Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Posts Tagged ‘Obama’

Democrats’ Santorum Dilemma

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , on February 16, 2012| Leave a Comment »

The word “Santorum” doesn’t appear in my local newspaper this morning but presidential candidate Rick Santorum could be leader of the free world or should I say the less free world.   While Gingrich and Romney are presidential material, “President Sanatorium” scares the daylights out of me because he is small-minded in my opinion.

Santorum has been keeping it real since his days in the House and Senate. He could have serious appeal to blue-collar voters if unemployment and gas prices are high next fall.  This candidate keeps saying “the president thinks he is smarter that you.”  To me, that statement is code for “this uppity elitist is running and ruining your life.”  Newsflash: the former president of the Harvard Law Review  is smarter that 99.99% of the people in the world.

I have written half a dozen blog post over the last six months encouraging Democrats to vote in the GOP primaries for someone President Obama could handle with ease next November.  But, that was when Romney was leading and the calculated risk was not that dire.  Again, Romney or Newt could govern.  Santorum’s candidacy and the recent decline of Newt has me thinking seriously about voting for Romney to ensure that far Right Rick doesn’t get into the White House.

While watching the Rachael Maddow Show last night, I saw a report about the liberal blog Daily Kos introducing the “Democrats voting for GOPers” idea.  The same idea that I have been pushing for months but no one listens to me.  If we want President Obama to win reelection, we must watch the GOP candidates now because they are tripping.  After securing the nomination, Romney will start remembering his moderate record as he seeks support from the middle.  But, Santorum can’t do that; he would double down on the hard stuff and it might work.  So, I might vote for Newt or Romney to avoid a cultural civil war if Rick wins.     

http://www.politico.com/blogs/burns-haberman/2012/02/daily-kos-announces-operation-hilarity-114604.html

https://projectlogicga.com/2011/11/18/rush-limbaughs-2008-support-hillary-plan-could-help-obama-2012/

Read Full Post »

Belichick, Newt and Obama: Let Them Score

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , on February 6, 2012| Leave a Comment »

 

I can’t stand Bill Belichick but must admit that he was smart to tell his Patriots defenders to allow the Giants’ Ahmad Bradshaw to score a touchdown in the last few minutes of the Super Bowl.  Belichick did the calculations and knew he wanted the ball back in Tom Brady’s hands.  The decision, which almost won them another championship, put me in the mind of Muhammad Ali’s Rope-dope and made me think about this presidential primary season.

Belichick didn’t tell his team to “let” them score; he told them to “help” them score.  If you noticed, Pats players were prepared to push Bradshaw into the endzone to preserve precious seconds.  President Obama might have a hard time beating a GOP candidate like Mitt Romney because Romney knows business and the business sector needs to create millions of  jobs.  The Belichick type move for Obama supporters would be helping Newt Gingrich score by winning open primary state elections. 

If you notice, I wrote Obama supporters rather than Democrats because the Democratic National Committee would never endorse or support party members voting for any Republican anywhere for any reasons.  I am more interested in holding the White House than protecting their party brand.   If Romney gets his party’s nomination one day, he will become sweet and nice to the political center the next day to win the general election (if the Tea Party lets him.)  It will be Romney’s Belichick type move to soften his party and secure the White House—it might work. 

But, good old Newt doesn’t play that game.  He is hardcore and has a long record to prove it.  Remember, we can beat Newt in November if we help him win the nomination now—hold your nose and think Belichick.

Read Full Post »

Democrats for Newt Gingrich….Really

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , on January 31, 2012| Leave a Comment »

I am voting for President Obama in November and Newt Gingrich in March. Obama supporters in conservative states with open primaries should know that giving the president Newt as a target is as important as their general election vote.  Every Mitt Romney associated super PAC T.V. ad regarding Newt’s negatives actually reinforces my contentions.   The reasons Democrats should vote for Newt jump out at you:

Clean cut Romney: That Mitt Romney reminds me of a guy from a soap opera star.  He actually is a nice person with a super family so there is little motivation to vote against him for personal reasons while Newt gets our blood boiling.  “Obama is a food stamp president.”  “Poor kids should work at school.”  A longer GOP primary gives Newt time to rough up Romney. 

Plan B: While we want to see a second Obama term, we must explore options.  To me, Romney is pro-big business but Gingrich would inadvertently improve regular folks’ lives.  The government doesn’t really care about babying grown people nor should it.  With Newt in the White House, everyone would be compelled to step their game up because the safety net would be thin.  Plus, I am tired of watching Obama fight the good fight alone.

Michelle vs. Callista: Quick, name five Black women who are more important that Michelle Obama in the history of this nation.  Better yet, name five women of any color.  The sista is special and I can’t imagine replacing her with Mrs. Gingrich.  Mrs. Obama vs. Mrs. Gingrich would drive millions to the polls for Obama.

Homeboy Newt: Newt knows the South.  If someone other than Obama must be president it should be a Georgian.  As quiet as it is kept, Newt has a great record of supporting African American conservatives.  When I worked on the Hill, a sista was Newt’s Chief of Staff and Newt is constantly cultivating the next generation of Black conservatives.    

Tick off the GOP: The Republicans are purists that only want conservatives voting in their primaries (except Ron Paul.)  Democrats voting in their primary would drive them crazy and distort their statistical analysis.  Actually, open primary better reflect a cross section of the electorate.  

Summary: we need to educate voters on their options.  If you live in an open primary state, voting for Newt is something to consider.

Read Full Post »

Clarence Thomas: Good Brother

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 23, 2012| 2 Comments »

I just finished reading Clarence Thomas: My Grandfather’s Son and now feel that Justice Thomas could be the most misunderstood brother in America.  Grandfather Myers Anderson’s story could have been the story of any southern striving Black man before 1970 and reading the parts of this book about him was like reading about my father’s stern daddy.  Those men didn’t play because they couldn’t play.  Playing meant your family didn’t eat and/or you might get dead.  My daddy called everyone “good brother” and he would have enjoyed talking about the bad old days with Justice Thomas.

Clarence Thomas was one angry Black man.  The strict ways of his grandfather were Machiavellian and prepared Thomas for years of hard academic and professional work.  I was surprised to learn that Thomas was basically broke for most of his adult life—including his years as head of the EEOC.  So, the guy was a Holy Cross and Yale Law grad who drove old Volvos and lived paycheck to paycheck.  Of course, he could have jumped into corporate law fully and gotten paid but he was driven by the desire to help our people.  Really.

Helping his people for Thomas centers on Mr. Anderson’s belief that Blacks must work hard, stay upright and avoid government involvement.  There it is: Thomas isn’t a sellout, he is the opposite.  Clarence Thomas was a radical in college who spent time listening to the self-help teachings of Black Muslims and others in the Black nationalism movement.  To them, the road to Black empowerment led away from government assistance and dependency. 

