YES: Chidike Okeem: "Electability Matters"
The FOX News business analyst and conservative in New York writes: "I didn't hear a lot of pundits talking about nor did I see them write about the fact that Iowa matters this election year as the market is clamoring for a Republican that can give President Obama a real challenge. For all his weakness, that candidate is Mitt Romney. I'm not endorsing Romney, but I'm looking at the reality of the landscape facing the nation. In a sense this should be an election about family values and a nation that's lost its way, and on that note, Santorum ranks highest. But I've met Romney's sons, and he has an impressive family as well. I've been on the air with Rick Santorum many times, and we have a rapport. I'm proud of his surge, just not sure if it's too little too late."
He continues his commentary: "Then there is runaway debt and a runaway fed, and of course Paul owns that, but Romney is talking the talk. The fact is Romney has the understanding of the free markets, and he's talking tough about the Fed. Paul is a man of convictions, which is like the man with one eye in the land of the blind when it comes to our debt and reckless fiscal course. The things holding Paul back are deal breakings with wide swaths of society. I haven't read the newsletters, but think if anyone could survive Rev. Wright then decades-old newsletters could be a non-factor. Then there is the notion of running a state, and while no state has rocked like Texas, at least Romney can boast executive experience while Rick Perry just hasn't been able to rebound. In Rick Perry's case, that old adage about first impressions has proven to be all too true."
NO: Chidike Okeem: "A Mormon Will Beat America's 1st Black President? Y'all Are Delusional"
Asserts the Nigerian-British conservative in California, who supported Michele Bachmann's now-ended presidential campaign: "ROTFL at all the people thinking a Mormon is going to defeat the first black president of the United States! People make me laugh! LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL! As soon as Romney wins the nomination, Obama will start popping bottles of bubbly in celebration, while his campaign strategists start to compile all the VICIOUSLY RACIST parts of Mormon theology to use in ads. Get a clue, Republicans!"
BOOKERISTA DEBATE: Can Romney Beat Obama?
The Iowa Caucus: Bookerista Reaction
As folks know, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney won the Iowa caucus by only eight votes. Bookeristas from around the world weigh in on last night's results:
France: Neoafricain: "Sur La Route De La Maison Blanche"
The French conservative blogger discusses the GOP road to the White House (original op-ed in French): "By winning victory by the slimmest of margins, Mitt Romney was perfectly placed in a favorable position. His stature as a statesman, his image as a moderate-conservative, his government experience, his professional success in the private sector, and its ability to unite Americans of all political stripes to achieve results are his main assets. But the most decisive one is certainly the belief shared by more and more people that he is the best Republican candidate who is able to beat Obama."
The article continues: "The choice of the future Republican candidate is up to Americans. We are mere observers. But American voters should know that they have a huge responsibility. In the presidential regime which governs the United States, the choice of America's future president is crucial. Of course, as a neoconservative and a more devout Christian, I don't think that Mitt Romney is the perfect choice. But that's where the political maturity is important."
Harris Becomes USA's 1st Openly Gay Black Republican Mayor
In Chatham, N.J. From the Daily Record: "Bruce Harris was sworn in as mayor of the borough on Tuesday, becoming the first openly gay, black, Republican mayor in the country. 'I have felt it is my duty to serve the community,' Harris said. 'I think that public service is interesting, and finding ways to meet the challenges facing a small community like Chatham Borough is personally rewarding.' The Victory Fund, an organization that works to elect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, said Harris is the first mayor of his kind in the country. Yet Harris, an attorney and 30-year resident of the borough, says he did not enter politics to break barriers."
More: "Harris served the borough for 13 years on various boards and commissions. He also served two terms as a council member, working with mayors Dick Plambeck and Nelson Vaughan, whom he defeated in the November election. 'Bruce ran a really smart campaign and he is well-established in Chatham,' said Leanna Brown, a former state senator and a resident of Chatham for 50 years. 'I think his election shows the breadth and depth of the Republican Party.'"
Rep. Allen West: "Romney Would Probably Govern America Differently Than He Led Massachusetts"
The Sun-Sentinel (Florida) interviews the conservative Republican Congressman. Excerpts:
On the Iowa caucuses: "What you have seen coming out of Iowa with the top three that finished is a broad spectrum across the Republican Party. You have a person that is center to center-left, you have someone that is center to the right and you have a libertarian,' he said. That refers to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who finished first, second and third. 'Now the question is how can they continue to play their message out with the other primaries,' he said. West expects a the field to continue to narrow. 'Based upon his performance in New Hampshire, you’ll probably see maybe former Governor [Jon] Huntsman drop out.'"
