It’s time to Break It Down!

In the fall of 2008, I penned a blog entitled, “A Crisis of Confidence: Economic Homeland Insecurity!” That tome focused on a variety of issues related to the then emerging Great American Financial Armageddon. The central theme of the post, however, revolved around the calamitous and irresponsible actions taken by American International Group, Inc., more familiarly, AIG, and the bailout that followed those actions.

Back on September 17, 2008, when I posted the blog referenced above, America and its economy teetered on the precipice of a catastrophic financial collapse, and no institution was more integral to what might have been, than AIG. To provide a condensed CliffNotes-like summary, the following 5 bullet points frame the lay of the land and AIG’s pivotal role at the apex of the financial threat, as I described it at the time:

· I would posit, aside from the truly financially savvy, most people never heard of, or at least never paid any attention to, AIG. If that is true, indeed, ignorance was bliss. Yes, the company has had a series of TV commercials, but in the age of TiVo and DVR, who watches commercials?

· For the record, AIG is a major insurance company, with offices around the world. Founded in 1919 in Shanghai by Cornelius Vander Starr, AIG is headquartered in New York City. The company’s UK Offices are located in London, the Continental Europe operations are based in Paris, and its Asian Headquarters is in Hong Kong. Beginning to get the picture? AIG, a global conglomerate, became a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 2004, and was cited by Forbes in 2008 as being the 18th largest company in the world.

· Just 3 days ago, the feds opted not to bail out Lehman Brothers after a weekend- long effort by the bank to persuade the Government to do just that. So why save AIG?

· For starters AIG is in a league of its own. Government officials decided they had to act, lest the nation’s largest insurer file bankruptcy. Such a move would roil world markets since AIG has 1.1 T, as in trillion, dollars in assets, and 74 million clients in 130 countries. Plus, AIG’s insurance businesses make so much money they could conceivably pay off the cost of the bailout within a few years.

· AIG is far and away the largest insurer in the world. A quick search of any sampling of mutual funds or any S&P 500 index fund is likely to show the inclusion of the Company’s stock. AIG is a staple in 401k, and has been singly responsible for deflating the Dow more than 400 points this year.

Fast forward four years, 3 months and change; what has become of the great bailout? Well first and foremost, at that time we had yet to plumb the depths of the crisis. There were additional bailouts, a series of embarrassing “additional expenditures,” including, over identifying $1.2 billion in employee bonuses, plus millions more dedicated to expensive retreats at posh venues, and a number of instances in which AIG had to pay out billions to financial institutions, including, Goldman Sachs and Société Générale, to retire obligations related to credit default swaps (CDS). All of this occurred in 2008.

A lot has changed in the ensuing years. Indeed, AIG, as I noted many people projected back in 2008, has repaid the money the U.S. used to bail them out; all of it. Moreover, they have kicked in an additional $22 billion to cover Uncle Sam’s tab for interest payments. It would seem all is good; right?

Well its not! AIG has announced that it is considering suing the Federal Government. The Board of AIG, including current Chairman Robert Benmosche is currently contemplating joining a suit filed by former Chairman Maurice (Hank) Greenberg alleging the Federal Government went too far by demanding exacting terms when it rescued the company in 2008. While no decision had been made, current Chairman Benmosche insists that in order to fulfill its fiduciary responsibilities, the AIG Board must consider joining the suit.

Let’s be clear, AIG had not yet said it will join the suit. It is possible that it may still opt not to take this “beyond the pale” next step. Alternately, the mere fact that the Board is considering joining the suit, which I might add, has already been thrown out by one court, means that the prospect exists that AIG will bite the proverbial “hand that fed it” during its moment of extreme duress.

It’s been a moment since the bailout went down. As a general rule, Americans are accused of having short memories. That is perceived to be one of the reasons why elected officials often flout the law, and a few years later, get re-elected. If, in fact, Mr. Benmosche and the AIG Board opt to join Mr. Greenberg’s suit, he and they would appear to be betting that Americans will have forgotten the enmity and utter disgust they held due to the United States having opted to extend AIG a bail out.

Even now, I am convinced AIG was “Too big to fail.” Moreover, I am comfortable with the notion that the AIG Board, whose responsibility is to look out for and make decisions in the best interest of shareholders, does have an obligation to review its options in this instance. Alas, if AIG actually decides to join Mr. Greenberg’s suit, I will default to the position that AIG is totally devoid of reasoning, since it was the Board’s irresponsible bets that led them to edge of their own corporate FiscalCliff. I will surmise they are too greedy to merit America’s collective empathy; just too damn arrogant for words…period!

