Thursday, December 25, 2014

Obama: A good closer?

There has long been a pattern to Barack Obama’s political career on the national stage. There are moments of soaring moral clarity and inspiration; there are long periods of drift or laziness (not my word) or passivity; and there are often very good fourth quarters.

Read the whole story at The Dish 

               

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Obama: "A new beginning for US and Cuba" and Sen. Marco's run for the highest office

PBO is not finished, no lame duck president here, he is still adding to his ever impressive and growing resume:
  • Economy  humming along and adding 200,000 plus new jobs for several months
  • Unemployment cut to 5.8%
  • Cheap gas -- always a holiday season plus
  • Dow Jones at all time highs
  • Historic climate treaty with China
  • Economic sanctions hitting Russian President Putin where it hurts the most -- the wallet
  • Forbes Magazine naming him the best modern era economic president -- sorry Ronnie, the Forbes index has Obama surpassing you with ease.

Monday, December 15, 2014

Shout-out to all the athletes on the collegiate and professional levels for their very public support of the movement to address police abuse and the usage of lethal force against unarmed African-Americans.

The Notre Dame female basketball squad donned "I Can't Breathe" pre-game T-shirts before their Saturday game.

Various NFL players have suited up with pre-game Jerseys indicating their solidarity for the cause. And NBA ballers, including elite players like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, have joined the "I Can't Breathe" movement.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Dr Claude Anderson: Power of Group Economics and how to control the Police Force

When I reflect on the heightened level of community response to police abuse of power, whether it may be in Ferguson, NYC, Philly, Chicago, Houston or LA, I am pleased to see people taking the call to duty in the fight for justice.

The marches and rallies -- not riots and looting -- are excellent starting points to affect change.

Friday, December 5, 2014

America Back to work: More Jobs and Higher Wages: U.S. Recovery Starts to Hit Home

No selective amnesia or short term memory here, hence, I vividly recall the palpable desperation in the air as #44 placed his hand on Abe's bible and took the presidential oath of office.

I can't forget:

The Dow Jones was in a free fall, banks and lending institutions collapsing in debt, unemployment approaching depression like numbers, the American auto industry on the brink of shutting down all operations, the housing market deep under water.

The weight of the catastrophic Cheney/Bush co-presidency -- two wars fought on the credit card, lobbyist writing laws on the congressional hallowed floors, Reaganomics on steroids (rob the poor and give to the rich), energy policy developed by Enron, token response to one of the worst natural disasters in USA history (Hurricane Katrina) and the list goes on and on -- had just about broken the spirit of our country.

And no thanks to our do nothing congress, the USA economy continues to resiliently and now at bit more robustly recover under the stewardship of #44 (thank you sir):

After more than five years of elusive gains, ordinary Americans may finally be about to see the benefits of the recovery where it really counts: in their pocketbooks and wallets.
 
The Labor Department reported Friday that employers added 321,000 jobs in November — a much stronger number than expected — but perhaps even more significant was the biggest gain in average hourly earnings since June 2013.
 
Hourly earnings rose by 0.4 percent in November, double what economists had been expecting. That gain in hourly pay was significantly above the measly 0.1 percent increase in October, let alone the unchanged number in September. At the same time, the number of hours worked ticked up by one-tenth, adding to pay envelopes.

“The pairing of strong hiring and wage gains is a really strong indicator of the health of the economy,” said Tara Sinclair, chief economist at Indeed.com, a leading job search website. “Now, we want to see people coming back into the work force and also finding the right jobs for them in terms of wages, skills, and hours.”  read entire story

Now let's pray the mid-term elected GOP majority in the house and senate don't screw things up again.

Wednesday, December 3, 2014

Cop plants drugs on African American business establishment

You may humorously recall the Dave Chappelle's comedy bit on sprinkling a little crack cocaine on a so-called black suspect to frame him/her as a guilty drug dealing criminal.

Well this video is proof of art imitating life or is it life imitating art (if the true criminal planting crack stole his idea from Chappelle).

Chris Rock on American Race Relationship

Chris Rock in his own words:

When we talk about race relations in America or racial progress, it's all nonsense. There are no race relations. White people were crazy. Now they're not as crazy.

