Disqus - Latest Comments for lh

Re: Tuesday Open Thread - Hello!

lh — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:09:39 -0000

yeah, I saw that on abcnews blog.

What's sad/funny...earlier tonight, I was talking to an elderly co-worker of mine, and she mentioned the whole Hilary backstory, but I just kinda laughed it off because she is one of those basically "conspiracy brotha" all the time. Now I've got to apologize for laughing since it technically was true about the plane and clinton

Re: Beware of Clinton Opportunists!

lh — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:34:36 -0000

Here's a new take:

Maybe by voting against the FISA bill, Obama is opening the door for a Clinton vice-presidency by making it "easier" for his netroots supporters to support Clinton on the ticket more.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:34:07 -0000

I don't think u should put much stock in the nat'l polls. I think the state polls are a better way to view the race. Obama is ahead in most of the state polls where he needs to be, and he I'd ahead in some places where he shouldn't be. It just doesn't make sense that he would be ahead in all these states and actually have the race being do tight. So I suggest looking st the state polls. After all, you win by electoral college, not total voted!

Re: Monday Open Thread - Hello, Everyone!

lh — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:29:31 -0000

How I feel about the New Yorker cover

I would bet that the marjoirty of the people who "don't" think this is a big deal or not african american or muslim american.

I don't blame the artist, it's the editors of the new yorker who decided to run with this caricature. But I can't say that I'm surprised. The New Yorker mag subscribers are the mainly white liberals, who may see the satrie in this, but I would bet if the New yorker had a larger number of african american subscribers, then they would have thought twice about putting this image on the cover.

The sad thing is that being an African-American myself the idea that we are supposed to not be upset "because it's satire" is bullshit!! If this image was on the cover of "the national review" or on the front page of some right wing hate site, then would we still be told to "see the satire" in it.

I've learned that there are 2 types of funny when it comes to racial insenstivity: 1) funny HAHA, and 2) funny, sad. to most african americans who woke up this morning to hear/see this cover, it's definitely not funny HAHA to us.

Besides, to some people the Sambo image was satire too. Should I not be upset by that either.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:31:42 -0000

Re: The Yucca Ad in Nevada.

I actually think that this is good politics by the Obama campaign. As Hilary Clinton and Al Gore and everyone else knows, you win the presidency by the electoral college, i.e. individual states. You do not win by the popular vote which is what the national polls essentially measure.

Bye targeting states specifically, obama is truly using a 50 state strategy. While McCain is busy releasing national ads (when most people agree that most voters aren't really paying attention). But what do people pay attention to, their local news, newspaper. Many people read their local newspaper daily, but they may not watch national news as much. By specifically targeting states Obama is putting the issues in the context of what should be important to the voter.

Re: CORE Sells Out to Exxon

lh — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 10:01:28 -0000

you are not alone. he's any idiot. both he and Mike "plagarisor" Barnacle has the nerve to try and meke Edwards Infidelity a problem for Obama!!!

What!!!

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 10:46:43 -0000

D,

Interesting blog, and I'm sure you are a good conservative, but let's be honest, last night on CNN, even the conservative commentator commended the Democrats on doing something that he party is not nearly close enough to doing.

I know some repubs are hanging their hats on Jindal in the future, but those Repub and Democrats who won't vote for Obama because he's black, won't be voting for Jindal either. Colon Powell may have come close, I truly believe that all it would take is for a "darker" cousin or relation to have occupied the stage with Colin to bring back the same racist BS. IMHO!

But I'm sure ya'll get there eventually,

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 14:28:11 -0000

I just came home from New Orleans this Tuesday, and they were worried about Faye, now Gustav. I guess this means that I may have a full house this labor day weekend.

Re: Sarah Palin= Another Clarence Thomas

lh — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 10:38:26 -0000

John Stewart on "The Daily Show" had a segment about that Fox News guy saying that she has FP experience because Alaska is next to Russia.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index...

check it out at the 21min mark

Re: Monday Open Thread - Jack & Jill Politics

lh — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:50:15 -0000

My sister has a full house now with 6 of my family members here in Dallas, and I have 2 friends from NOLA with me, and 2 of my aunts are supposedly headed to Dallas.

So it's gonna be a hectic week

Re: Monday Open Thread - Jack & Jill Politics

lh — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:53:20 -0000

Barack Obam on Stephanie Tubbs Jones.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/walsh/

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:56:16 -0000

So,

So what other things can no longer be uttered because they are sexist.

I guess "sow's purse" is out. Because it has the word pig in it, and the word purse which is a woman's accessory, so it has to go. You are essentially calling all women who carry purses a female pig. Disgusting!

I guess Elton John can no longer sing "The Bitch is Back" because as you know that song is dripping with sexism. Why is he calling women Bitches? Why couldn't the song be called "The Strong, Independent, Self-Sufficient Woman Is Back". Elton John is of course a raging...sexist.

I guess that also means that I can no longer sing along to "My Girl" by the Temptations. Because it should be "My Woman", but wait, are the Temps trying to say that I am theirs? Women are not possessions. On second thought, maybe it should be changed to "This Woman, Who I Do Not Own, Who is My Equal, and Chose To Be Mine".

And of course forget about singing "It's A Man's World" by James Brown. It's just insulting. It's a Man's World but it wouldn't be nothin' without a woman or a girl. How dare he! The song should be changed to "It's a PERSON'S World" and it wouldn't be nothin' without a man or a woman.

Sexism is everywhere, right?

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:36:05 -0000

where could you find the video

Re: Friday Open Thread

lh — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:21:09 -0000

You might want to make sure you use more credible sources.

ABC NEWS: Republicans Back Obama‘s Version of Meeting with Iraqi Leaders :
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09...

"The Obama campaign said that the Post report consisted of "outright distortions."

Lending significant credence to Obama's response is the fact that -- though it's absent from the Post story and other retellings -- in addition to Obama and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, this July meeting was also attended by Bush administration officials such as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker and the Baghdad embassy's Legislative Affairs advisor Rich Haughton, as well as a Republican senator, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.

Attendees of the meeting back Obama's account, including not just Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, but Hagel, Senate Foreign Relations Committee staffers from both parties. Officials of the Bush administration who were briefed on the meeting by the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad also support Obama's account and dispute the Post story and McCain attack.

The Post story is "absolutely not true," Hagel spokesman Mike Buttry told ABC News."

Read full post:
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/09...

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:08:18 -0000

From what I understand, I thought that this whould also help Biden. All he has to do is hammer McCain's policy and get palin defending the plan. A good debater like Biden can still hammer the floor with Palin by just using his sheer breath of knowledge. Plus is all Palin is going to be doing is reciting talking points, then I would think that the Obama/Biden team will have ready made rebuttals that can box in Palin so that she either keeps to here talking points, or she has to respond off script

It also cuts out of the whole "Biden beating up a girl" meme that some in the MSM want to put out.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:07:01 -0000

Just found this in one of the rec diaries over at dkos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/4/85848/1....

This definitely needs to be out there.

Saturday, October 4, 2008
TO: Interested Parties
FR: Obama-Biden Campaign
RE: Five Pitfalls of the McCain Health Plan

FIVE PITFALLS OF THE MCCAIN HEALTH PLAN

John McCain’s “radical” health care plan will undermine the health care that millions of Americans have come to rely on, and while shifting costs onto individuals and hurting the budgets of working families. In five crucial areas the McCain plan will make America’s already fragile health care system worse, making it more difficult to solve our nation’s health crisis.

Pays for a New Tax Credit by Taxing Employees’ Health Benefits for the First Time in History. John McCain and Sarah Palin argue that their health care plan is budget neutral, and that it includes a new $5,000 health care tax credit to help families purchase insurance. What they don’t tell you is that to pay for their plan, they will tax the health benefits that workers receive from their employers for the first time in history. Moreover, McCain’s health care tax credits would go directly to insurance companies, while his new tax on employee health premiums would come directly out of workers’ pockets. This tax punishes those who currently have generous health insurance, and over time will result in higher taxes for tens of millions of middle-class families.
•OBAMA PLAN: Offering tax credits to make health care affordable for all Americans, without imposing a new tax on employer health benefits. Barack Obama’s health care plan is fully paid for by reducing health care costs, eliminating overpayments to HMOs and rolling back a portion of the Bush tax cuts for families making over $250,000 per year.

Forces at least 20 million people to lose employer-based coverage. By taxing employee health benefits, the McCain plan will make it more expensive for employers to provide coverage. As a result, independent analyses show that employers will drop at least 20 million people from coverage and force them to seek insurance in the individual market, where costs are higher, quality is lower, and coverage more uncertain. By moving more risk upon the shoulders of individuals, it raises insurance costs for everyone nationally. And by forcing millions into the individual market, people with pre-existing conditions from asthma to cancer will be at risk of not being able to get health insurance at all.
•OBAMA PLAN: Building upon the employer based health-insurance system by letting workers keep the health insurance they have or to purchase a different plan in a new pool that ensures quality and affordable coverage.

Undermines the ability of people who do have coverage to get services from cancer screenings to vaccines. The McCain plan undermines state laws that require insurance companies to cover bedrock health care services such as cancer screenings and vaccines. The plan empowers insurance companies over doctors and nurses, while making America less healthy. In fact, John McCain recently explained his intention to deregulate health insurance along the lines that the banking industry has been deregulated over the past decade.
•OBAMA PLAN: Protecting existing state regulations and increasing protections for American families by requiring health insurance companies to cover all Americans regardless of health status and outlawing unreasonable rate and fee increases.

Fails to take on rising health care costs. The McCain plan has no strategy to contain spiraling national health care costs. Without the aggressive investments needed to modernize our health care system, a recent analysis concluded that McCain’s plan could actually increase health care costs by $37 billion by 2010.
•OBAMA PLAN: Bringing down health care costs by $2,500 per year, per family, through aggressive investments in health information technology, chronic care management, comparative effectiveness research, and an emphasis on prevention.

Fails to address the crisis of the uninsured. The McCain health plan does not even attempt to solve the problem of the uninsured – it barely reduces the number of uninsured individuals, and it leaves those with preexisting conditions at the greatest risk of being unable to find affordable coverage. This lack of commitment to ensuring affordable coverage for all Americans is consistent with McCain’s record, including his vote last fall against funding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) that would have extended coverage to 3.8 million children.
• OBAMA PLAN: Ensure that every single American can purchase quality, affordable healthcare, so that no American is uninsured.
In all these respects the McCain health plan represents a continuation of the policies we have seen over the last eight years, policies that have contributed to health premiums more than doubling, 7 million more Americans uninsured, and nearly 2 million more Americans without employer sponsored insurance.

For a more detailed discussion check out this link:

http://obama.3cdn.net/0aa72299f5f5375dc6_kt6mvy...

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:12:15 -0000

Even better news guys:

Rasmussen poll: Obama 51% McCain 45%

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/...

This is what caught my eye in the write-up:

"For each of the past nine days, Obama has been at 50% or 51% and McCain has been at 44% or 45% (see trends). The stability of these results suggests that the McCain campaign faces a very steep challenge in the remaining few weeks of Election 2008. "

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 10:34:53 -0000

The Biden impersonation fell a little flat for me, but all the funny moments ya'll mentionoed were good. The reason why I felt the Biden portion was a little flat is because despite what many MSM pundits said, Biden was SOLID in the debate, even his "friendship" with John McCain was not as heavily parodiable(?). Biden was the better of the two hands down. Of the two, Palin came off as the lesser knowledgable of the two...PERIOD. The best line of the skit for me was exactly what came out of the debate, when the Biden guy said "Joe Biden is BETTER. THAN. THAT". Most Americans agreed.
The McCain is my friend, but dangerous riffs were pretty funny too.

Tina Fey was great as always. Latifah was as beautiful as always. To my eyes, she made Ifill better than she was.

Basically, they had to go more out of their way to parody Biden.
I did like them "calling" Palin out for the "Can I call you Joe" bit. It's true that throughout the debate she only called him Joe once I think for that lame ass "Say it isn't so Joe" line.

Re: Trick-Or-Treater-In-Chief

lh — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:50:07 -0000

I'm guessing that the little boy behind Obama and Sasha is going as Barack Obama this year.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 13:09:57 -0000

Here is Marc Ambinder's response to the "illegal Aunt" story. It seems about right:

The Politics Of Auntie Zeituni
01 Nov 2008 12:57 pm

Barack Obama's long-lost aunt, who is living in poverty, might be deported for being in the country illegally...and this is supposed to make people not want to vote for Barack Obama?

