Spare the .38 and spoil the child.

Before I post tonight I have to reiterate a very important "man rule" for all of you fellows reading with me.

I am pressed to do this because of a very unfortunate (and uncomfortable) incident I had today. Men, here is the deal: If you go into the bathroom and there are more than two urinals (four in this case) and only one urinal is being used, please do not go the urinal directly next to the person doing his business. That is not cool. It's right up there with watching Lifetime television or wearing a short- sleeve dress shirt under your suit in importance of man rule violations. Don't do it!

Anyway, let's talk.

I never want to hear folks say that only black folks are too harsh when they discipline their children ever again. Yes, we might put the rod to the little Rugrats when they get out of line, but they always live to see another day. You white folks, on the other hand, not so much:

"TAMPA, Florida — A suburban Florida soccer mom showed signs of trouble in the months before she was accused of killing her two teenage children: Her 16-year-old daughter told police in November she had been hit by her mother, and troopers investigating a car crash thought the woman had been using drugs.

The incidents were described in reports released Monday, several days after authorities say Julie Powers Schenecker, 50, shot and killed the kids because they were talking back and being "mouthy."

Story: Mom charged in teens' slayings out of hospital
Investigators found her soaked in blood Friday on the back porch of the family's upscale home. Later that day, at a county jail, Schenecker shook uncontrollably, her eyes wide.

Investigators said 16-year-old Calyx and 13-year-old Beau had each been shot twice in the head a day earlier — Beau in the family's car on the way to soccer practice, Calyx in her room as she studied at her computer

Both teens were killed with a .38-caliber pistol, which authorities say Schenecker bought five days earlier." [Story]

You bratty teens better let this be a lesson to you. You want your MTV but don't push your parents too much, because, if you do, you just might get something else.

Finally, I have been thinking about going back to church-- if only for the fellowship. I need to be in the company of some good god fearing people. I think about it, but then, unfortunately, some of you church folks show your true colors and cause me to change my mind.

"FLETCHER, N.C. - Authorities say a dispute over leadership at a church in western North Carolina turned from angry words to fist fights.

About 30 police officers from five agencies were called to break up fights Sunday at Greater New Zion Baptist Church in Fletcher, about 94 miles (150 kilometres) west of Charlotte.

Henderson County Sheriff's Capt. Jerry Rice says no one appears to have been seriously hurt.

Church members are divided over the recent ouster of the Rev. LeVonia Ray as pastor of the church. The fighting apparently began over whether a vote should be held to reinstate him.

Rice says there were about 75 people at the church when police arrived, but not all of them were scuffling. No charges have been filed. " [Story]

Oh Lawd! Thank goodness no one was hurt. I bet the next sermon is going to be really interesting at New Zion. Here is hoping that the Reverend works in Matthew 5: 38-40 in that bad boy.

Run Haley! Run! A political opportunity is a terrible thing to waste.

We are in day six of the Egyptian uprising-revolution-crisis-protests, whatever you want to call it, and my man Hosni still refuses to call it quits. (Hillary, I saw you on television tonight and you must have aged 10 years since the last time I saw you. Oh well, that's why they pay you the big bucks; to figure out how A-merry-ca is going to balance on the fence with this one. )

Still, it's nice to see that your boy is bringing the economy back from the dead. I know that the wingnuts are hoping and praying that he fails, but hey, such is life in the A-merry-can political arena: The other guy can do no good.

And speaking of the political arena; I see that Mississippi's finest is considering a run for the White House. Unfortunately for him he has some...well.... issues.

"Barbour argues that his generation of political leaders attended integrated schools, but his 1965 high school class -- he was valedictorian -- was segregated. He enrolled at the University of Mississippi three years after a bloody battle in which federal troops and marshals were ordered on campus to enforce the court-ordered enrollment of James Meredith as Ole Miss' first black student.

"I went to integrated college, never thought twice about it," Barbour said this past fall in a webcast interview with Peter M. Robinson of Stanford University's Hoover Institution, with whom he served in the Reagan administration.

It's true that the university was integrated, but just barely: Though Ole Miss had an enrollment of at least 3,300, the yearbook shows fewer than a dozen black students when Barbour arrived as a freshman in 1965.

One of them, Cleveland Donald Jr., said he didn't know the future governor, who joined a fraternity, got involved in student government and helped organize campus concerts. With no chance of joining a fraternity himself, Donald tried to attend a meeting of a Christian student group.

"I went to one meeting and they moved off campus because several of them did not want me there," recalled Donald, now a University of Connecticut history professor.

Barbour said he remembers sitting next to a pleasant young black woman in a literature class, and that she let him borrow her notes.

"I had a great experience," he said of his time in Oxford, adding after a slight pause, "I didn't study too hard." [Source]

But all is not lost. It looks like Haley might have had a "road to Damascus" moment. No blinding lights for Haley, just good sound politics.

"Over the recent Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, Barbour used emphatic language to address Mississippi's place in the civil rights area: "Deplorable actions including the murder of innocent people, young men in service to a cause that was right, will always be a stain on our history."

As part of the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Rides, Barbour plans to host a reception honoring the activists. And this month, Barbour used his final "State of the State" address to say this is the year for Mississippi to build a long-delayed museum dedicated to the civil rights movement.

"The civil rights struggle is an important part of our history," he said, "and millions of people are interested in learning more about it."

Amen Haley. I love when folks are willing to learn.

Finally, speaking of learning, I hope that you Negro parents will try to take the time to prepare your children to learn in school. I know it's hard, but please try. Folks are tired of trying to come up with innovative ways to help your children learn. From Hip Hop in Minnesota to straight up segregation in Pistolvania; it's one gimmick after another.

Whatever it takes I guess, but I can't help but think about the Ivy League ball player,Dau Jok, who had to -literally- write in the sand in school because they had no learning materials. No such excuse here. All it takes is just good old fashion work. In the classroom and at home. Remember, a "mind is a terrible thing to waste". Just ask Haley.

"A friend in need..."

"So much trouble in the world now Bless my eyes this morning
JAH sun is on the rise once again The way earthly things are going
Anything can happen"

Bob, (Marley) you speak truth.

Hosni Mubarak has ruled Egypt with an iron fist for over thirty years. Like others before him, with a similar ruling style, he has been an A-merry-can ally (1.5 billion is a lot of money) in a very volatile region of the world. So now what? His chickens, as the saying goes, are finally coming home to roost.

Egypt has a very young -and very unemployed- population, and they have taken to the streets. From the looks of it, they could be there awhile. Mr. Bush, if you had only waited this is what would have happened in Iraq. But noooo. Sorry folks, I couldn't resist.

Anyway, Hillary and Obama are scrambling like #7 on a Sunday afternoon at the Linc. They are trying to get on the right side of history. But, as Run- DMC so famously said: "It's Tricky".

If they come down too hard on Mubarak and speed up the revolution the end result could be the Muslim Brotherhood taking over. Not a good look if you are an A-merry-can. Don't come down on him and A-merry-ca will look like she is siding with an evil dictator who doesn't want to relieve himself of power pursuant to the will of the people. Again, not a good look.

What 's a president with a Muslim name to do?

