Should Be King

Once again assets have gotten in the way of true happiness. Aretha Franklin took that Queen stuff too serious and thought she was really royalty. I saw her do an  interview with  Wendi Willams. The man she has dated for the last 25 years was a blue collar worker, not someone in the business like herself. They should have signed a prenuptial twenty years ago and did the damn thing. How did that Glynn Turman thing work out for her? I remember her being head over heels for him. So much for someon else in the business.

If she were a man, we would call this shameful. Even Gene Simmons married his longtime girlfriend Shannon Tweed after 28 years. Aretha has always had a problem with the obvious. She wants Halle Berry to play her in the movie about her life. It is what it is. "You can take a mule to the Kentucky Derby, that still doesn't make it a horse." Since she was the Queen. She should have made him King

Running Things

I wasn't going to talk about this but it's still a hot topic. It's getting old and played out, that disresprect of President Obama makes front page news or gets all this attention. When the man disrespected President Bush over in Iraq, he went to jail not T.V. Aljazeera. He didn't get a spot on the evening news or a book deal. If the media had walked away from Governor Brewer like President Obama did. She would be picking up her ego instead of a royalty check. I don't think she meant any harm pointing her finger at him. Whites still aren't used to blacks being in charge. She just forgot who was running things.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2012/01/exclusive-obama-encounter-with-arizona-gov-blown-out-of-proportion/

We'll Never Know

I don't agree with Martin Luther King III on the voting habits of his father. He was only ten years old when his father died. I'm sure he wasn't paying much attention to how his father voted then. I'm more inclined to believe his older cousin Alveeda King. When she says MLK was a Republican like his father and her grandfather. She was actually around and involved in the demonstrations her uncle organized.

But I don't agree with the way his King's legacy is being exploited in this manner. Charlotte Bergman is a Tea party candidate. More in the vein of a Herman Cain. I would like to see her do something in the community other than run for congress. She is no more prepared for the office than she was the last time she ran. With all the changes that have taken place in the 9th district in the last two years. She has been virtually silent. We should have heard her name in something before now.

I hope this isn't just another way to try and keep the dream alive. I don't want this to end up being like Joe Louis boxing in circus sideshows just for the money. The erecting of the national monument sort of swept the legs from beneath all the other projects in his honor. The " Center for Social Change" was struggling anyway. This question about MLK's party affiliation could have best been answered by his widow Coretta Scott King. But after she endorsed same-sex marriage, her opinions weren't sought or trusted much as representative of her late husband anymore. That being the case. I guess we'll never really know. Does it even matter?

http://www.politifact.com/tennessee/statements/2012/jan/23/charlotte-bergmann/another-republican-claims-martin-luther-king-jr-wa/

Battle Weary

The president must be enjoying the brutality of these debates for the Republican nomination. By the time the winner faces him, there won't be much left for Democrats to argue with. Newt Gingrich has set out on a path to expose Mitt Romney that's going to prove to be a double edged sword. That may be good for his campaign temporarily, but bad for the nominee overall. The opposing side and the voters are listening. This election will be decided by Independents.

Newt Gingrich is not the answer to conservative woes. He has too much baggage already. Along with the trouble with his ex-wife, there's the issue of his conversion. In the last two years he has become Catholic. Just like Mitt Romney already, evangelicals won't vote for him. He is showing Romney up for his indecisiveness. Yet he calls it a mere change in policy when he does it himself. Some of the same policies he is running against now. He supported and even lobbied for in the past. The winner will be battle weary

A True Leader

County Mayor Mark Luttrell has been noticeably quiet during this entire merger process. Though he plays a pivotal role in all of this. I am impressed with how he finally responded to the media on the subject. The mayor made a bold an unpopular move. One that obviously wasn't politically motivated because he angered some of his base supporters. He spoke out despite what would have easily been a cop out, in favor of what he feels is right for the entire Shelby county. That's signs of a true leader.

Some Republicans in this city and even state read the writing on the wall, and recognize the benefits of a unified city. Memphis is home to one of the top ten manufacturing plants (Carrier)in the country. With the president's initiative to promote jobs loss overseas. This is just the beginning. Those Republicans like Democrats are focused on passage of their joint legislative agenda, which focuses on economic development, jobs, public safety and removing blight from neighborhoods. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jan/25/shelby-county-mayor-luttrell-says-state-should-not/.

