8/31 News: Ryan Frazier

GOP Pollster: Ryan Frazier Has Slim Lead For Congressional Seat

The Colorado Independent, a liberal website, is atwitter about a poll that a Republican pollster did (not for the Frazier campaign) showing that the libertarian-conservative Republican is one point ahead of incumbent Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.). It writes: "The Magellan Strategies auto dial poll of 830 likely general election voters in the 7th CD found that Frazier was one point ahead of Perlmutter, 40 percent to 39 percent, well within the 3.4 percent margin of error. The poll, which was politically balanced based on past election results, has been criticized for placing the election question so far into the polling sequence as it could have been biased by other questions surrounding Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and health care reform."

However, Rep. Perlmutter's office has not challenged this poll's results. This means that their internal polling is showing the same thing..The good and bad news for Mr. Frazier: the poll found that in a generic contest of candidates, 45 percent would vote Republican, with 39 percent voting for the Democratic ticket. However, only 40 percent of respondents knew who Mr. Frazier was (versus 97 percent for Rep. Perlmutter). Among respondents who had heard of the candidates, 39 percent had an unfavorable opinion of Rep. Perlmutter, with 37 percent favorable and 20 percent having no opinion. Meanwhile, Mr. Frazier had some room to grow: 22 percent had a favorable rating of him, with 11 percent unfavorable and 27 percent having no opinion.

Mitt Romney Backs Ryan Frazier

The libertarian-conservative Republican received a $2,500 check from former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America Political Action Committee. Mr. Romney, a moderate-conservative who is an early frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012, has also officially endorsed Mr. Frazier’s bid for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.

Mr. Romney’s endorsement comes on the heels of Mr. Frazier’s 64%-36% victory in the Republican primary earlier this month

To comment on "8/31 News: Ryan Frazier" post, click here.

Obama Declares The End Of U.S. Combat Mission In Iraq: Bookerista Response

Coby Dillard: "Obama Made It About Him, & Not The Troops"

Asserts the conservative Republican in Virginia, who is a Navy veteran of the Iraq war: "As a Navy veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, no one is prouder than I to see our troops return from combat. However, President Obama made his speech tonight more about the fulfillment of a campaign promise than about the brave, honorable and victorious service of our fighting men and women. It is unfortunate to see him attempt to lay claim to a victory that his brief voting record in the Senate and remarks as a presidential candidate shows he didn't support and whose end was negotiated by President George W. Bush -- the same Bush whose policies and actions Obama routinely speaks of as 'failed.' Instead, the victory belongs to the legacy of the 4,416 service members killed in Iraq and the millions more who served and returned safely home."

He continues: "Having secured a military victory in Iraq, our efforts there now turn to ensuring that a lasting peace is won. As the Iraqi government and people continue to take the lead on the road to prosperity and freedom, we as Americans should restate our commitment to this young democracy that many of our countrymen gave their lives to establish."

Ryan Frazier: "Obama's Iraq Speech"

The libertarian-conservative Republican, a former National Security Agency intelligence officer who is running for Congress in Colorado, issued a statement: "As Americans, we owe our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to our men and women in uniform – some of whom have paid the ultimate sacrifice to our great nation. As combat operations wind down in Iraq, the job is yet to be finished. It has become clear that the 'surge' strategy helped the Iraqi people combat sectarian violence and terrorism, while planting the seed of democracy in a former authoritarian state. It is now our job, both economically and militarily, to make sure our sacrifices were not made in vain. I urge the President, and Members of Congress, to take the appropriate steps to ensure success in the final stage of leaving Iraq a stronger, and more democratic nation.”

Samuel Gonzalez: "Obama Gives A Comatose Speech"

Asserts the conservative Republican blogger in New York City: "Was it too much for the president to muster the enthusiasm for success in Iraq and giving that country a chance to live in freedom? But, I forget. The president rarely ever uses the word 'freedom' in any of his speeches. That tells you something doesn’t it?"

He continues his commentary: "What came across in this dull oratory loud and clear is president Obama’s heart isn’t into being a wartime president. He sees the wars as a distraction from his attempt to remake the country into a Nanny state. In fact, he used the speech as an opportunity to throw in a little domestic policy. I thought that was pretty bad form. But, that’s what you get from Obama - a whole bunch of bad form."

Kevin Martin: "When Will Obama Admit That He Was Wrong About The Surge?"

Asks the conservative Republican, a Navy veteran: "While President Obama says combat operation are officially ended in Iraq, this turn of phrase will not change the fact that the remaining American troops will continue to battle remaining rogue elements as Iraqi forces work to get a handle on things."

Mr. Martin continues his statement: "At the time, Senator Obama -- along with many of his liberal allies -- claimed the surge of troops into Iraq would fail before it even started. Now that he commands these same troops, will he have the courage to admit he was wrong and apologize to those who have given their all to bring forth a mostly stable Iraq? President Obama needs to give credit where credit is due, and that goes to the fine men and women who put on the uniform and carry out their duty no matter the odds and no matter what burden they may face as politicians simply seek to score points with voters."

Discuss "Obama Declares The End Of U.S. Combat Mission In Iraq" post here.

The "Restoring Honor" Rally: Bookerista Reaction, Pt. 2

Bookeristas have much more to say about Saturday's event, which drew at least 350,000 people:

Ms. Gardner (pictured left) with Ms. King

Day Gardner: "I Was Proud To Stand In Solidarity With Alveda King At The Rally"

Asserts the conservative head of the National Black Pro-Life Union: "From the Lincoln Memorial, past the Washington Monument, as far as the eye could see in any direction, American people of all colors stood shoulder to shoulder to honor the one true God -- to show love for our great country, a country founded on the Solid Rock which is the word of God -- to fix the places where we are broken -- to help the weathered masses -- to see the humanity of unborn children -- to heal the terrible hurts -- to lift each other up and to never stand down until the 'dream' is restored and I was there."

