Madam Justice

*I wanted to make mention of this before too much time passes by, therefore I pushed back my original post for today to speak briefly about the confirmation of our newest Supreme Court Justice; Sonia Sotomayor.*

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) had a few words for his 31 Republican Senate colleagues who voted against confirming Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the suppress court. I couldn’t agree with him more, because it simply goes in line with the unwise political trend within the GOP.

“To say you can not vote for this qualified Latina sends a message to us, as a community. That we will not forget.” – Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

So only 9 of the 40 Republicans in the Senate were courageous enough to break with the party’s rank and file and use common sense and vote for Sonia Sotomayor as U.S. Supreme Court Justice. So I salute those who voted for her, although I suspect some were due to the increased pressure and poor publicity it’s still good that they finally did the right thing.

So who were these 9 brave conservative souls, three who are retiring so I guess they felt they didn’t have much support to lose? Whatever the case may have been the vote was appreciated.

• Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) – I would think this would be a wise move given he is the ONLY Latino Republican, but I guess the fact he’s retiring had no bearing on his decision.
• Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) – I’m a bit surprised and still leary with much he says or does, but whatever it takes Lindsey. That’s what you would say, right?
• Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) – I’m personally suspicious of this one, given the hit he’s taking in TN regarding his position on healthcare and how he tends to run towards the crowd on certain issues, I’m surprised he would even vote for to confirm her, but whatever suspicious the reason a vote is a vote. I believe that’s what someone said in 2000.
• Sen. Christopher Bond (R-MO)
• Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) – Although I’m not surprised by her vote since she’s one of the few Republicans who trends more moderate than insane.
• Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) – Another of which I’m not too surprised with. Although I’m glad she came around. She and Collins are two of the handful of Republicans left, unless they care to join the DNC.
• Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN) - I’m not too surprised with his vote.
• Sen. Judd Gregg (R- NH) – Although I question much of what he says he made a good choice this time.
• Sen. George Voinocich (R-OH) – Why isn’t this Republican leading the party, because he states it plainly enough for his Republican collegues to understand. I love what he said about “bringing out the best & worst in the senate”. I think there are some things that is simply due to a lack of cultural understanding of her comments clearly taken out of context, but I’m glad he looked at the content of her character and not the color of her skin.

It’s difficult to watch, because the GOP doesn’t realize that their house is burning. Despite all of the warnings and attempts to help they’re choosing to integrate the fringe and extremist into it as the moderates are segregated from it.

Anyway, congratulations to the newest member of the United States Supreme Court, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, but I also want to share my joy with my Latino friends in celebrating the accomplishments of such a WISE LATINA WOMAN.

References & Inspirations

AP/Yahoo News – 08/06/09 “Sotomayor OK’d for Supreme Court in historic vote”

Burden of Suspicion

a2a_linkname=”TI&S | Burden of Suspicion”;a2a_linkurl=”http://timvalentine.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/burdenofsuspicion/”;
A recent scientific research has demonstrated that biases thought to be absent or extinguished remain as “mental residue” in most of us. It shows that people can be consciously committed to egalitarianism, and deliberately work to behave without prejudice, yet still possesses hidden negative prejudices or stereotypes.

So even though we believe we see and treat people as equals, hidden biases may still influence our perceptions and actions. Often this is what goes misunderstood and not explained when someone accuses your of racism or being prejudice. Then some seek to coin another phrase we’re hearing a lot about today, “reverse racism”, not understanding that there’s no degrees or variations of racism.

I believe when we admit that biases are learned and are not genetic then we can become commitment to just treatment. Parents, teachers, faith leaders of any belief, politicians, organizations and other influences contribute to the questioning our values and beliefs. The subtle stereotypes used by our peers and in the media leads us to acting like a racist, bigot or in a prejudice manner. When you surrounded by cues that equality matters the non-sense of racism becomes obviously abnormal and opposite of the conduct of a civilized community.

The debilitating stigmas caused by discrimination are often psychologically carried throughout life through many racial minority groups. Regardless of country, most of the time it boils down to the shade of their skin. How dark or light you are?

Studies indicate that Black teenagers are aware they are stigmatized as being intellectually inferior and that they go to school bearing what psychologist Claude Steele has called a “burden of suspicion.” Such a burden can affect their attitudes and achievement. This is what many people who are not Black or Hispanic do not fully understand. I am not suggesting that it’s an acceptable excuse, but just a reality that I believe can be changed.

To personalize this, I’ve been accused on occasion of being something that I’m not on this very blog. During the whole Jeremiah Wright frenzy in 2008 I wrote a blog post that gave a comparison in one of my references between Dr. Martin Luther King and Jeremiah Wright. I was called all types of names by some. One person even said that, “I must be White”. They never responded back when I said that I was Black and what did my race had to do with the comparison.

