Congress Votes To Cut Up Nation's Credit Cards?

In a symbolic vote designed to appease the American people-- who are largely against raising the debt ceiling –– Congress voted overwhelmingly against The Bill.

According to an article in the New American:

"As expected, the bill to raise the federal debt ceiling that House Republicans brought to a quick vote today failed overwhelmingly. The bill, which would have unconditionally increased the debt limit by $2.4 trillion — the precise amount requested by the Obama administration — garnered only 97 Yea votes, all from Democrats. A combined 318 Democrats and Republicans voted Nay, and seven Democrats voted Present.

There was political maneuvering all around. The bill was introduced by Rep. Dave Camp (R-Mich.), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, who then took to the floor of the House to denounce his own legislation, saying his bill “will and must fail ... because it sends a clear and critical message that the Congress has finally recognized we must immediately begin to rein in America’s affection for deficit spending.”

The Obama administration has for some time been requesting a vote on a “clean” bill such as this, so the GOP gave it to them. However, Republicans also handed their adversaries the means of escape in the process. First, they announced loudly that the vote was to be purely symbolic and that the bill would be defeated, even going so far as to call “Wall Street to assure them this was nothing more than theater,” according to Politico. Second, they brought the bill to a vote under a suspension of rules, meaning it would come to a vote quickly and with limited debate — but it would also need a two-thirds vote in favor to pass, something that was most assuredly not going to happen with a GOP majority. Democrats were thus able to dismiss the vote as “a sham” (Connecticut Rep. John Larson), “demagogic” (Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer), and “irresponsible grandstanding” (Maryland Rep. Donna Edwards) and to safely vote against it".

http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/7692-symbolic-debt-ceiling-bill-voted-down

The next few weeks will be critical as all eyes are now on the GOP-led Congress to see if this was a prelude to getting America's fiscal house in order ... or just a ruse to try and fool the American people while those in Washington keep playing games and this nation continues to slide further into bankruptcy.

Beware elected Leaders! Americans are tired of shenanigans. Hear us: CUT UP THE CREDIT CARDS NOW...AND LIVE WITHIN OUR MEANS. We are watching you!!!

I'm Back in the Saddle

My how the world has changed since my last blog post in October 2009. Having spent the past eighteen months dealing with some health challenges, it is so good to be well and back in the saddle again.

Until I get my strength back full force... I will only post new editorials twice per week. But as I get better, I will increase my postings accordingly.

So, let's recap the top issues and where we stand in this nation and world.

First and foremost... this economy is a mess. Unemployment numbers are high, gas prices are high, foreclosures and people who are just walking off leaving their homes--high, U.S. debt is unsustainably high, and taxes, taxes and more taxes on average Americans are ridiculously high! We need help.

The Tea Party movement has highjacked the Republican Party and holding its leadership hostage. The Democratic Party continues to lose credibility by the day. At this juncture, the American people are by and large distrusting of both parties, and most of its elected officials in Congress.

President Obama is on the verge of making history as the only Black man who (in two years time) has successfully neutered, removed, marginalized and/or murdered every male leader-of-color in the world. Both of the Jesse Jacksons--neutered, Mubarak of Egypt--gone, Saleh of Yemen--marginalized, Bin Laden--dead, al-Assad of Syria--well?, Chavez--marginalized, Jeremiah Wright--under the bus, and the list is increasing daily. Talk about "Change"... Obama is on a roll!

And, speaking of Osama Bin Laden... I wonder since he has been officially declared dead now, does that mean the troops will no longer be needed to fight in Afghanistan and Iraq? Enquiring minds really want to know.

Well enough of the bad news. The good news of the day is: We have had no terror attacks on our soil since 9/11, no major tsunamis, earthquakes or other catastrophic disasters in America... such as other countries have had. So as we lay our heads on our pillows tonight, be glad things are as well as they can be. And be thankful that we can all live another day.

I'm BAAAAACK!

Is Obama's Stimulus Plan Losing Steam?

President Barack Obama's legacy, and possible second term presidency, may well be tied to the $1 trillion dollar stimulus package that––while passing the House of Representatives without one single Republican vote––seems to be in trouble.

The latest Rasmussen poll numbers reflects public support continues falling each day the stimulus plan receives further scrutiny in the bloggersville and by those in the media. According to pollsters only 37% of the American public now support the plan. This is not a good sign, as this is the first major economic leadership test of a president who is supposedly still in his 100-day honeymoon stage.

A major signal that Obama's economic plan may be headed to the trash heap, is that his arch-rival during the 2008 Presidential contest, Senator John McCain, came out to vehemently oppose the bill... going as far as to e-mail his supporters and urging them to oppose the plan as well.