Faye Wattleton

As a Hill staffer, I stood in the back of the Thomas confirmation hearing for about 30 minutes.  To be honest, I went there to see if Anita Hill’s lips were as nice in person as on CNN….they were.  Actually, I stood next to Faye Wattleton of Planned Parenthood who was a fashion model back in the day.  She towered over me and rolled her eyes as if to say, “stop looking at me and pay attention to history.”  Was I harassing sisters Hill and Wattleton?  Not really.  Nor was Thomas harassing Hill in the office in my opinion.  Look, we all say things at work with a general understanding that technically there might be an issue if we didn’t have said understanding about the temperament of the workplace.  In my opinion, activists groups on both sides used Thomas and Hill as pawns in the Roe vs. Wade abortion fight.  If Thomas said anything wrong to Hill, she wouldn’t have asked to move with him from the Department of Education to EEOC.

This book for me wasn’t about the Supreme Court confirmation hearings.  It was about a form of Black conservatism that still needs to be nurtured and developed.  Maybe, Thomas getting on the Supreme Court pulled one of our greatest Black thinkers away from the next movement.  Clarence Thomas and Rev. Jeremiah Wright are two victims of media witch hunts and this nation is worst as a result.  Both gentlemen could have a lot to say to all youth about evading governmental involvement in their personal lives.  Who would have thought that Thomas was down with Louis Farrakhan’s self-help principles but had to admonish him because of his anti-Semitism.   

On Public Enemy’s “Don’t Believe the Hype,”  Chuck D said, “the follower of Farrakhan….don’t tell me that you understand until you hear the man.” Chuck was right and don’t tell me that you understand brother Thomas until you hear him and know that he might hold one of the keys to improving Black America through a returning to our southern roots and ethics.  What do you call that? It’s called Black conservatism or moderation. 

Before it’s all over, Clarence Thomas, Jeremiah Wright, President Obama, Sanford Bishop, Harold Ford, Jr. and that Thomas Sowell guy should sit down at table of brotherhood to outline a plan for success based on the teachings of their fathers and grandfathers.  May I please come?        

My notes from Clarence Thomas: My Grandfather’s Son

p. 25 From time to time we slaughtered one of the forty or so hogs we kept.  Daddy (grandfather Myers Anderson) would shoot in the head with his .22 rifle, then cut the jugular vein to bleed out the carcass. We then placed it in a fifty-five gallon barrel half full of water, set into the ground at an angle and surrounded by fire.  We slid the hog in and out of the barrel, scraping its skin to remove the coarse hair.  Daddy cut the hog open from tail to head, and its guts fell into a tub placed underneath the carcass.  We saved nearly every part of the animal, making fresh crackling from the skin and using the intestines for chitterlings.  Portions were given to friends and relatives, while the rest went into the freezer to be saved for a rainy day.  Daddy always seemed to be preparing for rainy days.  Maybe that’s why they never came.   

p. 25 Our small, soft hands blistered quickly at the start of each summer, but Daddy never let us wear gloves, which he considered a sign of weakness.  After a few weeks of constant work, the bloody blisters gave way to hard-earned calluses that protected us from pain.  Long after the fact, it occurred to me that this was a metaphor for life – blisters come from calluses, vulnerability before maturity – but not even the thickest of skins could have spared us the lash of Daddy’s tongue.  He never praised us, just as he never hugged us.  Whenever my grandmother urged him to tell us we had done a good job, he replied, “That’s their responsibility.  Any job worth doing is worth doing right.”

p. 73 (John Bolton) “Clarence, as member of a group that has been treated shabbily by the majority in this country, why would you want to give the government more power over your personal life?”  That stopped me cold.  I thought of what Daddy had said when I asked him why he’d never gone on public assistance.  “Because it takes away your manhood,” he said.  “You do that and they can ask you questions about your life that are none of their business.  They can come into your house when they want to, and they can tell you who can come and go in your house.”  Daddy and John, I saw, were making the same point: real freedom meant independence from government intrusion, which in turn meant that you had to take responsibility for your own decisions.  When the government assumes that responsibility, it takes away your freedom – and wasn’t freedom the very thing for which Blacks in American were fighting?

p. 93 One thing I’d learned at Yale was how to study for a tough exam: John Bolton had taught me the secret of distilling all the material in a course into a secession of shorter and shorter outlines, ending up with a concentrated super-outline that fit on a single index card.

p. 97 One of the older attorneys in the office had told me that while it was sometimes excusable not to know all of the law, there was never any excuse for not knowing the facts.  

p. 101 I learned two lessons that morning.  The first one was that honesty is what you do when no one is looking.  The second one was more important, so much so that I came to think of it as a defining moment in my ethical development: my needs, however great they might be, didn’t convert wrong to right or bad to good.  That man’s (found) wallet wasn’t mine, no matter how much I needed the money or how rude he happened to be.  I often had occasion to remind myself in years to come that self-interest isn’t a principle – it’s just self-interest.

p. 106 Never before had I seen my views stated with such crisp, unapologetic clarity: the problems faced by Blacks in America would take quite some time to solve, and the responsibility for solving them would fall largely on Black people themselves.  It was far more common in the seventies to argue that Whites, having caused our problems, should be responsible for solving them instantly, but while that approach was good for building political coalitions and soothing guilty White consciences, it hadn’t done much to improve the daily lives of Blacks.  Sowell’s perspective by contrast, seemed old-fashioned, outdated, even mundane – but realistic.  It reminded me of the mantra of the Black Muslims I had met in college: Do for self, brother.

p. 130 I saw no good coming from an ever-larger government that meddled, with incompetence if not mendacity, in the lives of its citizens, and I was particularly distressed by the Democratic Party’s ceaseless promises to legislate the problems of Blacks out of existence. Their misguided efforts had already done great harm to my people, and I felt sure that anything else they did would compound the damage.  Reagan, by contrast, was promising to get government off our backs and out of our lives, putting an end to the indiscriminate social engineering of the sixties and seventies. I thought the Blacks would be better off if they were left alone instead of being used as guinea pigs of the foolish schemes of dream-killing politicians and their ideological acolytes.

p. 180 Virginia had asked me how I coped with controversy , and I pulled out of my wallet a prayer to St. Francis of Assisi that I recited daily of sustenance and guidance:

Keep a clear eye toward life’s end.  Do not forget your purpose and destiny as God’s creature. What you are in His sight is what you are and nothing more.  Do not let worldly cares and anxieties or the pressure of office blot out the divine life within you or the voice of God’s spirit guiding you in your great task of leading humanity to wholeness.  If you open yourself to God and his plan printed deeply in your heart, God will open Himself to you.

p. 204 “What is my role in this case- as a judge?”  It was the best piece of advice I received, one that became central to my approach to judging.  In the legislative and executive branches, it’s acceptable (if not necessarily right) to make decisions based on your personal opinions or interests.  The role of a judge, by contrast, is to interpret and apply the choices made in those branches, not to make policy choices of his own. 

p. 219  I’d been attracted to the Black Muslim philosophy of self-reliance ever since my radical days in college, and I’d made my favorable comments about Minister Farrakhan in the early eighties, at a time when I was under the mistaken impression that he’d abandoned his anti-White, anti-Semitic rhetoric in favor of a positive self-help philosophy.

p. 237 Psalm 57 showed me the way:

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed…

I am in the midst of lions;

I lie among ravenous beasts-  men whose tongues are sharp swords.

They spread a net for my feet- I was bowed down in distress.

