According to CascadePatch, more than 50 folks attended the summit yesterday at the Georgia state capitol. Janita Poe took these photos:
Some of the panelists and guests included, from left: Georgia Republican Party Chairwoman Sue Everhart; event co-coordinator and 5th District director of the Georgia Federation of Republican Women Lelia Mack-Hagood; Georgia 8th Congressional District Republican Party Chair Vivian Childs; Dr. Tim Johnson, chairman and founder of The Frederick Douglass Foundation; the session moderator Peri Similien vice president of The Conservative Alliance; the Honorable Justice Harold Melton; and Gregory Wilborn, a member of The Conservative Alliance of Georgia.
Audience members listen as a participant asks a question.
1/17 PHOTOS OF THE DAY: First Black Conservative Summit Held At The Georgia State Capitol
Star Parker: "Obama's Vision Puts America Last"
The conservative Republican pundit in Washington, D.C. wasn't feeling the liberal Democratic president's recent State Of The Union speech: "The theme that President Barack Obama gave to his State of the Union address was 'An America Built to Last.' But his vision would be better described as 'An America Built to Be Last.' As the president asked us to be patient and keep drinking the same Kool-Aid he's been serving up for three years, The New York Times reported that the Federal Reserve's latest assessment of our economy is that '...a full recovery is years away.'"
She continues: "What Americans must come to terms with now is what we choose to believe this country is about, why in the past it seemed to work so well and why today things are falling apart. According to the president, everything will be OK if we allow him and his government to continue to build and consolidate power over our lives. He gave more reasons to grow government but barely gave lip service to what is tearing our nation apart today and dragging it down. The major factors driving us into insolvency -- the spending on entitlement programs Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and covering the interest on our nation's debt, which is now surpassing the size of our entire economy -- got attention in two sentences in an hour-plus-long speech."
More commentary from Ms. Parker about the president: "The unraveling of our social fabric doesn't seem to bother our president a whit. You would think our nation's leader would be concerned that, today, four of every 10 of our babies are born to unwed mothers. He called on 'every state to require that all students stay in high school until they graduate or turn 18.' Rather than addressing the issues of broken families and why poor kids don't care about learning, Obama thinks he'll solve this problem by turning our failing public schools into prisons."
Zora! Festival Focuses On Zora Neale Hurston's Legacy
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| Zora Neale Hurston |
More: "Joyce Davis of Sanford, who has attended the festival for several years, said she was thrilled to see so many students at the event to learn about Hurston and the history of Eatonville. One of the best parts of the annual event is 'just seeing these high school kids getting educated in Zora,' she said. Although some teens stuck to the main thoroughfare to admire the goods set out by dozens of vendors, others took an interest in some of the festival's arts and historical programming."
Interracial Political Ad Sparks Controversy In South Africa
The Democratic Alliance, a moderate-liberal opposition party, is in hot water with some whites and blacks after the party's student wing put out this ad. From The Washington Post (hat tip: theGrio.com): "It’s been nearly 20 years since apartheid in South Africa ended, but one political poster depicting an interracial couple has caused a furor throughout the country. The poster, which depicts a white man and a black woman in a presumably nude embrace was created by the student wing of the Democratic Alliance party’s student wing. The tagline reads: 'In OUR future, you wouldn’t look twice.'"
The article continues: "While many have been supportive of its message, some have taken issue with the poster’s supposed promotion of sex. Others have traded racist remarks on the Democratic Alliance Youth’s Facebook page, with one commenter posting a photo of an all-white, blonde family with the remark 'Now that’s how it should be!' People who do not support the poster have also made parody versions of the image that some might consider to be more offensive."
More: "Some black South Africans have objected to the fact that the man is white and the woman is black, because it implies a certain dominance among traditional cultures. 'Who is the head of a house? Yes, a man, and the man makes the choices and the women listens,' wrote one commenter on the Facebook page. 'So to some it has been offensive that the man is white and the woman is black, because it places the black nation under the head of the house, so to speak.'"
Fitch Cuts Italy, Spain, Other Euro Zone Ratings
From Reuters: "Fitch downgraded the sovereign credit ratings of Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Slovenia and Spain on Friday, indicating there was a 1-in-2 chance of further cuts in the next two years. In a statement, the ratings agency said the affected countries were vulnerable in the near-term to monetary and financial shocks. 'Consequently, these sovereigns do not, in Fitch's view, accrue the full benefits of the euro's reserve currency status,' it said."
The article continues about the ratings cut: "Fitch cut Italy's rating to A-minus from A-plus; Spain to A from AA-minus; Belgium to AA from AA-plus; Slovenia to A from AA-minus and Cyprus to BBB-minus from BBB, leaving the small island nation just one notch above junk status. Ireland's rating of BBB-plus was affirmed. All of the ratings were given negative outlooks."
More: "Two weeks ago, Standard & Poor's downgraded the credit ratings of nine euro zone countries, stripping France and Austria of their coveted triple-A status but not EU paymaster Germany, and pushing struggling Portugal into junk territory."
Is Newt Gingrich A Closet Birther?
Asks James Manning, a conservative Republican preacher in Harlem, about the conservative Republican presidential candidate:
Clarence Thomas Honored At College Of The Holy Cross
Justice Thomas received his B.A. in English literature from the school in 1971. From the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (Massachusetts) about the U.S. Supreme Court justice and conservative Republican: "Yesterday, Justice Thomas was in Worcester to accept an honorary law degree at a rare convocation during the first week of the college's spring semester."
More: "Justice Thomas praised and thanked Rev. [John E.] Brooks, whose work recruiting and nurturing Justice Thomas and his classmates, the college's first relatively large group of black students, is the subject of a recently released book. The justice owes 'a very particular debt of gratitude to Father Brooks,' he said, referring to the man beside the podium. 'I know that I am the better for you having lived...You saw each of us as a person, not a project.'"
Nigerian Film Industry Entices Hollywood Stars
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| Stacking that naira: Kimberly Elise |
The article continues: "In 2011 alone around 2,000 movies were made in Nigeria. That is a staggering 40 films churned out each week. Nollywood films, unlike Hollywood blockbusters, are produced on a shoestring budget, with an average production taking just 10 days and costing between $10,000 and $15,000. Some estimates put the value of the industry at $250 million. Plus, the films are increasingly popular in Africa, Europe, the Caribbean and more recently in North America. In the States, viewers can now watch Nollywood and other West African movies on the TV channel, Afrotainment."
Rep. Allen West To Black Voters: "Give The GOP A Chance"
The conservative Republican Congressman speaks with NPR host Michel Martin about what black voters in his home state of Florida are looking for in this Tuesday's presidential primary, and what he's doing to attract more African-Americans to vote Republican.
