12/31 Quote Of The Day

"Conservative groups are boycotting CPAC [Conservative Political Action Conference] this year because gay Republicans (GOProud) will be co-sponsors. I got some grief almost a year ago for engaging in dialogue with its Executive Director. Again I ask, if gay Republicans vote with us (and we DO need the votes) what’s the problem?" — Bob Parks, conservative Republican blogger in Virginia

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2010: The Rise Of The Black Center-Right

Over at The Daily Caller website, I've written a piece about how 2010 was a groundbreaking year for the black center-right around the globe: "However, 2010 was a notable year for the black center-right not just in the United States, but around the globe. The British House of Commons went from one to four Conservative Party black parliamentarians. Adam Afriyie won re-election, further increasing his party’s share. Lawyer Helen Grant, banker Sam Gyimah, and historian Kwasi Kwarteng won parliamentary seats in May’s election. John Abraham Godson recently became the first black member of Poland’s lower house of parliament, representing the ruling center-right Civic Platform Party. The Nigerian-born former teacher and Protestant pastor had previously served as a city councilman in Poland’s third largest city. Rama Yade, a pro-free-market centrist, regularly tops French opinion polls on politician popularity. Known as “La Rebelle” (The Rebel) due to her outspokenness, the former human rights minister last week was appointed France’s ambassador to UNESCO. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, a center-right parliamentarian and prominent pro-life advocate, was named Ghana’s best politician by Africa Watch magazine."

I interview an American, a Brit, and a Ghanaian about the issue: "Nevertheless, [Danquah Institute head Gabby Asare] Otchere-Darko said that Americans can learn from Ghana. 'What Americans can learn from Ghana’s center-right is how to win half of the black population to a center-right party!' said Otchere-Darko, a self-described libertarian-conservative. 'We have won elections and after the 2008 results, the country is virtually divided in the middle electorally. We have shown that even a poor, black nation can be persuaded to be center-right!'"

More: "[Urban conservatism advocate Akindele] Akinyemi believes that more game-changing years are to come, as the black center-right across borders increasingly joins forces to amplify their voices. 'The next game-changer will be to connect with others in the Diaspora with the urban conservative platform,' he says. 'It is imperative to engage and connect with those domestically and internationally who share the same values and influence in education, health, technology, family development and international policies.'"

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Joe Hicks: "Eric Holder Has Got To Go!"

The Pajamas TV host argues that it's time for the Obama administration to kick Attorney General Eric Holder to the curb. The conservative in California asserts that from the WikiLeaks situation to the New Black Panther Party voter intimidation case, Mr. Holder - a liberal Democrat - has been a paper tiger who doesn't seem to be doing his job. No embeddable video, but you can watch Mr. Hicks' two-minute video here.

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Why America Should Ride The Anti-Drug-War Wave

John McWhorter, a moderate-conservative commentator in New York, argues that legalizing drugs is the only path to a new Black America: "The end of the War on Drugs is, in fact, what all people genuinely concerned with black uplift should be focused on, which is why I am devoting my last TNR [The New Republic] post of 2010 to the issue. The black malaise in the U.S. is currently like a card house; the Drug War is a single card which, if pulled out, would collapse the whole thing. That is neither an exaggeration nor an oversimplification. It comes down to this: If there were no way to sell drugs on the street at a markup, then young black men who drift into this route would instead have to get legal work. They would. Those insisting that they would not have about as much faith in human persistence and ingenuity as those who thought women past their five-year welfare cap would wind up freezing on sidewalk grates."

He continues his commentary about ending the War On Drugs: "There would be a new black community in which all able-bodied men had legal work even in less well-off communities — i.e. what even poor black America was like before the '70s; this is no fantasy. Those who say that this could only happen with low-skill factory jobs available a bus ride away from all black neighborhoods would be, again, wrong. That explanation for black poverty is full of holes. Too many people of all colors of modest education manage to get by without taking a time machine to the 1940s, and after the War on Drugs black men would be no exception. And in this new black community, young black men, much less likely to wind up in prison cells or caskets, would be a constant presence — and thus stay in the lives of their children. The black male community would no longer include a massive segment of underskilled, drug-addicted ex-cons churning in and out by the thousands year after year, and thus black boys growing up in these communities would not see this life as a norm. They would grow up to get jobs, period."

More commentary from Mr. McWhorter: "And something else these boys would not grow up with is a bone-deep sense of the police — and thus whites — as an enemy. Because there would be no reason for the police to prowl through his neighborhood. Before long, the sense of blacks as America’s eternal poster children — generated from within the black community as well as from without — would fade away. Think about it."

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Aaron Laramore: "What's Up With So Many White Folks Raising Black Kids Who Have The Kids' Hair Looking A Hot Mess?!"

Angelina, learn to do Zahara's hair!

The moderate-conservative Republican blogger writes about something we've all silently shaken our heads at: "It makes me genuinely angry when I am out in public and I see a white family that is raising a black child and the child's hair is a hot mess. I had this experience again [yesterday] while shopping with the Hot Little Number at a local jewelers. A white couple came into the store with a black daughter, probably age 10 or 11. Her hair was nappy, unkempt, uncombed and altogether terrible looking.  A black family with any standard about personal appearance would NEVER allow their child in the street looking the way this young lady looked. Other black people observing such a child within a black family would regard them as trifling in the extreme for taking such poor care of the child's hair."

He continues his commentary: "I assume the white families I see like this love their children and want their children to of course look their best and always present their best face to the world. I also assume that as incredulous as it may seem, they simply don't know what or how to appropriately take care of a black child's hair and quite possibly live within a personal circle devoid of other black families who would be a resource to them in this regard or from which they would get a clue on the issue of hair care. You have to make that assumption when you see a black child out with their parents and their hair looks that atrocious, because there is no other way to reconcile it."

This Atlanta man learned to do his adopted daughter's hair

More: "It makes me angry at the parents, because I feel like they don't have a good excuse not to know better. This is especially true where middle class and affluent white parents are concerned. You see other black people and their children. You can buy a magazine like Ebony or Essence and look at the pictures and see black women and girls with attractively styled hair. You can investigate how to get your child's hair taken care of appropriately. There are white parents who have done this, so there is just not an excuse to be so neglectful in this area.  In some places, local stylists have taken a proactive approach to this issue and God bless them. There are resources out there to consult. White parents who have CHOSEN to raise a black child have no excuse to not be educated on this front."

Smiling because her hair is done right

Final thoughts: "Assuming this situation makes you feel the same way, how would you handle it, or if you did handle it, what did you do?   I need a protocol, a way to broach this issue with total strangers in public where my window is probably 120 seconds or less. Because I just cannot bear to fail another black child growing up in a caring, loving but clueless white family in this way."

Booker Rising response: Although I'd bet money that Angelina Jolie is an octoroon (I wish I could find that photo of her with her Creole-looking grandmother that I once came across), I still consider her a white woman. And yes, she has gotten much heat from black folks for how often she lets her adopted daughter Zahara's hair go around looking a hot mess. Style it in Afro-puffs, braid or twist her hair, comb out her 'fro, do something. That's why Zahara ain't ever smilin' in photos, 'cause she's thinkin', "Geez, Mommy, can you please learn how to do my hair?"

