Rahm Emmanuel serves as President Obama’s chief-of-staff and as part of the Clinton administration acquired a tough, no-holds, enforcer reputation. Little attention is paid to the period of time he resigned as Clinton’s aid in 1998 until 2001. Then, he successfully made a bid for the House Seat in the Illinois 5th District in 2002 elections.
It appears Mr. Emmanuel took the plunge into investment banking. I find this very interesting. After hearing this information, on Glen Beck’s program on Fox News (Aug. 13, 2009), I checked out some basic facts.
· Rahm Emmanuel graduated from Evanston School of Ballet, turned down a scholarship to the Joffrery Ballet to attend Sarah Lawrence College, a school with a strong dance program. There he received a B.A. in the Liberal Arts, followed by a M.A. in Speech and Communication. (Northwestern, University, 1985).
· With no background in business, or banking, he lands a plum job at Wasserstein Perella from 1998 –mid 2002. In 1998, he becomes director of the Chicago office.
· During this stint, he was involved in 8 deals and reaped a 16½ million dollar profit.
· One of those deals generated almost all of the profits. The sale of Southwestern Bell Company’s Security Link unit to GTCR Golder Rauner in order to facilitate SBC’s purchase of Ameritec. (Today through further morphs and mergers SBC has become AT&T.)
· In 2000, Pres. Clinton appointed, Emmanuel to the board of Freddie Mac for a salary and later stock sales of almost $320,000. He is not known to have attended board meetings, or to have been assigned to any working committees.
· Rahm Emmanuel headed the GTCR Golder Rauner investment group that picked up the bargain priced Security Link. *
· Who head SBC at the time of the Security Link Sale? Edward Whiteacre
· To what was Mr. Whiteacre recently appointed? The Treasury Department selected him to become the new chairman of GM.
· Emmanuel’s group sells it for over $1 billion*
*These items were the only one’s that I have not been able to cross check as of today:
1. That Security link was purchased by GTCR for a bargain price. 2. That GTCR group sold Security Link for between 1 and 1.5 billion dollars.
Remember these things:
· Rahm Emmanuel made almost all of that 16 ½ million from a deal that involved Mr. Whiteacre
· Mr. Emmanuel served during the time Freddie Mae was cooking the books and creating some of the most horrendous indiscretions in accounting and lending ever seen in the mortgage industry.
· In the House. Rep. Emmanuel sat on the Financial Service’s Committee, but recused himself from the subcommittee investigating Freddie Mac to supposedly avoid the appearance of impropriety, or conflict of interests
· The Obama administration, rejected a request by The Chicago Tribune under the Freedom Information Act to go over the board meeting minutes and correspondence of Freddie Mac during the time Emmanuel served there. The request was denied.
Well, it looks like while Rahm Emmanuel was studying ballet, he, also learned to the fine art of the political two-step in the heart of Chicago.
Mr. Emmanuel to you, I say that for someone so concerned about the appearance of impropriety you seem to like shutting the barn after the cow has escaped. For the administration to appoint Mr. Whiteacre as GM’s Chairman when you have had financial dealings that benefited you personally with him appears improper to others and me. There are other great businessmen that don’t have financial ties to you, or others, in the administration. (Not to mention this man has no automotive industry experience.)
You are a dirty dancer, Mr. Emmanuel, in an administration of dirty dancers. As for transparency, you and your crew would like to be wearing lead suits, the kind that Superman can’t see through. You have no intention of being transparent; but your deeds still find you out…the trail of slime is always left behind when you dance in the muck and mire.
“D”
Friday, August 14, 2009
Sunday, August 9, 2009
"Ooops Your Sith Is Showing"
Mr. President, somebody in your entourage has been dropping the ball. They haven’t been playing it straight with you. Lately you’ve been walking around with your Sith nature hanging out, and J. Q. Public is starting to see it, but nobody has told you to hike it back up.
You know, back in the day, you could fake the Jedi thing pretty well. You would stand up in front of that teleprompter and mesmerize them with “change”, “believe”, “ hope”, “reform”. No, wait… you were actually just like Senator Palpatine. And now that you’ve got the job of president, well the analogy just seems to continue.
