Seinfeld Damage Control
Poor Jerry Seinfeld. He is sitting on a pile of cash from his days of Seinfeld success. The show is in endless reruns and DVDs of the first six seasons are on sale. Just when the latest DVDs are set for release, and more cash is flowing in, Michael Richards ruins it for everyone.
What is Seinfeld to do? There he is going on Letterman to hawk a must have Christmas gift but he knows that he will have to talk about his friend's sick, racist rant.
Voila. Have him on satellite and tell him to apologize but quick. Better for Seinfeld, Richards, and better for Letterman's ratings.
What is a black person to do? As I noted in yesterday's post, it is hard to know what to do about white celebrities. Should we like them? Who knows if they are closet racists? Well, you never know, but that sums up life for black people in a variety of ways. We don't know what to expect on job interviews, when we are stopped by police or if we go shopping in a store.
Richard doesn't have much of a career, so he can't even be boycotted. It doesn't make much sense to avoid all television and movies with white stars. We wouldn't have much to watch.
I guess I'll have to go with the shows on WB and UPN that I used to make fun of. Some of them aren't so bad, and I won't have to wonder if I'm feeding the hand that will bite me.
We should do what we always do. Enjoy life as much as possible, but be ready for the worst. Well, there is a depressing thought. I guess I'll go watch a sitcom and relieve my stress.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Obama Speaks with Forked Tongue
"The first part of this strategy begins by exerting the greatest leverage we have on the Iraqi government – a phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq on a timetable that would begin in four to six months."
Barack Obama, November 21, 2006
"What is needed is a blueprint for an expeditious yet responsible exit from Iraq. A hard and fast, arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field, and our diplomats in the region, insufficient flexibility to implement that strategy."
Barack Obama, June 21, 2006
Like any good politician, Mr. Audacious minces words. Five months ago he very carefully distinguished between phased withdrawals without definite dates and total withdrawals with dates attached. However, it is clear if you read both speeches that Obama stuck his pinkie in the wind two weeks ago. He knows that voters made their feelings clear and want a troop withdrawal now. The DNC and DLC talking points that said, "Don't mention Iraq," went into file G in Obama's office.
He is still talking out of both sides of his mouth on this issue. He was against it, but thinks we can't leave. How very convenient. The celebrity Senator gets to have it both ways and look good to his ever more fawning fan club.
The truth is that the U.S. presence has created all of Iraq's problems. Some 600,000 Iraqis are dead, a fact that Obama thinks is unimportant. He certainly doesn't mention it in any of his brilliant, terribly thoughtful speeches.
No one else does either. Even those Senators who had the courage to vote against war, now advocate leaving Iraq because of American losses only. The thousands of dead Iraqis are never an issue for any of them.
Obama was conveniently not in the Senate in 2003. If he had been he would have voted for war and occupation. In reality he isn't audacious at all. He is a standard politician with presidential ambitions, and that means his thoughtfulness and intelligence are no where to be seen.
Obama would be a great Senator if he didn't also want to be president. If he can survive his case of Potomac Fever we may begin to see someone who is truly audacious and worthy of admiration. Until then, don't believe any of the hype.
"The first part of this strategy begins by exerting the greatest leverage we have on the Iraqi government – a phased redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq on a timetable that would begin in four to six months."
Barack Obama, November 21, 2006
"What is needed is a blueprint for an expeditious yet responsible exit from Iraq. A hard and fast, arbitrary deadline for withdrawal offers our commanders in the field, and our diplomats in the region, insufficient flexibility to implement that strategy."
Barack Obama, June 21, 2006
Like any good politician, Mr. Audacious minces words. Five months ago he very carefully distinguished between phased withdrawals without definite dates and total withdrawals with dates attached. However, it is clear if you read both speeches that Obama stuck his pinkie in the wind two weeks ago. He knows that voters made their feelings clear and want a troop withdrawal now. The DNC and DLC talking points that said, "Don't mention Iraq," went into file G in Obama's office.
He is still talking out of both sides of his mouth on this issue. He was against it, but thinks we can't leave. How very convenient. The celebrity Senator gets to have it both ways and look good to his ever more fawning fan club.
The truth is that the U.S. presence has created all of Iraq's problems. Some 600,000 Iraqis are dead, a fact that Obama thinks is unimportant. He certainly doesn't mention it in any of his brilliant, terribly thoughtful speeches.
No one else does either. Even those Senators who had the courage to vote against war, now advocate leaving Iraq because of American losses only. The thousands of dead Iraqis are never an issue for any of them.
Obama was conveniently not in the Senate in 2003. If he had been he would have voted for war and occupation. In reality he isn't audacious at all. He is a standard politician with presidential ambitions, and that means his thoughtfulness and intelligence are no where to be seen.
