Disqus - Latest Comments for T.

Re: Empathy

T. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:29:48 -0000

As Barack has been consistently saying - this issue is not either/or its a both/and....

Re: The Great White PUMA Hunt of 2008

T. — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:34:16 -0000

Did you all see this one? A June ad from McCain....Barack Obama's face inserted on currency...see around 0.18/19

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPARec32KMI

Re: Setting the record straight on McCain's cynical race card

T. — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 23:25:29 -0000

Kane from Florida,

Thank you for clearing that up, my friend. And to add to that, he was speaking in front of an audience in Missouri that was 98% white(I believe)! Furthermore, the issue of his outward appearance was not the main point of the argument that he was presenting at the time(something that he has said before without repercussion).

Anyway, none of us thought this was going to be a cake-walk!

T.

Re: Happy Birthday Mr. Next President

T. — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:42:39 -0000

Happy Birthday Mr. President!!!

T.

Re: David Broder's Broken Record

T. — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 13:02:07 -0000

He is not alone. Joe Klein's comments on Swampland, i think, last week, and his article in this week's Time magazine pretty much suggests the same thing. Although, he does skewer McCain for not engaging on the issues that matter.

T.

Re: Not Bayhing the rumor (but it still could be Bayh)

T. — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 20:20:27 -0000

I am now going to step away from ALL of my electronic devices. This is just waaaaaayyyyy too much waiting! Jeez, Senator Obama.....

T.

Re: A noun, a verb, and [_____]

T. — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:53:09 -0000

M-F*cker, Puhleeze!

Screw that! John McBush could feel grateful and blessed from now 'til tomorrow, the fact remains this: He still has WAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYY more than most of us could ever acquire in our lifetimes. While we don't begrudge him and his stuff, he has not exhibited the capacity to feel our pain. We want a President who understands what the random man, or woman, around that kitchen table ponder...night after night! Obama knows!

T.

Re: Droning Monotone

T. — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 17:05:52 -0000

Jed, You are indeed correct. I nodded off part way through the second watching only to be jolted awake by loud applause. Yeah, and the reason, I went there for a second time was to see her expressions since I had only really listened the first time; and to also see if it was as brilliant as everyone was saying...

T.

Re: A Change Election

T. — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:31:22 -0000

Jed,

Wanna know what makes me roll my eyes? The Chuck Todds, "...the Obama campaign is completely flat-footed right now..." The Jake Tappers, "...seemingly nervous about palin's popularity...", the Mark Halperins, "...never seen the Obama campaign so flummoxed...they don't like surprises..."

Is this just conjecture by the press? How do they know this? Like, didn't they expect the Obama campaign to adjust to take into account a new face in the race? I, like everyone else, knew McBush WAS going to pick a VP, right?

The only thing that kinda threw ME off stride was the blatant co-opting of Obama's change message. McBush's campaign tried once before and failed but saw an opening to do so again when Gov. McB*tch came onboard. And, the press seems to be allowing them to do so, with the possible exception of NBC Sunday Morning who started their program this past Sunday with something like this, "Is the McCain campaign STEALING Obama's message..."

But, I don't know why all the hyperventilating, because the fact that he is co-opting Obama's theme means that Obama's in the driver's seat, right?

Color me stupid, but I have decided to keep my eye on the ball, and remain unaffected by the talking heads.

Obama/Biden '08

T.

Re: Barack On McCain's Phony Outrage: Enough Is Enough!

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:57:07 -0000

Pitch perfect. Loved it!

Re: Barack On McCain's Phony Outrage: Enough Is Enough!

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:11:25 -0000

This morning in NYC, an ad was shown on ch. 4(NBC Local. It said something like this:...masquerading as something new...more of the same...that's not change..."

I was, like, "Go Obama!"

Then came, "I am John McCain and I approve this message."

I burst out laughing.

Unbelievable, isn't it?

T.

Re: The No Talk Express

T. — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:27:49 -0000

Jed, Did you see this?

http://www.americablog.com/2008/09/mccain-final...

T.

Re: If Sarah Palin Were A Democrat...

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:37:37 -0000

JED...I have question for ya.

Not the most important but still...I read on this site that Lyin' Palin had only travelled once outside the US when she visited Alaskan troops in Kuwait, plane stopped for refuelling in Ireland, and she visited a military hospital in germany - all in the same trip I assume. It was also for this trip that she obtained a passport for the first time.

Last night, during the first installment of the ABC News interview, she mentioned that she had also been to CANADA and MEXICO. How curious it is that she mentions the "NAFTA countries" that John McCain visited not too long ago. Why did she go to these countries? For family? For work? Can this be verified from public records? Is Alaska a state that has employment issues relating to NAFTA? And remember that the McCain Campaign has been trying hard to needle Obama that he has not been to any countries in our neck of the woods. Just plain curious.

This query may seem trivial, given all the matters of import that were discussed(and not adequately responded to by her), but what if this inconsequential thing turns out not to be, um, another fib...

T.

Re: If Sarah Palin Were A Democrat...

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:41:15 -0000

Correcting the last line above:

...but what if this inconsequential thing turns out to be, um, another fib...

Re: If Sarah Palin Were A Democrat...

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:31:14 -0000

Why I'm happy to be a democrat this week. And a response to Andrew Sullivan's reader:

I do not know if we are being "played" by the GOP, per se, in talking about them. What I know is this: in a competition, I firmly believe that we have to keep an eye on our opponent, BUT we cannot lose sight of what makes OUR guy(OBAMA) so great. There are still many swing voters out there who are coming to these blogs, and if all they are seeing is talk about the opponent and not about what our guy is doing to make their lives better, then we lose. So, there has to be a balance.

In fact this past week, I think Obama's strategy has been dead-on, and yet heads were about to explode - he's not getting angry enough. Well, when Obama used the "lipstick on a pig" analogy and then called out McBush's campaign on their sexism sham, that was nothing short of briliance. Did Obama make a mistake or was McBush payed like a fiddle? And this strategy was a two-fer. What do i mean? It also gave Obama the opening to "work the refs"...and it worked! Magical stuff, i tell ya.

The second reason why I'm happy to be a Dem this week: Our guys on the interview circuit. No biggie, you say, we all know they can do interviews and that they are well versed in the issues. Of course we do. But guess what, there are voters out there who are 1)either just tuning in or, 2)got their head twisted a bit by the "big celebrity empty rhetoric" meme. So Obama and Biden has been interviewed multiple times this week, their mastery of the various issue on display, while McBush was on hiatus from the press and Lyin' Palin was being sequestered. Now, that McBush et al have come out to play, they can be exposed for the frauds that they are. And it worked, because, after seeing Lyin' Palin last night, the MSM appears to be absolutely spooked. They seem positively terrified that if they are derelict in performing their duties, they might just help elect McBush and this woman.

Yes, I'm happy to be a Democrat this week.

And yeah, color me stupid, but I' don't think the Obama campaign is too sad that Biden was not getting as much coverage. It gave Biden a chance to get his bearings. Work on his delivery etc. Minimize any early mistakes he might have made etc. And now that Plouffe has given everyone notice that the game is on then everybody is out there on the grind, including Jill Biden. So imagine that Barack, Joe, Michelle, Jill, other Democratic stalwarts are in a different place each and everyday. More real estate being covered while McBush is either baby-sitting Lyin' Palin or using her as a prop to garner enthusiasm for his candidacy.

All we need now is a big rally to get everybody to stop wringing their hands and stay excited. But Plouffe and Axelrod knows best.

T.

Example of an appearance the blogs missed:
Last weekend, Obama and McBush appeared via satellite before an AARP audience. They answered questions on issues that affect the AARP demographic. Their respective presentations could not have been more different - like night and day.

Obama's responses specifically addressed the needs of that community while articulating his proposed policies. McBush's, however, was an uninspiring recital of his stump speech, and his responses lacked heft. Some independents called on C-Span later that morning to remark on the difference in the two men's proposed policies.

I have yet to see any reference to Obama's successful appearance in front of the AARP on any liberal blog.

Re: If Sarah Palin Were A Democrat...

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:34:31 -0000

debrazza thanks. To me, the implication was that her alleged visits to those countries should qualify as foreign travel for work purposes.

T.

Re: If Sarah Palin Were A Democrat...

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:35:43 -0000

Max P. Relax my friend. Are you doing anything to help? GOTV, phonebanking, etc?

Re: The Speech

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:55:03 -0000

Do you see the way Lyin' Palin licks her lips several times during that part of the interview. That girl has a porn movie in her future. SuperHead Redux. LOL! Poor Charlie.

T.
ps. Only Bill Maher and every single rapper and maybe some consumers of porn will get the SuperHead reference. Sorry Jed, i'm being bad.

Re: The Speech

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:06:11 -0000

ENOUGH! That sums it up for me.

T.

Re: Officially The Greatest Post In The History Of The Internet

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:29:58 -0000

Jallenrule: Or, better yet, how does he "lube the tube" or "rub the knob", take your pick? Sorry again, Jed.

T.

Re: The Gibson Interview

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:35:14 -0000

I just saw the most recent interview. It's almost as though Charlie was conversing with a young child. Name 3 things blah, blah, blah...Child babbles on a bit...Charlie then encourages child to provide a sumation by counting them off with 3 fingers: 1, 2, 3...

My word!.

T.

Re: Old Boys Network = McCain Campaign Staff Meeting

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:41:20 -0000

Obama the Political Assassin...LOVE!

Re: A tough one-two punch

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:15:59 -0000

I like the audio quality in these ads...completely shallow comment, I know...

Re: Old Boys Network = McCain Campaign Staff Meeting

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:53:24 -0000

Watch the lady in the green hat over his left shoulder(right when you're viewing the video)...PRICELESS! She should be at all his rallies...LOL.

T.

Re: Open Thread -- Going To My First Obama Rally

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:08:52 -0000

Gosh, I hate you Jed. Have a great time, man.

T.

Re: Back From The Rally!

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:08:46 -0000

Jed, I hate you even more today. Glad that you had a great time. Tell Rikki that we're waiting for her....Come on over Rikki.

T.

Re: The Change We Need In Las Vegas: Local TV Coverage

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:13:16 -0000

Yes...Obama is doing the "ask" more aggressively now. I like that. We need to hear that everyday - Talk to your neighbors, talk to your friends, knock on doors, and more important check that you are registered and COME OUT TO VOTE.

T.

Re: McSpain In The Membrane

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 13:10:54 -0000

Something's up. His cognition is suspect. Is he mentally fit to take on this herculean task of taking our country out of this ditch?

After this week, this question needs to be uttered at much more than a whisper.

T.

Re: McCain, The Original Plagiarist

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:03:14 -0000

Who's he kidding?

The 122M expected voters minus the almost 40M who watched Obama at Invesco field.

That's who.

Good Luck and Keep stealin' John.

T.

Re: Gramm Asks Ron Paul To Endorse McCain, But Paul Says No

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:53:53 -0000

Let them deal with their shit in the GOP...right now Obama is in NM...Richardson who is introducing him say that there are 10K people there...

T.

Re: Must Be Totally Bonkers

T. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:38:25 -0000

Is this the same thing like some on cable news who think that Joe Biden, JOE BIDEN, the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will travel to the 63rd UN Gen. Assembly to TRY to shore up his foreign policy credentials.

My word.

T.

Re: Six Questions About The Debate

T. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:43:35 -0000

Here is what worries me...The problems that this country is facing, economic or foreign policy, is not conducive to snappy soundbites, ya know? So for these candidates to try to or fell compelled to dilute or distill or reduce a discussion about these grave issues into a soundbite competition is a disservice to the issues and to the American people.

Just my .02c.

T.

Re: Must Be Totally Bonkers

T. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:46:06 -0000

Jed, I forgot. Please tell Rikki that we think she made the right call. We (Obama's supporters)would like to welcome you to the bright side. Yes we can.

T.

Re: McCain's Top Energy Expert In U.S. Babels Incoherently

T. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:26:58 -0000

babels or babbles?

Re: 20,000+ come out for Obama rally in GOP stronghold

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:10:01 -0000

electricbrotha, i agree with ya dude.

T.

Re: John McCain By The Numbers

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:27:05 -0000

5 years as a POW...How could you forget that? Shame on you Jed Lewis, Shame on you!

T.

Re: John McCain: The Fundamental Deregulator

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:32:29 -0000

Chris Rock on Letterman last night. Got this at jjp.

T.

Re: So McCain Is Supposed To Give A Press Conference...

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:27:34 -0000

Deference?

Re: So McCain Is Supposed To Give A Press Conference...

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:38:17 -0000

He's on now.

T.

Re: A Tale Of Two McCains

T. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:49:14 -0000

dude, only 10x? come on...try 1,000,000,000x...

T.

Re: What A Disaster

T. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:51:10 -0000

When I saw this last night, all i could say was, "Sweet f**king Jesus..."

Lord forgive me.

T.

Re: CNN: Palin's "Palling Around With Terrorists" Claim Is False

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:36:56 -0000

But Jed:

1) Look at the "false" verdict at around 1.24. It begins, "There is no indication that Ayers and Obama are NOW "palling around". Note that the reader doesn't speak the words "NOW" but it's included in the text. The fact is, there is no indication that Ayers and Obama "palled around" EVER. AT ALL. So, why the inclusion of the word "NOW"?

2)The verdict continues, "or that they have had an ongoing relationship in the past 3 years." You see, I believe that "ongoing relationship" connotes some sort of intimacy or closeness that was never there in the first place. Why not use the word "interaction" instead of "relationship", and then qualify "interaction" with the word "professional"?

So, the verdict should have began like this:
"There is no indication that Ayers and Obama ever "palled around", or that they have any professional interaction since they served on XX board three years ago..."

Again, like the title of the NYT article, this verdict confuses. It is not clarifying.

T.

Re: Oh, Tucker

T. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:33:50 -0000

So basically, by Tucker's logic, everybody that I am "friendly" to is my "friend". Man, these fucking people are nuts. Seriously.

T.

Re: Eager To Exploit

T. — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 15:58:31 -0000

When I first heard this yesterday, I knew it was bogus. Think about it this way - why a 'B' and not an 'O'? or even a 'BO'? I'm not condoning violence but any fool stupid enough to attack somebody this way would have gone instinctively for an 'O' not a 'B'.

T.

Re: The Which Drudge Blare Project, McCain-Land Edition

T. — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:53:06 -0000

I;m fired up! This guy has gotta be our president....

T.

Re: Obama Congratulates McCain On Dick The VP's Support

T. — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 16:39:29 -0000

Senator Obama, have some mercy on poor John McCain! LOL!

T.

Re: Sarah Palin: A Bridge To No Underwear

T. — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 11:51:15 -0000

man oh man...

Re: http://www.jedreport.com/2008/11/bailouts-vs-bridge-loans.html

T. — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:35:56 -0000

"bridge loan" of 5 - 10 billion per company - that's what I believe the Obama people proposed...

T.

Re: With Friends Like These……

T. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:57:43 -0000

OK...here's the thing...For fear of being told that I should "just lighten up because it's supposed to be funny", I have been staring at this picture intensely for the last couple of hours. Why? Trying to find the humor within. Guess what? It's not fucking funny. And this coming from a chick who laughs at the most inappropriate shit.

So, hey New Yorker, your joke b-ombed...your satire sucked! Capice?

And btw, as a NYC resident, I should give you all a "heads up": The New York media(local print and TV) - yeah, Senator Clinton's New York - which serves New York, New Jersey and Connecticut have been not been pro-Obama for months, and the anti-Obama slant to the news has intensified in the weeks following him being named the presumptive nominee. Yes folks, it is a McCain love-fest here. No one, I mean, NO ONE is kind to Obama on NY media - not abc, not fox, not nbc, not cbs, not ny1(the politics guy dominic carter here is the worst!!!!), NOBODY! It is sickening. The New York Times. Nope....and now this from the New Yorker!

Who is behind all of this crap....Senator Clinton is it you????????

T.
ps. Yes...Good Morning America and ABC News is already a subsidiary of Fox News...Yeah!

Re: With Friends Like These……

T. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:05:47 -0000

Hey New Yorker,

Here's and idea for your next cover:

John McCain in a wheelchair, with spittle drooling from his mouth and a catheter up his you-know-where. He is also being pushed by his Miss Cindy in a nursemaid's get-up and a beer in hand. In the background you shall see a fighter plane explosion, a mountain of illegal pain killers...

YEAH...NEW YORKER, YOU LOST ME AS A READER....

Re: With Friends Like These……

T. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 15:27:51 -0000

I HAVE A THEORY...John McCain is NOT so close in the polls with Obama...I smell a conspiracy hear to make this a horserace, so to speak....

Re: Monday Open Thread - Hello, Everyone!

T. — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 16:23:25 -0000

yeah...and what about Christie brinkley with her 4 marraiges, and 3 children by 3 different men. Oh well, I guess she doesn't count, right?

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:20:08 -0000

Need to vent a bit. Please bear with me.

I saw this today and I feel compelled to write a short note to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Dear Senator Clinton:

I am a young, professional, fairly well-educated(I'm being modest) African American woman. During the primaries I supported Senator Obama vigorously and without equivocation even when things may not have been going his way sometimes. I paid very close attention to you if only to understand how your platform compared with that of his, so that I could articulately, and intelligently, promote him. And I did. Every chance that I got, even speaking to random people in the subway, in the supermarket. Everywhere. Because I think a President Obama is what the country needs now.

Throughout my life I have involved myself in numerous efforts to further the empowerment of my community and women's issues, equally. Even though you were not my candidate of choice, I fully appreciated the challenges that you faced as a woman and at times chided the media for treating you in a way that was uncalled for(btw, Senator Obama did not fare any better by virtue of being a man, after all, he is a black man - need I say more?). So yes, I empathized with you as a woman.

But, during that time I was, to put it mildly, nonplussed by the tactics of your campaign - you, your husband, and your surrogates. I could not fathom why a woman who has proven herself to be smart and competent would run her campaign in such a shoddy manner, and resort to "do-or-die" type strategies to draw parallels between herself and her opponent.

Emotionally, I began to withdraw from you. It was very difficult for me to arrive at the conclusion that I did not see your journey to be the President as a fight for me: a young woman of color. I couldn't identify with you and didn't see your "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" as one that would make MY path easier. One, it appeared to me, rightly or wrongly, that your quest was nothing other than a quest to acquire power. And two, when all your "feminist supporters" stood up for you, on one hand, I was pleased to see that women were coming together, but on the other hand, none of them looked like me and the hysteria that ensued appeared to be "white girlfriends" thing rather than a fight for ALL women. It seemed more about the past than the future.

Of course, I acknowledge that I could be wrong in my perception. But, I fear I may not be, as I survey the post-primary terrain, and your place in it. I am nothing if not a good Democrat. I want to us to win. Yeah, I said, we've got to unify. So when you and Obama appeared in Unity, New Hampshire, I pushed my skepticism aside because this could not have been easy for either of you. Or, maybe it was because after all you are both political animals. My friends and I excitedly talked about how integral you were going to be in an Obama administration, especially when it comes to healthcare, and particularly if you were standing on her own without all those handlers affecting your decision making .

When you were both in New York, I was happy for you, and for him, until some lady named Caroline Schaeffer(I think) appeared on the evening news announcing that Obama had not gone far enough to embrace you. I said, "WTF? Dude it's been six weeks, SIX weeks, everyone's doing the best they can given the circumstance and we have an election to win!!!! Barack cannot spend his time catering to every whim and fancy of every single group. THAT IS A LOSING PROSPOSITION!!!".

