Quote Of The Day

"In his third event following his return to the PGA tour after reconstructive knee surgery, Tiger Woods overcame a 5 shot deficit in the final round with a birdie put on the 72nd hole to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, Florida [on Sunday]. How was this possible? How many black men are on the PGA tour? How many PGA tour professionals ever win a tournament let alone multiple events? Did Tiger benefit from a government program to launch him to the heights he has attained? With so many professionals shooting over par scores, was the golf course set up fair? Should Tiger be punished for his success? Should his earnings be redistributed to the rest of the PGA tour fields he competes in? Did the PGA tour seek a bailout in his absence? Can any of you imagine watching a PGA tour event run by the government? Should Obama tell PGA tour commissioner, Tim Finchem, that he is no longer wanted because of the income disparity between the groundskeepers and PGA tour winners?" — Craig Bardo, black conservative Republican blogger, on achievement without bailouts

COMMENTARY: Liberal Structuralism

The moderate-conservative Republican, on how liberalism distrusts individual liberty: "What is at stake here, in my view, is the very idea of the capacity of individuals for good. And I think that idea will die for lack of experience of its fundamental operation which is the employment of one man by another. For me to see some quality in another man and for me to take the risk in paying that man out of my own pocket for him to do a job is the elemental transaction of industry. For us to agree is a contract. The pledge of one man to do and another to pay. That's what we cannot forget, lest we forget the very pillar of civilization. For any man who has good honest work and who is entrusted to do it and does it, must inevitably become a good honest man. And so any man understanding that, should he manage to accumulate the means, must then continue and finding other men and good honest work for them in turn. The examples are all around today and in history should we bother to look. But there is a political class in this country that is prepared to agitate against that simple bond and redefine what work and industry are."

Cobb continues his commentary on how liberalism undermines contractual free will: "The difference between capitalism and everything else is that capitalism honors the contract between individuals and subjects it to the minimum of interference from the government. To the man who risks to pay goes the profit without third parties telling him how. To the man who delivers the work goes the pay without third parties taking a piece. These are the relationships into which non-capitalists wish so ardently to stick their noses. They wish always to investigate, criticize, second-guess, adjust, adjudicate, reform, correct, oh and take a piece of the action for their involvement, their blessing, their approval, their eternal self-righteous and condescending tolerance. Why? Well for the good of the masses of course. For the people who cannot manage to broker their own deals, to enter into face to face contracts for good honest work. For people to climb pre-fabricated ladders to 'success', ladders built by lawyers and their superfluous laws. For the sake of a 'structure' that is 'equitable', for the sake of a 'safety net' for the 'forgotten'."

And more: "You'll never find an adequate amount of charity from the liberal towards liberal causes. By definition they must draft the unwilling, they must bend those who disagree to their will. They choose to redefine the world in defiance of private arrangements so that they can tax a fraction of the world in their master plans to redefine the world. And so for their aims of global justice, world peace, universal rights they are never satisfied with localities. Their ambition is total, their need for panoptic control is insatiable."

DENNIS SANDERS COMMENTARY: How The GOP Killed The Reagan Democrats

The moderate-liberal Republican doesn't like how the Republican Party and conservatives are addressing the woes facing the U.S. auto industry: "There was a time when conservatives led by Ronald Reagan, went after the Reagan Democrats. The GOP was interested in getting these blue collar voters in the Industrial Midwest. But that was so, 1982. Now, it seems that the GOP has lost interest in these states as they have with other parts of America save the South. There is a lot of cheering about how Sweden is allowing the free market to deal with Saab, and how we should be doing the same thing here.....What do you tell the guy who has worked at a GM plant in Michigan for 20 years and gets laid off in order to help GM restructure? What do you tell that person who might not have any other skills and now has to try to get retraining? What does the GOP has to say other than the wonders of the free market? Right now, we have nothing to say and that has made that worker decide to vote for the Democrats since they do have something to say."

He continues his commentary: "As a Republican, I totally understand the notion of free markets and support it. I understand that the Big Three were slow to change and become more nimble in the marketplace and should suffer some consquences for that. I think unions aren't all bad, but they have done a lot to bog down the Big Three against their foreign competitors. I am not against seeing the Big Three face bankruptcy. But I am also the son of two retired autoworkers. I might disagree with them on politics, but I respect their hard work. They went to work in pain, to make sure I had a good life. My dad worked for General Motors for almost 40 years and my mother for 25. It's hard work and their bodies show it. As their son, I can't tell them that they are on their own. I have to offer them and the many like them something more for their years of hard work. If the GOP wants to be a winning party, it has to offer something to these workers. They can be pro-worker without being pro-union. They have to be. Cheering the free market and telling these workers to drop dead is the way to ensuring the GOP's downfall."

Pro-Life Dems To Democratic National Committee Chair Tim Kaine: "Open The Door For Disaffected Pro-Life Republicans"

Democrats for Life of America writes: "The RNC's new Chairman, Michael Steele recently said to GQ Magazine that he supports a pro-choice position. Former Arkansas Governor and candidate for President Mike Huckabee predicted that this comment will lead to pro-life Republicans leaving their party. DFLA sees this as an opportunity to expand the big tent of the Democratic Party by accepting more pro-life views. We believe that many Republicans are only there because it is a more hospitable environment for pro-life Americans. With that now changing, we hope that new DNC Chairman Tim Kaine, himself a pro-life Democrat, will openly invite them to join the pro-life Democratic community across the country."

Booker Rising response: DFLA has a point here. I have some relatives who mainly vote for Republicans because of the abortion issue and they view the Democratic Party as hostile to religion. All else being equal, they'd probably vote Democratic because they could care less about limited government, tax cuts, etc. However, DFLA is misstating Mr. Steele's comments. Mr. Steele is pro-life, but was stating that under current law people have a right to choose abortion.

While we're discussing Gov. Kaine....yesterday he has signed a bill that bans the use of Virginia state funds for embryonic stem cell research. He has also enacted legislation that would permit "Choose Life" license plates in Virginia, which ticked off many pro-choice advocates.

Bob Parks: "Another Day, Another Dem Tax Cheat"

The black conservative Republican responds to Kathleen Sebelius, President Obama's nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary, paying $7,000+ in back taxes: "Maybe one of our overpaid network news anchors could ask President Obama why he insists on raising taxes, while his best and brightest nominees tend to be the ones who don't pay them?...Well, I guess it was a good thing Governor Sebelius was nominated or she'd never have paid them. And one question to the IRS. Why do they withhold the returns of ordinary people who owe back taxes, but influential people can go years without paying? I know. Don't go there."

Booker Rising response: By the way, this makes the sixth nominee of President Obama to have tax troubles (after Nancy Killefer, former Majority Leader Tom Daschle, Tim Geithner, Hilda Solis, and Ron Kirk). Gee, I wonder why the media ain't reporting this tidbit?

4 Thumbs Up!

Duane Brayboy writes about how he and his wife like a particular television mini-series, where Jill Scott plays a Botswanan detective. The black conservative blogger writes: "HBO’s 'The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency' was a huge success in our household. I can’t remember the last time I watched a made for TV movie and actually clapped and cheered at the end. Seriously, I do not get all that emotional over a TV mini series, but this one left me with a smile. Finally, an all-Black mini-series with great acting that was not set during the Jim Crow era, slavery, or in the hood. I’[ve] had my fill of TV dramas with an mostly/all Black cast that did not leave me angry or tensed up. Cussing was very minimal and no sex scenes. I may sound old fashioned, but I still think one can tell a compelling story without all of that. All the actors I thought did very well and Jill Scott’s performance was just awesome. The cinematography captured Botswana (the setting of the show), its people and colors beautifully. The animation during the beginning and end credits were very clever, creative and amusing."

Booker Rising response: I totally forgot about the premiere. Hopefully I can find the full episode up on HBO's website or somewhere else. Did anyone see the show?

Obama Sets Up Government Motors

Kevin Jackson, a black conservative Republican blogger, slams President Obama's demand that the CEO of GM step down: "Late as usual, Obama has done what the market would have accomplished months ago. And the market would have saved the taxpayers about $20 billion. Instead all we have are more 'toxic assets'. If you ask me, Obama should be stepping down, as should the rest of his gang of racist, classist Democrat monkeys in Congress who voted to fund the automakers. GM lost billions of dollars over the years, and the Fed has been propping that company up artificially for far too long. All because the racist Democrats want union votes. Union votes that help them keep Black folks and others stupid. It's working. And what has the American taxpayer gotten for its money? Progress. Heck no! We got a request for billions more, and the potential that GM will be out of business anyway."

