Truth Be Told!

Governor Mitt Romney said that President Obama let the American people down in during his nomination acceptance speech.  He vowed to move America past the President’s disappointments.  Do you really want to know who let America down?  Ask Congress, ask the Senate, and ask the Ultra-Conservative strategists who met the night of the President’s inauguration that plotted ways to make this a one-term president who failed.  We'll also disrespect him along the way.  They decided that they would attack in several areas to promote doubt and fear in the American people.  Ask Robert Draper who wrote “Do Not Ask What Good We Do: Inside the US House of Representatives.”  He said the following people attended a meeting in the Caucus Room in DC:  Republican Reps. Eric Cantor (Va.), Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Paul Ryan (Wis.), Pete Sessions (Texas), Jeb Hensarling (Texas), Pete Hoekstra (Mich.) and Dan Lungren (Calif.), along with Republican Sens. Jim DeMint (S.C.), Jon Kyl (Ariz.), Tom Coburn (Okla.), John Ensign (Nev.) and Bob Corker (Tenn.). The non-lawmakers present included Newt Gingrich, several years removed from his presidential campaign, and Frank Luntz, the long-time Republican wordsmith. Notably absent were Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) - who, Draper writes, had an acrimonious relationship with Luntz.  Recognize any of these pyramids of righteousness?  These guys are more patriotic than most and more Christian than all.  How hypocritical can these people be?  They thrived on the lie that the President is a Muslim but don’t mention that Mitt is a Mormon.  That’s literally been kept out of the news.   It’s better to just lie out right and see how many people will believe it.  If necessary, apologize later.  Somebody needs to tell the absolute truth!  If you don’t believe me, disagree.  McConnell and Boehner might not have been there, but I’m sure that they got the message.  McConnell has said that he will do his best to make this a one-term president.  Rush Limbaugh said, “I hope Obama fails.”  And Rush used his radio show to prove it, too.  Now the Governor, the Republican Presidential Nominee, wants America to succeed.  Reaganesques?  Reagan wouldn't be accepted by his own part the way they moved to the extreme right.  No compromising and no giving in to the opposition.  I don’t know if any of you have ever read my blogs or will ever read them.  I’ve been a moderate over 40 years and don’t care if you call me a RINO.  I do know who I am and the challenges that I face.  I have been called worse names but I’ve learned that people when they are angry and afraid they will strike out.  The regrets might come later.  There are those that enjoys feeding them that fear.  These are the people that are content with destruction and division.  I’m amazed at the path our country has taken since a Black President took the helm.  Well, if they turned on President Bush, what would you expect?

Dazzling, Deceiving, Distracting!!!



Paul Ryan



I'm surprised that someone from FOX News had this to say about Paul Ryan's speech.  This is what I call the cold, hard truth.  I hope she stays employed for showing what it really means to be fair and balanced.  We need more people from the media to be honest and truthful.

Jan Brewer

And to top it off, Arizona Republican Gov. Jan Brewer, who is always disrespectful of the President, accidentally endorsed Obama Wednesday evening in an interview with MSNBC.  Subconsciously, she might have a feeling for the man.  Isn't that what grade school kids do when they have a crush on someone?  Be mean to them?  What a mess!!!

Vote or Not Be Counted!

Most people minds are made up for who they will vote for.  There are still a few waiting for the untruths to settle and will make their choice in the voting booth.  During these conventions, I would like to hear some resolutions and real ideas instead of instilling fear. The world is still looking at us and remembers.  Flava Flav of Public Enemy is a hype man.  Why didn’t they get him at the convention? Oops, I forgot.  He’s not the right flavor.  In some states, we will see a change in voting laws to require a photo ID.  As you probably already now this was due to fraudulent voting in the past and to prevent the possibility of it in the future.  Even if there were no proven voting fraud in any states, these new restrictions fall most heavily on young, minority, and low-income voters, as well as on voters with disabilities. This wave of changes intends to affect the political terrain for the 2012 election.  I sure we all could take a guess at the reason for this dismemberment of particular groups.  I’ll help you.  Eliminate the fear of the black man taking the office of President! Disenfranchise the American voters.  After all, the GOP does speak up for the American people.  They just don’t listen.  They had 8 years to correct the wrongs but actually got us in deeper debt.  But that smoking gun was to eliminate the middle-class, anyway.  A hole was dug so deep that even if they had 12 years, it will still take more dirt to fill it.  And they are slinging dirt and people are believing it.  South Carolina used their voter fraud fears but the Election Commission found no evidence.  But the biggest fear and I do support this columnist on this possibility is the voting machines.  They could actually still the election.  Just because you finished voting before you call the poll attendant, double check.  Verify, verify, verify!  Then if you’re satisfied with making the right choice, leave in peace

Let Go Of The Past Hurts and Let God In For Future Blessings!

