The fried chicken candidate.

"There are no automatics in life that all black people are going to support a single black candidate in a race...All black folks don't eat fried chicken or eat watermelon..."

That was my Mayor, Michael Nutter, talking about how some black folks are giving him the fuzzy eye ball because of his support of the "O" man. Indeed my Mayor is one of the more high profile African American leaders supporting the "Ice Queen" these days. It has put him front and center into the national spotlight, and has made him a must get for many media outlets who want to hear from one of the five black people in A-merry-ca who don't support the "O" man.

Now I happen to love fried chicken ( I will kill for some Popeye's), but I can't stand watermelon. And I suspect that there are some black folks who love watermelon but can't stand fried chi.....I take that back, I don't think there is a black person in A-merry-ca who doesn't love fried chicken. So you are wrong Mike, all black folks do like fried chicken. So think of the "O" man as your political fried chicken. Black folks love the guy, and as he gets closer to the White House , they are going to love him even more.

I suspect though, that my Mayor doesn't really care about that because I really don't think he has aspirations for a higher political office. And if he does, he won't need a majority black vote to get it. My Mayor has always gotten a lot of love from educated white folks and just enough of the black vote here in Philly to make him politically viable. That won't stop now, and he knows it. So why not take a shot and support the "Ice Queen"? I also suspect that there is some political pay back at work here. The "O" man supported Nutter's opponent, Chaka Fattah, in the last Mayor's race, and I don't think Mike has forgotten that.

Still, I am going to upset some of you Obamaholics and say that Mayor Nutter has every right to support the Ice Queen if he thinks that she is the best candidate. And like he said, why don't white folks ask Teddy Kennedy why he is supporting Obama and not the white candidate? You are right Mike, we don't all have to like fried chicken and watermelon, and people shouldn't expect us to. You are free to like your chicken baked, and mangoes instead of melons. But it would be nice if we got a really good reason why you are supporting lady Hillary. Especially since we know that our Governor and the rest of the party machine is supporting her. It would help if you were just honest and up front with us and told us that you were supporting her because it's the shrewed political thing to do. I don't like watermelon because of all the seeds, and for some reason it always makes my stomach feel funny when I eat it. So why doesn't my Mayor like the "O"man ? He says he likes Hillary because she understands the "tough issues facing America's cities". But does she really? To believe that, you really have to be wearing blinders. Honestly, I think that my Mayor hedged his bet a little too early. He jumped on the Hillary bandwagon and can't jump off now. To his credit, he has stuck with with his guns, and he is staying on the good ship Hillary no matter what.

All I can say Mike is that if the "O" man wins you better make up with him fast. I don't want my beloved city to suffer because of your poor political calculations. You better send him some cheese steaks, soft pretzels, and season tickets to the Sixer's games (I hear he loves his B ball). If that doesn't work, you might want to consider some fried chicken from Delilah's. I bet he likes fried chicken like the rest of us.

I can't suspend my disbelief

“I stood in line for a very long time that night to shake his hand. And he was gracious, and he was kind to lean over to shake the hand of a 14-year-old girl ... from the suburbs of Chicago, who went to an all-white church and an all-white school, and lived in an all-white suburb. But he didn’t ask me, as I reached out my hand, ‘Where do you live, what is your experience?’ He just took it and looked in my face and thanked me for coming.”
"He even laughed uproariously when I confessed that I was, nevertheless, a staunch Republican and a Goldwater supporter."

I hate piling on, but Hillary and these convenient recollections are starting to get to me. Why do politricksters do that? Why do they have to personalize every tragedy and event to find a connection to it? Does Hillary, for instance, think that black folks are all of a sudden going to vote for her because she shook MLK's hand when she was a little girl? What the fuck is that all about?

"But he didn't ask me, as I reached out my hand..." Huh? Like what the hell was he going to ask you? Assuming this story is true-- and there is a very strong possibility that it might not be-- , are we to believe that King was wondering where this little 14 year old girl lived, and whether she was from an all white neighborhood and went to an all white school? Are you fucking kidding me Hillary? Here is a little newsflash for you my former "Goldwater Girl": damn near every little 14 year old white girl went to an all white school and lived in an all white neighborhood back then. So assuming again it's true, what made your situation so special?

