Tea Party Debate: What to Expect

CNN and the Tea Party Express have teamed up to host a GOP candidate debate Monday night in Tampa, Florida.

Sources:Central Florida NewsPoliticoThe New York TimesCNN

Watch video: http://www.newsy.com/videos/tea-party-debate-what-to-expect/

By Victoria Craig

Anchor: Lauren Gores

Link provided by Newsy.com

'Bye-Bye, Beck!'

FOX News & Beck Agree to End Controversial Show

The enigmatic host explains his departure. Video courtesy of "Media Matters of America".

Ventura/Paul Would Pose Serious Threat in 2012!

Tea Party/Independent Voter Support for "Patriot Ticket"
Would Change Everything

As you all know, there have been a series of earth-shattering, life-altering developments since President Barack Obama took office: from the BP disaster to an unprecedented number of home foreclosures. However, nothing has shaken the country to its core more than intense voter outrage and the emergence of the Tea Party.

As illustrated in the 2010 midterm elections, newly-bred Tea Party-backed candidates are no longer to be taken lightly. Having won seats in the House of Representatives and Senate, as a result of extreme discontent with the political leadership in Washington, D.C., the Tea Party is poised to upset the establishment on an even greater level heading into the 2012 elections.

Jesse Ventura knows a thing or two about upsetting the establishment. In 1998, Ventura ran as a Reform Party candidate in the Minnesota governor's race. No one took the former U.S. Navy Seal, pro-wrestler and actor seriously, including the mainstream media and elected officials. Ventura's victory shocked the nation and proved that a third party candidate was capable of defeating an incumbent. Ventura served as governor of Minnesota from 1999 to 2003. He became a member of the Independence Party in 2003.

Over the course of his political career, Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) has become the bane of the Republican Party's existence. Whether he's attacking his own colleagues, big government, wasteful spending or calling for the abolishment of the Federal Reserve, Paul has remained vigilant in his quest to be heard and transform government.

The "Pit Bull of the House"- Congressman Ron Paul

With two Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) straw poll victories over big name candidates in the last two years, voters apparently have an admiration, appreciation and respect for Paul that is immeasurable. Unfortunately, many of his colleagues and the mainstream media don't take him seriously.

In my view, Paul has always been regarded as the crazy uncle at the dinner table that constantly blurts out conspiracy theories or weird statements like, “Bruce Springsteen has a crooked ass!” He makes no sense to many in his own party, and a good number of them probably wish he would just go away or shut up. For the record, I don't think the man is insane. On the contrary, he's crazy like a fox.

Speaking of conspiracy theories, the former Minnesota governor hosts a show of the same name. The show has become a ratings juggernaut for the TruTV network, but Ventura and “Conspiracy Theory” angered members of the Obama administration and elected officials -- most notably Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN) -- after airing an investigative piece on FEMA (detention) camps and fusion centers that are being set up all over the country under the national security bill H.R. 645. The episode is riveting and well-produced.

Ventura and his camera crew confronted Cohen about the controversial bill, and the Congressman wasn't even aware of what was in the very bill he sponsored! It was one of the most embarrassing -- for Congressman Cohen -- and powerful moments in television history. Ventura and the show's producers must have been on to something big. A few weeks later, the federal government ordered TrueTV to remove the episode, as well as a few others, and never air it again. For now, the episode can still be viewed on YouTube. According to show producers, it's still unclear if the mega-hit show will return next season on TruTV.

Venture has always said the main reason he decided to host Conspiracy Theory was because he wanted to shed light on the nefarious secrets and practices the United States government has withheld over the years and let the public decide if action, be it political or social, was warranted. Similarly, through his words and deeds, Congressman Paul has sought to accomplish the same goal throughout his political career.

Jesse Ventura and Ron Paul are kindred spirits. Ventura has publicly stated that he loves his country, but he doesn't love his government. Hundreds of thousands of Tea Party members have made the same declaration, and I have no doubt that Congressman Paul, whom I call the “pit bull of the House”, feels the same way.

Both men pull no punches and tell it like it is. Both men continue to denounce questionable legislation and policies enacted by the two-party system, and both men have always defended civil liberty and held government accountable. Ventura served his country honorably as a Navy Seal, and Paul has won the CPAC straw poll for the second year in a row. Needless to say, these men are considered true patriots by many in the country.

Ventura and Paul also share the sentiments of many good Americans within the Tea Party. Thus, a Ventura/Paul ticket in 2012 would be extremely attractive to voters that are completely fed up and seeking a real alternative to the Democratic and Republican Party. If Tea Party and Independent voters decided to back the "patriot ticket", coupled with a surge in Democratic voter support, the political landscape and system would undoubtedly change forever....and possibly for the good.