It took a while but I eventually calmed down...until this weekend, that is, when Jill Iscol leaked a private phone conversation between herself and Obama. It appeared that your buddy by going public was once again poking at the scabs of the festering wounds that appeared to threaten our party's coalition. Now I read that Susie Tompkin Bell and Lynn Forrester have joined the throng of the "aggrieved holdouts" and appear to be publicly pressuring the presidential nominee for your party to pick you as VP or else????? Again, I say - WTF????

What is it that your supporters, and by extension you, expect Obama to do? They say you want to be VP. They say you want your campaign debt paid. They say you want the legacy that you and your husband tarnished to be polished. Or else what Senator Clinton? OR ELSE WHAT? Please tell us. PLEASE. What do you expect him to do? Get down on his knees and deliver a public cunnilinctus to you and your girls? A public fellatio to Bill Clinton, perhaps? Would that be enough? WOULD IT?

Listen, I suspect that you still desire to be President. And, I would happily vote for you in 2016 IF you call off your attack dogs, IF you tell your supporters to stand down, IF you and your supporters cease and desist in your well coordinated efforts to undermine AND emotionally blackmail AND manipulate Senator Obama. You and your high-profile supporters must allow Obama to do whatever is in his power to allow the Democrats to retake the reigns of government in this country, without unnecessarily constant distractions.

If not, please understand that we have short memories. Should you try again for the presidency, we will not forget. Women are not stupid. The black community is not stupid. So, here's a suggestion: until Obama, through careful and thoughtful deliberation says you are his VP(or not), please put on your big girl panties and LET'S WIN THIS THING. We have a rough couple of months ahead of us. The media is not making it easy. The opposition is not doing us any favors. And, ironically, neither are you!

Kisses,
T.
ps. Could you call off your attack operatives in the NY media, will ya? Tell 'em to stop the unfounded, non-sensical attacks on Obama.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:22:15 -0000

Dude, I just posted this below:

I saw this today and I feel compelled to write a short note to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton

Dear Senator Clinton:

I am a young, professional, fairly well-educated(I'm being modest) African American woman. During the primaries I supported Senator Obama vigorously and without equivocation even when things may not have been going his way sometimes. I paid very close attention to you if only to understand how your platform compared with that of his, so that I could articulately, and intelligently, promote him. And I did. Every chance that I got, even speaking to random people in the subway, in the supermarket. Everywhere. Because I think a President Obama is what the country needs now.

Throughout my life I have involved myself in numerous efforts to further the empowerment of my community and women's issues, equally. Even though you were not my candidate of choice, I fully appreciated the challenges that you faced as a woman and at times chided the media for treating you in a way that was uncalled for(btw, Senator Obama did not fare any better by virtue of being a man, after all, he is a black man - need I say more?). So yes, I empathized with you as a woman.

But, during that time I was, to put it mildly, nonplussed by the tactics of your campaign - you, your husband, and your surrogates. I could not fathom why a woman who has proven herself to be smart and competent would run her campaign in such a shoddy manner, and resort to "do-or-die" type strategies to draw parallels between herself and her opponent.

Emotionally, I began to withdraw from you. It was very difficult for me to arrive at the conclusion that I did not see your journey to be the President as a fight for me: a young woman of color. I couldn't identify with you and didn't see your "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling" as one that would make MY path easier. One, it appeared to me, rightly or wrongly, that your quest was nothing other than a quest to acquire power. And two, when all your "feminist supporters" stood up for you, on one hand, I was pleased to see that women were coming together, but on the other hand, none of them looked like me and the hysteria that ensued appeared to be "white girlfriends" thing rather than a fight for ALL women. It seemed more about the past than the future.

Of course, I acknowledge that I could be wrong in my perception. But, I fear I may not be, as I survey the post-primary terrain, and your place in it. I am nothing if not a good Democrat. I want to us to win. Yeah, I said, we've got to unify. So when you and Obama appeared in Unity, New Hampshire, I pushed my skepticism aside because this could not have been easy for either of you. Or, maybe it was because after all you are both political animals. My friends and I excitedly talked about how integral you were going to be in an Obama administration, especially when it comes to healthcare, and particularly if you were standing on her own without all those handlers affecting your decision making .

When you were both in New York, I was happy for you, and for him, until some lady named Caroline Schaeffer(I think) appeared on the evening news announcing that Obama had not gone far enough to embrace you. I said, "WTF? Dude it's been six weeks, SIX weeks, everyone's doing the best they can given the circumstance and we have an election to win!!!! Barack cannot spend his time catering to every whim and fancy of every single group. THAT IS A LOSING PROSPOSITION!!!".

It took a while but I eventually calmed down...until this weekend, that is, when Jill Iscol leaked a private phone conversation between herself and Obama. It appeared that your buddy by going public was once again poking at the scabs of the festering wounds that appeared to threaten our party's coalition. Now I read that Susie Tompkin Bell and Lynn Forrester have joined the throng of the "aggrieved holdouts" and appear to be publicly pressuring the presidential nominee for your party to pick you as VP or else????? Again, I say - WTF????

What is it that your supporters, and by extension you, expect Obama to do? They say you want to be VP. They say you want your campaign debt paid. They say you want the legacy that you and your husband tarnished to be polished. Or else what Senator Clinton? OR ELSE WHAT? Please tell us. PLEASE. What do you expect him to do? Get down on his knees and deliver a public cunnilinctus to you and your girls? A public fellatio to Bill Clinton, perhaps? Would that be enough? WOULD IT?

Listen, I suspect that you still desire to be President. And, I would happily vote for you in 2016 IF you call off your attack dogs, IF you tell your supporters to stand down, IF you and your supporters cease and desist in your well coordinated efforts to undermine AND emotionally blackmail AND manipulate Senator Obama. You and your high-profile supporters must allow Obama to do whatever is in his power to allow the Democrats to retake the reigns of government in this country, without unnecessarily constant distractions.

If not, please understand that we have short memories. Should you try again for the presidency, we will not forget. Women are not stupid. The black community is not stupid. So, here's a suggestion: until Obama, through careful and thoughtful deliberation says you are his VP(or not), please put on your big girl panties and LET'S WIN THIS THING. We have a rough couple of months ahead of us. The media is not making it easy. The opposition is not doing us any favors. And, ironically, neither are you!

Kisses,
T.
ps. Could you call off your attack operatives in the NY media, will ya? Tell 'em to stop the unfounded, non-sensical attacks on Obama.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 18:15:16 -0000

Craig, I realize that they are different, but it's the "shadiness" and resulting unease that I feel about both issues that relates them for me. T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 11:57:54 -0000

God be with you Senator Obama...Hope everything goes well...

T.

Re: Ludacris “Helps” Obama Pretend Like He’s Never Met Ludacris

T. — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:42:01 -0000

When I heard this, I said, "Nawwww, not Luda...nope, nope, nope...Luda knows better than that...NOOOOOO..." But yeah, its Luda alright. All f*cking self-serving and sh*t, just for publicity.

Luda, you are a certiable idiot!

T.
ps. I mean, Luda, you must have been under the influence of something, right? First amendment blah, blah, blah, you could have procalimed your support for Obama in a more positive way! Why give our opponents ammunition, dude? I mean, we are on the cusp, and you do this?????????? F*cking degenerate!

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:39:02 -0000

Food for thought:

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/20...

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:17:02 -0000

Axelrod,

So is Obama going to stop using the "risky-scary-dont-look-like-me" line?

I hope not because this would be a win for the MccCain camp. They don't want him to pre-emptively strike because that means he blunts any potential opposition attack/ individual voter bias based on race. (Remember that Harold Ford ad. Remember John McCain's "illegitimate black daughter".)

In a roundabout way, it is also a plea to those voters(rural) who, for the first time, are confronted with a presidential choice who may not look like them. It is a way to say " Hey guys, I look different but you don't have to be scared. Give me a shot. Take a look at me, my family, my policies. I'm capable. I have your best interest at heart. I'm just like you."

Axelrod, he shouldn't stop saying it now. It's classic interview technique. The interviewee pre-empts the interviewer's concerns.

Please. This is his sell to the rural people who have concerns. This should not leave his stump speech.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:16:53 -0000

please read.

http://nymag.com/news/politics/powergrid/48928/

T.

Re: OK, Obama Needs To Have A Press Conference On All Things Black

T. — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 00:31:35 -0000

Guys, you are killin' me!

Anyway, I notice that the McBush/GOP's divide-and-conquer strategy of the Obama coalition is in full swing. They started with the low hanging fruit I see - the black community. They seem to think that the easiest group to dismantle is us. But, weirdly, this time, I have faith that it will not happen. I think they are wasting their time because in the end, Obama will get way over 90% of the black vote, and the black turnout will be huge. So, they are barking up the wrong tree. And, our Hispanic friends will stand with us.

In the last week alone, so many issues regarding race and racial sub-texts...i mean, my head is reeling...coincidence or not? I say not!

Hang tight and pray y'all. This is going to be a rough ride. But on the morning of Nov 5th, we will all be smiling.
When things get rough around here, that's what I think about, the morning of Nov 5th...with a big ole grin on my face.

President Obama!!!

T.

ps. So McCain goes to the National Urban League? Comedic, isn't it?

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 12:05:04 -0000

MOMMY, WHY DOES PRESIDENT BUSH HATE ME?

On this bright Sunday morning, my heart shouldn't be this heavy, but it is. As I read Newsweek's cover story a few weeks ago, I was just touched deeply when it was reported that your Bangledashi daughter had googled herself and found the unthinkable - that your 2000 campaign was basically obliterated when George Bush, Karl Rove and other Republican operatives used your child to smear you; spreading untruthful lies that you had fathered an illegitimate black daughter. Your wife openly wept!

After the web search, your daughter asked her mother about it. I can imagine her turning to her mother and saying, "Mommy why does President Bush hate me?"

And now John McCain, because of your personal ambitions, you have hired these same goons and, predictably, co-opted said unseemly tactics in an attempt to kneecap your opponent. So, John McCain, let me get this straight - Senator Obama and the Democrats are playing the race card against you? You have got to be kidding me? Let me remind you of a couple of things:

Point #1:
As one poster(Kane from Florida)over at Jed Report so aptly put it:

"The race card accusation is ridiculous. Obama has been telling voters throughout this whole campaign that there are people out there that are going to use scare tactics about him in order to try and influence this election. He has made those statements about his funny name and how he doesn't look like the typical presidential candidate on dozens if not hundreds of occasions.

Any reporter could spend a couple of hours and find dozens of instances where Obama has said something very similar. If they’re calling this playing the race card, then Obama played the race card in his first stump speech."

The poster continues in another post:

"In politics, when a race card is played the intention is to influence voters of your race that your opponent is guilty of, involved in, or supports some dirty deed or controversial issue associated with another race.

The objective is to get more people of your race to vote for you based on the accusation. The problem with this silly McCain camp accusation is that Obama already has about 97% of the Black vote. So if he was playing the race card, who is he targeting?"

And if I might add, Senator Obama's statement was made in rural Missouri in front of an audience comprising some 98% white persons.

Point #2.
Jonathon Alter said it even better. Accusing the other guy of playing the race card is a not terribly subtle form of, well, playing the race card—and the victim.

To me it is quite clear that YOU want race to be a central part of this campaign. And if there is a God, it will backfire. So, John McCain from one Christian to another, and what I mean is this - you are a Christian AS FAR AS I KNOW:

1. Proverbs 6:16 - 19
16 There are six things the LORD hates--no, seven things he detests:

17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that kill the innocent,

18 a heart that plots evil, feet that race to do wrong,

19 a false witness who pours out lies, a person who sows discord among brothers.

2. Micah 6:12 - 15
12 The rich among you have become wealthy through extortion and violence. Your citizens are so used to lying that their tongues can no longer tell the truth.

13 Therefore, I will wound you! I will bring you to ruin for all your sins.

14 You will eat but never have enough. Your hunger pangs and emptiness will still remain. And though you try to save your money, it will come to nothing in the end. You will save a little, but I will give it to those who conquer you.

15 You will plant crops but not harvest them. You will press your olives but not get enough oil to anoint yourselves. You will trample the grapes but get no juice to make your wine.

3. Revelations 21:8
8 But cowards who turn away from me...and the corrupt...and the immoral...and all liars--their doom is in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur.

Yes, John McCain, Keep it up, YOU SLUG! As God is my witness this morning, you WILL fail!

T.
ps. forgive any grammar/diction errors

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 17:44:23 -0000

Who's Raising Race by Eugene Robinson, Washington Post

Sorry, if this has already been posted.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 18:36:52 -0000

Paris Hilton for President?

Ok, I should be ashamed of myself for posting this but somebody's gotta do it, right?

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread - yeah, it’s the weekend

T. — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 19:01:19 -0000

If it's Evan Bayh, just effing shoot me! Ick! Isn't he the one that said Hillary had more "testicular fortitude" than Obama. Hate him! Plus, he's boooooooring! And, not cute!

T.

Re: Black Reaction Online to Joe Biden as VP

T. — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 14:42:35 -0000

OK, the guy grates on my nerves half the time, but he brings a lot to this party and I welcome him to the Obama campaign: Welcome VP Joe. And, one more thing, Joe Biden says he's wrong when he fucks up...and, you cannot say that about many politicians...

T.
Thank God it's not Bayh...I would have had to shoot myself...

Re: Obama/ Biden ‘08 - Springfield Open Thread

T. — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 15:08:32 -0000

!Obama/Biden? Yeah, I like it!

T.

Re: Obama/ Biden ‘08 - Springfield Open Thread

T. — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:07:35 -0000

Truthseeker,

Excellent point!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:28:52 -0000

I just want to say this morning: I FEEL GOOD!

Obama/Biden '08!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 12:41:00 -0000

BTW, One of the reasons for the good feeling:

I just get the distinct vibes that Biden will have Obama's back! With all his flaws, Biden just wants to serve his country - whether he is in the driver of the bus, sitting just behind the driver, or hell, even if he was sitting in the back. Pretty much like Obama. Obama got himself a good, seemingly trustworthy, sounding board.

Yeah, I'm happy today!

Now, let the games begin and the gloves come off!

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:29:17 -0000

John McBush got f**ked last night...really hard, and without mercy! No foreplay! OK, maybe a little liquored up by the previous night's speakers(hey John Kerry, I see you got to throw that monkey off your back...lol). And, my freinds(no, I'm not mocking anyone here), this was not by force, POW-Johnny has been begging him for this one for weeks...and the black man obliged, giving it to him...straight up the a**...no lubricant.

On the other hand, we, the American people, were tickled and teased(and licked, perhaps?) all week, and the mastery of Senator Obama was evident. On occasion gentle, and other times hard. Yeah, I liked it. When he was all done, I said, "Damn, that brother's good!". This morning when I awoke, I stretched languidly in bed and thought to myself, "Yeah, I want some more of that...for the next eight years".

The content of the speech was superb. It brilliantly, and flawlessly, weaved together his biography, which is of America; his policies for a better America; his promises to enrich the lives of Americans; his contempt for those who dare to attack his love for this country and trivialize this election process with distractions.

And he accomplished this in atypical fashion...not in the familiar fire-and-brimstone Obama way. You know, though I'm always deeply affected by Obama's speeches, I rarely sit and watch them. I tend to turn up the volume and listen to them, while I do other things. Only turning to look, once in a while, to see if his expressions match the strong intensity of his words. I'm never disappointed. The muscularity in his neck usually reflect the strength of his words, as he unleashes linguistic fire upon us.

Last night, however was different. I couldn't describe it until this morning. Yes, at some points, but not all, in his delivery, the heavily pregnant clouds opened up and released hail and freezing rain upon us, lightening coursed through the sky. But at other points, he was more subtle; kind of like what usually happens after such a stormy event: The rainbow. I am always amazed and surprised when a rainbow appears after a storm. So beautiful, so serene, so peaceful...and full of hope and promise of great things to come. That contrast was what made this speech so masterful in its delivery.

I dreamt of rainbows last night....(I swear!)

YES WE CAN!

Obama/Biden '08,

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:01:08 -0000

Palin? PALIN??? LMFAO! Desperate Pick.

T.

Re: Where’s Bridget?

T. — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 12:49:02 -0000

Actually, I thought about this too. Do you remember that barbecue he(McBush) claimed he had with crist, jindal, romney and wives/girlriends(beard in Crist's case)? Well, there is video with her coming out of a vehicle and walking up some stairs with her mother.

She is a VERY big girl. I mean HUGE. Nothing wrong with that if she is just a big girl. To me, however, I kept thinking "childhood obesity" or some health issue.

I remember thinking at the time - I wonder if they would ever allow her to come out on the campaign trail, given the above?

I'm not sayin' anything so y'all don't go ballistic on me. Appearances. Appearances.

T.

Re: See What Happens When you Don’t Vet your VP?

T. — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:31:38 -0000

Listen, Senator McBush's selection of Governor Prop Palin(yeah, the lady is just that - a political prop) reeks of frivolity and recklessness, is all I have to say right now. My world is still reeling from the incredulity of this VP pick.

CLEARLY, this very, very old man has failed the first test as Commander in Chief. The next test, however, is ours - the American people. Will we reject this summarily? How serious are we about taking our country back from these GOP hoowinkers?

Re: See What Happens When you Don’t Vet your VP?

T. — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:33:34 -0000

I meant "GOP hoodwinkers" at the end there. T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 16:23:01 -0000

I hope the hip hop cats know that they should stay away from Governor Prop Palin(yeah, miss political prop brought to you by senator mcbush). Yeah stoopid Luda, you too....

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 10:47:17 -0000

Guys, The double standard that is being applied to McBush is killing me and I cannot seem to find the right words to express it, so I'll just be quiet. I "de-lurked", however, to ask: What's with the GOP trolls up in here? Jeez, don't they realize by now that this is not fertile ground for their propaganda? Idiots!

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:00:26 -0000

Excerpt of Obama's Milwaukee speech:

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/09/obam...

Re: McCain’s Choice Open Thread

T. — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:00:32 -0000

OK, one five letter word keeps coming to my my mind over and over again. And no, its not PENIS. If you haven't guessed yet, I'll tell you - it's IRONY! I mean, isn't it a bit ironical that the commentariat et al are showering platitudes in the GOP prop, Sarah Palin, after the delivery of just ONE SPEECH? And, this is after almost 2 years of deriding and belittling Obama that he is just an 'empty suit' who can deliver 'soaring rhetoric' only with the 'use of a teleprompter'?

Man, I'm speechless by the incongruity of this situation.

I think I may have listened to a very different speech from everybody else. Seriously. Sure, she didn't appear to stumble, but please tell me something - what exactly is so brilliant about delivering well-crafted insults in such an amateurish fashion(facial expressions and all, you know, the slight scrunching of the nose etc.)?

What exactly is so brilliant about a speech that is laced with sarcasm, cynicism, and outright lies, but one that falls well short of making a sincere effort to address the concerns of the American people?

What exactly is so brilliant about demeaning the efforts of a man, and many Americans like him, who CHOSE to forfeit a life that guaranteed certain wealth(relative, in order to advocate for his community and improve the lives of the poorest among us?

Does the GOP have any idea what a 'community organizer does? Well, if they don't, I'll be happy to tell 'em. IT IS NOT ONLY MILITARY PEOPLE WHO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY.

Community organizers just don't work in organizing people come election time, you know. As one blogger so succintly stated, "most of them work with people that have fallen behind on their bills and are trying to avoid losing their home; they teach people how to budget; hey fight against pay-day lending and advance income-tax rebates and check cashing joints, and other forms of legalized usury; they rally people against crime and drug trafficking and gun violence in their neighborhoods; they fight to keep local parks open and to open local health clinics for the uninsured; they teach people how to speak English and how to use computers; they do job placement and drug and alcohol counseling; they take care of abused woman and children; they organize to clean up garbage and vacant lots, etc".