You achieved what you could through legislation having the gift of “party ownership” of Congress, but you have soon realized that this has not brought you true control. So eighteen times (or more depending upon the reference source one uses) you created offices and made appointments of czars to oversee them, who are accountable to no one but you. Congress did not confirm these appointments. The czars were given broad powers and funding to do their jobs with no public accountability. Other presidents have appointed czars, but never so many and for such a variety of reasons.
Then, there is the quality of your appointees. Here are three examples. Green jobs czar Van Jones is a self-avowed communist, black-activist and a radical green environmentalist. He has stated, in the past, that he will use any methods accessible to him to achieve his Marxist agenda. Your science czar John Holdren wrote about the constitutionality of required abortion to maintain population growth on a worldwide scale. Carol Browner, Clinton administrations retread and your energy czar comes to this position under a dark cloud. During her final day of running the EPA for President Clinton, she ordered the deletion of her computer records despite a court injunction to the contrary.
You keep company with people who voice chilling ideas-ideas that are shaping our future and will divide our nation and change its very nature. One of your top advisors in health reform, bioethicist Dr Ezekiel Rahm, expressed his belief that the Hippocratic Oath was an impediment to health reform. The “do no harm” section of the oath supposedly is responsible for unnecessary medical tests, and undo prolonging of life that drive up health care costs. He is the man recommending the compulsory end of life evaluations, which you would be required to have with your primary care doctor that would begin at age 65 and would continue at five-year intervals.
You were doing a good job controlling the media. Why you had the major networks stumbling over each other trying to get exclusives. It was a circus! But then, you let a little lace show. You planted that question from the Huffington Post blog. You managed to enrage even the Great Granny of the liberal press, Helen Thomas.
Evidently, you feel confident enough to show more of your true nature because the Sith is continuing to slip. You arranged to be questioned about the arrest of your friend Professor Gates in Cambridge by Sgt. Crowley. Admittedly without knowing the full circumstances, you made a judgment about the police involved saying they “acted stupidly.” You are charged with representing the people, not your friends. Your remarks were incendiary and fed racist ideology, but then again you spent twenty years in the pews of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s church in Chicago. You seemed astounded by the negative reaction and once again try to return to the beatific, peaceful, Palpatine image, delivering a weak non-apology and having a beer at the White House. You orchestrated a teachable moment, but exactly what were you teaching? Better calibration? We saw camera shots from afar of the participants. You were talking and laughing. Vice-President Biden was doing a great impression of Ed McMahon roaring at everything you said, but Gates and Crowley seemed very subdued.
You jammed TARP down our throats; and the auto bailouts, and now you expect us to swallow health care reform. The snake on the Gaddesden flag representing the thirteen original colonies was not a boa constrictor. Just as it could not swallow a cow, we cannot swallow huge amounts of debt at a time and survive. In truth, people can only swallow so much deficit spending, so much government inefficiency, so much lying, and so much betrayal. You wish to take away our individualism, redistribute our wealth and the benefits derived by our achievements, relieve us of our personal responsibility to care for ourselves and our families, tax into an equal level of misery, and tell us this is a better, more American way of life. You, your advisers, your appointees and your faithful cohorts in Congress have awakened the hibernating rattler on that flag, and the people are beginning to shout: “Don’t Tread On Me!”
Mr. President, many notice that the man in the Oval Office does not lead our country, but attempts to rule our country. You, sir, are our stealth emperor. Take note, Emperor Obama, the history of the world has not been kind to emperors, nor has the world of fantasy and fiction. Americans will not tolerate an imperial presidency!
-"D"
You know, back in the day, you could fake the Jedi thing pretty well. You would stand up in front of that teleprompter and mesmerize them with “change”, “believe”, “ hope”, “reform”. No, wait… you were actually just like Senator Palpatine. And now that you’ve got the job of president, well the analogy just seems to continue.
You achieved what you could through legislation having the gift of “party ownership” of Congress, but you have soon realized that this has not brought you true control. So eighteen times (or more depending upon the reference source one uses) you created offices and made appointments of czars to oversee them, who are accountable to no one but you. Congress did not confirm these appointments. The czars were given broad powers and funding to do their jobs with no public accountability. Other presidents have appointed czars, but never so many and for such a variety of reasons.
