Jack & Jill Politics

President Obama could take a lesson from Kucinich. You have to be strong and forceful. I know that Obama's style is diferent, and that he's probably very tenacious in his own way, but this health care debate is ratcheting up, and now's not the time for subtlety and nuance. Like the capo Clemenza said in The Godfather, "it's time to hit the mattresses."

He’ll Always Have Paris
With a few simple words, Michael Jackson’s daughter does more to rescue his legacy than all the sermons and tributes delivered in his memory.
By: Marjorie Valbrun | Posted: July 10, 2009 at 9:50 AM

With a few simple words, Michael Jackson’s daughter does more to rescue his legacy than all the sermons and tributes delivered in his memory.

07/10/2009 09:50

"Ever since I was born, Daddy has been the best father you could ever imagine. And I just wanted to say I love him so much."
—Paris Jackson at the Michael Jackson Memorial

When Paris Katherine Jackson tearfully spoke those 26 words at Michael Jackson’s memorial service, she did more to humanize him than any other speaker at the service. But she also turned on their heads the uncomfortable public conversations Americans have been having these last two weeks about Michael’s complicated relationship with his blackness and black folks’ complicated relationship with him.

Suddenly, once seemingly pertinent questions—Are those children really his? Are they even biracial?—no longer mattered. Well, at least not as much. What mattered was that a child, clearly in pain, stood before 20,000 people and millions of television viewers, and expressed in a profound and simple way that Michael Jackson was her dad, that he loved her and that she loved him. We could see that her love for him was real; that she probably couldn’t care less that he could moonwalk, that he sold millions of albums, that his performances made young girls around the world faint and cry with joy, or that he could probably afford to buy her anything she wanted and probably did.

“… And I just wanted to say I love him so much.” Paris buried her head in Janet Jackson’s chest after uttering these words. Hearts melted. She became everyone’s child. The Jackson group-hug on stage showed a real family in real pain. We all wanted to hug her, to wrap her in a “We Are the World”-type collective embrace.

The sight of a young, white, or cream, or olive, or tan-colored girl—it’s a matter perspective now, I guess—being comforted by her very brown uncles and aunties was something that seemed at once unsettling and perfectly normal. At that moment, I was struck by the thought that perhaps Michael Jackson had finally accomplished, in death, what he’d tried so hard to do throughout much of his life—to blur racial lines, to make them so amorphous that they no longer act as barriers to people seeing each others’ humanity. Maybe it was only in that moment, but what a powerful moment it was and who knows what kind of lasting effect it might have.

I still have to admit that it bothered me that Michael didn’t choose a black woman to bear even one of his children. I know I wasn’t the only one who was disappointed. It was a decision that signaled he had no interest in dark-skinned babies. (And to think I considered myself his secret girlfriend for much of my adolescence.) He sang “It doesn’t matter if you’re black or white,” with such unmitigated joy that you almost believed he meant it, even though you knew better. How could he when he seemed to so badly crave a Eurocentric facial aesthetic, a white visage?

And yet I never doubted Michael loved black people. I just never believed Michael loved his black self. I know, we all know, that the reasons are varied and complex, and we don’t need to belabor them anymore. It’s not like we are going to wipe away those sweet memories of young Michael in bell-bottoms and suede vests belting out “Who’s Loving You?” and “ABC” and “Rockin’ Robin” and other hits with so much heart.

That’s why on Tuesday, with young Paris’ help and hearts heavy with loss, black people had a collective racial reconciliation with Michael and gave him a pass for not being more like his musical hero, James Brown, who told the world in song and deed “I’m Black and I’m Proud.”

Paris being comforted by her black family helped us see that her father had not really “transcended” race—not that most black people believe such a thing is even possible—but that the love he poured into his music and showed his family and friends was truly transcendent. I hope Michael left the world knowing that he was loved by his diehard fans of all colors and nationalities, but that he was especially loved by an extended black family of millions who grew up on his songs and embraced him long before he became world famous and colorless.

Maybe now his tortured soul can finally rest in peace.

Marjorie Valbrun is a regular contributor to The Root.

http://www.theroot.com/views/he-ll-always-have-...

Appeals Court: Fundie Pharmacists MUST fill prescriptions
by Wisper [Subscribe]
Share this on Twitter - Appeals Court: Fundie Pharmacists MUST fill prescriptions Fri Jul 10, 2009 at 11:04:40 AM PDT
Alternative Diary Title: When I want your opinion about Christ Jesus I'll ask for it; in the meantime, FILL MY DAMN PRESCRIPTION!

