Thanks to past donors for being such an important influence on my blog's program in the past!
I normally hold Booker Rising's second fundraising drive of the year in November. However, I'd like to unveil a redesigned blog on January 1, 2012 for next year's election cycle. To enable me to have enough time in which to raise the necessary funds and give the web designer sufficient time to redesign the blog by the end of the year, I've pushed up the second fundraising campaign up a few weeks.
This year, Booker Rising celebrated its 7th birthday. The blog was last redesigned (its first design) in 2008. Of course, a web redesign costs money. To redesign the blog in the way that I'd like to redesign it, the cost is $2,500. Since I already have some advertising money and money from the fundraising drive earlier this year, that leaves $1,700 left to raise.
Booker Rising is the only one-stop source on the Internet to stay updated on the global black center-right, from America to Zimbabwe. It's the go-to source for black center-right news, amid a vast sea of black center-left news sources. If only 85 of my readers contribute $20, then the blog redesign can get underway (and the earlier that I can provide donors with a "sneak peek" at the redesign).
If you appreciate the work of Booker Rising and would like to see it meet its fundraising and redesign goals, you can donate by clicking on the "Donate" button at the top of the blog. You can donate through PayPal, if you have an account. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can donate using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or Echeck. I should note that contributions are not tax-deductible.
Want Booker Rising To Expand?
Democrats Ask For Investigation Into Clarence Thomas
From CBS News, about the conservative Republican jurist: "Twenty House Democrats on Thursday asked for a federal investigation into Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' failure to disclose his wife's income, charging that he may have violated the court's ethics rules. In a letter to the arm of the court system responsible for overseeing judicial practices, the lawmakers called into question Thomas' impartiality toward President Obama's health care overhaul, just as the landmark legislation is headed to the top court."
The article continues: "Rep. Louise Slaughter of New York and her colleagues assert that Thomas has not complied with disclosure rules under the Ethics in Government Act and asks the Judicial Conference, a group comprised of judges that sets administrative policy for the courts, to refer the issue to the Justice Department for an investigation. The letter specifically charges Thomas failed to report nearly $700,000 of income earned by his wife, Virginia Thomas, for her work for the conservative Heritage Foundation from 2003 to 2007."
More: "Thomas isn't the only judge who's impartiality on health care reform has been called into question. Last year, during Elena Kagan's confirmation hearings, Republicans said they were concerned about her bias, since she served as the White House's solicitor general when the reforms were crafted."
PETER KIRSANOW OP-ED: President Obama & 'Soft' America
The member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and conservative Republican in Ohio opines: "So President Obama thinks America has gotten 'a little soft' and that we’ve lost our competitive edge. As Jonah [Goldberg] notes [elsewhere], it’s apparently lost on the president that the logical consequences of many of his policies would reduce more Americans to dependence and indolence."
He contines his commentary: "There is a soft America and a tough America; a dependent America and an independent America; an entitlement America and a productive America. Which policies are more likely to produce a soft, dependent, and entitlement society? Which ones are more likely to produce a tough, independent, and productive society? The president seems blissfully unaware."
More commentary from Mr. Kirsanow: "The Obama brand of liberalism not only is likely to contribute to a 'softer' America, but a soft-headed America as well. We condemn tea-partiers and veterans as racists and potential terrorists but we release actual terrorists from Guantanamo because the evident cruelties of that country-club facility are too terrible to bear. We demonize the hard-won, self-made success of risk-takers, but shovel millions of their hard-earned dollars to prop up the uncompetitive but politically correct enterprises of the well-connected. Government policies proliferate that punish effort, risk, and success but reward sloth, identity, and failure."
USA: Are Blacks Surging In Computer Science?
From MySciNet (hat tip: theGrio.com): "A report released last week by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) found that first-time enrollment in science graduate programs increased last fall even as graduate enrollment across all disciplines -- including nonscientific ones -- dropped slightly. But the study's most intriguing number was hidden beneath the headlines: 33.6%. That's the reported percent increase, between the fall semesters of 2009 and 2010, in the number of black and African-American students entering math and computer science graduate programs.
More about blacks and computer science: "Despite the substantial uptick, the number remained small: just 981. 'We're looking at fewer than 1000 students total,' says Nathan Bell, director of research and analysis for CGS. 'It doesn't take a lot of gain numerically to result in a large percentage increase.' Still, that's an extraordinary increase, he says. 'It is a big jump among a small number of students.' Such a large percentage change, he says, is unlikely to be random."
Why Herman Cain Could Be A Game Changer
Jay Cost over at the conservative Weekly Standard argues that it's time for change within both Republican Party politics and black polities: "And Cain is right – there is potential for Republicans among African Americans, at least in theory. White conservatives overwhelmingly vote Republican, but black conservatives do not. According to the American National Elections Study, John Kerry won about 90 percent of the black conservative vote. White moderates usually split their votes between the two parties, according to the study, but black moderates do not. Again, Kerry won better than 90 percent. By granting left wing demagogues complete freedom to mischaracterize conservative Republicanism to the black community, the party consistently loses black conservatives and moderates who might otherwise consider the GOP. This, in turn, helps prevent the big policy breakthroughs the GOP hasn't seen for a generation."
Moseley Braun Hasn't Accounted For Campaign Cash
From NBC Chicago, about the liberal Democrat: "Former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley Braun has failed to file documentation on how her unsuccessful 2011 mayoral campaign spent $315,000. State officials have twice asked Moseley Braun to detail campaign expenditures, something required by state law. But, according to a top official with the Illinois Board of Elections, Moseley Braun has not yet responded."
The article states that all the other candidates -- including the no-name, long-shot candidates were able to do their reports right: "'For someone running for mayor, this is probably the worst report I’ve seen,' said David Morrison of campaign finance records the Moseley Braun campaign filed in April. Morrison is deputy director of the non-partisan watchdog group Illinois Campaign for Political Reform. 'The basic idea here is that the public has a right to know where the money is coming from and where it is going,' he said."
Open Thread Friday
Chillin' with your friends this weekend? Becoming one with the environment? Tell us all about it. Just stay within my blog's rules.
J.J. Omojuwa on Nigeria's 20/2020 Plan
The Nigerian libertarian argues that his country's quest to become a Top 20 economy by 2020 will be a herculean task: "The United Nation’s 2010 Human Development Report shows Nigeria ranked as the world’s 28th poorest country. This means that Nigerians are poor people irrespective of what our oil earnings say. This ranking is about the Gross Domestic Product. If this does not change, our vision of top 20 would become a reality that’d only stand with the worst nightmares. This will not change until we diversify the economy and get people engaged with the production of goods and services. People must be productive and earn income even as the country earns taxes from their efforts and from exports."
