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Don’t call Me Tonight about Politics: Grey’s Anatomy, CSI, Survivor

May 14, 2009 by slyram

To Whom It May Concern: don’t call me tonight while my shows are on T.V. and I shouldn’t need to tell you that.  Jim Croce should come back from the dead long enough to do a remix with Justin Timberlake that say, “you don’t spit into the wind, you don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger, don’t call dude during primetime on Thursday night and never during Jeopardy.”   That’s hot; they could mix in “Our Loves is in Jeopardy, baby.”

When I was a kid and T.V. had nine channels, Dean Martin’s show was the thing because he was Rat Pack cool and had those “Goldn-ggers.”  Yes, I thought his sidekick sweethearts were called that rather than they real name “Dean Martin’s Golddiggers” and my older brother (the world biggest a–) would laugh before telling me my error years later.  “When get big, I am going to get me some Goldn-ggers.”  And my mother said, “When you get big, you should hope you can afford some Golddiggers.”  To this day, I can’t afford any but they don’t know that.  Modern-day Golddiggers are slipping and I am generally around the Essence Magazine reading, Get-her-own-cheddar women anyway. 

It’s funny how folks in my community connect all the characters an actor has played together.  Today, I will be watching Ugly Betty with smoking hot Vanessa Williams and America Ferrera, who I admire for standing up for Hillary last year.  I will tape Survivor, which includes Taj from the singing group SWV—she was the tallest one.  When former NFL running back Eddie George came to see her on the show last week, he made a brother proud.  George married her when she was one of the most desired women in Black America but she has put on some pounds while he is still cut. 

A weak-minded dude would have traded her in for a Golddigger by now but he is still in love with her and over the last few months, I can see why; she is still lovely.  If she doesn’t win, that is okay because the skinny Jewish guy is more than worthy and why do Black people always cheer for the Black person.  I stopped that some time ago—okay it was last week during the Amazing Race when the sisters who balled at Louisville were eliminated because one of the them stopped at a portable toilet just before reaching the checked-in point—and she was wearing an Asian robe.  That wouldn’t have been Taj from Survivor; old girl would have just let it go since a million dollars was on the table.   I am telling you that the problem with school system is that America is not building kids like we were built—suck it up and go.  As much as 25% of the next generation is weak; like Taj singing “Weak” with SWV back in the day.

I will be taping CSI with my man Larry (correction) Lawrence Fishburne.  He was the guitar player who said, “No, Miss. Sofia” on the Color Purple just before Oprah’s character got in that situation with White folks.  That was nothing compare to the beat down Jennifer Hudson took in The Secret Life of Bees, a movie from a book written by a Sylvester Georgia native I must proudly say.  I first saw Fishburne in “Cornbread, Earl, and Me” after the local theater was integrated.  We still sat in the balcony because we wanted to be with folks who looked like us and not folks under court-order to watch a movie with us.  And, the American President is Black today.

Obama did not change the nation; he is just the next step in a long journey for all Americans.  I am also proud of the sister Shonda Rhimes who created and produced the biggest prize for Thursday night since the Cosby Show and Magnum P.I.  Grey’s Anatomy is brilliant T.V. because the traumas have drama and the cast is a collection of compelling characters.  The strength of the Chief is similar to President Palmer on 24—the first Black president.  Izzy Stephens will likely die tonight and that thing is going to put a lump in my throat like Dr. Mark Greene dying in Hawaii on E.R.

 Please don’t let Kate die on Lost because I wanted to see those freckles during the final season in 2010.  Did that White guy and his Black wife move into the jungle alone; that must be love.  They set a good example for old school folks like me but what about the Latina and White lady doctors’ love affair back on Grey’s Anatomy.

Okay, the conservative movement is right (get it right) on some level: Hollywood has a diversity and tolerance agenda.  But, many south Georgians want their kids to be “like-minded” or them.  I will admit to being a hypocrite because two dudes dating I don’t see but those cute lady doctors falling in love is kind of hot.  The question comes up when my friends and I are solving the world problems at a cookout and sipping box wine (Cart-a-nay): would you prefer your female college age cousin being with a good woman or a bad man. 

 I had better leave that thing alone because too much leftwing T.V. is turning me into tolerant southerner.  Is that an oxymoron?  Two things that should not happen: don’t call me tonight when my shows are on T.V. and don’t ever invite me to two dudes wedding.  Those cats can be happy but I don’t want to see it.    

Recently, I wrote a blog post about gay marriage and I did not go into details about the Black community being so very conservative and the GOP having no idea.  The other contributors of this blog were blowing up my phones during the last 30 minutes of the two hour season finale of Lost—they were planning their weekends at the GOP State Convention.  When you Republicans want to know what is the matter, don’t listen to each other; listen to moderates like me.     

 Please don’t let Kate die on Lost because I wanted to see those freckles during the final season in 2010.  Did that White guy and his Black wife move into the jungle alone; that must be love.  They set a good example for old school folks like me but what about the Latina and White lady doctors’ love affair back on Grey’s Anatomy.

 

Okay, the conservative movement is right (get it right) on some level: Hollywood has a diversity and tolerance agenda.  But, many south Georgians want their kids to be “like-minded” or them.  I will admit to being a hypocrite because two dudes dating I don’t see but those cute lady doctors falling in love is kind of hot.  The question comes up when my friends and I are solving the world problems at a cookout and sipping box wine (Cart-a-nay): would you prefer your female college age cousin being with a good woman or a bad man. 

