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Tomorrow's Historical Revision, albeit, done by Glen Beck
Tomorrow in our nation’s capitol, Glen Beck, one of America’s all-time entertainers, will be leading a ‘demonstration’ that has vowed to take back the Civil Rights Movement. To wit, his statement of the following:
“We will take that movement because we the people who did it in the first place.”
Of course, Beck’s statement does not square with American history. As such, Eugene Robinson, a well-known writer/columnist for the Washington Post, and in an article titled, “Even Beck can’t mar King’s legacy” and dated August 27, 2010 is an excellent rebuttal to Beck’s nonsense. To wit, Robinson says the following:
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“That Beck is staging his all-about-me event at the very spot where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his immortal “I Have a Dream" speech -- and on the 47th anniversary of that historic address -- is obviously intended to be a provocation. There's no need to feel provoked, however; the appropriate response is to ignore him. No puffed-up blabbermouth could ever diminish the importance of the 1963 March on Washington or the impact of King's unforgettable words.
"Lincoln and King will always have their places in American history. Beck's 15 minutes of fame and influence are ticking by.
"The most offensive thing about the rally is Beck's in-your-face boast that the event will "reclaim the civil rights movement." But this is just a bunch of nonsense -- too incoherent to really offend. Beck makes the false assertion that the struggle for civil rights was about winning "equal justice," not "social justice" -- in other words, that there was no economic component to the movement. He claims that today's liberals, through such initiatives as health-care reform, are somehow "perverting" King's dream.
"But Beck's version of history is flat-out wrong. The full name of the event at which King spoke 47 years ago was the "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom." Among its organizers was labor leader A. Philip Randolph, the founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and a vice president of the AFL-CIO, who gave a speech describing the injustice of "a society in which 6 million black and white people are unemployed and millions more live in poverty."
"Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), then an official of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, was the youngest speaker at the march. "We march today for jobs and freedom, but we have nothing to be proud of, for hundreds and thousands of our brothers are not here -- for they have no money for their transportation, for they are receiving starvation wages," he told the crowd. Referring to proposed civil rights legislation, Lewis said: "We need a bill that will provide for the homeless and starving people of this nation. We need a bill that will ensure the equality of a maid who earns five dollars a week in the home of a family whose total income is $100,000 a year."
"From the beginning, King's activism and leadership were aimed at securing not just equal justice but equal opportunity as well. When he was assassinated in 1968, King was in the midst of a Poor People's Campaign aimed at bettering the economic condition of all underprivileged Americans, regardless of race."
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From my personal and family perspective, my older brother, a Navy veteran, was in the audience and has stated that he was “lucky” to have been present for having heard this “I have a Dream” speech. And he too, was in the park in Los Angeles and during the Chicano Moratorium when Ruben Salazar was killed with a ten-inch projectile canister of tear gas, and fired by a member of the Sheriff's deparment. He was standing a mere fifteen yards away when this occurred. Moreover, having a front row to seeing history being made and with a first hand experience cannot supplant this history despite the speciousness that Beck, the entertainer is espousing. As such, he is utilizing the economic misery of the many, to make a few bucks for himself and his media cabal when he returns to his television and radio shows. And Shame is an understatement.
And lest I forget, this Sunday will be the 40th anniversary of the Chicano Moratorium Against the Vietnam War.
Jaango--posted on August 27, 2010
The Historical "shortfall" of 1.25% for the SSTF, has now been solved?
As we all know, the Social Security Trust Fund is currently solvent and will be unitl 2027, and it will take an additional taxing mechanism to achieve solvency after 2027 and beyond. Otherwise, the SSTF will pay out at an approximate level of "75%" if nothing is done. To "solve" thus long term financial solvency of the SSTF, and therefore, a tad of history when it comes to increased taxes, is necessary, and a good place to start?
During the Nixon Era, a 'surcharge' was implemented and eventually discontinued given its political rejection by the overall population and regardless of political affiliation.
Now, as for me, I favor a "leverage" tax in which Congress utilizes the available monies in the SSTF to supplement the General Fund activities. And in 'borrowing' these monies from the SSTF, the beneficiaries receive a financial "dole" of an approximate rate of return, and when annualized, comes out to an approximate 2.5% to 3.5%. Consequently, this behavior falls into the category for "stealing" by Congress, and that's my moral estimation.
Historically, the label for "surcharge" is an obvious denigration to Common Sense, and thusly, my 'framing' is found in the "leverage tax" and which is far more amenable and acceptable. To wit, if the demise of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac does occur or perhaps, a hybrid of a GSE is crafted and utilized, a 'baseline' for 30-year mortgages will be established in order to "protect" the banking and financial services sectors of our economy from the pre-supposed and ever present "market forces" and where losses are socialized and profits are privatized. Thusly, a 'baseline' for a leverage tax can be "pegged" to the 30-year mortgage. As such, this "leverage tax" would come out of the General Fund and paid into the SSTF. In doing so, there would be no "Bush Tax Cuts" Regimentation for any particular subset in the populace in the future. And of course, I can dream too in which there will be no more "Wars of Choice" costing into the multi-trillions of dollars.
So, regardless of what we all pontificate and propose, the arch-conservatives are determined to establish a "means" test for everyone, and in doing so, can pacify the 'youngsters' that are now contributing, otherwise angst and anger, will become prevalent at the ballot box, while these arch-conservatives continually attempt to incrementally eliminate the SSTF for the long term.
Thus, the co-mingling of political issues such as the Deficit and pitted against the SSTF, is a "loser" for everyone other than the overtly wealthy. And don't get me wrong, I favor a "means" test too but on all incumbents and candidates for public office, and it starts with, "Are you in favor of any Means Test when it comes to the SSTF?" Therefore, "privatization" is taken off the table, and also taken off the table, is their constant and consistent attempt of their incre-non-mentalist approach to the eventual elimination of the SSTF. To wit, having to respond to the Question, puts the incumbents and candidates between the proverbial rock and a hard place. And yes, we would all be receiving an apt and accurate response in accordance with our ballot box behavior.
In closing, at the end of the political day, the majority of the 535 members of Congress, and when stripped of their “sheep’s clothing", will be recognized for being arch-conservatives. Moreover, seeing these arch-conservatives along with Citizen Alan Simpson, having to eat “310 million tits” on national television, will satisfy my current enjoyment for political engagement.
Jaango--posted on August 27, 2010
Odd and Ends
1. On the internet, Republican bloggers are getting paid to promote candidates, but no one’s talking “how much” in terms of financial payments.
2. Ahh, hate reaches into the State of New York politics. It seems that the Republican candidate for the Governor of New York, favors his plan to create work camp prisons for welfare recipients.
3. The new moderator for ABC News’ Sunday morning talking head circuit, Christiane Amanpour, caused a minor ripple in politics when she interviewed the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. He said he wanted the contractors out of his country since these contractors were the equivalent to the “mafia like” for their behavior.
4. According to the co-chair for President Obama’s Deficit Commission, former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming is now apologizing for the usual dumb statement in which he compared Social Security recipients as part and parcel to “310 million tits” on a milk cow. This apology couldn’t happen to a nicer guy and which adds more “macaca” to American history.
5. On Saturday in our nation’s capitol, Glen Beck will be hosting a Tea Party Rally in which 300,000 participants are expected to attend. Of course, Fox News will stipulate that billions showed up and participated.
6. This from the Republican Congressman of Louisiana, John Fleming: “We have two competing world views here and there is no way that we can reach across the aisle—one is going to have to win. We either are going down the socialist road and become like Western Europe and create, I guess a really godless society and atheist society. Or we’re going to continue down the other pathway where we believe in freedom of speech, individual liberties and that we remain a Christian nation.” Unfortunately, unpacking this speciousness would be a waste of good time on anyone's part.
7. America’s Jeebus Jerks are located among the Blue Dogs for joking about Speaker Pelosi’s mortality.
8. The ‘rocket scientists’ on the Right. By scrapping the Affordable Care Act, Those on the Right thought that this would add some gravitas for deficit reduction. However, the CBO, when asked, responded with no deficit reduction, but by scrapping health care reform, would increase the deficit by $455 billion over a ten-year period.
9. Under a court-ordered dictate, the Federal Reserve is being forced to disclose which banks would have failed had these banks not been ‘bailed out’ by the taxpayers. Of course, this is unacceptable, so the Federal Reserved is asking for any injunction from the court so that it may consult with the Justice Department, and thusly, permitting the Federal Reserve to appeal to the United States Supreme Court. Had President Obama’s nominees for the Federal Reserve been approved by Congress, the Federal Reserve would be complying with this court-ordered dictate. As such, more Republican mis-governance via a filibuster. Needless to say, but I will, the Federal Reserve is playing politics between the white and black lines or perhaps said somewhat differently, the "grey area".
10. Here’a good laugh for Democrats. Bill Clinton’s Democratic Leaderhship Council was being funded by America’s arch-conservatives, and thusly, being co-opted by America’s Overtly Wealthy. This should be embarrassing to the “centrists”, but then, the centrists were never really centrists but they were carrying the label of the neo-liberal and which is code talk for the Democratic version of the arch-conservative in the Democratic Column.
Jaango--posted on August 27, 2010
It's nice to know...
Given the current orgy or the Fiesta for Hate and Ignorance reladtive to Park51, at some point, this ugliness will have to be subsumed for the much larger problems facing the general public or perhaps this will occur when Congress returns from its recess.
In any event, it nice to know that no Hispanic member of Congress has yet to express his or her anti-Muslim opinion in any public context that has been visible on television or in the print media.
Jaango--posted on August 23, 2010
A "shout out" to Dean Baker
In these past few days, the Treasury Department has hosted a “conversation” on housing, and the invited experts—none from the Spanish-speaking or Native American components, in our overall national society were on the invitation list—espoused a variety of views on the housing market.
However, the crux of this ‘conversation’ was focused on the roles, or potential future roles of Ginnie Mae and Freddie Mac. To wit, the discontinuance or elimination of either one or two, was discussed in considerable detail. Thus, two political camps came forth and on a public basis. First, the elimination of both agencies, and the second view was that only one agency should be continued.
And in order to get around this political dilemma, the elimination of both agencies could be effectively accomplished, if the federal government were to refinance all existing mortgages and done across the board at an obvious 5.5% interest rate. Thus, in subsequent years, the “market forces” would determine the acceptable interest rates for new homes entering the housing market and as to existing homes to be refinanced, these “market forces” would determine the affected interests. Consequently, these “market forces” would the monies that would not come in below the existing 5.5%. Moreover, with the federal government having established a “baseline” on mortgage financing, consumers would see the ‘new’ financing rate to push-up three of four percentage points to an approximate 8.5% for a thirty-year mortgage.
And under the second scenario, either Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac would be combined into one effective agency that would be permitted to compete with the assorted “market forces” but only as a last resort. However, the ‘glitch’ if there is one is that the “market forces” could resell their existing ownership paper to this exclusive lone federal agency, and thereby recapture the initial investment and re-loan these dollars to another consumer wishing to enter into the purchase of a new home or for an existing home that currently is in the national availability data base. Consequently, these “market forces” players would sell their paper at the existing 8.5% and thusly, incurring greater and further risk to the taxpayer than is the case in today’s financing environment. As such, the 100% risk of a consumer default, falls on the taxpayer solely and not on any “market forces” player. And if this does become the case, taxpayers become overtly stupid for this willing acceptance for making the taxpayer accept this “burden of last resort”.
However, in order to understand this proposed “feature” or perhaps, from a differing perspective, the “bug” or one of many that needs to be address, understanding this overall history, needs to be addressed as well, and therefore, we can avoid the mistakes of the past as we craft a new “schematic” to address our housing financing needs for the future. Now, the Treasury Department will begin listening to more ‘experts’ as it attempts to craft legislation for Congressional approval, and this is the big “why” for what I am posting in its entirety below.
Of the three most credible economists in the USA today, Dean Baker is the least listened too among both Krugman and Stiglitz, but Baker has been quite correct for all these many years. And his track record is quite considerable for being correct, and in this ‘commentary’ he continues this behavior. Earlier today, I found this Baker ‘commentary’ at the TPM Café and which is part of Josh Marshall’s Talking Points Memo web site.
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Should We Bury Macroeconomists at Ground Zero?
Dean Baker, dated August 18, 2010
That is the question that millions are no doubt asking after the publication of a new study from the Boston Fed. The study examines the arguments from those warning about the housing bubble, as well as the deniers and the agnostics. It concludes by exonerating the economics profession for failing to see the biggest economic catastrophe in 80 years:
"the state-of-the-art tools of economic science were not capable of predicting with any degree of certainty the collapse of U.S. house prices that started in 2006."
I'm sorry, but this one is really painful. It's bad enough that these highly paid professionals could not see this disaster coming beforehand, but it turns out that even after the Titanic hit the iceberg they still couldn't see a problem in the ship's design.
The highlight of the story from the deniers and agnostics is that if we construct a model that has house prices depending heavily on the interest rate, then the prices of the period 2002-2006 don't appear so out of line. This is especially true if we slip in as part of the equation an expectation that house prices will rise in the future by more than the rate of inflation.
Serious economists cannot take this sort of story seriously. If there is an expectation that house prices will rise more rapidly than inflation, then we are saying that the expectations of rising house prices will justify rising house prices. Can we get a big "duh" from the masses who lack advanced training in economics?
Of course this is the bubble story. If people expect house prices to rise, and they do in fact rise, then we get a higher price to rent ratio. How do we justify the higher price to rent ratio in the next period? We have to expect house prices to rise even more. This works fine, until house prices no longer rise and then our expectations go the other way - and then house prices collapse. This is not a model that supports the case against the bubble. It is a model of a bubble market.
Similarly, the argument that low interest rates justified sky-high house prices also does not explain away the bubble, as I pointed out back in 2002. Historically, house prices had not been very responsive to interest rates, but this could have changed in recent years due to changes in housing finance or other factors.
However, this story should have provided limited comfort to the housing bulls in 2002-2004, since no one expected interest rates to remain so low. In other words, if the high house prices of these bubble years was explained by extraordinarily low interest rates, then the housing bulls should have expected house prices to plummet - just like the bears - once interest rates returned to more normal levels.
Finally, the Boston Fed folks are still trying to hold up one of the silliest stories of the bubble days as a plausible explanation for soaring housing prices. The New York Fed put out a study in 2004 arguing that there actually was no run-up in house prices. This Fed paper claimed that the run-up in prices was an illusion created by a faulty index. The problem was that we were tracking repeat sales of the same homes. However, they claimed that homes were being improved between sales - homeowners were putting in central air-conditioning or building additions - thereby raising the value of their homes. According to the NY Fed paper, these improvements explained the increase in the house price index, not an actual increase in quality adjusted house prices.
This one was easy to dismiss at the time. It was only necessary to look at the data for spending on home repairs and improvements. This information was available in a data series actually cited in the paper. If the improvement story was true, there would have been a sharp increase in the money spent on repairs and renovations relative to the value of the housing stock.
In fact, the data showed the opposite. In the bubble years, homeowners were actually spending slightly less on improvements, relative to the value of their homes, than had been the case in prior decades. However, this detail - which completely destroyed the argument - was not sufficient to keep the Fed from publishing the paper in 2004. Nor was it sufficient to undermine the argument in the eyes of the Boston Fed team in 2010.
It was easy for honest economists to recognize a housing bubble in 2002-2006. A huge break with a hundred year long trend in the largest market in the world is a hard event to miss, even if the vast majority of economists missed it.
If economists can't recognize an $8 trillion housing bubble - even in retrospect--what can they do? That is, except tell us that we need to cut Social Security?
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Now that the Treasury Department has conducted its first ‘hearing’ at the Treasury Department, and with more hearings expected between this week and the end of this year, a variety of experts will be espousing their self-interested view, This view of Dean Baker will not be seen or heard, and that’s unfortunate for consumers.
In closing, your vote is important in November, and it's for this reason that I have posted Baker’s commentary in its entirety.
