DarkStar Spouts Off

Giving Props Where Props Are Due

This was a GREAT move by this organization.

WASHINGTON — In the latest twist involving Rep. Sanford Bishop, Jr., D-Albany, and the questionable awarding of Congressional Black Caucus Foundation scholarships to relatives or people associated with his wife, Vivian, a Black conservative organization has jumped into the mix.

Timothy F. Johnson, Chairman and Founder of the Frederick Douglass Foundation, yesterday announced that the foundation would offer a $5,000 scholarship to any student who applied for a CBCF scholarship through Bishop, and was denied. The FDF said an unnamed supporter has committed the funds to help a student in need.

Bishop's office has acknowledged awarding scholarship money to relatives and those with connections to staffers in his office. He has since repaid the CBCF $6,350 and the foundation has amended its rules to prohibit the practice.

"Congressman Bishop should be ashamed at himself for funneling scholarship money to relatives and friends, instead of those students in his district who need them most," Johnson said. "And in order for the Frederick Douglass Foundation to truly put our money where our mouths are, we're offering a $5,000 scholarship for any student who comes forward from Congressman Bishop's district and can prove they were denied a CBC scholarship."

The Frederick Douglass Foundation is a Black, conservative faith-based organization, which, according to its web site, focuses on "public policy and educational organization which brings the sanctity of free market and limited government ideas to bear on the hardest problems facing our nation.

"We are a collection of pro-active individuals committed to developing innovative and new approaches to today's problems with the assistance of elected officials, scholars from universities and colleges and community activists."

The Herald is currently awaiting a response from Bishop's office to the FDF offer and will update this report when it becomes available.

Again, this was a great move by the Frederick Douglass Foundation!

H/T Booker Rising

Indictment Against A Sperm Donor

[UPDATED]

I just heard the interview of one of the men who claimed Eddie Long used his position to coerce them to engage in sexual activities. In the interview the man said he always longed for a father in his life.

 

 

There it is.

Pres. Obama and Sidwell Friends

President Obama says the D.C. public schools don't measure up to Sidwell Friends, the private school his daughters attend.

Well, duuuuuuh......

President Obama reopened Monday what is often a sore subject in Washington, saying that his daughters could not obtain from D.C. public schools the academic experience they receive at the private Sidwell Friends School.

But the city, accustomed to the mantra that its schools need reform, seemed to view the judgment as self-evident.

Obama made his comments on NBC's "Today" show in response to a woman who asked whether Malia and Sasha Obama "would get the same kind of education at a D.C. public school" that they would get at the D.C. private school that has educated generations of the city's elite.

"I'll be blunt with you: The answer is no, right now," Obama said. D.C. public schools "are struggling," he said, but they "have made some important strides over the last several years to move in the direction of reform. There are some terrific individual schools in the D.C. system."

Obama said that if he wanted to get his daughters into one of the public schools, "we could probably maneuver to do it." But he said the "broader problem" is that parents without "a bunch of connections" don't have such options.

Well, Mr. Obama, you and the Democrats killed one option that may have been available to District parents and their children when you both KILLED the voucher program in D.C. The fact is, Obama talks a good game but when the rubber hits the road, his actions show he's vapid. The man doesn't care about the education of your kids, just his.

Not fully baked: Help Me Work Something Thru

This piece isn't fully baked but I'm throwing it out there anyway.

Help me think about something...

When technical companies like Microsoft were young, they were in bidding wars for the services of software engineers/programmers/analysts. Not only was it a matter of pay, but it was a matter of perks to go along with employment: matching the 401K, vacation packages, flexible hours, snacks paid by the company, health club memberships, stock bonuses, stock purchase plans, etc.

In Silicon Valley, California, it was common for people to work for a company, then give 2 weeks notice and leave the company on a Friday. On the following Monday, they would go to work for the new company, right across the street from their old employer, only then they were earning more money.

