Jack & Jill Politics

That Diana Ross/Brandy melodrama - Double Platinum - is on TVOne right now.

Well, Rikyrah, guess I'll try to redirect this discussion on another day because this fight is on and poppin' tonight!!!
LMAO!
Scratch, scratch
M-e-o-w!!

I swear, EVERYTIME Blacks and Class come up, it's a barroom brawl up in here!

LOL

In the words of Dana...

Stop that!! lol

You ain't neva lied on that one!

Or the whole issue of skin color and black people. WHEW!!!

Or HEY, what about American born black folk and folks from the diaspora. One example being what a friend of mine calls herself -- Jamerican, as in Jamaican-American, which she makes a very clear distinction of being different from African American. Wooooo.

On and poppin'!!!

I admire her for it....

from your Native American friend....Angelar

Speaking of Diana Ross, I just bought a book today about the Supremes written by Mark Ribowsky. I will start reading tomorrow, but, the book flag says "Ribowsky spares no detail in revealing the astounding saga of both Ross's successful rise to the top and Ballard's tragic fall, exposing the real story behind her firing and her sudden death at age thirty two after a battle with depression, alcohol, and drugs. "

I meant to say I have always been a HUGE fan of the Supremes.

TIME TO GET READY FOR CHANGE TO COME TO AMERICA--MONDAY @ 10AM
Be there or Be Square!!


FACT: Chief Justice John Roberts was confirmed 72 days after his designation, despite a one-week delay in the start of the hearings due to Hurricane Katrina, the passing of Chief Justice Rehnquist, and his re-nomination to be Chief Justice.

Seventy-two days from the date of Judge Sotomayor’s designation is August 6 – before the Senate recess for August.

John Roberts (2005)
DAY 1 – Designation (July 19)
DAY 8 – Questionnaire Sent (July 27)
DAY 13 – Questionnaire Returned (Aug. 1)
DAY 48 – Hearing Set to Begin (Sept. 6) *Delay due to passing of Chief Justice Rehnquist and Hurricane Katrina
DAY 72 – Senate Confirmation *17 days after hearing

Sonia Sotomayor (2009)
DAY 1 – Designation (May 26)
DAY 2 – Questionnaire Sent (May 27)
DAY 9 – Questionnaire Returned (June 4)
DAY 48 – Hearing Set to Begin (July 13)
DAY 72 – August 6


THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE'S CAST OF CHARACTERS DEBUTS AL FRANKEN!!


Visually, they'll be grouped like this: Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy and Sotomayor at center stage facing each other. Eleven other Senate Democrats — nine white men, two white women — will sit to the audience's right, eager to help Sotomayor defend herself against any conservative charges. Their mandate: do no harm to her overwhelming prospects for taking over retired Justice David Souter's seat on the nine-member court.

On the audience's left — but to the right on your scorecard — will be seven white male Republican senators with a delicate task: respectfully challenging the Latina nominee — on crutches, recovering from a broken ankle — without alienating women or Hispanics.

And try to do it while facing two visible reminders of the GOP's rout in the 2008 elections.

Seated at the end of the Democratic side will be Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, until this year a Republican, and Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., the former TV comedian making his Senate debut.

One of the minority witnesses is David Rivkin, Esq., Partner, Baker Hostetler . Can't stand this fucker. Saw him a lot on the discussion centering around torture; he's quite the apologist.

http://tpzoo.wordpress.com/2009/05/09/torture-a...

It remains to be seen but it doesnt appear that the Minority Witnesses are very strong. Same old rehash warmed over. I doubt that there will ever be another confirmation hearing like Unca Clarence and Anita Hill had. Maybe some old Sotomayor flame will fall out of the closet with some dirt that will make it interesting enough to be glued to the TV once again. I kinda doubt it though.

She's single, yes? You don't think someone will accuse her of being gay?

Here's more on the 'witnesses' from Patrick Leahy's office.

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200907/070909a.html

National Rifle Assoc and New Haven Firefighters! Do the Rethugs ever give up? Geesh!!

Dr. Charmaine Yoest, Americans United for Life ???

All right off to watch a movie, 'the internationalist' with Clive Owen.

