I wish all my fellow Bloggers and Followers of my Blog a Happy New Year!

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Black Republicans in the Obama age. The Real Deal or an Illusion of Inclusion?

"The recent decision by the Obama Justice Department to drop all charges of voter intimidation against the New Black Panther Party during the 2008 Election represents a sad day for all Americans. For an Administration that promised a new era in race relations, Obama and the Democrats in Congress have demonstrated that race will continually be exploited for political gain. It is outright hypocrisy that the Justice Department under Attorney General Holder is suing a sovereign American State, yet dismissing this heinous violation of our Constitution - the right to vote."

~ Allen West, Black Republican, and candidate for the United States Congress in Florida's 22nd district

Black Republicans are ATTRACTIVE!!!

Black Republicans are GOD FEARING!!!

Black Republicans are YOUNG!!!

Black Republicans are ATHLETES!!!

Black Republicans are ORGANIZED!!

Black Republicans are CONNECTED!!!


Although Michael Steele is fighting to keep his job as Republican National Chairman, 2010 has been a good year for Black Republicans. They were once hard to find like Leprechauns, Unicorns and a Cerberus. And when you did see them, they came across like the biggest herbs ever!!! Ron Christie, Republican political strategist, is always defending his fellow Republicans. It doesn’t matter how racist or ignorant they sound. He doesn’t ever express any opinion that might differ from his political party. So although he might be a decent guy, he comes across like the black manservant that always says “YESA BOSS”!! Black folks are not a monolithic race and I think it’s good that we don’t always agree. But when someone is talking about ONE black person, they are talking about US ALL.

I say that this was a good year because of their new additions to congress. And the new additions to their local and state level offices. The black conservatives that ran in predominately white districts really have something to be proud of. They stuck to their principles and were able to win people over based on actions and not rhetoric. It is too early to tell if the Republican Party will take notice and increase their reach to black folks. If their current history is any indication, I won’t be holding my breath. They have the notorious image of being a slave owner party. And it doesn’t help that their leaders all appear to be old white men.

Side Note: The face of America is changing and it’s not getting any “whiter”.

Republicans are facing the possibility of being reduced to regional party status. Sure the Democrats got drubbed in the 2010 elections but they didn’t lose the U.S. Senate. Republicans cleaned up at the state and local levels where race and class are more entrenched. But on the U.S. Senate level where people of all types have more of a vote, things are different. But again!! That still depends on the state. Think about what the future may possibly hold for black conservatives. A black Republican could have a better chance of winning the Governorship in Alabama than Representative Artur Davis. And maybe…just maybe….South Carolina will get a black U.S. Senator.

So what about the black voters that aren’t currently voting Republican? We know that the Republican Party is so/so on reaching out to blacks. But what are black Republicans doing to appeal to people that look like them? I don’t see them in “The Hood” doing voter registration drives. I don’t see them recruiting on the campuses of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Where is their advertising in magazines geared towards black folks?? It’s as if they have decided to forgo reaching out because of the difficulty. Don’t they realize that black independents are up for grabs? Black independents are party-less because they don’t like either party. But they have to choose a party because it’s the only party in town. Don’t be fooled by the talk of blacks not voting. All blacks aren’t sitting at home on Election Day watching “Good Times”. If you don’t believe me ask Adrian Fenty. He won and lost his job based on black voters. In some of our American cities, blacks make up 15 - 54% (% depends on each city – check your city for more clarity) of the population.

So in the end what does all of this mean?

1. Black conservatives have an opportunity to increase their political clout if they stick to their principles.

2. In order to attract more blacks, the Republican Party needs to reach out beyond their comfort zone.

3. Black conservatives need to increase their appeal to blacks that aren’t currently in their party.

Whatever happens next I can guarantee that this is only the beginning. You have not seen the last of the Black Republicans.

Nollywood is looking real good to me...

Actress, singer, fashion designer and producer Genevieve Nnaji is one of the hottest stars in Nollywood. What is Nollywood you ask? I didn’t know about it either until recently. Nollywood is the name for Nigerian cinema. The Country of Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest movie makers. I find it funny that we complain about not seeing enough black actresses in American films. But Genevieve has over 60 films made and she is only in her early 30’s. Go Figure…..

To all the radical minority loving left-wing neo-Marxists that are destroying America. Peace Love and Have a Happy New Year!!

