VASS - Politics, news, life from a Black Puerto Rican view

Links for 2009-11-21 [Digg]

2009-11-22T00:00:00-08:00

Music Video: Beyonce and Lady Gaga - do I need to say more?
I like this video ever so much more now. It's the biggest joke, that everyone will be watching this and yet NO ONE will likely figure out what it is that's going on. I'm sure the director will be rolling on the floor with laughter as review after review misses the obvious yet praises the video; not realizing...

Links for 2009-11-17 [Digg]

2009-11-18T00:00:00-08:00

New Breast cancer guidelines = death panels
I have sisters and my mother that are at risk of breast cancer because they are women. Because they are African American they are at great risk of late detection and highest risk of death. And now the Government is trying to ensure that the chance of them having breast cancer and providing fewer chances of survival is greater. Plus the Government..
Black Conservatives on television
Excerpt - "Not only that, but why is it that in a mere 40 years we have gone from a people that led the nation from a mindset of prejudice and segregation to that of subservience. Dr. Martin Luther King never advocated that, Malcolm X never believed that. Both men were conservatives, especially in the political world of today. Yet Conservatives..."
Being Conserative and Black
The people you never heard of. The Black people that politicians ignore. The other voice - the one that has nothing to do with being ghettofabulous. Ever wonder why people with these thoughts, these careers, this intelligence are shunned? Why the Black community is afraid of becoming the very thing that Dr. Martin Luther King and Malcolm X were?

Links for 2009-11-10 [Digg]

2009-11-11T00:00:00-08:00

234 years of service
Excerpt... "But today is the Birthday of the Marine Corps and I celebrate my fellow Marines, in active service or not, with us today or not, in peace where possible and in combat where not."

Links for 2009-10-16 [Digg]

2009-10-17T00:00:00-07:00

Mayor Matt Ryan Interviewed by Michael Vass
"It may not be the big headline, or ratings grab, but I feel that especially in the wake of such events the nation and the world should be reminded that it is those good people that should be the mark of any place. The media should always emphasize the positive in cities like Binghamton rather than cash in and sully their name."
15 minutes with Mayor Matt Ryan of Binghamton NY
Part 1 of Michael Vass interview with Mayor Matt Ryan Of Binghamton New York about the Civic Center shooting, the changes in the city, and more. See commentary and press release at www.mvass.com

Links for 2009-10-13 [Digg]

2009-10-14T00:00:00-07:00

M V Consulting, Inc. Announces the Creation of 2 New ...
“This has been a trying year for all companies and individuals around the globe. But in these times of struggle it is my firm belief that diversifying and growing the services and products we provide to clients and consumers is critical to continued exponential growth.”

Links for 2009-10-09 [Digg]

2009-10-10T00:00:00-07:00

It’s great to be a rockstar politician
If the world is not on the road to hell, we can sure see it from here.
Australia - A great country if you are White
"I have known many Australians. They were good people. I'm sure there are many in Australia right now. But there is no question that the racial attitudes of the nation is more akin with 1950's America that the 21st century."

Links for 2009-10-08 [Digg]

2009-10-09T00:00:00-07:00

I'm so genteel if I weren't Black I'd be Southern
Inspiration for my latest t-shirt design literally came out of a comment I made with several friends at a party not long ago...
CBO confirms the problems with Health Care Reform
It’s a victory, if you are a Democrat. Then again, the Democrat-led Congress has yet to read any of the Bills being voted out of Congress since the Obama Administration took over. So I doubt they really know what the CBO has just said.
Wet T-shirt car wash
I mentioned at www.blackentertainmentblog.com that 2 teams went to the APA Las Vegas National Tournament. But I didn't mention that one of the teams decided to raise a bit of extra cash with a wet T-shirt car wash before the trip to Vegas. As you might imagine, they made money. But you might not guess that ...

The true Democrat definition of rich

2009-01-29T16:48:00.002-05:00

I just figured out a secret that I don’t think most people in America have noticed. The fact is it’s not much of a secret, it’s more like the elephant in the room. And Democrats have successfully avoided mentioning it for a while now. Looking at the supposed “stimulus” package that is trying to be shoved through Congress before the public realizes what’s in the package I noticed something. Now

House Democrats are scamming your money

2009-01-29T02:19:00.003-05:00

I had a friend ask me why the Republicans are causing trouble. The reference was to why all the House Republicans (and 11 Democrats) voted against the Stimulus Package. And when I mentioned some of the things I have long written, I was asked for more details. Now I imagine others are wondering about details as well. How can I claim this is a horrible plan that will bankrupt America if there are

