Author: Tony L. Blackwell

Happily Married Father w/ a Daughter on her way to College. Sports Fanatic, Follower of Politics, Lover of Truth But I Despise Racism, Bigotry and Those Who Won't Stand Up For All of Us instead of the 47%.

Categories
Politics

America, Don’t EVER Drink The TEA

Finally! After over two weeks of a Government Shutdown in which even Sen. John McCain admitted in a Fox News interview, was completely the GOP’s fault, the Republicans are going to relinquish their unpopular battle and vote on a Clean Continued Resolution which will re-open the Government and put a halt to the ‘Default Talk’ of the Debt Ceiling.

So many questions still remain in this Failed takeover by the TeaPublicans. What was the purpose? Why did they take America to the brink of National Default of paying it’s bills? What Next?

It’s all Very Simple.

The Purpose: Ruin and destroy the Obama Presidency.

Why did they take America to the Brink? Ruin and Destroy the Obama Presidency.

What Next? Ruin and Destroy the Obama Presidency.

From the Beginning of the Barack Obama Presidential Term in 2008, the Great Obstructionist Party’s game plan was to Nullify, Deny, Embarrass, Destroy, Obstruct, Defame, Denounce and Negate the Legitimacy of his presidency.

The very idea that a small faction of the United States Congress could hold this Nation hostage because they don’t like President Obama and Obamacare is unfathomable. Now, as this stage of their hostile Government Takeover comes to a close, it appears the negotiations will last until January 15, 2014 and the Debt Ceiling will be revisited on February 7, 2014. Surely, you know we will go through this again in January.

We have to #EndThisNow!

“Kicking the Can Down the Road” is not the way to govern a Nation. But it appears since President Obama became the Commander in Chief, he has put out fires instead of initiating his policy. I believe this is the GOP’s plan: Manufactured problems like the NSA, IRS, Benghazi, Sequester to the GOP Shutdown and the near Default of the Debt Ceiling has kept this President on defense and reactive than on the Offensive and Proactive. For 5 1/2 years of Obstruction and hindrance from the TeaPublicans, much of the planned agendas from the Obama Administration have not been addressed or implemented.

Remember Immigration Reform, Jobs Initiatives, Increasing the Minimum Wage, Gun Control, Climate Change and Energy Initiatives and Oil Drilling in this country? I do. But what has been done on any of those in the last 6-months? Correct! Nothing. Unfortunately, I feel this will continue. The Teapublican Plan is to make this President look worse than Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush. You remember the Great Recession where banks and financial investors failed, housing market declined, auto companies were abandoned to fail and the stock market dropped below 8,000?

To make President Obama look worse than those disastrous moments in Bush Administration’s history is the plan, so don’t for one second believe this is over. Yes, the TeaPublicans have retreated but the fight is not over. They’ll regroup and between now and January, they will manufacture another crisis.

America, if you’ve seen enough from the extremely radical Tea people. Voting in every election is more critical than ever before! The Koch Brothers and Heritage Action are throwing money into every local election to sway votes with advertisements filled with lies and deceptions. Our Job: Make folk aware of the importance of voting. We’ve got to get behind the President and express our concerns by Voting Out Extremism!

Now is the Perfect time. Never forget America, who Shutdown our Government and nearly Defaulted our country in the eyes of the World.

If you want to make a difference, Vote! If you want this country to Move Forward, Vote! If you believe extremism is what keeps us bound, Vote! Obstructionism is Not Governing! Democracy and Compromise is Governing!

Vote America, Vote!

Categories
Barack Obama Domestic Policies Tea Party vote

Republicans Are Willing to Default in Order to Destroy

Let it be Known that THIS President is Fed Up! He’s just about reached his Boiling point and so has America.

In his press conference on Tuesday, President Obama reiterated his position of Not negotiating with the Republican hostage takers unless they “do their jobs” and put an end to the Government Shutdown and their threats of not raising the Debt Ceiling.

President Obama did not mince words in his opening statement calling on Republican Speaker John Boehner to take the bill to a vote, something he had been asking Boehner to do since the shutdown began. The President spoke on Tuesday and said he was Willing to negotiate and have open discussions with Boehner and any other Republican on any issues, even the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) but not under extortion threats and not until they ended the shutdown.

The President also spoke on the looming Debt Ceiling crisis that is set to take us over the cliff on October 17th. During his opening comments, Mr Obama read statements by bankers, investors, the Treasury Dept., economists and even billionaire Warren Buffet, a staunch supporter of the President.

In those statements, the president described the potential outcome of defaulting on the nation’s debt. The president used words like insane, catastrophic, irresponsible and Buffet comparing the Default to the likes of an Atomic Bomb going off in America’s financial district.

With these highly qualified and financially successful individuals expressing such dire outcomes to this unfathomable inaction of not raising the Debt Ceiling, the Republicans have shown NO indication of giving in to the desires of the President, the Democratic and Independent members in Congress or the hundreds of thousands of Americans already suffering from the Government Shutdown. To be clear, some Reublicans have gone on record to say the Debt Ceiling is not a big deal.

Rep. John Fleming, (R) of Louisiana said of the economist predictions of castrophic events if the Debt Ceiling isn’t raised, “Many times they’re wrong. So I don’t think we should be running government based on economists’ predictions.” Rep. Richard Burr, (R) of NC made similar comments about not taking the Debt Ceiling seriously. Tom Coburn, (R) of Oklahoma was made an even worse assessment of the Debt Ceiling crisis by saying on an CNN interview that there is NO DEBT CEILING.

