The Politics of A Nation is now Politics is Power

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Has your feelings towards Former President Bush Changed?

Every Friday, Politics of A Nation has a question of the day. Here it is.

With Former President Bush being quite and not attacking the current administration, has your feelings towards him changed or remained the same? leave a comment.

Does Governor Mark Sanford care about Education?

Governor Mark Sanford seems to be more worried about his 2012 Presidential Bid then the education of students in South Carolina. One thing the governor has to learn is that if you want to be President of the United States, you have to care about the people.

According to the State Paper, "The South Carolina Supreme Court will allow Gov. Mark Sanford to intervene on a case where a pair of students have asked the court if Sanford can be forced to spend federal stimulus money he has so far refused to take. Sanford is now trying to affirm his right to control the money in both state and federal court. Sanford filed suit last week when state lawmakers voted in the state budget to spend $350 million in disputed federal stimulus money. "

Most of the stimulus money will go to help K-12 schools as well as colleges balance their books during the economic down turn. Sanford also filed suit against fellow Republican Attorney General McMaster in federal court. He is asking the court to suspend a budget law that requires Sanford to spend the stimulus money. The attorney general is charged with enforcing that law.

I am at a lost of words for Governor Sanford. Wanting to influence your national political spotlight is one thing but when you do it by destroying the education in your own state is baleful.

Attacks on Sotomayor Are Not Fair

President Obama made history two days ago when he picked Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be the next Supreme Court Justice. However members of the GOP have attacked her by trying to say that she is a racist and is not intelligent. With all these attacks did they know:

Judge Sotomayor would bring more federal judicial experience to the bench than any Supreme Court justice in 100 years. Over her three-decade career, she has served in a wide variety of legal roles, including as a prosecutor, litigator, and judge

Judge Sotomayor is a trailblazer. She was the first Latina to serve on the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and was the youngest member of the court when appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of New York. If confirmed, she will be the first Hispanic to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court.

While on the bench, Judge Sotomayor has consistently protected the rights of working Americans, ruling in favor of health benefits and fair wages for workers in several cases.

Judge Sotomayor has shown strong support for First Amendment rights, including in cases of religious expression and the rights to assembly and free speech.

Judge Sotomayor has a strong record on civil rights cases, ruling for plaintiffs who had been discriminated against based on disability, sex and race.

Judge Sotomayor embodies the American dream. Born to Puerto Rican parents, she grew up in a South Bronx housing project and was raised from age nine by a single mother, excelling in school and working her way to graduate summa cum laude from Princeton University and to become an editor of the Law Journal at Yale Law School.

In 1995, Judge Sotomayor "saved baseball" when she stopped the owners from illegally changing their bargaining agreement with the players, thereby ending the longest professional sports walk-out in history.

Judge Sotomayor ruled in favor of the environment in a case of protecting aquatic life in the vicinity of power plants in 2007, a decision that was overturned by the Roberts Supreme Court.

In 1992, Judge Sotomayor was confirmed by the Senate without opposition after being appointed to the bench by George H.W. Bush.

Judge Sotomayor is a widely respected legal figure, having been described as "..an outstanding colleague with a keen legal mind," "highly qualified for any position in which wisdom, intelligence, collegiality and good character would be assets," and "a role model of aspiration, discipline, commitment, intellectual prowess and integrity.

The GOP should judge her on her record and not try to push fear on the American People.

Sen. Roland Burris maybe in Political Trouble.

FBI wiretaps have picked up embattled Senator Roland Burris discussing how he wanted to give Blago money but did not want to hinder his chances of being appointed to Senator Obama's vacant senate seat. He spoke with Chris Matthews today during a heated discussion on "Hardball". During this discussion he repeatedly said that he didn't really want to help the Governor, however the tapes tell differently.

I believe that it does not look good for Burris. I am not a big fan of suggesting that people should resign. However in this case, Burris maybe forced to leave soon.

Cheney is defending the Bush Admininstration tactics to protect the Bush Legacy and his. He should do it in a different way.

SC State Rep Dennis Moss joins the GOP, trouble for SC Dems?

State House Rep Dennis Moss switched parties and is now a Republican. According to Moss, "I came to this decision after weeks of soul-searching and consulting with my family and friends,” Rep. Moss said. “This is not a decision I made lightly, but as my State House voting record indicates, I find myself siding with Republicans on the issues important to my constituents." According to House Majority Leader Bingham, “Last month’s election and today’s announcement gives Cherokee County a seat at the table in Columbia it hasn’t had in more than two decades,” said the Majority Leader . “This shows that the Republican Party is alive and well in South Carolina and talk of a Democrat takeover is little more than chest-thumping rhetoric.” Moss represents the conservative districts of Cherokee, Chester and York Counties.

Is the majority leader right when he states that talk of a Democrat takeover is little more than "chest-thumping rhetoric"? The South Carolina Democrats still have a chance to win elections but they must run in the center. If they can recruit candidates that can speak on the local facts and not dwell on national policy, then the tide will turn. Dems will also have to look within the party to make sure that everyone is on the same page.

What do you think? Do you think that SC Democrats are in trouble.

