It's time to Break It Down!
Tomorrow is the tenth and final Thanksgiving Day in the first decade of the 21st Century. It is rather difficult to fathom that the world pretty much kicked-off this decade…and century preoccupied with Y2K, and the quandary over whether & how we could avoid mass chaos. An entire cottage industry sprang up to help ensure that we could solve the inherent mysteries of VCR’s, watches, cameras, and especially computers; basically all things digital. Alas, we survived.
Now that we are officially entering the year-end Holiday Season, I am mindful that schedules morph frequently, unexpectedly, and of course, unpredictably. To that end, who knows whether you will even look at your personal e-mail box for days? Not to worry; I promise, not only to keep it brief, but to reprise one of my favorites from the archives. If you don’t mind my saying so, it is especially well-suited to the occasion.
Sure, as with any other week, there is a continuous cycle of breaking news that I could dissect. But the truth is, by the time I post this edition of the blog, many of you will have transitioned to travel or vacation/staycation mode already. With that reality in mind, I am going to revisit, and gently amend my 2007 list of the “Top 10 Things For Which I Am Thankful":
#10) Basketball - Pee Wee, high school, college, NBA; basketball is fantastic. I have played the game for more than 40 years. It is a source of enjoyment and relaxation, as well as a catalyst for spirited debate. In a nutshell, it is therapeutic. I am at peace.
#9) Talent, ability, and resourcefulness to earn a living - Each of us is endowed by our creator with an enormous array of skills, talents, abilities, and potential. Having the wherewithal and opportunity to employ one’s gifts in productive and useful pursuits is a blessing of the highest order. I am blessed.
#8) Knowledge that I am bigger than my doubters - In life we all encounter obstacles; it is incredibly important to refuse to be diminished or deterred by detractors, skeptics, and cynics. It is even better to use the negativism generated by these haters as fuel for personal growth. I am growing.
#7) Wisdom and examples of elders and Griots - It is often said we should learn from our mistakes. However, very often those who passed this way before, parents, and advisers, extend themselves by sharing the lessons of their challenges. As a rule of thumb it is better, as well as less costly and painful, to learn from others’ mistakes, rather than our own. I am open to learn for others.
#6) Intellectual curiosity - The world is hugely complex and growing more so, daily. Successful navigation requires a certain child-like inquisitive nature; a willingness to suspend belief in boundaries, limitations, and impediments, and instead surmise that every question has a complementary answer, every challenge, a gallant conqueror, and every potential failure, a Phoenix-like solution. I am rising.
#5) Teachers, professors, advisers, and counselors - The United Negro College Fund popularized the phrase, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” No individual or group of professionals is more undervalued in our society than those who embrace the essential work of taking young, eager, flexible minds and shaping them into vessels that will serve as personal on-board computers and navigation systems for the next 70 to 100 years. I am a still-evolving product of the labor of many dedicated, creative, and effective teachers.
#4) Friends and loved ones – We are challenged to transform our existence from merely making a living to enjoying a fully engaged, fruitful, and productive life. No single factor is more critical to maximizing life’s bountiful range of experiences than the players present in one’s inner circle. These persons see us as we are; faults and all…and love us anyway. I am inspired by my friends and loved ones.
#3) Life, health, strength, and vigor - It goes without saying; most of our fondest desires can be experienced, only if we have at least a modicum of life, health, strength, and vigor. As long as we have a reasonable portion of these commodities, we have endless possibilities to shape our own destiny. I am alive, healthy, strong, and vigorous.
#2) Parents; may mine rest in peace - Parenthood is a calling. Not everyone is cut out for it. It is a lifetime sentence, complete with a never-diminishing commitment. However, when done well, it is also the most rewarding experience known to humans. I am fortunate to have had parents who not only gave me great advice, but who also provided me phenomenal examples.
#1) Understanding God is good…all the time! - In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God advises: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” My parents, my life, my friends, my teachers, my intellect, my elders, my knowledge, my talent, and yes, even my affinity for basketball are all gifts…from God. I am the humble benefactor of His glorious goodness, grace, and tender mercy. Amen!
