Friday, November 14, 2008

Retired Butler Sees a New White House


Eugene Allen, 89, a retired White House butler, tries on his old tuxedo for a photo. Allen, who served eight presidents during a period when America 's racial history was being rewritten, is marveling at the election of Barack Obama.


Now retired, he started when blacks were in the kitchen.


By Wil Haygood November 7, 2008


Reporting from Washington -- For more than three decades, Eugene Allen worked in the White House, a black man unknown to the headlines. During some of those years, harsh segregation laws lay upon the land.He trekked home every night to his wife, Helene, who kept him out of her kitchen.
At the White House, he worked closer to the dirty dishes than to the Oval Office. Helene didn't care; she just beamed with pride.President Truman called him Gene. President Ford liked to talk golf with him. He saw eight presidential administrations come and go, often working six days a week."I never missed a day of work," Allen said.He was there while racial history was made: Brown vs. Board of Education, the Little Rock school crisis, the 1963 March on Washington , the cities burning, the civil rights bills, the assassinations.When he started at the White House in 1952, he couldn't even use the public restrooms when he ventured back to his native Virginia . "We had never had anything," Allen, 89, recalled of black America at the time. "I was always hoping things would get better."In its long history, the White House -- note the name -- has had a complex and vexing relationship with black Americans."The history is not so uneven at the lower level, in the kitchen," said Ted Sorensen, who served as counselor to President Kennedy. "In the kitchen, the folks have always been black. Even the folks at the door -- black."Before Gene Allen landed his White House job, he worked as a waiter at a resort in Hot Springs , Va. , and then at a country club in Washington .He and wife Helene, 86, were sitting in the living room of their Washington home. Her voice was musical, in a Lena Horne kind of way. She called him "Honey." They met at a birthday party in 1942. He was too shy to ask for her number, so she tracked his down. They married a year later.In 1952, a lady told him of a job opening in the White House. "I wasn't even looking for a job," he said. "I was happy where I was working, but she told me to go on over there and meet with a guy by the name of Alonzo Fields."Fields was a maitre d', and he immediately liked Allen.Allen was offered a job as a "pantry man." He washed dishes, stocked cabinets and shined silverware. He started at $2,400 a year.There was, in time, a promotion to butler. "Shook the hand of all the presidents I ever worked for," he said."I was there, honey," Helene said. "In the back maybe. But I shook their hands too." She was referring to White House holiday parties, Easter egg hunts.They have one son, Charles, who works as an investigator with the State Department."President Ford's birthday and my birthday were on the same day," he said. "He'd have a birthday party at the White House. Everybody would be there. And Mrs. Ford would say, 'It's Gene's birthday too!' "And so they'd sing a little ditty to the butler. And the butler, who wore a tuxedo to work every day, would blush."Jack Kennedy was very nice," he went on. "And so was Mrs. Kennedy."He was in the White House kitchen the day Kennedy was slain. He got an invitation to the funeral. But he volunteered for other duty: "Somebody had to be at the White House to serve everyone after they came from the funeral."The whole family of President Carter made Helene chuckle: "They were country. And I'm talking Lillian and Rosalynn both." It came out as the highest compliment.First Lady Nancy Reagan came looking for him in the kitchen one day. She wanted to remind him about the upcoming state dinner for German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. She told him he would not be working that night."She said, 'You and Helene are coming to the state dinner as guests of President Reagan and myself.' I'm telling you! I believe I'm the only butler to get invited to a state dinner."Husbands and wives don't sit together at these events, and Helene was nervous about trying to make small talk with world leaders. "And my son said, 'Momma, just talk about your high school. They won't know the difference.'"The senators were all talking about the colleges and universities that they went to," she said. "I was doing as much talking as they were."Had champagne that night," she said, looking over at her husband.He just grinned: He was the man who stacked the champagne at the White House.Colin L. Powell would become the highest ranking black of any White House to that point when he was named Reagan's national security advisor in 1987. Condoleezza Rice would have that position under President George W. Bush.Gene Allen was promoted to maitre d' in 1980. He left the White House in 1986, after 34 years. President Reagan wrote him a sweet note. Nancy Reagan hugged him tight.Interviewed at their home last week, Gene and Helene speculated about what it would mean if a black man were elected president."Just imagine," she said."It'd be really something," he said."We're pretty much past the going-out stage," she said. "But you never know. If he gets in there, it'd sure be nice to go over there again."They talked about praying to help Barack Obama get to the White House. They'd go vote together. She'd lean on her cane with one hand, and him with the other, while walking down to the precinct. And she'd get supper going afterward. They went over their election day plans more than once."Imagine," she said."That's right," he said.On Monday, Helene had a doctor's appointment. Gene woke and nudged her once, then again. He shuffled around to her side of the bed. He nudged Helene again.He was all alone."I woke up and my wife didn't," he said later.Some friends and family members rushed over. He wanted to make coffee. They had to shoo the butler out of the kitchen.The lady he married 65 years ago will be buried today.The butler cast his vote for Obama on Tuesday. He so missed telling his Helene about the black man bound for the Oval Office.

GM Names 1st Black Female Design Director!


Congratulations to Crystal L. Windham, General Motors’ first black female Director of General Motors North American Passenger Car Design.
Ms. Windham will head the interior design for GM’s Global Midsize Car, Global Compact Car, and Global Small Car.
She was a lead designer on the 2008 award winning Chevy Malibu “Car of the Year.”
“A mentor guided me towards automotive design. Without guidance and support from family and co-workers, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I truly love my job- it’s creative, expressive - but it is not easy. Enjoying what you do, however, makes it all worthwhile. I hope other young women will look to what I have done and be inspired to consider automotive design,” she said.
There are so many careers to choose from in our ever expanding global market, but many young people aren’t aware of even half of them. Perhaps Ms. Windham also can inspire them to search beyond traditional careers to find the one that makes the best fit.
“As an interior designer,” she says, “I create solutions and appealing spaces for customers. As a leader it’s my job to foster creativity and ensure that creativity is represented in the final product.
Ms. Windham has a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from the Center for Creative Studies and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Detroit - Mercy.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Music 360: Beyonce's ALTER EGO, Goes Into OVERDRIVE





The "Sasha Fierce" persona needs to go home and tell Beyonce to STOP IT...