So, with the Republicans and Tea Party cheering on these self inflicted crises one after another, why would they – the same people who champion themselves as being Patriotic, Responsible and “Country loving” Americans – allow this Country to fall into Default? Why did they shutdown the Government and place thousands in financial dismay and/or ruin?

The shutdown has not only caused furloughs to hundreds of thousands, but is also affecting WIC programs and children that depend on that program for food and other necessities. It has affected the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in being able to pursue the aggressive viruses and diseases. And now, it is affecting loved ones who have had service men and women killed in the line of duty.

The Republican Party and Tea Party members are demanding the President negotiate with them or they will not end the shutdown AND will allow this country to Default on its obligations. Obama said yesterday that America has never defaulted in the last 225-years so why are the Republicans so Willing to let it occur now?

It’s not about Negotiations. It’s about Destroying a President.

The President said the Democrats have attempted to negotiate with Republicans 19-times only to have them squash talks with more of their wants but not giving anything in return.

No, the Republicans and Tea Party members are so willing to let this Country and the Amerian people suffer to destroy President Obama. Their plan is to tarnish, defame, discredit, nullify and destroy Obama’s legacy.

They are trying to kill this country and all of Obama’s successes will become null and void in their eyes and in their hopes, the Americans as well.

It’s a careless, irresponsible and harmful gamble by the Republicans and Tea Party members, but they seem oblivious or just plain ignorant to what may be their political demise.

Polls show that Americans are placing the government shutdown blame on Replublicans at 39% in the latest Pew Poll while 30% blamed Obama. But Republicans aren’t listening to Polls nor Americans because the end game is shutting down a President. And to think, the shutdown began with Obamacare but has now shifted to the Debt Ceiling.

What the outcome will bring is unclear but to the rest of the World, America’s Bright and Shiny Star is becoming a dull rock on a dusty hill.

We can’t, as President Obama said Tuesday, continue to manufacturer these crises every 3-months. Government wasn’t meant to operate in this fashion. But we have a group of people in Congress that have yet to accept This President as a Legitimate Leader of the Free World.

In reading some Twitter feeds on yesterday, one stuck out the most. It said, “The Black race has been more willing to Overcome and Work with the white race even after the Atrocities performed against them vs The White race Accepting a Black Man as President and working With Him.” Poignant indeed.

While No One Wants to Believe this is Racially motivated by the Republicans and Tea Party members, it’s been amazing to see how white America has reacted on Twitter and other social media outlets. If our white brothers and sisters are crying racism against the President, it’s clearly racism.

So what do we do about it? We Vote! Outvote the Extremists that elect these Extreme Members of Congress. We Expose them for who and what they are and Vote Them Out!

They say it’s time to take back Their country? Well I say It’s Time We Expel, vote out extremism and allow this Country To Move Forward! Now IS THE TIME! Vote America! If you want TRUE CHANGE, VOTE Out THE EXTREME!

Categories
Domestic Policies Politics

Government Closed (In Need of Repair)

It’s been 17-years since the Government decided to Shutdown and, low and behold, a Democrat was in the White House. Bill Clinton was in his Final Term when the Republicans decided to put hundreds of thousands of Americans out of work and turn a prosperous economic outlook into a spiraling plunge downwards.

I watched a great deal of cable news shows on September 30th with some calling the looming Government failure, ‘The Shutdown Countdown’. On one side of the picture-in-picture view was the clock was ticking. The other view showed Congress Members PRETENDING to be negotiating a deal to keep the Government at work.

I say PRETENDING because newly appointed and anointed Pointman, Sen. Ted Cruz –Texas (R), gave the marching orders in a 21-hour Dr. Seuss laden FULLA-buster to the House and Senate, to shutdown the Government unless President Obama relinquished the Obamacare LAW or delay it for a year along with other Tea Party and Republican mandates written into their budgetary plans.

In holding the Nation Hostage, the Republicans caved to the new face of Their party and shut the government down. An estimated 800,000 federal employees are going to be furloughed and around $200-$300 million a day will be lost.

Back in 2011, when faced with this same dilemma of a government shutdown, Republican Speaker of the House, John Boehner stated it would be More costly to shut down the government than to keep it operating. Well, it appears he and the rest of his Republican cohorts don’t care about the cost or the lives of millions who will be affected.

Jobs have been held at bay and lives have been disrupted. And now the economy will take another hit. The Stock Market, which had been on the upswing for months, will definitely stall and fall. With all the recent positive momentum in the economy, jobs and housing, Republicans are determined to eliminate them all in one cowardice swoop, all in the name of Destroying a President.

In hindsight, this may have been the plan all along.

This whole Obstructionistic Movement began when President Barack Obama was elected in 2008. Mitch McConnell, Republican Senate from Kentucky, made the declaration during President Obama’s First Term that their main focus was to make Obama a one-term President. They Failed. But while they attempted to obstruct and undermine President Obama in his First Term, Obama passed key legislation such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, 2009, Wall Street Reform in 2010 and of course, The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare –named ‘affectionately’ by the Republican critics), 2010 just to name a few.