He continues his commentary about Nigeria: "One other reality that places our 202020 vision on the same plate as wishful thoughts is the Economic Freedom Index. No country prospers without investment from abroad. Investors will not invest in an economy rated as 'MOSTLY UNFREE' in the 2011 Index of Economic Freedom. The likes of Botswana and Cape Verde will continue to get preferences from foreign investors as long as the Nigerian government continues to stifle free market tendencies. The reality of being ranked at 111 in a ranking of 179 countries is that realistically speaking we will be the 111th preferred country of investment if investors care about the freedom of taking decisions that’d help their investment without looking behind to see if government’s hammer will be dropped on their activities at the whim of influential oligarchs and their likes."
Constructive Feedback: "Why Is The Now-Executed, Convicted Murderer Troy Davis More Important Than The Black Murder Victims That We Get Every 1.5 Days?"
The conservative blogger in Georgia argues that self-proclaimed black leaders have misplaced priorities: "Was the NAACP's Georgia leader talking about the TWO DECOMPOSING, DISCARDED DEAD BLACK BODIES FOUND IN ATLANTA IN THE PAST 24 HOURS? (Separate incidents) NO!!!!! He was talking about the state execution of Troy Davis."
He continues his commentary about the disparity in focus: "At this point in time there are two ships passing in the night WITHIN the Black community which do not align with each other in the real world. The basic credibility and integrity of the forces that PURPORT to represent the interests of the Black community is on trial. They believe that the large crowd of Black people standing behind them in the rally provides them with all of the credibility that they need. In truth it shows the power of BIGOTRY as these forces work to remain unified behind the power of OUTWARD INDICTMENT. As the Georgia NAACP opens its state conference with the vow to end the murder of Black people BY the state - they carefully walk by the issue of the the murders of Black people WITHIN the state."
Santorum: "Cain's 9-9-9 Tax Plan Is A Big Mistake"
From the Washington Examiner: "On the Laura Ingraham radio show yesterday, Rick Santorum criticized Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan, calling it a 'huge mistake.' The plan would would eliminate capital gains taxes, the payroll tax and the estate tax and replace it with a 9 percent business tax, 9 percent income tax, and a 9 percent national sales tax. Santorum warned that the plan, 'brings a national sales tax to the federal government, and that is a huge mistake,' he said, reminding listeners Congress would have the power to raise those taxes in the future."
Larry Elder: "Supreme Court Might Kill ObamaCare Before Election -- If Obama Is Lucky"
Asserts the libertarian-conservative Republican commentator in California: "So how would a Supreme Court defeat make Obama lucky in his bid for a second term? ObamaCare remains unpopular, with a plurality of Americans wanting it repealed. Unlike major historic safety-net legislation like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, ObamaCare received no opposition party Senate votes -- none. A majority of state attorneys general either filed or joined lawsuits to overturn the mandate that requires practically all Americans to purchase health insurance."
The article continues: "Two-thirds of doctors, according to Investors Business Daily polls, 'oppose' ObamaCare and predict lower-quality health care. A poll by the consulting firm McKinsey & Co. finds that nearly one-third of businesses plan to drop heath insurance for their employees after 2014, when much of ObamaCare goes into effect. True, the American Medical Association supports ObamaCare. But only 17 percent of doctors belong to the organization, and many dropped their membership because of AMA's support of ObamaCare. Americans consistently rank physicians among the most respected of professionals. Yet the President, a man with virtually no private-sector experience, arrogantly ignores doctors' objections."
More: "Obama, as with his fight to end Bush-era tax rates for the 'rich,' will also lose this battle -- if he is lucky. A Supreme Court rejection of the ObamaCare mandate would immediately boost the economy and, by extension, Obama's prospect for re-election. How ironic."
Blog Redesign Fundraising Drive
Thanks to past donors for being such an important influence on my blog's program in the past!
I nomally hold Booker Rising's second fundraising drive of the year in November. However, I'd like to unveil a redesigned blog on January 1, 2012 for next year's election cycle. To enable me to have enough time in which to raise the necessary funds and give the web designer sufficient time to redesign the blog by the end of the year, I've pushed up the second fundraising campaign up a few weeks.
This year, Booker Rising celebrated its 7th birthday. The blog was last redesigned (its first design) in 2008. Of course, a web redesign costs money. To redesign the blog in the way that I'd like to redesign it, the cost is $2,500. Since I already have some advertising money and money from the fundraising drive earlier this year, that leaves $1,700 left to raise.
Booker Rising is the only one-stop source on the Internet to stay updated on the global black center-right, from America to Zimbabwe. It's the go-to source for black center-right news, amid a vast sea of black center-left news sources. If only 85 of my readers contribute $20, then the blog redesign can get underway (and the earlier that I can provide donors with a "sneak peek" at the redesign).
If you appreciate the work of Booker Rising and would like to see it meet its fundraising and redesign goals, you can donate by clicking on the "Donate" button at the top of the blog. You can donate through PayPal, if you have an account. If you don't have a PayPal account, you can donate using Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, or Echeck. I should note that contributions are not tax-deductible.
Maria on "The X Factor"
The conservative blogger writes: "Tell me, X-Factor. What’s your plan? Will you keep me tuned in? I had to dump American Idol mid-season. The effusive shenanigans got to be too much. Yet another crash and burn death by liberal choke-hold, in my living room at least. So! What about you, X-Factor? So far? Me likey long time...well a week, which is long in liberal-run television time. But quite frankly I expect you to disappoint me, like so many others before."
She continues her commentary: "Obviously, Simon, I get that you have to tread a bit more carefully with the television viewing audience. I see you taking your time, I get it. You don’t want to turn people off too quickly, the majority of American viewers are a bit thin-skinned. Can’t be your old brash-meanie self too soon. But don’t be too deluded-contestant friendly. This ain’t American-hug-a-loser-Idol. Don’t go shooting yourself in the foot. More mean, less encouragement, thanks! Oh and I like that L.A. Reid is also playing the reality check role for contestants. I get that he is the occasional bad cop to Simon’s Cowell’s good cop. Nicely played. However, if that’s to be L.A.’s role, I’m gonna need to see a little more consistency in his leanings. For the most part, I like who he likes and dislike who he doesn’t. But occasionally L.A. gets a little too excited about some of the long-shots for my taste."
Faye Anderson: "Don't Blame Black Voters For The Democrats' Loss In The 2010 Midterm Election"
Asserts the moderate-liberal blogger in Pennsylvania: "As day follows night, black voters are blamed when Democrats lose an election. The 2010 midterm election was no exception. Election after election, reports show African Americans turn out on Election Day. Democrats’ problem is with white Democrats who don’t show up or white independent voters who abandon them as they did in 2010."
She continues her commentary: "The U.S. Census Bureau reports African Americans increased their share of the electorate, from 11 percent in 2006 (the last midterm election) to 12 percent in 2010. It is noted that black turnout was 'not statistically different from the record high in 1998.' In 2010, the overall turnout rate was 45.5 percent. White turnout was 46.7 percent compared to 43.5 percent for blacks. There was a gender gap in black voter participation. Black female turnout was 43.5 percent. For black men, the turnout rate was 37.2 percent."
