my boss wanted me to give up my Million Man March VIP pass so he could give it to his dear colleague then Rep. Harold Ford, Sr. who had several sons and one was being groomed to replace him in congress.  Those “grassroot” Black congresspeople are often a snooty bunch of elitist who function like royalty and expect the masses to kiss their rings.  Okay, I sound like sour grapes because I never quite fit into their snobbish circles and Rep. Ford, Jr. because a sound young congressman.

 

At the MMM, Mrs. Rosa Parks was speaking and I asked the guy next to me what would happen if Mrs. Parks acknowledged with love and forgiveness the attendance of the knucklehead who broke into her house and roughed her up.   Dude and I agreed that he would have two million feet in his behind—from my Rockports to Ice Cube’s Converse All-Stars. 

 

So the righteous among us would quote Romans 12:19: Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it s written, Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord.

 

But since we were right there, let us get this one for you, saith “Folks done with mindless crime.” 

Read Full Post »

Michael Steele and Esssence

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on January 31, 2009| 3 Comments »

steele4501

http://www.essence.com/news_entertainment/news/articles/michael_steele_gop_chairman

 

There’s an article from Essence magazine regarding the Michael Steele selection.  May I just say, that Essence should be in every Black home in America.  I have been reading Essence since junior high: you learn about quality women from quality women and maybe one day you might have that type woman around you. 

 

I am calling someone out: the Sylvester/Worth County, Georgia Public Library.  A few years ago, I asking the staff why they had hair and fashion magazines but no Essence.  Logically, they said get it for them. 

 

So, I used frequent flyer miles and got them a few years.  Some people don’t know that you can give magazines for miles for multiple years and different addresses.  Giving Essence and Black Enterprise to teens in your family would serve them better in the long run than the junk they think they want.

 

While I am ranting, reading Essence and another “Black” publications would be useful for anyone in an area (the whole South) with a sizable Black population..i.e. School teachers and coaches. 

 

Reading across cultures will help build knowledge and insight.  Some people are so closed minded that they did not realize African Americans of presidential timber existed until recently—know the actors in the arena or don’t get caught sleeping like General Cluster. 

 

I study everyone and read everything.  And the older people are so willing to share.  Once on a flight to Honduras, this White vet schooled me on the real World War II, deep-sea fishing and Kansas agriculture.  Thanks for share.    

 

Again I say, Project Logic GA is about the Black political and policy experience in the South; which means that readers (all ten of them) should be Black and non-Black. 

 

Like the Indian guy in every South Georgia town who sells purple or red suits to the brothers. (The only men who should have red suits are Santa Claus, Kappas, and maybe UGA coaches.)  Anyway, that guy does not wear those ugly clothes but he knows his target market from listening and watching.

 

Michael Steele should model his actions after DNC Chair Howard Dean.  Steele should spend some time working on the product rather than intensifying the sales pitch.   

Read Full Post »

Michael Steele: GOP leader

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on January 30, 2009| 2 Comments »

I must say the Republicans surprised me when they selected Michael Steele as RNC Chairman.  So, Mike Tyson’s former brother-in-law heads the GOP.  I wanted Steele to win that Senate seat a few years ago and wish him well because he has worked with former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman to add some moderation and common sense to the “right.” 

 

Her book It’s My Party Too should be the blueprint for Steele but, mark my word, it won’t be.  The South runs the current GOP and the grassroots won’t hear that “we need change” stuff.   Let’s see: Steele runs the RNC, Obama runs the White House, Serena will run the Australian Open finals at 3:30a.m. and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin will win the Super Bowl Sunday.

 

Some people might think the only think left is a Black Pope of Rome but I don’t See (get it) that happening.  The time is right for each individual member of our community to be the best individual we can be. 

 

In the book Success Runs in Our Race, George C. Fraser wrote that Blacks are the only group that sought political gains in America before economic gains.  Well, we obviously needed the federal government on our side—with that whole bondage/oppression thing.  Today, we are (on some level) still in bondage and oppression by some of our own actions.