Black folks make up 12 maybe 13% of the United States population. The unemployment rate for black men is around 16%. For black women it is around 13%. The only black owned television networks are BET (which was known for playing music videos all day long), TVOne (which will be showing their very 1st scripted show produced by them next year) and OWN (its Oprah so you will see a mix of races on her network). There are no national news anchors (6pm News) that are black. No blacks host their own news show on FOX, CNN, MSNBC or Headline News. But every now and again we have angry white folks complaining about how they are robbed by minorities. I call it the “Black Folks are taking over” complex. They said we were a more racially tolerant nation because of the election of the first black president. That’s (Insert foul word here) ____________!! Ever since the news reported about white folks being the minority in 2050, some of them have lost their damn minds!!! I hate they were even told that. Some people take a little piece of information and run with it. They never said that minorities would be running anything!! They said whites would be the minority and they never said who the majority would be!! No matter how many unplanned pregnancies black folks have (based on Maury Povich Statistics) it won’t be us. They keep trying to kick out anyone in this country that looks brown (so that rules out Latinos and Arab Americans). Asians would have to start producing a lot of babies and calling their cousins from the old country to increase their numbers. And Native Americans??? The ones that weren’t killed off by the people that stole their land are backed up on Reservations. Sure they make money from gambling but what’s a casino when you owned America. So who are these angry white folks really afraid of?

Two issues to discuss and then I’m done…


1. Leave the Comics alone!!!!

If one character named the “Black Panther” is bothering you, don’t read the book. Comic Books have always been socially conscious from gay characters, feminism, race, class and politics. The character was made during a cultural shift for black folks in this country. Don’t be mad because the story line involved evil white people!! Sure there are some evil black people out here but we only make up 13% of the population. So mathematically you have a larger probability of seeing more evil white people. Just like more white people are on welfare. Anyway the storyline is from a made up book about a made up character. None of this is real!!! Duh…..


2. Stop complaining about Athletic Prowess…

It’s not a conspiracy because people of “certain” races aren’t or are playing “certain” sports. A lot of it comes down to access and athletic skill. You never knew black folks did speed skating but we saw one in the Winter Olympics. Some black lady dragged her son out of the house to make sure he learned how to skate. God Bless her but I don’t like cold weather (along with a lot of black folks I know – let’s be honest!!) so it’s not for me. If you make sports available to everyone (regardless of suburban or hood affiliation), you will see more people participating in sports they previously weren’t associated with. The sports media loves the quintessential “Great White Hope”. Why do you think they give Brett Favre a pass on all the things he does? Why are Quarterbacks that pass from the pocket praised for their leadership and poise. Meanwhile the “running” Quarterbacks get praise for their athleticism and chastised for risk taking. But let Tim Tebow break out in a run and he’s the greatest thing since sliced bread. If they could find a white receiver that runs like the wind or a white running back that reminds you of “Jim Brown” he will get noticed!!! Believe That!!!!

On Any Given Tuesday

Everyone thought this game was going to be a blowout. With the snow cleared from Lincoln Financial Field it was a no brainer (Mike Vick would be able to run and gun with ease). So how did the Chicago Bears end up with a 1st round playoff bye and the #2 seed in the National Football Conference?

Joe Webb and the Minnesota Vikings were good enough to beat a good team that played like an average one. Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell should have kept his big fat mouth shut. He probably helped give fuel to a Minnesota team that was already mad that the game was postponed. Remember that Minnesota and Chicago were playing out in frigid weather the week before. Minnesota was probably tired of staying in a hotel and wanted to get out of the city. Philly sports fans are cruel – I cheer for the Cowboys so I know!!!

But the hero of the game was Minnesota Quarterback Joe Webb. Webb played QB for the University of Alabama-Birmingham in Conference USA. Just like most black QB’s that play in college, the National Football League gets amnesia and doesn’t know what to do with them. He was drafted in the 6th round as a wide receiver (go figure). His talent was described by Draft pundits as the following:


Webb is a size/speed prospect with the impressive arm strength to be viewed as a developmental project. Overall physical tools allow him to contribute in a variety of ways. Needs a lot of refinement reading defenses and with his passing fundamentals. Potential late-round pick or undrafted free agent prospect.


That doesn’t sound like the guy that played against Philadelphia last night. Most black QB’s start off at a disadvantage because they don’t fit the typical NFL QB mold. The solution is to break the mold!!! It’s unrealistic to hold these young men to the same standard as Johnny Unitas. They spend high school and college playing as QB’s so that is all they know. So coaches shouldn’t shake their heads when they have a tough time catching footballs and running routes (THEY AREN’T RECEIVERS). I have to congratulate former Minnesota coach Brad Childress for realizing the talent that Webb had and switching him to QB.

