The War on Our Youth: ACT Scores Show Small Progress & Decline

This year's ACT score data shows that the national composite average has dropped from 21.1 in 2009 to 21 in 2010. However the data does show that 24 percent of ACT-tested students met or surpassed all four of the test's benchmarks measuring their preparedness for college English, reading, math and science. That is up from 23 percent last year and 21 percent in 2006. Therefore to a degree, more students are college ready than last year but the numbers are still not enough.


I know some people will say that is that really progress and to a degree I must say it really is not since more than 76 percent of ACT-tested student didn't meet or surpass all four of the test's benchmarks. So America's colleges and universities will see majority of their freshmen classes coming in needing to take one or two remedial classes. Therefore if we as Americans look closer at the data, we find that we have a lot of work to do in regards to preparing our students for college and the ACT test.


That's why as we discuss how we improve our nation's educational institutions, we need to first look at how we are teaching our students and preparing our students to take the ACT because that should be the national standardized test in our nation. The ACT is the only test that should matter because it tells us if our nation's high school graduates are truly prepared for college. So if our nation is to do better in educating our youth than we must start by retaking how our students learn and how we test them when state standardized tests are nothing like the ACT test which they should be.


For now though, we must continue to try to win this major battle on our youth once and for all so we can win the war.

Winning the War on Our Youth!

What if the Tea Party was Black?

A few months ago, Tim Wise wrote a widely circulated article called, "Imagine if the Tea Party Was Black " which challenged America to take a close look at the hypocrisy of the Right Wing. Now, a Pittsburgh rapper is accepting his challenge in true Hip Hop form. Jasiri X has released a video called "What if the Tea Party was Black." The Hip Hop artist says that he got the idea when Paradise,a member of the pro-black rap group X-Clan, forwarded him a copy of Wise's article. "I saw the article and I liked the concept," says the rapper. So Jasiri hit the studio with producer Cynik Lethal while Paradise grabbed his video camera and they went on their mission to defeat the Right Wing propaganda machine.

LYRICS
What if the tea party was black
Holding guns like the Black Panther Party was back
If Al was Rush Limbaugh and Jesse was Sean Hannity
And Tavis was Glenn Beck would they harm they families
If Sarah Palin was suddenly Sistah Soaljah
Would they leave it with the votes or go and get the soldiers
Yall know if the tea party was black
The government would have been had the army attack

What if Michael Baisden was on ya FM dial
For 3 hours every day calling the president foul
Would they say free speech or find evidence how
To charge him with treason like see he's unamerican now
What if Minister Farrakhan prayed for the death
Of the commander in chief that he be laid to rest
Would they treat it as the gravest threat or never make an arrest
Even today he's still hated for less
What if President Obama would have lost the election
Quit his job so he could go talk to the left and
Bash the government for being off of direction
Fraught with deception
And told black people they want all of our weapons
And we want our own country and called for secession
Would he be arrested and tossed in corrections
For trying to foster aggression
Against the people's lawful selection
Our questions

What if the tea party was black
Holding guns like the Black Panther Party was back
If Al was Rush Limbaugh and Jesse was Sean Hannity
And Tavis was Glenn Beck would they harm they families
If Sarah Palin was suddenly Sistah Soaljah
Would they leave it with the votes or go and get the soldiers
Yall know if the tea party was black
The government would have been had the army attack

What If black people went on Facebook and made a page
That for the death if the president elect we prayed
Would the creators be tazed and thrown in a cage
We know the page wouldn't have been displayed all these days
What if Jeremiah Wright said that everybody white
Wasn't a real America would you feel scared of him
If he had a militia with pictures that depict the president as Hitler
They would kill and bury that
Wait
What if Cynthia McKinney lamented the winning of the new president
And hinted he wasn't really a true resident
With no proof or evidence
Would the media treat it like a huge press event
They would have attacked whatever group she represents
They would have called her a kook on precedent
And any network that gave her due preference
Would be the laughing stock of the news so our question is

What if the tea party was black
Holding guns like the Black Panther Party was back
If Al was Rush Limbaugh and Jesse was Sean Hannity
And Tavis was Glenn Beck would they harm they families
If Sarah Palin was suddenly Sistah Soaljah
Would they leave it with the votes or go and get the soldiers
Yall know if the tea party was black
The government would have been had the army attack

First Amendment vs. Ground Zero Mosque

The First Amendment of the United States of America Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

So on Friday at a White House Dinner celebrating the Muslim Holiday Ramadan, President Barack Obama became the most vocal Democrat to support the building of a ground zero mosque in New York. However many Republicans had already disagreed with the building of the mosque and victims of 9/11 also disagreed with it. Now the First Amendment of our nation's constitution states that we shall not establish any law that doesn't respect the establishment of one's religion and that is the exact argument that President used in his remarks in support of the building of the mosque.

