Hip Hop Republican

A FEW GOOD MEN: America’s Call to Action

2009-01-26T06:31:00.000-05:00

By Brandon Brice

In this year’s past election, the Republican’s nominee Sen. John S. McCain and the GOP portrayed him as a true American hero; being shot down and captured by the enemy, surviving five years into captivity and being beaten to the point of having life sustaining fractured limbs. Unfortunately, the Grand Old Party still couldn’t defeat the Democratic nominee, losing to a message of hope, change, and a financial rescue plan. Last Sunday morning, as I walked down 125th street in Harlem, I noticed a man around the age of 50 years of age asking people for change. The man who obviously was homeless was wearing a military jacket draped with medals and insignia. America’s commitment to its armed forces and veterans is dwindling, as our soldiers should be one of our nations top priorities pre-and post service. Military duty throughout America’s history has always exemplified courage and honor, until the 1960’s where the introduction to the television revolutionized the American perception towards the atrocity’s of war. In 1941, the attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. naval base in Hawaii, resulted in the lives of hundreds of innocent soldiers. As a result we bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki under President Harry S. Truman’s orders. Historian’s challenge the idea that if every American family had access to a television versus a common AM/FM radio at the time then WWII would be observed in a different way perhaps unfavorable. In the end, a strong military force, intense agriculture and smart diplomacy are the only options to having a dominant and sustainable presence in the world.

As a grandson and cousin of two former United States Naval Officers, I had the pleasure of asking both veterans pertinent questions about the military from a perspective of a recent soldier in the Iraq War to a veteran of 56 years in the Korean War conflict. As a nation we generally do not pay full homage to our troops, whether they’re returning from conflict, seeking employment or general benefits that should be granted to veterans. As I walked the streets of New York in Times Square the numerous amounts of homeless veterans, usually from the Vietnam War or Desert Storm, living in cardboard boxes under the Port Authority overpass is quite shameful. Military service is an honor and we as American’s must cherish the idea of those men and women putting their lives on the line to keep this nation safe. The opposing views suggest that we spend too much on the military, but we must remember much of the funding is generated towards the families left behind, the ability to feed our troops and the capability to simply provide our troops with the best firearm, weaponry and protection needed to secure our boarders and fight against the opposing force. The military is an important portion of what makes America free, and we should pay full homage to those that commit to the idea of protecting that god given right.

Recent military enrollment numbers, through public opinion show a slight decline in the number of American’s who desire to serve. Young American’s view military service as a last minute means for college money or an alternative to avoiding the correctional facility. The Honorable Congressman Charles Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and a former veteran, has called for every American to serve, as a means to possibly reinstate the draft. Let’s think for a moment of the benefits of passing a bill to push for a mandatory military service of two years. What if American’s honored our troops by granting those men and women, who serve for10 years a tax exempt status? Should the government’s Committee on Veteran Affairs fight to assure that if we can take care of AIG and Lehman brothers, then we can take care of the many men and women that put their lives on the line to protect us at night? America has it’s priorities in the wrong direction when recent studies show that educators, police officers, fire-fighters and military veterans are living on food stamps and barely making a means to an end.

Brandon Brice is a graduate of Howard University and is a former graduate of the New Jersey Eagleton Institute of Politics fellow at Rutgers University. As a long time member of Republicans for Black Empowerment, Brandon is an active contributor to HipHopRepublicans.com. Brandon Brice has worked as a policy intern for the former House Speaker Honorable J. Dennis Hastert and has served as a fellow at the United Nations. He has been featured on C-SPAN’s Road to the White House, BET’s What’s At Stake and Hot97 with Lisa Evers. Brandon is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc, and attends the Greater Abyssinia Baptist Church in Harlem.

Warren, Prayer and “Unity”

2008-12-21T20:49:00.001-05:00

Dennis Sanders

I know that as a gay man I should be joining like everyone else in condemning President-elect Obama in selecting Rick Warren to give a prayer at the inaugeration since he vigorously supported Prop 8 which banned same sex marriage in California, but I’m not.

I don’t agree with Warren’s views on this of course, but I’m not convinced that this is a fight we need to pick. Why? Well, I agree with Steven Waldman, Warren has done a lot to highlight and try to solve issues like global poverty and AIDS. He is trying to get other evangelical ministers to not focus so exclusively on gay marriage and abortion and really focus on “the least of these.” He’s still a social conservative, but he is one that takes the Biblical concern for the poor seriously. I can’t ignore that and I think that is something that needs to be lifted up. The more people who are involved in try to solve poverty, the better and I don’t care what their background is when dealing with an issue like poverty.

