Fiscal Cliff-How did we get here?

Fiscal Cliff-How did we get here?

As we get closer and closer to the edge and it becomes increasingly apparent that the USA will take the plunge, I asked myself the question how did we get here in the first place. Well the short answer is that we spent our way into this mess. However, nothing in the world is ever that easy to resolve. The Republicans want to say do not raise taxes just cut spending. The Democrats say no give us more taxes and then cut spending. Republicans less government involvement, Democrats this country needs government involvement. Politics as usual and nothing is done. Mind you, no one wants to own up to their respective parts in the mess. It took both parties participation in brokering the deal that will take effect January 1, 2013, if nothing is done to undo it. This “compromise legislation” is what got us facing the fiscal cliff. Yet the President and Congress are considering proposing compromise legislation that will only put a bandage on the bigger problem. Individuals, lobbyists, corporations, political ideologies are shaping this country’s future and in my humble opinion in the wrong direction.

While compromise was written into the United States Constitution in the form and fashion of the three-fifths (3/5) compromise which relegated people of color to less than a person in order to get the southern states to ratify the Constitution, some compromises are not good compromises even if they achieve an immediate goal or objective. I hope no one would argue that slavery or relegating a person to a second-class citizen and the property of another was a good thing. If you do, just do a little research of this country’s history, the causes of the Civil War for starters.

There is a move in this country that is polluting the very fiber and principles upon which this great nation was founded. The words “We the People” are now being translated in Me, Myself and I; i.e. what is in it for me. Our forefathers must be turning over in their graves to see what they created through their blood, sweat and yes tears be relegated to our present belief of anything goes so long as it gets me what I want. I got my, you get yours the best way you can even if you are down on your luck (homeless, food stamps, Medicaid, you name it). Have we grown into a heathen nation of greedy do-nothings? Yes that’s right do-nothings, in the sense that they choose to sit on their wealth and not re-invest it in a nation or its people. At one point during the deep recession, it was estimated that Americans were sitting on some $2 trillion. Now if this is what the rich is going to do with lower taxes, let them be required to pay more to the government and lower its deficit. The Republican Party argument that  keeping taxes lower on the 98% will stimulate the economy and produce jobs just does not hold water with reality. For them to say leave the 98% alone and cut Veteran benefits, Social Security Benefits, Medicare, Medicaid is simply ludicrous. None of these entitlement programs significantly adds to the deficit, if they do at all. The recipients of these benefits have actually earned them, either through their service to our country, or taxes paid at some point throughout their lives and/or monthly insurance premiums. However, the tax rates and deductions the Republicans demand for the 98% actually do contribute to the deficit. Some estimates are as high as $1.3 trillion dollars. These tax cuts, two unfunded wars and Medicare Part D, the unfunded drug plan pushed through Congress by the Republicans during the Bush Administration, is the reasons for the deficit. How dare the Republicans now say America must cut, cut and more cuts to spending and balance the budget when they spent, spent and cut taxes for the rich creating the deficit? I guess it is do as I say and not do as I do that is working here.

When I was back in college studying to get my degree in accounting, I learned that in presenting a balance sheet there is a simple formula used,  Assets= Liabilities+ Equity. A key component of the equity portion of the equation is retained earnings. The simplest forms of retained earnings consist of the accumulation of profit and losses from the business inception. Therefore, if a business has been strictly profitable throughout the years, its retained earnings and consequently, the owner’s equity should be substantial and the liability section of the balance sheet should be significantly lower to make the equation work. Just to keep it simple here, we will say profit equal excess revenues over expenses. If all you do is cut your expenses without raising revenue, eventually your balance sheet will shrink because your assets will not increase because there is not any additional cash coming in to buy other assets. Yes, your liabilities will likewise shrink because outflow will be reduced correspondingly to the cuts, but the effect is no growth only maintaining stability. Consequently, a healthy business or country must not only control spending but it must also increase revenue in order to grow. There is no way a business can continue to survive simply by cutting spending and not increasing its revenues. The math just will not work.