 

I had better leave that thing alone because too much leftwing T.V. is turning me into tolerant southerner.  Is that an oxymoron?  Two things that should not happen: don’t call me tonight when my shows are on T.V. and don’t ever invite me to two dudes wedding.  Those cats can be happy but I don’t want to see it.   

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments »

West Wing: Gay Marriage, the Bible and the President

May 13, 2009 by slyram

I really enjoyed and grew from watching the NBC’s The West Wing.  Many people these days decide whether to respect a president or actually say that someone is not “their president.”  Barrack Hussein Obama is my president; John Sidney McCain III might have been my president and George Walker Bush was my president.                                           

 

This clip from the West Wing framed the debate well; while you might not have voted for a president, once the man or woman is sworn into office, that person is the president and deserves the respect I have given every president who served during my life. 

 

The West Wing president walk into a room in the White House knowing that a far-right media personality would be there and of course the lady decide to slight him by remaining seated—she got “told” big time.

 

That is democracy in action—a beautiful thing and I would graciously thank the citizens for taking the time to share their point of view with their member of congress.  

One Sunday, the pastor at the Methodist Church I attended in southwest D.C. said in her sermon that she saw a bumper sticker which read, “Father, protect us from your followers.”  Interesting.

 I can’t say I am for gay marriage but I will say there should be a legal way to select who answers questions during medical emergency.  I listened to both sides of the debate but hey I was not a congressman—just a conduit for information to and from the elected officials.   I tell you one thing: they should make all marriages hard to get into because Britney Spears get married before breakfast and it being over before lunch is plain wrong.  Folks don’t respect vows and oath anymore.  I respect marriage and parenthood so much that I have never done either—plus my dollars have always been short.   

I won’t get deeply into the gay marriage debate but this clip offers interesting background into reconciling our beliefs in the Bible and Christianity with the functional reality that constitutionally this nation has no official religion.   Sometimes it saddens me to think about all the ugly names people called me when I was the judiciary staffer in three congressional offices and of course the calls would be heaviest on Monday after the recommendations came from the Sunday pulpits.  That is democracy in action—a beautiful thing and I would graciously thank the citizens for taking the time to share their point of view with their member of congress.

 

One Sunday, the pastor at the Methodist Church I attended in southwest D.C. said in her sermon that she saw a bumper sticker which read, “Father, protect us from your followers.”  Interesting.

 

I can’t say I am for gay marriage but I will say there should be a legal way to select who answers questions during medical emergency.  I listened to both sides of the debate but hey I was not a congressman—just a conduit for information to and from the elected officials.   I tell you one thing: they should make all marriages hard to get into because Britney Spears get married before breakfast and it being over before lunch is plain wrong.  Folks don’t respect vows and oath anymore.  I respect marriage and parenthood so much that I have never done either—plus my dollars have always been short.  

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments »

Political Lip Service: Democrats and Republicans

May 12, 2009 by slyram

But it sometimes turns out that national and state leaders in the same party came to realize that not all members of the other party are evil, wrong, and all together scum of the earth.  I am going to break my arm patting myself on the back for having friends and associates from all over the political spectrum.  While we get heated in discussions, all of us are well-intended Americans who want the nation to succeed.  The question becomes “how do we get there.”  

At times, the Democrats want to mother the people and kiss their boo boos while the Republicans want to be the tough discipline-oriented father types.  In the Georgia congressional delegation, they must be making secret pacts in the House and Senate cloakrooms that say, “colleague, I actually like you but you know we must mix it up in public to keep the party faithful pleased…you understand, right.” 

When the GOP ran the White House, both houses of Congress and Georgia state government, they had a swagger and attitude that would have made Caesar and Napoleon envious.  Their control over the federal government is gone for now but they still have that swagger.  To many of them, they weren’t wrong in policies and actions; the voters were charmed and mislead by the brilliance of Obama and his bottomless moneybag.  Huh? 

Watch the Republicans who honesty say, “my bad, we got off track.”  Those self-reflecting leaders are keepers and they are the one who know that party politics is secondary to fixing our economy and our place on the world stage.  These guys also realize what the hardhead can’t see or hear: President Obama is about America more than being about the Democrat Party—remember the diehard Democrats really wanted Hillary or Edwards before the masses (including non-party people and new voters) stood up and said “Obama..Obama.”  

That observation means Obama can take consult from conservatives and moderates who seek to rein in spending and debt after this orgy of stimulus/recovery spending. Those who pull Obama to the center will be credited with not waiting until the next election to take action and the center will acknowledge their prudent decisions. 

PIC-0082

Whom am I fooling with that fantasy talk?  And if the leaves of this magnolia tree outside my window turn into hundred dollar bills, I can take a LL Bean dufflebag full of money to SunTrust.  It is not going to happen because major party operatives benefit from the fighting and drama but read the actions of the Georgia Senators and congressmen.  When was the last time you saw then really working hard to get rid of a member from the other party—okay, Congresswoman McKinney.   

And if you want to go on the “Listening Tour,” you should also listen to the people who did not vote for you, understand why they did not and engage them in a healthy dialog.  That’s what the Blue Dog Democrats did; they listened to the center and some conservatives and secured enough support to be Blue in otherwise Red areas.  Can you say emulate?