United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. (UVCC)

Founded in April of 2006, United Voices for a Common Cause, Inc. (UVCC) a non-profit organization with a tax exempt status under section 501 (c) (3) is dedicated to fostering progressive self-esteem, pride, dignity, self-respect and introspection throughout the African American community.

Recognizing that negative lyrics, scripts, dialog and scenes which enter the human ears and sight has a negative effect on the human mind and in of itself lends to a debilitating, self-defeating image hereby declares censorship on the use of the n-word by African Americans.

Griff the Invisible

What about the "Tough" guy in the White House??

Obama’s problem thus is stark and simple: He’s the right guy at the wrong time.

~ Columnist Richard Gwyn

It seems that all the love for President Obama has slowly dissipated. Not since Julius Caesar has a public figure been cheered while just walking down the street. If he is sitting in the Oval Office wondering what happened, he should look in the mirror. Apparently something he is or isn’t doing is making the media tight!! You have commentators calling Obama out like a bullied school child. Women and even black men are getting shots in on the president.


Obama's victory wasn't just about his progressive platform. It was a historic, racial barrier-busting victory that was supposed to make it just a little easier for black boys to imagine being president. But Obama is proving himself to be a most peculiar commander in chief. Maybe another black boy will someday grow up to become president, but if he turns out to be like Obama, it'll be hard to call him a black man.

~ Courtland Milloy, Columnist


The problem is that he seems to come off as a soft dude! Obama is from Chicago so people expect a certain toughness. Chicago is known for its brash characters and groups – Al Capone, Sam Giancana, The Vicelords, and The Black Disciples. These aren’t people that believe in negotiating with their sworn enemies. Apparently Obama feels that he can get more done if he is congenial. And for the last 2 months, he has been correct in his assessment. The problem his critics (i.e. supporters) have is that he’s too congenial. Obama would be a horrible poker player. I don’t even think he could play spades right. He always seems to fold right before the debate begins. You can’t just throw in your hand without bluffing them first. Maybe his style of negotiating is one where his critics can’t comprehend. Matter of fact, I don’t think anyone can comprehend his style. So what can the White House do to toughen up the prez?? Nothing!!!


If you have a problem with someone that isn’t tough, the best thing to do is to surround them with tough people.

Enter: Joseph Biden, Jr,


That’s right!! Vice President Joe Biden is the guy you need. Biden is the embodiment of the quintessential 19th century American male. His “real” talk from the hip attitude and his blue collar background appeals to people. It really appeals to the individuals that Obama seems to not be able to impress – White Men. White men have been told that he is a crazed socialist Kenyan that was raised by Black Panthers. Maybe he should have showcased his mother more during the 2008 Presidential Campaign. You can’t get any more American than a white woman from the Midwest (per the mainstream media). Obama’s family looks like they belong to the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie Clan and he has been painted as a racist that hates little white boys and girls. No matter how nasty his enemies get, Obama still turns the other cheek. He does what the rest of us wouldn’t do on a good day. But the people that voted for him want a liberal George W. Bush. I just don’t think they wear cowboy boots in Chicago!!!


Vice President Biden needs to be more of a voice these next two years. He needs to show that someone in the White House is willing to fight for what they believe in. He also needs to slap people down (not physically but verbally) when they try to test the president. Biden is a brawler and he doesn’t mind mixing it up. He came from a period in time when men were men (that sounds like a cigarette commercial). Yes, Obama needs a “My Bodyguard” type deal. Why keep dragging President Clinton into the mix. His fighting days are well behind him. He is a lover not a fighter. If you don’t believe me, the proof is on Monica Lewinsky’s dress (or maybe she finally had it dry cleaned). The message is clear - Get Biden ready for next year!!

The passing of Teena Marie 1956 - 2010

Teena Marie aka Marie Christine Brockert has passed away. The Grammy nominated singer and protégée of Rick James was only 54. Apparently she had some recent health issues but as of now the death is due to natural causes. Teena Marie was an honorary Black Person (i.e. she gets a pass). Yeah I said it!! The majority of her fans were black. And when she died blacks on Twitter and Facebook were giving her tributes. Besides what White Woman could deal with Rick James and all his Rick James-ness??? Teena Marie proved that good music transcends race. And if we never learned anything else from her, that was more than enough.

If we argued with our Boss in public, what would happen to us?

The Rise and Fall of the Spook Who sat by the Door.

