Sanford In Argentina, Not On Appalachian Trail, He Says On Return

His cheatin' heart, lying lips, and and mean spirit done him in. My sympathy to his wife and children.



He can kiss being President goodbye.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Graham Open To Dem's Health Care Compromise, But Not Public Plan (VIDEO)

Please folks can't we just pet him and ignore him? Why is anything Lindsey Graham says given any credence? The overwhelming public wants public health care. Graham's wishes does not matter.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads

Unfortunately, I was too slow to reach the remote and failed to cut off Meet the Press before hearing that whiner Fred Thompson's spew nonsense. How can a show make a person be really, really grateful that Sam Nunn was defender of good? Have boring old saggy Fred Thompson that's how.



See what happens when you finally sleep late knowing that some other person will watch the talking heads for you and give you the high and low points without having to be subjected to George Will's whine, Cokie Roberts' kookiness, and Fox News' Chris Wallace attempt to be half the reporter his old man was on CBS. I like Bob Schieffer but I still don't like the flapping lips that are often booked on his show.



Whew! That brought out the crankiness in me. Anyway, thanks and better you than me Jason.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Dan Froomkin's Firing Leaves <i>Post</i> With Glut Of Neocons

WaPo, no Dan? No reader here either. I'll get my Eugene and E.J. fixes elsewhere.
About Newspapers
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TV SoundOff: Sunday Talking Heads

Jason,



I lasted two seconds with each show. I tried. I just seem not to be able to sit through nonsense from the GOP and a couple times from the Democrats.



I cannot see Iran being this volatile over their election sans the Obama Muslim World speech. That said, the President seems to be a patient long range thinker/planner. That speech may pay off late next year after the Iranian students get their teeth in a real rant. I was in college when the few Iranian students in Baton Rouge held so many protest marches and parades about the Shah of Iran that you would have to be blind not to get that they felt grieved. Those student protesters were consistent and persistent. Getting the attention of a backwoods student body consumed with getting ahead and having fun in such a desolate town was and still is remarkable. I still remember the hanging effigies.



I have faith that the youth of Iran will do what they must for their future in their country. Just like here the youth are becoming more aware and serious about our country and how they will make their way in it. I have great faith in young people everywhere to save us by saving themselves.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

George Tiller Killed: Abortion Doctor Shot At Church

If the killer was so pleased with what he had done he would not have fled. It was a barbarous act of cowardice. I hope that the prosecutor indicts all of those so-called pro-lifers who support this kind of terrorism as co-conspirators in this senseless death.



If all life is valuable as they claim certainly the doctor's life was valuable too. The hypocrisy of this sickens me.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Corruption Is Dangerous to Your Health

At this point, anger cannot be raised in me any more about the skulduggery of the Congress. They have no shame and care not one whit for us. They prefer us tired, scared, and clueless. While i am struggling my eyes are not fixed on the new messes they are making. Since I am struggling to deal with the fallout in my life from their last mess. Some how I think that that is purposeful on their part.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

I am not angry any more just tired. I mean we have been robbed up one side and down another since the spring of 2008. It is just another step towards the new slavery...financial bondage. There's simply nothing to feel good about in this mess. The Democrats are leaning toward their own self interest (staying in office) and te Republicans are crazy and confused. We are at the mercy (of which these guys have none) of the bankers who are forcing usury rates on people. Bend over.

The fierceness in my soul could never understand why so many folks got on the trains to the death camps during WWII and did not fight back. I now have but a glimmer of how when crushed repeatedly you get on board and hope somebody would save you. Shame is that not so many try to help, many try to stand you in front of them.

Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Opposition Grows To Obama's Decision Not To Prosecute CIA Agents

I do not support investigating and/or indicting the CIA agents who tortured the "enemy combatants" or whatever made up words Bush, Inc set for folks who wound up in Cuba. I think that they should lose their jobs and pensions and testify in the trials of the people who made the decisions to torture, who condoned torture through ginned up legalistic scrawlings that green lighted the CIA agents to do what they did. Those lawyers and doctors who aided and abetted torture should be drummed out of their professions and be sent if convicted to jail.



We cannot afford to dismiss the gravity of what was done in our name. Our military personnel, NGO and other aid workers, Americans traveling and living abroad have been made more vulnerable because we failed to stay true to our values...we do not torture.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Let them go! Just let Texas go with its nutty governor on their own. They are armed to the teeth and will wind up causing a war with Mexico after they have bumped off all of their neighbors. Let them succeed and take all of those weird Texans who are a law unto themselves with them in this foolish experiment.



Just be sure to give those fleeing the Texas government time to escape and then we must close our borders to them. Buh-bye Texas!
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Bank Stress Tests: Obama to Meet With Economic Team On Topic

Put an end to this PONZI scheme and take over, break up and sell off the banks that are failed banks. Why should the American taxpayers be forced to pour good money after bad. It's time to bailout of the bailout.



I believe William K. Black and think that our President should too. Cut the losses and sell off the remains providing taxpayers with some type of financial recovery from this mess.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Geithner-Summers Plan is Even Worse Than We Thought

I saw that segment and sent the link to everyone I know. I believe Mr. Black and I am enraged again at the Treasury Secretary who is preparing to fleece the taxpayers in this country. This time folks need to go to jail. I am contacting my Representative and both of my Senators (even though one is sick) to try to head off this crass stick-up with a pen.