While the president made all these improvements, the Republican members of Congress in both the House and Senate, have done Zero in the way of Progress. No Jobs Bills which was supposedly their platform when Mitt Romney was running against the President in 2012. Immigration Reform is a distant memory… again. Gun control is a Non Subject. Equal pay and minimum wage increases aren’t even uttered on the Senate floor. But what is? Benghazi, the NSA scandal, IRS scandal, Syria’s near war moment, Impeaching the President, etc.

On the surface, it appears the only thing the Republican and Tea Party members of congress are doing is stalling out this term of the Presidency. Their aim is to tarnish Obama’s Legacy, obstruct his every move and disallow any positive progression this country had established.

In reality, that’s what they are doing. In their HATRED for 1 Man, they’ve decided to shutdown the Government hoping Americans will blame this President for their despicable and deplorable decision.

With misinformation and lies, the Republicans and Tea Party have injected their base with the very venom that the King’s of Hate have hoped for. The Hannity’s, the O’Reilly’s, the Limbaugh’s have finally galvanized a movement and their small coalition of hate minions is wreaking havoc on millions nationwide.

The Tea Party/Republican actions are a gamble by them but their ardent supporters are applauding them richly. From the folks on Fox News to their support group, they bkame the President and the Democratic Party. But when you look at what the Republican base has done, it causes one to ponder the mind and the heart of the Republican Party. Cutting the Food Stamp Program, the SNAP Program, attempting still to place Medicare on a Voucher Program and more. It’s not just Obamacare, it’s that they JUST DON’T CARE!

This Shutdown of Government is proof. Holding a country hostage because they don’t like the President or Obamacare is not the way to run a Government…unless the goal is to run the Government in the ground.

Congratulations #TeaGOP; you’re succeeding in that.

Frankly, I’m Fed Up with the Hatred! I’m Fed Up with the 5 ½ years of Obstruction. I’m Fed Up with the Extremism in our Government nationally and locally. I’m Fed Up with the cuts to Programs that help the Masses and will affect Millions. I’m Fed Up with theis Republican party changing Voting Rights, affecting Women’s Rights, Students Rights, Elderly Rights, Veterans, Teachers, Minorities, etc. I’m SO Fed Up that I’m on a Mission to spread the word to Friends, Family, Co-Workers, Church Members – VOTE! The only way we can change the playing field is to Vote out Extremism, Vote Out Obstructionism, VOTE OUT HATE!

If you don’t like it, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! VOTE!

Categories
Foreign Policies

To Bomb or Not To Bomb, That is the Question

Since the crisis began with the alleged chemical weapons being used on the Syrian people by their government and the military, it seems as though the only two nations willing to stand up for the Syrian people are France and the United States. But the United States seems to always intervene against atrocities in other nations.

This one, however, seems to have more division amongst the people of this country than any other prior international conflict. At the cusp of the argument, potential troops being called upon to invade Syria. After exiting Iraq and troops coming home from Afghanistan, Americans are not in the mood for another conflict with another nation which could cause yet another long occupation on foreign soil.

This ‘potential war’ with the Syrian military poses more of a problem unilaterally that parallels that of the Afghanistan war, with rogue groups of Al-Qaeda lirking. With neighboring Iran and Russia being a strong Ally to the Syrian government, President Obama and the American Military has to weigh every strategic option. The How, What, Where, When and Why questions have to be debated thoroughly before this nation jumps back into the fray of yet another country’s conflict and another long war and occupation in another land with countless lives lost.

The How: How will this Military action proceed? Troops on the ground? Strategic Bombings? Drones attacks? Navy SEALS?

The What: What is the ultimate goal (searching for chemical weapons or just bombing targets? Ousting Assad)? What are the casualty potentials – foreign friendly and our troops? What will this cost the United States financially? What will neighboring countries do if/when we strike?

The Where: Where are the ally countries to Syria? Where will this intervention lead us in the long term?

The When: When will the United Nations intervene? When will other Arab nations like Saudi Arabia speak out and show military support?

The Why: Why is the United States always policing the planet? Why don’t we intervene in other conflicts like in Africa where atrocities of mass killings from militant tribes rape, mame and kill women and children daily? Why are we willing to place our troops in harms way in other countries when the fight is clearly not ours? Why won’t the United States leaders put more pressure on other world leaders to intervene lest we sanction some of their services here?

Many questions need to be answered before we risk 1 soldiers life in another possible conflict in another country.

Just like millions of Americans here today, I have tremendous empathy and sympathy for the Syrian people losing their lives due to a ruthless dictator like Assad. I’m just tired of War. Especially war that could lead to a Greater conflict globally. One question that those wanting America to get involved in this conflict is, have you counted the cost? Not the financial cost, but the human cost and the global outlook.

Take a look at the How, What, Where, When and Why’s. Really think on it and without emotion, come up with a rational conclusion for yourself. It’s easy to get caught up in the emotions of lives being taken ruthlessly by the Syrian dictatorial regime, but how do we justify sending our troops to another nation that has not engaged us?

Tough questions. Serious deliberations needed. I’m certainly glad I’m not the ones making THESE decisions. Either way, I’ll always Support the Troops, President Obama and the United States of America.

Categories
Domestic Policies Food And Recipes

FOR Fast Food Worker’s – AGAINST Fast Foods

The Fast Food Industry is in disarray all across America. Today, the day after the March on Washington’s 50th Anniversary commemorating one of the greatest speeches and movements this country has ever seen, employees of fast food chains across America have gone on strike in protest of their current wages and hoping to generate a minimum wage hike.