President Obama is right with his remarks and while I would like to see the mosque built somewhere else out of respect for the 9/11 families. The reality is that despite my own feelings for that, our nation was formed for people of all religions to escape religious persecution. Therefore those Democrats and Republicans as well as other Americans who have forgotten that, need to go revisit history. While 9/11 is the worst terrorist attack on American soil, we can't condemn Islam and all Muslims as if their religion is evil and bad for our nation because if we look at other terrorists attacks on our soil or killings on our soil, majority of them were down by quote unquote people of Christian faith. So are we preventing Christians from building churches anywhere in this nation.

The answer is no and that's why the Ground Zero Mosque should be allowed to be built plus one component of the Mosque is a Tolerance Center that is aimed at helping to teaching tolerance amongst the Islamic faith and other religions. This is the exact reason why the mosque should be built so that 9/11 families should be able to go to learn how to forgive other Muslims for the wrong doing of others Muslims who used the name of Islam to justify their devilish deeds. It is no different than how people of other religions particularly Christians try to justify their evil deeds with their faith. That is the exact thing that many slave masters and those who supported Jim Crow did in the South.

This is why denying Muslims any rights that other religions have is just flat out wrong which is why President Obama got his remarks right despite his critics. In fact President Obama should not have had to come out in support of the mosque if cowardly local Democrats had of stood up supporting it when other local Republicans were condemning the building of it. The loudest voice outside of President Obama supporting the building of the mosque was New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg who is an independent, which is why perhaps this is the year of the independent movement.

Still this is yet another reason why our nation continues to have issues regarding race and religion because so many people are not willing to be tolerate of others beliefs and feelings.

The Independence Revolt

Two years after breaking in favor of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party and 4 years after favoring Democrats in the 2006 midterm elections, independents are revolting against the policies of the Democratic Party. However independence are not revolting in favor in Republicans but more so in favor of lack of proven results to fix America's economy and to clean up Washington which Democrats pledged to do in 2006 and in 2008. In fact, independents are more upset with Washington today because lawmakers are still running the nation's debt while funding pet projects back at home that are a waste of taxpayer dollars. Also independents are upset about the lack of funding for main street which is still suffering in America's economic climate with unemployment at 9.5% with no signs of going down before November's midterm elections.

So the independent revolution that voted in favor of Obama and the Democrats in 2008 are not so happy these days with the state of affairs as Wall Street and many of the companies that received TARP dollars and other government funding are claiming record highs these days. Thus, the real question is where is the accountability that was suppose to come to D.C. and where is the quote unquote help for main street that was suppose to come with the passage of TARP and the economic recovery act. Such relief has not come yet and many independents are still feeling the economic pitch which is why they are revolting from in these midterm elections by either voting against Democrats and incumbents regardless of their party affiliation or perhaps deciding to sit out midterms.

Right now as it stands, the independent revolution is going and many political experts are starting to see that in many key battleground states that independents outnumber one party or the other because people are growing tired of political party affiliations. This growing trend is what both the Democratic and Republican Parties have feared since the country has always been a centrist right country because of our spiritual beliefs. Still as the midterm elections approach, this does not fare well for Democrats who are even running away from the President in some states because they fear any attachment to him could cost them a primary or the general election. All in all, this sits well for independents who votes are being coveted day in and day out because they hold the key to many Gubernatorial, U.S. Senate and House congressional races in many battleground states. So come November, if Democrats don't improve their status with independent voters, it could be a long midterm election night for the Democratic Party.

With Obama address, Democrats revive specter of GOP threat to Social Security

On the 75th anniversary of Social Security, President Obama promises to protect it from Republican leaders in Congress who have made privatization a key part of their agenda. He makes clear that, especially in light of the financial crisis, gambling Social Security on Wall Street makes no sense.

Now while Democrats want to use Social Security against Republicans this Fall, the reality is that not many Republicans want to privatize Social Security. In fact many Republicans want to fix Social Security just like some Democrats do. However what isn't being discussed by Democrats is how to actually fix it. Yes, Democrats want to preserve Social Security and Republicans want to do the same but neither side has come up with a way to do so or an idea outside of privatizing or giving the American people the option to open up privatized accounts on Wall Street.