We'll try to raise the issue again 2morrow and finally take MJ of the front page. (Along with this issue beginning discussed down below!)

I was looking for this. It came via email from the Nat'l Women's Law Center.

http://www.nwlc.org/details.cfm?id=3624§ion...

The pool issue is truly sad and depicts the racism going on in our country today. BUT, blacks can't have it both way either....I just read this article and it made me angry for its racist component, only it is blacks being anti white or anyone else.

I don't care who you are, you can't have it both ways...if racism from whites is wrong, then racism from blacks is wrong too.

And before all you posters go nuts, I am not black or white, I am a Native American with relatives on both sides of the color line. So DON"T KILL THE MESSENGER!! and by the way, OH freaking SHIT, us Natives would love to have this kind of power enclave.

http://nymag.com/guides/summer/2009/57472/index...

The Only Ones deal with glass ceilings at work, unfortunate misunderstandings in their neighborhoods, condescension from blacks who think their education or class makes them inauthentic, and identity crises in their kids. When they get to their Vineyard vacation homes, they want to escape that casual, institutional, and intra-black racism and be around people who help them feel less anomalous. Trey Ellis, who wrote the script for The Inkwell, the notoriously bad film about the black Vineyard experience (Ellis himself called it terrible), says, “The black part of the Vineyard is like, I would imagine, being gay and going to the Castro. It’s this mecca where you can be yourself and be with people who have so much in common with you. No one has to feign some street cred when they’re playing tennis.” It’s a source of communion and of pride. “When you see a beautiful black family with their kids, it makes you feel really good about being black,” says Chrisette Hudlin, wife of Reggie and a lifelong Vineyarder who travels there every summer from L.A. “As a person who’s high-achieving and striving for the best for their family, you’re looking at these other black people who have the same goals, and it makes you feel good as a black person. You don’t feel out of place.” Several Only Ones say there’s nowhere in America that makes them more proud of black people.



This is particularly true among parents, who talk about the importance of introducing their children to other black upper-class families so they can know they’re not as peculiar as they might feel. “Black kids need to be around successful black families, because other blacks from humble beginnings want you to apologize for being successful,” says psychiatrist Carlotta Miles. “On the Vineyard, you don’t need excuses or self-consciousness or defensiveness.” Drew Dixon Williams grew up in Washington, D.C., where her mother, Sharon Pratt, served as mayor, and she spent summers on the island. “It’s sort of embarrassing to say this, coming from Washington,” she says, “but I used to say with a straight face—because I was too young to know better—that I would get my black experience on Martha’s Vineyard. I didn’t have to be defensive about not being black enough or being black in the first place. We were all from The Cosby Show.”

You simply don't understand this article. It is about class but not race.

I disagree, it is about both race and class...I don't understand what?

We covered this issue about a week ago, and I think you tried to change the subject.

I respect Town, but, I would like Town to prove her allegation that I tried to change any subject having to deal with "what?" I don't get this at all???

Can I change the subject to Sonia SotomayOR?

Of course...what do you want to say?

Whateva it takes to stop this cat fight!!

hee hee, you make me think of my sisters..when one of them starts up with each other, the others try to stop the "fuss" as soon as possible.

so you covered the subject a week ago sooooo thoroughly it should never be raised again...hmmmm

YOU'RE the one who changed the subject.

Now because a week later you find the subject fascinating you want to discuss it again?

To Sotomayor????

lets be honest, we change subjects almost by minute by minute...on this website. I have to remember at my age every freaking subject we address from hour to hour and from week to week? OK maybe I should....but I don't.

I have never claimed perfection, but, just because we may have discussed a subject, doesn't mean I couldn't have changed my mind on something.

Gheez, I pray every day that the good Lord will accept me and forgive me my sins.

You have made it a habit of insulting others that don't share your view . Even to the point of calling others names. You first came insulting GreenLady & Miranda about their caption of a photo. I remember. It was a caption for crying out loud.

Just a few days ago you insulted me and Town because our opinion didn't line up with yours on Paris Jackson being encouraged to speak about her daddy. You called people greedy but couldn't explain who were the greedy culprits or who had the Jackson children's best interest at heart. You called Town "naive" and me "emotional". How the hell do you expect someone to respect your opinion when you do don't respect others?