Senator Barack Obama, and many like him, sacrifice and FIGHT, EVERYDAY, to make the lives of the down-trodden better. And, because of that, he is a hero. I take umbrage to the belittling of his SACRIFICE and his SERVICE for the common good of this country. This should spark an absolute outrage. But, alas, it is not. I wonder, WHY?

As for the blatant lies that were delivered with such glibness? Bridge to No where? Obama's tax plans? Listen, I DARE the GOP to release Sarah Prop Palin to the press? If she is experienced and 'brilliant'(PUHLEEZE) send her out to the press corps NOW and have her respond to random questions. NO? Yeah, I can see why. I listened to the speech as I did something else last night(actually watched it later), I only turned to look a couple of times. One of those times was as she was reciting the foreign policy lines. The reason that I turned to look is that it was probably the only time I detected uncertainty in her voice. Almost as though she was saying to herself" I cannot f**k this part up; I gotta get this part right". LOL!

Release her to the press corps now, McBush! I dare ya!

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 11:25:54 -0000

GRAND THEFT OF OBAMA'S IDEAS AND PROPOSED SOLUTIONS BY MCBUSH?

Hey Guys: Hope all is having a great weekend so far. It's going to rain in NYC later and I am not happy about it...not one bit. Just gotta deal, I guess.

Anyway, enough with the trite stuff. Let me get to business. I have listened to almost all, if not all, of Obama's speeches and town hall presentations. I have read his policies on line. At this point, I could be a more effective surrogate than some who are being deployed by the Obama campaign. Yeah, I swear. Furthermore, I spend the time to know what our opponent is doing, so that when I am advocating for my presidential choice, I can stand on firm ground. So, it is also safe to conclude that I know what they have said and done(hey howard wolfson, this is how you win a campaign - know the other guy!).

Now why do I tell you all of this?

The answer: McBush!

Am I going stark, raving mad or are the speeches from the McBush campaign taking material from Obama's...Obama's themes, Obama's policy positions etc...Some will say that these are just words and nobody owns them; some will say that any campaign has the right to re-tool however and whenever the need arises, but the wholesale use of Obama's material seems very brazen and in your face , so much so that if I see the word CHANGE on their placards today, I would not be shocked. And, apparently no one will expose this. In fact, the media appears to be complicit in this clever deceit. They've started with the "both these guys are change agents...promising hope and change"...etc".

Stunning!

Is this how a campaign is supposed to be conducted? I mean, when you are devoid of ideas and solutions, you just blatantly steal those of your opponent. Do you remember Obama in Iowa in May? "Iowa, CHANGE IS COMING to america". In Sterling Michigan yesterday, the energy solution that McBush presented sounded like straight out of a Barack stump speech. And there is so much more. I mean, even Obama's stump music was played in the Xcel Center Thursday night. WTF? So, when they are not lying about Obama, they are straight stealing his stuff. They tried to ridicule Obama by saying "Hope is not a strategy", and yet McBush and his Prop(Palin) is out using hope in their stump speeches

This is weird. Really.

T.
no spell- or grammar- check.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:28:35 -0000

Why I trust Obama and his campaign's response to McBush's VP pick, Palin. I'm so not clutching my pearls and handkerchief like some others around here.

Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front

From a wonderful article on Nelson Mandela that was in TIME a few weeks ago - His 8 Lessons of Leadership.

Enjoy,
T.

Re: The LIES Told By Sarah Palin

T. — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 12:57:16 -0000

Surprise, Surprise...Another distortion:

On the campaign trail in Sterling Michigan yesterday, Palin incorrectly quoted Obama, from an O'Reilly interview, that he finally agreed that the surge worked. But that misstates the exchange grossly. From two excerpts that I have posted below, Obama has not said anything differently from what he said before - The troop increase worked but it was not the only determinant in reducing the violence - the Anbar Awakening cannot be discounted as a major factor. Obama has also said previously that the main reason for the military buildup has not taken place, i.e. real political reconciliation between Iraq's major factions...

Is everything black and white with these schmucks?

T.
(See article excerpts from WSJ and LAT below)

From Wall Street Journal:

But the two repeatedly interrupting each other as O’Reilly pressed Obama to admit he was wrong in opposing the surge strategy in Iraq.

“I think you were desperately wrong about the surge and you should admit it to the nation that now we have defeated the terrorists in Iraq,” O’Reilly said in an interview.

“I think that there’s no doubt that the violence is down,” Obama said. “I think that the surge has succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated — by the way, including President Bush and the other supporters. It has gone very well partly because of the Anbar Awakening.”

From LATimes:

In a much-anticipated interview with conservative nemesis Bill O'Reilly, Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday that the troop surge in Iraq had "succeeded in ways that nobody anticipated" and "beyond our wildest dreams."

But despite expressing his most positive assessment of a military buildup he opposed, the Democratic presidential candidate made no concession on what he said is the more crucial issue of Iraq's political stability.

"The Iraqis still haven't taken responsibility," Obama said during the seven-minute segment on Fox News' "O'Reilly Factor," an interview the talk-show host had sought for months. "And we still don't have that kind of political reconciliation."

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:58:34 -0000

Lotsa y'all clutching your heads and wailing I see.

SNAP THE HELL OUT OF IT!

Eye on the ball...

FOCUS....

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:03:41 -0000

I flagged this for the double post...if you can remove that would be great. tx.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:32:21 -0000

Wanna know what makes me roll my eyes? The Chuck Todds, "...the Obama campaign is completely flat-footed right now..." The Jake Tappers, "...seemingly nervous about palin's popularity...", the Mark Halperins, "...never seen the Obama campaign so flummoxed...they don't like surprises..."

Is this just conjecture by the press? How do they know this? Like, didn't they expect the Obama campaign to adjust to take into account a new face in the race? I, like everyone else, knew McBush WAS going to pick a VP, right?

The only thing that kinda threw ME off stride was the blatant co-opting of Obama's change message. McBush's campaign tried once before and failed but saw an opening to do so again when Gov. McB*tch came onboard. And, the press seems to be allowing them to do so, with the possible exception of NBC Sunday Morning who started their program this past Sunday with something like this, "Is the McCain campaign STEALING Obama's message..."

But, I don't know why all the hyperventilating, because the fact that he is co-opting Obama's theme means that Obama's in the driver's seat, right?

Color me stupid, but I have decided to keep my eye on the ball, and remain unaffected by the talking heads.

Obama/Biden '08

T.
(reposted from Jed's)

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:00:19 -0000

Obama and Passion.

I saw
this and realized that people just don't get it: Obama's "passionate" would be looped over and over again as "angry". It's just our lot in life; the cards we've been dealt. The cool: It's how we - or at least, the smart ones - have learned to deal in order to succeed in an environment that does not allow us the luxury of being "passionate", at least in public.

Tell you a personal story. Leos are not, by nature, passive people. But I, a Leo like Obama, had to learn, at a very young age, to relate in a way that was forceful, but would not be misconstrued as "passionate" and, God forbid, earn me the label, "angry black woman".

In fact, inside I may be teeming with "passion", but on the outside, I am forced to appear "reasonable", "dispassionate", and sometimes "aloof". Not easy. Usually my way of "attacking" is soft, careful, but insidious, particularly if I'm going to be in that environment for a while.

Sounds familiar? Remember how Obama writes in Dreams on how he learnt not to "make any sudden moves"?

Anyway, sometimes, though, the "passion" comes to the fore, especially when I realize that I'm being taken advantage of. The counterpunch is usually swift and strong. Like yesterday. Turned up somewhere slightly late. Was disallowed from proceeding with arrangements as planned. Sounded off-key(there I go again, lol, I should have said bullshit, right?) to me. But I said OK since I'm here let me address another unrelated matter. Requested manager. Receptionist buzzes manager. Instead of just saying a client would like to speak with you. Receptionist starts to say, "She is late and is....." I say quickly and not very loudly, but forcefully, without any change in my facial expressions or physical stance, "That's not what why I requested to speak with her". The entire lobby area(a sea of the ethnic majority faces) , which was focused on our exchange, literally, went dead still. This might sound cliche, but yes, had a pin been dropped in that very moment you would have heard it.

Angry. Black. Woman.

I was reminded, then and there, that the society as it is does not give me the luxury to not be cool. At all times. Non-stop vigilance. Even your word choice has to be on point.

So, Richard Cohen, until you've resided in our shoes,for a minute - fuck off!

T.

Re: DNC08 Jack At Invesco

T. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:10:56 -0000

My favorite moment at Invesco was when Obama said in his speech:

"And I've seen it in this campaign. In the young people who voted for the first time, and in those, the young at heat, who got involved again after a very long time."

When the camera panned back to him in mid-sentence, he had this little smile across his face. So grateful. And I will tell you something silly: I started to scream, "OMG, OMG, he just talked to ME...I'm one of those young people..." LOL!

It was like my own personal acknowledgement, ya know?

Yeah, silly me!

T.
ps. I hope we get to see another pep talk video(before the elections) like the one we got after he won the primaries...when he said, "WE have to win..."

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:41:08 -0000

Condi wants to see more people who like like her in State Dept.,

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:42:05 -0000

Are you smoking something illegal?

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 11:59:35 -0000

Malia and Boys...What the good Senator says today.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:18:36 -0000

Site to see:

http://www.mccainslobbyists.com/

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:25:46 -0000

GOP's Talent/Policy Deficit?
Yeah, David Brooks keeps harping on and on about this. He even mentioned it on either Charlie Rose OR Jim Lehrer several times during the RNC Convention. If true, no wnder McBush's policy proposals are so anemic.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:13:28 -0000

All I want for Christmas from you, Senator Obama: On Letterman tonight, please, I beg of you, pretty please, for the love of God, do NOT apologize in any way, shape, or form to anyone in the GOP about your lipstick comments. If you feel compelled to address them at all, and I'm certain that Dave will prod, please use the opportunity to emphasize the point that McBush and McBitch is trying to camouflage Bush's anemic policy prescriptions as something new, different, effective. I beg you Senator, do not back down. I don't even want to hear the words, "If anyone was offended by my comments..." PLEASE!

And I lied. There's one more thing I want for X-mas: a Democratic win in November. No biggie, right?

T.
From Tapper's blog:
1) In October of last year, McBush used same analogy to denigrate Hilary Clinton's healthcare policy.
2) In December of last year, McBush swatted away criticisms by Mitt Romney by saying that "he won't get into a wrestling match with a pig"
3) McBush's former press secretary, Torie Clark penned a book titled in part, Lipstick on a Pig

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 11:40:16 -0000

Yes sirree. I just heard him online. ENOUGH! LOL!

T.

Re: Why don’t they just say NIGGER and be over with it? ‘Uppity’ Alert

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:05:18 -0000

Cindy McCain exposes the truth!

In People Magazine, Cindy McCain talks about her addiction to painkillers:

“The era I was raising my children was the era when you had to be Super Mom. I was putting too much pressure on myself.”

So, is this where the myth that women can do it all gets busted? Is this where the myth that women can 'balance' family, career, service is exposed as a farce?

I certainly hope so. See, with Cindy McCain, her children didn't appear to suffer, but she ended up an addict; but with the Governor of Alaska, it appears that she has been spared the ills of life, but her 17 year old, unmarried daughter is, yep, with child.

Mmmm...

T.
ps. I'm sure some women have accomplished this but there must have been some associated costs.

Re: Why don’t they just say NIGGER and be over with it? ‘Uppity’ Alert

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:52:43 -0000

<a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/mccains-integri.html" McCain's Integrity. Andrew Sullivan argues that he has none. I agree.

T.

Re: Why don’t they just say NIGGER and be over with it? ‘Uppity’ Alert

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:56:10 -0000

McCain's Integrity. Andrew Sullivan argues that he has none. I agree.

I acidentally posted below

Re: Why don’t they just say NIGGER and be over with it? ‘Uppity’ Alert

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:31:51 -0000

Is America truly a democracy?

The press' capitulation to demands from McBush's campaign; and, the campaign's obvious contempt for the American people as they pepper us with incontrovertible lies to make their case certainly begs this question, no?

Sad.

T.

Re: Media Alert

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:32:47 -0000

I saw the excerpts from Letterman and it's just so freaking funny...I love it...Now he should just keep repeating that lipstick line over and over again...Don't back down Senator Obama! Too much is at stake for us to continue with the GOP tomfoolery!

T.

Re: Media Alert

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:34:27 -0000

As long he wasn't insulting snapper or tuna, I don't care.

T.
ps. We are way too silly in here!

Re: Media Alert

T. — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:24:33 -0000

Just askin'...So while Obama and McBush is in NYC showing a brief moment of solidarity, will McBush's camp be politicizing 9/11 from Alaska? You know, with the deployment of McBitch's son being imminent and stuff? Oh, the looooovely pictures we'll undoubtedly see. Darn, those people are real sneaky.

T.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 11:51:50 -0000

OMG, You guys. McBush's new interview. PA-THE-TIC!

This guy should NOT be President. No. No. No.

T.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:44:12 -0000

I fear that I must disagree with Ms. Huffington. Senator Obama is not Will Smith in a 4th of July big bonanza movie release. I think Obama can express his steeliness and his passion without dissolving into a ball of fury. Is she saying that no one will have respect for Obama if he doesn't show his "angry black man side"? Why do they want him to be something he isn't? Why are some projecting their own primal idea of what a "fighter" should look like on to this man.

Clearly they do not have an understanding about the limitations that Obama is operating under by virtue of who he is. I can see the headlines, pictures, and videos if he should succumb to the be-more-angry-looking meme. Alas, one of HuffPo's writers suggested yesterday that we should be able to see Obama's ourage with the audi on the Tv set turned down. Those "Democratic strategists" need to calm the fuck down. Seriously.

Isn't 'ENOUGH!' enough for these people. Now they want him to start throwing fine china too to prove his he-really-really-REALLY-cares cred. Christ!

Recall the Dean Scream. To this day when I watch Gov. Dean, I don't get what the hullabaloo was about. Now they want a redux - Obama Drama. Puhleeeeeeze!

Be you, Senator! Calm!

T.

Excerpt from article linked to above:
"The fear of activating the residual racism provoked by the caricature of the "angry black man" should no longer hold sway. As John Cusack points out, over the last 40 years, popular culture has been "filled with images of strong, powerful black actors who have been able to express righteous rage and still capture our affection and respect. From Sidney Poitier to Denzel Washington, Will Smith, and Morgan Freeman -- these are men who have the inherent dignity to express the kind of cosmic rage that comes from being human and responding to injustice. They are perceived as authentic and powerful precisely because they show us their anger as they fight for what is right and true and good. If they didn't, we wouldn't respect them."

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:45:28 -0000

The Article by Arianna Huffington:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffingto...

Re: Obama Leads in Foreign Policy; Bush Follows

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 18:39:44 -0000

WHEN DID LYIN' PALIN TRAVEL TO MEXICO AND CANADA?

Not the most important but still...I read on Jed's site that Lyin' Palin had only travelled once outside the US when she visited Alaskan troops in Kuwait, plane stopped for refuelling in Ireland, and she visited a military hospital in germany - all in the same trip I assume. It was also for this trip that she obtained a passport for the first time.

Last night, during the first installment of the ABC News interview, she mentioned that she had also been to CANADA and MEXICO. How curious it is that she mentions the "NAFTA countries" that John McCain visited not too long ago. Why did she go to these countries? For family? For work? Can this be verified from public records? Is Alaska a state that has employment issues relating to NAFTA? And remember that the McCain Campaign has been trying hard to needle Obama that he has not been to any countries in our neck of the woods. Just plain curious.

This query may seem trivial, given all the matters of import that were discussed(and not adequately responded to by her), but what if this inconsequential thing turns out to be, um, another fib...

T.

Re: Obama Leads in Foreign Policy; Bush Follows

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:27:45 -0000

The implication, at least to me, was that her trips to Canada and Mexico were for government business.

T.

Re: Obama Leads in Foreign Policy; Bush Follows

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:28:58 -0000

Why I'm happy to be a democrat this week. And a response to Andrew Sullivan's reader:

I do not know if we are being "played" by the GOP, per se, in talking about them. What I know is this: in a competition, I firmly believe that we have to keep an eye on our opponent, BUT we cannot lose sight of what makes OUR guy(OBAMA) so great. There are still many swing voters out there who are coming to these blogs, and if all they are seeing is talk about the opponent and not about what our guy is doing to make their lives better, then we lose. So, there has to be a balance.

In fact this past week, I think Obama's strategy has been dead-on, and yet heads were about to explode - he's not getting angry enough. Well, when Obama used the "lipstick on a pig" analogy and then called out McBush's campaign on their sexism sham, that was nothing short of briliance. Did Obama make a mistake or was McBush payed like a fiddle? And this strategy was a two-fer. What do i mean? It also gave Obama the opening to "work the refs"...and it worked! Magical stuff, i tell ya.

The second reason why I'm happy to be a Dem this week: Our guys on the interview circuit. No biggie, you say, we all know they can do interviews and that they are well versed in the issues. Of course we do. But guess what, there are voters out there who are 1)either just tuning in or, 2)got their head twisted a bit by the "big celebrity empty rhetoric" meme. So Obama and Biden has been interviewed multiple times this week, their mastery of the various issue on display, while McBush was on hiatus from the press and Lyin' Palin was being sequestered. Now, that McBush et al have come out to play, they can be exposed for the frauds that they are. And it worked, because, after seeing Lyin' Palin last night, the MSM appears to be absolutely spooked. They seem positively terrified that if they are derelict in performing their duties, they might just help elect McBush and this woman.

Yes, I'm happy to be a Democrat this week.

And yeah, color me stupid, but I' don't think the Obama campaign is too sad that Biden was not getting as much coverage. It gave Biden a chance to get his bearings. Work on his delivery etc. Minimize any early mistakes he might have made etc. And now that Plouffe has given everyone notice that the game is on then everybody is out there on the grind, including Jill Biden. So imagine that Barack, Joe, Michelle, Jill, other Democratic stalwarts are in a different place each and everyday. More real estate being covered while McBush is either baby-sitting Lyin' Palin or using her as a prop to garner enthusiasm for his candidacy.

All we need now is a big rally to get everybody to stop wringing their hands and stay excited. But, Plouffe and Axelrod knows best.

T.

Example of an appearance the blogs missed:
Last weekend, Obama and McBush appeared via satellite before an AARP audience. They answered questions on issues that affect the AARP demographic. Their respective presentations could not have been more different - like night and day.

Obama's responses specifically addressed the needs of that community while articulating his proposed policies. McBush's, however, was an uninspiring recital of his stump speech, and his responses lacked heft. Some independents called on C-Span later that morning to remark on the difference in the two men's proposed policies.

I have yet to see any reference to Obama's successful appearance in front of the AARP on any liberal blog.

Re: Obama Leads in Foreign Policy; Bush Follows

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 19:46:29 -0000

Vindication! LOL! No, Seriously. Finally someone agrees with me that Arianna Huffington's(and other Dem. strategists) suggestion is not advisable.

Be you, Senator Obama. Calm. Unflappable. But Forceful.

T.
ps. I wrote a couple of posts about this sayin, "Hell, no!"

Re: Obama/McCain — The Double Standard & Journalistic Complicity

T. — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:18:59 -0000

Well, this is the perfect time to bring your attention to this article by Dick Polman, The Philadelphia Inquirer. I don't know what the writer's motive is. It was discussed on CSPAN last Sunday morning - WIll Race Affect the Outcome of the Elections?