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Carrie Prejean: the “Real” Miss USA, Vanessa Williams and Obama

May 12, 2009 by slyram

Bla, Bla, Bla, Miss California spoke her mind bla, bla, marriage should be bla, bla, other woman gets the crown bla, bla, I got robbed bla bla.  First of all, how many Miss. USA or Miss America winners can most people name?  When you are in the middle of drama, people will remember you; so actually you win in a certain way. i.e. Vanessa Williams. 

Williams set the stage for Barrack Obama when see won Miss. America and said, “I am not Miss. Black America but Miss. America who happens to be Black.”  Spike Lee and my friends at Black college were like “say what, slim.”  The pictures came out and we put our loving Black arms around her because that’s how we do it in the community.  But, I always thought giving up the crown to Miss. Suzette Charles was wrong because real people in the country make mistakes, get themselves up, dust themselves off and start right over again.

Williams mistake was not breaking the story immediately after the pageant before it broke on her.  (I am not going to get into how her boyfriend, who doesn’t look like us,  put her in the wind and said she embarrassed his family.)

But if she came to me (a budding spin doctor in the dorm) I would have hooked up a classic press conference statement for her:

“I am so honored to be Miss. America because America is about hope, opportunity and resolve.  I exemplify these values because my life is not a perfect one.  While young and gullible, I took pictures which were against my better judgment.  Of course, my first inclination was to limit my dreams and aspirations—my history being tarnished.  But then it occurred to me that if we let a few youthful mistakes end our lives, we permanently banish most Americans to limited dreams.  I stand before you as the epitome of America; a Miss. America who got this crown over self-flicked obstacles and serve as an example for the world.”

Like Williams, Obama knew he had to run to be president of all of America—not just Black America or the part of America that would vote for him.  He also knew that he should air the dirty laundry before the gotcha crew did it first.  Obama did that so pretty that he won support for being a real dude with a past rather than a pampered prince of entitlement like certain other members of the Black elite—you know who you are. 

Of course, Prejean’s dilemma includes the contradictory aspects of being strong in her faith but taking those pictures.  Hey, pot, kettle, black—I had better leave that alone because I liked Vanesssa Williams before her fall but really liked her after she rose from the ashes.  I watch Ugly Betty every Thursday and if I had her fortitude, I would be a congressman and taking Vanessa to Black Tie affair with Obama last weekend—the three of us chilling on top… scars and all. 

We should not worry about Prejean because Fox News, TBN or Ugly Betty will make her crazy rich.

Posted in politics | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments »

Where is my Newspaper; Are Bloggers Journalists?

May 10, 2009 by slyram

To Jeff Sexton at SWGA Politics blog

 

Jeff: Did I just come home from church to see that Carlton Fletcher gave you and your blog mad love in his Sunday column in the Albany Herald?  Wait just a cotton-picking minute; your meteoric blog just stepped in the game and already Fletcher is commenting on you. 

 

Fletcher…Albany State Grad Fletcher…we when to the same college Fletcher…never read ProjectLogicGa.com produced by ASU grad me Fletcher.  I tip the Panama hat I worn to church today (actually I got it in Ecuador) to you and SWGA Politics for the nod Fletcher gave you guys.   And Carlton Fletcher was right about having a deep detailed newspaper in one’s hand—I still can’t believe that the AJC is not available in south Georgia anymore.  When he wrote that he was not going to bank on the depth of reporting from anyone whose job description includes “getting your makeup right,” was he talking about you or the TV news reporters he mentioned.  Lewis Grizzard is smiling on the other side about that line. 

 

Fletcher’s article about “Bright Flight or White Flight” from Albany into Leesburg is an instant classic.  In Worth County, we welcome those working in east Albany who seek a quieter community.  Whom am I fooling; those kids (Black, White and Brown) with the booming car stereos are about to drive me into the rural area of Worth County. 

 

If Fletcher reads this, he should tell Candace the Herald’s circulation department that I am again sorry for fussing about my paper not being in the box this morning; the thoughtful delivery person tossed it in the garage because someone who likely doesn’t read has been stealing my paper lately.  The communities of Isabella,  Acre and Ty Ty are starting to look pretty good these days.  

 

I am no where near anybody’s journalist…I am just a guy venting and waiting for Sawgrass and the NBA to come on the tube.

 

http://www.albanyherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=33&ArticleID=1576

  

Posted in Georgia, politics | Tagged , , | 10 Comments »

Michelle Obama and Mother’s Day

May 8, 2009 by slyram

first ladies

For Mother’s Day, some mothers need a Dyson Ball vacuum cleaner to make their lives easier and other mothers need an exercise ball to make their lives longer. But, I remember my father saying that Mother’s Day and Valentine’s Day were not as important a being nice everyday—that’s the last part of the jazz standard My Funny Valentine.

To me, a sweet part of this Mother’s Day is seeing my sister Michelle Obama as the first lady and first mother in the White House.  I don’t think we really appreciated grace and intelligence of her predecessor Laura Bush, who was the smartest person in the room at the end of the day and actually advised her husband more than we know.  Without her balancing Cheney, bad could have been worst.

