Deep-rooted Racism and George Allen

The whole George Allen fiasco in Virginia is becoming interesting. While I do not normally pay much attention to what immature judgments and actions a person did in their 20s, sometimes current events make the ancient history relevant. The comments made in western Virginia by George Allen highlights a common misconception by many white Americans that people of color cannot be American. I frankly do not know where this misconception comes from. I have listened to black friends tell stories of being told that they were in the wrong line at US passport control because they were in the line for Americans and I have been asked “what {nationality or ethnic group} is the wife of a Hispanic friend, I know she is not American?” when this person was a member of the Cherokees and my response was “she is more American than you and I”. And then there is the racist comment "macaca" itself.

So what happens is everything that Allen may have done becomes fair game in the political discussion and now his friends and supporters are in the awkward position of justifying Allen’s unbelievable explanations such as he made up a word that just happens to be a real racist term. By his outlandish statements on discovering the hidden Jewish ancestor, Allen shows us that he is not ready to admit what most of us accept, we are all of one family and who knows what our ethnic make up is.

While Allen’s support of legislation that is beneficial to minority groups is commendable, I hope that Virginia’s voters give him enough time to reflect on his true beliefs on people who he thinks are not like him and the majority by electing Jim Webb.

Unconstitutional Activities

There comes a time in national emergencies and times of crisis where the need to act includes actions that are unconstitutional or illegal. Our system of checks and balances does not operate at any pace that would be considered speedy or fast. This allows time for the objective to be achieved before the legislative or judicial branches are able to halt those actions. Leadership requires action and sometimes illegal/unconstitutional actions are necessary. The oath of office requires the president halt illegal/unconstitutional activities when the other branches of the US government, usually the Supreme Court, order the end of those actions.

With few exceptions, the ownership of gold made illegal in the 30s comes to mind; this is how the system of checks and balances has worked. And we are now starting to see this happen with activities such as wiretapping and not allowing detainees the right to defend themselves. But still, the Bush White House seems to believe that illegal activities are justified and a way subvert or ignore the rulings is sought by the administration. History is full of instances where a policy is continued beyond the public need and then a bigger monster is created. Wiretapping has to produce results and soon, normal criticism or political debate is deemed illegal, as that is the only thing found by wiretapping. This is the danger of continuing unconstitutional activity.

The problem is not necessarily doing unconstitutional activities but continueing to hang onto those activities after they have accomplished their activities or the system of checks and balances says STOP!

Keith Olberman's Bullseye

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6210240/

This is right on! The demonizing of those citizens who have different opinions, those who disagree is dirty politics. This is beyond dirty politics. The four words "It's unacceptable to think" is right out of Faherheit 451 or the movie Serenity. What I see is a lot of the president's supporters who are doing exactly what the Islamic/Muslim extremists are doing, reacting to an accusation in such a way that makes the accusation turn into a truth.
When an administration starts to turn on it's own supporters who are having some reservations, the end is near. This was the result in the Nixon years when Republicans began to learn that they themselves where on the White House's Enemies List. It became difficult, if not impossible, to try and minimize the errors that had been made by the Nixon Administration, and this attack on Colin Powell will be, in the end, this administrations "Enemies list" moment.
I thought that with dropping gas prices at the pump, and the move to localize the Congressional elections, the Republicans might pull out the mid-term elections enough to keep control of Congress. But this should be right up there with Senator Allen's racist remarks, and energize the opposition to get out and vote the Republicans out of office. Nothing except wholesale turning on the President will help Republicans now.

Unacceptable to think, WOW!!! All I can say is I hope that I will never believe that as long as I live.