“Think for yourself and your own truth to decide for yourself why enthusiastic, upscale, intelligent, young, bold, and optimistic voters choose the brilliance of Obama” --- Ophra Winfrey.
History does repeat itself. In the 70's there was a spiritual discussion with guest Dr. Florence Kennedy (NY), in the U.C. Riverside student lounge over whether or not African American women needed to align themselves with their men or to align with white women. The brainstorm was whether the advancement of Black women was more important than the advancement of Black men. Emphasis was placed on women having children in and out of wedlock when they chose men who were not breadwinners, not motivated to build strong families, not mentors and teachers, and without strong spiritual centers. In those days, the result of the Moynihan Report was the huge elephant in the room. She cautioned us that Milton Friedman’s economic concept of "the powers that be" would use divide and conquer within the African American community to keep it down as they had done in Hawaii, Guatemala, Panama, the Philippine Islands and other Central and South American countries, now called the “Shock Doctrine” aka Naomi Klein. I have to admit in those days, that I had no idea who economist Milton Friedman was and his working at the University of Chicago but it made sense.
The epidemic of Black women being employed over Black men in the area, caused women to feel like caregivers, pimped for economic resources in exchange for companionship dating back to “slavery time”, the birth of cognitive dissonance. Kennedy encouraged us that no matter how much we were drawn sexually to certain men, to resist the urge to go to bed with men just because they flattered us and made us feel good. Men weren't being hired in proportion to their white counterparts but Kennedy assured us this wasn't an excuse for men to use women. We were challenged to think before we acted, to encourage our men to delay sexual gratification, have dreams, make educational strides to improve themselves, stop the cycle of destruction, trust themselves, be passionate about their life pursuits, find God or their spiritual center.
We were reminded that someone had opened the door for us so we needed to remember this when we entered the labor force, shared information, and supported one another through struggles instead of feeling superior to those less fortunate than ourselves because tomorrow wasn’t promised. We were encouraged to listen to our higher power when making decisions. We were cautioned to not forget that some people didn't recognize, know or understand opportunity. At times, Kennedy said, we all needed assistance finding the door and walking through it with our experience. She suggested, however, that we were supposed to be there for those individuals having difficulty but remember we served people best by “walking our talk” or being the example we wanted others to be. We were young in those days and maybe thought this required higher responsibility and continuity. And it does. We knew we were standing on the shoulder of those before us, hence we had a responsibility being of the W. E .B. DuBois’s Talented Tenth.
I can't believe I have lived to see this being played out publicly in the questioning of the loyalty of Ophra and Obama. Ophra's years of life contributions (being centered, having a positive attitude, recognizing our own foolishness and the cycles of self destruction, Angel Foundation, raising children, wearing the appropriate bra, accessing the right pair of jeans, getting off of welfare, voter rights, mental health days, the cost of convictions--the beef debacle—the KKK confrontation, weight loss, being on a budget, book recommendations, accentuating great careers, role models, excellent teachers, life coaches etc. are now being questioned and framed as "loyalty".
I see the divisiveness of the Clinton campaign. “Those who don't like me are my enemy” is narrow minded thinking. Is this an indication of the Hillary "diplomacy" to come? Many of us knew before this election began that Clinton wasn’t well liked and many Democrats didn’t like her. Personally, I haven’t met her but from what I read about her, I am not impressed. I respect that she is a candidate for President and she just might win. But I believe because someone of the same gender, race, religion, sexual preference, etc is running for office doesn’t mean I can't see beyond similarities and dissimilarities. Hillary’s hidden agenda is to thumb her nose at Republicans. She admits that she has been fighting her for sixteen years. This doesn’t appeal to me. I feel that that is her personal pursuit. Notice after the debate she finally started using the words “us” and “we”. Prior she was using the “I” and “me” words. Now she is using “change” and spinning off of Obama’s “yes we can” message with farm worker’s “Si Se Puede” which Hillary has a difficult time pronouncing. Obama’s ability to see that our political cause should be larger than ourselves does appeal to me. My position was solidified when Hillary chided Bill was just “out of control” and overly exuberant when he slapped Obama’s record as a “fairy tale”. Her demonstrative zeal to discredit Obama made me rethink Hillary. Bill’s apologizing today for not knowing that hammering Obama to defend Hillary wasn’t the correct response of a spouse, is a little too late to be believable. The Clintons’ lost face and credibility in South Carolina and many voters haven’t forgotten it. Let’s face it, the Clintons’ are professional politicians and they know what “push polling” is and how to plant a negative seed “to meet their goals”. I am voting and responding against that “old school way of doing politics”: demonizing, lying about, and pretending you aren’t aware of your “team members’” blatant behavior or pulling out of a situation to show clean hands when everyone in the room knows these are patterns of your behavior.
I believe with Ophra’s resources she sees this and puts her reputation on the line. Obama, like Ophra, brings out the best in folks. Last Sunday with Caroline Kennedy, Michelle Obama, and Maria Shriver on stage, Ophra (UCLA assembly for Obama 2/3/8) warned us “don’t be played small” because brilliance is what you stand for. Yes, I believe some people relish pain, fear, denial, resulting in family dysfunction, competing with the Jones and hopelessness. I allow them to own it.
Florence Kennedy, like Ophra, encouraged us to choose leadership that is spiritually based, requiring creative imagination, steeped in wisdom which has no color or gender. And again I became rejuvenated to think for myself and “my own truth” to decide for myself why bold, enthusiastic, intelligence, upscale, young, and optimistic voters choose the brilliance of Obama
or Fired up and Ready to Go! because our government depends on the spiritual ground roots in order to change.
