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.
Every Southerner should watch M.T.V’s “T.I.’s Road to Redemption” because the heading to prison rapper is making a sincere effort reach America’s youth.Before they take the wrong path, young people need to hear that “real talk” about choices, decisions and consequences from every angle: family, schools, churches, positive peers and reformed thugs.
When I was a kid, we called “real talk” the Barbershop talk.In the shop, a want-to-be goon walked past the retired gentlemen without speaking and sat down—trying to be hard.Of course, my friends and I would come in the places with “how are sir…good to see you…yes sir, I am trying to staying out of trouble…yes sir, I look like my father.”When the retired vets and pensioners started teaching that knowledge and wisdom, we listened intently and took copious mental notes.
“It’s not the government’s job to take care of these babies…get a good government job on the military base…before you marry a girl, get a look at the women on both sides of her family…a bullet doesn’t have a name on it…don’t buy a new Cadillac if you are renting an apartment…they want you in jail…get your lesson at the schoolhouse…gin makes you sin…some folks are like crabs in a barrel…grown men don’t wear baseball hats to the side…don’t break your parents’ hearts.”
Georgia’s T.I. put himself through some things and is about to serve federal time on gun charges.Tupac and Biggie told those rappers and ballplayers that they couldn’t be a multimillionaire and live in the same neighborhood; wearing 100K in jewelry to the sweatiest club is trouble waiting to happen and the baby mamma/child support drama is inexcusable.President Obama is pushing sensible people to encourage the youth because the cost of the judicial and corrections systems is taking money from education and taxpayers’ pockets.
The federal government should get T.I. to chronicle his incarnation as a continuation of his reality show because the young man has a way of speaking that Barbershop talk that is second to none.Most of those Barbershop talks from the last 80 years ended, “now you can do it but you can’t say you were never told.”
Another outstanding piece on T.V. was ABC story about Appalachia—Lord, have mercy.I got my 9-year-old niece to watch it with me and she came away with a better appreciate for her smooth life.Black folks don’t have a monopoly on struggling; some among us haven’t had a real rough patch yet, thank heaven.
A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains Part 1 of 6
Well the CPAC convention confirms that the GOP leaders stand firmly against most things Obama and Democrat.I can respect them for that; the president is constantly saying he would push his agenda and if he is wrong, the voters will speak at the polls.
Of course, if he is right, the voters will speak at the polls also. How is the time when the conservative Democrats (not an oxymoron) need to step up and inject a certain level of conservative principles and budget restraint into the plans and proposals.Hey, they helped Bush; now help Obama.
I think the Blue Dogs concept might spreads into state legislatures, governors’ mansions and local governments as a brand for moderates.The Democratic Leadership Council has traditionally provided a similar option.Could moderate Republicans find a more comfortable home with the Blue Dogs?Would the ultra-conservatives say good riddance to them?What a shame that would be because the core principles of conservatism would be helpful in reforming government but some people get so hyped on fighting for fighting’s sake that they forget we are all for a better America.
It is sadly ironic that the GOP efforts for more congressional seats next year will require targeting the Blue Dogs Democrats who generally work with them well—those are the Democrat House seats with large numbers of conservative voters.When the Democrats picked off Republicans Members of Congress, GOP moderates caught the target for the same reasons.
When your party is down and the people are not feeling you, self-reflection leads to a few obvious options:
a)You actually stink;
b)You are great but the voters are wrong;
c)Your concept is great but the marketing is wrong;
The southern GOP seems to be in a state of denial; like the formerly grand family whose mansion is unkempt because something happen to their wealth and prosperity.Steven Tyler with Aerosmith is famous for saying that the band found their sound unfortunately in the middle of the Disco era.He said every morning he would sit on the edge of his bed and say, “Lord almighty, bless my soul, I have the right key but the wrong keyhole.”
To their credit, the conservatives have some “right keys” and their input is vital to the recovery.I say thank you to the reasonable Republicans who acknowledge that their new status is a result (in part) of their past actions.Those Republicans could offer sound proposals and constructively criticize Democrat miscues like big spending.The other Republicans can sit on their weather-beaten verandas waxing nostalgic about the glory days. But don’t sleep on Newt and company because a little sprucing and paint can do wonders if the foundation is strong.