I keep saying assuming it's true, because something about Hillary's account just bugs the hell out of me. Has anyone ever heard Hillary tell this story before? Anybody?........ yeah I didn't think so. You would think she would have mentioned this story somewhere to somebody. To a friend, a colleague, at a previous King event. Somewhere.

Again, I don't want to pile on, Hillary has been having a tough few days and the last thing I want to do is add to her misery. Honestly, I don't dislike the Ice Queen as much as some of you Obamaholics, but it seems that the Ice Queen has been stretching the truth just a little bit lately.

"I walked into my dorm room and took my book bag and hurled it across the room."

Okay Hillary, those were rough times for all of us. But did they even have "book bags" in 1968?

I am just sayin :)

In Praise of Philly.

"I don't know what it is but I just never got the vibe. Field if you would or if you have summed up that which is black Philly point me in the right direction"


That quote from a commenter,"pamalicious", (who has a pretty *nice blog by the way) got me thinking, and inspired this post.



What is it about Philly that I love so much? I know I am always ripping my hometown, and lord knows I talk about more negative shit than positive (my running Killadelphia murder count is a good example), but honestly, I love my hometown. For every reason I can give you to hate the place I can give you two to love it.




"Pamelicous" says her Mom still lives here and she is dying to get her out. My question to her would be why? If her Mom has been here all of her life she probably understands the city,and what makes it tick. To love Philly you have to understand it. It's why most outsiders don't get it. It's why they look at the old buildings, the trash, the grime, and say get me out of here. They look at some of our old stark and bleak looking city blocks, that look like an old Eastern European City, and they wonder, what gives?




Here is the deal: Philadelphia has a soul like no other city in A-merry-ca. I know because I have traveled and spent some time in damn near every large city in this country. And none of them, not Los Angeles, not Chicago, not Houston, not D.C., not Atlanta, have Philly's soul. Notice I excluded New Orleans from that list, because they do have Phily's soul. That is (or at least it was before Bush's storm) a real city. I worked in L.A. (first job out of undergrad), and with all due respect to my man Cobb and the other Angelistas, L.A. is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there anymore. Too far from shit, too much smog, and too many phonies. Atlanta? I know it's supposed to be the new black mecca but it's just not my cup of tea either. Too new, too shallow, and too close to the rest of Georgia. And although I do love cities like Houston and Miami, I am sorry, they are just too damn hot and sticky for my taste (I don't live in Jamaica now for a reason ).




Give me my adopted home town of Philly right here in the Northeast corridor. When you think Philly, you think Philadelphia International, Doctor J, the Liberty Bell, Cheese Steaks, and the Declaration of Independence. But Philly is so much more. For instance, I am a couple hours from D.C., just an hour and change from New York (two cities, by the way, which I happen to love). I can drive to the beach (or as we say here in Philly, the shore) in an hour, I can drive to the beautiful Pocono Mountains in about the same time, and I can catch a direct flight home to Jamaica or damn near any city in the world, right out of Philly International Airport.


There is so much untapped potential here that it's scary to think about. Hundreds of first class universities within a stones throw of each other. Including three of America's best; Penn, Swarthmore, and Princeton. I could go on and on. A world class arts program and orchestra, great restaurants, a diverse international community, five sports teams, big five basketball, unique neighborhoods, each with their own vibe.-- If you ever come to Philly make it a point to go to Manayunk. You will think you are in some quaint German Village in the Bavarian mountains--- South street, our Avenue of the Arts, (screw Broadway) The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, which is a pretty damn good knock off of the Champ De Elys in Paris. Great Jazz (Coltrane made his home here). Our Mural program is a must see in the neighborhoods, Boathouse row (sorry Baaastan, the Cambridge doesn't have shit on the Schuylkill), you get the idea.



