John McCain came into New Orleans, went into the 9th ward, fielded questions from reporters and then spoke at XavierUniversity, a predominately African American institution.Ironically, and sadly, at the University, there were very few blacks in attendance. The room was filled with many whites and some African American Republicans and politicos, yet John McCain spoke to this crowd with his heart on his sleeve.
McCain talked emotionally about the devastation of New Orleans, cited failed leadership in the aftermath of Katrina (my interpretation was that he felt everybody was to be blamed) and would not answer the question posed to him whether Bobby Jindal might be his running mate.He said he wanted to respect the privacy of the Governor and would work with the Governor once he (McCain) is President.
So, with very few African Americans present in the large grand ballroom of Xavier, why did John McCain come to New Orleans, now.
First, he is his own man.He handles himself.
Second, he is on tour to reach out to locations that might not vote for him.Earlier this week he was in SelmaAlabama.Today, New Orleans.
Third, John McCain says he wants to be the President of all of the United States.By going to locations who might not vote for him, he is practicing the politics of inclusion.
Politically speaking, obviously, McCain would do better in the African American community if he were to face Hillary Clinton this fall than Barack Obama.Right now, that is not likely.
So, taking off my cynical political hat, I must state that John McCain beats to a different drummer (himself) is running a political campaign for President and knows he must be the John McCain of old to gain broad support of the voting public and not just the support of the conservative right.
And seeing so many Republicans in the room at Xavier who want to win at all costs, I believe they feel there is nothing wrong with that strategy of political might equats to "political right".
BuzzNotes: According to various reporters covering the issue, Bobby Jindal has not said that he would not accept the position of vice president, if asked. He has said he does not want to be vice-president.
At the McCain affair, a Republican Bayoubuzz reader came up to me and asked why I am picking on David Vitter. She said I was bashing him. She said she was going to remove her subscription and tell her friends to do the same. I must admit I feel very strong about David Vitter embarrasing Louisiana, have urged his resignation, was appalled that he would take the 5th Amendment especially while filing criminal legislation that urges that witnesses tell the truth. I replied that many Republicans I know have as much, if not more disdain for Vitter than I do and that he is hurting the party. I, even believe that he is hurting John Kennedy's campaign. The notion that David Vitter would be the senior senator from Louisiana is not an appealing sight. Finally, what this reader forgets is that for four days, Bayoubuzz ran a letter to the publisher uncensored by a Vitter supporter so that both sides could be heard. We will continue to publish pro-Vitter letters since we strive to be objective which is the nature of the Buzzboards which is a free speech device you do not find on many web sites.
Taking a page from John McCain, the columnists of Bayoubuzz will tell it as they see it. Readers have an opportunity to publish their thoughts on the Buzzboards or send us letters to the publisher. They obviously have a right to withdraw their subscription for any reason.
“I have found it always true, that men do seldom or never advance themselves from a small beginning, to any great height, but by fraud, or by force.” – Machiavelli………… Before Social Security can be fixed, and it CAN properly BE set on the right path, there must be solutions for the Medical Insurance problems we as a people, as a nation, as a whole are faced with....... [So a metaphor of; “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” comes into play]. I am writing about [REFORM] here… This is an across the board ISSUE, and it is an across the whole spectrum of ongoing needs problem, and it has NO perimeter where discussion, decision, action and implementations can, could or would be concerned unless our choices are defined and confined by the various Governmental concerns that can and seemingly do ‘bind’ us to the ships mast so that we can effectively and collectively be flogged into submission…………………….. Short of flat out telling Nurses that they can only make up to 10K a year and doctors that they can only make up to 35K a year, serious alternatives need to be discussed and implemented on a population enhancement cost/value basis to effect good general health policies and procedures for the entire citizenship of the United States. ………. If we do not have good health/health care in the first place, what on earth is social security good for? Because chances are most people will be dead before they can collect those 'supplemental' benefits that are primarily intended to ADD to the retirement 'nest egg' that so many people are supposed to, or be able to save for during the span of their individual life’s ‘work-cycle’. ………….. Now as far as Piyush and his “reforms”, well, let me say that although he is making a grand “WIZARD OF OZ” style 'public showing' for the moment, his 50% or 60% approval rating is really just smoke and mirrors. Unless he really has more plans to execute,, his real approval ratings are only about 20 + %. When it comes to reform, cornerstones must be examined and lain down yet again on a proper footing or foundation being as the first house is falling down in decay. Go to www.instituteforlegalreform.com. This website deals with lawsuit abuses, and ranks the states that 'basically don't care if folks stand a good chance of losing everything they own because someone feels like taking it from them in a court of jaded law'. Louisiana? Well, it is #49 on the list. (That means next to last, or the bottom of the barrel, or 2 miles to the gallon fuel efficiency rating, duhhhhhhhh). …………….Recognizing and identifying issues that need to be reformed should logically come before any attempt at