So some Republicans are busy tossing former President George W. Bush under the bus because everything that “could have been done better” was solely his fault; he acted alone.To me this slighting is wrong because the decent, bipartisan governor of the nation-like state of Texas got caught up with the money-power crowd inside the D.C. Beltway and policy when off track.Bush learned that the people who give you campaign cash so appear with a policy wish list; I am relieved that Obama got his contributions from regular folks.Right.
Conspiracy theorists speculate that the military-industrial complex wanted conflict in the Middle East so they could profit from supplying the Department of Defense.President Bush listened to Vice-President Cheney too much.What’s up with nation building when America’s infrastructure is falling apart because our brave troops seem like they work for H.U.D.’s foreign division rather than D.O.D.Let warriors be warriors and we will be better off.General Colin Powell always said use quick and decisive force then get out.Secretary Colin Powell said I am out of here like last year because these guys are flirting with disaster.
I cannot stand around hearing Bush get the scapegoat label from his “selective amnesia” party because they pushed him toward many of those questionable decisions—with approval from Blue Dog Democrats; me included.At the same time, the proposed solutions from the far-left were pricey and ill advised.
In high school in the 80s, we listened to Gill Scott Heron sing or rap about selective amnesia on the song “B-Movie.”Heron and Muhammad Ali are considered the fathers of rap.Okay, I am using selective amnesia to remove Rudy Ray Moore/Dolemite for his rightful status in rap’s foundation because his material offends “uppity” segments of our community but they catch Dolemite on youtube in their McMansions “on a sly note.”
The young people today are concerned with the 50 Cent/Rick Ross conflict; a dispute that grew out of 50’s contention that Ross was once a law enforcement officer.Huh?Is being a corrections officer a negative in certain areas?
Gill Scott Heron made you think with “B-Movie” because he launched into a classic rant/analysis of President Reagan’s election.I will give Heron credit for pointing out that Reagan, as head of the Screen Actors Guild, stood up to McCarthyism when called before the Special Committee on Un-American Activities.Heron wrote, “When other celluloid saviors were cringing in terror from McCarthy, Ron stool tall.”My older brother told me that Reagan’s courage during that time meant he was presidential material despite the rest of political lyrics in the song.
In 1947, as SAG president, Reagan testified before the House Un-American Activities Committee regarding the influence of communists in the motion picture industry. Strongly opposed to communism, he reaffirmed his commitment to democratic principles, stating, “As a citizen, I would hesitate to see any political party outlawed on the basis of its political ideology. However, if it is proven that an organization is an agent of foreign power, or in any way not a legitimate political party—and I think the government is capable of proving that—then that is another matter… But at the same time I never as a citizen want to see our country become urged, by either fear or resentment of this group, that we ever compromise with any of our democratic principles through that fear or resentment.”
My friends and I saw Heron at Blues Alley in D.C. during the 90s and shaking his skeletal hand was rough—First Lady Nancy Reagan was right, “Just say no to drugs.”First lady of my neighborhood was actress Brenda Sykes, Heron’s then wife.Current college political junkies could learn from revisiting Reagan and Heron—always respect a worthy adversary.
How dare Heron in “Winter in America” call the U.S. Constitution a “noble piece of paper but “Angel Dust” scared many youth away from drugs.The “Inner City Blues” line, “Money we make, even before we see it, they take it.” would make any tax reform advocate smile.
As I think about it, I bet the Obamas grew up on Gil Scott Heron during their Afro years also.I can see it the first lady’s eyes because the president has moved forward from the ugliness of the campaign but F.L. Michelle (like me) is thinking unnecessary foolishness won’t be soon forgotten.That sentiment will hit the elements in our community pulling us backwards.Ultimately, she has the president’s ear but doesn’t have selective amnesia.I also think she has a low tolerance for all ignorance.
The term “Black history” is not only the study of Blacks in history but also the study of Blacks in American and international history.At my Black college, we said Black is not a chapter in American history; America is a brief chapter in Black history.
History is not reserved for names and events we can easily recite.The schools and churches that toiled selflessly to keep the Black family strong and composed during bleak periods in our past belong to history.
History is often revisited, revised and rewritten.Does history change or do we change?I want to admit now wrong I was about a local piece of history in South Georgia.