Obama would be a great Senator if he didn't also want to be president. If he can survive his case of Potomac Fever we may begin to see someone who is truly audacious and worthy of admiration. Until then, don't believe any of the hype.
Monday, November 20, 2006
"Kramer" Loves White Supremacy
"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f***ing fork up your ass."
Michael Richards
When comedians get lots of laugh they say they "killed" their audience. I thought that was just an expression. Michael Richards takes the word literally and uses it when he isn't making such a good impression.
What is a thinking black person to do? Can we watch tv and movies and enjoy white performers or should we just forget about it? My father has said that he wouldn't have spent his money at Saturday matinees watching so many westerns if he had known that John Wayne was a racist.
I regularly watched the old Seinfeld series for several years and loved the character Kramer, the wacky next door neighbor that no sitcom can do without. Like my dad, I now wish I had known better.
Michael Richards, the actor who portrayed Kramer, was performing a stand up routine at the Laugh Factory comedy club in Los Angeles when he was heckled. The hecklers were black, and that was simply too much for Richards to take.
He not only pined for the days when black people were tortured and murdered on any white person's whim, but he continued using the word nigger over and over. Thankfully it was all caught on video.
"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherf**ker. Throw his ass out. He's a nigger! He's a nigger! He's a nigger! A nigger, look, there's a nigger!"
The rules haven't changed very much in the 21st century. White people do not like it when black people challenge them. They feel entitled, to say or do as they wish while we are entitled to nothing, except punishment. If we step out of line, we are immediately reminded that we can and should be killed. Notice that Richards used the first person in his blood lust fantasy. He clearly fantasizes about the good old days for white people and sees himself in the gruesome lynching picture.
I don't know if Richards will flee to rehab or cry and beg forgiveness. His words should not be forgotten and and he shouldn't be hired to perform anywhere ever again.
The only thing positive about this situation is that it will have what I call a smokeout effect. Anyone who expresses sympathy for Richards, or doesn't understand the outrage, or says we are being too PC or overly sensitive is not to be trusted. Some of those people may be black, but the rules don't change. They are not to be trusted either.
Randall Kennedy is such a person. The black Harvard professor makes a very good living defending the use of the word nigger and the white people who use it. He even took the trouble to testify in court on behalf of a white man, Nicholas Minucci, who was on trial for committing a hate crime against a black person. The jurors had better sense than Kennedy and convicted Minucci.
Kennedy has been joined by John Ridley, the newest kid on the block who beats up on black people for personal gain. Ridley not only says there is nothing wrong with the word nigger but uses it to disparage all black people he says have created their own problems. In Ridley's world every black person on public assistance or in jail or on the unemployment line is responsible for their own problems and is a nigger too.
We will learn a lot more as this story unfolds. The next few days will tell us a lot. We will know who would stick forks up our asses if they got the chance. We shouldn't be surprised if some of those people look like the victims in the lynching photos.
"Fifty years ago we'd have you upside down with a f***ing fork up your ass."
Michael Richards
When comedians get lots of laugh they say they "killed" their audience. I thought that was just an expression. Michael Richards takes the word literally and uses it when he isn't making such a good impression.
What is a thinking black person to do? Can we watch tv and movies and enjoy white performers or should we just forget about it? My father has said that he wouldn't have spent his money at Saturday matinees watching so many westerns if he had known that John Wayne was a racist.
I regularly watched the old Seinfeld series for several years and loved the character Kramer, the wacky next door neighbor that no sitcom can do without. Like my dad, I now wish I had known better.
Michael Richards, the actor who portrayed Kramer, was performing a stand up routine at the Laugh Factory comedy club in Los Angeles when he was heckled. The hecklers were black, and that was simply too much for Richards to take.
He not only pined for the days when black people were tortured and murdered on any white person's whim, but he continued using the word nigger over and over. Thankfully it was all caught on video.
"You can talk, you can talk, you're brave now motherf**ker. Throw his ass out. He's a nigger! He's a nigger! He's a nigger! A nigger, look, there's a nigger!"
The rules haven't changed very much in the 21st century. White people do not like it when black people challenge them. They feel entitled, to say or do as they wish while we are entitled to nothing, except punishment. If we step out of line, we are immediately reminded that we can and should be killed. Notice that Richards used the first person in his blood lust fantasy. He clearly fantasizes about the good old days for white people and sees himself in the gruesome lynching picture.
I don't know if Richards will flee to rehab or cry and beg forgiveness. His words should not be forgotten and and he shouldn't be hired to perform anywhere ever again.
