It's that most wonderful time....of the year! Sporadic thoughts from Day One of the tourney: - I feel bad for George Mason. I really do. There defense actually played pretty well against Notre Dame. They just couldn't shoot to save their life. Every roll and every bounce went against them. It was really kind of tragic. - It won't happen, but wouldn't it be cool if Duke … [Read more...] about March Madness, Day One Wrap Up
Finally, some context for the Wright clips
The continuously played sermons from Jeremiah Wright have rightly shocked much of the nation. But given the stature he's held in theological circles - both among blacks and whites - I figured there was something more to him than these clips. Surely other sermons would be less controversial, if we could only have access to the other DVDs. Well, it turns out that the other … [Read more...] about Finally, some context for the Wright clips
Michigan Lawmakers Nix New Michigan Democratic Primary
Now there's yet another indication that the Democratic convention this summer is shaping up to be a powder keg battle over the seating of delegates that's likely to end with deep party rifts: the idea for a redo Michigan primary is now dead: Ignoring entreaties from state party leaders and an in-person plea from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday, state lawmakers … [Read more...] about Michigan Lawmakers Nix New Michigan Democratic Primary
Bail Out
Tab, The Calgary Sun … [Read more...] about Bail Out
B’Rock the Bracket
This is Barack Obama's NCAA bracket. Would it be entirely cruel and irrational of us to pick it apart for political motivations. Yes, obviously. Will that stop us? Hell no! Have at it in the comments. UPDATE: I didn't realize it was cut off -- here's a link. … [Read more...] about B’Rock the Bracket
NBC BREAKING NEWS: Two Fired Due to Obama Passport File Breach (UPDATED)
A big story is now breaking on MSNBC: Democratic Senator Barack Obama's passport file was accessed and two State Department contract employees have been fired: See UPDATES below. Two contract employees of the State Department were fired and a third person was disciplined for accessing passport records of Sen. Barack Obama "without a need to do so," State Department … [Read more...] about NBC BREAKING NEWS: Two Fired Due to Obama Passport File Breach (UPDATED)
Obama Won’t Do Well in West Virginia
Native John Cole: Now I don’t want to throw the state under the bus (since that is so fashionable these days) because I love it here so much, but anyone who is surprised by this simply is not paying attention. Racism is alive and well in central PA, SE Ohio, and much of WV. What Carville said about central PA (it resembles Alabama) can be said about the regions I discussed, and … [Read more...] about Obama Won’t Do Well in West Virginia
Huckabee understands Rev. Wright?
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 … [Read more...] about Huckabee understands Rev. Wright?
Race at the grass roots
Hundreds of thousands of white men, age 50 and older, must have stories to tell just like this one. I am 65, white, educated, in a profession and a life that has worked out very well for me. I grew up in Texas, son of a divorced mom, and we lived with my grandmother, in my mom's comfortable childhood home. The city was segregated. Blacks lived in their own community, east … [Read more...] about Race at the grass roots
Crazy Uncle
Pat Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune … [Read more...] about Crazy Uncle
Polish-American Relations
Polish perspectives are under-reported in the US mass media, but they are important because Poland is one of Europe's bigger countries, is considered very Pro-American and was seen as the primary "New Europe" country, a term that is less frequently used these days, but is still controversial. Over at the Atlantic Community, an online platform for transatlantic dialog, we have … [Read more...] about Polish-American Relations
Irish Prime Minister Confirms Hillary’s Significant Role in Peace Process
You can watch the video for yourself. Since virtually no story favorable to Hillary gets any real attention in the mainstream media, this one may sink like a stone as well. But here's the truth. Other issues are addressed as well. Bush's endorsement of McCain is very funny. If only he'd pursued a career in stand-up.... Zenful6219 at MyDD has a summary of some of … [Read more...] about Irish Prime Minister Confirms Hillary’s Significant Role in Peace Process
‘Never Mind’
I know I'm a one-subject pony of late, and for that, I apologize. But this subject's important to many of us; and should be important to all of us. Besides, I couldn't pass up sharing this excerpt from Katherine at Obsidian Wings: A lot of people say there is nothing that Obama can do or say that can excuse his association with a black man who would say those things. Never … [Read more...] about ‘Never Mind’
‘If you want a title, what’s wrong with Mr.?”
The speaker was British actor Paul Scofield, who died today. He posed the question in response to queries as to why he didn't want to be knighted, gaining the privilege of being called, "Sir." In spite of being in a very public profession, Scofield felt no need to be a public personality, a celebrity. Scofield's decision for ordinariness, in spite of his extraordinary … [Read more...] about ‘If you want a title, what’s wrong with Mr.?”
Female black reporter beaten on camera by relatives of suspect; yes, they’re white
Will Barack Obama's speech on race's impact be that things get worse before they get better? As a a journalist, a woman, a white person, anything else that someone could you use to distinguish and identify me from anyone else, but especially as a sentient human being, I am made speechless by this story - which occurred a few days before Obama gave his speech on race, and … [Read more...] about Female black reporter beaten on camera by relatives of suspect; yes, they’re white
Paul Scofield (1922-2008)
MORE HERE. … [Read more...] about Paul Scofield (1922-2008)
A Quote for the Day
"So here the problem is, Jeremiah Wright is conducive to a 10-second sound bite and the speech is not ... This is the problem. The Wright thing is perfect for our short attention spans, and this requires a little bit of attention. It takes some sitting down and settling in and not a lot of folks are willing to do that.” -- Michael Smerconish, morning drive-time host for … [Read more...] about A Quote for the Day
Riots In Tibet: An Eye-Witness Account
The Economist magazine's Beijing correspondent was perhaps the only foreign journalist in the Tibetan capital Lhasa when the riots broke out there. It is a balanced account of what exactly happened there. With the Beijing Olympics beginning in August this year, China tried its best to somehow prevent a bloody show-down with the Tibetan protestors, and the consequent … [Read more...] about Riots In Tibet: An Eye-Witness Account
‘Our Current Polity,’ Redux
In yesterday's discussion, I attempted to clarify one of the mischaracterizations of Obama's speech Tuesday re: race in America. That mischaracterization was simply this, that Obama attempted to excuse Rev. Wright by suggesting that "all blacks and all black churches hate whites and [are] racist." That is clearly not what Obama said -- and after revisiting Obama's actual … [Read more...] about ‘Our Current Polity,’ Redux
A Special Person Endorses Obama
Up and coming young filmmaker Will Drinker has had his own share of health challenges over the years but he continues on the fast-track to a high profile film career (his Color Me Blind short is truly a classic of message comedy). But now he has a NEW major project: making a documentary detailing the life of his brother Dan, who has Downs Syndrome. He already has bits of … [Read more...] about A Special Person Endorses Obama