Showing posts with label Lyndon B. Johnson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lyndon B. Johnson. Show all posts

4.29.2022

Debunking the hype agaist Critical Race Theory and exposing it for what it truly is! IMO


By Gloria DULAN-Wilson
Hello All!
WHAT CRT STANDS FOR:


Ever since Barack Obama became President of the United States (well actually prior to that if you count Regan, Bush, Bush 2, and the 8 years they spent trying in vain to destroy Bill Clinton) the Repuglycons have lost their total minds, and have shown that they are not above putting low people in high places, if it makes it possible for them to stay in power.  They have willfully, blatantly, openly and notoriously flaunted every rule in the proverbial book - including the sainted "Constitution of the United States - which is supposed to be sacrosanct - to get what they want, regardless of who and how many they have to trample on to do so.   
 

J
Justice in America is defnitely not Blind or Just

 
 Critical Race Theory posits from a legal standpoint that not only is Justice in American legal history not blind, she's been sleeping with the lawyers all along - making sure that if anyone says the deck is stacked against us, she pontificates a lot of bilgewater, and continues to stand on our necks.  (GDW)

During the fifties it was Senator Joe McCarthy - or "Tail Gunner Joe, as they called him  (nothing like a nickname to let you know that while they may talk about him openly, they secretly supported him behind closed doors) who used "Red-Baiting" to destroy the lives of thousands of innocent people, under the guise of pretending to rid the US of Communism.  No lie was too big, no tactic too vile to prove the innocent guilty.  And this went on unabated until somebody finally Woke (T F) Up and said "This is madness; this is not what America is supposed to be about."    SMH

Or is it?  There are about 23 Million Black people who would righteously beg to differ with that statement.  Having endured more than 400 years - 402 counting this year of 2022 - of racism, jim crowism, segregation, deprivation, and lies at the hands of "law makers" who make the laws specifically so that we won't progress, or gain equality, or get an education, or VOTE - we've been dealing with this and moving forward despite it.  BTW, has anyone noticed that most of the lunatic fringe exists in the US Senate?  What's up with that? (IJS) Also, has anyone noticed that New York has never had a Black US senator - male or female?  Hmmmm - Wonder why that is!

We have endured John Bonehead Boehner, Newt Gingrich, even Mitch (the B*) McConnell - each of whom has led the US Senate deeper and deeper into the primordial ooze that is the swamp they are currently turning America into.  They want to create a mass of automatons who do their bidding, and goose-step into history in much the same way Hitler did to Nazi Germany.   Interestingly enough they have sold their souls to the devil in the personage of one D J T-rump, in order to do so - apparently not caring how low he could or would go, how treacherous he would/could be, how many lies he could tell; how he would/could and almost did overthrow the government - in fact they are apparently more than willing to give him a second chance at doing so - considering this massive blob is now crisscrossing the country spreading lies and continuing to engender racial racist rabid antagonisms in small, backwater, red neck revisionist communities - i.e. the gullible underbelly of America.   It boggles the mind of most intelligent,  normal people how T-rump was allowed to be president - considering he committed every ethical violation in the book - denigrating a fellow candidate Hillary Clinton; urging people to smash his opponents in the face because he would pay their legal fees; utilizing a known dictator, and enemy of the US to tamper with the votes so that he would "win" the election of 2016 - and then use his power to continually put low people in high places so they could not challenge his stupidity.  The (s)election of 2016 was truly the indication that the US much touted constitution, ethics, and rules had absolutely no meaning or validity whatsoever.  In sports, if a team violates a rule, or uses unnecessary roughage, etc., they could be ejected, the scores removed, and/or they would forfeit the game.  This is what should have happened then - but NO! The mendicant was allowed to play president and drag America to a new low.  (Not gonna numerate them for you - look it up)!

Then in 2021 - after having every trick in the book, including hiring a degenerate to destroy the US postal service - not only a major symbol of US, but a federally protected division of the government - tampering with the mail is a federal offense - to shut down postal services across the US so voters could not do mail in votes - hopefully meaning those sequestered from Covid would not be able to vote by mail, he spends the rest of his lame duck period hatching a plan to overthrow the government under the guise of his defeat was engineered - stolen - miscounted - rigged - NOT!  WE KICKED HIS BUTT AND THE SYCOPHANTS THAT SUPPORT HIM OUT - well almost - it appears there were two blue dog dems who are more repuglycon than the repuglycons, who have been a thorn in our backsides since the election.

The megalomaniacal fool is now using the pawns that is the senate to try to make it impossible for Black People, Brown People, Independent People, Intelligent People - namely us  - from defeating his rabid racists from once again dominating the Congress again. And here we are - with him going across the country with his band of  well paid menials; with the assistance of the Paid Advertisement masquerading as the news nightly extolling his most recent inanity - with the sycophants who wanna be him so much they have lost all sense of propriety (Cruz, etc.) and dignity, as they sell what soul they have left to this madness now by trying to pass revisionist racist laws to prevent us from exercising our right and responsibility to vote in various states that have absolutely no validity except to prevent us from voting - how is this legal? How is this ethical? How is this intelligent?  How is this not racist? and insane? How is this not subversive?  And how is it that it is still being allowed to continue?  Why is it being allowed to continue?

The main thing I don't want is to see us buying into the BS, and sitting around as though we're defeated, acquiescing or equivocating, or rationalizing their major maladjustment as though it's something that's bound to happen; or copping out and talking about a mythological third party or an independence party, when we know that currently there are only two parties - and we have to pick the one that does the least amount of damage.  We didn't get this far by acquiescing or turning a blind eye, or waiting to be saved.  We looked at the situation, and devised other means to get what we wanted done done.  And this is definitely of those times!