History tells us that when George W. Bush took office, Bill Clinton left him a $1 trillion-dollar surplus and within eight years, not only had George W. Bush wiped out the surplus, but he also left President Obama with a $13+ trillion-dollar deficit. The reason for this is simple. During the Clinton years, revenues were up and spending was not in excess of revenues. During the Bush years, revenues were down, primarily due to tax cuts for the rich, and spending was off the charts, primarily because of two unfunded wars. The math the Republicans used during the Bush years did not work then and just will not work now. Oh I am sorry, I forgot, the math is different for a Democratic President.  Mr. Obama has to balance the budget and reduce the deficit all without a dime increase in revenue.  Next, I guess they will ask him to walk on water.

Now that the USA is facing a fiscal cliff nightmare, we have another problem that coincidentally will occur the same day, the USA debt ceiling would have been reached. It seems that we have been here before. Wasn’t it the negotiations over the debt ceiling that got us the fiscal cliff compromise in the first place and I suspect it will produce an equally bad law this time if the President and Democrats cave to Republicans demands once again to not to tax the rich in return for the raising the debt ceiling. Mr. President I hope you do not allow the Republicans to back you into the corner again because of this impending Debt Ceiling limitation. How dare the Republicans in Congress hold this country hostage by not performing their Constitutional duties they swore to perform, one of which is to insure that the full faith and credit of the United States of America is never called into question? In any event, one scholar has suggested there are three ways Obama could bypass Congress on the debt ceiling issue.  Mr. President what have you got to lose if the Congress will not do their job, you do it for them?


Will it be Déjà Vu or will we see a different outcome this time? If it means enacting another bad compromise or falling off the fiscal cliff, I would choose let us fall. At least we all will suffer not just the poor and powerless.

Now that is my two cents worth, Leonard

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell

Don't Ask Don't Tell

    Don't Ask and Don't Tell Poster Boy Recalled? The original article read indicates that the soldier that has been the center of the debate of repealing the Don't Ask Don't Tell policy written into law by congress has been called back to active duty. They later published a correction. Whether he is on active duty or reinstated to duty in the National Guard is of little consequence since his being reinstated in the National Guard could potentially allow him to be called to active duty; if and when his unit is activated.

In enacting Don't Ask Don't Tell , Congress made numerous findings and made it against the law for any individual to openly tell what their sexual preference is and more importantly to persistently commit homosexual acts. It should be noted in section (b) (2) of the law, the fact that a person declares himself or herself as a homosexual is not what mandates their dismissal but it is their propensity to commit homosexual acts in the future. Lt. Dan Choi knew he was potentially violating the law and military rules when he openly declared his sexual preference and merely allowed himself to be used as the poster child for this hot button issue. So what is next, the reinstatement of all soldiers who have been discharged from the armed services for not following its rules? If not, then are we telling them, sorry no help for you since you are not on the wrong side of a politically hot button issue? As far as I know, the law is still in effect. So how can this happen? Any good soldier follows orders no matter the personal cost to him or her. Honoring Mr. Choi for his openly disobeying rules of the armed services by reinstating him in his National Guard Unit is not the way to make sure that military orders are followed. To me it gives every member of the armed services a license to disobey military orders or rules that they do not like.

As I read the law, it protects the rights of all armed service personnel. Heterosexuals in the armed services can also be court martial for their sexual preferences, and that is what homosexuality is, a sexual preference, such as fraternizing with subordinates, rape, adulterous relationships; etc.; see for example punitive military law provisions, particularly noting 10 USC §§ 920, 920a, 925, 933 and 934. Should the military personnel who violate these rules be given a free pass also? All too often I have heard Mr. Obama saying that he cannot promote laws that single out a particular group; particular those laws that will promote African-American issues over those of other Americans. So why is Mr. Obama pushing for the repeal of a law, the appeal of which takes into account the wishes of a single group? Mr. Obama, it would appear that you are playing politics and stroking the passions of a very vocal and politically connected group over those that are not so vocal or politically connected.

As will be seen in a recent Politico article democrats are worried about repealing don't ask don't tell; as well they should be. In this article, House Minority Leader Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) is quoted as saying on "Meet the Press" recently: "In the middle of two wars, and in the middle of this giant security threat, why would we want to get into this debate?" Now there is very little coming out of John Boehner's mouth that makes sense to me, but this quote is an exception. Mr. Obama and fellow democrats, you would do well not to get into this debate and leave well enough along. If Don't Ask and Don't Tell did not prevent Bill Clinton or George W. Bush from being reelected; it certainly should not prevent you from being reelected. What will, in my opinion, is the lack of leadership you have demonstrated on issues that drive most Americans one way or the other; it is the economy and health care.

