It's time to Break It Down!
Great Taste…Less Filling, voter apathy…indifference, breath mint; candy mint, Tar Heels…Blue Devils; OK, maybe not Tar Heels…Blue Devils. Over time we have sifted through a variety of conundrums, seeking everything from the preferred malt beverage to the quintessential motivation for would-be voters, to the compelling purpose of mints. During the past nine months; roughly the time span of the Obama Presidency, I have searched the literature, scrutinized news shows, and interrogated friends and acquaintances, in an effort to discern, aptly, whether the relentless wave of anti-Obama sentiment is a function of amped up racism, or of serial cases of outsized right wing dogma.
There are contemporary competing and compelling arguments emanating from former Presidents Carter and Clinton. In summary, President Carter’s assessment is that racism is a substantial component of the malicious vitriol that is so prevalent in our daily discourse. This view is countered by that of President Clinton who attributes much of the dissonance to a vast right wing conspiracy.
Of course, they both bring significant currency to the debate, if for no other reason than they occupied the lofty station President Obama finds himself in today; Commander-in-Chief. In that regard, it is fair to observe they view the subject slanted by the prisms of their individual experiences…then and now.
President Carter, who will observe his 85th birthday tomorrow, was the first American President born in a hospital. His paternal ancestors arrived in Colonial America in 1635, his family has lived in the State of Georgia for generations, and his great-grandfather, Private L.B. Walker Carter served in the Confederate States Army. In what Tom Joyner might call the “Little Known Black History Fact,” Jimmy Carter is related to Berry Gordy, Jr., Motown Founder. James Earl Carter, Jr., former Naval Officer, and gentleman farmer, came to Washington in 1977 as the 39th U.S. President, a Southerner, and the quintessential outsider, promising to throw the rascals out.
Unfortunately, what happened was less than awe inspiring. Carter’s term in office coincided with an extended period of global stagflation, which is high inflation and economic stagnation, simultaneously. In addition a number of national and international crises unfolded, including the takeover of the American Embassy in Iran, the hostage-taking by Iranian students, a failed hostage rescue attempt, and fuel shortages and fuel price escalation. Not surprisingly, President Carter failed to win reelection.
President Clinton, the 42nd President, a full generation younger than President Carter, observed his 63rd birthday last month. He is considered the first Baby Boomer President. In the Presidential Elections ensuing between Carter’s defeat in 1980 and Clinton’s election in 1992, Democrats fared miserably in the quadrennial contests. Clinton effectively reinvented the national face of the Party, running as a New Democrat, and popularizing a philosophy known as the Third Way of governance. His policies were considered centrist.
In contrast to President Carter’s years, President Clinton presided over the longest peace-time economic expansion in American history. In the mid-term Congressional elections of Clinton’s first term, Republicans won control of the House of Representatives for the first time in four decades. Still he went on to win a second term, the first Democrat to do so since Franklin Roosevelt. He would later be impeached for obstruction of justice, but was subsequently acquitted by the Senate. His rocky moments notwithstanding, President Clinton left office after his second term with a 66% approval rating, the highest mark for any President since World War II.
If President Clinton lives another 22 years, which would put him at President Carter’s current age, and he takes on as many projects and causes, as President Carter has in the last 22 years, he will significantly add to and continue shaping his legacy. Conversely, it is likely President Carter’s legacy is fundamentally complete. While I have no doubt both want the best for the current President, it is easy to see how and why their respective views might be dissimilar.
Putting that extensive preamble to the side, the Tag Line of today’s discussion is “You Make The Call!” That brings us to one of the most recent escapades to unfold; the now infamous FaceBook (FB) Poll. If you are not sufficiently schooled on the intricacies and etiquette of social networking, Google the topic for a primer. My guess is most of you not only know the FB story, but you have also heard about the poll. Over the past weekend, a FB third party application poll appeared on the site. The poll, with the lead in, Vote in the Obama poll inquired:
Should Obama be killed? The response options included:
• yes
• maybe
• if he cuts my health care
• no
According to various media reports, 731 responses were logged before the poll was pulled by FB. Authorities are investigating the matter to determine whether the device was an attempt to foster violence against the President, or a prank.