Minerva Williams,
Mighty Thunder
Monday, February 11, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
WORKING THE POLLS – OUR FINEST CITIZENS SHOW TRUE EXCELLENCE
Working the Voting Polls is better than gawking at the mall. I just left the polls and went to dine at Weinerschnitzel with Todd. Why did they leave out the “der” in Weinerschnitzel? I share with him that after an hour of fumbling around we finally got our voting pecking order: Cheryl handles the roster signatures, Betty and I will handle the initial rosters (there are three, one for the outside, a master, and a backup). Hugh will do the provisional ballots and signatures. Marissa and Hugh will tear off the ballots, keep track of the “voids”, handicap voters, Spanish voters and the exit door. Betty and I are to color code voters until 6pm, even though the campaign ends at 8pm. Why do they stop at 6pm? I don’t know. We have to have two sets of colored pencils. Our leader forgot hers so thanks to Eleanor, an ‘Italiano’ and eight year poll veteran, and good looking lady of 65 years with no fat anywhere. Her team is dressed in shades of green, all dressed California casual. We are the Motley crew, but as one voter said “colorful”. Apparently Eleanor fell off of her roof and had to have knee surgery. She said after having two children she can deal with just about any pain. I can remember breaking my own leg; I don’t wish that on anyone. In spite of her not being in stilletos, she dons a wood cane, minus top hat, and keeps the spirit up, “they may be slow on the top but there’s a fire below”, she quipped. Given a negative prognosis of healing, not quite Ginger Rogers either, she is walking, dancing and able to swing her bad leg. Apparently we aren’t allowed to bring music to this venue (no one knows why) but she provides additional entertainment. Eleanor loves men, the thick Adanos types preferred but she’ll ogle the thinner types also. We get the leftovers. KR walks in. He coordinates the Obama folks locally after Susan gave it up. He comes to our side and offers that he is going to Avalon for the Hollywood after party. I heard it is an awesome Hollywood eye candy and sound venue. Why go locally he asks? I only smiled. In my head I thought, it is 40 miles closer (one way), less wear and tear on the car, no parking fees, gas is up to $3.20/gallon, no dings on the car. The drinks at the Bailey’s are cheaper and larger, you are around friends, and it builds up the local moral for Obama. We don’t need movie stars to validate ourselves, no crowd rubbing; Maria Shriver, Ophra, Edward Kennedy, Alex Baldwin aren’t going to be there so why pay the cover charge? But he knows all of this.
I am walking around in the garage and can’t find my colored pencils. The last time I used them was for the calculus graphing assignments. Now there is a period in my life I need to revisit with you, one day. It makes setting up for a voting poll a piece of cake. But calculus is working with your brain, concepts and figures, not people, great for policy wonks. A couple of us walked the perimeter looking for a black lab puppy. Apparently someone opened the door of one of the elder poll worker’s camper and he is gone. She’s not in tears but frozen. An hour later we hear that her son came by, picked him up thinking that “puppy” shouldn’t be left in the vehicle all day. Nice kid, but why didn’t he call his mother and tell her? She was only 100 feet away. Now she is going to need to get her blood pressure down. The bathroom in the HOA is smelling so bad that one of the workers put wet newspapers under the door to cut the odor. I would never have thought to do that. But it does bring the smell down. There is a continuous flow of people coming in all morning. A well dressed, suited eager beaver arrives at 6:32AM and wants to vote before he goes into work. He doesn’t know about that little law that says your employer can give you up to two hours to go and vote but he offers he has clients all day, can he fill in the ballot and we process it accordingly. Almost in unison we say “NO”. Besides we haven’t yet zeroed out the machines. That has to be done first before you are officially open. He is clueless when Matilda offers this. He runs off, cruel missives are tossed at us as he misses the “mystery step” which was a problem all morning. Eleanor runs green masking tape to indicate her side of the room, where to stand, and applies beige masking “Please wait” tape with added green arrows for directions. Problem? Many voters, once they received their ballots, wanted to walk to the opposite side of the room to return them, even when Hugh and Marissa had instructed them otherwise. It became entertainment for Betty and I as a continuous flow of individuals didn’t follow instructions. Eleanor then started double lining the tape which lasted all of four minutes when one guy in new white Perry Etonic sneakers with the black leather lightning strike sucked her floor rules right out the door. Not nice, but Beverly and I got a good laugh with Cheryl and Hugh chiming in. The look on Eleanor’s face was priceless and everyone got a thunderous laugh out of that one. I noticed when you complemented a lady for looking great, they wanted to get into a chit chat with you, instead of just saying ‘thanks’. I had never noticed that before. And you would have thought they knew this before they left the house. People must not buy mirrors anymore.
Minerva Williams,
Mighty Thunder
I am walking around in the garage and can’t find my colored pencils. The last time I used them was for the calculus graphing assignments. Now there is a period in my life I need to revisit with you, one day. It makes setting up for a voting poll a piece of cake. But calculus is working with your brain, concepts and figures, not people, great for policy wonks. A couple of us walked the perimeter looking for a black lab puppy. Apparently someone opened the door of one of the elder poll worker’s camper and he is gone. She’s not in tears but frozen. An hour later we hear that her son came by, picked him up thinking that “puppy” shouldn’t be left in the vehicle all day. Nice kid, but why didn’t he call his mother and tell her? She was only 100 feet away. Now she is going to need to get her blood pressure down. The bathroom in the HOA is smelling so bad that one of the workers put wet newspapers under the door to cut the odor. I would never have thought to do that. But it does bring the smell down. There is a continuous flow of people coming in all morning. A well dressed, suited eager beaver arrives at 6:32AM and wants to vote before he goes into work. He doesn’t know about that little law that says your employer can give you up to two hours to go and vote but he offers he has clients all day, can he fill in the ballot and we process it accordingly. Almost in unison we say “NO”. Besides we haven’t yet zeroed out the machines. That has to be done first before you are officially open. He is clueless when Matilda offers this. He runs off, cruel missives are tossed at us as he misses the “mystery step” which was a problem all morning. Eleanor runs green masking tape to indicate her side of the room, where to stand, and applies beige masking “Please wait” tape with added green arrows for directions. Problem? Many voters, once they received their ballots, wanted to walk to the opposite side of the room to return them, even when Hugh and Marissa had instructed them otherwise. It became entertainment for Betty and I as a continuous flow of individuals didn’t follow instructions. Eleanor then started double lining the tape which lasted all of four minutes when one guy in new white Perry Etonic sneakers with the black leather lightning strike sucked her floor rules right out the door. Not nice, but Beverly and I got a good laugh with Cheryl and Hugh chiming in. The look on Eleanor’s face was priceless and everyone got a thunderous laugh out of that one. I noticed when you complemented a lady for looking great, they wanted to get into a chit chat with you, instead of just saying ‘thanks’. I had never noticed that before. And you would have thought they knew this before they left the house. People must not buy mirrors anymore.