Most of us are descendants of Ancestor/Angels who were enslaved in this country.  Most of them were forbidden to read, write, get an education, because these caucasoid slave monsters knew that once we were able to do so, there was no way they would be able to keep us enslaved.  They knew we were smarter, more intelligent, creative, talented, resilient than they were - therefore the last thing they wanted us to have was an education - even on the third grade level we could outsmart, out think and outdo most of their most learned PhDs.  We might not have had the grammar, but we had the common sense and intelligence.  So it should be no surprise that they are coming for our educational autonomy - that they are trying to revise what we know by attacking education, schools, books, and anything that would further inform and enhance our intelligence.  They used Betsy DeVos to destroy a great deal of the school system.  Subsequently, we began to really learn the truth of what happened to our Ancestor/Angels from Africa to here at the hands of their ancestor/monsters, and subsequently at the hands of their descendants in real time and began breaking down many of the codes in their playbook by making sure we not only knew our history, but theirs as well - and used that to effect the greatest voter turnout - four times - Obama, Obama, the 2018 Midterm and Biden, 2020, and now if we stay the course, don't get fooled by the meanstream media's bogus faux news, we are in line to defeat them a fifth time if we show up and show out and vote in overwhelming numbers in the upcoming 2022 MidTerm Voting Elections - we will totally turn this country around for the better - for our own good in particular - and the US in general.
 
 
 
 
 
 
They are pulling out all the stops: T-rump's lying propaganda spreading across the country, attacking our educational system, the teachers, the libraries to stop them from teaching the true history of America by attacking "Critical Race Theory"  or CRT, in a manner that has apparently been hyped so much that everyone is falling in lock step to it - and trying to not be found guilty of teaching the TRUTH - lest they lose their jobs, or funds, or homes, or, or, or, or...
 
The real gristle of the whole cabal is based on a book that, until recently, had little traction, or notice - CRITICAL RACE THEORY by Richard Delgado was originally written in 1995; but originally enunciated in the late 1970s by the late Derrick Bell, lawyer, political activist and advocate, who basically  enunciated CRT as a way of "understanding how American racism has shaped public policy, laws, education,  and increased public awareness about things like housing segregation, the impacts of criminal justice policy in the 1990s, and the legacy of enslavement on Black Americans." Education Weekly (https://www.edweek.org/leadership/what-is-critical-race-theory-and-why-is-it-under-attack/2021/05)

Now, it was all right as long as it stayed in the hallowed halls of academia - which it did for nearly 30 years, but the truth has begun to be taught in real time in elementary schools, K-12, and now all the Karens, their husbands, and the ultra conservative right wing nuts - aka T-rump-a-lumpers, are waving their red flags all over the place.  Basically they want to keep their kids in blissful ignorance and are looking to wipe out everything that even gives a hint that the South wasn't a place where darkies sang happily in the fields while picking cotton, and their great grand ancestors were sipping mint julips when the war started, and Black people are really poor because they like being that way.  Heaven forbid they find out that Mr. Charlie hung his Black neighbor from an acacia tree because he wanted his land; or that there were laws passed to keep Black people from being able to read; or there were actual laws that determined where Black people could and couldn't live - laws that were only recently struck down by EXECUTIVE ORDER by President Lyndon Baines Johnson  - whose history and existence they have consistently tried to eradicate in every form or fashion since he betrayed the sacred trust of every rednecked Dixie Crat (original Democrats) in the 1960s.  
 
Most of the Repuglycons don't want folks to know this!  So they are launching an all out offensive that would make Adolf Hitler proud!

These turkeys are willing to pass heinous even more  egregious laws that totally violate the constitution to push history back into the dark corner where they've tried to hide it for lo these many years - as if we didn't already know what happened - that they are borderline (or actually straight up) Nazis!!  And they are so on the slippery slope they are literally getting up crews of right wing plus conservative females (the worst kind - make MTG look like Mary Poppins) foaming the mouth because their kids are being taught the TRUTH!! As if somehow their heads will explode when they learn that they are descendants of monsters who mistreated people so they couldn't/wouldn't have to work.

They are coming so close to the 1933 German Kristallnacht -(and no, it's not a champagne drink) - that horrific event where Hitler loosed his rabid dogs on innocent Jewish people in Nazi Germany because they were beginning to grow and thrive - all under the guise of cleansing the country of their version of Critical Race Theory. (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goebbels-burnings/) All led by an individual who had fomented crimes against the country viv a vis a riot and breaking to the Nation's Capitol to protect his right to continue lying, stealing, consorting with known authoritarian cretins in other countries that he "admired" because they could dictate and he couldn't. So he got his henchmen to lather up an insurrection against the government - and then lie and call it a peaceful protest; much like what is being propagandized as a danger to the country by actually teaching American History - the good, the bad, the ugly, the unstable.  (By the way, am I overstating the obvious if I say that had Barack Obama done this insane treasonous act, he would have immediately been tackled by all the Capitol police and thrown under the jails in Leavenworth - that is if they didn't shoot him on site - so how is it that the January 6 tribunal is still vacillating over pulling the lever to apprehend and incarcerate the Orange Faced Fool? - IJS).  And why hasn't President Biden put a stop to the obvious violation of our freedom to vote by issuing the EXECUTIVE ORDER OR PROCLAMATION, immediately if not sooner? 
 