These are interesting times. I have long maintained, the President’s men (and women), his advisers as it were, crafted a series of consistently brilliant strategies and tactics, on the way to master-minding his election. Allow me to stipulate these wunderkinds did not suddenly become incompetent after November 8th. To the contrary, I suggest the opposition stepped up its game.
In that light, I do not expect President Obama, who consistently downplayed the importance of race during the campaign, to now set upon a course his detractors would surely characterize as playing the Race Card. The 44th President, Mr. Obama observed his 48th birthday last month. His message of "Change," combined with his call for post-partisan governance blended the best of Presidents Carter and Clinton's campaign foci. To wit, his wry comment to David Letterman that, “I was black before the election,” sets the perfect tone…for him. But what about you; what do you think? Do you believe all the garish cartoons, the offensive jokes, the rude remarks, and the racially tinged caricatures are simply indicative of trademark rough hewn business-as-usual behavior of a full-throated Right Wing? “You Make The Call!”
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.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/09/28/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5347004.shtml
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/secret-service-investigates-facebook-obama-assassination-poll/story?id=8696126
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/09/28/facebook.poll/index.html
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-talk-obama-facebook-threatsep29,0,584462.story
http://www.startribune.com/nation/62473207.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/28/obama-facebook-poll-asks_n_301860.html
http://www.switched.com/2009/09/29/facebook-poll-asking-whether-obama-should-be-killed-draws-fire/
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7016538349?Facebook%20Poll%20On%20Whether%20Obama%20
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10362725-71.html
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/feds_investigate_online_poll_asking_LVwMZlxvfW705DA9q4P5rM
http://www.tcdailyplanet.net/news/2009/09/23/opinion-carter-gets-it-right-racism-fuels-attacks-obama%E2%80%99s-governance
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/27/bill-clinton-barack-obama-rightwing
http://newsone.com/nation/lying-african-of-course-its-about-race/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berry_Gordy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
"PB&J"
It's time to Break It Down!
Now I know what you are thinking. What could possibly make peanut butter and jelly worth writing about today? While I must confess, the heading is somewhat misleading, I really could speak, voluminously, to the virtues of a well-constructed sandwich, filled with two rudiments that make my "Food of the gods" menu...and with conviction!
However, this is not an examination of the gastronomic delights wrought by combining the world’s most famous sandwich spread, with congealed sugar. No, I want to take a quick look at another icon derailed by a series of questionable choices. The PB&J to which I refer is “Plaxico Burress and Jail.”
Almost everyone knows Burress as the latest Poster Child for gun safety. On November 8, 2008, the former NFL player became the unwitting victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound when his Glock slipped out of his waistband, and in reaching for it, he pulled the trigger, and inadvertently shot himself. Instantly, the New York club, LQ, became the answer to an array of trivia questions, and Plaxico Burress, just 4 days into the post-Obama era went one-on-one with the new President-elect for media coverage.
Plaxico would go on to lose the media coverage challenge, quickly, and yesterday, Burress lost his freedom as well, as he surrendered to authorities to begin serving a two-year sentence on weapons charges. Burress, a former New York Giants wide receiver who pled guilty this past August to charges stemming from carrying a gun in a club in New York, could be released after 20 months, with good behavior.
In listening to, and watching conversations unfold, about this circus of events, I have heard a few people who actually defend Burress. Some say, an individual of his notoriety is almost never in public without being “strapped.” That may be true, but it is important to note, this was not Plaxico’s maiden voyage into the land of questionable, if not bizarre, behavior.
Even the short list is both lengthy and weighty:
In August and September 2008, two separate domestic disturbance calls led to temporary restraining orders being issued against Burress. It should be noted, they both were later dismissed in State court.
On October 24, 2008, he was issued three fines totaling $45,000 for the following reasons:
$20,000 for post game comments regarding officiating—specifically, inappropriate comments on officiating.
$20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct—specifically, verbal abuse of the head linesman.
$5,000 for throwing the ball into the stands.