Now there is bad shit too. The people here can be pretty edgy with very high bullshit detectors. Most of our white folks here come from three major ethnic groups, and they have zero liberal guilt. They don't think they had a damn thing to do with slavery, and they damn sure aren't going to be sympathetic to black folks and our struggle because we happen to look a little different. They will tell you how white folks really feel about us black folks, and I like that. Many of them are poor just like us black folks are. (Philly is the first place that I saw a white bum in A-merry-ca) They struggle for shit just like we do, and they fight us for their piece of the pie with unapologetic openness.


People who live and breathe this city get all of that. We understand the nuances of the people, and we love it. When we step outside the door every day we know what to expect. We know where we can and can't go, and we know what it takes to survive here. In many ways, Philly is like a Third World Country. (Which is probably why I love it so much). There is great wealth, and great poverty, and if you know the right people, you can get damn near anything done that you want to. The political parties are the biggest employers, and the taxes are high. But every Philadelphian understands that, and we chalk it up to cost of doing business. None of that self righteousness that you see in other cities. Here, we are corrupt, and we know it. And as long as our politicians deliver the goods, they will get elected every time.


I know I talk about them like dogs from time to time, but I love the people here. I wouldn't want to pick a jury anywhere else, because I understand them, and they know that. We have a trust factor with each other than only someone who has lived here and connected with the city can understand.


So "pamalicious", I hoped that helped. There is so much more, but in order to experience it and really feel it, you have to live it. Next time you come to Philly to visit your Mom shoot me an e-mail, and I will try to make a little of that happen for you.


Mayor Nutter I will be expecting a check soon.

*The blog I featured earlier on the link was "Mamalicious" and not "Pamalicious".

Sorry for the mix up ladies :(

Give him some credit.

I have to give it to Mr. Morton, it took big ones to show up in live and living color to the King celebration yesterday in Memphis. He stood up, spoke, and apologized for voting against the King Holiday in the early eighties. He knew that he would be booed by some of the folks there (and he was), but he stepped in and let the chips fall where they may. Good for him for showing an independent streak. (Maybe Chris is right about the guy)

Of course, you really have to love the fact that some rethuglicans were losing their minds. "Why did he have to do that? Don't people realize that when he voted against the King Holiday it was for economic reasons? We didn't need yet another paid federal holiday at the time. Two of our greatest Presidents (Lincoln and Washington) have to share a day (President's Day) why does King have to get one all by himself?" I am sure that quite a few people in that camp wanted to just pull Mr. Morton by whatever hair he has left, and just smack the hell out of him. And some liberals were up in arms too. The guy voted against the King Holiday in 1983, and they don't want him to forget it. Those liberals; always willing to score political points on the backs of their most loyal constituents.

Look, I know there is still probably a chance that he did it for political reasons ---Probably. Because you really have to wonder if he runs against Barack or Hillary if he could possibly get more than 5% of the black vote ---. But I will give him the benefit of the doubt on this one. He said he was sorry and he realized that he was on the wrong side of history. And the guy said that he is going after the black vote and not giving any quarter to the dems. I suspect that if the nominee is Hillary, and she uses some nefarious means to get it, Mr. Morton could be looking at double digits from the colored folks.

But there are still quite a few A-merry-cans who are on that side, the wrong side. So Mr. Morton might actually lose some white votes by reaching out to us colored folks. I don't think they realize how important King was to this country. At a time when most blacks were fed up with the so called A-merry-can dream, and were about to do something about it by any means necessary; King was telling us (black folks) that we are a part of the A-merry-can melting pot, and that this country could not be truly great until all of its citizens could participate in building it. The thought of a non violent movement in this country was unheard of. When had A-merry-cans ever achieved anything without violence? Never! So the idea of a non-violent movement was groundbreaking. Adopting the strategy that Gandhi used against the British in colonial India,worked. Embarrassing A-merry-cans into living up tho the ideals that they liked to brag about so much.

I will also cut Mr. Morton a little slack, because he was kind of preoccupied when the civil rights movement was reaching its apex and A-merry-ca's cities were exploding. The other folks, well, they don't get any slack. All A-merry-cans should be thankful for King. But they treat him as if he is a black A-merry-can hero and not simply an A-merry-can one.

