Is President Obama losing Black support with the Libyan intervention? by Roger Caldwell



On Monday, March 28, 2011, President Obama held a nationally televised speech where he attempted to give his plan, strategy, and reason for bombing and intervention into Libya. Based on his explanation, the bombing of Libya was necessary to save lives and promote freedom. It is a limited invasion in terms of time and scope and the international coalition has prevented massacre.



Libyan President Gadhafi



Without America leading this global coalition, Gadhafi would have showed no mercy on his people, and he had already compared the rebels and demonstrators to “rats.” In certain parts of the country, Gadhafi had turned tanks, bombs, and soldiers on innocent citizens, and the people need food and medical supplies.

As a result of the conditions, the United Nations initiated a “No-Fly” zone, an arms embargo, and put a global freeze on Libya’s billions of assets. There are certain Arab countries that are also supporting the “No-Fly” zone, but there are others that do not support the bombing of a sovereign country.

Libya has Africa’s largest oil reserves, and certain countries believe that the “vital interest” in Libya. There are other countries in that region in the world where citizens are being murdered and not allowed to demonstrate and protest, but the existing government is still supported by the United States.



UN Secretary General
Bar Ki-Moon



British Prime Minister
David Cameron



Last week there was a London Conference where 36 countries and the UN Secretary General Bar Ki-moon, which was hosted by Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron. This conference tried to work out a plan to get rid of Gadhafi.

The media gave the impression that all the major countries are supporting this NATO coalition, but only two African countries: Tunisia and Morocco, attended the conference. The entire African Union refused to attend the London Conference, along with China, Russia, India, and Pakistan.



African Union



As the Libyan conflict continues to intensify, it is obvious that the strategy and plan must be continually made “up on the fly”. During President Obama’s speech on the Libyan conflict, he was adamant that there will be no ground troops, and the leadership of the military operation is no longer under the control of the United States.

But many American citizens do not believe President Obama when he says that his administration will not attempt to overthrow Gadhafi by force. “To be blunt,” said Obama, “we went down that road in Iraq.” Nevertheless, it appears that President Obama is following in President Bush’s footsteps and the Libyan strategy is starting to get messy.

Dr. Boyce Watkins from Syracuse University has surveyed over 650 African Americans and 27% are against President Obama’s decision to intervene in Libya. There were 24% who supported the action, and 49% who were undecided. As this conflict drags on, it is a recipe for confusion and spending money that we don’t have.

Many African Americans are starting to not trust President Obama, and skeptical of our military and government. Many believe that we should stop trying to police the world and concentrate on the problems at home.

Minister Farrakhan and many African American leaders are criticizing the United States government for launching military action against Libya without justification. They have accused America of just wanting Gadhafi out of the picture to secure oil interest and set up a puppet government. They are asking for a ceasefire on all sides in Libya, and let the people vote on whether Gadhafi should remain in power.

This is a good idea, but in Libya there will be no peaceful transfer of power. Gadhafi has demonstrated that he will murder to stay in power, and President Obama has stated that he desires a regime change.

In the final analysis, whether we agree or disagree with President Obama, history is not on the side with Gadhafi. He will probably leave and live in a friendly country with his billions, or he will die in his country trying to stop the movement of freedom.              

On Monday, March 28, 2011, President Obama held a nationally televised speech where he attempted to give his plan, strategy, and reason for bombing and intervention into Libya. Based on his explanation, the bombing of Libya was necessary to save lives and promote freedom. It is a limited invasion in terms of time and scope and the international coalition has prevented massacre.

Without America leading this global coalition, Gadhafi would have showed no mercy on his people, and he had already compared the rebels and demonstrators to “rats.” In certain parts of the country, Gadhafi had turned tanks, bombs, and soldiers on innocent citizens, and the people need food and medical supplies.

As a result of the conditions, the United Nations initiated a “No-Fly” zone, an arms embargo, and put a global freeze on Libya’s billions of assets. There are certain Arab countries that are also supporting the “No-Fly” zone, but there are others that do not support the bombing of a sovereign country.

Libya has Africa’s largest oil reserves, and certain countries believe that the “vital interest” in Libya. There are other countries in that region in the world where citizens are being murdered and not allowed to demonstrate and protest, but the existing government is still supported by the United States.

Last week there was a London Conference where 36 countries and the UN Secretary General Bar Ki-moon, which was hosted by Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron. This conference tried to work out a plan to get rid of Gadhafi. The media gave the impression that all the major countries are supporting this NATO coalition, but only two African countries: Tunisia and Morocco, attended the conference. The entire African Union refused to attend the London Conference, along with China, Russia, India, and Pakistan.

