Super American?

*

If any of you reading this post would like to play professional hockey as a goal tender please send your applications to the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey team, ASAP. They would desperately like to find one.

A seven spot? You have got to be kidding me.

Anywhoo, what's with winguts and their hatred for things in popular culture?

The latest artistic endeavor to face the wrath of my wingnut friends is the television show, Glee. Personally, I have never watched it, but I do know that it's a television show, (A TELEVISION SHOW!) it is not real and therefore what plays itself out on the small screen is based on a script that was written by someone who is paid to write material that people will want to watch.

But try telling that to some people.

"Looks like Glenn Beck has hopped on the right-wing hate bandwagon that's been rolling all over "Glee" lately.

Beck trained his laser-like focus on the musical series on his show this week, deeming it "a horror show" and "a nightmare" because "everyone is sleeping with everyone else, it's all about self-gratification."

Just wait until Beck finds out that his boss (for now, anyway), Fox honcho Rupert Murdoch, is responsible for putting such trash on the air. He's gonna need a bigger blackboard to explain the complexities of that one...[Source]

And then, of course, there is the latest little dust up with the "Man of Steel". Wingnuts have lost their minds because he is threatening to renounce his A-merry-can citizenship. The horror!
Is nothing sacred anymore in the world?

The wingnuts even tried to get cute with this shocking development:

Whatever. We all know what this is really about. It’d be one thing if Superman renounced his U.S. citizenship under The Evil George Bush. But we put a black man in charge, and all of a sudden the Man of Steel heads for the exits? Nice try, Kracker-El. You might as well trade in that red cape for a white hood and join the Kryptonian Klux Klan. [Source]

I like it. Console yourself -and the anger you are feeling -with satire.

Hey, what's wrong with just truth and justice? Must we throw in the "American way"?

Is American truth and justice any different from other versions of truth and justice? I don't think so. At least it shouldn't be.

Maybe Superman isn't liking what he sees with the "American way". When a significant number of Americans look at their duly elected leader as somehow illegitimate because of his....well something, it makes you wonder. That must be worse than kryptonite to the big fellow.

Oh well, relax folks, he was just threatening to renounce his citizenship. I don't think he really did it. We can still claim him as our own. His outfit is still primarily red and blue, not green and white.

We are just lucky that when he left Krypton he decided to settle here, in A-merry-ca.

*Pic from Action Comics.

No fly over.

That is some serious weather they are experiencing down south. I guess mother nature must be still mad at us here in A-merry-ca. Hopefully those poor folks can get their lives back together.

It must be gut wrenching to look at where your home once stood and see total devastation.

I see his O ness took the presidential disaster tour today. That was nice. Nothing like a little "I feel your pain" from our leader to make us feel better about a tragic situation.

Still, as is always the case with O, not everyone was pleased.

"Texas Governor Rick Perry criticized the Obama administration on Thursday for not responding to a request for a disaster aid for the parched state, where wildfires have scorched nearly 2 million acres.

“You have to ask, ‘Why are you taking care of Alabama and other states?’ I know our letter didn’t get lost in the mail,” Perry, a Republican and frequent critic of the federal government, said after addressing a Texas emergency management conference. [Source]

No Governor, your letter didn't get lost in the mail, you probably just forgot to put a stamp on it. But hey, weren't you trying to secede from these divided states just a couple of years ago? I guess that limited federal government thing isn't looking so good these days. (BTW, I love the comments that follow the article on the wingnut site I linked.)

Finally, I think I know why Philly's finest have been a little trigger happy these days.

You Negroes better behave when you come to Philly. Our cops are pumped.

This explains it.

I was wondering why some of you Negroes can't make it in A-merry-ca. Thank god for elected republicans who can break it down for me. Who needs a bunch of social anthropologist telling us why certain groups are the way they are when you have people like Sally Kern.

Thank you Sally, it all seems so much simpler now.

"Oklahoma state Rep. Sally Kern, a Republican, made questionable remarks in the wake of a measure seeking to ban affirmative action programs advancing in the state, Tulsa World reports.

According to the local outlet:

Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said minorities earn less than white people because they don’t work as hard and have less initiative.

“We have a high percentage of blacks in prison, and that’s tragic, but are they in prison just because they are black or because they don’t want to study as hard in school? I’ve taught school, and I saw a lot of people of color who didn’t study hard because they said the government would take care of them.”

In light of the proposed constitutional amendment in question clearing the state House of Representatives on Wednesday evening, the GOP lawmaker also suggested women earn less than their male counterparts because they generally spend more time in the home.

The AP recently reported on the legislation:

The measure [will] put on the 2012 election ballot a provision that the state may not grant preferential treatment to any individual or group on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity or national origin. The ban would apply to public employment, education and contracting.
Opponents say the proposal targets a non-existent problem. Several Democrats contend the bill is an attempt to use race to generate fear and draw conservative white voters to the polls. "
[Source]

Sally, I think I know what it is; they think that just because their ancestors did all that work for nothing A-merry-ca owes them something. Sally, when will they learn that they can't depend on government handouts? Don't thy know that handouts are only for hardworking A-merry-cans?

Finally, I bet that Mr. Bad Hair is thinking that he should have kept his big mouth shut.

Seems my man's milk ain't so clean and folks are starting to dig. Apparently Mr. Bad Hair has been keeping company with some Tony Soprano types. (It makes sense, his hair already looks like he has been "sleeping with the fishes". ) [Story]

Anyway, now that he has decided to get into politics, he might want to lose his mob friends. Although, to be honest, they might be more honorable than the crowd he is hanging with these days.

Still not good enough Mr. President!

I just saw one of those great You Tube moments on John King's show.

"JOHN KING, HOST, “JOHN KING USA”: You raised this –

DONALD TRUMP, CEO, TRUMP ORGANIZATION: No, no, you raised this.

KING: No, I did not raise this. I did not call the press conference in Palm Beach earlier this week –

TRUMP: Excuse me, you raised this. And every time I sit down with the press, all they want to talk about is the birth certificate. And I got him to do something that nobody else could get him to do, and I’ve been getting great credit for that.

KING: And you - you raised this issue of his credibility, that if he has it, he should release it.

TRUMP: Absolutely.

KING: There are people who question yours in the middle of all this. The other night, you went on "ANDERSON COOPER" and you said your investigators told you it was missing or it wasn't there.

TRUMP: Excuse me.

KING: What was that about?

TRUMP: Excuse me. Very simple. I had people looking into it. Now I don't have to have the people - I can call them back, I hope. I mean, I haven't seen this. I'm sure a lot of experts –

KING: But if – would you ever pay them – if serious people told you it was missing or not there, here it is. Here it is.

