Faux Politics

Recently, President Obama sat down for an interview with Spanish-speaking Univision, where he said he “can’t change Washington from the inside.” 

Although he was not entirely specific about how that judgment is represented, an overzealous Mitt Romney fired back.

“We’re going to give him that chance in November.  He’s going outside,” Romney said at a rally in Sarasota, Fla.

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus said the party of “yes we can” has moved on to “no I can’t.”  Clever.

Hindsight is 20-20.  Foresight, on the other hand, is a strategy.

If you’re drowning, you don’t have the foresight to politely ask someone to help you. You just scream. The obvious foresight would be to not walk on thin ice with a backpack full of hammers.

That’s what it seems like Republican nominee Romney is doing.  Romney appears to be drowning in gaffs; exacerbating the great divide between two parties that won’t give an inch, but would gladly take a mile. He came, unprepared and out of touch.

Republican House Speaker John Boehner said in a press conference Friday, were Obama reelected, there would be no taxes raised on high-income families.

As much as he would like to believe that, several members of his caucus do not share the same optimism.

Representative Tom Cole admitted that, if Obama wins, taxes would likely to increase for wealthy families. He said Obama would be able to allow the Bush tax cute to expire for incomes above $250,000.

“If the president wins reelection, taxes are going up,” Cole said in a Fox News report, “and there’s not a lot we can do about that."

Currently, 47% of citizens pay little to no taxes.  Many citizens who don’t pay taxes are seniors and veterans.  Romney’s statements earlier this week that many of those not paying taxes believe they are victims only adds fuel to the inflammatory perceptions of him.

The two nominees can focus on substance, namely domestic policy, at the upcoming Oct. 3 debate. It will take place at the University of Denver and is sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. 

PBS NewsHour host Jim Lehrer will moderate the debate.

Who is Uncle Samurai?

Uncle Samurai is Justin Chandler Porter; a Journalism student from the University of North Florida.  He has a black belt in karate and spelling.  He plays the piano and is an excellent swimmer.  He writes screenplays and is almost fluent in Spanish.

Uncle Samurai brings the latest in bureaucratic bantar to those in dire need of a political tune-up.  For local, national and even global newsworthy events, Uncle Samurai roams the wastelands of the internet, scouring for significance among stories that have been equivocated by popular media outlets.

Although the stories aim to be objective, their purpose is subjective:  to fill the information gaps brought on by pop culture and materialism to a generations' struggling enthusiasm.

This blog is intended to cultivate and preserve my personal aptitude for political erudition, and to share that knowledge with the inquiring world.

Mayor Brown's Nominees

The nation’s largest city, in both population and land area, is getting bigger, better and stronger!

Mayor Alvin Brown announced Aug. 31 his nominees for a volunteer group designed to oversee the Jacksonville City Council’s new Downtown Investment Authority.

Mayor Brown, and the nine board members of the new DIA
(photo from coj.net)

Brown and Council President Bill Bishop chose the nine-member board from a long list of qualified Jacksonville citizens who all share the same goal of bringing more business to Jacksonville.

Brown said, in coj.net, the goal of the board will be to attract more residents, increase tourism and increase the city’s value through revenue and commerce.

Brown chose five of the nine nominees:

1. *Melody S. Bishop - architect with Akel Logan & Shafer.  She serves on the A1A Florida Board of Directors and the Florida Foundation for Architecture Board of Trustees.
2. *Robert M. Clements - Chairman and CEO of EverBank. 
3. *Kamira Harper - Practicing attorney with the Harper Law Firm
4. *Donald Harris - General Manager of the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk Hotel.
5. *Paul Perez - Former U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and current Chief Compliance   Officer for Fidelity National Financial.

Council President Bishop chose four of the nominees:

1. *Antonio Allegretti - Founding Director of the Riverside Arts Market and a partner at the Burrito Gallery.  Current Director of Downtown Engagement for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce.
2. *James F. Bailey Jr. - President of Bailey Publishing and Communications and Publisher of the Financial News & Daily Record
3. *Oliver Barakat -  Senior Vice President for CBRE .
4. *Donald A. Shea - Executive Director of the nonpartisan Jacksonville Civic Council.  Former executive director of the Shreveport Downtown Development Authority and President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

The City Council unanimously approved of the DIA Aug. 15.  The members are all appointed to a four-year term and will perform transparent business the public will see.

Mayor Brown signing legislation to renew downtown Jax
(photo courtesy of First Coast News)

Once funded, the board will put forward a downtown development plan and revitalize Jacksonville’s downtown area.

Click the link to Jacksonville's Official Website to learn more about the DIA and the Better Jacksonville Plan (BJP).