Model Citizen or Not, You Can Win in Alabama

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Tonight’s results of the special Senate election in Alabama will set an exciting stage moving forward. Not only will this have regional implications in the home state of Alabama, but it will also have enormous national consequences for President Trump and both political parties. After a weird and childish campaign run by Roy Moore, voters have been left confused and exhausted by all the allegations, predictions, and media coverage of the election. 

Even though he has been hit with allegations of sexual misconduct with underage women, if he is victorious, it will illustrate the growing limitations of Democrats in the significantly conservative South. On the other hand, a win by his rival Doug Jones would shrink Republicans’ Senate advantage to a single seat, finally putting their majority in action. 

President Trump, who not so surprisingly gave Roy Moore his full-throated endorsement, yet again tweeted his support on Tuesday morning: “Roy Moore will always vote with us.”

For Doug Jones to steal a win in this election he will need high turnout from black, urban and suburban white voters. Oddly enough, Roy Moore, who rode his horse to the polls, (literally), will need support from rural white voters.

How this election plays out will have many ripple effects. If men in power can have accusations thrown at them from all different angles and still find a way to sway people into believing they can make a positive difference in our country, we are truly in trouble.  

When you decide to run for office, regardless of the rank and title, your first job is to be a model citizen. You are there to LEAD your constituents to a better and brighter future, based on your SOUND judgment. It is sickening that after everything that has come to light regarding Roy Moore, people still find him fit for office. 

J Lucas – I’m Not A Racist… The LCR Responds

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Whenever most people hear a white person say the word “nigga” or “nigger,” they usually stop what they’re doing and commit their full attention to that person. And if you’re Black, you most likely are instantly enraged and probably ready to physically confront that person about why they thought it was okay to use that word. Well in a controversial video from rapper Joyner Lucas, he presents a middle-aged, overweight, white male, with a Trump-sponsored “Make America Great Again” hat on, who takes it there and is met with a strong response. His diatribe is full of negative stereotypes regarding African-Americans. If you can stomach the first few minutes of this video, and that’s a strong “if”, this might be the one instance where a white man repeatedly using the “N” word gets a pass – or maybe not. Either way, if this video makes you challenge your bias or thoughts of others, perhaps it serves its purpose.

If you haven’t seen it, the video is below. We asked several of our contributors to weigh in, and here’s what they had to say…

 “Spending a few minutes watching a video showcasing a large bearded white man wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat while lip syncing disparaging remarks about black people isn’t my ideal form of entertainment or learning. After resisting the urge to cut the video off, I did watch it in its entirety and conclude the message is spot on, for two basic reasons. The viewpoint of many non (and Black Americans) is the ills of Black people today in 2017 are isolated and removed from racism. The second viewpoint is despite self responsibility and/or success, systematic racism still derails Black progress in this country. From beauty standards to credit scores, the nation has structures designed without Black people in mind or specifically designed to go against Black people. Like the video, will people turn it off upon first view and stay the same, or will we as nation watch all of it and use it to get better.” – Independent Texan Male

“As an African American woman, the first verse made me so upset because it was just full of stereotypes. Inside I was screaming I’m not lazy! Where’s your suit? There are plenty of great black fathers! Ever heard of institutionalized racism? Then the second verse came on and I saw where the video was going and my heart rate slowed down and I started to breathe again. This video highlights the essence of what is wrong with America. No one has discussions with others with the intent on seeking understanding. We are so focused and getting our pain out. We don’t take a step back to see what it’s like to live in someone else’s shoes. We cast judgement on a community based on the opinions of those who aren’t a part of, nor living, in said community.  We all need to have more conversations like this to start moving the country in the right direction.” – Left Healthcare Professional

“How can we acknowledge a problem unless we address it honestly and accurately? When something as poisonous as racism is endemic in our society, it has to be addressed. That’s why this Joyner Lucas video is truly art. I was enraged, provoked, challenged, and inspired. Both sides spoke with extreme, intentionally offensive candor to represent the racist animosities that this country should A. Acknowledge and B. Work diligently to abolish. There is truth on both sides somewhere in the fog of historically fueled resentment. We are all races here now and must find a way to not just coexist, but thrive with one another. Despite initial appearances to the contrary, this video is working towards that end.” – Unaffiliated Humanist Musician

“I feel so strong about this video; yet I’m finding it difficult to find the words to describe the reasons why. To me, this was a visual depiction of someone’s comment section under a Facebook status. I’ve seen this argument many times over the last year and some change. When I see people arguing online, it’s clear that the two people going back and forth are not even bothering to read the other person’s comments for comprehension. People are only looking for points to rebut. This is a great reminder to us all that sometimes when you stop and listen, you may be able to at least achieve a level of understanding with one another. We all need to stop coming to the table to argue and instead come willing to listen and learn.” – Center Left HR 

Your perspective is important, let us know what you think.