Another ominous indicator is the recent rumblings by members of his own party. Democratic Senators are conceding publicly that the votes needed to pass this plan–– even though they have a distinct numbers advantage over the Republicans––just are not there!

The president is astutely aware of how much his political future depends on this package. Consequently, he is spending a vast amount of the valuable political capital he recently attained on assuring passage of this bill. Over the past few days he has made the rounds on every major television network repeating the dire consequences if his bill is not passed by the Senate. Obama sent a warning to Congress that failure to act on his $900-billion stimulus package will “turn a crisis into a catastrophe and guarantee a longer recession.”

President Obama's plan may be losing steam, but for now he appears to be going down swinging!

The 44th President of the United States: Barack H. Obama

History has been made in the election of the 44th President of the United States of America: Barack Hussein Obama, a Black man. This fete is especially noteworthy as it was in 1865 that slavery officially ended in this nation. And now, 143 years later, an African American man will take the reins as the leader of the most powerful country in the free world.

Regardless of political persuasions, Republican or Democrat, the night of November 4, 2008 ushers in a new era of pride for people of color everywhere. Black Americans can stand tall, head held high, because once and for all the door to equality has been kicked opened, allowing Black men, women, boys and girls to take their rightful place at the table of prosperity and recognition.

Around the world, the symbolism of an Obama-win is meaningful and will be viewed for years to come as most significant. Without a doubt, an Obama presidency finally elevates brown men from all the nations in South America, throughout the mid-East, and within the rich continent of Africa, to their rightful places of power and respect––par with their European brothers and sisters.

President Obama’s message of change will now be actualized.

As he now moves toward the monumental job of governing and delivering on his campaign promises… particularly ending the unpopular war in Iraq and bringing the troops home… the stakes for Obama are high and the preverbal honeymoon between him and the nation may be short-lived.

But, the nation has spoken… and the world is celebrating. Best wishes and congratulations to the new President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama!

McCain To Take-On Obama "Mano y Mano"

Barring some unforseen occurrence––such as a last ditch mutiny effort on the part of the powerful PUMAs; the Denver Group; or other Hillary Clinton supporters––Senator Barack Obama seems on his way to becoming the first Black man in the history of this nation to successfully complete the 'initial' hurdle in the U.S. presidential process to secure his party's nomination. Few can argue that he has run a near flawless campaign against one of the most well-oiled political machines of this era––the Clintons.

In less than two weeks, Obama will begin competing to cross the 'second' hurdle in his quest for the highest office in the land. And this General Election playing field, where no Black has ever gone before, will pit an untested, fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants Southside Chicago outsider against the been/there done/that, no-holds-barred-Republican... John McCain!

Obama's comments that McCain, and his Grand Old Party members would use 'race' to eclipse his historic run toward the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue address, demonstrates his gross miscalculation of the battle he is about to undertake. The Republicans could not attack Obama from a racial frontal position. That would have been a lose-lose strategy, in that the Republican party... the party of Lincoln... is predominately white.

The Republicans are too shrewd to waste time or energy attacking that meager 12.5% African-Negroid portion of Obama's ethnic make-up. Look for them to take it to Obama just as they would any other White contender–– because he is 50% white. The strategy, more than likely, will be to force Obama–– for the first time in his adult life–– to lay aside the victimhood, affirmative action shtick that many whites feel he has milked extensively to get where he is today. (Remember the words of Geraldine Ferraro in the primary).

John McCain has already telegraphed how he plans to take Obama on: "white man to white man". How deftly did McCain (to the chagrin of party hacks) rebuke colleagues who mentioned Obama's middle name early on in the campaign. And his recent slapping the race card off-the-table for the duration of the contest when Obama tried to use it in Florida and again in Missouri. The general rule appears to be: "No references to race, nor preferences because of race will be tolerated by McCain". Rather... the presumptive Republican nominee will just pretend Obama is a white man with a 'deep tan' and proceed to try and 'annihilate' him as if he were any other competitor.

By making Obama fight the remaining 80-days of this race as white men fight will mean he won't be allowed to whine about the rules of engagement, or complain about the sure-to-come hits below the belt, such as the mountains of scandalous information already on ice and in the deep freezer about Obama/Soetoro waiting to be released. Neither can the media or other entities with no-quarter-in-this-dollar be permitted to jump in to try and save or 'influence' the outcome. Those primary race antics just won't happen!

No... the second and final hurdle in the race for the White House will be won or lost on this plane: "mano y mano".

John McCain? How Can it Be???

Pollsters, pundits, and political junkies are scratching their heads in bewilderment as this year's General Election campaign defies rhyme, reason, and rationale. This was to have been a run-away year for Democrats to triumph over Republicans and re-take the coveted prize: the White House. But recent polls, conducted by such noted surveyors as: Gallup, Rasmussen, USA Today, Real Clear Politics and the likes, have this 2008 Presidential election virtually tied... and in a dead heat. How can this be?