Jaango--posted on August 20.2010
Odds & Ends
Here are some ‘things’ that should bring a political smile to your face.
1. Tomorrow’s election in Australia pits a traditional conservative representing the conservative mindset. In contrast, an arch-conservative now “outed” is representing the liberal mindset. At first glance, the ‘progressives’ flocked to her camp or until the progressives realized this historical scam, and now this arch-conservative is fighting for her life. And to shift the focus, the “concern” is now all about the “Aussie-American relationship”.
2. Now, I don’t pay attention to Glen Beck, since he is the proverbial entrepreneur for entertainment. However, Beck is taking it a step further, and thusly, he will host a “demonstration” later this month to “reclaim the civil rights movement” for the Tea Partiers and the likeminded. Of course, the “legitimacy” of the NRA’s participation has to be questioned, but then it doesn’t take any smarts to understand the NRA is now getting into the civil rights movement and that makes the NRA—jumping down into the political gutter, since there are no salient gun issues to address—makes all this a charade.
3. President Obama makes four “recess appointments. As such, Maria del Carmen Aponte was appointed to be the Chief of Mission in El Salvador. And for having served on the Board of Directors of the National Council of the Raza among serving in other organizations, being recognized for diplomatic duty due to a stellar work history, is good politics. But it goes with the history for being smeared as a “La Raza activist”. Obviously, not much has changed relative to the political behavior from the folks on the Right.
4. President Obama doesn’t have much time remaining before November’s election to admit that he is a Muslim. Yup, 18% of the population believes he’s a Muslim, despite ample evidence to the contrary.
5. Dr. Laura will not renew her contract for her daily radio talk show that is due to expire at the end of this year.. After using the N-Word 11 times on one well-described rant, she’s become frustrated in the required self-restraint “of the stoopids” relative to her First Amendment rights. Obviously, “pushing the envelop” is her forte and which can be better accomplished by writing more books.
6. Today’s notional that women would require “equal pay” is equivalent to a “Fetish for Money” as has been posted at the political blog of the U.S. National Chamber of Commerce, is beyond Common Sense.
7. Senator John McCain of Arizona blames the news media for his “flip-flops”. According to McCain, he has never “flip-flopped”.
8. If you’re a teacher, you don’t receive a paycheck for not teaching during the summer months. Understanding this “unassailable” fact won’t stop people from thinking that teachers are getting paid during these summer months. According to one public opinion poll, 44% of respondents believe teachers get paid during the summer months when their kids are out swimming at the ‘fishing hole’.
9. The top 15 “private-for-profit” universities are bamboozling their incoming students, according to a government study.
10. According to state investigators in Arizona, the Weights and Meaures Department managed to investigate “Pay for Gold” outlets and found 19 of 26 scales were inaccurate and detrimental to consumers. Obviously, the “market forces” don’t work too well when the pesky government intrudes.
Jaango--posted on August 20, 2010
Polling on Immigration Reform
Three polls from the following outfits relative to the issue of immigration reform indicate conclusively that Latino voters are mobilizing to vote in November.
1. The Hispanic Federation and LULAC.
2. NALEO.
3. Associated Press—Univision.
Thus, all these polls indicate that Latinos and whom have been “naturalized” are far more likely to vote come this November.
However, from my perspective, three significant issues will drive Latinos to the ballot box in November. They are:
1. The lack of “open access” to the VA, Medicare and the Indian Health Services.
2. The lack of “bi-partisanship” by the Republicans on immigration reform.
3. On Jobs, Obama’s failure to use OJT contracts for the long-term unemployed.
Collectively, these three issues of failure are tanking Latino support for the White House.
But in looking into the crystal ball for this January of 2011, the Democratic Senate will have to address the “process” and this indicates that the “Fifty-Five Max” relative to the filibuster will have to be concretized. And secondly, these same Democrats will have to create and establish a Progressive Caucus. Otherwise, the Spanish-speaking community will continue to believe that Lieberman, Nelson of Nebraska, and Baucus of Montana, are our “friends” and “political allies”. Not so, of course. To them, we are recipients of the overall belief and message that “Democrats hate the base” and the “Republicans fear the base”.
In closing, our demand for “results” and not the rhetorical abstractions of today, will continue apace and perhaps to his chagrin, President Obama’s may be walking off the national stage after the elections in November of 2012. If so, he will eventually come to realize as he writes his autobiography, as all former Presidents do, that his loss of Latino support was the consequence of his failure to challenge the arch-conservatives in the Democratic Party. Moreover, the Democratic arch-conservatives were masquerading as the proverbial "centrists" and in plain sight all this time, thusly, President Obama's "blank spot" or political myopia was visible to us here in the Sonoran Desert.
Jaango--posted on August 17, 2010
Standing Tall in Opposition to the white Democrats' Conventional Wisdom
When it comes to white Democrats, I am disheartened that the majority of white Democrats in America can be easily bamboozled into believing just about anything that the Right can ‘manufacture’ by way on the non-assailable fact. To wit the “mosque at ground zero’ is the ‘target’ but first a little history is required.
When it came to Bush’s War of Choice, the AUMF Resolution, the Resolution was a bogus artifice. And going back further into history, white Democrats are still in denial that LBJ’s Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was a bogus artifice. And in today’s content and context, Arizona’s majority of white Democrats are enamored and supportive of SB 1070 and its companion piece, HB 2281, and neither one addresses “secure the border” or addresses Immigration Reform. And the latest poll numbers demonstrate, that if accurate, 68% of America is opposed to “ground zero mosque” and this simply reinforces the conventional wisdom that the majority of white Democrats are opposed to the construction of this supposed community center masquerading as a religious mosque.
One of America’s major differences when compared to or contrasted with, other nations and societies, one can quickly observe that here in the United States, the separation between the ‘state’ and ‘religion’ is deemed not only important, as in constitutionally important, but one could even indicate that a tad of “exceptionalism” is on display when the Constitution stands on the side of a “neutrality” for pitting the State against any Religion.
Today, when it comes to “building a mosque on ground zero” now qualifies as just another hint for a “criminal stupidity” especially, when what is being suggested is that a community center will be built, and if prayers do come into the picture, it then becomes a mosque. And yet, there are upwards of 800,000 Muslims residing in New York City. And who are the religiously faithful in this integrated community.
And yet, the “real” story is that a now defunct Burlington Coat Factory is being converted into a community center, and all zoning and ordinances have been addressed by the developers and accepted by the governmental inspectors for having met the requisite standards that have been established by the local government and their elected and appointed representatives.
And why the virulent display for the over-reaching rhetoric by the Right, and in such names as Newt Gingrich, the disgraced former House Speaker and the current Congressman from New York, Peter King?
Of course, this Islamaphobia ginned by the political Right generates considerable “enthusiasm” for November’s election among its rank and file, but why would white Democrats give moral credence to this speciousness espoused by the Right?
Therefore, Native Americans and Chicanos will have to step up and vociferously defend the Muslims in New York City for their fundament right to attend their community center, pray if they so desire, and to continue to integrate into our national society. Denying them the ability to practice and preach their religious faith, is incompatible with the national Constitution and the subsequently rulings handed down by the SCOTUS, historically-speaking.
In closing, it would be unreasonable to expect the majority of white Democrats to join the Chicano and the Native American in our opposition for villifying Muslims, given that the majority of white Democrats are in thrall to the arch-conservatives for pitting Americans against Americans, and done in 'service' to the egregious speciousness espoused by these political hacks on the Right and who have perfected the art of propaganda. And of course, the Right will go on to use this "contention" as their 'backbone' for their fundraising spiels.
Jaango--posted on August 17, 2010
Another "companion" piece of Legislation for CalendarYear 2011?
This year the Arizona State Legislature gave us two pieces of legislation that are SB 1070 and HB 2281, but upon looking at my crystal ball, I suspect that legislation on “birthright citizenship” will be introduced and approved and eventually achieve the Governor’s signature for approval.
However, in understanding the political behavior of these erstwhile arch-conservatives, their ‘grand vision’ for any meted out “punishment” i.e, voter intimidation, suppression and disenfranchisement, must include a well-recognized “companion” piece, as well. And I predict it will come in the form of an all-volunteer Homeland Security Command Force. To wit, it will be premised on BYOG or bring your own gun. Thus, the volunteers will undergo one week of training consisting of “use of force”, heat exposure, command structure, chain of command reporting, and firearms qualification. And this HSCF functionality will overseen by either the Army National Guard or the Air Force National Guard, and that will include the planes.
Consequently, a bunch of zealots with guns patrolling the Sonoran Desert, seems appropriate since Arizona’s Governor has been speaking to anyone willing to listen, both on local and national television, that “The citizens of Arizona are under invasion from our Southern Border”. Now, all politics being local or so the sage advice goes, perhaps, the elected officials in the State Legislature, will refuse to “exempt” themselves from participating with these well-armed zealots, and the rest us can go on with our quiet lives in search of the American Dream. Or perhaps not!
Regardless, we in the Spanish-speaking community will not be permitted to enjoy our quiet lives, given that the “bomber boys” among the arch-conservatives will consider bombing the Republic of Mexico for Calendar Year 2012, as their next act for political Léger main?
In closing, white America has yet to understand that Arizona’s arch-conservatives, with their grasp firmly held on the “levers of power”, --the Spanish-speaking community located in at least 20 states where Republican control their respective state legislatures-- will see these arch-conservatives come visiting with their particular version in the ultimate use of “companions” and as we have experienced here in Arizona. And subliminally-speaking and yet, concretizing, these Arch-conservatives are making Ronald Reagan's dream come true for "I'm from the government...."
Jaango--posted on August 13, 2010
Montenegro Defends Hispanic Republicans
As you are now well aware of, Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, and campaigning before large group of Hispanics went on to express himself for not adquately understanding the rationale of any Hispanic behavior for being a Republican.
Of course, this questioned sanity expressed by Reid did not go down well with one Hispanic Republican here in Arizona, and thusly, I am posting in its entirety, this item that was published in today's Arizona Republic and found in the Valley and State Section and on Page 3.
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Arizona Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Litchfield Park, sent out a news release defending his political party in the face of comments by U.S.Senator Harry Reid, D-Nev,. that questioned how anyone of Hispanic heritage could be Republican.
"As a Hispanic Republican I am offended by his use of a gross stereotype to score political points," said Montenegro. "All people, including Hispanics, come from diverse backgrounds and life experiences, and I expect political leaders to recognize that all people form their political affiliations based on those experiences."
Montenegro, who has been criticized by some for supporting Senate Bill 1070, accused Reid of racially profiling Americans of Hispanic heritage."
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And since I can have the last word, here at this keyboard, Representative Montenegro, has yet to explain his affirmative voting behavior for the "companion" piece to SB 1070, and that being HB 2281, and which eliminated the history, language, and culture of Hispanics and Native Americans in our public schools. Sadly, he doesn't see himself as the rest of us see him. And that's unfortunate for Montenegro, given the Republicans will toss him under the bus when it become appropriate and convenient.
Jaango--posted on August 13, 2010
On Being Rescued by the Old Remedy
My writing and posting has sparse at best.
Since the first of the month, I have had a case of the 'bug' and attendant has been the congested lungs. Now, I have been taking the required prescription drugs dispensed by the medical doctor, but all is still not well. Thusly, I am going into my pantry to find the jug with the "meanest" remedy known to man, and that's my liquid libation of "cactus juice". So wish me well, and I will return on either Monday or Tuesday.
In the meantime, enjoy the two posts above.
Jaango--posted on August 13, 2010
Amateur Hour in the White House
When it comes to political hygiene, if I were to attend a function in the White House, I would dress appropriately, and equally important, my comments would be deemed to be both prudent and constructive, but when I read that Robert Gibbs has taken to the print media to demonize President Obama’s critics within the Democratic Party, I am amused. And because politics is meant to be fun, it's for this reason that I am amused.
Obviously, President Obama has seen polling numbers that show Hispanic support for his agenda is sinking to a disastrous level and which has caused his political operatives to express themselves due to the increasing exasperation and frustration that Hispanics aren’t part and parcel for being the 'backbone' of his fan club. To date, Gallup has Hispanic support for President Obama at 54% but if you’re from Arizona, support for Obama is far much lower and dropping daily and to the point that he has failed and thusly, deserving of an “F” if he were in an academic environment.
To date, his effort on reorganizing the health insurance industry and which did not include a provision for “open access" to health care delivered via the VA, Medicare, or Indian Health Services components of our federal government, has been critical to this waning support. Moreover, he refuses to address immigration reform unless a bi-partisan accommodation can be reached with the Republicans in the Senate. And as to Jobs, he also refuses to "listen" to Hispanics and who are demanding for today’s equivalent that “Jimmy Carter Cared, and Barack Obama Doesn’t!” and that means that President Obama will not consider or address any implementation for On-the-Job Training Contracts beneficial to the long term unemployed, and with the relative costs incurred due to the financial accrual from the expiration of the tax cuts for the wealthy, and starting in January of next year. Hispanics have now been disabused of all the Hope and Change, that drew Hispanic voters to his Cause.
In an interview given to The Hill, Robert Gibbs, the spokesperson for the White House, castigated the liberals and progressives and which is President Obama’s “base” when it comes to political activism and campaign contributions. And it's well understood by Hispanics that Republicans "fear the base" and Democrats "hate their base".
As of earlier today, Gibbs is now saying that his expressions were “inartful” but still, his intent remains the same and an apology won't cut it, despite the White House’s effort to ‘walkback’ the Gibb’s statement. Regardless, Gibbs' use of the “professional left” reminds me of years ago, when we Hispanics had to defend ourselves from the daily onslaught that all of us were “professional Hispanics” and not Hispanic professionals. But equally important, is that “eliminating the Pentagon” and wanting “Canadian-style healthcare” system is the Democratic equivalent for “playing” in the political gutter. Gibbs should know better, and some are even now calling for his resignation. But reality intrudes, and President Obama sent Gibbs out into the public arena to express the thoughts Obama is unwilling to say in public to Hispanics and all because of our waning support for his political agenda. He too knows the poll numbers, just as we do.
There is much to be said, but in the next few days, the White House will be hearing much from this pejorative and in particular, from a “professional left” and it will not be in kind words, but in words that will not brook any more neglect for the ‘demands’ being expressed by the Democratic “base”. And with the Democratic incumbents now into their Congressional recess and as they commence their respective campaigning for re-election, these Democrats are going to have to explain themselves relative to President Obama’s “amateur hour” for this unwittingly expressed but incendiary hubris.
Jaango--posted on August 10, 2010
Odds and Ends
Now, that Congress is in recess for the month of August, things will quiet down in our nation’s capitol.
1. The Tea Bag Nation is now asking its members for examples in which undocumented immigrants have ‘abused’ the tea baggers. Now, why is that?
2. Senator Harry Reid has suggested publicly that the Republicans have taken leave of their senses or have jettisoned their political principles for having expressed their consummate political desire to holdl hearings on birthright citizenship.
3. And Sharron Angle, Nevada’s Senatorial candidate is suggesting the Senator Reid’s ‘agenda’ is an abomination and is a “violation of the First Commandment, i.e., idolatory.
4. Relative to the “individual mandate” 26 states have tried and failed to “nullify” this individual mandate found in the Affordable Care Act. The American Legislative Exchange Council—a Republican organization chartered to coordinate legislation to be considered in state legislatures, is running out of states.
5. The major Jewish Organizations have been opposed to building a religious mosque in the Big Apple and which is next to Ground Zero. Shame on them for their opposition to religious tolerance. After all, our separation of church and state doesn't apply to Muslims?
6. There are anywhere from 330 to 400 House Bills sitting in the Senate, awaiting Senate action and ultimately, President Obama’s signature for enactment into law. Unfortunately, immigration reform is not one of them. Obviously, the Democrats are playing their "race card"?
7. Is President Obama being irresponsible? At present, there are an approximate 80 nominees awaiting an up or down vote in the Senate, and in the meantime, these nominees have put their lives “on hold”. Thus, President Obama needs to issue a public statement that if the Senate fails to act, he will make his “recess appointments” accordingly, since this management tool is available to him, and historically, Presidents have utilized this tool in support of Good Government.