The problem is that the only thing they are focusing on is the historical issues around slavery, without also realizing that both sides of history are being taught in the schools - at least they used to be.  There are many redemptive, positive historical facts that are also being taught.  The problem is they only want that part to be taught and deny all the rest.  So teachers, scholars, educators are to be the brunt of their condemnation - to be persecuted, punished, penalized and pushed out?  I Don't Think So! 

I also don't think we should allow them to get away with defining what they're doing by pretending it's about education and what's being taught in the schools.  It's not unusual for people to become reactionary when accused of doing the right thing by the wrong people.  We get hung up in their definitions - as though there aren't other ways to interpret what they're trying to do.  So let me help you see this in a different light:

CRT (ALSO) STANDS FOR:
  • Caucasoids Running (from the truth)
  • Crazy Racist Transgressions
  • Creepy Racist Tactics
  • Conniving Racist Tactics
  • Crass Racist Tactics
  • Covering Racist Transgressions
  • Colonizer Revisionist Tactics
  • Covering Racist Tactics
  • Concealing Real Truth
  • Covering Racist Trauma
  • Culpable Revisionist Terrorists
  • Concealing Racist Torture
  • Constitutional Rights Trampled
  • Constitution Revisionist Tactics
  • Collaborating (with) Racist Terrorists
  • Covering (for) Racist Terrorists
  • Concealing Racist Tracks
  • Consorting (with) Racist Terrorists
  • Creepy Repuglycan (Republican) Treachery

I dare say one of the reasons they don't want true history taught in the schools is because they would have to answer the question:
What the F -K happened to the Original Real Republicans that Abraham Lincoln established when he founded the Party in the 1860s to go up against the current party at the time?  The Original Real Republicans were abolitionists who worked alongside Lincoln to abolish Slavery. They were the ones who worked with him to write the EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION (A PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER) Freeing Slaves in combative states, and later throughout the entire US - and looking to give them reparations for what they had endured by giving each family 40 acres and a mule so they could start out and begin to build on their own?  As the late Oscar Brown, Jr.  said - "I want my 40 Acres and my goddam mule!!"  They're afraid their children, in an act of contrition, would actually turn around and level the playing field by keeping the promises their ancestors had no intention of keeping - Social media is such that these kinds of truths spread exponentially - and the sweeping under the rug days are pretty much over.

They really don't want to have to confront the most egregious miscarriage of justice and violation of the constitution (which by the way they now violate easily and with ease over and over - and nobody seems to be of a mind to stop them) each and every time they try to abrogate our right to vote in real 2022 time by passing laws that Lyndon B. Johnson 100+ years later enacted through his own PRESIDENTAL EXECUTIVE ORDER - giving us (again) the right to vote in free, fair elections, with out any penalty, threat, or other deleterious machinations to intimidate or prevent us of our right to vote.  

The ACLU recently stated: "There can no longer be any doubt that America's justice system is not blind. Indeed, as today's report from the nation's oldest, largest and most diverse civil and human rights coalition reveals, 'lady justice' sees skin color all too well. The report documents that black and brown Americans are routinely shunted to ever harsher treatment at every stage in the criminal justice system while their white counterparts are handled preferentially."

They really don't want any further educational programs, classes, forms, reports, or whatever because they would then have to answer the question "what is your endgame?"  What is your real plan for the future of America?  Who the Eff are you?  Has America already been infiltrated by people disguised as Americans, who are now poised to take over, and overthrow this government that purports to be by the people, for the people, and of the people?  Just how many shils does T-rump already have planted throughout the country, low people put in high places to aid in this debacle, unless and until  President Biden wakes up, stop trying to be the "nice guy, and placate everybody,  and really sees what it is time to pass the most up to date comprehensive PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER ever, to provide for and restore voting rights to Black and Brown people - all of whom are American Citizens. And he needs to do  it yesterday, because tomorrow may be too late. 

Who's to say this megalomaniac will even wait for the Midterm Elections to take place?  Who's to say he's not trying to whip his next group of insurrectionists into a lather to storm the Nation's Capitol once again?  Who's to say he isn't currently planting them in strategic areas to cause disruptions, disturbances by his own demented version of "by any unscrupuous means necessary?

Of course we can neither wait for President Biden, nor can we stand here like deer in the headlights, frozen in fear of what might, or might not happen.  We don't have that kind of time.  We actually already know what time it is. It's time for us to take action - to make our own plans - even if it's reactionary to some extent - and make sure we're more than prepared to deal with this madness.  We know they have enacted ID laws, no helping each other to the polls laws, closing down polls in key Black areas, gerrymandering, and all kinds of things because they are so afraid of Black people they want to make sure they can use this as a way to curtail our progress.

Guess what?  As Melanie Campbell said at the recently held National Action Network (NAN) on voter  suppression:  "This is not the first time we've been through this at the hands of these kinds of racists.  We didn't let it stop us then, we won't let it stop us now.  We know how to go old school - back to basics.  We have a means for dealing with everything they say or put in the way to stop us  & WE STILL VOTE REGARDLESS OF WHAT THEY DO.  We plan in advance, we learn the rules, follow them to the letter, and make sure we document any and all attempts on their part to stop us from voting and WE VOTE ANYWAY!"

