Anything is possible in the United States of America. The GOP elected a black man, Michael Steele, Chair of the Republican National Committee.

Clearly, Michael Steele, has President Barack Obama to thank for his victory. The GOP knows that the demographics of this country are changing and they’d better get on board or be run over.  Steele’s election and the subsequent work to be done by the Party will signal whether tit lives or dies.

Some, in the GOP, will find it difficult to have Steele as a Party leader. Others fully expect Steele to be leader in name only. Let’s see how this really works out.

If Steele assumes his true leadership role, many in the GOP, may feel alienated. Like President Obama, Steele should also expect to be challenged by Republican traditionalists as he tries to reshape their Party.  My, how things have changed. The Republicans have finally opened their eyes. It only took six rounds of voting and a vote of 91-77 to do it.

Let’s see, Michael Steele beat out the guy who sent out those CDs with “Barack the Magic Negro” on it and  a guy who was a member of a “whites-only” club for years. Yeah, that’s change you can believe in.

© 2009, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net

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Florida State Senator Dan Gelber has officially thrown his hat in the ring for the Florida U.S. Senate seat to be vacated by Mel Martinez in 2010. Two weeks earlier, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek officially announced he would seek the seat. A Meek win would be historic, as a victory would make him the first black elected statewide in Florida.

Gelber, a South Floridian like Meek, was widely known to base his decision to run on whether Florida CFO Alex Sink would also seek the seat. Since she decided not to run, the race is really wide open.

Meek and Gelber are both Dems. One is black and the other Jewish in a state that hasn’t been known for selecting ethnically diverse candidates in elected state leadership positions. Martinez, a well-connected Cuban-American, won his seat by a narrow margin in 2004. President Obama won Florida in the 2008 General Election but that was the result of a lot of hard work and a lot of money.  Will the Obama effect last until 2010?

Like Obama, the victor will likely be the one that can raise the most money to get his message across to voters. Meek has started strong with a presence on the internet and campaign materials prominently displayed in Miami-Dade County and likely throughout Florida. Momentum for the Democratic ticket for this senate seat is swinging toward Meek based on some high profile folks who’ve lined up behind him but don’t count Gelber out of this one just yet.

Another important factor is the 2008 presidential primary. Meek was an ardent supporter of Hillary Clinton while Gelber was an early and strong supporter of Barack Obama. How those decisions influence voters in this race still remains to be seen. Some folks still haven’t gotten past that in spite of the public Kumbaya moments between the Clintons and Obama during the general election.

As the Dems campaign, let’s see who lines up on the Republican side. FL Attorney General Bill McCollum? Former Speaker of the House Marco Rubio? The race for this seat will be hot so stay tuned.

Do you think Florida voters are ready to elect either of these gentlemen or will the seat remain in the Republican column in 2010?

© 2009, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net

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Well, Illinois Governor Rodney Blagojevich has been impeached. Convicted. Evicted. Voted off the island.

Today's vote by the Illinois Senate (59-0) comes as a surprise to no one. After the excerpts of the audiotapes and Blago's antics since this foolishness became public, it's a relief that the impeachment hearings are over. Now, we're on to the next round of the Blago saga --- more media blitz and the obligatory book deal.

At least the governor and his family are spared the humiliation of moving out of the governor's mansion since they didn't live in the state Capitol anyway.

Lt. Gov. Quinn has already been sworn in as governor and is moving into the governor's mansion. Now the good people of Illinois can move on from the Blagojevich tenure.

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President Barack Obama's honeymoon is already over with the Republicans on Capitol Hill. There was no "Kumbaya" moment and definitely no "We Are The World" during yesterday's vote on the President's economic stimulus bill.

Voting no on President Obama's stimulus bill that one hadn't yet seen is a sign that the ideal of bipartisanship governing in Washington is not happening with this year's Republican congressional class.

I'll give the House Republicans credit for their unanimity in voting as a bloc but that is definitely not what most of the American Public wants to see.

The stimulus bill passed thus far with one more round to go with the Senate. The American public wants the economic situation resolved like yesterday so there is no time for whining no matter the Party affiliation.

Let's see what happens in the Senate but get this plan going and provide sufficient oversight over the corporate thugs. Too many Americans continue to be laid off. Enough is enough.