Tyrone, a black conservative Republican blogger, puts in his two cents about the new Auto Dealer-In-Chief: "He was able to fire the CEO of General Motors without even owning one share of ownership through common stock in the company. If people are still naive in facing the fact that Obama is indeed a Socialist, then these people are beyond hope in seeing reality for what it is.....I remember liberals crying about George Bush 'abusing his power' as President. George Bush committed many screw ups I'll admit. At least he never did anything like what this neo marxist has done within the last 70 days and counting. I'm almost afraid to even imagine what can happen next month leading up to Obama's first 100 days."

Booker Rising response: I agree with the main thrust of Mr. Jackson's argument. I disagree with his name calling in his piece, which detracts from his argument.

TARA WALL COMMENTARY: Conservative Comeback?

Yes, claims the Washington Times editor and conservative Republican: "Put aside questions about the leadership skills of the current GOP chairman for the moment since the RNC has out raised the DNC in the last month (a positive sign in the right direction.) It seems, the political landscape is ripe with new (and even some old) conservative talent looking to capitalize on promises-made-promises-broken by Democrats like Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd, whose cash-infused coziness with insurance giant AIG has critics calling him a hypocrite at best; the dismal popularity numbers combined with an even worse economic picture for Michigan's inept Governor Jennifer Granholm; and the bailout train wreck that's become the bane of the Obama administration's existence that has turned heroes into Republican congressmen and governors who have taken a stand against government waste."

She continues her commentary: "The tide, if ever so slight, is shifting as some moderates and independents who voted for Obama grow skeptical (or fearful, depending on your view) of his massive government expansion plans. It could prove to be the open door (or window) for Republicans and conservative Democrats to inspire a wellspring of support and rejuvenation among disenfranchised conservative party activists who had fallen off in the past two election cycles. Of course it's premature to make any definitive predictions. Because while there is 'hope' for conservatives, there is already at least one hitch: the Republican 'alternative' to the president's budget - considered 'dead on arrival' by Democrats - remains on life support."

Oprah Winfrey's School Has Another Lesbian Sex Scandal On Its Hands

Politik Ditto, a black conservative Democratic blogger, discusses the second sex scandal to hit Oprah Winfrey's all-girls' boarding school in South Africa since opening two years ago. The school suspended seven students last week for sexually harassing and fondling classmates, and bullying them to engage in lesbian acts: "Will Oprah have to dedicate another show to her troubled school so she can cry on TV and make people feel sorry for her--all so this latest school sex scandal goes away? Or will the same Ms. Winfrey, who promotes the idea of women leaving men for women in her magazine, be called out by the national media for the blatant signs negligence and aloofness she's shown towards her girls-only school. Maybe too, some journalist with balls can exploit this story and do a feature on how plenty of studies have shown that the liberal idea of single-gender schools are not only sexist, but do not work. But I doubt all that, as that would be asking too much of a leftist media that worships Her Royal Highness Winfrey's ass every chance it gets. Plus, the idea of women abusing women would surely go against Oprah's longstanding campaign that says only men do that kind of stuff."

Booker Rising response: It's unclear whether Politik Ditto is troubled by the harassment at the South African school, or is more concerned with lesbianism / bisexuality. I guess the fact that the school took swift action means nothing. The unwanted actions are the crime, not Oprah Winfrey and her educational institution providing mostly black, poor South African girls with opportunity. I also wasn't aware that single-gender schools was a "liberal" idea. When an all-boys public school targeting at-risk black boys was proposed here in Chicago, it was liberals who cried foul.

Michael Steele: "I'm Done Trying To Reach Out To Obama"

Michael Steele said that he’s “done” reaching out to President Barack Obama, adding that America's first black president seems to have a problem with him in his role as the first black head of the Republican National Committee. Speaking to CNN, the moderate-conservative Republican said President Obama "has got a little thing about me that I haven't quite figured out."

When asked whether he had any professional jealousy over President Obama’s meteoric rise to the White House, Mr. Steele said, “What would I be jealous of? I’m chairman of the RNC, so, what’s your point? We both have leadership responsibilities and roles. I’m not equating the two. My point is, you are on your track; I’m on my track. You do your thing. I do my thing.”

That response was begging for Booker Rising's armchair body language analysis of Mr. Steele's response. However, his body language shows that he was body-verbal congruent when he said that he wasn't jealous of President Obama's success. However, Mr. Steele does express genuine surprise that President Obama has not reached out to him.

COLLIN SPEARS OP-ED: China And The Global Recession: Part II - Relations With The United States

The moderate blogger opines: "The current global financial crisis has not changed the calculus; it is still mutually beneficial for both parties to maintain their symbiotic relationship. To do this the U.S. government will need to avoid making any provocative financial moves that will cause the U.S. dollar to rapidly depreciate and specifically address its deficit spending and public debt. The extent to which this is likely to happen and the threshold at which the Chinese government will be placated remains in question. The U.S. may be at a political disadvantage due to the current economic situation, which would require some additional concessions, such as increasing China’s role in international financial institutions, such as the IMF. This is something China feels its current stature entitles it too [sic]. In the end, China will continue to purchase U.S. reserves at a rate that will fund the American stimulus and war spending."

Mr. Spears zeroes in on China's economy, and social influences on its domestic affairs: "For China’s part, it is not likely to rapidly adjust the value of the RMB in a global recession, let alone, allow it to float. The common wisdom among neoclassical economic adherents is that China should allow for a larger float and improve their domestic economy. The resulting investment abroad as capital flows out of China will cause the Yuan to naturally drop in value. China’s dollar holdings must be considered here, re-equilibration of the Yuan to the dollar could result in a 20 percent capital loss or roughly 10 % of Chinese GDP, which is about one year of average Chinese GDP growth. To compound this, if the domestic economy can not make up the difference of a reduction in exports caused by an appreciated Yuan the economy could contract. As discussed in 'China and the Global Recession: Part I', China’s domestic market is weak, especially for a nation of its size, in the best possible situation, this would be a risky slow growth formula. China is not as socially stable as popularly believed in the West and still needs significant economic investment from outside its borders to continue to progress technologically. The Chinese government is well advised to continue its current economic growth model, because it more than offsets the potential cost of getting caught with holding deprecating U.S. dollars."

More commentary from Mr. Spears: "Despite Chinese complaints about U.S. monetary policy and American charges of Chinese Mercantilism, for the foreseeable future, both nations will maintain the status quo as much as politically possible. The alternative is a potential U.S. fiscal default and a politically and socially unstable China. Putting speculation aside, one thing is certain; the strength and stability of this bilateral relationship will directly influence the future of global economy far beyond the current financial crisis."

Shelly O: "I'ma Make It Rain On These G20 First Ladies"

The Obamas have arrived in London. Mrs. Obama enjoys a higher approval rating than her husband in America (76% vs. 66%), but is wildly popular with the Brits.

According to Mrs. O blog, as the Obamas left for London, Mrs. Obama wore a custom-made ivory tweed coat by Thakoon Panichgul, an upstart Thai-born American designer who is one of her fashion faves, over a Michael Kors black dress (pictured right). This is a conservative look for her, and teeters on dowdiness. She played it safe here, but she looks good. It's much better than the other Thakoon outfits that she has worn.

However, Mrs. Obama had on a different outfit - a yellow Jason Wu dress under a black Michael Kors duster (pictured below) - when they arrived in London. Now that's more like the Michelle Obama we know! Mr. Wu, a Taiwanese-born American upstart, has made up for that bedspread inaugural gown. Shelly O is 2-for-2 so far.

Mrs. O blog, on Mrs. Obama's popularity with global media: "Yet if coverage of her Inaugural wardrobe is any barometer, her every G20 ensemble will go far beyond the fashion pages to make front page news around the world. Commentators usually more at home with foreign policy than frocks will be on the hunt for the 'message' implicit in Mrs. O’s style choices. The major UK broadsheets have certainly found time, amidst policy analysis, to ponder the implications of the First Lady’s wardrobe."

Will Mrs. Obama go church-hat-lady on us tomorrow for the tea date with the Queen? The Brits love their hats, a trait that many religious black women in USA share. Will she go sleeveless at some point during the trip? I hope at least one black designer is in the mix to provide some balance to the love that Mrs. Obama gives designers from other backgrounds.