This commentary is from the heart and.....From The G-Man.

For those interested, here is part one of the "Conspiracy Theory" episode that was pulled from the TruTV network.

Jesse Ventura photo source: Cory Barnes
Author: Cory Barnes
Permission: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic License

Congressman Ron Paul photo source: http://www.house.gov/paul/bio.shtml
Author: United States Congress
Permission: Public Domain

Sarah Palin: America's Multimedia Whore

'Baby Trig' Will Suffer If Mom Remains in Media

Spotlight or Pursues Presidency

America, Sarah Palin has been “putting out’ to the mainstream media ever since Senator John McCain announced her as his running mate in 2008. Over the last two and a half years, Palin’s numerous speaking engagements, television appearances and projects, book deals and magazine articles have made her the most sought after and recognized woman in this country and abroad. That’s not an assumption; it’s a fact!

Yes, everyone in the male-dominated, national media is lusting after her. That’s the only reason why discussions about her looks and body continue to take place on national airwaves and networks. Wake up, people! If the offer or price is right, you can definitely get some “Half-Baked Alaska”. That's also a fact.

Palin has been labeled a king-maker by mainstream news pundits and become the media darling of America, but I have very serious concerns about how all of these external factors, including a possible bid for the White House, will affect her ability to raise her infant son, Trig, who has Down syndrome. I suspect there are millions of parents of special needs children out there that are just as concerned, and I think a national dialog should take place on the subject.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I know nothing about the complexities of raising a special needs child. However, I do have close relationships with several parents that are raising children facing mental and/or physical challenges, and they all agree, unequivocally, that special needs children require a great deal of time and attention from and interaction with their parents, especially their mothers. With Trig being so young, they noted extended quality time with his mother is of crucial importance.

In all fairness, I did discover that some amazing breakthroughs have been made in educating and enhancing the lives of children afflicted with Down syndrome and other conditions. Today, many grow up and go on to lead happy and productive lives with the assistance of medical personnel, family and friends. That’s all good, but the crucial difference is the overwhelming majority of mothers of special needs children aren’t hinting at or planning a run for the presidency.

I’m sure the Palin clan and extended family are doing their best to make sure Trig receives all the attention and love he needs if “Momma Grizzly” chooses to pursue other interests. Still, with Palin emerging as a dominant force within the Tea Party and politics, and a real possibility of her obtaining the GOP presidential nomination in 2012, she is being pulled and tugged in many different directions, at many different times, by many different people.

If she decides to run in 2012, the situation will only get worse. She’ll be required to do research and have a firm grasp of the issues, travel the country, raise money, stump for candidates, engage in scores of debates and make various television appearances at a whirlwind pace. It will be ten-times worse than anything she did during the midterm elections. If this comes to pass, how the hell would Palin be able to enhance and nurture that loving mother and child bond that is vital to Trig’s development? Answer: she won't!

Todd Palin won’t be enough. Trig’s siblings won’t be enough. The grandparents and extended family won’t be enough. Sarah Palin gave birth to that boy, and she needs to put him before anyone or anything else. Period!

Now, I’m sure she knows this, but I suspect she's in too deep, financially and politically, to walk away from all the bullshit and madness, live in peace, and devote herself solely to Trig and her family. She's made her political bed and now has to lie in it. The question is.... will Trig suffer emotionally because of her current and potential endeavors?

Whether she realizes it or not, multimedia and politics have merged to become Palin’s pimp. They have exposed, marketed and promoted her for their financial and political gain, and like a young, inexperienced actress that has been seated on a Hollywood casting couch, she has allowed herself to become a willing participant in the metamorphosis from doe-eyed innocent to political/multimedia harlot. Ultimately, she'll end up used, abused and discarded like an old whore after the attraction and desire wane.

The GOP and the Tea Party, which have merged to become what I call “The Gotees”, and multimedia, are nothing more than "Johns” using Palin for their own selfish gain. They're banging her like a screen door caught in a hurricane, and Palin simply lays back, counts her cash, and waits for the next caller.

Like the stereotypical dumb blonde, no one takes her seriously or thinks she's qualified enough or tough enough to lead a country, let alone go toe-to-toe with terrorists or political hardliners in America or abroad. The Gotees and multimedia don’t give a shit about Palin, and I guarantee you they care even less about Trig. It's all about building their base, power, generating revenue and ratings.

