Views from Point Breeze

Life in Venezuela is Terrible Right Now!

2017-08-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

Under the leadership of Hugo Chavez, it seems like the citizens of Venezuela were living a pretty good life. Mr. Chavez was the President of Venezuela from 1999 until 2013 when he died. He was also the leader of the Fifth Republican Movement. This party merged with several other parties to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela. He was the beneficiary of high oil revenues in the mid 2000's and focused on poverty, literacy and income inequality. He was an outspoken leader and made alliances with Fidel and Raul Castro and other strong man leaders. He symbolized a proud leader for his people and has many followers today.

I was interested in Venezuela because it seemed like this leader had utilized the oil revenue to help his citizens. He was an enemy of the United States because he leaned more towards a Marxist philosophy. He supported Latin American and Caribbean cooperation and that was good for this area of islands that depend so much on tourism. He died of cancer. His death spawned novels such as Swan Song by Mexican novelist Norma Gomez. This political thriller seems to imply U.S. involvement in his death.

I went to a performance by Betsayda Machado in July at the African American museum in Philadelphia. This is a group of Afro-Venezuelan musicians who play congas and other instruments. They were very passionate and I was able to understand their songs. My many years of studying Spanish and my interest in the African diaspora made this one of the better nights of my summer. I could not tell while they were singing that their country was undergoing major problems with finances and political intrigue. Their singing was beautiful and in Spanish. I have dialed up some of their songs on You Tube.

Afro-Venezuelans are descendants of Africans in Venezuela. They are hard to identify due to strong mixing of the population. Most people living in slums in Venezuela are of African descent. This makes me think that the problems facing the country now are magnified in areas where people of color live. The first African slaves were bought to this country in 1528. They were bought from the Congo and Angola. They worked in copper mines and agriculture. The emergence of cocoa caused large number of slaves to be imported. I am quite sure that the stories of survival and heroism are there for one wanting to further study this history.

President Nicolas Maduro is struggling to maintain a sense of order in his country. There are long lines for food and other basic staples of life. The plummeting oil revenue that started under President Chavez have continued. Social programs are being cut and dozens of people have been killed in protest related violence. There is a new group of people called the Chavistas who want to continue the policies of Hugo Chavez. Opposition leaders have been placed under house arrest and are living in fear. Elected leaders are fearful that President Maduro is leaning towards a dictator type of government. I hope that the people of Venezuela can find a peaceful way forward. President Trump has threatened a military intervention. I don't know what the objective of this action would be. Good Luck and Viva Venezuela.

Charlottesville, VA is a Stain on Race Relations

2017-08-13T15:59:00.000-07:00

Many of us are trying to make sense of the events that occurred in Charlottesville, VA on Friday and Saturday. It seems like the alt-right, neo-nazi, Ku Klux Klan supporters were upset that a statue of General Robert E. Lee, a Confederate hero, was to be removed from this area. I guess it was one statue too many for these individuals. The Confederates lost the civil war and should not have been able to continually erect statues to maintain slavery as a right and a way of life. Dylan Roof's cold blooded murder nine church members at the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC.

At the time of this heinous crime, Mr. Roof wanted to incite a race riot. I am so happy that people who think like him did not take the bait and cause more bloodshed. This event was one of many acts of violence against people of color in this country. African American males were being murdered by police officers and these murders led to the formation of the Black Lives Matter movement. Terrence Crutcher, Jordan Edwards, Lamont Perry and Alton Sterling are names of the almost 320 black men killed by police since 2016. One of my concerns is why an attempt to save our own lives angers the alt-right movement.

In New Orleans, Mayor Mitch Landrieu called for the removal of four confederate statues from public spaces in 2015. This action did not cause the furor that erupted in Virginia but it was important for the people of color living in New Orleans for these links to a racist past to be erased. African Americans were considered property and lived in bondage for years before the civil war occurred. The Charlottesville, VA city council voted 3 - 2 to remove the statue of Robert E, Lee in 2016 but we see what happened. Heather Heyer was killed yesterday as an alt-right supporter drove a car into a group of anti-racism protesters who were walking away from the protest. This is a page right out of the ISIS inspired attacks in London. I am in utter disbelief that something like this can occur here in the U.S.

General Robert E. Lee was an American general known for commanding the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the Civil War. He was a son of a Revolutionary War hero and a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy. He surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appmattox Court House on April 9th, 1965. He did not want former slaves to vote. He had an idealized version of slavery that did not take into mind the whippings, back breaking labor and utter degradation of the practice. His aggressive tactics during the civil war led to high casualties at a time when the Confederacy was losing the war. I guess the alt-right wants his statues to remain even though the way of life he fought for would have humans living as the property of others.

The level of violence that was seen on television was disheartening. The anger was real. The alt-right members were marching with torches on Friday night. They had shields, robes and confederate flags on Saturday. David Duke, national leader of the Ku Klux Klan said that these groups were fulfilling the promises made to President Donald Trump during his campaign. President Trump, who will call out radical Islamic terrorism at the drop of a dime, refused to condemn the racist activities of the marchers. These are part of his followers that want to make America Great Again. Sad.

Nazi supporters have no place in this country. The genocide of Jews at the hands on Hitler and his followers should never be repeated. The days of African Americans being hung from trees after the civil war and well in the 20th century can never happen again. There are many people who are in critical condition today as a result of injuries suffered from being run over yesterday. Two police officers died in a helicopter accident while observing these events. Funerals have to be needlessly planned due to a willingness to hold on to a shameful part of our country's past. I hope we can move forward and work together as Americans. Donald Trump said the American carnage would be over during his acceptance speech. He was wrong.

The Affordable Care Act Survives a Seven Year Onslaught

2017-06-28T04:35:00.000-07:00

Senator Mitch McConnell has to be feeling pretty peeved today. He had selected a small group of Senators to prepare a revision to the Affordable Care Act. He did it secretly with 13 men, no women, and a veil of secrecy that he railed against when the Republicans were the minority party. Here is a quote from Mitch McConnell when he was in Crying Game mode "Major legislation is now routinely drafted not in committee, but in the majority leader's conference room. Bills should go through committee. He also stated that if Republicans were "fortunate enough to gain the majority, they would"

I wonder then what his thought process was when he figured he would push the Better Care Reconciliation Act down the throats of the 52 Senators who hold a slim majority in this legislative body. There are no Democrats who will vote for this bill in its present form. Donald Trump has referred to them as obstructionists. I wonder how one can be called an obstructionist if one is not invited to help draft a major policy shift in America? I remember Senator McConnell as the politician who would not even schedule a vote on Merrick Garland for the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

One of the most telling acts of this revision as to the conscience of the Republicans who drafted it were the massive proposed cuts in Medicaid. Medicaid is a government insurance program for persons of all ages whose income and resources are insufficient to pay for healthcare. The current Republican proposal would trim $800 billion from projected Medicaid spending. Incredulously, White House spokesperson KellyAnne Conway looked into the camera and stated that these are not cuts. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price has tried to sell Americans the same bill of goods. What in the name of fake news is going on here? Reducing that much money from a program is a cut no matter how you spin in.

The recent search for votes for this proposal has shown an ugly side of the Republican party. I know that a certain person wishes he could fire everyone who opposes his every thought and action. Thankfully, in a Democracy, that is not possible. The pro-Trump group America First Policies began airing attack ads against Senator Dean Heller of Nevada. He is up for re-election in 2018. Rather than respecting his opinion about some of the flaws of the current proposal, they decided to go all in on his character and resistance to appealing Obamacare. Majority leader McConnell was instrumental in getting this group to drop this internecine attack. Desperation is the word for today in spite of the POTUS claiming that his party is getting closer to an appeal of the Affirdable Care Act.

I am a Democrat. I also am a person that did not have health care coverage for a few years. Scheduling a dentist's appointment or a physical exam at a Health Center took months. I was so lucky not to have had a major health scare during this period. My daughter had to do to an emergency room for an illness and the bill was $700.00. We are still paying it off. Older Americans would have been severely affected by the proposed Medicaid cuts. Wealthy Americans would have received tax cuts. I guess the logic here is that they would then spend more money in low income areas. I doubt that very seriously.

As the Republicans head into the break I wonder what kind of reception they will receive at Town Hall meetings across the country. Deep down I understand the frustration with being unable to repeal the ACA. The POTUS campaigned on repealing it on Day One of his term. We are well past the 100 day mark. Both he and Senator McConnell now mention how complicated the process is. I am sure that public opinion will continue to be expressed both for and against this revision. Presently, nine Republican Senators oppose the version that was just tabled. I think if they removed the term 'Obamacare' from in front of the Affordable Care Act, many of the people who hate anything associated with the former President would have their feelings ameliorated.

The Clifford Brown Jazz Festival was Awesome

2017-06-25T13:40:00.001-07:00

Shawn and I just returned from the 29th Annual Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. It was a quick two day vacation to Wilmington, DE. I know Wilmington might not be the destination of choice for many, but it was been decent respite for us the last few years. Donnell and Mona stayed also. We hooked up with them for breakfast on Saturday and this morning. We then had a couple of mimosas before heading back to the regular routine. I bought Mom Bell some chicken for dinner and picked up a few prescriptions. I am settling in for Power as I blog.

On Friday we caught the last few sets of the High and Mighty Jazz Band. They were pretty good. We then were treated to the first Harmonica playing headliner that I had ever witnessed. Frederic Yonnet was a great performer. He got into the music and had the audience swaying along. He is originally from France and you could tell from his accent. He communicated very well in English though. The headliner of Friday night was Marcia Ambrosius. Originally from London, Marcia was one half of the dynamic duo known as Floetry. She was so smooth on Friday. The size of the crowd reflected it. I didn't know that she had lived in Philly for a few years. Ans she's a new Mother. Shawn and Mona went to the Block Party afterwards. Sleep beckoned for me.

