Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tigers Will Need Strong Starting Pitching
I've been debating some friends about the needs of the Detroit Tigers coming into this season (needs to be successful). Specifically, we've been discussing what it might take for the Tigers to again get back to Major League Baseball prominence. I think it comes down to pitching. I've been harping on the need for a strong bullpen. Detroit needs stronger starting pitching to take the burden off its middle relief. The Tigers need a strong return from Jeremy Bonderman and a good bounce-back season from Justin Verlander, who apparently was sharp during a spring training game this week against the Atlanta Braves. When the Tigers most recently made it to the World Series, it had big-time performances from lefties Kenny Rogers and Nate Robertson. This year, Detroit will need some other starting pitchers to step up and be sharp right from the beginning of the season. That bullpen concerns me as well, but we can hope Joel Zumaya is back to even close to his old self and that Fernando Rodney can revive some of that old magic. A lot of eyes will be on the Tigers to see if last year was bad circumstances. The pieces are there for success, now it's just a matter of putting it all together.
Greta Van Susteren Playing Fox News Pro-Republican Politics
Fox News talking head Greta Van Susteren is parading on guest after guest to bash President Barack Obama's speech and, now, to try and stir up some infighting within the Democratic party. She has a guest on trying to create a controversy over some letter Sen. Robert Byrd apparently sent to President Obama crying about czars "threaten(ing) checks and balances." These Republicans are trying to play up any hint of infighting.
Mika Brzezinski Goes Right Wing With Personal Emotion, Then Denies It
I was going to let this go, but something just moved me to put a little something in here about this exchange between MSNBC’s Mika Brzezinski and Democrat Barbara Boxer.
BRZEZINSKI: It’s very clear - I mean, the Democrats put through the plan that they wanted, throwing money at problems, I think…
BOXER: Throwing money at problems? (laughs)
BRZEZINSKI: … some of the things, you could argue didn’t necessarily need to be in there but I guess that’s what happens in times like this, but I also worry that we’re kind of becoming a bailout economy and we’re going to lose kind of that careful balance that our country is built on between success and failure and then thriving in-between the two.
BOXER: You sound very ideological this morning, if I might say. What we did in the stimulus bill is put together an approach where we invest in our people, invest in our infrastructure, where we also say to those who’re the long-term unemployed, we’re gonna give you a little more help so yes, you can feed your family and have a few more dollars in your pocket. And then we did tax cuts, tax cuts to the working people. That was what we did.
And I don’t think that’s throwing money at a problem. I don’t think so at all. I think it was a very important plan of this president’s, and it was the first step in his economic recovery and I feel a lot better about it than you do, and we will see who’s right and who’s wrong.
BRZEZINSKI: Well, I don’t have feelings about it, I have questions about it.
BOXER: Fair enough.
Rewind, Brzezinski said that, “I also worry that we’re kind of becoming a bailout economy and we’re going to lose kind of that careful balance that our country is built on between success and failure and then thriving in-between the two.” That statement seems to reflect that she has some feelings. So, she contradicts herself at the end by saying, “Well, I don’t have feelings about it, I have questions about it.” Unfortunately, the questions are framed by the conservative feelings.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/taxonomy/term/1527
BRZEZINSKI: It’s very clear - I mean, the Democrats put through the plan that they wanted, throwing money at problems, I think…
BOXER: Throwing money at problems? (laughs)
BRZEZINSKI: … some of the things, you could argue didn’t necessarily need to be in there but I guess that’s what happens in times like this, but I also worry that we’re kind of becoming a bailout economy and we’re going to lose kind of that careful balance that our country is built on between success and failure and then thriving in-between the two.
BOXER: You sound very ideological this morning, if I might say. What we did in the stimulus bill is put together an approach where we invest in our people, invest in our infrastructure, where we also say to those who’re the long-term unemployed, we’re gonna give you a little more help so yes, you can feed your family and have a few more dollars in your pocket. And then we did tax cuts, tax cuts to the working people. That was what we did.
And I don’t think that’s throwing money at a problem. I don’t think so at all. I think it was a very important plan of this president’s, and it was the first step in his economic recovery and I feel a lot better about it than you do, and we will see who’s right and who’s wrong.
BRZEZINSKI: Well, I don’t have feelings about it, I have questions about it.
BOXER: Fair enough.
Rewind, Brzezinski said that, “I also worry that we’re kind of becoming a bailout economy and we’re going to lose kind of that careful balance that our country is built on between success and failure and then thriving in-between the two.” That statement seems to reflect that she has some feelings. So, she contradicts herself at the end by saying, “Well, I don’t have feelings about it, I have questions about it.” Unfortunately, the questions are framed by the conservative feelings.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/taxonomy/term/1527
Log Cabin Republicans Not To Happy With Chairman Michael Steele’s Less-Than-Welcoming Words To Gays
Chairman Michael Steele is not making friends with the Log Cabin Republicans after his anti-gay marriage/civil union words. Steele, as previously discussed on The Gholston Post, was defiantly and sarcastically opposed to support for gay marriage.
Here is a response from the Log Cabin Republicans:
“The politics of the past were clearly rejected in the November election. We hope Chairman Steele will work to build a more inclusive Republican Party that can win elections,” said Log Cabin Republicans National Chairman Terry Hamilton. Hamilton continued, “Such comments marginalize gay and lesbian Americans, and further alienate the mainstream, moderate, and independent-minded voters that left the Republican Party in the November election.”
We need an inclusive GOP to reach out to new constituencies and to attract younger voters, women, Latinos, African Americans, and others who share our view of limited government and low taxes. The Log Cabin Republicans remain committed to working with other mainstream GOP groups and fair-minded Republicans to rebuild the Party.
Steele is treading on thin water. Sure, he may look at gay as being a constituency not large enough to adversely impact his position. But, if the new chairman is not careful he risks pushing the image of the Republican party (as extremists) into a whole new extreme category.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/25/log-cabin-steele/
Steele’s previous comments:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/23/steele-crazy-civil-unions/
Here is a response from the Log Cabin Republicans:
“The politics of the past were clearly rejected in the November election. We hope Chairman Steele will work to build a more inclusive Republican Party that can win elections,” said Log Cabin Republicans National Chairman Terry Hamilton. Hamilton continued, “Such comments marginalize gay and lesbian Americans, and further alienate the mainstream, moderate, and independent-minded voters that left the Republican Party in the November election.”
We need an inclusive GOP to reach out to new constituencies and to attract younger voters, women, Latinos, African Americans, and others who share our view of limited government and low taxes. The Log Cabin Republicans remain committed to working with other mainstream GOP groups and fair-minded Republicans to rebuild the Party.
Steele is treading on thin water. Sure, he may look at gay as being a constituency not large enough to adversely impact his position. But, if the new chairman is not careful he risks pushing the image of the Republican party (as extremists) into a whole new extreme category.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/25/log-cabin-steele/
Steele’s previous comments:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/23/steele-crazy-civil-unions/
Volcano Watch Not Important To Bobby Jindal, But It Is To People Near Volcanoes
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal marked part of the stimulus bill dedicated to watching volcanoes.
JINDAL: While some of the projects in the bill make sense, their legislation is larded with wasteful spending. It includes $300 million to buy new cars for the government. $8 billion for high speed rail projects such as magnetic levitation line from Las Vegas to Disney Land. And $140 million for something called ‘volcano monitoring.’
Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington, DC.
Apparently, Jindal is lacking in compassion for people who live in the vicinity of a volcanoes (especially active ones). I wonder if Jindal would have been critical of monies set aside for something like, uh, hurricane monitoring? Maybe disasters are only worth preparing for if they are hurricanes and if they are near Louisiana or somewhere close in the Gulf region. As a side note, I am going to let go the garbage about this railway from Las Vegas to Disneyland. That is a little Republican propaganda designed to marginalize the bill.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/25/jindal-monitors-volcanoes/
JINDAL: While some of the projects in the bill make sense, their legislation is larded with wasteful spending. It includes $300 million to buy new cars for the government. $8 billion for high speed rail projects such as magnetic levitation line from Las Vegas to Disney Land. And $140 million for something called ‘volcano monitoring.’
Instead of monitoring volcanoes, what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington, DC.
Apparently, Jindal is lacking in compassion for people who live in the vicinity of a volcanoes (especially active ones). I wonder if Jindal would have been critical of monies set aside for something like, uh, hurricane monitoring? Maybe disasters are only worth preparing for if they are hurricanes and if they are near Louisiana or somewhere close in the Gulf region. As a side note, I am going to let go the garbage about this railway from Las Vegas to Disneyland. That is a little Republican propaganda designed to marginalize the bill.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/25/jindal-monitors-volcanoes/
Paul Begala Right On The Money Adivising Bobby Jindal To Peace Out Rush Limbaugh
If Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has a brain in his head, he will turn and run swiftly but calmly in the opposite direction of conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh. That is advicePaul Begala has offered to the Louisiana governor. Of course, Jindal probably will not jump for joy at any advice from Begala or anyone else affiliated with the Democrats.
Great passage from Begala’s blog at The Daily Beast:
But if it is Pres. Bush who haunts Gov. Jindal’s past, it is Rush Limbaugh who haunts his future. One of the lesser-known laws of politics is that you can survive your enemies; it’s your friends who do you in.
The Daily Beast:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-02-24/memo-to-bobby-jindal-dump-rush/
Great passage from Begala’s blog at The Daily Beast:
But if it is Pres. Bush who haunts Gov. Jindal’s past, it is Rush Limbaugh who haunts his future. One of the lesser-known laws of politics is that you can survive your enemies; it’s your friends who do you in.
The Daily Beast:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-02-24/memo-to-bobby-jindal-dump-rush/
Rush Limbaugh Threatens Those Conservatives Who Panned Bobby Jindal
Wow, conservative leader Rush Limbaugh is flaming mad that some Republicans have been critical about the speech given by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal. Conservatives have been expressing disappointment all last night and all day today about the Republican response. So, Limbaugh was on the warpath during his radio show as he all but threatened all Republicans critical of Jindal.
LIMBAUGH: [T]he people on our side are really making a mistake if they go after Bobby Jindal on the basis of style. Because if you think — people on our side I’m talking to you — those of you who think Jindal was horrible, you think — in fact, I don’t ever want to hear from you ever again. … I’ve spoken to him numerous times, he’s brilliant. He’s the real deal.
We’ll see how the Republicans line up to beg Rush for forgiveness after stepping out of line again.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/25/rush-mentors-jindal/
LIMBAUGH: [T]he people on our side are really making a mistake if they go after Bobby Jindal on the basis of style. Because if you think — people on our side I’m talking to you — those of you who think Jindal was horrible, you think — in fact, I don’t ever want to hear from you ever again. … I’ve spoken to him numerous times, he’s brilliant. He’s the real deal.
We’ll see how the Republicans line up to beg Rush for forgiveness after stepping out of line again.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/25/rush-mentors-jindal/
Bill O’Reilly Will Not Let George W. Bush Get Much Blame For Economic Crisis
Conservative Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly will not let George W. Bush, the former president, have much blame for this current economic crisis that started/exploded under his watch. O’Reilly has been spending a lot of time on his Fox News television programming whining about people blaming poor George for the current horrid economic state that President Barack Obama has inherited. Instead, O’Reilly spends his time tossing much of the blame on Barney Frank and Chris Dodd (both, you guessed it, Democrats). Funny how these two Democrats seem to be the two main causes of this economic crisis while G.W. Bush and the Republican Congress (in place for much of the time) are treated like innocent bystanders on The O’Reilly Factor.
From Media Matters:
Summary: On The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly falsely claimed that “the Democrats in charge of the finance committees” resisted efforts by the Bush administration to regulate the mortgage industry and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in particular. In fact, it was only after the Democrats did gain control of both “finance committees” in Congress in 2007 that Congress passed legislation strengthening oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
O’Reilly has a vendetta against Frank and Dodd (especially Frank) and he is using his television show as a platform to take his shots at men like Dodd (he also does it with General Electric, MSNBC, Media Matters, CNN, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jim Clyburn, Huffington Post and anyone else he does not like … the list goes on and on). Interesting how the fair and balanced O’Reilly (who is a conservative) puts together a partisan right-wing panel with himself and Karl Rove, a right-wing advocate who was/is Bush’s right-hand man for so many years. There is no balance on that kind of a panel.
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902250016?f=h_top
From Media Matters:
Summary: On The O’Reilly Factor, Bill O’Reilly falsely claimed that “the Democrats in charge of the finance committees” resisted efforts by the Bush administration to regulate the mortgage industry and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in particular. In fact, it was only after the Democrats did gain control of both “finance committees” in Congress in 2007 that Congress passed legislation strengthening oversight of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
O’Reilly has a vendetta against Frank and Dodd (especially Frank) and he is using his television show as a platform to take his shots at men like Dodd (he also does it with General Electric, MSNBC, Media Matters, CNN, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Jim Clyburn, Huffington Post and anyone else he does not like … the list goes on and on). Interesting how the fair and balanced O’Reilly (who is a conservative) puts together a partisan right-wing panel with himself and Karl Rove, a right-wing advocate who was/is Bush’s right-hand man for so many years. There is no balance on that kind of a panel.
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902250016?f=h_top
Media Matters, Rep. Joe Sestak Call Out Liar Sean Hannity Of Fox News For His Lies, Distortions
Media Matters for America is on the case to set conservative Fox News windbag Sean Hannity straight for his partisan distortions of the stimulus bill.
From Media Matters:
Summary: On Fox News, Sean Hannity repeated the false GOP talking points that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act directs that funds be spent to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse in San Francisco and on a high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas. In fact, as Rep. Joe Sestak noted in response to Hannity, the bill does not contain any language directing funds to the salt marsh harvest mouse or its San Francisco wetlands habitat, nor does the bill include a provision directing that funds be spent on a high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas.
Hannity is strictly going off Republican (distorted) talking points and partisan (unsubstantiated) evidence he has retrieved from the Internet. He is a disgrace to our airwaves. He makes Bill O’Reilly look fair and balanced and he isn’t. It’s worth reading the Media Matters story to get the real story behind these made-up pet projects that Republicans have been manufacturing to make the stimulus bill look irresponsible (even though some of these pet projects are for Republicans).
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902250006?f=h_top
From Media Matters:
Summary: On Fox News, Sean Hannity repeated the false GOP talking points that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act directs that funds be spent to protect the salt marsh harvest mouse in San Francisco and on a high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas. In fact, as Rep. Joe Sestak noted in response to Hannity, the bill does not contain any language directing funds to the salt marsh harvest mouse or its San Francisco wetlands habitat, nor does the bill include a provision directing that funds be spent on a high-speed rail line between Southern California and Las Vegas.
Hannity is strictly going off Republican (distorted) talking points and partisan (unsubstantiated) evidence he has retrieved from the Internet. He is a disgrace to our airwaves. He makes Bill O’Reilly look fair and balanced and he isn’t. It’s worth reading the Media Matters story to get the real story behind these made-up pet projects that Republicans have been manufacturing to make the stimulus bill look irresponsible (even though some of these pet projects are for Republicans).