8. Senator Lindsey Graham is not “too conservative” for his constituency. He has been censured by three in-state GOP county committees. The litmus test was on three issues: 1) the bailout of the financial industry, 2) his initial support for a compromise on immigration, and which he later backpedaled, and 3) his vote in confirming Sonia Sotomayor to SCOTUS, and these three issues does not sit well with the arch-conservatives in South Carolina.
9. The new anchor for ABC’s Sunday show, This Week, has been terrific for these past two weeks. She didn’t take any political prisoners. Perhaps, America will come around to learn to appreciate “facts” versus “opinions”. Well, I can hope can’t I?
Jaango--posted on August 9, 2010
California Proposition 8 has been ruled "unconstitutional"
In a monumental decision, a federal judge in California ruled that banning same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
And the defining statement is…
“Because slaves were considered property of others at the time, they lacked the legal capacity to consent and were thus unable to marry. After emancipation, former slaves viewed their ability to marry as one of the most important new rights they had gained.”
And I couldn’t say it any better, even if I tried.
Jaango--posted on August 4, 2010
Political Amnesia in America
One of the more interesting aspects in American politics is that a “short term memory loss” in our body politic is both convenient and exasperating, and therefore, having an old political codger and warhorse pass on the ruminations for understanding politics thoroughly was given to me with the notional that, “follow the unassailable facts and you won’t go wrong” and to wit, this prudent admonition has proven itself correct and repeatedly, over these many years. And with this in mind, my purpose for this commentary comes full-circle.
In an op-ed piece, President Reagan’s former OMB Director, David Stockman, on this past July 31, 2010, and titled, “Four Deformations of the Apocalypse” and found in the New York Times, says the following:
“The second unhappy change in the American economy has been the extraordinary growth of our public debt. In 1970 it was just 40 percent of gross domestic product, or about $425 billion. When it reaches $18 trillion, it will be 40 times greater than in 1970. This debt explosion has resulted not from big spending by the Democrats, but instead the Republican’s embrace, about three decades ago, of the insidious doctrine that deficits don’t matter if they result from tax cuts.
“In 1961, traditional Republicans supported tax cuts, matched by spending cuts to offset the way inflation was pushing many taxpayers into higher brackets and to spur investments. The Reagan administration’s hastily prepared fiscal blueprint, however, was not match for the primordial forces—the welfare state and the warfare state—that drive the federal spending machine.
“Soon, the neo-cons were pushing the military budget skyward. And the Republicans on Capitol Hill who were supposed to cut spending exempted from the knife most of the domestic budget—entitlements, farm subsidies, education, water projects. But in the end it was the new cadre of ideological tax-cutters who killed the Republican’s fiscal religion.”
Thus, expecting the “conservatives” both in the GOP and the Democratic Party, to disown their history, is not going to happen since the incumbents have become incumbents on the premise that “tax cuts and deregulation” is always a winner with voters. And yet, we, as voters, are re-electing these incumbents and which does not serve our long term self interests nor does it serve the self-interests of our nation writ large.
Jaango--posted on August 4, 2010
Wikileaks and "shoot the messenger"?
To date, I have refrained from making any comments—pro and con, and for a variety of reasons, especially since the Pentagon had their ‘access” to these documents, even before being made available to the three news outlets. And still, Wikileaks, offered the Pentagon access to these documents and done in order to redact any names or information that would conceivably be considered detrimental to the United States or to our allies, in general, and in specific, to any person that could be harmed due to the release of any information made available and placed into the public domain. The Pentagon chose not to participate and without ever expressing their rationale for this refusal to participate.
However, given the news conferences for those that prefer to shill for the Pentagon, the reputation of the Chief Editor of Wikileaks is being impugned, and for those of us familiar with what has been made available, the Pentagon’s effort for “shooting the messenger” is not going to work. And yet, the Pentagon, knew this cache of information was missing, and kept mum and thereby not attracting ANY attention to this cache was the presumed behavior, and yet, the end result is that all participants in this non-endeavor would look “bad” at both the Pentagon and at the White House. Obviously, this egregious behavior backfired, and rightfully so. As such, there was no Plan B or any back-up plan at the Pentagon or at the White House to consider for implementation. Thus, no harm, no foul.
Now, if you were take a gander at the entire lot of this information cache, our public policy in Afghanistan is failing and the firing of General McCrystal was just another fall guy and who was willing to fall on his sword for the White House and Pentagon political operatives.
And the New York Times, was attempting to get the Wikileaks, first to “publish” what they had and thusly, followed by the NYT, and was insistent on moving in this direction, so that the NYT could implement their CYA program at the expense of Wikileaks credibility and certitude. This did not occur. Now, the NYT and other news media outlets are being seen as the big, bad and meanest media stooges for the Pentagon and even possibly, the CIA.
But the more and all-important files totaling an approximate amount of 50,000 remain unpublished or unavailable, and thusly, the need for transparency in our war effort in Afghanistan is still absent, and the White House and the Pentagon isn’t going to do ‘transparency’ in the near or long term. And we, in the "general public" recognize that our political elite need not provide this modicum of transparency, and much to our dismay. Perhaps, at the ballot box in November, we can change the minds of these non-transparent people and of course, by asking for their resignations.
Jaango--posted on August 3, 2010
"Birthright Citizenship"
Earlier today, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has now joined what I call the Syndicate of Hate Groups, and led by the National Alliance and who originally coined the phraseology for “anchor babies” and which has gained considerable traction among the crazy-Right. Thusly, here’s what is being reported in the national media:
“I may introduce a constitutional amendment that changes the rules if you have a child here,” Graham said during an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. “Birthright citizenship I think is a mistake, that we should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child's automatically not a citizen.” […]
“People come here to have babies,” he said. “They come here to drop a child. It's called "drop and leave." To have a child in America, they cross the border, they go to the emergency room, have a child, and that child's automatically an American citizen. That shouldn't be the case. That attracts people here for all the wrong reasons.”
Now, Senator Graham is seen nationally as being the “maverick” in the Senate for having replaced Senator John McCain as the “go to guy” that the Democrats believe has the same “values” that Democrats have suggested for themselves. Obviously, the Democrats got their wake up call today, and that’s only if they’ve been listening carefully.
Consequently, Graham is now ‘out-doing’ the former Congressman Tancredo of Colorado. Of course, one must now ask the question of why Graham is taking it upon himself to demonstrate that he is an aficionado of the John Birchers? And these are the folks that are now in charge of Arizona’s politics. Regardless, Graham has jumped down into the political gutter, and done so intentionally.
Jaango--posted on July 29, 2010
...And Speaking of War Funding
Earlier this year, the House voted and approved a ‘second’ supplemental appropriation in order to fund the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Of course, a tad of context is important for understanding. To wit, the Democrats now have to “own-up” to their political behavior, given that it was to be understood and agreed to that in 2010 the House would neither entertain nor consider a supplemental war appropriation on the premise that all funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, would be done through the general budgeting process, and no exclusions were to be considered or permitted.
So, earlier this year, the House passed their version of war funding, the Senate stripped out the “Christmas Tree” provisions or add-ons, and returned this funding request to the House for their further consideration, on the basis of a “take it or leave it”. As such, the House swallowed hard and voted on the Senate’s stripped down version by a vote of 308 in favor of this war funding and with 114 opposed to this war funding. This total cost for this war supplemental funding appropriation is $59 billion, and that’s a lot of money that could be used for other discretionary purposes.
Thus, in my attempt to tease, agitate and aggravate our readers, here is breakdown of the Hispanic members of the House and how they voted. And my closing paragraph will be about the usual “compare and contrast”.
In Favor
1. Cardoza
2. Costa
3. Cuellar
4. Diaz-Balart, L. -Republican
5. Diaz-Balart, M. -Republican
6. Gonzalez
7. Hinojosa
8. Lujan
9. Nunes -Republican
10. Ortiz
11. Pastor
12. Reyes
13. Rodriguez
14. Roybal-Allard
15. Salazar
16. Sires
In Opposition
1. Becerra
2. Napolitano
3. Sanchez, Linda
4. Sanchez, Loretta
5. Serrano
6. Velazquez
Now, to my “comparison and contrast”!
With 15 members that are perceived to be the traditional allies of the Pentagon and the Military Industrial Complex that is standing behind the Pentagon, these votes were not ‘surprising’ but expected, given that only Reyes is the only person with any experience with War, and he’s not listening to those whom are advocating our withdrawal from both Iraq and Afghanistan.
So, the “wikileaks’ would not cause Congressman Reyes to reconsider since he is the Chair of the House Select Committee on Intelligence. And in arriving at the Chair, with the blessing of the Madame Speaker, he easily circumvented Jane Harman, a ‘regressive’ Moderate from California and who was expected by most to become the Chair. Now that Reyes has been the Chair for these past 18 months, he’s heard nothing new due to the wikileaks, and this wouldn’t have changed his mind either, but further reinforced it because the Taliban has access to shoulder-fired heat seeking missiles.
As to those who voted against the war funding supplemental, there were no surprises here other than the odd occurrence that both the Sanchez sisters voted identically. And yet, the ‘real’ surprise is that Velazquez voted against this funding.
At present, she is the Chair of the Small Business Committee, and thusly, she has oversight on what goes on within the Small Business administration. To wit, she is being ‘challenged’ or perhaps this challenge rises to the level of an ‘accusation’ in which small business owners cannot access small business contracts because Congresswoman Velazquez has made her “power” felt for advocating that venture capitalists establish a small business entity, submit their entity to the SBA, and thereby, are ‘rewarded’ by receiving the available small business contracts. So, if you’re a small business owner from the Hinterlands, expecting to achieve some sort of access to the SBA, will be difficult to accomplish given that the venture capitalists have elbowed aside the small business owners in pursuit of the available small business contracts. And perhaps, this is the reason that the legislation that “re-defines” the small business entity, has been languishing in her Committee for quite sometime? More on this later since the CVO anticipates delving into this political quagmire and where the landmines are difficult to avoid.
And with this vote now taken, seeing and hearing the Hispanic members of Congress explaining their respective votes to their constituencies in their home districts, will be interesting to see and hear. Or just a generic “avoidance” in terms of any discussion, will occur?
Jaango—posted on July 28, 2010
The "political hustle" on America's Employees
One of the “unassailable” facts that cannot be overcome by the political Right is that the Social Security Trust Fund does not contribute to our national deficit. And the second of these “unassailable” facts is that the Social Security Trust Fund is in “surplus” and will be well into the years of 2040, and perhaps, beyond. Now, all America needs to do is to lift the cap that is currently being applied and which exempts the more wealthy among us. And by lifting this cap, the Social Security Trust Fund will be in a perpetual state of a “surplus”.
However, in an op-ed piece in the Washington Post, Neel Kaskari, the former director of Bush’s TARP program says the following with no “unassailable” facts to support his speciousness and as it applies to anyone that posits the perspective for conflating the notional that the deficit should be paid by the Social Security Trust Fund. Thusly, he writes of the following:
[My bold.]
"Cutting entitlement spending requires us to think beyond what is in our immediae self-interest. But it runs against our sense of fairness. We have, after all, paid for entitlements for earlier generations. Is it now fair to cut my entitlement benefits? No, it isn't. But if we don't focus on our collective good, all of us will suffer.
....
"While it does not happen often, our political system is capable of making unpopular decisions that are in our collective best interest. In 2008, during the most severe financial crisis in 80 years, Republican and Democratic leaders in Washington came together to do something deeply unpopular: bailout the financial system via the Troubled Asset Relief Program. These leaders understood the consequence of inaction was economic devastation of Americans. Passing TARP was the right thing to do.
....
"Challenge of entitlements is more difficult than the financial crisis. First, we must reach consensus to make the cuts before the fiscal crisis is before us. The House passed the legislation only after the Dow Jones industrial average dropped 700 points immediately after lawmakers voted it down the first time. If we wait until the bond market shuns Treasurys, the economic consequence would be dire. Virtually overnight, we could have far less money to spend on such priorities as defense, education and research. Once confidence in U.S. Treasury bonds is lost, it could take years to return."
The reality is that TARP was not intended to save the economy and needless to say, the financial system is not the economy. TARP was designed and after being authorized, was further redesigned with the single purpose and that was to “rescue” insolvent and irresponsible financial institutions in which the affected institutions should have had their assets seized, management fired, dismantling of these institutions, wiping out the value to shareholders, and only then, begin the process of focusing attention on the remaining assets and the affected creditors.
But the long story short is that Congress kept the kleptomaniacs in place and in charge and all sold to the general public on the mistaken premise that America would collapse economically even though what America was facing was a financial debacle. To wit, the end result is that trillions of dollars were lost and 8 million persons lost their jobs and 15 million became unemployed. Thus, “free markets” were conveniently ignored. And even worse, this debacle was carried out by Bush’s director of TARP, and with his multi-tasking friends and along with the willing cooperation of the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Treasury Department, costing hundreds of billions of dollars to America’s wallet.
And these same professional con artists are now asking and in some cases, demanding that America’s senior citizens “sacrifice” for the better good, and that this ‘better good’ is of course, being defined and determined by the director of TARP and his political friends. Give me a break! If it were left up to me, they all would’ve been fired, not only for moral turpitude but to include both malfeasance and misfeasance, and of a criminal nature to boot, and also needless to say on my part, the legal statutes of limitations, be damned.
When President Bush left the White House, our national deficit stood at $1.0 trillion and at the end of this year and after a two-year stretch, the annual deficit will sit at $1.47 trillion. Consequently, the “deficit hawks” in both the Democratic and Republican Parties would like the federal government to default on over $2 trillion dollars in U.S. Treasury bonds owned by the Social Security Trust Fund.
Of course, this would solve the deficit for years one and two, but years three and four and the resulting years, the deficit would return. Furthermore, the deficit could be easily cut in half if the Pentagon budget was reduced significantly and “open access” in health care to include Medicare, the VA, and the Indian Health Services, were to be implemented. But this is too easy for the deficit hawks. Getting their hands on the daily accrual of monies that enters into the Social Security Trust Fund is “the game” these scoundrels are attempting to foist on America’s employees. And if you’ve lost anywhere from 30% to 50% on your 401k Plan, permitting Wall Street to get their hands on the Social Security Trust Fund, is just plain crazy for anyone to consider, or to even contemplate or cogitate.
Yet, the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy are set to retire at the end of tis year, and which will bring the national defict down to an approximate $700 billion annually. And today, Congress is voting on another war supplemental appropriation to continue the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Jaango--posted on July 27, 2010
The "companion" bill to Arizona's SB 1070
First and foremost, my good internet buddy, Manny, from Tucson, Arizona, and whom writes the political blog for manegee.blogspot.com conveniently provided me with the ‘talking points memo’ contained in this commentary. He has been writing on immigration for these past five years, and his frustration has caused him to take some personal downtime in order to recharge his batteries. And good for him! However, his language, culture, and history will cause him to return since he, like me, much prefers Truth instead of Trash. And thusly, my Big Thanks to Manny for making this important document readily available!
When Arizona’s state legislature approved and the Governor signed-off on SB 1070, the egregious companion bill that was conveniently ignored, and which is HB 2281 and seen from the Spanish-speaking person’s perspective, as all important too, must be addressed, as well. And below is the complete text that the Republicans created for their “talking points” in support of the overall Republican effort for their continued voter disenfranchisement of Hispanics and Native Americans. Thus, one more ‘bug’ in our politics that denigrates Democracy.
