The Eagle Has Landed!

The Eagle Has Landed!
It is finally here! The long-awaited, overrated, overemphasized, 100th day of Barack Obama's presidency has arrived. His presidential spacecraft has been orbiting the earth for the past 99 days and now the SS Obama44 has touched down and the disembarking Commander-in-Chief is walking tall on a road of acceptance and popularity that has left many befuddled, bamboozled, and bewildered. How can this be? How can this "young, inexperienced, still-wet-behind-the-ears" former Senator from Illinois still be on his feet? After all, he inherited two very unpopular wars (some of his decisions regarding them were just as unpopular, mainly with his opposers), a devastated economy (his stimulus bill and budget are creating party rifts, creating heated discussions, and attracting tea baggers AKA the mentally disturbed) he has had several recommended cabinet members do an about face (Richardson, Gregg, etc. remember those guys? Tough.), He still has unfilled cabinet positions (some Conservatives tried in vain to derail K. Sebellius' nomination), his presence on the world stage, at least in the mind of his opposers, was less than stellar (although I beg to differ. Quite frankly, he and Michelle had it going on! Our POTUS and FLOTUS represented with grace, beauty, dignity, honesty, sincerity, and in the spirit of unity and brotherhood), he allegedly "bowed" to a Saudi dignitary (oh come on, he was checking out the man's shoes) Michelle touched the Queen (ooh, now old Lizzie girl has cooties! Get a grip, the Monarchy is a joke, and in the 21st Century, we just don't.....well, CARE!), he accused the U.S. of arrogance (So? We are! What do you think referring to ourselves as a "superpower" is? Let me spell it for you, a-r-r-o-g-a-n-c-e), he released the torture memos much to the chagrin of Republicans (their dirty little secret is exposed. And here I was thinking that these 'pure-as-the-driven-snow" frauds were perfect), he wants health coverage and educational opportunities for all Americans (how dare he care about the well-being and futures of America's citizens in the midst of crisis!) he unexpectedly dropped in on soldiers in Iraq instead of Afghanistan (Wow, the ultimate mistake! He must be a mad man for caring much about the men and women who were deceptively thrust into a senseless war with no strategic plan for victory for nearly 7 years), he goes primetime to reach the American public (a President who is eloquent and articulate has the nerve to go before millions to sell his policies? Send him to the loony bin immediately!), he uses a teleprompter (okay, that's it. It is time for impeachment proceedings. A President who wants to stay on point and ensure that he gets his message across effectively, uses a teleprompter as a guide? That has to be against the constitution somehow. Hmm, we'll ask John Boehner to look it up. But he needs to do so very cautiously because President Obama, well,,,,let's just say that he knows a thing or two about the constitution. He was a constitution law professor!), he walks around the white house and oval office without a jacket (he's cool, calm, collected, and comfortable as President. Let me think. We could impeach on the grounds that his shirts and ties are not made of polyester or cotton, but silk! That would certainly validate the "elitism" charge against him.), he didn't throw a crying fit or suffer an emotional breakdown when the party of "no" consistently and unjustifiably rejected every piece of legislation that he proposed (you mean he went around them and got it passed anyway? Put him on Air Force One and fly him into a desert in some remote country, leaving him with only a day's ration of bread and water! That'll teach him to reject partisan politics!) he lands softly on his feet when brutally attacked by the likes of Fox News psychiatric test dummies such as Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, and Bill O'Reilly; deranged, portly, druggies like Boss Hog Limbaugh, and "hole in the cerebral ozone" Michelle Bachmann. What? their insane rants, calls for insurrection, incitement of riots, and stirring of racial division and hatred hasn't knocked him on his back? What's with this guy? 100 days and he's still working hard for the American public, pursuing his vision for this nation, fathering his beautiful daughters, loving his awesome wife, and leading a powerful nation practically unscathed? Well, I don't know about you. But I'm gonna stay strong in my support of President Obama because anybody that can endure the amount of mud and pig slop that has been thrown at him in a mere 100 days, has exactly the type of character, perserverance, endurance, and ability that this country needs to get the train of prosperity back on track and rolling again. I'm willing to wait for the change. The eagle has landed and his wings are strengthened, his span increased, thus giving him room to fly above right wing indignation and self-righteousness, glide beyond partisan and racial bitterness and hate rhetoric, and soar confidently through the first and second heavens, with the hand of God planted firmly in his back. Here's To New Beginnings!!AfterThoughts Signing Off...

