american black

Remembering why I'm a liberal

I felt like shit all day. Talking to friends all over the country, (Misery loves company)
My New York bigwig friend blames the gays, "Why didn't they wait until we had the White House?!!? They mobilized the Christian Right!"

My smalltown club owner friend talked conspiracy, "Do you really think they were going to let Kerry win?"

My fashion designer friend blamed the south, "Glad I'm moving to New York. All the idiots live between the coasts!"

I blamed everybody because I'm an idiot like that...All across America shock and resignation rocked at least half the country. But I did read something inspiring. It was just what I needed to hear. Maybe you do, too.

That is where we, as a party, and as a political philosophy, fell short this election season. We were so wrapped up in fighting AGAINST something, namely, the administration and their policies, that we forgot what we should be fighting FOR. This is something I learned too late sadly. A great Democrat, Garrison Keillor, wrote a fantastic book, "Homegrown Democrat". In it, he doesn't explicitly list the values and goals of American liberalism. What he does is give anecdotal stories about what makes life in America great, and what we should be fighting for.

We should be fighting for the poor, not against the rich, because they can’t fight for themselves.

We should be fighting for real, good health case, not against insurance companies, because if you don’t have your health, what do you have?

We should be fighting for real education reform, not against testing, because learning is the stepping stones out of poverty and into a fulfilling life.

We should be fighting for the small business, not against multinational corporations, because they are us, and where the jobs are, not go.

We should be fighting for environment, not against polluters, because we deserve to give our future generations a beautiful planet.

We should be fighting for the lost causes, the ones that we have no chance to win, because those are the causes that make a real difference, and always have. We fought slavery, and won. We fought for women’s rights, and won. We fought for civil rights, and won.

But, yes, we did lose. We lost a battle, but we cannot lose the war. This may be a setback, perhaps a very large setback, in forwarding our progressive agenda, and making our nation an even greater place to live, but we cannot give up. I’ve heard talk of moving, of giving up on our great nation, abandoning it to greener pastures, but like all lost causes, this one is worth fighting for...

Those words made me feel better. Then I got an email with a signature that actually brought a brought a big smile to my face, and some hope.

Obama/Dean ’08!

Weekend Notes

In Tampa we had a visit today by Kerry. They expected 1200 to attend the rally. Over 15000 showed up.

CinemaNow Gets "Fahrenheit 9/11" Exclusive: Which doesn't really mean anything, firstly because
you can easily find copies of the movies for streaming and download online...example, check out Russell Beattie's site or if you are really into democratic online video propaganda (like I am!) check out the Never Forget site.

It includes fun clips like Rice's 9/11 Commission Testimony and the other famous female cheap labor conservative Britney Spears' and her gum smacking support of Bush.

Keith Olbermann had some interesting things to say on his MSNBC 'blog':

...And I think the political analysts have forgotten to examine the psychology of an electorate under the stress of war and fear. For the longest time, even when Mr. Bush’s approval ratings were at their apex in the post-Afghanistan and immediate post-Saddam periods, I kept wondering if he wouldn’t fall victim to the Winston Churchill effect.

Mid-20th Century British politics aren’t taught much in American schools any more, but it has fascinated me always that in the spring of 1945, with Hitler dead, England’s gamble to fight the Nazis having been vindicated, and his own gallantry and leadership acclaimed universally, that the British promptly voted Churchill out of office in favor of a first-time Prime Minister in Clement Attlee. It astonished Churchill, and British pollsters, and world leaders in general...

And in case you didn't hear: The Miami Dolphins have filed a lawsuit against former running back Ricky Williams, who retired abruptly before the start of training camp and owes the team nearly $9 million.

Why conventional wisdom is wrong

The new Bin Laden video have some liberals already talking defeat and some cheap labor conservatives jumping for joy. It seems 'conventional wisdom' says that the image of Bin Laden will have the masses running in support of the President.

But there is a problem with that.

This is not the age of 'conventional wisdom'.

Bloggers, cell phones, the Black vote, voter registration drives and 527s has thrown everything you used to think about Presdential elections out the window. The real rule is that no one knows the rules yet. That's what's making this race so interesting.

Why i think Laden's effect will be non existant.

1. Most folks have already made up their minds. This is not an on the fence election. This election is about the direction of this country. Is the future more war and fear or is there a better, different way to solve this terrorism problem. And is the war on terror worth sacrificing health care, social security, education and the other problems we all know we have. The majority have made their decision.

2. The fact that Bin Laden is still threatening us shows the failure of the Bush administration. Bin Laden is 'the face' of terrorism for America. He's the guy we all want. He's the mastermind. But the fact that he is still around taunting us is a problem for Bush. We spent billions of dollars for what?

I feel that whatever the pundits are saying is usually wrong. They have been wrong about everything. I still think that the election will not be as close as they are saying. The polling data is messed up. This has been a very bad week for Bush and the Ladin tape is not good news.

The passionate folks are those against Bush. They will be out in droves. And elections are all about turnout. That's some conventioal wisdom I still believe.

In a kind of related note: Ray gives his own thoughts on widom via audio!

Any cool Halloween Costume Ideas?

There's a big halloween party going on in New Orleans this year, (--email me if you'll be in New Orleans and want to check it out). The hostess emailed me looking for original costume ideas.

...I was considering coming as the "axes of evil" and making some axes to put on myself and covering myself in probush paraphenilia....Definitely if you can come up with any clever pun costumes that are easy to wear and clever enough for me to pull it off, please let me know....

Anyone has one better than that so I can seem brilliant?

It Really Is ALLABOUTGEORGE II

As I posted earlier Black Internet Blogging Star George K. emailed me asking to have his site removed from my blogroll. He didn't give an explanation so I asked for one. This is what I got in return:

I assure you, there is nothing more to it than that. I simply don't want to be listed on your site at all...

In my eyes this is an insult. Not to me (because I know how to get to his site), but to you, the readers of my blog. He obviously thinks that the readers here are not good enough to visit his site. Maybe you are carrying some diseases with you. Maybe you're gay. Maybe you support George Bush. Maybe you only speak english. Maybe you fuck too many hot women. Whatever it is George doesn't want you to visit his site.

So I had a conumdrum. How do I please Black Internet Blogging Star George but still be true to my readers and the spirit of this blog?

After 2 minutes of thought here's what I decided to do. I am going to take the link to All About George off of my blogroll...in 2 weeks. That gives you, my readers, time to check out the site and bookmark it. And it also gives Black Internet Blogging Star George the satifaction of knowing that links to his blog won't be long contaminated by the likes of you.

The countdown starts today. 2 weeks left to visit his site from this one. I'll be posting gentle reminders so that no one can say they missed out. I think this is a fair way to handle his predjudice.

It really is ALLABOUTGEORGE

Contrary to what I thought, this is not my own peice of cyberspace. I got this email today from George K. who's tells what I can and cannot link to.

I'd appreciate it if you would please take my weblog, All About George, off your blogroll. Thanks in advance.

No explanation given. But he visits my website and then tells me what links I can or cannot have?!? WTF?!?

Maybe if he gave a reason like "Prince your site sucks and having you link to it just brings traffic to my site from people who don't know quality." That would be something I could understand. But to just want me to remove his link is rude and without giving me a reason, dumb. Is he baiting me?

I'm just a simple guy who promotes records for a living. Should I be able to walk into his house and tell him he can't have a record I promoted? Of course not. I'ld sound ignorant. I'll let you decide how he sounds.

...poets die...

My Ex called me today to let me know that my friend, Eddie Francis' father. passed away. I haven't spoken to Eddie in a long time but I know he must be devestated. His Dad was a good man. Old School,. He was a fixture in New Orleans. He taught anybody who's anybody on the New Orlean's music scene their skills I sure he's playing some super cool shit with the other musiancs right about now.

My Ex told me back when we were married that she wanted to record his stories since he had such a long and eventful life, but like a lot of things, we think there is time to get to it. But I guess there is never really enough time...I take that back. We all have just the right amount time. Just don't waste it.

Anyway, Eddie. I'm sorry for your lost. .