Category Archives: ~ my 2cents …

Weekend Reviews& some News


Wow summer is almost over and though we have moderate heat here it just does not seem like summer anymore. The East Coast is still getting a lot of rain and wind but not the cat3-4 like first estimated though the folks in Nova Scotia  need to get prepared for the worst be happy if it turns out to be a wimp.

Does anyone know how big of a deal it is to get the middle east peace talks started let alone getting these men all in the same room and engaged in the move toward the 21st Century.  Americans should be proud. i definitely see myself as an American and Proud of the effort made by President Obama -let’s hope they all cooperate with him.

The Political climate is getting heated as the sometimes ugly rhetoric regarding race religion and gender preferences seem to be the big stick Republicans are wielding at those with truly weak minds who seem unwilling to remember what being an American is all about. I know that schools use to teach inclusion but with all that is going on one has to wonder what is being taught at home or at the schools these days. What seems like an overt dogma of exclusion my hope that any sane person would think this attitude is not what Americans are all about.  We are a country of immigrants with various types of families that blend and make sense only to them i guess. I don’t understand the attitude and do not subscribe to it because it is un-American.

The video below was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks … sorry about the sound or clarity

Someone left a comment on my blog about a couple of articles posted which was a great thing in itself but we disagreed about how Muslim Americans are being treated around the US today as well as his personal attitude toward President Obama.

The first comment left asked about an article from media matters asking why so many people believe the falsehoods about President Obama’s birthplace, religion, and ideology. This person said”, what disproven falsehoods would these be. The Obama Regime has disproved none of the allegations against him.” My response was and still is; what you should be wondering is why you feel or need to label President Obama admin. I ask if it racism and fear, or do you just feel like white people should be in charge? I continued by stating it was obvious they were not apart of the 53% who voted for Obama. There is no Regime and to say this is so offensive because if Bush had done the right thing Obama would be working on HCR, immigration DADT, Climate and Clean energy. Instead, the last guy in charge of the White House waited until the very last moment and said whoops we have a problem then hid. He had Paulson tell us that the economy was close or near to collapsing. As everyone hid or tried to keep the public and Congress at bay, we had the McCain campaign deciding to get their own Hillary by hiring Palin as a VP candidate. Then as the News or rumors about our economy came out McCain says our system is fundamentally sound…What? While the shit was, hitting the fan President Obama remained calm cool and stepped up while all the others became afraid. I do not think anyone knew what to do and Bush/Paulsen acted…foolishly, we would be better off had they thrown more money at the right ppl… they did not.

The other comment was about an article that dealt with the current negative talk and behavior toward Muslim Americans. The person is in my interpretation a racist considering he believes all Muslims are either terrorists or complicit by association and in their inaction and their cult’s name. The person stated this is American and you get what you deserve. I have to say it was a strange response. I do not know if this person was young or old but it definitely was a reflection of how a lot on the right feel these days. I responded stating; yes this is America and lumping people into a category is not how right or how most Americans act. It is un-American …Not every Caucasian is a bigot, not every African American is a killer or belongs in a gang and not every Latino American runs drugs or guns and this is the same with Muslim Americans not every Muslim is a terrorist …unless you know more than i are all White People Racists? How do you feel about what G.Bush and his band of Republicans did to our economy and or Boehner and his group of Republicans or Tea Party who have been practicing exclusion overtly? Exclusion, racism, discrimination seems to be what you are suggesting …generalizing is just wrong. I do not know you but i can do you belong to a group that thinks our Constitution means nothing and if so are you un-American? Fear of the unknown begets these feelings about the “Other” or those who do not fit the group they are more comfortable with and that is something that is not only offensive but also a primal reaction that can only be changed if the person feeling it wants to change. I have to say people need to calm down and work together instead of working against each other Whites against People of Colour or Religion. Though i totally disagree with the person who commented on my blog was surprising to hear someone say – that people get treated as they deserve because it just is wrong -try being reasonably suspicious and talk to me again… and what does an illegal look like? The treatment anyone gets is only as pure as the person applying the treatment and please don’t tell me you don’t know anyone who hasn’t been pulled over for driving, walking or just being non-white at any given day. I am only responding to your generalization of Muslims. The problem of how people try to apply the Constitution when it suits them is also confusing offensive and compels me to respond…hey thanks for your input

