Friday, February 12, 2010

Scott Brown, Sarah Palin, and the Tea Party

I have been catching up on political media during this Mid-Atlantic blizzard, I wanted to bring to your attention some of the commercials Scott Brown played in the Massachusetts special election, as Republicans should take notes on how he successfully ran his campaign and focused on the issues, in a positive, humble and American way:

Congratulations to Scott Brown! He won as a Republican in a very liberal state by focusing on the issues:
jobs, health care, and foreign policy

On another note, I am very happy that the Tea Party Movement has garnered such media
attention. The Tea Party participants are not freaks,as the liberal media likes to portray them,
but rather real Americans, who while usually like to quietly live their lives,
have had enough with the federal government's intrusion into their personal lives.
I also think its fabulous that Sarah Palin was invited to speak to them, as she is one of the few
Republican megastars who is outside the Beltway and still has more in common with average
citizens than the suits in Washington.Conservatives are making a huge comeback, but a
note of warning: the only chance that Democrats have in keeping their majority
in the mid-term elections this fall is to drive a wedge between the GOP and the Tea Party.
Conservative Americans could have the majority in the vote, BUT if we split the vote, the
Democrats will surely win again.
We can not let that happen, we've got to unite on the big issues that we all agree on:
jobs, health care, and foreign policy, just
as Scott Brown has proven will work.

I'd be happy to hear your thoughts!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Thoughts on Michelle


Because of my interest in the Obama’s as a power couple who have made it to the top very early in life, I am reading Michelle, a biography written by Liza Mundy, on Michelle Obama’s life that includes quite a bit of history about Barack’s life as well.

I have highlighted some stories that stood out to me, which I actually hadn’t heard before, that are quite shocking.

Michelle’s whole life purpose has revolved around the desire to right the wrongs done to black Americans. She sees purely in color. Her thesis at Princeton University actually condemned the school for her feeling uncomfortable for not having more black friends, teachers, or classes devoted to black issues. (Are there that many classes due to white issues?)

Michelle then went to Harvard Law School and was hired as a summer associate during her sophomore year. Instead of being grateful for the amazing opportunity; (because jobs like that are a great experience – for any student, not just a black student) her past bosses and coworkers state that Michelle was constantly displeased and discontent with the work given her – it was not good or challenging enough. Her employer even admits to the author of this book that, while it is the norm for college interns get the boring, paperwork, he actually made sure to give specifically Michelle the more exciting work because “he wanted to do right by her and see her advance”, to make up for any disadvantage she may have as being black (91).

It’s also mentioned in the book that Michelle hesitated dating Barack because he was so different, not a true “brother” and only “half black, half white” (98). Michelle’s mother, Marian Robinson also was concerned about the union, as he was biracial. She had said, “I guess that I worry about race mixing because of the difficulties, not so much for prejudice or anything” (98).

I’m pretty sure that if a white parent were concerned about their son or daughter dating a black, and gave that reason, Al Sharpton would be on TV by the next day, with an angry mob behind him, threatening to shut down a major thruway. Furthermore, when I see Barack Obama, I consider him black from his skin, even if it is lighter than some other blacks. Did Michelle and her family judge not only by color but degrees of color?

Later on, it is noted that when Michelle was working in the community, in a variety of different organizations and offices, she constantly encouraged white employees to make sure they were friends with blacks too or others different from themselves. A white woman remembers, “The most powerful thing she ever taught me was to be constantly aware of my privilege. Michelle reminded me that it’s too easy to go and sit with your own” (166).

So basically, if whites have friends who are white, they are being racist and isolating themselves in their rich, white world. But blacks don’t have to; in fact, they judge those who aren’t fully black, such as President Obama.

Later on, when Michelle and Barack were engaged, Michelle was offered a lucrative job working for the second Mayor Daley in Chicago. Since Barack Obama worried that working for the Mayor might make them look like they weren’t working for the people any longer, he insisted in meeting Michelle’s potential boss to determine if he would allow Michelle to take the job. (111). And that was when they were engaged....

As the Obama’s became a famous couple, many black women feel “validation, knowing that Obama, who had dated a white woman, chose an African American woman – ‘one of us’ – to spend his life with” (97). It was also remarked by African American commentators that having Michelle as his wife (a fully black woman) would help him gain support among other blacks, much more than if he had married a white woman, because his true blackness was already in question by the fact that he had a white mother.

Further on, it is noted both Barack and Michelle had big ambitions, however, while Michelle was working hard to pay the bills and raise their girls, Barack was working to chase his dreams. While he was doing good work, once he got to a position, he was looking ahead to the next and piling up quite a load of bills without the resources to pay for them:

This was a pattern in their marriage – she playing the role of the industrious, paycheck-retrieving ant, he the role of the devil-may-care grasshopper. Unafraid of plastic, he had a habit of putting professional expenses on his credit card and neglecting to file for reimbursement. […] Barack has written about how, when he tried to attend the 2000 Democratic National Convention, his credit card was maxed out and he was barely able to rent a car” (136).

Could this explain the tremendous trillion-dollar debt Obama is amassing for our country? How can a man balance the federal budget if he could not balance his own bills? The Republicans should have hit him harder on this during the election, but unfortunately, they were too afraid of doing so in fear of being called “racists”.

The funny thing about this book is that it was written by an author who showed sympathetic to the Obama's and was interested in Michelle during the campaign season, which led me to believe that this book would show the Obama’s in the best light possible. All the quotes and stores are directly from The First Lady, the President, their family, friends and campaign supporters.