The only thing positive about this situation is that it will have what I call a smokeout effect. Anyone who expresses sympathy for Richards, or doesn't understand the outrage, or says we are being too PC or overly sensitive is not to be trusted. Some of those people may be black, but the rules don't change. They are not to be trusted either.
Randall Kennedy is such a person. The black Harvard professor makes a very good living defending the use of the word nigger and the white people who use it. He even took the trouble to testify in court on behalf of a white man, Nicholas Minucci, who was on trial for committing a hate crime against a black person. The jurors had better sense than Kennedy and convicted Minucci.
Kennedy has been joined by John Ridley, the newest kid on the block who beats up on black people for personal gain. Ridley not only says there is nothing wrong with the word nigger but uses it to disparage all black people he says have created their own problems. In Ridley's world every black person on public assistance or in jail or on the unemployment line is responsible for their own problems and is a nigger too.
We will learn a lot more as this story unfolds. The next few days will tell us a lot. We will know who would stick forks up our asses if they got the chance. We shouldn't be surprised if some of those people look like the victims in the lynching photos.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Why Harold Ford Lost
"It was this combination of hostility, immaturity, and poor character that I believe cost Ford a significant amount of votes from liberals - and therefore the election. Considering that Corker only won with a margin of less than 50,000 votes, that breaks down to about 21 votes per precinct."
According to the Crusader at Daily Kos, Ford lost his race for the Tennessee Senate seat because he is an ass. I'm not quoting Crusader, but that is what it boils down to. Ford went out of his way to emphasize his anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, pro-war credentials, making little distinction between himself and Corker.
Ford is a menace, but as we have seen with Carville's idiotic musings, the DLC loves him and will find some way to prop him up. Hopefully more intelligent minds will prevail and the stake will stay firmly implanted in his heart.
"It was this combination of hostility, immaturity, and poor character that I believe cost Ford a significant amount of votes from liberals - and therefore the election. Considering that Corker only won with a margin of less than 50,000 votes, that breaks down to about 21 votes per precinct."
According to the Crusader at Daily Kos, Ford lost his race for the Tennessee Senate seat because he is an ass. I'm not quoting Crusader, but that is what it boils down to. Ford went out of his way to emphasize his anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, pro-war credentials, making little distinction between himself and Corker.
Ford is a menace, but as we have seen with Carville's idiotic musings, the DLC loves him and will find some way to prop him up. Hopefully more intelligent minds will prevail and the stake will stay firmly implanted in his heart.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Carville is a Jack Ass
I seem to recall that Terry McAuliffe never won anything. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee before Howard Dean, the Howard Dean who won last week.
McAuliffe raised tons of cash, but could never manage to use it to win. Anything. Ever. Not an off year election for dog catcher in Podunk, not anything. Republicans were in the House majority from 1994 until last week, a twelve year period of time.
Someone needs to bring these little factoids to the attention of James Carville. Carville makes a fortune on CNN because he was a top Clinton campaign staffer. He is now compromised by the theology of triangulation and his marriage to a top Dick Cheney staffer, Mary Matalin.
He is furious that Howard Dean worked a winning strategy. Carville's partner in crime, Paul Begala, dismissed Dean's people as "nose pickers" who were wasting money. Only Carville and Begala could manage to find fault with success.
They are angry because they are terrified of real Democrats. Dean is a Democrat, a real one, and Carville and Begala hate him because of it. They are also afraid of losing their hold on the title "head Democrats in charge" among professional pundits.
By the way, Rahm Emanuel, another Clinton accolyte, is not the boy genius that the media make him out to be. Thirteen of22 House candidates hand picked by Emanuel lost.
"The Dems have picked up 28 seats so far, maybe more. So out of that 28, Rahm's choices accounted for 8! Since the Dems only needed 15 seats to win the House, Rahm's efforts were completely unnecessary. Had the campaign rested on Rahm's choices, there would have been only 8 or 9 new seats, and the Dems would have lost."
Of course the media are showing their allegiance to corporate power and not to accurately reporting the news. The New York Times (registration required) tells us that the Democrats are fighting among themselves. Not true. The Clinton gang are the only sore winners fighting against other Democrats.
Carville didn't say jack when McAuliffe lost again and again. Why? Because McAuliffe was Clinton's boy. Dean isn't, so Dean can't win for winning.
Get used to it. James Carville, Paul Begala and Rahm Emanuel will be in rare form between now and 2008. The boss's wife needs their help.
I seem to recall that Terry McAuliffe never won anything. He was chairman of the Democratic National Committee before Howard Dean, the Howard Dean who won last week.
McAuliffe raised tons of cash, but could never manage to use it to win. Anything. Ever. Not an off year election for dog catcher in Podunk, not anything. Republicans were in the House majority from 1994 until last week, a twelve year period of time.