categorically and sub sequentially attempting to reform is conducted. In other words, what are the objectives to be accomplished as the result of mission implementations???? And specifically where governmental oversight could, would, or should be concerned or construed, how do they/will they affect the citizenry at large in a positive fashion that embraces the basis of the perpetuation of the American Dream as commonly desired by masses at large????????????????? Lawsuits are yet another abstract of ‘law’ and of ‘law and order’. And law and order are among the issues that define a society as a whole. And the abilities of one group to wrest lucre, goods, or services from another is something that is in constant need of attention, and consideration lest disillusion should arise……….Piyush seems to want to stand on a platform of ‘Government and ethics reform’. …………… It is interesting to note that on Nov. 22, 1963 at 1:00 p.m Dallas time (Central time) President John F. Kennedy was pronounced dead. At 1:30 p.m New Orleans time (Central time) Nov. 22, 1963, the closing arguments were presented at the trial of The United States v. Carlos Marcello (You know, a New Orleans based Mafia crime boss that used to be in power). This trial had come about after 10 years of attempts to deport him from the country, which in its final years was spearheaded by Robert F. Kennedy who was the United States Attorney General of the time. 2 hours later, at 3:30 p.m, Nov. 22, 1963 Carlos Marcelo was found ‘not guilty’ and excused……… effectively allowing him to continue ‘governing’ over his ‘business’ enterprises. It is also interesting to note that by 1972 the Texas segment of the Marcello GAMBLING syndicate alone was generating over $700 million per year in revenues. It is also interesting to note that during the early 60’s, a certain John Halfen was the bookmaking ‘bagman’ for the Marcello syndicate located in Texas, and that it has been estimated that up to $50,000 dollars was funneled to a SENATOR Lyndon B. Johnson on an annual basis from the Marcello crime syndicate through Mr. Halfen……………… It is also interesting to note that once Lyndon B. Johnson became the President of the United States, the Vietnam [conflict] escalated dramatically. It is also interesting to note that offshore Vietnam had and still has tremendous oil and gas fields……….. It is also interesting to note that it was during Lyndon B. Johnsons term as president, major flood protection measures and projects in New Orleans were enacted upon, as was the construction of the Super Dome, etc., etc., etc…………………………………. Was LBJ mafia? No, but it seems apparent that he bought some of his tomato’s at the same store that was owned by a member of the Marcello crime syndicate (or that he owed them on a past due grocery bill account). It is also interesting to note that in the early 60’s the Marcello crime family’s net worth was estimated at perhaps around 1.2 billion dollars {gasoline only cost .25 cents a gallon at that time, but there is no correlation implied with that figure} but on the flip side of the coin there are contrasting examples of humanity, one being Howard Hughes. He had around the same conservative estimate to net worth and holdings at the time…… Howard Hughes had a firm hand in designing, building, and flying the largest aircraft in history…… He also had many different business interests, he owned TWA that was constantly embattled with Pan Am and its governmental affiliates, He had the patent to and manufactured the ‘Hughes’ roller bit which used to drill virtually every oil and gas well around the world and is still widely used today, his industries were involved in the manufacture of multiple types of aircraft including helicopters, he had vast real estate interests, mining interests, he was involved in the movie industry, his companies manufactured satellite exploration systems, and satellite communications systems, and among many other areas he was heavily involved in the commercial electronics manufacturing industry as well as medicine…… Sooooooo,,,,,, When considering ‘cornerstones’ or the foundations,,,,,, where Mafia activity can be or should be concerned, well first there is theft to get established. Sort of like anything else, to become more lucrative it evolves into a gang, sort of like a gang of pirates, and then there is extortion, and larceny, and then attention focus on the vices because a gang can make it happen, and in lieu of honest business it looks towards other forms of revenue generation such as, gambling, drugs, prostitution, generally by ‘bumping’ competition out, and focusing on feeding ‘its own’. And then after a great deal of power and the ability to enforce its whims and its existence has been established, and having to contend with being in the face of a legitimate group of people and citizens governed under a set of ‘aheeemmmmm-----laws?’ that have evolved into a Summa type thing [Summa is latin for ‘higher’] the mafia looks to ‘legitimatize’ its business concerns to cover its tracks and blend into that ‘Summa’ society that votes……….Or controls…….. Back to Marcello and his empire, one problem criminals have is what to do with the money made. I am sure that many of the syndicates’ children were able to get good educations. They went to the best colleges in Louisiana, and Texas and other states, because they could afford to….. Some became things like businessmen, or took over , or at the very least leveraged a great deal of authority or control on preexisting businesses their own selves. Business has a broad range and spectrum of classifications. There are banks, and there construction, trucking, warehousing, shipping, and vegetable wholesale, car dealerships, and gambling casinos and on and on and on…… and then again, there are things like control, and the ability to steer business to their counter parts……… And of course some got government jobs and some became politicians. And some want to keep that squeaky clean appearance, but they still owe the powers that put them into the jobs the currently fill…… And what eventually happens, well, the masses become enslaved to provide for the few. Think about it, just