Republicans think anti-immigrant forces are going to be rallied by attacking a middle aged woman in her fifties? This is what's going to swing independents back to McCain? Reminding people (a) of an actual human face on the receiving end of anti-immigration policies and (b) that the Democratic candidate is personally affected by a complicated issue facing many American families?

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

Re: President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama

lh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:25:20 -0000

For the first time in 21 months, I am looking forward to watching Morning Joe. Did anyone else notice that after Ohio was called for Obama, that Joe Scar was no where to be found on MSNBC., neithe rwas Buchanan. I may have to actually get up early.

Suck on that Joe!

Man, today Nov 5th is my birthday! I will consider this my birthday present from America.

Re: President-Elect Barack Hussein Obama

lh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 01:28:06 -0000

Man the FOX crew looked like they needed some Zoloft. At one point Brit Hume and the panel were sniping at that Uncle Tom Juan Williams, and Williams looked like he wanted to cry like a little B(**&. You know once he leaves the studio, that he will be doing cartwheels down Time Square like the rest of us.

Re: Juan Williams is going to get a whuppin’ tomorrow morning

lh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 02:15:53 -0000

At least he didn't cry like a little B*&^&^ this time.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:18:28 -0000

I hear from DKos, that Joe Scar is showing is ass again today, but Brian Williams is kinda shutting it down.

Jealous much Joe!!!

Suck on it!!!!!

Re: Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State?

lh — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:12:18 -0000

This is basically my thinking too. When I first heard it, I thought "Hell No" too, but I realized that it was basically just an emotional reaction brought on my residual primary anger. But the primaries are over, so a cool head is needed when it comes to decisions like this. Therefore I can see the merits of the choice on a political/practical level, but still hate it on a personal/emotional level.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 56 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 22:53:49 -0000

Interesting blog post I found from Politico.com from Daily Gotham:

http://dailygotham.com/blog/bouldin/how_obama_p...

"How Obama punked Hillary

One aspect of the likely nomination of Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State has been completely overlooked: at a stroke, it removes Barack Obama's only serious, high-powered opposition within the party.

Consider the murmurings during late summer and early fall: that Hillary, if Obama didn't make it, or even if he did, could engage in another run for the top job next time around. That's not going to happen now. By offering her the senior cabinet office, Obama has effectively neutralized his main intra-party rival.

Or consider the question of money. As a Senator, Hillary could raise money to pay off her 2008 campaign debt; as a cabinet officer, she can't.

Then, look at the fate of Secretaries of State going back to Reagan: they get replaced after a single term. Bill Clinton, for example, replaced Warren Christopher with Madeline Albright.

If Hillary takes the job, she's going to wake up one morning in 2013 with no Senate seat, no power base, a big pile of debt, no Secretaryship, in short, nothing at all. Her big issue of healthcare reform, which she could have shaped from the Senate? Somebody else is going to take care of that.

You have to wonder if that's the point."

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:55:52 -0000

I'm sorry, flame me if you will, but isn't it customary to say "I Told You So" after somehing happens. I am not even close to being a Hilary person. In fact, if Obama had picked anyone else, I would have been just fine, but it just seems to me that people are condeming the selection of Hilary as SoS 1) before she is confirmed, 2) before she is even in the office.

Now I'm not even enough of an optimist to believe that this will be perfect, but I am also not that much of a pessimist to think that Hilary as SoS will crash and burn either or that this is the first major mistake of Obama's adminsration.

I totally understood the frustration to the idea that she was even being considered, but at this point, the choice is made, what can actually be done at this point tafter the appointment has been made, that didn't work before the official anouncement. What I'm saying is, other than her confirmation not going through, what can be done that hasn't already been tried?

Still, before I say this is it or Obama is crazy or Obama will be no different than Bush (as some have said, maybe not this blog, but other blogs, I frequent), I will have a "wait and see" attitude. Then is the shit hits the fan, then I'll say "I Told You So."

Just my two cents.

Re: These Posts Get a Repeat Performance

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:14:47 -0000

As I said in the open thread, I'm gonna be in "wait and see" mode before I say "I Told You So"

As to Clinton not getting through the confirmation hearing, this may be true, but I just don't believe it will happen. First of all, while I do thnk Obama is a great politician, it just does not seem his style to be party to open humiliation of any female in his orbit, sadly this includes Hilary. Isn't the point of a transition team to recomend candidates who have an actual chance of passing the confirmation hearings? Other than the Clinton-lead drama of the appointment, does Obama really strike you as someone who would chose the confirmation hearing as the right environment to "slay his adversaries". It just doesn't seem like his style. Besides, who would want to start their administration on such a vindictive and petty (compared to all our problems) note.

One of the pundits made the point that for the most part Republicans can make a stink if they like, but of the people he's chosen, only Holder or Clinton are likely to "prickle" their feathers, but as I understand, it would still be futile for the repubs to do so, since the dems have enough majority votes to confirm Obama's appointments without needing significant Repub votes.

I also read somewhere else that should Clinton step out of line, that by appointing Dr Rice as UN Ambassador during Hilary's SoS appointment, if it comes to pass that Obama needs to replace Clinton, boom there is Dr Rice fresh off her assignment as UN Ambassador poised to replace Hilary as SoS.

The truth is that no one really knows what the future will hold, but as I said, I'm gonna "Wait and see"!

Re: Ludcaris vs. Palin In Georgia Senate Race?

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:26:59 -0000

I get the idea behind Ludicris out campaigning for Jim Martin, but I'm not sure it will make much difference. Regardless, I hope people go out and vote in ATL.

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 19:00:28 -0000

Those covers look great. When will they be on the shelves?

Has anyone seen the Ebony covers yet? They are the ones who got the 1st print interview post-election by the Obamas. I wanna know when they will be out.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 50 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:20:38 -0000

I kinda agree with ya there to some small extent. In some cases, the Clinton drama is usually because the Clinton's leaked the drama

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 50 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:26:01 -0000

Personally even when I agree with Hitchens, I find him very unpleasant, more so than Joan. At least with Joan we know she's a Clinton-lover from the beginning, the devil you know. Besides, IIRC, wasn't Hitchens pretty dismissive of Obama particularly during the Rev Wright/Bitter moments during the primaries. He basically got behind Obama because eventually he couldn't stand Palin, Clinton, or McCain, so Obama was the lesser of the evils.

So I take much of what Hitchens says with a grain of salt.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 50 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:31:17 -0000

I tell you what, I can't stand Campbell Brown. Her whole "no bias, no bull" schictk is getting old. It's mostly bull. I kinda wish Campbell Brown and David Gregory would have just gone away after the electiob,

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 50 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 20:56:42 -0000

Looks like I'm not the only one who's adopting the Wait and see approach.

Check out Al Girodano's new Post:
http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/welco...

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 50 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:02:14 -0000

He maybe right about Hil and Bill, but his views on Obama I will take with a grain of salt. Even if you agree with him about the Clintons, pay attention to how he speaks of Obama. It just seems to me he has absolutely no respect for Obama, and it's times like these when it completely oozes out of his pores.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 50 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 21:11:15 -0000

When are these issues gonna be on the newstand? Does anyone know when Ebony will be on the stand?

Re: Thoughts On The Clinton Appointment

lh — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:51:55 -0000

Co-signed to the umpteenth degree. I'll admit, that originally when I heard this news, I was completely against it, but I'll admit it was all primary emotions overflowing. The reason why I felt it was primary emotional residue is because unlike some people on this board, I was unconcerned about Hilary as the nominee. It wasn't until I really got onto the Obama bandwagon, that I guess my eyes were opened wider to the Clinton drama. Once I calmed down though, I became resigned to it, and decided to "give it a go" and wait and see how things turn out.

Besides, by accepting his offer, Hilary's future in the Democratic party is intertwined with Obama's now, and if she F)*&'s up, then not even Bill will be able to make it go away.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 50 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:55:27 -0000

you're right envy is the right word.

I suspect that a lot of Repubs are envious of Obama's charisma and saavy

Re: Thoughts On The Clinton Appointment

lh — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 19:59:34 -0000

Do you seriously think that the Obama transition team would nominate Hilary Clinton for SoS, if they did not already know that she would pass the confirmation stage. Why would Obama want to open his new administration up to worse drama than the original drama initiated by the announcement.

I know we all would like to live in that fantasy world, but I just don't see the benefit to Obama to have a prolonged confirmation hearing with Clinton Drama .

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 17:42:10 -0000

I don't know if anybody's posted this, but here is Obama today answering a question about the lack of latino appointments so far:

"Diversity, and excellence

Challenged about the lack of a Latino in one of the prime cabinet jobs, Obama defends the honor of the Commerce position being given Richardson (who delivered part of his remarks in Spanish), and offers a riff on a White House that, starting from the top, will look very different from those past.

"When people look back and see the entire slate, what they will say not only in terms of my Cabinet, but in terms of my White House staff – I think people are going to say this is one of the most diverse Cabinets and White House staffs of all time, but more importantly I think they’re going to say these are all people of outstanding qualifications and excellence," he said. "There’ s no contradiction between diversity and excellence."

Taken from : http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Div...

I completely get what Obama is saying. Of course I would like to have a good representation of minorities in Obama's administration, but I also want him to pick the best and the brightest, if they happen to be African-American or Latino then fabulous.

I was thinking that maybe it is a matter of there just not being a large enough representation of minorities who have the breath of experience/knowledge in the particular field in which Obama is looking to fill a post, and who are not already well known, or from the Clinton adminstration, or from some other former administration. I don't know, but from personal experience being a minority in the hospital sciences field. My graduating class had about 25 students (it was a small professional program), and of that 25 only 5 were African American, 2 per Chinese, the rest were white.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 48 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 20:42:33 -0000

Hey guys,

I have a query: Since there are a limited number of cambinet post (about 12 right?) and some people have taken issue with the lack of "diversity" in the top positions, or the lack ot "progressives" in the top positions, I wonder what ya'll think is better, having a diverse group of cabinet members, or having a more diverse administration overall? I ask because it seems to me since there aren't alot of those "cabinet" positions, a substantially diverse administration would be pretty amazing. For my money, Obama's cabinet is pretty diverse already: blacks, women, latino(admittedly just the one). But wouldn't it be worse to have a diverse top group, but still have a less than diverse staff positions. I think it was Eugene Robinson who I heard say that yes, Bush appointed Condi as SoS and NSAdvisor, but the staff below her was grossly under-diverse, I think he said that it was "still mostly white guys"

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 48 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:11:17 -0000

So I'm watching Jack Cafferty on CNN, and his last question was about Ed Rendell and what he said about Janet Napolitano's appointment. Apparentaly Rendell said, that janet was a perfect choice because she had no children, and therefore no life to interfere with the job.

did anyone else hear about this?

Ed Rendell is an ass. He really pissed me off during the primaries, when he was sutmping for Hilary.

Sounds to me like Ed is jealous!

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 48 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:22:03 -0000

I think it was one of the Zac Posen dreses

Which I find interesting since I've seen some celebrity wearing Zac Posen dresses and they've all been pretty cute

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 48 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 23:09:42 -0000

I did not like the one that looked like a plantation dress. It is wrong on so many levels to make Michelle Obama look like something out of "Gone With The Wind" or "Alex Haley's Queen" it's a 21st century Inauguarl Ball, not a 19 century cotillion. She young, hip and black, she is not Mary Lincoln.

What I liked, I really like that Red Monique Lhuiler(?), red was fabulous. That would probably be my pick, but not in Red, Royal Purple maybe. There was a Michael Kors dress that I loved. The Badgley Mischka was nice too. I also kinda like the Mizrahi(?) piece for Michelle, Malia, & Sasha

That Betsey Johnson montrosity was horrendous. As I said previously, the "plantation" dress, and I just could not stand those series of dresses that looked like something out of the X-Men (i.e. Storm) comics

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 48 Days — Open Thread

lh — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:04:41 -0000

Sorrry folks, native New Orleanian here, I see nothing wrong with this. As anyone who has visitied New Orleans or lived there knows, the "Big Easy" never sleeps. Bars in the French Quarter, particularly Bourbon Street, are "open for business" 24/7, that's not to say that you won't be the only one in the place at 4am, or early in the morning, just that if you wanted a place to drink at 4am, you could definitely find your spot.

Oh and people drinking didn't make the city any less safe (as witnessed by the excessive drunkeness of Mardi Gras). It was the non-alcohol related crimes that hindered the city.

Besides, if the NOPD can perform crowd control even after losing alot of manpower after Katrina, then DC should be a piece of cake.

Re: The Attorney General and the Double Standard

lh — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 13:59:37 -0000

Johnathan Capeheart was on "Morning Joke" talking about this editorial, and basically not even trying to give a defense of Holder at all. It really pissed me off.

