Run Away General

Yesterday’s press conference was one that was necessary and one that no manager, supervisor, owner or president should ever relish. The removal of a subordinate for foolishness isn’t something that makes them, or you, look good. What President Obama had to do yesterday had to be done. There’s no way Stanley McChrystal could have remained in his position after saying what he said in that Rolling Stone interview. Being a former soldier [always a soldier] and one that understands that there are times you may not agree with or even like your manager, supervisor, lead, or whomever it is that you’re subordinate to; I acutely understand that there’s a line between mouthing off in the break room, or at a happy hour and doing an interview with an international magazine. I tried to write this last night, but was having PC problems so I watched listened to Beck, Hannity and O’Reilly instead. They convinced me that I needed this to be my subject today.

I know, for the past couple of postings it’s been about immigration and illegals. This was going on that same line, especially considering the litigation against Arizona by Mexico; but I digress. Look, Beck, Hannity O’Reilly and the rest of those right wing nut jobs need to sit down and shut up. There isn’t a job in the world that you can keep after you disparage your boss (Commander-in-Chief) publicly. This moronic imbecile, not only did it publicly, but in an interview. How stupid can you get? Beck asked, “What happened to his freedom of speech?” Let me elucidate…we all have freedom of speech. We can basically whatever we choose to say. Just be prepared for the consequences and repercussions from what you’ve said. He got what his hand called for…fired! Another report asked, “Why is this getting such a large amount of press? Isn’t there something more important to talk about?” Let me see…you have the highest ranking serviceman assigned to the war effort in the Middle East basically calling the president and his administration dummies. You have thousands of soldiers, marines, airmen and sailors who are under him. You have morale that needs to be high, orders that need to be followed, and a war that needs to be won. This is not the look you want at this time…or ever! One of the things I learned when I had soldiers under my command was to deliver ever order like it came from me; like I agreed with it totally; as though I was willing to lay down my life for that decision. Frankly, in times like these, every decision they make, every order they follow, may cost them or someone else their lives. There’s no worse position to put a serviceman in than to have them not believing in what they’re fighting for, or the plan they are following to fight. This nincompoop needed to be relieved of his duties. He should just be glad he’ll still remain in the army.

Before anyone goes off on a tangent, I don’t think what he did warrants kicking him out of the service, but removal from this post was necessary to our efforts in this conflict. I believe he should have been kicked out and jailed after the Pat Tillman debacle. Remember I am the one that supported revoking citizenship and reentry into the U.S. for the Dixie Chicks and Harry Belafonte after their foolishness a few years back. Free speech comes with consequences, so…a word to the wise, if you have something negative to say about your boss, company, supervisor or someone else…keep it to yourself. If you choose otherwise, then look to be in the same situation as Stanley…running away.

Orville P. Cottlethorpe IV

It’s Just My Opinion, but I’m Not Wrong!

YOUR President...MY President...OUR President

Every since Nov 5 we have all heard it and some of you reading have made some of the statements, but have you really put it into perspective? I sat listening to Warren Ballentine (yes frat I’m calling you out) and he made the statement that makes my skin crawl. He said, “Y’all’s president only has a few days left.” “My president will be sworn in on Jan 20th” To be a barrister and one who quotes the constitution on a regular basis this bothers me. While I’m talking about Ballentine, he’s not the only one who makes foolishly racist statements like this. Let’s look at it this way…if a white person would say, ‘…my president is leaving office on Jan 20 and y’all’s president will be sworn in that day.” There would be picketing, protesting and acting a fool until he was thrown off the air. No, not in this case; he has callers calling in agreeing with him and saying the same racist crap. There were even some idiots calling in after the shoe throwing incident saying they wished Bush would have gotten hit. How stupid can you be??? He is still YOUR president as long as you live in America!! Others saying, “…secret service better respond better when Obama takes office...” What??? Dumb as all outdoors!!!


Here in Dallas there will be an inaugural ball at the House of Blues. I heard the ad for it on the radio a couple of times, but then one time I really heard it. The radio personality said, “…come out and celebrate the inauguration of our first president.” What?!?!?! He’s not our first president!!! He’s our 44th president!!! The black community lauds Ebony, Jet and Essence for hiring permanent white house correspondents to start working after the inauguration. What?!?!?! Did these magazines just realist they are in America??? This is crap. How would the black community react if several magazines or television networks pulled their white house correspondents now that Obama’s president? How about if Fox decided they didn’t need a White House correspondent any longer? What’s different about that than BET sending one now; after all these years. Even when they had a legitimate news program (thanks Jackie and Ed), they didn’t have a full time DC correspondent.


