My sunday mornings tend to be pretty relaxing and simple.  I would start the day out fixing pancakes for the little one, heat up a couple for myself and make sure I did not miss two shows, Meet the Press and This Week with George Snuffaluffagus.

This Week is nice because I like the political panel and the segment for fallen soldiers could bring me to tears at the right time.  But I absolutely LOVED meet the press because for 1 hour I got unadulterated, untampered with FAIR journalism from Tim Russert. He was great for this primary season and I took his talent for granted expecting that his hard nosed coverage would be there until I am ready to run for political office myself but he will not, and I am devastated.

Tim, I never knew you on a personal level but I can surely say you had an influence on my decision to switch my major from Business to Journalism.  I am shattered because the media tends to slant one way or another and it is hard to find coverage that remains objective and Meet the Press with Tim Russert was one of the few remaining.

I don’t know what my sunday mornings will be like now, I’ll probably just go play flag football from now on but I do hope that one day I can carry that sentiment of top notch journalism the way Mr. Russert did.  Rest in Peace young man.

So many people question Barack Obama’s experience, here’s a little reference for those who still wonder what he has accomplished.

Time in the Senate: 1,141 days
Total bills sponsored: 129
Total bills past committee: 9
Total bills enacted: 1
Total bills cosponsored: 545
Example bills:

The SAFE Act (Security and Freedom Enhancement ) - The SAFE Act safeguards a number of intrusive Patriot Act powers

Ethics Reform in Illinois - This one isn’t on a national level but interrogations have to be taped in Illinois thanks to Obama, even more impressive is how he garnered support from his opposition by going to the Prisons, getting on the ground floor and playing basketball with victims of police brutality.. the Bill passed with not 1 opposing vote.

The Congressional Ethics Enforcement Commission Act -
The bill would create an outside ethics commission to receive complaints from the public on alleged ethics violations by members of Congress, staff, and lobbyists.

The Transparency and Integrity in Earmarks Act - The bill would shed light on the almost 16,000 earmarks that were included in spending bills in 2005. Under the bill, all earmarks, including the name of the requestor and a justification for the earmark, would have to be disclosed 72 hours before they could be considered by the full Senate. Senators would be prohibited from advocating for an earmark if they have a financial interest in the project or earmark recipient. And, earmark recipients would have to disclose to an Office of Public Integrity the amount that they have spent on registered lobbyists and the names of those lobbyists.

The Curtailing Lobbyist Effectiveness through Advance Notification, Updates, and Posting Act (The CLEAN UP Act) - The bill aims to improve public access to information about all legislation, including conference reports and appropriations legislation, in particular after hurried, end-of-session negotiations.

Senator Obama is a cosponsor of the Medicare Informed Choice Act - Which would extend enrollment without penalty until the end of 2006. This bill would also allow all Part D beneficiaries to change their plan once during 2006.

The National MEDiC Act - Which promotes patient safety initiatives, including early disclosure and compensation to patients injured by medical errors.

Hospital Quality Report Card Act - Which will use federal hospital quality reporting requirements to inform and assist patients and other consumers in making their health care decisions.

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Efficiency Act - Which would leverage the federal government’s purchasing power to encourage increased adoption of technology by participating health plan.

Attacking Viral Influenza Across Nations Act - Which calls for collaboration and cooperation at the state, national, and international level to ensure preparedness in the event of pandemic influenza.

Lead Free Toys Act - Requiring the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to ban any children’s product containing lead.

Healthy Communities Act - To identify and address problems in communities that are at high risk from environmental contaminants.

Senator Obama introduced two bills - the Mercury Market Minimization Act (S. 3627) and the Missing Mercury in Manufacturing Monitoring and Mitigation Act (S. 3631) These bills would significantly reduce the amount of mercury that is deposited in oceans, lakes, and rivers, which in turn would reduce the amount of mercury in fish.

