"Who has a habit, will never leave it even if his finger gets cut." — Omani proverb
GOP: "Obama Is Driving U.S. Toward Socialism"
Top Republicans accuse President Obama of driving the United States toward socialism. The rhetoric appeared to set the stage for another bitter partisan fight in Congress, which begins hearings next week on the liberal Democratic president's $3.55 trillion budget proposal.
President Obama wants to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans to pay for more healthcare, education, climate change, and social programs, along with efforts to jolt the economy out of a recession. The budget also forecasts the biggest federal deficit ever - $1.75 trillion this year - adding to widespread sticker shock in Congress, where only three Republicans supported the $787 billion economic stimulus package.
Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio), the House GOP leader, called the budget and recently passed economic stimulus plan "one big down payment on a new American socialist experiment." "I have serious concerns with this budget, which demands hardworking American families and job creators turn over more of their hard-earned money to the government to pay for unprecedented spending increases," said Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), the Senate GOP leader.
The three Senate Republicans who crossed the political aisle to back President Obama's stimulus plan also have reservations. "The president's proposed budget outlines an aggressive domestic agenda that requires serious consideration, but also raises many questions, particularly about the enormous growth in the public debt," said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who along with Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) voted for the stimulus bill.By invoking socialism, some Republicans appeared ready to use the budget debate to burnish their conservative appeal after last November's election drubbing. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) called President Obama "the world's best salesman of socialism," while Sen. McConnell said Obama's proposals recalled the "big government mentality" of former President Jimmy Carter.
Crazy
Has she lost her mind? Dumb move. She should've listened to her family, and left him for good.
DNA Proves Author Alex Haley Had Scottish Roots
DNA tests have proved that Alex Haley – the late black American author whose book Roots traced his family origins from the slave plantations of the U.S. back to Africa and helped transform the self-image of millions of black Americans – was also directly descended from a Scottish paternal bloodline. The findings came after a sample of DNA from Chris Haley (pictured), Mr. Haley's nephew, matched that of the father of his distant cousin June Baff-Black (pictured), who lives in Wales and whose shared lineage starts in 17th century Scotland.
Until recently, Chris Haley had only word of mouth family history to show that his great-great-grandfather had been born of an African slave mother and white Scottish father, both of whom lived and worked on a slave plantation in the U.S. The findings, by the website Ancestry.co.uk, are the first scientific confirmation of Alex Haley's own research in which he traced his ancestry back to William Baugh (a variation of Baff) – the overseer of an Alabama slave plantation – who was thought to have fathered a child with a female slave, called Sabrina, or "Viney". Their son, named Alec, is thought to have been born between 1850 and 1860.
Alex Haley, who died in 1992, traced this side of his family history in his book Queen, which followed the biographical novel Roots: the Saga of an American Family.
DNA testing is a relatively new technology for genealogists. It allows them to trace a paternal or maternal line by studying either the Y-chromosome (passed from father to son), or mitochondrial DNA (passed from mother to daughter). Since DNA mutates at a relatively steady rate, the test can indicate how long ago two genetically-matched cousins shared a common ancestor, allowing them to get in touch and compare more detailed family tree information.
Booker Rising response: One out of every three black American men has a Y chromosome that tests European, so the young Mr. Haley's DNA test is no surprise. I'd wager that a lot of black Americans and Jamaicans have Scottish ancestry, because the Scottish were all up in the slave trade. Other famous blacks with Scottish roots include Colin Powell (who even has a coat of arms), President Barack Obama (his Scottish ancestry was not acquired through slavery, although his mother's ancestors did own slaves), and British track star Colin Jackson (whose Scottish ancestry is also not from slavery). Even your girl here has distant Scotch-Irish roots via a maternal, white great-great-grandfather, and thus Scottish ancestry. Some day somebody will create a genetic database that link black Americans with specific living African relatives.
SONG OF THE DAY: Stevie Wonder, "I Wish"
This is in honor of Mr. Wonder receiving the Gershwin Prize For Popular Song a couple of days ago. The Library of Congress established the Gershwin Prize two years ago to "celebrate the work of an artist whose career reflects lifetime achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding."
President Obama and Mrs. Obama are huge Stevie Wonder fans. Their wedding song was "You And I", and "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours" was Barack Obama's campaign theme song. At the award ceremony, they talked about how his music has influenced their lives. I am also a Stevie Wonder fan (is there someone who isn't a fan?). "I Wish" (1976) is my fave Stevie Wonder cut: it's funky, tight bass line and horns, and there are Stevie's iconic vocals. It went #1 on both the U.S. R&B and pop charts, and was #5 on the British chart:
I was among the 78,000 people who flocked to Grant Park's Petrillo Music Shell last summer to see this living legend perform for free (or rather, compliments of our tax dollars), during the Taste Of Chicago. It had to be the best attended Taste concerts of all time, because I've never seen a Taste show so packed to the gills. Petrillo couldn't hold everybody, so some folks were literally in the trees. All sorts of folks were there as a testiment to his widespread appeal: fortysomething and fiftysomething steppers, Generation Xers like myself, twentysomething hipsters, kids, and elderly folks of all races. Stevie went way past his allotted time - almost three hours, when most Taste performers go for 1.5 to 2 hours - but he put on a great show.
The award ceremony - which included all-star covers and a performance by Mr. Wonder - aired last night on PBS. Here is the entire ceremony. What's your favorite Stevie Wonder song?
Comments Section Is Acting Up Today
Readers are probably getting an "Invalid User" message when they try to comment. Previously banned folks aside, no one has been blocked out. I'm getting the same message! That, or the comments section completely disappears. The Haloscan system is clearly acting up today. FYI, I've contacted Haloscan about the problem, so hopefully it'll get fixed soon.
UPDATE: Comments section is working again!
Obama Announces Iraq Exit Plan
Booker Rising reported it two days ago, but it's now official. President Barack Obama says he will withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq by the end of August 2010. The liberal Democratic president today announced it to Marines at Camp Lejeune, in North Carolina. The president says up to 50,000 troops could stay in Iraq for limited missions in training and combating terrorism, but that he intends to remove all troops from Iraq by the end of 2011.
President Obama stated that Iraq is not yet secure and that difficult days lie ahead, but he said the United States must refocus on other priorities, such as Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The withdrawal timeframe is slightly longer than President Obama promised while campaigning for the presidency. Officials say it will allow the U.S. to maintain a strong presence in Iraq through a series of regional elections there, and national elections set for the end of the year. Under a U.S.-Iraq security deal reached last year, all U.S. combat forces must leave Iraq by the end of 2011. Around 142,000 U.S. troops are serving in Iraq.
While the drawdown plan is supported by Republicans, it is getting criticized by liberals and leftists who expected a larger drawdown and/or a quicker timeline.
National Journal Rankings: Who Are The Centrists In The Congressional Black Caucus?
Centrists because there are no black conservatives in the CBC. However, a few moderates and moderate-liberals remain. The National Journal assigned U.S. House and U.S. Senate members separate scores for their roll-call votes on key economic, social and foreign-policy issues during 2008. They are rated in each of the three issue categories on both liberal and conservative scales, with the scores on each scale given as percentiles. An economic score of 78 on the liberal scale, for example, means that the member was more liberal than 78% of his or her House colleagues on the key votes in that issue area during 2008. The Congressional Black Caucus members who were moderate or moderate-liberal in at least two of the three issue categories:
Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.): Economic: 78% liberal / 20% conservative. Social: 62% liberal / 34% conservative. Foreign policy: 59% liberal / 32% conservative.
Rep. Sanford has moved left. He used to be a solid moderate, but is now moderate-liberal.
Rep. Artur Davis (D-Ala.): Economic: 57% liberal / 41% conservative. Social: 54% liberal / 42% conservative. Foreign policy: 50% liberal / 48% conservative.
Perhaps in anticipation of his gubernatorial bid in Alabama in 2010, Rep. Davis was a rare Congressional Democrat - across race - who moved to the right. He has moved from being a moderate-liberal to being a moderate.
Just to provide perspective, the majority of the 42-member Congressional Black Caucus was in 85 percentile or higher liberal on fiscal and social issues. Most of the members were at least in the 70 percentile or higher liberal on foreign policy issues.
