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2006-09-21T11:05:00.000-04:00

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Lashawn Barber: There’s a rage in Harlem!

2006-09-20T10:02:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Black Conservative Blogger Lashawn Barber loves the fact that Bill Clinton and a group of white liberal bloggers joined together in Harlem without including Blacks and hispanics in the conversation.

Well, Ms. Barber, one has to wonder how many times you have been excluded from meetings with white conservative bloggers who see you as just another House Negro? Racism in america is not Republican or Democrat, Liberal or Conservative -its just racism.

P.S. Racism is not comedy.

Check out lashawn barber

Bill Clinton and the White Liberal Bloggers

There’s a rage in Harlem!

I rarely blog about what liberal bloggers are doing, but there’s some dissension among the ranks worth mentioning.

Black liberal bloggers are upset about the lack of color at last week’s Slick Willie-liberal bloggers lunch in Harlem. Clinton’s keeping an office there, don’t you know. “Colored” liberal blogger Liza Sabater, fellow Blogher Advisory Board member, had some questions for lunch organizer Peter Daou, blogger, creator of the Daou Report, and blog advisor to Sen. Hillary Clinton:

What does it mean though that there are 20 bloggers invited to this lunch and not one is black or latino? What does it mean for this group of bloggers to be patting themselves on the backs for being with Clinton when they are all in Harlem and not one of them is a person of color? What does it mean for these people to be there and have not one of themn (sic) raise this issue in their blogs?

Continue reading Bill Clinton and the White Liberal Bloggers

Field Negro: Some of my best friends are white

2006-09-20T09:09:00.000-04:00

Source: Field Negro

Some Of My Best Friends Are White

So I am reading over at Wizbang, a conservative site that I like to visit now and then. And there is a post from one of the hosts about this family in Maine who tried to kidnap their daughter in order to force her to have an abortion. Well, as it turns out-I should have known-the young man that knocked her up was a ....Gasp!!! NEGRO! Anyway, you can imagine the uncomfortable outrage that some of my friends over at Wizbang felt at this development. After all, can't we all just get along? The young man's race should not have caused this family to do this sort of thing, and I live in Texas, and I always knew there was racism in the North, and blah blah blah. As if 90% of them posting probably wouldn't have done the same damn thing.

Readers of this blog know that one thing the field cannot stand is a hypocrite,especially when it comes to matters of race. Hey, if you feel a certain way about black folks, please let me know. I will respect you for it. If you would just die if you knew that your precious daughter would marry a black man, say it. Don't play this tolerance game because it is the American and PC thing to do. Let me know how you really feel damn it! More >>>

website of the week

2006-09-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

visit African America.org a great website for discussion about issues important to Black folks.

Token for the day: I Was invited boss!

2006-09-19T23:15:00.000-04:00

UPDATE:

OK, so the "club of white bloggers" invited a (token for the day) black, who was not able to attend because he was in Hawaii.

Update: No other black bloggers in America available.

Thank you for the being an apologist for White Folk Mr. "I was invited to go".

Check out what Mr. (Token for the day) Oliver Willis has to say:

Dept. Of Shooting Yourself In The Foot

Apparently people are concerned/upset/miffed that none of the bloggers at this lunch with President Clinton are black. For the record, I was invited to go, but of course the one time I could have met the best president of the last 25 years I previously scheduled a vacation to Hawaii.

For the record, I am black.

That is all.

UPDATE: That's not all. This is the sort of stupid thing that is a direct result of the pathology that loses Democrats elections. If President Clinton wanted to have lunch with 25 white males, who cares? Seriously. You're going to eviscreate the only President we've had in recent years that didn't just brush off black people because of who he may or may not have invited to lunch. Not to mention the folks yammering out their rear ends about stuff they don't know?

It's things like this that almost make me want the Democrats to lose because the left is so stupid. It's like the kid who sticks his finger in the electrical socket and then does it again because he has learned diddly.

UPDATE 2: Man, there's really been an outbreak of the stupids on this (I mean, Jesus, what the hell is a "blackosphere" and how can I take it out behind the barn and kill it?). The thing with the so-called netroots is that we're supposed to be past the tired racial politics of the past. I remember watching the DNC meetings in which Howard Dean was nominated and felt appalled at the idea that the Dems still organize themselves into these moronic racial and sexual orientation subgroups. It is just tired and old and old and tired. I don't vote and support the Democratic party because its fighting for the blacks, the asians, the hispanics, the whites or whatever. I support Democrats because they fight for true equality. I could not care less about what sort of racial checklists a candidate ticks off - and in the case of 2008 I would rather they not check any at all. What is more important: that a candidate fills out a questionaire from the NAACP or that he or she is a tireless defender of the constitution? Stop this nonsense now, or you'll keep losing.

Clinton meets with Lilly White Blogger Group in Harlem

2006-09-19T20:02:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Bill Clinton took time out of his busy schedule to meet in "Harlem" with a group of bloggers who happen to be majority white. What! The question from this meeting is why are black bloggers not included in discussions of this type. Is there a blogosphere and a blackosphere? Separate but unequal? More >>>

Source: jack and jill politics

Racial Politics This Week -- A Roundup

Cross-posted at MyDD

This week, a controversial photo snapped at a blogger lunch in Harlem with Bill Clinton is under much discussion in the progressive blackosphere. You can follow the conversation here, here, here, and here And responses here and here. I know many of the bloggers in the photo -- including Chris Bowers and Matt Stoller of MyDD -- to be tireless workers against racism in America. I agree with Jeralyn Merritt at TalkLeft that:

There should have been a greater attempt made to include minority bloggers. But I think it was unintentional. I will bet that when there's another such event, and there will be, whether it's by President Clinton or another Democrat, there will be a greater effort to include a more diverse group of bloggers.

More >>>

Still updating the new blog site

2006-09-19T17:14:00.000-04:00

Because of the lack of technical support from Blogger.com we are migrating our blog to WordPress. The Tansition will be seamless and completed shortly.

Until the new blog platform is up and running 100% I will post every other day here at my blogger website .

Sorry for any inconvienence.

Don't forget to take a look at my new blog as I transition over to our new wordpress platform. It will be completed by October 1, 2006. Just in time for the elections.

African American Political Pundit

Bush To America: Lets Torture our Enemies

2006-09-17T12:53:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says, I'm in agreement with this sunday's Washington Post Post editorial regarding George W. Bush. It's an editorial that allows us all to look at the mind set of the people running America. Here is some of what the editorial has to say:

A License to Abuse

Source: The Washington Post.com

Mr. Bush also wants the CIA to be able to treat its detainees to such practices as "cold cell," or induced hypothermia, in which detainees are held naked in near-freezing temperatures and repeatedly doused with water; "long standing," in which prisoners are handcuffed in an uncomfortable standing position and forced to remain there for up to 40 hours; and prolonged sleep deprivation.

Throughout the world and for decades, such practices have been called torture. That's what the United States called them when they were used by the Soviet KGB. As the president himself tacitly acknowledges, they violate Geneva and other international conventions as well as current U.S. law. News that the United States has used these techniques -- as well as waterboarding, an ancient torture technique that simulates drowning -- has gravely damaged U.S. standing in the world and the fight against terrorism. It increases the danger that captured U.S. servicemen will be exposed to similar treatment by nations that might otherwise feel obliged to respect the Geneva standards.

When Mr. Bush was asked Friday whether he wasn't in effect seeking sanction for torture, he responded with an evasion. He claimed that the Geneva Conventions' Common Article 3 is "very vague" and that his proposal would provide "clarity" for CIA professionals. In fact, the opposite is true.

M0re >>>

Labels: Bush, Geneva Convention, Torture

Migration of African-American Political Pundit Blog

2006-09-17T12:51:00.000-04:00

Because of the lack of technical support from Blogger.com we are migrating our blog to WordPress. The Tansition will be seamless and completed by October 1, 2006.

Until that time, we will post every other day here at our blogger website .

Sorry for any inconvienence.

African American Political Pundit

Maryland Senate Race "Grand Daddy of all primaries"

2006-09-11T09:59:00.000-04:00

The folks at Hang Right Politics are finally getting it "Right" on how to review black politics.

COgirl at Hang Right says, This is probably the granddaddy of all the primaries on Tuesday, with the biggest race being for the Senate seat of retiring Democrat, Paul Sarbanes. Current Republican Lt. Governor Michael Steele will easily beat out a field of others seeking the right to run.

The action is all on the Democratic side. There, Congressman Ben Cardin and Kweisi Mfume, former Congressman and former head of the NAACP, are ahead of a long list of contenders. The most recent poll by Survey USA showed Mfume ahead of Cardin by 4%, but other polls have shown Cardin ahead. I have read that Cardin has run a lackluster campaign and has taken victory for granted so Tuesday will be telling.

The most interesting thing about this race is that if Steele runs agains Cardin, polling shows that Cardin wins the seat. But if it’s Steele versus Mfume, it’s too close to call. And in that case, Maryland will be represented by a Black American regardless of whether it’s Steele or Mfume. So this is without a doubt the most interesting race to follow on Tuesday evening because it potentially leads the way for a GOP pickup in the Senate.

The other interesting race to watch in November is for Governor. Incumbent Republican Robert Ehrlich will run against the expected winner of the Democratic primary, Martin O’Malley the mayor of Baltimore. Polling shows O’Malley ahead in that race.

There are 8 Congressional districts in Maryland with only 2 being held by the GOP. The only open seat is that being held by Cardin. The Blogging Caesar does not expect a pickup by either party in November.

Hat Hang Right Politics

Fenty represents change in D.C. Election

2006-09-10T13:36:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit agrees with the Post "Fenty is clearly ambitious -- and the energetic 35-year-old D.C. Council member is focusing on his quest to run the nation's capital of the United States of America. The narratives of the campaign are also clear: Fenty is new blood, a handsome triathlete, a charismatic outsider; his main competitor, D.C. Council Chairman Linda W. Cropp, 58, is old guard, a matronly grandmother, a bureaucratic insider.

Fenty represents change; Cropp represents the status quo". He is truly a young man in a hurry.

Maryland may elect the country's first openly gay black state lawmakers

2006-09-08T12:14:00.000-04:00

Source: Pams House Blend

The Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund has endorsed two black candidates for Maryland House of Delegates, Anthony McCarthy and Mary Washington. If either is elected, this will be a milestone, as both are openly gay. It will also toss a wrench into the intellectually bankrupt black homobigot machine, which paints homosexuality as a white man's perversion -- McCarthy, running in District 44 (Baltimore) is also a pastor, btw. (Wash Blade): "We stand at a very unique opportunity in this country, where civil rights are at the forefront of state legislatures," [McCarthy] said. "It goes to figure that Mary Washington, and I would seize this moment as an opportunity to be a part of that debate."

Washington, a business professional running in District 43 (Baltimore), said being known as the nation's first openly gay black legislator would help her succeed in Annapolis. "I have a unique and interesting opportunity to build some bridges," she said. "I really look forward to being able to build new alliances."

There is More >>>

Hat Tip Pams House Blend

Jews need not apply?

2006-09-08T11:40:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: What if two Jewish congressional candidates, Tennessee state Rep. Steve Cohen and New York City Councilman David Yassky, both Democrats, win and apply for Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) membership if elected from majority-black districts.

According a report by conservative newpaper the Washington Times, It is "critical" that the Congressional Black Caucus remain an all-black organization, one of the CBC's founders has said in a strategy memo.
"The CBC welcomes support from others in the House and Senate, especially those with liberal credentials, but it is critical that its membership remain exclusively African American," retired Rep. William Lacy Clay Sr. wrote earlier this year to the CBC.
Mr. Clay's letter -- distributed by his son, Rep. William Lacy Clay Jr., Missouri Democrat -- prompted a CBC meeting before the August recess.
"The members have discussed it, and we supported the tradition that only African-Americans have been full members of the CBC, but as always we will work with anyone as our coalition partners and some have become honorary members," said Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, Michigan Democrat, who has been all but confirmed as the caucus' chairman for the 110th Congress.
The Clay letter was written in response to concerns that two Jewish congressional candidates, Tennessee state Rep. Steve Cohen and New York City Councilman David Yassky, both Democrats, would apply for CBC membership if elected from majority-black districts.
Neither candidate has announced plans to seek CBC membership, and some caucus members were skeptical of suggestions they would, with one CBC member saying that such talk might be "political ploys to bolster their image with the black constituency they are seeking to represent."
But with Election Day still two months away, the question addressed by the Clay letter remains hypothetical.
"And that is just the point," said one CBC member, who did not wish to be identified. "We should not be taking a position on an academic question considering neither of these guys has been elected."
In his letter, Mr. Clay said the CBC would work with whites, Asians and Pacific islanders, Hispanics, Democrats, and Republicans to move legislation that furthers its agenda, but only blacks can be official voting members.
Mr. Clay recalled that Rep. Pete Stark, California Democrat, attempted to join the organization in 1975. "Although Stark was sincere, intentions honest and honorable and record on civil rights impeccable, after thoughtfully and thoroughly examining the issue, a formal vote was taken that rejected his application," Mr. Clay wrote.
The issue arose this summer because of two unusual situations for Democrats.