The Black Women for Positive Change, is one of many organizations throughout the United States that is gearing up for this battle for the Souls of America - we are joining forces, preparing to help each other in the various midterms across the country - energizing our bases to make sure NO VOTE IS THWARTED, OR LEFT BEHIND, AND EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED FAIRLY AND COMPLETELY.  We are making sure everybody knows that BLACK PEOPLE ARE UNDER SIEGE AND THEY'RE TRYING TO TAKE AWAY OUR RIGHTS DURING THE MIDTERM PRIMARY AND ELECTION OF 2022 - and we simply cannot allow that to happen y'all!!  They are working with other organizations to host Victory VoterCades throughout low voter turnout communities across the country - to alert and encourage folks to vote - early if possible, by mail if necessary, and in person as a show of force, unity and solidarity:  www.blackwomenforpositivechange.org;

Or, start an organization in your community and begin galvanizing your family, friends, neighbors, fellow church family, faternities, sororities, civic organizations, clubs, senior citizens, high schoolers who'll be 18 by the time the primaries come around -  and others to get up, get together, get out and Vote.  
 
And if you're in Ohio, your primary is Tuesday, May 3rd - I hope you're already on top of it. 

We are all targeted - none of us are exempt - it took all of us to do what we did in 2008, 2012 - we blew it in 2016, figured it out in 2018 (midterms that turned the tables on T-rump, and 2020 when we kicked him out.  Now let's make sure we keep the momentum up in 2022 and make it a three-peat - sweep the rest of his cronies out the door, and this time make sure going forward they don't have a chance to rear their ugly heads again.
 
And remember, Freedom ain't Free - Dr. Greer, who was also on the NAN panel, suggest that we remember this, and begin a kind of Political Tithing in much the same way we pay tithes in church, to help support the candidates who would work in our best behalf - campaigns cost major dollars - if we want results, we have to help there as well - maybe not thousands or millions, but $5.00 to $25.00 at a time per week - which is how President Obama won - making sure those with lower income situations could have a part in the victory right along with mega buck contributors. 

The late John Lewis said always be ready to get into GOOD TROUBLE - you have to stand for yourself and your families; you can't be defined by those who want to enslave you, treat you like dirt, destry you.  You have to be prepared to get into good trouble - and the next time they come up with another CRT accusation, you can come up with some of your own:

  • CRT CAN ALSO STAND FOR:
  • COURAGE REAPS TREASURES
  • CHALLENGE RACIST TACTICS
  • COALITIONS REPEL TERRORISTS
  • CONNECT (with the) REAL TRUTH
  • CONFOUND RACIST TERRORISTS

THESE ARE JUST FOR STARTERS - I'M SURE YOU CAN COME UP WITH OTHERS!!  
If you do, please share!   - you must always relanguage the terms by which the negative tries to confine you and define you.  Self determination and self definition are two of the hallmarks of a free people who are unafraid to do what's necessary for their own survival and progress.  And one of the main hallmarks is that of our right to vote, have a say in what happens in the country where we pay taxes, raise our children, worship, and go about our daily lives. 
And oh yes, don't let them continue to distort the truth, buy the book and read it yourself:
 
https://www.abebooks.com/Critical-Race-Theory-Introduction-Third-Edition/30377846001/bd?cm_mmc=ggl-_-US_Shopp_Trade0to10-_-product_id=COM9789381406779NEW-_-keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAjw9qiTBhBbEiwAp-GE0QbikFD18AhHUO-cu9_S13_mR6Z7AyVfOBaaWSoijPG3MSgGGRYrhxoChugQAvD_BwE

Always remember to vote in every election, no matter how insignificant it might seem, we have the power to change things drastically - if we increase the turn out of this 2022 MIDTERM BY 25%, WE WIN - 
 
And above all remember:
 
OUR BLACK MIDTERM VOTES MATTER!!
and 
MIDTERM VOTES MATTER - 
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO - 
VOTE BLUE!
ESPECIALLY IN 2022!!


NOW THAT YOU KNOW
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gloria DULAN-Wilson





1.12.2016

EVENT ALERT: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S FINAL SOTU JANUARY 12, 2016

By Gloria Dulan-Wilson

Hello All: 




Well in 18 hours we'll be sitting in front of our TVs, Computer screens, or other devices and watching President Barack Obama make his 8th and final State of the Union Address (a/k/a SOTU).  There is a lot of anticipation and speculation about what he's going to say - now that it's clear that the repuglycons are not going to be cooperative - since they haven't been in the past, why expect them to do so now - most of us are wanting him to go for the gusto and really come up with some earth shattering, paradigm shifting policies that will totally blow away any that have been put forth by his predecessors - regardless of what their party affiliations.

I had posted my top ten Executive Order Wish list a few weeks ago, and asked others to do the same - however, political apathy being what it is - I got a few "likes" but no real response.  And it for this reason that a brother - the first Black president of the United States of America - has had to struggle to get even the simplest bill passed, or person appointed to key positions.  Because we dropped the proverbial ball.  

We are now at the end of an era - where a man stood and faced a den of thieves - and the people who sent him out into the fray to do battle - dropped the ball, backed off, sat on their haunches, and watch with prurient interest to see whether he would sink or swim; and appeared to be utterly amazed when he not only swam, but did the back stroke!!! 

National Public Radio (NPR) posted an article about the top 5 things to look for in President Obama's 2016 SOTU - which I have reprinted here for those of you who have not watched the previous 7.  While they are by no means definitive, they at least give you some context with which to gauge what saying and its relevance to the over all picture.  

Of course, there should and could be a Black people's list of criteria for the SOTU - such as REPARATIONS  for all descendents of African Americans of chattel slavery (the present day equivalent of 40 Acres and a Mule in todays dollars) - notice I did not say a "study" - I said full Reparations.  This is the one gripe I have had with the Administration - however, given the context of the lack of voting power - a/k/a apathy on the part of Black voters in both 2010 and 2014  - two crucial times when we should have showed up and showed out - it's rather difficult to make that demand when we didn't deliver the majority he needed to make it happen.  Still, it can be effected through Executive Order, in much the same way Lyndon Baines Johnson brought the GREAT SOCIETY into being.  It takes vision, courage, and a game plan - And the only person I know who can deliver that - is President Obama - if only he would.

