Lenny McAllister's Blog

1/12/2009

"Even the expression, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” applies to W."

If you missed my editorial on Fox News Rising on Monday, you can find the transcript on my website

www.lennymcallister.com

I'll be looking for you every Monday morning on "Fox News Rising" with the great gang of Mark Mathis, Anna Kooiman, Tera Blake, and Dao Vu.

I'll see you there.

TCNGB

1/4/2009

Happy New Year, Fox Family!

I know that my salutation is a little late, but I have been busy (as you may have seen), filling in for two of my favorite people in Charlotte television: Anna Kooiman and Mark Mathis.

Let me say here that I had a LOT of fun filling in for them during their holiday vacations. The team at FNR is filled with talented, fun, and personable professionals.

Thanks, Anna and Mark, for allowing me the opportunity to fill in for you during your time off. You didn't have to share your seats with me, but you did and  allowed me to be comfortable in sharing an experience with Charlotte that you create everyday.

I am looking forward to keeping up with you on Fox News Rising along with the other outlets that I can be seen on.

When in Columbia, catch me on WGCV 620 AM. 

When in Augusta, GA, catch me on People and Issues on Fox Radio with Helen Blocker-Adams.

Talk to you soon!

1/4/2009

"...In the Empire State, there is growing resentment from a pool of candidates towards the empirical presence of the Kennedy name...(a)s an Ivy-League attorney with strikingly-little political experience – seeks to gain one of the most powerful seats in Washington (sound familiar?), a growing number within the media, the government, and the New York voting bloc have come to question the qualifications of Ms. Kennedy, who seeks appointment on the strength of a family name and support of a like-minded politician for the White House..."

Please turn into Fox News Rising on Monday and catch "Musical Seats", my latest commentary. I'll be on at 6:15 AM and 7:15 AM.

Looking forward to a fantastic and successful 2009 with you and me, working together to bring politics back to the people.

TCNGB

12/28/2008

Hello, fine people! Happy Holidays to you and yours.

Now, for many of us, it's either going to be a good - or great - holiday because of the company that we keep. Maybe for others, it's because of the things that we got over the course of the end of the year for Christmas or some other holiday that you may celebrate. It may even be a birthday that you celebrate during this time of year; (my niece Amara turned 4 on the 25th...Happy Birthday Ms. Amara Noelle!!)

For me, this holiday season was made because of the coolest thing that I saw today.

People talk about "random acts of kindness", but to be true with you, I don't believe in them. It's not because I don't believe in acts of kindness, but because I don't believe that they're random. They just aren't. We belong to the human chain, not the human race. We don't always compete against each other, but we are always link together, and our chain is only as strong as the weakest link.

I saw two young gentlemen help an older, sacred, and sick lady find her way home after she dangerously crossed a busy highway, got disoriented, and began shaking like a leaf. Now, because she has family that she could go back to after she got home, we knew that she would be ok; (the guys apparently knew her family and knew exactly where she lived.)

They got her calm after she was shaking like a leaf. They got her chocolate milk from the store even though she had no money and was in need for something to drink at her house. They kept her safe even though they had things to do (like work) and places to go (again, like work.)

This frightened, shaking old lady was calm enough to blow kisses and say thank you to the others helping her as she was driving away.

People ask me how cool it is to see Anna Kooiman do her thing, work with Mark Mathis, or watch the production of a fun television show from behind the scenes. And, to be fair, it is cool - very cool, in fact, and I am thankful each time I'm here. However, what was the coolest thing for me to see today was not starting off the last week of 2008 on Fox News Rising. The coolest thing was seeing that decency, respect for elders, and kindness will never go out of style.

The more things change...thank God that the more some things stay the same.

TCNGB

Merry Christmas!!

With me filling in for Mark this week, I have been involved in all of the Christmas planning, Christmas choruses, and Christmas stories on Fox News Rising this week.

In the spirit of that – and Christmas – I was thinking about the 12 things I think about each time I get a chance to share time with you. I guess it’s kinda like the 12 Days of Christmas...even though I’ll only be on the air for 7 days for Christmas J

My 12 Things

1. Pray – Believe it or not, I pray everyday before and after I go on the air. You may not see it, but I’m sure that there are times when Anna and Mark see me bless myself each day right before I go on camera; (I am a lifelong Catholic – one that’s not perfect, just forgiven.)

    

2. Laugh – It’s hard to believe that the son of a steel mill worker gets a chance to be on a cool, high-definition television set with a cast of talented people at Fox Charlotte. I chuckle to myself and say, “wow, this is pretty cool.”