Obama Stimulus Package: an urgent need to do nothing

2009-01-28T15:57:00.003-05:00

The more I hear about the Obama stimulus package, the less I like it. Yet it is the most “urgent” piece of legislation that his Administration is working on passing, immediately. Just as the $800 billion for the credit crisis had to be immediate. And just as with the mortgage/credit bailout quick action without forethought provides for mistakes, waste and a few political amendments that no one

America is failing the children of the world

2009-01-27T13:18:00.002-05:00

It’s a real shame that American politics is so filled with polispeak and soundbites that most don’t know how ineffective our Government can be. One of the most glaring failures of our Government can be seen in the Child Soldier Prevention Act. This was introduced to Congress in 2006, then again in 2007, and again in 2008. It has never become law. In fact it has yet to make it out of committee.

The Democratic Party: entertaining with polispeak

2009-01-27T03:13:00.002-05:00

Democrats are really something. I don't say this because I favor Democrats. Nor because they are special in any way. And let me clarify this - I am speaking about politicians and not people. Democrats are just as prone to polispeak. They break campaign promises just as often. They have scandals, ignore constituents, and promote special interests as much as any other political group. But the

Compassion for ex-cons? I disagree

2009-01-23T17:11:00.003-05:00

January 2nd of this year Jacqueline Caron made a comment to my post about rapper TI and his charity on Thanksgiving. It was not directly related to TI, or charity, but to the plight of ex-convicts. The comment went verbatim as follows: It is wonderful to hear possitve for a change. Lets not forget about people who have made mistakes but turned their lide around. They are a forgotten population

The 100 day countdown has as many questions

2009-01-23T14:33:00.004-05:00

Well I read something that was quite interesting the other day. It dealt with the questions of what we can expect from an Obama Administration. The article by Jim VandeHei and John F. Harris titled What we don't know about Obama points to some interesting thoughts. So far we know that President Obama has ordered the detainee prison in Guantanamo Bay closed. He expects this to take one year,

Caroline Kennedy is out, thank goodness

2009-01-22T18:00:00.003-05:00

In the best news since President Obama was elected, Caroline Kennedy has removed herself from consideration for the Senate seat of now Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The people of New York State should rejoice. The news now ends the highly probable appointment that Kennedy was expected to receive. “Kennedy discussed withdrawing from the race with Gov. David Paterson on Wednesday, and

Media, President Obama, and questions from Logan Calder

2009-01-22T14:17:00.005-05:00

This is a response I made to a comment recieved from Logan Calder on my post America is still America. I felt this deserved to be heard on it own as well. Logan, I love involved comments that reflect when someone has read what I have written. Thank you. I will try to respond as clearly as I can. The question of why so many, including myself, have said “I never thought I would see a black

Who has bigger balls, Congress or Clinton? Clinton it seems.

2009-01-20T19:05:00.003-05:00

Sometimes you almost feel like Congress can get something right. Then you realize it’s Congress – the worst Congress ever, that has accomplished the least ever – and then you know how bad you’re screwed. Case in point. Senator Hillary Clinton is about to become the Secretary of State. Such an abomination should never happen outside of a nightmare. But the reality is that the wicked witch of

Don’t say I didn’t warn you

2009-01-20T18:14:00.002-05:00

I have been talking about the economy and what would happen if a Democrat would win since late 2007. When it became clear that President Obama was the Democratic nominee I discussed how the stock market would react to his win. And after the election I forecasted what would likely happen to the Dow Jones Index on inauguration day. I hit the nail on the head. Well close enough to that anyway. I

America is still America

2009-01-20T12:55:00.004-05:00

Well it has to be said by someone. I know the hate mail will flow. I understand, and am gleeful, about the history being made as President Obama becomes the first Black man that is President of the United States. It is a moment that I never expected in my lifetime. That said, I have to wonder and comment on the way the media and many people are treating this as if the world has instantly

Billions for foreclosure, billions wasted

2009-01-15T17:13:00.001-05:00

So now President Obama seems to be interested in providing up to $100 billion for those in foreclosure or about to be. It's a really great gesture. It will surely help his approval rating. And it will help guarantee that he receives the full $850 billion he has wanted for the Democrat proposed stimulus plan. But I am opposed to this. Not because I don't want people to keep their homes. But

Politics - the ultimate career

2009-01-15T16:19:00.002-05:00

Ah the joy of politics. There is nothing like it. Only in politics can a person give a promise to millions of people, publicly, and then get a promotion when they fail miserably to follow thru. Only in politics can promises on the campaign trail be reversed 180 degrees once elected. Only in politics can a politician accept money that most would call influencing and still become one of the most

