Birmingham is $77M in deficit...

Well, well, well, the jackal had to admit this afternoon that the City of Birmingham is facing a $77 million in the deficit for the fiscal year 2010.  At its half way point in the fiscal year, the city brought in $35 million shorter in revenue than anticipated under the Langford-led administration and Smitherman-led City Council, and even worse the jackal-led administration is about as clueless as they come.  Bell is saying that the city needs to make cutbacks or the shortfall will come a reality.  REALITY CHECK: IT IS A REALITY, JACKAL!  You and your hair brained projects like pushing forward with the BJCC multipurpose facility expansion under your inept ass would be as wise as the man with his last dollar going to the casino to put it in a slot machine.  This is pathetic yet not surprising to me because Bell is an idiot and unable to competently to lead Birmingham.  Instead of focusing on mass transit like Patrick Cooper said Birmingham needs to do which is apart of its infrastructure, Bell wants to continue with the same path laid out by Langford...

I'm wondering how the jackal plans on paying James S. Holbrook, CEO of Sterne Agee & Leach with the city suffering that huge shortfall?  Hmmm...

As I said back in November, the first punch has been thrown in VA

The newly-inaugurated socially conservative Republican governor of Virginia has already rolled by any form of progress for LGBT/SGLs. 

 

Well simple-minded voters and apathetic non-voters of Virginia, you get what you ask for an idiot.  Now he is turning back everything so that Virginia would no doubt be seen as a Southern, conservative state rather than a very progressive state it was going for nearly a decade now.  In other words, if you are employed by either the Commonwealth of Virginia or any employer in Virginia and is terminated for your sexuality then it is what it is because of this asshole.  I warned this ass would to the damn thing and he has done exactly that.  WHAT A SHAME!

So what is really going on?

Although I don't do New York politics on this blog for a number of reasons, I found this comment on my fellow blogger, V, on his blog Maybe It's Just Me by well-known homophobic New York State Senator Ruben Diaz quite interesting:

“The Governor went out on a limb for the gay community in his efforts to
support marriage equality and to bring that bill to the Senate floor, even
though he knew it did not have sufficient votes to pass and that thousands
of people in New York State did not want it and will not support him for
election because of that issue,” remarked Senator Díaz. “Where is the gay
community now that the Governor needs them?” Senator Díaz wondered.
Likewise, Governor Paterson suffered one of his biggest setbacks and
received a ton of criticism when he bypassed Caroline Kennedy and chose
Kirsten Gillibrand instead for the United States Senate. “For that
Governor Paterson has paid dearly and gained a lot of negative ink.
Governor David Paterson must be wondering ‘I was there when they needed me,
where are my friends now that I need them? 

“I remember back on Sunday May 17, 2009, I organized a demonstration of
tens of thousands people in front of Governor David Paterson’s Manhattan
office to protest his staunch support for gay marriage and the Governor
stood by the gay community and didn’t waver.

“I am not endorsing Governor Paterson but I admire his commitment to those
whom he believes are his friends. My father used to say in Puerto Rico ‘My
friends are my friends with their virtues and flaws."

Well, Diaz isn't lying since NY Governor David Patterson is suffering some major blows to his popularity and political capital amongst a huge segment of constituency.  Patterson went out on a limb and put up Kirsten Gillibrand for U.S. Senate seat formerly held by Hilliary Clinton and the same-sex unionship bill before the State Assembly then it failed epically.  Diaz might be a homophobe out of this world, but he hit the nail on the head because the LGBTs in NYC have all but abandoned the man that put his ass out on the limb for them.  I say that is the reason why any black politico with any common sense doesn't bend over backwards for LGBT activists and bloggers because see that is exactly what happens.  If you are going to do something make sure it with a pluralistic support beyond them because most of them just like other identity voters, have the attention span of a gnat.  Yet some bloggers Rod McCullom, Pam Spaulding, etc. want to know why some black politicos are either hesitant or only pushes legislation when somebody else does it.  This is the textbook reason why...