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Wanna Attend A Pre-Inauguration Event For Jennifer Carroll?

Jennifer Carroll will be inaugurated as Florida's lieutenant governor on Tuesday, January 4. Since she is Florida's first black person to hold the position, there are activities to honor the conservative Republican's achievement. Florida A&M University, a historically black university, and Lawson Associates will sponsor a black-tie reception in honor of Lt. Governor-Elect Jennifer Carroll on Sunday, Jan. 2, in Tallahassee, Fla. "This reception is an opportunity to welcome Mrs. Carroll to FAMU, the campus and the Tallahassee community,” “FAMU congratulates Mrs. Carroll on her historic election,” FAMU President James H. Ammons said in a statement. “It is a real honor to co-host this reception for Lt. Governor-Elect Jennifer Carroll, the first African-American woman to serve as lieutenant-governor for the state of Florida,” Alfred Lawson said. “This is such a historical affair. I am honored to be a part of this celebration.”

The event will be held in the Alfred Lawson Jr. Multipurpose Center and Teaching Gymnasium on FAMU's campus. The reception is open to the public and the doors will open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. For more information, call 850/222-1286.

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Nile Gardiner: "Forget The Liberal Hype About A Comeback. 2010 Was A Stunningly Bad Year For Obama"

The D.C.-based British conservative commentator lays out four reasons why it's the case: "1. The midterm elections were a defeat of epic proportions for the Obama Presidency

When Barack Obama spoke of a 'shellacking' at the midterms, it was a huge understatement. The Republicans scored a significantly bigger win than they did in 1994, with their biggest gain in the House of Representatives in 62 years – since 1948. Fortunately for the Democrats, just 37 Senate seats were up for election, preventing what would have been an almost certain handover of power in the upper house too. Republicans also made huge gains at the gubernatorial level, with the GOP now holding 29 governorships to the Democrats’ 20. Republicans also picked up 680 seats in state legislatures, the highest figure in the modern era."

2. Conservatism grew increasingly dominant in America

The midterms were certainly no flash in the pan, but part of a broader conservative revolution that swept America in 2010. As a recent Gallup survey showed, 48 percent of Americans now describe themselves as 'conservative', compared to 32 percent who call themselves 'moderate', and just 20 percent who call themselves 'liberal'. Conservatives now outnumber liberals by nearly 2.5 to 1, a ratio that is likely to increase in 2011. The percentage of Americans who are conservative has risen six points since 2006 and eight points since 1994."

He continues his commentary: "3. The Left lost ground and engaged in a brutal civil war

2010 was a monumentally bad year for the liberal establishment in the United States, not only in electoral terms but in terms of increasing divisions within its ranks, as well as the continuing decline of the “mainstream” liberal media. Conservative media, from Fox News to The Wall Street Journal, have had a tremendous year, increasing market share while establishment giants from CNN to network news outlets continue to decline. The White House unwisely took on Fox in a major offensive, and spectacularly lost."

More: "4. The Tea Party became more powerful than the president at the ballot box

The Tea Party was the big victor of 2010, and spectacularly humiliated the White House by running rings around it. A small grassroots movement with barely any resources evolved into the most successful US political movement of this generation, sparking a national protest against the Big Government policies of the Obama administration, and a powerful call for a return to America’s founding principles. The Tea Party was initially mocked and jeered by its political opponents, including the president, but later came to be feared by the Left as it flexed tremendous political muscle."

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Open Thread Friday

"Comme nous dire adieu à 2010, vous connaissez le refrain ici: le garder propre et civile, mais par ailleurs discuter de ce qui est sur votre esprit." That's what Rama Yade, the moderate French ambassador to UNESCO would say to roughly mean: "As we bid goodbye to 2010, y'all know the drill here at Booker Rising: stay in pocket, but otherwise discuss what you want."

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Alan Keyes on Political Ghostwriting

The conservative activist and America's Independent Party member writes: "An article at the csmonitor.com, bylined to Matthew Shaer, declares 'unofficially we’d estimate that 90 percent of the books published by politicians are heavily ghost written.' The article reports, for example that the bestselling work (Going Rogue) ascribed to Sarah Palin was mostly written by 'Lynn Vincent, senior writer for the conservative Christian publication World Magazine.' Shaer’s report offers the casual disclaimer 'not that there’s anything wrong with that.'"

He continues: "I can’t help but wonder, however, what it means for voters conscientious enough to read such books in order to inform themselves about candidates for political office. (I know that people often ask me whether I’ve read a book ascribed to  this or that political figure. I have to resist the temptation to respond that I’ll read their books whenever they get around to writing them.) If people base their choices wholly or partially on such ascribed works, they may be buying into a fiction. Unhappily for them, when such candidates win office with their support it['s] a roll of the dice as to whether the fictional mouthpiece has anything whatsoever to do with the person who’ll be making the decisions that use or abuse the powers of the office."

More: "Why should we easily assume that people who routinely don’t write for themselves will nonetheless think for themselves? I find that I can’t write or speak very well about anything I haven’t thought through. In a representative system of government, isn’t the thoughtful articulation and application of their views precisely the key service a representative is supposed to offer? If the performance of that service is just a pretense, doesn’t that make the whole business of representation sham? Can we seriously say that there’s nothing wrong with that?"

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12/30 FLASHBACK SONG: Seal, "Crazy" (1990)

Of course, this jam was an international hit for the British soul artist. "Crazy" hit #1 in the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland. It went #2 in Britain and Germany. The song was also a Top 10 hit in Australia, Austria, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, and USA:

Seal Crazy music video

ZANE42069 | Myspace Video

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CHIDIKE OKEEM COMMENTARY: Colorblind America: A Malignant Fallacy

The Nigerian-British conservative, who is a graduate student in California, argues that American conservatives' colorblind approach is wrong: "Indeed, race matters; however, two things happen when some conservatives propagate the wrongheaded, politically correct idea that race is obsolete. First, they make the road clear for liberal sophists to persuade people that race matters in all the places where it does not, and second, conservatives lose the ability to effectively challenge liberals on the caustic effects of their policies on minority communities. The message conservatives need to be advancing is that race matters vis-à-vis specific issues. By championing the fallacy of colorblindness, the conservative's authority to discuss race in the public sphere is inadvertently ceded to liberals."

He continues his commentary: "America is in the middle of an archipelagic war against a bloodthirsty ideology, thus it is preposterous to take off the table the very few advantages that the country can use. These advantages are that we know the religion that most terrorists belong to, and we know they are predominantly of Middle Eastern descent. Manifestly, the reason why people are so priggishly delicate about identifying conspicuous differences among humans that can help keep America safe is precisely because of this toxic colorblind rhetoric that has astonishingly become the political wisdom du jour. Because conservatives have adopted this left-wing idea, it becomes difficult to backtrack and suddenly take the position that race does matter regarding issues of national security. It's no wonder, then, that conservatives are woefully losing the racial and religious airport profiling debate."