Newark Mayor To Announce Cost-Cutting Measures

The mayor of New Jersey's largest city is expected to announce new austerity measures today in Newark's battle to trim spending. Mayor Cory Booker, a moderate-liberal Democrat, will talk about the cost-cutting efforts to balance the budget, which may include pay cuts and furloughs for city employees. The Newark jobless rate reached 12.5% in January and trade activity at the Port of New York and New Jersey is slowing amid the deepest recession in more than 20 years.

A Democrat (or a Republican, for that matter) cutting costs instead of raising taxes or jacking up spending is a good thing. Of course, it helps that Newark received $45 million in state bailout money as a "distressed city" in addition to the $108 million that it normally gets from the state. However, Mayor Booker will face strong opposition to his plan.

on The Politicization Of Business

The moderate-conservative Republican blogger, on increasing government takeover of American business: "The question is one of aim, and the trouble with the current flavor of political oversight is that it is an oversight freighted with hostility. This hostility is popular and misguided and the current administration has not done, in my opinion, enough to curtail it. The aim of saving a business is to restore it to profitability. Period. A profitable business, especially the largest such business on the planet, will pay the highest salaries on the planet. This is to be expected. A board of directors, acting in the interests of shareholders, will approve compensation packages according to their understanding of what the labor market - at that level - requires. You don't take any Joe off the street and make him run GM. But the point here is now that the government has assumed the position of having some fraction of seats on the boards of directors if their mandate requires this anti-executive hostility. How can you be good for the company and be against its leadership from the position of a board member? The bill introduced into the House of Representative requiring a 90% tax on executive compensation is shamelessly hostile and contrary to the intent of restoring businesses to profitability."

He continues his commentary: "If you suspect that 'business as usual' is corrupt and/or criminal and/or lining the pockets of executives, then the logical choice is to let such businesses FAIL. Not to bail them out and increase oversight. If the intention is to increase government oversight on general principle, then all of the bailout money is simply a bribe to put government spies and overseers in place in private industry. If the intention is to restore failing businesses to profitability in trying times, then something other than this hostility must rule the day."

Proposed Slavery Museum Moves Operations

A national slavery museum that former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder has proposed for Fredericksburg, Va. has moved its operations to Richmond, Va. An annual registration form filed last week with the Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs lists Richmond contact information. The group's prior filing that expired last August listed it as based in Fredericksburg.

Mr. Wilder, a black moderate and a former Richmond mayor who is the grandson of slaves, did not return phone calls seeking information about the project's status. He has acknowledged fundraising difficulties but has said the project will go forward in Fredericksburg.

Some officials in Richmond have said the state capital would be a better location because of the city's key role in the slave trade.

MYCHAL MASSIE COMMENTARY: The End Of The Free Market

The conservative Republican commentator argues that the Obama administration seeks the total destruction of capitalism in the United States: "Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is the Erebusic personification of President Obama's contempt for free-market capitalism. Together they have successfully maligned Wall Street and AIG, et al., vis-à-vis rule 13 of Marxist Saul Alinsky's 'Rules for Radicals,' i.e., 'Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it and polarize it.' In brief, pick someone or something you don't like and demagogue the daylights out of it until others enjoin the pile-on. Then proclaim yourself the champion of the people by slaying whatever (in this case the aforementioned) you have cast as the enemy."

And more: "Where will it stop? Will companies be threatened with takeover if they don't pay union-scale wages, regardless of whether or not they are unionized? What happens if a company is deemed not to be 'green' enough? It is one thing to believe Obama, Geithner and Congress are only interested in protecting us from poorly managed financial institutions – it is another thing to think they are not interested in a total deconstruction of our free-market capitalistic system. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., was right when he said, 'Given the history, a change in management [at General Motors] could hardly hurt and might do some good.' Only, it shouldn't have been GM he was referencing; it should have been Congress and the president. They are socialists with Marxist proclivities who are determined to recast America into the image they discussed in college classrooms under the tutelage of anarchist professors. Theirs is an organized attempt to institute the policies and controls of Lenin and Mao Zedong. If we don't rise up against Congress and Obama, we – not they – will be responsible for the demise of free-market capitalism."

Trivia: Who Am I?

Clues: (1) I am the first woman elected as my country's leader; (2) I'm a former banker; (3) I narrowly escaped death during a government purge (back when I was a bureaucrat) by going into exile in a country whose motto means "let us all pull together"; (4) I was sentenced to 10 years in prison for "treason" for speaking out against my country's president, served a few months, and then went into exile in USA; and (5) my grandfather was from Germany.

Thomas Sowell on A Rookie President

The conservative commentator argues that President Obama's inexperience is costing America: "In the name of 'change', Barack Obama is following policies so old that this generation has never heard of them -- certainly not in most of our educational institutions, where history has been replaced by 'social studies' or other politically correct courses. Seeking deals with our adversaries, behind the backs of our allies? France did that at Munich back in 1938. They threw Czechoslovakia to the wolves and, less than two years later, Hitler gobbled up France anyway. This year, President Obama's attempt to make a backdoor deal with the Russians, behind the backs of the NATO countries, was not only rejected but made public by the Russians -- a sign of contempt and a warning to our allies not to put too much trust in the United States."

More: "Barack Obama is following a long practice among those on the left of being hard on our allies and soft on our enemies. One of our few allies in the Middle East, the Shah of Iran, was a whipping boy for many in the American media, who vented their indignation at his regime -- which now, in retrospect, seems almost benign compared to the hate-filled fanatics and international terrorism sponsors who now rule that country. However much Barack Obama has proclaimed his support for Israel, his first phone call as President of the United States was to Hamas, to whom he has given hundreds of millions of dollars, which can buy a lot of rockets to fire into Israel. Our oldest and staunchest ally, Britain, has been downgraded by President Obama's visibly less impressive reception of British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, compared to the way that previous Presidents over the past two generations have received British Prime Ministers. President Obama's sending the bust of Winston Churchill in the White House [given to USA after the 9/11 terrorist attacks] back to the British embassy at about the same time was either a rookie mistake or another snub. We can lose some very big games with this rookie."

BUPPIE PHOTO OF THE DAY: Diepkloof, South Africa

Diepkloof is a black middle-class suburb of Soweto. There's a move to rename this buppie suburb - which means "deep ravine" in the white minority Afrikaans language - to Ga Motlana ("a place of Motlana" in the Setswana language). The name change would honor Dr. Nthato Motlana, the late doctor, businessman, anti-apartheid activist and Diepfloof resident who died a few months ago.

Middle-class black South Africans - called "Black Diamonds" - live in homes much like this one. Sure, this 2 bedroom/1 bathroom, US$47,000 home is a lot more Levittown than McMansion. However, it's a far cry from a zinc-covered shack in one of Soweto's crowded, poor areas. It's got a yard. It's got satellite TV. It has a key feature in countries like South Africa where the crime rate is ridiculous: it's a walled-in home.

By the way, the African National Congress is ditching its goal of creating partnerships to generate a black middle class in favor of wealth redistribution to the poor. Why? It's facing a strong challenge from a breakaway political party called COPE (Congress of the People) in next month's presidential elections. COPE charges that the Black Economic Empowerment initiative has mainly benefited ANC officials.

Nationalization Without Deliberations

Coby Dillard wonders: is he still in America? The black conservative Republican blogger writes: "Yesterday, the CEO of General Motors stepped down, at the request of the Obama Administration. Ever think you’d live to see something like that as a headline in the US? That’s more reminiscent of Russia during its communist days. Or maybe China. Or Venezuela. This is concerning, for a couple of reasons: 1. The White House apparently now has the power to hire/fire in the business world. Talk about your imperial presidency. Granted, it’s just GM - who could use a good housecleaning - but that should come at the behest of their board of directors or their shareholders - NOT the federal government. 2. If the Obama Administration-and I smell Rahm [Emanuel] all over this, because I don’t think Pres. Obama’s got the…um, stones…for this kind of action - decides it can make business decisions to force change, what happens if/when those decisions start to take on a political undertone? Like, say, those fired end up being replaced by some of the larger Obama donors/supporters (as process also known as cronyism)? Remember the uproar over the last president who supposedly pulled that stunt?"

SOPHIA NELSON COMMENTARY: Why Michael Steele Must Stay

The moderate Republican commentator opines: "But, despite his foot-in-mouth disease of late, I have every confidence that Steele will assemble a good team at the RNC, hone his message back to the basic GOP principles of liberty, less government and less taxation and in doing so, deliver some impressive GOP gains in 2010 in the House and Senate. He may even quickly quiet the critics by winning back the governorships in Virginia and New Jersey this year. The fact that conservatives, who make up about 30 to 40 percent of the core base of the party, want Steele out is no surprise. Katon Dawson was clearly their choice. But people rightly feared that electing a Southern business man who had been a member of an exclusive 'all-white' country club just months before he ran for RNC chair, would sound the wrong message at the wrong time. And Steele has done little to win them over, with his comments in GQ about abortion being 'an individual choice' and his 'hip-hop' outreach strategy designed to attract blacks and younger voters. But the GOP needs Michael Steele. They know this, and they are stuck with him for better or worse—or at least through the end of his term in 2010."