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 13:58:14 -0000

Happy Birthday!

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 14:33:35 -0000

Has anyone else been following the back and forth between Obama campaign manager Steve Hilebrand and some of the progressive bloggers at Open Left, Firedoglake, and Kos himself.

Hilebrand posted the following on HuffingtonPost.com:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-hildebrand/...

The bloggers are basically saying that Hilebrand is suggesting that "progressives" should STFU.

I wouldn't go that far, but I am a little exhausted with Obama ain't doing this or Obama ain't doing that nonsense that has been going on lately between some of the marque progressive bloggers/sites.

I mean, I'm a true believer in constructive criticism, but if I didn't have JJP, and read only the Open Left, Talk Left, and Firedoglake, even kos sometimes, I would just assume that the Obama campaign are liars.

But I guess my question to ya'll with greater political knowledge than I do, am I missing something here. Did Obama make all these promises on the campaign trail that he is not keeping? Is there anything he can/could/should do fir some of these people?

I'm new to politics, so I guess I'm asking how do ya'll seperate the drama (those who won't be pleased regardless) and the legitimate (those with valid points & questions)?

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 43 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:21:00 -0000

So, I was watching my taping of morning joe, and chuck todd made an interesting point about the "liberal left" and Obama. That it seems that it's the "liberal elites" (Kos, OpenLeft, Firedoglake, and now Chris Matthews etc) who are the ones "sounding the alarm", but Obama's actual grassroots base are the ones who are not. These "liberal elites" run the risk of alienating the everyday Obama base that are fine with Obama's choices. In other words, the "liberal elites" don't want to seem like they are openly criticizing Obama too much (kinda like the what the "republican elites" did with Sarah Palin) and therefore be treated to a backlash from the down-home base support that Obama has.

What do ya'll think?

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:24:49 -0000

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 43 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 21:23:43 -0000

First of all, sound the alarm was just a paraphrase was my own turn of phrase, so if it was too intense, then fine.

Second, I am new to politics, but I've been a frequent reader of many of the blogs, I mentioned, and even before the "establishment media" picked up this story, the particularly feeling from these blogs were picking up steam. From the day of Obama's first cabinet appointments, to even the days before the transition, these same blogs were pre-emptively posting critique's of Obama. It just seems that now, it is picking up steam, so the media is ractioning up it's coverage.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 42 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:54:10 -0000

My money is on Idris. Bond is British after all, and Idris is hot, hot, hot. I love Morris, but unfortunately he is way too short. He is not as tall as he looks.

Question: Is this supposed to be a real part of the Bond series, or just a new version for the non-melanin-challenged movie goers.

Question 2: Has there every really been a James Bond inspired spy flick starring a black actor, that wasn't I,Spy, or the average Blaxploitation film star?

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 42 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:02:30 -0000

No offense to Beyonce, I'm all for diversity, but somethings should just not happen. Lynda Carter may have been a Latina, but Wonder Woman in the comics was obviously white. Yes she was supposedly an Amazon princess, and therefore dark-skinned, but it was a comic book character, and most comic book characters are not known for being historically correct.

Besides, at some point doesn't it just become insulting. Would we really be happy with just because a black guy got to play Superman? Or vice versa, wouldn't it have been silly to have a white guy play Blade?

It's one thing to want a black princess be a NEW main character in a Disney film, but many of these comic book characters have well-established origins and characteristics.

Sadly, this includes Bond (I know it's not a comic book character, but it is a fictonal character with descriptive traits and features)

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 42 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:03:59 -0000

This blogger sounds a little catty. Is that the usual M.O. for the latimes

Re: The Tuskegee Airmen Will Be At The Inauguration

lh — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:29:27 -0000

Man, to quote Michael Jackson "u are not alone"

Last week, I was at my hairdresser, and some of the ladies mentioned that they were going to D.C. and I was so mad that I would'nt be there. I"m off that day though, so I guess I'll just have to go to my sister's house and watch the festivities on her big screen.

Damnit, I really want to go. I feel like I felt when I missed the first Mardi Gras celebration after Katrina. I watched it on T.V. and I damn near cried. I'm sure this will be even worse

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 41 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:41:55 -0000

OT: But I saw that Ricky Martin is debuting pictures of his 5 month old twin sons who were born by surrogate.

Don't laugh, but I love me some Ricky Martin. I even paid (yes paid) to see him in concert when I was 25 (luckily I wasn't the oldest one there).

Here's the question: What SINGLE, STRAIGHT male do ya'll know who would go throught all the trouble of hiring a surrogate to have his children. Hell what SINGLE STRAIGHT male do you know who actually wants to raise children "alone". Me thinks that the issue for Ricky is the whole STRAIGHT part? What do ya'll think?

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 41 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:54:18 -0000

Some random thoughts I was having about this holiday season, and the new president-elect.

1. My grandmother died about 4 days after Hurricane Katrina landed in New Orleans. Her heart gave out. On election night and every night since, I have day dreams about picking up the phone asking her what she thinks about that colored guy, Obama winning the presidency (FYI: I am African American, but my grandmother was almost 70 years old, so she still had a habit of saying colored or negroe, not black or African American)

2. As the song goes "Santa Clause is A Black Man"! So this time next year, will America be treated to a Black Santa Claus taking pictures at the White House. Hell the Obamas' seem like the kind of people who actually celebrate Kwanzaa. Will there be a Kwanzaa celebration in the White House.

3. I know the weeMichelles like the Jonas Brothers, but I'm sure Michelle is more downhome. Who wants to bet on if we will see anyone doing the electric slide during one of the inaugural balls (just kiddin')? I am looking forward to "Signed Sealed Delivered" though.

4. I am imagining the sentiments felt around the world if Obama is actually sworn in as "Barack Hussein Obama Jr" at the inauguration.

5. I know Obama listens to Lil Wayne and Jay Z. I'm imagining the idea that Hip Hop music will be played in the West Wing, or even in the Lincoln Bedroom. Can you imagine hearing "Dust Your Shoulder's Off" coming from the residential area of the white house?

Just random thoughts going threw my head sometimes.

What about ya'll?

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:53:24 -0000

Just saw Colin Powell in an interview with Fareed Zakaria on the Situation Room says that Don't Ask Don't Tell should no longer be law.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:33:41 -0000

I know we don't like Joan Walsh much, but I gotta say that she and Lawrence O"Donnell were really on point on 1600 Pennsylvania on MSNBC on the Blago-gate issue.

I'll admit that I'm a fan of 1600 with David Shuster. Couldn't stand David Gregory. Also, I have a little crush on Lawrence O'Donnell. Does anyone know if he's married to Nora O'Donnell.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 40 Days — Open Thread

lh — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:05:41 -0000

I saw that on CNN, but who cares right...? Obama is from Illinois, and there is a corrupt governor in Ilinois did ya know.

The MSM does not really want to report on the economy since it's too sad and accurate, it's not as juicy as Blago-gate. It's sad.

Re: Auto Bailout Talks Collapse In the Senate

lh — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:56:09 -0000

Does no one else find it interesting that the Repub screaming the loudest are those who represent Southern statets where FOREIGN automakers have plants. I find it hypocritical that these Senators are okay with letting the Big 3 kick the bucket as long as it doesn't affect the automakers in their state.

1. Senator Richard Shelby, Republican of Alabama: Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai, and an engine plant built by Toyota

2. Senator Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee — which is home to Nissan’s North American headquarters, a Nissan plant and a promised Volkswagen factory

3. South Carolina, home to Senator DeMint and Lindsey Graham is home to two BMW plants.

4. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell's home state of Kentucky, it's also home to Toyota's largest plant outside of Japan.

ALL FOREIGN PLANTS, ALL NON-UNION

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 39 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:26:30 -0000

So today, while I was watching some of the coverage of Blago-gate, I got to thinking that just a little over 1 month ago Barack Obama became the first African American to be elected President of United States. I tell ya, with all this, to quote Rachel Maddow, "Guilt by Proximity" coverage of the Illinois governer that the MSM has been doing lately, the SoS drama, the "angry left" that wasn't drama, I'll admit, I lost some of the glow from election night. So I went to you tube and searched for election night coverage, I was specifically looking for the network coverage from MSNBC where it had the students from Atlanta singing along to "Signed Sealed Delivered" after Obama won.

But of course, like what always happens when you're on youtube, I got caught up in other coverage of Obama's victory that people posted. And you know what, the light is back. Man, I truly believe that we Americans, all Americans, did a wonderful thing on November 4, 2008 not just for us, but for the global community.

So while the conservative pundits, media, columnist, bloggers, and even the so called MSM continues to overblow the scandal du jour, I'll keep looking at you tube to keep my light shining.

I know to some it may seem like I'm choosing to live in la la land, but I refuse to let the media, Repubs, strategist, etc take the joy of these moments from me. I mean think about it, right now, literally, the history of tomorrow is currently being written today, and I am damn well not gonna miss it, or spend most of my time fretting about the scadal du jour.

Likes the song goes: "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine! ... Won't let Satan whoosh it out, I'm gonna let it shine, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine"

BTW, here is my favorite video so far:
Busta Rhymes Reacts To Obama Win

Re: LA Times Puts the Blame For the Failure of The Auto Bailout Where It Belongs

lh — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 01:09:50 -0000

Now, why did the Republicans protest the bailout, because they believe in Conservative values. It's certainly not because of the unions, that's for sure. Oh, but wait:

From Keith Olbermann's blog over at Countdown:

http://thenewshole.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/1...

Countdown has obtained a memo entitled "Action Alert - Auto Bailout," and sent Wednesday at 9:12am, to Senate Republicans. The names of the sender(s) and recipient(s) have been redacted in the copy Countdown obtained. The Los Angeles Times reported that it was circulated among Senate Republicans. The brief memo outlines internal political strategy on the bailout, including the view that defeating the bailout represents a "first shot against organized labor." Senate Republicans blocked passage of the bailout late Thursday night, over its insistence on an immediate union pay cut. See the entire memo after the jump.

Well, well, well...

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 19:29:58 -0000

Being from New Orleans myself, I can tell you that the Zulu Club and it's Mardi Gras parade are arguably the best part of Mardi Gras day for African Americans in my hometown. But that's no suprise, Rex maybe the "King of Carnival", but Zulu is the "God of Mardi Gras".

Man, I may actually go home for Mardi Gras next year.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:06:25 -0000

Ooookkkkkayyy

What do ya'll think this is about?

<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/McCain_defends_Obama.html#comments"]John McCain Defends Obama

John McCain, reminding GOP partisans why they always hated him, downplays the Blago story and takes a passing shot at the RNC on "This Week":

"I think that the Obama campaign should and will give all information necessary. You know, in all due respect to the Republican National Committee and anybody -- right now, I think we should try to be working constructively together, not only on an issue such as this, but on the economy stimulus package, reforms that are necessary. And so, I don't know all the details of the relationship between President-elect Obama's campaign or his people and the governor of Illinois, but I have some confidence that all the information will come out. It always does, it seems to me."

(via Mike Allen, Politico)

Seems to me McCain is trying to distance himself from the RNC, now that he don't need them.

Well, thanks for the sentiments, but still too little too late.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:07:04 -0000

Sorry guys, here is the link again:

<a href="http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/McCain_defends_Obama.html#comments"]John McCain Defends Obama

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:07:40 -0000

Okay, 3rd times the charm right?

John McCain Defends Obama

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:13:59 -0000

I sure wish I could be at the parade, but I do plan to watch it on tv, but I bet most of the networks will interupt the coverage for commericials.

Does C-SPAN usually cover the inaugural festivities?

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:24:49 -0000

This is ridiculous.

I came on hear to escape the MFers on Morning Joke who were all but saying that Obama was a liar. That Obama knew Blago was selling the seat.

I just thought you'd like to know that you kinda sound like Pat Buchanan this morning on Morning Joke.

So do you agree with him as well, that Blago MUST, MUST, have something embarassing on Obama.

What all this looks like to me is a bunch of people who have no idea what the hell they are talking about. They are not using any journalistic ability, they are just throwing things at the wall to see if it sticks. What that does is fsoter misinformation and misquotes? For example, it was reported that Rahm spoke with the governor's aides, not the governor, but what they were saying this morning was that Rahm spoke directly to the governor, which is true, no one knows, and it seems that no one is really trying to get at the truth.. EVeryone is just speculating, instead of taking Fitzgerald at his word: the Obama campaign was not involved in any pay to play scheme.

This whole thing is bullshit, and I personally am sick of it.

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:26:32 -0000

That's just it. No one knows the details of Fitzgerald's investigation. So to say that "Rahm dropped the dime on Blago" is just speculation at this point. If this is the case, then so be it, but the endless speculation instead of hardcore investigation by the MSM is sickening.