More: "Additionally, we know that race matters in the area of crime. As the great yet criminally under-appreciated Heather Mac Donald from the Manhattan Institute has noted time and time again in her groundbreaking pieces on black criminality in the New York area, black crime rates are astronomical in relation to their rate in the population -- as well as in comparison to other races. Indisputably, it is the calculated liberal corrosion of the black family via progressive policies that caused the massive explosion of black criminality. Do you think conservatives should continue to unconcernedly sit back and pretend that race is a nonexistent phenomenon while liberals continue to promote policies that target, and thus disproportionately affect, specific races? I certainly hope not. Race also matters with abortion rates. When black people are registering around 40% of the country's abortions and only around 12% of the population, there is an undeniable problem that colorblindness doesn't help to fix -- especially when you consider Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger's dream of wiping out black people and that a vast majority of Planned Parenthoods are -- rather fortuitously -- located in black neighborhoods."

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Republican Chairman Michael Steele Confirms Pro-Life Views

Michael Steel

In an interview with the Susan B. Anthony List. From LifeNews.com, about the moderate-conservative Republican: "Steele said he wouldn’t do 'too much' differently in terms of his role as chairman in advocating pro-life issues and he defended his role in advocating the pro-life platform, saying that the GOP got away from pro-life principles in past elections before he took over as chairman. He said his role as chairman has ensured that Republican voters have their say in a primary with candidates of a differing perspective on abortion and that the party comes into play in the general election supporting GOP candidates that become the nominee."

The article continues about the RNC chairman: "Steele, the former Maryland Lt. Governor, is pro-life but raised eyebrows in the pro-life community in an interview with GQ, where Steele said he thought women have, according to the interviewer, a 'right to choose abortion.' In the new SBA List interview, Steele said he comes from a much different perspective on the pro-life issue because he was adopted and because his mother was on the way to having an abortion when she changed her mind and decided to put him up for adoption. 'Choose life means what God wants for you and the child,' Steele said, referring to Biblical concepts of respecting human life and how society needs to embrace 'the least among us' and protect 'the life in the womb.' Steele added that respect for life is a 'foundation of everything we hold dear in society.' He said abortion too frequently is 'distorted' when it comes up in the context of politics but said the party had a role to defend its platform calling for respect for the 'right to life.'"

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Are TV Dramas Pimping Obama Propaganda?

Aunjanue Ellis plays a no-nonsense boss on "The Mentalist"

Erik Rush, a conservative Republican commentator, asserts yes: "In order to to counter the perception of ineptitude that has come about associated with Obama and his lack of leadership skills, an effort seems to have been made to portray blacks in high places as competent leaders in dramatic roles. To be fair, some of these occurrences took place prior to Obama actually taking office, but a good case could be made that it was the intent of these organizations to prepare the American public for the leadership of a black individual via positive portrayals of black leaders. I would contend that America needed no such preparation, but that's another issue. The stronger argument exists in these concerned parties making their efforts in the face of Obama's subsequent plummeting popularity. In any case: Within the past two years, the producers of several popular police dramas have made wholesale replacements of Caucasian leadership figures with black characters.

• In Spring of 2009, CBS' 'NCIS' killed off the character in a supervisory role, a Caucasian female, and replaced her with a black male character.
  
• For more than eight seasons, the head honcho in 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' (also a CBS property) was a white actor, William Petersen (aka Gil Grissom). In 2009, he was written out of the show and the leadership role was taken over by Ray Langston, played by Laurence Fishburne.
  
• 'Castle' is an ABC Television comedy-drama that premiered in March of 2009. The white protagonist's boss is played by Ruben Santiago-Hudson (as Captain Roy Montgomery). Santiago-Hudson is black and Latino, as well as a 2009 NAACP Lifetime Achievement Theatre Award winner.
  
• In 'Fringe,' a Fox offering that premiered in fall of 2008 (just prior to the election), the director of the scientific and paranormally derived 'Fringe Division' of the FBI is played by Lance Reddick, a black actor once again, presiding over an almost exclusively white unit.
  
• In 'The Mentalist,' also by CBS, black actress Aunjanue Ellis plays Madeleine Hightower – the 'special agent in charge' of the California Bureau of Investigation

He continues his commentary about race and television: "Is there a problem with black Americans being portrayed in a positive light? Emphatically, no; in fact, one of the chief complaints conservatives have voiced is the lack of positive ethnic minority role models being offered in entertainment media. Nor should anyone take exception to accomplished blacks occupying leadership positions in any setting. What gives pause here is what appears to be a deliberately gratuitous presentation thereof, at a positively uncanny temporal juncture."

Booker Rising response: Or perhaps it reflects the actual racial diversification of America. As long and as often as white folks have played roles in Hollywood (even roles where the real-life person was not white), Mr. Rush is trippin' over a few black actors getting work? Let's not act as though there aren't real-life black supervisors....especially in government positions, all these roles portray. In an era where even America's real-life president is (half-)black, these aren't unrealistic portrayals. Also, given that "The Mentalist", "Castle", and "NCIS" are on the Top 25 list of shows that African-American viewers watch the most, perhaps those shows' producers wish to acknowledge a significant part of their audience.

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Cory Booker's Blizzard Tweets Get Glowing Media Coverage, But Some Newark Residents Aren't Impressed

From The Star-Ledger (New Jersey): "CNN ran a spot featuring Booker digging snow. Vanity Fair.com posted 'The 10 Most Valiant Snow-Rescue Tweets from Cory Booker.' Time.com called him a  'Blizzard Superhero.' But on the ground in Newark yesterday, law enforcement officials, city leaders and residents saw the mayor’s performance as more akin to a 'snowjob.' They blamed Booker for an incoherent and haphazard approach to plowing that left many residents of the state’s largest city stranded 48 hours after the snow had stopped. 'This was not an impressive performance by the city at all,' said North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos. Instead of tweeting, Ramos said, 'The mayor needs to be in a war room executing a cleanup plan.'"

More about the moderate-liberal Democrat: "As the mayor twittered, streets remained clogged and anger rose. 'It’s been a severe challenge for the city from what we can see,' said Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura. 'On the side streets, people still can’t get to where they need to go.' With 24 inches of snow, and 92 sanitation workers recently laid off, administration officials said they were doing the best they could. 'The City of Newark received a total snowfall of 24.2 inches, making the blizzard one of the worst in the city’s history,' said city spokeswoman Anne Torres. 'Despite this, all major thoroughfares were blacktop within 24 hours and dozens of trucks continue to work around the clock to ensure that all side streets are cleared.'"

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Obama's Cuba Problem

Armstrong Williams, a conservative Republican pundit in D.C., argues that the Obama administration tried to quietly release a recent declassified report on the current status of detainees formerly held at Guantanamo Bay: "Released quietly earlier this month, a memo written by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper reported that of the former detainees released or transferred to other nations, many have returned to a life of crimes against the world. Of the close to 600 detainees released to date, 13 percent are confirmed and another 12 percent are suspected of 'reengaging in terrorist or insurgent activities after transfer,' according to the report. Nearly one-quarter of these prisoners that we know about returned to terrorism. And we need to listen to the White House that they were held without cause or somehow unlawfully? Please."

