Manson K. Brown on track to become first Black Commandant of the Coast Guard.

A native of Washington, D.C., and currently Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Maintenance & Logistics Command Pacific, Alameda, california, Admiral Brown has been named one of the Top Blacks in the Military by U.S. Black Engineer & Information Technology magazine.

Admiral Manson K. Brown, who will be featured in the magazine's upcoming Homeland Security, Government and Defense, Winter edition, received a Stars & Stripes Coast Guard Award, presented during the Third Annual Stars & Stripes Breakfast at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Baltimore on Feb. 17.

He was also invited to attend the 22nd National Black Engineer of the Year Award Science (BEYA), Technology, Engineering and Math Global Competitiveness Conference, also held at the Hyatt the week before. The BEYA Awards ceremonies recognize the achievement of African-American leaders.



A 1978 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, Brown holds a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana and a master's degree in National Resources Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He is a registered professional civil engineer.

The admiral assumed command of MLC Pacific in June 2006. His previous commands include Coast Guard Sector Honolulu and Coast Guard Group Charleston, S.C. He is slated to assume command of the 14th Coast Guard District, headquartered in Honolulu, in the summer.

In previous tours of duty, Brown served as Assistant Engineering Officer aboard the Coast Guard cutter Glacier, home ported in Portland, Ore.; Project Engineer at Civil Engineering Unit Miami; Deputy Group Commander at Coast Guard Group Mayport, Fla.; Engineering Assignment Officer in the Officer Personnel Division at Coast Guard Headquarters, Washington, D.C.; Facilities Engineer at Support Center Alameda here; and Assistant Chief, Civil Engineering Division at Maintenance & Logistics Command Pacific here.

From 1999 to 2002, he served as the Military Assistant to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, including duty as the Acting Deputy Chief of Staff for six months after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. In May 2003, he served as the Chief of Officer Personnel Management at the Coast Guard Personnel Command. From April to July 2004, he was temporarily assigned as the Senior Advisor for Transportation to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad, Iraq. Working in a combat zone, he oversaw restoration of Iraq's major transportation systems, including two major ports.

Brown's military decorations include the U.S. Transportation Secretary's Gold Medal, Legion of Merit, four Meritorious Service Medals, two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, and the Transportation 9-11 Medal, three Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal and several other personal and unit awards. In 1994, Rear Admiral Brown was honored as the first recipient of the Coast Guard's Captain John G. Witherspoon Award for Inspirational Leadership.

After the ceremony and the general reception, I was fortunate to get an opportunity to meet and to spend some time with a retired Navy admiral, Rear Admiral Robert L. Toney, U.S. Navy (Ret). Admiral Toney is one of a few African-Americans to be promoted to the rank of admiral in the U S Navy.

Admiral Toney's experience in the Navy featured leadership and management positions afloat and ashore, including Naval Base Commander in San Francisco, where he managed more than 60,000 people from Monterey to the Northern California border, with a payroll of $2.6 billion.

Admiral Toney was born on August 30, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana and moved to Oakland at the age of eight. He attended Youngstown State University (Ohio) from 1962 and 1954, and graduated from California State University, Chico in 1957 with a bachelor of arts degree. He was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Navy Reserve on October 31, 1957. He completed NATO Defense College in Rome in 1977 and the National and International Security Course at Harvard in 1990.

Admiral Toney has served on the board of directors of The United Way, World Affairs Council, Commonwealth Club, Volunteers of America, and the Oakland Boys and Girls Club.
He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humane Letters from National Defense University in October 1988, and from Golden Gate University in June 1994.
The recipient of many awards and decorations for meritorious service during his years in the Navy, Toney has two daughters and one son. He currently resides in Oakland.

Obama endorsed by Tribune.

We have a dream.
In it, a new, young president inspires all Americans to rise above partisan politics, gender, race, religion, region, money, ideology and economic philosophy to make this nation all that it can be.

That young president of vision and promise is the charismatic Barack Obama, the first-term Democratic Illinois senator whose presidential campaign has caught fire. We add fuel to his blaze by endorsing him in Tuesday's New Mexico caucus to be the Democratic nominee for president.