Senator Obama successfully passed legislation in the Senate to force the Pentagon to work towards an efficient electronic medical records system that will help ensure better care for our nation’s troops.

Comittee’s Obama sits on:

Foreign Relations Committee
-African Affairs Subcommittee
-East Asia & Pacific Affairs Subcommittee
-European Affairs (Chairman) Subcommittee
-International Development & Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs & International Environmental Protection Subcommittee

Health, Education, Labor & Pension Committee

-Children & Families Subcommittee
-Employment & Workplace Safety Subcommittee

Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee

-Ad Hoc Committee on State, Local & Private Sector Preparedness & Integration
-Investigations Subcommittee
-Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services & International Security Subcommittee

Veterans’ Affairs Committee

Amendments, that have all passed:

S.Amdt.159 to S.Con.Res.18 - To prevent and, if necessary, respond to an international outbreak of the avian flu.

S.Amdt.390 to H.R.1268 - To provide meal and telephone benefits for members of the Armed Forces who are recuperating from injuries incurred on active duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom.

S.Amdt.670 to H.R.3 - To provide for Flexible Fuel Vehicle (FFV) refueling capability at new and existing refueling station facilities to promote energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

S.Amdt.808 to H.R.6 - To establish a program to develop Fischer-Tropsch transportation fuels from Illinois basin coal.

S.Amdt.851 to H.R.6 - To require the Secretary to establish a Joint Flexible Fuel/Hybrid Vehicle Commercialization Initiative, and for other purposes.

S.Amdt.1362 to S.1042 - To require a report on the Department of Defense Composite Health Care System II.

S.Amdt.1453 to S.1402 - To ensure the protection of military and civilian personnel in the Department of Defense from an influenza pandemic, including an avian influenza pandemic.

S.Amdt.2301 to H.R.3010 - To increase funds to the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program and to the Office of Special Education Programs of the Department of Education for the purposes of expanding positive behavioral interventions and supports.

S.Amdt.2605 to S.2020 - Expressing the sense of the Senate that the Federal Emergency Management Agency should immediately address issues relating to no-bid contracting.

S.Amdt.2930 to S.2349 - To clarify that availability of legislation does not include nonbusiness days.
S.Amdt.3144 to S.Con.Res.83 - To provide a $40 million increase in FY 2007 for the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program and to improve job services for hard-to-place veterans

S. Amdt 41 to S. 1 To require lobbyists to disclose the candidates, leadership PACs, or political parties for whom they collect or arrange contributions, and the aggregate amount of the contributions collected or arranged.

Lets talk experience for a second, Barack is either on par or above Lincoln, Reagan, G.W Bush, Carter and Kennedy as far as political experience goes.

Take it a step further and talk Judgement vs Experience.

James Buchanan - Arguably the most experienced President and he essentially led the country to a Civil War

Richard Nixon - Probably the most experienced president of our generation and he left the presidency in shame. No explanation needed.

Andrew Johnson - 15 years of experience and pretty much killed Lincoln’s legacy. The only other president to be Impeached, we know who the other is.

Now.. the other side of that, less experience..

Frankin Roosevelt - One of the least experienced presidents in history, relatively new to politics and the longest serving president ever.. 4 terms and presided during WWII.

Woodrow Wilson
Theodore Roosevelt
Ulysses Grant was very inexperienced and was plagued with corruption but still made history for his efforts.
Lincoln (ironically, a politician from Illinois)
Truman
Jefferson
And Eisenhower.. all relatively new to the executive branch of government.

Kind of strange but.. when you look at it experience seems to have NOTHING to do with what makes a president great but rather their judgement in time of crisis.

Lincoln had ZERO experience in wartime or military but presided the country over what was the most pivotal period of time in the Civil War.

If you look at the demographics of the states that Obama struggles with.. they are states that had Jim Crow laws. (ex. Blacks cannot attend the same school as whites)

States like Kentucky, West Virginia, etc were very reluctant to give up these laws until the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964, only 44 years ago. Lyndon Johnson essentially forced these states to do away with racist laws but that does not mean the effects didnt linger in the minds of people.

