JeffArtis.com Featuring THE ARTIS BLOG would like to congratulate Roanoke, Va. Congressman Bob Goodlatte for being re-elected to the United States Congress.
CONGRESSMAN BOB GOODLATTE WITH THE ROANKE SCLC
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TICKETS FOR THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
Tickets to the 56th Inaugural Ceremonies will be provided free of charge and distributed through Members of the 111th Congress. The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies does not provide tickets to the public. Members of the public interested in attending the Inaugural Ceremonies should contact their Member of Congress or U.S. Senators to request tickets.
The public should also be aware that no website or other ticket outlet actually has inaugural swearing-in tickets to sell, regardless of what they may claim. Tickets will not be distributed to Congressional offices until the week before the inauguration and will require in-person pick-up.
“Any website or ticket broker claiming that they have inaugural tickets is simply not telling the truth,” said Howard Gantman, Staff Director for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies. “Tickets for the swearing-in of President-elect are all provided through members of Congress, and the President-elect and Vice President-elect through the Presidential Inaugural Committee. We urge the public to view any offers of tickets for sale with great skepticism.”
THANK YOU THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT & TO "THE BLACK REPORT" FOR THIS INFORMATION
THE ARTIS BLOG
11/17/08
MAKING HISTORY ON ELECTION DAY
AS WE ENJOY THANKSGIVING, THERE WILL NOT BE AN ARTIS BLOG NEXT WEEK. I'LL BE RETURNING WITH A NEW ARTIS BLOG ON DECEMBER 1. THE FOLLOWING IS MY 11/13/08 COLUMN FROM THE ROANOKE STAR SENTINEL. ENJOY. AND AS ALWAYS, HAPPY THANKSGIVING.
Election Day began for me on last Monday night when I was rooting against my beloved Washington Redskins. History shows that when the Redskins win their game the weekend before Election Day, the incumbent party wins the Presidency. When the Redskins lose the game before Election Day, the opposition party wins the Presidency. I was leaving nothing to chance. Go Steelers. My co-workers thought I had lost my mind.
On Election Day, my family and I got in line to vote at 6:10 A.M. I forgot my camera and my notepad. I was in such a hurry to vote I had forgotten the things I needed to record history. I will, however, never forget this day.
The line to vote was long when we got to Westside School in Roanoke, Va. It did not matter. I was going to stand in line all day to vote if I needed to. A one-hundred and three-year-old woman cast her vote while my family and I waited in line. When she exited the building, she got a huge ovation. She was dressed like she was going to church. Her walk told me she was as proud as any person could be on Election Day. I wanted to say something to her as she walked past me. I couldn't speak. I was in complete and total awe of her. Overwhelmed, actually. I didn't know her. But, I knew her history. I wish I had brought my camera, although I would not have been able to take her picture. I was having a hard time fighting back tears.
My family and I voted at 7:40. My youngest daughter was voting for the very first time. It was funny watching her. She was nervous since it was her first time voting. She also knew she was making history did not want to mess up. My wife, a Republican, just beamed as she cast her vote for Obama. Me? I had trouble seeing the touch screen. Those darn tears, again. Plus, my hands were shaking.
All day Tuesday, my head was telling me there is no way Obama was going to win. I had Parent-Teacher Conferences at school so at least I could keep track of all the election action on MSNBC. I knew Obama could win if his people showed up at the polls. But, would they?
I was a nervous wreck when I got home at 6:45. My oldest daughter had bought steaks for me to cook. At least I had something to do until the polls closed. Now, I can cook some steaks. Outback has nothing on me. Not on Tuesday night. I forgot they were in the oven. Luckily, I had to get a cup of coffee in the kitchen. The smoke coming out of the oven told me the steaks were going to be a little well-done.
Bob Goodlatte and Mark Warner won early. That was good. But, what about My Man? When My Man won Pennsylvania, I did my "Happy Dance." Trust me, dancing is not part of my DNA. When My Man won Ohio, I knew Obama had won. I started calling people. I called my SCLC friends and told them it was over; that, "at 9:17 P.M. Jeff Artis was calling the race for Obama. Write it down!" They thought I was calling the race a little early.
When CBS finally called the race for Obama, I broke down. I called my Mom. I had known my Mom to break down only once before, when my son died. She broke down while I was talking to her. She's 75. I know her history, too.
The morning after election all of my students stood for the Pledge of Allegiance without me having to say anything for the first time. When I asked why, one student said, "We are standing for Obama." I just smiled.
I never thought I'd live long enough to see a Black President. I had hoped it would happen one day. But, in all honesty, I thought a possibility of a Black President was a pipe dream. For the first time in my life I feel like an American, not a Black American, not an American with an asterisk beside his name, but an American. I am a 100 percent, red, white and blue, American Eagle flying, Fourth of July honoring, American. It feels good. Now, I know what I've been missing all of these years.
No, racism is not dead in America. I still can't catch a cab in New York City. I seen and felt the hate in people's eyes since the election. However, racism is on a respirator. It should be noted that President Obama has pledged to be the President of the United States, not the President of Black people who live in America. That is the way it should be. That is the way America wants it. Believe it or not, that is the way Black America wants it. One Nation Under God. Man, this feels so good.
WE THE PEOPLE
I'LL SEE YOU DECEMBER 1'st
THE ARTIS BLOG
11/10/08
* With the holidays coming up, I'll only be publishing "THE ARTIS BLOG" Mondays. On January 5'th, 2009, I'll return to publishing "THE ARTIS BLOG" in its Monday, Wednesday and Friday format. Don't forget to check out my column this week in Thursday's Roanoke Star-Sentinel. I write about Election Day. For those of you who don't get or can't get the Roanoke Star-Sentinel, I'll post my column on next Monday's "THE ARTIS BLOG." You can also read the Roanoke Star-Sentinel by clicking on the "Roanoke Star-Sentinel" link posted above.
* John McCain gave a wonderful concession speech on Election Night. If the John McCain we saw on Election Night would have run against Barack Obama during the Presidential campaign, that John McCain might have won the election.
Have you ever seen a more unorganized Presidential campaign than the one McCain ran this election year? His campaign had no clear message, no ideas and never told the American people why they should elect McCain the next President of the United States. All McCain said was, "Vote for me because Obama is a bad guy." The McCain campaign wasn't as bad as the McGovern campaign in 1972, but, it comes pretty close. Why? McGovern had no chance of winning in 1972. McCain should have won in 2008. But, then again, Hillary blew it, too.
* If anything can be taken out of this election it's that the American people are tired of attack politics. The American people want solutions, not name calling. Hillary and McCain both made the same mistake. Both got too nasty without spelling out what they would do for the American people if elected President. Obama, on the other hand, stayed cool, calm and much more positive. Hillary and McCain lost. Obama won.
* President Obama will govern from just right of center. He will be a pragmatist. He will be careful. He will make few mistakes. The left will be disappointed President Obama isn't more liberal. Foreign leaders will be surprised by President Obama's iron will. Don't forget that Obama holds Ronald Reagan in high regard.
Black leaders will also be disappointed that President Obama will address the problems of the Black community as America's problems, not just Black problems. Some in the Black community are already complaining about the lack of Black faces in the Obama Administration. Also, look for President Obama to call for more personal responsibility and accountability in the Black community to solve the Black community's problems. It is only a matter of time before President Obama is accused of talking down to the Black community. Some Blacks may even refer to President Obama as an "Uncle Tom."
* Racism is not dead in America with an Obama victory. But, one thing is certain. Those members of the Black community who practice the politics of victimization, will no longer be able to blame the White man for all of their problems.
