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Julian Bond: Cultivating White Democrats

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 23, 2014| 1 Comment »

The Democrat Party can’t be mostly Black nor should the GOP be all White.  This blog has been saying that for years.  First, I really don’t care too much for political parties because they are about power and control over good governing.  If we must have parties, the best ones look like America—they are comprised of a cross-section of peoples and groups or the leaders communicate with everyone.

The “All In With Chris Hayes” show on MSNBC is starting a new segment on race.  The promo for the segment features Georgian Julian Bond telling Hayes that Black elected officials need to give up some Black areas to neighboring districts to get White Democrats elected.  I love it because you don’t necessarily need Black politicians to serve Black folks (and a few Black Republicans might not be bad for understanding and informative purposes.)

If you take race off the table, congressional districts should be draw in a way where candidates from either major party can win—that keeps them on their toes.  The scary fact is that the GOP turned in the early 1990s into a party that often demands that its elected officials not listen to those with other points of view.  Look here, officials are paid by all taxpayers—not just the people that voted for them.  If you listen to a constant diet of vitriol from left or right zealots, you too would swear that the other side is the devil.

Let’s look that two congressional districts that makeup southwest Georgia.  For most of his time in the Georgia state house and the U.S. Congress, Sanford Bishop didn’t have a majority Black district.  He won by serving a cross section of people well.  Former Rep. Jim Marshall was one of the last southern White Democrats and his seat was important until he started slamming Obama and Speaker Pelosi to keep rural voters.  He had to go and he was replaced with a reasonable GOP candidate, Austin Scott.  Who knew that Scott would be one of the most conservative members of the House?

In theory during redistricting, members of congress don’t own districts but the General Assembly had no problem lumping more and more Blacks into Bishop’s district because that action made the three contiguous districts more and more GOP.  Bishop is a fighter and a true representative; he could represent anyone.  But, the Tea Party, Fox News and the far right talk radio has rural Georgia White twisted and negatively brainwashed so can you blame him for accepting more safety.  In southeast Georgia, Rep. Jack Kingston took all of Black Savannah to increase the GOP chances of taking Rep. John Barrow’s seat—Barrow is the last White Democrat in the U.S. House from the deep South.

Hey, Democrats would be fine if the people they helped legislatively would simply vote.  A surprisingly large number of GOP members of the state legislature have 25% or more Blacks in their districts but folks don’t vote.  The deciding factor for the elections in November might be the effectiveness of the Get Out the Voter efforts and that requires money—more cash should be put on the streets than on the airwaves.

http://www.msnbc.com/all-in/watch/all-in-america-behind-the-color-line-285576771633

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Obama Can Win Georgia/Glad It’s Not Huntsman

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , on September 13, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

For those just taking notice of the presidential election, the headlines should currently read “Jon Huntsman and President Obama in vigorous yet civic debate on ideas.”  See, the GOP selected Governor Romney out of a cast of characters and the least amount of interest went to the former Governor of Utah Jon Huntman, a man President Obama appointed Ambassador to China.

Team Obama had the foresight to embrace Huntsman because that sullied him with the conservative movement.  Chicago knew that Huntsman was a candidate who could win the political center.

Chicago and wherever Romney is based has also decided that the election will be won in a few swing states.  Horse feathers!  If most of the south is off the table, the state and local organizational structure isn’t active on the Democrat side.  To me the Red Team is a small, well organized army with weak generals while the Blue Team is a large, unorganized team with better generals. 

Despite the wisdom of Fox News and MSNBC, Georgia can be won by the Democrats.  The  untapped potential for Dems might be motivated the ugliness of the GOP primary–“let’s go to the video tape.”  So, people need to stop this “call your cousins in Florida and North Carolina” talk.  If the people Democrats care about actually voted, the election would be over.  The election might be over if Team Romney doesn’t start producing some plans and ideas.  Romney looks like presidential material; while Obama and Huntsman are presidential material.   