He continues his commentary: "So what has the Obama White House done with this information? In classic form, they blamed their predecessor for the mess. Yet a closer look at detainees released since Obama took office shows five are either confirmed or suspected of returning to terrorist activities. If the president’s policies of closing Gitmo, no questions asked, had been implemented, heaven only knows what that could have led to."

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A Black Woman In A White Body

Teena Marie

Gregory Kane, a conservative Republican columnist in Baltimore, opines about the late Teena Marie: "Two days after Marie died, TV One rebroadcast one of its episodes of the show 'Unsung.' It was the one about the life of Marie, and it couldn’t have been timelier. One commentator noted that he’d never heard white music fans express any love for Marie’s music. Another said that at her concerts, the audience was usually around 70 percent black. So Marie probably did have many white, Asian and Latino fans, but most of her devotees were African-American. That made her unique among white musicians who were inspired by the African-American musical tradition."

He continues his commentary: "Elvis Presley straight-up jacked us for our music, then had the nerve to say that the only thing black folks could do for him was shine his shoes and buy his records (Remember the expression, 'White is seeing Elvis Presley make money doing what your cousin did better and for free 30 years earlier'?). British groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were much more respectful and much more appreciative of black American music. The Stones took the name of their group from an old Muddy Waters song. Before he died, John Lennon spoke often of the impact black American music had on his life."

More: "Presley, the Beatles and the Stones used black music as an inspiration to make rock and roll, but they still sounded white. Teena, God rest her soul, sounded like a sister straight out of the 'hood. Her songs sounded like pure soul music. She sounded black on her first album, 'Wild and Peaceful,' which Rick James produced. On the album 'Robbery,' which she produced, she sounded even blacker. 'Robbery' is, for me at least, appropriately named. That was the album where Lady T stole my heart, pretty much forever. Every song on the album is a winner, but none is more divine than 'Casanova Brown,' which, for my money, is the greatest soul ballad ever produced or sung by a female vocalist. I’ve judged every female soul or R&B singer who came after Marie by 'Casanova Brown,' using only one standard: Could those others have done 'Casanova Brown' better than Lady T? I’m sorry, but not one R&B songstress today can measure up. Not Mary J. Blige, who expressed her admiration of Lady T. Not Fantasia. Not Rihanna. Not Jennifer Hudson. And, sorry, Beyonce, not you either. And do any of those white songstresses who don’t sing R&B measure up to Lady T? Oh, please. The only black female singer who’s an equal of Teena Marie is Stephanie Mills, who’s my all-time favorite and who most certainly could, if she wanted to, croon one darned fine version of 'Casanova Brown.'"

Booker Rising response: Couldn't Teena Marie have simply been a white woman in a white body, who was being herself? Now, Teena Marie was pretty good. I'm a big fan of her music. But let's keep it real here: Jennifer Hudson beats her on the vocals front. She could remake "Casanova Brown". Is Mr. Kane forgetting Ms. Hudson's rendition of "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going"? Sorry, but Teena wouldn't have outdone Jennifer on that one. Fantasia, Mariah Carey, and Erykah Badu could do "Casanova Brown" well too. I wouldn't sleep on Kelly Clarkson or Joss Stone either. If any of the young white singers can do sista-esque vocal trills, it's them. I assume that Mr. Kane is putting ladies like Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan in a separate category, because they pre-date Teena Marie. However, Anita Baker ain't an equal of Teena Marie (I'd say she surpasses her)? Sade? Whitney Houston, pre-crackhead? Teena is a legend in her own right and crafted her own unique sound, but she ain't up there with Aretha, Patti, Chaka, and Anita. Let's not get carried away here....

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DEROY MURDOCK COMMENTARY: A HOT Tax, Light Bulbs And An End To The Edifice Complex

The libertarian Republican commentator offers three proposals for the incoming Congress: "Republicans should enact the Higher-Rate Optional Tax, which would satisfy liberals who don't like their taxes cut. 'I am in the highest tax bracket,' an unidentified woman said in a Nov. 30 MoveOn.org commercial that attacks the Obama-GOP tax-cut compromise. 'We don't need the money. The country does.' No American should be forced to accept an unwanted tax cut. So, the HOT Tax would require new language on IRS tax returns: 'If you believe your tax bracket is too low, please indicate the higher rate at which you prefer to be taxed. Multiply that rate by your Adjusted Gross Income. Send in that higher amount.' The HOT Tax would spare tax-cut opponents from accepting undesired tax relief. The rest of us can enjoy the lower taxes we need to pay our bills and take care of ourselves and our loved ones."

He continues his commentary: "Republicans should introduce a measure to require that federally funded projects and structures be christened according to the U.S. Postal Service's rules regarding personalities on stamps. If one must be dead for 10 years before gracing a stamp (save for deceased U.S. presidents, whose memorial stamps appear upon their first posthumous birthdays), one likewise should be lifeless for a decade before getting one's name slapped on a federally financed highway, bridge, or warship. Public facilities that honor living, even sitting politicians -- like South Carolina's James E. Clyburn Golf Center and Kentucky's Mitch McConnell Loop hiking trail -- belong in North Korea, not America. This is a bipartisan embarrassment, especially when unhinged Democrats like former Rep. Cynthia McKinney of Georgia and jailed Republicans like former Rep. Robert Ney of Ohio have seen their names pried off of public works after they disgraced themselves."

More: "Republicans should re-legalize Thomas Edison's light bulb. In one of his most shameful acts, Republican socialist G.W. Bush signed the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act. Among other things, this 822-page doorstop established new lighting regulations. According to the Federal Trade Commission: 'These standards, which begin in 2012, will eliminate low efficiency incandescent light bulbs from the market.' Americans already are hoarding Edison's light bulbs -- among mankind's greatest inventions and, alongside Neil Armstrong's Moonwalk, arguably the apotheosis of Yankee ingenuity. Washington, D.C. is killing these bulbs (and bulb-manufacturing jobs) to boost those swirly Compact Florescent Lamps. CFLs conserve energy. However, they brighten slowly, emit light that some find stark, confound dimmer switches, and release toxic mercury when they break."

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$5 Gas Predicted Under Obama -- What, No Pitchforks?

Larry Elder, a libertarian Republican commentator in California, writes: "Five dollars per gallon of gas by 2012! A former president of Shell Oil considers this likely. The average price on Christmas Day for a gallon of regular gas reached $3.28 in Los Angeles County, the highest price since October 2008. In one month, the price rose 13 cents, up 35 cents year to year. Where are the calls to sic Obama's Justice Department on Big Oil to hold the oil companies accountable for 'market manipulation'? Why aren't we hunting down the amoral 'oil speculators' responsible for repealing the law of supply-and-demand in order to line their pockets?"