From thank-you to sue you; if it plays out that way, we will see a classic case of, “SplitPersonality: The AIG Story Revised!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com or http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Follow in the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com; enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.” Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_International_Group

http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/2008/09/crisis-of-confidence-homeland-economic.html

http://money.cnn.com/2013/01/08/news/companies/aig-lawsuit/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

http://www.aig.com/home_3171_411330.html

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2013/01/08/aig-bailout-lawsuit-maurice-greenberg/1566158/

http://www.examiner.com/article/aig-runs-ad-thanking-america-for-tarp-money-bailout-but-may-file-25b-lawsuit

http://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2013/01/08/benmosche-aig-paid-back-taxpayers-but-we-still-have-to-consider-suing-them/

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-aig-suit-bailout-greenberg-20130108,0,4871507.story

http://www.cnbc.com/id/100361095

It’s time to Break It Down!

I was tempted to stick with convention and simply make this a traditional New Year’s Day (Holiday) blog.  However, even casual observers are likely engaged on some level with the discussion around efforts to avert the Fiscal Cliff.  With this in mind, here’s what’s up with that!

Shortly after midnight onTuesday, January 1^st, the Senate overwhelmingly approved a bill to avert the Fiscal Cliff.  Since the Senate is currently occupied by a majority of Democrats, it is not surprising the bill passed.  That it passed easily, 89-8, including with the votes of 40 of the 45 Republicans who voted, was somewhat unexpected.

The Democratic leadership was concerned enough to assign Vice President Biden the dual role of co-lead negotiator, along with Republican Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader, as well as marshaling the troops to make sure Democrats supported the bill.That the GOP supported the effort in such sizable numbers was certainly significant.

On the other side of the aisle, in the House of Representatives, there is still a lingering lack of consensus about placing Country before politics.  The House spent most of yesterday dallying instead of voting.  There are at least two reasons for the reluctance to act by the House.

First, there is the matter of politics.  Grover Norquist, whom I have previously referenced, has challenged all Republicansto pledge not to raise taxes.  In an effort to comply with this pledge, the GOP brain trust designed a hype rmicro-managing maneuver that resulted in a commitment by House Republicans to not vote on Monday on any Fiscal Cliff bill approved by Senate.  Rather, they would wait until Tuesday to take action.  This way, even if they were to approve a measure passed by the Senate, it would be after the Country “officially” went over the Fiscal Cliff, which meant technically, the House would be rolling back tax increases brought on by having gone over the Cliff, instead of increasing taxes, in concert with the Senate bill.

There’s an old saying that goes something like this: “When you’re about to get run out of town on a rail, get out in front and call it a parade.”  In line with that thought, Mr. Norquist went on record yesterday, saying he supports the Senatebill.  And by the way, of course he declared it was not a tax increase.  Oh what a tangled web we weave!

Second, there is the matter of politics (repetition intended).  Several of the most vocal leaders of the movement to push back on the Senate bill are doing so with a clear eye on their next election, or their next position of leadership.  Senators Marco Rubio (FL), and Rand Paul (KY) have already made clear, or intimated their interest in running for President in 2016.  Representative Eric Cantor (VA) appears to be positioning himself to make a potential challenge to Representative John Boehner (OH), for Speaker of the House.  Staking themselves out in positions opposed to President Obama…and to tax increases, looms large with Tea Party members and other fiscal conservatives whose support they crave…and whom they need desperately, if they are to recognize their ambitions.

This dynamic clash of ideas and ideals will end, at least temporarily, by Thursday, one way or another.January 3^rd will mark the installation of the 113th Congress, and the close of service of the current Congress.  That means, If the measure, approved by both Houses, Is not on the President’s desk by noon Thursday, the bill dies, and Congress would have to start anew.  Just to be clear, the GOP has less leverage over this process today than they did on December 31^st, and they will have somewhat less leverage Thursday, as the 113^th Congress has a few more Democrats in both Houses of Congress, and of course, Mr. Obama will still be President; advantage Democrats.

As yesterday evening wound down, the House seemed to come to the realization that there is a need to at least vote on the Senate approved measure, versus trying to deleverage it by adding an amendment, or a series of amendments to amp up the number of spending cuts.  It was projected that the House would schedule a vote around after debate.  A move to exempt the vote from standing rules, which require a 72-hour review period before a vote, began around 9:00 p.m. EST.

