THE AUDACITY OF BEING SMARTY PANTS

I am stealing a little thunder from a Blog that I like to read when I wrote this. Over the past few weeks I pulled back from the table of let’s “Bash Hillary” this week, lets “Bash Barak” next week. The whole Style vs. Substance, Action vs. Inactions, Bread and Butter vs. Meat and Potatoes it got tied and pathetic. Even more so, many of the Black Bloggers were and still are far worst than the Traditional Media and I just got sick of reading what new NON ISSUE was going to be the ranted of the day. Well, on my way back I go back to surfing for my general information off the Internet and International sources. Then I go to my Black Blogs and guess what, not a DAYUM beat was missed; SSDD.

My Black Conservative Blog that I enjoy had an “Obama” piece on it (when in Rome I say) that made me decide to do my first Political entry in about a month. The entry was this:

"My biggest fear of the Obama Campaign was not that he would be perceived as the Black candidate (that is pretty hard to overlook), but that he would be perceived as an uppity Black candidate (a Black elitist who is out of touch with common folk and who has the gall to look down on poor whites). Well, it happened and the media and the blogosphere has gone 'ape s__t' over...the truth!”

I thought the same thing way back when Obama was running for Senator of the State of Illinois. My beliefs were not because I am a Conservative or a Black Republican but for the only reason that I come from the same educational background as Obama. The views and perception that the Blogger addressed, I get working in my own Community. I mean lets keep it real, if you are a college graduate and live in a richly diverse Black community, you know you have had run ins with all types of people with varying levels of academic achievement. It is expected upon the first words from people speaking that we expect a minimum of rudimentary level of education; basic reading, writing and comprehension. Absent the notion of Common Sense, we can expect in this modern time that a person will at least complete a sentence with the proper Queen’s English or Street lingo with a noun and a verb. How a person communicates, does speak volumes as to their character. It tells a story of education, geographic location even generation. So when tone, posture and intent is backed behind a Man or Woman speaking in America, we have no choice but to departmentalize where we stand against them either side-by-side or on the sidelines doubting if and how we compare.

Living in urban areas, the diversity in peoples is far reaching and varied. From rich to poor, young to old, Black to White, Saints to Sinners, you can’t keep tract of the complexities. Within the communities of Black folk we have Dark skin to Light skin, Religious to Spiritual, Educated to Illiterate, Elders to Adolescence, Conservatives and New Progressives. Sticking to the Educated (Intellectuals) coming Home to community, there is and has always been a deeply rooted disdain for the character that comes with possessing (too much) knowledge; although becoming an educated Black person, part and parcel, necessitated in the uplifting of a Race.

These groups of Blacks have been a part of the Black American Diaspora since the days of Reconstruction and the Talented Ten. Even more so, those Jack and Jill Blacks are even sub-divided by Northern and Southern Intellectuals and Traditionally Black College and Universities vs. Ivy Leaguers. So when I see Barak Obama standing before the nation and speaking, the perception of him being an Agent of Change and Inspiration does exist and yet his appeal is greatest with the Youth and White Collar Professionals (at least this is how the media is reporting it). So between the Obama’s stance as an intellectual (political), well traveled, Ivy League educated, Charismatic (I hate this reference) and having a command of poised language, on the surface, he can have the appearance of a cultural elite to those without; the poor, the working class and those on the other side of the Black sub-culture.

So when you take the feelings of people under the shadow of inequities, words spoken from the physical representation of a “possible” Affirmative Action recipient that has done GOOD, an individual whom have in his niceties described them as “bitter”, an existence that may or may not exist, it would only be a matter of time before someone on the receiving end speak up and shout words like Elitist, Uppity, and Bourgie. If you come from a simular background as an Obama, the expectation for this type of negative response is like the theory of Memory Prediction Framework. This theory of when the brain takes events and stimuli from the past sets up a framework for serious and preordained reactions. This action supports in making decisions and navigating through complex obstacles and random occurrences. Think of it like driving slowly through a minefield and knowing where they are all placed. Now speed up the driving with a dust storm, the Sun in your eyes and birds flying across your window and your brain blocks out all other stimuli and concentrates on the driving to avoid the mines. This is Obama’s Memory Framework because although he was referring to economics, in America economics is tied too close to Race, either his or Small Town America’s. His fix for the situation? You will see Obama calling upon all of his past lectures, speeches, sermons, conversations, personal conflicts and history of his being MISUNDERSTOOD by others for being ELITE.

