Politics

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The Obama Effect Cont’d…

I’mmmmm baccccckk… I was reading the news stories on my Goggle feed and other apps that I have and what do I see but the Obama Administration getting another major foreign policy win in the fight against ISIS. Just days after the Brussels attacks, U.S. forces kill the number 2 man in ISIS. Then they capture another high ranking official.

While this doesn’t mean the fight is winding down, it does mean that this Administration has proven that they will get the sum bitches that are trying to threaten our way of life and intimidate Americans. If you think for one second that these things are lost on the American public think again. Yes the President is in the final months of his time running the nation, but clearly he’s making every day count.

Another nod to the President was his stare down with the Republican Party and their refusal to meet with, and consider his nominee for the Supreme Court. Maybe, these Republicans thought they were getting the Obama who has another election to win. But clearly, unchained from having to worry about another election, President Obama is taking calculated risks and daring the opposition to stop him.

Commuting the sentences of 61 more people with minor drug charges, to bring his total to over 260. Continuing his push to close that dentition facility in Cuba. Taking the first trip to Cuba as a sitting President in more than 80 years. Sending his top American Diplomat to China to negotiate a nuclear deal. Using American troops to assist the countries in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places recapture their land from ISIS.

Continuing to conduct himself worthy of being President of the United States in the final months. We may see another occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue have a brown hue like this President, but the effects of his Presidency will continue to linger for quite some time. You see Mr. Obama has done what many only hoped he would, leave a legacy that when the next round of history books are written, have to include his face and his accomplishments. Whether you like it or not, agree with all he’s done or not, you can’t deny Obama has changed America forever.

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The Obama Effect Cont’d

As I said since the end of last year, I will dedicate at least one blog a month to the effect that President Obama has had and what it has meant and will mean to this race and the country. I was just watching Election Night coverage of the states voting today and I heard something very interesting, which is also very troubling. Some folks down in the South have no idea who Bernie Sanders is and that’s just a shame.

I don’t pretend that he’s a candidate who’s perfect, but I will say that he may be a better candidate for the Black Community than Hillary Clinton, much to the dismay of those famous celebrities and regular Americans who believe she is the one. Mayor Bill Be Blasio of New York, said something very interesting in the segment before the one I watched. He said that the modern day Democrat is now a Social Democrat or a Democratic Socialist. Meaning, we’re a lot more like Bernie Sanders than we are Hillary Clinton, we just don’t like to admit it.

President Obama has set the bar as high as you can for the next Democratic President because of his policies that he’s been able to get passed through Congress. He has helped to lift the country into economic strength. He has done a very strong job of leading us out of the Empire America and back to the leader America. He has forced all of the candidates to shift their positions based on his actions, decisions and agenda. That’s why Clinton must say she is for Gay Marriage, that’s why Sanders must say he wants to extend the benefits of Obamacare.

The Obama coalition was one that had never been seen really before in Democratic circles. He gathered young people, black people, white women, women, older folks and educated folks and turned that into one hell of a base. Think that didn’t stick in folks mind? Bernie Sanders tried to do the same thing this cycle, only problem is… He’s not Black and people don’t really know who he is. Maybe if he would have given a speech to the magnitude of President Obama at the DNC in 2004, maybe we would be talking about Sanders possibly being Obama 2.0.

I still make a plea to Black people to not just hand your vote to Hillary Clinton because she is the wife of former President Bill Clinton, who was favorable to Black people. Do your research, read about the candidates and make an informed decision. If not you will just take away the power we have. And then we bitch about not being involved enough in the process. It’s because we don’t wanna read, we don’t wanna participate and don’t wanna be informed. Put it all together and you got Black people falling short.

If we learn nothing else from the Obama effect, it’s that we must build a strong coalition. We must do our homework and we gotta find a way to stick together. Otherwise, we will continue to fall by the wayside of opportunity.

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Black People Are You Ready…

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Black community, I’m a little bit shocked that we’ve so overwhelmingly decided to turn a blind eye to all of Hillary Clinton’s campaign record and solely focus on the narrative that she and the media have chosen to put out in this election cycle. While I’m not staunchly in support of either Secretary Clinton or Senator Sanders, I do have to say that I’m a little more surprised that we aren’t making these two candidates earn our vote.