Other News …

**Middle East peace talks are being held under the org of President Obama and Hillary Clinton

**Photos of Rhianna giving the finger to the paps …all things considered she made a bad choice because she is wearing what looks like an authentic military hat ….very disrespectful on all accounts

**The East Coast had damage from Earl but not as bad as it could have because it lost strength as it rolled on now Canada is on the alert

**President Obama states he is committed to helping  the Middle Class

**

CSPAN …

Panel Discussion on Filibustering and the 111th Congress Panel Discussion on Filibustering and the 111th Congress

Panel Discussion on 2010 Elections Panel Discussion on 2010 Elections

thoughtful Thursday &some News


As we roll into the Labor Day Holiday and hurricanes continue to slam the East Coast. We have News of another oilrig explosion, the Middle East peace talks have started, and many candidate debates for the November election are getting heated and somewhat ugly. The Islamic community center is being used on a daily basis as a tool of fear by folks on the right to scare or put the fear of something in white people. The idea that it is working to some degree is so offensive let alone the relationship to the talk around our Constitution. I cannot help but think these reactions are related to how folks like Gov. Brewer and McCain are projecting onto others regarding SB1070 …the “Other” that somehow someway needs to be controlled and treated differently.

The overt attacks on Muslim Americans who lived worked and died in NYC on that awful day 9/11 continues to happen on an daily basis …fear- any fear mongering of any kind should not be accepted. It needs to stop and while i feel someone in the Republican Party could put a stop to the constant fear mongering. I definitely will not hold my breath. The projection of fear and falsehoods coming from the right still stirred up against President Obama has become an annoying yet effective rouse on the American people. Its starting point is not obvious but the Media on all fronts have given the story legs by the amount of coverage. The coverage in my opinion has now provoked folks into hate and or what seems like actions of hate crimes. The move toward violence is based on the rhetoric coming from the folks on the right. I guess it has always been there but now it seems to be coming to the surface without any editing. The things said, the actions being encouraged against Muslim Americans by people We the People put into public service is offensive and does not represent what my family taught us at home or at school.

I will admit that I find it somewhat amusing to see how easy folks on the right want to throw out labels to describe President Obama’s actions. It does seem to be a nasty primal reaction to the unknown that they definitely are projecting on others who seem weak in a time when the jig is up so to speak. People should respect this President more –respect the office of President more- Joe Wilson’s behavior was unacceptable and seems like just another example of the attitudes seemingly accepted by the right and encouraged by what I definitely feel are people of weak minds acting out. Separate but equal …or are we moving backward to a time when life was separate and definitely not equal.

Albert Einstein said, “Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weaker minds.”

With Wall Streets creative accounting procedures, this finally came to an ugly head after years of betting against the people. If you need a reminder just watch the show, “House of cards”, by David Faber on Cnbc. It was a cruel and vulgar view but an awakening moment at how greed affects the mind.  The movie was a truthful documentation of the nasty journey our economy took devised for who, by who and how it (they) brought all of us down with them. Now, while we all wait for Congress to come back from recess and the November elections we have to wade through the BS currently on the 24/7 News cycle and much of it is just not worth the folks spewing it out. I definitely do not watch faux News and Cnn is becoming more of an issue everyday.