So good for you Mr. Morton, I am glad you have seen the light. Now let's just hope that you can lead some of your right wing friends to it.

Too close for comfort.

I know folks here in Philly have a certain reputation for being bad asses. There is nothing brotherly about this city. We can be crude obnoxious, and downright ignorant at times.

So I was not surprised to see the "O" man confronted on a South Philly street by one of our own the other day. Honestly, it's the first time that I ever saw the "O" man actually lose his cool. " I won't be smiling. Because you're wearing me out". But Philly folks will do that to you---cause you to lose your cool---hell we booed Santa Claus for crying out loud!

What did surprise me when the "O" man was confronted by that overzealous picture seeker, was the behaviour of the people who are paid to protect him. I mean how the hell did the guy get so close to the "O" man for so long in the first place? I am sorry, the secret service agents just weren't as zealous as I have seen them in the past. In fact, I don't think I would be out of line if I said that they were damn near negligent. Which begs the question: (You know what I am going to ask next). Why this type of treatment for the "O" man? Would these agents, who are sworn to protect him, really put their own lives on the line to save the Senator from Illinois? Hmmmmmm, I am not so sure.

Hey, all I can say is thank goodness that all that obnoxious man in Philadelphia wanted was a picture. What if he had wanted infamy? What if he wanted to save A-merry-ca from getting its first black President? I am telling you, it could have gotten really ugly in South Philadelphia.

Thankfully it didn't. The guy was an obnoxious jerk, not a killer.

But did the secret service know that? I sure hope they did.

BLACKS ONLY

If you are white and you are about to read this post, stop! Do not read anymore. This post is for black folks only.......

Okay, I am not serious, this post is not actually going to be for only black folks, but I am trying to make a point here.

A judge in Atlanta recently threw everyone out of his courtroom (everyone meaning the mostly white lawyers), because he wanted to lecture the black defendants who made up 99% of the defendants who were in his room that day. Now his Honor is catching a lot of heat from folks in some quarters, and they are crying reverse racism. "How would he like it if a white Judge kicked every black person out of his court room because he wanted to lecture all of the white defendant." Personally, I wouldn't feel bad at all. Especially if all the white defendants in the court room were a bunch of juvenile delinquents who I was sick of seeing in my court room, and all the lawyers who were charged to defend them were a bunch of black guys.

I honestly understand where the good Judge was coming from. I can't tell you how many days I sat in a courtroom and had to see black defendant after black defendant being brought in to face the wrath of a white Judge, while being defended by a white lawyer. And for the record, I have seen black Judges lecture black defendants in ways that white Judges could not. And you know what, I don't have a problem with that. In many cases that will be the first time that any of them will have had to listen to a stern word or form of admonishment from a black male. So good for the Judge.

"But field how would you feel if you were a White person and the Judge kicked you out." Well, I would hope that I would be like the white folks who come to this blog. I really wouldn't care at all. Because I would understand that the Judge was frustrated and that there were certain sensitivities that only he could speak to. Now from a strictly legal point, I would probably have some issues. I would certainly want to make sure that my case was not being prejudiced in any way. But hey, that's what motions and appeals are for. Besides, the Judge told CNN that he was probably wrong to handle the situation the way he did. But sometimes we get frustrated and you know what, I can relate.

"In retrospect, it was a mistake, "Because my sheriff said to me, 'Judge, that message should be given to everybody' -- 'Don't violate the law, make something out of yourself, go to school, find a role model, somebody that will help you advance your life.'"

No it wasn't Judge, desperate times call for desperate measures. Unfortunately certain people in this country will always pin nefarious motives to situations such as this where race is involved. "Yeah you gotta watch this blacks, they stick together. He might be telling all those defendants not to worry, that he is going to give them all light sentences. See, that's why we shouldn't give them any power, they always abuse it". Give me a break!

Good for you Judge. I hope you gave everyone of those knuckle heads a good talking to. And if they even acted like they didn't want to listen, I hope you literally threw the book at them.