Wall Street bankers have taken enough of our money. Break them up! Sell them off and get the heck on out of our pockets!
About Timothy Geithner
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Ed Schultz On MSNBC Gig: People Will Know Where I Stand

I am looking forward to this show.
About MSNBC
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Michelle Obama In Prague: Back In Black (PHOTOS)

Look after flying to Europe, dressing up and down, being on tour with 20 countries' first ladies and husband, hewing the protocol of every one of them and visiting "the people" in several countries I would be a crank, snarling, and y'all would be glad that I had any kind of clothes on rather than running screaming mad and naked about the continent. I am delighted that Mrs. Obama is handling herself well and covering all of the legally mandated spots on her body. I am just glad that it is she and not me to do the traveling and meeting and greeting of so many global officials.



Both the President and First Lady are doing us proud in Europe. I think that he is doing much better than just OK. They are doing what we elected him to do win the world back on our side.
About Barack Obama
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Please Watch: Bill Moyers: William K. Black CSI Bailout

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04032009/watch.html

Be sure to contact your Congressperson and the President after viewing the show.

We all need to ask more questions and demand more answers.

2 Trillion dollars in taxpayers money is nothing to sneeze about.

We need to know the answers to typical questions regarding the banking crisis such as who, what, when,where, and how? Until we know the answers we are simply sheep monitored by hungry wolves.

Watch the show!

Tammy Bruce Calls The Obamas "Trash In The White House"

I'd pay to see her say it to Michelle's face. I know lot's of folks that would pay too. Mrs. O without a touch would wipe the floor with her. What makes people hate so much? I did notice that she did not attack the President directly. She's not that crazy.
About Barack Obama
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The Short, Happy Iraq War of Howard Kurtz

Look it really was a simple thing that grew both large and in the wrong direction...capturing or killing Osama bin Laden. What we now have a mess thanks to our lying ex-President and I for one want us up and out of Afghanistan too since it at this point merely wants to left alone in the 16th century.



More important is the containment through diplomacy and whatever shred of credibility we have left in the world of Pakistan that has what seems to be a plethora of blood feuds going, nuclear warheads, and hosting Osama bin Laden. We need to do something much different than asking them to "bring it on" as did Mr. Bush.



Mr. Kurtz has been on the wrong side of several issues on the war he was very wrong.
About Iraq
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Lifting the Tarp: Will President Obama's Economic Team Lead Him Off a Cliff?

It is time to fire the Treasury Secretary and Larry Summers. Do what Kuttner and Krugman have been suggesting all along and get us out of this stinking financial mess.



Enough with hedge funds, insurance companies, and investment banks. They are greedy bottomless pits unwilling to change or adapt to reality. Seize the shaky banks restructure them, set them on their feet, privatize them and move forward.



This spiral has gone on long enough! Mr. President, buck up and fire those guys now.
About Bailout Bandits
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Real Scandal of AIG

They can have their bonuses or retention payments provided they give us back immediately every penny we have loaned them. I am not against AIG bonuses as long as they use their own money. Other than that as the owners of this behemoth we have the right to fire them and hire people who will follow our dictates because that is what happens when you own the thing...YOU are in charge!



Please start sending a few of these clowns to jail and I think we will see a whole lot less of this defiance.
About Bailout Bandits
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AIG Outrage Dominates Sunday Shows

This is just crazy. Why reward failure? Get our money back and let AIG pay the bonuses out of THEIR money.



Why hasn't someone gone to jail yet?
About Larry Summers
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

South Carolina Governor: Obama Stimulus Will Turn U.S. Into Zimbabwe

My thinking exactly. My home state Louisiana, is headed by its own fruitcake that plans to continue keeping the state moored into the 19th century. Wage suppression, hostility towards unions, very poor race relations (if folks told the truth) and serious ecological concerns with its large petro-chemical industry that fights regulations to the tooth. You have Louisiana, a banana republic that has great natural resources, a hard working populace, and loads of potential if only it had the right leadership and moved past its past. It is really a shame that almost the same thing can be said of each of the southern states that are resisting moving forward with the rest of the nation.
About Stimulus Package
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Jon Stewart is great. He nails CNBC to the wall. Glad to see some folks are fearless. You MUST see it! Not only is it hilarious but it is dead on. Read it! See it! And please folks pass it on!
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

I cannot condone violence against women for any reason. In her article, Ms. Greene though is way over the top in suggesting that there is/was no concern about Rhianna's beating at the hands of her boyfriend Chris Brown by black folks. Much as it pains me to learn of any woman being beaten I have to hope that the justice system will address the wrong done to her. We do need to be concerned that his celebrity status and money may make his penance a lot lighter than a regular Joe is the same position.

It enrages my soul that Ms. Greene would equate the two events, Brown's beating of Rhianna and the New York Post's publishing an editorial cartoon that is NOT being misinterpreted by any thinking person as an invitation to kill our President. Ms. Greene must know that it takes very little to set our home grown nuts and terrorists off. So yes, assassinating a duly elected President is more important than a domestic violence case where the victim is alive and able to address her abuser on several levels.

Is this fair? No. Life is not fair. It is not fair that the health and safety of our President is more important than a case of domestic abuse between two black celebrities who can afford counseling and to live apart.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Gibbs V. Santelli: He Should Read President's Plan (VIDEO)

How silly is this going to get? We have had Joe the Plumber get months of fame basically saying nothing worthwhile. You get a commodity trader having a hissy fit on tee-vee because folks who are caught in the cross hairs of the lousy bankers' meltdown need help to stay in their homes. I don't know about that Rick guy but every neighbor that loses their home makes my neighborhood less desirable and soon dangerous. You need not mention the fact once reasonably priced homes are left to rot because the homeowners lost their jobs and could no longer afford the mortgage through no fault of their own.