Now.. what is Obama’s demographic in the white community, 40 and younger educated whites ESPECIALLY in states that never had slavery or racially biased laws. Why can Obama gain 76% of the vote in Idaho or handily win in Iowa where whites make up 97% of the population? It is because they were never exposed to any kind of racial bias.

40+ white uneducated voters, in states with racially biased laws dating back to when those 40+ whites were receiving their upbringing had laws such as:

“The children of white and colored races committed to the houses of reform shall be kept entirely separate from each other.”

“White and colored persons shall not be taught in the same school.”

West Virginia did not give up the latter from their state constitution until 1994 by the way.

What I’m stating is that this notion of whites being too racist to elect a black president is simply not true. I canvassed in North Carolina for the Obama campaign and when I got there it was nothing but white people, all from different states. They traveled from Rhode Island, Texas, Arizona, Maine.. just to get the word out in a state where Obama was already expected to win big.

The generation that holds racism near and dear is on their way out. Exit polls show that the younger whites, especially educated ones are very open minded and vote by the issues rather than traits.. I take that as a sign of things to come.

There is no federal right to vote.  Economically, voting is a waste of time as it pertains each individual since there is not a tangible reward for casting a ballot. You would have a better chance of winning the lottery than casting the deciding vote in an election, at which time a court will make the decision rather than your vote.  Knowing this the American people turn out in record numbers for the 2008 presidential primaries and we are not even close to the general election.  Why is that? It seems as if the American society have become complacent rather than make it a priority to stay informed, the American people have become distracted.  American Idol gets higher ratings than political debates. Speeches from the presidential candidates often go unnoticed while Britney Spear’s escapades are broadcasted on every network.  So just what is it that has put the presidential election front and center in the media?  And what inspires people to be involved in the political process?

 I am a testament to this subject.  As a teenager I grew a slight interest in politics, as the years passed that interest grew but this presidential election has brought a group of firsts for me.  The first time ever donating to a presidential campaign, the first time I have watched CNN day in and day out from early in the morning till late at night, and the first time I have ever canvassed for a campaign.  With no regrets I have become engulfed in the Democratic Primary, and I am not alone.  In the Democratic Primary alone roughly 19.1 million people have voted and 13.1 million in the Republican Primary, these numbers are setting record numbers for presidential primaries.  Voters are donating like never before as well, Barack Obama’s campaign alone has raised more than $230,000,000 from an astonishing grassroots effort that is on track to pass George W. Bush for the most money raised in a single campaign.  This year has certainly set a new standard in politics, so what is feeding the hype around the election?

The Candidates

The 2008 Presidential Election is one for the history books due to the immense diversity of the candidates.  In this election we have had a Hispanic candidate, Bill Richardson, a well-known female senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, a true American hero whose service to the United States is worthy of every citizens admiration, John McCain, and a revolutionary African American senator from Illinois, Barack Obama.   The political landscape is beginning to reflect the diversity of America and this galvanizes the citizens to be involved in the election process.  A young woman from Allentown, Pennsylvania can now look to Hillary Clinton and relate to her struggle as a woman in a realm that has long been exclusive to men.  An African American boy from Gadsen, Alabama whose eyes are lit up with hope and opportunity can see Barack Obama and for once believe that the sky truly is the limit. 

 Since many citizens feel that this election relates to them on a personal level their passion for their candidate is intense.  Families have become divided amongst political lines, friendships are tested and emotions are strong.  The result of such an election is not always positive, in an effort to secure meaningful victories candidates have resorted to negative attacks to gain the upper hand.  Passionate voters often feel slighted if an ounce of favoritism is shown to the other candidate in the media and often results in a great backlash.

