Surrogate Follies

As the Democratic nomination process moves into the 3rd quarter, the voters are beginning to show signs of fatigue brought on by the endless out spoken surrogates and their tendencies to have to withdraw from either campaign after suffering from "foot-in-mouth" disease. On the Obama side, Clinton has been accused of being a "monster" while the Clinton surrogates have indicated Obama has some perceived privilege because of his black skin. Despite there being enough examples on either side to cause one to second guess voting, enough already!

The state of the American economy demands that the campaigns focus on solutions to the problems dominating the America landscape, not how many surrogates have to exit stage left. Who has the better policy response to the housing crisis? How will working families be able to send their children to college, maintain the household and invest in their future with the rising cost of transportation, health care, child care and the like?

Obama and Clinton listen up. Tell the American people why you should lead this country and where you plan to lead us. Put a fork in the surrogates and endorsers and show the American voter your blue print for a better tomorrow. Don't let the problems of America get lost in the back ground noise of the surrogates who in the end take their role too personally to even see the impact of their follies.

Money on Fire, Dems Burn Dollars Like Wildfire

The two remaining Democratic contenders for the nomination of the party have raised an earth shattering $280 million as of January 31, 2008 and counting. Of that $280 million, nearly $230 million has been spent. $280 million. Wow! Never mind how many college educations that can buy, or how many gallons of gas, or how many foreclosed homes, or how many, well you get the point. This amount does not include the nearly $55 million Obama raised in February nor the $35 million raised by Clinton. The time has come to stop spending all of these dollars and begin to make some sense.



Unless a meteor hits the earth, it is a forgone conclusion that barring any year 2000 Florida election antics, Barack Obama will be the nominee. Unless Hillary Clinton gracefully exits the race, the amount of money burned to win the Democratic nomination will soon exceed the national debt. What a travesty especially when Americans are losing there homes quicker than Bush lost his compassionate conservative elk. The Democratic leadership needs to step up to the plate and bring closure to this process before the amount of dollars burned begin to have real consequences. Despite the fall of the dollar, there is no need to disrespect it this way.



I call on all reasonable Americans to call your congressional leaders, governors and other super delegates and express your outrage with this crash and burn process. It is time to unite the party, save the dollar and the country!

Housing Market Needs A New Deal

When America has been in an economic crisis or wanted to open access to greater home ownership and educational opportunities, the government has responded with quasi-governmental entities like Fannie Mae and Fredie Mac and Sallie Mae, government entities that while making a profit, aid the American consumer.

The current foreclosure environment has created a crisis that has yet to run its course, affecting numerous consumer parties, including both the indebted homeowner and his/her neighbor, whose home equity and overall community value is at risk as well. As opposed to (or in addition to) providing Americans with money to go out and spend, as the Bush policy proposes, the next President should consider proposing the creation of an entity that would buy foreclosed property in the distressed communities across the country. This agency would sell the property to first time home buyers and the working poor at market or, under some circumstances, near market rate. Importantly for all involved, including those already owning homes in the area, the prices in the community would be stabilized and the America dream would still be attainable for many. In addition, local county zoning boards would limit building permits for new home construction until the inventory has been absorbed.

A public private partnership between HUD, Fannie Mae and the new entity would greatly assist in a much needed housing market recovery.

Mark Bloomberg For Vice President

As the Democratic contest to select the nominee becomes clear, the time has come to focus on more important business at hand like who will be the dance partner going into the general election fight. The selection for number two on the ticket is an important process especially when you consider that none of the probable victors has any experience at running a large corporation. Considering the bad economic news recently pouring out of our television monitors, it would be prudent that the vice presidential candidate comes with a resume of accomplishment in the business sector.

Mike Bloomberg is an American businessman, philanthropist, and the Mayor of New York City who gained his wealth as the founder of financial news and data company Bloomberg L.P. Although a lifelong Democrat, he ran on the Republican ballot and was elected mayor in 2001, then reelected to a second term in2005. With a net worth approaching nearly $12 billion according to Forbes and other sources, Mark Bloomberg can teach us all a little about business. He has a level of integrity that is admirable to say the least. He takes a salary of $1 annual as Mayor of New York City, he refuses to stay in the mansion maintained for the Mayor and instead resides in his own home on the Upper East Side and was designated as the seventh largest individual contributor to philanthropy in 2007, pleding over the past four years more than $700 million to charity.

No matter the outcome of the 2008 November contest, the next White House occupant will have to be disciplined in the matters of money.

Richardson to the Rescue, A Valuable Endorsement

In a surprise move New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson gave the Obama campaign probably the most important endorsement of this years political season. Richardson, former United Nations Ambassador and Energy Department Secretary under the Clinton Administration, proclaimed to the Latino community in spanish that Obama will "respect" the Latino community. A powerful endorsement from a man with great foreign policy experience and experience the Obama campaign can draw from when crafting energy policy in the White House.



Richardson's support could not have come at a more needed time for a campaign that has been thrown off stride and was in need of some good news. Forget coffee, this is a Boost that either campaign would have welcomed.

A Chicken in Every Pot

In an effort to turn around a limping economy, the Bush Administration has decided to give single tax payers who earn less than $75,000 annually a tax rebate of $600 and couples earning less than $150,000 a tax rebate of $1200. In the mean time, the "Federal Reserve" has agreed to take on $30 billion of illiquid assets belonging to the once highly coveted investment bank Bear Sterns. This response, while possibly having a short term positive impact on the economy, according to published reports is viewed by many economist more as a bandage that won't stop the slide of the dollar nor the slow march to recession.

Do you believe the lack of a comprehensive economic strategy by the Bush Administration will inevitably lead America into recession?

Let Freedom Ring

As America marks the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, instead of criticizing the war policy of the Bush administration, one has been lead to ponder how grateful we should be for those who have fought so gallantly for our freedom. We are a truly blessed people to have so many brave men and women willing to defend our freedom and liberty. To make the ultimate sacrifice of life so that democracy and freedom rings from every village and every hamlet in America, we the people are forever indebted and humbled.



To all those families and soldiers who have given so much, Happy Easter!

In Order to Form a More Perfect Union

After a week of television rewind after rewind of presidential contender Senator Barak Obama's spiritual leader's archived speeches, which were deemed divisive by many, Senator Obama stepped to the microphone and gave what many believe was one of the most artful speeches ever on "race". At the core of his speech was the idea that if America is to achieve that which is at the core of the preamble of the constitution "to form a more perfect union", Americans of all cultures will have to examine their fears of one another and have a frank conversation about race and America's soiled history as it relates to Black Americans.


Do you believe America is ready to have this conversation and will Obama's head-on speech about race silence those who believed he should have thrown his spiritual leader "under the bus" and completely disavow him?

"He Said, She Said"

During this era of political correctness, the remaining Democratic contenders for the nomination Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton seem to be constantly caught-up in a firestorm of who can say what, how far they can go with what they say and if they go too far, how soon do they either apologies for their remarks or go to the guillotine by resigning from their position of influence.

Whether it be the words of Obama's minister the Honorable Jeremiah Wright or Clinton support Geraldine Ferraro, words seem to be front and center in this years election.

Do you believe it is much ado about nothing or should the candidates be held accountable for the words of their supporters?