MyMindsEye

Defending President Obama's NAACP Speech

2009-07-18T09:33:00.000-07:00

As always, there are critics to anything President Obama does, but I think a key element is underappreciated in examining his speech to the NAACP. There is a monumental difference in a Black President making these remarks. A BLACK PRESIDENT... The simple act of his ascension to this office sweeps away generations of cobwebs around the tired bromides of "being all you can be" and "working hard can take you wherever you desire!" Sure there was some boilerplate tough love pulpit talk, but only THIS President could deliver it and speak it to power.

He was raised by a single mother (and her parents)... how many of our children can resonate with that? He came from modest surroundings...check. Experimented with drugs/petty crime as an escape... check. Stumbled through his early college years... check. Attended an Ivy league school where he got his act together... wait a minute!

You mean after being abandoned by your father, struggling to make ends meet, trying weed and blow, playing basketball, wandering academically AND BEING BLACK you could STILL become POTUS? That's a game-changing story. I'm sorry, it just is.

Yes, it was a bit jarring to hear him slip into sermon mode (the most "Blackity Black" I've heard him since the campaign began); however, the subtext of what he was saying reminded me about Chris Rock's classic joke about folks in the 'hood sweeping their porches.

Some claim that his admonitions regarding "bedtimes" and "Xbox," are overly simplistic; however, he offered similar advice during the gas crisis to almost universal GOP derision... Inflate your tires to get better gas mileage. Was it a master solution to the entire escalation of fuel prices? No. But keeping your tires properly inflated DOES IMPROVE YOUR MILEAGE... and its really easy... and it's free. "Bedtime and Xbox" is shorthand for being a more engaged parent and directing your children to make better use of their time.

It's not a cureall, but it ain't a bad thing.

No President is perfect and I am confounded (almost daily) by some of the tone-deaf moves he makes in the face of other brilliant overtures. Nevertheless, I think his NAACP speech was important and offered some instantly implementable strategies for our most at-risk populations. Going forward, he also stressed the importance of civic engagement, working for our shared goals and other longer term ideals.

I think it was inspiring. I think there's nothing wrong with exhorting our people to struggle against the inequities and overcome them rather than being defined and defeated by them. America's problem with race is far from solved, but changing from within will make US better, regardless of external forces. That's my take away from the President's comments.

2009-06-12T07:41:00.000-07:00

Obama Bows on Settling Detainees

Different Gitmo issues are being conflated by the mainstream media/blogosphere here (WashPo's inartfully worded headline didn't help). That article almost exclusively deals with the couple dozen Uighurs (who were exonerated early on and treated much better than the vast majority of long term detainees).

Certain high-profile figures (like Boumedienne) DON'T WANT to settle here. They want to go back home. The "issue" that Obama is "caving" on is allowing detainees that BushCo tortured and illegally held but now is RELEASING to settle in the US. The issue that was consuming most of the oxygen in this debate concerned the people WHO WERE NOT BEING RELEASED and still awaited incarceration or trial.

I have NO PROBLEM with transferring the actual bad guys to our Supermax facilities (Montana has a brand new EMPTY prison and could take a bunch of them). However, I think the wrongly imprisoned need to go back to their home countries. The idea of an wrongly-imprisoned, embittered and possibly converted potential jihadist being released to live here isn't a comforting thought. That's not entirely fair, but it's not entirely prudent to assume that some of these detainees would not be prime targets for terrorist recruiters.

It IS true that by denying even the most "tame" detainees (who are legitimate refugees), we make it much more difficult for other countries to share the burden, but I don't recall the President promising that the innocent Gitmonians would get to live here.

Reflections on Watchmen... Spoilers for non-fans

2009-03-08T09:27:00.000-07:00

This is not a movie review per se. Rather it is an analysis of the key differences between the comic and film with commentary on the positives and negatives of the transition.

In the immediate aftermath, I was mostly pleased. Upon reflection, the inevitable issues arise.

First the good...

Haley as Rorschach... Amazing. Crudup as Manhattan... Outstanding (the facial animation was MUCH better than anticipated). Morgan as Comedian... inspired (though his age make-up became distracting on the big screen). Wilson as Nite Owl... strong, though still a bit too fit to capture Dreiberg's middle aged "waist" land. Gugino was fine in her small role and Ackerman was frankly better than I expected.

Matthew Goode still stands out as a grossly miscast, but on balance the lead performances were quite good.

I was also impressed with how the story flow "felt" like the comic book. The note perfect passages were the Comedian's funeral (where the characters reflect on their encounters with the recently deceased) and the Rorschach jail stuff. Just fantastic. Jon's origin, played out on Mars was also great even without my favorite line of that chapter, "The light... The light is taking me to pieces."

Now the problems...

I was OK with the altered squid tragedy. Frankly, the American's "pocket God" backfiring on them is fine with me. The downside of the ending was that the squid subplot was replaced with the simply awful Adrian Veidt foreshadowing. He sauntered through his world, a bitchy, male Paris Hilton who has studied Nietzsche and has a God complex... I'm rich, smart and FAAAABULOUS in purple sharkskin! SIGH...

The hyper-violence was a mixed bag too. Of course, there were some "Ohhhhhhhhh" moments of bonecrushing entertainment. Rorschach's "hot oil treatment" was perfectly lifted from the comic; however, the Laurie/Dan mugging scene, Ozymandias' takedown of Nite Owl and Rorschach, even the Comedian's murder were so over the top that it suspended disbelief that these guys are "regular" humans.

In the comics, these scenes play out over a few panels, a few punks get smashed up and Laurie and Dan are exhilarated. In contrast, their film counterparts battle a seemingly endless stream of thugs who receive compound fractures, broken necks (or the bowie knife punctured variety), inverted knee caps, and bits of bone in the brain. Similarly, the completely invented (though somewhat more realistic) riot sequence has them marching (unscathed) through a sea of hardened criminals.

This is all pretty standard fare for action movies, but it lessens the clear comic book theme that the Minutemen (NOT Watchmen) are REGULAR people, albeit smarter, driven and with cooler gadgets. Seeing Rorschach leap 20 foot gaps... watching Veidt smash the Comedian's head through a granite countertop (while the latter punches through concrete fireplaces) rather misses the point.

I think Snyder effectively trimmed some of Moore's esoterica without damaging the overall story, but there were some odd decisions that muddled things by the end. Chief among these is Rorschach's obliteration. The sequence is a major deviation from the comic and of one of Snyder's worst choices.

In the comic, the rationalization for keeping quiet about the destruction of New York was mostly about the enormous moral questions of rekindling the recently doused threat of war. Further, it was partly attributable to the disconnect of the heroes with the victims. Laurie knew "no one" except her fellow "heroes" and her mom, who was safe in California. Daniel was a loner whose personal hero (Hollis Mason) had been murdered, leaving him alone. Veidt's dismissal of Rorschach's threat to the plan prompts Dan and Laurie to wander off consoling each other. Meanwhile, Jon kills Rorschach and later quietly observes Laurie and Dan, pleased that she has found happiness. They have no further contact.

After, Jon confronts Veidt in his sanctum. Veidt is clearly seeking absolution Dr. Manhattan, the one intellect he respects on Earth. Bemused, Manhattan denies his request for comfort and departs with a cryptic comment that leaves Veidt tormented and alone.

Snyder upends all these interactions by:

Killing Rorschach in front of Dreiberg. Rorschach's death replaces Mason's as a moment of catharsis for Dan. But the timing is awful, resulting in...
Dan's tirade and assault on Adrian. That attack simply would not have the same impact on Veidt as Manhattan's cryptic goodbye. Veidt ALLOWED Dan to hit him though he had mercilessly beaten his ass only moments before. The audience can only assume that he weathers the beating to "atone" for his action. The mental anguish of the comic was better.
Jon's last words ("without condoning or condemning..." "think I'll create some..." are made to (or in front of) Laurie instead of privately to Adrian. Further, he kisses Laurie IN FRONT OF DAN right after he murdered Dan's best friend. Talk about impotent...
Consequently, it is Laurie who leaves the audience (by way of Dan) with Jon's cryptic "Nothing ends. Nothing EVER ends." This message was meant for Adrian. It is lost on Dan.
There was a REASON that Sally Jupiter was in California. Not the least of which is that it provided a rationale for Dan and Laurie's exodus from New York. Both would need to lay low after Rorschach's jail break, notwithstanding armegeddon. Ending with the couple back in New York, especially when the scale of the devastation is so unclear, is confusing at best.
Not for nothing, Ackerman simply doesn't have the acting chops to carry a scene like that, especially following Haley's bravura performance before Rorschach's murder. In the comic, Sally is front and center with a starstruck Dan providing a little comic relief. Gugino is a stronger actress and the comic scene is better.
The closing scene with the New Frontiersman was fine (the ketchup splash was perfect), but establishing Rorschach's relationship with the paper would have been helpful (and infinitely preferable to any number of Veidt's new scenes).

I've talked to a few people who were completely unaware of the comic. One complete "Wirgin" loved the dark take on the superhero mythos. Most of my critiques would not have registered at all with him.

Another, a NY playwright, was intrigued by the dense material and dark themes. He wants to see the film again (good for Warner's).

My wife skimmed the TPB, but wasn't a real fan. She had a blast too.

As a real Watchmen fan, my critiques are mostly informed by my familiarity with the source material. I credit Snyder with his devotion and clear desire to do justice to the source. He captured a lot of really good stuff in this adaptation. In a movie that defies so many traditional superhero conventions, I wish he had chosen to hew closer to Moore and Gibbons bedrock themes instead of sacrificing them for slick production values and cheap thrills.

7 out of 10 stars.

Watchmen-a-palooza, Pt. Deux

2009-02-01T01:39:00.000-08:00

I'm less enthused by the early release of a "Tales of the Black Freighter" disc mere weeks after the movie's launch.

"Freighter" as a stand alone doesn't work for me (anymore than any cheesy pirate story would work for me as a separate story). However, the story has a number of specific SPOILERY tasks in the Watchmen storyline.

The protagonist's POV monologue ratchets the tension in the story.
The growing dread mirrors the advancing Soviet conflict that accelerates after Doc's departure.
The comic underpins the relationship between the newspaper stand owner and the young, Black reader (for a dramatic Issue 12 payoff).
It introduces the reader to the writing style of the author that Veidt used to program the mental squid bomb images.
Freighter's twist amplifies the tough choice that Rorschach, Dreiberg, Doc and Veidt face in Issue 12.
And the protagonist's increasingly twisted, albeit internally "justified" actions mirror Veidt's own dark motivations.

The completist in me is glad that Snyder cared enough to produce the stuff, but the Watchmen fan in me is glad that the motion comics maintain the comic within a comic structure that Moore intended.

Frankly, anything more than a motion comic treatment WEAKENS the idea of the Black Freighter story. The motion comics handle this conceit by amping up the newsprint halftone artifacts (which are absent in the Watchmen storyline).

I'll wait for the main disc (where hopefully the story is inserted in the Director's Cut) to see how Snyder handles it.

Watchmen-a-palooza

2009-02-01T01:33:00.000-08:00

Earning my geek chic bonafides here with a few Watchmen comments. If you know nothing and want to enjoy the movie completely "fresh," stop reading...

First, I have been stoking the fires of the forthcoming movie release with the Warner "motion comics," currently available on iTunes and coming soon as a stand alone disc.

The most compelling aspect of the motion comics is that Gibbons' artwork is used. The frontpiece and endpiece quotes are also included (which will likely not survive the movie adaptation). Another excellent choice is the inclusion of the speech bubbles. Moore's text has delightful little nuances that can only be appreciated in the READING of the text. For the most part, the voice over exactly matches, but there are some VERY minor exclusions that must have been trimmed for timing.

There simply is no other way to experience the visual "harmonies" employed in the comic book in a live action movie. Zach Snyder is passionate, but he's already taken quite a few liberties with his production design. Ozymandias is horribly miscast (too bad, Jude Law didn't work out).

A perfect example is the iconic blood splash on the Comedian's "smiley" button. That splash motif is echoed throughout the 12 issues, effectively bookending the whole series. Snyder has "a" splash, but not "the" splash.

The voice work is initially off-putting, but he's a good actor, and his performance pulls you into the story. The background music sets the mood without overwhelming. I'm champing at the bit to see the new episodes as they unfold.

Despite the loss of Moore's chapter addenda ("Under the Hood" excerpts, Rorschach's psych eval and Journal entries, etc.), I like to think that he would enjoy these motion comics... at least a little. I'm confident that most fans of the comic will feel the same.

Sit DOWN, Sarah!

2009-01-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

I don't know how they do things up in Alaska, but when your future (still waiting for a wedding date) in-law and mother of your high school drop-out, jobless, "shooting sh#t", grandbabyddady has been arrested on charges of Oxycontin trafficking, you don't get to cry foul that Caroline Kennedy is catching a break because of CLASS WARFARE.

You caught hell because you were a ridiculously unqualified, cravenly calculated, Hail Mary pass serial liar who was aiming to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency of a 70+-year old cancer survivor.

Kennedy is looking to fill out the term of a Senator. No equivalency AT ALL.

UPDATE!
Please enjoy this video. She's certifiable. Wait for 6:20 for a surprise insight into Palin as an OBAMA running mate.

On Marriage, Civil Unions and Rick Warren

2008-12-24T23:18:00.000-08:00

Feathers will undoubtedly be ruffled, but here goes...

Marriage is an ancient institution that has had many forms and definitions. The passion displayed here and elsewhere is indicative of the psychological and spiritual yearning that loving couples wish to share in matrimony. However, in those myriad definitions of monogamy, polygamy, polyandry, arranged marriages, yadda yadda yadda, I have yet to see a single spiritual text that endorses SAME-GENDER marriage.

98%-99% of the world population believes in some form of spirituality. Marriage is exulted in most of those faiths. It's an extraordinary uphill battle to expect that folks will turn off their "faith" because marriage has been co-opted to include a whole host of civil advantages. And it's because of those advantages that this whole debate is more complicated.

To me, the civil bit is ALREADY separate from the actual marriage. When my wife and I married, the minister lost our paperwork, so we weren't registered as married with the state for years. Still, people came to the wedding; my wife changed her name; she was covered under my insurance as were our kids.

Whether civil unions become the de facto standard for everyone, or a temporary "holding pattern" for GLBT couples, GET THE RIGHTS ASAP, by any means necessary. Calling it "marriage" may come later, but having the rights will offer much needed protections. As an aside, no one can legislate your invitations. Put what you want on them and share your commitment and love with your family, friends and community. At the end of the day, that's what I hope matters most.

In regards to the Warren pick, it's pretty clear that Obama is rubbing off on Warren more than Warren is rubbing off on Obama. Warren has back-pedaled from his most offensive comparisons of same-gender marriage and has scrubbed some homophobic rhetoric off his site. Given how Warren has been called to the carpet on his specious claims that marriage has "always" been one man/one woman, I would be surprised to hear him repeat that trope. He's too smart to for that. On the other hand, imagine the difference it would make if he started extolling the fairness of granting marital RIGHTS to same-gender couples vis a vis civil unions.

A Father's Thoughts on Election Eve

2008-11-03T12:56:00.001-08:00

My 9-month-old son, Kole. I'm pretty sure he's the cutest Obama baby on the planet

I ordered this onesie right after Obama's Super Tuesday blowout. It's sized at 12-18 months, so I wasn't sure it would fit by Election Day... Good thing he takes after his Dad.

Tomorrow, he will accompany me as I cast my vote. The historical significance has been pressing on me as we move closer to THE DAY. Both my grandfathers passed on before I was born, but their great grandson will witness the election of a Black man to the Presidency of the United States.

A few years ago, I bought a tee shirt for my older son, Tommy. I was in an airport, headed home and wanted to grab a souvenir. The shirt, then much too large for him to wear, read "Future President of the United States." As I pondered the purchase, I recall thinking, "One day, this message might be true for my son."

After Obama clinched the nomination, Tommy wore that shirt for the first time. He had grown into it, much as this impressive nominee had grown into his history-defining role.

I am astounded at this election season. Even in the midst of my solidly upper middle class upbringing, I never truly believed that a viable Black Presidential nominee would emerge in my lifetime. Chisholm, and Fulani were valiant attempts, but never serious contenders. In my first Presidential primary I voted for Jesse. His finish didn't surprise me.

However, my children will mature in a world where their dreams will not be wistful platitudes of opportunity and equality. They will see this President and his beautiful family lead our country in a new direction and KNOW that their possibilities are limitless.

We are counting down to change, America. Don't miss the chance to make history.

VOTE!

On the issue of Obama "Haters"

2008-10-30T07:01:00.000-07:00

A spirited discussion about Tavis Smiley's haterism prompted this question..

Can any Black people dislike Obama's policies, Obama himself, or his actions and NOT be a "hater"?

Sure.

I've just never seen a thoughful critique that holds up against the alternate choice of the erratic, deeply partisan and ridiculously managed McCain campaign. Let's be clear. McCain's abandonment of his principles has left him a torture survivor who voted AGAINST the anti-torture bill. McCain is a veteran who couldn't bring himself to vote on the GI Bill DESPITE his persistent use of his service and the current Iraq soldiers as campaign props.

