Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The LuLac Edition #2337, January 22nd, 2013

Lyndon Johnson (Photo: LuLac archives).

LBJ 40 YEARS ON 

 You can’t mention the commemoration of Martin Luther King Junior Day and the second term swearing in of the first African American President Barack Obama without bringing up Lyndon Johnson. It was forty years tonight that Lyndon Johnson died at the age of 64. It was my first day at King’s College. I was taking a night class to get my feet wet and see if I could handle school. My father was in the car because he had an appointment in Wilkes Barre. When I got in, he told me LBJ had died. I know that it is expected of people my age, who were against the Vietnam War in our high school years to knock Johnson. He did make painful mistakes but knew he was in a quagmire. But Johnson was the one who cajoled the Senate and the House to get the Civil Rights Bills passed. He recognized that he only had 6 to 8 months to get his agenda throygh. Even with his landslide, LBJ knew the GOP would be gunning for House members swept in on his coattails in 1966. In an election year he gave Hubert Humphrey the job of getting the stalled Civil Rights Act passed. Democratic and Republican Senators of the North, Midwest and Wewst did their best to break the stranglehold the Southern Senators had over the upper chamber and the House committees. These are the accomplishments of the Johnson administration just on Civil Rights: 
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbade job discrimination and the segregation of public accommodations. 
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 assured minority registration and voting. It suspended use of literacy or other voter-qualification tests that had sometimes served to keep African-Americans off voting lists and provided for federal court lawsuits to stop discriminatory poll taxes. It also reinforced the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by authorizing the appointment of federal voting examiners in areas that did not meet voter-participation requirements. 
The Immigration and Nationality Services Act of 1965 abolished the national-origin quotas in immigration law. 
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 banned housing discrimination and extended constitutional protections to Native Americans on reservations. 
It  is a cruel historical irony that Martin Luther King Junior and John F. Kennedy are joined at the hip in terms of getting credit for the passing of the Civil Rights most take for granted today. It is true that Kennedy first proposed the bill. King was of course the point man who worked for the cause with no regard to his own safety. But without Johnson’s skills as a President, his wily determination and ability to pick the right people to get the job done, there would be no Martin Luther King Day and there sure as heck would not have been a President Obama. 
King and Kennedy wished for a just world and equality. Johnson used the hammer and made it law. Laws trump wishes any day when you are facing fire hoses and trained attack dogs. Johnson was only 64 when he died on this day forty years ago. (Wikipedia.com/partial).

ROE VS WADE 

Forty years ago today, the Supreme Court also decided Roe Vs. Wade which gave women the right to have an abortion. This has been a very decisive issue in American politics but the fact of the matter is that people politically are clear on this issue. More than 55% of the American public would not want Roe overturned. The GOP has been bleeding the pro life movement for years. Playing them like suckers. But the fact is every GOP administration has done nothing concrete to overturn Roe with its mandates. The last Democratic candidate for national office that was pro life was the late Sargent Shriver in 1972 when he ran as Vice President. The Democrats are pro choice. The GOP is pro life. But forty years later, one can safely say that both parties or anti Roe when it comes to having a discussion about it. Roe is a political decision hanging over the two parties like an unwanted mistletoe. No one will get close enough to stand by it because they will have to distance or embrace it either way. When a pro life Senator like Bob Casey Junior gets hell from the supporters of Roe, you know there is no way an intelligent conversation on this can go on.
Paterno and Pacino.  (Photo: Fox Sports.com.)

JOE PA-1 YEAR ON 

Joe Paterno died one year ago today. There were gatherings at State College to remember him. Gone are the most wins in college football history and the statue. At least this is not known as the Paterno sex scandal anymore because it truly was the work of the demented Jerry Sandusky. But the Paterno legacy is a long way from being rebuilt. And last week it was announced that no less a duo than Brian DePalma and Al Pacino of “Scarface” fame are teaming up for a film treatment on the last days of Paterno. I predict that can’t be good. But for today, Paterno is being remembered by the Penn State faithful. And that’s their right.

7 Comments:

At 6:43 AM, Anonymous Professor Milburn Cleaver, OPA said...

Good morning students,

For those of you who have shown up these past many days to find the door locked, I am sorry. I have been going through an illness as of late and cannot guarantee that I shall be available for multiple future sessions at this time. I thank all of you for your good wishes and kind sentiments.

The business of this classroom moves forward……

Students,

Inauguration Day is a sacred day in the history of this nation. The first Inaugural that I can clearly recall was FDR’s third in 1941---not comparable to his historic first “nothing to fear” event, but historic in the fact that it was his third (the Constitution now ensures this record for history). The first Inaugural which I attended was Eisenhower’s 1957 event. But let us face facts, most Inaugurals are majestic and colorful, but soon forgotten thanks to the mundane speeches by the incoming President. Only four stand out: Lincoln’s second, FDR’s first, JFK’s sole Inaugural, and of course Ronald Reagan’s first. I do find it amusing that historians fail to point out at the Kennedy ceremonies that the incoming President took the oath without placing his left hand on the Bible.