She continues her commentary: "More damaging is that the party’s image problems stem not from an inability to broaden their reach, but from a choice not to do so. So Michael Steele becomes the saving grace for the mainstream moderates and libertarians in the party (like me) and for those conservatives who 'get it.' GOP insiders like to say that Michael Steele works well for Republicans because he is a fresh conservative GOP face who 'happens to be black.' They have it wrong. The GOP needs Michael Steele because he is black and because he understands that he must speak for more than 30 percent of the party’s political base. For the record, there are pro-choice Republicans. There are Republicans who support gay marriage. There are Republicans like me who support affirmative action policies. We are in the minority in the GOP, for sure, but if the party is going to survive and eventually thrive, it needs a leadership that acknowledges us. Republicans need Michael Steele. And, protests or not, they know it."

Booker Rising response: I agree with Ms. Nelson tht Mr. Steele should be given a chance until 2010. Hell, the last chairman Mike Duncan oversaw a failed election cycle, and still seriously contended against Mr. Steele for re-election in February. I like Mr. Steele's moderate-conservative approach. However, if the GOP loses that special election in New York tomorrow and next quarter's fundraising figures ain't hot, brotherman will get the boot.

Why do moderate Republicans like Ms. Nelson keep peddling the lie that conservatives are only 30% of the Republican Party's base (but late in her article, she acknowledges that moderates are a minority)? Poll after poll simply does not back up that claim. A Gallup poll taken in mid-November shows that 59% of Republicans want the party to become even more conservative, 28% say it should stay the same, and only 12% want the GOP to become less conservative. A 2007 Gallup poll showed that among self-identified Republicans, 55% self-identified as conservative, 26% as moderate, and 13% as very conservative. That means 68% self-identify as conservative or very conservative, not 30%. It does not help moderates' cause to inflate their numbers in the GOP. If moderates were 70% of the GOP, moderates would be running the GOP. I also don't understand why black Republicans like Ms. Nelson complain about the party's outreach, but yet ain't leading the charge re: the party's outreach.

Democratic 'Blue Dogs' Seek Energy Independence

Last Thursday, the Blue Dog Coalition released a declaration of energy independence. The statement of principles from 51 moderate and conservative Democrats in the U.S. House states: "Climate change issues must be addressed, and many of the options that address this challenge are consistent with efforts to increase energy self-sufficiency. Blue Dogs supports the promotion of a forward-looking, market-based, comprehensive national energy strategy."

It said the nation is "blessed with a diverse energy portfolio of traditional fossil fuels and viable renewable energy sources," and the country should seek "a balanced energy strategy" that includes "increased energy production and the environmentally sound use of all energy sources."

The Blue Dogs also call for more research into new technologies that help conserve energy in homes and businesses and to help cut pollution.

HERMAN CAIN COMMENTARY: Conservatives, Don’t Just Sit There!

The millionaire businessman and conservative Republican writes about challenging the Obama administration's overreach: "[Treasury Department officials] have mishandled the TARP (Troubled Assets Relief Program) funds by insisting that some banks take the money even if they did not need it, overextended funds to some banks and then attempted to place restrictions on executive compensation and bank lending practices after the fact. Next, after whipping the media and the public into a mob frenzy over the AIG melodrama with the help of President Obama and Democrats in Congress, who failed in their foresight and oversight, the House passed a 'Bully Bill' to help Secretary Tim Geithner undo the embarrassing mistake. Most recently, Secretary Geithner has asked Congress to grant him broad new powers to seize non-bank financial institutions even if they have not received any government assistance. I suspect it would not take much for some political scribe of the new powers to drop the word 'non-bank', just as some scribe conveniently dropped the restrictions on bonuses in the bailout bill."

He continues: "The Obama Administration and the Democrats have already mortgaged the future of our grandchildren by nearly doubling the national debt if Obama’s budget proposal is approved, which I hope it will not be. This is the most serious government power grab since Congress authorized stealing from the Social Security funds to spend our money on everything from bridges to nowhere to mule museums. I am not making this up! Just say no to granting unconstitutional powers to the Treasury or any other agency of the federal government! It’s called separation of power. Write, e-mail, call, fax, join something or attend one of the tax day tea parties around the country on April 15, 2009! Conservatives, don’t just sit there!"

The Politics Of Intelligence

OxBlog, a moderate-conservative blog, writes: "It's the old nature vs. nurture debate. Is intelligence genetic, or does your upbringing matter? Yesterday, the Times reviewed a new book that makes the case for nurture. This comment from the reviewer caught my eye:

When the evidence is ambiguous, it is all the easier for ideology to influence one’s scientific judgment. Liberals hope that social policy can redress life’s unfairness. Conservatives hold that natural inequality must be accepted as inevitable.

Actually, I think conservatives have an equally compelling interest in the case for nurture, rather than nature. It's all about responsibility. Your family has to take responsibility for your education. Schools can't do it alone, no matter how much funding they have. Consider the following item from the review:

If I.Q. differences are indeed largely environmental, what might help eliminate group disparities? The most dramatic results come from adoption. When poor children are adopted by upper-middle-class families, they show an I.Q. gain of 12 to 16 points.

So what now? Should the government help poor families become upper-middle class? Or do poor families have to learn from the example of their wealthier cousins? The answer to that may really be about ideology."

Preserved And Pressed Protein Product

Is what Digital Publius argues is the Obama's administration's new move against GM. The black conservative Republican blog opines: "Perhaps it is a symptom of a fevered mind but; the classic Monty Python Spam Sketch is where my thoughts wandered as I began to ponder the profundity of President Obama Ordering Rick Wagoner to step down from his position as CEO of General Motors as a provision of GM receiving a federal loan. And that he will be announcing his plans for the future of the auto industry on Monday. His plan. We keep hearing that President Obama is not a socialist because he does this or he supports that, yet, the President is dictating to an American corporation, no, an American industry, what it must do. That's like saying 'that’s not got much spam in it.' Just because everything he has proposed is not socialist, does not mean he is not a socialist. Government dictating to corporations about the way that they run their companies, is the very definition of socialism. Mr. Obama may indeed mouth that he is for free markets from time to time; but his actions betray him."

More: "If I may be a little self revelatory here, one of the things that really angers me aside from his politics and moral ambiguity; is that Obama is black. Here is a guy that is not only black, but he has a name like mine, he validates all my feelings about this nation being the greatest and freest on earth, I want desperately to thro[w] my support behind this guy. As a Christian, I can’t, as a capitalist, I won’t, All things being equal if it is a contest between two people and one is black, I root for the black guy. As a minority you always feel good seeing someone that looks like you, do well. It may be wrong, but [i]t is true. And frankly I loathe that the first black president is such a fool. He seeks to create jobs through federal infrastructure and spending programs, bridge and road repair etc. The so called green jobs he wants to foster. Making the federal government a leader in job creation, is exactly the way it is done in socialist societies."

Additional commentary from Digital Publius: "We can give the Palestinian Authority in Gaza 900 million for a war that the political party they put in power started, but we can’t loan cash to an industry that is the backbone of our nation, that has served this nation in times of war and peace, without throwing political weight around? These are scary times. We are seeing our country [t]ransformed into the very thing that Americans gave their lives to prevent."

Booker Rising response: OK, you contradicted yourself. You can't go on a free market spiel, and then complain that the government is "loaning" cash to a troubled company.

Obama's A.I.G. = Automotive Inspector General

Tony Campbell, a black moderate Republican blogger, writes: "President Obama has reportedly asked for the head of General Motors to step down before anymore [sic] taxpayer money is given to GM. It is surprising that anyone would think that President Obama would not be tough on the automotive industry. The sad thing is that almost every pundit is shocked by this policy. Obama has taken his lumps over the last four weeks for the financial collapse that he inherited from the previous administration and the Congress that he was a member of. It is no surprise to me that he is being very careful in his first direct involvement in giving out public money to a private industry that has underperformed over the past thirty years. Simply put, President Obama has already lost political capital because of the decisions made last year. Imagine if GM was to get taxpayer money, and then pay a bonus to their CEO, the voting backlash in 2010 would make 1994 seem like a blip on the political radar. Obama is not about to risk losing his advantage in Congress over this issue. If the automotive industry wants to put its hand out for money, it is going to have to play the game under Obama’s terms."

