The Orly Taitz infusion

Day by day we as Americans are bombarded with news, opinions, and editorials. Some of these are well done, in fact most of the comments made come from well meaning persons that have disagreements yet have the civility and the good sense to argue with facts. This is not the case with the Birther Nation lead in part by a dentist named Orly Taitz. Some of you may not know the name; she is the one that is leading this absurdity that President Barack Obama is not a citizen of the United States, and by law is not permitted to run and there fore can not be the legitimate representative of our country.

Dr. Taitz is also the one who advised a "military man" not to go to Iraq because of the same reason as above resulting in this person's loss of a Pentagon position. Both of these people are in a word mindless (okay I could have said a much stronger word ...but this is a discourse not an ad attack). The reason that I am writing this blog piece is to draw attention not to the rantings of a deranged individual, but to point out and declare that we are not as free as we believed we were. There is a portion of this Nation which lives in the fantasy that their color gives them certain unalienable rights: White is right. There are those who actively support the overthrow of this administration. And, finally the future of who we are as a people on the world stage is in jeopardy. Why? Because the lack of tolerance within shows everyone the types of persons we are and that is not a good thing. For far too long we have dealt with the race problem, it is 2009 and we must move forward lest as Dr. King would suggest: we will all perish as fools.

The birther movement retards the issues that are too important to the life of all of us. It serves as a distraction to the larger issues of the country and the world we live in. And the only people that benefit are the adversaries that grow stronger as we grow weaker. I sent a comment to this group on their web site; you can find it under the title's name. You will get another site because in their words they were "hijacked" what ever that means! I told them of my blog and invited them to engage, defend their position (if they can) and state the reason, the real reason for their opposition. In my heart I know they will not do so, not because it is me but because their position is not sustainable. Yet I still have hope. But as for all of us we need to flood their site not with words of negativity, but inquiry, until one of two things happen: they stop or admit their real agenda -- to forestall any real movement on behalf of the American people, that their mission is to be so obtuse and obstructionist that the political will of official Washington will grind down to the gridlock for which it is famous. My brothers and sisters: do not let this happen. Write and write often. Later

The looming madness

Yesterday I spoke about "is it fear or race." In that piece, I explored the reason that we are having such a hard time doing the business of the country. That we are seeing a slide down a slippery slope of race hatred and fear: twins which if left unchecked create a family of violence toward people that are different. I suggested that the arrest of Henry Gates, and the rise of the birthers (those who believe Obama is NOT a citizen of the United States and thereby cannot hold the Presidency) are unholy and certainly unwelcome incidences. These attacks are escalating; make no mistake about this. To prove the point, in Mobile, Alabama there was a front page article in which the police arrested a man. Ordinarily it would not be an issue. People who engage in wrongdoing are arrested and taken to jail. If they persist in not obeying the officers then harsher methods happen: pepper spray, or physical restraints will be and should be utilized; after all the public safety is at stake, and, as others have said I want the police to win. But, what makes this arrest so putrid is that the person was hearing impaired. That is correct: he could not hear word they were saying and this lead to an unfortunate cascading of events. Some would say these things happen, they were not aware or were not trained properly, maybe and probably true. Then there will be those who will point to the history of this region and say it is typical of the mentality of this city, except Mobile, unlike Montgomery and Birmingham were not prone to such outbursts. What then is the factor that creates these issues. In a word creeping racist attitudes from across the nation.

Case in point: Huffington Post (a liberal blog) had one of its reporters go to the Capitol and interview Congressional persons about the birther movement. The results were interesting (and I do not mean mildly). In every instance these representatives RAN from the questioner. Ran away rather than stand and express their views. Other times these individuals faced a crowd that demands to see a certificate already produced because in their words "They want their country back". In a normal society these lunatics would be dismissed as deranged and sane less persons: not so, the real shock is that those Congressional individuals who ran rather than to speak have joined to put a resolution that President Obama produce a certificate and that it become law that whenever anyone runs they must produce a certificate of live birth. Funny thing, before this election it never was asked before. Something to think about.

So the madness looms. Despite all that faces this Nation: unemployment at over 9.25 per cent, health insurance issues, health in general (there are still over 40 million uninsured and the cost of those with type 2 diabetes has exceed 147 trillion yes trillion according to CBS, MSNBC and CNN) two wars that consume billions of dollars, the need to provide jobs for Americans and to deal with the recession, all that seems to occupy certain people (13 to be exact) is a piece of paper that has already been produced, sic transit gloria mundi. For those who have not read Poe's "The Masque of Red Death": so goes the glory of the world...Later

Is it Race or is it Fear?

