Unfiltered Opinion

Goodbye Jesse Helms And Good Riddance

Jesse Helms, the former Republican U.S. Senator from North Carolina passed away today. This man was one of the most bigoted people ever elected to national office in my lifetime.  I know people are going to have their prepared statements calling him a fine statesman or a solid representative for North Carolina, but that's a bunch of hogwash. The truth needs to be said about this man - he was a racist.  That's the truth and everybody knows it - they may not want to say it publicly, but they know it's the truth.

I have never shed a tear when a member of the Ku Klux Klan or any other racist group died and I am not going to start crying now.  The world became a better place when he left Congress and the future is still looking bright now that he is going to hell.

Helms would have been happy if blacks had been kept in their place by segregation. If any person, especially a black one, were to say any thing positive about Helms, I would immediately consider that person to be suspect. If you want proof of this man's ignorance, please check out this site. 

The only thing I respected about Helms is that you always knew where he stood, unlike most of the politicians in office.  I knew every time I saw Helms on television, he wanted to use the first racial slur that came to his mind.  I would have paid anything to see Helms serve in the Senate with Barack Obama.  I could see Obama extending his hand in a collegial manner to Helms.  Without hesitation, Helms would look at Obama's hand and tell him that his hands were only good for picking cotton. 

That's the Helms I knew and that's the Helms that I am glad is gone.

Leave The Speed Limit To The States

I had to look at this article twice when I saw that a U.S. Senator is suggesting that Congress should reimpose a national speed limit to help save gas. I was surprised to see this proposal come from Sen. John Warner (R-VA). I expected a proposal like this to come from the Democratic side of the aisle. Regardless of what party wants to re-institute a national speed limit, I think it's a stupid idea. Every one knows that if they drive their cars slower they will save gas and it creates a safer environment. If idiots want to keep driving fast and paying a lot of money for then so be it. I don't feel sorry for them. The government needs to concentrate on more important issues like the economy and tackling the gang problem in this country.

So Much For Party Unity

It's no secret that many moderate and conservative Democrats are not crazy about a possible Barack Obama presidency. Nevertheless, the fact is that the majority of them would rather have Obama as President than John McCain. However, Obama is too liberal for these people and they fear that if he is elected President then the Republicans will surely return to the White House in four years.

There are idiots in each party, but not too many of them have made ignorant comments in public like those made by Tennessee Democratic Party executive Fred Hobbs. This fool said, "he (Obama) may be terrorist connected for all I can tell." You can see more of the statement in the following video.



This is the kind of crap Obama is going to have to fight on a daily basis. I'm not an Obama supporter, but some of these anti-Obama people are not too intelligent. It's one thing for them to fear an Obama presidency because of his expected policies. However, it's another thing to fear the man to the extent that they are just making stuff up about him that have no basis in reality.

Jim Clyburn - The Reason Term Limits Are Needed

I am so glad that Representative Jim Clyburn (D-SC) has not "officially" endorsed Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.  He's so influential with the black community that his endorsement will sway the support of many black voters especially those who are undecided.  Because the first thing that most blacks do when they wake up in the morning is they look in the mirror and wonder aloud, "I hope Rep. Clyburn has made up his mind today because I don't know who to support for the nomination."  Yeah - right.

Clyburn has again blasted Bill Clinton's rhetoric in support of his wife's campaign. This time he did it in a interview with the New York Times.  He went as far as calling the former president's behavior "bizarre" and said that "black people are incensed over all of this".  Clyburn may not say it, but I will.  Clyburn and other so called "black leaders" are upset that the Clinton's are being so tough on the campaign trail with Obama that he may be damaged for the campaign against John McCain. 

Most blacks are so happy that there is finally a candidate of color that is making a serious run at the White House. I will admit it is hard for me to be anti-Obama because I would love to finally see a minority be elected president, whether it be a woman, black, Hispanic, etc.  However, unlike many blacks, I have not ever voted for a candidate because of the color of their skin.  Nevertheless, this is why Clyburn and other blacks are so upset with the Clinton's.  They feel like since they have always supported the Clinton's through the good and bad times, it is only fair that the Clinton's finally support the wishes of many blacks - the election of Obama to the Oval Office.  Clyburn offers this quote as evidence,

“When he was going through his impeachment problems, it was the black community that bellied up to the bar,” Mr. Clyburn said. “I think black folks feel strongly that this is a strange way for President Clinton to show his appreciation.”

