Consequences of 2008

Written By: Brandon Parrish 

October 28, 2008 was a glorious day. It was the day I turned 16. (Every October 28^th is glorious by the way) Nonetheless, on that day, I saw a “skinny guy with a funny name” energize and educate a crowd of individuals, from every demographic you can think of, about his platform of hope and change. From seniors to teenagers, from blue collar workers to white collar workers, thousands stood in line for hours to hear Senator Barack Obama speak. It was freezing and raining, but there we were, catching colds and hypothermia just to see and hear him speak. That election was electric. From sea to shining sea, the emotion was overwhelming and everyone felt it. The first African American president was elected. We all love President Obama. With accomplishments such as Obamacare, Cuba, Iran, Dodd Frank, the automotive industry, the unemployment rate and many more, his resume is impressive; however, his election and presidency had some consequences - primarily for the general electorate and for African Americans.

President Obama is one of the greatest politicians this country has ever seen. The foundation of his appeal is his public speaking. During his keynote address in 2004, I saw the ghosts of Dr. King and President Kennedy. His genuine demeanor, authentic swagger, and unifying rhetoric electrified an electorate that had been waiting for a politician of his caliber. Although this electorate only appears every four years, they are loud and displeased with the status quo. I do not mean to say progress has not been made with the Obama administration, but we do see a lot of the same politics as usual. The working poor are being ignored, Wall Street is swimming in record profits, and the police are gunning down our citizens.

 Now, the same electorate that was awakened during the 2008 election cycle is wide-awake in 2016. It is now Senator Bernie Sanders who is speaking their language. It’s no secret President Obama is pulling for Hillary Clinton, but those two represent the politics of the last 8-24 years:  the establishment. Obama was a card-carrying member of the establishment in 2008 –Harry Reid told him to run! With Obama and the Democrat’s laser point focus on the middle class, it seems they have forgotten about the poor. They are creating jobs but the income gap is astronomical. There are families in New York City pulling in $18,000 a year! They talk about hi-tech jobs and trade, but do they expect the 68-year-old man who lost his retirement to the great recession and his job to trade deals to hop on social security, Medicare, and food stamps to live the rest of life with dignity?

The first African American president was elected, and while I commend the president for leading the discussion on prison reform, I am disappointed with his political calculation in regard to police brutality. The argument is that Obama cannot be just the President of Black America – he must be the President of all Americans. This is true, but aren’t African Americans still American? On one hand, we demonize anyone who proclaims all lives matter. On the other, our president said all lives matter in his 2015 state of the union and his approval ratings soared. He doesn’t have to tell the truth about police brutality? Why is the standard lower for him? Is it because he’s black? Well, that just makes him another out-of-touch black politician – the best one though. It is this type of calculation that people are sick of. Someone needs to tell Hillary that wrapping herself in Obama isn’t going to sway this new electorate. And while you’re at it, you can tell the CBC that black people don’t care who they endorse.

Though President Obama is part of the problem, the spirit of his campaign lives. The new electorate that he expelled from the shadows is present and accounted for. Voters just want to Hillary Clinton to be herself. She is smart and experienced, but this new electorate rewards honesty, authenticity, and courage of conviction. The Clintonian politics of the 90’s are not going to work anymore. It’s a new day. The revolution is coming.

~ Consigliere 

THE IOWA ROUND UP

With the Iowa caucuses having come and gone, Americans got their first glimpse of who the people would like to see as the next President. First, let us congratulate the official winners of the caucuses: former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Senator Ted Cruz. Hillary Clinton did well to narrowly exorcise her demons of 2008, when then Senator Barack Obama crushed her expectations with voter turnout, winning the Iowa caucuses, Cruz, on the other hand, pulled off the “upset” of the night by beating Donald Trump who held a sizable lead in the polls. Both winners deserve credit, but did they actually solidify their front-runner positions in this long, tumultuous race for the White House? This calls for a good old-fashioned Iowa caucus round-up!