On the role that Florida will play in primary season: "'I really believe that Florida’s going to play a very important role because Florida’s a very diverse state. It’s a very large state. It’s a swing state. And I think it would be really indicative of the way forward as far as this Republican primary.' Who has the advantage coming into Florida [which holds its primary on Jan. 31]? 'Well, I mean I think that you have to look at the fact that already Governor Romney has a pretty established ground game down here. And that goes back to the fact that he did run in 2008 and so you build upon that. Rick Santorum will have to try to pick that game up as you go through New Hampshire, South Carolina. And Ron Paul is once again, he still has a pretty good ground game. It is already established here from 2008 so we’ll see what happens.'"
Canadian Appellate Court: "'Murder' Posters Targeting Toronto Center-Right Councillor Were Cries For Help, Not Threats"
From the National Post (Canada): "Livingston Jeffers should not have been found guilty of counseling for murder and mischief for creating signs with the word 'murder' and a photo of local councillor Michael Thompson because there was no proof of any intention for harm, according to a 3-0 decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal."
The article continues: "The panel found that 50 posters that were attached to road signs, hydro poles and parking meters, were misinterpreted as threats when they were really cries for help from a desperate and distraught man. He had been given a suspended sentence and placed under three years probation. Mr. Jeffers, now 60, made numerous posters in 2007 after he, his wife and four children lost their townhouse condominium in east Toronto after failing to make mortgage payments. Half of the posters accused a bank employee and their condominium board of fraud. The other half contained a headshot of Mr. Thompson, who is black, with Mr. Jeffers’ name and phone number and the words: 'Murder Help. Councilor Thompson. Help Black. We Black.'"
More information about the case: "At trial, the judge found that although Mr. Jeffers openly admitted to liking Mr. Thompson, who had helped him in instances in the past, he was still guilty of calling for the politician’s death. But the appeal court ruled that the judge had erred by not considering Mr. Jeffers’ poor literacy skills and usage of Caribbean slang in the posters. Mr. Jeffers, who came to Canada in 1974 from the island of Monstserrat, told the court that the term 'murder' is often used as a synonym to the word 'help' in West Indies culture."
Congresswoman Michele Bachmann Steps Aside
Adrienne Ross, a conservative Republican blogger in New York, writes: "Congresswoman Michele Bachmann ended her campaign for the GOP presidential nomination today. After last night's last place finish in the Iowa Caucuses, I expected as much. So when she spoke, after realizing her dismal finish, that she was still the person to defeat President Obama, I was at a loss for how she could miss what the rest of us see: It's been a valiant effort, but it's over. She won the Iowa Straw Poll, but that was it. Enthusiasm for her simply didn't remain, and neither did the finances to continue."
More: "Today, Congresswoman Bachmann admitted as much, and said she has no regrets. Though I simply wasn't sparked by her campaign, and though I didn't agree with every manner in which she conducted business, I've always respected her stand for fiscal and social conservatism. Her unashamed faith in Christ opened her up to the kind of criticism Christians always receive in this country now, unfortunately, but it's certainly refreshing to see her boldness regardless. As Governor Palin stated last night during her Fox participation in the Iowa Caucuses, Bachmann will continue to serve us well in the House of Representatives."
ANC: "Kenneth Meshoe's Boycott Of Our Centenary Celebrations Shows Religious Intolerance"
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| Kenneth Meshoe |
The ANC's statement continues: "What the good Reverend is missing is the historic fact that from its inception, the ANC is a formation of many social forces including interfaith and ecumenical formations with different beliefs, cultures and theologies. The character and policy of the ANC includes recognition, respect, and tolerance of all such religions and faith-based formations including African religion on a fair and equal basis. To this end it is mischievous and misleading to suggest that the ANC is giving prominence to a particular faith over others, and what Reverend Meshoe must learn and understand is that the Centenary celebrations are not about worshipping ancestors. However, through the ceremonies and services which form part of the Centenary programme, the ANC will venerate the spirit of those who were part of its history. In accordance with African Theology principles which the ANC fully embraces and promotes, there is nothing wrong with the inclusion of African religious beliefs and practices."
Obama Blows Hole In Constitution: Hero Or Traitor?
Asks Jim Collier, a moderate blogger in California: "The 'New and Improved' National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is now the law – so don’t drop the soap folks! Seriously, let me get this straight, Mr. Obama. As president, sworn to uphold the US Constitution, you sign a law, bearing your fingerprints, on the day of the year (12/24), at your choosing, when the citizens are most distracted, and then promise that you will never use the 'unconstitutional' parts to do what you surreptitiously demanded the right to do. Sounds like something Bush/Cheney would have pulled, right? Well, yes, they definitely pulled some three-quarter-Monty crap like this, but in this case it was you, Barack Obama, and this is definitely the full-Monty (buck-ass-naked)."