O man here is a suggestion for you: Call your boy Hosni and beg him to step aside. Tell him that you will personally have him and his family escorted to a beautiful villa in Malibu where the A-merry-can government has laid it out with all the trimmings for him. Then, pray that the people of Egypt have democratic elections and a moderate government takes power. With any luck the joint will look like Turkey in twenty years.

Now this is all assuming that he will take your call. The pundits are already saying that you got the people fired up in Egypt with your little speech back in Cairo over a year ago. So let's just hope that Hosni isn't watching CNN.

Ohio Prayers.

Snow snow snow, and more snow. A brotha couldn't even go to the plantation today.

Anywhooo, a lot of you have been sending me e-mails about the case in Ohio where the African American mother was jailed, fined, and given probation for sending her children to a predominantly white school. I wanted to look at the case a little more before commenting, because things in A-merry-ca are not always as black and white as they first seem.

Folks who know me know that I part company with most of my ideological soul-mates when it comes to school choice. It's one of the few issues where I usually find myself arguing from the right side of my brain. I truly believe that a good education is one of the true equalizers in A-merry-can society, and if our public schools are failing I want our children to get a good education wherever they can.

When I saw the story about this poor lady being punished for trying to get the best for her children it gave me cause for a pause. I am a lawyer, and I respect the law. And, to be honest, Kelley Williams-Bolar did technically break the law by lying about her residency. But Kelley-Williams-Bolar, like any good parent, just wanted the best for her children; so she did what she felt she had to do to get her daughters into a better school. It's that simple.

Sometimes judges have to use common sense from the bench. And this judge down in Ohio did not do that. I dare say that the punishment did not fit the crime. A judge should always look at the totality of the circumstances before handing out a sentence, and this judge clearly did not do that. Or did she? Maybe the judge was just following the will of her affluent constituents. (Do they elect judges in Ohio?) I also have to wonder what triggered this little investigation into Kelley Williams-Bolar's background. ("Oh oh, here comes field with the racial angle.") Why would the school district hire a private investigator to follow the lady to see where she dropped off her daughters? --That was a rhetorical question. I know why. Akron, that is not cool.

Anyway, my question to the wingnuts would be this: Why the silence on this issue? I thought that you were all for school choice? Why is this story only getting folks outraged on the left? Hey,when it comes to school choice I am all in with you wingnuts; so why am I alone on this one? Where is the wingnut love?

The tragedy in all of this is that our public school system has become so bad that parents who want the best for their children have to make these tough choices. This poor woman lived in a housing project, and she clearly knew that she was taking a risk by lying about her residency to get her daughters into a better school. But she took it. True field Negro behavior if you ask me.

For those of you who believe in such things please pray for this lady. She needs all the help she can get. And, sadly, her daughters now do as well.

Another one!

I was going to trash Michele Bachmann tonight for her spurious take on history. But while reading my local paper something else caught my eye that moved me.

You have to understand that I am not one that is easily moved by murder and mayhem. I practice criminal law in Philly. Murder and mayhem is a part of my life. But every now and then a story leaves me thinking that it's time to pack it up and head for the hills.

"All police knew about the murdered teen whose body was dumped in Germantown a week ago today was written on his shirt: Roxborough High School.

With no identification on him, police went to the school the next morning and pored over the absentee list, looking for a missing student who matched the description of their victim, sources said.

Meanwhile, Patsy Foster had spent the night calling her son, Christopher, then all morning calling hospitals after he didn't return from a quick trip to a sandwich shop with a friend.

"I was getting ready to call police Thursday when they knocked on the door and said they found him," she said. "I said, 'Is he OK?' He wasn't."

Christopher Foster, 18, was found with a single gunshot wound to his torso on Woodlawn Street near Morris at 8:16 p.m. Jan. 19, said Homicide Sgt. Ron McClane. Patsy Foster said her son was also beaten around the head and face. " [More]

The racist will follow this post with their usual pontification and dogmatizing about how bad those black teens are, and how Christopher Foster had it coming to him because he was probably caught up in the life. But, just for tonight, I will forgive them. Why? Because I know that it's just a matter of time before A-merry-ca starts closing in around them. The life that they think they have -far from those animals in the urban underbelly of A-merry-ca- is nothing but an illusion. Those heartless and depraved folks among us are around the corner from them as well. It's just a matter of time before someone who they know or love becomes just another Patsy Foster.

"Civility costs nothing", except a good blog post.

I was going to post a little earlier, but I wanted to make sure I heard Michele Bachmann and the Tea Party response to the State of the Union address, first. (Let the battle of the heart and soul of the republi-clown party begin.) It was so bad that FOX didn't carry it. Those folks over at FOX are really smart, they must have known that she would make their side look bad. Thankfully CNN had no such issues.

Anyway, on to his O ness: The speech, for the most part, was good. I wish he had the courage to talk about gun control, but I have come to expect less not more from O. All the kumbaya stuff was a bit much as well. (Where is Joe Wilson when you need him?) Folks sitting together like that sucked the life out of the room. I don't know about the rest of you; but I want my politics to be like my bedroom activities:lively. Tonight was more like a Sunday morning service. And I am talking Catholic service not Southern Baptist.

But I get it. One of their colleagues is still fighting to get her life -as she once knew it- back, and the nation is still mourning over Arizona. The spirit and the tone of the speech reflected that reality. To his credit, O seemed to be trying to stick to that theme of civility and corporation, and the republi-clowns, for the most part, were playing along.

I am glad he can do it, because I sure as hell can't. But hey, great leaders have to rise above partisanship. In order to accomplish anything politically in A-merry-ca you have to work with those who oppose you ideologically. This is one of the true paradoxes of the A-merry-can political system, and it holds true time and time again.

"We are part of the American family. We believe that in a country where every race and faith and point of view can be found, we are still bound together as one people; that we share common hopes and a common creed; that the dreams of a little girl in Tucson are not so different than those of our own children, and that they all deserve the chance to be fulfilled.
That, too, is what sets us apart as a nation.

Now, by itself, this simple recognition won't usher in a new era of cooperation. What comes of this moment is up to us. What comes of this moment will be determined not by whether we can sit together tonight, but whether we can work together tomorrow.

I believe we can. I believe we must. That's what the people who sent us here expect of us. With their votes, they've determined that governing will now be a shared responsibility between parties. New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans. We will move forward together, or not at all - for the challenges we face are bigger than party, and bigger than politics. "

Whenever I listen to O I think of that quote by Friedrich Schiller: "Every true genius is bound to be naive".

Revenge Of The Ex.

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". Steve Harvey better keep that little quote by William Congreve in mind from now on.

Seems my man's ex is speaking out about his.....ahem ahem, issues during their marriage. Sorry Steve, you can't "creep" on wifey and then give the rest of us relationship advice. I saw your mug on the cover of Essence Magazine -and damn near everywhere else -preaching to folks about relationships. Unfortunately for you, I guess your ex saw it too and said enough.

"Steve Harvey's ex-wife Mary Harvey has taken to YouTube to bash her marriage to the comedian and radio personality.

The former Mary Shackelford, Harvey's second wife, said she's speaking out now because she's being sued by her ex-husband in Texas, where he alleges that he was passed up to host an Oprah Winfrey-backed show because of her.

"When I try to move forward, I keep getting pulled back into a situation that I don’t want to be a part of," Mary Harvey said.