So unless some of us on here have an inside take, then all we are dealing in in innuendo and suspicion.

Also, if Rahm did drop the bomb on Blago, then that means he is a witness to the prosecution, and therefore he SHOULD NOT BE SPEAKING TO ANYONE ABOUT THE CASE...PERIOD!!

it is not Rahm's or Obama's place to say whether or not Rahm in a prosecural(?) witness. It's up to the prosecution to "out" witnesses in the cases.

Let's at least stop with all the speculation and in some cases (mostly Republicans) who are downrightt smearing Obama and Rahm WITHOUT ANY REAL EVIDENCE to support the case. Anything else without "evidenciary support" is GOSSIP, and last I remember, we are not reporters for the Enquirer.

That's all I'm saying.

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:29:28 -0000

First of all, I do not believe that anyone but GOD is perfect.

Second of all, I'm not attacking anyone, I am not calling anyone "the enemy". Please don't overdramatize what I am saing.

For a little clarity of what I'm saying, see my post above.

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:45:38 -0000

The important part of the statement is :

"In the course of those discussions, the US Attorney's office requested the public release of the Transition review be deferred until the week of December 22, in order not to impede their investigation of the governor. The Transition has agreed to this revised timetable for release," said Obama Transition Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer."

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

I know this won't be enough for the RNC, but is it enought to stop the handwringing?

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:55:24 -0000

More from Karen Tumulty at Time.com:

"...
In the course of those discussions, the US Attorney's office requested the public release of the Transition review be deferred until the week of December 22, in order not to impede their investigation of the governor. The Transition has agreed to this revised timetable for release," said Obama Transition Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer.

TRANSLATION: Obama's team was planning to release its findings about contacts between Obama aides and the Illinois Governor's today. (I'm told it turned out to be "pretty milquetoast stuff.") However, when White House Counsel-to-be Greg Craig informed U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald of that, the U.S. Attorney asked him to hold off. Why? That's unclear. One possibility is that having that information in the public domain would make it more difficult for Fitzgerald to pursue leads involving other parties. "

http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2008/12/15/fitz...

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:25:44 -0000

Okay, it may be the geek in me, but has anyone else seen the X-Men Origins: Wolverine trailer yet? If not, here it is:

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vi...

I am so psyched. Is it sad that I can't wait til May?????

For those true geeks on JJP, who besides me is REALLY excited to see GAMBIT!!!???
Anyone, raise your hands.

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 17:44:40 -0000

See that's where I think you are wrong. There is no coming clean. Isn't that essentially what Obama said the next day after the arrest. That is what Obama said at the press conference where he announced Dashle. And from what's being reported, the Obama team was prepared to come out with their discovery this week, today infact, but after talking to Fitzgerald, they changed the time frame.

I don't know about you, but I'm no lawyer, but it would seem to me, that if you are working with the prosecution in a high profile case, then you definietly wuldn't want to be talking to the press about anything.

Let's face it, even if Obama had been more emphatic(?) the first day, it would not have been enough for the MSM, the RNC, or the wingnuts.

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:11:09 -0000

I'm kinda excited about Star Treck too, but I'm more of a Next Generation fan myself.

X-Men on the other hand has been an obsesscion of mine since I was a child. In fact, I think my first imaginary crush may have been on Wolverine =) Sad but true

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:19:52 -0000

Here is a great post bu Matt Yglesias of Think Progress talking about Morning Joke this morning:

"The New Rules

One new this was coming, but since I’d been out of town all last week I hadn’t been following the cable “news” channels where they’re “covering” the Blagojevich scandal with all the “ethics” and “standards” of accuracy that I’ve come to expect from the genre. But this morning on MSNBC there was a lengthy discussion of Obama’s involvement in Blagojevich’s corruption. Of course, there was no evidence of any involvement on Obama’s part. Nor, despite this being a news channel, was there any original reporting of any kind whatsoever. There was, however, a ton of time spent criticizing the Obama campaign’s PR strategy with regard to this issue — the suggestion being that had Obama adopted a better PR strategy, then people wouldn’t be on television making evidence-free guilt-by-association accusations against him.

This strong me as odd. The people making the accusations kept acknowledging that they had no evidence. One might think that communicating to television personalities the fact that there was no evidence of wrongdoing on Obama’s part would constitute a good PR strategy. Given that they knew there was no evidence of wrongdoing, they should have ceased implying that there was wrongdoing. But they didn’t do that at all. Not, I would submit, because of any failings on Obama’s part, but because Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski, John Heileman, Mark Halperin, and Pat Buchanan don’t care at all about the accuracy of the impression their coverage gives.

Eventually, they got around to the idea that Obama hadn’t criticized Blagojevich in sufficiently harsh terms and that the reason for this was that Blagojevich has unrelated dirt on Obama and/or Rahm Emmannuel. Several of them deemed that likely, though none of them had any evidence for this proposition.

Sweet, sweet liberal MSNBC"
http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008...

This is why I was so pissed in my post earlier.

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:32:15 -0000

but Craig, I hear that obama doesn't have enough ________ appointments. Where is the diversity? He better appoint more ________, or the _________ will be pissed!!!1

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:41:22 -0000

I found this comment posted on talkingpointsmemo.com.

This conversation seems more plausible to me than Jill's...sorry!

"Here is my lawyer's take on this.

Assistant U.S. Atty.: (picking up phone) Yello.
Transition Counsel: Jimmy, it's Ted.
AUSA: Hey, thanks for getting back to me. What's up?
Trans Counsel: So we had our IT guy get all the stuff together, and we talked to the people who talked with the Blago people, and we put all that into declarations, as requested.
AUSA: Super. That was pretty fast.
Trands Counsel: Ha, not to Fox News or Limbaugh.
AUSA: I hear you. So when can you get it to me?
Trans Counsel: Today, if you need it. I can send the CD by Fed-Ex, or I can get the e-mails to you by .pdf, however you want.
AUSA: Just overnight 'em.
Trans Counsel: Okay, I'll get it out today.
AUSA: How much we talking about?
Trans Counsel: Less than a redwell full. Not much.
AUSA: Cool. Well, listen, we want to review it, and I am going to need to run it by some people here. We don't want the defense to know what's in there before us, so do you mind keeping a lid on it for a while until we do what we need to do with it?
Trans Counsel: How long do you need?
AUSA: How about January 2 or 3?
Trans Counsel: Ugh, that's not going to work. we have to get this off the plate, it's too big a distraction. How about Wednesday or Thursday?
AUSA: Well, give us until the 22nd. We want to make sure we know what's in there before the beans are spilled. Blago's defense counsel reads the paper, too.
Trans counsel: Erm. Let me check, but the 22nd may work.
AUSA; I would appreciate it.
Trans Counsel: Okay, let me get back to you.
AUSA: Yeppers.
Trans Counsel: Later."

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com...

Re: Obama Needs to Tell Us the Truth about Blagojevich

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:45:43 -0000

Hey, this post has made it to politico.

Congrats! I'm so proud!

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1208/Rem...

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:51:11 -0000

Why does this make me all misty-eyed??

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:54:52 -0000

I like Data, but I gotta admit, my major crush was between Picard and "#1" i.e. Lt Riker. Picard was all cerebral and sexy with that accent, and Lt Riker was all tall and manly that was probably my first teenage imaginary crush.

Re: Caroline Kennedy to Pursue Hillary’s Senate Seat

lh — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:01:44 -0000

Chamber, you are right! It is the Clintonites who are the most vocal. Hilary needs to shut this shyt down. She doesn't want to. Obama should shut this down, but thanks to Blago, any overt preference on Obama's part will cause nothing but heartache.

The Clintonites are so vocal, because they know that if Caroline gets that seat, it's her until she doesn't want it anymore. If Clinton leaves SoS office and wants to return to Senate, there is no way she will/could challenge Kennidey. Add to that, Caroline Kennedy has the possibility to crush any primary opponent.

The guy on Hardball said it best, if Caroline gets the seat and runs in 2010 "Caroline Kennedy will do to Senate campaign fundraising what Obama did for Presidential campaign fundraising"

Re: Arne Duncan as Secretary of Education?

lh — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:08:41 -0000

I with ya there.

I'm not from Illinois, so I don't know this guys record personally, only what I've read.

But I try not to speak in absolutes, ya know...THE WORST, NEVER, ALWAYS...etc. It keeps you from making blanket statements about something, and then having to retract or defend it later.

But as I said, I"m not from Illinois, so I haven't really experienced the facts.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 35 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:14:17 -0000

On Countdown tonight, Keith interrupted for "Breaking News" saying that the Chicago Sun Times was reporting the following:

Rahm's 21 Calls On Tape

Two things I wanna know from the IL peeps.

1. Which paper in Chicago is considered the most reliable source of news in Chicago, the Trib, or the Sun?

2. Is this really "Breaking News", or just tidbits in the Gossip section? How can the average person be expected to distinguish "news" from "gossip" if the "News Media" are reporting gossip as news or fact with out evidence?

3. Can Lynn Sweet be trusted? To me she always seems like she has an agenda, but I don't know her well, how about ya'll from IL?

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 35 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 23:18:02 -0000

Also, is anyone else starting to get aggravated with AG Fitzgerald, I know that he is trying to do his thing, but as I read more and more about the complaint, and from just what actual information is factual, it seems to me (admittedly, I'm no lawyer), but why wouldn't you wait until an actual crime was committed before making an arrest.

I know you probably do not want to stand idly by and let a crime happen, but his isn't rape, murder, kidnapping, etc. It corruption. So wouldn't it be best to let an actual crime occur in thei case before arrest.

Anyway, maybe I watch too much law & order.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 35 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:01:04 -0000

Okay, Minin-Rant here:

Why the hell is MSNBC reporting this GOSSIP as "Breaking News"? i think this may be the nail in the coffin with with MSNBC for me. I've already taken Morning Joke off my TIVO list, and I'm gonna soon like hardball and 1600 off until at least the holidays. I had already taken Countdown off my list, but I still recorded it periodically, but since this Blago thing it seems to me that Olbermann and to some small extent Maddow are becoming that which they hate, Liberal versions of the Fox crew. I, know that it is bad form to "diss your own network" (althought, Letterman does with CBS, all be it jokingly), but for all the bemoaning Keith does about Fixed News, it seems to me that he should maybe wal the walk a little.

Here is one thing that really bothered me about Keith, when he went on "the View" and said that he did/does not vote in election so as not to have to say that he voted for 1 or the other. Well I call B.S. and I wouldn't accept that type of sad ass excuse from a blood relative let alone someone who rants to people to "stay in line" to vote, but who doesn't even go through the trouble to at least absentee vote.

Anyway, I hate to say it, but it seeems to me that the only news program that seems to me to have even coverage of all news events that go on throughout the day is "The Situation Room" with Wolf Blitzer. At least on "The Situation Room", I can hear about other stories, not just Caroline, Blago, and the bailout.

Sorry, rant over.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 35 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:05:46 -0000

Also, how much you wanta bet that this is the main topic on Morning Joke tomorrow...gossip or not.

UGH!!!

The sad thing is that Morning Joke is just about the only thing on in the morning when I go to work.

Does anyone like to watch CNN's American Morning? Or should I skip it and watch local news instead (which is mostly just traffice/weather coverage at the time that I"m getting ready for work"

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 13:45:54 -0000

I'm done with MSNBC, ya'll.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/17/obama-...

Looks like MSNBC will be joining Fox News on my TIVO, in fact, I'm gonna go back to reading the newspaper.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:38:07 -0000

Does PBS have good political coverage?

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:40:13 -0000

I saw this too MsKitty. For most people, this development should put this Rick Warren thing into perspective.

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

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 22:39:08 -0000

I know this pick is very personal to some people, and I feel you're pain, but let's put this in perspective a little. Off the top of your head (without looking at Google or Wikipedia) can anyone tell me who did the invocation for BUSH 42, CLINTON, BUSH 41, REAGAN, CARTER, FORD, JFK, NIXON, etc. Hell who did the benediction? I sure as hell don't, I'll bet not many of us can. Why? Because at the time chosen, there may have been some problems with the pick, but who will remember it. I'll bet, 6 months after the inauguration, hell, 1 week after, we will all be taling about something other than Rick Warren. Honestly, one of the few things I remember about Clinton' inaugural was Maya Angelou's poem, and off the top of my head, I can't even tell you which inaugural, or the title of the poem.

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

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:09:50 -0000

Some political opinion from Marc Ambinder:

http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/mt/mt-tb.cg...