Minerva Williams,
Mighty Thunder
The Night Before Super Tuesday
I will be working with a Motley crew for the voting process. We have never met before hence it will be quite an experience. Three of us live in the Stonegate community, but have never met. It is interesting how a little village of homeowners can move to an area that is designated as a “village” and somehow never meet, converse or run into one another. So where is the concept of the “village”? Turns out Connie lives three doors down and has lived here twenty years and provides the key to the club house. Her home is where the “Y” kids hang out in front during the warmer days. She does a beautiful job of decorating her home during the major holidays. I spoke to her regarding signs in the yard. She says fine as long as you don’t keep them up all year round. I didn’t comment but I had told Todd that the first amendment should be included in our HOA, at least I thought I was still in an American village. She laughed.
The lady leading us is new at the election process, but is getting paid by her government job and the voting commission. Now that is some nice chump change for patriotism. Knowing she doesn’t know it, I’ll be rereading book two and three again to understand how the room is supposed to be set up and what the expectations are. There are three books the voting commission encourages you to read. She had an audio tape I wanted to take home to review but she didn’t want any of us to take it. How much you want to bet, she doesn’t even take it out of the cover? I need to visually see the materials and manipulate them; call me a tactile learner. Anyway, this will be a hoot and a holler tomorrow; I can tell we all have “assertive personalities” with a goal and soft leadership arriving at 6am. I’ll need some strong coffee in the morning and a couple shots of cognac when I return home for lunch, but we don’t have any cognac. I’ll have to deal with Sprite. Todd is excited for me that I won’t be moping around the house all day; I have something to look forward to.
I did get an email from the local paper that they will “try” with a “big T” to be at the election night Watch party. The Obama supporters are united, finally. I believe we will do very well tomorrow however I am not sure of California. The “I want a woman, hear me roar portion of the party is very organized and savvy. I believe the Obama people are underestimating them. I should know I have been working with them since UCLA days. The only problem is I don’t believe Hillary is the answer. She certainly does roar, a lot I might add, but her personal appeal, tactics, and hair brained behavior of her husband has me and a lot of Democrats raising their eyebrows. Just what is the ‘real deal’ here you two? To thrash out your dirty laundry again? I don’t think so, and the American public doesn’t think so. Why would anyone want to put their marriage on the line again? Is this foolhardy or are they gluttons for punishment. I can see that 22nd Amendment being challenged. Enough of the dynasty thinking; they aren’t the Roosevelts’. I can see the republican spinners going overtime with their continual quips, gripes and sound bites.
This party doesn’t need the distraction of the “Clintons” right now, where are the “elders” of this party, why aren’t they doing anything? And civility, I can’t imagine any through the convention process, but it will definitely sell seats to dedicated Dems, T-shirts, cups, buttons, pins, pens, hats, jackets, posters, boxing gloves, television advertising, and hotel rooms. It should certainly command the attention of the media. There should be plenty of newsprint and Youtube videos dedicated to the theme. I hate seeing what is happening to the party. Will rejuvenating the party get them to come out and vote? I don’t know, if they hammer one another again like the Las Vegas debates, I believe you will have the “last of the Mohicans” in the party. Maybe that is why Cynthia McKinney is going “green party” or is she also starved for attention?
Minerva Williams,
Mighty Thunder
The lady leading us is new at the election process, but is getting paid by her government job and the voting commission. Now that is some nice chump change for patriotism. Knowing she doesn’t know it, I’ll be rereading book two and three again to understand how the room is supposed to be set up and what the expectations are. There are three books the voting commission encourages you to read. She had an audio tape I wanted to take home to review but she didn’t want any of us to take it. How much you want to bet, she doesn’t even take it out of the cover? I need to visually see the materials and manipulate them; call me a tactile learner. Anyway, this will be a hoot and a holler tomorrow; I can tell we all have “assertive personalities” with a goal and soft leadership arriving at 6am. I’ll need some strong coffee in the morning and a couple shots of cognac when I return home for lunch, but we don’t have any cognac. I’ll have to deal with Sprite. Todd is excited for me that I won’t be moping around the house all day; I have something to look forward to.
I did get an email from the local paper that they will “try” with a “big T” to be at the election night Watch party. The Obama supporters are united, finally. I believe we will do very well tomorrow however I am not sure of California. The “I want a woman, hear me roar portion of the party is very organized and savvy. I believe the Obama people are underestimating them. I should know I have been working with them since UCLA days. The only problem is I don’t believe Hillary is the answer. She certainly does roar, a lot I might add, but her personal appeal, tactics, and hair brained behavior of her husband has me and a lot of Democrats raising their eyebrows. Just what is the ‘real deal’ here you two? To thrash out your dirty laundry again? I don’t think so, and the American public doesn’t think so. Why would anyone want to put their marriage on the line again? Is this foolhardy or are they gluttons for punishment. I can see that 22nd Amendment being challenged. Enough of the dynasty thinking; they aren’t the Roosevelts’. I can see the republican spinners going overtime with their continual quips, gripes and sound bites.
This party doesn’t need the distraction of the “Clintons” right now, where are the “elders” of this party, why aren’t they doing anything? And civility, I can’t imagine any through the convention process, but it will definitely sell seats to dedicated Dems, T-shirts, cups, buttons, pins, pens, hats, jackets, posters, boxing gloves, television advertising, and hotel rooms. It should certainly command the attention of the media. There should be plenty of newsprint and Youtube videos dedicated to the theme. I hate seeing what is happening to the party. Will rejuvenating the party get them to come out and vote? I don’t know, if they hammer one another again like the Las Vegas debates, I believe you will have the “last of the Mohicans” in the party. Maybe that is why Cynthia McKinney is going “green party” or is she also starved for attention?
Minerva Williams,
Mighty Thunder
Friday, February 1, 2008
Wesley Snipes
February 1, 2008 ABC News just announced that actor Wesley Snipes’ jury made a judgment in Florida that Wesley is technically only being charged for three misdemeanor charges totaling $21,000,000 in charges for not filing these tax returns in six years. The two felony counts were dropped.