TRUMP: Would I pay them? I don’t know. Maybe I'll let you negotiate for me.

(CROSSTALK)

KING: Some people think you just made that up though.

TRUMP: Let me just tell you, I don't make up anything. Let me tell you something. I have done a great service to the American people...."

For more laughs please watch the clip that goes with this link.

I will say this much for Mr. Bad Hair, he fits right in with the republican party. He looked right into the camera and told a lie. When King asked him why he said he was even with the president in the CNN polls he said because he was. When King told him that CNN had no such poll he told King that he [King] was lying and tried to send some flunky to get it [The poll]. CNN and the rest of A-merry-ca is still waiting for proof of that poll. It will never come. Just like we will never hear from the investigators that he had in Hawaii. It was all a lie.

Still, I am mad at O. I did not want him to release his birth certificate. The thought of an A-merry-can president having to release a birth certificate to prove that he is an A-merry-can is astonishing to me. It's why I can't stop blogging about it. Can you imagine? Two years into their presidency one of the previous 43 presidents having questions raised about where they were born?

So there was Mr. Bad Hair today taking credit for O showing a document which every person in A-merry-ca who doesn't see black helicopters over his/her lawn knew existed.

"Yes, but why did it take two years for him to show it. Tell the people, Mr. Obama, why two years? "

Mr. Wingnut, why did he have to show it to you in the first place?

Not good enough.

“You never find yourself until you face the truth” ~Pearl Bailey~

I can't believe it! Finally a news organization in this country investigates the birther charges against O and guess what they found? Nothing. Yes, it seems that he was born in this country.

I caught some of Gary Tuchman's report earlier, and my man did real journalist proud with his report. He interviewed the republican who is the former director of Hawaii's department of health, and guess what she said? That she did see the actual birth certificate. He interviewed other officials and journalist in Hawaii as well, and, I hate to disappoint you wingnuts, but there is nothing there. Looks like you are going to be stuck with his O ness for awhile.

I wonder if CNN would would allow FOX NEWS to dedicate an hour or so out of their programming and carry the CNN report? I am sure that some type of fee arrangement could be worked out. Let's face it, there is no other way to reach the wingnuts in this country. They sure as hell would never watch anything on CNN.

Will this put to rest all of this birther talk? (Shout out to Warren Olney on public radio in L.A. I was on his program today, and, as usual, he was a class act.) I doubt it. I know President Obama doesn't want it to stop. (Independents. Independents. Independents.) It's great for him when the people who hate him most are certifiable lunatics.

Anyway, now that the birther issue has been debunked; we have a new one: The "graders".

" Move over birthers, here come the "graders." President Obama was a "terrible" student who didn't deserve to get into the Ivy League universities he attended, Donald Trump suggests in an interview with AP. "I heard he was a terrible student, terrible. How does a bad student go to Columbia and then to Harvard?" Trump asked. "I'm thinking about it, I'm certainly looking into it. Let him show his records." [Source]

I know Donald, "the blacks" always get special privileges. BTW what type of grades did you make at Fordham and the University of Pennsylvania? The next time you send one of your apprentices to the grocery story, you might want to tell them to stock up on Windex to clean your house.

COUYON!

*

Mrs. Field won't like this post, but I am going to have to rip her state tonight.

I mean honestly, it's one thing to listen to a certain lunatic fringe in A-merry-ca go on and on about the president's birth certificate and the nutty Muslim conspiracy theories floating around, but when elected politicians lend legitimacy to this madness it diminishes all of us as A-merry-cans.

Now we have the Governor of the Pelican state (an Indian A-merry-can whose birth certificate is safely tucked away somewhere in Baton Rouge) saying that he will sign into law a birther bill if it comes across his desk. Honestly, I think that those chemical plants on the Mississippi River are a little too close to the state house. My man must be inhaling some of the fumes.

"If it reaches his desk, Gov. Bobby Jindal says he'll sign a proposal to require President Barack Obama and other presidential candidates to prove their U.S. citizenship before their names can be included on a state ballot." [Story]

Don't worry Gov. I will still rock it in"da Boot" every chance I get. I will just watch my back when I am down there. Those Cajuns might want to see my ID.

* Pic from Getty Images.

Why do we care?

I thought that you A-merry-cans went to war in 1775 to rid yourselves of those evil Brits.

Now look at you. You can't get enough of the Prince and Kate's upcoming wedding. The hype and publicity around this wedding here in A-merry-ca has been absolutely sickening.

All the major networks are sending their anchors across the pond, and we will be inundated with coverage of these two young people hooking up all week. We will know everything about Kate's ring, her dress, her honeymoon, and her makeup. It's enough to make every red blooded A-merry-can man cry. (Notice I said man, because I suspect that that many of those who belong to the fairer sex are eating this stuff up.) This is the Super Bowl of weddings, and they are covering it like one.

But again, I have to wonder, why do we care? What is this sick obsession A-merry-cans have with royalty and wealth? People are struggling to make ends meet and yet we can't get enough of a stupid wedding.

I guess, in a way, it's a kind of escape. A real life fairy tale complete with a Prince and a "commoner" becoming Queen. Honestly, every time I see one of those experts on British royalty on television I want to go out and smash the next Mini Cooper I see. It's such a waste. Isn't there more important stuff that the networks could be educating us on or talking about? Like, for instance, why is gas going to be damn near $5 per gallon before the end of the summer? Educate the public about the crude oil market and how it works. Why is it that more than half of the republicans in this country believe that their legally elected president is a foreigner and some type of "Manchurian Candidate" ? Why is it that the wealthy folks in this country keep getting wealthier and the middle class keeps shrinking? Those are the things that I want to see on news programs, not what fabric Kate Middleton's dress is made from.

Look, I love the British, I really do. I was born a British subject myself. But other than the EPL and Naomie Harris, I really need a break from all things Brit for awhile. So thanks Kate and William, because of you I have British overload. April 29, 2011, can't come and go soon enough for me.

I bet I am not alone.

I don't know Dilbert, you might have some issues.

I think I want to jump in on this Dilbert Keli Goff feud. (Well, not Dilbert, but his creator)

Seems Keli (and others) took umbrage with actress Gwyneth Paltrow saying that she worked her behind off to get where she is in Hollywood and her fame is not a result of nepotism and privilege. (Quick question for Keli: Are you getting paid over there at Huff Po?)

".... I know I'm going to sound like a suck up, but you're gorgeous, have a great career, two beautiful children, married to a big rock star. It all looks so effortless. You're well spoken. It just rubs people the wrong way. You look perfect.

