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Sunday, October 28, 2007

All Things Work Together

I don't care for Mr. Cohen's politics myself, but I am heavily outnumbered in my disapproval of his selection. He has a reputation of being the most liberal senator in the state of Tennessee. Which is not such a good thing in my opinion. This man is of the Jewish persuasion, yet he even has Muslims supporting him. That's a pretty tall order in itself. To have Black Muslims overlook the fact that he is both White and Jewish, is nothing short of miraculous. Now that he has been elected, I don't see anyone that can beat him. The reason being those running against him are no better than him. The only difference is they are Black, which realistically could render them less effective.

Since all indications are that congressman Cohen will be re-elected. I have resided myself to make the best of a bad situation. Since I can't do anything about it anyway. I just "Take the lemons and make lemonade." When I looked at his job performance during his first term. I have to admit the congressman has been a very busy man. This man is like a dog treading water. He can't stop for a minute or he'll sink. Some people in the ninth district are just waiting for him to drop the ball. He hasn't stopped going since he took office. Unlike many other politicians, he doesn't have the convenience of being allowed to become complacent. He's done as much pandering in a year as his predecessor did in ten. He has renamed a couple of buildings, and unfortunately had a few high profile funerals to attend in his district. Which have turned out to be both photo-ops and image builders for him. Since it appears that he's going to be in office anyway, I've reached this conclusion. Some good will come of him being in office. If nothing else the constituents will have a responsive congressman. At least he'll be listening and fighting for his constituents concerns, even if he can't really change anything. I reflect on one of my favorite scriptures: Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

17 comments:

  1. Anonymous4:31 PM

    I know what you mean, just let it go."looks like another TKO."

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  2. Anonymous10:03 AM

    Your personal dislike for Cohen is keeping you from being pragmatic. I'm not a Cohen fan, but Mark White wouldn't have been able to do any more than Cohen -- especially as a freshman in a minority party.

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  3. Anonymous 10:03,

    I don't personally dislike Steve Cohen, I just dislike his politics. I don't know him personally, and neither do most of his supporters. You must be a Cohen fan, or you would get my point.

    You obviously have been around this blog for a while, to know I supported Mark White. You are right about one thing though. He probably couldn't have done any more than Cohen has, but he couldn't have done any less either. I know he wouldn't be wasting time asking for an apology for slavery, or pushing pro-gay legislation. Also I know what Cohen's past voting record is, so that's enough for me. I'm not a big fan of the lottery like you probably are. So I don't sing the praises of every little thing he does.

    BTW: You can use your name here. I think you're the same person as before. I would like to address you by a name.

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  4. Anonymous12:03 AM

    Common:

    I'll be honest with you -- I don't think posting my name will make a difference because you NEVER read my comments! If you had, you would have noticed that I said I was no Cohen fan. And I've actually met him in person -- he's okay, but he is arrogant -- just ask (former state senator) Tom Leatherwood (LOL).

    As I told you earlier, I am being pragmatic. I do agree, however, with what you said about Junior not being around much during his term. I think Nikki Tinker would do the same thing if she was elected. I'm also not saying Mark White would disappear, either -- I agree he would be about the same as Cohen. I just don't think he's the saving grace of District 9 -- no one is. Black people really need to stop putting their faith in government and start putting their faith in God to get their lives together.

    I felt the need to comment since you call on WDIA talking about Cohen so much. Also, I what I said about the hate crimes bill was true -- conservative Republicans played it to the hilt to create hysteria. Just like liberal Democrats are playing the SCHIP legislation to create hysteria right now. Bush had a Republican controlled Congress for years -- plenty of time to pass a lot of conservative-leaning legislation -- yet the Constitutional ban on gay marriage failed -- badly. Then after everyone took the mic to grandstand, Congress went on with business as usual. I still don't understand why it didn't pass -- gays don't make up THAT much of the electorate. I wouldn't be surprised if Bush decided behind closed doors to take up the issue and kill it in the Senate just so conservatives would leave him alone:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Marriage_Amendment

    I have to deal with politicians on a state and national level due to the type of job I have (another reason I'm not posting my name) so I know how they really act away from the cameras and behind closed doors. They're conservatives and liberals on television, but they're drinking buddies at the receptions afterwards.

    Finally, I admit I had to laugh at your comments because for the record, I voted AGAINST the lottery and FOR the same sex marriage ban. I know you don't believe me, but I'm actually telling the truth! LOL!