As the Libyan conflict continues to intensify, it is obvious that the strategy and plan must be continually made “up on the fly”. During President Obama’s speech on the Libyan conflict, he was adamant that there will be no ground troops, and the leadership of the military operation is no longer under the control of the United States.

But many American citizens do not believe President Obama when he says that his administration will not attempt to overthrow Gadhafi by force. “To be blunt,” said Obama, “we went down that road in Iraq.” Nevertheless, it appears that President Obama is following in President Bush’s footsteps and the Libyan strategy is starting to get messy.



Dr. Boyce Watkins



Dr. Boyce Watkins from Syracuse University has surveyed over 650 African Americans and 27% are against President Obama’s decision to intervene in Libya. There were 24% who supported the action, and 49% who were undecided. As this conflict drags on, it is a recipe for confusion and spending money that we don’t have.

Many African Americans are starting to not trust President Obama, and skeptical of our military and government. Many believe that we should stop trying to police the world and concentrate on the problems at home.

Minister Farrakhan and many African American leaders are criticizing the United States government for launching military action against Libya without justification. They have accused America of just wanting Gadhafi out of the picture to secure oil interest and set up a puppet government. They are asking for a ceasefire on all sides in Libya, and let the people vote on whether Gadhafi should remain in power.

This is a good idea, but in Libya there will be no peaceful transfer of power. Gadhafi has demonstrated that he will murder to stay in power, and President Obama has stated that he desires a regime change.

In the final analysis, whether we agree or disagree with President Obama, history is not on the side with Gadhafi. He will probably leave and live in a friendly country with his billions, or he will die in his country trying to stop the movement of freedom.              

Can Republicans in Congress Realistically Shrink The Government? by Roger Caldwell

Everywhere you go in the United States, you hear people talking about making the federal government smaller. Many conservatives are considering revolting against the federal government and making the states more powerful.

Even in the state of Florida, our governor is refusing money from the federal government to build high speed rail. Our governor believes that our state could end up owing the entire $2.4 billion back to the government, if there are problems with the construction and the project is not completed. Based on his studies, there are too many “ifs and maybes” to risk the taxpayer’s hard earned money and resources.

Many governors in Wisconsin, New Jersey, Ohio, and Florida have decided that they will solve their own problems with limited interference from the federal government. Many of these states are controlled by conservative legislatures and governors, and they want to limit union intervention, and collective bargaining. They believe that they have a mandate from the people, and the same philosophy is prevalent with Republicans in the federal Congress.

These Republicans in the Congress are conservative, and believe that they were sent to Washington with a mission. Their goal is to cut spending and help to shrink the federal government. Even though the budget was $3.1 trillion when Bush was president, they want to turn back the hands of time.

The Republicans argue with the Democrats, and the Democrats argue with the Republicans over $100 billion in cuts. Both parties know that $100 billion is a small percentage of the budget, and they are fighting over peanuts. When the proposed budget for 2012 is $3.7 trillion, and the deficit is $1.3 trillion, there are other fundamental problems with balancing our federal budget.

Our country continues to fight one major war that is costing on the average, $9 billion a month and we are also dumping around $5 billion a month in Iraq, and there is no telling what the expense to keep bases around the world.  It is obvious fighting wars that we can not win is a terrible strategy, and a drain on our resources and funds.

Somewhere in President Obama campaign and the reality of Washington, our country is caught between a rock and a hard place. Cutting social programs for the poor, minorities, women, children and the elderly is no way to run the richest country on earth. Our politicians are looking in the wrong places to cut expenses.

President Obama was right when he stated that the rich 2% of our population needs to pay more taxes, because of our deficits, and they can afford it. By the same token, our international corporations and conglomerates can afford to pay more taxes. The middle class, the poor, and the small businesses should receive a break on taxes.

It is time for the president to take a position and establish his leadership role in the Congress, and with the conservative governors around the country. The president must take the initiative and establish where the right places to make the cuts in his budget. Shutting down some of the military bases around the world could save our country billions.

Our country could save billions by stopping policing the world and stop financing corrupt governments who we want to be our friends. Finally, we should stop fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq and redirect the savings to balance our budget, and improve our infrastructure.

Many of the cuts that Republicans and the Democrats are making are for show. If they are serious about balancing our budget, they will help end the wars, and tax the people and the corporations in the country who can afford to pay.         