An often forgotten aspect of American history is the toil in agriculture of slaves, former slaves and sharecroppers until the early 1970s.We must remember the sons and daughters of the South and their contributions to building the economy of this nation.
As a child, a mural of Blacks farm workers in field covered the wall of the local post office—White bosses were keeping records and “supervising.”When the new post office open after I was an adult, the mural found its way into the new building.The want-a-be radicals among us considered going covert be cooler heads prevailed.
Chester J. Tingler did the mural in 1939 as part of the New Deal Post Office Artwork project commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Department.It is my understanding that many of the artists were attempting to record the efforts and importance of the Black workers rather than subjugate them/us.So, I appreciate that art from a different perspective—it’s indispensable Black history to me.
People refrain from calling President Obama’s speech to Congress the “State of Union” because he just got into the White House—it seems longer and he is starting to show wear.I think Secretary Clinton is chuckling, “I told you so; Barrack is too nice to deal with these national and global kuckleheads; we need someone battle-tested and hard like me. I have been through some things.”
I am not surprised that Republicans are not supporting the President’s recovery programs as most Democrats would have done the same for McCain’s programs if the election results were different. President Obama, the Democrats and a few moderate Republicans should do what the people elected him to do.The Blue Dog Democrats will provide a reasonable level of fiscal restraint but put your cards on the table, let the chips fall where they may and all other applicable axioms.
“Prove them wrong” be prepared to deal with the consequences (success or otherwise) because supporters of supply-side economics will never back massive new taxes and trying to convince them is a waste of time and energy.
It’s like the frog cloaking the heron trying to sallow him; “never give up” is the code of the far-right and far-left.
President Obama will say tonight that the road back won’t be easy, we must all brace for hard times and things will get worst before getting better.If you are surprised by this message, you will surprise him because he said this throughout the campaign.Those voters who weren’t caught up in the emotions heard him all along—Obama might be Hillary-hard after all.
Why is my friend J.W. halfway to the century mark and not hip to one dish cooking? Americans of means are hitting the kitchen and chilling with friends on the porch again—that’s a good thing in this economy. While I won’t be on the Food Network anytime soon, let’s me school J. W. in the kitchen like I schooled him on the tennis court in D.C. (He never won a game against me in a zillion sets.)
One Dish/Multi Meal Penne or Ziti:
Boil water in a 5 quarter pot…..after boiling starts, add salt and olive oil; then add one box of pasta…penne, ziti, wheat or white…maybe bowties and cook for 12 to 15 mins….pre-heat oven at like 300.
Chop Fully cooked Beef sausage and microwave in casserole dish (actually, you want to m-wave a little to start if fozen..so you can cut them)
Put warmed sausage in casserole dish into oven to get that browned effect…after sausage is browned, add half of one jar of pasta sauce (or get the big jar with the lid and use only as much as you like) Cover dish because the sauce will bubble in your oven.
Open one can of green beans or peas and m-wave in a bowl for 1 or 1.5 mins after peppering.
Drain the pasta water out and put the pot back on the stove with reduced heat..add a little Promise or other butter substitute to keep the pasta from sticking together and sticking to the pot…stir around and add pepper and a little salt.
Put the rest of the sauce on the pasta after adding your warmed green beans or peas while the pasta is on low heat…watch as the combination warms up.
Mix the pasta from the stove with the warmed pasta/sausage from the oven so the meat is mix into the whole dish.
Turn the heat in the oven down to warm…put any cheese into and across the top of the dish and give it a few mins in the oven to melt the cheese.
Bam…you are done…put a few slices of bread (regular wheat bread or whatever) into the warm oven with a little Promise spread and maybe some garlic salt, olive oil and/or cheese….cut bread diagonally to be fancy.
This basic pasta meal should be served to a nice lady with candle lights and melodic jazz—get “the Gentle Side of John Coltrane” cd. You can change the dish up in the future by using white or alfredo sauce and chicken, fish or turkey. You can use seafood—just cook it in a sauce pan on the stove and put it on top of the pasta…trey chic.
Your country cutie will be impressed big time. “Did you work at Applebees in college or something.” She can’t figure out that there was no Applebees when you were at U of South Carolina and they would not let the bros in that spot back then anyway. J. W., if you were in school a few years earlier, you could not eat a slice of pie at Woolworth’s in Columbia or Greenville. And now our sister is the first lady of these United States…my goodness.