Wait a minute! Did the jackal admit Birmingham can't fund the BJCC expansion?

Yeah, I think the jackal did.  He is so damn stupid like the 54% of the 30% of eligible votes within the City of Birmingham that did vote on January 19th.  Meanwhile, myself and the other 46% knew otherwise that it couldn't because the city of Birmingham is treading on broke aside from its capital expenditures which wouldn't be enough to fund the expansion of the BJCC.  It's like DUH!, but of course some assholes wanted to vet or didn't personally like Patrick Cooper so now jackal is backpedaling in the mayor's chair about what he said on the campaign trail.  ANYWAYS! 

Birmingham needs to be taking care of basic daily operations and getting the books straight rather than trying to fund something that requires something like capital.  That is clearly something the city is lacking at the moment and the jackal and the City Council knows this...

Both Birmingham and Atlanta lost out on their T.I.G.E.R. grant bids

On February 17th, the 2010 Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant recipient list was announced, but Birmingham and Atlanta main transit projects weren't on the list.  The grant program is worth over $1.5 billion in funds to well over 50 different programs that will improve transportation infrastructure in various cities and regions across the nation.  However, the Norfolk-Southern received grant funds for their projects including a major hub in the Greater Birmingham area with the Crescent Corridor Intermodal Freight Rail Project with $244 million.  On the other hand, other regions in the South did receive some funds such as the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority did get $45 million for the Loyola Loop extension of their streetcar system and for the Union Passenger Terminal improvements, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) received $23 million for a downtown streetcar system in Dallas, and Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation received $48.4 million for the I-244 multimodal bridge replacement in Tulsa, and the National Capital Planning Commission received $58.8 million for priority bus system in the DC metro area.  Here is the link to the full final report from the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The problems that plague both Birmingham and Atlanta were pretty much their respective state governments doesn't invest in transportation infrastructure outside of roads and bridges.  Although the In-Town Transit Partnership bus rapid transit system would cost $65 million and $6.5 million to operate annually, the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) failed to secure the grant most likely due to the lack of allocated funding sources from the state of Alabama and local governments.  The same can be said about the issues plaguing the Atlanta Beltline light rail and streetcar system.  The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), like ALDOT, doesn't allow any funds to go towards public transit, so the Atlanta Regional Commission along with the Friends of the Beltline and the City of Atlanta are vying for the project one their own.  This is the very likely cause for the failure of securing any of the T.I.G.E.R. funds. 

Since the recent loss, the RPCGB has promised to find an alternative source of secured funds to push the In-Town Transit Partnership forward from the drafting table.  Similar efforts have been announced with the officials associated with Atlanta's Beltline. 

All I can say to both entities is, GOOD LUCK.  Considering the economic environment we are in during these times, both cities will be lucky to fund their existing mass transit infrastructure without making massive cuts in service.  Sadly, the BJCTA of Greater Birmingham isn't seeing its best times already with it begging the city of Birmingham to provide them a much needed $9 million in funds to continue its service through the rest of fiscal year after March 30 (which is the 6 month point for FY 2010).  The jackal is about as idiotic as they come, so don't expect any real decisions coming from the mayor's office on the problems with the BJCTA.  Sadly, MARTA is facing a similar crisis with tax revenue slipping from both Fulton and DeKalb counties, and the fact that DeKalb County is facing a financial meltdown that could possibly lead to a layoff or furloughing of county employees (sounds like Jefferson County all over again...).

SAD! 

A little reality check...

I was doing my usual blog stroll and came across this lovely post on Left in Alabama and boy was it quite a doozy!  Gotta give it up to the non-native, but person with Alabama connections calling it like he sees it.  However, he was only half-right because there is some major political strength behind Artur Davis' campaign here in Alabama.  The problem is only timing, which is going to play a major part in the gubernatorial election.

Oh, the Democratic Two-Step and a little info for them to think about

Since Evan Buh-Bayh is going "home" to become a lobbyist, now there is hysteria of carnage come November for Democrats.  Let's be a little more realistic!