He continues his commentary: "The Huffington Post (here) cleverly apologizes for the President on this tearing down of citizen rights, as they make it seem like he was somehow forced (by bad people?) to sign the law against his will, which is not true at all. The Huffington [Post] ignores that Obama insisted that American citizens be included in the indefinite detention language, or he would veto the bill. So in reality, that which the Huff and the President said he was against, jailing Americans indefinitely without trial, he is absolutely for and directly responsible. Politics and the media doing the nasty out in the open! A-friggin-mazing!"
KEVIN JACKSON OP-ED: Good Riddance To 2011...
The conservative Republican blogger in St. Louis opines about the Obama administration's policies: "In case you’re wondering how bad things were, my youngest son built a gingerbread house for Christmas and that was repossessed by the Fed and turned into Section 8 housing. The only statistics that are up during Obama’s first three years in office are Liberal corruption and Congressmen’s wealth, taxpayer desperation and suicides. How did we get this way, you ask? Obama and other Liberals were in charge. That’s all it took to have Utopia go to hell in a hand basket. Obama brought more nuts to DC than you’d find in a Porta-Potty at a peanut festival. The prospect of another year of Obama scares the crap out of me, much less four more after that. 2011 is year three of The Legacy of the Skinny Kenyan. America is in a mess only an Affirmative Action president could create. Massive debt, no jobs, lowered credit rating. The only thing left to do is put the presidential limousine up on blocks on the White House lawn."
He continues his commentary: "Under Barack Obama so far, America has revisited the ‘30s Great Depression, FDR’s ‘40s Raw Deal, LBJ’s ‘60s InGrate Society, and the Jimmy Carter’s ‘70s foreign policy embarrassments. Obama is truly a man for the ages…the Dark Ages. But enough about the light-skinned interloper from hither others yon. 2012 is the year we take charge."
More commentary from Mr. Jackson: "Though there was only one day separating 2011 from 2012, most of America was singing Happy Days are indeed here again the moment the ball dropped in 2012. Our exuberance was not because somebody spotted the ghost of Ronald Reagan, but because we know that we will finally get to undo what was done to us in 2008."
Harlem Faces A Historic Shift
As the rise of Hispanic voters means the neighborhood could lose its black voice in Congress (hat tip: Constructive Feedback): "For seven decades, two African-American politicians — first Adam Clayton Powell Jr., then Charles Rangel — have represented Harlem in Congress, symbolizing the New York City neighborhood's status as the de facto capital of black America. Now, redistricting under way by the state legislature combined with a fast-rising Hispanic population are threatening to overturn that history. There are more Hispanics than blacks in Mr. Rangel's district, raising the prospect that Harlem's roughly 200,000 African-Americans will lose their dominant role in choosing the district's member of Congress. Similar issues are emerging in several areas around the country, including Southern California, where the growing Hispanic population poses a challenge to three black-held seats."
WALTER E. WILLIAMS OP-ED: I Love Greed
Asserts the libertarian economics professor: "What human motivation gets the most wonderful things done? It's really a silly question, because the answer is so simple. It turns out that it's human greed that gets the most wonderful things done. When I say greed, I am not talking about fraud, theft, dishonesty, lobbying for special privileges from government or other forms of despicable behavior. I'm talking about people trying to get as much as they can for themselves."
He continues his commentary: "Free market capitalism is relatively new in human history. Prior to the rise of capitalism, the way people amassed great wealth was by looting, plundering and enslaving their fellow man. Capitalism made it possible to become wealthy by serving one's fellow man. Capitalists seek to discover what people want and then produce it as efficiently as possible. Free market capitalism is ruthless in its profit and loss discipline. This explains much of the hostility toward free market capitalism; some of it is held by businessmen. Smith recognized this hostility when he said, 'People of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices.' He was hinting at government-backed crony capitalism, which has come to characterize much of today's businesses."
More commentary from Dr. Williams: "Free market capitalism has other enemies -- mostly among the intellectual elite and political tyrants. These are people who believe that they have superior wisdom to the masses and that God has ordained them to forcibly impose that wisdom on the rest of us. Of course, they have what they consider to be good reasons for restricting liberty, but every tyrant who has ever lived has had what he considered good reason for restricting liberty. A tyrant's agenda calls for the attenuation or the elimination of the market and what is implied by it -- voluntary exchange. Tyrants do not trust that people acting voluntarily will do what the tyrant thinks they should do. They want to replace the market with economic planning and regulation. The Wall Street occupiers and their media and political allies are not against the principle of crony capitalism, bailouts and government special privileges and intervention. They share the same hostility to free market capitalism and peaceable voluntary exchange as tyrants. What they really want is congressional permission to share in the booty from looting their fellow man."