Now that is my two cents worth, Leonard.

HEALTH CARE REFORM-LIBERMAN’S WAY

Health Care Reform-Lieberman's Way

 

I have been reading in the news accounts on the web and television stations and it now comes down to one lone senator which states that he will not support healthcare reform bill pending before the U.S. Senate unless it is stripped of its provisions to give senior citizens, ages 55 to 64, who presently do not qualify for Medicare to buy into Medicare; a position that the Senator has in the past supported. Yes I am talking about Joe Lieberman and his power play move in the Senate; to which, it appears that Harry Reid and Barack Obama are poised to acquiesce to. So much for government by the people and for the people when one lone Senator can derail legislation that most logical people would say is long overdue. It is time for real healthcare reform in this country and it is time for anyone with another hidden agenda to step aside or be pushed aside in the name of the greater good. The only way to achieve real healthcare reform is to have a public option available to all those that want one because it is the only way to hold the for profit insurance companies accountable and to get them to play fair.

First, let me say I have no personal agenda in this matter. You see I am already receiving the benefits of a single payer system called Medicare, parts A, B and D and I will received these benefits for as long as I receive Social Security; since my premiums are automatically deducted from my check every month and I cannot be cancelled for any pre-existing condition or change in my health. So you see I have nothing to gain in this fight. In fact, I may lose something if we add millions more to Medicare, so be it. However, the millions of Americans who either cannot afford healthcare, cannot get it because their health conditions precludes them from getting insurance in the private sector have a great deal to loose in this struggle. I would venture to say that this struggle waged by one man with a personal agenda is a matter of life or death to them. But Mr. Lieberman and the republicans poised to vote against this bill don't care about them. I guess they are saying to themselves, I got my you get yours the best way you can so long as it does not affect my political contributions and interests. America this is not what we should be about and this is not what we are about. Special interests should not dictate this matter. What is right and fair to all Americans should.

As for Mr. Lieberman, it seems that his hands in this matter are not clean. His agenda is not for the people it is for Joe Lieberman. If not, how would you explain his about face on the very legislation he says would be an obstacle to his voting for cloture (a procedural move to end debate on a piece of legislation) of the Healthcare legislation. The truth of the matter you cannot. Joe Lieberman has stated from the beginning that he was going to side with the republicans on healthcare and on that issue he has not done an about face. No matter what the democrats give Lieberman, he will not side with the democrats on this or any issue. He has shown his true colors. Did he not participate in the Republican National Convention? Did he not campaign for the Republican Nominee for President of the United States of America? Did he not run as an independent to retain his seat as the Senator from Connecticut after the Democratic Party rejected him in favor of another Democrat? Come on people Joe Lieberman is not for the good of the people of Connecticut, United States of America or anyone or anything else other than Joe Lieberman. The leadership of the Senate and the President of the United States of America should send Joe Lieberman packing to the party of his choice, the Republican Party and strip him of his chairmanship and let him caucus with the party whose luggage he is carrying, the party of NO. Furthermore, it would seem that Mr. Lieberman maybe carrying the luggage of the insurance industry since he has received considerable amounts from them since 2005.

So why doesn't Harry Reid just send the legislation to conference now since it is obvious whatever bill passes the Senate will be in opposition to the one passed by the House of Representatives and have to go to conference committee anyway? Unless, the House of Representatives do a complete about face and agree to a final bill without the public option in it; we will be right back where we are now debating in the Senate over public option in the final bill. So unless the conference report comes back without a public option in it; according to Mr. Lieberman it's dead on arrival anyway because he will not vote for it. At least, what goes to the conference committee will not be a watered down version of a bill and Mr. Lieberman and the Republicans could no longer hold up the process unless there has to be a cloture vote on the Conference Committee Legislation and/or need sixty (60) votes to pass the Conference Committee Legislation.