 The Media

Media coverage of the 2008 election has been nothing less than extensive.  Every day you can expect to see 3 to 4 stories pertaining to the presidential race.  Television shows that struggled to gain the interest of the general public have seen their ratings soar as the presidential primaries continue on.  The media now has a vital stake in the election process; to offer the most complete election coverage available.  With the citizens of the United States being so emotionally involved in the process not only is the race entertaining it is profitable as well. 

 Since the beginning of the 2008 presidential election there have been 21 democratic debates. New media sources have come front and center, in an effort to gain voter interest. Youtube.com teamed up with CNN to put together a debate where ordinary citizens can record their questions for the candidates and post them on youtube.com to be asked during the debate, the concept was ground breaking and a great success.  On the other hand the rising popularity of the contest has shifted the media from neutral and fair to a bit of a slant toward certain political parties and/or candidates.  Fox News claims to be “fair and balanced” but arguably shows favoritism toward the right wing of the political compass.  The Cable News Network (CNN) along with MSNBC tends to be more liberal and identify with the left side of politics.  It can be argued that media outlets do this to cater to a certain segment of the market but they risk losing credibility in the process.

 The Current State of Affairs

It is well known that a majority of American citizens are not happy with the state of the economy or the current administration in the Whitehouse.  In a recent Gallup Poll President George W. Bush’s approval rating is at an all time low at 31.3%.  In another poll conducted by Rasmussen Reports only 16% of likely voters believe the United States is headed in the right direction with 77% of those polled believing that the United States is on the wrong track.  When politics trickles down to the situations that affect our every day life it gets the attention of the people and that is what the American people are dealing with today.

 The current state of affairs has created what could be considered the perfect storm.  Over 4000 soldiers have died in a war that was based on inaccurate intelligence.  Oil prices are at an all time high while citizens scramble to pay almost $4.00 a gallon at the gas pump, unemployment is up and the value of the dollar is down which means inflation, it seems as if nothing is going right in Washington.  Hard times motivate people to get involved in the process, the American people are anxious for a change in policy and the executive branch of government.  When an individual has to choose between putting food on the table or vital medication, filling up their gas tank instead of making an on time mortgage payment, or the risk of having their loved one become a casualty of war it opens the eyes of the people and gives them no choice but to get involved.

An Exciting Race

            Everyone loves to be entertained, it distracts us from the struggles we deal with on a daily basis. The 2008 Democratic Primary has been nothing less than a roller coaster ride combined with the most exciting competition in ages.  A better script could not have been written and what is more amazing is that the story line is interactive; we the people are determining the outcome of this plot.

  The story line starts with the underdog and the presumptive nominee. For years it was well known that Hillary Clinton had plans to run for president in 2008 and that the Democratic Party did not have a candidate strong enough to challenge her.  With a husband who served as president during some of the most prosperous years the United States have seen and a last name that is golden in the Democratic Party, the 2008 election seemed to be all wrapped up before it began.  Then came the underdog, Barack Obama.  With a grassroots effort that can serve as a clinic for presidential campaigns Obama built his campaign from the bottom up instead of the top down.  With a little innovation thanks to the Internet Barack Obama put together a campaign that motivated the youth who are often overlooked in the process.  While the Obama campaign pounded the turf the Clinton campaign rode high on momentum until the first dose of reality hit, Iowa.  In a shocking turn of events the Clinton campaign finished 3^rd in Iowa while the Obama campaign received top honors.  After this the Clinton campaign realized that instead of a cake walk, they were in for a knock down drag out fight, and that is exactly what the race has been.  Since the Iowa caucuses there has been a healthy dose of controversy, conflict and every ingredient needed to keep the American people on the edge of their seat.

 In Closing

I started off stating that there is no right to vote, that there is not a tangible reward to care what goes on in Washington D.C, but there is.  The Declaration of Independence states:

 That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

 The Declaration goes on to say:

 But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government and to provide new Guards for their future.

 The American people have a responsibility to their country to hold their government accountable; this is done through participation in the election process.  Government is instituted to secure the rights of men, but it is man who institutes government and by not voting we are failing ourselves as our government has failed us.  Get involved.