* I wouldn't be surprised if President Obama appointed Hillary Clinton to the Supreme Court. Why not Bill Clinton? He's been disbarred.
* There are some extremely pissed off White folks in America. I can see and feel the hate in their eyes. If these folks give President Obama a chance, they will like what they see. However, there is no logic to being a bigot or a racist.
* I love being right. In a November, 2004, "ARTIS BLOG," I wrote there was one good thing about the Bush victory in the 2004 Presidential Election. I wrote that Bush may have won, but, we were seeing the beginning of the end to the Republican Party as we know it. I also wrote that Candy Rice would be a horrible Secretary of State. Yeah, I got that one right. In fact, I was right about the Bush Presidency, Iraq included.
* Sometimes, I love being wrong. I thought with all of the stories of voter fraud, voter mix-ups, voting machine problems and voters being dropped from the voting rolls legally and illegally, we wouldn't know who won this Presidential Election until Thanksgiving at the earliest. Things ran more smoothly on Election Day than anyone thought they would. Yes, there were some problems. Still, the vast majority of the people who were responsible for making sure all of our votes were counted on Election Day deserve a huge pat on the back. From JeffArtis.com I would like to tell those people, "Thank you."
* Aside from the mistakes of the McCain and Clinton campaigns, why did President Obama win on Election Day? President Obama ran the best run Presidential Campaign in the history of American politics.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU NEXT MONDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
11/5/08
MAN, THIS FEELS SO GOOD!
Tears of joy and happiness. Vindication. Pride. Humility. Self respect. Disbelief. Amazement. These are just a few of the feelings I had watching the election results Tuesday night as Barack Obama became the first Black President-Elect of the United States. As I have said before, my head told me John McCain would win. My heart told me Obama win. My heart is smarter than my head.
You see, I am old enough to remember segregation. I was a “colored” boy born in the “colored” section of the Winchester, Va. Memorial Hospital in 1957. Yes, I remember. I remember not being able to try on clothes in stores. I remember not being able to go inside a bus or train station. Adult Blacks could go inside to buy a ticket. Then Blacks had to wait outside for the bus or train to come, rain or shine. I once got into trouble for going inside a train station to see what the fuss was all about. I did not see anything special.
I remember integration. To borrow a line, in those years, I got called a “nigger” so much, I thought “nigger” was my middle name. I saw the Civil Rights Movement on television; the marches, the bombings, the beatings, the assassination of Dr. King. After Dr. King was assassinated, I swore to myself to hate White people. I was 11. When my mother found out my new militancy, she told me not to hate a race of people just because of a few bad people.
I remember the “revolution” and the confusion of White folks. A White classmate of mine once asked me, “What do we call you now?” At the time, Blacks had gone from nigra, to colored, to Negro, to Afro-American, to Black. Back then, a White person could get a pretty good butt whipping for not being up to date on the latest terminology.
I remember the “revolution” and the fear of White folks. As a sixth grader, I was down with the Black Panthers and Brother Malcolm. James Brown’s song, “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud,” was banned for a short time from our local radio station. I raised eyebrows at school when I connected the riots and Black Power with the Revolutionary War and the Declaration of Independence in history class. Afros, African dress, talk of guns for self defense, (Where was the NRA then?) and Black Power salutes made for fearful times.
In college, I remember Ronald Reagan making racism fashionable, liberals developing a missionary complex toward “helping” Black people and government ignoring, while at the same time, contributing to the growing genocide in the Black community because of poverty, heroin, then crack cocaine, gang violence and pitiful public schools. At Madison College, now James Madison University, an English Dept. head said Blacks students could not have a Black literature class because there were not enough Black authors worth studying. The student newspaper claimed most Black students at Madison were not qualified to attend. These and other memories all came back to me, including an ugly racial incident a few months ago with a Waynesboro, Va. policeman where I could have easily been shot by the Waynesboro Police.
Most of all, as I watched the events of November 4, 2008 on television, I thought of two things. Fifty years ago when I was a child, there could not have been a Barack Obama. If there were, anyone supporting him would have literally been putting his or her lives in danger for doing so. Those glowing endorsements of Obama at the Democratic National Convention in August never would have happened 50 years ago. Many of those who worked so hard for Obama to become President would have been killed as well.
I also couldn’t stop thinking about the brutality of the Emmitt Till murder in 1955, the March on Washington and Dr. King’s, “I Have a Dream Speech” in 1963, the Civil Rights legislation of the 1960’s and those who helped make a Barack Obama possible; the SCLC, the NAACP, SNCC, Frederick Douglas, W.E.B DuBois, Brother Malcolm, Brother Martin, Marcus Garvey, Fanny Lou Hamer, and so many others.
I never thought I would live long enough to see a Black man become President of the United States. Now I have. Now, on November 4, 2008, I can stop calling myself a Black man who lives in America or even, to a certain extent, an African-American. I can now call myself an American. I am a 100 percent, true, red, white and blue, with no hyphen, American with first class citizenship. On November 4, 2008, the America of Jefferson, Washington, and Lincoln stopped being an abstract concept and became a reality. And I have got to tell you, being a true American feels pretty good.
I may still not be able to catch a cab in New York City. I may still get pulled over for driving while Black. But, Barack Obama, a Black man, is President of the United States of America. It feels so good.
WE THE PEOPLE
I'M TAKING A BREAK. I'LL BE BACK NOVEMBER, 17'TH.
THE ARTIS BLOG
ELECTION DAY!
Election Day is Tuesday. I will be voting for Mark Warner, Bob Goodlatte and Barack Obama. I have gotten a number of e-mails, phone calls and questions on how I can support these three men who politically are polar opposites.
Frankly, supporting Mark Warner for the United States Senate from Virginia is a no brainer.
Bob Goodlatte, who is running for re-election to the United States House of Representatives is as fine a politician as I have ever met. He is a straight shooter. Unlike other politicians, Goodlatte has the capacity to agree to disagree while keeping the channels of communication open. His staff is top notch. His wife is one of the nicest people I have ever met. Unlike most Republicans and Negro Democrats like Onzlee Ware, Goodlatte knows Black people are constituents, too. His record for addressing the real problems facing the Black community, while virtually unknown, is impeccable, Darfur included.
Sam Rasoul, who is running against Goodlatte, will have his time. For now, however, Bob Goodlatte has my vote for Congress.
If you have read “THE ARTIS BLOG” on JeffArtis.com, you will already know how I feel about Barack Obama. You will also know how disappointed I am in the John McCain Campaign. McCain may win Tuesday. But, anyone who knows politics has to admit that McCain has run a pretty dumb campaign. Anyone who knows politics will also tell you that the John McCain of 2008 is not the John McCain of 2000. If McCain was the John McCain of 2000, Barack Obama would have no chance of winning on Tuesday.
Much hysteria, led by the fools and idiots on “Right Wing Hate Talk Radio,” exists over the prospect of an Obama victory on Tuesday. Let me try to calm everyone’s nerves. An Obama victory on Tuesday will not lead America over the cliff to the evils of Socialism and Communism. An Obama victory on Tuesday will not make America a “Black Country,” where Blacks will seek revenge for past injustices committed against us through the years. An Obama victory on Tuesday will not make Islam the official religion of America. Nor will an Obama victory on Tuesday lead to the weakening or destruction of America in general. We are electing a President of the United States, not a king or dictator of America. Under the American system of government, a President can do nothing without the consent of both Houses of Congress with the approval of Constitutionality from the Supreme Court, as Franklin Roosevelt found out very quickly.
What an Obama victory on Tuesday will represent is a new day for America. An Obama victory on Tuesday will represent a new way of doing things. An Obama victory will represent a generational new view of what the role of government is both domestically and internationally. An Obama victory will represent new ideas to solve old problems. Most important, an Obama victory will lay claim to America’s promise that all men are created equal.