So much has happened since we last wrote a piece: Gates was arrested, Palin has resigned,the House has waffled on health care as well as the Senate and finally there is a move to pass a law requiring all candidates to present a valid birth certificate to run for the highest office in the land : President of the United States. Before I go further, please excuse the length of the prior sentence!!! Anyway or as a dear friend would say: "moving right along", we are living in strange days. It seems that the more Obama tries to move the country forward, the more resistance he receives. An administration that started with so much promise of a unified country has begun to return to its old ways. No longer is there tolerance of the effort just complaints, murmurings and bashing from all sides.

At first it was simply the party of NO. The Republicans smarting form sever losses and a loss of power that reminds those of us who studied History or, lived it of earlier times. This loss of power and influence has long reaching effects and affects the majority culture. The loss is viewed as reduction is command of the agenda and the issues that will drive the United States for the next 30 - 40 years. Folks this is a long time. In fact to put this in perspective most of us will not be here or will be very, very old. And, there are dire consequences to turn the issues backward.



The reason for the two nouns Race and Fear (fear is an adjective but I use it as a noun because it describes a thing) is for most of American history these have been the twin pillars of this society. Race has been used to keep the other, the inferior,and the less than out of the main stream for 200 years or more. It does not take much to remind ourselves that there are those who benefit from this action. Or to use another example we can quote from the movie: "The Good Shepard". In a scene that was revealing of the nature of this country, a conversation took place between the mob boss and the CIA agent (played by Joe Pesci and Matt Damon) in this exchange when the CIA agent was asked what they(whites) had as their tradition(noting that Italians had religion; Black had music; and Jews tradition) the reply to the inquiry was: "we have the United States of America and you are just visiting." Again this is a quote worth remembering and teaching to our young people!! The arrogance is startling and the bases for the reactions that have taken place over the last few weeks.



Has Obama reached to far or have white people returned to their racist was out of fear that there will be some success. This is not about George Bush, or Dick Chaney or the "sins" of that administration. This is about the quote above, about whose country and who is in charge of this country for the future. This is the underlying catalyst for the past events: a fear of the shift of power, influence and prestige.



It is no surprise the Professor Gates was treated badly in his house. Let us be clear: the woman did the right thing! She called in and all of us want that kind of action taken when it comes to our own property!! The issue was that when the proof was given (it was his domain) that the end of the matter should have been okay: is all well and good night. Not the actions of come outside and you are under arrest. I personally do not blame Gates: I would have been more vociferous and probably more vindictive, especially if i thought that I was violated. The reason is not racial it is a respect issue. I believe the reaction of Gates was due to the lack of respect the officer gave him. This is all to common theme. The birthers are another pustule of disease coming to the surface in the country. Their sole purpose is to keep the canard of Obama birth certificate an issue for discussion. What is sad is that major commentators such as Rush Limbaugh and Lou Dobbs keep this on going. They say things like: I believe he is but why does he refuse to present a certificate and those who minds are infiltrated with hatred carry this water. This issue has now become a congressional cause celebre: to whit legislation is being considered (it pains me to think it has a chance to became law) to require documentation to PROVE one is a citizen. Funny, this did not become an issue until a change did come.

Is it racism of fear the answer is both! Now some will argue that I set up a straw man argument, no I have not. What I want to propose is that we as a people must think, process and demand attention to the work we elected people to do. Accept the change as God's Divine intervention, and be about our Father's business, lest as Pharaoh found out: the Army gets drowned in red sea or the Potomac...Later.

Revealed truth

One of the hardest lessons of life is learning the truth. It is hard because not only does truth hurt, but if done correctly it reveals. Most times people (especially me) can not handle truth, unlike the movie "A few good men" we hate truth.We need it but we hate it just the same. A reason might be that truth demands we accept, adjust and admit wrong thinking. A case in point surrounds an attitude I had about a particular church. When I arrived there were deep issues and as a leader I wanted to rally those persons around a common theme to promote healing. The issue was there was not an issue that would create a rallying point, that is until Katrina came and went. I saw an opportunity to move a church in a new direction by doing three things: first, repairing an existing structure, second by implementing programing that would create revenue streams for the future, and lastly to take the residual monies and place them in a long term account for the future. Sounded good to me and I thought to the congregation, but it was not the case; and , unfortunately for me I missed the signal.