The responses were varied. I wrote down a few because I knew I wanted to post here:

1. Some whites called in and they were quite distressed about this.

2. Older white woman - nine in her family. She is for Obama. Four younger members for Obama. Other four are older and were for Barack's primary opponent. Now, two of these four say they are undecided while the other two say outright that they won't vote for Obama because he is black.

2. Most blacks who called in were livid, saying that in 2008 they should not be waking up to CSPAN and these types of discussions.

3. One black man said that he is concerned about the race factor. He tells a story that he is friends with a white family. Like, really close he said. Recently, they invited him to dinner. While at the table, he noticed that he had a different plate from everyone else but he thought nothing of it.

On his way home, he realized that he had left his watch. He went back and hey told him to go get it. When he went into the kitchen to pick up his watch, he saw that the plate that he had used was in the garbage can. These are people that i thought were my close friends, he said.

4. My personal favorite call was a white woman from Florida. She is supporting Obama. She says that people in her neighborhood are really prejudiced, BUT NOT HER. She is thinking of leaving that area because she can't live amongst such people. Then she goes on to say this and I swear to God - "Plus Obama isn't even black. He's half-white. Look at him. He looks more like a white man than a black man." While it is true that he has a white mother(he self-identifies as a "black man with a white mother")you see that she clearly rationalizes her support for him. Whatever works I guess. We need every vote.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 13:32:03 -0000

Hello my people: Been lurking. What up? Anyway...OBAMA SPEAKS AT THE FUNDRAISER LAST NIGHT...

T.

Re: NEW: Obama Raps Direct to You on the Economy

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:46:22 -0000

Obama, the Political Assassin(from Elko, Nevada this morning! LOVE.THIS.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:02:46 -0000

Note to Senator Obama:

PLEASE do not agree to any additional meetings with John McStalker other than the 3 that have already been scheduled.

No town halls with that CLOWN. PLEASE.

I read last week that you were considering the possibilty of joining him for one on ABC.

Sir, please don't. You do not need to do town halls with that geriatric nutcase in order to showcase your policy proposals to the American people. You're doing plenty fine on your own(with Senator Biden). Let him make his case BY HIMSELF and/or with his incoherent, hubristic, vindictive sidekick.

T.

Re: NEW: Obama Raps Direct to You on the Economy

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 16:21:27 -0000

Timely ad. DOW closes at 449.36. Yeah, a vote of no confidence. It continues despite the 'nationalization' of our country's largest insurance company. Pretty sure the bottom hasn't been reached yet.

I am now more sure than ever that these serious times call for serious solutions form a serious man. Obama. No doubt.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:04:12 -0000

My question is this: Can this woman form a complete, coherent sentence?

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:09:53 -0000

Do y'all think that this(the alleged hacked email account) is real or is it another classic diversionary tactic by the GOP...you know, to attemp to paint Saint Sarah as a victim of the evil-weevil democwats?

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:36:32 -0000

Geez, someone finally taught our fearless leader, Obama, how to answer that "my greatest weakness question" using politician-speak! Yeah! LOL!

Note, McStupid's answer begs the question - did you apply that philosophy to your Veep vetting process?

T.
ps. Remember during the primary debates, he was asked a similar question, answered first, was a little too truthful, then everybody else gave the classic non-answer. Sucker!

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:04:15 -0000

Democrats need to stop acting like brides that have been left at the altar one time too many. Because of 2000 and 2004, they gnash their teeth and clutch their pearls(faux) when our guy dips in the polls OR when even when our guy is up but the pundits say he's still not doing well enough.

Now the GOP and the punditocracy KNOW that we are so scared and abused and shit, so they feed on our insecurity, and what do we do? We start aiming fire at our guy despite evidence that the naysayers are wrong. Instead of chilling the hell out and doubling down on voter registration and such the like, we start hissing at each other and Obama - DO MORE, BE SOMEBODY ELSE(show your righteous rage), MONEYBOMB 527's BECAUSE OBAMA ADS ARE NOT EFFECTIVE ENOUGH(yep, the geniuses at dkos did this). While the instigators of this madness sit back and watch us flounder and lose, AGAIN.

Now, why do I bring this up today. Here's why , and, why , and why . Obama and the campaign have basically set us on a decisive course of victory, no question about that, and just because McBush is not have a 2-point lead anymore, the race is supposedly TIGHT and WE ARE SLIPPING TOWARDS DEFEAT.

Don't y'all just love it?

So, for what it's worth - Democrats, hang tight for the next 47 days. Keep your eye on the ball. Don't get complacent about the 66M last month. He's gonna need every penny we can afford to give him so that he can focus on his work on the stump, the debates, ad. assault etc.

And, most of all, we need to stay calm. Don't allow yourself to be wound up because of the highs and lows that will inevitably be a part of the next 47 or however many days. If there is one thing I am dead certain of: Nervous Nellies Never WIn...They get left at the fucking altar. (LOL! No and that's not by personal experience...just observation.)

But not this year!

Obama Biden '08.

T.
ps. Be vigilant with the media. Don't start believin' that they are all on our side now. They profit from a close race. 'nough said.

Re: Does John McCain Know Where Spain Is?

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:32:02 -0000

Is John McConfused on medications that affect his cognitive abilities? Sleeping pills? Anti-depressants? Painkillers? Cholesterol stuff? I mean, seriously, what kid of cocktail of drugs is he taking? And this, coupled with the hectic campaign schedule - jet lag?

This man has become a shell of his former self and it's very, very troubling, indeed.

T.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:19:43 -0000

Cliche alert! Her voice is like nails scratching a chalkboard. Her husband looks like dolt...and sounds like one too.That being said - she just lied about Obama's tax plan, AGAIN!

T.
McCain/Palin - Siamese Twins! Pathetic that they have to campaign together. Mrs. Obama alone could probably draw the same crowds as both of them together.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:26:37 -0000

TSker, I wondered the same thing...put McBush on defense in FL...

T.

Re: Obama and Race: Two Articles

T. — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 18:05:19 -0000

Okey-dokey...here they go again...whatever...still won't make a diff. come 11/4...keep trying repubs...

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:12:01 -0000

If the Senator keeps having his picture taken with l'il black kids, and JJP keeps posting them, I'm gonna be constantly dehydrated...and I'm a "toughie"...but, man, these images are getting me all 'soft and pink' inside...ya know...

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 12:26:05 -0000

He was on CSPAN 3 weekends ago(When Obama was on This Week and Biden on MTP). If you go to CSPAN.org you will see the hour long video of him discussing Obama's economic plan, including taxes. If you can't find it, se the search feature and type in 'austan goolsbee'...

Yeah, I agree. Dude's fast on his feet...Gene Sperling, another Obama economic adviser was on CSPAN this morning...

These people are first rate.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:02:41 -0000

It looks like the paro(paranoid) people on dkos is about to waste Obama's time again. Ya know, like what they did during the FISA vote when they got all self-righteous and literally attacked the Senator en masse about his FISA position BEFORE he even voted. I am convinced that our over-reaction to FISA, right or wrong, cut into Obama's momentum significantly pre-summer(especially among fence-sitters) even moreso than his actual position or reposition(I guess this is where I differ with Poblano over 538).

Anyway, I am digressing. But, here's the thing. These geniuses over at dkos have started to suggest that if, and I quote - if Obama and the democrats cave to the bush administration and the bailout plan, then we are in trouble. I mean, this is even before Obama has made any statement about this. Seriously, these people need to control themselves. And if the Obama campaign needs to be aware of this so that it does not spiral out of control.

Listen, you and I know that this bailout plan does not pass the smell test. I am not in favor of giving Paulson a blank check to do whatever he wants without really understanding what my tax dollars is going to be used to do, and the upside will be for me, the tax payer. For a start, wIll the government just own these bad debts or will they be given some ownership positions in these financial entities? Are foreign owned banks going to benefit from the use of my tax dollars? Are these companies going to be held responsible in any way for bad decision making? And this is just looking at it in a very simplistic way. And yes, the Congress should not allow themselves to be pressured into passing a bill quickly just for pure expediency...remember what happened with Iraq?(The meme that has started coming out of the administration is that Bush is doing this to, get this, save the country...LOL...I could die laughing...)

But, something has to be done, right? And, it certainly won't please everyone, right? So, to have these dkos people start pre-empting Obama's response and creating unnecessary jitters among the base and talking about 'caving to Bush' and 'bad for Obama' just sickens me. 45 days before the election and they seem poised to start a self-righteous damn train trip again. God, I hope I'm wrong. At the very least, though, they certainly seem intent on giving the Repubs some new talking points regardless of where Obama comes down on this.

As the saying goes, with friends like these....

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:58:58 -0000

"Charlotte, I need you...North Carolina, I need you..." This was Obama at the NC rally just now. How can we not answer this call on 11/4? Tell me?

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:05:51 -0000

Here's what I will do: I will wait to see what the Senator has to say as more information becomes available over the next few days. Does that sound reasonable to you? Or, are you not a reasonable person?

And, like I said, this bill will not please everyone but I'm fucking certain that I'm not going to hand victory to the Republicans just on "principle". No way, no how!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:29:30 -0000

Yep, transparency, accountability, intellect...

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 14:57:22 -0000

One of Obama's surrogates* floats this.

T.
*Well, I saw him advocate for Barack last week on Jim Lehrer, I think.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:29:16 -0000

This falling over funny.

Enjoy!

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:12:50 -0000

Just askin'. Is there a 3rd person in this presidential race? A Democrat? And, is this Democrat out there advocating for Senator Obama and the party, or is this Democrat taking advantage of the current economic crisis to advance their own self-interest and standing?

And, what of this Democrat's life partner - on the View yesterday, on Letterman last night? What about their supporter, the Governor of Pennsylvania on the Today show on Monday? Can you explain their tepid support for their party's nominee?

Do these people have the Senator's best interest at heart?

What say you?

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:17:01 -0000

a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/>Here's more from Politico - Not acting like a surrogate.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:19:59 -0000

Sorry. I'll post it again.

Surrogate?

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 10:40:52 -0000

How do you edit posts?

Thanks.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:19:42 -0000

Rob, Rob, Rob...

Thanks for this. I couldn't stop laughing. Chris was the second guest on Letterman last night. Hope whoever needs to get this message finally gets it - She lost. The End.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:23:56 -0000

On Today show with Matt Lauer, Senator Obama didn't say 'can't'...He said they will have to be phased in, and not only that, he also said that it is unclear what the effect(on his planned expenditures) would be right now given that we do not yet know how much of the requested 700 billion will eventually be needed and then how much of that will find it's way back into the system...and I'm paraphrasing here.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 13:25:16 -0000

Thanks guys.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:24:03 -0000

Somebody on the Obama campaign must talk to Joe Biden NOW. I cringed when I saw Couric's interview with Joe Biden last evening. The campaign staffers who are in charge of him should have showed him what Obama said about the "out of touch" ad to Cuomo on GMA 2 Mondays ago. But, for what it's worth, I don't think Joe is deliberately trying to undermine Obama. I just think that our opponent may have seen an opportunity to question Obama's "judgement" by using Joe. There argument will be - see folks, our gal may be dumb as a doorknob, but see that Joe Biden, for all his knowledge, he's a crazy old fart.

So, basically, Joe appears to be getting more coverage now because the opponent wants to take the heat off of themselves and onto Obama's "judgement". And, it's paying off, because everyone knows that while he is a fantastic governing choice, Joe can be notorious indisciplined. I mean, McBush, hit Joe this morning in Ohio on some comment that was made yesterday. The Obama campaign MUST ask Joe Biden to adhere to the message, and not allow himself to wander off into la-la land, just because he has a microphone stuck in his face.

And the assault on Obama's "judgement" is not only coming from our opponent, it is also coming from our own party. Whenever any high profile Democrat or surrogate or supporter publicly states that while they like Joe Biden they still believe that his Democratic rival would have been a better pick, they, indirectly, questions Obama's "judgement". So, when said Dem. rival speaks on behalf of Obama and stays on message, then people look at that and say, "hmmmm, yep, XX is definitely doing a better job than that Joe Biden, so why didn't he choose XX". All of a sudden, it looks like Obama was wrong in choosing him. Joe Biden must be made aware of how his off-message behavior affects his boss.

It is one thing when Biden takes the hit on the AIG thing, because it may have been good for Obama, but it is quite another when he completely goes off message and gets this nice, fuzzy feeling of generosity so much so that he feels compelled to compliment Obama's primary rival by saying XX would have been a better pick than him. Then Obama has to go clean up that mess. Crazy. Isn't there another way to compliment someone without going to all sorts of extremes?

In almost all of our opponents' speeches last week, Obama's "judgement" was called into question. One could argue that Joe Biden's ability to connect with some voters in swing states far outweighs the negative effect his off-message shenanigans may produce, but why take chances especially when it appears that he is being used as a bludgeon on Obama's "judgement".

Somebody needs to talk to Joe Biden. NOW!

T.

Re: Chris Rock Tells The Truth

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:27:09 -0000

I'm still laughing. Hope everybody in the Democratic party who needs to see this does - like Rendell, Strickland et al.

T.

Re: Chris Rock Tells The Truth

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:52:10 -0000

Oh they know...they just think that we have are stupid and can't see through what they are doing. While XX is out in front "advocating" for Obama(or for self depending on how you look at it), XX's efforts distracts us from the saboteurs - the husband, rendell, rangel, and others.

Very slick.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:00:58 -0000

Listen, Biden has been hamming it up since he's been out there on the road. Everyone knows it but we were not particularly concerned. Let Joe be Joe, we said. 'Cause when he's on, he connects. But when his off-message antics is now being used to go after Obama, then something needs to be said. All we are saying is that Joe should rein himself in a bit. Better now than later.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:07:16 -0000

Clyburn calls out Bush

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:53:10 -0000

That is being used as a cover Rob. M. Why isn't Schumer out there? Isn't he the senior senator from NY?

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:04:38 -0000

What does John McBush's books have to do with our economic situation? On Friday morning, I believe, McBush was in WI, ostensibly, giving a speech on the economy. Somewhere in this speech, he gratuitously, mentioned that his books, co-authored with Mark Salter was available on amazondotcom. I mean, our financial system was on the verge of collapse, and he's advertising his books? What's up with this prick? Should anyone take him seriously?

T.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:48:59 -0000

Hey guys, Hope u'r all well. I'm around. God bless the trolls. Be exxxxtra nice to them. They need love. And hope. And change.

T.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:43:44 -0000

I.LOVE.IT.

Our guy is no patsy.

Message: Don't fuck with Obama.

T.
ps. Man, it sure feels good to be Democrat today.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:05:41 -0000

I was wound up tighter than guitar strings as it approached the 9p hour last night. I just kept walking back and forth in front of the television set. My mind was a maelstrom of activity. Remember to get the pronunciation of the foreign leaders names correct. Don't mix up leaders and countries. Hope your surge argument is tight, coherent 'cause ya know he's gonna try to get at you with that one. Russia/Georgia - check. What if Pakistan is unable or unwilling to go after Bin Laden if he's inside their borders? Iran. Preconditions vs. Preparation. Then I stopped in my tracks. Oh yeah, the bailout. How will your budget take into account this 700b? How can you make people know that you feel their pain without sounding like a panderer?

Yes, people, that was me at my schizo best last night. But, like an ice-cold stick of fat that's been set down in a hot pan, slowly releasing its buttery goodness, I too, slowly unwound. About 2 minutes in, I realized that I was sitting, but at the edge of the seat. How did I get here? Not sure. Doesn't matter. 10 minutes in, I was reclining. OK. Good sign? 15 minutes, my feet were curled up and I was hugging a big pillow. Yeah, everything's gonna be alright. It was as much about his cogent articulation of his positions as it was about his posture. Shoulders back. Relaxed. Head Up. Confident. Eyes Engaged. Steady. Subliminally, the message was, "Relax, y'all, I got this shit covered..."

The mission was clear: get the job done without overdoing it or look like you are trying too hard to impress. Where McBush was condescending - unwilling to acknowledge his younger foe's accomplishments, Obama was gracious - giving his opponent credit when it was due. Where McBush appeared petulant and angry - refusing to engage his opponent directly, Obama was likeable and respectful - turning to the older man and addressing him as a venerable colleague. Where McBush focused on quantity to highlight his experience - listing off his laundry list of foreign travel, Obama relied on quality to highlight his judgement - his opposition of the Iraq war etc.,

Before last night's debate performance there were those who doubted Obama's facility with the intricate machinations of foreign policy; those who misunderstood his cool in the face of obvious contempt; those who questioned his compassion for the plight of many suffering American families; those who denigrated his penchant for nuance on a variety of complex issues facing this nation. But at 10.30p, those people were silenced. He stood on equal footing with McBush on issue after issue and didn't, ummm, blink.

There are a few opportunities that I think he missed. 1) McBush loves the vets so much so that he didn't even show up to vote for the GI Bill. 2)The opportunity to really nail McBush on the surge, so that's over what do we do now? Biden tidied that up in the spin zone after the debate(btw, Biden was in fine form last night). 3)Obama shouldn't have bothered with the back-and-forth over what Kissinger said/meant or didn't. I think he should have punctuated that segment by saying something like this,"Regardless of what you think Kissinger meant, I, in the capacity of President of the United States will be willing to meet with blah, blah if it's in the best interest of the nation's security." 4)On excessive spending, whenever McBush mentions anything about bear DNA again, remind him of his running mate's seal DNA bullshit up in Alaska. 5)Pakistan as a failed state at the time of the coup, etc. (I may have more comments after re-watching this on Sunday.)

Listen, It wasn't like Obama was firing from all cylinders last night, guns ablazin'. Cruise control was more like it. And in that mode, he systematically destroyed all the caricatures of him that he was not conversant with foreign policy, which had been built up over many months. I would not want to see him all fired up. And, I suspect, that today, neither does John McBush.

Bravo, Senator Obama.

T.
ps. Oh, and when Miss Michelle appeared on stage, my night was complete.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:03:42 -0000

My people, What's up? Just stopping in here for a nanosec. About the bill yesterday. I was watching when it went down. It was an accident. Around 1.51p, I checked the numbers for/against on either side. I had to rub my eyes 'cause I could not believe what I was seeing. I swivelled in my chair to face my computer to start watching the market indices. My mouth fell wide open. WTF? But, get this? I am whispering now. Between you and I and whoever, I was secretly pleased it tanked yesterday. I feel terrible.

I was feeling a li'l uneasy, not only about the bill itself, but also, the way the votes were being cast. Looked to me like Obama and the rest of the Dems were being set up to get the blame for this. Mc and his people were just waiting for it to pass with the minimum of votes from their own party, FOR THEIR OWN BILL! Can you believe it? My friends thought I was just being partisan and disagreed with me, until I just saw this from Yglesias at thinkprogress:

"The House conservatives who sank the bailout didn’t do so because they were listening to loud and angry voices. They sank the plan by accident. They were trying to double-cross the Democrats. First, they wrung lots of concessions out of Democrats at the negotiating table as the price for delivering 80 votes. Then, by not delivering 80 votes and forcing Pelosi to pass the bill as a partisan Democratic bill, they were going to wage a demagogic anti-bailout campaign. But Pelosi refused to be played for a sucker and so the conservative inadvertently sank a bill that, all evidence suggests, they actually wanted to pass. They just wanted to vote “no” on it for short-term political gain. "

Yeah, man! I believe it. Listen, I know something must be done. This decision makes you want to puke, but look 5 financial institutions went down in Europe and America yesterday. 777 hit on the Dow. Money markets being affected. Liquidity is the key here. Soemthing has to be done. But, there is a lot of uncertain elements around this bill. No guarantees. If I were to run a valuation analysis on these worthless pieces of paper now, I wouldn't know where to start and how to project out a year, much less five. As a matter fact, why would you have to wait FIVE YEARS(a time after the end of Obama's first term) before the president has the power to take some action to recoup all the tax payer money, if that had not yet happened? Why $700b?

