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Saturday, January 5, 2008
PBS Gets Cozy With Mike Huckabee
Friday, January 4, 2008
Will black voters switch their allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, now that he has won Iowa?
Hillary and Bill Clinton have used black voters. Yes you heard me! Hillary and Bill Clinton have used Black Voters Long Enough! I'm no Fox News Fan or a huge fan of Juan Williams for that matter, but Juan Williams gets it right many times, and is right when he said, Blacks Support Clinton Because Of “Patronage Politics.” Unfortunately, Ellen at News Hounds just does not get it. As she reported on the blog News Hounds, During special coverage of the Iowa caucuses on FOX News last night (1/3/08), African American Juan Williams, a FOX News contributor, spoke stirringly about what a historic night it had been for America that a predominantly white state had selected a black man as its leading candidate for a presidential nomination. Ellen goes on to report that a few moments later, "he (Juan Williams) smeared his own race with the dubious claim that the reason blacks love the Clintons is because of “patronage politics” that delivered money and other favors for their community." Ellen, I say, "wake up and smell the bacon, the Clintons have been doing exactly that for years. mainly for alleged "black leaders" for many special pork barrel projects that never impacted in a positive way in African American communities."Will blacks switch their allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama , now that he has won Iowa? I'm in agreement with Juan Williams when he responded, “It’s gotta introduce the idea that people saying, ‘Wait a minute. I can be a part of history, something very special going on here' and it introduces also identity politics to a new level, that you just take pride in the accomplishments of this incredible young man. But on the other hand, the reason that the numbers were reflective of a Clinton win so far among African Americans, is because Bill Clinton had practiced what I would call ‘patronage politics’ for so long. People had gotten money, they’d gotten paid, they knew exactly that they could rely on Clinton as a pipeline for support in the black community, in the black churches, all the way down to the community centers. They knew how that worked. They don’t know Barack Obama. They don’t know that they can trust him to deliver. They don’t know if he’s got to make a show of favoring whites or suburbanites in order to prove his bona fides with that part of the electorate." Ellen writes that Williams’ comments were nasty and cynical assessment of Clinton’s popularity with blacks. WTF! Check this out, she even goes into Williams did not take into account many other factors, such as his (Bill Clinton's) personal knack for relating to African Americans. Double WTF! And get this, she says that he relates so much to black people that Toni Morrison was moved to call him the “first black president.” AAPP: Wholly Sh**! Not the First Black President Bull sh** again. Here is the real facts, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton have been willing to throw black poor under the train with a Welfare Reform program that did not work, NAFTA that took millions of jobs from blacks and placed into the hands of China, Japan, Vietnam and other countries, while throwing Sistah Souljah under the bus as part of the process. So, Ms. Ellen, your post was well intended, but your facts were wrong. The fact of the matter is Bill and Hillary Clinton may really like black people, (I have my doubts) yet, they more importantly want to get elected and they know the importance of the black vote in order to get elected, and they are willing to use a new Southern Strategy to make it happen. Now the big question is... Will Blacks switch their allegiance from Hillary Clinton to Barack Obama, now that he has won in Iowa? Or Could Black Voters Trip Up Obama? |
The Daily Pulse
Second day back, and I'm remembering why I took a year off. But hey, it's primary season, it's getting real again, let's see what is in the air. A bad voter ID law Tuscon Citizen In Arizona, Governor Napolitano (GREAT! VP candidate, by the way) is asking for domestic partner benefits. What a wild thought- treating people like equals. Whodathunkit? Expansion of benefits would make UA more competitive Asheville Citizen Times Our primary/caucus system is utterly inane. That was driven home to me last night watching Obama give a speech trumpeting that "America" has made a new decision. "America"? 200,000 of the whitest people in one of the smallest whitest States is not "America." Yet by the time much of America gets to vote, it will be all over. That, whoever you may prefer, is utterly absurd. Time to level the playing field on these primaries The Dalles Chronicle Apparently, North Carolina is not the only State noting the absurdity of the Iowa caucuses. Here is another editorial headlined, simply, "Iowa, Schmiowa." Iowa, Schmiowa Montgomery Advertiser And finally, a wing-nut LTE, just because it is at the same time so wonderfully entertaining yet terrifying. This, ladies and gentlemen, is how some minds work. Do with it what you will. Executions not inconsistent with respect for life |
Religious Right: Jesus has abandoned us!