If anyone truly had Trig's best interest at heart, Palin's friends, Gotee members, the media and the parents of special needs children would raise the issue more consistently. For the many that continue to draw her into bed, Palin is simply a means to an end. Sadly, she, as well as her family, is too blinded by money, power and the media porn spotlight to realize it. Pray for Trig, America. Pray for Trig.

This commentary is from the heart and....From The G-Man.

Photo source: David Shankbone

Credit: David Shankbone

Permission: Creative Commons 3.0

A Challenge for Sarah Palin and Tea Party

Hey Sarah? How's that six law enforcement officers
killed by extremists thingy workin' for ya?

I Dare You to Watch This Video and Explain Yourselves!

The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), an organization that tracks hate and extremist groups all across the country and provides intelligence reports to law enforcement agencies, the media and the public, has indicated there are now 932 hate groups operating within the United States. If that isn’t frightening enough, the SPLC reports also state that Internet recruitment efforts and registrations are increasing at an unprecedented rate. For those of you that are interested, you can read a great deal more about the center’s findings at this link: http://www.splcenter.org/what-we-do/hate-and-extremism.

I’ve read many of the updates and hate crime-related court cases the SPLC frequently publishes on its website and started thinking about Sarah Palin and the Tea Party. Now, let me be clear about something. I’m not claiming that there is a direct relationship between Palin, the members of the Tea Party and these fringe groups. That is not what I was thinking as I read the data. What I actually thought about was the fact that these groups are deeply entrenched in the Tea Party. They may be small in number, but they’re there, nonetheless.

I also considered that fact that Palin, who has obviously become the face of the Tea Party, has never publicly or repeatedly challenged members to denounce these groups or make a serious effort to oust them. Come to think of it, it’s not just Palin. This has been the case with every noted politician or candidate that gravitated toward the party that is quickly changing the political landscape of America.

One has to wonder. Why have Palin and others been so reluctant to call out their fringe members? Given the fact that members of fringe groups have killed a total of six law enforcement officers in recent years, and the fact that the Huratee targeted hundreds of officers for annihilation, it would behoove them to do so. Rather than honor the slain officers by publicly stating these members are not welcomed, Palin and her ilk chose to remain silent and continue to do so. Why?

Is it because they don’t want to upset the Tea Party founders or organizers? Is it because they fear much-needed funding, which might be tied to hate or extremists groups, would suddenly dry up if they spoke out against hate or anti-government sentiment in America? Is it because they wouldn’t receive the $100,000 check for every speaking engagement they attend if they slam the KKK, neo-Nazi or white nationalist movement? One really has to wonder.

Whatever the case, Palin and all the “pollies” (politicians) that have decided to jump on the Tea Party bandwagon are making a fatal mistake by not speaking out consistently. In my opinion, their refusal to address this very dangerous and serious problem is the main reason why the majority of Americans refuse to smell what the Tea Party is brewing. The reign of the KKK will always be viewed as an ugly period in American history, and the fact that hate and militia groups are being welcomed with open arms by Sarah Palin, Tea party candidates and members is completely mind-boggling!

In closing, I would like to issue a public challenge to Sarah Palin, the Tea Party and its potential candidates. I dare all of you to watch the video embedded below. You all claim to be proud, upstanding Americans, so prove it by publicly answering this question after watching the video. How can any of you embrace extremists or “haters” within the Tea Party, on any level, knowing some have killed police officers and others have carried out actions like this in the past?

This commentary is from the heart and.....From The G-Man.

Sarah Palin photo credit: Therealbs2002

Permission: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported

YouTube video courtesy of: ematels

From The G-Man: Season 1, Episode 3

NY State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr: Uncensored!

New York State Senator Joseph Addabbo, Jr. appears on the show to discuss the following: the Arizona immigration law, turmoil in the New York State senate, financial reform, bailouts, corruption in politics, the Tea Party, Sarah Palin, his father's legacy, and his controversial vote against "marriage equality" legislation in 2009. The interview was filmed on April 23, 2010, and is completely uncensored.

Note: The show's opening theme is "Feels So Right" by "Solution".

The Honeymooners: Ralph Kramden & Rosa Parks

Cast of Characters Would've Denounced Racism

It was 1955 when the American television audience was introduced to a lovable group of characters known as “The Honeymooners”, which starred Jackie Gleason, Art Carney, Audrey Meadows and Joyce Randolph. Gleason, who was in charge of production, portrayed Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden, a hapless spirit in search of his next big break or investment scheme. His best friend, Ed Norton, was a bumbling sewer worker who wasn’t exactly blessed in the brains department. Their wives, Alice and Trixie, may have seemed subtle in their roles, but they frequently kept their husbands in check or got the upper hand in each episode.