Saturday was a surprising day for me. I had commented on the official Facebook page for the event that I thought the lineup was pretty weak. It went from featuring artists like Andra Day, Leela James and Robert Glasper to Sumi and Somi. What happened? Little did I know that the artists were all true Jazz musicians. The Wilmington Youth Jazz Band featured a wealth of talent. They played some classic pieces and finished with a song by Stevie Wonder. They were so poised and rofessional as they finished solos and group pieces. I am proud of them and their dedication.

The Robert Zinn group was the epitome of smooth jazz. They had a few cuts like Summer Nights and 2/1 that kept the crowd moving. Robert Zen is a trumpet player from Wilmington and he was very proud to represent his talent in his city. There was a congo player named Pablo Batista from Philly who put in work. I thoroughly enjoyed this set. Sumi Toonoka is a classical pianist. She played with a Bass Guitarist and Drummer from Philly. She was intense and explained her hits like Be The Dance among others. She sat in the audience after the performance and enjoyed rest of the show.

Somi Kakoma was mesmirizing. Her performance started out with a few chants. She got my attention with her wonderful dreads and dance movements while performing. She did a rewrite of a Nina Simone tune called four African women. It paralleled some of the struggles that Nina witnessed during the civil rights battles of the 1960's. She was Beautiful. Her music reminded me of my days in Ubiquity. It took me back to Africa. She did not remain to sign CD's afterwards. I would have bought one for her.

Regina Carter was the headliner on Saturday. She plays the violin. She was doing a rendition of Ella Fitzgerald songs. Her guitarist was into the songs and music. He reminded me of a Blues performer.
Regina also gave us the history behind some of her songs. I did not know that Ella was trying to make a name for herself as a Dancer first. Regina was also true to the Jazz genre. This was not a concert for the pop crowd. Maybe that is where I was mistaken for being critical of the lineup. I am listening to Enganjyani as I finish writing this post. It is a melodic song from Somi. I enjoyed the Clifford Brown 2017 Festival immensely. Music is a universal language. I am in the zone!!

Helen V. Boggs: Rest In Peace

2017-06-25T12:52:00.002-07:00

Helen V. Boggs transitioned to be with the Lord on May 22nd, 2017. It was a Monday morning early. Her two precious daughters, Kia and Leah, were by her side. They had the closest bond ever. Mom Helen had fought a good fight against a terrible illness. Kia moved her in about a year ago. She sacrificed time at work to provide the type of care that people pay thousands for. She has joined Bubbie in heaven and they are probably praying for us now.

I first met Mom Helen when I was 15 years old. I am now 53 years old. I had known her almost 40 years. I loved hanging around Bubbie's. It was a house full of beautiful women who all had immense talent. Bubbie was my idol in terms of community development. She wasn't taking no for an answer when it came to how African Americans should be perceived in our community. She blazed a path for her children. I am so glad that she adopted me into the Family.

Mom Helen was an awesome cook. Her mussels were to die for. She also appreciated music and books. One of the many favorite memories I have of her was when she organized a pinochle tournament at Saint Charles to benefit the Auxiliary of Saint Peter Claver. I helped carry food for the event. She had crudites, catfish bites, eggplant fries and other assorted goods. I think her company was called KiLeah. You can infer who it was named after. Her willingness to try new dishes and recipes kept her in demand.

We became closer after Bubbie passed away. I used to help in her yard. Or we would schedule a coffee date and chit chat. If I was on my way to her house I would get a call to bring a hazelnut coffee on my way. When she got sick, I was sad. I knew it was going to be a tough fight. I visited as often as I could. I took MiMi with me a couple of times. Her 75th birthday was the end all to be all. It was an all hands on deck party. Every holiday after that day in September was celebrated at Kia's house. Everyone knew the serious situation that Mom Helen was facing.

I prefer to focus on the good times as the month anniversary of her passing occurred. The advice that she would offer on political and community development issues was real. The taste for the finer things in life like her Remy Martin. Her love for Kia and Leah was palpable. I loved going to her house when she was preparing for an event. The smell of food being prepared with coffee on stays with me now. I Love you Mom Helen ans I Cherish the memories that I have for you.

P.S. Mom Helen is on the left in this picture. Her younger sister Marjorie is on the right. We were at a community event.

100 Days In the Reign of Trump: Frenetic Falsehoods Abound

2017-04-30T04:18:00.001-07:00

President Trump celebrated 100 days in office yesterday in Harrisburg, PA. The Commonwealth of PA was key to his victory in the 2016 Presidential election. He deserved to bask in the glow of his flurry of Executive Orders and measly legislative achievements. He has signed over 30 Executive Orders. He was able to get Neil Gorsuch confirmed as a Supreme Court justice after the nuclear option was utilized by the Republican controlled Senate to lower the threshold for a Justice to be nominated to 51 votes from the former 60. After Gorsuch, it has been mostly tough going for the President.

He has falsely claimed that massive voter fraud kept him from winning the popular vote against Hillary Clinton. He also falsely claimed that he actually had the largest electoral college margin in recent history. In fact, Donald Trump lost the popular vote in November's presidential election by a larger margin than any other president in U.S. history. Imagine that. He also falsely claimed that his inaugural crowd was the largest in history. Statistics and pictures prove otherwise. Why must we be subjected to so many untruths in such a short amount of time? I really do not have an answer for this.

The Trump administration is struggling under the weight of a dual investigation by the House and Senate into its relationship with Russia leading up to the election. Michael Flynn, President Trump's former National Security Advisor, was found to have accepted cash both from Russia and Turkey. He forgot to put these payments on his application for a top rated security clearance. He also forgot to mention to President Trump that he had spoken about sanctions imposed by the Obama administration with a Russian ambassador. Michael Flynn was actually a Democrat who was forced out of the Obama administration because of his abrasive management style. He must have been convincing in his hate for ISIS so much that the Trump administration just accepted whatever he told them about his life after separating from government. President Trump falsely blamed the Obama administration for hiring Flynn to one of the most important positions in U.S. government. He resigned after 23 days.

There was a march yesterday by individuals interested in protecting the environment against the increasing warmth of our environment. President Trump, and the Republican controlled legislature, nominated Scott Pruitt to lead the Environmental Protection Agency. This man sees no association between fossil fuels and the destruction of the environment. It was billed as the People's Climate March. Everything that the Obama administration has done to help save the environment has been attacked by the Trump administration. Measures to save streams from factory runoffs - slashed. Measures to save national parks and land from development - slashed. Measure to increase MPG for gasoline - slashed. The evidence of rising seas and the effects on coastal communities - ignored. Being pro-business and anti-environment do not have to go hand in hand. That is unless there is a secret plan for the wealthy to breathe different air than we do.

The repeal of the Affordable Care Act has not occurred. This was falsely claimed by the Trump administration and the Republicans as a priority. Tax reform was a one page statement about what lowering the corporate tax rate would do for job creation. With the large number of billionaires in his cabinet, the biggest focus seems to be paying less in taxes. There is no real inventive to address economic inequality in out country. The Justice Department wants to bring back the war on drugs. The real American carnage occurred when mandatory minimum sentences left many low level drug dealers languishing in jails for years. President Obama pardoned many of these individuals.

China is now NOT a currency manipulator. They awarded Ivanka Trump a number of patents just to prove that point. NATO is NOT obsolete. NAFTA is NOT the worst trade deal ever. The Wall between Mexico and the U.S. will NOT be paid for by Mexico. President Obama did NOT order the wire tapping of Trump Towers in the days leading up to the election. Media reporting on facts about politics and the administration are NOT fake news. It would be too difficult to make most of these frightening statements and ridiculous posturing up. The New York Times is NOT a failing publication. I look forward to the next 100 days.

In Search of Jesus Created Many Questions

2017-04-17T18:27:00.001-07:00

I had some hesitancy when it came to watchin 'In Search of Jesus' on CNN. Sometimes, historical dramas leave out the true representation of the participants of the actual stories being portrayed. One of my all time favorite Easter movies, the Ten Commandments, had very few people of color that played important roles. Even Yul Brynner, who played Pharoah, was really a Russian born actor. Charlton Heston, who portrayed Moses, was an American born actor who was playing a sun burnt Israeli slave.

It is important for me to understand that the Passover which occurred when the Angel of Death spared the Israelites who placed the Blood of the Lamb over their doorways was a direct foreshadowing of the Life and Death of Jesus Christ. As we have just finished the Easter Weekend, according to Biblical tradition, Jesus still appeared intermittently to his follower for forty days before ascending permanently into heaven. We as Christians await his triumphant return one day. We just have to navigate this labyrinth called life and its danger for Christians in many countries.

The part of the series that got my attention was Jesus' relationship with Mary Madgalene. In the DaVinci Code, it was hinted at that Mary might have been the wife of Jesus. Much of the research points to the fact that Mary shared a special place in Jesus heart. She stayed with him through his brutal crucifixion. She was going to prepare his body for burial when it was discovered that Jesus was no longer in the Tomb. His Resurrection is one of the central tenets of the Christian faith. I wonder if believers are open to a discussion about the life of Jesus during his brief ministry.

The mode of travel back then was by foot, camel or mule. A lot of time was spent in small villages and spreading the word of God as it would be written by biblical scholars. The Gospel of Mark mentions that Jesus had several brothers. These included James, Joseph, Judas and Simon. It has been hinted that Jesus was conceived via immaculate conception. So did Mary not have relations with her husband to create her other children? Could Jesus also have been the result of human relations? Subsequently, Jesus has human descendants today via his family. Would it be blasphemy to consider that Jesus was married to Mary Madgalene? It was stated that she was wealthy and supported Jesus financially.

