Incorrectly Political

T-Pain's Freaknik/Review

2010-03-10T18:40:00.010-06:00

I was on the way to work when I heard Steve Harvey and his guests talking about T-Pain's new cartoon Freaknik the Musical. Steve was "none-to-happy" about the show. He, and many others that I've talked to, feel that the show is filled with too many negative stereotypes of African-Americans. The characters on the cartoon refer to woman as bitches and ho's. The n-word is used pervasively and there is excessive alcohol drinking and the use of marijuana all through out the episode. They make fun of several famous African-American leaders including but not limited to Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton. All of what I heard them say on the radio this morning made me want to see for myself how incredibly bad and offensive this cartoon MUST be. I just finished watching it and I do see exactly what they were talking about. I, however, do not hold the exact same sentiments I heard expressed on the Steve Harvey show this morning. I actually really liked the show and was entertained.

Amongst the minutia, I found an underling POSITIVE message being made in the show through satire and humor. There was the lesson of working hard towards a goal, not getting distracted by friends and other people, and how to receive help from those you may have nothing in common with. The cartoon also showed how the power of love can conquer many a foe. It was refreshing to see some intelligence being displayed under the veil of a vulgar and offensive cartoon as opposed to meaningless messages being distributed under the veil of REAL people shaking their asses, drinking from real pimp cups and making it rain in music videos. I'm not a fan of T-Pain on a regular day. I do think this cartoon is consistent with what T-Pain frequently portrays and is meant to entertain a certain demographic...in other words this cartoon is NOT for everybody.

Black people sometimes become embarrassed and or ashamed by what others will think of them when they are portrayed in a negative light. Some of us feel that as long as white folks don't see it, we can laugh and be entertained by a satirical situational comedy sketch, cartoon and/or movie. I know it's a thin line between being laughed with and being laughed at as Dave Chappelle reminded us when he ended his Chappelle Show. I believe that as a people, we are intelligent enough to know how to laugh at offensively funny things as long as when we're NOT laughing we're doing the work that needs to be done help our people become all we can be.

If you are not familiar with what Freaknik really was and how it actually ended, you could be left with certain misconceptions the cartoon didn't address at all. I was recently reminded (thanks Shay) that there was an increase in the reports of rapes and sexual assaults to women during the festival. The police and city officials could not ensure the safety of visitors to Freaknik.

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

the Van Jones situation...

2009-09-06T10:13:00.015-05:00

It's Sunday morning. I'm on twitter and begin to notice all of the chatter about Van Jones stepping down from his post as Green Jobs Czar. Here is the actual back and forth I had this morning on twitter which inspired this blog entry...

AroundHarlemRT @blogdiva: Van Jones is a casualty because ColorOfChange went after Glenn Beck and Lou Dobbs. Think about that.about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem & Van did it all on vid...who's fault is that? I'm not saying he should have quit...but I understand. Don't embarrass the presabout 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlem@thed_weezy Can't debate Van Jones in 140 but if 1 of America's basic principles is Freedom of Speech, why is anything any1 says a problem?about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to thed_weezy

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem i'm not sayin he "should've" have said it...i'm saying that there r positions where "we" have 2 b more careful than others...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem It ain't right, but it is what it is. Love u'r posts...it's my sunday paper:-)about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem I'm sorry, "tweets" not "posts"...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlemThere's a lot of name calling on twitter this morning. Many are upset about Van Jones #p2about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter

AroundHarlem@thed_weezy Disagree.The days of #Blck people needing 2b careful r over. Its 2009. We hav a Black President aka Leader of the free world#p2about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Yeah...Skip Gates thought the same thing...they took his ass to jail all the same thoughabout 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem so if Brian Williams was found on tape saying, "I hate ni@@as." it's cool cause he's got free speech? Leave Beck alone then...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Free speech works both ways...Glenn Beck is an idiot, but he's got free speech too...right? Unless he disses Obama?about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem All i'm saying is that sometimes, there is a price for standing up for what you believe in and calling ppl ass holes...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Just like there's a price for calling blk women "nappy headed hoes" or calling the pres a "racist that hates white ppl",right?about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlem@thed_weezy I've NEVER mentioned Glenn Beck bc I dont hav a problem w/statement.Disagree but respect his right 2 say it.Free Speech 4 every1about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem So you think it's wrong that he's losing sponsors left & right? you feel sorry for him just like you do Van Jones?about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Beck's the elephant in the room...he said some things that "cost" him & so did Van...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlemRT @thed_weezy So you think it's wrong that he's losing sponsors left & right? you feel sorry for him just like you do Van Jones?about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Over all, I wish ppl would allow for folks to change their minds. Quote me years ago & u'll find stuff i'm really sorry I saidabout 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlem@thed_weezy Beck losing sponsors is a business decision made by private corporations. Those decisions hav nothing 2 do w/Freedom of Speech.about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to thed_weezy

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem To err is human, to forgive...devine. The man said he was sorry and was doing something new he was good at...our loss indeedabout 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Beck says stupid shit everyday, he was losing sponsors because of the petition that (I know I did) most of us signed...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlem@thed_weezy Glad there were not 2 many people who thought like u in the 50s & 60s. Otherwise I'd still be sitting in the back of the bus.about 4 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to thed_weezy

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem How so? I'm all for change. I was front row with a yellow ticket back in Jan in DC! I'm down for the cause...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Hell, i'm in Alabama where there are billboards of Rush Limbaugh up like he's a hero/i hate some stuff that is/but it still isabout 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem & what I KNOW is real in this country is that life ain't fair. Van Jones proved that there's NOT really free speech...about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem But, that's the rule...it's not fair...but it is a rule. He broke it. That's an anti-civil rights train of thought? How so?about 4 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem Van J was honest, said what he thought, didn't care who heard or saw him, and it came back to bite him. Happens all the timeabout 3 hours ago from Tweed in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlem@thed_weezy Down 4 the cause means supporting laws of the US. ur comments go against that.u approve of public pressure that go against laws.about 3 hours ago from UberTwitter in reply to thed_weezy

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem i don't approve public pressure, i'm simply acknowledging they exist...about 3 hours ago from web in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem I'm a school teacher, by law, if they found me publicly drunk this weekend, they could fire me. that ain't right, but it is..about 3 hours ago from web in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem in order to fight any battle you need to know the rules of engagement. be they fair or not.about 3 hours ago from web in reply to AroundHarlem

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem and US laws have a history of not ALWAYS being fair. they change all the time...hence the supreme court interpretations.about 3 hours ago from web in reply to AroundHarlem

AroundHarlemI got up too early. Going back to bed.about 3 hours ago from UberTwitter

thed_weezy@AroundHarlem sweet dreams;-) wishing you visions of sugar plums (or at least that Pinkberry breakfast)about 3 hours ago from web in reply to AroundHarlem

Van Jones knew (or maybe he didn't but he probably should have known) that when you speak publically, you should always make an attempt to be professional. In my humble opinion, calling the opposing party ass-holes is less than professional. He also knows that in this country, be it right or wrong, that identifiying ones self as a communist, can cause political problems. And, he knows that this country has a history of holding people of African descent to a different scale of accountablility than of the majority race.(If ANY presidential candidate had the credintials of Barack Obama, he would have been a shoe-in...period.)Because of his race, there was still a questioning of his ablility to govern. This isn't fair but it is how it is in the good ol U. S. of A. Just like I think that Skip Gates should have known that the quickest way to go to jail is to argue and get smart with the police. (I'm not saying that you should be arrested if your only crime is to argue and/or get smart with the police.)

Van Jones had a history of saying what he thought how ever he wanted and it came back to bite him. Just like Glenn Beck, and just like Don Imus. Free Speech goes both ways whether you like what is said or not.

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

Incorrectly Political: Why MSNBC? Your True Colors?

2009-07-01T11:50:00.000-05:00

Incorrectly Political: Why MSNBC? Your True Colors?

Why MSNBC? Your True Colors?

2009-07-01T07:43:00.009-05:00

So, I love CNN but I am partial to MSNBC's programs. Morning Joe, The Rachael Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews, Count Down with Kieth Olbermann and even Live with Carlos Watson are some of the programs I've come to know and love. I came to know many MSNBC personalities during last year's campaign season. But I've noticed a "trend" that is quite disturbing.

Weeks leading up to Dylan Ratigan's show (Morning Meeting) he was a regular on the network's a.m. staple Morning Joe promoting his new show. I started noticing new TV ads promoting MSNBC's new morning line up. They go something like this, "watch MSNBC all morning starting with Morning Joe and after that it's Morning Meeting with Dylan Ratigan and then it's Dr. Nancy, blah, blah, blah..." but absolutely NO mention of Live with Carlos Watson. I've seen MSNBC ads for every show from The Ed show to Andrea Mitchell's. There is not a Carlos Watson TV spot. I didn't even know he had a show until I lucked up on it by happenstance. I actually thought it may have been canceled with the addition of Morning Meeting, because the TV ads actually say, "watch Morning Meeting and then watch Dr. Nancy..." as if there is not Carlos Watson in between.

Why? Even the openly gay white Rachael Maddow (whom I adore) get's many kudos and promos. What gives MSNBC? I went to Carlos Watson's Wikipedia page and was impressed with what this guy has been a part of and has accomplished. He's the real deal!