Jerome Hudson: "A Black Man Goes To Glenn Beck's Rally"

The conservative in Florida writes about participating in the rally: "I was probably the only 24-year old black college student in the crowd. It's hard to know, because we had over 300,000 people there. But that didn't matter to me. As we all stood hand-in-hand, American shoulder to American shoulder, our myriad faces streaked with tears as we sang 'Amazing Grace.' It was a moment I will be proud to tell my grandkids about one day. What that moment taught me is this: Something profound is happening in America that runs far deeper than politics. The ground is shifting, and it's in freedom's direction. As a nation at war, standing in division and debt, Beck challenged the crowd to return to God."

Mr. Hudson continues his commentary: "The message I took away is that we cannot continue to pick at the scab of America's past but must become the balm that heals it. That's the way forward — arm in arm, moving together, toward a better future. Standing in a crowd that stretched from the Washington Monument to Lincoln Memorial what happened on 8/28 was the most inspirational thing I had ever experienced. Standing there, unhyphenated and united, this black man has never felt more free in his life."

Nadra Enzi: "I Salute Lenny McAllister's Decision To Decline To Speak At The Rally"

Asserts the moderate Republican in Savannah, Ga., in a statement emailed to Booker Rising: " By opting out of Glenn Beck's August 28th Restoring Honor event [black conservative commentator] Lenny McAllister showed rare independence from a movement marching lock step with the Imperial Right, as I call the most extreme conservative brand. He cited headliner Sarah Palin's defense of Dr. Laura's N-Word commentary and other uniquely Black reasons why he couldn't participate, despite being conservative and Republican. I reference 'uniquely Black' reasons because of the element of racial escapism (to these jaundiced eyes) witnessed among some Black conservatives."

More: "I applaud Mr. McAllister's stance. He's definitely not a 'Me Too!' conservative blindy walking behind the Imperial Right band wagon. If we can't tell White counterparts when we think they've erred on racial matters, isn't that just Jim Crow reloaded for the Ipod era? Any resultant ostracism he may exprience by the Right means freedom of thought is no more welcome here than on the Left. For my money this was his personal profile in courage moment. If the cost to be a Black conservative is a racial gag order, except against liberals, it's a price too high to pay."

Read more »

The Oval Office Gets A Makeover

Feelin' them drapes?

From The New York Times: "When President Obama addressed the nation about Iraq on Tuesday evening, he did so from newly redecorated surroundings. The look is angular and modern — it evokes the feel of a den — and tends toward neutral hues of browns and taupe, rather than the gold and yellow tones favored by President George W. Bush. Gone is the sunburst rug Mr. Bush loved so much, which was designed by his wife, Laura, and which he often said expressed his spirit of optimism. In the rug’s place is a muted, mostly wheat and cream carpet featuring the presidential seal in the center and ringed with five quotations selected by Mr. Obama — four from former presidents (Lincoln, Kennedy and the Roosevelts) and one from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Mr. Bush’s yellow brocade sofas have been replaced with two custom-made couches of brown cotton that looks like velvet, woven with red, white and blue threads."

The designer went for the blah, hotel room look

More about the renovations: "The makeover was not done at taxpayer expense. The White House said costs were covered by the nonprofit White House Historical Association, through a contribution from the committee that paid for Mr. Obama’s inauguration. The administration will not disclose how much the redesign cost, except to say the price was 'in line with' what Mr. Obama’s two most recent predecessors had spent.'"

Bookeristas respond: D.C. Thornton, a libertarian-conservative Republican in Nevada: "Reason for Obama's speech demeanor: 'Damn, Michelle's Oval Office decorating skills are atrocious!'"

DRC, a conservative Republican in Virginia, writes on Twitter: "The Oval Office now looks like an short-stay executive suite in an apartment complex with cheap furniture from Aaron Rents."

To comment on "The Oval Office Gets A Makeover" post, click here.

The "Restoring Honor" Rally: Black Tea, Pt. 2

Timothy Johnson, head of the Frederick Douglass Foundation (pictured in brown suit in the first photo), took these event photos:

Read more »

Anthony Akoto Osei: "Ghana's Center-Left Government Is Butchering The Country's Credit Rating"

Anthony Akoto Osei, a member of the Ghanaian Parliament and former finance minister, has cautioned the government of the center-left John Atta Mills administration not to underestimate the ramifications of Ghana's recent drop in the sovereign credit rating on the economy. Mr. Osei, who is a member of the center-right New Patriotic Party, warned that the downgrading could return Ghana to dark fiscal days.

Sharing his thoughts on the recent survey released by Standard & Poor's - which saw Ghana dropping from B+ to B in credit rating - Mr. Akoto said the government ought to treat the matter with the needed seriousness, rather than resort to downplaying its effects.

MrAkoto said Ghana struggled hard under the erstwhile New Patriotic Party administration to attain the B+ status, and that "we should have appreciated in score instead of depreciating." He said a number of factors had culminated in the lowering of Ghana's grade, including the government's failure to clearly spell its policy on the country's oil and the decision to make the Ministry of Energy regulators of the nation's oil. The former senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Analysis noted that the decision to offer the regulatory duty to the Energy Ministry amounted to putting the oil in the hands of politicians, a situation, which he argues might not ensure proper and independent accountability.

To comment on "Credit Rating" post, click here.

Iraqis Approach End Of U.S. Combat Role With Worry

From the Associated Press: "As Vice President Joe Biden presides over the formal end to U.S. combat operations in Iraq, few Iraqis are cheering the American exit. Iraqis, who for years have railed against the U.S. occupation, are generally happy to see that the American presence won't be endless. But there is also considerable trepidation about whether Iraq can go it alone. 'It's not the right time,' said Johaina Mohammed, a 40-year-old teacher from Baghdad. 'There is no government, the security is deteriorating, and there is no trust.'"

The article continues: "Just under 50,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq - down from a peak of nearly 170,000 at the height of the military surge in 2007. Those troops will be focused on training and assisting the Iraqi military, and will no longer be allowed to go on combat missions unless requested and accompanied by Iraqi forces. Underscoring the shift, Biden was making a new appeal to Iraqi leaders Tuesday, including Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, to end the political deadlock and seat a new government. March 7 parliamentary elections left Iraq without a clear winner, and insurgents have since exploited the uncertainty to hammer Iraqi security forces. Iraqi forces are vastly improved and attacks have plummeted since the dark days of 2006 and 2007. But rarely a day goes by without some loss of life, and spectacular attacks such as the violence on Wednesday that killed 56 people still happen with disturbing regularity."