Rick is just a J*ck*ss! These guys have no conscience so they never see the lack of logic and humanity in their drivel.



Let him and folks like him rant. Turn the channel or read a book.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

The Loyal Opposition

I find it interesting that several Republican pundits write scathing columns about Democrats are rather thin skinned when called out. Why be in the word-war business if you cannot take a hit or several?



Yes, we need opposition but we need principled opposition that put America before party. There used to be names of Republican Congressmen I knew to have a deeper love for this country than even themselves. I cannot name one today in this Congress.



Newt Gingrich shut down the government because his feelings wee hurt. How principled is that?



You have Republican governors who are saying that they will refuse money to help the tens of thousands unemployed workers because they don't want people getting used to more. Do they understand that there are people's lives involved here? Have they no empathy? How principled is that?



It galls me that the impetus is to do less, be less, and watch the weak struggle. Where's the principle in that?



Republicans certainly don't believe in anything beyond lip service concerning workers and the middle class. They project a loathing and blatant disregard for the weak and the poor. Where is the principle in that.?



We are all Americans and we need both parties to provide their best service. The Loyal Opposition needs to show some loyalty...to us the American people because there's good principle in that.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero Defends Working Class On Fox News (VIDEO)

I don't care else the Mayor has or has not done well for what he said about working stiffs I think earns him another round as leader. It is high time somebody stepped up for workers who on their backs will the bills for this financial mess be paid.
About Video On HuffPost
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Obama Stimulus Speech: "Time For Action Is Now" (VIDEO)

My Congresspeople are voting for the stimulus. My ex Congress people in Louisiana, a backwards state if there ever was one, are teetering towards voting no. I have called and email all of my family and friends to call, email and write their Congress people about voting for the stimulus bill because as high as unemployment there is now it will get worse and resemble not a banana republic but sheer anarchy.



Put people back to work. Tell your Congresspersons vote for the stimulus and that you will remember them on next election day.



Some of those Congresspeople need retiring.



Let's move forward!
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Dems To Leadership: Cut GOP Loose

"For now, said Durbin, Democrats haven't yet pulled out Republican provisions or asked the GOP to leave the table."



"We haven't reached that point," he said. "In fact, Republican senators I've spoken to today said, 'Don't give up on us. We still want to work with you.'"



Frankly Senator, why would you believe them? Why should anyone believe that the Republican Party means the American People well? They serve only the rich for the rich at the expense of the rest of us. Take the tax cuts out. Increase the money for infrastructure, states (with the stipulation that they spend exactly as written) and education. The point and whole purpose to me is to increase the number of jobs so that those workers like all of us presently hanging on to our jobs can pay TAXES. Taxes will reduce our debt.



Nationalize the banks now. When we privatize them we use our profits to reduce our debt.



We need money to pay for the incompetent bankers and apparently the Republicans who still have not "gotten it" yet that things are different and the masses are very, very angry. We could do quite well with out you.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Obama Incredulous Over School Closing, Says DC Needs To Toughen Up (VIDEO)

I was enjoying the global warming until faced with the reality that winter had finally but firmly arrived. in the northeast for this southerner that snow and God forbid the ice makes for a very stressful day. Now, a six months long searing drought? Easy.



I get our President's joke but I am miffed that he doesn't acknowledge our pain.



Now, I wonder how tough he would be riding out a hurricane? Or worst running from one?
About President Obama
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Bailout Recipients Hosted Call To Defeat Key Labor Bill

They simply have no shame.
About Bank Of America
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Obama Doesn't Defend House Dems

We need jobs. Tax cuts will not provide them. Under the Bush administration we gave FREE money to banks and AIG without any conditions. We have learned that the banks are not willing to change and provide businesses with the credit they need to stay in business. So the businesses lay off workers who PAY TAXES and they hold onto their money which means businesses don't get to sell or provide services. So, businesses lay off workers who PAY TAXES. It would seem to me that everybody would get that we need more people working so that we can help those who are not until they are working. The bonus in this? TAXES paid by workers along with those on goods and services will stem our growing insolvency.



How hard is that to understand?
About Rahm Emanuel
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

It's Show Time for Obama

President Obama needs to ram that stimulus bill through with the required number of votes it takes to pass it. It's nice to liked but frankly he wasn't elected to be a nice guy he was elected to lead us out of this mess and if the Republicans (and the Blue Dog Democrats) refuse to move along with him the n he needs to run over them. We need to act fast. I agree with Mr. Kutter's exact proposal of what the stimulus should be comprised of (he had the estimated costs for each area) and Congress should PASS IT!



I'm sick of this hemming and hawing as we steadily lose jobs, economic security, and our peace of mind.

Face it REPUBLICANS (and the almost useless Blue Dog Democrats) we cannot tax cut our way out of this mess y'all made. Grow up and do your jobs.
About Economy
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Anonymous Hold Put On Confirmation Of EPA Chief, Environmental Quality Chair

'Put away our childish things." It seems as if some folks in the Senate are stuck in the past. They are hanging on to childish things like petulance. Grow up.



Let the President have his people and let's move forward Or get the heck on out of the way at least.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Juan Williams Chokes Up Discussing Obama Speech, Benediction (VIDEO)

Rev. Lowery is cool. I liked the benediction best of all. When he started with the last stanza of Lift Ev'ry Voice my heart soared. It was so appropriate. When he made us laugh even at such a solemn occasion as a benediction and the inauguration by making hurtful saying joyful, I teared up. We truly are all in this thing together and we must make it work for us all.