![]() click to enlarge Yesterday I made some bold predictions. Let's see how I measured up... Prediction: Hillary - losses big. Reality: Right on target. Prediction: Obama - Finally learns that having a FIRM STANCE on issues is really audacious. Reality: I thought he would come in second, beating Hillary, but he did much better once he went FIRM STANCE in the month before the election. Prediction: Edwards - wins by a small margin and that changes the face of the campaign for New Hampshire. Reality: Beat Hillary by a small margin, but the message of change is the meme now for all candidates. Prediction: Thompson - who? Reality: Fourth place, I was frankly surprised. Prediction: Romney - does well and find himself with an unlikely competitor. Reality: Romney can't buy his way out of a paper bag. He may actually be slugging it out in New Hampshire as Ron Paul's populism eats more of his expensive lunch. Prediction: Ron Paul - finally shocks the shit out of Sean Hannity with a good solid turnout, competing now with Romney. Reality: Paul didn't do as well as I expected, but Romney would have loved to have had his votes. Prediction: Rudy - gets issued a one-way train ticket back to New York. Reality: Right on target. Prediction: Huckabee - warmly embraced by every crazy, screaming Christian Fascist in Iowa - all of them swinging plastic baby fetuses nailed to a cross. Reality: Right on target. |
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Labels: barack obama, cartoons, comics, hillary clinton, humor, iowa caucus, John Edwards, mike huckabee, mitt romney, politics, webcomics
Thursday, January 3, 2008
The Daily Pulse- Iowa Edition
Some of you might remember The Daily Pulse. I used to do it, well, daily. I've been on hiatus since the '06 elections, but I think it is time to dust it off and see what "the people" are thinking. The methodology is pretty simple- I select my target of editorial pages, a state, a region, an international region, or even certain types of papers (college, GLBT, religious, etc.), then take the first few editorials of a political ilk with national interest. I cut them down to fair use, throw in some comments, and there you have it, The Daily Pulse. It’s good to be Barack Obama. Here is a Letter to the Editor from the same paper, extolling the virtues of Edwards: Edwards will fight for women's rights The Des Moines Register endorses McCain and Clinton, but you already knew that: The Des Moines Register's editorial board has endorsed Republican Sen. John McCain and Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton for the 2008 Iowa caucuses. Here is a Letter to the Editor from a serviceman cut by "don't ask, don't tell," and I don't think he's a Hillary fan: As a 16-year Army veteran who is currently barred from serving in the military because of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, I've been keenly interested in the various candidates' positions on gays and lesbians serving openly in the military. ... Is there hidden support for Dodd? This Letter to the Editor shows at least one ardent supporter: Thank you, Chris Dodd, for standing up and defending the Constitution and the rule of law when the Senate was debating the FISA bill and was set to pass it with a provision that would have granted retroactive immunity to the giant telecommunication companies for illegally handing the telephone files of American citizens over to the government for the last six years. ... How about a few LTEs from the Souix City Journal? I like LTEs. They tell us what the people are thinking, not just the pundits. Get behind a winner - John Edwards A John Edwards fan likes his humble beginnings and the fact that he is not a career politician. I'm not so sure. Yes, we all think "career politician" is an epithet, but why not hire a professional to do one of the most important jobs in the world? Four more years of Republican disasters may forever cripple our nation. ... John McCain - Honesty and Integrity The title might have pretended to make sense eight years ago, but the day McCain hugged the man behind the "illegitimate black baby" slander he lost any credibility. Iowans have an opportunity/responsibility to hand the country and the world our educated decision on who best defines honesty and integrity. It’s clear where our own legendary Col Bud Day stands. He spent more than five years in a POW camp with fellow-pilot John McCain and proudly says, “Without reservation, I know Johnny is the best candidate and most prepared to be our next president and commander in chief.” Mike Huckabee - 'A True Statesman' This is the only title in quotes. Do you think the editor is having a little fun with this little bit of absurdity? No, Huckabee doesn't make his decisions "based on the political whims." Instead, he bases them on a 2,000 year old fairy tale. That, and whatever will line his pockets. ... Ron Paul: 'He's right for the country' Hey, more quotes. Okay, this is a perfect example of the utter insanity, and inanity, that is the Ron Paul phenomenon. Really. Read this one. "Ron Paul" sounds a lot like "John Paul," so does that mean he was sent by God? ... The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier has at least one columnist quite enamored of Obama. I hate his questions, because I think picking a President based upon what mythical beings from fairy tales past might do is beyond absurd, and reaching into evil, based upon how other fantasy answers to the WWJD question have worked out. Also, it seems the questions are not honest, but formed to force the conclusion. But hey, that's just one guy's opinion. 