I did not realize that Mary was the daughter of Lazarus. Lazarus was one of the people that Jesus raised from the dead. There had to be some sort of relationship that existed for Jesus to perform this type of miracle. I am in the process of joining a Men's Bible study group. I have been Catholic and Baptist for many years. I am looking forward to eternal salvation because I have confessed my sins and look to reunite with Jesus Christ in heaven. I just wonder how the discussions will go if a questioning approach to the books of the Bible is taken.

A google search lists the missing Books of the Bible as: Book of Jasher, Book of Nathan, Book of Shemaiah, Book of Jehu, the Book of Enoch, an Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, the Prophecy of Ahijah, the Book of Thomas, the Book of Mary and the Book of Judas. We all know that the people who write history and have it recorded are often those in power at the time. The Books of the New Testament was purported to be completed sometime by 70 AD in the Greek language. I can imagine the danger of trying to record the first hand encounters and words of Jesus when persecution and death could have resulted. The Roman Empire and its gods were ascendant at the time.

I am still an old school King James fan. The New International Version dilutes text that shouldn't be further broken down in my opinion. I just found out about the Apostolic Fathers in my research. These were Christian theologians who are believed to have personally known some of the Twelve Apostles. Their writings were not included in the final version of the New Testament. How is it that these gentlemen conversed with Apostles and their words were redacted? The current version of the Bible is the result of many power struggles throughout the years. They authored books like the Epistle of Clement and the Book of Judith. I will report back on other developments. The breadth of the information is mind boggling.

Happy 75th Birthday William Holmes

2017-04-14T18:07:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I was blessed to be able to attend two events that added to the quality of my life. I started off the day with Shawn at a 480 East concert. It was one of the last events of the 2017 Berks Jazz Festival. It was a beautiful day in Reading, PA. The day before I had participated in the Philly Spring Clean Up for the 7th time. Steve Ferguson and I helped to pick up 25 bags of trash just from the intersection of 15th Street between Washington Avenue and Alter Street. It was an area that had been long neglected. That Saturday night, Shawn and I went to Appleby's and enjoyed a leisurely dinner together. Thank God for the Blessing in my life.

We had missed the Berks Jazz Festival for about three years. Financially tough times dictated a belt tightening that precluded many events that we were used to. This made me appreciate my life long friendships even more. William Holmes counts among those Friends. When I worked at the Redevelopment Authority, some of the Homeys would go to Champions to blow off some steam. We started off innocently and with a small group.Themainstays showed up Sunday night. Anthony McIntosh, aka The Chairman, made sure that we all received our invitations. Andy Donald, Clarence Jordan, Murray Spencer, David Thomas, David Stubbs and Caswel Curtis were there in force on Sunday night. We were also accompanied by our wives. We missed Tim Roundtree and Derek Green. It was a great Sunday.

Bill is on the right. Tony Mac is on the left.

Bill Holmes has serious South Philly roots. He was born in 1942 in South Philly. He graduated from Barratt Middle School which is right across the street from my house. He had a stellar athletic career and was also know as Windy for his speed. We have been to numerous parties at his place in Wyncote. He is a cook and one of his claims to fame are the numerous years that his collard greens have been featured in Philly Men are Cooking. His wife Betty is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. We have also partied at Tony Mac's house, McMenamins, the Mill Creek Tavern, my house on Wigard Avenue, Julius' house, Lou and Choo's and Scotty's. We have attended the funerals of some of our members Mother's and Sister's. We are a tight group that will go to the end together.

I met Bill when I was working at the Office of Housing. I gravitated to his office because I loved his jazz collection. I borrowed numerous CD's and cultivated my love of jazz since then. His home is a collection of his numerous travels. I love his books from various nations and the pictures that they include. He said very little on Sunday as is his style. Tony Mac and Dave Thomas presented citations from the Commonwealth and the City. He has lived an impeccable life. I wish him many returns of the day,

Tragedies in Peru and Colombia are Overshadowed by Trump News

2017-04-03T17:25:00.001-07:00

I read with pain that over 250 people have been killed by mudslides in Colombia over this past weekend. I was reading with some ambivalence about the growth of the legal marijuana industry in Colombia recently. This country had scene a brutal drug war take place for years. Between 1993 and 1999 Colombia became the main producer of coca in the world along with cocaine and one of the major exporters of heroin. Pablo Escobar and the Medellin Cartel were world renowned he he was considered the richest drug lord in the world. At the height of its power, the cartel bought in more than $60 million a day. I am still astounded as to what fueled this industry and its devastating effects.

Both of these countries are struggling to bury dead bodies and to house the homeless. I have not heard a response from Donald Trump. I read recently that our one time strong ally, Mexico, is looking for new trade partners because of the rhetoric of our bombastic President. What do you do when the house that you called home is now sitting at the bottom of a hill covered by muck? Pray.

Colombia also witnessed the fight against the FARC rebels also known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The war between these rebels and the government lasted almost 50 years. The conflict with these rebels killed almost 260,000 people and uprooted almost 7 million. The news was almost always bad coming out of Colombia. The movie Colombiana, starring Zoe Zaldana, did nothing to depict the horror that occurred during the rise of cartels and the struggles agains rebels. I was looking for good news from Colombia as it begins to rebound.

Some facts about the current government of Colombia follow:

The executive branch of power in Colombia is headed by the President of the Republic. He is supported by the Vice President of Colombia, the Council of Ministers and Administrative Departments of Colombia. The government is in charge of creating and developing policies concerning Colombia while the governors of the Departments of Colombia are elected by popular vote to represent the president and the executive branch of government at provincial level.

Peru is another country in South America that has been affected by devastating mudslides. It was reported that almost 70 people died from torrential rains. We had rain this past Friday in Philly. It was not enough to cause death and destruction though. Is is global warming that is causing these tragedies? Is it the fact that we are losing forests and trees at a rapid rate due to the need to charcoal and timber for building? Whatever the cause, many people will have to be buried that were looking forward to spring weather. Peru is home to serious archaeological sites. Machu Picchu was an Incan village which was built in the Andes mountains. It was abandoned suddenly for an unknown reason. The architecture and sophistication of this civilization was evident from its extant sites.

Peru is a country of almost 30 million people. It has a democratic government in which the President serves a five year term and cannot be re-elected. Some facts about their current President follow:

Pedro Pablo Kuczynski Godard (Spanish: [ˈpeðɾo ˈpaβlo kuˈtʃinski ɣoˈðaɾð] ; born 3 October 1938) better known simply as PPK, is a Peruvian economist, politician, and public administrator who is the current (66th) President of Peru. He previously served as Prime Minister of Peru from 2005 to 2006.

Kuczynski worked in the United States before entering Peruvian politics.^[1] He held positions at both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund before being designated as general manager of Peru's Central Reserve Bank. He later served as Minister of Energy and Mines in the early 1980s under President Fernando Belaúnde Terry, and as Minister of Economy and Finance and Prime Minister under President Alejandro Toledo in the 2000s.^[2]
I wish both of these countries Godspeed as they try to recover from their recent tragedies. I hope Colombia continues its resurgence and a path towards peace. Venezuela has been struggling since the death of Hugo Chavez. I am not too familiar with Paraguay and Uruguay but I will research them soon. I hope that U.N. aid is enough to help these countries rebound quickly.

Dawn Staley: Congratulations!!

2017-04-03T16:43:00.001-07:00

I watched the University of South Carolina win the Women's NCAA Championship in basketball yesterday. It was a decent game in terms of back and forth action. A'ja Wilson pressed the action most of the game. I love left handed players that perform on the world stage. I can remember Jack Givens from Kentucky putting on a show almost forty years ago. I also remember Wayman Tisdale from Oklahoma putting on a show in the finals. He has since transitioned on to heaven after an impressive pro career and making an impact as a Musician. Woman lefties have been few and far between.

I had been watching Dawn Staley both play and coach for numerous years. She was an All-American at Murrell Dobbins Technical High School and was named Player of the Year. She attended the University of Virginia and led her team to four NCAA tournaments and three final fours. She was the National Player of the Year in 1991 and 1992. She stands all of 5'5". She was a dynamo and made our city proud. She suffered heartbreaking losses in her playing career. Her number has been retired by the University of Virginia. I remember twin sisters Heather and Heidi Burge. They were 6'5" and helped to propel Dawn and the Cavaliers to great heights.

Dawn won three gold medals in the Olympics. The women have established a level of dominance in the world game that will be stunning when it is reflected on. She coached at Temple for a few years. She could never attract the caliber of player that would help her to beat the likes of Tennessee and U Conn. It was considered a major upset when Mississippi State beat the Lady Huskies on a last second shot by Morgan William. Morgan looks like she is 5'4'. She has a 41 point game in the tournament but was benched with the game on the line yesterday. It took Dawn almost 9 years to build the team that bought her the ring finally. It reached another level when she signed A'ja Wilson, a Columbia native, as a recruit three years ago.

Dawn was highly reserved on the sidelines in the championship game. Her assistants held the clipboards and she orchestrated the win in a calm and collected manner. It was the first complete game that I watched during these playoffs. I used to live for the NCAA tournament. Chamique Holdsclaw was one of my favorite players in the game. Tennessee, under Coach Pat Summitt, was an All American factory in the 80's and 90's. Tameka Catchings was one of her prize recruits. She developed Alzheimer's disease and turned the team over to her son for about a year. He had an inappropriate relationship with a player and his tenure was extremely brief.