 

Let’s give Brother Steele’s conservative views respectful consideration.  That won’t be hard to do in Georgia where Rep. John Lewis is the only real liberal sent to Congress.  Blue Dogs Scott, Marshall, Barrow and Bishop are only a quick jump across the centerline of the political spectrum from Steele’s senate race position. 

 

The Blue Dogs are running things; Obama supporters must keep them on a firm leash or they might find a home in Steele’s new yard.     

Read Full Post »

Austin Scott for Governor?

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , on January 28, 2009| 25 Comments »

scott

http://www.tiftongazette.com/local/local_story_027143054.html

 

GOP Georgia State Rep. Austin Scott of Tifton is running for Governor.  This news is interesting because Scott is famous for siding with Democrat Governor Roy Barnes to change the Georgia flag.  Without getting into a debate about the Stars and Bars, Scott displayed a heaping amount of intestinal fortitude for his history of bridge-building rather than traditional rural rock throwing.

 

In the Tifton Gazette article, Scott outlined an innovative fundraising plan to raise $100 from 100 people in each of Georgia’s 159 counties—the people in a dozen counties can’t afford to pay attention, so good luck there.  But, the plan sounds somewhat Obama-like and I have been writing that the GOP needs to shake things up with some young blood and fresh ideas.

 

To be honest, I wish Scott would challenge Rep. Jim Marshall for his congressional seat because Obama needs constructive conservatives in D.C. and I am still ticked-off that Marshall was never in candidate Obama’s corner.  What should the Black community do if we realize that the Democrat candidates for governor cannot win in this Red State (like no Dem will beat Senator Isakson, so save your campaign money and consider it a stimulus check from me.)

 

The logical action would be focusing on the GOP primary—where the governor will be selected- and supporting the most appealing candidate.  But, then again, that would be too much like right. 

Read Full Post »

Job Cuts and Personal Responsibility

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , on January 26, 2009| 9 Comments »

Last night, 60 Minutes left me stunned with stories about a possible Israeli-Palestinian Apartheid state and a future pill that will slow the aging process.  But, the story that really hit hard detailed huge job cuts with DHL in Wilmington, Ohio; thousands of jobs gone from a small hardworking town.  I wake up to the news that Atlanta-based Home Depot is cutting 7,000 jobs, Caterpillar eliminates 20,000 jobs, Sprint/Nextel cuts 8,000 and John Deere is cutting 700 jobs.  Of course, South Georgia recently took a hit with closing of the Cooper Tire plant in Albany.

 

The mayor of Wilmington outlined the rippling consequences by pointing out that the local hospital functions with funds from the DHL employees’ health insurance coverage.  When those people start seeking indigent care, the double impact of revenue loss and free care increase will killed the hospital. 

 

When the America dream turns into a nightmare, it is rough to witness.  Back when we were in high school, Billy Joel’s “Allentown” served as a wakeup call with lines like, “For the promises our teachers made—if we worked hard, if we behaved.  Now are graduations hang on the wall, but they never really helped us at all.”

 

Each family needs a comprehensive “Economic Recovery Plan” that focuses on sound decisions, cutting waste and supportive actions.  What I really want to say to the teens in Georgia working families is don’t bring new drama into the household.  If your parents were on their feet in steel-toed shoes for years to provide for the family, don’t come home grinning about a pregnancy or call from police station—be strong for yours and reduce their burden.

 

Southerners are resilient by nature and conservatives should prepare to say “amen” when President Obama starts appealing to every American to consider “personal responsibility” during these hard economic times.  Former Morehouse College President Dr. Benjamin E. Mays once called a cut-up student into his office to inform the young man that he would be on the next bus home.  Dr. Mays basically said that we as a people had come from so far yet had some much farther to go…we could not afford to have he holding us back. 

 

In our community, we spend much energy and capital correcting and addressing the actions of certain members of the family.  Can you prune rotten branches from the family tree?  Tell you what: first deference should be toward hardworking people experiencing a rough patch due to job cuts and not…(I better stop right here).