Then, there is the quality of your appointees. Here are three examples. Green jobs czar Van Jones is a self-avowed communist, black-activist and a radical green environmentalist. He has stated, in the past, that he will use any methods accessible to him to achieve his Marxist agenda. Your science czar John Holdren wrote about the constitutionality of required abortion to maintain population growth on a worldwide scale. Carol Browner, Clinton administrations retread and your energy czar comes to this position under a dark cloud. During her final day of running the EPA for President Clinton, she ordered the deletion of her computer records despite a court injunction to the contrary.
You keep company with people who voice chilling ideas-ideas that are shaping our future and will divide our nation and change its very nature. One of your top advisors in health reform, bioethicist Dr Ezekiel Rahm, expressed his belief that the Hippocratic Oath was an impediment to health reform. The “do no harm” section of the oath supposedly is responsible for unnecessary medical tests, and undo prolonging of life that drive up health care costs. He is the man recommending the compulsory end of life evaluations, which you would be required to have with your primary care doctor that would begin at age 65 and would continue at five-year intervals.
You were doing a good job controlling the media. Why you had the major networks stumbling over each other trying to get exclusives. It was a circus! But then, you let a little lace show. You planted that question from the Huffington Post blog. You managed to enrage even the Great Granny of the liberal press, Helen Thomas.
Evidently, you feel confident enough to show more of your true nature because the Sith is continuing to slip. You arranged to be questioned about the arrest of your friend Professor Gates in Cambridge by Sgt. Crowley. Admittedly without knowing the full circumstances, you made a judgment about the police involved saying they “acted stupidly.” You are charged with representing the people, not your friends. Your remarks were incendiary and fed racist ideology, but then again you spent twenty years in the pews of Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s church in Chicago. You seemed astounded by the negative reaction and once again try to return to the beatific, peaceful, Palpatine image, delivering a weak non-apology and having a beer at the White House. You orchestrated a teachable moment, but exactly what were you teaching? Better calibration? We saw camera shots from afar of the participants. You were talking and laughing. Vice-President Biden was doing a great impression of Ed McMahon roaring at everything you said, but Gates and Crowley seemed very subdued.
You jammed TARP down our throats; and the auto bailouts, and now you expect us to swallow health care reform. The snake on the Gaddesden flag representing the thirteen original colonies was not a boa constrictor. Just as it could not swallow a cow, we cannot swallow huge amounts of debt at a time and survive. In truth, people can only swallow so much deficit spending, so much government inefficiency, so much lying, and so much betrayal. You wish to take away our individualism, redistribute our wealth and the benefits derived by our achievements, relieve us of our personal responsibility to care for ourselves and our families, tax into an equal level of misery, and tell us this is a better, more American way of life. You, your advisers, your appointees and your faithful cohorts in Congress have awakened the hibernating rattler on that flag, and the people are beginning to shout: “Don’t Tread On Me!”
Mr. President, many notice that the man in the Oval Office does not lead our country, but attempts to rule our country. You, sir, are our stealth emperor. Take note, Emperor Obama, the history of the world has not been kind to emperors, nor has the world of fantasy and fiction. Americans will not tolerate an imperial presidency!
-"D"
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Crossing the line
There is spirit in this country. It was bought here by a group of people seeking the right to worship God in their own way. They were willing to risk everything to travel to an unexplored world and shape their own future. Not the act of a timid people. In spite of a hostile environment and extreme weather conditions they managed not only to survive but to progress and expand their colony. Throughout these times they were ever mindful of the hand of Divine Providence and continually gave thanks to God for delivering them from their persecutors.
This same spirit emboldened those who chafed under the leash of King George to rise up and call for change. Resentful of the restrictions placed on them by the Crown they sought to declare their independence and form a new union. Those brave souls placed themselves on the forefront of a revolution that would change the world. Their writings reflect a steadfast belief in God and a desire to make His laws the foundation of their brave new world.
Throughout our country's relatively brief history this spirit has been present in the undercurrent of history: a civil war, two world wars, the civil rights movement, 9/11. We are slow to anger but quick to respond. Now it seems that our own political leaders have forgotten or lack understanding of the forces that served as midwives to our great nation. Many people worked hard, some gave their very lives, to insure that we would remain a free people. To be betrayed from within is not acceptable and I for one do not plan to stand by and helplessly wring my hands .
Do we have an enviable like style in this country? Yes. Did we work damn hard to attain it? Yes. Do others have the same opportunity to work damn hard? Yes. Do some people believe this life should be handed to them on a silver platter? Yes. Is this a reasonable expectation? NO.