The sweet thing about blogging is that it serves as a record of who wrote what and when it was written.  My friends in the conservative movement know that Michael Steele, Jon Huntsman and I have been begging them to create a moderate wing of their team.  But, they let the crazy 15% drive their bus…off the cliff.

I declare Georgia to be on the table and Romney, a decent fellow, should explain why he doesn’t say anything when the far Right zany talk starts.  Also, I don’t give a dizz-am about party once a candidate wins an election.  If the people are paying your salary, you should visit, listen and explain in every community.  It’s called “forming a more perfect union.”

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Register By October 9th /High School Football

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , , , on August 21, 2012| 250 Comments »

Georgia is a possibility for Team Obama if we get young people registered and prepared to vote.  Chuck Todd with MSNBC keeps pointing to a map with Florida, North Carolina and Virginia as the only swing states opportunities in the South.  The president won these states in 2008 and Florida is the big prize because it had 27 electors (electors are the people voting in the electoral college and equals the number of members of congress.)

In 2008, Senator McCain won Georgia by 52 to 47 (a margin of 5.2%.)  That’s peanuts or should I say there are enough guys in rural Georgia named Peanut, Dirty Red and Man to sway the 2012 election.  Actually, the 204,607 votes need to change that election and maybe the 2012 election could be found easily in Atlanta, our five next largest cities and dozens of rural towns.  The congressional races of Rep. Sanford Bishop (Macon, Columbus, Albany) and Rep. John Barrow (Augusta) cover the non Atlanta population centers except Savannah so turnout in these areas is important.  Look at it like this: on the first full night of high school football, stadiums around the state will have thousands of unregistered young Black adults. 

If you can sit in a ball park for three hours, you can take 10 minutes to register and 10 more minutes to vote.  Many of the young men on that field, the cheerleaders and the band members  will decide to serve our nation in the armed forces and we should elect leaders who view them as people—someone son or daughter.   

October 9, 2012, is the last day to register to vote for those wanting to vote in the presidential election.  How would Obama supporters feel if the election turned even nastier after that date but thousands of then-concerned Georgians couldn’t vote because they missed the deadline?  Before someone trips out about race, I wanted to remind people that our community was seriously loving on southern White guy Bill Clinton;  that’s my dude.  Actually, I voted for Romney in the primary because he was the best in a jacked-up field after Jon Huntsman left the GOP primary contest.  If Huntsman won the GOP nomination, I might be 50-50 between the president and him at this point.  So, supporting Obama isn’t about race as much as it is about keeping the crazy part of the consevative movement out of the White House and the fact that the president has done a good job.

We know that the Democratic Party of Georgia and the national DNC isn’t as crafty as the GOP.  The boys in Chicago and D.C. don’t know the kudzu covered rural South like we know it.  Florida, North Carolina, Virginia and even Georgia can be won by President Obama if we mounted a serious GOTV and registration efforts before and/or after high school football games.  

Social media and smart phones are the tools and wouldn’t it be nice to use these devices for something positive.   Hey, we need to fire up the grills and get the best old school D.J.s to pump Maze, pfunk and Tina Marie. It’s time to talk with the young folks about history and it’s way of repeating itself. 

My friends in the GOP have a way of ignoring those who vote for someone else (Dems listen to everyone.)  While Obama and Romney will be rich and happy no matter what, we need to show some political muscle so the federal, state and local elected leaders will remember our side of town when making policy and laws.   

http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/Voting_information.htm#Registering to Vote

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Brainwashed: Herman Cain And Me (Luke 6:42)

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , on October 1, 2011| 5 Comments »

Herman Cain said Black Democrats are brainwashed and he is right.  Also, he is brainwashed and I am brainwashed.  Hell, everyone I know is brainwashed to a certain degree by someone or something—some negative and some positive.