In what begins and ends like a plug for Shanae Hall's "Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man?" — which includes a "bonus chapter" responding to Steve Harvey's relationship book, "Straight Talk, No Chaser" — Mary spelled out her side of the story while sitting on a couch in a series of three videos that clocks in at more than 25 minutes total. The videos were posted Friday. The video above is the second in the series.

'The ex-wife is fully aware of the court's current orders and permanent injunctions which prohibit either party, their lawyers or representatives from discussing and releasing information on the Internet and to the media,' Steve Harvey's lawyer, Bobbie Edmonds, said in a statement to People, adding that Harvey's camp would be taking legal action regarding the videos. "

Oh Lawd! You all better hurry up and watch the clip, I don't think it will be up much longer.

"Come on Field, why are you hating on Steve Harvey? The brotha is just trying to make a living"

Yes, but Mr. Harvey might have been trying to make a living (allegedly) at the expense of others. Sorry, I still don't have closure with this Sharon Carson thing. So, until I do, Mr. Harvey is fair game.

Ms. Carson if he broke you off please holla at me.

Speaking of broke off. Oprah, I am disappointed that you haven't found your long- lost -half- brother Field as yet. But I am glad you found our sister. I am looking forward to the family reunion next Thanksgiving.

Finally, it's so sad that Phylicia Barnes' father had to go to AOL News to plead for his daughter's safety. But hey, thank goodness for the Internet and Abe Lincoln for freeing you black folks so that you could learn how to read. I don't watch Nancy Grace, so could one of you people who do watch her tell me if this story is being played out on that show? Not just a one time interview with Mom, I mean really played. Just like they do when Becky goes missing.

Mike is not leaving the plantation quietly.

My man Hip Hop Mike might be out of his leadership position with the GOP, (Good Ole [boyz]Party) but apparently he still has a lot to say.

"Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, recently went on Chris Matthews' MSNBC show and chatted, among other things, about the lack of blacks in the Republican Party.

"We could have used a few more brothers in the house; there's no doubt about that," Steele said when Matthews made the ingenious and original observation that there aren't too many blacks hanging around at Republican conventions (does Steele not think some sisters would have been nice, too?). And despite his gaffe-tastic mess of a term as chairman, Steele said he's proud of helping to diversify a party that's not known for it's diversity. "What I tried to do [as chairman] was to broaden the landscape over which we could play, go into neighborhoods where we needed to be in but hadn't been in generations, and I think it made a difference," he said." [Source]

Believe it or not, Mike, I actually respect that position. We could use more brothers (and sisters) in the GOP. Spread ourselves around a little bit so that some folks won't take us for granted. I get that. By spreading out a little we could show the world that we are not a monolithic people in our thoughts and actions.

Still Mike, it's hard to hook up with a party that time and time again places folks in leadership positions that do stuff like this. Not to mention the fact that your party does not respect our icons and their legacy. You can't disrespect us and expect us to hitch our wagons to you. I don't care how much we have in common. We have to get past all the other stuff first. And that's hard; especially for black folks.

Mike, I wish you all the best. There has been a lot of speculation as to where you will go from here, and I am just hoping, that wherever it is, you will land on your feet. I hear MSNBC has an opening, but your politics might not fit in over there. Although they really do need a dark face. You could be their Juan Williams. MSNBC would be killing two birds with one token. The black guy and the conservative. Nice.

Finally, you folks out in "Oaktown" might want to consider blocking the porn channels-and websites in your homes and on your computers. I think the little rugrats have been paying a bit too much attention to what the folks on these sites and channels are doing.

Keith is gone, and black folks need not apply.

Keith Olbermann is out and already some of you Negroes are hoping for a black replacement at MSNBC. It Won't happen. So stop getting your hopes up. You Negroes need to stop begging "the man" to give you shine, and start trying to get your own television stations, (Shout out to David Honig) and supporting the ones that are already here. (I am talking TV One. I am still not down with BET just yet. Sorry Bob.)

Still, if they do decide to go black I would just looove for them to go with my man Tavis.....NOT! That is the last Me-Gro I want to see representing black folks every night. Roland Martin? Hmmm, Roland is OK, but my man will have to work on those suits. Roland, it's called a suit, not a straight jacket....OK let me stop.

I wonder if a black anchor at one of these cable shows would be talking about the bomb that was found in Washington? The lame stream media sure is quiet about it. Or, the cop from the "windy city" who was doing his best John Demjanjuk impersonation on black folks for years. I guess racial tensions and hate groups aren't selling in A-merry-ca these days. One political act of terror is enough for now. We are just getting over Tucson, we can't overload the public. There is just so much hate we can take here in A-merry-ca. You can't pursue happiness when you are hating anybody.

Oh well, that's all from me folks. I will just watch some games today while I anxiously await Oprah's big announcement about her family secret on Monday. It's going to be tough holding my breath so long.

Stupid Human Tricks.

There are some things in life that really piss me off. (OK, there are a lot of things in life that piss me off.) And some are worse than others. People who drive and text comes to mind. Or, folks who try to drive and talk- incessantly- or make calls on their cell phones while they are actually driving. That's a stupid human trick if I ever saw one. Oh, and let's talk about some of you women. (Yes ladies, I had to go there.) Is there any particular reason why you don't put on your makeup before you leave your homes? Why must you put on mascara and all other sorts of facial makeup while you are going all Danica Patrick down the damn highway? That is not cool. Your automobile is not your personal powder room.

And some of you Negroes. (Yes fam. I had to go there) Why must you talk so loud on your damn cell phones? It's as if you want the world to know that you have kids at home and what your family will be eating for dinner. WE DON'T CARE!

Anywhooo, this all leads me to one Cathy Cruz Marrero. You all know the story by now. Girlfriend was so busy talking on her cell phone, that she totally forgot about the big fountain in the middle of the mall and walked right into it. A stupid human trick if I ever saw one. (The video is classic. ) Now, of course, this being A-merry-ca; Cathy is suing. She doesn't like the way she was treated after her dumb ass walked right into a big fountain fountain in the middle of the mall. And she wants to know who was responsible for spreading the video of her stupid human trick.

"Cathy Cruz Marrero, appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" Thursday with a lawyer and said they're looking into who was responsible for spreading the video. What was so important that she had to text right away? Someone she knew from church had e-mailed to ask when was Marrero's birthday."

Cathy, I wish I had been in Reading, Pistolvania on that fateful day. Because if I was, you and your lawyer would have been looking for me.

Finally, a quick shout out to Gina McCauley from the What About our Daughters blog, and Sean Williams of Dallas South. I saw them down in D.C. yesterday and it was nice hanging with them while we tried to solve A-merry-ca's problems. (More on the MMTC conference later.) We have met over the radio and online on numerous occasions, but never in person. It was nice to meet virtual friends and comrades in the flesh. Gina I promise I will get to Blogging While Brown one day.

Enjoy your Saturday folks, and if you happen to live on the East Coast layer up. It's cold out There.

John and Rick deserve each other.

You have got to love wingnut politicians. I will start with my man John Kasich, the governor of the Buckeye state. (h/t to Keith Olbermann for turning me on to this story)

It seems that my man has him a very white and very male (as in zero blacks and four females-- out of 20 people) cabinet as he takes over that wonderful diverse Midwestern state. Apparently it is the first white out since 1962. Oh my!