How can it be that Senator John McCain, the septuagenarian Republican nominee, is polling neck-and-neck with the middle aged, vibrant Illinois senator, Barack Obama? It doesn't add up.

How can it be that Senator McCain, who is running the most unexciting, discombobulated, boring campaign in the history of politics, is within the margin of error in most of these polls... and even slightly ahead of Obama in others? It just doesn't jive!

How can it be that Senator McCain, who has yet to 'fine-tune' a theme, or present one over arching campaign message to the American people that would give reason to vote for him in 95 days, is so close in a head-to-head match up with Obama? Are the masses being bamboozled by pollsters or what?

How can it be that John McCain, who is scrapping almost daily for any media attention or honorable mention of any kind, compared to the media domination (both in paid advertising and media coverage, interviews, etc. of the Democratic nominee) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without fail. And... McCain is still able to be competitive in the polls against Obama? What's up with that???

Someone please answer the question: Who are these poll companies polling? Are any of these surveys being conducted via E-mail? Snail mail? or are they being conducted only by telephone?

If the telephone is the mode for gathering survey data ... then what is key, especially with the increased number of folks who now use "cell phones only", is how are pollsters sampling those who don't have or use a conventional land line phone? How, pray tell, are these polls being executed–– particularly since they reflect such a tight, close race?

Who is being selected or targeted for these political surveys... and how can it be that no one has ever contacted me... or for that matter, anyone that I know... to get input on this year's election.

If McCain (who appears to be using Senator Hillary Clinton's failed talking points and the handbook she used in the Democratic primary) is not already blown-out of this year's race... considering all the money, message, and media Obama has to his credit... then perhaps there is something wrong with the polling. But then again, maybe McCain's got a mo-jo that really works, and he is really working it.

Your feedback is welcomed!

Barack Obama... Man Up and Close the Deal!!

To find a credible conclusion to any perplexing problem, conventional wisdom dictates finding practical answers to the following questions: WHAT... WHERE... WHEN... WHY... and HOW.

To that end, I am applying those five questions to the following question that continues to echo across the nation: "What is wrong with Barack Obama that he can't close the deal???"

How is he raising all this money via the internet by common folks who are excited about his campaign? Money which allows him to saturate the airwaves and appeal to voters, but at the end of the day, the primary results and all these new donors (and new voters he is supposedly signing up) don't jibe. HOW: can Senator Obama––with a straight face–– claim the title/victory as the Democratic nominee after allowing Senator Hillary Clinton to unmercifully beat him in the recent primaries of Ohio, Pennsylvania, W. Virginia, Indiana (his back yard) and Kentucky? Surely he knows he can't be perceived as a winner if he keeps losing!

Why didn't Senator Obama roll up his sleeves, throw on some jeans, and go into the Appalachian area (Kentucky and W. Virginia) to meet the people and ask for their support? What an embarrassing defeat--especially for a presumptive front-runner. Why would he cede these white, rural, blue collar voters to Clinton? Was he afraid of them? Unable to relate to them? Thinks he won't need them to win in the General? I don't get it...

When will he stop the Mr. Nice-Guy shtick and understand this is "street ball" politics and his opponents are the Clintons––who have no problem tearing his achilles tendon, kneecaping him, and leaving him for dead... all in the name of winning? President Clinton wasn't joshing when he said: "If You Don't Want To Play, Keep Your Uniform Off". (Apr 17, 2008) That's how the Clinton's roll.

Where ...and what day will Obama end this? He needs to "man up"! Call it OVER ALREADY!!! To put forth the effort and stage the big "full-circle" Iowa event last night, then come out and present a nuanced speech to claim victory... but NOT really claim victory ...made him look weak. If Senator Obama allows Senator Clinton to end this race when she gets ready, then he will limp into the Fall election against Senator McCain and the Republicans as the lesser, as a "punk" ... being whispered about in the shadows as one who couldn't even close the deal against a woman! Trust me... Republicans are watching and will follow Senator Clinton's lead––– treating him like a 'punk' all the way to November. And finally, the real bottom line question...

What Mr. Senator Obama is your next move to close this? Wait for the Super Delegates to anoint you in August? Endure another shameful blow-out in Puerto Rico? Let the Clintons drag this on, and on, and on... culminating in a blood bath on the Convention floor? WHAT?!?

Mr. Obama... if you want Americans to believe you to be a leader, one who can meet with Chevez, Putin, Ahmadinejad, Castro and the likes, to close global deals which will keep Americans safe...then demonstrate my brother. Close this deal!