Now, technical companies are using H1-B work visas to bring in immigrants to work the technical jobs. Bill Gates has said it is because the U.S. lacks the technical workers, but the out of work technical workers say the companies, after years helping to elevate the cost of technical workers, are now trying to lower the costs and the H1-B visa program is the way they are trying to do it. There has been some salary surveys which back them up.

In the meantime, the companies have outsourced the work to places like India with the idea that the work will be the same, if not better, but the costs will be much cheaper. The thing is, the work produced has not necessarily been better and the cost of outsourcing is actually increasing because the employees of the companies that are doing outsourcing, are now in the same situation as the Silicon Valley companies: they need people so the people are demanding higher wages and better benefits.

What are possible long term effects?

1. A loss of technical expertise as the techical problems arise overseas and it is the people overseas who develop the technical know how to solve the problems by coming up with "standard" solutions as well as innovations that move the technical world forward a step or a mile.
2. A higher unemployment rate as people who should be employed in this country doing technical jobs, no longer have those jobs as options.
3. A lower standard of living for those in the technical field in the U.S. because the price of the technical workers will be lower.

Is this a situation where lower taxes for those companies will help keep jobs in the U.S.? No.

Is this a situation where unions can be blamed for the rising cost of employees? No.

Is this a situation that can be blamed on excessive regulations? No.

Should the federal government be involved in this type of situation at all? As I see it, no. If American businesses want to focus on the near term bottom line to such an extent that it may wreck their long term bottom line and even maybe cause a loss of intellectual property, so be it. The only time the federal government should get involved is if a foreign country is using tariffs to make imports from the U.S. less competitive.

So what am I getting at?

In this silly season, just try thinking about the quips the politicians make when campaigning. Think about the talk show hacks are really saying. Think about what the pundits are writing.

Colbert I. King: Out of the Park

Colbert I. King knocks one out of the park.

The other day, I wrote this concerning what I see as race baiting by conservative and liberal
commentators over the D.C. Democrat mayoral primary race. Today, Saturday, Colbert I. King  takes his swing and he knocks it out of the park. Selected excepts:

Those largely black wards weren't voting race. Those same voters who turned thumbs down on Fenty went thumbs way up for the reelection bid of a white candidate, D.C. Council member Phil
Mendelson.

Huh?
Nahhh... That can't be. But King continues:

Ward 8, which is east of the Anacostia River and is Marion Barry's home base, gave Fenty only 1,800 votes. More than 5,000 votes there went to Mendelson.

Ward 7 voters, also on the east side of town, did the same with their ballots: 2,500 for Fenty, nearly 8,500 for Mendelson.

Mendelson came out of Ward 5 with 9,500 votes; Fenty mustered only 4,030.

And Ward 4, which launched Fenty's political career, awarded him just 8,000 votes this time around. It sent Mendelson to bed on election night with more than 12,300 votes in the bag.

[ UPDATE ]

Wait....

You mean the people who wrote the D.C. vote was a sign of racial politics may have gotten things wrong?

Nahhhhh.... Can't be....

Let Them Eat Cake

Incredible....

By all accounts, Democrats are poised to get their heads handed to
them in the congressional races. Recent polling seems to be showing
the trend may also be happening in the local state races. With that
information known, why would a committee chair allow Colbert to appear
before his committee to "testify" on a serious issue? Why would the
committee co-chair invite Colbert to appear before her committee?

With everything going on -- unemployment, housing, deficits going
through the roof -- why give him an official platform to make
jackasses of you all?

Democrats deserve the loss that's coming to them. They are acting as
if nothing is wrong.

"Let them eat cake!"

To Those Who Race Bait Over Fenty's Loss

To those who are race baiting over Fenty's loss, here is something for you:

• Fenty and his opponent are both Black.
• Fenty appointed Rhee, but he also appointed a woman as police chief and she is white. If Fenty's loss was due to Rhee not being Black, why doesn't the same apply towards the MPD police chief?
• If Black voters in D.C. didn't want transformation, or don't like transformation, then how is it that Anthony Williams won the D.C. mayoral election two times?
• If the D.C. election were just about Rhee firing teachers who are primarily Black and thus taking food out of the mouths of middle class Black voters in D.C., why is it those same voters support the D.C. charter school movement?

