Portal Forums Issues & Politics - Hall of Fame Sure Blame it All on the Republicans, While Black America's Own Elected Leaders Fail to Serve!
Forums Issues & Politics - Hall of Fame Sure Blame it All on the Republicans, While Black America's Own Elected Leaders Fail to Serve!|
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B5 |
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A1 |
You're right LOFTON (long time no see!)...
But there is plenty of blame to go around. Or rather, NO ONE IS BLAMELESS! Thank you, Have a nice day!  |
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Village Idiot |
I think the point here was that we too are to blame for not holding ourselves and those we elect accountable.
My own opinion is that we are beginning to do so, and its beginning to be expressed with our shifting political alliances. |
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A1 |
quote: Uh, Lofton, I can't even see what your link points to. If you really wish people here to be able to view your comments, you'll have to post your comments here, where we are allowed to view them. Nobody in this part of Iowa who uses MSN as an Internet Provider can see what you are linking to. I suspect that the same holds for the entire ISU computer network, also, but I'm not sure about that.
"La vida te da sorpresas... Plowshares Actions |
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B5 |
Good Morning Mr. sergeant,
"I think the point here was that we too are to blame for not holding ourselves and those we elect accountable. My own opinion is that we are beginning to do so, and its beginning to be expressed with our shifting political alliances." by Mr. sergeant Indeed, you've taken the words out of my mouth, because this is definitely the theme of the message expressed. This just one of many examples to which our own elected officials prefer to Play Games, Steal, Misrepresent, etc., than Represent Our Community! "Mayor Pleads Guilty in Carson Corruption Case Daryl Sweeney admits conspiring to extort money from waste haulers. He resigns post. By Ted Rohrlich and David Rosenzweig Times Staff Writers July 30, 2003 Carson Mayor Daryl W. Sweeney pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to extort hundreds of thousands of dollars from waste haulers competing for a $60-million city contract and pledged to cooperate with federal prosecutors probing other political corruption schemes in Southern California. Sweeney, 45, faces about 10 years in prison, which Asst. U.S. Atty. John Hueston said would set a record for a California public corruption case. As part of his plea agreement, Sweeney agreed to resign immediately as mayor, a part-time post. He previously resigned as full-time chief of staff to Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry. Hueston said that Sweeney is already cooperating with prosecutors and that "we hope he will help us develop new and different cases of political corruption" beyond Carson. Hueston declined to be more specific. Sweeney, who remains free on bond pending sentencing in October, declined to answer reporters' questions after his court appearance but issued a written statement, saying: "I want to apologize to the good citizens of Carson who elected me and who placed their trust in me. I have failed you." Sweeney became the ninth defendant, the second mayor and the fourth member of the City Council to plead guilty in the Carson corruption case. Pete Fajardo, who preceded Sweeney as mayor, previously admitted that he had extorted $50,000 from the owner of a low-income senior citizen housing project in return for approval of a city grant that would have lowered the owner's mortgage. City Councilman Raunda Frank previously pleaded guilty to extortion in the waste-hauling scheme and Councilman Manuel Ontal to taking a bribe for supporting the extension of a bus-service contract. Both have resigned. Federal prosecutors said they had been looking into tips about possible Carson corruption in 2000 when Ontal walked into their offices unbidden, confessed wrongdoing and agreed to cooperate in nabbing others. Ontal subsequently wore a secret recording device for meetings with Sweeney and others who were set to award the long-term, exclusive waste-hauling contract for the city of 90,000. The largest garbage hauler in the country, Waste Management, had held the contract and was the low bidder for renewal. But Sweeney admitted that he and his cohorts decided to make the company pay for their votes, according to his plea agreement filed in court. Sweeney decided to use a middleman through whom the payoffs would be funneled, the plea agreement said. First, he chose former Inglewood City Councilman Garland Hardeman, who offered his services to Waste Management as a "political consultant," the plea agreement said. But Sweeney soon grew impatient with Hardeman, who was unable to consummate a deal. Hardeman has since pleaded guilty to bribery. Sweeney jettisoned him for his personal lawyer, Robert Dennis Pryce Jr., who then wrote Waste Management offering his services as a lobbyist for $600,000. Sweeney explained to Ontal on tape why he switched middlemen, saying he needed "somebody in place that I can trust and that is used to dealing with big, big, big dollars." But Waste Management ultimately refused to pay Pryce. Sweeney then turned to one of Waste Management's biggest competitors, Browning Ferris Industries, which had been the high bidder for the Carson contract. BFI