So I’m back for another installment of my video blog. This time around, I’m reviewing the new Tuskegee Airmen film, Red Tails. Check it:
Overall, I’d say the film was a bit on the formulaic side. But since I never grow tired of the Tuskegee Airmen story, this flick passed my litmus test with flying colors. It comes highly recommended.
- ACL
Any doubts about Obama being a brotha should be laid to rest right about now:
I see you, Mr. President. And I’m sure Rev. Al was feeling it, too!
Happy Friday, everybody!
- ACL
As a little experiment, I’ve decided to try my hand at video blogging. For my first vblog, I’m focusing on the recent racially controversial positions of GOP candidates Rick Santorum and Newt Ginginch:
Delivery aside (yes, I know I know I need some work), what do you think? Am I off base in my assessment or has the GOP been doing a lot of race-baiting as of late? What say you?
- ACL
From guest columnist, The Hippie Conservative:
If you’re a confirmed democrat, you’ve probably been hearing a lot about the weak Republican field of candidates. You’ve also most likely heard that the front runner Mitt (Williard) Romney, is not enjoying the full throated support of the Christian right that makes up a large part of the Republican Party. Assuming that you believe that Fox News is populated by xenophobes, the odds are you really haven’t heard much to make you believe that Barack Obama is in any trouble at all in this fall’s 2012 election.
You would be dead wrong.
In fact, it’s hard to find a single constituency that President Obama is doing as well with as he was in 2008. Liberals are disenchanted with his non confrontational style, moderates are disappointed with his hard left turn on social issues, fiscally conservative Dems and independents are shocked by his spending habits, Jews are down-right scared of his Mid-East foreign policy, blacks expectations were set far too high, whites are leaving in droves and Hispanics are still waiting in the wings struggling with immigration issues vs. their other beliefs and concerns.
In this piece, I’ll try to set the stage for what you should expect this fall. Keep in mind though; fall is an eternity away in the political world. Gaffes can be made, situations can and will change. What I’m going to give you is a snapshot in time as I see it.
Of all the problems that President Obama is facing in this reelection, none is as troublesome for him as the economy and gas prices. I tell people ad nauseam that Barack has two numbers he had better fear-8 and 3. By that I mean 8% unemployment (no president since FDR has won with unemployment over 7.2%) and $3.00 a gallon gas. When President Obama took office, he made the mistake of soothsaying that the unemployment rate would not go over 8% if he were granted his $787 billion dollar stimulus program. (It’s been above 8% for more months than any other presidency since Roosevelt) It’s not so much his prediction that’s going to get him in trouble, as the reality that things have gotten worse, not better under his watch. (Unemployment was at 7.3% when he took office.) The blame game is easy to play (and certainly he will,) however, not everyone buys into excuse making, especially those who have lost their jobs. When people are suffering, they want results, not excuses. Gas prices are another major problem. Older people remember when an appeasement policy in the Middle East along with market meddling under Jimmy Carter lead to higher gas prices. Younger people only know that these prices are killing their pocketbook. Gas prices were at $1.85 when Barack took office and will certainly be over $3.00 and maybe over $4.00 by November. Again the Dems will try to pass the blame, but the Obama foreign policy of supporting the Arab Spring and his anti hydrogen rhetoric will certainly be pointed out as a cause by the Reps.
On a recent trip to a friend’s Jewish wedding, I found myself sitting at a table with 10 Jews of mixed gender and age. I was under strict orders from my wife to not discuss politics (This is a standing order for me at functions since the “Open House Incident”). However, without any prodding by me, the conversation turned to Israel and The Obama Administration’s policy on the Arab Spring. One elder man commented that “If Obama gets 4 more years, there will be no more Israel.” The entire table nodded in agreement. President Obama has been losing the Jewish vote steadily since his election. It’s no secret that Barack and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have had some friction over Israel’s treatment of Palestinians, borders, and the handling of Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The lost votes are bad enough, but add to that the influence that the Jewish community has both in the media and the Democratic Party and a real problem immerges.
On white folks, it gets complicated.
Candidate Obama saw a surprising amount of support from the white community in 2008. White males, like myself, voted for Barack at about 41%. Before Obama, no Democrat since Jimmy Carter had earned more than 38 percent of the white male vote. , white females went even higher. The most recent poll numbers I’ve seen has President Obama at a mere 36% for white voters. Clearly the shine has come off the apple. The reasons vary but here are some of the ones I’ve been hearing; White people love to show how far they’ve come in conquering their past racial failings. Obama gave them the perfect chance to demonstrate that at a time when their frustration with Bush and the Republicans was at the peak. Now, they view it as a job done and no longer feel the need. Also, they once viewed Candidate Obama as a man who shared his white and black heritage equally. From the “Beer Summit” on, they have come to the opinion (fairly or not) that President Obama is far more concerned with how he’s viewed by the black community than the white. Articles like this are reaffirming this belief.
