Merry Merry Christmas!! Christ the Savior is Born!!

Hello all I am going to take a break from blogging and spend some time with the family.
I hope that each of you have a wonderful Christmas and may God grant you all of the peace and blessings your heart desires.

I was on News and Notes today.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98593515


Check me out on today’s Bloggers roundtable. I am not thrilled about this segment but here it is.

Listen to me on NPR News & Notes on Monday 12/22/08

Guest blogger Ronald Wadley weighs in on the Rick Warren controversy.

On Thursday, President-Elect Barack Obama took the time note that he had extended an invitation to Rick Warren to conduct the Inaugural invocation. Rick Warren is the pastor of a Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California (fourth largest church in this country) as well as the author of the Purpose Driven Life series of books. However, Pastor Warren is also pro-life and a supporter of Proposition 8, the amendment to remove the rights of marriage equality in California.

Invocation is the act of invoking or calling upon a deity, spirit, etc, for aid, protection, inspiration and supplication. As the news spread across the country many of us in the LGBT community were upset at the choice of such and vocal opponent of marriage equality. The fact that President-elect Obama would select someone that is virtually the polar opposite to his views is interesting. However, I should not be totally surprised because during his campaign for the Office of the President he did not do the most orthodox things. He chose to go against the grain from time to time. What is startling to those of us in the LGBT community who after 8 years of right wing conservative policies and practices we looked at Obama as someone that would at least listen and possibly understand our plight. What did his advisors say when Pastor Warren’s name was pulled from the proverbial hat? Were there any same gender loving men and/or women in the room? As I listened to President-Elect Obama state his reasoning for choosing Pastor Warren I was not all that convinced as a same gender loving Black man that has advocated for equal rights for my fellow brothers and sisters. We needed this “wakeup call” so we can remain vigilant in our pursuit for equality on all levels. Now is not the time to become drunk with anticipation and take our eyes off the road. I understand that thought of bringing people together that do to agree in an effort to be more inclusive; however, I am not sure the world stage should be the platform at which that choice should be made. When I first heard about this selection I was indifferent to a large degree but after much contemplation I had to realize that I was letting our President-Elect off the hook. I had to reconcile that I truly felt that this decision was not one of his best. I realized that I was not doing my part as an advocate. It is unfair to him and to the LGBT community to stay silent just because this is the person in which so much of our hope is built. The inauguration of President-Elect Obama will be viewed by people from every continent and most countries on this earth. What message are we sending to the world by having Pastor Warren deliver the invocation?

Symbolic gestures are great; however, symbolism can also be misunderstood as hidden agenda. There are those that will think that we are making too much of this choice, however, would these same people be asking that question if the invocator was a person that vehemently opposed affirmative action or women’s rights?

Ronald Wadley is a Same Gender Loving Advocate who lives in Chicago and in full disclosure he is my BCF (Best Cousin Forever)

Interracial Dating the debate continues.

Check out these two posts. One from Jimi Izreal and the other from Boston Globe columnist Joseph Williams. I will blog about this later but both are very interesting.


The Interracial Dating Pool
by Jimi Izreal

Single life is overrated. Like this dude, I’m back in the swim after years of marriage, and let me just say: there’s an awful lot of pee in the dating pool. My attention is focused on trying to be the best dad I can, and when that piece of my life levels out to a New Normal, then I guess I’ll be back on the block again. Like I say on my Facebook joint, I’m not taking applications right now, but trust that I do ok with the ladies. Unlike Dude, I’m not worried about the political implications of dating a white woman, because there aren’t as many eligible black women out there as Essence magazine would have you believe. I’ve gone through period of my life where I was sincerely concerned about what coupling with a Debbie would say about my blackness. And that’s the great thing about maturity: you learn what’s really important, and what’s really important to me is being happy. If a woman from another background makes me happy, I don’t care what Al Sharpton thinks. I’m not dating by committee. If who you are involved with tarnishes your blackness, then you were probably weren’t that black to begin with. Now, I have children and people always talk about the message you send kids when you choose a mate of another race. In my experience, children take their cues from parent: if you are uncomfortable with your choice, chances are good they will be too. And if the person you are dating is an idiot, then their color hardly matters. My last relationship was with a white woman, and it was one of the most fulfilling, truly passionate partnerships of my life. Color was not an issue with us, but we were careful not to operate as if it wasn’t an issue in the world. I think that’s key—if you are black man with a white woman, you can’t pretend like color doesn’t matter, because you have to live in a world where it does.The thing is, I have a pretty hefty stack of applications on my desk that need to be vetted, from women of many colors, and I’m not inclined to discriminate by race. I laugh at black women who suggest that they can’t find a man because all the “good” black men are with white women. What I want to know is, where are all the good black women? Who are they all with--Nipsey Russell? You need more than race in common to be a good match...right?

Race and Romance
As a proud black man, what does it say about me if I date a white woman?
By Joseph Williams
December 14, 2008
·
Text size – +
When I recently became single again after a long marriage, thinking about reentering the dating world reminded me of a movie cliche, the one where explorers find a Japanese soldier who'd been holed up in a desert-island cave since World War II -- and he's stunned to learn the fight is over.


In 1995, on the summer day my bachelorhood ended, neither online dating nor Sex and the City existed. "Friends with benefits" meant a couple of buddies with a truck who'd help you move. Yet what's most made me feel as though I've stumbled from a cave, blinking in the sunlight, is the discovery that interracial dating has lost its stigma. And as a proud, conscious African-American man now free to choose a new partner, I'm encountering a lot of conflicting complex feelings that I kept inside me all those years in the dark. Call it the racial politics of dating.
Having grown up in the burbs and attended nearly all-white schools in Tennessee and Virginia, I've been with white females more than once in my modest dating history. Those relationships, however, didn't usually last long, haunted by the ghosts of the nation's bitter racial past. After all, my parents graduated from a segregated high school; in 1967, when I was 5, there were 16 states that still had anti-miscegenation laws, before the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional.
There's no doubt, however, that times have changed drastically. Our next president unabashedly describes himself as the product of a union between a white woman from Kansas and a black man from Kenya. Flirtations between the white character played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus and the black one Blair Underwood portrays on the hit sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine blossomed into a romance, with on-screen kissing and allusions to sex. Judging by the interracial couples I see strolling around Washington, D.C., where I now live, many people believe what I do: If someone makes you happy, race should be irrelevant. As a young man I did just that, dating across the race line before marrying a black woman and starting a family. Yet now divorced, I struggle to practice what I preach.
A few months ago, I attended a speed-dating event, where I noticed I was the only black person in the room. I ignored the discomfort, kept an open mind, and flirted with gusto, making a couple of matches. Afterward, in an online survey, I asked the organizers why there weren't black women there. Their innocuous response stung: We've got plenty of women at our events geared toward African-Americans, but we've had to cancel several because we didn't have enough African-American men. The response seemed to confirm an uncomfortable stereotype, something I'd heard from nearly every lonely African-American woman I know. It's harder than ever to find the love they want, the lament goes, because black men with options -- men like me -- would rather date white women.
Race and romance have preoccupied me since then. Questions linger: Is an attraction to a white woman a form of racial self-hatred? If I flirt with her, does it mean I've rejected my African-American sisters?
For now, I've decided I shouldn't deny myself a partner just to be on the "right" side. Romance, I've concluded, is less about race and more about having something in common with the object of your affection.
I've dated a white woman, the single mother of a biracial teenager, who loves hip-hop music and dancing. I'm smitten with an African-American woman who is a passionate member of the Washington National Opera and shares my love of rock music. At bars and at parties, white women have slipped me their phone numbers and black women have gunned down my clumsy advances. On the subway, I find myself checking out women of all races.
But, honestly, I may never eliminate the not-so-subtle pangs of guilt that surface when I date outside my race. The echoes of history are impossible for me to ignore.
Joseph Williams is the deputy chief of the Globe's Washington bureau. Send comments to coupling@globe.com.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.

Did SNL go to Far?