McCain claims Obama lacks "executive experience" (pot, meet kettle) and shores up that argument by adding a mayor of a town that's smaller than some of Obama's phone banks. Palin's next gig was Governor, but she's spent so much of her time commuting between home and office (while accepting per diems) and jetting around with her family, one scarcely has information to measure her performance.

Barack Obama has managed a $600-million, 2-year, 49-state, WINNING campaign with millions of paid staff and dedicated volunteers. I assert that his experience on an endeavor of this scale trumps Caribou Barbie.

McCain's campaign of desperation REEKS of disingenuous attacks, wavering stances on issues, wildly impetuous choices and pathetically poor judgment. The real question is "What could possibly make Obama so BAD for America that electing twitchy dilettante McCain is BETTER for our country?"

Give me a Black person who can make the case AGAINST Obama as cogently as Gen. Colin Powell made the case FOR Obama and we'd have something to talk about.

30 minutes... 30 minutes... 30 minutes... Barry Fresh you're on

2008-10-29T22:54:00.000-07:00

Excellent production values. Very savvy to pick stories from his battlegrounds. White, Black, Latino, veterans, elderly, factory workers... national security, health care problems, education (with a nod to at risk and special needs kids). He hit the right notes for all his constituencies. For people who hadn't really been paying attention and claimed "they don't know him," it was a very clear statement of his positions (albeit a rehash of stump stuff). The only quibble I had was the odd choice of pushing the $200,000 individual income limit for the tax break as opposed to the $250,000 family limit. It's families that are hurting, not single folks making $175,000. Overall, an extremely well done piece.

P.S. McCain's sour grapes are EPIC FAIL. Griping about Obama's half-hearted expression of support for public financing is not a winner in the last week of a campaign.

P.P.S. ~~Bonus points for Palin out-gaffing Biden with her quote about leading the GOP if/when their campaign fails.~~ Apparently, ABC was gilding the lily a bit. CNN got caught up too.

Ashley Todd

2008-10-25T07:42:00.000-07:00

Y'all know the story by now. White, female McCain phonebanker, Ashley Todd, leaves Texas to venture North to support her candidate. After a stint in New York, she ends up in Pittsburgh until Thursday, when she lost her effing mind and became Susan Smith Part Deux.

The McCain campaign can hardly be blamed for this girl's actions. However, they need to be questioned on their response. Within hours of the incendiary allegations, two things happened.

McCain and Palin called Ashley Todd.
A press flack from McCain's Pennsylvania operation started pushing the story and adding salacious details.

Consider what was at stake here. In a campaign environment already marked with strained racial tensions, Todd's story was potenitally explosive. It would have made a lot more sense to issue a generic statement (like Obama's campaign did). Instead, McCain and Palin lent legitimacy to the allegations (at least for a few hours) by calling her. They vetted Todd's story about as thoroughly as they vetted Palin.

Worse than that, McCain's PA communications director, Peter Feldman, added fuel to the fire. According the local station that broke the story, Feldman added details that WERE NOT INITIALLY REPORTED.

To wit, that the ~~mugger~~ imaginary assailant, who ~~carved~~ lightly scratched the letter "B" onto the cheek of the ~~victim~~ attention-seeking kook was marking her with name of McCain's political opponent.

Yes, they were tricked by a deranged nutjob, but the backward "B" picture was released WITH THE STORY. If Michelle Malkin had the foresight to be cautious, one hopes that the potential President had A SINGLE PERSON on staff to advise restraint.

Sadly, that person shopping for some new "six packish" Palin wear at Wal-Mart and McCain's campaign became linked with this despicable display of race-baiting.

P.S. It's ~~comforting~~ creepy to learn that McCain's increasingly apparent crochetiness is genetic. The campaign bids an overdue farewell to Joe McCain. What the heck is it with McCain and his Joes???

On Prop. 8 in California

2008-10-23T18:22:00.000-07:00

Our law starts with the U. S. Constitution. Then state constitutions. Then regular old laws (traffic laws, statutes, etc.). By constitutional definition, a law cannot be passed (by legislature or electoral consent) that stands in conflict with a state Constitution (and by extension, the Federal Constitution). Even McCain stands against a Federal Constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage

Prop 22 was found to be in violation of the Equal Protections clause of the California Constitution. That decision is PRECISELY in the definition of the role of the judiciary. That's kinda the point of CO-EQUAL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

Prop 8 is an attempt at adjusting the state Constitution to make an end run around the "unconstitutionality" of the language of Prop 22. But, here's the deal... The will of the people DOES NOT TRUMP THE RIGHTS OF THE FEW. That's at the core of our Constitution.

People keep talking about the judges overthrowing the will of the people. Rather, the California Supreme Court refocused the attention of the people to our Constitution and its equal protection defenses.

Before 1977, the civil code in California defined marriage as "...a personal relation arising out of a civil context, to which consent of the parties making that contract is necessary."

When this was found to be too vague for some folks they changed it that year to add the words between a man and a woman. However, another section of the civil code allowed California to recognize marriages from other states. Even THAT was too much, so Prop 22 was born... which led us to Prop 8.

The Judiciary is important...

That's why the Dred Scott v. Sandford decision has no force today...

That's why Plessy v. Ferguson was struck down upon JUDICIAL REVIEW...

That's why Brown v. Topeka blasted apart "Separate, but Equal", Jim Crow and segregation...

That's why Loving v. Virginia prevailed and allows couples of different races to marry...

DISCRIMINATION IS WRONG. Prop 8 isn't about kids... it isn't about religion. It's about discrimination.

And it's wrong.

VOTE NO ON PROP. 8

On that expensive wardrobe...

2008-10-23T16:35:00.000-07:00

Clinton was on the trail a HECKUVA lot longer than Palin and always looked professional (albeit without Palin's MILFy assets). Notwithstanding the media's disaffection with pantsuits, I can't recall that much time was spent discussing her attire.

The meme that females in the political spotlight are held to a higher fashion standard rings hollow in an election cycle where Clinton dominated headlines for the better part of a year. In fact, the biggest fashion splash before Palin's $150,000 debacle was Michelle Obama's $130 frock from her appearance on "The View."

When Barack Obama is pictured with holes in his shoes, the idea that Palin is "down to Earth" in $150,000 of Neiman's and Saks is simply ridiculous. Anybody with a brain would have taken her to an Ann Taylor outlet and gotten the job done for a tenth of the price.

Powell Endorses Obama!

2008-10-19T10:22:00.000-07:00

Beyond the newsworthiness of the cross party endorsement, Gen. Powell offers a particularly compelling and lucid argument for Senator Barack Obama. Far more than any other endorsement this cycle, his passion, intelligence and reason shine through as genuine and rational.

He cuts through political posturing and spin and deals explicitly with indisputable FACTS. He was able to succinctly obliterate the standard GOP positions and talking points in clear language. He offered sincere critiques about his disappointment in McCain's campaign tactics. His example of the fallen Muslim soldier's patriotism was amazing and heartfelt. If McCain had been brave enough to nominate him, things might be VERY different in this race.

Powell's political reputation may have been dimmed by his Bush administration experiences, but his intellectual and analytical gifts are clearly extraordinary. These last few days scarcely seem real. I am stunningly proud to be an American.

Thank you, General Powell.

Atturny Genrul Talis Colberg

2008-09-24T06:40:00.000-07:00

Hat tip to Andrew Sullivan for linking to http://tinyurl.com/colberg.

Simply awesome takedown of Alaska's "Attorney General" Talis Colberg. After reading this gripping account, Palin will be lucky to escape impeachment, much less survive the election season.

It is an honest-to-Blog SCANDAL that McCain is attempting to foist this patently corrupt, intellectually incurious, duplicitous, savage animal murderer onto the rest of the country.

BONUS POINTS! Just for giggles, there's an equally awesome comment from the article above regarding the rest of Palin's appointments. Look for AAPA...

Economy "Fundamentally Sound"? Not so much...

2008-09-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

Bear Stearns bailout...

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac...

Lehman bankruptcy...

Merrill Lynch sold for 2/3 previous market value...

AIG looking for handout...

Greenspan FREAKING OUT...

McCain's economic advisor admitting tax increases ARE NECESSARY...

What's the chance we'll see McCain touting the fundamental strength of the economy this week?

Bonus points awarded if Hannity apologizes to THE ACTUAL ECONOMIST he blasted last week.

Take deep breaths, people!

2008-09-10T16:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not stressing any Post-GOP polls until AFTER Palin faces the unvarnished press corps. Her ENTIRE narrative (except for Trig) is built on gross distortions and outright lies.

Troopergate... Bridge to Nowhere... More earmarks per capita than ANY OTHER STATE... eBay plane farce... Wasilla lobbyists... Book banning... Per diem scandal... Ted Stevens 527 chair... Husband REGISTERED member of secessionist party...

She can read a script... WHOOPDEE-EFFIN-DOO! When she comes out of the cocoon and has to face REAL journalists asking real questions, we'll see how long the Palin Fever lasts.

Meanwhile, it's encouraging to see that some Dem 527s are going to get to cut their teeth on this self-described, lipstick-sporting pit bull. I can't wait...

Open Letter to Obama on Palin

2008-09-04T07:07:00.000-07:00

Palin's most sincere sounding attack was the "Scranton-San Francisco" bit. On its face, it was a withering critique. However, it is particularly hypocritical given her about face on the Ketchikan bridge.

According to Reuters (emphasis mine)...

"in 2006, Palin said she was insulted by the term "bridge to nowhere," according to Ketchikan Mayor Bob Weinstein, a Democrat, and Mike Elerding, a Republican who was Palin's campaign coordinator in the southeast Alaska city.

"People are learning that she pandered to us by saying, I'm for this' ... and then when she found it was politically advantageous for her nationally, abruptly she starts using the very term that she said was insulting," Weinstein said."

If that isn't "saying one thing in Ketchikan and another in St. Paul," I don't know what is.

What's worse? These are HER CONSTITUENTS that she used for political fodder. This fact, combined with the recent revelations of her crowing about pork IN HER OWN HANDWRITING are doubly damaging.

As far as I'm concerned, this self-described pit bull in lipstick, has played the victim card for the last time. She has had her "bring it on" moment. Please don't hesitate to confront her on every one of her distortions, lies and politically crafted attack lines.

Pretty please?

Where's Bridget?

2008-09-02T10:41:00.000-07:00

In the midst of the Bristol Palin saga, the McCain/Palin families posed for a People magazine shoot. There was one noticeable family member missing, the McCain's adopted daughter, Bridget.

Maybe she simply wasn't available on the day of the shoot. She's only 17 and teenagers have lots of things to do. Add to that, her sister, Meghan (age 23) is the only child actively on the campaign trail. Of course, Palin's kids (minus the adult, Track) were all in place for the magazine spread.

Then there's the issue of her adoption. The McCain's have backtracked on the long offered assertion that Mother Theresa's personally entreated Cindy to adopt Bridget. Bridget's presence invites undesired questions on an issue the "Straight Talker" would best like kept under wraps.

Perhaps her absence is attributable to the fact that McCain has hired Tucker Askew, the same smear artist that used Bridget's Bangladeshi heritage against the "Maverick" in 2000. Far be it from me to suggest that the ironically-monikered Askew might have gently suggested (again) that Bridget's appearance could impact McCain's numbers in the deep South, but she is a minor child living at home. Their ONLY minor child, in fact.

It seems a bit odd that a candidate who incessantly spouts about the great love his running mate has for her family, would exclude his daughter from even the most benign political photo ops.

I'm just saying...

The Next POTUS, Barack Obama!!!

2008-08-27T16:03:00.000-07:00

It's official... No more "presumptive." The Democratic party has nominated an African-American for the most powerful office in the world. I sat in my office, occupying myself with busywork as the nominating speeches began.

Clinton's nomination was introduced by Dolores Huerta, an activist great grandmother who worked with Cesar Chavez for worker's rights. She passionately spoke of her work and Clinton's commitment to their shared causes. In a telling moment, she revealed one of those causes to be support for Obama as the presidential nominee. It was a pleasant surprise and harbinger of better things to come.

Registered Republican and Iraq war Veteran Michael Wilson presented an emotional nomination speech for Obama to thunderous cheers. He spoke of generations of his family's military service and his upbringing in a small Tennessee town. He talked of struggling to save a group of Marines targeted by a suicide bomber in Northern Iraq. His heartfelt comments were tailor-made for a candidate who seeks a united America that reaches across partisan lines.

As the roll call proceeded, it was clear that despite posturing from the "millions" of PUMAs, there was not going to be any nail-biting about the results of the ballot. A slip up from the Arkansas delegation delivered a stunning symbolic gesture by announcing all 47 of their votes for Obama. The response was so overwhelming that they didn't bother to correct the record. In the end, Hillary Clinton, standing with a New York Delegation that included Governor David Patterson, moved that Obama be declared the nominee by acclamation.

I exhaled a sigh of relief as the impact of this historic moment settled on me. Now McCain was alone as a "presumptive" nominee. We have our candidate, and he will be the next President of the United States!

Thanks, Hillary!

2008-08-27T11:19:00.000-07:00

Passing this torch has been a long time coming, but Hillary Clinton showed her mettle and simultaneously dampened the faux furor about Democratic division.

Much has been made of the "millions" of "outraged" Clinton Democrats since the close of the primary season. However, recent revelations about falsified fund-raising estimates and pathetically anemic attendance at PUMA conventions have revealed these charlatans for what they are... GOP operatives vainly trying to sow dissent.

There were many strong passages in her speech last night, but for me, none so effective as when she challenged her voters to look beyond their support of HER in favor of the Democratic agenda. Hillary made the point that McCain is not going to champion the issues that defined her campaign. Her persistent refrain was that electing Obama was the only way to get the job done.

Some have said that she was less than enthusiastic in her praise. I disagree. Her speaking style has never been as compelling as Obama. She could not hope to match the earnest enthusiasm of Michelle's presentation. As always, she did things HER way, and it was great.

She has turned a corner and rallied behind her party. She has closed the door on the "division" media narrative. McCain won't find a quote from last night to run in future commercials and Obama has tons of material for counter-programming if they try. She deserves the praise she is receiving today.

P.S. To all the PUMAs and Just Say No Dealers... Ron Paul supporters are REAL Republicans concerned with the abdication of conservative fiscal policy and America's new role as world police. We're not intimidated by your fakery, but you should be concerned about them. I'm just saying...

Michelle Obama, Husband Defender

2008-08-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama is a lawyer. Last night, she made opening arguments in the most important case of her life. The client, Barack Obama. The jury, only the United States of America.

Barack has a GREAT defense attorney at home.

She looked impeccable. Consultants know that juries are all too human. They respond to attractiveness just like everyone else. Top to bottom, she was stunning. A+ on that score.

Then there's the speech...

Seventeen minutes is a long time. But the speech was written and delivered well. Wisely, they chose to reinforce themes that have been weak spots for Obama. Elite? Michelle's dad bravely soldiered through a debiliating physical ailment to provide for his family. Her parents scrimped and saved to provide an educational opportunity for their children that was denied them. Barack's single mother struggled in the same fashion, passing on rock-solid American values that the Obama's share with us all.

The speech also served double-duty to compare the picture perfect Obama marriage (19 years strong) with the competition. It was easy to miss in the glowing prose, but this passage "...that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond and you do what you say you're going to do; that you treat people with dignity and respect..." draws some stark contrasts with a candidate who ditched his injured wife during a series of affairs that culminated in him marrying into a young beer heiress' fortune (with a prenup, no less).

Whose story seems more laden with "American values" now?

Michelle made entreaties to Hillary women. Early in her speech, Michelle alluded to the hopes and dreams for her daughters, Sasha and Malia. She later echoed the "18 million cracks" line that Clinton introduced in her concession speech to thunderous applause. Even better, she followed that statement with a compliment to Joe Biden. To my ears, that earned an even more vigorous response.

And those children... They're just precious. From the adorable big screen interplay with Daddy to their youthful exuberance to being on the big stage, they sure did look like a loving family. Fox's Juan Williams was in near tears commenting about the image of such a poised, beautiful Black woman and her positive, strong, WHOLE family on the national stage. Tonight, the Obamas became Cliff and Claire Huxtable MADE REAL.

Occasionally, Michelle seemed uncertain if an applause line would connect. But they DID connect and the overall presentation was brilliantly compelling. She is the type of wife any man would love to have at his side and it's clear that the Obamas share a genuine "Love... American Style."

Judging by the effusive praise, Michelle smashed a home run last night. When Brit Hume (BRIT HUME!) is praising her, it's a watershed moment in the campaign. Now it's time to make the case against McCain.

Obama/Biden...

2008-08-23T05:47:00.000-07:00

Biden is a solid pick. Here's why...