Second, many gays and lesbians seem to forget that Obama was about bringing people together. Let’s go back to that speech that made him a household name in 2004:

It is that fundamental belief — It is that fundamental belief: I am my brother’s keeper. I am my sister’s keeper that makes this country work. It’s what allows us to pursue our individual dreams and yet still come together as one American family.

E pluribus unum: “Out of many, one.”

Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us — the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of “anything goes.” Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America — there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America — there’s the United States of America.

The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an “awesome God” in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and yes, we’ve got some gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America.

Now, politicians always talk about “bringing the country together” and then govern as a pure partisan. While I still have my doubts, I think Obama really means what he says. I think he really wants unity, to find some way to get beyond the petty partisan bickering and towards some true American consensus.

Many who are now angry at the Warren selection talked a good talk about coming together and unity. But unity for them meant being in totally agreement. In essence, it meant politics as usual, except with a liberal face instead of a conservative one.

The fact is, the guy is living what he said four years ago. He is trying to build bridges, not create new chasms.

I don’t agree with Warren on same sex marriage. However, his work has shown that while he might not appease some gays and liberal interest groups on this one issue, he is not a James Dobson.

Besides, we gay folk need to pick our battles and not go after everyone who supported Prop 8. Objecting to a guy that goes to the Third World and feed sick kids makes us, not Warren look bad. Gays need to be about making the case for gay marriage, not acting as some kind of ’star chamber’ for those who disagree with us.I’m not saying we can’t criticize Warren or any other person for their role. But lets show a bit of class, shall we?

Dennis Sanders is a pastor living in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has worked on centrist Republican issues for years, including stints as President of the Minnesota chapter of Log Cabin Republicans (a gay/lesbian advocacy group) and Republicans for Environmental Protection. Dennis blogs at NeoMugwump and happily lives with his partner Daniel and serves two cats, Morris and Felix

The pundits, the pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I’ve got news for them, too. We worship an “awesome God” in the Blue States, and we don’t like federal agents poking around in our libraries in the Red States.

Hey, we're moving...

2008-09-11T14:32:00.021-04:00

Just a note to let you know we are temporarily moving our blog as we do some changes to the site...in the mean we are moving to our old address.
http://hiphoprepublican.blogspot.com/

In the mean time we have started a new Forum called-HipHopRepublican Forum-Where HipHopRepublicans & HipHopDemocrats can meet!The purpose of the forum is to have civil debate, gather ideas and improve our communities the registration is fairly easy so feel free to jump in.

"As many of you know we are trying to build a new website which means funds so if you would like to donate to this cause we would greatly appreciate it a "donation" button is on the sidebar. The new site should be launched early January or later December. After we speak with our web developer we will have a better understanding of the cost. In the mean time you can read our blog over at

http://hiphoprepublican.blogspot.com/

Thanks
HipHopRepublican.com

~HipHopRepublican.com is an online blog whose primary focus are economic empowerment, educational choice, access to information and empowering the potential of the individual. The blog also seeks to bring more minorities into the Libertarian and Republican Party.While most urban areas are dominated by Democrat politics this blog exist for the urban Republican.

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THOMAS SOWELL OP-ED: The Vision Of The Left

2008-09-09T16:32:00.000-04:00

The conservative commentator opines: "It is hardly surprising that young people prefer the political left. The only reason for rejecting the left's vision is that the real world in which we live is very different from the world that the left perceives today or envisions for tomorrow. Most of us learn that from experience -- but experience is precisely what the young are lacking.

"He continues his commentary: "Should we be surprised that the strongest supporters of the political left are found among the young, academics, limousine liberals with trust funds, media celebrities and federal judges? These are hardly Karl Marx's proletarians, who were supposed to bring on the revolution. The working class are in fact today among those most skeptical about the visions of the left. Ordinary working class people did not lead the stampede to Barack Obama, even before his disdain for them slipped out in unguarded moments. The agenda of the left is fine for the world that they envision as existing today and the world they want to create tomorrow. That is a world not hemmed in on all sides by inherent constraints and the painful trade-offs that these constraints imply.

Theirs is a world where there are attractive, win-win 'solutions' in place of those ugly trade-offs in the world that the rest of us live in. Theirs is a world where we can just talk to opposing nations and work things out, instead of having to pour tons of money into military equipment to keep them at bay. The left calls this 'change' but in fact it is a set of notions that were tried out by the Western democracies in the 1930s- - and which led to the most catastrophic war in history."