I thought the News was or maybe i am just naive but I feel the News should be balanced fair and truly devoid of all opinions that are not true anymore and the opinions can be very disrespectful of President Obama and that bothers me. I cannot say I felt that way about Bush maybe some with Clinton but the talk seems or is different, the comments are as if they feel they are above President Obama. The President definitely is educated, smart and above the middle class i do not get the impression that most in the Media completely respect Obama
if we have to subscribe to labels … call me a Marxist who believes in Socialism at this time ….. We need someone who cares, who is socially responsible and who believes the gap between the haves and have none needs to shrink … school me …what can be wrong with caring for all the people of the US … not just the one percent… especially since that one percent has been wheeling and dealing starting from the house of bush and trickled down to main street … gotta admit it’s time for a change.
Obama is not a socialist or a Marxist … he is a Christian with centrist behavior as the President of the free world. Though i believe he must move more left of center to get what he needs to be done, I will give my hope faith and trust that he has learned where Republicans stand and what their agenda is moving forward. It is with great hope that everyone comes back to the Peoples business …get the Democratic Party informed on how voting this November will create the change we all voted for in 2008. It is quite sad to watch folks muddy the truth with miss-information about why the economy has not improved, why we needed to make sure teachers, police, firefighters were keep in place and why helping your fellow man is obviously is apart of being a Democrat because Bachmann and other Republicans are calling it a bailout. The notion that we have Boehner saying when will it all end when will the bailouts stop and he was talking about unemployment for All Americans including his own constituents are affected btw. The question is they listening to the rhetoric coming from the mouths of Republicans and or Tea baggers. Republicans want to repeal everything this President has done that will help get us back on track, help get us all back to work yet Republicans by way of saying NO in the Senate because of the 60vote rule. Think about it -Boehner and other Republicans said no to your family friends and associates but want to keep the Bush tax breaks, which btw were not paid for and were scheduled to expire. My question is for anyone to answer …do you realize these actions were not paid for so who will be the ones to pay…obvious answer is the Middle Class. It this what people want? Who out there has a voice of reason telling you that going back to what we had means more trouble more chances of actually falling off that cliff the last administration failed to pull us back from. I still do not understand and want to know when did they actually know there was trouble as well as why did they wait until the last minute …before the 2008 Presidential election? I have my theories, but the whole thing should be a warning for all those wondering just what plan Republicans have to get the US back on track.

Other News

**News of another oil rig explosion though all 13 people have been accounted for

**2nd day of President Obama middle east peace talks

**Officials has formally called for evacuations of the Southern region and the Gulf Coast

In a “bitter debate filled with personal attacks,” Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and challenger Carly Fiorina (R) faced off for the first time during the California Senate election. The debate focused mainly on economic issues, with sharp exchanges also coming over the issue of climate change.

According to a USA Today analysis of government data, “[h]ealth care spending this year has grown at its slowest rate in a half-century, a sign that people are forgoing medical care during the recession.” Medical care spending rose at a 2.7 percent annual rate per person in the first half of 2010, “the smallest increase since the Bureau of Economic Analysis began tracking medical care in 1959.”

Harvard Law School dean Martha Minow told students this week that Elizabeth Warren is no longer teaching a class she was slated to teach, fueling speculation that Warren may be nominated to head the new Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. “Professor Warren regrets that she will not be able to teach you this fall and we regret the last minute change,” Minow’s email read.

Undocumented “immigration to the U.S. has slowed sharply since 2007,” according to data released yesterday by the Pew Hispanic Center. Pew’s data finds that the number of undocumented immigrants coming into the country “plunged to an estimated 300,000 annually between March 2007 and 2009, from 850,000 a year between March 2000 and March 2005.

CSPAN

White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs White House Briefing with Press Secretary Robert Gibbs

FCIC Meeting on FCIC Meeting on “Too Big to Fail” – Day 2

Panel Discussion on Pres. Obama Speeches Panel Discussion on Pres. Obama Speeches

State Department Direct Talks Between Israeli P.M. Netanyahu and Palestinian Pres. Abbas State Department Direct Talks Between Israeli P.M. Netanyahu and Palestinian Pres. Abba

Panel Discussion on “Tea Parties and the Future of Big Government.” Panel Discussion on “Tea Parties and the Future of Big Government.”

wacky Wednesday &some News


President Obama starts Middle East peace talks in the other Washington today and later today he will be traveling to Milwaukee with labor secretary Solis.

As some parts of the US moves into Autumn weather other parts are suffering awful hurricanes and or heavy rains creating flooding. I am hoping those who usually say they will stay put opt in to being evacuated.  There are reports that mandatory evacuations have been ordered in N.C.