In farmland, we are always looking for residual benefit—wheat straw becomes office furniture; peanut shells become kitty litter; and swine waste fertilizes hay fields.  I knew this time last year that we would have a woman as president or a minority woman as first lady/mother and the residual benefit would be of epic proportions.

Michelle Obama is like the Cosby Show’s Claire Huxtable come to life and the residual benefit of young people seeing what motherhood should be like should encourage better parenting and family planning, and should advocate staying childless for those who are not up to the task.  I know, I know, that some of these people having all of these kids don’t think logically about their choices and that brighter people actually have few children because parenthood is hard.  

We hear appropriations this and grants that but real moderates and conservatives would figure out away to sincerely and tactfully say “ask not what this country can do for you but ask what can you do for this country..what you can do is stop being overconfident about your ability to raise productive, law abiding citizens because if you half-raise children, they could end up dead or in prison shackles.”  

 I never understood Toni Morrison’s Beloved—the book or the movie; but, I did get that a slave woman killed her baby rather than see it grow up to be a slave.  We have creditability issues in my neighborhood because the same people who are rightfully upset about slavery are not equally upset about criminal actions that youth in prisons. 

 How did I go from Mother’s Day to slavery to prison?  Easy, because after things settle down with the economy, Michelle Obama is going to start encouraging underachieving folks to be better and do better in their personal lives—in addition to the current Obama family examples.  She will be doing what southerners elect conservatives to do and if she is successful she would be improving America at a nominal cost. At that point, the far-right would be in real trouble so they better get on the ball and get some positive mother candidates because Hillary and Michelle on it but it is not a competition; it is a mission. 

Georgia might have a woman governor and should have a woman in congress and that could be a good thing if their natures provide the residual benefit of positive motherhood that First Ladies Clinton, Bush and Obama are giving.

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Blue Dogs or Black Sheep: The Choice Is Yours

May 6, 2009 by slyram

The bloggers walk around as if they have all the answers and are never wrong.  Well, I am frequently wrong—some would say more often than not. 

 Where do we go from here—we being our community?  Actually, the Blue Dogs are the key because expanding their numbers and grassroots movement could create a comfortable home inside the Democrat Party for centrists and moderates. “Vacillate” is a word I got from listening to President Bush 41 and it is not a synonym for moderates.  The Blue Dogs who stood with President Obama last year during the campaign will live or die politically with his/their policies and that is cool but don’t vacillate when talking with conservatives back home.  The Blue Dogs who never supported Obama and the Democrat ticket (Rep. Jim Marshall) should consider becoming independent. 

If the GOP wants to take some Blue Dog seats, produce candidates in those districts with a fresh appeal and energy.  But, I am starting to see that the stimulus money has made Blue Dogs palatable to otherwise conservative state and local officials.  

As of today, GOP candidate Wayne Mosley in Georgia’s 12th Congressional District is the only viable candidate in our state against a Blue Dog.  Austin Scott would be the logical opponent to conservative Democrat Jim Marshall but no one is encouraging him to run for the congressional seat rather than governor.  Why–because old school conservatives want to teach more than listen to the people.  (See: Rush Limbaugh)  If they would listen a little they could learn that our community would turn on Democrats who benefited from the Obama wave last year but “vacillate” back to the right when it is politically convenient.  

 Secretary Jack Kemp is gone and will be missed because he was the favorite Republican of my crew in the pol sci department at my HBCU.  Kemp was right; we need a comfortable home for Black conservatives (and there are a lot of them).  If the GOP keeps purging the ranks of moderates, Black sheep will become Blue Dogs and even the south will turn blue.

UPDATE: I did not know that Dres from Black Sleep made an Obama remix last year.  From the golden age of hip hop, Black Sleep was down when music mattered and artist were mindful of their impact on the community.

Posted in Georgia, politics | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments »

Albany Georgia School with One Male Teacher

May 5, 2009 by slyram

While reading the Albany Herald today, I recognize the picture of Teacher of the Year candidate Jordan Cambron of Alice Coachman Elementary in Albany as a young man with in-laws in my neighborhood in Sylvester, Georgia.  It might be a stretch but we are claiming him just like the assorted PHDs, grad degrees, military honors and major college graduates from my street.  

To play Six Degrees of Separation, Cambron teaches at Alice Coachman; Coachman was the first African American woman to win an Olympic gold medal; Wiley Brown of the 1980 NCAA National Champion Louisville Cardinals (who grew up across the street from me and honed his basketball skills on my backyard dirt whole court) would have been an Olympian if President Carter did not boycott the Moscow Games.

 What shocked me about the article on Cambron is that he is the only male teacher at this urban school.  Readers of this blog know that I think diversity and exposure are good things.  So, I was trouble to hear of young boys and girls, many from single-parent households, who only encounter one male teacher in the whole school.  Chuck D of Public Enemy say, “when a man is in the house; the bull _______  stop.”  That statement is not always the case because I know some really successful people who grew up with no father at home and I know some families where the father ruin the household vibe.  It is always better for kids to see positive men and women at home, at church, at school and in the community. 

 Cambron came into teaching after being a policeman; he chose to address problems with young people in a positive and encouraging way early before negative behavior developed. 

In the down economy, people need to desperately cling to their sources of income that puts bread on the table.  However, many so-called teachers are going through the motions to “stay paid” and make retirement.  If you have a community filled with teachers who are the opposite of Cambron and the other teacher of the year candidates, you will have in time a community of unemployable young adults who wonder why the public school system failed to reach them. 