To say that black people have made progress would be to say they deserve what happened to them before…

Pastor refuses to bury 93 year old long-time member over lack of tithes

Rev Houston: "Ya gotta pay to pray"
After reading the below appalling story, I thought it was another fabricated satire story by some Onion like media website. However, after verifying the validity of the report, I was disgusted beyond belief:

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Putin's Russian economy nightmare

Remember, in the not so long ago past, how GOP leaders and cheerleaders were tooting Russian President Vladimir Putin's horn?

Putin was showered with unconditional praise for (in their opinion) outmaneuvering and outsmarting President Obama on the world stage.

And with Obama hate so acute, our Republican brethren decided to give a big ole political bear hug to a former KGB agent/leader; a man who despises the west and has visions of rebuilding the former Soviet Union empire.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Ferguson Grand Jury: Nullification of Justice for Brown family

Before I comment on the Ferguson decision not to indict patrolman Darren Wilson for shooting and killing unarmed teenager Michael Brown, let me emphatically state for the record:

Wonton violent reactions are not only reprehensible they do not help advance the cause.

Burning down and looting your community, neighborhoods, homes, businesses, restaurants, shops etc. because you are angry and frustrated by justice denied is counter-productive and stupid. 

Furthermore, a vast majority of these rioters are thuggish opportunists that rarely make positive contributions to the welfare of our communities. If fact, I am fairly sure that many of the looters and rioters have committed violent black-on-black acts.

And most important, once again, this method of protest is highly ineffective.

Friday, November 21, 2014

Bill Cosby: finding his inner Cliff Huxtable


Cliff vs Bill
Comedian Hannibal Buress ripped legendary Bill Cosby new one and the fall-out continues...


Hannibal Buress:




“It’s even worse because Bill Cosby has the fuckin’ smuggest old black man persona that I hate,” Buress said. “He gets on TV, ‘Pull your pants up black people, I was on TV in the 80s! I can talk down to you because I had a successful sitcom!’ Yeah, but you rape women, Bill Cosby, so turn the crazy down a couple notches.”  source

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Fox Guest: President Obama most racist president in history.

Mr Ben "Delusional" Stein
Ben Stein, never to be confused with Einstein, has spoken from Mount Caucasus -- better known as Fox Nation -- stated his opinion that President Obama is the most racist president ever.

Really, Ben?

Now, as I see it:  Ben doesn't know squat or Ben knows squat but wants to rattle the cage of the denizen Fox Nation lynch mob.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Sen. Graham's Platform: “...white men who are in male-only clubs are going to do great in my presidency.”

The GOP, since 2012 election returns, have vowed to vigorously outreach beyond their most prominent base: white males.

To be certain, as the demographics become more diverse in the United States, relying on the white male vote for national elections is rapidly becoming a defeatist strategy.

But old habits die hard:

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Bristol Palin responds like Moma Palin: Blame the Press.

Yo mofo! You want some of this?
This act is so, like 2008, tired.

Are you as sick of it as me?

Every time Sarah P. steps in it, she never takes responsibility for her miss-steps and misadventures, she plays the Victim card.

After all, isn't it a violation GOP 101: Never play the victim card.

John Legends' wife tweets: "Just another Wednesday"

Wednesday, Wednesday just another day
Before I proceed, I must make a full disclosure:

The gun culture and I don't see eye to eye. Real talk: I understand hunters, gun collectors and folks that maintain a fire piece in the crib for family protection.

This ain't me, but I get it, even though, I don't get it.

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Kill The Messenger: How The Media Destroyed Gary Webb

"National security and crack-cocaine in the same sentence?"  Gary Webb

I can vividly recall, like it happened yesterday, when San Jose Mercury reporter, Gary Webb rocked the DC power establishment by his investigatory article detailing the CIA's role in flooding the black community with crack.

As Webb wrote:

"For the better part of a decade, a San Francisco Bay Area drug ring sold tons of cocaine to the Crips and Bloods street gangs of Los Angeles and funneled millions in drug profits to a Latin American guerrilla army run by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, a Mercury News investigation has found."

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Addicting Info: Long list of Obama accomplishments


If you’re one of those folks who thinks President Obama is a “disappointment,” you haven’t been paying attention the last few years.

And those of you who try to draw comparisons with the Bush Administration should put away the hallucinogens and have your memory checked.

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

15 Things You Did Not Know About the Moors of Spain

“Philosophers have long conceded, however, that every man has two educators: 'that which is given to him, and the other that which he gives himself. Of the two kinds the latter is by far the more desirable.

