06.02.08
Posted in Politics, Race, men & women, sex tagged 2008 Election, Appalachia mountains voters, Bill Clinton, Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, Republican Party, Voters at 5:15 pm by soulful07
Yes you can stop rubbing your eyes that’s right I went there. She also has a young people problem, a grass roots organization problem, a college educated problem, a math problem, etc… You know it’s funny we are well into the silly season (to quote a phrase), but grouping clusters and splitting hairs to form a willing coalition of voters is beyond silly isn’t it? In the real world people don’t vote in blocks or do they…
The democratic/republican party has without fail every year taken a crap on the swing voters who every election do the heavy lifting to push their respective parties over the hump. In 2008 it will be the conservatives/religious right who sit on their hands. In 2004 it was the youth vote who was the scapegoat for the democrats, party insiders complained openly that youth didn’t “show up”… Why should youth voters show up and continue to support a party that has get out the vote parties and cool people making commercials telling the kids to vote or die then come January, says thanks now get outta here? African Americans also share a common feeling of complete and utter abandonment after every election. And judging by what happens in Denver we shall see what these various groups who are completely ignored by the media will do.
People with short memories don’t recall that Hillary up until Iowa was winning the black vote. And up until South Carolina was competitive with black voters, Barack Obama didn’t take the vote from her, he didn’t steal the vote, they jumped ship to the winning candidate and frankly I can’t blame them. But there was also something else at play here. Black voters saw the writing on the wall, and noticed a certain condescending tone and that hasn’t sat well with these voters for some time now. How bad does it not sit well with them you ask? 90% vs. 10% is not a good average to have for somebody (Hillary Clinton) who would NEED them desperately in the fall. What is even more hilarious is the callous disregard for them as a whole which shows the all around general disrespect from various people in the media and political parties. There is no other voting block out there with such a huge contrast of support or lack thereof. Even with Hillary’s commanding lead among women voters and women over 50 she isn’t winning it 90 to 10. The fact that this isn’t news is what it is, people have brushed it off as just being excited because he is black blah blah blah I’m not a historian but nobody loses that kind of support over night and have it not be a problem in the future. And I don’t have to be a talking blow hard on CNN to realize that, had this been any other voter block like for instance Whites, Hispanics, Catholics, Jews, “hard working Americans” and now apparently Puerto Ricans etc… The media would be going crazy over this right now ohhhh wait… Yet a candidate has lost a commanding lead well over 50% of support overnight from a particular voting group and nothing not a blip not a peep not a sound. Shocking I tell you.
I have a little bit of news for the media, black people weren’t sold on Obama from the beginning; black people aren’t mindless Kool-Aid drinking sheeple. Black people saw what was going on and made a decision. There was no group meeting and somebody got up and said hey the black guy won Iowa we gotta support him now. There was no black memo, voters were split evenly for months on this issue and finally the color coded disrespect/neglect had reached the level of “Enough”. So what does this mean you ask? I don’t know, but what I do know from talking to people is that silently many black people feel they are already living bush’s “3rd term” and have been living it for years McCain, Bush, Bush2, Gore, Clinton, Clinton 2, Reagan, Obama, is no different to them. People assume very poorly I might add, that block voters don’t care or just can’t be bothered with politics. It isn’t because these things aren’t interesting quite to the contrary; it is because many black people do not feel the difference between political parties. They feel that many if not all politicians say things then get into office and ignore them. They feel that this is a game and nothing ever changes on their side of town so to speak. And over the last couple hundred years give or take can you blame them. It is from this “eyes wide open” stance that they view their life and this view is shaped. Their struggle is no different for the hard working white people Hillary Clinton covets today from the Appalachia mountains, but said screw em when her husband first ran for the presidency, their beefs are no less grounded on recurring cycles of thanks for your vote now beat it until we need it again in 4 years.
As we step further into this century if the feeling of neglect continues so will the shifting support that democrats once counted on and bragged about, and to me that sounds like a bigger problem.
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05.30.08
Posted in Politics, Race, men & women, sex tagged Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Racism, Sexism at 7:53 pm by soulful07
To hear Hillary Clinton tell it one of these is a magical wonderland full of choirs singing and everything is rosy because of it, while the other is a burden holding her back… or something to that effect. How does one quantify sexism vs. racism is there a woe is me off like You Got Served or American Idol? How do these things affect somebody who perchance deals with both issues? Hmmm I wondered so I asked an African American woman her thoughts and she summed it up lovely, “one is like getting hit by a train and the other is like having a bolder fall on top of you.” It would appear they both suck, yet it seems a bit ridiculous to say that one is a hindrance while the other has helped you get over because they each hold their own cross to bear so to speak.
The ugliness of this Democratic Primary has become “uglier” and “ugliest” at the same time. While I would like to say all parties aren’t guilty of it, some seem to have their hands in the pig pen a little more than others. The theme for the last few weeks have been that Hillary has had to endure greater hardships based upon her ovaries, as opposed to the black guy who seems to catch all the breaks. Feminist everywhere around the world should have recoiled at that statement or ideal of thought. Well that’s a bit of a generalization but you get my point. To say one is worse than the other goes against the equality concept doesn’t it, or am I simplifying things too much.