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  5. I don't know how you could think I don't read your post, considering that I've responded to them. A lot of people claim not to like Steve Cohen,yet they vote for him anyway. I'm sure he could care less whether you like him or not,if he still gets your vote.

    "Black people really need to stop putting their faith in government and start putting their faith in God to get their lives together". If we don't agree on anything else, we agree on that.

    It's ironic you would mention the marriage ammendment, I learned something this week I didn't know about that. It is better that we leave this issue up to the individual states than passing a federal law. Passing a federal law opens it up to litigation and federal judges. Since the majority of states have banned it anyway; why bother?

    Your last comment is puzzling. I heard a caller on WDIA this morning that in a sense said the same thing.If you seldom agree with liberals, and you're against the things you mentioned. Since the Democratic party supports these things. Why would you call yourself a Democrat?

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  6. Anonymous11:20 AM

    Common:

    I don't live in District 9, so I couldn't vote for Steve Cohen even if I wanted to. However I am from Memphis and my family still lives there, so I do have a vested interest in what goes on in the city. Just because I defend a person doesn't mean I support them. Even a broke clock is right twice a day.

    Since the Democratic party supports these things. Why would you call yourself a Democrat?

    That statement is really a generalization. It would be like me saying that since Black people commit the majority of the crimes in the United States, then all Black people are criminals. You know that it not true, but the KKK believes this. Same with political parties -- the platform doesn't always make the person. A candidate identifies with a party to secure votes, especially when it is hard for an independent to win a race.

    I am not a Democrat, Republican, nor am I a loyalist, apologist, or sympathizer for either party. I also don't believe in straight ticket voting -- I vote for people in both parties. If I don't like either candidate, I abstain.

    As for gay marriage, Congress was trying to pass a constitutional ban, not a federal law like you're saying. If it is written in the constitution, it can't be challenged in court -- period. That is why it is still an issue in the 2008 election. It is also the point I was trying to make about the hate crimes bill -- the law WOULD likely be struck down if it passed because it is so poorly drafted. It wouldn't survive any First Amendment test. We wouldn't need a hate crimes bill if we simply enforced the laws on the books in the first place.

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  7. "Even a broke clock is right twice a day." Hence the reason for my post to begin with. I could have voted for Steve Cohen, but I didn't and won't. I would hope other Conservative, Christians like myself would join me in my protest. Thirty thousand people agreed with me. Hopefully next time more will.

    It would be a generalization if I applied it to all Blacks, but I'm not. I am specifically talking about those who are guilty of what I talked about. I know there are quite a few of them in Memphis, I don't know about where you live. I was being presumptious in the fact, that I thought I knew who you were. Since you don't live in the ninth district, it couldn't be you. You sound a lot like them though, and I know they call themselves a Democrat.

    I have to be very careful when I'm talking with you, you zero in on every slip or oversight. Your play on words is correct, but it has little or nothing to do with the truth of the matter. The point is the only thing that overides state law is federal. A Constitutional lawyer pointed out that this is really a state's issue. To point out the falacy of your argument look at "Roe vs. Wade." If you put it to a vote state by state,95% of the states would probably vote against it. Therefore instead of 44 million abortions, we might have only 4... million that is.

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  8. Anonymous9:25 PM

    Common, you are a trip...but I like you.

    There are very few people in Memphis that I would vote for today, to be honest.

    My words aren't grouping me with "them." In fact, a lot that I have posted is taught in any high school civics course. Every thing I've said is true. Not everyone in the Republican Party is Christian or Conservative. You have social conseratives, fiscal conservatives, pro-choice Republicans, gay Republicans...if you're going to call yourself the party of the "big tent," then you should expect people from all parts of the ideological spectrum. Not everyone is going to think like you. Democrats are the same way -- not everyone is a tree-hugging, gay-loving, gambling liberal. However, both parties have been hijacked -- in my opinion -- by the fringe elements. That's what the public sees -- the people who make the most noise. The sad thing is that the presidential candidates (in both parties) are pandering to those people instead of the swing voter (like me).

    It is true that there are a lot of Constitutional lawyers who are against amending the Constitution, but the gay marriage amendment will still be an issue in 2008. The Family Research Council and Dr. James Dobson are still very active in trying to get that ban passed, so look for it to come back up in the next year. They've already drilled Fred Thompson on it this week.

    As for abortion, I thought the same way you did -- that 95 percent would ban it. However, when South Dakota (which is considered a conservative state) voted down a potential abortion ban last year, I had to rethink my assumption. A FOX News poll recently showed that slight majority of all Americans still want Roe v. Wade as the law of the land. I think at least a dozen states would still legalize abortion. And as for the 4 million, that would be reported abortions only -- the rest would be underground and illegal. It would reduce it some, but not minimize it.