    

3. Smile – Heck, it’s television. I better smile, right? Again, it’s very easy to do with the buddies that I’m with in the morning.

    

4. Remember – Namely, I remember who I am. I am the guy that cleans the rest rooms at K-Mart. I am the guy that cuts lunchmeat at the supermarket. I am the guy sweeping and mopping floors to support his newborn. I am the guy cleaning up at the Y. When you see me on Fox Charlotte, you see me because I always remember that I was those people...and I still am.

    

5. Absorb – I try to take in the experience and relate everything that I see and hear (well, maybe not everything!) so that you can be as much of a part of the Fox News Rising experience as possible.

    

6. Learn – I am constantly learning more about how people of different backgrounds and interests are tied together. It’s something that I usually encounter in my endeavors in politics, but the FNR brings even more awareness.

    

7. Have fun – That’s not hard to do working with this crew. Truly, using the word “work” is not appropriate when I get a chance to hang out with funny, smart, lovely people. Others should be so fortunate!

    

8. Enjoy – Although I get nervous every time I’m on the air (it’s like sports – you get used to it, but the butterflies never quite leave), I always remind myself that it is a privilege to be with the FNR crew, so I make it a point to enjoy the time there.

    

9. Support – I have an obligation to shine light on those trying to better our world and, therefore, whether I have a chance to, I try to highlight the best of our youth, our volunteers, and those making a difference. As I said after Election Day – I have my pen to write more history...and I support those that carry theirs with them as well.

    

10. Walk – That is, take a walk in your shoes. What are the things that you would think or say that I could think or say on TV? When I trip up on the air, can I show a human side that you can relate to? I always want to be that guy because people admire folks that they look up to, but they are inspired to move by people that they can relate to. In these tough times, we need movement and inspiration sparked by relationships. Hopefully, you can relate to me – in agreement and disagreement. It’s time for us to move – forward.

     

11. Be first – A simple one – I always try to be the first one on the set, if I can. Why? I don’t know. Between the puzzle of putting my mic on through my tie to the desire to capture some of the ambiance of the set before the show begins, I just feel that I need to be dressed and on set first. It goes back to my youth and my sports days, I guess. Plus, it’s the memories of talking to the team (both in front of and behind the cameras) before the show that I will share with my children and grandchildren in days long removed from now.

     

12. Appreciate – Each day is a chance to make the world better. Each day is a chance to connect to good people. Each day is a chance to make a difference. God gives me a chance to do it on the air as well as out in the community. I appreciate that gift. Hopefully, we can share that gift together.

Have a wonderful holiday season!

See you on FNR!

TCNGB - Lenny

12/14/2008

“With recent political disappointments and their subsequent lessons – like how corruption will BLOW-GOY-YA-VICH your career – there are those much more innocent that we need to count on... remember – if we are borrowing money from our children and grandchildren to bail us out of our current mess, we will need as many viable citizens from those generations as possible to regain stability...”

With all of the proposals of budget cuts, offers to buy Senate seats, and CEO carpools in a quest for billions of dollars, some of the most needy - and future most-needed - are being overlooked by some.

I discuss why we can not fall into that trap during this bail-out frenzy in "Heroes", my editorial on Fox News Rising tomorrow morning at 6:15 AM.

Come watch the crew - Anna, Mark, Dao with news, and Tera with weather - tomorrow morning on Fox News Rising (starting at 5 AM.)

See you at 6:15 and 7:15 tomorrw morning!

TCNGB

12/11/2008

Good day, folks! I hope that you are doing well, regardless of where you are today.

Here in the Charlotte region, it is raining, and for me, it's very appropriate. I apologize for being a little down today, but today I say - it's already been 2 years.

2 years today my mother, Carol McAllister, passed away suddenly after suffering from a string of illnesses. Now, I knew that she was ill and her condition was terminal, but she passed away suddenly doing one of the things that she had come to love very much - praying in the courtyard at her nursing home.

You would think that she lived a long, prosperous life if she was living in an elder care center, but she actually passed away at 63, leaving us too soon due to being a victim of kidney failure, neuropathy, cancer, and - primarily - high blood pressure and diabetes.

Now, I won't sit here and say that my mother was my everything - God is my everything. However, she was - and, in my spirit and heart, still is - a lot for me. When I was in school, playing quarterback (as one of the first Black ones in my area), she was my loudest supporter. She not only rooted for me, but she was the mom that cheered for everyone on the team. She knew the kids. She knew the parents. She would make signs. She would take pennies and put them in an old milk container to use as a noisemaker at the football games. She ran the cheerleader squad. To be so short, she had a voice that carried. And that was just when I was in grade school!