Booker Rising response: This begs the question: why is a president even telling a corporate head to step down? Ahem, government management of a private company? There should've been no corporate welfare in the first place. GM's future should be determined by the ability to compete in the free market, instead of political pull.

Stanley Crouch: "Here's How To End The Drug Wars That Put Everyone At Risk"

Responding to recent turmoil in Mexico, the moderate-conservative columnist articulates a viewpoint that Booker Rising has also promoted for years regarding the War On Drugs: "Knowing that, we should now seriously consider the very simplest way to break the back of the international drug trade. It needs to be broken in the same way the back of the bootlegging business was broken. Need I say what it is? Fine. The only real solution is legalization, which would put a permanent hole in the bucket of illegal dope dealing. Mexico is now teetering on the verge of similar chaos because the drug dealers, like rappers, have absolutely no other way to become wealthy. Their greed is matched by their ruthlessness and they will not be discouraged until the game is destroyed. If murder, torture, loss of family members and doing prison time have not run them out of the business, they will continue to do what they do and kill anyone who gets in their way. That obviously is the way that it really is."

He continues his commentary: "In a time when our economy can use all of the tax money it can get, we need to look at what legalization would do for us. The tax money would surpass the billions already spent on a drug war we never come close to winning. Not only would legalization bring in enormous tax money, the trade itself would be much better organized and more efficient all around. The tobacco companies have the machinery in place to mass produce marijuana cigarettes on a sliding scale from light to very strong, and the big pharmaceutical companies could handle all of the rest of the drugs just as the liquor companies make everything from light beer to whatever proof liquor is safe and legal."

Honor: Another Scarce Virtue

Reflecting upon her experiences in Israel - where students stood up whenever a teacher entered their classroom - Gila Jacobsen over Modestly Yours blog takes issue with President Obama's more casual attire. She argues that modesty and honor are linked: "Now, I like to think that he, like all of us, wants to be comfortable in what he wears but there is something about being President that makes some people flinch when they hear he is wearing jeans in public. I think that President is a role we would like to say we give honor to, perhaps the last (and we all know how little honor presidents receive nowadays). We expect President Obama to look like a president. But, more than that should be his concern for honor that he gives the job of leading our country, of being in the position of a major world leader. Just like our grandmothers who wouldn’t dare walk out of the house without gloves or face powder or our grandfathers wouldn’t be caught dead without a hat in public. I don’t blame President Obama since honor is going down the tubes in America and he too is a product of that, he just proves the point that this is a trait we all have to work on."

Booker Rising response: While I agree that honor is a scarce virtue, I don't see how President Obama's attire - and I've only seen him wear jeans when he was on the campaign trail as a candidate trying to connect with folks (and it took him months to even do that move), or in his "off" time - fails to show honor. The only time that I could find that President Obama has publicly worn jeans was during his family's weekend trip here in Chicago last month (photo above), on his way to his friend's house to watch the NBA All-Star game.

STAR PARKER COMMENTARY: Gospel Of Dependence From National Urban League

The conservative Republican commentator tells it like it is in response to NUL's recent release of its annual "State Of Black America" report: "Shouldn't it embarrass black Americans that one the nation's largest and most prestigious civil rights organizations offers a long list of proposals to improve black life in our country, and every single proposal is a government program? Government funded jobs as the answer to unemployment, more government money in public schools, government health care, government business loans, government money for retirement accounts, government programs for counseling homebuyers, government worker training programs, government money for building construction, and on and on. There's not a single proposal that I could find in a several hundred-page report about improving black life that does not start with government. The civil rights movement once was about freedom and liberation. Now it's about government dependency. We should be ashamed."

She continues: "The report is crafted to disabuse any notion that since we now have a black president, our discrimination woes are 'relics of the past.' The proof: blacks are 'twice as likely as whites to be unemployed, three times more likely to live in poverty and more than six times as likely to be incarcerated.' But with all the statistics reported, methodically ignored is that blacks are little more than 12 percent of the population, yet we account for 50 percent of new AIDS cases, almost 40 percent of abortions, and 70 percent of black babies are born to unwed mothers and grow up in single parent homes. Please, hold the hate mail telling me that I only want to show the ugly side of black America. No, I want to show the side of black America for which we ourselves are responsible and which really point to where our problems lie."

And more: "The National Urban League report talks about black poverty. But it does not bother to point out that hand in hand with poverty are single-parent homes. That black households with two married parents are not living in poverty and their household incomes are on par with those of white households. Breakdown in family and values is at the root of poor education, unemployment, and crime as well. Blacks have the highest church attendance in the country. If we paid attention to the gospel heard on Sunday, we wouldn't think that extorting welfare from taxpayers was the answer to our problems the other six days of the week."

Quote Of The Day

"[Zimbabwean] President Robert Mugabe has appealed for international assistance to rebuild his self-battered country. Many aid activists are already salivating at this rapprochement from Africa’s most beleaguered president. The reason is simply that they never learn. However, they have a strong backing from the academic and entertainment industries. Irish rock legend Bono of U2 and his counterpart, Bob Geldorf of the seventies teen pop group Boomtown Rats are part of a clique one can safely refer to as ‘Angels of Mercy’ who habitually perceive Africa as an object of pity. This image seen through a prism of philanthropy nevertheless contaminated with molecules of colonial patronage is not without justification....My idea of reconstruction is not the overnight wine-at-Cana miracle approach. First, we should disabuse ourselves of the cap-in-hand mentality. The poisoned chalice is the bloated GNU predisposition towards recurrent expenditure, which really is the second point – reducing the size of Government. Thirdly, we can restore the viability of the banking sector by getting them to re-capitalise via offshore, not ODA financing. Fourthly, Zimbabwe is sitting on a wealth of public property that can be liquidated to raise working capital for infrastructure reconstruction. Fifth, almost thirty years of plunder and state-assisted pillaging have stashed billions of foreign currency in tax havens and discrete foreign accounts. If that money can be repatriated, it will be sufficient to sustain us until our entire productive capacity has been restored." — Rejoice Ngwenya, libertarian head of Coalition for Market & Liberal Solutions (Zimbabwe)

Obama Calling The World's Bluff

Jason Arvak over at the moderate-conservative blog PoliGazette writes: "Ever since the Obama administration took office and even as far back as the campaign, I have been trying to figure out what their overarching foreign policy philosophy was. During the Bush administration, the much-maligned pejorative 'neocon' concealed was was in fact a serious binding principle for American policy — maintaining unapproachable American hegemony. For Clinton and Bush before him, the core principle was stability among post-Cold War chaos. Reagan was post-Vietnam recovery, Carter had a human rights focus, and so on. I believe the picture is finally becoming clear. Obama’s principle appears to be American retrenchment. This is easily mischaracterized as retreat or weakness and it surely has been so misrepresented by many of the administration’s more knee-jerk critics. But rather than signaling a wholesale withdrawal or forfeiture of commitments, it prescribes a selective reassessment of exactly when and where to invest U.S. resources. In some places, like Afghanistan, this will mean an increase in U.S. commitment. In others, such as Iraq, it will mean a retraction."

He continues: "The unexpected implication of this new approach is being revealed by no less than the Vice-President and the Secretary of State. Bluntly put, they are calling the world’s bluff, flatly saying that other countries who long made political hay by carping about American overreach are going to have to step up themselves while the United States limits its role. Free-riding on U.S. enforcement of the international order while reaping cheap rhetorical points by complaining about it at the same time is no longer an option."

More commentary from Mr. Arvak: "While it is certain that many conservatives will rail against this reorganization of American commitments, in truth the Obama approach is responding to one of conservatism’s long-standing complaints — that U.S. allies fail to pay their share of maintaining global order while bashing the U.S. for paying more than its share. And conversely, while many liberals will rejoice at the prospect of a more humbled United States, they may find less to celebrate if the French, Chinese, et al fail to do a better job in places like Darfur, Congo, or wherever humanity’s next genocide breaks out."

A Blog Asks: "Is The Magic Negro A Racist?"

Magic Negro Watch blog, a black conservative blog, slams the Obama administration's response to the flooding situation in Fargo, North Dakota: "As Senator, Barack Obama was all over Pres. Bush about his response to Hurricane Katrina. Now, with another natural catastophe going on under his watch, President Obama is nowhere to be found. Could it be that there aren't enough people of color in North Dakota for the savior to care about?"