There is More>>

Janet Jackson: "Hillary as President would be Great"

2006-09-07T16:15:00.000-04:00

Here is an interesting article regarding Janet Jackson and politics.

Source: The Bosh.com

Janet Jackson wants Hillary Clinton to become America's first female president. The 'Just A Little While' singer insists the former First Lady, the wife of ex-president Bill Clinton, would be a good figurehead for the nation. She told German news agency DPA: "Hillary Clinton as president - that would be great. Then she could show all those people who wouldn't trust a woman with such a job." She added: "I am not satisfied with the situation in this world. I hate war." More >>>

Killer Bag

2006-09-07T11:21:00.000-04:00

Plastic bag art

African American Political Pundit says: Could you imagine black kids having this bag in any urban or suburban area in America as a police officer drives the neighborhood seeing the kid carry this bag?

How's this for irresponsible advertising?

more >>>

Tight Brooklyn, NY Congressional Race

2006-09-06T23:26:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: How is it that N.Y. City Councilman David Yassky has raised over $1.4 million to run for a Brooklyn congressional seat that has had African-American representation since it was claimed in the mid-1960s by black political pioneer Shirley Chisholm? Who is bank rolling his campaign? These and other issues should cause African-American voters to pause and take a look at all the candidates as they vote in this election.

Yahoo News reports Four high-profile Democrats are running in the Sept. 12 primary to succeed veteran New York Democratic Rep. Major R. Owens (news, bio, voting record) in Brooklyn’s 11th Congressional District. And they have set up a race so tight that even local political insiders are loathe to predict a winner.

State Sen. Carl Andrews, New York City Council members Yvette Clarke and David Yassky, and political activist Chris Owens, the congressman’s son, are competing for a seat that could provide the winner with lifetime job security.

The district, in which three-fifths of the residents are black and a total of roughly four-fifths are minorities, is a Democratic stronghold. Three out of four voters consider themselves Democrats: Party presidential nominee

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John Kerry received 86 percent of the district’s vote in 2004, and incumbent Owens, in the last of his 12 House victories, took 94 percent and had no Republican opponent.

The four would-be successors in many ways reflect the diversity of the district itself, which encompasses areas of Brooklyn including middle- and working-class communities such as Crown Heights, Flatbush and Brownsville, as well the increasingly “gentrified” neighborhood of Park Slope:

• Yassky has drawn much attention, and perhaps caused the biggest stir, as the only white candidate running for a seat that has had African-American representation since it was claimed in the mid-1960s by black political pioneer Shirley Chisholm. Despite criticism from some black activists, Yassky pursues a liberal agenda that he says should appeal to district voters regardless of race.

• Clarke’s political heritage, after succeeding her mother, Una Clarke, on the City Council, gives her deep ties within the political community that supplement her voter base in her council district. Clarke set the stage for this campaign by challenging the elder Owens in the 2004 primary, holding the incumbent to a 45 percent to 29 percent edge in the four-candidate race.

• Andrews represents half of the congressional district in the state Senate and is well-connected to top state Democrats, including Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, the likely Democratic nominee and general election favorite for governor.

• Chris Owens, a former campaign manager for his father, predicts his background as a private-sector businessman, his political activism, and district voters’ fondness for the incumbent will propel him to the front of the pack next Tuesday.

“You’ve got the interaction of geography and demography. You’ve got three black candidates, you’ve got overlapping districts ... and you’ve got the various institutional supports. It’s very difficult to figure out which way the vote’s moving,” political science professor Doug Muzzio of Baruch College, a part of the City University of New York, told CQPolitics.com.

The consensus among analysts, though not an overwhelming one, is that if there is a top tier in the field, it is composed of Clarke and Yassky.

Clarke differentiates herself as the only woman in the race. As the daughter of Caribbean immigrants, she also connects with one of the two major ethnic groups among black voters in the 11th District. She succeeded her mother (who challenged Major Owens in the 2000 House primary) in the 40th District City Council seat in 2001 and was re-elected to the seat twice, the second time just last year.

Yassky, who last week picked up the endorsement of the New York Times, is by far the best-funded of the candidates. According to the candidates’ pre-primary filings with the

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Federal Election Commission, Yassky had $360,000 in cash on hand as of Aug. 23 out of $1.4 million raised. Andrews raised the second-most money with $543,000 in total receipts, but heavy spending left him last in cash reserves with $32,000. Clarke had $76,000 left in her coffers out of $398,000 raised, and Owens had $64,000 out of $351,000 raised. More>>>

Jesse Jr. for Mayor of Chicago?

2006-09-06T21:47:00.000-04:00

It looks like polotics is going to be shaken up just a bit in Chicago. You see Jesse Jackson Jr . may run for Mayor of the windy city. While he complimented Mayor Richard Daley, a fellow Democrat, for doing an "extraordinary" job in some ways, Jackson said: "What I'm hearing from the people is that it's time for a change." Jackson will conduct a citywide "listening tour," according to Vincent Fry, a Jackson aide who declined to provide details of the tour or names of those who will serve on the committee.

Skeptical Brotha has been following this story and this is what he is saying:

Jesse Jackson, Jr. has announced an exploratory candidacy today for Mayor of the City of Chicago. It is the ultimate job. His potential candidacy is the most serious black candidacy since 1989 when Mayor Richard M. Daley recaptured the Mayor’s office from Interim Mayor Eugene Sawyer. Already in the race is Cook County Clerk of Court Dorothy Brown. Mrs. Brown, also Black has potential but in the end probably won’t stay in this race. This effort by Jackson is exciting and recaptures for me the magic of his daddy’s 84 and 88 runs for President.

More >>>

Hat Tip Skeptical Brotha

Ok, Now all the republicans are jumping ship.

2006-09-03T22:56:00.000-04:00

The Moderate Voice is reporting on how GOP candidate Thomas H. Kean, Jr. is jumping ship regarding Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld's administration of the war and "Rummy" suggesting that those who question his or the administration's management of the war are like people who appeased Nazis during World War II.

Thoughts from Field Negro

2006-09-03T14:05:00.000-04:00

Source: Field-Negro

Looney Coons. (The Coonies)

You may have noticed some changes in the fields. Yep, it was getting a little gloomy around here. I mean, just because the world is going to hell in a hand basket, doesn't mean the fields can't at least try to look optimistic. Anyway, thanks to the boys at Blogger, the field updated his site a bit. It's also nice to be able to show some love to some fellow bloggers, and news organizations who the field has enjoyed reading from time to time. So now that we have that out of the way, I would like to recognize some individuals.

As you might or might not know, I previously handed out some awards to some individuals in the field of entertainment for their expertise in the art of cooning. People, who in fact, probably became American icons because of their cooning capabilities. People like Nipsey Russell, J.J. Walker, Al. Roker, Snoop,....and, well, you get the point. In that post, I also tried to explain the history of cooning and the harm that I think it has done to the plight and the perception of black people in this country. I am probably one of the few people in America who agreed with Adolph Caesar's character, Sgt. Walters, in the movie A Soldiers Story. Because even though he was hard on new recruit C.J. for his constant singing and shuffling, I agreed with him, because I dislike "shiftless lazy niggers" too.

But what I have noticed lately is a new form of cooning. It is an even more dangerous, and destructive form of cooning. Because it is cooning cloaked in intellectualism. This form of cooning hides itself behind legitimacy. And so called conscious thoughts, reasoning, and educated points of views are mixed in with it. The old cooning that Snoop, Nipsey, Martin, and the Wayans brothers do is not as dangerous, because we see it for what it is; entertainment. So although the imagery is not good, statements taking a particular position on important social issues of our day aren't being made, and books aren't being published, and there is no pontification about critical social issues on the nightly cable broadcasts from the Snoops of the world.

But make no mistake, the more dangerous coons are out doing these things. They are on blogs, writing books, on the news, and on talk shows every night. These "Looney Coons" as I like to call them [Sorry Warner Brothers & Walt Disney] are dangerous, and should be watched. Because many of the things needed to advance the cause of the poor and disenfranchised will be taken away because of these people. Why you say? I will tell you why. The people at the think tanks, and the politicians whose job it is to effect social and public policy, listen to these people. And the people who hold the purse strings to many of the private foundations and organizations listen to these people. And when these Loony Coons are making statements about black people needing to pull themselves up, and that we should start praying more, and we should do away with affirmative action, and we should let the free market control prices and.....blah, blah, blah, it effects us all in a negative way. You know the old joke: "If you want to hide something from a nigger put it in a book" Well, unfortunately, some of these Looney Coons found some books, and I will be damn if they didn't just lose their freaking minds in the process.

So without further delay, the top ten Looney Coons in America: (Not necessarily in their proper order.. well, except for Clarence Thomas)

1. Clarence Thomas-Yeah, like I would have anyone else here. (Read prior posts)
2. Thomas Sowell-An economist and so called intellectual who is the darling of the conservative movement. Unfortunately, the phrase compassionate conservative is an oxymoron to him.

Buchanan: ‘The Country I Grew Up In’ Was ‘89 or 90 Percent White. I Like That Country’

2006-09-02T00:59:00.000-04:00

Source: Think Progress.org

Pat Buchanan has been a constant presence on cable TV since the release of his book, State of Emergency. Last night on Hannity and Colmes, Buchanan explained that he’s motivated by his desire to keep the country overwhelmingly white.

Buchanan told Alan Colmes: “What I would like is — I’d like the country I grew up in. It was a good country. I lived in Washington, D.C., 400,000 black folks, 400,000 white folks, in a country 89 or 90 percent white. I like that country.”

In his book, Buchanan supports the idea that whites are genetically superior to minorities.

Digg It!

Hat Tip Think Progress.org

Technorati Profile

Don't suicide bomb!

2006-09-02T00:23:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Here is an interesting post from a British Blogger about suicide bombers and A TV commercial being created to dissuade suicide bombers from blowing themselves and others up. Maybe if the brits and Americans got out of Iraq they would at least not blow up Brits and Americans. Hat Tip coxsoft

****

Source: coxsoft: We Brits are used to thinking our politicians live on another planet, but Yankies must feel that theirs live in a completely different galaxy. Take this still from a crass TV commercial designed to dissuade Muslim Fundamentalist loonies in Iraq from blowing themselves up. Yes, they're giving this campaign the full Hollywood treatment with exploding cars and flying stuntmen. It's part of a 1 minute "public service announcement" shot in LA with the farcical message "Don't suicide bomb"! This sort of nonsense will be counterproductive in two ways: 1) it will glamorize suicide bombing and 2) it will increase public fear in Iraq. The last thing it will do is stop a Muslim fanatic from joining that merry band of idiots who intend to blow themselves up. The only way to dissuade fanatical young men from joining the ranks of suicide bombers is to make them realize that they will be the butt of jokes if they succeed. I'm certain that earnest young men of any faith are far more afraid of being held up to public ridicule than they are of death.

Hot Congressional Race In Maryland

2006-09-01T12:02:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: A local congressional race in Maryland is getting hot.

Rep. Albert R. Wynn who has represented Maryland's 4th Congressional District since 1993, has never faced a serious challenger- until this year. His challenger Donna Edwards, has been agressively campaigning and has a big endorsement. The Washington Post.

In an article endorsing Ms. Donna Edwards the post writes, Mr. Wynn has often seemed more involved in playing the role of a kingmaker in Prince George's than in his duties in Congress. On key federal issues, he has cast himself as the most bipartisan member of Maryland's congressional delegation. That's great in theory, but too often his votes have been at odds with good government and the interests of his constituents. He has backed the estate tax repeal, a measure that benefits the richest Americans at the expense of the poor and middle class. He supported the Bush administration's energy bill in 2003, offering subsidies to oil and gas companies even as they were headed toward record profits. He has flip-flopped on fuel efficiency standards and opposed campaign finance reform. And he has tried to clear the way for casino gambling in Prince George's. All in all, it is a lackluster record.

This pundit agrees with the Post. But this report about Wynn and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus is nothing new. The Black Commentator has been reporting on lackluster records of CBC members for years.