Instead of moving forward there was stagnation. There was no buying into the program and I wondered why! Meetings were called and well attended, people voted in favor of the plan, a "gang of seven" was appointed by me to help steward the program, yet nothing happened...NOTHING. In fact a deterioration began to creep into the church. Let me be plain: there was good worship, Bible studies well attended and work was done but it was not with the same enthusiasm as before. Again, I asked myself what happened? I felt alone on this journey and the truth is I was. I had without knowing it committed the gravest of mistakes a Pastor could make: I did not read or understand the signals I was receiving. To put it mildly it was not a good day for the home team. Silently people moved to get another leader (Methodist people especially in my denomination are good at
this). The day came and as fast as I was assigned there another place was my destination. It was a long, hard cruel. and devastating two-year journey.

I was all of the emotions rolled into one. I felt hurt because of the work and sacrifice I had put in. There was
anger at those who did not support me or the effort, and finally there was the question what did I miss? People who know me were comforting, they said the usual words too numerous to recite but take my word they said ALL of them. They meant well and I love them for their concerns but it did not explain or ease my mind, soul and psyche; all which were effected. I hate to say this: there was a time when I was unsure in any of the decisions I made adding to my frustration. As I said earlier it was not a good day for the home team.

However, time heals and reveals all things. The beginning of the healing took place Sunday. I went to worship at the church. When I was there before I was not in a good place, the wounds were still open and I could not bring myself to forgive and move on; that was a dark time of sharing in my life. People that I knew, witnessed their children grow -- I ignored these memories for the pity party I was throwing for me. I left feeling as bad as I did when I went, I wish I had that day back.

But time allowed me a return visit and it was in that space that a change emerged. Instead of gloom I rejoiced because unknown to me God had relieved my stress little by little. The service was like we were family again. The laughter, the joy, the sharing a completely different atmosphere. Then on this day the circle became complete: the truth came out that there was no desire to redo the old building, in fact they were glad it was gone. Had I listened or just asked how much different things could have been.

So this lesson has given me much to ponder over, to first seek the Lord in all things, then listen for this voice and as Robert Frost would say " it has made all the difference". Later

when will we learn

I get weary of people always accusing people of things they are not doing. Today the Republican National Party House/ Field slave Michael Steele lambasted President Obama on health care. This is becoming a tired worn out exercise. All of us know that we need a program like this. There are too many people who are uninsured or under insured in this country and the biggest losers are children.

Yes it will cost a lot. Yes the sum is staggering, and yes it might be a program that in the short term may make those who are called to do more (because they have more) to sacrifice. Yet all we hear from friend and foe alike is it will bankrupt the country, saddle the future generation with debt, and that it is unfair to those who will be asked to pay more in taxes.

You hear this on conservative talk (racist) radio. They pummel the administration with words like: Communist, Socialist, Canadian and European, to scare the mindless, or as they were once called the great unwashed, an unattractive but accurate adjective for those who are real Americans!!

Sadly, this segment of our country is being mislead. The truth of the matter is they are the ones that will suffer unless something is done. They are the ones that go to emergency rooms, wait for an eternity (it is when you or your child are ill) to be seen by doctors and then receive a bill for services -- Ooops -- pay before service is rendered and the story goes on and on.

There is a solution to this dilemma: instead of fussing as to how this will impact the budget, the deficit, or the future; how about giving all Americans the same health care that we give Congressional, Senatorial and Executive employees; in other words the people we the people elect. Or let's take it away -- bet that will change a lot of attitudes and silence the Michael Steels of the country and get that god-awful talk radio off the air, as it pollutes all our ears. Later

No substance for white men

News flash: white men have no substance! For the past two days the Nation has been treated to the "grilling" of the next Justice of the Supreme Court: Judge Sottomayor. For the past two days she has gone through the process of being asked questions about her writing, her temperament, and what she has meant by white men. Notice there has been no substantial question asked about how she views the law or how she looks at cases but in the manner of what she says in speeches to various groups she has spoken to.