1/3 SONG OF THE DAY: Dar Williams, "Iowa (Traveling Ill)"
The American folk singer zeroes in on the Hawkeye State....which folks from around the world are doing today due to the Iowa caucuses.
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS OP-ED: Winners & Losers In Iowa
The conservative Republican commentator in D.C. writes: "The famed Iowa caucuses are this week, and it’s time for some predictions, along with some clear messages to a few candidates that it’s perhaps time to pack it up and head on home. But first, expect Mitt Romney to win this Tuesday. The overall GOP frontrunner has surprised pundits both in and out of the Hawkeye state with his deft campaigning and his behind-the-scenes courting of all the right power players. Even if Tea Party favorite Ron Paul edges out a victory over Romney, it’s still an important finish for the former Massachusetts governor. An Iowa win or second place finish would position Romney nicely for New Hampshire and then South Carolina, Florida, etc. Yes, he finished second to Huckabee four years ago, but this time it’s different. And he knows it."
He continues: "It also sends a clear message to the GOP establishment about who their 'guy' needs to be. No more hand-wringing and waiting next to the water cooler for the next best thing. Been there, done that with oh, four or five others (remember: Trump, Perry, Christie, Cain, the list goes on). The party lieutenants need to step up and begin to get behind their frontrunner. We’re not there yet, but folks in the institutions need to begin to come to grips with Romney and become more focused on beating Obama. Now, on to the losers. Even though former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is slated to do well in Iowa, the sensation is more like a roman candle firework – pretty to watch and loud, but short-lived and anti-climactic. Santorum knows this as well. He can do whatever he likes moving on to New Hampshire, but I fear this will be the high water mark of his presidential run. Jon Huntsman and Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann should both exit stage right following Iowa. You can bet Bachmann will not. After all, she did win earlier this year. But neither has the staying power, and Huntsman just hasn’t caught fire with any constituency. More importantly, perhaps, a Romney win would send a message to Governor Perry and maybe even Newt Gingrich that their days are numbered. The allure of Perry started dissipating the day after he announced."
Top 25 Bookeristas Of 2011
This is the third year of the Bookerista Of The Year awards. In our days of voting, a semi-finalist list of the Top 5 nominees was then whittled down to three finalists by Booker Rising reader votes. The combined semi-finalist and finalist tally for the top three candidates: Herman Cain received 39% of the vote, Ron Miller 35% of the vote, and Rep. Allen West received 26%. Almost half of the people on the list are newcomers to the honor. Here are the individuals in the Top 25 Bookeristas of 2011:
1. Herman Cain, 66 —
2011 Bookerista Of The Year
Conservative Republican businessman and former presidential candidate | Atlanta metro, Georgia, USA
2011 claim to fame: the 9-9-9 tax plan
Position on Top 25 Bookeristas Of 2010 list: *
The good, the bad, and the ugly described the controversial Mr. Cain's high-profile year in 2011. Within the span of a few months, Mr. Cain's campaign went from low-key to U.S. presidential frontrunner. In addition to Tea Party movement support, the former Godfather's Pizza CEO turned heads and made international headlines with his 9-9-9 plan. The Wall Street Journal writes: "It would scrap the current system — with its income-tax rates as high as 35% for high-income individuals and for corporations — and replace it with a 9% personal flat tax, a 9% corporate flat tax and a 9% national sales tax. He also put out a book called This Is Herman Cain, which discussed his background and outlined his policy positions. He suspended his campaign after sexual harassment allegations during his tenure as the National Restaurant Association's head and alleged longtime jumpoff Ginger White emerged.
Well, This Statement Explains Some Stuff....
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| Serena ain't a lover of sports |
More: "Williams did acknowledge, however, that she found it difficult to contemplate a life without tennis. 'I don't love tennis today but I'm here,' she said. 'I can't live without it – there's a difference between not loving something and not being able to live without it.' Williams said her ambition now is to find a balance between playing and other pursuits. 'I just want to be able to do other things that I'm doing and expand on that. I think that helps keep my motivation up,' she said."
Club For Growth Targets Centrist Republicans In Ad Campaign
From The Hill: "The Club for Growth’s political apparatus will air more than $500,000 in television ads undercutting three centrist Republicans, including Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), one of the most powerful committee chairmen in the House. Two wings of the fiscally conservative group, Club for Growth PAC and Club for Growth Action, will also target Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Texas Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, who is running for retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s (R-Texas) seat. The ads will start Tuesday and air on cable television for two weeks."