President Obama Has First Meeting With Congressional Black Caucus
The Congressional Black Caucus met yesterday for the first time as a group with President Obama, its most famous alumnus. "Obviously this is the first time ever that the CBC had the opportunity to be with a president who happened to be of African ancestry," said Rep. Al Green (D-Texas). "This country has demonstrated that character counts. And that's important, not to overlook the fact that we have had this giant leap forward." The caucus chairwoman, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) called the hourlong White House meeting a "historic moment." Although some caucus members had grumbled about waiting more than five weeks for the meeting, long after President Obama sat down with moderate and conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats and House and Senate Republicans, the praise flowed yesterday. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) urged the new president to create a commission to fix educational disparities. The meeting also covered health care, judicial nominations, civil rights, foreign policy as well as jobs, taxes and the economy, participants said. The caucus includes many of Congress' most senior members. It has four committee chairs and 16 subcommittee chairs, and includes some of the House's most liberal members.
Michael Steele, Tavis Smiley And Press
Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, will attend the 10th annual "State of the Black Union'' forum staged by commentator Tavis Smiley tomorrow in Los Angeles. He will be the first RNC chairman to do so. The Chicago Tribune writes: "Considering that Steele is the first African-American chairman of the RNC, and considering the fact that he attended last year's forum as a panelist, this shouldn't be very surprising. Then again, even Barack Obama, then seeking to become the first African-American nominee for president of any major political party, skipped last year's State of the Black Union forum in New Orleans - Obama, now the first African-American president, was busy campaigning in his party's primaries, and not particularly interested in portraying himself as the black candidate. So it's possible that Steele may draw some comparisons between his presence this year and Obama's absence last year. The chairman will hold a press conference before the forum at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Saturday morning - a sure sign that he has something to say."
Shelly O: "I Have The Right To Bare Arms. Y'all Betta Get Used To It, 'Cause I'ma Do Me"
First Lady Michelle Obama's official portrait was released today (hat tip: Mrs. O). In what is quickly becoming her signature look, she is wearing a sleeveless, shoulder-baring dress yet again. However, Mrs. Obama looks pretty in this $3,200+ dress (by Michael Kors, an American designer). Let me say it again: it's nice to have a First Lady who isn't a dowdy dresser. The haters will have a field day though, because she is making a statement by becoming the first First Lady to go sleeveless for her portrait.
Mrs. Obama has been catching flak all week for her break with traditional First Lady protocol. She is accused of not showing "appropriate decorum" and of "dumbing down" First Lady propriety for not covering her arms in the White House, when she went strapless for the first state dinner on Sunday. Oh, and going sleeveless in the White House kitchen before the dinner. The criticism really increased she went sleeveless for President Obama's speech before Congress on Tuesday. There's the lowcut-and-sleeveless dress for the Stevie Wonder tribute on Wednesday at the White House. And the lacy, sleeveless number on People's cover.
What horrors! Even White House Secretary Desiree Rogers (who herself was recently criticized for running afoul of fashion protocol for her position) felt the need to defend her friend/boss in this brewing ARM-ageddon controversy. This is 2009, not 1909, right? Mrs. Obama is only 45, right? This is the United States of America, not Iran, right?
While I do think Mrs. Obama should've worn sleeves to the State Of The Union address, the other outfits are fine. Folks act like a First Lady ain't ever shown a lil' skin. Eleanor Roosevelt posed in a lowcut-and-sleeveless gown before a White House dinner. Jackie Kennedy went sleeveless for the 1963 State Of The Union address. She also wore a strapless gown at these White House functions. Nancy Reagan wore a one-strapped sleeveless gown to the 1981 inaugural ball. In all fairness though, during this week alone Mrs. Obama has pushed the envelope more than Mrs. Reagan, Mrs. Roosevelt, and even Mrs. Kennedy throughout their tenures. Nevertheless, folks need to chill. Wake me up if Mrs. Obama loses her damn mind and actually dresses hoochie. Otherwise, get out of here with that Michelle-as-Jezebel meme.
However, Mrs. Obama might want to tone down the high-priced designer stuff. Remember, Mrs. Reagan was condemned for wearing designer dresses while the economy was in a downturn. I'm already reading articles where conservatives want to get even for that one.
John McWhorter On "Bill Moyers Journal"
Tonight Bill Moyers sits down with scholar John McWhorter for a conversation on race in America. The moderate-liberal Democratic pundit addresses the controversial NY Post cartoon, Attorney General Eric Holder's suggestion that America is "essentially a nation of cowards", among other subjects. The show airs tonight at 9:00pm ET on PBS (check local listings here)
Mr. McWhorter is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, is a best-selling author, a columnist for The New Republic and is currently teaching at Columbia University.
Heads Up, CBC Critics: The CBC Liberals Who Show Latent Centrism In Specific Arenas
The Congressional Black Caucus is often accused of being staunch liberals and leftists. However, when one breaks them down by the fiscal, social, and foreign policy areas, there is more ideological diversity than we critics think. Using the just-released National Journal rankings, I went beyond the rhetoric and went by how they act via their votes.
The Almost-Moderate
Rep. Donald Payne (D-N.J.) almost made onto the CBC centrist list. Economic: 68% liberal / 32% conservative. Social: 67% liberal / 28% conservative. Foreign policy 85% liberal / 8% conservative. While Rep. Payne is a staunch liberal on foreign policy issues (which kept him off the centrist list), he is a moderate-liberal on fiscal issues and almost reaches moderate-liberal status on social issues.
The Ex-Moderate
Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) used to consistently rank as the most conservative member of the CBC, an honor which now goes to moderate Rep. Davis. Rep. Scott has made shifted left: Economic: 85% liberal / 0% conservative. Social: 75% liberal / 18% conservative. Foreign policy: 59% liberal / 37% conservative. Bookeristas can't look to Rep. Scott anymore on economic and social issues, but he remains valuable on foreign policy issues.
Five Potential Social Moderates?
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-Calif.) is the only one who actually hits moderate-liberal territory on social issues (67% liberal / 33% conservative).
Although she gets her share of criticism by black conservatives, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) is not as all-around liberal as her critics think. While she is a staunch liberal on fiscal and foreign policy issues (85%), she almost reaches moderate-liberal status on social issues (67% liberal / 28% conservative). Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), Rep. Diane Watson (D-Calif.), and Rep. Melvin Watt (D-N.C.) also just miss being a moderate-liberal on social issues. The trio scored 67% liberal / 28% conservative on social issues.
There is an opportunity for black moderates and black conservatives to push these politicians more towards the center on social issues.
Foreign Policy: The Area Where Bookeristas Can Find Support
However, foreign policy is the area where bookeristas can make headway with the Congressional Black Caucus. This is the area where there is the most ideological diversity within the CBC. Rep. Corinne Brown (D-Fla.) is a staunch liberal on fiscal and social issues, but a moderate-liberal (69% liberal / 31% conservative) on foreign policy issues. Same goes for Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.), but he is a firm moderate on (58% liberal / 41% conservative) on foreign policy issues. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill.) is a moderate-liberal (69% liberal / 30% conservative) on foreign policy issues. Rep. Hank Johnson (D-Ga.) is also part of this group (65% liberal / 32% conservative on foreign policy). Even Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), who has lately been criticized by black conservatives for his comments that Southern governors refusing economic stimulus bill were racist, pops up. He is a staunch liberal on fiscal and social issues, but is moderate-liberal (65% liberal / 32% conservative) on foreign policy issues.
Fave Whipping Gal Of Black Conservatives Has Overlooked Moderate Impulses
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), another whipping gal for black conservatives for her outspokenness, is another intriguing case. While she is staunchly liberal on fiscal issues - which is usually where she is outspoken - she is actually a moderate-liberal on foreign policy issues (65% liberal / 32% conservative). Rep. Waters almost reaches moderate-liberal status on social issues as well (67% liberal / 28% conservative). Perhaps it is the growing Hispanic population in her district that is causing her to move more to the center, but she is doing so.
Including the two bona fide CBC centrists, there are 15 Congressional Black Caucus members - comprising 35.7% of the entire 42-member caucus - who are either truly centrist or who possess centrist impulses in certain areas. Bookeristas shouldn't dismiss the CBC outright, but work with these 15 legislators. There's a foundation upon which more commonality can be built.
Vote Rankings: Moderates Disappearing From The GOP
Using the National Journal's liberal/conservative rankings for Congress, The Atlantic notes: "One significant development NJ points out: centrist Republicans are vanishing from both the House and Senate. For the 10 GOP senators who departed in 2008, the median conservative rating was 60.9 -- left of center for the party. While the median score for the 43 House Republicans who left was 73.3, centrists were more frequently replaced by Democrats, meaning more conservative seats stayed in conservative hands. So as voters in moderate districts choose Democrats over Republicans, the GOP conferences in Congress get more conservative. Since the rankings are based on 2008 votes, National Journal has not evaluated the ideological consistency of freshman Democrats, though swing district pickups will, undoubtedly, yield some more moderate members of the Democratic caucus..."