They dug a pit in my path – but they have fallen into it themselves.  

p. 247 But I’d promised President Bush that I could make it through another confirmation, and I couldn’t go back on my word.  I’d done that only twice in my life, once with Daddy (becoming a priest) and once with (first wife) Kathy, and I wasn’t about to do it again.  As always, it was the memory of Daddy that strengthened me.  “Son, you have to stand up for what you believe in,” he had said.  “Give out, but don’t give up.”

p. 254 Perhaps I would have to renounce my pride to endure this trail, even as Cardinal Merry del Val had prayed for deliverance in his Litany of Humility: Deliver me, O Jesus, form the fear of being humiliated…from the fear of being despised…from the fear of suffering rebukes…from the fear of being calumniated.  

p. 259 I spent the hour tossing, turning, and thinking, and the more I thought, the angrier I got.  As a child I’d labored in the South Georgia heat because, Daddy said, it was our lot to work from sun to sun.  I’d lived by the rules of a society that had treated Blacks shabbily and held them back at every turn.  I’d plugged away, deferred gratification, eschewed leisure.  Now, in one climatic swipe of calumny, America’s elites were arrogantly wreaking havoc on everything my grandparents had worked for and all I’d accomplished in forty-three years of struggle.  Even as Daddy had been teaching me that hard work would always see me through, my friends in Savannah told me to let go of my foolish dreams.  “The man ain’t goin’ let you do nothing,” they had said over and over. “Why you even tryin’?” 

p. 276 A little later, the White House operator patched through a call from Jehan Sadat, Anwar Sadat’s widow.  We had never met, and I was touched that she took the trouble to call me, though what she said touched me even more: “Judge Thomas, they are just talking about words. They are laughing at the United States around the world.”  I reminded her that I hadn’t really said any of the things Anita had accused me of saying.  “It does not matter,” she repeated.  “They are just words.  Women around the world are suffering real oppression.  This in nothing in comparison.  The whole thing is silly.”

p. 279 When Joseph (in the Bible) returned from the enslavement into which his brothers had sold him, he told them, “You meant in for evil, but God meant it for good.”  Perhaps the fires through which I had passed would have a purifying effect on me, just as a blast furnace burns the impurities out of steel.  I already knew that they had brought me closer to God, and I asked Him, as I had so many times before, to help me resist the temptation to hate those who had harmed me.

Read Full Post »

That S__ Crazy: Huntsman, Gingrich, Bishop, Romney

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , on January 17, 2012| Leave a Comment »

Kanye West saying ”That S__ Crazy” on that song with Jay Z is one cool rap lyric.  But, the line should apply to some political matters as well.

Jon Huntsman: The GOP had an opportunity to select this decent conservative as their nominee but he left the race while polling in the single digits.  Huntsman could have easily secured the large political center’s vote and walked into the White House if unemployment rates and gas prices remain high.  But, the red meat people on the far Right want a president who is mad, angry and pissed so they gave him their behinds to kiss.  “That S__ Crazy.”

Newt Gingrich: The homeboy Newt needs to stop tripping.  He is as smart as President Obama and would make improving America his historic legacy if he became president.  But, the food stamp stuff is too much.  In the debate last night, Newt said, “Obama PUT more people on food stamps than any American president. Put.  Put.  Put.  No political leader in this nation wants people on food stamps or in need.  The implication is that President Obama is a socialist and that’s not the case.  Speaker Gingrich knows better but it’s a dirt game.  Newt is crazy like a fox and he might steal South Carolina with this mess.  Democrats in S.C. should vote for Newt (since Huntsman is gone) so that Obama/Biden get a louder opponent.  “That S__ Crazy.”

Sanford Bishop: Why in the world does the far Right want Bishop’s seat so badly.  My friends in the conservative movement should know that agriculture is the backbone of rural Georgia and Bishop gets urban members of Congress to support Farm Bill programs that benefit every American who eats food and the producers who grow food.  Fiscal conservatives have crop support programs as one of their main targets.  So, removing Bishop is directly shooting yourself in your southern foot because my region would be a wasteland without USDA .  “That S__ Crazy.”  

Mitt Romney: While I am an Obama supporter, I must say that people should get off Romney’s case about his work at Bain.  Capitalism involves improving companies if you can and closing them if you must.  Mitt should say that he and Jay Z “ball so hard..these (blanks) want to fined me…but first they got to find me.”  “That S__ Crazy.”

Bottomline: As the song says, you got to crawl before you ball.  Young rap listeners should understand that fact and avoid the bling.  We need to hear that from moderate leaders. (Are they still saying bling?)

 N-ggas in Paris (language warning)

Read Full Post »

Economy Recovery and Working at McDonald’s

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , on December 29, 2011| 1 Comment »

My homie Candy passed yesterday and I think he might have had a bigger influence on the community than most American presidents.  Candy started working at McDonald’s in high school and moved up to manager before making a lateral move to a kids pizza chain.  He hired a ton of local people and started them on a path to gainful employment. 

Bill Cosby wrote a book a few years ago called “Come On People” in which he said many of the pull-yourself up points I want to hear from President Obama and the First Lady.  Mark my words: after the Obamas leave the White House and spent some time with their girls, they are going to have a huge impact on domestic life by writing and speaking freely about how we are messing up and what it would take to “show improve.”  In his book, Cosby wrote that any legal work is good work and that we should notice that no one works at McDonald’s as a entry-level worker forever.  In time, people move up or they take their work skills to other employment.

I am friends with a balling sista I will call MC.  A mutual friend asked me to take her to dinner in D.C. because the friend wasn’t feeling well.  This attractive woman was from Mobile, Alabama, so hanging out with her was like home folks chilling rather than the elitism of her Madison Avenue professional life.  She told me that Duke and Columbia served their educational purposes but most of what she uses in business is rooted in what she learned at McDonald’s in high school. 

Working in fast food or in my case the watermelon fields teaches commitment, teamwork, focus, dedication and the value of a dollar.  Convenience stores did away with full service gas attendants but many hustling young men impressed future employers with their service and attention to details while pumping gas, washing windows and checking the oil.

I went to college with a guy whose father gave him a new BMW with the understanding that he must work to pay the insurance.  Hell, this cat did so well at the chicken place in the mall that he was a manager in his teens and he would likely be CEO today if he didn’t go into a different profession.

Candy’s daddy was like a giant at church and back in the day there was a song about my living shall not be  in vain.  Well, Candy touched a lot of people down here and long into the future his living will be missed.  I love it when President Obama talks about regular Americans doing their parts day-to-day because the key to our economic recovery begins with hardheaded folks learning to listen to their first bosses like Candy. 

https://projectlogicga.com/2009/06/26/come-on-people-the-cosby-book/  

my notes from the cosby book

Read Full Post »

2012 Political Season: Magic Wand and Understanding

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on December 27, 2011| 3 Comments »

If I could wave a magic wand on New Year’s Eve, the notations I would place in southern voters’ minds as we enter the election year would involve understanding.  Kandi from the Real Housewives of Atlanta was in a hip hop group with T.I.’s lady Tiny back in the day and they had a hit called “Understanding.”     

