Archive for August, 2013

The New Drumbeats for War….. and it’s the US Media playing this tune!

Posted: August 29, 2013 in Uncategorized
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How do media organizations help lead the US into war, using an intervention in Syria as the latest example? Using clips from CNN with various politicians and pundits, The Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down

Should intentionally hitting someone at 95 mph+ be considered assault, even if it’s in a sporting event?

Posted: August 20, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Red Sox Pitcher Ryan Dempster

Red Sox Pitcher Ryan Dempster

If You or I hit someone at 95mph intentionally, would we be charged with assault?  I guess that question could be answered with, “How Could we not be charged?”   I actually saw this happen the other day while watching the Yankees play the Red Sox, and even though this was a sporting event, does this exempt anyone from the law?  To be fair, here are the particulars.  Much Maligned Yankee player Alex “A-Rod” Rodriguez is up at bat with Red Sox Pitcher Ryan Dempster is on the mound.  Dempster, an outspoken critic of Alex Rodriguez, intentionally beans A-Rod with a 95mph+ fast ball, but the only one who is ejected from the game is the Yankees Manager  Joe Girardi.

Granted, A-Rod is probably the most hated or at least the most controversial player in baseball right now,  but the last time I checked, he hadn’t intentionally assaulted anyone physically.  As fans, many of us don’t appreciate what Rodriguez has done via steroid use, but this still doesn’t mean that we elected Ryan Dempster to speak  for us through his own misguided actions, nor should we. I’m sure A-Rod isn’t the first player in baseball to ever get hit intentionally by a pitch, and he won’t be the last, but to ignore  what has happened without addressing it… is folly, and will only lead to further episodes like this.

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America’s Survival, Inc. (ASI) says Fox News Is Too… Liberal? WTF?

Posted: August 18, 2013 in Uncategorized
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Conservative Group: Replacing Hannity With Kelly A ‘Pro-Homosexual’ Move

“Amid speculation that Megyn Kelly will be taking over conservative pundit Sean Hannity’s time slot on Fox News Channel, a conservative group has decried the potential move as further evidence of the network’s “pro-homosexual” agenda and “left-ward drift.” A report last week from Matt Drudge indicated that Kelly, already slated to move from daytime to primetime, will take over Hannity’s 9 p.m. ET slot. Fox News neither confirmed nor denied the move, while Hannity insisted on his radio show that he’s “very happy” with the plans. No other media outlet has confirmed Drudge’s report.”

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I’M BLACK ….. WHY SHOULD I VOTE?

Posted: August 12, 2013 in Uncategorized
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by Earlene Williams Hancock – Guest columnist

Someone asked me late last night why he, as an African American, should consider voting… This question was beyond disturbing to me, but let me try to answer it:

1. Voting Rights Act. The Supreme Court recently struck down Section 4 of the Act…which will allow Republican-controlled states to make it harder for minorities to vote. In 2012, as a voting bloc, African Americans exceeded whites in turning out to vote for the first time in history ~ because they were furious that their voting rights were in jeopardy. Many stood in line for 7-8 hours in order to cast their ballots… Many died fighting for our right to vote ~ their sacrifice cannot be in vain!

2. Stand Your Ground. Trayvon Martin might well be alive today, if certain groups like A.L.E.C. (American Legislative Exchange Council) weren’t writing laws for GOP-controlled state legislatures. This law has been adopted by up to 30 states, to-date. We owe it to our young Black men and women to overturn this “license-to-kill” law ~ we can only do that by voting these racist rednecks out of office.

3. Minimum Wage. Who can live on $7.25 an hour? The Republicans would like to get rid of it altogether. If you don’t vote, you’re sending a message that you’re okay with that.

4. Jobs. The unemployment rate for African Americans is in the double-digits ~ not the national rate of 7.4%. Congress…especially the House of Representatives is full of Teabaggers who want to keep paying minorities slave wages. They also have not passed one Jobs Bill! ~ not even Infrastructure to repair roads and bridges that even they have to drive over. Why? Because Barack Obama proposed it.

5. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare. Republicans want to do away with these programs. If you don’t vote them out of office, please explain to me how millions of people, not just minorities, are expected to survive? What Republicans would love to see happen is that we “die quicker”…..