Quote Of The Day
"As with the Clintons, Obama so earnestly believes in public school education that he sends his girls to...an expensive private school. He demands that taxpayers support the very public schoolteachers he won't trust with his own children. It is one thing to tell voters that school choice is wrong, because, you know, the public schools won't get better unless Americans sacrifice their children to the teachers' union's maw. But it is quite another for Democrats to feed their own kids to the union incinerator. Consequently, no Democrat since Jimmy Carter has been stupid enough to send his own children to a public school. And yet the stimulus bill expressly prohibits money earmarked for 'education' to be spent on financial aid at private or parochial schools. Private schools might use it for some nefarious purpose like actually teaching their students, rather than indoctrinating them in anti-American propaganda. The stimulus bill includes about $100 billion to education. By 'education,' Democrats don't mean anything a normal person would think of as education, such as learning how to talk good. 'Education' means creating lots of useless bureaucratic jobs, mostly in Washington, having nothing to do with teaching. Apparently, nothing irritates public schoolteachers more than being asked to teach. While 80 percent of the employees of private schools are teachers, only half the employees of public schools are. The rest are 'coordinating,' 'facilitating' or 'empowering' something or other." — Ann Coulter, conservative Republican, on President Obama's recent speech
RAYNARD JACKSON OP-ED: "Black Power" Struggle
Today, President Obama has his first White House meeting with the members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Mr. Jackson, a D.C.-based political consultant and moderate Republican, sees problems on the horizon: "Obama must convince the CBC that now is not the time to lurch to the left. Of course they will scoff at this. Thus, the fireworks will begin. I think the administration has learned its lesson from giving House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, too much latitude in crafting the stimulus package. Her influence was the singular reason for no Republican support. Pelosi and the CBC are political soul mates, thus were generally satisfied with the spending bill. After the meeting with President Obama, you will hear all the expected niceties from those in attendance, but within a day, their true feelings will begin to leak out as anonymous quotes in the media. With Obama’s asendency, there is a new sheriff within the Black community and those knocked off their perches are not happy. You have not heard from the 'old guard' within the radical leftist civil rights community—Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Andy Young, etc. They have all but disappeared from the political landscape. In this regards, Obama has the playing field all to himself. Obama has proven to be a pragmatist more than an ideologue. This is anathema to the CBC and this friction is going to be problematic in the future."
He continues his commentary: "During the meeting today with the CBC, what happens if the president makes clear to them that he won the election? Then what? I would venture to say that if Black America had to choose between Obama and the CBC, there is no doubt that they would support the president. So, what leverage does the CBC hold if Obama governs as a pragmatist? I don’t think President Obama is going to go out and seek a fight with members of the CBC, but they should have a plan in place as to how they will extract policy considerations from him in a game of political hard ball. Will they demand 'purity' in terms of policy or will they accept the political reality that they will have to also be pragmatists?"
Black History
Slyram, a black moderate Democratic blogger, writes: "The term 'Black history' is not only the study of Blacks in history but also the study of Blacks in American and international history. At my Black college, we said Black is not a chapter in American history; America is a brief chapter in Black history. History is not reserved for names and events we can easily recite. The schools and churches that toiled selflessly to keep the Black family strong and composed during bleak periods in our past belong to history. History is often revisited, revised and rewritten. Does history change or do we change? I want to admit now wrong I was about a local piece of history in South Georgia. An often forgotten aspect of American history is the toil in agriculture of slaves, former slaves and sharecroppers until the early 1970s. We must remember the sons and daughters of the South and their contributions to building the economy of this nation."
Paging Piyush
In the aftermath of his much-criticized Republican response speech to President Obama's speech to Congress, Robert A. George offers some advice to Piyush "Bobby" Jindal to get him back on the presidential path. The black moderate-conservative journalist and blogger writes:
1. Drop the "Bobby"; embrace the "Piyush". Obama realized in college that there would never be a president "Barry." He accepted who he was -- a multicultural boy living in a multicultural world. The rest is history (that there had never been a president "Barack" either is irrelevant to this discussion). You need to realize that it makes more sense for a "Piyush" to succeed a "Barack" than a "Bobby." (Don't let yourself be out-weird-named by a "Mitt").
2. Have an affair: At the very least lie about having an affair. You need something of an edge. Living in Louisiana presents you with myriad opportunities, AND dangers. Governors are expected to be larger than life. They're expected to have girlfriends, gambling problems, conflicts-of-interest, etc. Heck, this is the state that featured a campaign slogan of "Vote for the Crook: It's important." (Appropriately enough crook Edwin Edwards beat racist David Duke and later went to prison for a variety of corruption offenses.)....
3. Pick a fight with a slightly effete goody-two-shoes Republican former governor who might be your biggest rival for the "competent, can-get-things-done" part of the Republican base (not naming any names). Paint him as slightly out of touch, pseudo-intellectual, squishy Northern governor from Massachusetts -- who tried to impose universal health care!....
4. Go after Yukon Sarah Palin. Admit your own flaws (see above), while painting Alaska governor as being out-of-touch, practicing Addams Family Values -- and being a little too close to Russia (if you know what I mean). If Vladimir Putin wants to bring back the Evil Empire, you should hold the Diva of Nome fully responsible. Make sure that you don't make this personal. You can't appear to be beating up on a woman. Make this a national security issue....
5. Become Jon Stewart's sidekick on The Daily Show. Stewart will help feel your pain -- even though he doesn't share your politics. He got very bad reviews hosting the 2008 Academy Awards. This year, the slot was given to an Aussie song-and-dance man-cum-mutant -actor. Yet, he remains at the top of his game. Does he let that unfortunate setback eat away at him? Absolutely not. He pokes fun at himself!
Ripclawe: "Congressional Black Caucus Needs To Be Taken To Task Over Burris"
The black conservative Republican blogger writes about Sen. Roland Burris (D-Illinois), the embattled black liberal Democrat: "Congressional Black Caucus members played the race card to the hilt in saying that Roland Burris should be seated as a Senator despite the fact everyone else thought [it was a] bad idea.a Now with Burris backtracking on his previous statements, you may have the embarrassment of the Senate kicking him out....If there is any sort of political maturity within the CBC, there has to be a come to Jesus moment saying we screwed up badly. But I doubt that will happen and the standard O.P. is just silent."
Booker Rising response: The Burris situation gets ever worse. Local newspapers report that Sen. Burris' tax-cheat son got a $75,000 job under former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich under hmmm circumstances five months ago, which new Gov. Pat Quinn is investigating. There remains the perjury investigation regarding Sen. Burris changing his story at least four times regarding how he was appointed to Barack Obama's old U.S. Senate seat. Blago was sent packing because he allegedly tried to sell the seat. Gov. Quinn and Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois) have urged Sen. Burris to resign. The Illinois Republican Party is calling for a special election so we Illinois voters finally decide who should get this seat, which Democrats are resisting.
LARRY ELDER COMMENTARY: Obama Shoots For Mars
The libertarian Republican commentator slams President Barack Obama's speech to a joint session of Congress: "One waited in vain for the political experts to point out that the President's spending spree must come from somewhere -- taxes or borrowing or printing. And, as an aside, how would the press have reacted had former President George W. Bush claimed -- as did Obama -- that America 'invented the automobile'? Suppose Bush steered a shopping cart down the aisle, packed it with everything in sight that he could grab, pushed it to the cashier, and then said, 'You mean I gotta pay?' The President, on Tuesday night, promised to both lower taxes and raise taxes. He promised to both reduce spending and increase it. He promised to expand education while simultaneously claiming that education begins in the home. He promised to bail out homeowners -- 'responsible' ones -- while insisting that Americans take responsibility for living beyond our means and making bad choices. He promised to provide financial assistance to states while never mentioning the states' fiscal irresponsibility."
More: "Do those who voted against the President 'want him to fail'? No, those who opposed the President want America to succeed. The formula for that success has a long and impressive track record: lower taxes, rein in government spending, and promote free trade. Let's put it another way: Remove government's boot from the neck of the American worker, businessperson and entrepreneur. Set them free. Watch what happens."