Alabama Republicans: Politics Over Everything, Literally

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Roy Moore, who is the current Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in Alabama, is just the latest prominent male figure to be accused of dispactable sexual harassment and/or sexual misconduct since the recent Harvey Weinstein allegations. He’s being accused of initiating a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old when he was a 32-year-old assistant district attorney (in 1979).

If that’s not disturbing enough, Alabama Republican reactions might be worse.

Mitch McConnell and other Republicans have asked Roy Moore to step down in the Alabama Senate race; however, Alabama Republicans are singing a different tune.

When asked about the allegations, here’s what one of them had to say…

“Take Joseph and Mary. Mary was a teenager and Joseph was an adult carpenter. They became parents of Jesus… There’s just nothing immoral or illegal here. Maybe just a little bit unusual.” – Alabama State Auditor Jim Zeigler

The details of the Roy Moore allegations are hard to read, but such responses from anyone, Republican or Democrat, are inexcusable. At best, Jim Zeigler is a lousy human being and extremely confused about the conception and birth of Jesus Christ. At worst, his response speaks volumes regarding the current division and state of our political system – that he, as well as other Alabama Republicans who came to Roy Moore’s defense, would rather have a sexual predator in office than a Democrat.

Women deserve better, voters deserve better.

Can our politics ever return to civility and respectable discourse? Can the Republican Party survive with a Roy Moore in the Senate considering the results of the recent elections?

Texas Church Shooting, I Disagree With Trump

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President Trump claims more would have died were there stricter gun laws—insisting the gunman would not have been taken down by a “brave civilian” if that were the case. As a member of a Southern Baptist Church in Texas, and whose father and brother are both Baptist Ministers, I still cannot agree with POTUS. There absolutely should be a ban on assault-style weapons in the United States such as the firearm used by the gunman to kill 26 people and injure 20 others. Even with oversight by the U.S. Air Force to upload the gunman’s past domestic offenses in their database, civilians should never be able to possess weapons designed to be used in war. 

However, not isolating this incident and considering all of the senseless shootings that have taken place, my stance is not a commentary on the Second Amendment giving civilians the right to bear arms. I do not advocate for a gun-free society, but I do believe stricter laws should be enforced and types of firearms should be evaluated. There are firearms such as the one used by the “brave civilian” that are meant for recreation and defense. While they still can cause bodily harm, they should not be banned. However, in the case of assault-style weapons which are meant for combat situations—to kill as many people as possible in the least amount of time—they should not be accessible to civilians.

Indicted For Conspiracy… The LCR Responds…

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This morning Special prosecutor Robert Mueller’s office announced the indictments of Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, and Rick Gates, his longtime business associate. Twelve counts in total… including conspiracy against the United States, money laundering, making false statements, and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal. We asked several of our contributors to weigh in regarding this groundbreaking development, and here’s what they had to say…
“Mueller is sending a message with two revelations today: cooperate like Papadoulous and you’ll get a good deal, or else you’re going down. While the indictments aren’t necessarily tied to the President they can definitely be used as leverage to force others to cooperate in the investigation. And let’s not forget the immediate fact that President of the United States had as his campaign manager a man who was simultaneously serving as an unregistered foreign agent and laundering large amounts of money. That should be startling enough in and of itself. If nothing else it’s yet another black mark on the first year of a presidency that has been marred by scandal.” – Center Left College Student
“This is a long way from an indictment of the President – both for reasons he will tout and reasons he will not.  First, as he says, it is not clear yet that there’s a determination that anyone who was making policy decisions was actively colluding with Russia. Secondly, he remains a billionaire with pardoning power and those indicted and likely to be indicted later are unlikely to be able to work for anyone else ever again. Even if there was collusion, his ability to influence those indicted remains very strong.” – Right Army Veteran
“It’s disappointing to me that these charges are not directly related to the Trump campaign, but I realize that baby steps are needed here so that we can cover the immense swath of ground that the Russian influence seems to cover on many levels of our democratic process. How long will it take? No idea. But we can’t start jumping to conclusions – this is a marathon, not a sprint.” – Registered Independent Voter 
“Unlike before when an administration was placed under findings of wrong from Watergate to Iran Contra, supporters of that administration distanced itself and soon after voting reflected the distance. It will be interesting to watch how the support for the Trump administration unfolds, especially with midterm elections on the horizon. In support, I’m talking about the rank and file, not Republican Party leadership.” – Independent Texan Male
“Chickens come home to roost… What more can I say? People need to wake up and stop allowing racism to control their vote. Whenever hate and racism motivate any action, utter destruction will be the result. This administration and those who support it will continue to feel the residual effects of “Making America Great Again.” – Apolitical Elected Official
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Defining Black Republicans