As I said on “The SCLC Radio Show” in September, “If Obama was a White guy named Joe Smith, he would be so far ahead in the polls that the Republicans would already be making plans for 2012.” I also added that race would not be the primary reason for an Obama loss in November, that Obama supporters not registering to vote and not voting on Election Day would be the main reason for his defeat. Again, I will be voting for Barack Obama on Election Day.
My heart tells me that Obama will win on Tuesday. My head tells me McCain will win. I hope my heart is smarter than my head. Most important, regardless of whom you support, please go to the polls and vote on Tuesday. If you don’t vote, don’t complain.
WE THE PEOPLE
DON'T FORGET TO VOTE!
IF YOU DON'T VOTE, DON'T COMPLAIN!
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/29/08
IT'S TIME TO LIGHTEN UP A LITTLE BIT
Man, there are a lot of ticked off folks out there over the prospect of an Obama Presidency. Listening to Right Wing Hate Talk Radio, you'd think America is going to do into the toilet if Obama wins on Tuesday. I guess these folks slept during their high school government class when it came to the teacher explaining what a President can and cannot do, the reality of governmental checks and balances, the role of Congress and the Supreme Court and all of that other boring stuff about government. If these folks would have been paying attention when these lessons were taught, I bet it would have lessened the stress many of these folks have today.
Personally, I don't understand their stress. But, then again, I know how government works. I also know that if you are stupid enough to think Limbaugh, Bortz, Dr. Laura and Big Boy Shawn are experts on government, you deserve the stress you are feeling about Tuesday. You get what you deserve.
Miss Susan, from North Carolina, a subscriber to JeffArtis.com, sent me the following. I hope you enjoy it. Following Miss Susan's submission, I've also posted a link to a video by Ron Howard endorsing Barack Obama for President. Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler star in the video.
Don't miss Thursday's broadcast of "THE SCLC RADIO SHOW." Thursday will be my final broadcast on the show. I'll be answering any questions you may have on Tuesday's election. And don't forget to check out my column in Thursday's "ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL" newspaper. For those of you who don't get the STAR-SENTINEL, I'll post the column on Friday.
FROM MISS SUSAN:
LOL...
NOVEMBER 5TH ETIQUETTE
Hello Everyone -
Obama could actually win this thing. If that happens, there will be a lot of people (some of our co-workers included) who will be afraid that an Obama presidency will usher in the end of days. They'll be watching us on November 5th (the day after the election) for signs of the end times. To keep the peace and keep a lot of folks from getting nervous, I think we should develop a list of acceptable celebrations and behaviors we should probably avoid - at least for the first few days:
1. No crying, hugging or shouting, "Thank you Lord" - at least not in public. 2. No high-fives - at least not unless the area is clear and there are no witnesses. 3. No laughing at the McCain/Palin supporters. 4. No calling in sick on November 5th. They'll get nervous if too many of us don't show up. 5. We're allowed to give each other knowing winks or nods in passing. Just try to keep from grinning too hard. 6. No singing loudly, "We've Come This Far By Faith," (it will be acceptable to hum softly). 7. No bringing of barbecue ribs or fried chicken for lunch in the company lunchroom for at least a week (no chitterlings at all), this may make us seem too ethnic. 8. No leaving kool-aid packages at the water fountain, (this might be a sign that poor folks might be getting a break through). 9. No "Cupid Shuffle" during breaks, (this could indicate a little too much excitement). 10. Please no "Moving On Up" music, (we are going to try to remain humble). 11. No doing the "George Jefferson Dance," (unless you're in your office with the door closed). 12. Please try not to yell----"BOOOO YAH!" 13. Just in case you're wondering, doing the "Running Man," "Cabbage Patch," or a backhand spring on the highway is 100% okay.
If I've missed anything feel free to add to the list. I just want to make sure we're all on the same page when Obama brings this thing home on November 5th.
THANK YOU MISS SUSAN FROM NORTH CAROLINA
Again, don't forget to check out this video from Ron Howard. It's pretty good.
TO SEE THE RON HOWARD VIDEO, PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINK:
If you've ever read my blog or have listened to "The SCLC Radio Show" on WTOY Radio, you know that I am not a fan of Roanoke, Virginia's House of Delegate member, Onzlee Ware. Lately, people have asked why? Since there are so many reasons why I'm not a Ware fan, I may have to make this a 10 part series.
My problems with Ware are nothing personal, although I will say the man is not fit to serve in the Virginia House of Delegates. Personally, I don't have much contact with Ware. In fact, when we do see each other, he walks by me without speaking, a habit Ware has with constituents who hold him accountable for his miserable voting record in Richmond. If he's with his lady friend, she looks at me like she wants to do me bodily harm. Although I could care less what she thinks about me, I'll also try to explain why she stands by her man. It's all related.
I voted for Ware when he first ran for the House of Delegates in 2003. Ware's opponent in that election was Brian Shepard who was much more qualified than Ware. At the time, Ware had held some important positions in politics. Although, Ware had done little, if anything, while holding those positions I was concerned about Shepard's conservative leanings. Plus, I had heard Ware speak a few times. I was impressed with what he had to say. What I heard during Ware say during that campaign didn't match what I was being told by people who had dealings with Ware in the past. Still, I voted for Ware. I told people to vote for him. I was wrong.
At the time I didn't know Ware was a convicted drug dealer. In fact, I wouldn't find out about Ware's past until Ware's 2007 re-election campaign. I didn't know Ware had turned state's evidence in his case and his former partners had tried to kill him. If I had known this, I never would have voted for Ware. As far as I'm concerned, no convicted drug dealer, state's evidence or not, has any business serving in any position in electoral politics.
That said, I'll give Ware credit for supporting legislation trying to keep methadone clinics in check. I have always been against the Hershberger Road methadone clinic since the controversy started in the fall of 2003. The Hershberger Road methadone clinic represents racist economic development. Plus, no methadone clinic should be around our schools. Ware called me during the controversy and agreed. During our conversation, Ware told me that the, "White folks," would never allow a methadone clinic to be put in their neighborhood, neither should we. Ware then scheduled me to go to Richmond to address the General Assembly and sent out letters to the community about the subject. The letter thanked me for the work I was doing to stop the clinic from opening.
About six months later, Ware flip-flopped. Ware was saying people needed to keep quiet about the methadone clinic because there was money in it for everyone. Interestingly enough, Ware's lady friend had been named director of the clinic a few months earlier, the same lady friend who would like to do me bodily harm whenever she sees me. With his flip-flop, Ware's pro-Black, anti-racism support became a thing of the past. However, in spite of Ware's flip-flop on the methadone clinic and his sellout of the Northwest community, when the time came for Ware's re-election, I was willing to give Ware another chance. Even though Ware ran unopposed, I told people to vote for the man. Some people just don't learn.
NEXT WEEK: PART TWO OF MANY
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/24/08
In a perfect world, race would not be a factor in November’s Presidential Election. However, we do not live in a perfect world. Because of this, I constantly hear three questions about this Presidential campaign: 1) “Are those Whites who support John McCain instead of Barack Obama for President racist?” 2) “Are those Blacks who support John McCain instead of Barack Obama for President Uncle Toms?” 3) “Are Blacks voting for Barack Obama simply because Obama is Black?”
There is no question there are Whites supporting John McCain who would never vote for a Black President. However, issuing a blanket statement that John McCain supporters are racist is ridiculous. Equally ridiculous is saying those Blacks who support John McCain are Uncle Toms. Yes, some Blacks supporting McCain are Uncle Toms. However, just as McCain offers Whites legitimate reasons to support him, McCain offers Blacks legitimate reasons to support him. The vast majority of people who support John McCain support him for legitimate reasons. They are not racists. They are not traitors to their race.