Beat The Odds

I was saddened but not not surprised by the news of Seal and Hedi Klum getting a divorce. Seal is probably wanting to work things out. Since he fully committed by adopting her child from a previous relationship. But I see Heidi was the one who filed. Makes you wonder if it was all just a show. Even though the marriage produced three lovely children. Whenever I saw the two of them together it was always perplexing. You couldn't help but wonder what did she see in him? Obviously, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Was this just a marriage of convenience? Something just  to keep them in the news. Everywhere they went it was a paparazzi opportunity. Both their careers have been enhanced by their marriage to each other. Seal has some pretty good songs,but none that are classics or anything like that. Heidi Klum is beautiful, but she is still an aging model. No matter how hot they are, they only have the spotlight for so long. For almost seven years they beat the odds.   Now that their relationship is over. I don't expect we'll be hearing much from them.

In The Paint

This season is going to be decided by the teams who sign the most underrated players for the least amount of money. Not the players who signed those big contracta for millions of dollars and big shoe deals. It will be the Tracy McGradys and Mareese Speights who make the difference in the winners and losers this year. Look at the Portland Trailblazers and big Kurt Thomas. Even though these players are in their twilight years or on  the brink of  effectiveness. They don't have huge contracts.

Injuries won't allow the Grizzlies  to keep last years team in tact. If we ever get everybody healthy we'll be hard to beat. In the meantime the role players have to come through. We need  to keep O.J. Mayo, even if  we have to do some juggling. Shane Battier is doing alright for himself elsewhere. Playing for the Miami Heat for  $3M  is a sweet deal for a mid level player. . Rudy Vasquez was a regrettable loss. But Jeremy Pargo was a steal for the minimum. Hamed Haddidi and Sam Young didn't break the bank. I am most excited about the acquisition of Mareese Speight. He is like a Marc Gasol  who plays in the paint.

The Snap Is Broken

Aretha is not getting married after all. All I have to say about that is this. " Let not a widow be taken into the number under threescore years old. Ms. Franklin is sixty-nine years old and wealthy. Imagine how her children must feel. Don't be a a busy body. She has always been unlucky in love. The snap on that pocketbook is broken.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/aretha-franklin-cancels-wedding_n_1224062.html?ref=black-history-month&icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl11%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D129536

Joe Paterno (1926-2012)

http://aol.sportingnews.com/ncaa-football/story/2012-01-22/joe-paterno-dies-dead-penn-state-coach?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk2%26pLid%3D129366

Etta James (1940-2012)

 

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jan/20/legendary-blues-singer-etta-james-dies-83/

Changing The Game

This is not so unusual as far as pardons go . All governors that have the power to pardon criminals give questionable pardons before they leave office. I think the public wants to know what criteria did Haley Barbour use to give more  than 200 before he left office? I could see if this was the first time it happened, but it isn't. In this case I think certain cases of notoriety caught the public eye. That made this case attract national media attention that it otherwise wouldn't have gotten. Namely the two sisters convicted to life sentences for their part in a Pizza Hut deliveryman robbery.

I think there is a hidden agenda here. This is totally out of character for a time tested and true, staunch Republican. The party's platform is generally the opposite.  They support truth in sentencing, holding criminals accountable for their crimes. In case you hadn't noticed. The demographics in the state of Mississippi is changing at a rapid pace. A black may soon reside in the governor's mansion. In the last race the nominated Democratic candidate was black.  They don't trust blacks and liberals to conduct business as usual.

The discussion has already started to reduce the scope of the governor's power. Republicans for the most part are keeping quiet. I think they recognize there is a method to this madness. Black liberals especially, better be careful what they're asking for. There will always be a strong Republican influence in Mississippi politics. What is going to happen when approval is needed to do something that's been going on for fifty years. Haley Barbour is changing the game.

http://wcriminalsww.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/jan/14/lets-get-the-facts-straight/?comments_id=1354997

No Longer Hunting

Even though he may have been one of the most qualified people in the race, his campaign never caught fire. In my opinion he was second string on a losing team. As I have said many times before. "America is superficial". Not to mention close minded. Not only was he one of the shortest candidates in ststure in the race, he is also a Mormon. None of that matters anymore. Jon Huntsman is no longer hunting.