No confidence in House, Senate , Rumsfeld or Bush

2006-09-01T00:27:00.000-04:00

Democrats Target Rumsfeld

African American Political Pundit says: Oh, now the democrats want to rally against Defense Sec. Rumsfeld for screwing up the war. The Washington Post, N.Y. Times and other major news outlets have pointed out for years that Rumsfeld's decisions, including not mobilizing enough troops to keep the peace, disbanding the entire Iraqi army and purging all members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party -- including teachers and low-level technocrats -- from the Iraqi government were generally screwed. Yeah he screwed up the war and is now blaming the American people for not supporting his strategies. Whatever! Now Rumsfeld is reaching Out to Democrats in Letter I wonder why???

Thanks for the no vote of confidence against Rumsfeld: 2,637 American deaths too late.

Thanks for the no vote of confidence against Rumsfeld: 19,773 American wounded too late.

Note: CNN reports there have been 2,864 coalition deaths, 2,637 Americans, two Australians, 115 Britons, 13 Bulgarians, three Danes, two Dutch, two Estonians, one Fijian, one Hungarian, 31 Italians, one Kazakh, one Latvian, 17 Poles, two Romanians, four Salvadoran, three Slovaks, 11 Spaniards, two Thai and 18 Ukrainians in the war in Iraq as of August 31, 2006, according to a CNN count. (Graphical breakdown of casualties).

At least 19,773 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon. View casualties in the war in Afghanistan and examine U.S. war casualties dating back to the Revolutionary War.

The American people have no confidence in the U.S. House, Senate , Rumsfeld or Bush

George Allen, and right wing wants this man to be president ?

2006-08-31T20:36:00.000-04:00

Beyond Macaca: The Photograph That Haunts George Allen

The right wing wants this man to be president? Think about that.

Hat Tip, xoverboard.com and The Nation.com

Post Katrina: There's still no substitute for competence.

2006-08-29T12:47:00.001-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Here is one of the best editorials regarding Katrina lessons learned. It's too bad our Federal Government does not get it. What do you think? To the left is a photo of FEMA mobile homes in Arkansas that, because of its own regulations, cannot be used in flood plains. $900 million of Federal tax payer waste.

The Washington Post says:

The important post-Katrina lesson is not about less vs. more government, or about the government's organizational chart. It is about competence and leadership. The initial response to the storm was bungled, with New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin being slow to order an evacuation and the federal government slow to step in with assistance. Even more shockingly, the realization of the full scale of the crisis did not improve the quality of government decisions. FEMA spent $900 million on mobile homes that, because of its own regulations, cannot be used in flood plains. A Senate report has estimated that the agency allowed an additional $2 billion to disappear in fraud and abuse. Bureaucracy has slowed progress repeatedly. Of the $110 billion appropriated for rebuilding and assistance to victims, only $44 billion has been spent.

This is a lesson in the danger of entrusting the emergency management agency to political loyalists rather than experts. It is a danger that exists quite independently of whether or not FEMA is part of a larger department: During the 1980s the agency was stuffed with political appointees with dubious credentials, which explains why its response to Hurricane Andrew in 1992 was similarly incompetent. In the wake of that disaster, the agency was overhauled, and another wave of reform is in the works: The Bush administration has appointed a new boss for the agency; it has installed new communications and logistical systems; and it has worked on prepositioning relief supplies in disaster-prone areas.

The test will be whether this and future administrations sustain this new seriousness -- or whether the old complacency returns. That in turn will depend on whether there is more leadership than Mr. Bush provided in the first year, and a greater sense of urgency.

The Untold Story of Hurricane Katrina

2006-08-28T15:59:00.000-04:00


Movie Trailer from the provocative FinalCall.com News documentary, 'The Unmasking of New Orleans', The Untold Story of Hurricane Katrina.

White Lesbian Nominee to represent a historically black Birmingham district in the state legislature

2006-08-27T11:11:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Well it appears a Washington, DC based Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund had major impact on this Alabama Democratic primary. One of the challenges of gentrification across urban America is new residents move into historically black neighborhoods and decide that they can represent black neighborhoods better than blacks themselves (I'm not sure if this is true or not). I guess at this point, all the residents of this historically black Birmingham district can do is hope that she represents the interest of this historically African American community extremely well, otherwise she will be a one term legislator.

The Washington Post Reports the battle over race that had divided Alabama's Democratic Party came to an end yesterday when the party's executive committee reinstated a white woman as its nominee to represent a historically black Birmingham district in the state legislature.

The nominee, Patricia Todd, is a lesbian and, because she faces no opponent in November's general election, is in line to become the state's first gay legislator.

On Thursday, she had been disqualified by a party panel for failing to comply with a technicality that candidates had disregarded for years.

"I'm just relieved," Todd said yesterday. "The democratic process worked today."

Yesterday's decision has its roots in a June primary in which Todd received more votes than four other candidates, all of whom were black. In a July 18 runoff, she defeated businesswoman Gaynell Hendricks by 59 votes.

Allies of Hendricks then challenged Todd's nomination, arguing she had not met a deadline set in the party's bylaws for the filing of campaign finance disclosure forms.

The allies -- led by Hendricks's mother-in-law -- suggested that Todd missed the deadline intentionally, to delay disclosing that she'd made campaign payments to two primary opponents who later endorsed her and that she'd received thousands of dollars in contributions from the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, a Washington-based organization that backs gay candidates.

Among those opposed to Todd's candidacy was Joe L. Reed, the state party's vice chairman of minority affairs. He called on voters to elect another black person to replace George Perdue, who has represented the district for more than two decades. More >>>

Protestor to George Allen: "Have you ever used the N word ?"

2006-08-26T18:28:00.000-04:00

Allen cancels event because of protesters

by kos

Sat Aug 26, 2006 at 05:11:07 AM PDT

Allen thinks he's running for president? He can't even handle a guy in a monkey suit.

Sen. George Allen gave the slip to protesters, supporters and city officials today, bypassing an afternoon stop in downtown Staunton for an unannounced lunch break at a local drive-in restaurant.
The last-minute change in plans came minutes after a man identifying himself as a University of Virginia law school student broke in front of reporters at an event at Staunton's Holiday Inn, forcefully asking the senator, "Have you ever used the word n-----?"
Allen, caught off-guard but still smiling, put his hands on the man's shoulders and offered to speak to him later, but aides quickly led the man out of the room and Allen soon boarded his bus and left.
"Once in a while you get ambushed," Allen said before leaving the event, a luncheon attended by a nearly all-white crowd of Greater Augusta Regional Chamber of Commerce members. "That's OK. That's part of it."
The senator was expected to roll up to City Hall half an hour later, but about a dozen Democratic protesters, an equal number of local Republicans and several city council members and city staff who had gathered along Beverley Street were left shaking their heads.

Republican Bob Corker dodging debate against Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Harold Ford Jr.

2006-08-26T15:23:00.000-04:00

The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports: Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Harold Ford Jr. on Friday again called on Republican opponent Bob Corker to participate in a series of debates before the Nov. 7 election. Rep. Ford, a congressman from Memphis, wrote in a letter that he already has accepted multiple debate requests. “Tennesseans want an honest discussion of the issues they face,” Rep. Ford said in a letter to his opponent. “They do not want candidates to hide behind buzzwords and catch phrases. They want to test the depth of our knowledge.” Corker campaign spokeswoman Alexia Poe said the campaign is looking at debate requests. “We hope to make our decision shortly,” she said.

On Aug. 3, Rep. Ford called for seven televised debates. That was the day on which Mr. Corker, former Chattanooga mayor, defeated Ed Bryant and Van Hilleary to win the Republican primary. In his letter, Rep. Ford gave a litany of issues to support why the debates are important.

“With our nation at war and gasoline prices rising daily, with the 9/11 Commission recommendations sitting on the shelf five years after September 11, with our national debt spiraling and our overseas borrowing soaring, with the number of uninsured rising and farm income falling, Tennesseans deserve these debates,” he said in the letter.

Ms. Poe said Rep. Ford “is very anxious to defend his 10 years in Washington.”

“Bob Corker is looking forward to debating. It’s unfortunate that Congressman Ford is using distortions and half-truths, and our hope is he won’t use these tactics in the debates but will actually talk about the issues,” she said.

The race is for the seat held by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., who is not running for another term.

Service in Iraq: Blacks have a death risk about 30 to 40 percent lower than that of non-blacks.

2006-08-26T09:25:00.000-04:00

There is a very interesting article in The Washington Post today regarding service in Iraq and how risky it is. Samuel H. Preston and Emily Buzzell write a statistical analysis based on information provided by Department odf Defense. The article provides detailed information on minorites, particularly African American women.

Source: The Washington Post
By Samuel H. Preston and Emily Buzzell

Saturday, August 26, 2006; Page A21

The consequences of Operation Iraqi Freedom for U.S. forces are being documented by the Defense Department with an exceptional degree of openness and transparency. Its daily and cumulative counts of deaths receive a great deal of publicity. But deaths alone don't indicate the risk for an individual. For this purpose, the number of deaths must be compared with the number of individuals exposed to the risk of death. The Defense Department has supplied us with appropriate data on exposure, and we take advantage of it to provide the first profile of military mortality in Iraq.

Facts related to Age, sex , race and ethnicity:

In contrast to the civilian population, mortality rates decline precipitously with age. Troops ages 17 to 19 have a death risk 4.6 times that of those 50 and older. Differences in rank by age undoubtedly contribute to this pattern, and so do differences in branch of service. Sixty-five percent of Marine deployments to Iraq were of those age 24 or younger, compared with only 39 percent of Army deployments. Women are not assigned to combat specialties in Iraq, although they do see enemy fire; their death rate is 18 percent that of men.

Identifying racial and ethnic differences in mortality is not straightforward because the Defense Department uses a different classification system for deaths than for deployments. Nevertheless, all attempts we have made to reconcile the two systems reach the same conclusion: Hispanics have a death risk about 20 percent higher than non-Hispanics, and blacks have a death risk about 30 to 40 percent lower than that of non-blacks. That low death rate appears to result from an overrepresentation of blacks in low-risk categories: For example, 19 percent of blacks in Iraq are women, compared with 9 percent of non-blacks, while 7 percent of blacks in Iraq are Marines, compared with 13 percent of non-blacks.

Samuel H. Preston is the Frederick J. Warren professor of demography at the University of Pennsylvania. Emily Buzzell is a student in the Health and Societies Program at Penn.

An American Disgrace - "Who is to blame for the violence in our communities?

2006-08-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: its 2:00 am on A Friday, 30 some odd years ago I would be in some type of political discussion with a somewhat radical, yet progressive group of folks talking about how to create positive social change in our community. I was never a real hard core partying type, although I did have a great time hanging out. But forget all that, for now, tonight I'm on the computer after thinking about a news article I read on-line in the Washington Post. The headlines read: DC Teen Saves Infant Godson As She Dies In Gunfire in SE

	Teenager Killed, Three Others Shot in Southeast

For the past 20 years, I've had the opportunity to travel around the country serving as a community development consultant. I've been to every major city in America, and each time I travel, while on America's streets, reading a newspaper, or watching a local TV channel I see and hear the same stories. The epidemic of violence in

America

's urban black communities. Senseless, cold blooded murders. Murders like the one I read tonight.

The Washington post reports: "Cynthia "Little Cindy" Gray was hanging outside with friends on a hot night in Southeast Washington, her baby godson cradled tightly in her arms. Out of nowhere, a torrent of bullets blasted into the group, police said. The 17-year-old rolled to the ground. First she tried to shield the infant with her body. The bullets kept coming. In a last, desperate act, she pushed the infant under a parked car. The shooter walked up and fired bullets into Gray's head, face and neck, killing her, police said. But the child was unhurt."

No, this didn’t happen in Beirut or Iraq, this happened in Washington, D.C.

Who is to blame for the violence in our communities? Let's start looking at our parenting, our schools, our teachers, our politicians, our community based organizations, our opinion makers, our leaders, our defacto segregated schools, our governors, our mayors, our senators, our legislators, our police, our principals, our lawyers, our Dr.'s, our academic institutions, our mothers, our fathers, our courts, our churches, our president and most importantly ourselves.

It's all hands on deck. We are our brothers and sisters keeper.

I'm reminded of Martin Luther King when he said, The first question which the priest and the Levite asked was: "If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?" But... the good Samaritan reversed the question: "If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?" Martin Luther King also said, "A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom".

I guess America has it's own home grown terrorist in the streets of urban America. Just ask the family of little Cindy Gray.

But, you've heard this before..

Is Steele really gaining blacks' support ??

2006-08-24T16:33:00.000-04:00

The Washington Times is reporting Maryland Democratic Party's traditional support among blacks appears to be slipping, now that hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons -- who has helped register thousands of Democratic voters -- has endorsed Republican Michael S. Steele for the U.S. Senate. Whatever!

Check this out, Mr. Simmons is scheduled to hold a fundraiser tonight at Baltimore's Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park for Mr. Steele, the lieutenant governor and the first black to win a statewide office in Maryland.