You can listen to the audio link here.
Angela McGlowan Slams Liberal Rhetoric: "That’s What Liberals Do — They Do Race-Baiting And Class Warfare"
The conservative Republican commentator appeared today on "Fox And Friends" and had some words for U.S. President Barack Obama and other liberals:
Brewer Vs. Obama: Bookerista Perspectives
Tyrone: "MSNBC, Cut The Nonsense"
Asserts the conservative Republican blogger in Maryland: "As always with MSNBC, it's all race, all the time, 24/7. The other day Barack Obama landed in Arizona, and Governor Jane Brewer was there to meet him. They exchanged greetings-and then had a momentary exchange on the immigration issue and what Jane wrote about Obama in her book which Obama took exception to. Nobody in their right mind would have thought much of a governor and a president of two opposing political parties having a momentary exchange on an issue. The media blew it up to be more then what it really was of course, because it was Obama who was involved. However, one has to look at the equation involved through the eyes of progressives in the media. White Female Republican Governor + Black Male Democratic President = Another opportunity to make a non issue into a racial one by the racial antagonists over at MSNBC."
He continues his commentary about the controversy: "How can race relations in this country ever improve when progressives keep using race in order to stir up the pot in regards to political issues? The problem with race rests in the lap of people such as Melissa-Harris Perry. People like her branded Governor Brewer as a racist simply, because she tried to protect her state from being overrun by illegal aliens. I will repeat what I have always said about MSNBC. They barely have any viewers for a reason, and America is better off because of it."
Eat, Pray, Love And Be Black, But Don't Be A Republican
Crystal Wright, a conservative Republican blogger in Washington, D.C., comments on the misogynistic and foul comments by Cedric The Entertainer and other liberals towards her, after a recent appearance on Black Entertainment Television: "Since I began my blog, most of the hateful email and tweets I receive come from black liberals. I find this ironic since the Democrat[ic] [P]arty touts itself as the party of tolerance and as DNC Chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz recently said it is 'the natural home to minorities.' Some tolerance!"
She continues her commentary: "To give you a taste of the kind vulgar, distasteful and racist comments I receive, I thought I would share with you some unsavory tweets hurled at me while I joined BET’s Ed Gordon Tuesday night as the only black Republican woman providing analysis of President Obama’s State of the Union Speech. Cedric the Entertainer, as he refers to himself, didn’t like my commentary that Obama’s speech was more Obama blaming Bush, Republicans and everything under the sun for his failed policies. So, he tweeted the following:
A series of more vulgar tweets were made by his followers.
More: "In America, no matter what your race, you have the freedom to believe in any religion or support any political party you choose. What’s really pathetic about these racist attacks is instead of responding with a counter viewpoint, people like Cedric and others respond with ignorance."
Constructive Feedback Criticizes Black Republican Tactics
The conservative blogger in Georgia takes issue with the Conservative Black Forum, an event which Rep. Allen West recently organized on Capitol Hill: "My agreement with the principles of what I heard among these 'Black Conservatives' was overshadowed by my disagreement with their tactical execution of their agenda. I return to my question: 'WHY does 'Black Conservatism' need to be projected through the Republican Party and by extension - the 'American Political Domain' ?' Ironically they argue that 'Black Republicans' should go into the Black community and plead their case, convincing other Blacks that 'Republican Values' are 'Black Values'. NOT!!!!!" [The] one thing that I kept shouting in my head as I was jogging on the treadmill as they were talking about 'How Black People Vote' was 'Black People Don't Vote Against The Democrats To Show Their Discontent - THEY MOVE AWAY FROM 'MISSION ACCOMPLISHED ZONES'!!!!'."
He continues his commentary about the Conservative Black Forum: "The problem that I have with 'Republicans who are Black' is that they ultimately wish their PARTY to succeed. They see the full engagement of the 'American Negro' into 'American Political Domain' as the framework for our development as an intractable fact. In this way they are little different than the 'Democrat who is Black', the 'Occupiers Of All Black Community Leadership Positions' at present."
Constructive Feedback argues that organic development should be the black Republicans' focus: "The job of the defenders of this ['social justice' system - which fails to produce sufficient 'Organic Competencies Among Black people' is to point out that there are other White people in the mud along with us. Despite the endless 'Black people need to.................' discussions they understand that as long as this system is present as an option the masses will not be compelled to change for its own good. No different than the debate over petroleum fuel consumption due to its availability."
Ad Agency Sues Herman Cain Over Book Photo Cover
From PaidContent.org, about the conservative Republican businessman and former presidential candidate: "A new lawsuit claims a former Republican presidential candidate used a photo without permission for the cover of his biography, This is Herman Cain!"
The article continues about the dispute: "The agency says it never gave the necessary permission but that the book was published anyways. Adventure Advertising is asking for profits from the sale of the book and an order allowing it to seize remaining copies from publisher Simon & Schuster (NYSE: CBS) which is also listed as a defendant. The book hit #4 on the New York Times (NYSE: NYT) bestseller list last fall."
South Africa: IFP Condemns Xenophobic Attacks
The article continues about the IFP's position: "Sithole said the latest incident was a warning to government that the people of South Africa are no longer willing to tolerate government's failures. 'People are growing increasingly desperate due to the high levels of poverty and unemployment. This latest incident has again drawn attention to the fact that government's strategic fight against poverty is failing. Furthermore, government must urgently address the abuse of our asylum seeker system and South Africa's porous borders. It is the failure of the State to exercise sound policies, especially in the field of immigration control, which has become a serious threat to the future of our young democracy. Unless government takes responsibility for these failures, levels of discontent and xenophobic attacks will increase,' Sithole said."
Lloyd Marcus: "Heads Up, America: It's Time To Take Our Kids Back From Liberals Who Are Polluting Their Minds"
Asserts the conservative Republican entertainer and Tea Party activist, who doesn't like much of what's on television these days: "Something that has bugged me for years is the way '60s-generation movie and TV producers think it is 'far out' (cool) for kids to speak disrespectfully to their parents. Call me old-fashioned, but I flip the channel whenever I see a kid smart-mouthing his parent and getting away with it. I simply cannot stomach it. This '60s-generation liberal mindset of parents being buddies with their children, relating to them as equals, affording them a right to privacy, and other nonsense is a part of the problem. There is great value and compassion in teaching children to respect their elders. Children who grow up never having learned to respect anyone have difficulty in personal relationships and in maintaining a job."