Yes the tactic was used by FOX News to scare White people who were unfamiliar with the rhetoric that is used in Black churches to illustrate a point. In fact I’m guilty of doing the same thing on this blog. Only thing I can contribute it to is being the son of a Black pastor or maybe it’s the fact that I’m the Great-Grandson of a Black minister or cousin of a Black minister or Nephew of a Black preacher. I guess the rhetoric runs in the family. The point is that the text was taken out of context when you listen to the entirety of the point he was making, but if you are not familiar with something it may shock you at first if you are unwilling to seek understanding.

The burden of suspicion is what we’re seeing among some disassembling the words of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Many media personalities have repeated the same charge against Sotomayor as they did Rev. Wright. They do not listen to context. To often when one side charges the other with the stigmatizing label of racist it’s due to some incomplete or unfounded reaction to something taken out of context.

This is what’s meant by the saying, “Anytime a non-white person is first to walk into a position or situation the entire race enters with them”. They have the burden of suspicion. Is it fair, no? But I ask why isn’t anyone suspicious of the people placing the burden? We must stop automatically placing this burden on ourselves and assuming others are innately racist. We must stop being so suspicious of people because they are not like the majority people in a room, or who has held a position. Socialize yourself and learn to be inclusive.

We all have our biases. I’m just as guilty as anyone else. There are times that I’ve found myself verbally belittling the blind followers of the R.N.C. (Rush, Newt, Cheney). I’m accused of not liking Republicans, although it’s not Republicans themselves, but the tactics and sometimes silence of many on social issues such as discrimination. My kind words about people such as Colin Powel, Charlie Crist, J.C. Watts, Olympia Snowe and even Michael Steele doesn’t count, because they’re considered Moderate Republicans. All the while missing the point. Neither side can claim infallibility.

Simply living in a society in which discrimination at times have been legal and other times ignored,  plays such a prominent role affecting us all on some level. If we are to pass any lesson along it must be one that emphasizes acceptance and tolerance. This calls on you to take on the crucial work of reflecting upon and addressing your biases.

The burden of suspicion is on you.

References & Inspirations

Teaching Tolerance – “Words of Power“

Shrinking Ideology

“The political environment that has made it inhospitable for a moderate Republican in Pennsylvania is a microcosm of a deeper, more pervasive problem that places our party in jeopardy nationwide. There is no plausible scenario under which Republicans can grow into a majority while shrinking our ideological confines and continuing to retract into a regional party.” - Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Well I guess it had to come from a Republican for Republicans to hear the message I’ve been trying to convey for months now. I thank the Republican Senator from Maine. Senator, we’re like Motel 6, I’ll leave the light on for you. Just come on in, you are welcomed.

Newt had this to say… “It clarifies the two parties. In the long run it may actually change the whole dynamic of 2010 and 2012.” – Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich

Well Newt, for once I agree with you. It does help clarify the two parties, we may be crazy at times, but at least we’re not deranged. Keep it up and 2010 will be even worse than 2006. I will run for political office if you run Joe the Plumber.

So What’s Next?

a2a_linkname=”TI&S | So What’s Next?”;a2a_linkurl=”http://timvalentine.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/sowhatsnext/”;

When Arlen Spector can publicly say that he’s found himself increasingly at odds with the Republican philosophy and more inline with the Democratic philosophy you have to wonder what shift or how much of a shift within the Republican party has occurred to push the moderates out?

This is what I’ve been warning Republicans about in multiple posts since September 2008. Although it’s just my opinion and I am not a Republican, but as a socio-political observer and critic I believe the Moderate Republicans are the conscience of the party. They are the ones who inject common sense and rationale into the ideology, to push them away like you’re doing is like ignoring what your conscience is telling you.

So what’s next? Should we look for Republican Governors to switch parties, I think Charlie Crist would make a good Conservative Democrat and Arnold is married to a Kennedy, so we can use a Terminator. Who should we be making space for? I can think of only two other Moderate Republican Senators that would provide a spirited debate within the Democratic Caucus. We still have room.

When the party asks too much what are you to do? Should you resign your morals, convictions or objections and follow the party line? Should you assert your independence and adherence to the needs and desires of who you are to represent? I guess it depends on the measure of value of the issue, but I would hope you would follow the later more often than not.

Some want to constrain a person to one opinion and leave no room for debate or consideration. Opposition is good, because it keeps you sharp. Those who are honest and respectable in their opposition are few and often ridiculed for their independence or consensus nature. Consider President Obama and his multiple attempts to seek bipartisanship. His opposition called him weak; some of his supporters are suspicious, because we are reluctant to consider the position of our opposition as if it can never be true.

So what’s the problem?