Just took a little hiatus.  Between school, work and the little one I have fallen off but I plan to be a lot more consistent.

This blog is going to take a bit of a different direction.  Economics is an interest of mine but I think I am going to hit more mainstream issues that come up from week to week.  Add my own commentary and just vent a little bit.  I don’t really have an outlet for things that are on my mind so I plan to fulfill that here.

He made it way too easy

WASHINGTON (CNN) – It was a touch of American Idol in the East Room of the White House on Tuesday when President Bush hosted the singing group the Temptations as part of the celebration of African American history month.

Singing some of their best known songs including “Just My Imagination” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”, the Temptations brought the crowd to their feet with the song “My Girl.”

_

Hillary Clinton claims to be change now that the slogan is popular.  I tend to believe if status Quo was popular she’d jump on that banwagon as well.  The facts speak for theirselves:

January 20th, 1981 - January 20th 1989

George H.W Bush - Vice President

January 20th 1989 - January 20th 1993

George H.W Bush - President

January 20th, 1993 - January 20th 2001

William J. Clinton - President 

January 20th, 2001 - January 20th 2009

George W. Bush - President

If Hillary Clinton is elected

January 20th, 2009 - January 20th 20-?

This is not the change people.. the Bush’s and the Clintons have been in the white house longer than I have been on this earth. 

Go here:

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=Bill+Clinton+and+George+Bush&gbv=2

This is NOT change!

Today we recognize a man that has opened the door for so many people, who put his life on the line so that many can have live his dream of unity and opportunity. Let his words and his teachings never be forgotten.

All I can say is simply, Thank You

Between work, school and family I have not had a great deal of time to blog as of lately.  I have kept up with what has been going on in the world from the election to Economic stimulus programs.

On the democratic primary; its obvious to see from this blog I support Barack Obama which is a big change for me since I tend to be pretty conservative.   It has been disappointing.  Not disappointing in Obama but rather the race.  But there is still hope and all is not lost, even though Hillary won New Hampshire and Nevada those wins have come at close margins.  If senator Obama can win in South Carolina by a good margin that will put him ahead or at least even things up.

South Carolina brings up an interesting topic in the Democratic Primary, Race.  I have listened to various radio shows and I have heard blacks call up and say they will not vote for Obama because america will never elect a black man for president so they will vote for Hillary.  That sentiment is disheartening and as a black male myself.. hurts.   In that statement you are no better than someone who lynched blacks for what they are.. no better than those who discriminated against others for the color of their skin.. its the same basic principle, blacks are not capable so they are not good enough.

If you do not like Obama’s political positions then fine, that is valid but please do not penalize this man for what he is.

I have had this theory for about a week now and after watching the New Hampshire debate it became oh so clear to me that the democratic ticket will be Barack Obama and John Edwards in 2008. If you watch this clip from youtube it is classic school yard antics of Hillary Clinton trying to get John Edwards on her side to attack Barack Obama.. it ends up backfiring and just watch what happens:

Notice the change in her demeanor once John Edwards expresses his views and shows his alignment with Barack Obama, she changes from light hearted to aggravated in a matter of moments. John Edwards almost taunts her in how he mentions he and Obama finished first and second in the Iowa caucus, then he mentions status quo which obviously refers to Hillary Clinton.

For a long time I felt an Obama/Clinton (Or Clinton/Obama) ticket was unbeatable and probably the best chance for the democratic party to make its way back into the white house but there has been an interesting shift in this race. Obama and Edwards speak for change, and I now realize that Clinton is not a part of that plan so I will go ahead and make the prediction now.. Barack Obama will win the democratic primary and choose John Edwards as his running mate. Obama/Edwards in 08.

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Recently Written

• RIP Tim Russert
• You still question Obama’s Experience?
• Obama has problems with whites? Look at the Demographics
• What Inspires People to be involved in the Political Process?
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• Today we recognize the man, MLK
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