Senator Hillary Clinton should not be Secretary of State

2009-01-14T12:07:00.004-05:00

Perhaps one of the most telling things about why Senator Hillary Clinton should not be Secretary of State, or any other position in the Executive Office, has been raised by Senator Lugar during the confimation hearings the other day. It is simple and direct. Senator Lugar clearly expressed the problem. Senator Clinton is directly tied to the Clinton Foundation. The Foundation is known for having

Smoking today, your life tomorrow

2009-01-12T15:56:00.002-05:00

Smoking is a bad habit. I can say that because I am a smoker. To be completely honest I am addicted to smoking. And have been for nearly 2 decades now. That said, I am also an American citizen. Cigarettes are legal and available for purchase across the nation, if you are of legal age. Which I am. I pay corporate taxes, state, local, and extra taxes on my cigarettes that goes to who knows where

Surprise! We are still in a bear market.

2009-01-09T17:12:00.003-05:00

Let me see if I understand this correctly. "A jump in unemployment sent stocks sharply lower Friday as investors feared that Americans won't soon deviate from their tightened budgets." That means that someone thought consumers would go back to spending money, or realistically increasing debt, because the new year started? Or they thought that the $120 a month less in taxes (for only 4 months)

Open letter to Sharpton, Jackson, NAACP, Sen. Boxer, Sen. Feinstein, and the media

2009-01-09T14:17:00.005-05:00

This is letter to those mentioned in my post What can you do to prevent another Grant, Bell, Diallo, or other police murder? This letter will be sent to all those named in that post. If you know of other organizations that should receive this, let me know. If you wish to copy and modify this letter for your own use to these individuals, please do. To whom it may concern, I am Michael Vass,

Illegal immigration: the problem and a potential solution

2009-01-06T14:07:00.002-05:00

From time to time I have discussed the question of immigration in America. To be direct, I do not like any illegal immigrant being in the nation, and absolutely believe that they deserve nothing from the Government if they are here. That being said, if you want to give up your home for immigrants to stay at and your income for them to live reading further will only anger you. Again I will start

New stimulus package is 60% waste

2009-01-05T13:26:00.002-05:00

Now that we have entered 2009, the time for details has begun. President Obama has now stated that he intends to make 40% of the proposed stimulus plan, that was championed by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi from $50 billion to its now $800 billion level, business tax-cuts. That is the first logical and reasonable thing I've heard about this plan since its inception. Some $300 billion dollars

Happy New Year - if you are not Muslim and on AirTran Airlines

2009-01-02T19:56:00.003-05:00

It's really a shame that the new year has just started and already the ugly face of prejudice has shown itself. In fact it popped up on New Year's Day. Couldn't we get past the first day without an issue? Obviously not. The whole event happened in Washington D.C. The problem was that someone thought that people dressed in Muslim garb can't speak about airplane safety without something blowing up

Gold, oil, stocks, Democrats and 2009

2009-01-02T18:33:00.005-05:00

Last year I was looking at the gold markets and speculated that gold would surge along with several of the gold stocks. On December 6, 2007 I rebuffed the claims of Goldman Sachs when they stated to sell gold. At the time the spot price was $855. In January of 2008 I pointed out a few gold stocks: Streettrack Gold Trust Barrick Gold Corp. Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. Goldcorp Inc Western

The 2009 resolution I wish would happen

2008-12-29T18:47:00.001-05:00

What do you hope for in 2009? A simple question. Some are making resolutions to lose weight, or quit smoking. Some hope for world peace, a less polluted planet, or just a few less guns on the streets. Some pray for fame, other wish to have their work recognized. And in these troubled times more than a few just want to be able to make ends meet for one more year for their family, friends, and

The ghost of Christmas past invades the credit crisis

2008-12-22T11:10:00.004-05:00

Oh the horror. Now you have your choice of what the horror is. The $188 billion spent on the mortgage/bank bailout so far, the latest news from AP stating that in 2007 banks paid $1.6 billion on salaries and compensation, or the fact that Barney Frank dares to question anyones work ethic. "Most of us sign on to do jobs, and we do them best we can," said Frank. "We're told that some of the most

Caroline Kennedy - a name with no place in politics

2008-12-22T01:56:00.005-05:00

I've waited for a while now, just waiting for something from Caroline Kennedy to justify or remove her from consideration in replacing Senator Hillary Clinton. Mind you that I am not sorry to see Senator Clinton gone from office, as I am tired of her excuses on the broken promises that mark her time in New York. Though I am greatly saddened to see her working anywhere near the Executive Branch.