In a Round One Victory of a number of Right-Wing lawsuits, the 9th Circuit has ruled that pharmicists in Washington CAN NOT withhold service because of personal religious beliefs.

In their own words:

"Any refusal to dispense -- regardless of whether it is motivated by religion, morals, conscience, ethics, discriminatory prejudices, or personal distaste for a patient -- violates the rules," the panel said.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/7/10/752...

this is how I feel....if it offends you to dispense birth control...

then find another job.

I dont even understand how the right managed to get this foolishness to make sense to anybody. Its the JOB! You're a pharmacist! You fill the prescriptions before you!

Can I bitch, JJP family...

HOW COME..one of the BLACK FOLKS at CNN couldn't go to AFRICA WITH THE PRESIDENT?

HOW COME....it's Anderson Cooper?

'Splain to me, people.
'Splain to me.

(sigh)....do we have to explain the "Tarzan" logic to you AGAIN????

no....but, I can still roll my eyes about it....can't I?

Rachel Maddow won't let go about ' The Family'...

GOOD FOR HER!!

I said this about the Family when Hillary ran against Obama and you all gave me the "side eye." I feel vindicated...

Punks jump up to get beat down.

Dennis musta been listenin' to some "middle school" Brand Nubian - Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down

ROFLMAO!

I was waiting for that doctor to start crying. His voice was starting to quiver. LOL

"I don't like your tone, sir..."

He should have answered the question because Kucinich was all up in that ass. LOL

Keep. Joe. Jackson. The. HELL. Away. From. Those. Kids.

Meanwhile, Joe Jackson told ABC that he and his wife, Katherine, should have custody of Michael's three children. "They'll grow up to be strong Jacksons," he said.

He said Michael's daughter, Paris, who spoke at the Tuesday memorial service, was taking the death hard and was crying whenever Michael's name is mentioned. He said that she might have a future in the entertainment business along with the youngest son, nicknamed Blanket, who "can really dance."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/10/lapd-m...

I'm sorry, but if Joe Jackson is in the equation, I DEFINITELY don't want those kids to go to Katherine. He's already having visions of dollar-signs dancing around his head. Ugh. I had a very bad thought as soon as I read that that could probably send me to Hell. Maybe someone should get a restraining order on the kids behalf against Joe Jackson for the kids.

[edit]

"Their grandmother -- Katherine -- and I" should raise them, he said. "Yes, there's no one else to do what we can do for them. We should keep them all together and then make them happy, feed 'em like they're supposed to be fed, and let them get rest, plenty of sleep and grow up to be strong Jacksons."

Joe Jackson, famous for catapulting his sons into superstardom via the Jackson 5, said he already sees signs Michael Jackson's children may someday follow in their father's fast-moving footsteps.

"I don't know -- I keep watching Paris," Joe Jackson said. "She … wants to do something."

"And as far as I can see, well, they say Blanket, he can really dance," he added.

The children have been under the care of Katherine Jackson at the Hayvenhurst compound in Encino since Jackson's June 25 death from apparent cardiac arrest.

But for now the family focus is on grieving for its most famous member and pushing to find out why Michael Jackson died so young, just two months shy of his 51st birthday.

Katherine Jackson, who is gearing up for a custody battle for the three Jackson children, still has a hard time even talking about her seventh child.

"She's taking it real hard," Joe Jackson said. "When you start talking about Michael she starts crying."

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJack...

I really don't like this man. I need him to just sit down somewhere AWAY from the cameras.

Old School Friday: Wedding Songs - Nostalgia For A Time That May Have Passed http://tinyurl.com/mepsg8

ROTFLMAO!

Dennis Kucinich beat that ass. It was a nasty filthy beatdown!
Just a slamming his ass all against the wall! LMAO!

He couldn't come up for air! Whew Lawd!!!!!!!!!!!

Justice, Denny boy kicked docs ass big time. What a pansy... whinning and sulking like a spoiled brat.... Just plain stupid.

Spirit,

He was trying to be a smart ass & but just kept getting pummeled!

Dennis Kucinich jacked him up! rotflmao!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like the part where he went all 6 year old on Kuchinich, take that Rep. Kuchinich! LOL

I have to think David Brooks wished he hadn't opened his mouth but...heeeeeeeeeeeeere we go...remember he said the groping went on during the "ENTIRE DINNER PARTY!" Excuse me....Brooks is a grown man and his lifeline is all about criticizing people and most lately our president, wouldn't you think he could find a way to extricate himself from being groped by a Republican pol unless of course he either liked it or was whoring himself for and "inside" story.

http://chattahbox.com/entertainment/2009/07/10/...