When I first saw the original movie I was blown away. But I knew that it would have been controversial during the time it was created. I've never read the book but again....I can't seem to find it!!!

It’s a sagging shame…even in the age of Obama, they still won’t dress the part.

There are many inventions that we need to make our lives better. I would even accept a waffle maker that doubles as a clock radio. Some inventions aren’t worth the paper they were drawn on. The concept of “Supply and Demand” means that people need a product so you must make it. But this thing right here is the worst!!! Harlemnite inventor Andrew Lewis must be trying to make Black History. And that is saying something because Lewis is a White Man!!!

Lewis has shamed the ancestors of The Harlem Renaissance and created “Subs”. No!!! Not the deliciously hot or cold sandwiches that you can eat at either end!! Sub’s are suspenders that you can wear while still keeping your pants sagging. In layman’s terms this is an “Outside the Prison Gates” garter belt. Millions of young black men can now let their pants sag without them falling off their behinds. It’s especially beneficial to young drug dealers that spend their days running from the cops. It’s just what we needed: Another reason to not dress appropriately.

Just when I think it can’t get any worse. People somehow find ways to be more ignorant. This is the part where we have collectively thrown up our hands. We can’t keep our children’s pants up. Young men don’t want to keep their pant’s up. And some men in jail wish they didn’t have to wear pants (easy access). Every fad that is imitated by (insert generic urban name here) doesn’t need to be turned into a fashion statement. This doesn’t provide anything of worth to our youth.

You can’t wear sagging pants to a job interview.

You can’t wear sagging pants to the bank to apply for a business loan.

You can’t wear sagging pants to meet your girlfriend’s parents (unless the dad wears sagging pants).

And if you end up in jail, you shouldn’t want to wear sagging pants (easy access).

I hear my younger contemporaries always talking about how people don’t respect them.

Well you won’t get any wearing something like this. Even Jay Z is wearing suits now!! For all the black folks that thought an Obama Administration would change how young black men viewed themselves, you were sadly mistaken.

If there is a crime involving Cookies, I know who the #1 suspect should be!!

For a guy that owned 3 restaurants, you would think he would be famous (well at least “Hood Famous”). Now when I finally hear about him it’s for all the wrong reasons. Charles Rivers aka Chip Nutty is missing!!! Apparently the cookie connoisseur hasn’t shown up to work since last Wednesday. And he hasn’t been seen since then, along with some office supplies. Oh, did I forget to mention his employees haven’t been paid. Uh Oh! This isn’t a fake case from the cancelled television show “Without a Trace.” This is a real live mystery. The Cookie Man is gone and the dough is missing!!!

I bet Rivers never thought he would obtain this type of notoriety. It must be hard trying to make a Chocolate Chip Cookie that tastes better than any of the current ones in existence. We mere mortals will never know the long hours of labor that goes into making a chocolaty masterpiece. Well Rivers knows!!


"A lot of the stuff in those (other) cookies is not real. It's not even real chocolate. If you taste my chocolate chip cookie you will pass out. You have to sit down when you eat my cookie."

~ Charles Rivers, in a 2009 interview with the Charlotte Post.


Side Note: I heard a female say something like that in college once but I digress……

I can’t stress the importance of finding a man that has 50 flavors of cookies to choose from. This should get the type of press that is usually provided to young white girls. We need to put Nancy Grace on this case! And tell Jane Velez-Mitchell to put a round table together to discuss this disappearance! How will I ever be able to go to his bakery if he never comes back? I don’t want them to turn his spot into a check cashing place. They will you know!!! The only business growing faster than check cashing is McDonalds. Let’s review this timeline that I have put together based on watching episodes of “Remington Steele.”

On March 19th, 2010 Chip Nutty received glowing reviews on their Cinnamon Rolls from Charlotte’s Creative Loafing Blog.

In the month of June 2010 Chip Nutty was featured in Charlotte Magazine Online.

On September 13th, 2010 some dude on Yelp.com gave Chip Nutty 5 stars.

On November 26th 2010 some lady on the blog southernlightphoto.com raved about Chip Nutty’s red velvet cupcake with vanilla drizzle (there is nothing like a good drizzle, or so I’ve heard).

On Dec 15th 2010 Rivers doesn’t show up to work.

This is serious business people!! Either the man is a no good low down snake in the grass crook or the Cookie Monster’s got him!!!

Christina Aguilera & Rihanna - Too sexy to watch with your Grandma?

Was this December 11 performance on tv's the X Factor too hot to handle? And why are we hearing about the complaints now? I guess Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake never performed together in Jolly Old England!!!