Exposing Black Urban Myths

2008-09-09T16:26:00.001-04:00

Black Urban Myths (part 1 of 1)

Black Urban Myths (part 2 of 2)

Ryan on PBS

2008-09-09T14:30:00.007-04:00

Hey folks Ryan Anderson our movie reviewer was quoted on PBS for his commentary on Sarah Palin's recent nomination for Vice President...Go Ryan!!

Coming to Palin’s Defense

But really, the blog story (and every other story) of the week has been about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, celebrated hockey mom and John McCain’s pick for vice president. A quick Google blog search found over 62,000 mentions just in the past day! To counteract the reports about Palin’s personal life from Daily Kos and the Huffington Post, some younger, right-leaning blogs got into the rebuttal act.

Hip-hop Republican Ryan Anderson noted:

Sarah Palin herself is going to sway dismayed Hillary voters that Obama threw to the curb…She’s a very strong feminist role model…she rallies the base.”And Young Voices blogger Tamika Thompson found a number of younger voters who were all for the Palin pick, including Stephanie Hitt, a first-time delegate and blogger at Hitt to Right. Hitt said Palin “sealed her support in the Republican party and has demonstrated she can cross partisan lines.”

Today, the Xcel Center will be quiet, but the arrested protesters will still be locked up, and Palin still has nine weeks for us to learn much more about her before the general election. And I’ll head back to DC, ready to take a break from uncomfortable folding chairs and free Diet Coke. Laura Hertzfeld is the producer for PBS’ elections sites online, including PBS Vote 2008. She is credentialed as media through PBS to cover the conventions reported for MediaShift from both confabs. All photos here were taken by her; you can see all of them via her RNC Flickr set.

Sandra Bernhard: McCain 'Hypocritical and Stupid'

2008-09-09T12:31:00.007-04:00

According to NewsBusters the leftist "comedienne" and performance artist Sandra Bernhard is in Washington D.C. performing a revival of her monologue Much Ado About Nothing.

In an interview with Metro Weekly, Bernhard attacks McCain campaign, accusing them of hypocrisy of "holding down the middle classes and the working classes" and "It’s totally hypocritical and stupid of them to point fingers at celebrities."

She also proclaimed her faith in Barack Obama and "I really like Joe Biden quite a bit." She typically touted their smarts, since liberalism equals intelligence: "And like all presidents who are smart, they surround themselves with smart people. No president makes decisions on his own – certainly George Bush probably made next to none."

METRO WEEKLY: Given what John McCain’s campaign has put out about "celebrity" and things like that, they seem to be trying to tap into the idea that people who are famous our vapid and don’t have things to contribute.

BERNHARD: They don’t like the idea that most performers and artists are usually liberal and want things to be good for people. They want people to be angry and uptight and bitter and pissed off.

~For Bernhard to call anyone "bitter and pissed off" is a bit jaw-dropping given her past don't cha' think?

The Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Takeover

2008-09-09T11:56:00.002-04:00

RedState.com ..has an awsome post giving the history and context regarding Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's recent take over by the Fed's.

Fannie and Freddie were originally created by the Federal Government, not by the private sector. They were never private entities in any meaningful sense of the term. (I’ll come back to this point.) Their goal was not to enrich private shareholders. Rather, it was to support the secondary mortgage market, and thus promoting homeownership, by purchasing mortgages that had been guaranteed by other Federal agencies.

When Congress privatized Fannie in 1968 (spinning out Ginnie Mae as a separate, fully government-controlled entity in the process) and created Freddie in 1970, they started greatly expanding their activities.

Congress never unambiguously provided that the debt and securitizations issued by either GSE would be federally guaranteed. Nevertheless, they did have a funding advantage that private entities never had, amounting to perhaps a couple dozen basis points, as a result of the “implicit,” ambiguous Federal guarantee. Their regulatory capital requirement (0.45% of assets exposed to credit risk) was also far smaller than comparable private organizations like banks, which gave them yet another edge in the market.

Congress was fine with this, as it appeared to support the social goal of expanding home ownership by making mortgages a little cheaper.

As the years went by, Fannie and Freddie were able to convert these government-conferred advantages into a commanding and insurmountably dominant position in the US mortgage market. There is no private market of any significance for conformant mortgages outside the context of Fannie and Freddie today.

To say that the takeover amounts to a transfer from the private sector to the public sector is to misread the reality of the mortgage market.

And then Fannie and Freddie started using their power to move into more markets, always looking to increase earnings for their shareholders. They went into technology, intellectual property, securitizations of mortgage products, and other kinds of investments, including securitizations and guarantees of subprime mortgages.