More: "The fear of political divisions, aggravated by the struggle for control of Iraq's oil potential, is ever present. Some Iraqis worry that without the American soldiers, their country will revert to a dictatorship or split along religious and ethnic fault lines. 'They should wait for the government to be formed and then withdraw,' said Mohammed Hussein Abbas, a Shiite from the town of Hillah south of Baghdad."

The article continues: "'The U.S. withdrawal will put Iraq into the lap of Iran,' said Ali Mussa, a 46-year-old engineer from eastern Baghdad. Iran and Iraq are both majority Shiite countries. And Iran has already capitalized on the U.S.-led overthrow of its arch enemy Saddam to secure greater leverage in Iraq, using centuries-old religious and cultural ties. Even former Sunni insurgents in Fallujah, who supported armed resistance against two American assaults on the city in Iraq's western province of Anbar, are dismayed at U.S. troops leaving after they joined forces and fought extremists together. 'Of course we were against the occupation, but in 2007 the Americans came up with a good plan for fighting al-Qaida, not Iraq,' said Col. Abdelsaad Abbas Mohammed, a Fallujah commander in the government-supported Sunni militia, known as the Awakening Councils. 'Americans have committed many mistakes, but they did not go into houses and chop people's heads off.'"

More from the Associated Press article: "In the three provinces that make up the autonomous Kurdish region in northern Iraq, the American military departure is also cause for concern. The Americans have often been perceived as the protectors of the minority Kurdish population, which was repressed under Saddam, but later carved out a relative oasis of stability in northern Iraq. Othman Ahmed, 38, and a lawyer from the Kurdish city of Sulaimaniyah, said Iraqi politicians would like to return Iraq to the strong centralized government of the former regime - meaning the Kurds' hard-won autonomy could be at jeopardy."

Discuss "Iraqis Approach End Of U.S. Combat Role With Worry" post here.

BOOKERISTA OF THE YEAR: Thomas Sowell on The Ground Zero Mosque Controversy

The conservative economist in California discusses the highly controversial, proposed project near Ground Zero in New York City: "Our betters are telling us that we need to be more 'tolerant' and more 'sensitive' to the feelings of Muslims. But if we are supposed to be sensitive to Muslims, why are Muslims not supposed to be sensitive to the feelings of millions of Americans, for whom 9/11 was the biggest national trauma since Pearl Harbor? It would not be illegal for Japanese Americans to build a massive shinto shrine next to Pearl Harbor. But, in all these years, they have never sought to do it. When Catholic authorities in Poland were planning to build an institution for nuns, years ago, and someone pointed out that it would be near the site of a concentration camp that carried out genocide, the Pope intervened to stop it."

More: "There is no question that Muslims have a right to build a mosque where they chose to. The real question is why they chose that particular location, in a country that covers more than 3 million square miles. If we all did everything that we have a legal right to do, we could not even survive as individuals, much less as a society. So the question is whether those who are planning a Ground Zero mosque want to be part of American society or just to see how much they can get away with in American society? Can anyone in his right mind believe that this was intended to show solidarity with Americans, rather than solidarity with those who attacked America? Does anyone imagine that the Middle East nations, including Iran, from whom financial contributions will be solicited, want to promote reconciliation between Americans and Muslims?"

To comment on "The Ground Zero Mosque Controversy" post, click here.

Fire, Gunshots Hit Proposed Mega-Mosque Site In Tennessee. Black Conservative Who Leads The Opposition: "It Wasn't Us"

Kevin Fisher leads opposition to the mega-mosque

The feds are now involved down in the Bible Belt. From The New York Times (hat tip: Carol M. Swain): "On Sunday, one day after a fire at the site of a planned Islamic center and mosque in the Nashville suburb of Murfreesboro, Muslim community members reported hearing gunshots as they inspected the damage. Saleh Sbenaty, an engineering professor at Middle Tennessee State University who is on the the Islamic center’s planning committee, told The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro that nine shots, in two volleys, were fired near the property while he and female family members looked at construction equipment burned in the fire."

From The Daily News Journal (Rutherford County, Tennessee): "Rutherford County resident Kevin Fisher, who has led protest efforts against the mosque on the grounds of infrastructure concerns and a lack of transparency in the county's planning approval process, issued a statement after learning of the apparent arson on Saturday. 'We in this community believe strongly in the rule of law, and choose to settle our disagreements through peaceful deliberations and discussion, not vigilantism. While it isn't yet known who may/may not have done this or why, I have full confidence in both local law enforcement and the ATF to find out what happened, why it happened, and bring that person/those persons to justice."

Discuss "Fire, Gunshots Hit Proposed Mega-Mosque Site" post here.

Sabuni Voted Sweden's Best-Dressed Female Politician

Nyamko Sabuni has been voted as Sweden's best-dressed female politician, by Swedish political bloggers (article in Swedish). The Burundi-born moderate-conservative serves as Sweden's Minister of Integration and Gender Equality. She oversees consumer affairs, democracy issues, gender equality, human rights, integration issues regarding immigrants, metropolitan affairs, minority issues, non-profits and youth policy.

To comment on "Sabuni Voted Sweden's Best-Dressed Female Politician" post, click here.

JOHN MCWHORTER COMMENTARY: Instead Of Marching, Let's End The War On Drugs

The moderate-conservative commentator in New York City opines that it would have a far more positive impact on Black America than any number of symbolic marches: "The War on Drugs destroys black families. It has become a norm for black children to grow up with their fathers in prison and barely knowing them. Data are unanimous in showing that children, especially poor ones, do better with two parents. We see the young black man in a do-rag pushing a baby carriage as a welcome sight rather than as a norm. That must stop."