This was a good day.
About Video On HuffPost
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Obama's Election: "This Thing Is Ordained"

I can understand the hesitation at the word ordained. Yet, I understand exactly what Representative Meeks' mother meant...prayers long forgotten by a people without hope sent up for deliverance from bondage, segregation, lynching, acquisition of civil rights (remember the I AM A MAN posters?), and acquisition of political power are being realized. The prayers sent up long ago are being realized and that is ordained by God.



We cannot rest with an Obama we have a much longer road to travel to realize the ultimate ascendancy to be "judged [at all] times by the content of our characters," the work we produce, the communities we build, and the legacy of good citizenship we leave with and to our children. That is the end of the answers of long ago said prayers by the ancestors who believed even though they knew that they would not see the realization for themselves. Those prayers are ordained by God.
About Barack Obama
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The Biggest Loser

Fire this time! Excellent article articulating all that is discussed behind closed doors. Kudos! Yes! Amen!
About Obama's Inauguration
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Bush Commutes Border Patrol Agents' Sentences

The pardons that concern me are the torture pardons, the DOJ politicalization pardons and of course pardons for himself and his sidekick Cheney. If we fail to find out what they have done to this country then only hope will be some ticked off Geneva Conventions signee's capturing (upon visiting outside the US) them and trying them for war crimes. We must if we are to regain our moral high ground sort out this mess ourselves and not hide behind moving forward something as important as refuting through word and deed torture.
About George Bush
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

<i>NYT</i> Reporter Warns Of One-Term Obama

These are the same folks that predicted a speedy end to the Iraq war, that nuclear weapons would be found and that Bush is a fine leader. The NYT is as fallible as the rest of the commercial papers.



I would rather read about how to fix things than if a guy who has not even been inaugurated yet is going to be a one term President. These guys need a new line of work. They are not reporters they are partisan hacks.
About President Obama
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Can the GOP Expand Its Demographic Base While Moving Right?

Can the GOP expand its demographic base while moving right? Yes, if all they want are more flaming nuts and bigots. It seems that they do.



I'm only hoping that the Democrats can hold on to our new members and do right by them and the rest of us too.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Replace Harry Reid?

To the question, Replace Harry Reid? I say, PLEASE! I would not cry if the Democratic Party replaced Nancy Pelosi too. We have had 8 years of the wet noodle spined Democratic Party members cowering from every stupid law and idea that arose from the Republicans which has led us into the heckovamess we are in now. Step up Democrats! Dump the dead weight and move the party and America forward.



The new slogan should be move or get out of the way so other can.
About Rod Blagojevich
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Feinstein: Seat Burris In Senate

Sen. Feinstein, an attorney should be acquainted with the law. First, the Governor of IL has not been indicted. He has not be convicted. In THIS country you are innocent until proven guilty. He is STILL governor and so has all powers of that office which includes but is not limited to appointing people of his choice to open Federal seats.



Next, no Secretary of State can withhold his/her signature certifying state documents approved by the governor that would be a step towards anarchy.



Finally, Sen. Burris will be seated because it is a legal appointment how and when he will be seated is a choice the Democratic members will have to make and go back to their communities and explain to voters why when a man held in high esteem with a clean political record has his rightfully appointed seat withheld.



The governor of IL has a nasty mouth and it seems a larcenous soul and maybe a trickster's heart but the choice he made has slowly but steadily raised the suspicions of black folks across the country about why Burris cannot be seated. That is what the Democratic Senators who have tough battles ahead would not want to wrangle with during this political season. Seat the guy and get on with the People's business.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Happy New Year!
2009 Hope for a Brighter Future for Us All

It is after 5:00 p.m. here in snowy Boston. I am home with Ma and Joel and we are planning to get some early Zzzz in as a celebration of the coming year. I have no plans to cook anything special nor do I intend to go to any parties or even public prayer service. A meaningful end to this year is a private prayer of thanksgiving to God that He is bringing to an end a very, very stressful year.

The great thing is that for 2009 I have high hopes. My hopes are rising each day. The are not placed on our brilliant new President but on the resiliency of the American people and most importantly on my faith and trust in God. I have been delivered from some very scary things, forced homelessness (hurricane Katrina) , sparse resources, no job, no job again, explosive rent, and family illness. Yet, from each thing I have been delivered. I now have a home, a second new job, the family health is improved, more resources, and the blessing of caring friends and strangers. God has been faithful to me even when I have wavered. For Him I am grateful always.

To the people who read my musings I say thank you. To my friends and family who agree and disagree with what I have written at times or in some cases all of the time thank you. God has bestowed his grace and mercy on us all. May God continue to bless us. 2009 is our year to shine!

Happy New Year!

Christmas Day in a Louisiana Dungeon

Louisiana, the state I was born in, raised in, and lived in until recently is as backwards a place you would ever want to see. It is still living as if it the 19th century and what it calls justice is an atrocity. If you are black or poor white your life has little value. I grew up with the stories of Woodfox and Wallace. I am stunned that they are still there held down by the system. This is a shame in a shameless state.
About Bobby Jindal
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What Happened to Kwanzaa?

First, Kwanzaa is not a holiday. It is a cultural celebration. I have celebrated Kwanzaa for over 25 years. My family will be celebrating it this year with each of us hosting in our homes a different principle. Kwanzaa was not designed to be a commercial "holiday" because it is not a holiday. It was developed to learn about and celebrate our culture and to use seven principles to guide our lives and strengthen our communities. It is not a separatist celebration just an African centered one.