My dictionary tells me that brainwashing is an intensive indoctrination, usually political, aimed at changing a person’s basic convictions and attitudes and replacing them with a fixed and unquestioned set of beliefs.  The negative connotation comes with the unquestioned part because I will question everything that comes out of a human’s mouth…any human…pastors included. 

To start, some brains need washing.  We know that U.S. Marines basic training on Parris Island begins with breaking down the old person and ends with building a warrior.  Thugs and gangbangers need their brains washed as do most of the greedy bastards on Wall Street and many in congress. Some people argue that the loving nature of the Black college fraternity pledge process was sullied by veterans on the G.I. Bill who mixed in methods learned while dealing with the enemy in war.  Newsflash, fraternity pledges aren’t the Vietcong so stop brainwashing college kids. 

Fat folks need their brain’s washed and their colons cleansed. I can say that because I am little heavy and realize that the proper practices of diet and exercise are vital.  Is it brainwashing if it is welcomed? 

I personally know and like Herman Cain; he is a great guy.  As an older gentleman, he has earned the right (like Rev. Jeremiah Wright) to say some interesting things.  When he was going-off about Muslims, I wished I had his Blackberry number because I was convinced that the far-Right had brainwashed that Morehouse Man (that or he deserves an Academy Award.)  Cain later met with peaceful Muslim leaders and walked back his comments about no Muslims in his cabinet.

We should all be cautious around those who seek to indoctrination us—just make your point and I will consider it.  Actually, we have seen a redirecting in the political arena over the last forty years.  Public policy was once driven by political scientists and policy wonks—the eggheads charged with better governing.  Today, ad men and Madison Avenue types are running the show in government as every idea gets tested before market research groups.  They are looking for buzz terms that can brainwash the voters—Death panels, Death tax, stimulus, reinvestments.  It is a dirt chess game and we the people are the pawns. 

Yes Mr. Cain, some far-Left Democrats have been brainwashed into an entitlement mentality.  But, Cain should realize that some far-Right conservatives have been brainwashed into an “us vs. them” mentality that pits Americans against Americans and continues the mentality that an elite segment of the electorate should make decisions alone.  I shouldn’t get started about what happens when that segment (who are often correct on policy) don’t get their way.  They have been brainwashed into circling the wagons and starting revolutions.

Mind you, those on all sides who seek to brainwash the masses do so with power and money as their personal motivators.  I have pretty good filters (everyone thinks they have) so you can’t tell me that Obama and Huntsman aren’t good dudes who sincerely want to improve the nation. However, the political arena is so dirty these days that a leader must be an angel with dirty wings because nice guys finish last.

Fox News on Right and MSNBC on Left slowly have brainwashed people and I learned that from my CNN brainwashing.  On some level, we are all brainwashed and I leave you with Luke 6:42.

Luke 6:42  How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

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Worst Congress Ever?

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , on July 26, 2011| Leave a Comment »

On Chuck Todd’s MSNBC show recently, he had a segment asking the question “Is this the worst congress of all-time.”  While I am not sure about all-time, it might be the worst of my adult life for the reasons discussed by former Senator John Breaux and Political Scientist Norm Ornstein.

[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/43880181#43880181]

Congress and the White House in the past started with the center (where most Americans still reside politically) and worked on the Left and Right.  Today, policy starts on the Left and Right and goes nowhere.  I think 90% of congress were decent people when elected but they get that “gang mentality” from their political parties and it’s battle battle battle.

Who wants to go through life constantly pissed off?  Senator Breaux was an endangered species as a moderate to conservative Democrat.  The segment rightfully pointed out that there is no more overlap in congress today since centrists like Breaux exited.  In the past, there were a few southern Democrats who were more conservative than California Republicans. 

Why can’t members work together?  When did compromise become a dirty word?  I personally refuse to let anyone pit me against fellow Americans.   Some of MSNBC is slowly becoming the same as Fox News.  If the negativity fostered by media continues, a center-based, anti-party centrists movement might be in order.  