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902250006?f=h_top
Note To Bobby Jindal: Remember Who Ran Government When You Needed Help During Hurricane Katrina?
One of the biggest head-scratching moments of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Republican response speech was his talk about government not being the answer to everything and invoking the horrific memory of Hurricane Katrina. But, I think the good governor maybe forgot who was president, at the time, and who ran Congress, at the time. His own Republican party was running government, and that includes President George W. Bush, who many people feel was slow an inadequate in his response to this terrible disaster that destroyed homes and hopes, took lives and dreams, crippled New Orleans and parts of Louisiana and devastated that region’s economy.
Here is an excerpt from Jindal’s speech:
Today in Washington, some are promising that government will rescue us from the economic storms raging all around us. Those of us who lived through Hurricane Katrina, we have our doubts.
Let me tell you a story. During Katrina, I visited Sheriff Harry Lee, a Democrat and a good friend of mine. When I walk into his makeshift office, I had never seen him so angry. He was literally yelling into the phone. “Well, I’m the sheriff, and if you don’t like it, you can come and arrest me.” I asked him, “Sheriff, what’s got you so mad?” He told me that he put out a call for volunteers to come with their boats to rescue people who were trapped on their rooftops by the floodwaters. The boats were all lined up and ready to go. And then some bureaucrat showed up and told him they couldn’t go out in the water unless they had proof of insurance and registration.
And I told him, “Sheriff, that’s ridiculous.” Before I knew it, he was yelling in the phone. “Congressman Jindal’s here, and he says you can come and arrest him, too.” Well, Harry just told those boaters ignore the bureaucrats and go start rescuing people.
There’s a lesson in this experience: The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and the enterprising spirit of our citizens.
It’s the citizens who make the government. The government is not some foreign independent contractor hired to run this nation. We pay our government (through taxes) to help us when we need it most. Republicans and Democrats both need to get off this idea people want the government to give us something that is not from us originally. The government is of the people, by the people and for the people.
New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/us/politics/24jindal-text.html
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/bobby-jindals-zombie-performance-uses-p
Here is an excerpt from Jindal’s speech:
Today in Washington, some are promising that government will rescue us from the economic storms raging all around us. Those of us who lived through Hurricane Katrina, we have our doubts.
Let me tell you a story. During Katrina, I visited Sheriff Harry Lee, a Democrat and a good friend of mine. When I walk into his makeshift office, I had never seen him so angry. He was literally yelling into the phone. “Well, I’m the sheriff, and if you don’t like it, you can come and arrest me.” I asked him, “Sheriff, what’s got you so mad?” He told me that he put out a call for volunteers to come with their boats to rescue people who were trapped on their rooftops by the floodwaters. The boats were all lined up and ready to go. And then some bureaucrat showed up and told him they couldn’t go out in the water unless they had proof of insurance and registration.
And I told him, “Sheriff, that’s ridiculous.” Before I knew it, he was yelling in the phone. “Congressman Jindal’s here, and he says you can come and arrest him, too.” Well, Harry just told those boaters ignore the bureaucrats and go start rescuing people.
There’s a lesson in this experience: The strength of America is not found in our government. It is found in the compassionate hearts and the enterprising spirit of our citizens.
It’s the citizens who make the government. The government is not some foreign independent contractor hired to run this nation. We pay our government (through taxes) to help us when we need it most. Republicans and Democrats both need to get off this idea people want the government to give us something that is not from us originally. The government is of the people, by the people and for the people.
New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/24/us/politics/24jindal-text.html
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/bobby-jindals-zombie-performance-uses-p
Did Gov. Bobby Jindal Misrepresent President Barack Obama’s Words?
Media Matters for America seeks to set the record straight on the words of Gov. Bobby Jindal who was quoting President Barack Obama during his Republican response to the president’s speech before Congress.
Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902240029?f=h_top
Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902240029?f=h_top
Gov. Bobby Jindal’s Response To President Barack Obama Underwhelming
Gov. Bobby Jindal may be m favorite Republican, but his response to President Obama was simply underwhelming. Jindal has a great story (his personal background), but he just did not seem to put it across well for people who watched. There will be better days for Jindal, but this national debut was a bit shaky.
Fox News Hit Piece Challenges President Barack Obama’s Speaking Ability
Fox News’ Wendell Goler is credited with writing a story that challenges the speaking ability of President Barack Obama. Fox News searches long and hard to find anything it can use to criticize our president - our newly-elected president of the United States of America. Here is an excerpt from Goler’s Fox News article:
From the 2004 Democratic convention speech that launched him onto the national stage to his acceptance of his party’s nomination four years later, Barack Obama’s public speaking skills have been considered one of his strongest assets.
But while the president’s ability is admired — and at least one Web site promises to teach it to you — Obama also is mocked by critics who say he’s only comfortable with teleprompters.
One Web site has compiled clips of him stumbling verbally without them. For example: “And if they just gave him treatment early, and, uh, they got some treatment,” he misspoke at a campaign stop. “And a breathalyzer..uh a inhalator.”
Now, let us get a few things straight. When every word a person said is brought under scrutiny, sure people are going to stumble over words here and there. It is just going to happen. This piece (part of an effort to try and attack the strengths of our president) by Fox News looks and smells like a hit piece designed to attack. Most people are naturally better off a teleprompter. So, for Fox News to point out the obvious is just plain stupid.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/24/obamas-speaking-skills-open-debate/
From the 2004 Democratic convention speech that launched him onto the national stage to his acceptance of his party’s nomination four years later, Barack Obama’s public speaking skills have been considered one of his strongest assets.
But while the president’s ability is admired — and at least one Web site promises to teach it to you — Obama also is mocked by critics who say he’s only comfortable with teleprompters.
One Web site has compiled clips of him stumbling verbally without them. For example: “And if they just gave him treatment early, and, uh, they got some treatment,” he misspoke at a campaign stop. “And a breathalyzer..uh a inhalator.”
Now, let us get a few things straight. When every word a person said is brought under scrutiny, sure people are going to stumble over words here and there. It is just going to happen. This piece (part of an effort to try and attack the strengths of our president) by Fox News looks and smells like a hit piece designed to attack. Most people are naturally better off a teleprompter. So, for Fox News to point out the obvious is just plain stupid.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/24/obamas-speaking-skills-open-debate/
Bill O’Reilly Whining President Obama Is Not Entertaining Enough
When people are losing their jobs, struggling to pay their bills, losing their homes, watching us in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and more … they’re not too worried about how entertaining the president is in a news conference. Bill, quit looking to be so critical of the president. Let go of your Republican/conservative ideology.
Excerpt Of Foolishness Bobby Jindal Plans To Spread After President Barack Obama Speaks
Here is an excerpt of the counter address Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana plans to give following President Barack Obama’s speech to Congress tonight.
In the excepts released this afternoon by the Republican National Committee, Jindal says:
“Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It’s irresponsible. And it’s no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.”
Where was this tough talk from Jindal when former president George W. Bush and fellow Republicans were running up the deficit? Why was Jindal not speaking out then? Now we see why Republicans were working hard to become the Grand Obstructionist Party to this stimulus package (it’s all politics). What were Jindal and the other Republicans doing to create jobs, to strengthen our economy, to build a prosperous future? Jindal may be a good man, and he may be establishing his conservative credentials. But, he is coming across as a hypocrite, and that is difficult to overcome if you’re a presidential candidate.
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090224/NEWS15/90224069
In the excepts released this afternoon by the Republican National Committee, Jindal says:
“Who among us would ask our children for a loan, so we could spend money we do not have, on things we do not need? That is precisely what the Democrats in Congress just did. It’s irresponsible. And it’s no way to strengthen our economy, create jobs, or build a prosperous future for our children.”
Where was this tough talk from Jindal when former president George W. Bush and fellow Republicans were running up the deficit? Why was Jindal not speaking out then? Now we see why Republicans were working hard to become the Grand Obstructionist Party to this stimulus package (it’s all politics). What were Jindal and the other Republicans doing to create jobs, to strengthen our economy, to build a prosperous future? Jindal may be a good man, and he may be establishing his conservative credentials. But, he is coming across as a hypocrite, and that is difficult to overcome if you’re a presidential candidate.
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090224/NEWS15/90224069
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The O’Reilly Sucks Blog Reports On Stories Bill O’Reilly Doesn’t Report
Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly of Fox News tells his nightly lie of being “fair and balanced” and in the so-called “No-Spin Zone.” But, it doesn’t take much to see O’Reilly is a right winger disguised as an objective analyst of news (carefully selected news that advance his extreme right-wing agenda). The O’Reilly Sucks Blog recently outlined five stories (although the author admits he could have tossed even a few more out there) that Bill O’Reilly is completely ignoring.
Here are a few of the stories:
The Republican Senator from Alabama Richard Shelby: This is the guy who is questioning (the latest conservative to do so) the citizenship of the president of the United States of America. Imagine if someone was contending that about George W. Bush. They would be called un-American, unpatriotic, haters of America and so on.
The New York Post Chimp Cartoon: Because the New York Post is in the Fox News family this story has been ignored by the network. So much for objective coverage of the news from a network that regularly accuses other networks and Internet Web sites of bias an ignoring stories. How many times have we had to listen to Fox News complain others are not upset about illegal immigration stories, how the media did not report enough on Jeremiah Wright, did not report enough on Bill Ayers, was biased against John McCain, biased against Sarah Palin and yadda, yadda, yadda. Now who is ignoring a big story and looking corrupt in the process for refusing to point out their own scandals (there is another Fox News scandal not being reported that you can find on The O’Reilly Sucks Blog).
The NAACP is even talking about a national boycott of News Corp, FOX News, and the NY Post: Again, since Fox News is ignoring the racist cartoon story how could it do anything but ignore the fallout from running the disgusting cartoon. Remember how O’Reilly scoured the Internet looking for every bit of anti-Sarah Palin bias he could find to report on? Somehow, he must have overlooked this violent and racist cartoon published by the New York Post.
The recent Gallup poll that shows 62% of Americans support an investigation of Bush for crimes: Bill O’Reilly has been whining a ton lately about how poor George W. Bush has been bashed too much and is continuing to be blamed for the economy. Near the end of the Bush presidency, O’Reilly had segment after segment during which he complained that Bush was being beaten up way too much by people for his failures. He has a lot of Bush love.
For more on the major stories being ignored by O’Reilly, visit The O’Reilly Sucks Blog: http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/
Here are a few of the stories:
The Republican Senator from Alabama Richard Shelby: This is the guy who is questioning (the latest conservative to do so) the citizenship of the president of the United States of America. Imagine if someone was contending that about George W. Bush. They would be called un-American, unpatriotic, haters of America and so on.
The New York Post Chimp Cartoon: Because the New York Post is in the Fox News family this story has been ignored by the network. So much for objective coverage of the news from a network that regularly accuses other networks and Internet Web sites of bias an ignoring stories. How many times have we had to listen to Fox News complain others are not upset about illegal immigration stories, how the media did not report enough on Jeremiah Wright, did not report enough on Bill Ayers, was biased against John McCain, biased against Sarah Palin and yadda, yadda, yadda. Now who is ignoring a big story and looking corrupt in the process for refusing to point out their own scandals (there is another Fox News scandal not being reported that you can find on The O’Reilly Sucks Blog).
The NAACP is even talking about a national boycott of News Corp, FOX News, and the NY Post: Again, since Fox News is ignoring the racist cartoon story how could it do anything but ignore the fallout from running the disgusting cartoon. Remember how O’Reilly scoured the Internet looking for every bit of anti-Sarah Palin bias he could find to report on? Somehow, he must have overlooked this violent and racist cartoon published by the New York Post.
The recent Gallup poll that shows 62% of Americans support an investigation of Bush for crimes: Bill O’Reilly has been whining a ton lately about how poor George W. Bush has been bashed too much and is continuing to be blamed for the economy. Near the end of the Bush presidency, O’Reilly had segment after segment during which he complained that Bush was being beaten up way too much by people for his failures. He has a lot of Bush love.
For more on the major stories being ignored by O’Reilly, visit The O’Reilly Sucks Blog: http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/
Dick Durbin To Roland Burris: Get To Steppin’
Sen. Roland Burris may find himself able to escape the scandal he has put himself into, but it will not be easy. The junior senator from Illinois got a stern message from the senior senator from Illinois, Sen. Dick Durbin (who apparently spoke with Burris for about an hour): Time for you to peace out.
Said Durbin:
“I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign. He said, ‘I’m not going to resign.’ I can’t force him.”
Burris is not stepping down on his own. That seems to be pretty obvious at this point.
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/24/durbin-burris-should-resi_n_169584.html
Talking Points Memo:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/durbin-asks-burris-to-resign.php?ref=fp2
Said Durbin:
“I told him that under the circumstances, I would resign. He said, ‘I’m not going to resign.’ I can’t force him.”
Burris is not stepping down on his own. That seems to be pretty obvious at this point.
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/24/durbin-burris-should-resi_n_169584.html
Talking Points Memo:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/durbin-asks-burris-to-resign.php?ref=fp2
Pistons Made Mistake Handling Personnel
I find it difficult to fault Joe Dumars for his decision to trade Chauncey Billups, who had been one of the cornerstones of the franchise for quite some time. But, the salary cap is the salary cap and, based on that, the team president of the Pistons made a sound decision. Bringing in Allen Iverson was a roll of the dice and it hasn’t worked out so hot. Rookie head coach Michael Curry being hired was a questionable decision (to say the least) and the Pistons are paying a price for his inexperience. Detroit should have made the decision to bring Iverson off the bench, but instead opted to bring Richard Hamilton off the bench. Putting one of the team’s leaders on the bench was a horrible decision. Hamilton would have worked well with young point guard Rodney Stuckey and Iverson could have come off the bench and been too much for opposing second units or tired first units to handle. But, when you think about it, who knows whether or not it would have mattered. This team looks tired, disinterested, distracted, out of sync and finished. The season has been over for some time and the vicious beating the LeBron James Cavaliers put on the Pistons, Sunday, was indicative of what will be an ugly closing stretch of the season. Detroit has to blow it up, start young and go with fresh faces. Time to let the tired and distracted guys be tired and distracted some place else.
Bobby Jindal’s Presidential Bid For 2012 Seems To Be Underway
Oh my goodness,the winds of political thought sure can change in a hurry … especially when a candidate is being groomed for the presidency. Enter Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. Jindal seems to be on a mission to beef up his conservative credentials for 2012 (when a lot of people from the right wing would probably love to see him make a run at incumbent President Barack Obama).
From Think Progress:
On Friday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) announced that he would reject roughly $100 million in unemployment assistance from the federal recovery package, claiming the aid would lead to a tax hike on businesses. Jindal’s decision ensured that at least 25,000 unemployed Lousiana residents would not be eligible for unemployment insurance.