As you head off to enjoy time with friends and family, take this original Holiday Haiku, from me, made especially for you and this Thanksgiving Day.
“A Thanksgiving wish:
Eat, drink, and be quite merry,
Peace be unto you!”
That’s it for me.
Happy Thanksgiving; 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 my original post, “It’s Thanksgiving, Right?” – November 21, 2007 - 12:55 AM.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
"Is The White House Ready For A Rogue?"
It's time to Break It Down!
We live in interesting times. A year into the Obama Presidency and nearing the end of the Commander-in-Chief’s first visit to China, one of the most highly energized national media conversations is all about former Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, half of the Republican’s McCain-Palin Ticket that challenged Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden.
Yesterday Mrs. Palin’s freshly minted Memoir was released, entitled Going Rogue – An American Life. The 413-page book retails for $28.99, has pre-sold over a million copies, and no doubt is available for you to purchase at a book store near your, or on-line. Mrs. Palin is off and running on a full scale book tour and interview schedule, which included a Rush Limbaugh interview and the airing of a taped segment of the Oprah Winfrey Show, both this week.
It is fair to say Mrs. Palin has decided to use the "take lemons and make lemonade" strategy to move her book. What exactly do I mean by that, you may ask?
Back during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, Team McCain and Team Palin clashed occasionally. During one particularly contentious period near the end of the campaign, a McCain aide was quoted as describing Mrs. Palin as “going rogue.”
Had Obama Team launched such a pointed missile, it would have been understandable...coming from the opposition. However, coming from a member of the "Home Team,” this smacked of “the enemy within;” was certainly was disconcerting at the time, and apparently still carries a sting.
It is at this point where the Palin brain trust has gambled that the insiders’ insult will garner currency, empathy, and more as she goes on tour and recites, among other things, the “herstory” (sic) of the McCain-Palin Campaign. To fully appreciate the essence of the McCain camp’s Palin “dis,” one likely needs to review the definition of rogue. Dictionary.com uses these words, among others, to describe the term:
• A dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel
• A tramp or vagabond
• An inferior organism
• To cheat
• To uproot or destroy
• Abnormally savage or unpredictable
• No longer obedient, belonging, or accepted
• Not controllable, or answerable; deviating, renegade
• Unprincipled, deceitful, unreliable, rascal
• Large, destructive, anomalous
• Operating outside desirable controls
• To defraud
• Synonyms: Villain, trickster, swindler, cheat, quack, knave
Now these are not terms I use to describe Mrs. Palin. Rather this is a sampling taken from the pool of available definitions of the word used to describe her by her erstwhile cohorts, at a time political campaigners might refer to as, “The heat of battle.”
That Mrs. Palin chose to take this unconventional route, and play up this apparent disconnect does two things. First, it underscores what “The Base” likes about her…that she is neither afraid of controversy, nor unaccustomed to dealing with it. Second, it creates a pathway to achieve a couple of her key objectives: out Team McCain for the transgressions she believed she was forced to endure during the campaign, and support and augment her interest in positioning herself as an option to lead the Republican Ticket in 2012.
There are many who believe this is impossible, and many others who think it is at best implausible. Recent poll numbers show 28 percent of Americans think Mrs. Palin is qualified to be President, while 7 out of 10 say she is not qualified. The good news, for her aspirations, is, 54 percent of Republicans believe she is qualified. That, however, is contrasted by the outlook of Independents, only 29 percent of whom felt she is qualified. Of Democrats, 10 percent believe she is qualified.
The same poll indicates Mrs. Palin does have a number of strengths:
• Americans believe she is not a typical politician
• Respondents say she cares about average Americans
• Poll results show she is honest and trustworthy
Still, it is likely the high poll numbers in this survey and others that show Americans do not believe Mrs. Palin is qualified to be President will prove be a huge impediment to her efforts make 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue her home.