 Indeed all that is most worthy in man he must work out and conquer for himself. It is that which constitutes our real and best nourishment. What we are merely taught seldom nourishes the mind like that which we teach ourselves.”
Carter G. Woodson, The Mis-Education of the Negro 

Monday, September 29, 2014

Haiti and the fear of a Black Superpower.

The Napoleon Complex
"My decision to destroy the authority of the Blacks in Saint-Domingue (Haiti) is not so much based on considerations of commerce and money, as on the need to block for ever the march of the Blacks in the world."

Napoleon Bonaparte

In our increasingly perilous world, it would behoove us to understand the Haitian freedom Revolution of 1791-1804; and its modern day relevance.

As we know, many of our contemporary world hotspots have sprouted from seeds sown from past geo-political struggles.

Haiti is no different.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Eric Holder liberal reformer resigns as Attorney General

The announcement of Attorney General Eric Holder resigning, as expected, has created two polar opposite reactions.

On the left end of the spectrum, Holder is regarded as a fearless advocate for justice.

Whether the issue is voter's rights, judicial sentencing fairness, federal oversight on police abuse cases or defending gay rights, Holder has made a distinct impression as a liberal reformer.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The plunging NFL Jameis Winston stock.

Future Major League pitcher?
The more I peer into my looking glass:

I see a future in baseball for Florida State QB Jameis Winston.

Character Matters

 For what ever rhyme or reason, Winston, two sport phenom and reigning Heisman trophy laureate, continues to struggle with off-field issues.

Friday, September 12, 2014

The Palin family family brawl.

Family that fights together, stays...
Sarah P has held many titles:

Former governor of Alaska, former GOP VP nominee (I will never forgive John McCain for unleashing this woman on us), Fox News commentator, reality TV star, right-wing political shrill.

 And now we can add one more -- according to Alaska Dispatch reports -- Palin family fight promoter.

Yes, the brawling Palins decided to open a can of whoop-ass at a birthday party they crashed.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

When Fox News Didn't Blame The (GOP) President For Beheadings

Embedded image permalinkUnlike today, the president in 2004 was completely blameless in the beheading deaths, according to Fox News.   Read More

Monday, September 8, 2014

Atlanta Hawks owner Bruce Levenosn pulls a Donald Sterling?

No doubt:

Mark Cuban was most likely privy to how his fellow NBA owners chopped it up with each other when he voiced his opposition to former LA Clipper owner Donald Sterling losing his team after Sterling's racist comments were made public.

You may remember, Cuban stated:

"Again, there's no excuse for his positions. There's no excuse for what he said. There's no excuse for anybody to support racism. There's no place for it in our league, but there's a very, very, very slippery slope."

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

9-Year-Old Girl Accidentally Kills Shooting Range Instructor

Gun power or child abuse
The following very tragic story epitomizes the reckless and feckless nature of far too many gun enthusiast.

The absurdity of a nine year old handling a high power weapon -- a WMD -- with not only parental consent but with parental urging is beyond crazy.

This is why we have the term gun nuts.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

NFL: Pop artist should pay to play Super Bowl halftime show?

Destiny's Child doing the halftime bounce
The NFL definitely has chutzpah.

As America's number one pastime, and still growing in popularity, the NFL rules the USA sports market big time.

How big?

So big that not only can they demand and receive $4 million for a 30 second Super Bowl commercial and a whopping $8 million for a 60 second one: They are now so large and in charge -- according to reports -- they are asking pop music superstars would they pay for the privilege of playing the halftime show.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Missouri Unrest: Justice for Michael Brown

You don't have to be a man to fight for freedom. All you have to do is to be an intelligent human being.  
Malcolm X


In regards to the sad and tragic series of events in Ferguson, Missouri, let's adhere to the words of Michael Brown's father:

“I need all of us to come together and do this right, the right way. No violence.”

And as Al Sharpton stated:

“To become violent in Michael Brown’s name is to betray the gentle giant that he was."

Monday, August 11, 2014

Pitching Phenom Mo'Ne Davis leads her team to the Little League World Series

Are you hip to the new pitching phenom hailing from the City of Brotherly Love?

Hint: This young pitcher does not play for the Phillies.

No, she -- yes, I said she -- pitches for her Little League team called the Taney Dragons of Philly. And this Dragon has slayed many batters (I know cheesy pun, I couldn't resist lol).

She is: 13 year old Mo'Ne Davis. Like I said, Girlfriend brings the heat. Her fastball has been clocked at the unfathomable speed of 70 MPH.