He continues his commentary: "Prayer was removed from public schools in 1962. We can all agree that our kids are far better off today because of that decision. Right? In my six tours across America with the Tea Party Express, I have met numerous families who home-school their children. The difference between public-school and home-schooled children is dramatic. Home-schooled children are poised, happy, respectful, and simply better-educated."
More commentary from Mr. Marcus: "Here's the bottom line of my ranting. The far-left thinking of self-absorbed '60s radicals who control much of the government and media continues to have a devastating effect on our children. Public schools are breeding grounds for immoral, unpatriotic, 'if it is oral, it ain't sex' future liberal Democrat voters, ignorant of the Constitution and our history. Patriots, it is time to take back our children. We must stay diligent in our efforts to reclaim control of our kids' education, defeat self-serving teachers' unions, and stop the feds from confiscating our children from home-schools for government reprogramming. Sixties radicals have been aggressively determined to subjugate every kid in America to mind-numbing liberal indoctrination. Our kids will be taught to worship the icon of liberalism's most successful achievement: our almighty ruler, 'Barack Hussein Obama, mmm, mmm, mmm.'"
Rejoice Ngwenya: "The Carbon Tax War In South Africa Ain't A Worthy Cause. The ANC Should Think About South Africa's Poor & Unemployed, Before Leftist Environmentalists""
The Zimbabwean libertarian activist writes: "I am not sure to what extent RSA [the Republic of South Africa] has ratified and domesticated the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, but one would need to question why, if carbon tax is as good for pollution control as it is for ‘sharing wealth’, why G20 club mates USA, Russia and China resist it so much. Therein lies its fallacy. Politicians have reason to worry, especially the ANC [African National Congress], facing possible elections in 2012, have to justify why the Alexander poor have to vote for the party in the face of such poverty. Once the excitement of COP17 abated in 2011, Jacob Zuma would not want to go to the elective conference in Mangaung, December 2012 with stinky fiscal baggage in his boot!"
He continues his commentary: "I also insist the causes RSA generally identifies with, if not outright self-defeating, are shamelessly hypocritical. In a bid to preserve Chinese billion dollar investments, Jacob Zuma violated the ANC code of freedom of movement by refusing the Dalai Lama a visa to Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu’s birthday. China imposes ‘fiscal death penalty’ on countries that infringe its paranoid ‘one China policy’. Thus it may not occur to Mr. Zuma whether or not imposing carbon tax during ‘election year’ is prudent until he comes face-to-face with political reality. The so-called benefits of carbon tax - oversight of the tax by the existing revenue authority; fewer players involved and therefore lower cost; simpler structure; lower administrative burden; minimized anti-pollution lobbies – pale in significance compared to pre-electoral vilification."
More: "Juggling sustainability, politics, job creation and price competitive interests is something South African authorities will have to lose sleep on. The prospects of exports being banned because of non carbon compliance may seem real, but as long as other G20 members do not seem fazed, Mr. Zuma can relax. Southern Africa is a major enabler of South Africa’s industrialization. I do not foresee a scenario where these ‘poor’ neighbours can use carbon-content carbon emission as a basis for trade! Duane Newman may argue that the ‘investor-driven carbon disclosure project’ will be the ‘in thing’ a future trade relations, but for the citizens of Alexander, any law that does not bring food to the table is a preserve of excitable CO17 environmentalists."
Open Thread FridayGhanaian Center-Rightists: "Ghanaian President John Atta Mills' Cabinet Rehuffle Is Meaningless. He's A Huge Failure"
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| "Sir John"opposes the center-left prez |
The article continues: "Speaking in an interview on Okay FM, the NPP Chief Scribe said he does not see anything new with this latest reshuffle, adding that President Mills is simply trying hard to impress Ghanaians that he is busy at the Castle working. '...the ministers who have been changed are not going to add anything new to the [center-left] NDC government. It’s the same old thing that has been renamed...it does not have any importance...President Mills is a gargantuan failure and no amount of reshuffle he does will change anything. He is just adding and subtracting names...he himself needs to be removed from the seat of government...” Sir John said."
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| Abu Jinapor: "the NDC is collapsing" |
SIDE-EYE POST OF THE DAY: Chris Christie: "The Civil Rights Movement Could've Been Settled Through Referendum"
Yes, New Jersey's conservative Republican governor gets the side-eye for making this asinine comment, as if black civil rights and the gay rights movement are comparable. One is generally genetic, and the other trait is arguably at least somewhat rooted in behavioral choice. Um, black folks were fighting for enforcement of pre-existing constitutional law (more specifically, the 14th and 15th Amendments): "In a comment related to his call for a voter referendum on the proposal to legalize gay marriage in New Jersey, Gov. Chris Christie said Wednesday, 'People would have been happy to have referendum on civil rights rather than fighting and dying in the streets in the South.' The governor, who on Tuesday called for a referendum on the Nov. 6 ballot that would ask voters to decide if the state should legalize same-sex marriage, also said he will veto the Democratic legislation to allow it when the proposal reaches his desk."
The article continues about Governor Christie's comments: "The comment that the civil rights movement of the 1960s could have been settled through a national or southern states voter referendum stunned Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex), who became the first African-American woman to head the lower house in 2010. 'Gov. Christie better sit down with some of New Jersey’s great teachers for a history lesson, because his puzzling comment shows a complete misunderstanding about the civil rights movement,' Oliver said. 'It’s impossible to ever conceive that a referendum on civil rights in the South would have been successful and brought justice to minorities. It’s unfathomable to even suggest a referendum would have been the better course."
1/26 BOOKERISTA PROFILE: Ken Wyatt, Australia
Today is Australia Day, which celebrates the arrival of the first British convicts in Sydney in 1788. To celebrate the folks who were already there, Booker Rising highlights an Aussie bookerista of Aborigine origin. Elected in 2010, MP Wyatt is the first self-identified Aborigine elected to Australia's House of Representatives. A member of the center-right Liberal Party (think classical liberalism here), The 59-year-old represents the swing-vote Hasluck division in Western Australia.
MP Wyatt is of Aborigine, East Indian, English and Irish descent, but both of his parents are of Aborigine descent. His mother was one of the Stolen Generations of Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their parents, in the white-controlled government's attempt to "assimilate" Aborigines into Australia's Westernized culture.
Prior to joining Parliament, MP Wyatt directed the Western Australia Office of Aboriginal Health and was the Director of Aboriginal Education for the Western Australia Department of Education. After his historic victory, MP Wyatt received hate mail from some white conservatives who said that they would've never voted for him had they known that he was black. He was called "Uncle Tom Wyatt" by some liberals (sound familiar?).