Kim Kardashian Defends Her Work In Black Community
Kim Kardashian's hater -- who is featured on the new reality show "H8R" -- also doesn't like Kim K.'s body. From People (hat tip: theGrio.com): "Among Deena's reasons for disliking Kim is her claim that the Kardashians don't do enough to help the African-American community. In an exclusive clip of the episode, Kim tells Deena that she's mistaken, and explains what the Kardashians have done to give back. 'You didn't hear about [going to] New Orleans, or building the homes or meeting this family,' Kim says. 'Or going to Africa – we're filming in Africa. This season I've been to Africa three times.' Did Kim win Deena over? Perhaps. 'I was really surprised to hear about the work she's done in Africa and New Orleans,' she says. 'I was just shocked to know she's done some great things.'"
Booker Rising response: Let's make this the first and last time that I ever defend Kim Kardashian. Ol' girl was nice to come on the show. I wouldn't give a flying F if somebody with no significant impact on my life chooses to hate on me. However, I assume Kim Kardashian did this for the publicity. I'd have told the hater, "I’ve done more for black folks than Obama”. Yeah, that probably wouldn't have gone over well, but who cares? Kim Kardashian isn't black or in a position of institutional authority, so why is she responsible for "doing for" Black America? And couldn't they have gotten an articulate sista to outline her objections with Kim K. (my main one is that Kim K. is glorified for actions that get put down if a black woman was to do it, and features that are considered ordinary when a black woman has them).
Herman Cain: "Blacks Are Brainwashed Into Voting For Democrats, Liberals"
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| Herman Cain: "Y'all Negroes are oppressed" |
He continues: "Cain went on to explain that his interactions with African Americans led him to be optimistic about his own chances with the demographic. 'This whole notion that all African-Americans are not going to vote for Obama is not necessarily true,' Cain said. He continued, 'I believe a third [of African-Americans] would vote for me, based on my own anecdotal feedback. Not vote for me because I'm black but because of my policies.'"
Sophia A. Nelson: "Obama Needs To Focus More On Black America's Economic Crisis"
Asserts the moderate commentator in Virginia, who zeroes in on U.S. President barack Obama's scolding remarks to black folks at the Congressional Black Caucus dinner: "Others have questioned the president's choice of words at the CBC dinner and asked, 'Who is complaining?' Their take is that they are standing up for those who cannot stand up for themselves and that they are pushing a black agenda as others have pushed their own agendas."
She continues her commentary: "The president would never speak in such a manner to the Hispanic Caucus, which has pushed him very aggressively on immigration reform and now has a Latina justice on the nation's high court. Nor would he address our gay brethren in such a manner as they pushed hard for a repeal of 'don't ask, don't tell' and now want the Defense of Marriage Act reversed. How about our Jewish brothers and sisters? Would he tell them to stand down on their views of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or stop lobbying hard for pro-Israel policies? Never."
More: "For reasons beyond my understanding, the audience at the CBC that heard this rebuke cheered the president. But those of us who are journalists would be wrong not to question why black America is so willing to tolerate such openly unbalanced treatment when other groups would never accept it. So the deeper question is not why President Obama took the tone he did, but why black America tolerates it."
She ain't done yet: "I too like this president. I voted for him in 2008, and his candidacy led me to leave the Republican Party to become an independent. But I think the time has come for the administration to 'take its slippers off' and march into America's urban centers and rural centers, and create a sustainable and real-time jobs policy -- going beyond the president's jobs bill -- that will touch everyday black Americans who are out of work and economically disenfranchised. That is not too much to ask, and it is not showing favoritism to one group over others. The cold hard fact is that no group is being as negatively impacted by this recession as blacks, so it is proper and necessary for the CBC and others to continue to press this president to do more."
Garofalo: "The GOP Is Using Herman Cain 'To Keep The Racism Very Covert'"
More nonsense from the liberal actress: "In an appearance on Wednesday night’s 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' on Current TV, Garofalo explained her theory. 'Herman Cain is probably well-liked by some of the Republicans because it hides the racist elements of the Republican Party, conservative movement and tea party movement,' Garofalo said. 'People like Karl Rove like to keep the racism very covert and so Herman Cain provides this great opportunity so he can say, ‘Look: This is not a racist anti-immigrant, anti-female, anti-gay movement. Look: We have a black man.' And look he’s polling well and he won a straw poll.' In August, Garofalo said he was just a 'paid prop' used to deflect racism."
Booker Rising response: Because in Janeane Garofalo's white supremacist worldview, of course black people have no agency, think for ourselves, and thus hold diverse views. Of course, no white folks could support Herman Cain (but oppose President Obama) because they: (1) view him as an individual who shares their conservative views, (2) believe that he is strongly Republican, (3) are inspired by his life story, and/or (4) like his policy proposals (e.g., his 9-9-9 tax plan). The Steve Sailer types wouldn't support Herman Cain, because they wouldn't support any black person - regardless of ideology - for president.
Herman Cain Responds To Sarah Palin: "I've Got More Flava Than Meets The Eye"
We know that Sarah Palin can't keep black men out of her mind (LOL), hence her comments last night on Fox News that "with all due respect, he's the flavor of the week." The conservative Republican businessman and presidential candidate today had a response. From the Associated Press: "Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain acknowledges he may be the 'flavor of the month,' but promises that voters will find that there's 'more to that flavor than meets the eye.'"
More: "Cain's campaign has gained momentum since his victory Saturday in Florida's straw poll. He told CBS' "Early Show" on Wednesday that a 'massive citizens' movement,' with 'every organization mobilizing its members'" is helping his campaign. He also said the Internet is helping more voters find out about his message. Cain said voters are 'thinking for themselves' even though rivals Rick Perry and Mitt Romney have gotten most of the attention. He said that 'in Florida, voters decided the winner, not the media.'"
Samuel Gonzalez: "The GOP Establishment Is Behind The Chris Christie Push. He's The New John McCain"
Asserts the conservative Republican blogger in New York: "The same group of Washington infected GOPers that wanted John McCain as the Republican standard bearer in 2008 because he was 'less conservative' are the same culprits begging, pleading, crying for New Jersey Gov Chris Christie to run for president. These are the poll testing Republicans or otherwise known as “the bluebloods” who have a distaste for true conservatives. They mistakenly believe that true conservatives candidates scare away Independent voters in the general election."