I'm not calling MSNBC a "racist" network (we all know that FOX News works too hard to retain that title), but I am saying that the executives at MSNBC should be aware of how it looks when the only person of color to host an entire hour on it's network is the ONLY person that consistently gets NO promotion. When we know better we do better...& now you know.

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

BET Awards/MJ Tribute...I call Bullsh*t!

2009-06-29T11:26:00.000-05:00

I must admit, as a general rule, award shows don't do it for me any more. I used to get excited about the AMA's or the VMA or even the BET Awards but the truth is, in the era of youtube, seeing your favorite artist perform isn't the rarity it once was but seeing your favorite artist on an award show IS a rarity now-a-days. This year was the exception. Because of the loss of Michael Jackson, and the fact that BET announced that this year's award show would change gears and be a "tribute" to MJ, I made sure I made it home in time to tune in to the 2009 edition of BET's Award show. If you watched it, you probably already know where this is going...if you didn't, allow me to hold your hand while we stroll down memory lane.

First of all, let's talk about "the red carpet". How does CNN have better coverage of BET's red carpet than BET? I'm watching Pleasure P [of Pretty Ricky fame] tell me how he'd love to be some woman's sloppy seconds while Don Lemon is interviewing Pappa Joe Jackson! WTF?!?!?!? This was my hint that maybe the producers and executives at Viacom's "black sheep" my not have placed the proper importance on what could have been considered important to Michael Jackson fans...but let's see how deep the Rabbit hole goes.

What a great start! The complete group New Edition with Bobby Brown & Johnny Gill is on stage doing what they do best! I'm dancing, singing and am so looking forward to the rest of the show!

Jamie Foxx is a true talent. Let me say that. He comes out in every "young" MJ outfit he can find starting with Beat It! Hilarious! The 30 foot moon walk attempt...classic tv. From this point, there were some really good parts & some definite highlights...but I'm not hear to talk about the the "good" stuff....

I love Soulja BoyTell'em...for what he's accomplished and not so much for his music (even though it can be quite catchy *slight admission*), but just because you got on a MJ t-shirt don't make it a tribute performance. I KNOW this kid can dance...we've seen him "superman ho's" all over the nation! I would have really enjoyed watching Soulja Boy with any one of those Jamie Foxx outfits on and dancing to Billie Jean or something. Have some fun with it and pay homage to the greatest...but alas...he turn't his swag on and off and jumped on the bed he had rolled out on stage. This would have been an over-lookable offense but this was the top of a steep hill of "wtf moments" we were beginning to roll down.

Beyonce did good to me. She sang Opera. She was graceful, she was beautiful but she didn't change one thing she had planned to do in honor of the man that was being "honored". She did thank him when she picked up her award but her performance...well, it was all Beyonce and no MJ. I ain't mad at her but she's like the biggest female star in music right now...it would have meant a lot to her fans and maybe more importantly the the hurt family that made it out, to see someone of her stature, do something special in Michael's honor...but maybe it's just me.

So now it's time for Jamie Foxx's performance featureing T-Pain. Like, when T-Pain was in the jewelery store did he just pick this necklace charm out or did he have it made...hmmmm, I wonder. "Big ASS Chain"...WTF was he thinking? How coon-a-licious of you. People who don't "normally" watch award shows, partially because of sh!+ like this, will be sure to continue to watch now! How impressive! A rapper using autotune with a "Big ASS Chain" on...how can I be down?

Jay Z was good, the O'Jays were great, Keisha Cole and Monica looked and sounded nice, Trey Songz was too timid, Johnny Gill over sang (as usual), Tyrese represented and Don Cornelius got really old when we weren't looking. And who ever's job it was to control the "5 second delay" fell asleep at the switch...all night. Maxwell had on a really nice suit and made the ladies swoon and Jamie "moist"and then... the Drake, Lil Wayne & friends performance complete with really young "women" surrounding the ACL-less Canadian. Note to performers..."just because you toss in a "give it up for mike" in the middle of a misogynistic, vulgar, offensive, egotistical, self-promoting song don't make it a tribute to Michael Jackson!"

I was on twitter and facebook the entire show and was glad to see that I wasn't alone in my feelings. Last week I heard a friend of mine say the revolution is being "cell-o-vised" [i.e. cellphones with social networking]. I hope that it is and that we can influence the powers that be (major media conglomerates) to get better or die. Let's not let this be THE only major tribute from our people, by our people distributed by Viacom...

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

To Cell, or not to Cell?

2009-05-18T18:35:00.011-05:00

So, my son is nine now. He's getting to the age where he wants more and more to talk on the phone. I'm a modern man in that I currently don't have a land line. So, I am faced with two choices. Should I... a.) get a land line and let that be the primary phone my son uses or... b.) get him a cell phone. To me, this question had an obvious answer...a.), right? I then began searching my options on re-joining the ranks of the "connected talkers". I used to have Vonage for a period of time. The price was great but the service left much to be desired. There was much "re-booting", reconnecting and when the cable was out, so was the phone. I don't know about ya'll, but when my TV is "unwatchable", I'm usually trying to talk to somebody about why my TV/internet is out. I then called "Ma-Bell" (AT&T). Plain and simple, for what you get and how much it would be used, they are too expensive. I'm currently a Sprint customer and I gave up counting minutes when they came out with the $99 unlimited everything. I saw that Boost Mobile has a $50 unlimited pre-paid plan and some "pay as you go" $1 a day plan. This got me to thinking...it would be cheaper to get my son a mobile phone. Then, I thought, what a minute...my son is on the internet all the time. He's got WiFi on both his Nintendo DS and Wii now and us them to get online. When I was at the inauguration this year, we stayed in touch via "G-Talk" and email. I'm getting him his own computer this summer...a kid that can handle all this "technology" can't handle a mobile phone? I had to "re-think" my response to the question.

I now believe that I could impose "land line rules" to his mobile phone usage...couldn't I? Do I really want my son to be going off to middle or high school and just be learning the art of "texting"? I don't think so. I then thought back to when "beepers" were all the rage. I can remember the "powers that be" at that time would say things like, "if you're not a doctor, you don't need a beeper. You look like a drug dealer." Of course, this wasn't true at all. At that time, beepers were becoming "the" way for people to keep in touch. I was starting to sound like an out dated, antiquated parent who wasn't parenting out of reason but out of "how I was raised" or what I don't think a 9 year old "should" have.

Mobile phones are tools. As long as I monitor my son's usage and impose some reasonable limitaions, it's my belief that it won't be the end of the world when he's texting me from my mom's house next time he spends the night...

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

City Stages...The Way I See It.

2009-03-31T21:40:00.000-05:00

I love Birmingham. I love the city, and the people that live in (and near) it. I don't understand and/or "love" some of the things that my city frequently does. Let's talk about [City Stages] in this blog...shall we?
I'm not sure if you remember enough about Birmingham/City Stages history to recall when Twista was announced as a performer. The year was 2004. He was dumped from the line up because of the "lyrical content" of some of his songs. Since then they've allowed, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, and this year Young Geezy the "Snow Man" to appear. Uh... really? Lyrical content can get a rapper kicked off City Stages? Hmmm, interesting. I have another theory.

Many of the other rappers that have been featured on the "big stage" have all sold more albums than Twista which could, potentially, draw bigger crowds...i.e. money makers. Twista, with all his success, is still more of an "underground rapper" than many of the others. And, at that time, I think that Larry Langford needed something to get him in the public eye as a "man of the people" so that when and if he ever decided to run for mayor of Birmingham, we'd all remember who saved the city from the "vulgarness and filth" of rap music.

Also, many people think that just because a rapper "swears" on his records, he/she can't be trusted to give a clean show. Some of the most vulgar and foul-mouthed rappers/comedians ever have gone on to have successful careers in "family-friendly-genres." Ice Cube is a kid friendly movie regular now. Has anyone seen the type of projects that Percy Miller (Master P) is involved with now? And let's roll back the tapes of Eddie Murphy then-&-now. Dr. DoLittle had the foulest of mouths just a few moons ago.

I also think that City Stages has a history of "shitting on the little guy" (especially the non-connected ones from Birmingham) as a rule. I give you Exhibit A: I'm a performer myself. I have have worked with many of Birmingham's finest musicians/performers. Just last year I was fortunate enough to have work included on the Emmy Award Winning Documentary/Soundtrack Mr. Dial Has Something to Say. I solicited my package to City Stages for consideration and was allotted a 15 minute slot on the [Homegrown /Non-Paid] Stage. I agreed to perform and after getting through one and a half songs, my performance was cut short, mean while, Landon Pigg was paid thousands to roll down from Tennessee to perform a full set on a [Sponsored Stage].

So, what's the point? Am I just another pissed off artists that is throwing salt in another rappers game? Or, am I a blogger trying to shed some light on some of the ills associated with our city's largest music festival? Hmmm, to be honest, sometimes I'm not quite sure myself. You decide.

I will say this though, If I don't see Larry Langford and the Birmingham City Council raising a million dollars worth of hell about Young Geezy coming to our city's most celebrated music events then I'll know that I'm not just a pissed off performer...I'm a pissed off performer with VERY VALID POINTS!

I'm Thed Weller & I approve this message.

Boycott Black History Month

2009-03-16T07:46:00.012-05:00

Yeah, I said it. Now, just hear me out...

