Face-Off In The Den Of Jackals

In an arena reminiscent of the Lions' Den in the Old Testament book of Daniel, President Obama recently presented himself inside the most unfriendly of confines... He voluntarily made a solo appearance at a Republican Congressional retreat which took place in Baltimore, MD this past Friday...

There were no lions present, but the President was alone in the presence of 178 conservative, but hostile Republicans. Armed with bitterness and feigned anger, these Republicans appeared more like jackals than anything else...

During his one hour face-off, Mr. Obama seemed composed but assertive. Sure but careful... His performance was one of legend considering he was all alone in a very unfriendly crowd with only the truth and his intellect as his weapons and his defense... His performance was brilliant to the point that Fox News had to cut away so they could circumvent what the President was saying, only to add their own commentary. I guess they couldn't bear having Obama score points on their "conservative" airwaves...

I wonder if Martin Luther King Jr. had this scenario in mind when he delivered his "I Have A Dream" speech?

Imagine a black man, all by himself, walking into a room full of conservative white Republican congressmen and congresswomen who hate him... He boldly stands before them and proceeds to tell them about his vision for the country... They challenge him with hostile rhetoric, and tell him that his views are the reasons why the country is in bad economic condition... This black man responds by telling them all that it is their past influence and wanton leadership that have caused the woes of the nation, and how they continue to "misrepresent the truth" as a group...

In the end, these partisan, neo-conservative white Republicans thanked the black man for his time, and asked him to "please come back." This black man left on his own power, and in good health. Several asked him for his autograph... He holds the title of  President of the United States of America!

If you have any sense or understanding of American history, you have to applaud President Obama regardless of your own political leanings... If you are black you have to be extremely proud.

When a lone black man stands in the midst of 178 mostly dishonest white Congressional Republicans to skillfully present the hard truth about their poor politics, you have to give him plenty of respect. President or not.

Times have changed significantly... If only my late grandparents could have witnessed this too.

Welcome in Black History Month.

G.L.M.

Watch Obama's Face-Off

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One Down, Fifty-Nine To Go

Has anyone here seen my old friend Teddy's senate seat? Can you tell me where it's gone?

Suspending disbelief for a moment, you have to give Scott Brown his due, devil that he is... He caught the entire Democratic Party asleep at the wheel. Somehow the entire party thought the only thing that mattered was getting a health care bill passed... That's important, but this is a country in deep economic trouble too, and the perception of many, even in Massachusetts is nothing's being done about it.

Or is it white anger cascading to a crescendo of catchy discontent nation-wide? Not likely because Massachusetts voted Obama in by 62%. Brown only won with 51%. Massachusetts also has a black governor named Deval Patrick whom they voted in with 56% in 2006... It's got to be something else.

Scott Brown wins by a few thousand Independent and Reagan Democrat votes. These voters are key to every election for the foreseeable future.

Since last June, there have been 2 narratives running simultaneously in America: 1) The Obama narrative that every American should have health care; 2) Republican insistence that Obama is out of step with Americans because he pushes health care and is a socialist...

Forgetting that the country is in the grips of a most devastating economic crisis due to recent Republican leadership in all three branches of government, the Republican narrative has delivered them the late Ted Kennedy's senate seat anyway... How is this possible? Anything is possible with Democrats simply. They are a fractious group by political nature. However, Democrats were caught still living in November 2008...

But there can be no finger pointing in this defeat. Allowing a Republican to take Teddy's senate seat is like allowing Mark McGuire to play in Hank Aaron's uniform... The American economy has gotten so bad that even the bluest Democratic states are willing to kill tradition for jobs and better living wages. Even some Democrats are willing to buy into foolishness if it sounds like they will not have to make sacrifices as we all will if we plan on righting the country's economic ship.

Let's face it, no man could reverse in 1 year the economic destruction that took Bush 8 years to create.

Unfortunately for Obama and the Democrats, they don't have time to write a third narrative about how they're trying to undo what Bush and the Republicans have done. Especially with a dishonest media trotting out, as legitimate voices of reason,"wingnuts" who beguile an uniformed electorate with corporate bait i.e. tea parties.

For the most part, some Americans will vote for anyone whom they think inoculates them from experiencing hard times... Especially those willing to blame someone or some group for their own troubles. They'll even try Scott Brown in Massachusetts once.

Obama should work to make sure the public understands his agenda by carrying it out to the fullest...

Forget bi-partisanship, man! Do what the people voted you in to do... Change Washington, and do it boldly. You've lost 1 senate seat in the process, but you still have 59 to work with... which is more than enough.

G.L.M.