He adds: "Rick Perry, Herman Cain, Michele Bachma[nn], and Rick Santorum are too conservative for these people and Chris Christie is exactly the kind of Democrat-lite candidate they like. One problem though. These wishy washy Republicans always loose [sic]"
Florida Likely To Hold January Presidential Primary
If so, that will throw the 2012 presidential calendar in flux. From Yahoo! News: "State House Speaker Dean Cannon revealed to CNN Tuesday that officials are likely to choose Jan. 31 as the date for the state's 2012 presidential primary -- in direct violation of Republican National Committee rules. Florida's decision will likely spur a land rush among other early voting states to move the timing of their own contests forward in an already front-loaded GOP primary schedule."
The article continues: "The move is part of Florida's plan to hold the fifth primary nominating contest of 2012. The state pulled off the same move in 2008 as it sought to move toward the front of the scrum of early primary states -- even at the price of losing delegates at the 2008 nominating convention. States outside the charmed circle of the four already designated early-voting states -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina -- who try to jump ahead of March 6 on the primary calendar risk penalties from the national party. But the example of Florida, at least, suggests that states are increasingly willing to barter away some influence at the convention in exchange for the clout and media attention that come with earlier primary votes. Florida's decision will almost certainly prompt protests from the four early-voting states. And if those states retaliate by moving their own primaries forward in January, that could mean that Iowa and New Hampshire, which traditionally lead off the primary season, could be casting ballots in early January -- and suffering through last-minute campaigning appeals over the December holidays. And the Florida move could also spark a more general push of states that feel neglected or largely irrelevant to the nominating battle into a front-loading face-off. Since the primary field tends to quickly winnow, late-voting states risk hosting a far narrower field of candidates, or serving as rubber-stamp plebiscites in an already settled primary process."
Booker Rising response: Finally! I've been arguing for years that we need to either have a national primary day or a non-monetary lottery to select the dates for primary contests. It has annoyed me is how Illinois (America's 5th most populous state, out of 50 states) has virtually no influence on the primary season because our primary election is held so late. By the time we vote, the nominees have pretty much already been selected. The lily-white, rural states (Iowa, New Hampshire) who kick things off aren't representative of America. Nevada is more racially diverse, but South Carolina is the only state of the four with any significant black population.
What's My Ancestry?: The Test
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| Sample 23AndMe kit |
In exchange for spitting into a tube (I've never spit so much at one time in my life.....I went over and beyond to ensure an adequate saliva sample!), I will get a free analysis of 1 million of my genetic markers. These genetic markers will: (1) assess my risk factor for 97 different diseases; (2) provide me with my predicted response to various drugs (e.g., blood thinners); (3) provide me with my mitochondrial DNA haplogroup; and (4) provide me with my overall ancestral makeup. The health information could be useful regarding some risks that I was previously unaware of. The autosomal DNA analysis of my ancestry (coupled with 23AndMe's Relative Finder) may help fill in some gaps in the family tree.
Herman Cain: "I'll Win At Least 1/3 Of The Black Vote"
The conservative Republican businessman and presidential candidate made this dubious claim last night on the FOX News Channel. Uh, Herman, you gotta first win the GOP nomination before we can seriously discuss this issue. I believe that Mr. Cain could garner 15% of the black vote, perhaps as high as 20%. After all, 21% of black Americans support a smaller government providing fewer social services. One-third though? No way.
Australian Aboriginals Led The Way Out Of Africa
From CBC News (Canada): "Australians may be descendants of the very first people to leave Africa more than 60,000 years ago, DNA evidence suggests. The analysis of hair collected from an aboriginal man in southwestern Australia in 1923 supports the theory that there were two separate waves of migration from Africa, the place where humans first evolved, and that most Europeans and Asians came from the second migration. The research was published [last] week in Science."
The article continues about Australian Aborigines: "The sequencing and comparison with the genomes of people from other populations around the world found far greater similarity between Europeans and Asians than Asians and Australians, suggesting they had come from two separate waves of migration. Scientists estimate the first wave took place about 60,000 to 70,000 years ago and the second took place 30,000 to 40,000 years ago. Fossil evidence had suggested that modern humans were in Australia 50,000 years ago, Nielsen said, but there has been a lot of debate about whether modern-day aboriginals are descended from that original group or from a later migration."
California: Affirmative Action Bake Sale Brings Out Protesters, Choppers, The Media, & Ward Connerly
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| Ward Connerly (black dude) came out in support |
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| Affirmative action supporters protested the bake sale |
More: "Everyone seemed to jump into the fray. John Stossel, a conservative journalist for Fox News, wrote a piece on why he supports the bake sale. The New York Times looked at the issue, as did CNN, Reuters, and numerous other media outlets. By midday today, a crowd of affirmative action supporters , several hundred strong and dressed in black, were conducting a silent demonstration on Sproul Plaza — standing erect, fists raised, with placards that read 'Don’t UC US'. At noon they all laid down on the ground."
REJOICE NGWENYA COMMENTARY: Legal Plunder Crumbles Zimbabwean Businesses
Asserts the Zimbabwean libertarian activist: "Zimbabwe’s indigenisation law is being brandished at mining companies as an excuse for expropriating their property. Cast a critical glance at the fate that has befallen commercial farmers Mike Van Rooyen and Koos Smit, real estate investors Khalil Gaibie and the Di Palma family then you will appreciate how we are a nation at war with ourselves. I want to ask myself: what kind of country is Zimbabwe where even the constitution cannot protect the individual’s right to own legitimate property? What on earth have we done wrong to deserve such a vicious, unforgiving and savage government in a century where an inhabited spaceship is a mere 200 kilometres above us?"
He continues his commentary: "I wish I could approach the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe and ask why the constitution is failing to protect business from this kamikaze crusade. Companies in Zimbabwe have a legal persona. Like every other Zimbabwean citizen who is [supposed to be] protected by the law, no one – including a government minister – must have an excuse of walking into a private company and violating its rights. The basis of my argument is simple. Whenever a resident of this country, or for that matter a citizen, has legal right over a property – through a lease agreement, title deed, trade mark, patent or share certificate, the constitution must protect them. There is no law, regulation, statutory instrument, decree or pronouncement violating this constitutional right that must be accorded recognition."
Booker Rising response: The white Zimbabwean farmers didn't legally acquire their land in the first place, so I'd dispute that point. They kicked off the plunder trend in Zimbabwe.Where Mugabe has mainly gone wrong is (1) his Marxist orientation; and (2) transferring the confiscated land to his woefully incompetent cronies. These factors have turned Zimbabwe from the breadbasket of Africa to a basket case.
Former Obama Loyalists On Wall Street Turning To Romney
Given how anti-business that U.S. President Barack Obama has been (other than his mediocre corporate cronies), this is no surprise. From the Salt Lake Tribune: "Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has raised more than twice as much money from Wall Street as Barack Obama — an edge gained in part by luring away at least 100 donors, mostly investors, who backed the president in 2008, according to a Bloomberg News analysis."
The article continues: "'It’s going to be very hard for the president to bash the rich and create jobs at the same time,' said Anthony Scaramucci, 47, founder and managing partner of New York-based Skybridge Capital which manages $8 billion, who has switched support from Obama in 2008 to Romney. 'I don’t think the country is about class warfare.'"
