Leaderless America, on the precipice of a waterfall without a paddle

Today, in my opinion, Glenn Beck, at his “Restoring Honor” rally did metaphorically suggest using the teachings of the Bible as a paddle and I was impressed.

I was impress not that I am a religious man but as an ex-school teacher who has time after time seen expressions of a persons’ heart. Whether seeing it in the faces of students singing a selection from Leonard Bernsteins’ “Mass”, singing a Christmas Carole or delivering a speech to an assembly of their peers, I have seen hearts.

I give “Kudos” to Glenn Beck for having an organized heart-felt event. The speakers came forth on cue and at the ending of the program, the singing of “Amazing Grace” was on cue, the bag piper and drummer came in on cue including the entrance of ministers of various faiths followed by the entrances of clearly articulating singers.

Such events take a whole bunch of planning and clear enunciation of directions from the program director.

These are many of the things making an event meaningful to me. My theory is milking the hell out of your format giving the audience ‘gold standards’ at every turn of events; you owe it to them for attending your event due to the fact they could have stayed home watching mediocracy on their television sets. If necessary, heir a professional for help.

As a Music Teacher for forty years and having to satisfy both students and parents while giving two concerts a year -a Christmas and Spring concert- I have developed an impatience with what I consider ad hoc programs of any kind. I don‘t care what case you want to make, I only want you to make it worth my while attending. Entertain me! I am your invited guest.

Unfortunately, I have to endure more and more of the performances of the Glenn Becks for a much needed paddle due to the fact this administration, the Obama administration, stubbornly refuses to take a heart-felt leadership role of any dimensions to satisfy its base, including the ’Professional left’ and there are dire consequences. Personally, I think the administration is saying to us as we are on our way to the ballot box in November and metaphorically on the precipice of a waterfall without a paddle, “Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn!”

Fighting for the dignity of my Ancestors, God bless Bill Gates, WPFW, C-SPAN and the spirits of the unborn for the help,
BB

Glenn Beck attempts to usurp the throne

In my opinion, later today Glenn Beck is going to use the Martin Luther King Day as his own Inauguration Day. He will give a “Friends, Romans, Countrymen, I come not to bury Caesar…” speech, thus paving the way for a long succession of coup attempts performed by Republicans and it will be nasty. Today will be the most overt. It will elevate coup attempts. This I believe.

Last evening on the Ed Schultz Show, I was informed two of our richest Republicans compared Pres. Obama to Hitler and Mussolini. These are chilling allegations but when you have a leaderless anything, this is what happens; people vie for leadership positions. The attempted American coup in Venezuela awakened Chavez’ ass up! Let's hope our President is as perceptive as Pres. Chavez, if it is not already too late.

I understand Sen. John Boehner will give his “coup” speech immediately after the President delivers his upcoming speech on finance or something. Whatever.

I am mindful of the famous lines of actress *Bette Davis, “Fasten your seat belts. It is going to be a bumpy night!”

As always,
BB

*Bumpy night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XypVcv77WBU

1. On Glenn Beck, His Rally, and Why I'm Pissed
by Setrak
Excerpt:
This means there have been more such strikes in the tribal areas so far this year than in any year prior, despite the fact that George W. Bush had seven years to do something about the situation there. Under President Barack Obama, there have been more drone strikes in just over a year and a half than had occured after seven years of George W. Bush and the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

And
Glenn Beck's rally is going to further more of these illusions. Surely someone will probably try to further UnAmericanize Barack Obama despite the President's best efforts to actually capture/or/kill Osama bin Laden and Co in ways that make Cowboy-Bush look like a little boy holding a water pistol. Or a drunk.(something that George W. Bush and Glenn Beck had in common........)
Read more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/28/896928/-On-Glenn-Beck,-His-Rally,-and-Why-Im-Pissed

2. I give up on politics. Let's talk about subjects we can influence.
ShareNew 0
by jec
Excerpt:
It's time to change the subject. Fuck the politics. we never get what we vote for anyway. We had such great hope in the promises made in 2008 and what did we get? More of the same.
Read more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/26/896271/-I-give-up-on-politics.-Lets-talk-about-subjects-we-can-influence.

3. Obama is Slowly Losing this Obama Supporter
by LarsThorwald
Excerpt:
I really never thought I'd write those words about this man. He's off his game and he's moving backwards.

And
I mean, where is President Obama in all of this? Where is his fight? where is his head? What is he thinking? What direction is he looking? I knew well where Obama's fight was during the primary, and I knew well where Obama's head was when he made that Wright speech, and I knew well where he wanted to lead this nation when he gave the State of the Union way back in January.
Read more at:
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2010/8/26/896321/-Obama-is-Slowly-Losing-this-Obama-Supporter

Mrs. Shirley Sherrod: Old school Black

When my family and small circle of Black friends speak of “old school Black”, we are speaking of older Blacks to whom the word “racist” has endless pain and multiple stories associated with each letter in the word. Associations with stories from slave houses to jail houses, from ocean voyages to sea to shining sea, we have intense emotional associations with the word “racist”.

Other such words are “segregation” and “cracker”. And there are names like, “Bull Connor”, “George Wallace” and “Massah”. (I actually had a Black female student named Massah)

So it is, when Ms. Sherrod was speaking at her press conference yesterday articulating why she would ‘not at this time’ accept a re-hire position offered by U.S. Department of Agriculture Sec. Tom Vilsack, she said “You must understand what happened”. In other words, you must understand what he did to me!