In fact, Mo'Ne has pitched her team (a three hit shut-out) into the Little League World Series.

The charismatic young lady does not just compete with, she dominates boys her age.

Additionally, if you catch her interview (see link), Miss Davis is poised beyond her age.

I gotta say, it's refreshing to see baseball re-capture the hearts of young urban America. Miss Davis -- in her Little League run to the World Series -- has also captured the attention of ESPN nation:

BRISTOL, Conn. -- Female pitcher Mo'ne Davis led her team into the Little League World Series, throwing a three-hitter Sunday to lead Taney Youth Baseball Association Little League of Philadelphia to an 8-0 victory over a squad from Delaware.

Davis struck out six in the six-inning game in the Mid-Atlantic Regional championship game.
The 13-year-old will become the 18th girl to play in the Little League World Series in 68 years. It starts Thursday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Earlier in the day, Emma March of South Vancouver Little League in  British Columbia, Canada, qualified. It will be the third time that two girls will be part of the same Little League World Series. read more

Last note: Maybe she can teach rapper 50 Cent how to throw like a girl.


John McCain: American War Deity


Saturday, August 9, 2014

The Big Five conferences get autonomy: Will college athletes reap the benefits?

Pay to Play?
The NCAA board of directors have voted (16-2) to grant autonomy to the Big Five college football conferences.

The Big 12, ACC, Pac 12, SEC and Big 10 are now empowered to govern themselves and push through rules changes as they see fit.

Make no doubt about it, this is a huge seismic shift in college sports as we know it -- and not just football. The three R's -- repercussions, reverberations and ramifications are epic.

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Coming to America: 2014 American-African Summit

A wise man once stated: Better late than never.

African countries, with 6 out the top 10 fastest growing economies in the world, has finally come on the American radar.

But, late to the party, USA has to play catch-up to China, Russian, India, Japan, Brazil and the European Union.

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Economy’s growth rate surges to 4 percent in second quarter And George Zimmerman is back, again

Indubitably, this is more news Fox News would prefer to lose.

The reality of a growingly more robust USA economy, increased consumer confidence, lowest unemployment (230,000 new jobs a month) since W crashed our economy does not fit the Fox narrative.

And now this announcement:

After suffering the sharpest contraction since the recession ended, the U.S. economy rebounded this spring, growing at a solid 4 percent annual rate, according to new government data released Wednesday.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Joakim Noah & Lebron James: Giant Steps

On-court and Off-court leaders
First things first, we would like to give mega props to Joakim Noah for stepping up to the plate and addressing Chicago's explosion of youth gun violence.

And let's not forget Lebron James, whose continued support of urban youth is vastly under-reported. The sports world is obsessed with comparing LBJ to MJ: Is he the heir apparent?

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

ACC Football Kickoff Day 1: The Jameis Winston Show

Meet the Press
(GREENSBORO N.C.) — As the 43rd ACC Media Day 1 commenced, it was apparent – fast, quick and in a hurry – whose star shined brightest.

No doubt, Florida State’s QB and 2013 Heisman Trophy winner, Jameis Winston was must see TV. However, I digress; more on Winston later. read entire article :  Coach&player.com

Monday, July 21, 2014

ACC Media Days: Greensboro, NC

Me & University of Miami LB Denzel Perryman
Hey wassup to my HGP readers. I am reporting live from the ACC Media Days in Greensboro, NC.

ACC Kickoff 2014  has arrived! And with National Champion Florida State, they have bragging rights.

Can the Seminoles Repeat?

Will Florida State, the reigning national champion, with 2013 Heisman Trophy Laureate Jameis Winston –the Freshman sensation– repeat last year’s brilliant run in his sophomore season?

Or, will Jameis Winston’s crab leg adventure and other off-field shenanigans become a distraction? To be fair, Winston is diligently working to rehab his off field image. read entire story Coach&Player

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Corporate Welfare: Modern day bread line

Government for the 1% interests: Bought and pay for compliments of our Supreme Court.

"Corporations are more people than people"

White fear of Black men: Public Enemy Number One

I was tweeted this link and read the following:

Bonnie Berman Cushing

I have been devoted to a white anti-racist path for close to a dozen years, but I still stiffen with fear and a state of heightened awareness when I find myself alone on a darkened street with one or more Black men nearby.