You’d do the same if you were a private company looking to expand your top line and your bottom line, and generally to get a bigger footprint in the world.

But most private companies don’t benefit from statutory impediments to competition. Protected not only by Congress’s laws but also by close personal and lobbying relationships with key lawmakers across the years, Fannie and Freddie were never forced to come clean about the risks they were taking.

They went through an ugly spasm of scandal in 2004 which resulted in restatements of earnings, withdrawal of audited financial statements, and the dismissal of their then-CEOs.

And now that everything is blowing up around them, and even their conformant-mortgage portfolios are taking losses, the time came to pull the plug.

Now pay close attention to this: Fannie and Freddie, although very deeply compromised by their very nature, never posed enough of a systemic risk to mess with, as long as they were making money for their shareholders.

This is certainly a story of private interests being wiped out by a government takeover, but anyone making that case needs to justify that those private interests really should have been so enriched over the years, by way of a set of opportunities that only existed because Congress created it.

And now that Congress is back in town, the recriminations have started. (It certainly seems like an odd coincidence that the takeover should have been completed just before Congress got back.)

Already there are reports that Sen. Dodd of Connecticut (and the recipient of personal consideration from Countrywide Mortgage Company) is planning to blame the eight years of the Bush Presidency for the failure to act on Fannie and Freddie until now.

Much more to the point (and much more intelligently), Rep. Barney Frank has already begun to engage the substantive policy issues that the takeover activates, which come down to this: should the government continue to subsidize private mortgages at all? And if so, then is the goal best served by revitalizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Or should we hand all of this off to the private sector?

Discouragingly, Frank has already tipped his hand, hinting that he would not be in favor of mandating that Fannie and Freddie allow their portfolios to run off over time and not be replaced with new obligations.

In the meantime, other Senators and Members of Congress are voicing the opinion that Secretary Paulson knowingly lied to them, when he said that he didn’t expect to use the emergency powers he asked for five weeks ago. Expect some contentious and possibly ugly hearings coming up.

-Francis Cianfrocca

CHANGE..LITERALLY.

2008-09-09T08:59:00.001-04:00

By Erin Giddens

Since Barack Obama's nomination I've seen many college students,more so Black students, get into the Presidential election process.As much as that excites me, I wonder if their excitement will last.I find it pathetic that most [black]students only care about what's going on in our country because a Black man is running. What happens if Barack Obama doesnt win;Will you continue to care?? Highly doubt it.They rock the Obama Tshirts and buy the bumper stickers but most have no clue what Senator Obama represents.

They shout "OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA OBAMA!!" and focus on his theme "CHANGE".With a good percentage of [black] college students working to pay bills they are going to throw a fit when most of their paycheck is gone.Thanks to Mr.Obama all they'll have left in their pockets IS Change;pennies,nickles,dimes,and IF they're lucky maybe a quarter.The first step to Change is to stop complaining and start doing.The whole mindset of our community is going to have to make a 180 degree turn.

I have a hard time believing that the community will stop complaining if Obama is in office. I guarantee we'll hear more of it when these Obama supporters realize that his job entitles him to be the President of the UNITED STATES,not the President of the Black Community.I walk around campus and see every other person Obama-fied and it becomes amusing for me.Boy,are these students in for a rude awakening.

"Hip-Hop Republicans Speak Out"

2008-09-08T15:29:00.003-04:00

Quote of the Day

2008-09-07T21:41:00.004-04:00

The first step to Change is to stop complaining and start doing.The whole mindset of our community is going to have to make a 180 degree turn.I have a hard time believing that the community will stop complaining if Obama is in office. I guarantee we'll hear more of it when these Obama supporters realize that his job entitles him to be the President of the United States of America and not simply of the of the Black Community. ~Erin Giddens

"Hip-Hop Republicans Speak Out"

2008-09-07T19:14:00.006-04:00

Did you ever think you'd see the day when hip-hop was synonymous with the Republican Party? Well, for one group the two go hand in hand. Claudio Simpkins of the Hip Hop Republican has a simple message, one that he wants to share with BV readers. Just to let you know, his group consists of young black Republicans who want you to know they are just as "down" for black folks as liberals. Their only difference is that they hold conservative views on certain issues.Here's what he told Black Voices about his life a young black conservative:

The Problem With Black Folks

2008-09-07T18:16:00.001-04:00

~The problem with our community is that we are ready to condemn when someone else doesn't accept our point of view. Haven't enough suffered and died to pay for our right to choose? You are entitled to your opinion, and I encourage dialogue but insults are easy and can flow freely from anyone. I could call you a house nigga for being part of the Party that enslaved you and kept you enslaved for THE LAST 100 years but I don't. I could call you a brainless house nigger follower of the master’s party but I don't. Keep accepting the handouts and you'll be on the cheese line for the rest of your life. Keep blaming Republicans for issues in your community, a community run by Democrats and the problems will never be solved. Bush should hang for Katrina but so should The Democrat Mayor and the Democrat Governor. WHERE IS THE CONDEMNATION FOR THEM????