National honors that MP Wyatt has received include the Order of Australia for services to Aboriginal health and the Centenary Medal for his contributions to his country.
Project 21 Responds To Obama's SOTU Address
From the U.S. black conservative group's news release, which was emailed to Booker Rising:
Black conservatives affiliated with the Project 21 leadership network are unimpressed with President Barack Obama’s progress during his three years in office. They say Obama’s State of the Union address was long on rhetoric and short in presenting a strategy to fix the stagnant American economy that has not improved under his leadership.
“President Obama’s State of the Union address was no more than a reminder of the failures of his presidency. When given an opportunity to create an economy ‘built to last’ – by taking on Washington’s culture of fiscal irresponsibility, reining in an excessively regulatory administration and enacting true entitlement reform – he repeatedly pushed an agenda geared to push more debt on the backs of our children and grandchildren,” said Project 21 Spokesman Coby W. Dillard. “Instead of presenting true solutions to Congress, he repeatedly bypasses them with executive orders and recess appointments, seeking to give this behavior legitimacy by calling it ‘action.’ While speaking of a ‘renewal of American values’ before Congress, his actions trample on the very rights and freedoms that are the foundation of this great nation.”
Sophia A. Nelson: "Black Women Admire Michelle Obama"
The moderate commentator spoke with MSNBC's Thomas Roberts about the ways in which different generations of black American women view U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama:
DEROY MURDOCK COMMENTARY: Photo IDs Can Protect Elections, Let Dead Rest
Asserts the libertarian Republican commentator: "The easiest way to disenfranchise the dead [since people have used dead voters' information to vote] is to require every voter to show photo ID. Those who lack identification should get it for free. Reasonable accommodations can be made for the infirm."
He continues his commentary: "Let's not hear liberals' scratched record about how mandating a photo ID for voters is step one on the road to lynching. If true, then demanding a photo ID at America's airports would make the TSA equivalent to the KKK. Liberals' oft-cited claim that blacks are too befuddled to possess or acquire photo ID is pure racial profiling. Just how lame do they think black Americans really are? ID cards would help cleanse America's increasingly soiled voting system. Photo IDs also would allow dead people to rest in peace rather than rush to the polls every Election Day."
Cory Booker To N.J. Governor: "No Public Vote On Gay Rights"
From the Associated Press, about the moderate-liberal mayor of Newark, New Jersey: "Two of New Jersey's most influential black leaders blasted Gov. Chris Christie on Wednesday for proposing gay marriage be put to a popular vote in November, but the Republican governor insisted he's offering a reasonable compromise amid his personal opposition to same-sex nuptials. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Newark Mayor Cory Booker said in separate forums that civil rights are guaranteed by the Constitution and don't belong on the ballot."
The article continues: "Booker said baseball great Jackie Robinson would not have had the opportunity to break the sport's color barrier had the matter been put to a vote, and the mayor himself would not have had the opportunity, years later, to be elected to lead New Jersey's largest city."
More: "Booker said during a news conference in Newark: 'Dear God, we should not be putting civil rights issues to a popular vote, to be subject to the sentiments, the passions of the day. No minority should have their rights subject to the passions and the sentiments of the majority. This is the fundamental bedrock of what our nation stands for.'"
I'm Back!
This month has been crazy, so I've been unable to post as I'd like to do. I'm back though....
Juan Williams: "Don't Blame The Media Because The Republicans Have A Mediocre Field Of Presidential Candidates"
From Mediaite, about the moderate-liberal commentator: "In a segment asking whether media coverage of the GOP election is biased, Fox & Friends showed a clip of Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC, expressing the need for an alternative to Newt Gingrich because of 'desperation' among the Republican elite. Panelist Andrea Tantaros, a regular on The Five, felt that the 'mainstream media' definitely has an agenda when it comes to GOP candidates..."
It continues: "Juan Williams agreed that the (mainstream) media characterized tension between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton differently, but pointed out a notable distinction: 'You didn’t have a majority of Democrats saying ‘Gee, we wish someone would enter this contest like a magical man or woman on a carpet and come and rescue us all,' but 'most Republicans feel that way because it’s such a mediocre field.' And it isn’t just the mainstream (aka left-leaning) media, he argued. Conservative publications are also echoing Mitchell’s narrative. The fact is, he continued, that Republicans aren’t rallying around Romney, and they have questions about Gingrich. That’s what’s going on right now, he said, rather than some sort of 'grand conspiracy' among branches of the MSM."
THOMAS SOWELL OP-ED: Is Anybody Serious?
Asks the conservative economist in California about the Republican presidential race: "The Republican candidates' circular firing squad now seems to be using machine guns. Whoever the eventual 'last man standing' turns out to be, he may not be standing very tall or very steadily on his feet -- and he may be a pushover for Barack Obama in the general election, thanks to fellow Republicans. Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican or an independent, this is a very serious and historically crucial time for the United States of America. What Mitt Romney did or did not do when he was with Bain Capital, or what Newt Gingrich did or did not say to his ex-wife, are things that should be left for the tabloids. With the economy still faltering and Iran on its way to getting nuclear bombs, surely we can get serious about the issues facing this nation. Or can we?"
Mr. Sowell continues his commentary: "'The politics of personal destruction' -- as Bill Clinton called it, and as he himself practiced it -- is not the way to solve the nation's problems. It has already poisoned the well of political discourse this season and claimed Herman Cain as its first victim, on the basis of unsubstantiated accusations by women with checkered pasts of their own. Whether Herman Cain was good, bad or indifferent as a candidate, and whether his chances of winning the Republican nomination were substantial or non-existent is not the issue. Nor is this the issue as regards Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney or any other candidate."
More: "Poisoning the well of political discourse may be one of the reasons why we see such unsatisfactory sets of candidates for political office in both parties, not only this year but in previous election years as well. Many able and decent people are understandably reluctant to subject themselves and their families to a mud-slinging contest or to media 'gotcha' questions. The creeping acceptance of such practices is hardly a justification, but is itself part of the degeneration of our times. The time is long overdue to get serious."
Sanford Bishop Co-Founds Congressional Chicken Caucus
From Agri-Pulse, about the moderate-liberal Democratic Congressman and member of the Congressional Black Caucus: "Congressmen Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) announced that they have co-founded the bipartisan Congressional Chicken Caucus. The Chicken Caucus will educate members of Congress and their staffs on the concerns and benefits of the U.S. chicken industry."
There are currently eight people in the Congressional Chicken Caucus, from both major political parties: "U.S. chicken companies directly employ over 300,000 workers, producing products worth a wholesale value of over $45 billion dollars annually with major operations in more than 30 states. Further, there are more than 40 vertically integrated companies that contract with about 25,000 family farmers to produce market-ready broilers, hatching eggs and pullets."