6. Housing. The Housing Crisis disproportionately hurt minority communities. The financial sector, including Predatory Lenders deliberately targeted minorities…yet, I’m not aware any have gone to prison. The “American Dream” of homeownership has been turned into a nightmare. What’s happening now is that investors are buying up foreclosed properties at an unprecedented rate and turning them into rentals. Who do you think will be turned into ‘permanent’ renters? Minorities.

7. Criminal Justice. You already know the system is unjust. You already know that Blacks and Hispanics are disproportionately targeted, jailed, and with far harsher sentences than their white counterparts. The prison system has been, to a large degree, privatized…they profit by the number of people they imprison. If you don’t vote for the Party that will try to change ‘the system’, do you expect it to “self-correct”?

8. War on Women. I’m not a proponent for abortions, but it is not some politician’s right to prevent a woman from making her own decision what to do with her body. The Republicans, throughout this country, are systematically shutting down abortion clinics ~ these clinics, like Planned Parenthood also offer pre-natal care, and general services for women who may not be able to afford a private physician. Who do you think will be disproportionately affected by this? The poor…

And ask yourselves…if Republicans, aka the “Christian Right” are so very concerned about banning abortions…even in the case of rape!…then why aren’t they willing to adopt these babies once they’re born? Why are they taking food out of these babies’ mouths…when they ‘pretend’ life is sacred? Is the life of a 4-year old less sacred than a fetus?

9. The Supreme Court. Again, controlled by Republican judges, who clearly have a racial bias. Google Justices Scalia, Alito, Roberts, Thomas, and Kennedy. They voted to allow corporations to infuse millions of dollars into elections. Who do you think they’re ‘buying off’ to protect their interests? It’s true there are Democratic politicans who are ‘on the take’, but far more Republicans, imo. There also may be one or two vacancies on the court the next two years. The President nominates judges to the court…then it’s sent to the Senate to confirm. Does it not make sense to increase our majority in the Senate to 60 so that these judges, who are more likely to rule in favor of programs that will help all Americans, including minorities, can be quickly confirmed…along with all the other bills that are currently at a standstill? That only happens if you vote.

10. Gun Control. If you’re okay with the slaughter of innocent victims, especially children, throughout this country…not just in Connecticut or Chicago, but everywhere…then don’t vote. The Senate passed a gun control bill which was ‘shot down’ by the Republicans in the House. Why? Because of the National Rifle Association (NRA) buying them off. The NRA claims they’re standing up for their 2nd Amendment Rights. The truth is it’s gun manufacturers who don’t want this legislation passed – they’re in it for the money…period! The more guns they can sell, the richer they become. Whether innocent people continue to be killed is of no consequence to them. If they continue to have the blood of those victims on their hands, they couldn’t care less. Are you okay with that?

11. Racism. It’s on the rise and becoming more and more prevalent and blatant. Electing the first Black President in 2008 was historic; re-electing him in 2012 was even more of a shock to their system. Are you aware that on the night of President Obama’s first inauguration, the Republicans held a secret meeting to come up with an agenda to shut down every single thing he proposed? Their goal, as stated by Mitch McConnell (GOP Senator from Kentucky)…was to make him a one-term President. Even though we gave him a second term last November, they’ve done everything possible to block his entire agenda.

This is why there’s unprecedented gridlock in Washington. Nothing is getting done, because of their hatred of this President. Every racial slur, every death threat he’s received, by extension, is targeted at the entire Black community. Isn’t that reason enough for you to vote?

►►►In 2010, during midterm elections, many of us stayed home. We thought our work was done in 2008. But…by not voting in 2010, it allowed an influx of ignorant, racist Governors, state legislators, Congressmen, and Senators to be voted into office.

I could go on and talk about war and climate change, etc., but I think any of the 11 reasons cited above are more than sufficient reason to exercise your right to vote. Putting all 11 together makes it imperative that sitting out next year’s election is to give permission for continued oppression of the Black and Hispanic communities. I’m not okay with that…I hope and pray you aren’t either… 

We have some Democratic politicians who need to be thrown out of office, too…but not now! Our goal now is to vote in and re-elect Democrats throughout this country…for EVERY political office possible. Democrats are far more likely to promote programs that will be beneficial to minorities ~ and we’ve got to undue the damage the GOP has done over the next two years…and for possibly decades to come.

It’s critically important that everyone gets out to VOTE!!!….not just in Presidential elections ~ but every 2 years…for local, county, state, and Federal elections!!! We have to be committed to turning this country around…or we will live to deeply regret it.

Commit to vote ~ it is your right!…while you still have it!

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