In January 2009, a Pennsylvania car dealer filed a suit against Plaxico. The suit claims the dealer leased Burress a Chevrolet Avalanche in exchange for the player making appearances for the dealership, and further, that Burress never made any appearances, nor did he return the vehicle.
In a pending case, a Florida woman claims Burress ran into the back of her car while driving his uninsured Mercedes Benz.
In other words, there is reasonable evidence that Mr. Burress has demonstrated a sustained pattern of troubling and erratic behavior, on and off the field. At first glance, my sense of propriety was offended by the DA’s efforts to make an example of Burress. On its face, that seemed to smack of the all too typical, “make an example of the rich guy, who just happens to be black. Let‘s put this young blood in his place, and oh by the way, all will be right with the world, because, and only when that is done.”
Upon further reflection, and deeper inspection, this case of PB&J does not fit that story line at all. At best, Plaxico Burress acted consistently, as a deeply troubled man, challenging authority, and convention at every turn, in private, as well as in his professional life. At worst, Burress was out of control, and on a collision course with a destiny that likely involved tragedy, possibly, for himself, but altogether conceivably for someone innocent and unsuspecting.
While I fervently believe jail is the centerpiece of the Prison Industrial Complex , and is as close as one gets to hell on earth, a perverse station I wish on no one; doing a bid may help this young man find his way. I certainly hope so; more importantly, I hope he does too!
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/CRIME/09/22/burress.surrenders/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaxico_Burress
Now I know what you are thinking. What could possibly make peanut butter and jelly worth writing about today? While I must confess, the heading is somewhat misleading, I really could speak, voluminously, to the virtues of a well-constructed sandwich, filled with two rudiments that make my "Food of the gods" menu...and with conviction!
However, this is not an examination of the gastronomic delights wrought by combining the world’s most famous sandwich spread, with congealed sugar. No, I want to take a quick look at another icon derailed by a series of questionable choices. The PB&J to which I refer is “Plaxico Burress and Jail.”
Almost everyone knows Burress as the latest Poster Child for gun safety. On November 8, 2008, the former NFL player became the unwitting victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound when his Glock slipped out of his waistband, and in reaching for it, he pulled the trigger, and inadvertently shot himself. Instantly, the New York club, LQ, became the answer to an array of trivia questions, and Plaxico Burress, just 4 days into the post-Obama era went one-on-one with the new President-elect for media coverage.
Plaxico would go on to lose the media coverage challenge, quickly, and yesterday, Burress lost his freedom as well, as he surrendered to authorities to begin serving a two-year sentence on weapons charges. Burress, a former New York Giants wide receiver who pled guilty this past August to charges stemming from carrying a gun in a club in New York, could be released after 20 months, with good behavior.
In listening to, and watching conversations unfold, about this circus of events, I have heard a few people who actually defend Burress. Some say, an individual of his notoriety is almost never in public without being “strapped.” That may be true, but it is important to note, this was not Plaxico’s maiden voyage into the land of questionable, if not bizarre, behavior.
Even the short list is both lengthy and weighty:
In August and September 2008, two separate domestic disturbance calls led to temporary restraining orders being issued against Burress. It should be noted, they both were later dismissed in State court.
On October 24, 2008, he was issued three fines totaling $45,000 for the following reasons:
$20,000 for post game comments regarding officiating—specifically, inappropriate comments on officiating.
$20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct—specifically, verbal abuse of the head linesman.
$5,000 for throwing the ball into the stands.
In January 2009, a Pennsylvania car dealer filed a suit against Plaxico. The suit claims the dealer leased Burress a Chevrolet Avalanche in exchange for the player making appearances for the dealership, and further, that Burress never made any appearances, nor did he return the vehicle.
In a pending case, a Florida woman claims Burress ran into the back of her car while driving his uninsured Mercedes Benz.
In other words, there is reasonable evidence that Mr. Burress has demonstrated a sustained pattern of troubling and erratic behavior, on and off the field. At first glance, my sense of propriety was offended by the DA’s efforts to make an example of Burress. On its face, that seemed to smack of the all too typical, “make an example of the rich guy, who just happens to be black. Let‘s put this young blood in his place, and oh by the way, all will be right with the world, because, and only when that is done.”