The House approved the exemption, and subsequently voted 257-167 to approve the bill, culminating the action around 11:00 p.m.  Speaker Boehner and House Budget Committee Chairman Ryan voted for the measure; House Majority Leader Cantor did not.  In the other Chamber, Senator Rubio also did not vote for the Senate version of the bill.  Overall, Democrats voted 172-16 in favor of the bill while Republicans voted 151-85 against it.  President Obama made brief comments after the vote, and was reportedly quickly off to join his family in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he will resume his vacation.     

Lest anyone suffer from the illusion that the resolution of this issue means the matter is over, and we may now move on with our lives; woe be unto your vision of the way things work.  Two months from now this discordant debate will be revisited upon us with gusto, as the new battle lines will be drawn around the dual issues of the debt ceiling, and the delayed sequestration.

Clearly, there will be time and multiple opportunities in the future to address these twin challenges.  The news cycles will likely begin elevating them before the ink is dry on the Fiscal Cliff legislation.  For now, the answer to question, “Deal, or no Deal?” is Deal!

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.comor http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Following the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com;enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.”  Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitch_McConnell

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/113th_United_States_Congress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Party_(United_States)

It’s time to Break It Down!

(Reprinted from Break It Down – 12/21/11)

Merry Christmas to you! I know some of you are caught up in the whole “We Are The (Secular) World” trip; thus the substitute Holiday for Christmas in seasonal greetings. Of course those innately curious enough to conduct the requisite etymological research know that the root derivation of holiday is “Holy Day;” but I digress; that is fodder for another day’s fight.

By now many of you have already begun your well-planned and no doubt, richly deserved hiatus from work. You may even have finished your shopping and taken care of all the major errands that accompany preparing for the Big Day. Perhaps all that remains is packing and/or traveling; maybe that throw-down cooking marathon that precedes the arrival of the family, friends, and guests whom you will host over the coming week.

As is my custom, I will not use this Christmas Season Post, if you will allow me to call it that, to challenge you to sort the facts, be they esoteric or mundane. No, this is your time to take advantage of the opportunity to hang out with your guests, or to be a guest, and enjoy the hospitality of friends and famiy.

In the true spirit of keeping it simple for both you and me, I am, as the Title suggests, reprising a previous post.  In fact,  not just any previous post; not even just any prior Christmas Post.  I am, for all intents and purposes re-posting the entry from last Christmas.

The English playwright and poet, William Congreve, in the opening line of his 1697 Play entitled “The Mourning Bride,” asserted, “Musick has Charms to soothe a savage Breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.”  I think Congreve was on to something.  If indeed music is capable of enabling us to overcome our basest instincts, and in so doing, ennoble us to pursue our finer impulses, then indeed, we should take more opprotunities to render ourselves captivated by it’s magical spell. (By the way, it really is breast…not beast; caught you thinking, didn’t I?)  😉

So, last year, I identified and pulled together an assortment of my favorite Christmas Standards.  This year, I am offering the same artistic olio for your reading, viewing, and listening pleasiure. Below, you will find bios for the 14 artists, the 13 youtube video interpretations, and the 12 songs listed and included in the form of a Yuletide e-concert. The information and links below tell the essence of the story; but there are a few points I wish to amplify for your consideration.

The number in parenthesis after each artist’s name is his or her current age, or the age at which the artist died, in the cases of James Brown, Eartha Kitt, John Coltrane, Nat King Cole, and Donny Hathaway. Each artist, song and interpretation is special in its own right.

The legendary Godfather of Soul, as James Brown became known, died on Christmas Day (2006, aged 73), as did Eartha Kitt (2008, aged 81), whom shall ever remain, to many of us, the incomparably personified Catwoman. There was both a surreal sadness and a resolute completeness associated with them ending their respective earthly journeys on Christmas Day, two years apart. Both artists were born in South Carolina; Brown in Barnwell, and Kitt, in North. Brown was renowned for his energetic performances, which earned him another of his many titles, “Hardest working man in show business.” His rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby” was a reminder that he had earned his chops the hard way, and that he was much more than flash and dash. Kitt’s “Santa Baby” is on my list, not only because it is a classic; it is, but also because like me, it was born in 1953. I’d like to think we both (the song and I) have held up well.

Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas” quite simply personifies Christmas for many of us. Hathaway, an initiate of Howard University’s Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was a brilliant musician, but a troubled man. He endured bouts of depression and suffered from paranoid schizophrenia, which ultimately led him to commit suicide (1979, aged 33). “This Christmas,” however, lives on, and along with it and many of his other classics, so does his melodious voice.