This is such an unintelligent argument and unbecoming of a member of the Democratic leadership.  It is sad that Clyburn continues to use the same old script that many blacks continue to use - if you do not agree with us, you must be racist.   Clyburn's comments insinuate that blacks were the only people to support Clinton during his impeachment.  Someone should ask Clyburn how Clinton should repay the white and Hispanic people that supported Clinton during the impeachment crisis.  My response to Clyburn is this - yes, the majority of blacks supported Clinton during his impeachment period, but a lot of blacks also supported O.J. Simpson during his murder trial.  It seems to me that the majority of blacks were wrong on both accounts.  Bill Clinton lied and suffered the consequences and ensuing embarrassment.  Simpson murdered two innocent people and got away with it because of a inept prosecution of the case.

In his Political Punch column, Jake Tapper of ABC News writes that Clyburn is also speculating that Hillary Clinton is continuing to run, not to win the nomination, but to damage Obama so that he cannot beat McCain in the general election.  While adding to the long list of conspiracy theories embraced by many blacks, Clyburn also said,

"I heard something, the first time yesterday (in South Carolina), and I heard it on the (House) floor today, which is telling me there are African Americans who have reached the decision that the Clintons know that she can’t win this," Clyburn said. "But they're hell-bound to make it impossible for Obama to win."

Clyburn and other Democrats have only themselves to blame if Clinton has made it "impossible" to win.  He and the other superdelegates should stop cowering behind their desks and throw their support behind Obama.  Then Clinton would have no choice but to leave the race because it would remove her only viable path to victory.  Instead Clyburn and other superdelegates have allowed the race for the Democratic nomination to become drawn out and nasty. 

Thanks for the leadership Rep. Clyburn.  Now I know why South Carolina elected you in 1993.  Now show some real leadership and resign or stop making wild accusations in the media.  By the way, who and where are these black people that Clyburn has talked to about the campaign?  I'm black and I still have not heard nobody say the things that Clyburn alluded to in the article.  Never mind - I forgot - people know not to bring that conspiracy B.S. to my face.

 

Democrats Are Shooting Themselves In The Foot - Again

Elizabeth Drew penned a good column for Politico in which she describes how the party superdelegates have allowed the Democratic primary campaign to continue when it's clear to everyone involved that Barack Obama will win the nomination. 

The Democratic leadership is either stupid or very confident that the voters will elect Obama over John McCain in the fall. I have a feeling it's a little bit of both. The Democrats have allowed Hillary Clinton to continue her futile campaign for the nomination even though she has no chance to win. During this process, she has exposed Obama's flaws and allowed America to see how liberal he is.  Obama's star is not shining as bright as it was after Super Tuesday. This would not have happened if the "undecided" superdelegates would just come out and endorse Obama instead of waiting until June to do it. 

The Democrats are allowing Obama to be beaten and bloodied so as not to upset Clinton's many loyal supporters.  This strategy has backfired because the tone of the campaign has become so negative that some Clinton and Obama supporters have professed their inability to support the other candidate in the general election.  The Democratic leadership claim not to be worried about this development. They believe that most of the Clinton supporters will vote for Obama over McCain in the fall.  I do not agree with that assessment at all.

If McCain wins the election the Democrats will only have themselves to blame.

Obama Better Put A Muzzle On Conyers

Representative John Conyers (D-MI) is still talking about reparations for black people.  The archaic legislator was in North Carolina campaigning for Barack Obama when he began talking about his favorite legislative project.  If Conyers had his way, a commission would be set up to discuss the issue of reparations for descendants of slaves.  It should be noted that Obama has not publicly endorsed this legislation.  There is no way Obama would endorse legislation dealing with the issue of reparations while he is running for President.  He already has enough problems attracting certain groups of white voters as documented in this article written for The New Republic.

I have said it before and I will say it again, black people should forget about reparations.  If reparations were approved, how would you know who to give the money too?  What kind of documentation would people need?  Does Conyers and his supporters realize how many people would be "trying" to pass for black so they could get paid?  If Conyers really wants to do something that will benefit people and stimulate the economy at the same time, he should pass legislation that would erase everybody's student loan debt up to $100,000.  This action would help a lot of people - black, white, asian, etc.

Remember - erase my student loan debt.  That is all the reparations I need.

What Has Pelosi Accomplished As House Speaker?