Xcape’s “Understanding” had a line that said, “You don’t really know me… you just want’a do what you want’a do… that’s not the way it is baby…you gotta listen to me.”  That line applies to elections, politics and policy because the South has a history of leaders and parties who arrogantly want to make desicisions for everyone without input from or understanding of everyone else.  

I am an American who is concerned that the so-called developing world could blow past our nation in this century because those hungry people are driven liked we once were.  Simply put, we might get out hustled by Latin America, South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia because their young people aren’t playing when it comes to education and training while too many of our youth are soft whiners.  We must understand that the entire nation must be striving collectively.

Anyway, the following points are the ideas I would put in voters’ heads:

1.President Obama can’t improve your life alone.  He can only foster an environment conducive for your personal development.  That’s what he said from the moment he stepped onto the national stage but folks don’t know how to listen.

2. Newt Gingrich as president could actually be good for my community.  While we never know which version of Newt will show up, Speaker Gingrich from the Clinton era was a great ideas person who sincerely wanted to change the cultural mindset of Americans in a positive way.  Look: the government doesn’t now nor has it ever cared about the average person.  With Newt as president we would know that fact without a doubt and get about the business of personal responsibility.

3.  Jon Huntsman is the most Obama-like Republican and moderate Democrats should vote for him to encourage the GOP nominee to make him their VP candidate.  As quiet as it is kept, Obama respects Huntsman more than he does most of the Congressional Black Caucus.  If the GOP takes the White House, moderates will wish level-headed Huntsman was at the table.

4. A small percentage of Democrats could sway the GOP presidential primary.  “Ted, is right..we should vote for Huntsman just in case Obama doesn’t win or Newt to help Obama win.”  Of course, no one understands my points until after the fact.

5.  In South Georgia, running someone against Sanford Bishop will crank up Bishop’s campaign apparatus and organize Democrat GOTV efforts in Albany, Columbus and Macon.  If President Obama wins reelection by a slim margin and by surprisingly winning Georgia, Bishop’s opponents can be thanked.  By the same logic, Democrats can’t beat Austin Scott so we shouldn’t run anyone against him.  That energy would be better spent developing a functional relationship with the young lawmaker. 

Bottomline: Using the “Understanding” song in a blog post is recycling a past post.  Another past post is my notes from “The Art of War.”  That Chinese warfare manual is like a blueprint for politics and modern business.  A central theme in the book is respect for and understanding of the other side. If the GOP understood Democrats, they would select Huntsman as their nom but the hardheaded never learn.  If the Dems understood the Tea Party, they would vote for Huntsman in the GOP primaries in droves to keep them out of the White House.  But, we are more concerned about the NFL playoffs. 

https://projectlogicga.com/2009/06/07/the-art-of-war/

Read Full Post »

Genesis 4:15: Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman and Charlie Ward

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , on November 29, 2011| 1 Comment »

My thoughts today turn to Genesis 4:15, the original Cain, Herman Cain, Jon Huntsman and surprisingly Charlie Ward, Jr.  From Sunday School, we remember that Cain killed his brother Abel and we joked “what did Eve do after Abel died…she raised Cain.”  Seriously, I asked the Sunday school teacher (a high school student) “who was Cain concerned about killing him if Adam, Eve and Cain were the only people on earth and who in time did Cain marry?”

Genesis 4:15 And Jehovah said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.  And Jehovah appointed a sign for Cain, lest any finding him should smite him.

Herman Cain shouldn’t feel the wrath of the GOP if this mess about him is true.  As quiet as it is kept,  they should have vetted him better and he served his purpose.  In 1988, Senator Al Gore ran for president to increase awareness on global warming.  Herman Cain’s chief reasons for entering the presidential race were to highlight problems with the arcane tax code and anti-business governmental policies.  He did that. 

If half of the allegations about Cain are true, Reverend Cain should reread Genesis 4:13 where Cain said to God “my punishment is greater than I can bear.”  Well, the original Cain should have thought about that before he killed his brother and Herman Cain should have thought about that before he stepped onto the presidential stage.  Why do you think those other fellows chose not to run? 

I see parallels between Heisman Trophy winner Charlie Ward and Jon Huntsman.  Ward was the best college football player in the nation and a Christian athlete who was undrafted by the N.F.L.  Pro scouts didn’t think he was tall enough at quarterback to see receivers over tall linemen.  Jon Huntsman could receive half of the centrist vote if his fellow conservatives could see pass their primary season.  Charlie Ward wasn’t vengeful about his slighting as he resorted to Plan B by having a successful career in the N.B.A.

Jon Huntsman should have a similar Plan B that involves using open state primaries as mini-general elections.  He could show GOP voters that he is the Republican who Democrats find most reasonable.  Of course, red meat Republicans are vengeful at Huntsman because he was patriotic enough to accept President Obama’s request for him to serve as our nation’s ambassador to China. 

Huntsman’s plan to put it all on the line in New Hampshire would be better if he spent some time courting moderate and centrist voters in South Carolina and other southern states.  If Newt Gingrich is the GOP nominee, Huntsman’s coolness could be the perfect counterbalance.  So, maybe  Huntsman’s Plan B is the vice presidency.  I know he would be better received on southern college campuses than any other GOP candidate and he could actually get more votes for non-GOPers than GOPers–that would be wild.

Read Full Post »

Rush Limbaugh’s 2008 “Support Hillary” Plan Could Help Obama 2012

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , on November 18, 2011| 4 Comments »

Did Rush Limbaugh create the operational plan in 2008 for Obama/Biden primary success in 2012?  At the first public event for the unlikelyalliesproject.com, someone pointed out that Limbaugh created and pushed a national strategy which called for Republican crossover voting. 

The plan was for conservatives to vote for Hillary Clinton in open primary states and therefore prolong the Clinton/Obama battle.  Actually, the battle seasoned Obama and prepared him for McCain so thanks Rush Limbaugh and thanks for providing historic validity to this blogger’s idea that Democrats should do something similar in 2012.  Of course, Democrats aren’t crafty enough to do something diabolic but a positive twist on the Limbaugh technique would be Dems voting for less-bitter GOP candidates like Jon Huntsman or southern homeboys Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich. 

James Carville and Paul Begala from the Bill Clinton campaign should be on this like white on rice. Carville recently said that Dems aren’t trying to hurt the Herman Cain campaign because Obama would eat Cain up in a general election debate.  As we say in rural Georgia, “don’t talk about it…be about… let’s get the show on the road.”  Obama vs. Cain.  Obama vs. Huntsman.  Obama vs. Paul.  Yes we can.  Obama vs. Huntsman would be creepy because they are basically the same person but on different sides of the political fence.   All GOP presidential campaigns except Romney should welcome Dems extending the primary season while they wait for their candidates to catch fire.

This blog and the unlikelyalliesproject.com aren’t about supporting any candidate or side.  We are about creating a forum for discussions involving ALL sides.  But, I tell you that Tom Joyner, Michael Baisden and Doug Banks could have fun with a new version of Limbaugh’s Operation Chaos.  