Now, these legislators need to take this grace period that's been handed to them(a gift as far as I am concerned) and try to either make the bill better(well as best as they can); and/or, do a better job in saying to the American people, "we are trying to make do with a bad situation here. give us a little leeway".

Besides, I think Paulson and Bernanke must be pressed to tell us how, in their best guess, this is expected to work. And, what are the criteria they will use to measure whether or not their initial stabilization efforts are effective, before they get any additional monies after the first 250b. Because, the modified bill says they get 250b first, then another 100b at the discretion of the president. Isn't that like giving them 350b upfront?

More later,
T.
ps. I'm rushing so sorry for errors.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:11:06 -0000

High Risk, High Reward Move? Frankly, this would not be my preference, but let's see how it plays out.

T.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

T. — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:42:45 -0000

Have you all seen this? Picked it up at Ben Smith's at politico.

T.

Re: Happy Anniversary Barack & Michelle Obama

T. — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:41:26 -0000

Happy Anniversary to Senator and Mrs. Obama.

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:50:45 -0000

Let's put Joe Biden's very emotional moment last night, about his young sons' mortality into perspective, shall we?

Beau is going to Iraq today. From all accounts our beloved servicemen are still dying in Iraq. I'm not sure in what capacity Beau will serve, so therefore, I'm not sure he will be in harms way; but let's assume everyone that is deployed is vulnerable. By that logic, Beau may, MAY, God forbid, come back to the United States in a body bag, right? So, once again, last night, Joe Biden is faced with a reality where he may outlive one of his sons. This gut-wrenching moment is captured live and in-color. And that raging sociopath, Governor McBitch, couldn't even muster up something heartfelt to say before robotically launching off into her rehearsed bulls*t. God, I hate those GOP M*****fuckers.

So, this vacuous woman happened not to run from the room screaming and speaking in tongues, and the intellectually-bankrupt pundit class is happily jerking themselves off. "She shattered all stereotypes..." God, I hope they choke in their own cum and stupidity. Seriously.

I am watching C-Span's coverage, right? A question is asked. McBitch begins to answer. I realize that the answer bears no resemblance/relevance to the question that I think I hear. I start thinking, "Maybe, I didn't hear the question. Gosh, I'm so stupid." Then I look at the bottom of the screen where C-Span writes the question. It's the same question that I think I had heard in the first place. I breathe a sigh of relief when I realize that I'm still in control of my mental faculties. Then I say,"Gosh, that woman is monumentally stupid."

Next question is asked. Yeah, you guessed it - the answer bears no res...blah, blah, blah...What a fucking waste of time.

Anyway, Joe, you did good - "Maverick , he's not!" I could have died laughing. Senator Obama must be proud at how you passionately advocated for him, for all Democrats, for us - the regular guys and gals on the grind out here, just trying to live. Just stay that way. Disciplined. Eye on the prize, my man. Thirty-odd more days.

Repeat after me, Senator Biden: Grandiloquence is my enemy. Verbosity is not my friend.

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:53:49 -0000

Oh, since Gov. McBitch was sooooo spectacular, it's press conference time, right?

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 15:51:19 -0000

Oh no, she di'int! That donkey, Gov. P-lyin', is braying that Senator Obama is ummm, palling around with terrorists. Gosh, I can't wait until 11/4 when she and that half-dead running mate o' hers is slaughtered, figuratively speaking, and left with their innards strewn across the streets of America. Scumbags.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:16:56 -0000

yeah, i saw that. in my prayers.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:36:39 -0000

Couple thoughts:

1) I see that another Kitchen Sink assault is imminent. Governor Stupid led off the charge today. Well, I trust that the Obama camp is ready. Here's a thought: On Tuesday night, I assume that they will be allowed time for a closing statement. So, right there across from McBush - yep, on the same stage - Obama should remind the American people that his opponent does not "get it"; that his opponent has no idea how to solve the crippling problems that affect us; and, therefore will resort to irrelevant and offensive tactics in order to scare or fool them. Senator Obama should then implore us to not let his opponent drag us into the mud with them this time. He should tell us to reject that sort of politics and to stay focused on the issues that matter.

He should tell us, "My opponents think you guys are stupid. I trust you guys and I know you're not. So, it's time for us to say to them - Enough is enough; we don't need another four years that looks like the dismal failure of the last eight. So stay vigilant because they are going to try everything they can to make this election about silly things, and you cannot make that happen."

So basically, he would be reminding us that we have the power to reject the negative tactics that McBush's people have signaled that they will employ. You see, I am of the opinion that the smear tactic only work when they are named and when the fence-sitters, who are already on shaky ground, lose resolve. But, Senator Obama can generalize, but warn us that they are coming and that we will know it when we see it; and, then tell us to take charge, stay strong, don't waver, we have the power.

Then, watch John's head explode with fury. Like, he cannot believe that Obama took every opportunity to call him John(treating him as an equal, fuck seniority); look him in the eye(totally unafraid and forcing him to look into the eye of the man who he is cleaning his clock in the polls and who he knows he is about to lose to); and, finally, telling the American people that this ingrate is about to treat y'all like you're stoopid when y'all have bigger fish to fry that sh*theads like Bill Ayers.

Sweet.

So, Senator, please call him out on the stage, on national TV about the stink he's about to unload on us. Pretty please. Oh yeah, and then unleash an ad with the same message, with you narrating this ad.

2) I was listening to Senator Obama at his Virginia rally today. And, even though I, basically, understand the contrasts between his healthcare policy with that of John McBush's, I was, nevertheless, just horrified as he listed them. I felt a huge mass of fright develop in my stomach. "Say what?" "McCain's gonna do what?" "No f-g way!" I wondered if the people behind him were as affected as I was. I certainly hope so.

T.

Re: Senator Country Last - get to know him

T. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:43:39 -0000

Vile. John McCain and Sarah Palin are "two hearts that beat as one". Fucking sociopaths.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 19:47:55 -0000

Good. Now do it again on the stage in Nashville or wherever on Tuesday. In front of McBush.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:04:08 -0000

I can't help but like the guy even though he pisses me the fuck off sometimes - talking, talking, talking. Still, I know that Senator Obama chose the right person to ride with. Thirty some days to go. Keep it straight now, Joey. Stay on message bro.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:06:47 -0000

Playing now at the Obama rally in NC:

AIn't no Stpping us now...

Damn right!
T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:08:56 -0000

Playing at the Obama NC Rally:
AIn't no stopping us now...

Darn right!
T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 14:37:49 -0000

Out of touch, out of ideas, and running out of time...LOL!

I love it!

Go Senator Obama...

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:01:24 -0000

When Michelle Met Barack. From WaPo.

Cute excerpt:
In interviews and speeches, Michelle frequently talks about her early impressions of Barack. When she first met him, she told her local newspaper, the Hyde Park Herald, "he had no money; he was really broke. He wasn't ever going to try to impress me with things. His wardrobe was kind of cruddy . . . His first car had so much rust that there was a rusted hole in the passenger door. You could see the ground when you were driving. He loved that car. It would shake ferociously when it would start up. I thought, 'This brother is not interested in ever making a dime.' "

Enjoy,
T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:03:03 -0000

me too, craig.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:08:36 -0000

How 'bout the email that he read...I'm embarrassed to say that I am a total mess right now...Gosh, man.

He's gotta be our president. No ifs, no buts, no maybes...

Don't lose your nerve, he beseeches. Stand with me, he says. Yes, we will.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:59:53 -0000

Is the media going to talk about the interviews(more) and press conferences that Gov. Palin isn't giving? During the debate she did not answer any questions. That was not even a debate. Are they going to just roll over and let our opponent's campaign treat them like this? Have they no pride?

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:54:43 -0000

My prayers are with the fam.

T.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:09:28 -0000

Hello my people! Just coming down from my debate high, LITERALLY! And don't ask. Yep, President Obama "spoke softly", "carried a big stick", and behaved like a man who would keep a "steady hand on the tiller". Oops, Isn't that what McBush wanted us to believe about him? If so, Misson Not Accomplished!". Back to the drawing board, Schmidt! Town halls are not your guy's thing. He looked, for want of a better description, old, awkward, beaten standing next to his young, confident, strapping counterpart.

"I will kill Bin Laden...and crush the Taliban.." My favorite delivery of the night by Senator Obama. I wondered if in that moment, McBush thought to himself, "Oh fuck, he's gonna do the same thing to me on Nov. 4." Yes, I can only HOPE.

Anyway, my least favorite moment was when Senator Obama missed an opportunity of candor, ya know, to tell the American people that things will get worst before they get better." To be frank, I was a tad annoyed. What about his common refrain in the primary, "I will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear..." But I reconciled that with the fact that had he done the truth-telling then, it may have produced an opposition attack ad before morning. In any case, I was placated when he did address this in Indiana yesterday.

My WTF moment? Yep, the "That One" comment. If McBush was not being overtly disrespectful of the possible next president of the US, his comment was, at the very least, inappropriate in that setting. Undisciplined coot.

OK, and why didn't McCain broach Senator Obama's alleged associations with terrorists? Yeah, we've all figured it out? Fucking coward. He probably knew the smack-down was ready and didn't want to risk being cut down by the best political assassin ever. His wife probably carries his dick and balls in her pocketbook. Geez...chicken bastard.

Anyway...on to next Wednesday. Hopefully, McBush will grow a pair and really take the "gloves off" this time so that it won't turn out to be another yawn-fest. Stay as sharp as you can Senator Obama. No missteps, please. Not that we expect any but still...ya know!

T.
OK guys, I know the debate was like light years ago in election-time, but, I still felt compelled to post my reaction. I promise that I will be more au courant in my next post.

Re: Fight the Terrorist Smears

T. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:18:56 -0000

And while McBush's campaign is pushing out nonsense, the DOW @ 4.15p is down 679 pts. Damn, that's gonna leave a stain on our country...

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 18:55:44 -0000

McBush is attempting to reel back his angry rhetoric that, undoubtedly, incited the stunning vitriol coming from the GOP base. He now has the utmost respect for Senator Obama, and wants his supporters to know it.

To McCain, I say: Bitch, Puhleeze!!! You've already let the genie out of the bottle. You better pray that those putrid seeds that you and your campaign recklessly planted this week, does not bear fruit.

Prick!

T.

Re: Obama Saw It Coming

T. — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:38:13 -0000

Prescient, no? But, ask any black person, they could have recited what Senator Obama said, verbatim, without having heard the Senator utter them. The cards we've been dealt.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:51:38 -0000

Senator Obama is on a roll out there in Philly(listening to the South 52nd rally). Stop the pain....Stop the hurt. I. LOVE. IT!

(Off topic: Is it me or can you tell when he's talking to a whole bunch o' black people - by this I mean an audience that has a high representation of AA's?)

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:01:28 -0000

Thanks, jelana.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 14:44:44 -0000

The Politics of Michelle Obama's Hair, and other stuff that may interest you at The Daily Beast,Tina Brown's new plaything.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:28:52 -0000

So, John Lewis comments on the putrefaction of the McCain campaign, and now they are demanding that Senator Obama repudiate Rep. Lewis' remarks.

Mmmmm.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:33:17 -0000

Our Empress, Michelle Obama!

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 15:48:20 -0000

I picked thisup from Sully at Daily Dish. Packer writes,"It’s a big leap from hateful talking points and shouted epithets to vigilantism and the lone gunman." But my question is: Is it really? A big leap?

The other relevant question - If so many respected voices have spoken against the recent incendiary tack of the McCain campaign, why are they asking Senator Obama to repudiate Rep. Lewis'? Is it because...?

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:15:15 -0000

Comedy Alert! I must apologize in advance for sullying JJP - our 'hood on the internet, as I like to call it - with this tripe. What nonsense, eh?

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:51:06 -0000

Yeah, Craig. And could this have been the impetus for Congressman Lewis' remarks? After all, he is GA's representative, right? That's where the "bomb Obama" remark, cried out in a GOP rally, originated, yes? Now, some yellow-bellied Democrats over at dkos are calling for an Obama condemnation of Lewis too, claiming that he has brought race to the fore again. Where is their courage for fuck's sake? God! At least they are in the minority and are being cowed by the majority of the posters.

Don't even respond to McBush, Senator Obama.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:51:45 -0000

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/11/1201/2...

I forgot to post this...

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:07:05 -0000

Game On! Obama is not retreating on the John Lewis comments. From Politico.

And, btw, John Lewis, imho, was describing the hostile environment created by George Wallace's behavior, and warning that McCain's attacks on Obama, which have spawned much hate-mongering in the past week, is fertile ground for similar violent outcomes. He did not say John McCain/Sarah Palin=George Wallace.

What John Lewis has said is not very different from what others have in the past week, including those who share McCain's ideology. His perpective, though, is that he has lived it and knows of what he speaks.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:27:20 -0000

Yep, they are DEFINITELY mavericks!

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 17:55:44 -0000

Not to belabor this issue , BUT check this based on part of McCain's statement copied below, is he endorsing the sort of "cheers" that we the entire nation has witnessed in the past week - "bomb Obama", "kill him", "off with his head", "traitor", "treason", whatever.

Is this how McBush expects his "hardworking" supporters to express their desire for "reform"? Not to mention that Congressman Lewis did not castigate McCain without cause. Unless McCain is so out of touch that he doesn't realize that his angry rhetoric instigated these epithets.

Oh, and John McCain, your POW game just got played on you, motherfucker. You think you are the only one that's insulated because you got the shit beaten out of you? Say hello to John Lewis, one of your "wise" men.

T.

From McBush's camp:
"I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character and the character of the thousands of hardworking Americans who come to our events to cheer for the kind of reform that will put America on the right track."

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:21:45 -0000

Thanks, iceberg. The gold plated impression of Senator Obama is too cool for school. And people should know that in the comments section, there is another link with photos from another of the 4 stops. Germantown, I think.

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 18:53:55 -0000

So lemme see if I follow Kristol's logic here: Bush fired Rumsfeld and won the war so therefore McCain should fire his "pathetic campaign" staff in order to win the election...22 days from the election.

Hmmmmm.

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:25:06 -0000

John McCain tells another lie. See the entire interview at cnn.com where he says he's sooooooo "disappointed" in John Lewis. Yeah.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:56:08 -0000

Hello my people, what's up? About the poll that shows Obama 14 points ahead. Whatever. I feel no elation. We should not get too comfortable or overconfident. Complacency could very well amount to a loss, or a very small win.

We should not even think of pulling an Usain Bolt right now. Recall how he started celebrating his victory in the 100m race some 20m out. Sure, he crossed the line with a World Record that was much smaller than if he had gone straight through the tape. Like I wrote, 2 weeks or so ago, I want the GOP obliterated, figuratively speaking. I want their political carcasses littering the streets of America on the night of Nov. 4.

I trust that Senator Obama and his campaign will hammer this simple notion home in the coming days: Don't be dazzled by the polls, get your asses out to vote.

We need EVERY. SINGLE. SOLITARY vote on Nov. 4th.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:39:41 -0000

From Ambinder: In Georgia, despite long lines not a single black voter abandoned the line.

Proud.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:15:56 -0000

I'm gonna cut out 'til tomorrow. Enjoy the debate. WIll post my reaction tomorrow. Few things:

1) I hope that if they bring up John Lewis tonight, Senator Obama takes care of him. From the first reading of John Lewis' original statement, it was clear to me that he did not equate McCain/Palin to George Wallace, but that he was merely referring the anger and hate at the rallies that was clearly being stoked by their campaign's chosen line of attack.

2) In refuting the claim, by an elderly attendee to one of his rallies last week, about Senator Obama being a Arab, McCain's response seemed to suggest that Arabs/Arab American males are not decent, family men. It made me sad that they are being stereotyped that way. Not all of these people do bad things, ya know.

3) Back to the debate again. I hope if occasioned, Senator Obama will have the courage to tell the American people what "we need to hear and not what we want to hear..." A rebound in the stock market means very, very little. It will take time - a long time - for the ills of the financial system to be fixed, and even longer for the broader economic problems to be solved. Yes, the government is doing what it must, but we have a part to play as well. I'm not suggesting that he scare anyone but expectations must be managed, and truth-telling must start NOW.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:32:38 -0000

Last time I checked, Palin was not the only one stoking ignorance among the GOP. McCain was doing the same thing, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" he asked. Furthermore, until Friday, McCain stood among these people and tacitly encouraged the hatred. So, the media should stop shielding McCain. He is just as responsible as she is on those charges.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:29:41 -0000

What's up, my people? I just saw this interview that Senator Obama gave to some DC station. He said that Granny Toots may not be around for the elections. I mean, how freaking sad is that? Man, I hope she sticks around to see her grandson kick some GOP ass. Hang on Maddie D. Just 13 more days...

God bless her.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:04:29 -0000

OK y'all, I know you're gonna laugh at me and certify me as crazy but I've gotta do it.

Some 175K people ago(MI), some 150M donations ago, one General Powell endorsement ago, one more Joe Biden yackety-yackety-yak-fest ago and, well, a whole trailer load of McCain crap ago, the final debate happened in NY, and I'm now filing my observations. Gives new meaning to better-late-than-never right? I cannot blame my tardiness on a debate "high" this time. It's just that I was so freaking bored.

Yeah, the final debate bored the hell out of me because Senator McCain presented himself in exactly the way you'd expect: an erratic, intellectually-deprived, curmudgeonly man, unfit to occupy the highest office in the land.

Senator Obama's predictability was just as evident. He captured the quiet stillness of a man who is always in complete control of his body, his emotions, his words. This guy has got to be our president, I kept thinking.

Like, what's new, right?

T.
ps. Shortest debate review ever!

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 14:22:49 -0000

I appreciate Governor Rendell's exhuberant support of Senator Obama and we shouldn't take PA for granted, but why does he have to go cry wolf to the media like that?

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 15:04:14 -0000

exuberant...no "h"

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:03:15 -0000

I hate to say this out loud and in polite company but apart from our shitty economic situation, the other reason why a retread of Rev. Wright won't play right now: Granny Toots.

Look, this reportedly no nonsense lady has been the moral arbiter for Senator Obama for all of his life. By Senator Obama's own account, she is doing very poorly. He is going to spend a couple of, what could be, her last days with her, in the final 30m of 800m race. His family priorities, love, and compassion for the family matriarch on full display. And, to boot, she could not look more different from Rev, Wright, if y'all get my drift.

Let 'em trot out Rev. Wright so that we can see that tactic fail spectacularly too. You know, 'cause people really don't give a f**k about that right now anyway. They've got to feed their kids...

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:19:42 -0000

OK, Bachmann should just 'fess up with the real reason for the rant that now has her peeps runnin' for cover: bad weed! I mean, it must have been that, right?

T.
ps. My post is based on the assumption that Republicans "inhale".

Re: Thursday Open Thread

T. — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:35:06 -0000

In the event that y'all have not seen this as yet. Fu-nnnnnay!

T.
ps. What's up, my people?

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 12:46:56 -0000

I HOPE YOU KNOW

I'm praying real hard for you, Granny Toot
I really want you to hang around here for election night

'Cause I want you to see
I want you to see your grandson be proclaimed as the next president of the United States of America

And if you can't see, I want you to hear
To hear the roar of the people of this country when your grandson invokes your name and that of his mother, in gratitude of all that you've given him

And if you can't hear, I want you to feel
To feel the change that is going to cascade over this great nation when your grandson lifts us all on a wave of hope

I really want you to hang around here for the night of November 4
I'm praying hard

But if you can't
If He chooses to call you before then
I hope you know, somehow

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:20:05 -0000

Saw Obama in the rain yesterday, in PA. Man, I would walk barefooted on hot coal to make that guy our next President. I'm practically in church every evening. After a certain point, all one can do is fucking pray...Truly.