Someone needs to bring these little factoids to the attention of James Carville. Carville makes a fortune on CNN because he was a top Clinton campaign staffer. He is now compromised by the theology of triangulation and his marriage to a top Dick Cheney staffer, Mary Matalin.
He is furious that Howard Dean worked a winning strategy. Carville's partner in crime, Paul Begala, dismissed Dean's people as "nose pickers" who were wasting money. Only Carville and Begala could manage to find fault with success.
They are angry because they are terrified of real Democrats. Dean is a Democrat, a real one, and Carville and Begala hate him because of it. They are also afraid of losing their hold on the title "head Democrats in charge" among professional pundits.
By the way, Rahm Emanuel, another Clinton accolyte, is not the boy genius that the media make him out to be. Thirteen of22 House candidates hand picked by Emanuel lost.
"The Dems have picked up 28 seats so far, maybe more. So out of that 28, Rahm's choices accounted for 8! Since the Dems only needed 15 seats to win the House, Rahm's efforts were completely unnecessary. Had the campaign rested on Rahm's choices, there would have been only 8 or 9 new seats, and the Dems would have lost."
Of course the media are showing their allegiance to corporate power and not to accurately reporting the news. The New York Times (registration required) tells us that the Democrats are fighting among themselves. Not true. The Clinton gang are the only sore winners fighting against other Democrats.
Carville didn't say jack when McAuliffe lost again and again. Why? Because McAuliffe was Clinton's boy. Dean isn't, so Dean can't win for winning.
Get used to it. James Carville, Paul Begala and Rahm Emanuel will be in rare form between now and 2008. The boss's wife needs their help.
Bye-Bye Harold
We can thank Black Agenda Report for this great image and for its great reporting. If you don't know why the Harold Fords of the world are so dangerous, you have to check out BAR.
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Don't Blame Black People
O.J. Simpson is back, worse than the proverbial bad penny. Not content to have gotten away with murder he has written a book to tell us how he would have killed two people. Mind you he didn't, he just spends his time thinking about how he would have done it.
I don't want to hear anything about black people loving him. Black people have no sway at Fox News, the purveyor of not one, but two nights of insanity featuring the aforesaid Simpson. Judith Regan got Simpson his book deal and two evenings on Fox. What do you expect from someone who would bang Bernard Kerik?
We can only hope that no one watches this nonsense or reads Simpson's book. I for one wouldn't watch for 30 seconds, much less two nights straight.
O.J. Simpson is back, worse than the proverbial bad penny. Not content to have gotten away with murder he has written a book to tell us how he would have killed two people. Mind you he didn't, he just spends his time thinking about how he would have done it.
I don't want to hear anything about black people loving him. Black people have no sway at Fox News, the purveyor of not one, but two nights of insanity featuring the aforesaid Simpson. Judith Regan got Simpson his book deal and two evenings on Fox. What do you expect from someone who would bang Bernard Kerik?
We can only hope that no one watches this nonsense or reads Simpson's book. I for one wouldn't watch for 30 seconds, much less two nights straight.
Friday, November 10, 2006
Mehlman Outed from Closet and Job
Yesterday Republican National Committee Chairman,Ken Mehlman, announced that he is stepping down. Not coincidentally, they day before that Bill Maher announced on Larry King Live that Mehlman is gay.
CNN censored those comments from the rebroadcast program. Thank God it is Larry King Live. Maher had already done his duty as a citizen before the corporate media could shut him up.
Will that same corporate media dare ask Mehlman what everyone else is asking? Did he leave as quickly as he did because he would be asked if Maher spoke the truth?
Mehlman's homosexuality has been an open secret for a long time. I often wondered if the gay prostitute (2/15/05 post) in the White House press room was his special friend. We will never know the truth of that either.
It has come to this. Stand up comics are now doing the work of the press.
Yesterday Republican National Committee Chairman,Ken Mehlman, announced that he is stepping down. Not coincidentally, they day before that Bill Maher announced on Larry King Live that Mehlman is gay.
CNN censored those comments from the rebroadcast program. Thank God it is Larry King Live. Maher had already done his duty as a citizen before the corporate media could shut him up.
Will that same corporate media dare ask Mehlman what everyone else is asking? Did he leave as quickly as he did because he would be asked if Maher spoke the truth?
Mehlman's homosexuality has been an open secret for a long time. I often wondered if the gay prostitute (2/15/05 post) in the White House press room was his special friend. We will never know the truth of that either.
It has come to this. Stand up comics are now doing the work of the press.