The article continues about the ad campaign: "In Michigan, the group calls Upton a 'liberal congressman' and blasts him for voting to bail out Wall Street banks, approve earmarks and raise the debt ceiling. While not officially endorsing him, Club for Growth has made no secret of its fondness for Jack Hoogendyk, who is considering making a second go at unseating Upton. The ads reveal that Upton remains open to attacks from the right despite a tenure atop the House Energy and Commerce Committee that has pleased conservatives, who have hailed the passage of bills to block EPA climate regulations and other rules that industry groups oppose."
More: "Two 15-second ads in Pennsylvania target Murphy for supporting union legislation and for approving earmark spending. Club for Growth has not endorsed in the race, but Murphy is fending off a primary challenge from Evan Feinberg, a favorite of the Tea Party movement."
Rep. Allen West Likes His District The Way It Is
From the Palm Beach Post, about the conservative Republican Congressman: "With the Republican-controlled Florida legislature proposing redistricting maps that would throw him into a more Democrat-leaning district, U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Plantation, told a homeowners group this morning that he’d like his District 22 to remain the way it is. West, whose home in Plantation is outside the boundaries of the current District 22, also told the group that his wife was recently looking at houses in Boca Raton. 'I’m very happy with the type of district that I have here in District 22,' West told a crowd of about 50 at a Federation of Boca Raton Homeowner Associations meeting."
The article continues about the redistricting process in the state of Florida: "West’s Palm Beach-Broward district is nearly evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. But proposals released by state House and Senate redistricting committees would make his district roughly 41 percent Democratic and 33 percent Republican by registration. The close partisan balance of his current district, West said, means 'I’ve got to go out and I’ve got to present myself to people.' In districts that heavily favor one party or another, West said, 'people can just go right down the line and say ‘This is how I’m going to be’ because they don’t have to worry about ever not being reelected. So I think that we’ve got to look at how do we make these congressional districts competitive so that people have to get out there and present their ideas.'"
More: "Voter-approved Amendment 6 to the Florida constitution says legislators cannot draw districts to favor or disfavor incumbents or political parties. The amendment also says districts must be compact and boundaries should make use where feasible of existing city, county and geographical boundaries. The Broward County GOP has launched a saveallenwest.com website in hopes of making West’s district more favorable for his reelection. In a nod to Amendment 6, Broward GOP Chairman Richard DeNapoli argues that the legislature’s proposals don’t make use of existing boundaries because they cut off District 22 in Palm Beach Gardens rather than extending it to the Martin County line or Jupiter Inlet. Putting those areas in District 22 would make it more Republican."
Sophia A. Nelson on Defining Black Women
The moderate pundit is quoted in The Final Call on the subject: "In the 21st century with reality television shows like 'Basketball Wives' and 'Real Housewives of Atlanta,' Black women are sadly the ones helping to perpetuate some of their problems,' said Sophia Nelson, author of 'Black Women Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama.'"
More from Ms. Nelson: "'The journey for us is in conquering self and understanding that we are beautiful. We are valuable. We should be loved. We should be touched. We should be cared for. We have feelings. We get to have a sick day like everybody else too and we don’t have to be always on, always strong, always this, always that,' Ms. Nelson said."
RON CHRISTIE OP-ED: Is Rep. Ron Paul Racist?
The conservative Republican commentator argues that libertarian Rep. Paul's past on race should disqualify him from becoming the Republican presidential nominee: "Many of the inflammatory comments in the Paul newsletters were published in the 1980s and 1990s. That these disturbing remarks came under such headings as 'Ron Paul Political Report,' 'Ron Paul Survival Report,' and 'Ron Paul’s Freedom Report' leaves me unable to reconcile Paul’s present disavowals. For example, in a December 1989 Paul newsletter that was quoted by James Kirchick in the New Republic, a prediction was postulated, 'racial violence will fill our cities [because] mostly black welfare recipients will feel justified in stealing from mostly white haves.' Or, another Paul letter opined, 'I think we can assume that 95 percent of the black men in that city [Washington, D.C.] are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.'"
More: "These are not comments to be dismissed or explained away as an off-the-cuff remark by a politician taken out of context. To me, they represent something deeper and far more disturbing — a conviction that blacks are pre-disposed to be violent and seeking to enrich themselves at the expense of whites. In [today's first-in-the-nation Iowa Caucuses] Congressman Paul is in a statistical dead heat with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney for the lead. Does Paul represent the mainstream thinking of the Republican Party of the 21st Century? I think not. I just hope others take the time to investigate Paul’s statements on race (to say nothing of his belief that the U.S. brought 9/11 upon itself due to our foreign policy) and conclude that he is the wrong leader at the wrong time to lead America for the next four years — or ever."