That is why on the 75th anniversary of Social Security, President Obama and Democrats attacking Republican leaders is so funny since it was Republican leaders along with Democrats who helped defeat President Bush's plan to privatize Social Security in Bush's second term in office. Therefore as we fast forward to the present, there are some Democrats who say Social Security doesn't need to be changed at all, it is working great.

Now the reality is that Social Security is set to be depleted between 2015 and 2020. So if that is the case than what will our federal government do to make sure that Social Security is around for my generation. That is the big question and at present day, Democrats are attacking Republicans for trying to privatize Social Security and Republicans are saying we need to fix Social Security but not many are saying privatization is the way but they knowledge it does need fixing while many Democrats don't even acknowledge that.

So who are we the American people suppose to believe and which political party should we entrust we preserving Social Security. That is the millionaire dollar question and if I knew the answer I would surely share it but for now, I can't trust neither party with solving this complicated issue since they haven't been able to fix other pertinent issues thus far.

The White House vs. The Professional Left

The White House is now attacking the left for what Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says, "The Professional Left won't be satisfied until the Pentagon is gone and America has a health care system like Canada." Perhaps all the pressure is finally getting to some in the White House and its clear that Gibbs comments ruffled some feathers and even in trying to end the feud, Gibbs continued to make smart remarks.


Thus what is happening right now as the White House goes after the left especially since the White House has attacked everyone else already, it is funny to now hear them attack their own base. The quote unquote professional left are the very one's who helped than candidate Barack Obama get the Democratic Presidential nomination in the first place over Hillary Clinton in 2008. Now 2 years later, it seems as if the White House particularly Press Secretary Robert Gibbs is mocking the left and progressives who worked night and day to get Democrats elected and Obama in the White House.


The left has been at odds with the White House over all types of issues but that is because many on the left feel that the White House is not fighting hard enough to keep many of the promises that candidate Obama made in 2008. If you think about Gitmo is still open, health care passed with no public option, and the banks were no held accountable as candidate Obama promised. This is why this feud with the left is not over and the White House better begin to listen to the left instead of running from the left that got Obama the nomination to begin with.


A promise made should be a promised kept and that is why the left are at odds with the White House because some many promises are not being kept. This is why Robert Gibbs is frustrated because the quote unquote professional left is holding the White House accountable like they did with than former President Bush. Accountability is critical and the left should continue to fight to hold the White House and Democrats accountable for the campaign promises they made in 2008.

The War on Our Youth--Education: The Economic Issue of Our Time

President Obama speaks about the link between higher education and economic prosperity and calls on the United States to lead the world in the percentage of college graduates in remarks at the University of Texas. August 9, 2010.

President Obama is right, education is the biggest economic and social issue of our time. If we don't deal with it properly than generations of more Americans will be left behind. That's why I am fighting now to overhaul education and the test base system that was created by "No Child Left Behind." Such a system has caused us to lose yet another generation of youth and we can't continue to go down that path. However we can't simply blame teachers and teachers unions for the way our kids are being educated. The fact of the matter is that there is no one group of people who we can blame as the scapegoats for our failing education system. Parents, teachers, administrators, lawmakers, the community and most importantly students are to blame for the lack of education that our kids has been receiving over the decades. In fact whenever I talk to youth, I tell them that if you don't expect more for your selves than how can you expect someone else to expect more for you. So the real scapegoat to the educational woes we face is no other than us as America.

Deficit of Hope

This is a new Republican National Committee Ad. The ad says, "American's are fed up with Obama's economy of persistently high unemployment, crushing debt, and continued assault on the private marketplace." So taking off one's political cap for a second, is there any truth to the ad on the basis that Americans are fed up with Washington not just the Obama administration but Washington, D.C. in general when it comes to high employment and crushing debt as well as an economy that hasn't recovered despite the claims that legislators on the hill say, we are better off than we would have been without the Economic Recovery Act or TARP.

Well my answer is yes, Americans are fed up and tired of political bickering and jockeying that only benefits one political party over the other. Americans want solutions and at the current state, those solutions will be hard to find with this Congress. That's why in November regardless of your political party affiliation, we as Americans must elect the best candidate who has proven results to go to Washington to represent us the people who are suffering.

Florida's U.S. Senate Candidate Kendrick Meek's New Campaign Ad

All Support

Go to www.kendrickmeek.com for more information.