Is he being slapped on the wrists? The Moral conscientiousness of having to pay taxes is under the microscope. I didn’t know there was a serious movement out there to let people know that paying taxes is unconstitutional. Snipes was to be serving a 16-year sentence with extra penalties for $12,000,000 tax evasion charges. The jury technically agreed that he can’t defraud if he doesn’t file the taxes because then there is no proof of intent. Depending on which news channel you listen to, they say that the prosecutors in the case didn’t have a strong enough case and presented it poorly. So this gives him time to file? So is he off the hook? I wish Wesley well. I love his movies. The largess Black strong, physical man, persevering against the many odds, even when he was the evil drug dealer, “just making a living”. Being the creepy “savior of man” in the blood-letting movie “Blade” was a little bit weird. I can only imagine the anxiety he is going through considering where he has been in life from the ghetto to the movie star. Where was his business manager or accountant in all of this? Are they being penalized? No mention of them. And then the real question revisited is whether or not the Constitution says that Americans are required to pay taxes on wages or not. Some people point to paying taxes as a secret created at Jekyl Island by a distinguished group of financial men, who control our federal reserve system. It is purported by Irwin Schiff and Banister and a group of retired IRS agents that there isn’t anything in the Tax Codes supporting such investigations. There was supposed to be more agents ready to come forward at Snipes’ case but the judge stopped that parade. Have you noticed this isn’t covered in the media with the fervor as the Democratic debates?
The Banister film Aaron Russo’s “America: Freedom to Fascism”, the authorized final director’s cut in essence says that “there are 3 million Americans that don’t pay taxes at all”. Is it because they know this little known secret? WOW, to hide $12,000,000 when the rest of us little people can barely make $40,000 a year!! Shoot I have been looking for a “decent job” since my 1996 layoff. Where is your human resource officer? Say Snipes! How are employment opportunities at your foundation? But take those taxes and FICA out of my check; I can’t afford a good tax attorney like you can. Yes I have to believe that there is change to believe in, it can’t get any worse. Can it? Come on OBAMA get into office and put your economic stimulus package to work and I don’t mean borrowing trillions from China and Japan either. Don’t they hold enough of our debt? Oh by the way, Obama, I did apply to your campaign, three times and made phone calls, never heard from them . . . Nervie, Santa Clarity Valley
Is he being slapped on the wrists? The Moral conscientiousness of having to pay taxes is under the microscope. I didn’t know there was a serious movement out there to let people know that paying taxes is unconstitutional. Snipes was to be serving a 16-year sentence with extra penalties for $12,000,000 tax evasion charges. The jury technically agreed that he can’t defraud if he doesn’t file the taxes because then there is no proof of intent. Depending on which news channel you listen to, they say that the prosecutors in the case didn’t have a strong enough case and presented it poorly. So this gives him time to file? So is he off the hook? I wish Wesley well. I love his movies. The largess Black strong, physical man, persevering against the many odds, even when he was the evil drug dealer, “just making a living”. Being the creepy “savior of man” in the blood-letting movie “Blade” was a little bit weird. I can only imagine the anxiety he is going through considering where he has been in life from the ghetto to the movie star. Where was his business manager or accountant in all of this? Are they being penalized? No mention of them. And then the real question revisited is whether or not the Constitution says that Americans are required to pay taxes on wages or not. Some people point to paying taxes as a secret created at Jekyl Island by a distinguished group of financial men, who control our federal reserve system. It is purported by Irwin Schiff and Banister and a group of retired IRS agents that there isn’t anything in the Tax Codes supporting such investigations. There was supposed to be more agents ready to come forward at Snipes’ case but the judge stopped that parade. Have you noticed this isn’t covered in the media with the fervor as the Democratic debates?
The Banister film Aaron Russo’s “America: Freedom to Fascism”, the authorized final director’s cut in essence says that “there are 3 million Americans that don’t pay taxes at all”. Is it because they know this little known secret? WOW, to hide $12,000,000 when the rest of us little people can barely make $40,000 a year!! Shoot I have been looking for a “decent job” since my 1996 layoff. Where is your human resource officer? Say Snipes! How are employment opportunities at your foundation? But take those taxes and FICA out of my check; I can’t afford a good tax attorney like you can. Yes I have to believe that there is change to believe in, it can’t get any worse. Can it? Come on OBAMA get into office and put your economic stimulus package to work and I don’t mean borrowing trillions from China and Japan either. Don’t they hold enough of our debt? Oh by the way, Obama, I did apply to your campaign, three times and made phone calls, never heard from them . . . Nervie, Santa Clarity Valley
Thursday, January 31, 2008
HILLARY'S JELOUSY
And oft, my jealousy shapes faults that are not. ~William Shakespeare
Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening. ~Maya Angelou
Jealousy in romance is like salt in food. A little can enhance the savor, but too much can spoil the pleasure and, under certain circumstances, can be life-threatening. ~Maya Angelou
After reading several news blogs, CBS, FOX, MSNBC news this morning, I wonder whether the problem with Hillary seems to be “JEALOUSY”, she doesn’t hear that people love her as they love Obama or Edwards, so would that cause her to use Rovian-smear tactics to draw attention to herself? The latest is the court decision on whether or not the Democratic preapproved, ten-month agreement to have voter registration set up in nine casinos in Nevada would give casino employees an opportunity to vote because they often can’t afford to take off of work to go to the polls where they live. The bigger purpose was to court the union into increasing registration and voters. The other purpose was to give voice to the often voiceless hotel, motel workers and access to the political process. Unbeknowst to anyone at the time, the union decided to endorse Obama, not Clinton, which appears to have caused “bad mouthing” again from the Clinton staff because the person who filed the suit happens to be on the Clinton team. Consequently, the Nevada legal system has a new cliffhanger this morning, now that O.J. Simpson’s case has been delayed for a couple more weeks, and we wait and see.
May I suggest a better solution that George, a friend of mine, discussed at the last election cycle, not new however, to have everyone in the United States have Friday & Saturday off to go to the polls or caucuses and make it a two day national holiday. Take all day Sunday and Monday to accumulate the results. Then Tuesday, since we have a thing for Tuesday’s, have the final results announced. No one area could have undue influence over the other. We could even do better than that and give everyone an election number, feed it into the ATM machine and come up with a popular number. This would get rid of the partial electorate system and you know definitively, no computer glitches or “special imbedded chip programming”. Whaa-lah. It is done. But I guess that would take the fun out of crisscrossing the nation, chasing after your opponents, huge advertising and promotional campaigns for Iowans, Nevada, and New Hampshire voters (to name a few).