More: "Scaramucci is one of at least 100 former Obama contributors who have given to Romney’s 2012 campaign, according to a Bloomberg analysis of data provided by the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based research group that tracks political giving. They have helped Romney, founder of the Boston-based private equity firm Bain Capital, raise $2.3 million from the securities industry sector, compared with $857,000 for Obama. In 2008, Obama received $15 million from employees in the securities and investment industry, more than any other candidate, according to the center. Romney received $5 million. Some donors who gave to Obama during his 2008 race also gave to Romney or other Republicans."
Juan Williams: "Democrats Must Worry About The Young"
Asserts the moderate-liberal commentator: "In 2008, candidate Barack Obama won 66 percent of voters under the age of 30 and Democrats in the Senate and House benefited. According to Census data, 18- to 24-year-olds were the only age group to show a statistically significant increase in voter turnout in 2008. Turnout for every other age group either decreased or stayed the same. But in June of this year, a poll of young Americans found an astounding 44 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds disapprove of how Obama has handled youth unemployment, while only 31 percent approve. That discontent is potentially devastating to Democrats."
Mr. Williams continues his commentary about Democrats and the youth vote: "Race is also a factor here. Young black and Hispanic voters have a close identification with the first president of color. But young white people do not. Pew Research reports that as of the first half of 2011, the Republican advantage among white voters had grown to a 21-point spread, 56 to 35 percent. It was only an 11-percent advantage in '08. And the biggest shift among white voters has been among those under 30. Democrats held a seven-point advantage among young white voters who proclaimed a party preference in 2008. Now Pew finds Republicans have an 11-point advantage among self-identified young white voters. And Republicans running for their party's presidential nomination have started reaching out to those young white voters."
SIDE-EYE POST OF THE DAY: If Looks Could Kill....
Damn, she can compete with Shaniqua with that death stare. However, he had it coming. Yahoo! Sports writes: "When you watch this video of a Taiwanese baseball fan dropping his child as he goes for a foul ball, one of your first thoughts might be to wonder how his wife reacted. Answer: In the same frosty fashion as you might expect. Check out that look! Seriously, that's a glare that only a mother who just saw her child's safety compromised for an $8 souvenir could shoot. Luckily for pops, no one was hurt. At least not while the cameras were pointed at them, anyway."
Joe Hicks: "Black Muslims And Terrorism: Do Recent Polls Support Profiling In Post-9/11 America?"
The conservative Pajamas TV host zeroes in on a recent Pew Research Center poll showing that 16% of black American Muslims support suicide bombings. In this video, he asks: do these results justify racial and religious profiling by law enforcement? Find out his viewpoint as he explores Islamic attitudes towards terror in America.
There is no embeddable video, but you can view his commentary here.
HASSAN NURULLAH OP-ED: It's Not Easy Being Green
The conservative Republican blogger in Michigan opines: "A major plank bolstering the President’s platform, as it pertains to job creation, has been the fanciful idea of a green economy flush with new jobs. Mr. Obama was so committed to this whimsical notion, he added a new layer to an already top heavy bureaucracy, something called a 'Green Jobs Czar'. He then appointed an avowed socialist to inhabit this position, with the inane desire that said socialist should create a new green capitalism driven job engine."
He continues his commentary: "It has been my experience in studying such things that when an idea is truly good, there is no dearth of people eager to put their own money where their mouth is, dreams of windfalls dancing through their heads. Good job-creating business ideas don’t need federal backing, they need good lawyers and security professionals to keep competitors from stealing them. The President and his cohorts squandered the people’s money with his green initiatives, giving money to companies the administration bragged about that the business stars of ABC’s reality investment show, Shark Tank, would have laughed out of the studio. So, now we see these same green companies dropping like flies. Laying people off, in some cases, actually exporting jobs to other countries, but mostly going out of business all together."
More commentary from Mr. Nurullah: "This sort of wrong-headedness is the thing really responsible for our floundering economy. The left is completely indifferent to facts and reason. The entire green idea is fueled by pseudo science and detachment from reality. The left prefers speculative fiction to hard pragmatic scientific data. It really stems from the liberals’ propensity for worshiping the creation rather than the Creator. The media serves as the leftist religion’s high priestess, sacrificing the truth for misguided ideology, utilizing electronic priestcraft and rhetorical slight of hand to hide the dismal failures the left continue to pile up. Anything to keep from using the resources God provided for man’s use."
WALTER HOYE II: Betrayal Trauma
The conservative, pro-life activist in California discusses black Americans and abortion: "The Number Three Reason Black leadership rejects the Pro-Life movement is that he or she is: Compromised. Abortion is the #1 issue in America. Abortion, much like slavery, is an issue, that threatens to shut down our entire government. In the Black Church, abortion is no less of a threat to church government. When you learn that 30% of all abortions in the country are Black abortions and understand that Black Americans constitute only 12% of the population, you're beginning to get the picture. But you can't stop there. When you realize that about half of us are women, you're now down to 6% of the population responsible for 30% of all abortions in the country. But you can't stop there. When you consider child bearing age (ages 15 to 44), you're now down to 3% of the population responsible for 30% of all abortions in the country."
He continues his commentary: "The numbers are shocking, but you can't stop there. Women generally do not get pregnant by themselves. In the abortion debate, men play a vital role. According to the sociological research performed by MenAndAbortion.Com 'about 600,000 men (male partners in ill-timed and unwanted pregnancies) accompanied a client to her abortion appointment [in 2005] (about half of all abortion-seeking women generally have a man sitting by in the clinic or doctor's waiting room)." Furthermore, research shows that the abortion industry's population control facilities (i.e., abortion clinics) target Black America, so it is no surprise that Black Americans are the abortion industry's #1 customer."
