"What To Do When The Governor Goes AWOL!"

It's time to Break It Down!

Today is the day, apparently, when Governor Mark Sanford invokes his General MacArthur privileges. He has notified those who are charged with notifying the rest of us that, in the words of the great General, “I shall return.” Wednesday!

The current Governor of South Carolina is an interesting fellow. Of course the Palmetto State has its share of differently creative thinkers. I mentioned Mr. Rusty DePass in this space last week. As you may recall, Mr. DePass, made a comment on his Facebook page about the First Lady being related to the gorilla that escaped from the Columbia, South Carolina Zoo. To his credit, he later admitted having seen the error of his ways. OK, maybe it was unconvincing, but at least he went on record, even if the apology was garden variety tepid.

Let us get back to the South Carolina Chief Executive. Governor Sanford, who was considered at one time a potential Republican candidate for the 2012 Presidential race, has had quite a year. He made numerous headlines by being the only Governor who opposed the Stimulus Plan so vigorously that he carried his opposition all the way to court.

In the wild, wooly, and more than occasionally wacky world of politics, the odd is often the norm. Given the starkly partisan climate that has permeated the nation during the early stages of the Obama Presidency, it is not so unusual for politicians and pundits alike to assume the “that’s my position, and I am sticking to it” posture. Given the demographics of South Carolina, and the economic duress of the nation in general, and South Carolina in particular, it might seem logical to assume the Governor would see the efficacy of using Stimulus funds to address trenchant problems in his State. But maybe not!

Ultimately, the matter was taken out of Governor Sanford’s hands earlier this month. After two days of hearings, on June 4th, the South Carolina Supreme Court voted unanimously to require Sanford to accept the funds. The court held that he has a duty to execute the State Budget, which includes provisions for using finds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (familiarly know as the Stimulus Bill).

The cynical among us might posit that is exactly the outcome the Governor expected, perhaps even desired, and moreover that his protest was skillfully crafted to provide himself a great deal of “face time,” pandering to the Republican base. All the while knowing the system, as it were, would never allow such an ill-conceived outcome. Of course, only a cynic would contemplate such a convoluted contrivance…right?

The Court’s defeat of the Governor’s position on the Stimulus package may have been the most high profile Stanford beat-down from a national perspective, but arguably, the South Carolina General Assembly trumped that State’s highest Court. Last Tuesday, the State’s bicameral legislature, in a one-day session, overrode 10 Sanford vetoes, and adjourned for the year. They are not expected to return until January. The Senate voted 39-3 to override, while the House acted even more emphatically, voting 105-4.

Two days later, the Governor went incommunicado. It is important to note, during this period, his wife, South Carolina First Lady Jenny Sanford, Joel Sawyer, the Governor’s Spokesman, and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), which provides security for the Governor, all reported being unaware of his whereabouts. Undoubtedly, when the Governor returns tomorrow, someone, probably the Governor, will deliver a tersely worded statement, in an effort to quell the discussion related to this matter.

It remains to be seen how effective any bromide can be in such a case. Perhaps though, the Governor and his speech-crafters will provide the curious residents of his State the definitive primer on, “What To Do When The Governor Goes AWOL!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sanford

http://www.scgovernor.com/

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/23/south.carolina.governor.hiking/index.html?iref=werecommend

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/06/23/sanfords-walk-woods-draws-south-carolina-capital/

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/06/22/2009-06-22_awol_gov_sanford_has_south_carolina_in_tizzy.html

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/AP/story/1100791.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,527220,00.html

http://www.scgovernor.com/

http://votingundertheinfluence.blogspot.com/2009/06/governor-sanford-awol.html

http://themoderatevoice.com/36544/sanford-sanity/

http://www.thestate.com/166/story/836631.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/governors/sanford-returns.html?wprss=thefix

http://www.peoplefordepass.org/biograghy.htm

http://www.wistv.com/global/story.asp?s=10526195

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ZSNmf32pw

"One Man's Humor; Another Man's Slur!"

It's time to Break It Down!

Comedy and humor come in all shapes, sizes, and yes political stripes and colors too. Of course what one finds funny often depends on who is telling the joke, as well as on whom the joke is told. Last week David Letterman kicked off a firestorm of media frenzy and negative feedback when he joked about one of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin’s daughters. The Cliff Notes version of the story is he joked about the Governor’s under-aged daughter, a minor, getting pregnant by baseball player Alex Rodriguez. All things considered, the joke was not funny, and was definitely inappropriate. Alas, though it took him a while to get it right, too long in fact, Letterman did apologize, and appeared contrite in doing so.

