Posts Tagged ‘President Obama’

So I guess we’ve moved on from poverty?

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“I think we have to be very honest, let us not be deceived: Nixon, Bush, Obama, they’re war criminals.  They have killed innocent people in the name of the struggle for freedom, but they’re suspending the law, very much like Wall Street criminals. The law is suspended for them, but the law applies for the rest of us. You and I, brother Tavis, if we kill an innocent person we go to jail, and we’re going to be in there forever.”

Dr. Cornel West on Smiley & West

Full story HERE

Not surprisingly as heard in the audio, co-host Tavis Smiley readily agrees.

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Mo’Kelly’s quick take:

Yes, there are things that the president is empowered to do and may do that we as ordinary citizens can not.  Every president has called for military action which results in the deaths of civilians.  Every…single…one.  But…grouping President Obama with the president most responsible for the expansion of the Vietnam war or the president responsible for the start of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars is a dishonest juxtaposition by every reasonable yardstick.  Hopefully nobody supports the killing of innocents or civilians, but this argument by Dr. West is downright disingenuous.

Bill Clinton and Kosovo really did happen too.  Do I really need to go any further?

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm-9pm PST. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Special Guest Dion Evans of RMG Radio

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm-9pm PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Beyond the campaign promises, even beyond the election, a healthy dose of reality is approaching. I would argue it is a bigger pill to swallow than in previous elections. This is much less about singing the praises of either candidate and more about signaling to rank and file members of both parties what to expect beginning November 7, 2012.

Specifically, not a lot.

If President Obama is re-elected, there is no interruption in the ongoing economic recovery or added uncertainty abroad as to the direction of America’s foreign policy. In a way, that’s the good news.  (Think President Obama keeping Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense and keeping the Bush tax cuts.)   But not only that, there aren’t a slew of contentious confirmation hearings to install a completely new cabinet. In short, for supporters of President Obama, you would get to see him try to finish the job of restoring the country’s economic status. But let’s be clear, with a second term Obama supporters should expect more Republican obstruction and even (baseless) threats of impeachment (re: Benghazi). Given that good old fashioned democracy would have then failed in removing President Obama, expect the next best thing…impeachment politics.

A re-election of President Obama will not in any way deter or dissuade the opposition from the policies and practices employed during the first four years. If you were frustrated during the first term, you will continue to be frustrated during the second. If you’re hoping that a second term will encourage Republican opposition to relent, I’m here to tell you it won’t happen.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

Senator Mitch McConnell said during the first term that the (Republican) goal was to  ”deny President Obama a second term.”  You can best believe the goal will be at the beginning of a second term is to find a way to remove him before that second term ends. Unfortunately, we now live in a country where many of its elected leaders don’t root for America’s success, they root for the failure of the opposition party; even if it means sending the country to hell in the process.

Both parties recognize the fact that whoever wins this election will receive the credit for a greatly improved economy as it continues to naturally correct. A greater recession requires a longer correction, but nevertheless the economy continues to improve and whoever should sit in the Oval Office come January of 2013 will reap the benefits in the coming years.  To the victor go these economic spoils.

For the Democrats it means setting the stage for an Obama administration successor. For the Republicans, this election may mean easily walking into re-election. In many ways, this election is more about laying the groundwork for 2016 and getting in on the ground floor of the economy elevator on the way up.

Nevertheless, a Republican administration will have its own set of unavoidable problems and obstacles awaiting it. Gov. Romney along the way has held fast to two specific promises; “repeal ObamaCare day one” and also encouraging a bi-partisan move forward, “sitting down with Democratic leaders,” also on day one.

Let’s highlight the obvious; these actions (both supposedly on day one) are mutually exclusive. If “President Romney’s” first act to encourage “a bi-partisan path forward” is championing a purely partisan repeal of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), you can kiss any real bi-partisanship goodbye until 2020.   It’s one or the other.  You can be partisan or bi-partisan…not both.

Republicans have attempted to repeal the Affordable Care Act more than 30 times. Each time they failed, thanks largely to insufficient votes in the Senate. After November 6, it is highly unlikely the Republicans will gain control of the Senate; and definitely not have a filibuster-proof majority of 60.  The ACA status quo would remain. Either “President Romney” will attempt to keep his repeal promise and usher in another 2 years of partisan gridlock for the 113th congress or he will break his primary campaign promise and let it go altogether; offending his base. Depending on how cynical you are, breaking a campaign promise doesn’t matter after getting elected.  Voters typically have short memories.  But, for those of the opinion that the ACA is going to go away with the election of Mitt Romney, you will be horrendously disappointed.