Anywhoo, no harm no foul, it is, after all, his cabinet. He can choose who he wants to work for him. He says he is unfazed and he doesn't see color. He only wants the best people for the job.

The new governor claims to be unfazed by this. He says he did not intend to appoint an all-white group -- and there is absolutely nothing in his background to suggest otherwise. Kasich tells Plain Dealer Columbus Bureau Chief Reginald Fields that he simply set out to find "the best possible team I can get, and hopefully we will be in a position that we are fully diverse as we go forward."

Given Ohio's many problems, Kasich says, it was far more important to make the right hires out of the gate than "to find somebody to fit this metric." [Source]

Ok Gov. fair point. (And look, I am not even going to rip you for mixing up St. Patty's day and MLK Day. They are only a couple of months apart, and King might even be an Irish name. Who knows? Anybody can make a mistake.) But why did you slip a couple of black folks in for the photo op. of your swearing in? If you are color blind you are color blind. Why throw in some pepper with the salt for appearances only?

Gov. if what Olbermann is alleging is true, it smashed whatever little credibility you had on the race front. Not that you cared. But hey, I just thought you should know. I sure hope my cousins in Ohio are taking note.

Finally, you have got to love Rick (I belong in a ) Sanitarium. My man is running for President so he is stepping up the attacks on his O ness.

"The question is -- and this is what Barack Obama didn't want to answer -- is that human life a person under the Constitution? And Barack Obama says no. Well if that person -- human life is not a person, then -- I find it almost remarkable for a black man to say, 'we're going to decide who are people and who are not people." [Source]

HUH? Rick, I am guessing that Barack Obama is praying that you win the republi-clown primary and run against him in 2012.

Before I forget, shout out to the MMTC folks for putting on a wonderful conference here in DC. I had to mingle with half of Rev. Inc. earlier, and there are just too many lawyers in the house for my taste. But, other than that, it's a first class event. I just wish I knew all the technical stuff that everybody is throwing around. But hey, it will come to me.

Keep fiddling.

Fire bun rude bway. A wa gwan wid yu sa? No wonda de people dem tink wi nu love we self down a yawd.

"Love the skin you're in". One musician has taken those words to the next level.

Vybz Kartel, a Jamaican Reggae and dancehall artist, recently lightened his skin and received a massive backlash from fans that are shocked by his physical alteration. Kartel claims that his skin lightening is similar to tanning.

"This is my new image," Kartel said in an interview. "You can expect the unexpected. I feel comfortable with black people lightening their skin. They want a different look. It's tantamount to white people getting a sun tan."

How did he get so light? Kartel won't reveal what strong agent he used to lighten his skin, but claims that his newly endorsed brand of cake soap is what can help others do the same.

However, Bounty Killer, a Grammy nominated Jamaican dancehall deejay, claims that the product Kartel is selling doesn't work. Killer's mother has used cake soap and her skin has not been bleached. He believes that Kartel used a stronger product to lighten his skin."

Seriously, WTF? And Bounty Killer, I am going to have to talk to your mama. [Source]

Meanwhile, down in Washington, the republi-clowns continue to "fiddle while Rome burns". Damn near half of the population is burdened with a pre-existing medical condition which could leave them without medical coverage, and these nitwits, in a shameful play at political grandstanding, chose to vote to repeal health care reform. Nice.

"The vote passed Wednesday 245-to-189 — with unanimous GOP support, plus three Democrats. But the repeal bill is destined to die in the Senate, so Republicans will use their newly acquired power in the House to wage a long-term campaign to weaken the law.

The next steps — hearings, testimony from administration officials, funding cuts — lack the punch of a straight repeal vote, but Republicans said they will keep at it, hoping the end result is the same: stalling implementation of the $900 billion law.

Republicans promise to hold a series of hearings and oversight investigations into the law, attempt to repeal individual provisions and craft an alternative health care plan. Some of the first issues they will tackle are the cost of the law, the mandate on larger employers to provide coverage and the impact of the legislation on the states. [Source]

Fiddle fiddle fiddle fiddle....

But these folks don't care, even if the economy goes into the tank. In fact, that is exactly what they want to happen. A good economy means that the skinny black guy with the Muslim name might actually get reelected. And, let's be honest; this isn't about what's best for the country, it's about holding on to power and winning back the White House.

Finally, I wan't to comment on this following issue but I can't stop laughing long enough to type it.

"What a way to mark Martin Luther King Day. Michael Reagan, son of Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, chose January 17 to suggest the unspeakable. On the Fox News website, Reagan argued that his father was more of a friend to black people than President Obama. He even suggested that he "could make an even stronger case for my father, Ronald Reagan, as 'our first black president'", the way that Clinton was called America's first black president." [Article]

*still laughing*

Civility means we "suck" and IEDs.

Wow, talk about "sour grapes". As I mentioned a few weeks ago, Glen Beckkk was kicked off the radio here in Philly. Well, as is to be expected from folks like Mr. Beckkk, my man is not going quietly. He took some shots at my beloved city while yapping it up with his side kicks today.

"While talking about Camden’s massive police layoffs on his radio show Tuesday, controversial commentator Glenn Beck inexplicably decided to take some pot shots at the city across the river.

Beck calls the area around Philadelphia's Independence Hall “the killing streets” and challenges his executive producer Steve “Stu” Burguiere to wear a hidden camera and walk around Independence Hall at the extremely dangerous time of 6 p.m.

While Burguiere disagrees with Beck’s bizarre assessment of Old City’s danger level, Beck keeps pushing his groundless opinion.

“The killing streets known as right there in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia -- you know how Philadelphia is not a place you want to be,” Beck says.

“You feel really comfortable,” he says in a sarcastic tone of voice.

Burguiere continues to say that he’s never felt like he was in danger around Independence Hall or “downtown” Philadelphia.

“Don’t listen to Stu. Philadelphia sucks,” Beck says.

According to The Philly Post, Beck unleashed this tirade a day after his radio program stopped being broadcast in Philadelphia and New York City. "

Poor Glenn, I actually feel sorry for the guy. Don't worry Glenn, at some point in our lives we have all been there: The girl who dumped us in high school wasn't all that pretty to begin with. It's called "sour grapes", and you happen to have a mouth full of it.

Sorry to break it to you Glenn, but I have lived and traveled all over the world; and Philly is right there with all of your -so called- world class cities. Great arts and culture? Check. Great access to places like New York and D.C.? Check. Access to the beach? Check. (Just an hour) Access to the mountains and skiing? Check. World class international airport? Check. Affordable housing? Check. Sport teams? Check. Great restaurants? Check......I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

Does Philly have its warts such as crime and all the other urban ills that plagues a major city? Of course it does. But so does London, Paris, New York, Madrid, and Los Angeles.