The Lady Huskies had a 111 game streak stopped by MS. Breanna Stewart did not allow the Huskies to lose while she was playing. She was an ultimate talent and was preceded by Maya Moore, Diana Taurasi and Swin Cash. I am kind of glad that they lost. More people will watch now knowing that the field is a little more level. Brittany Greiner was one of the last transcendent players of the game.
Many of the women have to supplement their income overseas. She might be in China playing now. Dawn Staley has finally achieved the success that she sought as a player. I hope she goes on a run like Gino Auriemma. Success begets success in the college game. Her team led the NCAA in attendance this season. I am quite sure that the anticipation to defend their title will have these female athletes working out next week. Congratulations Dawn Staley, We are all proud of you and your story of persistence and determination.

Happy 85th Birthday Mary Elizabeth Hudson Bell

2017-03-12T14:24:00.002-07:00

Last Sunday my Mother was blessed to turn 85 years old. She was born in 1932 in Ridgeway, South Carolina. Times were very different then. Much of the debate at that time was over the causes and possible remedies to the Great Depression. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was elected and began to build a program know as the New Deal to help restore confidence in the U.S. economy. www.igalegroup.com reported that in 1933, nearly one thousand local governments had defaulted on debt payments and that nearly four hundred charities had disappeared in New York. The safety net that many of us rely on in times of trouble was shredded. My Mother grew up in a wooden house with no street lights in an area that was still hostile towards people of color.

I dropped my Mom off at church this morning. She has to be one of the most loyal members of Saint Rita's ever. She reads Scripture on many Sundays and also attends Bible study. She was lamenting some of the struggles that sh has communicating with her six living sons. Rest in Peace Jonathan and Gary. We are all trying to make a way for ourselves in this society. I just want to be as helpful as possible to my Mom as she ages gracefully. I have to pick up a Rite Aid prescription later. Thank goodness she is among the living and in her right mind.

We had a nice gathering last week. Lynne came in town with Bailey. Malayja was there also. She spends time with her Great-Grandmother whenever she can. We had a brunch menu with Julius and I doing the pork and turkey bacon. Joe Blaze bought turkey sausages and pork sausage. K-Wall bought turkey bacon. Mike Wallace bought adult beverages. Skeet, Tia, Meechy, Toddy, Jamilla, Little Kev, Dennis, Little Mike, my sone Mike, Alonna, Shawn, Jameal, CJ and Jackie also attended. We had a good time. I was so tired I went to sleep at 5:00. God Bless my Mom and I wish her many more returns of the day.

P.S. Pop Bell, you would have been proud. Grand Dad Joe, you too!!

The Russia Connection is Interesting!!

2017-03-12T13:54:00.001-07:00

The biggest thing that I remember as a younger American was the threat of a Russian missile attack. President Ronald Reagan had created a system that would sort of encapsulate the U.S. against any attacks that would come from our formidable adversary. Many history buffs can recall the stories of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin. These were iron fisted rulers who sharpened the tools of a nation that was bent on world power. They were also a state where totalitarian rule was in effect. I have read novels where there was no privacy and all conversations could be subject to official eavesdropping. In spite of some of the misinformation that I might have received, Russians are probably not all that different than Americans.

I have more memories of Mikhail Gorbachev than any other Russian leader. The Russians were in a prolonged war with Afghanistan in the mid to late eighties. They had to wind up leaving with their tail between their legs. We are in Afghanistan now and I wonder what the end game is now. Mr. Gorbachev was known for policies of glasnost ('openness') and perestroika (restructuring') and his reorientation of the Soviet Arms race contribute to the end of the Cold War. I wonder now why we have a leader who wants to increase the proliferation of nuclear arms. He had an elegant wife in Raisa Gorbachev and he ruled wisely. The Soviet Union was dissolved at the end of his rule.

We are now dealing with the rule of Vladimir Putin. He is the current President of the Russian Federation. He was a KGB foreign intelligence officer for 16 years before retiring to enter politics. The Russian Federation annexed Crimea recently after internal strife in that country. They have also bombed Syrian civilians in an attempt to keep President Assad in power. He also has a track record of being associated with the untimely demise of those who oppose him: Boris Nemtsov and Alexander Litvenenko are some whose fate could have been determined by their political stances. It is this leader that has been praised constantly by our current President.

There is a Monday deadline for proof of wiretapping to be produced by someone from the Trump administration. Last Saturday, Mr. Trump created a firestorm by accusing former President Obama of wiretapping the Trump Towers during the 2016 presidential election. This is a very serious accusation that could be precedent setting if true. The current problem is that there is no proof of any such activity by President Obama or any member of his team. A warrant would have had to be obtained from a sitting judge and a paper trail would be in existence somewhere. After President Nixon, of Watergate fame, there are checks and balances that have been in place to prevent this type of activity in our government.

The Trump Administration is fighting very hard to distance itself from claims that it benefited from the interference of Russian hackers during the election. I first became familiar with the term 'fake news' during this election. Everything was fake if it didn't place Mr. Trump in a positive light. Former National Security Director Michael Flynn had to resign his job because he was not forthcoming about discussions he had with a Russian leader. It was just revealed today that a former adviser, Roger Stone, had contact with Gucifer 2.0, which was the online persona of the Russian entity purported to be the source for hacked emails of the Democratic National Committee. My how the plot is thickening. Mr. Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner and Attorney General Jeff Sessions also had meetings with Russian citizens.

As a political observer, I am candidly awaiting the results of the requests for information from the Trump administration. One can form their own opinions about the job that President Obama did while he served our country. His reputation should not be denigrated by baseless claims about spying on the Republican nominee for President. There was a James Bond movie, featuring Sean Connery, called 'From Russia with Love'. This movie featured beautiful female spies and the usual murder and mayhem associated with the exploits of Agent 007. In the present day U.S.-Soviet relations, I can only hope that life does not imitate art with the outcome of the Senate, DOJ and FBI investigations into President Trumps claims of illegal wiretapping. Hurry up Monday!!

P.S. There was no evidence presented on March 13th, 2017. We now know that microwaves are actually cameras though. Go figure.

Milo Yiannopoulos: Really!!

2017-02-23T02:13:00.001-08:00

This young man just made news for suggesting that sexual relations between grown men and boys can be liberating for the boys. He was referring to boys as young as thirteen. Maybe he did not realize that one cannot legally consent to sex at this age. He is from England. Maybe he did not realize that this is called rape in the United States. He cannot comprehend the agony caused by Catholic priests who couldn't keep their hands to themselves and abused thousands of young boys. Also, he could have researched the story of Jerry Sandusky of Second Mile fame. This man is serving a jail sentence now due to his affinity for taking boys home and having his way with them. Sickening.

Milo was a former editor for Breitbart News. This is a far right American news and commentary website. It was originally founded as a website by Andrew Breitbart that was pro-Israel and pro-freedom. I wonder what their opinions are now with the sudden surge of anti-Semitic attacks that are occurring across the country. It took President Trump weeks to respond to these attacks. When the University of California at Berkley students burned buildings on campus in protest of Milo's impending speech, the President threatened to rescind their public funding. That response was pretty quick. The message seemed to be: Protect Milo's right to give hate speech a platform. The administrations recent decision to weaken LGBT protections seems to go hand in hand with the increase in hate speech.

Breitbart was also the organization that Steve Bannon was part of before joining the White House team. It was the basis for the term Alt-right. Alt-right describes a movement based on white nationalism and promotes racism, white supremacism and neo-Nazism. The term was coined by Richard Spencer in 2010. The election of Donald Trump, who was supported by this group, gave them a sense of pride for picking the right candidate in the race. We are a country of immigrants. Some of us were allowed in due to terrible circumstances in their country of origin. The Italians were in search of better opportunities. The Irish came to escape famine in their country. Cubans fought to escape poverty and the rule of President Castro. Native Americans must watch as their land was taken by force. The Hispanic population, diverse at it is, came voluntarily in many ways. Our present dance with the Mexican population will go on. We took Texas and now want to keep them out., Many Africans were bought here in chains and died building the foundation for this super power.

Milo Yiannopoulos is not afraid to admit that he is gay. He does not want gay men flaunting their sexuality though. He prefers that they stay in the closet. He was banned from Twitter for mounting an attack on African American comedian Leslie Jones. The Conservative Political Action Conference was going to feature him as a speaker until his comments about having sex with boys were published. He lost a book deal and resigned from Breitbart News. Talk about having a bad day. My concern is based on how his views were accepted by these protectors or their slice of the American way. It was a fellow conservative website, the Reagan Battalion, that retweeted criticism of CPAC's decision to feature Milo as a guest speaker. Some people do realize that pedophilia is wrong and should not be promoted as some type of liberation movement.

Milo referred to Donald Trump as his daddy. Maybe that is why the POTUS was so quick to defend his right to speak at Berkley and threaten funding. The picture painted by the alt-right is of a society that is increasingly becoming brown and yellow with less space for the pure white race. Welfare and affordable health care will be a thing of the past. Ask sitting Republicans who are being skewered at town halls throughout the country if they understand what it is like to live without insurance. I hope for a society in which racism can be a thing of the past. People in coal country and other areas in which economic prosperity left them behind, hope for the thousands of jobs that Donald Trump promised them. As Milo has been exposed for having a twisted and perverse sense of reality, who will be the next face of the alt-rght movement? Next up please.

I hope the 36th Ward can now exceed expectations!

2017-02-21T03:40:00.002-08:00

We have had a tumultuous last few years in the 36th Ward of the Democratic Party in Philadelphia. The need for an engaged ward is more crucial now that Republicans have taken over the Presidency, House and Senate on a national level. The jobs of committee persons are to help get out the vote, circulate petitions and ensure fair and equitable elections. In spite of one person's claim of massive voter fraud, we work to ensure that only registered voters participate in the system.