Upon further reflection, and deeper inspection, this case of PB&J does not fit that story line at all. At best, Plaxico Burress acted consistently, as a deeply troubled man, challenging authority, and convention at every turn, in private, as well as in his professional life. At worst, Burress was out of control, and on a collision course with a destiny that likely involved tragedy, possibly, for himself, but altogether conceivably for someone innocent and unsuspecting.
While I fervently believe jail is the centerpiece of the Prison Industrial Complex , and is as close as one gets to hell on earth, a perverse station I wish on no one; doing a bid may help this young man find his way. I certainly hope so; more importantly, I hope he does too!
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/CRIME/09/22/burress.surrenders/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plaxico_Burress
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Incivility Of It All
It's time to Break It Down!
When life is reduced to a microcosm, and viewed through a contemporary lens, as it often is, we can fail to appreciate all that has preceded this moment in time. In the early 21st Century, some of us are taken aback by the coarse nature of American politics. Perhaps we should not be so discomforted. Or at the very least we should make sure we try to get a better handle on putting it all in perspective.
It is difficult to turn on the evening news, read a daily newspaper, or listen to talk radio without encountering the latest and greatest neo-con bashing of President Obama, or his wife Michelle. As I have noted recently, there has been a steady stream of vitriol oozing from political denizens of the Palmetto State. From Governor Sanford’s threat to refuse stimulus funds for the State, to South Carolina GOP activist Rusty DePass saying that an escaped gorilla (from the Columbia Zoo) was one of Michelle Obama’s ancestors, to Senator DeMint calling for an effort to make Health Care reform the President’s Waterloo (which he added would break him), to Congressman Joe Wilson’s yelling “You lie,” at President Obama as he addressed a nationally televised Joint Session of Congress…the saga continues.
Of course it is important to note this free reign of coarseness is not the singular purview of South Carolinians; far from it. To be sure, examples are national in scope, and limitless in their creativity. The President has been depicted as Hitler, a witch doctor, the Grim Reaper, and countless other purveyors of evil, pestilence, and harm to all mankind.
A couple of hundred years ago, back in the early 19th Century, July 11, 1804, to be precise, former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, and Vice President Aaron Burr dueled…not with banjos, but with pistols. Burr won the duel; Hamilton lost his life. The faceoff took place in New Jersey (Weehawken), because in 1804, dueling was no longer legal in New York, where both men lived, and were political leaders.
Now that, my friends, is uncivil behavior. It is difficult to imagine Rush Limbaugh stepping from behind the comfort, not to mention safety, of his studio microphone, picking up his Glock, calling POTUS on the phone and saying, “OK, you and me at the corner of Connecticut & K at High Noon!” To be fair it is equally unimaginable that Obama would meet him there, but that’s beside the point…both cases, actually. The point is, while we are routinely shocked and amazed by the depths to which people sink these days, under the guise of working through disagreements on the public stage, most of it, especially the rancorous and mean-spirited stuff aimed at President Obama, falls short, substantially, of what was once both legal and unremarkable, if not a standard practice, in these United States.
So next time you are watching some angry guy spiraling out of control, ranting, raving, and spewing ideological venom at President Obama, remind yourself, as you reflect upon “The Incivility Of It All,” that if this were 1809 instead of 2009, that guy would probably have been proposing a duel, and quite possibly would have been within his legal rights to carry out the deed. When put in that perspective, the Sanfords, DePass’ DeMints, and Wilsons of the world seem a little less onerous. A little!