We were not founded by a bunch of wimps. We were founded by people who understood hard work, were not afraid of hard work and expected others to work just as hard as they did. And at the heart of their existence, with them in every struggle and every triumph, was their God.
Fortunately for them their leaders understood this, acknowledged a dependence on the will of the Almighty and girded themselves for daily battle.
Unfortunately for us our current leaders seek to remove this spirit from our country. They do not want people to be resilient and hard-working. No longer is self-reliance a virtue. Total dependence on a government that holds us in a choke hold is their goal. God has no place in this equation.
Slow to anger, quick to respond. Step carefully; scales are falling from eyes at a rapid rate. The threat to our way of life is becoming more obvious and the call to arms has been sounded. Teabag parties, town hall protests, politicians afraid to show their faces for fear of open confrontation by their constituents - sounds like the beginning of a revolution to me.
It's about time.
Dee
This same spirit emboldened those who chafed under the leash of King George to rise up and call for change. Resentful of the restrictions placed on them by the Crown they sought to declare their independence and form a new union. Those brave souls placed themselves on the forefront of a revolution that would change the world. Their writings reflect a steadfast belief in God and a desire to make His laws the foundation of their brave new world.
Throughout our country's relatively brief history this spirit has been present in the undercurrent of history: a civil war, two world wars, the civil rights movement, 9/11. We are slow to anger but quick to respond. Now it seems that our own political leaders have forgotten or lack understanding of the forces that served as midwives to our great nation. Many people worked hard, some gave their very lives, to insure that we would remain a free people. To be betrayed from within is not acceptable and I for one do not plan to stand by and helplessly wring my hands .
Do we have an enviable like style in this country? Yes. Did we work damn hard to attain it? Yes. Do others have the same opportunity to work damn hard? Yes. Do some people believe this life should be handed to them on a silver platter? Yes. Is this a reasonable expectation? NO.
We were not founded by a bunch of wimps. We were founded by people who understood hard work, were not afraid of hard work and expected others to work just as hard as they did. And at the heart of their existence, with them in every struggle and every triumph, was their God.
Fortunately for them their leaders understood this, acknowledged a dependence on the will of the Almighty and girded themselves for daily battle.
Unfortunately for us our current leaders seek to remove this spirit from our country. They do not want people to be resilient and hard-working. No longer is self-reliance a virtue. Total dependence on a government that holds us in a choke hold is their goal. God has no place in this equation.
Slow to anger, quick to respond. Step carefully; scales are falling from eyes at a rapid rate. The threat to our way of life is becoming more obvious and the call to arms has been sounded. Teabag parties, town hall protests, politicians afraid to show their faces for fear of open confrontation by their constituents - sounds like the beginning of a revolution to me.
It's about time.
Dee
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Medical Blues Pt. 2
To continue my little summer medical adventure, I ended up being admitted to the hospital that night only because my rheumatologist suspected pneumonia, even when an xray didn't confirm it. He wanted more sensitive tests including a CT scan with contrast of my lungs to eliminate a diagnosis of pleurisy or pneumonia. My primary care doctor backed him up. From this point on, no one from the hospital, ever talked to these two people again, even though, they presented information to me as if it has been discussed with them, and that decisions about my care had been made with their impute.
The CT scan showed fuzziness in t he lower right lobe and some more indications of pneumonia in an upper right lobe. An infectious disease doctor was called in. He claimed the original Xray did show indications of pneumonia. I determine was started on antibiotics. There were beau coup blood tests to a cause. The nursing staff were to determine that I needed oxygen and saw the order was given.
The house doctor said he thought I was just in an RA flare. After all, my sed rate was high. I really just needed some more prednesone, bed rest and some extra pain medication. As far as he was concerned I was taking up space.
Blood tests and cultures didn't reveal the culprit, but I was switched to a stronger wide spectrum antibiotic by the infectious disease doctor and began to improve within six hours.
When I was finally released, the two doctors were still disagreeing about my condition. The house doctor changed levels of some of my everyday meds without consulting my primary care doctor, but gave me the impression that this had her authority to do so.
The infecticous disease doctor questioned me and came up with a theory. I had been changing out the dirt in some plant pots that had wintered outside Some standing water had collected in them. I took care of these a few days before first growing ill. He believed that I has that while in a flare I was exposed to legionnaire's disease. Fortunately, it was caught in the early stages, leading to a lack of culture evidence.
