The Final Days

Checked out the debate between Barrack Obama and Alan Keyes debate on C-Span. Keyes is out of his league and has no clue as to what is going on in Illinois.

The ads are getting nasty. The reference to wolves in the GOP TV ads border on desperation. The ostrich and eagle from the Dems is confusing. Are the Dems the eagle or the ostrich?

The legal battles in Florida and Ohio are going to get nasty. By the way what happened to nearly 50,000 absentee ballots sent out in Broward County that weren’t received?

Drove to Philly (10/26/04) for a funeral. Got lost in north Philly and was surprised to see how diverse the electorate was on the presidential race. Drove down one street and there were an equal number of signs for both candidates.
Punched up WDAS-FM in Philly and was amazed at the dueling radio ads. The first ad I heard was from the Democratic Party urging voters to go the polls on Election Day. Following that ad was a commercial talking about how John Kerry was for gay marriage and abortion. I kept wondering do Black folks in Philly buy this. If it is this bad in Philly what’s happening in Pittsburgh.
It looks like the October Surprise has arrived. Report in New York Times says thousands of tons of explosive material missing in Iraq, to ad insult Osama bin Laden Tape appears. I believe these events are significant, but have no barring on the outcome of the race.
Early voting in Florida appears huge. A large voter turnout bodes well for democrats

The long day’s journey into night.

I know many of you have been asking when I was going to update the blog…well some of us have to work…and that’s what I’ve been doing over the last month.

Let me address the two debates I promised to comment on.

The Vice Presidential Debates

The mantra for Republicans comes from the musical “The Wiz.” If you remember from the movie staring Diane Ross, Michael Jackson, and Richard Pryor the Wiz had infamous line in that movie,"Don’t bring me no bad news.” Dick Cheney has perfected this to high art. I questioned his answer to question regarding whether he had ever meet Senator John Kerry. Yea, you both were seated next to each other at a Prayer Breakfast.

Lastly, I was hoping Gwen Ifill would have founded a better questioned to ask the candidates relating to the Black Community other than the plight of AIDS in the African-American Community, especially the high number of women with the disease. “Gwen, I wasn’t aware of that and I don’t have a comment,” said Vice President Chenney.

Senators Edwards comment was patronizing then insightful.

The question I thought would have been more appropriate for both should have gone like this. “Gentleman, statistics show that America will be browning (racially diverse) in the five to ten years. One party appears to want to go back to a time when we were monolithic, the other wants to be all things to all people. Can you talk about your parties efforts to reach out to minorities, and how and should your organizations change to reflected the varied opinions that may be opposed to your core values?

The question is long but the answers would have been insightful.

The winner----a tie.


The Town Hall Debate.

“Mr. Bush, can you tell us time when you may have made a mistake and what you did to correct it.” Talk about a softball waiting to be served up. President Bush kept on message and refused to entertain this question other than to say, “I wished I had picked some different nominees.

The abortion questioned to Kerry was telling and an indicator of the Senators problem. No concrete answer and a lot of wavering. The American electorate likes decisive answers. He wavered and left the door open for the President. “No, I believe abortion is wrong.”

The President, who’s earlier performance had befuddled those watching, was in command and appeared stern and looked like the commander in chief. He drove home his change in outlook after 9-11.

The winner Bush.


Last Man Standing


The conventional wisdom is the last debate would have the fewest viewers. I believe the numbers will show all three debates had a high interest among potential voters.

The ‘one on one’ format I believe is the best for significant dialogue. Kerry needed to “bring it,” and he did. It was clever how he called the president a lair without actually saying it.

“He’s wrong, he voted for the war and against war, which one was it,” said the President. Okay, you’ve said this several times and I for am getting tiered of this. What else you got?

The most telling question was the one about being gay. Kerry’s usage of Dick Cheney’s daughter was appropriate because it highlighted the hypocrisy of the Republican stance.

Winner Kerry

Presidential Debate, What did we learn ?

Who won? Who lost? Who got a bounce?

Typical questions with varied answers depending on the spin. What was more telling is what we learned. For those of the "darker persuasion" the answers to the question about Sudan was telling. "No I don't think we should send troops," said Kerry and President Bush, chimed in "I agree with the senator." This deserved a pointed follow-up from Jim Leher. The question should have related to U. S. pre-emptive strategy currently being employed. Doesn't that nation fit the criteria.

Influence from Islamic radicals, genocide, rogue regime, and countless other euphemism that were laid out before the invasion of Iraq. If you're a student of the diaspora the track record of the African Union military force is abysmal (Liberia, Angola, Congo and numerous other countries where these forces have tried to broker piece are littered with problems).

It's telling that marginalization is employed by both sides. Did I miss something, they both agreed that there is genocide going on Sudan. That's grounds for starting a World War (wasn't that case when Germany killed millions of Jews). An African genocide is "just like those spooks, a bunch of jungle bunnies." Give me a break. Let's hope the next debate puts a bit more meat on the bones and not a bunch of slogans.

Now for what you really want. John Kerry won the debate. Yea, he look presidential but he finally had an answer for the most persistent question, "Why did you vote to authorize the war?" While not perfect, it was a comeback. When playing the dozens its better to have comeback.

President was clear loser. All those rules about no cutaways (camera showing your opponent listening) were thrown out the window, and now we see why the Republicans were so oppose to the idea. Temperament is a quality we want to see in a president and it was on full view.

Who got the bounce, Kerry. He had something substantive to talk about. Now the debate turns to domestic issues his strong suit. Kerry watchers will talk about beating up the president on jobs and the economy. Better find something else to talk about other than taxes even if its about the wealthy. Taxing the rich works well in the Black community, but smells like day old fish in the white community.

Lastly there have been a series of report that have bubbling through regarding Black voter registration and suppression. This week is the last week to sign up new voters. Polls aren't taking into account that minority voter registration has put strains voter registrars. Various groups are hitting the street. I applaud these efforts, but remember it's not just signing up people get them to the polls on elections day.

Sourer observations include a move by Ken Blackwell (Black Republican) to have only a specific type of paper in Ohio to be used for voter registration. My friends in Florida you are facing insurmountable challenges to change the outcome in that state. "Don't go for the okie-doke." Voter intimidation in the Sunshine State will be in full effect. Remind those first time voters if they are turned away to ask for a "provisional ballot." These votes are held until it is determine you legality to vote.

Michigan (especially Detroit) the GOP is looking to suppress your large voter turnouts be vigilant.

Maryland and California be prepared for potential snafus in electronic voting. Virginia the race is a lot closer than the polls say. South Carolina keep pushing get your people to the polls.

What's up with Rev. Jesse Jackson becoming an adviser to Kerry Campaign. The Reverands still got some juice, Jesse should have found someone new to energize the youth "hip hop vote."

Next a review from Gwen Ifill's hosting of the Vice Presidential Debate.