He continues his commentary: "The War on Drugs discourages young black men from seeking legal employment. Because the drugs' illegality keeps their price high, there are high salaries to be made in selling them -- not at first as a low-level runner, but potentially as one rises in the hierarchy. This makes selling drugs a standing alternative to legal employment, especially if one has a poor education. The idea that selling drugs is the only choice available is refuted by the simple fact that immigrants, including black ones, regularly make do -- as do plenty of black American men who happen not to 'go the wrong way.' Was the man who installed your cable TV a white guy with a degree from Vanderbilt? Did the last security guard you saw have blond hair?"

More commentary from Mr. McWhorter: "The War on Drugs brings firearms into black lives. Policing turf for drug sales entails guns, which then become tools for maintenance of the pecking order, including settling petty scores. A striking difference between surveys of black ghettos before the War on Drugs and today is how common guns have become. The War on Drugs lends a badge of honor to spending time in prison. Enduring prison time, regarded (with some justification) as an unjust punishment for selling people something that they want, is seen as a badge of strength. The ex-con becomes a hero rather than someone who went the wrong way. If there were no War on Drugs, this would be a non-issue."

To comment on "Instead Of Marching, Let's End The War On Drugs" post, click here.

Biofuel Demand Driving Africa "Land Grab"

Biofuel demand is driving a new "land grab" in Africa, with at least 5 million hectares (19,300 square miles) acquired by foreign firms to grow crops in 11 countries, says a new study by environmental group Friends Of The Earth (hat tip: Sam Mbale). The contracts by European and Asian companies for land to grow sugar cane, jatropha and palm oil to be turned into fuel will involve clearing forests and vegetation, taking land that could be used for food and creating conflicts with local communities, the group claimed in the study.

Proponents of biofuels argue they are renewable and can help fight climate change because the growing plants ingest as much carbon dioxide from the air as the fuels made from them emit when burned. Critics say there is a risk of the crops infringing on land that could be used for growing food and that destruction of rainforests to make way for palm oil and sugar outweighs any carbon benefits gained from the use of such fuels.

To comment on "Biofuel Demand Driving Africa 'Land Grab'" post, click here.

8/30 Quote Of The Day

"With aid's help, corruption fosters corruption, nations quickly descend into a vicious cycle of aid. Foreign aid props up corrupt governments — providing them with freely usable cash. These corrupt governments interfere with the rule of law, the establishment of transparent civil institutions and the protection of civil liberties, making both domestic and foreign investment in poor countries unattractive. Greater opacity and fewer investments reduce economic growth, which leads to fewer job opportunities and increasing poverty levels. In response to growing poverty, donors give more aid, which continues the downward spiral of poverty. 

This is the vicious cycle of aid. The cycle that chokes off desperately needed investment, instils a culture of dependency, and facilitates rampant and systematic corruption, all with deleterious consequences for growth. The cycle that, in fact, perpetuates underdevelopment, and guarantees economic failure in the poorest aid-dependent countries." — Dambisa Moyo, Zambian-born conservative economist, in her best-selling book Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working And How There Is A Better Way For Africa

To comment on "8/30 Quote Of The Day" post, click here.

USA: Record Number In Government Anti-Poverty Programs

Government anti-poverty programs in the United States now serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand (hat tip: Black & Right).

More than 50 million Americans are on Medicaid, the federal-state program aimed principally at the poor, a survey of state data by USA TODAY shows. That's up at least 17% since the recession began in December 2007.

More than 40 million people get food stamps, an increase of nearly 50% during the economic downturn. Caseloads have risen as more people become eligible. The economic stimulus law signed by U.S. President Barack Obama last year also boosted benefits.

Close to 10 million receive unemployment insurance, nearly four times the number from 2007. Benefits have been extended by Congress eight times beyond the basic 26-week program, enabling the long-term unemployed to get up to 99 weeks of benefits. More than 4.4 million people are on welfare, an 18% increase during the recession.

Discuss "USA: Record Number In Government Anti-Poverty Programs" post here.

Michael Steele: "Don't Hate On A Brotha For Solidifying My Island Bloc. I'm Jumpstarting My Re-Election Campaign"

National Journal writes: "RNC chair Michael Steele is earning some frequent flier miles to outlying US territories in a trip that looks more like his own re-election bid than it does an effort to gain ground for the GOP this Election Day. Steele has made recent trips to the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, where a spokesman said he held 5 fundraisers over a weekend. Next month, Steele will head to Guam and the Northern Marianas Islands for fundraisers on behalf of GOP candidates, after a swing to AZ, CA and HI."

The National Journal article continues about the moderate-conservative politico, who is the Republican National Committee's first black chairman: "Under RNC rules, each state and territory gets to send 3 voters -- a state chair, a national committeeman and a national committeewoman -- to party meetings. Each state has an equal number of votes, meaning the Virgin Islands and Guam have as many votes, combined, as TX and CA. And one of the many factors RNC leaders have to contend with when counting votes is that the island delegates generally vote with each other. That's 15 of 168 votes, including members from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa."

More: "In '09, those voters coalesced around Steele on the final ballot [in a tight race], when he faced ex-SC GOP chair Katon Dawson. Rumors flew that deals had been cut, though strategists close to Steele vehemently denied any promises had been made. Still, during Steele's tenure, the RNC has sent $20K to the Northern Mariana Islands, and 2 top staffers to Guam for party-building activities."

Booker Rising response: Just curious: how many Republican candidates - campaigning in majority-black districts - has ol' boy held fundraisers for in the past year and a half?

To comment on "My Island Bloc" post, click here.

Responding To The "Conservatives Don't Believe In Diversity Like Liberals" Argument, Ghanaian Style

NPP's stronghold: the Akan-dominated South (in blue)

Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe Jr. takes on the Ghanaian liberal argument that the center-right New Patriotic Party is an Akans-only parade. The Ghanaian-born English professor in USA and board member of the center-right Danquah Institute (Ghana) writes: "As the title of the article glaringly grieved, it appears as if membership of the now-opposition New Patriotic Party is specially preserved for only members of Ghana’s ethnic majority, the Akan, who officially constitute 50-percent of the country’s population of an estimated 24 million people, and unofficially between 60-70-percent of people calling themselves Ghanaians at large."

