Damn Damn Damn: I Thought We had Gotten Past This!

(If your vote is value or issue-based and not based on race or sex, then this message isn't for you.)
Mary Francis Berry, PhD was on CNN this morning and she said race

may have had something to do with Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama's, losses in the Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas primaries.

May have? (Although he is doing well in the Texas Caucus)

She was the former chairwoman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights during the Clinton Administration.

I interviewed Ms. Berry once during a Chicago Defender

Editorial Board meeting back in the 1990s. She wrote a book

entitled, "The Pig Farmer's Daughter".
Anyways, I was shocked that she would actually admit what every

person was thinking--or at least what I was thinking.
Come on! We all thunk it. Down there in Texas, there are more

than a few good 'ol boys who don't mix their seed and keep to

their own kind and so forth.
Lots of Blacks are like that too

and I don't care for their attitudes toward race either. We all

know about Ohio's stormy interactions with race relations. They

ain't the most inclusive group of folk outside of their Black epicenters.
Dang. All this time and it really just comes down to the fact

that some of us really are not ready for a Black

president even among those who are chauvinistic.
(I can hear Patti LaBell's "If You Don't Know Me by Now" playing in the background with a whole bunch of tiny violins)

I really don't know what these people think Hillary will do for

the economy or national security that Barack won't or can't do. They will all have access to top-notch advisers.
I bet they think if Barack wins, he'll give Blacks reparations

and other special perks--imaginary perks but perks just the

same in their minds. Then again, many people have been outright mean to Black people on purpose and may feel a Black at the top could bring chickens home to roost.

I remember walking down the street one day off-campus in Terre Haute and a raggedy pick-up filled with what appeared to be drunk Caucasians yelled, "N*gger" as they drove by. I think I yelled back, "F*ck You" and they sped off with surprised looks.

What was I supposed to do?? I'm no more sane than the next person.
However, I wasn't mean to all white people after that. I had actually forgotten about it until just now as I began to type this post. (hmmmmm)
They were stupid and drunk and young--at least they had an excuse.

Gee Whiz we've got some ignorance in this country!
Wake up People!
The Republican Party cannot wait to get Hillary the Democratic

nomination so they can pounce on her--and she is ready for it

but what about the rest of the country? Do you actually think

any Republicans will vote for her in the general election like they are planning to vote for Barack?

They don't have to show up at Barack's rallies but they do. Why? They want Change too.
Now, just because of a few close-minded people in Texas, Rhode Island and Ohio, Democrats are in danger of losing the general

election in November and seating Sen. John McCain as our next

president.

These people who voted for Hillary--do you trust

them to vote for her again in November? Or will they be swayed

away to the GOP over their love for the War and the Economy and a common hate of others?

What about after the GOP gets done pouncing on her?

Every other word out of the mouth of McCain and the rest of the conservative GOP is tinged with racist undertones. McCain is on television now and he seemingly suggests Barack is looking for a handout of some sort by asking for a vote or that the swing voters may be guilted into voting for him or that the country owes him something.

Barack has never indicated any of this but we all know the stereotype McCain is talking about. He acts like Republicans aren't poor or jobless or damn near homeless.
Apparently, that's a Black thang or a Hispanic thang or a Democratic thang. The gall of them.

Damn Damn Damn!
Democrats need to get together. The party needs to be unified

so that we can stop scratching each other's eyes out and put an

electable Democrat in office--Barack Obama.
People, I tried to hold all of this in because it actually

hurts to say--it draws tears to my eyes--but just like a sneeze, it had to come out.

Ohio: Isn't This a Shame?!

04 Mar 2008 01:24 pm
Marc Ambinder
The Atlantic.com

Ohio's Secretary of State, an office held by a Democrat, has rebuked Sen. Barack Obama's campaign for trying to staff precincts with poll workers who presented insufficient credentials.

Obama's campaign calls this charge "wrong."

In a memo sent late this morning to county election directors by David M. Farrell, Ohio's
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, a letter carried by Obama supporters -- signed by Obama state director Paul Tewes -- is deemed "not legally sufficient on its own to allow someone to gain access to polling places."

Farrell notes that state law requires that polling observers must be "duly appointed" and have been previously issued a certificate.

The letter from Tewes states the bearer 'is hereby authorized to serve as a legal poll monitor on behalf of the Obama campaign."

The alleged infraction seems minor, but the Clinton campaign has seized on the e-mail from the Secretary of State's office as evidence that the Obama campaign is trying to game the system in Ohio.

A powerful photo of Sen. Obama by Reuters


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Barack Obama: Tell Me What I Say!