1. Evan Bayh wasn't going to win in the long run because Indiana is one of the bipolar states of the nation where rational is wrong and irrational is right.  In other words, if you have a sense of rationality you would likely lose an election.  He was polling well, but he would have lost simply because the Democratic caravan of wagons would abandon him over the healthcare debacle. 
2. These other Democrats or Dumbocrats as I call them, would have jumped ship as well because they are letting the Angry White People Coalition AKA "TEA Party" scare them.  You can win if you run a campaign based on the platform rather than rhetoric.  However, most of these Dumbocrats can't even do that because they are the proverbial "wind guage" of the politcal establishment. 
3. Republicans aren't going to gain many if any seats.  If anything this is election year is going to be a "wake up call" to a number of complacent politicos.  Those who are buying into polls are IDIOTS.  The common political reality still exists, older whites are going to be the majority of those voting come November because the other demographic of voters are lazy and just as complacent as the politicos.

Now since I've said that, it's time to call out what needs to occur and can occur to as resultl

1. Black and other non-white voters needs to step it up and get out and vote.  If you let older, simple-minded white voters make up your representation in Congress, state capitols, county government, or municipal governments then you deserve what you get.  2008 proved that there is power in numbers, knowledge, and awareness.  The Angry White People Coalition isn't that powerful, they are just more vocal, and the media gives life to their fuckery. 
2. LGBT/SGLs with common sense and logic needs to cancel out the fools and vote for progressive pragmatic politicos and not let the bitch-asses who will follow the fools by "jumping off the bridge" by force feeding legislation that doesn't stand a chance in hell of passing this year.  Most politicos are paranoid this year and with jobs as scarce as they currently are, yeah they are going to be as careful as possible.
3. Fuck the Libertarians, Angry White People Coalition, and the Conservatives!  They don't give a fuck about anybody but themselves and if you give that life by letting them define any candidate or agenda then you will lose.  Ron Paul and his ilk are asses, and call them what they are asses!  Also let's not forget that aversive racial bias will be at work, so don't fall on those silly laurels of being those doesn't exist (see Angry White People Coalition). 

Those are the facts of reality with this political year we are living in, and if those who are running for office doesn't realize this then they will suffer the consequences of stupidity, paranoia, and letting others think and define you...

As I expected...black women said, "No, thanks John!" to John Mayer's apology

On Thursday, while performing his song "Gravity", John Mayer interrupted his performance to apologize to fans about this recent comments.  However, a number of prominent black women said, "Thanks, but no thanks, John!" about his apology. 

Holly Robinson Peete was mentioned in the Playboy interview and complimented about her looks by Mayer, but the she said this after reading the entire interview:

It's crucial for African-American women to understand that I would never knowingly gush about such a compliment had I had any clue that it was bookended by these racially denigrating comments about black women. I feel disgusted by it. I went from flattered to flat-out pissed."

It gets even better than that, comedienne Lunell let Mayer have it on TMZ on TV by saying, "Nobody wants your small ass dick, white boy!"  LOL

Well Mr. Mayer, it's unanimous your "nigger card" has been burnt up and a number of black women have said they don't want your small dick, LMAO!

Birmingham is held in contempt of court?

Well, this time for missing a key deadline on a 30-year-old lawsuit involving making all the personnel data of the City of Birmingham and Jefferson County Personnel Board transparent for everybody (since they are publicly-funded governmental agencies).  Birmingham under the tenure of the jackal, William Bell, failed to comply by January 31st, which was the deadline set back in 2008.  Oh well, another day on the voyage of a ship without an incompetent captain for the next 20 months...

YAWN! Are we still at this

I'm still gathering evidence in between my professional work, but I'm absolutely convinced that some certain LGBT bloggers are trying their best to give a covert endorsement of the epic failure and flip-flopper Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) over the other flip-flopper (or is double-talker?) and recent NY transplant Harold Ford, Jr.  I say this is getting a little out of hand if you ask me, but will sit back and gather further evidence because it seems that their agenda.  However, I digress if you are going to be a "journalist" where does objectively lie in your reporting?