Of course there is no dearth of underdeveloped would be humorists, and this week it was the Obama’s turn to act as Targets-in-Chief for failed comedic stylings. Starting with Mrs. Obama, first up, South Carolina Republican operative Rusty DePass, who joked on Facebook that Michelle Obama is related to a gorilla that escaped from the Columbia, South Carolina Zoo.

On Facebook, DePass wrote, ”I’m sure it’s just on of Michelle’s ancestors – probably harmless.”

Mr. DePass initially attempted to mute the reaction to his gaffe by claiming Mrs. Obama had asserted that man evolved from apes, and so therefore, she really made the comment; not him. Sigh, roll eyes!

Of course, when the Obamas are the subject, it is nearly impossible to leave the POTUS out…and the events of this week made no such oversight. Ms. Sherri Goforth, a legislative aide to Tennessee State Senator Diane Black, leader of the State Republican Caucus, sent an email to other legislative staffers with a picture depicting the 44 US Presidents. President Obama’s image, in the last square of the picture, is shown as two cartoonish white eyes peering from a black background.

Chip Forrester, State Democratic Chairman lamented that Ms. Goforth’s email joins a list of shameful episodes by Tennessee Republicans, including, a “Birds of a Feather” direct mail piece that featured black crows with the heads of Barack Obama and (African American) Rep. Nathan Vaughn, as well as the “Barack the Magic Negro” song that former Tennessee GOP Party Chairman Chip Saltsman sent to Republican Committee (RNC) members during his failed campaign for RNC Chair.

But let us be clear, this trend, and it is one, is not the sole province of South Carolina and Tennessee; neither is it limited to Black Music Month, nor to Republicans. In February 2009, Dean Grose, then Mayor of Los Alimitos California sent an e-mail to a colleague on the City Council showing a watermelon patch on the White House lawn, with the caption, “No Easter Egg Hunt this year.”

Apparently the art work and the joke were so compelling that in May 2009, Doug Fox, former North Carolina Chairman of the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, used the same photo, changing only the caption to, “There goes the neighborhood.” It should be noted both Mr. Grose, and Mr. Fox later resigned.

Many who watch the events of our time closely argue that the Election of President Obama signaled a change in America, and I must agree that it has. But these events and many others like them are a sure sign that while Change may have come to Americans, not all Americans have Changed. As a result, we still live in an America where it’s “One Man’s Humor; Another Man’s Slur!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/16/tennessee.email/index.html

http://www.timesnews.net/article.php?id=9014570

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/B3/20090616/NEWS/90616109/0/NEWS03/Anti-Obama--racist-e-mail-sparks-controversy

http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/another-republican-sends-racist-obama-email/

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090616/NEWS0201/906160323/GOP+aide+rebuked+for+racist+e-mail

http://www.usnews.com/mobile/articles_mobile/gop-activist-apologizes-after-joking-that-gorilla-is-related-to-michelle-obama/index.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/06/14/2009-06-14_pol_gorilla_is_related_to_first_lady.html

http://www.foxnewsradio.com/2009/06/15/sc-republican-apologizes-for-comparing-michelle-obama-to-a-gorilla/

http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20090615/888/twl-gop-activist-apologizes-after-likeni.html

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=27756682523&topic=9013

http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/nation/another-politician-sends-racist-white-house-watermelon-emails/

http://newsone.blackplanet.com/nation/california-mayor-emails-white-house-watermelon-picture/

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/homepage/abox/article_2317355.php

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/06/doug-fox-north-carolina-o_n_197632.html

http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/5087875/

"Three Tableaus: Three Purpose-Driven Lives!"

It's time to Break It Down!

Usually this space is reserved for stories of national interest or importance. Occasionally, I have adjusted the focus and turned the lens on people that I know personally, and that most of you don’t; family and friends as it were. This is one of those occasions.

Over the past three weeks I have had reason to reflect upon the concept of mortality, and to contemplate the quintessential and age-old question, “What is the meaning of life?” In acknowledging three separate events, and witnessing two incredibly powerful and special occasions, I joined a throng to say farewell to a dearly-departed friend, and partook of an intimate evening with several of my closes relatives, aimed at toasting and celebrating two remarkable milestones.