Gun Control, climate control, ACA  - all very important - but the one thing - perhaps the only main thing the first - and maybe the only - Black President can do for Black people is level that playing field with the economic and educational power that has been maliciously and deliberately withheld from them for 400+ years.  (and by the way, if the President wants to know how to make it happen in such a way that it doesn't get squandered, lost, strayed or stolen - tell him to contact me - I have the blueprint already laid out).

Over the years, there have been some really hostile, negative things leveled at our President by so-called Americans - primarily from the red neck side of the equation.  I've chosen to ignore them; not give them any space on my blog.  Still have the same policy.  However, I found it interesting to read some of the comments attached to NPR's post on the upcoming SOTU.  Out of over 500 comments, I selected a segment of the more "intelligent" comments that I thought would be of interest and use to you going into the broadcast tomorrow.  I've posted them along with the NPR article for your perusal.   


5 Things To Watch For In Obama's Final State Of The Union



Updated January 11, 201611:49 AM ET Published January 10, 20164:39 PM ET



President Obama is seen on a television inside the U.S. Capitol delivering his last State of the Union address in 2015.
President Obama is seen on a television inside the U.S. Capitol delivering his last State of the Union address in 2015. Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images
On Tuesday night, President Obama will give his final State of the Union address. It's the last big speech many Americans will watch him deliver, and he wants to leave a good impression. Here are five things to watch for.
1. How different will this speech be from his past State of the Union addresses?
White House aides are promising that this speech will be different. Instead of the usual laundry list of legislative proposals, the speech will be thematic and future-oriented.
President Obama described what he wants the speech to focus on in a video the White House sent out previewing the speech.
The White House YouTube
"Not just the remarkable progress we've made, not just what I want to get done in the year ahead, but what we all need to do together in the years to come, the big
things that will guarantee an even stronger, better, more prosperous America for our kids — the America we believe in. That's what's on my mind."
This makes sense. With attention turning to the race to succeed him, the window for passing major pieces of legislation through an oppositional Congress is closing fast.
But there are still things the president wants Congress to do.
2. What are Obama's legislative priorities?
The president will probably reiterate his call for a hike in the minimum wage, as well as tax reform that frees up money for infrastructure investment. But those are big reaches. More realistically,
the White House is hopeful they can get Congress to approve the big trans-Pacific trade agreement and a bill overhauling the criminal justice system. Expect to hear Obama offer an olive branch
to the Republicans on those potentially bipartisan issues.
3. How will the president try to shape his legacy?
This is a valedictory speech, and Obama will try to frame his accomplishments in the most positive light. He'll talk about the dramatic recovery of the auto industry, the improving employment
situation and the initiatives he's taken on his own to combat climate change, enact tougher gun background checks and reopen relations with Cuba.
The White House announced over the weekend the guests who will join first lady Michelle Obama in the House chamber. Those selections nod to the arc of Obama's presidency, and the president
will no doubt nod to them on Tuesday night. They include Edith Childs, the South Carolina woman who inspired the "Fired up! Ready to go!" chant during Obama's first campaign, one of the first women to graduate from Army Ranger School, a DREAMer, the lead plaintiff in the historic Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, an empty chair for victims of gun violence, a criminal justice reform advocate, an Affordable Care Act "navigator" and many others.
Of course, the best way for President Obama to cement his legacy is to help elect a successor from his own party.
4. How will Obama use the speech to help Hillary Clinton's campaign?
In his last State of the Union address, the president framed the coming election in terms of the economic debate. He talked about widely shared prosperity and focused on inclusive growth, not just redistribution.
And that's the frame Hillary Clinton has chosen for her campaign. Expect to hear more about that on Tuesday night.
Also listen for how often the president touches on hot-button issues that play well with the Democratic base, like climate change, gun control, immigration reform or gay rights.
The White House promises this won't be a "political" speech, but the subtext will be clear: We've come a long way. We have a long way to go, so let's not let the Republicans take us backward.

