Saxby Stands His Ground

I have not always agreed with U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), but I agree with his recent position on the need for a balance approach to resolving the national debt, which should include increased revenue and spending cuts.  Additionally, it is good to see Chambliss stand up to Grover Norquist and his ridiculous "No Tax Ever Pledge" that is currently holding the Republicans hostage.  This morning, Chambliss stated:

 

“I think that you sent me to Washington to think for myself. And I want to vote the way you want me to vote...[and I] don’t want to be dictated to by anybody in Washington, as to how I’m going to vote on anything.”

 

We need leaders to be courageous and willing to make difficult decisions.  We have a debt problem and spending cuts alone will not solve the problem.  It is unpopular to raise taxes, but if we are to move pass this we need all reasonable options on the table.

4 More Years

Today is a great day to be an American because for the second time in the United States’ history a diverse coalition comprised of African-Americans, Caucasians, Latinos, women, young Americans, and homosexuals joined together to elect the President of the United States of America. Barack Obama was the only choice for moving this country forward and earned a second term with his handling of the economic crisis and recovery, the passing of healthcare reform, the ending of the Iraq War, the drawdown of the Afghanistan War, and the dismantling and destruction of various international terrorist groups.  I hope his reelection silences questions about the legitimacy of his presidency.  Obama is an American citizen who is ivy leagued educated.  His election (and reelection) was not a fluke as he has now won two presidential elections by a significant majority.

 

America may not be where it needs to be, but we are on the right path and under Obama’s leadership, we are better now than we were four years ago.  I hope the U.S. continues her journey forward, but in order for us to do this.  Liberals and conservatives have to reconcile their difference and put forth an honest attempt to solve America’s problem.  The Republican Party can no longer be the party of “no”.  They can no longer waste time making ceremonial votes to end healthcare and regulatory reforms or draft budgets that are unrealistic. The Democratic Party can no longer suggest that the country’s ills can be solved by increased taxes on the wealthiest citizens.  We have to find common sense approaches that are comprised of common ground approaches.  If America is to succeed, it is to do so with joint support.  I am optimistic that Obama’s election will allow this to occur.

Beat Downs

There has been multiple beat downs over the last two weeks:

Atlanta Braves v. St. Louis Cardinals
Playoff baseball finally returned to Atlanta.  The city was hot, the Cardinals were on fumes, and everyone wanted to see the Chipper Jones make one last run at postseason glory.  The fans came ready.  Unfortunately, Atlanta imploded under the playoff pressure.  The team committed multiple errors and the umpires made a horrible in-field fly call.  The fans revoked and trash flew.  St. Louis capitalized and crushed the Braves 6-3.  I am not much of a baseball fan, but thanks for the memories Chipper.

 

Georgia Bulldogs v. South Carolina Gamecocks
This was the marquee match-up of the week.  ESPN sent the Game Day crew to Columbia, South Carolina to hype the match-up of undefeated #5 Georgia versus undefeated #6 South Carolina.  Unfortunately, the game was over before it started as the Bulldogs were embarrassed by the Gamecocks.  The Chickens punched, punched, and continued to punch the Dawgs in the face.  UGA never responded.  The final score was 35-7, but it felt worse.  Carolina fans were right to chant – “overrated”.

 

President Barack Obama v. Governor Mitt Romney, Debate #1
Regardless of whether Obama was employing the “rope-a-dope” technique, he looked tired, preoccupied, and disinterested – qualities that do not help a person get reelected.  Additionally, Obama seemed unprepared, which probably stemmed from Romney’s shameful pivot from candidate with “severely conservative” views to candidate with moderate Republican views.  Romney clearly does not mind lying if it gets him elected.  Regardless, couple Obama’s poor performance with Romney’s energetic presentations of his “new” positions and you get a debate beat down and Romney victory.

 

Vice President Joe Biden v. Congressman Paul Ryan, Debate #2
Biden – verbally and nonverbally – finally said what most Democrats have been thinking throughout this presidential campaign – the Republicans only care about tax cuts for richest of Americans at the expense of everyone else and expansion of government for the purpose of controlling women’s reproductive rights.  More importantly, Biden acknowledged that the current Republicans’ are full of “malarkey”.  It was beautiful performance and beat down that Democrats needed.