Check out the news article below on the 2008 Limbaugh effort to support Hillary and then information straight from his webpage. 

 http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/republicans-vote-hillary/2008/02/28/id/323031

Limbaugh Urges Republicans to Vote for Hillary

Thursday, February 28, 2008 09:25 AM

By: Jim Meyers

It may be sound unbelievable, but conservative Rush Limbaugh is urging Republicans to cross party lines this Tuesday in primaries in Ohio and Texas and vote for Hillary Clinton.

During his No. 1 rated radio show and on his Web site, http://www.rushlimbaugh.com, the former Clinton archenemy has told listeners to “pimp themselves” for just one day vote by voting for Hillary to keep the Democratic Party “at war with itself.”

Citing a story in a Texas newspaper headlined “Many Republicans to Vote for Obama,” Limbaugh told listeners this week: “I understand I’ve got a big challenge here to try to get Republicans to change their minds on this and vote for Hillary to keep her in the race, to keep that party at war with itself . . .

“It’s clear that Republicans in Texas have been listening to this program where we have advised Republicans to pimp themselves for a day and go vote in the Democrat primary . . . I just think, at this stage, the longer Hillary can stay in this, the better for us.”

Limbaugh said he wants to see Hillary and Barack Obama continue battling, noting that the battle will end if Hillary is vanquished and Obama can focus completely on presumptive GOP nominee John McCain.

“I know I’m fighting an uphill battle . . . vote for Hillary to keep this campaign going, this ‘uncivil war,’” Rush said.

“Remember what this is, this is about us winning. You have to understand, it’s not about Hillary winning; It’s about us winning. It’s about our party winning. It’s about those people losing. They’ve got some problems in the Democratic Party. It’s not all sweetness and light over there . . .

“If Hillary loses this thing, all of that’s going to come to a screeching halt. We want all the disruption in that party as possible. It’s about us winning.”

 http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2008/03/12/rush_the_vote_operation_chaos

Read Full Post »

Michael Steele on Jon Huntsman and Open Primaries

Posted in politics, tagged , , , on November 17, 2011| 5 Comments »

On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Michael Steele stated that the majority of GOP primaries are open primaries.  Jon Huntsman and Herman Cain aren’t exploring Democrats as a vast pool of curious voters.  Polls indicate that Huntsman is the Republican who most non-Republicans actually would consider in the general election.  (Watch Steele on this video link from the 1:00 mark.)

#45336039

I am ticked off that GOP voters automatically turn up their noses at Huntsman because he accepted President Obama’s request for him to serve as U.S. ambassador to China.  For that reason alone, Huntsman deserves some Obamacrats’ votes and his cool demeanor on the GOP debate stage creates a contrast from red-meat conservatives.  I was surprised to learn that Huntsman’s record as Utah’s governor was more conservative than Mitt Romney’s governor record in Massachusetts. 

A primary vote for President Obama is basically a “feel good” gesture because he is only person on the Dem ballot.  Democrats who vote this one time in the GOP primary would be seriously messing with their heads and their statistical research.  They flirt with Huntsman, Cain, Paul and Bachman but we could actually make one of them the winner of the South.  

Jon Huntsman and Herman Cain could pack Black college meeting facilities from Orangeburg, SC, to Dallas, TX but their handlers don’t know the potential as well Michael Steele.   Moderate Democrats could be their Hail Mary pass and mixing things up would be so much fun.

Read Full Post »

Open Letter: Regarding Southern Democrats and All Presidential Campaigns

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , on November 14, 2011| Leave a Comment »

If the GOP presidential primary process continues deep into the winter, all candidates will benefit in some way (including President Obama.)  We should pause to think about Tim Pawlenty and Mitch Daniels—good guys that most voters never got to know as presidential candidates because they exited too early.  Those exits should be a lesson for current candidates who don’t see much of a lifeline at this point.  Your lifeline might be open primary states Democrats, a pool of voters rarely mentioned but prime for the taking.

http://unlikelyalliesproject.com/

President Obama will be the Democrat nominee, so most southern Democrats are free to vote in the GOP primary and change the game.  In my opinion, the following presidential campaigns should support our Hear Me Out/ “Unlikely Allies Project.com” effort for these reasons:

President Obama: The GOP candidates’ fighting among themselves shortens the coming barrage against Obama/Biden 2012.  Smooth, reasonable GOP candidates being ignored on the national stage bodes well for the president’s effort because voters wonder why these quality candidates aren’t doing better.

Herman Cain: The best crowd-pumper-upper in the GOP field; has Black Democrats looking seriously at conservatism; fundraising master. The GOP nominee will need him everywhere (if he isn’t the nom.)  

Jon Huntsman: Reasonable guy who Obama appointed ambassador to China; having him in the GOP field makes moderates wonder why the Republicans are looking elsewhere.  Huntsman might get more primary votes from moderates and centrist Democrats than Republicans.  The GOP nominee will need him to campaign for moderate voters; might be U.S. ambassador to U.N. or Secretary of State; the GOP candidate Democrats don’t want in the general election.  

Rick Perry: Despite recent events, Perry could get a support boost from blue –collar southern Democrats; governs a state with an economy larger some nations.

Newt Gingrich: Southerners remember his speakership and Contract With America; ideas guy who needs a little more time to get back in it; some Georgians support Gingrich and Cain for regional reasons.

Ron Paul:  Many Independents, Libertarians and politically homeless people love this guy’s straight talk ; GOP polls don’t reflect his true potential.   

Michelle Bachman: Might do big numbers with Democrat women.  

Like college football 2011: President Obama is like L.S.U. and that would make Mitt Romney one-loss Alabama and Rick Perry maybe Arkansas.  Well, brainy Huntsman (Sanford) and undefeated, unchallenged Cain (U of  Houston) are who Obama/L.S.U. wants to face in the general election/national championship game.  “To be the best you beat the best” sounds great in theory but in reality you want an easier opponent at the end.  LSU/Obama fans are cheering for Houston/Cain and Sanford/Huntsman.    

Summary: We think every presidential campaign (except maybe Romney) should support and promote our UnlikelyAlliesProject.com effort to education open primary states Democrats about their options.  These campaigns should get their folks to “like” our facebook page then come to public forums to speak up.  With the importance of the issues, we must all be engaged every step of the way.

Read Full Post »

Presidential Candidates: Rebranded

Posted in politics, tagged , , on November 3, 2011| Leave a Comment »

When did branding become so important in politics?  A brand, as defined by the American Marketing Association, is a name, term, sign, symbol or design or combination of them intended to identify the goods and services of one seller or group of sellers and to differentiate them from those of others sellers. It is about getting your prospects to see you as the only one that provides a solution to their problems.

We know branding from Coke and Tide but now Sarah Palin and Rev. Al Sharpton have joined Puff Daddy, Deion Sanders and Martha Stewart as brands with multi-dimensional money-making divisions. 

I personally think some candidates seek office with post-election/service branding opportunities in mind.  The funny thing is that master branders Herman Cain and Newt Gingrich are close to the White House than they planned and could be there  if their branding operations gave way to actual campaign operations.