He continues his commentary: "The article was sourced to a newspaper called the Herald. It read like an editorial, being also clearly deliberately unsigned. What the Herald editor, or editors, meant their readers to come away from their editorial write-up thinking and feeling is that, somehow, unlike the NPP, the Rawlings-chaperoned [center-left] National Democratic Congress sports 'an impeccably representative parade of all Ghanaian ethnic groups.'"

J.B. Danquah & Kofi Busia, Akan conservative icons

More commentary from Professor Okoampa-Ahoofe Jr.: "In reality, the NDC is and has always been a thoroughgoing Ewe-dominated terrorist organization that over the past three decades, and in its various disguises as the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC), Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC) and now National Democratic Congress (NDC), has nonchalantly caused the summary execution of Akan Supreme Court judges and other diligent citizens whose apparently sole crime was having been born Akan. But even more significant, and a fact that the editor of the Herald seems to have deliberately and conveniently ignored, is that on a political balance sheet, the supposedly minority-dominated, or largely minority-composed NDC, has fared significantly worse at the helm of governance than the Akan-dominated NPP. What the preceding clearly means, of course, is that the effective 'minoritization' of the NDC, as opposed to the defective 'majoritization' of the NPP, has not in any way, shape or form demonstrated that the apparent lack of a critical mass of ethnic minorities among its rank-and-file membership – and also its executive ranks – has rendered the NPP any less of an effective administrative machinery than the NDC."

Final thoughts: "In reality, the reverse may quite be the case. And, in essence, it is rather our measured contention here that Mr. Rawlings’ systematic attempt to alienate Ghana’s Akan ethnic majority from membership among the ranks of the NDC has virtually and effectively guaranteed that the best and brightest among Ghana’s national talent pool would not be utilized."

Discuss "Conservatives Don't Believe In Diversity Like Liberals" post here.

D.C. Mayor Trails In Poll As Early Voting Begins

Will black voters kick Fenty to the curb?

Things ain't looking good for Mayor Adrian Fenty, a liberal Democrat. From CNN: "Early voting begins Monday in the District of Columbia, 15 days before the crucial primaries. The start of early voting comes one day after a new Washington Post poll indicates Mayor Adrian Fenty trails his Democratic challenger, City Council Chairman Vincent Gray, by double digits. Since Democrats dominate elections in the city, the winner of the Democratic primary will be considered the overwhelming favorite in the November general election."

The article continues: "According to the survey, Gray leads Fenty 49 to 36 percent among registered Democratic voters. But his lead swells to 53 to 36 percent among those likely to cast ballots in the Democratic primary.....A majority of African-Americans, who make up the majority of the district's Democratic voters, are critical to Fenty, according to the poll. Sixty-four percent of African-American registered Democrats say they are supporting Gray, with less than one in five backing Fenty. On the other hand, Fenty has a 64 to 28 percent advantage among whites."

To comment on "D.C. Mayor Trails In Poll As Early Voting Begins" post, click here.

Interesting Cuisine. I Think I'll Pass...

It takes balls to eat this food, while hugged up on a buddy

From HipHopWired, on an event held in Serbia (hat tip: Bossip): "According to the Associated Press, the annual World Testicle Cooking Championship allows to visitors watch and taste as teams of chefs cook up bull, boar, camel, ostrich and even kangaroo testicles. The cooking event, now in its seventh year, includes dishes like testicle pizza and testicles in bechamel sauce flavored with a variety of herbs found in the region. Visitors eat the dishes with plenty of wine or beer, alongside a small mountain river that flows beside the makeshift cooking stands blasting folk music."

More: "Dubbed 'white kidneys', the dainty meat is Serbia is believed to be rich in testosterone and considered to help men's libido."

To comment on "Interesting Cuisine. I Think I'll Pass..." post, click here.

Herman Cain: "CEO Is Not In Obama's DNA"

Asserts the conservative Republican businessman in Georgia, who is the former CEO of Godfather's Pizza: "I am one of many writers who warned that we could not spend our way to prosperity, but the administration and the Democrat-controlled Congress passed the $862 billion non-stimulus bill anyway. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on members of Congress back during the August congressional recess to spend another $26 billion to help save some more union jobs. President Obama is now floating the idea of spending another $30 billion to stimulate community bank lending to small businesses. Add this idea to the growing list of poorly executed and ineffective pop-tart programs such as cash for clunkers, cash for caulkers, cash for air (air conditioning system upgrade), and the Home Affordable Modification Program, and it’s no wonder the administration is making up new words to avoid talking about their failed programs and policies."

Mr. Cain continues his commentary about the Obama administration: "Starting with President Obama’s unmanageable management structure, with dozens of czars plus traditional Cabinet secretaries, and now a parade of failed programs and policies, he is either too out of touch with reality, has no idea of which changes need to be made or truly believes in the incompetent people he has surrounded himself with. Or maybe the president can blame it all on an equally incompetent Democrat-controlled Congress. Unfortunately, it’s all of the above. We have a president incapable of making the right management moves, developing a new workable economic strategy, or worse yet, not even knowing that these changes are necessary. It’s not in his DNA. So if the president is not listening to the voters, he is certainly not going to listen to the Minority Leader. That makes November that much more critical. We will remember."

To comment on "CEO Is Not In Obama's DNA" post, click here.

Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Violated Ethics Rules, Steered Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Scholarships To Relatives

Yet another member of the Democratic-dominated Congressional Black Caucus is in hot water. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) has awarded thousands of dollars in college scholarships to four relatives (two grandsons and two great-nephews) - and a top aide's two children since 2005, using foundation funds set aside for black lawmakers' causes (hat tip: Carol M. Swain). The recipients were ineligible under anti-nepotism rules of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, which provided the money. And all of the awards violated a foundation requirement that scholarship winners live or study in a caucus member's district. 