I'm having problems with posting this video so if you can't make it go, click on http://www.youtube.com/msmccloud and look at the video log.

Something Like a Phenomena: "The Senator from Illinois more than holds his own"

-Keith Olbermann, MSNBC news personality and Decision 2008 Debate moderator












The tone of the debate started out as if the pair were sent to the Principal's office and Hillary was responding to allegations of less-than-lady-like behavior.

The debate picked up and turned presidential when Obama talked about the mailings that had Hillary hollerin' and the mandate Sen. Clinton has in her health care plan. She wants to make the uninsured who can afford it, buy health care (like mandatory car insurance) and fine them if they don't buy it on their own.

Then I got it--she is trying to insure the uninsurable. People

who make too much to qualify for state-sponsored health care

but can't qualify for regular insurance because of a

pre-existing illness.
It shouldn't take all of this to get a point across.

However, getting fined for not having health care is just dumb.

"The insurance companies would be happy to have a mandate"
Obama said.

Hillary does seem rather close to the insurance companies but I

haven't figured that part out yet.

Mandating parents to buy children health care is

understandable. Obama's plan should enforce that. Hillary says that won't work either.

Both are government-sponsored health care plans.

Maybe after Obama wins the nomination and then the presidency,

they can both pull the best parts from each plan and make it

work.
NAFTA

Hillary's husband signed the agreement in a deal brokered with the

Republican Congress. I watched him sign it. He didn't seem to

want to and I can't remember what he got for the people out of

the deal. Clinton, when asked, said she is willing to

re-negotiate NAFTA but not get out of it.

Tim Russert got on her about it. Lots of suffering has

occurred.

She said she has been fixing and duct taping NAFTA since it was

signed (my words, her meaning). It hasn't really been working

for the betterment of America and it's people.

People care about jobs, folks, j-o-b-s.

Can I get one? Can I join the union?

Obama said he would renegotiate so that it is better for the

worker (he is a Civil Rights attorney and was a Constitutional Rights professor) not corporate profits.

Times were good then and we didn't listen to the portion of the

American public who begged us not to take the deal.
Then again, this country forgets on a regular basis to buy

American.
Obama is on top of NAFTA standards.

Foreign Policy--Obama is clearly the leader in this area. I

trust his judgement thoroughly.
He has the temperament to do this and do it well--effectively

well--not just with style and grace.

Hillary loves to jab, punch and kick. Everyone is looking for

her to take higher ground. People don't like to be pushed

around--they get defensive--something the enemy is accustomed to

doing-- taking the offensive.

(I was for the war myself--that is why I am not leading the free

world.)

We entered this war without an exit strategy. We did not fund

it properly--all of that money couldn't have gone to help soldiers stay safe. All we had to do is follow what the military

asked us to do--like give them the tools to win. The thing

about being tough is that when being tough, you have to be

really tough--no half stepping. Being tough means taking

punches--hard punches. We would rather discuss the issues like civilized people.

Tim Russert set both of them up with the "get out" of Iraq question.

When we leave, all hell will break loose over there and we will

feel it over here.
Obama's plan is workable. There is no black or white here but

many gray areas--when not considering corporate profits. It

is time to let go the hand of the oil companies and find our

own energy resources so that we have firm ground to stand on

when we interact with the warring nations. Most of this cannot

be discussed in public because it is a matter of national

security. Afghanistan is hot.

We need to keep the fireworks in the sandlot--not in American

cities. Keep your enemies closer.

I don't like Hillary's plan. The

attitude is too cavalier. (away with them!) I can see her

fanning them away and turning her head now. I would never turn

my head on them. They are out for blood and they will never

quit.
Barack took Hillary's grandstanding about his idealism in good

humor--see how he does? He didn't get defensive, he took the

opportunity to further his platform.
He plans on getting the real people real help they need to

survive. He knows what we are going through.
(Not all of us have $5 mill on hand to lend) She said she would

get $55 billion back from "special interest groups" that

Congress had been pushing into their pockets and invest it in

the middle class. Okay! How is it you have that much sway with

the special interest groups? How is it they are willing to give

back money? I smell a deal in the works. What will we lose this

time? (I'm tired of losing)
I know no one will bother to explain these things to me because

I'm not important enough. The Invisible Girl already knows she

doesn't matter. But see, it's not just me. There are lots of

Invisible Girls and Boys in this country that Sen. Obama

promises to recognize--that is why we recognize him.

(I like the idea of Green Jobs--now that is Change we can

believe in. Who wouldn't want to build a windmill?)