This was also the year that the civil rights period was launched. On December 1, a weary seamstress named Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on an Alabama bus. Parks was actually sitting in the “colored” section when the driver ordered her to move. She was well within her rights to remain seated when the monsters called racism and segregation reared their ugly heads and attacked. Parks, like the biblical David, stood up to the beasts and issued the initial blow in the form of defiance. As a result, a force of one became an army of thousands. A Black brigade came forth and boycotted the Alabama bus system, and within a year or so they managed to slay these evil beasts.

I recently caught an episode of The Honeymooners. I laughed hysterically, as usual, but this time I actually stopped and analyzed Ralph Kramden’s character. I thought about the fact that he drove for the Gotham Bus Company and would have no problem getting in someone’s face if they pissed him off. He may have come off as a loose canon in each episode, but he was always levelheaded, kind, and reasonable in the end. Moreover, I don’t think Ralph had a racist bone in his body. Why do I say this? Well, any man that was willing to admit that he grossly misjudged someone and their culture, as he did in the episode with “Carlos”, the Mambo dancer, you have to believe that man was on point when it came to race.

The bus segregation that Rosa Parks fought against was commonplace in southern states. However, if it had been a common practice in New York City, and had Gleason decided to tackle the issue in an episode, I strongly believe Ralph would’ve defended his Rosa Parks-like character. More than likely, Ralph would’ve gone as far as to tell anybody that hassled the character, “Keep it up pal and you are gonna get yours!”

The late, great civil rights activist Rosa Parks

Undoubtedly, the other characters would've stood firmly behind him. Alice and Trixie gave you the impression they were always willing to engage in “girl talk” with anyone, and Alice frequently associated with people in her building. “Mrs. Manicotti.”, an Italian neighbor, is a perfect example. The wives probably would have wasted no time inviting Parks over for dinner upon hearing about the incident. With Ed Norton, you always got the sense that he was cool with everybody; especially if they had a refrigerator that was always fully stocked. He probably would have summed up the situation by saying, “Geez! You did the right thing there, Ralphie Boy! It’s like we say down in the sewer. White or Black, we all smell the same at some point!”

If Gleason had been able to write and produce such an episode, it would've been a monumental television event. I'd like to think that he considered it, but given the state of race relations in the country at that time, and the fact that he couldn’t risk angering the CBS station managers during the show’s first season, he may have been forced to dismiss the idea. I believe Gleason would've written the episode, and I offer the following as proof.

“Keeping Time: The Life, Music and Photographs of Milt Hinton” is an amazing documentary film that chronicles the life of legendary jazz bassist Milt Hinton. Hinton, who died in 2000 at the age of 90, played with Cab Calloway and other legends of the Big Band era. The documentary noted the following: “After the disbanding of the big bands, many Blacks were not able to get work as studio musicians because of the racist belief that they could not read music. Hinton became one of very few Blacks to break the color barrier and secure a job as a studio musician thanks to a chance meeting with longtime friend Jackie Gleason. Gleason insisted that Hinton join his television show orchestra.”

Legendary jazz musician Milt Hinton

Furthermore, Gleason, who had an intense love for jazz, frequently showcased Black artists, such as Nat King Cole, when he hosted The Jackie Gleason Show. Airing in 1952, the show made Gleason a national star and provided exposure for many Black stars that were shunned by other networks and shows. Based on these revelations, I'm more than confident that if Gleason had written the controversial episode, the legendary, tough-talking Ralph Kramden would've stared down racism while uttering those immortal words...“Bang, Zoom!”


This commentary is from the heart and....From The G-Man.

Honeymooners photo source: http://www.art.com/products/p10204502-sa-i947177/the-honeymooners.htm

Author: art.com

Permission: art.com

Rosa Parks photo source: Associated Press, 1964

Author: Associated Press

Permission: Public Domain

Milt Hinton photo source: Milt Hinton

Author: Courtesy the Fraser MacPherson estate c/o Guy MacPherson

Permission: Creative Commons 2.0

'My Country is Falling Apart, U.S. Could Be Next!'