Obama-ites! You pick the quote that best sizes up the situation. The sad part is that Bill is jealous of the attention Hillary is receiving at this time. Is this what makes him so vocal that it seems hard to believe at times that he was “presidential”. I mean at one time, I really liked this guy. I thought the BIG GUYS utilize push pollsters (i.e. McCain in 2000 with the black child attack and Handy’s comments on “universal truth”), random plants (i.e. Coleman Young in Jesse Jackson’s camp with the “Jaime statement toward Jews”, and or well paid saboteurs (i.e. Bush II in Kerry’s swift boat situation) to vent the campaign’s deeper anger when they are not winning or at a loss as to how to find that “special quality” that makes them authentic, believable and trusting.
I hear other politicos tell me that the problem is there are strategic elements that the Obama camp has put into place that some camps didn’t think to observe: the ignored young people voting “for real” in huge numbers, married couples taking time out of their busy days to become activated, registered and vote and single women wanting their voices heard in the concept of “hope”. We always heard how the older person would vote because their “patriotic” concept of who they are and wanting to see a woman president before they die. We heard how the high income person will vote because they have the most to lose if they don’t. But the lower and middle income Americans expressed disenfranchisement and saw politics as a game of sport where their hopes, dreams and future weren’t being included or even actualized as part of the political equation. In comes Edwards and Obama.
The occupation in Iraq isn’t imagined, it affects many of us. We have relatives overseas, friends in a quandary and patriot friends, who won’t forget 9/11 and the lives that were lost, but don’t know how to channel that anger which is seldom addressed. We are hurting economically, we are hurting politically, and we are hurting spiritually as a country. Change isn’t that difficult to understand because it is a constant. OK you hard nosed philosophers, give me hell on that one, but maybe the more experienced, under dog, comeback kids have been after us for years, paranoid, media hounds (I've spent most of my life walking under that hovering cloud, jealousy, whose acid raindrops blurred my vision and burned holes in my heart. ~Astrid Alauda). The Clinton campaign should call their efforts what they are “jealous” of the apparent authentic message of change, inclusion and readiness that Obama speaks, which is being acknowledged for so many who have been disenfranchised by the efforts of the Bush Administration’s seven years. Just capitalize on that in your own words and again, “stop using I”, there is no team in the word “I”. Basic isn’t it? Check out these pearls http://www.quotegarden.com/jealousy.html and tell me if you can’t see the parallels.
Never waste jealousy on a real man: it is the imaginary man that supplants us all in the long run. ~George Bernard ShawJealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. Jealousy scans for evidence to prove the point - that others will be preferred and rewarded more than you. There is only one alternative - self-value. If you cannot love yourself, you will not believe that you are loved. You will always think it's a mistake or luck. Take your eyes off others and turn the scanner within. Find the seeds of your jealousy, clear the old voices and experiences. Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them. ~Jennifer JamesWe don’t need to eat our young Democrats, the Republicans will serve us up in due time. We don’t get our act together and though they may not have the political lockstep as usual, don’t believe they aren’t paying attention. But others of us are FIRED UP AND READY TO GO, and see without blinders, that it is all of America that will be heard. The change we speak of is inclusion and is not out of convenience, but because it is time.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Two-Headed Billary Has No Shame
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Clintons, now known in the media and some blogs as “Billary”, will say anything to get elected. By referring to Bill Clinton as the “first black president”, Toni Morrison’s is strategically low balling and tarnishing Obama’s integrity. During the past week there have been Implications, discussions, dissections, justifications and questions about whether or not Obama “is good enough” to run for office. Is he experienced enough to know change? Not allowing the Obama camp time to concentrate on building voters, which is the life blood of any campaign, is an obvious outcry of “building on fear” and “the notion that Obama isn’t as good as Hillary. She “deserves” the presidency because she is the wife of Bill, a woman and is hated by the Republicans. At the rate she is going many Democrats are going to start feeling the same about her divisiveness, tackiness, street fighting tactics and arrogance.
Today, the New York Times, endorsed Hillary and urged her to take the lead and to change the “ugly” tone in the election campaign. The editorial board expressed that Hillary’s comments and bickering aren’t good for the country. The American people don’t need this. The Democratic Party doesn’t need this. They suggest that any more of this just might cause a huge black backlash.
Hillary counters that “the stokes” are reflective of the difference between the two candidates. There is no mention of Edwards. Finally, I heard this was a three way race whereby Edwards carried South Carolina and Bill lost when he campaigned there. She isn’t taking responsibility for the comments exploding on black talk radio and blogs. It is just a cheap shot at giving her media access and sound bites, talk about saving on advertising. Instead she blows the statements off with an endearing, “her husband just got carried away” and vows to bring the debate back to the issues. She adds the party is proud of the fact that an African American and woman are running for office. There was no mention of the Hispanic governor that has recently dropped out of the race. Bill admitted yesterday that he has so much passion about Hillary’s candidacy that he has difficulty restraining himself. Yes, Bill we know about your personal restraints, but we are concerned about your recent heart surgery, so calm down, we certainly wouldn’t want to loose you to an aneurism.
When questioned by the media at a fundraiser with Jesse Jackson in the background, Michelle Obama takes the high road and a civil response to the bashing of Obama. “We didn’t expect the Clintons to use “win it at all costs tactics” that willfully distract and distort Obama’s record. Wasn’t Jesse Jackson Bill’s spiritual advisor when the Monica gate exploded? At another media questioning, she says, “If you can’t run your own house, you can’t run the White House”, although Michelle says it was focusing on “her relationship with Obama”. The media is constantly repeating the later segment implying that Michelle was referring to the Billary household.
Hillary doesn’t believe that the “questions” she brought up about Obama’s record need more scrutiny. This 35 year public servant shamelessly gives her headlines and sound bites. With the attention coming back on “Billary”, she claims that what she said is the past, and “ let’s move forward”.
After much scrutiny of my own, I remember a discussion in poli sci classes on the “Bradley effect”. Is this what we are observing? Is this a reflection of what Whites (or any other group of people) say, one thing in public and behind closed doors, when the opportunity arises, something completely different. We called this process a matter of “should, could, would, and what I aught to do”.