Representative Rangel Reaction to Ethics Violation Charges

Representative Charles Rangel addressed the House of Representatives, speaking about 13 counts of ethics charges against him. He defended himself and said he would not resign. Therefore shouldn't the House Ethics Committee instead of going on vacation and break give Rep. Rangel his due justice by having his trail before the November Elections. While some people want to say that Republicans on the Ethics committee don't want to do that, the reality is that some Democrats on the committee feel the same way as well Republicans. So why do we even have Ethics committees in Congress if they are not going to make sure that the excused Congressional leaders get a speedy and fair trail or hearing. Nonetheless the word fair when it comes to Congressional leaders is an oxymoron just like the word ethics. Let's see how all this plays out but its clear Rep. Rangel is not going down quietly and he shouldn't.

The Middle is the Way to Go

As the November General Elections approach, it seems as if many quote unquote political experts are beginning to realize that if Democrats or Republicans are to win in November, they have to appeal to the middle. However, what is amazing is that this isn't a new political theory or concept but it is the middle that has led to either the Democratic or Republican Party taking over Congress or the White House. While some politicians or political experts would like to say independents are only Republicans or Democrats in disguise depending on how the November results occur.

The truth is that if Democrats win in November than many Republicans will say the independent base was Democrats who didn't want to identify themselves as Democrats and the same will be said by Democrats if Republicans win in November. Well let me begin to say that nothing can be further from the truth. I am an independent because I have never believed in the two party political system and I have always believed in examining candidates regardless of party affiliation to see who is the best candidate. As I look at this November, I must say if I was associated with a political party than how could I defend the misdeeds, the verbal miscues or the lack of results of either party these days as unemployment remains at 9.5 in this nation and our nation's schools are not any better than they were two years ago.

That's way I am an independent because I don't have to defend the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. I don't have to sit up here and pander to the left or the right just get out of the primary. The reality is that, I can bash the brains out of both parties and those who defend the misconduct and stupidity of each side. I can stand here and look at the candidates without getting caught up in the fact that one is a Republican and one is a Democrat and look at who is the best candidate based off the issues that affect me the most. I can stand here and not feel bad that I am leaning one way or the other because my allegiance is to America, my state, my county and my city not to a political party. In fact I can even vote for a third party candidate if I want and still feel good.

That's why all these political experts who are starting to realize again that way to win November is to appeal to the middle need to quit their job and give it to me because the middle will always decide most general elections in statewide races. So if any candidate out there who doesn't realize that than their hopes of winning their General Election might be slim to none. The 2010 midterm elections is truly the year of the independents and its growing more rapidly.

RANKING THE PRESIDENTS: Andrew Jackson Gets Raw Deal

It amazes me that every eight years Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., asks scholars to rank the best and worst presidents in American history, and every survey since 1982 has seen Franklin D. Roosevelt in the number one spot. This year is no exception. While there was a shakeup at the number two position in the 2010 ranking. For the first time in 20 years, Abraham Lincoln has been supplanted as second-best by another Roosevelt: Teddy.

"Teddy Roosevelt had, more than any other president the 'right stuff', and tops the collective ranking of a cluster of personal qualities, including imagination, integrity, intelligence, luck, background, and being willing to take risks," according to the poll's authors. "Lincoln, according to the experts, demonstrated the greatest presidential abilities while FDR ranks first in overall accomplishments."

Rounding out the top five in the survey of 238 presidential scholars are Lincoln, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Still Andrew Jackson, our nation's 7th president is ranked as the worst president in our nation's history which in my opinion is unfair considering he was a president of firsts and considering that his tenure in office lead to the only time our nation didn't have a debt because he paid it down and he got rid of the central bank which is now the Federal Reserve today. Therefore the scholars at Siena College don't really know the complete history of what Andrew Jackson meant to this nation. Now I'm not saying Jackson deserves to be in the top 10 or 20 of President's in our nation but he does deserve to be ranked at least in the 20s or low 30s considering all he did for our nation.

For example, Andrew Jackson was the first populist president who did not come from the aristocracy, he was the first to have his vice-president resign ( John C. Calhoun), he was the first to marry a divorcee, he was the first to be nominated at a national convention (his second term), the first to use an informal "Kitchen Cabinet" of advisers, and the first president to use the "pocket veto" to kill a congressional bill (legislation fails to become law if Congress adjourns and the president has not signed the bill in question).

Jackson believed in a strong presidency and he vetoed a dozen pieces of legislation, more than the first six presidents put together. Jackson also believed in a strong Union and this belief brought him into open opposition with Southern legislators, especially those from South Carolina. South Carolina thought the 1832 tariff signed by President Jackson was much too high. In retaliation, the South Carolina legislature passed an Ordinance of Nullification, which rejected the tariff and declared the tariff invalid in South Carolina. Jackson , always a strong Unionist, issued a presidential proclamation against South Carolina. On the whole Congress supported Jackson's position on the issue and a compromise tariff was passed in 1833. The immediate crisis passed, but the incident was a precursor of the positions that would lead almost thirty years later to the War Between the States.