Yes I rip Philly for our murders, but I am allowed; I live here. Glenn you haven't earned the right to say s&*t about my city.--- Even though, if I am not mistaken, you got your big breakthrough in radio here. And your special needs child was given great care by our medical professionals in this city that you say "suck" while you lived here.--- But that's OK, enjoy your move to Texas. I just hope that all of your fans here remember how you gave them your ass to kiss on your way out the door. Good riddance! And may you fall off a steer and break your neck.
It's nice to see that the national media is finally catching up to the Phylicia Barnes story. (See my sidebar) She was featured on NBC World News tonight and it's about time. Phylicia is an honor student from North Carolina who went missing in Baltimore, recently. -Hmmmm, let's trade Baltimore for Aruba and we have some similarities to another case that grabbed the nations attention.- Unfortunately, the police suspect foul play, but we are all hoping that her story has a happy ending.

All I can say is thank goodness for Anthony Guglielmi of the Baltimore PD who says that race might have been a factor in the Phylicia Barnes case not getting the publicity it deserves. Better you say it than me Mr. Guglielmi. I am just a racism chaser, what do I know?

Finally, speaking of racism chasing; I see that some folks up in the great Northwest had their own little celebration planned for MLK Day:

"SPOKANE, Wash. — A backpack discovered along the route of the Martin Luther King Jr. march in Spokane contained a bomb "capable of inflicting multiple casualties," the FBI said Tuesday.

The FBI said a suspicious backpack was found about 9:25 a.m. PST on Monday on a bench at the northeast corner of North Washington Street and West Main Avenue in downtown Spokane.

A bomb disposal unit was called in and neutralized the device. The FBI said in a statement on Tuesday that "the backpack contained a potentially deadly destructive device, likely capable of inflicting multiple casualties."

The FBI has refused to discuss how the bomb was constructed.

'Suffice it to say it was of grave concern,' Frank Harrill, special agent in the charge of the Spokane FBI office, told NBC News.

"You could describe it as an improvised destructive device ... or improvised explosive device," Harrill said.

Area workers initially reported the suspicious package to Spokane police. The march was slightly re-routed and delayed because of the bomb scare.

'The three contract workers in the area who were there are unsung heroes,' the FBI spokesman said. " [Source]

I know, I know Sarah, it isn't political.

Hey, isn't Glen Beckkk from Spokane?

Dr.King

Every year around this time I feel a need to write an essay about Brother Martin and his immense contributions to civil rights here in A-merry-ca. I feel a need but I never do it. Partly because there are so many great essays (like this one from my man Mel) around this time about Dr. King that adequately convey my thoughts about the man. We have, in my opinion, covered pretty much everything. The man's legacy -and his place in A-merry-can history- speak for itself.

But, sadly, there are some folks who will never get it. Or, who will never acknowledge his contributions. Hell there are states in this union who never really got it. (Utah wouldn't even attach the name Martin Luther King to the holiday until 2000. And welcome to the 21st Century, South Carolina.) As you can see from one of the previous links, there are sites on the web that were set up to seem legitimate but whose sole purpose was to distort King's legacy and the contribution of black folks to A-merry-ca. So excuse me if I don't feel like everyone is on board this King love train.

"CHARLOTTE, NC - The Charlotte NAACP President, Rev. Kojo Nantambu, has issued a statement regarding Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools' decision to utilize the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as a snow makeup day:

The NAACP on behalf of the African American and minority community is appalled and thoroughly incensed at Peter Gorman's decision to use the MLK holiday as a snow make up day. Once again Dr. Gorman has shown total disdain and disrespect for a very significant part of this community. He continues to demonstrate a blatant deliberate disconnect with the African American Community.

This issue of using Dr. King's birthday as a snow day was visited in the spring of 2010 at a board meeting and the community showed unanimous support to choose a day other than the King holiday. There are other work days and Saturdays (which is done in many other counties) that could very easily accommodate CMS's needs.

Martin Luther King is the only African American in the history of this country being granted a national holiday in his honor because of the horrible and cruel sacrifices African Americans have made in the building of this democracy and in-lieu of the extraordinary personal and humanitarian sacrifices made by Dr. King and others. We will not sit idle and let you desecrate this day. We respectfully request that you immediately reconsider and choose another day."

Yeah I know that the kids have to learn. But couldn't the little Rugrats use the summer to make up the snow days they missed? And BTW Doctor, if you are going to keep them in school and teach them about Dr. King and service, you won't get an argument from me.

Folks let me leave you with bits and pieces of a wonderful essay by Anthony Jerrod writing in the Atlanta Post. I felt myself picking up most of what he was putting down. Most of it.

"Almost three weeks prior to his assassination, the late Martin Luther King, Jr., delivered one of his most riveting and poignant speeches in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. Though not as well known as some of his other great speeches (e.g., “I Have a Dream, Beyond Vietnam), this undaunted oration was equivocally important. In the midst of an affluent, conservative and predominantly white crowd of over 2,700 people, Dr. King brilliantly discussed the problem of race and economics in the face of significant hostility and angry protesters.

With an almost perfect backdrop of the relatively wealthy and suburban Grosse Pointes brushed against the struggling urban landscapes of Detroit, Dr. King discussed a metaphorical yet literal dualism that was fairly ubiquitous throughout this nation during that current time and space. Specifically, Dr. King discussed that there was “One America” that consisted of citizens who enjoyed material abundance and prosperity, decent education, cultural stimulation, spiritual freedom, respect and dignity......Then, there was the “Other America.” Conversely, this America embodied despair, hopelessness, discouragement, poverty, dilapidated housing, inadequate education and a lack of basic necessities. Is this “Other America” that Dr. King discussed still present and relevant today? Or, was this American “apartheid” just a divisive and extreme figment of Dr. King’s imagination that was unimportant and invalid both in 1968 and in these current times?.......Upon examination, one of the primary components of the “Other America” speech was the problem of racism. Dr. King was unabashed in stating that the country had to come to terms with and recognize that racist thoughts and practices were antithetical to the American democratic experiment. In our current time and space, there are certain commentators who believe that we now live in a post-racial and colorblind America, where racism and bigotry have come to an end and divisive and artificial categorizations (i.e., races) cease to remain.

To be sure, race relations have improved when benchmarked to March of 1968 when Dr. King gave this speech. But, it is relatively safe to state that our nation is still reluctant to have candid recognition and discourse about the problem of racism. ...

Is this “Other America” that Dr. King discussed still present and relevant today? Or, was this American “apartheid” just a divisive and extreme figment of Dr. King’s imagination that was unimportant and invalid both in 1968 and in these current times?

Upon examination, one of the primary components of the “Other America” speech was the problem of racism. Dr. King was unabashed in stating that the country had to come to terms with and recognize that racist thoughts and practices were antithetical to the American democratic experiment. In our current time and space, there are certain commentators who believe that we now live in a post-racial and colorblind America, where racism and bigotry have come to an end and divisive and artificial categorizations (i.e., races) cease to remain.

And, of the course, the age-old conservative argument that myriad African-Americans find themselves in an unfortunate predicament, because they are simply not willing to lift themselves up by the bootstraps. To be sure, personal accountability is absolutely necessary in living an abundant life. But, it is extremely arrogant and disrespectful for one to think that they accomplished everything without any help from anyone and from especially God. I would opine that many African-Americans try their best to raise themselves from an impoverished state but there is only so much lifting that can be done when their bootstraps are broken by despair, discouragement and oppressive forces. Listening to Speaker of the House Boehner, “Mrs. Refudiate” Palin and other unfeeling individuals still targeting this message at African-Americans is very disheartening.