But, before becoming one of the hot names to potentially run for president, representing the GOP, Jindal seemed to have different ideas about taking government money. In fact, he had some very different ideas about the federal government working to put dollars in the hands of people who need it the most.
Check out this comment from Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz:
This is a guy, who while I served with him in Congress, voted for that [unemployment] assistance twice, and is certainly willing to take funding from the federal when people are out of a job and out of their home as a result of a hurricane, but not willing to take that assistance when his constituents are out of a job and out of a home as a result of this economic crisis. I’m not sure what the difference is. A crisis is a crisis.
Added Rep. Jim Clyburn:
“Jindal cosponsored and supported legislation to expand unemployment benefits and inject federal dollars into Louisiana’s unemployment trust fund. Yet today in the face of a financial disaster and record unemployment, he opposes similar action under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. What changed?”
What changed is that Bobby Jindal is now being considered a potential candidate for the presidency. So, it’s politics as usual for people like Jindal who don’t want to be outcast like Republicans are threatening to do with the senators from Maine and the GOP senator from Pennsylvania who dared vote for the stimulus package. Politics is a dirty business and I suspect Bobby Jindal will require a long shower after his Republican (likely hypocritical) response to President Barack Obama tonight.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/24/jindal-unemployment-insurance-katrina/
From Think Progress:
On Friday, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) announced that he would reject roughly $100 million in unemployment assistance from the federal recovery package, claiming the aid would lead to a tax hike on businesses. Jindal’s decision ensured that at least 25,000 unemployed Lousiana residents would not be eligible for unemployment insurance.
But, before becoming one of the hot names to potentially run for president, representing the GOP, Jindal seemed to have different ideas about taking government money. In fact, he had some very different ideas about the federal government working to put dollars in the hands of people who need it the most.
Check out this comment from Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz:
This is a guy, who while I served with him in Congress, voted for that [unemployment] assistance twice, and is certainly willing to take funding from the federal when people are out of a job and out of their home as a result of a hurricane, but not willing to take that assistance when his constituents are out of a job and out of a home as a result of this economic crisis. I’m not sure what the difference is. A crisis is a crisis.
Added Rep. Jim Clyburn:
“Jindal cosponsored and supported legislation to expand unemployment benefits and inject federal dollars into Louisiana’s unemployment trust fund. Yet today in the face of a financial disaster and record unemployment, he opposes similar action under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. What changed?”
What changed is that Bobby Jindal is now being considered a potential candidate for the presidency. So, it’s politics as usual for people like Jindal who don’t want to be outcast like Republicans are threatening to do with the senators from Maine and the GOP senator from Pennsylvania who dared vote for the stimulus package. Politics is a dirty business and I suspect Bobby Jindal will require a long shower after his Republican (likely hypocritical) response to President Barack Obama tonight.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/24/jindal-unemployment-insurance-katrina/
RNC Chairman Michael Steele Proves GOP Is As Close-Minded And Out Of Touch As Ever
Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele has proven once again that when it comes to connecting with real people, the GOP remains as out of touch, elitist, hostile and partisan as ever. The Republicans may have a new leader, but their politics remain as confrontational and partisan as ever. Steele proved that during an interview he conducted with
Fox News (I know, it’s difficult to believe) and “business” anchor Neil Cavuto:
CAVUTO: Republican Senators Collins, Specter, and Snowe who voted for the stimulus plan in the Senate, what…uhh…retribution will you exact?
STEELE: Look, my retribution is the retribution of the voters in their states. They’re going to have to go through a primary in which they’re going to have to explain to those Republican voters in that primary…
CAVUTO: I know, but will you, as RNC head recommend no RNC funds being provided to help them?
STEELE: That is something I’ll talk to the state parties about and we’ll follow their lead.
CAVUTO: So, in other words, are you open to that?
STEELE: Oh, yes, I’m always open to everything, baby, absolutely.
President Barack Obama has not made a lot of mistakes thus far. But one mistake he may have made was believing in this talk, these hopes and dreams of bipartisanship. Steele has proven he is no different from all the other leaders (like Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann) and the self-appointed, media-based leaders (like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly) of the Republican part. As time goes by, these extremists shut the door on any chance that this closed-society party will in any way diversify (sorry, but Michael Steele is not representative of diversity). It’s like the name of the 1989 rap album from Ice T: “Freedom of speech … just watch what you say.” The more good, strong-willed people the Republicans drive from their party the stronger the hold Democrats will put on the voters who would like to stay independent.
UPDATE: Take note of the fake-ass “baby” he slipped in there trying to sound cool. Don’t forget your antacid.
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/24/michael-steele-open-to-pu_n_169550.html
Fox News (I know, it’s difficult to believe) and “business” anchor Neil Cavuto:
CAVUTO: Republican Senators Collins, Specter, and Snowe who voted for the stimulus plan in the Senate, what…uhh…retribution will you exact?
STEELE: Look, my retribution is the retribution of the voters in their states. They’re going to have to go through a primary in which they’re going to have to explain to those Republican voters in that primary…
CAVUTO: I know, but will you, as RNC head recommend no RNC funds being provided to help them?
STEELE: That is something I’ll talk to the state parties about and we’ll follow their lead.
CAVUTO: So, in other words, are you open to that?
STEELE: Oh, yes, I’m always open to everything, baby, absolutely.
President Barack Obama has not made a lot of mistakes thus far. But one mistake he may have made was believing in this talk, these hopes and dreams of bipartisanship. Steele has proven he is no different from all the other leaders (like Newt Gingrich and Michele Bachmann) and the self-appointed, media-based leaders (like Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly) of the Republican part. As time goes by, these extremists shut the door on any chance that this closed-society party will in any way diversify (sorry, but Michael Steele is not representative of diversity). It’s like the name of the 1989 rap album from Ice T: “Freedom of speech … just watch what you say.” The more good, strong-willed people the Republicans drive from their party the stronger the hold Democrats will put on the voters who would like to stay independent.
UPDATE: Take note of the fake-ass “baby” he slipped in there trying to sound cool. Don’t forget your antacid.
Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/24/michael-steele-open-to-pu_n_169550.html
Bernard Goldberg, A Right-Wing Clown, Is A Hack
Media Matters for America has documented the falsehoods and half truths in right-wing extremist Bernard Goldberg’s new book supposedly designed to expose the alleged torrid love affair between the so-called mainstream media and President Barack Obama. Goldberg is a hack, a fraud and has zero credibility. As a side note, I watched an interview Goldberg did with CNN’s Howard Kurtz, and it was pathetic. Kurtz seemed intimidated and off his game. He let Goldberg off the hook time and time again, hardly challenged him on the books documented false hoods, let him off the hook about bias at Fox News and so on and so forth.
Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200901270026?f=s_search
Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200901270026?f=s_search
Puff-Piece Bill O’Reilly Interview With Right-Wing Propagandist John Ziegler
Fox News conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly is continuing his on-air love affair with Sarah Palin as he works overtime to protect her honor. O’Reilly just lied and said “he doesn’t have a dog in the hunt,” but he has a clear pro-Palin bias. O’Reilly has the audacity to callMSNBC “kooky far left” on a net work that is “kooky far right.” So, maybe that balances out in an odd sort of way. Bill O’Reilly has not even thrown one remotely tough question at this right-wing clown John Ziegler who has put together this one-sided piece sucking up to Palin. O’Reilly did nothing to confront this guy and goes buck wild to cheer the guy on. That was a pitiful interview. Next, he is preparing to go after Helen Thomas again (the legendary White House correspondent that he pathetically trashed for no apparent reason as he likened her to the Wicked Witch of the East). Obviously, the heat he has taken for his verbal attack of Helen Thomas continues to bother this right-wing hack.
Bill O’Reilly And Two Other Right Wingers Show Bias
Conservative commentator Bill O’Reilly is on Fox News with Juan Williams and Mary Katharine Ham (all three conservatives … even Williams who agrees with O’Reilly too much to be considered a liberal) to provide analysis. Certainly, this is not unbiased analysis. Ham is at least a confessed right winger while O’Reilly and Williams try to front as if they are not right wingers.
Bill O’Reilly Setting The Stage For Crying Fit About Poor George W. Bush
I can see it coming already. Conservative Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly is apparently upset that he feels President Barack Obama is putting too much blame on former president George W. Bush. I suppose Bill thinks that Bush is completely innocent, and Obama should say nothing bad about poor Bush.
Michael Steele’s Words A Sign Of Kinder Gentler Republicans … Uh, No
Here are some comments from Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele in reference to a question about gay marriage/civil unions:
MIKE GALLAGHER: Is this a time when Republicans ought to consider some sort of alternative to redefining marriage and maybe in the road, down the road to civil unions. Do you favor civil unions?
MICHAEL STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you, crazy? No.Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn’t something that you just kind of like, “Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage.” […]
GALLAGHER: So no room even for a conversation about civil unions in your mind?
STEELE: What’s the difference?
So much for the kinder gentler Republican party under the direction of Michael Steele. I guess that tent for the Republican party is still quite exclusive. Apparently, to Michael Steele, feels gay marriage is backsliding “on a core, founding value of this country.” Wow.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/23/steele-crazy-civil-unions/
MIKE GALLAGHER: Is this a time when Republicans ought to consider some sort of alternative to redefining marriage and maybe in the road, down the road to civil unions. Do you favor civil unions?
MICHAEL STEELE: No, no no. What would we do that for? What are you, crazy? No.Why would we backslide on a core, founding value of this country? I mean this isn’t something that you just kind of like, “Oh well, today I feel, you know, loosey-goosey on marriage.” […]
GALLAGHER: So no room even for a conversation about civil unions in your mind?
STEELE: What’s the difference?
So much for the kinder gentler Republican party under the direction of Michael Steele. I guess that tent for the Republican party is still quite exclusive. Apparently, to Michael Steele, feels gay marriage is backsliding “on a core, founding value of this country.” Wow.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/23/steele-crazy-civil-unions/
Are Republicans On The Road To Disaster?
Republicans, these days in particular, are doing a poor job picking their leaders these days. Here is a column from Media Matters for America talking the road the Republicans are on … perhaps a road to disaster.
Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200902230016?f=h_top
Media Matters for America:
http://mediamatters.org/columns/200902230016?f=h_top
Check Out Jay Smooth On The Racist New York Post Cartoon
Jay Smooth comes out smooth, as always, with one of his latest videos discussing the racist cartoon run by the New York Post:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpQciGXIaM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpQciGXIaM
Bill O’Reilly Finds New Angle To Cry About Treatment Of The Woman He Hearts: Sarah Palin
I’m not sure what Bill O’Reilly was doing or where he was when the press was having a field day with the Sarah Palin of the late 1980s, former vice president Dan Quayle, but he sure is putting up a passionate and relentless defense against all who question, criticize or make fun of the governor of Alaska and former Republican candidate for the vice presidency. Quayle was the butt of many jokes and this was well before the age of the Internet as we know it with online blogging and instant news. Was Quayle’s treatment sexist? Or, was the treatment of the former vice president perhaps justified by his performances leading up to the election and during his four-year tenure as vice president? The teaser for tonight’s O’Reilly Factor reads, “PALIN AND THE PRESS: Inside a controversial documentaruy that blasts the media’s treatment of Palin.” Seems as though Bill is getting ready for another show notably lacking in any degree of fairness and balance while he again tries to come to the rescue of Sarah Palin. I guess time will tell if he lives up to his reputation for being unfair and unbalanced while proudly (and ridiculously) claiming to be otherwise.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/index.html
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/index.html
I Am Not Buying The “Oh, The Athletics Dept. Brings In All Of This So Everything Is OK” Defense
One more thing about this whole press conference flap involving Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun. I found an article on Fan House that had the following excerpt:
While the University of Connecticut is a state-supported university, the athletic department is self-supporting. Much like many major Division I athletic departments. This means, that while Calhoun does have his salary approved by the trustees at UConn, the money does not come from the school or state funds.
Please stop trying to push the myth that athletics are something separate from the university as a whole. It perpetuates negative myths about athletics and about student-athletes being above the university as a whole. Let us, for the sake of discussion, accept the premise of the author’s argument as right on the money (it’s difficult to do, but I will try for the sake of discussion). The author seems to feel that the athletics department is pretty much self sufficient (in other words: not really getting assistance from the rest of the university or the state).
Some things for the author to ponder:
1. The athletics department is probably not paying rent for the use of the state’s facilities for games, practices, coaching offices, etc.
2. The athletics department is not paying its student-athletes.
3. Who pays for the police, sports information, staff, equipment, electricity, ushers and other forms of security at events?
4. Are attendees at an event parking on state-owned property? And, if so, is the athletics department paying rent for use of this parking area?
5. Is the athletics department paying the licensing fee to use the UConn logo and name?
6. Is the athletics department paying rent for summer camps that make money on state-owned property?
7. If the athletics department is self sufficient and doesn’t use state funds … then does that mean it is not bound by Title IX?
8. If the athletics department is self sufficient and Calhoun’s salary is not paid by the university (the state) then why would the board have to approve his contract?
I mean, I could go on and on. So, to make it seem as though the athletics department is completely self sufficient and essentially getting nothing from the university is ridiculous.
Fan House:
http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/02/21/jim-calhoun-gets-irritated-at-questions-over-his-salary/
While the University of Connecticut is a state-supported university, the athletic department is self-supporting. Much like many major Division I athletic departments. This means, that while Calhoun does have his salary approved by the trustees at UConn, the money does not come from the school or state funds.
Please stop trying to push the myth that athletics are something separate from the university as a whole. It perpetuates negative myths about athletics and about student-athletes being above the university as a whole. Let us, for the sake of discussion, accept the premise of the author’s argument as right on the money (it’s difficult to do, but I will try for the sake of discussion). The author seems to feel that the athletics department is pretty much self sufficient (in other words: not really getting assistance from the rest of the university or the state).
Some things for the author to ponder:
1. The athletics department is probably not paying rent for the use of the state’s facilities for games, practices, coaching offices, etc.
2. The athletics department is not paying its student-athletes.
3. Who pays for the police, sports information, staff, equipment, electricity, ushers and other forms of security at events?
4. Are attendees at an event parking on state-owned property? And, if so, is the athletics department paying rent for use of this parking area?
5. Is the athletics department paying the licensing fee to use the UConn logo and name?
6. Is the athletics department paying rent for summer camps that make money on state-owned property?
7. If the athletics department is self sufficient and doesn’t use state funds … then does that mean it is not bound by Title IX?
8. If the athletics department is self sufficient and Calhoun’s salary is not paid by the university (the state) then why would the board have to approve his contract?
I mean, I could go on and on. So, to make it seem as though the athletics department is completely self sufficient and essentially getting nothing from the university is ridiculous.
Fan House:
http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2009/02/21/jim-calhoun-gets-irritated-at-questions-over-his-salary/
One Husky To Another: Geno Auriemma Tries To Come To Jim Calhoun’s Rescue In Salary-Gate
Here is an excerpt from the Philadelphia Daily News about some unsolicited assistance Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun is getting from a familiar source in the wake of the press-conference spat heard around the country:
Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma came to the defense of men’s coach Jim Calhoun yesterday, a day after a heated exchange between Calhoun and an activist over the coach’s seven-figure salary.