On Memorial Day I traversed the State (North Carolina) to attend a Memorial Service in Rocky Mount, commemorating the life and accomplishments of a former colleague and friend. Her name was Pamela; she was struck down by cancer at age 46. The temptation is to say that is far too soon for anyone to die. In response to those who do, people of faith offer the reminder that an omnipotent, omnipresent, and especially omniscient God is simply too wise to err. And so, it must be, quite simply, an element of the fulfillment of his grand and splendid Master plan.

Perhaps that is why a crowd estimated at more than 1,000 came to say good-bye. Or maybe that is why a diverse group consisting of nearly a dozen men and women approached the podium and sang, paid tribute, and offered remarks that reverently expressed their affection, appreciation, and adoration for her having shared with them individually and collectively, a life well-lived. Just possibly, that is why, even though the sanctuary was filled to capacity at least an hour before the service, the people stayed until the end, to pay their respect to a woman who quietly went about changing the very fabric of communities across the Upper Coastal Plains Region of North Carolina, which includes Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson Counties.

On April 3, 1968, the day before he would be killed, The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous Mountaintop speech in Memphis, Tennessee; the last one he would give. In the speech, Dr. King noted, “Longevity has its place. But I’m not worried about that now.” At some point, Pam knew longevity would not be her lot. But she did not waste time fretting about things over which she had no control. There was too much work left to be done to achieve her purpose. So she soldiered on, working to make like better for others. Pam lived a Purpose-Driven Life. I am honored to have known and worked with her, but more than that I am grateful, as part of my purpose, God saw fit for another former colleague and me to be among the throng to say one last good-bye, and to join in celebrating Pam’s life and many good works.

In the movie “The Lion King,” one of the songs on the soundtrack, and one of the fundamental themes of the movie is, The Circle of Life. Stated in basic terms, the concept of the Circle of Life means no one lives forever, but if you have done your duty while on earth, you will have imparted key information to others to carry on when you are gone. Some like Pam are given relatively little time to achieve that purpose.

That’s where my first cousin Jesse and his wife Jean enter the picture. Saturday evening I traversed the State again; this time to Durham. The occasion for this trip incorporated two signal events. My cousin Jesse (Bud, as he was affectionately known when I was growing up) observed his 75th birthday last Monday, and on Saturday, Jean and he commemorated their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Actually, those are more than an observance and/or a commemoration; those are both worthy of celebration, and that is precisely what our family members did Saturday.

Jesse and Jean have two children and four grandchildren, and the entire brood was present, and joyfully accounted for, understandably. Everyone made a big fuss, which neither Jean nor Jesse was comfortable with, but there were more of us than them, so they really did not have much of an alternative. The grand kids lauded them with poetry, including a Haiku. Their children took lots of pictures, and made a gift to them of the brand new camera. This was significant because Jean had insisted “no gifts.” Again, what was she going to do? She was outnumbered.

Jean and Jesse have led incredible lives. Both HBCU graduates, they raised a beautiful family, made successful careers, retired and lived to tell about it, and now they regularly make themselves busy, doing among other things, doting on their grandchildren, traveling, catching up with their many friends and relatives, and continuing to pursue their own unique and special “Purpose-Driven Lives.”

Jesse and Jean were married June 6, 1959. When they arrived at 1006 Lincoln Street, in Kinston, North Carolina, my Uncle Jesse and Aunt Kate’s home (Jesse’s parents), I was there to greet them. For the 50 years that have ensued since then, Jesse, has loomed a giant of a man in my life; one of my favorite cousins, a great friend, and a role model, whom I revere ‘til this day. He and his loving bride Jean are among the regular readers of this blog. They will be surprised I wrote this, and Jean, especially, will say I should not have…in full blush, and mean it. I can’t really say I outnumber them, so I suppose it’s fortuitous that I am 140 miles away. Alas, there was still not much she could do to stop me. Moreover, I do not not have an apology, but rather a declaration: "I love you both, Jean and Jesse!"

So what of mortality? As I think about the way they lived, and/or are living their lives, it is clear that no matter whether life is short or long, we are called upon to make a difference. The traditional expression of this theme is “to leave the world a better place than you found it.” There is no doubt in my mind Pam did that. It is also clear Jesse and Jean are still actively engaged in making their imprint. I am blessed to have been just one of the many lives they invested in, and helped to shape.

And what, then, is the meaning of life? Clearly that one is trickier. Yet when distilled to its essence, Micah 6:8 (New International Version) sums it up nicely: “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” In other words, it is not enough to merely talk a good game. One must engage and put words in to action. As the motto of Fayetteville State University, my undergraduate alma mater compels, Res Non Verba…Deeds Not Words; or in contemporary vernacular, actions speak louder than words.