5. What effect will the speech have?
Most State of the Union addresses have a very short shelf life. But a well-received SOTU can deliver a political boost. President Obama is hoping this one does.
The best way a president can help elect a successor from his own party is to get his approval ratings up — above 50 percent, if possible. Obama has been stuck in the mid-40s for months,
below the 50 percent that President Reagan enjoyed at this point in his second term or the 60 percent Bill Clinton had. If he can improve his standing, he could help Hillary Clinton and his own legacy.
    I NORMALLY DON'T INCLUDE COMMENTARY UNLESS IT'S FROM EXPERTS OR PEOPLE I ADMIRE – BUT I'VE BEEN CURIOUS ABOUT WHAT INTELLIGENT AMERICANS ARE THINKING & SAYING. AND SINCE THIS NPR, YOU'LL LIKELY GET A GOOD CROSS SECTION OF RIGHT AND LEFT WINGERS, BLACK AND WHITE – SO LETS TAKE A SAMPLE AND SEE WHERE WE AGREE OR DISAGREE. Normally – also – I would highlight my agreements in red – but since we are dealing with Democrat as “Blue” I will highlight those statements I found positive or helpful in Blue instead.
  • Nancyknits Wow, just wow. It is mind boggling that in a forum which often has more thoughtful contributors than many other sites where people just anonymously rant, this "discussion" is filled with hateful remarks rather than fact-based arguments or points of view that consider the pros/cons of any real issues.... many of the remarks/attacks are about as content-based and specific as Trump saying he's going to "make American great again" without defining what that means or how he will do it (mostly it just seems like doublespeak for being very "anti" a lot of people, groups, religions, socioeconomic classes, etc. wanting to take rights away from many to protect the "rights" of a few). Meanwhile, evidence continues to accrue re: the greatly improved economy among many other positive changes that have occurred under the President... even though no president or leader can please everyone all the time, it seems like Obama could have been perfect and those who do not support him would still vilify him, which is really sad. None of those folks ever mention that it was a Democrat who left us with a balanced budget and a Republican administration that took us into wars that they then left Obama to deal with.... Hmmmm.
    wildred63 nancyknits • These folks are allergic to facts. If you notice, nearly 99% of the their "arguments" (I am being generous here) are logical fallacies. I would have respect for them if they actually proposed ideas instead of behaving like ill-mannered children.
    w8ofwater wildred63My top 5 things to watch for includes some low-level GOP lawmaker trying to make a name for himself with the Trump lynch mobsters by boldly shouting some cheap insults
    freedumb sings w8ofwater • yew lye!!!
    Mars S freedumb sings • Funny you mention that. As we ALL know, the president DID lie. "If you like your doctor..." Thanks for mentioning that.
    LL LL w8ofwater • I sincerely hope not. But if that does happen, I really, really hope Obama's staff has come up with a constructive and appropriate way for him to deal with it. He did a masterful job of just ignoring it when it happened the first time. But if it happens again? You gotta think his team has come up with something.. It's the responsibility of the chair of the assembly to keep his body in order, up to and including directing the seargeant-at-arms to take appropriate action.Boehner couldn't lead a two-step and I don't expect any more from Lyin' Ryan....heck it could come from Ryan!
    OneGiantLeap nancyknits • You have to admit. Obama does a lot of complaining.
    Wayne Piper OneGiantLeapNo. Republicans do a lot of complaining. If you want to talk about complaining, they are the loudest.
    Mars S OneGiantLeap • He really seemed put out at that town hall meeting on guns. He clearly doesn't like it when citizens and journalists challenge him.
    Granturismo nancyknits • Uh, why do you think the economy is something a dem should bring up, unless your talking to the 1%? According to Forbes, on almost every measure examined, the 2009-15 recovery since the recession ended in June of 2009 has been the meekest in more than 50 years.
    Paul J. GranturismoSo what you're saying is a Republican administration tanked the economy in a remarkable way, and a Democratic administration, despite zero help from a Republican congress, managed to get things back on track. Must be some sour, sour grapes to spin that as a negative. Sure is going to hurt when they write the history books and point out what a great job Obama did.
    AveralHow do you get through to people who dislike you? (for whatever reason) Look what America has accomplished during the 7 years of the Obama administration......Compare THAT, to what happened under 8 years of George W. Bush..............https://ourfuture.org/20141208...
    www.cbsnews.com/news/stocks-bu... How the Republican party can convince SO MANY PEOPLE in this country, that Obama has been TERRIBLE while THEY are going to "Make America Great Again" is beyond me. Do FACTS even MATTER anymore?I make MY decisions, based on REASON, and LOGIC. I wish there was some way to convince others to do the same.
    Mark Kropf Averal • The problem being that President Obama could not please the GOP, in general, even if he had been able to conduct a more assured International policy and had achieved more in office. Dealing successfully internationally when you are actively being de-ligitimated by the opposition is extremely hard as other governments see you as weak. Achieving much at home is a problem with an obstructionist legislature. President Obama may only be cheered by many on his way out the door, and then only for leaving and over the multiple others jeering him. Were Jesus to descend from heaven and bless him, he would still have the religious Right up in arms against him. Republicans might at some time be able to make the country great again, but first they have to have some positive agendas. Merely repealing some legislation and sending others packing is not going to do anything great for us. Reversing supposed injustices or bad practices does not make for any good practice. Policies don't merely tear down, they rebuild and replace. Finding replacements for the ACA and for other disliked Democratic policies and that can actually be implemented is essential. So far the GOP doesn't seem to have a game plan to build more than walls. It seemingly doesn't have clue.
    nancyknits Mark Kropf • For example, how many times now have Republicans voted to repeal or dismantle the ACA but never proposing any kind of alternative plan to offer healthcare to American citizens??? They just do this over and over without actually governing by proposing any plans of their own... because they are just "anti" everything the President says or does with nothing much to offer. Same with gun regulations... they would "unsign" his executive orders on day one - but what will THEY do to reduce the 30k+ Americans who die by guns every year? It doesn't matter if by suicide or homicide; both are unacceptable and directly relate to accessibility and availability of lethal weapons.