This is rather tawdry as this woman is one of great accomplishment and will be confirmed by the whole Senate. So what is the real issue here? It is not a matter of competence, nor is it temperament (they can not Bork this judge). Nor is it a matter of rulings or the fear of the empathy question. And it is not about gender, so what is the issue for these no substance white men? I believe it is ethnicity period. Sottomayor is attacked solely because she has the nerve to challenge people of her own background to achieve. An act of love for those who are of the same background as she. Again, not one question did the panel of no substance white men ask that was pertinent. There were inquires of her temper: do you have a temperament problem? Are you a bully to certain attorney's? Do you stand by those inflammatory words that elevate your race, ethnicity and background above others? This from men that represent areas of this Nation that have enslaved, denied, imprisoned and executed people of color without a thought. This from a "club" that for so long had no people of color (the first was Edward Brooke in the modern era) or women from any state. One wonders why they are so frightened - these no-substance white men.

My guess is that they see their paternalistic rule ending and they are having a hard time of it. I can not blame them for this thinking. After all, they have suffered through the indignity of a man too small for the job, who in his two terms as President did more harm than good. They have seen one of their own lose to a man of color despite their best effort to place in nomination an unprepared person (Pailin) who (as I stated in an earlier blog) was a cynical choice to represent the ticket. And the final straw, to see the "cream of the crop" of the Republicans Party go down in flames. To whit: Sanford for love of a woman of color; Ensign, another man's wife; McCain, age and vision; and Cheney, whose ego maniacal words are doing more harm than good. What are they going to do? Hopefully, admit they have no solutions and stay out of the way. Later

The trillion dollar hole

Yesterday the deficit reached one trillion dollars. That is a staggering sum of red ink. In fact it is so staggering that it should make us all take a minute to grasp: a one with twelve zeros amazing. And people are understandably upset, i know I am! But i am not upset with the red ink the wars that we are in are the basis of the reason we had to spend the money in the first place. The swindlers in the finance field, the auto industry (who made bad cars) the loans given to people who could not pay their obligations and who face foreclosure; all of these issues created this mind boggling amount of money.

Conservatives (here we go again) are blasting on radio in the Halls of Congress the Obama Administration for this state of affairs, and to be fair they should!! This is Obama's mess to deal with and to blame Bush lite for ever is not going to solve the problems. The question you ask is why blame Obama? After all he has been in office less than a year. The issues were not of his making (except he as well as other officials voted for these measures) So why then be angry with him? The reason is easy in the beginning The administration had difficult choices to make: They could have let AIG, General Motors and the rest of the banks fail. That is correct fail. This means no bail out at all. The price for doing business as usual should be to go out of business. Absolutely. There would be consequences: cars would loose value, guess what they have already; there would be a glut of houses on the market with no buyers, there are still plenty of houses available, and yes there would be a shake up of the markets world wide. The confidence in institutions would be shaken as it must be, because only then would real change come. To continue with band aids is counter productive and it is not the best course for our Nation and world economies. In time we will feel the pressure and there will be no more relief available.

What is the answer to these realities? I think had the current administration faced the fact that any stimulus was not going to work (and it may we never know) and swallowed this ink while painful to the economy with job loss, contractions and world wide upheaval, in the short term a correction would have been made. Unemployment would have risen to levels as they did in the Great Depression and the misery index would have been unbearable, but, in the long run with a clear vision stimulating the economy might have been easier. This condition makes it harder to rationalize why we spent money in the first place. However, political will being as it is, the decisions made were all the cowards in Washington could muster. Later

Shallow minds

The last several weeks have been shallow because of events in the media. First Michael Jackson's death, Steve McNair's foolish loss of life, and finally the death of the political career of Senator Ensign of Nevada. They have one thing in common that makes their issues shallow: they were all addicts. Yes, addiction is the common link to their demise. Michael was addicted not to the pain killers, the surgery, the fame , the weirdness that caused his issues to be compounded, but to attention he received from onlookers. Everywhere he went he was mobbed by those whose lives are so shallow that they hung on every event, thought and nuance Michael made. Michael, seeing this (or rather those who handled him) began a systematised program to elevate the strange nature of his behavior and all of us bought into it, sometimes without thinking. We became aghast when Michael changed from normal to the extreme, but in our collective shallowness isn't that what we wanted? We as onlookers became rathered bored with talent and again those who handled Michael perceived that after all where do you go after an album like Thriller? So the theme changed: the King of Pop, Wacko Jacko. The trials, the acquittals, all leading up to more invasion of celebrity until saturated Michael the persona long forgotten succumbed to the drugs given to mask the pain of loss: himself, which media vultures picked on until he was laid out in the Staple Center, again displayed for all to see.

