When do we demand that people who are running for office serve the mandate of the people? When do we tell them we are not electing you to vote your conscience,or to do what you think is the right thing to do?When do we tell them that if you don't serve the agenda of the people you will be a one time wonder? I say the time is now.To long have we allowed poli-trick-ans to play on the emotion of poor people,make promises to us that they know they have no intention of keeping, give us a chicken at Christmas, but no jobs, give us a great speeches,but everything else that comes out of there mouths is a lie.
Poli-trick-ans want us to be loyal to party politics,but why?The low to moderate income person who has to work two and three jobs to support there families does not care. He or she only care about what is going to feed and clothed there love ones.Its time now to elect people who want to make life good for all people,and not just there cronies.
I spoke today with Terry Roland a Republican whose running for State Senator district 29.He actually had a platform.he's concern that powerbrokers are using eminent domain to take homes from the poor in North Memphis feels that that is wrong.He cares about health care,educating all children,he says that he wants to be a statesman not a poli-trick-an.I have listened to the State reps.that are running,but they are part of the present problems.what have they done to make your life better.
Lets give up this party loyalty,and vote for the person that will make a difference not send the same people who had top know that thousands were about to lose there health care,and made no noise. Lets not send promote persons who had to know that there colleagues were dirty to the Senate.
As a person who has voted in the past as a democract,I say the hell with party politics lets do what's right.Vote for the person who has a platform that benefits all of the people.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
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12 comments:
Thaddeus,
We have a terrible gang problem in our community. Gangsters have been killing people all over the city. However, there is one gang that operates with impunity. Probably the most dangerous gang in our community is the Political Gang. These “gangsters” are not in office to do a good job, or because they have a passion for their office, they are there to build their fiefdoms.
Terry Roland is not a gangster. With Terry what you see is what you get. His passion is for helping others. If you don’t really want to know the answer, don’t ask him the question. I believe Terry will win this election because he will have support from blacks and whites who won’t be influenced by the gang leaders. Terry won’t become a gang member either; he will be a member of the anti-gang unit.
I applaud your position of doing the right thing, irrespective of party, race, or status. I’m reminded of the quote from Edmund Burke, "All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." I believe we need like minded men and women in our community and I thank you for having the courage of your convictions.
John Harvey
John, with respect, isn't Terry the #4 guy with the Shelby County Republican Party? You don't get to that kind of position by being an elbows-and-shoulders, speak your mind guy, but by learning how to work well with very wealthy and powerful people. That usually means knowing how to serve their agenda. He may be a nice, decent guy, but he also sounds like another "gang member" to me.
Mike,
At first blush, you might think he was a fellow gangster. However, your comment shows you don't know Terry. He speaks his mind. Terry has built his power base by helping people, not cutting deals. Come to his rally tomorrow at 869 Fite Rd to check him out. He's the real deal.
John
John
I'm convinced (regarding Terry Roland). Something different has to be tried. I'm relatively new to Memphis and I have a question, what is with the violent crime/murder rate? I'm astounded watching the news and I've lived in big cities before. I guess it doesn't help when elected leaders have multiple women/children out of wedlock. It doesn't matter how much good one has done legislatively, if one's personal life sends mixed messages, it is all for naught. Maybe what's lacking is appropriate role models for young black men in the community.
I believe we have such a crime problem because the criminals in this area have been conditioned to believe they can get away with committing atrocities. That's one reason I'm running for Sheriff next year. We have to change the way things are done here in our metro area. Status quo is what got us to where we are today. Visit my website for more information at www.johnharveysheriff.com
John Harvey
After having the chance to meet Terry Roland on yesterday and hearing his platform,I am convinced that he has what it takes to make a change in politics in Shelby County.He stands for term limits,that would help rid us of the career poli-trick-an.I will be doing everything I can do to help him win.
Thaddeus: I understand why you feel the way you do, but I respectfully disagree with your opinion that Terry Roland will really change things. Roland may be genuine in his ideas, but as Mike pointed out, look at where he is with the Shelby County GOP. I am Black and I have voted for both Democrats and Republicans, but I think both parties have some problems they need to deal with. Unfortunately, the citizens of Shelby County will be left holding the bag.