    tictoc nancyknitsThe GOP is working on a health care reform plan of their own and it should be ready sometime in 2092. They don't want to rush it through like the job saving bill they just sent to Obama after seven years to repeal ObamaCare.
    LL LL nancyknits • exactly, in another piece a Hispanic woman, Republican, said she met with Ted Cruz and tried for 40 minutes to find out what his actual plan was on immigration. Close the borders he said. But how, what is your plan. she got nothing. Because they have nothing to offer. They have no vision. They have no plans. They just have highly paid campaign staff.
    Nancy Keeton Mark Kropf • Remember too, that my own shameful excuse for a Senator proclaimed the morning after President Obama first election, that the GOPs first priority was to make him a one-term president.
    glenview0818 Mark Kropf • I am not supporting the Republican party here, but first it must be remembered that during the first two years of the Obama administration, he owned the office and never introduced a single piece of gun control legislation, not to mention that he ran under the single payer health plan, and we ended up with the Romney individual mandate plan. If you own the office for two years you would sure think that some Democratic party value legislation would be introduced. Though I disagree with most Republican party legislation, when they own the office they come in guns a blazing. [I HAVE TO AGREE WITH HIM ON THIS ONE – BUT IT WAS THE DEMOCRATS AND THE VOTERS WHO LIKEWISED DROPPED THE BALL IN 2010 AND FELL FOR THE MEANSTREAM MEDIA HYPE – WIMPS!! - NOT PRESIDENT OBAMA]
    Anonymous_02030 glenview0818 • Lilly Ledbetter says hello.
    LL LL Mark Kropf • I would say this was the first time in my lifetime that I witnessed a destructivist Congress that attempted to undermine the POTUS in critical international diplomacies. I mean, for all the criticism of it today, when Bush said trust me there are WMDs, dems joined in support of the President in what they believed was a difficult decision. Even those who voted against only did so with a vote. They didn't then write the leaders of the countries involved and say we are taking this down because the President will have no power. Vote against the President's policies that is your right and in fact your duty if you feel strongly about it. But interfering in Presidential matters after you lose that vote? Nope. Bad, bad, bad form. if not treasonous form. I don't like to throw that word around lightly but Tom Cotton...you out there? Bud, get yourself under control.
    glenview0818 LL LL • Ya, the Republicans and Democrats can always get together on starting a War, then after the dust settles one or another is left crying.
    J D Mark KropfAs we all know the infamous Koch war on Obama is not only unprecedented in American history but very successful considering how much good Obama has done for them and this nation. Citation from The New Yorker August 30, 2010. http://www.newyorker.com/magaz...
    LarryL1970 Mark Kropf • Great comment. Remember... it's not about the President's accomplishments. Republicans openly planned to obstruct all progress since the President's first inauguration. The criminal use of the filibuster, the mindless conspiracies, the pledges to never compromise, and the fifty-plus votes to destroy the Affordable Care Act were never about the President's accomplishments or the Democrat's platform. It's always been about a relative few, far-right power-brokers and their attempts to control our government through the media manipulation of fearful, undereducated, and seemingly disenfranchised whites. It's still working for them in the heavily gerrymandered states, but that political system is imploding at the national-level.
    Laurie Norton AveralYou're absolutely right! Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans don't follow the news closely and have very little idea what's really happening in our state and federal governments. (If it were otherwise, the Republicans would have to change or disappear.) When the average person who doesn't really know what's happening hears some completely unsubstantiated phrase like "Obama's been SUCH a disaster!" repeated over and over, that person understandably starts to think there must be some truth to it. Obama's opponents have used that fact against him again and again, especially in their misleading and unsubstantiated attacks on the ACA. And this is exactly why you see so much lying going on. I mean, the fact checkers go bonkers on the falsehoods and misinformation that comes out of these peoples mouths, but the campaigns have figured out that the people voting in the GOP primaries have officially dismissed any outside fact checkers as liars themselves. And MSM (MAINSTREAM MEDIA)? forget it. Even if the MSM focused hard on all the misinformation the GOP base wouldn't even begin to listen to it. The propaganda is complete with these people. Believe no other sources but ours. Fortunately, the GOP base is by far the minority vote come the general election. And the GOP cannot stop this. They cannot put forth a candidate with national appeal because they sold their souls to this brainwashed base. they cannot undo it.
    MichaelJNellett Laurie Norton Why the Republican progressives and the entire Democrat Party are one and the same? The Republicans have just given Obama and the progressive Democrats EVERYTHING they wanted and you idiots are blaming the Republicans? By the way, Obama illegally delayed the most heinous provisions of the ACA so that they don't kick in until AFTER the 2016 election and he's out of office along with Harry Reid. Tell me in 2017 how much you love the ACA then. What exactly did the ACA reform in our healthcare system again? [REPUGLYCON PROGRESSIVES IS AN OXYMORON]
    blackshadow Averal • The big tall wall by the republican's doll, that has the gall + got the call
    A wall of sprawl covered in scrawl, republicans screaming to "STAY OUT Y'ALL!"
    Their message from god, only the gop's sheep applaud
    tictoc Averal • The small minority of Tea Party extremists don't really matter. They won't add anything to the general election debate. Obama is the closest thing we've had to an Eisenhower republican for president, since Eisenhower. Will the RNC let Trump give the GOP rebuttal to Obama's State of the Union?
    Donna A tictoc • Can the RNC .stop. trump from spewing anything....? and Will the msmedia follow, yes- of course!
    Zed Towers Averal • Results: 7 more years of warring  - massive pointless surge in Afghanistan- war for oil in Libya by UN proxy- the Yemen 'success'- Iraq's reboot of no-boots