In major cities like New York, Chicago and Detroit to my hometown McDonald’s and Burger King, employees staged a ‘walk out’ in an attempt to muster support from fast food consumers of a pay hike from their employer’s.

The national minimum wage is currently $7.25 an hour which averages around $15,000 a year salary. Protesters are seeking an increase to $15.25 and to become unionized in the process. Increasing the the minimum wage by that additional $8 would take the average salary to a modest $31,720 annually. President Obama has been for a hike to the minimum wage but has been fighting for $9 an hour.
While being FOR the worker’s in the fast food industry in gaining an increase in pay, I’m not FOR the fast foods being served. Just a few short months ago, weren’t we staging a War on Fast Foods and Obesity? Childhood obesity in particular has been a topic of conversation for some years now in their lunchrooms and the McDonald’s and Burger King’s of the world were asked to provide America with a ‘healthier selection’ of meals on their menus.

So today’s protest is with Mixed Emotion for me. There are staggering facts about what fast foods can do to the body. Obesity is the 5th leading risk for global deaths. At least 2.8 million people will die as a result of obesity. Diseases states such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, strokes and certain cancers are directly attributed to obesity. While fast foods provide that quick fix of price and consumption, it’s slowly destroying the bodies functionality. Yest, the fast food industry is great at advertising what it can do For you. Fast, efficient meals that provide a quick fix for your hunger and cravings. What needs to be advertised is what it will do To you.

Even if the fast food industry gave us the best choices meals for a healthy diet, the price for eating healthy is mind bogglingly ridiculous. The cost of a Grilled Chicken Sandwich cost more than a fried Chic Fil A sandwich. Even the Salads are more expensive than the sandwich. So what will the consumer purchase? Big Macs and Whoopers have been the staple of the American dinner table for years because of it’s fast, efficient service and serving quantity but each have a high calorie intake, Big Mac at 550 and the Whopper with a whopping 670 calories. Pizza parlors and sweet shoppes are just as guilty.

Have you ever wondered why fast foods are cheaper than eating healthy meals? Have you ever gone grocery shopping and felt the ‘sticker shock’ of purchasing the healthy alternative versus the junk food that seems to creep back into our baskets? My wife and I had this conversation over a weekend of grocery shopping once. It’s got to be a racket and here’s why. Money.

Think about this for a second. Fast Foods are reasonably inexpensive to buy. On average, a fast food meal will cost under $8 with the meal giving you fries and a drink along with the sandwich. Parents have taken the bait on the ‘fast and convenient’ ads for years which is why this industry has thrived for decades. But in turning to fast foods, we increase our risk of all types of disease states mentioned earlier. So we intake the fast foods, increase our weight, go to the doctor who puts us on medications to ‘help’ our disease state, medication causes other side effects, more medication prescribed to offset current medication, healthcare companies and doctors are happy.

The alternative. Eat a healthier diet of grilled foods, vegetables, fruits and drinking water with plenty of exercise. Yes, eating the right meals versus fast foods isn’t the most cost effective way but it’s the Healthiest way.

It’s not easy letting go of fast foods. The craving of a burger, fries, doughnuts, milkshakes are an everyday occurrence for many. But as in everything, one must find balance. An occasional indulgence is to be expected but should not be the norm. When it’s all said and done, it’s Your body, Your health, Your way of living. Either you’ll live a healthy life with a shot at longevity or your life could be shortened with heart disease, diabetes, stroke and being on medications until your demise. It’s your choice.
So more power to the Fast Food Employee. Everyone deserves to live life without struggle when trying to earn an honest living. Living below poverty level is not living. I’ll always Support you in your cause Fast Food Worker, just not from my wallet. (ok, maybe sometimes :-))

Categories
Domestic Policies Politics

The Dream Lives On!

Today, August 28th, 2013 commemorates the 50th Anniversary of one of the most famous marches and speeches ever witnessed, listened to and participated in during a Civil Rights Movement that took place in Washington, DC.

During that 1963 march, over 200,000 people from all walks of life participated in this gathering to let it be known throughout the United States and even the World at large that oppression, bigotry, hatred and murder of a people that just wanted the same rights as others was intolerable.

In fact, the Civil Rights Movement of 1963 had some of the exact parallels of the Moral Mondays Movement that has derived from some of the same oppressive, bigoted, hateful legislation being passed by the GOP and Republican lawmakers in North Carolina.

When Supreme Court Justice John Roberts so blindly changed the outcome of the Voters Rights Act in a surprising decision back in June of this year, the Republican Party throughout this country has begun changing their voting laws at state levels to ‘tip the scale’ in their favor for upcoming and ongoing elections.

In Texas, Ohio and North Carolina, the governors of these states and the Legislators in the state houses that are Republican run, have passed legislation to change the way Americans have voted for decades. In North Carolina alone, Gov. Pat McCrory and the NCGOP have formulated the New Voter I.D. Law, overturned students being able to Vote in the college city they live in, ended Early Voting and have closed several voting locations in many locations in the name of being more “efficient”.

Also in North Carolina, teachers are under assault with this current government in place. Wages have been cut and raises are obsolete. As educators of our children, they are deserving of the benefits and salary that should be awarded to them, but this governor and NCGOP legislators don’t seem to agree. Because of the extreme measures being inflicted on some of the teachers in North Carolina, many have decided to leave the profession all together unfortunately to pursue other employment in other states.