Steve McNair's issues were similar. Unable to climb to the summit of football (Super Bowl Champion) he so labored looking for this elusive dream or fantasy. A great player, one of immense courage, for it takes that and more to stand in the pocket, run from those who wish to tackle you and to take the blame for losses, especially from media that have never played at any level. Yet there he was year after year contributing to his community, family and friends; making good on his word for his parent (firing her from her job after being drafted); providing a future for his children and being a person that was under the radar. Yet we found out about his shallow life and the minds went there. Speculation as to why, how, what for and what was he thinking dominated the news as we waited in anticipation for any explanation, shallow minds seeking the tawdry. Now to be fair this was an action that was stupid and as a mature person McNair should have been more aware, but in the shallowness of this culture he could not. Hobbled by injury, McNair found out that no one loves you when you are down and out, and after a career of adulation this was difficult. No play by play job, no coaching position, he was, well, out of the game. And the drug of the crowds cheering his ability now a distant memory, and unfortunately relationshipwith a groupie lover eventually took his life and in the end tarnished a reputation and caused mayhem for his family. Let me declare it is easy to say that he knew better. Of course he did. But look at the shallow way of greatness lost and it is easy to make the leap to an unhealthy relationships when the crowd is all you hear.

Which brings me to the last person, Senator Ensign of Nevada. A man having an affair is not new, nor is the affair with another married woman; but the shallowness stems from the morality police that attacked other people. mThis is a person that is a Conservative, a protector of values, a spokesperson for all that is right, upstanding and positive in the United States. A representative of the people in a body noted for discourse and deliberation which is the definition of senatore. Again, here we are seeing a person broken by the shallowness of living a lie. Having violated the contract of another married couple, his accountability partners made him write a letter ending the affair, taking it to Federal Express, mailing it, then in what can only be described as a man who like Govenor Sanford of South Carolina in the unstability calls this woman, tells her the story, and to ignore the letter and by the way "meet me in Las Vegas." It does not get any better than this!!!

So what is it we should take from these sorry tales? That if we are to elevate the quality of lives it begins with us. I believe that ignoring theses stories and the stench they bring to our lives eventually will move society to more important stories. These sagas end badly and my heart goes out to all of the victims mentioned.They and their families and constiuants deserve better. My hope is that in the words of Michael Jackson: Just leave them alone just stop dogging them around! Later

The Activist Judge ...oh my

This coming Monday the circus which is the Senate Judiciary Committee starts their sacred duty of advise and consent concerning Judge Sonya Sottomayer to the supreme court. This constitutional duty has been marred lately by the specious arguments of "strict constructionist versus activism". The reason I am concerned is that I do not know what this means and I do not believe anyone else (including those who say it) does either.

From my limited understanding ( I am not an attorney) the issues are: how Judges interpret the Constitution of the United States to perfect our union. Conservatives make an argument that judges should only consider what is written in this document. That there should be no expansion of what it means. This is interesting: if we carry this logic to its conclusion then, a lot of people would NOT be in pursuit of happiness or have life and liberty. This is why there are amendments specifically because the authors did not and COULD not for see the changes that our society would take. Cases in point voting for people of color, women Native Americans; changes in commerce, union activity, and the biggest issue privacy and person hood (Roe v. Wade). Imagine our country had we not had activist judges. This would be a much poorer and probably not as influential Nation,

So the committee meets to decide the qualification of this extraordinary Latina woman. Compared with Alberto Gonzales this appointment should be a no brainer, yet there is the fight which simmers. Not over qualification (her class mate is Stephen Carter not bad company) nor over her decisions she has been in the majority (mainstream for judges on decisions 94 per cent of the time, right 98 per cent of the time) but because there is this fear of activism and empathy, words that send shivers down the backs of her opponents.

My inquiry is this : what Court has not been an activist? The Warren Court, the Tawney Court (Dred Scott and the rise of Black Codes talk about activism!!!) all acted in ways that changed this nation, some good some better. Activism is how we have judicial review in the first place Mawberry v. Madison, established the court as the last voice of legal disputes, yet no raises their voice to champion this precious right.