Read Full Post »

Matt Towery to GOP: Shut up and Lead

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on January 24, 2009| 2 Comments »

Former Republican legislator, now columnist Matt Towery had something to say to his party in my local newspaper today—good stuff and real.   

http://townhall.com/columnists/MattTowery/2009/01/23/shut_up_and_lead?page=full

I’m already weary of members of the Republican Party and other conservatives doing little else but throwing rocks at the new Obama administration. And that’s coming from someone who helped build the party before many of today’s pundits were learning to speak.

Barack Obama is president. Get over it, and start coming up with new ideas and counter-ideas of your own, instead of making hateful or smart-alecky remarks just to sell books or attract attention.

Take Joe Lowery as a subject of right-wing grievance. (I’ve known him for years, and he has actually helped Republican candidates on many occasions.) As part of the inauguration’s benediction, Lowery recited an out-of-date and out-of-step little ditty from the civil rights days. Part of it dismissed whites as morally lacking.

So what? He’s in his late 80s and isn’t representative of anything but the past.

And the fact that President Obama had to retake the oath of office because the Chief Justice messed it up is interesting, but only that. It doesn’t stand up to a claim that the Obama presidency is somehow illegitimate.

Listen up, Republicans and conservatives: Your party and your movement only rise when they produce new ideas. Ronald Reagan did it in 1980 with his approaches to things like taxation and fighting the Cold War with the Soviet Union.

And the Republicans who took over Congress in 1994 did so by unveiling a specific litany of government reforms.

By way of practicing what I preach — however navely or haltingly — allow me to outline the rudiments of a free-market approach to start getting us out of this economic slough we are in. This idea might at least help make a dent in the bailing out of our financial institutions without simply throwing good money after bad.

Start with a simple premise: We know that beautiful foreclosed homes in places like, say, Florida have subsequently been marked down in value (and by using an idiotic accounting method, but never mind).

Knowing that someday their full values will return, wouldn’t you love to be able to buy some of those homes at dirt-cheap prices, and simply wait for their values to return or even appreciate? Ditto for strip malls, office complexes, hotels, and on and on.

The obvious problem, of course, is that most people in America don’t have the resources to afford big bargains during this down time.

But now ask yourself this: Would you rather invest in a big-name company that could see its value plummet, or in a collection of assets that have reached rock bottom, but were once quite valuable?

Clear and simple, there’d be little downside and much potential in waiting for the windfall of these assets to return to value.

And now my idea: Why should these billions of dollars of allegedly bad loans, tied to greatly diminished assets held by financial institutions, be purchased by our tax money rather than by a public eager to someday reap potential financial rewards?

In most past recessions, the bounceback on assets — often long-delayed — can be in the double-digit percentiles. Would you not buy a “share of stock” in the “corporation” holding these assets? Maybe 100 shares? Perhaps many more if there was liquidity to spare?

I sure would, and in part because, just like during World War II with war bonds, I would be investing in helping to fund a fight that is critical to our nation’s survival.

Equally important, I realize that I’m going to fund it anyway, if only through tax payments that I will never see again.

I think I’d rather pitch in for Uncle Sam by having the opportunity to see the “corporation” holding these assets gain substantial value in future years.

This proposal probably has a million holes in it. Readers, feel free to help me find them.

But let’s at least get a dialogue going. Throwing rocks at a president with a 70 percent approval rating won’t get America’s entrepreneurial engines running again. Let’s leave the venom to those who make their living milking it from their own fangs.

Read Full Post »

Gillibrand New Day

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , on January 23, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Watch out now: Clinton’s Senate seat goes to Blue Dog Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand rather a Kennedy.  My political philosophy is that the major party that opens up to the center/moderates will win and govern.  At this point, it is unclear if the Blue Dogs types will flirt with the conservatives or back the Dem Team; this group can tip the scales and has serious power.  If the GOP doesn’t secure more moderates and the Blue Dog movement grows in the South, the road back might be really long.