You're not slick Angelar, I'm looking right at you. I see you!

Well, I don't want to be slick...never one of my goals... I would disagree that I have made anything a "habit." Next I thank you for acknowledging to me my public failings as you have witnessed.

I know I am imperfect and know that I can and do say things that are not always consistent.

By the way, if someone did a similar "check" on Justice58 and Town, would you both be found without any of the inconsistencies you gathered on me???

I certainly don't call someone a name because their view is different....with the exception of Karmi or Conserv1. Their goal is to stop debate.

But you have insulted me on more than one occasion with name calling..."you're too emotional" about your views. I don't like disrespecting an older woman but don't push me. If you want respect then you must be respectable.

I dare you to find a post where I attacked someone because their view was different from mine and it led to name calling...excluding trolls.

I like your response and sincerely apologize for anything I may have said or done previously.

best regards,

Hey Justice! I see you too! Wanna change the subject to Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation hearing starting on Monday morn?

Scratch, scratch, meow!

I see you too, Myth!

Don't you guys worry, Myth know I love her!

You SPECIFICALLY tried to change the subject when it was brought up.

NOW you want to A) act like you've brought some brand new information to the board and B) simutaneously wag the finger of shame on black people "because y'all do it too."

Go BACK to the original thread where it was discussed.

If there's something about black people that you don't understand, either ask (instead of changing the subject) or fall back and observe so you can get your learning on.

I never try to claim I have bought anything new to the conversation. I don't have that kind of ego.

Please bring to me this "original" thread you keep yapping about.

Next....your "wag the finger of shame on black people" has me totally mystified.

Are you well?

I'm trying to change the subject too!! LOL!!

Not me....I'm loading the balloons with water!

Cats scratch for blood. You can dry that water off of you in a balloon fight! LMAO!!

That's the only reason she posted it- to change the subject...and to indirectly defend the people who discriminated against those kids.

please explain what you are actually talking about?????

No. I'm not going to take the bait and play the game. If I do, you will have achieved the distraction you're going for.

whatever...if you want to argue or debate a subject, it involves more than making an accusation and then shutting off communications. apparently you like to throw turds and then shutdown because you can't defend your position.

Good points ...
==========================================
Trial by Firefighters

By LANI GUINIER and SUSAN STURM

STANDING on the steps of the federal courthouse in New Haven, the lawyer Karen Torre reveled in her clients’ victory in a recent case before the Supreme Court. She anointed her clients — the white firefighters who scored well on a promotion test — “a symbol” for millions of Americans who are “tired of seeing individual achievement and merit take a back seat to race and ethnicity.”

But the Supreme Court’s 5-to-4 decision last month — that New Haven should not have scrapped the test — perpetuates profound misconceptions about the capacity of paper-and-pencil tests to gauge a person’s potential on the job. Exams like the one the New Haven firefighters took are neither designed nor administered to identify the employees most qualified for promotion. And Ms. Torre’s identity-politics sloganeering diverts attention from what we need most: a clear-eyed reassessment of our blind faith in entrenched testing regimes.

New Haven used a multiple-choice test to measure its firefighters’ retention of information from national firefighting textbooks and study guides. Civil service tests like these do not identify people who are best suited for leadership positions. The most important skills of any fire department lieutenant or captain are steady command presence, sound judgment and the ability to make life-or-death decisions under pressure. In a city that is nearly 60 percent black and Latino, the ability to promote cross-racial harmony under stress is also crucial.

These skills are not well measured by tests that reward memorization and ask irrelevant questions like whether it is best to approach a particular emergency from uptown or downtown even when the city isn’t oriented that way. The Civil Service Board in New Haven declined to certify the test not only because of concerns about difference in scores between black and white firefighters but also because it failed to assess qualities essential for firefighting.

Full article: http://gangbox.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/whos-qu...

Africans reach out to Obama via text messages

(CNN) — The text messages address various issues and come from all over the African continent.

From the personal: "Obama, as a young lady I dream of being the president. U r a huge encouragement."