"From experience, one can presume that the decision to invite Rick Warren was made because (a) Obama likes the guy, and (b) he knows it would send a message to groups like the HRC, and to conservative Christians who might be wary of the new president. Not so much pandering as it is Obama's deft manipulation of the politics of symbolism. Obviously, Obama disagrees with Rick Warren on important issues. He has said so, many times, and publicly. And he agrees with him on other important issues. And ignoring something like Warren, a mainstream figure who commands the respect of million of Americans, would be foolish. Obama's message is: Rick Warren is a part of Obama's America, too."

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

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:10:54 -0000

I know they are angry, but if the gays and progressives decided to have a large protest on this inauguration day of all inauguration days, who really comes off looking worse, Obama or them.

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

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:11:49 -0000

The answer: THEM

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

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:14:04 -0000

And another thing, of all the darn things to set up a protest for, it because Rick Warren will give a 5-10 min invocation. Yeah, I'm so sure that the protest will go over so well with the people they are trying to influence. The are beter more important tings to protest. Essentially, they are protesting a choice of speaker, NOT A POLICY DECISION!!!

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

lh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:56:54 -0000

Okay, do you remember what he said?

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

lh — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:35:06 -0000

I wish I could articulate how I feel about this topic better, but why should I when Al Giordano at The Fieldsays what I want to say, but better.

Ya'll really should read this post, it is basically what a lot of people from this site are saying. Here's a little piece, but ya'll should read the whole post:

Al Giordiano, The Field: You Don't Get Inclusion by Calling for Exclusion

"...There are new rules, folks. The tired 1970s academic tactics of seeking to censor and ban others from speaking because of political disagreements are over. Stick a fork in 'em. They're done.

The objection to Warren is that he opposed gay marriage through California's Proposition 8. Well, guess what? So did a slight majority of Californians. Should they be disinvited to the inaugural, too?

We're not talking about a policy position here. It's a fucking prayer, that's all...you don't win inclusion in society by campaigning for exclusion of others"

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 33 Days — Open Thread

lh — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:40:56 -0000

Al Giordano at The Field on the Rick Warren controversy, is saying exactly what I feel about the selection.
Ya'll really should read this post, it is basically what a lot of people from this site are saying. Here's a little piece, but ya'll should read the whole post:

You Don't Get Inclusion by Calling for Exclusion

"...There are new rules, folks. The tired 1970s academic tactics of seeking to censor and ban others from speaking because of political disagreements are over. Stick a fork in 'em. They're done.

The objection to Warren is that he opposed gay marriage through California's Proposition 8. Well, guess what? So did a slight majority of Californians. Should they be disinvited to the inaugural, too?

We're not talking about a policy position here. It's a fucking prayer, that's all...you don't win inclusion in society by campaigning for exclusion of others"

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 33 Days — Open Thread

lh — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:30:55 -0000

So, I was just thinking about the inauguration, and I don't know if it's just me, but who else is happy that Beyonce' ain't gonna be no where near the stage for the inauguration. Who's with me? Come on raise your hands, don't be shy.

I love me some Re-Re, but how many of ya'll think Obama may have actually asked JHud to sing at the inauguration. Probably not I bet, since the inaugural seems to be more statesmen-like, but it would have been fun to see JHud rip it for President Obama..

I wonder what Re-Re will sing. Whatever she sings, I hope she gets plenty of rest, because even though she can still rip it, she can someting get to caught up in her alliterations of the lyrics and not coming off great. Having said that, I've never seen an abysmal perfromance by Aretha Franklin ever in my young 32 years

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 33 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:12:23 -0000

That was on the grammy's! It was a rendition of nosta dorma(?) pavrotii was supposed to perform it. In fact he actually rehearsed it, but at the last minute he didn't go on. So, the Queen of Soul stepped in and gave the most soulful rendition of an Italian opera song ever. It was named as one of Grammy's top 20 best performances ever. Gave me chills too.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 33 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:21:47 -0000

Actually is was called "Nessun Dorma"

Here it is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUvJZ26shqc

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 33 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:28:57 -0000

One of my fav Aretha Franklin performances. Singing "Nessun Dorma" at the 1998 Grammy's here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUvJZ26shqc

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 33 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:30:06 -0000

oops, great minds think alike I guess.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 32 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 21:25:49 -0000

This Rick Warren thing is getting ridiculous. I understand the anger, and I don't care that people are vocal, but some people are going too far.

So now Obama's a bigot because he pick Warren to give a prayer, not a policy proposal, a f(*&ing prayer. To call Obama a bigot is uncalled for, and it doesn't help the cause either.

All I gotta say, that it's agood thing Obama doesn't seem to be a vidictive politician ala the Clintons, because if he was, I would imagine that this type of stuff wouldn't put them in his good graces.

Another thing, alot of people have been comparing this Rick Warren thing to invinting David Duke or an admitted supremacist to speak, but I see a little bit of hidden racism here, why does it seem that whenever a certain group of people have a problem with Obama, they immediately try to compare it to some sort of "black" problem. I know it's because Obama is Black, but so what, did Gay rights advocates protest when Bill Clinton had Billy Graham at his inauguration????

Anyway, I gonna try to go on a blackout from cable news til the new year, but I'm gonna stay online of course, so I'm gonna have to count on the JJP fam to keep me up on news. You guys are like an oasis in a see of white progressives, and I appreciate it. I know Thanksgiving is over, but I'd just like to say, that I'm grateful to have found JJP.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 32 Days — Open Thread

lh — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:02:38 -0000

Warren is not the "guest of honor". There is no "guest of honor". The MAN OF THE HOUR will be Barack Hussein Obama Jr. The only people who seemed to think Warren is the "guest of honor" are those who are cutting off their nose to spite their faces.

I'm sorry, you have to learn to pick your battles. Yes we blacks fought for our rights, but we chose our battles better than the LGBT community is doing right now. Because it seems to me that the only issue of improtance to the LGBT community is marriage. The Black civil rights movement was about more than one issue: voting, intergration, better schools, fair pay, etc. We chose our battles wisely. Once LGBT community gets marriage equality, then what. It seems like the community is in danger of becoming a one issue community.

Also, I think is just a factor of the age in which we live in. We are an instant gratification society. We want everything now, so don't stand in our way. Like Ludacris said "Move Bitch..." that's what we have become.
No one wants to engage in a little compromise. Neither side wants to meet in the middle.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 11:46:07 -0000

good morning jjp. Right now I'm lying in a hospital bed waiting to see the ER doc. My throat was bothering me last night & I woke up this morning with my throat enflamed, and my ear feeling infected! So I decided to go to the ER, why pay insurance premiums if you're not going to use them. I just hope I won't be here all day!

Hope ya'll have a better morning.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 14:37:18 -0000

I'm back from the ER ya'll it didn't really take that long. After my post I was out of there in about 1 hour.

The PA told me I have tonsilitis. I've actually had strep throat and tonsilitis before, but it's been a long time since I had an active case.

The prescription for me is lots of fluids, soups, and R&R. Lucky for me, you don't need to swallow to type or surf the internet.

Thx for all the well wishes guys. I appreciate it.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:23:51 -0000

Have ya'll seen this:

Obama
Report Exonerates Rahm

BTW, thx for the well wishes yesterday. It was actually pretty rough yesterday, I had a fever, the chills, and I couldn't keep anything down. I'm feeling better today, but still having trouble swallowing.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 30 Days — Open Thread

lh — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 20:46:16 -0000

My favorite thing about the end of the year is the "best of" or "worst of" list that come out around this time.

So how about it JJP what your best moments of Obama or the Obama family.

Here's 2 of mine:

1. The Fist Bump Heard Round The World

2. Hi Daddy!

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:19:03 -0000

Found this over on Ta-Nehisi blog. Anthony Hamilton doing his thing:

Anthony Hamilton "A Change Gonna Come

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:02:09 -0000

Have ya'll seen this:

There's No One As Irish as Barack O'bama

The version I saw was filmed in an actual irish pub I guess:

<a href="
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADUQWKoVe">Orig... There's No One As Irish as Barack O'bama

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 14:04:58 -0000

This is the version I saw which was basically a sing-a-long in Ireland. Check it out:

Orginal: There's No One As Irish as Barack O'bama

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 29 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:12:01 -0000

Man after the election, one of the pundits said that the ones Obama has to watch out for are the members of his own party. I took it as just campaign rhetoric, but damned if they weren't right. God help me I think it was Pat Buchanan.

Barney Frank Still Miffed at Warren Pick

Now look, if Melissa Etheridge says get over it, reach out, each one teach one then I say Barney should do like Eddie told Bill Cosby " Have a Coke and a smile and sTFU"

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:14:00 -0000

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 28 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:35:45 -0000

Ya know what, that's exactly what I thought about when I read that JJJr was on the list. Here's betting that Mary writes a 1 sentence excuse, not apology at the end of her piece on it.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 28 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 20:41:24 -0000

Ya know what, Chuck Todd is just trying to get some cred as a "tough questioner" of the Obama white house at NBC new White House reporter. That's Gregory's old job, and from what I hear, Gregory had a rep for being a tough questioner of the Bush Admin, when he wasn't rapping with MC Karl Rove that is.

The problem for the MSM is that they went overboard with this story, and instead of doing some real reporting and investigation they just went with whatever gossip sprung up over the internet and the gossip columnists.

If I remember correctly, I remember responding to someone about that dumb ass "Rahm had 21 conservations with Blago" gossip report that MSNBC was treating as legitimate. Now the press has egg on their faces, and they need to justify their reckless reporting anyway they can.

Idiots! Maybe in the future they'll do a little "investigative reporting" before accusing people or staking out their homes or trying to force them to answer questions that the prosecutor told them not to answer.

Ughh!! I'm seriously over the MSM at this point.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 27 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:48:37 -0000

Happy Holidays everybody at JJP!

I can't remember how I found you guys, but I'm glad that I did.

Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 27 Days — Open Thread

lh — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 20:56:15 -0000

Has anyone else watched CNN Documentary: Obama Revealed? When it originally came out during the election, I didn't watch it, but CNN is rebroadcasting it now, and I must say it is actually very well-put together. I really like the way Suzanne Malveaux put it together. I'm watching it now, I'm guessing it gets diecier round the Rev Wright bit.

Anyone I just wanted to know what anyone thought about it.

Okay, back to Christmas.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 21:04:09 -0000

Happy Holidays everybody at JJP!

I can't remember how I found you guys, but I'm glad that I did.

Hope you and yours have a wonderful holiday.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:42:34 -0000

Merry Christmas JJP!

Did anyone else watch "It's A Wonderful Life" on NBC yesterday? I must admit, it's been a long time since I watched the entire movie, I always seem to see it in pieces and bits. This time was no different, except I got to see 75% of it (all the best parts of course, after he married Mary). I realized something, either I was too young and blessed with ADD, or I was too self-absorbed I guess, but man after George and Mary got married, the movies was damn near depressing at times. When the Depression hit and there was a "run for their money" from the Savings & Loan, when his uncles loses $8000 because of forgetfulness and George tried to beg Mr Potter on his hands and knees to help him and Mr Potter laughed at him, and don't even get me started on what happened after he "got his wish" of never being born and all the depressing things that happened as a result, til finally the happy ending and the angel "getting his wings".

And I watched THE WHOLE DAMN THING! I never realized how engrossing the story can get even though I've seen it like 100 times. I don't know if it's just the financial times that we live in now, but the whole problem with the savings & loans, the war and all the other scenarios going on in the movie could actually be made over or adapted easily to fit an all too common story today, especially with the crisis occuring. Anyway, with everything happening today, it just made the movie seem to much more poignant now.

Sorry, guys back to the regularly scheduled porgramming. Hope ya'll are having a happy holiday.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:55:17 -0000

Her version of "Santa Baby" is one of my favorite Christmas songs ever!

Re: Friday Open Thread

lh — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:50:08 -0000

Some interesting blurbs I found:

USA TODAY: "Obama is man most Americans admires"
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2008-12-2...

MIKE ALLEN @ Politico.com (http://www.politico.com/playbook/)

ZEITGEIST – McCain ad man Fred Davis e-mails Politico’s Daniel Libit about the President-elect: “At my family Christmas dinner tonight, all 20 or so of us Republicans, all felt he was doing a very good job being bi-partisan, and not playing any games at all. All agreed, and this was a shocker. Not so good for the press, maybe, but could be very good for our country.”

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 25 Days — Open Thread

lh — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 05:14:24 -0000

Hi ya'll.

Working overnight here, so if I'll probably double post stuff here and in the next open daily thread.

Anyway, I found a great site that has a lot of great pictures of the Obamas in Hawaii.

http://www.daylife.com/topic/Barack_Obama/photo...