Foreign Policy experience is impeccable. 'Nuff said.
Biden's son deploys RIGHT BEFORE THE ELECTION. McCain's POW advantage just lost some of its shine.
Biden is a working class, Irish, Roman Catholic from Scranton. Delaware was a gimme, but his PA roots make him a twofer.
Mrs. Biden is a working teacher, unlike a certain stretched-face, pill-popping, beer heiress with two estranged, half-sisters and more homes than she can count.
CHAIR, Foreign Relations Committee. McSame isn't so sure where countries are or if they even exist anymore.
Member, Judiciary committee (Chair of the Crime and Drugs subcommittee)
Adjunct Professor in Constitutional Law. Now, we have TWO guys who can fight for our Constitution.
All candidates talk smack about their competition (the GOP was using Hillary quotes in their ads). Biden's debate answer must be viewed through that lens.
Romney has some choice quips of his own.
Can you picture the Lieberman ad where he whispers into McCain's ear to fix his al Qaeda-training-in-Iran gaffe?
He will shred McSame's Veep in the debates. There's just no one who can counter him.
He's not running for President in 8 years. Darth Cheney's biggest weapon was "no political consequences" for his exploits.

More later... Bottom line, Biden makes inroads with PUMAs, is rock solid on Foreign Relations, and is a wise, capable person who can help Obama get our country on the right track.

Ambinder's Convention Stage Vote

2008-08-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

I don't know which one is "cooler," but I was stunned at how "Triumph of the Will" the GOP effort looks. The seats are arrangement oddly over deep red carpet--the sharp geometric angles hearken eerily to the British flag (or swastikas if you're less generous). Low lighting blankets the auditorium in deep shadow, punctuated by kleig lights on the dais... with an animated flag backdrop of Pattonesque immensity. A single podium indicates that McCain with take on the world BY HIMSELF!!!!

The DNC's layered, curved screens seem created for vibrant motion, dynamic graphics and multiple messages and themes. The stage feels like it wants lots of people on it. It has ramps and levels. On the one hand, it tends a little on the SuperBowl halftime show side, but that's more interesting than McCain's "Gymnasium from the Pit of Hell" theme.

UPDATE:
The "finished" version of the DNC stage is posted and it looks amazing. Everything I predicted it could and would be in most post above.

On Hillary as a Veep Pick

2008-08-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

Edwards scandal + Roll Call vote = Political cover for a Hillary Veep Slot.

Edwards was a factor in the early race. He sandwiched Hillary between his "earnest" populism and Obama's "Change" message. Plus, he recanted his war vote, shining focus on her refusal to do the same.
Biden/Bayh/Kaine cannot compete with the overt endorsement of the Roll Call vote. She'll pull respectable (if not significant) numbers so picking her looks like "the runner-up getting the second slot." That feels right and just and completely defuses the "Obama/Clinton strife" narrative that continues to dog his candidacy.

Finally, imagine the impact of 100% of the convention votes being cast for a unified ticket of the two leading lights of the party. What a headline making picture! Obama, Michelle, Hillary and Bill. America's next President and his lovely wife posing with America's next Vice President and her Former President Husband...

Bill stops sulking and goes into full charisma mode... PUMAs disintegrate... Rendell and all Hillary's Gubernatorial and state supporters fall in line... Dare I dream that Lanny Davis quits his Fox gig???

R. Kelly Gets Off (he's found not guilty too!)

2008-06-13T13:16:00.000-07:00

Six years, dozens of barbershop conversations and it comes down to an almost instataneous acquittal. Honestly, I'm surprised at this one. I figured that having video tape of R. Kelly having sex with and urinating on a clearly young girl would push aside reasonable doubt. I'm guessing that the verdict came down to two issues...

Not being able to pin the identity of the girl, and
Not being able to pin the date the tape was made.

Without confirmation of identity and date, it's impossible to determine whether or not she's a minor. Without that, there's no underlying crime and Kelly goes free.

That said, he's the luckiest chump alive. The prosecution mounted the best case they could (barring testimony from the supposed victim). His defense was inept (It ain't him, that's not a mole, video fakery, defense rests).

At any rate, he owes that family his freedom. One hopes that child is getting enough money to provide for her future and get her any therapy she may need. The cynic in me says she didn't mind at all and will finally be able to floss whatever gifts Kelly has lavished on her over the years.

About the U.S. and AIDS

2008-03-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

"So do you think Uncle Sam invented AIDS?" Bill O'Reilly and hosts of others have posted this question since the 8 second clip of Wright's stark statement.

Let's assume that the government did not invent AIDS (to kill minorities or for any other reason).

Given the FACT that the government DID inject syphillis into Black men and WITHELD TREATMENT to observe the results, is it wildly improbable that the government would engage in a different form of disease experimentation?

Our government has performed vile acts when it deemed it necessary. The United States used germ warfare against native tribal peoples (smallpox), interred Japanese Americans in camps during WWII and is interring and torturing (without charges) thousands of people at Guantanamo... I won't even get into the institutionalized racism that persisted well beyond the "termination of Jim Crow."

Wright used incidiary language, but it was incindiary language that brought us to the great turning points in our nation's history...

America is a great country, but we are not perfect. We need a leader who can return dignity, honor and moral authority to our country. Wright should not be a distraction from the greater issue of what our nation needs to heal its tarnished image and restore its fading soul.

On "THE" speech

2008-03-18T15:58:00.000-07:00

Obama has addressed America's racial divide more honestly and openly than any public figure since the King era. His comments were honest and true. There was a positive message of reconciliation that any open-minded person could take away from his remarkable address. I challenge anyone to deny that they, or someone they know, has articulated the feelings of frustration and disappointment that Obama referred to.

I am more inspired than ever in this candidate and this man. I hope that people can try to frame their feelings in context and remember the random statements of friends, relatives and colleagues that have given us pause over the years. Every grimace, down-turned eye and wistful regret at a racial barb or epithet should be a reminder that Obama's speech today was uncompromisingly brave and an important indictment of the state of race relations in our imperfect, but ultimately redeemable country.

Congratulations, Mr. Obama. You will make an outstanding President.

Geraldine and the ease of being Black in America

2008-03-11T17:13:00.000-07:00

The VP nominee of the worst performing ticket in modern electoral history has some pearls of wisdom about Barack Obama's appeal. Geraldine Ferraro was quoted thusly:

"If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position, and if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept."

What Ferraro WANTED to say was, "Hoke, you're supposed to DRIVE Ms. Daisy, not drive her campaign into the ground."

Lest we think this some errant comment, there's this "...if Jesse Jackson were not black, he wouldn't be in the race."

Ferraro COULD have said that Obama is an outstanding candidate who achieved better than expected success in the South because of overwhelming Black support. That statement in no way diminishes his successes in states without large Black voting blocs.

She didn't; and her quoted comment IS racist in the same way she accuses the networks of being sexist against Hillary.

Black people are citizens of this country too. We face economic challenges like non-Black Americans, buy the same over-priced gas as non-Black Americans and have disproportionate numbers of our children engaged in this mindless occupation. There are plenty of reasons to favor a candidate other than Clinton and her inherent baggage.

That Barack Obama is such an inspiring candidate is a bonus. Geraldine Ferraro may think that he wouldn't be where he is save for his melanin, but Edwards beat Clinton in Iowa too.

How low will she go?

2008-03-06T09:40:00.000-08:00

By any objective measure, the 11th hour Obama "flip-flop" on NAFTA had a demonstrable effect in the Ohio primary. Both McCain and Clinton made particularly damning statements in the 36 hours before election day. However, new revelations, FROM THE SAME CANADIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS that started the now-disproven allegations are claiming that it was the Clinton campaign who actually made the "grain of salt" call to Canada.

To Canada's credit, they are issuing widespread mea culpas fully exonerating Senator Obama. If we're lucky that may help in the Pennsylvania race to come. On the other hand, Clinton's short term gambit may end up backfiring on her. Imagine the ad spots featuring the Canadian quotes opposite the Youtube video of her complaining about Obama's supposed "duplicity."

She will do ANYTHING in an attempt to get elected. Bush has used the same scorched earth tactics with our slender Democratic congressional majority and where has it gotten us? Democratic capitulation on everything from Telecom immunity to AG "See, Hear, Speak No Evil" Mukasey.

Clinton is four more years of cut-throat, divisive, secretive, power-mad politics that will drive our economy and our country into the abyss.

It's time for change and the candidate is Barack Obama.

Desperate much? HRC plays the fear card.

2008-02-29T09:47:00.000-08:00

Andrew Sullivan comments on the new Hillary ad running in Texas and Ohio. Check out this response as well. Obama smashes back with an excellent retort that is blisteringly on point.

"Well it won’t work this time. Because the question is not about picking up the phone. The question is — what kind of judgment will you make when you answer? We’ve had a red phone moment. It was the decision to invade Iraq. And Sen. Clinton gave the wrong answer. George Bush gave the wrong answer. John McCain gave the wrong answer."

That's very presidential. Counter Hillary's abstract message of "better judgement" vis a vis fear-mongering with a concrete example of her lack of judgment on the crucial Iraq test . Here's hoping HRC realizes she's done on March 4th.

What's this talk about "Hillary's time"?

2008-02-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

Blog comment threads are full of snippets about voting for McCain if Obama is the Dem candidate. Apparently, supporting someone other than Hillary is a fundamental betrayal of her oft-discussed "35 years" of service to America. Notwithstanding the ridiculous assertion of that much "time in the trenches," I don't buy this argument at all.

She was the unelected wife of an Arkansas Governor and a two-term President. Later, ONE STATE elected her to represent them in the Senate. Why exactly does the rest of the country owe her a free pass to the "most powerful political office in the world"?

If Gore hadn't been sandbagged by Monicagate, Travelgate, FBI Filegate, Lincoln bedroom "sales", sketchy Chinese donors, NOT TO MENTION Hillary's failed healthcare push, this country might be an entirely different place right now. What about what we owed HIM? or Biden... or Dodd... or Daschle? How is Hillary owed more than any of these solid Dem politicians?

The last two election cycles have proven that we need to turn the corner on the leadership of this country. I'm old enough to remember when we held a moral high ground and were the model of Democracy on the planet. Seven years later, Bush has put our standing AND our dollar in the toilet.

For those of you who would REALLY consider "100-years More" McCain over an intelligent, inspirational, unifying and transformational leader like Barack Obama, I have to wonder what kind of progressive you are.

We have a primary season so Americans can determine THEIR CHOICE for President. Obama has captured the imagination of the electorate. That's what determines a person's "time" to be President. Not some quasi-dynastic sense of inevitability and entitlement. If Hillary is TRULY committed to public service (as opposed to wanton self-aggrandizement), she will take a look at the reality on the ground and realize America is not choosing her right now. If there is ever to be a "time" for her, it is clearly not now.

Prairie View A&M is the BOMB!

2008-02-19T20:04:00.000-08:00

Stories like this make me proud to be an HBCU grad.

More than 2,000 students, friends and supporters walked 7.3 miles to the Waller County Seat in protest of restrictive early voting locations. In their county, there is only one early voting location, with only two polling booths. The marchers hope to tie up the machines all day and into the night as necessary to ensure that their votes and voices are heard.

Go on Praire View!

I am SICK and TIRED...

2008-02-19T19:39:00.000-08:00

It's amazing to me that supporters of other candidates are so willing to make accusations about Obama's "lack of substance" based on... what exactly? He has EXHAUSTIVE policy positions on dozens of subjects on his website. If these "dedicated" Americans were so concerned with the politics in question, they could MORE than satisfy themselves by tipping over www.barackobama.com.

Rather, they offer platitudes of their own... "no experience," "all talk, no action." Their candidate is "solutions instead of speeches" and "ready to lead on day one." Now THERE'S substance!!! How convenient that this script has been supplied by the "more experienced" candidate who has now lost NINE PRIMARIES in a row!

Incidentally, since when has anyone laid out an actual policy IN DETAIL on a stump speech? It's ALWAYS a generic laundry list of policy POSITIONS, not legislative briefs. Hillary talks about her health care plan as though its been signed and implemented. It hasn't. She critiques Obama's plan because it doesn't contain mandates, but neglects to mention that her mandates include WAGE GARNISHMENT. What's the chance you'll hear THAT little factoid on the campaign trail?

If a string of losses combined with a desperation loan of five million dollars sounds like the type of "leadership" this country needs, I don't know who you'll vote for in November. At any rate, Hillary WILL NOT be the Democratic candidate.

Watch out, Will.i.am!

2008-02-13T11:24:00.000-08:00

Sully tipped me to this. I had to share.

Most AWESOME campaign song ever. Obama inspires Yes We Can. Hillary inspires an Up With People Reunion Concert?

P.S. Any song featuring the lyric "The world is getting hot, but our global warming plan is not," deserves a spot in the Adult Contemporary Hall of Fame. LOVE THIS!

There's nothing left for the GOP to attack, right???

2008-02-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

Have you heard about the Clinton's pardons of terrorists who maimed and killed citizens in New York City? I hadn't either, but WSJ's Debra Burlingame sure has.

No matter that the info is eight years old. No matter that Sen. Clinton has disavowed the pardons (made at her behest, for her benefit in her then nascent Senatorial campaign). In a post-9/11 political climate, TERRORIST and PARDON are a campaign-killing combination—especially for a New York Senator.

Can you imagine how sordid the ads would be? Grandpa McCain twisted Mitt's rather non-committal comments about Iraq into a "cut and run" talking point. Imagine what the GOP smear machine would do with the Clintons on this issue...

Sorry, Sen. Clinton, it's time to go.

Post-sweep commentary

2008-02-10T07:46:00.000-08:00

The following exchange is from a tete a tete with "Jasper" in the comments section of this Marc Ambinder posting. I've been commenting so much on other sites, the home page has suffered. Sorry.

AltonDarwin: I'm not suggesting that at all. Either Obama or Clinton should easily win all of Kerry's '04 states. The only exception I reckon is California. I think the Democrats will win it, but I suspect they'll need to spend a few buck to hold it down if Obama's the nominee, given his troubles with Asian and Latino voters (and McCain's popularity with the latter). Still, they should win it.

Two points here... There's NO WAY Dems are losing California this cycle. Latinos broke for Hillary on familiarity. When he's the nominee in the general, he will have built PLENTY of broader Latino support. He was La Opinion's choice after all. The Latino metrics will have to be assessed WITHOUT Clinton as an option. Second, McCain's troubled reception at CPAC means he won't be touting his pro-immigration stance to heavily come November either.

...My main objection on the electability front is that, as someone who has never been tested by the GOP attack machine, Obama's a bit of an unknown quantity when it comes to a general election. And I think if there ever were to be problems with his performance in November, they'd likely manifest themselves to the detriment of the party in the "close" (i.e, purple) states.

I am sick UNTO death of this tired meme. A Black man in politics untested by dirty tricks? PUH-LEASE. The Clinton's have tried to make some stuff stick and failed. Clinton keeps whispering Rezko like they don't have a dirty laundry list of their own sleazy campaign contributors. Further, all the Clinton's savvy didn't prevent Mr. Clinton from becoming only the third President in history to be impeached. Didn't stop the Whitewater inverstigations, Travelgate, the FBI file inquiries and any other myriad distractions that wasted countless millions and unraveled his legacy. Gore should have GLIDED into the White House after Clinton. Instead, Clinton's tattered coattails made him a pariah on the campaign trail and faciliatated Dubya's Florida theft.

Obama's a pol from Chicago. He'll be fine. BTW, McCain is REALLY weak on "values" after dumping his injured wife for a beer heiress AND racists still haven't forgotten about Bridget, his "Black" adopted Bangladeshi daughter. That red-state angst cuts both ways on McCain as evidenced by Huckabee's performances in those states. Huge swells of newly empowered Black voters PLUS soft support for McCain in base GOPers means the South is in play again. Obama's true 50-state strategy helps him here.

Respectfully, you don't know what you're talking about. Texas is very unlikely to go to the Democrats this year. It's getting a bit purpler as time goes by, but it'll be another couple of cycles before it could reliably be considered a swing state. Texas is still a red state, and does not realistically figure into the Democratic party's plans for victory in November. They won't get it. They don't need it.

I will wait to see how Ron Paul fares in Texas to see how "in play" it will be. Even if he drops before Texas, his name will be on the ballot and will likely draw like he did in Louisiana. Voters choosing his HOPELESS campaign in lieu of the almost confirmed GOP candidate speaks VOLUMES. Again, in normal circumstances, Texas would not be a possibility; HOWEVER, circumstances AREN'T normal. McCain will be fighting tooth and nail for every social conservative AND swing independents. Obama has electrified the Black electorate in untold numbers, increasing their impact exponentially. McCain can't lost Romney's 7%, Paul's 5% and Huckabee's voters and win this race.

As an aside, if Texas is a foregone loss, Hillary's strategy to focus on it for primary delegate counts INSTEAD of expending resources on putting softer red states into play as Obama has done seems especially foolhardy.

Well, there's the fact that he's untested against the Republican attack machine;

Dealt with this one above... NEXT. Interesting that with all Obama's momentum "he's untested against attacks" is still the first thing people try to tar him with. Seems silly to me.

and the fact that a black candidate has never been a major party's nominee before (I hope it doesn't hurt him in the general election, but I'm not certain of this -- are you?