Chris Brown (age 22), has had his moments. He is known in most circles as either the Pied Piper to Generation Y (Millennials), or That Guy…you know, the one who beat down Robyn Fenty (age 23); Rihanna to you! This post will not attempt to moralize, or capitalize in any other way on the beef between these two. Rather, for the purposes of this commentary, I wanted to touch upon Chris’ cover of Hathaway’s classic tune. I think he did a fine job, and is an example that, many voices to the contrary, Gen X’ers are not only capable, but do in fact, continue to perpetuate the tradition of making great music.

Nat King Cole (1965, aged 45) and Natalie Cole (age 61), father and daughter, both stellar musicians, in their own right, also represent two successive generations of the “family business.” Though the elder Cole is probably better known for his interpretation of “The Christmas Song,” I intentionally chose his rendition of another standard, “O Holy Night,” to highlight another of his great performances. I included Natalie’s rendering of “The First Noel,” solely because of my partiality to the reverse spelling of “Noel!”

Having eschewed Cole’s version of “The Christmas Song,” I could not omit it altogether. Kem (age 42), delivers a virtuoso performance of this classic tune. He is one of my favorite contemporary artists, singing one of the Christmas songs I enjoy most. Ledisi (age 41, until her New Years’ Eve birthday) and Lauryn Hill (age 36) are two of contemporary R&B’s most accomplished female voices. Their versions of “Give Love On Christmas Day,” and “Little Drummer Boy,” respectively, are special treats, and integral components of this e-concert.

John Coltrane and Dianne Reeves (age 55) add an instrumental (“My Favorite Things”) and vocal (“Christmas Time Is Here”) jazz flavor to the mix, respectively. “Trane,” born in Hamlet, North Carolina, died of liver cancer (1967, aged 40), another life cut short, far too young. He and the combo render a cool version of the tune, so much so that it could make it one of “your favorite things.” Ms. Reeves uses her powerful and well-trained instrument to craft a compelling version of “Christmas Time Is Here.”

Christina Aguilera (age 31) and Brian McKnight (age 42) unite in a superb collaboration on “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” They revel in demonstrating multiple octave range and elasticity in framing their unique arrangement of this classic that makes it a song I enjoy listening to again and again. Last, but certainly not least, Will Downing (age 48), perhaps my favorite musical artist, delivers a silky smooth rendition of “White Christmas.”  What can I say?  Will…is Will!

That’s it; 14 artists, 13 videos (a Baker’s Dozen), and 12 songs. Add it all up and you get “12 Days Of Christmas: The Concert – Redux!” Enjoy it agaian, and by all means, remember the Reason for the Season!

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

James Brown (73) – Merry Christmas Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xg6FcaYHf4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Brown

Eartha Kitt (81) – Santa Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFMyF9fDKzE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eartha_Kitt

Donny Hathaway (33) – This Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1mVUEHeUE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donny_Hathaway

Chris Brown (21) – This Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ty2eya8zWyE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Brown_(American_singer)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihanna

Nat King Cole (45) – O Holy Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4uP32mnAjY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nat_King_Cole

Natalie Cole (60) – The First Noel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf6fTRTQrG4

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natalie_Cole

Kem (41) – The Christmas Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jk34lUQoyQ

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kem_(singer)

Ledisi (32) – Give Love On Christmas Day

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f64UB0904As

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ledisi

Lauryn Hill (35) – Little Drummer Boy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxv88-euQtE

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauryn_Hill

John Coltrane (40) – My Favorite Things

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I6xkVRWzCY

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Coltrane

Dianne Reeves (54) – Christmas Time Is Here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hInJstw1cGE&feature=related

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dianne_Reeves

Christina Aguilera (30) & Brian McKnight (41) – Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftva4G2vmDw

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Aguilera

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_McKnight

Will Downing (47) – White Christmas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Downing

It’s time to Break It Down!

Imagine if you will a moment…encased in silence.

Those 7 lines of white space symbolize a respectful pause in memoriam for the 12 little girls, the 8little boys, and the 6 teachers and administrators whose lives were snuffed out prematurely, last Friday morning, in Newtown, Connecticut, by an Assault Rifle wielding gunman; only 20 years-old himself.

Just a week ago in this space, I referenced the Jovan Belcher and Clackamas County, Oregon incidents to fashion areintroduction to the conversation about guns and the violence too often wrought by irresponsible and often unstable gun owners.  I emphasized then, that the incidents, horrific though they may have been, were not the point, but rather a convenient vehicle to remind readers of the results of gun violence in America.