African-American Political Pundit says: One has to wonder if Russell Simmons can actually get young African-American voters to the polls to vote Republican. My experience working as Director of the Youth Citizenship Fund, Boston Youth Voter Registration Project years ago indicates registering young black voters is one thing, getting them to the polls is another. Getting them to vote Republican, at a time of war and with the backdrop of Katrina, and Spike Lee's movie is another totally different story.

Good luck Steele and Simmons! You will need it.

Virginia's Senator Apologizes for "offending" campaign worker

2006-08-24T14:08:00.000-04:00

The Washington Post reports that Virginia Sen. George Allen (R) a known racist in African-American circles, has apologized directly to S.R. Sidarth yesterday, telling the 20-year-old Democratic campaign staffer that he was sorry for offending him with remarks that have generated nationwide criticism for being racially insensitive. The only support this Red Neck Senator is getting these days is from George Bush, (Surprise, Surprise!) Newsbusters, Michelle Malkin and her loyal HotAir crowd. of neo conservatives. More >>>

Allen's telephone call to Sidarth was the first direct contact between the two since Allen (R) was caught by Sidarth's video camera calling him a "macaca" and welcoming the Fairfax native to "America and the real world of Virginia."

CBS Supports Racial Segregation 2006 style

2006-08-24T13:46:00.000-04:00

Race, Racism, Survivor and CBS

By African American Political Pundit
From the web blog Mirror On America

The most talked-about TV series of the fall may not be a new drama or sitcom, but an aging reality show that’s going into its 13th season. The buzz is all around town. Race Matters in America, even on the TV program Survivor.

Producers announced Wednesday that CBS-TV’s Survivor , in which individuals compete against each other on a deserted island for a $1 million prize, will have racially segregated teams when the next installment kicks off Sept. 14.

The 20 contestants will be divided into squads of blacks, whites, Asians and Hispanics, a move that is already generating controversy.

African American Political Pundit says: It's unfortunate that race matters so much in our country. The "bigotry demons" are working overtime at CBS. The Washington Post reports 20 contestants will be divided into the White Tribe, the African American Tribe, the Asian American Tribe and the Hispanic Tribe. Why not a Native American Tribe or a Japanese American Tribe? It seems to me the African American Tribe, Native American Tribe and Japense American Tribe are real survivors of American Racism let get them to play the game.

Ooops the "bigotry demons" at CBS got it wrong, what is the white tribe doing in there? Let's kick out the white tribe real soon, they are not really "survivors" they are descendents of slave owners and neocolonialist but not really "survivors." How about a Jewish holocoust tribe for good measure. Oops again, to old, not in the CBS viewer market. How about an O.J. Simpson tribe? A Rodney King Tribe? Oh better yet, how about a KKK Tribe?

Reaction has been swift in the Black and Hispanic community.

BAW (Black America Web) writes: The decision by producers of the CBS reality hit “Survivor” to divide the tribes by race in the upcoming fall season has triggered reactions of surprise, disgust and curiosity -- and a certainty that CBS will gain an enormous ratings boost, at least initially.

The Examiner.com writes: Get ready for a segregated "Survivor." Race will matter on the upcoming season of the CBS show as contestants will be divided into four tribes by ethnicity. That means blacks, whites, Latinos and Asians in separate groups.

Lisa Navarette, Communications Director for National Council of La Raza, the Latino civil rights and advocacy group. says: “The producers of Survivor are either really clueless or really soulless, that they are willing to engage a pretty hot-button topic for ratings and feel they won’t have any problems,” says “Knowing Survivor , and the way the game is played, it gets very ugly and setting it up that way almost propels people to go there [act negatively toward other races]. . .It borders on the irresponsible.” More>>>

The Defamer writes: Just as Page Six reported yesterday, Jeff Probst joined Harry Smith on CBS' The Early Show for an interview to defend Survivor's latest genius promotional hook of dividing next season's contestants into four, race-sorted groups: The Asian-American Tribe, The African-American Tribe, The Hispanic Tribe and The White Tribe (isn't the acceptable term Honky-Americans?). Smith can't hide his contempt for the shamelessness of it all, saying "there were groans" in the studio that morning, which Probst counters by explaining that the show's concept came out of "the criticism that Survivor was not ethnically diverse enough." It was a fundamental flaw in the casting process that producer Mark Burnett and his crack team of sleazebag reality producers immediately addressed by segregating the hungry and increasingly desperate players according to skin color, then letting the cameras capture which ethnic group will first resort to devouring a competing, weaker ethnic group once the stomach pains become too much to bear. More >>>

Marc Lamont Hill writes: On September 14, CBS will unveil the thirteenth season of the popular reality show “Survivor.” Like its predecessors, the upcoming season will send 20 people to a tropical island, divide the teams into four “tribes,” and have them compete against each other until one person is left standing. In addition to intensifying the colonial gaze through its reductive and exoticized representations of the “other,” the show has added yet another problematic twist: this year’s tribes will be divided by race. While the producers are labeling the show as a “social experiment, ” many critics are already dismissing it as a racist publicity stunt.

To be certain, the producers of the show are motivated by the high ratings that accompany such a sensational premise. Given the enormous hype and early high ratings for FX’s race-centered Black/White, it was merely a matter of time before another network followed suit. Initially, Donald Trump was planning to do a race-themed season of The Apprentice but opted out at the last minute. This was a wise business move, as the backlash from an offensive moment or two could permanently derail the series. Such a moment would have inevitable given Trump’s rough demeanor, disrespectful treatment of Omorosa, and public diss to Randal Pinkett. Unfortunately, the folks at CBS don't share Trumps keen understanding of his own limitations. More>>

*****

Bush meets with Republican Supporter about "Those People" in New Orleans

2006-08-23T19:01:00.000-04:00

Would this guy be allowed into the White House if he were black?

Katrina Survivor Meets With Bush at White House
Rockey Vaccarella drove a replica of his FEMA trailer to Washington to raise awareness of continuing problems. (AP)

AP and the Washington Post report President Bush met with a survivor of Hurricane Katrina today who drove a replica of a FEMA trailer to Washington from Louisiana to remind the president "that the job's not done" on the hurricane-devastated Gulf Coast. Check this out, the post is reporting Bush said, "He (Vaccarella) decided to come up to Washington, D.C., to make clear to me and others in the government that "those people" down there are still hurting," President Bush said in a joint appearance with Rockey Vaccarella, 41, on the south lawn of the White House. "I told him that I understand there are people down there who still need help."

African American Political Pundit says: It's obvious that this "photo op" was a staged White House event which included Vaccarella saying the country needed Bush to stay on for another four-year term. This event has a Tony Snow stamp all over it.

One has to wonder if any of the thousand of black hurricane victims drove to the white house in a replica of a FEMA trailer from Washington from Louisiana demanding to see Bush, would they be arrested for driving while black, even before getting out of New Orleans?

This guy Vaccarella ran unsuccessfully as a Republican candidate for the St. Bernard Parish Council back in 1999. What ever happened to cindy Shehan?

Jefferson's Ever Shrinking Re-election Chances

2006-08-23T13:22:00.000-04:00

Check out Christopher Tidmore's recent news analysis of the Congressman Bill Jefferson's job prospects. Lets hope congressman Jefferson job prospects become even more limited.

****

NEW ORLEANS (NNPA) -- When well-financed opposition comes from both the left and the right, usually an incumbent Congressman should begin sending out resumes to DC-based lobbying firms. Of course, Bill Jefferson's job prospects might be somewhat limited. Few advocacy retainers come in the form of frozen cash.

Nevertheless, local political groups smell the blood in the ice, err, water, and have fielded candidates to confront the Second District Congressman's re-election bid. The potential match-ups are so strong, that a real possibility exists that Jefferson might not make the runoff.

Part of the Congressman's problem emerges from the obvious Nigeria scandal and its offshoots, i.e. commandeering a military Humvee after Katrina to retrieve ''files'' from his home. The Congressman's main hope for surviving the scandal has rested in the promise that his seniority could be leveraged to provide necessary financial assistance to a district still reeling from Katrina. Yet, time in Congress, as any student of Capitol Hill dynamics will attest, only counts as far as it provides placement on key committees that control the money - or in Jefferson's case, the tax credits that other Congressmen need and will use their clout to obtain.

The decision by the Democratic caucus to remove Jefferson from Ways and Means removed the major justification for his re-election. Even without an indictment, his opponents are expected to argue, Jefferson's usefulness to the citizens of the Second District has come to an end. It is a stand that Derrick Shepherd has already begun to take.

The State Senator from District 3 opened his congressional race on Monday, Aug. 7th, with the words that his money would not come out of a freezer and other comments underlining how the controversy has finished Jefferson. Shepherd said he would stick to the issues, and then added that the major issue was that Bill Jefferson now lacked the influence in the U.S. House of Representatives to get anything done.

However, the real danger that the State Senator poses to the Congressman comes not from his words, but from the way that the Second Congressional District has evolved over the years-growing the influence of African-Americans in Shepherds's native Jefferson Parish.

To maintain its Black Majority, Bill Jefferson's seat has been redrawn twice to include other parts of the metro area, especially African-American sections of East and West Jefferson. Despite the perception that it is a New Orleans district, the suburban voters have grown in power in the Second. Katrina only accelerated a trend already underway.

Prior to the storms, 28 prcent of the population of the total population of Jefferson Parish was African-American, with its sizable concentrations in west bank communities of Marrero and Gretna and east back neighborhoods like South Kenner. These growing Black neighborhoods sit within the 2nd District. In the wake of Katrina, these areas experienced neither overly disruptive flooding nor considerable permanent population dislocation. With much of the Orleans areas of the district depopulated, recent demographic studies point to almost half of the seat's local voters living in the suburbs with little emotional connection to a New Orleans' oriented candidate like the incumbent. More >>>

2006-08-23T08:28:00.000-04:00

Here is a post from Falcon (hat tip to Falcon) at Hang Right Politics. Falcon and I don't agree politically on a lot of issues, but we do agree the true facts of American Patriotism during 911 should be told. Read more about Jason Thomas of Columbus Ohio and the World Trade Center film.

Source: Hang Right Politics

From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:

‘WTC’ casting error draws flak from African-Americans
Wednesday, August 16, 2006

By L.A. Johnson, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A hero of another color in Oliver Stone’s “World Trade Center” has some people again balking at the whitewashing of a black character in a Hollywood film. This time it’s the character of Marine Sgt. Thomas, one of two former Marines who help rescue New York Port Authority Officers Will Jimeno and John McLoughlin from beneath 20 feet of twisted metal, broken concrete and sparking debris in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.

In the film, white actor William Mapother — who’s Tom Cruise’s cousin and who played Ethan Rom in the first season of “Lost” and Quecreek miner John “Flathead” Phillippi in ABC’s “The Pennsylvania Miners’ Story” — plays Sgt. Thomas.

Last week, the real Sgt. Thomas — a black, former Marine named Jason Thomas of Columbus, Ohio — came forward and told his story.

“Someone needed help. It didn’t matter who,” Thomas told the Associated Press. “I didn’t even have a plan. But I have all this training as a Marine, and all I could think was, ‘My city is in need.’ ”

So, instead of heading to class at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice at City University of New York that fateful morning, he headed toward the devastation. At ground zero, he ran into another ex-Marine and Connecticut accountant, Staff Sgt. David Karnes, and the two decided to search for survivors. Eventually they found Jimeno and McLoughlin.

Karnes, who couldn’t reach Manhattan’s 911 from his cell phone at ground zero, called his sister in Munhall, Joy Karnes. She helped relay information to New York emergency services that helped them pinpoint the trapped men’s location.

This is so disappointing to me because I’ve heard World Trade Center is a fantastic film. I’ve also heard the Marine Sgt. Thomas character has some of the best lines in the movie like, “You are our mission” and “They’re gonna need some good men to avenge this.” As pointed out in the article,

Black men so rarely are portrayed or presented as heroes in popular culture and the media that when the opportunity to do so arises, they should be.

I still plan to see the movie but this is a real missed opportunity by the filmmakers to show that patriotism and courage come in all colors.

Bushflash.com

2006-08-20T10:54:00.000-04:00

I just stumbled upon the website BushFlash.com. I wonder what you think about this site?

Lynne d Johnson's "favorite of the moment blogs"

2006-08-19T14:15:00.000-04:00

Lynne d Johnson is the Senior Editor of Fastcompany.com where she oversees both editorial and community functionality. She's also a regular contributor to Popgadget and was most recently the General Manager, New Media for VIBE and SPIN.

Lynne is also editor-at-large for Mosaic Literary Magazine, and has written for VIBE, VIBE Vixen, and PAPER. She has written for other media outlets including SPIN, Popmatters, The Source, New York Press, URB, and XLR8R.