Let us start off with what went wrong in the Iowa caucuses. We begin with the Republican polls leader, Donald Trump — because let’s be honest, he is not the front-runner anymore. Donald Trump had to learn the hard way that polls are misleading and it is better to have the element of surprise than to be knocked off the mantle. For a short moment, the billionaire was in jeopardy of falling to third, as Marco Rubio was on his heels. After leading in the polls in Iowa for several months, many, myself included, assumed that Trump would win Iowa and this would set the tone for the rest of the Republican nomination process. However, what we saw was that ground game beats big game any day of the week — which leads me to Ted Cruz. Though it came to light that he spread false rumors about Dr. Carson, we can assume that it would not have made much of a difference. Cruz had what I like to call the Three Es that Iowans are looking for: Evangelism, Experience, and Ethanol. All three are very much needed in Iowa; put that together with his ground game and Cruz cannot fail.

On to the Democratic side, I cannot say much went wrong since everything pretty much went as planned. From the beginning, Senator Sanders hedged expectations by saying they would “do well” in Iowa and, by and large, he did just that. Voter turnout was high and he lost by the narrowest of margins. Hillary also did very well as well. The only criticism I would give her is to hold off on declaring victory before actually winning. This only plays into the narrative that the system is stacked in her favor, and everyone loves an underdog.

Now, it is time for the good that came of the caucuses. In my first article, I wrote on how Marco Rubio could potentially come out and separate himself from the crowded field. The caucuses proved just that, as Rubio nearly came in second, finishing only one percent behind Donald Trump. The Republicans have noticed that Rubio is the best shot to getting them into the White House, though he has little governing experience in Washington. Another benefit of the caucuses was that people began dropping out. With the field diminishing in both parties, voters have the opportunity to separate the men from the boys. Policies and ideas can be the basis on which we choose the next president, not sound bites or brand recognition. I expect that in the coming days, more candidates will begin to drop out, giving us more depth in the debates.

In conclusion, the Iowa caucuses prove what they always do: that nothing is ever as it seems in American politics. As we turn towards New Hampshire, things will begin to get more and more personal. Campaigns will start to have to go into make-or-break mode; and this is especially so for the candidate governors. Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, and John Kasich have to make their cases and get people to vote for them or pack it in. I think that one of them will do well enough to remain in the race, but two will have to drop out. Bernie Sanders has a big lead in New Hampshire largely because Vermont is a neighboring state; but should his numbers hold up in the polls; this will hurt Hillary more going forward in Nevada and South Carolina. If Iowa was the starting ground, New Hampshire is the first wind, and may it always be at the backs of the candidate of your choice.

Potential Dropouts: Carson, Fiorina, and Kasich.

~ Consigliere

The State of Hesistation

As a staunch Obama supporter and a political junkie, I have watched this administration with a close eye and optimistic heart. Considering the many firsts that were heading into this presidency, Obama has more often times than not gotten the benefit of the doubt. I am a black male who followed politics since the great Bush v. Gore election blunder of 2000.  As an eight year old, I understood the magnitude of how the political landscape would change when Florida and the Supreme Court handed President Bush the White House. So my sixteen year old adolescent my heart was proud when I saw Barack Hussein Obama grab the highest mantle in the land. My love for politics grew with every victory and defeat following the 2008 elections. I understood that after 2010, the movement in which the President could govern would be severely hindered having lost the majority in the House. Which would only be hindered more when he lost majorities in both houses of Congress. Yet as I was sitting watching the President give his final State of the Union address, I found myself selfishly wanting more from him. Before coming in, the White House announced that this would be a different form of address to the nation — that he would do something that no other president had done in the past. Sure, the address was shorter, but was it really different?

In 2009, when delivering his first address, there was a different air about Obama — more passion and vigor. Obviously, that can be said for any first term president who is fresh off winning a national election, but this felt different, at least to me. He was ready to tackle the issues that were plaguing our country: a foreign war costing a considerable amount of lives and money, a failing economy coupled with a dying auto and housing industry, unemployment reaching great depression levels, and a nation with a glaring distrust for government. To be fair, to take on a laundry list of that size and that heavy, a lot of political capital had to be spent to make sure the country did not slip any further. I give the president the utmost credit for that; the country’s economy is moving in the right direction, the unemployment rate is 5%, the auto industry is booming, while the housing market slowly but surely still recovers. Yet I would be remiss if I did not point out some of his mistakes. Going into his presidency, one major concern was Obama's lack of knowledge on foreign policy. In his first term, it did not seem to haunt him as much; but when things are going good, you cannot expect them to stay good for long. Our exit strategy in the Middle East was flawed. This obviously left a power vacuum for groups like ISIS and Al Qaeda to gain strong footholds. China has built an island in the South China Sea, giving them much more power geopolitically. Russia has defied this administration at every possible turn. Yet through it all, I will say that President Obama has remained vigilant and steadfast despite taking his lumps on foreign policy.