    - a failed attempt to war in Syria, followed by a war in Syria- we bombed doctors without borders. maybe twice now....7 more years of making the rich richer:- policy for the 1%- likely to hit $20 Trillion in Debt, most of the cost to the rich- banks rewarded and no prosecutions- a brief continuation of Bush's tax breaks- sequester spending at the loss of social programs; 7 more years of pandering to the NRA- Joe Biden's post Newtown failure- guns on Amtrak (because Reagan was wrong)- guns in our Nation's Parks- toothless executive orders with little impact- reduction in the prosecution of illegal gun sales; 7 more years of bad energy policy- cheap gas so we can buy SUVs (hint: tax it for our roads)- more fracking (we can drink bottled water!)- unprecedented offshore drilling along the Atlantic Coast- failure to close ANWR- way to little support for the green revolution going on everywhere else; 7 more years of a failed war on drugs; 7 of the most polarizing years ever; The masterful killing of Universal Health Care for RomneyCare rebranded as Obamacare. Millions still uninsured (RomneyCare did more!). Millions on junk plans. Millions unable to pay deductibles if they get sick. Millions paying more. But hey, we didn't have to embrace yucky coverage that most modern developed nations enjoy. Really, what could go wrong when Big Insurance writes a law with their lobbyists in for-profit health care!!!! Barack Bush, the 3rd & final installments on a failed 21st Century. Hopefully Hillary won't bring 5 & 6. [
    THIS GUY WAS/IS CLEARLY A REPUGLYCON]
    freedumb sings Zed Towers • snore.....
    Zed Towers freedumb singsJust like a Trump supporter when confronted with the facts....
    glenview0818 Averal • Averal, there is no logic to any argument that is based on a Republican or Democratic party stance. If you used logic you would take a stance for the people not the greedy self serving party system we have here in the US. The republican party stance is "capatalism" for everything, and the Democratic party stance is "the republican party is wrong" to everything. We as a nation need to unload both of them.
    LL LL Averal • You know, I've been thinking on this a lot. I think you overestimate "SO MANY PEOPLE." Just because they are loud and control the base doesn't mean they are really all that many. I think MANY, MANY independents and moderates will quietly vote for whomever wins the Dem Primary.
    Field Gull Averal • They don't really care, they relish hating Obama because they don't have control themselves. He isn't the terrible failure the GOP wants him to be, and he was far from a savior but didn't do terribly either.
    Field Gull MichaelJNellett • Yes. Really. Nobody inspires bizarre, angry fixation of hate like Obama. One does not simply respectfully disagree with the president (if you're a right winger) [I DON'T AGREE WITH THE STATEMENT – BUT I KNOW THAT THE RACIST TO THE BONE RIGHT WINGERS REVEL IN THEIR NEGATIVITY AND DISRESPECT FOR PRESIDENT OBAMA]
    Toxophilite Averal • Most people don't decide their political affiliations based on objective facts - they decide them based on pre-existing beliefs/biases, often which they are hardly even aware of. And then, the more motivated of those seek out "facts" that support those beliefs/biases, which in turn supports their political affiliations.
    blackshadow Averal • planned parenthood just announced they support the real american party, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats not the women hating republicans
    funbobby51 Averal • It is easy, interest based negotiation.
    john della selvaAmazing to me how much President Obama has accomplished w/ the most polarized Republican Congress in recent times. 63 x's? they have tried to overturn Healthcare legislation. What's abundantly clear how racist and scared the Republican party has outwardly shown itself to be since President Obama was first elected. I've never seen such disrespect for any U.S. president,especially how they call the president only by his last name Someone said it best when they said if President Obama's for it we're against it even if it helps the country!
    Rich Huffaker • It is truly incredible to read the comments of so many who so totally hate the man.
    Not the man's policies, the man.
    What i see is a middle of the road democrat, promoting the same exact policies that democrats have been promoting for the last 50 years. Nothing radical, nothing extreme. A man whose term has been largely focused on reacting to the economic collapse that he inherited (no blame intended). Two terms, during which the economy recovered and unemployment dropped significantly. One could argue that this president's attempts were wrong headed, and that the recovery could have been stronger, but of course this is all speculation, no one knows if republican policies would have lead to a better recovery, or any recovery at all. Under his administration he passed the comprehensive health care reform, again, a policy priority for democrats for decades. So what's to hate? Think he has weak foreign policy? Don't like the ACA?
    Is anything he has done or not done deserving of such a tsunami of animosity towards this man?
    Zed Towers Rich Huffaker • His policies have been for the 1% and the Military Industrial Complex. Forget needed social programs when we can have Big Banking, Big Insurance, Big Oil and the rest of the Biggies run the show with a faux-Democrat label.[MORE FAUX FACTS]
    tballiett5555 Rich HuffakerThey're racists - pure & simple. Otherwise they would just hate the president - not the man.
    MichaelJNellett tballiett5555 • History will write that the Obama administration was the most corrupt in history just wait and see. If disliking someone personally because of their arrogant, condescending egomaniacal attitude then I guess we are racists. What does blaming our animosity on his skin color say about you Comrade? An Alynsky disciple who knew??
    Rich Huffaker Roy JoyAs Thomas Jefferson put it "Some truths are self evident". The differences we have on these issues amount to matters of degrees. The right wing media would have you believe differently, that the people who disagree with you want to destroy America. If Americans ACTUALLY TALKED TO EACH OTHER instead of listening to pundits we would find that we can totally understand each others viewpoints and are capable of coming to respectful agreements.
    The hatred spewed toward this man is rooted in the lowest of human emotions. Disagreements toward his policy priorities fail to explain this effect.
    Roy Joy Rich Huffaker • Who said anyone wanted to destroy America? And not having a high opinion of the president automatically puts me on the right? And ..."understand each others viewpoints"? I understand your position well. It's dogmatism with a very LIBERAL helping of moral parentalism.
    Rich Huffaker Roy Joy • "Who said anyone wanted to destroy America?" Apparently you are not familiar with the rantings of the tea party or right wing media punditry - limbaugh, coulter, Hannity and the other shills for the right. That is exactly their claim. And my comments are only directed to you if you are one of those who spend their time spewing hateful personal attacks ( as opposed to policy criticisms) against the president.










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