T.
Whassup my people?

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 15:56:48 -0000

What's up, my people? When I see those long lines of AA's, waiting to cast their vote for Senator Obama, I think of how good and how pleasant it will be before God and man on Nov. 5th.

Africa Unite!
T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread #2

T. — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:57:30 -0000

Hello my people, I am de-lurking to say that my heart is full today and will most certainly post one of my typically lengthy missives later this week. But suffice it say, I am an unapologetically proud, black woman of the Democratic Party today. My Party rose from the ashes last night, led by a man that fills me with immense pride - President Elect Obama, alongside our beautiful and poised First Lady, Michelle. There too was the seasoned man he can confer with in Vice President Biden and a nation filled with hope, after eight years of depair.

And what of those people that came before him, who fought and died so that he could stand on their shoulders...so that one day my as-yet-conceived-of children could stand on his shoulders, look across the horizon, and see the world as their oyster.

It's a fucking beautiful day. I'm savoring it so see y'all later.

T.
ps. Democrats, I pray to God that we don't fuck this up! I know y'all think that Christmas has come early and Obama is Santa Claus, after the drought of the last 8 years, and the damn drama in the latter years of the Clinton Presidency.

pps. Go Rahm! Chief of Staff?

Re: Wednesday Open Thread #2

T. — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:26:39 -0000

About that Prop 8 thingy up in CA. I didn't want to touch this one BUT...Look, I'm sad for my peeps that it wasn't defeated BUT I'm becoming kind of uneasy that there is a movement afoot to place the blame on us, black people - 6% of the CA's population!

While we may have had the voting power in CA to help defeat this measure, the economic muscle that the Mormons apparently used to uphold it was HUGE. So, I ask myself, what if somebody with similar economic muscle had circumvented the church(assuming that the church is in the way) and organized to educate the black community about the importance of defeating this(assuming again that the black community was pivotal in helping to bring about it's defeat), especially if you expected the black turnout to be higher than normal? Why just assume that because blacks experienced(and still are experiencing) discrimination means that they view the gays being discriminated against in the same way? What about the responsibility that other ethnic groups had here?

I.m not saying that there may not be a problem with acceptance in our community. Personally, I don't know of any because all the people I associate with are sensitized to the plight of gay America and are very empathetic...but some old school Obama-style organization may work wonders: door-to-door in heavily black communities, internet ads, stuff on black radio, TV etc., might help. Even if you start doing it now, it may yield benefits in the future...I don't live in CA but I will do everything I can to help...Explain why it matters in simple terms. Like what of your hetero-husband or -wife died and you couldn't do X or Y or Z? Know what I mean?

But, I'm not feeling right about the blame that seems to be shifting onto us...like we are being scapegoated somehow...I don't know...something here doesn't feel right.

T.

Re: Wednesday Evening Open Thread

T. — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:58:25 -0000

LOL! I truly rolled my eyes at Maya Angelou on CBS this morning. Not to mention Vernon Jordan on the View today, "I went to 3 black churches in Columbus for him last Sunday..." I wanna throw the hell up! Vernon actually told him when he sought advice about running that he could not support him if HRC was in the race...At least John Lewis checked his conscience early.

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:27:00 -0000

I howled with laughter today at PE Obama's self-deprecating humor when he referred to himself as a "mutt", while discussing the family's choice of a dog. I thought it was quite funny. But apparently his comment may have far-reaching racial consequences for black people. You see his reference could mean two things. Is he is referring to the fact that he has mixed race parentage, or is he referring to the fact that he is a man born of simple means? Apparently the media and some right wing blogs are all atwitter about this reference, kinda sorta suggesting that it is a "racial gaffe". Some right wing blogs are now saying that if he refers to himself as a "mutt" them maybe he's saying that he's not really "black" and that he probably should call himself "biracial". Joe Klein commented that he "self identified" as mutt. OH.MY.GOD!!!!!! LOL!

T.
What's up my people?

Re: Stop Blaming Black Folk For California’s Prop 8

T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:37:30 -0000

Did you all see my post about this on Wednesday? Yes Lord...I personally will do anything I can to help the LGBT community in terms of community outreach, education, etc., if they think that our community can help them in their journey for marriage equality, but I refuse to stand back and watch the scapegoating that is obviously underway!!!

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:40:27 -0000

Miranda m'lady. LOL! Crazy BUT if in fact he was referring to race, I must add this: for someone who so studiously avoided the explicit talk of race throughout the entire contest, it would be quite surprising that he would use a term that can so easily be manipulated by the media and others.

He MUST be aware that many people were not amused by all the images of black folk celebrating and so they will do anything to tamp down our pride in his amazing victory. If he wants to talk about race, assuming that he was referring to race, he needs to continue with his usual MO or be more careful in his choice of words; otherwise he risks bloggers writing stuff like this from Ben Smith's blog:

"He told a couple of fairly edgy jokes, as these things go, one about Nancy Reagan, and one describing himself as a "mutt" — a reminder that he is bringing a loose, comfortable and unstilted way of talking about race to the highest office in the land. "

or people making comments such as this on NYT Caucus Blog:
"maybe he will now call his wife a purebred"

or what Joe Klein said above.

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:45:56 -0000

Like I replied to Miranda below Craig, I found it funny. Never thought it meant anything UNTIL I saw what was going on in the blogs. Even mainstream blogs. It seemed like manna from heaven to some folks...I personally don't care BUT some people appear to...especially some of the ethnic majority who are seizing on to the comment for whatever reason...others think it was politically incorrect...

T

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:30:36 -0000

PE Obama calls Nancy Reagan to apologize about presser comment.

LOL! No, I guess this is serious...I shouldn't laugh but...whatever...stay away from the jokes dude!

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:47:18 -0000

CH, This may also provide some entertainment relief m'luv. Read the comments too.

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:07:16 -0000

CH, Want more fun?

1)Wed. night. Asst Managing Editor of Newsweek appeared somewhere. His words were "and then it was after he moved to Chicago that he decided that he was a black man". DECIDED? And that is after he called PE Obama "creepy", "culty".

2)Tue. night. Matt Bai from New York Times magazine appears somewhere. When asked about Obama's capacity for anger. Response? "You have to remember that he did not have a typical AA upbringing..." So I started to ask myself, "What is a typical AA upbringing? Only AA with that typical upbringing is capable of showing anger?"

Matt, in an article written some time ago, has also suggested the Obama is still struggling with racial identity issues.

3)Doris Kearns Goodwin on the Today show on Thurs:"You have to remember that Obama is more exotic while Michelle is from the typical AA home..."

I'm literally rolling my eyes...

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:21:55 -0000

Hello my people, Just stopping by to give a shout out to a sister who repped on MTP this morning - Valerie Jarrett. Always loved her. Love her even more today. She's a tough nut to crack. You would have to hypnotize her to get her off message and even then I'm not sure that could happen.

Go Valerie!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:05:17 -0000

RM, James Clyburn definitely has done himself, the Obama campaign/transition, and the Democrats proud. He is rock solid. He appeared on a late evening program earlier this week and articulated PE Obama's vision on how he would govern this country. Very impressive.

Rep. Clyburn? Neutral during the primaries? Only in public. Cause ya know he was on the DL for PE Obama.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 13:37:06 -0000

And the only black advisor in PE Obama's inner(really on the inside) circle...

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 16:23:06 -0000

Hello my people...my $0.02...Keep Joe Leiberman in the caucus but strip him of the chairmanship for the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee...Where's Plouffe gonna go? To the DNC? I hear Gov. Dean's stepping down...

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 17:14:41 -0000

What CHURCH will the Obamas go to when they move to Washington? While everybody's talking Sash and Mal's school, I'm wondering about their church. Are there any "safe" black congregations in DC? Or, will they be too cowardly to ever step foot back into a church with a predominantly black congregation, for fear that they will be criticized by people who don't understand our culture?

And before anyone screams at me that I qualified the word "congregation" with the word "black", please remember that while the nationwide Trinity churches had a predominantly white membership, the Chicago location had a predominantly black one. And that's where they chose to go. I'm very interested to see what they're gonna do on this front.

So PE Obama and First Lady In Waiting Michelle, what church will it be? WIll this one be a political decision?

T.

Re: This Week In Blackness #13 - Black, black, blackity black.

T. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 12:23:56 -0000

Thank you to this guy. This is funny. I had been mulling for days about whether or not I should broach this subject here. There are two categories of folks who are desperate to depress black folks pride in our first black president by trying to distinguish him from us because of his mother.

1) The confused white folk, particularly the old white men in the media
2)The self-loathing black people with multiracial heritage who want to feel superior

It ain't working. Last I checked, "biracial" or "multiracial" is not a race, just words/categories that make some of y'all feel better. Sorry folks, but it is quite simple: President-Elect Obama is a black man with a white mother. Whatever word you choose to describe him it does not matter, he is the owner of his racial identity. Not you.

This has been going on for a LONG LONG time. I met a 70 year old woman from Tuskegee, Alabama who transplanted to Brooklyn. I wanted to hear about her life in the South. And she was more than willing to oblige. She spent hours regaling me with story after story. I finally asked her about children of mixed race parents. Her response, "Child, from way back it was rampant. Some relationships were in hiding but mostly it was the the white men raping the black women and getting them pregnant." Now, me and my naivete said, "So what about the police? Why didn't they report it?" She laughed and said,"But it was the police and the mayor and the big shot white men doing the raping." I was SHOCKED. SHOCKED. I probably shouldn't have been but I was. She continued to say, "Those children were as black as me so the men never owned them, couldn't own them, never cared. Those children were nothing to them."

I asked her about PE Obama. She just smiled and touched my knee and said, "We going to have a black man for President. Isn't that something? But wait, they going to try to claim him because he done something good." Folks, this conversation took place in June. She said to me,"You wait and see. They gonna try to take away his blackness." And then she went on to talk about Michelle Obama.

About our next First Lady she said, "The first night she sleeps in the White House, they should just put her in a public place where people can just walk through there and take a picture." I laughed out loud and asked why. She said, "A black woman sleeping up in the White House legally? WIth the President, no less? Come on now!" Imagine her clapping he hands multiple ties as she says this. The glee on her face was remarkable.

This sh*t means something to a lot of black folks - especially the older ones. The fact that many black people have European Caucasian blood flowing through their veins have never given them a pass yet. You look like a black person, you get treated like one. And there are many black people who could "pass" and don't. Why? We are proud of our people. We are proud of our blackness. It is a state of mind. To belong.

Folks, our president is black!

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:06:32 -0000

Maya, PE Obama's sister writes. I really really like her. There is video of her on CSPAN speaking to a Women for Obama group before Toot got really sick, I think. It is worth watching to see the charm of Maya, something that didn't come through in her DNC convention speech imo.

T.
ps. i jut hate the words, half-brother, half-sister. It is so ex-clusive. It's like saying we hare a common parent but that's it. with Maya and PE Obama, I think they shared more than a common parent. They shared their whole lives.

Re: This Week In Blackness #13 - Black, black, blackity black.

T. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:29:00 -0000

PE Obama pretty much said the same thing on Charlie Rose a couple of years ago. In one visit, he said that if he should go outside andtry to hail a cab right now, the cab driver wouldn't look at him and say, "hmmm, there goes a mixed race guy." What they see is a black man. He said society wouldn't allow him to be anything else.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:31:09 -0000

Condi interview airs on CNN tonight. 8p EST.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:58:40 -0000

Pictures.

I have never been to Iowa. I hope to visit the state someday. I started to mark my calendar with big red Xes from sometime around 10/07 because to start doing it in 02/07 would have looked downright weird; Jan. 3, 2008 could not come soon enough. I remember that I was a nervous wreck that day. I prayed that the white folks would stand up and, god almighty, they did! The only thing I can remember from that night was that I just kept wringing my hands and pulling at my fingers as though I wanted to separate them from my body. Odd reaction. Maybe my body had been rendered numb from happiness. I don't know.

New Hampshire. That day a psychic visited some national TV show that was based in Chicago. They said that McCain would be the GOP nominee and PE Obama for the Dems, and that he would go on to be the President. I have never believed in psychics but when we lost that night that was what I held on to - a psychic's words. Pathetic but true.

Nevada. Split decision sort of. We got one more delegate. I was cool with that. I was curious to see what would happen next.

As for SC, that night was an emotional one for me. The results showed that my people - black folks - were paying attention, wanting to believe. They had started to really hope. The black vote was 72-28 in favor of PE Obama, I think. It just kept going up from there.

The night of Ohio and Texas was when I really really cried. Those losses hurt for some reason. Maybe I just wanted it to be over by then. Because, really, it WAS over. I wanted to hear the words, "Democratic Nominee for President of the United States." First Lady In Waiting, Michelle Obama, looked really nice in that black dress. It's still my favorite dress.

Now, i feel immense pride but I won't be able to articulate its full impact until much later. It's a me thing. It probably will happen one late night while I'm working and I'll probably just burst out laughing or something.

Obama won! The Democrats won! Fucking pinch me!

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:05:41 -0000

Damn. Sully was in my doghouse for a bit but now he's B-A-C-K! And he is absolutely fucking right on the money

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 16:11:06 -0000

How 'bout that Sarah Palin?" Somebody should tell both her (and Jennifer Aniston) that it's over! Done! Finito!

T.

Re: Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?

T. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:43:18 -0000

When I first heard this, I had a visceral reaction, "Hell to the NO!"

But priding myself on being a reasonable individual, I began to consider the suggestion on its merits. I stepped into the shower and as scalding water cascaded over my body, I thought of how this lady mismanaged her campaign personnel and funds, I thought of the lack of transparency surrounding her husband's post-presidency business dealings, I thought of all the backstabbing potential and drama, my conclusion, "Hell to the NO!"

But I decided to give it one more shot, as I consumed some victuals, I thought of the worldwide Clinton brand(not too shabby), I thought of how hard she worked for PE Obama's election, I thought of her as an individual distinct from her husband, and when you do that she's not soooo bad, my conclusion was still, "Hell to the NO!"

On a serious gut-check level, somehow, I think Senator Clinton's strength lies elsewhere. There is no doubt that I think that she(not her husband) will be an ally to PE Obama but not as Sec. of State. SC Justice maybe?

And I'm pretty certain that this is the Clinton people fucking with the transition process. Anything to through a monkey wrench in Obama's business. God, I really hate those people.

T.
ps. And this Team of Rivals (ToR)thing is getting way out of hand. Certainly the whole concept is sexy but you can't just build a ToR just for shits and giggles. Any ToR has to work. This country is in dire straits; it isn't time for a fucking experiment.

Re: Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?

T. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:55:31 -0000

One more thing, if in fact the rumors prove to be true and she was offered the job as Sec. of State, and she accepts, at least she has Madeline Albright as a mentor, no? Still, on a gut check level, it would feel like a mistake, but time will tell...

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:14:24 -0000

Michael Steele really, really wants to be the RNC Chair. In the linked piece, he really, really wants the Republicans to continue to attack PE Obama. He really, really regrets that John McCain did not use Re. Jeremiah Wright as a political bludgeon in the presidential campaign.

T.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 67 Days — Open Thread

T. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:17:32 -0000

Reggie gets some Love on HuffPo!

Re: Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?

T. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:35:23 -0000

Jesus Christ, Here's Keith O's post on dKos about the HRC as SOS thing. If in fact she was offered the job and she says no, does that mean we will know of her plans for 2012? Color me stupid but this lady may not really want to run for President again, but she likes being a part of the action and this may be PE Obama's way of rewarding her...

Ooh God, this could not be happening! She is just not suited for this job! Just shoot me!

T.
ps. If in fact this is true and she accepts, I guess Anthony Weiner just got himself a Senate seat and for that Mayor Bloomberg should be thankful. That guy is a perpetual thorn in Bloomberg's side as he wanted to run for Mayor. Now who would get Weiner's House seat?

T.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 67 Days — Open Thread

T. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:50:13 -0000

Yeah!!!!!!! Black Female Power! Go Valerie! Here ya go!

Re: Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?

T. — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:55:41 -0000

Gov. Richardson meets with PE Obama in Chicago. If there is a God...

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 14:56:09 -0000

What's up my people! Is this a coincidence?

The apex of the economic meltdown coincided with the United Nations' 63rd General Assembly - all these world leaders were in town. I thought it rather odd that during that time Senator Clinton was all over the morning shows offering her assessment of the economic crisis. In fact, she appeared on morning shows twice that week. To me, it appeared that she was representing herself and not the then-Democratic nominee for President, Barack Obama.

It was also during that time that her husband appeared on Letterman and suggested that his wife had a solution for the economic crisis, which led to him being called out by Chris Rock. "Hillary ain't runnin'", Rock said. If one had just crawled out from under a rock, it would have appeared as though Senator Clinton and her husband were still running the Democratic Party.

Fast forward to yesterday. It has been reported that Senator Clinton was offered the job as SoS, or at the very least is being considered for that slot. The speculation about whether she was or not is basically dominating the headlines right now. She appears on TV in Albany yesterday to talk about some NY State Transit project and coyly addresses the rumors. My smutty senses are beginning to tingle. Something familiar. Aha! The leaders of the G-20 are herein the US to discuss the global financial economy.

Senator Clinton's hogging of the media cycle yesterday while influential foreign leaders are in the States and Senator Clinton's hogging of the media while influential foreign leaders were in town for the UN General Assembly(and the Clinton Global Initiative) must be a total coincidence. Or, maybe, the Clintons want to send a message that despite the fact the we have a new President, who is the undisputed leader of their own Party, they still have influence; that they are still power brokers; that they are still a force to be reckoned with.

As PE Obama likes to say, "Power never concedes without a fight." But then again, this may just be a coincidence and I may just be a curmudgeonly conspiracy theorist

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 12:17:23 -0000

This shouldn't matter but apparently it means something to a lot of folks, so thanks for stepping up Wanda Sykes.

I'm not necessarily a fan of "outing" other people or oneself just because they love someone of the same sex. I don't have to "out" myself as a heterosexual, right? But if this helps members of our community, particularly the older generation, acclimatize, then, fine(of course any stigma attached to being gay does not only exist in our community sooo...).

T.
ps. I must say that even though there may be a religious and generational resistance to the idea of gay marriage - not equality - I do not know of any of these folks who would deny a gay person a seat at Sunday dinner. You know us, the more people at the barbecue, the better. Like Elton John said this week, it may be that pesky word "marriage" that may be creating the resistance...who knows...

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:14:15 -0000

I feel you, Liza. The point that Elton John made is that in England, he and his partner have full rights as a heterosexual married couple, it's just that they don't call such a partnership marriage. I assume from what he said that the fight for equal rights in any partnership(rights under the federal marriage act) should be distinct from the fight for the word "marriage".

My heart is with y'all. I will do anything I can to help in my community; to let people understand the ramifications of you not having the same rights as everyone else.

T.
In my ps. above, I hope it is understood that I mean that many of the folks who are balking now may be doing so not because they don't want equality but because they may not be able to fully embrace the concept of that word, "marriage", being between anyone other than a man and woman.

Re: 60 Minutes Preview with the Obamas

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:21:34 -0000

Man, FLIW Michelle's got some nice legs. I wonder what her leg workout looks like? I wanna know.

T.