CBM and 100 Black Men, Doing There Thang

2008-09-07T18:00:00.002-04:00

CBM Partners with school system to help black boys

ALBANY, GA (WALB) - Some Albany men want to make sure students get on the right track at an early age. Concerned Black Men of Albany is partnering with the Dougherty County school system to mentor and encourage African American boys in Kindergarten through third grade at Magnolia and Alice Coachman Elementary schools.

Alice Coachman principal Pat Victor compares the men's support to a tomato plant being supported by a garden stake.

"If you stake them, your tomatoes will grow up to be fine tomatoes and not fall on the ground. So this is the intent, to make sure those young men get the support they need to be fine productive citizens," says Victor.100 Black Men award $61K in scholarships

The 100 Black Men of Bradley County take a holistic approach to "breaking the cycle ... reaching out ... reaching back" in their efforts to improve the quality of young people's lives. The mentors focused Saturday morning on rewarding youths who have chosen to pursue education.Scholarship checks averaging $1,800 were presented to 19 college students and scholarship accounts of about $1,550 each were opened in the names of 11 middle and high school students. The total amount of scholarships in 2008 equaled $61,000. The community leaders have awarded more than $250,000 during the program's 12-year-existence. 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge Partners with Edison Learning

Baton Rouge, LA – 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge and EdisonLearning, the leading education company partnering with public schools in the United States, will welcome students for the first day of classes at the new Capitol High Academy for Boys and Girls on Thursday, August 7.

Capitol High Academy is located at 1000 N. 23rd Street in Baton Rouge. Dawn Green is the school’s new principal. “One of the greatest things you can ever do in life is to help someone else achieve their goals and dreams,” said John F. Smith, vice president of programs for the 100 Black Men. “Our collaboration with EdisonLearning, and with the support of parents, we will create a solid foundation for the future of our children’s education here at Capitol High Academy, and help them to fulfill their dreams.”

Are You Better Off?

2008-09-07T17:21:00.004-04:00

~Four Years Into a Barack Obama administration, you will still be waiting. Because if he makes all your dreams come true and You Actually start to Garner Success, You are going to want the Government to stay the Hell out of Your Pocket.

by Star

I had a couple conversations to try to gauge the response. Nobody is better off. Oh, except all the white people that rob Blacks of their Money. The Oil Companies, The Government, and the People that Make Food. All on a mission to kill off the rest of Us Black Folk.

You are no better off. You are still complaining about what someone else is doing. Look inside and tell me have you grown? Any? Or are you on a continuous loop of the same mistakes? Do you want to keep up with the Jones’ so much, that you don’t plan for the future?

Will you buy a house you know you can’t afford, with a flexible rate, so you can show off for a couple months?

Will you Go buy an SUV because you saw it in a Video, even though you know the price of Gas?

Will you continue to Rent and help someone else grow their portfolio?

Or in Eight Years from Now, will you look back and say I am Better Off. Not because John McCain was President. Not because Barack Obama was President. But because I took the steps to change my habits to make a better life for Myself.

If you have two Hi Def T.V.’s, an XBox 360, a Playstation 3, every pair of Jordans’ from the last 10 years; you could have brought stock with what you spent. You could have invested in starting your own business.

You could have had a down payment for a house. You could have paid for your child’s first 2 years in college.

When you look at those White People that hold you back, where is their Escalade sitting on 22’s?

Why aren’t they dripped from Head to Toe in Gold and Diamonds? Why do they all wear the same Khaki Pants and Polo?

It’s because they are paying the Mortgage on their Million Dollar Home. It’s because the Own A BMW, Great on Gas. It’s because the Gold they own is in the form of Notes. They don’t have to tell you they have money, but they can LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK.