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/update-gov-paterson/881501/


This is a clip of Saturday Night Live's impression of New York Governor Patterson. There has been much criticism of this skit by the National Federation of the Blind and the Governor himself. Take a look at the skit and let me know what you think.




December 15, 2008 09:14 AM EST
Compare 09:14 AM EST07:57 AM EST07:40 AM EST07:17 AM EST and 09:14 AM EST07:57 AM EST07:40 AM EST07:17 AM EST versions
ALBANY, N.Y. — A "Saturday Night Live" skit portraying New York's blind governor as a bumbling leader didn't get a laugh from Gov. David Paterson.
Paterson's office said the skit ridiculed people with physical disabilities and implied that disabled people are incapable of having jobs with serious responsibilities.
"The governor is sure that 'Saturday Night Live,' with all of its talent, can find a way to be funny without being offensive," Paterson spokesman Errol Cockfield said in a statement Sunday. "Knowing the governor, he might even have some suggestions himself."
The skit that aired Saturday featured SNL cast member Fred Armisen as Paterson, who must appoint someone to replace Sen. Hillary Clinton. Armisen said he has three criteria for filling the job: economic experience, upstate influence and someone who is disabled and unprepared for the job _ like himself. He held up a chart illustrating the state's job losses upside down.
National Federation of the Blind spokesman Chris Danielsen said the portrayal suggesting Paterson as befuddled and disoriented because of his blindness is "absolutely wrong."
No one from NBC, which produces SNL, could be reached for comment early Monday morning

As a native daughter of Illinois , this is an embarrassment.

I would love to do a longer blog on this entire Blagojevich mess but I have a limited amount of time today. As a native Chicagoan I will say this entire scandal is an embarrassment to a city that seemed to be shedding all of the stereotypes that previously plagued it. I will say this quickly Politicians ALL POLITICIANS from the top to the bottom need to get their house in order. The American people already have a negative attitude about politicians and politics, so it does not help when incidents like this come to light. Stop being greedy, do your job and help people THAT IS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO. Remember we voted you in and we can vote you out.

In elections....take nothing for granted

Mr. Jefferson was favored in this race but voters said otherwise. It is important to note that in this season of economic downturn that folks are engaged like never before. This is not time for foolishness but it is time for work.

(CNN) -- Nine-term Democratic Rep. William Jefferson, who has been battling scandals and a federal indictment for the past three years, lost his bid for re-election on Saturday.

Louisiana Democratic Rep. William Jefferson has been embroiled in a bribery scandal.

Republican challenger Anh "Joseph" Cao, an attorney and community organizer, defeated Jefferson in the 2nd Congressional district race. He will become the first Vietnamese-American elected to Congress.
With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Cao had almost 50 percent of the vote to Jefferson's 47 percent.
The 2nd Congressional district, in and around New Orleans, is mostly African-American and heavily Democratic, and Jefferson appeared to be favored to win re-election going into the election.
"The people of the second district were able to transcend party, transcend race," Cao said after claiming victory Saturday night.
Voters also chose Republican John Fleming over Democrat Paul Carmouche in Louisiana's 4th District by a slim 356-vote margin.
Fleming will replace retiring 10-term Republican Rep. Jim McCrery, a top-ranking Republican on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
Elections in the districts were delayed after Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana in September, setting up what should be the last two federal contests of 2008 on Saturday. Both races had two other contenders who drew a small percentage of votes.
Jefferson has pleaded not guilty to 16 criminal counts of racketeering, bribery, money laundering and obstruction of justice. He denies any wrongdoing.
In 2005, Jefferson's private homes in Washington and New Orleans were raided, and FBI agents say they found $90,000 in cash stashed in one of his freezers.
Don't Miss
Live election results: District 2
Live election results: District 4
Officials say the money was part of a payment in marked bills from an FBI informant in a transaction captured on videotape. Jefferson also is accused of soliciting and receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes for himself and his family in exchange for promoting their products and services to countries in Africa.
In the 4th District, in the northwest corner of Louisiana and including Shreveport, McCrery announced in December 2007 that he would not seek re-election, opening up a GOP seat and setting off a campaign that attracted national attention and money.
The race pitted Webster Parish coroner Fleming against Caddo Parish prosecutor Carmouche in what political observers considered to be a toss-up.
The Louisiana secretary of state's office had predicted light voter turnout Saturday.
"The election is in December near the holidays, it was delayed from when it was supposed to be, and our prediction was that those factors would keep turnout low," said Jacques Berry, spokesman for the secretary of state.
President-elect Barack Obama recorded a radio ad on behalf of Carmouche but stayed quiet on Jefferson's re-election bid. A Jefferson spokesman said the congressman had not asked Obama for such help.

Article on Slaves who built the White House.

Great CNN article about slaves who built the White House. This article means so much right now and although I do not expect a black agenda from the new President but it would be nice if a memorial was dedifated for slaves who built the White House and the Capital.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- In January, President-elect Barack Obama and his family will make history, becoming the first African-American first family to move into the White House -- a house with a history of slavery. In fact, the legacy of American presidents owning slaves goes all the way back to George Washington.
A wood engraving of handcuffed and shackled slaves passing the U.S. Capitol, depicts a scene circa 1819.


Twelve American presidents owned slaves and eight of them, starting with Washington, owned slaves while they lived in the White House. Almost from the very start, slaves were a common sight in the executive mansion. A list of construction workers building the White House in 1795 includes five slaves - named Tom, Peter, Ben, Harry and Daniel -- all put to work as carpenters. Other slaves worked as masons in the government quarries, cutting the stone for early government buildings, including the White House and U.S. Capitol. According to records kept by the White House Historical Association, slaves often worked seven days a week -- even in the hot and humid Washington summers.
In 1800, John Adams was the first president to live in the White House, moving in before it was finished. Adams was a staunch opponent of slavery, and kept no slaves. Future presidents, however, didn't follow his lead. Thomas Jefferson, who succeeded Adams, wrote that slavery was an "assemblage of horrors" and yet he brought his slaves with him. Early presidents were expected to pay their household expenses themselves, and many who came from the so-called "slave states" simply brought their slaves with them.
Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, Andrew Johnson and Ulysses S. Grant all owned slaves but not during their time in office. James Madison, Jefferson's successor, held slaves all of his life including while he was in office. During the war of 1812 Madison's slaves helped remove material from the White House shortly before the British burned the building.
·
In 1865 one of Madison's former slaves, Paul Jennings, wrote the first White House memoir: "A Colored Man's Reminiscences of Life in the White House." In the book, Jennings called Madison "one of the best men that ever lived" and said Madison "never would strike a slave, although he had over one hundred; neither would he allow an overseer to do it."
There were other presidents who treated their slaves less kindly.
James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, John Tyler, James K. Polk and Zachary Taylor all owned slaves while they were in office. The last of these, President Taylor, said owning slaves was a Constitutional right and he said slave-owners like himself would "appeal to the sword if necessary" to keep them. The Civil War, of course, put that opinion to the test.
Now, the Obamas are moving into the White House.
"The apple cart has been turned over here when you have the Obamas -- the first African-American couple -- now actually management and you are having in some cases white Americans serving them," says presidential historian Doug Brinkley.
Michelle Obama learned this year that one of her great-great grandfathers was a slave who worked on a rice plantation in South Carolina. She says finding that part of her past uncovered both shame and pride and what she calls the tangled history of this country.
For many, the historic election on November 4 marked a new beginning.
Though Michelle Obama's ancestors had to come through the ordeal of slavery, "Her children are sleeping in the room of presidents," said Brinkley. "It's a very great and hopeful sign."

An Open Letter to Chrstine Beatty.

This is on my blog today and I wanted to share with each of you. I would appreciate your thots.

Ms. Beatty you do not know me but I have followed the saga that has besieged your life this year. Let me first say that this is not a judgment letter or a hateful one. As a person who will spend a lifetime asking the Lord for forgiveness I am in no position to do either. When I saw you cry in court today I felt tears well up in my eyes and thought about all you have lost: your husband, your job and a potential career in law. I am sure that is only the tip of the iceburg of what you have really lost and I am sure words cannot measure what you have gone thru this year.