Obama’s analyst of Small Town America does not threaten those Intellectuals on par with Obama. It is only those that have not had the blessings of a Harvard education (including those that were rejected and ended up going to their SECOND CHOICE SCHOOL) and those that have been laborers for generations might have issue.

THE MISDIRECTION OF BLACK FOLK

I preach a personal point , and not just due to this year's Pre-Presidential Race (because that is what it is, this is just the preliminaries, the actual race hasn’t even begun) but a point of Politics that has frustrated me for years.

Before I even get to what it is that I am most frustrated about, I need to inform you where this ENERGY comes from. I am a Political Scientist. I am also an International Studies person. I gravitate to all things that make up the World’s International community, its languages, its history, dress, its relationships etc. My specialty in International studies specifically; Political Boarders. This is the study of how Nations carve out boundaries based upon Geography, Ideology, Treaties and Social Agreements, Wars and Economics. As part of my background I have worked with Mayors, Governors, Congressmen in the House and the Senate, eventually got disenchanted with the politics of it all and began to turn to writing and activism (while working for the MAN because Brotha ain’t feeling the starving artist gig). Don’t get it twisted, I will sacrifice for a Cause even in the face of knowing that I will not have many bodies to catch my back when I am knock back or fall. That is the life of a leader, of an activist and person with Social Vision. So my point that I preach and is deeply rooted in my frustration with the American people especially Black Folk is WHY DO PEOPLE FEEL THAT POLITICAL POSITIONS ARE CAREER JOBS?

I responded to a recent Blog that was ranting about how BLACK FOLK got their eye on Black Super Delegates who don’t vote for Obama (mind you, we aren’t even NEAR the point of considering whether we need to look to a Super Delegate to vote).

This was my response"

"This speaks loudly of MISDIRECTED ENERGY.

The fact that this representative is serving in his 11th term speaks of the laziness, ignorance and lack of oversight of your community. You mean that it took an issue of a Black Man running for President to wake Black Folk up to get involved in your community's POLITICS? Every time I read a Blog with this PUNISH BLACK DELEGATES topic I laugh.

The issue isn't with John Lewis; the issue is with you for allowing him 11 terms in office. And if his service is/was so GREAT that it merit him being in OFFICE that long ... WHY WOULD YOU SABOTAGE his good efforts because YOU WANT A PRESIDENT THAT IS BLACK? It makes no sense.

Come check out on my Blogspot: THE PUNISHING OF BLACK FOLK, THE FATE OF BLACK LOYALTY pts 1,2 , I'M GONNA KICK YOUR HILLARY LOVIN ASS.

.... because the issue isn't WHAT BLACK DELEGATES SHOULD DO but more about WHAT BLACK FOLK NEGLECTED TO DO."

You pretty much get the jest of my point and whom I was referring to. As a child growing up in an Activist family, I often wondered why so many Politicians were in office for so long. As a child I also remembered in both my Civic and History classes that there was something called "TERM LIMITS" that were placed upon the President of the United States. This was to avoid the United States Government from becoming much like that of England, which was a Monarchy. I know that in New York City, its mayor has term limits and in many other offices in various States, you only get 2 or 3 shots at getting the job done. So when I see politicians in office for what, 11 terms, we are talking about, in some Congressional offices, a service time anywhere from 22 to 44 years in the same title. I don't know too many private and or corporate positions that last that long without question and definitely without ACCOUNTABILITY.

There is currently a Senator, Robert Byrd, serving since 1956, pushing 90 plus years old. Not knocking the Man, because anyone that can live to 90 years old is blessed BUT the the Senator can barely stand without a walker and his VOICE gives off body vibration that makes him look like his personal screws are coming loose and the body parts fall to the ground. I personally think that the people who keep electing him should be charged with Elderly ABUSE. I mean, he just fell and he's most likely shopping for a NEW HIP. Come on people, you mean there is no one in the whole state, Democrat, Republican, Independent, ALIEN that can be elected to office? Whenever I hear, while watching C-SPAN or my Sunday Morning Political Talk Shows how whomever Representative is on at the moment has 10, 20, 35 40 years in the Congress, I immediately fault the community that elected him or her, NOT the Representative.

