by Wilton Hollins  There was time in its history when Dallas was known as a ‘Can Do’ city.  In other words, there were no dreams too big or tasks too major that the city of Dallas could not overcome. The mere fact that Dallas exists was due to this can do spirit.  There were no natural resources, major waterways, aesthetic beauty, or any of those entities that cause cities to sprout and grow into major tier one cities.  The soil is shifty and the heat is suicidal in the summer, but despite negatives Dallas has grown into a major thriving metropolis.  The Greater Dallas Metropolitan area can now boast at being the fourth largest metro area in the nation; recently surpassing San Francisco/ San Jose.  This growth can only be attributed to the will of the citizens of Dallas.  But can Dallas be greater?  Can Dallas truly be the “shining star” of Texas? Many have argued that our city has lost its Can Do spirit and replaced it with a Won’t Do spirit.  It has become bogged in racial strife, exclusionary backroom politics and a lack of vision.  Does Dallas fully maximize and capitalize on the talents of all its citizens?  I’m afraid ...

Thanks to Eddie Griffin for this gold from CBS News.

"Every time I say this, it's a guaranteed applause line," he said. "You can drop me in the middle of Idaho where there's not a Democrat in 200 miles and an elk would applaud me on that." Fmr. President Bill Clinton I ran across the preceding comments made by Mr. Clinton at Ben Smith's blog on the Politico. He was campaigning in Indiana referring to his wife getting rid of "No Child Left Behind." "What's wrong with what he said?" you might ask. Maybe the fact that Idaho Democrats are working hard to make a comeback in their state. It's easy to say that kind of stuff when trying to win an election with four states, but these days Democrats are hoping to have a chance in a state like Idaho. Idaho Dems are none to happy with Clinton's remarks.

Thanks to Eddie Griffin for passing along the following info.  Anyone needing the Power Points mentioned in this memo shoot me an email and I'll get them to you. Dear Obama Delegates and Alternates, First of all, congratulations to everyone on the exciting outcome of the Indiana and North Carolina primaries yesterday. We are now one step closer to clinching the Democratic nomination and turning our full attention to the Fall campaign against Sen. John McCain. We’ve made it this far thanks to the support of folks like you all across this great country – people getting involved and getting organized; contributing their time, their energy and their support; and participating in record numbers in this movement for change. I hope today you feel proud to be a part of this important and historic moment in our history. But there is still work to do. We should feel not complacent, but energized, by yesterday’s results and the opportunity we’ve been given. At the Texas State Convention, we can make a powerful statement to the entire nation: this election year, with this candidate and our enthusiastic participation, we can win Texas in November. With that said, let’s turn back to the task ...

By Earnest Gates  No matter what happens over the next few months, I don't believe the superdelegates will have the "audacity" to overturn the will of the voters and give the Democratic nomination to Hillary Clinton. Therefore, it is time that we begin to look at the real fight in November. Many people in the African American community know that strong Black women  tend not marry weak men. I bring this up because one of the questions often asked,  "Is Barack tough enough to handle the attacks of the right wing conservatives in November?"  I am sure we can agree that Michelle Obama is a strong woman. If this is true, Barack will not only be able to handle the attacks of the Republicans but when he stands next to Senator John "McSame" McCain, it will become crystal clear thatObama is head and shoulders above the Republican nominee. I will go on record today as saying he will win the November election by a landslide.  I look forward to hearing what you have to say.

By Wilton Hollins  The phrase Black Liberation Theology is being tossed around in the media very recklessly by the likes of the Glenn Becks, Bill O’Reillys, and Shawn Hannitys of the airwaves.  Very little time is spent on adequately defining just what it is and how it applies to the black church experience.    I must admit that until about a month ago I was not that familiar with the phrase Black Liberation Theology, and I consider myself to be intimately involved in the black church.  I am very familiar with the style of preaching that takes place in most black churches, but was unaware that it has a label…but does this label really fit, and does it truly apply to the black Christian tradition as broadly as it is being used. Black Liberation Theology was first coined by James Cone during the black power movement in the sixties.  Cone who taught theology and religion at Philander Smith College and Adrian College and also the author of Black Liberation Theology argued that the “white church” had failed black Christians by not supporting their struggle for equal rights and thus should not be followed.   He was heavily influenced by Malcolm X, the Black Power ...

Well PA was a 10 point loss for Obama.  I'm still feeling good because the numbers don't lie.  I hear some of my fellow supporters getting a little pensive because they can feel the old bait and switch coming on.  I just won't let myself go there. Today in the Morning News, Gromer Jeffers writes that Obama has a number of hurdles to face.  There's only one hurdle facing Barack Obama: Super Delegates.  Check out NPR's News and Notes for my take on last nights events among other topics that we will discuss. I never thought I would see this day:

Bryan, Sylvia, Ruth, Sean, Marlee, Ed, I'll be looking for you all and everyone else next Tuesday as we get the Live Blog up and running. Join us at 7:00 p.m. Central next Tuesday as we analyze the election returns.

Faith Formula Human Services Corporation will host its Third Annual Faith Summit on Poverty on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 2008. The Faith Summit on Poverty was implemented as a direct result of the Gulf Coast (Katrina) Relief efforts which resulted in elevated focus on the poverty conditions in America. It is the belief of FaithFormula Human Services that Katrina exposed the pink elephant in our nation. The Gulf Coast Disaster pulled the covers off the real issues of poverty. Therefore, the Summit is positioned as a partnership of churches, community organizations, corporations, schools, city, state and national government institutions, elected officials and citizens to build stronger communities. The Texas House of Representatives held a hearing on House Bill 947, the Bill of Rights for the Underprivileged, on March 15, 2007. Rep. Yvonne Davis of Legislative District 111, sponsored the bill which came out of the 2006 Faith Summit on Poverty, authored by Dr. Haynes. This legislation will institute a policy statement for the State of Texas that reinforces basic rights every Texan including the underprivileged of our ...

Over the last couple of weeks a lot of people have sent me....less just say less than positive responses to my thoughts about Dr. Wright and Black Pastors.  Most had never visited Dallas South prior to this.  They felt they needed to let me know that they respected good black folks  like Thomas Sowell and Clarence Thomas. I dismissed the whole notion, but then I began to think about whether there were any Republican or Conservative types that I could roll with.  8 years ago, George W. probably would have made this list.  He was a popular governor here in Texas and did work with Democrats quite often.  That seems like 100 years ago. Anyway, here's what I was able to scrape up.  5. Michael Williams Michael L. Williams is the Chairman of the Railroad Commission of Texas, the state’s oldest energy regulatory commission. I've heard him speak here and there and he is always impressive in his manor (the bow ties are a nice touch also). I continue to wonder how it is the African-Americans can move through the ranks of the Republican Party, while the Democrats seem to have some sort of glass ceiling in tact. Now that's a bit ...