I’ve been self-incarcerated for almost 30 years.  It was a bad feeling being behind a self-imposed prison caused by my divorce. I had still harbored angry and bitter feelings toward my ex-wife.  I thought I had forgiven her but you can’t forgive someone if you stay angry with them.  You must forgive and forget!  I realized that my anger was misdirected and when we last talked, I called back to apologize for my rudeness.  I prayed to God to release this anger and bitterness.  I had a revelation that I wasn’t angry with my ex-wife, I was angry at where we should have been together!  The sad irony about all of this is I dwelled on where we both could have been instead of moving forward where I should have been.  I couldn’t successfully continue other relationships because I saw her in them and did not give anyone a chance for fear of being hurt.  Being unforgiving can cause you more harm than a disease.  Carrying baggage is more than a burden, it’s a handicap. It’s crippling.  The older the baggage, the worse the back will ache and the mind torment.  I let someone else deny my dreams while I sat back doing nothing about it.  We blame people for our own actions.  How pitiful and pathetic I am.  After this eye opening event, I realized that my purpose is in this life is not yet over and I am a better man for this.  I wanted to be in control and lost. I had to yield to God Who always remains in control.  There is a distinct difference between regret and anger.  I don’t regret ever being married to her, she is a wonderful woman.  We could not compromise on our differences.  Was it pride or individualism, I don’t know.  It was probably that and more.  But I do feel lighter mentally and ready for a new chapter in my life.  We all have struggles. Don’t be angry or jealous of someone else’s blessings.  We don’t know what they been through to get where they are.  The sun shines and the rain falls on the good and bad.  We should treat each other as we would like to be treated and keep God first and foremost in our lives.  Things don’t always go as we like but we can keep a positive attitude so that the next time it happens we can find a learning experience from it.  We have to let go and let God.

We Stayed Put!

Excerpt from A Part of Things:

I am clumsy and portly while she is graceful and agile. She is quick-witted and intelligent but I catch on after a few minutes. She is patient and kind while I’m the opposite. While she remains loving and caring, I have a long way to go to overcome my selfishness and pride. She is Black and I am White. She is the opposite in all things except two important similarities. We both believe in God and trust in Him. Maybe that’s why I care so deeply about her. I don’t know about her political affiliation, it was never discussed. We are both military veterans, she from the Navy and me from the Air Force, we teased each other about that a lot.

I was concerned about how interracial dating would affect us and our friends. But it was more important, to me, how we respected and trusted God. I believe if we keep Him first and foremost in our lives, we’ll be able to survive the storms that will come because of our differences. The stares and the nasty remarks will come and it was hard not to react in kind. Portia’s attitude did not seem to let it bother her. She would still smile, make jokes, hold hands, and reassure me of her love. I loved her, too. My problem is falling in love too easily. I read the signs wrong and then I’m broken when love isn’t reciprocated.

Portia made sure I ate the right foods and exercised. She said she wanted me around as long God would keep me and that there was need for me to rush. I didn’t know how to take this kind of affection. I felt that after my divorce if given a second chance I would live differently. Portia has two great kids from her previous marriage, an eighteen year old young lady and a fourteen year old future NFL/CPA superstar. She worries about those children more than anything. I respect her so much for that. All mothers want only the best for their children.

Another problem I have is we work together and I don’t want her embarrassed or harassed by our co-workers. It might be the 21st century but people really haven’t progressed enough to accept interracial relationships. I know, I was like them until the past two years, when my best friend married a black woman. I always believed that you don’t have to go outside your race to find love. Now here I am feeling Portia. I got issues.

But none of these issues matter. They are not real. They are products of my imagination. I know that this can’t happen because I’m really stuck in my old ways. We stayed put. Portia will never know my feelings about her. I just wondered what would make my life different.

A Part of Things ©

Tonight – John Legend ft. Ludacris!!

Lately - Anita Baker

We tend to forget the simple things.  Maybe we really didn't love each other as much as we thought we did.

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over!