“Is The White House Ready For A Rogue?” I don’t think so. 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/Sarah_Palin
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rogue
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rogue
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/17/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5685965.shtml
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/11/17/2009-11-17_going_rogue_review_sarah_palin_is_complainer_in_chief_in_new_book.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704431804574537882681089404.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/books/15book.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/11/16/DI2009111603639.html
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1939830,00.html
http://www.amazon.com/Going-Rogue-American-Sarah-Palin/dp/0061939897
http://www.sphere.com/2009/11/16/the-reviews-are-in-for-palins-going-rogue/
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/25/palin.tension/index.html
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/16/cnn-poll-most-americans-say-palin-not-qualified-to-serve-as-president/
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ticket8-2009nov08,0,5692631.story
We live in interesting times. A year into the Obama Presidency and nearing the end of the Commander-in-Chief’s first visit to China, one of the most highly energized national media conversations is all about former Alaska Governor, Sarah Palin, half of the Republican’s McCain-Palin Ticket that challenged Mr. Obama and Mr. Biden.
Yesterday Mrs. Palin’s freshly minted Memoir was released, entitled Going Rogue – An American Life. The 413-page book retails for $28.99, has pre-sold over a million copies, and no doubt is available for you to purchase at a book store near your, or on-line. Mrs. Palin is off and running on a full scale book tour and interview schedule, which included a Rush Limbaugh interview and the airing of a taped segment of the Oprah Winfrey Show, both this week.
It is fair to say Mrs. Palin has decided to use the "take lemons and make lemonade" strategy to move her book. What exactly do I mean by that, you may ask?
Back during the 2008 Presidential Campaign, Team McCain and Team Palin clashed occasionally. During one particularly contentious period near the end of the campaign, a McCain aide was quoted as describing Mrs. Palin as “going rogue.”
Had Obama Team launched such a pointed missile, it would have been understandable...coming from the opposition. However, coming from a member of the "Home Team,” this smacked of “the enemy within;” was certainly was disconcerting at the time, and apparently still carries a sting.
It is at this point where the Palin brain trust has gambled that the insiders’ insult will garner currency, empathy, and more as she goes on tour and recites, among other things, the “herstory” (sic) of the McCain-Palin Campaign. To fully appreciate the essence of the McCain camp’s Palin “dis,” one likely needs to review the definition of rogue. Dictionary.com uses these words, among others, to describe the term:
• A dishonest, knavish person; scoundrel
• A tramp or vagabond
• An inferior organism
• To cheat
• To uproot or destroy
• Abnormally savage or unpredictable
• No longer obedient, belonging, or accepted
• Not controllable, or answerable; deviating, renegade
• Unprincipled, deceitful, unreliable, rascal
• Large, destructive, anomalous
• Operating outside desirable controls
• To defraud
• Synonyms: Villain, trickster, swindler, cheat, quack, knave
Now these are not terms I use to describe Mrs. Palin. Rather this is a sampling taken from the pool of available definitions of the word used to describe her by her erstwhile cohorts, at a time political campaigners might refer to as, “The heat of battle.”
That Mrs. Palin chose to take this unconventional route, and play up this apparent disconnect does two things. First, it underscores what “The Base” likes about her…that she is neither afraid of controversy, nor unaccustomed to dealing with it. Second, it creates a pathway to achieve a couple of her key objectives: out Team McCain for the transgressions she believed she was forced to endure during the campaign, and support and augment her interest in positioning herself as an option to lead the Republican Ticket in 2012.
There are many who believe this is impossible, and many others who think it is at best implausible. Recent poll numbers show 28 percent of Americans think Mrs. Palin is qualified to be President, while 7 out of 10 say she is not qualified. The good news, for her aspirations, is, 54 percent of Republicans believe she is qualified. That, however, is contrasted by the outlook of Independents, only 29 percent of whom felt she is qualified. Of Democrats, 10 percent believe she is qualified.
The same poll indicates Mrs. Palin does have a number of strengths:
• Americans believe she is not a typical politician
• Respondents say she cares about average Americans
• Poll results show she is honest and trustworthy
Still, it is likely the high poll numbers in this survey and others that show Americans do not believe Mrs. Palin is qualified to be President will prove be a huge impediment to her efforts make 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue her home.