I give it up to V on his blog, on his reporting how Gillibrand's call for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" last week was futile because it was clearly she was grandstanding instead of standing up for LGBT/SGLs in the military.  He is way more objective about what is being said than most which why I respect his opinion and take on things. If we are going to talk about it then talk about (something my aforementioned LGBT blogger did), but some others want to "talk at" and then "say their bizarro endorsement" while claiming they're reporting it.

If you like her, good for you, but don't try to defame somebody because they have a fair chance of winning over your favorite.   Just say, you don't like nig---I mean black man over the white woman.  It just makes you look illogical and subjective when it come to debating and stances in the political arena...

A poll by the Washington Post says....

About half of the black residents within the District are for same-sex unions whereas the other half is against them.  Here is the excerpt from this past Sunday's edition of the Washington Post:

Although most District residents are in sync with the council in support of same-sex marriage, there is widespread public support for putting the question to a city-wide vote.

Nearly six in 10 residents say they would prefer to vote on the issue. City leaders have said a public vote would be discriminatory. "I don't think it should be a decree made by the government," said Pablo Barreyro, 72, of Chevy Chase. "I don't think it should be left to a small party of politicians. . . . I really wonder what the outcome would be if it becomes available for public input."

If it lands on the ballot, however, the District would be well positioned to become the first state-level jurisdiction in the country where voters embraced same-sex marriage, according to the poll.

Nearly six in 10 D.C. residents, including 83 percent of whites, favor making it legal for gay couples to marry.

The broad support for same-sex marriage in the District's white community cuts across cultural lines that divide opinions on the matter nationally. Regular white churchgoers nationwide generally oppose same-sex marriage, but two-thirds of whites in the District who attend services monthly or more often support same-sex marriage.

African Americans tilt against same-sex marriage. Thirty-seven percent of black residents back legal same-sex marriage. A slim majority opposes it, and the bulk of opponents say they feel that way strongly.

But some divisions are evident in the local black community on this issue, with sharp divides by church attendance and education.

One in five African Americans who attend church services weekly favor same-sex marriage, and support rises to 47 percent among those who attend less often. A narrow majority of black college graduates supports gay marriage, compared with about a third of African Americans with less formal education.

The poll indicates that council members Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) and Yvette M. Alexander (D-Ward 7) were representing their constituents' views when they became the only two members to vote against the same-sex marriage bill.

So according to the poll, the more educated and less religious an individual is then the more apt they are to be accepting of same-sex unions.  Whereas, the less educated and more religious an individual is then the more likely they are against same-sex unions.  Uh duh!  I've been seeing this correlation for awhile now, but people can't see that is the issue amongst black folks, too many don't think for themselves instead let the others think for them...like white people.  The irony is that the whites in DC are more apt to support same-sex unions. 

Now, one thing I won't agree with is if it put up for referendum because anybody with a brain knows that just because there is support doesn't automatic mean passage (see Maine and its same-sex union referendum).  The fact that progressive voters are more lazier than socially conservative voters happens even with black folks as well, hence why that jackal won the election in Birmingham in January. Some black folks are lot more complicit with foolishness than righteousness when it comes to things they don't realize affects them more than anything else.

I'm just saying...

Uh?

According to the Huntsville Times, there was a shooting at the University of Alabama at Huntsville campus this afternoon around 4 p.m. in the Shelby Research Center.  There are 3 causalities and 3 injured and 2 people in custody involved in this shooting.  Apparently, the word is the reason was involved for the shooting was a member of faculty not receiving their tenureship as expected.

John Mayer is stupid as hell, but at least he was honest!