I don’t want to ever diminish the hardships facing women, or a female candidate for president for that matter, but I would like to be clear on a few things. The person with 35 years of experience, name recognition, a former BELOVED president (or BELOVED former president depending on how you look at it) on the stump, 150 super delegates in the bag before a single vote was cast, the largest group of influential fundraisers, party leaders, and insiders as friends and supporters, against an unknown black guy with an ARAB sounding name who just got elected to the senate a few years ago. Sure on paper way back in 2007 this Barack guy seemed like a sure bet. Seriously who are we kidding Hillary was crowned the Democratic nominee way back before this thing got started all she had to do was play out series. And to me there lies the problem with questions like who had a rougher time because it is subjective. While sexism is rampant in American society so is racism. For instance people with Arab sounding names are questioned about patriotism, people ask (and this is true) if he (Barack) would change his name so they could “feel” better about voting for him. Likewise I’m sure there are men and even women out there who wouldn’t vote for a woman because of equally ridiculous reasons. The difference here is racism is subtle like “where is your flag pin black guy” while nobody else is wearing one, and sexism is more visible like using terms like bitchy. Racism is subtle like scary black pastor is bad, scary white pastor with actual real washington influence is ok, meanwhile iron my shirt posters are viewed as a “joke” yet the dog whistle properties are both the same.
Frankly I can’t ever recall Barack Obama telling Hillary Clinton that her supporters are fools and wasting their time on her fairy tale presidential run, or that her win isn’t that big a deal in that state because a woman has won there before, or that you can’t reach certain voters because of your background, or as far as I know you aren’t a Manchurian Muslim sleeper cell presidential candidate, or calling her a drug dealer, or saying she isn’t good enough to pass a threshold of commander and chief while your hated rival is, or telling her even though you’re winning how about being my VP, or saying your only here because you’re a white woman, or you are lucky to be here because you’re a white woman, or all your wins are no big deal because white women are happy to see you but it has no baring in the “real” world, or all your caucus wins aren’t legitimate because they don’t count, or telling her all her hard work is a fluke because the press is giving you a free ride because of your sex and race, or I could go on and on but I think you get the picture.
Talking point number #3001 being tossed up the old flag pole today is that Hillary is the best candidate and therefore you must elect her. And it sounds reasonable at first then instantly I remember this is the same person with all the luxuries that most presidential candidates aren’t afforded such as, a former president on the stump, name recognition, and money… who lost to a empty suit (as many Hillary supporters like to jokingly call Senator Obama) and this line of reasoning falls apart. If she is the best why is she losing, luck, magic, fairies, pixie dust, or and I’m going to go out on a limb here, Hillary lost because of overconfidence, under planning, no clear message, poor money management, terrible inner circle, in fighting, sure sure lets elect the person who ran the most unorganized campaign in history with every ACE in the deck awarded to her before any of the other players were even dealt cards, that makes perfect sense. Then again by your logic if you today are losing because of sexism then wouldn’t it also be logical to deduce you will lose in November due to this same sexism or does it turn on and off like a light switch? Either way I’m tired of the bull, Hillary has lost every ounce of respect I once held for her, not because she is a woman, but because of all the crap she pulled out of a magic hat like this. Responsibility!!!! First and foremost, I would have a shred of respect to give back to her if she took RESPONSIBILITY. As leader of the free world this is what I want to see out of a LEADER, blaming everybody and everything for your misstates is exactly what a certain little shrub did when he was elected president in 2000 as I recall that didn’t turn out so well.
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05.18.08
Posted in Politics, Race, men & women, sex tagged 2008 Election, African Americans, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Nancy Keenan, Naral, Pro Choice, Pro Life, Racism, Sexism, white women at 2:55 am by soulful07
Wow… I wasn’t going to even broach this topic because of how delicate one must tread to not offend women, men, African Americans, white women etc… etc… etc… I really tried to stay away but this blog keeps calling me and quite frankly I’m freaking outraged at the outrage. It boggles the mind, to put this in prospective imagine that you were in a race but you can’t use the tires you wanted to finish the race, in the garage is another pair which fits your car perfectly, and not only that, chances are these same new tires will help you get to the finish line faster. Imagine that the driver was so upset about using the “other” tires that they would be willing to poke holes in all four PERFECTLY good tires and demand to drive of the original flat ones or nothing, thus allowing your competitor to finish the race take the trophy and basically ruin everything you worked your entire life for. This is exactly the position that many pro choice supporters are choosing to be in. I used to think ohh it is just the heat of the moment and everything will subside. Ummmmmm… no.
For those of ya’ll not in the know, women who support the right to chose are breaking out the pitch forks and bonfires and are set to march against Naral the pro choice organization because they have decided to break ranks and announce support for (pro choice) Barack Obama two weeks before the last vote. I actually put on my investigative journalist hat and did some research and wow is all I can say. Damn is another word that comes to mind. Women are pissed to say the least, I tried to sit through and read the vile offensive remarks left by pro choice supporters over this flap by the organization’s leaders. The repercussions are serous in nature, but outlandish on basis. Women from all around have threatened to quit their membership, vote for the republicans who hate their rights, create their own group, campaign with pro life people, and the list gets stupider and stupider as you read. Why you ask? Because they didn’t give their endorsement to the woman in the race. On first take it sounds reasonable pro choice members giving the endorsement to a woman makes perfect sense, because she personally and physically connects with the issues at hand in a way no man could ever do. However and this is the BIG however pro choice members as a organization giving their endorsement to the only woman in the race who is in no position to win is a head scratcher.