As I was attending my school's [Black History Month Program], I couldn't help but wonder, "what are we REALLY doing?" I mean, I'm a Stolen African who finds pride in his heritage as much as the next Stolen African. I am sure to include the contributions of ALL Americans when I teach my class (6th grade Social Studies/Math) and in raising my son. I often discuss topics on what's hurting our communities and ways to improve them and welcome knowledge from all sources on issues facing "my people". I do this ALL YEAR LONG...don't you? If this is the case, then by continuing to celebrate [Black History Month] only in February and then have the audacity to complain that it's the "shortest month" is preposterous! We (many African-Americans) perpetuate the tradition of "only" celebrating the contributions of "our people" during a 28 day cycle. What's the purpose?
If the purpose of [Black History Month] is to educate those who may not be aware of all the wonderful contributions of those who lack euro-centric heritage, then why are "we" keeping the celebrations to ourselves? It seems to me that a better plan of implementation would be to not have [Black History Programs] at predominately black schools, churches, community centers, BET, etc., but to "take our show on the road" so to speak. I've often wondered how can many "majority schools" celebrate [Black History Month] as thoroughly as "we" do if, in fact, many of the "majority" institutions lack the knowledge of the major contributions of "colored people"? The more informed on the subject should take this opportunity to educate the less informed...shouldn't they?
And is it just me or doesn't it feel as if by celebrating [Black History Month] we're, in a way, saying that "our" history needs to be put on a pedestal and held up so it can "seem" as important as [Non-Black History]? Almost like what many who are against affirmative action feel. If you were REALLY qualified, you'd be able to compete with no "assistance"... You're probably needed to just fill a quota. If it were really important, it wouldn't be confined to a month. We get information all the time about great Americans on TV, in film, and in our schools' text books. Many fought long and hard to gain the full rights as American citizens. Not the right to start "our own schools" but the right to go to school where we please. Not the right to start our own restaurants but the right to enjoy a meal where ever we like. Don't these rights not extend in the chronicling of our history?

The solution:
I suggest we start what I like to call [The Day One Program] in predominantly African-American schools (and any other socially stratified school that would like to participate). In late summer, when schools start, we should start planning with the students and faculty our [Truth Telling Ceremony]. These [TTC]s will replace Black History Programs with an accurate account of what REALLY happened to Stolen Africans in this country. These ceremonies should be designed to inform all who attend of the wonderful contributions of African-Americans in spite of great opposition by the powers that be not only in the United States but to the entire world. If we do this at the beginning of the year, the students will be able to accurately interpret the other information they will be taught throughout the rest of the school year and know the importance of the contributions of Stolen Africans to the world.

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

My Inauguration...

2009-01-27T05:16:00.003-06:00

I know it's been a week since the Inauguration of our new president. I'm so happy that I was fortunate enough to be one of the millions of people that braved the cold and crowds to witness history live. Here's an account of my experience.

January 20, 2009 - Silver Spring, Maryland

3:00am ~ The alarm is going off on my phone and I'm "unaware" of it doing so until one of my "inaugural roommates" comes over and awakens me...(Thanks again!)

3:50am ~ I'm out the door and headed for the subway station. They are scheduled to open @ 4 am and it's my intention to get on the 1st train smoking!

3:59am ~ I decided to stop in the 24 hour drug store to get a bottle of water, a box of granola bars and a Washington Post. Much to my chagrin, the stores computers are down and they don't have much change. This experience takes much longer than it should have because the cashier had to go to the shelf and check the price of each item I purchased:-(

4:07am ~ I finally make it to the subway station and am on my way!

4:25am ~ The crowds along the stops from Silver Spring are UNBELIEVABLE!!!

4:30am ~ I get to Union Station and find a police officer to help me find the line to stand in to get into the Mall without a ticket.

5:00am ~ After some walking, I'm in line and waiting to go into the Mall...

8:00am ~ ...The police come out and tell us that they need our patience and that they are about to start getting people in through security 50 at a time.

8:07am ~ I start to notice people "weaving" their way back out through the crowds and I'm wondering why. I ask someone that's leaving and they inform me that the line I've been standing in for more than 3 hours, in the freezing cold, is the WRONG LINE!!!! I've standing in the line for the Parade Route, and not the Inaugural Swearing In Ceremony. :-(

8:08am ~ I start to "weave" my way out of the line and find a police officer to guide me to the entrance to the National Mall.

8:16am ~ I'm told to go down a "tunnel" to get to the Mall, I notice the same phenomenon I noticed in the first line, people leaving. It turns out that so many people had come to this entrance, they stopped letting people in this entrance if you didn't have a ticket.

8:20am ~ After being told by another police officer and then a volunteer to go down this same tunnel and then being shown a map (up-side-down) of the National Mall and being told that maybe I could walk around to another entrance, I began to contemplate the possibility of NOT witnessing [The Moment].

8:23am ~ A guy comes up to me, taps me on the shoulder and asks me, "why are so many people coming out of the tunnel?" I told him that if you don't have a ticket, they'll turn you away. He says to me, "you don't have a ticket? Well you do now! You're coming with us!" It turns out that this guy had an extra ticket because his brother-in-law got sick and couldn't make the trip. He was looking for a person by themselves to give it to!

8:24am ~ Me and my long lost "cousin from New York, Deven" now make our way to The Capitol Building. The ticket that he gave me was a "Yellow" ticket. (Quick tid-bit about the "Yellow" tickets...They're right up front!)

8:55am ~ A guy says "excuse me" and passes through the line we're standing and I say to the others, "hey, that looks like Don King!" He over hears me and turns after he passes and says, "Only in America Baby!" It WAS DON KING!!! I couldn't get my camera out fast enough!

9:24am ~ We go through security like we're at the air port! I'm getting sniffed by dogs, got my arms in the air, and this guy is squeezing my pockets just to be sure!

9:30am ~ We're in the 1st check point and me and Deven run to the Port-A-Pottys...no line, no waiting in the Yellow Ticket area;-)

9:35am ~ We get through the last check point and am standing up front, waiting for [The Moment].

At this point, I'm happy that I was able to get in, thrilled that Deven found me and bequeathed his sick brother-in-law's ticket, and completely in awe as to what I'm about to witness. You'll even notice in the picture above, I've taken off my gloves. Somehow, it wasn't as cold as it was "outside" to me...yeah, I know, I'm really still "outside".

For other pictures of my MLK/Inaugural Weekend in DC, check me out on [facebook] or simply click here.

Black is Black?

2008-12-21T08:31:00.001-06:00

So, I've heard this topic discussed on the radio, TV and I've even had a few of my friends call me and pose a question about Barack Obama's "black-ness" (if there is such a thing). The reasoning/logic behind this question is as follows:

The Logic: Because Barack Obama is bi-racial & was raised by whites in a less than urban environment & doesn't use many of the colloquialisms traditionally used by African-Americans in the United States & didn't chase the dime or the shine once graduating from Harvard & confused "Weezie" with "Elizabeth" while holding his heart stating, "this is the big one!"...he isn't really black...at least not as black as most other blacks that live in these United States.

Useful Analogy: There once was a man who decided to have a Bengal tiger as a pet. He got it when it was only a few days old and raised it as a house cat. He fed and loved the tiger as much and many other folks in his neighborhood loved their dogs and goldfish. One day, the police came to his door and informed him that it was against a city ordinance to have an exotic pet at his home. The man tried to explain that "Simba" was not an exotic animal because he had raised him in his home for years. He'd never had any trouble with Simba and the neighbor's kids loved to play with the both of them in his back yard. Simba was de-clawed and had lost all his hunting instincts. Even after showing the officer video tapes to back his claims, Simba could no longer stay in the house because he was, in fact, an exotic animal.

Black Defined: Let's first take a look at the term black, and see if we can get a better historical perspective of what it means to be black in America [and I do question if CNN got it right too]. According to Wikipedia:
"In their attempt to impose segregation and restore white supremacy in the late 19th century, some southern states created laws defining a person as black if the person had any known African ancestry. This was a stricter interpretation than what had prevailed earlier. It became known as the one-drop rule, meaning that a single drop of "black blood" makes a person "black". Some courts called it the traceable amount rule, and anthropologists used to call it the hypodescent rule, meaning that racially mixed persons were assigned the status of the subordinate group."

So, according to the oppressor, if you have any black in you, you are black...period. The entire concept of being black was conceived as a tool to better discriminate, segregate and oppress. The truth is, when we think of it's origin, we ought to be as outraged at the term as we are at the infamous "N-Word", but that's another blog all together.
The ill-dichotomy of the questioning of Barack's black-ness is that I've mostly heard this question raised in black circles. The same circles that would want to march and boycott Hollywood and others for only portraying Blacks in a stereotypical light. We get mad when we are only portrayed as thugs, dope dealers, athletes, rappers, pimps, hoes, ignorant, hyper-sexual, greedy, funny, sexist, etc. and yet we dare to question Barack's authenticity because of his lack of stereotypically inspired black characteristics?!?!? A Bengal tiger is a Bengal tiger regardless of how it was raised and Barack Obama is black because of how the oppressor has defined the term.

But let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes.