[Paltrow]It's funny because I'm so not. Of course, some of it is luck. My parents had money and they sent me to a good school, but it's like, what do you choose to do with that? You can rely on that and not do anything with it or you can say, "How am I going to justify that good fortune? How am I going to say my parents didn't waste their money on me?" I just think I'm really all about hard work and I honestly feel like anyone can have or do what they want as long as they put their mind to it. "

Well Gyneth, you do work in Hollywood, and having the right connections certainly helps.
So I can see where Keli is coming from on this one.

"In an age in which America’s class-divide is greater than it’s ever been, our patience has simply waned for the George W. Bushes and Gwyneth Paltrows of the world — people who were born on third base and act like they hit a triple. America was founded on the idea that everyone has equal opportunity to carve out their piece of the American Dream, but increasingly that’s becoming less and less of a reality. And there’s something infuriating about listening to people born into the Dream — silver rattle in one hand, silver spoon in the other — lecture the rest of us on how easy it is to obtain — if we’re just willing to “work our asses off” like they do. "

OK, so Missy says she worked her pampered behind off to get where she is, and Keli disagrees. No problem so far, right? Just two women having a a public debate about class, privilege, and hard work.

But then Dilbert's creator decides to defend Missy by saying the following:

"It’s worth noting, in the interest of context, that Goff was born with a few advantages herself. She’s beautiful, smart, and apparently had the resources she needed to make it through NYU and go on to get her Master’s Degree at Columbia University. If you ask Goff what made her successful, would she credit her hard work and leave out her other obvious advantages? Or would she answer honestly and say, “I worked hard for what I’ve achieved, but it didn’t hurt that I’m a brilliant, smoking-hot African-American woman in 2011.” I’m just saying that people don’t generally talk about their advantages. To do so would be…wait for it…gloating. " [Source]

Of course, because we all know that if you are a "smoking -hot African American woman in 2011", A-merry-ca will give you sooooo much. Those are always "obvious advantages". I am trying to figure out which one gives you a larger advantage. Being black? Being beautiful? Being a woman? Or just being smart?

Here is the thing: If Keli has all of the above qualities, she should succeed, and it would be
a travesty if she did not. If Paltrow is a good actress, and A-merry-cans find her attractive, (I don't know why, but hey, to each his own.) she should -and did- succeed. But for her to deny that her connections gave her an advantage over other aspiring actresses in Hollywood is ludicrous.

It's probably why Goff took her on for denying the obvious.

But why the defense of her from Scott Adams? Who, by the way, has had some issues of his own, lately. (Can you say sockpuppet boys and girls?) I think it's Interesting. It leaves me to wonder: If it was a melanin challenged writer dropping her two cents (no pun intended, Keli) about Ms. Paltrow in the Huffington Post, would we have heard from Mr. Adams?

I think not.

Not everyone is being good on Good Friday.

*

WTF is going on in A-merry-ca? Now we have a two year old popping a cap in his own mother. ( I am still suspicious of the daddy.) That is not a good look. I know that we live in a violent culture and that six year olds are packing in A-merry-ca these days. But.....TWO?!

Still, it could be worse, we could live in Mexico. Look, I grew up in Jamaica, and there was a lot of violence in that island paradise. --Especially around election time.-- But the stuff going on south of the border is really scary. Especially when you can't tell the bad guys from the good guys. And before you gringos start shaking your fingers, just remember where they are getting their *guns, and who is buying up all of their drugs.

And then there is the "kook" in Colorado. My man wanted to spread carnage and destruction in a local Mall. Speculation is rampant as to why he wanted to disrupt some of our fellow A-merry-cans right to partake in crass consumerism. Was he a Columbine sympathizer? Was he a wingnut domestic terrorist? Or was he just a guy who hated the mall?

Mrs. Field can attest to this; I hate the mall at times my damn self. But I don't hate it enough to want to set off a pipe bomb in that bad boy. No amount of anger at having to lose some of your Sunday to endless walks through the women's shoe department should cause a man to do something like this. This guy had a South Carolina hat on. So already my inner bias is kicking in. I am thinking angry southern white guy with hatred issues.

But hey, I might be wrong. He could be just another mentally deranged A-merry-can, who, like so many other mentally deranged A-merry-cans, makes living here so interesting.

Too young.

I want to start this post with a sad story: The body of Phylicia Barnes has been found in a Maryland river. *shaking head*. This is a sad coincidence, because just a couple of days ago another young lady's body was found in the Schuylkyl river here in Philly.

She was also a beautiful young African American sister who was kidnapped from her home in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Her story didn't garner as much national attention, but it is just as tragic.

I am just hoping that the families of these poor young ladies can pull through these tragedies.

Finally, I see that yet another piece of scum in Washington is stepping down to avoid further embarrassment.

"WASHINGTON — Sen. John Ensign of Nevada, facing an ethics investigation over his affair with a former campaign aide, announced Thursday that he would resign his seat effective May 3.
Ensign said in a statement that he would send Vice President Joe Biden a letter Friday making the resignation official.

The 52-year-old Republican announced in March that he would not pursue re-election. He acknowledged in June 2009 that he had an extramarital affair with Cynthia Hampton, a former member of his campaign staff, and that he had helped her husband, Doug Hampton, a member of his congressional staff, obtain lobbying work with a Nevada company.

The ethics investigation focuses in part on some $96,000 Ensign's parents gave to the Hamptons, which Ensign's attorney has characterized as a gift.

..The Justice Department and the Federal Election Commission investigated, then dropped the cases with little explanation. The Senate ethics panel, however, named a special counsel to look into the matter.

Through it all, Ensign insisted he would seek re-election until his announcement in March, when he reiterated that he had not violated any laws or ethics rules. He also said at the time the investigation did not influence his decision to retire from politics after 2012.

But in his resignation notice Thursday, Ensign said the appointment of the special counsel shook him because he had hoped the investigation would end with the Justice Department." [Source]

Don't worry folks, he will be back. Scum- bag poli-tricksters never really go away.

"While I stand behind my firm belief that I have not violated any law, rule, or standard of conduct of the Senate, and I have fought to prove this publicly, I will not continue to subject my family, my constituents, or the Senate to any further rounds of investigation, depositions, drawn out proceedings, or especially public hearings," the statement said. "For my family and me, this continued personal cost is simply too great."

Riiiight.

You angry black men.

*

Oh Lawd! Now Tyler and Spike are having words. Seems Tyler told Mr. Do the Right Thing to "go straight to hell."

