Fallout from the Tea Party-NAACP not a barrier to formation of Tea Party Caucus

There have been casualties on both sides of the Tea Party-NAACP dust-up.  As a result of the Tea Party Resolution the NAACP passed last week, The Tea Party Federation (the defacto governing body of the movement) have expelled the Tea Party Express and it's leader, Mark Williams, because of a racist satirical blog post in response to the NAACP resolution calling elements of the Tea Party Movement, of all things, "racist."  As a result, leaders from both the NAACP and The Tea Party have been engaged in dueling interviews and sometimes being interviewed at the same time.   

It appears that the NAACP, and people tied to the civil rights organization, are also being caught up in the aftermath.  Because of a video tape that surfaced and has caught fire in the conservative bloggaspher, the United States Department of Agriculture has sacked  Shirley Sherrod, its Director of Rural Development in Georgia.  In the excerpt that has been circulating, Sherrod speaks at an NAACP event where she talks about how a white farmer she was trying to help, was being difficult and because of his race, she admittedly doesn't bend over backwards to help resolve his problem with possible foreclosure on his farm.  This occurred over 24 years ago and while she was at a different job.  According to interviews with Sherrod, she had repeated calls from officials at the White House pressuring her to resign, because the story was going to be on Glenn Beck. 

Some notable members of the GOP, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader John Boehner, are putting as much distance as they can between them and the Tea Party.  But, with all the public discussion about the racists and extremist elements within the Tea Party Movement and the recent moves by the Tea Party to address these issues, it has not diswayed Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann from filing paperwork to form the Tea Party Caucus in Congress. 

Its pretty clear that the Tea Party has made an indelible mark on the GOP and the candidates that are running under their banner for the 2010 Election Cycle.  The movement has propelled some of the GOP's most conservative and extremist members to the primary nominations over more establishment candidates.  An election cycle that was shaping up to be the best for the GOP since the 1994 GOP tsunami is now looking less like a probable wave and more like a ripple in a small pond because of the rift(s) that are forming within the Tea Party Movement. 

With the newly formed Tea Party Caucus being led by Michelle Bachmann, it will be interesting to see who will self-identify with the Tea Party now that the labels of racists, bigots, and extremists are permanently tattooed to those that stand with the movement. 

Picture found at:  http://www.indecisionforever.com/files/2009/11/michele-bachmann-rally-podium.jpg 

Wall Street Reform: Is the GOP really that out of touch with reality?

There's more evidence that the 2010 Campaign Season is in full swing.  Invoking the mantra of "Repeal" used as a call-to-arms for Health Care Reform and reason to turn the keys to the Federal Government back over to them, the GOP is now using this same campaign theme on Wall Street Reforms.  Seizing on the broad dissatisfaction with President Obama's first major legislative victory with Health Care Reform, with most Americans feeling the reforms didn't go far enough, House Minority Leader John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell are calling for the repeal of Wall Street Reform, the second major legislative victory for the Obama Administration this year.  The problem with this move, Americans across the board support these reforms. 

The question now is how disconnected from reality are the GOP with regard to Wall Street Reform that includes the strongest consumer protections against predatory financial products, ever?  Also, massive Government bailouts will never happen again (at least as long as this legislation stays intact). 

Just like with Health Care Reform, the Wall Street Reform legislation is not prefect by any means but it does put the Federal Government in a position to implement corrective measures and fixes to make it better over time. 

As far as claims that this legislation will kill jobs, stifle economic growth, raise interest rates, and make it harder for people to borrow money, we are already there because of Republican/neo-con/deregulation economic philosophy that lead the American Capitalist System to financial ruin and almost drove us off a cliff. 

As for the chances of the GOP repealing anything, Health Care Reform or Wall Street Reform, the 2010 Mid-term Elections would have to produce such a massive repudiation of Democratic Party governance that upwards of 70 House seats or more would be needed, as well as more than 20 Senate seats, to give the GOP the legislative muscle to override any Presidential Veto.  The best estimates right now indicate that the GOP have a shot, at shot, at winning back control of the House and in the Senate, the Democrats will have a much smaller majority but still retain control. 