By way of background, Arizona’s arch-conservatives including the current Superintendent of Public Instruction, has been angry for several years at the Tucson Unified School District for having implemented a Chicano Studies Programs at the high school level. And this same Superintendent is inconsistent, since he doesn’t challenge any of the Chicano Studies Programs operating within our two and four-year colleges and universities. Equally important is to understand in the midst of this criminal stupidity for current politics, that this overall effort was accomplished in accordance with a court-ordered desegregation effort that goes back to the 1970s. Since, the School Board District’s Governing Board was comprised of a non-Hispanic majority, compliance had not occurred. With a change in the Governing Board membership and that being a majority of Hispanics, it’s this change that has angered these politically endowed arch- conservatives and who are in charge of all decision-making at the state legislature. To wit, the John Birchers are now in charge and hold tightly to the levers of political power and can see no down side to their political behavior, other than “toss the bums out”.
Therefore, I have posted the entirety of the ‘talking points’ that was crafted by Republicans and for use by Republicans. As such, I will comment further, and after you have had the opportunity to read the full text of this talking point memo.
_________________________
HB 2281 prohibits a school district or charter school from including courses or classes that either promote the overthrow of the United States government or promote resentment toward a race or class of people.
History
The State Board of Education (SBE) must prescribe a minimum course of study, incorporating Arizona’s academic standards, to be taught in Arizona public schools (Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.) § 15-701). School district governing boards must approve the course of study, including the basic textbook for each approved course and all other units recommended for credit before implementing each course in both elementary and high schools. Pursuant to A.R.S. § 15-701.01, a governing board may adopt courses of study that are in addition to or higher than that prescribed by the SBE.
Current law requires the principal of each school to ensure that all rules pertaining to the discipline, suspension, and expulsion of pupils are communicated to students at the beginning of each school year. All cases of suspension must be for good cause and must be reported within five days to the governing board by the superintendent or person imposing the suspension. The school district governing board is required to post regular notices and take minutes of any hearing concerning the discipline, suspension, or expulsion of a pupil (A.R.S § 15-843).
Provisions
· States that the Legislature finds and declares that public school pupils should be taught to treat and value each other as individuals and not be taught to resent or hate other races or classes of people.
· Prohibits a school district or charter school from including in its program of instruction any courses or classes that:
Ø Promote the overthrow of the United States government.
Ø Promote resentment toward a race or class of people.
Ø Are designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group.
Ø Advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.
· States that if the SBE determines that a school district or charter school is offering a course that violates this act, the SBE must direct the Superintendent of Public Instruction (Superintendent) to notify the school district or charter school that it is in violation.
· Stipulates that if the SBE determines that the school district or charter school has failed to comply within 60 days after a notice has been issued by the Superintendent, the SBE may direct the ADE to withhold up to 10% of the monthly apportionment of state aid that would otherwise be due to the school district or charter school and requires ADE to adjust the school district or charter school’s apportionment accordingly.
· Specifies when the SBE determines that the school district or charter school is in compliance with not offering a prohibited course, ADE must restore the full amount of state aid payments to the school district or charter school.
· Stipulates that actions taken under this act are subject to appeal pursuant to laws relating to uniform administrative hearing procedures.
· States that this act cannot be construed to restrict or prohibit:
Ø Courses or classes for Native American pupils that are required to comply with federal law.
Ø The grouping of pupils according to academic performance, including capability in the English language, that may result in a disparate impact by ethnicity.
Ø Courses or classes that include the history of any ethnic group and that are open to all students, unless the course or class violates this act.
· Prohibits rules pertaining to the discipline, suspension, and expulsion of pupils from being based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or ancestry.
· States that if the ADE, the Auditor General, or the Attorney General determines that a school district is substantially and deliberately not in compliance with pupil disciplinary actions and if the school district has failed to correct the deficiency within 90 days after receiving notice from the ADE, the Superintendent may withhold the monies the school district would otherwise be entitled to receive from the date of the determination of noncompliance until the ADE determines that the school district is in compliance.
· Makes technical and conforming changes.
___________________________________________
Now, to my part and thusly, to a point-by-point refutation to the all-important elements of this legislation.
Purpose: In my entire life, I have yet to meet a Hispanic or Native American that is seeking to overthrow the government, especially since the inception of LBJ’s Great Society Regimen. The first part of this two-part purpose, is actualized speciousness and furthermore, totally bogus. This explicit statement for the “overthrow the government” is totally without any merit whatsoever. The implicitness contained in this explicit statement is that Hispanics and Native Americans are less than ‘real’ Americans and must be counter-checked relative to this dual purpose and done within the Rule of Law, otherwise the “browiness” of America will continue apace and which may jeopardize the existing “legacy”. Thus, fear is being marketed and sold and which rankles my haunches.
As to the second-identified purpose and that being “promote resentment toward a race or class of people”, is a bogus artifice as well. For those among us and who have taken a class or two in any Chicano Studies Program while in college, ‘resentment’ is not a feature, and yet, classroom presentations that reflect language, culture and history, is addressed within a presumptive wealth of “unassailable” facts. Take, for example, I have written on the mythology of the cowboy, and yet, the arch-conservatives continue to believe in this august mythology. Thus, being intellectually lazy is indeed a “feature” and not a “bug” to be considered when history is being discussed among the traditional history of America and the Southwest, and in particular where the roles of Chicanos and Native Americans have been absent, and intentionally so.
As to the “class of people” this argument may contain a tad or two of merit if one understands the speech of Abraham Lincoln, when he stated:
"Labor is prior to, and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is superior to capital, and deserves much the higher consideration."
In a few years, Arizona shall become a “majority-minority” state and the local tourist board is telling anyone who will listen that the existing population of six million will double to twelve million within the next twenty years. If so, Arizona’s bigots and racists will become highly irrelevant to any perceived political toxicity. The politics of the future will not be about Affirmative Action but all about “those who have and those that don’t have” and much to the chagrin of the scions of wealth. Thus, the historical behavior of oil and gas industry for advocating that the Marines be sent into the Republic of Mexico in order to eliminate “corruption” was the facile argument that would enable America to “privatize” Mexico’s oil and gas industry. In contrast, I have yet to hear of anyone advocating for the Marines to be sent into the numerous off-shore banks in order to repatriate the wealth that belongs to Labor.
Now, as to the Provisions and stipulated as Number 3 and 4, must also be addressed and done in the following manner.
To wit, studies “designed primarily for pupils of a particular ethnic group” is also another bogus “feature”. As such, TUSD contains a provision, that in an of itself, and where the classes operate on an “open enrollment” basis and where the parent(s) approval to attend such classes is utilized.
As to the Provision Number 4, or “advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals” is more of this same bogus artifice. All students, upon completion from the TUSD, will be deciding what is important in one’s role in society is not going to be influenced by a high school course, especially since all these student intend to matriculate to a two or four-year academic institution. And during the latest graduation class, each student was given a voter registration card, and which just infuriates these arch-conservatives even more. Consequently, diminishing the civic engagement of Hispanics and Native Americans, also, continues apace with this legislation. Obviously, the arch-conservatives are not on the “side of the Angels” but are on the side of the political angles in order to protect themselves from the non-existing depredations that are anticipated to occur within the next twenty years by these arch-conservatives. So, in jest, I am expecting these arch-conservatives to eventually become Canadians for the long term.
At the end of the political day, the TUSD is utilizing local tax dollars to defray the cost of these classes and are not relying any state or federal education dollars. Thus, the “reach” of this legislation, was badly though-out and sloppily created, but that won’t stop these Elected and Appointed Officials in the Republican column. Especially for their attempting to do more damage to our civic engagement, and when viewed from the perspective that these political operatives are seen as both “intellectually lazy” and as “purveyors of fiction”. And when put in proper context, the Republican leadership treats is rank and file as “suckers” and are easily swayed when their “story” is premised on the lack of “unassailable” facts. Unfortunately, this behavior among the Right has been reinforced during these past 18 months and since the inception President Obama’s arrival onto the national stage.
Therefore, the arrival of the Tea Party Movement, and now the Tea Party Caucus in Congress, is being acknowledged and recognized with a tad of hilarity, mockery and ridicule. And more on point, when President Obama leaves the national stage, the Tea Party Movement and its affiliates will also disappear from our political content and context.
Now, with this commentary, perhaps, my good friend Manny from Tucson, will take a gander at what’s been written here, and move forward to become civically engaged since defending the Truth, is of paramount importance, when “denial, deflection, and distraction” is another “feature” among the many behaviors demonstrated by the political Right, even despite their lack of ideas, other than their desire to return to their historical advocacy for more tax cuts and greater deregulation.
But not lost in all these political shenanigans, arch-conservatives continue to see in themselves as being the sole beneficiaries of “equal opportunity”.
And needless to say, but I will, Chicano Vets will continue to stand tall against America’s cabal of bigots and racists. It would be easy to say on my part that “It’s in our DNA” but more importantly, our opposition to this egregious behavior being done by the Right can be found as being inherent to our respective languages, cultures, and histories among this Indigenous hemisphere’s population and which has existed for these past 50,000 years and with another 50,000 years and more to come.
Jaango--posted on July 26, 2010
Krugman Speaks...
In his column of today in the New York Times, economist Paul Krugman “nails it”.
Here is a small print clip:
“The truth, however, is that the only problem Republicans ever had with George W. Bush was his low approval rating. They always loved his policies and his governing styles—and they want them back. In recent weeks, G.O.P. leaders have come out for a complete return to the Bush agenda, including tax breaks for the rich and financial deregulation. They’ve even resurrected the plan to cut future Social Security benefits.
…..
“But they have a problem: how can they embrace President Bush’s policies, given his record?”
And everything that follows, is pure diversion, deflection, and denial, but that still won’t stop the Republicans for espousing their “invincible ignorance” for achieving a weak firmament that underpins the assorted versions of their self-ascribing crappola.. At some point, the Republicans will find that their frontline political troops will get tired of this nonsense. Of course, the column for Indpendents continues getting larger and longer with former Republicans.
Jaango--posted on July 23, 2010
More on the latest Newt Gingrich crappola
Earlier this week, Newt Gingrich announced that he was opposed to a “double standard” and yet, as a former professor of history, he couldn’t get his head around the Treaty of Tripoli and which was approved unanimously by the Senate and signed by President Adams in 1797.
Here is what Gingrich had to say:
“There should be no mosque near Ground Zero in New York so long as there are no churches or synagogues in Saudi Arabia. The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over.”
Of course, I realize that Newt Gingrich has proven himself repeatedly for being a political dufus of sorts when it comes to an established non-sectarian government and which has been in existence over these ensuing years and consequently, his confusion over “original intent” will not permit him to address the expressed intent found in the Treaty of Tripoli.
And now, for the umpteenth year, he is still considering a run for the presidency. Yet, he cannot bring himself to do so, since he is attempting to scarf up any loose dollars to continue his campaign to convince conservatives that they should remain his political suckers and continue to donate to his latest cause of the day. Perhaps, low-information conservatives will one day wake up to Gingrich’s political shenanigans?
Jaango--posted on July 23, 2010
Journalist "malpractice or fraud" at Fox?
You can be the Judge and Jury.
The journalistic behavior and management's 'oversight' of their "product" has now come home to me, and in a variety of ways. Take, for example, an employee for the federal government, Shirley Sherrod--a non-political operative, has said or done nothing wrong, and yet, a political operative on the right and whose focus is on bigotry and racism, persumptively worked in tandem with Fox News, to character assasinate Ms. Sherrod, and all because she gave a speech to the NAACP in which she emphasized her accumulated years of a "personal growth" in her human interactions. Her prism for viewing life does not consist of Black versus White. And good for her. And bad for Fox.
Now, there is not much anyone can say in defense of the political operative and the Fox Network, but then, I don't much care for Roger Ailes, and to this extent, Fox News and "anything" that emanates from this electronic media outlet, will not be permitted to arrive at my doorstep, and starting today. Moreover, Fox has offered no apology or corrective. They've intentionally remained silent.
Consequently, my small part for "ostracizing" the Fox Network starts today. And of course, should anyone commence to implement a 'boycott' of Fox, I will stand tall in favor of such a political protest. And Rupert Murdoch can only stand so much financial pain in his wallet, and that makes Roger Ailes a non-entity as far as I am concerned.
And yes, I know that this is their "ratings period" and expecting Fox to demonstrate a small amount of self-restraint, did not occur due to their political underpinnings, and furthermore, they did not do their journalist 'research' to prove the validity and accuracy of Ms. Sherrod's speech, even though they had in their possession, a copy of a video of Mr Sherrod's behavior and in which permitted Fox to measure against.
Therefore, Fox has lost this viewer and Rupert Murdoch's investors now know that this Chicano will not skurry off into the night albeit quietly or even remain silent.
Jaango--July 22, 2010
The Traditional Behavior for "outrage"?
Even though politics is immensely fun, there are times when the political players toss their anticipated behavior into the round file, and instead, opt for the “outrage”.
Take, for example, in the past couple of weeks, the Republicans are enjoying themselves immensely, even though their ‘outrages’ have been proven absolutely incorrect and where 'context' matters most.. Thusly, here are five examples.
1. The scary black men and known as the Black Panther Party.
2. The scary Muslims who want to build a religious mosque in the area of Ground Zero in the Big Apple.
3. A vindictive Black Woman employed by the USDA and who set out to screw a white farming family.
4. The NAACP for being “racist”.
5. The Senate Judiciary attack on the late Associate Justice of the SCOTUS, Thurgood Marshall.
Or as one pundit stated and quite accurately so, the following:
“We’ve gone from conservatives making up scurrilous nonsense to gin up excitement with far right voters to conservatives making up racist nonsense to gin up excitement with far-right voters?”
Now, need more be said on my part?
Of course, I am not at a loss of words. Perhaps, Chiefs of Police need to “get over themselves” when opposing the filming of the behavior of rogue cops. Consequently, when it comes to “racial profiling” even more filming needs to take place. Furthermore, the ‘standard’ approach for citizens “demanding” the establishment of a schematic for Civilian Review Boards would also be a helpful application for instituting a ‘stellar behavior’ from among our law enforcement community. Or perhaps said with more aptness, “by making Latino citizens feel they are under perpetual suspicion” will only be resolved when the Republicans become Latinos and therefore cannot deliver their ‘slingo’. To wit, there will be no one available to receive it.
Jaango--posted on July 21, 2010
Beware of the Intertubes :-)
On Monday and while surfing the internet I came across a discussion on “bigotry and racism” and its anticipated ending in about the year 2024, and as seen from the perspective of those born in the 1970’s. Earlier this month, the excellent writer from the Atlantic Monthly, Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote an interesting and provocative article titled, “Why Black Writers Tend Not to Shout” and in which he expressed his exasperation and frustration shared by the many in which bigotry and racism tends to be practiced by the older generation, when viewed from his perspective of the 1970s.
Unfortunately, Coates is somewhat wrong and if he were to come out to the Sonoran Desert and watch a public demonstration of 50,000 participants, five miles in length, and accomplished on a hot and dry day. Thusly, his wrongheaded view would be quickly put to bed.
_________
However and more to the point, here is what I wrote::
In the political world, the historical and hysterical practitioners for this egregious behavior is found among the Republicans, as evidenced by the two latest pieces of legislation, and the first having to do with immigration, and the second, having to do with the elimination of language and culture in our public educational systems. And said sadly on my part, the Navajo Tribal Elders passed an unnecessary resolution in opposition to this legal demand, while giving the majority of white Arizonans the proverbial one-finger salute in order to demonstrate that the Navajo will not eliminate their language and culture, and inclusive of their history--from their schools.
And the received email reply was as follows:
I'm glad the Navajo are able to give the powers that be "the proverbial one-finger salute" to demonstrate that "the Navajo will not eliminate their language and culture, and inclusive of their history--from their schools."
…..
When will whites be allowed the same opportunity without being labeled racist haters? Wanting to keep your culture and language is apparently only ok if you are not white.
And how does one respond to an unvarnished attack in which whites are permitted to express themselves for protecting their language, culture, and history, with my accusing the white community from being either bigoted or racist, or even both?