I would dare to say that had Lyndon Johnson caved into the conventional wisdom of his day, there would have been no Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts passed. In fact, had Mr. Johnson not used the power of his office, these landmark legislation would still be sitting on the drawing board and there would have been no way the United States of America could have ever gotten to the point where it elected its first African-American president. Mr. Obama, the people of the United States of America gave you a mandate in November, 2008 don't relinquish that mandate to the likes of Joe Lieberman and the party of NO.

Now that's my two cents worth, Leonard.

RULES ARE RULES FOLKS

Hillary Clinton is pushing the seating of Michigan and Florida “delegation” based upon the vote as it was on their illegal, contrary to the DNC Rules . As it presently stands, neither of the states elected delegates, the ones based upon the presidential preference primary, or the Superdelegates are entitled to vote on the presidential nomination. Once any deal is structured to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations both the elected or voted upon delegates as well as the Superdelegates would come into play. As a consequence, the magic number to get the nomination will change to the 2209 that Clinton is striving for; the game changer that she is looking for to get her the nomination. If she accomplishes what she is striving for, most of the Superdelegates from the two states would probably have allegiances to Clinton; simply because she was instrumental in getting their delegations seated.

Rules are rules folks. The Michigan and Florida state legislature and the democratic party leadership was aware of the rules when they voted to set their respective presidential preference primaries prior to the calendar dates set by the DNC. Nobody can be rewarded for misbehaving and giving the Michigan and Florida delegation the opportunity to sway this nomination would in fact reward them for misbehaving. The most that Michigan and Florida can hope for is the seating of half their delegation based upon some formula associated with the vote in presidential preference primary with no Superdelegates being eligible to vote, as mandated by the DNC Rules 20 C (1) (a).

Secondly, I am firmly convinced that Clinton campaigned in Florida both prior to and on the night of the Florida presidential preference primary; and therefore, she should not be entitled to any delegates under the DNC rules; DNC Rule 20 C (1) (b).

We can’t have one set of rules for forty-eight states plus United States territories and another set of rules for Michigan and Florida. We can’t have one set of rules for every other candidate for the office of president and another set of rules for Hillary Clinton. Changing the rules at the end of the game to win is not what life is all about.

Now that is my two cents worth.

Leonard.

CALLING ON BLACK AMERICA

If the Democratic Party does not do the right thing, you do the right thing, stay home November 4, 2008.

Clinton, the Democratic Party and the American people have written you off. Apparently they all think they can win back the White House without you. If they don’t change their mindset and nominate the first viable African-American presidential candidate, Barack Obama, I strongly suggest that you let them win the White House without your vote and stay home November 4, 2008. It is high time that the voting strength of the African-American be not relegated to: it will be good if we had them, but we are not going to do anything to insure that they vote for us, because we know they will in the end. If this is not the mindset of the powers that be, then why do you think tactics and statements, like these, continue to be the norm? Why else would Hillary Clinton even be considering this: Clinton Campaign Considering Nuclear War?

It is suggested that the African-American vote will be there for the party no matter what and they are counting on peace maker Barack Obama to save them, if they don’t do the right thing and nominate him, see Can Hillary win without blowing up the Democratic Party? But I say to the African-Americans of this Nation send a message to the Democratic Party that you made your bed now lie in it without us.

For too many years the Democratic Party has taken your allegiance to them for granted. Their dragging their feet in announcing and backing Barack Obama is a classic example of this. If the threat of losing any other voting block was on the table depending on which way they would go, this nomination process would have been over since February, 2008 after Barack Obama won eleven (11) straight primary victories. There is no doubt in my mind that if the reverse was true, Barack Obama would have been pressured to drop out of the race months ago.

The consistent rationale for their possible support of Hillary Clinton is the potential of bringing back some core white voters that they lost many years ago; presumably because of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, A Fault Line That Haunts the Democrats. If the so-called Regan democrats have been gone since 1972, how is offering up Hillary Clinton to them going to get them back. The Regan democrats stood their ground and still went republican in 1992 and 1996 when Bill Clinton won solely on the strength of his African-American voters support. The truth is it will not and this is a mere smoke screen for not wanting to nominate a viable African-American candidate for president of the United States of America, by some democrats and the Democratic Party leadership.