Unfortunately, I don't see any outstanding candidates in this special election. I do think the seat should stay Democratic, however -- not because I'm pro-Democrat, but because I think that a Democratic Senate will help Governor Bredesen. Sometimes you have to think strategically. The Democrats have some issue problems for certain, but the GOP has been hijacked by the ultra-conservative wing. They want to gain this seat in hopes of being able to oust Lt. Gov. John Wilder from leading the Senate in 2006 (provided he is still alive) and make Bredesen as miserable as possible (provided he wins a second term) by stalling his proposals. You can argue that Bredesen has his problems, but I think he's doing the best that he can with the cards that have been dealt to him. I didn't hear anyone complaining (about ethics or anything else) during the 16 years that Ned McWherter, a Democrat, and Don Sundquist, a Republican, ran Tennessee solely on the "good ol' boy network." Likewise, neither Bill Frist, Lamar Alexander, or George W. Bush are ultra-conservative -- in truth, they are moderate Republicans, but in order to get elected and gain more power, they talk the conservative talk. Everyone knows that Laura Bush was raised as a Democrat and she is both pro-choice and against a gay marriage ban. Frist voted for Bill Clinton in 1992, and Alexander suggested the need for a state income tax during his administration. Yet they're SO conservative and God-fearing. The infamous 1994 "Contract With America" proposed term limits for Congress. It's 2005 now, the GOP has been in control of the House the entire time and there are still no term limits. What happened? Bush had everyone scared that gays would be lining up at City Hall to get married should Kerry (who I didn't like, either) win. Where is that constitutional ban now? Preachers were telling folks they were going to go to hell should they vote for Kerry. Some even got put out of their churches. Pathetic. Oh, and let's not forget the abortion debate -- while I am opposed to abortion, what good will overturning Roe v. Wade do? They could ban abortion tomorrow and doctors will still perform the procedure and people will still pay to have it done. You can do anything you want in America if you have enough money. They banned liquor -- we see how far we got with that. Drugs are illegal, yet most people in inner-city neighborhoods know where the drug houses are. The MPD know where the drug houses are. Mayor Herenton knows where the drug houses are (I know what you're thinking, Thaddeus, but I'm not going to go there today), so why aren't they being shut down? Why is there a multi-million dollar church on every corner in the Black neighborhood, but the homes that surround the church look like they've been bombed by weapons of mass destruction??? So if you support Terry Roland, Thaddeus, I wish you well, but don't be surprised when he gets swallowed up by the GOP establishment should he be elected. On another note, why are Black people the only race that needs role models and "leaders?" Why are Black people the only group of people that refuses to think for themselves? We wouldn't need role models if we would WAKE UP and do the right thing. We wouldn't get pimped by preachers and politicians if we respected ourselves a little more. Quit sleeping with everyone -- you don't have to have a baby with every man (or woman) you meet. Raise your own children instead of dumping them on everyone else, including the government. Quit going to a church just because the building and/or the preacher is popular. Quit voting for a person only because he's Black. Quit worrying about getting an Escalade or a Navigator and clean up your nasty house and cut your grass. Everyone keeps talking about how good downtown looks, but if you held up a picture of North Memphis and South Memphis beside a picture of Baghdad, you couldn't tell the difference. Until Black people are willing to think for themselves and unwilling to put up with a bunch of crap, the blind will continue to lead the blind...
I can't say I disagree with much you said.I am suporrting Terry Roland not because he's a Republican but because he has a platform.Terry Roland is for term limits,he believes that the government should not be able to come to North Memphis and take someones home to give to power brokers.Its time that the black community stop thinking that the democractic party is so in love with them,when we can see every four years that they take the black vote for granted.You presently have nine person running as democracts for the Senate seat. Why? because of egos and self serving agendas.who would you like to see win this election? name one of the democracts thats running that you would trust to hold your wallet.Yes its time for blacks to start thinking for themselves,which means that just because the face is black does not mean that,that is the best person for the job.Some of the reason that the black community has some of the problems we have is because we have believed the lies that our black poli-trick-ans have told us. Is Terry Roland the answer to all our problems? no. but at least he has not been there 13 years as part of the problem
True. I agree with what you're saying. I find it interesting that Barbara Cooper can tell you everything that Larry Miller is doing, but can she name one significant piece of legislation that she has passed as state representative?
I hear everyone calling the talk shows complaining about the conditions of Senate District 29, but not all of those problems were caused by a Ford (John or either Harold). Some of the local leaders should be held accountable as well.
It will be interesting to see what transpires from the election. I'll be watching.
Thaddeus - you are a breath of fresh air. Are you related to Alan Keys?< G >
Again, I find it hard to believe that, when push comes to shove, when Roland must take the "right" stand and his party says "wrong" that he'll stand up against his party too. Not to disrespect him as a man, but he's an important, long-time member of the SCRP. That counts for something, and I don't particularly like what it counts for.
Remember that the Ford's seat hadn't even cooled before the SCRP had sent out a press release pressing for Roland's nomination to that office. His own party is hot to have him in that seat. Do you see my concerns yet?
I wish Roland well in his (long, uphill) fight, but I'm not enthused by him.
But Mike what do you get excited about? I'm aware of Terry Roland's leadership role in the republican party.I'm also aware that not allof the leadership is sxcited about his campaign,since he has decided not to follow there path for him.But he has decided to run the path that will include all the people.I personally don't care about the democractic or the republican party,I care about those who are concerned about all the peo[ple.Mike I invite you to get involved in making a change and not just write about it.
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