The truth is your story is not new, many women are in prison or facing prison today for protecting a man or lying for one and unfortunately many of these women are women of color. So not only are they guilty of the crime but they like you are guilty of loving someone who was not good for them. What is so amazing to me is how hard women love and what we risk to get love from a man. We take beatings, emotional abuse, believe lies, and sometimes make our children second all in the name of love. Yes we know what he did wrong in the last relationship but of course” she” did not treat him right, or did not understand him So in our mind we think we can do things better and those bad habits he had will go away because we know how to make him happy. And of course when that does not happen we don’t think the problem is with him we think the problem is with us so we do what we have to do to stop the abuse, the cheating and any other behavioral issue that he has. We say if I cook this, treat him to this, do this change that then he will love me enough to change and perhaps even love me enough to leave his wife, stop hitting me cheating on me etc...

I guess Ms. Beatty I know your story because I have lived it, so have some of my friends have lived it , and some are still living it. The question is how do we grow from these situations and not meet the same man in as Oprah says “in a different pair of pants” with the same issues. What we must do is live authentically and be true to our hearts and our sixth sense. The Bible says in Proberbs “Protect your heart for it is the well spring of life.” We must admit our mistakes and forgive ourselves not just for our sake but for other as well. As I have told other people when we behave badly in relationships we are not just hurting ourselves but we are teaching our children how to behave in relationships, thereby creating dysfunctional relationships that will last for generations.

It is my prayer Ms. Beatty that you are able to repair your life and that you are able to use this setback as an opportunity for a comeback. Whenever I become judgmental of others I always think of people who God used in the Bible: David, his adultery led to his mistress becoming pregnant which led David to have her husband killed. Yet the Bible records that David was a man after the Lords own heart. When Paul was Saul he killed Christians for a living , yet God chose him to preach the Gospel and Paul when on to write a great portion of the New Testament and preach to many. If God can use these men he can use you and he can use all of us. We can let our bad choices be lessons to our sons and daughters and hopefully raise a better generation.


Good luck my sista and I look forward to hearing about your success after this cloud has passed and believe me it will pass.

Ms. Beatty in court today:

http://www.clickondetroit.com/video/18178360/index.html

Happy Holiday Season

There is so much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving. I hope that you are and your family are doing well this Holiday season.

Please keep all that affected by the terrorist attacks in Mumbai India. in your daily prayers.

God bless.

Great Newsweek article by Allison Samuels

I have to say I love a sista who tells it like it T-I-S. Such is the case with Allison Samuels and her wonderful cover story on Michelle Obama this week. The article talks about the new first lady to be and what she means to many black women in the United States. One of the subjects the article mentions that you will not see from a white reporter is the darker hue of Mrs. Obama’s skin and what it means to those sistas who are not light bright dam near white, which is always seems to be the standard of beauty in the United States. I applaud Ms. Samuels on this article, check out the link.

Check me out on NPR today: News and Notes.

Check me out on NPR News and Notes with fellow bloggers Shaun King of Shaun in the City and Harry Allen of Media Assassin.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97410377

Forgiveness....a good lesson!

Over the last few weeks since President-Elect Barack Obama was elected, we have heard a great deal about the book Team of Rivals by Doris Kearnes Goodwin. This book which was published in 2006 and has been cited by Barack Obama as one of the cabinet models he studying in forming his own cabinet. Ms. Goodwin’s book depicts the Presidency of Abraham Lincoln and how Mr. Lincoln put former rivals in his cabinet. Among Lincoln’s rivals were William Seward a celebrated senator from New York who at one time was certain to receive the Republican nomination in 1860, however a certain young Illinois congressmen who came out of nowhere beat him and became the Republican nominee (sound familiar?) Mr. Seward went on to serve as Lincoln’s Secretary of State, and although they argued on various issues Mr. Seward became Lincoln’s closet ally in his administration.

Therefore it is not surprising that Mr. Obama chose Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State. One of the great attributes of a great leader s is to bring people in his/her inner circle who will challenge conventional wisdom and not be a yes person. Mrs. Clinton will definitely bring this when she and Mr. Obama sit down and talk about foreign policy. But the most important lesson in this appointment is the ability of Barack Obama to forgive his former rivals. I loved the fact that when he meet with the Republican nominee John McCain this week the talking point that came out of the meeting was “we are going to work together to get our country back on track.”


Can the church say AMEN!!!!!!”
.
But back to Mrs. Clinton, over the course of the primary Mrs. Clinton attacked Mr. Obama on every front, to include defending the experience of John McCain over Mr. Obama’s. On one campaign stop Mrs. Clinton said “ I have experience, John McCain has experience Mr. Obama has a speech he gave four years ago. OUCH! But Mr. Obama has decided to let bygones be bygones and appoint her to one of the most powerful positions in the world. Mrs Clinton has not been the only one forgiven but Mr. Obama has said that Joe Lieberman should continue to be the Chairmen of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Mr. Lieberman chose during this election season to not only abandon the Democratic party but traveled miles around the country and campaigned for Mr. McCain over Mr. Obama. Now, most ruthless politicians would have thrown Mr. Lieberman under a bus but not Mr. Obama he has forgiven yet again and is allowing his former arch nemesis to keep his powerful chairmanship.

Here is the lesson, this country is in a crisis, not just economically, but physically, and emotionally. Mr. Obama understands more than anyone that in order to get the county back on track you must have the best people both in your corner and on your side. Enough with the partisanship , enough with the back door fighting, and enough with keeping enemies. Let’s make the country as good as its promise!


That my friends is real change we can believe in.

Hate is an ugly thing!

Please read the following article by Mr. Jesse Washington, it is about the hate crime that have occurred since the election of Barack Obama. While part of me is not surprised the other part is sickened by these events. Part of the reason many of these people love this county is the opportunity that it provide to a variety of people from all walks of life, which is what President Elect Obama's story is all about. Do these people only want white people to be President? Do they feel that an educated black man should not run? When they see that the county is going to be better after the eight years that Mr. Obama will serve I wonder will that make them believers.

Jesse Washington/AP's supposed "outbreak of racial anger" after Obama win

Jesse Washington of the Associate Press provides another example of Obama supporters continuing to play the race card after the election and by so doing shows that Obama's method of winning hasn't actually done much about race relations. The article is an example of the MSM and friends basically just keeping one race in line as was done in the past with another race (link ).

Crosses burning. Children chanting, "Assassinate Obama." Racial epithets scrawled on homes and cars.

Yes, there definitely has been an outbreak of isolated incidents involving those who have no real power. Washington can only find one physical attack, but there's definitely been a distinct trend of a very small number of completely isolated incidents. Like this incident he mentions:

Four North Carolina State University students admitted writing anti-Obama comments in a tunnel designated for free expression.

According to this , what they wrote could be "borderline threats". But, don't worry. From the same link: The university painted over all the tunnel's messages Wednesday because officials felt the disparaging comments were "going over the edge of what was acceptable," [a university police officer] said.

We're also informed that there was a "glow of racial progress and harmony that bloomed after the election of Democrat Barack Obama". Oddly, I don't recall much of a glow after his surrogates - now including Washington - constantly tried to portray Obama's opponents as racists. In fact, I don't think anyone who doesn't work for or serve as a surrogate for Obama (including the MSM) could locate such a glow. In other words, Washington just invented it.

From California to Maine, police have documented a range of incidents, including vandalism, threats and at least one physical attack. There have been "hundreds" of incidents since the election, many more than usual, said Mark Potok, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors hate crimes.

Washington later points out that Potok is white, which isn't really material. What is material is that Potok and friends are far-left grievance mongers who in effect make their money from hate: without "hate" - whether real, mischaracterized, or just hyped - the SPLC wouldn't be in business. Potok also isn't honest when it comes to statistics .

UPDATE: A trend has been spotted! This time, it's of left-wing hack reporters continuing to play the race card after the election. The second instance of the trend is "After Obama's win, white backlash festers in US" by Patrik Jonsson of The Christian Science Monitor (link ). It's basically the same article as Washington's, right down to relying on Potok of the SPLC.