Ditto for a woman candidate. (I hope it doesn't hurt HER in the general election, but I'm not certain of this -- are you?). Incidentally, her NEGATIVES are SO MUCH HIGHER. She's a woman with baggage that draws red meat animus like a vulture to carrion.

and the fact that his youth and lack of Washington experience are likely to match up unfavorably against Senator McCain;

REALLY? I'll stack the most impressive political orator in a generation against crotchety Grandma marble-jaws ANY day. NO SENATOR since Kennedy has advanced straight from the Legislative to the White House. They're all on pretty equal footing in my book. Add to the mix that McCain is completely misreading the pulse of the country on Iraq and I'm sure either candidate would be fine. Of course, polling gives Obama the win and has Hillary as a toss-up, but polls are notoriously wobbly.

and the fact that he'll accurately be attacked by the GOP as one of the party's most liberal members

And Hillary as one of the most HATED... Are you SERIOUSLY offering that Hillary is seen as a viable ALTERNATIVE to McCain for GOP voters and independents? REALLY???

and the fact that he probably won't be able to press home the advantage on economic issues as strongly as Senator Clinton

MAYBE this is true. Although, Obama's ability to deliver compelling speeches on this issue closes the gap against someone as weak as McCain (who essentially admitted he has no ideas about the economy).

and the fact that he probably won't run as strongly as Clinton can in most of the aforementioned swing states -- where the election will be decided.

There are more than YOUR precious "swing states," Jasper. That's OLD paradigm electoral college calculus. What about how strongly Obama's playing in the states that his (and Dean's) efforts have put into play? The Dems in the "red states" are activated and inspired. If we can take Daschle's state (he sure thinks we can) and also take Colorado, Missouri and Idaho, your swing states lose their prominence. 2000 wouldn't have come down to Florida if Gore had won Tennessee. Likewise, flipping smaller, "low stakes" states will have a major aggregate effect in the general. This is the core idea behind Dean's 50-state strategy and Obama has embraced that philosophy. Clinton appears to be content with the same delicate web of states that has cost us two presidential elections in a row.

Also, I won't go into it in detail, but on economic issues (healthcare, Social Security, etc.) there are some substantive differences on their respective views, and some major differences in their teams of advisers.

Avoiding details on her wage garnishment mandates for universal health care is probably a good idea. THAT little detail should really play well in the cash-strapped constituencies that make up her base. At the end of the day, the vast majority of Dems are comfortable with either candidate in the general election. Their policy differences are about as extreme as the differences between the index and middle finger (you get to decide which candidate is which finger, SMILE). On balance, I predict that indeDEMdants will prefer Obama's "Yes We Can-do" spirit over an extension of "entitlement" benefits in Hillary's perceived "nanny state."

On the eve of Super Tuesday...

2008-02-04T12:59:00.000-08:00

The last eight years of partisan antics, electronic tomfoolery, electoral menace and outright theft of our civil liberties have left us with precious little of our American souls.

We have become a nation of cynics and doubters... and I was one of them.

But as I prepare to cast one of the most important votes of my young life, I am filled with a renewed sense of purpose. I have been inspired. I am CERTAIN that we will elect a leader that will transform the landscape of this great nation.

Barack Obama.

On February 5th, we have a choice to make. Can we embrace the partisan politics of the past? Can we face the future with hope and determination? Can we once again be the nation we thought we were? YES, WE CAN.

This man is the President we NEED right now. Know it. Believe it. And cast your ballot for the next President of the UNITED States of America...

Barack Obama.

Rangel and Lewis confirm "old school" mentality

2008-01-15T14:07:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest challenges facing a Black candidate is earning the enthusiastic support of BLACK people. Barack Obama is mold-shattering in that his viability is not grounded in the Black community, but rather the American community. His Iowa win awakened many Black voters into taking a second (or first) look at a man who could defeat a Clinton in a state with barely a 2% Black population.

Endorsement pick-ups of Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano and Senators Ben Nelson and Tim Johnson (not to mention John Kerry and Bill Bradley) were nice consolation prizes after his narrow loss in New Hampshire. Surely the Clintons needed to slow his "roll."

Since Bob Johnson fizzled out in his tacky smear attempt, they trotted out some old guard Dem leaders with legitimate bonafides... and look what they got for their money!

Charlie Rangel AND John Lewis attempt to twist Obama's casual comment on Clinton's MLK/LBJ gaffe into some over-reaching indictment on his judgment. Rangel goes further by treading where BJ coyly traipsed by dropping the drug stuff smack onto the dining room table. Methinks they doth protest too much, tossing words like "absolutely dumb," and "stupid," and making comparisons to King and Kennedy that Obama has never attempted.

It saddening that these men would so sternly attack Obama. It's even more sad that their comments came on a day where Obama reasserted his even keeled and noble demeanor by pledging to rise above the petty bickering. Of course, the Clin-meleon immediately issued a follow-up pledge, but did not go so far as to condemn the harsh invective of her colleagues. How could she? The comments came at her behest.

If these attacks are the fruits of her much-vaunted "experience," excuse my preference for the Freshman from Illinois.

P.S. He still has more elected "experience" than Hillary. Being a state senator in rough and tumble Chicago politics counts for a lot more than sharing living space in the White House.

Robert George offers advice for Obama...

2008-01-14T16:21:00.000-08:00

Here.

While I agree that complaining (even by surrogates) accomplishes little, I wonder what Obama gains by confronting a universally reviled attack goon like Bob Johnson.

BJ's comments have been roundly critiqued as questionable or even downright slimy by the media. His attempted backtrack viewed as disingenuous. Outside of Bobcat fans and pre-teen white hipsters, I'm not so sure he's really on anyone's radar in terms of political taste-making.

On the other hand, Clinton has to shoulder the burden of another double-edged riff from the new Valedictorian of the Andrew Young School of Loony Marginalized Discourse.

Hillary LOSES voters with these attacks; Obama reinforces his "above the fray" persona by deftly deflecting the venom. It's one of the things I like most about him.

I, however, can make disparagingly peurile comparisons to Johnson and Clinton's pecadilloes. I wonder if Hillary is still as fond of BJ as she was 48 hours ago?

An open letter to Bob Johnson

2008-01-14T11:59:00.000-08:00

BJ... phi... bruh...

Your tirade about Barack Obama is appalling.

You earned your billion on the backs of ass-slapping videos, blaxploitation reruns and informercials and you have THE GALL to talk about being "insulted" that "we are so stupid?" Back at you, dawg.

Incidentally, NOT ONE PERSON was confused about your thinly veiled reference about Obama's days "in the neighborhood." It was pathetic when the recently dismissed Clintonian flak floated it out there. Coming from you, it's traitorously venomous. We were smart enough to avoid buying tickets to "Who's Your Caddy?" and we're smart enough to understand your half-assed attempt at a smear.

By the way, if you're going to "go there," have the balls to own up to it. Your backtrack about referring to his days as an organizer is even worse than the smear. Are we to understand that Obama's grass roots community leadership is somehow less legitimate than the Clinton's purportedly "deeply and emotionally" involved participation in Black issues? PUH-leeze. It's your smear that is "irresponsible and incorrect."

Obama's campaign has confounded the punditry by transcending the "race politics" that stymied Chisolm, Jackson and Sharpton. People of all ages, races and political leanings are rethinking what it means to be an American and see Obama as a distillation of that bold spirit. It's telling that his message of hope became a target of Hillary's sniping. It's even more telling that she would minimize the efforts of a civil rights legend to reinforce her ever-weakening position. It says even more that she would unleash a poorly-trained attack puppy like you to do her real dirty work.

I know at least one Clinton has a predilection for BJs, but your comments leave a nasty taste in MY mouth.

Bob, sit yo' ass down.

Ron Paul, I see you...

2008-01-09T12:11:00.000-08:00

Some will defend Paul saying his racist newsletters are "old news"... He didn't write the damnable articles... he was just lazy in allowing the editorial content to slip past his review. This despite the fact that it was often written in the first person, clearly IMPLYING that the views were his own.

How does this theory hold up in reality? I read the James Kirchak's excellent New Republic article. Read the quotes in question. It defies all logic that ALL OF THOSE QUOTES "slipped through the cracks." After all, what politician allows THAT MUCH CONTENT to go out in his name without review? DId he have time to read ANY OF THE ISSUES? And, if not, who were the damn staffers who allowed that vile crap to go out?

There are so many despicable statements... it's astonishing. No wonder he's a darling of the white supremacy set. And you heard he refused to return the donation from that avowed racist bastard under the pretense that he would "do some good with it." RIIIIIIIIIIIGHT.

The Atlantic's Ross Douthat posits an interesting theory here. I'm not nearly as charitable in my opinions about Paul, but am thrilled that this "gold standard wacko" is getting some heightened scrutiny. After all, is there ANY OTHER CANDIDATE that could withstand the baggage of these quotes in a 21st Century American Presidential bid??? It's time for Paul to fade away...

And another thing...

2008-01-09T10:59:00.001-08:00

Sully makes some good points about Obama's silver lining here. And a kossite points to the "poll confusion" here.

For one, I think it's a double-edged sword for Clinton to have eked out a win here. Of course, a win is tasty for her after Iowa, but at the least, it has people questioning the "calculation" of her 24-hour tears... Stephanie Miller fielded a somewhat paranoid call about poll-machine tampering ala Kerry in Ohio... and Bill's peevish "fairy tale" screed (not to mention his tougher than Mandela quote and Hillary's Johnson-trumps-MLK misstep) is ricocheting throughout the Black community.

It has reinvigorated chatter about whether her "machine" is involved in some shenanigans and how negative they are willing to go in this race. Accentuating her negatives is the last thing she can afford right now.

New Hampshire... SIGH

2008-01-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

Losing by two points in literally, the whitest state in the country isn't the worst thing in the world. This "loss" is closer to the Edwards/Clinton Iowa toss-up than the ass-kicking Obama handed her. Additionally, looking at the county by county breakdown, there were counties where he matched the pre-primary polling so keep that in mind. Further, it looks like OBAMA walks away with more delegates than Clinton. So it's not a total "win" for Clinton after all.

Keep hope alive, people, she's got plenty of time to show her true colors and Michigan could hand her a nasty surprise. In case you don't know, she is the only one "contender" on the ballot in Michigan, so Obama and Edwards voters have been instructed to vote "Uncommited." Since Edwards and Obama's combined vote totals have killed her in the two races so far, she could come in second TO A CHECK BOX. There are plenty of Black folks in Detroit who would be HAPPY to make that happen.

Another heads up... Obama just picked up the SEIU endorsement in Nevada. The only Black owner of a Las Vegas Strip Casino is also on the campaign team. A win in Nevada could help increase his West Coast momentum. It ain't over.

Obama and [shudder] Huckabee

2008-01-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

I've been contentedly trolling my favorite blogs for months as the political races have been heating up. Now, on the eve of the eve of the Iowa caucuses, I'm speaking my piece.

First, for my favorite candidate, Barack Obama. I'll be brief at the risk of running into effusive paragraphs of support for this outstanding leader.

Obama's public service has engaged him with REAL PEOPLE from the start. That's an important distinction IMHO as he has embraced citizens with mortgages, student loans and insurance bills in favor of big money corporate interests. He is a magnetic presence with populist charm. His wife is brilliant, talented, warm and magic on the stage. He represents a return to American values of hard work while still CARING enough to help those in need. After 8 years of the idiot prince "divider/decider," Obama is EXACTLY what we need to make us feel like American isn't a bad word.

God bless Kucinich for throwing some 11th hour love in Obama's direction. Every little bit counts.

Huckabee on the other hand... While I appreciate him stealing Romney's thunder and yanking back the curtain on Mitt's chimera-like position switches, I have become increasingly fearful that he is a scary blend of Bill Clinton and Dubya. He has a personal charisma and folksy appeal that come from America's nostalgic fascination with all things Southern. He's lost a ton of weight (more on that later) and is telegenic in a televangelist sort of way. His "little guy from a little state" routine plays well and blunts the GOP field in a surprisingly complex matrix.

He trumps Thompson by being "Southern" without the "Hollywood" tag. His Baptist minister bonafides positively KILL 3-time marriage loser/pedophile friend-having/corruption plagued Giuliani. Plus, his ministership reaches to fundie Christians while reminding them that the LDS church is a cult (I see you Romney). His weight loss exudes a vigor that plays well against McCain's older, stiffer, war-torn cragginess. Plus, his executive office experience lends a more presidential air than everybody except Romney (who has more campaign trouble as the race continues).

On paper, it's easy to see why he has emerged from their tangled ranks as the presumptive front-runner. That's the Clinton in him. Only problem, he's frighteningly dim. I mean intellectually incurious a la Dubya level dim. From his misunderstanding of foreign relations to his overly facile interpretations of domestic issues and penchant for pulpit-friendly soundbites, he's Dubya wrapped up in a kindler, gentler shell... and that's scary.

Big time blog-roll!

2007-04-10T20:55:00.000-07:00

A Sully post dedicated to my comment about the UK/Iraq boondoggle...

Am I a total blog-geek (bleek??) for smiling widely about this? My office colleagues were impressed, so maybe not. Still... to have my observations played out on such a large stage (a follow-up appears here) is enormously gratifying. Even moreso, by someone for whom I have much respect.

Now if I could only find Bill Maher's phone number...

Iran, Britain and Coerced Confessions

2007-04-09T06:55:00.000-07:00

I've been much to busy reading and debating other's posts to keep up this blog, but the UK/Iran drama has inspired me. During the the hostage/POW (depends on the context) ordeal, British confessions of trespassing into Iranian waters were released. These tapes and statements offered contrite prisoners, apparently well-treated and healthy. After a relatively brief period, they were returned home where they immediately repudiated the "confessions" as coerced.

The conventional wisdom response... "OF COURSE they were coerced." Honestly, did anyone believe for a second that the British Navy had equipment so sketchy that they couldn't settle their location? No, the sailors said what they needed to in order to get home.

Meanwhile, the U.S. position is that torture (or torture-like) techniques garner valuable information as opposed to false statements engineered to end discomfort. Anybody else see a disconnect here?

Also, a brilliant poem by Suheir Hammad is here...

Some thoughts on the "minority" race to the White House

2007-01-22T02:46:00.000-08:00

For the first time in history there are three "minority" candidates with some real steam behind them in the Presidential race. Barack Obama announced first, the ubiquitous Hillary Clinton made it official next and now Bill Richardson has made his intentions clear. In constrast to the GOP offerings of McCain, Romney, Brownback and Giuliani (so far), the Dems have a truly diverse slate that speak to their base in a meaningful way. I just wish they were more electable...

Debra Dickerson makes some interesting points about Obama at Salon.com (sign in required). I don't buy off on her rationale for calling Obama "not black," but I understand what she's saying. She also shares my concerns about his relative inexperience and other niggling little details that could derail him.

DailyKos has some stats on the nearly worthless "hypothetical match-up polling. Clinton and Obama actually look pretty good here, but either/or polling this early in the game is only good for extending news cycles.

DailyKos also announces that New Mexico Governor, former Congressman, former Secretary of Energy AND UN Ambassador Bill Richardson tosses his hat in the Presidential ring. Richardson doesn't have the "freight train" of support driving Obama now, but he's Latino in a country that's tending Hispanic in some of our biggest states (his website is noticeably bilingual). He's got TONS of experience at several levels of government AND credibility on energy policy (pretty important given our nation's consumption patterns).

This is what I want my Black and Female candidates to look like on paper. Latinos are hardly a homogenous political bloc, but it's hard to see how Obama or Clinton get a lot of grassroots Latino support with Richardson in the primaries. We'll see how Bill Richardson plays on the national stage (it's possible that none of the Dem "frontrunners" have a real chance), but he's a much better candidate than Obama or Clinton, IMHO.

Deval Patrick Wins!

2006-09-20T14:56:00.000-07:00

Hometown boy Deval Patrick makes good in a big way with his SWEEPING victory in the Dem. primary for the Governorship of Massachussetts. Patrick handily captured 50% of the votes, leaving his competition to split the rest. All told, he won nearly every county in the state, painting an electoral map of surprising uniformity for this history-making win. I didn't hear much about his candidacy until election day, but his progressive positions give me a good feeling for our Bluest of Blue states. Job well done.

Thank God for falling gas prices...

2006-09-19T08:12:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Bush is creeping back up into daylight in the latest polls. USA TODAY has him unassailably in the 40s! Given that Iraq is as bad as ever and his "New Fangled Torture" effort is being blocked by heavy hitters from his own party (Kudos to Graham for putting America over his candidacy BTW), the only credible positive is falling gas prices.

In SoCal, we've seen prices plunge nearly .40 cents/gallon in the last 4 weeks. That's more than a $5/tank difference for me. $2.89/gallon is nowhere NEAR Clinton prices, but anything lower than Bush's magical $3 threshold is like manna from heaven. Of course, the oil companies are also battling California's Prop. 87 which would chop into their profits while funding alternate energy.