On the whole, is Dr. King’s “Other America” still vibrant and relevant in our current time and space? Unfortunately, this metaphorical yet literal dualism still exists and will continue to persist until we move beyond partisan rancor, indifference and vitriolic words and move toward genuine recognition, repentance, love and unity, as President Obama eloquently discussed during the recent memorial service in Tucson." [Source]

Yes, a "literal dualism" still exists in A-merry-ca. On that Mr. Jerrod and I both agree. But we part company with his Pollyannaish appeal to unity. It will never happen. Too many people have too much invested in keeping us (rich v. poor, black v. white) divided.

Our job is to keep trying to make those folks irrelevant. We can only hope that as new generations of A-merry-cans come to the fore, they will see the game that is being played and denounce it. That's when that dream that everyone like to write about will come closer to being reality.

"A country without a memory is a country of madmen."

That quote by George Santayana is apropos right about now.

There are a lot of tea party folks in congress at this particular time in our history, so don't be surprised if children studying A-merry-can history fifty years from now won't know that people of color were slaves and that Native Americans were slaughtered.

"...the Tea Party organizations argue, there should be “no portrayal of minority experience in the history which actually occurred shall obscure the experience or contributions of the Founding Fathers, or the majority of citizens, including those who reached positions of leadership.”

“The thing we need to focus on about the Founders is that, given the social structure of their time, they were revolutionaries who brought liberty into a world where it hadn’t existed, to everybody — not all equally instantly — and it was their progress that we need to look at.."

Don't be alarmed folks, this is the Tennessee tea party folks we are talking about. (This time.)
Oh my! I wonder how the black tea party folks feel about this? I suspect that it's not a big deal. "We should focus on the future on not the past. We have to stop playing the victim role." And were there any bigger victims than slaves? Getting rid of slavery from our history books might take care of our victim problem here in A-merry-ca. Not!

Honestly, nothing is more reprehensible than trying to rewrite or whitewash (no pun intended) history. Hello! It's our history; warts and all. It really did happen. Trying to close our eyes and pretend that it didn't happen makes us look silly and intellectually shallow.

And this brings me to my man Mark Twain and his classic A-merry-can novel, Huckleberry Finn. Seems the N-word appeared in his classic 219 times, (Damn, that's more times than an entire Lil Wayne album.) and one of the publisher's of the book has replaced the N-word with the word slave. (Nigger. Slave. What's the difference? )

Anyway, this push from the PC folks to sanitize and soften the words from a very popular A-merry-can novel is also wrong. If you are going to use the book as a teaching tool, use it. Don't change the words as they were written by the author. I have no idea what was in Mark Twain's heart, but I know what he wrote, and it shouldn't be changed.

Finally, if there is anyone reading this from Memphis, Tennessee, please tell me what the hell is going on in your city. Is someone going around and poking holes in the condom packages? Ninety girls pregnant from the same school! WTF?

"Sixteen-year-old Terrika Sutton is one of the Frayser students who became pregnant. Sutton, who has a 2-month-old daughter, says she was in her fifth month when she found out she was expecting a child. The teen mom surprised her parents and classmates alike when she broke the news to them about her situation:

"They were like, 'Terrika, I never knew you would get pregnant,' and I was like well it happened."

The young mother goes onto say, though, that teen pregnancy is nothing to be proud of and that something should be done:

"It's a shame that all these girls at Frayser are pregnant, but it ain't nothing new. They probably planned on what they gonna do to get pregnant. Ain't no telling. They need a class where they can teach girls before they get pregnant to use protection and stuff and so they don't try to get pregnant." [Source]

Terrika, your parents needed a class as well: How to be a parent.

Folks, tomorrow is the day we celebrate MLK's birthday here in A-merry-ca. Please remember what the man was fighting for when he was taken from us by a racist career criminal. Let's continue to strive for a more perfect union where all people are entitled to social and economic justice.

Tomorrow people of good will (black and white) will be volunteering all over my fair city. Everyone of those people are field Negroes and honorary field Negroes as far as I am concerned, and I only wish that my hand was big enough to pat everyone of them on the back

"Good ole boys" are everywhere: Even in Maine.

I have been to Maine only once in my life. I went in the fall one year and it seemed like a beautiful enough place. But I have to wonder about the folks inhabiting that wonderful part of the country. How could any right minded person elect Paul LaPage to be their leader?

"Maine Gov. Paul LePage has constantly ruffled the feathers of the NAACP as he has declined invites from the organization. The most recent that has drawn the ire of the organization is his denial to attend the ceremonies honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. He shunned both an invite to an NAACP dinner in Portland on Sunday and a breakfast in Orono on Monday due to "personal committments."

As the NAACP and others see it, this is an ongoing pattern with the Republican governor spurning events that are African-American related. But LePage wants to hear no parts of that ongoing dialog and responded to the allegations when speaking with WCSH6.

He called the NAACP a "special interest" group and said that he will "not be held hostage by any special interests."

He also cited that his schedule conveniently prevents him from attending events such as this and "there's only so many hours in the day."

LePage feels that the NAACP is playing the "race card" and has an answer for that one as well.

In his best "I have a black friend" voice, LePage mentioned that his 25-year-old adopted son is black.

"If they want to play the race card, come to dinner and my son will talk to them," he said.

The NAACP has fired back and said that the organization is not welcome to LaPage's Maine.

And what does LePage - who stirred the pot when he suggested that he would tell Obama to "go to hell" if the current POTUS became president - have to say about all of these allegations?

'Tell them to kiss my butt...."' [Source]

Governor, there is some guy named Jealous on line one for you.

Seriously Gov. , I am no big fan of the NAACP myself, but as the leader of all the citizens of your fine state, (including the 50 black folks who brave it out by living there) it would have been nice of you to show some tact and be more respectful to a well established civil rights organization. (And did you really have to go there with the some of my own family members are black card?) I don't think it would have killed you to honor the legacy of a great A-merry-can who lost his life advocating for peace by attending one of those functions. Forget your petty differences with the NAACP and show some leadership. That's what true leaders do; they rise above the pettiness and do what is right for everyone.

Finally, it looks like the the authorities are coming down hard on folks who speak out of line now. I know it all stems from this Arizona shooting. Did former republi-clown congressional candidate, Cheryl Allen, really deserve to be tossed in jail for doing what tea partiers and wingnuts like to do?

"An Indiana woman who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Congress last year was being held Saturday on charges she made threats against judges and other officials on her Facebook account.

Morgan County Prosecutor Steve Sonnega — who said he was among those targeted — said he decided to move quickly after discovering the threats in part due to last week's shootings in Arizona that wounded U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and killed six others.

"I think the Arizona situation drove more to the sense of urgency," Sonnega told The Associated Press.

Cheryl Allen, 51, of Martinsville was being held on $100,000 bond Saturday in a jail in her hometown, about 28 miles south of Indianapolis. State police arrested her on eight felony counts of intimidation on Thursday, the same day authorities discovered the postings, which were apparently published on her page three days earlier.

Allen repeatedly maintained her innocence during a court hearing Friday. But after the charges were read, she said: "Someday, may someone get even with them," according to The Reporter-Times. She could face four to 24 years in prison if convicted, state police said.