Auriemma, who recently signed a 5-year, $8 million deal, said he doesn’t think it’s fair to ask someone who has worked as hard as Calhoun whether he deserves the money he makes, especially during a postgame news conference.
“I think it’s unfair in this setting and I would venture to say it’s unfair in any setting,” Auriemma said. “How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life.”
Auriemma pointed out that the coaches’ salaries come mostly from funds the athletic department has raised.
Auriemma is flat out wrong. As basketball coaches you are employees of the state and you are accountable to the citizens of the state. We expect transparency from our state employees and state employees are expected to submit to a high level of transparency in regard to salary. This is not the private sector, Geno. This is not a question about your personal life. No one is expecting you to necessarily expose what you’re doing with the money, but there is an expectation that what you make is going to be on the public record. I do agree with Auriemma, however, in that the setting for the question was unfair, but to say it was unfair in any setting is incorrect. Auriemma asks, “How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life?” Answer: If the questions is about your salary (and you’re a state employee like Calhoun is) you answer it honestly or refer people to the place where they can get the answer (Human Resources). Under the circumstances, I think Calhoun handled the questions better (a lot nicer) than a lot of us would have answered them.
Philadelphia Daily News:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090223_Auriemma_defends_coaching_salaries.html
Connecticut women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma came to the defense of men’s coach Jim Calhoun yesterday, a day after a heated exchange between Calhoun and an activist over the coach’s seven-figure salary.
Auriemma, who recently signed a 5-year, $8 million deal, said he doesn’t think it’s fair to ask someone who has worked as hard as Calhoun whether he deserves the money he makes, especially during a postgame news conference.
“I think it’s unfair in this setting and I would venture to say it’s unfair in any setting,” Auriemma said. “How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life.”
Auriemma pointed out that the coaches’ salaries come mostly from funds the athletic department has raised.
Auriemma is flat out wrong. As basketball coaches you are employees of the state and you are accountable to the citizens of the state. We expect transparency from our state employees and state employees are expected to submit to a high level of transparency in regard to salary. This is not the private sector, Geno. This is not a question about your personal life. No one is expecting you to necessarily expose what you’re doing with the money, but there is an expectation that what you make is going to be on the public record. I do agree with Auriemma, however, in that the setting for the question was unfair, but to say it was unfair in any setting is incorrect. Auriemma asks, “How do you answer questions about money, about your personal life?” Answer: If the questions is about your salary (and you’re a state employee like Calhoun is) you answer it honestly or refer people to the place where they can get the answer (Human Resources). Under the circumstances, I think Calhoun handled the questions better (a lot nicer) than a lot of us would have answered them.
Philadelphia Daily News:
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090223_Auriemma_defends_coaching_salaries.html
Both Men At Fault In Jim Calhoun Press Conference Confrontation
Connecticut men’s basketball coach Jim Calhoun was blindsided by a question about his salary during a press conference following a game. Calhoun was confronted by a man named Ken Krayeske, who is some kind of freelance journalist and/or photographer.
Here is an excerpt from the AP story:
Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun got into a heated exchange at a postgame news conference Saturday with a freelance journalist and political activist who questioned why the coach of a public university was making $1.6 million in tough economic times.
“Not a dime back,” Calhoun joked as Ken Krayeske asked about Calhoun’s salary and the state’s budget deficit, which is estimated at $944 million for the current fiscal year and up to $8 billion over the next two years.
That was how it started and the fireworks were just getting started. Krayeske continued to press the issue with Calhoun (who I honestly think either thought the guy was joking or that he could diffuse the issue with a little wisecrack back … boy, was he wrong). This guy continued to try and push the buttons of Calhoun, who said, “My best advice to you is, shut up.” As you might expect, Krayeske was not willing to take that little nugget of wisdom from Calhoun, a coach of two NCAA Division I men’s basketball national championship teams of Connecticut.
Calhoun added this:
“Quite frankly, we bring in $12 million to the university, nothing to do with state funds,” Calhoun shouted back. “We make $12 million a year for this university. Get some facts and come back and see me. … Don’t throw out salaries and other things.
“Get some facts and come back and see me. We turn over $12 million to the University of Connecticut, which is state-run. Next question.”
I’ll make a couple of points about this whole uncomfortable exchange between the two men. First, Krayeske was out of line, in my opinion, to blindside Calhoun with this kind of out-of-context question (out of context in the sense that after the game you generally question a coach about issues directly related to the game). If a person at a press conference is to ask a coach about issues like this then he/she should work to schedule a sit-down meeting with the individual or a phone interview. To challenge Calhoun in that kind of forum was wrong. This line of questioning leads me to believe that the questioner was trying to gain noteriety for himself and was merely using Calhoun as a prop of sorts. My second point is Calhoun was out of line for acting as if he is some huge benefactor graciously giving $12 million to the the university every year (I would like to see some documentation of that, but that is a seperate issue). The university pays Calhoun, funds his program to go out and get these student-athletes, to travel all over creation, to have uniforms, to have facilities, to have great salaries and so on and so forth. I don’t blame Calhoun for how he reacted to the questioner (actually, I might not have been so nice … and I was a sports writer for newspapers for 12 years), but he should exercise a little humility in trying to show what the basketball program does for the university. He would be wise also to remember what the university and the people of the state do for the basketball program.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3924716
Sports Illustrated:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/02/21/calhoun.salary.ap/index.html
Here is an excerpt from the AP story:
Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun got into a heated exchange at a postgame news conference Saturday with a freelance journalist and political activist who questioned why the coach of a public university was making $1.6 million in tough economic times.
“Not a dime back,” Calhoun joked as Ken Krayeske asked about Calhoun’s salary and the state’s budget deficit, which is estimated at $944 million for the current fiscal year and up to $8 billion over the next two years.
That was how it started and the fireworks were just getting started. Krayeske continued to press the issue with Calhoun (who I honestly think either thought the guy was joking or that he could diffuse the issue with a little wisecrack back … boy, was he wrong). This guy continued to try and push the buttons of Calhoun, who said, “My best advice to you is, shut up.” As you might expect, Krayeske was not willing to take that little nugget of wisdom from Calhoun, a coach of two NCAA Division I men’s basketball national championship teams of Connecticut.
Calhoun added this:
“Quite frankly, we bring in $12 million to the university, nothing to do with state funds,” Calhoun shouted back. “We make $12 million a year for this university. Get some facts and come back and see me. … Don’t throw out salaries and other things.
“Get some facts and come back and see me. We turn over $12 million to the University of Connecticut, which is state-run. Next question.”
I’ll make a couple of points about this whole uncomfortable exchange between the two men. First, Krayeske was out of line, in my opinion, to blindside Calhoun with this kind of out-of-context question (out of context in the sense that after the game you generally question a coach about issues directly related to the game). If a person at a press conference is to ask a coach about issues like this then he/she should work to schedule a sit-down meeting with the individual or a phone interview. To challenge Calhoun in that kind of forum was wrong. This line of questioning leads me to believe that the questioner was trying to gain noteriety for himself and was merely using Calhoun as a prop of sorts. My second point is Calhoun was out of line for acting as if he is some huge benefactor graciously giving $12 million to the the university every year (I would like to see some documentation of that, but that is a seperate issue). The university pays Calhoun, funds his program to go out and get these student-athletes, to travel all over creation, to have uniforms, to have facilities, to have great salaries and so on and so forth. I don’t blame Calhoun for how he reacted to the questioner (actually, I might not have been so nice … and I was a sports writer for newspapers for 12 years), but he should exercise a little humility in trying to show what the basketball program does for the university. He would be wise also to remember what the university and the people of the state do for the basketball program.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=3924716
Sports Illustrated:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/basketball/ncaa/02/21/calhoun.salary.ap/index.html
Furor Over Kwame Kilpatrick’s New Job Is Sort Of Puzzling
I keep hearing all of these people spewing hatred toward former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick(recently released from jail after lying in the highly-publicized text messaging sex scandal). I am not going to single out any one column or blog for this particular posting. Frankly, there simply are too many to choose from and they all make the same basic points. People are upset because Detroit-based businessman Peter Karmanos (who has done unbelievable work for the city of Detroit when others abandoned it and moved to the suburbs or out of the state) has hired Kilpatrick and given him a high-paying job. People seem to be additionally upset because the former mayor has a nice house in one of the richest suburbs of Dallas. I guess these same people would be happy if Kilpatrick was working at McDonalds, collecting minimum wage and mopping floors. Of course, these same critics also would be pissed that he isn’t paying back the $1 million he owes Detroit. It’s pretty difficult to pay back $1 million working at McDonalds. If this job helps Kilpatrick pay back the city of Detroit (and all parties can move on to bigger and better things) then I am all for it. It appears (emphasis on: appears) Kilpatrick is working toward paying his debt to the city of Detroit. Hopefully he gets it done and everyone moves on. This bitterness toward Kilpatrick for having a good job is just silly. now, if he is not paying back the city of Detroit then that would be a problem that requires attention.
The O’Reilly Sucks Blog Still Waiting On BillO To Settle Some Housekeeping
The O’Reilly Sucks Blog has been doing a countdown-of-sorts on a few issues that Bill O’Reilly is not-so-surprisingly ignoring.
Here is the list:
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/
Here is the list:
- Still nothing on the racist NY Post dead chimp cartoon.
- Still nothing on the 62% Gallup Poll saying Bush should be investigated.
- Still nothing on the FOX Producer arrested for child porn.
- And still no apology for Helen Thomas or Courtney Martin.
We would be advised not to hold our breath waiting on O’Reilly to do what needs to be done.
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/
Friday, February 20, 2009
Fox News Host Greta Van Susteren’s Awful Attack Of Barack Obama
Fox News host Greta Van Susteren, who is portrayed as a “liberal” on the conservative-leaning station was disgracefully biased against President Barack Obama during an interview she was allowed to conduct with former president Bill Clinton. Van Susteren proved to be unworthy of such an honor with her ridiculous and partisan attack of President Obama as only having visited states that he won (the Arizona trip he made must have slipped her mind) during the election. Clinton pointed out that Obama was visiting states that were having a hard time and pointed out that Obama was scheduled to visit Arizona (a state he lost that also is the home state of his presidential election rival, Sen. John McCain). Van Susteren was not too impressed by that and stumbled over her own anti-Obama, pro-Fox News bias. She looked bad in trying to justify an obviously biased point she made and looked especially bad after Clinton called her out with the point that the president was going to Arizona. I think Greta is the one who needs to set a different tone and a less biased tone.
For the video:
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/fox-news-host-greta-van-susterens-awful-attack-of-barack-obama/
Obama visit to Arizona:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2009/02/17/20090217gr-prez-advanceplan0218-CP.html
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/20/greta-complains-obama-visits/
For the video:
http://simmerdown3.wordpress.com/2009/02/21/fox-news-host-greta-van-susterens-awful-attack-of-barack-obama/
Obama visit to Arizona:
http://www.azcentral.com/community/ahwatukee/articles/2009/02/17/20090217gr-prez-advanceplan0218-CP.html
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/20/greta-complains-obama-visits/
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, A Potential Presidential Candidate, Playing Politics
Gov. Bobby Jindal is a smart man and he is playing the game, and clearly playing it to win. Jindal is being pushed as a potential presidential candidate either in 2012 or 2016. Thus, he has to watch his moves closely as he tries to position himself correctly to be able to potentially run for the highest office in the land. Thus, to appeal to his conservative base, Jindal is apparently turning down a big chunk of stimulus package money. That is his choice, but I hope he is considering more than just his political aspirations in doing so … especially with a state still suffering the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Think Progress had these comments from New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin:
As New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin suggested earlier today, perhaps Jindal’s presidential ambitions are “clouding” his judgement. “I think he’s been tapped as the up-and-coming Republican to petition a run for president the next time it goes around. So he has a certain vernacular, and a certain way he needs to talk right now,” Nagin said.
We will see if the strategy pays off for Jindal in the end. Personally, I kind of like Jindal, but I hope he is thinking this thing through and not taking his advice from Michael Steele or other high-ranking Republican officials who might be grooming him to run against Obama or to run in 2016.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/20/jindal-unemployed/
Think Progress had these comments from New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin:
As New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin suggested earlier today, perhaps Jindal’s presidential ambitions are “clouding” his judgement. “I think he’s been tapped as the up-and-coming Republican to petition a run for president the next time it goes around. So he has a certain vernacular, and a certain way he needs to talk right now,” Nagin said.
We will see if the strategy pays off for Jindal in the end. Personally, I kind of like Jindal, but I hope he is thinking this thing through and not taking his advice from Michael Steele or other high-ranking Republican officials who might be grooming him to run against Obama or to run in 2016.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/20/jindal-unemployed/
The O’Reilly Sucks Blog Has A Particularly Interesting Series Of Points
This is from The O’Reilly Sucks Blog:
O’Reilly has still not said a word about the Gallup Poll that says 62% of Americans support an investigation of Bush for crimes, or the NY Post chimp cartoon that has the cops killing the chimp and saying he wont be writing any more stimulus bills. It’s racist, offensive, an insult to Obama and the Democrats, and O’Reilly has not said a word about it.
Now imagine what he would say if that cartoon was about a black Republican President, he would go nuts and call for the paper to fire the cartoonist. But when it’s about a black Democrat President he is silent as a mouse.
The O’Reilly Sucks Blog:
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/
O’Reilly has still not said a word about the Gallup Poll that says 62% of Americans support an investigation of Bush for crimes, or the NY Post chimp cartoon that has the cops killing the chimp and saying he wont be writing any more stimulus bills. It’s racist, offensive, an insult to Obama and the Democrats, and O’Reilly has not said a word about it.
Now imagine what he would say if that cartoon was about a black Republican President, he would go nuts and call for the paper to fire the cartoonist. But when it’s about a black Democrat President he is silent as a mouse.
The O’Reilly Sucks Blog:
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/
Bob Beckel Didn’t Have To Suck Up To Rush Limbaugh Quite So Much
I can understand Fox News liberalcommentator Bob Beckel feeling uncomfortable with some comments posters had made against conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh referencing his past drug troubles. Beckel, however, sugarcoats Limbaugh’s drug problems and then chastizes people for bringing it up as he references his own substance-abuse problems.
For the record, from Wikipedia, this shows that Limbaugh had more than just an addiction to pain killers:
On October 3, 2003 the National Enquirerreported that Limbaugh was being investigated for illegally obtaining the prescription drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone. Other news outlets quickly confirmed the investigation. He admitted to listeners on his radio show on October 10 that he was addicted to prescription painkillers and stated that he would enter inpatient treatment for 30 days, immediately after the broadcast. Limbaugh stated his addiction to painkillers resulted from several years of severe back pain heightened by a botched surgery intended to correct those problems.