LARRY ELDER OP-ED: Newt Declares War On Media
The libertarian Republican pundit in California opines that it's about time that someone declared war on the anti-GOP media bias and double standard that gives Democratic candidates a built-in 8- to 10-point advantage: "Gingrich bites back. Hard. Thus, he addresses the question of his messy personal life while hitting the CNN moderator for bringing this up as the first question. Gingrich knows he lacks the Reaganesque 'aw, shucks' persona. Reagan used his sunny disposition to counter the media's attempt to portray him as a dangerous nutcase whose finger should never go near the nuclear button -- not unlike how many try to portray Gingrich. Gingrich will call out the media for ignoring the bombshell that Obama's mother did not fight with her insurer over her medical bills, as Obama movingly and repeatedly told Americans in making his case for ObamaCare. Gingrich will question why the major media behaved so indifferently for so long about matters like Obama's 20-year association with a racist, anti-Semitic pastor."
He adds: "Gingrich will ask why the press yawns when the Obama administration stops using expressions like 'shovel ready,' 'save or create' millions of jobs and 'stimulus.' Gingrich will remind Americans about Obama's promise to end the influence of 'lobbyists.' By any normal understanding of the term, the White House remains a lobby-rich environment where Obama officials insist on lobbyist meetings off-premises. This means there is no White House log, allowing the administration to brag about an alleged decrease in lobbying. Gingrich will point out the hypocrisy of being called a 'lobbyist' though he never registered as one. Yet the media fail to apply this flexible definition of 'lobbyist' when it comes to the Obama administration. Gingrich will ask why the media remain so incurious about Obama's grades at prep school, Occidental College, Columbia University and Harvard Law -- even as Obama admitted, in his first book, that he wasn't much of a student."
More: "Gingrich will point out the lack of left-wing outrage over our involvement in Libya. As a senator, Obama insisted that the President needed congressional approval to send troops into harm's way -- unless the country was under imminent threat. Yet for the joint bombing of Libya, a mission the Obama administration called 'humanitarian,' Obama sought no congressional approval. Gingrich will stand up against explicit or implied charges of racism. He scored by not backing down from Fox's Juan Williams, who accused him of racial callousness for saying poor urban children lack working role models, and for calling Obama a 'food stamp president.' Gingrich stood his ground and engaged in a needed, if uncomfortable, national discussion about the damage done to the family by the welfare state. This resonates with voters who are tired of being accused of racism for questioning whether the welfare state now hurts the very people it purports to help."
Ward Connerly Faces Allegations Of Financial Misdeeds
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| Ward Connerly |
This long article continues outlining the controversy: "Mr. Connerly has faced accusations of profiteering before, as supporters of affirmative action highlighted his salary in an effort to discredit his cause. But this time, the allegations are more detailed and come from another significant movement figure: Jennifer Gratz, the named plaintiff in a landmark 2003 Supreme Court case that struck down a race-based admissions policy at the University of Michigan. After she won that case, Mr. Connerly hired Ms. Gratz to conduct research and run campaigns supporting anti-affirmative action ballot initiatives. She resigned last September and, through her lawyer, sent the group’s board a five-page letter, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times."
More about the allegations against Mr. Connerly: "Interviewed by phone and e-mail, Mr. Connerly, 72, acknowledged that his group had had financial difficulties, but said its board had not responded to the letter because '90 percent' of it was false. He portrayed Ms. Gratz as a 'disgruntled former employee' trying to 'besmirch me personally' because she wanted to replace him."
1/17 VIDEO OF THE DAY: J.C. Watts: "Super PAC Is Clouding The 2012 U.S. Presidential Election"
Hat tip to The Remnant Voice for this video featuring the conservative Republican and former Congressman commenting about the presidential election:
New Beyoncé CD Promo Criticized For Alleged Skin Lightening
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| The white-ification of Beyonce continues |
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| Beyonce's actual appearance |
Asks Walaa Idris, a British conservative blogger about the flak that the liberal singer is getting for the pale-skinned photo on her new CD cover: "Saw Beyoncé['s] latest promotional poster and had to do a double take, because the person on the poster looked nothing like the Beyoncé we know and love. For a nanosecond, I considered it might be me, maybe my prescription needed changing. Joking aside, I took a long look at the very beautiful photo of the stunning woman and wondered if it’s the industry, success or both?"
She continues her commentary about Beyonce changing complexion in promos: "Remember Michael Jackson’s Off the Wall Album [c]over? Years later when his mega platinum album Thriller came out, the Michael on the cover wasn’t the same one we saw growing up. Back then [P]hotoshopping wasn’t what it is today, but still we saw what an obsession with changing more than hair colour and style looked like by the time Invincible came out. Is Mrs. Carter going down the same route and if so…why!?"
U.S. Obesity Epidemic Shows No Hint Of Retreating
From the Associated Press: "America's obesity epidemic is proving to be as stubborn as those maddening love handles, and it shows no sign of reversing course. More than one-third of adults and almost 17 percent of children were obese in 2009-2010, echoing results since 2003, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. 'It's good that we didn't see increases. On the other hand, we didn't see any decreases in any group,' said CDC researcher Cynthia Ogden. In 2009-2010, more than 78 million adults and almost 13 million children aged 2-19 were obese, the CDC researchers reported."
More: "The latest reports -- one on children and the other on adults -- focused on obesity, meaning a body-mass index of at least 30. But the numbers of adults and children who were overweight, with a BMI of between 25 and 29, also remained high. Overall, 33 percent of adults were overweight but not obese, versus about 15 percent of children and teens. Rates of overweight or obese adults and children were generally higher in blacks and Hispanics than in whites."
Graphic Designer Under Fire For MLK Strip Club Flyer
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| Ratchetness: King Day flyer |
The article continues about the controversy: "Paul said the bash, which was supposed to begin at 8 p.m. Sunday and end at 6 a.m. Monday on MLK Day, was canceled after he realized the flyer was inappropriate. He said by then, the flyer was making the rounds on the Internet and he was getting lots of negative feedback. 'I got plenty of phone calls, plenty of phone calls...people calling from Chicago, Ohio, California,' Paul said. 'If I could've, I would have taken it back ahead of time. What was I thinking? Promotion,' Paul told NBC Miami."
