To whom it may concern:
I am a telegenic, articulate, working, married father of two who owns his own house and a small business. Before you come knocking on my door, there are a few ground rules.
Rule No. 1
No discussion of "The Party of Lincoln" without claiming Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms too. I know American history well enough, thank you. I also know that Thurmond was only a Democrat until the party decided to stand up for the rights of Black people. Then he jumped ship (while denying his own half-Black daughter) and led the drive to keeping a strong segregated state. Leave Lincoln in his grave (besides, we both know he didn't really emancipate very many don't we?)
Rule No. 2
Liberal is not a bad word. It does not mean that Democrats love big government and spending tax dollars foolishly. That's Bush's job. Nor does it mean that I have been stroked and manipulated by a Leftist cabal that wants to think for me. Convince me on the merits of what YOU bring to the table. Bear in mind, that means owning up to the race-baiting tactics of Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2/Rove.
Rule No. 3
Fiscal conservatism is NOT the same as Social conservatism (see above). I am NOT a fan of high taxes, but recognize that we have to pay for the programs that support our society. I think the death penalty is fine, but Alaskan pork is not. Like Frist, I think stem cells are cool, but having faith-based hacks at the FDA stop Plan B really ticks me off. Not to mention that paying $3 for gas is ridiculous. This stuff is happening on YOUR WATCH. What exactly are you bringing to the table???
Rule No. 4
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton predate me. I didn't choose them and they aren't "my leaders." Don't even mention them as a deflection from your own failings. I see them for what they are. Besides, I got two words for you... Ann Coulter. You wanna stack that shrill harpy against the Reverends? Be my guest...
Rule No. 5
Stop hating on Clinton. He got a blow-job, so what?!?!? Gas was $.98 and we had a budget surplus. He was a big, fat target because of his big, fat intern, but he wasn't NEARLY as bad as you make him out to be. Dubya is better?!?!? Puh-lease. Leave the man alone.
Rule No. 6
I was going to steer clear of this, but I can't. Mychal Massie is a jack-ass (I won't link to him on principle). I've met some Black Republicans that are reasonable people. They can engage in dialog without resorting to Coulterian rants and discuss their opinions civilly. However, Massie gives your recruitment efforts a bad name. He's loud, overly self-aware and unaccountably vain. Demagogues like him send a bad message. Get a leash on Limbaugh and O'Reilly while you're at it. Sheesh.
If you made it this far, maybe we have something to talk about. I won't hold my breath.
I am a telegenic, articulate, working, married father of two who owns his own house and a small business. Before you come knocking on my door, there are a few ground rules.
Rule No. 1
No discussion of "The Party of Lincoln" without claiming Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms too. I know American history well enough, thank you. I also know that Thurmond was only a Democrat until the party decided to stand up for the rights of Black people. Then he jumped ship (while denying his own half-Black daughter) and led the drive to keeping a strong segregated state. Leave Lincoln in his grave (besides, we both know he didn't really emancipate very many don't we?)
Rule No. 2
Liberal is not a bad word. It does not mean that Democrats love big government and spending tax dollars foolishly. That's Bush's job. Nor does it mean that I have been stroked and manipulated by a Leftist cabal that wants to think for me. Convince me on the merits of what YOU bring to the table. Bear in mind, that means owning up to the race-baiting tactics of Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2/Rove.
Rule No. 3
Fiscal conservatism is NOT the same as Social conservatism (see above). I am NOT a fan of high taxes, but recognize that we have to pay for the programs that support our society. I think the death penalty is fine, but Alaskan pork is not. Like Frist, I think stem cells are cool, but having faith-based hacks at the FDA stop Plan B really ticks me off. Not to mention that paying $3 for gas is ridiculous. This stuff is happening on YOUR WATCH. What exactly are you bringing to the table???
Rule No. 4
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton predate me. I didn't choose them and they aren't "my leaders." Don't even mention them as a deflection from your own failings. I see them for what they are. Besides, I got two words for you... Ann Coulter. You wanna stack that shrill harpy against the Reverends? Be my guest...
Rule No. 5
Stop hating on Clinton. He got a blow-job, so what?!?!? Gas was $.98 and we had a budget surplus. He was a big, fat target because of his big, fat intern, but he wasn't NEARLY as bad as you make him out to be. Dubya is better?!?!? Puh-lease. Leave the man alone.