Similarly, on the Republican side, Black folks are voting in that party and damn you really think Donald Trump is the best choice ehh? So far tonight in Hillary has already been given both Georgia and Virginia on the Democratic side in the nominating process and it’s assumed that she will have more than 75% of the Black vote in each state. I’m really surprised. Please remember that Hillary Clinton called pockets of Black youth tyrants that needed to be brought to heel. You know that’s an animal term. She was very supportive of the War Against Drugs legislation that her husband signed as President that led to decades of Black incarceration.

Until President Obama came out to support LGBT folks, she was still supporting her husbands signing of the Defense of Marriage Act, classifying marriage as only between a man and a woman. She has been solidly supporting the Black Community when it’s been convenient for her in an election cycle, but where has she been on the Black Lives Matter movement? I just want folks to understand that when we quickly and aimlessly throw away our vote to a candidate just because, we can marginalize our own voice.

Bill Clinton thought in 2008 that Obama was a nice token candidate when he said on the record, that since Jesse Jackson won a few primaries back when he ran for office that Obama winning a few states meant nothing. Little did he know our President would whoop his wife’s ass in the primary process. What’s my point here? Simple, Black people we have a chance to have real power and affect the outcome of a third consecutive Presidential election.

It was because so many of us, young and old, rich and poor, educated and noneducated came out in numbers to elect the first Black President of the United States. We must join together like our LGBT friends, Latino and Asian friends and make our vote count. Clinton may help us get a little bit ahead, but Donald Trump will tear our asses down. Black people, all people please pay attention and vote.

Don’t be influenced by those who may have some money and tell you that Trump is a good choice. Don’t listen to those who tell you that Rubio is the right pick, don’t listen to those who say that Cruz is the option. They are fundamentally opposite to what we in this community needs. We need a President who will continue to level the playing field, not further set it on its head.

Hillary or Bernie, pick whomever you choose, and if you decide to go Republican so be it. But if you don’t do anything else, please be smart and follow each candidate closely and vote for the one who will best help you. It’s pretty shocking when someone says they haven’t followed the election process and sides with one party and then all of sudden switches sides without any homework being done. That tells me you don’t have a voice, you don’t know where you stand and you will foolishly fall for anything. Good luck with that.

Wise up America

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The Establishment Trick

As I’ve been having conversations the past few weeks regarding the upcoming Presidential nominating and election cycle, I’ve been struck by how many people truly feel that the country is about to hit the shits if Donald J Trump is elected President of the United States. The second thing that I’ve realized is that many people are sounding the alarm that the country may be silently supporting Trump while outwardly promoting outrage.

One of my co-workers I spoke with today echoed that exact sentiment. She seemed to indicate that because of the massive amount of support Trump is receiving all across America, more people are really supporting him than what they want to admit to. I also want to submit something that many don’t want to accept or may not cop to.. the Establishment Wing of both parties are really smiling right now. Don’t believe me, lets explore.

Donald Trump is a modern day mainstream Republican if I ever saw one. Have you heard his speeches? He wants to send troops to foreign countries to war, he wants to reinstitute enhanced interrogation tactics, he wants to repeal Obamacare, he wants to double down on gun rights, he will continue tax breaks for rich people, he wants to decentralize the Federal Governments power, he wants to deport all the illegal immigrants and strip federal dollars for Planned Parenthood. These are just the stances he’s taken publically that I’m talking about. Does it sound familiar? It should.. It’s Republican 101 talking points for the past 16 years.

Hillary Clinton is right out of the Democratic Establishment Wing. I mean her husband is a former President, she is the former Secretary of State and Senator from New York. She was the first lady who tried to push Universal Healthcare in 1994. She has been apart of politics for more than two decades. She is what the Democrats look at as the polished candidate. And we as a nation have been led to believe that we are experiencing some sort of revolution. Ha! I wish that were true, but the truth is the leading candidates in both parties are as Established as you can get.

America the media has fucked you again and you didn’t even notice. I’m happy to see voter turnout is high, but I hate that we have such old, stale candidates leading these parties. More to come as we head to election day.