I could sit here and say the same about the other sports that I played throughout school as well. She was more, though. She was the mom that would throw the baseball around in the street (even when I was in high school and getting recruited to play in college.) At one point, she worked two jobs and still made my games. She was the mom that fed the kids in the neighborhood that didn't has as much as we had (and since we didn't have much, it wasn't a small sacrifice sometimes.) She was a taxi mom, too, driving all of us around to games, movies, concerts, and other events.

And I don't want to downplay my father. My father was very instrumental in my upbringing - from everything from taking the family to church (at 6 AM in the winter cold EVERY Sunday) to forcing us to write book reports after our weekly Saturday trip to the library (BEFORE we were allowed to watch cartoons in the morning). However, just as you have one dad (if you're lucky - some folks only have a father), you only have one mom. He's still here (by the grace of God, but that's another story for another time.) She's with someone much greater than all of us right now.

And I could be here for days talking about the type of grandmother she was, playing tag with the kids, even as she sat down while they ran past her in a form of "sit tag"; (she was eventually at a point where she could not walk much anymore, much less run.) She was all of the things that drive parents nuts in a good way. With her grandchildren, she was overprotective, extremely generous, very loving, rule-bending, and long in memory ("You know, I raised three of you, so I know what I'm talking about...")

And my mother was a kicker for other folks, too. At Genesis Eldercare - her last home here on earth - she was beloved because despite her handicaps, she was active on the campus. She did bingo, calling it every week. She participated in the center's beauty pageant. She made crafts. She made friends. She went around to the administrators at the center and cheered up their days, giving them unexpected company or wishing them good morning. She was a night owl, so there was times when she would be up with the night staff, playing music or chatting away. And yes, she was a cut-up, too. The type of woman that took her motorized wheelchair out in the snow and did donuts, just to see if she could (true story.)

I can relate to those whose family members suffer with the physical, mental, and emotional effects of life advancement, especially when these symptoms come as the result of a chronic (or terminal) disease. Trust me - I know. I did the dialysis sessions with my mother, showing up out of the blue during one of the thrice-weekly 4-hour sessions; (heck, I was the one that had to authorize the initial session years ago.) I know about the appointments with specialists.  I know about the painful nights. I am so glad that she is sitting there with God now, but at the same time, man do I wish that she were here with me right now, too.

Because of the love exhibited by those at Genesis Eldercare while my mother was there as well as due to the need that has arisen, I am announcing that I will be working with administrators at Genesis Eldercare to raise money for the organization. Tentatively, we plan on putting together a fundraiser in my mother's memory in February 2009. The goal will be to raise money for Genesis Eldercare so that they can continue to provide a home for the residents there. This money will be used for activities that the residents use to keep their minds sharp and their bodies healthy; (for example, my wife  used to wash my mother's hair at the center in their less-than-state-of-the-art beauty shop on site for the ladies residing there.) The residents do everything from games to cooking to crafts. This is a way to give back to my mother's friends and extended family.

My mother's expression was "I Love Ya', Love Ya'!" (You can find it on a plaque on her motorized wheelchair that we donated to Genesis in 2006 for use by residents at need.) I can't think of a better way to help Genesis in February - Valentine's Day  Month -  than to help the residents of Genesis make their final days as wonderful as possible.

Thanks for listening. Today is a family day and a day of reflection for me.

TCNGB

12/10/2008

Hey fam - how the heck are you doing today?

If you get a chance, check out the latest thoughts on the Obama Certificate challenge here:

http://www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/12/09/the-sha
llow-obama-birth-certificate-challenge

I got a chance to get this piece over to AOL this past week once the Supreme Court decided not to hear the case.

I know that for all Black Republicans, there was a sense of "here we go again" upon hearing that Justice Clarence Thomas was the one that forwarded the case to the other justices for review.

At some point, it does make those on the outside wonder about how politics really goes down. Things intended to build and create often get used for non-intended means. Sadly, the political tool that we have before us is abused much like anything else that we have created with our hands. Hammers build great structures and, yet, have been used differently as well.

With lawsuits, a new administration, an economic crisis, and two wars, it looks like the political buzz - and all that comes with it (including abnormal charges, explosive claims, and corruption at the highest levels of government) - will be humming for a good while in America.