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking on 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/Barack_Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Burr
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/nation/hamburr_1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sanford
http://www.peoplefordepass.org/biograghy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_DeMint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Wilson_(U.S._politician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh
http://stupidcelebrities.net/2009/09/15/obama-portrayed-as-witch-doctor-photo/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/rusty-depass-south-caroli_n_215439.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/03/13/sc-legislature-moves-to-override-gov-sanford-on-stimulus-funds/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHV4nDS501Y&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxHKSHvMRWE
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/15/house-disciplines-wilson-outburst/
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/09/15/carter_cites_racism_inclinatio.html?hpid=topnews
When life is reduced to a microcosm, and viewed through a contemporary lens, as it often is, we can fail to appreciate all that has preceded this moment in time. In the early 21st Century, some of us are taken aback by the coarse nature of American politics. Perhaps we should not be so discomforted. Or at the very least we should make sure we try to get a better handle on putting it all in perspective.
It is difficult to turn on the evening news, read a daily newspaper, or listen to talk radio without encountering the latest and greatest neo-con bashing of President Obama, or his wife Michelle. As I have noted recently, there has been a steady stream of vitriol oozing from political denizens of the Palmetto State. From Governor Sanford’s threat to refuse stimulus funds for the State, to South Carolina GOP activist Rusty DePass saying that an escaped gorilla (from the Columbia Zoo) was one of Michelle Obama’s ancestors, to Senator DeMint calling for an effort to make Health Care reform the President’s Waterloo (which he added would break him), to Congressman Joe Wilson’s yelling “You lie,” at President Obama as he addressed a nationally televised Joint Session of Congress…the saga continues.
Of course it is important to note this free reign of coarseness is not the singular purview of South Carolinians; far from it. To be sure, examples are national in scope, and limitless in their creativity. The President has been depicted as Hitler, a witch doctor, the Grim Reaper, and countless other purveyors of evil, pestilence, and harm to all mankind.
A couple of hundred years ago, back in the early 19th Century, July 11, 1804, to be precise, former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, and Vice President Aaron Burr dueled…not with banjos, but with pistols. Burr won the duel; Hamilton lost his life. The faceoff took place in New Jersey (Weehawken), because in 1804, dueling was no longer legal in New York, where both men lived, and were political leaders.
Now that, my friends, is uncivil behavior. It is difficult to imagine Rush Limbaugh stepping from behind the comfort, not to mention safety, of his studio microphone, picking up his Glock, calling POTUS on the phone and saying, “OK, you and me at the corner of Connecticut & K at High Noon!” To be fair it is equally unimaginable that Obama would meet him there, but that’s beside the point…both cases, actually. The point is, while we are routinely shocked and amazed by the depths to which people sink these days, under the guise of working through disagreements on the public stage, most of it, especially the rancorous and mean-spirited stuff aimed at President Obama, falls short, substantially, of what was once both legal and unremarkable, if not a standard practice, in these United States.
So next time you are watching some angry guy spiraling out of control, ranting, raving, and spewing ideological venom at President Obama, remind yourself, as you reflect upon “The Incivility Of It All,” that if this were 1809 instead of 2009, that guy would probably have been proposing a duel, and quite possibly would have been within his legal rights to carry out the deed. When put in that perspective, the Sanfords, DePass’ DeMints, and Wilsons of the world seem a little less onerous. A little!
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking on 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/Barack_Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Obama
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Burr
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi/jb/nation/hamburr_1
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Sanford
http://www.peoplefordepass.org/biograghy.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_DeMint
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Wilson_(U.S._politician)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh
http://stupidcelebrities.net/2009/09/15/obama-portrayed-as-witch-doctor-photo/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/14/rusty-depass-south-caroli_n_215439.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2009/03/13/sc-legislature-moves-to-override-gov-sanford-on-stimulus-funds/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHV4nDS501Y&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxHKSHvMRWE
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/09/15/house-disciplines-wilson-outburst/
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/09/15/carter_cites_racism_inclinatio.html?hpid=topnews
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Executive Education
It's time to Break It Down!
This evening, President Obama will step up to a bank of microphones and address the nation, pitching Health Care Reform. He will, in his own words, and his most persuasive manner outline what he believes is essential for this important legislation.