He argues that abortion has economic repercussions for black Americans: "The economic front for Black America is both dire and desperate. 'According to the data, taken from the the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute, median net worth of white households fell from $134,280 in 2004 to $97,860 in 2009, while over the same period median black household net worth went from $13,450 to $2,170.' Given the overwhelming data surrounding Black abortions and the Black family in America, it's easy to see a Black Pastor preaching to a severely post-abortive congregation and dissociating him or herself from the threat that this information poses to their church family. With no help on the horizon, a church about to split over this issue and his or her job on the line, many Black leaders have chosen the money over the mission or the treasure over the truth. This is The Choice. What would you choose? "
9/26 Quote Of The Day
"What seems evident, despite the Tea Party’s amorphousness, is that the movement consists of many stripes of conservative. It is libertarian while paradoxically welcoming of religious values. It is fiscally conservative, yet reticent to tackle defense spending. It is pragmatic, though sometimes short-sighted. The Tea Party is a movement bred of the modern conservative movement, not a faction apart from conservatism. In this regard, it poses no threat to conservatism at all. Fusing with the Tea Party is impossible, for there is no organized Tea Party with which to contend. Instead, it is simply an organic expression of conservative populism — an expression that has been met with the same hostility and apprehension as modern conservatism at large. Liberals abhor it because it is conservative, while some conservatives fear it because it is populist — a tendency with which prudence-obsessed conservatism struggles. Questions about the Tea Party’s staying power are therefore answered: 'The Tea Party exists as long as the modern conservative movement exists.' Most importantly, though, the question of whether the Tea Party will collapse conservatism, too, is answered resoundingly: 'No.'" — J. Thomas Hunter, conservative Republican blogger in Illinois
Cain: "My Florida Straw Poll Win Was No Fluke"
Asserts the conservative Republican businessman and presidential candidate: "Speaking on NBC and CNN, Cain pushed his message that people picked him in the weekend’s Florida straw vote because he was expounding a receptive program. He denied that his votes were a protest against front-runner Rick Perry’s poor performance in last week’s debates. 'It's not a protest vote,' Cain said, rejecting media analyses that Perry lost what should have an easy victory among Florida conservatives, part of the Texas governor’s core constituency. 'The voice of the people is more powerful than the media.'"
More: "Cain’s victory was in a straw vote, which measures how people attending an event view the candidates, rather than being a scientific sample designed to measure all viewpoints across the nation. Texas Rep. Ron Paul, for example, often does well in straw polls because his followers come out in droves, though his national numbers tend to be far less overwhelming. Still, Cain out-drew Perry by a ratio of better than 2-to-1, 37% to 15%. In fact, Cain won some bragging rights by getting more votes than Perry and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney combined. Romney placed third in Florida, where he did not invest major resources. In his television appearances, Cain credited his message, particularly his idea to throw out the existing tax code. 'I feel great,' he said of his victory. 'The message is more powerful than money.'"
DEBATE: Was AP Racist In Transcribing Obama's Speech?
I can't believe that this is even a debate topic! The Associated Press accurately transcribed the speech, as it was actually delivered by U.S. President Obama. Karen Hunter, the liberal MSNBC contributor, has a stupid (and self-hating) argument in claiming that it was a racist move for AP to accurately transcribe the president's intentional code-switching. John McWhorter, an actual linguist and moderate-conservative, breaks it down:
Cain Nearly Quit Campaign Before Florida Straw Poll
From Yahoo! News, about the conservative Republican businessman and presidential candidate: "After one of Herman Cain's strongest showings yet at a Republican presidential debate Thursday, and two days with conservative activists in the state, he won the 'Presidency 5' straw poll in Orlando over the weekend, beating front-runner Texas Gov. Rick Perry by more than 20 points."
The article continues: "While straw polls are not scientific and their results can be poor indicators of whether a candidate will win a party's nomination -- the latest actual Florida poll put Cain near the bottom -- they can help spark some momentum, especially for lower-tier candidates. For Cain, a 65-year-old businessman, mathematician, author and radio host from Atlanta, Georgia, his straw poll win could well be the high-water mark of his campaign. And by his own admission, the path that brought him this far wasn't an easy one. The morning before the straw poll, I met Cain for coffee in a hotel near the convention center that hosted the debate and straw poll. As we discussed the early phase of the Republican primaries, he told me that before coming to Florida, he had nearly called it quits on two occasions. 'The thing that I've learned about myself in this campaign -- because I've never had this happen to me before on a single challenge -- is that I've gone to the brink, ready to pull the plug, but came back, twice,' Cain said. 'I've only had two days where I personally felt, should I pull the plug? For different reasons. That's how frustrating a campaign can be.'"
Solyndra Hired Rice Consulting Firm
The moderate-conservative Republican has ties to the bankrupt solar panel company. From The Washington Times: "Fast running out of money just two years after winning a half-billion dollars in federal loan guarantees, solar panel maker Solyndra LLC this spring looked overseas to India in hopes of finding new business to turn the company around. Solyndra, which only months earlier had hosted President Obama during a tour of its headquarters, hired the Rice Hadley Group, a consulting firm founded by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Formed by Ms. Rice and former National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley, the firm performed an analysis of the solar market in India for Solyndra, later helping the company reach out to potential business contacts in the country. 'We finished the assignment in May and the relationship ended,' said Anja Manuel, a partner at Rice Hadley and special assistant to the under secretary for political affairs in the Bush administration under Ms. Rice."
More: "If Solyndra won any business in India, it wasn’t enough. The company filed for bankruptcy this month, laying off more than 1,000 employees. Days later, the company was raided by the FBI. But Solyndra’s hiring of the Rice Hadley Group does show that even as its finances were growing increasingly dire, the company continued spending on well-connected consultants and lobbyists as it sought to convince politicians and potential customers alike that its prospects were bright. Six weeks before Solyndra announced it was broke, the company hired the Glover Park Group, a Washington lobbying firm founded by former Clinton administration officials, to help arrange meetings between company officials and members of Congress. In addition to its team of in-house lobbyists, Solyndra hired three other Washington lobbying firms in recent years: McAllister & Quinn, Washington Tax Group and McBee Strategic Consulting. McAllister & Quinn filed papers last week terminating its ties to Solyndra. Others are likely to follow."
The article continues about Solyndra & Ms. Rice's consulting firm: "Ms. Rice’s firm didn’t do any lobbying for Solyndra, nor is it registered to lobby. Ms. Manuel termed the assignment for the solar company 'small,' and bankruptcy records do not indicate how much money the solar company paid to the Rice Hadley Group. 'It was not substantial,' she said when asked how much money Solyndra paid to Rice Hadley. She confirmed the firm’s hiring by Solyndra on Monday in response to an inquiry from The Washington Times about the firm being listed among the creditors in Solyndra’s bankruptcy filing. Ms. Manuel said she was unclear why Rice Hadley Group was listed as a creditor, however. She said the firm had been paid what it was owed. She also said Rice Hadley was not involved in matters surrounding Solyndra’s half-billion dollars in federal loans, or a subsequent restructuring of the loans authorized by the Department of Energy."
Freudian Slip?
Because Jews and janitors are the same LOL. President Obama's quote at the annual Congressional Black Caucus gala over the weekend: "If asking a billionaire to pay the same tax rate as a Jew, uh, as a janitor makes me a warrior for the working class, I wear that with a badge of honor. I have no problem with that."
I don't think that this exhibits anti-Semitism on President Obama's part. However, had Sarah Palin or Herman Cain (who also don't have a known history of anti-Semitism) uttered the exact gaffe, this would be headline news for a week:
Walter E. Williams: "Reducing The Government's Size And Scope Will Fix Our Financial Mess"
Asserts the libertarian economics professor: "What's the common thread between Europe's financial mess, particularly among the PIIGS (Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain), and the financial mess in the U.S.? That question could be more easily answered if we asked instead: What's necessary to cure the financial mess in Europe and the U.S.? If European governments and the U.S. Congress ceased the practice of giving people what they have not earned, budgets would be more than balanced."