The alleged threats mentioned four Morgan County judges, and other public officials — including Sonnega — were mentioned by first name. Media reports said Allen had previously filed a discrimination lawsuit that was dismissed by a judge.

"One day I will have my revenge on your seeking so much revenge on me," read one of the posts cited in media reports.

"Someday Boooooom while your setting in your offices," read a second. "And you know I won't even be the one pulling the trigger," said another.

A message seeking comment was left with Allen's attorney on Saturday, and her home phone number was disconnected.

Sonnega told the AP authorities had been monitoring Allen for months due to comments she had made about various public officials, but she hadn't "crossed the line" until this week. He said he contacted state police and appointed a special prosecutor, Barry Brown, after discovering the alleged threats.

"In light of what happened in Arizona ... we thought we had better act quickly," Sonnega said.

Brown was traveling and could not be reached for comment Saturday. The Reporter-Times said Brown said in court that authorities intend to have Allen's mental health evaluated. "

Allen ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for Indiana's 4th Congressional District seat in 2010, winning just 3 percent of the vote. The seat that was vacated by U.S. Rep. Steve Buyer was eventually won by new U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita.

Allen had criticized the courts' handling of her discrimination case during her campaign last year and suggested the system needed a major overhaul, according to The Reporter-Times. In a Facebook post on Jan. 8, the newspaper said she wrote: "What do you need to have done to get all the current government out of office? That is why we should own guns to go into court to get my right to trial back." [Source]

Yes, a mental health evaluation is needed. I could say that about all republi-clowns, but this one in particular seems a bit dangerous. Take her off the streets and get her some help. Maybe she can get better in time to be the 2012 republi-clown -presidential- nominee's running mate.

Now let me get out of here before I get the Andrew Williams treatment from Mrs. Field. Ouch!

John's black problem, the age of Reince, and brothers and restrooms.

*

I want to start this post by making a personal appeal to you Negroes: Please stop with this rumor that John Boehner's mother was a sister and was doing the whole passe blanc thing.

This stuff has been going around on the web for a few days now and it needs to stop. I know he went there first, but let's stop digging into the man's background for (black) skeletons.

Happy trails hip hop Mike. I guess those melanin challenged folks over at the RNC got tired of you going all 106 & Park at your public speaking engagements. That and the little money issues you were having. ---Actually it was more like the big money issues. See Mike, that's why those folks don't want us around their money; because of Negroes like you.

Anyway A-merry-ca, get ready to hear a lot about* Reince Priebus in the coming days. REINCE PRIEBUS. The poor guy's name sounds like some kind of rare disease. REINCE PRIEBUS???
Somehow that name seems fitting for the leader of the RNC. Good luck Reince, and be kind to Mike.

Finally, I recently blogged about brothers being able to use public rest rooms here in A-merry-ca, and now it seems that even famous brothers don't get to tinkle when they want to.

"An assistant manager at McDonald's was fired after allowing Minnesota Vikings star Adrian Peterson to use the bathroom while the restaurant was closed.

While working the late-night drive-thru shift at 3 a.m., a female employee encountered a man standing outside the window who asked to come inside and use the restroom. After a little while, she realized it was the popular Minnesota Vikings star and opened the door for him to come inside and use the facilities. (The seating area at the restaurant is normally closed during the late-night hours.)

One week later, the mother of three was fired for the offense.

"He's a public figure... I know him better than some of the maintenance people that come in and out," she told The Consumerist. "I never thought in a million years that that decision was going to cost me my career." [Source]

Oh lawd!! Come on Micky D's. It was Adrian Peterson for crying out loud! Here is hoping that Adrian uses his influence and wealth to get girlfriend her job back. After all, she was just helping out a brotha.

Folks, I have to go now. I just found out that I am a Leo and not a Virgo anymore. I am all messed up inside.

It wasn't fun while it lasted.

*

Sorry O man, I tried, but I am afraid that this little cease fire... (whoops, poor choice of words). Let me rephrase that: This peace between myself and the wingnuts was short lived. And, in case you were wondering; they never really bought into your kumbaya speech last night. In fact, they have been busy all day trashing you for it.

They are claiming that it was nothing more than a political rally for you and that your peeps were responsible for the pep rally type atmosphere in that arena last night. It was your peeps who printed all those "together we thrive" t-shirts in blue. ("Why not red? I thought you wanted unity, Obama?") You were responsible for some folks in the crowd booing the republi-clown governor. (She potentially caused the death of at least two people in her state. Her ass deserved to be booed.) You were responsible for all those dumbocratic stage managers running things. You were responsible for Eric Holder and Janet Napolitano being there. (BTW, where was the crying tan man?). It was you who allowed that Indi.....I mean Native American to give his "peculiar" prayer. It's all on you, Obama.

"I don’t recall ever screaming out in zeal at a Memorial service to anyone’s death or to any tragedy, and that includes screaming with squealing intensity along with thousands of others when a murdered child’s name was announced, or Leftwing politicians made yet another self-promotional use of the event, the death of anyone, at the memory of any national or regional tragedy (or any tragedy at all), or at any other alleged “memorial”.

But that’s what this “sports arena event” was about, the “Memorial Service” in which t-shirts (“Together We THRIVE” blazened on them) were handed out to the attendees. And what does that slogan have to do with the Memorial event commemorating the deaths of six persons — including the nine-year old child — and the wounding of thirteen, including a U.S. Congresswoman? Is it being declared that there’s some “thrive” aspect to the tragedy? That they’re going to “thrive” on it, together? Another example of the so-called Memorial being a Meet And Join Rally for Obama and Democrats: Obama’s adaptation of Hillary’s earlier attempts to rally votes: “It Takes a Cult” the current rendition.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer made an incredibly sincere, appropriate — considerate — speech, complete with endearing, grateful words for Barack Obama (present and seated up front) as President, that he would attend; about that, Obama’s face was visibly anguished — clearly he’d felt anxiety at her kind words. There was no crowd squealing for Brewer’s speech; there was that difficult reaction by Obama, a man having visible trouble appreciating the kind words of someone he knew owed him worse."

What an idiot! Wingnut, the people of that community had just gone through a lot. Let them cheer; scream; jump; shout; whatever. It was their time to have a release after all that they had been through. -Obviously you have never been to a black funeral.- Some folks actually get down like that when they grieve. "Death be not proud though some have called thee mighty and dreadful..."

You don't recall ever screaming in zeal because your miserable makeup would never allow you to. You are too busy looking over your shoulder for the next bogeyman or the next thing to criticize his O ness for.

"It was offensive that Obama had to read a speech and could not speak extemporaneously at such a solemn event, or so he referred to it as such, solemn. He went on and on and on and eventually reached that maximum volume and glare routine he uses in his ongoing campaign “events” so this Memorial At the Sports Arena was no different: again, it was about Obama. Context was irrelevant and the crowd again squealed, yelled, shouted, screamed, whistled out and whooped. Not a memorial, but another Obama event.

It was also offensive that some on the Right, MIddle and anywhere else appear to feel obligated or that it be necessary to ooze about Obama’s speech. I am sorry that some on the Right feel obligated to bow down and indulge this sort of exploitation, praising Obama’s speech while it was not praiseworthy, nor was his depressing and depressed performance of it, as was also the exploitative aspect to the event itself. "

I think I will take off my oxygen mask now. The air down here feels much better. Trying to walk on that high road can be a b*&^%.