__________
Of course, I must rely on the undisguised history of America, writ large. To wit, the Doctrine of Christian Discovery was embedded into our legal system from the standpoint of the first Chief Justice of SCOTUS fame, nonetheless. Equally important, in 200 years of history, there has been no example in which anyone from America’s “racial and ethnic” community attempted to ‘eliminate’ the white man’s language, culture and history, but then, “unassailable” facts do not supersede intellectual laziness in today’s America. Moreover, as a "Native American/Chicano/Military Veteran" I am "damned" for being just another sentient being with the capacity to walk on two feet.
And yet, “context” matters when discussing racism. Jews and Germans relative to the Holocaust, is an appropriate analogy in this instance. Thusly, if “context” is found missing, obviously the logic for any Argumentation, is null and void, and the received email response, was , to wit, null and void. And the stereotype of this absent logic is found in the advocacy for English Only. Invariably, the ‘context’ of the hate groups behind this political charade, is usually absent, unless one already recognizes the various hate groups that have been bankrolling this political premise. Consequently, bigotry and racism, is thriving even when today's context is deemed an added-value.
And now to my "damned" context. The federal courts have ruled that an "exception" in law is permissible when immigration inforcement is being conducted. Thusly, "race, color, and nationality" can be considered factors for law enforcement, despite the prevailing propaganda pollution being espoused by the Republican operatives in Arizona for no "racially profiling" will occur. As such, the courts will have to address the law enforcement's abililty to utilize this egregious behavior, and the lawsuits will soon come to the public's attention and resulting in the cost to the taxpayers of Arizona in the ever-increasing amounts of millions of dollars due to the anticipated jury awards for the Hispanic plaintiffs.
Jaango--posted on July 20, 2010
Odds & Ends
1. Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is now going to form a new House Caucus and titled, the Tea Party Caucus. How many members of Congress will participate? That remains to be seen. Of course, this reminds of the day and years ago, when then Congressman J.D. Hayworth formed the Native Americans Caucus, and since he was only member, he appointed himself Chairman. This is the same Hayworth who is a candidate for the Senate from Arizona and is challenging John McCain.
2. A few days ago, a Utah newspaper received and via email a “list” in which over 1,300 names on this list for being considered “illegal immigrants”. And yet, one person on the list was interviewed and she said that she had been “naturalized” and which means that she was in the United States and has duly took the oath of citizenship. Today, it’s now being reported that two Utah state employees accessed the state’s data bases, compiled the list, and made it available to the newspaper. Now, let’s see if the state’s Attorney General gets off his butt and prosecutes these two employees to the fullest extent of the law since the “listees” had their privacy invaded and made public and done without their permission.
3. In yesterday’s front page, the Arizona Republic newspaper had a long story on who wants to become an agricultural worker, and where the heat is in triple digits. And since over 50% of the undocumented immigrants comprise the subset of agricultural workers in the United States, I am sure there won’t be “any takers”. In contrast, anti-immigrationists have been complaining since the Big J.C was a corporal, and they will continue complaining far into the future, and regardless of what Congress is expected to accomplish in the years to come, won’t deter any of these anti-immigrationists from being both loud and obnoxious.
4. Voter disenfranchisement in the USA continues apace. To wit, Senator Al Franken is an “accidental” Senator, according to the former Senator Norm Coleman of Minnesota. According to the lead attorney, he received a list of 480 names deemed as “felons” and have been unable to vote. To date, “about 270 were clearly inaccurate and were rejected right from the get-go”. So, elected and appointed officials waste taxpayers dollars on Coleman’s “sour grapes” and where a “cloud” continues over Senator Franken. The Right wing still won’t “go quietly into the night”. And of course, the news media ‘reports’ and this being that time in the news media and which is the ‘ratings period” and thusly, driving up their ratings point to increase their advertising rates, all at the expense of focusing on 'stories' that have no basis in reality. And nothing seems to deter the media as well, with what are essentially bogus stories.
5. Over at the Washington Monthly political blog, Steve Benen writes that the House Republican “agenda” should the Republicans take control of the House in November, will consist of more “deregulation” and even more “tax cuts”. And this comes to us from the circle of lobbyists that surround the Republican House Minority Leader John Boehner. And if Boehner is quoted correctly, there will be a one-year “holiday” in which no governmental agency will be able to issue new regulations, excepting in “emergencies”. Ahh, eight more years of the Bush behavior, and which been proven wrong and with disastrous results and which are easily seen in our now structurally cracked economy.
6. When your “ideas” are being rejected by the general public, the Republicans have yet to “man-up” to this reality, but they would like to see November’s election as a referenda of Republican “ideas” but not of their “beliefs” for more tax cuts that do not have to be paid for, and especially for the wealthy. If so, how can the voter make an intelligent decision at the ballot box? Consequently, the Republican “beliefs” cannot be part and parcel to any political campaign, according to Republican Congressman Peter King of New York. Now, do King and his fellow political colleagues think that voters are “suckers”? Or is the noted Nobel Laureate and economist from MIT,Paul Krguman correct is in his observation of the “invincible ignorance” that has been morphed across America has taken hold. Regardless, I much prefer my ‘assessment’ and that being America is a Society for the Criminally Stupid and for having ignored the “unassailable” facts to any argumentation and where politics is at center-stage.
Jaango--posted on July 16, 2010
Small Business Owners: "Listen up!"
It seem that a Congress member from the Georgia delegation has introduced some legislation that has been languishing in the Small Business Committee in the House, and it’s come to my attention that my involvement could prove to be somewhat helpful. If so, I will need your historical experience/assistance and in particular, your Perspective and Thoughts as how to respond to this political challenge? So, don’t hesitate to contact me via our “contact us” page.
The subject of this post is the House Bill 2568 and authored/sponsored by Representative Hank Johnson and titled, “Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act”. To date, this legislation has a miniscule 26 co-sponsors, with Grijalva, Cardoza, Costa, and Ros-Lehtinen, among the only Spanish-speaking members of Congress, in favor. As such, there’s something wrong here.
To wit, this legislation is attempting to write a new definition of what constitutes a “small business” when it comes to federal contracting. Thus, any publicly traded company would be disqualified from participating in the SBA programs. And to stretch the imagination a tad or two forward, a “front” for a much larger organization would also be addressed, and relative to 8A Set Asides Current history on federal contracting demonstrates that large organizations such at VSE, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics among others are reaping their political rewards and done at the expense of small business owners. And this needs to change.
As of this writing, I have had contact with the Chair’s office and am expecting a response within the next 24 hours. And keep in mind, this Committee is the headquarters for the conservative Democrats and the Blue Dogs. No member, with the exception of one Democrat--Ellsworth in this instance, on this Committee has yet to agree on becoming a co-sponsor. And of course, we have heard all this stories, starting from when SBA was crafted until today, and the stories are not always accurate.
In the coming days, I will be reporting back.
Jaango—posted on July 13, 2010
The Dueling Mythologies
One of the assorted mythologies in American life is that of the "cowboy" and thusly, the new one is being advocated by Sarah "palaver" Palin and that being espoused in political circles is one for the "mama griz".
Now, I normally don't waste my time on the former half-term Governor of Alaska, Sarah Paling, given that she's turned herself into a money making machine, and will say and do just about anything when it comes to her subsequent and various revenue streams and leading into a sizable cash flow. Thusly, I am expecting her to announce in the sometime future, her starring role in her somewhat starchy 'reality' show.
Regardless, when it comes to the mythology of the cowboy, history amply tells us that the cowboy was primarily comprised of itinerant workers and to wit, riding a horse he didn't own and chasing cattle he had no ownership in. Thus, Mexican nationals, Native Americans, Chicanos, and African Americans comprised this overt reality, and thusly, was not a mythology of any sort. The work was hard. And the other day, while doing some channel-checking of the Sunday Morning Talking Heads Circuit, I encountered a medical doctor discussing medical solutions while he was decked out in his cowboy togs. Of course, he was challenging his own mythology for certitude and credibility, and which for me demonstrates this logic of any sorts for mythologies.
Therefore, when someone from Alasks is determined to inflict herself onto my sensibilities with another mythology, and in this case, the mythology of the "mama griz', I don't find it offensive but I do find the underlying behavior equivalent to a "money makiing machine". And Sarah Palin has found herself a quiet marketing niche in which to accumulate a sizable bankroll of big bucks for being pumped back into her latest political cause.
And as I look around, she has no competitors unless Arizona's current Governor, Jan Brewer, takes the decision to find a 'channel' in which she can market her latest brand of "cactus juice". If so, then she will become my 'competitor of sorts even though she has removed herself several spots off to the far-right.
Now, that I've spouted off for the day, it's time to go listen to what others have to say on the scheduled cloture vote of Thursday on FinReg in the Senate. As such, I don't have to appear foolish for expressing myself on the "mama griz' phenomena found among the Tea Partiers.
Jaango--posted on July 13, 2010
Famous Quotes
Inevitably politics shold be fun, and the below listed "names" do make politics fun.
1. The ever-present Republican Congresswoman from Minnesota, out on the campaign stump suggested that the Obama administration is “turning our country into a nation of slaves”. As such, it’s pretty hard to top this analogy, but some politicians aren’t hesitant to try.
2. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona says it out loud and suggests that the rich need their tax cuts and which are not to be included in the deficit. However, unemployment benefits must be added to the deficit. Thusly, he makes the case for today’s Republicanism. And nothing thrills my heart more than resurrecting the “old-fashioned class warfare” schematic.
3. As for President Obama being a “socialist”, “liberal” or “liberal-progressive” is so blasé that it’s not fun going in this amateurish direction, so I won’t.
4. Ed Martin, the Republican candidate from Missouri is suggesting that President Obama and Democratic candidate Russ Carnahan are attempting to eliminate Missouri’s opportunity “to seek out Jesus”. Regardless, if you’re a Democrat, you’re doing the “Devil’s work”.
5. From the White House’s “veal pen” comes this statement, courtesy of the Washington Post: “170 liberal and civil rights groups are forming a coalition that they hope will match the movement's political energy and influence.” As such, they hope to turn around the political atmosphere after 18 months of floundering vis a vis, the Tea Party.
6. Arizona’s Democratic Congressman, Raul Grijalva received a letter from Arizona’s Democratic candidate for Governor and current Attorney General asking the Congressman to discontinue his efforts regarding the national boycott of Arizona. Grijalva’s was response was indeed pointed and to wit, “I am not your problem!” And which is correct. It seems that the Democratic Candidate for Governor, Terry Goddard, should be out telling Republicans and Democrats alike that Senator Russell Pearce, the anticipated Senate President at the State Legislature and seeming arch-conservative is determined to turn Arizona in to the last bastion for bigots and racists, and that only a Democratic veto pen can save Arizona from more national disgrace and embarrassment.
7. The owner Peter Rasmussen of the Rasmussen Public Opinion Poll, long considered by Democrats to be a Republican-leaning outfit, announces that he and his wife will enjoy and all-expense paid vacation on a cruise ship in order to help raise money for the conservative National Review magazine. Need I say anymore?
8. Former half-term Alaska Governor Sarah “Palaver” Palin says, “What part of ‘The System going bankrupt’ don’t you understand, Mister Reid?” Thus, what failed spectacularly five years ago in order to privatize the Social Security Trust Fund is now back on the table for more public debate. And getting beaten down a second time, and perhaps, even more severely, is not going to stop these political miscreants. Their failing to understand that Social Security is the “most popular and successful domestic policy program” of the past century, is beyond them.
9. The Republican’s Senatorial Candidate in Wisconsin is advocating that Lake Michigan should be turned over to the oil drilling industry. Alas, he has ownership shares in British Petroleum.
Jaango--posted on July 13, 2010
THE Era of Zilch and Deficit Hawkery has arrived?
Of late, America’s “insiders” at the federal level have been talking deficit-mania in which spending costs must be paid for, and which for me is equivalent to health care reform and immigration reform. And Jobs too.
This weekend, Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona was interviewed on Fox News’ Sunday morning talking heads circuit, and when questioned by Chris Wallace relative to the Bush tax cuts for America’s wealthy and is equivalent to being in excess of one trillion dollars, although Wallace pegged the cost at $678 billion over ten years, Kyl talked around it.
However, Wallace went at him a second time, and finally got Senator Kyl’s answer, and which informs us that he is ‘serious’ in his advocacy for tax cuts for the wealthy Americans in the guise of economic stimulus and paid for on the backs of the middle class. But from my lengthy experience with Senator Kyl, a political acolyte of the Chamber of Commerce if there ever was one, Kyl’s statement makes perfect sense for Kyl and his Republican colleagues.
“You should never raise taxes in order to cut taxes. Surely Congress has the authority, and it would be right to, if we decide we want to cut taxes to spur the economy, not to have to raise taxes in order to offset those costs. You need to offset the cost of increased spending, and that’s what Republicans object to. But you should never have to offset the cost of a deliberate decision to reduce tax rates on Americans.”
And to put, Senator’s Kyl’s statement in the appropriate context, understanding that Vice President Cheney’s Freudian slip, was not a ‘slip’ at all when he uttered, “Deficits don’t matter” and Bush’s utterance for “Mother Nature is a terrorist” amply demonstrates and insight into a perceived political psychosis. And along this logical-line of reasoning for Republicans, spending inordinate amounts of monies to wage two wars, and where the ‘costs’ were excluded from the deficit, or until the Democrats regained control of Congress, was acceptable behavior to the Republicans.
Consequently, the Bush Era and the tax cuts for America’s wealthy, accomplished the shattering of the Democratic Coalition and to the extent that it continues in today’s politics, is at best, either a delusion or an illusion. Today, the political nexus is now predicated on the old-fashioned class war, not on the presumptive ‘race card’ but on economics in where the Middle Class does not know how to fight and the presumptive ‘representatives’ in Congress for the Middle Class do not want to engage in this old-fashioned class war. The Middle Class left their fighting tools in the hands of their elected and appointed officials, and these political icons are unwilling to do much if anything when it comes to waging political combat. And even worse, the Middle Class is unwilling to replace their elected and appointed officials in this November election cycle, because the Democratic message continues to be that there is no alternative choice to this shattered Democratic Coalition. And what makes all this even more damaging to the Middle Class, is that the Democratic Leadership is unwilling to admit in public that the Coalition has been shattered, and any public utterance to the contrary, outs this speciousness for continued advocacy. Asking the question for any assessment in which the “damage done by Democrats to Democrats” should be accomplished, will not receive an intelligent response but only an abject rejection. And this behavior of denial will continue to be with us here in the Spanish-speaking community and for several more years. As such, the Era of Zilch has arrived.
During this congressional session of these past 18 months, Chicanos clamored for “open access” in health care reform, and got zilch. Chicanos have been clamoring for immigration reform in which the presumed legislation is voted on, either up or down, on the respective floors in both the House and Senate, and this has not occurred. Thus, Hispanics are being denied the opportunity to determine for our selves, our “political allies” in the Democratic Party. As such, Chicanos have gotten zilch. And when it comes to addressing Jobs, the Democrats cannot bring any legislation to the floor of the House and Senate chambers and from the inevitable ‘fear’ that Republicans will wage a political combat that will ‘out’ the Democrats and the “leverage” that is being applied by their campaign donors and which is at odds with the interests of the Middle Class and the Economically Disadvantage. Again, Chicanos have gotten zilch.
Of course, ridicule and mockery in politics, can play a salient role was well. When the esteemed Jane Hamsher coined the phraseology of the “Veal Pen” and which is the inherent fence, and when construed properly and from within the Chicano perspective, the “fence” was to exclude the Middle Class and the Economically Disadvantaged. Equally important is that the United Farm Workers have taken this ridicule and mockery in a differing direction. Take, for example, their message of “take my job” implies that these agricultural workers are willing to spend their energy and monies to train any American, be they be blue, red, green, orange, or some combination thereof, to pick cantaloupes during the height of the midday sun or 120 degrees of heat in Yuma, Arizona, can be easily accomplished. Therefore, “personal fortitude” is the sole criteria for participating. Now, I ask, “Are there any takers”?