My point is, when Political officials repeat their roles in Congress, it isn’t their fault that they work the way they do, it is the PEOPLE’S FAULT for their contentment and ignorance for the way things work. It speaks to more than an accountability issue, it speaks to the role of the Politician and the definition of a Civic Position that anyone can turn a short term contribution to the American fabric for service and tool it into a permanent career with perks and benefits. To be a politician is suppose to be a "privilege" and not a RIGHT and once in, you do not have the RIGHT to be there until you RETIRE even more so, pass the position to family.

If you take out your wallet full with your life’s savings and you set it on a park bench and fall asleep, how can you possibly blame the World or even the thief for ripping you off? This is what Americans have been doing for years and keeping it even closer to HOME, Black folk have been doing this for years and complaining about it without action. This very argument is what fuels Black Conservative to associate with the Republican Party (Lord knows they never have an answer for me when I asks, why Republican when you could consider being an Independent?) because in that complacency within Black communities they see the Democratic Party capitalizing on it and profiting as well.

My experience working in Politics, my Representative and organizations would do everything but give away free money to get people involved or even INFORMED. Millions of dollars spent to inform American citizens on the comings and going, the defeats and wins of their local politicians cannot be calculated and yet Americans argue that they don’t know anything about their local officials. I won’t even diverge into my issues and reasons why people decide to NOT vote but whatever the reasons, it never makes sense. As a local activist, in order to get people to pay attention to what ails the community, one needs to spend thousands of dollars for a local radio station or park convention, free give-always, celebrities and sometimes a mini concert to inform them that, “YOUR HOUSE WILL BE KNOCKED DOWN TOMORROW AND WE NEED YOU TO HELP US KEEP YOU IN IT!!!” At which point shock, blame and anger ensues and a rush to replace Black Leaders as being incompetent, uppity, con-artist and self-serving or the Thanks but No Thanks for not getting their attention earlier.

Now I will fess up, there are some really trifling Politicians and community leaders out there BUT for the most part, they usually work within the limited resources that they have which would be a Community that is so disconnected with the WORK that the Politician has no choice but to uses their best judgment to make the HARD CHOICES. Which brings me to my next point, Black Folk have had a HANDS OFF treatment with their Politicians for YEARS and now that there is this rush to make a difference in this election of CHANGE (mind you it was an election of CHANGE in 2000 and 2004 when the same people today who are voting, pretty much haphazardly participated then) are demanding from their REPRESENTATIVES to do as "I SAY". There is this "I am in the Driver’s Seat" voter mentality when for years Black Folk rode like Mrs. Daisy. complaining all the way to the Service Entrance of the White House. Then there is the LACK OF KNOWLEDGE of what a Super Delegate is, their role, and their individual RIGHTS and limitations as an INDEPENDENT VOTER, which are not bound by the DEMANDS of the Community.

So now we have a dilemma since the multiple term Politician was giving free reign to make policy (regardless if it was good or bad for the community) and is now FORCED almost threaten, to give up their FREE RIGHT to vote as their JUDGEMENT would be for the demands of the people he represent. One would argue, that for years free of NO OVERSIGHT, to do this one thing for the community is a good trade off and yet it is still a violation of the rules and standards of the democratic process, especially since he or she has done their job as well as any politician could accomplish with the resources, or lack there of, for years.

My understanding of this all is this; a Political Position is NOT a Career. These are Civic roles people play for a short period of time and anyone in office more than 2 terms should be questioned and anything more than 4 terms should be suspect. No matter how well a job the Politician does, an American Man or Woman should not hold that type of Power that long. To add, any community that allows this to happen in their community should be suspect and held accountable for corrupting the Democratic system.

Black folk are only at the crest of understanding this but they are getting there. Unfortunately they may get there with a lot of Political Blood being shed. Those that make up the National Black Caucus do need a good cleansing, possible DRY CLEANING with extra starch and pressing BUT we also need to look at the labels and see if the fabric of who they are REQUIRE that type of treatment or just a good home grown HAND WASHING. I have my opinions on a few but like I said, I can only do my part locally.