 

President Barack Obama v. Governor Mitt Romney, Debate #3
Obama needed to bounce back from his poor first debate and establish that he is the president and America is better served with him in the office.  He took the facts to Romney, challenged Romney’s “new” positions and reminded the country that Romney believes that 47% of the citizens are losers.  Most importantly, he called Romney out for politicizing the terrorist attack.  The look on Romney’s face established the significance of the beat down.

Vote Early!

Early voting for the State of Georgia starts Monday, October 15, 2012. Please check your local Voter Register's office for specific times and locations. If possible please vote early because life's unexpected emergencies may prohibit you from making it to the polls on Tuesday, November 6, 2012.

Register to Vote

The last day to register to vote in Georgia and be eligible to vote in the 2012 Presidential Election is October 9, 2012. Please do not disenfranchise yourself.

Inclusive v. Selective

"There are 47 percent of the people who will vote for the president no matter what. All right, there are 47 percent who are with him, who are dependent upon government, who believe that they are victims, who believe the government has a responsibility to care for them, who believe that they are entitled to health care, to food, to housing, to you-name-it -- that that's an entitlement. And the government should give it to them. And they will vote for this president no matter what. ... These are people who pay no income tax. ... [M]y job is not to worry about those people. I'll never convince them they should take personal responsibility and care for their lives."

- Mitt Romney

The above quote is a perfect example of why I am supporting President Barack Obama this election season. The 21st century America is inclusive and we need a president who will commit to represent all Americans and not just those who support his policies.  We need someone who believes everyone should have an opportunity to live the American Dream.  Obama is that person.  From the very beginning, he has tried to take steps to work with Republicans and others who did not support him.

Alphas 4 Obama

President Barack Obama is not a brother of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  As far as I know, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has not officially endorsed his candidacy for president, but as a brother of the august body, I am an Alpha 4 Obama! 

Community

"We should do together what we cannot do as well for ourselves."

- Barack H. Obama

Obama Classic 2012

This year's Obama Classic features a night of basketball with President Barack Obama, Michael Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Sheryl Swoops, Carmelo Anthony, and other basketball stars.  If you donate to Obama for America, you can win two tickets to the event and have dinner with President Obama and Michael Jordan at the event.  After the meal, you will have an opportunity to shoot hoops.

I would love to have an opportunity to interact and shoot basketball with Obama and Jordan.  They are two of my favorite "celebrities" and to just have an opportunity to talk with them about their life experiences and share my experiences, would be priceless.

Prepare for the Fall

Hopefully, you have already voted and/or are preparing to vote in the July 31, 2012 election.  Please do not let Georgia's new voter ID law disenfranchise you.  Under Georgia's new law, voters must show a photo ID when voting in person.  Acceptable photo indenticiations includes:

• Any valid state or federal government issued photo ID, including a FREE Voter ID Card issued by your county's register's office or the Georgia Department of Driver Services;
• A Georgia Driver's License, even if expired;
• Valid employee photo ID from any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. Government, Georgia, or any county, municipality, board, authority, or other entity of the state;
• Valid U.S. passport ID;
• Valid military photo ID; or
• Valid tribal photo ID.

If you lack any of the 6 above photo identifications, then the State of Georgia will provide you with a FREE Voter Identification Card, provided you have all of the following:

• A photo identity document or approved non-photo identity document that includes full legal name and date of birth;
• Documentation showing the voter's date of birth;
• Evidence that the applicant is a registered voter; and
• Documentation showing the applicant's name and residential address.

"Show Me Your Papers" = Racial Profiling

"No American should ever live under a cloud of suspicion just because of what they look like. Going forward, we must ensure that Arizona law enforcement officials do not enforce this law in a manner that undermines the civil rights of Americans."

- President Barack H. Obama

Obama Has Earned A Second Term

I watched a documentary on Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign last night, and it reinvigorated my support for Obama.   His 2008 campaign was so unique because it was fuelled and funded by a grassroots effort.  Obama not only energized the base of the Democratic Party; he inspired a diverse and previously disengaged group of people to join and participate in the political process.

Our support of Obama was not in vain because his first term was a success.  His policies not only slowed the recession, but are now leading to slow and steady economic growth.   The public and private sector are creating jobs, and some companies are even making record profits.  He leveled the playing field for all workers, signing the Lilly Ledbetter Equal Pay Act.

Although controversial, he nudged America in the right direction with the Affordable Care Act.  It prevents insurance companies from excluding people based on preexisting conditions, allows children to stay on their parent’s insurance, and prevents people from going bankrupt because of medical bills.  It was time that America joined the rest of the industrial world by providing access to healthcare for all its citizens.