THE IRONIC DILEMMA IN EGYPT.... by Roger Caldwell



Unrest comes to a head in Egypt



As the drama unfolds in Egypt, it becomes increasingly clear that the United States government will have to make a decision on what side they support. The script is very similar around the world, where certain regimes have been in power for thirty years. There is an unfolding of a grassroots uprising, and democracy and human rights is at the core of the fundamental problem.

In Egypt, there is a call for a Democratic movement and President Obama finds himself in the middle of the conflict. In one breath, the United States is saying we want an immediate change in Egypt with free and fair elections. “Now means now,” White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said of Egypt’s transition, repeating that continued aid to Egypt would be influenced by the government’s responses to the crisis.

On the other hand, Egypt has been an ally to the United States and a close friend to Israel. President Mubarak’s regime has been good for Israel, because it preserved peace on the southern border. Since it was an autocratic regime, it did not have to be responsive to public opinion, and it could take a soft line on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

As long as Egypt took a soft line on what happened to the Palestinians, the Israeli government can maintain its current policies. But if the Egypt government became a responsive democracy, it would have to address public opinion and human rights.

President Obama has denounced the Egyptian government’s acts of “suppression and violence” during the protest, and called for “an orderly transition process right now.” Our president has stopped short of demanding that President Mubarak leave office immediately.

At this point, President Obama is doing a juggling act, because there are concerns that the Muslim Brotherhood is highly organized and they will play a role in the new democratic government. This group is a threat to the stability of Israel and rejects much of the United States’ agenda in the region.

President Mubarak has agreed not to run for office in September, but the hundreds of thousands protestors have indicated that’s not good enough. There have been clashes between the pro-Mubarak supporters and the protesters, and it appears that violence will accelerate. Some experts believe that the pro-Mubarak supporters are gangs that are being paid to create more violence and bloodshed.

Nevertheless, their army will be forced to bring order back to the country eventually, and the Egyptian army will be given a wide scope to detain people. The United States finds itself in a precarious situation, because the world is watching and waiting.

The United States has always been a leader for legitimate democracies around the world. Even though these are the values we project, for thirty years Egypt was not a genuine democratic country. President Obama knows that the decisions that our country makes in Egypt will determine what happens to our country in the rest of the region.

As the drama plays out, eventually there will be fair and impartial elections. The Muslim Brotherhood will play a vital role in the transition of power. Political Islam is a reality of doing business and politics in this region of the world and America can not discriminate against the Muslim Brotherhood.



President Obama with Muburak



If President Obama and the United States believe in transparency and inclusion in Egypt, the will and human rights of the people must be protected. With hundreds of thousands protesters demonstrating against the government, there is something fundamentally wrong with the present administration.

The United States is in a difficult position, but it should side with the will of the people. The values of democracy, freedom, and transparency are what we hold dear as the cornerstone of country. If we believe in these values, we should want the same in Egypt.   

Bringing Prosperity Back to the United States by Roger Caldwell

On Tuesday January 27, 2011, President Obama delivered his second “State of the Union” address, where he established his strategic economic and political plan for 2011 and beyond. His focus as everyone expected was on the resurgence of the recovering economy and the need for bipartisan cooperation in the 112^th Congress.

With the backdrop of the massacre at Tucson and attempted assassination of Representative Gifford, intense emotions and reflection was on the minds of all the politicians and other guest who attended the “State of the Union” address. The question that all Americans continue to ask themselves is: “How could this happen in the greatest country on the planet?”

As a result of the massacre, there was an unprecedented seating arrangement between the two parties where they sat together and responded to the speech as a united body. Many in the media wrote this activity off as symbolic act, but to me it was the beginning of civility, communication, and respect for each other.

For too long the Democrats and the Republicans act as if they are enemies and their goal is to create an environment of confrontation and anger. Instead of making laws to help all Americans, they are busy repealing laws that can improve the lives of all the residents.

President Obama begins his speech with a teachable moment, where he explains that intense debate is a positive aspect of a robust and informative democracy. “It’s no secret that those of us here tonight have had our differences over the last two years. The debates have been contentious; we have fought fiercely for our beliefs. And that’s a good thing. That what a robust democracy demands. That what sets us apart.”

President Obama makes it clear that freedom is what makes America great and there is a place for differences in opinions. But we are all part of the American family and the challenges that we face as a nation are larger than anyone party. He believes that as a country we have overcome one of the worst recessions and innovation and America’s competitive spirit will move our country forward.