Now, that house doctor wouldn't give an inch. Refused to consider the truth-that the treatment cured me. Disregard the wishes of my doctors to be involved in my case-despite my expressed directions.
On top of all this, neither doctor has ever written a report to my rheumatolgist ( which I requested) , and as of late Nov. , none had been written to my primary care doctor.
The hospital I used had been an institution of high repute. During the past three years it has deteriorated to the point that when I can, I will choose another.
The charges for my stay were high; the amount we pay for insurance is steep. I would expect that the focus of attending physicians would be on the needs of the patients and not on competition and one-up-manship with each other. Above all, the patient has relevant knowledge and information to offer if the doctor will listen. I know body and I know when something is wrong! I know the difference between a flare and something else that's wrong -like pneumonia.
grrrr
"D"
The CT scan showed fuzziness in t he lower right lobe and some more indications of pneumonia in an upper right lobe. An infectious disease doctor was called in. He claimed the original Xray did show indications of pneumonia. I determine was started on antibiotics. There were beau coup blood tests to a cause. The nursing staff were to determine that I needed oxygen and saw the order was given.
The house doctor said he thought I was just in an RA flare. After all, my sed rate was high. I really just needed some more prednesone, bed rest and some extra pain medication. As far as he was concerned I was taking up space.
Blood tests and cultures didn't reveal the culprit, but I was switched to a stronger wide spectrum antibiotic by the infectious disease doctor and began to improve within six hours.
When I was finally released, the two doctors were still disagreeing about my condition. The house doctor changed levels of some of my everyday meds without consulting my primary care doctor, but gave me the impression that this had her authority to do so.
The infecticous disease doctor questioned me and came up with a theory. I had been changing out the dirt in some plant pots that had wintered outside Some standing water had collected in them. I took care of these a few days before first growing ill. He believed that I has that while in a flare I was exposed to legionnaire's disease. Fortunately, it was caught in the early stages, leading to a lack of culture evidence.
Now, that house doctor wouldn't give an inch. Refused to consider the truth-that the treatment cured me. Disregard the wishes of my doctors to be involved in my case-despite my expressed directions.
On top of all this, neither doctor has ever written a report to my rheumatolgist ( which I requested) , and as of late Nov. , none had been written to my primary care doctor.
The hospital I used had been an institution of high repute. During the past three years it has deteriorated to the point that when I can, I will choose another.
The charges for my stay were high; the amount we pay for insurance is steep. I would expect that the focus of attending physicians would be on the needs of the patients and not on competition and one-up-manship with each other. Above all, the patient has relevant knowledge and information to offer if the doctor will listen. I know body and I know when something is wrong! I know the difference between a flare and something else that's wrong -like pneumonia.
grrrr
"D"
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Medical Blues
"D" here and anyone who may pursue Double Talk would immediately recognize my dwindling absence as a contributor since June. For years I have suffered from complicated medical conditions-fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis, migraines, degenerative disk disease, sleep apnea., obesity. But for years, realizing I couldn't be active in many of the old pursuits of my life, I scaled back maintaining home traditions,, learning news ways to do old tasks, pursuing writing, and rekindling an interest in watercolor painting.
But new symptoms began creeping up: blackouts, falls, foggiheadedness, loss of time, sleep states where I would use objects I held in inappropriate ways. Was it narcolepsy? Was it seizures? Was it both? Was it my inability to use my CPAP machine (For medical novices, this machine is used for sleep apnea and keeps you breathing at night.and your sleep uninterrupted.), because of severe nasal sinus infections. In actuality the CPAP hadn't been very helpful for a few months before the chronic nasal issues.
My neurologist, concerned ordered a battery of tests, but before anything could be scheduled, I became sick with a most peculiar illness. Afternoon chills, were followed by a fever, followed by terrible joint/muscle and pain and breathing in and I thought I was experiencing an RA flare. The fever broke around nine in the evening. The next morning, except for fatigue and joint pain I was fine. The whole cycle repeated with a fever of 102.3 degrees and pain in the upper right back when I inspire. (High for someone who's normal is 97.6-) I'm sort of convinced this is related to my RA, so I call my rheumatologist. He is concerned that being inmune compromised I have pneumonia. He sends me to the local ER even though he doesn't admit there with instructions to call him immediately. I take his number. Also, he wanted the ER staff to contact my primary physician, who had admitting authority.