It is with deepest regret that I acknowledge the attention of a mourning nation is once again riveted upon the continually emerging details of what can only be accurately characterized as a massacre. Of the 26 victims referenced above, all endured multiple wounds; some were shot nearly a dozen times.  In several instances, those shot were mutilated beyond recognition.  In some cases, parents and loved ones were advised by authorities not to view the remains.

In brief summation, the Newtown carnage was executed in three stages:

1. Before he set out on his deadly rampage against 6 and 7 year-olds at their school, Adam Lanza murdered his mother, who was still in bed, at the home     they shared.  Mrs. Lanza, as the other victims, was shot multiple times (with     a Bushmaster AR-15 assault rifle).  Her wounds were head shots.  Mrs. Lanza was divorced from Adam’s father, Peter.
2. The younger Lanza     then took four weapons to Sandy Hook.      He brought three of them into the school; the assault rifle, and     two handguns – a Glock 10 mm and     a Sig Sauer 9 mm.  He left the fourth, a shotgun, in his car.  According to authorities, he shot all 26 victims with the rifle. 
3. As first responders closed in, Adam took his own life with a single shot to the head.  By committing suicide, he was the only one of the 28 who died to be killed by a single gunshot.     

It should be noted that Adam Lanza’s older brother, Ryan, reportedly told authorities that Adam had Asperger Syndrome, a form of Autism Spectrum Disorder.  However, mental health experts have cautioned against imputing any link between Asperger’s and violence.Aside his from living with the disease, a number of former associates have described Adam as very smart (enrolled in college at age 16), socially inept, shy quiet, withdrawn; a nerd. He was also an avid video-gamer.  Some of the games he played most were designed around leadership, war, violence, and survival (Starcraft III & Warcraft).  Never-the-less, most people whom reporters spoke to seemed surprised that Adamcould have carried out the acts of last Fridayin Newtown.

That’s really more than enough of the grisly, gory aspects of this particular case.  After all, just as was the case last week, this post is not designed to reiterate the minutiae of the shootings.  The intent, instead, is to share a simple opinion; “This Time Will Be Different!”  At least, that is my thesis.  If you want more of the nitty-gritty, just tune in to the news; they will have it for you.

When I penned last week’s post, the senseless acts of violence that would unfold just two days later at the Sandy Hook Elementary School were simply unimaginable.  In the days that have ensued since Friday, the TV networks, the airways, the blogosphere, and the various social networking communities have all been electrified by the effusive outpouring of discourse, much of it civil, on the subject of the shootings.  More important, how to prevent this kind of thing from continuing to occupy the orbit of a recurring pattern has been a trending discussion item.

I believe, as the Title suggests, within the micro-dynamics of this shooting lie the structural bases for navigating a different outcome.  Unfortunately, events such as this have a tendency to play out through a political lens.As such, while the politics of disaster are always volatile, there has been no case, that so abruptly shoved into the collective face of America, the gritty details of the cold-bloodedmurder of so many children, en masse.That they happened to be mostly white will also likely (forgive the pun), color the dimensions of the ultimate response.

That racial caveat, while objectionable to some, is just a reflection of what moves the needle, not only in American discourse, but especially in framing a discussion so that it is viewed as a call to action.  For example, annual crime statistics in Chicago are abysmal.  Through December 11, 2012, 2,597 people had been shot; as of yesterday, 517 had been murdered, and of those, 62 were school aged (6-18).Needless to say, the vast majority of the shooting victims, the homicides and the school-aged victimsin Chicagoare black.  Odds are you have not heard any vociferous national outcry to intervene.  And yes, I will say it, President Obama, the Consoler-in-Chief, has not made a visit to the City, expressly to speak out on the need to curtail the violence that has become endemic in his adopted hometown.

And don’t get it twisted!  I’m not knocking the POTUS (though on this issue, calling him to task is appropriate).  I am making the point, as I did in developing the Title,Newtownis different!  Because I am more concerned with outcomes than with finger-pointing, or with assaying recriminations, I embrace the notion that this is a good thing.In deed, I submit we are on the verge of moving FORWARD!

A number of Pols, both Democrats and Republicans, have expressed a willingness to debate gun laws, and to consider new legislation to control firearms in the aftermath of the Newtowndisaster.  Walmart and Dick’s, two of the nation’s largest gun dealers, have limited advertising and the availability of brands of the AR-15assault weapon used in Newtown (and in Aurora, and in ClackamasCounty).