A subsequent investigation into whether Limbaugh had violated Florida’s doctor shopping laws was launched by the Palm Beach State Attorney, which raised privacy issues when investigators seized Limbaugh’s private medical records looking for evidence of crimes. On November 9, 2005, following two years of investigations, Assistant State Attorney James L. Martz requested the court to set aside Limbaugh’s doctor-patient confidentiality rights and allow the state to question his physicians, stating it was necessary because “I have no idea if Mr. Limbaugh has completed the elements of any offense yet.” Limbaugh’s attorney opposed the prosecutor’s efforts to interview his doctors on the basis of patient privacy rights, and argued that the prosecutor had violated Limbaugh’s Fourth Amendment rights by illegally seizing his medical records. The ACLU issued a statement in agreement and filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Limbaugh. On December 12, 2005, Judge David F. Crow delivered a ruling prohibiting the State of Florida from questioning Limbaugh’s physicians about “the medical condition of the patient and any information disclosed to the health care practitioner by the patient in the course of the care and treatment of the patient.”
On April 28, 2006, Limbaugh and his attorney, Roy Black, went to the Palm Beach County Jail to surrender after a warrant was issued for his arrest on the charge of doctor shopping. According to Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Sheriff, during his arrest, Limbaugh was booked, photographed, and fingerprinted, but not handcuffed. He was then released after about an hour on $3,000 bail. After his surrender, he filed a “not guilty” plea to the charge. Prosecutors agreed to drop the charge if Limbaugh paid $30,000 to defray the cost of the investigation and completed an 18-month therapy regimen with his physician.
Limbaugh asserted that the state’s settlement agreement resulted from a lack of evidence supporting the charge of “doctor shopping.” Under the terms of the agreement, Limbaugh may not own a firearm for eighteen months and must continue to submit to random drug testing, which he acknowledges having undergone since 2003.
The deal contrasts the fact that Limbaugh has, throughout the years, condemned illegal drug use on his radio broadcast and has stated that those convicted of drug crimes should be sent to jail.
Roy Black, one of Limbaugh’s attorneys, stated that “Rush Limbaugh was singled out for prosecution because of who he is. We believe the state attorney’s office is applying a double standard.”
In June 2006, Limbaugh was detained by drug enforcement agents at Palm Beach International Airport shortly after cutting the deal on the painkiller charges in April. Customs officials confiscated Viagra from Limbaugh’s luggage as he was returning from the Dominican Republic. The prescription was not in Limbaugh’s name. After he was released with no charges filed, Limbaugh joked on his radio show, “I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Wish I could tell you about it.”
There were some illegalities involved here that simply can not be ignored. I am a big believer of letting a person move on from mistakes and not bringing up personal things like that simply to score points. But there are/were some criminal issues at play in the Limbaugh case and it was not as simple as a guy who had an addiction and got over it. Limbaugh spent a career being critical of people illegally abusing drugs and his chickens sort of came home to roost. Personally, I believe in beating Limbaugh on the issues. Also, Beckel (who is a good man and puts up a good fight most of the time against the powers-that-be on an almost exclusively right-wing network) certainly did not have to devote a whole column to stroking Limbaugh and feeding his already substantial ego. It probably plays well to the Fox News audience, but it was not worth the cost.
Fox News:
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/02/19/beckel_limbaugh_addiction/
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh
For the record, from Wikipedia, this shows that Limbaugh had more than just an addiction to pain killers:
On October 3, 2003 the National Enquirerreported that Limbaugh was being investigated for illegally obtaining the prescription drugs oxycodone and hydrocodone. Other news outlets quickly confirmed the investigation. He admitted to listeners on his radio show on October 10 that he was addicted to prescription painkillers and stated that he would enter inpatient treatment for 30 days, immediately after the broadcast. Limbaugh stated his addiction to painkillers resulted from several years of severe back pain heightened by a botched surgery intended to correct those problems.
A subsequent investigation into whether Limbaugh had violated Florida’s doctor shopping laws was launched by the Palm Beach State Attorney, which raised privacy issues when investigators seized Limbaugh’s private medical records looking for evidence of crimes. On November 9, 2005, following two years of investigations, Assistant State Attorney James L. Martz requested the court to set aside Limbaugh’s doctor-patient confidentiality rights and allow the state to question his physicians, stating it was necessary because “I have no idea if Mr. Limbaugh has completed the elements of any offense yet.” Limbaugh’s attorney opposed the prosecutor’s efforts to interview his doctors on the basis of patient privacy rights, and argued that the prosecutor had violated Limbaugh’s Fourth Amendment rights by illegally seizing his medical records. The ACLU issued a statement in agreement and filed an amicus curiae brief in support of Limbaugh. On December 12, 2005, Judge David F. Crow delivered a ruling prohibiting the State of Florida from questioning Limbaugh’s physicians about “the medical condition of the patient and any information disclosed to the health care practitioner by the patient in the course of the care and treatment of the patient.”
On April 28, 2006, Limbaugh and his attorney, Roy Black, went to the Palm Beach County Jail to surrender after a warrant was issued for his arrest on the charge of doctor shopping. According to Teri Barbera, spokeswoman for the Sheriff, during his arrest, Limbaugh was booked, photographed, and fingerprinted, but not handcuffed. He was then released after about an hour on $3,000 bail. After his surrender, he filed a “not guilty” plea to the charge. Prosecutors agreed to drop the charge if Limbaugh paid $30,000 to defray the cost of the investigation and completed an 18-month therapy regimen with his physician.
Limbaugh asserted that the state’s settlement agreement resulted from a lack of evidence supporting the charge of “doctor shopping.” Under the terms of the agreement, Limbaugh may not own a firearm for eighteen months and must continue to submit to random drug testing, which he acknowledges having undergone since 2003.
The deal contrasts the fact that Limbaugh has, throughout the years, condemned illegal drug use on his radio broadcast and has stated that those convicted of drug crimes should be sent to jail.
Roy Black, one of Limbaugh’s attorneys, stated that “Rush Limbaugh was singled out for prosecution because of who he is. We believe the state attorney’s office is applying a double standard.”
In June 2006, Limbaugh was detained by drug enforcement agents at Palm Beach International Airport shortly after cutting the deal on the painkiller charges in April. Customs officials confiscated Viagra from Limbaugh’s luggage as he was returning from the Dominican Republic. The prescription was not in Limbaugh’s name. After he was released with no charges filed, Limbaugh joked on his radio show, “I had a great time in the Dominican Republic. Wish I could tell you about it.”
There were some illegalities involved here that simply can not be ignored. I am a big believer of letting a person move on from mistakes and not bringing up personal things like that simply to score points. But there are/were some criminal issues at play in the Limbaugh case and it was not as simple as a guy who had an addiction and got over it. Limbaugh spent a career being critical of people illegally abusing drugs and his chickens sort of came home to roost. Personally, I believe in beating Limbaugh on the issues. Also, Beckel (who is a good man and puts up a good fight most of the time against the powers-that-be on an almost exclusively right-wing network) certainly did not have to devote a whole column to stroking Limbaugh and feeding his already substantial ego. It probably plays well to the Fox News audience, but it was not worth the cost.
Fox News:
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/02/19/beckel_limbaugh_addiction/
Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rush_Limbaugh
Race Relations Study Could Be Interesting, But Results Are Not Moving
Psychology professors from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Florida State University conducted a study about race relations since Barack Obama became the first black president of the United States.
Here is an excerpt:
Racial prejudice among whites decreased following Barack Obama’s groundbreaking presidential candidacy, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison and Florida State psychology professors.
Patricia Devine, a UW-Madison psychology professor, and E. Ashby Plant, a Florida State psychology professor, conducted the study that examined President Obama’s influence in the way whites perceive blacks.
The full study could bear something of merit, but I do not believe that a man with obvious crossover appeal like President Obama is going to change the perceptions among everyday people toward individuals of different races. People have a tendency to think when one person of color “makes it” (Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, etc.) that it is going to shake up and instantly repair race relations.
Sorry, but it will take more than Barack Obama’s election to change relations and make this truly a post-racial world. If you need evidence look at the idiocy of that recent racist cartoon run in the New York Post.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/20/study-obamas-electoral-victory-lessened-prejudice-blacks/
Here is an excerpt:
Racial prejudice among whites decreased following Barack Obama’s groundbreaking presidential candidacy, according to a new study by University of Wisconsin-Madison and Florida State psychology professors.
Patricia Devine, a UW-Madison psychology professor, and E. Ashby Plant, a Florida State psychology professor, conducted the study that examined President Obama’s influence in the way whites perceive blacks.
The full study could bear something of merit, but I do not believe that a man with obvious crossover appeal like President Obama is going to change the perceptions among everyday people toward individuals of different races. People have a tendency to think when one person of color “makes it” (Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Tiger Woods, etc.) that it is going to shake up and instantly repair race relations.
Sorry, but it will take more than Barack Obama’s election to change relations and make this truly a post-racial world. If you need evidence look at the idiocy of that recent racist cartoon run in the New York Post.
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/02/20/study-obamas-electoral-victory-lessened-prejudice-blacks/
Republicans Whine About Poor And Struggling People Get Bailouts, But Not Millionaire Executives
This is what makes me shake my head when I think about the sentiment of conservatives who obsess over programs designed to help the poor, the struggling and the downtrodden, but worry far less about bailouts for millionaire corporate executives who run organizations into the ground and get bailouts from the taxpayers.
Consider this from a Fox News story: Michelle Fry is a suburban Atlanta homeowner who has seen the value of her modest one-family home drop by more than half in the past year. She now sees a national mortgage bailout plan that appears to reward people who bought more house than they could afford and can’t pay their bills. And she has a simple question for President Obama:
“Why am I paying for them?”
“We are very frustrated and scared,” said Fry, 32, a newly expectant mother who works as a creative director for a public relations firm. Her husband Sam, 38, is a truck driver for a local printing company. Their combined household income is less than $100,000.
“My husband and I always discuss, ‘Why do we try to better ourselves, when it seems if you do nothing, you get all the help in the world?’” she said.
Conservatives typically obsess about poor people getting help from the government to stay in their homes, but excuse the banks and other big-money corporations when they are in financial trouble. I will give the author of this article credit for trying to find a successful family with a solid, but not huge yearly combined income. Still, you can’t help but feel the arrogance coming from those words at people who turn their nose in the air when they see their fellow citizens struggling to stay in their home. They don’t blame the banks/predatory lenders … no, instead they blame Joe and Jane Citizen.
This quote gets me though:
“My husband and I always discuss, ‘Why do we try to better ourselves, when it seems if you do nothing, you get all the help in the world?’” she said.
It blows my mind how many people who have nice incomes, a home, cars and stability act like people who are getting government assistance have it made. Switch shoes with the person who is losing their home and needs help and ask them if they’re getting “all the help in the world.”
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,497707,00.html
Consider this from a Fox News story: Michelle Fry is a suburban Atlanta homeowner who has seen the value of her modest one-family home drop by more than half in the past year. She now sees a national mortgage bailout plan that appears to reward people who bought more house than they could afford and can’t pay their bills. And she has a simple question for President Obama:
“Why am I paying for them?”
“We are very frustrated and scared,” said Fry, 32, a newly expectant mother who works as a creative director for a public relations firm. Her husband Sam, 38, is a truck driver for a local printing company. Their combined household income is less than $100,000.
“My husband and I always discuss, ‘Why do we try to better ourselves, when it seems if you do nothing, you get all the help in the world?’” she said.
Conservatives typically obsess about poor people getting help from the government to stay in their homes, but excuse the banks and other big-money corporations when they are in financial trouble. I will give the author of this article credit for trying to find a successful family with a solid, but not huge yearly combined income. Still, you can’t help but feel the arrogance coming from those words at people who turn their nose in the air when they see their fellow citizens struggling to stay in their home. They don’t blame the banks/predatory lenders … no, instead they blame Joe and Jane Citizen.
This quote gets me though:
“My husband and I always discuss, ‘Why do we try to better ourselves, when it seems if you do nothing, you get all the help in the world?’” she said.
It blows my mind how many people who have nice incomes, a home, cars and stability act like people who are getting government assistance have it made. Switch shoes with the person who is losing their home and needs help and ask them if they’re getting “all the help in the world.”
Fox News:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,497707,00.html
Quite Simply: Republicans Should Not Be Hypocrites
Writing for CNN, Paul Begala wrote a column titled, “If you oppose stimulus, don’t take the money.” I could not agree more. Republicans should not be hypocrites. All who voted against the stimulus package should not take a dime of that money. This is an opportunity to prove that they are not the dirty reality of images people have of politicians who say one thing and then do another.
Paul Begala/CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/16/begala.carolina/index.html
Paul Begala/CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/16/begala.carolina/index.html
Is It Time For Roland Burris To Check Out?
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is one name on a growing list of names who believe it is time for Sen. Roland Burris to check out. Quinn said as much recently, and it’s difficult to argue.
“At this time we have a senator who has a cloud over his head,” Quinn said as quoted by CNN. “It’s time (for Burris) to put the interest of the people of the land of Lincoln ahead of his own and step aside and resign from office.”
Sen. Burris has too many controversies attached to his name that it is apparent he will be ineffective as a senator and probably needs to step aside in favor of someone who can get business done for the people of Illinois.
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/20/breaking-illinois-governor-calls-for-burris-to-resign/
“At this time we have a senator who has a cloud over his head,” Quinn said as quoted by CNN. “It’s time (for Burris) to put the interest of the people of the land of Lincoln ahead of his own and step aside and resign from office.”
Sen. Burris has too many controversies attached to his name that it is apparent he will be ineffective as a senator and probably needs to step aside in favor of someone who can get business done for the people of Illinois.
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/20/breaking-illinois-governor-calls-for-burris-to-resign/
Republicans Have Some Nerve
After eight years of running up the deficit, wiping out a budget surplus, getting us into war in Afghanistan, getting us into war in Iraq, damaging our civil liberties, torture of prisoners, scandals involving former vice president Dick Cheney, scandals involving former president George W. Bush, running the once-strong leader reputation of the United States into the ground worldwide, damaging alliances with fellow world powers, creating an almost catastrophic economic mess, overseeing a monumental housing crisis mess and more, Republicans have the audacity to say after Barack Obama’s first month as president:
It’s the one-month anniversary of President Obama’s swearing-in, and not surprisingly the Republican National Committee is out with its’ verdict: It’s been “disappointing.”
“Obama’s first month has been marked by wasteful spending, failed bipartisanship, and questionable ethics,” the RNC said in a document circulated to reporters.
The RNC specifically faults the new president for failing to garner a significant amount of GOP votes for his massive stimulus plan, despite pledges of bipartisanship during the presidential campaign.
Republicans have some nerve. I guess things were just so great with the last president we just had. It would be laughable were it not insulting to hear Republicans accuse anyone of failed bipartisanship, questionable ethics and wasteful spending. Seriously, Republicans need psychological evaluations. Come see me when President Obama has started wars in two different countries, damaged our worldwide reputation, turn economic prosperity into economic despair, destroy the reputation of the greatest nation the world has ever known or do anything else as badly as President George W. Bush did. Maybe if Republicans had been as hard on President Bush this early in his presidency things may not have spiraled so badly out of control in this country.
