You should read this

That's all I'm saying. It's an interesting article:

“Man, you know what would have happened to one of us if we talked to them that way?” said one disbelieving man as he walked away from me and my blank notebook. “We’d be in jail right now.”

Read me. "Reporting While Black."

Inspired by Bill O'

After posting about Bill O'Reilly's racism in the last post, I read this article by Bob Herbert at the New York Times and decided it should be posted as well:

The Ugly Side of the G.O.P.

Article Tools Sponsored By
By BOB HERBERT
Published: September 25, 2007

I applaud the thousands of people, many of them poor, who traveled from around the country to protest in Jena, La., last week. But what I’d really like to see is a million angry protesters marching on the headquarters of the National Republican Party in Washington.

Enough is enough. Last week the Republicans showed once again just how anti-black their party really is.

The G.O.P. has spent the last 40 years insulting, disenfranchising and otherwise stomping on the interests of black Americans. Last week, the residents of Washington, D.C., with its majority black population, came remarkably close to realizing a goal they have sought for decades — a voting member of Congress to represent them.

A majority in Congress favored the move, and the House had already approved it. But the Republican minority in the Senate — with the enthusiastic support of President Bush — rose up on Tuesday and said: “No way, baby.”

At least 57 senators favored the bill, a solid majority. But the Republicans prevented a key motion on the measure from receiving the 60 votes necessary to move it forward in the Senate. The bill died.

At the same time that the Republicans were killing Congressional representation for D.C. residents, the major G.O.P. candidates for president were offering a collective slap in the face to black voters nationally by refusing to participate in a long-scheduled, nationally televised debate focusing on issues important to minorities.

The radio and television personality Tavis Smiley worked for a year to have a pair of these debates televised on PBS, one for the Democratic candidates and the other for the Republicans. The Democratic debate was held in June, and all the major candidates participated.

The Republican debate is scheduled for Thursday. But Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson have all told Mr. Smiley: “No way, baby.”

They won’t be there. They can’t be bothered debating issues that might be of interest to black Americans. After all, they’re Republicans.

This is the party of the Southern strategy — the party that ran, like panting dogs, after the votes of segregationist whites who were repelled by the very idea of giving equal treatment to blacks. Ronald Reagan, George H.W. (Willie Horton) Bush, George W. (Compassionate Conservative) Bush — they all ran with that lousy pack.

Dr. Carolyn Goodman, a woman I was privileged to call a friend, died last month at the age of 91. She was the mother of Andrew Goodman, one of the three young civil rights activists shot to death by rabid racists near Philadelphia, Miss., in 1964.

Dr. Goodman, one of the most decent people I have ever known, carried the ache of that loss with her every day of her life.

In one of the vilest moves in modern presidential politics, Ronald Reagan, the ultimate hero of this latter-day Republican Party, went out of his way to kick off his general election campaign in 1980 in that very same Philadelphia, Miss. He was not there to send the message that he stood solidly for the values of Andrew Goodman. He was there to assure the bigots that he was with them.

“I believe in states’ rights,” said Mr. Reagan. The crowd roared.

In 1981, during the first year of Mr. Reagan’s presidency, the late Lee Atwater gave an interview to a political science professor at Case Western Reserve University, explaining the evolution of the Southern strategy:

“You start out in 1954 by saying, ‘Nigger, nigger, nigger,’ ” said Atwater. “By 1968, you can’t say ‘nigger’ — that hurts you. Backfires. So you say stuff like forced busing, states’ rights, and all that stuff. You’re getting so abstract now [that] you’re talking about cutting taxes, and all these things you’re talking about are totally economic things, and a byproduct of them is [that] blacks get hurt worse than whites.”

In 1991, the first President Bush poked a finger in the eye of black America by selecting the egregious Clarence Thomas for the seat on the Supreme Court that had been held by the revered Thurgood Marshall. The fact that there is a rigid quota on the court, permitting one black and one black only to serve at a time, is itself racist.

Mr. Bush seemed to be saying, “All right, you want your black on the court? Boy, have I got one for you.”

Republicans improperly threw black voters off the rolls in Florida in the contested presidential election of 2000, and sent Florida state troopers into the homes of black voters to intimidate them in 2004.

Blacks have been remarkably quiet about this sustained mistreatment by the Republican Party, which says a great deal about the quality of black leadership in the U.S. It’s time for that passive, masochistic posture to end.

For an article about Tavis Smiley's response to the GOP snub, click here.

Bill O'Reilly is an idiot.

After having dinner with Al Sharpton at a restaurant called "Sylvia's" run solely by African Americans, O'Reilly "couldn't get over the fact" there was no difference between the black-run Sylvia's and other restaurants. He then gave the following praise:

"It was like going into an Italian restaurant in an all-white suburb in the sense of people were sitting there, and they were ordering and having fun," he said. "And there wasn't any kind of craziness at all."

You're right. What an amazing accomplishment. No one shot at you? No one made gang signs in your direction? There was no drive-bys? Basketball wasn't being played by the cooks in the kitchen? Surely you jest!

One of these days, you need to learn to shut the hell up. You're a racist bastard, we get it, no need to keep reminding us.

Because the man never stops talking, he added later:

"The band was excellent, but they were dressed in tuxedos, and this is what white America doesn't know, particularly people who don't have a lot of interaction with black Americans," he said. "They think the culture is dominated by Twista, Ludacris and Snoop Dogg." (Note: As referenced by Bill O'Reilly himself and his attack on Ludacris)

If by "but" you mean "and" and by "White America" you mean "Bill O'Reilly and some stupid southerner named 'Billy Bob,'" and by "people" you mean "Fox News" then I suppose you're right. Idiot.

Article.

Off-Topic - Barry Bonds no longer a Giant

From Barry Bonds' journal:

September 21, 2007

Dear Fans,

This journal will be one of my last entries as a San Francisco Giant. Yesterday, I was told by the Giants that they will not be bringing me back for the 2008 season. During the conversation with Peter McGowan I was told that my play this year far exceeded any expectations the Giants had, but that the organization decided this year would be my last season in San Francisco. Although I am disappointed, I've always said baseball is a business -- and I respect their decision. However, I am saddened and upset that I was not given an earlier opportunity to properly say goodbye to you, my fans, and celebrate with the city throughout the season as I truly believe this was not a last minute decision by the Giants, but one that was made some time ago. I don't have nor do I want any ill feelings towards the organization, I just wish I had known sooner so we had more time to say our goodbyes and celebrate the best 15 years of my life.

I consider the City of San Francisco and you, the fans, my family. Thank you for loving me and supporting me throughout all the highs and lows. I feel a deep connection with you as I have grown up with all of you since the days my dad first became a Giant. The Bay Area has loved my family and friends for so many years and I thank you for that. It is now a time for change, as many athletes have experienced. It is comforting to know that those who have come before me -- Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, to name a few -- have forever remained in the hearts of the fans, as I know I will too.

Rest of the diary.

He's right. He will always remain in the hearts of fans, because he plans on injecting us with chemicals scraped off of his scalp.

I have no opinion of this, but it's interesting news to a baseball fan like myself, so I'm sharing it.

Don't Tase Me Bro! Shirt, Mugs, etc.

In honor of the "Don't Tase Me Bro" incidents at the John Kerry Speech at the University of Florida (video in a previous post), I created some "Don't Tase me bro" t-shirts. You can find them here.

Submitted without Comment

University of Florida Student Gets Tased at John Kerry Speech.

Submitted with comment - this quote by a student at UF:

"I was startled by the noise, considering what was happening in front of me. And after they Tasered him there was a stench that was not overpowering but it was unsettling," said Ben Omar, a University of Florida graduate student.

Um... I don't think I want to know.

Um.... What?

From NYT (creepy Lieberman picture submitted without comment):

Vet Extracts Toy Lizard From Real Lizard

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Seven-year-old Finley Collins thought her pet 12-inch bearded dragon might be giving birth when she noticed an unusual protrusion near the lizard's tail.

But Finley's father, Jeff Collins, feared it might be something more ominous and rushed Mushu to an animal hospital, where a veterinarian pulled out a 7-inch toy rubber lizard.

''I've never extracted a lizard from another lizard before,'' said veterinarian John Rossi.

Rossi had sedated Mushu and pulled on the protrusion.

''The next thing I knew, I was seeing legs and a body and a head. It was very strange to be tugging on this thing,'' he said.

By the time the rubbery lizard's legs began to appear, Rossi realized what it was.

''We were all laughing,'' he said. ''It passed completely through the entire (gastrointestinal) tract,'' Rossi said.

Rossi said bearded dragons, a variety of Australian lizards, often swallow such things as small suction cups, screws and dimes.

If the Crowbar Don't Fit, you Shall Acquit

10 Bucks says he did it.

O.J. Simpson Questioned in Break-In

Police investigators in Las Vegas questioned former football star O.J. Simpson early today in connection with a break-in of a casino hotel room, according to news services and local media reports.

He was not arrested, but is reportedly remaining in the city pending the outcome of the investigation.

The break-in was reported at the Palace Station casino late Thursday night, news services and local media outlets reported, citing Jose Montoya, a police spokesman. People staying in the room reported that Mr. Simpson and some companions took several items, described by as sports collectibles.

Mr. Simpson said the items belonged to him, police said.

9/11 Anniversary

Six years is a long time.

I'm posting this YouTube video again... Hopefully even Ron Paul supporters can appreciate this. If you'd like to post it to your facebook or myspace, click on the video and it will redirect to the YouTube page.

Iraq - A Raging Success pt. 2!!!

Breaking news from the New York Times!

General Petraeus said that by next summer the U.S. should be able to reduce its troop strength in Iraq to the level it was at before the recent increase!

This is great news! In just one year, Petraeus says we can cut troops from 150,000 to a mere 130,000! That's over 15%! This is crazy good news!!!

America! Fuck yeah!

Microchips in Dogs and Humans may cause Cancer

You can read the whole story here. But the interesting political piece relates to an ex-presidential candidate and the FDA:

The FDA also stands by its approval of the technology.

Did the agency know of the tumor findings before approving the chip implants? The FDA declined repeated AP requests to specify what studies it reviewed.

The FDA is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services, which, at the time of VeriChip's approval, was headed by Tommy Thompson. Two weeks after the device's approval took effect on Jan. 10, 2005, Thompson left his Cabinet post, and within five months was a board member of VeriChip Corp. and Applied Digital Solutions. He was compensated in cash and stock options.

Thompson, until recently a candidate for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, says he had no personal relationship with the company as the VeriChip was being evaluated, nor did he play any role in FDA's approval process of the RFID tag.

"I didn't even know VeriChip before I stepped down from the Department of Health and Human Services," he said in a telephone interview.

They Finally Captured Bin Laden!!!

Turns out, he's a dumbass Canadian Comic! Who knew?

Fuckdiculous story here.

Words of Wisdom

"I personally believe that US Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some people there in in our nation don't have maps and I believe that our education like such as South Africa and uh, the Iraq everywherelike such as and I believe that they should our education over here! in the US. Should help the US should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future for our children."

- Miss Teen America 2007, Lauren Caitlin Upton, Miss South Carolina

Uh... Word.

Larry Craig May Stay

Spoke too soon. Larry Craig (Perv-ID) may in fact stay in the senate, because he feels that what he does in his personal life does not affect his role in congress.

Because apparently, even though his legislation hates gays, he doesn't feel as though the butt sex that he has with other men in public bathrooms affects how he can positively affect the public.

So he decided yesterday to hire Michael Vick's attorney to represent his case.

I'm not making this up.

Pointless Family Photo

Dammit Sharifa! Your eyes are closed again.

GAO - Iraq Hasn't Met 11 of the 18 Benchmarks

But Mr. Positivity says: Well, at least they have met 7, right?

Mr. Negativity Responds: No, actually. They have met 3. They have "partially" met 4 more.

Mr. Positivity shoots himself.

Full Story.

Bumbershoot 2007

"Fuck George Bush"
- Lupe Fiasco

Great day. Great concerts. I got a chance to see Andy Borowitz, whose work I've been stealing for months when I don't have time to post, as well as an opportunity to see Lupe Fiasco rank on the Bush administration in front of some 25,000 voters and future voters. I also got to watch a comedian make up a new word. In honor of the word "Ginormous" being added to the dictionary, the new word is: "Fuckdiculous"

Consider that the legacy of the Bush White House.