I think it is too late to TEACH Black folk as a whole how putting Super Delegates on a WATCH isn’t the answer before the Presidential election, considering that there are over 700 Super Delegates and Blacks make up less than 90. Subtract the Latino, Native America, Asian and Women and you are left with WHITE MALES in huge numbers. If the Super Delegate voting is of major concern, I THINK YOU NEED TO PUT SOME WHITE FACES UP ON THAT LIST. The light from the Watchtower (not to be confused with the Jehovah’s Witnesses conversion material) shines on EVERYONE. If Black folk are willing to BEAT UP on the Black Delegates then they need to get MIKE TYSON on the others as well.

GONNA LOOSE MY MIND, UP IN HERE

I know my Blog fans know I have been hitting up this whole election thing for a minute and I promise to give it a rest soon but I can’t help it right now. I got that Social Change and Community Service thing in me. I’ve worked with community leaders and politicians on and off for years. Most of them started out as good and honorable people. The few that fell off the Wagon of Goodness I can kick off a high curb and because of their fall from grace, I have to refrain from spitting on them when passing on the street.

Now I know its nasty to hock on a Brotha and if anyone ever did it too me, I hope my online donation site will raise as much as Ron Paul to retain Star Jones cause “I’ll Killa Negro” that put mouth cooties on me.

Looking at these fools try and figure out this election mess, the News, Polls, reporters, Pundits, celebrities, Black people, White people, Gypsies on the move and I’d even put money the Pope’s divine connect to GOD can’t get a hold or a prediction on this Madness. This has never happened before. There is no precedence of this ever happening. Its like the Million Man March backs in the day when the general media couldn’t explain (and still can’t) how all these Black People got together without anyone being tipped off. They were all caught off guard and their pants down trying to comprehend hundreds of thousands of Black Men (because at that time America thought we were all break dancing or in prison) converged on Washington DC and no one get arrested. For the first time the media was off script and had to actually wing it. Wing it as in REPORT IT AS IT WAS HAPPENING. No predictions, no Socio-Political Psychologist (Yes this is actually a job title), no representative from any of the organizations attending, no pre- March segments, the NEWS media couldn’t even rely on their Token Jim Crownies employed to come up with a rebuttal to help simulate controversy. And when it was all over, everyone was forced to be reserved from talking shyt because it was peaceful, positive and focused on Black people only. Focused and positive from start to finished.

When the nature of who you are is so disconnected from the reality of Black people, especially in America, and you have to all of a sudden answer to that reality, the stumble and stammer of words are apparent. How is it that you can explain the thinking and actions of people when it is only based upon tried and tired statistics of Crime, Visions of Hip-Hip, Rap and Gang Bang Porn, Jocking Black Leaders for sound bites and minutes of fame and the handful of successful Blacks whom have lost their way, and when asked to give opinions of events outside of that is expect, MEDIA sweat and cringe when it can’t speak to the possibilities that on how a PEOPLE can and will vote. Answer? America has never had the need to conceptualized the possibility that its “sub-human” society had the capacity to hold the majority’s future in their hands. So now you have a situation where Blacks can anoint the next leader of the Free World and they all have to play nice, tie-toe over and around obvious opinions and Media actually has to report it as it is and say “I DON’T KNOW”. As a society built upon arrogance and self-proclaimed privilege, it makes faces RED with frustration and I love it.

Blacks are in a unique position which will not be seen again in United States National politics, EVER. The playing field will change as soon as these elections are over so that this POWER can never be played or used again. This isn’t anything conspiratorial but it is the nature of politics, it’s the nature of POWER. Even the Latino vote will be neutralized for future elections. The smoke screen of their existence in America was painted as the Illegal Immigrant (knowing that the true illegals are from Eastern Europe, Asia and the Work VISA Card holders imported from this places). As BLACKS are building into a subtle Civil War over Clinton vs. Obama, the stakes are higher when you play Legal vs. Illegal. The dynamics of Black Latin vs. White Latin, Island Latin vs. South American Latin, Naturalized Latin vs. Immigrant Latin, English Speaking Only Latin vs. Spanish Speaking Only Latin, Latino Women’s Rights vs. Housewife Latin and other compounded real issues that can be exploited, the seeds political dissension will grow. Blacks know this GAME and are in the pinnacle of turning the tables possibly with this current election.