He continues his commentary: "During President George W. Bush's administration, we constantly heard demands to hold the President accountable for 'Big Oil's price gouging.' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., just two years ago, knew exactly whom to blame for 'skyrocketing' oil prices: 'The price of oil is at the doorstep; $4-plus per gallon for oil is attributed to two oilmen in the White House and their protectors in the United States Senate.' In 2007, when the average national price ranged from $2.17 to $3.22, then-Sen. Barack Obama demanded that the Federal Trade Commission investigate Big Oil for 'price manipulation.' In 2008, presidential candidate Obama urged the Justice Department 'to open an investigation into whether energy traders have been engaged in illegal activities that have helped drive up the price of oil and food.' Obama also called for 'a windfall profits penalty on oil selling at or over $80 per barrel.' As of Christmas 2010, a barrel of oil sold at slightly above $90. What happened to the windfall profits tax? Yes, back then the average price per gallon was four bucks. But blaming 'oilman' Bush for high prices began when the average price was well below today's $3.05 national average."

More: "The silence over the recent price run-up is yet the latest example of left-wing hypocrisy. It was always about bludgeoning Bush rather than a sincere conviction that Big Oil was cheating. How else to explain the absence of demands for investigations? America could achieve 'energy independence' if producers were allowed to drill in Alaska, the lower 48 and offshore, where substantial amounts of untapped oil remain off-limits. Obama, who currently squanders hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars by 'investing' in alternative energy, possesses no more control over the law of supply-and-demand than did 'evil' Oilman Bush."

Discuss "$5 Gas Predicted Under Obama -- What, No Pitchforks?" post here.

Haley Barbour: Bookerista Perspectives

Bookeristas ain't done talking about the Mississippi governor's asinine, side-eyeing comments praising the 1960s-era White Citizens Council/Concerned Citizens Council/etc. just yet:

Crystal Wright: "Who's To Blame?" 

The conservative Republican blogger in D.C. writes: "Even though he’s tried to dance back from his comments, it’s hard to believe that Governor Barbour didn’t mean every word he said to the reporter. Call it 'insensitive' or simply a racist remark, the words are more befittingg [sic] of a bigoted redneck than an aspiring presidential candidate much less a governor. It’s also impossible to stomach his association past or possibly present with a group Judge Thurgood Marshall referred to as 'the uptown Klan,' while Governor Barbour called them 'town leaders.'"

She continues: "As a black conservative, I opine often how the party is held back by this backward, bigoted thinking. Recently, a young black Republican Congressional staffer said to me, 'the party’s establishment is controlled by old white men, many of whom would like to see the party stay that way and don’t even want women like Sarah Palin in positions of influence in the party, much less minorities.' He added, 'But they’re going to die off soon and that’s what we have to keep working toward.' Let’s hope so. In the meantime perhaps more GOP politicians like Barbour will eliminate themselves as potential GOP 2012 presidential candidates by sticking their foot in the mouths, leaving the party with more viable options."

Dennis Sanders: "....And Haley Barbour As Forrest Gump"

The moderate Republican blogger in Minnesota argues that too many white conservatives engage in a game of willful ignorance: "All too often, white conservatives take on a 'Forrest Gump' mentality when talking about race- which means, they live their lives ignoring the larger events taking place around them. In read[ing] some of the accounts of Barbour’s adolescence, which took place during the turbulent sixties, he tends to wax nostalgic about those days. Of course, that’s what older men of any age do - they remember the days of their youth with some fondness. But it’s a bit surprising that the racial issues never enter his consciousness, or if they did, he chose to ignore them."

More: "They way forward for Barbour and the GOP is not to engage in some kind of mea culpa tour and wearing sackcloth and ashes and saying how sorry he is. But I think folks like Barbour need to at least listen to the struggles of African Americans of that time period (and today) and at least acknowledge what happened and talk about a way forward that is inclusive. As Washington Post writer, Jonathan Capehart notes, ignoring the sentiments of 13 percent of the population is not going to get you elected President of the United States."

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12/29 Quote Of The Day

"My ongoing problem with No Labels is that I think it is another weak-willed effort to come up with some effort calling on politicians to be nice and nothing more. There is little talk of ideas that might be able to move the country forward. What I’d love to see is a true centrist ideology, along the lines that [Financial Times columnist Clive] Crook talks about or maybe the classical liberal model found in the Free Democrats in Germany or the Liberal Democrats in the UK. Yes, civility is important, but frankly I want bold ideas and people willing to back them up. I feel bad talking smack about a movement that is all about civility. But at the end of the day,  I also think that ideas count for something as well in a democratic society." — Dennis Sanders, moderate Republican blogger in Minnesota

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KEN BLACKWELL COMMENTARY: Tie Debt Ceiling Vote To Balanced Budget Amendment

The conservative Republican commentator writes: "While Reps. [Paul] Ryan and [Jack] Kingston appear to be on the right track in arguing Republicans should not give away a debt ceiling vote for free – here’s my modest proposal: Republicans should agree to raise the debt ceiling only if Democrats also agree to vote for a balanced budget amendment resolution. After all, extracting spending concessions would likely have a short-term impact -- but passing a balanced budget amendment would fundamentally address our nation's addiction to spending indefinitely. Frankly, there is nothing more important Republicans could do to actually fix the underlying problem with the deficit and the debt than to pass a balanced budget amendment and send it to the states for ratification."

He continues his commentary: "That's why I have agreed to serve as chairman for a new group, 'Balanced Budget Amendment Now' -- and Sen.-elect Mike Lee has graciously agreed to chair our Congressional Advisory Committee. Balanced Budget Amendment Now is preparing to launch an aggressive campaign to pass a balanced budget amendment by October 2011. A balanced budget amendment would require politicians to balance the budget each year, would limit spending to no more than 20 percent of the country’s GDP -- and would require a two-thirds supermajority vote in Congress to raise taxes. (Any Member of Congress could also bring a federal suit to enforce this article, 'when authorized to do so by a petition signed by one-third of the Members of either House of Congress.') Our effort will include building the infrastructure needed to enlist a minimum of 5,000 supporters in each Congressional district to urge their Members of Congress to vote for an amendment by October of 2011."

Discuss "Tie Debt Ceiling Vote To Balanced Budget Amendment" post here. 

Wilder's Slavery Museum Property Faces Possible Tax Sale

Doug Wilder

Things ain't looking good for former Virginia governor Doug Wilder's project, which was supposed to have opened by 2004 on land donated in 2002. From The Stafford County Sun, about the moderate Democrat and grandson of slaves: "Former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder could be on the verge of losing the 38-acre property in Fredericksburg where he had planned to build a slavery museum. Wilder's inactive U.S. National Slavery Museum has not paid real-estate taxes on its property for nearly two years and now faces a delinquent bill of $142,571.22, City Treasurer G.M. Haney said. If the taxes remain unpaid after Friday, the property would become eligible for a tax sale. However, it is unclear how quickly a sale could be scheduled."

The article continues: "Wilder has dodged questions about the museum and its tax bill for months, and he did not respond to an e-mail and a phone message left Dec. 21 at his office at Virginia Commonwealth University. In general, proceeds from a tax sale would go first to cover any outstanding taxes, plus penalties and other costs, and then to resolve any liens, such as a mortgage or claims by contractors. Any remaining money would go to the previous owner. The property would retain any covenants or restrictions that had been placed on it. In the case of the slavery museum property, restrictions limit its use to an African-American heritage museum of at least 125,000 square feet, or for 'charitable, educational or public purposes and related uses,' excluding drug counseling, medical procedures and other uses."