The strip club is seeking to distance itself from this hot mess: "The strip club's management sought to distance themselves from the promotional effort on Monday, however. 'This is the first time seeing it. This is the owner's first time seeing it,' The Office manager Jermaine Robinson said. 'So we don’t condone this. This is Martin Luther King. We respect what he did. Today is the day for us to honor him.' Robinson said the flyer is 'definitely disrespectful, to be honest with you.'"
1/16 KING HOLIDAY VIDEO OF THE DAY: "I Have A Dream" & "Pride" Mashup
In honor of today's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday in America — which is a federal holiday — I highlight this video. My favorite orator of the 20th century, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968), is paired up with a song about him from U2, one of 20th century's greatest rock bands. "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" is my favorite song by U2.
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS OP-ED: Facing Our Problems
The conservative Republican commentator in D.C. argues that there is a solution to Black America's high out-of-wedlock birth and single parenting rates, high crime rate, and high unemployment rate: "I have a solution to many of these problems: God, the family, community, and education that balances creativity with discipline. As President Reagan said in his A Time for Choosing speech:'“If government planning and welfare had the answer — and they’ve had almost 30 years of it [now they’ve had about 70 years] — shouldn’t we expect government to read the score to us once in a while? Shouldn’t they be telling us about the decline each year in the number of people needing help? The reduction in the need for public housing?'"
He continues his commentary: "According to Pat Fagan of Family Research Council, 'on every outcome' the children who flourish most often are churchgoers with two parents, and those who fail most often are from a broken home and do not go to church. Furthermore, he notes, young black men with married parents go to jail at the same rate as white men with married parents — there is no racial gap — and young black men without married parents go to jail at the same rate as white men without married parents. 'The reason for the education gap is not income,' he says. 'It’s marriage and parents.' The same is the case for crime and drugs."
More: "We need to see real progress; We want to see people rise above these statistics. The old answers of government planning and welfare are not good enough. We deserve real solutions. The failures of safety nets do not justify more and more safety nets."
Stanley Crouch on Political Frivolities
The moderate-liberal columnist in New York City writes: "Some political types, for example, are more concerned with how [presidential candidate Mitt] Romney treated his family dog on a long-ago family vacation — they drove with the dog tied to the top of the car. Maybe they think that if they can show him to be indifferent to the treatment of man’s best friend, voters will give him the Michael Vick treatment."
He continues his commentary: "On the other side, those who have seen Michelle Obama remake herself into a cooler and calmer woman since she paraded her firebrand charisma during the months prior to the presidential election of 2008 find her problem seems to be no more than another ethnic tempest in a tea pot. Kantor’s book provides gossip about how Obama supposedly got into screaming matches with Robert Gibbs, the President’s chief spokesman at the time, and how she and chief of staff Rahm Emanuel (who has since become the mayor of Chicago) could not get along. Supposedly, she compared living in the White House to hell. For some people, this confirms their worst suspicions about her."
More commentary from Mr. Crouch: "How much did Romney pay for his haircut? Where does the First Lady buy her clothes? These are the kinds of questions some in the media claim are important in America today. But we have risen from the muck before, and we can rise from it again. Already, the GOP presidential nomination has seen plenty of hot air dispelled and plenty of jokers, like Michele Bachmann, Herman Cain and (soon enough) the doomed Rick Perry, shown the door. The truth takes a long time to arrive, but arrive it does."
Ghana: Nana Akufo-Addo Set To Pick Mahamudu Bawumia As His Running Mate
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| Akufo-Addo/Bawumia: ticket to 2012 success? |
The article continues: "Meanwhile, some party stalwarts are pushing for deputy Minority Leader, Ambrose Derry but Joy News’ sources say, the flag-bearer is determined to maintain his 2008 running mate....But Nana Akufo-Addo is convinced that Dr. Bawumia, formerly deputy governor of the bank of Ghana has the wherewithal to support him in the realization of his vision of a massive economic and industrial transformation of the country in which job creation would form a critical cornerstone. According to Joy News sources, since Bawumia had been marketed already, it is only fair to give him a second chance. However, those opposed to the choice of Bawumia argue that he somewhat fled to Zimbabwe to take up an appointment [with the African Development Bank] when he should have remained at home to support the party."
Lurita Doan: "Obama Has Failed Black Americans"
The conservative Republican commentator asserts that no modern U.S. president has served Black America as poorly as President Barack Obama: "During his term as President, Obama has produced a woeful record of poorly conceived policies combined with equal parts of failing to lead. Obama has made a mockery of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s vision of race relations. Reverend King urged advancement based on 'content of character' rather than 'color of our skin'. Americans, and especially blacks, once had hoped that Obama's historic rise to the Presidency would signal a new rebirth of effort and interest in the 'content of our character' but that hope is now lost. Obama is uninterested in the 'content of character' issue. What a pity, for there is nothing more urgent. Consider that today, despite the fact that Obama has run up impossible debts with borrowed money to spend on pet projects, the unemployment rate for Black Americans is stuck at nearly twice the national average at approximately 16 percent, rates not seen since the Great Depression."
More: "Obama has never been a man of ideas. Even the title of his autobiography (The Audacity of Hope) was first coined by Rev, Jeremiah Wright in a sermon. Americans can see that Obama doesn't believe in free enterprise, and he doesn't believe in American exceptionalism. Obama is the 'wooden ventriloquist' of the Democrat Party apparatchik, interested only in herding Black Americans, like sheep, to the polls, certain that despite his destructive policies, Black Americans, somehow, will vote for him again. And so, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s bold vision for Black Americans, a vision of hope, a vision of equality and occupying an equal place in the execution of the American Dream must await a new generation of Black leaders because one thing is clear, Obama ain't it."
Nigeria's Fuel Subsidy Crisis: Bookerista Perspectives
As Booker Rising has highlighted for the past two weeks thanks to Nigerian libertarian blogger J.J. Omojuwa, the Nigerian people have taken to the streets against the government's decision to remove the fuel subsidy. Bookeristas on two continents weigh in on the issue:
USA: Constructive Feedback: "The Violent Nigerian Protests Over Fuel Prices Is Due To The Failure Of Centralized Planning"
Asserts the conservative blogger in Georgia: "Since most of the press only does 'transactional reporting' and/or when they do analysis they are blinded by their own agenda, we did not see the story on Nigeria painted as a fatal flaw of central planned economies. Not only did corrupt politicians misappropriate hundreds of billions of dollars over the last several decades, the citizen victims of their policies understood that their violent protests in rejection of government policies could force the government to reverse course. If you think that a 'corporate economy' where distributed private entities have too much control and need to be reigned in by the central government then you should look at Nigeria as the other extreme. When 'the economy' becomes a matter of politics in the hands of the central government then all economic growth gets caught up in the swamp that is the national capital and the greedy politicians that understand their power."