The 1970’s into the 80’s were the dissension years for Black Americans, the era where the benefits of the Post-Civil Rights Movement kicked in bring many out of their communities to never truly return. Sad to say, Affirmative Action was part of the catalyst that divided Black Americans from ethnic solidarity into Class divisions. Yet in the roll of a Barak Obama, Black can see a possible shift back to the middle where both side of the class struggle can focus on a common goal for empowerment.

Now full circle, about 40 years later, we have a Southern White man from poor roots who rises to prestige as a trail attorney and Vice President hopeful, a White woman from humble beginnings and dedicated to service rises to political prominence and married to one of the best Presidents of a generation, and then there is a Black man, bi-racial Multiculturalists Liberal who was abandoned as a child, experimented with all sorts of social vices and became Ivy League educated, the spokes person of the Democratic Party and all are applying for the job of President of the United States of America. Not bad for Civil Rights. Equally, not bad for the contributions of Affirmative Action. Without out it, you wouldn’t have a Hillary Clinton, Barak Obama and you might as well include Collin Powell, Condi Rice, Ray Nagin, JC Watts, Joseph C. Phillips (that's the guy from the Cosby Show that married America's Girlfriend, Denise Huxtable) Alan Keyes (remember him, he was on the Republican ticket for President but got diss’ed a third time by said Party), Clarence Thomas, Oprah Winfrey and any other successful Black and or Woman within the age group of 40 to early 60’s.

This sudden visual CHANGE in the staunchly WHITE MALE DOMINATED PRESIDENTAL CLUB is at the very root of many peoples' frustration, mostly the HAVES and the HAVE MORES. As the stakes get higher and the prizes more prominent yet harder to acquire, the craziness in people show on their sleeves in vibrant colors. Take Rosanne Barr for instance; look at what this crazy B-Word wrote on here blog:

“Barak Obama is an empty suit selling "hope" in lieu of Truth. Oprah Winfrey helped to elect Arnold Swartzenegger. I have no doubt that she voted her purse by doing this, as she is a large land owner in California, and that ilk fears Dems because they do not want to pay their "fair share" of Cali tax. Oprah has given us Swartzenegger and Dr. Phil. If that was not offensive enough to decent thinking people, now she brings us Obama. He has no ideas, no plan and nothing to add other than the cynical pacification of the masses with bedtime stories about hope, while calling Unions "special interest groups" that need to be done away with.

Obama votes with Bush constantly funding this terrible endless war.

Oprah, you play the race card and the gender card too.

You (Oprah) are a closeted republican and chose Barak Obama because you do not like other women who actually stand for something to working American Women besides glamour, angels, hollywood and dieting!

When Americans find out that Obama backs right wing corporate racist anti worker bullshit, they will not vote for him, and the victory will go to the most racist right wing republican ever.... McCain, who is a fascist!

The real FEAR of Obama is that he can bring and or transform the nation to a more fundamentally acceptable liberalism that both Republican (conservatives) Democrat (liberalist) can live with. The only other person capable of doing that was Ronald Reagan whom was the standard of Republicanism since the 1980’s. Although not the popular person by either side, he had a vision that effected every area of the nation and the world and had stayed that way even through the Bill Clinton years of the 1990’s.”

YO, WAS SHE RAW OR WHAT !!!!! LOL

Sad to say, after a few choice emails and a possible call from the Goddess O, (cause you know how Oprah loves making her PHONE CALLS) Rosie soon apologized and recanted he opinions on her Blog an apologized.

Hear me when I say this.

Rosie, I am disappointed, YOU NEVER HAVE ANYONE CHANGE YOUR BLOG, YOU JUST MAKE A CORRECTION AND MOVE ON…. That’s how the NEW YORK TIMES do.

Thing is, as much as the BIG FAT ROSE ranted, she spoke a truth that a lot of Americans feel. Talking to BLACKS on the side (for fear of getting BEAT DOWN by other BLACKS) they believe as Rosie does. I even recall conversations with people in Chicago who CAN’T STAND Oprah who believe that anything O touches is a strategic movement towards making Mo’ Money. Only reason why she ain't touch the Southside. As a capitalist there is nothing wrong with that, as a humanist, its food for thought. I may not like Rosie (I did like her sit-com) but I won’t deny her RIGHT to speak her truth and it is FOOD FOR THOUGHT regardless if you like it or not.

F@$# ‘em RO, YOU KEEP TALKING SHYT, SOMEONE WILL GIVE YOU A TV SHOW SOON ENOUGH.