I know I'ts crazy but I miss the election!

I know I am probably the only person in America
who feels this way but I miss the election. I miss
the polls, the debates and stump speeches.
However, I do know that 2012 is right around
the corner and we will be right back in the thick
of things again.

Did Oprah Know?????????

This picture was taken at Oprah’s Legend’s Ball May 22, 2006, over two years ago. I remember when the picture was taken and many people questioned Michelle Obama being in this picture. Funny how time changes everything. It is as if Oprah knew that Michelle would be the First Lady one day. Well this picture takes on a whole different meaning now and Michelle really is a legend. WAY TO GO OPRAH!!!!!!!!!!!

Is this a just a coincidence? Look at the events that will happen next year.

You could not have wrtten a better story!!!!!!!

200th anniversary of the birth of President Lincoln

http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial


http://www.mlkmemorial.org/


Naacp

http://www.naacp.org/events/centennial/index.htm

CHANGE CHANGE CHANGE!!!!!!!!

I found this pic on Andrew Sullivan's blog The Daily Dish. I love it.

My dream ..... and the new President

People have asked me for the last two days, two questions, how do I feel about Barack Obama becoming our nation’s first African American President and did I ever think I would see this day. It is hard to answer those questions without telling my journey. When my brothers and I were growing up we were taught to have a love for God, pride in our family, our race and our country. We were taught to have a pride in our African roots long before the mini-series “Roots” came on television and we were taken to Black plays, museums, and basically anything that was about uplifting the race. I cannot remember ever going to school on Martin Luther King’s birthday, even before it was a holiday and black literature and art was always around the house. At the same time I was taught to pledge allegiance to the flag, stand when the National Anthem was played and taught that if I prayed and worked hard in this country I could be anything I wanted to be. I am not sure when but sometime between the ages of 11& 13 I decided I wanted to be President of the United states and to be quite honest I never thought I could not be. When I told my parents of my Oval office aspirations I was never told it was something I could not do I was just told to work hard, and do well school. I truly believe that my parents thought that I could be anything I wanted to be if I set my mind to it.

When I graduated from Elementary school in 1981 I was technically the Valedictorian of my twenty eight member class. I received the Kiwanis Scholarship Award (the first black in our district area), gave the graduation speech for our class and was voted by my classmates “ Most likely to succeed.” For our graduation presentation, which was attended by our family friends each student had to give a short speech on what he or she wanted to be when they grew up. I can remember what some of my classmates said that day, some wanted to be writers, professional sports players, and a couple wanted to be doctors or lawyers. Some aspirations were applauded and I can even remember the women cheering when one of the girls stated she wanted to be the first woman to play in the NBA. I was last one to speak and of course I my wish was to be President of the United States. After my career declaration the crowd of the mostly white audience laughed out loud, it was not a “oh that’s cute” laugh but it was the kind of laugh that people give a comedian after a good joke, and it was the kind of laugh that said “you are kidding right. that could never happen”.

I have not thought about that night in a very long time, that is until Tuesday night when the President elect gave his acceptance speech. Of course because of the choices I made I could never be President of the United States but growing up I never thought I could not, and in a different time with different choices and discipline I believe that I could have been. The truth is in my youth I DID think I would see this day because I dared to dream that somehow it would be me. But that dream will never be and now I will live it through Mr. Obama.

When The President-Elect decided to run for President I was in his corner from day one and never thought about voting for anyone else. I spent time on his campaign, went to the convention and tried to convince naysayers who at that time where many. I have listened to him, praised him when I thought he was right and criticized him when I thought he was wrong. The only time I felt his election was in trouble was during the Rev Wright episode. On a personal note I belonged to Rev. Wright’s church for a few years, and a great deal of family both on my Mother and Father’s side still belong to this church, and I will never forgive the press on how they treated this brilliant man, they owe him an apology. As much as I love Rev. Wright I questioned if Obama’s campaign could survive it, and told my brother if Obama could survive it, he would be the next President.

When many people express how they feel about this historic moment they mention King, Evers, Emmett Till, John Lewis and others. But my thoughts go back to the Africans who made that nightmare of a journey from the shores of Africa to America. These people were shackled, laid on top of each other in their own filth and by force taken to the unknown, and although an estimated 100 million died in the Middle Passage the ones that survived arrived in America to a nightmare that took a civil war to end. And even with all of that an African man from Kenya decided to come on his own accord to that same America and have a child with a white woman from Kansas and conceive a child that would one day be President.

I am in awe of this moment at this particular time and as I have told my family and friends it is a moment that could only come through the blood, sacrifice and dedication of many human beings and also by the blessing of God. But if you think you cried on Tuesday just wait until you see President Obama stand in front of the Capital put his hand on the Bible that Michelle will hold and those cute little girls by his side and take the oath of office, it will truly be a sight to behold. Who know Clarence Thomas may be the justice that administers the oath of office……….because we know that even now miracles still happen.

The New President is Mr. Obama.

After an historic run President-elect Obama has done what many said would never happen. I will blog more about this later because I am so emotional but I am so happy and proud to be an American it means so much right now. God bless America and may God bless President Obama and his family.

Michelle closes the case!!!

I have not blogged because I have been attempting to help Mr. Obama become the nation’s 44th President. There is so much I could say about this historic race. However I am going to let the candidates wife make his case.

See below.


Guest Commentary: The Final Push for Real Change in America
Date: Monday, November 3, 2008


---

Election Day is almost here. Tomorrow, millions of Americans will head into voting booths across the country and cast their votes. And I can’t wait to be one of them.

For the past 21 months, I’ve traveled to every corner of the country, talking about my husband’s plans for our future and encouraging folks to give him their vote. On Tuesday, I get to follow my own advice and cast my ballot for Barack Obama. And I’ll have our daughters, Malia and Sasha, with me. Because voting for Barack will be one of the proudest moments of my life — not only because I love him, but also because I believe so deeply in his vision for our nation, and I know with my whole heart that he will be an extraordinary president.

Many of you are still undecided about which candidate deserves your support. Maybe you’re not convinced that voting is worth it, or that your voice really matters. It does. Voting is a powerful way to build a better country and a better future for our children, step by step. So this election, please take this opportunity to make your voice heard.

The issues at stake in this election touch all of us. Like how we’re going to address this economic crisis and help middle-class families get back on their feet. Whether we’ll finally fix our broken health care system. How we’ll make sure our kids get the education they deserve and the opportunity to pursue their dreams. These aren’t just political issues. This is personal — to you and to me.

And I can tell you that it’s personal to Barack. He’s faced these issues his entire life.

Barack was raised by a young single mom who worked hard to put herself through school while raising two kids, often worrying about how she would pay the bills. Thanks to her strength and determination, Barack got an excellent education, which made all the difference in his life. But Barack’s mother was taken from us far too soon. She died of cancer when she was just 53. And Barack will never forget her final months, as she lay in her hospital bed, fighting with the insurance company over whether they’d cover her treatment.

So he understands the struggle of working families. He knows the power of education to transform lives and create opportunities. And he’s felt firsthand the heartbreak caused by a failing health care system. These are the experiences he carries in his heart every day.

That’s why he’s such an extraordinary husband and father — always finding time for our girls and our family, even during the busiest, most stressful moments of this campaign. And that’s why I believe he is the president our country needs so badly right now.

We have an important choice to make in this election. And I know there are still voters out there who are making up their minds about the candidates. In case you’re not sure of Barack’s priorities and positions on the issues, here is some information that may help you.

Barack is the only candidate in this race with an economic plan built around the middle class. He’ll give a tax cut to 95 percent of all working Americans, and he’ll stop giving tax breaks to companies that ship jobs overseas — and start rewarding companies that create jobs here at home. Barack is the only candidate with a health care plan that will cover all Americans and cut costs for families.

He’s the only candidate with a long-term energy plan that looks beyond quick fixes and makes real investments in renewable energy, so we can end our dependence on foreign oil and create millions of new jobs here at home.