Thursday, November 09, 2006
"We'll Keep Killing" - Ehud Olmert, Israeli Prime Minister
I admit it, I'm parphrasing. Although I'm not off by much. Israel keeps killing Palestinians in Gaza. Eighteen women and children were killed by IDF shells yesterday. Olmert can call their deaths a "technical error" if he wants, but that isn't how the rest of the world sees it.
Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinian women last week. The women were part of group acting as human shields. They were helping men holed up in a mosque escape from the soldiers. The men had guns and they were shooting, but they didn't kill any Israelis. The women, the ones who got shot, were unarmed.
By the way, every shot fired, every shell that falls, has Uncle Sam's name on it. Israel insists on putting a bulls eye on every American's back.
I admit it, I'm parphrasing. Although I'm not off by much. Israel keeps killing Palestinians in Gaza. Eighteen women and children were killed by IDF shells yesterday. Olmert can call their deaths a "technical error" if he wants, but that isn't how the rest of the world sees it.
Israeli soldiers shot and killed two Palestinian women last week. The women were part of group acting as human shields. They were helping men holed up in a mosque escape from the soldiers. The men had guns and they were shooting, but they didn't kill any Israelis. The women, the ones who got shot, were unarmed.
By the way, every shot fired, every shell that falls, has Uncle Sam's name on it. Israel insists on putting a bulls eye on every American's back.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Good News and Bad
Good News
Democrats win control of House
Deval Patrick wins
Harold Ford defeated (see earlier post)
Michael Steele defeated
Lynn Swann defeated
Ken Blackwell defeated
South Dakota abortion ban defeated
Missouri approves stem cell research
Bad News
Affirmative action outlawed in Michigan
Joe Lieberman won
Dem. control of Senate depends not only on votes in Virginia, but on turncoat Lieberman
Nancy Pelosi, new House Speaker, refuses to discuss impeaching Bush
Rahm Emanuel and other Clintonian triangulators in charge (see refusal to impeach)
Forget the Hype, Doesn't Really Matter
Rumsfeld resigns
Good News
Democrats win control of House
Deval Patrick wins
Harold Ford defeated (see earlier post)
Michael Steele defeated
Lynn Swann defeated
Ken Blackwell defeated
South Dakota abortion ban defeated
Missouri approves stem cell research
Bad News
Affirmative action outlawed in Michigan
Joe Lieberman won
Dem. control of Senate depends not only on votes in Virginia, but on turncoat Lieberman
Nancy Pelosi, new House Speaker, refuses to discuss impeaching Bush
Rahm Emanuel and other Clintonian triangulators in charge (see refusal to impeach)
Forget the Hype, Doesn't Really Matter
Rumsfeld resigns
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Little Rebel Harold Ford
Reuters
I never liked Harold Ford. He is an opportunistic, lying little suck up who throws black people under the bus when he thinks he can get ahead by doing it. As I pointed out back on March 21st, this is a guy who claimed his black grandmother was white. I kid you not.
I can't stand the guy. If I had liked him before the thrill would now be gone upon seeing this 1,000 word picture. Ford is doing some last minute flesh pressing at the Little Rebels Club, yes the real name, in his last day of campaigning for the Tennessee Senate seat.
How can you trust a guy who spent months proclaiming that he loves George Bush? To add insult to injury he just looks pathetic. He has taken off his tie and plopped an Elmer Fuddish redneckesque cap on his head, but he just looks like an Uncle Tom pleading for kindness from the local branch of the KKK.
This picture shows why Ford never had a chance. Tennessee is red neck, and no matter what they tell pollsters, white people in red neck states won't vote for anyone black. Black politicians are often placed in untenable positions when running for state wide office. It is a difficult conundrum, but if the state requires singing kumbayah with goold old boys then it just isn't worth it. Ford in the Senate would be a menace to black people.
Bye bye Harold and good riddance.
Reuters
I never liked Harold Ford. He is an opportunistic, lying little suck up who throws black people under the bus when he thinks he can get ahead by doing it. As I pointed out back on March 21st, this is a guy who claimed his black grandmother was white. I kid you not.
I can't stand the guy. If I had liked him before the thrill would now be gone upon seeing this 1,000 word picture. Ford is doing some last minute flesh pressing at the Little Rebels Club, yes the real name, in his last day of campaigning for the Tennessee Senate seat.
How can you trust a guy who spent months proclaiming that he loves George Bush? To add insult to injury he just looks pathetic. He has taken off his tie and plopped an Elmer Fuddish redneckesque cap on his head, but he just looks like an Uncle Tom pleading for kindness from the local branch of the KKK.
