THE MAGAZINE FOR POLIT ICAL NEWS

2 The Political Beat October/November 2010

8. PALIN WORNS GOP

10. NAPOLEON BRACY

12. DO ISSUES MATTER

18. HIT RESET

VOLUME 1 ISSUE 1

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2010

CONTENTPB

The President 6

The Editor of The Political Beat

Ron Wallace

3

15

The City of

Prichard will con-

tinue to move

ahead by provid-

ing essential mu-

nicipal services

and to operate for

the betterment of

you as citizens.

Mayor Davis

3 The Political Beat October/November 2010

Ron Wallace is an inspir ingEdi tor- In-Chief for The Po-l i t ical Beat . A Pol i t ical Pub-l ica t ion publ i shed d ig i ta l lyevery two months . Wal laceis a de tec t ive wi th the Mo-bi le Pol ice Depar tment ,where he i s ass igned to theCriminal Invest igat ion Divi-s ion . He i s a na t ive of Mo-bi le and a graduate of JohnLeFlore High School . Wal-lace served on ac t ive dutywith the U. S. Marine Corpsfor e ight years .

He has s tud ied a t the Uni -vers i ty of South Alabamaand Bishop State Universi ty.He’s a l so a cer t i f ied com-puter network engineer, anda graduate of Nor th I s landNaval Base wi th a cer t i f i -ca te as a computer sys temsadminis t ra tor.

In addi t ion , Wal lace i s agraduate of Avia t ion Main-tenance a t Naval BaseMeridian, Miss . , wi th a cer-t i f ica te in av ia t ion main te-nance adminis t ra t ion andaeronautical technical publi-ca t ion l ib rary management .He’s the previous owner andCEO of Netforce Computersand Al lgravy Networks .Wallace has received severalawards and ci ta t ions for his

outs tanding work wi th theMobi le Pol ice Depar tment .He’s a c ivic leader, mot iva-t ional speaker and mentor tolocal youth. Wallace ran forMobile City Council in 2009but came in third in his race.Af ter having a touch of thePol i t ical arena, Wallace hadthe idea of s tar t ing a Pol i t i -

cal Magazine. That is whenthe b i r th of The Pol i t ica lBeat came about . Throughhis magazine , Wal lace be-l ieves that i t wi l l be a publ i -ca t ion for ge t t ing pol i t ica lnews to the people of th i scountry.

Wal lace i s the son of thela te Mr. & Mrs . Per ry Wal-lace Jr.

ABOUT THE EDITORPB

CEO/EDITOR-IN-CHIEFRon Wallace is an inspiring Editor-In-Chief for The Political BeatA Political Publication published digitally every two months.

4 The Political Beat October/November 2010

PB

The Political Beat October/November 2010 5

WHO WILL HAVE THE MAJORITY

YOU DECIDE VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2

The President arrived facing an unprecedented

array of challenges, and is meeting them with a

bold, comprehensive plan. He passed the most am-

bitious recovery package in history to address the

economic crisis. He is reimagining government to

be more open, transparent, and accountable. And

he is restoring America's alliances abroad, as well

as our American values here at home.

by Political Beat Staff

A New Foundation

6 The Political Beat October/November 2010

THE PRESIDENTPB

President Obama’s low popularity

ratings and the notion that he has not

accomplished anything in his first two

years in office is incorrect. Yes the

unemployment figures could explain

the President’s unpopalarity. Obama

has pretty much completed his top-

items of his agenda.

Guiding Principles

President Obama’s central focus is

on stimulating economic recovery and

helping America emerge a stronger

and more prosperous nation. The cur-

rent economic crisis is the result of

many years of irresponsibility, both in

government and in the private sector.

As we look toward the future, we

must confront the many dimensions of

this crisis while laying the foundation

for a new era of responsibility and

transparency.

Health Care Reform:

The Patient Protection and Afford-

able Care Act was meant to expand

access to health insurance to millions

of Americans. The law mandates that

all Americans buy into an insurance

pool, and prevents insurers from re-

jecting patients with pre-existing con-

ditions.

A New Foundation

The Political Beat October/November 2010 7

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Lore IpLoreIpsum mod mod

THE PRESIDENT PB

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The stimulus package allocated $113.5 billion for the development of alternative energy sources, new

forms of mass transit and the retrofitting of buildings to become more energy efficient. Perhaps more than

any other aspect of the $789 billion package, the focus on modernization signaled an attempt at nudging

the country to a new economic model. Iinvested heavily in education both as a way to provide jobs now

and lay the foundation for long-term prosperity.

The President signed Wall Street Reform

The most sweeping reforms since the Great Depression, to hold Wall Street accountable, put an end to

bailouts and "too big to fail," and enforce the strongest consumer protections in history.