Which brings me back to Tuesday night. I felt as though he played it relatively safe. I talked this over with some of my political confidants and they were split. Some felt he did well and some felt he was reserved. Sure, there were narratives attacking Republican presidential hopefuls like Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. There were moments when he gave of us flashes of the man who ignited a nation towards change, but in the grand scheme of things it was not very different.  The country has and always will have a laundry list of issues that need to be addressed and President Obama should not hold on to whatever political capital he has left. I questioned why he was so timid, what was his cause to pause? Then I remembered what is stacked against him, how many things he has on his plate. It has been no secret that he has been using executive action to ensure a majority of his policies are pushed through. Yet in order for them to survive past this year he has to make sure they survive in court. He cannot appoint any Justices because, without a doubt, the Senate will hold up their confirmations. This means that if Democrats lose the White House this fall, ACA will go away, the Iran deal will die, progress made with Cuba could go out the window, and the Republican president could have the opportunity to appoint at least three Supreme Court justices.

Now it does not take a genius to look and see why Obama was a bit tentative, especially considering all the things mentioned. Yet for the president not to take any shots is very uncharacteristic of him. All this leads me to believe that he fears the GOP candidates and the elections more than we think. The worst possible outcome is one November day away from happening. After 2014, we saw a majority of the country turn red. In 2016, if things stay the way they are and the Democratic Party loses the White House, it essentially loses the Supreme Court as well. Who knows how this will leave this country? So much for a bicameral system…

~Consigliere

The Threat That Can No Longer Be Ignored !!!

Editor-in-Chic: Nia Langley

There is a very big storm brewing in America and it comes in the form of Donald Trump. The 

radicalized billionaire has been on tour of hate since the inception of his campaign, pushing the 

limits on rhetoric against all Non-Aryan races constantly. The dangers of this man deserve the 

utmost attention and the utmost disgust. The fact Trump leads significantly in Republican 

national polls sickens me. The nightmare of him becoming president haunts me in the day. My 

soul roams back in the annals of history to a time of chains and bondage.  Yet the thing that hurts 

the most is the fact that people are buying in.  In a recent poll released by USA Today, 68% of 

his supporters say they would vote for him even if he left the Republican Party. Considering the 

fact that he leads in many states, he could very well leave and still have a reasonable shot at the 

White House. 

We have written him off too long, his numbers continue to grow the more his hate speech is 

spoken. This is no coincidence, and he is slowly picking away on how much we will him allow 

him to say. Like a child with no discipline, it is time for the land of the free to stand up and say 

“NO MORE.” No more to your blatant racism. No more to your toxic, retroactive, and feeble-

minded way of thinking. No longer should the airwaves open their stations as platforms for his 

message. All the while, people are ignoring the fact that he is spoon feeding us the tranquilizing 

drug of gradualism. Are ratings really worth more than morals? Should our sense of decency be 

thrown aside because our tongues remain silent in the face of fear? 

To his supporters, I will pray for you. I pray that God gives you the clarity and understanding in 

the error of your ways. America is home to many different races and people of many different 

faiths. This is what makes our country so great – the fact that you can be who you want to be 

without the fear of persecution. I hope the dark past of our country’s history remains opaque 

without the possibility of ever finding light on our bold trail of equality. Racism is a primitive 

way of thinking that often leads to disastrous results. Following or supporting Trump’s words or 

actions devalues the very Constitution that makes us American. You must ask yourselves: who is 

the bigger fool; the fool or the fools that follow the fool? 

Now, to our Muslim Americans and Refugees: on behalf of the American people, I offer my 

sincerest apologies. I apologize that there is chance that Trump can become president. I 

apologize for the support that this distasteful recommendation has garnered. I apologize that the 

air of exceptionalism surrounding this cohort has misplaced their sense of duty and compassion. 