because Carlos died, do you think 1.2 billion in 1963 dollars went to the grave with him? THAT IS A LOT OF EFFECT, EFFECTS, AND NET WORTH!!!! There is a lot of residual recidivism left over to keep the prosperity flowing for the ‘select’. Because after all, La Cosa Nostra loosely translates out to “Our Thing” in Sicilian…… When Government Hierarchy or bureaucracy resorts to Mafioso style tactics as the root or basis as its Modus Operendai, then it in itself becomes no better than the Mafia it prosecutes . And the taxpayer, the worker, the laborer suffers as a result as do their children which become target to crime, prostitution, gambling, drugs, and start to loosely resemble the shattered families left behind in the wake of Mafia inspired power struggles. A large part to help this type of tactic to become an effective weapon of assault is to dumb down the masses……… In other words, debase the education and knowledge of children…… Make the adults miserable,,,, overwork them, make their money worthless, make them powerless, make them afraid, keep them fearful, broke, unproductive, pliable, It used to be said that “Children are our future”. I saw an ad on a political campaign bill board the other day that said “Our Grandchildren are our future”…….. So I would wonder, what kind of re indoctrination is going on????????????????????????????????/ After the collective masses decide to act on their suspicions, perhaps then real plans for change can be made……. And that will come about as a result of the sweat and calluses and aching muscles of the working man aided by prudent thinking. Do you want to know why those 100,000 jobs that need to be filled and are being bragged about by this administration aren’t being filled? It is because the children that are required to fill them aren’t as stupid and unsophisticated as the ‘social engineers’ on the government payroll think they are. They look around and say to their selves “Hey, I am not interested in being fooled into this farce”. As for myself, I find it strangely coincidental that new technologies, when they offer savings, protection, jobs and an additional aspect of a certain margin of additional security and prosperity to the masses is ‘quashed’ by governmental hierarchies in Louisiana, seem to be at the basis for cause and effect, Mafioso in nature…. Written by .............So sez who?
on 4/28/2008
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Although I agree with po boy on the fact that student are bombarded with liberal ideas believe it or not most of it comes from their fellow class mate that and classemates like psychology that teaches their is no right answer. But on the other hand privatizing ss is very worrysome to me the agency handling this would have to be beyond reproach that is a lot of money to handle that affects alot of lives and im sorry but these corporate big wigs have proven that they have no Qualms about starvin granny to death so they can ride a leer jet im not a liberal but prove to me in black and white that i will get my money when the time comes and i dont care what u do to achieve this but i have seen no guarantees if the gov insures these investments than go for it but i would have the IRS geeks watch over the money they fry their own momma if something was out of whack
Clone Huey P Vote for Smitty. Written by Jeffrey j Schubart my real name
on 4/25/2008
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Richard P. - Your premise is that Xavier students and faculty are so well informed of McCain's problems that they didn't need to go out and see him. I doubt that, but if I give you the benefit of the doubt on it, then I'd further surmise that Xavier students are exponentially better informed about Barack Obama's positions. But I guarantee that if Obama showed up, the crowd would be overwhelming. Attendance at McCain's event had nothing to do with knowledge or even a quest for knowledge. It's all about partisanship and selfishness. Like I said before, McCain doesn't need their vote, knows he won't get their vote, but he was polite and respectful enough to visit. The close minded bigoted students and academic elitists don't respect him enough to even show up. Written by ralphie
on 4/25/2008
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Being anti-intellectual is cool. Huhuhuhuh. Yeah, cool. Heh henh henh. Written by Beavis
on 4/25/2008
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Privatizing Social Security is the only answer to a government system gone bad. Soon more people will be receiving benefits from the system than are people paying into it. It WILL go broke at that rate. I would rather have private companies, subjected to laws, running this system, than politicans in both parties who think it is their play toy to provide everything to everybody and to perpetuate themselves in office for decades. Written by poboy1
on 4/25/2008
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Privatizing Social Security is not needed whatsoever and the only parties that that would help would be a few investment bankers, brokerage houses and other well-heeled GOP backers. The system is NOT in fact shortly about to fail and with only a few modest changes could be fixed so as to be solvent for a long, long time. Bush's idea failed because fortunately in this case everyone (except McCain) could recognize a bad idea right when they saw it. Of course, most of us are not born with silver spoons in our mouths. Both Bush the father and Bush the son were born with a silver foot in their mouths but while the father was and still is an honorable guy in many ways the son has been completely off the charts incompetent. He was never a successful businessman before becoming a professional politico and his administration has been just about the least competent ever. Perhaps the Xavier students are already well informed enough to know about McCain's support of most of Bush's policies and that after McCain makes his quick appearance on the gulf coast he will resume pandering to the far right just like Bush has made his appearances on the gulf coast mostly just for the sake of appearances. Written by Richard P.