So really what is the concern since fear is not an issue and never has been. Is it the concern of a more Liberal court? Observers posit that the court has not been that liberal or conservative, it has move slowly (activism maybe) over the last few sessions. Or is it that that empathy, compassion as a rule of judicial temperment might be utilized in making decisions. That societal impact, race, gender, transgender might be pertinent for cases at the bar. Or could it be that we as a society might be moving toward a more perfect union in our understanding of human conditions and how we are effected as a people? I have no answer but with this addition to the court it will be interesting to see how it plays out!! Thank God for Obama he sure keeps things interesting. Later

Bear Traps

One of the most difficult tasks in the human family is to admit getting caught. We spend hours trying not to get nabbed for those "crimes" we have done without any thought at all. In fact psychologists marvel at our attitudes to use reciprocity and tit-for-tat type of thinking. We garner favors in all that we do; we have a scratch your back if you scratch mine life style. In fact the axiom is clear today as it was yesterday: it is not what you know but who you know. This type of thinking creates traps, not the small easy to get out of traps (lying to protect someone, making a deal for temporary relief with the assurance of a trade). No, these are sure enough traps, the kind bears fear.

Our societies are so intertwined that when we make theses deals (notice I excluded the word PACT) the balance of power almost collapses. There is no room for any meaningful compromise.

Case in point: Global warming. Today the G-8 plus five (these are the up and coming Nations Brazil, India etc.) hashed out an agreement to keep global warming to two degrees Celsiusi. I am not kidding -- 2 degrees Celsius or for the rest of us 3.2 degrees Fahrenheit, by the year 2050 -- forty-one years from now. I can not speak for anyone else but all of us will be old as dirt ( I will be 96, my niece will be 45, just to prove my point) and a host of us -- well, we will be old as black pepper. That is a lot to ask for 3 degrees! Now, one may ask why just 3 degrees Fahrenheit or 2 degrees Celsius? Here is where getting caught in traps come in. History teaches us that the US and other industrial nations polluted their environment with all of their smoke stacks, spillage and raw sewage for years. In fact some nations were exploited by the waste or refuse from these nations. Now in an age when Al Gore calls global warming as important a fight as allies and the Nazi party one senses the hyperbole has reached an interesting level.

The new kids on the block (industrialy speaking) want to be pollutors too. Sounds infantile yet it is so. You all got to do; it we want our turn, and how dare you tells us not to. Therefore to keep peace we settled for 2 or 3 degrees so that commerce will not be interrupted. Again bear traps with no pleasent escape for the nations upcoming or on the wane.

Funny, relationships are like that also. The inability to extricate ourselves creates traps we may never escape. But that topic is slated for another day. Later.

Real America

Once again the politicos are attacking the Obama administration. this time it is the loss of "real America", those who are independents, liberal republicans and voters for change. According to the latest poll Obama has experienced a 16 point drop of these people from May 09. They are concerned for the size of the deficit, the lack of jobs, the stimulus package, and the "shovel ready jobs" that were a result of all this money being spent.

Let me concur with several points: it is true that the spending has been horrific, that there seems to be a disconnect from the voters for change due to the size of the problem (more later), and it seems that there is a rush to pass certain legislation into law (health care). All of this can be a little daunting and I am in agreement with some of the criticism. However what is more disturbing is the rapid change of attitude. Let us be real and tell the truth: Obama has been in office less than a year. There are more issues today than there were at the start of his term. The world has seen major upheavals: Iran, North Korea, Honduras, and now China whose issues were such that the leader had to leave the G-8 Conference because of the violence. These are not easy times.

The major auto corporations are emerging out of bankruptcy leaving a wake of people out of insurance, and out of luck and we have no clue as to the viability of this new industry. Add to this the need to recognize the effect on global warming and you can see there is a lot to deal with. This is not a new phenomenon, Presidents have always had a lot of things to do, but, this is the first time that decisions are being made by a person of color. And, I believe that these reactions are the result of a lack of trust that Obama has the ability to do the job. In other words: some Americans think they made a mistake with their vote.

The answer to these questions are still along way off and if by the end of this term things are not well then vote them all out! Everyone not just some of them. It might be time to look at a third party candidate, a prospect that frightens a lot of people including me. But until that time lets not get unraveled. We must as a country face the fact that there will not be as many people employed in certain industries and there must be a real and effective development of new industry (call it green if you must) to replace old jobs. Also we will have to conserve resources as new industry develops. Finally, we must have our own Truth Commission, where we find out what was the rational for going to war with the wrong villain. To this date we have not found Osama Ben Laden, stopped the Taliban nor curtailed the drug trade from Afghanistan or Mexico. Our schools are still not up to par, our economy is not responding at the levels effecting the common man, and jobs are not here.