I believe that Clinton going negative pushes and muddies up the civility of an election. To other pundits I watched this week, in the news segment “Keeping them Honest”, there is no surprise that ½ the voting population is black. To me the Clinton’s should know better. They understand the strife and injection of “racism” when they imply and state such lies about Obama. Billary has made the point of saying: “I didn’t inhale (marijuana caper)”, “I didn’t make love to that woman (Monica)”, “That property deal just went wrong (White Water)” , “We didn’t have anything to do with his death”, “We didn’t know that we couldn’t accept foreign contributions (Hsu)”, “Immigrants should have temporary identification”, ‘Immigrants should not have temporary identification”. The list just goes on and on and on with their kissing their finger to determine the direction of the politically correct.
The under current of race in this election is a lasting and reflective problem of the US’s real feelings about diversity. We as a party talk a mean rap but do we practice what we preach? Now we hear all kinds of stories regarding Rizco. The spotlight has moved to Rizco, a “slum land lord” who gave many Democratic politicians in Illinois considerable contributions while his tenants suffered with “no heat” in their apartments and their buildings being boarded up.
The $86,000 given to the Obama campaign was moved to other charities prior to this story ever coming out, but Clinton doesn’t mention this in her snipes. There wasn’t anything illegal, but Obama recalls the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the home. He was “boneheaded” in buying a piece of property $300,000 below the asking price the same day Rizco’s wife bought the house next door to Obama. This won’t be just a YouTube response; once it is turned off the situation is over, because the news media will now jump on the bandwagon and raise the speculations that there was some “impropriety” in Obama’s five-hour work relationship.
However I find that after weeks of attacking him publically, saying that if he can’t handle our comments, what is he going to do when he is running against the republicans who have “hounded the Clintons for 15 years” and Hillary and Bill having received front page coverage that voters have had the opportunity to read. The fact that their attacks are nothing more than “outright lies” and scrupulous distortions only gives one the true character of “Billary” and Obama. I don’t see “diplomacy” in the White House. Obama states that it is strongly needed. With Hillary in power, I question the style and approach that would be used that is required in negotiations. I could see the headlines in the NY times “the taming of the shrew” and visualize her cutting down heads of state and foreign ministers when they disagree with her, using her shrill voice, with her explosive wide eyed expressions and eventual sniffles when they tell her “no”. I can see Bill rushing into the room “defending her honor” because of his years of guilt and nothing else to do.
Robert Rice says Bill Clinton is being disingenuous when he apologizes and needs to stop taking the attention away from his wife.
Yes, Obama is up to being beat up because he is running for the highest position in land: President of the United States. Do the Clintons need to remember their own beating downs in Arkansas, the White House and when Hillary ran for Senate (“carpetbagger accusations”). Beating on Obama from his own party leader is a reminder of why many individuals register Independent, Undecided, or respond with “don’t get involved in politics”, “won’t vote’, ‘don’t believe politicians”, “my vote doesn’t count” and lose respect for the voting process.
“If what we have heard from Billary is what they are willing to say in public, imagine what they are saying behind closed doors?”, said one young voter being interviewed at the Democratic Alliance for Action meeting last night.
What I find interesting in the polling is that after all the puffery, only 59% of South Carolina African Americans are more comfortable with Obama. I would like to see those poll numbers. What led to this final conclusion? What other questions did they ask? Who were they interviewing? What methodology did they use to develop the sample and the final study group? Was the sample random? What are interviewees’ demographics, income, occupation, education, age, years of voting, gender and financial standing? How often do the respondents vote? Are they involved in any other political activities? And if this is true, there is still a lot of work the Obama camp needs to do to change the direction of the 2008 Presidential election.
I strongly recommend that the Obama campaign start a loud clear, concise and firm dialogue regarding immigration questions: What are we going to do about the borders (Mexico and Canada)? Are more border patrols needed? If you are controlling your borders, what about the foreign countries owning our ports? Do you recommend “temporary identification”? Why or Why not? Will you continue to provide healthcare privileges to farm workers (who are endorsing Hillary) to woe the Latino votes? Are you going to hire Hispanic speaking staff and campaign volunteers who speak Spanish? Are you running any ads in La Opinion, the Arabic, Sentinel, and other California, Arizona and New Mexico publications and other state’s “minority” base media? Will you assign a team that responds specifically to the lies raised by the Clinton campaign by visiting local democratic and college crowds?
Hillary left Bill and Chelsea in SC while she visited California. If SC African Americans fall for this “Bill Repenting Show”, I’ll have to reconsider my party affiliation, because the statesmen and women of this party really need to remind Clinton even though he is a spouse, he is still the public “head” of the Democratic Party. Though 24 states will be checking in on February 5th, let’s not limp to the finish line. The race certainly not over, we haven’t even begun see the Republicans all new level of fighting.
So today Hillary announced that she will be introducing her economic stimulus package to counter Bush’s questionable efforts. Stay tuned.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Change of subject: Well the television news isn’t covering it, but HE IS BACK! According to the Associated Press, Paul Wolfowitz was hired as Chairman of the International Security Advisory Board which runs “a high level advisory panel on arms control and disarmament, nonproliferation and related subjects. . . ” approved by Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State. As President of the World Bank, when he blew off bank regulations by allowing his girlfriend a $150K loan, he caused an international uproar by not stepping down after the infractions were discovered. As Deputy of Defense Secretary and one of the architects of the Iraqi occupation, the US is in a militarily quagmire with 3500 and dead soldiers and counting. So what is next, more White House insider meddling called “hide the ammunition” ?
The Clintons, now known in the media and some blogs as “Billary”, will say anything to get elected. By referring to Bill Clinton as the “first black president”, Toni Morrison’s is strategically low balling and tarnishing Obama’s integrity. During the past week there have been Implications, discussions, dissections, justifications and questions about whether or not Obama “is good enough” to run for office. Is he experienced enough to know change? Not allowing the Obama camp time to concentrate on building voters, which is the life blood of any campaign, is an obvious outcry of “building on fear” and “the notion that Obama isn’t as good as Hillary. She “deserves” the presidency because she is the wife of Bill, a woman and is hated by the Republicans. At the rate she is going many Democrats are going to start feeling the same about her divisiveness, tackiness, street fighting tactics and arrogance.
Today, the New York Times, endorsed Hillary and urged her to take the lead and to change the “ugly” tone in the election campaign. The editorial board expressed that Hillary’s comments and bickering aren’t good for the country. The American people don’t need this. The Democratic Party doesn’t need this. They suggest that any more of this just might cause a huge black backlash.