Well, mediocre musician and recording artist John Mayer has put his foot in his mouth and now he is realizing that his foot doesn't taste too good.  He was interviewed for the March edition of Playboy magazine, and he talked about his past relationship with Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Aniston, etc. then he talked about his "nigger pass" and how his dick is like "David Duke" when it comes to black women (and men). 

Someone asked me the other day, “What does it feel like now to have a hood pass?” And by the way, it’s sort of a contradiction in terms, because if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass if you really have a hood pass? But I said, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’"

What is being black? It’s making the most of your life, not taking a single moment for granted. Taking something that’s seen as a struggle and making it work for you, or you’ll die inside. Not to say that my struggle is like the collective struggle of black America. But maybe my struggle is similar to one black dude’s.

I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.

Uh ok, John.  You are an idiot with issues.  I mean I'll have fun watching your career crash and burn, but that's just me for your realness and honesty.   Meanwhile, Kanye gets shafted for his ignorance I can only hope the same for you.  The irony was you both did a song together in 2005.

Tricky Dicky's power stunt might cost Republicans later on this year

Alabama's U.S Senator Richard "Tricky Dicky" Shelby is impeding any progress in the nomination process of any of the 70 nominated for the Obama administration over "pork" projects he wants for this state.  He wants the defense contracts, FBI training center, and money for other pet projects from federal dollars to return to Alabama.  This jackass is hoping to appease the delusional and WASP-y crowd that will buy anything he is selling because he wants deserves this "pork money" more than the reality of the federal deficit and wants to bad-mouth Obama as being "useless" as his empty-head, blind followers would buy.  FYI, he has more than 5 buildings across Central Alabama that bare his or his families' name on it.

However, little do he realize this can be a ball in the Obama administration and Democrats' corner since this is doing exactly what they have been claiming "obstructing progress in Washington".  Shelby might ironically wind up costing his fellow Republican comrades or comrades in running for office some major political capital.  Also let's not forget how John "McSame" McCain is the anti-thesis of pork and they are in the same party and house of Congress - the Senate.  It's going to be very interesting thanks to this dubious attempt to blackmail the Obama administration and Washington over some self-centered shit.  Alabama isn't the most important place in the nation, and anybody with half-a-brain knows this.

UPDATE:  He backed off on his holds after the press and everybody else made an ass of him, especially with the Republicans gaining a reputation as obstructionists.

New Orleans elects it first white mayor in a generation...

Unfortunately, my professional life has seriously impeded upon my following of the New Orleans mayoral race, but apparently Moon Landrieu's youngest child, Mitch, won the seat of New Orleans' mayor last night.  Also the twisted irony is that Moon was New Orleans' last white mayor since 1978.  He beat everybody by a psuedo-"landslide" considering he only won by 66% in a field of 5 candidates.  The surprise to me is that Atlanta tried to do the same thing, but the racialized politics cloudy this and hence why we have Kasim Reed aka "Fathead" in office.  Anyways, congrats N.O. considering you had Ray "C-Ray" Nagin as mayor for the past 8 years and prove to be a bigger joke than anybody else in recent history of local politics.

Now, the whole political football over endorsing New Orleans over Indianapolis is so trivial to me, so have at to everybody else.  It is what it is.  I would say just enjoy the game...

Poor DC and Baltimore!

I know that those "Southern cities in denial" are both getting hit hard this week by a major snowstorm that has up to 2 feet of snow on the ground in both cities and their shared metropolitan region.  However, the true test to me if a city is considered non-Southern or not is how they react to such an event.  DC failed epicly with their residents all racing to the supermarkets and retailers that sold bread, milk, and other snowstorm foods.  Instead, Baltimore did show it is more Northern than Southern since their residents were quite passe' about the snow, but the city did shutdown which is another sign of "Southern-ness" of their city.  Interesting, both cities mass transit systems are still operating, but the majority of DC Metrorail is underground.  Baltimore on the other hand is a hybrid of both subway and light rail, but they are still operating as well. 