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/20/rnc-gives-verdict-of-first-month-disappointing/
It’s the one-month anniversary of President Obama’s swearing-in, and not surprisingly the Republican National Committee is out with its’ verdict: It’s been “disappointing.”
“Obama’s first month has been marked by wasteful spending, failed bipartisanship, and questionable ethics,” the RNC said in a document circulated to reporters.
The RNC specifically faults the new president for failing to garner a significant amount of GOP votes for his massive stimulus plan, despite pledges of bipartisanship during the presidential campaign.
Republicans have some nerve. I guess things were just so great with the last president we just had. It would be laughable were it not insulting to hear Republicans accuse anyone of failed bipartisanship, questionable ethics and wasteful spending. Seriously, Republicans need psychological evaluations. Come see me when President Obama has started wars in two different countries, damaged our worldwide reputation, turn economic prosperity into economic despair, destroy the reputation of the greatest nation the world has ever known or do anything else as badly as President George W. Bush did. Maybe if Republicans had been as hard on President Bush this early in his presidency things may not have spiraled so badly out of control in this country.
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/20/rnc-gives-verdict-of-first-month-disappointing/
So Much For Bipartisanship!
Tonyaa Weathersbee, a writer for BlackAmericaWeb.com, wrote a column about President Barack Obama attempting bipartisanship and learning the hard way about what Washington D.C. politics is all about. Weathersbee seems to feel that if you can’t get along then you should move along.
It’s not as if he didn’t try.
President Barack Obama, who rode into the White House on a wave of intelligence and idealism, apparently thought that he could get his Republican compatriots just as fired up about using the government to fix the U.S. economy as they were when it came time to use it to fund an unnecessary war in Iraq.
Obama worked them. Had ‘em over for cocktails. Cookies. Pared the original stimulus package of more than $900 billion down to $787 billion – to add more tax cuts, the equivalent of ideological crack for the GOP, and to remove some spending that won’t create jobs right away.
Yet when it came time to vote on passing the stimulus, the Republicans barely spared the brother a crumb.
Black America Web:
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/baw_commentary_news/6961
It’s not as if he didn’t try.
President Barack Obama, who rode into the White House on a wave of intelligence and idealism, apparently thought that he could get his Republican compatriots just as fired up about using the government to fix the U.S. economy as they were when it came time to use it to fund an unnecessary war in Iraq.
Obama worked them. Had ‘em over for cocktails. Cookies. Pared the original stimulus package of more than $900 billion down to $787 billion – to add more tax cuts, the equivalent of ideological crack for the GOP, and to remove some spending that won’t create jobs right away.
Yet when it came time to vote on passing the stimulus, the Republicans barely spared the brother a crumb.
Black America Web:
http://www.blackamericaweb.com/?q=articles/news/baw_commentary_news/6961
Bob Steele Addresses Journalistic Ethics (Or Lack Thereof) In Running Offensive New York Post Cartoon
Bob Steele offers a little different twist to this discussion backs up some of what I have wrote about the journalistic ethics (or lack thereof) that went into the drawing and publishing of this column. The fact that this got through perhaps offers insight into how things are run at the New York Post.
Poynter Online:
http://poynter.org/column.asp?id=67&aid=158810
Poynter Online:
http://poynter.org/column.asp?id=67&aid=158810
Detroit Free Press Columnist Rochelle Riley Has A Bit Of A Different Take On Racist New York Post Cartoon
Rochelle Riley, a fine columnist for the Detroit Free Press, wrote a column about the controversy swirling around the racist cartoon published by the New York Post. The title of her column is: “Cartoon’s racism can’t spoil triumphs.” This is so true.
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090219/COL10/902190489/1164/Triumphs+untainted+by+cartoon
Detroit Free Press:
http://www.freep.com/article/20090219/COL10/902190489/1164/Triumphs+untainted+by+cartoon
Check Out These Individuals On Michelle Malkin’s Web Page Badmouthing President Barack Obama
Enjoy a look at these (providing Michelle Malkin keeps them up there) individuals and know that the citizens of the United States of America clearly made the right decision in electing Barack Obama president. Is it just me or does their seem to be a lack of diversity in these photos? Yes, and this is one of the reasons that the Republicans will truly fall behind unless they change their direction in the years to come. This will not be such a predominantly white nation in the years to come. This is why it is all the more important that we learn to work and live together in peace and harmony. We can have differences, but if the Republicans only cater to a white audience they will be left in the cold. As a side note, I love the one guy saying he needs a plasma TV. I think he needs a Stairmaster or a stationary bike a lot more.
Michelle Malkin:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/18/more-scenes-from-mesa-i-need-a-beachfront-condo-mr-president/
Michelle Malkin:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/18/more-scenes-from-mesa-i-need-a-beachfront-condo-mr-president/
Michelle Malkin Displays Evidence Of How Republicans/Conservatives/Extremists Just Don’t Get It
The New York Post’s violent and racist cartoon has justifiably drawn outrage and ignited protests all over the nation. But, conservative extremists like Michelle Malkin and others are doing everything they can to turn one of the perpetrators of this racist act and crime against journalistic integrity into the victim.
Wrote Malkin in one of her blog postings:
The only people “offended by the image” of the crazed cartoon chimp — who clearly symbolized the crazed lawmakers on the Hill who passed the stimulus in a frenzy — are the opportunists.
No apology is due to anyone except cartoonist Delonas, whose character has been smeared by the manufacturers of grievances demanding his head.
Too many in the MSM continue to treat Sharpton as an entertaining clown, instead of the rabid hound he has always been. (”Hound.” Is that acceptable?)
This is the moral of the story: Submission to racial intimidation yields only more racial intimidation. You don’t get the monkey off your back by feeding it.
Yeah, I said “get the monkey off your back.”
Sue me.
We don’t need to nor want to sue you. In fact, we like you just the way you are because you ultimately will drive the moderates who prefer to remain politically neutral away from Republican extremism and to more closely align with Democrats. Although, stating that “No apology is due to anyone except cartoonist (Sean) Delonas, whose character has been smeared by the manufacturers of grievances demanding his head” is laughable. Delonas smeared his own character (what character he had based on previous controversial cartoons he has drawn). he smeared his own character by being ignorant in the way he drew the cartoon and being incomprehensibly ignorant (along with the culturally-challenged morons at the New York Post who ran this thing) to how his actions would be perceived.
Michelle Malkin:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/19/going-ape-over-the-new-york-post/
Wrote Malkin in one of her blog postings:
The only people “offended by the image” of the crazed cartoon chimp — who clearly symbolized the crazed lawmakers on the Hill who passed the stimulus in a frenzy — are the opportunists.
No apology is due to anyone except cartoonist Delonas, whose character has been smeared by the manufacturers of grievances demanding his head.
Too many in the MSM continue to treat Sharpton as an entertaining clown, instead of the rabid hound he has always been. (”Hound.” Is that acceptable?)
This is the moral of the story: Submission to racial intimidation yields only more racial intimidation. You don’t get the monkey off your back by feeding it.
Yeah, I said “get the monkey off your back.”
Sue me.
We don’t need to nor want to sue you. In fact, we like you just the way you are because you ultimately will drive the moderates who prefer to remain politically neutral away from Republican extremism and to more closely align with Democrats. Although, stating that “No apology is due to anyone except cartoonist (Sean) Delonas, whose character has been smeared by the manufacturers of grievances demanding his head” is laughable. Delonas smeared his own character (what character he had based on previous controversial cartoons he has drawn). he smeared his own character by being ignorant in the way he drew the cartoon and being incomprehensibly ignorant (along with the culturally-challenged morons at the New York Post who ran this thing) to how his actions would be perceived.
Michelle Malkin:
http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/19/going-ape-over-the-new-york-post/
AP, Fox News Unfairly Only Talk About Democratic Political Scandals
Like Media Matters for America, I too was a little puzzled as I read the Associated Press story talking about shaky ethics among Democrats recently (including Rod Blagojevich and Roland Burris). The article cited some of the nominees for cabinet positions who had to pull out of the process for one reason or another (many times for issues related to taxes). Fox News (as you might expect since it was an article critical of Democrats) got the story and ran with it high stepping into the end zone (so to speak). However, as Media Matters points out, the Republicans are not without their own issues of ethics.
From Media Matters:
Examples of Republicans recently convicted, under indictment or under criminal investigation include:
Stevens: On October 27, 2008, Stevens was found “guilty on seven felony counts, each with a maximum penalty of five years in prison,” as The Washington Post reported. Stevens has asked that the jury’s guilty verdict be overturned. The Washington Post reported that the next court hearing on Stevens case will occur in April.
Alaska Rep. Don Young: According to a July 25, 2007, Wall Street Journalreport, Young is “under criminal investigation” for whether he “accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corp., Alaska’s largest oil-field engineering firm.” As recently as January 11, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Young was “under federal investigation on corruption allegations,” and that he “lost his senior committee leadership positions over the break.”
Additionally, the Anchorage Daily News reportedon December 9, 2008: “Since the beginning of 2007, Young has spent more than $1 million in campaign contributions on legal fees related to a Justice Department probe — which includes an investigation into fundraising.”
Former Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi: As Roll Call reported(subscription required) on December 8, 2008, Renzi “faces trial in March on corruption charges.” Renzi was indicted February 22, 2008, “on charges of federal conspiracy, fraud, extortion and money laundering related to a land-swap deal in his home state,” according to a December 7 Congressional Quarterly Weekly article (accessed in the Nexis news database). A January 14 AP article reportedthat Renzi pleaded not guilty.
Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki: Krolicki was indicted December 3, 2008, by a grand jury “on four counts of misappropriation and falsification of public records,” The Hill reported.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. How about tax issues Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is having right now? That is another issue that is not getting much play on Fox News, but is in fact an issue. Karl Rove has his ethics issues going on as well. Former president George W. Bush, former vice president Dick Cheney and numerous people in their inner circle have exhibited questionable ethics that has led to investigations. The list could go on for quite some time and these kinds of issues exist on both sides of the aisle. Also, it wasn’t so much that the Democrats used a culture of corruption against the Republicans as much as they used a need for change at the highest levels of government with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, horrifying issues of torture, the declining image and status of the United States of America around the world and so on. AP and Fox News have a responsibility to report both sides of the issue. We don’t expect Fox News to do it, but we should all expect that from AP, a far more reputable news outlet.
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902200001?f=h_latest
From Media Matters:
Examples of Republicans recently convicted, under indictment or under criminal investigation include:
Stevens: On October 27, 2008, Stevens was found “guilty on seven felony counts, each with a maximum penalty of five years in prison,” as The Washington Post reported. Stevens has asked that the jury’s guilty verdict be overturned. The Washington Post reported that the next court hearing on Stevens case will occur in April.
Alaska Rep. Don Young: According to a July 25, 2007, Wall Street Journalreport, Young is “under criminal investigation” for whether he “accepted bribes, illegal gratuities or unreported gifts from VECO Corp., Alaska’s largest oil-field engineering firm.” As recently as January 11, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Young was “under federal investigation on corruption allegations,” and that he “lost his senior committee leadership positions over the break.”
Additionally, the Anchorage Daily News reportedon December 9, 2008: “Since the beginning of 2007, Young has spent more than $1 million in campaign contributions on legal fees related to a Justice Department probe — which includes an investigation into fundraising.”
Former Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi: As Roll Call reported(subscription required) on December 8, 2008, Renzi “faces trial in March on corruption charges.” Renzi was indicted February 22, 2008, “on charges of federal conspiracy, fraud, extortion and money laundering related to a land-swap deal in his home state,” according to a December 7 Congressional Quarterly Weekly article (accessed in the Nexis news database). A January 14 AP article reportedthat Renzi pleaded not guilty.
Nevada Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki: Krolicki was indicted December 3, 2008, by a grand jury “on four counts of misappropriation and falsification of public records,” The Hill reported.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. How about tax issues Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is having right now? That is another issue that is not getting much play on Fox News, but is in fact an issue. Karl Rove has his ethics issues going on as well. Former president George W. Bush, former vice president Dick Cheney and numerous people in their inner circle have exhibited questionable ethics that has led to investigations. The list could go on for quite some time and these kinds of issues exist on both sides of the aisle. Also, it wasn’t so much that the Democrats used a culture of corruption against the Republicans as much as they used a need for change at the highest levels of government with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, horrifying issues of torture, the declining image and status of the United States of America around the world and so on. AP and Fox News have a responsibility to report both sides of the issue. We don’t expect Fox News to do it, but we should all expect that from AP, a far more reputable news outlet.
Media Matters:
http://mediamatters.org/items/200902200001?f=h_latest
Rush Limbaugh Says He Shows Bravery On Race, But Really It’s Racism On Race
Conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh made controversial and derogatory comments (not to mention just plain stupid) about Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb. This was years ago when ESPN tried an experiment with Limbaugh adding analysis for a National Football League-centered program on its network. The experiment failed and ESPN (after recklessly and hurtfully defending him at first) rightly pulled the plug (techinically I suppose he resigned) on this conservative ball of hot air. Limbaugh said the following:
In the five-plus years since Rush Limbaugh uttered those words, the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback has:
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1627991
Los Angeles Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/mcnabb-gets-las.html
LIMBAUGH: Sorry to say this, I don’t think he’s been that good from theThe comments were ignorant because McNabb was (even at that time) a very good quarterback and doing a solid job for his team. Earth to Limbaugh, people want all quarterbacks to do well. People wanted John Elway to win the big one (he did … twice), people wanted Jim Kelly to win the big one (he didn’t), people wanted Dan Marino to win the big one (he didn’t). People want all quarterbacks to do well. As far as getting too much credit, welcome to the real world. Quarterbacks often get way too much credit in what is the ultimate team sport. Here is a January 2009 comment from the L.A. Times about about the Limbaugh-McNabb controversy:
get-go. I think what we’ve had here is a little social concern in the NFL. The
media has been very desirous that a black quarterback do well. There is a little
hope invested in McNabb, and he got a lot of credit for the performance of this
team that he didn’t deserve.
In the five-plus years since Rush Limbaugh uttered those words, the Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback has:
- Passed for 19,151 yards and thrown 155 touchdowns in 77 regular season games
- Has a 6-3 record in the NFL playoffs
- Reached the NFC title game three times
- Gone to one Super Bowl
LIMBAUGH: I, El Rushbo, am no coward. … In fact, I show bravery on race. I amLimbaugh shows stupidity and borderline (if not over the borderline) racism on matters of race.
totally willing to discuss it openly and honestly. How does one show bravery on
race as I have? You talk about media bias, you talk about slavish media coverage
of Black quarter backs in the National Football League. Then see what happens.
Then watch all hell descend upon you from every quarter of this nation’s media.
From print to broadcast to Internet. … I show bravery on matters of
race.