I like nice things which cost money (overseas trips, dinners with an engaging lady, E-Class Benzes) but I seldom considered teaching school when I was/am “between opportunities” because factories and plants are the important but teaching and training the next generation is essential and should not be taken nonchalantly.  When an industry considers a community, the dog and pony show from the Chamber of Commerce helps but industrial managers want to see the school records—do you have a developed labor force that can do these jobs?

Knuckleheads in the community will always run up to public officials and staffers to complain, “Why you all don’t bring no good high payin’ jobs down here?  I can’t fed no five kids with no minimum wage.”  Of course, the officials want to ask what this citizen has done in preparation for work and did the complainer consider the budgetary information covered in high school econ class when planning a large family.  I should stop now before I say something…….

Hats off to Cambron, my brother Andrew and the other men strong enough to deal with those “challenging” lower grade children.  I might get broke but I can’t get broke enough to face that Herculean task—what money I did make would likely go to legal defense for going off on those little monsters.  Okay, I am kidding because most kids want to learn but that worst 10% will frail your nerves.

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My sister’s email from Africa

May 4, 2009 by slyram

south-africa

My sister is an engineer with IBM and last week became the first member of my family to step foot on African soil since we arrived in the New World in the hulls of ships. Being a Georgia Tech grad as a proposed to a Black college product like me, she did not know the vibe she would get from being there until she was there—told her so.  I feel guilty for not taking the ferry from southern Spain to Africa when I had a chance but my friend Jerry, who did the Peace Corps, says North Africa is not really Africa.  

Her email from Africa: 

Greetings Family…..from South Africa!!  

It has been an interesting few days here.  I am staying at the Hilton in the Sandton area of Johannesburg.  I have visited Soweto, been on a safari/tour at Pilanesberg and Sun City……and shopped at Nelson Mandella Square.  We were so close to a couple of rhinos that one started to charge our vehicle.  I was disappointed that we didn’t see any lions or leopards….but will try again on the next trip in about four weeks.  The food here is great.  I have had ostrich and springbok…….still looking to try some kudu.  On my birthday, I had a lonely dinner at Brown’s restaurant (although they tried to make me feel special — the band played New York New York and Georgia On My Mind)…then a superb meal later Saturday night at Auberge Michel’s (one of the top restaurants in the area). I found out that most business (including restaurants and malls) close on holidays (like Friday — Workers Day). 

 Yesterday I went to an awesome worship service at Rhema Bible Church…..with seating capacity for thousands, it was packed….and this did not include children as they were in special training classes during worship!  The congregation is 95% black and the senior pastor is white (unusual for the US right?).  The senior pastor and wife were on vacation and there was a black guest pastor who spoke about “Things Do Happen”….Eccl 9:2, II Cor 11:23, Isaiah 43:2, Isaiah 41:10…..When (not if) you pass through the fire….remember, God is your source….a very present help in time of need….and don’t forget those fellows following you — Goodness and Mercy!!!   Amen, amen!!  About 40 people gave their lives to Christ….it was a wonderful experience.  The church is celebrating it’s 30th anniversary this year.  Joel and Victoria Osteen will be here in October.  The people here have been very warm and friendly. 

Right now (a little after noon), I’m at the IBM site and my official meetings start tomorrow through Thursday.  Just wanted to take a moment to say hello….from the mother land.  I should be back in the States late Friday afternoon.  Love you all……B.P.K.

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Matt Towery on GOP New Blood: Listen to Dude

May 1, 2009 by slyram

Former Newt Gingrich staffer Matt Towery, who heads the political firm Insider Advantage, has the “right” idea about what’s next for the Republicans.  Notice I did not say “conservatives” because some mild conservatives might find a comfortable home inside the Democrat Party if the Blue Dogs continue to growth.  If the White House initiatives actually start to kick-in, the Blue Dog conservative Democrats numbers could counterbalance some of the liberal weight and produce a near center party.  That nightmare scenario could be real trouble for the GOP.

Why Fox or CNN hasn’t put a pile of money in front of Towery is a mystery because the guy makes good old common sense.  In a recent column, Towery wrote of the need for new blood in the GOP.  I personally don’t think the Republican party is on life support quite yet, but they could use some new style points to get their swagger back. 

(Here comes a classic ramble)

So I am watching ABC Private Practice last night because that show is almost as thought-provoking as Grey’s Anatomy (recorded CSI and NBC’s Southland—I need a life).  The guy who saved the lady president on Fox’s 24 is starting a cutting edge medical facility and trying to woo the attractive sister over to his operation.  The lady with the cool southern accent who runs the regular hospital wants the job but the guy from 24 said no and by the way, you are fired because you don’t have a heart.  Ouch.

My point is that you must have a heart to go with your mind or the people will notice and react.  Love him or hate him, Obama has a heart and cares about moving America forward.  The same statement can be said about Newt Gingrich, Obama’s obvious opponent in 2012. 

On the subject of heart, contributor to this blog Helen Blocker Adams of Augusta is celebrating her birthday today so I assume the local schools are closed for the holiday or for flu prevention.  Helen is an asset to the region because she has a kind heart and the area elected officials must be hearing the footsteps of her approaching stylish pumps—watch out. 