officials agreed to pay $585,000, disguised as a fee to Pryce, in exchange for votes from Sweeney, Ontal and Frank, the plea agreement said. They constituted a majority of the five-member City Council on which Sweeney had served since 1997. He became mayor in 2001. Sweeney told the government that the money would be paid in $15,000 installments. Each council member would ultimately receive $100,000. Pryce would keep the rest "” for himself and for taxes. BFI was awarded the 10-year contract early last year. It has since been rescinded. Two BFI executives, who were charged with making the initial payoffs, have pleaded guilty to bribery and are awaiting sentencing. Pryce, the lone remaining defendant in the case, is scheduled to go on trial Sept. 2. Sweeney is expected to be a key witness against him. Pryce is also charged with soliciting kickbacks on real estate sales while serving as a trustee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. All told, Sweeney pleaded guilty to 15 criminal counts, including conspiracy to commit extortion under color of authority, bribery, money laundering and mail fraud. A number of Carson community activists attended the hour-long change of plea hearing before U.S. Dist. Judge Percy Anderson. Planning Commission member Rita Boggs, a Sweeney opponent, said afterward: "I think it's a big step for restoring integrity to Carson's city government." Community activist Robert Lesley, a retired Los Angeles port police officer, wondered whether Sweeney had engaged in other corrupt acts that had yet to come to light. Cliff Cannon, a longtime Planning Commission member who was reappointed by Sweeney, said: "It's a sad day for Carson. It's a terrible loss. But I also think we have very resilient citizens of Carson who will be rebound. Copyright 2003 Los Angeles Times" Can't blame this activity on the Republicans, play the "Race Card", etc., when certain individuals entrusted to represent our community are as criminal as criminal can get. Surely, if courage can be mustered to commit wrong acts, the courage, conviction, ethics, competency, etc., can be used to serve rather than misrepresent, because as reality would have it elected officials are sworn under oath to be servants of the people, specifically in the communities who elected them. Can't hold an elected official accountable whose jurisdiction is in Northern California, for activity that occurred in Southern California. Heck, should anyone petition an elected official outside of the boundaries of the jurisdiction to where the event occurred for redress for criminal or civil wrongdoing in a community such a "South Central Los Angeles", the Caucasian elected official or otherwise selected outside of the jurisdiction of the actual occurence will state in writing, with a valid signature, and appropriate government seal affixed to the correspondence, "I Sympathize with the situation, but unfortunately I'm not the most direct elected representative for your community. I would suggest that you direct your petition for redress to Congressman Diane Watson, Los Angeles Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke, Los Angeles City Councilperson Bernard Parks, Los Angeles City Councilperson Martin Ludlow, etc.," depending on the jurisdiction concerned. As reality would have, it is a waste to petition an elected official whose jurisdictional boundaries are in the "heart of the San Fernando Valley", for activity that took place in the heart the City of Los Angeles, as applied to Downtown Los Angeles, Central Los Angeles, Liemert Park, Jefferson Park, Watts, Inglewood, Carson, South Central Los Angeles, Korea Town, etc. Sincerely, Michael Lofton |
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C4 |
Looks like Lofton fell off the telephone pole one too many times
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B5 |
Well, ItAintEasy,
"Looks like Lofton fell off the telephone pole one too many times." Make a mockery of me, or the information all you like. The Black community is the most economically deprived, misrepresented and/or underserved community within United States of America, to which much of the blame rests with the failure of our own elected officials, lawyers, professional individuals of influence, and/or community residents, to truly work in the best interest of the truly law abiding within our community. Without competent political representation, through very serious atrocities of government, any law abiding U.S. citizen can lose without just cause property rights of many forms, or even be executed with impunity, which pretty much sums up our community considering the number of incidents, the reality that very little if anything is done about these very serious set of circumstances, all while our own elected officials play games, misrepresent, join the ranks of the perpetrators, etc. Sincerely, Michael Lofton |
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A2 |
Mr. Lofton
While I agreed that some black leaders have failed in their elected duties as civic leaders, are we to hold them to a higher bar of responsibility then we do any other elected leader. While I find the idea of a elected black official smiling in my face and then stabbing me in my back particularly nauseating, officials of all ethnic backgrounds do it all the time. Is your position one that we should hold black officials to a higher level of responsibility since most if not all of them were elected with majority black vote or the fact that there is something especially slimy about someone who would sell out his own for a handful of gold. |