President Obama has declared he will use the power of his office to see that the events of Newtown are not repeated.  Joe Manchin, Democratic Senator from West  Virginia, an NRA Member who has made commercials with his gun in hand, said Monday that it is time to discuss gun policy and move toward regulating guns. Dianne Feinstein, Democratic Senator from California, has indicated that she with proffer gun control legislation on the first day of the new Congress.  Senator Charles Grassley, of Iowa, has suggested it’s time to put gun control on the table.  Finally, the National Rifle Association (NRA) broke its silence yesterday, and said it will work to ensure the events of Newtownare never repeated.

But all is certainly not of one accord.  Larry Pratt, Executive Director of Gun Owners of America, positsthat the teachers at Sandy Hook should have been armed.Mr. Pratt is a proponent of the premise that, gun-free zones, not guns, are the problem.  It should be noted that he is definitely not alone in his view.  At a Tea Party rally on Monday, Texas Governor Rick Perry espoused the notion that anyone with a concealed handgun license should be able to take guns on public property in Texas, including schools.  He urged state legislators to look at ways to improve safety at schools; ostensibly, he believes arming teachers is the preferred way to do that.

With that, there are still two sides to this argument.  However, as the debate continues, there appears to be some erosion of the hard and fast line in the sand that has been so expertly manipulated by the gun lobby historically.  It is this diminution of the power curve that gives me hope and fosters my belief that “This Time Will Be Different!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.comor http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.

To subscribe, click on Followin the bottom right hand corner of my Home Page at http://thesphinxofcharlotte.com;enter your e-mail address in the designated space, and click on “Sign me up.”  Subsequent editions of “Break It Down” will be mailed to your in-box.

For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.npr.org/2012/12/16/167412995/transcript-president-obama-at-sandy-hook-prayer-vigil

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/18/newtown-gunman-adam-lanza-what-we-know

http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/us/connecticut-lanza-guns/index.html

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/connecticut-school-shooting-gunman-adam-1493265

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/18/15994353-aspergers-not-an-explanation-for-lanzas-connecticut-killing-spree-experts-say

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_syndrome

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/18/167527771/nancy-lanza-gunmans-mother-from-charmed-upbringing-to-first-victim

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/12/18/167527771/nancy-lanza-gunmans-mother-from-charmed-upbringing-to-first-victim

http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/12/15/fbi-source-ryan-lanza-said-his-brother-adam-had-a-personality-disorder-the-two-hadnt-spoken-since-2010/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama

http://manchin.senate.gov/public/

It’s time to Break It Down!

Today’s date is special; 12/12/12.  It is in the midst of the Season of Good Tidings of Great Joy.  I really wish I were commemorating both the date, and the coming events with a not so dire and gruesome message.  Sadly, I am not!

• The Second     Amendment protects the right of Americans to own guns
• Occurrences such at this are random anomalies
• People who exact violence against others have     options besides fire arms
• The threat of such violence would be lessened if     the victims were armed
• Immediately after such events is too soon to     discuss remedies
• Curtailing access to fire arms is un-American
• Guns don’t kill people; people do
• Guns are a necessary implement for hunting
• Americans need to protect themselves from a rogue government
• Gun Protectionism proves America     is the world’s last bastion for freedom

I’ve examined this brand of violence before.  In doing so, I have previously cited statistics about the paucity of gun violence in countries such as Australia, Canada, United Kingdom (Great Britain), and Japan, compared to the United States.  Relative annualized averages for these countries are:

• Australia 65
• Canada 165
• Japan 39
• United Kingdom (Great Britain) 68
• United States     11,000+

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the United States, in 2007, there were:

• 12,129 homicides with a firearm
• 17,348 suicides with a firearm
• 721 deaths by accidental discharge of a firearm
• +/-     5,000 deaths from legal     interventions (i.e., police shooting     criminals)

A problem does not reach this depth and breadth by osmosis, or accident.  There is of course a culture of American gun ownership that stretches back to the country’s founding and its fundamentally preeminent document of record; the United States Constitution.  It is the Second Amendment of the Constitutionthat purists use as the prime validation of their right to own a gun, tote a piece, or arm themselves to the teeth, depending upon one’s level of uber commitment to the cause.  The language of this hypercritical polemic is captured in a single sentence (ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights

It’s time to Break It Down!

It’s time to Break It Down!

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Those thirty-one words constitute what we commonly refer to as The Pledge of Allegiance.  It has been around in some version since 1892. Twice since its origination, The Pledge of Allegiance has been amended.  In 1923, eight words were added:

• South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham
• Tennessee Senator Bob Corker
• New York Representative Peter King
• Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss
• Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn
• Arizona Senator John McCain
• Arizona Representative, and Senator-elect Jeff     Flake
• Former Wyoming Senator, and half of the     namesakes of the often touted Simpson-Bowles Commission, Alan Simpson

It’s time to Break It Down!