Think about it; or not.

Umm... $$$$ Huh?!?!?

Someone tell me why this isn't a bribe and why this is legal.

The Republican National Committee is paying off some of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's sizable legal fees dating back to the 2008 presidential campaign in exchange for her help raising money for the financially strapped RNC during the campaign season, The Washington Times has learned.

The Times obtained a copy of a check for $128,518.85 that was made out to Anchorage law firm Clapp, Peterson, Van Flein, Tiemessen & Thorsness, which Mrs. Palin hired after a string of ethics charges were lodged against her when she was Alaska's governor and the GOP's nominee for vice president.

RNC Treasurer Randy Pullen, who co-signed the check with RNC Chief Administrative Officer Boyd Rutherford, said Mr. Rutherford told him the check was in exchange for Mrs. Palin's help with RNCMichael S. Steele to raise money for midterm election campaigns.

Chairman "The initial payment was for Palin to do several different fundraising events and sign fundraising letters for the RNC," Mr. Pullen said. He said the RNC has committed to sending the Anchorage law firm a second check of an equal amount, which would bring the total to $257,037.70.

$ay WHAT?!!?!?!?!?
And she damn sure better be declaring this as a gift, thus taxable.

Football, Week 2

• I have a feeling the second half swoon of Joe Flacco last season WASN'T due to an injury. I counted at least 5 passes that were blown by Flacco, two of which would have been touchdowns if thrown accurately
• Michael Vick was named the Eagles starting quarterback after he had one heck of a game on Sunday. Who is surprised that Vick would put it together for at least one game? Who is MORE surprised Reid would name him the starter?
• The Steelers are going to kick butt and take no prisoners
• Colts vs Giants.... Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.....
• The Redskins have a quarterback, but what happened to the defense?

Yeah, This Is Funny!

Karl Rove and Charles Krauthammer speak out against the Republican Delaware candidate running for congress  and now the conservatives go on the attack against them and blast them with the "ESTABLISHMENT" label?????

Yeah, *THAT'S* funny!

Jr Is Playin' In The SNOW!!!!

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Jesse-Jackson-Responds-to-New-Allegations-103457694.html

Jesse Jackson Jr. doesn't deny involvement with a Washington D.C.
based restaurant hostess who was named this morning in a Sun-Times
story about his alleged attempt to buy an appointment to President
Obama's former Senate seat.

Jackson Jr. allegedly had a relationship with Giovana Huidobro, a
restaurant hostess and former model whose pictures can be seen here,
and asked that fund-raiser Raghuveer Nayak pay for her to be flown
from D.C. to Chicago on at least two occasions.

The picture?

http://www.cincouno.com/archivo/giovanna-huidobro

Issues, I'm Just Sayin'...

So, "some people" are wondering why a candidate who says she dabbled
in witchcraft is an issue and call it a smear attempt. Meanwhile,
"some people" say someone whose father is a Muslim but hasn't had
contact with his father for decades before the death of the father
says the fact that his father is a Muslim is an issue.

Fenty And The Tea Party

Let me try to tie Adrian Fenty and the Tea Party together.

• It is said that Fenty ignored the wishes of a vital segment of the voting D.C. population. It is said that the targets of the Tea Party have ignored the will of the voters and are doing whatever they,the politicians, want to do.
• It is said that Fenty didn't stay in contact with people who helped put him in office and that he has been aloof. it is said that the targets of the Tea Party have forgotten the every day people in their voting districts
• Fenty lost in the primary because of dissatisfied voters and it was said he didn't see it coming, although he was warned. I guess Castle didn't see it coming, either.

 At the end of the day, you can't expect to keep wining office when you ignore your base and vote in ways which they think are against their interests.