I should take a stab at writing a rebranding statements for Cain, Gingrich and my guy Obama:

Herman Cain: “Okay..okay..I was initially running to push the conservative message and “stay paid” in the process.  Who knew that the presidential field would be this weak and that I would be the front runner. If I knew this would happen, I would have written an Obama style book that put any juicy stuff out there from jump street.  Well, it’s rough at the top but I will survive with my new-found support from those in the Black community who I have avoided to date but who are in my corner because they hate seeing one of their own recreationally ripped apart by the media.  I went to Morehouse College and yes I should have seen this drama coming.”

Newt Gingrich: “I really am as smart as Obama but sometimes smart guys get caught up in the game.  The dumb, mean act was design to get Tea Party support but I miss calculated.  I don’t have Romney’s hair but the brain under the hair I have is huge and could be reprogram to create sound governmental policy. I am hella presidential.”

Barrack Obama: “If you check the video history, I never said it would be easy or that I could do it alone. That was you’ll….not me.  Since the far Right insists on talking about matters that shouldn’t be part of governmental policy, I am going to “flip the script” and do the same.  In my second term, I will devote my time and energy to pointing out the limited role of government and what the average person can do with hard work and determination to have a Huxtable or Obama like family.  That won’t be easy either.”

It’s time for these candidates to be less Madison Avenue branding and get down to some Main Street/Country Road real talk branding.  As a matter of fact, they should forgo branding and simply be themselves.

Read Full Post »

Obama vs. Cain, the Black Women with White Men List and Other Insults

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 2, 2011| 1 Comment »

People get and give insults in the South all day every day.  If you have thin skin, you should move.  These insults come to mind.

The Michael Basiden Show’s list “8 Reasons Black Women Should Date White Men: First, Black Women should date whoever makes them happy and treats them well.  But, the list from Basiden’s show ticked me off because I don’t think the desired traits are rare among my friends. I did like the list’s view on our community’s glorification of thug life.

http://madamenoire.com/22660/8-reasons-to-date-a-white-man-30188/

Obama vs. Cain: I once worked at the U.S. Congress across the hall from Rep. John Conyers’s office and he had a young bright chief of staff named Julian Epstein.  At my Black college homecoming last weekend, many old classmates asked my opinion of the Herman Cain presidential candidacy and I told them that Obama vs. Cain was great for several different reasons from several different angles. I am insulted by Black people who think the Black electorate isn’t intelligent and crafty enough to vote for Cain in the open primary states if they want to see him faceoff with Obama.

While watching Fox News yesterday (yes, I watch Fox News sometimes), Julian Epstein let the cat out of the bag by saying that Democrats aren’t behind the recent Cain drama because smart Democrats want Cain to be the G.O.P nominee.  Epstein then seriously said that Democrats would donate to Cain’s campaign.  As we say in the South, Julian should “hush” because he is telling family business in the streets but he is so right.

Cain is to Obama as LBJ was to Kennedy: Yes, I can insult my political friends by stating that crass LBJ passed bills that smooth Kennedy didn’t get to before his tragic departure.  Those Kennedy boys were no match for the Dixiecrats but old Lyndon knew how to fight fire with fire.  LBJ said that he was insulted when a lifelong Black employee of his family would drive from Texas to the White House and if she need to use the bathroom in route, she had to squat in the woods. 

Obama is my favorite president but possibly too nice to turn the nation around.  He is too nice with the loyal opposition and he is too nice with his base regarding personal responsibility.  If you read the 8 reasons Black women should date White men, you will see that the president and the first lady could say more about their development and growth relative to teaching the next generation of all colors.  If Obama won’t get brass, Cain certainly would and that might be the answer.

Herman Cain, Bill Clinton and Thomas Gipson:  I worked at Albany State University with old school southern gentleman Thomas Gipson..God rest his soul.  Mr. Gipson, like Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had knowledge and wisdom for you everyday but he got a pass or was grandfathered on political correctness.  Gip said that the university’s harassment policies were nonsense and that he would never stop complimenting lovely women. 

Bill Clinton, one of my three favorite presidents, insulted me with that whole Monica mess as did Bush 43 with weapons of mass destruction.  If I gave Clinton and Bush passes, Herman Cain gets one also.  If people from Albany, Georgia, want to know what Cain likely said, they should remember Thomas Gipson and know that what was once tradition is now litigation.

In summary, “yes we can.”  We can reelect President Obama.  We can elect a Georgian as president if not Obama.  We can better position ourselves to enhance the lives of Black women.  We can understand if said women find happiness elsewhere.  We can understand that no candidate is perfect and neither are we.  We can use insults as positive dialog starters.   

We can put on that Sade’s remake of Timmy Thomas’s 1972 classic “Why Can’t We Live Together,” sit back and explain to Cain’s supporters why they are alienating the massive political center.  You can’t win the White House without the center.

Read Full Post »

Red State Democrats and Hillary’s PUMAs: Inconsequential or Potential Game-changers

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on October 25, 2011| 1 Comment »

To hear experts talk, the next presidential election will be decided in a few swing states.  Democrats in red states must sit back, donate and watch.  The only say many moderates have during the process is the primary elections. 

President Obama will be the Democrat nominee but should Dems hedge our bets by voting in the GOP Primary for the most moderate Republican or the candidate we would like to see faceoff against the president.

When told to fall in line in 2008, Hillary Clinton’s supporters created the moniker PUMAs (Party Unity My Ass.)  They felt it was her turn and that she was better prepared to be POTUS.  Eventually, they got behind the Dem nominee and without them it would be President McCain and yes Vice President Palin.

In 2012, the passionate, committed conservatives won’t compile with party bosses so easily if their guy/gal doesn’t make the final cut.  They talk a good game but must make a PUMA-like decision between selecting a nominee who is most like them (Herman Cain, Rick Perry, Michelle Bachman) or selecting someone who can appeal to political moderates and independents (Mitt Romney, Jon Huntsman.)

Did I mention that Red State Democrats have nothing but time on our mischievous hands?  

Red State Democrats should consider these GOP Primary options:

Those Who Love Obama’s vibe: vote Huntsman.

Those Who Love An Economic/Jobs focus: vote Cain, Romney or Gingrich.

Those Who Want to See a Georgian In the Oval Office: vote Cain or Gingrich.

Those Who Want to See the GOP nominee be Just Like the Average Far Right Conservative and therefore Unappealing to the Political Center thus Improving Obama Chances: vote Cain or Perry.

Summary: Red State Democrats are consequential after all but can they be organized to make such crafty, cunning poll move.  “Hell Naw” is the likely answer.

Read Full Post »

Politics and Football’s Veer Option Offense

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , on October 21, 2011| 1 Comment »

Triple Option Veer

Presidential politics puts college football’s option offense in my mind.  Mixing metaphors is risk as we remember Obama/Palin with lipstick on a pig and more recently Herman Cain’s 999 with apples and oranges.  Those other candidates at the Western debate knew full well what he was saying.  State sales tax will still be there anyway on apples…whatever. I like a flat 14% income tax personally.  

While I am no expert on football, I know that the triple-option, the veer or the wishbone is the base formation that allows three running options: the fullback receiving the handoff, the quarterback side pitching to the half back or the quarterback running the ball himself.  The quarterback might also pass to a receiver.  With the new “spread” option, the quarterback is in the shotgun formation and the defense is spread because several wide receivers are used. 