So from an extraordinarily colorful palette I have framed “Three Tableaus: Three Purpose Driven Lives!” I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Carolina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Mount,_North_Carolina

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham,_North_Carolina

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1L8y-MX3pg&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vX07j9SDFcc

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/17771/the_story_of_the_lorraine_motel_in.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Purpose_Driven_Life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lion_King

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/res,_non_verba

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fayetteville_State_University

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6:8

"A Cozy Little Date Night!"

It's time to Break It Down!

It appears the lines are drawn in the sand on this one. Seldom has a non Reality TV date (think The Bachelor) generated so much buzz. Four days later, an eternity in the perpetual 24-7 continuous news cycle business, reporters are still writing about it, and analysts continue flaying POTUS for his gross insensitivity, or defending him for his chivalrous valor.

In the grand scheme of things, the manufactured outrage around this issue is the equivalent of a mosquito flying in the wake of a jumbo jet; so infinitesimally insignificant as to be indiscernible. On its face, there are a number of plausible responses to those with heightened sensibilities on the matter.

One might start with posing a simple query; what did W, or his predecessors do? Of course, most folks who follow such mundane things recall President George W. Bush was renowned for vacationing, and accumulated more personal travel miles than any previous President. You probably also remember most of those trips were round trips between Washington and his Crawford, TX ranch. But do not worry; this is not a Bush beat down piece.

Conservatives have attempted to frame the issue around the troubled economy, and the pending bankruptcy of General Motors (GM). They argue that with that catastrophe as a backdrop, it just looks bad for the President of the United States, who dictated the terms, and orchestrated GM’s filing, to be flying off on some opulent Saturday night date in Gotham. Never mind that the auto maker’s move was a desperate ploy to save itself, and that even shareholders recognized if they did not cut their losses now, the company may never be able to repay the addition federal funds they would have required to help them stabilize the firm.

Not surprisingly, much of the vitriolic rhetoric being bandied about is of a partisan nature. Much of it actually smacks of disingenuousness. Most of the political insiders hurling insults, and pandering to a shrinking base know better, and fully understand that the President is billed for and pays for personal aspects of trips such as this. His personal tab included a sitter, unless his mother-in-law was available; of course if she was, he paid for that already. He paid the equivalent of air fare, undoubtedly First-Class, dinner, theater tickets, and their drinks. More over, the traveling press corps is billed as well.

Now, there are aspects for which tax-payers pick up the tab. When NYC shut down city streets, or worked with the Secret Service to ensure other security measures, you and I paid for that. But let’s face it; that is the price we pay for the American Dream! Wherever the President goes, any President, he is escorted; across the street, or across an ocean; around the corner, or around the world. In other words, the strategies and tactic used to protect the President were not devised by President Obama, and they are not optional.

Finally, when asked why he chose to take this trip last Saturday Mr. Obama responded that he had made a campaign promise to Michelle that when the campaign season was over he would take her to New York, and by doing so, he was honoring that pledge.

That simple declarative statement was really all you need to know. In the face of snap polls, and shrill and antagonistic naysayers, POTUS was guided by the only poll that mattered (to him) on this issue. He did not need a Gallup Poll, nor a Pew Research Poll, nor a Washington Post, New York Times, or CNN Poll.

Clearly, President Obama tracks the Michelle Poll…assiduously. He understands the rest of us routinely dissect his actions and assess his effectiveness in keeping campaign promises. However, he knows that in order to focus effectively on ending the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, navigating issues that surround nuclear policy in South Korea, and Pakistan, re-engaging Cuba, securing the Mexican border, and stabilizing the national and global economies, he must ensure peace and "domestic tranquility" at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Give the gentleman credit for a great idea; “A Cozy Little Date Night!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/nyregion/31obama.html?_r=1

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05312009/news/nationalnews/obama_keeps_his_big_apple_pledge_171810.htm

http://news.aol.com/article/obamas-in-new-york-city/452442

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/05/30/obamas-head-new-york-city-date-night/

http://www.usmagazine.com/news/obamas-enjoy-date-night-in-nyc-2009315

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctKxWTsBMl4

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/06/obama-date-night-in-nyc-.html

http://caffertyfile.blogs.cnn.com/2009/06/01/should-taxpayer-money-cover-obamas-nyc-date-night/

http://gothamist.com/2009/05/31/date_night_in_nyc_obamas_dine_at_bl.php

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/23122.html