Regardless, both cities are Southern and they can deny it until hell freezes over, but NYC, Philadelphia, etc. haven't nor doesn't shut down for anything.  Hence why they are considered Northeastern cities whereas DC and Baltimore are just pretending to be that, but they know what they really are...

Superbowl and why I envy those in South Florida right now

I'm stuck working on a project for graduate school, but I really would LOVE to be in South Florida right now.  No lie!  I would be just relaxing and laughing at the debauchery that is occuring there with everybody flocking there including the bach-bachheads and whores to get with the NFL players for God-knows what reason.  Regardless, I would be living it up in SoFlo because it much nicer and sunnier than it is here in Birmingham.

However, I wanted to take time out to say that this might be Miami and South Flroida's last Superbowl if the region's leaders don't pony up the funds to renovate and find an retractable coverage for SunLife Financial Stadium in northern Miami-Dade County.  The word on the street is that the NFL wants them to "upgrade the stadium to modern NFL standards", which means "fix it, making it bigger and better, or we're out".  Man, the NFL commission is a trip since the stadium formerly known as Dolphin Stadium (until January), is a relatively modern NFL facility.  I mean if they are looking for a Texas-size upgrade like Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, then they are on some stupid crap for sure.  Miami is a warm, tropical place, so what do you expect.  Even if it does rain there, it's not like you can't still have the game compared to much colder and snowier places like in the NYC, Chicago, etc. where they have open-air stadia and couldn't host a Superbowl for nothing.  Sheesh!

TEA Party Convention in Nashville????

After watching some of the coverage of the TEA Party Convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort in the east Nashville community of Hertimage, I've come to the conclusion that most of those who are attendees are nuttier than a fruitcake.  The coverage has shown people continue with their "Obamanation" signage to the prayer rallies where they are calling President Obama, "Satan's helper".  Special as hell if you ask me because these (white) people are obviously just as lost as compasses without needles since they don't know what the hell they are talking about or saying. 

The speakers at the convention includes the moron and former GOP VP candidate, Sarah Palin.  However,  my favorite idiot in the U.S. House, Michelle "Bach-Bachhead" Bachmann of Minnesota (Republican), who is the queen of word-vomit and idiocy along with U.S. House Rep. from suburban Brentwood in Williamson County, Marsha Blackburn, pulled out of the convention for fear of violating campaign finance rules. LMAO

The sudden change from non-profit to for-profit status of the Tea Party Nation seems to be beacon of contraversy with this convention and its organizing organization. 

What's even more twisted and screwed up, that The Tennesseean newspaper in Nashville was denied media credentials to enter the convention, but the Nashville area attorney and Tea Party Nation Corp. founder and convention organizer, Judson Phillips, wouldn't even tell the newspaper why.

This is just a H.A.M. sandwich.

RANT: I call it like I see it!

It's rather amusing what has been going on with the emotion-based, irrational diatribes of some people in the LGBT/SGL blogosphere about the whole "Democratic leadership" and "Obama administration" issue.  I've learned to just take an objective approach when it comes to stupidity or emotional, irrational convictions, and that is GET THE FUCK OVER IT.  If you spend 95% of your time complaining about those who don't agree with you, yet you get somebody like myself calling you out then guess what that just might be some evidence to validate what you were told. Then there is the curious case of some bloggers taking things personal when I did exactly that because, in my own opinion, I'm not here to make friends with anybody that doesn't share my objectivity on issues at all (in other words always gets bent all out of shape when somebody doesn't agree with you).  I can respect you, but when you take things very personal then that is all on you.  However, it just reinforces what David Kaufman said just last week about the some of the main LGBT/SGL bloggers and their egos on issues.  LMAO!  Yeah Rod, you are included in this bunch as well.

I can't help, but laugh at the fact that all of a sudden how so many of the constant whiners are eating crow after the State of the Union speech and actions behind the words of the Obama administration with the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".  The question is how long will the whiners be appeased before they start to whine again.  All I will say is this, if you force change overnight it usually have adverse results of what you wanted or intended. 

TO BE CONTINUED...