“Is The White House Ready For A Rogue?” I don’t think so. 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/Sarah_Palin
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rogue
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rogue
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/17/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5685965.shtml
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2009/11/17/2009-11-17_going_rogue_review_sarah_palin_is_complainer_in_chief_in_new_book.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704431804574537882681089404.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/books/15book.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/11/16/DI2009111603639.html
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1939830,00.html
http://www.amazon.com/Going-Rogue-American-Sarah-Palin/dp/0061939897
http://www.sphere.com/2009/11/16/the-reviews-are-in-for-palins-going-rogue/
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/25/palin.tension/index.html
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/11/16/cnn-poll-most-americans-say-palin-not-qualified-to-serve-as-president/
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-ticket8-2009nov08,0,5692631.story
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
"The Eleventh Hour of the Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month"
It's time to Break It Down!
Many of you know, or at least faintly recall that I frequently alter the blog format to integrate holiday traditions into the discussion. Often holidays are expanded by days away from work, long weekends, travel, and a host of leisure activities. In those cases, I prefer to scale back in recognition that aside from road map directions, GPS instructions, and the like, very little reading will be taking place.
As most Americans know, today is Veterans Day. At a time when the United States is engaged in twin wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and working fervently to ease tensions in a trio of other hot spots, including Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea, American service men and women are regularly front and center. The unfathomable horror visited upon soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas last week makes the value and vulnerability of one of our greatest resources resonate even more palpably. But what do we really know about this day that has been set aside to honor real American heroes and sheroes?
Well, first, Veterans Day is not Memorial Day, and vice-versa. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day is intended largely to honor Living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. Memorial Day honors those veterans who died in the service of their country, particularly those killed in combat, or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.
We also know that Veterans Day is a different kind of federal holiday. With the exception of Sundays, it falls on its actual date. In 1968, Congress approved the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This law, which took effect in 1971, amended the observance of certain federal holidays so that Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day would be observed on Mondays instead of fixed dates.
Congress passed the Act to increase the number of three-day holiday weekend for federal employees. After a loud and persistent outcry from veterans and veterans groups, who argued the historical significance of November 11th was compromised by the change, Veterans Day observance was returned to November 11th in 1978.
So how did this affinity for November 11th come about? As with many historical facts, it evolved. Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. The significance of Armistice Day is that it was the day of the signing of the Armistice that terminated World War I (WW I). In effect, WW I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. That was when the Germans signed the document, ending hostilities that had begun in 1914. President Woodrow Wilson subsequently proclaimed the first Armistice Day, November 11, 1919.
WW I was deemed The Great War, and was thought by many, at the time, to be "The War That Ended All Wars.” It was, as the numeric designation suggests, the first World War. Of course, more wars would ensue. There was World War II (WW II), later the Korean Conflict, and then Vietnam.
In 1953, a store owner in Emporia, Kansas, Al King launched an idea to honor all veterans, not just those who served in WW I. The idea took root, sailed through Congress, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law May 26, 1954. Congress amended the Act November 8, 1954, changing Armistice to Veterans, and thus it has been ever since.
So today, especially around "The 11th Hour of This 11th Day of the 11th Month," to augment a popular bumper sticker, “If you can read this, thank a teacher…and a veteran!
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/Veterans_Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mW7-IJnWbc
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=veterans+day&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=dD36Sq2oIM_gnAeEsKyJDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=7&ved=0CC8QsAQwBg
http://www.history.com/content/veteransday
http://www.history.army.mil/faq/vetsday/vetshist.htm
http://www.patriotism.org/veterans_day/
http://www.military.com/veterans-day/
http://www.nraila.org/legislation/read.aspx?id=5202
http://www.military.com/veteransday/History.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_armed_forces
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_services_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Public_Health_Service_Commissioned_Corps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration_Commissioned_Corps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Monday_Holiday_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice
Many of you know, or at least faintly recall that I frequently alter the blog format to integrate holiday traditions into the discussion. Often holidays are expanded by days away from work, long weekends, travel, and a host of leisure activities. In those cases, I prefer to scale back in recognition that aside from road map directions, GPS instructions, and the like, very little reading will be taking place.
