Misplaced Devotion

The young men in the video repeatedly recite, “because of Obama.”

What?

Are they saying that before Obama, they had no skills or intelligence, no desire or ambition, no drive or motivation, and no resources or opportunities?

Yes, that’s exactly what they’re saying.

It isn’t remotely true, but that’s the kind of thinking that helps keep the Democrats in power over black America: You can’t do anything yourself, because they (e.g. Republicans, whites) are going to hold you down; only with our help will you succeed.

It’s an insidious message that keeps black Americans from recognizing their own potential and makes them beholden to the Democratic Party to such a degree that while they are absolved of owning their failures, they are inhibited from owning their successes.

The same tactic is evident in Obama’s Presidential campaign; he enjoys political success due to America’s racial unity, yet claims America’s racial unity is due to his political success. Obama asserts that only his election to the Presidency will prove or demonstrate America’s racial unity, obligating Americans to elect him or forfeit decades of racial progress.

So, just as America can accurately state, “because of Democrats” America is continuously chained to a racial past that has no rational application in our day and only prevents us from recognizing and capitalizing on decades of racial progress,…

…the young men in the video could just as accurately state, “because of Obama” black children are unable to accomplish anything or think for themselves unless someone of their own race does it first, depriving black youth of the ability to identify with their peers and achieve equal success even in their own eyes.

What happens when Obama doesn’t win the White House?

The fire, dependent on Obama, will go out, and just as an external force was attributed the credit for success, an external force will be attributed blame for the lack of action.

In reality, Obama is just another politician America deems unqualified for the job, and the young men in the video are just young kids witheld from their own culture, ripe with role models of different skin color than their own.

America Is In Trouble

Maryland Democratic Representative and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and his political colleagues were right about one thing, America is in trouble.

Today, marked the day that Congress chose a way ahead in full awareness that it was not what “We the People” wanted.

Today, our elected officials, on whom the Supreme Court ruled we cannot impose term limits, took action in complete contradiction of the majority, “We the People,” and imposed a bill on us.

“We the People” spoke, and they did not listen. “We the People” raised our voice and they ignored us. Next, “We the People” will vote, and our vote will be overturned…wait, been there, done that.

Entitlement politics got us here, and now those same politicians (i.e. Massachusetts Democratic Representative and chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Barney Frank) want credit for the proposed solution for the mess they made…$700 billion in credit to put it plainly.

Excessive credit debt is the issue; people borrowed too much and aren’t repaying it. To make matters worse, our politicians, who allegedly understand something that we do not, decided the solution was $700 billion of additional credit.

Why didn’t “We the People” think of that?

I guess the politicians were right about that, too; “We the People” just don’t understand.

Democracy is dead.

“We the People…”

…are most definitely in trouble.



(I am ashamed that President Bush and Senator McCain were apart of this, and I find myself genuinely desiring another viable candidate for whom I could cast my vote.)

Pigs and Lipstick?...what?

I was reading Glenn Green’s New Heights of Stupidity, posted on Salon. He is obviously angry and just as obviously liberal, and he is quite plainly taken (in) by Obama, and he apparently believes the media and Republicans at large, though it seems he may not differentiate between the two, are treating his candidate Obama-nably (tee-hee) over the whole lipstick debacle.

While I had not previously heard the comment, nor did I care, after being bombarded from every angle on the subject, including by angry liberal bloggers, I took the time to watch Obama’s remarks or at least the portion in question. Granted, I did not see the full context of the remark, but it does not appear to me that Obama was referencing Sarah Palin…at all.

While I can empathize with Green’s angst over the media, I have to disagree with his assessment that this represents new heights of stupidity. Apparently Glenn was out camping in the remote wilderness for the past six years as the media screamed fire in the crowded theatre of US politics. Of course, the media folly previously benefited liberals; that might explain why Green failed to recognize and classify the previous heights of stupidity.

Previous media stupidity culminated into a successful Congressional coup leaving Democrats squarely in the seat of power. While that stupidity failed to derail efforts in Iraq, it did manage to marginalize all progress. That same stupidity eventually evolved into the “failed administration” platform that Obama is currently running for President on. With such distinct media victories under their collective belts, it’s no wonder liberals like Green failed to recognize the media stupidity. Ironically, they were dependent upon it.

Obama benefited immensely from the pro-bama-razzi in the primaries. He managed to quench Biden’s political thirst for the Presidency without ever really addressing him (sorry Joe, white guys are so 80’s). He even managed to beat Hillary Clinton, a formidable and determined adversary, while carrying his racist pastor and congregation on his back. After pulling out all the stops, the last media darling standing won, but did he have anything left? Is there more substance…or any substance…to Barack Obama?

Currently, the best thing that Obama has to offer voters is “You hate Bush and so do I. McCain is the same as Bush. They’re both rich and white…er…I mean Republican, and they should both be equally blamed for bad stuff that happened in the past eight years.” Obama’s main anti-Bush push is music to the ears of his devoted party-liners, and the media has tons of cliché material to support his effort, but I think he may be giving that angle too much credit.