Most of my friends across the country celebrate Kwanzaa in their homes with the exception of attending large public events on the first and sixth nights (Umoja, unity and Kuumba, creativity). Some cities have large public celebrations each night. Most practitioners have small gatherings at our homes.



Kwanzaa is not a replacement for Christmas. It is not a "black Christmas". It is a ritual developed as a mechanism to learn and to teach about the culture of African Americans.



So, if Hallmark is not making much money from it I am not distressed being a commercial endeavor is not the purpose nor desire of the celebration. Gifts are for children and they are either handmade or books.



To the key to Kwanzaa is its second principle-Kujichagulia, self determination we determine what our cultural celebration will be not Hallmark or American Greetings.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Property Developers Want Bailout Money

Bail out commercial property developers? I think not! Let them go bankrupt and foreclose on their properties like the system is supposed to do. Enough free money. Is no one responsible for their choices?
About The Bailouts
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

FBI Forced To Divert Antiterrorism Agents To Help Untangle $50 Billion Madoff Swindle

Now? That cow is so far out of the barn that it headed over to the other farm's pasture. Why couldn't they do this before we went broke?
About Bernard Madoff
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Rick Warren And Obama: What Is 'Traditional Marriage' Anyway?

Let's let everybody marry so that we can raise money on marriage licenses and divorce court costs. I believe in EEO and all recognized marriages are recognized by the government and not the church so let's just let everybody marry whomever they please...we need the money.



Also, CA was wrong to allow a majority to vote on limiting the rights of the minority. If this is allowed to continue then we have hearkened back to Plessy v. Ferguson.
About Barack Obama
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Will it take 30 years too before this is investigated, prosecuted and put to rest like the Emmett Till case? Will the justice department continue to allow the lawless live out their lives and then say after they are dead what a shame it is that those men cannot be punished because oops they are dead already? The state of Louisiana and certainly the dysfunctional police department of New Orleans will not do anything about these men because they are white and because their victims are black. Louisiana and New Orleans will never progress as long as it continues to live as if it is the 19th century and black lives are worthless.



Louisiana to be viewed as the backwards banana republic it is.
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Harry Shearer, an good advocate for the attention to repairing New Orleans from the damages of the flooding after Katrina was het up about the Algiers Point vigilantes. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harry-shearer/new-orleans-faces-the-nat_b_153163.html

I responded to his post with this:

There was no massive damage until the flooding occurred. Anger still flows at the U.S. Corps of Engineers whose job it is to design, build, and maintain the levee system that prevents off exactly what occurred...massive flooding and a loss of life that exceeded the Oklahoma bombing tragedy. Residents are vulnerable to the weakest of hurricanes coming ashore.

Does it mean that The Nation was wrong in its report about the murder of black men because they were black? I say no. Does it mean that racism is intricately laced in the community where one can kill black people with apparent impunity? I say yes.

Like the Emmett Till case 30 years from now some writer will dig up the the story about men killed by (by then) dead vigilantes pointing out how justice was denied. These men are known and free. There will be no trial and certainly no conviction because a black life in New Orleans, in Louisiana is worthless and that is the ugly truth.

Louisiana operates in a racial atmosphere that still believes that it is the 19th century. New Orleans, the place of my birth, where I was educated and lived for most of my over 50 years is stuck in the 1950's progressive in comparison to the rest of the state. Black life in both eras is valued less than that of whites. The very sad part is that the Algiers Point vigilantes demonstrate how true this remains.

Time Mag Columnist: Obama Is "Very Rational-Sounding Sort Of Bigot"

I am aggravated by the dismissal of the Rev, Lowery , by the gay community of a man who has battle scars from the civil rights movement AND who supports gay marriage . You get all het up over Rick Warren and fail to see the bigger picture of a man who put his life on the line for people and freedom of others, a man who has credibility, who is ON YOUR side as if his stature and influence does not matter. It does. Rick Warren is a bone. Rev. Joseph Lowery is a true example of agape love that we Christians say we seek to exemplify. Listen to his prayer of benediction at the inauguration he will deliver.
About Barack Obama
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rove Will "Help Lead" GOP Fight Against Holder: <i>WaPo</i> Reporter

No, he needs to jailed for leaking information on Valerie Plame. It seems to me that the Obama administration needs to spend a little time on investigating the Bush Administration for every single crooked thing they have done.If that is a not a WPA project for lawyers and accountants I can not think of another one.
About Karl Rove
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Evan Bayh Forming Conservative "Blue Dog" Caucus In Senate

Please, is it not time to dump both Reid and Pelosi? Supporting the DLC folks...again is simply madness. They were wrong before and surely they are wrong now. Both the DLC (Bayh, Ford, Landreau, and a few other lunkheads) and the awful Democratic leadership need to be banished along with the troglodytes southern Republicans from the Congress.
About Evan Bayh
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Democrats Go Down on the Auto Bailout

At this point I am sick of everybody involved including the media. Millions of jobs are at stake and businesses other than the automakers are too. The unions have given up concessions and I am sure could maybe do a little more but not so much that they are destroyed which is the aim of the Republicans. They weak kneed lily livered Democrats astound me have they no backbone? We need to keep manufacturing companies so that like oil we will not be dependent on foreign countries to build and sell us our own weapons (see bullets) so that we can defend ourselves. Some industries are vital to ourself defense and the automakers certainly are one of them.
About Job Cuts
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Rod Blagojevich Arrested: The Damage He Could Do