"Tyler Perry voiced his frustration with Spike Lee on Tuesday at a Beverly Hills press conference for the West Coast premiere of his new film Madea's Big Happy Family, according to Box Office Magazine.

In a 2009 interview with Black Enterprise's Ed Gordon, Lee alluded to Perry's work on film and television in particular as coonery buffoonery.

"I'm so sick of hearing about damn Spike Lee," Perry said during the press conference. "Spike can go straight to hell! You can print that. I am sick of him talking about me, I am sick of him saying, 'this is a coon, this is a buffoon.' I am sick of him talking about black people going to see movies. This is what he said: 'you vote by what you see,' as if black people don't know what they want to see."

"I am sick of him -- he talked about Whoopi, he talked about Oprah, he talked about me, he talked about Clint Eastwood. Spike needs to shut the hell up!" Perry reportedly said." [Story]

Now now Tyler, Spike is just as frustrated as the rest of us about the choices us black folks tend to make at times. It's not a knock on you. You found a way to plug into what black folks love to see: Laughter and religion. (That has always worked with black folks. Just keep em laughing or going to church and they will be content.) So go ahead and make your paper. Hey, if you don't do it somebody else will.

Speaking of angry black men. I see that O got into a reporter's grill in Texas the other day. Now O, you have to be careful here, you won over A-merry-ca's heart by being a calm and happy Negro; don't go making them think that you are angry like the rest of us. Nothing turns off A-merry-cans more than an angry black man, and nothing brings them more joy than to see a smile on your face.

O, you have to chill. I know that man was from Texas, and the only thing that they hate more than your beige behind in the Lone Star state is....well I can't think of anything right now. You seem to be pretty much it. Anyway, you have to suck it up and play nice. The man was just trying to ruffle your feathers. (No pun intended Obamaholics.) He would have loved for you to get up, rip off the mike, and tell him to go and f&*^ himself.

"See honey, he is just like the rest of them. I told you that it was just a matter of time before his father's side came out..."

So hang in there O, and when you leave office, you can ask Spike to direct the movie about your life, not Tyler.

* Pic from theGrio.com

I shot up with the Sheriff. And everyone has an opinion.

While you Negroes keep slinging and splitting each others' wigs in urban A-merry-ca, those other folks keep living out their Mexican "Federales" fantasies in meth havens all over rural A-merry-ca.

You Negroes could learn a thing or two from those other folks; start slinging from the inside.

"VAN BUREN, Mo. – One county on the edge of the Missouri Ozarks seemed oddly immune to the scourge of methamphetamine ravaging the state, boasting few meth raids or arrests in recent years. Some residents now think they know why, after a meth bust landed the Carter County sheriff himself in jail.

Tommy Adams, county sheriff for a little more than two years, was arrested earlier this month after giving meth to an informant at his cabin on a remote and hilly gravel road, according to a court document. He also allegedly snorted the drug himself with a straw. Authorities would not detail the extent of Adam's alleged meth involvement, but charged him with meth distribution. He is being held in Cape Girardeau County jail on $250,000 bond...." [Source]

I know Tommy, times are hard, they just don't pay sheriffs like they used to.

Finally, yet another Charlie is giving an interview. But, sadly for this one, he isn't "Winning!"

This one will continue to spend the rest of his miserable life in prison for committing some of the most heinous crimes in A-merry-can history. And yet, he seems to be joining the legion of O haters around the country. I am not surprised though, he fits the wingnut profile.

Still, this all has to feel like the worst kind of piling on for my man O. I mean first your own people, and then one of A-merry-ca's most notorious murderers? Where does it end?

The only good news for O is that in order to win a second term he only has to beat a republiclown. And unless they are in a lab building a secret candidate as I type this, I am sure that O isn't losing any sleep over any of his likely opponents.

Strange bedfellows.

Rick (I should be in a) Sanitarium is a former senator here in Pistolvania who got his ass kicked by Bob Casey when he tried to represent our state in Washington. Now he is running for President. Yes, this homophobic neanderthal who actually stole from the people of Pistolvania to benefit his own family actually thinks that he can become president. (As one writer said recently, he couldn't beat Sasha Obama.)

So here is the funny part: Remember I said that he was a homophobe? Well he actually kicked off his campaign by lifting some lines from a very famous homosexual who also happens to be....wait for it...wait for it...black!

"Salon reports that the day after announcing that he was setting up a presidential exploratory committee, Pennsylvania Republican Rick Santorum's website featured the slogan "Fighting to Make America America Again." That is, until a student clued him about its similarity to the title of the poem "Let America Be America Again," by Langston Hughes (the avowed leftist, black, pro-union poet who many people believe was gay).

Uh-oh. Hughes, evidently, is not the best symbol of the version of America Santorum was pitching at an "Econ-101" town meeting at New England College:

Santorum by and large stayed on message but was tripped up a bit when a student asked him if he knew that the choice of his slogan, "Fighting to make America America again," was borrowed from the "pro-union poem by the gay poet Langston Hughes."

"No I had nothing to do with that," Santorum said. "I didn't know that. And the folks who worked on that slogan for me didn't inform me that it came from that, if it in fact came from that."

The student, whose name was not immediately available, was referring to the poem "Let America Be America Again." When asked a short time later what the campaign slogan meant to him, Santorum said, "Well, I'm not too sure that's my campaign slogan, I think it's on a web site."

It was also printed on the campaign literature handed out before the speech." [Source]

Whoops.

And a Chimp shall lead them.

I am sure that not many of you reading this have ever heard of Marilyn Davenport. You would be excused if you didn't.

She happens to be a hot- shot republican party official in Orange County, California and a tea party member.

I am also sure that many of you reading this who happen to be in a certain clique of A-merry-cans have seen the picture accompanying this post. (One of my regular posters uses it as their pic to accompany his/her post.) It's the kind of stuff ignorant racist circulate among themselves to make themselves feel better about their own pathetic lives and miserable existence.

Rather than attack O on the substance of his policies, (and there is room for attack) they choose to use racist caricatures to poke fun of his ethnicity. Nice!

So anyway, seems that my tea party friend made a mistake that racist of her ilk often make; she sent an e-mail which was seem by others outside of her racist circle and was called on it. (Maybe the NAACP was right.) But here is the funny part: She actually got upset at the thought that others would find it offensive and used the old "some of my best friends are black" meme to justify her despicable actions.

"Oh, come on! Everybody who knows me knows that I am not a racist. It was a joke. I have friends who are black! Besides, I only sent it to a few people - mostly people I didn't think would be upset by it," explained Marilyn Davenport , Teapublican activist and member of the Orange County Republican Party Central Committee.