To cries for help: "Dear president, Darfur firing again…waiting for peace through the change u promised."

To calls for intervention: "Encourage African leaders to improve the quality and access to education for citizens."

The messages, from Ghana, Sudan and South Africa respectively, were among more than 5,000 sent to Barack Obama during his first visit as president to sub-Saharan Africa as president.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/07/11/obam...

My goodness, Michael Tillery (Mizzo) laid it down in this piece. All I can say is read it. This is more about the state of sports journalism - which is exactly like the state of political journalism:

Excerpt:
There is good on this planet and there is diabolical evil. When does life choose the meeting point? Good wins in spells but unfortunately there are moments where evil goes hard enough to snuff out the greatness of man in a fleeting yet horrific slice in time. In the space thereafter we are then left with a choice. A choice which is the origin of shaping and shifting a futuristic perspective. Because of the presence of evil, do we take the soul of a man and squash it into an assumed hellish abyss or do we properly advance history…documenting the total scope of his walk in full appreciation of his life?

This is for Steve McNair’s family. This is for his sons. This is for his life. This is for his legacy.

Full piece: http://thestartingfive.net/2009/07/10/the-steve...

Mizzo dropped it straight. Thanks, Miranda. Love TSF

Didn't he lay it down? I loved this part:

None of us are perfect, but a period of weakness and wrongdoing isn’t the end all be all just because others say so. On one hand we celebrate serial adulterers of whatever ilk for the sake of personal mental security, only to highlight the transgressions of others with a force so strongly demonic it snakes its way into the first paragraph of their obituary.
The grave spit.

Nothing left to say but "amen".

AMEN!

July 11, 2009, 12:12 pm
Sunday Breakfast Menu, July 12
By Janie Lorber

On the eve of the first day of Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings, the Sunday talk shows will be abuzz with speculation over what she’ll face in the halls of Congress.
Republicans will focus on what they believe is Judge Sotomayor’s willingness to bring her personal experiences, and even an agenda, into her decisions. (The minority witness list includes Frank Ricci, the New Haven firefighter who won his discrimination case before the Supreme Court. )

Beyond that, Democrats in Congress have two major goals before they break for the August recess now just three weeks away — confirming Mr. Obama’s Supreme Court nominee and voting on health care bills in the House and Senate. Both will be front and center tomorrow morning.

House Democrats will float a proposal to tax the wealthiest Americans — individuals earning $280,000 and up and couples earning more than $350,000 — to help finance the expensive reform package. The proposal is a nonstarter for Republicans, makes conservative Democrats uneasy and provides great fodder for talk-show debate. (As well as discussion among our Caucus readers.)

The top two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senators Patrick Leahy, Democrat of Vermont, and Jeff Sessions, Republican of Alabama, are guests on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Mr. Sessions, who was rejected as a nominee for a district court judgeship amid charges of racial insensitivity 20 years ago, brings an unusual perspective to the process.

(For a preview of some senators’ questions and thoughts as they prepared for the Judiciary hearings, our own Elisabeth Goodridge has interviewed several of them and posted an audio feature.)

Read more…

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/

You know what just struck me - the hearing starts at 10:00 am EST....that's 8:00 am here. I'm up, but I'm working. See, I was going to go in at 6:00 am, work 4 hours and then watch for a couple of hours - then go back to work. Best laid plans. I absolutely HATE it that I got switched from evening to days. It really cuts into my geek time.

Looks like the Freepers will get some attention after all.

They are already a hit in Canada
http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Conse......

And David Shuster will address their "love" for Malia on Monday.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/7/11/752493/...

Hopefully we get comments from Steele on his take.

Will Palin blast the Freepers for picking on a child?

Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen. We need your wicked funny here at JJP!!!

I mean, ya know, Palin's such a defender of innocent children being picked on by the internets and the media, I thought she'd step right up and defend 11 year old Malia from these vicious attacks. I thought it was all about protecting children but I guess I'm wrong.

I think I just invented some new cuss words reading that piece in the Sun. What the hell is wrong with people. Their racism is disgusting enough but aiming it at a child is just beyond low. I have no doubt that Michelle and Barack will talk to their daughter about this but it disgusts me to this day that Black parents to this day are forced to burst the wonderful innocence of childhood to arm their children against racist assholes. With that I am headed straight to the liquor cabinet.