What has happened to African Americans, who came before us, is tragic and unforgivable, along with discrimination against any other groups such as the Jews and even women. But the fact is, that if we really want to manifest our dream of a world without that mindset of discrimination, there cannot be anybody who approaches life by seeing and judging by color

Monday, January 4, 2010

Mika Brzezinski on Balancing a Career and Motherhood/Life

Happy 2010 to everyone, hope this year is even better than 2009!
I have resolved to write more and more consistently on my blog for this upcoming year:)

Mika Brzezinski, co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, my current morning political show of choice, released her first book this week entitled All Things at Once, a sort of auto-biography of her interesting life as the daughter of Zbigniew Brzezinski (Jimmy Carter's no-nonsense foreign policy advisor), a young political journalist, and now a wife and mother.
In listening to Mika's commentary on the political scene, she seems to lean towards the left some, but she also agrees with whomever is speaking common sense on the issues rather than wholly rely on any party affiliation, making her a moderate/independent - which I can respect.

Between her fascinating family political history and her intelligent mind, combined with her great style have made me an immediate fan of hers. I look forward to reading her book!

Monday, November 30, 2009

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789

George Washington's Thanksgiving Proclamation, 1789

"Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both House of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness;

Now therefore, I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be; that we may then all unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care and protection of the people of this country previous to their becoming a nation; for the signal and manifold mercies and the favorable interpositions of His providence in the course and conclusion of the late war; for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty which we have since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational manner in which we have been able to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national one now lately instituted for the civil religious liberty with which we are blessed, and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and, in general, for all the great and various favors which He has been pleased to confer upon us.

And also, that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national and other transgressions; to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually; to render our National Government a blessing to all the people by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed; to protect and guide all sovereigns and nations, especially such as have shown kindness to us, and to bless them with good governments, peace, and concord; to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the increase of science among them and us; and, generally to grant unto all mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as He alone knows to be best."

Monday, November 23, 2009

Making History

America has become obsessed and enticed with the idea of making decisions for the reason of “making history. Americans were dazzled with the idea of electing Barrack Obama was so that we could be the first generation to elect the first black president. It meant that we finally were no longer a “racist nation” and we got the bragging rights to be the first to do it. Many people told me the only reason that were voting for Barrack Obama was so they that could help “make history”; that was cool to them despite that they knew none of his policy platforms.

Now one of the major arguments for the Democrats’ Health Care Reform legislation is that again, if we have the courage to vote it in, we will indeed MAKE HISTORY! Now, yes, everyone agrees that we need some kind of healthcare reform. We need to find something affordable for everyone. The Democrats try to define the debate, as it is the Democrats for Health Care Reform vs. Republicans are not for Health Care Reform. That is simply not true. Everyone agrees that we need improvement; the debate is over how we go about it. My boss, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, R-MD, wants to find a solution to this problem that will make healthcare more affordable and keep the power in the peoples’ hands, NOT give the government a monopoly over our health care coverage.

My point is that I’m seeing a disturbing trend today in America, where people are making decisions based only on the excitement that by doing so, they will make history despite considering what the consequences of these actions will mean. Many people have made history: George Washington, Ben Franklin, Adolf Hitler, and Osama bin Laden. Making history does not necessarily mean making a good decision. We need to be much more careful what history we choose to make for our future and for our children.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

2009 or 1984?


The White House has declared an ongoing war on Fox News, claiming they do not produce real news because they don’t suck up to them like the other news stations. If Fox News airs anything unflattering about Obama, it must be opinion news.

Have you ever read George Orwell’s 1984? It was the warning of a totalitarian government that slowly took over, without the people realizing. The job of the main character, Winston Smith, was to rewrite history so that no one could ever disprove what the government claimed history was. The Big Brother government controlled all news media so that their agenda was clear and there was no way for any opposition or telling of the truth.

Thank goodness we have real fair and balanced news:

Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, gives a great analogy to this situation:

How would the Obama White House deal with Thomas Paine?He challenged the notion that the English King had unquestionable authority over the lives of his subjects. He challenged the notion that Americans were subjects at all, and for that, he made himself Public Enemy Number One of George the Third.

Fox News is doing something similar with the Obama White House today. In stark contrast to the other major media, Fox News (to which I am a contributor) is raising serious questions about the Obama agenda of endlessly expanding government through its economic stimulus, energy and health care policies.The Obama White House's war on Fox News is petty and political at the least, and an abuse of the presidency at the worst. And it's only part of a wider campaign to discredit and destroy the Obama's White House's perceived enemies, be they American businessmen and women or independent journalists.

Already, we've seen this administration put a gag order on an insurance company for warning its customers about the effects of Democratic health care reform, set up an email account for Americans to inform on their fellow citizens' criticisms of its policies, and declared open war on the Chamber of Commerce for its failure to remain mute in the face of the Obama administration's anti-business policies.

To have government officials on the payroll of the taxpayers engaged in the petty politics of institutional destruction, retribution and censorship is scandalous and shameful. To have the president and his senior advisors directing this activity is behavior unbecoming of the presidency.

In fact, it is behavior more in keeping with a monarch than a president.

The president and his advisors no doubt believe they are engaged in a tough but clever political strategy. Time spent attacking Fox, after all, is time not spent answering the American people's concerns about the economy and the costs of health reform. But while these tactics may have served them well in Chicago, they are a fundamental misreading of American history.

The lesson of Washington and Paine is that you can't stop a free people from talking, questioning and seeking the truth. Together, these two men declared American independence from the tyranny of unquestioned authority. They helped found a nation of individuals endowed with rights by their Creator, not granted rights by their king.

But the current White House doesn't seem to get this. If Obama were confronted with Paine today, it's not hard to imagine him sending out Rahm Emmanuel to call Paine a heretic or a pawn of the military industrial complex.

It's also not hard to imagine him failing as utterly as King George did.