It is easy to point to President Obama and wring our hands while hoping Sara Palin can wave a magic wand and Conservatism will triumph once again, but do not hold your breath. The issues facing real Americans are the same that have always existed. These issues are just compounded by a war which drained the economy of treasure, time and talent. Robbing our families of loved ones, workers and thinkers that we need to see this crises to the end. We as Americans of all colors, ethnic groups, sexes and cultures have to stop buying into the when is it going to happen mindset. Remember as people who overcome personal issues: we did not get here overnight, and it is a sure bet that we will not leave over night also. Later

Friendships

The issues is what is a friend? Definitions define the word as an alley, partner, kindred spirit. All are fine yet they seem so inadequate. Friends are those that struggle with you, strive in an endeavor, and in times of nakedness are truth tellers. And they can be the biggest betrayers in one's life. History, plays, epics, movies poems all tell stories of friends betraying a person Cesar had Brutus, Christ had Judas, countless others have their stories about betrayal. But this is not about betrayal, it's about how friends. Those who love you in spite of, because of, and stand with you when others might not.



I have know such friends in my life. In fact I lost a marriage because of my refusal to disconnect relationships. Sady some of us can not understand the closeness of another for we have no friends, just those we "know'. These people are the ones we see but do not see, hear but understand not, are involved but at levels of indifference. It is no wonder that we are so fragile we cut off the avenue that would enrich our lives.



Some friends make you laugh others you share private moments of reflection: that incident where you should not have survived, got away or been jailed. You laugh but inside the knowledge of the madness makes one think: what could have been and the tragedy people would have ascribed to lost potential.



There are times when friends can not be found not from trying but by circumstances that try as you might place you alone with that dark night of the soul where you have to face the crucible of decision and none can make it for you and no one can rescue you. It is yours alone to carry, your Calvary, Golgotha, your facing of quo vidas Domini? Which way Lord? At those instances friendships elude one in that time of decision however they do appear after the rendering.



This is the beauty of friendships! They critique of your choice. Unlike Job's friends they stick to you, laugh, cry and then after the crises talk about you like you had canine qualities.



I love my friends, they are a part of me. They have been with me as I have with them we have grown up together: now in a time of reflection my conscience thought laughs as I think of the roads we have and have yet to travel. Later

Sarah Palin going away

Well the fourth of July had all sorts of fire works. Now we will loose Governor Palin in about two weeks, let all of us heave a collective: who cares!!! That's right who cares. Not that she should or should not resign, or that she has other ambitions; but we should not care about the resignation of a quasi Conservative, intellectual pygmy and a pawn in a larger more cynical campaign for President.

I say quasi Conservative because she does not know the meaning of the phrase. Conservatives hold on to values, mores and money (my opinion) all of which Sarah Pailin has naught. Her values are ultra religious which is dangerous as to the main stream of religious thought. The mores she shares are more tolerant (Bristol"s child and the abandonment of the father who after wanting to marry her decided or was not allowed to ) than those of the conservative movement. Finally she is well poor like the rest of us neither to the manor born, earned , or a person that used hypergamy (marrying up the social ladder) . No Sarah is quite plain and that is the crux of the matter! It is her plainness that should have been the guarantee of success in the political arena. Her average Joe attitudes would have been useful to the cause of the Republican party's key to victory. This is why she was chosen in the first place: however like Mondale's choice of Geraldine Ferraro it turned out just the obverse. Not only was she a bust outside the Party she was shown to be unprepared, foolish and unqualified, a disaster for anyone with ambitions for that level . Sadly, the handlers knew this but thought they could pull this deception off blunting the historic and trail blazing Barack Obama.

The choice of Pailin was cynical and racist. It was a throwback to the days when some whites believed a yellow dog (hence the name yellow dog south) would win elections. Those who handled McCain's campaign believed that it did not matter who was number two; all that mattered was that a man of color could not be elected over the status quo. Sarah was along for the ride and it was not a good one. McCain's loss was and has been blamed on her unpreparedness, her incompetence, her spending her lifestyle, all the attributes thought to be the answer to the country's problems did not help a flawed run for the presidency of this nation.

So now Sarah Palin resigns saying that the main stream media does not get it. That she has taking a beating from people out to "get her". That has enemies that will find all kinds of fault and will continue to disrupt her administration. All of the above might be true except the reason for her failure is a Michael Jackson would say is the woman in the mirror.