J.C. Watts: "Gingrich Has A Proven Track Record"
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| J.C. Watts |
The article continues: "'I think Newt Gingrich has a proven track record of changing Washington and getting results,' the former Oklahoma congressman told 'Face the Nation' host Bob Schieffer. 'All the things we're talking about on a national level today - balanced budgets, tax relief, paying down our national debt, entitlement reform - when Newt was Speaker, he did those things,' Watts added. 'We had balanced budgets...The only time we've had balanced budgets in my lifetime, and I'm 54. We had entitlement reform with welfare. We paid our $450 billion toward our national debt...I am one of the people that believe that Newt Gingrich creates, I think, the kind of Republican Party that I want.'"
Herman Cain: "Even If Mitt Romney Takes The Early States, The Game Still Ain't Over"
From CNN, about the conservative Republican businessman and former presidential candidate: "Herman Cain said Monday Mitt Romney will still face an uphill battle for the nomination even if he wins the first two Republican presidential contests in Iowa and New Hampshire. 'It is not game over,' the former GOP White House hopeful said on CNN's 'Piers Morgan Tonight.' 'The question we will not know until after the southern states have their primaries is whether or not Mitt Romney can break above a certain threshold that he has constantly held for many of the southern states.' Cain pointed to Romney's last bid for president in 2008. The former Massachusetts governor ended his campaign soon after Super Tuesday in early February, following losses in key early states, some of which fell in the South."
Black Republicans Slam Santorum Comments
For his part, the conservative Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Senator is claiming that he doesn't recall making such a statement. Bookeristas ain't feeling it though:
Aaron Laramore: "Rick Santorum Surges In Iowa By Stereotyping Black Folks"
The moderate-conservative Republican in Indiana opines: "Campaigning isn't the only thing Santorum is apparently doing the old fashioned way. Using stereotypes of blacks as a convenient shorthand to illustrate the ills of America as white voters see it is another way that Rick is demonstrating his old school campaign chops. At a campaign stop in Sioux City Iowa, a voter asks Santorum: "how do we get off this crazy train? We've got so much foreign influence in this country now," adding "where do we go from here?"
Santorum's answer perhaps started with foreign influence but rambled over to the subject of government creating dependency and he apparently reached into his campaign communication bag of tricks for the most easily relatable and easy to understand illustration of that issue he could think of on the fly: black people....Notice [in this video] how he basically defaulted to this stereotyped racially based meme in trying to communicate with a room full of white folks? Check the pause as he was trying to find an illustration of his point about dependency. He needed that illustration right then, something that would resonate with a room full of white people and where did his brain go in that moment? Black people."
Mr. Laramore argues that Mr. Santorum's comments are untrue: "This is a guy who[se] response to Howard Dean saying diversity was a strength of America was that talking about our diversity is divisive. Yet, here, he plays to racial resentment by implicitly suggesting that 'blacks' are being given white people's money, money which the government took from hard working white people to give to lazy blacks. He wants to give us 'blacks' the opportunity to go out and earn the money and provide for ourselves, I guess because all us shiftless lazy Negroes don't work to take care of ourselves."
Nigerian Islamic Extremists To Christians: "Y'all Got Three Days To Leave The Area"
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| Boko Haram |
More: "Recent weeks have seen an escalation in clashes between Boko Haram and security forces in the north-eastern states of Borno and Yobe, as well as attacks on churches and assassinations. Nearly 30 people were killed on Christmas Day at a Catholic church near the federal capital, Abuja - a sign that Boko Haram is prepared to strike beyond its heartland."
JUAN WILLIAMS COMMENTARY: Romney, Obama And Paul — Is It 1996 All Over Again?
Asks the moderate-liberal commentator: "I keep hearing that because Paul’s views are so outside the mainstream that even if he wins the caucuses, his candidacy will be irrelevant. -- I believe this is grossly unfair to the Congressman and his supporters, who are the most committed and enthusiastic of any in the field. A Paul victory in Iowa on Tuesday should not be understated but nor should it be overstated. As Howard Baker once observed, Iowa’s primary function is to 'winnow the field' of candidates. A poor performance in Iowa could force Bachmann, Santorum, Perry or Gingrich out of the race entirely and leave their supporters up for grabs."
He continues his commentary: "In 1996, Dole won the Iowa caucuses with 26% of the vote but conservative firebrand Pat Buchanan came in very close second with 23%. This gave Buchanan the momentum he needed to win the New Hampshire primaries. Like Ron Paul, Buchanan tapped into the populist anger that fuels both the Tea Party and the Occupy Wall Street movement. Dole went onto win the party’s nomination that year but his primary fight forced him to move further to the right and arguably made him weaker heading in to the general election against Bill Clinton. Ross Perot ran as populist third party candidate, this time representing the Reform Party, siphoning off votes from Dole in key states and he lost the general election. That year a vulnerable first-term Democratic president won re-election because of a lackluster, primary-worn Republican nominee and protest votes with a third party candidacy. I wonder if history will repeat itself with Romney, Obama and Paul playing the parts of Dole, Clinton and Perot in 1996, respectively."