Just as there are legitimate reasons for Backs to support John McCain, there are legitimate reasons for Blacks not to support him, beginning with McCain‘s failure to support the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday. Yes, there are Blacks who are supporting Obama because he is Black. However, those who claim Blacks are only supporting Obama because of his race are ignorant of the realities of American politics. They are also ignorant of the evolution of Black support for Obama and ignorant of politics in the Black community.
When this Presidential campaign started, the Black community overwhelmingly supported Hillary Clinton. In fact, some political polls had Obama running third behind John Edwards for the Black vote. Also, Obama was roundly criticized in the Black community when he announced his Presidential campaign for several reasons. Blacks who were not criticizing Obama for his Presidential run often asked, “Barack who?”
In addition, we cannot ignore the fact that in any given Presidential election since 1932, if and when Blacks were allowed to vote, Blacks overwhelmingly voted for the Democratic candidate. Nor can we forget how Black voters feel about Black Republicans. That said, let's be honest. If their political party affiliation were reversed, John McCain, White Democrat, would win the Black vote over Barack Obama, Black Republican. Political party affiliation, not race, is the driving force for Black voters in general elections between Republicans and Democrats.
The vast majority of Obama and McCain supporters have several things in common. Both love this country. Both care about the future of this country. Both want the best man, regardless of race, to win in November. Given the clear differences between McCain and Obama, race should not be an issue in November.
Race is a factor in this campaign primarily due to race baiters and racists, both White and Black, claiming many different things that are simply not true. Small-minded people say and do small-minded things. Plus, the McCain/Palin campaign has played with the issue of race. Hopefully, our vote in November will be decided by fact, not racism. May the best man win in November, not the best White man or Black man.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU MONDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/22/08
THE FOLLOWING FIRST APPEARED IN THE 3/28/08 EDITION OF "THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL" NEWSPAPER. AS ELECTION DAY APPROACHES, I THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE GIVEN THE CURRENT STATE OF OUR PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
Since I may run for elected office again one day, I need to make some changes to my life. I've decided I'm not going to go to church anymore. I was baptized a Catholic. We know how the Pope feels about gay rights, abortion rights, women's rights and a host of other issues. Until recently, we know all about how the Catholic Church has historically felt about the Jews and Israel. Going to a Catholic Church might make people think I'm always in agreement with the Pope on all important issues, although I'm not.
I've just remembered that when I go to church these days, I go to an Evangelical Christian Church. Now, I'm really in trouble if I decide to run for elected office again. Evangelical Christians are more conservative than Catholics. Plus, some people may remember there was a time when Evangelical Christian Churches preached for segregation and against integration.
Never mind that my pastor saved my life by putting me on the road for a better relationship with Jesus Christ. Never mind that I like the way my pastor preaches. Never mind that my pastor has given me a greater understanding of the Bible. Never mind that my pastor makes my family and I feel welcome on Sunday mornings. Never mind that a few years ago, my pastor and his congregation helped my family and I through some very difficult times and continue to do so. And with my pastor being a White guy, people just might not understand our relationship. Plus, people might get the wrong idea on how I feel about human and civil rights issues even if my pastor and I are not always in agreement on those issues.
I've decided that I need to get rid of all of my books on Malcolm X, especially "The Autobiography of Malcolm X." I don't want to give people the wrong idea. Never mind that 40 years ago Brother Malcolm said the same thing Bill Cosby is saying today. Never mind that Brother Malcolm said the Black community has problems that only the Black community can solve. Nope. Brother Malcolm said some rough things. I don't want people thinking I'm in agreement with everything Brother Malcolm said if I enter politics again.
I need to quit the Southern Christian Leadership Conference since Dr. King was involved in many direct action operations that ended in violence. Even "The Roanoke Times" newspaper said Dr. King got what he deserved when he was assassinated. Nope, I don't want people thinking I'm going to cause riots if I'm elected to public office.
I also need to do something about my fellowship from the University of Virginia. The school's founder, Thomas Jefferson, wrote that whenever a government fails to provide for the rights of the people, it's the duty of the people to overthrow and abolish that government. I don't want people thinking I'm affiliated with a revolutionary.
Now do you see the lunacy over the so-called Barack Obama/Rev. Jeremiah Wright/William Ayers controversy?
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/20/08
* Out in California, the October newsletter of the "Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated" contains the following picture called "Obama Bucks." The newsletter went to the group's 200 members and was e-mailed to others. Diane Fedele, President of the "Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated" says she didn't know the picture could be seen as racist although the picture contains a Black man's face on a government food stamp surrounded by fried chicken, ribs and watermelon. Fedele's husband says the picture is not racist. Fedele's daughter says her mother is unfairly being targeted. You decide.
FROM THE OCTOBER "CHAFFEY COMMUNITY REPUBLICAN WOMEN, FEDERATED" NEWSLETTER
I don't know what ticks me off more, the racist picture or Fedele's bull jive explanation on how the picture ended up in her group's newsletter.
* The FBI is investigating the group Acorn for potential voter registration fraud. Good. Maybe now we'll see who is telling the truth about problems concerning numerous voter registration forms, Acorn or right wing talk radio.
* Yes, I know all about some of the forms having fake names and other fake information on them. Here's the problem you run into with doing voter registration. If someone is doing voter registration and a potential new voter fills out a bogus voter registration form, the person doing the voter registration still has to turn that bogus voter registration form in to the local voter registration office. When turning those forms in, the person doing the voter registration usually lets the local voter registration office know there could be a problem with a particular voter registration form or forms. Then, it's up to the local voter registration office to determine if the form is valid or not valid. That is how the system works.
I've run into this problem myself. Through the years, I've had superheroes, superstars and superfools fill out bogus voter registration forms when I've done voter registration. I turned those forms in to the local voter registration office after letting them know there was a problem with some of the forms I was turning in. This is why I only do voter registration among my friends and people I know.
* Now, if the Acorn folks were filling out bogus voter registration forms themselves, they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.
* The Supreme Court has stepped in the Ohio voter registration mess. Since January, over 600,000 new voter have registered in Ohio. Of that number, the information on over 200,000 of these potential new voters do not match up with the information is the state of Ohio's database. Social security numbers, street addresses, birthdays and such don't match. At this time, no one knows if the information provided in the database is wrong because of typographical errors or other reasons or if this is a case of voter fraud.
The Ohio Republican Party wants these 200,000 disqualified from voting in November's Presidential Election. The U.S. Supreme Court has said these people cannot be disqualified, that the State of Ohio is to determine if these 200,000 new voters are valid or not.
* Add Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana to the list of states which are having problems with determining who can vote in November's Presidential Election.
* Three hundred absentee ballots in Kensselare County, New York have a problem. These ballots have "Barack Osama" running for President instead of "Barack Obama." New absentee ballots have been sent out. I don't know about you, but that's one hell of a typo.
* The Election Day misinformation season has begun. Election Day is November 4, 2008. Period. If you get a phone call stating otherwise, don't believe it. It's not true that Republicans will vote on November 4 and Democrats will vote on November 5. Also, the cops can't arrest you at the polls for having unpaid parking tickets and other nonsense.
* I wish John McCain would stop whining about the comments made by Congressman John Lewis. It is true that John McCain is not George Wallace. However, it is equally true that the McCain/Palin campaign has created and continues to cultivate an environment of fear and hate similar to the environment of fear and hate established by Wallace in the 1960's. Plus, Obama has strongly said he disagrees with Lewis comparing McCain to Wallace.