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Two Facebook friends of mine… Catherine Z…. She’s a young black woman who is supportive of the current NFL player protests, solid approval of President Obama, and is indifferent regarding universal healthcare. One of her profile pictures was the 2008/2016 split Obama first family portrait. And her most current post states “Yessss ‘Auntie Maxine,’ get em!” Safe assumption – she either votes Democrat or leans to the left. She also has a master’s degree in finance and works for an accounting firm.
Second Facebook friend… Matt Y… Despite Matt only having a high school diploma with no college education, he actually works for the same accounting firm with Catherine. Surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly), they have the same title and role. Matt is nearing retirement at the age of 56. He thinks the NFL player protests are inappropriate for a sporting event, doesn’t agree with universal healthcare (though will take part in Medicare), and feels the media has attacked Trump more than any other president. His Facebook profile pic is a bald eagle, in fact, none of his profiles pic are of his face, just run of the mill patriotic stuff. His most current post states Trump has eliminated 5 trillion dollars of debt (which if he did do that, it would be 25 percent of the 20 trillion-dollar national debt) since taking office. Spoiler alert, Matt votes Republican.
They argue on Facebook, well, their respective friends argue, about everything from climate change, Hilary Clinton’s emails, and the ultimate fun-filled topic ‘Black Lives Matter.’ Catherine and Matt represent the viewpoints of people who look like them, with very little middle ground.  
So how did we get here as a nation? 
Our nation is divided politically into a two-party system. Both the Republican and Democratic parties have stockpiled their support mainly based on demographics that currently exist due to the racial and gender divisions in our nation’s history. The Democrats don’t make any secrets about who they’re for. They’re for freedom of sexual orientation, women, Black folk, Latinos, and those born after 1970.
The Republican party profoundly professes the opposite. They promote the adages of “small government,” “states’ rights,” and “fiscal responsibility,” and they claim not to see color, gender, or other demographics. However, the recent history of Republican talking points and policies show the exact opposite of the aforementioned adages. Republicans have made significant efforts in derailing the progression of any group or person that doesn’t identify as a White Christian male. Historically, Republicans were the party against prohibition, the party in which 80% of its members voted to pass the 1964 civil rights bill, and of course, started as the party for emancipation. Fast forward, and the Republican party since Nixon has doubled-down on its whiteness in every sense of the word. With that being the situation at hand, “You a Black Republican?,” was a very common response I received from all walks of life between 2006-2012. I know Q Tip on an old tribe record once said,”Never give a date.” However, I want to make it clear that I was a Republican only for a certain period of my life.
So how does a young black man born in the Democratic stronghold of Maryland end up being a Black Republican? Like most Black Republicans, I think it’s important to state that my political ideology at an early age was shaped by personal political preference without the thought of demographics. 
I strongly believe the government should be conservative in its actions. I believe the government should not be quick to act or change without careful review, which is the very definition of political conservatism. I believe the federal government should be small, tax in an appropriate manner, and spend on services that directly benefit the people. Fiscal conservatism and social progression was the hallmark of the Republican party. The party was hijacked by extremists and flat-out racists in the late 1960s. From that point forward, the ranks of Christian conservatives and now the Trumpbots have taken over the party. Black Republicans don’t personally harbor those radical feelings, so they ignore the ape pictures of Obama and extremists like Representative Steve King who pose questions like, “Where did any other subgroup of people (other than white) contribute more to civilization?” Yes, he said that without any pushback or criticism from his fellow party members.
Unlike Trump surrogates, when Black Republicans talk about “fiscal responsibility” it’s safe to assume they truly are talking about the government mismanaging resources. They really do think the Democrat party has been a crux to black people via sponsoring aid programs like food stamps and housing aid. For this, they reject social programs and reject the party of help, the Democrats. Their outlook and desire for a Black America, nondependent of any government resource, is their calling – it was mine. Black Republicans don’t want to tackle racism. They don’t want to accept the fact most political mindsets and policies in this nation are the product of demographics, not pure ideology. Lastly, Black Republicans have a strong belief that overly presenting race as an issue is a pillar of the issue itself. 
The recent surge of radical divisions along demographic lines during the 2016 Presidential campaign has caused many Black Republicans to reconsider their affiliation with their party, or at least with a party that does not denounce blatant racism. Wedge issues like the NFL player protests and the removal of Confederate flags and monuments have exposed the true mindsets of many. A danger most Black Republicans ignored; yet, prominent Black Republican’s like Michael Steele to Colin Powell, have publicly denounced such sentiment and have thankfully not sided with their party. With that being said, they are still Republicans – a decision and position that speaks volumes.  
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Hurricane Trump