A blogger since 2001, Lynne maintains www.lynnedjohnson.com/diary and publishes another website called BlackThoughtware.org that was inspired by a column she wrote for Popmatters. She is a highly respected blogger who was recently nominated for the 2006 Black Weblog Awards. I thank Ms. Johnson for including African American Opinion.com as one of her favorite of the moment blogs.

----------------------------------------------------------

My Favorite Blogs

The blogosphere has expanded vastly since I first started blogging back in 2001. In order to manage an extensive list of blogs, I toggle between Bloglines and Google Reader.

For most of the bloggers I met early on and their extended network, I maintain a blogroll on the links section of my site labeled blogfam. My blogher blogroll is located there also. These two blogrolls contain the blogs that are most of my first reads of each day. But now with an even larger pool to choose from, I've begun to cast my net a little wider.

Since I have a proclivity for music (especially hip-hop), pop culture, African-American issues, women's issues, gadgets, innovation, and Web 2.0 - I subscribe to a variety of blogs' feeds. These are my top 10 of the moment.

Related Top 10 Sources: The Original Bloggers | Blogging Journalists | Writing Women

Photo:Lynne d Johnson

Sources

1	Afr.-Am. [Black] Opinion
	08.05.2006	New Blogger Platform ENTER HERE We have moved to a new Blogger Platform our new address is: http://African-AmericanOpinion.blogspot.com This blog holds posts from May, June and July 2006 Our archive is to the right >>>> ENTER HERE
	08.05.2006	African-American Opinion - Migrating to BlogSpot Platform Ok folks, We are in the process in migrating over from our current blog platform to blogspot. Over the past few months our traffic has increased 100 fold and we want to bring new resources, feeds, videos, and other content to our blog. The migration should take a few days and should be completed by 8.7.06 [...]
	08.05.2006	Black Population in the United States Looking for U.S. government data about African-Americans? Here is the information you may have been looking for. Source: census.gov
	08.03.2006	African American Political Pundit Visit the new home of African American Political Pundit. We have completed the migration of African-American Political Pundit to its new blogger platform. With change comes opportunity. African-American Political Pundit has decided to take the opportunity to change the way his blog is structured. The blog will become more of a daily journal regarding my [...]
	08.01.2006	‘Don’t Date Him Girl’ Source: TalkLeft.com. When is a website liable for posting nasty stuff about other people? Take a look at Don’t Date Him Girl, a website that allows women to post trashy stuff about men they think have cheated on them, as a warning to other women. (You can search their site here to see [...]
2	rushkoff.blog
	08.18.2006	In Stock Trades (dot.com) FYI - I just found this site that sells tradepaper comics collections at a considerable discount. 35% below Amazon. Here's the link to by the first trade paperback collection of Testament for $6.49 instead of 9.99. Meanwhile, I'm finally working down the email cue - it had gotten up to 4100 emails in the "to do" folder. So if you've emailed me in the past few weeks and haven't heard anything, you should by the end of today. As for the good news, I'm finally emerging from 'overwhelmed' and movin...
	08.17.2006	Reviews! I haven't had time to post, lately. I'm being swamped by the kinds of life challenges that most bloggers use their space to write about. Read any of them and assume I'm somewhere in the same boat. The new Testament collection is doing really well, though, and getting some great reviews. Here's two of my favorites so far, one from Silver Bullet" and both an Interview and Review at Undress Me Robot.From Silverbullet:"This is a brilliant mind writing a comic book that will cause you to question you...
	07.28.2006	Testament Collection is Out! The first five issues of Testament are now available in a collected edition. This is the right way to read this comic book. No ads, no month-long wait for the next 22 pages, and a nice explanatory introduction. This is the whole Akedah and then some, told as you probably never heard it before.Get it in your favorite comics shop, or at a really nice discount from Amazon.com right here, or Barnes and Noble right here. (Republicans should by from Republican-supporting Amazon, and Democrats should ...
3	Feministing
4	Fast Company Now
	08.18.2006	What is Dell's Deal? With all that is going on with Dell it is surprising the company would announce a plan to offer PCs with AMD processors. With earnings down from a year ago and uncertainty about an SEC probe into the company’s accounting...
	08.18.2006	In Today's Papers What's worth reading: Art with a Message: "Buy This House" Boeing to End Its Service for Using Internet Aloft Boeing to Shutter Connexion as Web Service Fails to Catch on The FBI's Upgrade That Wasn't Hard Knocks, Age Transform a...
	08.18.2006	You Are What You Search I recently learned some very bad things about myself. Namely, that I’m a hoarding omnivore—online, that is. One of the byproducts of AOL releasing the 36 million searches of 658,000 people is that the sorts of people who analyze these...
	08.18.2006	An Amusement Park... for the Mind? While I haven't been to either of the two WonderWorks, particularly the one recently opened in Pigeon Forge, I'm intrigued by the attraction's combination of theme park-like entertainment and science and technology education. Increasingly, museums are being redesigned to tell...
	08.17.2006	YouTube's Music Video Vision News broke yesterday that YouTube is in talks with major record labels with the express goal of offering every music video ever created for free. They want to get this done in a mere 18 months. A poet once said,...
5	Hypebeast
	08.15.2006	Trust Nobody x Methamphibian Air Max Trust Nobody will be collaborating with Methamphibian again. They will use the Nike’s Air Max as base shoes and customize it with crack cement pattern and camo pattern. Slated to drop in November. Image/Info: Trust Nobody
	08.15.2006	Technical Difficulties We have been having some technical difficulties lately, please bare with us. Sorry for the inconvience.
	08.15.2006	Stussy x Rogue Status Tee Check it out! Rogue Status has collaborated with Stussy for this really cool tee. The tee looks very similar to the World Tour tees but however with different cities written on it. Perhaps this is the first clue for another series of World Tour tees that will be collaborated with different labels rather than artists? Image: Slam X Hype
	08.15.2006	Sneaker Pimps Chicago The world famous sneaker tour and party, Sneaker Pimps, will be hitting Chicago this Friday, August 18th! With performances by Lupe Fiasco and live art installations by C2 and Holyzapatos, you definitely can’t miss out on this once a year event. Click HERE for the full flyer!
	08.15.2006	Nike Dunk Low & High Brown Pack Here are some upcoming samples from the sneaker giant, Nike. This pack called the Brown Pack includes two models, the Dunk high and low. According to b53, they’re made from soft premium leather. Nice material in a simple colorway makes a perfect sneaker for those who likes to keep it simple. Image: b52 @ Nikeskateboarding.org
6	New Media Musings
7	ProHipHop
	08.17.2006	Young Dro's Shoulder Lean At No. 10 The top 5 in the Hot 100 singles chart are the same as last week, with Fergie's London Bridge in its second week at no. 1 on both the Hot 100 and the Hot Digital Songs charts. Young Dro's Shoulder...
	08.17.2006	Black Weblog Awards Voting Begun, ProHipHop Offers Prizes If you're interested in voting for a variety of cool blogs that have been nominated by readers for the Black Weblog Awards, you have until August 31st. Winners will be announced on September 3rd....
	08.17.2006	Rick Ross's Port of Miami Debuts at No. 1 Rick Ross's debut album Port of Miami topped the Billboard 200 album chart this week fueled, in part, by the popularity of the single Hustlin', though the album seems to be doing better than the...
	08.16.2006	Publicist's Websites: The Room Service Group I just checked out Lucy Beer's Room Service Group website and I have to say I dig the homepage more than most I've seen of late. It may be a bit outdated, because the one link on the page goes...
	08.16.2006	Prep-Unit Pimps Smirnoff Raw Iced Tea I'm not really sure what to say about this viral video ad featuring Prep-Unit pimping Smirnoff Raw Tea, an alcoholic product, so I'll just provide some links to other folk's coverage beginning with...
8	Popgadget
	08.19.2006	Large Gourd Speaker with Amplifier Bet you don't have one of these. It's a speaker made from a real gourd -- you know, that vegtable-type thing. Bird-Electron Japan boasts that it utilizes the "natural resonance of the gourd" and makes a stylish addition to your house. Now, it is true that the gourd has been used for centuries as a musical instrument, so maybe they're on to something. Because they're making them from actual gourds, each speaker is different, so the one you order will not look the same as the one in the pho...
	08.19.2006	Ho Fatso: high tech sumo wrestling e What happens when you mix those sumo wrestling fat suits with arty digital media? The answer is Ho Fatso, a new interactive installation by artist Rania Ho. Made of rip-stop nylon, high powered leaf blowers, and motion detectors, Ho Fatso is comprised of inflatable fat suits corralled by an inflated wrestling ring. Participants gear up and get "fat," folds of air-pumped flesh jiggling whilst engaged in battle. As long as there is movement, the suits and ring stay puffed with air. However, wit...
	08.19.2006	A handheld for all your av needs The LG MFJM53 mp3 player not only can handle mp3s, but also can display mp4, jpgs, and text on its screen with a 128 x 160 display resolution. The battery is listed at being able to play for an impressive 30 hours of music. Perfect for passing the time, when you are the road.
	08.18.2006	Search engine for recipes Have you ever found yourself staring at a sufficiently filled refrigerator and still having no clue what you can cook with what’s in it? Ingredients are available, but you just can't come up with a final plan; next time you find yourself in this situation, try visiting either Recipe Matcher or SnacksBy. Both sites allow you to search for recipes by entering the ingredients you have available at the moment. It’s just that simple: insert pepper, cucumber and pasta in the search field and, voilà...
	08.18.2006	Tom Bihn laptop keyboard covers Laptop specialist Tom Bihn has come up with a solution to a problem that I thought would never be addressed. I have a small line of grubbiness across the screen of the laptop that I'm writing this article on. This happens because when the laptop is closed, the keys are pressed against the screen, causing the grease from my sweaty fingers to be transferred onto the display. The Tom Bihn keyboard cover is a piece of 'Ultrasuede' (synthetic suede with a made-up name), which is placed between the ...
9	The Rap Up
	08.18.2006	Friday Flix Ciara backstage at "So You Think You Can Dance"50 Cent on "Fish Bowl" with Bill MaherRev Run & Ludacris at MTV's TRLGnarls Barkley concert in St. ElsewhereCommon Gap Ads
	08.18.2006	Stephon Marbury and Steve Barry Present "Starbury" Biz Markie, Rocsi, and others were in the house to support the new clothing line by Knicks guard Stephon Marbury. $14.98 for a pair of sneaks? $9.99 for a crisp tee? How real is that? (click to enlarge)
	08.18.2006	Video: Ludacris ft. Pharrell - Money Maker Luda was on a winning streak with "War with God" and "Tell it Like it Is," but he ruined it with this complacent single. Still, I'm hoping he'll make me proud and empty the vault on Release Therapy.
	08.17.2006	Weekly Contest: OutKast's "Idlewild" Giveaway I was gunning for a Rick Ross Port of Miami CD contest this week, but when the mighty 'O''s camp makes you an offer at the last minute, you take it. In conjunction with the good folks over at Special Ops Media, I've decided to reward five people with "Idlewild" CDs, T-shirts, and posters. All you have to do is answer three super easy questions: 1.) In the "Idlewild" movie, Antwan Patton plays the character named __________,while Andre Benjamin plays________2.) Name OutKast's firs...
	08.16.2006	Cuban Linx 08-16-06: Caught Out There Lil' Kim fresh off house arrest.-Rick Ross "hustles" his way to the top of Billboard. Now all he has to do is "Push It" to platinum.-Beyonce leads MOBO Awards nominations. How so? What has she done lately?-Is Kelis cheating on Nas?-MTV bans The Pack's "Vans" video. Received an email about this yesterday and couldn't help thinking WTF!! I mean, I just started digging the video.-"Give Houston a second chance" - Beyonce's dad.-YouTube plans to have every music video ever created within the next 18 ...
10	Wisdump
	08.16.2006	Following Trends and Being the Trend Great businessmen know how to follow the trends and strike when the iron is hot. However, great minds follow their own beliefs and trends seem to follow. You see it in the fashion world all the time, one person can wear their collar up and it seems to catch on all over the place. Is [...]
	08.08.2006	Developing Traffic Developing traffic is a fine art on the web. Sometimes we get lost in the fact that just because it is easy to build a website it does not mean that it will be easy for people to find it. When it comes to personal sites, maybe it is not your goal to have a [...]
	08.07.2006	The People Web Last week’s Women 2.0 seemed to strike a nerve with a lot of people and most of them were women. Glad to see the fellas jump onboard, but I digress. Two comments about 9rules and myself struck a nerve with me this weekend and it made me realize how much people still don’t get the [...]
	08.03.2006	Women 2.0 Something interesting happened to me the other day. While I was browsing around the web reading all the great Web 2.0 sites out there, I realized that a majority of these applications cater to men. Not because of the purpose that they serve since they are “made” for all sexes, but being designed, programmed and [...]
	08.01.2006	ScrivsTyme 2.0 Hot on the heels of the recent Wisdump redesign I figured I would take the design momentum over to ScrivsTyme (ST) and finally give it the much needed facelift that it has been crying for. The previous version, aka DooDooBrown, was just horrendous to look at both aesthetically and from a structural standpoint. It was [...]