* Oh, have you heard John McCain's robocall, the recorded phone message approved by the McCain/Palin Campaign and the Republican Party? The robocall says Barack Obama has, "worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayres whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge's house and killed Americans." The robocall also warns that if elected, Obama's "extreme leftist agenda" spells trouble for America. The call asks you to call the Republican National Committee at 1-202-863-8500 to support the McCain/Palin ticket. I ask you to call 1-202-863-8500 to lodge a complaint against this call.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/17/08
I hope you got a chance to read my column in this week's "ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL." A link to this week's edition is posted above.
As for today's blog, sometimes a very good political cartoon says it all. The following is from David Horsey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Enjoy.
WE THE PEOPLE
I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.
THIS POLITICAL CARTOON IS BY DAVID HORSEY, THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/15/08
* THE DEBATE: McCain took it to Obama for the first 30 minutes of the debate. Then, the tide turned. Obama won the debate. Yes, McCain clearly did much better in this debate than the other two. And McCain got in some good punches. Joe the Plumber is now a national celebrity.
However, once again McCain failed to do two things. McCain failed to do enough in this debate to really change people's minds. McCain needed a first round knockout in this debate. He didn't get one. In fact, he didn't come close. Second, McCain spent more time trying to make Obama the bad guy than he spent on telling the American what he did as a Senator and will do as President of the United States. Once again, McCain didn't give the American people any more reason to vote for him than saying, "Vote for me. Obama is a bad guy." That's no way to win a Presidential Election.
Schools were a topic in tonight's Presidential Debate. Obama said parents needed to do more to improve our schools. I agree. The following is a column I wrote for "The Roanoke Star-Sentinel" at the beginning of the school year. And I hope you get to read my column in this week's "Roanoke Star-Sentinel" on fathers and grandfathers being responsible. A link to "The Roanoke Star-Sentinel" is provided above.
As the school year begins, I have a request for some of the adults out there with children. Normally, these people are called parents. Lately, the term parent has become open to debate. Some of you do a good job making sure your children get an education. On the other hand, some of you are sadly lacking in the common sense, desire and the will to make sure your children are properly educated, as well as, go to school and act like a student instead of a street thug.
I want to ask those adults with children, who really cannot by any definition of the word be called parents, to do one simple thing. I want you to make education first in your children's lives this school year. You know who you are. You are the ones who never ask your child about school. You are the ones who let you children run the streets at all hours on a school night. You are the ones who never ask to see homework or other school work. You are the ones who allow your children to miss 20, 30 days of school a semester. You are the ones who let your child drop out of school. You are the ones who support your child as a victim of the school system even when your child is 100 percent wrong. You are the ones who never make demands on your child to make A's and B's instead of D's and F's in school. You are the ones who have children who take away from my child's right to go to school in a proper learning environment.
Your motto is, "I Didn't Know," your excuse for not checking on the progress of your child's education. You never go to teacher conferences, check homework, look out for report cards or anything else. You tell your child that school is a waste of time. You tell your child college is either impossible, only for rich kids, only for White kids, or, out of petty jealousy discourage your child from thinking about college because you don't want your child to have a better life than you. You are the primary reason why our schools have dismal graduation rates.
Getting a child through school isn't easy. At times, frankly, it can be a royal pain. Parent/teacher conferences, pushing your child to make good grades, dealing with teachers and administrators with attitudes, going to school functions, and the never ending need to pay school fee after school fee can be tough. But, dealing with these things are necessary.
The main difference in grades between students at any school has little to do with intelligence. Good students go to school, go to class, pay attention in class, do their homework, study for tests, do all school tasks on time and stay out of trouble. The job of a parent is to make sure this happens on daily basis. Some of you need to finally earn the title of parent.
Again, I hope you enjoyed my column.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/13/08
* Well, golly gee and gosh darn. Last week, John McCain said that Barack Obama is actually a nice guy. I guess there was nothing else for the McCain camp to call Obama. Over the past several months, the McCain campaign has called Obama everything else; unpatriotic, a fraud, elitist, palls around with terrorists, and dangerous, among other things. Conservative talk show hosts have called Obama a Marxist, a socialist and have compared Obama to Hitler, among other things.
* Here's what's going on here. First, McCain's negative attacks on Obama have backfired and have backfired badly. Look at the poll numbers. Second, McCain's negative attacks have unleashed an ugliness that hasn't been seen in Presidential politics in quite some time, certainly not in my lifetime. Personally, I think McCain's real concern is that someone will try to hurt Obama and McCain's afraid that he will get blamed for it. The problem is, it's tough to put the lion back in the cage after you've let him out.
* Before you say what a good guy McCain is for defending Obama, let's not forget that McCain is the one who set the tone for this Presidential campaign. The Canadian Press and other news organizations report that a 7'th grade teacher in Florida used the N-word while describing Obama in his class. In Virginia, anonymous messages are being put into mailboxes accusing Obama supporters of voting for Obama because of White liberal guilt. The electorate is using racial terms to describe Obama. A man has been accused of yelling, "Kill him," at a Palin rally. I've gotten e-mails that are full of anti-Obama racism. Yes, this campaign is ugly and McCain is to blame.
* A Stanford poll says that if Obama were White, he'd be up 7 more point in the polls. Now what are some people saying about race not having an effect on this election?
* I'll say it again. If Obama isn't up by at least 10% in the polls come Election Day, it will be tough for him to win. the good thing, however, is voter turnout can defeat racism in this election.
* Well, the NRA is at it again. The National Rifle Association is running an ad called, "Barack Obama's Ten Point Plan To "Change" The Second Amendment." I'm a gun owner. I love my Second Amendment rights. Barack Obama is not an enemy of the Second Amendment. Obama won't attempt to take away your right to own a gun. There's political propaganda and flat out lying. In this ad, as well as others, the NRA is nothing more than a bunch of liars.
* Nonviolent felons who have successfully paid their debt to society should have there voting rights restored. In Virginia, those voting rights must be restored by the Governor. To date, 6,000 nonviolent felons have regained their voting rights in Virginia. Good.
* Why are Republicans against restoring voting rights to nonviolent felons? Simple. Republicans are afraid those nonviolent felons will vote Democrat. Funny thing, though. Republicans don't seem to have a problem with conservative talk show hosts who have been convicted of nonviolent felonies having their voting rights restored.
* The New York Times is reporting that voter registration offices in Colorado, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Nevada and North Carolina are removing voters from the voting rolls within 90 days of a federal election, which is illegal unless the voter dies, moves to another state after telling election officials, or have been declared to be unfit to vote. Some of these states are also improperly using Social Security information to verify voter registration applications, which in some cases, is also illegal.
* This, along with what's going on in Florida to remove voters from the voting rolls, will make for an interesting Election Day.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/10/08
Now that 2 of the 3 debates have been held and all voter registration deadlines have passed, it will be interesting to see what happens next. My heart tells me that Barack Obama will win November's Presidential Election in a squeaker. My head tells me that John McCain will win by a comfortable margin, perhaps by a landslide, in November. November's results will depend upon several things.
Will Americans vote for a Black man for President, or will Americans go into the voting booths wanting to vote for Obama, but, just can't bring themselves to pull the lever for a Black man? Have those Americans who say that the American political system doesn't work for them registered to vote or will these people continue to whine and complain that politicians don't pay any attention to them? What Americans will show up to vote on Election Day? Will young people, the under 25 crowd, show up to vote on Election Day?