He adds: "For government to guarantee a person a right to goods and services he has not earned, it must diminish someone else's right to what he has earned, simply because governments have no resources of their very own. The first order of business in reaching a solution to the financial mess in Europe and the U.S. must be the recognition that governments have been doing a class of unsustainable things, mostly giving people special privileges and things that they have not earned. It's a matter of not simply what's good or bad for the beneficiaries but what its effect is on society at large and the welfare of a nation."
More commentary from Dr. Williams, about the size of government: "The bottom line is that the sole tendency of the welfare state is for it to grow and consume more and more of a nation's income. According to 'Measuring the Unfunded Obligations of European Countries' (January 2009), by the Dallas-based National Center for Policy Analysis, by 2050, the average EU country will need more than 60 percent of its gross domestic product to fulfill its obligations. According to the 2008 Social Security and Medicare trustees reports, the combined unfunded liability of just these two government programs has reached $101.7 trillion in today's dollars. It turns out that if Congress taxed away our entire $14 trillion 2011 GDP and put it in the bank, it would just barely cover Social Security and Medicare liabilities. That observation suggests that we can't tax our way out of our fiscal mess. In order to avoid permanent stagnation or total economic collapse, governments must start the process of reducing welfare spending."
FEC Fines Michael Steele Over His 2006 Senate Bid
From The Hill, about the moderate-conservative Republican: "Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele’s failed 2006 campaign for Senate has been fined $54,000 for taking too much money from Steele’s sister, the Federal Elections Committee announced. In addition to Steele’s civil penalty, his sister Monica Turner has agreed to pay her own civil penalty of $5,500 for 'excessive in-kind and cash contributions' to the campaign. The FEC faulted Steele for accepting some of those prohibited contributions 'knowingly and willfully' and also found that Steele’s former treasurer, Belinda Cook, used funds improperly."
The article continues about the FEC ruling: "The complaint alleges Turner held two 2006 fundraisers at her Bethesda, Md., home for her brother, bringing in more than $100,000 in donations. Turner spent more than $35,000 to cover some of the fundraisers’ costs and in other contributions to the campaign, but that money wasn’t disclosed in Steele’s FEC filings. The complaint also maintains that federal and state campaign funds were intermingled in a way that violated FEC regulations. The $54,000 the campaign must pay the FEC adds to the $51,493 in other debt the defunct campaign still owes, according to FEC data. The campaign had just $42 cash on hand as of the end of June."
Obama Scolds Black Folks To Save Him: Bookerista Reaction II
Bookeristas continue to zero in U.S. President Barack Obama's speech at the annual Congressional Black Caucus awards dinner over the weekend:
Duane Brayboy: "Obama Has Every Right To Scold Black Folks"
Asserts the conservative blogger in Georgia: " At the recent CBC gala (because that is exactly what it was), Obama told Black folks to stop complaining, stop whining, stop crying and march. And you know what? He has every right to talk to Black folks that way. Why? Because we are not bringing any money to the table. All we bring is a bunch of symbolism. I have yet to hear of any report of Obama talking that way to folks on Wall Street or to the Jews during his fundraisers."
More: "As a people, we desperately have to move beyond the emotionally-charged headlines. Marches, sit-ins, threats of boycotts are nothing more than the tools of the politically ignorant. I have said it many times, the only color that matters in politics is green. Having money isn’t the problem for us. It’s learning how to use it."
Isaac Hayes: "Obama Marches Back To 1960s"
The conservative Republican blogger in Illinois opines about President Obama's speech: "The problem with this speech is three-fold. First, it is too little too late. Obama has ignored the black community his entire presidency, and now that his back his against the wall he wants to play the 'black card'. Second, Obama is no Dr. King. Obama has always used the black community for his political expediency. When he needs them, he takes on their colloquialisms and puts a Reverend like moan in his rhetoric. But after he gets what he wants, Blacks are told to get to the back of the bus and wait their turn in line. Dr. King, on the other hand, was a man of cultural integrity. Last, Obama is four decades behind the curve and someone should tell him we have a black president. Hoses, dogs and bottles make for a good 'We shall Overcome' speech, but they have no place in today’s America from today’s president."
Carol M. Swain: "Vanderbilt University Is Suppressing Christian Student Groups Amid Shutdown Threats"
Claims the Vanderbilt University law and political science professor and conservative. From Fox News: "Specifically, Swain is referring to four Christian student groups being placed on 'provisional status' after a university review found them to be in non-compliance with the school’s nondiscrimination policy. Vanderbilt says the student organizations cannot require that leaders share the group’s beliefs, goals and values. Carried to its full extent, it means an atheist could lead a Christian group, a man a woman’s group, a Jew a Muslim group or vice versa."
The article continues: "So what’s behind this? Flashback to last fall. An openly gay undergrad at Vanderbilt complained he was kicked out of a Christian fraternity. The university wouldn’t identify the fraternity, but campus newspaper the 'Hustler' reported it was Beta Upsilon Chi. As a result, the school took a look at the constitutions of some 300 student groups and found about a dozen, including five religious groups to be in non-compliance with Vanderbilt’s nondiscrimination policy. All were placed on provisional status."
More: "Carol Swain is CLS’s [Christian Legal Society's] faculty advisor. She insists the university has gone way beyond political correctness with its actions and demands. 'It seems reasonable', she told me, 'to require that leaders share the beliefs of the organizations that they seek to lead.' She sees this as part of a larger problem at liberal-leaning universities across the nation. She says, 'I see it as part of a larger attack on religious freedom that’s taking place across the country – particularly when it comes to conservative groups.'"
Why Herman Cain's Florida Win Shouldn't Be Written Off
Javier David, a conservative writer in New York, opines about the conservative Republican businessman's surpise win in a Florida straw poll: "The first lesson of Cain's upset that today's frontrunner can easily become tomorrow's has-been. Remember Michele Bachmann? The Minnesota Congresswoman and Tea Party favorite stormed to the front of the pack with a plucky persona that helped cement an early contest win in Iowa. All of that seems like a lifetime ago, as the congresswoman has now become a victim of weak fundraising brought about by rapidly multiplying gaffes. Her ill-fated rhetorical crusade against the HPV vaccine Gardasil appears to have succeeded only in siphoning away most of her remaining momentum."
He continues: "The second takeaway from Cain's win is that the GOP field, using the metaphor of one politically savvy acquaintance, resembles a bowl of oatmeal: filling yet hardly satisfying. In a contest that arguably began way too early, voters are hungry about for palatable alternatives. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has long been vulnerable for his lack of enduring convictions, and for having enacted a health care plan in his home state that bears a striking resemblance to President Obama's Meanwhile, Gov. Perry (admittedly debatable) record of job creation in Texas has been overshadowed by his poor debate showings and controversial positions that have come under withering assault from other Republicans."