Re: 60 Minutes Preview with the Obamas

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:22:07 -0000

Yeah. Tonight. 7p EST.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:47:17 -0000

So...because PE Obama is suuuuch a nice guy and he doesn't hold grudges and he soooooo believes in the goodness of humankind and he will soooooo forgive minor weaknesses in others if they're good at the job that they are hired to do, many are looking to him for redemption. Eliot Spitzer has joined the line. God, do they really think PE Obama is that naive?

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:00:22 -0000

Funny stuff from Joe Scalzi - Imagined conversation between PE Obama and Traitor Joe.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:25:24 -0000

This slideshow is cool. Black people, I'm happy for y'all! LOL!

T.
ps. Just click on replay slideshow if it does not start automatically.

Re: My 2 Cents on Prop 8 and Gay Marriage . . . A Call for Strategic Activism

T. — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 14:28:27 -0000

"Strategy, education and outreach is the path to success." I couldn't agree with you more.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:13:20 -0000

Just cruisin' by to say: What's up, my people?

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:23:41 -0000

Oh yeah, while I'm cruisin', I gotta tell ya...I did a gut-check on Senator Clinton at State again and it's still a resounding no. I would love to get into PE Obama's head to see what the hell he's thinking. Could it be that they just want to get a peek at what Billy boy's been up to?

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:27:53 -0000

Eric Holder's appt at Justice has got me grinnin' from ear to ear, m'lovely. I am pleased. i am watching the GOP assholes at their hypocritical best while they seem willing to give a pass to Senator Clinton at State(potentially) despite her husband's shady post presidential dealings, but want to stick it to Holder because of the Marc Rich pardon. Oh boy...

Re: Clinton Gets the Nod for Secretary of State

T. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:53:55 -0000

My people, what's up? OK, on one hand the lady's smart, seems to learn quickly, a known commodity BUT on the other, the prospect of all of us becoming afflicted with More Fucking Clinton Drama(MFCD), 21st century edition, for the next 4 - 8 years is almost too much to bear. I feel like I want to puke.

Senator Clinton, if you are nominated and confirmed, please just do your job. Leave the drama behind, PLEASE!

T.

Re: Friday Open Thread

T. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:16:28 -0000

Damn GLH, you're too good. I was about to post this!

T.

Re: Clinton Gets the Nod for Secretary of State

T. — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:35:39 -0000

Honey, that "ewwwwwww" feeling that you are obviously getting is the first stage of MFCD Syndrome. Mark my words, with this lady at State, drama is inevitable! I cannot bear the thought.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:45:11 -0000

Yes, something is wrong with me. My stomach does a flip whenever I hear of Senator Clinton's possible nomination for`State. First sign that I may be afflicted with MFCD, cause you know the drama is coming. I mean, just look at the last week's media coverage of "THE EVENT". I cannot shake that feeling, you know, the one that says, "BIG MISTAKE. HUGE." But, whatever...it's PE Obama's bed, he will have to lie in it, whatever the outcome. For his sake, and ours, I hope it proves to be a wise decision. Even a little part of me wants her to do well, for herself, for us girls, for our party, for the country. But like Dr. Phil always says, "the best predictor of future behavior is the past", and the Clintons, no matter how smart and well-tavelled they are, have shown us that they are oftentimes incapable of pursuing anything other than their self interests. A leopard just doesn't change it's skin at 60 years old, ya know? Not even for a Barack Obama. Good Luck, Sir, is all I have to say.

T.

Re: Eliot Spitzer’s “Side Piece” Gives 1st Public Interview Last Night

T. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 10:59:20 -0000

Sorry guys, I know that y'all wanna beat down this chick but I feel a tad sorry for her, and for all the women who felt/feel that this was a choice that they had to make, a lifestyle that they wanted to pursue. This is also why ,on some level, I was sympathetic to Monica Lewinsky. Sure, she made bad choices too and that should not be forgotten, but the then President of the United States - Bill Clinton - took advantage of her and (continued to) publicly humiliated his wife with his philandering. Of course, during the impeachment, I behaved like a rabid partsan but his actions were indefensible.

By all accounts, Monica has achieved some wonderful milestones in her life since then and I hope that Ashley Dupre can do the same. But, I will say this, Miss Ashley, that come-hither pose in People magazine was a l'il ill-advised, imo. Keep your wits about you, girl!

T.

Re: Eliot Spitzer’s “Side Piece” Gives 1st Public Interview Last Night

T. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:12:22 -0000

J58, Look at this from another point of view, will ya? Just a couple weeks ago, Eliot Spitzer was cleared of ANY wrongdoing, which shows that if you are privileged enough, wealthy enough, connected enough, the rules do not apply. And to add to the entitlement he apparantly feels, he decides to re-enter the public arena in a bold, shameless way, by penning an advice column to PE Obama in the Washington Post last Sunday - EIGHT MONTHS after the incident!

A married Governor of New York and former Attorney General, who made his name bringing down whore houses, betrays the public trust, engages in financial gymnastics to hide his penchant for prostitution, partipates in arrangements to transfer a prostitute across state lines, just wants us to forget and to blame the prostitute? He should have thought about his wife and three daughters before he engaged in such risky nehavior. At least, Ashley appears to be taking responsibility for her role and expressing remorse.

I say to Ashley Dupre - DO FUCKING YOU because Eliot Spitzer is doing it for HIMSELF!

T.

Re: Eliot Spitzer’s “Side Piece” Gives 1st Public Interview Last Night

T. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:15:12 -0000

Why is she the villain? By all account, she was not the only prostitute that Eliot Spitzer helped his gargantuan-sized ego to. She was just the last. Why is Eliot Spitzer going about his pretty little privileged life like NOTHING happened? That FUCKER!

T.

Re: Eliot Spitzer’s “Side Piece” Gives 1st Public Interview Last Night

T. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:18:50 -0000

LOL! Yeah, right! Try again Spitzer. Stop using the subprime crisis as cover, dude. We ain't stoopid!

T.

Re: Eliot Spitzer’s “Side Piece” Gives 1st Public Interview Last Night

T. — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:44:17 -0000

And he, Eliot Spitzer, should just go the hell away too...

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:58:02 -0000

Trivia for Today:

In 1860, Abraham Lincoln's barber's name was Billy
In 2008, Barack Obama's barber's name is Zariff - first Af-Am barber to cut a president

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:09:26 -0000

These people should remember that right after the Rev. Wright mess, around Easter I think, PE Obama and his family were in Hawaii and they couldn't go to church but he told the press that he and his family had a little church service at home - reading the Bible and saying prayers. Given the security situation and the fact they do not have a home church right now, i would bet that they have been worshipping in a similarly, non-traditional way.

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:34:48 -0000

Ms. High Maintenance? Apart from this, I'm not gonna go there today. More important business at 12 noon. Team Economy to be announced.

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:58:34 -0000

Two inconsequential things x-ed my mind today:
1) All the decision makers - senior executives - of these vulnerable companies who have been rescued, or are asking to be rescued, still have their jobs. I have heard talk of limiting executive compensation, dividend payout but no restructuring of the mnagement team.

2)What will Obama do when cabinet members or party officials or even someone from the opposing party step out of line? Continue to kill 'em with kindness? "Here Joe have another cookie? You too, Mitch." If that's his style, wonderful, but at some point he's gonna have to lace the cookies with some cyanide(figuratively). Or, are people gonna crap all over him because they don't expect any payback, 'cause he's such a warm and fuzzy guy? God!

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:00:13 -0000

I am sure that Axelrod will not slide on that this time...

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:49:09 -0000

Alicia Keys , Latifa, Kathleen Battle on AMA's last night.Toots gets her shout out from a hip-hop diva!

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:08:15 -0000

The article echoes what I said here in Sunday, "In matters of foreign policy, it has been proved time and again, the Clintons are devoted to no interest other than their own." I still maintain that this is a big <fill in the blank>!

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:43:18 -0000

Valerie Jarrett's life lessons.

T.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 57 Days — Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 18:53:12 -0000

Ain't PE Obama lucky?

T.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 57 Days — Open Thread

T. — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:05:00 -0000

Puhleeze! Halperin, go cry me a fucking river! Yeah, and Jed has this video too.

T.

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/11/barack-and-michelle-obamas-interview-with-barbara-walters/

T. — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:53:07 -0000

Rikyrah:

I will post a response later. Mostly some very interesting observations. No opinion(except about Michelle's aesthetics).

T.

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/11/barack-and-michelle-obamas-interview-with-barbara-walters/

T. — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:03:12 -0000

Please, could someone enlighten me as to why it was necessary for the Obamas to grant another joint interview so soon after Steve Kroft's highly-rated mid-November sit-down? Given that and the press conferences that he had held earlier in the week, pray tell, what additional probing was required from Ms.Walters, on either the policy or personal front? I was absolutely bored.

I did note, however, that the "race question" was tackled by Ms. Walters in a different way depending on who she was questioning . Of Mr Obama, it was more implicit. While not referring to the fact that he is the first African-American president, she posed this question(not verbatim), "while there has been an outpouring of goodwill towards you but there has also been the reported increase in racist violence, burning of crosses, racist internet postings, more threats against you than any president in history, why do you think this is happening?" Here, he takes the opportunity to offer a similar but more crisp and finessed answer than the one he gave to Steve Kroft earlier in the month.

In that interview, Steve asked him in part, "...the emotion of that night was fueled in part by the fact that you were the first African American to be elected, did you feel that?" Here, he clumsily side-stepped the question by being unnecessarily verbose about Marion Robinson's life, before finding his way back with the "perfect" answer about the "enormous progress" that America has made with regards to race relations and on what standards was used to judge him.

To Mrs.Obama, Ms.Walters' question was more explicit, "As America's first black first lady, do you feel additional responsibility about how you carry out your role?" Of, course, Mrs. Obama was ready. She punted by saying, "I don't think about it in those terms...[I will be a] role model for the entire country."

Yawn. Now, will journalists stop asking them about race, in whatever permutation? Pretty please?

Now to something else. Mrs. Obama glowed last night - the ambience, the dress, the makeup, the lighting, the direction from which she was shot, just everything. Contrast that to the 60 minutes interview where her features were made to look harsh and unflattering.

I also kept looking at their hands; they were magnets, where if they were not touching, there was an instinct on either one or the other's part to touch. Amazing chemistry. If only I could be a fly on that wall, if you get my drift. I mean no disrespect, of course.

Oh, and there is one follow up question that I would have for Mr. Obama. He alluded to the fact that his mother would have been more apt to believe that he could be president than his grandmother - grandmother's realism versus mother's idealism, I assume - but said that she would, nevertheless, have been surprised by HOW he did it. What did he mean by that? What would have surprised her about HOW he did it? Yeah, that would be my follow up question. I'm anal like that. I wanna know everything.

Happy Thanksgiving my people and everybody else too.

T.

Re: President-Elect Obama’s Thanksgiving Address

T. — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:08:48 -0000

After the last eight years, I am thankful for a president who knows what a compound sentence is(see yesterday's presser).

T.
ps. Can you end a sentence with 'is'?

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2008/11/barack-and-michelle-obamas-interview-with-barbara-walters/

T. — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:25:58 -0000

On the GMA crawl this morning was a comment that goes something like this, "President-elect Obama says he is not a miracle worker. The remark was made in an interview with Barbara Walters..." Now, if you had just slithered out from under a rock and had not seen the interview and the context in which it was said, one would have thought this man to be an uncaring chap, no? Why did GMA choose to use that "remark" and not another like when he said that help is on the way? Curious!

T.

Re: Thursday Open Thread—HAPPY THANKSGIVING, from JJP

T. — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 17:27:51 -0000

Saw this on dKos. People over there are all emotional and stuff because we have a president who seems to care. Awwwwww!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 10:51:38 -0000

On this cold, rainy morning, my stomach is churning and my well-masticated breakfast is trying to decide whether or not it wants to go up or stay down there. I find myself repeating over and over again, "I support my new president, I support my new president, I support my new president...I support my party...I support the new Secretary of State." And, that's all I'm going to say. For now.

In this link are the details of the concessions that Bill Clinton made in order to clear the path for his wife's imminent nomination for Secretary of State. My only question, for now, is who appoints the State Department's ethics officials who oversees his activities if his wife is confirmed for the job? And, will we know who they are?

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:28:23 -0000

Newsflash: Maria Arana says that Barack Obama is not black! One commenter at WaPo says this, which made me laugh out loud:

"Senorita Arana: try telling Michelle Obama that her husband and two girls are "not black" away from a news camera crew or Michelle's secret service protection. Ever hear the expression "going negro on somebody?" It has nothing to do with race."

I would like to direct you all to this discussion about the article that is underway at the Atlantic. And subsequent posts by the blogger here and here.

Enjoy.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 13:37:23 -0000

Here is another WaPo commenter's perspective on the discussion:

"This article merely serves to reinforce the complex structure of neoracism in which people of so many other races all over the world are so anxious to put distance between themselves and the word, concept and skin-tones that is blackness. Being black is such a global curse that white, yellow, brown and some black people are quick to say "Barack Obama is not black". God forbid that he should be anything but black. Now, even now, people like Marie Arana are keen to deny all Americans, and especially African-Americans, Africans and African descendants globally of this moment of incredible pride, progress and promise."

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:08:00 -0000

Another perspective from a commenter on the original site:

"I do not question that obama is bi-racial. I do question why it is that people have the need to get in an uproar about him not being black. This does not seem to be a concern in general even though a large proportion of blacks in the U.S. are actually of mixed descent. Why is it that people need to point out the mixed heritage of "this" particularly man? It can appear to many that the only time a black persons mixed heritage is of importance in the U.S. is when that black persons rises to a certain level of success. However, there is no outcry about the average black person of mixed race being identified, or self-identifying as black. So yes, he is of mixed race even though he, like many others, self identifies as black. But the real question is: What are your motives for insisting on recognizing his mixed heritage?"

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:19:09 -0000

Another commenter asks, are there any black people in the US?

"My question to the author is a very simple one. If Obama isn't black, are there any black people in the US? I ask this in view of the fact that a considerable majority of African Americans have 'white blood' in them."

And another suggests that he might be neither black nor white, he is Asian. Got that?

"I cannot but agree fully with Marie Arana. I will even go further and say that President elect Obama is also an Asian. He is also a Pacific Islander. So Why are we calling him black? His victory made me feel that there is some belonging or inclusivness. I like most others never felt this way in previous Presidential elections. Mr president Obama, Please do not call yourself Black. You are only half black. What about your Asian roots and Hawaian roots? Dont they count?"

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:28:37 -0000

One more commenter says this:

"Ms Arana reminds me of those white people during slavery who would dismiss any example of black achievement as being due to the individual's "white blood". Why isn't she rushing to claim the biracial prisoners as part of her post-racial utopia?"

And another thinks PE Obama is just a plain user for calling himself black. Ooooookay:

"Is that really why Obama chose to call himself black? Or did he see personal and political advantage to calling himself black? After all, Obama was raised in Hawaii where mixed race is hardly unusual. Perhaps he understood that qualified minority students are much sought after applicants in the scholarship pool. Perhaps he realized that his identification as "black" would also make him an attractive political figure on Chicago's South Side -- why else would he spend 20 years in a church whose pastor preached black liberation theology? No, Ms. Arana, if Obama chose to present himself as black, it's because he saw opportunity to capitalize on society's dated language and logic. The president elect is nothing if not calculated."

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:11:55 -0000

Hello my people, I watched your blog discussion on Monday about Marie Arana's Sunday article titled, He's not Black, in reference to President-Elect Obama. On Monday, she held an online discussion on WaPo's site about it. Here is the transcript of that discussion, which to the best of my knowledge has not been posted here. You may or may not find it illuminating but I'd like to give y'all some stuff to ruminate on, OK? These are just some random thoughts, so just read, think about it and move right along...

To the second question posed, Marie Arana responds that in his first memoir, Obama refers to himself as "black", but, recently, has come to call himself "biracial"(I can't seem to find specific quotes from Obama himself on this). This seems to very important to certain people because the subsequent questioner suggests that every article should be amended from "black " to "biracial".

When PE Obama referred to himself as a "mutt" in his first press conference, was he referring to race? The last questioner, and many others, certainly thinks so and believes it is PE Obama's way of publicly declaring his "new perspective" on his racial identity, after years of calling himself a "black" man. In their view, PE Obama now feels liberated enough to declare himself as a "biracial" man and not just as a "black" man. Again, this distinction seems to very, very important to some people.

If PE Obama was definitively making a racial reference and therefore embracing a new, public identity as a "biracial" man and not as a "black" man - and we don't know this for a fact - what should people who identify as "black" think/feel about this in-the-questioner's-mind new public declaration of his racial identity given that they feel a special pride in his recent accomplishment for mostly that very reason - that he is "black"or identifies as "black"?

How would it make you feel if what these people are saying is true, that he now thinks of himself as just a "biracial" man and not just as a "black man" of mixed race parentage? Would you still feel special pride in what he has accomplished? Would you still feel that America is a place where anything is possible?

What if he has to or wants to play both sides of the race issue for political reasons just because he can? Remember this statement from Newsweek's presidential issue about his team's general feeling on race(not verbatim), ..."if the black community wants to claim him as the black candidate, great; If other people want to think he is biracial or post-racial, fine..." How should this make the "black" community feel?

For the crowd who are clamoring for PE Obama to declare himself as "biracial" as opposed to just "black": Is there room for PE Obama to identify as a "black" man of biracial/mixed race parentage as he has done countless number of times? (As many in the "black" community have done for a century or more?) Or, would you find that definition of his racial identity inadequate? Why?

And, what of PE Obama who MUST be aware that there is, technically, a war that is being waged to define or redefine his racial identity from "black" to "biracial"? What does he REALLY think about these discussions, I wonder?

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 14:42:15 -0000

The 'stache is back! They're sporting one too.

I like "tache's. Daddy wears one. Perpetually!

T.

Re: He’s Black, Get Over It

T. — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:18:38 -0000

This is a comment form XXXG at WaPo on Arana's article:

I know I am one of those Johnny-come-lately in response to your article but I had to answer because this subject is something that disturbs me to my very core. The moment President-elect Obama decided to run for the presidency his skin color has become a fixated issue of the race. Many tried using subtle comments and others were blatantly obvious in words and anecdote. Your article disturbs me because you engage in the very same profiling as many others that have tried to categorize our president-elect. My problem with this entire topic is you negate how the president-elect identifies himself. Your philosophical analysis was informative but strictly opinion if I may give mine. After being on this earth for 47 years and living life through his eyes, I think he calls himself African American because that is how he is seen. If he had not become the president-elect, he would still be seen this way. Why? Because after years of race relations in this country this is how far we’ve come. I understand biracial, multiculturalism, and mixed heritage but in the real world those that are in this vicarious situation seem to indulge in the culture they feel accepted in the most. Many times this choice is based on appearances. I am not indicating this is appropriate but it is the real world. Times have not changed as much as we like to think it has, and “don’t go thinking we’ve over came” because we haven’t. The articles which have highlighted President-elect Obama’s security detail and threats have proven that we still have a ways to go.

Yes, Barack Obama is our first African American president. Why, because he identifies himself as such. His experiences and details have been much what many blacks have endured in regards to racism and bigotry. If he was pulled over by the police (before running for president) I am sure he was profiled just like any other black male. I’m sure the police could give beans about his fifty-percent white heritage. Is it right, absolutely not but again this is the real world. I understand what your article was trying to say but I disagree with how you say it. President-elect Obama is definitely black, because that is how he has lived his life. Ever heard the term “passe blanc” which is a term used in the south for black people passing for white because of their light-skin. This could easily be said of people like General Honore, the hero of Hurricane Katrina, Mike Bibby of the Atlanta Hawks, and Derek Jeter of the Yankees because all of them look white but have at least one black parent. President-elect Obama is “too dark” to pass for anything but black hence forth how he see himself and how the world sees him.