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B5 |
Well Mr. jazzdog,
"While I agreed that some black leaders have failed in their elected duties as civic leaders, are we to hold them to a higher bar of responsibility then we do any other elected leader. While I find the idea of a elected black official smiling in my face and then stabbing me in my back particularly nauseating, officials of all ethnic backgrounds do it all the time. Is your position one that we should hold black officials to a higher level of responsibility since most if not all of them were elected with majority black vote or the fact that there is something especially slimy about someone who would sell out his own for a handful of gold." by Mr. jazzdog In answer to your question the answer is no. The issue is not about being held to any higher standard, although that would be a plus, but rather the issue of jurisdictional boundary, the reality of the specific individual or individuals who took the oath of office, and who are mandated by law to serve specific jurisdictions. Each elected official must be held accountable by the residents of the jurisdictions served. All elected officials should be held accountable. However, within communities predominated by Black people, or communities controlled by the Democrats within any minority community, the elected officials elected into political office are minorities, to which as stated before, jurisdictional boundaries prevent Caucasians and others who presently hold elected office from serving areas to which they are not bound by law, or mandated by the duty of what it means to be an elected office holder to serve. Since 2nd District Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Yvonne B. Burke is the elected officer holder sworn under oath of office to represent the jurisdiction where South Central Los Angeles, Compton, Leimert Park, Inglewood, Watts, etc., voters live, the voters of this jurisdiction have little choice other than to petition those who are in fact, the elected representatives of the jurisdictions concerned. Sincerely, Michael Lofton |
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C5 |
Lofton,
Lets try to understand you... Should you run for office, what exactly would you do? I agree with what you are saying in some respects but what you fail to recognize is that anytime a black political leader attempts to truly help his race, he is seen as militant or racist. He is soon faced with a politically motivated charge of some sort. A charge that their white counterparts are provided with a slap on the hand and its over. Perhaps we should look at the entire leadership structure? Where these organizations have failed throughout the years. Have any organization that you know of influenced you positively in the last ten years? What about twenty? Has any black political leader positively influenced anyone life in the last twenty years. Oh, has any white political leader or organization? My view point is a politician is like any other politician and an organization is only out for their leaders and fame. |
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A2 |
Yes, there is plenty to blame conservative/Republican/Right-wing for. Just look at the budget deficit $455 billion dollars of debt, look at how they boycotted the World conference on Racism which was a cause of the Sept 11 attacks, look at all of the crazy things Bush says openly making comments on impending Supreme court cases. So yes we can blame them for plenty. We can also blame the former administration for things like NAFTA, which were actually passed by a Republican House. My point here is stop being such a pansy for Republicans Lofton. Stop falling for partisan politics. You can still hold your moral beliefs without aligning with foolishness and outright racism or even hidden racism.
Yes black politicians no matter where they are should be held accountable by their constituents. In our case we have the Black Caucus who should indeed be held accountable by black people all over they country because they have organized in an effort to represent us as a group of African-Americans. Again it's time out for the partisan politics and time for getting on with our business. Our people have made the mistake of confusing the methods with the objectives. As long as we agree on objectives, we should never fall out with each other just because we believe in different methods, or tactics, or strategy. We have to keep in mind at all times that we are not fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition as free humans in this society Malcolm X, 1965 |
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A1 |
quote:I second that! ._____________________________________________. until it uses its own talent, takes pride in its own history, expresses its own culture, affirms its own selfhood, it can never fulfill itself." - Malcolm X. |
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D4 |
quote: What was the purpose of that post, ItAintEazy...? %50 Filipino - %50 White All American... |
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A2 |
Allow me to explain Ameriasian, oftimes Mr. Lofton rambles on and on about an issue and never seems to get to the point. Usually once you decifer the point it is something off the wall. This was probably the breaking point of Lofton's posts for ItAintEazy.