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The last 10 months of the Trump Administration have been fraught with upheaval, uncertainty, and unpreparedness. It’s one thing to have a president who doesn’t know what he’s doing; it’s quite another to have a president who doesn’t know what he’s doing and sabotages the efforts of the people who do.
Trump is the enemy who doesn’t realize he is the enemy. Blustering his way around the White House, the country and the world, he seeks only his own glorification, and is oblivious to the damage he inflicts while doing so. His extreme self-centeredness is not unlike that of Kim Jong Un, another self-centered narcissist who just happens to be the leader of a country with nuclear capability. And he is not afraid to flaunt it.
Trump’s dismantling of the Paris Accord, the multiple efforts at dismantling the Affordable Care Act, the ham-fisted attempts at diplomacy and as “comforter-in-chief” – all of this pales in comparison to the very real threat he has become.
De-certifying the Iran nuclear deal takes the cards out of the hands of all of the countries supporting it, and into the hands of the Iranian government in one swipe. Sanctions will take its place, which will produce the opposite effect intended. Iran will find a way to work around those sanctions and step up its uranium production.
Ladies and gentlemen, we now have a trifecta of nukes. 
Playing one-upmanship games with North Korea, while his top diplomat is trying to calm the waters, is proof positive that the US president has no understanding of the world. He is crippling any attempt to prevent a conflict, merely because he wants to be right.
This childish chest-beating between Trump and Kim is likely to escalate now that the Iran deal is slotted for dismantling – because there will be a third player in this dangerous triad. John Kelly, brought in to try to rein in Trump’s disastrous behavior, is not likely to have much, if any, effect on how Trump plays his games. Believing that anyone can control such an uncontrollable force might as well try to stop a hurricane. 
Similar content from Registered Independent Voter: The Trump Train Wreck

Catalonia: The Rebel State [Update | Part II]

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Catalonia: The Rebel State Updated…  

Catalan President accuses the King of Spain for being the government’s puppet.
President Carles Puigdemont has called for dialogue with Madrid, but after little to no response, he has publicly stated his plans for a declaration of independence.
Catalonia’s President Carles Puigdemont has blamed the King of Spain for acting as a mouthpiece for the Spanish government as the nation delves deeper into conflict. Puigdemont has vowed to move forward with plans to declare independence over the next week.
Speaking just three days after his government’s highly controversial independence referendum, which was met with extreme police violence, Puigdemont said that his people were united more than they have ever been before; but added he was disappointed by the King’s lack of diplomacy and insight into the situation. 
“The king endorses the discourse and policies of the government of [prime minister Mariano] Rajoy, which has been catastrophic for Catalonia and deliberately ignores the millions of Catalans who do not think like them,” he said.
Sending a message directly to the king, Puigdemont said: “Not like this. Your decision yesterday disappointed many people in Catalonia.”
“I have to represent all of Catalonia’s citizens,” Puigdemont said. “On Sunday we had a referendum under the most difficult circumstances and set an example of who we are. Peace and accord is part of who we are. We have to apply the results of the referendum. We have to present the results of the referendum to parliament.”
Close to 1000 people were injured after the Spanish police attempted to prevent the vote by raiding and destroying polling stations, assaulting would-be voters and firing rubber bullets into the crowds.
Though the Spanish authorities’ tried their best to prevent the referendum, as well as the government of Spain and the country’s constitutional court declaring the referendum illegal, 2.26 million Catalans of the 5.3 million registered to vote took part in the elections. According to the Catalan government, 90% of the participants voted for the region to become an Independent state.
The Spanish government was quick to respond to this outcome. The deputy prime minister, Soraya Såenz de Santamaria, said that the Catalan president had squandered an opportunity to steer the region back toward coexistence, adding: “If Mr. Puigdemont wants to talk or negotiate or send mediators, he knows perfectly well what he needs to do: get back on the legal path that he should never have abandoned.”
The EU has called for the Spanish and Catalan governments to bridge the gap and begin talks to come to a peaceful resolution. However, the EU has stated that Madrid has the right to use “proportionate force” to uphold the law, which seemingly feels like that they do not recognize the struggle of the Catalan people or its need for more autonomy.
The EU has stated that violence does not resolve any problem, but in the same breath does not want to side with Catalan, providing support for the Spanish government.
This lack of support from the EU and the King of Spain, has given the people of Catalonia an uphill battle to gain its independence and identity. 
Money, Language, Respect Link: Catalonia: The Rebel State