Hillary counters that “the stokes” are reflective of the difference between the two candidates. There is no mention of Edwards. Finally, I heard this was a three way race whereby Edwards carried South Carolina and Bill lost when he campaigned there. She isn’t taking responsibility for the comments exploding on black talk radio and blogs. It is just a cheap shot at giving her media access and sound bites, talk about saving on advertising. Instead she blows the statements off with an endearing, “her husband just got carried away” and vows to bring the debate back to the issues. She adds the party is proud of the fact that an African American and woman are running for office. There was no mention of the Hispanic governor that has recently dropped out of the race. Bill admitted yesterday that he has so much passion about Hillary’s candidacy that he has difficulty restraining himself. Yes, Bill we know about your personal restraints, but we are concerned about your recent heart surgery, so calm down, we certainly wouldn’t want to loose you to an aneurism.
When questioned by the media at a fundraiser with Jesse Jackson in the background, Michelle Obama takes the high road and a civil response to the bashing of Obama. “We didn’t expect the Clintons to use “win it at all costs tactics” that willfully distract and distort Obama’s record. Wasn’t Jesse Jackson Bill’s spiritual advisor when the Monica gate exploded? At another media questioning, she says, “If you can’t run your own house, you can’t run the White House”, although Michelle says it was focusing on “her relationship with Obama”. The media is constantly repeating the later segment implying that Michelle was referring to the Billary household.
Hillary doesn’t believe that the “questions” she brought up about Obama’s record need more scrutiny. This 35 year public servant shamelessly gives her headlines and sound bites. With the attention coming back on “Billary”, she claims that what she said is the past, and “ let’s move forward”.
After much scrutiny of my own, I remember a discussion in poli sci classes on the “Bradley effect”. Is this what we are observing? Is this a reflection of what Whites (or any other group of people) say, one thing in public and behind closed doors, when the opportunity arises, something completely different. We called this process a matter of “should, could, would, and what I aught to do”.
I believe that Clinton going negative pushes and muddies up the civility of an election. To other pundits I watched this week, in the news segment “Keeping them Honest”, there is no surprise that ½ the voting population is black. To me the Clinton’s should know better. They understand the strife and injection of “racism” when they imply and state such lies about Obama. Billary has made the point of saying: “I didn’t inhale (marijuana caper)”, “I didn’t make love to that woman (Monica)”, “That property deal just went wrong (White Water)” , “We didn’t have anything to do with his death”, “We didn’t know that we couldn’t accept foreign contributions (Hsu)”, “Immigrants should have temporary identification”, ‘Immigrants should not have temporary identification”. The list just goes on and on and on with their kissing their finger to determine the direction of the politically correct.
The under current of race in this election is a lasting and reflective problem of the US’s real feelings about diversity. We as a party talk a mean rap but do we practice what we preach? Now we hear all kinds of stories regarding Rizco. The spotlight has moved to Rizco, a “slum land lord” who gave many Democratic politicians in Illinois considerable contributions while his tenants suffered with “no heat” in their apartments and their buildings being boarded up.
The $86,000 given to the Obama campaign was moved to other charities prior to this story ever coming out, but Clinton doesn’t mention this in her snipes. There wasn’t anything illegal, but Obama recalls the circumstances surrounding the purchase of the home. He was “boneheaded” in buying a piece of property $300,000 below the asking price the same day Rizco’s wife bought the house next door to Obama. This won’t be just a YouTube response; once it is turned off the situation is over, because the news media will now jump on the bandwagon and raise the speculations that there was some “impropriety” in Obama’s five-hour work relationship.
However I find that after weeks of attacking him publically, saying that if he can’t handle our comments, what is he going to do when he is running against the republicans who have “hounded the Clintons for 15 years” and Hillary and Bill having received front page coverage that voters have had the opportunity to read. The fact that their attacks are nothing more than “outright lies” and scrupulous distortions only gives one the true character of “Billary” and Obama. I don’t see “diplomacy” in the White House. Obama states that it is strongly needed. With Hillary in power, I question the style and approach that would be used that is required in negotiations. I could see the headlines in the NY times “the taming of the shrew” and visualize her cutting down heads of state and foreign ministers when they disagree with her, using her shrill voice, with her explosive wide eyed expressions and eventual sniffles when they tell her “no”. I can see Bill rushing into the room “defending her honor” because of his years of guilt and nothing else to do.
Robert Rice says Bill Clinton is being disingenuous when he apologizes and needs to stop taking the attention away from his wife.
Yes, Obama is up to being beat up because he is running for the highest position in land: President of the United States. Do the Clintons need to remember their own beating downs in Arkansas, the White House and when Hillary ran for Senate (“carpetbagger accusations”). Beating on Obama from his own party leader is a reminder of why many individuals register Independent, Undecided, or respond with “don’t get involved in politics”, “won’t vote’, ‘don’t believe politicians”, “my vote doesn’t count” and lose respect for the voting process.
“If what we have heard from Billary is what they are willing to say in public, imagine what they are saying behind closed doors?”, said one young voter being interviewed at the Democratic Alliance for Action meeting last night.
What I find interesting in the polling is that after all the puffery, only 59% of South Carolina African Americans are more comfortable with Obama. I would like to see those poll numbers. What led to this final conclusion? What other questions did they ask? Who were they interviewing? What methodology did they use to develop the sample and the final study group? Was the sample random? What are interviewees’ demographics, income, occupation, education, age, years of voting, gender and financial standing? How often do the respondents vote? Are they involved in any other political activities? And if this is true, there is still a lot of work the Obama camp needs to do to change the direction of the 2008 Presidential election.
I strongly recommend that the Obama campaign start a loud clear, concise and firm dialogue regarding immigration questions: What are we going to do about the borders (Mexico and Canada)? Are more border patrols needed? If you are controlling your borders, what about the foreign countries owning our ports? Do you recommend “temporary identification”? Why or Why not? Will you continue to provide healthcare privileges to farm workers (who are endorsing Hillary) to woe the Latino votes? Are you going to hire Hispanic speaking staff and campaign volunteers who speak Spanish? Are you running any ads in La Opinion, the Arabic, Sentinel, and other California, Arizona and New Mexico publications and other state’s “minority” base media? Will you assign a team that responds specifically to the lies raised by the Clinton campaign by visiting local democratic and college crowds?