I think that the posing of this question is only a symptom, and not the problem. Why would we question Barack's authenticity? Why wouldn't we want him to be black like us? I believe that many of us need to feel that there are certain heights we can not achieve because of the pigmentation of our skin or color class we've been assigned. Many of us need to know that even if we work hard, and do our best, we are destined to some level of failure because of America's history. Logically speaking, if a black man can become president in America, then surely I can become a college graduate or a business owner, or a dedicated father...right? If Barack Husein Obama can have an Oval Office, then I can avoid having an eight by twelve cell...can't I? I am in NO WAY suggesting that Barack's election as our president-elect signals the end of racism, prejudice and injustice in the United States. Quite the contrary. The truth is that America is still infested deep in her bowels, with a cancer that won't be cured with any one election. His election does, however, signify that America is going through a type of chemotherapy and is trying to rid herself of the ills of her past and present. It is my hope, that the day of her remission isn't as far off as I once thought.

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

The Auto Bailout...

2008-11-14T05:46:00.000-06:00

Ok. Here's the "cut to the chase" part. They shouldn't be bailed out.

However, America is dealing with hundreds of "shouldn'ts" already. This doesn't mean I don't think it would be best if congress bails them out.

The Chase...

If you've been in business for, let's say, a hundred years, you should have your act together well enough to stay in business on your own...period. If not, so be it. It's called "Financial Darwinism". I'll bet you didn't see cave men running around talking about "we need to save the dinosaurs from extinction!" (I know that men and dinosaurs were separated by millions of years according to scientists... just making a point;-). However, what happens to all the people that work at the auto plants? And...what happens to all the industries that only exists because there is an "auto plant" in their town. Mercedes built a factory a few miles down the road from where I live. When I toured the facility, the most amazing part wasn't that they roll a new Mercedes off the line every 18 minutes, 24 hours a day. (Keep in mind I toured the plant a few years back and they've expanded since then so now they can produce more than 80 vehicles per day or at least they have the capacity to... that's more than 1,600 per month even with weekends off!!). It wasn't that they think they can sell every last one of them. The most amazing part to me was that every part the the M-Class (except the motor) is made near the area. The seats, dashboards, tires, windshields, radios, antennas, breaks, etc. If they close the M-Class plant in Alabama, many more jobs would be lost than just the ones at the actual plant. Since this is true here, I'm sure this is "the system" by which the auto industry operates in America. Meaning, if a plant closes there will be a "systemic problem". This is why bailing out the "big 3" seems like a necessary evil. But is it?

What if...

What if congress DOESN'T bail them out? What if they all go the way of the dinosaur? I think it could "not be as bad" as we think it'll be...just different. Which would be more "cost effective"? To support, through unemployment benefits and health benefits the workers that have lost their jobs until the industry can "re-tool" or to keep giving the big 3 money so they can keep pretending they're making money from all the cars they obviously ain't selling? The truth is that the CEO's are gonna be financially ok...they already are. So, as long as the "workers" are "ok" do we really care that there is no GM, Ford & Chrystler? In the past 100 years USA can only produce 3 auto makers? Remember "Ma-Bell"? The one phone company model? Long distance, mobile calling, phone features all started to improve when they broke it up and gave some "fresh blood" a chance to enter the market. I think us, the consumers, are over-all better for it.

Resolution...

So, if we do indeed, bailout the Auto Industry, I think it should be done with major quid-pro-quo! And I hope that our government is willing to give the "googles" of the country a shot at making us some "smart cars" so we will "want" to buy and drive American again and I can stop felling guilty about driving my Honda Fit from Japan!

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

"O" the President...

2008-11-06T05:54:00.000-06:00

Okay... let me start by saying...wow!

It's November 6, 2008 A.B.

It's two days after, and it's only now that I'm writing about what we've all witnessed. I've not blogged in a while.

October 31, 2008

I awoke on this Halloween morning and before I made it to work, I logged onto CheapTickets.com and purchased a round trip ticket to Washington, DC to witness the inauguration that will be held on January 20th. Once again at work, I used the internet to "confirm" my voting status.

November 3, 2008

After work, I went to Captain D's, got me and my son a meal, helped him with his homework, got him ready for bead, and had him tucked-in just across town at my mom's house. I returned home, and went to sleep on a mission.

November 4, 2008

I awoke at 3:00 a.m. I made a liter of coffee, took my fully charged iPod and a chair to my polling site and was surprised that I wasn't the "first" person in line. Debra was. She's an attorney/judge that had pulled up 10 prior to me getting there.

As each hour passed, I called, text'd, twittered, and facebook'd many that I knew. I was making sure that everyone I knew was alert and aware.

It's 6:30am now and the line that I'm second in, has grown to over 100 people. The parking lot at the Hueytown Community Center looks like the championship little league game is about to be played.

My friends from the "DC Area" were in line too and called to confirm that they have already voted.

I spend the rest of the day reassuring people that "we" all can't be denied this time. I'm pulling up electoral maps, forwarding internet articles, and have forgotten all about my "Obama/Biden" car magnet that was stolen from a Wal-Mart parking lot just 2 days prior.

After work, I stop by the grocery store, pick up some fresh chicken wings, hot dogs & buns and have a fire going by 6pm.

It's 9:55 p.m. Central Standard Time now. I'm finished eating my hot dog and wings, I'm done drinking my Red Stripes and American Ales. My 9 year old son has eaten and has fallen asleep. At 10:00 p.m. Central Standard Time, I see and hear Wulf Blitzer make the announcement. "Barack Obama is now the President Elect of The United States of America."

10:01 A.B. (After Barack)...

It was like watching my son take his first steps. When he was born, I never doubted he would walk, but the first day he does, it's special. I thought all that day that Barack Obama would win, but I had no idea of how it would make me "feel".

I first call my mom...few words are spoken.

I then get a call from my sister...few words are spoken.

I then get a call from Sheila...she's in DC and is out in the streets celebrating!

I receive many calls, texts, emails, and I am unable to answer any of them. I, too, am taken by the moment. I'm sitting on my couch, in the living room...in tears.

I watch McCain speak...It's like I hear him but if feel the "response" from his crowd...I am instantly reminded of what hasn't changed.

10:59 p.m. A.B.

President Elect Barack Obama comes onto the stage...

I listen. I'm speechless. I'm an American.

November 5, A.B. 6:15 a.m.

I wake up my son and tell him, "good morning." You'd have to know my son, he opens his eyes and says to me, "what's so good about it?" in a cartoon-ishly sarcastic way.

I tell him that, "Barack Obama is the President! We won, we won!" He smiles, looks up at me, gets out of his bed and asks, "Pick me up." He just wanted to be held and picked up by me. I am once again moved to tears as we embrace. I make breakfast, pack a lunch and then it's off to the school.

I get to my school, walk into my class and all of my students are sitting quiet with the lights off. When I walk and turn on the lights, they burst into celebration! It was a good day. Once I calmed them down, I start to go around the room and ask them, "what does this mean to them?" I could only take listen to the 3rd response where Jalaysia says, "this means that I can be what ever I want to be." I'm moved because, I could have told her this a million times, and now no one has to tell her, and she believes it.

I've been a school teacher for 13 years. Every morning, we have our morning announcements and then the students say the pledge of allegiance. This was the 1st time I "wanted" to say it too.

Batman vs. Penguin Debate...Sound Familiar?

2008-10-15T19:16:00.000-05:00

What's a Conservative?

2008-10-13T12:00:00.001-05:00

I'm not being funny but I'm having a hard time determining what, exactly, it means to be "a conservative". I looked it up in Webster's and it says...

1capitalized a: the principles and policies of a Conservative party b: the Conservative party

2 a: disposition in politics to preserve what is established b: a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change ; specifically : such a philosophy calling for lower taxes, limited government regulation of business and investing, a strong national defense, and individual financial responsibility for personal needs (as retirement income or health-care coverage)3: the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change
So, overall, a conservative wants to keep things as they are? They want to keep "tradition" even if that tradition is fundamentally unsound or unjust? We as a nation are addicted to oil, so, rather than devoting billions of dollars to "green technologies" we'd rather "drill baby drill" to feed our addiction? Or, instead of "live and let live" when it comes to gay marriage, we'd rather try and "legislate" what people can and can't do? If a marriage is a union between two people and their God, wouldn't this be a "separation of church and state" issue? Meaning, if you can find a "church" that will marry you, the "state" shouldn't be able to "de-validate" that union... should they?
Over the years, if we had ALL been conservatives, there would still be enslaved Africans in America, no women could vote and alcohol might not go "legally" with our American sporting events as they do now. America would Royally Suck!
Many of "us" are clinging to our "traditions" as an excuse to continue to do what we've always done & thus defer any "responsibility" of our current situation to ourselves.
Useful Analogy:A man graduates high school and finds a "good job" at a plant in his town. The plant trains him in what he needs to know and becomes a skilled worker and valuable asset to this company. He works there for 25 years and finds out that this plant will soon close. He had a son, that is now 18 and has followed in his father's footsteps and found employment at this same plant just last year. A man and his son now find themselves unable to find work. Neither the man nor his son, went to college and are finding that the particular "skill set" they possess isn't in demand at any other employer near by.
In the above analogy, the "tradition" has been to find work without furthering one's education. The "tradition" has been to not "create" employment, but to "find" employment. It's the old, "give a man a fish" parable... isn't it?
As a country we can not continue to do what we've done and expect a different result! There will be NO good economy unless we can "create" employment. We can't create employment if all of us are only trying to "find" a job. Some of us are going to have to "make a way" for others to go to work.
Employers are NOT conservatives as a rule. Think about it. Let's take McDonald's for example. Remember when you would roll to the drive through years ago and who ever took your order was waiting at the window to take your money? Now, they "might" not be in the window because they all wear headsets now. This allows them the mobility to take an order more on the fly and also help "fix" the orders. So now, McDonald's doesn't need that extra person to fix orders. Also, at McDonalds, years ago when I used to work there they came out with a "clam shell" grill. This allowed the person working the grill to cook both sides of the meat at once. I remember being able to cook 24 hamburger patties in less than a minute. This also meant that you didn't need as many people working the grill as you used to.
We've all seen those "self check out" registers at Wal-Mart and other stores. Those are "cashiers" that don't have jobs now. If the companies were more "conservative" they wouldn't invest in such equipment would they?
Overall, I think instead of looking at things through a "conservative" or "liberal" lens, we should just try to find the "best" ideas and see how we can make this country better for "all" Americans and not just those that hunt and go to church with us.
I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

New Stratagy...