This picture shows why Ford never had a chance. Tennessee is red neck, and no matter what they tell pollsters, white people in red neck states won't vote for anyone black. Black politicians are often placed in untenable positions when running for state wide office. It is a difficult conundrum, but if the state requires singing kumbayah with goold old boys then it just isn't worth it. Ford in the Senate would be a menace to black people.
Bye bye Harold and good riddance.
Blonde, Blue Eyed White People Prevented from Voting
I predicted this would happen in my Black Agenda Report column entitled, How to Steal an Election. It is clear that voter ID requirements are preventing eligible voters from casting their ballots. So much so, that very well known white people are having problems voting too.
Robin Carnahan is Missouri's Secretary of State. She is the official in charge of that state's voting regulations. Her father was Governor and her mother was a Senator. As you can see from her official photo she is very, very white. The last point was probably the only thing that allowed her to vote by absentee ballot last week.
A Missouri law mandating photo ID was struck down by a federal court, but a poll worker insisted that Carnahan could not submit her absentee ballot without an ID. Carnahan persisted and was eventually allowed to vote without photo identification. "To have that experience personally was very troubling," said Carnahan. Now there is an under statement.
Steve Chabot is an Ohio Republican Congressman. He submitted his driver's license as ID but it displays his office address and not the home address listed on the rolls. The Congressman was forced to return home to retrieve additional identification.
Unlike Carnahan, Chabot didn't complain. "I guess this just shows the poll workers are really doing their job." Actually the incident showed just the opposite. As a state of Ohio website clearly states, "You may also use your Ohio driver's license or Ohio photo ID, even if it shows a previous address."
If well known very white people are having trouble at the polls, what hope do poor people have who don't have the luxury of time or the wherewithal to argue or the positive assumptions that come with having white skin. If the results tomorrow show another Republican victory, don't be surprised. Remember you heard it here first.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Israel Slaughters Palestinians
Here is a nice little factoid to think about as the week begins. As you can see on the chart above, there have been 76 Palestinians deaths for every Israeli death since July 1. It is a slaughter, not a conflict.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Rev. Ted Haggard, A Hateful Little Man
"I offer a deep tissue and swedish style massage with the pleasure of the man in mind. If you like a strong muscle man to bring pleasure to you then please call me." - Mike Jones, drug dealing prostitute and friend to down low, right wing, evangelicals
Imagine Mike Jones' surprise. The sex worker was in a gym, watching tv when he saw a regular customer on the tube. It turned out that the man he knew as "Art" was in fact Rev. Ted Haggard, pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs and president of the National Association of Evangelicals. What did Jones say to himself at the moment? "Hey, I get high with that guy and I lick his balls!" Well, something to that effect.
Preacher Ted Haggard is the latest closeted conservative in the hot seat. When Jones first claimed to have both had sex with and used methamphetamines with Haggard, Haggard called him a liar. He said he didn't know him at all. Period. End of story.
Well, that version of events lasted for about one day. Everything changed when Jones produced taped voice mail messages left by Haggard. Not only did they talk, but they talked about buying methamphetamines. Finally Haggard cracked and owned up to knowing Jones, getting a massage from him, and buying meth from him, but only to throw it away and not use it. The New Life Church was as unconvinced as everyone else and fired Haggard, who now cops to being a "deceiver and a liar."
I first lost any inclination to be compassionate towards Haggard when gave an interview in his car with the wife and kiddies by his side. A reporter asked him if he would step out so they could talk in private, but the lying deceiver had clearly lost any vestige of common sense decision making and dug himself in deeper with his family in tow.
Jones did the public a great service when he revealed Haggard's hypocrisy. I admit to not knowing anything about the guybefore the scandal, but a 2005 Harper's article is an eye opening and frightening revelation about the evangelical movement.
"In America the descendants of the Protestants, the Puritan descendants, we want to create a better future, and our speakers say that sort of thing. But with the influx of people from Mexico, they don't tend to be the ones that go to universities and become our research-and-development people. And so in that way I see a little clash of civilizations.”
“I teach a strong ideology of the use of power,” he says, “of military might, as a public service.”
Haggard is a pro-war fascist cult leader. He spreads hate and promotes American wars of aggression. I hope he won't be missed, but the sickness that gave him followers will not disappear. In the fine American tradition of religious hucksterism, he will be followed by others who are equally vile.
posted 11/05/06
Black Agenda Report
I have been seriously remiss in not mentioning last week's debut of Black Agenda Report, of which I am a columnist and editor. BAR will tell you what the corporate media will not. While they carry water for the GOP and make John Kerry's lame remarks a front page story, BAR will tell you how to keep an eye on Congress, even in Dems are back in control, and the history of an American genocide.
In this week's issue, my column covers the ever present threat of election theft by the Republicans. National elections were stolen in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Don't be surprised if polls showing Democratic victories are once again mysteriously wrong.