Okay, Now I'm Mad!!

I like to think of myself as an even-tempered individual; in control and slow to anger. And on most days and in most situations I am. Really, I'm not kidding. I'm the coolest, calmest, "flying-under-the-radar" person you ever want to meet. To know me is to love me. You see, I'm a thinker. A deep thinker. I look at people and situations objectively. I look for the positives first and if it fails me, I have no other choice but to look at the negative. But even in the negatives I look for the most positive. I try to look positively at any negative person or situation--hoping to find something acceptable. And in many cases, I have succeeded.

This past Saturday, April 25, 2009, I had the pleasure of an on-air interview with Mr. Joseph C. Phillips, an actor from the hit series, "The Cosby Show." You know him. Lt. Martin Kendall, Denice's husband, Olivia's father. Let me say that I'm not very fond of Republicans. Sorry. I'm not. They have not shown themselves friendly or at all concerned about minorities. However, Mr. Phillips is the exception. I contacted him for an interview because I was curious about his political affiliation. He is an unapologetic Conservative Republican. The most fascinating thing about him is that unlike so many other "black conservatives," Mr. Phillips effectively articulated his position and beliefs. Unlike so many other "black conservatives," Mr. Phillips highlighted the role of Republicans in the emancipation of slaves, during the civil rights era, and right up to our modern time versus the oppositional role taken by Democrats. Sounding more like a history teacher than commentator, he laid out his case. And quite well might I add. With that said and kudos being given to my guest, I'll tell you why I'm mad.

I fully understand that in this big, powerful country known as the United States of America, there are many freedoms. One of them being freedom of the press. Now, the First Amendment states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." In a nutshell, the First Amendment is about basic freedoms. It protects freedom of speech, freedom of the press, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition the government. But should First Amendment protection shield dangerous behavior? Should it be a safe haven for criminal actions? Should its protections be a license and free pass to utter hateful rhetoric that carries the potential to cause physical harm to others? Let me be more specific.

Fox News, a network of bitter, divisive, moronic, insane, mentally-challenged, racist, ranting, raving, lying, certified fools, make it a daily habit to saturate the airwaves with their "Obama-hating" venomous commentary. When that commentary carries the potential to cause the physical harm or maybe even death of another human being, then that First Amendment protection should become invalid.

In Okaloosa, Florida, two Sheriff Deputies were shot and killed by a man who had argued with his wife over acne medication and physically attacked her. The wife called 911 from the hospital. The Deputies found the suspect at a gun club and after resisting arrest, he was tasered. The suspect responded by firing at the officers, killing both. He was consequently shot and killed by other law enforcement officials. His wife reported that her husband felt that the government was "conspiring against him" and that he was deeply disturbed by Barack Obama's election. In Pennsylvania a few weeks ago, four officers were shot and killed by a young man who felt that President Obama was going to take his guns away. Where did these people get this information? Let me answer. FOX NEWS!! Glenn the Grotesque Beck, Bill the Clueless O'Reilly, and Sean the Deranged Hannity come before the American public each night with half-truths and outright lies in order to cast the most negative light on the President. They have spoken some of the very words on air that these killers spoke.

Fox News commentators and pundits are feeding stinking, rotting garbage to uninformed, uneducated, racist receptacles on the right and the result is hatred. It is time for censorship. It cannot be lawful for a "mainstream" media outlet to promote such hatred and bigotry without consequence. It seems that the Federal Government, FCC, or some other monitoring agency would investigate these idiots. I'm mad about the fact that they can shoot off their big mouths and hide like spineless cowards behing the constitution. Sorry Joseph Phillps. I think you're wonderful but many in your party are the equivalent of a dung pile.