Another major issue during Jackson's presidency was his refusal to sanction the recharter of the Bank of the United States. Jackson thought Congress had not had the authority to create the Bank in the first place, but he also viewed the Bank as operating for the primary benefit of the upper classes at the expense of working people. Jackson used one of his dozen vetoes, and the Bank's congressional supporters did not have enough votes to override him. The Bank ceased to exist when its charter expired in 1836, but even before that date the president had weakened it considerably by withdrawing millions of dollars of federal funds.

Now Jackson did have his bad side especially when it came to his record regarding Native Americans, which was not good. He led troops against them in both the Creek War and the First Seminole War and during his first administration the Indian Removal Act was passed in 1830. The act offered the Indians land west of the Mississippi in return for evacuation of their tribal homes in the east. About 100 million acres of traditional Indian lands were cleared under this law.

Two years later Jackson did nothing to make Georgia abide by the Supreme Court's ruling in Worcester vs. Georgia in which the Court found that the State of Georgia did not have any jurisdiction over the Cherokees. Georgia ignored the Court's decision and so did Andrew Jackson. In 1838-1839 Georgia evicted the Cherokees and forced them to march west. About twenty-five percent of the Indians were dead before they reached their new lands in Oklahoma. The Indians refer to this march as the "Trail of Tears" and even though it took place after Jackson's presidency, the roots of the march can be found in Jackson's failure to uphold the legal rights of Native Americans during his administration.

During Jackson's presidential years two states were admitted to the Union (Arkansas in 1836 and Michigan in 1837) and the rulings of Roger Taney, one of his Supreme Court appointments, had an impact on American life long after Jackson's retirement. In 1836 Taney succeeded John Marshall as chief justice. One of Taney's early rulings gave permission for states to restrict immigration, while another destroyed a transportation monopoly in Massachusetts, establishing for the first time the principle in U.S. law that the public good is superior to private rights. But Taney is best known for his pro-slavery position in the Dred Scott case in 1857. Chief Justice Taney authored the majority opinion which refused to recognize that Congress had the authority to ban slavery in territory areas. In addition he said Blacks were "inferior" beings who had "no rights which the white man was bound to respect.

Still it is no denying that in 1835, under President Andrew Jackson, the US Federal Budget was balanced and the National Debt was paid in full. This has never happened since. AND…I’ll repeat: National Debt paid in full and Federal Budget balanced…the president was Andrew Jackson. Sure, there have been some Federal Budget surpluses off and on, but the whole package? 1835.

So when it comes to ranking presidents, Jackson continues to a raw deal but its no denying that if it wasn't for Jackson, how bad would our nation's debt be if it didn't get paid in full when it did during his tenure as President. Jackson wasn't perfect but he did do things that put our nation on the path it has come today regardless of what some people feel. That's why U.S. History and other social studies classes are important if our future generations are to understand their past better.

Independence Day--More Than A Holiday, It's a Time to Honor Freedom

July 4, 2010 is more than just a holiday. The 4th of July is more than just a day off of work or a time to have a cookout with family and friends. The 4th is a time to celebrate our nation's freedom and the freedoms that each American enjoys today. Many of us take some of our freedoms for granted but each and every day around the world, people are begging to have some of the freedoms that we enjoy our beloved nation.

That's why, today is more than a time to have fire works light up the sky but the 4th of July is a day to honor of nation's armed forces who protect many of freedoms and interests across the world. Today is a day to appreciate the freedom of speech and press. Today is a day to honor the right to bear arms, the right to vote and the religious freedom. Today is not about the foods, the card playing, the sports or any of the other things that many of us think about when it comes to holidays.

Independence Day is not just about honoring our past and present soldiers but its about honoring our nation and all the people who have worked day in and day to out to make sure that our nation's people enjoy the freedoms that we have today. Republicans, Democrats and Independents all stand as one to honor the freedoms of this nation that day and day out are under attack somewhere in this beloved nation of ours.

Today is about honoring the right of choice, the right to think freely and the right to be who you are without having to conform. These rights might seem silly or unnecessary but think about World War II and many of the other wars fought around the world as well as the war for our nation's freedom. They all dealt with in some shape or form the the right of choice and thinking freely as well as the right to conformity. So today is not your ordinary holiday and should not be honored by fireworks or other things that doesn't really tell the real reason why we honor this holiday. So instead of talking sports, lighting up fireworks and having a cookout, have a real discussion about the freedoms of we enjoy today because of nation's independence from Great Britain.