G20: Probably A Waste Of Time

Tom Clougherty of the libertarian Adam Smith Institute (Britain) blog writes about the upcoming G-20 summit, which will be held in Britain: "Funding for the IMF is likely to be increased, and then there will be a host of populist measures to get the media's attention. I expect the G20 will agree to regulate hedge funds and private equity groups (something old Europe has wanted for ages), even though they are almost entirely un-implicated in the current crisis. They'll probably announce a pointlessly harsh crackdown on tax havens, which (again) had absolutely nothing to do with this mess, as well. And there's almost certain to be some bland declaration of the G20's commitment to free trade, accompanied by absolutely no action whatsoever. One area where there doesn't look like being any agreement is on the co-ordinated fiscal stimulus that Brown and the Americans have been pushing for. The other EU member states are, for the most part, strongly opposed, arguing that they'll already done a fiscal stimulus and a monetary stimulus, and that these things take time to work through the system and have an effect. There's no point running up huge deficits just for the sake of it, they say. And if Gordon Brown can't convince his own finance minister, or the Governor of the Bank of England, I doubt he's going to be successful with the G20. Quite right too: the IMF says our budget deficit is going to by the highest in the G20 by 2010, at 11 percent of GDP, so the earth is scorched enough already."

Barack Obama Show Causes UK To Clear Its Decks

If you've never seen a breakdown of how America's president rolls when he goes abroad, this article in The Observer (Britain) provides it. President Obama will attend this week's G-20 summit in Britain. His 500+-person entourage, which is typical for a U.S. president, include:

• 200 U.S. Secret Service staff. I figured it would be 40-50. 200?! They ain't playing. U.S. security teams have done three visits: a site survey, a pre-advance visit to pick sites that President Obama (Secret Service code name: Renegade) can visit. Finally, there was the advance trip, to set up equipment, sweep venues for electronic bugs, test food for poison and measure air quality for bacteria. I bet Barry plans to mix with the crowd at some tourist spot like he did in Canada. That will be a nightmare for the Secret Service, but they'll have to deal. I assume the security teams do another sweep to ensure that nothing happens between their advance trip and the president's actual arrival? I wonder if the Secret Service can carry their weapons in the UK?
  
  
• 6-doctor medical team, plus nurses and other medical personnel. Can't trust that socialized medicine over in Europe LOL. Did you know that President Obama's blood type is the rare AB+ (only 3.4% of Americans share his blood type)?
  
  
• A team from the White House kitchen to prepare his food. With that revolution and all, we can't trust them Brits with our prez's food either LOL. Does a U.S. president ever eat food prepared by non-White House staff when he goes abroad? I read in another article that Secret Service takes any glasses, cups, cutlery, plates, etc. that the president uses outside the White House so folks can't get ahold of his DNA. I wonder if they test his food too?
  
  
• Michelle Obama (Secret Service code name: Renaissance) can bring 8 staffers, plus her own Secret Service detail, as she makes her international debut as First Lady. I'm sure that Tall, Bald, White Guy will be shadowing Mrs. Obama as usual.
  
  
• Of course, Air Force One, Marine One and its decoy helicopters, and The Beast will be there. This article doesn't mention it, but President Obama lookalikes are used too.
  

After Britain, it's on to France, Germany, Czech Republic, and Turkey. I assume (hope) that the Obamas have brushed up on etiquette rules for these countries, chosen appropriate attire, and have picked out appropriate gifts for their hosts. We wouldn't want a repeat of what happened when British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Mrs. Brown visited the White House.

March Madness: My Bracket Took A Big Hit

Pittsburgh's loss last night to Villanova cost me big time, since I had Pitt in the championship game. Oh, so close! Pitt lost 78-76. That had to be a blow to the fellas. Thank you, Pitt, for jacking up my Final Four bracket and probably taking me out of contention to win the pool!

Well, at least UConn beat Missouri to make it to the Final Four.

I may still be in the mix. Hopefully, Louisville (who I have winning the championship) beats Michigan State today. Otherwise, it's over for me. I've also got UNC beating Oklahoma.

Quote Of The Day

"Years ago, I recall poet Haki Madhubuti, the Chicago based black institution builder, noting that there is not a product or company of global notoriety that originates in the African world. It didn’t take me long to understand Madhubuti’s point. On the other hand, IKEA conjures Sweden, Volkswagen – Germany; Toyota and Honda – Japan; and on and on. What product, service, or company is Africa offering up to the world as evidence that it is a global economic player of circumstance in the future? Note, of the top 100 Global corporations, as reported last year by Forbes Magazine, not one is African based or a company founded in Africa by black Africans. If one counterargument offered is that Forbes Magazine and The Financial Times are '[W]estern' publications promoting 'the [W]est,' the point is well taken. But that doesn’t change the facts. Instead of challenging the obvious, African countries and Africans collectively should seek to become political and economic players of serious consequence in the near future on their own terms or on the world’s terms. Call it a challenge to put Africa truly on the world stage." — Brian Gilmore, writer and public policy lawyer, on EbonyJet.com

Some Are Tired Of Seeing Obama Everywhere

President Barack Obama is everywhere. He took questions in an online town hall meeting on Thursday, the same day that he delivered a pre-recorded message for a Latin music awards ceremony held in Miami. He held a prime-time news conference on Tuesday. He was on "60 Minutes" on Sunday. Last week, he did "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". He filled out his NCAA basketball tournament bracket sheet on ESPN. Are we seeing too much of 44?

Personally, I'm not yet tired of seeing President Obama (it certainly helps that he's easy on the eyes), but he is risking overexposure. Barring catastrophe, he should probably fall back some in public appearances in the next week. However, bloggers, op-ed writers, cable news pundits, Sunday morning talk show types and regular folks have been discussing, debating and analyzing President Obama's ubiquitous nature in recent weeks.

"I don't believe that I have ever seen a picture of him in the Oval Office," said Gerry Simon, 50, of Peters, Pa. "Has he been there yet?" He's acting as though he's still campaigning, said 29-year-old Aaron Pavkov, of Brentwood, Pa. "It's not right and it's not presidential," he said. "In my mind, it's starting to diminish his polished image."

Critics consider some of these appearances to be beneath the dignity of the country's highest office, but analysts say they merely reflect the reality of the changing face of the U.S. population's media habits. The downside to this strategy, said Ken McIntyre of the conservative Heritage Foundation think-tank, is that President Obama may at some point come across as being “too slick for his own good”. His ubiquitous media presence could also cost him the “mystique” that Americans generally like to associate with the presidency, said Mr. McIntyre.

The TV ratings seem to echo the critics. According to Nielsen, President Obama's much hyped prime-time appearance on Tuesday attracted 40 million viewers, down 18% from his February 9 press conference and down 23% from his February 24 address to Congress.

However, others dismiss the overexposure argument, saying President Obama's constant presence is reassuring to the American public. "Too much? You've got to be kidding!" said Jerry Schmitt, 58, of Highland Park, Pa. "I could see that guy every day, twice a day. He's a breath of fresh air after eight years of dumb and dumber." Daniel Kirkwood of Washington, D.C. believes the media view the presidency like a reality show they've begun to find boring. "Didn't everyone complain that President Bush didn't give enough press conferences?" said Mr. Kirkwood, 23. "President Obama campaigned on being available. He said he'd talk to us and he is."

Jessica Byrd, a Chatham University student and former Obama campaign field organizer in Cleveland, agrees. "He's trying to create a steady flow of communication between the administration and the public," said Ms. Byrd, 22, a political science/African-American studies major. "The only way to do that is to see his face and hear his voice."

Kathleen Hall Jamieson, a political communications expert at the University of Pennsylvania, doesn't believe President Obama is overexposed. In today's fragmented media environment, different people obtain their news and information from different places. The audience he reaches on Mr. Leno's show is different from the audience he reaches in speeches before a Joint Session of Congress or on ESPN. Hard-core news and political junkies, who watch all the cable shows and see lots of him, may think he's overexposed, Dr. Jamieson said. They either love him or hate him, but they aren't the audience he's after. "The target audience is that vast swath in the middle," she said. "The audience that's able to be persuaded is the ESPN audience, the Leno audience and the national audience that watches him in prime time."

AUDIO: Lloyd Marcus, "American Tea Party"

Remember ol' boy's turning Hall & Oates' "Sara Smile" into "Sarah Smile" in honor of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin? Well, the black conservative Republican is back with a song for those small, tea party protests protesting the Obama administration's spending:

March Madness: Whittling Down

Every other year, I'm out by the end of first round. I can't believe that my NCAA men's tournament bracket has made it through four rounds and I'm still in contention for the pool.