Now, when we come to this past week’s Inaugural much can be said but I will limit my comments as I see you ingrates are already fidgeting in your seats scratching your loafer heads wondering what an FDR, JFK and who Eisenhower are.
For one thing, between the intellectually lacking Chief Justice Roberts and President Obama, neither of these gentlemen can seem to meet on the same page when it comes to the Presidential oath of office. Yesterday, the President flubbed “states” (four years ago the future Obamacare cheerleader Roberts flubbed most of the beginning of the oath).

I must commend the President for his oratorical skills. Of this, there is no debate. And I equally commend him for his most honest address. Students, your hero showed his true colors----his voice echoing over the Capitol and the mall with promises of giveaways to everyone under the sun. Indeed the President promised something to everyone with the exception of the Druids. However, equally alarming was the disgusting musical performances. I recall Inaugurals past where the incoming President charged either talented military men or Opera singers to perform the national anthem---not rap singers. LBJ had the famed Leontyne Price, Bill Clinton had Marilyn Horne and Barack Hussein Obama gives us Bianca, with her gangster rap husband seated feet away (didn’t he murder people?????). To add insult to injury this harlot did not even actually “sing” live----she lip synched to a pre-recording. The U.S. Marine Band, of course, did a tremendous job as usual; however, the fact that they were ordered by their Commander In Chief to participate in this falsity is an abomination. How insulting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Finally, in this time of war and terror, I find it disturbing but not surprising the President devoted nary a few sentences on the subject of national defense. Gone are the Inaugural days emanating echoes of JFK’s “Pay any price, bear any burden---this nation intends to remain the master of its own house!!”; Reagan’s eloquent pledge regarding peace, “We will negotiate for it, we will sacrifice for it, we will not surrender for it!”. Such a different world today.

In closing, classes are canceled tomorrow and for the remainder of the week. We shall resume next week. Please, as the weekend approaches, lay low on the booze and drugs and if you must indulge your addictive personalities, please do not get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. The life you save may be my own…..
Something to think about this morning…….
Class Dismissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
At 8:15 AM, Anonymous Pope George Ringo said...

LBJ was only 60 years old when he left office and looked a man of 75.....dying nearly four years later to the day.
Both Bill Clinton and GW Bush are 66 years old and look much younger than LBJ did as a younger man than they.
Just goes to show what the strain of the office can do to a man. LBJ escalated Vietnam, but I feel that he took each one of those 25 thousand plus lives lost during his tenure to heart--and in the end it destroyed his already damaged heart.
Isn't it funny how all of our former Presidents seem to live well into their 80's and 90's nowadays???
The last former President to die young was Teddy Roosevelt at 60, I believe.
God speed to all our Former Presidents.

 
At 9:04 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJqRXKBrFRU&feature=player_embedded

 
At 11:07 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

As usual the so called Professor is using this forum to re-write history. Three Presidents chose not to use the Bible at their swearing in ceremony. Pres. Kennedy was not one of them. John Quincy Adams chose a Volume of Law when he was sworn in. Teddy Roosevelt did not use any book when reciting the oath during his first inauguration. Due to the circumstances surrounding his ascension to the Presidency Lyndon Johnson used Pres. Kennedy's Roman Catholic Missal when taking the oath of office.

 
At 5:50 AM, Anonymous Professor Milburn Cleaver, OPA said...

Anon: 11:07 p.m.

Young man,

I have barely enough time to waste on your inept research this morning for I have a busy day ahead. If you go over my lecture once more you will notice that I did NOT state President Kennedy had no Bible before him on Inauguration day. I "Stated" that he did NOT place his left hand upon it. All you need do is go onto You Tube and view the oath taking. It is that simple.
Once again the lazy, gimme somethin' student fails to even do a pittance of RESEARCH!!!

For this ridiculous retort, young man you have received an F+!!!

As I state to all ingrates who waste my valuable time....YOU ARE DISMISSED!!!!!!!

Please forgive me, for I have to catch a plane for South Carolina and a joyous weekend of golfing.

DO YOUR ASSIGNMENTS THIS WEEKEND AND STAY OUT OF THE BARS AND OPIUM DENS!!!!!!!

 
At 5:21 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey Moon bat 11:07, did the Prof just shut your mouth up? Keep it up Prof, keep showing how these liberal nit wits are liars and distorters! Who is the re writer of history now?

 
At 3:30 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Professor, please accept my apology for misreading your post. I mistakenly interpreted "not placing his left hand on the bible" as not having a bible present at the ceremony. In your second post you were much clearer when you wrote " he did not place his hand upon it". Mea culpa.
5:21AM, as you can see I am not afraid to admit a mistake, nor will I shut up. Please tell me where I lied or distorted the information I wrote regarding the Presidents that opted not to use the Bible or had none available as in the case of Pres. Johnson. Better yet, please tell me how you can tell what my political philosophy is by reading what I wrote about. The information written in the post is historical not political.

 

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