Kenya: The African Executive: "Remove The Subsidy, But Refine The Oil In Nigeria"
The African Executive, a Kenyan-based free marketeer website, pens an op-ed: "As an oil producing country, Nigerians do not expect subsidized oil but rather cheap oil through activating oil refineries to supply domestic demand. The current low costs of petroleum products could actually have been 100% lower if Nigeria was refining the crude domestically. The argument that savings made from removing oil subsidy will assist in financing other essential infrastructural demands fails to address aspects of inefficiency on how oil revenues are managed and what measures have been put in place to curb revenue mismanagement at all government levels. Why should ordinary Nigerians be made to pay for the gross ineptitude, and grave incompetence of their government?"
Today's Event
2:00pm MT, USA: John Hope Bryant: Speaks About Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In Denver
The centrist founder of Operation HOPE, a Los Angeles-based financial literacy organization, is the keynote speaker for a MLK event. From the Denver Post: "MLK program 'Painting the Seed, Growing the Seed,' will be from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Evie Dennis Campus Building, 1 West Commons, 4800 Teluride St., Denver. The keynote speaker will be John Hope Bryant. Music selections: First Lady of Denver Mary Hancock (Mary Louise Lee); solo selection, Sia Chandler."
Kenneth Meshoe: "Three 24-Hour Pornography Channels In South Africa? Ah, Hecky Naw!"
From Capital FM News (Kenya), about the South African conservative parliamentarian: "A South African court on Monday barred a pay-television service from launching the country’s first around-the-clock pornography channels without the nod from the broadcasting regulator. The High Court in Johannesburg stopped TopTV from putting to air three, 24-hour porn channels, planned to launch Friday, for subscribers until the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has ruled on the controversial move."
More: "The planned channels – Adult XXX, Playboy Europe and Private Spice – have met opposition from religious parties and the state’s Film and Publication Board. 'We have high rates of rape in South Africa. Young children who are involved in such acts always point to pornography as their source. The launch of the channel will add fuel to a fire that is already burning,' African Christian Democratic Party president Kenneth Meshoe was quoted as saying in the Sowetan newspaper."
1/15 Quote Of The Day
“One of the great glories of democracy is the right to protest for right…if you will protest courageously and yet with dignity and Christian love, when the history books are written in future generations the historians will pause and say, ‘There lived a great people – a black people – who injected new meaning and dignity into the veins of civilization.’ That is our challenge and our overwhelming responsibility.” — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968), during the Montgomery bus boycott in 1955
Elba & Spencer Win Golden Globe Awards
Idris Elba and Octavia Spencer for the win! From the Associated Press: "Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer and Octavia Spencer won acting honors at a Golden Globes show Sunday that was spreading Hollywood's love around among a broad range of films and TV shows."
The article continues about tonight's ceremony: "The supporting-acting Globes went to Plummer as an elderly widower who comes out as gay in the father-son drama 'Beginners' and Spencer as a brassy housekeeper joining other black maids to share stories about life with their white employers in the 1960s Deep South tale 'The Help.' 'With regard to domestics in this country, now and then, I think Dr. King said it best: 'All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance.' And I thank you for recognizing that with our film,' Spencer said."
More: "Among television winners were Britain's Kate Winslet as best actress in a miniseries or movie in 'Mildred Pierce' and Idris Elba as best actor in a miniseries or movie in 'Luther,' Laura Dern as comedy or musical actress in 'Enlightened,' Kelsey Grammer as dramatic actor in 'Boss,' 'Homeland' for drama series and British series 'Downton Abbey' for miniseries or movie."
Jon Huntsman To Withdraw From U.S. Presidential Race
The moderate Republican presidential candidate is throwing in the towel. From USA Today: "Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman will drop out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination today, a campaign adviser confirmed Sunday night. The decision comes the same day Huntsman received the endorsement of The State, the Columbia, S.C., newspaper, and nearly a week after finishing third in the New Hampshire primary, where he had focused his campaign. The campaign adviser spoke on condition of anonymity because Huntsman plans to make the official announcement. Huntsman appears to have received little if any boost from New Hampshire, still placing at the bottom of most national and South Carolina polls in the low single digits. Matt David, a spokesman for Huntsman, told the New York Times that Huntsman will endorse former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney."
More: "Huntsman, 51, formally entered the presidential race in June, well after many of his Republican rivals such as Romney who had already formed campaign organizations and fundraising networks. He served as President Obama's first ambassador to China, but resigned effective in late April. His stint in the Obama administration was viewed skeptically by some Republican voters, but Huntsman defended it as service to the country."
1/14 VIDEO OF THE DAY: "Red Tails" Trailer
The movie officially hits theaters on January 20. Produced by George Lucas, the movie stars Cuba Gooding Jr., Terrence Howard, Ne-Yo (!), and Method Man (!) as Tuskegee Airmen. John Ridley and Aaron McGruder are the screenwriters. Terence Blanchard produced the movie's score.
For my non-American readers, the Tuskegee Airmen were a groundbreaking group of black American military pilots who were highly effective in battling the Nazis during World War II. The U.S. military was racially segregated at the time, and white folks believed that black folks were "incapable" of being pilots LMAO. These fine gentlemen were trained at Tuskegee University, the school that this blog's namesake built up back in the day (although the Airmen came long after his death):
Aspiring First Black Republican Congresswoman: "Don't Put Me In A Box Because Of My Race And Gender"
The Daily Caller highlights Mayor Mia Love, a first-generation Haitian-American who is running for Congress: "If Saratoga Springs Mayor Mia Love wins her bid for Congress, she will be the first black Republican congresswoman in history. But don’t try to put her in that box. Love is running in Utah’s newly created 4th Congressional District. She will face a primary field including state Reps. Stephen Sandstrom and Carl Wimmer on June 26. If she wins, she’ll face Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson, who remains incredibly popular, in November."
The article continues about Mayor Love: "The historical significance that her election would hold is not lost on Love, but she is adamant that she doesn’t want her race or gender to play any role in the contest. That said, she believes standing out in the sea of 435 congressmen would be a useful tool for the conservative cause she champions. 'Utah won’t vote for me because I’m going to stand out, they’ll vote for me because of my policies,' Love said in an interview with The Daily Caller. 'I have worked where the rubber meets the road on the most local levels for almost a decade,' she said. 'I have cut spending before, my policies — my fiscal policies — I’ve put them into practice in Saratoga Springs, and have made them work.'"