Before you hit the thunderbird just play this a couple of times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=txrikNFX-8E&feat...

David Schuester is going to talk about the mean/racist comments about Malia on Monday on MSNBC. I'm torn. While I think we need to call the bastards out, I don't know that I want it all over the MSM where Malia, Sasha, and her friends will inevitably hear about it somehow. Not that I don't think Michelle, Obama, and Grandma Robinson can't handle it, I just don't know that it's fair to do that to an 11 year old girl. We all know by now that when the idiots like the Freepers get called out, they only get worse.

Will Palin step up to defend Malia Obama?

I swear, if that Slave Catching Sambo Ron Christie tries to defend this on Shuster's show.........

I probably watch more news channels than I should, but I swear that I can almost stand everyone, even Pat Buckkkanan...but, Ron Christie makes me change the channel or hit the mute button. If you really sit down and listen to him, this guy is filled with anger that won't quit.

I''ll be sure and hold you back!!

I won't be able to help 'cause I'll be on my way to kickin' Christie's ass right with Rikyrah!!

If ANYBODY tries to justify the BS that has been aimed toward Malia, they catch hate from me anyway they come at it.

Ole evil eyes will probably go with decrying the "left wing media" for doing the same to Palin's children (with not any evidence of that)...say its equally wrong to insult Obama's children (even though there is no "equal" that was done to any of Palin's children) and then contort his eyes even more by suggesting this shouldn't even be a subject when we have more important things to discuss like the failing Obama policies, socialist healthcare agenda...blah blah blah......I know the talking points already, they are so predictable.

does anyone know his bio kind of thing, how did he learn to hate himself so much?

Gawd, I'd love to take that Slave-catching, Hankerchief Head, Skinnin & Grinnin, Shuckin & Buckin, Lawn Jockey, COON to the woodshed, but good.

i usually don't advocate "slave-catcher" talk......BUT DAT SHIT IS TOO FUNNY

Shay of Booker Rising has called out freeper:

Booker Rising To Freepers: "Y'all Need To Chill With The Racist Attacks. Also, Kids Are Off Limits!"

http://www.bookerrising.net/2009/07/booker-risi...

Free Republic,

One of my blog's readers has called attention to an incident on your website. I am troubled by the racist language displayed on Free Republic in regards to Malia Obama - the 11-year-old daughter of President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama - after she wore peace sign T-shirts in Rome and after her interaction with her mother on a private tourist visit.

First of all, those of you who claimed that Mrs. Obama was doing "monkey sounds" for spending a fun moment with her daughter at the Coliseum in Italy are ignorant. What happened to promoting family values? Supposedly a conservative virtue? Also, since when was being the President and First Lady "ghetto" and growing up in Chicago's black middle-class - as Michelle Obama did and as I did for part of my childhood - "thug ghetto culture"? Keep the focus on policies, not on personal attacks.

Now, on to Malia Obama, on which the racist attacks are even more offensive to me as a black center-right woman. Trashing an 11-year-old girl - "typical street whore", "nasty radical hair", "street trash", "freak kid", "flea bag who looks to be dragged from the trash dumpster" is cruel, low-class, and unacceptable. Sexualizing an 11-year-old girl because she is black ("typical street whore", "wonder when she will have her first abortion", commenting that she's sexually attractive) - thinking that black girls are "fair game" - is highly unacceptable.

I don't know if the Obamas put Malia up to wearing those T-shirts or not. It's also very plausible that she supports a nuclear-freeze stance on her own. After all, at age 11 (I'm now 38), I thought apartheid was horribly wrong and racist. I also come from a political family (including past elected officials) and loved reading National Geographic about other countries. Either way, it's no business of yours what Malia wears or doesn't wear. She's a minor private citizen and her fashion is her and her family's choice. Also, what happened to freedom of expression?