When I was a teenager, my family had a 1977 Honda Civic that survived my two sister's and college at Radford University before I got a turn at the wheel.  When I got my chance, I made sure that I had a lot of fun in that car.  I gunned the engine and made donuts in the gravel parking lot of my High School with a good friend of mine, among some of the more noteable activites.  It was my chance to have control and freedom to go places without parental oversight. 

Then I blew the head gasket.  No big deal, dad will fix it.  I had no idea what that entailed.  In order to save money, my dad took the engine apart and replaced the head gasket.  Then I went out and did much of the same, not changing my behavior or the way I drove the 12-13 year old car by then.   Blew another head gasket.  My dad looked at me and asked what I was doing (but he knew).  I played dumb and said I don't know why its blowing head gaskets because I was driving responsibly and not reeving the engine, too much. 

The second time my dad took that engine apart to replace the head gasket, I could tell that he was pissed.  But, he didn't take the keys away from me and continued to let me drive.  It wasn't unit I was a father and had kids have I realized the time and money I cost my father because I acted irresponsibly and didn't change my behavior.  But as I look back on those events, my father should have also taken the keys away from me when he knew what was going on.  You don't just blow two head gaskets because of responsible driving behavior. 

As we look back on where our nation was, heading into 2008 and 2009, with millions of jobs lost, people loosing their homes, people declaring Bankruptcy because our nations finances were mismanaged, we will have no one else to blame but ourselves if we give the keys back to the people that brought us to the brink of another Great Depression, and that is still not totally out of the realm of possibility. 

Since the Democrats have been in charge, they have taken our financial engine apart to fix the damage cause by conservative/neo-con economic deregulation practices that blew our economy apart.  The GOP have learned nothing from their mistakes and we will pay the price, again, if they get the keys back to the nation's economy. 

Tea Party: Would there be a movement without Nativists, Birthers, Bigots, Anti-Semites, Gay Bashers, Ultra-Nationalists, and Racists?

The NAACP has passed a resolution labeling the Tea Party Movement as racists.  The Tea Party has denounced it calling the resolution "unfair."  Sara Palin, darling of the Tea Party Movement, has quickly fired back calling the NAACP resolution "false, appauling, and a is a regressive and divisionary tactic to change the subject at hand." 

The real simple way to prove the Tea Party Movement isn't racist is to kick these people out of the movement. But wait,... would their be a Tea Party Movement with out the racists, nativists, birthers, bigots, Anti-Semites, gay bashers, and ultra-nationalist that have taken over the movement?  

I understand the anger and frustration with the mismanagement of our Federal Government and its finances, but the watershed event by which the movement has galvanized around, The Boston Tea Party, was not a reaction to being taxed but being taxed without their representation, input, or consent. 

In the modern world, governments cannot function without tax revenue by which to reinvest into it's citizens and create the conditions of individual liberty and freedom for private citizens to live free or die.  Things like roads for the commerce of our nation and individuals to be able to participate in that commerce.  Schools, so that individuals can gain knowledge and understanding to see how people with power and money manipulate the uneducated to advocate for the benefit of the few rather than the greater good. 

Americans have representation, can provide input into the democratic political process, and can offer their consent or opposition. The Tea Party Movement is a shame and is represented by those that the NAACP has accurately labeled, racists.   

So again, would their be a Tea Party Movement with out the racists, nativists, birthers, bigots, Anti-Semites, gay bashers, and ultra-nationalist that are the face of the movement? 

"America's Toughest Sheriff" under investigation for Abuse of Power

It seems that political rivals and opponents of the famous/infamous Arizona Sheriff from Maricopa County, Joe Arpaio, get the same type of attention as his prisoners.  Sheriff Arpaio is under investigation for Abuse of Power.

Arpaio is known for his boasts about how tough he is on prisoners under his watch, like housing prisoners in Army Tents, dressing them in pink underwear and pink/black stripped prison garb, and claiming he spends more money to feed his dog than he does on the prison food.

The Federal investigation comes at a time when Arizona's new Illegal Immigration law is also being challenged by Federal Government.  According to the CNN article (link posted above), Sheriff Arpaio has launched one investigation after another into the activities of his political rivals and his most ardent opponents for such things as pedophilia and embezzlement.   Sheriff Arpaio has also come out in strong support of Arizona's new Immigration Law. 