Our people have made the mistake of confusing the methods with the objectives. As long as we agree on objectives, we should never fall out with each other just because we believe in different methods, or tactics, or strategy. We have to keep in mind at all times that we are not fighting for separation. We are fighting for recognition as free humans in this society Malcolm X, 1965 |
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C4 |
quote: The truth is, you are a mockery of yourself, Lofton. You are such a DAMN broken record. You will NEVER give any black leaders a token bit of credit, but when some haypenny black official does something wrong, it's the end of the goddamn world. Man, God forbid if any white politcal figure should mess up, then the whole country will go down the crapper  |
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B5 |
Khalilallah,
"Lets try to understand you... Should you run for office, what exactly would you do?" by Khalilallah Understanding or not, believe it or not, should Black people continue on in this very perverted fashion, the future posterity of Black people will be seriously compromised, meaning our own ignorance or gross incompetence will mean our own extinction within the U.S. of A. Having had two family members who I supported in their quest to seek elected office using my own energy, time, and money, to which the individuals as mentioned truly stood for making a difference as opposed to misusing the position to look out for personal interests and/or aligning themselves with outside interests at the expense of those who elected them, to which again Black voters have a habit of keeping sleaze in office, I would not advise anyone to challenge this trash until the voters of Black America exercise their right to vote intelligently. By and large, the political process within the inner-city, specifically as applied to the Black community, is nothing more than a popularity contest. "I agree with what you are saying in some respects but what you fail to recognize is that anytime a black political leader attempts to truly help his race, he is seen as militant or racist. He is soon faced with a politically motivated charge of some sort. A charge that their white counterparts are provided with a slap on the hand and its over." I don't agree with this statement because the issue is being responsible and insuring accountability. Elected officials are sworn under oath to serve the people. If it was strictly up to the Black middle class, misfits such as former Mayor Dayrl Sweeney of Carson would still remain in office without the first criminal indictment to remove such trash from elected office. Your response is to expected coming from the Black middle class, because more times than not the Black middle class promote this activity. Such activity benefits Caucasian liberals, and/or others who have no connection to the Black community, because if outsiders can keep Black people ignorant, because of our own failure as a people to to hold our own, outsiders can use the incompetence of Black people to further their own personal agendas. "Perhaps we should look at the entire leadership structure? Where these organizations have failed throughout the years. Have any organization that you know of influenced you positively in the last ten years? What about twenty?" by Khalilallah Again, this is the typical response of the Black middle class, meaning let's not clean up our own back yard, but let's look around to see who else we can blame for our own failures. "Has any black political leader positively influenced anyone's life in the last twenty years. My view point is a politician is like any other politician and an organization is only out for their leaders and fame." by Khalillah This statement has no relevance in matters to which those of sleaze from within our own community are given "attaboys and girls" for their misdeeds at the expense of the masses. By and large the Black middle class remain tight lipped about such activity, because to do something about such activity will mean that they will have to go after some of their own personal friends or otherwise. "Oh, has any white political leader or organization?" by Khalilallah There are criminals from all walks of life. Caucasians, Koreans, and/or every other ethnic group but Black people, will not continue to allow criminals, unethical, sleazy, incompetent, and/or self-serving individuals to continue to misdirect, misrepresent, and/or underrepresent their respective communities without taking action to remove those who fit this description from a position of influence. In addition why would anyone want to emulate a misfit? Oh, because Caucasians and/or others choose to steal, commit fraudulent acts, and/or misuse the authority as sworn to under oath of office, which mind you will eventually bring on criminal indictments, and/or cause the responsible voters to remove such trash from a position of influence,..... then because Caucasians choose to do this it is perfectly honorable for Black people to do this, at the expense of the people who elected them. Yep, typical response of the Black middle class, making excuses for such activity makes no sense at all. Should the Black middle class continue to support misfits in our own people or otherwise who have truly betrayed our community, or make excuses for such disgraceful activity, then all those university degrees held must be fit for the "round file", and going to church praising God in the name of being ethical or righteous, any belief in respect for law, and/or any respect for the property rights of others, are about as worthless, as worthhless can get. Sincerely, Michael Lofton |
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C5 |
We have never agreed upon anything Mr. Lorton. Mainly because it is our attempts to out-perform the other. When it comes to your consistent bashing of the black middle class and black political leaders you seem firm in your beliefs.
Thats when I notice the source of all of this ill. Your family members lost and you are blaming it on black America rather than their poorly run campaigns. When I ask for you too look at the entire leadership structure, I mean the black leadership structure. Not one black group has influenced me within the last twenty years. This is my attempt to find some common ground with you. We do have it but you refuse to agree which in response would lead me to beleive that you are just like the people that you claim exist, ignorant. Let me clarify it for you, I tried to convince you in regards to a platform that you and I agree with and within your prejudice you took that statement and turned it into something it wasn't. You would of voted for the other guy, right? As far as blaming others? Nope, not me. As for you, yep. You blame black America for the failure of your relatives failed political attempts. In fact much of black America is so fed up with the system that they do not vote at all, only the hardcore supporters or traditional party members who vote the party line. That is what your dealing with. I think it is more so that whites perform more crimes but they look the other way, a black person who performs the same acts, they are instantly jumped on. That is the way it is. When most blacks experience it, as I have, not on a criminal level, they come to understand. The question is what are there crimes, what is there political record, what are their successes. Your desire is to defame black Americans and the elected officials. What do you hope to gain? Now, don't get me wrong, I have never voted for a criminal. Then again, I never had the chance. Then again, I never voted for a black person whose sole purpose was to raise the plight of blacks. I have always thought it as my responsibility. After all, what can a politician ever do for me? I know what organizations should be doing but politicians? Please! Take your own advise, be responsible for yourself, don't depend on the government, unless they decide to bring back the draft... Regards, Saladin Khalilallah |