Now, by the poll numbers. In a head to head against Mitt Romney, (his most likely foe), Barack comes out within the margin of error with some polls showing either Mitt with a slight lead or Barack. The ominous number for the Obama reelection effort however is the undecided (about 10%). These people historically do not go with the incumbent. Think of it like this; we’re already in a relationship with President Obama and the question is whether or not you want to continue this relationship. If your spouse or boss responded to that question with “undecided”, would you consider that a good thing? Certainly not. I generally view Republicans as having a disadvantage in the Main Stream Media, therefore, when elections come around they stand to gain ground when their message reaches people who have only heard the MSM opinion. Media outlets have to run their ads by law. This can’t bode well for the Dems who have had a lock on most messaging outside of Fox News.
The situation is still fluid and many things can happen. A split vote due to an independent run by either Donald Trump or Ron Paul could throw a wrench in the works for the Reps and all but guarantee a win for President Obama. War, economics or a terrorist attack can change things as well as scandals. But as of now, I would have to bet heavily on a Republican win. Perhaps a good tactic for the Dems would be to point out that with the Senate race leaning towards the Republicans taking control (23 of the 33 seats up for grabs are Democrat seats), winning the presidency would mean absolute power for Republicans. The American people historically do not like absolute power and embrace divided government. I wouldn’t count on them using that tact though, since absolute power is always the goal of either side. It’s still 9 months until the election, so hold on people…its’ going to get nasty.
- H.C.
The Hippie Conservative blogs at http://thehippieconservative.blogspot.com/
No social commentary today, I’m sorry to announce. No important life lessons. Nothing prophetic. Just rants.
So I was on my way home from church last night. On the way, I decided to get stop by a local gas station to pick up a little something to snack on. No big deal, right? Oh, if it were only that simple. I picked up a package of beef jerky and a Gatorade. Grand total: $3.29. So far so good, right? Well, watch this…
I hand a $5 bill to the cashier. She looks at it. She looks at me. She looks at it again. She looks at me again. She then holds the bill up to the light. Then she starts rubbing the bill between her middle finger and thumb. After all this, she puts it under some ultraviolet thingy near the register (as I later found out is a machine used to identify counterfeit bills). She then grabs a co-worker to show her the bill. This co-worker starts to perform all the same “tests.”
Now, before I go any further, please allow me to remind you that this was a five dollar bill.
Anyway, I guess the results of their investigation were satisfactory because they eventually wound up accepting it. Incredulously, I asked “So, what exactly was that about?” (though, I admit the question floating around in my head wasn’t nearly as civil and Christ-like). She replied saying that they had been receiving counterfeit $100 bills lately, so she’s just playing it safe. My response was simple: “I get that. But this is a five dollar bill.” She then went on to explain that many people pay with counterfeit bills, buy small items, and keep all the change.
Got that? The sinister evildoers against whom she was being so vigilant participate in nefarious acts of using fake bills to purchase insignificant items (say, Gatorade and beef jerky) and keep all the change.
I suppose I understand her logic. But, come on. Seriously, people. It’s a frickin’ five dollar bill! I mean, who in their right mind would go through all the trouble — while risking serious jail time in the process — for some beef jerk, Gatorade, and $1.71?! The logic is escaping me at the moment.
Looking back in retrospect, I’m glad that I didn’t have to give her any coins. How embarrassing would it have been to sit through the long and painstaking process of her weighing my nickles to see if they actually measured out to be five grams? Or how about sitting around patiently while they tested the metallic composition of my pennies? Sheesh.
As a side note: there were two customers ahead of me who, incidentally, didn’t receive the same treatment. They weren’t checking anybody else’s money. Just mine. Just my frickin’ five dollar bill.
OK, I’m done. Thanks for listening. :-/
- ACL
What’s up, 2012? Just checking in with you for a second. A couple more posts like this and I may earn another badge. Score one for me!
I’ve officially survived the first week of 2012. So far, so good. No disasters of cataclysmic proportion to report just yet (then again, if the Mayans were so good at predicting the future, couldn’t they have prevented being conquered by the Spanish? Just sayin’). I’m not certainly not trying to jinx the rest of 2012, but so far things have gone off without a hitch. God willing, the rest of the year will follow suit.
