Black Friday Shopping and Packers and Patriots – the Thanksgiving Weekend in Review

Along with the annual Turkey coma, comes “Black Friday”, and the compulsion (for some of us) to go uncharacteristically early into the stores for a little Christmas shopping. This year, it was easier to shop online, though this blogger did go forth to the mall of all places, but admittedly spent less, holding out for better online deals. Not unusual, according to Yahoo News, noting that sales were down as shopping habits changed for what once was the big retail sales day of the year. (Yahoo News) What with the constant email and text alerts as to sales online, it was a decision to hold out for better deals that may have sunk the traditional stores, however, it may also be what is now dubbed “the Obama Economy” that is responsible for weary and leery shoppers. The stores at 8 am in a large mall in Western Mass were deserted. One could even walk into a Wall-Mart, without much fuss.

To make things more interesting in this household, one of us is a Packers fan, one a Patriot’s fan (all things New England and Massachusetts considered. To me, the concept of football as American, begins and ends in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Vince Lombardi, Packer coach got me long ago with his quip: “The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything. It’s your mind you have to convince.” This brought up visions of blood, snow and what can and can’t be accomplished in life, without faith and what God gave you. (For more Lombardi Quotes and History – visit: www.vincelombardi.com

Therefore, I was pretty thrilled when they bested the Patriots – there will be little peace in this house for the next week. (Charlotte Observer)

That said those spouses who enjoy rooting for opposing teams, are able to come to terms quickly – if only the Executive Branch would do the same with Congress.

The Travesty and the Tragedy – a Tale of Three Cities – Ferguson, Cleveland and Kansas City

The Grand Jury has made its decision on the Ferguson Police officer who had shot and killed a young Michel Brown, after responding to a robbery call resulting in months of demonstrations and upon hearing the verdict of no indictment, the riots ensued. In this instance it appears that media frenzy may have driven the riots, or the activists, some with good intentions others your basic anarchists. It is what is known as a Travesty – when there is no information, as to innocence or guilt, and guilt is assumed by those who are on the outside, aggravating those on the inside of any given situation.

A real protest worthy tragedy happened in Cleveland just this week, where a 12 year old boy was shot and killed by a police officer on a playground, no less, for wielding a toy gun.

A few weeks ago, a woman was raped and then set on fire in a Kansas City Park, she has now died, after a horrifying 3 weeks and little notice was taken by national media, although the crime should have made national news.

Although the murder in Cleveland should be front page news, as well as the violent crime committed in Kansas, neither seem to be attracting too much attention, by those who should be outraged, from community activists, woman’s activist, and the national press. It is not so much that one is African American, a child, and the other a woman; it is the level of violence in our society that continues to drive more acts of malice – intentional or otherwise.

In Ferguson, the atmosphere of the riots appears almost political in nature, even the President has given a prime time speech, calling for calm, yet, a 12 year old lays dead in Cleveland and a woman lays dead in Kansas City and countless other victims join them across a nation that has, for whatever reason, lost it’s collative mind. It is a travesty that those victims and their families deserve barely a mention in the local press, or the UK press, rather than a good outpouring of outrage missed with horror by the national press.

It’s a macabre game of pick and choose, winners and losers in the context of national story – what is perhaps the most frightening of all hypotheses is perhaps, just perhaps, these types of stories happen so frequently that the media must choose one or two only. In that case, it’s time to revisit, penalties for rape and murder, penalties that are so stringent that one might be disinclined to take that shot, There will also be violence, it is man’s way, however, the thought that once caught and incarcerated for life, with no possible hope of release, and no appeals, then that might, just might make a difference.

Obama About to Bring Down the Democrat Party – For Decades with Executive Immigration Reform

The President is set to announce his own immigration reform, without Congress, and according to Yahoo News service, this will irk Republicans (Yahoo).

Additional, the Washington Post suggests that ahead of the announcement the President will dine with select Democrats – no Republicans – most likely to rally what’s left of his base in the Chambers (Washington Post)

Add to the insistence by County Sheriffs that this will destroy democracy and leave gaping holes for terrorists(MRCTVP) or that the party was just beyond trounced in what was historic proportions in both House Chambers, the man is deluded into thinking he’s adding to a legacy or, perhaps, adding to the appeal of Democrats in his base. In any case, he is deluded - unless he is playing to big business which just loves illiterate and illegal immigrants that will work for pennies, and not complain.

So, it’s either delusion or greed, take your pick.

While it is true, one senior Republican suggested this move might cause anarchy in the nation (USA Today), it will most likely come from the majority of Democrats rather than the regular base.

Here is where it hurts the party. Those African American and working class solid Democrats are simply not on board with the President. They want those borders locked down – and a focus on job creation as a priority. This was never made plainer when they did go out and vote this past election. If they had not, the Senate would have held, along with State offices in multiple State’s, from the governor’s office to Dog catcher. This was true in Massachusetts, where Martha Coakley was trumped. It was truer in CT where Malloy almost lost his job, and in VA where a Senate race should never have been that close.

Those that did not vote, stayed home and grumbled. If they could not pull a lever for a Republican in the 2014 election, watch how fast they move to pull one in the 2016 general.

We are a nation of immigrants, yet, highly suspicious of illegal immigrants, and new immigrants, and it is historically a fact, especially when it comes to “blue states”. (See Gangs of New York for starters – rent on Netflix).

Therefore, the only problem the Republican’s have is to start working towards more party diversity and paint every single Democrat on Obama’s side, from now till Nov. 2016. It’s not difficult given they were exemplary at using his as well as the former Congressional Representatives and Senators who, try and they might to distance themselves, were shown as totally in bed with the President.

The very smart move would have been to wait until the next Session in January when the Republican Senate Bill that had been sitting on Harry Reids desk, could be brought to the floor and sent to the president to sign. A total of 218 immigration bills are now sitting in the Senate – and a similar number in the House www.congress.gov)

Therefore, he could take his pick, have Harry move one of those forward, and stop the B.S. and the destruction of my fathers’ party. The Republican’s won’t impeach him, (Joe Biden is often the answer as to why not), and letting him ride his own crazy train right into destruction station is the obvious plan.

Since it’s unlikely that the President would pick up a GOP Immigration Bill, and that the Republicans’ have their “groove” on – they can count on new and very fervent members of their Party for the General Election.