There is a limit to the media’s influence; not everyone believes everything they see on the news. Green’s sour grapes aside, the mainstream media has backed Democrats since I was a Democrat. Republicans have known this for quite sometime, even before FOX came along and ran a story on that 800lb gorilla. So, if Barack was depending on favorable anti-Bush media to convince Republicans to punch his name on the Ballot in November, the great unifier is sorely mistaken.

Maybe Barack hoped to win the fence sitters: the swing votes. I’d like to think that the fence sitters are such, because they have not yet sized up the candidates or the issues (hint: they are going to think things through). Consequently, they aren’t so easily swayed by rhetoric, media-hype, or party-line divisiveness, so if one side is working the issues while the other is simply trying to work the crowds…oops, you lose.

The lipstick debacle may indeed be new heights of stupidity for the media; it is a dumb non-story, but even we bloggers covered it. Considering that the story and the public response to the story drives media, maybe the greater stupidity is thinking the media will “stay the course” (pro-Obama) throughout the race. Maybe the greater stupidity is calling yourself a unifier and running on a populist, hate platform thinking such a single faceted strategy would win the hearts and minds of the political masses. I’m sure the debate would be endless.

As long as we avoid the greatest stupidity in November, but don’t let me tell you how to vote.


NO-bama!
(was that my out loud voice?)

Divide and Conquer?

Barack Obama justifies and perpetuates division.

Rather than tell all Americans that the type of hatred Jeremiah Wright preached and his congregation celebrated was wrong, and any American, white or black, harboring such vile hatred in their hearts was wrong, Barack Obama made excuses for Wright, and ultimately rejoined Wright’s non-repentant congregation.

Rather than celebrate the fact that Americans are free to vote as they choose and promote Americans voting according to their beliefs, Barack Obama postulated and perpetuated the belief that white Americans that did not or would not vote for him made their decision based on race, but he made no such assertion with regard to the incredible majority of black voters that supported him.

Rather than attempt to unify voters/Washington and continue on his alleged quest for hope and change by choosing a running mate that embodied his new call to arms or assisted him in representing a larger swath of America, Barack Obama chose for his Vice Presidential running mate, Senator Joe Biden. Biden is entrenched in Washington as a special interest Liberal and arguably one of the most venomous and divisive political figures the left has to offer, wholly unrepresentative of independents, moderates, and conservatives.

Rather than explain to Americans that personal decisions brought many of their economic woes and personal sacrifices would be the cure, Barack Obama promised to take from the “haves” and give to the “have nots.”

Rather than recognize or acknowledge the reality and responsibility of leadership and war, Barack Obama simply perpetuates the notion the US government is wrong/evil. Here in the US it’s the “failed administration/bad Republican” mantra and when echoed by complicit liberal media it makes for excellent “us/them” campaign fodder, but shortsighted and naïve individuals fail to recognize the butterfly effect that such media has with respect to international relations(unfortunately for the anti-war crowd this has historically proven more detrimental than preemptive strikes).


So, under Obama, racism by or in favor of black Americans is justified, white Americans who oppose him are racist, all Americans will be represented by a liberal agenda, all rich people are undeserving of their wealth, and international hatred of the United States is universally justified.


Aw crap, we are so in trouble.

Change?

If Joe Biden is change we can believe in, then I'm the Easter bunny.

After all of his rhetoric about change, Barack Obama selects for his Vice Presidential running mate one of the most deep-seated, old-school, partisan, party-line politicians that Congress has to offer; the same Congress that has accomplished nothing in the last two years and has lower approval ratings than President Bush, even though they do not suffer from the same mass media maligning.

So much for hope and change; political expedience wins again.

Campaign Ad

Disclaimer: Sometimes my sense of humor is very wry and over-the-top. Please accept my apology if this is too vivid or harsh. I often wrestle with writing to inform, to affirm, or to inflame; I think I may have lost this battle.


Open: A slightly past middle-age, lower middle-class white couple sits at a table over a check book, obviously anxious over their bills littered across the table. The couple looks at one another in obvious concern.

“In trying times…”

The couple looks up at the viewer.

“…America needs a President that understands,”

Scene change: A young black woman, on the front porch/stoop of an inner-city shack. She turns from looking forlornly at something over her shoulder and fixes her despairing gaze on the viewer.

“…a President that knows where Americans are coming from,”

Scene change: Slow motion shot in the front of an unemployment office; an obviously tired and beaten middle-aged white male makes his way dejectedly into the office as a homeless woman sits on the sidewalk eating out of a can, and to the right the police wrestle a young Hispanic man into a squad car.

“a President that recognizes where things are going,”

Scene change: Show a picture of Obama with that stern, half confident, half cocky smirk and that gleam in his eye as he looks at something in the distance that only he can really see.

“and has the courage and character to change our course.”