While the economy is down, stay out of those Capitol Hill eateries and eat at home. Good friends, moderate wine or brew and people will start economically interacting again—doing my part of help President Obama help the nation. After the recovery kicks, stay out of those eateries and save that cash. If doll doesn’t like eating in sometimes, move on to a sensible sweetheart—remember, retirement is right around the corner and if you work after 70 it should be because you are bored; not because you need the coin.
All kidding aside, thanks for your tutelage when I was green on the Hill. My daddy always said “pin my flowers on me while I am alive.”
And get some matching plates and things from Wal-mart at least —you are slacking with that mixed-matched stuff. It’s like you are still in the Peace Corp in Honduras.
The drinking age or the age to buy alcoholic beverages was push to 21 years old from 18 years old in most states during the 1980s with possible reduction of federal highway funds hung over the states.We know that the higher age reduces teen drunk driving and other alcohol-related problems that have always plagued youth—and the population in general.
An argument can be made that people old enough to get married, sign a legal contract, vote for president, hold a sub-prime mortgage and be a centerfold should be responsible enough to consume “adult beverages.”Of course, the worst 10% or so of drinkers will do things that will call for stronger restrictions on everyone.
The young women and men in the military create concern for fair-minded people.They are operating and responsible for multimillion dollar equipment and weaponry while fighting for freedom and defending this nation but they can drink a Bud Light in Applebees the day before heading to Iraq.They can be shot but can’t have a shot?
So, the kid down the street had a baby at 15 years old but her college student cousin cannot buy wine at 20.That situation creates the criminal act of securing alcohol in college.Some people speculate that marijuana use is up for young people who find getting that illegal substance easier than securing beer.Really?
State and federal officials should seriously study and consider moving the drinking age to 19 for beer and wine; leaving the age for hard liquor at 21.A non-active Marine friend says the drinking age should be 19 in military clubs to respect their service.We should check back with him in a few years after his son finishes high school and basic training at Parris Island—when the boot is on his son’s foot and it’s his turn to have the sleepless night our parents had.
(Please don’t let that call come in the middle of the night.)
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger made a compelling argument for open primaries on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos.The Govenator said there should be open primaries and the two top vote-getters should then faceoff in a final election.
I have been saying for years that Georgia’s primary system restricts options for voters who like a wide range of candidates.“I like that GOP guy for senate but I am taking the Democrat ballot in the primary because the sheriff race is big here.”Of course, some people have been advocating an end to local partisan elections anyway.Schwarzenegger said this option must be a good idea because both major parties dislike it.
Stephanopoulos ask the governor who was the leader of American Republicans and Schwarzenegger said President Obama because he is the leader of the country.(Insert dramatic pause here)
Earlier, Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, Florida Governor Charlie Crist and Govenor Tim Pawlenty offered reasonable comments on the stimulus (oops recovery) plans on other Sunday morning shows.I must say the GOP bench is not as thin and some would think.L.L. Cool J. had a lyric that said, “The girl walked in and I made my approach…I said you got a good team but you need a new coach.”I just saying that one of these bright minds would be a productive leader of a party and constructively help with the economic recovery while positioning for 2012.
Attorney General Eric Holder said yesterday that we are “nation of cowards… on race.”First, you know some news shows would mention this statement and conveniently leave out the “on race” part—never missing an opportunity to enjoy some twisted reporting. “Our brave troops are not cowards.”
Holder said, “Though this nation has proudly thought of itself as an ethnic melting pot, in things racial we have always been and I believe continue to be, in too many ways, essentially a nation of cowards.”
At a Little League game a few years ago, my friend called his son over and told him, “Get in where you fit in.”We fell out laughing and the guy said he just want the kid to know school chums or not necessarily coming over for dinner.
A blog post can get away from a poor writer really fast because I am almost typing a stream of thought about not coming to someone’s house for dinner not because of race but because they let the cat walk on the kitchen counters and the dog eats out of their bowls (yes, it happens in Black, White and other homes.)How much do you love your pets?Do you love them better than you love people you don’t know?Who is the worst Michael: Tyson, Vick, Phelps, Jackson, Savage or Richards.