The liberal Democrat denied any favoritism when asked about the scholarships last week. Two days later, she acknowledged that she had violated the rules but said she had done so "unknowingly" and would work with the foundation to "rectify the financial situation." Initially, she said, "I recognized the names when I saw them. And I knew that they had a need just like any other kid that would apply for one." Had there been more "very worthy applicants in my district," she added, "then I probably wouldn't have given it" to the relatives. 

Booker Rising response: Dallas is America's ninth-largest city. About 650,000 people live in Rep. Johnson's district alone. Ain't nobody buying the nonsense that she couldn't find smart, needy students (of any race) unrelated to her among her constituents.

To comment on "Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson Violated Ethics Rules" post, click here.

STAR PARKER COMMENTARY: More Government To Protect Us From Ourselves

The conservative Republican commentator in California discusses America's new credit laws: "This past week new rules governing our credit cards kicked in, following passage of the Credit Card Accountability and Responsibility Act, signed into law last year. The point of the CARD Act is to protect us consumers from the scheming bankers from whom we get our credit cards. As result of these new protections, consumers can be grateful that credit card interest rates are the only interest rates that are not now dropping. According to the Wall Street Journal, the average card interest rate is now 1.6% higher than last year and the gap between credit card rates and the prime lending interest rate is the highest it's been in 22 years."

Ms. Parker continues her commentary: "More good news for consumers is that there is less credit available. The average credit limit on new cards being issued is down 11% from last year. And, because the CARD Act implements new rules limiting the flexibility that banks have, for example, in changing rates on balances of overdue accounts or on exceeding credit limits, banks are simply finding new ways to raise revenue. Over the last year median annual fees on cards increased 18% and median fees on cash advances increased 33%."

To comment on "More Government To Protect Us From Ourselves" post, click here.

A Tale Of Two Leaders: Girlie Man Vs. Alpha Male?

Conservatives are having a field day with these recent photos of U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Liberals ain't amused by the comparison. 

President Obama rode his bike with his family on Martha's Vineyard during the weekend. Prime Minister Putin "holds a crossbow as he hunts for whales from a motorboat in Olga Bay in the Sea of Japan, August 25, 2010. Putin hit an endangered grey whale with the darts designed to take skin samples while participating in a whale research study with members of the Kronotsky Biosphere Reserve off Russia's Far Eastern coast on Wednesday, according to local media."

James T. Harris, a conservative Republican blogger in Wisconsin, argues that America is doomed: "This [photo collage] pretty much sums it up."

Booker Rising response: In all fairness, Vlady is ex-KGB. He also has a macho image to promote, especially given Russia's declining influence since the Cold War. Meanwhile, Barry is on a family outing with his wife and two daughters, so it's not a fair comparison. What, being a husband and father ain't manly now?! I’ll take our Urkel-looking, bike-riding prez (even if he is liberal) over Vlady. Since Barry oversees the more powerful country between the two, he has less political need to be macho. By the way, does Vlady ever crack a smile?

To comment on "A Tale Of Two Leaders" post, click here.

Is America Only For White Folks?

The infamous Jim Crow signs

Asks Joseph C. Phillips, a conservative Republican actor: "Is America only for white people? The question stuck in my mind following yet another e-mail exchange with a friend of mine, regarding my conservatism. For this particular gentleman, being black in America is at odds with conservatism. As he put it: “....Particularly as African-Americans, I feel we are in no real position to idealize the American experience and get too choked up about institutions and symbols that were not created with us in mind. Certainly, we cannot cast our lot with those who are actively seeking to destroy those gains we have made.'"

He continues his commentary: "The essential element that my friend and the black leftists have missed is that what binds us together as Americans is not shared blood, race, ethnicity, or tribe; it is the unshakable belief in certain universal principles. The American experience is not attached to men who were flawed, but is instead fixed to ideas that remain flawless. The institutions and symbols of America are reflective of the revolutionary idea that all men are the property of God, created with an equal right to life, liberty, private property, and the free pursuit of bettering their station in life. Martin Luther King, Jr., put it more succinctly: 'The American dream reminds us…that every man is an heir of the legacy of dignity and worth.'"

Read more »

Wright Man, Wrong Job?

Robert A. George questions whether controversial liberal Rev. Jeremiah Wright is the right person to come to U.S. President Barack Obama's rescue, in the aftermath of Americans' growing view that the president is really Muslim, The moderate-conservative journalist and blogger in New York City opines: "So, less than 50 percent of the country think you're Christian. Growing numbers think, in fact, that you're Muslim (not that there's anything wrong with that). And who's stepping up to 'defend' your actual religious blackground, uh, background? That would be your former pastor whom you kicked to the curb two years ago -- Rev. Jeremiah Wright."

Mr. George continues: "Ironically, the 'witness' of one's longtime spiritual guide would have been of assistance to any other politician whose religion was being questioned. Somehow, I don't see Obama asking Wright to hit the political stump in defense of his religious values."

To comment on "Wright Man, Wrong Job?" post, click here.

Olumayowa Okediran: "How Not To Rebrand Nigeria"

The libertarian student at the University of Agriculture at Abeokuta (Nigeria) opines that Nigerian information minister Dora Akunyili’s attempt to rebrand Nigeria has good intentions, but the strategy is one of a well-branded inferior commodity: ""Nigeria does not need to invest so much resources in elephant projects. A few simple solutions to a more attractive Nigeria are the following:

stop lip-service to corruption
promote trade without any form of protectionism
governments should stay off businesses
give all and every equal rights and liberty
make it easier to set up and run businesses
provide the framework (policies) for fair competition

The solutions to Nigeria’s numerous incongruities need not be elephant projects. They are simple changes in policy and way of thinking."

To comment on "How Not To Rebrand Nigeria" post, click here.

8/29 Weekly Calendar Of Events

Tuesday, August 31, Arizona, USA: Ward Connerly Speech On Affirmative Action

The libertarian-conservative Republican speaks before the Republican Women of Prescott luncheon. 11:30am. Prescott Resort, 15 Arizona 69. Prescott, Arizona, USA. $15. RSVP by August 26 to 928/778-0235 or email tyree200@msn.com. Click here for more information.