Davenport is in hot water for circulating a racist hate-email depicting President Barack Obama and his parents as chimpanzees. The email also noted, "Now you know why - No birth certificate." As with most white racists on the defensive, Davenport's "excuse" was that she only sent the email to her closest racist friends, that she is not a racist , that she didn't realize the email was racist, and that it's perfectly acceptable to make fun of black people as subhuman.

These are each classic forms of racism denial. Instead of an apology, Davenport said she was concerned over who leaked her racist email and then blamed the media for running it."

Those comments were from a blogger named ThosPayne ,who is clearly not a tea partier or a conservative because he seems to be,well, a decent person.

Now, as is to be expected with these types of incidents, there are calls for Ms. Davenport to resign. (Because we all know that this incident is an aberration..... yeah right!) We will see.

Personally, I hope she stays on and does what she has been doing all along. If she leaves she will only be replaced with someone who is better at covering up their true feelings about a certain beige man in the people's house. Besides, this is A-merry-ca, calling the President the son of chimpanzees is not the same as yelling fire in a crowded theater.

So go on tea party lady, do your thing. I am sure that you have a lot of supporters out here who are behind you 100%. We will find find out soon enough if they actually vote.

"Obama Is Likely to Lose"?

I like Peggy Noonan. Yes, I know she was reagan's speech writer back in the day, and she is, for all practical purposes, a wingnut---- albeit a more educated and somewhat reasoned one.

Anyway, I read her piece in the Wall Street Journal today (yes, I read the WSJ) and I found her comments about O to be quite interesting.

Basically it was a cheer up fellow republicans note, and it came with the usual things that you would expect from someone trying to give their base hope.

I am paraphrasing here, but she writes things like the following: Obama will lose because he was too focused on his health care plan. His foreign policy is confusing and muddled, and he is getting all he can handle from Gaddafi in Libya. He was outgunned and outclassed by republicans domestically because their budget proposal was serious and offered a unique approach to solving our fiscal problems, and his did not. The polls show that 69% of Americans say that we are on the wrong track and only 38% of Americans say that O deserves reelection. Throw in the fact that his numbers are down among folks he could count on in the past such as....(Gasp!) African Americans, and, well, you can see where she was going.

And yet, in spite of all that gloom and doom predicted for his O ness, she finished her column with a warning:

"You would think Democratic professionals, who read the same numbers Republicans do and pick up similar trends, would be hanging their heads in despair. They are not. They have hope.

Their hope is that Republicans in the early caucus and primary states will go crazy. They hope the GOP will nominate for the presidency someone strange, extreme or barely qualified. They hope that in a mood of antic cultural pique, or in a great acting out of disdain for elites, or to annoy the mainstream media, Republican voters will raise high candidates who are unacceptable to everyone else.

Everyone else of course being the great and vital center, which hires and fires presidents. The Democrats' hope is that centrists will look at the Republican nominee and, holding their nose, choose the devil they know. Especially if the one they don't know seems to have little horns under his hair.

Republicans voting in recent presidential primaries have tended to pick the candidates who are viewed as the moderate in the race—Bob Dole in 1996, George W. Bush in 2000, John McCain in 2008. But in truth, there are some pretty antic candidates out there this year.

The great question of the coming year is not, "Will Obama reignite his base?" or, "Will the Democrats outraise and outspend the GOP?" It is: Will the GOP be serious? Will Republicans be equal to their history, their tradition and the moment? If they are—if they recruit and support candidates who can speak to the entire country, who have serious experience and accomplishments, who are grounded and credible, then they will win centrist support. And with it they will likely win the thing without which they cannot achieve the big changes they seek, and that is the presidency." [Source]

As a fellow republican Peggy is worried that there are no adults or serious candidates in her gang. I can't say that I blame her. When their great weight hope is a guy who can't control his own appetite and yet they want him to control the nation's budget, there just might be a problem.

A problem that doesn't look like it can be fixed with the gang lining up to ride the elephant in 2012.

Good luck wingnuts, at least half of the country is counting on you.

*Pic by Chad Crowe in the WSJ.

“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action.”

Watch out Mr. Bad Hair, it looks like O is fighting back.

Still, my question to O would be this: Why? O, let bloggers like yours truly have fun with the birther crowd, sane people (what few of us are left) in this country have no time for such nonsense.

The more the wingnuts ride on that birther train the more people who actually have a brain will want to send that train to the closest insane asylum or tea party rally.

"President Obama has a message for Republicans who embrace the birther movement: You're only hurting yourselves with this nonsense. Obama told ABC News's George Stephanopoulos that he was born in Hawaii and "doesn't have horns," stressing that birthers just makes the GOP look bad in the long run.

"There's been an effort to go at me in a way that is politically expedient in the short term for Republicans but creates I think a problem for them when they want to actually run in the general election, where most people feel pretty confident the President was born where he says he was, in Hawaii," Obama said.

The president added, "He doesn't have horns. ... We're not really worried about conspiracy theories or birth certificates."

You are wrong Mr. President. Metaphorically speaking you DO have horns, your horns just happen to manifest themselves in the color of your skin.

NEGRO SEEKING WORK

*

So Mr. Bad Hair has people on the ground in Hawaii trying to unearth the greatest hoax in A-merry-ca's long history. Not since the birth of a certain little guy in a town called Bethlehem has so much been made of where a child was born.

"He spent $2 million in legal fees trying on to get away from this issue, and if it weren't an issue, why wouldn't he just solve it?" he said. "I wish he would because if he doesn't, it's one of the greatest scams in the history of politics and in the history, period. You are not allowed to be a president if you're not born in this country. Right now, I have real doubts."

Donald, I know that some folks don't like it, but I have to tell you, I have my doubts as well. So I was wondering; could you use someone else on the ground in Hawaii? For a small fee-- and daily per diem --I would be glad to interview people and go over every public record with a fine- toothed comb for you. No one will work harder than the field to uncover this fraud perpetrated on the A-merry-can people by this Obama guy.

If there is some kind of fraud there; I will find it. Promise.

Finally, it seems that another republican presidential candidate is a little confused about his own intentions to lead our great country.

"Running for president has become such an elaborate press operation that it's sometimes hard for even the candidates to keep up.

Just ask Tim Pawlenty, who sounded a verbal miscue during an interview with CNN's Piers Morgan Tuesday night about whether or not he's actually running for president.

"I'm running for president," Pawlenty told CNN. "I'm not putting my hat in the ring rhetorically or ultimately for vice president so I'm focused on running for president.