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/07/19/worst_congress_ever

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10 Questions for 2010: Blue Dogs, GOP candidates, Political Journalism

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 2, 2010| 2 Comments »

3.  Are some Blue Dogs sidestepping the political heat?

First, I have an original Blue Dog pin and will never sell it on Ebay.  Blue Dogs are a unique breed of moderate to conservative Democrats, but they aren’t Republicans.  If you think about it, the Democrat Party looks like America with diverse groups at the table debating issues.  President Obama has a bold policy agenda and at some point the issues are too progressive for some Blue Dogs. I was working at the Congress on the day current gubernatorial candidate Nathan Deal switched to the GOP—we liked Nathan the day before and we liked him the next day.  Deal’s departure seemed natural or organic for a person from his conservative district.

Congressmen walk a thin line between party loyalty and independence but when the GOP needs their members, those members are there.  Why can’t President Obama have that same loyalty on historic votes?  Loyal Democrats are catching “hot heat” for the healthcare reform vote while others are chilling in the shade.  The same Blue Dogs who ran campaign ads featuring their support of a GOP president will be slamming Obama and congressional Democrats on the air this fall.  These members are tossing fellow Blue Dogs under the bus.

4. Are some Republicans uncomfortable with non-GOP supporters?

Have you ever seen a candidate who doesn’t want public support?  To be honest, some Black activists took a backseat during the Obama campaign so the effort did not seem like a Black v. White situation (which it wasn’t.)  In a similar situation, some GOP candidates seem to downplay their supporters who are Democrats because their base might feel they are slipping to the left.  Say What? 

I think most candidates enjoy any sincere support, but the campaign staff often comes from the red meat selection of their party.  When the campaign event comes on the local news, I want to see a crowd that looks like Georgia.  We must highlight Georgia’s history of peaceful living as an economic development tool. Companies don’t want to bring jobs to a region if they think employees will be fight a mini Civil War in the break room.  In the era of the angry mob, GOP candidates with a range of supporters deserve respect. 

5. Are Fox News and MSNBC putting political agendas over journalism?

I love CNN because the reporting is balanced—literally.  This Georgia based operation puts pundits from the left, right and center on the stage at the same time.  Fox News and MSNBC seem to execute a political agenda that flexes the traditional rules of journalism. While I watch these channels for diversity reasons, I can’t help but think that the slant is blatantly obvious to some and not to others.  Glenn Beck was correct when he said that his job is entertainment—not running the nation.  I hope other Americans know that.

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Fox News and MSNBC: Yellow Journalism or Healthy Debate?

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , on September 24, 2009| 3 Comments »

The current political and media climate drove me to read a little about the Machiavellian principle of “The End Justifies the Means.”  Clearly, many Americans have concerns with the size and role of the federal government; as others had issues with the previous White House administration.  To me, we enter the public policy arena fairly, state our points fairly and respect the decisions of the consensus…fairly.  When someone feels the majority is wrong, what happens next?  Do they educate the people and wait for the opportunity (elections) to change leadership or target the opposition now “by any means necessary…..with no holds barred?”

During American slavery, were revolt leaders justified in attacking women and children?  What considerations were given to the slave women and children?  Do two wrongs make a right?  I relish the late night debates we had on these subjects in my Black college dorm.  In the end, we will all answer for our earthly actions?  These dilemmas were the central theme of the classic movie “Sergeant York” featuring film great Gary Cooper.  Congressional Medal of Honor winner York considered avoiding military service in World War I until his pastor pointed out that killing or defense is in the Bible and necessary.

In my dorm, we talked about Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.  The peace and love stuff was fine but if someone aims to kill innocent men, women and children while they are in church, it is rifle time.  That situation is not violence; it’s self-defense. 