In 2008, Barrack Obama was basically the quarterback of a spread, wildcat offense because we put the best player on the team at quarterback and said run fast and think on your feet. 

(Here is where the metaphors get murky and confusing.)

Today, the American voter is the quarterback, Obama is the tailback; Biden is maybe the blocking fullback; and Hillary joins Timothy Geithner as wide receivers going deep.  A sound economy is the goal line/endzone and some feel that Hillary should be quarterback.

We can stay with the current starters or put in the red-shirt (red as in Republican) freshmen who really to play.  Romney wants to be tailback while Rick Perry is a tight end who needs to block but can also catch the ball.  In from the pizza concession stand, Herman Cain could be Hershel Walker or another Marcus Dupree.  Coach Newt Gingrich knows the Xs and Os but coaches don’t suit up.

Bottomline: Voters need options.  If something isn’t working, we need to pitch, pass or put someone else in the game.  Of course, the GOP could be the other team and they are keying on Obama because he might be all the weak Dem team has.  Check this out, we are all on the same team and penalty flags are flying everywhere. 

Ultimately, the people drive the economy and we have been weak in the weight room, weak in practice and unprepared on game day.  The developing world might be the other team and they have become the manufacturers we once were.  The game shouldn’t be decide in the press box (the media) by has-beens or never-weres….dog- gone Monday morning quarterbacks.

Oklahoma’s J.C. Watts was the sweetest option quarterback in history while Texas’s Earl Campbell and O.U. Billy Sims were the best running backs.  You never knew if Watts was running or pitching to his tailback and sometimes he pitched down field.  Former GOP Congressman Watts recently brought liberal former House Armed Services Chairman Ron Dellums into his governmental lobbying firm.  J.C. is smart enough to know that you scheme for gameday by knowing the other side or using a scout team of red-shirts.

The presidential primary is like the recruiting process and we want good red-shirts on the team because we might need to change late in the game or season if the starters aren’t producing (double-digit unemployment, four dollar gas.)

Obama is my starter but who do we need on the sidelines in waiting—Romney, Cain, Perry, Gingrich.   “Veer right…and pitch down field on two.”  

  http://www.ktvu.com/news/29525390/detail.html

  Longtime Democrat Dellums working for Republicans

Read Full Post »

Double Dog Dare: Primary Vote for Herman Cain

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , on October 17, 2011| 1 Comment »

Herman Cain’s presidential campaign has created a fascinating scenario for southern voters.  Since folks are digging his simple, straight-forward style, I will break it down straight, no chaser.

Romney vs. Obama:  The White House is prepping for Romney because he is the candidate, as a former moderate, who would be most attractive to centrist voters.  His downside to conservatives is that he is a traditional Chamber of Commerce establishment guy without dirt under his nails.  

Newt Gingrich vs. Obama: Newt is as smart as President Obama and fully prepared to govern but the GOP base sees him as a nerdy professor.  I like the idea of a Georgian in the W.H. to protect our regional interests.

Rick Perry vs. Obama: While the media is insinuating that Rick isn’t ready, we must remember that he governs the planet of Texas, a state that was once a republic and a state which has the world’s 14th largest GDP.  We should never sleep on a Texan with power and funding.   

Cain vs. Obama:  First, see the Georgian comment under Newt’s section.  Georgian Cain must have been raised on Coke, peaches and peanuts like me.  Cain is a real southern conservative.  In his senate race, he was to the political right of Senator Isakson.  Southern conservatives want leaders who are just like them– leaders who shoot from the hip and cast a big shadow like John Wayne.  Herman Cain and Rick Perry fit that image.  

Summary:  10,000 Maniacs isn’t a political convention but a cool band that wrote “Candy That Everyone Wants.”  The 10K maniacs who will be at the GOP National Convention will be manic for a red meat Republican like Herman Cain when Romaine lettuce Romney would be a select the Center would find more appetizing in November.  Oh yeah, the Far Right does not care what the GOP establishment or the Center wants because they think they have the numbers. 

It’s like a kid in the candy store and parents should let a kid have all the candy he wants once then watch him get sick.  As Natalie Merchant and the 10,000 Maniacs sang, “Give ‘em want they want.”  I want a Georgian to be president if not Obama; so, I am a Democrat who will be voting for Cain or Newt in the GOP primary since Jon Huntsman will be long gone by then.

Herman Cain is like candy to my Tea Party friends and they swear they have the numbers to win the general election with him.  As southern kids say, I “double dog dare” you all to put Cain up against Obama.

Centrists and moderates in the South (whose primary vote would be otherwise wasted) should vote in the GOP Primary and give them what they want.  If Cain became president, regular folks would know that they need to get their “blank” together because it will officially be survival of the fittest. Guess what, it’s survival of the fittest NOW but the Democrat leaders are too soft to admit it.  The Piss and Vinegar conservatives might actually be healthy for the nation….like a drill sergeant.   

Democrats voting for any Republican isn’t approved by the D.N.C. but my father is dead so nobody tells me what to do (except the police.)

Read Full Post »

Cain/Huntsman 2012?

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , on October 8, 2011| 2 Comments »

When looking at presidential possibilities, two questions should come to a voter’s mind: who do you want to be president and who ensures that the other team’s guy isn’t president.  As a centrist Democrat, I want Obama and if someone from the other side became president with a snap of my fingers, it would be Jon Huntsman.  Note: I don’t have magic fingers.

From my standpoint, the nuttiest GOP candidate would help make Obama a second term president and hardhead far Right conservatives are careening down that path.  Thanks.   Gov. Mitt Romney is presidential and decent enough to centrists and that is the reason the GOP doesn’t want to pick him. 

The GOP candidates who could easily take the White House are Jon Huntsman and Herman Cain.  Really.  Huntsman is a GOP version of President Obama and therefore is polling two points above Ron Artest and me.

If Herman Cain gets all of the conservative voters in November 2012, he goes over the top with your mamma’s vote.  Some older Blacks quietly feel that President Obama, a wonderful person, isn’t scarred and hard enough to hang in the rough and tumble world of politics.  It’s painful from them to see such a nice young man get punched day in and day out.  “Lord, get that fellow out of there before his heart grows dark like Jimmy Carter.”  Others feel that the nation doesn’t deserve Obama and I understand their point.

If we look at Herman Cain, we see someone who is self-made, older and rich—old rich dudes can cut loose because they are already paid. Cain is a southerner and a Morehouse product.  He can say anything he wants but down inside Cain is a Baptist brother from the dirty South.  Obama was raised in nice places by nice people but Cain and every Black son of the old South is seasoned and hard on some level. I can’t believe that Cain recently said that he is American first, Black second and conservative third.  

If Cain adjusted his message a bit by getting Shay and some of the other Black moderates and conservatives who write on the Booker Rising blog in his ear, he should secure 20% of the Black vote—half from those who want him in the White House and half from those who want Obama bashing to end.  Hell, the First Lady might vote for Cain because she is tired of folks dumping on her man.

How do you balance a Cain ticket with Obama-like smoothness, public executive experience and international knowledge?  Cain/Huntsman sounds mighty interesting.   Black Georgians should vote in the GOP primary with this post in mind.