My next installment will take us into the belly of one beast.
But new symptoms began creeping up: blackouts, falls, foggiheadedness, loss of time, sleep states where I would use objects I held in inappropriate ways. Was it narcolepsy? Was it seizures? Was it both? Was it my inability to use my CPAP machine (For medical novices, this machine is used for sleep apnea and keeps you breathing at night.and your sleep uninterrupted.), because of severe nasal sinus infections. In actuality the CPAP hadn't been very helpful for a few months before the chronic nasal issues.
My neurologist, concerned ordered a battery of tests, but before anything could be scheduled, I became sick with a most peculiar illness. Afternoon chills, were followed by a fever, followed by terrible joint/muscle and pain and breathing in and I thought I was experiencing an RA flare. The fever broke around nine in the evening. The next morning, except for fatigue and joint pain I was fine. The whole cycle repeated with a fever of 102.3 degrees and pain in the upper right back when I inspire. (High for someone who's normal is 97.6-) I'm sort of convinced this is related to my RA, so I call my rheumatologist. He is concerned that being inmune compromised I have pneumonia. He sends me to the local ER even though he doesn't admit there with instructions to call him immediately. I take his number. Also, he wanted the ER staff to contact my primary physician, who had admitting authority.
My next installment will take us into the belly of one beast.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Plumber Joe from O-hi-o
Poor Joe the Plumber. I bet he'd like to buy back his 15 minutes of fame.
His crime? Asking Barack Obama a serious question about his tax plan.
And because he didn't have a teleprompter in front of him with a predetermined answer the Senator from Illinois gave an honest, revealing answer.
For this crime against humanity Joe is now being subjected to the equivalency of a shark feeding frenzy staged by the mainstream media.
Could it be any clearer that the media sits snugly in the pocket of the Democratic party? Ignore the disturbing answer and go after the plumber......NOW! Don't give the public time to think about the answer. They might not like their conclusions.
As a preschool teacher, I'm familiar with this technique. It's called redirecting. Changing the child's focus from one activity to another. The Wizard of Oz tried to use it when he told Dorothy and her friends to "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain." Well, it didn't work for the Wizard and I'd like to think we're at least as smart as Dorothy.
The real focus of that exchange should be on Obama and his answer not Joe and his question.
Hang in there, Joe. You asked a legitimate question. Like it or not, you are now a representative for middle class America. I only hope everyone is paying attention to the way Joe is being treated. Because if Barack Obama wins the election in November, it's how we're all going to be treated.
Dee
P.S. I predict that's the last time you'll see Senator Obama answer any off-the-cuff questions. No doubt they have the muzzle on nice and tight.
His crime? Asking Barack Obama a serious question about his tax plan.
And because he didn't have a teleprompter in front of him with a predetermined answer the Senator from Illinois gave an honest, revealing answer.
For this crime against humanity Joe is now being subjected to the equivalency of a shark feeding frenzy staged by the mainstream media.
Could it be any clearer that the media sits snugly in the pocket of the Democratic party? Ignore the disturbing answer and go after the plumber......NOW! Don't give the public time to think about the answer. They might not like their conclusions.
As a preschool teacher, I'm familiar with this technique. It's called redirecting. Changing the child's focus from one activity to another. The Wizard of Oz tried to use it when he told Dorothy and her friends to "pay no attention to that man behind the curtain." Well, it didn't work for the Wizard and I'd like to think we're at least as smart as Dorothy.
The real focus of that exchange should be on Obama and his answer not Joe and his question.
Hang in there, Joe. You asked a legitimate question. Like it or not, you are now a representative for middle class America. I only hope everyone is paying attention to the way Joe is being treated. Because if Barack Obama wins the election in November, it's how we're all going to be treated.
Dee
P.S. I predict that's the last time you'll see Senator Obama answer any off-the-cuff questions. No doubt they have the muzzle on nice and tight.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
How Fares the Dream?
The sixties were a turbulent time. Bob Dylan told us that "The times, they are a-changin", and while this was true it wasn't easy. The decade was a crucible for violence best exemplified by the assassinations of John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Standing up for your beliefs could land you squarely in the cross hairs of some madman's gun.