Foreclosure Hits Latinos and African Americans Hard

Our country has changed dramatically in the last 40 plus years. We have improved in race relations in many areas and have buried Jim Crow forever. Unfortunately, the county's worst recession ever is affecting African Americans and Latinos in high numbers. According to the Sunday Edition of the New York Times, foreclosures have hit African Americans and Latinos in New York City deeper and harder then Whites. We have to ask why is this happening? Although this economic crisis is affecting everyone around the world, our minority population is suffering. We must make sure that we help each other even if we are hurting ourselves. I believe that if we do this, everyone will be rewarded greatly.

Do you have any thoughts, if so leave a comment.

That Jew? A State Senator from AR calls Chuck Schumer that Jew. We have to make sure that our politics don't become so petty that we stoop to name calling

President Obama made the Right Decision

I know a lot of people on the left are frustrated with the President's decision to stop the release of additional detainee photos. Many on the left have to realize that the President has to listen to his commanders on the ground. These generals informed him that attacks may increase more if additional photos were released. Now I do not agree with torture and with these photos. What I do agree with is protecting the troops and not giving the GOP another reason to accuse the President of not protecting the country.

Stakes are high for Supreme Court Choice

As the President begins his search for a new Supreme Court Judge, many Conservatives are gearing up for a fight. The President has an opportunity to choose a women or an Hispanic or both. We must make sure as tax payers that we do not allow this to be a drag fight between the two parties. At the same time, we should encourage that the best person be selected to the high court and that individual be one that understands the hardships of the community and the common man.

The Tale of Two Wars

Former Bush Administration Official Richard Haass is the author of a new book entitled "War of Necessity War of Choice". In this book he discusses how the lead up to the Iraq War was discussed and planned in the Bush White House. The book outlines how there was never a discussion to hammer out the pros and cons of the war. There were a lot of assumptions and not enough facts. It also shows that administration officials felt that war in Afghanistan was not enough. They felt that it did not produce the needed impact they desired on the Middle East. The Bush Administration wanted to dramatically change the Middle East. They did transform it only to empower Iran with the war in Iraq. We may never be able to undo the wrong and horror that came out of the Iraq War, but we can learn from it and ask the tough questions when it is time to go to war.

100 Days of History and Change

On his 100th Day of his young Presidency, Barack Obama has a lot to smile about. His approval numbers are in the high 60's, the stimulus package was passed as well as a host of many other policies. He has changed our image around the world and has uplifted the confidence of the American Public. There is a new era in Washington. An era that started with President Kennedy and was reborn on November 4, 2008. The Office of the Presidency has returned from its dour days to days of promise and leadership.

The next 100 days will not be easy. This President will be tested and tried. He will not be perfect nor will the American People agree with him all the time. However, we can be assured that we will have a friend in the White House for years to come.

Specter's choice to run as a Democrat truly shows the shrinking GOP base.

Obama's Policies will ensure a Democratic Majority for the Next 30 Years

I know that many of you may think that one this is too early to predict and two it is too incongruous with the times. Albeit, this is true the facts are there. President Obama won more than 351 electoral votes. This shows that he won an overwhelming majority of the country. The policies that he has put in place during his first 100 days has locked down some key constituencies. The Lilly Ledbetter Act in which the President signed into law will ensure that women recieve equal pay. This will help to lock down the women vote. A good majority of the voting block are women. He has also strengthened ties with Hispanic voters with his policies on Cuba and immigration. Stats show that Hispanics will out number whites and blacks in the years to come. Obama and the Democrats received a majority of their vote in 2008. African Americans are still voting for Democrats 95% of the time. This has increased with the election of the President. I believe with these factors coupled with the shrinking GOP base, the Democratic Party will be in power for a while

Congress to open debate on a Clean Energy Bill this week this will be a huge push to rebuild America. Opponents of the bill feel that cap and trade is expensive

Earth Day is no Longer a Liberal Issue

As America approaches another Earth Day, the mood is very different. Americans from all walks of life have come to the understanding that a healthy planet means a healthy economy and a healthy economy means jobs. This is more than just green jobs and jump starting a dying economy, this is about the quality of life for generations to come. Congress must act this year by passing an energy bill so we can ensure that the issue of climate change will no longer be a labyrinth but a new way of thinking and a new way of life.

Obama shaking Hands with Chavez does not show weakness. Nor does it show that Mr Obama is giving Mr Chavez credibility. This is just two presidents greeting

Will High Speed Trains Change the South?

I know it has been while since I have blogged. I am back now and plan to blog more so you can stay abreast to the world of politics. Since my last posting, I have received a job with the Alliance for Climate Protection. This company was started by Former Vice President Al Gore. Our goal is to bring awareness to alternative forms of eneryg and stop the climate crisis. Today, the President spoke in regards to his plan to rebuild America by creating high speed rail. One of the corridors that will be built is the Southeast corridor which will run through the Upstate of South Carolina to Atlanta and from Raleigh down through Columbia to Florida. This will bring a wealth of jobs to the Carolinas and cause its economy to boom. I am certain that the gargantuan plan of the President will reshape the South's economy and cause a boom not seen since the cotton industry over 150 years ago.

Is the United States Becoming Less Religious?

A recent poll that was displayed on MSNBC and CNN shows that more and more Americans are not considering themselves as Christians. Why is this happening? Has the recession caused so much grief that Americans are wondering if God even exist? The cultural war has also started to gain fire again. Notre Dame students are praying that President Obama does not come and speak at their commencement ceremony. Their reason?, the President's stance on abortion. Are we heading down the road of becoming even more bitterly split? Can politics and religion ever mix? Let me know your thoughts.