DUI Fatalities at the State Capital, Columbia, SC, August 16, 2012

We hear, read, and see almost everyday about DUI-related collisions and deaths.  Some of the victims we might know personally.  We know it’s wrong to drive under the influence but some of us still do.  I don’t need to provide statistics or links to web sites to support the problems we are having on our highways.  All of us want to make it from point A to point B safely and return home safely.  We all want our family and friends and the people we love to come back home safe.  A nationwide crackdown is going on.  Help law enforcement get these offenders off the road.  Call them in, get tag numbers, vehicle descriptions, but don’t endanger yourself.  There’s enough danger on our roadways as it is.  So, please take a proactive approach by not getting behind the wheel driving.  Stay at home, get a designated driver who doesn’t drink, or get a taxi if you know you’re going to have a “couple of drinks.”  The penalties will cost a lot more than the drinks. Remember there’s someone that loves you and wants the best for you.

Dealing With The Moments!

Remember a baby’s very first steps and first words, a loving first glance and first stolen kiss, a faint scent of perfume and a song that reminded you of someone special? Did those moments and events make an impact in your life? Did you see the significance? If you didn’t think they were important to you, someone else did. Some actions remain constant even if others completed them. All events will be important to some one.

We may not all feel important and question if our lives are meaningless because we didn’t leave a legacy for others to admire or respect. Well, living isn’t existing, it’s doing something that will affect positively the lives of those that you cross paths with. We all have a purpose and most of the time we don’t know what it is. And if we think we do know it, we still doubt that it would serve any importance anyway. We make life complicated and take our dissatisfaction out on the people that are close to us.

But our purpose doesn’t have to be complicated. It could be a simple thank you to the cashier that’s been on her feet all day and just had a customer take their bad day out on them. It could be that waiter that’s working their way through school or taking a job to support their family and could use a kind voice and tip. It could be just saying something nice to a co-worker and neighbor. We don’t know the struggles that others are going through, we only see ours. Their lives are important and significant, too. Somewhere along our journey, we got numb to village living. We think we no longer need anyone to help us unless they are of some necessary value to us. Our values are misplaced, let’s pray to God that it’s not too late. Too many good people have crossed our paths and helped us along our journey and we took them for granted. Let’s not lose anymore.

Definition of SIGNIFICANCE   (Merriam-Webster)

1.  a : something that is conveyed as a meaning often obscurely or indirectly
     b : the quality of conveying or implying
2.  a : the quality of being important : moment
     b : the quality of being statistically significant

Healthcare Will Raise The Cost of Papa John’s Pizza!!!

I have to talk about this for jus a minute because this, to me, doesn’t make sense of so many levels.  “The National Restaurant Association pointed out following the health care law's Supreme Court approval that it may adversely affect restaurants’ ability to maintain already slim profit margins because it requires companies of more than 50 employees to provide affordable health insurance.” “Already slim profit margins?” Duh, people are really trying to eat healthy and are we sure pizzas are that healthy?  Several reasons could be behind the slim profit margins.  Maybe people don’t have the extra money to splurge on pizzas.  Could be a lot of people aren’t working who usually buy pizzas.  The costs of ingredients are going up because of the bad weather affecting crops and now being passed to the consumers.  People could just be tired of being overweight and obese and staying away from these kinds of food.  Quite possibly, DiGiorno’s pizza is a lot less inexpensive.  Papa John's CEO, John Schnatter says, “That Obamacare will result in a $0.11 to $0.14 price increase per pizza or $0.15 to $0.20 cents per order.”  I wonder if he’s really resenting having all of his employees on healthcare?  The Affordable Care Act only requires employers to offer health insurance to full-time employees, almost 90 percent of whom at large businesses like Papa John's corporate offices are already covered, according to a Treasury Department official.  Then, maybe John Schantter has other issues with President.  I don’t know, just saying.

Too Much Secrecy, No Transparency!!