We keep whining about what ‘main stream media’ and white folk do to slight us, but if you turn the mirror around we do the same thing, if not worse. I love being American and I love being black. I ain’t African American/Afro-American or whatever else you want to call yourself. Divisiveness must end and we must begin with ourselves sand stop using the actions of others as justification for our own ignorance. As I say this I think about the HBCU’s; I won’t go there now, but think about how you’d look at a school that bragged about being a HWCU. With an African American (he’s truly one, a generation away from the continent) in the White House we need to stop separating ourselves from our other countrymen. We’re all Americans and regardless of who’s in the White House they are YOUR president, MY president, OUR president!!! Even if you don't respect the man, respect the OFFICE...President of the United States. Not President of black people, Asians, whites, or any other segment of our population, but president to ALL Americans. If you don't consider yourself American, then move to whatever country you claim and get the hell out of mine!

It’s just my opinion, but I’m not wrong.

Now What?

I must apologize. It has been a minute since I posted. I initially thought I’d take a few days and marinate about the magnitude of Obama’s presidential victory. Then it turned into a month. Anyways, since I didn’t post about that, let’s talk a bit. I am happy that we have a new president that is qualified, certified, and the best man for the job. It is simply the icing on the cake that he is a black man. If you voted for him because he is black, shame on you and you really don’t deserve the right to vote. [seriously] If you had the foresight and intelligence to review the issues and actually pay attention to the debates, platforms and campaign stump speeches and chose to vote for him because he IS the best man for the job, then congratulations. Those who actually reviewed the candidate’s views, stances and platforms know that there really wasn’t much in the way of difference between McCain and Obama, however Barack Hussein Obama IS our new president (I know he hasn’t taken office yet, but that’s the way I want to say it).

I was never more embarrassed than to see so many black folk over the age of 25 who were voting for the first time in this presidential election. What the hell have they been doing? Where have they been living? I would be willing to bet that these are the same idiots who ran around complaining about the mayor, governor, city councilman, etc and were too lazy, stupid or trifling to take part in the process. I always say that we have the right to vote, but we have the responsibility to be informed voters. I hope those who are 1st time voters aren’t last time voters. I believe we ought to vote every time there’s an election. Vote for everything from dog catcher to county tax assessor, they all affect you and your place in this society.

Now, I know this might not be a popular stance, but hear me out and, by all means, share your views as well. As I was saying, I believe that the election of this nations first non-white president says less about this country and racism than it does about the black community. Case and point…we keep hearing, “they finally elected a black man.” Think back and name three black men who were qualified, competent and available to run for POTUS in your lifetime…I’m still waiting. I didn’t think so. We’ve had Jesse and Al, neither of which were suited, competent or qualified for the job, and both are opportunistic racist morons who care about nothing more than the spotlight being shined on them and their fake causes. Then there’s Alan Keyes, from the republican Motissa tribe. He is an idiotic, moron who doesn’t have sense enough to know that they use him to try and divide the black vote every time they can. In order for there to be an indictment of this country, we ought to have had someone who was qualified in the position to run for president. Who’s to say that we wouldn’t have had a black man in the white house before? I can call Barack an African-American, because he IS one. He is 1 generation removed from the continent and actually has family to visit there. I’m about sick of black folk claiming to be African American [that’s another topic for another day].

Anyway, I say congratulations to America, Barack Hussein Obama, and all of my countrymen who will put their shoulders to the plow and work to make this country a great one under this new administration. This country and its leaders need our prayers, determination and ingenuity to turn around this economy and our reputation in the world’s eyes. While it is a great feat to have achieved, I’m not sure it is one that is going to be as great as he thought considering the plight he faces. He’ll be criticized greatly for not implementing all of the things he promised during his campaign, but those who pay attention will know that he can’t with the economy as it is, spend some of the money needed for the implementation of some of his platform programs. In 2012, his opponents will play looped tapes of him promising things that will not have been delivered. We musn’t be fooled by such. I simply pray that he and his administration are able to steady this economy in one term, then we’ll go from there.