He’s the only candidate with a comprehensive plan to invest in schools and early childhood education, and to make college affordable, so that no students have to give up their dreams of going to college because their families can’t afford it.

And Barack is the only candidate in this race with a plan to bring our troops home from Iraq responsibly, so we can rebuild our military and start investing the $10 billion we’re spending each month in Iraq here at home instead.

These are Barack’s positions. These are his values. If they’re yours as well, I urge you to give him your vote.

But no matter which candidate gets your support, I urge every American to participate in this election. Make sure you vote Tuesday. And help other folks in your lives get to the polls as well. The lines may be long, but don’t let that stop you. It’s never been more important that all of us make our voices heard.

And if we do that—if we cast our votes, and help others do the same—that we can start building that better future for all our kids. And we can finally bring the change we need to the country we love.

---

Michelle Obama is the wife of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee for president.

I am sick of "Joe" the plumber

Ok I have tried to be patient and I have tried to be nice but I am sick of Joe the plumber. This guy has become famous because he asked Obama about the taxes he would pay IF he buys a plumbing business and makes $250,000. Obama told him IF this happens he would pay higher taxes and we have to spread the wealth. Because of this one comment he has been called a “Socialist” amongst other things.

What kills me about this “Joe” person is that he has taken this whole thing and run with it. He may be running for Congress, and he is on a “Joe the Plumber tour” for McCain. But let’s clear up some things #1 He is not a licensed plumber -- Hey Joe why don’t you get off of the tour and get that license #2 He is not making that much money right now so under the Obama tax plan he would get a tax break so Joe could save money and get that business even faster-DUHHHH!!! #3 He owes back taxes so why won't Joe pay his back taxes and then worry about his future taxes. Ain’t that logical?? Yes I meant to say AIN”’T # 4 His name is not EVEN JOE!!!!!!!!

This guy is a joke but perhaps the joke is own me. Next week when Obama wins the election Joe will probably have his own show on Fox, run for Congress and win. Hmm perhaps he should be worrying about his new tax base.

Nine days and counting.....

Is it just me or are these the longest two weeks in my life?

I have watched this campaign minute by minute since it first started. I have witnessed each candidate announcing his/her candidacy, and saw when each dropped out (execpt the last two).

I waited patiently as each candidate picked their running mates and kept a close eye on more polls than I care to admit to.

Meet the Press, This Week, and Fox News Sunday, Harball and the best political team on CNN has replaced "The Closer, Law and Order, and any other tv show that is out there.

So now I am awaiting the true results along with the rest of the world. Oh boy what while I do w/my time when all of this is over? Perhaps I will find a new kind of life one that does not deal with TV, computers and newspapers. Dare I dream?????

Why McCain is losing!!

Is is interesting to me that people still don't get why McCain is losing.The reason is because people are tired of doing these the same old way, negative ads, character attacks and stupid robo calls.
Americans realize that these things are not going to put money in their pockets,, gas in their tank and groceries in the fridge.
It is the message that Obama has stuck with they want change and Obama is the man to give it to them.
What is going to be very shocking is that in four years they are going to interview Joe the plumber and I will bet my plunger he will have more money in his pocket because of the tax cut and he will be an Obama supporter,

Conservatives are not the only Americans

. "Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these,
the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"


This is what is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty that many immigrants saw at as a symbol when they came to Ellis Island. One of the things that always makes me emotional is watching movies about immigrants who spent weeks at sea, for some a very dangerous voyage but had a look of hope when they finally saw Lady Liberty. It truly epitomizes what the hope and promise of this county meant and still means to all who come here. In his song America Neil Diamond sings “On the boats and on the planes They're coming to America Never looking back again They're coming to America” Mr. Diamond speaks to the spirit and hope of all of the dreams that many immigrants had and have when coming here. What is so interesting is the ideas going on in the conservative community saying that some people are more American than others and that being conservative gives one a monopoly on being American. I think more people should to to New York and read the saying on the Statue of Liberty and get a heavy dose of what America is all about

Colin Powell is the Truth!!!

The endorsement of Barack Obama by Colin Powell was a not a surprise to most people, however the words that he used did leave some speechless. Mr. Powell basically stated the way the McCain campaign was behaving in attacking Barak Obama was wrong; he went on to say that bringing up Ayers was a very divisive tactic and fueling a great deal of anger and hate by McCain supporters. He seemed to share the sentiment of former President Bill Clinton who said today in Reno, NV he was not going to put down McCain’s character as a person in order to support Senator Obama. The truth is the campaign Obama has run is not politics as usual and Mr. Obama has made a great amount of effort to make his campaign positive. However, he could not take attacks on him lying down and when attacked he had to attack right back. The truth is this campaign run by the junior Illinois Senator will be a model for future campaigns in running negative free campaigns. As Secretary Powell and President Clinton both said we have a number of problems in this county and these problems do not just effect blacks or whites, straight or gays, men or women and regardless of who wins it is going to take all of us to work together, division is not an option. And for candidates to fuel hate is unacceptable and very dangerous. Each campaign must do a better job of bringing this country together.

The part of Colin Powell’s’ endorsement that was the most effective was his story about the Muslim women who was pictured at her son’s grave who died in Iraq This issue came up because many people accused Obama of being a Muslim . Mr. Powell went on to say that Obama is not a Muslim he is a Christian but the real answer to that question is What is wrong with being a Muslim?” This question was very compelling and so moving and truthful. I truly believe this is one of the great lessons of this campaign and I hope America gets it. The truth is the country was built on the promise that one day “All men and women would be created equal” but what is so sad is that most of the people who carry the flag and claim to be such Patriots, do not want what the forefathers intended for this country to be and what they don’t realize is that the very people they look down on, show racial hatred to are really what strength of this country.

Please see Colin Powell’s comments below:
Now, I understand what politics is all about. I know how you can go after one another, and that's good. But I think this goes too far. And I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for. And I look at these kinds of approaches to the campaign and they trouble me. And the party has moved even further to the right, and Governor Palin has indicated a further rightward shift. I would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration. I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, "Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim." Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer's no, that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing that he or she could be president? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion, "He's a Muslim and he might be associated terrorists." This is not the way we should be doing it in America.
I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery, and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards--Purple Heart, Bronze Star--showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then, at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross, it didn't have the Star of David, it had crescent and a star of the Islamic faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, and he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he can go serve his country, and he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way. And John McCain is as nondiscriminatory as anyone I know. But I'm troubled about the fact that, within the party, we have these kinds of expressions.
So, when I look at all of this and I think back to my Army career, we've got two individuals, either one of them could be a good president. But which is the president that we need now? Which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time? And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities--and we have to take that into account--as well as his substance--he has both style and substance--he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming into the world--onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama.

Will He or won't He?

Ok Mr. Powell is going on Meet the Press on Sunday and most folks say he is going to endorse Obama. I am going to go out on a limb and say if I were a betting person ( well I am a betting person) I would say yes and I would say yes for a couple of reasons: #1 Mr. Powell and McCain have been friends for 35 years if he was going to vote for his friend the friend would know. #2. Mr. Powell still feels bitter about a few things that have happened when he served in the Bush W. administration, I believe he will be a senior adviser in the Obama administration and correct the wrongs he was previously apart of. Stay tuned I know I will.

That's a Wrap!!!!!!!!

Well Mr. Obama start measuring the drapes. It’s all over for the voting.

If last night is any indication of the future of this campaign then this is a done deal.

What about some straight talk hope?

For the past few days there has been talk from each campaign staff. One camp says it is going to take it to him and the other says bring it on. While each camp wants to bill this debate as the next “Thriller in Manila” the American people want answers. We want answers about the economy, health care, and Iraq etc... After each question each candidate should ask themselves am I trying to deliver a knockout blow to my opponent or am I trying to give an answer to help the American people. It is my hope and prayer their answer is the latter because at this time we do not need any more knockouts we need so real straight talk hope.

There is Hope from the Maverick!