Allow me to offer my analysis to this question. Perhaps the Republican Party can finally call themselves “Dixiecrats” now, since they have virtually modified themselves into what was known as Dixiecrats long ago. Then the brilliant incorporation of what is known as the “Religious Right” was the confusion of God and the Government. So instead of using God in your damning of America you have essentially damned the party, because you confused God and Government. Some of you may know what I’m talking about.

Now Democrats I suggest that we do not get too happy with the Specter prospects. I respect Sen. Specter, but just like our own defectors like Zell Miller or even someone whom I’m still suspicious of to this day, Joe Lieberman, let’s not get too confident. Welcome Bro. Arlen, but proceed with caution.

Although Republicans probably wouldn’t be gracious to us if this was reversed, let us not engage them in the game of tic-for-tat politics. They may be several strokes down, but we still got work to do ourselves if we’re going to win this tournament. Just because we’re on the leaderboard doesn’t mean we’re going to win the tournament. Mr. Arlen Specter I welcome you to the Democratic Party, but you understand if we proceed with caution.

The Audacity of an Insurance Giant

AIG Hypocrisy Alert Edition

While everyone including myself are outraged at the complete disrespectful regards to the American Taxpayers who have saved AIG from going under many ask a simple question, how could this happen? While some are taking the opportunity to gain political points and blames the Obama Administration for this oversight. Well let’s take a closer look before we start pointing fingers.

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) is a member of the Senate Finance Committee. Last month he and Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-MA) added an amendment to the stimulus bill that would have prevented companies, such as AIG the ability to distribute bonuses. But that amendment along with others was taken out of the bill. Hmmm… I wonder why and who pounded their fists in hypocritical outrage in regards to ‘earmarks’ and who helped hinder regulation that helped eliminate this amendment?

By-the-way, isn’t Sen. Snowe one of the three Republicans that voted for the stimulus package? (Reference Source) I believe she was, so she, the other two Republican Senators and the Democrat Senators are not to blame since they originally had this amendment. Perhaps they should have fought against the Republicans that didn’t oppose this a little harder. I guess that’s the only honest area of blame.

If I remember correctly Sen. Snowe is one of the Republican Senators the GOP was upset with? I believe Chairman Michael Steele even suggested something about withholding campaign money from the RNC and supporting their challengers because of this. (Reference Source)

So I suggest that we first investigating before we start pointing fingers, pounding on podiums with righteous indignation towards each other and getting on any form of media in efforts to promote what is essentially what I call a Scampaign against the truth in order to gain a measure of support. There’s plenty of blame to throw around, but I believe this one should be firmly directed at the crooks at AIG and not politicians of either party who are honestly working together to fix it.

You may argue with me, but I believe this is fair.

Now, in regards to the AIG $160 Million of ‘retention bonus’ money here’s the results of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo’s investigation of how those bonuses are being distributed.

• One person who is no longer employed with the company is getting a ‘Retention Bonus’ of $6.4 Million U.S. Dollars.
• The top 7 bonus earners received $4 Million U.S. Dollars each.
• The top 10 bonus earners received a combined $42 Million U.S. Dollars.
• There were 22 other bonus earners who got $2 Million U.S. Dollars each.
• And wait for this one… 73 additional people at AIG got $1 Million each.

Now I feel really cheated now, because I’ve created some useful stuff at previous employers and the few times I did get a bonus it was absolutely no where in the vicinity of what the people who basically destroyed AIG is getting. Maybe it’s different at your job, or perhaps I’m in the wrong industry.

Of course the Democrats are suggesting the bonuses and/or any firm that the government holds 79% or more stakes to have a hefty tax imposed and bonuses capped.

Republicans, well at least the only one we’ve heard of that has a plan, Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) seem to have a different method of getting back the funds from the bonuses… “The first thing that would make me feel a little bit better towards them, if they had followed the Japanese example and come before the American people and take that deep bow and say, “I’m sorry,” and then either do one of two things, resign or go commit suicide.” Yahoo News – 03/17/09 “Senator Suggests AIG Execs Should Kill Themselves”

U.S. Treasury Secretary is recouping the funds from AIG $30 Billion bailout. Since AIG got this in writing I think this is a logical and equally legal move by the Secretary.

Personally, I would be just as iron fisted as AIG and many others on Wall Street and just take the money. Once they’ve threaten to take me to court I would simply tell them to sue me, before I completely take over the company. Once I’ve taken over I would simply carve out this division that caused this mess into its own individual entity and allow it to fail. I would get quite a few people upset with me on many sides, but to deal with a gangster you do what they do, but only legally.

Tell me what you think about this AIG hypocrisy and what you would do?

References & Inspirations

Media Matters – 02/26/09 “AP Ignored Democrats’ Response to Earmark Criticism: 40% are from Republicans”