As an insightful leader and a visionary articulate teacher, President Obama in his speech continues to emphasize that our country must position itself to lead now, and in the future. “We measure progress by the success of our people, by the jobs they can find and the quality of life those jobs offer. But we have more work to do.”

In this speech as in all of the president’s speeches, he takes time to inspire us and encourages us to be great. During this speech, he talks about change and how there is a revolution in technology, transportation, and communication. As leaders we have a responsibility to transform the world, which is our rightful place in the world.

President Obama believes for two hundred years, Americans continue to re-invent themselves through innovation and our story is focused on success. Education is the key to our success as a country and the president and both parties have implemented the program “Race to the Top.” There are already success stories where entire schools were failing and now they are succeeding.

The president realizes that we must rebuild the American infrastructure by developing a high speed rail system and a high speed internet. He wants to simplify the tax system, enhance his new Health Care Law, and make sure our children are not buried under a “mountain of debt. Our government must live within its means; therefore he is putting a freeze on annual domestic spending.

In this presidential State of the Union address there were many promises and very aggressive plans. But as Americans, if we can visualize our president’s imagination, there is no reason our country can’t be prosperous and great.   

Can Republicans Really Repeal the Health Care Bill? by Roger Caldwell

John Boehner, the incoming Republican majority leader, and the House Republicans in the 112^th Congress swiftly honored a campaign pledge, and passed legislation to repeal the health care overhaul. On Wednesday evening, January 19, 2011, by a vote of 245 to 189, the Republicans let it be known to the country that they mean business. Some political experts interpret this as a symbolic act but on many different levels this bill is being challenged.

On this important vote in the House, there were three Democrats that sided with the Republicans, and to defeat a veto by the President in the House is needed 280 votes. The Republicans in all probability cannot stop a presidential veto, but in committees they can stop funding for Health Care initiatives. They have the ability to bring things to a standstill in the House, and John Boehner is going to do everything possible to repeal the bill.

Working on the state level to repeal the Health Care Bill, 26 states have filed lawsuits to challenge the constitutionality of the law, because it violates people's rights by forcing them to buy health insurance. Two federal judges have ruled and upheld the law requirements, but in Virginia the federal judge has ruled that the insurance-purchase mandate was unconstitutional.

In Florida, former Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum filed the lawsuit just minutes after President Obama signed the 10 year, $938 billion health care bill into law in March 2010. Joining the suit was the nation's most influential small business lobby, the National Federation of Independent Business. There are major lobbying groups and a broad cross-section of state Attorney Generals who are challenging the constitutionality of the law.

There is also a major petition campaign spearheaded by former Governor Huckabee and conservative Republicans to get the overhaul repealed. The anger that was prevalent over the summer and during the election has turned the repeal of the Health Care Bill into a statement of protest.

Many of the conservative Americans believe that the Health Care Bill is a "job-crushing, socialist plan" that will leave citizens powerless. The conservatives are drawing a line in the sand and they think the entire bill is wrong for America.

No matter what side of the fence you are on considering health care, we all agree that the present system is broken. All of the doctors, medical personnel, politicians, and citizens acknowledge that the cost keeps going up. President Obama's attempt to fix the health care system is far reaching and there will be many problems.

Nevertheless there are certain components in the bill that are helping people save money now and receive service, where they were denied coverage. The five million Americans who were denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions are now covered. Youth who were in college can stay with their parents' insurance until they are 25. Children are now required under the law to receive health care and are benefiting from President Obama's work.

The Democrats in the Senate have made it clear that they are not going to consider the repeal initiative and they have the majority. It would take 67 Senators to repeal a president's veto, but they support the Health Care overhaul.

At the end of the day the Republicans can stir up controversy and set the groundwork for the 2012 election. Their goal is to win back a majority in the Senate and get a Republican voted in as president.

There is one more challenge that the Republicans can use to repeal the Health Care Bill and that is the Supreme Court. The lawsuits in the states are destined to go to the Supreme Court, and if the law is declared unconstitutional, the government may be forced to stop implementing certain portions of the law.

 

Obama Shakes Up His Administration In 2011 by Roger Caldwell

With the terrible beating that the Democrats took in the 2010 election, it is time for a new group of advisors and leaders in the Obama administration. President Obama has loss some of his direction and at times it appears that he is trying to please everyone. There is a major shift in American politics and conservative thinking is the predominant mindset.

In Washington, the 112th Congress will be a divided government where the House will be controlled by the Republicans, and the Senate will barely be controlled by the Democrats. There will take a mindset of compromise and negotiation to get pass gridlock and rigid positions. Bipartisan thinking and making concession to keep things moving in Washington will take a new centrist perspective and mindset.