The President signed the Small Business Jobs Act

Providing tax breaks and better access to credit for millions of small businesses.

These are just some of the things the Obama Administration has accomplished so far during

Obama’s first term as President. Will Obama see a second term as President and if so will the De-

mocrats have the majority of power?

Palin predicts GOP establishment will

embrace Tea Party's ideals

Their arrival could force the main-

stream Republican Party to pay at-

tention

by The Political Beat Staff

Friend or Foe

8 T h e P o l i t i c a l B e a t O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0

CONGRESS PB

"I think the machine within the

GOP is going to understand and re-

alize that this 'We the People' mes-

sage is rising and is resonating

throughout with independents, with

hard-core conservatives, with mod-

erates, because it's so full of com-

mon sense and time-tested truths

that could put the economy back on

the right track," "Heaven forbid the

GOP machine strays from this mes-

sage. If so, the GOP is through."

"As long as we apply time-tested

truths and we prove that they work -

- and that's what we have to do in the

next two years: Send a new Con-

gress to D.C. to apply those solu-

tions that are based just on

free-market principles that really

can't be argued then by the inde-

pendents and by the moderates," she

said. "Then they start embracing

more of what the party's all about."

Palin Warns GOP

The Political Beat October/November 2010 10

The Tea-Party Movement are

they for real???

10 The Political Beat October/November 2010

STATEPB

“H a v e y o u e v e r b e e n t o t h e c i r c u s a n d

s e e n t h e e l e p h a n t s ? T h e y

a r e t r a i n e d t o s t a y i n p l a c e

w i t h j u s t a sma l l p e g i n t h e

g r o u n d . T h e y a r e j u s t l i k e

t h e p e o p l e i n D i s t r i c t 9 8 .

T h e e l e p h a n t s a r e t h e

l a rg e s t mo s t magn i f i c e n t o f

a l l t h e a n im a l s t h e r e . B u t

t h e y a r e t r a i n e d t o b e l i e v e

t h a t t h e y a r e w e a k . T h e y a r e t r a i n e d t o b e -

l i e v e t h e y a r e c a p t u r e d a n d c a n ’ t h a v e t h e

b e s t . T h e b e s t s c h o o l s , t h e b e s t j o b s a n d

c ommun i t i e s a r e w h a t m y p e o p l e d e s e r v e

i n D i s t r i c t 9 8 . I am w i l l i n g t o f i g h t f o r my

p e o p l e . I w a n t m y p e o p l e t o k n ow t h a t

t h e y a r e s t r o n g a n d p owe r f u l a n d mo s t im -

p o r t a n t l y t h a t t h e y a r e f r e e . ”

–N a p o l e o n B r a c y

“Ou r d e e p e s t f e a r i s n o t t h a t w e a r e i n -

a d e q u a t e . O u r d e e p e s t f e a r i s t h a t w e a r e

p owe r f u l b e y o n d me a s u r e . I t i s o u r l i g h t ,

n o t o u r d a r k n e s s t h a t m o s t f r i g h t e n s u s .

We a s k o u r s e l v e s , Wh o am I t o b e b r i l -

l i a n t , g o r g e o u s , t a l e n t e d , f a b u -

l o u s ? A c t u a l l y, w h o a r e y o u n o t

t o b e ? Yo u a r e a c h i l d o f G o d .

You r p l a y i n g sma l l d o e s n o t s e r v e

t h e w o r l d . T h e r e i s n o t h i n g e n -

l i g h t e n e d a b o u t s h r i n k i n g s o t h a t

o t h e r p e o p l e w o n ' t f e e l i n s e c u r e

a r o u n d y o u . We a r e a l l m e a n t t o

s h i n e , a s c h i l d r e n d o . We w e r e

b o r n t o m a k e m a n i f e s t t h e g l o r y o f G o d

t h a t i s w i t h i n u s . I t ' s n o t j u s t i n s ome o f

u s ; i t ' s i n e v e r y on e . And a s we l e t o u r own

l i g h t s h i n e , w e u n c o n s c i o u s l y g i v e o t h e r

p e o p l e p e rm i s s i o n t o d o t h e s am e . A s w e

a r e l i b e r a t e d f r om o u r own f e a r , o u r p r e s -

e n c e a u t oma t i c a l l y l i b e r a t e s o t h e r s . ”

“Have you ever been to the circus and seen the elephants? They are trained to stay in placewith just a small peg in the ground. They are just like the people in District 98. The elephantsare the largest most magnificent of all the animals there. But they are trained to believe thatthey are weak. They are trained to believe they are captured and can’t have the best. The

best schools, the best jobs and communities are what my people deserve in District 98. I amwilling to fight for my people. I want my people to know that they are strong and powerful

and most importantly that they are free.” –Napoleon Bracy

The Political Beat October/November 2010 11

FROM PRICHARD AL MAYOR RON DAVIS

The City of Prichard will continue to moveahead by providing essential municipalservices and to operate for the bettermentof you as citizens.