"Brooks described a Washington dinner party, where a certain male Republican Senator (Let the guessing games begin), he refused to name, placed his hand on Brook’s manly inner thigh for an entire dinner party.

Was Brooks afraid of making a scene? Why would he allow the male senator to keep his hand on Brook’s inner thigh for an entire dinner party?

Because he liked it.

Yes!

I just read this on Huf Po. Hilarious. Brookes must have waited to see if that GOP hand was going to brush against his peepee so he could have an actual story.

Maybe it was like the guy who "peed with an an usually wide stance"... LOL
Or maybe the GOP was giving him a sign expecting Brookes to give him the follow up sign.

"Maybe it was like the guy who "peed with an an usually wide stance".

That would be Larry Craig, doing his dirty deeds in our St.Paul/Minneapolis Airport. Ewwwwwwww!!!

I could see the GOP excuse being similar, no? Like "I had no idea I was touching his inner thigh, I thought I was touching is arm. It was an obvious mistake." Then FOX pundits talking about how homophobic the liberal media is and "I have made the same mistake thousands of times!"

Worst thing about Larry Craig (I just didn't want to mention his name and attract trolls, lol) was his supposed lack of awareness about (semi-underground) gay sex culture... yeah right.

I said it elsewhere, but in so many words, was Brooks whoring himself for a story? The guy is an adult...he would know how to signal he wasn't interested...something doesn't add up.

By the way, I want to now know what "stance" Brooks has taken on all other pols infidelities? i.e just how "objective" is/was he?????

Straight men don "signal" their disinterest. They simply beat a nigga's ass for trying them like that.

Now THAT'S a punk.

(Kucinich was my rep for about 3 years while I lived in Cleveland. He's fierce in his service.)

LOL, I love how the doctor tried to be a smart ass when he didn't know the answers and Kuchinich kept telling him the answers. I was almost feeling bad for him until he did that. I thought he was going to cry before that was all over, because he was definitely acting like a big baby.

I love how the guy in the left hand corner is cracking up. LOL!

Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert need to be all over this ~lol~

You AIN'T lying about Jon Stewart needing to be all over it.

Jon Stewart would be brutal! lol

News Alert
08:18 PM EDT Friday, July 10, 2009
AIG in Talks With U.S. Over Another $250 Million in Bonuses
American International Group’s recent discussions with President Obama’s compensation czar have centered on whether the company should pay about $250 million in promised bonuses that come due during the next nine months.


For more information, visit washingtonpost.com

This C-Street saga with Ensign and Sanford is straight out of a Dan Brown novel.

C-Street, The Family or whatever these right wing christian theocratic fascist call themselves need to be called out.Like cockroaches they operate under the cover of darkness and light need to be shine on them so they can be exterminated.

I read quite awhile about 'ole Hillary's involvement in 'The Family.'

Here: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2007/09/hil...

I have been saying this for months but probably not as well as you just said it. The American people are being played for suckers every which way but most don't pay attention enough to get it!

Keep saying it djchefron

The American people are being played for suckers every which way but most don't pay attention enough to get it!
------------------------
Thats the problem.The American people I hate to say it but are one step to being committed to a insane asylum.

If David Brooks had made this comment about a Democratic party member, this story would never be dropped......David Brooks says a Republican senator groped his thigh at a dinner party....Brooks never says what he did about it though!!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WWWIYeS4Q4

What a fucking doofus....

He's the same guy who called Michelle's arms Lightening and Thunder....hmmmm, makes me wonder even more about this one.

I .... I ... I don't even know how to respond to that - Lightening & Thunder.... Still sitting here SMH..... geezzus.

I know, but think about it, his smart ass comments....remember that old thing about "chickens coming home to roost?" well David Brooks now knows what it means. BIG TIME

Hey! He is a republican and it was a free hand job.

BWA HA HA!!!

I give...cracking me up again..

i saw that im like what the hell
i bet Brooks didn't even protest



i wonder was it old Lindsey Graham?

I mean really??? Brooks tells the story with a big fat smile on his face like he didn't even react, did he just sit there until the groper was done. HUH!!!

Now I REALLY wonder about the journalists we have to rely on...do they just submit to any freaking thing to lie to us in the end anyway?

David prob enjoyed that inner thigh tickling
bet his glasses were all steamed up

i bet you it was Lindsey


journalism is gone
just fast talkers

cracking me up!

Kucinich, wiped up the floor with that arrogantsnotnosed whippersnapper...made him feel like the piece of drivel he is! Manhattan Institute ain't nothing but a thinktank for the GOP...they decide what they want policy to be then they go out and produce data to support it.

So Sarah Palin's spokesman is trading barbs with a 19 year old, and apparently the 19 year old is coming off more mature.

