Hate and Hope

If it was not apparent at the moment of his inauguration it is becoming very clear now that Americas electing of the western worlds first minority head of state was too much change for some. A sign of where the US is in terms of demographics, basic race size and strength. Hispanics are the fastest growing minority, surpassing African Americans. Increasingly children are not just black and white or hispanic but a melting pot of all different nationalities and even religions.

This change in our nations population is real and apparently a threat to a segment of our population. They seem to feel helpless in the face of what they see as too much government. A country over run with immigrants that don't even have the decency to learn "our" language. This is not the America that is told in the history books. This is not Ronald Reagan's "shining city on a hill". This is a mongrel society that threatens them and all they know be true about this great land. Sounds a little over the top but from the stories I have done around the country, (mainly in the south and midwest), this pervasive feeling of losing control of their lives and country is truly real with some . If you want to see how out of control this country is just look who they elected president

To some Obama's election was not historic but apocalyptic. Some on the fringe and not so fringe right are saying he's the anti-Christ. Look at the rise in militia activity and this "call to arms". A rally was called in Virginia that encouraged rally goers to bring their firearms. People and members of Congress still questioning the citizenship of the president. Such an edge and anger to our politics.

I think of something that Obama said during the campaign. It is something that I can remember many social justice leaders like MLK or Malcom even Ghandi often said, basically, that power will not give it up easily. That change is a struggle a fight. This uprising of what some call populism, is not about health care, gays in the military or carbon taxes on polluters, its about change. Change in our country or politics and mostly our president. Now we have to hope that hate does not kill hope.





For those on the right that have no legitimate ideas nor identity have chosen to fan the flames of paranoia and misinformation.

Where Are They?

Last week I traveled with my correspondent to Orlando Florida to do a story on the Tea Party Movement that is growing in that area. When we arrived we immediately went to a chain restaurant outside Orlando. About 60 self-titled Tea Party members had gathered to meet about a half dozen candidates running for local office. Although their numbers are small, the Tea Party Movement has shaken up politics. The candidates in the room were on a kind of Speed Dating circuit around the room. They seemed in a desperate rush to prove how "down home" they all were. Who was more country. I over heard two of the candidates boosting about their pickup truck ownership. They were not just trying to generate votes, they knew they needed these votes to have any chance to be elected.

Which brings me to the estimated 30 million Americans without health insurance or the self-employed person or the one's that have insurance but the deductible is so high that it renders the policy next to useless or the small business owner that has to lay someone off or not hire someone because of the cost of health insurance. Where are these people? Why don't we see them? Why are so many politicians finding it so easy to ignore them?

It would seem that these merging constituencies would be much larger than a group of Libertarians and disgruntled conservative, mostly white, voters. Yet say what you will about loonies in the Tea Party membership, they are passionate, vocal and for a while, omnipresent in the media. Republicans, like a kid trying to jump into a game of Double Dutch, are trying to figure out how to get in on the action.

President Obama was quoted as saying to a group of reluctant Democratic Congressmen, that the "strength of his presidency" depended on the passing of health care reform. The fact that this president who campaigned on health care reform has to convince large portions of his own party to follow him is shameful. Shameful because its political. Elected officials who are more concerned about the next election cycle than doing what is right for their constituents. Wrapping it in the guise of principle. The fact that the barely and uninsured don't have a louder voice is quizzical

No Change At All

I think that America is growing up. Becoming more tolerant more open. Maybe we have become more pragmatic in general. This was not just made apparent by the election of the first minority President but the reasoning behind it. My fellow citizens ,some truly against their natural instincts, voted for the better candidate. They listen to his message and ideas for the country and made an educated choice.

I think some of this tolerance stems from self preservation. I don't think if your losing your home or job,if your dealing with bankruptcy because of an illness or disease you really don't care if gay men and women want to have the right to be as miserable as the rest of us. Or if women exercise their right to choose what happens to their bodies. Nor do we seem to care if the new president has a Muslim middle name.

The democrats have won the last 2 congressional elections and the White House in large part due to inclusiveness. Micheal Steel, newly elected chairman of the Republican Party, was touted as the historic rebirth of the party. I really heard a guy on Fox News say that.

But if the GOP has made an historic change at the top that's all the change some in the party want to happen. Even though this is the man,(Steel), that said that a job created by the government was not a real job, every time he says anything that would be described as sensible or inclusive, such as moderate positions on abortion or questioning the legitimacy of conservative host Rush Limbaugh, he has been hammered by those within the party. Now some are calling for him to resign.

When will the grand old party realize that a change in leadership without a change of ideas or methods will yield no change at all.

Barry Goldwater, the father of the conservative movement, although rigid in his stance of smaller government and even voting against the Civil Rights Act, said that "a man can change his mind" when he reversed his long held views on abortion. His wife was co-founder of Planned Parenthood in Arizona. I bring this up because as long as the conservative movement is defined in large part by the intolerant christian right they will never be able to grow the party.

When you can believe in smaller government and be gay or black or Hispanic and believe in lower taxes and still be considered a conservative, that will be change. If you stick with these issues and show the population how it will be better for them, now that is change.