ESPN:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1627991
Los Angeles Times:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2009/01/mcnabb-gets-las.html
Thursday, February 19, 2009
New York Post Does Not Fully Apologize For Its Racism, Journalistic Incompetence And Ignorance
This is from an editorial published in the New York Post in response to protests against its racist cartoon recently run on its pages:
Richard Prince:
http://www.mije.org/richardprince/h1ny-post-sorry-those-who-were-offendedh1
The Post editorial said:All this talk about opportunists is nothing more than a smokescreen to mask the racism at the New York Post as exhibited in this cartoon. It's more far than a cartoon and this editorial with a weak-ass apology proves that the New York Post is too arrogant, big-headed and stubborn to fully atone for its racism.
"Wednesday's Page Six cartoon — caricaturing Monday's police shooting of a chimpanzee in Connecticut— has created considerable controversy.
"It shows two police officers standing over the chimp's body: 'They'll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill,' one officer says.
"It was meant to mock an ineptly written federal stimulus bill.
"Period.
"But it has been taken as something else — as a depiction of President Obama, as a thinly veiled expression of racism.
"This most certainly was not its intent; to those who were offended by the image, we
apologize.
"However, there are some in the media and in public life who have had differences with The Post in the past — and they see the incident as an opportunity for payback.
"To them, no apology is due.
"Sometimes a cartoon is just a cartoon — even as the opportunists seek to make it something else."
Richard Prince:
http://www.mije.org/richardprince/h1ny-post-sorry-those-who-were-offendedh1
ColorOfChange Has Joined This Fight Against Racism From The New York Post
This is from ColorOfChange:
Dear Friend,
Yesterday, the day after President Obama signed his stimulus bill into law, the NY Post ran a cartoon depicting the bill's "author" as a dead monkey, covered in blood after being shot by police. You can see the image by clicking on the link below.
In the face of intense criticism, the Post's editor is standing by the cartoon, claiming that it's not about Obama, has no racial undertones, and that it was simply referencing a recent incident when police shot a pet chimpanzee. But it's impossible to believe that any newspaper editor could be ignorant enough to not understand how this cartoon evokes a history of racist symbolism, or how frightening this image feels at a time when death threats against President Obama have been on the rise.
Please join me and other ColorOfChange.org members in demanding that the Post apologize publicly and fire the editor who allowed this cartoon to go to print:
http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1651-835564
The Post would have us believe that the cartoon is not about Obama. But on the page just before the cartoon appears, there's a big picture of Obama signing the stimulus bill. A reader paging through the Post would see Obama putting pen to paper, then turn the page to see this violent cartoon. The imagery is chilling.
There is a clear history in our country of racist symbolism that depicts Black people as apes or monkeys, and it came up multiple times during the presidential campaign.
We're also in a time of increased race-based violence. In the months following President Obama's election there has been a nationwide surge in hate crimes ranging from vandalism to assaults to arson on Black churches. There has been an unprecedented number of threats against President Obama since he was elected, with hate-based groups fantasizing about the killing of the president. Just a week ago, a man drove from Louisiana to the Capitol with a rifle, telling the police who stopped him that he had a "delivery" for the president.
There is no excuse for the Post to have allowed this cartoon to be printed, and even less for Editor Col Allan's outright dismissal of legitimate concerns.
But let's be clear who's behind the Post: Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch, the Post's owner, is the man behind FOX News Channel. FOX has continually attacked and denigrated Black people, politicians, institutions at every opportunity, and ColorOfChange has run several campaigns to make clear how FOX poisons public debate.
I don't expect much from Murdoch. However, with enough public pressure, we can set the stage for advertisers and subscribers to think long and hard before patronizing outlets like the Post that refuse to be held accountable.
You can help, by making clear that the Post's behavior is unacceptable, and by asking your friends and family to do the same. Please join me:
http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1651-835564
Thanks.
Dear Friend,
Yesterday, the day after President Obama signed his stimulus bill into law, the NY Post ran a cartoon depicting the bill's "author" as a dead monkey, covered in blood after being shot by police. You can see the image by clicking on the link below.
In the face of intense criticism, the Post's editor is standing by the cartoon, claiming that it's not about Obama, has no racial undertones, and that it was simply referencing a recent incident when police shot a pet chimpanzee. But it's impossible to believe that any newspaper editor could be ignorant enough to not understand how this cartoon evokes a history of racist symbolism, or how frightening this image feels at a time when death threats against President Obama have been on the rise.
Please join me and other ColorOfChange.org members in demanding that the Post apologize publicly and fire the editor who allowed this cartoon to go to print:
http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1651-835564
The Post would have us believe that the cartoon is not about Obama. But on the page just before the cartoon appears, there's a big picture of Obama signing the stimulus bill. A reader paging through the Post would see Obama putting pen to paper, then turn the page to see this violent cartoon. The imagery is chilling.
There is a clear history in our country of racist symbolism that depicts Black people as apes or monkeys, and it came up multiple times during the presidential campaign.
We're also in a time of increased race-based violence. In the months following President Obama's election there has been a nationwide surge in hate crimes ranging from vandalism to assaults to arson on Black churches. There has been an unprecedented number of threats against President Obama since he was elected, with hate-based groups fantasizing about the killing of the president. Just a week ago, a man drove from Louisiana to the Capitol with a rifle, telling the police who stopped him that he had a "delivery" for the president.
There is no excuse for the Post to have allowed this cartoon to be printed, and even less for Editor Col Allan's outright dismissal of legitimate concerns.
But let's be clear who's behind the Post: Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch, the Post's owner, is the man behind FOX News Channel. FOX has continually attacked and denigrated Black people, politicians, institutions at every opportunity, and ColorOfChange has run several campaigns to make clear how FOX poisons public debate.
I don't expect much from Murdoch. However, with enough public pressure, we can set the stage for advertisers and subscribers to think long and hard before patronizing outlets like the Post that refuse to be held accountable.
You can help, by making clear that the Post's behavior is unacceptable, and by asking your friends and family to do the same. Please join me:
http://www.colorofchange.org/nypost/?id=1651-835564
Thanks.
It's Neat To Think Pink
Ferris State University and Saginaw Valley State University are wearing a lot of pink in recognition of breast cancer awareness. Ferris and SVSU both wore pink warm-up shirts. SVSU players have some pink headbands and pink socks/tape while Ferris players are wearing pink shoelaces. We have the perimeter of the court lined with pink tape.
I Encourage You To Check Out Dr. Boyce Watkins' Blog On The Racist New York Post Cartoon
Dr. Boyce Watkins, one of the leading black scholars and voices in the country,wrote several good blogs about the topic of the racist cartoon published in the New York Post. I encourage you all to take an opportunity to read Dr. Watkins' column, "What if the NY Post Cartoonist wasn't Racist?"
You can access the blog at: http://www.drboycespeaks.blogspot.com/
You can access the blog at: http://www.drboycespeaks.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Great New York Times Article About Despicable, Racist Sean Delonas Cartoon
The hits will (and should) keep on coming as people sort through the disgusting, violent and racist cartoon published by the New York Post depicting police gunning down a chimpanzee and referencing the stimulus bill. There is no question that it plays on a nasty and racist stereotype of black people that is ancient. Reference below is a very good article published in the New York Times that gives some insight into what a lot of New Yorkers are thinking about this horrible and racist cartoon.
Here is one powerful comment:
City Councilman Leroy G. Comrie Jr., a Queens Democrat, called for a boycott of the newspaper. “To run such a violent, racist cartoon is an insult to all New Yorkers,” he said in a statement. “This was an unfortunate incident in which a human being was seriously injured- not an opportunity to sling dangerous rhetoric. It is my belief that The New York Post owes an immediate apology to this city for demonstrating such terrible judgment and insensitivity.”
Well put councilman. This is like something you would expect to see from a white supremacist Web site.
New York Times:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/chimp-stimulus-cartoon-raises-racism-concerns/
Here is one powerful comment:
City Councilman Leroy G. Comrie Jr., a Queens Democrat, called for a boycott of the newspaper. “To run such a violent, racist cartoon is an insult to all New Yorkers,” he said in a statement. “This was an unfortunate incident in which a human being was seriously injured- not an opportunity to sling dangerous rhetoric. It is my belief that The New York Post owes an immediate apology to this city for demonstrating such terrible judgment and insensitivity.”
Well put councilman. This is like something you would expect to see from a white supremacist Web site.
New York Times:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/18/chimp-stimulus-cartoon-raises-racism-concerns/
Gwen Ifill Echoes What I’ve Been Saying About Media Like Fox News
Gwen Ifill made this comment in reference to a question she apparently was asked about Juan Williams. But, the more important aspect of what she said is a general commentary about the state of the media.
Said Ifill:
But in general, the whole idea of this line between commentary and straight journalism, is a fuzzy one, and it gets fuzzier every day, in part because of the growth of new technology. But I also think it can be a fairly bright line if we bother to draw it. It is really easy to tell the difference. … But the viewer doesn’t often see the distinction; they think everyone is doing this.
Fox News blurs the line between what is commentary and what is objective news coverage. It’s the tabloidization of news with a right-wing ideological spin.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/18/ifill-juan/
Said Ifill:
But in general, the whole idea of this line between commentary and straight journalism, is a fuzzy one, and it gets fuzzier every day, in part because of the growth of new technology. But I also think it can be a fairly bright line if we bother to draw it. It is really easy to tell the difference. … But the viewer doesn’t often see the distinction; they think everyone is doing this.
Fox News blurs the line between what is commentary and what is objective news coverage. It’s the tabloidization of news with a right-wing ideological spin.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/18/ifill-juan/
Whether Ignorant Or Racist … New York Post Cartoonist Out Of Line With Disgusting Comic
Sean Delonas, the “artist” who is responsible for the reprehensible cartoon (published in the New York Post which is part of the Rupert Murdoch empire that includes Fox News) that showed a chimpanzee being gunned down in the street and saying basically that now someone else was going to have to write the stimulus bill has caused controversy. Delonas has come out swinging to defend himself:
This is from CNN:
But in a brief phone interview with CNN, Delonas called the controversy “absolutely friggin’ ridiculous.”
“Do you really think I’m saying Obama should be shot? I didn’t see that in the cartoon,” Delonas told CNN.
“It’s about the economic stimulus bill,” he added. “If you’re going to make that about anybody, it would be [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi, which it’s not.”
Delonas may or may not be a racist, but clearly he is monumentally ignorant of culture and race. Is this cat so dumb that he could not realize how offensive this was going to be? Is this guy so dumb that he does not realize the obvious hateful racial stereotypes that he touched on with this so-called work of art? Is he that ignorant of the fact that we have the first black president of the United States of America who has been championing this stimulus bill? Duh, obviously it is about the economic stimulus bill, but this dude is just too stupid to realize the depth and breadth of his own ignorance. Here is what I find interesting about his response. Do you notice how his response never mentions the hateful racist imagery?
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/18/sharpton-blasts-post-cartoon-linking-stimulus-bill-to-apes/
This is from CNN:
But in a brief phone interview with CNN, Delonas called the controversy “absolutely friggin’ ridiculous.”
“Do you really think I’m saying Obama should be shot? I didn’t see that in the cartoon,” Delonas told CNN.
“It’s about the economic stimulus bill,” he added. “If you’re going to make that about anybody, it would be [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi, which it’s not.”
Delonas may or may not be a racist, but clearly he is monumentally ignorant of culture and race. Is this cat so dumb that he could not realize how offensive this was going to be? Is this guy so dumb that he does not realize the obvious hateful racial stereotypes that he touched on with this so-called work of art? Is he that ignorant of the fact that we have the first black president of the United States of America who has been championing this stimulus bill? Duh, obviously it is about the economic stimulus bill, but this dude is just too stupid to realize the depth and breadth of his own ignorance. Here is what I find interesting about his response. Do you notice how his response never mentions the hateful racist imagery?
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/18/sharpton-blasts-post-cartoon-linking-stimulus-bill-to-apes/
Roland Burris: See, What Had Happened Was …
Save it (your made-for-media explanations that are reminiscent of what we just had to stomach recently from Rod Blagojevich), Roland Burris. Sen. Burris appears to be in scalding hot political water these days. After his long battle to rightfully take his seat in the United States Senate it appears that his time as senator could be pretty short lived.
From CNN:
WASHINGTON (CNN) –Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said Wednesday that a Senate ethics panel is investigating Sen. Roland Burris following his disclosure that he had spoken with Rod Blagojevich’s brother about raising money for the disgraced former governor while seeking appointment to the Senate.
Durbin’s comments came shortly before Rep. Phil Hare, a Democrat from western Illinois, became the first member of Congress to publicly call on Burris to step down, describing the ongoing Blagojevich saga as “a recurring nightmare.”
“Given this latest revelation, I believe it is in the best interest of all Illinoisans that Senator Burris resigns,” Hare said in a statement. “Our state and its citizens deserve the whole truth, not bits and pieces only when it is convenient.”
Now, it appears, Sen. Burris even has Sen. Dick Durbin (the senior senator from Illinois) off his squad. Brother Burris appears to be in big, BIG trouble. He may have some explanations (hell, O.J. Simpson has explanations and still is searching for the real killers). But, his explanations seem unlikely to pass the smell test. Republicans and Democrats in Illinois are already beginning to call on Burris to resign from his position (one that was already tainted through the process that led to his nomination). I am not quite ready to call for Burris to step down, but his explanations seem unsatisfactory for me. There needs to be a thorough investigation of Sen. Burris.
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/18/durbin-senate-ethics-investigation-of-burris-underway/
From CNN:
WASHINGTON (CNN) –Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said Wednesday that a Senate ethics panel is investigating Sen. Roland Burris following his disclosure that he had spoken with Rod Blagojevich’s brother about raising money for the disgraced former governor while seeking appointment to the Senate.
Durbin’s comments came shortly before Rep. Phil Hare, a Democrat from western Illinois, became the first member of Congress to publicly call on Burris to step down, describing the ongoing Blagojevich saga as “a recurring nightmare.”
“Given this latest revelation, I believe it is in the best interest of all Illinoisans that Senator Burris resigns,” Hare said in a statement. “Our state and its citizens deserve the whole truth, not bits and pieces only when it is convenient.”
Now, it appears, Sen. Burris even has Sen. Dick Durbin (the senior senator from Illinois) off his squad. Brother Burris appears to be in big, BIG trouble. He may have some explanations (hell, O.J. Simpson has explanations and still is searching for the real killers). But, his explanations seem unlikely to pass the smell test. Republicans and Democrats in Illinois are already beginning to call on Burris to resign from his position (one that was already tainted through the process that led to his nomination). I am not quite ready to call for Burris to step down, but his explanations seem unsatisfactory for me. There needs to be a thorough investigation of Sen. Burris.
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/18/durbin-senate-ethics-investigation-of-burris-underway/
Sarah Palin Has A Tax Issue … I Wonder If Fox News Will Report This
CNN, a reputable news organization, has a story about Gov. Sarah Palin’s tax woes.
Here is an excerpt from the story:
(CNN) –Alaska officials have told Gov. Sarah Palin she must pay back taxes on the thousands of dollars she received in state per diem funds while living at her home in Wasilla.