Still all our people are not free in the sense of no taxation without representation because the District of Columbia does have a representative in Congress with full voting rights. Therefore until we give all our states and districts full voting rights in this nation, there is still a reason why we must fight for freedom every day in this nation both abroad and at home. So remember that the fight for freedom is never over but the right to honor those freedoms should not just be done on the 4th of July but everyday.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY AMERICA!

Election Season 2010

I've been looking and searching for the excitement that I once saw during the 2008 Presidential elections but I see none. No Facebook photos of people declaring their support for the various candidates running for State House, State Senate, U.S. Congress, U.S. Senate or even the various Gubernatorial races. So I have to question what does all of this mean when in the age of technology that many voters only see the presidential race as very important but not the races that impact their lives more so than the President.

Think about it, if your state is going through a financial crisis, you don't look to the President of the United States of America to solve but you look to your Governor and your State elected officials. If you want more police in your community or if you want the crime to go down, you don't look to Washington D.C. to solve that but you look to your local government to come up with a plan. If you want your child's education system to be state of the art and able to compete with the world and not just the next county than you look to your local school board, city leaders, county leaders and perhaps even the state leaders to help to create that state of the art school district.

However everything begins at the local level and that is why as I watch the 2010 midterm elections, I see no excitement. I see no flare. I see no passion from any young people on the social networking sites and that saddens me. Therefore I am convinced that 2008 was nothing more than a once in a lifetime event and that voting in 2012 will not be as high as it was and that people will continue to drop the ball on the races that matter most which are local and state races.

I'm convinced that too many people are drinking the kool-aid and aren't paying attention to what is really going on. Let's be real if you are tired of all the blame being placed at the President's door step than demand more from your local and state leaders as well as from the United States Congress because they are the one's who are the first responders to issues such an oil crisis, educational funding, the unemployment rate, etc.

The President of the United States of America can only propose bills and sign bills into law. The President can not draft bills and vote bills into law. Thus, it is up to the people of this great nation to wake up and realize that if you allow the same people to stay in office who are not doing anything in the best interest of the people than you will continue to get the same old results and the more people will place blame on the President regardless if it is fair or not.

The leader of any nation is always given praise when things are good and is hated when things are going bad. This is how life is but that does not mean it is right which is why voting 2010 is important. Primaries are coming up and the general election in November is even more pivotal but it all starts with you the people waking up and declaring war on those who have not did a thing to improve us as a nation and us as a people.

Vote!

Fieger Not Running for Governor

Well I guess the Michigan Democratic Party will have to choose between Alma, Andy and Virg. Fieger said, he is too outspoken and career politicians would use some of the things he says to their own advantage. However as it sits right now, I have to say that Fieger was the Democratic Party of Michigan's best hope at winning the General Election in November of this year since U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow was not running for Governor.

Now it seems as the Dems hope of winning the Governor's seat back in November gets even more slimmer and perhaps almost impossible but nothing is impossible so I won't say it. Still Fieger saying he won't run only gives the Republican Party in Michigan more hope that they can claim the Governor's seat back after 8 years of not having it.

Reference:

http://www.freep.com/article/20100502/NEWS06/100502013/1001/rss01

Independents Rally Behind Crist

Charlie Crist is testing new waters by running as an independent but it is charted waters that are not impossible because other candidates have bolted their political party in order to run as an independent and be with the people. However what is amazing in how many describe Crist's chances of winning, is that they would refer to voters picking Crist as they evil they do know over the evil they don't know.

Those words alone tell me that, even many political strategists know that their is evil in politics especially when it comes to political candidates and they acknowledge that some voters particularly myself would rather see an evil I do know in office instead of the evil I don't know. However when is it okay to have evil in an elected official position or any position for that matter. Still this is where many voters find themselves in many cases. Thus my rationale in telling independents to support Crist or even support Kendrick Meeks is simply because for nearly a year I have told friends and people that perhaps for the first time in a long time, voters in a state will get a chance to elect or choose between good vs. good rather than evil vs. evil or the lesser of two evils which is the case in many political races.

The reality is that Crist and Meeks are good people but Marco Rubio is someone who comes off as evil because he would do anything to win a seat including changing his political stances time and time again in order to garner support and anyone that desperate to do that is borderline bad in my opinion. So as I see, Florida residents have only two good choices for U.S. Senate and Rubio is not included: point, blank, and simple.