In a strategic gambit, Mr. Obama has, until now, left the framing of the bill to the Congress. This was a pointed attempt to avoid the ill-fated outcome of the Clinton initiative on health care, which was preceded by the Clinton White House designing the proposal. Instead of winning plaudits for his power-sharing stratagem, the President has been roundly panned for failing to lead on this issue. As time is winding down to move on this key domestic agenda item this year, President Obama has concluded it’s now or never, and that this is a job for the Salesman-in-Chief.
I have no idea what the ultimate outcome will be. I do believe however, SOTDD (Same Old Tactic Different Day) applies to the opposition to this administration’s efforts to reform health care. In essence, when the GOP acts as the loyal opposition, the emphasis appears to be on opposition. They opposed Mr. Clinton at virtually every turn, for 8 years. They have opposed almost every word Mr. Obama has uttered. I do not expect this to change. The idea, as Senator Jim DeMint, South Carolina, aptly articulated, is kill Health Care Reform; destroy this President. The end result is a double bonus; win-win scenario.
In many regards, you might say the Health Care Reform debate has provided President Obama with an Executive Education. But the real point of this commentary is not health care, which I have written about before, but to briefly discuss the uproar over the President speaking to America’s school children yesterday.
If one were to just come upon the discordant array of conversation on this topic, it would be easy to presume this was a groundbreaking left-leaning development. Indeed, much of the full-throated roar of displeasure claims the idea was to insinuate, indoctrinate, or otherwise impose a Socialist Agenda on America’s children. That means for many, the idea that President Obama is a Socialist has currency. Of course, considering that “Birthers,” who assert Mr. Obama was not born in America, still manage to find traction, even though responsible media have long ago debunked that theory, it is clear a notion does not require the support of facts to be forcefully…and successfully argued.
In 1988 then President Ronald Reagan delivered a nation-wide speech to school children, via C-SPAN. In 1991, President George Herbert Walker Bush used a teleconference to do the same thing. While there is no record of significant push back, at least not to the degree of declining to air the speeches, in either case, it is true that Democrats panned both speeches, and labeled them “political.”
In retrospect that leads to a couple of observations:
1. The Party out of power will consistently question the motives of
the Party in Power
2. When in this position Republicans tend to be more effective at
marshaling synergy around their opposition than Democrats
Beyond those basic points, there is general agreement that President Obama’s actual comments were temperate. Even Newt Gingrich lauded them. Mr. Obama, speaking at an Arlington, Virginia school, talked for about 18 minutes, and spoke to students in simple direct terms. The Charlotte Observer provided the following excerpts from the text of the speech:
• “Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of
you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to
discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.”
• “I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and
to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple
as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each
day reading a book.”
• “I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect
great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your
family, your country, or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can
do it. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.”
In October 1991, President Bush asked school children to help him achieve his goals as President. Fast forward 18 years, and a proposed lesson plan from President Obama issuing a similar request induces a maelstrom of outrage from the political right. The outcry resulted in many school systems making the speech unavailable; a move which was underscored by parents who howled in protest, and who threatened to keep their children home from school.
Through it all, there is one point on which observers across the spectrum agree. The White House totally miscalculated the response to its initial lesson plan proposal. As for the President, it is just one more course in his “Executive Education.”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com . A new post is published each Wednesday.
This evening, President Obama will step up to a bank of microphones and address the nation, pitching Health Care Reform. He will, in his own words, and his most persuasive manner outline what he believes is essential for this important legislation.
In a strategic gambit, Mr. Obama has, until now, left the framing of the bill to the Congress. This was a pointed attempt to avoid the ill-fated outcome of the Clinton initiative on health care, which was preceded by the Clinton White House designing the proposal. Instead of winning plaudits for his power-sharing stratagem, the President has been roundly panned for failing to lead on this issue. As time is winding down to move on this key domestic agenda item this year, President Obama has concluded it’s now or never, and that this is a job for the Salesman-in-Chief.
I have no idea what the ultimate outcome will be. I do believe however, SOTDD (Same Old Tactic Different Day) applies to the opposition to this administration’s efforts to reform health care. In essence, when the GOP acts as the loyal opposition, the emphasis appears to be on opposition. They opposed Mr. Clinton at virtually every turn, for 8 years. They have opposed almost every word Mr. Obama has uttered. I do not expect this to change. The idea, as Senator Jim DeMint, South Carolina, aptly articulated, is kill Health Care Reform; destroy this President. The end result is a double bonus; win-win scenario.