Republican Ray McKinney of Savannah brought new blood to the 12th District congressional race last year but the blue bloods wanted a D.C. insider.    The return of the GOP starts with new blood from existing sources. 

http://townhall.com/Columnists/MattTowery/2009/04/30/arlen_specter_and_other_magic_bullets_aimed_at_the_gop

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Michael Steele and General Petraeus: The Empire Strikes Back

April 30, 2009 by slyram

Today, Michael Steele was solid on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.  He honestly outlined how their party got off track from their core Reagan era principles and what they would need to do to get their swagger back—which does not including becoming imitation Democrats at all.

 

The good news is he has a plan but the bad news is many member of his party are not having it.  To them, conservative is not about being conservative in the role of government and spending.  To many conservatives, the effort is to go back to the future and as the Feetwood Mac song said, “Yesterday is gone….Yesterday is gone.”

 

The last few months were rough on my personal friends who are Republicans because they realized that the inside the Beltway dealers in their party were at times more interested in hooking up corporate America than executing an agenda that best serves the average American.

 

As a moderate, I am somewhat uncomfortable with the billions, trillions and zillions being tossed around in D.C. to assist in the recovery.  Reasonable Republicans can get behind Steele and use this concerns to pull the White House toward the center and make mid-term gains for their effort.  But, waiting for the White House’s policies to fail just to make political gain would be irresponsible and un-American.

 

I am starting to hear that General David Petraeus might be the next GOP Eisenhower because the 2012 GOP bench looks thin.  Interesting.

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Senator Specter Switching Parties

April 28, 2009 by slyram

GOP Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania is switching parties to join the Democrats and I am not mad at him—get in where you fit in; birds of a feather flock together.  And I was not mad at Georgia Rep. Nathan Deal when he decided to switch from the “D” jersey to the “R” jersey in the 1990s.  The goon move is running with party money and switching just after the election. 

 

Georgia Rep. Jim Marshall would likely be more comfortable in the GOP but his political base is Macon, where he was a respected mayor before Congress.  Macon is fully of Democrats.  

 

Outside Atlanta, the Blue Dog Democrats are so near the center that switching parties would be like the difference between the Pontiac Firebird and the Pontiac Trans Am.  Whatever happened with Pontiac?   Fights and battles between Blue Dog Democrats and Republicans in the Georgia congressional delegation are just for show; as quiet as it is kept, those guys like each other and have a mutual benefit arrangement.  

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Africa, Jill Scott and MLK

April 26, 2009 by slyram

 

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Africa and Jill Scott look really good in her new HBO series The Number 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency.  The relationship between Africans and African Americans can be rocky because many Africans and West Indians view African Americans in a less than favorable light—weak, poor character, crazy, and no morals.

 

To use a term from the southern hip hop culture, I must say “naw dawg” to the idea of coming to a country we help build for free and inexplicably turning your African or Caribbean noses up at the descendants of slaves—the descendants of you.  Dr. Martin Luther King’s quote about judging a man not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character should be put into to practice.  Many African Americans think “Africans in America” reflect the whole vast continent but the only recent Africans the people in rural south Georgia have met is an occasionally pushy Nigerian businessman.  Not to say most Nigerians are pushy or to say all Nigerians in Georgia are aggressive—MLK must be really proud of me right now.

 

To the original point, Jill Scott is lovely and a great test of character: would you still love an intelligent, sharp and beauty person if they got big…really big.  Before the whole BBW movement, there were people who always like bigger people—more of them to love.  I am personally disappointed with young men who marry or “start a family” with round behind young women without understanding that that behind will change with time and the relationship should be based on more…like her smile…okay, I am kidding.

 

The relationship should be based on many factors including moral and character matters.  What about the complicity of the young lady who involves herself with a shallow guy and hopes it works out.  Maybe those Africans in America have a point.  And what about the contradiction that many bigger women would never date a successful and focused short man or the father from the projects who would never let his middle class daughter date a young man from the projects. 

 

Should this rambling collection of generalizations and half thoughts be on a political blog?   I think it should be because a better relationship with our African roots could help our American youth develop like a tree with roots—grounded and not fluttering in the wind.  And the political and policy concerns of our community are the results of personal responsibility or lack there of.  With skyrocketing government spending, we must find a way to reduce the cost of programs that address problems shouldn’t be problems at all.  Crime, drugs, fooling around at school and poor parenting should be addressed by deliberate actions and reestablishing our moral compass as Black southerners and Americans of African decent.   

 

Black, White, Yellow or Brown families should watch the whole Jill Scott series together.  In fact, Scott’s image and style is also encouraging to a growing section of the population called everyone getting big and wearing it well.  I need to run, literally.

 

http://www.hbo.com/no1ladiesdetectiveagency/cast/jill_scott.html

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General Motors Workers facing Summer Closure should Enjoy Family Time

April 23, 2009 by slyram

Some General Motors workers learned today that they will not being worked for nine weeks this summer.  While we all know the downside to this unfortunate situation, the bright side could be precious time spend with the family and friends.

 

How many people wake up one day and realize that their children are adults because time went so fast.  I hope these workers can afford to spend time with their teenagers and little ones doing free or cheap stuff like relaxing in the park, cleaning the garage or playing tennis and basketball daily.  It is my understanding that fishing is a pastime that gives an opportunity to pass along family history and reinforce the moral compass and life skills.  You can spend some time with the kids now to avoid legal fees and diapers a little later.  Dig?