Looting… Crime or Survival? The LCR Weighs In…

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In the past few weeks, the Caribbean has experienced devastating hurricanes, which has caused millions to lose electricity and access to necessities like food and gas. Do you think looting, particularly stealing food, in the aftermath of such extreme weather, should be considered a crime?

We asked several of our contributors from across the political spectrum this very question, and this is what they had to say…

“Islands in the Caribbean are facing a major humanitarian disaster in the wake of the recent spate of hurricanes. This has forced some residents to loot and steal food and other necessities in order to survive. When you have no food or water your government has forgotten about you, and you have no other options – it is no longer looting, it’s self preservation. It’s the job of the government to ensure that its citizens don’t have to resort to such measures. If the government is unable to do so on its own then the international community has a responsibility to assist them.” – Center Left College Student  

“Post-disaster looting is often polarizing: it’s an either-or scenario: loose morals versus survival instincts. I have personally witnessed firsthand three major hurricanes on the Texas Coast: Rita, Ike and Harvey. If coastal cities such as Houston are not adequately prepared for natural storms given their geographic location and flat lands, at or below sea-level, then they should be prepared for citizens’ survival instincts to kick in. Food banks and shelters should be stocked and ready, given the cities flood-prone nature. It’s important to distinguish between taking resources for survival and non-essential luxury goods. With normal life disrupted, and no way to pay for the goods, people may just take what they need to keep living. We can debate whether or not that is really stealing, but if it were me, I would take cheese and bread if I could not get to a shelter. A Rolex; however, is a different story.” – Right Southern Female 

“In the aftermath of a natural disaster, the looting of basic, immediate necessities (food, water, clothes, supplies, and shelter) can be condoned and possibly forgiven. It’s the looters’ pursuit of long term gains (high priced, non-essential luxury items) at the expense of citizens and businesses that should be treated as crimes, just as if the disaster had not occurred.” – Unaffiliated Humanist Musician 

“If you think of looting in a very narrow sense, I assume that one would call it a criminal act. Although the word “loot” has such a simple definition, in devastating situations such as in Puerto Rico currently, the act of looting to survive is not so cut and dry. People need to live. Plain and simple. And although a systematic distribution process would be the best way to ensure that everyone would receive what they need to survive, human instinct will not allow calm and rationalization in such an extreme crisis. Taking items such as food or medical supplies to assist your family should not be considered a crime under these circumstances; however, if it is shown that these scarce resources were stolen for any other reason, then criminal penalties should apply.” – Apolitical Elected Official

“The Caribbean is a collection of islands where the majority of residents are living well below the poverty line. Most of these people cannot afford a moral dilemma. I liken it to poaching the king’s deer in a medieval forest or even stealing a loaf of bread in eighteenth century Europe. Les Miserables, anyone?”  – Registered Independent Voter 

“When people are suddenly hit with a major weather disaster, resources become scarce. Those effected are compelled to rely on assistance from other sources, which is where the governmental should step in. However, the government isn’t perfect. With that being said, whenever the government fails to respond adequately there should be leniency on the people. If there isn’t any assistance following a major disaster in a reasonable time, looting for food in particular should not be a crime.” – Detroit Democrat Male 

What are your thoughts?

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