Obama also made America safer.  He made the military more inclusive by repealing No Ask Don’t Tell.  He brought our troops home from Iraq, and took steps to fortify our position Afghanistan.  Under his leadership, the navy seals were able to strike Osama bin Laden off the most wanted list.

The items listed above are not even all the high points.  It is true that Obama did not do everything he promised, or did all I would have liked him to do.  However, he has done more than enough to warrant second term.   Obama had my support in 2008, and he has my support in 2012.

Republican Judicial Hypocrisy

I hate to paint with a broad brush, but Republicans are annoyingly hypocritical when it comes to a person’s First Amendment right to voice their opinion about the judicial branch.  Their allegedly offended because President Obama voiced his thoughts on how he would like the U.S. Supreme Court to rule on the Affordable Care Act.  They also object to his comments regarding how an adverse ruling would overturn well-established legal precedent and significantly alter modern notions of the commerce clause.

The GOP’s criticisms are hypocritical because where Obama discussed the power and impact of the court’s potential ruling; their presidential hopefuls have openly questioned the judiciary’s authority, independence, and place in our modern democracy.  In short, they want to do away with the judicial branch.  First, Mitt Romney, when discussing California’s Proposition 8 and Iowa’s (Alleged) Defense of Marriage Act, accused judges of being “activist” and casting aside the will of the people.

Second, Rick Santorum stated he would “sign a bill tomorrow to eliminate the 9th Circuit” U.S. Court of Appeals.  He further called it a rogue court.  Third, Newt Gingrich stated if he is elected president, he would call for Congress to subpoena judges or even abolish courts altogether if they make wrong-headed decisions.  Moreover, he stated in his opinion, it would be well within the president’s authority as commander in chief to ignore a Supreme Court ruling that he believed was incorrectly decided.  Further, he has called federal judges “anti-American” and “grotesquely dictatorial.”

As evident by the Republicans own words, the judiciary is not beyond reproach.  So, why attack Obama for voicing his opinions about the forthcoming Supreme Court decision, especially, when they are not only questioning the judiciary’s rulings, they are openly and dangerously questioning the legitimacy of the independent judiciary.

President Obama on Trayvon Martin

"Well, I'm the head of the executive branch, and the attorney general reports to me, so I've got to be careful about my statements to make sure that we're not impairing any investigation that's taking place right now.

But obviously, this is a tragedy. I can only imagine what these parents are going through. And when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together — federal, state and local — to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened. 

So I'm glad that not only is the Justice Department looking into it, I understand now that the governor of the state of Florida has formed a task force to investigate what's taking place. I think all of us have to do some soul-searching to figure out how does something like this happen. And that means that examine the laws and the context for what happened, as well as the specifics of the incident. 

But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon. And I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and that we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened."

The Indoctrinator

Rick Santorum is too extreme to be President of United States.  Actually, a majority of Americans should consider Santorum too extreme to run for president.  His campaign is nothing more than attempt to ignite an unnecessary cultural war.  For example, Santorum recently ranted against college attendance.  He questioned whether conservatives should attend four-year colleges because they are allegedly “indoctrination mills” where conservative-minded students suffer from “ridicule” from “liberal” professors and students because of their conservative values and Christian faith.  He further stated, “62% of children who enter college with a faith conviction leave without it.”

I find Santorum’s comments demeaning and offensive because he is essentially saying I am (and his children) are strong enough to withstand the alleged liberal indoctrination but you and your children are not.  Therefore, you should not send your children to college.  Santorum not only has a college degree, but also has two professional degrees in law and business.  Plus two of his children attend “liberal arts” schools.

 I started and graduated Emory University, one of the more liberal colleges in the south, with a strong Christian faith.  Emory allowed me to practice my faith while teaching me to respect the fact that other students maintained their own faith and religious practice.  No one ever tried to indoctrinate me or my friends of different races, political backgrounds, and religions.  Sure, we had late night debates about faith, religion, and politics, and people were asked to defend their positions, but everyone always respected everyone’s right to have an independent opinion.  No one forced you to change your beliefs.

On the contrary, it seems like Santorum and his followers are the ones doing the indoctrinating.  They are striving to create a monolithic America where compromise and respect for differing opinions is taboo.  They are the ones saying that if you oppose our views, you follow some “phony theology” and are un-American.  Santorum is too extreme to lead a culturally diverse America.