By the way, a black female choosing to wearing her hair naturally - as lil' Malia is doing is not "nasty radical hair". She's wearing her hair as God/nature/whatever-you-want-to-call-it intended for her to wear her hair. Do I have "nasty radical hair" because I wear my hair in braids?! I've also worn my hair in twists - which is how Malia is wearing her hair - in the past. How about black female conservatives like Star Parker (braids) or Amy Holmes (curly 'fro)?! How about the libertarian June Arunga of Kenya, who wears a short Afro?! Are these women with "nasty radical hair"? Not only do you display sheer ignorance about black hairstyles, but you are disrespecting many black center-right women with such stupidity.

What happened to judging someone on the content of their character, and not the color of her skin and how she wears her hair? And children being off limits? If 14-year-old Willow Palin is off limits - and she should be - then 11-year-old Malia Obama should also be.

With racist views like the comments displayed on your website, you do absolutely no favors to the cause of persuading more blacks to embrace center-right values like individual liberty, capitalism, small government - in essence, a free republic. You merely reinforce the already-prevalent view in Black America that conservatism is for racists and the mean-spirited. I would strongly encourage you to stay out of the racist gutter, show some class by not picking on kids, and stay focused on policy disagreements.

Shay Riley
Booker Rising webmaster
http://www.bookerrising.net
news site for black moderates and black conservatives


-----------------------------

Freeper's response:

EMAIL: Free Republic's Response Regarding The Racist Attacks On Malia Obama On Its Website

http://www.bookerrising.net/2009/07/email-free-...

Here's the response that I got from Jim Robinson, the founder and president of Free Republic:

EMAIL #1 (8:32pm CT, 7/10): Get real.

EMAIL #2 (9:24pm CT, 7/10): Someone posted a dumb "caption this" photo thread and it got out of hand and our moderators pulled it. I received the same leftist DailyKos article you did in my mailbox this morning and posted a copy here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/228976...

Please notice my comment in reply number 1:
Can't help myself. This kind of crap fills my inbox every morning.
But the writer has a point. We should steer clear of Obama's children. They can't help it if their old man is an American-hating Marxist pig. And I'm sure the left really means no harm to Sarah Palin's children. Thank God for the love and basic human decency displayed by TRUE Democrats. 1 posted on Friday, July 10, 2009 9:53:00 AM by Jim Robinson

No, we do not condone racism on FR. Never have.
--------------------------------------------------

Booker Rising response: Today I sent a follow-up email to Free Republic: "First of all, I didn't realize that opposing racism was merely the province of liberals. I guess I didn't get that memo. The fact remains that racist attacks on an 11-year-old girl - not to mention racist attacks on her mother, the First Lady - were posted over and over again on your website, and you did little to stop it. Attacks continued even after your response. Not even an apology for this wrong. If that is what you call NOT condoning racism, then I hate to see what condoning racism on your website looks like. Like I said in my letter, you merely reinforce the already-prevalent view in Black America that conservatism is for racists and the mean at heart. If it's wrong against Willow Palin, it's also wrong against Malia Obama. Simply shameful."

In case you're wondering...I'm not sure if my open letter (which was "under review" when I posted it yesterday) ever made it to Free Republic's website. I assume not. Why? As of 7:11pm CT today, this error message comes up for the account that I created: "Your posting privilege has been revoked." I guess I violated Free Republic's posting rules because I called the website out for its racist attacks on an 11-year-old girl, but yet racists who smeared her keep their privileges. This is not over, bookeristas. That's all I can say for now.

A commenter from DKos pretty much says what this is about.

More than that, it's the dehumanization.

If Barack and Michelle Obama are raising intelligent, responsible, loving and caring children who obviously trust and love their parents, it makes the Obamas appear to be loving, responsible parents who love their children. And that makes them look human.

In order for hate to thrive, people have to be turned into monsters. No matter how nice, no matter how responsible, no matter how devoted or how much they care. And so those who are invested in despising Barack Obama have to create a myth about him and about all those around him.

One of the commenters over there asked:

"Is Free Republic mainstream blog level stuff?"

Yes, very much so. You can say it's the internet voice of the Republican base, and racist invective is common there. Why is she so surprised?