A recent CBS Poll Shows Obama is own a rebound and now leads McCain by eleven points and Clinton by twelve points. This comes after the media attempted to derail Obama’s campaign with its endless coverage of the Reverend Jeremiah Wright distraction. A recent endorsement editorial in The Charlotte Observer made it clear why the Democratic Party should nominate Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton, as they stated it is Time for a change. Barack Obama has won thirty-one (31) states with twenty-two (22) by double digit leads. Why the democrats would even consider going with someone other than Barack Obama in light of this is beyond me?

Clinton’s whole argument of Barack Obama’s of electability appears to be as one article questions: Obama's "Electability" is code for race? Whether that is true or not I will let you make the call. I do believe that the taking of this presidential nomination from Barack Obama by the Democratic Party and Clinton’s back room maneuverings should be taken as the Democratic Party’s and Hillary Clinton throwing the African-American votes away. So don’t give them what they need to win in November, your vote.

If one woman, Rosa Parks, can say enough is enough and start a ripple in race relations that evolved into a tidal waive, just imagine what millions of African-American voters staying home on November 4, 2008 will do to the Democratic Party and its chances to regain the White House. My take on its effort is it will be dead on arrival.

So if Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party want to go down this path to defeat, let them go down it without the African-American voters in tow and send them a message that will be loud and clear. You have taken our allegiances to the Democratic Party for granted in the past but you shouldn’t have done it this time. Enough is enough. I say stay home, stay home and stay home, if they don’t do the right thing.

Now that is my two cents worth, Leonard.

THE REVEREND JEREMIAH WRIGHT-BARACK OBAMA

It is time for this distraction to go away and for America and the media to get on track with the real issues affecting America and its people, as Elizabeth Edwards put it in her recent Op-Ed, Bowling 1, Health Care 0. For all of those who want this to be an issue, get over yourself and lets get back to what really matters to Americans, Iraq, health care, the gas prices, the economy and the future of the United States of America. The only issue in this distraction is how America refuses to come to grips with the distinction between the African-American’s and the rest of America’s worship experience and how their preachers preach. There is a real difference in the methodology of the African-American preacher. There is a real difference in the religious worship of the two Americas, if you will. Case in point, Sunday morning worship time is the most segregated time in America. If the worship service experience is the same, why is that?

Whether America wants to admit it or not; including some African-American media commentators, there is a difference between how the rest of America is treated over its religious traditions versus the way African-Americans are treated. John McCain has controversial ministers supporting him, John Hagee and Rod Parsley. Hillary Clinton is a prominent member of The Family or The Fellowship. The media stays away from any comments on these associations, yet continues on an endless loop on Barack Obama’s association with Reverend Jeremiah Wright. Barack Obama should no more be condemn for his association with the Reverend Wright than John McCain’s association with John Hagee and Rod Parsley or Hillary Clinton’s association with the Fellowship. If you disagree with this; than you should hear all the hype over John McCain’s endorsements and Hillary Clinton’s association with the Fellowship. Don’t waste your time looking for it none exist. Further, two of Hillary Clinton’s surrogates Ed Rendell and Bill Clinton praised Minister Farrakhan. Does that make Hillary Clinton a Muslim? Should Clinton now denounce, repudiate and reject Ed Rendell’s and Bill Clinton’s endorsement of her? Should she explain her husband’s and Ed Rendell’s relationship with Farrakhan as many of the commentators have suggested that Barack Obama should do, again and again? Are John McCain and Hillary Clinton guilty by their associations, as all the media and the candidates themselves want to do with Barack Obama?

Freedom of Speech and Religion is written into the Constitution of the United States of America’s First Amendment. Discrimination is also written into the Constitution of the United States of America, Article 1 Section 2, where people of color were designated as three-fifth of a person; therefore, inferior to the rest of Americans. This view of African-Americans unfortunately has not changed to full equality since this great country’s inception. There has been a significant improvement but not full equality. One does not have to look any farther than the treatment of Barack Obama and Reverend Wright over what some feel is a controversial statement and the controversial statements of endorsers and surrogates of the other candidates in the presidential race.