For these past 8 years I have arguing that Bush’s Two Wars turned the majority of white Americans into a Society for the Criminally Stupid. Moreover, the remaining “minority” in white America was not bamboozled, and it’s this “minority” that Chicanos are looking to in order to assemble a new and “aggressive” Moderate Coalition that includes Liberals and Progressives and from among those persons that willing to address American politics from a different direction and which can lay waste to the Republican agenda for having excluded the Middle Class and the Economically Disadvantaged.
In closing, I would be remiss in failing to mention that Native Americans, Chicanos, and Africans Americans continue to be adamantly opposed to today’s Republicansim and re-crafting a Democratic Coaltion that is re-inforced with an expansive and obnoxious voice that is refusing to be denied, can lead to greater success.
Jaango--posted on July 12, 2010
Update to Quick Time
The problem of "colors" or Immigration has infected all of the "up and down" at the chain of command for the Maricopa County Government. And this commenced when the County Sheriff's Office and the County Attorney's Office decided to "team up" to implement another 'brand' of immigration reform and where the "conspiracy of one" has become an Exemplar in public policy. Thus, if you're an undocumented immigrant, you have created your own conspiracy by being apprehended. In normative circumstances, a 'conspiracy' would require two participants, and federal immigrantion law be damned.
For ease of understanding, there are four components to all the wide-ranging litigation that will eventually cost the taxpayers well in excess of $50 million, given that County Government is self-insured and does not utilize a private sector insurance company.
First, there is a set of litigation that pertains to "racial profiling" conducted by the County's Sheriff's Office. These consist of five separate cases that are pending.
Secondly, there is a political vendetta between the County Sheriff's Office and the County Attorney's Office on one side and on the other side, is the County Board of Supervisors. An approximate number of nine persons, and in the Elected and Appointed capacities are suing the County Government, and being done as individuals.
Thirdly, is today's commentary in which 8 protesters were cited for protesting at county headquarters and two days later, and while wearing animal masks and pig snouts to an open meeting of the Couny Board of Supervisors. The agenda item pertained to the County Sheriff's Office and relative to immigration and assorted spending costs. As such, these 8 were tried in court and acquitted.
Fourthly, these 8 protestors sued the County for wrongful arrest, malacious prosecution by the County Attorney, and for civil right violations. Thus, Mediation was agreed to by seven of these 8. The 8th is continuing to negotiate an out-of-court settlement, otherwise, a multi-million dollar suit will soon follow. And today's annouced agreement covers seven of the eight that were acquitted and the combined amount is $475,000.
And equally interesting is that this agreement is being attacked by the chain of command in the County Sheriff's Office on the premise that all these 8 acquittals and their civil cases should go to trial, and if so, the Sheriff's Office could conceivably 'interview' the 9 Elected and Appointed Officials via the discovery process, and done in order reinvigorate the "political vendetta" that is ongoing. Consequently, Republilcans are "attacking" Republicans by way of the courts in order to establish their respective political ascendancies. Suggesting via some tongue-in-cheek humor on my part because these Republicans are taking their "judicial activism" a tad too far, might cause the to re-orient their guns onto me, so I will refain from using any humor.
Moreover, this is not what the voters were expecting but this is what they're getting from the Republicans, and we, as taxpayers, Republicans and Democrats alike, are paying the full tab since the county government is self-insured. No matter what the outcomes will be, we will be paying for this multiplicity of litigation for many years to come. And if SB 1070 starts at the end of this month, the legal bills will mount up and into the hundreds of mllions of dollars, and that's just for starters, since if you believe that any law enforcement officer is not doing her or his job, you can sue too.
So, any thought about issuing facsimiles of Aryan Badges as a "Mockery Supreme" Effort to our law enforcement officials may not be such a "bad idea" either during these hot times and this may even reduce the 'tension' that is floating heavily across the County Government Swath
Jaango--posted on July 9, 2010
Quick Time!
Earlier this morning, the Maricopa County Government in Phoenix, Arizona, has agreed to settle a lawsuit from 7 political activists in the approximate amount of $500,000.00. And our infamous Sheriff Joe Arpaio has publicly stated that the settlement is "bizarre".
The background to this story is that the seven activists were protesting in County Chambers and during a County Board of Supervisors meeting, when they were escorted out. Thus, their civil rights were violated and that's the premise of the litigation that was settled.
Thus, there is more pending litigation not only on civil rights, but on racial profiling as well as the political vendetta waged by the County Attorney's Office and the Sheriff's Office against both private citizens, attorneys in the performance of duties, as well as Elected and Appointed Officials. As such, it been politics on an "ugly" scale.
More to come later today.
Jaango-posted on July 9, 2010
Odds & Ends
1. Former Congressman Tom Tancredo thinks that President Obama is more dangerous than the Socialists, Communists and a Nuclear War. Now, Tancredo is fallen into the category of “dimwits, racists and cranks”. Alas, I should add “criminally stupid”. But is it necessary?
2. Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney did an op-ed piece in his opposition to the new START Treaty, and the ranking Republican Member on the Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Dick Lugar, responded, and proceeded to kick Romney to the curb but only after cleaning out the cobwebs that reside in Romney’s brain. Romney has yet to pick himself up.
3. Michael Steele, the Chair of the RNC, is still surviving, after the political fiasco he created for himself last weekend. But the Neo-cons are sharpening their knives and waiting patiently, since Steele’s history is to repeat his verbal fiascos. And will the former half-term Governor, Sarah Palin become the RNC Chair? If so, “bring it”.
4. The former Clinton-savant/guru, Dick Morris has now fallen far in today’s political arena since the Fox Network is doing the ‘mockery’. Ya’ can’t stop these kind of downward trajectories when your political allies are tired of you.
5. As to Sharron Angle, the Republican candidate challenging Senator Reid in Nevada, I can’t say anymore, because even I have a difficult time understanding her political campaign, and the latest gaffe for “going after the girl” is a non-feminist and an intellectual lazy approach to politics.
6. House Republican Minority Leader John Boehner has invited the corporate lobbyists to lead the charge in crafting a Republican agenda for this November’s election cycle. Needless to say but I will, Boehner’s positioning on healthcare reform, Jobs, financial reform, energy/climate change, and other issues, were crafted by his circle of friends, these corporate lobbyists. Thus, Boehner’s “America Speaking Out” Project was all a sham.
7. Another Republican candidate for public office, this one in Illinois, exaggerated his military record. This makes two in Illinois. Surely, it can’t be the koolest-aid available? Or is it merely an over-the-top manifestation for Ambition from a political candidate’s arrogance, and thusly, he has determined he won’t get caught because of the presupposition that everyone is criminally stupid and with him being the sole exception?
8. Now that the reputation has been restored to the climate change scientists, the corporately paid shills and whom challenged these climate change scientists are suffering their own heat stroke. Thankfully, they aren’t from the Sonoran Desert, since we are undergoing a permanent heat wave. As such, we don’t need more miserable company.
9. Are Hispanics in California the “new” sounding board? To wit and to paraphrase with a stretch, “I broke bread with Cesar Chavez and she pals around with Pete Wilson”. Coming to theaters all across America?
Jaango--posted 9, 2010
The Senate: "in the barrell" or at the Veal Pen Fence?
During the run-up to the contentious debate on healthcare reform, the notional of a “veal pen” was often bandied about, and of course, the incomparable Jane Hamsher of the progressive political blog fame and as the Jefe-Honcho for the Firedoglake.com, coined the phrase, and in today’s continuing context, seems to be quite appropriate. To wit, Miss Hamsher’s focused attention was on these numerous entities and organizations that pandered to President Obama’s White House, and therefore, ‘channeled’ the accepted and daily message being delivered to the Democratic masses.
In contrast, I, on the other, continued to think that with this insightful phraseology, an expanded application could be laid at the door of the United States Senate, and in particularly, laid at the feet of each respective Democratic Senator. More so when one took the time to ‘assess’ the daily messaging provided by the leadership team and an always ready and willing Fourth Estate, would inevitably become addicted to their mindset for a perceived “win-win” mindset of a journalistic relationship. However, these lazy and full-of-themselves investigative reporters could not bring themselves “to inform” the general public of many official acts, such as torture and unwarranted surveillance, along with the rest of the schematic installed during the Bush presidency, and which continues to this day since Senate oversight is lacking on the most basic elements of the Bush Regimen.
Of course, I am not the only person who thinks this to be quite accurate, and from this perspective, those that do write accordingly, are seldom given much attention and merit. And if not for the internet scribblers, less would have become known of these abusive behaviors of the Executive Branch. And even worse, it’s now come to the public’s attention that the New York Times displayed a behavior for not correctly utilizing the phraseology of torture, and subsequently, their self-avoidance for antagonizing the conservatives and thereby lessening the incessant drumbeat of criticism found on the internet.
In short, the news cycle is short, and especially when these news outlets are far more concerned with driving their advertising rates up and when measured by the inevitable “ratings period”. Moreover, it’s during this ‘ratings period’ that things tend to go somewhat looney for the media outlets, and especially the electronic outlets. And which brings me to immigration reform and the latest blast from and which is the consummate “story of the day” and which was this Tuesday. Thus, the Department of Justice filing it’s ‘challenge’ in federal court to Arizona’s SB 1070 and which Arizona’s amateurish attempt to take state legislation and with the specific intention to elevate it to a level that would supercede federal law. And of course, this was done with the full intent and purpose to cause the SCOTUS to eventually issue its proverbial 5-4 political decision in order to uphold its judicial activism for “states’ rights” And that in a nutshell, is Arizona’s expectation since “conservatives are required to stick together” and for demonstrating “party discipline” writ large.
And in a particularly interesting back of the envelope type story that is percolating to the surface, one writer from a national magazine is now calling the ‘conservative’ members of Arizona’s State Legislature, “dimwits, racists, and cranks”. And of course, there are numerous additional back stories coming forward for the general public’s attention span and which will rachet-up the number of eyeballs to television screens, and yet, such incendiary labels will not add to an increased level of traction, even when compared to the existing notional within the Spanish-speaking community that consists of “The Democrats are worthless” and which has been the traditional meme for many years now and going back to the early 1960s and prior to the ascendance of LBJ into the Oval Office. Regardless, the ‘real’ story continues to remain the same. The Executive Branch must ‘manage,’ ‘control,’ and ‘defend’ the Supremacy Clause in the Constitution. However, the Conservatives will, in the coming weeks, commence to utilize another ‘distraction’ or ‘deflection’ and which is the White House is “attacking” Arizona in order to the provide political sustenance necessary to the Spanish-speaking and done in order to insure that Hispanic voters cannot be permitted to escape out from under the Democratic umbrella. Of course, the validity of this argumentation is non-existent since the Republican Party’s “minority outreach” has passed beyond the norm and for “being a joke.”
To wit, Hispanics are Democrats because they prefer the Democrats and not for finding ‘common cause’ with the Republicans, and which ultimately, will reduce the viability of the Republican Party for many years to come or until, the Republican Party changes and starting with it’s leadership team for its lack of consequential Ideas while furiously grasping at the straws that are found in eliminating FDR’s New Deal and LBJ’s Great Society achievements. Take, for example, the consequential Idea for Public-Private Partnerships, cannot exist in a daily reality when the Public portion of this Partnership is politically jettisoned and which is analogous to Hispanics becoming Republicans and Republicans becoming Hispanics. Or until the Republicans implement a bottom-to-top reorganization in both Ideas and Infrastructure. Only the Independents can become the Republican saviors. And at the end of the political day, the Independents will have nothing to show for it, other than incompetence and mis-management as reflected by the Bush and Cheney cohort.
Furthermore, the ‘strategic’ and ‘tactical’ leaks that constantly emanate out of Obama’s administration, is not helpful to the Hispanic voter. And should President Obama put some of that infamous duct tape on the mouth of his Chief of Staff, would be helpful indeed, and yet, in failing to do this, President Obama is doing to disservice to himself, since his Agenda and Legacy has been and continues to be captured by the Senate. And because of these ‘leaks’ or tidbits of a political morsel made available surreptitiously to the Fourth Estate, America’s investigative reporters have become addicted to these perceptive ‘leaks’ and in turn, this addictive behavior permits the White House to “get it’s story out”, and the investigative reporters continue to think that this is a ‘win-win’ for both participants.
But there is no story to “get out” since the Senate Democratic Divas have assessed President Obama correctly and have consummately made the White House an appendage at worst, and an adjunct at best, to the Senate’s “veal pen”. To wit, the Oval Office will sign off on any legislation crafted and approved by the Senate, and as such, the “scope”, the “breadth” and “strength” of this approved legislation is deemed irrelevant. Thus, White House’s desperation has set in since the lack of any political ‘discipline’ among the Democrats is the ‘story’ being marketed and sold by the various Senate members, and which ultimately circumvents the historical ‘tension’ being necessary between the Legislative and Executive Branches. In contrast, the Hispanic “reality” is found in the “leverage point” and when the Democratic Senators threaten to cooperate with the expected onslaught of a filibuster on crafted legislation. In this instance, Senators Nelson, Lincoln and Lieberman quickly come to mind. And despite his travel excursions to the Senate Chamber, President Obama comes away empty-handed.
And how can this ‘desperation’ be ameliorated?
Unfortunately, the Democrats on the national scene won’t “listen” to Hispanic ideas, but if they were in fact actually listening, the accomplishments for America’s Democrats would be quite impressive and where the “damage done by Democrats to Democrats” would not be found or if found, allayed in our public discourse.
Take, for example, had Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid adopted the appropriate behavior at the commencement of this Congressional Session and articulated the following as his leadership “process”, he would be perceived as ‘successful’ and would not be undergoing a difficult and costly re-election effort. Thusly, he would have said the following to his Senate colleagues:
“For this election cycle, each one of you are permitted to craft, from start to finish, one particular piece of legislation, and once completed, your legislation will go before the Democratic Caucus, and with a majority of the caucus vote in favor, this legislation will go before the appropriate Committee for further consideration and eventual approval. Consequently, the Chairman of the affected committee, will deliver your legislation onto the Senate floor for a final up or down vote.”
And it’s with this “process” in place, and with the opportunity being provided to the Republican members to come forward and vote accordingly, either through a filibuster or through some other germane manner in which the final vote is cast and recorded in the Senate log.
And given the current behavior of the Republican Senators to wage a filibuster, they would have to ‘break out the cots’ in order to actually defend their filibuster. Of course, the end result is that until the Senate changes the rules from “60 votes affirming” no Democratic legislation will get the blessing of the Republicans. And with this behavior recognized as a forgone conclusion, Hispanics would be even more appreciative of our national political dynamic if Senator Reid will adopt a different "process" come this January and February.
Why?
During this campaign season and with the election scheduled for November, it’s within this time frame that Hispanics could assess this overall body of rejected legislation to see where and if their respective Senators, were attending to the ‘unmet needs’ of their constituencies. And having a Democratic approximate and a Republican-rejected 58 or 59 pieces of legislation, would enable Hispanic voters to appropriately study and assess the potential outcomes from this body of rejected legislation, and thusly, I could cast may ballot accordingly. With this Reid “process” in place, now, if the investigative reporters did their jobs accurately in presenting the facts as well as their ‘assessments’ or ‘opinions’ forthrightly, our Democracy would be furthered and with far less toxicity in our public discourse. Unfortunately, it’s in this public discourse that the “ratings period” occurs, and expecting some form for clarity and illumination, would not going occur since attracting eyeballs to the television screen, would be difficult to achieve when less partisanship is in play. To wit, the Democrats expressed their respective Freedom of Choice, the Republicans expressed their Freedom of Choice, and we, the Voters, expressed our Freedom of Choice at the ballot box on Election Day.
And on this past Tuesday, the DOJ’s challenge to Arizona law, need not have occurred, but it did, and Senate’s “veal pen” is undisturbed since the Democratic Senators have the Oval Office in their “ fish barrel” and because of this raw and brute use of power, these Democratic Senators are not going to change their behavior in any relevant manner for in doing so, would permit the Oval Office to escape its current political predicament.