- Now I will freely admit that it’s a bit weird that there is currently no snow on the ground, especially in a notoriously evil place like Michigan in January. But I’m not trippin’. After all, my dear friends on the right have told me that there is no such thing as global warming. #SighOfRelief
- I guess it’s also a bit weird that the fate of the universe will probably be decided this November. I mean, except for maybe Mitt Romney (at least the Mitt Romney who shows up every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. The one I actually like.), I shudder at the thought of any of the loons from this pathetic Republican field earning their party’s nomination and, quite possibly, a residency in the White House. It’s odd that Republicans haven’t simply rallied around the lone guy who appears at least partially sane in this whole thing. But, we’ll see what happens down the road. Whatever the case may be, the humble host of this blog will have plenty to write about.
Let’s see. What else can I update you on, Mr. 2012?
- Ah, yes. Michigan won a BCS game! Yes, that Michigan. Annoying voice or not, Brady Hoke is a flippin’ genius for the way he took us from being the laughingstock of the college football world to a team with a restored sense of national relevance. The 2012 schedule will be brutal for the Maize and Blue, but after the insane turnaround season we had, I see big things down the road.
- Speaking of turnarounds, the Lions just lost their playoff game. Wait. What? The Lions made the playoffs? Yes, 2012. You heard me correctly. The Detroit Lions, yes…those Detroit Lions…made it to the playoffs. The city of Detroit hasn’t seen a drastic improvement of that nature since…oh, right…last year. Don’t get me wrong: the D is probably still not a place where you’d buy your first home (though even that’s up for debate now), or find the next American Idol. But if you want to find a team in whom you can take some pride, the Lions would be it. I know, right?
- The Pistons? Yeah. No comment.
- Despite her being evil enough to make the most insidious hellspawn jealous, I made one last attempt to reach out to the ex. She ignored my olive branch offer or, knowing her, took it and made a fire out of it. Oh well. Some levels of evil just can’t be helped with human logic and goodwill. I think she may need to have Damascus Road experience or something. That, or an exorcism. You know, some kind of divine intervention. OK 2012: real talk? As cathartic as some of my potshots may be, a part of me really does feel bad for her. When a person like her can get so delusional that they can’t take an honest and introspective look at themselves, it’s a sad sight. Maybe you can give her the much needed insight that 2011 couldn’t. While you’re at it, I wouldn’t mind a little more discernment on my end. I wasn’t perfect to her, but I was a pretty good guy. But knowing when to fold ‘em has never been my thing. I pray that I don’t waste too much more of myself on people like her, especially if it’s at the expense of better people.
All things considered though, you’re off to a great start in my book. I still have the love of my family, good friends to keep me stable, a great job, a cool apartment, my health (save a cold I haven’t been able to completely shake) and a few marbles rolling around in my head. This is no small feat in a place like Flint, Michigan.
On top of it all, I have the grace of God, which sustains me even when I don’t deserve it. I miss the mark time and time again, but I’m still in God’s good favor. Can’t beat that.
Anyway, looking forward to hanging with you for another 51 weeks, God willing. Let’s make it a good one, 2012!
- ACL
Hello there, 2012. I hope this proves to be an adventurous year. But not too much. Let’s not overdo it.
As for 2011? It’s been real. I’ve had my share of fun times, difficult moments, successes, and failures. Some relationships have been destroyed, others restored. Some moments left me feeling completely engaged with the world, others left me wanting to hide from it. Like every other year, 2011 was one full of ups and downs. But by and large, particularly evidenced by the fact that I’m still here to even reflect on it, the year was dominated by ups.
However, 2011 is now in the past. Time to start looking forward.
So here’s the thing: given my love for reading, it’s only appropriate to use the following allegory. I see life as a book. Each action we take translates into a new sentence, a new paragraph, a new page, and ultimately a new chapter. While the existing chapters provide very necessary context, I think we need to leave them behind us and get on with the rest of the book. We can’t expect to move on to the next chapter in our lives if we keep our attention fixed on what’s already been laid down on paper. Somewhere down the road, we need to pick up the pen and get to work on the next part of lives.
So as we wave our collective goodbyes to one year and welcome in the new year with open arms, let’s make it our mission not to focus on the past and move toward the future.
Random Person Asking Andre a Question: “Does that include forgetting about the crazy and unfaithful ex-girlfriend who treated me like dirt, despite me treating her like royalty?”
Andre: “Yes, it does.”
OK, OK. Fine. I’m turning a few of my pages too. 
Peace and blessings to you all this year and in all your days!
- ACL
This is the captain speaking.
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