Last night the President announced the combat in Iraq has ended and though some are still there he was able to get this thing ended a little early.  It was a moment to give facts numbers and tie in to something that helped hurt our current economy and he did. The idea that libs are not happy with this President is getting on my nerves. They cannot be satisfied with the fact that the combat was ended so please stop beating him down for not wanting to bring the last guy or administration up on charges …it ain’t going to happen. If we could just thank all our troops who served, make sure they all have medical and are among those who are able to take advantage of HR1586 and move on to solve our economic problems. It just annoys me to hear libs burn the President with all the negative rhetoric because they need in my opinion to focus on what is News to the Americans instead of what they did not get out of voting for this President. I believe a lot has been achieved but libs are again participating in that circular squad -it is reckless and will hurt our cause. Come on -give him credit for getting things despite Republicans despite the daily name calling and labeling we should not expect this President to come out and battle with each and every negative thing said about him.  There are reports that folks representing big corporations are now switching sides because our President supported the need for financial reform.  Those who tell us raising taxes would be a job killer are in control of Banks that should loan to neighborhood lenders by don’t and can only be translated into a clear threat.  Those of us regular folks who supported and voted for Obama need to stand up to the BS being shoved onto us by both the libs and the folks on the right. I am a democrat who believes it will take years to get the US economy back on track because the votes of No screwed us from getting it done sooner and has now slowed down the effort to next to zero .

The continued slow down of our economy is because of the Political Party of NO -do not be fooled …we needed large sums of money thrown at a big problem but when Bills got to Senate Republicans they were able to stall them, block them or scale them down to something that seems like a band aid now. It is apparent that the projection of 8% unemployment was given with the info they had at the time.   It did not include Banks withholding funds from small business, Wall Street being unwilling to cooperate and Republicans doing everything to ruin this President including throwing their own constituents under the bus …

Other News …

The first face-to-face talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders since 2008 will begin today, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with President Obama in the White House. Expectations are low, but U.S. officials are hopeful they can at least get the two sides to agree to a second round of talks next month.

Top U.S. commander in Afghanistan Gen. David Petraeus said yesterday that the Taliban is expanding its presence across the country even as U.S. and coalition forces close in on insurgent strongholds. “Levels of attacks have gone up and that’s a manifestation of us increasing our resources substantially and taking away safe havens,” he said, “And when the enemy’s safe havens are threatened they fight back.”

And finally: Former GOP House Speaker and current FreedomWorks chief Dick Armey told the Texas Tribune that he’s not interested in being the leader of the Tea Party movement because he’s too busy caring for his goats. When asked if he would step up to lead the movement, Armey replied, “Oh, no, no, no, no. I’ve got 34 goats that depend on me daily. I couldn’t be away that long.”

The first face-to-face talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders since 2008 will begin today, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with President Obama in the White House. Expectations are low, but U.S. officials are hopeful they can at least get the two sides to agree to a second round of talks next month.


Presidential Address On U.S. Combat Troop Withdrawal From Iraq Presidential Address On U.S. Combat Troop Withdrawal From Iraq

Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) Briefing on Gulf Oil Spil

Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l 2010 Air Safety Forum Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l 2010 Air Safety Forum

92nd Annual American Legion National Convention 92nd Annual American Legion National Convention

thorny Tuesday &some News


Labor day weekend is coming…everyone enjoy

The President will be speaking to the citizens of the United States tonight around 8pmET and gotta say that i am proud to know that even though the last President gave him the hard task of dealing with 2Wars he has remained calm cool and dignified through it all.

I will admit I am so tired of the message behind the message comments by the Media we need to listen but sort out the truth and what seems like stories for ratings.  The Media including Fox News have become a monster in all things Other if you ask me. I am not sure who to blame; fox news definitely, msnbc and cnn have done their part in the constant barrage of 24/7 News. If you watch enough News it becomes questionable at times because there are definitely levels of honesty, reality and truth behind all the hosts, commentators or so-called journalists on any given News spot. It cannot be avoided but folks need to know it is not always what they claim … News has become a tool that can be manipulated …truth has become something that is debated on cable daily. I do not watch fox news; only about 2% of people of colour watch fox news. The reasons are many but most say it is because of the way they present it and themselves. nuff said

However,even though Obama did not start any wars he will have to answer to everyone for it… That sucks and idea that the US committed to being in 2Wars and some of us agree were unnecessary but unavoidable. The announcement is for this President to make; it is an end to the current combat but it is not a win of anything but we must give props to our troops and support all those men and women who fought for the United States.