What the point of this article? Democrats are responsible for Rod Blagojevich? Or is Obama? Or is it just that the governor is responsible for his actions alone? As a Louisianan I can say the IL politicos are second leaguers compared to us in graft, greed, and corruption. Even Louisianans are getting tired of constantly being embarrassed by the people we have elected to office only to have them get themselves tossed into Club Fed. It's Y'all's turn now. My advice: find another Democrat, one with integrity (don't laugh politician and integrity are not an oxymoron) and let that person lead the way out. You do not want to switch to a Republican because there really is no change there simply better finessed graft.
About Rod Blagojevich
Read the Article at HuffingtonPost

Thankfulness

I am always grateful to God for allowing me to live past what should have been the end of my days in my thirties. Yet, God knows not every morning am I thankful for the bountiful blessings He has bestowed upon me. Sometimes, it seems a secular event such as Thanksgiving even with it focus on food and cheer can make life's blessing clearer for me.

This Thanksgiving, this morning, I am thankful to have my mother at home with me. I am thankful for my sisters and brother. My friends for life, who have provided me with love and encouragement for years, it seems that thanking them is such a small thing for such an important gift. Mostly though, I thank God for showing us that He is still faithful. He has brought us a Joshua in the form of Barack Obama who is human but full of blessings from the Lord and will change this country with us to become better, stronger and more cooperative.

I am also thankful to live in a state that sincerely looks out after its people..." the least of thee" of which we were them. I have lived in several states and I can fairly compare the support services of them to Massachusetts and can say that although the area is expensive in comparison to the other states there are services and even work available for those who seek it. No one state is doing a flawless job of meeting the needs of every citizen in it but, Massachusetts comes pretty close. I am grateful for that.

Thankfulness extends to my birth state for we know how to treat people. While the government there is stingy and sometimes corrupt the people are generous and kind. New Orleans is the greatest city in the country. It has heart and resilience. What it needs is like almost all of the country's cities are good paying jobs. It also needs a serious infusion of money to rebuild its infrastructure. The beautiful WPA parks and buildings are due for repairs, upgrades, or replacement. Also, the city's power-holders need to relinquish enough of their hold on the economy as to encourage and nurture entrepreneurs who create the new jobs that power economic development.

Finally, I am thankful for my health and access to health care. If but only one thing I would want accomplished by the Obama administration it would be the reality of the United States of America having universal health care. We need health care to be considered a right of citizens rather than being forced to purchase insurance products that are less than we need or to have to forgo medical insurance because we simply cannot afford it. We need to focus on preventative care, fair priced drugs, dental heath coverage and making mental health and therapy less of an after thought and instead being a necessary component of good health care.

God, family, friends, health care, food, clothing and shelter are what I am deeply thankful for today on Thanksgiving Day. Why are you thankful?

When did you cry?

I cried the next morning on my way to work as the air seemed different, the people kinder, and the world even with its many problems seem lighter. God Please bless this man Barack Obama. He is our Joshua, You remember the story of Joshua? When it was time for the children of Abraham who had been wandering in the wilderness as punishment for their disobedience and unbelief, there was needed a leader to lead them the way to the promised land. Moses would not be allowed to go to the promised land. There was a need for a new leader. Young Joshua fit the bill. He was brave, level headed and was called to encourage the people and battle their enemies until they arrived in the promised land.

Barack Obama is America's Joshua, brave, level headed, and strong of character. Like the Israelites we have to follow him to lead us out of the mess we are in now. He is not Jesus, he is not infallible. He is though like Joshua with heart and vision. My prayer is that he stays safe, maintains clear vision and stay courageous. We need him. The world needs him.

An Open Letter to the People of Alaska

Dear Wonderful People of one of our most beautiful states in America,

As a part of our nation I just wanted you to know that I am indeed thankful to have you as a part of our union and think that being our largest state land wise is a really cool thing. I have visited your state and have seen for myself how precious and rich it is in natural resources. The people were warm and gracious to me and my traveling companion. It was a trip of a lifetime to be able to see all of the things I had read about in books before my very eyes.

I appreciate the oil and gas you provide although I would prefer to leave Alaska pristine rather than exploit all of your natural resources. I shall always remember the awful look of clear-cutting some of your beautiful and densely packed forests. I remember how the logs bobbed in the water not far from the ship I was traveling like common trash. The places where the trees were removed looked sparse and ugly. I have no qualms using natural products but feel strongly that we must replace what we use.

I would like to see you harness the arctic winds to help produce energy and to be the ones who perfect solar energy since you unlike the other 49 other states have a period of no nightfall each year in which you could experiment with the best solar collectors and distributors for consumer energy needs. The rest of the states could learn a lot from you.

In turn I ask that you keep one export at home for yourselves...your governor. I think that her brand of populism (I hail from a state that grew one of history's most flamboyant populist... Huey Long) is divisive. It seems that you are able to handle that. The rest of the 48 have enough trouble without adding such angry, condescension, and animosity to their already stressed lives. Now that the middle class will have to bear the burden of Wall Street's excess it is important that we lower the rising stress level by removing the possibility that we will have a right wing Bush knock off administration going even further into abyss that G.W. Bush's administration did and look how that turned out.

And so, this open letter to you is a plea to keep the one thing unenviable that you have...your governor in Alaska with you. Please.

Sincerely,

A Fellow American

Tim Wise and his very wise words...