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B5 |
Well, Saladin Khalilallah,
"As far as blaming others? Nope, not me. As for you, yep. You blame black America for the failure of your relatives failed political attempts." by Saladin Khalilallah Like always, another misstatement of fact. Unless you have rodents crawling all over you, you can only speak for yourself. I do blame the unintelligent voters of Black America, for maintaining or promoting the sleazy, the greedy, and the incompetent, over other individuals of merit, which is very much a reality, which has absolutely nothing to do with any member of my immediate family. Since you choose to speak for me, the information should be real, and not slanted to suit your viewpoint which is definitely not even close to anything that I have expressed. With respect to organizations, our community is saturated with ministers of sleaze, poverty pimps, the worthless NAACP, and other truly worthless organizations, to which in the final analysis, the Black community continues to be the most poverty stricken community or set of communities in the U.S. .....So much for any good that can be associated with any organizations, be it the religious community or otherwise. Elected officials are sworn in, and bound by law to serve the people, specifically as defined by mandated by law duties of all elected office holders to serve the people, specifically as it related to law abiding U.S. citizens. The NAACP, PUSH, SCLC, the many no good poverty pimping jack leg preachers are not bound by law to serve the people, thus your analogy as referenced has little relevancy. "In fact much of black America is so fed up with the system that they do not vote at all, only the hardcore supporters or traditional party members who vote the party line. That is what your dealing with. I think it is more so that whites perform more crimes but they look the other way, a black person who performs the same acts, they are instantly jumped on. That is the way it is. When most blacks experience it, as I have, not on a criminal level, they come to understand. The question is what are there crimes, what is there political record, what are their successes. Your desire is to defame black Americans and the elected officials. What do you hope to gain?" Saladin Khalilallah More so than any doing on my part, the individuals who fit the description defame, and disgrace themselves all by themselves, by their own actions or inactions to be ethical, responsible, moral, lawful, honorable, worthy of praise, etc. Heck, a large segment of the Black male population can't vote because they have earned or unearned felony records. Should any Black felon with an unearned criminal record petition his or her elected representative for redress for blatantly illegal atrocities of government within the Black community, the typical Black elected leaders: A. prefer to play games, or bend over backwards to serve the interests of the truly criminal over the rights of the truly law abiding. B. are spineless or lack any backbone to do the ethical or abide by the law. C. trash petitions for redress served by U.S. certified mail, to which legitimate petitions for redress fall on "deaf ears". But here, again as presumed by the "Blame Caucasian America for Everything Corner", it is still all Caucasian America's fault, even when Black people in positions of responsibility, as applied to Black America's own elected officials, side step the essence of the meaning of what it means to be an elected official. Elected officials are public servants, who are sworn under oath to protect the U.S. citizenship rights of the truly law abiding to "Equal Justice and Protection Under the Law", should any jurisdiction of government blatantly violate legal authority to disparage the property rights or otherwise, as it relates to law abiding U.S. citizens. Should the truly law abiding of Black America, be subjected to blatantly illegal search and seizure, blatantly illegal destruction of property rights, blatant destruction of family structure, on the part of police officers, court clerks, social workers, probation officers, and/or other public servants, to which the victim or victims petition any Black elected leader for redress, the typical Black elected leaders prefer to play games, and/or join the ranks of blatantly criminal public employees, rather than stand tall in the interest of the truly ethical and/or law abiding of Black America. I understand the reason why many qualified individuals do not vote. The political process amounts to a popularity contest, in that worthless trash is voted in by the unintelligent voters of Black America, time and time again. However, to give up your right to vote is not the answer either. Elected officials who do not serve the people, specifically as it relates to truly law abiding U.S. citizens, in the event any government agency illegally violates the property rights of law abiding U.S. citizens, can be removed from office, should organized, and intelligent voters exercise their rights as citizens to promote the ideals of government to protect the best interest of any community concerned. I suppose the many sacrifices made by Black war time veterans, and/or others, who have risked their lives to defend the principles of government in the U.S., mean absolutely nothing to the so-called Black middle class, since your belief is that elected officials have absolutely no responsibility to serve the people who elected them as mandated by law. As reality would have it, elected officials have a fiduciary duty to serve the people, specifically as it relates to truly law abiding U.S. citizens, no ands, ifs, buts, and/or other excuses, to do absolutely nothing to serve the people as mandated by law. Sincerely, Michael Lofton |
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A2 |
Who writes those laws for the "truly law abiding", Caucasians, God or the "god-like" Caucasians??
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B5 |
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