Drowning In Oil - BP and the Reckless Pursuit of Profit.

The following Book Review has been sponsored by FSB Associates

“My mother had to be identified by DNA because there was not much of her left. She had been severely burned and decapitated during the blast. I will never forget seeing my father’s blood-soaked face with the lines running from his eyes down his cheeks from the tears that he cried before he died. I often wonder what he was thinking at that moment.”

~ Eva Rowe, her parents James and Linda, died in BP’s Texas City refinery explosion in 2005.



WOW!!! This book actually left me speechless. I see now that the “Oil Business” is slimy but it’s not because of the “Oil.” Loren Steffy has done an exceptional job with putting this book together. The title sounds like it could be a bash British Petroleum book. But if you read the book, you will realize that’s not the intent. Steffy gives a documentary style assessment without sounding like a snarky environmentalist. The book gives a thorough background on BP’s humble beginnings to their mega status in the oil game. You also get an understanding of how companies drill for oil in the deep sea. If you never understood the oil business, this is a great book for a quick tutorial. It does take an emotional turn when you hear from the oil workers and their families. All have been changed by trying to get that tricky fossil fuel out of the ground. I hate to sound like a pessimist but we’ll never stop using oil. We are addicted to it like a crack head is addicted to crack. And we are enabled by poor government regulation and an overflow of cash. I don’t think we are really serious about getting “Beyond Petroleum.” I will admit that it is a catchy slogan.

What? Kids that want to learn? Stop playing!!!

If you think the system is working, ask somebody who isn't!

The last couple of years have been a golden era for employers—they’ve found that they can hire whom they want at lower wages, and that it’s easier to retain folks without having to boost salaries. But at some point companies that want to grow will have to break down and hire new people, or turn part-timers into full-timers, or put contractors on the payroll. Many employers are treating existing and potential employees as if they’re desperate for work. And plenty of Americans are.


~ Daniel Gross Newsweek Online Article, August 15th 2010


My former employer mailed me a Happy Birthday card. Key word is “Former”!! My birthday was last week and they laid me off a week before Thanksgiving. The card came from some woman with some high title at corporate headquarters. I’ve never heard of her before and I’ve never seen her a day in my life. I guess someone put the card on her desk and she signed it before she went to lunch.


This was my second time getting laid off. I’ll be honest: it sucks!! Getting laid off is like a girlfriend breaking up with you for no apparent reason. One day she just says I don’t think “we’re” working. You ask what’s wrong but she can’t tell you. In corporate speak, you have become a financial drag on the company. I was laid off in the 4th Quarter so they were trying to get us off the books for this year. Not since the slave trade have I seen people moved like numbers. The first time I was laid off, people cried and visually looked sad. This time – Nothing! Three years on the job and all you get is a boxed lunch to go.


So I was shocked when I received a birthday card giving me well wishes. Why would they take the time to do this? This is an example of what modern society has become. A “denial of employee angst”! Employees’ are going to work every day wondering whether it will be their last. They are holding on to jobs they can’t stand because the alternative is unemployment. They also are overworked and underpaid. Compared to other countries we work like rented mules. And don’t get me started on how much management makes compared to everyone else. The card represented denial by telling me “everything is alright.” Don’t worry about being unemployed before Christmas! Don’t even worry about getting ready to lose your medical benefits. This is business as usual. And in the end, everything is going to be alright!!!


With jobs going overseas and a loss of manufacturing we’re in trouble. Other countries are surpassing us in education, green energy and transportation. In our quest to make it cheaper and faster we are destroying the employee class. We are also giving up jobs to people in foreign countries. I’m not mad at them because I know they need to work. But I’m tired of the language barrier I have to face when calling about my credit card. And that brings up another point, why does someone in India have my credit card information. Isn’t this a security issue?? If you thought you could graduate from high school and work at the plant, scrap that! If you thought you could work for the same company for 30 plus years, don’t plan on it! We can’t create jobs in America because we are giving them away!!!


I lost my job because the process we worked on became automated. A fancy way of saying we can do the work of 6 people with just 2. I always laugh at the people that are too naïve to believe they can’t get canned. I have two degrees and that doesn’t mean anything. In the future, college students might have to adjust their career choice in order to work. It would be sad to give up a degree in directing movies so you could be an accountant but what can you do? Are we headed for a future of all business degrees and jobs in healthcare and fast food? People are getting sick and we don’t really cure them. We just kind of keep them moving along. And the drive thru at McDonalds is packed every day. America: Where people get sick and eat!!! Don’t be surprised if McDonalds has a robot working at the drive thru in a few years.