Black Caucus To Press Obama On Priorities
It hasn't slipped some members' attention that President Obama first hosted congressional Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats in his push toward the political middle. They say it's their job to ensure he sticks to certain priorities, such as fixing inner-city poverty, that he once faced as a community organizer in Chicago. "He knows these issues, but I think it's very important that no group is taken for granted," said Rep. Corrine Brown (D-Fla.) "It doesn't matter who is president ... if you're not in the room, your interests will be left on the table."
Any differences between President Obama and the caucus are overblown, said the group's chairwoman, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) "His agenda is our agenda," she said. "We are working with the president, and we want to make sure his agenda is supported," said Rep. Lee. Yet President Obama maintained a distant relationship with the caucus when he was its only Senate member from 2004-08. That dynamic was on display early in the Democratic presidential primary, when many senior caucus members initially backed Sen. Hillary Clinton even as then-Sen. Obama quickly became viable as a candidate. Those lawmakers eventually endorsed him, some realizing it could cost them politically if they didn't.
The caucus already has demonstrated it will challenge President Obama if he strays from its priorities. Members were quick to question the wisdom of his failed appointment of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) as commerce secretary. They were wary of whether Sen. Gregg would ensure a full counting of minorities in the upcoming census, which is conducted under the Commerce Department's jurisdiction. Those concerns in part led President Obama to announce that the White House would be more involved in directing the Census. The caucus also lent critical support to embattled former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Roland Burris, who is black, to fill President Obama's vacant Senate seat, even as the new administration and other leading Democrats resisted the move. In part, caucus members argued it was important to have at least one black senator. It wasn't clear if Sen. Burris — who is resisting calls to resign after new information emerged about how he acquired the seat — would attend the meeting.
Earlier this week, when the president convened a summit on reducing spending, Rep. Lee warned about balancing the budget "on the backs of the most vulnerable Americans." "We will continue to speak out for those who have been disenfranchised," she said. "That's our job."
Booker Rising response: When will the CBC focus on the 74% of blacks who are not poor? Black doesn't equal poor, but it does in their mostly socialist minds. This is 2009, not 1909.
SOPHIA NELSON COMMENTARY: The Pelosi Stimulus Package & The True Cost To America
The moderate Republican commentator: "In his address to Congress on Tuesday night President Obama once again proved that he is a master orator who knows how to give a big speech. However, as with everything in Washington, the devil as they say is in the details. I liked the speech for its lofty goals and uplifting 'can do' American tone, but I was disappointed on the lack of specificity of how the plan is going to truly put people back to work, in what sectors, and how those millions of Americans who lost jobs will survive once their unemployment benefits run out later this year."
She continues: "Bottom line: If you want to help people–you have to put more money in their pockets. Not $13 a week. Cut the payroll tax today and the American worker will see immediate relief. Cut the Social Security and Medicare Tax by just 5% or less and watch how much money people realize immediately in their paychecks. I am one of those people who pays $700 a month to SS–I am in my early 40s–I will never see a dime of SS money–yet my government feels it should take pretax tax dollars from me and give it to someone else. What happens when I am old? Who will support me? We all know Social Security is insolvent as of 2020 or sooner. The government has a role to play to help people. On that I agree. But it[s] role is to get OUT of the WAY of people and let people keep what they earn, encourage them to spend, build businesses, and own/create wealth to pass on to their children. That is the America I love and the America that I want to pass on to the next generation of Americans."
Black Activists: "Chimp Cartoon Outrage Seeks To Silence Conservatives"
Three apologies have been offered by New York Post editors and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, for an editorial cartoon that critics charged compared President Barack Obama to a chimpanzee. Mr. Murdoch offered an apology to those who were offended, but said that "[t]he only intent of that cartoon was to mock a badly written piece of legislation." Mychal Massie, chair of black conservative group Project 21, claims it is time to recognize the protests for what they are: revenge and an attempt to silence conservatives.
"When Al Sharpton was investigated for tax evasion, it was the New York Post that broke the story. Now Sharpton seems to be blowing this cartoon out of proportion to get even. I also think others are using ambiguous allegations in a larger attempt to punish Rupert Murdoch and his media empire for not toeing the liberal line," said Mr. Massie in a news release emailed to Booker Rising. "There is a tenuous link, at best, between this cartoon and Obama."
In a February 18 editorial cartoon in the New York Post, two policemen have shot a chimpanzee. One cop says to the other: "They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill." Rev. Al Sharpton calls the cartoon proof of the paper's "racism" and has led two protests at the Post's headquarters. He is now asking the Federal Communications Commission to reconsider a waiver awarded to Rupert Murdoch - who as also owns the Fox News Channel - to own more than one newspaper and television station in a city. The NAACP is also circulating a petition, which implies that the cartoon itself could encourage an attempt on President Obama's life.
Jesse Lee Peterson, the black Republican conservative head of Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny, agrees with Mr. Massie. "The Post cartoon was provocative, but not racist. And it certainly was not an 'invitation' to assassinate President Obama", he said in a statement sent to Booker Rising. "These are manufactured allegations by racist left-wing Democrat operatives. Sharpton, the NAACP, and their angry supporters want to intimidate and silence independent media outlets like The New York Post and The FOX News Channel. The cartoon was poking fun at the ineptness of those who wrote the horrible stimulus welfare package -- nothing more."
"We now have the first black president and his party leading our nation towards socialism; and anyone who dares poke fun or criticize are racists?", asked Mr. Peterson. "Most blacks see racism under every rock and newspaper because they've never repented of their anger and racism toward whites. But this so-called boycott is not about racism; it's an attempt to muzzle free speech. And it's apparent who the real monkey is in this circus."
Quote Of The Day
"This spending-leads-to-growth concept is a perennial failure that can actually harm an economy. Its advocates suffer from a crucial error in their understanding of economics: for in fact, consumption is an effect, and not a cause, of economic growth. Stated simply, more spending without the greater output of goods and services that results from increased saving and investment -- and concomitant higher real incomes -- can only lead to higher prices and inflation. Alternatively, if government spending programs engender uncertainty and loss of confidence, while at the same time excluding incentives to invest (such as through tax cuts on profits or capital gains), the demand for money holding can increase dramatically, choking off recovery. The former scenario played out in the U.S. stagflation of the 1970s, while the latter occurred in the U.S. in the 1930s and Japan in the 1990s." — John L. Chapman, research economist for the conservative American Enterprise Institute, arguing why President Obama's economic plan will fail
TONY CAMPBELL COMMENTARY: Quit Pro Quo
The moderate Republican commentator argues that President Obama's speech last night showed fiscal recklessness: "'We are not quitters.' That is the message that President Obama gave to the nation last night....We were told that Obama doesn’t 'believe in bigger government' but he is proposing subsidizing banks, the automotive industry and 'creating a new lending fund to help provide auto loans, college loans, and small business loans.'We were told that Obama has 'told each member of my Cabinet as well as mayors and governors across the country that they will be held accountable for every dollar they spend' but that the national government is moving recklessly ahead with universal health care (after nearly a century of talking about it) 'so let there be no doubt: health care reform cannot wait, and it will not wait another year.'"
Mr. Campbell continues his commentary: "As a fiscally responsible moderate, I am amazed that Obama is getting away with this rhetoric. There are a lot of promises but no way of paying for these programs, plus providing a tax cut, and paying for K-12 and higher educational access to every American, while reducing the size of the deficit. Obama said 'given these realities, everyone in this chamber - Democrats and Republicans - will have to sacrifice some worthy priorities for which there are no dollars. And that includes me.' Sounds like to me that Obama’s campaign promises of expanded funding for education, health care and job creation are still firmly on the table… so what priorities exactly has the President had to cut out?"
Oman And East African Empire
Oman is Country Of The Week here at Booker Rising. Wikipedia writes about the Arabian Peninsula country's history, when Omani Arabs challenged Portuguese influence in East Africa: "In the 1690s Saif bin Sultan, the imam of Oman, pressed down the east African coast. A major obstacle was Fort Jesus, housing the garrison of a Portuguese settlement at Mombasa. After a two-year siege, it fell to Saif in 1698. Thereafter the Omanis easily ejected the Portuguese from Zanzibar and from all other coastal regions north of Mozambique. Zanzibar was a valuable property as the main slave market of the east African coast, and became an increasingly important part of the Omani empire, a fact reflected by the decision of the greatest 19th century sultan of Oman, Sa'id ibn Sultan, to make it from 1837 his main place of residence. Sa'id built impressive palaces and gardens in Zanzibar. He improved the island's economy by introducing cloves, sugar and indigo though at the same time he accepted a financial loss in cooperating with British attempts to end Zanzibar's slave trade. The link with Oman was broken after his death in 1856. Rivalry between his two sons was resolved, with the help of forceful British diplomacy, when one of them, Majid, succeeded to Zanzibar and to the many regions claimed by the family on the east African coast. The other, Thuwaini, inherited Muscat and Oman."