Ya know I find it quite comical that these folks are about to get brand new and pretend like they've never heard of "free republic". That will probably be a talking point...pretend like its so small and insignificant and no one would even know it exists but for the "liberals" pointing it out...a classic switcheroo. Here it comes y'all...they'll blame the "left wing media" for pointing it out.

My sense is PBO already knows about what has been said about Malia and Michelle.

He owns a blackberry, and has trusted staff to keep him abreast of what type of news to report to him, and I'm sure when it comes to his daughters, he'd want to know so he and Michelle can buffer and protect them.

He and Michelle would decide if, when, what, and how they would tell Malia.

President Obama is a politician. He knows how vicious folks are and has more than likely schooled both girls in the ways of racist, ignorant heathens.

I'm sure he knows too. I'm sure the secret service keeps a watchful eye on sites like that one.

You know Miranda, after visiting the Cape Coast Slave Castle, I think Malia and Sasha got full-blown revelations of just how truly EVIL racism truly is.

I watched this earlier and some other parts of the series....I wish our children never had to know the depths of how low humanity can be:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQGJwA0vCwo&feat...

My daughters and I watched the series together last August. It's powerful
and heart rending.

yes i have mixed feelings about it also
i do wan't those nasty bastards called out
but then again i don't wan't Malia and Sasha
hurt by them

They have to learn the realities of the country they're in. It doesn't matter that they're the POTUS's kids. They shouldn't be treated like fragile chinaware.

Besides, with 2 great parents there for them, it probably not even care.

it still pisses me off
but i know the Obama's will prepare them

It's not a matter of being treated like fragile chinaware; Black children have always been denied the innocence and wonder of childhood due to white racists. This is something that is stolen from us generation after generation and we have a right to be angered over this. A white child of her age has no idea about how unfair this world is.

I never said it was right, I just said it's a reality.

Besides, do you really think Malia or Sasha watch MSNBC or are even aware about some of the things said about the mom and dad?

Beat me to it.

EDIT: Remember, these are the same people claiming the Obama being elected means there's no longer racism in America. I think it's important to show otherwise.

You know, when you're not a fan of someone it's easy to see how people may not be very sad to see someone go. I was never a fan of Steve McNair, and I felt sorry that he died until I learned how he died. Maybe that's how people who don't like Michael Jackson feel. Even though MJ has really had an effect on my life, and basically wrote its soundtrack, there are people out there who really believed the accusations about him. The difference here, to me, is we know for sure McNair was a cheating dog.

So I don't begrudge McNair fans their chance to mourn him, I didn't like people stomping all over MJ's memory, but I still don't feel any sympathy for him.

Had he been at home with his wife, had he not stepped out on her in the first place, he wouldn't have ended up getting killed by a crazy woman. I can't really move past that to think he was really a great man even in light of the other good he did. He basically ABANDONED his wife and four sons (apparently one of those sons is from an extra-marital affair ~smh~). And yes, I know "let she that is without sin cast the first stone, there are just some things I don't accept.

Just because someone cheats doesn't mean they should be murdered in their sleep. If murder is a justifiable punishment for cheating the cemeteries would be overflowing.

Where in my comment did I say he SHOULD have been murdered?

The tone of your post made seem like because Mcnair was committing adultery him being murdered was justified.

If I didn't actually SAY it, don't assume I meant it. I tend to say what I mean. :o)

Personally, I think if someone is crazy, they're crazy. That 20 year old was crazy. It didn't matter where he was that night. I don't condone his affair, but I in no way will allow any of that to be the blame for his death. She was a fool. If not him, someone else. If he had been single he would still be dead.

While I agree that crazy is crazy, I don't think he'd be dead if he were single because chances are he wouldn't have met her (as he met her while he was at Dave and Busters with his family). Also, he was apparently telling her that he was going to divorce his wife and marry her (according to her family) or at the very least he gave her that impression. Then you had the fact that he was apparently cheating on his mistress with another mistress. I think other women would have gotten mad but they wouldn't have killed him.

They were both fools, and we need to deal with the reality not the "what ifs" and IF he hadn't been cheating on his wife and had his ass at home, he'd be alive today to continue all of that charity work.