*Pic taken from a wingnut website without permission. (The wingnuts filed a complaint against me and I had to remove the pic.)

"I believe we can be better,"

I know Sarah is glad that her children are no longer babies. Now the poor woman won't have to worry about the Jews getting their blood.

"Palin aide Rebecca Mansour said the former Alaska governor stands by her video.

"There has been an incredible increase in death threats against Gov. Palin since the tragedy in Arizona, since she's been accused of having the blood of those victims on her hands," Mansour said. "When you start to accuse people of having the blood of innocent people on their hands, it incites violence."

Yes, let's all feel sorry for Sarah. She is, after all, the real victim in all of this.

Anyway, let me stop, I just saw the O man's speech and my spirits have been lifted. He called for all of us to be nicer to each other and to elevate the discourse here in A-merry-ca. I feel that the least I could do is tone down the finger pointing and rhetoric for one night.

"But at a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized - at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do - it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds. "

I feel you O. Now let's see how the wingnuts react to your speech. I have a feeling that our little detente won't last too long.

MLK vitriol, and Glenn Beck believes that the killing of six people is funny.

It's getting close to MLK's birthday again, and the usual nutcases are coming out of the woodwork as they usually do this time of year. God forbid you Negroes have an American hero like the rest of us.

"Born Michael King Jr., the man known to the world as Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. has continued to be an enigma. Both revered and reviled, he has been a force to be reckoned since he led the historic march in Selma, Ala., in 1965 and continues to be so even in death.

"Sexual degenerate" and "communist" are not terms often associated with this revered nonviolent leader who spearheaded the civil rights movement.

Yet, Brett Reese, a member of the Greeley-Evans School District 6 Board of Education, is broadcasting just such an attack on Dr. King through his 104.7 FM pirate radio show..

"Just a sexual degenerate, an America-hating communist and a criminal betrayer of even the interest of his own people," Reese reads during his radio broadcast." [Source]

Oh my! I know that all of you Negroes with one of those fans with brother Martin's picture on the back are going to be pissed at that one.

Hmmmm, a "sexual degeenerate". I wonder if he was any worse than my man Thomas Jefferson?

Finally, someone told me to turn on 1210 AM here in Philly this morning and listen to the radio. I flipped on the little desk top radio in my office and all I heard was laughter and joking. It took me awhile to figure out that it was Glenn Beckkk's radio program and that he was yucking it up with his co-hosts about the killings in Arizona.

One joke after another; about the president, Joe Scarborough, and then some congresswoman named Louise Slaughter. Apparently they have a history.("Oh no we can't use that name,-Slaughter- they might want to shut us down" Ha ha ha ha!!!")

Glenn, I am glad that you and your cronies think that the death of six people (including a nine year old girl) is funny. The rest of us are not laughing.

BTW, I am still waiting for Sarah Palin to apologize for putting the congresswoman in the cross hairs of her political rifle.

A moment of silence........

It's day three after the tragedy in Arizona and the nation is still "grieving". A congresswoman was shot and is clinging to life, a nine year old girl and a federal judge lost their lives; and, at least for now, a country feels like it is losing its soul.

I am sorry I missed the moment of silence today. Unfortunately I was in one of those places in this country where the killing of a little girl (and many others) doesn't quite get the same attention.

I feel for Dallas Green and his family. The loss of little Christina is a tragedy that no parent (or grandparent)should have to live with. But so was the loss of little Cashae Rivers. She was only five years old when a single bullet struck and killed her after piercing through her back while she drove in the back of a car. There are others, but I can't list them all now. I don't have the time or the stomach.

Anyway, because of who the victims were, there will once again be a gun control debate here in A-merry-ca. The NRA will have to go into spin control and get their lobbyist to earn their fat paychecks. They will win. Why? The shooting of folks "who really matter" are too few and far between.

Giving new meaning to the term "red states."

I was going to rip kicker David Akers of my Philadelphia Eagles for costing us the game today, but after seeing his tear filled interview I changed my mind. I must be getting soft in my old age.

At least when it comes to field goal kickers; not when it comes to wingnuts.

"According to a law enforcement memo based on information provided by DHS and obtained by Fox News, Jared Loughner, the alleged shooter of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, may have been influenced by a pro-white racist organization that publishes an anti-immigration newsletter.

No direct connection, but strong suspicion is being directed at American Renaissance, an organization that Loughner mentioned in some of his Internet postings and federal law enforcement officials are investigating Loughner's possible links to the organization." [Source]

So the shooter from Arizona was a xenophobic racist. (I guess there was something to that 2009 memo). No surprise there. He was also crazy. No surprise there. He was also able to purchase a handgun in spite of all the signs pointing to him being mentally unstable. No surprise there. This is, after all, NRAmerica.

Something else that isn't surprising: the wingnuts are now all claiming that the shooter was a democrat. "He was a godless leftist who read the Cummunist Manifesto." (He liked Mein Kamp as well but that's beside the point in wingnutland.) This all, of course, means nothing. (For the record, there is as much if not more evidence to prove that his ideology and influence is more right leaning than left.)

Still, Jared Lee Lougher's political and ideological leanings are irrelevant. As usual the wingnuts are missing the point. This is not about a deranged individual named Jared Lee Lougher going on a shooting spree. This is about the leaders of a movement (insert tea party here) and of a major political party calling for citizens to rise up against the government to regain political power. The rhetoric on the right came from the top. ("You lie!") It's about a major political figure on the right putting the congresswoman's face in her "cross hairs" with the image of the scope of a rifle for special effect.

“don’t retreat, instead- RELOAD!” Nice. Thank god he didn't get to reload Sarah. Thanks to the brave citizens who tackled him, Jared Lee Lougher didn't get to fire off the 31 more bullets left in his clip. But Sarah isn't alone. Other wingnuts, such as Sharron Angle, called for "armed insurrection" against congress. But we are supposed to forget all of this because this nut job has no direct ties to the republican party.

It doesn't work that way. You created this environment and now you have to live with the consequences. Scrubbing your facebook page and having the benefit of FOX NEWS 24/7 propaganda won't change the facts. Your rhetoric and red meat fired up your base, and those among you who are well meaning came out and exercised their civic duty and voted out the bums who they thought were not acting in their best interest. That's fine. On the other hand, those among you (and those in the population at large) who hated the government for a different reason, saw this as an opportunity to put their hatred on full display.

I started this post on a sports note and I will end with one as it is directly connected to this story. The nine year old girl who tragically lost her life was the granddaughter of the manager who brought Philadelphia a championship in baseball back in 1980. She went to the gathering because she wanted to be a politician, (she was president of her elementary school class) and she admired the congresswoman. She paid for that visit with her life.

"According to the Alaska Dispatch site, Palin aide Rebecca Mansour said in an interview with Alaska radio host Tammy Bruce, a Palin supporter, that there was 'nothing ' about the 20 crosshair-like symbols that appeared on a map of districts targeted last year by Palin's PAC, including that of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).

"We never ever, ever intended it to be gun sights. ... We never imagined, it never occurred to us that anybody would consider it violent,' Mansour said." [Source]

Of course you didn't Rebecca. But just remember, chickens don't stay out forever. At some point they have to come home.