3 questions for Iowans caucusing Here is an interesting anti-Huckabee column from the paper's Republican columnist. Toward the end (click the link to read the whole thing) he theorizes the Huckabee phenomenon is part of a liberal media conspiracy to prop up the weakest Republican. If only it were true. Imagine running against Tommy Thompson. Huckabee fails test to be next leader: Given the poor record of our current government, I believe I could support almost any of the Republican candidates who are currently running on the grounds that they would be an improvement over what we currently have --- except one. I cannot support Mike Huckabee in the primary season. Iowa City Press Citizen Another Dodd supporter writes a letter. Hey, maybe he has more support out there than we think. Remember, letter-writers are the type of people that show up at caucuses: Look beyond speeches to Dodd's substance ... How about a few LTEs from The Hawkeye? Good judgment The central meme around Obama seems to be that he is the most likely to create successful bipartisanship. I genuinely do not understand that. He has no Washington experience, no chits to cash with members across the aisle, no relationships to fall back upon, just rhetoric. I wish somebody would tell exactly HOW Barack Obama will lead us back to bipartisanship, which Republicans in their leadership have indicated any willingness to participate in such an exercise, and why Democrats should welcome compromise when we are finally on the cusp of victory. Our Congressman, Dave Loebsack, has endorsed Barack Obama for president. I imagine the courage it took him to do so. He has risked the ire of the Clinton money and influence machine. ... We must win If Republicans want Hillary then we don't. At least, that's this guy's theory, and who knows if he's right? My fellow Democrats, our presidential nominee must win in November. ... Ms. Clinton is a good choice and she is vetted, but it scares the heck out of me that she's the Republicans' choice to run against in November. ... We must win. Okay, if Hillary can't win, who can? This letter-writer thinks she has the answer, in Edwards can win: ... From the Muscatine Journal, some LTEs: Obama represents real change The fun part here isn't the LTE, but the comment to it. Follow the link to read about chemtrails and global criminals. On 1-3-08 I will be supporting Barack Obama in the Iowa Caucus. Barack is the candidate that represents real change. He has shown the ability to bring people together to find solutions that will benefit all Americans. ... Dodd might be ’08 political surprise If LTEs are any indication this guy just might be right. BTW, another fun comment from the same guy as noted above. It is entertaining to follow the political pundits as they offer predictions about the outcome of the Iowa caucus. Every four years, we hear the national media tell us what we are thinking and who we will support during the caucuses. But they are always wrong, and I believe we will prove them wrong again this year when support for Sen. Chris Dodd produces this year’s political surprise. Obama gives Americans hope Part of the reason I do this is because it helps ME decide who I want to support. I continue to have trouble with Obama, because even his most ardent supporters only note rhetoric. Compare this to the Dodd letter above. I BELIEVE that our country’s future will finally have a chance to be what it used to be. That I can feel how I did when John F. Kennedy was our president. ... An LTE writer to The Sun is having trouble choosing between Obama and Ron Paul. Okay, that's just weird. Again, the reason for Obama is "bipartisanship," but no reason beyond his rhetoric to support the conclusions. Is it enough to simply be inspiring? As we look to undo Bush's damage, do we need inspiration or professionalism? Do we have to choose between the two? Does Obama offer both? Perhaps. Does Edwards? Also perhaps. Despite ‘muddled’ politics, Obama is the choice My political philosophy would really seem like a muddled mess to anyone else (it does to me sometimes, to be honest), so describing it here in only a few words would do no good. ... The Traer Star Clipper Biden? He's still in this race? Personally, I will never forgive him for the bankruptcy bill. Biden is right choice for everyone The media has decided to direct its main focus on just three of the Democratic candidates who are running for the party’s Presidential nomination on January 3rd. ... John Edwards is also getting letter. This one gets the "Letter of the Day" prize for using the word "leeches" correctly. Opportunity of a lifetime Yes Folks; you have an opportunity of a lifetime on Jan. 3, 2008 to help change the direction of “our” country and your and our future from what has been happening to our government and our lives. ... He is unafraid to tackle the lobbyists and the huge Drug and Insurance Corporations’ hold on government. He has taken on these leeches and defeated them in the courtrooms for the rights of middle and lower classes of citizens of our country. |