Will Hillary Clinton supporters vote as they should, or will they vote for a candidate whose voting record and attitudes are the direct polar opposites of the woman so they adore? Will Joe Biden be the political attack dog Obama so desperately needs? Can Joe Biden ease the fears working class America has of voting for Obama? How will win the Hispanic vote play out, especially in Florida, given older Hispanic attitudes toward Blacks?
Will John McCain continue to get away with calling himself "the original maverick" after pandering to Rush Limbaugh and the Religious Right, or will someone finally recognize that today's maverick McCain is a pale imitation of his former self? Will conservative talk radio continue their hypocritical and hyper racist support for McCain? Will gay Republicans cross over and vote for Obama, given McCain's new allegiance to the Religious Right? Will gay Republicans continue to allow themselves be the whipping boys and girls for the right-wing of the Republican Party by supporting McCain? Will the fascination with Sarah Palin continue? Will Palin draw votes for McCain because people want a woman Vice President? Will voters support the McCain/Palin ticket having decided that if they have to vote for a minority in November, they'll go with McCain/Palin instead of Obama/Biden? Can Palin continue to mobilize the Republican base with her baseless, reckless, scorched earth brand of politics?
Will there be confusion at the polls on Election Day? Will voters who think they can vote in November show up at the polls on Election Day only to find out that they been dropped from the voting rolls? Are poll workers ready for what will be a record voter turnout? Will there be problems with electronic voting machines given there is no paper backup for many of them? Will we be able to trust that all of the votes cast for McCain and Obama are counted fairly?
Will there be a political bombshell, an "October Surprise," that will have an overwhelming effect on the outcome of November's election?
I caused quite a stir on "The SCLC Radio Show" in August when I said three things.
1) "Blacks can't necessarily blame racism if Obama loses in November. If Blacks register to vote and vote in the numbers they should, those numbers will more that offset the number of racists who refuse to vote for Obama because of race."
There are 8 million Blacks who can register to vote but aren't registered. With voter registration deadline having passed, it will be interesting to see if those numbers have dropped and by how much. It's time for us to stop complaining and start voting.
2) "Given the current state of the U.S. economy, economic scandal after economic scandal, the War in Iraq, the poor treatment of our soldiers at the beginning of the Iraq War, the lack of proper medical care given to our service men and women, the total incompetence of the Bush Administration over the past 8 years, and McCain's lack of new ideas and solutions, if Barack Obama were a White guy named John Smith, Obama would be so far ahead in the polls that John McCain couldn't see him. The same would be true if Hillary Clinton would have been the Democratic candidate."
3) "If America cannot except an American success story like Barack Obama, there's no hope in this country for a guy like me or any other Black person."
No one wants to say it, but, this election is also a referendum on racial attitudes in America. If Obama loses on Election Day, we will know by mid-November if Obama lost because of his race or because America just liked McCain better. My guess is, 20%, if not more, of the people who vote on Election Day will decide their vote based upon race. Some will vote for Obama. Some will vote against Obama. But, we will know how and why people voted the way they did based upon the numbers.
It's three weeks until Election Day. A lot can happen during this time. Let's just hope that people go to the polls and vote for the best man and instead of the best White man or Black man.
WE THE PEOPLE
HAVE A NICE WEEKEND. I'LL SEE YOU MONDAY.
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/8/08
* Well, I told you the McCain/Palin folks were going to go negative, negative, negative. That's all they've got. That's all they know. That's how they think they will win in November given that they have no new ideas or offer specifics on how they plan to fix things. Desperate people do separate things.
* Don't buy into Republican political mastermind, Karl Rove, saying Obama has already won this election. Rove is just trying to scare people to the polls on Election Day.
* Virginia will be the key state in this election. Whoever wins Virginia will be the next President.
* Look for some more Florida bull jive on Election night. People are being dropped from the voting rolls in that state left and right. You'd think that after what happened in 2000, those folks would finally learn how to run an election. After all, it's been 8 years. Guess not.
TUESDAY NIGHT'S DEBATE
* All I've heard for the past 10 days was McCain was going to clean Obama's clock in the town hall meeting format of Tuesday night's debate. Well, it didn't happen. Obama took it to and defeated McCain Tuesday night.
* McCain, like Sarah Palin last week, just doesn't like to answer questions in a debate. His answer to everything is, "I'm a reformer. I'll end earmarks. I work across the aisle. I've done this in the past. I've fought my party. I'm not popular with my party at times. Sen. Obama says or believes in blah, blah, blah." This was McCain's answer to so many questions Tuesday, I lost track. By the way, what did McCain mean by, "That one," when he said Obama voted for a Bush/Chaney energy bill. And why didn't McCain shake Obama's hand after the debate?
* McCain likes to talk about what he's done in the past. I want to know what McCain is going to do in the future. I want to know why I should vote for John McCain. During his entire Presidential campaign, McCain has failed tell people why they should vote for him.
This is why I don't put to much into two things McCain said Tuesday night. McCain shot himself in the foot twice during the debate. In fact, he shot both of his foot clean off. First, McCain said the government needed to buy up all of the bad housing loans and renegotiate a better mortgage with homeowners. Second, McCain said Warren Buffet would be a excellent choice for Sec. of the Treasury. Both statements severely hurts McCain with his Republican base.
Never mind that part of what McCain suggested is already part of the Wall Street Bailout Program and Obama suggested the very same thing two weeks ago. Other than what's included in the Bailout Program, we can't afford to do more without the help of the banks since buying up all, instead of some, of the bad housing loans could run into the trillons of dollars. Plus, this idea flies smack into the face of the Republican views that government needs to stay out of the lives of the people and government needs to do away with entitlement programs. McCain's, (I Want To Be Like Barack), housing plan will be considered an entitlement program by most Republicans.
As for Warren Buffet, last Wednesday night on "The Charley Rose Show," Buffet said the government needed to raise taxes, especially taxes on the rich, since the rich actually pay taxes at a lower rate than poor people. The cut tax party is never going to go for that. Republicans will vote for McCain in November. But, if McCain wins, Republicans will shut him down the day after the election. There will be no new housing plan. Buffet will never be Sec. of the Treasury.
McCain was playing to the crowd on both ideas. It will be interesting when the back pedaling will begin. Actually, the back pedaling probably began right after the debate. We will see.
* Tuesday night, Obama offered more specifics. Obama looked more Presidential. Obama looked more on task. Obama seemed to have it more together. Obama took it to McCain. Obama won the debate.
* Most important, Obama didn't get into a mud wrestling match with McCain. He stayed out of the gutter.
* Funny how government works. The original Wall Street Rescue/Bailout Bill was 3 pages long involving $700 billion. The bill that passed was over 400 pages long involving $1 trillion, $150 billion of that was in political pork. Interesting.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/6/08
* Get ready for political Armageddon. Look for the McCain campaign to go negative, negative, negative. The McCain campaign is gearing up to call Obama everything but the n-word, and they'll call Obama that in Republican code words. They will play the race card. They will play the fear card. The McCain message from now until Election Day will be, "Listen America, (White folks). Do you really want this elitist, (uppity N-word), with questionable associations, (Rev. Wright and all), who is inexperienced, (incompetent N-word), who has never really accomplished anything, (affirmative action candidate), running, (ruining), this great country of ours, (yours)?"
* It will be important for Obama not to take the bait. That's what Joe Biden and others are for.
* We know exactly what Sarah Palin means when she talks about "Joe Six-Pack" and "Hockey Moms," in her, "Ah Shucks, Golly Gee," style. We aren't dumb.
* Speaking of Sarah Palin, it's time to let that bone go. Palin's not running for President, McCain is. If Obama is going to win in November, Obama and his supporters need to forget about Palin. Let her make Republicans giddy with joy. Let her be McCain's attack dog. As the old folks used to say, that dog don't hunt. Palin won't move the poll numbers anymore. Her time has come and gone.
