by J.S. Buford
Yes, this article is a little dated. Blame it on a hectic schedule and an unabashed commitment to being a doting father. Nevertheless, its salience is and will be palpable for months to come. Perhaps, unfortunately.
Many interpreted and proclaimed Michael Steele’s ascension to Republican National Committee Chairman as a new beginning for the Republican Party, no matter how disingenuous their effort may have been. Nevertheless, Steele and the Republican Party were presented with a golden opportunity to reestablish themselves as a 21rst century body, and they simply dropped the ball.
The come upping the Republicans experienced over the last two election cycles was a long time coming; the result of pandering to a dwindling segment of society whose influence in terms of the electoral map politically and ever changing demographics – culturally, ethnically, and phenotypically – all but insured their current state of irrelevance. In other words their shameless appeal to identity politics in an effort to incite the guttural fears and anxieties of those who hold tightly to a vision of America consistent with let’s say an episode of “Leave it to Beaver” was their undoing.
Steele’s commentary regarding Rush Limbaugh (a.k.a. dumbass, drug addict, sloppy Cro-Magnon), referring to Limbaugh’s rhetoric as “incendiary” and “ugly” was dead on. However, rather than stand on principle or at the least exercise some ambitious resolve (Come on aren’t you a politician Steele? Don’t you want to be more than an elevator man?), Steele capitulated, or to exercise a more urban vernacular Steele interestingly seems to enjoy employing: he got punked. Rush Limbaugh took to the airwaves and gave lil lil polly tician Michael Steele a 21rst century whipping to be YouTubed for the ages. So much for posterity, eh?
Whether Republicans are willing to admit it in public or not, Limbaugh presented them with a golden opportunity to usher in a new era of relevance. The reality of the matter is there is some intrinsic value in having at minimal two political parties actively vying for agency within our Democratic Republic. The market place of ideas is only enriched by the jousting of competing points of view, assuming the arena isn’t reduced to competing for the sake of consolidating power or egoistic, retarding obstruction as opposed to pursuing the best interest of the U.S. citizenry.
The Limbaughs of the world only serve to retard the nation’s growth.
The United States of America at its best serves as an example of what a nation can accomplish when committed to being a beacon of hope, freedom, prosperity, and justice. Yet, we know too often this country’s demons have served to blunt its progression. Still, the United States is still a relatively young nation, meaning there is still some hope. A slight glimmer of hope, but hope nevertheless.
It is to society’s detriment that the agenda of any of its powerbrokers yield to factions that are more vested in divisiveness and regression. If Michael Steele would have at least had the backbone to go out on his shield, it may have inspired (no check that)…may have at the least provided space for the more (how can we say it politely) astute and progressive voices in the Party to fashion an agenda that is constructive; and politically constituted upon the future.
As an independent I have never been able to stomach the pathos of the Republican Party that emerged in the 20th century – it stopped being the party of Lincoln a long time ago, though he was not a friend of people who share my phenotype either (Black America you must learn). However, there have been brief periods whereas the arguments resonating from the Party were at least meritorious. Oh well.
__________________________________________________________________________
As an aside, didn’t Michael Dyson absolutely crush Andrew Breitbart on the Bill Maher show (Real Time with Bill Maher)? I mean brother just chewed my man’s lunch like Samual Jackson in Pulp Fiction. It was vainglorious. Dyson is not above criticism, but I had to salute him.
Quick Hit
by J.S. Buford
Just for the sake of full disclosure. I'm not a Democrat or Republican. Both parties have done a tremendous disservice to the community that raised me, and when it's all said and done neither party is truly committed to accomplishing much more than the status quo. This is a Quick Hit, so I'll elaborate later. Just take a moment to reference Brother Malcolm X's The Ballot or the Bullet before you summarily dismiss the aforementioned statement.
All that being said, I'm leaning towards Mr. Rick Snyder for Governor of Michigan. Yep, I said it. Why? Whenever I've heard the man speak, he simply hits the nail right on the head. Snyder has repeatedly spoke to the need to develop and support Michigan (and Detroit) based entrepreneurship, as opposed to begging corporations to relocate here; corporations that will not (I repeat, will not) hire enough natives to make a difference. Detroit we need jobs. Small business owners create jobs. Well over 70% of this nations jobs. It's commonsense.
Entrepreneurship creates wealth and financial independence. Snyder repeatedly beating this drum is music to my ears.
Snyder appears to be far more pragmatic in his responses regarding issues regarding the Detroit Public Schools and the possibility of receivership concerning Detroit. He has not promised anything one way or the other.... I like politicians that don't make promises they know they may not be able to keep. Unlike Granholm for instance who seems to do an about face every week nowadays.
As an aside, I recently heard Snyder state quite clearly that he believes the citizens of Detroit should control their own schools, and expressed a decided distaste for being directly responsible for the school system or the management of Detroit. Like a true business person, Snyder would rather delegate.
Lastly. When was the last time a Republican running for anything made multiple forays into the city of Detroit, and actually fielded questions from the citizens? Whether you like his responses or not, Syder does not strike the type of disrespectful tone that his predecessors have. Matter fact, he seems more engaged and concerned about Detroit than its own mayor at times.
So where is Bernero? I don't know. He is certainly not nearly as accessible as Snyder. Yep, I said it. I haven't heard a particularly potent agenda regarding urban development from neither candidate. For Bernero, that is totally unacceptable.
Where are you Bernero? By now, I should be hearing about your agenda on every radio station; there should be broadcasts of your intentions on YouTube, late night television spots... Where's your ground game? Why I don't have much affinity for either party, historically I have voted Democrat. I've chosen the python as opposed to the rattlesnake. I'm searching for a reason to vote for you, but all I'm hearing is why I shouldn't vote for Synder.
Yes, I do fear a state government dominated by Republicans. However, I'm done voting out of fear. I want to be inspired to vote for something for once. Snyder is presenting alot of that something.
Where ya at Bernero? Where ya at? Do you hear my frustration? Know that I'm not an anomaly. So much for a Quick Hit.
Posted at 12:18 AM in Quick Hits, Social, Political, Cultural Commentary | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Technorati Tags: Detroit, Governor, Malcolm X, Michigan, Rick Snyder, The Ballot or the Bullet, Verg Bernero