During a Town Hall meeting today in Minneapolis, a voter told John McCain that he was afraid of an Obama Presidency. Mr. McCain paused and
said “ My friend I want to win this election, but you do not have to be afraid of an Obama Presidency.” The look that John McCain had on his
face was very interesting, it showed how he regretted the damage that he has done over the past few weeks. It will be very interesting
to see if he will try to repair the dangerous damage he has done.

Shame on Us and McCain and Palin.

There are two things I have noticed from the observations of the debate last night.

#1 Everyone says the debate was boring and there was not a knockout punch from either candidate.

For years people have said they avoid politics because it is down and dirty yet when politicians act civil towards each other the public states the debates are boring. What does it say about
us as a society when we want to see two leading leaders fight? Dirty politics as I have said before does not help anybody and we need to stop looking for flash and style that is why we are in the mess
we are in right now. Let’s us demand from our candidates that they provide answers to our problems and insight on taking our country to a better place.

#2 Why is Senator McCain so angry and so rude to Barack Obama both in person and on the trail?

Senator McCain and his running mate have launched a very dangerous effort in painting Obama as dangerous. It is fine to attack Obama on the issues, but to scare people about a fellow U.S. Senator
is not smart and it borders on racism. The tone is fueling hate and it is not indicative of where we should be as a country. When Obama does win McCain and Palin will have a great deal of apologizing to do. It is also incumbent upon McCain to be civil to Obama, this does not include calling Obama “that one” and refusing to shake his hand.

McCain is going in a dangerous direction and it is very disappointing from a candidate who promised to run a clean campaign . The truth is this if Obama wins or loses he can look himself in a mirror and state he ran a 98% clean campaign. Too bad John McCain will not be able to do the same.

Check out Donna Brazille!

http://jezebel.com/5059945/donna-brazile-is-not-going-to-the-back-of-the-bus?autoplay=true

Donna Brazille is truly a woman of truth. Please watch this film of Ms. Brazille at a forum sponsored by the New Yorker. I could not have said it better myself.

Great speech on the American Worker.

I discovered the video on NPR today. It is the AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka's Remarks to USW Convention, July 1, 2008. It is one the most powerful things I have ever heard.

These are the things we should be talking about right now and not the negative campaigning that is going. The American people are the subject not the candidates. I wish everyone could see this video and truly understand what this election is all about.

http://www.usw.org/media_center/speeches_interviews?id=0003

America average will not do!

I am going to admit something that would shock some people. I was a lousy high school student. It would be easy for me to blame a great deal of things which contributed to this but it was over 20 years ago and quite frankly those four years were some of the worst of my life. However one semester I managed to get about 2 B’s and 3 C’s. When I came home and declared to my Mother how successful the semester was for me she looked at me and said “ Average is not going to get it in life. “ After several mishaps in life I think I finally get what my Mom was saying, and over the years I wish I had not settled for mediocrity. The truth is when you settle for mediocrity you loose, and take it from me it takes a great deal of time to make up for it .

As a country we cannot settle for mediocrity, it is what we have done for the past eight years and all you have to do is look at the unsuccessful wars, stock market and unemployment to know it will take about two Presidents(each serving eight years) to get us out of this mess. We need people in the Oval office who will not just relate to us but people who are capable of doing the job. America, average and just getting by and low expectations will not do. If we continue in the path future generations will look at us and always wonder why we settled.

When did being an educated person become a bad thing!

I am posting the comments by Roland Martin about the VP debate. My question is when did being an educated person become a bad thing? It seems to me it is only a bad thing when it comes to a black person. What kind of message is this sending our children?

Do not panic we have been here before.

For the past few days I have been quiet about the financial mess in the county and if McCain and Obama should debate. Perhaps this is not a great thing for a writer to admit but I am at a loss for words. Never have a I seen so many people panicked and clueless . Just today I saw Erin Burnett of CNBC practically in tears begging for leadership in DC the other day I saw Susie Orman on Oprah screaming at the audience stating “ The Party is Over”.

I have to admit I am not in panic mode just yet. Yes, I have lost money this week, not a great deal ,but enough to make me re-think some investments . What I realized this week is my history does not dictate me to panic and to be truthful it is not allowed. The blood that runs thru my veins is the blood of Africans who survived a boat voyage too horrendous to imagine, the humiliation of slavery and all of the unmentioned horrors involved. I come from people who lived thru Jim Crow and worked to repeal those laws to make things not only better for themselves but also for generations after them. My ancestors defined a generation during the Civil Rights movement by marching, voting, sitting in and standing up and creating laws to protect all Americans.


I come from a resilient people, a people who had to be strong long before there was a Wall Street. When I look back at what we have been thru I truly understand that we can and will get thru this crisis. Will it be easy? No. We are going to have to change the way we do things, buckle down and work harder than ever before. But more importantly we have to pray like our ancestors before us. I once heard that prayer is not plan and white that is a true statement sometimes all you have is prayer.

So I urge all of us not to panic but reach back and grab some of the backbone and faith our ancestors had. We all may be surprised how far it will go.

Will America do what is best or will racism fail us?

I am not ashamed to admit I am 41 years old and I am proud of it. Although to many I am still very young, I have witnessed a great deal in the ongoing saga of race in this county . My generation is the post civil rights generation, the generation that was supposed to manifest the “Dream of Dr. King” Personally I do not witness overt racism everyday but I have seen it somewhat hidden from time to time. My first introduction to racism was when I was five years old, it had to be on my first or second day in kindergarten and I asked three white girls could I play with them. One of them answered “ no blackies” allowed. “ At the age of five I did not know what a “blackie” was and have never been called such a name in my life but even in my five year old mind I knew the statement was said because I looked different. I bet if I asked one of the three of them about that incident today none of them could recall it, but I remember it like it was yesterday, that is the thing about racism, minorities know it and remember the pain they feel when it happens but I bet some whites can never recall if they have ever spewed racism. Funny one of my aforementioned classmates ended up having a baby by a black man and another is a community organizer in a minority community , strange how life works out.


In my naive mind I thought things would have changed 36 years late.r but after reading the Yahoo AP poll on racehttp://news.yahoo.com/page/election-2008-political-pulse-obama-race;_ylt=AlZbuKtbvLvCm65wld0PXq1p24cA I am not so sure. The poll sites at least 40 percent of all white Americans hold at least a partly negative view towards blacks, that includes many Democrats and independents-voters that Obama can’t win without. The poll also states many in this group are significantly less likely to vote for Obama than those who don’t have such views. The poll also found a one-third of white Democrats harbor negative views towards blacks calling them “lazy” violent and responsible for their own troubles.



Many of my friends who I spoke to were not surprised or shocked by these statistics, in fact one told me “ I thought it would be much worse”. Although most of them are voting and supporting Senator Obama in their hearts they don’t think America is really ready for a Black President. Some of them have already conceded to a McCain victory on November 4, 2008.


Of course we live in America and people have the right to vote and support who they feel is best. However the question has to be asked are Americans voting what we feel or what is in the best interest of the country. In my humble opinion if Obama looses this election this country , all of us ,needs to take a really good look in the mirror and ask ourselves are we really trying to be the best county that we can be without letting our prejudices fail us. Are we leaving our children a country less greater than it can be because we fail to dig deep inside and pull out love, respect and grace that God has granted each of us.



The truth is the greatest failings of this country have been when we treated those who look differently in the worst way, whether it be Americans who were Indians, African, Japanese, Hispanic etc... But this country is at its greatest is when we realize our faults , correct them and work together towards making this country great even greater than it already is. We owe this to those who came before us this much and those who come after us we owe so much more.


"The Americans will always do the right thing.......... after they`ve exhausted all the alternatives". Winston Churchill

Will America vote for a Black man?

Inquiring minds want to know!

It's close so watch what you say.

At this point in the election the polls are close and everything you say and do will be looked at under a microscope so folks as the guy would say on Hill Street Blues " Let's be careful out There".