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  9. No you are the one that's a trip, you're going down fighting though. It's just a matter of time, because I'm right. I really do enjoy a spirited debate for a change of pace. Most Democrats would have started cussing by now. As far as Memphis politicians go, you're preaching to the choir. Being that Memphis is a Democratic stronghold in the state. Most of the politicians in Memphis, I don't support them either. Even though you're on the crest of being condescending. I appreciate the verbal jousting without refraining to insults. When that happens I usually end up by myself, once my opponents discover for themselves. Not only am I factual, but I'm pretty good at checking too.

    In that one respect you do come across as being Conservative, otherwise you sound like a borderline Liberal."Not everyone in the Republican Party is Christian or Conservative." To a degree that's true, but not totally. That's the party's platform though, in spite of some renegade members. See how quick they sever ties when someone gets caught. Everybody wants to get with a winner. So you have plenty of stragglers who've recently jumped on board. Anyone who doesn't have those basic principles forementioned is an infiltrator. They're what's referred to as a RINO.

    I'm not about to go back and forth with you about what every fence straddler that claims to be a Republican has done. But I will say this "There's no such thing as a Gay, Republican who supports abortion and is soft on immigration." Nobody is going to agree with you 100% of the time, that's unrealistic. So you have to play the averages. So quit claiming to be a swing voter, so as not to ruffle feathers. Some things should be a deal breaker for a Christian, and automatically raise a red flag.

    That's a good point about abortion but that wasn't what we were discussing. I only used that as an example of why same sex marriage should be a state's issue. If abortion wasn't like going to the doctor, there wouldn't be nearly as many. This is not the fifties, expectant mothers these days aren't willing to die to save their honor.

    Your example of South Dakota is a prime example of something that's happening all over the country.It's sort of like a double edged sword. That's how we got the first Muslim Congressman elected, but on the other hand a Conservative Governor was elected in Louisianna. I'm sure you've heard the word "Californiazation." Where people are leaving these cesspool states and cities and taking there Liberal mindsets with them. That's also what's happening with the Republican party too.

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  10. Anonymous8:52 PM

    Common:

    I'm not going to call you names, especially on your own blog. That's disrespectful. However, it is worth noting that you are using the old conservative tactic -- calling anyone who disagrees with you a liberal. Just because I believe both the Democratic and Republican parties are literally a "house of cards" doesn't make me a liberal.

    I am not going down fighting, nor am I trying to be right. You don't have to worry about being right when you're telling the truth. I am only stating what any political science major knows. Otherwise, you've been preaching to the choir...most of what you're trying to explain to me I am fully aware of. You learn about most of these terms in a high school civics or college political science course.

    My original point was that just because Steve Cohen is Congressman, you don't have to keep talking about gloom and doom. Memphis could have done a lot worse than Cohen. In a way you sound like the people who call in daily to complain about Mayor Herenton. I am not one of his supporters, but I have to admit people go overboard complaining about him.

    RINOs aren't just some renegade members of the GOP -- they're actually leading in the polls for the party nomination. Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney, and John McCain are impressing a lot more than a few "stray" members.

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  11. You can call me a Conservative that's what I am, that's not disrespectful that's the truth. You can straddle the fence if you like that's your right. If you're not Conservative you're Liberal, case closed.

    You keep saying what every high school graduate and political science major should know. Maybe they should, but obviously they don't. I'm not trying to explain anything to you, my explanations are quite clear. Since you're aware, what's the problem?

    I sound nothing like those people complaining about Mayor Herenton. Their claims are usually baseless or driven by prejudice, whether it be class or color. Most of those people complaining can't even vote in city elections. I'm not going overboard, I'm just consistent. Since you can't vote for him, you don't share my concern. You sound like one of those many Christians trying to justify voting for him. So naturally you don't like what I'm saying.

    RINOs and panderers are two different things. I think you already know that though. None of those guys you mentioned fit that criteria, according to their websites. I agree they're guilty of the latter, but all's fair in war and politics. If by chance they are found guilty, they'll be kicked to the curb too.

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  12. Anonymous9:23 AM

    http://www.issues-views.com/comment.php/article/20104

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  13. I see where you're coming from now, you just have an issue with me. Check this out, and post your results:

    http://indepcons.blogspot.com/2006/02/are-you-republican_27.html

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  14. Anonymous9:40 AM

    63% Republican

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