More: "If she does receive significant media attention, Love hopes to use the opportunity to express a conservative message that has too few African American champions. 'Any time I’m in front of that camera....I’m going to champion those conservative causes. I’m going to let people out there know that we exist, and that....there are conservative black Americans everywhere that believe in fiscal discipline, limited government and personal responsibility,' she said."
Cory Booker: "If You Want to Honor Dr. King, Do Something"
From Black Entertainment Television, about the moderate Democratic mayor's statement: "For 29 years, the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been recognized as a national holiday, and although many appreciate the day off from school or work, others say service is how the 'free' time should be spent. 'If you really want to honor Dr. King, don’t talk about him, don’t quote his speeches, engage in answering his call to service,' Newark New Jersey Mayor Cory Booker tells BET.com."
The article continues about Mayor Booker's comments: "Quoting Dr. King -- who said change will not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but that it must be carried on the backs of people willing to work for it, struggle for it and sacrifice for it -- the 42-year-old mayor believes that not everyone wants that responsibility, and that needs to change. 'We’re not [successful as a nation] yet because still there are too many people who believe this democracy is a spectator sport,' he said. 'That they can sit on the sidelines and give color commentary about what’s going on, as opposed to realizing that we all must be in the game — making a sacrifice, being there for others.'"
The Tebow Effect
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| Hoping that Tim Tebow's team wins tonight |
He continues: "Oh, I just got a thought. Wouldn't the mainstream media be celebrating and rallying around Tebow if he proclaimed that he was in love with and planned to marry a fellow teammate? Imagine the major TV network bidding war for the rights to broadcast the wedding nationwide. Meanwhile, the left has deemed Tebow proclaiming his love for Jesus offensive. A blogger called Tebow the most polarizing figure in America. Several TV shows promote homosexuality. Another TV show promotes Islam. And yet, Tebow mentioning Jesus is considered polarizing."
More: "Tebow is not polarizing/dividing people. Tebow is bringing people together. Remarkably, Tebow fans are all races, ranging in ages from eight to eighty. Folks, I am telling you. There is something uniquely special about this fine young man, Tim Tebow. Cultural rot is eating away at our country like a terminal cancer. Our boys aspire to look and act like thugs. Women are dressing themselves and their daughters without modesty. Unintentionally and, I believe, unknown to him, Tebow appears to be leading a movement toward a miracle cure: returning Christian values and principles from many years of exile. More and more pro athletes and politicians are boldly speaking about their faith on national TV. We are witnessing the birth of The Tebow Effect."
NADRA ENZI OP-ED: Brothers & Badges Together
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger and anti-violence advocate in Louisiana writes: "Inner city America should have long ago hosted a different kind of civil rights march: brothers and badges dialoguing and then patrolling to reduce crime and quality of life issues. This absence has two main reasons: racism and apathy. Bias in city halls and chiefs offices [e]nsure such teamups will be rare. White officials still can't quite see us as concerned citizens who'd take to the streets to uphold law and order like Caucasian peers. The other charge of racism comes from Black men who feel ALL police are racist and ANY attempt to unite with them assists White supremacy. Brothers with this perspective can't get around seeing law enforcement as THE enemy - period!"
Mr. Enzi continues his commentary: "Apathy afflicts officer and citizen alike when it comes to inner city crime. Beaten down by entrenched negativism both feel there's no hope in these zip codes....and thus no reason to try improving conditions. They shrug their shoulders; hunker down and navigate a human wasteland growing worse by daily."
More: "Brothers & Badges was a thought experiment I did to rid the Black male/police dynamic of burdensome historic baggage. Approaching it anew means the following: Seeing high crime and no rapport as opportunities to unite the two critical elements, Black males and police, needed to solve the problem. Brothers & Badges means at long last Black boys and men delete seeing ourselves as outcasts and decide to stride forth as Americans petitioning local government to join us as we secure neighborhoods; businesses; worship sites and other threatened infrastructure. Bringing brothers and badges together denies thugs current cultural safe harbor in the Hood. Whom can we blame for not fighting to unite against America's greatest domestic public safety threat taking place in our families and social networks? This is a civil rights march that should have happened generations ago."
Bookeristas Ain't Feeling Mitt Romney Being Crowned As The Inevitable Republican Presidential Nominee
Crystal Wright: "Mitt Romney's 'Inevitability Factor'"
The conservative Republican blogger in the D.C. metro area opines: "Nothing is 'inevitable in life,' how long we’re going to live or who is going to capture the Republican presidential nomination in 2012. The media and so called Republican establishment’s incessant castigation of conservative voters who dare not support Romney as 'Anyone but Romney' is insulting and only serves to intensify these conservatives' dislike and distrust of Romney more. Since when are Republicans obligated to anoint Mitt Romney with the GOP presidential nomination? Conservative voters don’t owe Mitt Romney anything. Last time I looked, we live in a democracy where the people decide and vote for whom they believe is the best candidate. This notion perpetuated and peddled by the Republican elite, whoever they may be, that conservatives must get behind Romney because he’s the GOP’s most compelling candidate in the field is laughable. If Romney is great as a candidate why over the past eight months hasn’t he been able to electrify the conservative electorate and tie up this nomination?"
She argues that conservatives don't trust him or his policy positions: "When it comes to Romney many Republicans are dubious of his convictions. Not only has he moved to the left on issues like abortion, guns and Romneycare, but he’s robotic and voters never seem to get a sense of his true beliefs and he’s void of passion. How can you engender confidence in your candidacy if voters’ question how you would govern? And Senator John McCain’s endorsement of Romney is like a bad omen. You can hear the 'anyone but Romney' crowd chanting 'from one loser to another.'"
Apostle Claver: "It Ain't Time To Fall In Line Just Yet!"
Asserts the conservative GOP activist in Texas, about the moderate-conservative GOP presidential candidate: "With a consistent 75% of GOP primary voters rejecting the idea of Romney becoming the nominee, Romney’s path to victory depends solely on his ability to use his abundant financial advantage to simply outlast the other contenders. He is being rejected! Therefore, what those of us that want a true conservative have to be on guard against is Romney’s strategy of surviving the inevitable attrition. We have to understand that the inevitable attrition can actually play to our advantage."
Mr. Claver continues his commentary about the GOP race: "The field will eventually narrow to three competitors: Romney, Paul, and the true conservative candidate. Romney will be there because of his hard cash, period. Paul will be there because of his zealous supporters and his ability to maintain a respectable revenue stream from them that will keep his campaign alive even until the national convention. The relevant question will be who will be the conservative candidate. Now here’s Romney’s path to victory....He prevails only if the true conservative candidate – for some unforeseen reason – can’t endure and Romney faces only Ron Paul."