40 years later.

"The great civil-rights leader was besieged from all directions that season. Estranged from the White House for his stand against the war in Vietnam. Ridiculed by young blacks who thought him out of touch with the new militancy of guns and separatism. Tormented from within by depression, fatigue and a haunting presentiment of his own death.

In Memphis, death had already come.

Sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker had climbed into the back of one of the old garbage trucks to get out of the rain. But as the vehicle rumbled along, the hydraulic ram that compacted the trash started on its own. Cole and Walker were crushed. Just like garbage.

The men had complained for years about that truck in particular, about raggedy, malfunctioning old trucks in general. The city never listened. Now it gave each man's widow one month's salary — likely less than $300 — added $500 apiece, and called it square. Burial expenses alone were $900 a man.

'They felt a garbage man wasn't nothing,' Nickelberry said. 'And they figured they could treat us any way they wanted to treat us."'

~~Leonard Pitts, Miami Herald~~

As we approach the 40th anniversary of that terrible and tragic day in A-merry-ca's history, let's not forget why Dr. King was in Memphis in the first place. He was there fighting for economic justice for trash collectors in the city of Memphis. Fighting a battle for people who were down trodden, overlooked and spit on by a city, and the white power structure that ran it.

But make no mistake, 40 years later, not much has changed. As I look around my hometown of Philadelphia, I can see the look of despair and hopelessness in the faces of the working poor. Mothers who have to take the bus to the suburbs in order to take care of wealthy old white women and clean up their shit. Or old men who have to work in $7 an hour security guard jobs in the most dangerous parts of our city to supplement their meager social security checks.

So while Tom Brokaw runs around doing the television circuit, and profiting from King's death with his pabulum filled books and television specials. And while we as A-merry-cans stick out our chests because we have our first black Presidential candidate with a shot at winning the big house. Just remember that there is unspeakable shit happening in our cities every day, and it's looking more and more like Dr. King's dream will never be realized.

Oh well, back to the party: "YES WE CAN", "YES WE CAN", YES WE CAN".

When in Rome....

I caught glimpses on the television today of the "O" man's embarrassing performance in an Altoona bowling alley. At first it seemed amusing, and it seemed to humanise him a bit. But now, after listening to pundits, and seeing the reaction it has been getting from a certain segment of our population (blue collar working class whites), the shit isn't looking so funny anymore. Maybe it's because the "O" man is a lefty like moi, but I really felt sorry for the guy watching him make that weak (how is that woozie?) ass south paw roll straight into the gutter. "The audacity of hope"? No, how about the audacity to roll a 36?

I mean, come on "O" man, a 36? Seriously folks, this shit is not funny, this might actually cost the "O" man some votes with this crowd. "My economic plan is better than my bowling". "It has to be". Hey, what can I tell you, they love their bowling in Western Pennsylvania. It's a white thing Negroes you wouldn't understand it. I wish the "O" man understood it before he stuck his fingers in the holes of that bowling ball. Did you see how those people were looking? I guarantee you that they didn't think it was funny. I bet they were thinking; what kind of President can't even break double out of digits in seven frames at the old bowling alley? I bet Hillary could beat a 36, and maybe even roll a strike or two. I know one thing, the Ice Queen would have been taking bowling lessons from PBA touring pros before she even set foot in a bowling alley. It's all about planning "O" man.

Anyway, I caught Chaka Fattah tonight on Spitball, and he swears that when the "O" man comes to Philly he is going to play a little pick up ball on one of our playgrounds. Now I hear that the "O" man can ball a little bit. (Hell his brother in law is the coach at Brown) That's cool, but white folks already expect one of us to be able to play some hoops. Still, if he can really handle the rock and do some damage under the net, you never know. Maybe they will actually catch him on camera not making a fool of himself this time. Although knowing Philly hoops the way that I do, he better be careful. He already might lose some of the bowler vote with his lack of skills, lord knows he can't afford to lose the basketball crowd as well by getting schooled on a Philly playground. Especially during March Madness when everyone has the basketball jones.