Video: Obama playing ball on Election Day!



Talk about CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN! We got a FLY PREZ ya'll! In case you missed it, the two teams were named "That One," something John McCain called Obama during one of the debates, and "This One." Regardless of your political affiliation, that's pretty funny.

HUDSON CASE UPDATE


Following a preliminary hearing on Monday, William Balfour, the only suspect named so far in the triple homicide of Jennifer Hudson’s mother, brother and nephew, will remain in prison at least through December 3, when a full hearing will be held to determine if he violated his parole.
According to reports, Balfour, the estranged husband of Julia Hudson, had not attended any of his anger-management classes, had not attended any of his substance-abuse counseling sessions, had not been available for visits with his parole officer and had been seen in places were drugs were sold or distributed, which resulted in an arrest for cocaine possession in June.
Balfour’s girlfriend, Shonta Cathey, had claimed she had seen Balfour with a gun the day before the murders that was allegedly identical to the gun found by authorities. An unnamed source told the Chicago Tribune that Balfour told her he was involved in the shootings.
Balfour was out on parole from the Illinois River Correctional Center on attempted-murder, carjacking and stolen-property charges, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. He was sentenced to serve seven years in 1999. Balfour was paroled in 2006, but if he is found at the December 3 hearing to have violated his parole, he will have to serve out the remainder of his term, until May 2009. Until that hearing, Balfour will remain at the reception center at Stateville Correctional Center.

TRAGIC NEWS: MARINE & WIFE KILLED


Sgt. Jan Pawel Pietrzak and his wife, Quiana, were tortured and killed execution-style in their California home allegedly by four Marines under his command.
The couple were found bound and gagged in the ransacked house and each had been shot in the head.
Pietrzak’s mother, Henryka Pietrzak-Varga, said she prepared herself “for the possibility that my son could die in Iraq, but to die like this, in their own home? They were good kids. They didn’t deserve to die like this.”
“She was our only child and my best friend,” Faye Jenkins, Quiana’s mother said. “He was like my son. He was so proud to be a Marine. But when he was off the base, he was my son.”
Deputies were dispatched to the Pietrzak home in Winchester, an exurb of San Diego, when he didn’t show up for work. They found the Pietrzaks in the living room and evidence the robbers tried to hide their tracks by torching the house.
Charged with murder and other crimes are Pvt. Emrys John, 18, of Maryland; Lance Cpl. Tyrone Miller, 20, of North Carolina; Pvt. Kevin Darnell Cox, 20, of Tennessee, and Pvt. Kesuan Sykes, 21, of California.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Man builds working replica of Noah's Ark (exact scale given in Bible)



in Schagen, Netherlands
The massive central door in the side of Noah's Ark was opened to the first crowd of curious townsfolk to behold the wonder. Of course, it's only a replica of the biblical Ark, built by Dutch creationist, Johan Huibers, as a testament to his faith in the literal truth of the Bible.
The ark is 150 cubits long, 30 cubits high and 20 cubits wide. That's two-thirds the length of a football field and as high as a three-story house.

Life-size models of giraffes, elephants, lions, crocodiles, zebras, bison and other animals greet visitors as they arrive in the main hold.
A contractor by trade, Huibers built the ark of cedar and pine. Biblical Scholars debate exactly what the wood used by Noah would have been.


Huibers did the work mostly with his own hands, using modern tools and with occasional help from his son, Roy. Construction began in May 2005. On the uncovered top - deck not quite ready in time for the opening - will come a petting zoo, with baby lambs, chickens, goats and one camel.


Visitors on the first day were stunned. 'It's past comprehension', said Mary Louise Starosciak, who happened to be bicycling by with her husband while on vacation when they saw the ark looming over the local landscape.


'I knew the story of Noah, but I had no idea the boat would have been so big ' There is enough space near the keel for a 50-seat film theater where kids can watch a video that tells the story of Noah and his ark. Huibers, a Christian man, said he hopes the project will renew interest in Christianity in the Netherlands, where church-going has fallen dramatically in the past 50 years.


Now that I am old and Gray...give me the time to tell This new generation (and their children too) About all your mighty miracles.
Psalm 71:18

White House Bowling Alley Goes Basketball!

I love it!  Prez-Elect Obama has told the media he’s replacing the bowling alley in the White House with a basketball court. Let’s hope Tyrone and ‘em don’t come over actin’ the fool though. Hilarious.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Hmmm: Mimi's an Old Fashioned Gal - No Sex With Nick ’til Marriage!

Mariah Carey revealed to the UK's Mirror that she got all born-again-virgin on Nick Cannon!


In the two months that she and Nick dated before their April wedding, there was no 'intercourse' at all!

Mimz said that waiting was so worth it:

“It’s not that we had NO intimacy, we just didn’t have complete intimacy. It’s just me, and my feelings. I definitely don’t want to push it on anybody else. But we both have similar beliefs, and I just thought that it would be so much more special if we waited until after we were married. And it was, and it still is.”

Well, Well!  That's refreshing!

BLACK HISTORY SPOTLIGHT: DR. DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS

DR. DANIEL HALE WILLIAMS (1856 – 1931) was the first black heart surgeon.


Williams was born in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, to Daniel and Sarah Price Williams, a middle-class free black family. When his father died of tuberculosis, his mother realized she could not manage seven children and sent some of them to live with relatives. Daniel went to Baltimore and apprenticed to a shoemaker but ran away to join his mother who had moved to Rockford, Illinois. He later moved to Edgerton, Wisconsin, where he joined his sister and opened his own barber shop. After moving to nearby Janesville, Williams became fascinated with a local physician and decided to follow his career path.

He began working as an apprentice to the physician, Dr. Henry Palmer, for two years and in 1880, he entered what is now known as Northwestern University School. After graduating in 1883, he opened his own medical office in Chicago. Because of primitive social and medical circumstances existing in that era, much of Williams early medical practice called for him to treat patients in their homes, including conducting occasional surgeries on kitchen tables. Williams utilized many of the emerging antiseptic, sterilization procedures of the day and gained a reputation for professionalism. He was soon appointed a surgeon on the staff of the South Side Dispensary and then a clinical instructor in anatomy at Northwestern. In 1889, he was appointed to the Illinois State Board of Health and one year later, he set out to create an interracial hospital.

On January 23, 1891, Williams established the Provident Hospital and Training School Association, a three story building which held 12 beds and served members of the community as a whole. The school also served to train black nurses and utilized doctors of all races. Within its first year, 189 patients were treated at Provident Hospital and of those 141 saw a complete recovery, 23 had recovered significantly, three had seen change in their condition and 22 had died. For a brand new hospital, at that time, to see an 87% success rate was phenomenal considering the financial and health conditions of the patient, and primitive conditions of most hospitals. Much can be attributed to Williams insistence on the highest standards concerning procedures and sanitary conditions.

Two years later, on July 9, 1893, a young black man named James Cornish was injured in a bar fight, stabbed in the chest with a knife. By the time he was transported to Provident Hospital, he was seeping closer and closer to death, having lost a great deal of blood and gone into shock. Williams was faced with the choice of opening the man’s chest and possibly operating internally when that was almost nonexistent at that time. Internal operations were unheard of because any entrance into the chest or abdomen of a patient would almost surely bring with it resulting infection and therefore death.

Williams made the decision to operate and opened the man’s chest. He saw the damage to the man’s pericardium (sac surrounding the heart) and sutured it, then applied antiseptic procedures before closing his chest. Fifty-one days later, James Cornish walked out of Provident Hospital completely recovered and would go on to live for another fifty years. Unfortunately, Williams was so busy with other matters, he did not bother to document the event and others made claims to have first achieved the feat of performing open heart surgery. Fortunately, local newspapers of the day did spread the news and Williams received the acclaim he deserved. It should be noted however that while he is known as the first person to perform an open heart surgery, it is actually more noteworthy that he was the first surgeon to open the chest cavity successfully without the patient dying of infection. His procedures would therefore be used as standards for future internal surgeries.

In February 1894, Williams was appointed Chief Surgeon at the Freedmen’s Hospital in Washington, D.C. and reorganized the hospital, creating seven medical and surgical departments, setting up pathological and bacteriological units, establishing a biracial staff of highly qualified doctors and nurses and established an internship program. Recognition of his efforts and their success came when doctors from all over the country traveled to Washington to view the hospital and to sit in on surgeries performed there. Almost immediately there was an astounding increase in efficiency as well as a decrease in patient deaths.

During this time, Williams married the Alice Johnson (daughter of sculptor Moses Jacob Ezekiel) and the couple soon moved to Chicago after Daniel resigned from the Freedmen’s hospital. He resumed his position as Chief Surgeon at Provident Hospital (which could now accommodate 65 patients) as well as for nearby Mercy Hospital and St. Luke’s Hospital, an exclusive hospital for wealthy white patients. He was also asked to travel across the country to attend to important patients or to oversee certain procedures.

When the American Medical Association refused to accept black members, Williams helped to set up and served as Vice-President of the National Medical Association. In 1912, Williams was appointed associate attending surgeon at St. Luke’s and worked there until his retirement from the practice of medicine. When the American College of Surgeons was founded in 1913, Williams became a charter member, the first black surgeon admitted to the organization. Williams was also a teacher of Clinical Surgery at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, and was an attending surgeon at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Upon his retirement, Williams had received numerous honors and awards, including honorary degrees from Howard and Wilberforce Universities and membership in the Chicago Surgical Society.

Williams died of a stroke at the age of 75 on August 4, 1931, in Idlewild, Michigan.

Today's Word: Where's Yahvah When It Hurts?

Where's Yahvah When It Hurts?


In the midst of pain, it's hard to see the good.

by Philip Yancey

I'm wearing a neck brace because I broke my neck in an auto accident. For the first few hours as I lay strapped to a body board, medical workers refused to give me pain medication because they needed my response. The doctor kept moving my limbs, asking, "Does this hurt? Do you feel that?"

The correct answer, the answer we wanted, was, "Yes. It hurts. I can feel it." And thankfully, each time, that was my answer.

Each sensation of pain gave proof that my spinal cord had not been severed. Pain offered proof my body remained whole.

It's normal to regard pain as a negative, but as I learned on that body board, pain is a mark of life. Remember that as you cope with pain. Don't try to numb it. Instead, acknowledge pain as an affirmation of life.

All Things Redeemed

We all feel pain. I would like to promise you a long, pain-free life, but I cannot. Rather, the Machiachian view of the world says this: The world is good. The world has fallen. The world will be redeemed. That's the Machiachian story in a nutshell.

Yahvah has promised a time when evil will be defeated, when events like the shootings at Nickel Mines and Columbine and Virginia Tech will come to an end. Until then, he's promised that the scars we accumulate from pain will be used, somehow, for good. They will be a mark of life.

As the Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8, all things can work together for your good. Paul spells out some of the things he encountered, which included beatings, illness, imprisonment, shipwreck and kidnapping. As he looked back, he could see that somehow Yahvah had redeemed even those crisis events in his life.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us," Paul concluded. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Yahvah that is in Machiach Yeshua our Lord" (Romans 8:37–39, NIV).

But in the midst of the pain, it's hard to see the good. It's easy to question Yahvah: Why did you let this happen? Where are you when I hurt?

After my accident, my chances of living didn't look good. It was a difficult time. But

I see now the good Yahvah was able to do through it. As I was strapped to that body board, I realized how much of my life focused on trivial things. I didn't think about what kind of car I drove (it was being towed to a junkyard anyway) or how much money

I had in my bank account. All that mattered boiled down to four questions: Who do I love? Who will I miss? What have I done with my life? And am I ready for what's next?

Ever since that day, I've tried to live with those questions at the forefront.

Out of my pain came good—a new focus, a new life. This pain proved what was most important.

Where Is Yahvah?

Ten days before the shootings at Virginia Tech, Machiachians around the world remembered the darkest day of human history. That was the day evil human beings violently rose up against Yahvah's Son and murdered the only truly innocent human being who ever lived. We remember that day not as Dark Friday, Tragic Friday or Disaster Friday—but rather as Good Friday. That awful day led to Easter, an early glimpse of Yahvah's bright promise to make all things new.

When you read through the Gospels, you'll find only one scene in which someone addresses Yeshua directly as Yahvah: "My Lord and my Yahvah!" Do you know who said that?

It was doubting Thomas, the last disciple to believe the incredible news of the Resurrection.

Thomas believed because of Yeshua' scars. "Feel my hands," Yeshua told him. "Touch my side."

In a flash of revelation, Thomas saw the wonder of Almighty Yahvah, the Lord of the uNIVerse, stooping to take on our pain. He saw scars that had been used for good. He saw that tear-streaked face of Yeshua.

So where is Yahvah when it hurts? We know where Yahvah is because he came to Earth and showed us his face. To see how Yahvah responds to our suffering, you need only remember how Yeshua responded to the tragedies of his day: with comfort, healing and compassion—which simply means "to suffer with."

Where is Yahvah when it hurts? He's right there with us.

POLITICS: THE BUSHES WELCOME THE OBAMAS TO THE WHITE HOUSE

U.S. President George W. Bush and Laura Bush greet U.S. President-elect Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama at the White House Monday in Washington, DC.


On January 20th Obama will be sworn in as the 44th president of the United States.

Politics; Bullet Proof Glass Shields Obama

He has already been the target of two assassination plots and hundreds of threats from white supremacists. So it was no surprise that Barack Obama’s victory speech was delivered from behind two-inch thick bullet proof glass.Although he will not move into the White House until January security has already been stepped up around the President-elect.

The clear protective screens he was sandwiched between at Grant Park in Chicago were the fist visible sign of the fears he will be the target of an assassination attempt. The bulletproof glass was not visible to the millions of people worldwide watching his speech on TV. Also unseen were the dozens of Secret Service agents who had taken up position in the crowd and the high rise buildings overlooking the park.
Hours before Obama stepped on stage Secret Service agents had posed as the Democratic presidential candidate to ‘test’ his exposure to an assassin’s bullet. A red laser dot was ‘fired’ on to the chest of the agents from others posing as sniper’s in the skyscrapers overlooking the park.

After the test was carried out it was decided to install the 10 feet high and 15 feet long screens. A marquee housing the TV cameras meant he was not at risk from the front of the park. A no-fly zone was also imposed over the area, with only police helicopters allowed in the air.

The elaborate security measures, as well as the suffocating presence of dozens of agents, is something Obama, his wife and two young children will now have to learn to live with.  Keep them in your prayers.

Photoshop Foolywang! Whitney Houston's New Album Cover

Who approved this?  Ummmm.....no.  Barack is president now, so we've got to do better....you've got to do better...Ima pray for you.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Friday, October 24, 2008

The Election According To Terry Tate! I'll Vote For That!

I know I said I wasn't bloggin anymore until after the election, but I had to put up this last entry. Let it be a message of hope and things to come!


Thursday, October 23, 2008

Blogging On Vacay! Until AFTTER THE ELECTION 11/4!


Sorry Saints! Blogging will be down until after the ELECTION! I'm sure there will be much to talk about and post when I return. Stay encouraged, may Yahvah bless, and see you next month!!!! REMEMBER, YOUR VOTE COUNTS!!

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

The Hockey Mom With A $150K Wardrobe

On Morning Joe, Mika initially defends Sarah Palin's huge shopping budget, but when the angry e-mails begin to flow in, she quickly concedes just how absurd Palin's spending was -- and the rest of the panel heartily agrees.

McCain-land might get lucky and skate by on this if they play their cards right and other news drowns out this story, but nine times out of ten, this will be the moment when not just the media, but also other Republicans, start talking about the McCain-Palin campaign in the past tense.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama!!!!!


Republican General Colin Powell appeared on NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday and officially endorsed Democratic candidate Barack Obama.

Click here to see the General explain his decision.

He threw out quite a zinger at Senator McCain!

The former Secretary of State said that McCain's appointment of unqualified Sarah Palin as his running mate showed bad judgement and that's one of the big reasons why he chose to endorse his opponent.

Black McCain Supporter Can't Stand The Heat



The INFAMOUS brother who was videoed BEGGING McCain to "Get Barrack", can't stand the heat he is getting. This moment is a "tic-tac" away from FOOLYWANG folder, but I believe in being fair so I'll let it ride....

Friday, October 17, 2008

Music 360: New Beyonce CD Title: "I Am…Beyonce / I Am…Sasha Fierce"


She's at it again...

The track-listing for Beyonce’s upcoming album entitled I Am has surfaced along with the album covers for I Am Sasha Fierce…. The first disc includes 8 ballads that shows Beyonce’s emotional side while the second disc includes 9 dance tracks that her alter ego (Sasha) can get down to. November 18th...... Thoughts?

Friday Foolywang: Don't Sing On The Furniture



Sistah don't.....

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

McCain/Palin Campaign Want To Bury This Story! Don't Let Them

Sarah Palin and her husband Todd are associated with a group that actually want to break Alaska AWAY from the U.S.!!?? This group wants Alaska to be it's own country!! Country First? I think not! Check this out...







The McCain campaign is trying to bury this piece.

It was piched by of all people Rick Sanchez.....diversion?

Still no story on Blitzer yet?

Palin's husband Todd remained an AIP party member from 1995 to 2002. Sarah can be described in McCarthy-era palaver as a "fellow traveler." While retaining her Republican registration, she attended the AIP's 1994 convention where the party called for a draft constitution to secede from the United States and create an independent nation of Alaska. The McCain Campaign has reluctantly acknowledged that she also attended AIP's 2000 Convention. She apparently found the experience so inspiring that she agreed to give a keynote address at the AIP's 2006 convention and she recorded a video greeting for this year's 2008 convention. In other words, this is not something that happened when she was eight!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

So when Palin accuses Barack of "not seeing the same America as you and me," maybe she is referring to an America without Alaska. In any case, isn't it time the media start giving equal time to Palin's buddy list of anti-American bombers and other radical associates?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

Rest of the story here:

Neiwerthttp://www.salon.com/news/fea...

And Here

http://www.salon.com/...

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Fill Us In:

Joan Sigurdson holds a sign opposing Republican vice presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, as she greets the Democratic presidential candidate, Monday at the Maumee Bay Resort in Oregon, Ohio.

Barack Obama is looking at that and thinking "________________."

Poll: Obama Opens 14-Point Lead On McCain


(CBS) Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama is entering the third and final presidential debate Wednesday with a wide lead over Republican rival John McCain nationally, a new CBS News/New York Times poll shows.

The Obama-Biden ticket now leads the McCain-Palin ticket 53 percent to 39 percent among likely voters, a 14-point margin. One week ago, prior to the Town Hall debate that uncommitted voters saw as a win for Obama, that margin was just three points.

Among independents who are likely voters - a group that has swung back and forth between McCain and Obama over the course of the campaign - the Democratic ticket now leads by 18 points. McCain led among independents last week.

McCain's campaign strategy may be hurting hurt him: Twenty-one percent of voters say their opinion of the Republican has changed for the worse in the last few weeks. The top two reasons cited for the change of heart are McCain's attacks on Obama and his choice of Sarah Palin as running mate.
Read The Complete CBS News/NY Times Poll On The Presidential Race
Obama is widely seen as running the more positive campaign: Sixty-one percent of those surveyed say McCain is spending more time attacking his opponent than explaining what he would do as president. Just 27 percent say the same of Obama.

McCain's favorable rating has fallen four points from last week, to 36 percent, and is now lower than his 41 percent unfavorable rating. Obama, by contrast, is now viewed favorably by half of registered voters and unfavorably by just 32 percent.

Obama holds a considerable edge over his rival on having the right "personality and temperament" to be president, with 69 percent saying Obama does and 53 percent saying McCain does. The Democratic nominee is also widely seen as more likely to make the right decision on the economy, far and away the top issue for voters, in a survey taken in the immediate aftermath of last week's historic Wall Street losses.

Opinions of the candidates could still change, and potential trouble spots remain for Obama, among them the fact that small percentages of voters cite Obama's past associations with Bill Ayers (9 percent) and Reverend Jeremiah Wright (11 percent) as issues that bother them.

But with more than four out of five of each candidate’s supporters now saying their minds are made up, the poll suggests that McCain faces serious challenges as he looks to close the gap on his Democratic rival in the final three weeks of the campaign.

Views Of The Candidates

Obama's lead over McCain when it comes to the economy has grown since last week, and a majority of registered voters now say they are not confident in McCain to make the right decisions on economic issues. Thirty-nine percent are not confident in Obama.

There is, however, an opening for the candidates in this area: Fewer than one quarter are presently very confident in either Obama or McCain to make the right decisions on the economic crisis.

On raising taxes - an area where a Republican nominee might be expected to have an edge - Obama also leads. Despite the McCain campaign's efforts to cast Obama as a tax-raiser, more registered voters say McCain is likely to raise their taxes (51 percent) than say Obama will raise their taxes (46 percent).

Voters are almost three times more likely to be very confident in Obama when it comes to health care (28 percent) than McCain (10 percent). A majority of voters, 54 percent, are not confident in McCain to handle health care, while 33 percent are not confident in Obama.

McCain continues to be hurt by his perceived ties to the unpopular Republican president, George W. Bush, whose approval rating is 24 percent. More than half of registered voters surveyed say they expect McCain to continue Mr. Bush's economic policies if he is elected.

Kids' poll predicts president



Every four years, the Scholastic presidential poll asks kids to vote. For the past 40 years, the result has been correct.

Kids chose.....: Barack Obama 57% vs John McCain 39%, 4% voted other

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Embracing Hope or Fear? I choose Hope!




Has the breaking point come? Has McCain realized that the tactics that were used against him in 2000 just aren't going to work this time and is he back peddling on his whole, "Who is Barack Obama" theme of his campaign?

I hope so. The last couple of weeks have been bittersweet for me for many reasons. I'm so very glad Obama is surging in the polls but to hear people yelling such things as "Terrorist" at McCain/Palin rallies it puts a rock in my stomach. The first feeling is crushed by the latter and I fear that the downward spiral of McCain's campaign was not only going to lose but bring a dark cloud of cynicism and hate across our whole Country.

The other con to Obama's soaring numbers is the plummeting stock markets and the failing banks. As we witness our fellow kossacks lose their jobs everyday and hear their stories, I wonder how dampened my joy is going to be by the sorrow of seeing this amazing Country crumble around me. That is what scares me the most, more than Obama losing this election right now is the idea that what made America great is being lost as I type.

There is hope of course. There is hope in the faces of the children who embrace our next President. There is hope in the faces of the elderly who see a new beginning for this troubled Nation. There is hope everywhere I see Obama and so much anger and despair where I see McCain/Palin. At what cost people?

In the immortal words of Mr. Welch , "Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?". Or actually, should it really be, as I wake to the news that Palin denies any wrongdoing in her actions as Governor of Alaska, "Have you no sense of decency, Mam, at long last?".









Yes, you are a decent man Senator Obama. I see that in the embrace of these children, your warmth and your humanity. I see your grace and your power in these embraces. They symbolize that we all need a hug now and again and that we need each other if we are going to get through this, without fear and without hate. Thank you, Thank you for the tone of your own campaign and thank you for continuing to fight for all of us. I will be forever grateful.

Friday, October 10, 2008

Breaking News: Trooopergate Findings Released! Palin Abused Powers!

Today, the findings in Troopergate, the investigation into an alleged abuse of power scandal, have been authorized for release by the Alaska Legislature. Just in case you've been living under a rock for the past few weeks, the investigation focuses on whether Sarah Palin exerted improper influence in getting her ex-brother-in-law, a state trooper, fired. The investigator, Steve Branchflower, has delivered his findings in a 263 page report to the Alaska Legislature, who voted to release it to the public.

The Bipartisan Council voted 12-0 to release the report, except for certain parts deemed confidential. I will add that there are more REPUBLICANS on the panel than DEMOCRATS....let that marinate...

'Troopergate' Report Due Out Today..Yay!


Finally everybody will be able to see who the DISHONEST ONE is in this election...

(CBS/ AP) Sworn to secrecy, Alaska lawmakers have begun reviewing a lengthy and politically sensitive investigative report that, when released Friday, could prove embarrassing to Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin

The report focuses on whether the first-term Alaska governor abused her authority by firing a state commissioner to settle a family dispute. But it is also expected to touch on whether Palin's husband meddled in state affairs and whether her administration inappropriately accessed employee medical records. 

The inquiry, approved by a legislative committee's bipartisan vote, began before Republican presidential nominee John McCain named Palin his running mate. Since then, the case has been dogged by accusations of political influence. 

The investigation focuses on her firing of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan. Monegan says Palin and her husband pressured him to fire Mike Wooten, a state trooper involved in a nasty divorce and custody dispute with the governor's sister. When Monegan resisted, he says, he was fired. 

Palin's critics say that shows she used her office to settle family affairs. 

"When you're the governor, you leave your household hat at home and you become governor," said state Senate President Lyda Green, a Republican who has frequently clashed with Palin. 

At their meeting Friday, lawmakers planned to vote to release the estimated 300-page report and some of the 1,000 or more pages of supporting documents. The 14-member legislative panel could recommend that the case be closed, that another committee continue to investigate, or that the matter be referred to criminal investigators. 

Despite all the controversy surrounding McCain's running mate, CBS News chief Washington correspondent Bob Schieffer said the scandal pales in comparison with the economic crisis facing the nation. Schieffer said that regardless of the outcome of Friday's report, the economy will continue to take priority in voters' minds. 

In an effort to head off the report, McCain campaign spokesman Taylor Griffin released the campaign'sown version of events. That report, which Griffin said was written by campaign staffers, says the Legislature has taken a legitimate policy dispute between a governor and one of her commissioners, and portrayed it as something inappropriate. 

"The following document will prove Walt Monegan's dismissal was a result of his insubordination and budgetary clashes with Governor Palin and her administration," campaign officials wrote. "Trooper Wooten is a separate issue." 

Monegan had not seen the closely held report Thursday night and said he did not know what to expect. 

"I just hope that the truth is figured out," Monegan said in a telephone interview Thursday. "That the governor did want me to fire him, and I chose to not. You just can't walk up to someone and say, 'I fire you.' He didn't do anything under my watch to result in termination." 

The report is also expected to focus on Palin's husband, Todd, who had extraordinary access to the governor's office and her top aides. Todd acknowledges calling and meeting over the course of many months with numerous senior government officials about Wooten, whom he described as a dangerous and unstable man who had threatened his family.

 Todd Palin's Affadavits In "Troopergate" Investigation
One of those meetings, Monegan said, occurred in the governor's office. Green said that raised questions of impropriety and that, ultimately, the governor is responsible. 

"He shouldn't be sitting in the governor's office and making phone calls if he's going to be pushing his agenda," she said. "Everything's on her." 

In an interview with CBS News, Monegan said Todd Palin's involvement, "speaks to the level of his passion," or rather, Monegan said, Palin's "obsession" with the case. 

Of Wooten, Monegan said, "He's not a bad cop." 

Steve Branchflower, a retired prosecutor hired by the Legislature, is also investigating whether anyone in the Palin administration pressured auditors to deny Wooten's disability claim. He had claimed he hurt his back moving a body bag, but Todd Palin later said he documented and took photos of Wooten riding a snowmobile that cast suspicion on his injury. 

Republican state Rep. John Coghill, a member of the committee, said he would try to keep the discussion focused on the what legislators set out to investigate: Monegan's firing. 

"It wasn't supposed to look into the whole administration team. It was supposed to look at the governor," he said before reading the report. "This is about the integrity of the legislative process." 

Palin's attorney, Thomas Van Flein, said he had not received a copy of the report. Over the past few days, Van Flein has released affidavits and other documents that Palin's husband and aides provided to investigators. That rankled some lawmakers but Van Flein said he wanted to make sure Branchflower's report didn't take anything out of context. 

"Whenever anyone writes their own report, they're filtering their data. And if you've already drawn your conclusion, you tend to filter it in a way to support that conclusion," he said. 

Palin's allies have accused the committee of having already drawn their conclusion. They cited comments by Democratic state Sen. Hollis French, who said the investigation could provide an "October surprise" for McCain.

Michelle Obama On Larry King


Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, appeared on the Larry King Live Wednesday night and spoke on the much-publicized comment made toward her husband in the debate earlier this week.

When asked whether McCain’s reference to Obama as “that one” was offensive, Michelle Obama simply said “No,” adding that the issue has nothing to do with what’s affecting average Americans hurting from the economic downturn.

They don’t care about the back and forth between the candidates. … They want real answers about how we’re going to fix this economy and get the health care benefits on track so, you know, this is part of politics,

I think there are two conversations that have been going on throughout this whole election. There’s the conversation that’s been happening with the pundits … and then there’s the conversation that’s been happening on the ground,” she said.

Black History Spotlight: Ernie Davis



ERNIE DAVIS (1939 – 1963) was an American football running back and the first African-American to win the esteemed Heisman Trophy. He died at the age of 23 from complications with leukemia before he was able to play his first professional game.

Davis was born on December 14, 1939, in New Salem, Pennsylvania, to Marie Davis. His father was killed in an auto accident before Davis was born and when he was fourteen months old, his mother sent him to live with his maternal grandparents. His grandparents already had twelve children of their own but still welcomed their grandson.

Davis spent his early years playing sports with his older uncles and at the age of 12 moved to New York with his mother. While living in New York, he participated in various football and basketball leagues and was voted an All-Star player.

Throughout his high school years at Elmira Free Academy (Ernie Davis Middle School was named after Davis in 1964), Davis’ talent on the football field became clear. He was named Elmira Player of the Year and high school All-American in both his junior and senior years. He also showed great athletic prowess in varsity basketball and baseball, all while excelling academically.

At the time many universities were not offering scholarships to black athletes, but colleges from around the country watched Davis’ high school career closely, and over 30 offered him scholarships, including Notre Dame and UCLA.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Palin Says Obama Would Diminish "The Prestige Of The United States Presidency"

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin attacked Barack Obama Thursday for not being honest about his association with 1960's radical William Ayers.

"Barack Obama hasn't told the American people the total truth about that, about his association with Ayers," Palin said on conservative radio host Laura Ingraham's show. "Doggonit he fails to tell the American people with candor and with truthfulness what his associations are and we have to know."

Palin blamed the media for not providing what she characterized as the same level of scrutiny to Obama that it has applied to her and running mate John McCain.

"I don't see the other ticket being asked to be truthful and give details," Palin said.

"Some in the mainstream media are saying that well we're taking the gloves off unfairly. No. You know there are only, what, 26 days to go. We gotta start getting answers to these questions that are paramount here so that voters have a choice in front of them that is based on truthfulness and candor. They deserve it."

The Alaska governor told Ingraham's listeners that if those questions were being answered, voters would find Obama "out of the mainstream," adding that the Illinois senator would diminish "the prestige of the United States presidency."

I have just about had it with this woman....

Michelle Obama Makes Daily Show Appearance

Smiling but showing the wear of the past twenty months of campaigning, Michelle Obama made an appearance on The Daily Show last night, where Jon Stewart immediately remarked on how strange it was that after such a long campaign and such thorough public vetting, "This woman from Alaska, Sarah Palin, wants to know who you are."

Stewart asked, "Do you ever think to yourself...who are you?" "That does cross your mind," replied Obama.

The two discussed the growing intensity of the campaign rhetoric, centering on Barack Obama's past. Michelle Obama noted that the grueling primary process had already brought thorough scrutiny, and more or less confirmed that they would not be going on "family ski vacation" with Bill Ayers. Though who knows, maybe if Bill Ayers had gotten involved in some healthy activities as a young man, no one would be worried about this stuff today.

Obama confessed that she's tuned out some of the media conversation, saying, "I've stopped reading and watching a lot of stuff." "So you are a lot like Sarah Palin," Stewart joked. But Sarah Palin reads everything! All the newspapers! Crazy McCain oppo! Starbucks coffee cups! She's like a Roomba for the "verbage."

Actually, in Palin's defense, Michelle Obama mispronounces the word "pundit," as well.

Obama went on to say that she enjoyed the debate, despite the pressure of having to make a Daily Show appearance. "He very clearly believes you observe him with an objective eye," Stewart prompted. Obama replied, "I put myself in the position of a voter, and I tell him, if I don't believe you, I'm not voting for you, buddy." But, lest you think there's some fence-sitting, she did declare herself to be an "Obama momma."

Michelle Obama also tamped down the notion that there's any sort of personal friction between the candidates and their families. "I think some of that gets overanalyzed...we don't have time for long conversations, but [Cindy McCain is] very cordial...we have to be careful about all of this, because some of it is theater. And the reality is, Barack has tremendous respect for Senator McCain."

Part One:


Part Two:

Breathtaking Ignorance Captured on Film at McCain/Palin Strongsville, Ohio Rally

Tim Russo at Blogger Interrupted captured the breathtaking ignorance that presides over most McCain/Palin rallies. The base is in rare hate-filled form. Tim captures it like no other blogger in Ohio does. He’s simply the best there is at this. There really is no wonder the crowds have turned into near lynch mobs. Between the rhetoric of the two candidates and the ignorance of the crowds, it would only take the slightest match to set off this powder keg of racial intolerance and religious fear mongering.

Unreal:

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

DISRESPECT!! MCCAIN REFUSES TO SHAKE OBAMA'S HAND ... CALLS OBAMA "THAT ONE" INSTEAD OF BY NAME!!

In this video, Obama reaches out to shake McCain's hand and McCain directs him to his wife Cindy....



In this video, McCain calls Obama "THAT ONE" instead of his name...

ONCE AGAIN!!! BARACK OBAMA WINS THE DEBATE LAST NIGHT (SCIENTIFIC POLL RESULTS INSIDE)


Pictures are worth a thousand words....






Tuesday, October 7, 2008

FACEOFF! POLITICS: DEBATE #2, TONIGHT!


and John McCain are ready to face off again in their second presidential debate, Tuesday night at Belmont University in Nashville, TN.

In a Town Hall, all questions will come from the audience or the internet, not the moderator, Tom Brokaw. Each candidate will have two minutes to respond to each question, and following those initial responses, the moderator will invite the candidates to respond to the previous answers, for one minute, ensuring that both candidates receive an equal amount of time to comment.

The debate begins at 9pm ET, and will broadcast on major networks ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC, in addition to cable news channels such as C-SPAN, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC.

My Mic Is On: They're Turning Into a Lynch Mob!

I hope yesterday was the low-water mark of civility in the MCain/Palin campaign, but I'm afraid that McCain and Palin may be heading down a dangerous path and that they do not know where it ends. They may actually be 1 step away from being the rallying leaders of a lynch mob. Their inflamatory speech is metaphorically asking their supporters to bring tar, feathers, pitchforks and torches.

Let's look at yesterday's scary developments, as Sarah (dressed in white)rallied the crowd.

- Palin supporters shouted nasty epithets at reporters and an African American AV technician.

- Palin made totally unfounded and inflamatory suggestions that Obama is a terrorist or is at least friendly toward terrorists and that he doesn't see the country the way you and I do (wink wink).

- In response to the obove comments, one Palin supporter yelled "Kill him!"

- Palin was introduced by a shaved headed sheriff who denounced what might happen on election day if Barack Hussein Obama is elected.

- McCain asked rhetorically and impregnated with pejorative meaning "Who is Barack Obama?" One McCain supporter yelled "A terrorist!"

- In an interview with Bill Kristol, Palin raises Reverand Wright and Bill Ayers and states that we should be talking about this more. Both old news. Both debunked.

- Palin questioned Obama's patriotism.

- The McCain campaign announces that they are abandoning discussion of the issues, as the Dow drops 800 points intra-day.

What is the intention behind all of these things? Do they actually think that the Presidential candidate on the Democratic ticket is a terrorist and hates America? They must know that is not true. But cynically they are preying on fear, racism and division and hoping that some of this mess that they are flinging will stick. Of course, McCain and Palin both have enough mess in their past that should preclude them from being qualified to throw, but that won't stop them.

This is dangerous and I'm a little afraid. Don't underestimate the ignorance of the wingnut supporters. First it is one person yelling "Kill him." Then another yelling that Obama is a terrorist. Where does that lead? Mobs of angry wingnuts looking for violence? Voter intimidation at the polls? Out of control Lying and smearing and intimidation?

The shocked look on McCain's face yesterday when that person in the crowd yelled he's "a terrorist" said it all. He recoiled as if he never expected to hear something like that. It was the look of a guy who just realized that he might have just gone to a dark place he didn't want to go to.

Is this where our civilized nation has gone? When one party risks losing an election, they pull the political equivalent of nuking the gameboard?!?!

I'm concerned about what comes next. I think that McCain and Palin may be knowingly or unknowingly becoming the leaders of a fear-mongering, racist, verbally-threatening mob and it's up to them to reign this thing back in before they become the leaders of something disturbing. That may sound like an exaggeration , but yesterday, their campaign trail literally saw fear-mongering, racism and verbal threats. So how much of an exaggeration is it? My mic is OFF

Oh No They Didn't: DISTURBING PICS!! MCCAIN SUPPORTER WEARS RACIST OBAMA T-SHIRT OUT IN PUBLIC!!!

Unbelievable...

Monday, October 6, 2008

Out of Touch, Out of Ideas, and Running Out of Time”

Glad I'm not the only one who see that McCain -Palin are desperate!




Great Newsweek Article on Palin:The Palin Problem


Yes, she [got through] the debate by not imploding. But governing requires knowledge, and mindless populism is just that—mindless.

Political Weekend: Obama in Virginia


US Democratic presidential candidate Illinois Senator Barack Obama arrives at a rally Saturday in Newport News, Virginia.

Third Home Run! SNL Tina Fey, On Palin Debate!



I love this woman! She is telling that truth once again! If it wasn't so true, it would be unbelievable!

Friday, October 3, 2008

My Mic Is ON....Thom On The V.P. Debates

My problem with the whole debate last night is this:

If I am going on a job interview, I do not have the luxury of walking into the meeting and telling the interviewer, "I may not answer the question the way you want to hear, but I'll just let you know my track record."  They would say, "Thanks, and there's the door."  Sarah Palin walked in to the debate, and did just that.  I quote, "I may not anwer the question the way you want to hear, but I'll talk straight to the American people and let them know my track record."  This is not a "free to be club", this is a debate with rules.  Basically she said, Gwen and Joe, I am going to stick to my script and answer the questions that I have prepared.  If your questions don't fit in here with what I've got, then I'll answer my own questions, and she did just that.  Sarah Palin doesn't seem to get it.  It has been 30 days since she was introduced to us, and yet she and her camp of handlers do not think that we have the right to ask our own questions of a person that could presumably be the next President of the U.S.!  Last I checked, this was a democracy, but the Republicans have the attitude that we shouldn't ask, the media shouldn't ask, and any question is considered "Gotcha Journalism".  Give me a break.  We have had almost 2 years to pick and poke at Obama, and within 30 days, you want us to make a decision on Sarah Palin without being able to properly interview her?  America is not that careless and stupid.  If sticking to a script is her strong suit, she should pursue an acting career, and not the Presidency.  This is not a movie, but we are dealing with peoples lives.  I don't want "Joe six-pack" in the White House. I don't want ordinary.  I want extraordinary, and I am not getting that with the McCain-Palin ticket.  Just as she waltzed in there and made a mockery of the debate by trying to make her own rules, is this the "Maverick" style that she and her running make keep tooting?  So does Maverick mean you abuse your powers?  She sure is a Maverick then.  I see that there must be some susbtance to the Troopergate case in which she abused her powers to fire her ex-brother-in-law from the state troppers.  Maverick is when John McCain said that George Bush should just take the 1 trillion dollars without Congressional permission and just bail out the economy.  We've seen this "Maverick" style with Dick Cheney.  He does whatever the heck he wants, and you better not challenge him.  You know what? This "Maverick" style sounds more like a "Loose Canon" to me, and we can't have that reckless disregard in Washington.  I don't want a scripted figure head, karaoke, fake, soundbyte machine, ventriloquist dummy running my country.  We want substance.  Vote Responsibly.  My mic is OFF

BIDEN-PALIN DEBATE!! FIND OUT WHO REALLY WON THE DEBATE

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Joe Biden vs Sarah Palin

For those of you who need a contrast and comparison on the VP picks, here it goes. Katie COuric asks Joe Biden and Srah Palin the same questions, with very different results:

Music 360: BET gives 'Rap City' the heave-ho

The beat is ending at BET's "Rap City," the longrunning video program that finally helped vault hip-hop music into the popular mainstream.

The network confirmed Wednesday it will replace "Rap City" with a new show, "The Deal," starting Nov. 10.

A farewell episode is planned for "Rap City," which launched in September 1989. There was speculation yesterday it could run Oct. 29, but a network source said no date has been set.

While "Rap City" has drifted over the last three years, frequently changing hosts and time slots, it remains one of the media pillars on which rap's current popularity was built.

We say, hip-hop is dead. Hallelu-Yah!