Well, I did correctly guess six out of the eight teams who made it to the Elite 8. Michigan State's victory over Kansas hurt me, along with Missouri's victory over Memphis on Thursday night. However, all of my Final Four picks (Louisville, Pittsburgh, UNC and UConn) are intact.

I'm still beating the Baller In Chief. I'm 45-for-56 (80.4%), while Barry is 36-for-56 (64.3%)

My picks for today's games: Pittsburgh over Villanova and UConn over Missouri. As long as Pittsburgh wins (I have them in the championship game), I think I'll be OK re: the pool.

While we're on the subject of basketball, President Obama is catching some flak for not having filled out an NCAA women's tournament bracket. Especially since he has athletic daughters, and lil' Sasha plays basketball. He's also getting flak for referring to the men's tournament as "the NCAA tournament", with no gender qualifier in there, as though there's no women's tourney. Who wants to bet that next year, he'll fill out a women's tournament bracket?

A few days ago, Booker Rising did a poll about whether March Madness should be extended to 128 teams. 59% of readers said it should remain at 65 teams, 21% said to reduce it to 32 teams like in the old days, 14% want it extended to 128 teams, and 6% of you were unsure.

Quote Of The Day

"Philip Longman writes about the scary possibilities of the coming population decline. He and New America Foundation colleague David Gray have been working on a 'new social contract.' At the root such a contract they propose policies and cultural changes to assure that there is a new generation to have a social contract with. One of the reasons population decline is scary is that in the future there won't be enough workers to support the retirement and medical entitlements of retired workers. Longman and Gray, therefore, propose that the payroll tax for parents be reduced by a third for each child while the kids are under 18. Parents of three children would pay no payroll tax while raising those future workers. Employers would keep putting in their share, though, and come retirement, the parents would get their full benefit from a grateful nation/economy. Longman and Gray propose to make this full benefit contingent on the kids graduating from high school, which is coming to be a minimum credential for workers. This proposal seems to me to be sensible. The solution and the problem are tied together rationally. The policy would be simple to figure out and do. And policies that support the next generation of workers are not only good for the economy, they are good for all the family values of the nation." — William Weston, sociology professor and moderate Democratic blogger

Conservative Black Group Challenges National Urban League's "State Of Black America 2009" Report

This year's edition of the liberal National Urban League's annual State of Black America report fails to effectively challenge the Obama Administration, is unnecessarily dreary and makes harmful recommendations, said members of Project 21.

"It is long past time that groups such the National Urban League should be given a pass as they blame poor personal decisions, lack of personal preparation and the realities of life on a phantom bogeyman of conspiratorial dictates designed to impede black progress," said Mychal Massie, the chairman of the conservative black group. "If they are going to point fingers, they should not exclude pointing fingers at themselves. They cannot claim 100 years of making a difference in the lives of blacks while simultaneously claiming that blacks aren't succeeding as quickly as every other group of Americans."

In the area of health care, the National Urban League recommends government-run universal coverage. Mr. Massie argues that this sort of health care has failed abroad and would fail in America as well. "Do we need the people who run the DMV in charge of the emergency room? That's what you get with government-run health care," said Mr. Massie. "Creating a new health care bureaucracy would stifle innovation and limit choice."

Regarding homeownership, the NUL report suggests funding educational initiatives and credit counseling, something that might find them at odds with some activist groups of which they are usually allied that have opposed such programs in the past as akin to "redlining" because they might target certain areas and populations. However, NUL also supports an expanded Community Reinvestment Act - the regulation that mandates risky mortgage lending situations and is blamed by many as the catalyst for the subprime mortgage crisis.

Deneen Borelli, Project 21's fellow, said: "Government aid and intervention should not replace an individual's responsibility to exercise good judgment. Achieving the American Dream of homeownership begins with understanding the terms of the contract and meeting those obligations. Expanding the Community Reinvestment Act risks inflating another housing bubble that would further hinder our country's economic recovery. For the National Urban League to encourage more risky loans at this point is reckless."

On education, the National Urban League suggests retaining the Bush Administration's "No Child Left Behind" standards policy, but does not adequately speak out in favor of school choice and charter school programs that seek to remedy failing government-run schools by denying them a captive student body. NUL suggestions still look to government as the best administrator of education, despite its poor track record.

"The status quo on education has not worked and it never will work," said Kevin Martin, a Project 21 member. "While the National Urban League is focused on what the government can do, they are not speaking out enough about what parents can do. Education is the civil rights issue of our time, and vouchers, charter schools and similar alternatives to the failed government approach need to be encouraged."

Mr. Martin noted: "The black community does not need to be protected from capitalism, as the National Urban League's report seems to imply. The black community needs to embrace capitalism. The free market is where true opportunity lies."

Newark Mayor Doesn't Want Lt. Gov. Post

Newark Mayor Cory Booker says he won't be Gov. Jon Corzine's running mate in the first year that New Jersey will have a lieutenant governor on the ballot. The moderate-liberal Democratic mayor says he wants to stay focused on the job at hand.

Mayor Booker said that Gov. Corzine has not asked him directly. However, the mayor said the offer came from Corzine emissaries.

Before aides rushed him off, Gov. Corzine said it was "not true" that he had reached out to Mayor Booker personally. But Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo tells The Star-Ledger of Newark he was sent by the governor to persuade the mayor of New Jersey's largest city.

The lieutenant governor will fill a vacancy in the governor's office that currently is filled by the Senate president. The candidates for governor will pick their running mates.

DAMBISA MOYO COMMENTARY: Western Aid To Africa Made The Poor Poorer

Asserts the Zambian-born libertarian economist and author of Dead Aid: "Over the past 60 years at least $1 trillion of development-related aid has been transferred from rich countries to Africa. Yet real per-capita income today is lower than it was in the 1970s, and more than 50% of the population — over 350 million people — live on less than a dollar a day, a figure that has nearly doubled in two decades. Even after the very aggressive debt-relief campaigns in the 1990s, African countries still pay close to $20 billion in debt repayments per annum, a stark reminder that aid is not free. In order to keep the system going, debt is repaid at the expense of African education and health care. Well-meaning calls to cancel debt mean little when the cancellation is met with the fresh infusion of aid, and the vicious cycle starts up once again....The most obvious criticism of aid is its links to rampant corruption. Aid flows destined to help the average African end up supporting bloated bureaucracies in the form of the poor-country governments and donor-funded non-governmental organizations. In a hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in May 2004, Jeffrey Winters, a professor at Northwestern University, argued that the World Bank had participated in the corruption of roughly $100 billion of its loan funds intended for development. As recently as 2002, the African Union, an organization of African nations, estimated that corruption was costing the continent $150 billion a year, as international donors were apparently turning a blind eye to the simple fact that aid money was inadvertently fueling graft."

Ms. Moyo discusses how foreign aid undermines accountability in Africa: "A constant stream of 'free' money is a perfect way to keep an inefficient or simply bad government in power. As aid flows in, there is nothing more for the government to do — it doesn't need to raise taxes, and as long as it pays the army, it doesn't have to take account of its disgruntled citizens. No matter that its citizens are disenfranchised (as with no taxation there can be no representation). All the government really needs to do is to court and cater to its foreign donors to stay in power. Stuck in an aid world of no incentives, there is no reason for governments to seek other, better, more transparent ways of raising development finance (such as accessing the bond market, despite how hard that might be). The aid system encourages poor-country governments to pick up the phone and ask the donor agencies for next capital infusion. It is no wonder that across Africa, over 70% of the public purse comes from foreign aid."

And local entrepreneurs: "To advance a country's economic prospects, governments need efficient civil service. But civil service is naturally prone to bureaucracy, and there is always the incipient danger of self-serving cronyism and the desire to bind citizens in endless, time-consuming red tape. What aid does is to make that danger a grim reality. This helps to explain why doing business across much of Africa is a nightmare. In Cameroon, it takes a potential investor around 426 days to perform 15 procedures to gain a business license. What entrepreneur wants to spend 119 days filling out forms to start a business in Angola? He's much more likely to consider the U.S. (40 days and 19 procedures) or South Korea (17 days and 10 procedures). Even what may appear as a benign intervention on the surface can have damning consequences. Say there is a mosquito-net maker in small-town Africa. Say he employs 10 people who together manufacture 500 nets a week. Typically, these 10 employees support upward of 15 relatives each. A Western government-inspired program generously supplies the affected region with 100,000 free mosquito nets. This promptly puts the mosquito net manufacturer out of business, and now his 10 employees can no longer support their 150 dependents. In a couple of years, most of the donated nets will be torn and useless, but now there is no mosquito net maker to go to. They'll have to get more aid. And African governments once again get to abdicate their responsibilities. In a similar vein has been the approach to food aid, which historically has done little to support African farmers. Under the auspices of the U.S. Food for Peace program, each year millions of dollars are used to buy American-grown food that has to then be shipped across oceans. One wonders how a system of flooding foreign markets with American food, which puts local farmers out of business, actually helps better Africa. A better strategy would be to use aid money to buy food from farmers within the country, and then distribute that food to the local citizens in need. Then there is the issue of 'Dutch disease,' a term that describes how large inflows of money can kill off a country's export sector, by driving up home prices and thus making their goods too expensive for export. Aid has the same effect."