"O" man, I just hope that you are working on your mid range J.

Victimized twice.

Hello?

Yes, Hi, Mrs. Johnson, this is Bob from ICF International.

IC what?

ICF mam, I am calling from ICF.

Bob, what is ICF?

We are a collections agency mam, we are calling about a debt that you owe us.

A debt? I don't owe any debts. I am 65 years old, and am just now getting back on my feet after the Katrina storms wiped out my home and took my husband from me.

Yes, sorry to hear about that mam, but according to our records you owe us $35,000.

$35,000? Oh Lord how do I owe you that much money? I have to sit down, I feel kind of *weak. I have been really sick ever since I have been living in one of them FEMA trailers.

Well mam, did you receive a grant to help rebuild your home?

Yes I did, the government gave me that grant to get back on my feet after the storm wiped out my home.

Yes mam, but you were overpaid by $35,000, so we will need that amount back.

Overpaid? I used every penny you gave me to try and rebuild my home.

Sorry mam, our records indicate that you received too much.

But nobody told me that...

Didn't you read the forms on your "Road Home" grant mam?

Yes I did, I thought the Governor of Louisiana was giving us this money to help us rebuild?

No mam, when you received the money you signed a form that said you must repay it.

Well sorry, I don't see too well.

Yes mam, I am sorry to hear that. So when can we expect a payment?

Okay, that was a fictional exchange between a bill collector and Katrina survivor. But if you read the latest news about how the poor Katrina victims are being screwed again by the A-merry-can government, you wouldn't think it's so fictional.

Now these poor people, after finally trying to rebuild their lives, have to suffer the indignity of having bill collectors call them to repay a loan that should never have been a loan in the first place. The $11 billion that the feds invested into the "Road Home" program represents a few days in Iraq. And the assholes who run the program stand to earn a cool $912 million. I have an idea; how about you assholes cut $175 million from your contract and and forgive the victims who over paid your sorry asses?

Honestly, I think Kanye West might have been right.

*Thanks woozie ;)

Obamaholics watch your backs.

You Obamaholics, I swear.

Now look, I am not a big conspiracy guy. I think man did land on the moon, that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone, and that we have never been visited by little green men from outer space.

But then my man Anthony sent me an e-mail about the "Ice Queen" and Bubba....and, well, all I can say is that I am going to watch what I write about girlfriend from now on.

Here is the list:

"1-James McDougal - Clinton's convicted Whitewater partner died of an apparent heart attack, while in solitary confinement.He was a key witness in Ken Starr's investigation.2 -Mary Mahoney - A former White House intern was murdered July 1997 at a Starbucks Coffee Shop in Georgetown . The murder happened just after she was to go public with her story of sexual harassment in the White House.3- Vince Foster - Former White House counselor and colleague of Hillary Clinton at Little Rock's Rose Law firm. Died of a gunshot wound to the head, ruled a suicide.4- Ron Brown - Secretary of Commerce and former DNC Chairman. Reported to have died by impact in a plane crash. A pathologist close to the investigation reported that there was a hole in the top of Brown's skull resembling a gunshot wound. At the time of his death Brown was being investigated, and spoke publicly of his willingness to cut a deal with prosecutors. The rest of the people on the plane also died. A few days later the air Traffic controller committed suicide.5- C. Victor Raiser II- Raiser, a major player in the Clinton fundraising organization died in a private plane crash in July 1992.6-Paul Tulley - Democratic National Committee Political Director found dead in a hotel room in Little Rock , September 1992.Described by Clinton as a "Dear friend and trusted advisor".7-Ed Willey - Clinton fund raiser, found dead November,1993 deep in the woods in VA of a gunshot wound to the head. Ruled a suicide. Ed Willey died on the same day his wife Kathleen Willey claimed Bill Clinton groped her in the oval office in the White House. Ed Willey was involved in several Clinton fund raising events.8-Jerry Parks -Head of Clinton's gubernatorial security team in Little Rock . Gunned down in his car at a deserted intersection outside Little Rock . Park's son said his father was building a dossier on Clinton . He allegedly threatened to reveal this information. After he died the files were mysteriously removed from his house.9-James Bunch - Died from a gunshot suicide. It was reported that he had a "Black Book" of people which contained names of influential people who visited prostitutes in Texas and Arkansas.10-James Wilson - Was found dead in May 1993 from an apparent hanging suicide. He was reported to have ties to Whitewater.11-Kathy Ferguson- Ex-wife of Arkansas Trooper Danny Ferguson, was found dead in May 1994, in her living room with a gunshot to her head. It was ruled a suicide even though there were several packed suit cases, as if she were going somewhere. Danny Ferguson was a co-defendant along with Bill Clinton in the Paula Jones lawsuit. Kathy Ferguson was a possible corroborating witness for Paula Jones.12-Bill Shelton - Arkansas State Trooper and fiance of Kathy Ferguson. Critical of the suicide ruling of his fiance, he was found dead in June,1994 of a gunshot wound also ruled a suicide at the grave site of his fiance.13-Gandy Baugh - Attorney for Clinton's friend Dan Lassater, died by jumping out a window of a tall building January, 1994.His client was a convicted drug distributor.14-Florence Martin - Accountant & sub-contractor for the CIA, was related to the Barry Seal Mena Airport drug smuggling case. He died of three gunshot wounds.15- Suzanne Coleman - Reportedly had an affair with Clinton when he was Arkansas Attorney General. Died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head, ruled a suicide. Was pregnant at the time of her death.16-Paula Grober - Clinton 's speech interpreter for the deaf from 1978until her death December 9, 1992. She died in a one car accident.17-Danny Casolaro - Investigative reporter. Investigating Mena Airport and Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He slit his wrists,apparently, in the middle of his investigation.18- Paul Wilcher - Attorney investigating corruption at Mena Airport with Casolaro and the 1980 "October Surprise" was found dead on a toilet June22, 1993 in his Washington DC apartment. Had delivered a report to Janet Reno 3 weeks before his death.19-Jon Parnell Walker - Whitewater investigator for Resolution Trust Corp. Jumped to his death from his Arlington ,Virginia apartment balcony August 15, 1993. He was investigating the Morgan Guaranty scandal.20-Barbara Wise - Commerce Department staffer. Worked closely with Ron Brown and John Huang. Cause of death unknown. Died November 29, 1996. Her bruised, nude body was found locked in her office at the Department of Commerce.21-Charles Meissner -Assistant Secretary of Commerce who gave John Huang special security clearance, died shortly thereafter ina small plane crash.22-Dr. Stanley Heard - Chairman of the National Chiropractic Health Care Advisory Committee died with his attorney Steve Dickson in a small plane crash. Dr. Heard, in addition to serving on Clinton's advisory council personally treated Clinton's mother, stepfather and brother.23-Barry Seal -Drug running pilot out of Mena Arkansas, death was no accident.24-Johnny Lawhorn Jr. - Mechanic, found a check made out to Bill Clinton in the trunk of a car left at his repair shop. He was found dead after his car had hit a utility pole.25-Stanley Huggins - Investigated Madison Guaranty.His death was a purported suicide and his report was never released.26- Hershe ll Friday - Attorney and Clinton fundraiser died March 1, 1994when his plane exploded.27-Kevin Ives & Don Henry - Known as "The boys on the track" case. Reports say the boys may have stumbled upon the Mena, Arkansas airport drug operation. A controversial case, the initial report of death said,due to falling asleep on railroad tracks. Later reports claim the 2 boys had been slain before being placed on the tracks. Many linked to the case died before their testimony could come before a Grand Jury.THE FOLLOWING PERSONS HAD INFORMATION ON THEIVES/HENRY CASE:28-Keith Coney - Died when his motorcycle slammed into the back of a truck, 7/88.29-Keith McMaskle - Died stabbed 113 times, Nov, 1988.30-Gregory Collins - Died from a gunshot wound January1989.31-Jeff Rhodes - He was shot, mutilated and found burned in a trash dump in April 1989.33-James Milan - Found decapitated. However, the Coroner ruled his death was due to "natural causes".34-Jordan Kettleson - Was found shot to death in the front seat of his pickup truck in June 1990.35-Richard Winters - A suspect in the Ives / Henry deaths. He was killed in a set-up robbery July 1989.THE FOLLOWING CLINTON BODYGUARDS ARE DEAD:36 -Major William S. Barkley Jr.37-Captain Scott J . Reynolds.38-Sgt. Brian Hanley. 39-Sgt. Tim Sabel. 40-Major General William Robertson. 41-Col. William Densberger. 42-Col. Robert Kelly. 43-Spec. Gary Rhodes. 44-Steve Willis. 45-Robert Williams. 46-Conway LeBleu. 47-Todd McKeehan. "