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The Human Element

I hate Donald Trump as a Presidential candidate. But if you want to know why he resonates with the Republican electorate is because he’s showing the human element that many politicians lack. One of the reasons Senator Sanders is making Hillary Clinton’s march to the White House hell is because he has the human touch that is truly resonating with many in the Democratic electorate; while Hillary comes across as stale, emotionless, and not authentic.

I found it very odd that once the 200o Presidential race was called for 43 and Al Gore knew he wasn’t going to get by a jaded Supreme Court ruling, he showed the human mystique that was missing throughout his entire candidacy. He was harshly criticized, and rightly so, for being very stiff and robotic on the campaign trail. Yet, in that moment when he knew it was over, he showed that human quality that made people wonder what would have been had he shown just a sliver of that during the election season.

I absolutely can’t stand President 43 for his policies and what he allowed to happen to this country, but what won him two elections as President was his innate ability to relate to people and speak to that in Americans. It’s the same thing that got Bill Clinton elected President twice. He had the ability to be human and show his vulnerability. The person issues he dealt with really only made him more human because every day people could sympathize with the situation.

President Barack Obama used that human interaction and vulnerability to parlay that into two terms as President of the United States, despite all the factions against him. It truly does baffle me how many career Politicians seem to forget that they’re people first when running in these elections. They forget that we’re human not some damn polls or numbers. Their Campaign Managers and staffs seem to forget to appeal to the human element in people to get elected. And we as people don’t demand enough that they pay attention to our human feelings.

You’re seeing that wave though erupt this year in both parities. Trump, Sanders, and to a lesser extent Cruz, have tapped into the American publics human emotion. They’re showing their true selves and for better or worse people are gravitating towards that. So if you’re Hillary Clinton’s people, my one word of advice would be: Stop treating that woman like she’s a machine and let her be human. It just might win her the White House and make another piece of American history.

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The Obama Effect

As my President winds down his time occupying the White House, I’m determined to pay homage to the nations first African American President. It’s also fitting, since it’s Black History month, that I begin with this month and what we’ve seen come out of South Carolina recently, and from the nation in the wake of Supreme Court Justice Scalia passing away.

That reality is that President Barack Obama has altered the course of America forever. We have equalities in place now that didn’t exist prior to President 44 stepping into the White House. I’m sorry to all the Clinton supporters, but President Obama did what Bill and Hillary could not do. He was the President that saw Universal Healthcare become the law of the land. He was the President who pulled the trigger that allowed for Osama Bin Laden to be killed. He was the President that brought the economy from the brink of disaster and created jobs in America. He was the President who nominated the first Latina Supreme Court Justice.

His accomplishments go on and on, and while he wasn’t to get everything he wanted done; there is no question that his Presidency has been one hell of a success. Obama has made the country aware of equality for Gays and Lesbians and Transgender folks. He has helped to reshape the education discussion, he is reshaping the Justice Department and crime as we speak. Man when you just think about all the things that have happened under his watch you have to be impressed.

There have been failures and will continue to be as long as we have a two party governance system. No President gets everything they want, but he really was able to get a lot of things done, despite Republicans trying to obstruct his entire agenda. The result is what I call the Obama Effect. Hillary Clinton is wrapping herself completely in the cloth of Obama’s Presidency. What a slap in the face it must be to her husband, that she’s running the current President’s record and not to be a resurrection of the Clinton years.

Senator Sanders is trying to align himself with members of the Obama support group in Congress, but more importantly is trying to follow the Obama model, of young people, first time voters and College educated folks to rise to the top of the ticket in the Party.

Who would have thought that 7 plus years ago Barack Obama would have the effect that he’s had. Ha, all these racist, prejudice White people must be puling their hair out. Mr. President thank you for your contributions to this nation and I hope the remainder of this year the Obama Effect continues to expand and slap those who oppose it right in their faces.

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Talkin to Black People

As the Political landscape on the Democratic Party shifts in this Presidential cycle to the South, and more specific, higher concentration of Black voters, you hear all the Media pundits and broadcast journalists talk about how much Clinton and Sanders are pandering to the needs of the community. Trying to make their case at being the best champion for the causes of Black people. It’s amazing to me to hear Hillary Clinton and her surrogates talk about her like she’s been the bastion of hope for Black Americans.