And more to the point, in the use of our esteemed Common Sense, we recognize that the conventional wisdom amongst the overwhelming majority of white Democrats is that Senator Reid’s “obnoxious passivity” is belied by our reality and which reinforces the notional that Senator Reid is a consummate politician and where the actual result is found in that the Oval Office is being used to perform the dual role, one for being the “fish in the barrel” and secondly, for having become an adjunct and enabler of the Senate’s “veal pen” relative to the Fourth Estate. And the end result is found in our recognizing and acknowledging that the Democratic Senate is “kicking our butt” and as evidenced in its current refusal to address the issues of Immigration Reform and Jobs and in favor of deficit reduction and in favor of privatizing Social Security. As such, the “veal pen” message was to inform that Congress will take up the “cat food” commission’s assessment, but only in December and after the November election. And that's "the game" and which is to buy time.
It’s clear to any level headed thinking person, Arizona’s SB 1070 will do nothing to “secure the border” since it’s just another bogus artifice to harass and intimidate Hispanic voters. And regardless of what the courts decide, we will survive and prosper. However, if the Senate fails to address immigration reform and fails to address Jobs while simultaneously refusing to reject deficit reduction for the next few years and refusing to reject the privatization of Social Security for the long term, our prosperity will be jeopardized.
However there are many who would disagree with me, and I am not surprised. And Howard Fineman is no exception, and he writes for the Newsweek magazine. As such, he writes a highly favorable piece in which he praises President Obama for being in a hurry, given this penchant for political style and of a sense of self-importance. And it goes something like this:
“So far in his presidency Obama has been talking, even seeking out, sweeping, controversial challenges: the stimulus, the auto bailout, health-care reform, new arms-control treaty with Russia. He still wants to deal with comprehensive energy and immigration legislation this year. So, is he in [a] hurry because he figures there may be no second term?"
‘’’’
“Well, my answer is this: Obama is playing a deep, longer-range game, one that involves burnishing his identity as a “historical” history-making figure. The president is swinging for the fences because that is what home-run hitters do. He hopes (expects) voters will reward him for the effort. Hence, his focus on the toughest topics in the broadest way. To switch sports analogies, if he were an Olympic diver, he’d always be attempting the dives with the highest degree of difficulty. If the execution isn’t perfect, he gets a higher score anyway.”
And as you can see, Howard Fineman is the parochial “caboose” to the Senate’s ‘engineer’ and where the train has already left the station, to use another analogy.
In the final analysis, historians will differ and just as Hispanics will differ, but the “equality” in our differences, will be found at the ballot box, and of course, we have far more votes than do America’s cadre of historians and pundits. Challenging a Democratic Senate doesn't seem to be a probability in this Month of July.
Jaango--posted on July 8, 2010
In Memoriam
My friend, William Charles Belmont III—an Air Force Major and POW during the Vietnam War, and of course, a consummate Brother of Shared Experiences, died of pancreatic cancer today, July 6, 2010, in Tampa, Florida. Bill is survived by his son Scott; his best friend, Mark Lippi, a pilot for the State Department; and Dr. Nita Klein, his longtime and highly regarded companion.
Said sadly on my part, he will be missed by the many of us since he was inspiration to us all and especially for those of us and who knew him for a sizable length of time.
For me, I will miss his ever-ready sense of humor, his Knowledge Base, and his principled Republicanism. His last gig was for being a pilot with Southern Air Inc.. And in this capacity, he took advantage of opportunity, and thusly, visited almost every nation on this planet. In doing so, his first hand experience, his expansive Knowledge Base relative to the Human Endeavor, as well as the certain impact that these nations will have on America’s future, was the ‘fire’ be brought to any discussion. Thus, my ongoing dialogue with Bill was full of ‘unassailable’ facts and which made our “verbal jousting” all the more enjoyable and equally important, educational for me. And when I informed him that the majority of white Democrats supported SB 1070, he laughed and said, “That’s America”. Of course, Bill, was a throwback to the Republicanism of the Northeast of bygone years and which informed America, even more then, but not in today’s context.
Sadly, our military vets community has lost both a good friend and a transformative person. As such, my “slow salute” to Bill and for a valued and cherished friendship.
Jaango--posted on July 6, 2010
Odds and Ends
1. When it comes to extending unemployment insurance, Democrats have to reach into the TARP Fund in order to pay for the benefits accruing to the unemployed person. And the Republicans, for making this "demand" and for utilizing these TARP funds, demonstrates, that at the 'core value' of partisan politics, do not like the unemployed. And because the unemployed and the poor do not vote for Republicans in high numbers, Republicans recognize their is no "need" to respond accordingly and in support of the unemployed. So, for political cover, the Republicans fall back onto the canard and in the usual form for being a "deficit hawk".
2. So, when Republicans espouse their meme for "deficit hawkery", I don't find this Argumentation and the related or attendant behavior, very persuasive, or even persuasive and rising to the level of one iota. Thus, over the next twenty years and because health care reform, the deficit is expected to be reduced by an approximate $1.2 trillion. In contrast, extending unemployment benefits through the end of this year, will cost an approximate $30 billion. Consequently, the Republicans could not bring themselves to support the White House on health care reform, and it's from within this extremist position, the hyprocrisy becomes self-evident. And of course, at the end of the political day, Republican votes can only be found amongst the Middle Class and from a Middle Class that can be easily convinced that they should vote against their respective self-interest.
3. In Texas, the Republican Party Platform is indicative of what's going on in Arizona and amongst the Republicans. And don't be too surprised when an additional 16 Republican-led State Legislatures follow the 'approach' of both Arizona and Texas.
4. Imagine if you can, when Republican candidates for statewide office, are exclaiming that undocumented immigrants should be denied access to private sector utility services, such as electricity, natural gas, and water, despited the unquestioned ability to pay for these utilitiy services. It's happening now in Arizona. And it's sure to come to your state in the near future. And the hypocrisy for this new political cant should be seen as "being over the top" but that wont' deter the candidates. Interestingly, these candidates have jettisoned the usual Argumentation that "market forces" should prevail, and thusly, racial and ethnic persecution has become today's "code talk". Yet, all this politically egregious behavior reinforces the obvious perception among Chicanos that Republicans don't like Brown People, and in a non-traditional manner, their "minority outreach" is focused on the use of law enforcement as as the proverbial glue to bring minorities together. And that they are doing when it comes to bringing the "racial and ethnics" together in their dislike of Republicans and "that" which they represent.
5. Bob Herbert, writing for the New York Times, has an excellent column about Jobs, so, if time permits, take a gander. It's illuminating, if one understands that the backdrop to this column is premised on the assessment of noted and reputuable economists, Dean Baker, Paul Krugman, and others. Thus, America creating the over 170 million jobs during the next twenty years, will be no small achievement. So, one must ask, both Democrats and Republicans, "Are they up to it?" And will Hispanic leaders be asking this same question of their political colleagues in Congress?
6. Consequently, I have expressed my "pessimism" with President Obama and Vice President Biden, for experiencing a "transitional" presidency. And if you've read my prior post, Jobs will be "that" political element that our future hinges on during these next three years, and if not, we all lose together. And as a Democrat, the "core values" that have been articulated for these past 50 years do not survive, we, as Chicanos, will not prosper.
7. And if you do not hear from me in the next few days, that will because a friend and fellow Vietnam War Vet is now in hospice due to pancreatic cancer.
Jaango--posted on July 1, 2010
Understanding a "transitional" presidency?
I am a public polling wonk, and when I run across a public opinion poll that connects to my curiosity, I tend to look at what is called the “internals” since that will be telling for me, not only how the poll was conducted but into the myriad details that comprise the respondent to this poll. And when Jobs are considered, the political dynamic changes and considerably.
Thus, when a group of Chicanos took an election day poll in November of 2008 and in particular, how Chicanos were voting for or against Barack Obama, I participated in helping with this poll, and because of its “proprietary” status, I’m being careful in what I am saying in my assessment.
As to the polls ‘internals” here is what developed. Over 1,000 Chicanos were polled as were the spouses and of an approximate 600. Thus, the first question, “Are you a Chicano?” and followed by “Are you fully employed or retired?” was the overall premise for the poll. Consequently, the “spouses” were “incidental” to the extent of use as a ‘verification’ tool. And the overall result was that 85% of the Chicanos as “fully employed/retirees” voted for Obama. The “spouses” and regardless of either gender or for being “racial or ethnic” voted at 75% pace for Barack Obama.
Now compare other polls to these results, and the other polls come up far short in the overall assessment for a voting behavior. The majority of the large public opinion polls showed that Hispanics/Latinos voted at 67% or thereabouts, and which is the ‘traditional’ assessment via Democratic versus Republican candidates. As such, ‘tradition’ outweighed “new” and yet, Obama became President in a blow out and left McCain with considerable egg on his face. And it’s even worse, when one factors in a variety of issues. Take, for example, “cap and trade” which was the primary position of McCain and the Republicans. Today’s debate on energy issues, you can’t find McCain or a Republican in support for any “cap and trade” legislation. Thus, Jobs are not on any Republican’s agenda.
Now if this Arizona-based poll were to be replicated across America, the Democrats and Obama would be toast, since this poll was premised on employment. And if the economy continues to lose Jobs and Obama and Biden do nothing on a Jobs front, Democratic candidates will have a difficult time holding their own, since Chicanos recognize that the Republicans are “slow walking” any economic recovery until 2011, given that their hopes for a political resurgence, will come after regaining control of either the House or the Senate. And having control of either chamber, not both, moves, and possibly assures their eventual success for 2012, and Obama’s loss of the White House would be the cherry on the cup cake.
Now, you know why Jobs are supremely important, and our understanding that Obama is letting the Deficit Hawks motivate the discussion, will do irreparable harm to Chicanos, not only for the short term but for the long term. And if Obama wants to crash and burn in 2012, do we have an obligation to help him adjust his foolhardy course and done in order to avoid this ‘crash and burn’?
In closing, President Obama is a transition presidency, and yet, his political advisors unwilling to tell him, or simply don’t understand this reality. And unlike President Jimmy Carter, and who in fact understood and accepted that he was a ‘transition’ presidency, we, Chicanos, hold Jimmy Carter in high esteem, and at the identical level for FDR, Truman, and LBJ. Each understood their ‘role’ in American politics, succeeded, and subsequently, the respective legacies are held in high regard.
Jaango--posted on June 30, 2010
An Internet Factual
In the past couple of days, much notice has been given to the legal hassle that has engulfed one of the largest political blogs, Daily Kos, and it’s hired polling outfit. It seems that the polling has been described as somewhat inaccurate and to the point of possibly being bogus. However, the pending litigation will sort out who’s correct and not correct, and that too, will make the news. Yet, it in the “idea” that polling is presumed accurate, but only when the totality of the data is made available for scrutiny for ‘third parties’ to assess and make their independent assessments as to the inherent accuracy of any public opinion poll.
But there’s more to this story than meets the eye. The conservatives now think all the polling was wrong and that’s what the conservative-oriented blogs are saying. And yet, one poll in particular, speaks volumes, and in Marcos Moulitas’ own words, he says the following, and relative to conservative beliefs:
“While I’d agree that Research 2000’s poll may have been bogus, I would not agree it means Republicans don’t think those things. We have polled on many of the same issues over the last year and in some cases found even more Republicans buying into some of these conspiracy theories. For instance:
--In September we found only 37% of Republicans believed Barack Obama was born in the United States while 42% think he was not and 22% were unsure. Those numbers actually showed a higher birther quotient than the discredited R2K numbers that claimed 42% of Republicans believed Obama was born in the country while 36% thought he was not, and 22% were unsure.
--In November we found 52% of Republicans thought ACORN stole the 2008 Presidential election for Barack Obama while 27% thought he legitimately won it and 21% were unsure. That again showed a much higher level of belief in election fraud than the R2K numbers that claimed 21% of Republicans believed the election was stolen while 24% thought it was not and 55% were unsure.
--In December we found 35% of Republicans thought Barack Obama should be impeached while 48% thought he should not be and 17% were unsure. The Research 2000 poll claimed a similar, although slightly higher level of support for impeachment from Republicans with 39% favoring it, 32% opposed, and 29% not sure.
Would I be leery of the Research 2000 findings on some of these extremist Republican views? Absolutely. But other pollsters have found the same thing. The discrediting of R2K doesn’t change the fact that many GOP voters do subscribe to these unproven conspiracy theories.”
Now, my curiosity is engaged when I find the subject of the poll is important, and since I too believe in zombies being resurrected from the dead, keeping me away from the internals of any public opinion poll, is difficult to do. Thus, Credibility and Certitude, are supremely important when engaged in public discourse, and especially when you’re refuting an Argumentation being made to you with some “unassailable” factuals.
Jaango--posted on June 30, 2010
Another "setback" for Republicans?
When it comes to the proverbial “attack”, the Republicans cannot demonstrate any self-restraint. Take, for example, yesterday’s Senate Hearing on the Confirmation of Elena Kagan for Associate Justice, proves my point..
The seven Republicans and 14 Democrats went their differing ways. To wit, for having clerked early in her career for the late Justice Thurgood Marshall at the Supreme Court, the usual circular firing squad was out in force among the Republicans. Marshall was mentioned an approximate 35 times and President Obama was mentioned an approximate 14 times, and which demonstrates that Republican “outreach” to “racial and ethnics” is not even pretended to be what it could be. And here in the Sonoran Desert, this objectionable behavior was seen as being amply on display for attacking Marshall, and of all things, being called an “activist judge”. Obviously, if Marshall had in fact been an “activist judge” he would feel at home on the current SCOTUS bench. Today, the important SCOTUS decisions come out at 5-4 and in favor of the Republican activists, but not so in Marshall’s time on the bench and as such, less politically rigid.
As to the Democrats, their “line” was simply for the overt compliment, as well as the new ‘complement’ for her accomplishments, despite not being a judge and it’s in this thinking, that she will be a perceived ‘complement’ among these judges. Thus, she brings forth a differing perspective to the intricacies for deciding the issues as they come forth. Of course, time will tell if her not being a judge is indeed an asset to this decision-making process.
And yes, Elena Kagan she will be confirmed by the full Senate, and I guesstimate by at least 65 votes.
Jaango--posted on June 29, 2010
Reshuffling the Deck of Cards on CIR
Update: On Thursday, President Obama will be speaking to the American University School of International Service, and should he say anything above and beyond "bipartisanship" will be attempt to post. Additionally, should he address and propose to eliminate the stereotype for serving in Latin America, and to wit, the "cockroach circuit", we will attempt to post this as well.
Not to belabor your attention span, but the White House is hosting a variety of advocates in favor of immigration reform, since President Obama is starting to feel “the heat” for his “stops and starts’.
However, what I find interesting is that Hispanic leaders have committed themselves to castigating or excoriating the Republicans for not advocating immigration reform.
From my many years of experience, these self-avowed Hispanic leaders are going to continue to keep quiet since they are in need of the dollars for their incumbent re-election efforts that such as Senator Chuck Schumer of New York can generate among the Wall Street scions. Now, these leaders may speak out loud at some point, but the audience will not be listening since the expected gravitas for certitude and credibility, has been missing for many years. So, when it comes to understanding the “damage done by Democrats to Democrats” has to start here at home and among our Spanish-speaking community.
Thus, understanding that the majority of white Democrats in Arizona support SB 1070, and which makes for any bluster and blather by Hispanics and for gaining traction among the non-Hispanic voters, is not quite feasible when it comes to quantifying success. And furthermore, the number of votes available among Democrats for CIR is not available, and expecting Republican votes to cross the aisle in order to make up the difference, still cannot be counted and measured for success, especially, after all these years of effort. Of course, the leadership in Congress will not put up their legislation for a vote and let the chips fall where they do. To do so, signifies failure, and yet, as Chicanos, we would be afforded the opportunity to recognize our “political allies” and if some Democrats should come up short, so be it. Regardless, we will survive and prosper, politically speaking.
Jaango--posted on June 29, 2010
In Memoriam
Early this morning, I learned that Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia had died during the night.