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Labels: barack obama, Chris Dodd, hillary clinton, iowa, joe biden, John McCain, mike huckabee
Tasered In Seattle
This Seattle, WA Taser Torture Video is Disgusting!![]() The Inquisition This police behavior is DISGUSTING! A Black man is on the ground, on his hands and knees, immobile, and is shot with a Taser gun from behind by Seattle, WA police officers. Sure the man was initially running away (from about eight police who had him surrounded). But, when he was tasered he was on his hands and knees on the ground. It is also clear from this video that the police pointed a Taser gun at a Black woman who was holding a cup of coffee in her hand while attempting to observe what police were doing. They continued to point the Taser gun at her until they had backed her up some twenty yards from a man who appears to be a relative of hers. (In this video, it appears that they Taser may have a red light on it, like a gun, that indicates where it is being pointed.) It really doesn't matter how this incident started. It doesn't matter if the arrested Black man had an arrest or conviction record. It doesn't matter if he cheated at Bingo in second grade. It is simply unnecessary as a matter of police and public safety, and morally wrong, to taser people who are on their hands and knees. This constitutes torture and it has to be stopped. Effectively, white America has introduced a new word into the modern lexicon of torture techniques, not unlike the rack, except that this tool is highly mobile: noun: Taser verb: to taser More HERE |
Iowa Caucus: Like Passing A Kidney Stone
![]() click to enlarge Here are my "official" predictions. Feel free to call me an idiot tomorrow. (Or start early!) Hillary - losses big. Huma comforts her. Bill comforts the Iowa State Cheerleaders. Obama - Finally learns that having a FIRM STANCE on issues is really audacious. Edwards - wins by a small margin and that changes the face of the campaign for New Hampshire. Thompson - who? Romney - does well and find himself with an unlikely competitor. Ron Paul - finally shocks the shit out of Sean Hannity with a good solid turnout, competing now with Romney. Rudy - gets issued a one-way train ticket back to New York. Huckabee - warmly embraced by every crazy, screaming Christian Fascist in Iowa - all of them swinging plastic baby fetuses nailed to a cross. |
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Labels: cartoons, comics, hillary clinton, humor, iowa caucus, politics, ron paul, webcomics
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year from Dobson
![]() click to enlarge It is amazing to me that TCD started publication in 2004, it seems just like yesterday but when you realize Bush was reelected in 2004, it seems like forever! This year we plan two new special series, usually one would be enough, but I am particularly sick of the Bush Administration and there is not much left to say about that bunch unless there is another "wide stance" moment. Look for new characters, new locations and a new look for the website. The layout is going wider, better and SHORTER! God love my blogroll! Anyway, tomorrow we will be back to the grind of the campaign as Iowa will lay waste to many campaigns and grace the lives of a cherished few. My Iowa picks are John Edwards for the Dems - for the Repubs, I get the feeling Huckabee will eek out a win but barely. If he comes in second, it will be a squeaker. That is all for today - I am off to nurse my hangover. |
Monday, December 31, 2007
Sitting On the Fence Is Creasing My Activist Butt
“There’s a fantasy, widely held inside the Beltway that men and women of good will from both parties can be brought together to hammer out bipartisan solutions to the nation’s problems.”As we saw six years ago, even with no mandate, predatory conservatives had no interest in sensible bipartisan solutions. Instead they shamelessly exploited the symbols of patriotism and war to finance crony capitalism at the expense of consumers, small business owners and the very old and young. One can’t negotiate power with these people. Power must be taken from them. For the first time in a generation we have a window to facilitate a true progressive reformation if we’re willing to fight for it. We negotiate when we’re cutting our losses. We fight when we have hope. This blogger is opting for the audacity of hope and supporting John Edwards. |
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Labels: Bill Richardson, Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, hillary clinton, joe biden, John Edwards