Charles Payne on 2012
The FOX News business analyst and conservative in New York writes about America's future: "I think 2012 is going to have to be the year when we focus on the future with that child-like innocence that made the country great. We have to re-break the mold once again and unleash the internal greatness that's currently being held at bay. Can that happen when we are potentially facing $2.0 billion in negative ads during the race for the White House and airwaves filled with stories that focus on weaknesses and doom? In the meantime, the war against business is now a war against states and their sovereign rights. It is true these things will slow and detract from the idea that the future is going to be great, but there is always a sense of renewal at this time."
More: "On the surface, it would be easy to suggest 2012 will not be the year when the nation reverts to that innocence where anything is possible. Yet beneath that surface, that innocuous belief in fairy tales exists. It's in the DNA of the nation to do things that make us great even when our goals are simply to unlock possibilities or meet a challenge. Yes, we are mired in runaway debt and mounting self-doubt while scientists in Switzerland are working to unlock the God particle. I'm not sure when or how we get back to that period of dreams and making them come true. A lot has happened, but not everything; and it is harder to wow folks, but excitement can be sparked and while it's true 'new' is mostly boring refresh of stuff that's really old, we are ready and interested. I just want America to be at the forefront of such exciting, new and interesting developments."
Obama Administration Asks Hurricane Katrina Victims To Give Back Some Of The Money
Duane Brayboy, a conservative blogger in Georgia, writes: "Actually, the real AP headline reads 'FEMA Asking Hurricane Katrina Victims To Give Back Money'. Both headlines are actually true. But only one adds that extra bite of truth that typically evokes some kind of response. I talked about this in the days before Obama became president. I suggested that every bad action of the government is going to be reported as 'the government'. I also said that many of my Black friends on the left who spent years nailing every bad action by the government on Bush’s behind will create an invisible, but well-defined line between Obama and the government he administrates. If the government does something right, it is looked at as an 'Obama' victory. If it does something wrong, it’s 'that dang government'."
More: "Getting back to the story, William Craig Fugate was appointed by Obama back in 2009 to administrate FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency). This same guy is now asking for some of the money back. I can remember when those who survived Katrina were treated like untouchable saints that were violated by then-president George Bush. Remember 'George Bush doesn’t care about Black people'? Is this how Obama shows that he 'cares' about Black people?"
J.J. Omojuwa on Nigeria's Political Subsidy
The Nigerian libertarian blogger opines: "This is more than a quest for economic rights, it a quest for justice. This is not about fuel subsidy, it is about the ruling class’ war on the Nigerian masses. They cannot claim our country is broke when president Goodluck Jonathan continues to feed fat on N3 million [US$18,700] worth of food everyday. They cannot claim to be broke when they increased the recurrent expenditure of the 2012 budget by another N92 billion [US$575 million]. They cannot claim to be broke when the First Lady just spent N5billion [US$31.2 million] furnishing an office. They cannot claim to be broke when in the whole budget and throughout this period nothing has been said about their salaries and allowances."
He continues his commentary: "What is the justice of our Senate President earning as much as 8 times the salary of president Obama of the United States? What is the justice of paying underworked lawmakers over N100 billion [US$625 million] with less than 12 per cent of that taxed when the majority of our people are jobless and hungry? They claim the downstream sector of the petroleum industry is infested with corruption. They claim the oil subsidy process has been hijacked by corrupt people. They are yet to prosecute let alone get a conviction for just one of those corrupt people. They are yet to clean up the inefficiencies of the petrol importation process. They want to transfer the cost and burden of corruption and inefficiencies of the process directly to Nigerians."
More commentary from Mr. Omojuwa: "Subsidies are bad. The worst subsidy in Nigeria today is Political Subsidy. This is the first subsidy that must go. An American said yesterday on BBC Have Your Say she currently pays less than Nigerians for fuel. This is an American whose country works! This is an American who sees the roads her taxes have helped to build, she knows her country would always be there for her against terrorists and in deed everything works. We are in a country when the only existence of the government is oppression. My people, we have been oppressed for too long! Defy them this time. Face their tanks, take a stand, fight for your dignity! Our president and his cohorts have their hands dirty! They feed on our common wealth. They want to expend our future for their fat salaries and administrative incompetence. This must not stand."