To put a more local spin on this, just imagine the outcry if the City of Lynchburg Commonwealth's Attorney, Lynchburg City Police Department or Sheriff's Office launched an investigation into the alleged illegal activities of the Liberty University leadership to influence an election or settle a political score?  Oh, wait... Liberty did something like that except they didn't take over the Lynchburg City Council. 

But, Liberty University does have a major political ally in Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli who launches investigations into Climate Scientists, challenges the Federal Government's ability to enforce Health Care Reform and issues opinions to state supported colleges and universities that it's OK to discriminate.  I guess its all a matter of who's in charge and where. 

Image found at:  http://www.citizensrequired.com/unit/ktr_sheriff/images/title.jpg

Don't tell the Tea Party (TARP turned a PROFIT!)

As reported on Politico's Morning Money section, the Troubled Asset Relief Program (a.k.a. TARP) has turned a profit.  According to a new report issued by the Financial Analyst firm Keefe, Bruyette & Woods on July 6, 2010,... "Overall, TARP CPP investments appear to provide positive returns to the Treasury."  Additionally, for the 61 banks that have fully repaid their TARP loan the average Return on Investment (ROI) was 10.3% with six having a ROI greater than 20%. 

Keep in mind that TARP was a program started under the Bush Administration and carried over to the current Obama Administration.  While a 15% ROI is generally considered a good measuring stick for the soundness of a good investment, at this point anything that shows positive returns from the Treasury's bailout of these badly (if not criminally) mismanaged banks and global financial firms, indications are that things are moving in the right direction. 

Another bit of good financial news today comes from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).  As reported by the Associated Press the IMF has raised it's 2010 World Growth Forecast, lead by the United States and China.  But, the IMF does offer a bit of caution.   According to Jose Vinals, who oversees the IMF's monetary and capital markets department, Europe's debt problems "could spill over to other regions and stall the global recovery." 

This leads to the question that everyone that has been negatively affected by the Great Recession has asked:  What would things look like and were would we be if the Federal Government hadn't enacted TARP, bailed out the American Auto Industry, or passed the Stimulus?  Would we be looking at national unemployment at the levels of the Great Depression of 25% or greater if we hadn't? 

Unfortunately, in may areas of the nation this is the reality.  In Martinsville and Danville, Virginia the actual unemployment numbers are over 20% and 16% respectively.

For all the anger and railing against the Federal Government from the Tea Party over bailing out these financial institutions, and how the Government has done nothing but screw things up since the Obama Administration and Democrats have been in control, this strategic investment in our Capitalist system seems to be working right. 

The surest way to reduce the size of the Federal Government, or any state and local government, is for unemployment to continue at the current levels of around 9.5%, or have them go higher.  When people are out of work they pull back on spending and paying sales taxes, and among other things they can't pay their income and property taxes.  All of these revenue sources are what funds our Federal, State, and Local governments. 

Counter to the path that much of Europe is taking these days through Austerity (focusing on reducing their national debts by cutting their budgets and government services), Political Scientist and Economist Paul Krugman argues that the Stimulus was too small to begin with and we need more, not less.  There is nothing more that will send fiscal conservatives and Tea Party activist into a tirade than calling for more government spending that adds to the national debt. 

But, as Krugman suggests from his rounds on this past Sunday's talk shows, more government spending now could be all the difference in sustaining the recovery or having us slide into a full blown Depression.  More Stimulus will not impact the level of long term national debt, which will take years to pay down. 

At this point, with incumbents from both major political parties hunkering down or heading for the hills for the duration of the 2010 campaign season, the likelihood of a new stimulus package along the lines Paul Krugman is suggesting are about as likely as Rush Limbaugh, Glen Beck, and Neal Bortz becoming normal/reasonable people. 

The point is that TARP is actually working and not everything that the Federal Government does turns into a train wreck.  It is going to take time to correct 30 years of financial deregulation and bad monetary policy. 

Photo by:  http://www.treehugger.com/20090730-wall-street.jpg

In "post-racial America" Black Farmers are still casualties of Partisan Politics

After taking a long break, Off K Street is back to ponder, question, comment, opine, and address issues of injustice and absurdity that affect large cross sections of our community.  To that end, one that issue that has received increased attention over the last few months but continues to be under-reported, the Federal Government's complicity for years of discrimination in the USDA Farm Loan program of Black Farmers. 