Did William Randolph Hearst really push America into the Spanish-American War to sell more newspapers?  Is the far-left and far-right media enjoying the current culture war for similar financial reasons?  Can you blame them for getting paid?  Has Hearst’s yellow journalism lead to a modern version called “yell” media?  Don’t get it twisted: real concerns are valid but some stuff is laughable.  Death panels….you can’t make this stuff up.  All southerners are ignorant zealots.  Sure, and that is the reason Atlanta and Charlotte are bursting at the seams with new arrivals from your wonderful cities. 

I can’t call it but I catch Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, Rachel Maddow, and Ed Schultz with my filters fully functioning.  Should real political leaders set up and request a return to civility before some sick-minded individuals act tragically and trigger a mini civil war?  The news ratings would be through the roof.   If we had these news channels and the internet back  in the dorm, it would have been on like Donkey Kong.    

http://www.philforhumanity.com/Does_the_End_Justify_the_Means.html

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CNN: A Trillion in Healthcare Waste In America

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , on August 12, 2009| 1 Comment »

CNN has me thinking with an open mind about all sides of the healthcare debate.  Everyone has a study about this and an analysis about that but I personally turn to CNN for balance reporting and to FOX and MSNBC for commentary.  The following story exemplifies the type reporting I prefer.  If you only listen to FOX or MSNBC, that’s your business and I hope your insurance covers the explosion of that vein in your forehead—simmer down now. 

If folks spent less time yelling, the valid points about waste, tort reform and administrative mistakes could be heard.   

I have always said that healthcare reform needs “teeth.”  Not a dental plan but some hard decisions about the money this nation spends for healthcare that could have been avoided. i.e. the Diabetic who refuses to check his blood sugar level; your uninsured uncle who eats every and anything then gets rushed to the ER.  Some of the money uncle spent on food and drinks could have gone to a basic health care plan.

We should brace for a battle because one person’s waste is another person’s income.

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Palin, Isakson and The Healthcare Reform Debate

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , on August 8, 2009| 5 Comments »

It is all about spin, knowledge and facts.  The notion that the federal government will decide when Americans “plan” on dying is nonsense at the center of the healthcare debate.  Sarah Palin chimed in yesterday that she did not want her parents or children standing in front of “Obama’s death panel.” 

Stop right there and let me give my take on the difference between misinformation and lying.  Sarah Palin, who I want to defend because we are the same age, is not lying in my opinion nor did she lie during the campaign last year.  She actually believes what she is saying so she is at best misinformed or at worst dim and does not know it. Please understand the difference: one is to knowingly lie and the other is simply being wrong.  When I saw those protesters on T.V. this week, I knew they weren’t lying and were sincere.  The liars are the guys in D.C. on K Street and in New York on Wall Street and Madison Avenue who designed the campaign to mislead regular folks and stop health care reform for your corporate bosses.  I must say that those guys are good at what they do.

At the center of this drama was Senator Johnny Isakson from Georgia…reluctantly.  MSNBC claims that the heath care provision which would fund “end of life” counseling is similar to a provision originally introduced in committee by Isakson.  I tried to find information about this claim on the web and on Isakson’s website.  What I did find after spending a good part of my Saturday morning is that Isakson’s concerns with the Democrats proposals sound reasonable to me and that Isakson and others do have alternative plans.  As a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee, Isakson is up on his game and we can count on him negotiating rather than just stonewalling like other conservatives. 

Isakson and no other members of congress want death panels.  From what I see, the optional counseling is an option about final options.  Much of the cost of patient care occurs during the last month of life and some people decide to have DNR orders (that’s Do Not Resuscitate, not Department of Natural Resources for us outdoors types).  If people want to talk with someone about those plans, their insurance would pay for the meeting.  If you have buried a loved one, you know that people should consider deciding that stuff themselves years earlier so they can go how they want to go and remove family from making the decisions at the worst times.  

In summary, spin-doctors knowingly distorted a provision in the health care reform proposal to scare old people and incite conflict.  I must say that both sides play this game.  When I was a congressional staffer, the Clinton administration bragged about reducing or cutting spending for a program in their budget.  When I looked at the numbers, funding went up for that program over the previous years.  So, program XYZ received $70 million one year and more the next year but they told me they reduced the rate of growth from the Bush years.  Before, that program grew by 10% every year but under Clinton it is only growing by 5%–that’s a reduction.  Do I look stupid? (Don’t answer that.)  I told that guy that a reduction from $70 million would be less than $70 million and being cute with numbers and spin was not cool.

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Shep Smith in Wolf Blitzer clothing

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , on June 12, 2009| 2 Comments »

shep1sept25

I am watching MSNBC and wishing that they don’t be come the left version of Fox News.  Keith Olberman and Bill O’Reilly are both journalists to me but Rachel Maddow is starting to smirk in a way that is as negative as those people on Fox in the morning—two wrong does not make….

Shep Smith, currently of Fox News, is going through some things with the far right because he has evidently grown weary of twisting the truth and pushing propaganda—good for you Shep.  It had to be Smith who announced that Obama was president on Fox News that night because anyone else’s head would have exploded.  I am no expert but there is a line between reporting the news and facts as a journalist and some form of news entertainment that doesn’t follow the appropriate code of reporting ethics.  (i.e. MSNBC’s the Ed Show.)

The one that gets me most of all is Michelle Malkin, blogger turn Fox News talking head.  She is clearly a bright woman who at some point decided she would write or say whatever took her to fame and fortune.  She puts me in the mind of southern political leaders from the last century who were raised loving their family housekeepers (who look like me) but would say the ugliest things about all members of my community who get ahead politically and get rich.  The type who made a tennis court out of the local swimming pool the day the order came that Blacks citizens had a right to dive-in.  That would be the same day I decide be a tennis player so thanks.  If they turn the court into a polo field, I give up.  

Like George Wallace, many of those so-called leaders would have a change of heart as their death approached; don’t want to explain that stuff before the pearly gates.  To be fair, the hate speakers who look like me often have their change of heart also.  A date with hell is a natural laxative.

Here something interesting: what is the first institution of higher education in America to admit Black students in 1835?  Michelle Malkin’s alma mater Oberlin College of Ohio.  But, they welcome her on-campus speaking dates because decent people like dialog and discourse.  

When you are pitifully poor (old school Black college term), some decision must be made and people weight their personal integrity against pending financial doom; what profits a man to gain the whole world…. 

This blog acknowledged John McCain’s efforts to dial down the rhetoric last year; rhetoric that would compel the sickest minds to get on a rooftop and turn their baseball caps backwards…you know the rest.  It’s good to be a moderate because the extremists on the far-left and far-right take recreational “hate speak” as a call to arms.  

Wolf, is there room in CNN’s Situation Room for a Shepard? 

Conservatives Attack Fox’s Shep Smith — Politics Daily

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Shoe tossing and Tamron Hall

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , on December 24, 2008| 1 Comment »

tamron-hall

That blank blank guy who tried to hit President Bush with his shoes struck a nerve with me for a reason that seems to be escaping everyone else: the second shoe hit the American flag. 

 

If I were the American president (use your imagination) and knew our flag was behind me, I would have caught the shoe or taken one for the team—that is the patriotic thing to do.  That brave act might impress Tamron Hall of MSNBC and formerly of Fox News to answer “my” call at 3 a.m.  “Yes Secret Service, if Ms. Hall phones…wake me…it’s an issue of vital national importance…this White House needs a first lady sooner rather than later.”

 

All kidding aside, I deplore this fellow disrespecting the office of the President.  Yes, Bush allow his advisors to push him into an ill-advised entanglement in the Iraq, but I always gave him a certain amount of respect—an amount that reasonable Americans who supported McCain should afford President-Elect Obama. 

 

For some reason, I would welcome Bush on a cross-country road trip because he seems like cool people.  Rolling with Barrack Obama would be rough because I could not sleep in the backseat with the radiance from his halo in my eyes.  You know what else is radiant: Tamron Hall.

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