The best change is a gradual change, one that has time to take root and be nurtured carefully. When change is thrust upon one it is more likely to be resisted. The Rev. Dr. King understood this. While realizing the time had come for those of color to stand up and be recognized as co-heirs to the American dream of liberty and justice for all he also realized that if this was to be a lasting accomplishment it must be pursued by peaceful means and actions.
In August of 1963, Martin Luther King gave a speech at the Lincoln Memorial. He spoke to a quarter of a million civil rights supporters, black and white, of his dream of a future where brotherhood between all men was the standard. He acknowledged his dream to be deeply rooted in the American dream. He gave voice to his faith that "we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood". He spoke of a time when his children would be judged not "by the color of their skin but by the content of their character". He was mindful of not creating an atmosphere that fostered the need for revenge against real and perceived wrongdoings. He admonished his followers, "In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred".
Dr. King was well aware of the real possibility that his dream could be twisted and exploited by those who sought only to advance themselves by drawing on the natural tendency of people to desire retribution from their adversaries. Sadly, some of those people walked by his side and pretended to espouse the virtues of Dr. King's beliefs while biding their time until they could stir the pot of racial division and bring it to a full boil.
Several months prior to his speech at the Lincoln Memorial Dr. King was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama for his role in the Birmingham Campaign, a movement to end the city's segregated policies. While in jail Dr. King wrote a letter to fellow clergymen to address their reservations about the means being used by Dr. King and his supporters. He quoted great biblical and historical figures in his argument for the need to change. He warned of a frightening racial nightmare if his white brothers did not heed his nonviolent efforts. Martin Luther King defined his position as standing between those blacks who had become complacent and insensitive and the black nationalist groups that had repudiated Christianity and were fueled by hatred and despair.
Rev. King dreamed of a day when freedom would ring out all over America for all of her people. His dream was that all of God's children would be able to join hands and sing, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
So, what has become of the dream?
For the first time in our history an African-American stands poised to assume the mantle of the presidency. Is this a fulfillment of Dr. King's dream, the culmination of the many marches for equality that took place in the sixties? How did Barack Obama arrive at this position? Did his experience lead him to the race for the presidency? Sadly, no. He is woefully inexperienced for any position of leadership. His time in the Senate has been limited. Being a community organizer does not qualify one for the highest office in the land. Being able to produce sound bites does not qualify one for the highest office in the land. Simply being African-American does not qualify one for the highest office in the land.
However, this last point is the selling point for the Democratic Party. If you don't support Obama, you must be a (gasp) racist! If Obama doesn't win, there will be riots in the streets! (Never mind that this is fear-mongering at it's worst and insulting to African-Americans nationwide.) Democratic leaders openly accuse their own constituents of racism in anticipation of their lack of support for the Senator from Illinois. Some are poised to throw Israel under the bus to create division and gain support.
The Democratic Party slogan now seems to be, "By hook or by crook". They have never gotten over their double loss to George W. Bush. To listen to them today you would think they are still running against George W. and I suppose in a way they are. They are stuck in the year 2000 still trying to claim a victory that the Supreme Court declared was not theirs. They want to reclaim the presidency (as if they are the sole heirs to it) and undo any policy that has Bush's name on it. If they could strike his name from the records, I'm sure they would do just that.
What does this have to do with the dream?
It shows the mindset of those who promote Obama. His virtue lies not in the fact that he is a qualified black man but that he is a good front man for their agenda. Any objections to his candidacy are immediately met with cries of racism. This is the club that will be used to beat back any challenges to his qualifications to run for president. This is the crutch they extend to those who cannot win by their own merit. It has nothing to do with content of character and everything to do with the color of skin.
Dr. King dreamed of hearing freedom ring out across the land in proclamation of the brotherhood of all men. Instead all we hear from the Democrats is the maniacal laughter of the power hungry as they seek to take our rights away and impose their will on us.
Is the dream dead?
No but it is proper poorly. The dream is not partisan, it is not political, it is not a means to an end. And shame on those who treat it as such. It is either a dream for all to fulfill or it will forever fall short of it's mark.
Please, America, do not let this vision fade. Push off those who would seek to hijack Dr. King's dream for their own limited agenda. Restore the dream to it's rightful place, a place that transcends party politics and encourages humanity to be ever mindful of the fact that we are all God's children.