Stop trying to categorize people, wasn’t this the point of your article? If you really want to have a discussion about race you would have done better highlighting Mitochondrial DNA Eve which may prove in theory how everyone is black or descendants of a black woman.

T.

Re: He’s Black, Get Over It

T. — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:19:36 -0000

And here's another WaPo comment from edug8tor1:

Why am I the first person to clarify this discussion!!! Obama's American experience is the black experience, regardless of his racial make-up. On his first day of school his teachers saw a little black boy and acted accordingly, for better or worse. When he walked the halls of Harvard Law fellow students saw a black man walking the halls. When he goes into a store, the clerk sees a black man. If he is pulled over by law enforcement, the police officer sees a black man. What good would it have done him to protest that he was actually half white? Experientially, he is a black man and has been treated as such his whole life. The other races of the world do not suddenly get to claim him as their own simply because he achieved the ultimate level of American success. If he was your taxi driver or the man behind you in line at the bank, he would be a black man to you. It's too late to claim otherwise now.

T.

Re: Caroline Kennedy To Replace Hillary in the Senate? Could Be…

T. — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:21:30 -0000

I like it!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 12:54:37 -0000

Dear PE Obama:

Something that you do is getting on my last nerve. I have sat back for too long and not commented but I will today. Unless I have a severe hearing problem - which I may but I doubt it - I think you may have a little problem with what article - 'a' or an' - to use before a noun when you are ad-libbing. I have noticed it in your press conferences and again on MTP today, several times in fact. So this is not an isolated incident. Here are some rules to help you, sir. Good luck!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:11:35 -0000

Val, need a joint? It sure looks like your knickers are twisted up in knots today! And yes, it is even more important, especially after the last eight years of Bush-speak, that the proper use of the indefinite article is adhered to. Am I being an anal b*tch about it? Yeah! Listen, just chill and enjoy this moment of levity, aiiight?

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:25:21 -0000

So David Gregory is the new host of MTP. Oh Lord! I cannot tolerate that man!

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:55:01 -0000

According to this report, our outgoing president is moving into a recently integrated neighborhood in Dallas. On browsing the comments section, I happened upon this remark:

Not to stir up the pot, but this came to mind, a homosexual person can easily live their if they are white and don't show any flamboyance, but anyway you slice the cake, a black person would never be allowed such an opportunity without harrassment whether straight, gay, rich or poor, that just came to mind.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:38:03 -0000

Everything Al says. The lady exudes poise, elegance, intellect and competence without the attendant theatrics that is so Clintonesque. As a New Yorker and a staunch Democrat, I would be very, very pleased if she were appointed. Somebody ,please send Al's essay to Jane Hamsher who, it appears, is ready to slit her wrists at the prospect.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 12:50:53 -0000

Hello my people! Let's clear up something for the lazy press, OK? The press seems to be having a field day with two these two things(ABC News, I'm looking at you):a) Why did Axelrod say that PE Obama had spoken to Blagojevich when he didn't and why is he now saying he misspoke; b) Why did PE Obama change his use of pronoun from "I" to "we" when denying any knowledge of Blagojevich's activities.

1) PE Obama said that he, personally, did not have any conversations with Blagojevich or anyone in Blagojavich's office.

2) David Axelrod released a statement saying that he misspoke when he said that PE Obama had spoken with Blagojevich about the Senate seat vacancy, "about 20 names or so".

3) Senator Dick Durbin in his press conference yesterday said that HE, Dick Durbin, spoke with Blagojevich about the vacancy. He said, "we discussed about 20 names or so."

Conclusion: David Axelrod may have indeed misspoke when he said it was PE Obama who spoke to Blagojevich. Why? The senior senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, has said he was the one who spoke with Blagojevich. Get that? Simple error. It was Senator Dick Durbin who spoke with Blagojevich and NOT PE Obama. Nothing there. Move right along, please!

T.
ps. Sorry guys if this seems inconsequential but I have seen too many major bloggers put out the question: so who in Obama's camp spoke with Blagojevich, like it's some mystery or secret. It's Dick Durbin, fools! Frankly, I remember Durbin saying publicly a few weeks ago that he would be willing to speak with Blagojevich about possible replacement for PE Obama's seat if he could get reassurances that that conversation would be kept private.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:05:32 -0000

OK, so Senate Candidate #5 is Jesse Jr.? Sweet Jesus, tell me no!

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:11:46 -0000

Yeah, and to clarify something donw thread about Norah O'Donnell's question about Valerie Jarrett. Dick Durbin also said that he spoke with Blagojevich about Ms. Jarrett and told him that she was really, really not interested in the seat. Senator Durbin said that by the time he spoke with Blagojevich, Valerie had already pulled her name from consideration because PE Obama thought that she was too valuable not to have her close by. So there you have it...

Now about Jesse... I hope he'll be alright.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:17:24 -0000

Jesse Jr. is a little too intense for me but I couldn't help rooting for him because he was part of the new generation and seems like a hard worker, know what I mean? So if he gets tainted like this, it would truly disappoint me.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:57:27 -0000

Last evening I had one word for Blagojevich: hubris. Today, i have revised my opinion to: mad, I mean, stark staring mad. What else could move a man to be so...um...unsubtle? Look, I'm not condoning any attempt at crime, subtle or otherwise, but, geez, the man didn't even try to be circumspect in his activities. Oh Lordy Lordy...

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:06:07 -0000

Queue the laugh track y'all!!!!!! "They" are at it again. This time from AP: Many insisting that Obama is not black. LOL!

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:47:55 -0000

It's official, my people! AP reports that Mr. Obama has been formally elected as the 44th president...'becoming the nation's first black president'.

T.
ps. AP is confusing me 'cause yesterday the were pretty much pushing the meme that he wasn't the first...ummm...you know...

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:31:42 -0000

OK, who watched the CSPAN White House documentary that began last night and will continue through Friday? You must! Very enlightening. They also interviewed William Seale, the author of The President's House(2 volumes; updated 2008).

I must share one tidbit from last night's installment that tickled me: Eleanor Roosevelt wanted all the servants to be the same color so she fired all the non-black folks and hired all black folks at a lower wage rate. Man, I was like, "Damn, she didn't even think that we were worth the full rate even though we came as matching sets!"

Yeah, I know...my humor is a tad lame. Forgive me. This is serious stuff given that, even today, our labor is still undervalued - black women, paid some 15 - 20 cents/dollar less than our white counterparts. Yeah...

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:55:12 -0000

Watch and learn, y'all - Valerie Jarrett - may be the 2nd most powerful staffer in the WH?"

Sistas doin' it fo' themselves!

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 19:59:10 -0000

Webb, actually, I, personally, will not rest easy until I get pictorial evidence that he is ensconced in some plush chair, behind his desk, in the Oval Office. Ya never know...

T.

Re: Monday Open Thread

T. — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:02:34 -0000

Sure, darlin'. I will keep y'all up to date over the course of the week. I hope to catch the next installment on it's second showing in the wee hours of the morning.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 17:28:41 -0000

Rick Warren to say the invocation at the inaugural ceremony? RICK WARREN??? What.The.Fuck??? What kinda secret is he carrying for PE Obama??? RICK WARREN??? This smells.

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:08:46 -0000

What's wrong with it? This guy is a straight up bigot. To me, Rick Warren is a most loathsome person. What? Is PE Obama seeking penance from the right-wring crowd for Rev. Wright's shenanigans? What? Does PE Obama expect this hateful person who calls himself a 'man of God' to validate him to the 47% who didn't vote for him. I don't care who chose Rick Warren to do the invocation because PE Obama must have had the power to deselect him before any public announcement.

The inauguration ceremony does foreshadow, in some respects, how a president may govern and it's heartening that PE Obama wants to bring people with opposing views together, BUT, to do so by basically pissing on a huge bloc of his ardent supporters in choosing a person who discounts them, to take an active role in the ceremonies, is almost, almost, unconscionable. Were there no other pastors available? Rick-Fucking Warren? Puhleeze!

On this issue, one word comes to mind about PE Obama and it pains me to say it: ACCOMODATIONIST!

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:22:49 -0000

And he couldn't veto that decision? Please give me a break - HE IS THE LEADER OF THE EFFING PARTY!!!!!

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:24:06 -0000

Mmmmm...

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:37:41 -0000

And this is supposed to absolve the Democratic Party and it's leader, PE Obama, for giving Rick Warren, and his outdated thinking, legitimacy? On such a historic occasion? Symbolism be damned...this fucking pisses me off. I detest Rick Warren!

T.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:40:30 -0000

I would rather Rick Warren not pray for me even if he were the last man left on the face of the earth! He needs to pray for himself before he even attempts to pray for me. Fucking bigot!

T.

Re: Should the “Purpose Driven Preacher” Pray over the POTUS?

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:07:51 -0000

I have already stated my position on this in the day thread and even hours later, I am extremely unhappy. At his very core PE Obama is a coalition builder, and we all knew that he would make some unpopular decisions, but inviting Rick Warren, that loathsome creature, to offer the invocation at the inaugural ceremony is mind-boggling. I always felt that in his quest to make everyone just get along, PE Obama is going to over-reach and piss off his base and he won't be able to pacify them when that happens. I don't think that time is now but tone-deaf decisions like these suggest that it's inevitable.

Part of my fury stems from the fact that we just seem to be kissing GOP ass so that they won't make trouble for us when we assume the reins of government on January 20th. I watched last week as Dodd and Reid heaped undeserved praise on Bob Corker after his blatant attempt to break the UAW, and America's auto industry, in an effort to advantage the foreign automotive companies in the South. Bile rose in the back of my throat.

This Rick Warren thing begs this question - If PE Obama starts accommodating the right-wing now, where will it stop? These people do not see reason. So, is he feeding the beast - the GOP beast?

T.

Re: Should the “Purpose Driven Preacher” Pray over the POTUS?

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:12:07 -0000

This I can never understand and it frustrates me.

T.

Re: Should the “Purpose Driven Preacher” Pray over the POTUS?

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:17:49 -0000

So you think that after Rick Warren's invocation, everybody's gonna just love PE Obama and the nation will be healed and we're all just gonna hold hands and sing Kumbaya? Of course, I don't have the power to reverse his decision to have Rick Warren at the inaugural ceremony but I sure as hell don't feel so charitable as to be deferent to him all the time. In my humble opinion, this decision is a huge misstep.

T.

Re: Should the “Purpose Driven Preacher” Pray over the POTUS?

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:40:57 -0000

Listen, my comment was not an opening for you to follow this line of argument. I have seen your posts and I do not share your view that the cabinet should be chock full of African Americans. I am very proud of the diverse cabinet that he has assembled and could not be more pleased that he has chosen some African Americans to be at his side. We have an African American president so don't get greedy now, sweetie! Pace yourself...

T.

Re: Should the “Purpose Driven Preacher” Pray over the POTUS?

T. — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:47:10 -0000

Let the focus of our angst stay on the decision to choose Rick Warren to commence the ceremonies, OK? Because this supposed 'man of God' does not share our values and selecting him is an affront to most, if not all, of the Democratic base.

Now if you're looking for a black religious leader, Dr. Lowery will do the benediction. That's alright by me.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 13:20:26 -0000

About Rick Warren. I note that PE Obama has offered a response to our objection of the choice of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the inaugural ceremony. It could be that my anger is clouding my reason, but I couldn't decide whether he was being sincere or patronizing, "Aw shucks! You crazy kids are so 'noisy and opinionated'; I've made my decsion so live with it."

Today, a few days removed, I am still disappointed that PE Obama chose to give such a prominent platform to a man whose views are diametrically opposed to mine, and many others. Many here have suggested that the reason many white Democrats are upset is that they think that they gave the black man a chance and now he is not doing their bidding. Look, blacks like myself, are truly flabbergasted by this choice as well. Of course, we are pleased that Dr. Lowery will present another kind of voice at the festivities but that doesn't take away the core point: I, we, fought hard to make this man our president - through snow, sleet, rain and sunshine - and we loath to share our moment of joy with an unrepentant bigot.

Of course, I appreciate PE Obama's desire to create a climate for reasoned dialogue among people with opposing viewpoints but I, personally, am not confident that Rick Warren and his ilk are open to viewpoints other than their own. Maybe, I am being too pessimistic, but when I look at it from that perspective, Rick Warren's presence at the ceremony is an exercise in futiltiy, and, therefore, extremely frustrating. I hope I am wrong. Maybe this will open some hearts and minds to issues that I, and others in the Democratic Party, care about. We'll see.

As for the question that was posed here: What will happen after Rick Warren says the invocation? My answer? Well, certainly, the world will not come to a crashing end but that shouldn't discount the displeasure that many feel about having him there. It also does nothing to quell my growing fear that this may, MAY, become a first in a series of accomodations that the Democratic leadership are willing to make in order to appease the Right, at the expense of the base, with nothing to show for it.

Just my 2 cents.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:25:55 -0000

ps. sorry for the grammatical errors...I have no idea how to edit after I post...

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:11:36 -0000

Gates is a native of Alabama, methinks...

T.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 31 Days — Open Thread

T. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:40:14 -0000

Good news for Caroline Kennedy! Governor Patterson, please appoint her so that I can see people-like-this-lady's head explode. Please.

T.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 31 Days — Open Thread

T. — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 20:52:27 -0000

Great news for Caroline Kennedy!

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:52:32 -0000

Dear Gay Leaders,

There is a grassroots out here waiting to be mobilized in order to spread your message in an orderly and civil way, proactively. When you think it's time to start the hard work of outreach and education and not assume that every person is automatically going to fall your way, I am ready to work on your behalf to engage and inform my church, and the larger community, about the challenges of the gay community as it relates to equality, discrimination etc.

While I stand in solidarity with you over the misguided choice of Rick Warren, by PE Obama, to deliver the invocation at his inauguration, I will not stand silently by while you go around throwing "fire-bombs" like this. Obama, 'a rational-sounding sort of bigot'? You must be out of your fucking mind! It is just untrue and unfair.

Yes, you maintain the right to articulate your frustration with the way things currently are, but I would suggest that doing it in this manner only serves to harden the hearts and minds of the very people who can help you or those whose minds can be changed.

Just sayin',
T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:27:14 -0000

While I empathize with the writer's frustrations, I strongly disagree with the his/her characterization of PE Obama. That type of rhetoric is just not helpful, Rick Warren or not.

Having said that, I do not think that the invitation of Rick Warren, to the inaugural festivities, is "hugely insignificant", as you have stated above. By saying that, you run the risk of marginalizing our displeasure with PE Obama's decision. Furthermore, you refer to gays as "deviants"?. I'm sorry, but that type of rhetoric is not helpful either.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:35:27 -0000

It is true that we should disagree with PE Obama in a way that respects the office of the presidency, but I would not go so far as to say that if someone acts in a manner that we deem disrespectful, it is because he is black. We should remind ourselves to be very careful about going down that path, especially when there is no evidence to support such an assertion.

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:50:48 -0000

There is one thing that gay leaders and advocates could clarify that would help me when I approach my church congregants: Is this a fight for the M-word or is this a fight for equal rights? Would the gay community be satisfied with a state-by-state definition of what marriage should be, but then fight for a federal civil unions giving you the same rights as heterosexual married persons?(I hope I am clear by what I mean here.)

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:53:12 -0000

Like my Mom says, "Two wrongs doesn't make a right!"

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:23:04 -0000

You are incorrigible, is all I have to say. Why not just say nothing if you're not going to offer anything constructive or any new viewpoint to the conversation?

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:49:14 -0000

At what cost?

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:51:31 -0000

OK, my people, take a draw and chill...pass it around...

T.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

T. — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:54:45 -0000

I believe that my initial comment was specifically in response to the very recent article that I linked to above.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 13:19:40 -0000

As a child...

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:18:47 -0000

Man, it sure is fun to watch Markos lose his sh*t over the possibility that Caroline Kennedy is appointed as NY's junir senator. Check out his latest whine. Ridiculous, right?

First of all, the lady didn't say what he claimed she said. In fact, the lady completely ignored the question. If that ain't political skills, I don't know what is. And, second, earlier in the month, Ms. Kennedy did indicate a desire to run for the seat if she was not appointed. But, let's say she did in fact mean that she would not run for the seat if not appointed as Morkos thinks she meant, what would be so wrong with that, mmmm? To support an incumbent who, hopefully, is doing a good job and was not intended to be a seat-warmer? Nothing, in my view. Because in my recent memory, a Democratic primary for that Senate seat gives an advantage to the Republicans.

Poor Markos!

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:26:25 -0000

BTW, one more thing about the CK interview last night with Dominic Carter. Towards the end of the interview, Dominc repeatedly said that he could not believe that Ms. Kennedy agreed to be interviewed by him without any "pre-existing conditions". Too funny! Preconditions, Dominic, preconditions, bro! LOL!

I like the lady. I want her as my junior senator.

T.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

T. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 14:43:41 -0000

babyming, would you at least agree that any US President should look at both sides when dealing with this issue of Israel and Palestine? Is Palestine completely innocent? Is Israel completely innocent? Is a life of an Israeli child worth as much as a Palestinean one, and vice versa?

T.

Re: Dear RNC: Here’s Why We Won’t Take You Seriously

T. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:18:34 -0000

So, Mike Duncan, who wants to continue as RNC chair, suddenly finds the song offensive. Like, no shit! Where was he when Limbaugh first unleased it MONTHS ago? Awww shucks, I forgot...they were trying to win an election by any means necessary. LOL! Who does Mike Duncan really think he is trying to fool? Does he really believe that we are like the poor white people in the Appalachian mountains who they use for votes during election season and then leave them to wallow in poverty and ignorance when it's all over?

Puhleeeeze!

Here's what's up? The people up in the GOP have themselves all convinced that the raw stats - which means absolutely nada - coming out of California's Prop 8 battle puts them in real contention for the black vote. So convinced are they that they have a shot at peeling away the black vote from the Democratic Party, last week on Lehrer's report, some conservative guy boldly suggested that PE Obama's choice of Rick Warren to deliver the invocation at the inauguration, was a way to keep the black folks happy. He cited the Prop 8 issue as proof. I was like, WTF? Black people couldn't give a fuck about Rick Warren because they don't know who he is. But guess what? It seems that they are about to because, according to Field Negro, Rick Warren was just invited to Ebenezer Baptist Church to celebrate MLK Day. Can you believe that sh*t y'all? I just wanted to retch when I read it. I neither like Rick Warren's viewpoints nor do I trust the man.

Concomitant with that, consider Newt Gingrich's very transparent attempts to become a "friend" of black people - he wants to be Cao's liaison to the black community, lambasting the RNC for the Obama-Blago ad etc. - all this on the heels of the passage of Prop 8.

Looksto me like they are after the black evangelicals, who they've always ignored, to build up a new Republican coalition, which could at the same time stymie any progressive efforts in the LGBT community, if the black democrats like John Lewis, Joseph Lowery et al don't start speaking out. And, yeah, if the LGBT leadership doesn't start informing and educating the black community about their quest for equal rights and mutual interests, like fighting HIV etc.

Thanks PE Obama! You've just let the Republican foxes into the Democratic Party's henhouse! I hope it works out for ya!

In the meantime, I say this to black folks: Don't be fooled! Don't let the GOP get their hands up under your skirts with working for it. Don't let them use you...

T.

Re: Dear RNC: Here’s Why We Won’t Take You Seriously

T. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 16:42:58 -0000

Where did you hear about this study? Any links? Thanks.

T.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 24 Days — Open Thread

T. — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 21:09:03 -0000

Please see this as well as the comments. You may or may not find it an interesting read.

T.