While the workplace is mostly integrated, Holder points out that we are “self-segregated” on the weekends and in our private lives. Hold on Holder; Americans have a right to free association.Black colleges, churches and organizations will always exist as long as they are voluntarily.When I lived in D.C., we were proud that the city felt like a salad bowl rather than New York being a melting pot—the idea is that the ingredients blended together without losing their individual qualities.
I was in the first integrated first-grade class in my town and I wonder if anyone wanted to know if the Black kids wanted to attend school with people who looked at them in a certain way.A properly funded “separated but equal” school might have created a smoother transition (like in post-apartheid South Africa) because we weren’t crazy about going to school with them; we just needed better resources.Before integration, old text books from White schools were sent to Black schools but today we still have fond memories of those all Black institutions—the J.W. Holley High Wildcats.
Here is an idea: what if a new Holley School was created as a charter school with vouchers and good old fashioned reading, writing and arithmetic.In the basements of churches and in one room school houses, our parents learned more than their grandchildren get in million dollar schools but then again the motivation and mission had clarity back then; and today many kids are aimless.
Like President Obama big race relations speech last year, Attorney General Holder got us think about awkwardly diverse discussions.At the time of his speech, this moderate was in an interesting lunch conversation with some of Georgia strongest conservatives—not a coward among us.
Project Logic contributor HBA pointed out that CNBC has an interesting documentary on the New Black Overclass premiering February 24 at 9 p.m.
In the parking lot at church, local sage Ralph always says you can have loads of money but little class—that must mean I have loads of class.This program should be interesting.
And what the “blank” is overclass anyway? Is that similar to being overqualified for a job.Yeah, tell your Student Loan provider you were looking for a gig but the interviewers keep saying you are overqualified.
Hats off to the young brothers and sisters doing well.I am claiming Lebron James as my “play nephew” because he has such a positive attitude.I am stopping short of using the term “role model” because Arthur Ashe set my standards of role model very high—on and off the court.
In this original one-hour documentary, CNBC, First in Business Worldwide, provides a close-up look at the experiences of these self-made black multimillionaires, many of whom grew up poor, are mostly under age 40, and have primarily made their vast fortunes in the sports, entertainment and media industries, usually by taking more ownership and control over their brands. Collectively, black athletes in the NFL, NBA, and in Major League Baseball earned more than $4 billion last year and the nation’s 20 highest-paid hip-hop entrepreneurs brought in more than $500 million. Their newfound wealth has profound implications on their lives and their families. NEWBOs exposes and chronicles their experiences and insights as they move from relative poverty to fantastic wealth at a very young age.
I have news for every father who dreams of watching his son play football in the S.E.C.If he is an undersize, slow teen that doesn’t know how to placekick 50 yards, it’s likely not going to happen.He can enjoy the character-building aspects of High School team sports but Junior as a volunteer will likely be a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity rather than the Tennessee Volunteers.
Along the same lines, political donors with strong party loyalty should know that several 2010 contests in Georgia won’t be contested in the general election—-save your contribution money and consider it an economic stimulus check from me.
Since President Obama didn’t win Georgia last November, the Isakson Senate race will be a cakewalk—put your checkbook away.The Democrat candidate for governor won’t have much of a chance either.As a moderate Democrat, it pains me to say that our community should closely watch the GOP candidates and support the most reasonable one or the one with a sincere relationship with a range of Georgians.(Did I say that diplomatically enough)?
If we are not careful, we will end up with a far-right GOP governor with a limited rapport with our community.Then again, that type candidate runs well in their primary.How dare some southern leaders: talk trash that you know is not true about the current President during the campaign, smash his recovery plans and then line up for a fat slice of the porky pie.
Bottomline: in politics and life, choose your enemies carefully; be resourceful; and pick your battles.The philosopher Tupac once said, “Give haters plenty space.”
My friend Walt is a Morehouse Man as was his father, a recently passed Black surgeon in South Georgia.As the community remembered this prominent physician’s service in medicine and the military, many people learned that “Doc” and Dr. King worked together on farms in Connecticut during their Morehouse College years.They enjoyed the freedom of dining and seeing movies without the Jim Crow restrictions of the South so much that many of the students were sadden when their train back to Georgia reached D.C. and they had to return to the Negro section.