" The comments--a partial transcript of which was forwarded to reporters ahead of the actual broadcast of the interview--instantly made big news, given Pawlenty, technically, has filed only an "exploratory committee." It's a phrase that seems to imply the former Minnesota governor is still thinking about whether to mount a full-fledged run, even though it's fairly obvious he's very much in the 2012 race.

But Pawlenty's aides quickly tried to stamp down the story their boss was officially in the race, insisting that CNN had mischaracterized the ex-governor's comments. As evidence, they pointed to another segment in the interview in which he dialed back his initial claim. "I've got an exploratory committee up and running, and we'll have a final or full announcement in the coming weeks here,"

Pawlenty added later. "It won't be too much longer, but everything is headed in that direction." "I'm running for president," Pawlenty told CNN. "I'm not putting my hat in the ring rhetorically or ultimately for vice president so I'm focused on running for president."

The comments--a partial transcript of which was forwarded to reporters ahead of the actual broadcast of the interview--instantly made big news, given Pawlenty, technically, has filed only an "exploratory committee." It's a phrase that seems to imply the former Minnesota governor is still thinking about whether to mount a full-fledged run, even though it's fairly obvious he's very much in the 2012 race. [Source]

OK, let's run that back: "I AM RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT". Mr. Pawlenty, I think that you were pretty clear. But yet your aides said that "CNN had mischaracterized" your comments.

You would make a great republican President. They all lied when their lips were moving.

*Pic courtesy of theGrio.

Thief!

I have always liked nice pens. I was rocking Cross way back in the day before graduating to Montblancs.

Anyway, because of my attraction to pens, there is a story out of Chile today that caught my eye.

Apparently it seems that the President of the Czech Republic tried to pull a fast one and do the old dissapearing pen act. (Don't you just hate when people do that?) My man gave the writing intrument the once over, and then decided that it was better off in his pocket. Now, as is to be expected, his own people are crying foul. I swear I hate pen theives. The man should be impeached!

But wait, it gets better: It seems that my man is a wingnut. "..Klaus, whose most notable prior controversy was probably his flat rejection of climate change science—a position that he even appeared on Glenn Beck's show to tour.."

Gee, there is a surprise; a wingnut who steals other people's pens. President Pinera, you might want to check your pockets.

Finally, if you want to be named police officer of the year in White Plains, New York, it might help to kill a young black college student.

Dyaaammn! How do you get a promotion? Kill a black family?

Real Talk!

I am always reading, and every now and then something catches my eye that is so on point and so thought provoking, that I feel a need to share it with the folks who read this blog to try and educate themselves. (This might be 50% of the folks who come to the fields. The other 50%.....well, let's just say that there are professionals out there whose job it is to figure out what goes on in the minds of these people. Good luck with that.)

Anyway, the writer's name is Una-Karlim A. Cross, and this is what was written:

I do not believe black people need to do more explaining. As long as we simply live, our contributions to this nation and world are relevant.

What we most need is to embrace ourselves and our heritage. We need to collectively strengthen our socio-economic position and align (or realign) ourselves for ownership and control of our images and our messaging. We have to push beyond the images that the media delivers to our communities, both nationally and globally, and re-frame ourselves as we want to be seen.

We should consider expanding our conversations about blackness beyond even being non-monolithic to embracing our Diasporan ancestry and traditions.

I say this because I often find myself still trying to explain to white people the enormous intricacies of black life. I wonder if when I do this I'm looking for acceptance or because I feel the need to provide some type of authentic clarification of who I am in the context of black culture.

Many of us define blackness on our own terms. When President Obama and his family moved into the White House, it stirred the so-called melting pot. Instead of a hopeful silencing under the auspices of the term "post-racial," Obama's Presidency has been somewhat of an exposé, an unearthing of sorts to the not-so-hidden bones of racial and ethnic disparities in North America.

These disparities glow and flicker like industrial style florescent lights. The resurgence of the Tea Party, the multiple economies, unemployment numbers, housing, census numbers that reveal the number of blacks leaving the North and going South, the Academy Award's White Out (or Black Out), and countless other headlines and episodes illuminate and agitate the already chaotic environment.

President Obama's tenure has pushed me review and question my personal identity and question the notion of "collective" identity. His Presidency has put a spotlight on blackness in ways I did not imagine.

Outside of the Presidency, and looking at historically white colleges and universities, we still see that the number of black professors pales in comparison to white professors. Yet, look in the kitchen of a restaurant or other service positions and you see mostly black and brown faces. In news rooms, fire departments, and still Hollywood, we are under-represented and in service jobs (and prisons), we are over represented.

Black identity (as humanity), is nuanced and complex. The media has reduced and pigeon-holed black life to: blacks as entertainers and rappers, athletes, and suspects on the local news.

This leaves little room for multi-faceted black life, and the realization that there is a full-spectrum of blackness that includes people with families in suburbs, cities, and public housing, that there are active black father's, that we are artists, intellectuals ... citizens. [More]

Yes indeed! I love where you are going , and I hope you take a lot of other people with you.

Personally, I am a little more cynical about this notion of a "collective identity" but I feel what you are saying about collectively strengthening our socio-economic position and taking ownership of our messaging.

With folks like you writing articles like this, the "messaging" will only get more powerful and easier to take.

"WHITE POWDER FOUND AT REP. ALLEN WEST'S OFFICE NOT ANTHRAX"

"BOCA RATON, Fla. — Authorities said a letter found containing white powder sent to a Florida congressman is not anthrax.

Boca Raton Fire Rescue spokesman Frank Correggio says no dangerous substance was found at the office of Republican Allen West on Friday.

West’s chief of staff says the letter contained derogatory comments about the politician and contained the word anthrax. He says the letter was opened by a campaign staffer.

West is a freshman congressman and tea party favorite who swept incumbent Rep. Ron Klein from office. West was in Washington when the letter was opened. West released a statement saying he is deeply disturbed by the incident." [Source]

Whoops, my bad; I think I used the wrong image with this post.

Sorry Mr. West, I meant no disrespect.

The Crayola threat!

The Crayola Factory in Easton, Pistolvania is a wonderful place. Lots of things to see and do. If any of you have small children I would strongly suggest that you take the little rugrats to experience it.

I took my six year old niece a couple of years ago and she had a ball. Why am I talking about the Crayola Factory? Because sadly, it seems that they too have come under attack from the wingnuts over at FOX.