I disagree because if someone is crazy, no "if" will matter. She shot a man while he slept and killed herself. There is no justification for that regardless of what he did, said, might have said, implied, etc. That just my opinion on it.

I hear ya, Muzikal. I hear ya. My sympathy goes towards his wife and children. Can you imagine how they feel, especially his wife? No doubt she has so many questions that will never be answered. It's a shame.

Right, and imagine what kind of diseases he could have been taking to her since his murderer wasn't his first affair, and had he lived surely wouldn't have been his last.

You know the song "Frankie and Johnny" that is what I think about when I here the McNair story. I never heard of the guy until I heard about his death.

I'd heard his name, but all I knew him for was football, not any of the charity work he did. I'm not a football fan, so I really don't see what's so "great" about him.

Mcnallys Smith School of Music, fresh off a summer
wokshop, will offer the country’s first accredited hip-hop diploma program.

Hip-Hop with honors
By HAYLEY TSUKAYAMA, Star Tribune Richard Sennott, Star Tribune Richard Sennott, Star Tribune
Jul 10, 2009

T oki Wright is in the recording studio while Zach Bagaason runs back the first 30 seconds of Wright's song, "State of Emergency." Bagaason's brother and music partner, Brandon, is in another corner of the room giving his two cents, while Sean McPherson of Heiruspecs stands in the doorway.
They're surrounded by 22 high-school students. Some are taking copious notes, while others are just trying really hard to be cool about being in the same room with some of the biggest names in Twin Cities hip-hop -- their instructors.
Or, to put it another way, it's a typical day of school at the McNally Smith College of Music summer hip-hop workshop.
"It's really cool to be in there with Toki Wright and Big Quarters," said Daniel Olesen, 15, of Central High School. "And Heiruspecs rocks," he added with a grin. Daniel is enrolled in the program through St. Paul Connections, which allows students to take classes like this for only $1. Other students, like Johnathan (J-Boy) Irwy, 17, came from Maryland to attend the summer program, after seeing an ad for it on Facebook. "It's a useful way to utilize my interest in hip-hop," he said. "It gives me the chance to get hands-on and it's phenomenal to be with these teachers."
McNally Smith's new hip-hop curriculum marks an important step in a fast-growing field of study. Several schools and universities offer classes about the social roots of hip-hop. The MacPhail Center for the Arts started a summer hip-hop camp last year and is offering it again in August. McNally Smith's summer workshop, which is directed at high school students, shares many of its instructors and hip-hop practitioners with another endeavor: Starting this fall, the school will offer the first nationally accredited diploma program for hip-hop. The diploma will indicate a targeted area of study within a student's associate or bachelor's degree.
Dessa Darling, a member of Doomtree and hip-hop faculty member, said that a practical and academic program was long overdue. "The question is less 'Why now?' than 'Why didn't this happen before?'" she said.
Valuable education tool
Wright said he hopes the hip-hop program will attract all kinds of students -- particularly nontraditional students who might not feel that school is a good fit. He also wants the program to be a community resource for anyone trying to understand hip-hop culture.

There is more.

http://m.startribune.com/topic/3975-Lifestyle/a...

Obama The Monkey What An Honour: Yep in order to honour the pres a German zoo decided to name a new Mandrill Obama, With friends like that who needs enemies?

They named a turtle after him in Florida:

KEY WEST, Fla. (AP) - July 5, 2009 -- A sea turtle named after President Barack Obama that was rescued just before Inauguration Day has been set free on Independence Day.

Obama the loggerhead sea turtle was found ailing off a Key West beach on Jan. 19, the eve of the inauguration. Suffering from an intestinal impaction, the 200-pound female was nursed back to health with a diet of squid and mineral oil at the Turtle Hospital in Marathon.

Turtle Hospital administrator Ryan Butts said the turtle was set free Saturday on a Key West beach as about 100 people watched. He says it was appropriate to give the loggerhead its liberty on the Fourth of July after being rescued at a historic moment.

Ah Winter, how I miss thee. I may be a summer baby, but I HATE being hot. I'd much rather be cold any day.

oh i second that emotion!!! as an everyday biker, i'm most fond of fall sweater weather. this photo made me laugh out loud!!!