 

Workers without kids can sit at their retired parents feet and soak it the knowledge and wisdom while pampering the seniors to say thanks.  Uncle and aunts can take the family kids for a few weeks to give siblings a needed break.  (I am one of the top uncles on earth.)  And, folks without families can see about those cool senior citizens from church or the neighborhood—they love listeners and buffets.  What about that slow road trip across country you always wanted to take like those guys on the movie Wild Hogs.  

 

If you put out some good karma, maybe heaven will remember if you find yourself completely out of a job.  You can make more money but time spent with mom and dad is priceless.   Don’t find yourself at a funeral talking about “shoulda, woulda, coulda.”  My daddy said pin my flowers on me while I am alive—and I did.

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Abstinence, Abortion and Planned Parenthood

April 20, 2009 by slyram

So I was talking with an intelligent African American woman—PHD and minister- the other day when she causally hit me with an ultra-conservative bombshell regarding abstinence, abortion and Planned Parenthood (P.P). 

 

Basically, she informed me that P.P. was against abstinence so more teens would get pregnant and need more abortions which makes millions of dollars for P.P.   Huh?

 

I said P.P. supports education on options that include abstinence, protected intimacy and the debatable termination of pregnancy.  But could she believe that P.P. or any reasonable group is against teens refraining from intimacy.  I spend a lot of time listening to views from across the spectrum but this wild view was too much.

 

So, my concern here is primarily with propaganda (from the left or right)—when groups knowingly create false information, ideas or concepts to mislead the well-intended.  I invited her to write a guest post to explain her views.   

 

 

Guest Post from B.V.

Bailout money for Planned Parenthood?

 In a recent debate, I mistakenly described Planned Parenthood as a “for profit organization.”  The reality is that Planned Parenthood is a profiting, non-profit organization that receives nearly 34% of its funding from taxpayer dollars, to the tune of more than $336 million annually. While Planned Parenthood representatives describe the organization as a civic-minded member of a progressive society, the truth is that Planned Parenthood has a capitalist agenda that undermines the interests of youth and families and uses taxpayer dollars to facilitate its lucrative cause.

While for profit and non-profit organizations share in the economic downturn of the century, Planned Parenthood boasts record earnings of $1.014 billion just for 2008. Performing 305,310 abortions on adults and underage girls in 2008, up from the 2006-2007 fiscal year when Planned Parenthood performed 289,570 abortions, the self-proclaimed advocate for women’s rights and family planning is lobbying congress for more taxpayer dollars. Planned Parenthood claimed to turn away as many as 100,000 would be contraceptive and family planning clients last year due a lack of sufficient funding.

When considering whether to include Planned Parenthood on the agenda for taxpayer bailout money, Congress should look closely at the organization’s expenditures. Last year, Planned Parenthood’s California divisions spent $5.1 million to lobby against Proposition 4, also known as Sarah’s Law. Sarah’s Law called for parental notification and a 48-hour waiting period before Planned Parenthood and other abortionists could perform an abortion on an underage girl. The defeated Sarah’s Law, named after a fifteen-year-old girl in Texas who received a botched abortion that cost her life, could have helped to ensure proper medical attention and protect young girls from adult male predators.

According to physician advocates of Proposition 4, if Sarah’s parents had known about her abortion, they could have intervened and Sarah could have received the medical attention needed to save her life instead of dying a lonely, miserable, premature death. Yet, Planned Parenthood rallied vigorously and successfully against Sarah’s law, preferring to forego parental notification and continue to perform tens of thousands of secret abortions on underage girls.

Wendy Wright, spokesperson for Concerned Women for America, asserts, “With Planned Parenthood’s record profits, it is funding a campaign to drum up opposition to abstinence programs and demand more government money. Americans should use Planned Parenthood’s Annual Report to show government officials that as tax dollars given to Planned Parenthood’s increase, so has its number of abortions.”

          Planned Parenthood has had to contend with many lawsuits, including one for $50 million by the family of a 13-year-old girl who, after a botched abortion at Planned Parenthood, was left permanently injured and with parts of the torn apart fetus left inside the girl’s abdomen. At least this girl’s family knew of the abortion and could get her the medical attention needed to save her life.

Unfortunately, neither Sarah’s parents nor other uniformed parents had the chance to save their children’s or grandchildren’s lives.

Planned Parenthood thought it was worth it to turn away tens of thousands of clients for contraceptives and spend $5.1 million dollars, from an already strapped budget, to ensure that all parents in California would remain in the dark about secret abortions on children.

Irrespective of rhetoric, wherever an organization’s money is, their true agenda will be there too.

 

 

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Spread the Stupidity

April 19, 2009 by slyram

 Only in America …..do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front. 

Only in America …..do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke …

Only in America ……do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters..

Only in America …..do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.

Only in America……do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.. 

Only in America …..do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering. 

EVER WONDER … Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin? 

Why women can’t put on mascara with their mouth closed? 

Why don’t you ever see the headline ‘Psychic Wins Lottery’?  

Why is ‘abbreviated’ such a long word? 

Why is it that doctors call what they do ‘practice’?   

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? 

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?   

Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? 