The New Swagger!

Up with the ascot!!!

THIS is swag!!!!

Who Zoomed Who?

President Obama started taking shots at Rep. Boehner. The conservative and Republican apologists started saying Obama must be shook up because he is going after Boehner, who is a "no body" who "no one" outside of the Washington Beltway knows.

Well, Obama may be shook up, but so is Boehner. After his comment on a Sunday talk show saying that he was open to letting the upper income tax cuts expire, he was confronted with a storm of criticism.

I think Obama won that round and I wonder if Boehner's assumed position as Speaker of the House is now in question, as it should be.

RAVENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hard Knock *THAT*

Football, Week 1

• I bet Philly wished McNabb was at the QB spot. I'll give Vick his credit, after the half-time, he MOVED his team. Colb WHO?
• Detroit was robbed by a rule that I didn't realize existed in that way.
• Colts lose? Not based on this, but based on last year and the year before, I thought their window of Super Bowl opportunity had closed.
• The Cowgirls didn't want to win that game. McNabb performed well enough to get the lead but the Cowgirls lost.

Peace Loving Muslims, Speak Out!

So what if "peace loving Muslims" speak out?

What does it mean if they do?

It means nothing.

Why do I say this?

Because non-peace loving Muslims are still going to do what they do: threaten and kill. So the non-peace loving Muslims will add the peace loving Muslims to their list and go about their business.

It Doesn't Matter

Burning the book or not doesn't matter. Islamic fanatics are going to do the mess they do, regardless.

Let The Deaf, Hear

I think many conservative ideas are good ideas. So why do I "spend so much time attacking conservatives"? The answer is simple: your behavior and methodology stinks. Here's a simple anecdote.

When my daughter was at Howard University, she attended a political "discussion." A Black male student, who is Republican, when it was his turn to speak, started off by saying Blacks are on the plantation, and stupid for being Democrats and so forth. His delivery turned off my daughter and most of the audience, who turned negative at the start. Days later, this young man used the negative attitude towards him to buttress the idea that Blacks don't like Black Republicans. But he refused to look at his own negative behavior even though in response to him, someone pointed out how he, according to my daughter, "Showed his ass."

But what do I know?

Off to spend time with the family.

Black Con vs Black Lib: Stupid Reasoning 1

One of the arguments made by Black and non-Black conservatives/Republicans against Black liberals/Democrats is something like the following: major cities have been run by Democrats for the past N  years and they are a mess. Doesn't that prove Democrat failure?

My two part response is, no and that the question, itself, displays faulty reasoning.

To the former, I state no because the question gives no room for consideration of Black middle class and strong working class migration out of the cities.

My mother's peers are, for the most part, in the city. However, their children, including me, who are middle class and strong working class, have, for the most part, moved to counties where the perception is a better quality of life. Those who are still in the city, move to the more stable and functioning sections of the city. They are not a part of the problem.

This migration of the Black middle class and strong working class out of the cities have left those who are less functional and has caused a concentration of those who are less functional in the cities. Changing the world view and the actions of those who are less functional is not a matter of politics. The scourge of conservatives and Republicans, the NAACP, Jesse Jackson, Sr, Al Sharpton, et al, have never supported, for example, "Stop Snitching" and I know they have blasted that concept. 

A good example of the results of this migration, besides unemployment and crime, is education. Many Black people left Baltimore City and moved to Baltimore County. If you look at the Maryland Report Card website and select white and Black subgroups for Baltimore County, you will see the white graduation rate is 84%. The Black graduation rate is 83%. For Baltimore City, the Black graduation rate listed is 66%. For the record, a lot of Blacks have also moved to Howard County, specifically Columbia. In Howard county the white graduation rate is 95% and the Black graduation rate is 90%.

At this point I mention that Baltimore City is controlled by Democrats as is Baltimore County. And that points directly to my statement that the question, itself, is faulty reasoning.