Horrendously. Please see civics 101.  If it could have been repealed, it would have been repealed by now.  None of that changes November 7.

What Gov. Romney also forgot to tell voters on the campaign trail is that pledging to repeal “ObamaCare” day one, means that he will go through both hell and high water during Democrat-controlled Senate confirmations of his cabinet (simple majority) on day 2,3,4,5  and 6. Click on the link to use recent history as your guide.

In addition, a Romney administration will not realistically be able to sign off on any legislation (economic or otherwise) until the last days of January, maybe first part of February or later if obstructionism plays a role.  Meaning, those of you wishing for an economic change of course will have to wait a minimum of four months from the date of this editorial to feel the results of any Romney legislative action. Maybe even more, if Democratic obstructionism strikes back with the same ferocity in a show of retribution. Going even further, this also assumes the economy continues to improve with no help from lame duck Obama administration in-between time from early November to late January. It’s a four-month wait, assuming no economic setbacks or obstructionism.

Good luck with that assumption.

It may sound good on the Republican campaign trail to pledge to undo the signature legislation of the previous Democratic administration, but it’s horrible politics to actually try to do it.  Campaigning and governance are not the same thing.  As I said earlier, it’s partly why President Obama continued the Bush tax cuts and did not remove Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense.  Republican obstructionism which may lead to a changing of the guard doesn’t encourage bi-partisanship, it engenders lingering political animosity and has a price attached.

A win November 6 for Mitt Romney likely ensures four years of political payback from the Democrats. Four years now of Republican complaints regarding Democratic obstruction, while gleefully abdicating responsibility for their party’s actions from 2009 – 2012 during the Obama administration. Yes, I know…”that’s politics.”

Just know that it is coming if Romney should win.

There are those voters out there who are genuinely disappointed in the Obama administration. Some will vote for the president to have a second term, others will choose to turn over the country to Gov. Romney. What troubles me the most is that we have done nothing to fix our broken political system which has been shamelessly manipulated for partisan political interests for far too long; not working for the greater good.

Come November 7, we’ll get more of the same. Because it’s not about whether the person in the Oval Office is failing us, it’s failing to recognize our political system failed us first.

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8pm-9pm PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show
Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 11pm-midnight PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 11pm-midnight PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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Depending on whom you ask, Wayne Brady should or should not have taken exception to being used as fodder for the “non-threatening Black man” joke. Also depending on whom you ask, the oft-used joke by Bill Maher should be considered less of an insult and more a compliment, in that Wayne Brady is not emblematic of the negative depictions of African-American men.

But in the end, the only real opinion that matters in the discussion of Bill Maher V. Wayne Brady is Brady’s…which he made abundantly clear; indicating he’d “gladly slap the sh!t out of Bill.”

As of this moment, there has been no public response from Maher, which is surprising to some degree given his consistent activity on Twitter and willingness to verbally beat down those who publicly engage him. And even if Maher does eventually respond, expect it from the safety of his television show, complete with his sympathetic and sycophantic audience. Look for it in the form of snide commentary in the “New Rules” section, assailing Brady’s supposed oversensitivity (i.e. “you can’t take a joke”).

There is a real discussion to be had as to whether it is “funny” for Maher the community outsider to consistently weigh in with opinions on who is a “real” Black man or just really non-threatening. Although the issues of race may be within the purview of comics, it doesn’t mean that we as the audience relinquish our right to find certain humor distasteful.

Maher’s track record of mean-spirited humor can’t be argued or denied. All personal political allegiances aside, we should be in agreement on that point.

Maher and Karinne 'Superhead" Steffans

Maybe Maher felt comfortable quipping about Brady because he also had a long history of wagging his finger at Republicans for racism. Possibly Maher felt comfortable poking Brady because Maher has been so public in his support of President Obama. According to Brady, Maher’s comfort level is inextricably linked to his penchant for pillow talk with Black “girlfriends.”

Beyond that, there is an undercurrent to Bill’s humor that he fancies himself as  ”down” and can take certain liberties. Even on his website (billmaher.com), his blog section is titled “Blogga Please” an obvious play on words with “N***a please.” It all adds up to a sum total at the register.  We shouldn’t view the Brady remarks in a vacuum.