In an example of sublime political calculus, the oil companies started their price drop in a sweet spot that gives them just enough time for consumers to appreciate the price relief in the run-up to the election WHILE still maximizing their multi-billion dollar profit margins. Of course, it doesn't help their case when the NO on Prop 87 ads feature "Chevron" as one of the agencies concerned with higher corporate tax on oil companies...

Survivor: Race Wars...

2006-09-17T09:39:00.000-07:00

Plenty of people are BASHING Mark Burnett et al for the structure of this year's Survivor season. To wit, the decision to split the tribes into four groups on racial/cultural lines of Black, White, Asian and "Latino." IMHO, Latino is the sketchiest in terms of a "racial" category inasmuch as there are plenty of Black Latinos and Latinas thank you very much...

I actually have a different view on this issue. In the rare Survivor seasons where there were two non-white competitors of the same ethnic group, they never allied with one another. Alliance-building has been a key component of Survivor and Big Brother so a (non-White) racial alliance runs counter to the generally accepted strategies of the show. However, with four tribes divided by race, each race will have a chance to develop WITHOUT the 800 lb. gorilla of race affecting alliances. Each racial group shares the focus... in the game AND on the show.

Between the tribes, the competition will boil down to standard tribal rivalries, but INSIDE the tribes, we'll get to see more of the dynamic play out WITHOUT the typical moaning about being the fifth wheel. By the time the tribes merge, a new dynamic will emerge that will challenge old alliances in a potentially refreshing way. Will like personalities trump the exisiting racial alliances? Which savvy players will recognize another tribe's leader to hitch their star to?

I'm not a big Survivor fan anyway, but I will watch an early episode or two to see if my hypothesis is borne out.

P.S. It figures a Black dude would get the boot first... Damn, you Burnett! 8^)

On the topic of Rush Limpbaugh

2006-06-27T08:27:00.000-07:00

Look people...that unmarried Limpbaugh took Viagra on vacation to a sex tourism haven is nobody's business. His RIGHTeous listeners don't care that he prepared himself for fornication with Viagra. And being as racially tolerant as they are, they certainly don't care that 86% of Viagra-powered Limpbaugh's potential Dominican fornication partners are Black (or mixed).

Nope, it's not news at all that Limpbaugh took the SEX AID Viagra to fornicate with Black sex partners. After all, it's not like the Domincan Republic is one of the busiest sex tourism sites in the world or anything. Let's leave him, his Viagra and his sex tourism travel plans out of our minds completely.

His erectile dysfunction and penchant for paid sex are PRIVATE matters. For decency's sake, let's just leave Viagra, misdemeanor parole violation and prostitutes out of it.

UPDATE: I was selected as an Editor's Choice letter on Salon!

You've got to love Google...

2006-03-06T14:43:00.000-08:00

Salon, and others, are picking up on the story that Dubya is taking Air Force One, AIR FORCE ONE, down to Crawford for a day trip, so he can vote. Appears his able staff forgot to request an absentee ballot. Courtesy of Google, I discovered ballpark estimates of the operating costs of a production 747 200 (the base model of the current Air Force Ones). $8,400 an hour (in 2000)...(UPDATE: RNC talking heads have estimated costs as much as SEVEN TIMES normal 747 operating expenses... That's $55,000 an hour, people) Mind you, that's gas and ground expenses BEFORE we started getting pimped at the pump. That does not include Secret Service costs, per diem, yada, yada... Extra special security considerations, and probably a press flak or two (priceless pictures of democracy at work dontcha know.

$8,400 ($55,000) an hour... for 6 hours round trip, so this dim idiot can fill in some circles and cast a ceremonial ballot for another Republican... in a PRIMARY!

Call me crazy, but can't we get the Crawford registrar to spend $15 to FEDEX the President of the free world an absentee ballot?!? What about spending $.20 to fax him the damn thing? I mean it's the President right? Can't we take on faith that a fax coming from the White House is from Dubya?

Ballparking misc. expenses, we're probably close $75,000 ($330,000) for a token vote in a primary election. And this, on a day when Congress will consider raising the debt cap YET AGAIN by almost 900 BILLION DOLLARS. Way to show the average American how much you care.

Lies, Lies, Lies, Yeah!

2006-03-01T14:51:00.000-08:00

Reading this AP article, I am starkly reminded of the 80s supergroup The Thompson Twins and their smash "Lies." Just so we're clear, Bush claimed that "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." Now the AP has footage of him ON VIDEO TAPE in a meeting where the levee breaches were discussed in depth.

Is there ANY CHANCE that a lie of this magnitude... one that affected hundreds of thousands of citizens on OUR OWN SHORES does not rise to the level of an impeachable offense? Under oath or not, this is far more scandalous than "I did not have sex with that woman." We will see how much traction this story gets in the future, but given that Katrina was a big part of Dubya's slide into the abyss, his 34% can only get lower now.

A great point from Salon and Wal-Mart Drama

2006-01-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

Salon has long been a favorite site of mine. Among the best on-line investments I've made. Tim Grieve makes an excellent point about to coverage of American tragedies in his post here.

On another point, I hope to be getting back in the groove on my postings. It's been far too long and too much stuff has been happening.

Crooks and Liars and Steve Gilliard have the Wal-Mart DVD flap. Being a web-head, I happen to agree with Steve (for once). There's NO WAY, there could have been a relational match in those titles without some intentional keyword fixing. In Wal-Mart's defense, the site is huge and it could easily have been the work of an isolated person, but the relation was totally intentional.

What's More Despicable...

2005-11-02T11:11:00.000-08:00

As I find myself considering the bravery of a woman's simple act of quiet defiance, I am called to ponder the cowardice of this administration's denial of Geneva protections to "terrorist" detainees. On a day when our nation mourns the passing of a civil rights icon, I am reading revelations of CIA-run prisons in foreign countries. Prisons, one presumes, where Abu Ghraib tactics are used to extract information from detainees with no regard for the very rights we purport to protect.

I joined others in taking another blogger to task for his use of stunningly racist imagery in an attack against a Black Republican candidate. It's possible that there were more posts to that thread than any other in his site's history. Today, I find myself wondering if there will be a similar outrage over the far more serious accusations of government mandated torture centers across the globe.

As Dubya blithely tramples his promise to fire anyone invloved in the Plame leak, Fitzgerald continues his probe. The Alito announcement gave the base a reason to rejoice, but gas prices are still sky high, Greenspan has retired, Social Security plans have been scuttled and the Dems have restarted the Iraq War probe... Still, Dubya is cracking jokes.

At what point will his implacable "steadfastness" be revealed as blind cluelessness??? Anyone... Anyone... Beuhler...

Rosa Parks Laid to Rest

2005-11-02T10:59:00.000-08:00

Others have memorialized this woman for her legendary stand against racism and oppression. The Detroit Free Press is blogging the funeral here.

For my part, I will commemorate her passing with this simple photograph.

The Indictments You Have...

2005-10-28T13:46:00.000-07:00

For a while now, the GOP has been floating the "legal technicality" defense regarding the Plame Investigation (now indictments). Basically, the leak had no teeth, so Fitzgerald chased down a lesser charge to cover his tracks. However, to paraphrase Donald Rumsfeld, "You go with the indictments you HAVE, not the indictments you might want."

During Fitzgerald's press conference, it became clear that he was intensely interested in only bringing indictments that he felt confident in prosecuting successfully. Interestingly, he made some crucial points about the indictments he did issue.

National security was at the heart of the leak charge. CIA operatives have dangerous jobs and about the only security our nation can offer NOCs is that their identity won't be revealed. The leak was despicable and our safety has been threatened because of it. He also subtly implied that the specifics of the law may be too vague and narrow as written.
The indictments are for serious crimes in and of themselves. The nature of these alleged crimes made it difficult, perhaps impossible, to discern the empirical truth of the original charge.
If it is impossible to prove the original leak charge, justice will be served by a conviction on the indicted charges. Fitzgerald appears very confident about the indictments he has issued, and based on the 22 pages, one understands why.

On the issue of the future, he reiterated time and again how important it was to protect the secrecy and privacy of targets up to the point of indictment. If he couldn't make an indictment stick, there would be NO charges, nor ANY revelations about the target. In a not-too-veiled dig at Kenneth Starr, he deflated hopes that a report was forthcoming that would shine the light on other targets or the full breadth of the investigation.

So Karl's future is far from certain. You can bet that if he was completely in the clear, words to that effect would have been offered by Bush, Cheney, Luskin and Rove himself. Didn't happen. What does appear apparent is that the leak charge is probably too sticky to prosecute effectively. Since no one else was stupid enough to perjure themselves, it may be that Libby will be taking the fall alone.

Of course, if Scooter flips on someone...

Lott to talk about...

2005-10-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

Following up on yesterday's post about Lott's predilection for the taste of his own foot, comes this one...

Ladies and Gentlemen, it's time for an intervention...

Twisting the knife...

2005-10-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

So Trent "Foot in Mouth" Lott posits "In a month, who will remember the name Harriet Miers?" Hmmm, maybe her most important client, the President of the United States?!?!

Damn, Lottie, the man promised to build you a nice, new porch and all you can do is pimp-slap his personal attorney. Didn't losing your Senate Majority Leadership during "Operation Credit Strom" teach you anything about sound bites? Sheesh.

Still, I can't help thinking progressives lost their best shot at a moderate in this woman. We ultimately discovered very little about Miers, but her positions on Roe in particular were hardly set in stone.

Further, the granite tough united front of the GOP was fissuring to say the least. A few more weeks of of fringe Right bickering and sniping, followed by a week or so of confirmation hearings would have shined the spotlight on Dubya's eroding influence. As others have noted, it would have been a true watershed moment had Democrats supported the President's pick only to be scuttled by HIS OWN PARTY.

At least one good thing has come from this fiasco, the GOP has handed a litmus test right back into the hands of the Dems. Abortion isn't a deal-breaker, the hell you say! The Right blinked on this one.

Flag on the Play...

2005-10-26T10:12:00.000-07:00

I play referee between two respected blogger/pundits. They happen to be Black. Steve Gilliard kicks things off with a post that defies description. Robert George weighs in after dropping hints to Andrew Sullivan and, one imagines, a few others...

My comments to Steve Gilliard are here. To Robert George here. It seems to me that Steve has pushed the envelop too far, yet again, while Robert has played to "liberals are racist too" card, one more time.

The posts are racking up on both sites... Definitely worth a look see...

The Photogenic Pest Killer

2005-10-20T12:05:00.000-07:00

Gotta hand it to Tom Delay. He takes a heckuva mug shot. In fact, he's positively beaming. This, in stark contrast to the permanent scowl that normally graces his pix. This is actually a great move on his part. Knowing that the pic would inevitably race across the Internet, he threw on a grin that would feel welcome at a TRMPAC corporate shindig. Subliminal message, "I'm happy cuz I'll be exonerated soon!"

Don't take this the wrong way, Tom, but I hope you're way wrong...

A brief commercial message...

2005-10-18T15:21:00.000-07:00

Despite my description, there has not been a lot of pop culture of late. Dubya's cronies have kept me busy with other things. However, I do want to briefly comment on one of my fascinations... comic books. Specifically, the current Supreme Power spin-off feature centering on Nighthawk.

Marvel's Squadron Supreme started as a barely-veiled anti-Justice League. Hyperion and Power Princess were Supes and Wonder Woman. Dr. Spectrum filled in for Green Lantern, Whizzer (WHIZZER!) for the Flash and Nighthawk for Batman. They eventually expanded to include analogues for Green Arrow, Black Canary, Zatanna, and even Firestorm among others. The problem was they always went up against the Avengers, so they always had their asses handed to them.

A while back, they were given a 12-issue maxi-series that featured the team in their "own universe" where THEY were the champions. Interestingly, the plot turned on mind alteration, and the subsequent schism in the team after the technology is abused. Wonder where I've seen THAT before... Anyway, the series gave the team an identity all their own and catapulted them beyond mere foils for the Avengers.

Fast forward to just over a year ago. Marvel has this thing called the MAX line. Darker stories, graphic themes, nudity and violence aimed at mature readers. The line mostly focused on lesser known or underselling characters, where the potential brand risk was lower. Naturally, the Squadron Supreme was a perfect fit. However, like the Ultimate universe, Marvel chose to reboot from scratch. Hyperion was raised by the U.S. military; Dr. Spectrum was a paramilitary killer; Power Princess an apparent alien succubus; Triton a mysterious sea creature; Whizzer (now, the Blur) an endorsement-hungry celebrity and Nighthawk a brooding quasi-sociopath recreated in the new ultradark Batman mold. And speaking of ultra-dark, both Whizzer and Nighthawk were now Black.

The series has taken a slow build. Over the course of 18 issues, the whole "team" has yet to gather. Hyperion and "Power Princess" appear to share origins... The Blur, Nighthawk and Hyperion have worked together a few times... and Hyperion has tussled with Dr. Spectrum with spectular results. The results have been undeniably satisfying. In fact, far more satisfying than Bendis' unremarkable take on the Avengers (The SENTRY???) OR the diminished Authority (one yearns for the days of Millar's pencils).

Which brings us back to the Nighthawk mini-series. His is the third character to be explored in this new continuity and the most compelling to date. This is mostly due to the fact that his character barely constituted 20 pages in the main series. Further, Spectrum and Hyperion mostly treaded old ground by filling in the blanks of previously examined story territory. Nighthawk also introduces a freaky "Joker" antagonist, Whiteface, the first completely new outright villain to date. Given the racial overtones of Nighthawk's motivations, this storyline is pure genius. Pick up the back issues NOW...

Scooter's Role: Take One for the Team...

2005-10-18T07:16:00.000-07:00

I've been off this topic because "revelations" have been flowing like California mud slides. The blogosphere has been chock full of analysis and the MSM have been elbowing each other like dateless, 39-year-olds with cake buzz at a bridal bouquet toss. But as the grand jury clock ticks its last tocks, the cross hairs appear to have settled on the VP's office. Scooter Libby in particular... but Cheney has NOT been excluded from the possibility of indictment.

How big is this? To put things in perspective, the word TREASON and Vice President are being mentioned in the same sentence this week. TREASON. Ken Starr investigated everything from cronyism to "suspicious" land deals to Vince Foster to Lewinsky and all he came up with was a soiled dress. Fitzgerald's investigation pulls back the curtain on a deliberate, coordinated effort to manipulate facts in an attempt to garner support for a WAR! A war that has cost tens of thousands Iraqi lives, thousands of American lives, and crippled, maimed or injured too many to count.

Plamegate is simply the most clearly transparent attempt at massaging the intelligence. "Saddam has nukes," is a troubling possibility. In retrospect, not nearly as troubling as Kim Jong Il having nukes, but still, not a good thing. However, the outing of a NOC CIA agent is an extremely troubling thing. The linked article indicates that part of the covenant between NOCs and our government is that their identity as an agent WILL NEVER BE REVEALED.

That the right tries to dance around this issue is despicable. Her co-workers/agents? Comprimised. Her contacts and informants? Betrayed. U.S. Security? Threatened. And for what? A lie that would push our country into war. Can anyone seriously compare this lie to Clinton's overactive libido?

Which brings us back to Scooter. The "I" word hasn't been mentioned because the GOP controls both Houses. I mean, what's the point of even considering the impeachment of a war monger who either lied or was too stupid to know the truth when his party won't vote on it? Yet, someone's head needs to be served on a platter. If only to placate the growing resentment about our misguided efforts in Iraq. That Libby could not have possibly operated in a vacuum matters little. As long as SOMEONE takes a fall, the masses will be assuaged.

So Scoot gets scuttled. Perhaps when the aspens turn out west, he can take comfort in writing a new novel and enjoying some wine.

The thing about Miers...

2005-10-04T15:36:00.000-07:00

No one really knows who this woman is! I don't mean to minimize her credentials, but doesn't she strike you as the out-of-town cousin who sits at the kiddie table for Thanksgiving dinner? A nice enough person to be sure, but not quite ready to sit with the grown-ups.

This is a woman who has followed Dubya around like a puppy dog since his days as Governor. Do you think she realizes that he's only in office for three more years? If she's ANYTHING like the frat-boy idiot prince leading the country, then sitting with a bunch of learned jurists in black robes can hardly have the appeal of worshipping at the feet of the most intelligent man she's ever met. Which is kind of a good thing as far as I'm concerned. It means that she might just quit after he leaves town. And that would give President Wesley Clark a chance at appointing a justice.

Where to start?

2005-10-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

Lots to talk about. I've been reeling from a successive volley of GOP-scandal body blows to rival the beleagured Roy Jones, Jr.

I didn't post anything about the Bennett fiasco for a few reasons. As personally repellent as I found the comments (in their proper context thank you.), I was even more blown away specious Right wing attempts to explain them away.

To begin, Bennett's "thought exercise" is hardly a tour de force of logic. Since there are criminals in every racial population, killing the babies of one population will reduce the crime rate in the same way that removing all red cars will reduce the automobile emissions rate. So let's be clear, Bennett's real problem is that HE introduced race into the argument. Neither the caller, nor the author of Freakonomics (whose book was under discussion) mentioned race as a factor in the premise of relating abortion to crime rate. In fact, as others have discussed, the author used Scadinavian data as part of his analytical model. Not exactly a locus of Black population.