~Star is a young black Republican who is also contributor to HipHopRepublican.com you can read more of her stuff at http://whydidyousaythatgirl.com/

Whats Up with "Asif Ali Zardari"

2008-09-07T15:14:00.006-04:00

~Sup HipHopRepublican readers Webster Brooks has a great piece out today about the pros and the cons of Pakistan new president. According to Mr. Brooks: "Zardari's Election As President Of Pakistan And The Dangerous Road Ahead" -Mr. Brooks is The editor of the U.S.-Iran Peace Project and is a moderate he recently emailed this commentary to Booker Rising:

On September 6, the Pakistani people could sow the seeds of their own political destruction by electing Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) as their new president. With [no time] left before the election, tension in Pakistan is mounting as sniper fire pierced the windows of PPP Prime Minister Yousef Galani's motorcade. Since former President Musharraf’s forced resignation, the fragile anti-Musharraf coalition led by the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League (N) has now been shattered.

Pakistan’s complex array of political forces, the army, the ISI, religious extremists and foreign governments are all mobilizing for the political fray to come as Pakistan’s leadership crisis deepens.In the aftermath of Benazir Bhutto's assassination in November 2007, her husband, Asif Zardari seized control of the PPP and is riding the wave of outrage against ousted dictator Pervez Musharraf to power.

A Zardari victory on September 6 [which has now happened], will consolidate the presidency, a parliamentary majority, the prime minister’s office, the National Assembly Speaker's chair and the judiciary under the PPP; making Pakistan a virtual one-party state.Zardari's presidential candidacy clearly violates the coalition agreement signed with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (Pakistan ’s second largest party) and other party's, stipulating that the next president would be non-partisan.

He has dragged his feet on the coalition agreement to re-instate the judges dismissed during the Musharraf's state of emergency, and back-tracked on the coalition agreement to rescind the president’s extra-constitutional powers to dissolve parliament and the judiciary; powers usurped by Musharraf under martial law. Thus, Zardari seeks to replace Pakistan’s brutal dictatorship with a more “enlightened" form of despotism.Zadari's power grab has the full backing of the Bush Administration and the army, which remains Pakistan’s most powerful institution. While Musharraf’s chosen successor, Army Chief of Staff Kayani has vowed to keep the military out of politics, Zardari has openly proclaimed “the establishment” is behind him.

There can be little doubt that Musharraf, now resting comfortably in his suburban villa under the army’s protection, cut a deal with the United States, General Kayani, the Saudi's and Zardari to resign as president if impeachment charges against him were dropped and he could remain in the country. In return, Kayani pledged the army's loyalty to Zardari, but Musharraf is still pulling the strings behind the scenes.Zardari’s betrayal of the democratic coalition was to be expected. He stepped into the political footprint of Benizer Bhutto who acquiesced to a power sharing arrangement with Musharraf and accommodation to the United States' Pakistan agenda. But the political upsurge of millions of Pakistani’s led by the lawyer’s movement proved to be, and remains an obstacle to her successor Zardari's rise to dynasty.

Zardari never wanted to enter a political alliance with the forces of democracy, but he had to. No sooner had the alliance served his purpose of getting rid of Musharraf, he broke all his commitments to the coalition. Zardari's treachery left the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PLM-N) no choice but to quit the coalition. As the nation entered the final week before the elections, rumors swirled that corruption charges against former Prime Minster Nawaz Shariff and PML-N leader, will be be reinstated; pouring more fuel on the smoldering fire.

This kind of intimidation of the opposition should be all too familiar to the Pakistani people. Meanwhile a power struggle has began over the Punjab, Pakistan's most populous and politically powerful province. The PPP and PML-N are accusing each other of destabilizing the provincial government . The PML(N) carried the province in February's parliamentary elections.On the eve of the elections Pakistan's political divide is clearly sharpening. Zardari has the support of the Awami National Party, pockets of Musharraf’s “Kings Party” (PML-Q) and provincial leaders of the NWFP and Balochistan.

The lawyer’s movement, the BNP, and a number of smaller Muslim religious parties that accuse the PPP of selling out to the United States and want the judges restored are coalescing around Shariff’s PML-N. Shariff has also sought the support of the popular retired supreme court chief justice Saeed uz Zaman Siddiqui as his party's presidential candidate.While there is little doubt that Zardari will win the presidency, the breakup of Pakistan’s short lived democratic coalition will make the nation more vulnerable to the intrigues of the the army, the Inter Service Intelligence agency and the growing power of the Taliban-al Queda forces in the FATA and NWPF regions. If political chaos descends on Pakistan, the Army that has already led three coups will seize power and run the country with an iron fist and the United States’ blessing. Above all, the U.S. must have a trusted friend whose finger remains close to Pakistan’s nuclear button. Ironically, the British courts recently released Zardari's 2007 physician’s reports that diagnosed him as suffering from severe psychiatric problems.