on 4/25/2008
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Well said Sharon, you obviously have not been subjected to the BS spewed by some of the two-bit,dime a dozen "professors" on these pages. Written by poboy1
on 4/25/2008
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Richard P. Most Republicans believe that people can "with education, hard work, and good behavior" can get out of poverty because that is what we did. Very few of us were born with "silver spoons" in our mouths. Most of us come from working class or really poor families, went to public schools, and didn't have much as children. We worked hard for what we have and resent being told we should be ashamed because we "did well". This is not a matter of color. It is a matter of experience. The Redistribution of Wealth or socialism has never worked anywhere it has been tried. Social Security must be reformed or it will not be available for anyone. It was set up with more workers than recipients and when a life expectency of less than 65. We are fast approaching one for one and people are living longer. Investment and Capitalism provides jobs; not government. I agree with many on this forum who think that it is a shame that the black community (according to Stephen's report) did not come out to listen to and ask questions of John McCain. McCain is realistic enough to know that he will not get much of the African American vote yet he was willing to go there and communicate, ask and explain his view. Written by Sharon
on 4/25/2008
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All of the faculty and students at Xavier already know how they're going to vote, and it won't be for a republican. Their minds are not open enough to even listen to a man who is one of three people who could be their next president. If they had gone to the McCain event, it would have just been to protest or heckle. I'm sure McCain is really counting on lots of votes from blacks and liberal college professors. And I'm sure the black students are outraged at Hillary's smear campaign on Obama, but if/when she wins the nomination, they'll ignore all that and vote for her in lockstep. Written by ralphie
on 4/25/2008
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Republicans and those who vote for them seem always to like to talk about everyone pulling their own weight, pulling themselves up by their own bootstraps and so on but in practice have typically followed policies that limit opportunities for members of the middle and lower classes and instead help out the very rich and corporations. Job and income growth for middle and lower class members has almost always been stronger under Democratic administrations than GOP administrations -- and McCain is in no way out of step with the standard GOP gospel as regards economic issues and would continue most of Bush's policies. While I'm pretty sure that most people already know about McCain's support for Bush's war, an expensive adventure which has certainly left an impact on our economy now not unlike the war in which McCain fought left an impact on the economy back then helping to spur inflation, how many people, for example, are aware of his support for Bush's failed and unneeded Social Security privatization concept? Written by Richard P.
on 4/25/2008
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Yes, I DO know how to spell Republican! Written by poboy1
on 4/25/2008
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Why is this labeled a "mystery tour"? McCain is doing what every politician running for office has and will do: try to reach as large an audience as possible.And why the comment about how many blacks were in attendance? Does this really suprise anyone? Blacks will vote 90% for the Democratic candidate in November and everyone knows it. Fact is, most are simply not interested in what a Republician has to say. Same goes for the students who for years have been bombarded by anti- American, anti- Republician propaganda by liberal professors more interested in their own agenda than an honest debate. This has been a fair forum for all, but any future comments by persons who have openly called for anarchy within the ranks of the United States Military should be ignored. Written by poboy1
on 4/25/2008
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The article made me believe that there were only a few black people in the audience and they were "black republicans". Nothing was stated that any students were in the audience, black or white or yellow or green. Written by Sid
on 4/25/2008
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An educator who thinks that a statement that "education, hard work, and good behavior" are key to getting out of povery is "racist"? What is your solution? More entitlements? More government dependence? Less personal responsibility? I live in Oklahoma. I moved from Louisiana in the 70's. I still care about Louisiana and yes, Anthony since my tax dollars are going toward Louisiana's recovery, it is my business, Sharon's business, and every other US taxpayer's business. We all have opinions. McCain is really not "conservative" enough for me yet he will have my vote mostly because he doesn't think that the government can solve all the problems but they can get out of the way of people getting ahead and he is the only candidate that I want my 2 sons and daughter to have to call Commander-in-Chief. Written by
on 4/25/2008
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McCain takes a few "maverick" stands but for the most part panders, waffles, flip-flops, and does special favors for his "special friends" just like any other politician. Remember that he nearly switched parties a few years ago but is running as a conservative GOPer now. Written by Richard P.
on 4/24/2008
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During the Viet Nam war, as a prisoner of war, John McCain was tortured by the enemy.