There is a significant population of East African descendants along Oman's northeast coast.
It's Too Easy
John Kay, a moderate-liberal Democratic blogger, opines: "I'd like to thank Republicans for making political life dreamily easy for Obama and us Dems in general. I mean, when your response to Obama's SOTU is to come out against big gummint pork like ... volcano monitoring (some big-pie spending I'm sure residents around Mt. Hood just hated) ... it's too easy. When the most common opposition complaint is to get all crabby about all Obama's spending programs ... without saying a word about Bush ...it's too easy. When said crabby complaints talk about how they don't trust Obama to pay this back ... without saying a word about Bush ... it's too easy. I don't think we did anything to deserve this, but I'm thankful."
Shelly O: “Look, I’m Wearing A Black Designer! Y'all Negroes Happy Now?”
First Lady Michelle Obama has been under fire for wearing the fashions of white, and especially rising Latino and Asian, designers while ignoring black designers. She surely knows about the ruckus, and tries to silence critics with her latest fashion choice: Tracy Reese (hat tip: Mrs. O). Mrs. Obama is the cover girl for the latest issue of People, which hits newsstands on Friday.
ShinyStyle writes: "But by wearing the Tracy Reese Guipure Lace Kimono Dress in Dried Azalea, $395, the first lady not only picks a perfectly pretty and appropriate People cover look, she supports a black designer on one of her most high-profile covers. While the Vogue cover is surely more anticipated, certainly within the fashion community, the People cover is probably more visible and so a good choice to put those criticisms to rest. And a good place to spotlight an attainable yet stylish designer for her fans and fashion lemmings."
I love this dress! Great color, feminine, with a hint of sexiness but not hoochie. I'd wear this dress and I'm not even a lace kind of gal. This dress will sell out, which will be a well-deserved boon to Ms. Reese. Hopefully, we'll see more of Ms. Reese's creations on Mrs. Obama.
Apparently, Mrs. Obama's trademark is going to be baring her fairly toned arms. Ol' girl does not miss an opportunity to do so, state function on Capitol Hill in late February be damned.
UPDATE: Make that two black designers. Kai Milla (designer wife of Stevie Wonder) designed the emerald green dress that Mrs. Obama wore tonight to the PBS broadcast of the Gershwin Prize For Popular Song tribute to Stevie Wonder.
A Political Season: "Bobby Jindal Is A Liar"
The black moderate-conservative Republican blog slams the Louisiana Governor's GOP response speech to President Obama's speech: "The President did not say, nor did he imply that the US cannot recover or that America's best days are behind us. Simply never did. It was a lie. Jindal's use of this phrase along with his repeated assertion that 'Americans can do anything' was an attempt once again to rhetorically paint Obama as un-American. There is no shortage of legitimate issues upon which to disagree vehemenently [sic] with the President. This continued insinuation that Obama is un-American as a political tactic of opposition is quite dissapointing [sic] and angers me. We don't have time for it. And considering that the use of such tacti[c]s resulted in the GOP's defeat in the election by a margin of 192 EVs, I'm waiting for somebody to get the frakking memo. Being a liar in your national introduction is not great."
The commentary argues that Gov. Jindal shows that the GOP's time in the wilderness may be long: "Republicans were running the show for six of the last eight years and in that time, did not distinguish ourselves as the party of fiscal discipline whatsoever. Now, we rail against the profligate spending of the One and the [D]emocratic [C]ongress, but we've lost all authority and standing to criticize the [D]emocrats on this issue. It simply rings hollow. We have been exposed as being nothing more than politicians who will spend the taxpayer's dime just as easily as a [D]emocrat will, making us therefore indistinguis[h]able from them and it renders our attempts to be a unified opposition on spending and fiscal prudence very empty sounding."
Conservative Words For A Liberal Agenda
Is how Politico.com characterizes President Obama's speech last night to a joint session of Congress: "The 52-minute address outlined more commitments by the public sector, more intervention into the private economy, and more spending than anything Washington has undertaken at least since the Great Society and more likely the New Deal. The substance reflected Obama’s bet that the country—alarmed by the economic crisis, repelled by the failures of the president who preceded him—is ready to move in a decisively more liberal direction. The rhetoric, by contrast, reflected his apparent belief that most Americans remain instinctually conservative, leaving him and his agenda acutely vulnerable to backlash."
More: " Repeatedly he made his case by stressing what he and his program—with its trillions of dollars to jump-start the economy, bail out distressed auto firms, banks, and homeowners, and launch major new initiatives on health care, clean energy, and education—were not. Referring to the $790 billion he won to jump-start the economy, he said he backed the measure, 'Not because I believe in bigger government — I don't. Not because I'm not mindful of the massive debt we've inherited — I am.'....In many ways, Obama used his speech to practice the politics of 'pre-buttal'—attempting to pre-empt the lines of argument that Republicans hope can revive their defeated and demoralized party. It was as if he and his speechwriters had listened closely to both Bill Clinton and Rick Santelli. It was Santelli, the CNBC commentator, who rallied bail-out skeptics with an on-air rant that Obama was rewarding irresponsible behavior by careless banks and homeowners. The former president, meanwhile, said recently that Obama needed more inspiration and hope mixed in with his bracing warnings about the anemic economy."
Andrew Mwenda: "Uganda’s Opposition Must Speak To Our Aspirations"
Asserts the Ugandan libertarian journalist: "The best of Uganda’s brains live abroad, and the opposition needs to leverage them for money, ideas and organisation. The balance of our intellectual class is to be found in the foreign aid-funded civil society. Though bureaucratised by accountability to donors and therefore lacking in political activism, it can be still be mobilised. The challenge for the opposition in Uganda is how to harness the new and emerging intellectual class in the private sector and civil society to directly and indirectly support democratic reform. The opposition needs to understand that in politics, it is often success, not failure, that produces its own gravediggers. Karl Marx argued over 150 years ago that for the bourgeois to accomplish its project of accumulation, it had of necessity to produce a class (the proletariat) whose interests were at odds with those of capital. The proletariat, Marx argued, would dig the grave of the capitalist. The government of a growing economy like that of Uganda is more susceptible to the gravedigger problem than that of a stagnant one like Somalia. This is because growth produces new economically empowered groups that can effectively challenge the status quo."
A Glitch In The Replication?
Ave Tooley discusses his daughter's speech patterns, which sound Valley Girl. The black moderate-conservative blogger writes: "Now let’s make something clear: when I say 'talk[ing] white,' that has nothing to do with standard English. I personally don’t use standard English when I speak in a non-work context, but that’s because I know the rules well enough to break them. But I know I’m breakin em. And why. Naw, 'talkin white' is all about diction. Some have theorized that it has to do with the amount of bass in the voice - although I’m not exactly sure how that would work for girls and women - but I’m not quite sure about that. But I know that President Obama, to name a name, uses a fairly featur[e]less version of standard English (featureless as compared to, say, Al Sharpton), but if you hear him talk, he sounds Black. Or at least racially ambiguous enough to think he might be Black. Alan Keyes, on the other hand, if you heard that dude from around the corner, no way you’d guess he’s Black."
He continues: "I think code-switching is one of the most important skills a person can have, and I want my daughter to have that skill in spades. I mean, she’s my daughter. If anybody should be able to go from the guttural monosyllabic to the ornate polysyllabic in a flash, it should be her. She’s 10, but I talk to her using words like 'triangulate,' like it’s nothing. (When she doesn’t know a word, she asks what it means. I tell her and keep it moving.) I also use non-standard constructions, although I’m probably a little more conscious about doing it than I am at other times. The thing is this: I don’t want her to get caught up into speaking just one way."
ROBERT A. GEORGE COMMENTARY: Final Crisis (Right.)
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger reacts to President Obama's speech last night: "The word 'crisis' appeared seven times in President Obama's address to the nation. And, as nearly everyone knows, the Chinese character for 'crisis' is the combination of two others -- 'danger' and 'opportunity.' Obama used those two aspects of the word to maximum effect. Boy, did he ever. The danger in the current circumstances is rather obvious. However, cognizant of some criticism that his recent statements could be seen as 'talking down the economy,' Obama pulled back on the cataclysmic rhetoric. But he is nonetheless seizing the opportunity. His program isn't just another 'new age'-type middling attempt to help the country 'get back on its feet' economically in the short term. Instead, he's outlining a vision of government that is either bold or radical, depending on one's perspective."