What’s good for the gander is good for the goose! If I demand to see your birth certificate over and over again and you can’t show me your tax returns, why ask for fairness. Mitt Romney & associates, one of them Donald Trump and the Fox News, repeatedly question the President’s birth certificate. They hounded him on no showing it. He showed the short form but that wasn’t good enough. They hounded him even more. He showed them the long form but they didn’t believe it. The birthers are still hung up on it. That is only one example of many. Now, that Harry Reid is grilling Mitt about not paying his tax returns, Harry is being called out. I don’t care about how much he’s worth, that’s his business but if you treat another public official, especially the President of the United States with disrespect, why are you crying because you’re not getting respect, either. The life of a public official is an open book so what’s wrong with Mitt not opening his? Now there seems to be another questionable entry in the Governor’s ledger. Why did His staff spend nearly $100,000 to replace computers in state funds at the end of his term as Governor of Massachusetts? Reuters has learned that this was an unprecedented effort to keep records secret. Republican and Democratic opponents of Romney say the scrubbing of emails - and a claim by Romney that paper records of his governorship are not subject to public disclosure - hinder efforts to assess his performance as a politician and elected official. It’s odd that the Massachusetts' healthcare law was a model for Obama's nationwide healthcare program. As a presidential candidate, however, Romney has criticized Obama's plan as an overreach by the federal government. “Theresa Dolan, former director of administration for the governor's office, told Reuters that Romney's efforts to control or wipe out records from his governorship were unprecedented. Dolan said that in her 23 years as an aide to successive governors "no one had ever inquired about, or expressed the desire" to purchase their computer hard drives before Romney's tenure.” I wonder if our Governor Haley learned that from him.  I don’t agree with all of the President’s policies but I will still give him the respect due. Like I said before, this is going to be a nasty campaign.

America's New Heroine!

Gabrielle (Little Flying Squirrel) Douglas

The pictures say it all!

Gabrielle Douglas: Raising an Olympian

This is what America is all about!  We only hear about the negatives but there's a lot more to us than some folks would have you to believe!  There are brothers and sisters coming together for the better good.  If we took the time to know each other and treat each other with respect, who knows how far this country can really go?  I love this story!  Mothers across the miles showing that they are all the same!  God bless America!  I know that I sound a little over the top on this but we can't do this "life" thing by ourselves.  Indeed, we could not "build" anything by ourselves.  We have people along the way to encourage, support, and uplift us.  We all should be proud!  Now if we can get Congress and Washington to get their act together, we could win more than just gold!

No Rhyme No Reason – George Duke

What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life - Maysa

Flower Girl - Maysa featuring Dwele

Slowly But Surely – Walter Beasley

I'm in a jazz mood!  It's a hectic world and we need some relaxation time for ourselves.

On My Mind – Brian Culbertson

Hold On Tight – Boney James

Sensuality – Brian Culbertson

God Will Pay!!!

I know that this is a very vague and ambiguous statement.  It can be taken in so many ways and could only be interpreted by the reader.  We all have our beliefs and opinions so use what comes to mind.  I’ll start it off until I figure out myself what I am trying to say.  So if this blog sounds random and loose, that’s just the way it is.  God will pay is the subject.  I will start off with one example.  You loan a trusted friend some cash that had an emergency or a financial problem.  You do this because you believe in this person.  They really needed the help and promised that you’ll get your money back.  Just about every time that they see you, they remind you that they haven’t forgotten to pay you back.  Something happens and now you don’t seem to see them or talk to them as much.  It could be a well-designed argument, sickness, relocation, excuses, amnesia, or something like that to cause the sudden detachment.  Deep inside, you know that this person that you trusted had no intention of ever making a payment or paying back your loan.  You worked hard for that money.  It could have been used for a down-payment, for a rainy day, or for your own emergency situation, but instead you helped a friend.  You can chalk that up as a loss because out-of-sight means out-of-mind. And in this case, you find out that ultimately, that was not a trusted friend but a very sophisticated con-artist.  Another example is revenge.  I’ll get you back somehow because I didn’t appreciate the way you treated me or someone I care about.  I’ll wait for an opportunity and I will do what is necessary to make you pay for the offense.  I’m not going to forget and I will not forgive.  That kind of judgment sounds as hypocritical as the first example being distrustful.  As a “Christian”, I know that these things are wrong but my doubt and loss in faith isn’t helping me to be Christian like.  Now what kind of example am I showing?  Christ paid the ultimate price for us.  How much suffering and tribulation did He bear for us?  Despite how we doubted Him, distrusted Him, and even hated Him, He still forgave us.  Another example and you can use many more.  We reap what we sow.   Let’s not fool ourselves because we definitely can’t fool God.  We are only influenced negatively because we let those things bad for us, obsess us.  If you think negative, you will become negative.   We must sow good seeds.  We become who we are by the way we act and who will pay for it?   For every mean action we show towards our fellow man, God pays with His Blood. Whenever we neglect the widows, prisoners, children and the underprivileged, God pays for it with His Tears.  When we treat each other the way we want to be treated and put God first in our lives, He pays for it with His Divine Love.  We must accept responsibility for our actions because one day we will have to stand in judgment for them.  A selfish spirit will rob us of all blessings and an unforgiving spirit will block it.  If we bless others, God will pay by blessing us on earth and more importantly, in heaven.   Do the right thing even if others don’t respect you for it.