Reprinted from Break It Down! – 11/24/10

As in the past, since it is Thanksgiving Week, this post will deviate from the standard fare. I know that travel schedules, meal planning, family time, shopping, football, parades, and if there is anytime remaining, relaxation, will dominate the next week. But it is Wednesday, so there shall be a blog! But it is definitely brief. 😉

Those among us who have ascended to genuine righteousness and perfected humility have, no doubt, elevated giving thanks to an art form, also. The rest of us are left to fully vest our appreciation in the notion, “That’s why we have Thanksgiving!”

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day, which kicks of what we refer to commonly as the Holiday Season. Almost instinctively, Thanksgiving and Christmas come to mind. But there is so more than that to the Holiday Season. Over the next 54days, many of us will enjoy succulent feasting at Thanksgiving, exchange gifts and contribute to those in need during Hanukkah, buy, give, exchange, and/or receive gifts at Christmas, eat, drink, and celebrate the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa, party and toast the dawn of 2011, on New Year’s Day, and honor the life and works of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on MLK Day. In addition, even in these tough economic times, millions of Americanswill pay (literally) homageto our most celebrated of shoppers’ holidays, Black Friday, by rising early, and proceeding to scour the aisles for those perfect gifts…and if not perfect, at least cheap, relatively speaking.

In the past I have recounted my reasons for being thankful. While in many ways this has been a particularly challenging year for me, personally, perhaps the most challenging yet, I find that I have more reasons than ever to sit contemplativelyin humble repose, and to affirm boldly, that I know, without caveat, not only the goodness of God, but of his inestimableand inexhaustiblebeneficence. I thank Him for deliverance, and for imbuing me with the sense and sensibility to discern the distinction between kairos and chronos; Greekconcepts for God’s time, and man’s time, respectively.

Eons ago, when I was a college student, I joined a fraternity; the Oldest, Boldest, and Coldest…I digress. The point of this reference is that during what was known as the pledge process, prospective initiates were required to learn a series of poems. There were many, and each one was selected to convey a specific life lesson. Many of them have stayed with me, but none more thanInvictus, written by English poet, William Ernest Henley (1849-1903), and never more than this year. The Latintranslation for Invictus is undefeated. You may recall it, but just in case, see it below:

Invictus (Latin for Undefeated) By William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years

Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

So, as you go about your way tomorrow, and all the tomorrows that follow, recognize that Thanksgiving, at its core, is not a day on the calendar. It is a spirit that dwells within us, and that prompts us to thank God (for our being undefeated), and to share His blessings with our fellow men and women. Indeed, everyday is “A Time for Giving Thanks!”

I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com/. A new post is published each Wednesday. For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thanksgiving_(United_States)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kairos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronos

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Ernest_Henley

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Invictus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanukkah

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwanzaa

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year’s_Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr._Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

It’s time to Break It Down!

On October 3^rd inDenver, Colorado, in the first of three Presidential Debates, Governor Romneychided President Obama, saying, “Mr. President, you are entitled to your own house and to you own airplane, but not to your own facts.”  It was a great one-liner from the evening that will likely be remembered as Governor Romney’s signature moment in a bruising, but ultimately, losing campaign.  By virtually all accounts, the Governordelivered a buoyant and skillful performance, albeit one that saw him deny,denounce, and/or deprecate virtually every policy position he’d taken in the last several years.  But he sure looked good doing it!

Today, Mr. Romney is entitled his own concealed tax returns, and to deride nearly half of allAmericans (47%), but not to his own facts.In the closing days of the campaign, the Governor and his surrogates dismissed any and all polling that did not project a Romney-Ryan victory onNovember 6^th.  Collectively, theycontended that most polling consistently oversampled Democrats, and that the2008 Democratic coalition would/could not be repeated in 2012.

As is often noted, hindsight is 20/20; today we know the Republicans misjudged both the validity of the polls and viability of the vaunted Democratic “Get Out The Vote” machinery.  Nate Silver, author of the New York Times 538 Blog, nailed the polling, correctly calling the results in all 50 States.  As a result, despite the best efforts of the Koch Brothers, Karl Rove, and their Super Pacs, and Grover Norquist and his tax pledge, the POTUS is immersed in preparing to negotiate a resolution for avoiding Sequestration and the FiscalCliff, while Willard Romney is planning to take Ann on a well-deserved vacation.  Much respect to the Community Organizer; clearly a lot of communities (and voting blocs) were supremely organized on Tuesday, November 6, 2012…just as they were November 4, 2008.