Ms. Moyo discusses what works: "The good news is we know what works; what delivers growth and reduces poverty. We know that economies that rely on open-ended commitments of aid almost universally fail, and those that do not depend on aid succeed. The latter is true for economically successful countries such as China and India, and even closer to home, in South Africa and Botswana. Their strategy of development finance emphasizes the important role of entrepreneurship and markets over a staid aid-system of development that preaches hand-outs. African countries could start by issuing bonds to raise cash. To be sure, the traditional capital markets of the U.S. and Europe remain challenging. However, African countries could explore opportunities to raise capital in more non-traditional markets such as the Middle East and China (whose foreign exchange reserves are more than $4 trillion). Moreover, the current market malaise provides an opening for African countries to focus on acquiring credit ratings (a prerequisite to accessing the bond markets), and preparing themselves for the time when the capital markets return to some semblance of normalcy. Governments need to attract more foreign direct investment by creating attractive tax structures and reducing the red tape and complex regulations for businesses. African nations should also focus on increasing trade; China is one promising partner. And Western countries can help by cutting off the cycle of giving something for nothing. It's time for a change."

Reid: "Ads Targeting Moderates Not Helpful"

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said today that a liberal group’s ad campaign to push moderate lawmakers in support of President Obama’s budget is “not helpful.” The group Americans United for Change started running TV ads this week in 12 states that are home to some of the Senate’s moderate Democrats and Republicans who could provide key votes in the budget battle next week. The ads tells viewers in North Dakota, home to the Senate Budget Committee chairman, Sen. Kent Conrad, and other states to call lawmakers “and tell them you support President Obama’s budget.”

With an expanded Democratic majority in Congress, Sen. Reid faces increasing challenges as he tries to keep the diverse senators on his side of the aisle in agreement. For example, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana has launched a new alliance of 15 moderate Democratic senators. Ads are running in Bayh’s state, as well as in Maine, Nebraska, Virginia, Alaska, Louisiana, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arizona and New Hampshire.

“It’s very unwise and not helpful,” Sen. Reid told reporters this morning. “These groups should leave them alone. It’s not helpful to me. It’s not helpful to the Democratic caucus.”

Booker Rising response: They talk about Republicans, but there can also be no debate among Democrats. You must toe the party line! Not a good move in the eyes of moderates and independents. When even liberal Sen. Reid is crying foul, you know liberals have gone too far.

Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's Racist Comment?

African American Environmentalist Association blog writes about controversy surrounding the Brazilian president's comments: "Maybe the president of Brazil is trying to get that 54 cent tariff on ethanol from Brazil to the USA lifted. What do you think? Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, left, blamed 'white people with blue eyes' for the world economic crisis and said it was wrong that developing countries should pay for mistakes made in richer countries. Now the Brazilian president is being accused of being racist. President Lula da Silva has been very critical of the European Union and the US for tariffs on products from developing countries. The specific quote: 'This crisis was caused by the irrational behavior of white people with blue eyes, who thought they knew everything and now show they know nothing.' 'I am not acquainted with a single black banker.'"

AAEA continues: "Doesn't sound racist to us, particularly about the dearth of black bankers. Of course, when it comes to Wall Street and banking, some might counter that [Stan] O'Neal, formerly of Merrill Lynch and Richard Parsons, Chairman of Citigroup, are notable exceptions. And of course, there IS President Barack Obama. Isn't it refreshing that America has evolved into having blacks in high positions. Now if only the mainstream environmental movement would come into the 21th Century. That community truly is the last bastion of professional level segregation. Leading industrial and developing nations, including Brazil, will attend the G20 summit [British Prime Minister Gordon] Brown hosts in London on April 2."

Bob Parks, a black conservative Republican commentator, asks: "Oh, and President da Silva, does the name Fran[kl]in Raines mean anything to you?"

Coby, a black conservative Republican, writes: "Mr. [da] Silva, google 'Consolidated Bank' and let me know what you come up with. Let’s get this straight: EVERYONE had a hand in this financial crisis. Black, white, Republican, Democrat. To imply anything else is, well, stupid."

Booker Rising response: Is it election season again in Brazil? Oh, so now da Silva ain't considering himself white (which he is not anyway, but he has delusions about his race)? LOL Of course, the socialist president ain't familiar with any black bankers. That's because despite Brazil having the largest black population outside Africa, the country's black population lives in misery. If and when he can get his South American country up to the standard that even most Caribbeans enjoy, he will be in a position to discuss what people know or don't know.

Even I know a couple of black bankers. Hell, I even have an acquaintance whose parents (who I've met) own a bank back in her native Nigeria. My aunt's Nigerian husband's family are in the banking business too. We all know that Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) knows some black bankers too. Clearly da Silva needs to expand his pool of black friends and acquaintances. Here's a list of black-owned banks - and this is just in USA - to get ol' boy started so he can put some of the Brazilian reais there and prevent another crisis. Not to mention the fact that President da Silva totally ignores the role that Big Government - ahem, politicians of various races - played in this mess when they continue to reward business mediocrity due to political pull.

AVERY TOOLEY COMMENTARY: Who Got The Camera?

The moderate-conservative blogger writes about a Dallas police officer who drew his gun on NFL player Ryan Moats outside a hospital, while he was rushing to visit a dying relative. The dash camera videotaped the incident: "By now, the story of how Moats was unnecessarily antagonized by an officer while his mother-in-law died in the hospital has burned up the [I]nternet. I think it’s important to note that Moats’ behavior in the situation was ideal. Had it not been, the way that officer was acting, we may very well be talking about a life cut short. Moats’ case represents an extreme abuse of power and lack of sensitivity and common decency. Unfortunately, for too many brothers and sisters, this is the only side of the law they see. It’s not just so-called radicals who see the police as an occupying force. I know a lotta people who live according to the law, work hard, do for their fellow man, and all that good stuff, and cannot stand police, as a general rule. They try to argue me down when I tell them that personal relationships notwithstanding, I don’t have a problem with police. They think I’m crazy when i tell them that if you treat the police with respect, they’ll treat you with respect. Legislative bodies don’t help my case when they pass inane laws about sagging pants that give police even more authority to harrass people for no reason."

He continues: "And in the midst of all this, I wonder: where’s the name-brand Black conservative? See, this is where I wonder about all that team-playing stuff. There’s clearly something wrong here. You don’t hafta be a Nationalist to see it, either. But while I tend to see name-brand Black conservatives wondering how best to bring their agenda to Black folks writ large, I’m trying to tell you — this is, or should be, a non-partisan issue. But it’s not. Cuz if you want that cap[it]al ‘C,’ or that ‘R,’ you hafta side with law enforcement. Unless there’s some wrinkle to the case (see: Durham, NC 2006). Or at least, that’s how it seems from here. But I don’t know. I’ve never seen or heard any evidence to the contrary. Sometimes I wonder if it’s seen as too much of a ‘Black radical’ issue to address, kinda like progressive academics won’t address cultural issues when talking about the poor because they’re afraid of sounding too conservative. It’s really a shame, because there are multiple lenses through which to view this problem, and some angles might actually provide a solution. Fortunately in this case, the camera in Officer Powell’s cruiser was on. I hope it helps to open some eyes."

Well, Bob Parks comments on the situation today, asking why the police officer didn't use common sense. I don't know if he counts as a "name-brand Black conservative", but the black conservative Republican commentator writes: "I understand the need for police officers to defend themselves, but when a near-hysterical woman leaves an automobile (with flashers activated) in a hospital parking lot claiming her mother is dying, couldn't the formalities be completed later? I don't think the officer in question should be fired, but he should also think about what he would do if in the same position. Granted, police officers can't take chances, but c'mon, when the nurse came out and tried to hurry the men in to see mother-in-law who was calling for them (and didn't make it), was a red light violation worth it?"