This week President Obama stated in an interview, "I was eager to implement reorganization in his administration, and make changes after two years on the job. I said I planned to have the personnel realignments finished in the coming days."

President Obama is planning to recharge his administration with new faces by naming a new chief of staff and a new director of the National Economic Council for the top economic policy job in the White House. The name that is being circulated around Washington as the new chief of staff is William Daley. The name Gene Sperling is expected to be announced as the top economic advisor.

Both men worked in the Clinton administration and would signal an effort that the president is reaching out to work with a Republican-controlled House. It would also accelerate deal-making and move in the direction of the conservative movement.

As the mood of the country shifts, it is necessary that President changes his talking points to accommodate the conservative element. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary and close confidant to Obama, announced that he was stepping down next month to become an outside political adviser to the president and his re-election campaign. Gibbs said he would leave in early February.

David Axelrod, a senior adviser to the president, and Jim Messina, a deputy chief of staff are both leaving and moving to Chicago to establish the president's re-election campaign. It is quite evident that the president in the next months will be organizing his campaign team for the 2012 election.

President Obama is set to shuffle his staff, and when you play musical chairs, you never know when the music will stop. One thing for certain that the president is preparing to get on board with the new realities in Washington.

He will have to change his liberal ideology and take more advice from the business community and do more listening. Raising money for the campaign next year starts now, and President Obama will be competing with a new and energized Republican Party. It will be interesting to see if the Tea Party gets stronger or if they will fade away.

Some political leaders believe if the unemployment rates decreases and the economy continues to recover, the president's message must still resonant with more Americans. In the next two years, the president must reconnect with the fundamental problems that have created anger with "Middle Class America".

At this point, President Obama is playing musical chairs and the music is still playing. There are many who have worked with the president for four years and they have no idea what their next assignment will be. Nevertheless, restructuring is a good thing, because people become complacent and their work suffers.

Working with the president is never a dull moment and at any time you must be willing to shift. The music is still playing and when the president is finishing with shaking up his administration, the music will stop playing.

 

 

A Teachable Moment at the Tucson Memorial Service by Roger Caldwell

On Wednesday evening, January 12, 2011, in front of thousands on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, and millions on television, President Obama eulogized the victims of the horrific massacre with a speech that energized Americans with compassion and moral imagination. All presidents in their role as the "head of the state" are called on during times of crisis and tragedy to be a uniting force for the country. This was a time when our country needed leadership and our president delivered.

Great orators are able to use a tragic situation and turn it into a divine and spiritual incident that is a teachable moment. All African-American preachers have the ability to make a somber experience a joyful home-going celebration. On Wednesday evening, President Obama took a page out of the Black experience and taught a greater power has the answer.

"Rather than pointing fingers or assigning blame, let's use this occasion to expand our moral imagination," Obama said. The president in his speech acknowledged that there is evil and there are people who are mentally unstable, but as Americans, we are resilient and we have the moral stamina to be better. By using our moral imagination, we have the ability to rise above our setbacks.

As the president spoke, everyone who was listening was involved with the process of reflection. Everyone is aware of the intense polarization and anger that is demonstrated everyday between the Democrats and the Republicans. The dysfunctional political discourse between the conservatives and the liberals has everyone scared to say what they truly believe.

Lately the political rhetoric has become ugly, but the president encouraged those listening to communicate with more civility in our public discourse. President Obama believes that "the forces that divide are not as strong as the forces that unite us."

The president was adamant that no one will ever know what led to the unsuccessful attempted assassination of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the murder of six people and the shooting of 13 others. But we all are Americans and everyday our legislators are working to make a more perfect union. There is a multiplicity of problems confronting our country but we must never forget the values that make us great.

"At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized, at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do, it is important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds."

If ever there was a need for hope, unity, and compassion, President Obama during the Tucson memorial speech joined together and pulled together our country, and we became one. He shared personal notes about all of those who died in the shooting. But the part of the speech that struck an emotional chord with me was when he talked about 9 year-old Christina Taylor Green.

Christina Green was completely innocent and she saw the world from the eyes of a child. There was wonder in her eyes and her world was filled with dreams, and she was born on September 11, 2001, and she believed in the American dream.

Here is what President Obama had to say about Cristina Green: "I want us to live up to her expectations. I want our democracy to be as good as she imagined it. If there are rain puddles in heaven, Christina is jumping in them today."

Every American who attended or listened to the memorial service now understands that we all have to do a better job at loving each other.

 

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