In many regards, you might say the Health Care Reform debate has provided President Obama with an Executive Education. But the real point of this commentary is not health care, which I have written about before, but to briefly discuss the uproar over the President speaking to America’s school children yesterday.
If one were to just come upon the discordant array of conversation on this topic, it would be easy to presume this was a groundbreaking left-leaning development. Indeed, much of the full-throated roar of displeasure claims the idea was to insinuate, indoctrinate, or otherwise impose a Socialist Agenda on America’s children. That means for many, the idea that President Obama is a Socialist has currency. Of course, considering that “Birthers,” who assert Mr. Obama was not born in America, still manage to find traction, even though responsible media have long ago debunked that theory, it is clear a notion does not require the support of facts to be forcefully…and successfully argued.
In 1988 then President Ronald Reagan delivered a nation-wide speech to school children, via C-SPAN. In 1991, President George Herbert Walker Bush used a teleconference to do the same thing. While there is no record of significant push back, at least not to the degree of declining to air the speeches, in either case, it is true that Democrats panned both speeches, and labeled them “political.”
In retrospect that leads to a couple of observations:
1. The Party out of power will consistently question the motives of
the Party in Power
2. When in this position Republicans tend to be more effective at
marshaling synergy around their opposition than Democrats
Beyond those basic points, there is general agreement that President Obama’s actual comments were temperate. Even Newt Gingrich lauded them. Mr. Obama, speaking at an Arlington, Virginia school, talked for about 18 minutes, and spoke to students in simple direct terms. The Charlotte Observer provided the following excerpts from the text of the speech:
• “Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of
you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to
discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.”
• “I’m calling on each of you to set your own goals for your education – and
to do everything you can to meet them. Your goal can be something as simple
as doing all your homework, paying attention in class, or spending time each
day reading a book.”
• “I expect you to put your best effort into everything you do. I expect
great things from each of you. So don’t let us down – don’t let your
family, your country, or yourself down. Make us all proud. I know you can
do it. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.”
In October 1991, President Bush asked school children to help him achieve his goals as President. Fast forward 18 years, and a proposed lesson plan from President Obama issuing a similar request induces a maelstrom of outrage from the political right. The outcry resulted in many school systems making the speech unavailable; a move which was underscored by parents who howled in protest, and who threatened to keep their children home from school.
Through it all, there is one point on which observers across the spectrum agree. The White House totally miscalculated the response to its initial lesson plan proposal. As for the President, it is just one more course in his “Executive Education.”
I’m done; holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com . A new post is published each Wednesday.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
GOP Staging "Spontaneous" Protests to Healthcare Reform...Really?
It's time to Break It Down!
Once again, as the header notes, from time to time the work of guest bloggers may appear in this space. Today is another one of those days. This week, I am honored to introduce to some and present to others, a friend, a colleague, an author, and a fellow blogger who always has many thought provoking ideas to share, Mr. Carl Terrell.
He pulls no punches in framing a pointed argument about the Health Care Reform debate. This is a timely discussion because as we start September, members of Congress are ending their August break, and are headed back Capitol Hill, to resume the effort craft…or defeat legislation to reform our nation’s Health Care System.
I enjoyed reading Carl’s work, and I gratefully accepted his generosity in sharing his wisdom and insight with the Break It Down community, as a guest blogger. I am confident you will find his message compelling and though provoking, regardless of your position on the Health Care issue. Feel free to comment in the Break It Down comment section, to Carl directly, or by doing both. His contact information appears at the end of the blog.
Thanks; enjoy!
PS. I apologize for the delay in getting today’s post to you. Technical difficulties intervened…but did not win. ;-)
GOP Staging "Spontaneous" Protests to Healthcare Reform...Really?