AfterThoughts Signing Off...

Liberal Conservative: An Oxymoronic Thought?

As I was watching this evening's news broadcast, I was hit by a revelation I'd never given thought to before. The analyst was going on and on about political events and issues. She kept repeating the words "liberal and conservative" over and over again. As the words pierced the air and finally my ears, I became frustrated. For the very first time I was frustrated at the mere mention of the two major political parties. But why? After all, I've been intensely following politics since Mr. Obama first announced his run. I must have heard those two words at least a million times since 2007. As I searched my inner self for anything that felt remotely like an acceptable answer to my frustration, it hit me! The terms equate to division and polarization! As a registered Democrat, when I hear "liberal" I'm defensive if its followed by a negative comment; in agreement if followed by a positive one. On the other hand, when hearing "conservative" I'm in agreement when followed by a negative comment, defensive when followed by a positive one. I'll readily admit that for a time, I really didn't know much about what the two parties actually stood for. What does it really mean to be a liberal or conservative? Personally, I've voted Democrat since I was enough to vote. Primarily because Democrats seem to reach out to minorities and the less fortunate more so than Republicans. But it was only recently that I began to understand their brand of politics and ideologies. The same for the Republican party.After some serious reflection, I began to see where this two-party political system is just as broken as the ten commandments. Liberals are in essence, "modern day Robin Hoods." This mentality allows them to help those who have a hard time helping themselves. Score 1 for the liberals.Conservatives believe in limited government intervention. Most oppose gay marriages and abortion and are devoutly religious. Score 1 for the conservatives.With the score tied, (I saw no need to go beyond 1 point) it became clear to me that both parties have something to offer. Although I am a Democrat, I don't believe in abortion and I really feel that marriage should be left to the "Adams and Eves" of the world. No apology will be given. Jesus Christ believed in reaching out to the poor, the bound, the cast aside, and the unloved. He also made it clear that one had to serve God in order to be a beneficiary of eternal life. These are combinations of the ideologies of the two major U.S. political parties. Divided, neither side is superior. United, both sides are well-represented and could make a major impact.Any time two words are used which denote opposites, Ex: left wing/right wing, black/white, christians/muslims, truth/lie, peace/war, etc., one can expect tension, friction, and opposition. I am very fond of doves because of their grace, beauty, and the fact that they represent peace. The dove needs both his left and right wing in order to maintain balance and soar high! If one wing is broken or inoperable, the dove cannot take flight. The dove is handicapped and ineffective. The dove's body may appear healthy and beautiful on the surface, but the broken wing causes the bird to become hopelessly grounded; He will hold one wing lower than the other, dragging the ground. The higher wing may be healthy at the moment, but alone it can only raise the body a few inches off the ground. It can not take flight. The same notion can be applied to our two party system. Currently, the Democratic party is in power. They are the healthy, lifted wing. The Republican party is broken. They are the unhealthy wing. However, they need each other's input, ideals, and true bipartisanship in order for the American body to reach its acme. It's time to make the distinction between right and wrong, not right and left. Instead of trying to push agendas and views on the American public, the political parties need to be seeking a way to come together for real, and tackle the massive problems in the land. As long as either wing of politics is broken, the American public will always be ill-represented.

AfterThoughts Signing Off...

Blog Talk Radio Interview With Joseph C. Phillips

Join me on Saturday, April 25, 2009 on Blog Talk Radio as I interview author and conservative commentator Joseph C. Phillips. You may remember him as Lieutenant Martin Kendall on the hit 80s sitcom, The Cosby Show. He was the husband of Lisa Bonet's character Denise Huxtable. Joseph has appeared in such movies as "Strictly Business, Midnight Blue, and Let's Talk Sex. He has authored a book entitled, "He Talk Like A White Boy." Joseph's writings have appeared in Newsweek, Los Angeles Daily News, Essence, USA Today, and in various newspapers around the country. He was also a regular contributor on NPR's Tavis Smiley Radio Show. To listen to the show live visit: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/S-Denice-Newton. You may call in with questions or comments by dialing (347) 884-8042.