In my opinion, our economy our status has stalled because of a lack of cooperation from Republicans and some conservadems who have made bad choices. I do not believe anyone runs for office to be saddled with the problems of the past President not to mention some new ones that require swift military action. It has only been 20months since Obama took office yet folks in the Media as well as Republicans someone ginned up the idea that there must be some movement before the November elections or they will be voted out of office. what? That is the first issue of mine…who has the right to say this economy should be fixed and ready to go in 20months? compare and contrast how long it took add to that a Political Party who decided they will be obstacles of progress voting no or making the vote hard and the effort scaled back which in all likely hood made the outcome and or impact slim and next to none. It has been Republicans that have failed the people of the United States not President Obama …The House of Representatives have put bills to help the people but when these bills reach the Senate Boehner and criminals vote no…the rule of 60 has hurt Americans at every angle and Republicans are exploiting it. If the Democratic Party can keep the House and take more seats in the Senate things can and will get done for the people.

Though it is the last day of August, it is blowing and raining like a true fall day. I am hoping that more days of heat are still something to look forward too. I know we clearly have it better here than the Caribbean as well as all along the East Coast so i will not be complaining about the weather too much. What is worth complaining about is the fear, hate and discrimination happening all over our country in a time when historians say is always the case. The recession has pitted folks against each other blaming this that and the Other for the plight we are all feeling. The plight i see is the haves used to have and have nothing anymore. The blame is on the last President and his admin as well as the crooked behavior by those with money who bet against the middle class and their money for possible Profits and failed to keep it up any longer. The bets failed and those with power money and authority let our economy crash into a ditch without trying to stop it before we voted the next President into office. I find that not only offensive but the worse thing anyone could do …and it happened here in the United States. The current President was against War and at the time, he voted against the Iraq war the Afghanistan war was the place where the folks who committed the attack on NYC 9/11 were there and even today, my feelings are that they got away and the real story has yet to unmasked. I am not stupid and i hope the public gets it …The idea that a President allowed 2 huge tax cuts and 2Wars be implemented without the paygo laws the current Republican Party insists on is outrageous in my opinion.

Republicans have made us all see that when the going gets tough and the American People need help. Republicans are not the folks to ask unless of course you meet their standards, their criteria’s. This can only mean that they practice exclusion, possibly separate and definitely unequal in a moment in time when we have our first Bi-racial President trouble with immigration reform, health care that needed to be reformed and a financial system that took us all down; some more than others. Republicans have sold the citizens of the US out. I have to ask and ask are their constituents listening watching what their representatives are saying because it all affects them too! Voting NO to every Bill that would help the citizens of the US and help our economy is beyond acceptable. It is important that every one of us drill this into the heads of Independents or anyone on the right who is feeling the actions of the Republicans, feeling negative effect of the No votes because those votes have consequences. These no votes could be our complete failure without a way to get out of it. The it being a depression…that is what Republicans are willing to risk willing to bet against the people because they side with big Corporations -did they back the people of the Gulf Coast or BP …what side are Republicans on people and can you accept a Political Party willing to be divisive?

It signifies exactly where the Republican Party stands and it definitely is not with the People of the United States. If you had to choose between helping any one class or group of people, Republicans chose Wall Street and deregulation. When an actual vote took place, they voted to abandoned states Teachers, first responders, firefighters, police and more. They voted against the unemployed but have been selling, telling and insisting that the Bush tax cuts will be a job killer. It is time for folks to open their eyes …like they did when it came to making that decision about Palin -people ended up opening their eyes and maybe it took some outside influences …maybe we need that now

Other News…

**Deere sells Wind Energy biz for 900 million

**Banks Post $21.6 Billion in Profits

Yesterday, President Obama urged Senate Republicans to “drop the blockade” on the Small Business Jobs bill, which “will cut more taxes and make available more loans, including $55 billion in tax relief.” After the Republican minority blocked the bill from coming to the Senate floor in July, Obama asked Congress to make it the “first order of business” when it returns from recess in September.