Now is the time for moderates and independents to decide a U.S. Senate race like never before but I strongly encourage many Republicans to vote for a Democrat or Independent instead of the party nominee because Crist and Meeks are more better for Florida than Rubio can ever be.

References:

Can Crist learn lessons from other independent Senate bids?
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/02/1609202/can-crist-learn-lessons-from-other.html#ixzz0mmxCYNok

Rubio depicts himself as conservative with mainstream policies

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/05/02/rubio.florida/

Democrats and Republicans Scared of Crist

Why are the Democratic and Republican Parties blasting Charlie Crist's move to run as an independent with no party affiliation? You would think that both political parties would not fear anyone running as an independent or a third party candidate because their chances of winning in America is slim to none. However that is the not the case just like in 2006 in Connecticut when Joe Liberman abandoned the Democratic Party after losing in the Democratic Connecticut U.S. Senate primary to Ned Lamont because of left wing liberal nuts who felt Liberman was not a true Democratic.

Now in 2010, the same left wing liberal nuts are targeting politicians like Arkansas U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln. Nonetheless, it seems as Democrats and Republicans share one thing in common and that is the extreme side of each political party can determine political primaries sometimes resulting in not the brightest candidate getting elected but a candidate loyal to a political party and not necessarily all the people of a state. So why do you think after Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced he was running as an independent with no party affiliation that both major political parties attacked him and are trying to demonize him is because his run and perhaps a successful election bid could put America's two party political system on the brinks.

Think about 86% of Americans don't trust government and who currently is in government, Democrats and Republicans while more and more independents are falling out of favor with politicians who are loyal to their political party and not responsive and loyal to the people. Thus that's why the tea party while full of some right wing conservative nuts, still has many Americans supporting the true principles of conservatism within the party in terms of less spending and less government.

I'm not saying the tea party movement is great because the right wing conservative nuts forced Crist hand to run as an independent and the Republican Party is now leaning more and more toward the tea party movement but not necessarily its true principles of conservatism but its right wing nuttiness similar to how the Democratic Party in 2006 and some what in 2008 as well as now is moving toward the left wing nuttiness of the so called coffee party.

Therefore, Charlie Crist's bid as an independent has both parties scared otherwise they would not have spent all week blasting Crist's decision and calling him selfish for looking out for his political future. However when is it selfish to leave a political party and declare your independence in order to get on the side of the people. When is is selfish to look at the political spectrum and see that your original plan to obtain victory is impossible but your second plan might can get you to the finish line of victory. Isn't that what political campaigns are about, winning and obtaining victory by any means necessary even if that means going against the grain or the political norm that already exists.

Isn't that what than candidate Barack Obama did when he sought the Democratic Presidential nomination? Isn't that what Joe Liberman did when he abandoned the Democratic Party in 2006 after losing the Democratic U.S. Senate primary in Connecticut? Now Charlie Crist is going against the norm in politics and his odds of winning are pretty good considering how both the Democratic and Republican parties are attacking his decision. So the people of Florida and the rest of the nation should take note because it is clear that the two party political system only cares about preserving the norm in politics which is a Democrat faces a Republican in general elections and that's the only real challenger one has.

Well Crist could be the chance that independents and moderates in this nation have been waiting for in terms of changing the two party system to a three or more party system. For now though, one can only smile as Democrats and Republicans begin to fear independents once and for all.

References

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/01/us/politics/01zeleny.html

Michigan Democrats Need Fieger

A friend of mine and myself said this over a year ago that if the Michigan Democratic party was smart they would support Fieger for Governor and it seems as if we were right. According to the latest polls, although Fieger has not officially entered the Democratic race for Governor, Fieger is the favorite by likely Democratic voters.

Now Fieger has said he will make his decision as if he will run by the end of next week but the reality is that Fieger doesn't have a lot of time because the 3 main candidates that are running on the Democratic side are out in full force. If Fieger doesn't run it seems as if MI Speaker of the House Andy Dillon would be the guy but Lansing mayor Virg Bernero is a distant third according to the poll. Only time will tell as what Michigan voters will decide but if the Democratic Party of Michigan would stop being so afraid of Attorney General Mike Cox getting the Republican nomination for Governor and start focusing on getting the best candidate for their own party than perhaps the Democrats could retain the Governor seat in the state.