Tuesday, August 31, South Africa: Dinner With Justice Malala

If you're in the Johannesburg area, you can have dinner with the South African center-right journalist (along with journalist Fred Khumalo). 6:30pm. DW Eleven-13, Dunkeld West Shopping Centre, Jan Smuts Avenue and Bompass Street, Dunkeld West, South Africa. Cost is R260 per person. Click here for more information.

To comment on "8/29 Weekly Calendar Of Events" post, click here.

Obama Vs. Iran

Michael Bowen, a moderate-conservative Republican blogger in California, writes: "The way I see it, there is one way that Obama can rescue his reputation with the Right. That's to pre-empt Iran's nuclear ambition with a surgical strike. It would be his signature moment in history. There is very little else he can do of any decisive import in the next two years. He cannot fix unemployment. He cannot fix the deficit. He cannot reduce spending. He cannot repair his reputation after killing the Bush tax cuts. He won't have any Supreme Court decisions making him look better. He cannot fix immigration. He cannot end Afghanistant. He'll get no bump from ending Iraq. He won't save the planet. He can't fix Palestine. He can't stop China."

Mr. Bowen continues his commentary about U.S. foreign policy: "All he can do is help Israel by being the big bad US and stomping out Ahmadinejad's nuclear program, and by doing so slap Putin in the face. He would have red states mouthing off for a while. But. I think Obama must know this. And what I think the crafty bastard will do is wait until some NGO validates the existence of a WMD and puts it on Facebook, sometime in October of 2012."

Booker Rising response: I fail to see how a surgical strike is in America's direct interests. As far as I know, Iran is not threatening to strike America. Nor do we have any moral obligation to remove Iran's leaders (unlike was the case with Iraq's Saddam Hussein). The mullahs were installed by the Iranian people (although the country's youth are getting restless).

To comment on "Obama Vs. Iran" post, click here.

First Australian Aboriginal In House Of Representatives

Ken Wyatt: the Oscar De Priest of Australia?

Hat tip to reader NSangoma for this one. From the BBC: "An Aboriginal man has won a seat in Australia's House of Representatives, becoming the first indigenous person to do so in the country's history. Ken Wyatt, 57, took the seat of Hasluck [suburban Perth] in Western Australia for the centre-right Liberal Party [think classical liberalism]. Neither the Liberals nor the governing Labor Party gained enough seats at last week's election for a majority."

More: "Mr Wyatt said he was disappointed by the hate mail sent to him by people [both whites and Aborigines] who said they would not have voted for him if they had known he was indigenous. 'I've had that all my life, growing up as an Aboriginal in the '60s, the '70s and the '80s,' he told reporters. 'Let's move on from that - what's more important is the way in which we move Australia forward, and the thinking that we have, and the society that we build on. Mr Wyatt is the first Aboriginal man elected to the House of Representatives but two other indigenous Australians have served as senators in the upper house of parliament."

Booker Rising response: I'm not sure if I quite consider Australian Aborigines to be black. Yes, they (like other non-Africans) emerged out of Africa about 50,000 years ago. Many of them are dark-skinned, with "Negroid" features. Yet they are genetically close to Asians, not Africans. Dude looks Hispanic, Lebanese or Armenian (Mr. Wyatt is of Aborigine, East Indian and English ancestry), so no wonder some white voters feel that they were bamboozled LOL. However, Mr. Wyatt's ancestry was mentioned in his campaign literature so some folks clearly weren't paying attention. If they liked his views beforehand, they need to quit their racist clowning. He's already been slurred as "Uncle Tom Wyatt" and "coconut" (Australia's version of the Oreo slur) by liberal critics so maybe he really is a black conservative LOL.

Discuss "First Australian Aboriginal In House Of Representatives" post here.

Paying Off The House In 15 Years

From The Wall Street Journal: "A growing number of homeowners are choosing to pay down their mortgages at a faster rate -- even if it means a substantial jump in their monthly payments. Between January and June, 26% of homeowners who refinanced chose a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage, according to data from CoreLogic, a provider of financial, property and consumer information. During all of 2009, 18.5% of borrowers who refinanced opted for a 15-year term."

The article continues: "What's prompting the shift to shorter loans? Historically low interest rates for fixed-rate mortgages. Homeowners are doing the math and realizing that rates have fallen enough so the increase in payment between a new 15-year mortgage and their current loan is no longer unbearable for their budgets, says Bob Walters, chief economist at online lender Quicken Loans. The average rate on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.86% for the week ending Aug. 26, according to Freddie Mac's weekly survey of conforming mortgage rates."

More about mortgage loans in America: "The financial situation of those capable of refinancing today is a factor in the shift, Mr. Walters says. These people typically are homeowners with the best credit and the most equity -- and, therefore, most suited for a shorter-term loan. But there might be some other psychology at work. 'We're seeing a different view on debt than maybe we've seen in the past,' he says. Today, homeowners are saying, 'I really want to pay this off. I'm going to bite the bullet and take the payment and work toward paying this down.' A 15-year mortgage also acts as somewhat of a forced savings account for homeowners, says Leif Thomsen, chief executive of Mortgage Master, a privately owned lender, given that the higher payments help a borrower pay down the principal at a quicker clip."

The article continues: "Mr. Walters says you shouldn't take on a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage unless you have substantial savings, including at least a year's worth of living expenses in liquid accounts. Also, he recommends having a debt-to-income ratio below 35%. So if you have a gross salary of $5,700 per month, for instance, your monthly debt--including any mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, homeowners-association dues as well as auto and student loans and credit-card debt--would have to be a max of $1,995 to get a 35% ratio. Borrowers who don't meet those standards, or are worried about future loss of income, might be better served taking a longer-term mortgage but making extra payments on the principal to pay off the loan faster, says Mr. Walters."

To comment on "Paying Off The House In 15 Years" post, click here.

Nadra Enzi on Washington Marches

The moderate Republican in Savannah, Ga. has a dream of his own: "Y'all know I'm not the touchy-feely type but this weekend['s] events in DC (Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor verses Al Sharpton's counter) sparked yet another 'radical' notion: why not have a national, non-partisan event where liberal and conservative speakers can offer their ideas in the spirit of intellectual freedom and discourse."