The news of Zadari's questionable mental state set off alarms in the situation room of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.Despite Zardari's victory on September 6, he will not be able to hold back the tide of Pakistan's democratic upsurge. Ultimately, all the U.S. backing, money and military power cannot prevail against the peoples desire to rebuild a more just and free Pakistan. It is a lesson Zardari should have, but didn't learn over the past year from the heroic Pakistani people. His unwillingness to share power and build a broad united front to extend Pakistan's unique experiment with democracy will be his undoing. The question is; When things fall apart in Pakistan, who will be there to pick up the pieces?

The Problem With Black Folks

2008-09-06T11:26:00.000-04:00

Hip Hop Mayor Resigns

2008-09-06T03:59:00.001-04:00

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick yesterday pleaded guilty to felony obstruction-of-justice charges in his perjury case and will serve four months in jail, forfeit his law license and his pension, pay up to $1 milliion in restitution, and serve five years in probation (during which he cannot hold political office). Angela Winters, a black moderate blogger, comments about the liberal Democratic politico, who was once dubbed the "hip-hop mayor"

~Wow, I was wrong. I thought that Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick wasn't going to step down until he was forced down on his way to prison after his conviction in court. I guess the prospects of really going to jail can definately do damage to an ego. It looks as if he is going to take the deal the prosecution is offering which includes stepping down."

MINORITY REPUBLICAN'S UNITE ON FACEBOOK

2008-09-05T13:15:00.004-04:00

*REPUBLICAN MINORTY OUTREACH*
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=32333271409

This is a group created to increase minority participation on the Republican Party.

BIG DILEMMA: OPRAH BALKS AT HOSTING SARAH PALIN; STAFF DIVIDED

2008-09-05T11:38:00.005-04:00

Drudge Report:

Oprah Winfrey may have introduced Democrat Barack Obama to the women of America -- but the talkshow queen is not rushing to embrace the first woman on a Republican presidential ticket!

Oprah's staff is sharply divided on the merits of booking Sarah Palin, sources tell the DRUDGE REPORT.

"Half of her staff really wants Sarah Palin on," an insider explains. "Oprah's website is getting tons of requests to put her on, but Oprah and a couple of her top people are adamantly against it because of Obama."

One executive close to Winfrey is warning any Palin ban could ignite a dramatic backlash!

It is not clear if Oprah has softened her position after watching Palin's historic convention speech.

Last year, Winfrey blocked an appearance by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, timed to a promotional tour of his autobiography.

Oprah and executive producer Sheri Salata, who has contributed thousands of dollars to Obama's campaign, refused requests for comment.

Breaking:Whoopi Goldberg calls Sarah Palin a ....NAZI??

Courtney Hazlett over at MSNBC's "The Scoop" is reporting that thousands of "Us Weekly" subscribers have not only called the magazine to cancel their subscriptions -- some reports say up to 10,000 cancellations have occurred -- but have also contacted advertisers and expressed their outrage that they are advertising with the celebrity news magazine that would so blatantly try to destroy Governor Palin.

Renee Amoore: Country First - Overcoming Challenges

2008-09-04T23:49:00.000-04:00

Renee Amoore addresses the 2008 Republican National Convention-

Michael Williams: Country First: Energy Security

2008-09-04T23:46:00.000-04:00

Chairman of the Texas Railroad Commission Michael Williams addresses the 2008 Republican National Convention

Michael Steele- 2008 Republican Convention

2008-09-04T23:41:00.001-04:00

GOPAC Chairman Michael Steele addresses the 2008 Republican National Convention

Update: 2008 Republican National Convention

2008-09-04T17:14:00.002-04:00

Hey folks this is the latest updates from Saint Paul,Minn regarding today's Republican National Convention program of events for Thursday, Sept. 4.

~The evening’s program will feature John McCain’s speech accepting the Republican Party’s nomination for the presidency. Among the other speakers participating in this evening’s program are Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.), former Gov. Tom Ridge (Penn.), U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Mrs. Cindy McCain. The speakers’ remarks will reflect the convention’s overall theme, "Country First," and the theme for Thursday’s events, which is "peace."

This release serves as an update to the schedule that was announced earlier today. Gov. Jon Huntsman (Utah), Joe Gibbs and Brian Clay have been added to the schedule below.

