Oct. 21, 2014

Nigerian Girls - Will Government Keep It's Word and Find Them?

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Global Information Network

(TriceEdneyWire.com) –With frustration boiling over at government foot-dragging over the fate of 219 girls, kidnapped from a government secondary school in Chibok last April, the Nigerian government took the audacious step this week of announcing a truce with the alleged kidnappers and a possible date for their return.

The surprise announcement claimed that since a meeting between high level officials and the “secretary general” of the rebel group Boko Haram took place, a truce was in the works and the missing girls would be home soon.

Celebrations were subdued since the same government of Pres. Goodluck Jonathan had said, shortly after the kidnapping, that the “Chibok” girls had come back - which turned out to be false. Then the government said that they knew where the girls were hidden but in the interest of the girls’ safety would not make any risky moves for their rescue.

Now the latest story from the Goodluck Jonathan administration appears to be questionable at best.

The first piece of the hastily-crafted story to fall was the claim that Chadian President Idriss Deby had overseen the talks. A spokesman for President Deby declined to confirm the report. Similarly, a spokesman for the president of Niger, also said to be part of the negotiations, told the press that he was not aware of any such dialogue.

Ahmad Salkida, a former journalist with access to some top Boko Haram leaders, had serious doubts about the reported deal. “It appears that govt is more interested in shadows and bubbles, than in substance and clear headed engagement,” he wrote on Twitter. A U.S. State Dept. official said no American officials were aware of a cease-fire.

Boko Haram has not commented on the alleged truce and this week launched new raids, killing people in three villages and reportedly abducting 40 women. Speaking to the press, Nigerian military officers on the frontline claimed they were yet to receive an operational order to cease hostilities.

“Honestly, we are yet to receive any operational order on the ceasefire. As such, we are battle-ready and would confront the terrorists if we see them,” a senior military officer told the news agency AFP.

A false alarm could further damage re-election chances for Pres. Jonathan. The nation is set to vote in mid-2015.

Oct. 19, 2014

Black Lawmakers on Capitol Hill Expected to Increase in Nov. 4 Election
By James Wright

Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) is one of the Black female representatives expected to be on the way to Washington.

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Afro American Newspaper

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - The Nov. 4 general election is expected to produce a record number of Black members of Congress. This will be historic in terms of the number of African women serving, Black Republicans in both chambers at the same time, and an African-American with the most seniority of all members.

All of the 44 Blacks serving in the U.S. House and Senate that are running for re-election are expected to win easily. There are four races, however, that will likely increase the number of Black females in the U.S. House of Representatives from 15 to 19.

The new Black female representatives expected to be on their way to Washington are New Jersey Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D), replacing U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.); North Carolina Assemblywoman Alma Adams (D) taking the seat of former representative Mel Watt (D); and former Sarasota Spring, Utah Mayor Mia Love, who could be the first Black female Republican in Congress, would take Jim Matheson’s (D) seat.

Stacey Plaskett, an attorney in the Virgin Islands will replace Del. Donna Christensen (D) as her islands’ new delegate, and Southfield, Mich. Mayor Brenda Lawrence (D) will take a new seat for the 14th District in Detroit. Watson, who would be the second Black representing New Jersey in the U.S. House, said she is ready to take on national issues.

“If elected, I don’t intend to go to Congress simply to fight, I intend to go and be the best possible representative I can be for the entirety of the 12th congressional district,” Watson said. “I will fight for our shared values and on behalf of middle class families throughout the district, just as I did in Trenton. I will work with anyone who will help us realize those goals.”

E.Faye Williams, the national chair of the National Congress of Black Women, said she is proud of the progress that Black women are making in Congress. “We were founded to get Black women in the Congress because we know that Black women will make a difference [in] matters pertaining to the Black community,” Williams said. “In the 2012 election, Black women voted at a higher proportion than any other group. We are proud of all the Democratic women running this year.”

Love is running the second time for the U.S. House and was recently endorsed by Mitt Romney, the 2012 Republican nominee for president. She and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) would be the first Black Republican duo in two chambers ever. Love said that she wants to come to Capitol Hill to see that the country gets on the right course for prosperity.

“What we need right now in Washington are tough, consistent, tested leaders who put the American people first,” Love said. “For too long Congress has run up trillion dollar deficits, made promises it cannot keep, and failed to balance the budget. A change is needed, and that’s why I am running to represent Utah’s 4th congressional district in Congress.”

Love doesn’t have Williams’ support. “Ms. Love seems to have forgotten those who created the path that she is on now,” she said. “She embarrasses us.”