Recapping Events Of The Day

Today isTuesday, April 21, 2009, the 111th day of the year. Miss California, Carrie Prejean, may have been denied the the Miss USA crown because of her response to the question of whether gay marriages should be legalized in all states. Carrie's response was that she believes marriage should be between a man and a woman. If it can be proven, and eventually it will, that she lost the contest due to her own personal beliefs, then she has been discrimated against and should file a lawsuit.In this age of "tolerance," it is not okay to unfairly mistreat gays or deny them civil rights. And this is proper. Just as gays have a right to their lifestyles without discrimation or mistreatment, then those who oppose their lifestyles should be afforded the same protection. It is grossly hypocritical to deny this woman based on belief. Do I smell a double standard? At times we are so politically correct that we're personally stupid.Moving on. Sarah Palin supporters are trying to block the confirmation of Kathleen Sebelius for Secretary of Health & Human Services. Their reason? It seems that Ms. Sebelius raised money from a Doctor who performs abortions. I don't get it. Why do these idiotic Conservatives believe that as long as they take a firm stand against abortion and homosexuality, they're bound for a chariot ride straight to the pearly gates? They come out in droves against the afformentioned issues yet they support a woman who is unethical, divisive, unintelligent, and a proven liar. Last week she neglected her duties as governer of Alaska to jetset around the lower 48 testing the "very frigid waters" of the 2012 presidential election. Are these things negated by the opposition to abortion and homosexuality? I say no. For the record, I am a Democrat, but am strongly against abortion and gay marriages. Biblically and morally these things are wrong. Now, I'm not running for any type of office so I won't apologize for my beliefs. Life begins at conception. The minute that little tadpole runs smack into that egg and becomes lost, a little junior boy or girl is given life. Regarding homosexuals: they have every right to do whatever they want. It is their life and one day they'll have to account for it as we all will. Although I don't agree with gay marriage, I readily acknowledge that life itself is all about choice and freewill. However, we have to be willing to live with whatever consequences result from that choice.I seriously don't understand these people who are already grooming themselves for the 2012 election when Obama's seat in the oval office is only "lukewarm" at this point. It is yet another display of disrespect for this Commander-in-Chief. When George W. was royally messing up things I didn't hear calls for his head or his impeachment. People gave him not one but two chances to prove himself and he was graded an ultimate failure upon his departure. Why can't President Obama be afforded the same respect? Why is it so difficult for many pundits and commentators (Republicans specifically) to address President Obama by his official title? Most of them address him simply as Obama, Barack Obama, or the President. I rarely hear President Obama. Well, you may not want to claim him as your President but that's what he is. You can call a rose a cucumber but it's still a rose. Get over it!Has beens such as Newt Gingrich and Dick Cheney should go home, put their brains in retirement mode, buy a new recliner, and reach for the remote control with the extra large buttons. Their opinions are neither wanted or needed in the political realm. Bush 43 got out of the limelight and so should they.The Republican party is in such disarray that they're becoming 24/7 comedy relief. When you consider Michael "the token one" Steele, Rush " the hate-spewing" loud-mouth Limbaugh, Michelle "the mentally unstable" Bachmann, Sarah "the absent-minded" Palin, Sean "the point me in the direction of the nearest klan rally" Hannity, Bill "the just don't have a clue" O'Reilly, and John "the don't have an alternative just like to oppose the President" Boehner, then its easy to conclude that the slow death of the Grand Old Pathetics is sheer torment. AfterThoughts Signing Off...