If the Reverend Wright’s detraction was a main issue in this campaign, there is no way that Obama could have closed the lead Hillary Clinton had in Pennsylvania Poll. If anything; if it was a real issue that was a campaign changer, as some commentators had predicated and are now predicting, it should have increased her twenty plus percent lead that she enjoyed in Pennsylvania prior to this distraction. At one time in the Quinnipiac poll Clinton led Obama by 33 points, 10-31-2007 to 11-5-2007 and when the news broke 26 points in the PPP poll, 3-15-16-2008. The final margin of victory for Clinton in Pennsylvania was 9.2 points. It is clear that this distraction was not and is not a game changer and the media and Obama should not let it fester and get back to the issues that really affect the American people. Put it another way, if Barack Obama’s speech on race relations, A More Perfect Union, in America did not put this distraction to bed, if the Jeremiah Wright interview with Bill Moyer did not put this distraction to bed; than nothing will.

Let’s move on America, this election is more important than sound bites, Reverend Wright or the media’s obsession with this distraction.

Now that is my two cents worth, Leonard.

ONE AMERICA-LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Well here we go again, Clinton, Clinton, and MORE CLINTON

ONE AMERICA-LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD

Hillary Clinton’s campaign is just like the Energizer bunny, it just keeps on going and going to a no win situation. Maureen Dowd New York Times Op-Ed concludes her Op-ed with this comment Hillary Clinton just go, go, GO; as in go away. Hillary Clinton’s campaign is negative, divisive, and full of race baiting and it is time for it to end. There is absolutely no way that Hillary Clinton can win this nomination short of her stealing it on the convention floor or through back room dealing. She can’t catch Obama in the pledge delegate, popular vote, or any other measurement that you want to use to argue that Hillary Clinton should be the Democratic Party’s Presidential Nominee. According to Real Clear Politics; Obama has won more states than Clinton, 27 versus 14. Obama has won twenty-two (22) states by double digit percent margin. Clinton has won only seven (7) states by double digit leads and Pennsylvania was not one of them. Obama won his home state of Illinois by 650,304 or 31.9%. Clinton won her home state of New York by only 317, 477 or 17.1%. Furthermore, the record is clear on the issue of who is more electable Obama wins, if for no other reason, Hillary Clinton’s negatives. The polls show that in a head to head match up with John McCain, Obama wins; not so with Clinton. I don’t know about the rest of you but these figures throw the more electable argument of Clinton out the window.

So why want or can’t the Clintons and America read the handwriting that is obviously on the wall. The short answer is that she wants to make the way clear for her 2012 run for president, by casting Obama as unelectable and the people of America continue to buy into Hillary Clinton’s illogical argument that she is more electable, stronger, has more experience than Barack Obama. Excuse me; the people of Pennsylvania said that these are not the issues in the campaign that swayed their votes, at least in the exit polls. Could it have been the economy or could it have been the Bradley effect? But we all know that what happens behind closed doors or in polling booths is something totally different than what we say openly. Since, Hillary Clinton is determined to win at all costs either in 2008 or 2012; including tearing down the Democratic Party; it is time the elected and appointed leaders of the Democratic Party to tell Hillary and Bill Clinton, enough is enough and endorse Barack Obama in droves. Put your allegiances to the Clintons behind you; put your allegiances to one side of history being made, a female candidate for the presidency of the United States put your fears of the Clintons behind you. There is nothing in Hillary Clinton’s campaign or the possibility of another Clinton administration that is good for America, absolutely nothing. The Clinton Campaign is all about the same old politics of destroying your competitor and winning at all costs. Frankly, Clinton’s type of politics is not capable of making America proud. We need something else. All the money in the world can not change this mind set; only you, the American People can do this. I think the New York Times Article put it best, effectively repudiating its endorsement of Clinton in its opinion, Low Road to Victory.

I believe Hillary Clinton's background got her the victory in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas because she appeals to the bad in everyone. She recreates herself into whatever she thinks will persuade the American People to vote for her. She lies, she deceives, and she strokes the fears, biases and prejudices of Americans. As one former campaign adviser of Bill Clinton puts it Bill is doing Hillary’s dirty work for her, Bill Clinton Rogue Co-President. Fear mongering and race-baiting is a classic republican strategy that has been very successful in the past. It got George W. Bush elected twice, didn’t it? Or should I say appointed once and elected to a second term. It got us into the Iraq war where thousands of American lives and billions of dollars have been lost, didn’t it? Remember Hillary Clinton authorized the Iraq War.