Whatever the outcome, Black Agenda Report will explain it all for you.
I have been seriously remiss in not mentioning last week's debut of Black Agenda Report, of which I am a columnist and editor. BAR will tell you what the corporate media will not. While they carry water for the GOP and make John Kerry's lame remarks a front page story, BAR will tell you how to keep an eye on Congress, even in Dems are back in control, and the history of an American genocide.
In this week's issue, my column covers the ever present threat of election theft by the Republicans. National elections were stolen in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Don't be surprised if polls showing Democratic victories are once again mysteriously wrong.
Whatever the outcome, Black Agenda Report will explain it all for you.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Barack Obama Disappoints
No, I'm not crazy about Mr. Wonderful and I don't care if everyone else has fallen under his spell. No, I don't care if he runs for president or not. He has proven himself to be no better than other Democrats, so I see no reason for the hyperventilation. Anyone promoted by right wing columnist David Brooks is no friend of mine.
My lack of love for Barack Obama is a result of both my cynicism in general and his failure to do what any Democrat ought to do. Support for Ned Lamont in his Connecticut Senate race should be a litmus test for all Democrats and the celebrity of the moment has failed that test.
In August Connecticut Democrats made their feelings clear. They were sick of Joe Lieberman and gave him the back of their hands as soon as they had someone else to vote for. Lieberman felt entitled to hold onto his seat and decided to run as an independent. His biggest supporters are Republicans, so the independent label is a very sick joke.
Obama endorsed Lieberman before the primary and made a public appearance with the rat bastard to make good on his endorsement. He was shrewd enough to support Lamont after the primary but has avoided being seen in public with him. Hillary Clinton has done the same thing. She loaned Lamont her fund raiser and has met with him privately, but it was Lieberman who got Clinton face time and a photo op.
Senator celeb is criss crossing the country raising money for Democrats and promoting his book. Yet he can't seem to find his way to Connecticut and Ned Lamont, the party nominee in that state. Maybe he has a one visit per state rule.
Lieberman may well help the GOP retain Senate control. He may take a job with the Bush administration and let the Republican governor choose a successor. Or he may just switch teams and hand the Senate over to the Republicans.
If that happens Obama lovers must then ask their idol and other Democrats some hard questions. Where were you when Dems needed you?
It isn't really hard to figure out. Obama is playing it safe. Whether he wants to run for president or settle for veep with Hillary, he has to loe the line. If he has to toe the line, why get excited about him? Clintonian triangulation in black face is no cause for celebration.
No, I'm not crazy about Mr. Wonderful and I don't care if everyone else has fallen under his spell. No, I don't care if he runs for president or not. He has proven himself to be no better than other Democrats, so I see no reason for the hyperventilation. Anyone promoted by right wing columnist David Brooks is no friend of mine.
My lack of love for Barack Obama is a result of both my cynicism in general and his failure to do what any Democrat ought to do. Support for Ned Lamont in his Connecticut Senate race should be a litmus test for all Democrats and the celebrity of the moment has failed that test.
In August Connecticut Democrats made their feelings clear. They were sick of Joe Lieberman and gave him the back of their hands as soon as they had someone else to vote for. Lieberman felt entitled to hold onto his seat and decided to run as an independent. His biggest supporters are Republicans, so the independent label is a very sick joke.
Obama endorsed Lieberman before the primary and made a public appearance with the rat bastard to make good on his endorsement. He was shrewd enough to support Lamont after the primary but has avoided being seen in public with him. Hillary Clinton has done the same thing. She loaned Lamont her fund raiser and has met with him privately, but it was Lieberman who got Clinton face time and a photo op.
Senator celeb is criss crossing the country raising money for Democrats and promoting his book. Yet he can't seem to find his way to Connecticut and Ned Lamont, the party nominee in that state. Maybe he has a one visit per state rule.
Lieberman may well help the GOP retain Senate control. He may take a job with the Bush administration and let the Republican governor choose a successor. Or he may just switch teams and hand the Senate over to the Republicans.
If that happens Obama lovers must then ask their idol and other Democrats some hard questions. Where were you when Dems needed you?
It isn't really hard to figure out. Obama is playing it safe. Whether he wants to run for president or settle for veep with Hillary, he has to loe the line. If he has to toe the line, why get excited about him? Clintonian triangulation in black face is no cause for celebration.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Forget 9/11
Here we go again with candlelight, bag pipes, poems, and George and Laura. It can only mean one thing. It is September 11th.
I hate the way September 11th is remembered. It is the day of the year when Americans are most encouraged to stay in their bubble of ignorance about the rest of the world and think that their suffering is more significant than anyone else's.