Participants are listed below and organized by hour of participation:

5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Entertainment (Music): Al Williams
Entertainment (Monologue): James McEachin
Call to Order, Introduction of Colors: Republican National Committee Chairman Robert M. "Mike" Duncan
Presentation of Colors: Fort Snelling Joint Services Color Guards
Pledge of Allegiance: Olympians Ryan Berube, Mitch Gaylord, Brittany Hayes, Barbra Higgins, Larsen Jensen, Elle Logan, Marcus McElhenney and John Naber
Singing of the National Anthem: Trace Adkins

Invocation: His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios

6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.)
Speaker: Erik Paulsen
Speaker: Jay Love
Speaker: Charlie Summers
Speaker: Aaron Schock
Speaker: David Cappiello
Speaker: U.S. Sen. John Ensign (Nev.)
Video: "Country First: Peace," with narration by Robert Duvall
Speaker: Gov. Jon Huntsman (Utah)
Statement of Rule Regarding Vice Presidential Nomination; Recognition of Delegates Making Motions; and Adoption and Announcement of Nominee: U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.)
Speaker: Maria Cino, President and CEO of the 2008 Republican National Convention
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.)
Speaker: The Honorable Rosario Marin

7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Speaker: Joe Watkins
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez (Fla.)
Speaker: Gov. Tim Pawlenty (Minn.)
Speaker with Video: Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (Tenn.)
Speaker: Lt. Gen. Carol Mutter, USMC (Ret.)
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback (Kan.)
Speaker: U.S. Rep. Mary Fallin (Okla.)
Video: "World Stood Still"
Speaker: Joe Gibbs
Speaker: Brian Clay

8 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Speaker: U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (S.C.)
Video: "Vice Presidential Nominee Governor Sarah Palin"
Speaker: Former Gov. Tom Ridge (Penn.)
Video: "America’s Place in the World"
Speaker: Mrs. Cindy McCain

9 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Video: "Senator John McCain"
Speaker: Presidential Nominee John McCain

10 p.m. to Conclusion
Floor Demonstration, Balloon Drop, McCain and Palin Families on Stage
Introduction of Presiding Officer: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)

Benediction: Pastor Dan Yeary
Introduction of Delegate for Motion, Adoption and Adjournment: U.S. House Republican Leader John Boehner (Ohio)

RAFIQUE TUCKER OP-ED: More On The Speeches TUCKER OP-ED: More On The Speeches

2008-09-04T16:40:00.005-04:00

Hatip to BookerRising -The moderate-liberal Democrat, who is now undecided about who he will support in the upcoming presidential election, writes about the speeches at the Republican National Convention: "...I'll just say for now that Palin did an impressive job, and despite my obvious disagreements with a number of her policies, I like her. I've noted here and elsewhere that the attacks on her by the press and the far-Left are unfair and unfortunate.

I do have one quibble though: What's so bad about being a community organizer? Now admittedly, it doesn't compare to McCain's military record, but I just don't see why Obama being a community organizer is such a point of derision. Palin and Giuilani attacked him on this."He also responds to Booker Rising readers who have raised what he calls "a mini-ruckus" about his praise for Sen. Joseph Lieberman's speech on Tuesday night: "...No big deal, I can take it (and so can Lieberman), but in the midst of the ad hominem, a few valid points were brought out, namely the fact that Obama campaigned for Lieberman in 2006. The fact is, he did, and Obama has always counted Lieberman as a mentor.

Now, I don't think Lieberman backing the man who he believes is best equipped to lead the country is disloyalty, but Obama can count his support for Lieberman in 2006, against the anti-war forces in his party as an example of bipartisanship, and I'm surprised he hasn't brought it up. Of course, Obama and Lieberman have differed on key issues, namely Obama's opposition to the surge, and his support for premature withdrawal. An argument could be made that maybe Lieberman shouldn't have gone after Obama directly, but he was probably the only speaker that night that actually offered any praise for his Senate colleague, and with all respect to Obama, he did have a point. McCain has clearly more legislative experience than Obama, and a much more significant record of bipartisanship than Obama does.

The fact is, Lieberman made his choice because he believes it's right, and it's not as if he owes his party much of anything, seeing as how the leadership essentially sanctioned his being thrown under the bus. We Democrats owe him our Democratic majority in the Senate, as it is held together by Lieberman's own will. The Dems didn't take L[i]eberman's speech too well, though, and have already readied his excommunication. It was clear that Lieberman's position as the preserver of the Dem majority kept him the caucus, but it's apparent now, that if they get enough seats that they no longer need him, he's back under the bus. It's a shame really."

*Hip Hop Republican*

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BIG DILEMMA: OPRAH BALKS AT HOSTING SARAH PALIN; STAFF DIVIDED

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Update: 2008 Republican National Convention

RAFIQUE TUCKER OP-ED: More On The Speeches TUCKER OP-ED: More On The Speeches

Hip Hop Republican