The Washington Post first reported last September that Palin had billed the state for nearly $17,000 worth of meals and other living expenses while staying in her own home during the first 19 months of her administration, even though the official governor’s residence is in Juneau.
The news clouded Palin’s self-styled image as a small government reformer, just weeks after she was tapped as John McCain’s running mate. At the time, Palin’s office said the governor was entitled to the payments.
I wonder when conservative commentators like Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren will report on this issue. Van Susteren was just up there, but I wonder if she asked the good governor about her tax issues? I doubt it. O’Reilly and Hannity have been ripping on the Democrats who have had recent tax issues, but I am betting they will be fairly silent on Gov. Palin’s tax issues. Last I checked the Fox News Web site, there was next to nothing about te story. I even did a search of the site and could not find anything. Can you imagine how aggressively O’Reilly, Hannity and others would be on this issue if it was Vice President Joe Biden rather than Sarah Palin?
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/18/palin-told-to-pay-back-taxes/
Here is an excerpt from the story:
(CNN) –Alaska officials have told Gov. Sarah Palin she must pay back taxes on the thousands of dollars she received in state per diem funds while living at her home in Wasilla.
The Washington Post first reported last September that Palin had billed the state for nearly $17,000 worth of meals and other living expenses while staying in her own home during the first 19 months of her administration, even though the official governor’s residence is in Juneau.
The news clouded Palin’s self-styled image as a small government reformer, just weeks after she was tapped as John McCain’s running mate. At the time, Palin’s office said the governor was entitled to the payments.
I wonder when conservative commentators like Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity and Greta Van Susteren will report on this issue. Van Susteren was just up there, but I wonder if she asked the good governor about her tax issues? I doubt it. O’Reilly and Hannity have been ripping on the Democrats who have had recent tax issues, but I am betting they will be fairly silent on Gov. Palin’s tax issues. Last I checked the Fox News Web site, there was next to nothing about te story. I even did a search of the site and could not find anything. Can you imagine how aggressively O’Reilly, Hannity and others would be on this issue if it was Vice President Joe Biden rather than Sarah Palin?
CNN:
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/02/18/palin-told-to-pay-back-taxes/
Racist Cartoon In The New York Post?
Some things people do just make you shake your head. I was checking out Think Progress today and I saw a story about a cartoon apparently published in the New York Post. The cartoon shows police gunning down a chimpanzee (clearly in reference to the chimpanzee that was shot by police and later died in its cage after an attack on a human being that left a woman hospitalized). But, the caption is nothing short of staggering and makes me question what people at the New York Postwere (are) thinking. In the cartoon, one of the officers says, “They’ll have to find someone else to write the next stimulus bill.” Is this a racist reference to our first black president of the United States of America, President Barack Obama?
Said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who I have not always agreed with:
The cartoon in today’s New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys. One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that “Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.”
Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?
What is the message the cartoonist and the New York Post are trying to send to readers?
Anyone who doesn’t see the racism in this has their head stuck in the sand and might be in a clinical state of denial. This is an insult that many times has been used to cheap shot black people since the dawn of time. Anyone who can’t see that (and is incapable of doing some basic research on Google) is sorely misguided (at best) and perhaps racist themselves (at worst).
UPDATE: I found this on the Baltimore Sun Web site: Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the New York Post, released a statement defending the work. “The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington’s efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist.” Again, this is a typical tactic of those on the right wing to distract from the real issue of a racist cartoon to attack Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton has nothing to do with running the inappropriate and racist cartoon and Allan is doing nothing more than trying to distract from the racism exhibited by the New York Post. And, if this was not intentionally done, then it speaks to the lack of diverse thinking at the New York Post and perhaps a more sinister motive.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/18/nypost-chimp/
Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nypost0218,0,4187535.story
Baltimore Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-obama-chimp-cartoon-0218,0,2760792.story
Said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who I have not always agreed with:
The cartoon in today’s New York Post is troubling at best given the historic racist attacks of African-Americans as being synonymous with monkeys. One has to question whether the cartoonist is making a less than casual reference to this when in the cartoon they have police saying after shooting a chimpanzee that “Now they will have to find someone else to write the stimulus bill.”
Being that the stimulus bill has been the first legislative victory of President Barack Obama (the first African American president) and has become synonymous with him it is not a reach to wonder are they inferring that a monkey wrote the last bill?
What is the message the cartoonist and the New York Post are trying to send to readers?
Anyone who doesn’t see the racism in this has their head stuck in the sand and might be in a clinical state of denial. This is an insult that many times has been used to cheap shot black people since the dawn of time. Anyone who can’t see that (and is incapable of doing some basic research on Google) is sorely misguided (at best) and perhaps racist themselves (at worst).
UPDATE: I found this on the Baltimore Sun Web site: Col Allan, editor-in-chief of the New York Post, released a statement defending the work. “The cartoon is a clear parody of a current news event, to wit the shooting of a violent chimpanzee in Connecticut. It broadly mocks Washington’s efforts to revive the economy. Again, Al Sharpton reveals himself as nothing more than a publicity opportunist.” Again, this is a typical tactic of those on the right wing to distract from the real issue of a racist cartoon to attack Al Sharpton. Al Sharpton has nothing to do with running the inappropriate and racist cartoon and Allan is doing nothing more than trying to distract from the racism exhibited by the New York Post. And, if this was not intentionally done, then it speaks to the lack of diverse thinking at the New York Post and perhaps a more sinister motive.
Think Progress:
http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/18/nypost-chimp/
Newsday:
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/newyork/ny-nypost0218,0,4187535.story
Baltimore Sun:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/bal-obama-chimp-cartoon-0218,0,2760792.story
Incredible As It Sounds … I Kind Of Agree With Sarah Palin On This One
I love reading Double-A Zone, which is the official blog of the NCAA. With most entries, intriguing topics are generally discussed that make good reading. One interesting article caught my attention today (Feb. 18).
Here is an excerpt from the article:
It isn’t often that a Division II policy change attracts attention from politicos, but a recent contingency plan adopted by the Division II Championships Committee has caught a pretty big fish.
Gov. Sarah Palin has written the NCAA to complain about the contingency plan that could affect the way regionals for this year’s Division II basketball championships are staged.
The plan would be triggered when seven of the eight teams in the current eight-team regional format would be required to fly to the No. 1 seed’s campus. Palin has a dog in the hunt this year, since Alaska Anchorage’s women’s team currently is the top seed in the West region and would earn the right to host the regional if that seeding holds up for the rest of the regular season. Since seeds two through eight would have to fly to Anchorage, the Division II Women’s Basketball Committee could implement the contingency plan that would divide the eight-team regional into two, four-team sub-regionals, one hosted by Alaska Anchorage and the other hosted by the No. 2 seed.Such a contingency would be adopted only when it saves more than $10,000 in administrative costs and does not compromise the student-athlete experience. The Alaska Anchorage example would save well over $100,000.
So, the format is being changed and it could (arguably) unfairly impact the outstanding Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team.
Another excerpt:
The Anchorage Daily News reports that in her letter, Palin claims the plan “creates two classes of membership - institutions that are allowed to host an eight-team regional and those that are not allowed to host, based on geography.”
Palin seems to be alluding to the same concern broached during Championships Committee discussions about the contingency plan, which was whether it gives an undue advantage to the No. 2 seed by paving a clearer path to the regional final than it would have in an eight-team format.
I doubt very seriously the NCAA is running short of funding for events of this nature. It puts a significant dent in the advantage that the top seed presumably works so hard all year to receive. It also helps the No. 2 seed have a bit of an easier path (primarily in terms of travel, finances, accommodations and more) to a potential showdown with the No. 1 seed. The No. 1 seed has worked hard and doesn’t deserve to have its advantage taken away because it may be from Alaska or Hawaii and it is more expensive to fly more teams there. So, in this instance, I am going to side with Gov. Palin in deeming this an improper move.
One final excerpt:
It’s also important to note that the contingency plan was adopted on a trial basis for the rest of the academic year. The Championships Committee will review whether it needs to be carried forth, tweaked or scrapped when it meets in June.
Sometimes competitive equity and fiscal responsibility clash. While that might be the case here, the Championships Committee took the steps it considered prudent to protect the championship experience for student-athletes and provide a more fiscally responsible model for championship travel.
Hopefully the trial basis of this contingency plan will not adversely and unfairly impact teams based on geography. Maybe it can be tweaked, but I doubt it. This plan really needs to be scrapped and more thoroughly reconsidered. Don’t punish schools for geography. I would imagine the Alaska schools already have tremendous challenges with their recruiting and traveling budgets throughout the year. I am sure the NCAA can manage to pay for this rather than unfairly potentially penalize Alaska Anchorage. I see it from both sides, but on this one I am siding with Alaska Anchorage. If you earn true home-court advantage you should get the same home-court advantage everyone else is getting.
Double-A Zone:
http://www.doubleazone.com/2009/02/palin_power_denouces_dii_champ.php
Here is an excerpt from the article:
It isn’t often that a Division II policy change attracts attention from politicos, but a recent contingency plan adopted by the Division II Championships Committee has caught a pretty big fish.
Gov. Sarah Palin has written the NCAA to complain about the contingency plan that could affect the way regionals for this year’s Division II basketball championships are staged.
The plan would be triggered when seven of the eight teams in the current eight-team regional format would be required to fly to the No. 1 seed’s campus. Palin has a dog in the hunt this year, since Alaska Anchorage’s women’s team currently is the top seed in the West region and would earn the right to host the regional if that seeding holds up for the rest of the regular season. Since seeds two through eight would have to fly to Anchorage, the Division II Women’s Basketball Committee could implement the contingency plan that would divide the eight-team regional into two, four-team sub-regionals, one hosted by Alaska Anchorage and the other hosted by the No. 2 seed.Such a contingency would be adopted only when it saves more than $10,000 in administrative costs and does not compromise the student-athlete experience. The Alaska Anchorage example would save well over $100,000.
So, the format is being changed and it could (arguably) unfairly impact the outstanding Alaska Anchorage women’s basketball team.
Another excerpt:
The Anchorage Daily News reports that in her letter, Palin claims the plan “creates two classes of membership - institutions that are allowed to host an eight-team regional and those that are not allowed to host, based on geography.”
Palin seems to be alluding to the same concern broached during Championships Committee discussions about the contingency plan, which was whether it gives an undue advantage to the No. 2 seed by paving a clearer path to the regional final than it would have in an eight-team format.
I doubt very seriously the NCAA is running short of funding for events of this nature. It puts a significant dent in the advantage that the top seed presumably works so hard all year to receive. It also helps the No. 2 seed have a bit of an easier path (primarily in terms of travel, finances, accommodations and more) to a potential showdown with the No. 1 seed. The No. 1 seed has worked hard and doesn’t deserve to have its advantage taken away because it may be from Alaska or Hawaii and it is more expensive to fly more teams there. So, in this instance, I am going to side with Gov. Palin in deeming this an improper move.
One final excerpt:
It’s also important to note that the contingency plan was adopted on a trial basis for the rest of the academic year. The Championships Committee will review whether it needs to be carried forth, tweaked or scrapped when it meets in June.
Sometimes competitive equity and fiscal responsibility clash. While that might be the case here, the Championships Committee took the steps it considered prudent to protect the championship experience for student-athletes and provide a more fiscally responsible model for championship travel.
Hopefully the trial basis of this contingency plan will not adversely and unfairly impact teams based on geography. Maybe it can be tweaked, but I doubt it. This plan really needs to be scrapped and more thoroughly reconsidered. Don’t punish schools for geography. I would imagine the Alaska schools already have tremendous challenges with their recruiting and traveling budgets throughout the year. I am sure the NCAA can manage to pay for this rather than unfairly potentially penalize Alaska Anchorage. I see it from both sides, but on this one I am siding with Alaska Anchorage. If you earn true home-court advantage you should get the same home-court advantage everyone else is getting.
Double-A Zone:
http://www.doubleazone.com/2009/02/palin_power_denouces_dii_champ.php
Lansing (MI.) Mayor Represents Well … TKOs Fox News’ Gregg Jarrett
If you mess with the bull … you get the horns. Fox News anchor Gregg Jarrett, who is not exactly known for his objectivity (like many people on Fox News), was blasted by the mayor of Lansing (in my home state of Michigan). One day after a Connecticut mayor schooled another Fox News host, Jarrett caught a verbal beatdown of his own from Mayor Virg Bernero, who did his homework and was well prepared for the confrontation with Jarrett, who entered the interview with a Republican anti-union agenda (using the stereotypes that these auto workers are grossly overpaid and not taking into account the strong insurance they have for themselves and for their families). Mayor Bernero was having nothing to do with the conservative talking points being advanced by Jarrett and others at Fox News. The video is worth watching. First Steve Doocy was whipped and then one day later Jarrett hung in a little better, but still was knocked out. These two mayors have set the bar high for subsequent mayors who come along to battle with conservative Fox News.
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/02/17/another_knockout_mayor_outmaneuvers_fox.php
News Hounds:
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/02/17/another_knockout_mayor_outmaneuvers_fox.php
Conservative Blogger Debbie Schlussel Bothered By Novel That Flips Slavery
Highly conservative blogger Debbie Schlussel clearly is not too pleased about a novel, “Blonde Roots,” which sort of turns slavery around the opposite way (blacks apparently are the slave masters and whites are the slaves). Full disclosure: I have not read the book. Although, knowing Schlussel is so rabidly against it makes me want to surf over to Amazon and purchase it (I think I will). You can read Schlussel’s entry for yourself, but it’s more than a little intriguing.
Debbie Schlussel:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2009/01/obama-lit_new_n.html
Debbie Schlussel:
http://www.debbieschlussel.com/archives/2009/01/obama-lit_new_n.html
People Express Concern For Octuplets … The Answer Is: Death Threats Against the Mother?
Many people are expressing outrage over the birth of the octuplets to the single mom (33-year-old Nadya Suleman). Concern has been expressed over the welfare of these children and who is going to take care of them and pay the bills. So, what is the response of the public to this sensitive and private matter: death threats to the mother and to anyone trying to help her be successful as a mom. Well, I guess we see all of those hypocrites who supposedly care about the welfare of these kids. Apparently, the nuts out there feel that if they kill the mother then that will make life easier on her kids. Yeah, that makes sense … if you’re a moron.
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/octuplets-mother-publicist-receive-nu
Crooks and Liars:
http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/octuplets-mother-publicist-receive-nu
John McCain Booed By All-Star Game Crowd In Arizona
Sen. John McCain, the Republican who lost to President Barack Obama in the general election of 2008, was booed in his home state of Arizona when he was showed during the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night. While President Obama was cheered, McCain can take some solace … another Democrat, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, was also booed. So, it could not have been a political party thing or a racial thing. It appears the people of Arizona are equal opportunity.
Phoenix Business Journal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/02/16/daily5.html
Phoenix Business Journal:
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/02/16/daily5.html
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