Much will be said and written, and it’s in this telling from George McGovern that I wholeheartedly concur, and loudly, at that.
“I came to greatly admire him for speaking against these unconstitutional wars that we’ve gotten into since World War II. On Vietnam, his record is not particularly impressive. He supported it for many years, as did many senators. But he learned from Vietnam. It was Senator Byrd’s capacity for growth, wisdom and judgment that won my admiration. There’s no sin for anybody in public life to make a mistake. It’s how you learn from them that’s important.”
Jaango—posted on June 28, 2010
Congressman Steny Hoyer...Dumb!
The other day, Democratic House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland, gave a speech in which he inarticulately attempted to explain that America is slated to experience an economic disaster and of massive proportions if we do not address our national deficit, but then, he stopped short of explaining the revenue/taxes side to his Argumentation.
To wit, he ‘outed’ himself for joining the wolf/predatory pack that has for decades been attempting to ‘privatize’ the Social Security Trust Fund. And of course, the titular leader of this Predatory Pack has been Pete Peterson and his Peterson Institute and which has been a stalwart outfit for having remained behind the political curtain, or until recently. And if you recall correctly, President Bush in his successful re-election effort, undertook his first political foray of his second term and onto the attempt to ‘privatize’ the Social Security Trust Fund. Pete Peterson was behind this failed attempt, but he is continuing this second effort with the same political cadre, but with a few years added on for good measure. Thusly, they won’t be making the same mistake twice. To wit, these folks are serious as a heart attack.
Obviously, Hoyer is not ‘channeling’ his boss and that being Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California. As such, by joining the loud Republican cabal for deficit reduction, writ large, Hoyer should be considering his retirement or perhaps, Speaker Pelosi should take the initiative and demote Hoyer to a less responsible position and perhaps to exclude Hoyer from any leadership position among the Democrats, regardless of his seniority status.
And asking Hoyer what federal spending cuts he would consider, his speaking inarticulately in support of the deficit commission, and as demonstrated in the past, that he has no ‘answers’ or ‘solutions’ other than for the support of ‘singing’ the praises of the Republican deficit hawks, and yet, all are using the same talking points memo issued by the Peterson Institute.
Jaango—posted on June 28, 2010
The Mainstream Media Defaults to the Internet
Alas, the mainstream media defaulted to the internet, and in particular to the political blogs, and such notable outlets such as the Washington Post fired it’s columnist/blogger for expressing in private emails his rancor toward political-oriented Conservatives. Perhaps, the Post’s fears are accurate in their suppositions their firing of a "liberal", given that America Speaks has made fools of themselves and Conservatives.
As you’re probably well aware by now, the Pete Peterson Institute and known famously for its desire to wipe out Social Security and Medicare, funded their astro-turf group known as America Speaks, and this astro-turf hosted a series of town halls this past Saturday. Thus, the biggest draw of all was the one held in Los Angeles, and it was not a pretty sight if the results for these political operatives, are as indicated.
Long story short, the participants turned on America Speaks and recommended that the “cap” on Social Security contributions or FICA be eliminated and thereby requiring wealthy participate or kick in on a much greater basis, and followed additionally with a five percent tax on America’s wealthy and whom are already enjoying the current low tax rates that have been the equivalent of the Truman Presidency. These were the “two” recommendations, and much to the distress and dismay of the folks at the Pete Peterson Institution and the deficit commission established by the White House.
Consequently, with the ‘details’ of all the particulars being presented, and now made available to the general public, the folks at America Speaks and the Institute will have to run for political cover since doing this “propaganda pollution” backfired on President Obama’s deficit commission and known irreverently as the "cat food commission". To wit, co-chairs, Simpson of Senate fame and Bowles of Clinton fame, have now disgraced themselves for their marketing and sales effort for selling fiction as non-fiction.
And it was left to the internet political blogs to bring this political fiasco to the attention of the general public, and the traditional electronic and print media outlets, could not bring themselves forward for shaming themselves as well by publishing this fiction, but instead, could have writing truthfully of this fiction, and yet not to be since self- censorship has become overtly subtle and nuanced. America’s most famous, among the columnists and pundits, won’t be saying anything as well, since their paychecks are dependent on their behavior for this quietude.
Now, the only question that needs to be asked is, "Was the White House 'listening?"
Jaango--posted on June 28, 2010
The White House's "defensive wide stance"
It’s both sad and hilarious to envision political amateurishness on a national level and yet, a reality check arrived when it comes to measuring the broad and wide stance and swath that is now the White House’s nonchalance when it comes to Comprehensive Immigration Reform. Thus, Shameless has now become Iconic and Pandemic when it sends out Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano to plead speciousness or in this instance, ‘the need…for bipartisanship’.
Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano, and as the former Governor of Arizona, former Attorney General of Arizona, and the DOJ’s former front liner for the District of Arizona, and taken together, with over 20 years experience on the “secure the border” Platform for Responsibility and Duty, went before the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials, in Denver, Colorado, and pleaded to these officials, that only “bipartisanship” can carry comprehensive immigration reform over the goal line. As such, this exhuberance of political crappola is the basis for this “wide stance” given the lack of any political will and with obvious and intentional ease to escape the ‘promise’ made to the Spanish-speaking community, across America, during his presidential campaign and for these past 18 months. To wit, his On-the-Job Training has been completed and this is the best he can do, and is expecting Chicanos, writ large, to shed their crocodile tears on his behalf.
Now, if the White House had the effusive testimonials from many Hispanics where President Obama and Vice President Biden, had, in these past 18 months proven themselves adept for addressing our ‘unmet need’s’ and had followed this up with their effective use of “political will”, Hispanics would not have to respond to this ‘wide stance’ and Napolitano would not have to be doing the “explaining and apologizing” shuffle on their behalf. And yet, this shuffle could be tolerated and even accepted by the many Hispanics, but without quantifiable results, there is no credit to be added into the Democratic and Obama Columns for the election cycle for this year and in 2012. As such, none whatsoever!
And if Prez Obama and VP Biden were capable of being “straight-up” with our Spanish-speaking community, they would not have taken the “immigration portfolio” away from Congressman Gutierrez of Illinois and given it to New York’s Senator Chuck “swipe” Schumer. The “problem” for passage is not found in the Senate but it is located in the House, and among the Blue Dogs. But to acquire these Blue Dog votes, would require the White House to implement a “discipline” agenda for these wayward Democrats for their lack of support viz a viz the White House’s overall agenda, and not only on comprehensive immigration reform. Hell, yesterday’s House approval of the Disclose Act had 35 Democrats and Blue Dogs voting with the Republicans in opposition to this legislation. And what did “bipartisanship” achieve, in this instance? Two Republicans crossed the aisle and voted with the Democrats.
Sadly, the White House dogma for “bipartisanship” is both tiring and nonsensical in today’s political toxicity. Obama, Pelosi and Reid need only to deliver comprehensive immigration reform onto the House floor for a vote and followed by a vote being taken in the Senate. And should CIR fail in either chamber, the Spanish-speaking community can take this political defeat in stride, and consequently, Chicanos will now be informed as to who are our “political allies” and thusly, cast our votes accordingly, both in November of this year and in the election cycle for 2012. Moreover, we will have the opportunity to trade-in or ‘change’ our Elective and Appointed Officials for those who are willing and able to ‘represent’ us as voting constituencies, whether here in Arizona and California, or in Illinois and Indiana. And by “pleading” for bipartisanship, the White House is effectively demonstrating their amateurish behavior for Thought and Action. Therefore, the White House needs to “stand tall” and if not willing, we call on all Hispanics working in an appointive capacity in the Obama administration, need to tender their respective resignations effective immediately.
And finally, the White House got off scot-free when it refused to “listen” to the Hispanic demand for “open access” to the VA, Medicare, and Indian Health Services, and as such, and to use a sports metaphor, our demand has been the White House’s “first strike”. The second strike will come because the White House wouldn’t get off its collective butt and address CIR forthrightly and with considerable transparency. And be advised, the third strike will come in the form of Jobs and for failing to be constructive and useful to America’s unemployed. Placing “the blame” at the doorstep of the Republican, is a non-starter and is indicative, and despite all the platitudes to the contrary, demonstrates a lack of considerable political will, nonetheless.
Jaango--posted on June 25, 2010
"Enemy Combatants" for the Future?
With the ongoing effort by the populists versus the social conservatives on the Right, the populist effort to “de-Citizen-ize” the members of our many and varied communities in America, continue to be re-defined and into the most egregious of sorts, and yet, still arriving into the political gutter, and in keeping with their nationalistic crappola for rank amateurism.
Take, for example, the current Republican candidate for Congress from Tennessee, Lou Ann Zelenik, when she says the following in her opposition to the Muslims’ desire to establish their religious mosque in Tennessee:
"Until the American Muslim community find it in their hearts to separate themselves from their evil, radical counterparts, to condemn those who want to destroy our civilization and will fight against them, we are not obligated to open our society to any of them."
Of course, the Muslims that she is speaking of, are American citizens, and some of them have even worn our nation’s uniform and have served honorably in either Iraq or Afghanistan, or in both nations. But this won’t interfere in her espousal for bigotry and racism. To wit, she is an embarrassment to our political discourse, as well as embarrassment for even being considered for any Elective or Appointed Office in Tennessee, and elsewhere in America.
Jaango--posted on June 25, 2010
"Damage Done by Democrats to Democrats"?
For the past ten years, the Republicans have been unwilling to challenge their leadership and the attendant or tangential politics in keeping with any perceived Accountability Schematic. And it’s for this reason that I have adopted this Accountability Schematic, and to wit, “The Damage Done By Democrats To Democrats”.
And as you continue reading, keep this in mind.
Since my political assessment or challenge, as well as my self-restraint for being a “cheerleader” for a particular political behavior relative to the majority of Democratic behaviors, makes me an ‘outlier’ and this I understand well, and consequently, the proverbial slings and arrows tossed my way, will increase, as is my expectation. However, Obama’s cheerleading squad and which has been correctly dubbed the “veal pen” by many, has morphed into touting President Obama’s Legacy, and in which has of late, increased in volume and tempo and even expanded to encompass the non-minority community of Democrats. And here’s the latest version:
“Not since FDR has a president done so much to transform the country.” And another one piles on by stating emphatically, “That’s not a hyperbolic observation in the slightest”.
Thus, my point overall, and it may be that it’s inconsequential, but the folks touting the Obama successes to date, and perceived as such, conveniently ignore that fact that the “employee effect” in any wide-ranging agenda amongst the Democrats, is missing. And here’s why?
How can anyone argue that the existing Legacy “list” must now
“include Wall Street reform, health care reform, student loan reform, economic recovery, Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, expanded civil rights protections, extended stem-cell research, new regulation of the credit card industry, new regulation of the tobacco industry, a national service bill, and the most sweeping land-protection act in 15 years, among other things.”
Thusly, equating President Obama to FDR, is taking political obnoxiousness to its worst level in the past two generations, while easily dismissing the tenets ingrained in LBJ’s Great Society efforts. To wit, LBJ passed 72 or 73--depending how you do the accounting for any measured success, pieces of legislation in his first year.
Consequently, have the House and Senate conferees for FinReg closed the existing “magic door” for the marriage between investment banking and commercial banking? And have those little pieces of paper known as derivatives, been tossed into that trash bin for all time? And have the regulated ‘rating agencies’ for these little pieces of paper, been ‘reformed’ as well and especially, removed from the non-existing regulatory apparatus known infamously as the Securities and Exchange Commission?
Of course, I could go on and on in this vein of thought, but at the end of the political day, Democrats have to ask themselves, have the lives of the Middle Class and the Economic Disadvantaged been uplifted and done in manner that can be ‘actually’ measured? Or has America’s investment community continued to have their ‘institutional perks’ protected against all-comers?
And regardless of any assessment I could propound and or encourage you, the Reader, to consider, Big Biz is currently sitting on $1. 4 trillion in investment capital, and will any of this financial wealth be utilized to create a much improved Hispanic business community and and the associadted environment, and thusly, the Spanish-speaking voter will soon come to realize that perhaps the best political behavior between now and November’s election cycle is to “STFU”. If so, we will continue to lose, given that our Hispanic members of Congress are considered to be in “safe” districts and our “impact” on 28 existing Senate seats will not be expanding anytime soon. Thus, “pushing the envelop” is a necessity, or so I believe.
Jaango--posted on June 25, 2010
Loss of Affection
Humor Alert*****Humor Alert
Now that the BP Trust Fund has been established and with an approximate investment of $20 billion, I thought I would take the time to ‘explain myself’ for my sending in a claim and from which I demand some sort of compensation or restitution.
You see, I have ownership and a familial relationship with Pecos, and who is an alligator.
In my last conversation with Pecos, he was ‘demanding’ that he be given the opportunity to return to the Gulf Coast and in order to visit his still surviving relatives, and to the extent his relatives have survived this oil disaster. And if not, he has told me in quite explicit terms, I will be his “next lunch”.
Now, I am thinking of sending Pecos to the Gulf Coast, either by publicly available transportation, or for my taking a much-needed vacation and thusly, I will take him to the Gulf via my private transportation.
Consequently, the ‘cost’ to return Pecos to the Gulf is not my concern or at best, incidental. However, I am wondering if I can submit a claim to this BP Fund and to a specific decision-maker, and predicated on the “loss of affection” due to an absent Pecos?
Now, if the Decision-Maker suggests that I should have been the “next lunch” I will be concerned for his or her lack of any sense of humor.
Humor Alert*****Humor Alert
And the chistes continue to roll in.
Jaango--posted on June 23, 2010
The McChrystal Flap versus The "Skew"
General Stanley McChrystal and his aides gave an extended interview to a writer for the Rolling Stone Magazine and which is publishing this story and with respect to the comments contending a tad of "insubordination" and which has forced the White House's hand on how to address this perceived insuborination. As of this posting, General McChrystal has "offered" his resignation, and it has yet to be accepted by either Secretary of Defense Gates or by President Obama.
And of course, anyone in our nation's capitol and with access to a journalist or to a microphone is speaking out, and in harsh terms, for the most part.
Yet, this "flap" is all about a much larger story and which the news media outlets refuse to address, given the volatility, and which would cause President Obama to address, and done from the standpoint, that the prior Republican administrations would be "called out" for their political machinations of our senior leadership in the all-important military.
To wit, when President Jimmy Carter left the Oval Office, the pro-rata yardstick measured that the admirals and generals were equally represented among the Democrats and the Republicans. Reagan went on to create even more Republican-oriented admirals and generals when these positions opened up due to the usual retirements. Thus, Bush41 continued this behavior. Clinton continued this behavior. And Bush43 reinforced this behavior even more. Consequently, the Republican-orientation among the admirals and generals became a corrosive institution due to these obvious political machinations. And now the "skew".
With President Obama having to address this "skew", he has yet to express any public utterance, or even privately demonstrate any potential concern. As such, he is public cypher for today's attention to the McChrystal Flap.
My assessment from years ago, as this "skew" became increasing worse, the admirals and generals turned their backs on the Privates, the Corporals, and the Sergeants. Additionally, my assessment was reinforced and concretized even further when a Lt. Colonel attending the National Defense University wrote his thesis for his Master's Degree and shouted it out as a behavior for "careerism". And it's within this Construct and Context that this "flap" should be measured against. Of course, the pundits and so-called "experts" will continue to ignore this yardstick in keeping with their failures to expand their respective institutions for credibility and certitude.
Now, what will President Obama do relative to the skew, if one understands accurately, that McChrystal is irrelevant to the decision that Obama will have to take regarding our continuing engagement in Afghanistan, knowing that the admirals and generals are of the overwhelming view that we must remain in Afghanistan for as many years as necessary and when it comes to addressing the nation of Iran, especially when a member of Congress is excoriating President Obama for not waging war on Muslims?
So stay tuned, as we shall find out together,and equally important, where America is going between now and July, 2011, and when we are slated to implement our intended withdrawal from Afghanistan
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Note: All prior posts have been archived off-site.