But his defenders are even worse. Driving through L.A., I listened to one conservative host, incredulously ask what was wrong with the statement on its face. Let's look at some numbers. According to DOJ statitics, there are approximately 3 million prisoners in the nation's prisons and jails. According to their most current data on prisoners and parolees, White prisoners outnumber black prisoners 1.5 to 1.

But let's look at the numbers another way. Given this data, more than 90% of Black people in America ARE NOT involved with the criminal justice system in any way. Removing parolees drops the figure to less than 5%. So Bennett's plan is to eliminate 95% of a population as a means of curbing the criminal potential of less than 5%. Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water. That SOUNDS pretty racist to me.

Help me out here...

2005-09-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

DeLay says he's the victim of a partisan fanatic. The investigation is meritless, no proof, yada, yada, yada... Further, he explains that Earle's "witch hunt" will cost the Texas tax payers millions of wasted dollars.

The indictment hinges on the transfer of identical amounts ($190,000) to and from DeLay's TRMPAC and the Republican National Committee. Subsequently, $190,000 went to the election coffers of several of DeLay's buddies.

So here's and idea... Why not just explain the money transfer fully in a way the average American can understand it? And while you're at it, please explain how a man who so tightly controls every aspect of a huge political machine that he has become arguably the most feared/revered man in American politics DID NOT KNOW that these idential amounts were flowing in and out of his cherished organization. Wouldn't that be for the best?

Not that I'm asking you to Do Ronnie Earle's job, but in the interest of fairness to you and the important work you do between photo ops with evacuee children, shouldn't you just clear this up? I mean it's not like your ethics have ever been questioned, or that your golfing pal is under investigation by the government or anything. So let's just clear it up shall we?

oh...My...GOD!

2005-09-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

DeLay as been indicted. On the karma scale, this is one step below Karl Rove getting a subpoena over the Plame scandal. It couldn't have happened to a more deserving guy. First Katrina, then Frist, now DeLay... Not the best month for the GOP. More later after I scour the blogosphere.

Special shout outs to Ragged Thots visitors; I appreciate the link back, Robert.

Friday morning update...

2005-09-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

A discussion I'm having with a poster on another board. This guy is a real hoot. There are posts in between, but you can follow us.

Open Letter to GOP recruiters

2005-09-23T08:44:00.000-07:00

To whom it may concern:

I am a telegenic, articulate, working, married father of two who owns his own house and a small business. Before you come knocking on my door, there are a few ground rules.

Rule No. 1
No discussion of "The Party of Lincoln" without claiming Strom Thurmond and Jesse Helms too. I know American history well enough, thank you. I also know that Thurmond was only a Democrat until the party decided to stand up for the rights of Black people. Then he jumped ship (while denying his own half-Black daughter) and led the drive to keeping a strong segregated state. Leave Lincoln in his grave (besides, we both know he didn't really emancipate very many don't we?)

Rule No. 2
Liberal is not a bad word. It does not mean that Democrats love big government and spending tax dollars foolishly. That's Bush's job. Nor does it mean that I have been stroked and manipulated by a Leftist cabal that wants to think for me. Convince me on the merits of what YOU bring to the table. Bear in mind, that means owning up to the race-baiting tactics of Reagan, Bush 1 and Bush 2/Rove.

Rule No. 3
Fiscal conservatism is NOT the same as Social conservatism (see above). I am NOT a fan of high taxes, but recognize that we have to pay for the programs that support our society. I think the death penalty is fine, but Alaskan pork is not. Like Frist, I think stem cells are cool, but having faith-based hacks at the FDA stop Plan B really ticks me off. Not to mention that paying $3 for gas is ridiculous. This stuff is happening on YOUR WATCH. What exactly are you bringing to the table???

Rule No. 4
Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton predate me. I didn't choose them and they aren't "my leaders." Don't even mention them as a deflection from your own failings. I see them for what they are. Besides, I got two words for you... Ann Coulter. You wanna stack that shrill harpy against the Reverends? Be my guest...

Rule No. 5
Stop hating on Clinton. He got a blow-job, so what?!?!? Gas was $.98 and we had a budget surplus. He was a big, fat target because of his big, fat intern, but he wasn't NEARLY as bad as you make him out to be. Dubya is better?!?!? Puh-lease. Leave the man alone.

Rule No. 6
I was going to steer clear of this, but I can't. Mychal Massie is a jack-ass (I won't link to him on principle). I've met some Black Republicans that are reasonable people. They can engage in dialog without resorting to Coulterian rants and discuss their opinions civilly. However, Massie gives your recruitment efforts a bad name. He's loud, overly self-aware and unaccountably vain. Demagogues like him send a bad message. Get a leash on Limbaugh and O'Reilly while you're at it. Sheesh.

If you made it this far, maybe we have something to talk about. I won't hold my breath.

Whither art thou, Condi?

2005-09-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

A brief aside on the topic of Sista-SOULs...Ms. Rice's parents named her Condoleezza because of their affection for classical music. Her mother, a music teacher, selected Condoleezza as an interpretation of the Italian term "con dolcezza" meaning "with sweetness." Ahem. That's pretty soulful, if you know what I mean. Soulful in the way that a son might be named Anfernee in lieu of Anthony for instance. I just raise this point to indicate that even the highest ranked Black personage in the country is only a hearbeat away from being named Sforzando Jenkins because his mama thinks it sounds pretty.

This is a woman who emerged onto the international scene with commendable credentials. Earning her PhD at age 26, she was a strong academician who rose through the ranks to become Provost of Stanford. She served on many corporate Boards, racked up some honorary degrees, lectured on the Soviet Union and made a name for herself as a driven, intelligent woman. And then she took a job with Dubya...

Condoleezza Rice HAS sold her soul. Not her Angela Davis, afro-pick, fist-raised, Black-Power Soul-Sista SOUL--if she ever had one--but her rational, intelligent, thinking individual soul. As National Security Advisor (First Woman! First African-American!), she was part of the circle that thwarted in-depth analysis of the 9/11 terrorist attack. And this after having ignored a report about Bin Laden's desire to use planes as weapons.

Colin Powell is a Republican, but he has principles. When he saw that America had been lied to and that HE was part of the lie, he quit. Condoleezza, who was part of that debacle, accepted a promotion (and a pay increase BTW).

She is perfectly content to live in Bush's bubble and will probably be OK for the rest of her life. But she is only a hair's breadth away from being Mike-Browned into obscurity if things get much worse for Dubya. She's NOT Rove... She's NOT Cheney... Come what may, those cats are bullet-proof. But Condi's controversial and unbending refusal to accept reality in favor of keeping cushy with Bushy has cast a reflection on her intellectual abilities. She will raise eyebrows wherever she tries to go next, and she only has 1,224 days of protection from the worst President in modern history.

She will find that she may need her soul again someday... Good Luck on getting it back.

Barbara Bush, Political Liability

2005-09-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

My homegirl has just posted an incredible essay about the despicable comments of Bush 41's wife, Barbara Bush. To call her the "First Lady" affords her a level of respect of which she has proven unworthy.

Her comments are so perfect, I won't waste your time with my take. Just go there now.

Thank God for Clinton...

2005-09-01T14:12:00.000-07:00

Suzanne Malveaux just finished interviewing POTUS 41 and 42 about their fundraising efforts. Both were offering the expected statements about support when something phenomenal happened. In response to Malveaux's question about international aid, Clinton related a story about how Sri Lanka (SRI LANKA!) was working to organize fund-raising efforts among the TSUNAMI-AFFECTED NATIONS to help our folks over here. He said that as poor as these countries were, they understood that the people devastated by our disaster were poor too and they wanted to help. I tell you, a palpable sense of warmth spread through my body. Clinton had captured a single story and transformed the tragedy (however briefly) into a statement of universal caring and hope.

Moments later, Malveaux dropped the bomb shell everyone had been waiting for... did this administration do enough? Papa Bush stumbled out of the gate, but Clinton recovered deftly and shot out his hand, taking control. He calmly explained that whatever happened before, the priority now was saving lives. They're getting the busses in NOW. They're trying to save people NOW. All discussion of political squabbling could be tabled for later. There were more important priorities.

I tell you, Dubya's pledge to restore dignity to the White House couldn't have been more ironic. Clinton embodied the very best Presidential attributes during his brief appearance in this crisis AND during the tsunami horror. I find it interesting that a person who was so villified by the sitting Prez has been the go-to-guy for the second major emergency this year.

What Can I Do...

2005-08-18T11:09:00.000-07:00

about this amazing tide of bullshit that this "administration," his traitorous minions, and pundits who fancy themselves policy-makers are doing to this country? I am absolutely incensed not only at the pathetic lows to which they are willing to stoop, but the blind ignorance to hypocrisy and simple truths which daily weaken our nation and our standing as a leader in the free world.

Now more than ever, I am dumbfounded by these self-styled patriots who spout rhetoric that energizes a tragically-deluded "base" into desecrating a war memorial. Hannity, Limbaugh, Hitchens, O'Reilly... are punk bitches whose tax bracket insures that no one they know or care about will ever face the danger of combat. Yet, they dare to spout their ridiculous filth to high ratings and equally large paychecks from a viewership that is as close to propagandist Nazi-group think than any Western population in recent memory.

Is there anything I can do?

Democratic "leadership" seems woefully paralyzed. No one but Dean seems to have the stones to cry out against their villainy. The Blogs are chock full of strategies, plans, ideas and talking points to counteract the enemies tactics, but even the so-called MSM seems loathe to do their jobs. WTF!!!

I've got to be able to do more, but I don't know where to start.

Reparations on EURweb

2005-07-27T16:26:00.000-07:00

This article appeared on the eurweb site today. In the midst of their in depth coverage of Li'l Kim and Supahead, they manage to sneak in some relevant social commentary. Here's my take...

While I was a student at FAMU, Dick Gregory came to speak at one of our convocations. He was talking about civil rights and mentioned MLK's "I Have A Dream" speech. In particular, he referred to the passage where King longed for a day when men would be judged not by the color of their skin, but the content of their character. Our problem, as he pointed out, is that too many of us would fail the character question regardless of race.

The same is true for reparations. How many folks would do exactly as Chappelle suggested in his sketch? Unlike the author, I find Chappelle to be a particularly articulate voice on the topic of race in our country and know that we are not prepared to take advantage of opportunities that do occasionally come our way. Far worse than Chappelle are the idiots in Oakland and San Bernardino who insist that "Black" colloquial speech should be recognized as a distinct language that should be used by teachers in school. Talk about setting your children up for failure.

Life isn't fair. Get over it. Work with your kids and instill some real family values: hard work, education, ambition, love, respect for mind and body and we will do more for our "race" than any lotto check or NBA contract. WE'LL NEVER GET REPARATIONS, PEOPLE. NO MULES, NO ACRES AND NO CASH VALUE PLUS INTEREST. Give it up...

Miller, Rove and Freedom of Speech

2005-07-13T11:31:00.000-07:00

Am I the only one who thinks that Judy Miller OWES the investigation her cooperation inasmuch as she may have abetted a federal crime? Notwithstanding her willingness to swallow the bitter draught of lies by an administration architect LEGENDARY for nefarious tactics, those lies have helped to weaken our entire country's standing on the world stage.

Iraq is a mess that would still be simmering in a tightly-albeit tenuously-lidded pot had Miller et al said "No Thanks" to the hawkish Kool-Aid that barreled us into war on the fear of an immediate and dire threat of WMDs. Now, she wants to hide behind journalistic ethics?

A source that peddles lies for the benefit of a corrupt administration is a far cry from a TRUE whistle-blower that lays their career (and perhaps life) on the line for the sake of informing the public. Maybe journalistic protections SHOULDN'T extend to lying bastards that attempt to work the system for their own benefit.

Precedent has established that freedom of speech protections DO NOT extend to shouting fire in a crowded theater. Was there ever a more crowded theater than post-9/11 America?? How can we, or she, possibly defend the actions of the person who shouted "WMDs" into that anxiously packed room?

Relishing Rove's troubles

2005-07-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

Salon is escalating the story of Karl "Darth Sidious" Rove now that it has been confirmed that he DID pass information leading to the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. One can only wonder... How far can Bush carry the "loyal to the end" devotion that has marked his inexplicable rise to power? If Cheney is Count Dooku, the public face of the Empire's surge to power, then Rove is Palpatine, gently pulling the strings from behind the curtain to manipulate the most powerful man on the planet.

Alas, now those curtains have been swept away and Rove stands exposed--via the Internets and that pesky email. The White House's unflappable front man McClellan is harumphing and backpedaling from his traditional shows of strength. Dubya's numbers are faltering; he's lost Social Security and appears headed for the fight of his life over the Supreme Court. And now he's poised to lose his consigliere...

These are the moments that make life worth living!

So let me get this straight...

2005-05-18T07:48:00.000-07:00

The prosecution's contention is that AFTER the damaging Bashir special and AFTER the rebuttal video, Michael Jackson decides to turn on the heat and molest the accuser...WTF?!?!?

Does anyone believe that Michael Jackson will be convicted of this crime? E Online's daily deliberator should have the defense feeling pretty good right about now. After weeks of nearly even (and sometimes heavy guilty votes) Mijac is pulling consistent "Not Guilty" votes in the high 80s. The mother is a joke, the accuser is a foul-mouthed opportunist, three of the prosecution's smoking gun alleged victims OUT RIGHT DENIED wrong-doing.

Certainly, Jackson has an unsettling penchant for interacting with young boys, but this is not the case to prove that beyond a reasonable doubt. ANY parent that would let their child interact with any ANY adult for unsupervised "sleepovers" is derelict in their duty. I certainly would never let that happen, ESPECIALLY after the allegations first surfaced.

Bottom line, the parents have a responsibility to parent their children. Trading those children for an opportunity to bask in the glow of one of the world'd biggest celebrities borders on criminal negligence.

Jackson recovering, but his career is ailing

2005-02-17T11:12:00.000-08:00

Salon.com Arts & Entertainment | Jackson recovering, leaves hospital: "Michael Jackson was recovering from flu symptoms and was in good spirits after a short hospital stay that prompted another delay in his child molestation trial, a doctor said."

Arguably one of the most bizarre sentences in recent memory... I am at a loss on the whole MJ issue. I had wanted to side with the angels and offer benefit of the doubt because of his extraordinary weirdness; but when the Crown Prince of "celebrity" kooks, Corey Feldman, rolls on you, the writing is on the wall (or "Off the Wall" as the case may be).

And then there's the British Geraldo Rivera, Martin Bashir. Gingerly stepping across an ominous slate grey tableau in a curiously ill-matched ensemble, Bashir promises startling revelations into Michael's secret world. The second of his exposes on the Pop icon, Secret World promises to focus almost exclusively on the molesation allegations that became a hot button issue of his first program. Bashir obviously didn't receive his previously unprecedented access to MJ this time, so we can expect more sensational interviews with former friends, employees and perhaps even other alleged victims.

None of this is any good, for Mike, but what's worse is the rising star of his heir apparent Usher. Usher's performance at the Grammy's nailed shut the coffin of Jackson's heretofore unchallenged mystique as a performer. Usher outsang, outdanced and outsexed Michael to the extent that this generation has found it's new Idol. There isn't another male artist right now who can match Usher's charisma, dancing and vocal ability. Justin Timberlake is the closest, but despite his whiteness, Usher is killing him where it counts... selling records.

Seeing Usher manage the fame, the demands of recording, performing and dating hot chicks makes Mike's failure in the latter seem extra creepy. And Usher kept his own nose! Jackson's degeneration into self parody is pitiable, but his gradual retreat from anything approaching a human appearance has made it all the easier to write him off as a creature whose emotions and motivations are unknowable.

I feel badly for Jackson. This is a no win for him. But I have to wonder about the parents of the alleged victims. Fame is not a child care credential. As a parent, I know my child has nothing to fear from Jackson because my kids would NEVER be alone with him. PERIOD. The current accuser encountered the star more than ten years after his headline grabbing settlement. That should have been a clue and a half for any parent. What were they thinking?

Egg Blog

2004-12-02T17:44:00.000-08:00

The election disappointment has had me Blog-free for awhile, but since the holidays are coming, here's a really delicious recipe for egg nog. Considering the liquor content, this is a designated driver recipe. As with any "uncooked" egg recipe, there are some risks, but if you follow the directions and keep the nog chilled, you should be fine.

Hell, Rocky ate raw eggs every day and still beat the crap out of Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang AND Ivan Drago.

2 cups sugar (save ¼ cup for egg whites)
1 quart bourbon
1 quart milk
1 pint whipping cream
1 dozen eggs (separated)
12 oz. dark rum
1 quart Half and Half
Fresh grated nutmeg

Beat egg yolks, sugar and nutmeg until sugar grains have been dissolved (you can't feel them)
Gradually beat in rum and bourbon (the liquor "cooks" the eggs)
Add milk and half and half
Beat egg whites with ¼ cup sugar until stiff and peaks form
Chill bowl and beaters before whipping cream
Whip cream until it peaks
Into egg and milk mixture, fold in whipped cream and egg whites

P.S. If any bloggers are in L.A. on Monday, December 13th. I'm doing a holiday Jazz concert at the Bel Age Hotel. Good times to be had by all (and nog free for safety)...