And in my opinion, Presidential Candidate Barack Obama won

tonight's debate.

I bet Hillary doesn't want to go first on certain questions because she believes Barack will follow or build on her response.
However, he nailed the Russia question. He is on top of things internationally.
I have so much confidence in his leadership abilities.

(We are all ignoring Tim Russert and Hillary Clinton's inability to let the Farrakhan issue go--that was over the top. Barack already had said he rejected the Minister's controversial ideas--including the ideas he has on Jewish people or Jewish issues.)

The Truth Be Told

Well, I knew the gloves would come off at some point.
First it started with Mrs. Michelle Obama. Racist folks started

hollerin' for a rope because she so eloquently told of her

Black Experience in this country. She also has a Woman's

Experience and an Under-50 Experience and a Mommy

Experience--y'all gone holler about that too? Her views are

reflective of my own about my country. They are more than valid

and I hope she continues to speak on it.

photo courtesy of www.johnmccain.com
Then the Hate Express rounded the bend to Sen. McCain's

house--even though now, folks are pounding on the front doors of

the New York Times calling for blood. McCain allegedly has been known to

mess around with a pretty lobbyist that closely resembles

his rather well-preserved wife--and he allegedly lied about

it--sound familiar?
(Remember what they did to former President Bill Clinton at the

start of his presidential campaign and throughout his

presidency?)

Now we have Sen. Hillary Clinton hollerin' in the mike at a


press conference. Please medicate her. She always hollers and demands this or

that--most women do--in PRIVATE. Saturday Night Live had a segment on the news skit about "B*tches." It's pretty much true.
(See, when I get hollered at like that no one says anything)
Now, we have a pic of Obama in authentic Kenyan garb--So What!

The people are not so easily fooled or misled anymore since Obama stood up. He was the first presidential candidate to take a stand in this contest and the people stand behind him.
We are not going to sit back down. This country will Change and become truly inclusive and that is the final word.
We will drag this country and its naysayers kicking and screaming into the actual 21 century and they will love it!

There, I feel better now that I've said that. I had been holding it in all day. And I didn't have to holler to get my point across.

Presidential Candidate Barack Obama wins Wisconsin--addresses supporters in Texas!

(I love the CNN live feed—I recently discovered it.)
The Obama rally was out-of- control with gladness and joy at the Change that is about to happen to this great nation.
The roar was deafening as Presidential Candidate Barack Obama (D-IL) took stage.
“Houston, I think we have achieved lift-off here!”
“Early voting has started here in Texas and everybody has one of these cards and everybody knows you can start voting in Texas. Don’t wait until tomorrow,” he asked.
“You’re going to have to attend the caucus March 4 to get us a few more delegates.
Don’t go alone—take some friends and family to the polls,” Obama said.
He warned that the “change we seek is still months and miles away and we need the good people of Texas to help us get there. If we are blessed and honored to win the nomination we will need your help to win in November,” he said.
He also said that after the presidential election, help will still be needed to turn America around.
“What we are trying to do here will not be easy and it will not happen overnight--
it will require something more. It will take more than good ideas because Washington is where good ideas go to die. Change is needed now,” he said.
He said NAFTA took our jobs and described a supporter who told him about his first hand knowledge of what the trade agreement meant to him.
“They work for years and come to work one day and literally see the machines unbolted from the floor and sent to China,” he said.
He told the story of the woman with the blind twins who entered into a predatory loan.
Her fees doubled in two weeks and she was on the verge of homelessness and didn’t know where to turn or what to do.
“My faith in the American people has been vindicated…it is time to turn the page.”
He addressed safety standards and toys being played by our children that have lead paint.
He addressed the process of instituting an improved educational system.
“The problem is a lack of urgency,” he said.
He said the not-in-our-backyard mentality will cease.
“Every child is our problem every child is our responsibility. We will invest in early childhood education and reward teachers by giving higher salaries and giving them more support and no more teaching to the test but learning”—real learning so that this country can advance, he said.
Affordable college tuition and getting to work in the Peace Corps or another type of service to the country was also highlighted. (This is the type of work experience that a college grad can bank on.)

"...Nothing worthwile in this country has ever happened accept someone, somewhere decided to hope..."

--BARACK OBAMA

Good Cop, Good Cop

There are still some dedicated law enforcement professionals in this world.
Fed up with all of the illegal scrapping, two Gary police officers decided to double up efforts to stop thieves from ruining homes, stealing cars for scrap and otherwise undermining our quality of life here in town.

For this, Yeah and--So What says, Thank you.