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Twitter, Snow And Politics: Newark Mayor Shows Online Smarts

From SearchEngineWatch.com, about the moderate-liberal Democrat: "The power of Twitter for politicians has been displayed during the blizzard that hit the Northeast United States this week. While New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has come under criticism for the poor response and his lack of empathy, the Newark Mayor Cory Booker has become a national figure through his effective use of Twitter as a communication tool during this storm. Booker's success - not in shoveling snow for his constituents but being accessible - has added another element all politicians will be scrambling to imitate. Newark, NJ, has a population of under 300,000, but Booker has over 1 million [Twitter] followers - compared to Bloomberg's 40,000 from the 8.4 million residents of NYC. Booker has a political base that many must be envying."

Mayor Booker has been out shoveling snow, delivering diapers and food, and whatnot during the blizzard...and using Twitter to connect with his constituents in real-time: "Booker's success is similar to businesses that have found the way to use Twitter. It is an intimate communication tool not a soap box to preach to people or point to public statements. No doubt this will be a story many politicians will be considering as the next election approaches or an event occurs in their area and they can get the people behind them."



Discuss "Twitter, Snow And Politics: Newark Mayor Shows Online Smarts" post here.

Has Chris Matthews Become A Birther In Denial?

Ah Lawd, I thought this birtherism mess was settling down. Tyrone, a conservative Republican blogger in Baltimore, writes: "Here's what happened. Hawaii just elected a new governor by name of Neil Ambercrombie. Mr. Ambercrombie's top priority doesn't appear to be Hawaii's economy or other major pressing issues that a governor faces after he or she is sworn in. Nah, Neil is more focused on proving to the people who question Obama's Hawaiian paternity that he was born in Hawaii and is U.S citizen. Obama's loyal supporters claim the birth issue has been put to rest, apparently Neil hasn't been brought up to speed yet."

Tyrone continues his commentary about birtherism: "I would think that after Chris listening to Governor Ambercrombie on the 'birther' issue, he would say that Governor Ambercrombie shouldn't prove anything to those who question Obama paternity. Chris claims he isn't a birther, yet he asked a very simple question that many of the so called birthers have been asking from day one. 'WHY HASN'T THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF DEMANDED THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS BE RELEASED'. Great question Chris."

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

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DEBATE: Did New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg Drop The Ball On The Snow Removal Front?

Mayor Bloomberg, a moderate, is feelin' the heat regarding his response to Snowpocalypse 2010. Elections have been lost in Chicago over lack of snow removal, so Streets & San here tries to stay on top of things. Streets & San workers in New York City deny that they're doing a work slowdown. Bookeristas weigh in on New York City's blizzard:

East 79th Street (Mayor Bloomberg's street) is clear

YES: Samuel Gonzalez: "New Yorkers Direct Ire At Mayor Bloomberg For Poor Handling Of Blizzard"

The conservative Republican blogger in New York City writes: "I [have] lived in New York 47 years. I’ve seen 20 inch blizzards before in this city. But, the response to this one that started on Sunday has been abysmal. I still haven’t seen a snow plow go down my block yet. Where the hell are the salt spreaders that used to blanket the streets hours before the arrival of snow? This time around there were no salt spreaders to be seen. I think Bloomberg decided to hold the salt the same way he wants food manufactures to reduce sodium in their products. Bloomberg, one of the most arrogant mayors this city has ever known, has really stepped in it this time! Perhaps it’s a blessing in disguise because the blowback from this bugling of snow removal has only just begun. And before it’s all over, Bloomberg will rue the day he forced a third term down our throats."

NO: Cory Booker Comes To Bloomberg's Aid

From Vanity Fair, about the moderate-liberal Democratic mayor of nearby Newark, N.J.: “Our mayor comes with great reluctance to ‘I feel your pain’ moments, calling to mind a Park Avenue dowager donning a sack cloth,' The New York Times’s Michael Powell observed in a must-read article titled, 'For a Snow-Crippled City, a Morsel of Humble Pie From the Mayor.'"

More: "Today, though, Twitter’s Cory Booker, the Newark mayor whose frostbitten heroism has all but assured his political canonization, came to Bloomberg’s rescue. 'People far 2 rough on @mikebloomberg - still fighting 2 clear snow in NWK & we are 1/29th size of NYC,' he wrote. If only Bloomberg’s street were not already plowed to perfection, Booker would surely have volunteered to safeguard the mayor in more tactile respects, too."

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ISAAC HAYES COMMENTARY: Chicago's Black Mayoral Candidates Should Follow Obama's Model

The conservative Republican pastor in Illinois writes: "Sadly, the retirement of Mayor Richard M. Daley has moved us back to the pre-Obama Chicago days. What happened? The idea of a 'consensus candidate' to avert a repeat of the Eugene Sawyer and Tim Evans divide of the Black vote. Not long after, Black coalitions began to meet to decide who their consensus candidate would be – Clergymen, Businessmen, Activists, and anybody else that wanted to appear significant. The end result was that no consensus was formed. The 'top three' Black candidates told the other hopefuls to step aside for the good of the community. Some of those who called for the 'ticket splitters' at the bottom to step aside later did so themselves. The so-called top three in an attempt to shore up the consensus designation have each made serious gaffes. Rev. James Meeks (now out of the race) opined that the term 'Minority' should apply only to Blacks. Congressman Danny Davis threatened former president Bill Clinton to not come to Chicago in support of Rahm Emmanuel [sic] or lose his relationship with the Black community. And Sen. Carol Moseley Braun accused a Chicago Sun-Times writer of racism."

He continues his commentary: "It is apparent that none of these three candidates recognize that we live in an Obamanized America. Despite his shellacking in November, the president remains the most admired man in America. Americans may not like his politics, but they like his ability to build coalitions across racial lines; and his commitment to racial reconciliation. Once the consensus conversation started, I predicted that no Black candidate would win."

More commentary from Mr. Hayes: "Chicago has a long way to go in race relations, but it is not what it used to be. Politically, the Black community is stuck in the 1960s and 70s. We have not adapted to the new political landscape that no longer survives by getting out your race to win. Chicago has become so diverse that whoever becomes Mayor cannot and will not win the election with the White, Black or Latino vote alone. This process and these candidates have all but ruined that possibility, and it won’t be because of White or Latino racists. It will be because the Black community made race the primary issue in this election."

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Michael Vick: Bookerista Perspectives

I see that Tucker Carlson done lost his mind (video here), with Side-Eye-Comment-Of-The-Day worthiness. Bookeristas weigh in on NFL quarterback and ex-felon Michael Vick:

Stephen A. Smith: "Hypocrisy Surrounds Michael Vick Haters"

Asserts the sports commentator and moderate: "Did Tucker Carlson, filling in for the vacationing Sean Hannity on Fox News Channel recently, really mean it when he said: 'Michael Vick killed dogs and he did it in a heartless and cruel way. I think personally he should’ve been executed for that?' Was he just so willing to engage in political hyperbole that he would stoop so low to use the Vick scandal to take a shot at President Barack Obama, who reportedly praised the Eagles just days ago for giving Vick a second chance? If so, was Carlson really being honest when he said he 'believes fervently in second chances?' Or, that he’s actually a 'Christian' for that matter?"