Since my father was an agriculture teacher from North Carolina A&T and Tuskegee (and a fraternity brother of Doc and Dr. King,) I heard this story many times as a child.I spent some summers doing hard farm work in the south Georgia sun and was extreme motivated to achieve academically the next school year.Oldheads in the fields would say, “You boys are here for pocket money and muscles; and you white boys get to work on your tans but can you image working like this for someone else for forty years.”
A little hard work during the formative years can really help with perspective today but it did other things for Dr. King back in the day.
Current congressional field staffers spend time connecting with big political donors and supporters or attending meetings directly related to the federal government.However, most citizens’ concerns and problems are directly or indirectly related to the federal government because many personal choices, decisions and consequences end up in the government’s lap.“Your mortgage problems stem from the fact that you bought too much house—the size of your finished basement should have been the size of your first house.”
For years, I wanted to see Black moderate southern GOP members of congress.These members would have helped the mindset range of the Black community by pushing conservatism in personal and financial actions and educating our community regarding the logical limited role of government in the post-civil rights era. In other words, stop digging yourself into holes and reaching for governmental hands to help you out.
Until the GOP has the foresight to produce candidates with a broader appeal in battleground districts, this duty should fall to congressional field staffers—staff in the local offices.
Black congressional field staffers have always given inspirational speeches and talks:
“If you play in school, you won’t be prepared for work and life.If you have children before you have a dependable income source or career, you will have a harder row to hoe.If you spent as much time on homework as practicing basketball, you would be prominent in the NBA—the National Bankers Association.”
The standard staff“role of government/be your best” speech needs more details and specifics to encourage all youth to make deliberate and planned decisions.For many Georgia youth—both Black and White- these staffers were the first non-educator Black male professionals they ever met.Seeing a brother in a tie and Blazer who was still cool gave them options.These staffers planted the seeds of success but having the Obamas in the White House is the ultimate role model situation.
If you are a southwest Georgia high school student, Rep. Sanford Bishop is the only congressman you can remember and that is a good thing—it would have been better if Bishop were the new agriculture secretary.
The next level in congressional field staffing for our community should involve more Black women and men who put a conservative element into the standard speeches and talks.The benefit for our state and country could be significant because many young people don’t have role models who “break it down,” “make it plain,” and “keep it real.”
Somebody needs to do it because the election of President Obama makes the age-old arguments and accuses about oppression seem dated and almost moot.
Republicans are often reluctant to hire Black congressional staffers because they think all Blacks are liberals.If this mentality persists, the GOP will continue to marginalize themselves.With secondary consideration to party politics, the best future for GOP Black outreach will be based on conservatism with a practical foundation.Michael Steele wants to take the GOP in that direction or to add that aspect to their mission; the grassroots in the GOP might reject his efforts.
Congressional Black field staffers in both major parties can and have served as bridges into our communities for elected official in the same way farm-raised White staffers bridged certain groups for Black congressmen with rural areas.Finally, I am proud to say I worked for three Georgia members of congress who actually had staffers in D.C. and Georgia who came from the other party.Constituents from the “other party” knew their opinions and views were heard in our “fair and balanced” policy debates in our Democrat offices—the same can’t be said about most southern Republican offices when I was a staffer.
Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire abruptly withdrew his nomination as commerce secretary Thursday.
See, I keep trying to tell everyone: Visack to Commerce and Bishop to Ag. President Obama is breaking his neck to love on the GOP and they are not feeling it right now. Give the South that love.
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.
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.
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.
What should we learn from the money part of the 2008 elections as we prepare for the 2010 mid-year elections?Obama, love him or hate him, revolutionized the process by getting much money from little donors (little meaning small amounts not short people.)When people give you money to run a campaign, they will be the first once at your office with a wish list.Sometimes the items on the list are in the best interest of most Americans, other times the items serve the agenda of a few.
During the 2008 elections, I grew weary of the campaign ads blitz with a quickness.The same short on substance ads over and over and over again had me watching T.V. with my finger on the remote control.And I knew that someone did a whole lot of fundraising to finance those ads.Are the members of congress spending time studying the federal government and proposed legislation or looking for dollars.