In October of 2005 John McCain was part of the Senate who voted against allowing torture to be done by the American government.
In February of 2008, he voted AGAINST a Senate bill to outlaw torture by the CIA. Written by Stella Calhoun
on 4/24/2008
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To sharon you must get very lonely in mississippi sticking your nose in louisiana business.Obviously there are no good threads such as this one in mississippi, cause out of staters opinion don't matter to the warriors of new orleans who've came home.( 7th ward for life ) Written by anthony
on 4/24/2008
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Mr. Sullivan I take issue with you calling me a racist because I pointed out that Senator McCain and most Republicans have a different view of how to end poverty in this country. Rev. Wright??? Really, Sir that is low even for you. I don't know if there were Xavier students in attendence or not. If not, they should have been because they set a good example by continuing their education. Xavier is a fine school. Students there should be leaders in the community. Getting more to stay in school. It is discouraging when an opportunity to question face to face a candidate for POTUS, more don't take the opportunity. Written by Sharon
on 4/24/2008
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The McCain event was completely open, not by invitation only. There were many students in the Center, doing what students always do, and apparently they were uninterested in Senator McCain. I am stunned at Sharon's condescending racism in her remarks that Xavier students "don't want to hear the real way out of poverty is with education, hard work, and good behavior and not the entitlement promises never kept for 40 years." When Senator Obama's pastor spoke in such racist terms, he was roundly condemned. Sharon merits the same treatment. The students at Xavier equal or surpass in competence, intelligence, and devotion the students I've taught at Tulane and elsewhere over thirty years in the classroom. My hypothesis is that students are not interested in a man who promises us perpetual war. I can't forget the image of him singing "Bomb, bomb Iran" to the tune of "Barbara Ann" and laughing. For that reason alone, I will not consider Senator McCain. Also, I have many, many problems with the Republican support for war, and I assume it's that war is so profitable. Here in New Orleans, we manufacture tanks and consider that a boon to the economy. So I am uncomfortable with the Republicans now, even though I was a Republican years ago. For the same reason, I do everything I can to oppose Senator Clinton, who is as much a war-monger as McCain. People prefer to live in a dreamworld and forget that it's American bombs that are killing innocent women and children and creating terrorism in the world. The blood on our hands is easily put into shadow by people too willing to listen to the corporate media and too unwilling to see what our government is doing. In closing, I want to say how much I admire your site. You are open and frank, a rare virtue in journalism. Written by Robert Desmarais Sullivan
on 4/24/2008
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Where were the Xavier students? It's not often that a Presidential candidate comes to town and you have a chance to ask a question that might end up on CNN. If they were invited, they missed out. And how do you know that the few blacks in the room were Republicans? Are you racial profiling now? Also, Mr. Vitter probably won't be the senior senator after the next election. Jay Dardenne and Mitch Landrieu, if they run, will be tough competition considering the baggage Mr. Vitter has. As far as McCain, he does seem to march to his own drumline, which is a good thing. Written by Sid
on 4/24/2008
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You are right, Stephen. John McCain is his own man. I do not know of another Senator who does not ask for any earmarks. He says what he believes even when it is not popular with many of us. As far as not having many African Americans there, was this a by invitation only? a paid event? Too many Republicans? Did you expect Democrats? As he said he was going into areas that Republicans don't generally go because they figure it is a waste of their time. Sure looks that way. It is a shame too because this was an opportunity to look at John McCain the man. Perhaps they don't want to hear the real way out of poverty is with education, hard work, and good behavior and not the entitlement promises never kept for 40 years. Don't know. Just asking. As far as the Vitter supporter, I agree with her. I would have no more trouble accepting Vitter as the Senior Senator from Louisiana than Mary Landrieu in that role now. How embarrassing was she after Katrina with her threats and temper tantrums? She was the face of Louisiana politics that people across the nation saw and it was not pretty. Even the way she won election as Senator the first time reeks of "old boy" Louisiana politic. She wasn't waiting for a challenge. She just got sworn in. Guess it is just a matter of what one might call embarrassing. Written by Sharon
on 4/24/2008
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