A Fringe Party

How can you wish that the person running the country, (the president), will fail? Who would hope that the leader of our country, a country in one of the worst economic down turn in its history, would fail to turn it around? Is there really a person that would relish in the suffering of millions of Americans for the sake of politics? Yes. Radio personality and apparent leader of the GOP, Rush Limbaugh, said he is hoping that President Obama will fail in his efforts to change the direction of the America.

I didn't agree with many of George W. Bush's decisions as president but that's a long way from wanting him to fail. If he fails it effects all of us. That bit of common sense was also shared by a Republican congressman in regards to President Obama's policies. He didn't agree with the methods but he hoped that the President would be successful. Asked if he would say Rush Limbaugh was wrong in his view point and the congressman danced like he was in the Soul Train "grove line."

Why are they so scared to speak truth to this demagogue? This is not only Representatives in conservative districts that won't speak up but apparently all Republicans including the newly elected Chairman of the GOP, Michael Steel. He, (Steel), made the mistake of criticizing Rush. Calling him a entertainer only to apologize profusely a few days later. Rush responded, "Steel is not the head of the GOP."

I asked again, why do they allow this entertainer with fringe appeal to represent their party? Is that the Republican party today? A fringe party?

Why So Shocked?

President Obama said during the campaign that he would end the war in Iraq, reform health car and push hard for energy independence. He said he would let the Bush tax cuts expire. I have to add that the tax hikes would be almost exactly the same as during the Clinton presidency. The economy did pretty well too. He said he would make a major investment in education. He said it not once but consistently and was elected by a decisive margin.

Now over the last couple of days Mr. Obama has shown that he is a man of his word. Maybe that's why so many people seemed shocked at the large ideas expressed in his "not "State Of The Union" speech and today to the release of his budget plans.

The people really want change. Not just a campaign slogan. Real change. We have tried supply side economics, lower taxes for the wealthy and business in hopes that they would create jobs with this extra money. Guess what they kept the money and took the jobs overseas so they could make more money. It didn't work.

Millions of people that have or are losing their homes said we needed change. Same for those going bankrupt because they have an illness in the family. Same for the people that have lost their jobs and their ability to support their families. Millions of Americans voted for change and the President is delivering. Maybe that's why there seems to be shock, shock I say, over the dramatic initiatives the President proposed today. A politician really following through with what he or she, in this case he, promised in order to be elected.

Critics of the President's agenda say that he will leave a great debt for our children but it is clear to me that if nothing is done our children won't have a future. We, Americans, now own 41% of the second largest bank in the United States.

I think that In tough times you need from a president 5 things; honesty, confidence, competence , empathy and lastly and most importantly, leadership. Mr. Obama has shown all of these traits. The cynical among the Washington status quo, both Republican and some Democrats will show resistance but change is coming:-). If we are an engaged electorate.

I have Another Question

I seem to have a lot of questions about the economy. The question this time is in regards to the banking industry again.

There was a raging correspondent for CNBC on the floor of one of the exchanges and he was responding to President Obama's answer to the housing crisis. The correspondent, (I think his name was Santorm), was yelling that is was unfair that the President's plan would help people that were not "responsible". You know, the people that borrowed more than they could afford.

The traders on the floor behind this irate journalist were cheering with discontent. The same traders that had no complaints when they were all making money. Now they are filled with moral outrage that some homeowners might be helped by the Obama Home Recovery Act. Is it not their job, meaning the lenders, to confirm all information that is provided by a loan seeker. Is there not supposed to be due diligence on their part that prevents fraud on the part of the public. That's how it use to be. I had to verify my employment and income and they checked it too. But when you know that you will not be holding on to that loan. That you would sell the loan before the ink even dries, fact and proof be damned.

The fact that every time the Obama Administration proposes an idea we look at how Wall Street will react is ridiculous. I believe that only a truck load of money to the doors of the stock exchange in NYC will satisfy these people. Like the Golddiggers they are, they now despise what made them rich now that it can no longer sustain them.

We are constantly seduced if not bombarded by things we must have. People naturally want to not only have better for themselves but for their families. Lender seemed to be saying that they could have it all. They were offering home equity loans, sending pre approved credit card applications. "Your Job Is Your Credit"...

A large segment of our population is to blame for being stupid, lazy, naive and yes, greedy but why would the banks put their very existence at risk. Surly they knew what risk they were taking. A little greed is part of a successful capitalist economy. It became the entirety of our economy. To the point that the banks and Wall Street, forgot what they were about. Now they have fallen silent. With no ready answers to solve the crisis that they in large part created.

Not Over Yet

When I started this blog it was to tell stories from the campaign trail that I was on for the better part of 2 years. I quickly found myself discussing the issues that came up along the way. So when the election ended on that unusually warm night in Chicago's Grant Park I thought my blogging days would be over. I found, however, that my passion for the issues have not faded. So I'm back in no small part because my wife still has a limited capacity for my rants and raves.

Even though President Obama said countless times on the campaign trail that change would not come easy, I still find it hard to believe how little help the minority party has been in this time of global crisis. I guess if you can't be the party of influence then you can be the party of obstruction.

Please feel free to read more of my tirades to come:)