Man, wouldn't it be great having Sarah in the White House...NOT!!!

And this woman wants to be taken seriously as a candidate for Prez.

I biggest wish and my biggest fear it the idea that Sarah Palin somehow through an act of the devil (gotta be the devil, cause I just don't think that would be God's work) becomes President.

Biggest wish, cause I would love the the GOP faces when the US becomes an offical laughing stock all around the world!

Biggewst nightmare because these are the 9 most scariest possible words in the English language: President of the United States: Sarah Palin

Even though I don't think a scandal is/was the reason for Sarah Palin's resignation, man I just kinda wish is woulda been. At leasxt that way, I wouldn't have to hear all this crap 'bout how we are underestimating her, or that Obama needs to "watch out". As if Obama gives a damn bout Sarah "Barracudda" Palin

11 year olds Paris Jackson and Malia Obama are more mature that 45 year old Sarah Palin.

WTF is she doing sparring with a NINETEEN (19) YEAR OLD KID?

YTF is she on Facebook and Twitter texting away and updating her status?

Ok, yeah I'm on Facebook but I'm hanging with old HS and college buddies, trading recipes, looking at pictures of people's kids and all our statuses have to do with kids, going on trips, talking about what interesting things happened on the job or recommending movies, restaurants or tipping people off to sales.

NOT having battles with 19 year old kids.

What kind of HS BS is this?

Sarah Palin is childish and vindictive. Look at how she handles every little public disagreement. She makes mean snarky comments, and tries to get her cultists to destroy the person. Hell, in all of this Levi is coming out as the smart/sane one. She just makes herself look worse and worse.

Lynn sweet's got a new hairdo, and she looks like she's been sucking botox.

People better stop fooling around with that botox..something about it just makes me think in 5 years the FDA will be saying "ummm oops"....

Geez, Miranda. Her lips are already as thin as two slabs of baloney.
When she talks her face doesn't move one inch...... a ventriloquist would love to have her around.

why oh why was papa joe talking about michael's kids' talent and future in show business on GMA?!? seriously, he's got to know that should be just about the last thing coming out of his mouth right now!
i'm mad he's even doing interviews at all right now, but to go out there and start talking like a stage grandpa...come on.

We need Sandman to shuffle DapDaddyJoe off the stage.

Will someone tell him to shut up already? He was on CNN just babbling away!

Just be quiet Joe! Geez.

I saw that
why doesn't he just be quiet
and leave them kids alone

GAWD!! You got a link to that circus stint?

I saw the headline on HP, when I link to that this is what comes up, its just a write up:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/10/lapd-m...

Its not that I have a problem with what Joe said here...its that I have a problem with Joe saying anything, anytime and anyplace. This man is worse than O.J.....just dont know when to go somewhere and sit down and shut up. He is stubborn as a mule and I can guarantee you that nobody can tell him shit. No one in the family at this point should be speaking to the media with all that's still left up in the air at this time...least of all speculating on these children and their future....good grief, Joe refuses to go quietly - he just determined to make folks roll their eyes at him.

It appears the only one in that family who had the power to keep Joe under lock and key is dead and gone. Notice you ain't heard a peep out of Joe for like 30 years. Now MJ is dead and no one can control him. Janet better woman up and shut Joe down for the sake of those kids and her own career.

"He is stubborn as a mule and I can guarantee you that nobody can tell him shit."

There's one of these kinds of fools in every family...... just will not go gently into that good night....

It's hard out there for a pimp.

Anyone watching the Ed Show right now? Damn, Bush called John Ashcroft's wife to harrass her too while her husband is heavily sedated?? She should have cussed his ass out - soulless mickyficks so hellbent on doing wrong they didnt give a shit if the man was dying while signing those wiretapping authorization papers

Yep, they had to call his wife to get permission to see Ashcroft, because his health status was so poor. Gonzales and them went to Ashcroft's bedside and tried to get him to sign some pissy document that Ashcroft refused to sign...as his ASST AttyG he had left in charge had to declined to sign, so Gonzales and them thought they could go over his head to a man in critical condition...Ashcroft had pancreatititis so bad..it was not funny..he almost died.

Aww snap!! Dennis beat that $#@% all about the head and neck. That dude had the nerve to get all pissy. Other than the baseball players, I've never seen a witness act so pissy in a hearing. Go Kucinich!!

flypmedia does zap mama. . .
http://www.flypmedia.com/issues/plus/12/#1/1

let your heart and soul travel beyond the troubles. .

She's trippy! I could develop a girl crush for her. She would be hella fun to hang out with!!

Nice...... love flypmedia.