* Palin is saying Katie Couric wasn't being fair to her in their CBS News interviews last week. Interesting. Don't you just love Tine Fay as Sarah Palin. She plays Palin better than Palin.
* Why isn't McCain talking about what he will do to make America better? Just asking. I mean, if someone is running for President, you'd think that person would have more to his campaign than just asking America to vote for him because the guy he is running against is a bum.
* Be aware of this dirty campaign tactic. Fake pollsters in the swing states are calling people and asking misleading questions about Barack Obama. These pollsters are using push poll methods trying to link Obama with terrorist groups Hamas and the PLO. These fakes pollsters are trying to scare people into voting for John McCain. Typical questions might go:
-"Would you vote for Barack Obama if you knew Barack Obama was getting campaign contributions from the terrorist group the PLO?"
-"Would you vote for Barack Obama is you knew Barack Obama was getting support from the terrorist group Hamas?"
-"Would you vote for Barack Obama if you knew that terrorist groups the PLO and Hamas wanted Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States?"
Be aware. Don't fall for this mess.
* Talk about bad karma. OJ Simpson was convicted of kidnapping and armed robbery on the 13'th anniversary to the day of being found not guilty of murdering Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman. Now that's justice.
* If you've been reading THE ARTIS BLOG through the years, you'll know that I regard Simpson the dumbest man in America. When you get away with murder, and he did, you go low, low, low profile for the rest of your life. You don't thumb your nose at the courts and try to screw two families by refusing to pay off a judgment while at the same time illegally try to hide financial assets that the court says should go to those families. You don't write a book saying I didn't do it, but, if I did, here's how I would have done it. You don't get involved in a nut job scheme to "recover" so-called stolen property that only a crazed crack head would have thought of. In a perfect world, Simpson would get 20 years in prison just for being stupid.
* Still, it's clear that the actions of the jury, the Las Vegas police and the Las Vegas court system left plenty on the table for a justifiable case for appeal.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG
10/3/08
* How do I feel about the Wall Street Bailout/Rescue Plan? Read my column in "THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL." To read this week's edition, please click on the following link: www.theroanokestar.com.
* Well, Sarah Palin is not as dumb as we thought. She's dumb, but, not that dumb. Funny thing though. She didn't answer any question directly until 9:40. She answered her second question directly at 10:15. Think about that for a minute. In a 90 minute debate, Palin only answered two questions directly. And she says she's qualified to be President of the United States? Well, golly gee, heck no. But, then again, she announced at the beginning of the debate that she was going to talk about the issues she wanted to talk about.
* Listening to and watching Palin last night, I thought I was watching to an old Shirley Temple movie. I kept waiting for Palin to tell Joe Biden, "Golly gee, gosh darn, Joe. Turn that frown upside down, you old grouchy guss." And why was Palin winking at the television cameras?
* I've invented a new drinking game, "The Palin Game." The rules are pretty simple. Whenever you hear Palin speak, take a shot of booze whenever she says, "golly gee", "gosh darn", "maverick", "Hockey Mom", "Joe Six Pack", and "energy." You'll get hammered pretty quickly.
You might as well get hammered listening to her. It's not like you are going to hear anything important whenever she speaks. I know you aren't going to hear any policy facts from her. She doesn't mind flat out lying, either. The new Alaskan Pipeline Palin talked about last night? It's nowhere close to being built. It's only in the planning stages. Gosh darn it.
* Joe Biden easily won the debate. On the policy, Biden blew Palin away. Palin, on the other hand, won Ms. Personality. Only a fool would want Ms. Personality to be a heart beat away from being President of the United States.
I've now seen three Sarah Palins. There's the Sarah Palin who thought it was funny when an Alaskan shock jock called Palin's main political in Alaska a "bitch," and a "cancer" when Palin was on his show. The woman is a cancer survivor. There's the Sarah Palin that was on the CBS Evening News last week. There's the Sarah Palin who is a Shirley Temple wannabe who showed up at the debate last night. That's too many Sarah Palins for me.
* Some say last night's debate won't have much of an effect on November's election. I disagree. Palin's debate performance gave legitimacy to those looking for any excuse not to vote for Obama. What do I mean? I've heard the conversations. "If I'm ever going to vote for a minority in an election, I'm voting for Sarah Palin." White women are minorities, too. Want proof? Which minority group benefited the most from affirmative action programs? Surprise! According to the United States Government, it was White women.
* Gwen Ifill had an off night last night. I think the controversy over Ifill being the debate moderator got to her. It was a phony controversy, really. It was just McCain whining again. For a war hero, he sure whines a lot.
* If Obama loses in November, it's going to be tough to blame race and racism for his defeat. I'll be honest with you. I think at least 20% of the electorate will vote against Obama because of his race. However, we can't ignore this one fact. Eight million Blacks who are eligible to vote in November are not registered to vote. In percentages, 32% of America's Black population that is eligible to vote is not registered to vote. This isn't a shame. This is a damn shame. These are the people who can offset any racist who votes on Election Day.
* And no, don't believe the poll numbers. If Obama isn't up by at least 10 points by Election Day, I don't know if he can win. Why? Come Election Day, every person in America who doesn't want a Black man to be President will be voting on Election Day. Some will be voting for the first time in their lives. Some will be families voting for the first time. Some might be 90-years-old. Some might show up at the polls with their first, second and third cousins. But, by god, ain't no way, no how, them folks are gonna let some, "uppity ni**er" be President of the United States. (Hey, I know exactly what some folks are saying behind closed doors.)
Some of these people will be wearing Confederate flags, some of these people will be wearing suits. Some of these people will be driving pickup trucks, some of these people will be driving minivans. Some of these people will be poor, some of these people will have a huge stock portfolio. And guess what? Those folks never show up in polling data.
* John McCain has shut down his campaign operation in Michigan. He knows Obama has won that state. McCain's moving his resources to Wisconsin, Ohio and Florida.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU MONDAY. HAVE A NICE WEEKEND.
THE ARTIS BLOG, 10/01/08
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I write a column for THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL. On Wednesday's, I'll post past columns on THE ARTIS BLOG. Enjoy. If you'd like to check out the latest edition of THE ROANOKE STAR-SENTINEL, please click on the following link. www.theroanokestar.com
As the first month of the school year ends, I have a request for some of the adults out there with children. Normally, these people are called parents. Lately, the term, "parent" has become open to debate. Some of you do a good job making sure your children get an education. On the other hand, some of you are sadly lacking in the common sense, the desire and the will to make sure your children are properly educated, as well as, go to school and act like a student instead of a street thug.
I want to ask those adults with children, who really cannot by any definition of the word be called "parents," to do one simple thing. I want you to make education first in your children's lives this school year. You know who you are. You are the ones who never ask your child about school. You are the ones who let you children run the streets at all hours on a school night. You are the ones who never ask to see homework or other school work. You are the ones who allow your children to miss 20, 30 days of school a semester. You are the ones who let your child drop out of school. You are the ones who support your child as a victim of the school system even when your child is 100 percent wrong. You are the ones who never make demands on your child to make A's and B's instead of D's and F's in school. You are the ones who have children who take away from my child's right to go to school in a proper learning environment.
Your motto is, "I Didn't Know," your excuse for not checking on the progress of your child's education. You never go to teacher conferences, check homework, look out for report cards or anything else. You tell your child that school is a waste of time. You tell your child college is either impossible, only for rich kids, only for White kids, or, out of petty jealousy discourage your child from thinking about college because you don't want your child to have a better life than you. You are the primary reason why our schools have dismal graduation rates.