Rule No. 6
I was going to steer clear of this, but I can't. Mychal Massie is a jack-ass (I won't link to him on principle). I've met some Black Republicans that are reasonable people. They can engage in dialog without resorting to Coulterian rants and discuss their opinions civilly. However, Massie gives your recruitment efforts a bad name. He's loud, overly self-aware and unaccountably vain. Demagogues like him send a bad message. Get a leash on Limbaugh and O'Reilly while you're at it. Sheesh.
If you made it this far, maybe we have something to talk about. I won't hold my breath.
Comments
I am old enough to remember the gas crisis of the 70s. $1 plus for regular, even/odd days and long lines. Of course, back then, a Jeep was about as far as is went for SUVs.
For me, the gas issue is especially galling since we went to war on the assumption that the grateful Iraqis would cut us a break on crude as payback. Not happening. We're $250 BILLION in the hole for this fiasco and it STILL COSTS $50 to fill up mt Mercury Sable! What the hell?!?!?
With those positions and values, you belong just where you're at--the Democrat Party. Your racial myopia makes you a perfect candidate to close your mind whenever a certain button is pushed. The Dems hid those buttons, they know exactly where they're at. Don't be a tease.
Ideas rise or fall irrelative to those who espouse them. No matter how simple the person presenting them. Think for yourself. Don't wait for somebody to come and tell you what is right and wrong, figure it out yourself. Look at the evidence, does a policy fail? Remember--eyes wide open.
I have learned that sometimes, it is better to present the case for fiscial AND social conservatism and let the pieces fall where they may.
A hidden gem or two can always be found in the bunch.
PS: I agree with you on Clinton. He was very good--for the Republican Party. 1994 was a very good year (Hmm, before the intern?)
Our political process is complex indeed when a party that has defined itself on moral values has its party heads of BOTH houses under investigation or indictment for criminal offenses. And the new GOP ideal of fiscal conservatism is the largest increase in government spending in two generations.
That I have to put up with people who confuse factual analysis with hate speech and brainwashing is a consequence of the blogosphere. Thanks for stopping by.
One thing I eventually realized was that they were, by and large, racists. Not that they meant to be (its funny how white people hear "racist" and think 'intent,' while black people hear it and think 'effect'), but their worldview was shaped by their unthinking acceptance of their white privilege.
Class has something to do with it, but I'm convinced from years of observation that race is the defining characteristic.
By the bye- as far as Clinton hating is concerned, conservatives do seem to have a thing about hating somebody. Gay marriage, anyone?
--Fat Bastard
I think McCain was/is a moderate Republican that represents a real threat to the "Democratic lock" on Black votes. He certainly appeals to voters like me... and we are in the voting pool. Speaking of GOP motives and rationales, it is VERY interesting to me that the GOP trotted out Bush and gay marriage bashing to attract the Black Christian audience at the same time they had Rove spreading lies about out-of-wedlock Black babies to derail McCain's campaign. Robert George scores points about the struggles that the Progressives have with respect to race, but then follow-up with a reference to GOP LEADERSHIP'S despicable comments. Despite what some will say, there is a difference between public statements by major party figures and rejoinders made by creditless bloggers.
Let go.
AltonDarwin: "factual analysis?" Facts are something that seem AWOL in your arguments. Things like who controls the machinery of government in districts with large black populations? Who runs the school boards? The schools? The local voting precinct? The police department? Who came up with the idea to replace the black man with a welfare check? Why is the rightful place for the head of the black family downtown instead of where it belongs?
Who are you? You are a very "liberal" Democrat that fancies himself a "moderate" and "independent" because he on occasion bucks the party line.
PS: CounterPunch? Please, provide me with a little more credible source than that! Maybe a Pravda article.
(the ugly "rumor" was started by somebody, but who is the question.)
A more credible source about the Rove/McCain slander? How about the Washington Post? Ron Suskind's take is here, though you have to scroll WAY down. And here's the American Prospect's take.
Taking my comments out of context AGAIN, you twist my clear reference to the Federal Congressional machine that DeLay controls to local level minutae that was not under discussion.
What I know of you from your writings, I dislike; however, I have not stooped to the baseless personal comments that you hurl with reckless abandon. This is my space, so I echo Robert George's admonition for you to "calm down" and get your arguments together on their own merits.
I know how to extinguish a flame war, Kelso, and will not hesitate to do so.
- Mojo
Your remarks reflect the frustration of many black middle class professionals who seek a political alternative to the Dems but cannot stomach the obvious racial demogoguery of the GOP right.
This "steven kelso' sounds to me like a typical black GOP fieldhand.
He cannot sell his product because it has no real merits so he seems to question your intelligence because you can't see things the way he does.
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