He continues his commentary: "Last time I checked, such rehabilitative measures [as Michael Vick has been doing post-conviction] personified not only the intent of America’s justice system, but the American Way – a characteristic that elevates us a notch above everyone else. It is a huge part of what makes us who we are. Hopefully, as our New Year’s resolution, we’ll focus on remembering the good in us all and not focus so much on just forgetting the bad. That would make 2011 truly special – and better. For us as a nation, more so than Vick himself."

DarkStar: "Vick, Obama & The Pro Bowl"

The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in Maryland writes: "President Obama talked with the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles and thanked the owner for giving Michael Vick a second chance. Many people are losing their minds over the President's comments. Michael Vick was voted to the Pro Bowl as a starter and is second only to Bradey in vote count. The voters for the Pro Bowl is a combination of NFL fans, NFL players, and NFL coaches. According to the NFL blog, Michael Vick was second to only Tom Brady. Michael Vick received 1,522,437 votes from fans. Let me repeat that: Michael Vick received 1,522,437 votes from fans. What do the detractors say now?"

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Tebow: Everything In Between

Tim Tebow

J.B. White, a moderate-conservative Republican blogger in Florida, writes about the Denver Broncos quarterback: "Honestly, I have never wanted a pro football player to prove so many idiots wrong as I want Tim Tebow to do so. No one even comes close. I've never seen an elite white athlete so critiqued or mistaken for big and slow, as opposed to big and athletic, nor have his intelligence so casually impugned."

He continues: "I don't want Tim to succeed to spite people, nor do I want him to be a success simply because he's a homeboy or a Fightin' Florida Gator. Nor do I want him to succeed simply because he's trying to walk the straight and narrow as a Christian. It is the sum of all of these things, I suppose, but at the top of the list is certainly his incredible struggle to lead by example as a 21st century Christian. Not overbearing, nor apologetic, yet certainly in and of this world, and certainly engaged in the struggle to emulate Christian values."

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Ejike Okpa: "The Welfare Mentality Among Africans Must End"

The Nigerian-born businessman in Texas wants to see more organic management and developing of human capital in Africa: "Until one is invested in an effort devoted to making them [Africans] whole and attendant to their issues, they are basically welfare stakeholders. We are not lost on what welfare programs did to the mentality of African-Americans in US. Somehow by extension, Africans have bought into that. How can it be that one is not encouraged to fend for themselves instead they are encouraged to stretch their arms for alms? When Africans ask 'white' donors for something, who gave the 'white' folks what they have? God? I don't think so. But as we use the Bible to suit man's imposition on another, some see their role as 'Manifest Destiny', Ordained and or Anointed."

He continues his commentary: "Why must it always be Africa at the receiving end of what I consider 'Greek' gifts? My mom said to me that if I ever begged anyone for something, she would literally cut off my hands so that she take comfort knowing I don't have any hands. The lesson is that one must strive against all odds to overcome their situation and in turn prevail. The attendant benefit/result is pride and immeasurable self confidence. No doubt, we all need help. But when giving help is part of media strive to paint Africans as less capable and dependent, it becomes something genuine persons must stop. Africans have allowed themselves to be misled thinking the trickle-in resources that comes from the West is a solution. It has never been and will never elevate the condition. Since Africans have been interacting with the West and the world, how come approaches used seems not to be making any positive difference?"

More commentary from Mr. Okpa: "Deception: Making hapless people believe their salvation comes from those that once enslaved and colonized, using 'guilt' and hardly genuine sense to elevate them, only goes to deepen the condition. A people must be conscious of what they receive and how they receive such. Africans seem not to mind. If not, how come after independence, many African countries are still largely dependent? There is no university in the world an African has not attended. If that is the case, how come the educated African act less and despondent even when s/he may have graduated on top of their class? My take: They lack confidence and always believe until some 'white' folk bless their undertakings, they are not making progress. Until the West and their allies take a firm stand on 'stolen' monies from Africa that are stashed in their institutions and repatriate those to the receptive countries to address and assist social programs and issues, all the 'Daniel Come to Justice' solutions are a wash."

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D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty Builds To The End

D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty

The moderate commentator in D.C. discusses outgoing Mayor Adrian Fenty, who lost his re-election bid in the Democratic primary: "During his four years, Fenty outpaced other DC mayors: homicides at historic low, closures up; more homeless persons in permanent housing; more improved neighborhood facilities; an increase in D.C. Public Schools population and improved student tests scores. Fenty went after slum landlords. He closed used car lots that caused blight in some neighborhoods. And stopped unsavory businesses from ripping off black churches and poor residents. His administration bolstered United Medical Center, the only hospital serving residents east of the Anacostia River. He also jump-started economic development projects that had languished for years."

Ms. Barras continues her commentary: "Truth be told, the government was transformed and District residents were better served because of Fenty’s aggressiveness and unrelenting drive. In the process, he also made the city a hip, cool place to live. The Census reported at least 30,000 people became District residents — many in the last four years. 'This is a fantastic endorsement of the work we’ve done.' he said. Fenty may have lost his battle for second term. But I suspect history will record that he actually won the war."

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James Shikwati: "Kenyans, Learn More About Our Ethnic Groups"

The libertarian director of the Inter-Region Economic Network (Kenya) that Kenya's new constitution presents opportunity: "The 21st Century Kenya, and by extension Africa, must urgently move away from the framing of ethnic groups as mere vehicles of conflict to those of opportunity. Colonisers tapped into our ethnic differences to dominate us and politicians inherited a similar strategy to dominate the people. It is up to the people now to reverse this approach. Fighting over what is known to be of value; for example, land, government contracts and jobs has limited our perception on the immense positive potential offered by our ethnic differences. Ethnic differences have value in foods, music, history, culture and tradition among others. Kenyans appear to know more about European and American history and less about themselves and their neighbours. Lack of knowledge about us is a big threat to the future of this country and the continent."

Mr. Shikwati continues his commentary about multiculturalism: "It is possible that the dearth of leadership on the continent is a consequence of little knowledge about the people and their history. Choosing to ignore African people’s history and overreliance on history as recorded by conquering civilisations will make it difficult for Africa to launch effectively into the next millennia. Away from the distorted Western recorded history of various ethnic communities in Kenya and Africa, travel can help one unearth rich history and wisdom of a people. Supposing Kenya’s 42 ethnic communities ventured to play host to each other and taught each other their history, what will be the outcome? Bad memories perhaps..., but on a positive note; it will unleash billions of shillings in tourism cash and the much sought after national cohesion."

More: "Kenyans should tap from the new constitutional dispensation that created Counties to create positive brands that will unleash the huge potential offered by domestic tourism. One can imagine what the Wanga cultural history can offer to Luhyas alone even before such a community marketed its historical value to all 42 ethnic groups of Kenya. Going on holiday need not necessarily entail going out to watch elephants and swimming in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean; get to know the ethnic groups of your country. Let us transform ethnic communities into vehicles to deliver prosperity as opposed to simply manipulating them to drive short term political interests. Current and aspiring leaders in Kenya and Africa should take time to learn the history of the people they want to lead. Connect ethnic dots for us to be a prosperous nation."