Please follow this link to view this honest man's words:

http://www.lipmagazine.org/~timwise/WhitenessShowing.html

Then link on to this to me an even better post:

http://www.redroom.com/blog/tim-wise/this-your-nat ion-white-privilege

Ma Broke Her Hip

On Friday morning around 2 a.m. Ma snuck out of the house and got as far as the green mailbox across the street before she fell and broke her hip. My next door neighbor knew where she lived so she rang the doorbell. A woman I had never seen before scooped Ma up and brought her into the house. I realized how much damage she had done to herself and called the EMS. As usual they loved her and promised to take good care of her. I had to stay behind because under Massachusetts Law Joel was too young to stay home alone. So I packed him up and off we went to my sister's house. I woke her and sent Joel in while telling her about Ma. She said that she would relieve me at the hospital after she got dressed. I drove off wondering how bad her hip was this time.

I loathe hospitals. I am nervous and agitated whenever I am in one. Sick people scare me and I am a terrible nurse. So, I arrived at the hospital only to find out that she just got there and they were assessing her. That meant I had to sit out among the sick and the angry. My sister arrived and thankfully, I was able to go home. I had just started work and would not be able to take the day off.

Ma had to have surgery. This is the first time she had ever had to have surgery in her life. We were very concerned about the anesthesia. Ma has an extremely low tolerance for drugs. The strongest thing she can have is maybe Tylenol extra strength and that can make her sleepy. We were concerned that the anesthesia would kill her. Surgery went well now it is time for her to heal. One of the nurses had an old cantankerous mother at his home and was very supportive. Ma hits everybody. The sad and funny thing is that there is nothing we can do about it. Her fighting to me though means that she is going to be alright. It's that Narcisse blood. That stuff should be bottled.

Two hellish months later:

It helps that she is a Narcisse. They live a long time and "can take a lickin' and keep on tickin'".
She is now home being Ma. Thanks for the prayers and well wishes!

In God's Hands

Man plans and God laughs. HE did say, "Ask and it shall be given unto you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it will be opened unto you," so it seems that as Americans we need to be about the business of praying for Senator Obama. Then we need to get busy checking our friends and relatives to see if the are registered to vote and if not then registering to vote. We also need to be sure not to be discouraged. Do not let the lions in the way discourage you from voting. Make sure that regardless as to what the journalists say go out and do God's will and vote for Senator Obama.

After eight years we have a chance to come out of the wilderness. Senator Obama is our Joshua. He has the intelligence and skill to lead us like President Bill Clinton did to a more prosperous eight years where our country is respected and is a beacon to those who suffer under the yoke of dictatorships and totalitarian governments. WE have a chance to turn this country around and make a better path for future generations to follow.

If we fail to act then we will have sentenced ourselves to at least four more years of economic pain for everyone but the "haves" and "have mores" the true base of the Republican Party. Do not let them fool you about what they intend to do. They intend to keep things as the are at best and to make other things like the economy worse. Do we need to go to war with everyone? Can we afford the wars we are in now? Starving the treasury will not help end our borrowing craze from the Chinese. We need to boost our econonmy first , by repairing our infrastructure. We need to make education part of our security defense because an educated populace is a great defense against tyrany which requires ingorance and inaction. Finally, we need to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and use our American know how to develop green and renewable energy. It measns no more wars for oil!

Senator Obama is not perfect but he is qualified and ready to be President of this country. Senator Obama needs all thinking Americans to support him by voting for him on November 4th. We cannot live like we do any longer. If you don't want to vote for him then vote for you and your economic interest by voting for him. In an Obama Aministration we will get a better law abiding government that serves all of the people and a chance at a more prosperous one too.

We have a once in four years chance to make a dramatic change. Pray. Talk to family and friends about voting or becoming a registered voter and then on November 4th...VOTE! After you do then it will truly be in God's Hands. God willing Barack Obama will be our President.

1-866-MYVOTE1 or 1-866-698-6831
Register yourself or someone else today!

Katrina 3 Years Later

It has been three years and I finally face my grief. In my soul is a deep unhappiness. I have been struggling toward normalcy so long and so hard that I forgot to take care of my wounded soul. Now, it seems to have turned on me. What I desire most is to move on past what has happened. What has kept me in the dark bitter place is the fact that my healing depends on the remnants of my family living without the cocked gun of a shoddy levee system in place. So far, flood prevention in New Orleans is escaping the United States Army Corps of Engineers. My family that continues to reside in New Orleans have rebuilt their homes but, now I fear for them. I cannot bring our mother back to the state where she was born because first there are few if any services for dementia patients and having to run for safety again I am sure would kill her.

Three years later and yes, I am still bitter that the city I love was in such a horrible shape economically that most working poor prefer newer places of exploitation since they are paid more and live better where they have landed. It is the richness of the culture and the strong bonds of family that kept many of us there. Now, that we are away we can clearly see how devastating holding on can be. What angers me most is that the sheer numbers of dead are no longer mentioned. Over 1800 deaths are attributed to Karina. The somehow seem to be forgotten and that too is a shame.

Washington Post has a Pick Your President Map

Spend a few minutes choosing how (state by state) you believe the 2008 Presidential Race will turn out. My link is called Deb's Daring Revolution 2008 and I realize that it is very optimistic. Remember to vote in November! Click on this article's title and check it out.

My Hero, Popeye

My hero has always been Popeye the Sailorman. He was not handsome, yet Popeye thought well of himself. He had a disability. One eye seemed permanently shut. He had an addiction. Smoking. He was in love with a taller than he shapeless very skinny woman named Olive Oyl. He was loyal. He parented a child that maybe was not his own...baby momma drama!