There is more to analyze than can possibly be considered in any one post.  However, I thought is would be interesting to elevate some of the more compelling data points connected to last week’s election.  Let’s get it on!

First the Broad strokes:

• The President won 44% of the white vote in ’08; only     39% in ‘12
• Latinos represented 9% of the vote in ’08; 10%     of the vote in ‘12; 71% of whom voted for President Obama.  The Latino     vote was credited with carrying Obama to victory in Colorado,     Nevada and New Mexico. His showing among Latinos     was an improvement over the 66 percent share he won four years ago.
• Single     women made up 20% of the electorate     in ’08; 23% of the electorate in ’12, 67% of whom voted for Obama
• The youth vote (age 18-29) made up 18% of the     vote in ’08; 19% of the vote in ’12, 60% of whom voted for President Obama
• Asians gave President Obama 62% of their votes     in ’08; 73% in ’12, the highest number since exit polls began tracking     Asian voters.
• Catholic voters favored President Obama to     Governor Romney 51% to 48%, although white Catholics voted for Romney by a     margin of 56% to 43%.  By contrast,     Hispanic Catholics favored the President overwhelmingly, 76% to 23%.
• Jews voted for President Obama in significant     numbers, giving him 70% of their votes; this despite tens of million     dollars spent in 2012 and before by political donors     like Sheldon Adelson, and groups like the Republican Jewish Coalition and     the Emergency Committee for Israel, intended to sow fear and doubt over     Israel, and to move Jewish votes away from President Obama and the     Democratic Party.
• The     LGBT Community supported President Obama overwhelmingly, giving him 76% of     their votes, according to the Williams Institute, a sexual orientation think     tank at UCLA.
• A Council on American-Islamic Relations exit     poll indicated 86% of Muslims voted for President Obama
• Those who self-identify as regular church-goers     voted for Romney by a margin of 59%-39%
• Those who self-identify as Evangelical     Born-again voted for Romney 79%-20%
• Those who self-identify as Non-Evangelical     Protestants supported Romney 54%-44%
• Those who never go to church supported President     Obama 62%-34%
• Those who self-identify as Religious     Unaffiliated voted for the President 70%-20%
• Of black Protestants, 95% supported the President
• Women supported the President by giving him 55% of their votes    
• Blacks, unquestionably President Obama’s most     fervent and reliable voting bloc actually supported Mr. Obama at a rate     less than that in 2008.  Still the     level of support he did get was impressive, and unmistakably essential.  The President garnered a 93% share of     the black vote in 2012, compared to 95% in 2008.  However, as with voters in general,     women supported the President at a rate greater than did men, 96%,     compared to 87%.

• Wisconsin     voters elected Tammy Baldwin, an     openly gay woman, to the U.S. Senate.
• Maine, Maryland and Washington     approved gay marriage, while Minnesota     rejected an attempt to ban it.
• Voters in Colorado,     Massachusetts and Washington legalized state-regulated     marijuana (for commercial, not medicinal purposes).
• Florida voters rejected an initiative that would have     banned public funds going toward abortion.

The combination of President Obama’s win, despite, a near 8% National unemployment rate, his clear and unrelenting articulation of the intent to increase the level at which the wealthiest Americans contribute to deficit reduction,Democrats retaining the Senate and making gains in the House, in addition to the four bullet points above, it does appear that Americans sided, in ademonstrable way, with President Obama’s vision.

I don’t believe he has a blank check by any means, but he clearly has earned the right to forge ahead.  At his 2004 post-election newsconference, GeorgeW. Bush declared “I earned capital in this campaign, political capital, and now I intend to spend it.  It is my style.”  While he did have a majority in both Houses of Congress, he garnered fewer popular votes than President Obama, gained a slightly smaller percentage, maintained roughly the same spread over his opponent, and had fewer Electoral votes, as well.  We’ll see how it all unfolds for our current POTUS.

That’s more than enough to chew on.  Consider this a sweeping Overview and “Analysis: Election 2012!”  I’m done; holla back!

Read my blog anytime by clicking the link: http://thesphinxofcharlotte.comor http://thesphinxofcharlotte.blogspot.com. A new post is published each Wednesday.

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For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the links below:

http://www.hispanicbusiness.com/2012/11/11/presidential_exit_polls_illustrate_americas_religious