Why isn’t there mouse-flavored cat food? 

Why didn’t Noah swat those two mosquitoes? 

Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections? 

You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don’t they make the whole plane out of that stuff?! 

Why don’t sheep shrink when it rains? 

 Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together? 

If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress? 

If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

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Radio Talk Show Host speaks at Augusta Tea Party

April 16, 2009 by hba1

What an experience. I had the priviledge of  sharing  the stage with Georgia Congressman Paul Broun (R-10), South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Brauer and others at the Augusta Tax Day Tea Party. Organized by NewsRadio 1230 WNRR AM Radio morning talk show host, Tony Powers, and the Columbia County Young Republicans Club. I share the airwaves with Tony on my midday show, ‘People and Issues with Helen’ 12 noon – 3 p.m. Over 2,000 were in attendance from a two state area. The spirit was high, but extremely civil. Having never attended an event like this, I didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know if there would be blatant Pres. Obama haters, but that was not demonstrated  on Wednesday evening. (www.augustachronicle.com)

The common theme was solutions, lower government spending, a general feeling of unhappiness with most of the Congressmen/women. Sure there  were a few barbs here and there and that was to be expected. The handmade signs were, for the most part, focused on lower taxes, children and excessive government spending.

I started off the host of speakers with a high energy, motivational talk that elaborated on the letters that form the word America. The crowd loved it. My primary message was that this event wasn’t about party politics, but about people. The over excessive government spending is impacting everyone, no matter your political affiliation. That is a message I wished more African-Americans can see and appreciate. I could count on one hand the number of Blacks in attendance, including me. That was unfortunate.

There was live music and a prayer from Will Nunley, owner of NewsRadio. A beautiful young teenager sang the National Anthem. There were babies, children, young and old. The weather was perfect as we overlooked the beautiful Savannah River at the Jessye Norman Riverwalk Amphitheater.

I wished the world could have seen the professional, high energy, civil, solutions-oriented, and fun Augusta Tax Day Tea Party. They would have been proud. As I was to have been blessed to be a part of.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_518316.shtml

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Tax Tea Party: Patriots, Revolutionaries or Both

April 15, 2009 by slyram

Today is the day for the big Tea Party protest in Atlanta, Albany and many cities.  I have good friends deeply involved in this movement to protest the Obama Administra`tion and Congress big spending and massive bailouts.  It’s always good to hear the people speak up.

 

I am a little concerned with the “revolutionary” nature of emulating the “Boston Tea Party” but I don’t think the supporters are equating President Obama to King George III because the next step in the radical process would be similar to the Boston Massacre and eventually Lexington and Concord.  Was Obama recently elected legally and wasn’t it clear that heavy spending was in order to recover from the mess he inherited.   When bloggers and Talk Radio guys intelligently debate concerns about our fiscal future, we are witnessing democracy in action; a beautiful thing.

 

But we must be careful about signaling sick-minded individuals who when worked up take unthinkable actions in the name of patriotism.  Protest, get mad was hell, and vote out leaders you dislike but don’t provoke open rebellion and the illegal overthrow of the American government.  Remember, that many Americans view the southern obsession with the Confederacy as near treason. 

 

Have a health protest and hopefully the elected officials will hear your productive concerns.

 

http://www.atlantateaparty.net/

 

http://swgapolitics.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/albany-tea-party/

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Georgian Krysta Harden nominated USDA Assistant Secretary

April 9, 2009 by slyram

The Obama Administration just showed me something; the ability to adjust and respond to outcries.  In the South, we were disappointed when Congressman Sanford Bishop did not become Agriculture Secretary and no real southerner was appointed to the new cabinet.  

 

President Obama recently nominated Krysta Harden of Mitchell County, Georgia, to serve as the USDA assistant secretary for congressional relations.   Cool.

 

Krysta grew up in a farming family here in south Georgia and has a well-developed knowledge of the relationship between ag policy, the farm and Capitol Hill.  As chief of staff for former Georgia Congressman Charles Hatcher, she was wise in hiring me as a legislative assistant.  Cool.

 

The Obama White House just got a few southern cool points back and Georgia crops just got a little sun on them.

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Sallie Mae Student Loans: Slumdog Millionaire

April 7, 2009 by slyram

sallie-mae-student-loans-732398

The student loan agency/firm/company/corporation Sallie Mae recently announced that they are bringing 2000 jobs back to the United States from the Philippines and India.  Public officials and policymakers need to take a hard look at quasi-governmental organizations that lead to the credit crisis but lobby Congress like private firms. 

 

The ultimate insult must have been some student loan borrower explaining that her payments are late because there is no work in her city but the person on the other end of the line is in Bangalore, India.  “Why haven’t I made a payment, are you kidding me.  Are you calling me from the other freaking side of the world to sweat me about a student loan that is partially a United State government loan—unbelievable?  I have not made a payment because you have my job.”

 

And why are we bailing out people who bought too much house but people with student loan debt will watch that load grow exponentially without relief.  The cute Wall Street products and devices that ruined our economy include the slippery slope of student loan deference and forbearance.  A bigger threat to American security than nutty terrorists is Raj with the headset taking American jobs and China holding our national debt.

 

“This is Raj..how may I help you.  No sir…begging your pardon…I did take your job nor food from your children’s mouths…..would you like to may a payment today.”

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