The situation becomes even more bizarre when you add to the fact that these same women who are fighting for these same important rights are willing to possibly give up Supreme Court nominations which could/will overturn everything they have fought for, and back, support, campaign for John McCain a nominee who is against everything they stand for. Ohh but it gets better they have thrown all their support behind the nominee (Hillary) who has a shaky at best record with regards to women’s issues and mostly jumped behind them when it was politically convenient. So if you are keeping score the guy (Barack) with an 100% pro choice senate rating is no good. But that’s not all the great fighters of the people have put the needs of one over the needs of the many on the line for a symbolic fight which will do nothing but harm to themselves and their credibility. That’s not just a head scratcher I think you have just reached the twilight zone. I’ve said it time and time again I looooove this Barack Obama presidential run, not because he is such a great guy or I agree with everything he says or does (because I don’t) nope I LOVE this thing because some how some way everybody’s true intentions are bubbling to the surface and you get to see what they are really really about.
The worst thing about all of this is the fact these people with the pitch forks know the stakes, but their feelings are more important than the actual freaking issues, and that’s where I hop off the sympathy bus. This is no longer a fight for women’s rights or politics this is about ovaries and who doesn’t have any, and I can’t respect that, just as I wouldn’t support a vote based on skin color. While Obama has recently gained a majority in the black minority vote, ninety something percent I think it is, believe it or not it wasn’t always like that Hillary once owned that vote. Hillary has also always owned the white woman and seniors vote. It wasn’t really “news” per say just an understanding, and today a section of the women voting bloc has decided to take their toys and leave the sandbox because their candidate is losing (fair and square). This tit for tat my way or else nonsense is everything that is wrong with American politics. Personally I don’t think you can complain about sexism then actually base your votes on sexism it kind of defeats and demeans the whole argument but I digress.
The thing that really grinds my gears and makes me blow my top is the fact that Hillary was given head start so to speak with everything possible going in her favor, money, name recognition, strategy, the former most beloved president as a surrogate, she was even spotted 150 super delegates before a single vote was cast (these people weren’t even interested in hearing the other candidates arguments) and yet here she is today losing. Much has been made about the reasons for why she is losing but frankly none of them have anything to do with things being “unfair”. No other nominee in presidential history was given such a head start and to complain about fairness when your opponent is a tall skinny black guy in America, with an Arab sounding name, who is has to fight off allegations about his patriotism based simply on a flag pin is ludicrous and outrageous to say the least. I could go on but you get my point this is a joke a rather selfish self centered joke, but none the less come November when nobody hears the punch line there will be no laughter just tears, but at least you would have showed them who was boss right?
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05.12.08
Posted in Politics, Race, Republicans, men & women, sex tagged African Americans, Bill Clinton, Hard working americans, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Meet the Press, Pennsylvania Election, Tim Russert, West Virginia and Kentucky at 8:22 am by soulful07
Breaking Kneecaps… Today on Meet the Press with Tim Russert it became obvious that this was the “strategy” they have reached too or should i say fallen too. I put strategy in quotation marks because honestly, hoping and praying your opponent trips up while you denigrate him isn’t really something people train, plan, and organize their whole political life for. If that is all that rests in the balance of you winning (somebody else screwing up) you don’t deserve to win. I’ve thought long and hard about this and every thing leads me to disgust, and it’s a shame too because I expected more. The Clintons aren’t trying to win student body council President here. This isn’t some two bit vote for me because he has coodies type election so acting THIS childish is amazing. Their actions when they were flying high and down in the dumps worry me immensely, in the movies they call it foreshadowing.
While I was talking to a good friend of mine she brought up a interesting point and I quote “Is it me or does Hillary not se the elephant dung all around her campaign, nobody wants to talk about it or smell it but the piles are so high she will step in it eventually” What is the dung you ask? Hillary has once again defied the laws of physics, reason, and mathematics. The thing that is most astounding about this new line of reasoning is that it expects you to totally ignore everything that was said previously. I’ve always said from the beginning of this election cycle the Clintons, and even John McCain to some extent, have been running an old school election campaign. Waaaaaay back in yesteryear you could say something then tomorrow say something different and it would take weeks maybe even months for these words to come back if at all. Today our society is based around the internet(s) a series of tubes ala Ted Stevens connected to the google.<– that joke never gets old and this goof is in charge of it.
Double speak is to be expected in such a long drawn out nomination process but I never expected anything like this. In the time it took John McCain to switched sides on abortion, Hillary has switched her opinion from delegates, to super delegates, to popular vote, back to super delegates, and finally in the laps of “hardworking” Americans which is dog whistle for poor white people. There is however a method to this madness, Hillary isn’t racist, she is simply playing the crowd in a micro manor. Every time she hops off the plane she transforms into what ever she believes the people want to hear. Take Pennsylvania for instance, she thought they like guns and whiskey so she pandered to the bar crowd taking shots and bragging bout her guns. In Indiana she thought they drive a lot so she decided it was high time to roll back her husband’s gas tax (yes I kid you not Bill Clinton raised the gas tax that she was fighting against last week) and thus kicked up a fuss for the hard working Americans. And finally in West Virginia and Kentucky she is working the room with I usually win YOUR votes and those matter the most.