The most interesting part of Brady’s very public rant was that it gave considerable insight into the psyche of many Black men. For many of us, we understood exactly the nature of Brady’s remarks, in a way Maher never could and never will.  For many of us, there was a head-nod of agreement and understanding as to how and why Brady “went there” and in such graphic detail. There is a socialization, a standard operating procedure if you will, relative to our interaction. First and foremost, you should never call out one’s manhood. Amongst Black men it is both implicitly and explicitly understood. Meaning, if a man can’t seem to “get it” implicitly, then it will be explained to you explicitly…in probably a very uncomfortable manner.

Brady’s remarks were telling in many ways. Not only for their content, but also for the underlying subtext in the manner delivered. Brady made it very clear he is, and will always be a Black man, and abundantly clear on our rules of interaction.

In short, Brady reminded Maher that “our rules” state that there are some things you can only say on a non-Black television network to a non-Black panel, with a 99% non-Black studio audience playing along.

Bill Maher may have “New Rules” on his television program, but in relation to Black men, our old ones are still in effect.

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and Sirius XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8-9pm PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

From THE BLAZE:

“Bill Maher’s tortured attempts at being funny have long since stopped being a source of entertainment for us at the Blaze, and have devolved into objects of pity. Still, Maher, who infamously has thrown every accusation of bigotry he can at the GOP while simultaneously calling harmless daughters of politicians he disagrees with “c**ts,” has to be given some credit for retaining his show while simultaneously behaving like Keith Olbermann without filters. It can’t be easy maintaining such a low level of quality while still retaining your own show.

Nevertheless, Maher has gone so far over the line recently that he’s begun catching flak from his own side. We can‘t say we’re surprised by this – being the less funny, less incisive, pay-per-view equivalent of Jon Stewart should have its problems. Unfortunately for Maher, one of those problems is his inability to talk about President Obama without invoking the very racist caricatures that he himself would slam Republicans for using. And at least one of Maher’s reference points, comedian Wayne Brady, is apparently sick of it.

One of Maher’s complaints about President Obama is, apparently, that he’s not aggressive enough as President. Fair enough – that’s a common complaint among liberals. However, Maher phrases this complaint in a (to put it charitably) risque way – specifically, by complaining that Obama doesn’t act enough like a stereotypical scary black man, instead acting more like a “Wayne Brady” figure. Never mind that these are both stereotypes, and that if any of Obama’s conservative critics said this, they’d be vilified to the ends of the earth. Right now, that‘s the least of Maher’s problems.

But even Bill Maher — like, I’ve had Bill Maher twice now, when referencing Obama, he’s like, ‘Yeah, you know, with your Wayne Brady.’ So, that means it’s a diss to Obama to be called me because he wants a brother-brother, or what he perceives. Just because you f*ck black hookers, just because you have that particular black experience, and I have to stop myself from getting into it, Bill, because I realize the thing is that if I were to go on his show, or even do it online, I’m not going to win because as soon as you back off, he still has his platform to say whatever he wants to.

If he once said I want to know how black Wayne Brady is — that chip on my shoulder says that rarely do you threaten a man and you should not fear anyone. Now, I’m not saying I’m Billy Badass, but if Bill Maher has his perception of what’s black wrapped up, I would gladly slap the shit out of Bill Maher in the middle of the street, and then I want to see what Bill Maher would do.

Now, Bill Maher would call the cops and he would have his lawyer — I’d get sued and lose my house and it’s not worth it for me, but the black man part of me would be so satisfied to slap the shit out of him in front of Cocoa and Ebony and Fox, the three ladies of the night that he has hired … and Fancy, who also happened to be named Tyrique at one point.

Full story HERE.

 
The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and Sirius XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8-9pm PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

Eboni K.

Featuring political strategist Eboni K. and discussion of high-speed rail in California.

The Mo’Kelly Report is a syndicated politics and entertainment journal. Visit http://mrmokelly.com for the latest from Mr. Mo’Kelly. Tune into The Mo’Kelly Show Saturdays from 6-8pm PDT on KFI AM640 and Sirius XM 166 Saturdays and Sundays from 8-9pm PDT. Contact Mo’Kelly at mrmokelly@gmail.com.

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