The story of Stanley Tookie Williams is a sad and sorry one from start to finish. Raised on the mean streets of South Central Los Angeles, in or about 1971, at the age of 17, Williams and Raymond Washington responded to their impoverished , crime infested environment by co-founding the Crips street gang as a means of self-defense for themselves and the members that soon swelled the ranks. Unfortunately, Williams and the gang morphed into a ruthless criminal organization which provided money, a sense of belonging, and a form of “respect” for its members by any means necessary, including violence.

In 1979, Williams was arrested and charged for the shotgun murder of 4 people; was convicted in 1981 (by an all white jury) based on “jail house informant” testimony, and was sentenced to death. From the outset, Williams maintained his innocence through myriad unsuccessful appeals. Ultimately, he appealed to the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Nazi Admirer and former actor of Terminator infamy. The “Governator” put on a stellar performance as the conscientious Governor, giving serious consideration to a plea from a condemned man to commute his sentence. Schwarzenegger stated that he “dreaded” the task. As a part of the farce, Arnold held a clemency “hearing” wherein each side was given a grand total of 30 minutes to present a case which had been more than 25 years in the making.

At age 51, Stanley Tookie Williams was no longer the swaggering bodybuilding gang leader. Beginning in 1993, Williams renounced gang affiliations, gang violence, and violence in general as a means of solving problems. He immersed himself in a crusade to stop gang violence, prevent young people from participating in gangs such as the Crips and broker truces between rival gangs. Along with co-author Barbara Becknell, Williams penned numerous children’s books designed to instill positive values and discourage involvement with criminal gangs. Williams was twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize and achieved what he has described as redemption. His actions since his conviction and sentencing qualify as long term and sincere efforts to atone for what Williams himself has described as his shameful past. Williams had changed himself from the foremost purveyor of gang violence to the foremost opponent of criminal street gangs. With his credentials and his platform, he was in a perfect position to have a tremendously positive impact on all youth, but especially black and minority youth who are at risk for a life of crime, inside or outside of gangs.

Facing this enormous responsibility; knowing the shortcomings and imperfections in the criminal justice system; the discriminatory application of the death penalty, especially as it is applied to black people; the growing number of states adopting a moratorium on the death penalty; the lack of forensics connecting Williams to the murders, and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (in 2000) suggestion that the Governor commute the sentence based on Williams’ effort toward atonement, Arnold gave a condemned man rhetoric rather than a fair hearing, sham rather than a sincere consideration of all the facts and circumstances. Rather than err in favor of life, as his pro life supporters would say, Arnold bowed to political pressure, chose political expediency and made the political calculation that black man + criminal gangs + death penalty = tough on crime and lots of political capital come re-election time.

And where were the Democrats when their MOST loyal constituents wanted their concerns in this matter addressed? They were where they always are, no where to be found.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am against the death penalty because of the manifest imperfections in the criminal justice system, the irreversible nature of the death penalty, and the discriminatory application of the same in cases involving the poor and minorities (especially black people). Remember, though shalt not kill and vengeance is MINE (not the State) saith the Lord.

S

During the Clinton years the strategy of Triangulation was forged. This strategy was designed to allow for the repackaging of Republican ideas as “New Democrat” ideas and to allow Clinton to be on all sides of an issue at the same time, without appearing to be indecisive or a breakfast food, commonly known as a “waffle.” Despite Democratic opinion to the contrary, this strategy was not effective. Rather, it cemented the image of the Democratic Party as a party without conviction, without a moral compass, without ideas, and without integrity. It supported the Republican arguments that Democrats could not be TRUSTED, especially with matters as important as our national defense. Then along came Bush to quench the thirst of many for what they believed to be a return to deeply held beliefs, morality, integrity, and new ideas. By triangulating, “Slick Willie” and all of his impersonators strangled their constituents’ aspirations and the Democratic Party's chances of winning elections, especially presidential elections.

Although the American people have gradually become disillusioned with the Republicans and now realize that they are the party of hypocrisy, cronyism, lies, and religious demagoguery, the Democrats have yet to learn a lesson from the Clinton Years. A prime example is John Kerry. He triangulated during the election campaign in an attempt to be on both sides of the most important issues of the day, the invasion of Iraq and the so-called “War on Terror.” The American people saw through his pitiful attempt and even though he bested Bush in all of the debates, his palpable lack of integrity and conviction left him marked as too untrustworthy to lead the nation. The American people do not elect presidents who split hairs on issues; they elect people who know where and how they want to lead America. John Kerry did not qualify.

Soon the Democrats will have another opportunity to win in the mid-term and 2008 presidential elections. As of now, everyone is looking to Hillary Clinton as the front runner. For the past two years as a Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton (perhaps under the tutelage of Bill?) has sharpened her triangulation skills, splitting hairs with the administration on Iraq and doing her best conservative, New Democrat, Centrist impression, or was she previously doing a progressive impression? Ah, those pesky questions! If Clinton is selected to be the standard barer for the Democrats, the combination of the Clinton Legacy (saving himself from impeachment & ORAL office hijinks); Her continuing support for the Iraq war (only disagreeing on technical/strategic grounds); and Her addiction to New Democrat (Republican Lite) posturing, will result in another Dukakis/Gore/ Kerry outcome. Of course this is based on the Republicans running a competent candidate, maybe Guliani “the Adulterer” or McCain “The Straight Talker” (about as straight as that arm of his). Nevertheless, either of them would clean Clinton's clock head to head.