Conyers on warrantless eavesdropping by NSA

2006-08-19T10:06:00.000-04:00

Congressman John Conyers is speaking out in support of the landmark ruling by a Federal Court judge to protect American civil liberties from the Bush Administration's ever increasing power. Below is an article by Representative Conyers regarding a federal judge who ruled warrantless eavesdropping is unconstitutional, a conclusion shared by the vast majority of legal scholars. His comments are right on point!

Opinion

Conyers: Washington Post misses point on wireless eavesdropping

As you probably have heard, yesterday was a landmark in the effort to protect our civil liberties from the Administration's ever increasing power. A federal judge in Detroit ruled that the warrantless eavesdropping conducting by the NSA was unconstitutional, a conclusion shared by the vast majority of legal scholars outside of the Bush Administration. However, I am concerned about how some of the press is reporting on the decision. Compare the New York Times with the Washington Post. The President has been struck down again for overreaching in the so-called war on terror without a legal basis, yet the Washington Post editorial board dismisses this monumental moment to complain about style over substance.

In fact, they acuse Judge Diggs of being "long on throat clearing sound bites." They go on to cite only two sentences. Yes, two sentences out of 44 pages. As a lawyer myself, and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, I can assure the editorial board that most judges use rhetoric and it has nothing to do with the strength of their legal reasoning.

I am also surprised that after clearly denouncing the program as illegal as early as January of this year, and noting how tenuous the Administration's arguments were, that they are now surprised to hear a judge agree. Suddenly, the fight over illegal wiretaps is no longer "frivolous."

Of course the government "vigorously disputes" the ruling. That is the definition of litigation and does not confer merit to their argument.

And they could vigorously dispute that the sky is blue. It doesn't mean that the Washington Post has to report on it or give it so much merit just for trying to appear fair and balanced.

Politics and YouTube.

2006-08-19T07:44:00.000-04:00

YouTube.com has quickly became an Internet sensation. One of the most popular clips is titled "Dear Joe: A GOP Love Letter," it has been viewed more than 32,000 times since it was posted Aug. 1. The clip features dozens of conservatives such as Bill O'Reilly of Fox News and religious broadcaster the Rev. Pat Robertson praising Mr. Lieberman.

I told you this guy is no Democrat! The Republicans love him.

Racism impacts on New Orleans recovery effort says Mayor Nagin.

2006-08-18T20:56:00.000-04:00

Racism continues to rear it's ulgy head in New Orleans.

Enlarge Photo

Nagin blames delays on racism, red tape

INDIANAPOLIS - New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin on Friday blamed racism and government bureaucracy for hamstringing his city's ability to weather Hurricane Katrina and recover from the disaster that struck the Gulf Coast nearly a year ago. In remarks to the annual meeting of the National Association of Black Journalists, Nagin said the hurricane "exposed the soft underbelly of America as it relates to dealing with race and class."

Expert hopeful about New Orleans plan at New Orleans Times-Picayune
Review of key indicators of recovery in New Orleans at Brookings Institution
Katrina Timeline at New Orleans Times-Picayune

Can the Blackwell Machine count the votes fairly in Ohio?

2006-08-17T10:35:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: The Washington Post reports Republican Secretary of State Ken Blackwell is trailing Democratic Rep. Ted Strickland by 20 points in the race for governor of Ohio, there was dismay but no shock among his fellow Republicans. Now the question is can we trust the voting results?

After votes were suppressed in Florida and Ohio during the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, Salon and (hat tip) Raw Story warns that four additional states could see voters prevented from casting ballots, with the greatest impact felt by Democratic candidates.

The report shows business as usual in Ohio where gubernatorial candidate and current Secretary of State Ken Blackwell has pushed regulations working to hinder voter registration efforts in the state. Similar efforts are afoot in Florida, as well as new authority for partisan pollwatchers to challenge the registration of individual voters.

Salon: Voter suppression efforts seen in six states

But it is in four new states where Salon emphasizes new troubles might break out:

In Arizona, legislation that requires proof of citizenship to vote is taking a toll beyond the illegal immigrants it seeks to keep out of polling places.

In Indiana, difficulties in securing state identification have complicated the ability of many to register to vote.

In California, problems have been identified with electronic voting machines, and the consolidation of statewide voter registration lists is being used to bar voters from the rolls.

In Missouri, rigid ID laws for voters are seen to be targeting minority voters likely to vote against Republicans.

We will have to see how this plays out. Don't expect the Bush Justice Department to do anything. Where are the watch dog groups when you need them? Thank goodness for blogs.

Lynn Swann gets campaign support from Bush

2006-08-17T01:15:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: The headlines read "Lynn Swann, Happy to Be on the President's Team". When a read those headlines I said, "this guy Swann has got to be one real idiot" but I guess that's why he is down by 20 percentage points. You see Lynn Swann is politically stupid enough to think the President has coat tails. Lynn Swann must be placing his head in the dame sand. Has he not read the polls? High gasoline prices, flat wages, the Bush war in Iraq, all have left most Americans pissed off if not anxious.

Enter in-experienced Swann, a Republican, who is facing a 20-point deficit and a huge fundraising gap in his race against incumbent and popular Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell. A recent Poll indicates Swann Gained No Ground on Rendell the 2006 Pennsylvania Governor Poll shows Rendell holding big lead in race for governor.

Wth all the polls showing he is done like a Thanksgiving "turkey"Lynn Swann says, I'm Happy to be on the President's team". Although Bush has Helped Swann Raise Campaign Cash.

Donors paid $10,000 per person or couple for a private reception and photo opportunity with the president, and $650 a person or $1,000 for a couple for a general reception. Swann campaign spokesman Leonardo Alcivar said the event raised about $700,000.

Most of the donors probably know Swann has no chance of winning the election, they just wanted have a photo op with Bush.

I guess it will be a swann song come November for Mr. Swann during his concession speech.
Hopefully one of Bush's speech writers are preparing now. Candidly, Swann seems like a nice guy, he just should have stayed out of politics and coached football. He was a better football player than a politican.

Bush Administration: No Thanks Jesse

2006-08-16T16:52:00.000-04:00

I just read about Rev. Jesse Jackson attempts to negotiate the release of prisoners in the custody of Hezbollah and Israel. Mr. Jackson has been speaking to Israeli and Syrian ambassadors in Washington, D.C. All headline news.com reports he said, "The cease-fire is a step in the right direction... Release of prisoners would reinforce the positive direction." Jackson spoke by phone to Israeli ambassador Daniel Ayalon, and asked his government to consider "some exchange of prisoners" as a goodwill gesture. He appealed for Israel to go ahead with the release if "there is movement on the two abducted Israelis." Afterwards, he called Syrian Ambassador Iyad Moustapha. Jackson says, "I asked him to make an appeal to his president, Bashar Assad, on a humanitarian basis to appeal to whoever is appropriate, maybe Hezbollah, to seek the whereabouts and grant the release of the two Israeli soldiers." He adds, "He was positive and said he would convey the message." Jackson says he was unable to get details about the health of the prisoners, but he did get the impression they are "all right." In the past, Jackson has successfully negotiated the release of Americans and others held hostage or prisoner in Syria, Cuba, Iraq and Yugoslavia.

African American Political Pundit says: It's unfortunate the Bush Administration is not interested in Rev. Jackson's services. White House Press Sec. Tony Snow indicates the United States has a diplomatic team responsible for these types of diplomatic negotiations. "As if" the Bush administration has created great respect within middle east countries. Maybe it is appropriate for Rev. Jackson to go to the middle east. It is one of the best things he does other than...running his mouth.

U.S. Senator calls campaign worker a " Macaca " meaning "monkey" then apologizes

2006-08-16T10:16:00.000-04:00

Racism is alive and well in virginia - Welcome to America!

Here we go again, The Washington Post reports that Sen. George Allen on Tuesday sought to contain the political damage from remarks he made to a Fairfax County man that dredged up charges of racial insensitivity -- allegations that have dogged him for years as governor, senator and now presidential hopeful.Despite a quick apology Monday, criticism poured in about Allen's use of the word "Macaca" to address a volunteer for the campaign of his Democratic opponent, James Webb, and also about another Allen comment, "Welcome to America."

The question was fiercely debated all day: Was "Macaca," which literally means a genus of monkey, a deliberate racist epithet or a weird ad-libbed word with no meaning? And what was Allen trying to say by singling out the young man of Indian descent?

Enter, Allen's defenders rushed to his side, saying the comments, though careless, do not reflect what is inside the senator's heart. Whatever! The inside of his heart is reflected in his racist words.

It's interesting that the Washington Post reports a new study showing that more than one million immigrants now live in the Washington, D.C., metro area—with probably half of them, roughly, living in Virginia.

Allen's racist immigrant-baiting comments can be viewed as either just another racist comment from a racist U.S. Senator, or as reflecting a calculation that anti-immigrant sentiment in Virginia can win him the election.

African American Political Pundit says: As governor, senator and now presidential hopeful Sen. George Allen has represented Virginia's racist past not Virginia's growing and changing future.

Sen. Allen needs to address his racial bigotry which has dogged him throughout his political career. This man is living in the J.B. Stoner 1950's.

Has Israeli Apartheid policies come back to haunt Israel on the battlefield?

2006-08-14T10:20:00.000-04:00

"They are the best guerrilla force in the world."

I'm reading this article on how battlefield resilience and unusual combination of zeal and disciplined military science has provided Hezbollah's the staying power on the battlefield.

The Washington Post article reports the conclusions of a Lebanese specialist who has sifted through intelligence on Hezbollah for more than two decades and strongly opposes the militant Shiite Muslim movement. The specialist says the fighters' Islamic faith and intense indoctrination reduced their fear of death, giving them an advantage in close-quarters combat and in braving air strikes to move munitions from post to post.

As I read the article, I wondered if their reduced fear of death had anything to do with Israeli Apartheid policies against the Palestinians, the building of Berlin type walls, or the continued, unrelenting dropping of (American tax payer) bombs on Lebanon's civilian population. As I read comments by Brig. Gen. Ido Nehushtan, a member of the Israeli army's general staff, when he said, "If you are waiting for a white flag coming out of the Hezbollah bunker, I can assure you it won't come," said in a briefing for reporters in the northern Israeli village of Gosherim. "They are extremists, they will go all the way."

I wondered, has Israeli Apartheid policies come back to haunt Israel on the battlefield.

African-American Republicans running for State-Wide office in record numbers

2006-08-13T15:07:00.000-04:00

Ok, I guess I will call it equal time. Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Washington Correspondent also reports Black Republicans are running serious races on statewide tickets. On May 2, Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell was picked by Republicans as their gubernatorial candidate over Attorney General Jim Petro 56 percent to 44 percent. In November, Blackwell will challenge U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland, who defeated former state Rep. Bryan Flannery in the Democratic Primary the same day.Blackwell played a major roll in Bush’s controversial win in Ohio in the 2004 election. He was sued after an organization found that Ohio election officials had, in violation of state law, informed former felons that they could not vote. As a result of the suit, 34,000 former felons were notified that they had the right to vote.

Voters also complained that Blackwell failed to provide enough voting machines, causing some in Black and Hispanic communities to stand in lines for as long as 10 hours. Also, 95,000 votes were invalidated after being wrongly placed in machines by Hispanics who received no assistance with their language difficulties.

Still, Bush’s win in Ohio is - in part - attributed to a Blackwell-led referendum to prohibit same-sex marriage. According to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank, approximately 16 percent of Ohio’s Black population (90,000 voters) supported Bush.

In February, Lynn Swann, the former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, was chosen by Republicans as the Party’s nominee for Pennsylvania’s governorship. Recent polls show Gov. Ed Rendell well ahead of Swann, including a Quinnipiac University poll, showing him leading Swann by as much as 22 percent, with a margin of error of only 3 percent.

Also, Maryland’s Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele is a leading candidate for the U. S. Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D).

Republican Kay Coles James, who has served in several high-level Republican appointments, including former director of the federal Office of Personnel Management in the Bush administration, says the fact that Blacks have already won state party primaries underscore the party’s seriousness about Black candidates. Still, she acknowledges that Blacks are skeptical of voting Republican.