Martin Luther King Holiday

Karma

Most Jewish voters are Democrats by default. All they require is that their candidate support Israel unconditionally. They support the entitlement programs because they end up with most of the money in the end anyway. They own the grocery stores and most of the places liberals live and shop. Even though they vote for Democrats, their needs are served by Republicans as well. Why do you think Congressman Cohen is so worried about the minority of his constituents?  Because they control the majority of the money.

I wonder how much they collect on Sunday? With the proposed redistricting plan he should win his district hands down. I went to the 9th district against my wishes. I am one of the few new voters in this acquisition that won't vote for him. Most blacks in Memphis vote for him overwhelmingly. Renaming buildings and attending funerals is enough to keep their loyalty at the polls.

Don't believe the hype. Steve Cohen isn't as concerned about the Jewish vote as he is their influence on laws and legislation. Translation: their money, power and respect. They make up the lions share of lawyers and judges. They set this country's pace. Blacks vote for Cohen, but they don't make their voice heard with campaign contributions. If he loses his Jewish constituents he won't have any juice on Capitol hill. His rise in ranking has little to do with any successes he has had while in office. Rather his associations and the fact that he is white. He once said "he voted like a black woman". If that was really the case. He should know what goes around comes around. Just like he uses the vulnerability of blacks to keep his seat. He shouldn't be surprised at another white man doing it to a so-called black woman too. His words have come back to haunt him

Not Condoning

FYI

If you earn $34,800 a yr,, according to CNN you are in the top 1% of moneymakers in the entire world. For a better perspective, that includes those who only earn $100's annually. By American standards even being in the 1% bracket is not a lot of money. Many hourly workers exceed that figure with ease  The Fortune 500 all make millions if not billions of dollars a year. Obviously wealth depends on where you live.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20111111022256AAd93fM

Who Sustains Him

 

Stephen Hawking is a testament to God's unmerited grace. In spite of his disbelief, he has been surviving  beyond medical expectations for over fifty years. I heard Pastor Keith Norman of First Baptist Broad preach a rousing sermon titled "Grace Is Enough". He used Denver Bronco's quarterback Tim Tebow's recent success to make his point. But I related it to Hawking's  recent 77th birthday. Grace allows you to accomplish things you shouldn't be able to with what you have to work with. This man has become an academic celebrity and he can't even talk. With Gods help all things are possible. As smart as Mr. Hawking is, looks like he would heal himself. He must wonder everyday, who sustains him?

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

Shut Up And Play

We have made the Tiger players local celebrities, and it's gone to their heads. First it was Will Barton focusing on going to the NBA. But his twenty point performances don't show up for the big games like Georgetown and Murray St. I think he is a good four year player that will be at his best as a senior. He is no Derrick Rose or Tyreke Evans. School was holding them back.

Then Farrakahn Hall finally got to play. He has done a fair job on at best a mediocre team. I foresaw a lack of focus in his first live interview. He was more concerned with his image than his play on the court. His arrival didn't have the impact of a Tracy McGrady. Though far better than the much anticipated Stan Simpson. He is and never was the key to the teams success.

Now Joe Jackson is thinking maybe he could market his skills somewhere else. I think he got a wakeup call real quick. You haven't locked down a solid spot on this team yet. Learn a lesson from your teamate. In a transfer all you lose is momentum. It would be a shame to end up riding the pine. Instead of being drana kings . Shut up andd play.

There Is Still Room

The Future

The Iuwa caucus may be the big story for the Republicans this go round. Never in history has there been such a close contest. It was decided by 8 votes.(30,015-30,007)  I like what Rick Santorium is saying, but it's nothing new. It's kind of like the party is using him as a lsst resort. All the candidates have been the frontrunner except Michelle Bachnanm and she dropped out after the Iowa caucus. She read the writing on the wall. Republicans aren't going to elect a woman. Just like the mainstream isn't going to elect a Mormon.

I have to see how Rick Santorium is going to perform with the target on his back. As someone who rooted for him early on, I don't know yet. He has slid through the debates pretty much untouched. In the beginning no one paid him any attention. He was always the one complaining about not getting equal time during the debates. Though I understood what he meant. The first time he had the media's ear he stuck his foot in his mouth. He made a comment about blacks that even I thought was over the top. Mitt Romney is still the heir apparent to the Republican nominations throne. I think the stage is set for 2012. Mitt Romney is like Moses. But Rick Santorium might make a good Joshua.

Happy New Year