You know I hate to say it but Hillary Clinton acts like and talks like a bigot; if not an outright hypocrite. In light of Clinton’s actions in the 2008 Elections her support of Barry Goldwater, who opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, makes complete sense to me; that is the why of it. She says she is for equality, yet her actions speak differently. She was reared in a conservative republican family. Her campaign tactics are straight out of the Karl Rove playbook. There is an old saying that if it walks like a duck and talks like a duck; it is a duck. The Bible says train up a child in the way that he (or she) should go and when he (or she) is old, he (or she) will not depart from it; Proverbs 22:6. It seems that Hillary Clinton got this scripture down path and is living it.

However, Hillary Clinton is not totally at fault in this. Some of the American People who unfortunately can’t buy into an African-American leading them in anything are equally at fault. Although the Pennsylvania exit polls indicate that for white voters race was not a factor in whom they voted for and it appears that Barack Obama has begun to cut into the solid white support behind Hillary Clinton; it is clear from the result that it was. This solidarity of support, especially amongst white females over a certain age, is keeping Hillary Clinton in this race. It is prolonging a race that has been virtually over with since Obama racked up; count them, eleven straight primary victories to none for Clinton. So once again, it appears that the people of America are saying one thing in the polls, in the open, and doing something totally different when they actually cast their vote, in secret. The main stream media realizes this and feeds into it by prognosticating, predicting and pondering what if scenarios that always offers a ray of hope to the Hillary Clinton’s candidacy at the expense of the Democratic Party and America as a whole. Remember in 2007, main stream media was anointing Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party presidential nominee. They were wrong then and they are wrong now.

The main stream media insists upon bringing up non-issues about Barack Obama and letting real glaring lies from Hillary Clinton go unchecked or glossed over. If she or her husband apologizes for their remarks, lies and the main stream media move on. On the other hand, Barack Obama repudiates, denounces and rejects comments and acts of controversial figures that he knows and the media repeats them forever and forever. There is a double standard going on here whether you want to admit or not.

America it is time to stand up and be counted on the right side of history. Our biases, prejudices, cultural divide, and oh yes the constant fear mongering must not dictate who is our next president. Since it does not appear that any of the uncommitted delegates, the so-called super delegates, the so-called leaders of the Democratic Party, will have the guts to stand up to the Clintons like Governor Richardson did in his endorsement of Barack Obama, Richardson Endorses Obama; I call on the voters of Indiana and North Carolina, West Virginia, Guam, Montana, Oregon, Puerto Rico, and South Dakota to do what their elected leaders and Democratic Party leaders do not have the guts to do; end this thing by sending Hillary Clinton the resounding message we have been duped in the past, but not this time, not this time, NOT THIS TIME.

America I believe that you are smarter than Hillary Clinton and the media believe that you are. If you really analyze the candidates and their respective tactics, their character, their past conduct and assess for yourself who will really come through for you and not just what they say they will do; I am confident that you will conclude it is not Hillary Clinton. When you go to your respective polling places, leave behind all your biases, cultural divides and prejudices, and oh yes your fears that you may have and vote for the real change, not the sequel, to more of the same old politics as usual, that is being offered and peddled by Hillary Clinton. Yes I know for some of you this will constitute a radical departure from your upbringing, your beliefs, your ideologies, and practices. But I believe that it can be done. It must be done if the country is to survive. I don’t know about you but whenever, I go to movies and watch a sequel I like it less than the original and leave not satisfied to say the least.

Two great Americans have participated in a new direction for this country. One was named John Fitzgerald Kennedy and the other was Martin Luther King, Jr. Kennedy asked the famous question “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. King said he had a dream which included the premise or prophecy if you will, that one day; America would judge a man not by the color of his skin but by the content of his character. The future of this great country has reached a fork in the road; choose you this day where will history record your vote and your answer to these calls. Do we stand tall for true change or do we surrender to doing the same old thing? ? America I believe that you will do the right thing in 2008 and make history right and begin the fulfillment of the dream.

After all we are ONE AMERICA, ONE NATION, and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and remember YES WE CAN make America better for all of its citizens if we do it for the good of our country and not ourselves. But in the end, we too will benefit by moving this country to ONE AMERICA, ONE NATION, AND ONE VOICE under GOD, indivisible, with life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness for all of its citizens.

Now that is my two cents worth, Leonard.