2008-10-11T20:06:00.000-05:00

I don't think the McCain Camp is trying to win any more. They do, however, have a "new strategy" they are using. "A strategy to do what?" one might ask. Well, before I go into my "conspiracy theory" on this one...

Useful Analogy:

Well, this isn't so much an analogy as it is an appropriate story that I think will help explain my conspiracy theory. When my sister and brother-in-law lived in Birmingham, they rented a house to some tenants. Well, for what ever reason the tenants couldn't pay their rent any longer and my sister and husband hand to start the eviction process. The tenants eventually left the property but they had all but ransacked the place before they vacated. Holes in the walls, doors detached from hinges and "extra love" left in the toilets. The newly evicted wanted my sister and husband to enjoy their place as little as possible and the former tenants did what they could to ensure that.

New Stategy:
I think that McCain and the republicans, just want the country to be as divided as possible so that the Obama Administration will have a "less effective" term in office. That sucks! I think that John Lewis hit the nail on the head when he siad, "in the not too distant past, there was a governor of the state of Alabama named George Wallace who also became a presidential candidate. George Wallace never threw a bomb. He never fired a gun, but he created the climate and the conditions that encouraged vicious attacks against innocent Americans who were simply trying to exercise their constitutional rights. Because of this atmosphere of hate, four little girls were killed on Sunday morning when a church was bombed in Birmingham, Alabama."

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

Quit Playing Like You Smart

2008-10-08T18:04:00.000-05:00

Ok...I've just about had it with these half-ass pundits! The proverbial last straw was when I heard Ludacris on Steve Harvey this morning commenting on the 2nd presidential debate. He was like, "neither candidate impressed me. I was disappointed with both of their responses." Are you f__king kidding me?!?! This from the guy that don't know enough about politics to not make a stupid ass song called "Paint the White House Black" after Obama mentions him in a Rolling Stone article. If you are as important as you think you are,Luda, you should know that it matters what you say or do to the many "ignorant, uniformed, I'm voting for McCain or Obama because they had a really good TV ad on last night" folks. At the end of each day, a flock of pundits come on TV and explain to us why we are rejecting John McCain and why we are supporting Barack Obama as if "we" didn't already know. WTF is a "swing voter" anyway? And don't even get me started on the polls (I'll be blogging about that later this week;-)! If you've not made up your mind by now...F_CK YOU FOR REAL! I'd rather hear somebody say, "I'm voting for McCain because I think Palin is hot!" than to hear somebody say, "I still have by doubts about whether or not Obama is a muslim." You don't deserve to vote...(unless like, you're just waking up from a coma or something.) Get on the internet and read something for crying out loud!!! Find out what each of the candidates are all about on their websites first and then see if you agree with what each of them say they "want" to do. Fact Check, Fact Check, Fact Check! Know WHY you are supporting who you're supporting and don't just repeat to me the "talking points" that you've heard the "pundits" spewing the night before. It just seems like you're trying to "play smart" to the rest of us.

I'm Thed Weller and I approve this message.

VP Debate Results...& The Winner is...

2008-10-02T23:27:00.000-05:00

Wow! First of all, let me say sorry for not "planning ahead". I waited until about 15 minutes before the debate to print out my "rubric" and found that I was out of ink:-(. Not to worry though because I just grabbed my handy dandy notebook and pulled up the PDF on the laptop. After saving the day...I soon found that I wouldn't need it after all.

Useful Analogy:

Frank and Bob are two "Pop-Warner" Little League Football coaches. They've both made it to the championship game and have been preparing all week. This is only Franks second year as a coach but he's found his niche and his team is undefeated. Bob's been a coach for 10 years. He's decided to work out a "secret weapon" because he feels that his team only made it to the championship game because the last two teams they played had to forfeit due to injury and angry parent involvement. It's the day of the game and when Bob yells the secret word..."FAKE-OUT!"...his entire team starts to play by the internationally accepted rules of rugby! There is such chaos that the referees call the game off and disqualify Bob's team for not adhering to the rules.

Sarah Palin didn't play by the rules...she made up her own. What a Maverick! I'm watch this thing and don't even know what to do. I'm waiting for Gwen Ifill to "referee" and take control. She, however, found herself under extreme pressure to be "fair" and not appear to "badger the witness" because of her yet released book. I watch the entire debacle and then I got a phone call from someone asking me what I thought of the debate. My first thought was..."what debate?" but I didn't say that because I wanted to know what the person calling thought and I didn't want to "poison the well" with my impression. She told that she thought Palin did well. She said that she was very personable and didn't have any major gaffes. I instantly thought to myself that I MUST be talking to a person that obviously didn't read "Debate Watching for Dummies." She did, however, give me her honest opinion and even though she thought Biden "won" the debate, she thought that Palin did well. Of course, she felt differently after talking to me and hearing what I thought.

What did most of us think was going to happen? Did we think she was going to do as badly in this debate as she's been doing with Katie Couric? Did we think we'd get our SNL moment early this week? Did we think that she would leave the stage in tears after Biden ripped her to pieces? If that's what you "thought" was going to happen then, she did do well...or maybe I should say she did much better than expected. If you thought she was going to answer the questions that Gwen Ifill asked and give us all a chance to see "how she thinks" on the fly and under pressure...she was F.U.B.A.R.!

Now I'm not one for beating a dead horse. I've been surfing through the "bloggisphere" and reading many opinions of several people that feel that this was a "joke" of a debate. It feels good to know that many of us can't see "the emperor's new clothes". I do, however, have a suggestion that I'll be sending in to the Commission on Presidential Debates.

Debate Suggestion for Future Debates...

I think that there should be at least one question that the candidate themselves get to pose to their opponent. And also have a chance to ask a follow up to this question. I think there should be a "team of pundits" to score the response right there at the debate. If this question is asked first, then the pundits will have the rest of the 90 minutes to mull over the responses and have their verdicts by debate's end and share them with the public. This way, right there on the spot, a candidate would be "called out" and hopefully somewhat embarrassed for not answering a question or answering a question wrong because the responses could also be "fact checked" during this time. The type of question asked would also say something about the candidate. For example, if Palin had asked Biden how he feels about "hockey mom's getting a special tax credit for buying pucks" we'd all feel a certain way about Palin for asking a question like that, wouldn't we? Just a suggestion. If you see something like this used in future debates, know you heard it here first! lol!

Thanks to Natalie for emailing in your rubric and notes;-) You'll find mine and hers below.

Thedlitical's VP Debate Rubric...

Natalie's VP Debate Rubric & Notes...

Debate Watching for Dummies

2008-10-01T07:09:00.000-05:00

Debate Watching for Dummies

Ok folks. One down and three to go. I watched the first debate with a couple of friends and we discussed what we saw. Then we talked about what we saw the commentators, and pundits talk about which leads me to believe that “we” don’t really know “how to watch a debate.” So, here are some helpful hints.

Useful Analogy: Each year, the NFL drafts dozens of college athletes into the pros. The head coaches of these pro teams hold a NFL Combine each year for potential “draftees” to show their stuff. This is when many of the coaches make their final decisions on whether or not they’re going to go with one player or the other. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE SEEN THE POTENTIAL DRAFTEES!!! These players have been under the microscope for some time by the coaching staffs of the prospective pro teams. The combine plays a part in reassuring a choice but not the sole factor in making the choice.