I am sorry that too often people see humans yet forget to see humanity. You see, like you, we 

understand how the opinions and radical actions of the few can skew the view and cast 

aspersions on the many. The majority of Americans are not hateful, and do not follow in the 

footsteps of Donald Trump. Same as a majority of you are not terrorists who do not support the 

actions of extremism. I can only ask that you take these words as comfort during these trying 

times.

~Consigliere

The D N Clinton !!!

Editor-in-Chic: Nia Langley 

At the beginning of this election season, former Governor Martin O'Malley voiced many complaints about how many debates the Democratic National Committee (DNC) should have, saying that there should be more debates to give the American people an opportunity to really understand who is running for president and where they stand on the issues. At first, like many people, I saw his cries as someone whining because he would not have a seat at the big kids' table; but now looking back, I see that he may have some merit to voice his concerns.  In a very lop-sided Democratic primary, Hillary Clinton is primed to run away with the nomination without having any serious problems before the general election. The question is: should she be allowed to claim that prize undeterred?

No matter what happens, we are all smart enough to know that Hillary Clinton will win the nomination; and I have no problems with that, especially since Biden has decided that he would not run for office.  The problem I have is Mrs. Clinton running away with the nomination. In a country that champions the power of the people’s right to choose their leaders, I believe it is important that the people have as many opportunities as possible to hear what the candidates have to say on the issues. Debates provide the perfect platform for the voters to do just that.  This election season has seven Democratic primary debates. To most, that may seem like a lot, but when looking back to 2008 when there were twenty-six, the current number really pales in comparison. Even though the Republican debates have proved to be less substantive, they still have 11 this season.

Former Governor O’Malley is currently in last place with 88 days left until the Iowa caucus, and many have written him off, me included; yet for the DNC to considerably limit the number of opportunities for the other candidates only adds fuel to the rumors that the Clintons have total control of the DNC. Why would they want to have control? If you remember correctly, around this same time eight years ago, Madam Clinton was in a similar position — she was leading in all the national polls and was the proverbial favorite to become the nominee. By debate 19, then Senator Obama was surging, and after debate 21, he was leading, and we all know what happened after that.  The only way history does not repeat itself is if you limit the amount of free exposure the public has to the unknown candidates.

Well played Clintons, well played. Now in no way, shape, or form does this mean that this is what happened, but it does make sense. If there is one thing I hate, it is sounding like a conspiracy theorist, so let me be clear — there is no conspiracy here because if what I say is true, the Clinton Campaign has done nothing wrong. They are supposed to be in coordination with the DNC, and they did just that. The DNC, on the other hand, should have never given so much power to one campaign. In an election cycle where the White House can legitimately be purchased, now, more than ever, the people should be the ones deciding who their next president should be, not special interest groups and definitely not national committees. Mr. O’Malley, though you will not be the next President of these United States, your cries have not fallen on deaf ears. You came up short because you went against the DNC, but in this case it was the (D N Clinton).

~Consigliere

The Bush League Candidate !

Editor-In-Chic: Nia Langley 

Jeb bush is cooked, done, terminated, finished; it’s time for the little brother to hedge his bets and call it quits. In a newly released national poll by CBS and The New York Times, the former governor of Florida is tied for fourth place with Carly Fiorina, with a meager seven percent of possible voters giving him their stamp of approval. After beginning what was called a “low energy” summer, he has yet to find his footing in the GOP race. Many had perceived him to be the front-runner with the most staying power and resources to run away with the nomination. Yet he has seemed lackluster, careless, and downright disappointing, especially considering the field of visitors who have topped him in this Republican primary. 

First is the newest front-runner, Ben Carson, the former neurosurgeon who has not had a day of governing experience in his life.  Second is Donald Trump, the outspoken egotistical billionaire who seems to be running just so he can put this job on his resume. Then there is the copy-cat Marco Rubio, the first-term senator who is running the pseudo Republican version of the Obama 2008 campaign and is the former understudy of Mr. Bush. Next is Carly Fiorina, the former businesswoman and CEO of Hewlett-Packard, under whose watch more than 30,000 workers lost their jobs while her salary tripled. So why hasn’t Jeb Bush been able to remain one of the top tier candidates?

