9 People Shot On Miami Street And 2 Die!

The Miami Herald reports that 9 people were shot, and 2 people are dead as a result of a shooting outside of a 3 story apartment building. The are no witnesses and a motive has not been established for the shootings.

The President's Stimulus Package!

The Chicago Sun-Times reports on President Barack Obama selling his stimulus package in his weekly address. The stimulus package presently is estimated to cost $825 billion, and focus on improving our nation's infrastructure and the following areas:

-- Double within three years the amount of energy that could be produced from renewable resources, an ambitious goal given the 30 years it took to reach current levels. Advisers say that could power 6 million households.
-- Upgrade 10,000 schools and improve learning for about 5 million students.
-- Save $2 billion a year by making federal buildings energy efficient.
-- Triple the number of undergraduate and graduate fellowships in science.

The plan would also provide health insurance for workers who lose or shift jobs, and the president claims that it will save or create 3 to 4 million jobs over the next few years.

The focus on education in the package is essential, but the other areas of emphasis, seem very generic and it's hard to see them stimulating an already shaky economy. I assume that the saving of jobs and the creation of new ones is the meat of the package.

Excerting His Muscle!

President Barack Obama warned Republican Leaders that they need to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh if they want to get along with his administration, and seemed to be specifically telling Republicans that he's running the country with the following quote:

"You can't just listen to Rush Limbaugh and get things done."

President Obama also told Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.) when discussing the stimulus package "I won," according to aides briefed on the meeting. "I will trump you on that."

Both comments from the President clearly show that he will not be a push over when dealing with leaders from either party. The Obama presidency will not be boring, and he knows he has the support of the American people. Thanks to the New York Post for the article.

Zo Retires!

Miami Heat Center, Alonzo Mourning announced his retirement from the N.B.A. yesterday after a 16 year career. Mourning overcame focal glomerulosclerosis, and continued his career after receiving a kidney transplant in 2003. He has also founded several foundations, and will now focus on service, and pattern his post career efforts after Magic Johnson. The Miami Herald reports on the transformation of Alonzo Mourning from a scowling enigma 13 years ago, to an eloquent 38 year-old ready to move on with the rest of his life.

Taraji P. Henson And Viola Davis Nominated For Oscars

African American Actresses Taraji P. Henson and Viola Davis were nominated for Oscars in the Best Supporting Actress category as announced yesterday. The two actresses were nominated for the movies "The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons" and "Doubt" respectively. Congrats to both for their nominations.

Camden's Refuge For The Homeless

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that by day the Aletha Wright Administration Building across from Camden City Hall is a building for residents to file government paperwork. By night it's a refuge from the cold for the city's homeless. Camden County Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, who lost a great-uncle years ago when he froze to death on a bench in Philadelphia, started the warming center three years ago. This is a good story on taking care of everyone within our society for at least a night regardless of economic standing.

Senseless Killings Continue!

Just hours after having the first African American President sworn into office, the Philadelphia Daily News reports on 17 year-old Dwayne Canty walking to buy dinner for his family, and subsequently being robbed and murdered as a result of gunshot wounds. Canty was robbed of between $120 and $140 according to police.

Another sad commentary on the violence that continues to take the lives of young black males.

Retaking The Oath!

President Barack Obama had to retake the oath the oath of office last night because the original oath had a word out of sequence. White House counsel Greg Craig stated that the retake was done out of "an abundance of caution." Obama’s second swearing-in, devoid of the pomp of the initial event, took place at 7:35 p.m. in the presence of a few aides and reporters. The chief justice was wearing a court robe. “Are you ready to take the oath?” Roberts said. “I am,” Obama said, “And we’re going to do it very slowly.”

I guess it's now official, Congratulations again, President Barack Obama. Thank to the Atlanta Journal Constitution for the link.

Congratulations Mr. President!!

I've dedicated almost 200 posts to our new President of the United States Barack Obama, and now that he' been sworn in, I'm virtually speechless. Congratulations President Obama, I look forward to you "Changing" our country.

Almost There!!

Barack Obama will be sworn in today as the 44th President of the United States and also the first African American to hold the highest office in our country. Obama will be presiding over our country during the worst economic times since the Great Depression. Expectations are high as Obama will represent major change for a country that has often been resistant to African Americans assimilating into the mainstream culture. Obama represents the highly educated, intellectual black male, displaying a persona that is often contrary to the stereotypical black male who represents a propensity towards violence and irresponsibility. As a role model, Obama is a welcome change.

Barack Hussein Obama has used Abraham Lincoln as his role model for assembling his cabinet, which appears to be a good thing. Since the election, he's been more visible than our acting president, George Bush. Obama has been brutally honest with the American people regarding where we are as a country economically. All indications are that he will lead our country in an honest and forthright manner, openly acknowledging that "change" is going to have growing pains, and that patience will indeed have to be a virtue.

A Beautiful Sight!!

I just wanted to post this pic because it's a beautiful sight to see our future first couple so happy and on the verge of history. One More Day!!

BET Honors 2009!

The stars came out Saturday night in Washington, D.C. for BET Honors 2009. Honorees included Tyler Perry, Magic Johnson and Mary J. Blige. The New York Daily News' Rush & Molloy were on the scene, and of course all the talk was about our President-elect Barack Obama. It's reported that Whitney Houston looked good as she continues to remake her career and that Mary J. Blige's husband Kendu Isaac nixed a Keyshia Cole tribute to Mary because he's tired of the comparisons. If true, it's sad that egos still get in the way of togetherness in our community.

Honest Obama!

As the Pre-Inaugural festivities continued yesterday, at the "We Are One" rally yesterday in Washington, D.C. President-elect Barack Obama was honest with the audience about how tough it's going to be to get the country back on track. Tomorrow is the big day for Barack Obama, and immediately he'll go to work doing the work that he was elected to do, which is putting our country back together again and on solid footing.

Would Martin Be Happy With Us?

Tomorrow we celebrate what would have been Martin Luther King Jr.'s 80th birthday as a national holiday (his birthday was actually January 15th), basking in the weekend celebration of the Obama Express rolling into Washington, D.C. and culminating with the Inauguration of our first African American President on Tuesday. Yes, it will be momentous day for black folk all over the country and world, however if Martin Luther King Jr. is looking at us as a people today, he's probably quite bewildered with where we've come in the 40 years since his death.

The civil rights leaders who followed him, appear to have only been in the "movement" for the financial and individual advantages that the position provided them. Martin Luther King Jr. was truly called for his position, and as we can see as a people, another Martin has not been created. Forever the visionary, King would also be bewildered by what appears to be a very troubling future for the educated black male. Drop out rates in most Inner City Schools are at or approaching 50%, which will mean that local jail systems will more than likely continue to be overpopulated as the uneducated black male will turn to the lure of drugs and crime to display unnerving violent tendencies. The sad thing about this fact is that we'll then have conservative pundits like Ann Coulter blaming single mothers for raising criminals when the reality is that at some point everyone has to be accountable for their own actions.

King would probably be excited about what the future holds with Barack Obama about to be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Obama stands as a testament of what can be accomplished, and as African Americans we have to take everything to the next level in term of focus and determination, because that level playing field that we've been searching for has been leveled for all Americans. Circuit City closing it's doors and costing our county 30,000 jobs is affecting every person regardless of color, so how about all of us taking on the challenge of continuing to dream Martin's dream with the zest that Barack Obama has shown us. We now know that anything truly is possible with hard work and a vision. Let's continue to try to turn Martin's dream into a reality, because right now we're on the verge of turning it into a nightmare.