Romans 13:1-7

I read the above Bible verses this morning, and thought perhaps this may benefit some my fellow Christians who are moving further right and becoming anti-government and anti-taxes.

Submission to the Authorities

1. Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is not authority except that which God has established.  The authorities that exist have been established by God.
2. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
3. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong.  Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you.
4. For he is God's servant to do you good.  But if you you wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.  He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.
5. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience.
6. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing.
7. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Amongst Kings

I have come to have a greater appreciation of Martin Luther King, Jr.  His personal restraint and advocacy for nonviolence is amazing and inspring because it transcends time.  It would have been easier and frankly, justifiable to retaliate, but King (and his followers) looked beyond their personal brutalization and stayed focus on the purpose behind nonviolence - equal rights and equal treatment.  These ideals seem so common now, but during his life they were radical.  This notion shocked the national conscious.  This desire sparked rage.  This dream caused death.  How was it possible for black and white, men and women, to live as equal?

This radical idea and vision of America was not original to King.  Instead, it was that of Thomas Jefferson and the framers of the constitution, who cavalierly promised that America would be a place where "all men are created equal".  I say cavlierly promised because the drafters did not intend to enforce this bedrock principal of our democracy.  Instead, they allowed the bastardization of this progressive principal.

King through nonviolence made America examine the hypocrisy in its founding and forced our country to live up to its potential and honor its promise.  King was more than a dreamer.  He was a doer.

Here's My Answer

I am not a republican, but I want to share why I do not support Mitt Romney for president.  He comes across as being simply out-of-touch with a majority of Americans.  I am doubtful that if elected, he would advocate for policies that benefit all Americans.  Romney seems to only concern himself with promoting policies that benefit the wealthiest 1% of our country.

My apprehension comes from his proposed tax plan, which disproportionally helps the wealthy, and his unscripted comments.  For example, earlier today he said, “I’m not concern about the very poor.  We have a safety net there.  If it needs repair, I’ll fix it.  I’m not concerned about the very rich, they’re doing just fine.  I’m concerned about the very heart of the America, the 90, 95% of Americans who right now are struggling and I’ll continue to take that message across the nation.”

When asked a follow up question about not being concerned with the very poor, Romney further elaborated, “But my campaign is focused on middle income Americans.  My campaign – you can choose where to focus.  You can focus on the rich.  That’s not my focus.  You can focus on the very poor.  That’s not focus.”

In this difficult time, we need a president who is concerned about all Americans – rich, middle, and poor.  The only way this country can live up to its potential is if we all succeed. Romney says he is not concerned with the rich, but his actions suggest otherwise.   His financial policy is heavily skewed in their favor.  Romney says he is not concerned about the very poor because we allegedly have safety net, but yet the very positions he advocates seeks to minimize the safety net.

The above comments are not the only ones that paint Romney as the epitome of the out-of-touch corporate elite.  Although he was talking about insurance companies at time, he famously said, “I like being able to fire people”, which appears to have some truth since Bain Capital was in the business of “starving” companies, firing American workers, and then selling the company for millions in profits.

Worse, Romney seems to think that economic inequality between wealthy and middle and working class is “about envy”.  People are discouraged because they are making less money and working harder, and he cites “envy” as the catalyst for the problem.

That is why I do not support you.

The Doer

Martin Luther King, Jr. was more than a dreamer.  He was a doer.  Let us not just celebrate his dream.  Let us celebrate his accomplishments.  In the words of King, "We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope."

Return of the Pizza Plan

9-9-9 is a joke.  Unfortunately, Herman Cain (and his supporters) do not realize this because he's back promoting his bad idea.  If you recall, the pizza promotion, which also doubles as an alleged tax plan, calls  for the adoption of a  9% flat tax on personal income; a 9% flat tax for  corporations, and would create 9% national sales tax.  Democratic and Republican tax experts agree that Cain's 9-9-9 plan would increase taxes for the lower and middle class, but significantly decrease the tax burden for the richest Americans.  When will a Republican promote a plan that helps the other 99%?

A big problem with Cain's plan is the creation of the 9% national sales tax.  If you create a national tax, then consumers will not only have to pay the national tax, they will also have to pay state sales tax.  For example, the Peach State only charges a 2% sales tax on groceries.  Under Cain's pizza plan, Peach State residents would now have to pay 11% in sales tax - a 9% national tax and 2% state tax.  The cost of milk just went from $2.03 to $2.21, assuming the retail price of the milk was $1.99.