For now though, it seems that if Fieger isn't the candidate for the Democratic party than I am willing to bet any Democrat in this state that Michigan voters will elect a Republican for Governor especially if Mike Cox is the Republican nominee. The best chance that Democrats have at winning the Governors seat back is to hope that the Republican rank and file don't elect Mike Cox. Otherwise the Democratic Party faithful can cancel Christmas if Fieger isn't the Democratic candidate to challenge Cox.

In 1998, Fieger would have beat than Republican incumbent Governor John Engler if the rank and file of the Democratic Party, i.e., Mark Brewer would have given him more help than they actually gave him. So if Brewer wants to show true genius he would push Fieger to run and he would threw all the political capital he can behind Fieger because that's the only shoot the Democratic Party of Michigan has at retaining the Governor's seat after 8 non-memorable years of Jennifer Granholm being in office.

Reference:

Poll: Fieger a favorite among likely Dem voters

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100424/POLITICS02/4240392/Poll--Fieger-a-favorite-among-likely-Dem-voters#ixzz0m819Ledb

Run Charlie Run

It seems to be a bounty out on conservative/moderate politicians in the Democratic party and there is another bounty out on liberal/moderate politicians in the Republican party. Therefore my suggestion to all politicians who are being threatened by the extreme left and right of the Democratic and Republican parties is for them to run as independents like Joe Liberman did in 2006 after he lost Democratic Party primary but won the General election over the opponent he lost too.

Thus, this is why Charlie Crist, the governor of Florida who is currently mulling over ending his Senate campaign or to run as an independent instead of a Republican, my advice to him is run Charlie and run as an independent. Charlie is a better person and candidate than Marco Rubio who is an extreme right candidate and a darling of the conservative base right now but the reality is that what has Rubio done for the people besides lie, lie, and lie some more. What has Rubio done for the working class, the poor, and the elderly. Now I am not saying I want Charlie Crist to be the next U.S. Senator from Florida because I personally like Kendrick Meeks, the Democratic candidate but even Meeks has upset me with his allegiance to the Democratic party on nearly every issue as of lately.

Nonetheless, I still want the people of Florida to really have the best of two candidates rather than a situation where its the lesser of two evils which happens in many political races as of lately. I am not saying that Meeks is a bad candidate and he is not evil but let's be real Marco Rubio is a bad candidate and is as close to evil to me when he only says anything to get a vote which is what I consider evil. So I want to be clear that Florida residents deserve better than Marco Rubio and deserve someone who is going to shape our nation's politics the way that Charlie Crist could do if he runs as an independent.

I am an independent and I love independent candidates who are willing to challenge the extreme left of the Democratic Party and the extreme right of the Republican Party. I was never a Joe Liberman fan until after August of 2006 when he did such a thing by running as an independent in despite the Democratic establishment not wanting him too. Thus, I want Charlie Crist to do the same by declaring himself as an independent candidate with no party affiliation.

So imagine a race that has two good candidates such as Meeks and Crist along with a bad candidate like Rubio but at least the people of Florida especially independents and moderates will have a chance to have an independent in the race. So my suggestion to Charlie Crist is to run and run as an independent. So run Charlie run because it is time to shape up America's political system and it is time to get rid of the two party system in this nation since they are both cut from the same cloth.

http://charliecrist.com/

Politics never ends!

Its been nearly 3 months since I wrote my last blog post but a lot has happened in politics. A good/bad healthcare bill was passed in our nation which will save some lives immediately while still leaving others behind. How many I don't know and our nation doesn't know but if you think about it, majority of the healthcare bill doesn't go into effect until 2013 or 2014. Now our nation is trying to push a financial reform that the Democrats are calling the preventive measure to ensuring that another financial meltdown doesn't happen again and the Republicans are fighting against most of it but the reality is that until both sides stop taking campaign finance money from Wall Street in the boatloads that they get it, we will never know what real financial reform is in this nation.

Think about it, we have had a recession or a depression nearly every decade since the Great Depression and the reality is that I don't see that coming to an end any time soon until our politicians stop being bought and sold like pawns on a chess board by Wall Street giants. So no matter how we look at it, this cat and mouse game between Democrats and Republicans will not end until we as people realize that Democians and Republicrats are nothing but the same.

Let's watch to see what happens but for now, let's be real, politics is a sport and both sides are looking to score political points rather than to do the right thing no matter what anyone thinks of their beloved political party. This is we the people need to stop voting for political parties and start voting for the best candidate with the best record regardless of their political affiliation since history shows both political parties are not for the poor and underprivileged since the poor has grown in this nation every year since Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. decided to have has poor people's march before his untimely death.

This is our our moment people to change our political system but we must think better and vote better than how we have than previous years and decades.