The Tribune believes Obama has reawakened the imagination, work ethic and hope of Americans coast to coast and across the political spectrum — particularly among the nation's youngest voters who finally seem engaged in their country and their future.

In this dream, he wins the nomination of his party, prevails in November and leads America back to the progressive promised land.

There, a united America walks its democratic talk.

There, its Constitution — in particular its Bill of Rights — once again reigns supreme.

There, Americans stand shoulder to shoulder against any and all foes, not as conservatives or liberals, Republicans or Democrats, not as men or women, black, white, Hispanic or American Indian, but as Americans.

It's not that Obama's resilient rival, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, would not be a good president. She could be. Indeed, she has been tested and has dedicated virtually her entire adult life to American public service. But in the tumultuous life that is competitive politics, Obama offers true change — a different and unique vision with purpose, determination and outstretched hands.

From Iraq to health care, both candidates hold similar positions on major issues. But Obama has a far better chance of unifying the country by refusing to play the standard political game. Pick your metaphor, but he rises above ordinary politics, does an end run around the old guard and challenges every American to step up and make a difference.

In spite of his relative youth and inexperience — which have drawn barbs from Clinton and her husband, Bill, the former president — Obama's candidacy most recently gained impressive traction among all categories of voters — women, men, black, white, brown, rich, poor, red, blue.

Yet there also have been incredible endorsements from some of the most potent and legendary Democratic voices of our time, including the brother and daughter of President Kennedy.

Like John F. Kennedy, who asked his "fellow Americans" to come to the aid of their country, Obama makes it plain that each of us can do something to make America great — together. In doing so, we can achieve America's global destiny as the mother of all democracies.

It has been a very long time since America had the leadership of someone who could disarm us of our pessimism, remind us of our roots and heritage and insist that we can solve America's enormous problems together. Instead of an impassable American mountain, Obama sees a team of American mountaineers plodding toward the summit.

There, law rules, not men.

There, every citizen is equally free and accountable.

There, opportunity, ability and hard work determine our individual and collective dreams.

Not since the 1960s have we been so touched by someone who espouses the hopes and strengths of a nation.

Some will find a reason not to vote for Obama. He is too young, too inexperienced. Too liberal. Too conservative. Too black. Too white. Too soft. Too religious. Too secular. Too naive. Too full of himself.

But we see in him a vibrant American leader who understands that leadership begins first and foremost with the people and a respect for — not manipulation of — them.

Obama seeks to leapfrog Washington's harsh political rhetoric and gridlock for all the right reasons. While some might ask why him, why now, we ask: Why not?

We enthusiastically endorse the presidential aspirations of Obama as the candidate in the New Mexico Democratic caucus most capable and willing to lead this country by challenging each and every one of its citizens to do what needs doing — achieve the American dream, rooted in those famous words: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Obama reaching out; voters reaching back.

The Democratic superdelegates are starting to follow the voters — straight to Barack Obama.
In just the past two weeks, more than two dozen of them have climbed aboard his presidential campaign, according to a survey by The Associated Press. At the same time, Hillary Rodham Clinton's are beginning to jump ship, abandoning her for Obama or deciding they now are undecided.
The result: He's narrowing her once-commanding lead among these "superdelegates," the Democratic office holders and party officials who automatically attend the national convention and can vote for whomever they choose.
As Obama has reeled off 11 straight primary victories, some of the superdelegates are having second — or third — thoughts about their public commitments.
Obama has been helped by recent endorsements from several labor unions, including the Teamsters on Wednesday, 20 February 2008.
"He's our guy," said Sonny Nardi, an Ohio superdelegate and the president of Teamsters Local 416 in Cleveland.

Let's take a closer look at who's really qualified and or who's
really working for the good of all of all Americans in the Senate: Obama or Clinton.
Records of these two candidates should be scrutinized in order to make an
informed decision.

First, let’s look at Senator Hillary Clinton.
Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6 yrs. - and
another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law -
20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.

These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress
www.thomas.loc.gov, and some are posted here for you.

1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.

8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition
Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the
bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on
winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team
on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution
Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express
condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters
who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more
substantive. 16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims
of 9/11.
17.Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist land mine
victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico's
protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record.