Getting a child through school isn't easy. At times, frankly, it can be a royal pain. Parent/teacher conferences, pushing your child to make good grades, dealing with teachers and administrators with attitudes, going to school functions, and the never ending need to pay school fee after school fee can be tough. But, dealing with these things are necessary.
The main difference in grades between students at any school has little to do with intelligence. Good students go to school, go to class, pay attention in class, do their homework, study for tests, do all school tasks on time and stay out of trouble. The job of a parent is to make sure this happens on daily basis. Some of you need to finally earn the title of "parent."
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU FRIDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG, 9/29/08
* As a kid, Paul Newman was my favorite actor. In a word, he was just "cool." I also admired his work in Civil Rights. I admired his courage when President Richard Nixon put Newman on the White House Enemy's List. I liked the fact that he was a race car driver. And he gave so much to children who needed help. Plus, he was one hell of an actor, the likes we may never see again. May he rest in peace.
* A McCain supporter got upset with me about calling McCain a liar. Hey, if the shoe fits. . . . Even Karl Rove, yes, that Karl Rove, says McCain should stop "misrepresenting" Obama's record. Now, that's saying something.
* An Obama campaign headquarters was vandalized in Blacksburg, Va. No, I'm not surprised. It's going to get worse.
* The racists are having a field day selling racist Obama items on the Internet. You can use Goggle to see some of these items.
* We have no other choice but to support the Wall Street bailout plan. Don't get me wrong. It bothers me that America would rather bailout rich guys than help the poor. However, if we don't act and act now, our economy may go belly up. I'd rather Congress use my tax dollars to help save our economy than be unemployed in 6 months. Those are our only choices.
* What a difference a month makes. When chosen as John McCain's running mate, Sarah Palin was the darling of the Republican Party. She energized the Republican base, sured up McCain's ties with the Religious Right and helped a boring McCain campaign become interesting. At the time, I thought the choice of Palin may have helped McCain clinch the election. Now, I'm not so sure. Some conservative columnist have turned on Palin, saying McCain needs to replace her or she needs to find an excuse to bow out. Of course, he can't replace her, especially after McCain's debate drama of last week blew up in his face. She can't bow out because, she just can't. I know this. I'm really looking forward to the Palin/Biden debate Thursday night.
* My daughter told me that her boyfriend is afraid of me. I told my daughter, "Good. He should be." I'm a father, not the chairman of the local Welcome Wagon. In fact, if more fathers were doing their j.o.b., our children would be a lot better off.
* I scratched my head over the reaction to the Sarah Palin situation with her daughter and all. It's funny. A few months ago, the Right Wing of the Republican Party was all gung ho about Family Values. Now, one of their own has an unmarried, pregnant, teenage daughter and suddenly, an unmarried, pregnant, teenage girl is no big deal. What hypocrites! If a poor Black family, poor White family, poor Hispanic family, or poor Asian family had a pregnant, unmarried teenage daughter living with them, those same folks would be having a public hissy fit.
* And what about Palin's husband? Let me tell you something. If some boy got my teenage daughter pregnant, I certainly wouldn't have been standing next to him on a stage at the Republican National Convention. In fact, that boy had better get as far away from me as possible, as quickly as possible.
* I got asked the other day how hard it was for me to step down as President of the Roanoke, Va. chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. It wasn't hard at all. When I got to the hospital after my wife's second heart attack in a month back in March, it took me about ten seconds to decide what to do. I'm a husband. Family first, everything else second.
* To the Dallas Cowboy readers of JeffArtis.com Featuring The Artis Blog, and there are plenty of you, I only have one more thing to say. HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU WEDNESDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG, 9/26/08
THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE
* I think Obama clearly won. Most important, the Republicans can no longer say that Obama is just another pretty face, with outstanding speaking skills, with no specifics, who can't function without the help of a teleprompter.
* Obama was Presidential. He had a good grasp of the facts. He attacked when he had to. He backed off when he should have. He admitted when he felt McCain was right. I thought it was a very good night for him. I look for Obama to get a bounce in the polls.
* I also didn't have a problem with Obama saying we need to find and kill bin Ladin. No, I don't have a problem with that.
* McCain was McCain. Still, I have a problem with anyone who says he disagrees with the President on so many issues, yet, has admitted on camera that he supported President Bush 90% of the time. Talk about a contradiction.
* McCain says we should vote for him because he has the experience of 25 years in government. Let's see. In spite of that 25 years of experience in government, our economy is shot, our foreign policy is in shambles, America's status around the world is in decline and our President will go down as the worst President in American history; a President that McCain says he supported 90% of the time. Again, talk about a contradiction.
* You can't be the maverick McCain says he is when you say you have supported the President 90% of the time; a President who have been a failure by any definition of the word.
* Why didn't the Republicans allow Sarah Palin to talk with the press after the debate? Could it be because of Palin's horrible performance in the Katie Couric interview Thursday night? Well, I told you so.
* I am concerned about the number of people who saw the debate. Friday night is high school football night in America. I doubt many people decided to miss their local high school football game in order to stay home to watch the debate. This means a large segment of America will be getting their debate information second hand. This will help McCain.
* I really don't think there are too many undecided voters out there. Oh, they may say they are undecided. But, I don't think they really are.
* Like I've said before, if Obama was a White guy named Bill Smith, he'd be so far ahead in the polls that the Republicans would already be thinking about and planning for the 2012 Presidential Election.
WE THE PEOPLE
SEE YOU MONDAY
THE ARTIS BLOG, 9/24/08
* There are many legitimate reasons to vote for John McCain in November. There are many legitimate reasons to vote for Barack Obama in November. But, let's be honest. If you are a working class man or woman, a former Hillary Clinton supporter, a Democrat or are voting Democrat in your local and/or state wide election in November, have been laid off from your job because the company you worked for shut down and/or moved overseas, or live below the poverty line, if you don't vote for Barack Obama in November you are either: A) a fool, B) a spoiled 2-year-old who is still pouting because Hillary lost, C) a bigot, D) a racist, E) all of the above.
* I thought John McCain was an honorable man. Things sure change when you run for President of the United States. McCain's "Straight Talk Express" has turned into"The Broken Wheel Tricycle."
* I supported McCain when he ran for President in 2000. The McCain of 2008 is not the same John McCain of 2000. In fact, the John McCain of 2008 is an embarrassment to the John McCain of 2000.
* When a candidate's Presidential campaign slogan should be, "Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire," as McCain's should, you know this country is in trouble if McCain is elected President.
* McCain is no longer a maverick. McCain is a sellout; a sellout to the Religious Right and the conservative wing of the Republican Party.
* McCain's choice of Sarah Palin for Vice President may have already won him the election. It has certainly energized the Republican Party. But, I have to tell you. Sara Palin is in no way, shape or form, qualified to be President of the United States.
* Again, I'll be honest. Given the way the Republicans are keeping Palin from the press, either the Republicans are afraid of something or she's as dumb as a sack of hair. Either way, something is fishy.
* Before you say I'm biased, what's up with Joe Biden? Biden really needs to have his "Foot In Mouth" disease checked out.
* Yes, I'm worried about the economy. Yes, I'm worried that I won't have a job next week or 6 months from now. We may just be seeing the beginning of a depression the likes this country has never seen before.
* No, I do not support the President's plan to save the economy. We may have to bail out Wall Street companies. But, we must have government oversite before doing so. People need to be held accountable. The Secretary of the Treasury should not be setting this country's economic policy without having to answer to Congress and the courts for his decisions. Anyway, given the record of the Bush Administration and its failures, can we trust any Bush government appointee position to do the right thing?