Well, for starters, the uphill battle for the nomination begins with the name Bush. Now, I wholeheartedly believe that the sins of the father, and brother in this case, should not fall unto the younger Bush. Yet as a political tactician, it does not make sense for him to defend his brother on issues regarding the Iraqi war, no matter how admirable it may be. Jeb needs to realize that his brother is not running for president, he is! Distancing himself does not necessarily mean throwing his brother under the bus; what is better is shifting his tone one the issue in a more positive direction, reassuring the American people that he will not make the same decisions that his father and brother made. Name recognition was made a big deal way before the campaign season began, but it really does not help Mr. Bush that the name across the partisan aisle is Clinton. If by nothing less than a miracle he gets the nomination, in a presidential name-war of Clinton v. Bush, Clinton wins 10 out 10.

The next problem Bush has encountered this primary season is the juggernaut named Donald Trump. Since announcing his candidacy in June, Trump wasted no time in attacking the then front-runner Bush. This, in retrospect, was a brilliant move by Trump because if you want to be the king of the playground you find the biggest kid there and punch him in the mouth. From that moment on, Jeb should have prepared for a 12-round fight with a K.O. finish. Instead, he held timid and waited for the judges to gift wrap this decision for him. His lackadaisical approach to Trump’s low-energy comment and completely disrespectful comments about his wife should have ignited a fire in Bush, yet he stayed the same course and let those punches connect without throwing a counter of his own. That will not work with a “candidate” like Trump; you have to show some backbone and at the very least try and hit back. The plan going into the campaign changes the moment a wildcard jumps in. Granted, Bush has been throwing jabs lately, but it is a bit late to show up to the fight now. Trump and Carson both have double digit leads in all three major primary states, while Bush stands on the precipice of relegation.

 

The final problem is Mr. Bush doesn’t take advantage of the free media given to him, more specifically debates and interviews on the cable news networks. Those are the perfect opportunities for Mr. Bush to show the American people exactly who he is, not only as a candidate, but as a person as well. So far throughout the campaign, he has yet to show some personality; something that his brother, former President Bush, had no problem with. All the other candidates have been trying to gain the small air-time they can get their hands on, especially with Donald Trump taking most of the attention. So it is important that, when given an opportunity, he take full advantage of it and make it a memorable one. Mr. Bush has not, which makes me question if he has the right team in place to take his candidacy any further. Unfortunately the low-energy adjective placed on Mr. Bush has been spot on. This was proven especially so last night after a more than embarrassing third debate performance. If he does not get his act together soon, he is going to be looking on the outside in, throwing support behind the Republican nominee, which at this point is definitely not him. Barring something drastic to get his numbers up, he is going to lose in a dramatic and embarrassing fashion. Good luck, Mr. Bush; may the odds be ever in your favor.

~ Consigliere  

Democratic Primary Debate Review

Writer: Brandon Parrish
Editor-in-Chic: Nia Langley 

I am a Democrat, and after this debate, I am still unclear on who to vote for. Social media is telling me Bernie Sanders is the best candidate, but I disagree. Hillary shares my views, and her experiences would serve us well in Washington; but in my gut, she seems untrustworthy. Governor O’Malley was rather impressive, but his record in Baltimore disturbs me. Senator Webb and Governor Chafee, unfortunately, did not get enough speaking time to even make a fair assessment.
I have an issue with Bernie Sanders not because he is a self-proclaimed Democratic Socialist, but primarily because of his opinion on big banks.

It seems as if there is a misconception on the cause of the great recession. All the cards began to fall during the mortgage crisis. We all know the government failed to regulate the purchase of subprime mortgages by the banks, mainly investment banks. Banks were buying these mortgages with a reckless abandon, over-leveraging themselves to the point where they had not raised enough capital to ensure their solvency. So when Americans began to default on their mortgage, the income stream for the banks began to wither away right along with their solvency. But, had it not been for the big banks, we would be in a different position than we are in now. Remember, JPMorgan Chase, one of the big commercial banks, bailed out Bear Stearns, an investment bank, with some help from the federal government; this action gave the markets confidence in the financial system. However, when Lehman Brothers, an investment bank, filed for bankruptcy, the financial system began a downward spiral. Bank of America bought Merrill Lynch and Countrywide, Wells Fargo bought Wachovia, J.P. Morgan bought Bear Stearns, and the U.S. Treasury took control of AIG. So the argument can be made that the banks are bigger because of the aversion of a complete financial meltdown.  I love Bernie Sanders' ideas, but whether you believe me or not, they are radical and they would not see the light of day in Congress.