As Mayo r , I h a v e a lw a y s

r e c o g n i z e d P r i c h a r d ’s p o -

t e n t i a l t o o n c e a g a i n b e -

c ome a t h r i v i n g C i t y

wh e r e p e o p l e c a n l i v e ,

wo r k a n d p l a y. T h e C i t y

o f P r i c h a r d w i l l c o n t i n u e

t o mov e a h e a d b y p r o v i d -

i n g e s s e n t i a l mun i c i p a l

s e r v i c e s a n d t o o p e r a t e

f o r t h e b e t t e rmen t o f y o u

a s c i t i z e n s .

I l o o k f o rw a r d t o o u r f i -

n a n c i a l s i t u a t i o n c h a n g i n g

wh e n t h e e c o n omy im -

p r o v e s . P r i c h a r d h a s a

l a r g e l a n d b a s e i n t h e

E i g h t M i l e a r e a o f i t s u n -

i n c o r p o r a t e d l im i t s t h a t

c a n b e u s e d f o r r e t a i l ,

t o u r i sm a n d mo r e h o u s i n g .

We a r e l o o k i n g f o rw a r d t o

p o s i t i o n i n g o u r s e l v e s f o r

g r ow t h b y b u i l d i n g h o u s e s

a n d r e f u r b i s h i n g s ome f o r

c i t i z e n s t o b e c ome n ew

homeowne r s . C i t y l e a d e r s

w i l l a l s o c o n t i n u e t o l o o k

f o r e c o n om i c d e v e l o pmen t

o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d w a y s t o

b r i n g i n mo r e b u s i n e s s e s

a n d j o b s . I l o o k f o rw a r d

t o mak i n g s u r e t h e s e a n d

o t h e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s c ome

t o t h e c i t y f o r o u r e n j o y -

men t . T h e P r i c h a r d c om -

mun i t y h a s a l o t o f p r i d e

a n d I a s k t h a t y o u c o n -

t i n u e t o s u p p o r t y o u r c i t y

a n d e l e c t e d o f f i c i a l s . We

h a v e g o n e t h r o u g h many

ob s t a c l e s i n t h e p a s t a n d

we h a v e p r o v e n b e f o r e ,

t h a t t o g e t h e r , w e w i l l

m a k e i t t h r o u g h t h e

t o u g h e s t c h a l l e n g e s .

Mayo r Ron D a v i s

C i t y o f P r i c h a r d

STATE PB

12 T h e P o l i t i c a l B e a t O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0

The power of the internet has enchanted

the electoral process. We are offered the

chance to learn about a candidate in the same

manner in which we receive up to minute

news, apply for jobs and buy warehoused de-

signer labels. The candidate is physically re-

moved from us; however, their platform is

boxed and condensed for us. In a society

where attending a local debate, or calling the

morning talk show to question the candidate

has become obsolete, candidates are forced

to choose the “hot button issue” of their party

to relate to voters. We no longer have to feel

a sense of familiarity with the person repre-

senting our values and beliefs. Yet, potential

voters still get flooded with high glossy mail-

ings, automated calls from candidates, and

propaganda filled television commercials. We

expect this. However, the battle has moved to

new ground: the internet. The thick traffic and

hectic information highway has left voters

searching for the real men and women behind

the advertisements. According to the article,

“Agenda Setting in Congressional Elections:

The Impact of Issues and Campaigns on Vot-

ing Behavior “(2003), voters are “likely” to

choose the candidate whose party has chosen

to create a reputable platform for certain is-

sues important to the voter. This notion leaves

us to forget about other issues that we find of

very little interest. Sometimes, allowing a

candidate to receive votes based on the best

commercial ads, catchiest slogan, and even

the “anti-“of the incumbent candidate. The in-

ternet has created an even larger advertising

base for candidates. Dedicated party support-

ers regularly receive emails with volunteer

and giving opportunities. A candidate can

quickly add to their campaign coffers with

multiple mini- donations. The internet can be

seen as responsible for increasing President

Obama’s voter base in the 2008 election, and

the strengthening of the latest political party,

the Tea Party Movement. The Tea

Party Movement promotes it’s

events on blogs, Twitter, and Face-

book, and has grown dramatically

by reaching a generation of

voters who are technologically

savvy as seen with the numbers of

its September 2010, Washington,

DC Rally.