An open letter to the disheartened

2004-11-04T16:06:00.000-08:00

You know, I was depressed for most of the Post-Election Wednesday. Rehnquist's diagnosis grew more dire. Kerry conceded awfully early in the news cycle. France and Germany rolled over and hinted that they were ready to play ball with the newly-vindicated Dubya. Republican hacks and Freepers alike were sharing the "We Won" luv...

You know what saved me? America's Next Top Model. Insipid (yet strangely satisfying) reality television. Dubya is a simple-minded bastard being puppeted by some of the most despicable partisans in the history of our nation, but my sweetly zaftig SISTUH Tocarra made it through the fire one more time. Meanwhile, Tyra's hypnotic allure was a balm to sooth my Dubya-stained soul.

Sure we lost Senate seats, but Obama's right, they don't have 60 votes. We will lose some Supremes, but Dubya can't elevate Scalia or Thomas to Chief. And one of his replacements will have to be a concession to the Dems. Besides, if things continue as they have with the economy, Iraq, joblessness and education, we might be able to turn some things around in '06 and regain some leverage in the Senate.

Still, on Wednesday evening, as I flipped between ANTM and a harrowing episode of Smallville, my world seemed a little less bleak than it had only a few hours earlier. Funny commercials still brought a grin to my face. My kids were precocious as ever and life was moving on. I realized that as intellectually numbing Dubya's re-election is, the country will return to its natural rhythm.

Besides, Stacie J. returns to The Apprentice tonight.

I had a dream last night...

2004-11-03T06:53:00.000-08:00

That Nevada's Clark county would close the 5,000 vote deficit and deliver Nevada to Kerry... That late New Mexico precints would give me a reason to smile... and that the final 2% of precints in Ohio's Cuyhahoga and Hamilton counties would represent a surge that would close Kerry's 150,000 vote gap.

This morning, tired and disheartened from the long night, I awoke to see all of those dreams dashed. Of course, Ohio's provisional ballots will be counted. Ohio's Secretary of State isn't the new Katherine Harris, he's the new Judge Ito. In O.J. Simpson's legendary trial, Ito was giddily happy to be thrust into an unexpeccted spotlight while evidence of bloodshed littered his courtroom. Relishing every opportunity for a sensational ruling, Ito quickly became emblematic of how the media transformed public servants into creatures consumed with TV-friendly hair cuts.

Ken Blackwell is cut from the same cloth. Extolling the virtues and merits of a system that will groan through an 11-day torture of anticipation, Blackwell blithely advised everyone to "take a deep breath" while the votes are tallied. We'll see how long it takes this Republican stooge to bend under the pressure of Rove & Co. To his credit, he seemed intent on defending Ohio's process. However, with Bush's huge popular vote margin, he'll be itching to get another "Mission Accomplished" banner hoisted ASAP.

Equally distressing are the Democratic losses in the Senate. Salazar and Obama are great pick-ups, but Alaska, North and South Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota, Georgia... These are crushing losses. And don't even get me started on the two or three Supreme Court Justices this jackass will get to appoint.

Clinton was impeached in his 2nd term. Bush has a lot more to be accountable for, but the Congressional numbers will keep him nicely insulated. We'll probably lose Powell as a moderating voice and Rove will yield more power than any consigliere in American politics... EVER.

Not my best day as American citizen.

CNN.com Election 2004

2004-11-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

5:45 PST

CNN.com Election 2004

Nader is SUCH a PRICK! Already he's siphoned more than 20,000 Florida votes. That's 38 times the number that decided the election last time. How can people vote for this jackass???? Miami-Dade and Broward show no results yet, so all is not lost, but I'm turning my attention to Ohio and Pennsylvania where Kerry is actually leading Bush.

Is Florida a Toss-Up?

2004-10-18T15:19:00.000-07:00

I want to pose a question about the Florida "toss-up."

In 2000, Bush carried his Brother's state by an official tally of only 537 votes. Of course, various recount and probable misvotes for Buchanan indicate a much larger margin of victory for Gore.

But here's the rub... As the post-election furor died down, the disenfranchisement of thousands of Black voters was revealed. A similar scenario would likely have happened this time around, but the spotlight shone too brightly on Jeb and consequently, these folks will be able to cast ballots this year. What's more, they will be trucked to the polls by the bus and vanloads thanks to the efforts of rightly-disgusted Black voter corps and Democratic poll watchers.

Since we KNOW the pollsters are under-representing Black voters, doesn't it seem reasonable to presume that Florida is actually MUCH more likely as a Kerry win by thousands of votes? Just something to ponder. Thanks for reading.

Quick question...

2004-10-15T05:47:00.000-07:00

Mary Cheyney is a grown woman. She is an employee of her father's campaign. She is also a lesbian. Sort of a professional lesbian inasmuch as her pre-campaign job was improving Coors Gay market share. Thanks to the homophobic pandering of the (not-much-longer-God-willing) President, she can't be married. However, she DOES wear a "wedding" ring. As an out, professional, "married" lesbian, one imagines that she is not ashamed to be who she is. But somebody IS ashamed. The Cheney's are mad as hell and they're not gonna take it anymore.

Dick, Lynne and Big Sis (BS) Liz have all made scathing remarks about Kerry's brief and, frankly innocuous, comment in response to a debate question about homosexuality. Dick is an angry Dad. Lynne says he's a bad man. Mary says... well, NOTHING. Hmm, how come we haven't heard from the "injured" party. At Paula Zahn's town hall meeting, BS Liz labeled the remark being offensive. When Zahn asked if MARY was offended, BS Liz deflected. She left people to "draw their own conclusions."

But what conclusions are we to draw? That being a lesbian is offensive? That mentioning the biological certainty of homosexuality is offensive? BS Liz went do far as to refer to her sister as the "Vice President's CHILD." A child??? John McCain's adopted daughter was a CHILD when Rove's minion's spun her racial heritage into a wedge that cost him his considerable momentum. A grown professional woman who travels with her lesbian partner on the campaign trail is not a child.

Given the Cheyney's Gay-when-we-wanna-be strategy, their "outrage" is outrageous. They want to have it both ways. Shame about the lesbianism (to pander to the fundamentalist Righties) and open arm acceptance (to minimize the hemorrhaging of Gay voters with common sense). On November 3rd, do you think they'll let Mary out of the closet to say how she feels about the scandal?

FINALLY! Kerry kicks some ass...

2004-10-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

Kerry reinvigorated my belief in his candidacy last night. And Bush reawakened my fears that he is even a bigger idiot than I ever could have believed. Did no one remind him that a split screen means that folks can see him grimacing like a petulant child? Doesn't he remember how Gore was excoriated for his exasperated posturing in the 2000 debates? Kerry obviously had it figured out. Calmly taking notes while Bush rambled. Preparing to skewer Bush on his half-offered "broken-record" platitudes. Actually KEEPING UP with the dialog and thinking on his feet to craft credible, measured responses... It was a breath of freshness from Kerry that had me on the phone for hours after the debates with folks (and not al Qaeda folks either).

When will someone call Bush on the fact that the authorization vote was about Saddam's imminent threat as outlined by the President's intel about the purchase of nuclear fuel? Disputing the yellowcake claim is all the reasonable doubt a responsible legislator would have needed to back off the rush to war. But the CIA report discrediting the Niger claim wasn't put out there until after war had been declared. NOW his administration admits that the yellowcake LIE shouldn't have been foisted on the American people. Ahem... is that not the BIGGEST FLIP FLOP OF ALL?

Bush made much of an assertion that he would never let France veto America's ability to make a pre-emptive strike in the war on terror; however, he DID let Britain's now-universally discredited yellowcake memo trump America's prerogative to AVOID war. Now he's trying to gut-punch Kerry for avoiding a horribly demoralizing sound bite regarding soldiers dying for Bush's mistake. He won't admit his mistake (or miscalculations), but he's got the balls to jab at Kerry for not disparaging soldiers and their families?

America needs a new President in the White House and that President is John Kerry.

They keep pulling me back in! Kobe's accuser is preggers

2004-09-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

"She's not the slut she's been made out to be..." Any time an attorney uses the word "slut" in a declaritive sentence about his client, eyebrows should arch. Hmmmm, couldn't he have finessed that sentence for the cameras just a little? Of course, it doesn't help that the client may, in fact, BE a suicidal, attention-grabbing, slut with a penchant for cocaine abuse. Talk about the trifecta! And now she's pregnant. PREGNANT, people!

That a sexual abuse "victim" can find solace in the arms of another recovering cokehead is touching. And it doesn't NECESSARILY mean that she's been lying the whole time, but let's examine the scorecard. She claims that she has suffered additional abuse as a result of the court, yet again, revealing her name. OK, except that the court mistake didn't put the name out there in the first place. People from her community were e-blasting her within days of the charges. Then came the stories of her exploits at parties, where she allegedly bragged about her encounter with "king-sized" Kobe. Then came the multiple stained panties from the rape exam. The revelation about multiple sex partners within days of the Kobe encounter, yada, yada, yada.

When are these attorneys going to come to their senses? If I were Kobe right now, there would be no settlement offer. Forget it. The transcripts from his initial interview have been put out there. Turnabout is fair play from the prosecution team I guess. At this point, it looks MUCH better for him to have this case tried and for him to be exonerated than to roll over for such an obvious nutjob.

That I feel so compelled to rise to the defense of a blatant adulterer is amazing to me. I'm a family man, yet, here I am typing away... Still, he didn't rape her. And that so many people (let's face it, WHITE people) have rallied behind this chick is galling in the extreme. Maybe after Hurlburt loses his election bid, folks will understand that she is not a victim in the eyes of the community.

Stacie J. and other women of questionable taste

2004-09-27T23:15:00.000-07:00

The results are in and Black folks have a new person at the top of their S**T list. But it's not who you think... It's Mark Burnett, creator of the Apprentice (and every other decent reality show out there.) "Why," you ask? Simply, from a pool of more than 1 million applicants-- across two seasons-- he managed to pick the two craziest Black women in the country to participate in this high profile game show... Omarosa and Stacie J. Let's backpedal.

Omarosa probably slipped through the cracks because she interviews well. I can imagine her presentation of good-looking credentials, stylish flair and diva attitude that TV producers salivate over. BONUS! She worked at the White House. But by the end of her run on Apprentice 1, it was obvious that she was a two-faced, conniving liar that was willing to do or say anything to suit her purposes. I weep for her husband...

Fast forward to Crazy J... First red flag, "Don't I recognize her from somewhere?" Yep, she's a model. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but there aren't many high profile models running major corporations...except in movies. But she's a restarateur! Ummm, actually, she owns a Subway sandwich shop. That's like calling the manager of gas station an oil baron. She's a FRANCHISEE as far as I'm concerned. And so we're on the same page, that's not a bad thing either, but we're establishing a pattern of burnishing the truth, n'est-ce pas?

So we have this strikingly beautiful RESTAURATEUR and the first thing she does is freak out her WHOLE TEAM by vigorously extolling the divinational powers of a "Magic 8 ball!" Has this chick never seen a reality show in her LIFE! Did she not witness how Kwame's "keep below the radar" strategy took him to the final two? Did she not see how quickly Omarosa became the most reviled reality persona in recent memory.

Sistuh, PLEEEZ! Armed with her melt down, the majority of the barracuda brigade at "Apex Corporation" wasted no time in putting her on the chopping block for the next two weeks. She caught a break when Bradford got suckered punched out of the game. By all rights, worthless Ivana should have been packing last week. But with Ivana's "borderline psychotic" estimation of Stacie's mental health and the solidarity of the rest of those pit vipers, she couldn't escape the ax this week. Kudos to "the Jennifers" for at least trying to keep it real and mentioning that over-budget Maria should have been the one fired this week.

Alas, the game is over for Stacie J; at least she'll sell a grip of Subway-branded Atkins wraps this week.

Five Heartbeats vs. What's Love...

2004-08-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

A friend and I were talking about movies the other day and "The Five Heartbeats" entered the conversation. I allowed some of his passionate discourse before tossing in my two cents about the generally poor performances, mediocre script and lackluster direction. While, I don't consider myself a Robert Townsend hater (I enjoyed Hollywood Shuffle and own it on DVD), anyone with the execrable "Meteor Man" and "BAPS" on his resume has a lot to answer for.

But then came to coup de grace... When I offered Angela Bassett's riveting portrayal of Tina Turner in "What's Love..." as an example of superior story-telling, he STILL preferred "The Five Heartbeats." WHAAAAAT?!? Two Oscar-nominated performances versus an over-long "movie of the week!" You've got to be kidding.

In his defense, his affection for Heartbeats is rooted in his own experiences as a member of an male, R&B group. That none of his bandmates became violent, irrational crackheads is beside the point. Heartbeats speaks to him with special poignancy. I concede too that Heartbeats shows a complex Black, male dynamic that is rarely brought to the screen. Not since Cooley High (where Townsend had a cameo) have we seen a drama about the emotional entanglements of a group of Black men. "New Jack City" tried, but there was SO much crack and gunfire, it was hard to focus on the inner turmoil of the CMB family. (Note: The soundtrack was a brilliant distraction too, not to mention Chris Rock's crusty-lipped, Pookie. Talk about a classic hip hop performance!)

But I digress. I promised to take a break from my recent blog obsession, and post this article. I expect that I will see a comment from the maniacal ravings of his lunatic mind shortly thereafter.

The Best Kobe Bryant article so far

2004-08-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

Is right here. It's insightful and intelligently addresses the fact that the evidence now points to the fact that Bryant is ACTUALLY innocent as opposed to likely to be found NOT GUILTY.

It also raises the Catch 22 of Bryant's current situation. Since the case will most likely be dismissed, Bryant will not face jail time, but the civil case looms. All pundits are predicting that he will probably offer a settlement to the accuser in order to get on with his life. But what will that life offer him. A settlement (even one that includes restrictive language about denial of guilt) will open the door for the accuser's lawyers to crow about "justice" being served. But is justice served when a false accusation spurs a seven figure nuisance settlement?

The accuser's father sent a letter condemning the judge's actions, but what about his daughter's actions? The prosecution has no expert witness to refute the defense position that the accuser has sex with someone after Kobe Bryant. Indeed, the physical evidence on the accuser's body makes the defense assertion difficult to deny. Yet, this gives no one in the accuser's corner pause. That a mentally unbalanced woman with two suicide attempts in her history had sex with another person (probably her ex-boyfriend) within hours of her "rape" with Kobe Bryant doesn't merit consideration I guess.

Bryant was an idiot and an exercised the poorest of judgment in having sex with this woman. According to some reports, his legal fees have run more than $10 million dollars (and let's not forget the $4 million dollar ring). However, I can't help but burn with indignation that the accuser may walk away with a lottery win for her part in this despicable charade.

Curiously, the prosecution has yet to dismiss charges. I entertained a fleeting fantasy that they would pursue their hopeless case so the inevitable "not guilty" verdict would harm the accuser's civil suit. Payback for the 13 months of time, effort and money spent on her behalf. Even though it will cost Bryant more money, I hope he gets his day in court. As sordid as the details of this unfortunate encounter may be. cutting a check will confirm some people's opinion that he actually did rape this woman. That would dire consequences for Bryant and legitimate rape victims for years to come.

From Slate... Debra Dickerson "Fraction"

2004-08-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

Debra Dickerson's Slate article on racism sparked a predictably anxious debate in their Fray. Below, I have excerpted some highlights of the interactions I had with some folks in response to her piece.

Subject: RE: Racist like???
From: roadwarrior
Date: Aug 12 2004 2:39PM

Yes there is damage done by holding ones ethnicity and heritage only in "high" regard. That implies that one is looking down on another's race with low regard. Also, if one is true to the facts, they should also have the strength to look at their heritage and find its weaknesses... don't only look at your heritage with high regard but also with low regard where appropriate. When everyone looks at their race with high regard, then the negativ aspect of racism rears its ugly head... just like the Arian race was supposed to be superior. The negative aspects of racism feed off of each individual's insecurity with themselves and their race. The individual's insecurity causes him or her to use the guise of racism to make themselves feel "better" than someone of a different race.

Subject: RoadWarrior: There you go again
From: AltonDarwin4
Date: Aug 12 2004 3:03PM

You have fallen prey to a common logical fallacy. Self-esteem DOES NOT preclude esteem of others. Consequently, holding one's heritage in high regard DOES NOT inevitably result in holding other's heritage in low regard. It is simply a positive affirmation of one's own worth.For example, my esteem for the scientific and engineering genius of Benjamin Banneker does not negate the respect I hold for Sir Isaac Newton. On the other hand, my disregard for the murderous practices of Idi Amin does not imply an endorsement of the murderous practices of Adolf Hitler.Your overly simplistic mental paradigm exists only in the narrowest thinking of a desperately insecure personality... in short, just like most racists.