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You know the Ty Company making dolls named after First Daughters Malia and Sasha Obama without the permission of their parents was bad enough but a guy in Jacksonville has reached a new low.

Jamie Salcedo, of Showbiz Promotions, has made a doll in memory of little Caylee Marie Anthony who was the subject of a nationwide search for five months until her remains were discovered on December 19 last year.

Salcedo said a portion of the sales would be donated to charity but that still doesn't remove the stench from offering this doll without collaborating or consulting with Caylee's family first. Salcedo couldn't give specifics on the charity to benefit from the sale of the doll and the doll is scheduled for release today. Give me a break.

How about letting little Caylee just rest in peace? There's been far too much drama around this case anyway.

Salcedo calls the doll a tribute doll in honor of Caylee. He points out that the doll intentionally doesn't look exactly like Caylee because that would be morbid. That's true.

Now, if Salcedo would have applied such logic to the project itself, this doll would not be an issue at all. Salcedo may as well chalk the Caylee Marie Anthony Tribute Doll up as a bad business decision and hope people forget what he's done thus far.

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First Lady Michelle Obama is not happy that the Ty Toy Company has produced dolls named after her daughters without the permission or consultation of the parents. The Ty Company makes Beanie Babies.

The dolls, "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha" are not named after the first daughters according to a Ty Company spokesperson. Yeah, right. They also don't look like the girls either.

To my knowledge, First Lady Obama has made no public comment about the incessant merchandising of her husband but immediately addressed this Beanie Baby issue. It's unfortunate that the toy company produced the dolls but then to lie about it; not a good thing.

Regardless of Mrs. Obama's statement, the dolls will likely sell well. Put a picture of the Obamas on anything and it sells. So, here we have another installment of the Obama Stimulus Package. Watch the dollars roll in.

© 2009, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net

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It’s been reported that New York governor David Paterson will announce Rep. Kirsten Gillibrand as the next senator for the state of New York. Gillibrand is slated to be announced today at noon. If this is true, she will replace Hillary Clinton, recently confirmed Secretary of State.

Her appointment will precede the disappointing showing of Caroline Kennedy, once considered the frontrunner to replace Clinton.  Kennedy was Palinized early on and her fate sealed once she was inaccessible to the media. Her back and forth on rescinding herself from consideration for the seat didn’t help her image either.

Now, the question arises as to whether Kennedy will seek to make herself more attractive as a candidate when the seat opens up in 2010. Also, Gillibrand’s appointment may alienate Paterson from the traditional Democratic base because of Gillibrand’s sometimes conservative views.

Since Paterson did not select the more-experienced Andrew Cuomo, he may seek to unseat Paterson in the next election.

© 2009, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net

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That joke that it will be a cold day in hell before a black man will be elected President of the United States is circulating the internet and filling text in boxes with fervor.

Well, it was cold yesterday in D.C. and it's cold here in Miami today.

Are you laughing now?

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Today is the day this country celebrates the birth of one of this country’s most famous leaders, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  This year’s King Holiday celebration is more significant as we are also in the midst of celebrating the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama as the 44^th president of the United States of America.

The Obama presidency is a tremendous gift to the legacy of Dr. King but not just because Obama is black but by virtue of the fact that Obama has re-ignited the American spirit and called for unity in working for the good for the nation. The rainbow of people who elected Barack Obama to the highest position in the free world and the people celebrating his inauguration would be pleasing to Dr. King.

Every march, sit-in, arrest and day Dr. King endured in jail has brought this country to where it is today and I am grateful for Dr. King’s commitment to fighting for the rights of black Americans and others treated unfairly.

The election of Barack Obama as president is not the fulfillment of King’s dream but it is definitely a step in the right direction. We are so very proud of this nation but there is still much to be done to achieve equality for all.

Let’s continue in the spirit of Dr. King and do our part to continue to make this nation better for our children, our children’s children and generations to come. Happy Birthday, Dr. King. Thank you.  

© 2009, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net

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I saw this feature over on Linda Sama’s site and just had to give it a try. Now I’ve been officially Obamacized. Check it out. It’s fun and I may use it as my avatar from time to time.

Your turn for your Obama icon!

© 2009, Vanessa: Unplugged!, www.vanessabyers.net

Vote for this blog for Best Political Blog and for Best Blog Design in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.