Anna Verna had been our ward leader for almost thirty years. I actually put my hat into the ring to try to run for the ward leader position at the reorganization meeting in June 2014. It was a rude awakening to the entrenched role that she played in many committee persons lives. I never got a chance to call for a roll call vote as the anger in the room was more than palpable. Charlie Bernard, of the City Democratic Committee, sat at the front and never introduced himself to the crowd. Anna was reelected by a voice vote and began a brief tenure.

The honorable former Councilwoman Verna resigned her seat early in 2015. It was discovered by a reporter that she no longer lived in the ward. Maybe it was her ego that led her to run again knowing that living within the ward is one of the requirements to be a ward leader. It was also revealed that Anthony Clark and Alan Butkovitz do not live in their respective wards either. The ward Chairman, Harold James, campaigned hard to become the ward leader. He called numerous committee persons and was elected in a close vote against George Upshur. I did not throw my hat back into the ring for this position.

I was so proud of our progress early in Harold James tenure. We had a major Fish Fry Fundraiser during the petition signing period in 2015. We hosted another Fundraiser later that year. I started to have concerns due to the lack of timely financial reporting soon after these events. We had a block party that was not supposed to cost the ward any money. The Executive Board spent almost $2,000.00 on this event without requesting expenditures from the Ward. Purchases were made for almost anyone who passed away. Harold started spending money on rent for his office without signing a lease with the ward. The ward became his personal piggy bank.

I was informed that Kevin Hannah was going to be the person to take over after Harold completed the term that starts in May 2018. Unfortunately, Kevin passed away in December 2015. He was a 1963 baby like myself. He had a Homegoing service worthy of a dignitary. He even has part of a street renamed as Kevin Hannah way. Rest in Peace Mr. Hannah. His legacy lives on because his sister has assumed his duties as a Committee Person. The situation with Harold James and the lack of reporting never improved though. He had to plead guilty to a theft of service charge that was part of a sting that ensnared numerous elected officials. Asking him about reports was like pulling teeth. He zoned out and acted like he didn't understand English.

We had another raucous meeting last Tuesday. Harold sent out an email citing his health as the reason he could not continue in the role of ward leader. We all know that his sudden change of heart was due to the almost $4,000.00 that is unaccounted for from the fundraisers. According to the by laws, when a special election is called, it should be the only order of business. Harold bought three copies of a financial report to a meeting attended by forty people. Typical. No one from the Executive Board read the report and it was not voted on or approved. I guess this is the was that business is done throughout the Democratic City Committee.

Louis Ager was there representing the Democratic City Committee. He added no intrinsic value to the process that occurred. There was no need for an election as the present Executive Board could have all moved up a slot and we could have elected a third vice Chairperson. City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson was elected in absentia. He was there at the beginning of the meeting but left by the time that the vote was forced on the Committee persons. The lack of financial reports and accountability by Harold James and the Executive Board were no impediment to this flawed process.
I wish the Councilman well going forward. Many other elected officials also are ward leaders. Let's see how this process works.

Thomas O'Grady, AKA Soupy, Rest in Peace

2017-02-21T02:49:00.002-08:00

I was cleaning up in front of my house on Valentine's Day when I received the terrible news. Soupy had been found dead in his bed. I grew up with Soupy and didn't start calling him Thomas until I found out his real name when I was trying to help him find a job. He was able to obtain employment at the Wine & Spirit stores in Pennsylvania and he was doing well. He suffered a back injury and had been on disability for the last few years. He traveled back and forth to West Virginia and was talking about moving down south,

I last saw Thomas in July of 2016. We were at Dennis' block party and he was going into a house across the street. He did not stop to speak as he seemed to have something on his mind. I used to see him on a regular basis when he lived with Jackie Mays. He had transformed the third floor into a palace. He had a kitchen, flat screen television, bathroom and couch. He was living large. One of my other great memories was when he fried fish and onion rings at Jackie's for Gram and Cheese's birthday. I did not know that he possessed the culinary skills like that. He also chilled with me in July 2015 for my birthday. We drank beer and reminisced. It was always real when we got a chance to catch up.

I know Thomas was married at one time. I don't think that he was with his wife when he passed away. He was in his early fifties like myself. I fight hard to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. Sometimes it is difficult when you are raised in a certain culture to rise above some of the temptations that affect us all. I got a chance to look through photo albums at Jackie's on Sunday. Thomas' home going services will be on Saturday in North Philadelphia. Rest in Peace my Friend. I will see you on the other side.

P.S. On a beautiful Saturday morning, Thomas had a Home going service that was worthy of a dignitary. South Philly was well represented. Your Family was thick. Your Granddaughter spoke glowingly of your barbecue skills. God Bless You Brother and you lived a great life.

The Tea Party was a Precursor to the Present Protests in Washington D.C.

2017-01-30T16:26:00.000-08:00

The Trump Administration has been serving since January 20th, 2017. It has already spawned some of the largest protests against an administration that I have witnessed in my lifetime. On January 21st, large contingents of people marched on Washington and in cities throughout the country and the world. It was a Women's March and the majority of the marchers were horrified by the prospect of Donald Trump, his past comments about his actions towards women, and the tone and tenor of his administration. There is already an effort by this administration to defund Planned Parenthood. How that move would benefit the country and women seeking reproductive health assistance is beyond me. Over 50,000 people marched in Philadelphia and the numbers are estimated at 2.6 million worldwide.

The Trump Administration created another firestorm of protesters on Saturday and Sunday when it issued an Executive Order banning citizens from seven majority Muslim countries. It also banned the acceptance of refugees from Syria altogether. On paper, it supposedly was the fulfillment of a campaign promise. In reality, it was a poorly thought out and reactionary move that is reverberating world wide. A five year old boy was detained for hours as a result. Families who had green cards and were properly vetted were denied entry into the United States. Some families who endured eighteen hour flights to get here were turned around at the airport. The official mouth piece, Kelly Ann Conway, referred to an Obama Admistration effort in 2011 to slow the flow of Iraqis into the country. Trump hated everything about President Obama. Why refer to his rule when he created this maelstrom? Poor planning and lack of vision are two culprits.

I have not participated in any marches during President Trump's brief tenure. I thought back to when President Barak Obama was sworn in and how the Tea Party came into prominence soon afterwards. One of their signature moments was the Taxpayer March on Washington on September 12th, 2009. President Barak Obama was sworn in for his first term on January 20th, 2009. It took eight months for the anger that created the Tea Party members to culminate in its largest official action. Upon doing my research I discovered that current Vice President Mike Pence was one of the featured speakers that day. I guess he parlayed his anger over the election of the first African American President into his present role. Even Mike Pence has to be surprised by the angry protests that engulfed the nation due to this immigration restriction.

There were a number of factors that facilitated the growth of the Tea Party and the election of Donald Trump. 88% of Tea Party members believed that immigration is a major problem. 66% doubted the impact of global warming. 89% are white while only 1% are black. 75% are 45 years of age or older. 54% are Republican. Only 7% of Tea Party members believed that President Obama did a good job as President. The major issue that solidified the Tea Party was the passage of the Affordable Care Act. It has been called Obama Care and I think this moniker has driven its opponents crazy. The first official act of President Trump was an Executive Order signalling his intent to dsimantle this act. Almost twenty million Americans are now covered by the A.C.A. President Trump has presented no viable alternative for this much needed safety net.

I am of the opinion that the current marchers could have been better served by getting more voters to the polls. Hillary Clinton did win the popular vote but the percentage of people of color, Hispanics and African Americans, did not come out in number for her like they did for President Obama. I feel like she won all three debates and was more prepared to lead based on her experience in government. She has weighed in briefly on this immigration issue. As much as I want the energy being displayed in the protests to be galvanized for upcoming elections, I appreciate our First Amendment rights to Free Speech. Steve Bannon and Kelly Ann Conway want to muzzle the press in the worst way. I heard that protesters are expected to show up for President Trump's Supreme Court appointment. I don't see the value in this action.

President Trump has been defiant in terms of doing things his way. He hasn't really drained the swamp in Washington, This was one of his mantras on the campaign trail. He also is hinting that Americans will have to pay for his much hyped wall. This is strike two in my book as a political observer. The current protests have to give his administration some cause to reflect on brash actions going forward, Being sued by the ACLU and losing the support of Republican colleagues is a bad sign for a nascent administration. My advice as an American is to listen to established leaders in Congress and the Senate. Try to set aside the hatred that he has for current government leaders and utilize their expertise. Otherwise, we are in for a long ride. I think the energy and anger of protesters can outlast his willingness to run roughshod over decency and the proper respect towards human rights.

Global Warming and the Plight of the Polar Bear

2017-01-24T17:49:00.000-08:00

It has been verified recently that the Northeast region of the United States has recorded the three hottest temperatures on record recently. Our winters have been a little wimpy compared to winters when I grew up. In my lifetime I have gone from wearing long johns a few times a winter to wondering if I might need them again. This week, after a somewhat cold Monday, we will see three days in the fifties. We did have some snow two weekends ago. I cannot see any in the extended forecast. I used to dream of a White Christmas. I would take just one major snowstorm to think that global warming is just a figment of my imagination.

I have some friends that live on the West Coast. Fifty degrees in January might cause them to don heavy overcoats. We had fifty five degrees here and people were wearing shorts and sweaters. I had a friend recently who just visited Africa. Many of his pictures were of a safari and rhinos and giraffes. Many of the lands that these game animals have been used to are shrinking also. They might not be used to the cold weather in some African countries, but they feel the effects of global warming in coastal areas as the sea level rises.