Do your homework. Use all at your disposal to learn as much as possible about each candidate. You don’t have to become addicted to politics to make an educated choice. There are several television shows that are dedicated to helping you sort through the “political minutia”. Try to stay away from shows and networks that are obviously for or against one candidate. (i.e. don’t watch Fox News at all. MSNBC has shows that lean democratically. CNN is overall your best bet in trying to get a “fair” assessment of both sides.)
Stay Neutral. Try and have a "reasonably" open mind. Don’t look for zingers and one liners by the “guy or gal” you’re in the tank for but try and listen to what each will say about themselves and what they want to do and not so much what they say about their opponent. Each will try to lead you to believe the other guy has been sent by the devil to carry the country to Hell in a hand basket.
Your opinion counts. Hey, just because Wulf Blitzer and Campbell Brown make a ton of money to give their opinions doesn’t mean theirs are SO MUCH BETTER THAN YOURS! Opinions are just like ass-holes…we all have them and most of them stink! It’s easy to believe what they say when the debates are over if you’ve not formed an opinion. That’s why it’s a good idea to watch with a few others (not a debate party though) so you can have some discussions about the debate with other thinkers. This is also where knowing how each stands on the issues prior to watching will prove to be helpful.
Body Language. We all deal with people all the time. We know how it affects our mood depending on how we’re looked at or spoken to. Watch the facial expressions and movement and gestures of each. Remember they are people too. If they look aggravated or bothered to you, they probably are.
Don’t be a Fool! If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. No matter what either candidate says, they can’t do everything. No one person can. They both can only offer ideas and offer plans than they hope they can influence congress and the other departments of the government to work together.
Know the “Tells” This means that each candidate (most people too) do certain things when they get “in trouble” or start to feel uncomfortable. If you play poker, you’re familiar with this. There are certain things people do when they have a “good” hand and there are certain things people do when they don’t. Likewise, people will do or say certain things when they feel they are answering a “good” question or a “bad” one. If you’ve “done your homework” than you’ve probably seen each of the candidates somewhat uncomfortable with some questions. Palin tends to ramble and put several talking points together (whether they go together or not). Biden tends to start of saying “ladies and gentlemen” before he starts to “wing it.” John McCain tends to call his audience “my friends” when he starts to “play it by ear.” Obama will start to smile and seem to “enjoy” whatever is happening even more. Many feel that him saying “uh” a lot is a “tell” but it probably can be more attributed to him trying to be thoughtful and not “mess-up” and stick his foot in his mouth. He seems to be uncomfortable with “awkward silences”.
Who Won? Reguardless what you might think, you shouldn't just go with the "guy" or "gal" you like in the begining and already know "they" won before the debate. It's best to use some type of Rubric to decide this. I've inclosed one below. Just click on it to make it larger and print it out. Use it as a Score Sheet while watching and then simply add up the points @ the end. This will be more fun and entertaining if you do this with a friend and average the scores. This will be even MORE fun if the person(s) scoring with you is leaning in the opposite direction you are.

I look forward to seeing how you scored the future debates. i'll include my score sheets as well;-) If you want to scan you sheets and email them to thed.weezy@gmail.com I'll be sure to post your scores too!

If It Looks Like a Bailout, and Walks Like a Bailout, Just Because You Put Lipstick on it, Don’t Make it a Pig.

2008-09-28T05:47:00.000-05:00

Ok, I’ve been looking at what all of us have been looking at and I’m none to happy about what I’ve been seeing. Now, to both John McCain’s and Barack Obama’s credit, neither want to see the country go though Financial Armageddon, (and that’s what WE have been told repeatedly by several officials)…however, I have my doubts about us providing the needed capital for the financial system to be stabilized.

Let’s look at the Worst Case Scenario:

Markets freeze and NO ONE is able to get credit…period!

Above isn’t a typo… That’s pretty much all I keep hearing. And that would be bad but…uh…I’ve got like a double digit Beacon Score…so I KNOW living with no credit is possible and not the end of the world. I DO have to budget and manage my limited money very stringently…which is what we would like our government to do, right?

Once Upon A Time…

I remember having to walk a mile to the bus stop carrying my trumpet and catching the bus every morning in the summers to go to band camp. After spending my high school years catching buses and bumming rides, it was finally my time to become the owner of my own vehicle. I remember working at a grocery store and saving every penny until I got like $1,000. I went to a car auction and I bought a 1980 Honda Prelude…cash. No car note and no “new car smell”. This used to be how it went. You SAVED UP to buy what you wanted. Or, there was lay-a-way…remember that? Now every store just gives you a credit card and tells you to get it now. Going into debt has become the “American” way.

So…What are they REALLY scared of?:

Bankruptcy. Why? When companies go bankrupt, they sell their assets and get what they can for them. Our government would rather go into debt with China (which they can choose to re-nig on if need be) then to have China or whatever country that’s currently in the “black” bid for our financial institutions on eBay.

Not being able to continue “life as we know it”.

If the financial system fails to be able to function as it currently does, many tough questions have to be asked and answered. Questions like, “What ever happened to lay-a-way?” or “how long will I have to save up before I can buy that?”

I remember when I was a kid, after my mom and dad divorced; my Grandma was able to go to the deep freezer out back and was always able to pull out some “deer meat” or “bass” that my Granddad had hunted earlier that year. We always had food. In the backyard, we had pecan trees, pear trees, apple trees, pepper plants, tomato vines, muscadine vines, and fishing bait. All around the house were not only rose bushes but cabbages and greens too. My grandparents aren’t rich and didn't use "credit cards" to feed us but when my mom and her four kids had to move back in with them, we all were fed and never did without...what we REALLY needed. I’ve got one kid and a side by side in the kitchen and I’m looking at CNN everyday and am scared to death… or am I?

There is Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself.

I’ve decided that even if we are about to go through The Great Depression 2.0, I say bring it on! Everything that doesn’t kill us makes us stronger right? I say take that $700 billion and pay America's house deeds and had them to us...the tax payers. That way, if my 401(k) is gone, I'm not still paying a house note. Hell, while ya'll at it, pay off my student loans too! Bail "me" out!

Lead by Example...

I bought a car a couple of years ago and I chose to get a Honda Fit because, at the time, it was one of the most fuel efficient, affordable hatchbacks that wasn’t a hybrid. That’s what we as Americans have to do… make some difficult choices. I wanted Hummer just as much as the next guy. I made a choice based on what I thought I’d be able to afford in the long run. We might NOT need to purchase a house that is 10 times larger than that of our parents? I say, let’s take a note from Alaska’s governor and learn to “live off the land” again, fill our deep freezers with as much fresh game as we can and make due. We’ll all come out better for it in the long run.

**Disclaimer**

I'm not an "Economist" nor do I play one on TV, so, uh, to congress and other federal workers and Washington insiders, if you guys read this and know that Financial Armageddon would rain down upon us with a great fury and vengeance not know since the beginning of time... Ix-nay on this Og-blay! lol!

My Tiraid / Op-Ed by Perspective

2008-09-17T23:27:00.000-05:00

Opinion Editorial by Perspective

So I get a call from a friend, a Major in the Army, who called me to tell me about an interaction she had with a White woman in her unit. She went on to say how this soldier said she would never vote for Barack Obama, not because he is Black, but because he is a Muslim. And she was so sure of this fact because she and her girlfriend went online and read it for themselves. My friend told her that she had never heard anything like that and that she would have to check it out and get back to her. WTF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I then went off (should have written this when I was really mad, but I was too busy practicing small town values like making dinner for my family). Anyway, I went nuts and gave her some of the reasons why I think America is a nation of dumbasses and then it hit me. She called me for confirmation that this chick was wrong. And once I realized that I was even hotter. I was pissed because I knew that she had no idea about his policies and therefore couldn’t counter anything ole girl had to say. I knew that she is voting for him because he is Black and that pissed me off because that should be the last reason someone votes for him. Now let’s be clear. I did not say that it should not be “uh” reason. I said it should not be “the” reason. We can’t ignore race any more than we can gender so I’m not so upset if his blackness is “uh” reason. Moving on…I think most of us are too damn lazy to find out shit for ourselves. We rely on those who think like we do to continually feed us the same ole bullshit. It makes us feel better because we don’t have to be challenged. We don’t have to think about one more damn thing. So that is why my co-worker thinks Fox news is the truth and I actually chuckle a bit when I see John Stewart and The Colbert Report. Yes, I said chuckle. Call it elitist, but a pig in lipstick is still a pig_ I’m sorry; I meant, there is more than one way to convey the same message. You get the point. So I challenge Democrats and Republicans to step outside of their comfort zones. Talk to people who do not support your political view so that you can learn something. You ever notice how Minister Farrakhan frequently references the Bible in his sermons. He took the time to understand someone else’s position and probably knows the Bible better than some who have been Christians all of their lives. Like instead of mandating Latinos learn English, learn some Spanish your damn self and stop eating at Taco Bell and calling that authentic! Learn something new.

Look, I am a Democrat and Obama supporter. There is nothing short of an act of God that will get me to change my mind at this point. I know Republicans who probably feel the same and I am not mad about that. But I’m pissed by the rationales people are using to support their candidates. I heard a woman say that she grew up in Idaho and likes to hunt and that she is voting for McCain because Sarah Palin and she have a lot in common. Okay. Sarah Palin is not running for President dear. McCain is. Faulty logic. And if one more person tells me that this woman has foreign policy experience because she can see Russia from her state, I’ll just have more fuel for my argument that America is a nation of dumbasses. I’m looking at my neighbor’s house right now, but I am not an expert on how the husband treats his wife. Dumbasses I tell you! And Obama supporters, you are not off of the hook either. Grow some balls and muzzle that pitbull!

And speak to the issues so that when a McCain supporter comes to you and says that Barack has no executive experience, remind them of what he has done and speak about it like you did it. Don’t call me asking me if it’s true that he’s a Muslim. Hell, most Blacks in America probably would have been another religion had we been left the hell alone! That’s another blog topic and yes I know African tribe leaders captured fellow Africans and sold them into slavery. I know my ancestors’ part in the problem, so I’m not a dumbass.