What we really needed to hear was the plan the candidates had to combat the gridlock in the government. It is time that we buckle down and accept the hard truth; that there are things that we want as Democrats that we are not going to get, in order to achieve things that we really need to get done. There are positions that we need not move an inch on and positions that we may need to compromise on in order to get things like a living wage, income equality, gun control, extended paid maternity leave for women, and universal healthcare. And while I am on the subject of gridlock, I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the political apathy among us Democrats. We cannot afford to only wake up when it is time to elect a president. When President Obama was elected in 2008, we enjoyed huge majorities in both houses of Congress. The healthcare law was passed, the auto industry was saved, Wall Street reform passed, and equal pay for equal work passed; but 2 years later, we lost the majority we enjoyed in the House and the filibuster-proof majority we enjoyed in the Senate. We got more seats back in 2012 when we re-elected President Obama, but Democrats were slaughtered in the 2014 midterm elections. Why you ask? Because Democrats did not turn out to vote, mainly millennials. Yes, the presidential elections matter, however, our state, local, and congressional elections matter just as much if not more.

What seems apparent from the debate is Hillary’s vote to authorize the use of force in Iraq still haunts her and will haunt her for the duration of this presidential season. With the nuclear deal with Iran, ongoing civil war in Syria, and Putin’s bully swag, that vote can be seen as an indicator of the future of President Hillary Clinton’s foreign policy. Also remember that Clinton advised for the raid on Osama bin Laden, advocated to arm the Syrian rebels, and also wanted to institute a no-fly zone. All of this combined with the terrorist attacks in Benghazi damages Clinton’s campaign. However, according to what was said in the debates, all the Democrats, with Senator Webb as an exception, seem to be weak on foreign policy. Granted, I do not believe foreign policy gravitas will be a factor in democratic politics, but it will matter when it is time to govern.

Before I sum everything up, I need to address the African American community’s relationship with the Democratic Party. I love the fact that a majority of the candidates during the debates said black lives matter. But talk is very cheap. I may get in trouble for this later in life but this is just how I feel; blacks have been blindly loyal to the Democratic Party since the FDR’s New Deal. Yes, since the New Deal, blacks have progressed through society but that is not enough. Why you ask? Because our schools are still subpar. About a fifth of black people are unemployed and half of the 80% of us who are working are underemployed. It is 2015 and we watch movies from the 70s and 80s that make fun of police brutality against black people and it is still relevant. Our neighborhoods still look like they are straight out of the third world but we run to the polls with our blindfolds on while democrats whisper sweet nothings in our ears. They advocate for the use of body cameras as if that will make a difference.  Bernie Sanders talked about a political revolution that needs to place in America. But a faction of that revolution needs to be black people who stand up to the politicians who pander just to get our vote. We need to demand that our leaders work to transform the hood into safe, economic hubs of opportunity and discourage law enforcement from even feeling comfortable drawing a gun on anyone who is unarmed. And if we do not see an effort to legislate our demands, we will start a movement that will rival the Protestant Reformation and make sure they could not get elected to be their child’s parent!

Taking everything into account, the Democratic debate was substantial and constructive. Compared to the Republican debates, the Democrats portrayed maturity and gravity. Governor O’Malley with all of his pathos gained the most ground, and I believe he emerges with the most momentum, but not a victory. This debate, like the entire primary, is Hillary Clinton’s to lose. And she did not lose. She was very presidential in this debate. But as one of my good friends said, “Bernie is so convincing"; and convincing he was. He was talking directly to every working-class Democrat watching the debate. He came out victorious because of his passion and clarity; but Hillary proved she is presidential material. I can say this primary season will be one for the ages.

~Consigliere