The Americans who died on September 11, 2006 are not more worthy of mourning than the thousands of Iraqis killed by U.S. government terror. If we are going to engage in this display of grief every year, we should at least include memorials to other people.
How many Afghans were killed so that the U.S. could "save" their country? How many Iraqis? Let us acknowledge that governments sponsor terror every time they drop bombs. We should also acknowledge that other families mourn their dead. Iraqi families don't cry more than American families do. Dead is dead. Death by violence is always terrible. We might spend time remembering the Americans killed by random violence.
Are their families ever made whole? How do they spend the anniversaries of their loved one's death? What can we learn about the universality of human suffering if we think of them too?
September 11th should be a day of mourning for the families and friends of those who perished that awful day. It is their thoughts and feelings that count the most. Do they really want to publicly grieve? Anniversaries of deaths are hard enough, how does it feel to be constantly reminded of one's pain? I wish someone would ask them, all of them, and not just the self-appointed few we see most often who are said to represent 3,000 people.
So let us remember the victims of terror, all the victims, all over the world.
Here we go again with candlelight, bag pipes, poems, and George and Laura. It can only mean one thing. It is September 11th.
I hate the way September 11th is remembered. It is the day of the year when Americans are most encouraged to stay in their bubble of ignorance about the rest of the world and think that their suffering is more significant than anyone else's.
The Americans who died on September 11, 2006 are not more worthy of mourning than the thousands of Iraqis killed by U.S. government terror. If we are going to engage in this display of grief every year, we should at least include memorials to other people.
How many Afghans were killed so that the U.S. could "save" their country? How many Iraqis? Let us acknowledge that governments sponsor terror every time they drop bombs. We should also acknowledge that other families mourn their dead. Iraqi families don't cry more than American families do. Dead is dead. Death by violence is always terrible. We might spend time remembering the Americans killed by random violence.
Are their families ever made whole? How do they spend the anniversaries of their loved one's death? What can we learn about the universality of human suffering if we think of them too?
September 11th should be a day of mourning for the families and friends of those who perished that awful day. It is their thoughts and feelings that count the most. Do they really want to publicly grieve? Anniversaries of deaths are hard enough, how does it feel to be constantly reminded of one's pain? I wish someone would ask them, all of them, and not just the self-appointed few we see most often who are said to represent 3,000 people.
So let us remember the victims of terror, all the victims, all over the world.
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Krikey!
Has it been more than a month since I last posted? Yes it has. Let's see, what has transpired? Photos of celebrity spawn fetch millions, Joe Lieberman thinks he has a God given right to his Senate seat, the Katrina anniversary has come and gone with half of New Orleans population still displaced, al-Qaeda has more #2s than a toilet seat, and Katie Couric began receiving her $25 million salary for reading the news. Her debut included showing said photos of celebrity spawn, but that's not all. A man who made a name for himself by getting way too close to wild animals finally died because of his actions. His homeland must have a serious inferiority complex because their government offered a state funeral for a man who died for lack of common sense.
More tomorrow, just wanted you to know I am still here.
Has it been more than a month since I last posted? Yes it has. Let's see, what has transpired? Photos of celebrity spawn fetch millions, Joe Lieberman thinks he has a God given right to his Senate seat, the Katrina anniversary has come and gone with half of New Orleans population still displaced, al-Qaeda has more #2s than a toilet seat, and Katie Couric began receiving her $25 million salary for reading the news. Her debut included showing said photos of celebrity spawn, but that's not all. A man who made a name for himself by getting way too close to wild animals finally died because of his actions. His homeland must have a serious inferiority complex because their government offered a state funeral for a man who died for lack of common sense.
More tomorrow, just wanted you to know I am still here.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
CNN Keeps Americans Stupid
I wish the American media could be tried for war crimes. I don't exaggerate. They have wilfully kept Americans in a bubble of ignorance about the rest of the world. Even those of us who are dedicated to speaking truth to the powerful are hamstrung by the need to constantly seek out reliable news sources.
Take CNN, please. In this link you can see that CNN international will take an Israeli government spokesperson to task for its lies about the bombing at Qana which killed dozens of civilians. Americans got an edited version that gave Israel the last word and thus the benefit of the doubt.
I wish the American media could be tried for war crimes. I don't exaggerate. They have wilfully kept Americans in a bubble of ignorance about the rest of the world. Even those of us who are dedicated to speaking truth to the powerful are hamstrung by the need to constantly seek out reliable news sources.
Take CNN, please. In this link you can see that CNN international will take an Israeli government spokesperson to task for its lies about the bombing at Qana which killed dozens of civilians. Americans got an edited version that gave Israel the last word and thus the benefit of the doubt.
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