A Joker-faced Jan Peter Balkenende, Prime Minister of the Netherlands

Dutch Journalist Explains Collapse and Warns America

A World Exclusive

Three days ago, an article on Bloomberg’s “Business Week” website reported that the Dutch government had fallen. Having developed a working relationship with a Dutch resident named Maarten van Dop, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Television Journalism, I decided to look into the matter more closely. In doing so, I discovered a number of striking similarities between the Netherlands and the U.S. regarding political party divisions and the rising tide of dissent among voters. Ultimately, I asked Maarten to provide an assessment, as a journalist and resident, of what really happened to cause the government’s demise. Not only did he graciously consent, he also pointed out that the United States of America appears to be headed in the same direction and urges all Americans to pay close attention to the events taking place in his country.

The following was authored by Maarten van Dop

“We were never in Iraq!”

The Dutch government supported the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. They accomplished the latter mainly by mouth (‘politically’), and the first by a significant material and personal contribution. About a month ago, a report was presented on Dutch involvement in the invasion of Iraq. The report was supposedly independent, but officially commissioned by the government last year. A very unwilling government was forced to concede and allow an investigation to take place, thanks to pressure of an altered political constellation. The conclusions of the report did not mince matters or words: the Iraq war was illegal for lack of an international mandate. It went on to say that information was manipulated to serve political goals and parliament was not properly informed. Normally, this would be sufficient to make any prime minister secede his reign, especially when it’s still the same person. But the extraordinary circumstances induced by the economic recession gave this coalition excuse to remain seated, much to the dismay of the opposition.

“We’ll be getting the hell out of Afghanistan!”

The next topic for debate for this coalition was Afghanistan. The United Nations has requested the Netherlands to prolong Dutch presence in the southern province of Uruzgan. President Obama and Vice-President Biden have been appealing to reconsider a decision already made: this year, 2010, Holland withdraws its people from Afghanistan. The two major fractions in government stand opposite one another regarding this request. And now it seems the party opposing prolongation, has pulled the plug. It seems that way because, in actuality, a compromise had already been found, which was leave Uruzgan, but stay in Afghanistan; no more fighting missions, only reconstruction and facilitation for the Afghans. Ironically, this time around it was the economic recession that urged this coalition to bail out. A report from the National Bureau for Statistics showed a projection for the economy that made participating parties realize there was nothing left to be gained up until the next official elections in 2011.

Contradictions & Compromises

Holland is a land of contradictions. Amsterdam is our capital, but our seat of government is The Hague. The Queen is our Head of State, but she is not our leader. Think that’s weird? Ask about our policies on drugs. Or rather: don’t. It all stems from a system of compromise, which we proudly refer to as ‘Poldermodel’ - wherein everything is open to discussion and can be thusly solved. Every contestant is rewarded their share of the stake, but nobody gets the whole deal. Those who wheel more than they deal, end up on top. The Netherlands has a multi-party political system. The current coalition, which became an interim group last week, consists of three different parties. Until the 1990’s, governing coalitions used to consist of two parties that held a workable majority of representatives in parliament. A coalition would either be center-right (Christian Democrats & Liberals) or center-left (Christian Democrats & Socialists). All other parties were relegated to the opposition. However, the Dutch political landscape is becoming increasingly splintered, and the next coalition might even have more than three partners. The more people get to have a say, the less efficient decision-making will be. It’s the conundrum of democracy. Simultaneously, the people crave ‘strong leadership’ as the political spectrum becomes increasingly dispersed. Democracy depends as much on the competence of the eligible as on the competence of the electorate.

Dutch Tea (Party)

Disapproval for the “Poldermodel’ gave way to the rise of Pim Fortuyn, who was considered by many to be an outsider. Fortuyn entered the political arena in 2002, and the world watched in amazement as he single-handedly went from virtual unknown to heading in the polls in the upcoming election. He was shot dead a week before the election took place. His party, LPF, went on to become the second largest political party in the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the party was in complete disarray and the coalition collapsed after a mere 80 days of governance. Ever since Fortuyn’s murder, hosts of wannabe ‘strong leaders’ have graced the Dutch political scene. This time, the Party for Freedom (PVV), led by Geert Wilders, is heading the polls. The PVV is the equivalent of the rapidly expanding Tea Party in the Americas. If he wins big enough, and is not killed, he might well draw up to the ruling coalition. Sarah Palin would probably refer to him as a rogue politician. Thriving on nationalism and xenophobia, his main issue is to oppose the perceived ‘Islamizing’ of the Netherlands. Watch well, American Tea Party patriots. What you’re looking for is someone similar to this enigmatic leader. You’re looking for someone who will ‘unite the nation’, and we’ve got loads of those on sale.

Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende photo source: Maarten van Dop

Permission: Maarten van Dop

Link to article: http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-20/dutch-government-falls-over-extension-of-afghan-stay-update2-.html