What has the Democratic congress led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV) accomplished since the Democrats took over control of Congress?  Maybe it's just me.  However, I can tell you that my life has not changed for the better since they came into power.  It's gotten to the point that it does not matter whether the Democrats or the Republicans are in charge of the politics because nothing ever changes.

If Pelosi and Reid want to impress me then they can get to work and pass the 21st Century GI Bill sponsored by Senator James Webb (D-VA).  If enacted this legislation would expand the educational benefits available to all members of the military, including activated reservists and the National Guard.  Most importantly, the legislation would cover the full cost of most the expensive in-state public school that a member of the military wanted to attend.

I have a problem with any Senator or Representative, regardless of their party affiliation, who cannot support this  important legislation.    Newsweek columnist, Anna Quindlen wrote a very eloquent column about why this bill should be enacted.  Quindlen concluded her column with the following:

"Offering these men and women a college education is the least we can do. It's not free; they've already paid, in Fallujah and Kabul. If Congress wants an economic-stimulus package, this is a great one. A Topeka, Kans., lawyer and national commander of the American Legion, Harry Colmery, was the architect of the original GI Bill. He asked a question that is as resonant today as it was then: "If we can spend 200 to 300 billion dollars to teach our men and women to kill, why quibble over a billion or so to help them to have the opportunity to earn economic independence and to enjoy the fruits of freedom?"

Enacting this legislation is the right thing to do and the moral thing to do.  However, I was surprised and disappointed that Senator John McCain had yet to sign up as a co-sponsor of the bill.  As Quindlen pointed out, McCain was a beneficiary of the old GI bill.  In my opinion, McCain should have his name on the bill like the other veterans of past wars.

Passage of this legislation should be of the most importance to Pelosi, Reid, and the next President.  This is the kind of legislation that would have a positive impact on communities across the country.  Its passage would also tell the members of the military who put their lives on the line on a daily basis that their country is willing to invest in them as soon as they return home.

Most Politicians Are Arrogant

Ron Fournier wrote an article in which he states his belief that Barack Obama was on the border line of being arrogant. He then lists some comments Obama made that probably have been taken out of context and maybe too seriously.  If I heard the comments in person, I probably would have laughed.

What if Obama is arrogant?  So what - give me a break.  You can count the politicians who are not arrogant on one hand.  An individual has to be a little arrogant when they believe they should be the one chosen to lead a city, state, or nation.  The politician's that get into trouble are the one's who are too arrogant and cannot handle the power of the elected position.  Their arrogance blinds them into thinking that they can do whatever they want because the rules do not apply to them.  For example, look at the disgraced fall of the former Governor of New York, Eliot Spitzer and the knucklehead mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick.  Both of them thought they were indestructible and they both abused the powers that the people gave them.

Now I Know Why Obama Wrote Two Books

I always thought it was strange that Barack Obama had already written two memoirs and he was not even 50 years old. After reading this article about a transitional period of his life, I now know why he wrote two books.  "Dreams From My Father" was published in 1995 before he entered politics.  In that book, Obama made some comments regarding the subjects of race and white people that would surprise and offend some people. 

When Obama was recruited and convinced to run for president, he had to write a second book to refute and change some of his controversial passages in the first book.  Obama even admitted that fact when he said, “Certain passages have proven to be inconvenient politically". "The Audacity of Hope" was published in 2006.  I believe at this time he knew he was going to run for president.

The controversial passages in the "Dreams" book could not prevent Obama from being elected to the Illinois State Senate representing the South side of Chicago.  This area includes the home of the Nation of Islam and Trinity United Church of Christ.  The passages may have caused him problems in the U.S. Senate race if people had really paid attention.  The Republican's in Illinois were so consumed with their own internal mess that they were just consumed with fielding a candidate in the Senate race.

However, Obama and his political backers knew that those very same passages would prevent him from winning the Democratic nomination and maybe the presidency.  This is why he wrote "Audacity".  He may have been inspired by his minister's sermon, but that's not why he wrote the book.  He wrote that book to clean up the mess he made in the first one.  This is what politician's do.
 

How A Star Keeps Its Shine

There is a good article in the New York Times that takes a behind the scenes look at Barack Obama's brief time in the U.S. Senate. The article gives you a brief look at Obama's smart strategy of assimilating into the Senate culture. I don't know if Obama is ready to be president, but this article confirms what I already knew - that he is as intelligent and calculating as any of his congressional colleagues.