He continues his commentary: "The word 'invest' (or some variation thereof) appears 13 times. By this word, Obama means 'spend': Spend money on housing (already proposed in the foreclosure plan). Spend money on different levels of education. The latest universality goal for government now appears to be college.....Speaking of universality, we will also be investing in health care -- with the ultimate goal of some form of universal coverage. Again, given what the drive for universal home ownership has given us, what could possibly go wrong? And, of course, 'investing' in energy -- preferably 'green' energy that weens the country away from oil-dependence and also battles global warming. Yet, with all of this investment, we are also supposed to believe that the deficit can be halved within three years (by the end of Obama's first term) -- in order to protect our children's future (in essence, another 'investment')."
ELLIS WASHINGTON COMMENTARY: Gov. Jindal, Faust And The Devil
The conservative Republican commentator praises Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for refusing to take all $100 million in economic stimulus money for his state: "Thank God Gov. Jindal and a few other stalwart Republican governors will not take all of the economic stimulus that President Barack 'Corleone' Obama is thrusting upon them, for Jindal understands that taking this contaminated money from the federal government will eventually lead to the bankrupting of his state. The federal money that will only last for three years. There will then be an 'unfunded mandate' that the states will be required to pick up when the federal money runs out. Even more diabolical is that the programs funded by the economic stimulus package are 'permanent,' meaning that neither Jindal nor any other state political official once they accept the money can later say, 'I don't want your federal funds for my state.'
"Not One Of Us"
Thomas Sowell, a black conservative commentator, addresses the response of the conservative intelligentsia to the increasing profile of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin: "Pragmatism tells you nothing about extremism. But the conservative intellectuals who seize upon President Obama's pragmatism to give him the benefit of the doubt are obviously bending over backward for some reason. With Governor Palin, it is just the opposite. The conservative intelligentsia who react against her have remarkably little to say that will stand up to scrutiny. People who actually dealt with her, before she became a national figure, have expressed how much they were impressed by her intelligence. Governor Palin's 'inexperience' is a talking point that might have some plausibility if it were not for the fact that Barack Obama has far less experience in actually making policies than Sarah Palin has. Joe Biden has had decades of experience in being both consistently wrong and consistently a source of asinine statements. Governor Palin's candidacy for the vice presidency was what galvanized grass roots Republicans in a way that John McCain never did. But there was something about her that turned even some conservative intellectuals against her and provoked visceral anger and hatred from liberal intellectuals."
He adds: "Whether Governor Palin runs for national office again is something that only time will tell. But the Republicans need some candidate who is neither one of the country club Republicans nor -- worse yet -- the sort of person who appeals to the intelligentsia."
Booker Rising response: Mr. Sowell is talking about the chick who had the deer-in-the-headlights look when Katie Couric asked what publications she read? Who argued that Alaska's proximity to Russia was foreign policy experience? From my M.A.-in-political-science-from-a-Public-Ivy perspective, a woman who barely got her B.A. - after attending four different Podunk schools on five occasions - does not impress. I can understand why the George Wills of the world ain't impressed with her. Gov. Bobby Jindal's background shows that having intellectual depth and conservatism are not mutually exclusive. I'll give Gov. Palin some credit for eventually getting her college degree. I'll even agree with Mr. Sowell that being a governor beats being a U.S. Senator re: on-the-job skills. However, to put her in the same intellectual category as President Obama (two Ivy League degrees which include graduating magna cum laude from Harvard Law) is over the top. If Sarah Palin was Shaunte Palin (or looked like Barbara Bush) with the same background, we wouldn't be having this discussion.
U.S. Lawsuit Against Swiss Bank: Lessons For Africa
The African Executive, a libertarian website, writes: "Reports that American Federal Authorities are allegedly demanding that Switzerland’s UBS AG bank expose 52,000 American nationals who hold secret bank accounts in the bank with a view of evading tax are of keen interest to Africa. Africans should emulate this move and demand that money stolen from Africa be returned to develop the continent. Capital flight from Africa exceeds incoming foreign aid. The ruling elite loot the national treasury and invest the booty in foreign banks. According to a United Nation’s estimate, in 1991 alone, more than $200 billion in capital was siphoned out of Africa by the ruling elite – equivalent to more than half of Africa’s total foreign debt (which stood at $320 billion in 1991). Western governments who are quick to preach good governance to Africa ought to preach the same message to their banks who act as safe havens for corrupt leaders. Bank secrecy laws in Switzerland, Jersey Island, Britain, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg and Austria have encouraged Africa’s vampire states to bank away monies meant for their countries' development. Offshore centres have become avenues to launder the proceeds of crime and corruption."
Duane Brayboy: "I Hate Political Speeches"
The black conservative blogger writes: "In total, I probably watched about 10 minutes of Obama’s speech last night (the Lakers were on, so what am I supposed to do?). But seriously, regardless of the President, I tend to find more interest in bejeweled handbag hour on QVC than someone bloviating about how they were moved by a homeless man to push for the latest piece of legislation. That is a load of crap, yet people buy it all the time. Making a shameless connection with big government spending with the little guy on Main street is one of the most overplayed ploys used in politics. The way I see it, government works for us. So as its employer, I do not have the time for lofty speeches. Just give me the bottom line and tell me how much I am going to have to pay. I leave all that posture, speech and fashion analysis to the 'experts' out there. In the meantime, the AP did a fact check on the speech for people like me who just want the bottom line. FACT CHECK: Obama’s words on home aid ring hollow"
Walter E. Williams on A Nation Of Cowards
The libertarian economics professor writes about the Justice Department's head: "Attorney General Eric Holder said the United States is 'a nation of cowards' when it comes to race relations. In one sense, he is absolutely right. Many whites, from university administrators and professors, schoolteachers to employers and public officials accept behavior from black people that they wouldn't begin to accept from whites. For example, some of the nation's most elite universities, such as Vanderbilt, Stanford University and the University of California, have yielded to black student demands for separate graduation ceremonies and separate 'celebratory events.' Universities such as Stanford, Cornell, MIT, and Cal Berkeley have, or have had, segregated dorms. If white students demanded whites-only graduation ceremonies or whites-only dorms, administrators would have labeled their demands as intolerable racism. When black students demand the same thing, these administrators cowardly capitulate. Calling these university administrators cowards is the most flattering characterization of their behavior. They might actually be stupid enough to believe nonsense taught by their some of sociology and psychology professors that blacks can't be racists because they don't have power."
He continues his commentary: "What about Holder's statement that America is 'voluntarily segregated'? I say, so what. According to the census, in 2007, 4.6 percent of married blacks were married to a white; less than 1 percent of married whites were married to a black. While blacks are 13 percent of the population, they are 80 percent of professional basketball players and 65 percent of professional football players. Mere casual observance of audiences at ice hockey games or opera performances would reveal gross voluntary segregation. What would Holder propose the U.S. Justice Department do about these and other instances of voluntary segregation? Attorney General Holder's flawed thinking is widespread whereby people think that an activity that is not racially integrated is therefore segregated."
PHOTO OF THE DAY: Name That Country
Three clues about the mystery country: (1) it is a landlocked country but water is its only significant natural resource; (2) it has one of Africa's highest literacy rates; and (3) skiing is an increasingly popular tourist activity in this country.
Bailout Bank Blows Millions Partying In L.A.
TMZ.com is putting Northern Trust Bank, a bank based here in Chicago that counts the Obamas among its customers, on blast. The bank received $1.6 billion in bailout money - which it did not even request nor reject - but spent a fortune last week in L.A. hosting a series of lavish events as part of the Northern Trust Open (hat tip: Panache Report): "We're told Northern Trust paid millions to sponsor the PGA event which ended Sunday, but what happened off the golf course is even more shocking. Northern Trust flew hundreds of clients and employees to L.A. and put many of them up at some of the fanciest and priciest hotels in the city. We're told more than a hundred people were put up at the Beverly Wilshire in Bev Hills, and another hundred stayed at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Still more stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Marina Del Rey and others at Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica."