As most Americans know, today is Veterans Day. At a time when the United States is engaged in twin wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and working fervently to ease tensions in a trio of other hot spots, including Pakistan, Iran, and North Korea, American service men and women are regularly front and center. The unfathomable horror visited upon soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas last week makes the value and vulnerability of one of our greatest resources resonate even more palpably. But what do we really know about this day that has been set aside to honor real American heroes and sheroes?
Well, first, Veterans Day is not Memorial Day, and vice-versa. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Day is intended largely to honor Living veterans for their service, to acknowledge that their contributions to our national security are appreciated, and to underscore the fact that all those who served - not only those who died - have sacrificed and done their duty. Memorial Day honors those veterans who died in the service of their country, particularly those killed in combat, or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.
We also know that Veterans Day is a different kind of federal holiday. With the exception of Sundays, it falls on its actual date. In 1968, Congress approved the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. This law, which took effect in 1971, amended the observance of certain federal holidays so that Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day would be observed on Mondays instead of fixed dates.
Congress passed the Act to increase the number of three-day holiday weekend for federal employees. After a loud and persistent outcry from veterans and veterans groups, who argued the historical significance of November 11th was compromised by the change, Veterans Day observance was returned to November 11th in 1978.
So how did this affinity for November 11th come about? As with many historical facts, it evolved. Veterans Day began as Armistice Day. The significance of Armistice Day is that it was the day of the signing of the Armistice that terminated World War I (WW I). In effect, WW I ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. That was when the Germans signed the document, ending hostilities that had begun in 1914. President Woodrow Wilson subsequently proclaimed the first Armistice Day, November 11, 1919.
WW I was deemed The Great War, and was thought by many, at the time, to be "The War That Ended All Wars.” It was, as the numeric designation suggests, the first World War. Of course, more wars would ensue. There was World War II (WW II), later the Korean Conflict, and then Vietnam.
In 1953, a store owner in Emporia, Kansas, Al King launched an idea to honor all veterans, not just those who served in WW I. The idea took root, sailed through Congress, and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law May 26, 1954. Congress amended the Act November 8, 1954, changing Armistice to Veterans, and thus it has been ever since.
So today, especially around "The 11th Hour of This 11th Day of the 11th Month," to augment a popular bumper sticker, “If you can read this, thank a teacher…and a veteran!
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/Veterans_Day
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mW7-IJnWbc
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/
http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=veterans+day&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=dD36Sq2oIM_gnAeEsKyJDQ&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=7&ved=0CC8QsAQwBg
http://www.history.com/content/veteransday
http://www.history.army.mil/faq/vetsday/vetshist.htm
http://www.patriotism.org/veterans_day/
http://www.military.com/veterans-day/
http://www.nraila.org/legislation/read.aspx?id=5202
http://www.military.com/veteransday/History.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_armed_forces
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniformed_services_of_the_United_States
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Public_Health_Service_Commissioned_Corps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Oceanic_and_Atmospheric_Administration_Commissioned_Corps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Monday_Holiday_Act
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armistice
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
"One Year Later!"
It's time to Break It Down!
Today is the anniversary of the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. It has been a difficult 12 months. As a nation we have endured the most ravaging recession since The Great Depression (TGD). To be clear, TGD lasted more than a decade, so what we are experiencing now is not expected to rival that event in scope or dimension. But it is generally accepted as the next worst thing.
Our current malaise includes being beset by a devastating recession, a meltdown of the housing market, major banks hemorrhaging cash and stock value, destruction of the American Automobile Industry as we knew it, a bear market on Wall Street, and spiraling unemployment that while slowing is still rising. Happy Anniversary to you, President Obama!
Candidate Obama framed a resonant message around the theme, "Change Americans Could Believe In." Twelve months removed from that historic day one year ago, several questions persist, including:
• What has changed (for the positive) in the last year?
• Are you better-off today than you were a year ago?