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Austerity Cuts In Europe: Bookerista Perspectives

Thomas Sowell: "Promises And Riots"

The conservative economist in California opines: "We are currently seeing what happens, in fierce riots raging in various countries in Europe, when the money runs out and the brutal truth is finally revealed, that there is no free lunch. You cannot have generous welfare state laws that allow people to retire on government pensions while they are in their 50s, in an era when most people live decades longer. In the United States, that kind of generosity exists mostly for members of state government employees' unions -- which is why some states are running out of money, and why the Obama administration is bailing them out, in the name of 'stimulus.'"

He continues his commentary: "Once you buy the idea that the government should be a sort of year-around Santa Claus, you have bought the kinds of consequences that follow. The results are not pretty, as we can see on TV, in pictures of rioters in the streets, smashing and burning the property of innocent people, who had nothing to do with giving them unrealistic hopes of living off somebody else, or with the inevitable disappointing of those hopes with cutbacks on the giveaways. Nothing is easier for politicians than to play Santa Claus by promising benefits, without mentioning the costs -- or lying about the costs and leaving it to future governments to figure out what to do when the money runs out."

Constructive Feedback: "The UK Economy Is 'Sicko'"

The conservative blogger in Georgia writes: "If some people have their way the social contract relationship between the American government and the people would model that which is the case in Britain. During the health care debate in America both France and the UK were sold as countries that have evolved into a level of social welfare consciousness that America should one day hope to become. The truth is now before us."

Constructive Feedback continues his commentary about Britain's economy: "The government of Britain plans to eliminate up to 500,000 jobs and enact massive cuts to its social welfare system. They must execute these cuts or suffer the threat of insolvency of their entire system. I don't expect the 'confiscators' in America to allow this real world evidence to serve as proof of the need to moderate their views, changing into a strategy for 'competency development' at the periphery. In truth they too are 'capitalists'. They exploit the system that is around them no different than what is true with corporate capitalists. The only option is to continue to provide the evidence and allow people of conscious to see that this is the only option."

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12/28 Quote Of The Day

There have been 50 million abortions performed in the United States since 1973. But, Liberals are okay with this American Holocaust because the rights of women to feel 'empowered' to kill a baby trumps the rights of the unborn child. Liberals are more willing to extend non-existing rights to an illegal immigrant that [comes to America] than [they] are to the unborn. Something is very wrong with this picture. And something is very wrong with Liberalism." — Samuel Gonzalez, conservative Republican blogger in New York City

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Black RNC Members Not Backing Michael Steele

The black RNC members are some of his biggest critics. From Roll Call, about the troubled moderate-conservative Republican chair of the Republican National Committee: "The chairman may be looking for new allies. Yet even the two black members of the RNC — out of 168 total members — have never rallied around Steele. Fisher, a retired physician, and Glenn McCall, a retired banker who serves as the committeeman from South Carolina, both supported [former South Carolina GOP chairman Katon] Dawson for chairman of the RNC on all six ballots in 2009. Dawson, who was criticized for his former membership in a club that didn't allow African-Americans, finished second to Steele. Fellow black Committeeman Keith Butler from Michigan, who has since left the committee, supported former Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis. Now, as he runs for re-election, Steele is the only non-white candidate who has declared for the chairman's race. Anuzis, Wisconsin GOP Chairman Reince Priebus, former Missouri GOP Chairwoman Ann Wagner, former Republican National Convention CEO Maria Cino and former RNC Political Director Gentry Collins have all thrown their hats into the ring."

The article continues: "Neither Fisher nor McCall has committed to an RNC candidate this time, but Fisher said she has already decided not to support Steele. 'I'm not only not supporting him, I'm not supporting any of his lieutenants, which includes Collins and Priebus,' she told Roll Call. Collins served as RNC political director under Steele, and Priebus served as general counsel. Both have resigned those roles since the election. Fisher also said she won't support Anuzis. The committeewoman's beef with Steele has nothing to do with his race, though. She said she didn't support him in the 2009 race because she felt he didn't have the same experience and detailed proposals Dawson did. Since then, Steele hasn't won her over. She said she hopes the new chairman will bring 'competence, transparency and accountability' to the committee."

More: "McCall, who said he was the first black committeeman elected from the South, hasn't ruled out supporting Steele in January. 'I haven't made up my mind,' he told Roll Call. 'I'm getting feedback from grass-roots activists in the state and also our elected officials, and if I just went purely on that, it would say he's not the person the grass-roots activists want here in South Carolina.' McCall said he's looking for a candidate who can engage major donors and assemble a strong, loyal staff. He said he supported Dawson in 2009 because he had a record of winning in South Carolina, something he felt Steele and Anuzis didn't have. Like Fisher, he felt those who worked for Steele should have done a better job of informing members of the executive committee when fundraising was going badly."

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Herman Cain Touts Underdog Bid For White House

From The Hill, about the conservative Republican businessman and talk-radio host: "By his count, Cain has visited Iowa six times in the past year and has supporters making calls to key activists in the state. He's also made three trips to New Hampshire, one to South Carolina, four to Texas and two to Florida. In an interview, the one-time Senate candidate and former CEO of Godfather's Pizza told The Ballot Box that he's serious about running and thinks he can shake up the race for the 2012 GOP nomination."  

The article continues about Mr. Cain's possible presidential bid: "Cain will form an exploratory committee early in 2011, but doesn't expect to make an official decision on a run until "several months into the new year." What's currently preventing those outside of conservative activist circles from taking Cain seriously — he's never held elected office of any kind and his only experience as a candidate is a loss in the 2004 Georgia Republican Senate primary. Still, Cain would undoubtedly have the attention of the grassroots should he run, and he could translate his sizable social media presence and popularity among Tea Party activists into some attention and enthusiasm for his candidacy."

More: "Some GOP operatives in Iowa warn not discount Cain too quickly. Several told The Ballot Box they think he has the profile to make some real noise in the state's caucuses, including Republican strategist Bob Haus, who said Republicans would be foolish to dismiss Cain's combination of 'managerial experience' and 'dynamic speaking ability. 'I don't think there's any doubt he could have a major impact here if he catches on,' said Haus.

Will the upcoming CPAC serve as Mr. Cain's presidential debut? "February's Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) could serve as a launching pad of sorts for Cain. He's set to speak at the event and said he'll likely take part in the much-buzzed-about CPAC presidential straw poll. 'There is no clear frontrunner in this field right now,' he said. 'That opens the door for a lot of candidates. The more, the merrier, to me.'"

A bookerista responds: Craig Bardo, a conservative Republican blogger in Nashville, likes a Cain presidential bid: "No one is perfect and I don't expect Herman Cain to be but he comes closer to my thinking than the politicians who seem to be lining up for consideration. He has a plan that includes spending cuts, reducing regulation and tax simplification. One concern is that he is a former Fed Board governor and may support Bernanke as he supported TARP. I don't know the answer but this far out, he has my support until I see something different."

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