Claim it. It's yours. Let's make it better - together.

TCNGB

12/9/2008

"These four once stood in different corners as they duked it out for the Democratic nomination. If they don’t work together as effectively as possible, it could lead to a dangerous philosophical game of 4 Corners that would make Coach Dean Smith jealous. However, if they combine their talents in a historic fashion fitting for a historic administration, they could form the perfect square, one strong enough to use as a foundation for a better America."

This is a phrase from the Monday editorial "4 Corners" that I delivered on Fox News Rising this week. I commented on the irony of President-Elect Barack Obama selecting yet another formal rival to his Cabinet.

We are in a very unique period of time in America, and not just because of the level of crisis that we are in. Unlike the 1930s - when FDR created "The New Deal" in his attempt to stimulate a struggling American economy, we now live in the Internet Age, where information, preferences, opinions, and opposition flies around the world at the speed of light.

We know about the inside fighting between Obama and Biden (the on-the-job training comment comes to mind), Obama and the Clintons (need I say anything about this one), and even Richardson and Clinton (the former Clinton staffer in the 90s turning his support towards Obama during the primary season.) Yet, at this crucial time, it appears that people may have healed (mostly) from the tough campaign scars from 2007-2008 in order to prepare for "war": two literal wars and an economic battle to revive America's -and even the world's - prosperity.

Test #1 to see if Obama is the uniter that we have constantly heard that he is.

My thoughts? I think that he will be able to pull this off. I think that people will move lock-step with him over the course of the first 90 days of his administration, making (hopefully) strong but senisble moves to stabilitize this country economically and internationally.

Time, of course, will tell.

12/4/2008

As much as I enjoy being on-set with the Fox News Rising team, I still enjoy some of the other items that I do. One of those things is writing.

I got my latest article published recently. You can find the article here:

www.blackvoices.com/blogs/2008/12/04/does-re-bra
nding-re-messaging-resurgence-for-the-gop/

I give a perspective on what the Republican Party needs to do in order to not only win elections moving forward, but to find a way to represent the 21st century America whenever its members are elected into office.

The writing process is fun for me. Believe it or not, it is a combination of a lot of reading of current events, reading political philosophy, analysizing pertinent statistics, and talking to people like you.

People talk about political science in school and approach politics as a science during campaign time, but often we fail to understand that politics is nothing without people. Without involving people in politics, we fail as a community.

Even for Democrats that may disagree with some of what my article says, we must come together and agree on this:

If the politicos don't come together at this crucial, hear the people that they represent, and work together in a synergetic effort, we are going to continue to struggle.

As for me, I'll continue to put my pen to the paper to try and put some light on the issues.

12/3/2008

Good day! I hope that you are having a great day.

Each day, leaders within the African-American community work within the neighborhoods, schools, and churches with the focus being to improve the conditions that Black children and families find themselves in currently. By addressing this effectively, they understand that all communities can find a heightened level of resources - money, talent, and safety - because we maximize our collective potential.

Each year, the best and brightest gather in order to hold "the State of the Black Union" in order to assess the latest developements within America in order to find sound solutions to apply that incorporate a proactive approach that can connect from the grassroots to the general assemblies and government.

If I am able to get out to the event this year, I will find it very interesting to hear and engage the speakers and forum participants. Although Black America can "claim" its first African-American president, Black America will also be at a point where we are still in crisis mode - not only from the issues of poverty, under-education, crime, and early death within our communities, but also from the economic and civic crises that impact all Americans at this point.

With a young, conversative perspective, I feel that I can articulate a different perspective into that conversation in February if I attend. This perspective is one that reflects the majority of Americans, an important factor to incorporate as we continue to uplift Black America to a point where diversity is the spice of our melting pot, not just the ingredients that we notice as we cook along.

Sometimes, we have to represent more than ourselves, knowing that our one voice is merely the union of many voices presented by one person.

It was fun being that to date, so hopefully I can continue to be that "one person", although, really, it's never just one person. It's all of us.

12/2/2008

And - do - you - remember - Joe Biden’s words about Obama being tested by international players? Well, let’s just say that War Games isn’t just a movie from the 1980s anymore, at least not for the Russians off of the coast of Venezuela...

This is just a phrase from my latest editorial on Fox News Rising, titled "Indivisible." IF you missed it, you can find the text for the commentary on my personal website (www.lennymcallister.com) under "Editorials."

You can always get a chance to check out my latest views on the political world around us every Monday morning. I am on at 6:15 AM and 7:15 - 7:20 AM on Monday mornings along with Mark and Anna on the set of Fox News Rising, live and in person.