• Has America improved in any measurable way since November 4, 2008?
Of course, there are many other questions that could be posed. Those three are meant to be rhetorical, and to set a framework reflecting upon where we were, juxtaposed against where we are. If you want to revisit the litany of promises made by Candidate Obama, just tune into CNN virtually any weekday and watch analysts and researchers recap the promised kept, the promises abandoned, and the promises still in the queue.
Politicians and political campaigns are frequently the stuff of which books are based. Naturally, a campaign that may go down in history as one of the most uniquely stunning ever run, has spawned a book by a member of Mr. Obama’s innermost circle, David Plouffe (pronounced /plʌf/), Chief Campaign Manager. Entitled, The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory, the book is likely a must read by Obama enthusiasts and political junkies.
Arianna Huffington, syndicated columnist, and co-founder of The Huffington Post calls it “The most important political book of the year,” and adds, “The book is a powerful reminder of what the country voted for last year – and could serve as the trigger for Obama and his team to refocus and remember why the election mattered so much.” Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obama-one-year-later-the_b_343209.html.
On of the hallmarks of American electoral politics is if it’s November, it must be election season. Well, it is November! In what amounts to an off off-year election (Neither a Presidential Election year, nor a Mid-term Election year), there were still several Elections of significance that drew national attention. Gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, Mayoral races in New York, Atlanta, and Houston, a congressional race in New York, a question on Gay Marriage in Maine, and one on Civil Unions in the State of Washington, all drew attention, for various reasons.
Three races in particular were trumpeted as being tied to President Obama’s leadership. Some even termed them referenda on his leadership. Two gubernatorial races campaigns, one in Virginia, and one in New Jersey were often highlighted in recent weeks. GOP candidates won both races.
Republican Bob McDonnell won handily in Virginia, beating Creigh Deeds. Mr. Deeds, once ambivalent about seeking assistance from President Obama, was eventually reduced to seeking the President’s help once the campaign was clearly already out of hand.
In New Jersey, beleaguered incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine lost his re-election bid to Republican Chris Christie. Mr. Corzine was associated with a number scandals and high taxes. President Obama made several campaign appearances in both Virginia and New Jersey as the campaigns wound down.
In Upstate New York’s 23rd Congressional District, Democrat Bill Owens beat Conservative Party candidate, Douglas Hoffman. This race was tinged with intrigue, as conservative Republicans from Sarah Palin, to Glenn Beck, to Rush Limbaugh launched full-scale attacks on the Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, in effect labeling her a Republican In Name Only, commonly called a RINO. Ms Scozzafava dropped out of the race this past weekend and endorsed the Democrat, Mr. Owens.
In a race no less interesting than the previous three, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg survived in an surprisingly close race against challenger William C. Thompson Jr., New York City Comptroller. Mr. Bloomberg reportedly spent $90 million of his own money to fund his campaign. After garnering 51% of the vote, it appears it was a necessary, if not good investment.
In 1973, voters in Atlanta elected Maynard Jackson Mayor. There has not been a non-African American elected since. That could change next month. Last night, Atlanta Councilwoman Mary Norwood captured 45% of the vote, while State Senator Kasim Reed garnered 38% to force a December 1st runoff. Atlanta has experienced a dynamic demographic shift over the past decade as whites, who steadily left the city during the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s have begun to return, while blacks have moved further from the center of the city during that same ten-year period.
As in Atlanta, Houstonians will also participate in a December runoff. The date is yet to be decided, but the top two vote getters, neither of whom tallied 50%, were City Controller Annise Parker and former City Atorney Gene Locke. Ms. Parker, if elected would become the first openly gay Mayor of Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city.
In two other closely watched votes, opponents of a Referendum to uphold a law allowing Gay Marriage are claiming victory in Maine, while in Washington State voters approved Same-Sex Civil Unions. Expect to see the issue appearing on more ballots across the country.