Continuing on the extreme, Gov. McCrory and the NCGOP sliced the Unemployment Benefits from a maximum of $535 a week to $350 max and the Unemployment Length of benefit life from 26-weeks to 13-weeks. With North Carolina ranked as the 5th highest state for unemployment, this Republican-led administration found it necessary to cut benefits to many middle class and low income families. Many layoffs and companies closing their doors have resulted in an influx of unemployment applications but as of July 1st of this year, this administration in North Carolina has turned its back on thousands from the coastal to the mountains.

The Dream Lives On though. Because of the extremism of the North Carolina, Texas and Ohio legislative moves; Abortion issues, Women’s Rights, Marriage Equality, Voter’s Rights, Students Rights, Teachers Rights, protests have been a recurring event. Chicago recently joined the fray with a protest against ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council). This group, which claims to be non-partisan, has been the spearhead and backbone to many of the statewide legislative twist and turns that have been executed at the state level.

Take note: Texas, Ohio and North Carolina Governors and State Legislators have passed the Same laws over the past three months. ALEC has designed a form of legislative format outlined to generate an extreme level of government beginning at the state level. It is passed through the Republican-led administration and will pass. Remember though, this is Supposed to be a non-partisan group yet every bill that has passed has had opposition from across the aisle.

We won’t give up the fight though. Just as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke at the March on Washington in 1963, “I Have A Dream”, I too have a Dream along with Millions of other Americans throughout this Great Nation. The Dream is a United Country throwing out the Extreme Legislators in our respective states. The Dream is tossing the Hate Mongers in power out of office. The Dream is letting the Governors, the Mayors, the City Council that has been endorsed by ALEC and Tea Party affiliates, your days are Numbered and your Time is Up!

Come 2014, local elections take place. I urge everyone to register to vote if you haven’t. I urge everyone to become Active in the political movement and Stay Engaged and Stay Aware of what is going on in Your Local Government and Community. Finally, Come 2016, the National Election! Vote America! Remember, there were many that died during the 1960’s just so We could have this Very Right. And now, many on the Republican side are attempting to take that right from Us again. Don’t Let It Happen! Keep the Dream Alive. Make Sure the Dream Lives On!

Categories
Sports

Tiger Woods – The State of his Game

I’m now convinced that the game of Golf is a Very Difficult game. For over 10-years, Tiger Woods had made us believe it was as simple as getting up in the morning and tying a pair of sneakers. But, for those of you that play this great game, we know different. Now, it appears that Tiger is facing that fact too.

Although Tiger has won five times in 2013, he has been Major-less since 2008. He has invited the doubters, nay-sayers and media deniers along with the greatest of Monday morning quarterbacks into the fray of questioning the State of his Game. Yes, he’s won five times but Tiger himself has said he measures success by the number of Majors he wins.

Tiger Woods is chasing Jack Nicklaus’ career majors mark of 18 which some had believed would never be challenged but then, a young kid who had won 3-consecutive Amateur Championships prior to turning Golf Professional, sprung onto the scene. Winning his first major championship at the famed Masters Championship in 1997, a New sheriff was in town and ready to take the reins from the beloved Nicklaus. Fast forward to 2008, Tiger is sitting on 14-majors. And this sit is five years long. Just to put things in perspective, Nicklaus too had run into a 5-year slump of winning a major from 1980 – 1986.

There are similarities in these two great golf champions as well from a perspective standpoint. Coming into this week’s final Major Championship of the year, the PGA Championship, Tiger and Nicklaus had the exact number of majors won (14) to major appearances, 63. Jack won his 15th at this timeframe. Tiger didn’t. What does this mean? Absolutely nothing. Tiger is still on a good pace to surpass the great Jack Nicklaus but the window of opportunity is slowly closing.

Even though it’s been five years since Tiger has hoisted a Major championship trophy, he has a number of things on his side. One, he is only 37-years old. Nicklaus had won his 15th at the age of 38 so a bit of encouragement from a parallel standpoint. Also, Tiger is in tremendous shape. He is known for his workout regimen and has a body fat around 1%. He has been through a number of injuries that has slowed him down over the years including knee surgery that placed him on the golf shelf for a season. His personal indiscretion in his marriage also delayed his opportunities not to mention his much talked about swing changes, swing coaches (3), and firing of his long time caddy, Steve Williams. Through it all, he still wins golf tournaments.

Tiger’s main adversary appears to be Tiger. Touching on the swing changes from the previous paragraph, Tiger has gone through four of them. Since his college days at Stanford University which was his original golf swing, his first coach as a professional was Butch Harmon. Butch set him on his pathway to a string of Major wins with a swing that current Masters champ Adam Scott is still using today. That was swing #2. His third swing came from Hank Haney where many questioned why Tiger would leave Butch when he was on such a Major role. Although Tiger won a few more majors with Hank, the golfing world felt that Haney ‘ruined’ Tiger’s swing and game. This was the first time Tiger had gone into any type of win slump. Finally, Tiger has moved on from Haney to now, his new coach, Sean Foley. And with Foley, another swing change, #4.

Golf is a game of repetition, feel, vision, creativity, guts, perseverance, nerves, mental toughness and again, repetition. That is what I believe is hurting Tiger. I recall a commercial with a great golfer in his own right, Vijay Singh. In that commercial where Vijay was on the tee addressing his ball, it was a slow motion shot of him taking his swing. While going through the backswing, he had All of these swing thoughts going through his head. It was like a Pop Up Video with about 20 different things popping into his mind at once. That’s what I think is going on with Tiger. Just watching him go through his routine at approach when he rehearses his swing, he approaches the ball and sometimes does the complete opposite or Double Crosses himself which causes a horrendous shot per Tiger Woods Standards.

Having all of these swing coaches and swing changes places a lot of conflict in the mind and body. Imagine doing something as simple as tying your shoes the same way for years only to have someone else show you a different way to tie them. Then 5-years later, someone comes along and teaches you another way and finally, the latest person comes along and says, “No, he’s a New Way”. Eventually, your mind gets in the way of something that had been so simple in the past. You begin to revert back to the past as opposed to living in the present.

Golf is an amazing game. Watching the pros on TV, I have a brand new appreciation for them and the game they’ve made fun for me, a hacker at best. It’s not easy. Not even for Tiger Woods. Yes, he makes it look easy at times, but it’s not. For four consecutive days, these guys beat this little white ball around the course in hopes of winning the big trophy and a whole lot of cash to boot. A lot can happen in four days which is what makes this game equally challenging. This is another reason I think Tiger will break Jack’s record; Mental Toughness.

I’m a believer in this guy. He’s won 14-majors and about to break the ALL-Time wins title held by Sam Snead for years. Snead has 82-career wins and Tiger is sitting on 79. He is the money leader to date this season, the FedEx leader that awards the winner of the FedEx playoff championship a $10 million annuity at the end of the season and he’s the #1 golfer in the World. Not too shabby to me. After winning five times this year, he’ll get that record next year if he remains healthy. Although that achievement is Huge in its own right, Tiger still has his sights on becoming the ALL-Time Majors leader. And so do we Tiger, so do we.

Categories
Domestic Policies

The Moral Mondays Movement in Raleigh, NC – Week 13’s Edition

They say a Picture is Worth a Thousand words. Well, Here’s Proof!

More than 800 people have been arrested at the Legislative Building in expressions of civil disobedience since the “Moral Monday” protests began in April. All because of an arrogant, self-absorbed Gov., Pat McCrory, who has refused to sit down with the Leaders representing the masses including but not limited to Voter’s Rights, Women’s Rights, Students, Elderly, Obamacare Proponents, Teachers, young and old. Enough said, see the Proof…


Beware GOP, This is a Movement that is Sure to Spread. With the intolerance of that party in other states, we could Soon see a Nationwide Protest Showing up in a City Near You.

Categories
Domestic Policies

Gabby Giffords Visit To Raleigh, NC

On the last leg of their Gun Control Tour and getting the message out for stricter gun regulations, Former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords and her husband, former Astronaut, Mark Kelly were in Raleigh, NC Sunday.

After the couple had visited a shooting range, they sat down for lunch at The Pit Authentic Barbecue in downtown Raleigh with 14 hand-picked members of the organization she and her husband founded that promotes gun violence prevention called, “Americans for Responsible Solutions”. All are gun owners and are lobbying for expanded background checks. The group is attempting to drum up support at the ‘combat boot’ level by visiting key states that had voted Against background check legislation.

“Gabby and I are both gun owners. I’ve served in the military for 25 years,” Kelly said. “We are strong supporters of the Second Amendment.”

But Second Amendment protections shouldn’t stand in the way of common-sense gun controls, he said.

Kelly stated that they’re not fighting for stricter regulations because His wife was shot, but because of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Ct. which took the lives of 20 children and 6 staff members.

“In six months since Newtown, our national response has been to do nothing,” Kelly said. “It’s unacceptable.”

“We need to do a better job keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, the dangerously mentally ill, the way we do that is we expand background checks to gun shows, private sales and internet sales,” he said.

Of course, pro-gun rights critics were quick to oppose the visit. A group known as, “Grass Roots North Carolina”, criticized the couple for sitting down only with members of their organization rather than reaching out to All gun owners as a whole.

“They own guns, but I don’t believe they represent the majority of gun owners,” said Rick Foster. “I sympathize with (Giffords), but I believe her efforts are misdirected. She’s the victim of someone mentally deranged. Her efforts ought to be focused on helping to improve the mental health system.”

“Why are they hiding from the gun owners they claim to represent?” the group said in a statement Friday.

It should be added as a footnote that the group offered 100 rounds of free ammo to the first person to track down where Giffords would be. Yes, you read it correctly. “Track Down” is how it was reported. (And they wonder why Gabby and Mark didn’t divulge their meeting location).

I Pray for Success to the Gifford-Kelly campaign of Awareness and Change for this Serious and Important regulation to bring about stricter Gun Laws with a No-Brainer approach to background checks.

Too Much Gun Violence. Too Many Deaths. Too Much Talk. “Fight, fight, fight, be bold, be courageous, the nation is counting on you,” Giffords told the crowd. The Time Is NOW Washington!

Categories
Abortions Domestic Policies women's rights

THIS JUST IN: Republicans Have Run Amok

HEADLINE: BREAKING NEWS: THIS JUST IN: Use whichever ‘Stopper’ you prefer but the News is Official – The Republicans have Run Amok! All across this great nation, Republicans are doing the dastardly deeds of taking into Their hands, a Woman’s Right to Choose, Voter’s Rights at the Polls, gerrymandering, gay rights and more.

From Texas to Ohio to North Carolina to California, the Republicans are in a dog fight and the American Citizens are being held hostage. Texas State Senator Wendy Davis, whose 12-hour Filibuster speech on the abortion issue made even Rand Paul proud. She is locked in against one of the greatest orators of Texas, Gov. Rick Perry (Sorry, I had to do that ). Gov. Perry is undoubtedly attempting to strike down any opposition when it comes to abortions in his state. But he’s relentless in capital punishment. Last week, Texas performed execution #251, the most under any sitting Governor.

Republican Gov., John Kasich, signed stringent abortion restrictions into law on Sunday night citing it was part of his “budgetary” planning. His bill requires women to take an unnecessary ultra-sound before having an abortion, requires physicians to read a Speech written by politicians to women seeking abortions, restricts workers at rape crisis centers from sharing with rape victims their legal rights.

In North Carolina, the General Assembly was lined with protesters as the State Senate voted on and passed sweeping legislation on an abortion bill, requiring physicians to be present during the procedure. The Republican Majority, under the hush of night, slipped this provision in under a bill that would prohibit the use of foreign law – Sharia Law – in the courts of North Carolina. Even the newly elected Governor, Pat McCrory (R), seemed taken aback by Tuesday nights events leading to Wednesday mornings outcome.

“When the Democrats were in power, this is how they did business. It was not right then and it is not right now. Regardless of what party is in charge or what important issue is being discussed, the process must be appropriate and thorough”, Gov. McCrory said. Interesting, coming from a man who reduced Unemployment Benefits length from 26-weeks to 13 and the Benefits amount from a maximum $535-week to $325 a week, without, mind you, support from the Democratic minority. Oh, and by the way, HE is why the #MoralMondays Movement has begun in North Carolina. His unpopular and targeted legislation has struck a cord, even in some Republicans that voted him in. If the House approves this measure, the bill becomes law without the Governor’s signature.

In California, gay marriage is placed on hold temporarily. A conservatives based lawyers group called, Alliance Defending Freedom out of Arizona, claimed in a petition that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals acted too early in letting same-sex marriages resume. Opponents are feverishly attempting to dissuade momentum of this historic ruling by the Supreme Court last week. Kansas Republican, Rep. Tim Huelskamp, has introduced a federal constitutional amendment banning All same sex marriages nation-wide. He has compared this fight to the Roe v. Wade fight legalizing abortions.

And to finish off the Republican agenda, they are beginning to gerrymander or redistrict voting locations for their benefit. A few states, Texas and North Carolina to name a couple, have begun changing the maps in key voting districts and also have added stricter voting laws requiring All registered voters show a pictured I.D.

Yep, the Republican base is showing its hand. They are standing united in every corner of the country. From Congress, to Senate, to House, to local government, they stand united with the same message – “People be damned, it’s Our Agenda, No Compromise, No Backing Down”. But remember America, they didn’t walk into office…some of you voted them in.

Categories
Entertainment Travel

Summer Time means Vacation Time

Summertime is Here! School is out and that means it’s time for the Family Vacation. My family and I just returned from the Best Vacation I’ve ever been on, a 5-day cruise to the Bahamas. This being my first cruise, I’m going to discuss the “Hotel on Water” experiences only.


Now let me begin by saying we cruised on the troubled cruise liner, Carnival and we chose the Fantasy ship which had not been under the dreaded and beleaguered brand of ships. Our daughter graduated high school in June and this was a present to her that had been planned for 2-years.

I must admit I was very nervous leading up to our voyage to the Bahamas because of the difficulties Carnival had been having over the last few months. And needless to say, ALL that water out there and NO land around didn’t give me ‘warm, fuzzy feelings’.

So, last week, our very 1st cruise began at the Port of Charleston, SC at 4pm departure time. Security was very similar to the airlines with bag checks and going through the metal detector. Once through security, it was time to board or in Cruise terms, Embarkment began. When my family and I got on board and put our bags in our assigned rooms, we met on the Lido Deck and looked over to see others boarding. The view was spectacular but somewhat unnerving for a beginner like me. I’m not a big fan of heights so add to the idea of being on water as well…not a good mix. But things were about to change, For the Better!

Four o’clock pm. Like clockwork, we began to move. Tug boats were pushing us out and we were off. Out to the Atlantic, on our way to the Bahamas! From the moment we set foot on the Carnival Fantasy until we got back to Charleston, SC, the entire Crew – from the room attendants, the dining staff, the drink attendants, the show and entertainment staff, the excursion personnel and the store employees – were the BEST I’ve ever had pertaining to hospitality! Top-notched Service All the Way!

Pictures were taken at every moment it seemed. And that was just from the ships photographers. Drinks were offered continuously and the guest were buying them up. I must admit, my family and I had our share as well. On the entire voyage, this was the smoothest ride ever. Again, my first cruise, I was thinking it would be rough, bouncy, turbulent, nauseating but to my surprise, None of the aforementioned. I purchased Dramamine for that very reason but never needed it.

Our first port of call was in Nassau. Beautiful. Scenic. Tranquil Beaches. Gorgeous Blue Waters. It is definitely the Island of Paradise. From there, we journeyed up to Freeport. That day, we decided not to venture onto the island but to enjoy the ship’s activities. We enjoyed a broadway show, a comedy show (Adults Only), Bingo with up to $3000 at stake, karaoke and clubs for our generation to the teen-agers.

Then there’s shopping on board, casinos, eating, putt-putt, swimming pools, eating, a walking track on the very top of the ship where the putt-putt course is located, eating, ping pong, eating, sun bathing, eating, eating, Eating, a gym, a masseuse and EATING! OMG, I ate and Ate and ATE! But it was GOOOD! Yep, I gained 5-pounds but it was a GOOD 5-pounds.

To sum it up, The BEST Vacation my Family and I have EVER Had. I’ve been to Disney a number of times, a Washington, DC trip twice, Myrtle Beach, SC countless times, Virginia Beach, Williamsburg, Va. and other locations, but a Cruise? Wow! There’s Nothing that compare. Kudo’s to Carnival Fantasy Cruise Line! They made our Vacation one of the most Memorable Ever! And as Arnold said in the “Terminator”, I’ll Be Back!

Categories
Domestic Policies

Safety in the Name of Surveillance

Hey, America, WE’RE AT WAR!!! This is No Ordinary War, but it’s still War just the same! Stop it with your Penny-Anny whining about “Privacy and Civil Liberties” being taken away. It was taken away after 9/11, less we forget. Immediately after we were attacked with the planes diving into buildings, the Bush Administration began wiretapping phone calls and emails because of potential threats from known and unknown al-Qaeda groups.

President Bush authorized a surveillance program in late 2001, allowing the NSA (National Security Agency) to monitor communications between the United States and foreign countries without court oversight when a party is believed to be linked to al-Qaeda. During the 2008 article that revealed President Bush’s tactics, Administration officials had acknowledged that the NSA program was broader, and intelligence sources had described a vast effort to collect and analyze telephone and e-mail communications that were later scrutinized by the government for desired information. Does this Ring A Bell? Fast Forward to Thursday, June 6th.

On Thursday, President Obama was slammed for doing the EXACT SAME THING George Bush did as President, yet Obama is being pummeled by some Right Wingers, some Democrats that seemed to have forgotten what Bush initiated after 9/11, by media outlets like the New York Times and Fox News (No Surprise There) and every day Americans who also have forgotten WE’RE AT WAR!!!

Collection of audio, video, email, photographic and Internet search usage of foreign nationals overseas who use any of the nine major Internet providers, including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Yahoo and others has also taken place.

Thursday was June 6th, the Commemoration of D-Day. On June 6th, 1944, the Great Theater of Battle was the Normandy invasion which was to liberate Europe from the stronghold of Adolf Hitler and the German war machine.

During WWII, we knew what the enemy looked like. Another battle was taking place thousands of miles away in Japan. We saw them coming in Big Ships across the oceans, hundereds of thousands of planes in the air and Tanks across the desert. Today, our enemy lives in caves but has the technological skills of a seasoned IBM’er.

They disguise themselves by blending in like you and me. By going to work everyday, or enrolling in schools, colleges, the Armed Services, they are unnoticed because they adopt our way of life. Then, without warning, the Fort Hood Shooting takes place. Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire on his fellow servicemen, killing 13 and injuring 30. Then Sen. Joe Lieberman opined that Hasan was under personal stress and may have turned to Islamic Extremism.

And how about the Boston Marathon Bombers? The brothers, Dzokhar Tsarnaev, 19 and his brother who was killed in a gun battle with police in Boston, 26- year old Tamerlan, killed 3 and injured over 260 with pressure cooker bombs. The purpose of the attack after investigation and interrogation of young Dzokhar, Extreme Islamist beliefs and the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Don’t sleep America! There are many other ‘cell groups’ right here on our soil. And it takes a great deal of surveillance that WE Have No Idea About that HAS to be monitored.

To be sure, Obama didn’t launch the data-mining initiatives, which were started during the Bush administration, though he has expanded them. He had defenders Thursday ranging from California Sen. Feinstein, a liberal Democrat, to South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a conservative Republican. “It’s called protecting America,” Feinstein said.

Obama called it “a false choice between the liberties we cherish and the security we demand.” Yes, we demand our Freedoms but do we sacrifice Freedom over our Safety?

Senior administration officials defended the programs as critical tools and said the intelligence they yield is among the most valuable data the U.S. collects. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said the Internet program, known as PRISM, can’t be used to intentionally target any Americans or anyone in the U.S, and that data accidentally collected about Americans is kept to a minimum.

At hearing of this story that NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPORTED, I asked several Verizon users their thoughts on the whole matter, one being my In-Law. She stated, “ I’ve got Nothing to hide so I’m not concerned”. A golf buddy stated he had concerns of how the government gathers our information but didn’t feel threatened since he was a law-abiding citizen. I always wonder why when it comes to things of this nature, people get all flushed and bothered. If you have Nothing to hide, why does it bother you so much?

In the name of Safety, I want All the Protection my Government can Provide for my family, friends and this Great Country. In the name of Freedom, We have to Allow some Inconveniences along the way.

The enemy has brand new ways of infiltration. We can’t always see them, but thank God we have people working to Cease and Desist ALL perpetrators who would do us harm.

And by the way, the reason I said this story should Never have been reported, it opens the eyes of the Enemy. Now, they have to regroup and change the way they were doing ‘business’. Because our government knew of their actions, their mode of communication, their habits, they too have heard this story. We’re back to square one. In that reporters zealous for getting a story out there, You may have just jeopardized the security of not just Americans, but the World as a Whole…I’m just saying…

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