It continues: "Here are the highlights: - Wednesday, Northern Trust hosted a fancy dinner at the Ritz followed by a performance by the group Chicago. - Thursday, Northern Trust rented a private hangar at the Santa Monica Airport for dinner, followed by a performance by Earth, Wind & Fire. - Saturday, Northern Trust had the entire House of Blues in West Hollywood shut down for its private party. We got the menu -- guests dined on seared salmon and petite Angus filet. Dinner was followed by a performance by none other than Sheryl Crow. There was also a fabulous cocktail party at the Loews. And how's this for a nice touch: Female guests at the Chicago concert all got trinkets from ... TIFFANY AND CO. As for what all that costs: Well, the company isn't talking. We spoke with a rep from the band Chicago who said Northern Trust paid them around $100,000. A House of Blues source told us it cost more than $50,000 to close the joint down last Saturday night. As for Sheryl Crow's fee, her rep didn't get back to us. Earth, Wind & Fire acknowledges payment but won't say how much."
And more: "As for the golf tournament, a rep from the PGA told us Northern Trust wrote one big fat check in order to sponsor the event. That check covers part of the $6.3 million purse, the advertising costs for the spots on CBS (which broadcast the final two rounds of the tournament) and operating costs. The rep says the fee was negotiated and is confidential. Lots of people from Northern Trust went to the golf tourney...in special Mercedes that shuttled them to and from the hotels. But for those who weren't into golfing, they could spend a few hours at the Northern Trust seminar on the credit crunch. Now how's this for outrage? Northern Trust laid off 450 workers in December, 4% of its workforce."
Booker Rising response: I agree with Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), who is leading to charge demanding that Northern Trust Bank return the cost of the lavish weekend back to taxpayers. Of course, it was Congress that wrongfully gave the funds in the first place. Citizens Against Government Waste is also on the case.
Obama Speech To Congress: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly
Slyram, a black moderate Democratic blogger discusses President Barack Obama's speech tonight before a joint session of Congress: "People refrain from calling President Obama’s speech to Congress the 'State of Union' because he just got into the White House—it seems longer and he is starting to show wear. I think Secretary Clinton is chuckling, 'I told you so; [Barack] is too nice to deal with these national and global k[n]uckleheads; we need someone battle-tested and hard like me. I have been through some things.' I am not surprised that Republicans are not supporting the President’s recovery programs as most Democrats would have done the same for McCain’s programs if the election results were different. President Obama, the Democrats and a few moderate Republicans should do what the people elected him to do. The Blue Dog Democrats will provide a reasonable level of fiscal restraint but put your cards on the table, let the chips fall where they may and all other applicable axioms."
He adds: "'Prove them wrong' be prepared to deal with the consequences (success or otherwise) because supporters of supply-side economics will never back massive new taxes and trying to convince them is a waste of time and energy. It’s like the frog cloaking the heron trying to s[w]allow him; 'never give up' is the code of the far-right and far-left."
More: "President Obama will say tonight that the road back won’t be easy, we must all brace for hard times and things will get worst before getting better. If you are surprised by this message, you will surprise him because he said this throughout the campaign. Those voters who weren’t caught up in the emotions heard him all along—Obama might be Hillary-hard after all."
Steele Might Aid Primary Challengers
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele says that he might support primary challengers against the three GOP senators who voted in favor of the stimulus package. Sens. Olympia Snowe (Maine), Susan Collins (Maine) and Arlen Specter (Pa.) all voted in favor of the stimulus plan after much haggling with Senate Democrats and the White House. Many conservatives have attacked the moderate Republican senators for their votes. Sen. Specter is the only one of the three who is up for reelection in 2010.
Mr. Steele said that he would not defend the trio against conservative criticism back home. “My retribution is the retribution of the voters in their states,” the moderate-conservative said. “They’re going to have to go through a primary in which they’re going to have to explain to those Republican voters in that primary their vote.” “That is something I’ll talk to the state parties about, and we’ll follow their lead,” he said of supporting GOP primary challengers.
Booker Rising response: Not a wise political move. Maine never struck me as a conservative state. Say you take out both Sen. Collins and Sen. Snowe in their next GOP primary with a conservative challenger. The general election would be much likelier to be won by a liberal or moderate Democrat. I would think the GOP would prefer to have someone who votes with them 64.5% of the time (as does Sen. Snowe) or 67.6% of the time (as does Sen. Collins), than someone who only goes their way, say, 35% of the time. Same could go for Sen. Arlen Specter, who - contrary to all the animus directed his way - votes with the GOP 70.5% of the time, although a conservative could and has been a U.S. Senator in Pennsylvania. Sure, they're the three Senators who vote the least with their party - across both parties - but still.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Krewe Of Zulu Turns 100
Of course, today is Mardi Gras and I'm sure things are poppin' down in New Orleans. The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club marks its 100th anniversary.
In 1909, a group of laborers who had organized a club called "The Tramps" that marched in Mardi Gras as early as 1901, went to see a musical comedy. It included a skit entitled, "There Never Was and Never Will Be a King Like Me," about the Zulu tribe. The benevolent society was formed to provide blacks with a way to socialize and burial insurance during a time when they were unable to buy policies elsewhere. It also enabled blacks to enjoy Mardi Gras during a time when it was mainly celebrated by the white aristocracy.
The Zulu Krewe website states: "Zulus were not without their controversies, either. In the 1960's during the height of Black awareness, it was unpopular to be a Zulu. Dressing in a grass skirt and donning a black face were seen as being demeaning. Large numbers of black organizations protested against the Zulu organization, and its membership dwindled to approximately 16 men."
On Friday, the Zulus held a black-tie ball that drew 18,000 people. Other things that have changed over the years: the Zulu king no longer wears ragged pants and a lard-can crown or carries a banana stalk scepter as he did in the early years. Their painted coconuts are among the most prized catches (which they actually hand over, due to insurance reasons) during Mardi Gras. They no longer march on New Orlean's back streets, but lead off Mardi Gras. However, some things remain the same: the majority of folks riding on its 40 floats - accompanied by 20 bands - will wear blackface, huge afro wigs and grass skirts.
Every year, a Zulu king and queen are selected. This year's king and queen are a married couple who were high school sweethearts: he is a UPS driver and she a nurse. Desiree Rogers (nee Glapion), the White House Social Secretary, was the first Zulu queen in 1988 and reigned as queen again in 2000. Louis Armstrong was Zulu king in 1949.
I won't do a rant about how the Zulus hail from southern Africa, and New Orleans blacks are of West African descent. Or why a bunch of black folks feel the need to parade in blackface, something that seems to be curiously missing in the photo gallery from the group's own website. From my Chicago perspective, it looks like some Nawlins-style colorism with Creoles ridiculing dark-skinned blacks. Any reader seen them in action?
Why?
Is the question that Devone Tucker asks about Alan Keyes' recent statements calling President Barack Obama a "radical communist" and an "abomination". The black conservative Republican blogger argues that Mr. Keyes' intellectual discipline has declined: "Is Keyes struggling with mental illness? Does he seriously believe that Obama is not legally qualified to be President? If Obama were not legally qualified, surely the Clinton campaign would have discovered this salient fact, no? Despite my philosophical disagreement with Obama’s big-government vision, I must ask: How could anyone in his or her right mind declare the President '…somebody who is kind of an alleged usurper, who is alleged to be someone who is occupying that office without constitutional warrant to do so?' Why has Keyes adopted this demented belief that Obama is somehow not legally qualified to be President? Keyes has made controversial statements before, but even those statements could be defended as being in accord with his firm moral views."
He continues his commentary: "However, there’s something borderline immoral about Keyes’ recent remarks. They are counterproductive to conservatism and demonstrate reckless disregard for the truth. It appears that Keyes cannot come to grips with the fact that a majority of voters supported Obama instead of him in the 2004 Illinois US Senate race—and supported Obama instead of John McCain in the Presidential election four years later. Keyes has always come across as a man shocked by the extent to which America has departed from its moral foundations. Perhaps the shock has become too much psychologically, causing Keyes to lash out in this repellent fashion. It’s one thing not to like certain sociopolitical changes. It’s quite another thing to demonize such changes in this way."
Officials: U.S. Troops To Leave Iraq By August 2010
The United States plans to withdraw most of its troops from Iraq by August 2010, 19 months after President Barack Obama's inauguration, according to administration officials. The withdrawal plan would fulfill one of President Obama's central campaign pledges, albeit more slowly than he promised. He said he would withdraw troops within 16 months, roughly one brigade a month from the time of his inauguration. The unnamed officials said they expect President Obama to make the announcement this week.
The U.S. military will leave behind a residual force, between 30,000 and 50,000 troops, to continue advising and training Iraqi security forces, the two officials said. Also staying beyond the 19 months will be intelligence and surveillance specialists and their equipment, including unmanned aircraft, they said. A further withdrawal will take place before December 2011, the period by which the U.S. agreed with Iraq to remove all American troops.