Finally, Tip O’Neill, in his 1987 autobiography, Man of the House, attributed to his father a phrase that he popularized, ”All politics is local.” To that end, congratulations to Charlotte’s new Mayor, Anthony Foxx. In a hotly contested race, Foxx became the first Democrat in 22 years, and the second African American to claim the City’s top elected position. Unofficial results indicate Foxx won 51% of the vote; his opponent, John Lassiter finished with 49%. Both Mr. Foxx and Mr. Lassiter are members of the Charlotte City Council.
"One Year Later," are the results of yesterday’s elections and various ballot initiatives a collective referendum on President Obama’s leadership? Obviously, there will be those who say yes. Yet ask those same people, was Mr. Obama’s election a mandate, proxy, or referendum? They would most likely answer a resounding no. Funny how that works, isn’t it? I do not believe yesterday’s results were a referendum on the President. I do believe those results provide valuable information that Mr. Obama and his team would be wise to study carefully, as they consider next steps.
Mr. Obama’s administration is challenged to use input gained over the course these first 365 days to formulate a more effective and efficient strategy and structure to execute policy. If he can make this leap, he and his team will have made the transition from innovative campaign machinery to a practical model for governance.
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/David_Plouffe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianna_Huffington
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Thompson_(New_York)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nj-va-ny-2009-elections-test-obama-sway/story?id=8977431
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Republican+wins+Jersey+governor+race/2180989/story.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/nyregion/04district.html?hp
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijRd6gh_FQ2pQU531ysucBuQ_SjgD9BOH7TO0
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/norwood-and-reed-in-185327.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_Jackson
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5A312O20091104
http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=23869
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/politics/story/1036333.html
Today is the anniversary of the election of Barack Obama as President of the United States. It has been a difficult 12 months. As a nation we have endured the most ravaging recession since The Great Depression (TGD). To be clear, TGD lasted more than a decade, so what we are experiencing now is not expected to rival that event in scope or dimension. But it is generally accepted as the next worst thing.
Our current malaise includes being beset by a devastating recession, a meltdown of the housing market, major banks hemorrhaging cash and stock value, destruction of the American Automobile Industry as we knew it, a bear market on Wall Street, and spiraling unemployment that while slowing is still rising. Happy Anniversary to you, President Obama!
Candidate Obama framed a resonant message around the theme, "Change Americans Could Believe In." Twelve months removed from that historic day one year ago, several questions persist, including:
• What has changed (for the positive) in the last year?
• Are you better-off today than you were a year ago?
• Has America improved in any measurable way since November 4, 2008?
Of course, there are many other questions that could be posed. Those three are meant to be rhetorical, and to set a framework reflecting upon where we were, juxtaposed against where we are. If you want to revisit the litany of promises made by Candidate Obama, just tune into CNN virtually any weekday and watch analysts and researchers recap the promised kept, the promises abandoned, and the promises still in the queue.
Politicians and political campaigns are frequently the stuff of which books are based. Naturally, a campaign that may go down in history as one of the most uniquely stunning ever run, has spawned a book by a member of Mr. Obama’s innermost circle, David Plouffe (pronounced /plʌf/), Chief Campaign Manager. Entitled, The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory, the book is likely a must read by Obama enthusiasts and political junkies.
Arianna Huffington, syndicated columnist, and co-founder of The Huffington Post calls it “The most important political book of the year,” and adds, “The book is a powerful reminder of what the country voted for last year – and could serve as the trigger for Obama and his team to refocus and remember why the election mattered so much.” Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/obama-one-year-later-the_b_343209.html.
On of the hallmarks of American electoral politics is if it’s November, it must be election season. Well, it is November! In what amounts to an off off-year election (Neither a Presidential Election year, nor a Mid-term Election year), there were still several Elections of significance that drew national attention. Gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, Mayoral races in New York, Atlanta, and Houston, a congressional race in New York, a question on Gay Marriage in Maine, and one on Civil Unions in the State of Washington, all drew attention, for various reasons.
Three races in particular were trumpeted as being tied to President Obama’s leadership. Some even termed them referenda on his leadership. Two gubernatorial races campaigns, one in Virginia, and one in New Jersey were often highlighted in recent weeks. GOP candidates won both races.