The Republican Party and My Epiphany

Prior to to the 2008 election, I never paid a whole lot of attention to politics as far as party was concerned. I've voted democrat since I was old enough to vote primarily because for some odd reason, democrats seemed nicer and more in touch with minorities and the less fortunate. Republicans seemed just as they do to me today: old, white, and rich. I'm sure that there are many of you reading this Blog and thinking, "she shouldn't have said that." Well, I'm sorry. I'm sorry because you think that what I said is wrong. I'm not apologizing for the content. I am just bewildered by the current Republican party. For me, it started with John McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as a running mate. Like countless other Americans, I read newspapers, blogs, and spent plenty of time watching cable news networks for the latest political stories. It was no secret that the heated race between then Senator Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton created political, racial, and gender rifts across the country. Here we had the choice between the first black president and the first female president. Blog posts were high. The PUMAS swore that if Clinton was defeated, they'd vote Republican. This was reported time and time again. For Senator John McCain, this was a huge,unexpected gift--one that he planned to capitalize on. With so many Democrats against Senator Obama, Hillary had to win. Right? Oh, but we know how that one turned out. The outrage and disappointment over her defeat made the elderly Senator from Arizona giddy and gleeful. He thought to himself, "this is it. I'll finally win the U.S. presidency. The Democrats are in complete disarray because they wanted Hillary and she lost. Obama didn't even have the decency to select her as his running mate. Now, all I have to do is find a woman to be my running mate. Not just any woman, but a good looking gal. One that will be eye candy for my lustful, aging colleagues and constituents. One that will stand for our "pure" values and strong Christian position" So, away he goes to Alaska and comes back with a woman. The answer to Hillary. The nail in Obama's coffin. The one to rally the base. This woman, one Governor Sarah Palin, was thrust at us like a syringe designed to cure syphilis. She was injected into our lives in a painful way. I watched in amazement as she ridiculed the very important work of Barack Obama as a community organizer, ridiculed his desire to reach out to hurting Americans through tax cuts, and endangered his life through her hate rhetoric. And all the while she "rallied the base." Now, this base is what has me befuddled. These people claim to hold tightly to Christian values. Well, I beg to differ. I am a Christian and to be one is to be "Christ-like." Christ would provide for the poor. Christ would not stand by and watch the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Many rich people are getting that way at the expense of the poor. Does predatory lending ring a bell? These middle-to-late age, caucasian, wealthy people quickly embraced a brainless, bobble-headed, Barbi doll who didn't know world affairs from her pinky toe. Yet,they were willing to have her serve as the nation's Vice-President. Another revelation, these right wing extremists are racist! No, really they are! They were so opposed to having a black man serve as President that they would have been willing to put spongebob in the oval office. They were desperate. I heard one lady literally beg John McCain at a rally to defeat Barack Obama."Please sir, please. Do what you need to do to ensure that he doesn't win." Another revelation: these right wing extremists are deranged, delusional, and demented! No, really they are. They give no thought to consequences of their speech, actions, or thoughts. They bombard the airwaves with racist, hate-filled rants. They never consider the very real possibility of some mentally-challenged bigot doing whatever is necessary to bring harm to the President or his followers. Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Bachmann, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Lou Dobbs, Joe the dumb plumber, and other extremists are letting their true colors show. Yet, the "base" loves them. During this week's "tea party," I saw a man with a sign that read, "Obama wants to make white people slaves." Now, I get it! Now, I understand! Some in white America are afraid that a black President would make this into a black nation and everything he does would be due to a "black thing." Now, that's just not so. Ask Tavis Smiley. President Obama is a President of all citizens of this country and he shows absolutely no favoritism where race is concerned. Just look at his administration. These right wing bobble heads (by the way, my definition of a bobble head is an individual that follows a movement based on fierce opposition to the other side, without fully knowing what the cause is. They bob their heads up and down in agreement with anything that appears contentious and heated). I don't know what Christian doctrine they follow or what bible they read, but being a gay-bashing, anti-abortion, partisan lunatic does not make one heaven-bound; it makes one ignorant of the the Bible, God's Holy Word. For you see, it takes much more than taking a stand against homosexuality and abortion to please God. Confession, repentance, humility, honesty, character, integrity, and a genuine love for people. Sorry right wing extremists, you don't make the cut. But if you go back and really read the bible, ask for forgiveness, and begin walking in the newness of life, then there's still a chance. Otherwise, you're nothing more than hypocritical, demon-possessed frauds.
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