Subject: RE: RoadWarrior: There you go again
From: roadwarrior
Date: Aug 12 2004 3:14PM

Congratulations to you for not falling into the trap that so many others in the history of the world have fallen into wrt to viewing their race or ethnicity only with high esteem. Are you able to look at the negative aspects of your ethnicity as objectively as the positive? Most people aren't and that is why we have (had) things like Muslim Supremists, Christian Supremists, KKK, Arian nationalism, ethnic cleansing in Bosnia and Rwanda etc.. I am basing my views on the history of the wars and fallicies of ethnic supremecy about which most people can not be objective.... not simplistic paradigms that you are holding onto.

Subject: RE: RoadWarrior: There you go again
From: AltonDarwin4
Date: Aug 12 2004 3:31PM

UHHHH, I never said that outrageous moral indignities had not been thrust upon oppressed people throughout the ages. I stated that weak, insecure personalities are prone to buying the specious argument that self-estimation necessitates denigration of others. In fact, as I stated in my previous post, not only is it possible to hold one's self, culture, heritage in esteem WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY valuing others, it is psychologically HEALTHY. That mobs of people have behaved in a psychologically unhealthy fashion is frighteningly well-documented throughout history. But that doesn't make the behavior correct OR morally defensible.

Subject: Racism defined
From: AltonDarwin4
Date: Aug 12 2004 2:55PM

studentxyz nailed it. Racism without power to enforce it is the proverbial tree that falls with no one to hear it. Further, the institutionalized system of societal "rules" that was predicated on racism has had a devastating social effect in our country.Unfortunately, for every positive Affirmative Action attempt to balance the historical inequities there exists a negative reply of "race-based hiring (despite the years of enforcement AGAINST BLACKS) is unfair!"Internal prejudices (strictly in the sense of "fight or flight" reactions) may be an indelible part of human nature; however, moral people look beyond instinctual reflex and are governed by rational examination of individual character.

(In response to studentxyz's post referenced above)
Subject: RE: Racist like???
From: avery
Date: Aug 12 2004 4:38PM

I don't agree with your definition of racism (racism being a person of one race exercising the ability to wield power over those of a different race), but even if we let it stand, there are problems with your logic. You say blacks don't have that crucial element of power. But isn't that just the author's point? She DOES have power--based on her education, income, and social status. Her power isn't derived from her blackness, nor does her blackness prohibit her having power as you seem to suggest. That is why she suggests that a class system makes more sense than a race system. Because those with power (affluence, education, standing in society) certainly can wield that power over those who don't. Certainly you agree that there are blacks with power and whites without.

Subject: RE: Racist like???
From: AltonDarwin4
Date: Aug 12 2004 4:54PM

You are misquoting and misunderstanding studentxyz's post. The definition included two key elements that your comments ignore. The first is "inordinate" power. Her ability to berate a construction worker illegally parked on her property is not inordinate power. Inordinate power is the ability to deny the vote. Inordinate power is to FORCE one to use seperate and unequal restroom, transportation, education and dining facilities. That this power was wielded in respect to race makes the policies racist.The second crucial element to the definition was that this power is exercised over a "group of people." The discussion of racial "power" dynamics between a single Black woman and a worker who is trespassing is not the same as a discussion of long-standing systemic racist practices over the course of several hundred years. Logic dictates that you confront his arguments with reasonable and accurate assertions.

Kobe's Accuser... What's Next?

2004-08-04T11:45:00.000-07:00

So the latest is that the accuser may forgo the criminal trial in favor of a civil suit. According to her lawyer, she is concerned that the court screw-ups will make it difficult for her to get a fair trial. But how about Kobe's fair trial?

The medical records are sealed and can't be admitted into evidence, but this is a young woman who has attempted suicide twice. Does it prove that she can't be raped? No. Does it mean her mental state is in question? Yes.

Evidence suggests that she had sex with another person AFTER her encounter with Bryant. Until her boyfriend offers a sample, one can only guess his identity. Does it prove that she wasn't raped? No. Does a sexual encounter mere hours after a rape fall outside the typical victim profile? Yes.

In the 200-page document emailed to the press, the prosecutors expressed concern that these revelations might make it more difficult to prove their case. Well, of course it makes it more difficult. The question is whether or not any of these people have admitted to themselves the possibility that there was no crime committed.

Don't these public servants owe it to their constituents to seek justice? Is it justice to continue a highly speculative case against any defendant, much less one with the resources to mount a highly competent defense? Have we forgotten how this young woman used her position to isolate Bryant's guards in the furthest available room from his? Have we forgotten that she violated hotel policy to slip up to his room? Do these facts prove she wasn't raped. No. But, neither do they prove that she was raped.

The missing piece of this puzzle is Bryant's recorded testimony during his first police interview. There may be some startling revelations in that testimony that blow away the mountain of evidence that has raised so much doubt in the public's mind. However, if the prosecution's idea of a bombshell is an alleged "groping" incident at Shaquille O'Neal's Orlando mansion, one has to wonder if there's anything to this case at all.

GOP desperation insults Illinois voters

2004-08-04T07:45:00.000-07:00

In a flabbergasting revelation today, the Illinois GOP virtually assured that Illinois' vacant Senate seat would be occupied by a Black person. After an embarrasing stumble through wishful thinking (Mike Ditka), their choices have narrowed to Andrea Barthwell (a former deputy drug czar) and conservative talk show host Alan Keyes. Never mind that Keyes doesn't live in Illinois and hasn't even had the chance to meet with the GOP there. Apparently. his most compelling qualification is that he's Black.

I can't decide what's more insulting to Illinois voters: that they would prop up a candidate from another state or that they feel voters might confuse the two candidates on the basis of their color. Keyes is a fringe player. In all of his runs for state and national office, he has been marginalized by conservative candidates whose message is less strident and more centrist. He is a talented speaker, but how many voters share his extreme views? How many can depend on him to bend and represent THEIR interests as opposed to his hard right wing stance on nearly every social issue?

Dr. Andrea Barthwell is another matter. A highly respected physician, she served in the office of Drug Policy for the Bush administration. Of course, she was also called to the carpet for sexual harassment against a male co-worker after making "lewd and suggestive" remarks about his sexuality. Although the matter was resolved amicably, the report "almost uniformly stated their fear and discomfort with what they consider to be unusual behavior patterns and displays of temper."

Great... we have our choice of homophobes for the open seat. I lived in Illinois during my high school years and think that great state deserves better. That the GOP has resorted to base racial tactics speaks volumes about their brand of compasionate conservatism. Where's their vaunted "moral center" now.

What has happened to America?

2004-08-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

In the post-Fahrenheit 9/11 cinematic world, it's easy to lose sight of some other great docs. About a month ago, I attended a screening of "The Hunting of the President." This wonderful effort chronicled the Mr. Toad's wild ride that was the Whitewater "investigation." Like Moore's films, it uses a mix of stock footage and music cues to comic effect. However, as narrated by Morgan Freeman, it carries more emotional heft, especially when focusing on Susan McDougal.

After the screening, it occurred to me that despite the overwhelming evidence that Whitewater was a partisan witch hunt, fully 50% of Americans were convinced that Clinton actually did something nefarious. This in the face of being led into a war of convenience against a sovreign nation that posed no immediate threat to our country. The negative Clinton public opinion shaped Gore's decision to distance himself from the enormously popular (pre-Lewinsky) president and tipped some Dems over to the Nader column. We're living the result of that folly.

I wondered... how is it possible that so many people can exist in a state of intellectual denial that allows them to believe that A) Bush is a capable leader and B) Kerry is a wimpy liberal? Bush cannot account for his "honorably served" National Guard time. We see no end to the evidence that he is unaccounted for several months. Yet, prickly GOP flaks continue to press the outright lie that he completed his duty. "He was honorably discharged," they scream. "That's the end of it."

Of course, the $70 million of bulldog-like tenacity used to transform Whitewater from a real estate investigation to the most costly blow job in history would never cut Clinton the same break. You can believe that Clinton or Kerry would be mercilessly excoriated for a discrepancy of this magnitude.

In a time when his approval ratings have dipped to historic lows, Bush is in a statistical dead heat (or even a lead) in many polls. In the face of millions of jobs lost, a record-breaking deficit, a shameful and sham-filled war, I am astounded that a $600 tax rebate has bought so many votes from the polarized constituency. Who knew that America could be had so cheaply?

Validation!

2004-07-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

O.K. a milestone today. Salon posted one of my letters. Since I love Salon enough to pay for a subscription, it was nice to see my thoughts woven into the fabric of their most delightful online magazine. The letter (here in its entirety) was a reply to an excellent Dan Kois article about the cult classic Donnie Darko (newly released in a Director's Cut).

"First off, thanks to Dan Kois for filling in the blanks on this compelling and confounding movie. I will have to check out the director's cut if only to enjoy a bunch of "Aha!" moments offered by his insights. That said, I think the Byzantine nature of the Tangent Universe puzzle is very similar in structure to God's challenge with Job.

The point is not simply to save the universe, but to offer Donnie a chance at healing his fractured spirit. As Kois points out, Darko is a troubled young man (and not chemically imbalanced, as Thurman later reveals). While in Tangent Middlesex, Darko uncovers insights into his despair through his interactions with nearly everyone, but especially with Sparrow and Thurman. At the core of his problem is his teen-angsty lack of connection with the people around him.

Fortunately, Tangent Gretchen teaches him that he can make the intimate connections that appear to have eluded him in the real universe. For Donnie, that revelation alone is enough to justify his sacrifice and thereby save the life of the woman he loves and, consequently, the universe.

As with Job, God could have made his point more simply. After all, the modern mind boggles at how "replacement children" could soothe a parent who has lost others so tragically. However, God's bet was just part of Job's challenge; the greater part was his internal discovery of the depths of his faith. That's something Donnie obviously appreciated."

Addendum: OK, exactly how self-involved do you have to be to repost something from another site's letter column? This self-involved apparently! I'm about to do the same thing with some stuff from Slate.

Why Kobe? Not "Why, Kobe?"

2004-07-23T19:46:00.000-07:00

It's been more than a year since the accusation was made and I have to wonder why this case is still on the docket. According to recent reports, the accuser has considered dropping the charges because of her lack of confidence in her safety and well-being. In light of the death threats resulting from numerous accidental leaks that have spread her name across the globe, I can't blame her.

On the other hand, this case has seen some major bombshells dropped and none of them look good for the prosecution. Consider today's incredible ruling... The accuser's sexual conduct during the three days before her exam can be introduced at trial. That's huge. In a state with the most restrictive rape shield laws in the U.S., that's an incredible win for the defense. Of course, this ruling came after another dramatic turn. The accuser sent text messages to her ex-boyfriend within hours of the encounter. Perhaps 15 people know what the messages say, but the boyfriend's attorney (who inititally objected in defense of his client's privacy) has backpedaled and concedes that at least one message has material bearing on the case.

And let's not forget the finding that the semen and/or hair of two other men was present on the accuser AT HER INITIAL EXAM! At first, the news was that there was other DNA on the panties she was wearing, but further tests confirmed that this evidence was present in swabs taken from her person. Even gung-ho D.A. Hurlbert, who after making this case his marquee re-election plank has quietly withdrawn to devote his attention to the other hot-button issues that are burning up his little slice of Colorado. A new prosector has been assigned and she valiantly maintains that nothing will prevent the case from going to trial, but one has to wonder why.

Is there a single person watching this case who does not accept that reasonable doubt exists here? Physical evidence of forcible trauma is minimal and almost everyone agrees that the case hinges on testimony. So why are we still here? First, support for the accuser has dwindled. IBelieveHer.com stopped paying their hosting bill and the url now points to a generic placeholder. Women's advocacy groups, once wild with indignation have turned their attention elsewhere. Aided by the judge's critical ruling, her persona has shifted from raped young girl, to rape victim, to alleged victim to accuser. That's quite a shift.

The evidence of a criminal conspiracy to cover up rape allegations in a Colorado university football program gets less press than this wishy washy mess. And why? Because he's a celebrity? and a sports figure? and he's wealthy? and he's... Black? Despite the inevitable comparisons, this case is miles from O.J., but at its heart it still concerns a white girl "wronged" by a powerful black man.

We saw a similar drama play out with Marcus Dixon. The jury found the then 18-year-old, 3.96 GPA, honor roll, star athlete with scholarship offers out the wazoo not guilty of rape. And not just due to an evidenciary shortfall on the prosecution side. Several jurors have come forward to further assert that they felt certain the sex with a girl just 2+ years his junior was consensual. After serving more than a year of what could have been a mandatory ten year sentence for statutary rape and aggravated child molestation (technically unavoidable given the circumstances), the Georgia Supreme Court overturned the sentence. It was a just and fair ruling and Dixon is in the process of resuming his life.

So why Kobe? Because he's a celebrity, and a sports figure and wealthy and black. The judge has extended the window for a plea offering. Neither side is biting. Kobe's team is prepared for a proverbial slam dunk and Hurlbert's team faces a Catch 22. They can't punt after spending hundreds of thousands and possibly millions in investigation, preparation and posturing; they can't possibly win either, but it looks a bit better if they give it a try.

And in the midst of all of this, the worst part is how other victims are marginalized by this wolf's cry. God help the legions of real victims whose stories will seem less credulous after this national circus of half-truths and prosecutiral hubris.

Moore, Morissette, More Distortion

2004-07-18T07:42:00.000-07:00

Isn't it ironic? Fox News, Limbaugh, et al shriek about Michael Moore as a liar and presenter of a distorted view of "the facts," yet perpetuate a daily deluge of craptastic "journalism" which is devoid of any sense of fairness or balance. I can't decide if it's merely disingenuous, grotesquely manipulative or intellectually cowardly to couch one's perspective as a breathlessly shrill tirade that attempts to outshout a competitive point of view.

It reminds me of Eddie Izzard's hialrious comedy special "Dressed to Kill" where he maintains that most Americans don't really know the words to our national anthem, they merely pantomime gibberish while looking really confident and firmly gesticulating.

These Foxnewsian talking heads play the role of Plato's shadow puppeteers while legions of patriotic Americans are held rapt by their antics. Michael Moore may not be balanced in his arguments and, indeed, heads down many a blind alley while drawing his conclusions, but in the face of non-stop, hard-right opinion-shaping, he deserves his chance to make his point.

The success of Fahrenheit 9/11 reminds me of the Perrier premium bottled water craze that made its splash in the 80s. At 85 million dollars and counting, it's apparent that many Americans are eschewing Fox's tap water and paying a premium price to enjoy a better quality beverage. Even if it's also highly prized by the French.

Dammit!: A Rant of Unknown Length

2004-07-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

Why does the Presidential circus continue to captivate me every election cycle? Haven't I grown a bit numb from the same game being played every leap year? It's like the callous on my heel... shouldn't layer after jaded layer of incredulity shield me from getting caught up in the maelstrom of lies, fractured promises and jingoistic flag-waving? Can I pose another question without offering any answer?

I am flabbergasted that this election hinges on anything other than this bastard of a "war" in which we're engaged. Not that there aren't other things to be upset over, but am I the only one wondering why "impeachment" isn't being whispered in the alabaster halls of Washington DC?

Saw "The Hunting of the President" a few weeks ago and it opened afresh the old Clinton wounds. They impeached his oversexed ass because he lied about a BLOW JOB. Yet, we're locked into a political morASS because a morON ignored prudent data and barrelled in to get the guy "who tried to kill his dad." Dave Chapelle's "Black Bush" sketch nailed it perfectly (Please watch the reruns on Comedy Central until the new season debuts).

It goes without saying, but Bush has us in a horrible mess. I can't decide whether limited intelligence or raw hubris is in the driver's seat, but we are on a highway to hell for sure. The toll booth is coming up at exit 11/02, and Dubya has a sack of quarters. I wonder if his aim is good enough to get him another pass.

And speaking of the election (2000, this time), can I get the GOP to stop with the "537 vote win" crap? Now that Katherine Harris' shenanigans have fully come to light, it's patently obvious that Bush should NEVER have taken the oath of office. Any way you slice it, 2,000+ willfully disenfranchised Black voters equals Bush stealing the election. God bless Rep. Corinne Brown even if her strident invective earned her a temporary restriction on speaking on the House floor.

O.K. First post done... I feel oddly disquieted and wonder if there's anything fresh to be said about this crap. If you post to a blog and nobody reads it, does it make a sound?

Getting Started

2004-07-17T17:50:00.000-07:00

I've pondered creating one of these things for a while now. "Ender's Game" started my fascination. The idea that Peter and Valentine (children!!!) could shape public opinion with insightful essays posted via ansible to the "net" was a romantically captivating idea for me.

But it's almost equally alluring to procrastinate. Alas, I have fallen prey to a surge of "social responsibility" to throw my musings into the ether and see if I can become as revered as "Locke" or "Demosthenes."

So, here we go. Please keep your rants and musings in the full upright position as we approach the runway for take off. I hope you enjoy the flight.