All the way back to just after the Civil War, Black Farmers have struggled to till out a living from the land.  Hoping to be paid, not just fairly but be compensated at all, for their labor in the fields that were worked by slaves and then as sharecroppers, Black Farmers were hopeful that their day of justice was at hand.

Unfortunately, the same partisan politics that has derailed the latest jobs bill and extension in Unemployment Insurance, has also stalled the $1.25 Billion settlement to Black Farmers from years of discrimination from the USDA Farm Loan program.  

This brings up another point, in the spirit of less government and cutting the size of the Federal Budget.  The Environmental Working Group has been tracking Farm Subsidy payments for several years now, of which the lion share going to "Corporate Farms."  The EWG has a great web based tracker where anyone that is interested can find out who and how much is being doled out to Corporate Farms. 

In a supposed "post-racial" America, why is this still an issue?  It appears that Black Farmers are being teed-up to be used as a sound bite as we get closer to the 2010 Mid-Term Elections.  The GOP continues to be deaf to racial, social, and economic justice and the Democrats are being obscenely opportunistic.  This is just wrong.  The entire Congress should just let this issue be voted on as a stand-alone bill and be done with it.

Liberty University Goons trying to play HARDBALL with Lynchburg Mayor and City Manager

Only a couple of weeks ago, Liberty University Chancelor Jerry Falwell, Jr. was singing the praises of Lynchburg Mayor Joan Foster, touting her as a person that Liberty University could work with.  Then only a week later Jerry Falwell Jr. releases to the local press his interest in recending a Conditional Use Zoning Permit ordinance that was supported by the entire Lynchburg City Council on a 7-0 vote in 1991. 

Citing that it's an overly burdensome regulation that really only applies to companies and institutions within a residential area, Jerry Falwell, Jr. indicated that Liberty University moved away from the downtown areas to an area that was originally zoned for commercial use to avoid battles with residents over expansion.  Falwell feels that Liberty University shouldn't have to ask permission from the City of Lynchburg to build on its own property.  It was his hope was that it would be "fast-tracked" through the process before the City Council Election on May 4th.   Mayor Joan Foster and the rest of the Lynchburg City Council (with maybe the exception of Jeff Helgeson) indicated that they saw merit in what Jerry Falwell, Jr. was saying but they were not inclined to fast-track the process because these types of decissions should be considered carefully. 

Then, last night at the Lynchburg City Council meeting, the matter was brought up and it was revealed that Jerry Falwell, Jr. and the other Liberty University officials had secretly taped their meeting in Chancelor Falwell's office with Mayor Joan Foster and City Manager Kimball Payne.  They claimed that they wanted to have an "accurate" account of the meeting and that Mayor Foster and City Manager Kimball Payne indicated that there would be unanimous support and that Liberty should pursue a fast-track request to do away with the Conditional Use Permit.  The only person on Lynchburg City Council that was defending the secret taping was Jeff Helgeson.  As far as if this is legal, in Virginia you only need one person/party to agree to the taping.  So, this might be legal but it don't make it right. 

Regardless of what was said on the videotape, I can't see how Liberty University thinks this will improve relations between the school and the rest of Lynchburg.  But this does raise a few questions for me, and hopefully others:  What other secret tapes does Jerry Jr. have?  Are there other hidden cameras in other "sensative" places on Liberty University's campus?  Does this mean that he secretly tapes the students?  I am only asking questions, that's all. 

Besides the shock and outrage that Jerry Jr. and the rest of the Liberty University Administration would stoop to this level and justify what they did, Jerry Jr. and his Liberty University GOONS must be stopped.  If Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church wonder why they are so vilified, its because of a track record of lies, deception, intimidation, and Goonish behavior like this. 

The Lynchburg City Council Elections are coming up on May 4th and there are three Liberty backed Republicans running for the three open seats on City Council.  A group called Lynchburg 1st has endorsed Mayor Joan Foster, Randy Nelson, and J.P. Vaughan, who are all running as Independents.  If anyone that lives in Lynchburg or knows people that live in Lynchburg are concerned with Jerry Jr. and his Goons taking over City Council, follow the link below to Lyncubrg 1st to get involved with the campaigns.

 http://www.lynchburgfirst.org/Contact_Us_and_Help_Out_.html 

Don't let Jerry Falwell, Jr. and his Liberty University Goons take over Lynchburg City Council!