He was like an old slave master who, after dragging her out of the house and stripping her of her clothing in front of her man, her children and grandchildren and the rest of the people on the plantation, did unmercifully thrash her because “someone” said she had broken a tea cup.

Ms. Sherrod knows as well as the rest of us residing in old school Black that while offering her a re-hire position and the friction it would garner in the department, Mr. Vilsack has not changed. He can not change. Our society will not allow him to change and especially at his age. Mr. vilsack may want to change but a lot of us want to do things we can not do and changing lifelong beliefs of your friends and family is not one of them; its that ‘birds of a feather’ thing. Ms. Sherrod and her husband may know that of white folk better them a whole bunch of us.

When an angry white man says “You’re fired!” to a Black person, the words take on un-imaginable historical dimensions, dimensions whites would never understand and I note Jewish communities refusal to render parallels.


Fighting for the dignity of my Ancestors, God bless Bill Gates, WPFW, C-SPAN and the spirits of the unborn for the help,
BB

REJECTED! Why Shirley Sherrod Won't Be Going Back to USDA (Anytime Soon)
Carl Franzen Contributor
AOL News Surge Desk

Excerpt:
Now, it appears that the USDA's effort to undo some of it by offering her a new, better job has also fallen flat. Just why is Sherrod declining the offer? As The Associated Press put it: She told reporters she did not think she could say yes to a job "at this point, with all that has happened." Bloggers, however, are peering deeper, offering their own, more specific interpretations (some more serious than others) about what might be motivating Sherrod at this juncture.
Read more at:
http://www.aolnews.com/surge-desk/article/shirley-sherrod-declines-agriculture-department-job-offer-4-theories-why/19606155

McCains’ silent primary. VERY silent!

It just seems a bit odd to me one of the more stellar Republican primaries of 2010 to be held tomorrow on August 24th is being considered a “ho-hum” event by the media. This vote is going to be interesting especially if the voting machines are those new fangled electronic ones that don’t leave paper trails.

I understand J.C. Hayworth, Sen. McCains’ challenger, has the backing of all 19 TeaBagger groups in Arizona. This is gonna be fun! Also, I can not find the name of a Democratic challenger anywhere.

-Election 2010: Arizona Republican Primary for Senate-
Arizona Republicans will pick their Senate nominee in an August 24 primary. A member of the U.S. Senate since 1987, McCain was reelected in 2004 with nearly 77% of the vote.
Read more at:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_senate_elections/arizona/election_2010_arizona_republican_primary_for_senate

As always,
BB
P.S. In the Florida primaries, I’m putting my bets on Charlie Christ. In my opinion, he is a genuine 14 karat “KMA” Maverick. Kendrick Meek is still a diamond in the rough.

A medieval mystery play: "Your faith or your money."

Unquestionably, everything cost money these days and dealing with your religious beliefs is no different. There has to be a profit margin in everything happening in America. It is called “capitalism!” and it is constitutional.

Act one: Rev. Terry Jones, pastor of *Dove World Outreach Center located in Gainesville, Florida has been informed if he proceeds with his much publicized burning of Muslin Korans, he will have to pay for the privilege. There will be a fine. It will cost him money. The good Rev. Jones vows the burning will take place on 9/11/10 regardless the consequences.

Act two: The bank has called the churchs’ mortgage of $140,000 for immediate payment and the churchs' insurance company has waved it “Bye-bye!”

Enter parishioners: I am mindful of the time when Billy Graham or Pat Robinson pleaded with his parishioners for one million dollars fearing God was going to fulfill His threat of doing something bad to him if he did not come up with the money.

Additionally, When a church in Washington, D.C. wanted to raise money for a newly built church to be located in nearby Maryland, the pastor asked his congregation to mortgage their homes and re-finance their automobiles to make contributions to the church building fund. It is my understanding the newly built church is free and clear of debt.

Act three: Rev. Jones has two choices to ponder from my scenarios alone. I wish him many more choices but above all, I wish him and his congregation well.

Finale: To be continued throughout the ages. (I note other civilized countries continue creating history as we Americans continue re-creating it)
As always,
BB

*Fire Department Blocks Florida Church's Plan To Burn Korans
Evan McMorris-Santoro
Excerpt:
Prince says that if the church makes good on its promise, it cold be hit with a fine. >BR>
And
"RBC Bank called in our mortgage with a limited time to pay it off," the church wrote in the email pronouncing its intention to go ahead with the book burning. "Now Cottons All-lines Insurance has also canceled our commercial insurance on our property putting our mortgage in immediate default. We need to raise the $140,000 to pay off the RBC loan immediately."
Read more at:
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/08/fire_department_denies_florida_churchs_plans_to_burn_korans.php?ref=fpb

Recess appointments: No Elizabeth Warren

With the recent White House *recess appointments, I note Elizabeth Warrens’ name is not on the list. Ms. Warren is, amongst others, the choice of the testy “professional left” to head the newly created Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Has the White House once again given us the one finger salute? Wow! I mean, Ho-hum. Where‘s my ball? I‘m goin’ home.
As always,
BB

*Obama makes four recess appointments
By Ed O'Keefe
Excerpt:
The most contentious of the appointments is Maria del Carmen Aponte, the administration's pick for ambassador to El Salvador.

And
Obama also recess appointed Elisabeth Hagen as the Agriculture Department's undersecretary for food safety, Winslow Sargeant as chief counsel for advocacy at the Small Business Administration, and Richard Sorian as assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services.
Read more at:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/19/AR2010081905738.html