Dramatic pause with background music, fade a flag into the bottom half of the screen with Obama’s face.

“But he can’t do it alone.”

Scene snaps: Flash back through the characters and capture their inquisitive and hopeful looks; the couple, the mother with child, the unemployed male, the homeless woman, the police and the suspect.

“He needs Americans like you by his side, and his Vice President will be someone like you,"

Scene snaps: Capture genuine relieved smiles…leave out the suspect.

“…like him.”

Scene change: Strong patriotic Obama standing near a flag ready to take on the world.

“So, keep your BlackBerry close.”

Scene snaps: Smiles slightly fading into confusion…include the suspect (minus the confused look), and introduce a well dressed and obviously employed black male walking confidently through the scene past the homeless woman and the unemployed man.

“You will be the first to know who will stand by Obama to make certain your voice is heard,”

Scenes snaps: The couple is now completely confused, anxiety creeping back in; the mother sits down on the steps in renewed and resigned despair; the homeless woman and unemployed man stare at the well dressed man as his BlackBerry ring-tone sings out Hail to the Chief and he slows down almost to a stop in their midst to address the incoming message (completely unaware of their presence); the police pull a BlackBerry from the suspect’s back pocket (almost clueless as to what it is) as the suspect strains indignantly to look over his shoulder, obviously interested in the incoming message (his ring-tone is Ludacris).

“and together, we will change the course of our nation…(slight pause)”

Scene snaps: The couple embraces to console each other; the man eyes the viewer in disgust and disappointment as his wife, her face hidden, begins to sob. The mother on the porch has set the child down and has her head down in her hands. The man checking his BlackBerry is pleased with what he sees and looks up in a celebratory manner and his countenance changes immediately when he notices the homeless woman and unemployed man staring at him; the man casually disengages and hurries off to the safety of his office (inside the unemployment office), giving only a slight, anxious glance over his shoulder as he reaches for the door. The police, ignoring the suspect, both stare dumbfounded and incredulous at the viewer as the suspect coolly finishes reading the message on his BlackBerry and stuffs it back in his pocket (unfazed).

“…and restore hope.”

Scene change: Phase into a screen shot with Obama and his BlackBerry, and slow to a stop on his smile.

“Barack Obama, change you can believe in.”

Economics or Empathy

Who better to answer the nation's housing market woes than a guy whose family securely owns seven houses?


I’m confused about what the latest attack ad approved by Barack Obama is saying.

It starts by implying that McCain’s faith in the economic fundamentals that made the US what it is today is misplaced. For example: the fundamental that if you spend/invest $200,000 on a $400,000 home you will likely make out like a bandit, but if you spend/invest $400,000 on a $200,000 home, you will likely lose your shirt.

You can appreciate the economic fundamentals without appreciating the current economic state, because the fundamentals are sound. In fact, it is a lack of appreciation and understanding of those sound economic fundamentals that has gotten many in their current situation.

The economic marketplace is no picnic, and for years people hoping to get rich quick have been having their butts handed to them by a market that does not share the Democratic Party’s bias for the less economically fortunate or intellectually diligent. How the failure of many Americans to perform even a basic risk/benefit analysis amounts to a federal fiscal responsibility is well beyond my comprehension.


The attack ad went on to portray McCain’s response to a question ultimately about Cindy McCain's, his wife, portfolio as evidence that he is so wealthy he can’t even recall how wealthy he is. I’m not sure how McCain’s inability to answer questions about his wife’s economic ventures is proof that he cannot relate to the needs of Americans.

If you ask most non-wealthy Americans how much money is in their savings account, they couldn’t tell you; imagine if you asked how much was in their spouse’s account. Most people have to check their pockets before they can tell you accurately how much money they have on their person, so there’s no way they’ll be able to tell you how much money their spouse is carrying.

You don’t need to know how many jellybeans are in that jar at the carnival, how Barack Obama could be a friend and parishioner of Jeremiah Wright for nearly twenty years without ever tasting the Kool-Aid, or how much money your spouse may be carrying in order to know that if Americans spend more money than they have (even if they spend it on those they deem less fortunate...versus dreams of getting rich quick flipping real estate), they will ultimately go bankrupt.


It seems to me that the Obama campaign’s latest derisive and divisive attack ad demonstrates clearly that Obama does not understand the fundamentals of economics in America, and one obvious reason is likely his inability to relate to real people’s real situations; real people like me.


Americans need to answer one simple question when it comes to the nation’s money: do you want someone who knows economics (Republicans) or someone that simply purports to “know your pain” (Democrats) making the economic decisions? Just because a person has had a heart attack does not qualify them to perform open heart surgery; leave that to the surgeon who has likely taken better care of his body using the same knowledge that he’ll use to operate on others.

Republicans and Democrats alike are filthy rich. Are Republicans being truthful when they say they know economics? You better believe it. Are Democrats being truthful when they say they “know your pain?” Not even a little.


I’m me, and I approved this message.