Polar bears are magnificent animals. They dominated the North and South Poles and the Arctic. The chief threat to the polar bear is the loss of sea ice. It is hard for me to believe that the polar bear is actually a marine mammal that spends more time at sea than it does on land. This information is from the National Wildlife Federation website (www.nwf.org):

In southern portions of their range, like Hudson Bay, Canada, there is no sea ice during the summer, and the Polar Bear must live on land until the Bay freezes in the fall, wherupon they can hunt on the ice. In just 20 years, the ice-free period in Hudson Bay has increased by an average of 20 days, cutting short polar bears seal hunting season by nearly three weeks.

The earlier spring ice melt is especially difficult on the bears. Our melting ice caps will also lead to a decline in habitat for seals. This is their number one source of food in the food chain. I don't know much about the life of Eskimos other than what I see on television but I am quite sure that these events do not bode well for the way of life for people that live in these harsh environments. In Norway, polar bears have had to resort to eating dolphins and goose eggs. They are also more inclined to forage for food in people's garbage. People could be on the menu in the worst case scenario.

Climate change scientists point to the build up in greenhouse gases as one of the main culprits in global warming. One person would say that global warming is a myth made up by the Chinese. An Executive Order was just signed by our President to muzzle Tweets by the EPA. Go figure out the motive behind this move. Polar bears are going hungry for longer periods of time and their population is expected to decrease by 66% in 2050. I feel so sorry for these beautiful animals as some would try to decrease regulations meant to decrease the use of fossil fuels. Where in the world are we headed as temperatures world wide continue to rise?

President Barak Obama: Thank You

2017-01-19T17:56:00.001-08:00

This is the last official day of the Presidency for Barak Obama. It was punctuated in the news by former President George W. Bush and his wife Barbara Bush both being rushed to the hospital this week. The moving vans have loaded his and Michelle's belongings and transported them to their new residence in Washington, DC. He has served a scandal free eight years and will leave with a very high popularity rating. I am proud of him and the service that he provided for our country while he completed his eight years in office.

The orderly transition of power is a cornerstone of our Democracy. I capitalize democracy in this context because many lives are saved due to our constitution and the observance of it at this time. In the African country of The Gambia there was an orderly election in December. The current President, Yahya Jammeh, lost his election to Adama Barrow. President Jammeh, who came to power through a coup in 1994, is not ready to concede power. The situation there is still unsettled as the winning candidate took his oath of office in Sierra Leone. We have a number of issues in the U.S. but have not had a contested election since the hanging chads in Florida. I hope that there is no bloodshed in the Gambia as they try to govern.

The Affordable Care Act is burning a hole in the pockets of the Republicans. If more people referred to it as the ACA and not Obamacare, then it might not cause as much consternation. President Obama perfected the art of the drone strike. There are a number of terrorists who are just a memory now after their coordinates were made known to our forces. Although Russia hacked DNC files and attempted to sway the recent election, our President expelled Russian diplomats and put Russia on notice about further forays into our political world. He was a spellbinding speaker who made me proud to be an American. I don't know where the phrase Make America Great Again came from but I enjoyed the recent ride.

The President's daughters grew up right before our eyes. He earned his increasingly gray hair during his time in office. I earned my gray at the same time, albeit with much less pressure. He dealt with insults about his heritage throughout the world. He commuted sentences of numerous drug offenders and signed almost 350 pardons today. There are people who were serving life sentences for selling crack cocaine that might be able to live productive lives. He didn't pardon Chaka Fattah and I am happy about that. Chelsea Manning and Willie McCovey benefitted from the stroke of his pen and they will sleep better. He hosted numerous championship teams including the Chicago Cubs this week. That has to be a great part of the job.

He cried at the Sandy Hook massacre. He also cried at numerous other mass shootings that included the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. In spite of this bloodshed, the Republican majority will not toughen gun laws and will balk at tougher background checks. You cannot fault him for trying very hard to reduce the number of automatic weapons on the street. Chicago's murder rate spiked terribly last year. I wonder if that is why he did not move back to his adopted hometown. We had excellent job growth during his time in office. We also enjoyed excellent relationships with our NATO allies. The President elect has questioned the relevancy of NATO but a major crisis will cause him to reevaluate this stance.

I wish the President good health and tremendous speaking fees as he moves forward. I hope Michelle Obama opens her own advocacy company and commands speaking fees also. Live, love and enjoy life former POTUS. You have commanded respect in spite of what the Republicans think. The Trump movement will not erase your legacy as the leader of the free world. God Bless you and your Family and Godspeed into the private life of an American citizen,

The Trump Movement Begins! Are you Ready?

2017-01-17T03:27:00.000-08:00

On Friday, January 20th, 2017, a billionaire, will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. As Donald Trump has indicated, it is the culmination of a movement that began when he descended the escalator in Trump Tower many moons ago. I am not a supporter of Donald Trump but I respect the Office of the President. I have always wondered how he could be so unhappy with his immense wealth and unlimited ability to license his name and make money. In fact, he claimed that he turned down a $2 billion deal in Saudi Arabia just two weeks ago. I wonder what his mind set is not that he has three days to go before assuming the position of leader of the free world.

One of his any moves that he promised to make on day one is to repeal Obamacare. I think that the naming of the Affordable Care Act after President Obama has missed off Republicans more than the impact of this important source of insurance for 20 million Americans. The President elect railed endlessly against this act and not has promised insurance for everyone. This statement is impossible due to the face that affordability for insurance was the main reason that the act was passed in the first place. I am an American that is happy to have health insurance through my employer. I struggled while working as an independent contractor to maintain regular appointments with a primary care physician. Finding a dentist who is 'affordable' was a nightmare. I really hope that the Republicans replace the Affordable Health Care Act with something that will work for people that need competent medical care. Elected officials really have no worries for themselves or their families while in office.

One of the the other promises that the President elect is waffling on is the promise to build a border wall separating the U.S. from Mexico. A beautiful was was going to be built and Mexico was going to pay for it. I never thought of the environmental impact of constructing a major wall between our countries. I do know that Mexico's current President has informed Mr. Trump that it will never pay for a wall that separates our countries. It looks like the President elect is now content to try to rush a fence up and have Congress pay for it first. Mexico's payment will then be in the form of a tax that will pay us back for the billions that it will cost for this major undertaking. His ability to keep this campaign promise is looking shaky.

Mr. Trump's recent press conference, the first in nearly six months, was a disaster. He piled a bunch of folders on a table as a sign that he was transferring his businesses to his sons. He is not divesting of his ownership and claims he will not ask questions of his sons. What happened to audited financial reports for a man of such wealth? The presser was hijacked by a potential dossier that was prepared by a spy who has some kind of unverifiable dirt from Mr. Trump's dealings in Russia. Although Mr. Trump has said he has no dealings in Russia, a New York Times article revealed numerous trips made by Mr. Trump and his children to this country. He wanted to build a Trump Tower there but the deal never materialized. His bromance with Mr. Putin will be in full display in three days. Let's see how this plays out for the movement of people that voted for him. Russia is a dangerous country that has annexed Crimea and interfered in the resident presidential election here.

Mr. Trump's cabinet nominees are undergoing hearings before panels as we speak. I have not heard about anu confirmations yet. The Secretary of State nominee, Rex Tillerson, is being grilled on his close ties with Russia. The potential Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, is a school voucher advocate who is a billionaire. I don't say being a billionaire is a bad thing but she does not seem to have the education of all children at heart. Even though Mr. Trump derided Goldman Sachs repeatedly during his race, he has recommended at least 5 former or current employees for positions in his cabinet. Jeff Sessions is having a tough tie with questioning for his Attorney General position. Sometimes your past can haunt you for ever. Mitch McConnell's wife could sail through her nomination process. I just hope everyone is ready to govern on January 20th.

Finally, I hope that Mr. Trump curtails his use of Twitter when he is sworn in on Friday. Ha has picked fights with Congressman John Lewis, Actress Meryl Street, the Saturday Night Live cast, China and Mexico, Vanity Fair and the New York Times. He cannot possibly respond to every insult thrown his way. Or can he? Sean Spicer, Trump's Press Secretary, seems to feel like it is okay to punch back at every insult. It will be an interesting four years to say the least. I wish us peace as Donald Trump has promised prosperity to coal miner and auto makers. He will be the greatest jobs creator ever in his own mind. Everything he does now will be part of the public record. We all have to live in this country together. I truly want to see what 'Make America Great Again' truly looks like. God Bless America.

B-Hop, Ronda Rousey and Rashaan Salaam: So Sorry!!

2017-01-08T03:26:00.002-08:00

Happy New Years to everyone! As the first weekend of the NFL playoffs has commenced, I ponder to think of the consequences that the game inflicts on some individuals. I have so far refused to watch Concussion because one of my favorite Eagles was featured in the movie. Andre Waters was an assassin on the field. He and Wes Hopkins were feared for their physical style and punishing hits. Along with Reggie White (RIP), Clyde Simmons and Jerome Brown they were one of the greatest NFL defenses ever. The Super Bowl ring eluded us when Randall broke his ankle early one season!! That's enough of the reminiscing. On to the story.

Bernard Hopkins will go into the boxing hall of fame one day. The way his last fight ended though, he should have been considered for this honor a couple of years ago. On December 18th, 2016, Bernard entered the ring against Joe Smith, Jr. He exited the ring via a combination that had him landing on his head. It was the first time that I had ever seen a fight in which a fighter was knocked totally out of the ring. I mean he literally landed on his head on the concrete. He had been trying to get his fans to buy into the concept that his last fight should be a night of wine and roses with people wearing tuxedos to the bout. He forgot that his opponent, not the crowd, has other ideas. Joe Smith should have effectively ended his crazed dream of fighting into his fifties. We appreciate you B-Hop but save your brain cells and sanity to utilize as a promoter for Golden Boy Productions.