HERMAN CAIN OP-ED: A National Bad Attitude
The millionaire businessman and conservative Republican opines about the national mood in America: "'Audacity of Hope' has been replaced with a Sea of Frustration. People who are expecting President Obama to solve all of their problems will eventually become frustrated and disappointed, when they stop celebrating and wake up to what’s happening. We are on a race track to socialism. Campaign promises about transparency, bipartisanship and no earmarks in the stimulus bill have already been broken. And as the mainstream media looks the other way and tries to rationalize the broken promises, the informed voters get more and more frustrated, while the uninformed voters stay stuck on stupid. Republicans in Congress are frustrated that they are being ignored by the Democrats. Democrats are frustrated that the Republicans won’t just roll over and stop trying to slow things down, so they can pass all of this hurry-up legislation before even giddy Democratic voters wake up. Many voters are frustrated with both the Democrats and the Republicans in Congress, because Congress is in denial of the coming economic earthquake, and has once again ignored all the warning signs and lessons from history. As a result, We the People are in a bad mood with a bad attitude."
CBC To Obama: "Don't Forget Us"
Caucus members are mostly pleased with the $787 billion stimulus package passed earlier this month. However, many members have grumbled that party leaders, including the president, buckled by allowing the GOP to strip out nearly $60 billion in aid to states to make way for an alternative minimum tax extension that will largely benefit the middle class.
Many members, including CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), are still bothered by President Obama’s selection of Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) as commerce secretary — an appointment that ended with Sen. Gregg’s voluntary withdrawal over ideological differences with the White House. Rep. Lee and other members successfully pushed the White House to remove the Census Bureau from the commerce secretary’s direct control after raising concerns about Sen. Gregg’s longtime opposition to the use of sampling — as opposed to door-to-door counting — as a means of determining the population in hard-to-count urban areas.
Some members, including Rep. Lee and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), have privately expressed concerns that President Obama hasn’t hired enough blacks for his administration, especially in the increasingly powerful Treasury Department.
One aide said that members are putting together a list of a half-dozen areas of policy concerns on which to quiz President Obama, including the targeting of anti-foreclosure programs in low-income neighborhoods, reforming the rules regulating credit cards and the 14,000-troop increase in Afghanistan, which Reps. Lee and Waters view as a potentially dangerous escalation.
Booker Rising response: Leave it up to the mostly socialist CBC to equate black with poor. Hello, 74% of blacks are not poor, so an AMT extension would be of use to black folks. Geez.
Presidential Helicopter: Keep It And Air Force One Too
Argues African American Environmentalist Association, against growing criticism that President Barack Obama's travel arrangements conflict with his talk about combatting global warming and the nation tightening its budget: "America uses 20 million barrels of oil every day. About half of this amount is imported and although reducing our dependence on foreign oil is a good thing, kicking President Obama out of Air Force One and Marine One will do nothing to reduce that dependence. Some cable television talking heads and other pundits are now yapping about President Obama making a symbolic budgetary gesture by eliminating his source of air travel. Poppycock. Not only do we need President Obama to keep state-of-the-art 'Oval Office In The Sky' air travel, we need him to use it more to solve our nation's and our world's problems. Oh, and we like the new Cadillac One presidential limousine too."
Booker Rising response: I'm not concerned about Barry's rides. He is president, and he needs to be kept safe. By the way, The Beast is cool. What I'm surprised that AAEA didn't bring up is something over which President Obama does have control on the environmental and budget fronts: cranking up the thermostat in the Oval Office. He keeps it so hot that adviser David Axelrod said, "You could grow orchids in there." Remember when Barry preached to us last spring to take the lead in the fight against global warming? "We can’t drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times … and then just expect that other countries are going to say OK....That's not leadership. That's not going to happen.” Follow your own advice. After getting put on blast, perhaps Barry now throws on more layers.
Crybaby
Macho, the YouTube conservative Republican, argues that liberals are trippin'. (hat tip: Wake Up Black America)
Let me go track down this dude's real name...
MYCHAL MASSIE COMMENTARY: Racist In A Taxpayer-Paid Suit
The conservative Republican commentator hammers Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) over his recent comments: "Speaking to reporters Feb. 19, Clyburn called opposition to the so-called stimulus bill 'a slap in the face of African-Americans.' He specifically targeted any opposition to the bill by southern governors. His injecting race into concerns for fiscal responsibility and a desire to prevent the expansion of government programs is shameful. In a letter to President Obama, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas wrote: 'I remain opposed to using these funds to expand existing government programs, burdening the state with ongoing expenditures long after the lending has dried up." I ask you – how is said concern "a slap in the face" of anyone – specifically, how is it 'a slap in the face of [blacks]'? The obvious answer is, it isn't. But such is the character of Clyburn and his elapidal [sic] counterparts and the depths they are willing to sink to further their own ends. The bottom line is the stimulus bill isn't about stimulating anything – it is about restructuring the corporate/business climate, rewriting the Constitution by fiat juxtaposed to amendment; it is about eliminating any inclusion of 'the people' from legislative directives, and it is about extracting, i.e., taking, our money to fund wasteful spending on a gargantuan level. It is about government intrusion on a heretofore never witnessed scale."
More: "Either he is filled with anger, bitterness and hatred for whites in general and those that dare oppose him specifically – or he is a dishonest person using race because he can offer no substantive argument against the governors. Equally intriguing is what support, it any, will Clyburn's comments garner from blacks. The ease with which fraudulent accusations flow from the lips of race-baiters like Clyburn unambiguously shows he and those like him have learned little from the Jim Crow era. It was wrong when racist whites dressed in sheets and hoods to hide their identity as they terrorized blacks – it is just as wrong for Clyburn to demagogue whites while dressed in suits paid for by the taxpayers, wearing the ugly expression of a race-monger."
Booker Rising response: I disagree with Rep. Clyburn's statement that the opposition is racially motivated. However, Rep. Clyburn is on the same moral plane as a terrorist group like the KKK? Outrageous. By the way, the word is "elapid", not "elapidal".
BOOKERISTA PROFILE: Dambisa Moyo, Zambia/Britain
Here's a sista who is getting increased publicity. Dambisa Moyo was born and raised in Lusaka, Zambia. Her mother is chairwoman of a bank called Indo-Zambia Bank. Her father, the son of a South African mine worker, runs Integrity Foundation, an anti-corruption organization.
She is the former Head of Economic Research and Strategy for Sub-Saharan Africa at Goldman Sachs in London, where she worked for eight years. Ms. Moyo has also worked at the World Bank in D.C., where she was a co-author of its annual World Development Report.
The Independent (Britain) compares her to another bookerista: "Dambisa Moyo is to aid what Ayaan Hirsi Ali is to Islam." Why? Ms. Moyo is the author of Dead Aid, an indictment of the foreign aid industry which will be released this spring. She argues that Western aid to Africa has not only perpetuated poverty but also worsened it. In the book, she calls for all development aid to Africa to be halted within five years because it has brought dependency.
"Think about it this way — China has 1.3 billion people, only 300 million of whom live like us, if you will, with Western living standards," said Ms. Moyo in a recent New York Times interview. "There are a billion Chinese who are living in substandard conditions. Do you know anybody who feels sorry for China? Nobody. Maybe that’s because they have so much money that we here in the U.S. are begging the Chinese for loans. Forty years ago, China was poorer than many African countries. Yes, they have money today, but where did that money come from? They built that, they worked very hard to create a situation where they are not dependent on aid."
She insists that largely aid has held back Africans. "You get the corruption — historically, leaders have stolen the money without penalty — and you get the dependency, which kills entrepreneurship. You also disenfranchise African citizens, because the government is beholden to foreign donors and not accountable to its people", she told the Times. Because they can count on aid, Ms. Moyo argues, most sub-Saharan African countries don't even bother to issue bonds. That would require a country's president and cabinet minister to sell their countries to investors.
In response to the Times' loaded question that "everyone is questioning the supposed wonders of the unregulated market" and how does that square with her belief in the potential of capitalism for Africa, Ms. Moyo stated, "I wish we questioned the aid model as much as we are questioning the capitalism model. Sometimes the most generous thing you can do is just say no."
Ms. Moyo is already working on her next book, entitled How The West Was Lost and scheduled for a 2010 release. This book will examine the policy errors made in the U.S. and other Western economies which culminated in the 2008 financial crisis.
Ms. Moyo has a Ph.D. in economics from Oxford University, and her Master's Degree is from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. In addition, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and an MBA in Finance from American University. She lives in London.
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