The 46 Black Democrats will comprise 25 percent of the House Democratic Caucus. While it is expected Republicans will maintain control of the House, African-American members will be ranking members, or leading Democrats, of committees such as oversight and government reform, science, space and technology, and judiciary.

The ranking member of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), will make history on Nov. 4 if he wins re-election. Conyers will become the first Black member of Congress to have the most seniority of all members, with his first election to the House in 1964. He would be known informally as the dean of the House. Conyers is already considered the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus, which he helped to co-found. Conyers said being the first Black dean of the House is not just symbolic. “It means more political clout for Michigan,” Conyers, 85, said.

“It’s more than honorary for me and I think for the people that I’m working for.” Michael Fauntroy, a Howard University political scientist, said that more Blacks in the House will not make a big difference for African Americans. “The Democrats will likely be in the minority in January and there will be little that they can do to move legislation,” he said. “While Conyers has a long tenure and he will be recognized for it, with the Republicans in control, he will have no real power.” 

Oct. 20, 2014

President Obama Names U. S. Ebola Coordinator

(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Former Vice Presidential Chief of Staff Ron Klain has been tapped by President Obama to coordinate the U. S. Government’s response to the deadly Ebola virus, now contracted by two nurses who attended to the late Thomas Eric Duncan, a Liberian who died of the disease in a Dallas hospital two weeks ago.

Klain, who has no medical background but is experienced in coordinating government agencies amidst crisis, will report to the President Obama’s Homeland Security Advisor Lisa Monaco and his National Security Advisor Susan Rice.

The White House touts Klain as having “good working relationships with leading Members of Congress as well as senior Administration officials.”

A White House statement also says, “Klain’s talent and managerial skill will be crucial in providing the resources and expertise we need to rapidly, cohesively, and effectively respond to Ebola at home and abroad.”

More than 4,400 people have died of the disease in West Africa. Just as many people have contracted the virus and lived.

President Obama has remained optimistic that the virus will not spread in the U. S.

"The dangers of a serious outbreak are extraordinarily low" in the U.S. Obama says. "We are taking this very seriously at the highest levels of government."

Oct. 13, 2014

Death of Thomas Eric Duncan Gives Rise to Question: Where is the Surgeon General?

Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from Global Information Network

(TriceEdneyWire.com) – Almost forgotten in the panic sparked by a new Ebola infection – this time of the Dallas nurse apparently suited up properly to care for the Liberian patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, in isolation - some media houses are asking the question: “Where is the nation’s Surgeon General?”

Although primarily a ceremonial post, the Surgeon General has the power of a bully pulpit and could provide much needed reassurance that plans are coming together to stop the further spread of the virus and counteract rumor.

“Americans need to know that someone with authority is drawing information from disparate agencies tracking and countering Ebola within our borders,” wrote Jerry Lanson, professor of journalism at Emerson College.

But a candidate proposed by President Obama has been sidelined by the Republican Congress because the nominee, Dr. Vivek Murthy, apparently offended the powerful gun lobby by supporting an assault weapons ban and writing that “Guns are a health care issue.”

Kentucky Sen. Ran Paul retorted: “As a physician, I am deeply concerned that Murthy has advocated that doctors ask patients, including minors, details about gun ownership in the home… Dr. Murthy has disqualified himself from being Surgeon General because of his intent to launch an attack on Americans’ right to own a firearm under the guise of a public health and safety campaign.”

But an op-ed by News One Now host Roland Martin countered: “Murthy has no business sitting around waiting to be confirmed. The Obama administration should be raising holy hell, demanding that a pre-eminent doctor get his vote on the Senate floor.”

Two MSNBC producers weighed in with a joint editorial: “Thanks to NRA power and Senate cowardice, we are left with no surgeon general during a time when we not only have Ebola arriving on our shores but are also dealing with the mysterious Enterovirus, which is contributing to the deaths of children in the U.S.”

Meanwhile, a top U.S. health official has riled some health care experts and nurses by blaming a “protocol breach” for the new virus infection on a Dallas nurse. Hospital staff, said the experts, need better coaching on treating an Ebola patient, making sure they have the right safety equipment and know how to use it properly to prevent infection.”

"You don't scapegoat and blame when you have a disease outbreak," said Bonnie Castillo, a disaster relief expert at National Nurses United. "We have a system failure. That is what we have to correct."

More than 4,000 people have died in the worst Ebola outbreak on record that began in West Africa in March.