There is nothing wrong with reaching out to certain pockets of society, but I think she reached just a little too far with this latest AP poll talk for a number of reasons. For starters there are republicans actively working to inflate her numbers for malicious reasons. However small they are, there is no denying their little voice may have tipped Indiana in her favor. The other problem with this line of reasoning is, many of her supporters (women) are angry she is losing and will say anything to pollsters for shits and giggles, but come November when the choice on the ballet is vote for somebody who agrees with you politically or vote for the guy who will roll back things even worse I think we all know the answer to that. The other problem and this is pretty much the most insane thing about this line of thinking, reasoning, and strategy. Hillary Clinton has completely written off the black vote. (Ok I would like to pause here and just interject my personal opinion here.) As much as she is bragging about getting the hard working White American vote (like all other races aren’t hardworking), neglecting African Americans will have dire straits for her come November. Insulting African Americans has already lead to a unprecedented 90% for Barack Obama. Many clueless supporters and even analysts attribute it simply to them being happy a “black” guy is running. Utter complete and total nonsense these same analysts seem to forget Hillary was winning the African American vote by almost 58% during the onset of this election, it wasn’t until they started to feel taken for granted and insulted that they jumped ship.
People aren’t stupid we can clearly see what is happening and when the mainstream media (which is dumber than a bag of rocks) notices it is no longer subtle, you have reached rock star lemon and lime light levels of obviousness. Earlier during this election watching Hillary self destruct was mildly entertaining, hell I even enjoyed it after the South Carolina primary. It kind of reminded me of a song by Lily Allen, the lyrics go “At first when I see you cry, Yea it makes me smile, Yea it makes me smile, At worst I feel bad for awhile, But then I just smile, I go ahead and smile”. It was a guilty pleasure but something happened last week that changed everything, now that Barack Obama is the presumptive nominee watching this train wreck isn’t as entertaining. It’s a weird thing, when you have a common foe beating up on them is fun but once the battle is over the whole joy is gone and so here we are.
Hope isn’t a strategy.
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05.06.08
Posted in men & women tagged attendance down, Best Buy, Blockbuster, Hollywood, Ironman, Movie Industry, Music Industry at 6:40 pm by soulful07
I know I have been spending an awful amount of time on the election but every so often when something catches my eye to complain about I have to jump on it. The movie industry has been getting on my last nerve for years and something happened last week which reinforced exactly what is wrong with it.
For those of you who dont know I am a movie buff I love movies I watch them religiously (yes even the bad ones). Equally I am also a technology buff and I am watching just like the music business, movie industry dinosaurs reaching out from the tar pit with their last gasp doing everything to stop the inevitable. Every chance I get I shout from the roof tops pirates are not the only enemy, sure stealing is wrong but this has never been about pirates, thieves, scallywags or all types of evil doers. This is from the beginning and will be until its last dying breath about CONTROL! I know you have seen those pirates ruin America commercials at your favourite theatre and by golly they do contribute but not to the extent you think it does. No in actuality you can never stop pirates, but the least you could do is treat your paying customers with respect and dignity.
I kind of feel like Morpheus making the speech holding up the battery so bare with me, without the over dramatics, this is the real. We have been here before actually this is the 3rd or 4th time. The movie industry cried the sky was falling when Cable TV & VHS tapes were created and blockbuster video stores start popping up all across the nation. It happened again when DVDs came out and people assumed the super sharp quality will bankrupt everything ohh the humanity. It happened again when HDTVs were developed and people bought surround sound systems in droves. Today they have even stooped to blaming video games. After the second time it happened and Isaw the villagers were just fine and people were worried for nothing I started paying attention to the little boy yelling wolf.
Despite all the rhetoric movie sales and ticket buyers are directly controlled by (and I know this is going to come as a shock) the movies they want to see. That is right folks when Hollywood actually develops and promotes good movies people go to theatres and pay money, and if it is a really good movie they even buy it on DVD. Take a deep breath I know I just blew your mind. Like Hillary Clinton I dont listen to those Elitist Economists… oh wait wrong blog, well I dont listen to the ones trying to tell me movie sales are down in theatres because of pirates. Something is afoot but it doesnt yell arrr matey, again pirates are bad but the movie industry is run by idiots and buffoons thats right Isaid it. Ill happily repeat it, idiots and buffoons, if you think that is too harsh there is somebody walking the face of the earth who decided that the one thing missing from your life was another Rambo movie… I rest my case. Here is another shocker (Im on a roll here) every year the price of admission goes up what theatre heads dont tell you is that this isnt in direct response to lower attendance no no this is in response to them building a gazillion super mega insanely large theatres with a bowling alley and karaoke lounge. Nothing says hey watch a matinee here like a bowling alley. Naturally when you waste a ton of money on shit that has nothing to do with the movie experience and it doesnt pan out blame it on pirates.
While Im not naive I do know attendance has gone down from insanely high record times to just about average, I also know that ticket prices must stay in line with inflation but at the same time Im not stupid either popcorn shouldnt cost 20 dollars a bag, today a bag of popcorn and a drink cost more than two tickets to the actual movie. Am I missing something here? Umm I dont think so. We are watching wackamole business 101, grossly over estimate your business growth, when that fails blame somebody/thing else, raise the prices of things, ignore the future. Everything seems to be right on schedule. The collusion between the theatre and movie industry has been something akin to OPEC and the auto industry. While Im not going to get political I will tell you the future is coming and both of these industries have buried their head in the sand hoping it will go away. It will not.
The future the movie industry fears the most is the internet. Seeds of doubt about pirates were cast early to muddle and confuse the issues, while some of their fears were real, the extent was not. I totally understand where they are coming from but theatres and movie studios have less to worry about then say Best Buy and Blockbuster video but that is for another debate. Nothing will take away the experience of going to the theatre and watching Ironman on an enormous screen that will never change. Going to the movies is a social thing people have enjoyed for decades now. But not embracing the future will have horrible consequences for all the industries involved.
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04.28.08
Posted in Politics, Race, Republicans tagged Barack Obama, Bill Moyers, CNN, Democrats, Fox News, PBS, Republican attack machine, Rev Wright, Voters, Wolf Blitzer at 12:39 am by soulful07
Reverend Wright wtf man, the way CNN and Fox news had built up your interview I was expecting you to jump on the table and body slam Bill Moyers. Everybody in America did… Imagine to my surprise several weeks ago when the most damning bit of sound bite I discovered was actually a quote from a US Ambassador on fox news of all channels wtf indeed. Imagine to my surprise I found myself actually agreeing with alot of the sermons when I had the ability to watch them in full context. “Context” you evil tool, how dare you inform me. Imagine to my surprise that Bill Moyers did a heartfelt interview covering a wide range of topics spending time on them rather than jumping to his feet and yelling. It would appear talking and waiting for a response is a more effective interview method, who knew *shrugs* (take notes Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hanity, Chris Wallace). Actually I knew exactly what was going to happen because I (like most people solely disappointed by the news coverage lately or lack thereof) did some research before forming an opinion about somebody.
I’ve tuned out of the mainstream media for a while, the battle royal between Clinton and Obama was beginning to get on my nerves. But it was nice to see an ACTUAL journalist in their natural habitat, I was under the impression they had been extinct for eons. The most interesting thing about this interview wasn’t so much what was said, however important it was, no the shocker was how it was billed. The news media can’t even just report something anymore, they have to include their take on things to make them bigger and better than needs be. Days before the interview I saw reporters salivating over what was going to be said and had begun taking things out of context before the damn thing was even aired. And what did we end up getting? A well rounded interview by a professional which actually humanized a person who was portrayed as a crazed lunatic.
America has a self esteem problem, I know most people thought it was just skinny models trying to look like Paris Hilton, ohh no America as a society has a self esteem problem with regards to their country. And because of this fear, people are more afraid of words then actual deeds. To me actually going into a country and killing people in my name is more offensive than saying God Damned America, but what the heck do I know. This self esteem issue has reared its ugly head before, remember when people held cd burning rallies to destroy Dixie Chics cds after they said they were ashamed of their President (today 70% of America agrees with them). But get this it wasn’t so much what they said, it was where they said it, in *gasp* are you ready for it… in ENGLAND those limey bastards. Likewise God Damning America isn’t such a bad thing when it’s said with regards to liberals Jews, gay people, and poor black people hit by a hurricane in New Orleans apparently. Yes I kid you not, the sentiment by a great many Pastors across America (Hagee, Falwell, Dobson etc…) is/was, God is Damning America because of the gays and various other liberal evil doers. So lets recap, saying God Damn America because of its horrible foreign policy and how it treats its citizens is BAD!!!! God Damning America because of liberals, abortions, and gays is GOOD!!! If you are confused just remember it’s all about the semantics.
So what is the aftermath of this great build up of titans in the interviewing circle? Nothing. That’s Wright, excuse me RIGHT… Nothing, no follow up, no hoopla, because the actual truth isn’t news worthy apparently. The build up to the story is more important than reporting the actual story. Now where on earth have I seen this type of reporting before hmmm oh yeah i forgot, the Iraq war. There was major anticipation news reporters went crazy showing you bombs fancy airplanes people rode in tanks then the war started and people shrugged their shoulders and went back to Anna Nicole’s baby. And this is why there are so many sheepeople in the world today, their attention span has been beat into submission. And when everything is done, after the climax of the evening news talking heads, people watching roll over, have a cigarette and take a nap.
For your viewing enjoyment
http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/04252008/watch.html
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04.22.08
Posted in Politics, Race, sex tagged ABC, ABC Debate, Arabs, Barack Obama, Bullshit, CNN, Democrats, Dick Cheney, Fox News, George Stephanopoulos, Hillary Clinton, John McCain, Mainstream media, Martin Luther King Jr, MSNBC, Patriot, Patriotism, Racism, Republicans, Sexism, Voters at 3:57 am by soulful07
After watching that last ABC debate err… talk err… mud wrestling extravaganza “about” politics, I wanted to cling to my gun, but since I don’t have one and the bible was out of reach I’ll just use this computer to show how “bitter” I am. I’ve been sitting on these thoughts for a minute now, I didn’t think it needed to be stated because it was so obvious but apparently I was wrooooong so here goes. The theme building up lately has been to paint Barack as unpatriotic, the republicans have been working this angle for literally years now. I saw it coming a mile away but I didn’t really expect democrats to hop on board this idea. I could go on and on about how blatantly racist it is that the black guy with the Arab sounding name is the only person who is getting beat over the head with a flag, even though the other two people probably have alot more to answer for. And I could go on and on about how ridiculous it is that Barack Obama is the only person who (it seems) has to answer for what every black guy with a microphone thinks or says like he is their publicist. Or I could go on and on about how stupid it is that he is the only person who (it seems) has to answer for everybody he ever worked with, met on the subway, sat down next to at a diner, opened a door for, you catch my drift. The fact that these superb scientific benchmarks are only “applicable” to him has restored all my faith if in 4th estate better known as main stream media. And I appreciate every waking hour they have devoted to this in depth investigative research that has been used for years to determine who the next commander in chief will be. If you detected the slightest bit of sarcasm please continue reading on, if you didn’t I would suggest you go back to your elementary school and punch every teacher in the face for failing you.
I’ve been hearing this dog whistle for a while now and it’s starting to hurt my ears. What is a patriot? Does anybody even know anymore? It seems everybody and their gun toting grandmother wants their president to be one, but could anybody spot one if it fell out of the sky and landed on your head? It’s a catch phrase that has won and lost many an election, but it reminds me of a funny line from this movie called The Princess Bride. In the movie Vizzini kept uttering the word “inconceivable” and finally Inigo blurted out “you keep saying that word, but I don’t think it means what you think it does”. Mainstream Media, Republicans, Voters, Politicians, you keep saying “patriot” but I do not think it means what you think it does.
Is Dick Cheney a patriot, he thought it was so important to protect America that he fought tooth and nail to remain home from the Vietnam war 5 times. Is George Bush Jr a patriot, he stood up for telecommunication companies to spy on Americans without oversight and retroactive immunity. Is John McCain a patriot, he believed that Americans have had too many vacations Martin Luther King Day was just another excuse for liberals to have another long weekend, he has also stood out against for torture of everybody not American. Is Bill O’Reilly a patriot he fights everyday (on tv) for the rich white man minority, and has even served tours of duty in the war on Christmas. Is Sean Hanity, Ann Coulter, and the rest of the talking heads patriots for working overtime without regard for their sanity to insert republican talking points in the Democratic discourse.
It’s sad that in 2008 patriotism isn’t so much standing up for the principles of your country (like the constitution) on which it was founded that takes too much work. Patriotism in 2008 means wearing a flag made in China dripping with lead paint made by child factory workers. Nothing says I’m a patriot like waving a flag made in a different country which violates human rights. Obama’s problem isn’t that he is “not patriotic” enough, his problem is that he hasn’t exploited his patriotism into fancy photo ops during tours of flag factories. Obama’s bus isn’t named the Gettysburg straight talk eagle patriot flag Express, he doesn’t have a flag tattoo, his wife had the audacity (to coin a phrase) of being disappointed in anything about America, how dare she in this free country. The Obama name isn’t patriotic enough, he doesn’t have a dog, and a point 5 kid. Obama’s problem doesn’t stop there, he also had the nerve to assume that working with community organizers instead of working with a company shipping jobs overseas, crushing unions and destroying communities was the way to go.
Obama’s naivety is going to be a problem in November when is he going to learn, if you can’t bowl you won’t be able to solve the housing crisis. No war has ever been fought or won by anybody not wearing a flag pin (everybody knows it provides magic powers). Saying you are praying for me in this economic crisis is more important that actually making a plan and doing anything about it.
REAL Patriots jerks, clowns, jackasses for years have used flags, symbols, and catch praises to let us people know that words are more important than actions.
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04.16.08
Posted in Politics, beauty, fashion, health, men & women, relationships, sex tagged anorexia, Burger king, fashion, France, magazines, mcDonalds, Media, Models, obesity, Pizza Hut, Supermodels, Tyra Banks, weight at 6:55 pm by soulful07
For those of you who haven’t been following, the French government has decided to step in and protect people from themselves. That’s right the slippery slope of “saving” ones self from them self has been a daunting task throughout history, and it never solves or addresses the real problems, hold on I’m going to repeat this in capitals so it looks like I’m yelling…
IT NEVER ADDRESSES THE REAL PROBLEMS!!!!
If you are eating you might want to finish chewing before I finish this sentence, the French government has decided to fine websites and magazines up to 71 thousand dollars and even possibly jail time for encouraging extreme thinness. Meanwhile obesity another monumental physical and psychological problem has all worked itself out… ohh wait… while I don’t want to make light of the situation that these people have and are going through, I want to make the point that we have these issues on both sides of the equation. Overweight and obese people on the other hand won’t have their problems magically disappear because you started fining Pizza Hut and McDonalds.
Reactionary laws are about as useful as telling kids don’t look at that hole in the fence there are naked people in there. Sure you feel good about yourself for doing your duty to protect the kids, but there is still a freaking hole in the fence. Naturally my crude analogy doesn’t even begin to compare to the complexities of this problem, but you catch my drift. I don’t have all the answers to anorexia or obesity. I do have my own firsthand account of knowing somebody who is gorgeous, who believes they need breast implants and lose 5 pounds, then and only then will she be “pretty”. I could blame magazines but then again I would also be letting clothing manufactures off the hook for creating a dress size called zero, or making clothes different sizes depending on the stores. I never even knew this until I went shopping with an Ex a few years back, it was kind of sad and funny at the same time. Certain stores sell medium sized clothes in the large section and large clothes in the extra large section. If I hadn’t known any better I would have gotten a complex just watching the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
If I sat down here long enough I could probably come up with a whole list of people to blame starting with Barbie, fashion designers, music videos, actresses, singers, record companies, directors, porn, religion, relationships, men, women, friends, fat friends, skinny friends, pretty friends, and yourself. That’s right the mirror doesn’t lie, we as a society need to take responsibility for our short comings and issues. Instead of looking for scapegoats nothing will be solved until you accept yourself. I have decided I don’t need the government to tell me someone is too skinny, if your breasts look like a dimple above your ribs maybe it’s time to say yes to extra cheese on your whopper. If you need a table all to yourself so you can have room for your breakfast’s breakfast, skinny supermodels on a magazine cover is the least of your worries just ask France.
update: it would appear that my copy and paste from word missed the “paste” part sorry, here is my complete rant.
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04.07.08
Posted in 2008 Election, Barack Obama, CNN, Democrats, Ed Rendell, Hillary Clinton, Politics, Race, Republicans, crybaby, sex tagged 2008 Election, Air America, Barack Obama, Ed Rendell, Hillary Clinton, Liberals, Lose the election, Randi Rhodes at 4:45 am by soulful07
I wasn’t quite sure how I was going to write this particular blog. I have had many reservations about this race, and how things are beginning to play out. Adding more fuel to the fire doesn’t change things, but I think it does provide a little prospective on what has happened and is happening.
I’ve been paying attention to presidential elections for quite some time now. This particular race is special not from an first (African America or woman) prospective, no it’s something bigger. Don’t worry this isn’t one of those red light specials heaping magic praise on Obama. While I admire the guy I am more impressed with his campaign and the residual effects of this 2008 presidential race. True colors, you can’t make this stuff up, you can’t script it, you can’t even prepare for it but when you least expect it, these things show through.
Backs against the wall
When Hilary Clinton was perceived to be the front runner, she was friendly, laughing, and enjoying every minute of it. When Hilary Clinton was perceived to be losing in every perceivable fashion a very different person showed up to the plate. Over the last few days it was revealed that one of Hilary’s staunchest supporters for well over 16 years (Randi Rhodes) called her an f#@king whore. I can attest to the staunchest part because I used to listen to Air America and I heard her defend Hilary tooth and nail for years. I actually did some research and found the day the camel’s back broke so to speak for Randi. It was very what’s the word… Shocking… no, Revealing… no, interesting? Most definitely “interesting”, Randi laid it all out there, the brushing things (facts) aside, how outraged she was about her actions towards the party, again relating to the backs against the wall. Many many people have been thoroughly disgusted with the type of campaign Mrs. Clinton has run so far (myself included). For years I was told the Clintons ran the tightest ship in the business and quite frankly I believed it. They withstood attacks for many years, and the objective side of me ignored the fact that THESE ATTACKS WERE ALWAYS SELF INFLICTED, but people always rushed to bail them out every time. This tightest ship has run out of money two times already, failed to pay healthcare for its workers (ohh the irony), failed to pay bills (3 million still outstanding), it was also the very least prepared, and organized. One of my favourite games to play now is guessing which campaign banner Hilary was going to stand behind each speech. There was no theme just the wish to win when your back is against the wall.
Racism/ Sexism
One of the magical most interesting aspects of this campaign is the over use of racism/sexism. I’ve noticed the two candidates use these issues to their advantage on various occasions. Racism has worked to Senator Obama’s advantage a many times mainly because the republicans are scared shitless to use it against him. Hilary on the other hand has used sexism to her advantage so often I can’t keep track of it any more.
A new term has been created in the vernacular “Reverse Racism” and from my understanding it is when racist bastards like Sean Hanity cry about people being racist to a racist. In this world of being super politically correct everybody is jumping in front of words like they are bullets to protect my sensitive ears. It’s funny every election so far this primary season CNN… well pretty much every news source has reminded us, black people are supporting Barack Obama. Normally I just let these things go but when they were going over the stats in Wyoming and they tried but couldn’t spin it to match the only black people supporting him theme, I knew cable news was lost to us forever. The day they report Hilary has won the feminist vote I think I’m going to just turn my TV in and go back to cave drawings to figure out my news.
Donors
It’s a funny thing, the other day a group of 20 super rich donors to the Democratic Party wrote a letter threatening Speaker Polesi demanding she be even vaguer about her vague support! And I thought to myself it’s about time people stand up and make things even more confusing. At first I said to myself what gall, but in retrospect these people had made back room deals to get favors in return, and damnit this is America they should get their money’s worth. 2008 has taught us that in this space time continuum the poor guy with a 20 dollar donation is magically equal to the rich guy’s 1 million dollar donation (for now). And you know what, suprise suprise the rich guy is freaking pissed about it. While I’m not naive Obama has taken money from lots of rich people hell he even took money from the nuclear industry but, and this is a big but, the little people somehow have a say in things too for a change. I know, it blew my mind. Besides breaking ever record imaginable this thing is turning everything on its head every which way from Sunday. Personally I think it’s a good thing, for politics and the country.
“Liberals”
Some Democrats are racist, sexist, two way talking bastards. There I said it. Deal with it. It’s true. The dirty little secret is finally out, I admire the republicans for their forward stance on segregation and open oppression of the little man. It’s not about the shit they believe in, no no this is strictly about making people some money. And you know what, sure it’s an ass backwards and probably vile way of thinking, but I can respect somebody who isn’t a fraud. If and I’m talking the mother load here, if there is one thing I am glad is finally coming to the fore front, it is this under the table resentment from people who call themselves liberals. It only took a black guy and a woman at the same time to create the perfect storm but here it is. I don’t condone all the bitch talk on message boards and just in general conversation. But on the flip side many Hilary supporters are so hung up on having a woman in office they don’t or can’t even believe the racist shit coming out of their mouths and neither can I.
Entitlement
While I think Hilary is a smart woman and she is very qualified to be commander in chief as she puts it, I laughed my ass off when I saw her enter this race like it was supposed to be handed to her. She and Rudy rode in on the same horses and sadly those two will leave on this horse one way or another. Listening to talk radio is depressing, but listening to these uninformed callers makes you want to jump out of a window. The thing that is most sad are the people who feel Barack should wait his turn like everybody is waiting to go down a slide in the school yard playground. Wait your turn? What kind of nonsensical argument is that to make? It isn’t even grounded on anything but day in and day out I hear house wives and various other intelligent women demand Barack sit his butt down and wait in line. I’m sorry but if wait your turn is the only argument you have for Hilary to be president it speaks volumes about why she shouldn’t be president.
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03.26.08
Posted in Fox News, Politics, Republicans, Wolf Blitzer, crybaby, work tagged Bankers, Banks, Bear Stearns, CNN, Enron, Fema, George W. Bush, Investments, J.P. Morgan, James Cayne, MSNBC, Pensions, Wallstreet at 3:56 am by soulful07
Do you smell that? It’s the wacky business world’s way letting us know its spring. Another day another business executive walks away with a cool 232 million while his employees work on their fancy “will break dance for food” cardboard signs under the overpass. It happens so often that I think people have become immune to the harsh realities, but the disparity of rich and poor rears its ugly head once more. Show of hands who all remembers Enron, MCI, and Tyco just to name a few?
Today I read in the newspaper that James Cayne CEO of Bear Stearns has hired personal security to escort him around his former office. Apparently employees were furious that Mr Cayne was going to bridge tournaments during the week the firm was crumbling. While I don’t advocate the use of violence, I’m actually kind of shocked that more CEOs who run their respective businesses into the ground don’t require the services of special kung fu ninja type body guards. I’m just saying… Anyways I don’t want to turn all “leftist” socialist on you while you read this perfectly good conservative blog, but it struck me while we throw the book at drug dealers and general miscreants, who is a larger threat to society? The guy with a bag of weed, or the guy who steals corporate funds while he devastatingly wipes out pensions, careers, lives, families, and communities (my apologies to female drug dealers and corporate thieves). Just because you went to college or play bridge with “important” people that doesn’t negate your contribution to destroying society.
I generally believe in the idea of the free market and all that nonsense I learned in economics, but these lovely ideas only seem to work on paper. The real monkey wrench that smashes these theories always seems to be corporate greed. As much as I hate government interference in industry and life in general, I do believe that some oversight is needed at the (bare minimum) to protect pensions. Maybe some oversight is needed to hold board members accountable for their actions. We have seen this time and again were somebody in a suit makes a bone headed move, the whole board rubber stamps it, it fails DOA, and to cover it up before they go on vacation they fire 1/3 of their staff. Maybe I’m naive but somehow that just seems wrong to me. OR, (and I’m just talking off the top of my head here) how about you keep the parachute bonus of 200 million and divide it between the workers and royally kick the CEO, President, and board members in the ass before you fire and shame them then take their salary and/or maybe even send them to jail. Too rough? Sounds just about right to me. Lets be serious if you screw up the count at McDonalds, Ronald isn’t as forgiving.
I remember watching CNBC last year when the Fed infused Wallstreet with liquidity *cough* I mean bailed them out *cough* after weeks of rich millionaires on TV crying about they need help. Then I watched in horror as these same hypocrites felt that people hurt by the subprime crisis didn’t deserve any help, and that my friends pretty much sums this whole thing up in a tight little package. Which brings us to today, the Feds once again stepped in and saved the day guaranteeing Bear Stearns for 30 billion dollars (so they could be bought out by J.P. Morgan at 2 dollars a share instead of 160 a week ago), all the while there are poor people still living in FEMA trailers in New Orleans. Sorry to be a downer but it’s true, and while the rush to save one, and the hesitation to save another in the same breath is shocking, it is to be expected because everybody knows poor people don’t know how to play bridge.
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