Yes, we do have a lot of things going on around us, which is why it is important to tune in, have the conversations about the events around us, and be part of the solution, not just part of the audience.

I'll be waiting for you next Monday. Listen in, form your opinion, and get involved in your governments - local, state, and federal levels.

Thanks for tuning in to Fox News Rising, where we share information, viewpoints, and smiles every morning...especially Monday morning!

TCNGB

11/29/2008

Now, after not being able to sleep in on Thanksgiving and Black Friday (in order to share my mornings with you on Fox News Rising), I was awakened again on Saturday morning bright and early. And why? In order to hit the hardwood. Yes, I was back out there, playing basketball on Saturday morning. This Saturday, was even more fun than normal.

I was out there with FNR's Sam Badger (producer) and Byron Wray (director.) No, you don't see them in front of the camera like you see others like Anna Kooiman or Mark Mathis, but they make the show click every bit as much.

We ended up having 3 of us from FNR and, of course, 4 McAllisters, and extended family by way of friends. Anytime you can go play ball after a wonderful Thanksgiving group prayer - well, it pretty much promises a load of fun, and it was.

On top of all of that, both Sam and Byron BOTH hit game-winners during the morning. Talk about Fox Got Game!!!!

Thanks of coming out, Sam and Byron. Gotta do it again soon.

11/22/2008

Thanksgiving got going early for me, even to the point where I am now recovering.

We had a wonderful gathering with extended family over in Huntersville the Saturday before Thanksgiving. It was a wonderful feast, not only because of the food, but because of the card games (Spades - and we won), football, and great conversation.

That is one of the great things about the holidays. You have a chance to connect with family and friends in a way that allows for us all to appreciate the love, kindness, and support that we get from each other. I know that each time I'm around my family and friends - my inner circle, if you will - I get that from that. That is what I had during the Thanksgiving gathering .

And as a transplanted Southerner, I had a chance to have my first taste of FRIED TURKEY Saturday night...and man was it good!!!I have to thank "West" for that treat.

11/272008 - Thanksgiving Day

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I hope that you are having a great day so far and in the process of getting ready for a wonderful meal with family and friends.

I hope that you started out your day with the crew here in Fox News Rising. If you did, you didn't see two familiar faces - Anna and Mark - but you did see one familiar face that you may not have expected to see....

MINE!

Imagine that, huh?

Yes, I actually got a chance to co-host this fun show, and yes, it's as much fun for us working with the great team on- and off-air as well as it is for you tuning in.

The differences? Well, for one, you don't have to wake up at 1:45 AM in the morning to get ready for FNR. Between not being able to sleep (I was up most of the night despite trying to get the customary 8 hours of sleep) and getting up at a time when I usually go to bed...well, it was, shall we say, an experience I won't forget quickly? :-)

Now, it was cool because I got a chance to see how the show comes together before the bright lights come up. It's the collaboration of a lot of talented professionals that bring the FNR set to life every morning. Everyone gets a chance to see Tera give our Forecast on the Fours regularly, but they don't get a chance to see her putting together the forecast by using her meterological acumen at 2 AM. People see how spiffy the set looks, but they never get a chance to see the production team putting together the camera shots for the sights and sounds that come to you 3 hours every weekday morning. Heck, I don't usually get a chance to see all of that - nor do I usually get a chance to see Dao Vu carving into pecan pie before sunrise - but it brings a new level of appreciation for the show, cast, and our viewers to see it all come together from a new perspective. I knew that they did a good job from the moment I started working with them, but being here from the beginning to the end just puts a new viewpoint in place for me. Hopefully, I can share that with you.

Now, I could never be Mark Mathis. He's wild, he's zany, but he is certainly special and when you think of Fox Charlotte, one of the first names that come to mind is Mark Mathis.

But while I filled in for him today, I didn't feel as though I was sitting there in place of Mark - I felt like I was sitting there in place of you. I felt like one of the many viewers of the show got a chance to ride shotgun on FNR through me, so I hope that you enjoyed the ride.

If you get a chance to come along tomorrow, just remember that I don't see it as sitting in place of Mark - I'm sitting there with you.

And if you get a chance to check out my latest on The Root at www.theroot.com, check out what I said about "The Elephant in the Room This Thanksgiving" at http://www.theroot.com/id/49042

Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for tuning in and I hope to see you tomorrow on Fox News Rising before you head out to shop on Black Friday.

TCNGB