Carl Terrell
Democrats are claiming that GOP operatives are staging fake spontaneous outbursts during town hall meetings held to talk about health care reform. Wow imagine that, the GOP playing games with health care reform. I find myself being redundant by asking the question, where is the surprise...isn't that what the GOP does? More pressing questions are why do Americans tolerate such theatrics and where does the GOP find these members of the so-called "country first" crowd who reveal by their actions that they care about anything but the best interests of Americans or America. Millions of Americans suffer daily from not having adequate or any health care and this bunch of clowns only care about playing and winning at political games. It just boggles the mind that these shenanigans are allowed to work. The GOP is counting on that trend to continue so that they can accomplish their stated mission to prevent President Obama from being successful at any cost.
Republicans are consistent with their efforts to be obstructionists. Sensible people must be just as consistent with their efforts to stand up for righteousness and fight, fight, fight for what we know is right. Are we our brother's keepers? I think so. Political detractors call that Socialism. I call it being sensitive to the plight of others and caring about those who may be less fortunate. I listened to an interesting conversation on the radio the other day where it was stated that most Americans are satisfied with their current health care coverage or the current health care system. If that's true, the "satisfied" referred to must be those who have never been unemployed and uninsured or never been denied coverage or payment of an insurance claim because of a "pre-existing medical condition." Satisfied? I don't think so. Can we have a better health care system? Yes we can. Will it be easy to accomplish? No it will not because preservers of the status quo never sleep. Americans who want an improved health care system must not sleep either!
© 2009 Leadershipcultivation.com. All rights reserved.
Holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
Once again, as the header notes, from time to time the work of guest bloggers may appear in this space. Today is another one of those days. This week, I am honored to introduce to some and present to others, a friend, a colleague, an author, and a fellow blogger who always has many thought provoking ideas to share, Mr. Carl Terrell.
He pulls no punches in framing a pointed argument about the Health Care Reform debate. This is a timely discussion because as we start September, members of Congress are ending their August break, and are headed back Capitol Hill, to resume the effort craft…or defeat legislation to reform our nation’s Health Care System.
I enjoyed reading Carl’s work, and I gratefully accepted his generosity in sharing his wisdom and insight with the Break It Down community, as a guest blogger. I am confident you will find his message compelling and though provoking, regardless of your position on the Health Care issue. Feel free to comment in the Break It Down comment section, to Carl directly, or by doing both. His contact information appears at the end of the blog.
Thanks; enjoy!
PS. I apologize for the delay in getting today’s post to you. Technical difficulties intervened…but did not win. ;-)
GOP Staging "Spontaneous" Protests to Healthcare Reform...Really?
Carl Terrell
Democrats are claiming that GOP operatives are staging fake spontaneous outbursts during town hall meetings held to talk about health care reform. Wow imagine that, the GOP playing games with health care reform. I find myself being redundant by asking the question, where is the surprise...isn't that what the GOP does? More pressing questions are why do Americans tolerate such theatrics and where does the GOP find these members of the so-called "country first" crowd who reveal by their actions that they care about anything but the best interests of Americans or America. Millions of Americans suffer daily from not having adequate or any health care and this bunch of clowns only care about playing and winning at political games. It just boggles the mind that these shenanigans are allowed to work. The GOP is counting on that trend to continue so that they can accomplish their stated mission to prevent President Obama from being successful at any cost.
Republicans are consistent with their efforts to be obstructionists. Sensible people must be just as consistent with their efforts to stand up for righteousness and fight, fight, fight for what we know is right. Are we our brother's keepers? I think so. Political detractors call that Socialism. I call it being sensitive to the plight of others and caring about those who may be less fortunate. I listened to an interesting conversation on the radio the other day where it was stated that most Americans are satisfied with their current health care coverage or the current health care system. If that's true, the "satisfied" referred to must be those who have never been unemployed and uninsured or never been denied coverage or payment of an insurance claim because of a "pre-existing medical condition." Satisfied? I don't think so. Can we have a better health care system? Yes we can. Will it be easy to accomplish? No it will not because preservers of the status quo never sleep. Americans who want an improved health care system must not sleep either!
© 2009 Leadershipcultivation.com. All rights reserved.
Holla back!
Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