Happy New Year
A new year, and a new beginning! I've been out of commission — it's been a crazy two weeks — but I'm easing back into the swing of things. I'm finishing up the Top 25 Bookeristas of 2011 list. Wishing my readers a Happy New Year, and hopefully 2012 will bring you much joy:
12/25 SONG OF THE DAY: Ledisi, "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (2008)
Wishing my readers a Merry Christmas. Hopefully, Santa left you a lil' something under the tree :). I've been out of commission, but I'll be posting the Top 25 Bookeristas Of 2011 list tomorrow....
The Black Occupy Protester -- Missing In Action
Larry Elder, a libertarian-conservative Republican commentator in California, ponders their absence: "As 'Person of the Year,' Time magazine named 'The Protester.' The subhead read, 'From the Arab Spring to Athens, From Occupy Wall Street to Moscow.' Well, yes, but what about the lack of American black protesters? Good Lord, where is the racial diversity/inclusion/proportional representation? Back in the day, the tea party's alleged lack of black participants was beyond worrisome to the media. The lack of black faces in the crowd allowed the major media to describe the tea party as racially exclusionary, if not....racist!"
He continues his commentary: "So the formula is set: Lack of blacks plus 'overwhelmingly white' equals racism. Right? Not so fast. This formula does not apply to the Occupy Wall Street movement, which is as white as an Idaho picket fence. A Washington Post opinion piece cites a survey that found 'African Americans, who are 12.6 percent of the U.S. population, make up only 1.6 percent of Occupy Wall Street.' And blacks are 25 percent of New York City's population. Occupy Wall Street was a home game for them. By contrast, 6 percent of tea party supporters, according to an April 2010 Gallup poll, are black. That's almost four times the number of blacks who make up Occupy Wall Street."
He argues that the real question is not why so few blacks belong to the Occupy movement. The real question is why so many blacks still belong to the Democratic Party.: "Then there's the President Barack Obama factor. For some blacks, joining the Occupy protests would be an admission that Obama has failed to deliver on his promises to make things better, to squash special interests, to diminish the influence of lobbyists, etc. It's not hard for a black Obama lefty (redundancy intentional) to rationalize: 'I thought a black president would make a real, actual, touchable difference in my life. He has not. But he's trying. He inherited a mess that those awful Republicans left him. So, he deserves re-election.' How else to explain that while 57 percent of Americans disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy, 86 percent of blacks approve?"
EVIL EYE POST OF THE DAY: Atlanta Rapper Murdered Over A Piece Of Candy
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| Slim Dunkin |
Trump: "The Black Vote Would Help My Third Party Candidacy"
Dream on, Donald. From the liberal Huffington Post: "Real estate mogul Donald Trump continued to make the case for a potential third party presidential run Wednesday night, claiming that if he entered the race as an independent it would be he, not President Obama or the GOP candidate, that would emerge victorious."
The article continues about Mr. Trump's comments: "Trump, who's maintained that he's 'always had a great relationship with the blacks,' told Fox News' Greta Van Susteren that the African-American vote might play a big part in that triumph. 'Well, I think I'd get a great cross-section. I think I'd get Hispanic votes, frankly. I think -- and people smile when I say it -- I think I'd do great with the African American votes. I think I'd do great with that,' Trump said. 'I just have a great relationship with African-Americans and African-American voters.'"
SIDE-EYE OF THE DAY: Robin Thicke In Pander Overdrive
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| Robin Thicke & his wife Paula Patton |
On loving black women/refusing to date white women: "It’s nice if you can make someone drop it like it’s hot, or pop a bottle [as opposed to a romantic focus in music, such as his own music]. But we’re always dropping it and popping it. What I realize about the difference between me and my peers -- you know, Chris Brown and Drizzy Drake and all my musical peers -- is that they haven’t been with the same woman for 18 years and I’ve been with a Black woman for 18 years. I’ve never dated a White woman. Don’t want to. I’ve never been on a date with a White woman. When you have that relationship and that means the most to you -- you know I can’t live without that woman, she is my muse, my best friend, and my creative partner. I didn’t have a great relationship with my mom and she didn’t have a great relationship with her dad and we became that for each other. She’s my mama and I’m her daddy. I even call her mama and she calls me daddy. We are that to each other."
On whether increased media articles stating that black American women might be better off dating more white guys are correct: I think that’s ridiculous. There are so many good Black men out there that are hardworking, decent, and handsome, you know? To start that rumor is as bad as starting any other negative rumor. There are great Black men out there. There are only a few good White men -- trust me. (Laughs) Good luck finding a good White man who understands your journey. I only have three White friends. I’ve got 20 Black male friends, who are all good men who take good care of their wives, and good care of their children. I know amazing Black men. Maybe the women have to take better care of their men. Maybe you’re being too stubborn. Maybe you’re not saying you’re sorry. You have to take good care of him, too. You have to give love to get love.