Hillary, I take back all the bad shit that I ever said about you. I didn't mean "nothing" by it. I am just a dumb field Negro who likes to talk shit on his blog.

Fieldisms

"Field I think I would really like your blog if I understood what you were saying half the time. Like what the hell is WSZ?"

~~White colleague to the field~~

Okay, I understand that when it comes to writing, I am lazy, dyslexic, and selfish. And unless you are a regular to the fields, some of the words that I use can seem downright perplexing.

So in order to make my blog more readable to certain folks who visit the site, I have prepared a little list of fieldisms for you.

Let's start with WSZ-That would be a "white safety zone". I use this to refer to parts of Killadelphia that our city fathers really really want to keep crime free. This would be areas such as Center City, where all of our tourist tend to go. Another example of a WSZ would be Chestnut Hill, where there are some very expensive homes, and where some very important people live. Important meaning rich and white of course.

The frat boy-That would be our president. Because life seems to be one big party to him. While the world and our country goes to hell in a hand basket; all he does is grin and talk as if he is wasted all the time.

Mr. Morton-John McCain because he is always salty.

A-merry-ca-Is what I call this beautiful country we live in. I spell it that way because the pursuit of happiness and being happy is so important to us.

field Negro-Once again white folks, being a field Negro is not a bad thing to most critical thinking black people. Now of course some of us don't like that name; they would be known as house Negroes.

Patio Negro-A Negro who can't make up his mind if he is a house Negro or a field Negro. A Negro that can move between two worlds.

dumbocrat- A dumbocrat belongs to the party with the donkey in A-merry-ca's two party system.

rethuglican-A rethuglican belongs to that other political party; the one with the elephant.

The "O" man-That would be Barry Obama. This guy has achieved rock start status in A-merry-ca and is also *this* close to being the first black president of these divided states. "O" man just seems so rock star, and so popular culture. You know, kind of like K-Fed, or J-Lo.

Obamaholics-Just tune in to this site on any given day and you will see signs of these rabid devoted "O" man lovers. They have been injected with some kind of secret potion which has given them this laser like focus in getting the "O" man elected president. I know one thing, if he does win, he owes his presidency to them.

O-Aid-That's the secret potion that they give to the Obamaholics.

Mrs. Field-That would be the President and CEO of Field Inc.

Cousin-Black folks I know you already know this, but just hang with me while I explain it to my white friends. My cousin is every other black person in A-merry-ca. So if I say I went to a store full of my cousins....

12% rule-This is a little complicated. But I explained it in a post here.

Fam.-Again cousins, I know you know this one, but let me just explain it to the white folks. Fam. is short for family. And I usually use it to refer to one of my cousins that I like.

The bad perm lady has been retired-In the past I used it to refer to Condi Rice, (My current FNOTD) but after the Don Imus comments about the young ladies from Rutgers, I vowed never to refer to Secretary Rice that way again.

Fuzzy eyeball-This is an evil look or a hard stare.

That's just some of the fieldisms that I like to use. You will find that the regulars to the fields also bring their own unique words and expressions here as well. Pistolvania, and republi-klans comes to mind) I really can't help you with those. But I will say that they are usually pretty good.

**I want to thank James Collier over at Acting White blog for that illustration of the field. My man has some skills.