Republican Bob McDonnell won handily in Virginia, beating Creigh Deeds. Mr. Deeds, once ambivalent about seeking assistance from President Obama, was eventually reduced to seeking the President’s help once the campaign was clearly already out of hand.
In New Jersey, beleaguered incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine lost his re-election bid to Republican Chris Christie. Mr. Corzine was associated with a number scandals and high taxes. President Obama made several campaign appearances in both Virginia and New Jersey as the campaigns wound down.
In Upstate New York’s 23rd Congressional District, Democrat Bill Owens beat Conservative Party candidate, Douglas Hoffman. This race was tinged with intrigue, as conservative Republicans from Sarah Palin, to Glenn Beck, to Rush Limbaugh launched full-scale attacks on the Republican candidate, Dede Scozzafava, in effect labeling her a Republican In Name Only, commonly called a RINO. Ms Scozzafava dropped out of the race this past weekend and endorsed the Democrat, Mr. Owens.
In a race no less interesting than the previous three, New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg survived in an surprisingly close race against challenger William C. Thompson Jr., New York City Comptroller. Mr. Bloomberg reportedly spent $90 million of his own money to fund his campaign. After garnering 51% of the vote, it appears it was a necessary, if not good investment.
In 1973, voters in Atlanta elected Maynard Jackson Mayor. There has not been a non-African American elected since. That could change next month. Last night, Atlanta Councilwoman Mary Norwood captured 45% of the vote, while State Senator Kasim Reed garnered 38% to force a December 1st runoff. Atlanta has experienced a dynamic demographic shift over the past decade as whites, who steadily left the city during the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s have begun to return, while blacks have moved further from the center of the city during that same ten-year period.
As in Atlanta, Houstonians will also participate in a December runoff. The date is yet to be decided, but the top two vote getters, neither of whom tallied 50%, were City Controller Annise Parker and former City Atorney Gene Locke. Ms. Parker, if elected would become the first openly gay Mayor of Houston, the nation’s fourth largest city.
In two other closely watched votes, opponents of a Referendum to uphold a law allowing Gay Marriage are claiming victory in Maine, while in Washington State voters approved Same-Sex Civil Unions. Expect to see the issue appearing on more ballots across the country.
Finally, Tip O’Neill, in his 1987 autobiography, Man of the House, attributed to his father a phrase that he popularized, ”All politics is local.” To that end, congratulations to Charlotte’s new Mayor, Anthony Foxx. In a hotly contested race, Foxx became the first Democrat in 22 years, and the second African American to claim the City’s top elected position. Unofficial results indicate Foxx won 51% of the vote; his opponent, John Lassiter finished with 49%. Both Mr. Foxx and Mr. Lassiter are members of the Charlotte City Council.
"One Year Later," are the results of yesterday’s elections and various ballot initiatives a collective referendum on President Obama’s leadership? Obviously, there will be those who say yes. Yet ask those same people, was Mr. Obama’s election a mandate, proxy, or referendum? They would most likely answer a resounding no. Funny how that works, isn’t it? I do not believe yesterday’s results were a referendum on the President. I do believe those results provide valuable information that Mr. Obama and his team would be wise to study carefully, as they consider next steps.
Mr. Obama’s administration is challenged to use input gained over the course these first 365 days to formulate a more effective and efficient strategy and structure to execute policy. If he can make this leap, he and his team will have made the transition from innovative campaign machinery to a practical model for governance.
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/David_Plouffe
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arianna_Huffington
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bloomberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Thompson_(New_York)
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nj-va-ny-2009-elections-test-obama-sway/story?id=8977431
http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Republican+wins+Jersey+governor+race/2180989/story.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/04/nyregion/04district.html?hp
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ijRd6gh_FQ2pQU531ysucBuQ_SjgD9BOH7TO0
http://www.ajc.com/news/atlanta/norwood-and-reed-in-185327.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maynard_Jackson
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5A312O20091104
http://www.shewired.com/Article.cfm?ID=23869
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/politics/story/1036333.html
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