This musing is entitled ‘Now What?’ for a reason. Regardless of why he won the election, as black people in America we are in a different position than we were this time last year. We have all heard folks complaining about being held back just for being black...not any longer. Now what will you use as your excuse? A black man now holds the most powerful title in this land [some would say the world]. What I really appreciate is all of the statistical realities that he shattered. In a time where black men aren’t respecting their women we have one who tells us every chance he gets that she is his rock and showers her with affection regardless of where they are. In a time where black men aren’t staying around to raise their kids we have one who is not only married to the mother of his kids, but is active in their lives. In a time where statistics say that the product of a single parent home is more likely to go to jail than college, we have one who graduated top of his class from one of the most prestigious colleges in the world. In a time where women are putting off having kids for their careers or having kids and letting someone else raise them for their careers, we have a strong, competent black woman, putting her career on hold for her the well being of her children. This family is a great American story as well as an inspirational story. Congrats to us all…I look forward to seeing the accomplishments he’ll be able to make in his second term.

It’s Just My Opinion, But I’m Not Wrong.

Sit your *#% Down Jesse!!!

As many of you might have heard over the past couple of weeks, Jesse is back in the news again. For years I've referenced him as a camera whore and have been less than impressed with his antics and shenanigans over the past couple of decades. There are several facts that Jesse needs to come to grips with.

1. His run for the white house was less than mediocre and a waste of time and money
2. He failed to gain the nomination of the party because he was running to be president of BLACK folks, not president of the USA
3. Obama’s campaign and presumptive nomination don’t resemble either of these.
   

Jesse has fallen into the delusion that too many of our people have. They seek out injustice and racism wherever they can find it and often times wherever they can create it. His last little statement that was ‘accidentally’ caught on a hot mic was indicative if the REAL, do as I say, not as I do Jesse. It was also a screaming example of his idiocy. He was on FOX for crying out loud. Everyone knows that FOX News is a tool of the extreme right wing Conservatives. He should have known they’d try to do something to get him to make a fool of himself and, to them, black people. I, unfortunately, had to come to grips with the fact that when one black man does something stupid [like this] we are all painted with the same brush. I had to come to grips with the fact that when a black preacher [I still don’t ever recall hearing him preach] does something stupid [like this] all black preachers are put in the category with him. Don’t agree?? Look back over the years and focus on times and events that shaped this country and the lives of black Americans. Who do they ALWAYS go to as the voice of Black America? Hmmm…Jesse and his perm wearing cohort Al!!! I don’t know about you, but neither of them speak for me!!!

He started out by making statements about Obama not acting ‘black enough’ after the Carolina primaries, now this comes to light. I was taken aback by the ludicrosity of this crap. He’s been in TV stations and interviewed across this land for over 30 years and makes a mistake like this? Come on Jesse!!!! I believe it was intentionally done so that this little whore could get some more camera time. So that this little sissy could let everyone know tat he’s sulking in the corner with sour grapes because this ONE campaign eclipsed BOTH of his in one fell swoop. I think it was his way to get back a Barack for the speech he gave on father’s day about black men needing to stand up and be real men. Take care of and nurture the children they made. To Jesse that was like a kick in the stomach…stomping on his toes…kicking him in the shins. Oh yeah, most of America has forgotten about the staff member he knocked up and hid away. That was what 8 or 9 years ago wasn’t it?

When’s the last time Jesse decorated for a birthday party? Went to a parent teacher conference? Went to a piano recital? …soccer game? …read a bedtime story? You see, Obama has the credentials to make the statements he made because he’s doing the things he says others ought to. He lets his constituents and staffers know tat he needs to get home every once in a while to see and spend time with his kids. Not have his organization send a check over every month. Don’t get m wrong…Obama was kicking me in the shins and stomping on my toes as well. However, rather than getting mad at him for telling the truth, I looked internally at myself and what I can do to change the future and my position as a father. I challenge other men out there to do the same. If you’re not a good dad, do your best to be the best one. If you’re a good dad, try to be a great one. It’s your calling, your responsibility, your duty.

Jesse…get a job…do something constructive with the rest of your life!

…oh yeah, take Al with you!

And stop the bitchassness [ I never thought I'd use that word, but it's so fitting here] !!

It’s just my opinion, but I’m not wrong!!!

Who's She Trying to Fool?