Now is not the time to say " Our economy is fundamentally strong." It just may be but Monday was not the day to say that. (John McCain)

Now is not the time to say " ...don't vote for a candidate because she is cute" This also may be true but the other candidates wife should not say that (Michelle Obama)

Now is not the time to say " It is your Patriotic Duty to pay taxes" This may also be true but some people lost a bundle this week, let them worry about that on April 15, 2009. (Joe Biden)


With the clock ticking and the November just around the corner these folks need to watch what they say because all of America is.

Oh Mr. President your People are hurting Where are you?

With all this economic mess going on isn't this a good time to address the Nation? Chris Mathews said he is pulling another Katrina. I guess he feels this is not his problem. He and Cheney made their money and their retirement is secure thanks to the American taxpayers.
I usually hold my contempt for this Presidency out of respect but the way he is behaving defines his Presidency. HE JUST DON"T CARE!!!!!!!!!!

Can you believe I agree with Karl Rove???????

They say if you live long enough you will see anything. So imagine my shock when I heard Karl Rove state that John McCain’s current ads attacking Barak Obama were not entirely true and that the ads were not 100% accurate:http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/14/campaign.wrap/index.html..

Karl Rove is absolutely right , in one of his latest ads John McCain accuses Barak Obama of supporting a bill which teaches children as young as five
sex education. The truth is the bill would help children identify child predators which is very needed in today’s society. Not only has Karl Rove called out McCain’s ads but so have the Washington Post, Bloomberg news and the New York Times to name a few.

The real question is will the American people fall for this gutter style politics or have we risen above that?

The truth is McCain is hitting hard and Obama needs to hit back even harder without getting into the gutter. As much as people say they don’t like mean politics, mean politics wins. In this post 9/11 era Americans want they their politicians tough and ready to fight for them. If Obama shows that he is not ready to defend himself how can he defend the U.S? It is a question that he must answer and he must answer quickly. As Chris Matthews says “Let’s play Harball”

Check me out on NPR today: News and Notes.

Issues vs. Lies

It seems that the country is in love with Sarah Palin, that makes sense the May-December romance with Barak Obama had to end sometime and now we are at the meat and potatoes of the campaign and well we should be. I do not have to give a long list of what is wrong with this country you can check out any major newspaper or pundit show to do that.

The question really is who is is capable of getting us out of this mess? And is their walk to the White House built on honesty and character that will help lead the American people. Gov. Palin gave an excellent speech at the RNC last week, however it was full of lies, no real solutions on helping the American people (especially the middle class) and demeaning remarks to those who are the heart and soul of the communities that I and many people grew up in.

The last two elections we voted for someone who we said we could have a beer with, and that person did not even drink anymore (as far as I know).

Now the polls show that women are going to vote with someone who goes to Walmart like they do. Believe me Sarah Palin's Walmart days are over, with the book deals coming to her and her husband if you see her in Walmart I will pay for your next Costco membership.

Take a real close look at this woman and of course John McCain and you tell me is this what your Walmart budget afford.

But more importantly is this what the American people can afford?

http://mirroronamerica.blogspot.com/2008/09/lies-told-by-sarah-palin.html

McCain I know you are a war hero but what are you going to do for me!!!!!!!!!!

Because I am a blogger and a political junkie I watched the speech that McCain gave last night. I happened to be staying at a friend's house who came home in the middle of the speech. " Why are you watching this?" she said. I told her he might be my President and of course I have to blog about it.

After watching the speech for about a half an hour I asked myself the same question. That speech did not address any of my concerns of health care, medicare, social security and problems of the middle class.

At times I have often wondered was I participating in the right party (Democratic) and if I should open my mind to the Republican party, after last night's speech from John McCain I got my answer.

He mentioned helping a family who had a child with special needs, however John McCain has voted against giving tax cuts to families such as these several times and just last year voted against mandatory health care for all children. If you speak to people who have children with special needs they will tell you about the high costs of health care. So my question is how was John McCain going to help them?

Mr. McCain also mentioned our troops overseas yet he has voted against a G.I. Bill to help those troops when they return from harms way. So how is John McCain going to help them?

He talked about helping families who are having a hard time in this economy yet he has voted against raising the minimum wage thirteen times. Who does this help? ( He did not mention the middle class at all last night)

It was a strong speech and very powerful but it was all talk John McCain is really going to be another Bush term and that is something this country and its citizens cannot afford.

Good Speech Sarah now talk to the media!!!

I have to admit I was impressed by Ms. Palin's speech, not as much as the rest of the media but she gave a good speech. It did not deal with a great deal of substance but how can it she has only been on the National stage for a week and her foreign policy credentials are limited if any. So when will the McCain folks release her to the media pit bulls?

Tonight Mr. Obama goes into dangerous territory and will be interviewed by Bill O'Reiley, besides the debates this will be his toughest forum. He has to do well, one slip and you will see it all over you tube and the news.

So both novice candidates have something to prove the question is who will do it better.

Check out my photos from the DNC

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sistagirlspeaks/show/

Palin not on board Straight Talk Express

I really wanted to blog about this but I could not say this better than one of my favorite writers Mary Mitchell.

Mary Mitchell :: printer friendly »



MARY MITCHELL marym@suntimes.com
ST. PAUL -- Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter is pregnant.
Those are the last words a 44-year-old woman with an infant wants to hear from a teenage daughter.
Sun-Times columnist Mary Mitchell
Not many of us can truly say we want to become a granny before we qualify for our AARP discount membership card.
But Palin, John McCain's surprise pick for VP, is a real trouper.
"Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news, that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," Sarah and Todd Palin said in a statement released Monday.
Malarkey.
When an unmarried 17-year-old girl comes up pregnant on the South Side of Chicago, Republicans don't make it sound like a beautiful thing.
They call it tragic and a moral failure, and they often blame the teen's parents.
There's no way to put a positive spin on a teen in this kind of trouble.
Indeed, teenage pregnancies rose by 3 percent between 2005 and 2006, the first increase since 1991, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Unfortunately, leaders like Palin are part of the problem.
When she was running for governor in 2006, Palin said she would fund abstinence-only programs and that "explicit sex-ed programs" would not get her support.
But studies have proven that abstinence-only programs alone don't work.
Given her daughter's predicament, Palin might want to rethink her position.
Although it sounds nice that Bristol will be marrying the "young man" who fathered her child, the fact of the matter is marriage is hard work for adults, let alone a teenager.
And when 17-year-old girls decide to throw caution to the wind and risk their sexual health by having unprotected sex, then they haven't been paying attention to the messages adults have been sending.
But Palin, who is being touted as the down-to-earth candidate who can appeal to the working class, sounded like any other politician when she talked about her daughter's "news."
"Bristol and the young man she will marry are going to realize very quickly the difficulties of raising a child, which is why they will have the love and support of our entire family," Palin said.
More malarkey.
This is not good news, nor is it something the average woman wants to deal with, especially in the public arena.
Palin should have acknowledged the disappointment and pain any mother feels when she learns her teenage daughter has stumbled onto this tough road.
But Palin hid behind scripted words and blew the chance to have an honest dialogue about a problem that affects Republicans and Democrats alike.
Still, some good can come from all of this after all.
Conservatives like Palin have been hard on young, unwed, pregnant women in urban areas.
Maybe now that she is in the same boat, they'll show a little

Here is to History!!!!!!!!!!

The only regret I have about Barak gettin the nomination is that there are so many who came before me and are not here to witness this. So today I dedicate my blog and all of my thots to them. Thank you all for making this possible.


Kim

Being a witness to history.

I have spent most of my life reading about history it is one of my favorite subject. Each time I have asked myself I wonder what it was like to be there. Well this time I do not have to ask because this time I am here. When the roll call for President went up in the convention center I was not prepared for my emotions to come out, but when the Mississippi delegation cast their vote and the presenter mentioned Fannie Lou Hammer I just started crying. It was not that long ago when Ms. Hammer had to fight her way into the convention and said the famous words " I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. "

Therefore the fact that we nominated today an African American goes beyond the wildest dreams of many of us. I wonder is that what Dr. King meant when he said I have been to the mountain top and I have seen the promised land. Did he know that this was the mountaintop? I am not sure perhaps he knew that the mountain top was in reach.