When is this movie coming to Charlotte???

2010 Individual World Poetry Slam

A New and Updated "Where Does the Money Go?"

A new and updated version of Where Does the Money Go? will be out this January. Authors Scott Bittle & Jean Johnson, have updated their book to include the impact of the Great Recession, the Wall Street bailout and the new health care law. The fact that this book was revised means these subjects aren’t played out. And that is bad news!!! Could 2011 be the year of serious talk concerning America’s Deficit Problem?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpt from an article entitled:

"Turning the Clock Back Isn't Enough: The Nasty Surprise Awaiting the GOP on Health Care and the Deficit." by authors Scott Bittle and Jean Johnson


In today's hyperpartisan political climate, too many people believe it's enough to block the other guy's plan. That counts as a victory. But the truth is the status quo is not an option. And it's not at all clear that the Republican ideas on health care, such as a voucher system for Medicare or eliminating the tax breaks to employers to provide insurance, are going to be any more popular with the public than the Democratic plan or do any more to reduce costs. The Republicans have mostly ridden the wave of "not this." They haven't done the hard work of preparing the public for "what now?" But "what now" on health care is the question that really matters on the budget. If we don't answer it, a lot of the other ideas might turn out to be Band-Aids.

I might be unemployed but I’m not getting taxed. Thanks, I think?

Apparently, the Republicans and Democrats are close to a deal for extending Tax Cuts and Unemployment Benefits. A few months ago the debate was strictly about tax cuts so how did we get to this point? And who was involved in this deal? Or was the Obama Administration working backroom deals again?

Republicans don’t want the Bush-era tax cuts to end for all citizens. They especially don’t want them to end for small business owners who would be penalized by higher taxes. If the tax cuts expire, they will increase to higher levels. Republicans feel with higher taxes, business owners would not hire people or create new jobs. But what constitutes as a small business?? Some small businesses have multi-billion dollar revenues. They only classify themselves as small businesses in order to enjoy great tax benefits.

The Democrats want tax cuts permanently extend for all but the highest earners. If they don’t extend, the middle class will have to deal with a tax hike. And the middle class is already dwindling as we speak. Democrats want tax reductions that would benefit everyone making less than $250,000. Most people I know are scratching their heads trying to figure out when did $250,000 become a middle class salary? If $250,000 is a middle class salary, then I should be on welfare and living in the projects.

So what does unemployment benefits have to do with any of this? Apparently at the end of the year, they are set to end as well. And the Republicans were not going to sign off on them. They felt that the benefits were another thing that would increases the deficit. Probably, but aren’t tax cuts going to increase the deficit? So the two issues were somehow combined into one measure and that is how we got to this point.

So how long should tax cut extensions last? A one-year extension would put us right back where we are a year from now. A two-year extension would be revived again during the 2012 campaign. A three-year/four-year/five-year extension would be some other presidents’ problem.

Democratic constituents back home must be confused about what is going on in the District of Columbia. Republican senators and moderate Democrats blocked liberal Democrats from cutting tax rates on high income levels. I keep saying these “Blue Dog” Democrats are going to be the death of the Democratic Party. Even though the Republicans were able to do this, they still don’t have enough votes to extend tax rates permanently. So if it’s a stalemate, does that automatically mean you should compromise? President Obama doesn’t have his back up against the wall (i.e. held up at gunpoint). So why not call the Republicans bluff?? Is it because Obama doesn’t have the confidence that it will work out in his favor? He has proven before that he can be easily punked (please don’t ask me to name an instance because there are too many – but just to throw out some - British Petroleum and Shirley Sherrod)!!!

I didn’t major in finance and I don’t know anything about balancing a budget (À la Congress Charlie Rangel). I can balance my check book and the last time I looked I didn’t see an increase in salary. The problem middle class people have (if we are still being called that) is that everyone else is getting over but us. Many people were previously unemployed because of illegal actions by corporations. Many people are currently unemployed because corporations are trying to get them off their year-end books. Yet the people who run these corporations are about to receive a tax cut while their former employees fight for unemployment benefits!! If we are going to reduce the deficit, we have to make hard decisions. We can’t keep cutting taxes! I even hate saying it myself but fiscally it doesn’t make sense. What does make sense is to do SOMETHING that is going to create job growth. After this debate, the next one better be about how to create jobs. This two party system is getting real old. If the current parties can’t figure out how to decrease the deficit and create jobs, we will need a 3rd party who can.