I’ve decided that I’m not arguing with McCain/Palin fans anymore. I will have a conversation or two with a Republican though. Someone who can tell me that they think that Palin is not ready, but that he or she loves the ideals of their party so much, they must support the ticket. I can respect that. But if you tell me how ready she is and how McCain is going to offer change, well then, I’d have to say, I’m done wasting my good sense on you. If you say that you are voting for Sarah because she represents working moms then I know that your decision is emotional and not based on the issues. First of all, she is not the one running for president. I’m a working mom and I don’t need anyone to show me that I can be president someday. While I think that example is important, I need to know what it is the president is going to do about the No Child Left Behind Law that is kicking educators’ asses and making me hate my job! And if you are a teacher you know what I’m talking about. If you are not, you might say I’m a whiner. Well, those who care the most about healthcare are those without any. I believe people only care about the things that impact them. That’s why there is such a high level of misunderstanding on both sides. I am also not fooling with Obama fans either. If you are caught up in the history of it all, then I just can’t talk to you. Get a clue and learn the issues!

I truly believe that at his core, McCain is a cool dude, but that he thinks in order to get the diamond, he has to shit on the miners. I also think that Barack has lots to learn about this level of the game, but it is a chance that I am willing to take. I’ve been depressed since Bush has been in office and while I like Xanax, he needs to go so that I can stop taking it!

Finally, I would just like to say that I think the solider that prompted this whole tirade doesn’t want to vote for Barack because he is Black. I think that because she said it wasn’t the reason and because her rationale was so completely off base that only someone who didn’t want to appear racist would say it aloud. It’s okay though. Most Black people know that it’s part of the reason. You can say it. We won’t be mad. The honesty would be refreshing for a change instead of basing your dislike for him on the fact he doesn’t always wear a lapel pin (McCain didn’t wear one for his big speech by the way-Barack wore his though). That’s why I like Fox news. They don’t try to hide their dislikes for Blacks and I respect that about them. But I’m not saying some of them aren’t dumbass material though.

The Republican Project...

2008-09-14T12:58:00.000-05:00

For a while, like most Obama supporters, I've been playing Monday Morning Quarterback about how he should respond to the senseless attacks against him. A few months ago, I stopped and took about 3 steps back and tried to see the "forest" instead of the "trees". I think I'm a pretty smart guy (a trait of MOST bloggers) but I must admit that I think that Barack is probably a wee bit smarter than I am. And, when I started to consider this, I stopped trying to think of what he ought to do to win this election, and started thinking of why is he doing what he's doing? I mean, he gotten this far with out calling me once and asking for any advice. So, let's dissect what he IS doing...

He's not fighting fire with fire. (in practical terms, water tends to work better any way.) When the Repubs accused him of calling Palin a pig...he doused those flames with the issues.
When the Repubs unleashed more false TV ads and campaign lies, he stuck to the issues.
When racism rears it's ugly head from around the country, he smacks that head with his positions on the issues.

Hmmm. What a novel concept. We've all heard the parable "never argue with a fool because onlookers may not be able to tell who's the fool." I can't think of a more applicable situation than this one to use it's logic.

Now, I must admit that I do think that Obama is giving the general voting populous more credit than it may deserve. But, maybe not. See, it's hard to stop "second-guessing" him isn't it?

I have a republican friend (a white woman of the middle-class). Last week, I decided to have a political discussion with her. Keep in mind, this if AFTER I began to realize that Obama is smarter than I am. So, I decided to follow his lead and only talk about the issues instead of doing what I would want him to do on the stump. I didn't bring up the names of the candidates at all (unless she brings them up first)...only policy. I've been amazed. She really doesn't know any of either candidates positions on any of the policies. She can only repeat what she's heard from other republicans. So, I've been educating her of what the policies are and where she can find out about them and read up on them for herself. She came to work one day last week and told me that she tried to watch some "politcal tv programs" but couldn't stomach to watch it for long because they didn't talk about the "issues" like me and her had been discussing. She actually WANTS to here about them...and she's a republican!

I did start this conversation off with her by asking her what she thought of Sarah Palin. She began to tell me how she "liked her and how she was against government spending. blah, blah, blah..." I informed her that Sarah hired a lobbyist when she was mayor of Wasilla and had gotten $27 million in "ear-marks". After hearing this she asked me, "where did you hear that?" I told her that I read it on the Internet. I told her that it was public knowledge. She again asked, "but who told you that?" I then told her that, "About 85% of all the black people that are voting for Obama maybe doing it just because he's black....I'm not one of them though. I'm an informed voter."

She's been emailing me about politics and watching TV more closely because she too would like to be an informed voter. The more educated she becomes on the issues the more she doesn't want to be an uninformed voter. The more educated she becomes on the issues, the more she must face the fact that she has NO GOOD REASON NOT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA! She, like so many other Americans, is an uninformed voter. I can see the wheels turning when she talks to me now. I've never been mean. I've never said one negative thing about McCain or Palin (I have, however, cleared up a few lies they've told). I've only educated her on the issues and she's starting to question everything she thought she knew.

Why is Obama doing what he's doing? Because he's smarter than most of us. He told us how to win this election. "We are who we've been waiting on!" Remember hearing that? He's leading by example. He can't talk to every American, but "we" can. Yes we can. We've got to educate ourselves on the issues. Not just on our positions, but McCain/Palin positions too. I subscribe to John McCain's web site. I've read his plan for America. I've probably read more in the last few months than I have my entire life (I know, sad but true)! Each one teach one should be "our" motto. If a republican knows, what the issues are, what each candidate is proposing to do to fix America, and they STILL are voting against their own best interests and judgement, then they are probably not voting for Obama only because he is black. If we can help educate more voters we'll either get more repubs to vote for Obama, or more repubs to realize that they are probably a racist. I call it...The Republican Project.

What Ya'll Think?/Sarah Palin ABC Interview...

2008-09-12T05:16:00.001-05:00

Here's what Matt Damon thought...

9/11 Remembered...

2008-09-11T00:23:00.000-05:00

As I sit down and start this entry, I'd like to thank roshelle for inspiring me to write what follows. I wasn't about to but, after I checked my twitter page and read her blog...I felt compelled to write what follows...

It's September 11th. I, like so many other of us remember what I was doing 7 years ago today. I remember getting the call @ school from a friend of mine. I remember him telling me, "they flew a plane into the World Trade Center!" I told him to "quit playing, I'm busy teaching." He continued and told me to get to a TV and see for myself. I walked down the hall to our school's library and turned on the TV. I stood there with my mouth wide open as we watched, the 2nd plane hit the towers. I rushed back to my classroom and pulled up a news website to try and get some understanding about what could possibly be going on. It was just 6 days before my son's 2nd birthday, and life as I knew it was great! I found it almost impossible to comprehend what I was reading on the computer and what they were reporting on the news.

It's September 11th. I, like so many others of us have become engulfed in what has been arguably the most intense and exciting presidential campaign in American history. Because of how "connected" many of us have become, I've heard all day about "lipstick on a pig." It's the day before the anniversary of the worst terrorist attack on US soil and all the news media is analyzing, commentating, dissecting, and re-contorting what exactly putting make-up on a pork chop has to do with the price of tea in China...or more accurately, the price of oil in Iraq.

It's September 10th. I'm watching Count Down with Keith Olbermann and he ends his program with the most stunning and clear picture of John McCain I myself have truly wished could not possibly be true. And yet, as I've been watching and listening to the news all day, and thinking about "why" we've been talking about "lip-stick on a pig" I am reminded of Occam's Razor and am saddened. Below is his initial response.

How do you veil your Racism? (parody/satire?) N-Word Warning!!

2008-09-09T23:50:00.000-05:00

Ok, let's take the gloves off on this one. I've been addicted to this entire political sea

son, hell, I'm a rapper with a political blog! All that being said, I've been listening to poor, uneducated, blue-collar, white folks using every excuse in the book to NOT vote for Barack Obama. I mean I've heard it all! It's been eye-opening and amazing to hear some of the stuff that people

come up with for not voting for someone. I decided to have a little fun with this one. I'm going to list some of the reasons I "hear" white-people say, and then I'm going to try and interpret what they "really" mean. Here we go...

What they say... What they "REALlY" mean...

They say..."He's a Muslim." but they mean... "We don't trust niggers! Especially the ones that don't go to church and praise a "White God"!
They say... "He's inexperienced" but they mean... He hasn't been around long enough to know if he's a safe nigger. At least Colin Powell is in the military!
The say... "He doesn't wear flag pen." but they mean... "This nigger may have figured out that this country has been f--king his kind over for years and might retaliate! That's what I'd do!
They say... "but there's Rev. Wright" but they mean... "We know he's been told the "truth"about what white folks been doing to blacks...how can he NOT be mad?!?
They say..."His Dad's African." but they mean... "This ain't like one of them "regular" niggers we grow over here! This nigger is straight off the boat! My granddaddy would roll over in his grave!"

Now, in no way am I suggesting that if your white and you're not voting for Obama, you MUST be a racist...That's not what I'm saying at all. I'm saying that there are SOME folks who are not so much voting "for" McCain as they are voting "against" Obama. And I'm saying that if you're reasons are not based on the REAL ISSUES (i.e. the economy, health care, Iraq war, housing crisis, energy dependence, etc.) that face the USA, you might be a racist, and don't even know it! Or, maybe you do, and you're still deciding on what veil to use to cover it.

Keep it simple...Stupid.

2008-09-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

Not to long ago, I heard some republican strategist talking during the RNC I believe, and her advice to Obama was to "talk with simpler words" and "smaller sentences". She actually argued that "blue-collar" Americans like McCain because he and Palin use smaller words!! WTF?! This is a REPUBLICAN saying this!!! What exactly does this say about their constituents?