Don't worry, there all from Gettys Images, just reposted on this site.

Enjoy.

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

lh — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 13:35:47 -0000

You know what, I am a true believer that all people should have equal rights that includes the GLBT community. I think they should have the same rights as straight couples, but this Rick Warren argument is really pissing me off. It's not that I think GLBT should STFU about it, it just as a moderate individual who has other worries beside gay marriage, I'm getting really tired of hearing about how much of a mistake is was for Obama to chose Warren. I understand the frustration, and to some the frustration is definitely justified, but I would really like to hear what else the Obama team is thinking about, not just having to defend the Rick Warren decision (which is what I hear most of Meet The Press was about this morning), or being asked about the Blago corruption case.

And igI'm getting tired of it (and I'm a gay rights supporter), then I can just imagine what a non-supporter feels right about now, they are probably more pissed than I. I think that this is a problem for the gay rights movement. I mean,they have my support, but with all this calling Obama a bigot, saying that gays have been "thrown under the bus" or comparing discrimination against gays to slavery, they are slowly but surely losing me. I'm not saying that I don't still believe in gay rights, I'm just getting to the point that I am going to no longer talk about it at all, I'm tired of the accusations, tired of the drama, I'm just so over this.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:03:44 -0000

Posted this in last night's evening thread, since new thread is up, I'll post it here now:

You know what, I am a true believer that all people should have equal rights that includes the GLBT community. I think they should have the same rights as straight couples, but this Rick Warren argument is really pissing me off. It's not that I think GLBT should STFU about it, it just as a moderate individual who has other worries beside gay marriage, I'm getting really tired of hearing about how much of a mistake is was for Obama to chose Warren. I understand the frustration, and to some the frustration is definitely justified, but I would really like to hear what else the Obama team is thinking about, not just having to defend the Rick Warren decision (which is what I hear most of Meet The Press was about this morning), or being asked about the Blago corruption case.

And igI'm getting tired of it (and I'm a gay rights supporter), then I can just imagine what a non-supporter feels right about now, they are probably more pissed than I. I think that this is a problem for the gay rights movement. I mean,they have my support, but with all this calling Obama a bigot, saying that gays have been "thrown under the bus" or comparing discrimination against gays to slavery, they are slowly but surely losing me. I'm not saying that I don't still believe in gay rights, I'm just getting to the point that I am going to no longer talk about it at all, I'm tired of the accusations, tired of the drama, I'm just so over this.

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

lh — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 15:12:37 -0000

I totally agree with ya B. It's just aggravatting sometimes. You see, I a little like Obama myself. You can call me "No Drama, lamh". I can't stand to be inthe middle of a dram circle. The analogy I always use is one of circular motion. If all you surround yourself with is a circular motion of drama, then no matter where you step, you're gonna be hit in the face with drama, even if it's not of your making. I choose not to be surrounded by anyone else's drama, and thoguh I agree with the gay rights activist, this is becoming a drama not of Obama's making, and it's becoming just a reason to disagree.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:02:37 -0000

Seems to me you have your own preconceived notions of what Obama should do and what he will do. And from you comments to other here with there own viewpoints, it also seems that your are here not to exchange meaningful ideas with other people. It seems you are just here so you can stand on your soapbox and preach without hearing any descent from your ideas.

It should be realized that you don't want any real conversation about the subject when you include in your opening statement that " ...is this man truly deserving of this deification that you have bestowed upon him? I look at Obama and aside from his cafe au lait skin colour..." what exactly does this have to do with the issue you want to discuss. I don't see anyone here "deifying" Obama in any way. People here have their own ideas and issues about the situation aside from Obama. If and when you want a real discussion about the I/P situation maybe next time maybe you could refrain from the backhanded insults next time.

Good day to you sir/madam

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:09:10 -0000

Oh, so I'm watching VH1 Soul on time warner cable, and what video comes on but Ready For The World - Oh Sheila

First of all, was this band British, or was he faking the accent?

Secondly, I know Jheri curls were the shit back then (hell, I even had a curl before high school), but thinking about it now, why the hell would anyone want to run their fingers through that shit at initmate moments? You'd have to wear latex gloves or your hands would be hella moist!! EEEWWWW!!!!

That folks is one fashion choices I would never like to see come back!

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:11:05 -0000

2nd choice: parachute pants

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:11:56 -0000

3rd choice: biking shorts on men. so not cute!

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:34:58 -0000

Pray tell why do you continue to post on this blog since it's obvious your intention to save us from ourselves isn't working, and you have so litte regard for our opinions since we "relied upon everything from the importance of the economic crisis to their own hardships to the struggles of the black community in an attempt to offer an excuse as to why they will not allow themselves to become engaged in what is happening in the middle east"

I appreciate you coming down from on high to try and school the lesser of us on what is "really going on" in the Middle East. But you know what just because you have ideas that you seem to think have merit, doesn't make them any more merit-ful than ours.

Your problem seems to be that you want to talk about he what's going on, but you can't seem to stop insulting people. "You SEEM" (you see how I say "you seem", not "you are", since I don't know you personally, but can only go by how you "seem" to me) like a smart person who has some valid ideas about what's going on in the Middle East, but you can't "SEEM" to refrain from insulting the intelligence of not only the people on this blog, but the African American community as a non-monolithic entitiy (" large swathe of the AA community (and America) have indicated that they believe Obama to be the 'change' that was acomin'," because you know we all talk in that ole negro spirtual sort of way doncha know).

Stay on your soapbox.

As George & Weezy used to say, "Don't let the door knob hit ya..."

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 12:38:14 -0000

So any conservatives/Repubs feeling proud right about now:

Is "Magic Negro" CD Helping Saltsman In RNC Race?

Here is the orginal Politco article:
'Magic Negro' flap might help Saltsman

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:06:52 -0000

Fist of all: "Do you have anything to offer or are you simply here for entertaining vernacular and shucking and jiving for laughs?"

Wow, insults, not surprised. And this helps you save face how???

Second: "Is his photograph, that of his wife and his daughters not plastered all over this website?"

Oh wait a minute, is JJP a blog dedicated to politics and culture geared towards to an African American perspective, or is is supposed to be a news organization. Obviously you are not aware of which it is. And what is the BIGGEST story in politics from the African American perspective, oh right...BARACK OBAMA!!! So yeah his pic and that of his family are all plastered over this website.

Did you come here by mistake? Were you looking for Newsweek, MSNBC, FOXNews, Washington Post, or the New York Times website. Of course not, because you are here accusing me of "shucking and jiving for laughs" and calling out the African American community monolithic, because you want to have heartfelt and vigorous discussion about Middle East issues.

Please! I don't know about you, but I tend to not want to have discussions with people who really want to insult and not really converse and discuss. People like you.

"Shucking and jiving..." WOW!

You certainly pwned me.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:41:30 -0000

Again sir, thank you for showing me the error of my ways.

I will hence forth go and education my on the conflict.

Since you obviously know so much more than I or any other here at JJP maybe you can give me a suggestion on where to start?

Until then I'm gonna go back to VH-1.

Waiting to hear from you all-knowing one.

Thanks.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:42:01 -0000

that's supposed to be "right minds"!

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:42:29 -0000

Who in their right mings would accept Blagojevich's appointment?

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 13:46:00 -0000

I'm with you there TRW.

I love me some Roland Martin. I especially like to listen to his segments on the TJMS.

If Roland was not on CNN's election coverage, then I wouldn't watch it. If not for him, Jeffery Toobin, and David Gergen, I probably would never watch CNN's election night coverage.

Re: Blago Selecting Roland Burris to fill Obama’s Senate Seat?

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:34:11 -0000

I just read about that over at Al Giordiano's The Field.

He called what Bobby Rush did a "game-changer"

Re: Blago Selecting Roland Burris to fill Obama’s Senate Seat?

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 17:05:24 -0000

I'll tell you what this whole fiasco should do. It should finally have people believing that Obama and Blago had nothing to do with the other.

Why would Obama who seems like a smart guy want to involve himself in this circus. It's embarassing yes, but I would say it's more embarassing for Blago and certain African American pols from Illinois

Re: Blago Selecting Roland Burris to fill Obama’s Senate Seat?

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:54:15 -0000

Statement from President-Elect Obama:

"Roland Burris is a good man and a fine public servant, but the Senate Democrats made it clear weeks ago that they cannot accept an appointment made by a governor who is accused of selling this very Senate seat. I agree with their decision, and it is extremely disappointing that Governor Blagojevich has chosen to ignore it. I believe the best resolution would be for the Governor to resign his office and allow a lawful and appropriate process of succession to take place. While Governor Blagojevich is entitled to his day in court, the people of Illinois are entitled to a functioning government and major decisions free of taint and controversy,"

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com...

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 21 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 21:47:34 -0000

Love that vid.

Silver lining about the Burris/Blago/Obama seat thing:

No one is talking about "ickray areenay" at least not until the inauguartion gets closer.

Man, everyday is close to Jan 20th. I wish I could be there.

Man...is Oprah giving tickets away yet.

Re: Our 51st State & Gaza

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 10:03:23 -0000

I was one of the one's caught up in the open thread. Here's the thing I freely admit to not being well versed in the subject. Which is why I try to listen more to people who do seem to know more. But just because someone knows more about a subject than others doesn't mean they should insult and demean the ones who know less. Tone means everything when you are having a disscussion, and this particular poster seemed to have a disrespectful one.

Now back to learning more. Can someone please tell me what exactly has been the US policy in regards to I/P?

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:17:57 -0000

Testing....so comments are moderated now.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:19:08 -0000

Okay, I just posted something, but it said I had to wait for the moderator

But I just posted the above comment with no problem.

What's going on?

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:26:59 -0000

Okay,

I'll try this again.

Has anyone seen this?
Time Warner Cable Loses Viacom: MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central To Go Dark

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:28:32 -0000

"Media giant Viacom Inc. said its Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and 16 other channels will go dark for 13 million subscribers at 12:01 a.m. Thursday if a new carriage fee deal with Time Warner Cable Inc. is not agreed upon by then...The channels that would be affected are: Comedy Central, CMT: Pure Country, Logo, Palladia, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Tr3s, Nickelodeon, Noggin, Nick 2, Nicktoons, Spike, The N, TV Land, VH1, VH1 Classic, and VH1 Soul."

Okay, I don't watch MTV anymore, but I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Vh1 and especially VH1 Soul. In fact the reason why, I kept Time Warner and did not switch to digital satelite was because none of th satelite carriers here in Dallas included VH1 Soul. So now, I'm gonna have to decide if I even want to continue with my Time Warner cable at all are just go ahead and switch to satelite.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:32:12 -0000

Oh, I hope JHud does it, not just because she would be awesome, but because it would so put a bug up Beyonce's butt, and I'm sorry but that girls ego got to be knocked down a notch.

But of course I'm just hatin'

Still I hope JHud does it.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:57:57 -0000

Hey D,

Yes you are conservative, but you seem to be one of the more reasonable ones :D

Happy New Year to you and all your conservative brethren!

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:58:32 -0000

Yeah, it was weird, but it has happened to me before.

Maybe it has something to do with posting from an AP site.

Anyway, it seems to be working now. No biggie!

Have a Happy New Year rikyrah!

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:01:55 -0000

As a single sista living alone, sadly, I probably gonna just watch the ball drops on TV.

What are ya'll doing? Anything special?

The tradition in my family is to either be in church at midnight, or on your knees...praying (for anyone with their minds in the gutta).

Since I won't be at church, I'll be on ma knees!

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 19:39:23 -0000

Happy New Year Germany!!!!!

Sitting here watchign CNN, and they are showing video of the different cities in Europe that have reached the New Year.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 15:08:34 -0000

Somehow I found myself watching "The Jeffersons" marathon on TVOne. Man that show was funny!

Anyway, I came across the following commercial. It made me laugh and misty-eyed all at once.
Check it out:

Fatherhood Involvement

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 16:01:14 -0000

Okay,

The one with the Father dancing to the pop song was too cute.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:09:39 -0000

I'm from New Orleans, so take what I'm about to say a little tongue in cheek.

But it's a little joke in our house that AC must have a boyfriend in New Orleans, cause everytime I turn on the TV he seemed to be reporting from New Orleans. I know, I know, it's because of Katrina and really I kid, but he is the only reporter who seems to care anymore, so we just like to rib him a little.

Anyway, my aunt loves AC since Katrina, and when she found out he was gay she was besides herself ,not really, she could care less, but she talked about him so much, we just like to tease her.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:13:25 -0000

OOOh, my grandma used to say you get a sty in your eye from peeing in the street.
Whatcha been doing Craig...LOL

Seriously though she used to say that all the time, being a Microbiologist, I used to always tell her it was just a Staph infection, but she just knew what she was talking about. Between that the the "amtrak" (anthrax to does of us in the know), she was always the foil to my education.