“You don’t have to give up anything,” she says. “I think that has to do with sort of the stereotype that people have of parties. It has to do with stereotypes that people have of conservatives or liberals because, quite frankly, the Republican Party is as diverse in its opinions on almost any issue that you raise as the Democratic Party is,” James says. “There are Black Republicans who are in favor of affirmative action and who are against it. There are pro-choicers and Black pro-lifers who are Republican and Democrat. I mean, you can’t just make those sort of broad, sweeping statements any more. I’m not sure you ever could.”

African-American Democrats running for State-Wide office in record numbers

2006-08-13T15:04:00.000-04:00

Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA Washington Correspondent reports there are 13 Black Democrats running in statewide races. In Georgia, Angela Moore is running for secretary of state and Mike Thrumund for commissioner of labor; in Iowa, Sal Mohammad for governor; in Illinois, Jesse White for secretary of state; in Massachusetts, Deval Patrick for governor; in Maryland, Arthur Brown and Stu Stims for lieutenant governor and Kweisi Mfume for senate; in Michigan, Mary Waters for secretary of state and Amos Williams for attorney general; in Mississippi, Erik Fleming for Senate; in New York, David Paterson for lieutenant governor; in Ohio, Ben Espy for supreme court and Barbara Sykes for auditor; In South Carolina, Cheryl Footman for secretary of state and in Tennessee, U. S. Rep. Harold Ford for the Senate.

Condoleezza Rice and her chance to be U.S. President

2006-08-13T14:49:00.000-04:00

Repost

African-American Political Pundit says: Skeptical Brotha is “no joke” regarding his opinion. Check out his opinion about Condoleezza Rice and her chance to be U.S. President below or at his blog: skeptical brotha

Whoever believes in this fantasy really needs to see a shrink, pronto. Or, more likely, rehab. The Republican Party will never turn to a black woman no matter what her qualifications or ideology may be. Let me qualify that by saying emphatically that I didn’t mean to imply that Condoleezza is qualified. She Ain’t. I am just a little exasperated by the right wing cheering squad for the GOP stable of sycophantic Negroes. Condoleezza’s detestable domestic politics and international war crimes are enough of a disqualifier. Being a handkerchief head Negress is just the icing on the cake. Condi will never be President. Don’t wish for it. God help us if her narrow behind ever alights in the Oval Office.

skeptical brotha

Patrick Riding High in Massachusetts

2006-08-13T14:27:00.000-04:00

Deval Patrick

African American Political Pundit says: I read the Groff/Ellison Political Report regarding political campaigns throughout the U.S. I found this post interesting regarding my home state of Massachusetts and the campaign of Deval Patrick. The folks at Groff/Ellison Political Report are on point regarding the Massachusetts campaign of Deval Patrick.

This political race is a sleeper, but it will be the big news on November 8th.

Read what the Groff/Ellison Political Report report has to say:

As the campaign season jumped this year in earnest, many political observers said Harold Ford, Jr., Kenneth Blackwell and Lynn Swann were the big names to watch.

Very few people mentioned Deval Patrick. The former US Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights in the Clinton administration was seen as a long shot in his ambitious bid for Governor of Massachusetts.

Running against the current state Attorney General and a big money venture capitalist, Mr. Patrick was an unmistakable under-dog at the time, with heightening odds stacked against him.

But as the campaign stumped through the streets, neighborhoods and towns of the Bay State, something unusual happened. Patrick’s community and opportunity themes resonated heavily with Massachusetts Democrats. and his poll numbers began to rise. By June, signs of Patrick as a serious contender began to surface, with Patrick looking more credible … and much more gubernatorial. He wowed the faithful at his state party’s convention with a speech on “Politics and Hope.”

Riding the wave of what the Boston Globe called the ” … day’s most enthusiastic response” Mr. Patrick secured the top line on the September 19th primary ballot by winning 58% of the vote.

Besides winning the coveted top line at the convention, Mr. Patrick leads most primary polls and mock match-ups with presumptive Republican nominee Lt. Governor Kerry Healey.

In fact, recent polls show Patrick leading Attorney General Thomas Reilly by an average of 9 points, and businessman Chris Gabrieli by over 12 points. In a fall showdown with the Lt. Governor, Patrick leads by an average of 14 points in the last three polls. That 14 point advantage is a tremendous boost to the Patrick campaign, averaging higher than either AG Reilly or Gabrieli leads in potential match ups with Healey. It may also galvanize anti-Republican sentiment in that state.

If the polls prove correct, the big name on November 8th may very well be that of Deval Patrick .

Israeli Apartheid

2006-08-13T14:20:00.000-04:00

Repost

African-American Political Pundit says: As usual Bruce Dixon and the team at blackcommentator.com key in on critical issues that Bush, other opinion makers and a majority of the gutless Congressional Black Caucus fail to address: Israeli Apartheid.

Teflon Jefferson has a dozen people seeking his seat

2006-08-12T22:52:00.000-04:00

Well, well, its time for Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-La.) to face voters and a dozen challengers in his bid for reelection, including some well-known Louisiana names. The Washington Post is reporting when the 5 p.m. filing deadline for the November election passed yesterday, eight Democrats, three Republicans and one Libertarian had filed to run against the eight-term incumbent, a sharp contrast to two years ago, when he faced one challenger. You remember Rep. Jefferson, the target of an FBI investigation. The Rep. who was more interested in filling his freezer with $90,000 of bribe money.

Under Louisiana election law, all the candidates will appear on the Nov. 7 ballot. If no one receives more than 50 percent of the vote, the two top vote-getters will appear in a runoff election Dec. 9. The Washington Post reports New Orleans is still reeling from the effects of Hurricane Katrina and many candidates said this week that they plan to focus on the city's recovery and Jefferson's performance. Focusing in on Jefferson's most recent performance should be no problem. The candidates include state Sen. Derrick Shepherd (D), state Rep. Karen Carter (D) and former state representative and New Orleans City Council member Troy Carter (D), all whom are very skilled at addressing the needs of New Orleans and Jefferson's performance, or lack thereof.

“Black Flight” from Birmingham

2006-08-12T09:17:00.000-04:00

City's black familes leaving for suburbs

Here is an article about black familes moving from core neighborhoods of Birmingham and moving to the suburbs. Hat tip, Honza Prchal, publisher of Pros and Cons for sending this article. This has been going in many cities including Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., San Francisco Bay Area and New Orleans - its called gentrification.

Pros and Cons is a progressive yet conservative blog with liberally applied thought about issues important to America.

Police Brutality in Chicago Then and Now

2006-08-11T20:06:00.000-04:00

African-American Political Pundit says:

I Just finshed reading two articles about Chicago and wondered if there is any connection between a recent shooting of a 14 year old by police in Chiacgo and another article.

The first article is about a young 14 year old boy and a group 0f 150 residents who marched from Chicago's infamous Cabrinit Green housing to attempt to meet with the mayor. The Chicago Tribune reports that this march was protesting police brutality and was a successful show of unity, organizers said.

Tribune reports that on Thursday after about 150 people rallied at City Hall, though they did not learn more details about the shooting of a 14-year-old boy by police. The group marched one-and-a-half miles from Cabrini-Green to the mayor's office. Since Ellis Woodland was shot Monday near the housing complex, several community members have wanted to know what witnesses told officers--particularly if the boy was surrendering his own weapon when he was shot.

The victims 7th grade teacher, Monique Redeaux, 23, said she was drawn to the march because she believed officials were attacking the character of a soft-spoken pupil who made good grades.
This is a case in which the teen was shot after officers were flagged down by a juvenile near Cabrini-Green at about 5 p.m. Monday, saying two teens had tried to rob him. When officers confronted Woodland, the boy refused orders to stop, instead pulling a gun from his pocket, police said. An officer shot him.

Police later discovered the weapon was a BB gun, which looks similar to a 9 mm.Woodland was shot in the abdomen and thigh, along with a graze wound. His uncle said the boy has a colostomy bag after a Wednesday surgery at Children's Memorial Hospital.

Was this incident police brutality or just stupdity on the part of the 14 year old boy?

Now lets go back 20-30 years, and jump forward again, same city, same neighborhoods, same poverty, same police department, same black communities, more black politicans, same Mayor (ok it's a family thing).

Different Newpaper articles and different reports on a history of police brutality against Chicago blacks. You get the picture. Here's the headlines, Special prosecutors said today that scores of criminal suspects were routinely tortured by police officers on the South Side in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but that extensive legal research convinced them that there was no way to skirt the statute of limitations preventing prosecution.

My question is are these stories of yesterday and today somehow connected? I guess everything has changed and nothing has changed - Same Brutality. What ever happened to U.S. Justice? Oh yeah, We are fighting wars all around the world. ooops... We don't have time to think about injustice in America.

Read more about Chicago police Torture:

Report on Chicago Police Torture Is Released - New York Times

Prosecutors said today that scores of criminal suspects were tortured by police officers in the 1970’s and 1980’s.

NPR : Chicago Police Torture Deemed Too Old to Act On

Members of the Chicago police routinely tortured suspects, predominantly black men, during the 1970s and '80s, special prosecutors say in a new report ...

Chicago Police Torture Exposed—And Upheld

Chicago Police Torture Exposed—And Upheld ... On July 19, the findings of a four-year investigation into police torture in Chicago were made public. ...

United Press International - NewsTrack - Report finds police ...

Report finds police torture in Chicago. CHICAGO, July 19 (UPI) -- A 4-year investigation by special prosecutors has found a fired Chicago police commander ...

Racism, Politics, Palestinians and Condoleezza Rice

2006-08-09T22:47:00.000-04:00

African American Poltical Pundit says: The attacks on the Bush administration's Middle East policies in the Arab press are getting really ugly. And really personal. They include personal insults and racial slurs aimed at Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. One of the cartoons depict her pregnant with an armed monkey. Under the Cartoon it reads, "Rice speaks about the birth of a new Middle East," the cartoon's caption reads, referring to the secretary's recent remarks about the "birth pangs" of the region. The image, as well as words such as "raven" and "black spinster" to describe Miss Rice, appeared in Palestinian newspapers. Enter, Members of the black leadership network Project 21 , a group of conservative Republicans who are rightfully condemning the racist depictions of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. While sparing no criticism of these depictions, Project 21 members point out that such despicable criticism of Secretary Rice on the part of the Arab press might not have come so easy had she not already been the target of similar racial attacks by American cartoonists and pundits.

Read more about this and what people are saying about these cartoons >>>

See more cartoons below

Sources:

Project 21

pmw.org

US Newswire : Releases : "Black Activists Condemn Racist Rice ...

Palestinian cartoon racially insults Rice - World - The Washington ...

All Things Conservative: Palestinian Racism

American Renaissance News: Palestinian Cartoon Racially Insults Rice

[Condoleezza as bomb, Al-Hayat Al-Jadida 9 February, 2006]

[On spray can: "Exterminator". Arrow: "The new way"
On arm band: "The Middle East". Al-Hayat Al-Jadida November 21, 2004]

[Al Quds 7 April, 2005]

[Condoleezza as statue of liberry Fighting terror, Al Quds]

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman loses but this "closet Republican" is no independent

2006-08-09T10:24:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Closet Republican, Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) lost the Democratic Senate primary Tuesday night. His loss to Ned Lamont was a referendum on the Joseph Liebermann support for the Bush Iraq war. Now Liebermann says he plans to run as an independent in November. He also predicts that he would be returned to the Senate for a fourth term. This is the same Senator that predicted he would win the Democratic Primary, predicted he would be Vice President of the United States and predicted that we would find Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's) in Iraq. Whatever!

This "closet Republican" lost the election because of his "blind faith" in Bush and his support of the Bush war in Iraq. End of story.

Candidly, I'm glad he lost. He was no Democrat and he is no independent. I hope other "closet Republicans" and other politicans both Democrat and Republican who support the Bush War in Iraq feel the wrath of the African-American voters in November.

Loser:

Joe Lieberman. Obviously. An 18-year incumbent, former vice-presidential nominee, swimming in money and establishment backing, and he claims a moral victory for not getting blown out of the water? Bonus points for still keeping the "my crappy site was hacked" storyline.

Losers

Republicans. They're going to do some silly press conference on Wednesday claiming the Democratic Party is held in thrall by craaaazy people who agree with, um, 2/3rds of the American people on Iraq. If they want to make a big deal and remind people they have no exit strategy for Iraq, then by all means, therein lies the path to bizarro 1994.

If they really thought Lieberman losing was such a bad thing for the Democratic Party they wouldn't have gone out of their way to prop him up. Instead, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, the wingnutosphere, several Republican congresscritters, and the GOP's Big Money all rallied around their man. This is not a happy day for them.