I want to mention great southern gentleman congressmen who often ate breakfast in the Rayburn House Office Building cafeteria (oatmeal with raisins) rather than the member’s dining hall—maybe he was avoiding his begging colleagues because he was chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.Congressman William Natcher had the respect of staffers because he never missed votes, did not take campaign contributions and funded his campaigns himself from 1953 to 1994.
Of course, Natcher brought that pork to Kentucky and had votes that most southerners made back in the day but he should be an example for current candidates who really wants to run and win differently.New Media gives candidates the opportunity to connect with voters without bombarding them with the same expensive ads. (What about five-minute campaign web videos on the top 10 issues and posting video from a dozen debates and forums?)Smarter voters are starting to realize the “real” candidates cannot enter the arena without the lofty cash the system demands.
If a candidate was smart and innovative, he/she could run for congress with a relatively small amount of money and label the other candidates as “bought and paid for” by national special interests.The special interest money in the innovative campaign should be posted on the web and directly related to the state’s economy.The people might appreciate a Natcher-type official over a money-hungry politician.President Clinton’s remarks when Chairman Hatcher passed said it best:
Statement on the Death of Representative William H. Natcher
March 30, 1994
Hillary and I were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Congressman William Natcher. We want to extend our deepest sympathy to his family, friends, and staff for their great loss. For the past 40 years, Bill Natcher has served the people of Kentucky’s Second District with distinction and uncommon dedication. Earlier this month, I visited Bill Natcher at Bethesda Naval Hospital where I presented the Presidential Citizens’ Medal to him. The citation for that medal offers a fitting remembrance of Congressman Natcher’s career: “Few legislators in our history have honored their responsibilities with greater fealty or shunned the temptations of power with greater certainty than William Huston Natcher.”
Bill Natcher governed and campaigned the hard way. He never missed a rollcall vote or a quorum call in the House for 40 years. He never took a campaign contribution. He never made a political commercial. He never hired a press secretary. He read and answered his own constituent mail. He drove through the small towns and farms of central Kentucky visiting the people he represented at county courthouses and general stores. He paid his campaign expenses out of his own pocket and never had to spend much money. In an era of sound-bites and high-tech media campaigns, Bill Natcher was a rarity.
Some may think that Bill Natcher’s death marks the end of an era in politics. I hope not. I hope that Congressman Natcher’s devotion to public service serves as an inspiration to the young men and women of America for as long as his voting record stands. Bill Natcher once said he wanted his tombstone to read, “He tried to do it right.” Let us all carry those words forward in his honor and memory.
The Blue Dogs have crazy power this congress; they can tip the balance either way on key votes.These moderate Democrats will say they need conservative voters’ support to win elections but they better recognize that the bulk of their votes come from average Democrats—many African Americans.
Herman Cain wrote a book about “they think you are crazy” and he was correct.The Blue Dogs know that most Democrats vote for them because they have a “D” on their jersey—without deep analysis of their voting records.Secondly, Blue Dogs generally have a positive record in their home areas from good work in a previous position.At some point, that past goodwill wears out.
Enter the Obama supporters.Many Obama supporters (OS) are not loyal Democrats but loyal to the inspirational mission and effort of the new President.Why do you think they kept all that email and cellphone information.If and when a Blue Dogs goes against the administration, the call goes out to the OS in that district—bypassing Pelosi and Reid on the Hill.
In 2010, Blue Dogs who supported Bush for years and gave Obama a rough time might find themselves with a junior Obama as a primary candidate.That battle would force a Blue Dog to openly side with the Democrat Team; then, Michael Steele rolls out a new GOP hybrid—conservative but somewhat moderate; designed with Palin and Obama in mind.
Please, please, please, let me help pick the next GOP congressional candidates in Georgia contested races.(Here’s a hint: start with the Young Republicans.)If Steele produces a few Republicans who will respectfully work to improve Obama programs by pointing our concerns, these candidates could do great numbers with the African American community in 2010.
Yestersday, President Obama signed the SCHIP bill into law.Blue Dog Rep. John Barrow of Georgia was at the signing while Rep. Jim Marshall of Macon voted against the bill again.
Listen to this sage and free advise, the GOP candidate against Marshall should be a Chamber of Commerce type, pro-business moderate from Macon—White or Black—who has a much past goodwill as Marshall.
Project Logic Ga 