Ronda Rousey just got knocked out in 48 seconds in her most recent fight. It had been 13 months since she also lost to Holly Holm. Ronda, to say the least, was on top of the world before that Holm fight. She had finished filming a role in Fast and Furious 7. She was in the Sports Illustrated swimsuit edition wearing body paint. She was being referred to as the Mike Tyson of UFC women's fighting. Rousey was no slouch when it came to her fight skills. She was an Olympic judo bronze medalist. She also was smoking hot physically. Ronda was knocking women out in one round or less. Her arm bar was lethal and her 12 opponents submitted quickly. Only Miesha Tate lasted into the third round. The one thing about sports, and champions, is that you have to learn to lose. I don't think Ronda has this trait. I will be surprised to see her fight again. Acting and commentating beckon you.

Rashaan Salaam killed himself in December 2016. He died alone in a park in Colorado, He won the Heisman Trophy in 1994 as part of the Colorado Buffalo's. He had a very brief pro career that was marred by injury. I don't want to categorize his life and early death as symptomatic as some of the problems that NFL players face as they leave the game. He rushed for a record 2,055 yards in his Hesiman winning season. That was a lot of yards and projects to NFL mega earnings. He became the youngest NFL player to rush for 1,000 yards at 21 years of age. He attributed marijuana use to some of his problems rehabbing from a broken leg and trying to get back into the league. Other NFL players have met tragic ends: Joe McKnight, Will Smith, Robert Eddins, Konrad Reuland and Zurlon Tipton all died young. The game is unforgiving in its impact on the body. Some players can live normal lives upon retiring. Many struggle to walk and complete routine tasks.

Sports are a way out of poverty for the very few athletes that can transcend the large pool of people trying to reach the pinnacle of fame. I feel sorry for Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds and Manny Ramirez. They were all suspected of using performance enhancing drugs as they climbed the home run chart in baseball. In addition to PED's, Sammy Sosa is also suspected of bleaching his skin to ease his way into an upper class stratum of Latin American society. He does not look like the same person who was launching home runs at a rapid rate. Allen Iverson might be regretting all of the tattoos that he had to have imprinted on his body. It will be hard to fit into a front office or coaching role while 'tatted' up. For my pro athletes, some of who were my idols, I wish them a smooth transition back to the life of average Joe. God Bless your blood, sweat and tears on the way to the top.

Reflections on 2016

2016-12-29T07:47:00.002-08:00

At the end of a year, it is a good time to reflect and project forward. If an individual is blessed to have mental and physical health, then he or she is blessed. In my case, I lost weight in order to address my blood pressure. I joined a gym in order to keep up my physical health. At 53 years of age I feel like I am in good enough shape to be effective in taking care of my family going forward. George Michael, a renowned performer, died in his sleep on Christmas Day in London. We lost Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds recently. Prince died as a result of a drug overdose earlier this year. It has been a tough year for famous people including David Bowie.

My granddaughter Malayja turned three in November. It has been such a joy seeing her grow. She is staying with us this weekend and will celebrate the New Year with us. We had a nice birthday party at Chuck E Cheese's in Delaware County. We had our annual Christmas Eve party. We also had our usual Thanksgiving Day dinner at our house. We sold one of our properties this year and were able to upgrade the house with furniture and a new television. I put out a lot of trash and recycling today as I wanted to keep things moving here.

Health wise, it was a challenge for some people that are close to me. My Mom had to have a pacemaker installed. She will be blessed to turn 85 in March. Mom Helen has some health challenges and my sister Kia is working very hard to help her during this period. I worry about Aunt Connie as she is struggling with the house and needed repairs. She lost the truck this year after keeping it for 23 years in memory of Pop Brown. Uncle John just celebrated his 80th Birthday on December 4th, 2016 and we celebrated. Raeesah will be 25 next year and we look to celebrate at Dave & Buster's. Uncle Paul seems to be doing well and he celebrated Christmas with us.

One of the highlights of my year was being hired by First Philadelphia Charter School as a School Family Liaison. It was such an honor to be considered for the position by Dr. Joseph Gillespie. He has been such a blessing as a Friend, Mentor and Boss. I was working as a Recruiter at Children's Choice. My job was to pre-qualify potential Foster Parents. I left that job in July. In November, the whole recruiting department was laid off. Talk about perfect timing for me. I love the job at First Philly and look forward to 2017. I also spent time substitute teaching on behalf of Charter School Services. Last year at this time, it was no work and no pay. Personally, I am so thankful and blessed this year. Thanks Joe!!

I was saddened this year by terrorist attacks in France and Germany. At least 84 people were killed in Nice, France when a man driving a tractor trailer drove through a Bastille Day celebration. The horror of getting run over by a 40,000 pound vehicle is just overwhelming. At least 12 people were killed in Berlin as another man drove a truck through a Christmas celebration. I shudder to think about the carnage there while celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The savagery exhibited during these attacks is astounding. Terrorists killed innocent people in Somalia and Turkey in June. God Bless those lost souls and I pray for increased peace in 2017.

Shawn and I will hang out at Harrah's on Saturday. Due to our grandparent status, we will be back home by 10:00 PM on the 31st. We will attend the annual New Year's Day cookout at Broad & Ellsworth. We are heading to Atlantic City tonight to enjoy a $32.00 room. We struggled this year but were able to attend the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival, the Family Reunion and Homecoming. The goal now is to get Alonna to finish up her degree. I appreciated 2016 for all of its ups and downs. The downs were more a result of job struggles than anything else. Thanks to all my Family and Friends for the love sent my may. I surely love you all back!!

President Netenyahu is in a Foul Mood: Good!

2016-12-27T02:30:00.001-08:00

The United Nations recently passed a resolution condemning Israeli settlements in disputed territory that could be claimed by Palestinians. The conflicts with Palestinians over territory and national sovereignty go back to the formation of Israel back in 1948. The history of the Jewish people extends back to Biblical times. My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, was a Jewish man. His sacrifice paved the way to heaven for many Christians. This current conflict has less to do with Biblical times and more to do with greed and power. Land can only be taken if a country knows that it can do so with minimal oppostion.

It seems as though the relationship between President Obama and President Netanyahu has been pretty tense for the past eight years. I know that we support Israel financially and have been a loyal military ally. We have tried to broker peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip on numerous occasions. I wondered why the Palestinians would be seen on television slinging stones at soldiers who possessed machine guns. The yearning for land and a place to call home. Many wars are based on land and or the acquisition of oil, water or minerals. The losers are left to watch the expansion of the winners in many situations.

The Hamas is a group of Palestinians that represent individuals living in the West Bank. Along with the Fatah group they also control territory in Gaza. These groups are supported ideologically and financially by the governments in Qatar, Turkey and Iran. The history and awareness of these groups precedes the formation of the United States by at least two thousand years. We have become a military power after breaking treaty upon treaty with the Native Americans. We still have Native Americans living on reservations. Please understand that our house is not in order when it comes to taking disputed lands. Almost four million people live in the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. Someone has to be a voice for these Palestinians.

It was indicated in a report on Wikipedia that Israeli settlements are funded by private tax-exempt U.S. non-governmental organizations (NGO's) to the tune of $220 million between 2009 - 2013. So even though we abstained from the recent U.N. resolution, we have been responsible for the growth of settlements on disputed lands. These settlements are considered a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. The treaties of the Convention were adopted in 1949 and defines humanitarian protection for civilians in a war zone. I guess the area in question is still considered a war zone. It is an uneasy situation and it is exacerbated by the expansion of settlers on land that is outside of Israel's current boundaries.

The settlements have a long history in this area. Some Jewish settlers feel like these areas were foretold in the Bible. I wonder if those that believe in the Quran feel differently. The Jewish people lost millions during the Holocaust. Why Adolf Hitler deemed if acceptable to put people in ovens based on their religious affiliation is a mystery to me. Almost 500,000 Jewish settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These outposts are not for the faint of heart. There are also immigrants from outside Israel that pledge an allegiance to the Jewish faith and sometimes live in these settlements. This year to me will be the year of migrants dying at sea and trying to cross Central America into the U.S. Trying to find a place to live and raise a family is an urgent need throughout th world.

It seems like current Israeli President Netanyahu is longing for January 2017. President Trump has promised that things will be different on day one for at least twenty different initiatives. I would suggest patience in this regard. The United Nations was formed a few years before the State of Israel was established. This organization was created to maintain international peace and promote human rights. It now has 193 member states. It provides food to 90 million people in over 75 countries. It assists over 34 million refugees. It vaccinates 58% of the world's children. For the good that this group of nations does, I can deal with President Netanyahu being upset about a resolution that goes against its desire to build on disputed land in territory that Israel is building on by force.

Why I Cannot Feel Sorry for Chaka Fattah

2016-12-22T03:24:00.001-08:00

Even though he was a United States Congressman from Pennsylvania his conviction did not make national news on CNN. He had been investigated by the FBI for almost ten years for his misdeeds during and after the 2007 mayoral election in Philadelphia. Chaka was supposedly legendary for his ground game. For the political novice, this game includes the ability to motivate teams of people to pass out literature and get loyal voters to the polls on election day. Chaka had been a sitting Congressman and rarely had to campaign for reelection. His ascension to Congress was extraordinary. He served in the House of Representatives from 1983 to 1988. He then was elected to the State Senate and served until 1994.

He served a district that includes portions of North, South and West Philadelphia. His district also included Lower Merion Township. A more diverse juxtaposition of constituents could not have been put together without gerrymandering. In spite of his impending legal troubles, he constantly spoke of the millions of people that he helped go to college. He iterated on his position on the Appropriations Committee in Congress. He was a senior member of Congress and one of the only African American Congressman in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is for this reason that he should have been more circumspect when he was making the disastrous deals that led to his downfall.

Former Mayor Michael Nutter was able to get legislation passed that put a cap on political donations. I think it might have been $2,500.00 from individuals and $10,000.00 from political action committees (PAC's). This made raising money all the more difficult. Even Bob Brady, who was backed by powerful trade unions, struggled under these restrictions. Michael Nutter was not in the lead early in the race. Millionaire Tom Knox was able to spend his own money in an unlimited way but his message did not resonate with voters. Local 98 was found to have smeared Michael Nutter with a false campaign about his religious faith. Chaka seemed to falter without a direct message. State Representative Dwight Evans made a commercial about a table and I have been scratching my head ever since.

Chaka had exhibited a strong degree of hubris throughout his investigation and trial. Even when he was convicted, he thanked his legal team instead of admitting any guilt. Even now he is pointing to the overturning of a conviction of Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell rather than acknowledging that he ruined his own career and the legacy that his Mother, Sister Falaka Fattah established when the House of Umoja was established to address rampant gang violence in our city. I was saddened to see Chaka's Father being interviewed after the verdict. He still wasn't convinced that his son was guilty of the myriad number of crimes that he was convicted of. Former associate Greg Naylor pleaded guilty early on to his involvement in the schemes to repay $600,000.00 that a supporter of Fattah donated when it became apparent that the ground game alone was not going to rescue the then sitting Congressman. Maybe Chaka's father should have spoken to Bonnie Bowser, who was sentenced to house arrest, and faced astronomical legal bills, to assess the guilt or innocence of his son.

Chip Fattah is now sitting in jail on embezzlement charges. This will not be the first time that a father and son have served jail time at the same time. Chip Fattah never admitted any guilt for his hare brained schemes either. Chaka Fattah was convicted of paying his son's student loans with a federal grant but his pride wouldn't let him admit this crime. His sham sale of a Porsche to Herb Vederman was documented but not admitted to. His redirecting a federal grant to pay back the money was just the way he was used to doing business. I wonder if he would have expressed some form of contrition would the judge have allowed him to remain free during his appeal? U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III was fair in his rulings on both father and son. The preponderance of evidence in both cases pointed to greed and arrogance of the worst kind.

I would have loved to hear Chaka Fattah say that I am sorry for the misdeeds that occurred on his watch. I have betrayed the trust placed in me by the voters who sent me to Washington 11 times. I could have made better decisions with the federal funds that my office was responsible for handling. Because he found himself inherently non-culpable, I don't feel as if he deserves any sympathy on my part. He can do a lot of reading and pondering as he begins to serve his term in federal housing. When he admits some form of guilt, I will possibly shed a tear for the terrible tragedy that his life story has become.

On Tuesday, January 24th, 2017, the day before he is to begin his sentence, Chaka Fattah is still confident that his conviction will be overturned on appeal. He still denies any wrongdoing. He feels that he helped tens of millions or people and sent more people to college than any other Congressman. He is clearly delusional. He said that he talks to his imprisoned son Chip everyday. He said that Chip is doing good. How can that be? Maybe his smirk will disappear once he is a couple of years into his sentence. His arrogance is amazing.

Christmas in Cuba faded under Political Pressure

2016-12-11T02:11:00.002-08:00

Fidel Castro passed away on November 25th, 2016. He was reviled by many Cuban expatriates who lived in the United States. He was mourned by those Cubans still living on the island. Honest expressions of sympathy were hard to come by for those of us living outside the country as the state controls the press in this communist country. President Obama offered measured kindness from the U.S. perspective. President elect Trump said "Castro is Dead". So much for international diplomacy.

Many of us who celebrate Christmas are in the middle stages of preparing for the birth of Jesus Christ. I envy families who have decorations up by Thanksgiving. Shawn and I were cleaning and wiping down walls yesterday. My goal is to clean windows and hang lights today. We will get a live tree this year. I am especially thankful for my job and my health. The last few years have been tough but I never lost faith that I could be productive and provide for my Family. We have had a Christmas Eve get together for a number of years now. The tradition continues.

Fidel Castro became the Prime Minister of Cuba in 1959. Cuba became an atheist state in 1962. Christmas was officially removed from the calendar in 1969. School and offices open in Cuba on Christmas like it is another day. Many Cubans who were born in the 1980's have no recollection of Christmas traditions on the island. Mr. Castro placed on the blame on removing the Holiday on the production of sugar cane. He suppressed a tradition that is strong in many Hispanic countries. A time for celebrating the Misa de Gallo and the arrival of the Tres Reyes was pushed to the wayside.

Christmas in Cuba is also know as the Noche Buena. It was directly influenced by the Spanish Catholic domination of the island. The women in Cuban families would prepare for weeks for a big family celebration that would include roasting a whole pig. There would be turrones and bunuelos as part of the meal. Rice and beans, plaintains and mpjitos would fuel a great sense of togetherness at the end of the year for families. Many of the people of African descent celebrate with Yoruba or Santeria traditions. Protestants also exist on the island. I hope that Fidel's suppression of Christmas did not involve physical force and intimidation.

I wonder if Raul Castro will allow Noche Buena to assume a rightful place in Cuba again. The U.S. had made overtures to thaw relations with Cuba after years of strained relations. We imposed a trade embargo on Cuba in 1958 as a result of the atrocities committed by the government of Fulgencio Batista. It was the domination of Batista that spawned the leadership of Fidel Castro. President Obama visited Cuba in March of 2016. He has recently lifted restrictions against Cuban rum and cigars. Beyonce and Jay Z visited in 2013 and were met with a firestorm of criticism by those who oppose thawing relations of any kind.

Our current President elect vows to overturn almost all of President Obama's overtures to this island. I pray for the souls of those lost during the Cuban flotillas. Thousands of Cubans were allowed to leave the island in 1980. Fidel had to have a plan for allowing so many of his citizens to leave. Many went to Peru. Many came to Arkansas. Hundreds died making the ninety mile journey to try to reach the shores of Florida. As the epitaphs to Fidel's life are writtten, I focus only on the impact that he had on Christmas or Noche Buena in the country. When Pope Juan Pablo II visited, he did allow those who believe to celebrate. May Fidel find eternal rest. May suppressed traditions be allowed to flourish as relations thaw between the U.S. and Cuba.

Romney interviewing with Trump Administration is a Farce

2016-12-04T03:49:00.001-08:00

Mitt Romney is a very affluent American citizen. He was the Governor of Massachusetts. He was a founder of Bain Capital and generated millions of dollars in salary for himself and his family. He was unsuccessful in the 2008 and 2012 Presidential campaigns. He withdrew in the Republican primary after it appeared that John McCain would carry his party's mantle in 2008. He was so sure of victory in 2012 that he forgot to prepare a concession speech in the unlikely event that President Obama repeated as the leader of our country. He eventually conceded and has had a lot on angst about losing since then.

I am confused about two recent meetings that Mr. Romney has had with President elect Donald Trump concerning the Secretary of State position. Mitt Romney made continuous incendiary comments about a potential Trump administration. Here is a quote "Trumpism has been associated with racism, misogyney, bigotry, xenophobia, vulgarity and, most recently, threats and violence." Many of these points were evident throughout the bruising presidential campaign. Mr. Romney spearheaded the Never Trump movement and even supported the idea of supporting a third party candidate.

The statements and willingness to be so public about defeating Donald Trump lead me to question his motives for now seeking a job in the Trump administration. I am a Democrat but I live here so I observe the machinations of the political process closely. Even Kelly Ann Conway expressed publicly how much opposition current Trump supporters have against a potential Romney appointment. Her public comments have caused some consternation among the Trump transition team. One good thing about the Trump administration is that being close to seventy and extremely rich is a good thing. There is hope for many of us in our fifties.

Mitt Romney does not need a job. He did not draw a salary while he was Governor of Massachusetts. I guess you could say he really cares about the American people. He was actually a proponent of Affordable Health Care in his home state. I know he has to take a public stance against Obamacare because that is the Republican line. I just wonder at 69 years of age why he would want such a grueling position. Mitt has been haunted about his 47% statement made to a group of wealthy donors during his 2012 campaign. He essentially grouped many lower income people in a category that felt entitled to government support and would vote for then POTUS Obama no matter what. It was a serious dent in his image and showed how wealthy individuals think about the rest of the country.

If Mitt Romney is eventually selected as the Secretary of State, I wish him well. Donald Trump is already roiling political observers by accepting phone calls from world leaders and following them up with unscripted statements on Twitter. A recent conversation with the leader of Taiwan caused China to lodge a protest. A phone call with the leader of Pakistan has shown his lack of political expertise. The President of the Phillipines is supposedly on board with Trump due to statements made by Trump that support the brutal drug campaign waged by police there. President Duterte swore publicly at President Obama because blood was running in the streets of the Phillipines and an appeal was made to look at another way to conduct the drug war. As long a people say good things about President Trump, we will be in a happy place. Not.

One of the other options for Secretary of State is Rudy Guiliani. OMG no. There has to be some younger Republicans with diplomatic experience. Political bluster and apparent bravado can quickly shrink when real crises arrive. We cannot just bomb the @#$% out of ISIS. Google Mosul and understand how those people are suffering at the hands of this brutal group. Political negotiations are fraught with risks and give and take. Dealing with Russia as though they are this warm and cuddly friend to us will come back to haunt a Trump administration. Americans await anxiously the choice of Secretary of State. The statement, Politics make Strange Bedfellows, has never been more apparent.