For the most part Popeye was meek. Then things hit the fan when a loved one or friend were in trouble. Long suffering, Popeye would utter his motto just as he was about to open that can of whoop-ass..."Ive taken all I can stands and I can't stands no more!" Bluto, Brutus or Alice the Goon would get dealt with and things would go back to what was normal for them: Olive Oyl leading Popeye on, Sweet Pea needing his time, and Whimpy needing some cash to feed his hamburger Jones. After Popeye sorted things out order is achieved.

Oh, how I wish that that could be my life

He's Making Heaven Laugh
Bernie Mac October 5, 2007 to August 9, 2008

It was a shock when tolling through my email I saw an alert from the Chicago Tribune that comedian and actor Bernie Mac had died. Just bringing to mind his face makes me smile. He was funny in that way that took our culture and justified it. Lately, the Tom Joyner Show played a clip of his act and the topic was how black folks could tell a whole story using the expletive m*ther f*cker and everybody listening would understand. Not only did he demonstrate his point by producing a story about a man trying to collect a debt but his story made sense and was very familiar to me. I heard the piece during the week about four times and I laughed as hard the fourth time as the first because the story was familiar and while there were no names to his characters I certainly had heard the real life version of the story and could name those characters myself.

I love smart observant comedians like Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Robin Harris, and Bernie Mack. Those guys had the "touch" with their humor. Bad children are still called Baybay kids. I am to this day mindful of accumulating "stuff." When you go to the court house looking for justice there is still "just us" there. And m*ther f*cker will always be a noun for me. You rest in peace guys. Heaven is a whole lot funnier now.

Let's Vote Already!

I don't know about you but I wish we could have the November election right now. Yes, after that long and trying primary season my patience with politics is razor thin. I am going to vote for Obama and every single Democratic office seeker, so why not let me do that now? I am so sick of what the Republican Party officeholders have done to this country that at this point nothing they can say or do can change my mind towards voting for them. They are bankrupt of ideas except for graft and need to be stopped.

I just simply want to do my voting now so that I can tune out the asinine main stream media and read stacks of good and some trashy books until February 1, 2009 when the Democrats will be running the country. Then I pay attention again to hold them accountable to our country.

Let us vote now we need the rest!

Ma's "School"

My mother attends adult day care. She relates to it as school. Even with her dementia she still loves learning, so the learning/memory games they play at her school pique her interest and keeps her brain sharp. Ma is a born missionary so now her school includes Bible Study too. One of the things that she is not so good with is being pushed around. Ma is from that group of folks who promote the "don't start nothing and there won't be nothing" philosophy. So she was booted out of her school because she was fighting. We were not surprised just aggravated. She weighs about 98 pounds, she is about 4 feet tall and you could push her over with one finger. However, she becomes Muhammad Ali when she feels pushed around so she strikes the boxer's pose and has a mean left hook. Alas, she punched a health worker in the eye and was asked to leave the program unless we drug her. We refused because drugging her would not help her…just them. They are the professionals and we believe that they should have handled her better.

Ma has dementia. She is 94 years old. When she is lucid she is smart as a whip (that's really the problem) and takes no crap off of anyone including me. She can be childlike with imaginary friends and invented additional family members, as if we need more. We have prevented her from cooking because she forgets what she is doing and abandons it, plus her vision is bad. She runs away from home believe me that can scare the heck out of the care giver. My nephew Pete still has not forgiven her for running away on his watch. She ran away on my watch thee times once successfully. Ma ran away from my sister's house but returned on her own...my brother-in-law was impressed. Having a secure, safe place for her during the day with a caring staff is imperative for our peace of mind.

Last week she had her geriatric psych screening and Ma being Ma charmed them. Her geriatric doctor said that nothing was wrong with Ma...it was the caregivers. Of course being a caregiver I knew it included me too and rightly so. I have found that I have inherited her stubborn streak and do really individualize care...I see a mission and move towards it regardless of what others want or need because it is efficient. I am trying hard to change that. Ma loves drama. I do not. So, we are working our way through that little detail. Mean while the goal is to get Ma to use other non-violent means to let people know when she is displeased.

Now, as we venture to enroll Ma into a new "school" I hope that they keep in mind that we are entrusting them with our family jewel even if she does have a good right hook too. She deserves to be treated with dignity and care and not abandoned her when her illness causes "trouble." That would be the professional thing to do.

Autism

My grandnephew Andy has autism. It is obvious upon simple observation that he does not speak and acts differently than other 4 year olds. The problem for Andy, his parents, and me is that he has not received a diagnosis of autism yet. He has the classical signs of autism like refusing to make eye contact, talking to his hand, not speaking, and frustration from his inability to make us understand what he needs or wants sometimes.

Why does it take so long to have someone in authority to sign a document saying Andy is autistic? Our fear is that with the passage of time and no intervention Andy will find it harder to get the help he needs to learn how to communicate, socialize with others, and invariably be successful in school. It pains me to see him struggle and I am without the skills to help him other than by providing his basic needs and a pair of loving arms into which he enjoys snuggling. More technical support for parents and family members who are trying the navigate the torturous path towards getting that diagnosis would make the waiting much less stressful.

More and more children are being diagnosed with autism. Many people are diagnosed as adults with autism. There simply needs to be a more efficient and effective way of getting services for our autistic loved ones. I want to see Andy read and hear him tell me my arms are like pillows to him. That would be a blessing.