As a dedicated student of anti-racist facts and principles I know intellectually that white people are five times more likely to be attacked by another white person than by a Black one and that two-thirds of the rapes committed in our country are by white men. 

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Parenting 101: Let's close the achievement gap #NoMoreExcuses

No Excuses Allowed
I have to co-sign 100% with the premise of following article:

There is no excuse for the widening achievement gap of young African Americans and their peers.

However, we would be remiss by not extending culpability to the adult world for failing to provide our children with nurturing environments conducive for success.

Parenting Matters

Poverty, racism, single-parent households, home instability, under-performing schools, violent neighborhoods are all factors that provide relevant context for this dilemma, yet in still, they are all hurdles that can be overcome with committed adult support.

BRICS to launch World Bank and IMF rivals


 Are you hip to BRICS?

BRICS is the acronym for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.[2]

The grouping was originally known as "BRIC" before the inclusion of South Africa in 2010.

The BRICS members are all developing or newly industrialised countries, but they are distinguished by their large, fast-growing economies and significant influence on regional and global affairs; all five are G-20 members.[3]

As of 2013, the five BRICS countries represent almost 3 billion people with a combined nominal GDP of US$16.039 trillion and an estimated US$4 trillion in combined foreign reserves.[1][4] As of 2014, the BRICS nations represented 18 percent of the world economy.[5]

Monday, July 14, 2014

A Philadelphia Story: Can a University Transform a City?

Here's two intriguing stories or perspectives on the expanding role of big urban university interacting with a local impoverish community.

As Drexel University in West Philly steps into the role of urban designer or community savior, the questions become:

Is this a post-modern version of gentrification? Or, Is this a big city university doing what big city government can not do?

Politico Magazine Presents

West Philadelphia, Reborn and Razed

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Attorney General Eric Holden slams Sarah Palin


Sometimes short and sweet is just that, short and sweet.

Attorney General Eric Holder on Sarah Palin's impeach President Obama quest.

“She wasn't a particularly good vice presidential candidate. She's an even worse judge of who ought to be impeached and why.”

Say no more. Case close.

And on the GOP party stuck in obstructionist mode.

Attorney General Eric Holder is challenging Republicans who are calling for his and President Obama's impeachment, and denouncing what he calls a "gridlocked Washington" stalled by what he says is a Republican Party bent on blocking any of the administration's efforts.

“For whatever reason, [some] Republicans decided early on that this was a president they were just simply not going to cooperate with,” Holder said in a rare interview with ABC News' Pierre Thomas.
 
"And over the past five-and-a-half years, we have seen demonstrations of that, where the president has reached out his hand, offered compromises that have simply not been met [in the way] they have been in the past by a Republican Party willing to do the appropriate things."
 
Administration efforts to pass comprehensive immigration reform, for example, have failed. source

Friday, July 11, 2014

Republican Reality: "I love my Obamacare (but not by that name)"

Live and in living color:

When you cut through the GOP and Conservative Entertainment Complex lies, distortions, misinformation and anti-Obamacare propaganda, you will discover a remarkable and under-reported and growing phenomenon:

Republicans love their Obamacare

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Why we vehemently defend President Obama.

The election of Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 demonstrated how progressively our country has evolved.

The treatment of the Obama presidency by the Conservative movement from 2009 to present demonstrates how reflexively racist our country remains.

Friday, July 4, 2014

Fox News ignores positive job report.

Good Obama News: "Not up in here"
For some odd reason, call it my keen intuition -- yea right, a first grader could make this call -- I was not surprised Fox News downplayed the following positive job report and Dow Jones stories:

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a surprisingly strong jobs report Thursday morning.

Employers added 288,000 jobs in June, significantly more than the 215,000 economists were anticipating.

The unemployment rate, which is drawn from a different survey of households, dropped from 6.3% to 6.1% the lowest rate since September 2008.

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Ann Coulter: AMERICA'S FAVORITE NATIONAL PASTIME: HATING SOCCER

Ann and Bill
Most sane people know that Senorita Ann Coulter craves attention -- negative or positive doesn't matter -- notoriety sells books and brings invitations to speak.

This is her con. She knows the game.

If she can stir up the Mississippi gene in many Americans -- wherever they reside -- she can continue to live the lifestyle of the rich and famous.

She works OT to remain in the game. Her MO: lobbing offensive verbal Molotov Cocktails. Hate speech is her bread and butter. She relishes her ability to rile up folks, particularly la gente de izquierda (liberals).