The Justice Department filed another lawsuit against Arizona yesterday, arguing “that a network of community colleges acted illegally in requiring noncitizens to provide their green cards before they could be hired for jobs.” The suit alleges that the colleges “discriminated against nearly 250 noncitizen job applicants by mandating that they fill out more documents than required by law to prove their eligibility to work.”

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) “was dealt another major setback Monday when the Alaska Libertarian Party announced it would not swap its chosen candidate for the Republican senator if she loses her party’s nomination.” “The party voted unanimously Sunday not to allow Murkowski to run on its ticket,” so her only remaining option to stay in the race would be to run as a write-in candidate.

**Man has major run in with bed bugs in Oregon Hotel and lands in hospital

**Hurricane Earl is expected to be a cat4 so please evacuate folks on the East Coast

CSPAN ..

Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen (Ret.) Briefing on Gulf Oil Spill

Pres. Obama Meets with Troops at Fort Bliss Army Base Pres. Obama Meets with Troops at Fort Bliss Army Base

White House Oval Office Remodeled White House Oval Office Remodeled

Congressional Muslim Staff Association Discussion on Image of Muslims in America Congressional Muslim Staff Association Discussion on Image of Muslims in America

mash-up Monday &some News


While the airwaves were able to force us into seeing what beck was doing at the National Mall and seemingly held back the coverage when Rev. Sharpton or Ben Jealous or Rev. Jackson were at the podium and though we did see President Obama speak eloquently by the way; the coverage on beck was more than it deserved.   It was sad and eye opening to know that channel 24 would cover the entire beck rally then I realized it might have been CSPAN and quite honestly made me think it might be time to reassess my support for CSPAN having watched people from the Heritage foundation spew nasty rhetoric about what President Obama and his administration has done over the last 20months. I was quite offended by what I felt was a whole lot of miss-information coming from a group of people knowing no one was there to rebut this stuff they were selling and in a book too. It was disturbing.

A Cnn article offered up a video of what you missed -the glenn beck rally … I am quite sure our family missed absolutely nothing as we spent the day watching the Sharpton, Jealous plus gatherings on when available  and remembering Katrina while getting informed about the progress and definite misses by the Bush admin …sadden that so much more needs to be done for neighborhoods of families in certain parks of the Gulf Coast mostly folks of colour and wonder if the rumors of deliberate avoidance is true?

Sarah Palin and her code talk made me laugh -The whole thing was a joke.
The beckthorn was not anything my family related to… and one day of so-called sane behavior does not make up for a history of racist vitriol … the only thing that i did want to mention is Alveda is not MLK jr. and her association as a niece does not give any…any substance to the beckathon rally …she used the day to rile against a woman’s right to choose and homosexuality -she clearly does not represent her Uncle or the intent of the “I have a dream” speech. I would go as far to say she doesn’t understand what the speech was about.

Other News …

“I can’t spend all of my time with my birth certificate plastered on my forehead,” President Obama told NBC’s Brian Williams last night when asked about the growth of the fringe “birther” movement. “There is a mechanism, a network of misinformation that in a new media era can get churned out there constantly,” Obama explained.

I’m making decisions that are not necessarily good for the nightly news and not good for the next election, but for the next generations,” Obama told NBC last night.

Government anti-poverty programs now “serve a record one in six Americans and are continuing to expand.” Upwards of 50 million Americans on Medicaid and more than 40 million Americans are now receiving food stamps.

The “consensus among economists” is that the Recovery Act “worked in staving off a rerun of the 1930s,” but other emergency measures implemented by the Obama and Bush administrations played a larger role. The stimulus “was important for confidence,” said Harvard’s Kenneth Rogoff, former chief economist of the IMF, adding, “But fiscal stimulus was the least important of the three planks of the government’s strategy.”

**VPresident visits Iraq to mark formal end to Combat

**Primaries in WVA  -Democrat  Joe Manchin in WVA -Democrat Charlie Melancon in LA


CSPAN …

Weekly Addresses Weekly Addresses