Hillary left Bill and Chelsea in SC while she visited California. If SC African Americans fall for this “Bill Repenting Show”, I’ll have to reconsider my party affiliation, because the statesmen and women of this party really need to remind Clinton even though he is a spouse, he is still the public “head” of the Democratic Party. Though 24 states will be checking in on February 5th, let’s not limp to the finish line. The race certainly not over, we haven’t even begun see the Republicans all new level of fighting.
So today Hillary announced that she will be introducing her economic stimulus package to counter Bush’s questionable efforts. Stay tuned.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Change of subject: Well the television news isn’t covering it, but HE IS BACK! According to the Associated Press, Paul Wolfowitz was hired as Chairman of the International Security Advisory Board which runs “a high level advisory panel on arms control and disarmament, nonproliferation and related subjects. . . ” approved by Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State. As President of the World Bank, when he blew off bank regulations by allowing his girlfriend a $150K loan, he caused an international uproar by not stepping down after the infractions were discovered. As Deputy of Defense Secretary and one of the architects of the Iraqi occupation, the US is in a militarily quagmire with 3500 and dead soldiers and counting. So what is next, more White House insider meddling called “hide the ammunition” ?
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
OBAMA-ITES January 22, 2008
Remember if they were being paid to say the negatives on the phone it would be called "push polling". The goal is to put doubt in the minds of those that hear the misinformation and negative lies or conversation regarding the negative.
It is our role to make sure this doesn't happen. As soon as you hear someone saying the contrary explain this concept to others.
Carl Rove was great at it, they called it "planting a seed of doubt", they killed McCain in 2000 and destroyed his chances for the presidency by advertising it (prior to Swift-boat style but without the collaborators). They also call this Rovian Tactics, but the methodology is as old as politics. With the inception of radio, TV and computers, the information can simply be passed on faster giving the impression that it is truth not some found rumor. But the opponents are counting on people believing them so others will see Obama in "their eyes" to diminish, destroy and lessen his chances of others voting for him. This works with people who are thin skinned, undecided, frighten of politics and believe anything anyone tells them.
Here's an example, McCain saw a child in deep need of medical assistance in Mother Teresa's Orphanage, he told his wife, (they accused him of being unfaithful to her and having had intercourse with the child's mother and was masking bringing her to the US because she needed medical assistance and to salve his guilt). His attractive well-dressed and serene blonde wife went to see the child (when she went to the orphanage to arrange to have the child taken out of Mother Teresa's Orphanage in Bangladesh, India and brought her Arizona to one of the top medical facilities for months of medical assistance). I amplify his wife's appearance because they tried to make it sound as though "his wife is so beautiful why would he cheat on her". Because they didn't have the child on the family Christmas card, people's tongues started wagging (he is ashamed of her and this is why she isn't in the family picture) truth was she was still in the hospital having suffered from malnutrition. The election was in South Carolina, where pockets of racism still run rampant and people want to wave the Confederate flag and don't necessarily believe that racism is wrong. Operatives placed an ad in SC’s newspapers and tv saying that McCain had intercourse with this African American and hence this was an attack on "white womanhood", etc. Well, the child, Bridget, happens to have very dark skin and thick silky black hair. She is Indian not African-American, but to operatives it reads better.
There was no mention that she was a benevolence adoption because Mrs. McCain loved her and wanted to keep her in the family. Trust me gang, we haven't seen anything yet, we can only brace ourselves for more of Clinton's and republican attacks, because they are obviously scared that Obama is getting more traction and SC is a huge state win. Stay tuned Saturday and keep on keeping on. OR as Obama says, "Fired UP and Ready to GO", Repeat that mantra every morning “Fired up and Ready to Go” when you get up. It works for me. If you don’t believe any of this, check with the New York Times and Washington Post. Just sharing....
Nervie, Santa Clarita Valley
It is our role to make sure this doesn't happen. As soon as you hear someone saying the contrary explain this concept to others.
Carl Rove was great at it, they called it "planting a seed of doubt", they killed McCain in 2000 and destroyed his chances for the presidency by advertising it (prior to Swift-boat style but without the collaborators). They also call this Rovian Tactics, but the methodology is as old as politics. With the inception of radio, TV and computers, the information can simply be passed on faster giving the impression that it is truth not some found rumor. But the opponents are counting on people believing them so others will see Obama in "their eyes" to diminish, destroy and lessen his chances of others voting for him. This works with people who are thin skinned, undecided, frighten of politics and believe anything anyone tells them.
Here's an example, McCain saw a child in deep need of medical assistance in Mother Teresa's Orphanage, he told his wife, (they accused him of being unfaithful to her and having had intercourse with the child's mother and was masking bringing her to the US because she needed medical assistance and to salve his guilt). His attractive well-dressed and serene blonde wife went to see the child (when she went to the orphanage to arrange to have the child taken out of Mother Teresa's Orphanage in Bangladesh, India and brought her Arizona to one of the top medical facilities for months of medical assistance). I amplify his wife's appearance because they tried to make it sound as though "his wife is so beautiful why would he cheat on her". Because they didn't have the child on the family Christmas card, people's tongues started wagging (he is ashamed of her and this is why she isn't in the family picture) truth was she was still in the hospital having suffered from malnutrition. The election was in South Carolina, where pockets of racism still run rampant and people want to wave the Confederate flag and don't necessarily believe that racism is wrong. Operatives placed an ad in SC’s newspapers and tv saying that McCain had intercourse with this African American and hence this was an attack on "white womanhood", etc. Well, the child, Bridget, happens to have very dark skin and thick silky black hair. She is Indian not African-American, but to operatives it reads better.
There was no mention that she was a benevolence adoption because Mrs. McCain loved her and wanted to keep her in the family. Trust me gang, we haven't seen anything yet, we can only brace ourselves for more of Clinton's and republican attacks, because they are obviously scared that Obama is getting more traction and SC is a huge state win. Stay tuned Saturday and keep on keeping on. OR as Obama says, "Fired UP and Ready to GO", Repeat that mantra every morning “Fired up and Ready to Go” when you get up. It works for me. If you don’t believe any of this, check with the New York Times and Washington Post. Just sharing....
Nervie, Santa Clarita Valley
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)