Now, let’s look at Senator Barack Obama.
Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive,
so I'll mainly categorize. During the first - 8 - eight years of
his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced:

233 regarding health care reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and
cosponsored another 427. These included **the Coburn-Obama
Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law, **The Lugar-Obama
Nuclear Nonproliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction
Act, - became law, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act,
passed the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law,
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In
committee, and many more.

In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written
890 bills and cosponsored another 1096. An impressive record, for
someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would
prefer that this comparison not be made public. He's not just a
talker. He's a doer.

Democrats say Clinton, whose central theme is her readiness to be president, also made blunder after blunder. She chose an inexperienced campaign manager, crafted a message that didn't match the moment, fielded poor organizations in key states, and built a budget that ran dry when she needed money most.
"She got outmaneuvered," said Mark Mellman, a Democratic strategist who isn't aligned with this year's candidates. "Her campaign allowed her to be outmaneuvered on several fronts."




Clinton ran most of last year on her experience, at one point surrounding herself with party icons from the past, such as former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
The strategy was designed for wartime, presenting her as a tough, experienced leader in the mold of Margaret Thatcher, someone who could be trusted to keep the country safe.
But that made her look rooted in the past, even part of the status quo, as Obama cast himself as the voice of a new generation. Young people surged to his rallies, and helped give him his first big victory, in Iowa.
"Everybody has known for a year at least that if you trade experience for change, people want change over experience 2-1. Why they put themselves on the short end of that, I don't know," said one Democrat who worked on Sen. John Kerry's 2004 campaign. "It was a bad choice."
Although she later answered Obama's rise in the polls by changing her message to say she had the experience to deliver change, this Democrat called it "too little, too late."


Clinton could not go before Democratic primary voters and assail Obama for being too far to the left. Instead, she insinuated moral turpitude by asserting that Obama had not been "vetted." When that backfired, she claimed plagiarism by Obama in lifting a paragraph from a speech by his friend and supporter Deval Patrick, the Massachusetts governor



I last Wednesday's news media conference calls by Clinton campaign managers Mark Penn and Harold Ickes in the wake of her Wisconsin defeat she made the same plagiarism charge that had just proved ineffective. She also raised the bogus issue again at Thursday night's debate in Austin, Texas and was rewarded with boos from the Democratic audience.

Many of Clinton's TV ads featured her talking about the issues, standard fare.
But the ads struck one Democratic consultant as a mistake, since Obama's ads also feature excerpts from his speeches. Airing the similar ads invites a comparison of the two candidates' speaking styles at the very time she's been trying to downplay her disadvantage.
"They suck," the consultant said. "The truth is he's a better speaker. He has a better speech. They don't want a side-by-side comparison, but they're making it."

Obama Wins Wisconsin and Hawaii For 9th and 10th Straight Victories!

Barack Obama cruised past a fading Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Wisconsin primary Tuesday night 19 February 2008, gaining the upper hand in a Democratic presidential race for the ages.

In the Hawaii caucuses, Obama had received roughly 76 percent of the vote, to 24 percent for Clinton, extending his winning streak to 10 consecutive contests and dealing another significant blow to Hillary Clinton.

It was Obama's tenth straight victory over the past three weeks. It left Hillary Clinton in desperate need of a comeback.

"The change we seek is still months and miles away," Obama told a boisterous crowd in Houston in a speech in which he also pledged to end the war in Iraq in his first year in office.

"I opposed this war in 2002. I will bring this war to an end in 2009. It is time to bring our troops home," he declared.

"I am grateful to the people of Wisconsin for their friendship, their support and their tremendous sense of civic pride," Obama said in his victory speech to thousands of cheering supporters. He then turned to the challenges that remained and offered a now-familiar indictment of the status quo in the nation's capital.

"The problem that we face in America is not a lack of good ideas," said Obama. "It's that Washington has become a place where good ideas go to die."

Mindful of John "Hundred Years War" McCain's attacks, he struck back at the likely GOP nominee. "I revere and honor John McCain's service to his country. He's a genuine hero," Obama told the audience at the Toyota Center. "But when he embraces George Bush's failed economic policies, when he says he's willing to send our troops into another 100 years in Iraq, then he represents the party of yesterday, and we want to be the party of tomorrow."