"Despite the diversity of America, the America of "America's Newsroom" is distinctly melanin challenged with only a few, select, darker hues allowed. And while much of the world beyond Fox "News" welcomes diversity, Fox knows that the residents of their world do see color in very stark terms. One has only to see the comments on "Fox Nation" to see that the rainbow is not welcome in the land of Fox. Thus, earlier this week, "Fox & Friends" expressed disgust that Crayola, in attempting to be "ethnically sensitive" (Oh, the Horror, The Horror) is marketing "multicultural" markers. (The "flesh colored," albeit more Mediterranean, Brian Kilmeade referred to them as crayons.) America's favorite "anchor baby," (by the standards of those who want to change the 14th Amendment!) Michelle Malkin (definitely more than taupe) said that this was "pandering" to evil libruls. Interestingly, the original source for this un-American move by the free market, which has been around since 1992 in response to Maryland children who wanted a color, other than black, with which to color MLK, Jr., seems to be the right wing Volkh Conspiracy site. And also interesting is that in true Fox "News" style, this right wing and borderline racist story was repeated on today's Fox & Friends. I guess the message is that when it comes to crayons/markers, yellow isn't mellow, brown shouldn't stick around and black needs to get back - but if it's white, it's all right! [Now now Mr. Newshound man, they might have a point about Crayola having an agenda. For instance, look at the Crayola box. Why can't the white crayon and black crayon be next to each other? And why is the black crayon in the back?]

Weekend Fox & Friends warrior Dave Briggs introduced the segment against a visual backdrop of a photo of Crayola boxes with "Crayola Goes Multicultural" over it. His "Cavuto marked" chyron set the agitprop message "PC Gone Too Far? Crayola Introduces Multicultural Markers." The melanin challenged Briggs described the markers and asked if "political correctness has gone too far?" Briggs said that "nobody is against multicultural sensitivities" and asked conservative (not mentioned by Briggs) African American radio talk show host *James T Harris [Remember him? He was the "slave catcher" who wanted John McCain to do something about Obama.] "If crayon companies should teach our children about it."Harris felt it was "dangerous territory" to label products as multicultural. His voice dripping with sarcasm, Briggs read the lesson plan that accompanies the markers which includes how this enables children to build their sense of self. Briggs asked African American author, Lavaille Lavette if there was "a trap here" if you "don't fit one of these particular colors." She responded that she supports this marketing because it's a "teachable moment" that opens up "an opportunity for dialogue." She cited how when she was young she had only one color - "flesh tone." Harris asked why Crayola is "giving us these labels" and said that this kind of labeling is "what's happening in our society." [Source]

Yes, because nothing will bring down a civilization faster than too many crayons.

*I need a Red Stripe*

Poser?

I liked the Fugees back in the day, and I think that they made some of the best hip hop tracks ever. But if what the Haitian police are alleging about Wyclef Jean is true, I have to rip one of the founding members of the group.

Wyclef, please tell me that it's not true that you faked being shot by gunmen in Haiti.

"Haiti– A Haitian police officer said that Wyclef Jean actually cut his hand on glass late Saturday, despite the singer’s report that his hand was shot while standing outside his car in Haiti. Jean, who was pictured while receiving medical treatment for hand, told reporters that his hand was grazed by a bullet as he exited a car to make a phone call.

“The way I can explain it is that the bullet grazed me in my right hand.” Haitian police believe the incident was far different from what Jean is telling the media. Police chief Vanel Lacroix of Petionville told Reuters, “We met with the doctor who saw him and he confirmed Wyclef was cut by glass.” [Source]

Wyclef could never make it in Philly. I mean if you have to fake being shot you are nothing but a "poser". And if there is one thing we hate here in Philly it's "posers".

"PHILADELPHIA, Pa.– A 29-year-old man was shot 16 times on the street shortly before 3 p.m. yesterday and survived, police said. Police believe the man who is not being revealed was the “intended target”. The police are now investigating the incident. " [Source]

Do you read that, Wyclef? My man was shot 16 times and still survived. That's what we call Philly tough. Maybe he should run for President of Haiti.

Finally, when are some of these teachers going to learn that there are just some things that they should never do?:

"NORFOLK The principal of Sewells Point Elementary School has apologized to parents for a teacher's classroom exercise last week that cast her black and mixed-race fourth-graders as available for sale.

The apology came after the teacher separated the students from their white classmates and auctioned them, division spokeswoman Elizabeth Thiel Mather said.

The exercise was part of an April 1 class on the Civil War. In an April 6 letter sent to parents of students in the class, Principal Mary B. Wrushen wrote: "I recently became aware of a history lesson that was presented to the students in Ms. Jessica Boyle's fourth grade class. Although her actions were well intended to meet the instructional objectives, the activity presented was inappropriate for the students.

"The lesson could have been thought through more carefully, as to not offend her students or put them in an uncomfortable situation," Wrushen wrote. Wrushen said the exercise was not supported by the school or division.

"I will follow up with the classroom teacher to ensure nothing like this ever occurs again," the letter said. "In addition, the guidance counselor is available to discuss any concerns your child may still have concerning this classroom lesson." [Source]

Look, I know that the teacher wants to teach her students about the Civil War and slavery. And, to be fair, they should learn it. But we have to remember that we are dealing with children, and you can't just throw this slavery thing on them for show & tell or to make a point.

Ms. Teacher, in the future, may I suggest that you just rent a DVD of Roots ?

Love and marriage, love and marriage.....

"Love and marriage, love and marriage Go together like a horse and carriage This I tell you brother You can't have one without the other Love and marriage, love and marriage It's an institute you can't disparage Ask the local gentry And they will say it's elementary"

Man I used to love to hear o"l blue eyes" sing that song. But I digress.

Anyway, the "local -republican- gentry" in Mississippi doesn't think that certain types of marriages should be "elementary":

"MISSISSIPPI-According to Public Policy a recent poll determined that 46 percent of Republican voters in Mississippi want to have interracial marriage banned. We asked voters on this poll whether they think interracial marriage should be legal or illegal- 46% of Mississippi Republicans said it should be illegal to just 40% who think it should be legal. For the most part there aren’t any huge divides in how voters view the candidates or who they support for the nomination based on their attitudes about interracial marriage but there are a few exceptions." [Source]

It's all Obama's mama's fault. If she hadn't had Barry with that black man they probably wouldn't hate the idea of race mixing so much. You know how much those folks hate O.

Anywhoo, we have more serious issues to worry about. (Sorry OJ!) After midnight tonight we won't be able to go to any federal parks, and if you were planning a trip to Europe and you haven't gotten your passport yet you might just be out of luck. Yes friends, thanks to wingnuts and their extreme views on certain social programs, tonight your government just might stop working. This is not cool if you are one of the over 800,000.00 federal workers who might not punch the clock come Monday morning. Not to mention the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to defend their country.