 

I did notice that Senator Saxby Chambliss refers to the “liberal Democrats” during this recent campaign.  Was he deliberately implying that there are “non-liberal Democrats” (i.e. Blue Dogs) with whom conservatives could and should work?  The GOP members are big on loyalty and blood oaths, “I agree with the Grand Old Party 100%.”  To win in the future, they need more centrist Democrats support rather than card-carrying new GOP recruits. 

 

Obama 2012 is already salivating over bigger numbers in the West and Midwest and the Blue Dogs might help by pulling the Democrat agenda closer to the center.  Pretty soon, the South might get bluer. 

 

Get the popcorn; this is going to be good.

Read Full Post »

Barrack Obama Inauguration: Your Thoughts

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , on January 19, 2009| 4 Comments »

 

obamadance 

It is just plain exceptional that we are about of have a wonderful young man who looks like me become president of the United States, leader of the free world and commander-in-chief of the most powerful military force ever. 

 

When I was six years old, I could read books in the public library but was not allow to check them out.   As they said at the MLK Program at my church this morning, he brought us from a mighty long way.  (He being God for my heathen friends—right- sin, cast, stone.)

 

The roughest part of the swearing for me will be thinking about people like my daddy who did not live quite long to see this historic event.  My daddy was always so proud when a Black person won on Wheel of Fortune since he had a preoccupation with moving African Americans forward.  He also obsessed on “guiltying” negative people of color into changing for the good of the nation and race. 

 

Congratulations America for climbing this hill and best wishes on the next one, and the one after that.

 

Mr. President, you surely have my support.  

 Great Pictures

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/01/21/inauguration-day-in-dc/

Read Full Post »

The Next Obama: Tim Tebow, Maya Moore and Myron Rolle

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 13, 2009| 9 Comments »


The Florida Gators won the national college football championship—again.  Go Gainesville Gators, Go.  That Tim Tebow is one outstanding young man; his parents did a fine job raising him but some of that is genetics – which they provided also. Congrats to Myron Rolle from the FSU Football Team on his Rhodes Scholarship; putting Cecil’s ill-gotten gains to good use.  Rhodes wanted a secret society to promote British rule around the world; Rolle is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.  Tebow and Rolle might be the next Obama-types. 
 

Also, don’t sleep on Georgian Maya Moore who plays basketeball with Uconn and graduated from Atlanta’s Collins Hills High School with a 4.0 GPA. 
 

Tebow, a service-minded Christian athlete, was homeschooled by smart people; which leads to the fact that not everybody who homeschools will product a brainy Heisman Trophy winner.  So, if you are not smart enough to homeschool your kids past a certain grade level, you might not be smart enough to know it.  Some kids need to be at school and/or church for socialization purposes.  Yes, many school systems have uncontrollable little monsters who are exposed to heaven-knows-what at home and the teachers can’t stop them from “sharing” in the halls and cafeterias.
 
I think Georgia now has an innovative program for children to learn via the internet.  Can you image a cul-de-sac with six or seven homes where all the parents are bright and they create their own little school in a pool house or garage.  Parents who telecommute can swing by for a few classes and the banker can come home to teach economics during her lunch hour.  And mom can bake ginger bread cookies and vacuum in heels while wearing pearls.  
 
I am sure what the answers are with education options but some dramatic changes are needed because Little Johnny who does not learn might eventually be Jo-Dog, master of the cellblock for 15 to 20 years.  Georgia spends 1.2 Billion dollars on the state’s prison system—which does not include caring for the families of some inmates.  The education system is like that old oil filter ad, “You can pay me now or you can pay me later.”
 
It all comes down to parenting and home training and President Obama will likely say what many reasonable people are thinking, “Some folks need children like a fish needs a bicycle.”

 
When Soon-to-be Speaker Newt Gingrich considering provisions for his agenda, he publicly discussed giving 21 year olds $5000 if he graduated from high school, had no out of wedlock kids and no criminal activity.  Those who say you can’t legislate morality never met Newt.  Hey, that plan is cheaper than lock’em up.