Obama cut deeply into Clinton's political bedrock in Wisconsin, splitting the support of white women almost evenly with her. According to polling place interviews, he also ran well among working class voters in the blue collar battleground that was prelude to primaries in the larger industrial states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Clinton made no mention of her defeat, and showed no sign of surrender in an appearance in Youngstown, Ohio.

"Both Senator Obama and I would make history," the New York senator said. "But only one of us is ready on day one to be commander in chief, ready to manage our economy, and ready to defeat the Republicans."

In a clear sign of their relative standing in the race, most cable television networks abruptly cut away from coverage of Clinton's rally when Obama began to speak in Texas.

McCain won the Republican primary with ease, dispatching former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and edging closer to the 1,191 delegates he needs to clinch the GOP nomination at the party convention in St. Paul, Minn. next summer. The Arizona senator also won the primary in Washington, with 19 delegates at stake.

Ohio and Texas vote next on March 4 — 370 convention delegates in all — and even some of Clinton's supporters concede she must win one, and possibly both, to remain competitive. Two smaller states, Vermont and Rhode Island, also have primaries that day.

With the votes counted in more than 80 percent of Wisconsin's precincts, Obama was winning 58 percent of the vote to 41 percent for Clinton.

Wisconsin offered 74 national convention delegates. There were 20 delegates at stake in Hawaii, where Obama spent much of his youth.

Washington Democrats voted in a primary, too, but their delegates were picked earlier in the month in cacuses won by Obama.

The Illinois senator's Wisconsin victory left him with 1,303 delegates in The Associated Press' count, compared with 1,233 for Clinton, a margin that masks his 145-delegate lead among those picked in primaries or caucuses. It takes 2,025 to win the nomination at the party's national convention in Denver.

Obama's victory came after a week in which Clinton and her aides tried to knock him off stride. They criticized him in television commercials and accused him of plagiarism for using words first uttered by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick, a friend. He shrugged off the advertising volley, and said that while he should have given Patrick credit, the controversy didn't amount to much.

The voters seemed not to care.

Wisconsin independents cast about one-quarter of the ballots in the race between Obama and Clinton, and roughly 15 percent of the electorate were first-time voters, the survey at polling places said. Obama has run strongly among independents in earlier primaries, and among younger voters, and cited their support as evidence that he would make a stronger general election candidate in the fall.

Obama began the evening with eight straight primary and caucus victories, a remarkable run that has propelled him past Clinton in the overall delegate race and enabled him to chip away at her advantage among elected officials within the party who will have convention votes as superdelegates.

The economy and trade were key issues in the race, and seven in 10 voters said international trade has resulted in lost jobs in Wisconsin. Fewer than one in five said trade has created more jobs than it has lost.

The Democrats' focus on trade was certain to intensify, with primaries in Ohio in two weeks and in Pennsylvania on April 22.

Obama's campaign has already distributed mass mailings critical of Clinton on the issue in Ohio. "Bad trade deals like NAFTA hit Ohio harder than most states. Only Barack Obama consistently opposed NAFTA," it said.

Clinton's aides initially signaled she would virtually concede Wisconsin, and the former first lady spent less time in the state than Obama.

Even so, she ran a television ad that accused her rival of ducking a debate in the state and added that she had the only health care plan that would cover all Americans and the only economic plan to stop home foreclosures. "Maybe he'd prefer to give speeches than have to answer questions" the commercial said.

Obama countered with an ad of his own, saying his health care plan would cover more people.

Obama’s audiences were filled with a tapestry of supporters — young and old, black and white — many of whom said they had been following the presidential race as it unfolded in neighboring states like Iowa.

Mary Liedtke, a defense lawyer in Eau Claire, Wis., said she had been a supporter of Mrs. Clinton. But in the final weeks of the Iowa caucus campaign, she said she had become inspired by Mr. Obama’s supporters.

“Some elderly women I’ve heard say, ‘I want to see a woman president before I die,’ and I know that’s why some of them are supporting Hillary,” Ms. Liedtke said in an interview after seeing Mr. Obama last weekend in her town.

“But you know what? That’s a selfish reason to vote for a president just because you want to see a woman before you die,” she added. “What about the kids coming up? I feel we should vote for the young people.”