Man I loved that woman.

Hope ya begin to feel better.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:18:11 -0000

Watching "The Jefferson" marathon over here.

Everytime I hear George call some white person honky or whitey, I laugh even harder when I think about the stupid wingnuts and their Michelle Obama "whitey" tape.

Did ya'll know Janet DuBois aka Wilona from "Good Times" sung the theme to "The Jeffersons"? I saw her name in the credits.

Re: Thursday Open Thread

lh — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 18:19:52 -0000

Monk and The Closer are 2 of my favorite cable shows.

L&O Criminal Intent and Psyche come in a close 3rd

Re: Friday Open Thread

lh — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:05:55 -0000

Count me as one of those people who is not really a fan of Beyonce's singing. I mean I like her, but I think of her as a latter day Whitney Houston, ya know before Whitney went back to her "hood roots". Now we all know Whitney can blow, but when she first started out, it was watered down pop music at it's finest. You know Whitney could blow, but she obviously had not embraced here hoodness yet. I find later day Whitney the best (yes I mean heroin addicted, tripped out, I love me some Bobby, Whitney). Beyonce is more of a hip hop pop princess.

I find that I like singer with more feeling to there voice, even if they do not have the greatest range. What makes Mary J Blige a great singer is that you could feel her when she sung. The same way Aretha Franklin could sing "Ain't No Way..." and "Mr Feelgood" with passion, that's what Mary J does. Beyonce just seems to sing with no real passion. I think that is one of the reasons why her "Deanna" in "Dreamsgirls" didn't blow anyone away. It was fluff. It was basically, Beyonce, playing Diana Ross, playing Beyonce, playing Deanna.

Anyway, Beyonce needs to find that passion, and I'm sorry, but her marriage to Jay-Z ain't doing it either.

Seriously, can anyone name a song by Beyonce or Destiny's Child that will stand the test of time like Aretha's "Do Right Man". I can't think of any. Can ya'll?

Re: Friday Afternoon Open Thread

lh — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 19:07:51 -0000

You Gotta Love the British.

This is a pretty cute version of "Shaft" played on an instrument you might not expect.

Shaft

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 18 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:03:10 -0000

http://thisweekwithbarackobama.blogspot.com/200...

Count me as one of those people who is not really a fan of Beyonce's singing. I mean I like her, and baby girl is doing her thing, but I think of her as a latter day Whitney Houston, ya know before Whitney went back to her "hood roots". Now we all know Whitney can blow, but when she first started out, it was watered down pop music at it's finest. You know Whitney could blow, but she obviously had not embraced here hoodness yet. I find later day Whitney the best (yes I mean heroin addicted, tripped out, I love me some Bobby, Whitney). Beyonce is more of a hip hop pop princess.

I find that I like singer with more feeling to there voice, even if they do not have the greatest range. What makes Mary J Blige a great singer is that you could feel her when she sung. The same way Aretha Franklin could sing "Ain't No Way..." and "Mr Feelgood" with passion, that's what Mary J does. Beyonce just seems to sing with no real passion. I think that is one of the reasons why her "Deanna" in "Dreamsgirls" didn't blow anyone away. It was fluff. It was basically, Beyonce, playing Diana Ross, playing Beyonce, playing Deanna.

Anyway, Beyonce needs to find that passion, and I'm sorry, but her marriage to Jay-Z ain't doing it either.

Seriously, can anyone name a song by Beyonce or Destiny's Child that will stand the test of time like Aretha's "Do Right Man". I can't think of any. Can ya'll?

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 18 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:32:11 -0000

You're right, between You Give Good Love and Saving All My Love For You, Whitney was hitting the soul tip, but then came "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" and "How Will I Know..." and yes "Greatest Love Of All" which while they all still make me sing, the are definitely water-downed pop hits, not truly R&B hits. As someone said, yes there is Rhythm, but where is the Blues in those songs and many of Beyonce's song.

I mean she tried with "Listen" which don't get me wrong, was a nice song, and she sung it very well, but when she really sung the song did you really believe that she had to make anyoner really listen to her. Did she sing it like she really knew what it was like to not have your voice heard...not really.

When Mary J sang "I'm Going Down", which wasn't even an original song, you felt like Mary was singing from experience, from the heart. Has Beyonce ever sang a song like that? Heck, she claims to write all her songs, has she ever really written a song that truly "exposed her soul". Beyonce just seems to guarded of her image to really get down and deep.

Re: Media Alert: The Obamas

lh — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:01:48 -0000

Actually, I think that the interview is not a new interview. I think it's was done during the before the election.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:26:00 -0000

Yeah, I saw this commerical on TVOne during the New Year's Day "Jeffersons" marathon, and I had to post it here.

My biological father left my mother when I was 2, so the man I call Daddy is actually my stepfather. He raised me from 2 years old til adulthood. In fact, he is my Daddy! I call my biological father by his first name, I can count the number of times I talked to bio dad on one hand. I talk to my Daddy all the time, and he calls me randomly just to hear my voice he says.

The thing I liked about this commercial, is that he doesn't really say if the "Dads" are bio dads or not, they just say that it's the little things that influence a kids life.

Anyway, my daddy memory is of when I first hit puberty. My peiod had come down at school, and they couldn't reach my mom, so my dad had to come and pick me up from school, take me to K&B Drugstore (ol school pharmacy in New Orleans) to pick up some sanitary napkins. I was embarassed, he had no idea what he was doing, but to this day, I remember it.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 17 Days — Open Thread

lh — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 20:29:58 -0000

Hey, I missed the Daddy thread, but I gotta share my Daddy story, so I'm gonna post it here.

My biological father left my mother when I was 2, so the man I call Daddy is actually my stepfather. He raised me from 2 years old til adulthood. In fact, he is my Daddy! I call my biological father by his first name, I can count the number of times I talked to bio dad on one hand. I talk to my Daddy all the time, and he calls me randomly just to hear my voice he says.

The thing I liked about this commercial, is that he doesn't really say if the "Dads" are bio dads or not, they just say that it's the little things that influence a kids life.

Anyway, my daddy memory is of when I first hit puberty. My peiod had come down at school, and they couldn't reach my mom, so my dad had to come and pick me up from school, take me to K&B Drugstore (ol school pharmacy in New Orleans) to pick up some sanitary napkins. I was embarassed, he had no idea what he was doing, but to this day, I remember it.

Re: Was it really a YEAR AGO tonight?

lh — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 21:07:17 -0000

I have to say that this is what started this roller coaster for me. I am 32 years old, and I have voted in every election I could since I was 18, but I was not active in politics at all. I had a rudimentary understanding of some of the issues, due to being career college student until I wa 25, but I was vested in any one candidate. I've always voted Democrat, and usually just voted for whomever the Democrat was. I had not heard of Obama, had no idea who he was or what he stood for, but this Iowa win woke me up. I became interested. By South Carolina, I was hooked, and I haven't looked back.

So Iowa was VIP for me.

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:36:37 -0000

Yeah, but it looks like Blackwell is that is winning the most support. Seems you might be stuck with him

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:52:57 -0000

y abt cter eybard s bren! se f y etters dn't wr! can ya gess whch nes

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:54:52 -0000

my laptop computer keyboard is broken! some of my letters don't work!

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:56:29 -0000

I had 2 cut and paste the above. stupid keyboard!

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 22:55:49 -0000

L O L

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:01:45 -0000

couple good post from marc ambinder

When The CIA Director's Identity Is Leaked....

Panetta On Torture

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:02:01 -0000

couple good post from marc ambinder

When The CIA Director's Identity Is Leaked....

Panetta On Torture

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:04:37 -0000

more from marc ambinder

The CIA Director's Greatest Challenge: Human Resources

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 15 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:56:32 -0000

good diary from dailykos

Sen. Feinstein Says No to Panetta, Wants Pro-Torture CIA Chief

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 14 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:59:44 -0000

Broom the CIA By Al Giordano

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 13 Days — Open Thread

lh — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:00:14 -0000

OMG,

Saw this on CNN: www.cutethingsfallingasleep.org
check our sleepy kitty

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 13 Days — Open Thread

lh — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:00:19 -0000

that's check out "sleepy kitty"

Re: Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

lh — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 17:21:16 -0000

Don't know if anyone posted this, but as a comic book fan, it's pretty DAMN cool.

"Obama Gets Marveled"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/08/obama-...

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 12 Days — Open Thread

lh — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:46:58 -0000

I'm new to politics, but it seems like the we dems preparing 2 eat their own. one Sad thing about conyers letter 1st, the confirmation is up to the Senate, Conyers may have limited influence on this. 2nd Unfortunately, Conyers' letter to his House colleagues spells Gupta's name wrong, misspelled the "Nobel" prize, gets the address of Conyers' website wrong, and mistakenly claims that Paul Krugman won a Nobel Peace Prize.

Re: Friday Open Thread

lh — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 14:05:02 -0000

I have never watched one episode of "The West Wing", or "24"

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 11 Days — Open Thread

lh — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 22:56:05 -0000

anyone else see this... Lisa Bonet's New Baby: Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa WTF!!!

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:17:28 -0000

Breaking!!!!Senate to Seat Burris

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2009/...

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 18:53:25 -0000

Funny from Marc Ambinder, but so true!!

Burris, Blago Win
12 Jan 2009 04:27 pm

A joint statement from Senate Majority Leader Reid and Majority Whip Dick Durbin, annotated.

"The Secretary of the Senate has determined that the new credentials presented today on behalf of Mr. Burris now satisfy Senate Rules and validate his appointment to the vacant Illinois Senate seat. In addition, as we requested, Mr. Burris has provided sworn testimony before the Illinois House Committee on Impeachment regarding the circumstances of his appointment.

Wow, did we mess this up. The guy just did an end-run around all of us. We expected him to be Blago-like, but he wasn't. He was senatorial. Agreeable. Maybe he can win...uh, downstate. And .. we messed up the racial politics of this big-time. So... in order to save some face, we'll just create a procedural defense: we always intended to seat the guy, but his paperwork wasn't in order.

"We have spoken to Mr. Burris to let him know that he is now the Senator-designate from Illinois and as such, will be accorded all the rights and privileges of a Senator-elect.

We apologized.

"Accordingly, barring objections from Senate Republicans, we expect Senator-designee Burris to be sworn in and formally seated later this week. We are working with him and the office of the Vice President to determine the date and time of the swearing-in.

As we worried all along, the Republicans are saying that Democrats caved and appointed Blago's hand-picked senator.

"As we had outlined to Mr. Burris, a path needed to be followed that respects the rules of the Senate. We committed to Mr. Burris that once those requirements were satisfied, we would be able to proceed. We are pleased that everything is now in order, we congratulate Senator-designee Burris on his appointment and we look forward to working with him in the 111th Congress."]

This has been an enormous distraction. Obama's annoyed with us. Other senators are annoyed with us. The black caucus is annoyed with us. We need to move on, and quickly. Why didn't we go with a special election, again?

###

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Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 8 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:18:11 -0000

I really want to watch the Inauguration thingy that iwill be shown on HAB, but I don't have HBO, doe anyone know if they will be doing another HBO free weekend in honor of the inauraguration, or if HBO will be showing the program online?

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 8 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:38:04 -0000

Another Good Post From Al @ The Field.

Check it out: "dean-was-snubbed-enough-already..."

http://narcosphere.narconews.com/thefield/dean-...

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 8 Days — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 23:09:02 -0000

No hookup. I have digital cable, but I cancelled by premium channel line-up a year ago, since I realized that I was paying extra for them, but I wasn't even watching those channels much. So I got rid of them.

I guess it would be really sad to order hbo, for the weekend, and then cancel it on Wednesday

Re: Tuesday Afternoon Thread

lh — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:11:18 -0000

Something about him not paying taxes. Well looks like larry Summers may actually be treasure seccretary after all.

From Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/01/13/treasu...

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 7 Days — Open Thread

lh — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 21:37:05 -0000

when are the confirmation hearings over? I maybe going for another media blackout til it's time for the inauguration. I'll just have 2 count on ya'll 2 keep me up what's what. I don't even want to think about eric holder's hearing.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:41:43 -0000

Like I told someone today, Obama's papa was definitely "A Rolling Stone"

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:42:20 -0000

Beyonce can sing, but sometimes when a song is already timeless, it should be left alone. For me "At Last" is that type of song.