Local politicians are spending

campaign funding on maintaining

websites and social networking ac-

counts to reach voters by being a

part of their daily lives. Certified

internet marketers are building a

niche by offering marketing serv-

ices to the politicians seeking to

use cyberspace as a means to at-

tract voters. This provides an av-

enue for voters that candidates

may miss by using the traditional

means of political campaigning.

And, allows lower campaign

spending for candidates. So, where

does this leave the traditional

voter who seeks contact with their

issue, in front of the computer, en-

gaged in discourse with their

Facebook friends and reading re-

Tweets from followers of another

follower.

COMENTARYPB

Do Issues MatterBy Janeen Morris

T h e P o l i t i c a l B e a t O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0 13

Voting for a candidate then

becomes a choice made on what

they read on a post or a catchy

quote. The consequences leave

voters disgruntled with the

dream they supported because

they may have missed the

views behind all of the technol-

ogy. The issues matter and vot-

ers should not only seek the

information given to them, but

candidates must put their plat-

forms out in multi-media for-

mats and in person, making

themselves available to the

common person. The internet

has opened the field for play,

forcing voters, to seek out the

right information to make a

good choice, and holding can-

didates more responsible for

seeking votes.

COMENTARY PB

Hit Reset

The nation is gripped with fear. The economy is stagnant at best, business is paralyzed, and government

is ineffective or incompetent (you pick). As the Great Depression hit its stride, President Franklin D.

Roosevelt in his first inaugural address admonished Americans that the “only thing we have to fear is

fear itself.” He went on to say that fear was “nameless, unreasoning, and unjustified terror.”

In other words, the folks were being irrational, so just lend your support to Washington and the govern-

ment will fix it. President Obama echoes that call for blind allegiance, but he adds the only thing we

have to fear are the Republicans.

There is no doubt Americans are genuinely afraid and it’s the conventional fear of the unknown. Every-

thing we ever believed about our country has been damaged and destabilized. What happened to the

Constitution? When will government power stop growing? Who gave infinite authority?

In every aspect of society and politics, uncertainty reigns supreme. A rudderless nation is adrift in a sea

of relativism buffeted by waves of expedience. Working Americans are bailing to exhaustion, but sink-

ing despair persists. While the administration claims we are on the right course and ostensibly brilliant

economist, Paul Krugman, assures us debt matters not and we can spend ourselves into prosperity. The

unknown is firmly established and fear well founded. American foreign policy lacks convictions about

anything. We are combating terrorists, but we are no longer fighting a war on terror. We are leaving

Iraq except for 50,000 troops. We support the Afghan government, but we are probably leaving.

The federal government is spending billions of dollars to grow the economy, but a few months after

every quarter the GDP growth numbers are revised down. Billions were spent, but we didn’t have the

money. We borrowed it. No, we printed it. Or, maybe we have mortgaged the future to China. No one

really knows how much we spent, where it came from, or where it went.

We bailed out the banks and financial institutions, but the banks are still not lending money. They are

sitting on trillions of cash while nursing their toxic assets. One minute we hear, the banks are paying

back the stimulus and the next

By Pete Riehm Mobile Free Press

1 8 T h e P o l i t i c a l B e a t O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0

COMENTARY

unaccounted billions went to foreign banks. Again, the only thing we know is that we do not know

when business credit will be available.

We are told the nation continues to lose jobs, but somehow unemployment is improving. The govern-

ment says 9.6% and others declare unemployment is really about 17%. Who do we believe? The gov-

ernment insists it’s helping working Americans, but instead of jobs we see record numbers on food

stamps. Is that the kind of help government intends - to make more Americans dependent?

Everyone hopes for economic revival, but business has hunkered down and either continues to cut back

or to postpone any expansions. This is understandable considering the administration has waged all out

war on free enterprise for almost two years. None of us know what our tax liabilities are next year. It is

anyone’s guess what government health care will cost?

Despite the epic health care vote, is everyone going to get health care? Apparently not, a few dozen

large companies have obtained waivers. Is that the nation we want? Those with the most lawyers and

lobbyists get the best deal?

FDR and President Obama are wrong. The comic strip character, Pogo, was much closer to the truth

with “We have met the enemy and he is us.” The uncertainty pervading American life is very real and

almost wholly a product of the government.

Americans yearn for leadership firm in their convictions. We need direction and stability; the govern-

ment can only help by eliminating the unknown. Make the Bush tax cuts permanent, repeal all the non-

sensical legislation of this grossly misguided Congress, and either win our wars or bring our troops

home!

The last 2 years have wrought nothing but uncertainty that perpetuates the current economic malaise.

Our government has become so complex, convoluted, and corrupt; no one could hope to sort it out.

The best action is to hit the reset button. And that is exactly what is brewing for Election Day.

T h e P o l i t i c a l B e a t O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0 1 9

COMENTARY