He continues: "Taking this proposal to Black America, imagine an upcoming Million Man March whose platform includes members of Republicans for Black Empowerment; Project 21 or Frederick Douglas[s] Foundation seems more inclusive than limiting it to nationalists; liberals and others from that ideological spectrum. The opposite holds true for inviting NAACP; National Action Network and allied representatives to Black conservative functions to hash out differences. I write this as a man who loves fighting, but like the late Anwar Sadat, knows establishing fellowship beats perpetual conflict."

M. Enzi argues that the Left and Right must unite under a common purpose: "America can ill afford the shrill divide stretching her already frayed social fabric. Honest debate and shared projects seems a good way to attack persistent problems. That's a vision I've had for months. There isn't a Democratic way to suffer nor a Republican mode of misery. Citizens on all sides of the proverbial aisle are losing literally everything with multitudes more imperiled. The next Washington marches will hopefully unite Left and Right around whatever common ground they can achieve. Either that or we can continue lighting torches and scorching the ideological earth to our hearts content. It hasn't made things better but that's the challenge of this proposition, does each side really want to improve America or are they content to continue arguing?"

To comment on "Washington Marches" post, click here.

Blair Underwood Plays The President

From the executive producer of "24", we now have another TV show with a black president. "The Event", which is a conspiracy thriller, premieres on September 20 on NBC (hat tip: Constructive Feedback). The role of President Elias Martinez was originally meant for a non-black Hispanic actor, but fine-ass Blair Underwood apparently wowed the producers. They subsequently killed two birds with one stone changed the president to a first-generation Afro-Cuban out of Miami who is a Yale University graduate, baseball lover, and amateur chef and drummer. President Martinez "runs the first truly bipartisan administration in recent history", but apparently is clueless about a big conspiracy within his administration: 





It's a political thriller, and it features Blair Underwood and Candyman: of course, I'll be checking this show out. Will Eli Martinez (Blair Underwood) toe up against David Palmer (Dennis Haysbert) as the best TV black president in history? We'll find out.

To comment on "Blair Underwood Plays The President" post, click here.

Justice Malala: "Zuma Has A Fight On His Hands"

The South African center-right journalist says it's hard to find sympathy for South African President Jacob Zuma as his leftist allies turn on him: "This is, after all, the same man who sees no problem with his children and friends participating in dodgy 'black empowerment' deals, who supports a wicked campaign to gag the media, who appointed to the National Prosecuting Authority a man who is a danger to the judiciary and who destroyed the Scorpions investigative unit. The list is long. Zuma is easy pickings. He can say absolutely nothing when ANC Youth League president Julius Malema points out that he is turning this country into a hotbed of corruption through his silence when his children and cronies participate in BEE deals as transparently dodgy as the ArcelorMittal R9-billion transaction."

He continues his commentary: "Only a year into his presidency, Zuma's allies declare him the leader of a crony state. On Thursday, Cosatu [trade union federation] characterised South Africa as 'heading rapidly in the direction of a full-blown predator state in which a powerful, corrupt and demagogic elite of political hyenas increasingly controls the state as a vehicle for accumulation'. They are talking about the man they put in power only two years ago at the ANC's Polokwane national conference. What we have all known all along is becoming clear to Zuma's supporters: he was never the right man for the job."

More commentary from Mr. Malala, about South African politics: "Cosatu and the SA Communist Party are in a rut. They do not have a credible, viable and controllable Left alternative to Zuma. He was meant to be their useful idiot, a man they could control once he made it into the Union Buildings. Unfortunately, he has not come to the party, hence the unhappiness with him today. What can Zuma do to hold on to power? He has to choose between the youth league and the Left. The Left want him to choose them and, as the most organised formation in the tripartite alliance, they will pull out all the stops to return him to power. The Left's problem is that they have painted themselves into a corner. If they cannot extract promises from Zuma to accede to their demands on economic policy, then they have little room to manoeuvre."

To comment on "Zuma Has A Fight On His Hands" post, click here.

Governor Palin,Two Years Later

Adrienne Ross (pictured right) with Sarah Palin

On August 29, 2008, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) announced that his vice presidential running mate would be then-little-known Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. Adrienne Ross, a conservative Republican in New York, had her political views rocked by this event and writes: "Governor Palin's story speaks to me, as a woman, a message of never allowing gender to be a roadblock but a well of strength from which to draw. Her story speaks to me, an educator, of the potential within each life that dares to prepare, for as she says, open doors are defined simply as 'preparation meeting opportunity.' From one Christian to another, Governor Palin speaks to me a sermon, like those I've so often heard in church, of the 'suddenly' moments God grants us, how in the blink of an eye one can enter her destiny with an awareness that she was born 'for such a time as this.'"

She continues: "I love my country more today than I did before 'Sarah Palin Day' launched in Dayton, Ohio two years ago. I appreciate my freedom and those who sacrifice to protect it more than I ever did before that day. And like never before, I am committed to being a voice of common sense and righteousness, rather than embracing silent compliance to an anti-God, anti-American, damaging agenda that some would promote in the name of change. Governor Palin represents a willingness to speak truth despite the cost. She has unveiled and shattered in my mind the lie that it is somehow unthinkable and even unholy to call out others who are doing the unthinkable and the unholy. Many espouse the idea that one must sit idly by and do nothing rather than making some noise and rocking the boat. Not Governor Palin, and not I -- not anymore."

More: "While overcoming incredible odds, Governor Palin has managed to be an inspiration to people who had never been inspired previously to get involved. She's lifted candidates out of anonymity into the forefront. She has battled for the respectful treatment of those with special needs. She has stood in the gap for the most vulnerable of us all -- the unborn. She's been an advocate for those who selflessly serve our country. She has lifted her voice for fiscal sanity, limited government, and protecting our freedoms, our faith, and our Constitution. She has become a symbol for common sense, common decency, and the common man and woman."

To comment on "Governor Palin Two Years Later" post, click here.