The prescription for the Democrats: fire the consultants, the pollsters, and the political strategists; decide what is REALLY good for America; stand for it; and America will do the right thing.

S

The abuse of minor children by Roman Catholic Priests, and the apparent “willful blindness” of the Church Hierarchy to the abuse has played out on television, in courtrooms and in Catholic churches all across America. In the midst of all the discussion, hand wringing, and righteous indignation, some very important issues have not been adequately addressed.

First is mandatory celibacy for priests. This practice lacks any biblical foundation other than the Apostle Paul's sentiment that it would be best that all men (engaged in the ministry) remain single. But, even the Apostle advised that if one could not remain celibate it was better to marry than to burn. The burden of celibacy is one reason that candidates for the priesthood are in such short supply. The removal of this burden would provide a larger pool of priests from which to choose and lessen the perceived need to protect and retain those priests who for whatever reason are not in the best interests of the Church.

The second issue has to do with the compatibility of homosexuality and the priesthood. The bible is clear in its condemnation of the practice, calling it an abomination. The Church would be well served not to waffle on this issue and state categorically that the ordination of gay priests is not acceptable. However, it should also clearly state that gay parishioners are welcome to join the church and seek liberation from their lifestyle, and conformation to the example of Christ.

Third and last is the issue of reform, and a serious examination of the dynamics within the Church that resulted in the protection of the offending priests rather than the protection of vulnerable minors. The Church needs to do some serious “soul searching” and institutional reformation. They should implement a better method of screening out pedophiles; remove offending priests from the priesthood; reducing the opportunities for abuse; and provide prompt compensation and counseling to victims.

The preceding issues must be forthrightly addressed by the Roman Catholic Church before this sickness can be comprehensively remedied. The easy answer of "banning gays" will not suffice.

S

For many years now, since at least 1964 (in or about the time of the Civil Right Act), the southern region of the United States has been solidly Republican, especially with respect to Presidential Electoral politics. To borrow a phrase from Andy Rooney, "Have you ever wondered why?

Well, let's look at the South and the Republican Party to see if we can find any clues.

The southern region of the United States can be characterized in part as: Anti Government (opposing any government effort that might help minorities); White Male Supremacist, Racist and Race Baiting, Sexist, Gun Worshipping; Rife with Cronyism, Hypocritical (especially with respect to religious and sexual matters); Christian Fundamentalist, Militaristic, with a rich history of Electoral Fraud and Voter disenfranchisement (particularly of African Americans).

The Republican party can be characterized as The Party Of: Small Government (government should be just large enough to provide welfare to the wealthy, the corporate, and their water bearers); White Male Supremacy (the "angry white males" don't support them for nothing); Racism and Race Baiting (Jesse Helms Brought it into the 21st Century with his Congressional Club….. see Bill Bennett on his racist ideas on crime control); "Gun Nuts" (read NRA, nuff said); Sexism (opposing a woman's right to reproductive choice…. ask Harriet Meirs about it ); Religious Fundamentalism ( see Intelligent Design, The Religious Right and Pat Robertson); Militarism (see Iraq, Afghanistan, Pat Robertson and the Project for the New American Century), Cronyism (see Cheney and Halliburton, Bush Senior and the Carlisle Group); and Electoral Fraud (see Diebold, the "Florida Flim Flam of 2000" and the “Ohio Heist of 2004).”

I don’t have to draw you a picture. Do I? It is clear that the “South Land” and the Republican Party is a match made in heaven...or is it HELL? You decide.

S

This issue of persons who come to the US illegally has been in the news for years, brought to the forefront lately by the rise of the Minute Men. This group of self appointed border control agents has been patrolling the US/Mexico border ostensibly to stanch the flow of illegal Mexican immigrants. They stand for the proposition that the US must control its own borders as would any nation state. This position is only common sense. However, the Minute Men fail to address the other element of the border control problem, namely the US employers who profit from the use and sometimes abuse of illegal aliens in the interest of their bottom line and at the expense of the American worker. Like pornography or drug trafficking, if there is no demand, there is no supply. Unless the employers who demand these less than minimum wage workers are dealt with forcefully and effectively, there will be no stopping the flow of illegal immigration from Latin America and Mexico.

Unfortunately, George W. Bush and his administration, the best friend the multinationals, oil conglomerates, and fat cats have ever had {tax incentives to outsource American jobs, oil company subsidies, and opposition to estate and capital gains taxation}, is giving lip service to dealing effectively and comprehensively with the border control problem. Instead, they are undermining the American worker and driving down US wages and standards of living by resurrecting “indentured servitude” dressed up as a “guest worker program.” They are upping the ante in the war against the American worker and labor unions by “in sourcing” virtual slave labor to serve business interests while untold millions of American workers go lacking for employment. Sadly, this is shameful but not unexpected policy from the current administration.

Americans must wake up and realize that their economic futures are being OUT sourced, IN sourced, mortgaged and squandered. There is no law that says highly skilled jobs of the rapidly vanishing “middle class” AND “upper middle class” can not be the next ones to be OUT and IN sourced.

In source and out source, indeed the whole country is getting the “old in and out” in a royal fashion!

S