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  • Politics Is Like Hiring A Hitman
    by Scott Woods inPolitical on2020-08-13

    For me, politics is like hiring a hitman. I have values and things I care about. I care enough about them to at least bother voting for 5 minutes every year for one issue or another. And because I care at least that much, I vote for people who align with the ability to realize the things I care about.

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  • Punching Above Our Weight
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-07-24

    I believe our vote is the punctuation of our voice. Without that resounding exclamation mark, I believe our voices are just incoherent noise.

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  • BLACK PROGRESS AMIDST SOCIAL CHAOS
    by Roger Madison Jr. inPolitical on2020-06-16

    Recent events have raised the profile of historical injustice and inequities here in the USA. The entire world has taken note of the fact that BLACK LIVES MATTER.   We invite all of our friends to engage in actions that result in the greatest movement for change in our history. It is imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity to affect a positive change by ACTING IN OUR SELF-INTERESTS.

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  • Living in a Black No-Man's Land
    by Roger Madison Jr. inOur Community on2019-10-28

    There are many narratives that define the Black experience in America in this 2nd decade of the 21st century. Our striving over the centuries of our sojourn in this nation is a tapestry of every human experience -- oppression, enslavement, forced assimilation, dehumanization, exclusion, segregation, isolation, struggle, perseverance, achievement, excellence, celebration, mourning, despair, progress, setbacks, lynching, assassination, genocide, terror, self-hatred, low esteem, pride,...

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  • Fighting Racism
    by Scott Woods inOur Community on2018-10-25

    I had a boss who was racist. Not an outright bigot, of course; her toolbox was more subtle than most. We bumped heads a lot over inconsequential things. She frequently couldn’t keep my name out her mouth. Lot of gaslighting. You know…2018 style. I tried a lot of ways to combat or navigate her issues. None of them worked, and that’s saying a lot because I’m really good at fighting racism. But at the end of the day – every day – she was my boss, I had to deal with her, and that was that. Finally I...

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Obama vs. McCain -- 40 days to go. Obama, McCain spar in first debate

Obama vs. McCainThis was a very close debate.  Each candidate scored points, but no knockdowns, and no knockout.

  • Barack Obama says John McCain wrong about Iraq 
  • McCain says Obama "doesn't understand" some key issues 
  • Candidates debate earmarks, taxes, economic plans

Up against McCain's clearly superior advantage in experience, Obama's performance illustrated that he was able to present  a clear contrast in his approach to restoring global leadership for the USA.
McCain sees the world through the prism of military victory, and Obama envisions a path of diplomacy supported by a strong military.

A CBS Preliminary post-debate poll of uncommitted voters produced these results:

  • Forty percent of uncommitted voters who watched the debate tonight thought Barack Obama was the winner.
  • Twenty-two percent thought John McCain won.
  • Thirty-eight percent saw it as a draw.

Here is the Time/CNN Grade for each candidate:
Obama Overall:
Went for a solid, consistent performance to introduce himself to the country. He did not seem nervous, tentative, or intimidated by the event, and avoided mistakes from his weak debate performances during nomination season (a professorial tone and long winded answers). Standing comfortably on the stage with his rival, he showed he belonged - evocative of Reagan, circa 1980. He was so confident by the end that he reminded his biggest audience yet that his father was from Kenya. Two more performances like that and he will be very tough to beat on Election Day.  Overall grade: A-

McCain Overall:
McCain was McCain - evocative, intense, and at times emotional, but also vague, elliptical, and atonal. Failed to deliver his "country first versus Obama first" message cleanly, even when offered several opportunities. Surprisingly, did not talk much about "change," virtually ceding the dominant issue of the race. Overall grade: B-

This debate was supposed to highlight McCain's strength in foriegn policy experience.  Yet, Obama held his own, and scored the points he needed to score while taking McCain's best shot.  In this case a draw equals a win. 

McCain needed a clear win tonight, and Obama needed to hold his ground.  Obama held his ground while denying McCain the clear victory he needed.  This debate wasn't a clincher, but I believe Obama gained a few more uncommitted voters with his performance.  He is looking more presidential with each test. 

Perhaps the best place for a maverick is kicking up dust in the Senate.