I would also include most of Stevie Wonder's songs in that bunch

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:46:30 -0000

I'm not really feeling the purple on purple (or purple on blue) Michelle's wearing today.

Her hair as usual looks great though.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:47:16 -0000

Watching the live feed on CNN in Delware.

someone done already lost their child! They had to make an annoucement.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 12:51:50 -0000

Didn't realize MSNBC was covering it too, I'm at work, so I tivoed it .

I'm off on Tues, so I'll be able to watch it live, but I don't want to miss anything, so I'll probably go watch live by my sister's house, and tivo more things at home.

Re: Saturday Open Thread

lh — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:47:41 -0000

Finally!!!! Got a new laptop.

I couldn't make it til my tax refund. I had to "redistribute" my bill payments, but i got a new HP.

I haven't had a chance to add my fav blogs yet, but JJP is the first...natch.

Re: Media Alert: TVOne and the Inauguration

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:35:56 -0000

Looks like TVOne is representin'!!!

Thanks for the info. looks like my tivo witll be busy. I'll be watching TV, blogging, and recording on tivo

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 3 Days — Open Thread

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 00:39:25 -0000

3 days WOW!!!

Has anyone heard whether Damon "the littlest reporter" Weaver got his interview with Obama. I know that he will have a press pass, but did he land the interview.

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 3 Days — Open Thread

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:06:20 -0000

Looks like all the main cable providers will be offering the HBO Obam Inauguration concert except Cox Cable.

I'm just happy it's gonna be free in Dallas!!! Woo Woo! Time Warner will be broadcasting HBO free especially for the concert

Re: Just arrived in DC

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:03:04 -0000

Let me tell you something about fur coats. Now I'm from New Orleans, born and raised. Now all New Orleans natives no that it does not get cold enough in N'awlins for an extended period of time to be sporting a fur lined coat, or the finest leather jacket, but that don't stop nobody. Soon as the weather gets a little nippy, New Orleanians will be bringing out the leather and fur.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:15:36 -0000

On Tweety's program yesterday, he had a segment on the social aspect of Washingtonian society, and one of the guest said something I truly believe can be achieved with the Obama's in the White House. She basically said that there were 2 social societies in Washington: Black Washington & White Washington, and that the Obamas can/will hopefully try to bring the gap between the 2 divides.

I actually think that this is probably true. From what we've seen, the Obama's unlike the Bushes are social people. They like to go out into their neighborhood and socialize. Bush and Laura never seemed to leave the White House and venture into the neighborhood. When they left the White House it was to go to Crawford, or Camp David. I bet it never occured to him to even visit a local establishment. Now I know it was probably because of security concerns, but still it's not like they had to go out everyday, but damn did they go out at all in 8 years? I can't remember any.

Anyway, even though I know it will probably drive the Secret Service bonkers, I still like the idea of the Obamas really being a part of the D.C. neighborhood

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 10:32:52 -0000

Have you guys seen this?

Obama's people: http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/magazine/2...

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 11:28:44 -0000

I think for some cable providers, its only free for those people who have digital cable receivers.

I read that somewhere, but not sure.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:20:51 -0000

that was a very interesting article.

Re: Inaugural Events on TV

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 13:46:05 -0000

Thanks for the info.

Does anyone know if the "Hip Hop Ball" will be televised.

Also, I think I read somewhere that Barack & Michelle will attend 10 balls total. Will any of the other balls be televised?

I wonder if the weeMichelles will be allowed to attend any of the events.

Re: Sunday Open Thread

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:30:05 -0000

The Obama's Go To Church http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0109/Chu...

Sermon For Obama
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0109/A_s...

Man can you imagine what gonna happen for the people who wherever the Obama's choose to go to church. I know you go to church to worship, but you know for some people the church is a fashion show. You wanna bet some people will be decked out like it's Easter every Sunday, and everyone will be on their best behaviour...right?

I hope the Obamas choose a black church. I know it would probably be more political to attend an "integrated" multidemoninational, but Obama an obviously Michelle particulary are steeped in the Black Church experience. I know with the whole Trinity UCC brou-ha-ha, but F(*& it. If you were raised in the Black church, then no other church can compare

Re: Inaugural Events on TV

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:04:58 -0000

Actually I saw her on the Kennedy Honors telecast. She sang a Who song of all things. I'm at work now, but when I get home, I'll try to find a you tube of it.

That woman has som serioius bluesy soul pipes

Re: Inaugural Events on TV

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:54:33 -0000

Here's Betty Lavette at this year's Kennedy Center Honors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJi6maTueSc

Re: Inaugural Events on TV

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:56:04 -0000

I think Obama was really starting to feel the weight of the moment during the song with Betty Lavette.

Here's Betty Lavette at this year's Kennedy Center Honors:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJi6maTueSc

Re: Inaugural Events on TV

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 18:22:51 -0000

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/01/countdown-to-the-inauguration-2-days-open-thread/

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:03:19 -0000

Ayone catch MSNBC's documentary "Yes We Can...Countdown to Nov 4th" documentary? It's pretty interesting.

Re: Check out this view y’all #inaug09

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:17:02 -0000

Toobin was on CNN saying that the crowd may not be as big as expected because of the stories on security issues and crowd size.

Does anyone think he's right?

Well, in New Orleans, people always complained that the crowds were too much during Mardi Gras, but that never stopped people from coming every year, even after Katrina. So if people can come to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, with windows still blown out, homes still boarded up, people still not returned to N'awlins, then I think that by Monday, most people witll have come to Washington, and Tuesday will be a beast.

Here's hoping Toobin is wrong!!!

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/01/countdown-to-the-inauguration-2-days-open-thread/

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:22:47 -0000

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/01/countdown-to-the-inauguration-2-days-open-thread/

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 20:55:15 -0000

NBC, MSNBC are representin' for the Inauguration.

Dateline NBC has a special 2 hour special on talking about the history of the moment, from an African American experience and for the world. The segment on now is about the African American experience in America.

The segment before was on the photographer fro Obama, now the official White House photographer.

here are some of his photos: http://www.msnbc.com/modules/interactive.aspx?t...

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/01/countdown-to-the-inauguration-2-days-open-thread/

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 21:01:49 -0000

Okay,

I've been watcing stuff all day, and Dateline is making me misty-eyed. I don't know if I'll make it through Tuesday.

Damn you Dateline!! All I need now is for them to bring back Stone Phillips and I'm in heaven.

Re: http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/2009/01/countdown-to-the-inauguration-2-days-open-thread/

lh — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:11:23 -0000

Good post by Andrew Sullivan @ the Atlantic.

An Old Soul

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:49:13 -0000

Okay guys you gotta listen to this! It's a song from this group called "The Presidentd of the United States" . It's pretty cool.

The Presidents of the United States - Moving In (Obama is...)

Here's another link just in case this don't work: Moving In (Obama is...)

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:17:05 -0000

If the mall looks like this today, then man tomorrow will be a trip!!

Guess once again Jeff Toobin will be eating his words, like he did over the Roland Burris appointment.

Re: Monday Open Thread

lh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 17:40:54 -0000

I heard that on MSNBC, but elsewhere on the net, I found out that this was already sorta reported in The New Yorker in October.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/01...

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 1 Day — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:32:32 -0000

This is a blip.. What is Hilary gonna do? Opt out of SoS? Go out of her way to F*&^ up Obama's State Office Administration? Issue a comment?? What can she do...NOTHING???? And sadly, the MSM does a disservice to the nation by trying to make this a bigger story than it needs to be!!!!

They are just looking for contrary info to peddle. Tomorrow this will not even be a story. If anyone other than Fox News covers this as a big deal, they should be shamed!

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 1 Day — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:10:41 -0000

I don't agree, the "clean up version" was so that the MSM would not continue to harp on it, nip it in the bud so to speak.

The story itself is still not very newsworthy. It is just an excuse to divert momentarily from the excitement of the moment.

The decision of picking a vice-president and SoS are important one. The original way this slip was gonna be covered seemed too cavalier an occurence. And if there is one thing no one seems to think Obama is...is cavalier. The man thinks over (some might say overthink) everything. That's why I say it's not newsworthy. Yeah report, but I would prefer the media does not try to get their news from entertainment programs.

Besides, per Marc Ambinder @ The Atlantic, " ...Aides said they issued a clarification not because they were worried about Sen. Hillary Clinton's sensitivities but because they did not want the historical record to be compromised."

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

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 1 Day — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 22:52:56 -0000

How old is that girl who played Akeela in "Akeela & The Bee"? Because at the Kids Inaugural, she looked too grown!!!!

Re: Countdown to the Inauguration: 1 Day — Open Thread

lh — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:04:08 -0000

Cheney pulls back muscle, in wheelchair for inauguration

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 09:57:56 -0000

I heard that. I love Robin Roberts, her and her sister are natives of the Gulf coast. In fact, her sister, Sally Ann, is a news anchor in New Orleans

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:01:29 -0000

I'm kinda enjoying the coverage on NBC with Matt & Meredith. For the rest of the day, I'll probably be streaming between MSNBC and CNN.

I'm a glutton for punishment, so I actually like to watch the commentary.

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 10:44:22 -0000

Damn!! Look at that crowd!!!

Re: The 44th President of the United States of America

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 14:24:17 -0000

Marc Ambinder has a great dissection of Obama's speech that is very interesting.
Obama's Speech Annotated, Part I

Obama's Speech Annotated, Part II

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread #3

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:43:59 -0000

i like the dress. it's basically strapless. what bother 1st lady has done y
the same

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread #4: Inaugural Ball Edition

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:45:35 -0000

i like the dress. it's basically strapless. what bother 1st lady has done y
the same

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread #4: Inaugural Ball Edition

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:19:03 -0000

Check out the gown in this picture, and maybe people won't dislike it so much:

http://thepage.time.com/2009/01/20/an-inaugural...

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread #4: Inaugural Ball Edition

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:24:34 -0000

i think pictures will redeem the dress.

I think that as with all things, it was the expectations game that spoiled this dress for some people. People were expecting more color, and all those designer sketches that people saw colored our vision some what.

Anyway, I like the dress

Re: Inauguration Day Open Thread #4: Inaugural Ball Edition

lh — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:34:38 -0000

Dr Jill in red!!! looks great

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:01:46 -0000

I just wondered if ya'll noticed what I noticed last night. I was watching some of the coverage, and my TV some how got turned to O'Reilly, and he was calling President Obama, Barack Obama. Ya know, "Let's talk about Barack Obama's speech", or "So what did you think of Barack Obama's speech". It really irked me to no end. Maybe I was just sensitive, but it seemed like O'Reilly could not call him President Obama. The reason I ask is because I'm not sure I ever heard anyone of Fox News call GWB anything but President Bush.

Just wondering if anyone else noticed it.

Re: Wednesday Open Thread

lh — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 16:12:52 -0000

From my understanding, many people wanted Larry Summers to become Treasury Secretary, the issue with him was more an attitudinal problem rather than a tax problem.

So I think what Obama should do is nominate Summers, and put Geithner in place of Summers.

Re: Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

lh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:21:38 -0000

So I've decided to give up on political news shows. It's time to ween myself off of them.
No more MSNBC, Morning Joe, or Situation Room. Gonna just get my news from online, and JJP.

The sad part is I actually like to watch the shows, but they get so stupid sometimes. I can't stand it. Like MSNBC, I like Olbermann, but sometimes he can be too much. Morning Joe when Scar is not on, is actually okay, and I actually like the Situation Room, but Ed Henry just irritates me. The best thing about CNN, is Cafferty and Jeannie Moost.

Anyway, is there any other news programs that ya'll recommend that just gives the straight news. I beginning to really like BBC America, but of course, it really just news from the world with an "American" twist.

I hear PBS, has good shows??

Re: Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

lh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:01:33 -0000

I live in Dallas, and I don't know if Air America in on here. Plus, I word early morning to the afternoon, so I rarely have time to listen to the radio (besides which, I only have a clock radio in my bedroon).

At my job, while there are a number of Democrats, it's a hospital, so I don't usually listen to talk radio, unless it's one of those top 40 types. I usually listen to my IPOD.

I really only watch TV from 5: 30 to 6:30am, I TIVO most of the shows I did watch

Re: Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

lh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 19:49:12 -0000

I can not stand Tara Wall (repulican strategist)!!!!

It's not because she is a Black or a Repub (personally can't stand Carville, or Hilary Rosen that much) . What I can't stand is that whenever she speaks it's alway with this very unbecoming smirk. Particularly when she is saying some Republican talking points.

Ugggghhhh!!!

Re: Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

lh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:01:29 -0000

Poll: Obama Really Popular...In Two Deep-Red States

Re: Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

lh — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:05:53 -0000

Hey,

Thanks