We've all seen and heard all there is to see and hear with regard to the Democratic Party’s selection process and how they are STILL dealing with two presidential hopefuls. I have a question for "the other candidate"...Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. She sat in the smoke-filled rooms several years ago as a decisions maker with the Democratic Party and aided them in putting together a process that would assist the party in choosing their nominee for the election in November against whomever the republicans chose as their sacrificial lamb. However, since this race began and she wound up in the role of the underdog, she has done all that she can to circumvent the very process she helped construct. This last gaffe is just one in a series of blunders, screw-up’s and mistakes that she has committed that have driven people away from her and embittered those who are sticking with her. Even some of her most staunch supporters are most likely sitting in the audience as she makes her pseeches whispering to one another and asking the qieston, "Can she really win?" or "How's she going to pull this off?"
She has done everything from have her husband state that black people only voted for Barack Obama because he's black to releasing photos of him in an African garb to fuel the rumors of his religious beliefs. Many have forgiven her of these. Then she had imaginary sniper fire in Bosnia that she irresponsibly took her daughter into on a good will trip to the country. [Yeah right] Many forgave her if this as well. However, I cannot and shall not overlook the statement that she made on several occasions that came out this past Friday. She basically stated that she's waiting around to see if Barack gets assassinated, like Bobby Kennedy did. The she'll become the nominee of the party. No matter how you spin, twist, or turn it, that's what she implied. Then after being called on it she simply states, "...if this offended the Kennedy family, that wasn't my intention." Not even saying I apologize, I'm sorry, or anything else that would indicate that she was even remorseful that she made the inference toward the senator.
Now, to take attention away from that 'Slick Willie' is out on the stump reiterating what Hillary has been stating for the last few weeks. She can win in November against McCain. She is ahead in polls; she has more white people voting for her...blah, blah, blah. All of these accusations, inferences, innuendo and crap is going to cause a major issue in this country come November. Many, like me have stated emphatically, that they would have no problem voting for Hillary should she become the nominee of the party. Even after careful scrutiny, the platforms of Obama and Clinton don’t have much difference between them. However, their tactics are where the differentiation comes in. This race has shown exactly how they will and would react in time of crisis. She pulls out all the stops and gets down and dirty, even underhanded while not seeing reality. He keeps a cool head and calculates his next move in accordance with what he believes his opponent’s shall be. Which do you want running this country at this time next year? Should she gain the favor of the party and become the nominee against the votes of the people, I would hate to waste a vote on Nader, but I would have to. I couldn't have someone like that as my leader.
Hillary is on a path to assure that McCain will be our next president. She’s giving directives to her supporters not to vote for Obama should he win the nomination of the party. She’s ostracizing those who support him referring to them as turncoats and Benedict Arnold (i.e. Richards); she’s doing all she can to tear the party apart using the victim card and inferring that she’s not getting the same press, respect, or treatment because she’s a woman. What’s next? Will they accuse the ‘Obama people’ of being racist? That brings up another question. Why is it when I watched the news the other night when they were talking about the race and referenced Clinton’s ‘camp’ and Obama’s ‘people?’ Hmmm…I guess I’ll close with that.

It's Just My Opinion, But I'm Not Wrong!

Why is it?

Why is it that a Black Man can create a tiny piece called a filament (electric light - Lewis Latimer) That allows people to see in the dark? But can't be seen fit to lead a country to the true light. Why is it that a Black Man can create an instrument (clock - Benjamin Banneker) that all People use to tell time? But people don't think it is time for him to run a country. Why is it that a Black Man can design a place for the high authorities to meet in & a place for the President to live in (The Capital & the White House Phillip Reid (a slave) & Pierre L'Enfant)? But not good enough to lead these meetings or live in himself. Why is it that a Black Man was brilliant enough to do the first open heart surgery (Dr. Daniel Hale Williams) And show the world how to get and preserve plasma (Dr. Charles Drew)? But not good enough to put a program in place where everyone can afford this surgery. Why is it that a Black Man was creative enough to design an instrument (traffic light - Garrett Morgan) To bring multiple people (traffic) to a halt? But not seen creative enough to design a plan to bring all this unnecessary and worthless Fighting between countries to an end. Why is it that a Black Man could create the soles (shoes - Jan Matzeliger) that people Walk on everyday? But not seen good enough to fill the shoes of a bad president. Why is it that a Black Man was smart enough & brave enough to teach himself (Fredrick Douglas & Thomas Fuller - both slaves) and others how to read, write and/or calculate math? But not seen (as) smart enough and bold enough to calculate a platform to be President to a country that sure needs another first by us. So you see my Brothers and Sisters what I am saying is let us not forget our past, which led us to our present and can definitely be the backbone to our future. We were good enough, smart enough, creative enough, and bold enough then, so Lets all give Obama the chance to show that we are still these things and more. We all are as strong as our weakest link, so don't be that weak link that denies our people that chance to show we still can OVERCOME & BE THE FIRST

It's just my opinion, but I'm not wrong!!