UPDATE: The list grows; Stephen Curry with Davidson College is another good kid. Like Grant Hill was back in the day.

Read Full Post »

Reading Obama’s moves

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , , on January 7, 2009| 3 Comments »

My daddy play college football at North Carolina A&T during the one platoon, leatherhat days—let him tell it, he was on the field for every play for four years.  He taught me that in sports a guy can make head and feet moves all day but watch his waist or his belt buckle—that’s where he is going.

 

President-elect Obama plays basketball with the best of them.  I have been “watching his waist” on team-building and I think where he is not going is telling us the sections of the Democrat Team that he has quietly and inadvertently put on the bench.  For example, Obama is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus but Sanford Bishop is the only member of the CBC who was seriously considered for a cabinet position.  There is one school of thought that dictates that Obama is a CBC member at the top of the table so why should others be there. 

 

Obama clearly respects Bishop and fellow Harvard Law grad Rep. Artur Davis; but I am starting to think he wonders why other CBC members and other Democrats did not provide better congressional oversight during the Bush years.  Are CBC members mostly interested in keeping themselves in office?  Rangel, Thompson, Waters, Holmes-Norton and Clyburn are major players on the Hill but most members of the CBC could have or should have done more with policy and legislation for the years they have been in office.  How does a skinny kid with a funny name blow pass you in route to the White House in a few years?

 

Listen to my daddy and read Obama moves.  We had a pastor at my AME Church who uses to say she was tired of hearing people pray “Lord, they need you over here and they need you over there.” Pastor said God must be thinking, “Why do you think I put you down there…you fix it, then come back and tell me about it.”  Obama must be pissed with so-called leaders who fail to see these huge problems or messes coming and must be think how dare those guys think change starts with them when they help get us in the ditch in the first place.

 

Obama promised change but my friends are wondering if some oldheads will be surprised when he starts calling Dems out for being asleep at the wheel.  He can start with me: I confess that I believed Vice-President Cheney when he said that if we can get to the Iraqi oil fields before Saddam Hussein sets them on fire again, we will pump enough oil to fund the war.  Then again, I am not a baller in the game.

 

Before the primary season, old school Black leaders and many CBC members lined up behind Clinton and Edwards because those leaders had clout with those teams.  I like the way Black leaders did not automatically get with the Black guy.  But reading their waists in retrospect, they knew changing the politics, methods and policies of old would mean they were old dogs who need to learn new tricks.  The same thing applies to Republicans: conservatives who are sincerely interested in ensure that the new administration’s initiates include sound fiscal and budgetary provisions are good Americans.  Conservatives who want failure so they can get political power again should be ashamed.     

 

President-elect Obama is like Michael Jeffery Jordan standing at the top of the key explaining exactly what moves he is about to make on the way to scoring.  If you stepped into the arena with a weak game and much mouth—you better eat your Wheaties.  

Read Full Post »

RNC: Shun Saltsman; Get Newt

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , on December 29, 2008| Leave a Comment »

While joining the national honor society in college, the most studious member of the organization made us memorize what seemed like an ancient Asian proverb.  R.D.’s service to Albany State University as an administrator, a member of my honor society and a member of Omega did more to help young African Americans climbing the socioeconomic ladder than anyone will ever know. 

 

The proverb from Confucius, goes:

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool – shun him.

He who knows not, and knows that he knows not, is a child – teach him.

He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep – wake him.

He who knows, and knows that he knows, is a wise man – follow him.

 

I think about that adage frequently when considering politics and governing and it came up this weekend.  

 

Former Tennessee GOP leader Chip Saltsman (who is a candidate for the RNC chairmanship) sent out a cd this Christmas featuting a song call “Barack the Magic Negro.”  First of all, parodies take place in politics all the time and at times lines are crossed.  I am still deciding if Saturday Night Live’s skit on New York Governor Paterson’s sight was over the line. Sarah Palin took some rough shots this year and President-elect Obama has displayed some cool toughness. 