Read Full Post »

Uncle Sam and Rev. Wright

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

For me, being an uncle is an important role and we should all know our roles.  Avuncular is an adjective that means “of or pertaining to an uncle.”  Uncles and aunts serve as part-time parents like the Parents Reserves—one weekend a month and two weeks per year.

A kid may hangout with good old uncle Teddy for a short period of time and then it’s back to the parents because Sports Center or Jeopardy is on the box.

History buffs know that the term Uncle Sam came from meat-producer Samuel Wilson who provided barrels of processed meat to our troops during the War of 1812.  That aid is the source of the term pork barrel spending.

An uncle shouldn’t take the place of parents and young people should never have kids with plans for mama, daddy, uncle, aunt or Uncle Sam to provide long-term support.    

Readers of this blog know that Uncle Teddy welcomed the Obama campaign and presidency in part to hear the Obamas/Robinsons cut loose on their methods for family success: education, hard work, hose to the grin stone, eyes on the prize, and avoiding toxic people.  I am still waiting for them to speak frankly but I can tell that the First Lady is going to write one important book on the subject after they exit the White House.  She is going to tell us what is really wrong with us in her opinion and she will be so very right. 

Uncle Sam isn’t your daddy.  Uncles can help create nurturing environments but uncles and aunts cannot do for you what you must do for yourself.  The late, great Bernie Mack took in his sister’s kids but that guy was rich.  Most uncles and aunts aren’t rich and neither is Uncle Sam.

The Obama Administration (the current Uncle Sam) should explain the national debt to regular Americans and employ the JFK statement about “what you can do for your country.”  You should have kids after age 25 with someone with a proven income who is emotionally-developed.  You should focus on a career path in school.  You should honor the fight for freedom by staying out of jail.  

I might be eccentric Uncle Teddy in my family because “there is no-telling what Uncle Teddy might say next.”  But time will tell that “unc” or auntie say what the parents didn’t or wouldn’t.

To me, Rev. Jeremiah Wright was Obama’s uncle and the White House’s message would be better if he was around.  Yes, the old guy said some wild things but all old guys do that—they earned the right as combat vets.  When the old guys who drink coffee at McDonald’s ask me if I am my father’s “boy,” there is no need to trip. 

But, Rev. Wright’s directives to Black America are rooted in the self-determination mentality that existed before the welfare state.  Rev. Wright is actually as conservative as Rev. Herman Cain and could sit and listen to a discussion between them for hours.

Uncles will praise your accomplishments but we will grind you up when you mess up.  It will take the uncles and aunts in my community “reading” the youth if our futures are going to be better.  Man, my Aunt Della could get you told  for “old and new” with a quickness.  I am keeping the family tradition.    

Aunt Della

Read Full Post »

Congressional Map: Rep. Bishop and Rep. Austin Scott safe at home

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , on August 23, 2011| 1 Comment »

Georgia’s proposed congressional map is out and I feel just fine.  President Obama once said don’t let perfect be the enemy of good.  I would have liked my hometown to remain in Rep. Sanford Bishop’s district but we took one for the team. 

Since my county is GOP-dominated, it’s better for Bishop that we bounce into the 8th congressional district and Rep. Austin Scott is much more open to debate and discussion than the average southern Republican.  The guy can go toe to toe while keeping the punches above the belt.

Being comfortable in a conservative congressional district was prepped by having two conservative U.S. senators and surprisingly by the moderate service of Blue Dogs like Sanford Bishop and former Rep. Jim Marshall.

We must ask ourselves if GOP congressmen are more influenced by the energetic Tea Party Movement or the sizeable moderate sections of their areas.  To be honest, Democrats and Black folks need to build a functional relationship with whoever serves them because elected officials sometimes look at election results and get punitive. 

If this map stands, it would be a waste of time and energy running candidates against Bishop and Scott.  The battleground is the new 12th district and my good friend Helen Blocker Adams might be kingmaker over there because she knows Augusta like the back of her hand and real people trust her.   

Man, I wish Bishop and Scott could take the time they would spend (waste) fundraising and campaign and use that energy to find a common ground.

http://www.legis.ga.gov/Joint/reapportionment/Documents/congprop1.pdf

Read Full Post »

Crystal Ball: Georgia Reapportionment and 2012 Elections

Posted in politics, tagged , , , , , , , on August 9, 2011| 1 Comment »

If crystal balls were real, I would look into one and tell Georgia what will happen with congress reapportionment and the 2012 elections (no need to state the obvious in safe seats.)

Georgia 2nd District: Macon, Columbus and Albany will again be in this district and it will be Dem for the next ten years.  If Rep. Bishop decides to move into a position with the next administration (Obama or some GOP POTUS), the GOP should start grooming a likable African American candidate who is less bitter (a Black Scott Brown.)  If Bishop is unbeatable in 2012, wise guys in the GOP should discourage anyone from running just to be running because Bishop’s campaign apparatus serves as the S.W. Georgia foundation of Obama 2012. 

Georgia 8th District: This district becomes unwinnable for a Democrat with the exit of the Dem. sections of Macon.  As in the 2nd, energy and resources spent running a candidate could be better spent in truly contested congressional districts or charitable contributions.  If we free up members from raising money, they would have more time to seek solutions and would be less beholden big money donors.

Georgia 1st District: While members don’t own districts, Rep. Jack Kingston is one conservative who doesn’t deserve token Dem. opposition.  Kingston has built a strong relationship in the Black community with his work on regional interests, frequent visits to “Democratic” events and his long history of hiring minority staffers.  He covers southeast Georgia like the dew or that funny smell from the paper mills.

Georgia 12th District: With the exit of Savannah to the 1st, this congressional race will be hotter than fish grease.  A few GOP members of the state legislature will run because it’s their turn but they should dust off Michael Steele’s old diversity plans and find a woman, a minority or a minority woman.  From the political center, I will say that the GOP doesn’t understand how easy it would be for women and minorities to support a less bitter conservative who adds range to the old boys club.  Rep. Barrow could switch to the GOP now and be safer; but he will likely stay Dem and count on the GOP producing a primary winner with little appeal to the center.  

Georgia New District: Hall County based…safely conservative.

Summary: Georgia is the biggest state east of the Mississippi River and President Obama needs to win it to have a second term.  Half of Georgia lives in metro Atlanta and there are a dozen different types of Black folks and a dozen different types of White folks in the peach state.  While urban Blacks are real liberals, rural Blacks could support certain conservatives in certain situations.  In this crystal ball, I see President Obama leaving office in 2013 or 2017 (hard to make out) but the aftermath is rough on the Black community.  We put all of our political eggs in one basket and an elephant is kicking that basket across the South. 

With secondary concern with presidential politics, our community should build a functional relationship with conservatives—at least the Black ones.  My dear brother Obama thought he would find a few conservatives interested in dialog and compromise but hell no.  If I could see into the conservative strategy meetings, it seems that the plan is to beat up on the president so much that we would say, “come home, man, before the stress beats you down.”  He said he was tough (which means the ablilty to take punishment like the only Black kid in a whole school.)  But to lead in this times, he needs to be rough also (like elbows on the basketball court.)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »