Sarah Palin and Joe Biden Debate

October 5th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I didn’t get to watch the debate in real time. I was a guest on the Specta Show @ 100radio.com. Check it out.

But I did stay up to watch the replay. I think it’s real important that you watch yourself and not get clips from a News Show. They get to pick what they think is important and you don’t get to catch the little nuiances.

Gwen Ifil has to be given credit for her performance. It’s refreshing to see a moderator with known bias towards a candidate act in a non partisan manner. Many of the pundits on television predicted that she would be fair, but I think she was more than fair. She did her job. She was fair and balanced.

“Can I call you Joe?”

Sarah Palin had a lot of expectations to meet in this Debate. I was actually kinda scared for her. It didn’t take long for me to realize that I really like this women. Especially when she started talking about Personal Responsibility. I supported her in the past because she sounded a lot like me. Loved sports. Picked politics because she knew that’s where she could make changes. And had a good man to help her along the way.

Joe Biden did impress me at moments as well. I loved the way he laughed with Palin. He let his personality show. You could see he was shocked and impressed with Palin’s performance during the debate. You often saw him smiling when she made a point or he got the joke she told. He hit back but he enjoyed the debate. I don’t think Obama would match up well with Palin in a Debate.

I think they both failed when they started pointing fingers. It was Bush’s policy that got us in this mess. We should thank John McCain for sounding the bell two years ago. The truth is Barack Obama won a case for Acorn that forced the government to give more of these shaky loans. And McCain may have spoken up two years ago but how loud was his voice. If he’s a real maverick, this would have been the main focus since the beginning of the campaign. So every single person in the U.S. should stop pointing fingers and do their individual part in bringing back our economy.

Let’s talk about Foriegn Policy

In this effort, I think Joe Biden failed. He didn’t knock her out of the box. She held her own with a man that’s been in the Senate for 36 years. Joe Biden was so busy making the little mistakes the media gives him passes on, he didn’t show he knew any more than Palin. In fact, if Sarah Palin had made a few of the mistakes Biden did, the whole subject of this discussion would be different. She would once again be unfit to be a heatbeat away from the Presidency.

All Biden did was show people even the most seasoned politician makes mistakes. But what I don’t understand is why they are given a pass. If the C.E.O. of a company can’t put together coherent thoughts without mistakes, I don’t think the people of that company would have a lot of faith in him. I think that should go double for a man or woman who has a voice in making public policy. I’m just saying.

Why did Joe Biden get upset when Sarah Palin talked about speaking with Henry Kissinger? Obama brought his name up in the first Presidential Debate. But when Palin name drops, Biden had an “Oh Please” look on his face. Does his name only hold credence when used to explain why Barack Obama would sit down with Ahmadinejad with out preconditions? It couldn’t be Politics could it?

The body blows came when Sarah Palin gave her respect to Joe Biden. It’s hard to argue with someone when they are praising your personal decisions. It was Biden’s task to uplift Obama but he had said so many things while campaigning against Obama, Palin came loaded with ammunition. I respected you when you said “The presidency doesn’t lend itself to on the job training.” Those were your words. And Biden couldn’t destroy his own persona to protect Barack Obama’s; so he found himself double talking his way out of comparisons. I love body blows.

Both did well in their own way. So what decides who wins? This is my blog, so let me tell you what I think. They say Sarah Palin can speak likes she’s an average American. I laughed to myself because I don’t know many Americans that say “Gee Willikers” or how ever you spell it. So what I did was insert my own slang into her funny words. “Joe, get up off that mess. McCain isn’t Bush. I’m not Cheney. You playin yourself with the comparison.” Now that wouldn’t win many votes, but if translated properly then you would get the point. She uses that Alaska talk, I guess, but it means the same thing some of us believe. We just find her choice of words funny.

So I say, Congratulations Palin and Biden. Sarah Palin gave John McCain a pass to fight another day. Joe Biden didn’t give Barack Obama a reason to regret his V.P. With less than a month to go, I think this is just the beginning of the the most interesting portion of the campaign. For the most part, the V.P. picks have played their parts and now it’s up the the Head of the Ticket.

The next debate is Tuesday night. I hope McCain and Obama put on a show like Biden and Palin.

My Missing Week; In a Nutshell

October 5th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I was going through some stuff this week. So I missed a chance to tell my opinion on this week in the news.

So here it goes in a nutshell.

Politics in Church- Last Sunday Pastors’ around the country took on the I.R.S. for freedom of speech from the pulpit. I believe every person has freedom of speech, but please leave Politics out of the church. If you are a Pastor and you want to endorse a candidate, do it in a Newsletter. Not from the Pulpit.

Many Americans need to hear from God, not from a Man with his own opinions.

The Bail Out Bill fails in the House- Some politicians are listening to voters in their districts. I am among the Americans that say let the banks fail. Let them implement their own policies that will ensure this crisis never happens again. This can’t happen with a bail out.

The Senate picks up the Bail Out Bill- When the House stood up to the President and members of the financial community, the Senate stepped in to be the Heros. Politicians are not listening again. Damn that didn’t even take a week. And what do they do? They add more money to the bill. Tax breaks for wooden arrows and rum. Are you kidding me? It past overwhelmingly.

The House passes the Bail Out Bill and the President Bush Signs it into Law- I used to think History would record Bush’s Presidency with applause. I don’t any more. I’m not a politician and I know another bureaucracy is on the horizon. More people hired by the government only works with national security and even then it has it’s pitfalls. This bill will cause more problems in our economy down the line.

Harry Reid tries to get the Insurance companies to fail- I wish someone would do some research into both parties ties with insurance companies. They are going to be the next to get a bail out. When Reid tells the country a major insurance company with a name everyone knows is going to fail, he’s basically setting them up to fail. You don’t believe me. Check the drop of insurance companies in the markey after Reid’s comments. I wonder which one of his friends wants to get some government funds in their pockets.

Auto Bailout goes unmentioned- Hey, we’re asking the American people for $700 Billion for Wall Street, let’s not even mention the $25 Billion we’re giving to the Auto industry. I don’t believe the Auto Industry should be blamed for this need though. With an ineffective energy policy, the American People’s desire to have the biggest car, and the recent oil prices; they have been hit hard. Why build the cars the rest of the world enjoys, if our major source of energy is oil? The American people went crazy with SUV’s and Hummers; so the car companies started making what the people wanted. Until gas prices hit $4 a gallon. Probably explains why McCain pulled out of Michigan. Democrats got them that money, who do you think they are going to vote for?

And through all this, the stock market has went up and down. Loans are only being givin to those who can afford them. Congress has been pointing fingers. Politicians have been using this whole experience as a campaign tool, not as a necessary step to fix the American Economy. And the American People are stuck wondering, “How did this happen?”

That’s it. My missing week in a Nutshell.

Just Do Your Damn Job! Barack Obama and John McCain

September 25th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I was sitting this morning trying to relate this subject to a story. You know write some fairy tale scenerio that would cause you to relate the gravity of the situation at hand. But instead I decided to go straight out because this is not the time to be playing around.

As you know, I am against the Bail Out. I don’t think rewarding companies with a clean slate is the way to impose reform of any sector of our Country. But I am not in a position to make decisions and it seems the bill will pass; whether I agree or not.

So that makes you take a look at the people that are in power. Our Elected Officials. Now I’m not one to question Bernanke on financial policy. But I do think the Fed has a more important job than meddling in the Private Market. With a dollar already hitting lows, that’s where his focus should be.

Nor could I question Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson on his knowledge of world finance. But as a citizen I do have the right to question handing him a blank check. Especially with all the bureaucracy that occurs in the United States. How much would actually make it to the banks instead of the men that got us into the position at hand?

The President of the United States George Bush gives a speech; trying to explain the need for this bail out. I watched the speech. I wasn’t impressed but I can understand the pressure on the President. With all the head money men in the country clamoring for a solution; the desire for action must be strong. He has to do some thing.

Every member of Congress. Not just those who don’t have a national campaign to run. Every Member of Congress should be doing their jobs.

When John McCain annouced he would be suspending his campaign to go to Washington, of course I thought Political ploy. But when Barack Obama came out and said that he had people there to handle the situation for him, it hit me. Who are you working for?

Both Senators had a chance to give up their Senate seat before campaigning began. They both choose to remain Senators. They both are still getting paid by the American People to do a job. This is the time to do your damn job or sign your paycheck back to the people of your state. They did not elect you to have Harry Reid tell you what’s best. Or Nancy Pelosi to let you know every thing is good. The People elected you to be on the Senate floor fighting for them.

If this is the Pearl Harbor of our Economy, then you are supposed to be using your big stick; not listening to second hand reports of the situation. Just imagine if Bush were in Saudi Arabia when this crisis hit and he told the American People, “I got people to handle that for me. I’m going to continue my business here and if I’m needed to sign a bill; I’ll catch a plane.”

The Democrats would lose their damn minds. He’s over there with his friends the Saudi’s instead of here taking care of the American People. Well, here’s a thought. Barack Obama, we have a President. You may not like him but that is irrelevant. We also have 100 U.S. Senators. You are one of them. And until you get enough votes to become President, you should act as such.

We are all mad at C.E.O.’s that didn’t do their job. They let other people deal with the mess, while they reaped the benefits. They allowed people to tell them every thing is O.K., so their bonuses were heavy. Well, we are in the middle of a economic crisis and that usually gives Democrats a boost. Donations for Barack Obama should be up during this time. And he doesn’t want to suspend his campaign because their are people keeping him a breast of the situation. He doesn’t want to deal with the mess but he doesn’t mind benefiting from it.

As long as he can sign his name on the bill, he can claim to have helped the situation. He doesn’t have to be the one that fights, he can just be the one that signed. Then he said he wouldn’t help the situation by bringing presidential politics into the debate in Congress. Suspend your campaign. Stop being a candidate for President and Just Be A U.S. Senator. Don’t bring politics into it. Just keep the American People at the center of your reason for being.

Or does this pose a problem for you? Is your desire to become President more important than the postion the people of Chicago gave you? If you do become President, can I count on Reid and Pelosi running your administration, while you give hope to the American People? Is the change you promise giving more power to the people around you, instead of your beliefs and ideals? Will you fight for the American People? Or will you fight for the image that is Barack Obama?

All I ask. Do your damn job. When you can break away to campaign, do so. If you still want to debate, ask for a change of subject. Why would you want to talk about Foreign Policy when every one is focusing on the economy? Or are you scared you would lose in foreign policy so you would love to have this debate over shadowed by the economy? Are you playing politics? Is this the time?

Al Sharpton Says Race Won’t Decide The Election

September 23rd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I never thought the day would come. Al Sharpton temporarilay put down his race card and started making sense. He is starting a National Bus Tour to make sure that Voter’s know the rules of their states. There have been alot of changes in the Election Laws and it’s very important that you know if they affect you.

Some states now require you to register at least thirty days before the election.

Some states require you to have two forms of I.d. Valid Drivers’ License and Voter Card.

Make sure you know the rules of Provisional Ballots in your state. If there is a problem when you go to vote, they will give you a provisional ballot. This does not mean you voted. It means they could possibly count your vote, if needed. It’s up to you to correct the problem, to make sure your vote is counted.

Many states have early ballots. If you know who you want to vote for, then this is a way to help their campaign. Voting early could eliminate the need for your candidate to spend so much in your district; allowing them to concentrate on the places still in contention. Now I don’t agree with voting early; at least not until you’ve seen the debates.

There maybe other rules that affect your ability to vote. Be proactive and don’t wait until it’s to late to complain.

With that being said, Al Sharpton continued on to repeat the words of Barack Obama. If you watched the Democratic Nomination Race, millions of Americans voted for Barack Obama. They had the choice to pick a white candidate and they didn’t. This race will be on policy.

That’s coming from the #1 race card benefactor. This is a smart play by Sharpton. He knows until this election in over, he can’t do anything related to race. If he does, he will be placed in the group of blacks inadvertantly hurting Barack Obama by being who they are.

If we can get the majority of blacks to let go of the issue of Race, then we can make some progress. I had this thought as I received Birthday Wishes this weekend. My oldest brother, who is married to a white woman, called. Then my Aunt, who is married to a black man who had kids with a white woman before marrying my Aunt, called. And the day before, I heard from my daughters’ grandfather, who is white. All voting for Barack Obama. All asking me, Why I wasn’t?

I don’t get in to it with family anymore. When you start to ask questions like, how can you talk about white people when you have a baby by a white person. They tend to get upset with you. If you ask them why they refer to all white people as “whitey” until the family shows up and you realize “whitey” is a part of us. But as soon as the party’s over, they go back to being “whitey” in conversation. They tend to want to blame me for paying attention.

Racism doesn’t exist in the same form as the past. We have the right to make choices; succeed or fail on our own merit. And it’s refreshing to hear Al Sharpton echo some actual words of encouragment to that point. Even though I know it won’t last. When the election is over, no matter the outcome, Al Sharpton will be back on the hut to point out Racism. Whether justified or not. That’s his role to play.

I just hope we don’t forget about these words as soon as we get the chance. The next time Sharpton wants us to rally, we actually make sure the fight is justified. Then maybe he’ll be forced to do the same, and we could make a new indent in history. The moment racism stopped being used as an excuse.

Terror Attacks Going Unnoticed During Economic Crisis

September 22nd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Since we’ve been going through this Economic Crisis, little else has made it’s way into the main stream news. Except of course the Candidates. I’m wondering while McCain is losing ground talking about the Economy, why isn’t he pointing out the activity of the terrorist groups all around the world. Our interest abroad have been attacked twice since 9/11 and you barely hear anything about them on the News.

The U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, Yemen was attacked Sept. 17th. There were no American causualties, but we were still attacked. Does it matter the size of the attack? Or should we look at the smallest attackas build up to something more.

Just because Al Qadea was late releasing it’s 9/11 video with it’s claims to cause more distruction to U.S. interest at home and abroad, should we think of them as no longer a threat. I mean I didn’t think of them as a threat until after 9/11, 2001. Did we forget the lessons already of discounting anyones ability to attack us?

Now over the weekend, the terrorist decided to strike the heart of Pakistan. Or at least western interest there. The Marriott Hotel is one of the safest buildings in the Islamic World, just because of the amount of western people who stay there while visiting Pakistan. A truck was allowed to make it to the final check point and blow up, with enough explosives to ripe a massive hole in the earth.

They are still out there. They still want to cause harm to America and it’s citizens. I hope we don’t get so caught up looking at a pocket books that we forget to pay attention to what’s going on in the rest of the world. As well as the perception that when our wallets go bad, we take our eyes off world policy and terror groups. Because next time they might put one and one together and hit our pocket books directly and watch us self implode from the selfishness they accuse us of. I’m just saying.

Taxpayers Bailing Out Wall Street

September 22nd, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I was supposed to spend the weekend celebrating my Birthday, instead I found myself glued to the T.V. Watching analysis after analysis of why the government needs a blank check from the Taxpayers. Then comes the numbers, $720,000,000,000. What? $720 Billion. Now I’m pissed off at both candidates.

First thing I noticed, both want to point fingers. You can’t watch one of them speak without talking about the other. i don’t want to hear Barack Obama’s plan from John McCain or Vice Versa. This should have bought a pause in the Partisanship and started an American Debate. Where democrats stood up and said; “We started the deregulation in an attempt to get more Americans into homes, our bad. And the republicans stood up and said; “We allowed it to continue longer than should have been allowed. So this is a mark on both our houses. Let’s work together to solve this problem.

In a way they did, but it centers around the numbers on the check. If you want to bring Congress together, put a large amount of cash between them and watch the sparks fly. I wonder why do we have to come close to a total meltdown before someone in the Government stands up and stops it.

Now I don’t like to play conspiracy theory but when you can’t get a straight answer from a politician than what other choice do you have? Now John McCain tried to get legislation pushed that would have stopped these loans about 3 to 4 years ago, but was blocked in Congress. Both Democrats and Republicans were receiving money from Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, so neither party wanted to stop the money from flowing into their pockets.

President Bush even wanted policy passed that would’ve stopped loans given to people who couldn’t afford them. But an unpopular President with the rival party in control of Congress has little chance of getting any policy passed. So that leaves the American People to clean up the mess.

But don’t move to fast on that. The American people also have to stand up and take their part in this debacle. We love free stuff. No matter the cost later down the line. So while we were all lining up to sign our name on the dotted line, we should have been thinking this really sounds to good to be true. But we didn’t. We continued to reap the benefits of a broken system, until it crashed on our heads.

Will I be the only person to say this. It’s a plague on all our houses. From the White House, to the stock market, and all the way down to main street. So who should really get help? I’m not going to pretend to be some financial wizard with the answers to all the questions. But I am a concerned American citizen who doesn’t want my daughter to have to pay for the mistakes of my generation.

So my first question would be, who was complaining before all this went bad. The white house could boast they had the largest number of home ownership in American history before the crash; so there was no complaining there. Wall street watched as the stock market continued to climb, even in the mist of rising gas prices; so there was no complaining there. Average Americans went and bought property with no money down and a flexible interest rate with the idea they could sell the property down the line for a profit; so there was no complaining there.

Then, as most problems do, the hit came to the people first. The foreclosure rate started to rise and give platforms to political candidates. The same candidates that allowed the problem to get out of hand, while taking money from the companies that were digging our financial graves. And we expect them to solve the problem by throwing more money at it. Or at us because we should also benefit when the government starts giving out money. Just realize we will have to pay that money back in the form of taxes. So if you are hoping the Government is going to bail you out of foreclosure, remember your taxes will go up to offset the the help given to you. So in essence, you would actually be paying for yourself to get out of foreclosure; it just comes in an IRS envelope over time.

Okay. I get it. There is a lot of blame to go around but how do we fix it?

My answer to that would be, allow the market and American people to take a hit. I know it sounds cruel but it’s how I live my life. Sometimes you have to take a loss to learn a lesson. When you look to gain something from the situation for yourself, sometimes you get in the way of realizing the gravity of the lesson. BIG THOUGHT.

The Great Depression started because Wall Street was given the ability to gamble with the savings of Millions of Americans. Unemployment was at 24%, people where standing in bread lines, and the government let it happen. Until Roosevelt stepped in A New Deal. The government came in and ushered out money. New programs to help everyone affected by the crisis on Wall Street. While we can’t be mad at the progress made during those times to save our economy, everyone got something. And we forgot the Gravity of the Situation. If you don’t believe that; why did we repeat the same mistake so close to the last one? The Great Depression didn’t happen thousands of years ago. It started in 1929. That’s not even 100 years ago.

Just as in life. If you continue to make the same mistakes, you will continue to get the same results. If the government comes in and bails out every sector that takes unwise risk, then why stop taking the risk. Instead of spending money on the Bail Out, keep our Military Strong enough to protect us during this period and allow the market and the people to learn a lesson about what we all owe America. Yes it’s the land of opportunity, but not at the expense of the Overall standing of our nation. Sometimes we have to take the hit to make the U.S.A. stronger. She has allowed us all to have some measure of success. If it’s just the feeling of knowing that there is a chance for me to build a life in peace.

We all take advantage of the Freedom we have. It’s a blessing to live in The United States of America. We can not continue to put her Sovereignty in jeopardy because we are unwilling to take a couple bumps and bruises of our own making. And if you say, I’m paying my mortgage, so I didn’t create this problem. Think about this. Are you paying attention to your local elections? Do you know if your Senator is know trying to add Billions of dollars worth of Pork into the already $720 Billion Bill? If you’re not paying attention, then you’re not understanding the gravity of the situation and you too are caught up in America’s problem of your own making.

The only silver lining in all this is the fact that the government will probably make back the money from the loans. The truth of the matter is, our economy is still pretty strong. During the great depression people were standing in bread lines, now people are standing in line to buy the new IPhone. In a few years, people will have rebounded and the government will be selling property back to the market. The loans will be safer, the american people will be looking for a deal, and we will continue on.

The only problem. There will be another problem. In some other sector and the government will again step in. Instead of making one sector learn a lesson from the downfall of another. We will let each sector figure it our for themselves. Always leaving a weak link in the chain of our economy. And a chain is only as strong as it’s weakest link.

It’s 9/12: What I Wanted To Say Yesterday

September 12th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

For the first time since starting this blog, I used discretion yesterday. I got a little boost because someone told me I was a bit to nice. And since I normally don’t hear things like that, I’m tempted to stay on that course. You know I’m lying. That’s not my style. I’m up in your face and today is no Exception.

I awoke yesterday and turned on the News. I wasn’t really feeling anything, I just wanted to see the memorials and remember. It was all good until Fox played a 20 minute piece on people’s reaction on Sept. 11, 2001. I instantly got mad. I was furious. My daughter sat and watched my expression and asked me what was wrong. She wasn’t even a thought in my mind when this tragedy happened and now I have to explain to her what makes someone fly a plane into a building.

As I watched John McCain in Pennsylvania, I wondered where Barack Obama would be. Then I heard he was waiting to have lunch with Bill Clinton and he wasn’t going to make an appearance at either memorial until he and John McCain made a joint appearance at Ground Zero. That was it.

The most inspirational part of 9/11 came when the Men on Flight 93 refused to let the Terrorist have any more of our buildings. They were willing to die, even though they weren’t apart of any army, for the America they loved so much.

So I ask? Could you imagine Barack Obama on that plane trying to be diplomatic with the Terrorist? Diplomacy has it’s place, don’t get me wrong. But does that place exist when you have people that are willing to kill themselves to kill you. Imagine the terrorist trying to negotiate with the Men on Flight 93. It would not have happened. Their collective will to protect America would have over shadowed any words from the mouth of anyone and that’s what we’ve got to understand.

You have these liberals that say War is Bad. No War. Then we get attacked and they come to our side until there is a new election. Then we’re back to Big Bad America trying to pick on the rest of the World. Fuck That. They picked on Us first. All through Clinton’s Administration, we were hit with Terror Attack after Terror attack. But the World loved Bill Clinton. He was a symbol of everything good about America. But that didn’t stop terrorist from attacking us. They didn’t fear Bill Clinton.

Does this mean I want the entire world to fear US? Hell Yeah. Why? Because most of the idiots that hate us so much depend on the U.S. for their safety. Besides England, who has a military in Europe? I’m not talking a couple of soldiers, I’m talking about a force that would cause Russia to think twice about it’s aggression in Georgia. I guess I answered my own question. There are none or Russia would have thought twice about going into Georgia. They don’t fear Europe. They want to control Europe. So what happened to the U.S. when we had a President everyone liked? We got attacked, constantly at home and abroad. Connect the dots here. If China, Russia, or Iran have no Fear of European attacks what will continue to happen.

Straight talk for a minute okay. If you got two dudes standing in front of you. One has on glasses and a pocket protector and One has knife marks and bullet holes. You’re a little less likely to try which one? Seriously. Don’t try to bring Politics into it. Your in the street and you have to make this decision. Which one would you fight? Now you have the bad asses that would fight the tough dude because they don’t beat up on defenseless people, i.e. The United States of America. Then you have all the rest that would choose the easy fight.

Now lets make a little flip on the situation. You have the same two guys in front of you. Now the guy in the pocket protector says let’s talk. We’re two grown men, this doesn’t have to resort to violence. You can respect this guy, but do you fear him? Will anything he says actually convince you to change your Opinions or Actions? Or will you continue to act in your own best interest? Now the guy with the stab wounds says Go ahead and try if you want to. I’m not playing with you. Of course you don’t like this guy, but would you try him? Or would you re-evaluate the situation?

Of course, there is always a way to flip an arguement so let me try to cut it off before it starts. Just for a moment, I’m going to make Martin Luther King Jr the guy with the pocket protector. So the answer would be yes. Yes a man who uses his words can affect the change of people’s actions and opinions. But what happens when that man is gone? Will the population remember all those words? Now let’s make Knife wound guy Al Pacino in Scarface. (It’s a real stretch but I’m trying to make a point) Compare the number of times in one year where you hear a reference to Scarface to how many times you hear a quote of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Which one wins? Who are more people in our society trying to emulate?

So, you’re saying the more violent we are the better? No . It’s a basic human instinct to want to be strong, to be able to defend yourself. So we more readily identify with those that live by those principles. We love stories of men and women who fight for something against overwhelming odds hoping if ever faced with that situation we would do the same. It doesn’t matter if they are good guys or bad guys, as long as they are willing to fight. Then when we get into the voting box, we forget all that.

I love comparisons so let’s try this one. You have a volunteer group and A Gang. Now the volunteer group wants the gang out of the city. The gangs have money and guns. Who wins? Weapons or Words? Come on, don’t go soft on me now. Who wins?

Now you take a strong police force and put it behind the Volunteer group. The situation changes. Or does it? What if the people in the city decide they don’t want the “extra” violence that would be brought by actually using the Police? Who wins? Are you going to make me say it? Just look at our cities and tell me who wins? I don’t want to trivialize deaths in the cities, but they are relatively low compared to the attacks that happened in one day because of inaction to fight.

Yesterday, seven years ago. Or have we already forgotten? There are those out there that have merged our pocket protector guy and our knife wound guy. They are killing innocent people in an attempt to weaken us. And we take the opinions formed by those abroad into consideration of our protection. Are you serious? They get knocked down and want to talk. And thank God Bush was President because when we got knocked down, we came up with full force. No words. It was time for Action. Just like the Men on Flight 93. Just like every fire fighter, police officer, or civilian that ran into a burning building to save human life. Just like every American that signed up to go into the Military after 9/11.

I want the war planes in the air while you’re conducting diplomacy. So it’s known that we are not playing. You know what you did and you know why we’re coming. I want them calling us saying, hey let’s talk about this. You don’t really need to drop bombs on my country, do you? Not us calling them like, I know you attacked us today, is there some way we can stop you from doing it again. I would really like a peaceful resolution to this conflict. Could you imagine?

If President Bush would have done something to stop the influx of illegal immigration. If President Bush would have vetoed more bills loaded with Pork. If we as Americans had taken more responsibility for our own financial decisions; you know getting adjustable rate mortgages on big houses. Then the fact that we haven’t been attacked in Seven years would hold testament to the Greatness of the George Bush Presidency. There would still be critics of the Iraq War but critics are seldom written in the history books. Tracking down Al-Qadea and killing them everywhere they hide would be the blue print for Protecting this Country. Against any body. Go to them before they can get to us.

And when we go to them, it can’t be with words. And it can’t be words backed up by a military. It has to be Military first, then wait for them to come with the words. And if they don’t, then they really want a fight. And no words you say to them are going to change that. And no words that come from other people with out action will sway them either. And even worse if they control the energy supply of a WORLD dependent on oil. They have money. And the ability to cut you off. What can you say to them?

I like George Bush’s Answer. And if you like Tupac, you should too. Bomb First. Please reconsider before you die. We ain’t even come to fight tonight, but if it’s my life or your life, Then I’ma Bomb First. Oh! You love it when it’s in a song, but when it comes to real life you don’t agree. You sing it like you feel Pac, but then you criticize Bush doing the same thing. Or are you starting to change your opinion on Tupac? Yeah right. You know I’m right you just find it hard to admit.

And that’s okay. I don’t need to hear it. Just remember when you go to vote. Clinton talked and we got hit. Bush bombed and we’ve been safe for 7 years. Barack Obama will talk. John McCain will bomb. Democrats control Congress, so they will still be the majority on legislation. We need a Commander in Chief in the White House. And I don’t think he should be a talker.

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To Every American fighting for our Country, I say thank you. I live near Quantico so I see a lot of military men and women. I always stop them and say thank you and encourage my daughter to do the same. I’m always humbled when they say I’m just doing my job. I think education is the most important thing for a child, so I teach my daughter all kinds of different things. I especially teach her the importance of the Military. My sister asked me once if My Daughter were grown and wanted to go into the Military, would I let her go. I said in a heart beat. She said I was lying. I would want her to go to college. She acted as if she couldn’t do both.

And there are Millions of you that do it everyday. Leave Mothers, Fathers, Sisters, Brothers, Husbands, Wives, Children, and Careers behind to protect my right to have this little blog. What would I be without you? What would this Country be without you? They criticize your intellegence for making the decision to put your life in harm’s way to save mine, yet you keep fighting. And that’s amazing. Thank You.

Remembering 9/11

September 11th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

I’ve watched the Remembrance of 9/11 all morning. On Sept. 11 2001, I was getting ready for my 21st birthday. I got up early that morning to get my hair braided. The hair store was closed so I went back home to wait for it to open. As I was leaving again, the first plane hit the First tower. I watched for a few moments thinking it was an accident. Then i left to get my hair done.

When I got to the shop, the plane had just crashed into the Pentagon. Then I learned of the second plane that hit the two towers. I was getting ready to go home when the African Lady that was braiding my hair asked us all to join hands and Pray. i stayed and shared this tragedy with them.

I’m very confrontational, as you know, so I’m going to stop right there. That’s what I want to remember about 9/11. On that day, complete strangers joined hands and prayed for our country. We prayed for the people who lost their lives and the families now in mourning. We prayed for each other.

I will never forget the Heroes that crashed the plane over Pennsylvania. I will never forget the firefighters that ran into burning building to save lives. I will never forget the Pentagon workers that searched smoked filled rooms looking for friends and collegues. I will never forget driving past the Pentagon two days later and feeling my heart drop to my feet. I will never forget anything about 9/11 and neither should you.

Barack Obama and Bill O’Reily; Pt. 2

September 9th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

Everybody remembers the line off of Malcolm X. “Get your hands out my pocket”. It was used as a distraction in the Assasination of Malcolm X. I found parady in that movie. Some of Us continue to blame White People for his death. When more than likely it was Black People that were scared of the Changes he could garner.

Why bring this up talking about Barack and Bill? It’s simple Barack Obama needs to keep his hands off the wallets of Americans.

Bill O’Reily aired part 2 of his interveiw with Barack Obama. The subject was the Economy and Taxation. Everyone can agree we’ve hit some hard times in this Country. I have alot to say about that but I’ll do it in another article. This is About Barack Obama and his plans for the economy.

First let me state, since this interveiw Barack Obama is saying more openly that the tax hikes on the Rich may not be in the best interest of the Country. 1/2 a Kudo. But this under cut his Taxation policy. To implement the Programs he’s calling for, College Tuition, Healthcare; He has to generate more money. He knows he can’t take it from the Rich because that would stop investment, in both the Stock Market and small business.

So where do you think the money will come from? Middle Class beware. Since the Bush Administration has been in office, the tax cuts have produced 20% more Revenue than the Bill Clinton years. When O’Reily pointed this out to Barack Obama, he retorted “That’s because our economy has grown. Not as much as during the Clinton years but we have had economic growth.”

I’m kinda good with numbers so let’s see. In eight years under Clinton we had Economic Growth but the Revenues of the Government were less than Bush Admin. Under Bush we’ve had Economic Growth with less taxes on the Rich and the Government still took in more Money.

I’ll go a little further than that. Bill Clinton deteriorated our Army and faced Sex Scandal. Bush had to deal with a weakening economy when he took office, 9/11, war in Afghanistan, war in Iraq, North Korea, Gas Prices, Mortgage Meltdown, Credit Crisis; and the economy continues to show growth.

Why? Because we are still betting our Country is the best in the World and we are opening businesses. And then there are some of Us who are content with just getting by. As long as I can pay my rent, I’m cool. Then they spend their money of frivoulous things and when something big hits they don’t have the money to take care of it. Then it’s the governments fault they are left exposed.

Then Barack Obama said, to paraphrase, it’s neighborly to give to those less fortunate than you. I agree. But let me keep my money and give it those I see fit. Maybe I don’t want to give a 1/3 or 1/2 a scholarship to everybody. Maybe I want to give a 100% scholarship to some kids that have strived to deserve it. Maybe I want to buy a random Mom on the street a used, but new to her, Car and pay her insurance for a Year. Then she can get back and forth to work, daycare, or volunteering to help others. Why should I let you decide? Isn’t it my money?

This interview with Obama was short. Not much we didn’t already know. Tax the Rich to give to the poor. I’m sorry I’ve got to go. I’m going to write another post now, because I don’t want to Connect Obama to what I’m about to write. I want it independent. Let’s just say, I don’t agree with Barack Obama Economics.

Oh Yeah! Just to point this out, Barack Obama stutters alot when faced with hard questions. Not to say he didn’t handle himself well, but he frustrations shines through. It struck me because this is an issue I’m trying to work on. It tells me that he really believes what he saying. He has a lot of passion for it. Another 1/2 a Kudo.

Oprah Says No to Sarah Palin

September 8th, 2008 | By Sonnie Johnson

O.K. This is going to sound funny, but I agree with Oprah not to interview Sarah Palin. I put myself into Oprah’s shoes and thought; If I had an all black show would I invite Barack Obama, even though I was campaigning for John McCain. Yes, of Course I would.

But I could imagine the Backlash. In Black Lynching in America, I talked about how we are quick to defend each other even when we know we are wrong. But I would Roost Obama and because of it, I would receive all kinds of hate mail and death threats and would probably lose my audience. But I’d do it because I have some real questions to ask Obama.

Now Oprah’s Show is about uplifting and empowering Women. If she invited Sarah Palin on what could she argue with her? (Full Discretion: I’ve never watched a complete episode of Oprah. I don’t watch Maury or Ellen. I will watch Montel Williams every once in a while. )

Her audience is working women looking for empowerment. Sarah Palin is a Mother of Five, with a fantastic husband, that’s now running for Vice President of the United States of America. What better story? But Oprah’s show isn’t about Policy, it’s about Personality. And she can’t breakdown Sarah Palin on that issue. All she would do is Satisfy her Audience.

O.K. wait something isn’t sounding right. She would actually empower her audience and refuses, while I would commit career suicide and chastise my audience in a heartbeat. I guess that’s why she’s the Billionaire and I’m Not, yet. She can keep them always wanting more, when I would rather rip it off like a bandaid and get to fixing the wound.

Nothing any of Us say are going to affect Oprah Winfrey. I even thought that when I started writing this. What the hell could I say about Oprah Winfrey. She is the roadmap I like to follow. When I heard how much she was making when she earned the rights to her Show, I started thinking that’s how I’m going to do it. What ever I do, I’m going to make sure I own it. I got that from Oprah, without watching her show.

So anything she does is fine by me. I can even respect the fact that she’s stomping for Obama and she doesn’t want to look disingenious talking to Palin. But boy do I wish I had a National Show right now, because this would be the perfect time for a conservative woman to make a power play at Oprah’s Audience. Could you imagine? Inviting Cindy and John McCain and Michelle and Barack Obama on at the same time. Let the Men bake cookies and let the woman talk social issues. Without bias, just real people.

If I might be so humble to offer Oprah a little advice. I’d think about Promoting Change when you dominate the Television world as you do. Some of Us out here might take you up on that offer. I’m just saying!!!!!!