Again, I’m not saying she wouldn’t do a good job, but lets not forget that it was her husband, and also her to a large degree with her support, that put into place these sorry ass laws that disproportionally target the Black community in the war on drugs. How many young black men are in jail for minor drug charges, while so many White American are running around laughing at the justice system.

I’m not saying that Bernie Sanders has all the answers, but he is a man who has been abdicating for reform of the prison system, along with President Obama, before Secretary Clinton got on the band wagon. I heard John Lewis and other prominent leaders in Congress of the Black Community talk about how dedicated and fervent a partner Hillary and Bill Clinton have been to the community. While I do agree that they’ve done many good works for the community, I can’t forget the drug policies and the Defense of Marriage Act signed by Bill during his time as president.

I want America to hear me well, this courting of the Black vote is only because they’re about to hit the states that Black folks live in the most and have a say so in the electoral process. It has been funny watching Hillary Clinton pander to the record of President Obama; while I’ve also enjoyed Bernie Sanders try to cling to Obama and also speak to the young people who feel outrage at the current political structure.

We must realize though, that we marginalize our impact every election cycle, because we don’t truly leverage our power enough by voting. We don’t seem to be engaged truly in the process and therefore, Republicans dismiss our vote and some Democrats just put it in the automatic column when they run, because that’s who we typically vote for a vast majority of the time.

I’m a liberal Democrat and I don’t believe that the current Republican party has a damn to offer me as a Black man. They’re policies are antiquated and out dated. They are still wanting the rich to benefit more than the Middle Class. They don’t want gays to have equal rights and they still want to suppress the Black vote if possible.

We must put pressure on the Democratic Party to push for our needs. To use our power to get the Black agenda forwarded. We, just like the Latino community and the Gay community have the numbers to affect change. But, we just don’t use it enough to let the world know just how serous we are. Damn it’s time we show the world just how much of a player we are in this process.

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Groundhogs Day Part 2

If you’ve been reading my blogs you have been very aware of the fact that I’ve been very critical of the Clinton campaign, and today I offer no relent. As it is also clearly know, I’m a Democrat and a liberal, but I’m also not very satisfied with either candidate in our side, nor any candidate on the Republican side. But, I have to say that this crony bull shit of Hillary and company is really tired. This is a flashback to 2008 when she was in trouble against President Obama and call her husband and family into the fray.

Now this time around, former President Clinton is calling Senator Sanders supporters sexist. What the fuck is that? I mean let’s get real Hillary and Bill. Now she brings Chelsea into the scene and she wants to try to appeal to young women, who really have no connection to her. Chelsea has also been on the attack against Senator Sanders and I say it’s now time to stop the hands off of Chelsea business and treat her just like the rest of the surrogates that the candidate have. Grill them and force them to answer some tough questions.

I understand that Secretary Clinton is afraid again, because she still can’t connect with regular folks and young women around early nominating states don’t really care for her message. But can you please come into the 21st century and stop getting your husband to do your bidding for you. I mean I’m all for the family support and being in the family business, but one thing I do give the Idiot family credit for, is that their support of Jeb has been just that. You don’t see them out smearing any of the other candidates. They are truly just supporting Jeb.

I, for one, am excited about getting all of these older, stately folks off of the Presidential platform and allow for some of the younger candidates who are ready to jump into the fray and make new roads for this country. I know that in the next cycle or two we will have a chance to see the great young stars of both parties. For now, we’re stuck with seeing Hillary continue her anal attempts to call Senator Sanders disingenuous and making it seem like he’s smearing her record.

Was it sexist when Mrs. Clinton defended her husband by trying to destroy the women who accused her husband of having affairs with them? And those who accused him of sexual abuse? See it’s very convenient to try to call someone else out because they point out the facts of your life, you know, you taking money from Wall Street big wigs to “deliver speeches”. Maybe a little more honesty would be helpful, but you know that’s too much like right.

I’ll be voting this year, but I’m not really hyped about either of these two candidates. I just hope of Hillary does become President, she truly helps the regular people continue to get a step ahead, like this President has done.

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Flipping Your Way to the White House

As the Presidential Political season continues to heat up my critical eye for what’s happening continues to perk up. I’ve been watching the coverage of both candidates for the Democratic nomination for President since Monday’s Iowa Caucuses and I’m really kinda annoyed that the mainstream media still want to call Bernie Sanders a fringe candidate. Let me honestly say that I am a little nervous about how his policies would fit into today’s American political system, but I also honestly believe that much like all other Presidents before him, he will realize that everything he wants is unrealistic and being a longtime Senator in D.C. he will find a way to make good deals.

Secretary Clinton continues to be portrayed as the rational candidate. The only one whose ideas make sense and are practical in Washington D.C. We see the media elite continue to spin that Hillary is being vilified for her male-like qualities on the campaign trail and her unfair treatment at the hands of her male counterparts. We hear her bitching about Sanders saying “inappropriate” things, the truth is Bernie is calling her on her flip flopping antics and positions, which to me is totally valid. This race is now about who can the most Progressive, Centrist Liberal in tone and style.

While she still has the cloud of secrecy surrounding her and her email controversy, Hillary is still running away with currently with this nomination process. We are watching what happens when you have the most money to spend, the most influence and the ability to distort your record the best. I will give Hillary credit, she was the first to try to get Universal Healthcare and she has been a strong proponent for the Black Community, but she is a very rich elitist who is in the pockets of those on Wall Street. I understand that to some degree it’s needed, but can you really say you’re for the people when your biggest backers are those who are against raising up the people?

I guess it just continues to show what money can buy. People, friends, cars, homes, and elections. I like Hillary Clinton for her persistence and her ability to go toe to toe with the men, but her antics are garbage and she really is a phony to me. But, hey I prefer a Democrat in the White House as oppose to any of them asses on the other side of the aisle.

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The Media is Still In Control

I’ve been watching the latest coverage of the Presidential political cycle and I’m continuing to see what I’ve been saying for months now.. The Media is picking our candidates for us, instead of the people. If you watch the media’s coverage of this election process, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, primarily, has been skewed to where the ratings are and not where the true folks are really running. The real truth is if you shut up and stop talking about the ignorance of Trump and you really let Bernie Sanders and his abilities stand out, you will see that the other candidates are legit.

From MSNBC to FOXNEWS to CNN and all the major television networks they cover only Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton. Bernice Sanders had to force his way into the mix because he had a message that Americans resonated with and made the media elites add him in their coverage. Jeb Bush was the early inevitable candidate so he got tons of coverage and when Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina had their heat they were receiving coverage. Now that they’ve cooled you can barely see them on the t.v. screen.

All the talk ahead of the Republican debate is on if Trump will decide to show up. Every show leads with coverage about Trump. Maybe if you have a major television show and you have enough ego, then you can run for President and say the most foolish things and win because you must be telling the truth because you speak with great bass and you don’t worry about the political correctness of what you say. Are we sure that’s the message and image that we want to portray about our election cycle. I think leaders around the world have to be laughing at this process. Donald Trump hasn’t put forth one tangible policy or initiative that he will govern by or from.

Hillary Clinton has only become one of the largest liars and flip floppers in American History. Was she a good Sec of State? Yes she was. Did she do a good job as the Junior Senator from New York? Yes she did. Is she the person I want to lead the country, I don’t know. Maybe she is better than Bernie on working with the other side. Maybe she has the foreign policy experience that is needed to be President, oops, never mind I forgot Barack Obama. But all the coverage is about whether or not she is doing the right things and whether or not the DNC should change the debate rules so she can show off her skills and pull away from Bernie Sanders.

I’m truly disgusted by the way the Media has taken the reigns of the Presidential nominating process and made it their personal toy. They are choosing what we talk about, who we talk about and which candidate is going to come out on top. Maybe the media is more powerful than ever and they try to say that they are the weakest. I really hope that for our sakes the other candidates really get a chance to shine and we have an election process that is robust. I’m tired of Trump and his arrogance and I’m annoyed with Hillary and her revelations of personality and independence. Please give me fresh and different, lord these old gizzers are wearing me out. Oh and so is the media.