I feel for her in a small way. Not everyone gets a chance to serve their country at the highest of levels. Those that do have a great responsibility to do their best and greatest work. To strive to improve, increase and lead people into a better life and provide an example of the best America has to offer. Sarah Palin did not come close to this challenge and unfortunately she cannot. Not because of conservatism, value differences or educational background. No Sarah's sin is worse than this: she did not have it, never did and never will. She is the ordinary person much like all of us only she tried to fool the public and got caught. Wearing the emperors clothes can reveal too much...Later.

Radio daze

The rise in talk radio should give all of us pause and we should listen closely as to what they say. Too often way to often we ignore them, as well we should. Not because of personality but be cause their diatribe is racist, cl assist, anti women, or feminist and in general mindless. Which is why we need to listen to them!! I know that sounds like a glaring contradiction and to some who read it is!!! But the reason I begin with the negative is to show how easy it is to get caught up in the dismissal of their screed. The fact is this type of talk is spreading throughout the country. Not just Rush Limbaugh, or a Mike Savage or Glen Beck, but other lesser know individuals on the local radio level. In cities large and small talk radio especially from the lunatic right is growing and it has its basis in religion. Time and again this medium uses the controversial issues of the day to frighten Americans. They cite unemployment which is high!!! The "socialization and the take over of medicine" which is still undecided, cap and trade that attacks the climate and tries to preserve the enviorment all of us share. If you listen to these persons you would believe that Obama has taken the country down the path of perdition never to be returned. Case in point a radio personality said the other day that liberals abandon friends and do not want to admit this. He then used the conflicts in Viet Nam , Cambodia, and several South American countries to make the point. I bring this up to remind all of us especially those who were not born or aware that these issues should have never involved a United States presence. Our involvement was to counter attack a Soviet sphere of " influence" that has dematerialized. Yet listening to theses cogent arguments (and they are cogent) people become fearful and in their fears react to information that is misleading. I argue that we must engage their positions challanging the proof of what they believe. Only then can we plot a course that makes sense and can be built on. The issues we face are to severe to reinvent the wheel everytime anelection is held. This kind of slash and burn does nothing but retard our Nation's influence and give comfort to those who would do us harm.
Later

What do we do now???

The election in Minnesota is over. Al Frankin has been declared the winner. It has taken 6 months to decide the outcome and that by the Court system. There is something quit sad about this. The people voted and the election was decided, yet ego, politics and corruption dragged a process out for 6 months. This is terrible.
So the question is now what will we do? Will we witness the end of cooperation among elected officials in DC? Will there be the arrogance of power that rams an agenda because there exists a filibuster-proof majority? Or will conscience still have a place in the discussion and will civility sway in the Senate? We already have witnessed the Party of "No" in action in the House with the offer of no alternatives the Leadership has called the last bill passed a pile of fecal matter (this is how one speaks ... if one has character) . The issues are still among us. We have 47 million people uninsured or under insured. This is a time bomb waiting to explode. Unemployment is growing as companies look to escape to others where they can do as they will and ignore basic safety regulations that would protect the enviorment, as well as those who work for them. We face climate change, and it does not matter if you agree or disagree with this. It is still a concern that merits open, frank, positive discussion that leads to a consensus EVEN IF THERE IS THE AGREEMENT TO DISAGREE. The issue is too important to ignore.

Again, what do we do now? If the Democrats take the attitude of ramming their agenda through with no thought of the minority all that will happen is a "remember the Obama administration cry" then when power shifts (and it does) there will be the whirlwind of reversals as we have seen in the past, creating more bitterness and less achievement. The Reagan years are proof of this and if people are honest they will remember that all those tax breaks, incentives and the trickle down economics were as George HW Bush stated: voodoo economics.

We as a Nartion can ill afford more of the same. There is a move in this country to the absurd; they target the Independents, Libertarians, as well as groups that are always targeted, however, the urgency of now is too great for the typical charades of government. What we must do now is forget Party affiliation, geographics and most of all the mad people on talk radio on either side of the dial and roll up our collective sleeves and speak honestly about the needs of our people. If we do not, the outside forces we claim that are against us do not have to lift a finger to overthrow us: History has proven that Nations, Empires and societies fall from within, not without.

What we must do now is remove our heads from the sandbox and breathe the air of reality.
Later