 

“He who knows not and knows that he knows not” is becoming the motto for a branch of the right that seems to be saying “I am limited, know it and relish my ignorance.” This division of the right (they love Joe the Plumber) really wants to say “we are rural and our worldview is based on what we can see while sitting on the sofa on our front porch.”

 

We live in a free country and people have a right to be as smart or as something else as they like.  I live in a rural area that should not be equaled to unsophisticated since everyone in the cities yearns for weekends and retirement next to our idyllic lakes and rivers.

 

Message to the RNC: He who knows, and knows that he knows is a wise man – follow him….Newt Gingrich.  Since we are on Asian knowledge today, the Art of War recommended that you respect the strength and knowledge of all actors in the theater of war.  Obama, both Clintons and Gingrich are intelligential giants on policy and governing; notice that I wrote “policy and governing” rather than just “campaigning and politics” because winning elections is half the battle; actual governing is the hard part.   

 

Past RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman made every effort to make his party more inclusive but those attempts failed because many rank and file members want a party that only looks like them and they want a return to days past.  In my Black community, we also think about the days when family meant this, church and school did that, and young people were driving for excellency—pushing to be Kings, Huxtables and today Obamas.

 

I am reading a 1200 page book (okay, glancing parts) called “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” by Patricia Schultz.  The book lists on and off the beaten track sites and towns in the U.S. and Canada and reading it is part of my life-long endeavor to find to coolest town with like-minded people so I can put down roots and enjoy the rest of my life. 

 

As a Georgian, I naturally think that place is in Georgia or some part of South.  But when you find a great looking area, you might also finding that Joe the Plumber’s southern cousin is there with strong feelings about putting uppity folks in their place, or Pookie and Ray-Ray that eagerly waiting to make you a crime statistic. 

 

Americans who want a better America and world are wise but those who think it will come easily are naive.   My concern is that the loud ignorant divisions in our South will cost us economic opportunities and other regions will capitalize on this negative image.

 

Let’s hope that Newt will be an important part of the new leadership of the right because he is about solutions and his place in history rather that pushing drama for party or personal gain. 

 

African Americans could consider supporting GOP centrists who are dragging their party into the future—kicking and screaming.  Those on both extreme ends of the political spectrum who laughing about naughty political antics while the nation suffers are fools—shun them. 

Read Full Post »

Have a Punitive Holiday

Posted in Georgia, politics, tagged , , , , on December 22, 2008| 1 Comment »

To the victor go the spoils…

No southerners in the new cabinet proves that President-Elect Obama is about putting the right people in the right position rather than filling quotas—which is what we want anyway, right. 

 

When you ask southern Republicans where they stand on “Black issues,” they loving saying that all issues are Black, White, Brown, Red, Yellow issues.  The same logic might hold true for regions—but a son or daughter of the South would have been sweet as a Georgia peach.  With that in mind, I could accept Team Obama’s selections better if the West and Midwest weren’t so heavily represented. 

 

Obama is a man of his word and he always said, “I might be skinny but I am tough…I came up in Chicago politics.”  In tough politics, you don’t saying untrue and insulting things about someone for years and expect them to do for you before doing for those who had your back. 

 

The word is punitive.

 

I think that Sanford Bishop would have been Ag Sec if the Sarah Palin Tour in support of Saxby for Senate during the runoff did not end the honeymoon in record time (I told you to vote for Saxby in the general).  It makes you think about Robert E. Lee being torn between Lincoln offering him the command of the Army of Northern Virginia and his love for departing Virginia—the rest is history. 

 

Obama’s nature won’t let him be ugly toward our region; he could get all of the cabinet from western Idaho if that would help solve what is the matter.

 

Let me pull out my crystal ball and predict the future: most of the rural southern local courthouses and municipal buildings with nice framed pictures of President Bush won’t request new presidential pictures after January.  And we wonder what’s up with the cold shoulder for the sunny South. 

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »