I’m not a religious man. But I’m praying something miraculous happens and Hurricane Gustav and Tropical Storm Hanna dissipate. I have family in Lake Charles, Louisiana who are evacuating now. My cousin and her husband are staying with us while a few other family are going to Cincinnati, Ohio (where other family resides). Hurricane Gustav scares me on what it can do the Gulf Coast that is still in full recovery mode. Nature trumps all on this planet.

The pick of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin by John McCain to be his running mate neither wowed nor depressed me. From what I’ve read about Gov. Palin and some of the videos I’ve seen she’s intelligent, speaks convincingly, and is a pure conservative. As expected, some on the Right say this will pull disenchanted Clinton supporters (I really don’t think so) and the Left is in full vetting mode. But I don’t feel this is a bold choice. It makes sense (Clinton supporters...

COURTESY OF CAFEPRESS In these times of micro-analyzing, micro-parsing, super-vetting, tit-for-tat, and overall election strangeness, we need to vote for a candidate we already trust: Santa Claus! I have joined Mr. Claus’ campaign because he’s tough on evil, always delivers, works hard, understands the common man and woman, great foreign policy credentials, and is just a jolly ol’ guy. McCain… Eh! Obama… Meh! Barr… Bleh! Santa… HOORAY!

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I witnessed the most thrilling swimming competition ever! And I watched history at the same time. The US Men’s swimming relay team of Cullen Jones, Jason Lezak, Michael Phelps and Garrett Weber-Gale set a world record (3:08.24) on their way to winning the 4×100 free relay. And Jason Lezak had to come from behind in the anchor leg to win it for the Americans. What a race! And for the history: Cullen Jones is the first African-American to hold or share a world record in swimming. It’s...

The great soul singer, producer, musician, and sometimes actor has died at age 65 today. Hayes, ‘Shaft’ singer and disco presage, dies ASSOCIATED PRESS MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Isaac Hayes, the baldheaded, baritone-voiced soul crooner who laid the groundwork for disco and whose “Theme From Shaft” won both Academy and Grammy awards, died Sunday afternoon after he collapsed near a treadmill, authorities said. He was 65. Hayes was pronounced dead at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis...

“CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!” Detroit (Michigan) Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick has been ordered to jail today for violating the terms of his bond: Mayor Kilpatrick jailed By Doug Guthrie and David Josar / The Detroit News DETROIT — A judge on Thursday ordered Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick to jail, shocking the city and plunging the leadership of the nation’s 11th-largest city into uncertainty. Despite a plea from Kilpatrick that invoked his sons, his respect for the judicial process and his love...

John Maynard Keynes, the influential British economist whose ideas are known as Keynesian Economics, sums up how I feel about the overused American political term “flip-flop”: When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir? Well sir, I change my mind as well. But I don’t count. I’m a regular guy dealing with an ever-changing situation at work were I have to constantly flip-flop due to layoffs, company strategy, and overall business strangeness due to my supervisory...

Last time I checked, a black dude is trying to become the President of the United States of America. And if my memory serves me well, that black dude is married to a black gal. Just like the picture above! Wow. That there’s a black dude! Looky there. I mean they’re a smart looking black couple, eh? She’s very pretty with a nice dress on and the black dude looks right spiffy in his black suit… What’s that honey? (Wife talking to me…) GOODNESS GRACIOUS ON...

Definition of celebrity, from Wikipedia: A celebrity is a widely-recognized or famous person who commands a high degree of public and media attention. The word stems from the Latin verb “celebrere” but they may not become a celebrity unless public and mass media interest is piqued. For example Virgin Director Richard Branson was famous as a CEO, but he did not become a global celebrity until he attempted to circumnavigate the globe in a hot air balloon. The money words in that definition...

Baldilocks says “screw them” to the Supreme Court (for rejecting the death penalty for child rape) and “fry them” to all child rapists. Baldilocks’ entire post is framed in her devout Christian beliefs. And even though I’m not a Christian. And even though I identify more with the transhumanism crowd than the religious crowd, I agree with her 110%. I’ve seen victims of child rape while growing up in southeast Michigan. Drug dealers and pimps who indoctrinate...

When crazy folk talk, people listen. Especially when that crazy folk is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (via Agence France Presse): Ahmadinejad says Israel will soon disappear Jun 2 08:43 AM US/Eastern Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad predicted on Monday that Muslims would uproot “satanic powers” and repeated his controversial belief that Israel will soon disappear, the Mehr news agency reported. “I must announce that the Zionist regime (Israel), with a 60-year record...

Senator Obama represents much to many black folks in America. Perceived barriers in America seemed to have been shattered in the black psyche due to Obama’s run. Seeing a black man become the next POTUS represents the realization of a dream. Stories will be told to black children that history was made and Martin Luther King Jr’s dream has been fully realized: a black man is leading a nation where his ancestors used to be slaves. Doesn’t matter that Obama is mixed race with an...

We in America can talk about the virtues and vices of presidential candidates we support. We in America can argue about which political party is going to destroy or uplift the country. We in America can pontificate about race baiting, race hustling, race pitching, race riding, race stirring, race healing, race blah blah in this political season. We in America can scream about who’s elitist, has testicular fortitude, is Maverick like, old, black, a woman, has four legs, flies to the moon, lives...

Now economists who don’t agree with Senator Clinton’s gas tax proposal are “elite” or spouting “elite opinion”: Clinton dismisses “elite” economists on gas tax By Andy Sullivan WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Sunday dismissed the “elite opinion” of economists who criticized her gas tax proposal, using a term that has dogged rival Barack Obama in recent weeks. …Clinton used her appearance...

Looks like Senator Obama can’t take it anymore: Obama strongly denounces former pastor WINSTON SALEM, North Carolina (Reuters) – Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama denounced his former pastor in his strongest language to date on Tuesday, saying he was outraged by Rev. Jeremiah Wright’s assertions about the U.S. government and race. “His comments were not only divisive … but I believe that they end up giving comfort to those who prey on hate,” Obama...

This is a record for me. Two YouTube videos the same day but sometimes you have to do what you gotta do (for lack of better words). Here is a video of Senator Obama in Raleigh, North Carolina today responding to Wednesday’s debate in Philadelphia. One thing that jumped out at me was how different he looked and sounded in Raleigh as compared to Philadelphia. It’s positively like looking at a different person. In the video below, Obama is spry, vibrant, alert, rested, and humorous....

After watching the below video from YouTube entitled “Baracky: The Movie”, it’s amazing to see how this campaign season has provided so much fodder for the creator(s) of this type of campaign “commentary”. After watching this video, I’m looking forward to the endless entertainment that will be provided by the Supporter Video Wars on YouTube. Methinks there won’t be one-sided swift boating this election cycle with YouTube around. Is that a good thing?? Hat...

Disqus has added a feature that is sure to make many of you who post comments happy: Inline comment editing! Yes ladies and gentlemen, after you post a comment, you will see text that says “Edit” underneath it. If you have a spelling mistake, misspoken idea, etc, you can click “Edit”. Then make your corrections and click “Save Changes”. Now if they can only invent hover cars, life will be complete!

Can someone explain to me how the Democrats handle their business? To clarify, when they make rules and other Democrats agree to the rules, why is there a problem now with the rules? As you may have picked out, I’m talking about the Michigan and Florida Democratic delegate exclusions due to moved up primaries. I’ve scoured the blogosphere reading all kinds of opinions on this matter. And I’ve come to a few conclusions with a question: 1. Blaming Senator Obama for this situation...

What is infinitely bothersome this campaign season is how the words of Senators Clinton, McCain, and Obama are micro-parsed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Meanings are pulled out of non-meanings. Non-ideas pulled out of ideas. So on and so forth. Case in point: Senator Obama’s words at a town hall meeting in Johnstown, Pennsylvania last Saturday. Consider the following that he said (via The Brody Files): When it comes specifically to HIV/AIDS, the most important prevention is education,...

My jaw dropped hearing this from former Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee concerning the Obama-Wright affair on MSNBC’s Morning Joe yesterday (transcript via Political Punch): And one other thing I think we’ve got to remember: As easy as it is for those of us who are white to look back and say, “That’s a terrible statement,” I grew up in a very segregated South, and I think that you have to cut some slack. And I’m going to be probably the only conservative...

Conversation I just had with my Uncle Ronny over Yahoo Instant Messenger. Text is accurate. I added the who said what and cleaned up the punctuation: Uncle Ronny: “Well it’s all over for brother Obama.” Me: “How so?” Uncle Ronny: “He has to be the black guy tomorrow at his big race speech. That’s all some folks need to hear to not vote for him.” Me: “Yeah. Obama’s in a difficult situation. The hope campaign seems a million miles away.” Uncle...

THE BLACK PANTHERS I was born to and raised by former members of the Black Panther Party. I also grew up around my parents’ friends (other former members). Throughout a childhood filled with love and support, the ideas of militant activism rubbed off on me. You could say I was an honorary member of the now-defunct Black Panthers. I fell in love with them. Their struggle. The strength of seeing those black people carry guns in unity. A Black Militia for social activism. But my parents...

HEY BLACK FOLKS! THE PRESIDENCY IS A CINCH SINCE YOU’RE BLACK! As fellow co-blogger Pete Abel pointed out, former Democratic vice-president candidate Geraldine Ferraro thinks that Senator Obama is where he is in this nomination process simply because he’s a black dude (courtesy of The Daily Breeze): When the subject turned to Obama, Clinton’s rival for the Democratic Party nomination, Ferraro’s comments took on a decidedly bitter edge. “I think what America feels about...