Still, it's too bad that the legislators in Washington will still get paid. If they didn't, I bet we wouldn't be having this debate.

Donald, can you prove that you are from this planet?

Donald Trump has been showing every republican who wants to run for office the road map to success. Just say enough crazy things and the base will follow. I would say that he is becoming unhinged, but he has had that hair for awhile now, so it's safe to say that he has been crazy for a long time.

Trump says (and I am paraphrasing) that he has people down there in Hawaii looking into O's birth certificate now, and he can't believe what they are finding. He has implied that Obama might have pulled off the greatest hoax in history. But, given his wealth and standing in A-merry-can society, I would say that he has beaten O to the con game.

Talk about a reality show. I think that he [Trump] might be planning his next one right now.

And, speaking of unhinged, I see that Glen Beckkk is leaving Radio Rwanda. I would dance on his gold coins, but Beckkk will make about 30 million next year, so I think he is getting the last laugh. Suckers!

Up in cheese country there is a very important race to put a judge on their Supreme court. It's a very important race because if the conservative wins he will uphold Scott Walker's beat down of the unions and the concept of collective bargaining. It's a close race but the democrat seems to have a small lead and might win th.....hold it! Here is some BREAKING NEWS!

"MADISON, Wis (Reuters) - Officials in Waukesha County on Thursday said a final review of paperwork and other records from this week's closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court election had uncovered thousands of uncounted votes, a potentially stunning development that could upend the contest.

Unofficial returns on Wednesday had given the union-backed challenger in the race, JoAnne Kloppenburg, a narrow 204-vote statewide lead over Republican David Prosser.

But late Thursday, the county clerk in Waukesha, a Republican stronghold, said workers had found 7,582 votes uncounted votes for Prosser. Clerk Kathy Nickolaus said she would hold a press conference at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the discovery." [Source]

You dems could learn a thing or two from these republicans. They will do whatever it takes to win an election. Those workers just happened to find over 7, 582 votes? That's a lot of votes to find. I wonder where they were hiding?

Finally, I have to keep it real and defend a little white boy as hard as I would a little black boy if he had found himself in a similar situation.

WTF is wrong with the po po in Denver? You can't just go around pepper spraying 8 year old kids. He is EIGHT! What was he going to do? Blast you with the wooden wall trim? [Story]

Papa is a rolling stone. (No, not Mick Jagger)

*

Black folks, can we talk? This next subject is a little uncomfortable, but I want to discuss it. Part of my reasons for wanting to tackle it is professional. A great deal of my work is in the domestic relations area, and I truly believe that one of the main reasons for certain pathologies in our community is because of the lack of a cohesive family structure in many of our homes. ( Oh, and by our I mean black folks. I know white folks face the same problems, but I am not interested in them right now. They have a lot of experts and forums where they can address their own issues. )

Anyway, I saw a stat today that had me thinking about this subject: "A new study shows that the rate of American women who have children with multiple fathers, also called "multiple-father family structure," is "pervasive." According to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, 1 in 5 American Moms has kids with different birth fathers. And you probably already know what's next. Black Mothers lead the list: 59 percent of us have children with more than one father, while Hispanics come in second place at 35 percent and whites come in last at 22 percent. " [More]

Now ladies, I see those hole punchers pointing at my head. But please don't shoot the messenger.

I know I know, me...I mean sperm donors are half of the problem. True! They are! So now what?

I need solutions, not the same old finger pointing.

Oh, and before I go. Shout out to the folks at "The Root" for featuring this blog in their "30 Bloggers You Should Know" segment. That was field Negro behavior on their part.

BTW, the thing folks liked the most about this blog is the comments section. That means all of you, the folks who not only lurk but brave the unpredictable and precarious comments section in the fields.

*Pic from AOL blackvoices.com.

This "Path to Prosperity" is littered with landmines.

I was just watching Little Herman Munster's solution to A-merry-ca's budget problems. He calls his blue print "The Path to Prosperity". Little Herman wants to cut six trillion in spending from O's budget. (Because we all know that you black folks don't know how to spend money. I mean how many Cadillacs can you drive?)

Folks, make no mistake, Little Herman is going to give the business to almost 90% of the A-merry-can people to hook up a few of the republican's wealthy friends. (Think Koch brothers)

He says that his plan to...ahem ahem, revise Medicare and Medicaid, won't affect seniors over 55. But there will be some changes. Changes, of course, is a gross understatement. Folks, he would end Medicare and Medicair. (He would actually leave Medicaid to the states, so he would end it on the federal level.) Sorry grandma and grandpa, it's time to brush up on your greeting skills. Wal-Mart loves you guys. As for Social Security? You can kiss that good bye as well.

But, don't worry folks, if we adopt Little Herman's plan jobs will come back because corporations will be flush with cash and...wait, they are flush with cash now; where are the jobs? Anyway, thanks to Little Herman, we will balance the budget and insure that our children have a future...well, at least until we have to fight another war and spend all of our cash defending our shores against those evil Muslims, again.

I read a wonderful article today on the fight between the have and the have- nots in this country (h/t Greg Fuller), and you all would do well to read it as well:

"It’s no use pretending that what has obviously happened has not in fact happened. The upper 1 percent of Americans are now taking in nearly a quarter of the nation’s income every year. In terms of wealth rather than income, the top 1 percent control 40 percent. Their lot in life has improved considerably. Twenty-five years ago, the corresponding figures were 12 percent and 33 percent. One response might be to celebrate the ingenuity and drive that brought good fortune to these people, and to contend that a rising tide lifts all boats. That response would be misguided. While the top 1 percent have seen their incomes rise 18 percent over the past decade, those in the middle have actually seen their incomes fall. For men with only high-school degrees, the decline has been precipitous—12 percent in the last quarter-century alone. All the growth in recent decades—and more—has gone to those at the top. In terms of income equality, America lags behind any country in the old, ossified Europe that President George W. Bush used to deride. Among our closest counterparts are Russia with its oligarchs and Iran. While many of the old centers of inequality in Latin America, such as Brazil, have been striving in recent years, rather successfully, to improve the plight of the poor and reduce gaps in income, America has allowed inequality to grow.." [More]

One thing I didn't hear Little Herman talk about was trying to raise revenue instead of cutting everything in sight. I was thinking that maybe a good way to raise revenue would be to tax some of these corporations and the rich folks who own and run them. I mean if grandma is going to sacrifice a bottle of her trazodone every month, why can't one of these fat- cats sacrifice a country club membership?