Way to go Hillary Clinton

Ms. Clinton hit a homerun yesterday and her speech was brilliant. I think she set the tone for Biden and Obama to not only bring unity to the party but to invite others from other parties to vote for this winning ticket as well.

I know there is great speculation about Bill Clinton but I believe he will leave where Hillary left off.


Here is to a great start for the Obama/Biden team on the road to the White House.

Sightings

Ok so far I have seen the entire cast of Morning Joe, Dan Rather, Congressmen Harold Ford, Pat Buchanan, Andrea Mitchell, Chuck Todd, Terry McCauliffe. That was before seven this morning.!!!!!!!!! I am having a great time.

Sista Girl Speaks: On to Denver

Sista Girl Speaks: On to Denver

It is time for Democrats to unite.

I understand what the Hillary Clinton voters are going thru. You put your blood, sweat and tears in a candidate for a year and a half and you loose by such a slim margin, the nomination was so close you could feel it. So you have mourning stage and you go thru the stages of grief. But when that is period over then you have to recover and get with the program.

Over the last few days I have thought of those who came before us. the founding fathers, the abolitionist, women in the suffrage movement, and the civil rights leaders. All of these people scarified so much not just for themselves but for future generations. They not only wanted a better life for themselves but they wanted one that would be felt for years to come.

When each of us go into the polls we need to think about that, perhaps your favorite candidate did not make the Presidential cut or the VP cut. But in this election we need to think about future generations because they deserve the best that we can leave to them.

Made it to Denver!!!!

Well I made it here in one place and I am very excited. On the first nigt we will hear Michelle Obama speak.
She will tell her story which is really an American story. It is the story where preparation,opprtunity, and good family valued meet.
I have always been impressed Mrs. Obama and how she deals with all of the hopla over her husband, while still trying to raise two young
ladies. In another lifetime I believe that Michelle could have been President. But who knows perhpas one day she will.

Going to Denver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello all,It is my hope that all is well with you and that all that all who you care for are doing well. On Sunday I leave for Denver to witness history. Many of those who came before us never thought or dreamed they would see something like this I can be honest with you and tell you I never thought I would . I remember not long ago when it was a big deal when Harold Washington became Mayor of Chicago. The great thing about this country is that you can always have a dream and take it further and many times with hard work and opportunity that dream can become a reality. I also have to say that I am not sure how this is going to turn out but I can say this I am proud of how Mr. Obama has run his campaign with dignity and honor and even if he does loose not only does he win but we all win. This makes me proud to be an American ( and yes I always have been proud) and more importantly an African American. It is important to note that Mr. Obama will accept the Democratic Nomination on August 28, 2008 which is the 45th anniversary of the “I have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. and the 53rd anniversary of the death of Emmett Till. Yes we have a long way to go but we have come so very far. I will be blogging from Denver next week on my blog which is below and posting things everyday on my blog radio show. Also I will be a correspondent for http://www.progressiveblendradio.com/ . I will be reporting each day about the inner workings of meetings, my thoughts on daily speeches and of course the parties.  I hope you can check it out.Take care and feel free to email me if you have any questions.God bless.Kim

On to Denver

Hello all,It is my hope that all is well with you and that all that all who you care for are doing well. On Sunday I leave for Denver to witness history. Many of those who came before us never thought or dreamed they would see something like this I can be honest with you and tell you I never thought I would . I remember not long ago when it was a big deal when Harold Washington became Mayor of Chicago. The great thing about this country is that you can always have a dream and take it further and many times with hard work and opportunity that dream can become a reality. I also have to say that I am not sure how this is going to turn out but I can say this I am proud of how Mr. Obama has run his campaign with dignity and honor and even if he does loose not only does he win but we all win. This makes me proud to be an American ( and yes I always have been proud) and more importantly an African American. It is important to note that Mr. Obama will accept the Democratic Nomination on August 28, 2008 which is the 45th anniversary of the “I have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King Jr. and the 53rd anniversary of the death of Emmett Till. Yes we have a long way to go but we have come so very far. I will be blogging from Denver next week on my blog which is below and posting things everyday on my blog radio show. Also I will be a correspondent for http://www.progressiveblendradio.com/ . I will be reporting each day about the inner workings of meetings, my thoughts on daily speeches and of course the parties.  I hope you can check it out.Take care and feel free to email me if you have any questions.God bless.Kim

Oprah will attend the convention

According to the suntimes, Ms. Winfrey will attend the convention. She does not plan to take the stage but she will be there for Mr. Obama's acceptance speech. Perhaps when I run into her I will ask her to fund my next project retirement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Confirmed: Oprah Winfrey plans to be there when Barack Obama accepts nomination.


Last night I attended a free screening of HBO's The BlackList Volume 1. It is a films produced by filmmakers see the information below. It is a film that I highly recommend and it will leave you with a good deal of hope, something that the Black in America series did not.

Project Overview
The Black List Project was conceived of by photographer/filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders with Elvis Mitchell, public radio host and former New York Times film critic. It consists of a number of components including a film, a book, a traveling
portrait exhibition and an educational initiative. The project was produced by the media collective Freemind Ventures. The idea was to interview, film and photograph prominent African Americans of various professions, disciplines and backgrounds.
These stories and insights on the struggles, triumphs and joys of black life in this country would work toward re-defining "blacklist" for a new century in the process.
About Freemind Ventures
Freemind Ventures is a media collective committed to creating rich and empowering media vehicles. We believe that the inspired convergence of content and purpose in concert with dynamic channels, curriculum, and pro-social programs can ignite
meaningful discourse and change. Freemind's content will thrive in the most diverse and eclectic environments, from Museums to college campuses, from multiplexes to correctional facilities, from grade schools to churches. Freemind is a collaboration
between a group of seasoned media enthusiasts. Each principal brings years of complimentary experience in media, marketing, production and pro-social endeavors. freemindventures.blogspot.com
About One Million Stories
The Black List Project is the pilot program to the ambitious and larger Freemind Ventures effort titled One Million Stories. As The Black List collects the stories of some of our most noted African-American luminaries, One Million Stories will inspire and
enable national youth organizations, local advocates, social groups and individuals of all ages and circumstances to tell their own stories, their own defining moments. One Million Stories considers that as we each tell our own story, the subtle and
seismic voice of each person's narrative illuminates not just what makes us different...but what makes us the same. One Million Stories -- Transforming Diversity into Unit. onemillionstories.org (coming June, 08)

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The Black List Project was conceived of by photographer/filmmaker Timothy Greenfield-Sanders with Elvis Mitchell, public radio host and former New York Times film critic. It consists of a number of components including a film, a book, a traveling
portrait exhibition and an educational initiative. The project was produced by the media collective Freemind Ventures. The idea was to interview, film and photograph prominent African Americans of various professions, disciplines and backgrounds.
These stories and insights on the struggles, triumphs and joys of black life in this country would work toward re-defining "blacklist" for a new century in the process.
About Freemind Ventures
Freemind Ventures is a media collective committed to creating rich and empowering media vehicles. We believe that the inspired convergence of content and purpose in concert with dynamic channels, curriculum, and pro-social programs can ignite
meaningful discourse and change. Freemind's content will thrive in the most diverse and eclectic environments, from Museums to college campuses, from multiplexes to correctional facilities, from grade schools to churches. Freemind is a collaboration
between a group of seasoned media enthusiasts. Each principal brings years of complimentary experience in media, marketing, production and pro-social endeavors. freemindventures.blogspot.com
About One Million Stories
The Black List Project is the pilot program to the ambitious and larger Freemind Ventures effort titled One Million Stories. As The Black List collects the stories of some of our most noted African-American luminaries, One Million Stories will inspire and
enable national youth organizations, local advocates, social groups and individuals of all ages and circumstances to tell their own stories, their own defining moments. One Million Stories considers that as we each tell our own story, the subtle and
seismic voice of each person's narrative illuminates not just what makes us different...but what makes us the same. One Million Stories -- Transforming Diversity into Unit. onemillionstories.org (coming June, 08)