More: "Lastly, Cain's enduring popularity -- and in addition to that of Congressmen Allen West and Tim Scott -- should put an end to the argument that the Tea Party movement is motivated by racial animosity toward President Obama. Cain's win over the weekend was a Karmic counterpoint to pointed remarks from Morgan Freeman, who in an interview called the Tea Party racist. The actor's broadside disgraced a normally August reputation already sullied by his inamorata, and undermined his own powerful exhortation to 'stop talking about race.'"
GINA MCCAULEY COMMENTARY: How Do We Increase The Value Of Black Women?"
The liberal feminist argues that it's the wrong question: "Answer: NOTHING! The question implies that Black women have to 'DO' something to obtain 'value.' As if we have to "earn" being treated like human beings. Or perhaps we have to be 'well liked' to be valued. It implies that what we’re worth as human beings is based on how other people FEEL. I’ll take a pass on that notion. I don’t want a system of protection based on the fickle emotions of other human beings."
She adds: "I believe that the fact that we are human beings we have value. For those of us who believe in a power greater than ourselves, that value was endowed by our creator no human can add or take away from that. You don’t have to like me to acknowledge my basic human rights. The most 'unlikeable' Black woman has the right to walk down the street unmolested. There are plenty of examples of groups who are out numbered, disliked and unpopular but are incredibly powerful and protected because of the infrastructure surrounding them."
More: "The question isn’t how do we increase the value of Black women. The question is how do you protect the value of Black women. Not just from assaults on that value, but our unwillingness to acknowledge that all of these individuals slights aren’t petty, but part of a systemic assault. Ripping the clothes off of women walking down the middle of the street in broad daylight isn’t a purse snatching. Its [sic] a bank robbery. Invading a woman’s home, torturing her and her child for three hours while the neighbors listen and do nothing isn’t a purse snatching, its [sic] a bank robbery. Yet another television depiction of a Black woman as irrationally angry, violent, downright animalistic isn’t a purse snatching, its [sic] a bank robbery. We keep treating these things like individual assaults on one Black woman or a 'particular group' of Black women. But the impact is systemic. When Black women believe that they can’t walk down the street or attend public gatherings or travel freely - that’s a systemic impact. The first rule of building the Bank of Black Womanity is having ZERO TOLERANCE for 'value robbers' ALL. OF. THEM!"
A Tale Of Two Death Penalties: Troy Davis Is A Hero, But Who Remembers Lawrence Brewer?
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| Troy Davis (pictured left) & Lawrence Brewer |
More: "There is still some controversy about whether Davis was guilty of murder, but there was none about Brewer - not because his guilt was more clear-cut, which it was, but because he does not inspire today's revolutionaries to lament this nation's unsteady moral compass and the unjust taking of human life. There were no prayer circles for Brewer, no demonstrations. He fits perfectly into the image of racial bigotry on the part of whites - which is all that some see when they look at America. As far as those revolutionaries were concerned, Brewer deserved to die. Those who wish to blame all white Americans for crimes they were no part of need as many Brewers as they can conjure to keep running the same hustle, pointing to the likes of Brewer while ignoring troubling trends in the black community. That's because actual solutions take too long. They include education from the cradle to college, as well as the weaning of our youth away from the violent pop culture that consumes them. They include listening to sober voices like Bill Cosby and the young Thomas Chatterton Williams, not the theatrical ranter Cornel West."
JUSTICE MALALA OP-ED: Budgeting For Corruption
The South African center-right commentator writes about a friend who has flunked the driver's license test five times because she refuses to pay a bribe: "Everyone makes jokes about the driver's test in South Africa. 'Pay the bribe,' we all joked with her beforehand. The dilemma for her, a 23-year-old who has worked very hard to be where she is and is starting the arduous task of building her life, is that she is being told that, to get anywhere, she has to make peace with the fact that she has to pay a bribe. Someone who has honestly passed her university examinations is now being told that outside that world things work differently. She has to pay a bribe. She has to be corrupt. How many young people are learning this devastating lesson about our country? How many young people are now facing the reality that hard work and honesty are not enough - that to get ahead one has to pay a bribe, bend the rules, be dishonest?"
LURITA DOAN OP-ED: Obama's Cabinet Does The Hokey Pokey
The conservative Republican commentator opines: "In May 2009, Secretary Chu put his hands all over the Solyndra loan which he said would be a model for what the government creation of 'green' jobs. Chu attended the ground breaking with President Obama and cited Solyndra's example in his speeches. Yet, now, with Solyndra's mind-boggling profligacy, squandering $523 million in taxpayer money in less than two years and filing for bankruptcy protection, both Chu and Obama are eager to take their hands off as they shake them all about, blaming anyone other than themselves for the poor loan decision and the complete lack of oversight into the expenditure of the funds. And, it seems Cabinet Secretary Steven Chu has cravenly decided to utilize a time-tested delaying tactic of sending a lower-ranking staffer, Jonathan Silver, the DoE [Department of Energy] loan guarantee officer to testify as he turns himself around."
More commentary from Ms. Doan: "Perhaps, my personal favorite hokey pokey move, is watching Obama talk about the need for 'a balanced plan' that calls for 'shared sacrifice' and a need for millionaires and billionaires to 'pay their fair share'. This move calls for lots unusually skillful gyrations as Obama tells us that his bash-the-rich strategy is not really a craven example of class warfare. Obama also maintains that massive deficits requiring $100 billion dollar a month in loans can all be sustained indefinitely, so there really is no need to cut the expansive entitlement spending. In fact, Obama tells us entitlements can, and should, be expanded."
Samuel Gonzalez: "Gays Don’t Like Companies Exercising Their First Amendment Rights"
The conservative Republican blogger in New York responds to a New York Times article about how gay activists are targeting an Internet marketer who works with retailers who allow buyers sent to them to donate part of their e-commerce commission to Christian groups that oppose homosexuality: "I guess getting [s]ame [s]ex marriage shoved down people’s throats isn’t enough. Now, some [g]ay advocates have an attitude with companies giving money to Christian charities that have the audacity to believe what the Bible teaches."
More: "Homosexual behavior is a threat to the moral and social fabric. And the 1st [A]mendment gives people and corporations that are made up of people the right to say it, believe it and act upon it. What some of these homosexual activists are doing is attempting to deny other Americans their constitutional rights through thought control. It’s unconstitutional and it won’t stand. Gays are gonna have to accept that Americans are enetitled [sic] to their religious beliefs."
Booker Rising response: Threatening a boycott against a retailer for a link to some cause that one opposes is not unconstitutional, and is a common tactic deployed by the Left and the Right. Retailers have the right to ally with whomever they wish, and consumers have the right to express any displeasure with such unions and take action if they wish.