The fact is that reporters often ask both Obama and McCain very complicated questions. Obama tends to give a more "complicated" answers. Not always in terms of "black and white" but more in hues of gray since many of the dilemmas that face our nation are complex. It's like when a 5 year old asks "where do babies come from?" and some medical doctor starts on and on about the zygotes and chromosomes and gestation's and some body's mom says, "the storks brings them." Of course one is obviously not possible but one is so simple in it's explanation, it's more readily acceptable by the child.

Consider this...

What should we do about America's dependence on oil?

an Obama type on-the-stump answer: "It's not gonna be easy. We need to ultimately use less oil. Find a new source of renewable energy. Look at wind and solar and natural gas. And I think, if we put our minds to it, we can be energy independent in 10 years. We can create millions of "green jobs". Plants that have been closed down, can re-open helping to create the infrastructure needed to help make America energy independent. I think that drilling for oil isn't the answer. There are thousands of acres now that oil companies have leases on that are going untapped. We as a nation us 25% of the nation's oil and even if we drilled every place we thought we'd find oil in the US, we'd only find 3% or the worlds supply." ~thedlidical paraphrase

a McCain type on-the-stump answer: "We need to drill today, drill now, drill here! The Democrats don't want to drill. they want to keep importing oil from countries that don't like us very much. Even Senator Obama has "flip-flopped" and says that he's for off-shore drilling. My friends, I've spent 5 years of my life, understanding what freedom really means. When all else was lost, I came to really love my country." ~ thedlitical paraphrase.

...to be continued.

The Manchurian Candidate...

2008-09-07T23:54:00.001-05:00

I believe that John McCain is "The Manchurian Candidate". I think that he is not the "head" of his party, rather, the "puppet" that the republicans are using to regain the white house. Why do I think this?

John McCain wanted to be an admiral in the military just like his father and grandfather. He only went into politics when he found that it would be impossible to move up the military ranks due to his injures from being a POW. After marrying Cindy and now having the funds and connections of her family and his own military connections, it was easy.
John McCain spent years in Washington and was finally convinced that he could be president (& thus trump the "military accomplishments" of his dad and granddad with the Commander in Chief label) when he saw that an idiot, I mean a man of meager intelligence (just like him, i.e. George Bush) could successfully run for and win the highest office in the land.
John McCain is now "using the help" of many major lobbyist and managers to run his campaign that George Bush used even though these were some of the same folks that helped to propel George Bush into office and defeat him not so long ago.
He was convinced to pick Sarah Palin as his running mate even though he wanted to pick Joe Lieberman. The most "important & telling" decision to make as his party's leader...and he's "bullied" into making an obvious "political" choice and pander against his better judgement.
Many of the "moves" that are being made can and are most often time linked to what is most politically expedient. (i.e. John McCain needed to gain more women support, so "he" picks a "Washington out-sider" for VP, that happens to be a woman / only letting her conduct REAL interviews as the campaign sees beneficial to the campaign / only now appearing with Palin because of the larger crowds she brings / going against his own words as to what would be the #1 credential for picking a VP...coincidence?)
He even admits in his book that it's his own "ambition" that led him to run for president.

What do I think REALLY happen?

I think that the "party bosses" of the republican party took John McCain in a room and laid it out for him simple and plain.

RNC Party Bosses: "Look Johnny, America is stupid! Look at how we've won the last two contests. We got this. I know you "think" you know how to win this thing but trust us, you have NO idea how deep the rabbit hole goes. Just keep doing what we tell you to do and you'll be in the white house so fast, your head will spin!"

McCain: "You sure? I mean, I've got some pretty good ideas and...well, who am I kidding. You guys have gotten Bush this far and Obama has got America eating out the palm of his hand. Even I thought he would never rebound after that Rev. Wright thing. And he did all that up against the Clinton Machine! OK boys. I'm all in. I just better win."

I wasn't a fly on the wall when this happen and of course, there is NO hard proof of this, which always makes for a good conspiracy! This is just one black man's opinion...what's yours?

Is America Ready for a "Black President"?

2008-09-07T23:37:00.000-05:00

No.

That's the simple answer. America is seldom "ready" for necessary changes that have come in her history. America wasn't ready for it's enslaved to become free nor her women to have the right to vote when these things happened. America wasn't ready for "rock-n-roll" or "hip-hop" when these forms of music introduced their way into our hearts through our ears. America wasn't ready for Martin Luther King, Jr. to help organize a movement to help it's citizens of African decent gain their full rights. So what does this mean?

It means that the very asking of this question is a reminder of what is "wrong" with America. What would America look like if it was "ready" for a Black president? Would there not be racial profiling? Would BET play more "positive" videos? Would "Flavor of Love" be cancelled? Would the republican party have more than 36 black delegates? How would we know if America was ready for a Black president?

We'd know because no one would be asking this question.

Does America need a Black president? This question is as asinine as the first one. America needs a government that can help her function and help it's citizens live better lives. America needs a leader that can inspire it's citizens to accomplish great things and ideals. American needs to think of it's citizens as a collective and not as individuals. What's good for "us"? What's best for the country? These are THE questions we the people need to try and answer.

Iraq...

2008-09-07T14:43:00.000-05:00

It seems to me that the republicans feel that John McCain's past military experience make him a foreign policy expert. Which is why I think they kept "beating us over the head" with his service at the RNC. According to this logic, since John McCain was in the military (and performed heroically, might I add) He knows what to do in "all" military situations. OK, let's think about this for a moment. By applying this logic, the best athletes should go on be be the best coaches...right? Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, and yet he couldn't quite get that coaching thing down. Magic Johnson, another GREAT player that won't go down in coaching history. There are some good players that became coaches and do well, and there are some great coaches that were never considered "great players". Just because "B" comes after "A" doesn't mean that "A" caused "B".

My point is, that in today's world, we need great "thinkers" in leadership roles more often than not. I'm not calling John McCain unintelligent, I'm saying that Barack Obama is a great thinker (or at least I think he is a better thinker that John McCain). The fact that he never "served his country" in the military doesn't diminish his ability to lead. Let's look at some facts, shall we...

Barack Obama not only opposed the "Iraq War" from the start, he clearly stated why we didn't need to go in and did it at a time when it wasn't "politically popular" to do so.
He clearly stated that we need a "time table" to get out of Iraq, (and now everybody thinks that's a good idea)
Obama has clearly stated that the economic commitment we're making in Iraq can't continue while they have a multi-billion dollar surplus. It's against our own national security to borrow money from China, to buy oil from other countries, to help fuel this war in Iraq.
Barack Obama finished top of his class from Harvard the #1 college in America while John McCain finished near the bottom of his class (894th out of 899) from the Naval Academy. I'm not saying that this makes Obama smarter than McCain, I'm saying it increases the odds.

Overall, I just believe that Obama may be more inclined to "think" about the long-term consequences of any of our country's action before acting and I think that McCain will have more of a "knee-jerk" reaction which could endanger Americans in the long run.

Sarah Palin...

2008-09-07T13:41:00.000-05:00

Q: Is Sarah Palin qualified to be president?

A: She was born in the USA and is at least 35 years old. So yes.

Q: Do you think Sarah Palin would make a good president?

A: Hell to the naw!!

Q: Do you think that the fact that her 17 year old daughter is unwed and with child is fair game for the press and others to debate as it pertains to Mrs. Palin's ability to VP?"

A: No. Her daughter shouldn't be a part of the equation. *

*However, the fact that she lied about her daughter having "mono" (and coincidentally missed the last 5 months of school during her mother's pregnancy) and faked her last pregnancy in order to cover it up is fair game! I think that it's highly unlikely that Mrs. Palin flew from Alaska while being 8 months pregnant, to Texas to give a keynote speech, realized that her water broke, gave the speech anyway, flew back to Alaska (including a connecting flight in Seattle), got off a plane and then had her husband drive her 45 minutes to a hospital, had the kid and THEN went to work 3 days later.... this is VERY fair game!!! Please keep in mind this is all "hear-say" and is unproven...I still think it's true though;-p!

Q: Is the media being fair to Sarah Palin?

A: No. They are being MORE THAN FAIR!!! Barack Obama was asked in a debate if he thought Lewis Farrakhan loved America as much as he does. WTF kind of question is that?!?!?!?!?

Q: Why do you think the McCain camp selected Sarah Palin?

A: Because they think that the majority of the voting populous are stupid...consider the following:

McCain camp thinks that much of Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's success can be contributed to the fact that he is black and that she is a woman. They really don't believe that either is "qualified" to be commander in chief. Based on this logic, they added a "woman" to the McCain ticket to get the excitment and support he'd been missing.
McCain camp thinks that this election is not about issues but about personality. WTF?!? I think that George Bush is an ass-hole but if gas was $1.95 a gallon, if we had found "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq and my mortgage didn't keep going up every 12 months, I'd be rocking a "W" sticker on the back of my Honda Fit!! Wouldn't we all?
The McCain camp keeps telling obvious, check-able lies over and over as if nobody can use "the google" and find out that they are full of shit! Sarah Palin was for the Bridge to Nowhere before she was against it, she was queen of earmarks before she was against them and she didn't even know what a VP did 3 weeks ago!!

Incorrectly Political: The Republican Project...

2008-09-06T23:52:00.000-05:00

Incorrectly Political: The Republican Project...