Dee
The best change is a gradual change, one that has time to take root and be nurtured carefully. When change is thrust upon one it is more likely to be resisted. The Rev. Dr. King understood this. While realizing the time had come for those of color to stand up and be recognized as co-heirs to the American dream of liberty and justice for all he also realized that if this was to be a lasting accomplishment it must be pursued by peaceful means and actions.
In August of 1963, Martin Luther King gave a speech at the Lincoln Memorial. He spoke to a quarter of a million civil rights supporters, black and white, of his dream of a future where brotherhood between all men was the standard. He acknowledged his dream to be deeply rooted in the American dream. He gave voice to his faith that "we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood". He spoke of a time when his children would be judged not "by the color of their skin but by the content of their character". He was mindful of not creating an atmosphere that fostered the need for revenge against real and perceived wrongdoings. He admonished his followers, "In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred".
Dr. King was well aware of the real possibility that his dream could be twisted and exploited by those who sought only to advance themselves by drawing on the natural tendency of people to desire retribution from their adversaries. Sadly, some of those people walked by his side and pretended to espouse the virtues of Dr. King's beliefs while biding their time until they could stir the pot of racial division and bring it to a full boil.
Several months prior to his speech at the Lincoln Memorial Dr. King was arrested in Birmingham, Alabama for his role in the Birmingham Campaign, a movement to end the city's segregated policies. While in jail Dr. King wrote a letter to fellow clergymen to address their reservations about the means being used by Dr. King and his supporters. He quoted great biblical and historical figures in his argument for the need to change. He warned of a frightening racial nightmare if his white brothers did not heed his nonviolent efforts. Martin Luther King defined his position as standing between those blacks who had become complacent and insensitive and the black nationalist groups that had repudiated Christianity and were fueled by hatred and despair.
Rev. King dreamed of a day when freedom would ring out all over America for all of her people. His dream was that all of God's children would be able to join hands and sing, "Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"
So, what has become of the dream?
For the first time in our history an African-American stands poised to assume the mantle of the presidency. Is this a fulfillment of Dr. King's dream, the culmination of the many marches for equality that took place in the sixties? How did Barack Obama arrive at this position? Did his experience lead him to the race for the presidency? Sadly, no. He is woefully inexperienced for any position of leadership. His time in the Senate has been limited. Being a community organizer does not qualify one for the highest office in the land. Being able to produce sound bites does not qualify one for the highest office in the land. Simply being African-American does not qualify one for the highest office in the land.
However, this last point is the selling point for the Democratic Party. If you don't support Obama, you must be a (gasp) racist! If Obama doesn't win, there will be riots in the streets! (Never mind that this is fear-mongering at it's worst and insulting to African-Americans nationwide.) Democratic leaders openly accuse their own constituents of racism in anticipation of their lack of support for the Senator from Illinois. Some are poised to throw Israel under the bus to create division and gain support.
The Democratic Party slogan now seems to be, "By hook or by crook". They have never gotten over their double loss to George W. Bush. To listen to them today you would think they are still running against George W. and I suppose in a way they are. They are stuck in the year 2000 still trying to claim a victory that the Supreme Court declared was not theirs. They want to reclaim the presidency (as if they are the sole heirs to it) and undo any policy that has Bush's name on it. If they could strike his name from the records, I'm sure they would do just that.
What does this have to do with the dream?
It shows the mindset of those who promote Obama. His virtue lies not in the fact that he is a qualified black man but that he is a good front man for their agenda. Any objections to his candidacy are immediately met with cries of racism. This is the club that will be used to beat back any challenges to his qualifications to run for president. This is the crutch they extend to those who cannot win by their own merit. It has nothing to do with content of character and everything to do with the color of skin.
Dr. King dreamed of hearing freedom ring out across the land in proclamation of the brotherhood of all men. Instead all we hear from the Democrats is the maniacal laughter of the power hungry as they seek to take our rights away and impose their will on us.
Is the dream dead?
No but it is proper poorly. The dream is not partisan, it is not political, it is not a means to an end. And shame on those who treat it as such. It is either a dream for all to fulfill or it will forever fall short of it's mark.
Please, America, do not let this vision fade. Push off those who would seek to hijack Dr. King's dream for their own limited agenda. Restore the dream to it's rightful place, a place that transcends party politics and encourages humanity to be ever mindful of the fact that we are all God's children.
Dee
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