Cynthia McKinney loses Georgia primary to Hank Johnson who is no conservative

2006-08-09T09:31:00.000-04:00

African-American Political Pundit says: Democrat Cynthia McKinney, lost her primary run-off race yesterday for a number of reasons including,

1. The incident, in which she poked a police officer who stopped her at a checkpoint after failing to recognize her
2.A successful national political effort to discredit her performance as Georgia's first African American congresswoman as McKinney has been a critic of the Bush administration and the war in Iraq.
3. An inability to galvanize supporters because of number 1 and 2.

This has been a basic ABC loss for McKinney. Even her campaign manager, John Evans, blamed the loss on the ABC -- Anybody But Cynthia -- strategy."It's over," he said. "Folks just beat us. They got a lot of white votes, a lot of Republican votes and they took some of our votes where we have been stable." McKinney may be out but Hank Johnson will represent his district well. His political stance appears to be the same as Mckinney regarding Bush administration policies towards African-Americans and the war in Iraq.

McKinney was defeated but Hank Johnson is no conservative and no Bush kiss-up

As reported in the nation DeKalb County Commissioner Hank Johnson -- in Tuesday's Georgia Democratic primary Johnson's objections to McKinney's reelection focused largely on personal controversies rather than her political stances. While McKinney was the more progressive contender in the Atlanta-area race, Johnson was no conservative. As reported in the nation Here's some of what Johnson said during the campaign regarding the foreign policy: "The War in Iraq is and always has been a mistake, and I have stood by this position since before Day One. The alleged weapons programs and stockpiles simply did not exist, and it is unacceptable that we are now engaged in such unnecessary and destructive conflict. The human toll is tragic, the economic burden enormous, the erosion of international respect for our country devastating. This war is a product of irresponsible and inept leadership..."

Here's what Johnson, an attorney, had to say about civil liberties: "It's true that priorities shift during war. I understand that counter-terrorism agencies need the ability to more robustly protect us during these times. But our government is carefully crafted to protect our civil liberties and privacy issues raised by President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program: "It's true that priorities shift during war. I understand that counter-terrorism agencies need the ability to more robustly protect us during these times. But our government is carefully crafted to protect our civil liberties and our privacy. This protection depends upon respect for the Constitutional checks and balances that keep each branch of government in line. Among these checks is the requirement that the executive branch obtain a warrant from the judiciary before challenging our privacy.

"It's a simple matter of the rule of law," added Johnson. "And no one is above the law, not the Pentagon, not the Attorney General, not the President.As a Member of Congress, I will oppose any attempts to undermine the liberties and rights that make ours a free and civil society. There is a sensible balance between vigilance and intrusion, between security and tyranny, and we can find it.

Johnson will face Republican Catherine Davis in the November 7 election. The district is heavily Democratic, so Johnson is the favorite in November over Republican challenger Catherine Davis.
African-American Political Pundit wishes Hank Johnson well as he moves forward into the November 7 election.

Read what Mckinney haters from the Republican right are saying.

A few examples of what some liberals pass off as "tolerance".

2006-08-08T20:49:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Here is a conservative black republicans point of view regarding the Joe Liberman "Black Face" story. From wakeupblackamerica.

The story about Joe Liberman being defamed in black face gave me an idea. Some liberals would say that it's just an isolated thing, and that it's being blown way out of proportion. This is nothing more then a weak attempt at denial. I've gathered several pictures of black conservatives doctored by "tolerant" liberals. This is to show that Lieberman wasn't the first and said to say he won't be the last.

This picture was done by the "tolerant" liberal blogger Steve Gilliard about Lt. Governor of Maryland Michael Steele. This picture is of Michael Steele as a "minstrel".

The next picture is a cartoon of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas depicted as a "Lawn Jockey". The cartoon was created by "The Black Commentator" blog.

Are you sickened yet, wait I have plenty more. The next picture is of Ward Connerly being held up by strings with a super imposed face to resemble a "puppet". This picture is from a black radical liberal group BAMN "By Any Means Necessary". I guess ignorance is one of those means.

This is what the "compassionate" liberal cartoonist Ted Rall thinks of Secretary of State Condi Rice in one of his cartoons.

I haven't even scratched the surface. These are just the visuals of liberal racism. I could go into the verbal racist remarks made to black conservatives like Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson, Roy Inus, Star Parker and yes myself lol. 007 James Bond has a license to kill, because he is a secret agent. Do liberals have a license to be vile, ignorant, intolerant, close minded racist, because they are indeed liberals?

List of Black Conservatives Running Across America

2006-08-08T15:16:00.000-04:00

African American Political Pundit says: Here is a list of African-American conservatives running for key political offices around the country. It will be interesting to see how they fare in this falls mid-term elections .

This post should not be considered a political advertisement.

KEN BLACKWELL FOR GOVERNOR- State Of Ohio

KEITH BUTLER FOR U.S. SENATE - State Of Michigan

RANDY DANIELS FOR GOVERNOR - State Of New York

MICHAEL STEELE FOR GOVERNOR - State Of Maryland

LYNN SWANN FOR GOVERNOR - State Of Pennsylvania

SCOTT TURNER FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of California

EDDIE ADAMS FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Florida

CATHERINE DAVIS FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Georgia

DEBORAH HONEYCUTT FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Georgia

ERIC DICKERSON FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Indiana

RON MILLER FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Maryland

BOB PARKS FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Massachusetts

YVONNE BROWN FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Mississippi

SHERMAN PARKER FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of Missouri

ADA FISHER FOR U.S. CONGRESS - State Of North Carolina

JENNETTE BRADLEY FOR TREASURER - State Of Ohio

MICHAEL WILLIAMS FOR RAILROAD COMMISSIONER - State Of Texas

Joe on the ropes - may be next Defense Secretary

2006-08-04T20:25:00.000-04:00

I just read this post from the Liberal Journal which reports Joe Lieberman now agrees Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld should resign. The report is also covered in RAWSTORY.

Maybe Joe Lieberman should have resigned when he was running for president. That way he would have been part of the Bush administration after the loss. He was never a team player with Al Gore anyway. If by chance he lost the election, expect Joe Lieberman to be nominated as a replacement to Rumsfeld, then Israel will truly have total control of our military.

Black Voters should ask Sen. Lieberman, "what have you done for us lately".

2006-08-04T18:52:00.000-04:00

Well, well, Iraq war supporter, Senator Lieberman and his challenger Mr. Lamont are now courting African-American voters throughout the state of CT. Both have attended black churches on recent Sundays.

Although Senator Lieberman has received strong support from African-American voters in the past he may not get the same level of support with black voters this time. This is due to his support for Bush's war in Iraq and other policies which negatively impacted on black communities in CT and across the U.S.

Black voters will no doubt ask Sen. Lieberman, "What have you done for us lately." Whoever African-American do vote for, they (African-American's) should hold him accountable in keeping with the principles of the Covenant with Black America.

Iraq war veteran who lost an arm and leg mugged in Maryland

2006-08-04T14:22:00.000-04:00

This post is about *crime. It's about a disgusting crime in Maryland involving Mark Beyers, 27, an Iraq war veteran who lost an arm and leg in a roadside bombing was mugged during a night out from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in the District, where he is undergoing rehabilitation. You see mike myers was roughed up and robbed by five men as they left a Bethesda, Md., restaurant July 22. It was the couple's first night away from the hospital in three weeks.

African-American Political Pundit says: This is the type of senseless crime that pissing me the hell off. I can only hope that Bush will invite this couple to the White House to express our nation's apology. The Maryland Governor should do the same.

Slideshow: Pictures Of Marine Amputee & Wife

To read more about the incident visit: nbc4.com or Marine Double Amputee Mugged In Bethesda

Update

There is more. It appears the metro (Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia area are not upo to the job of protecting our gulf veterans. Check out what happened in Virginia as reported in the Washington Post.

Shooting Victim Had Served in Iraq - Police Probe Pentagon Row Slaying As Family Mourns 'Likable Guy'

Washington Post - An Arlington man who was shot to death outside the Pentagon Row shopping center early Friday was an Army veteran who participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, family members said yesterday. Spec. Paul Matthew Zeller, 24, joined the Army two weeks before the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A mortarman with the 82nd Airborne Division, he was honorably discharged in September 2004.

* There are other crimes, including the crime of sending this young man to iraq. but that's another post.

Amos Williams is a man with a purpose and mission.

2006-08-04T03:05:00.000-04:00

Amos Williams is a man with a purpose and mission. Who is Amos Williams? That's a good question. You see, Amos williams is a long distance traveler, who the Detriot Free Press reports has logged 23,000 miles on his new Buick Lucerne in five months while traveling across Michigan. Amos Williams is a highly respected and dedicated public servant seeking to unseat Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox.

Amos Williams is a lawyer and former Detroit police officer and a decorated Vietnam Vet.

When he was asked why he decided to make his first-ever run for political office, he says, "after watching Republicans in Washington and Lansing diminish civil rights and civil liberties".

I like this guy already!

If he's to face the Republican incumbent in November, Amos Williams first must win the Democratic nomination at next month's state party convention in Detroit. His Democratic opponent is former Kent County District Judge M. Scott Bowen.

This election and the Massachusetts governor's race may be the ones to watch!

I will be watching both campaigns.

Iraqi Mayor: Send me to Abu Ghraib - "just for the summer"

2006-08-04T02:56:00.000-04:00

I just read an interesting article about our soldiers and a small town in

Iraq

lying 35 miles upriver from Anbar's capital of Ramadi. The article, yes, in The Washington Post talks about a town called Hit. You see, hit is an ancient city known for its tar deposits and relatively educated population. But, as the Post reports, more than two years of warfare have dragged the town of 40,000 people back to the pre-industrial age.

The article goes on to say that all phone systems in Hit have been destroyed. The war has shut down industry, so at least 50 percent of the people are jobless and a quarter live in poverty. The town's bank holds no money. Fuel is scarce, and most of what is available is sold by insurgents at black-market prices, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials. The police disbanded more than a year ago and Hit still has no officers on the job, although a new force is in training.

Conditions in the city are so bad that Hit's mayor recently asked the U.S. military to send him to Abu Ghraib prison -- "just for the summer," he told one U.S. officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the topic. "You have air conditioning, three meals a day, soccer balls. Abu Ghraib is a nice place," the mayor said, according to the U.S. officer.

As I read the article, I thought about the Bush administration and democrats, yes democrats who support the war. Democrats like Senator Joseph Lieberman who have kissed up to Bush and have not joined in the call to bring our men and women home. I thought about a U.S. officer who, in the article put the situation in Iraq more bluntly: "Nobody wants us here, so why are we here? That's the big question," said Maj. Brent E. Lilly. Lilly leads a Marine civil affairs team that has disbursed many thousands of dollars for damage claims and projects in Hit, but is still mortared almost daily. "If we leave, all the attacks would stop, because we'd be gone."

Why are we still in Iraq?

"Republicans and Democrats are going to have to love their children more than they hate each other."

2006-08-03T16:00:00.000-04:00

As many have predicted sectarian violence in Baghdad is descending Iraq into civil war. In this bloggers humble opinion, most of it caused by the United States invading Iraq in violation of international law. Now Gen. John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East, told the Senate Armed Services Committee "I believe that the sectarian violence is probably as bad as I have seen it." Really???? Do you have to earn those stars to guess that one? Now here comes the chorus line. Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, also told the panel, "We do have the possibility of that devolving into civil war." Again is this rocket science?? Here's the killer, excuse the pun, the general says, "Shiite and Sunni are going to have to love their children more than they hate each other."

Whatever!

Guess what, Shiite's and Sunni's have never "loved" each-other (in the sense of the word) but they were not strapping bombs until the U.S. government came creating problems through the invasion. Well, taking from the Pentagon play book, I guess I can say, "Republicans and Democrats are going to have to love their children more than they hate each other."

Oh, thats right, our children are going to pay for the wars.

Visit my new Blog Platform at: http://AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.blogspot.com

Lieberman pissed off over blackface but not about war in Iraq

2006-08-03T14:24:00.000-04:00

The Washington Post reports Senator Joseph Lieberman is a little sh** faced over a blackface. A doctored photo of Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) in blackface that was posted by a blogger who has been an influential promoter of challenger Ned Lamont.

The post reports Lieberman angrily demanded that Lamont denounce the action and sever all ties with Jane Hamsher, the founder of the Web log Firedoglake, who posted the photo on another blog, HuffingtonPost.com.

African-American Political Pundit says: "I only wish the Senator could get as angry about the the war in Iraq (which he supports) and slaughter of Lebanese civilians. Its about time the Senator denounce both wars".

As you can tell, I'm not a supporter of Lieberman, I really think he is a "snake in the grass". But, in this situation blackface was not appropriate. It brings up old race issues. like, is Lieberman angrily demanding that Lamont denounce the action because he (Lieberman) would never want to have a black face (ouch)! Or is he (Lieberman) loving this because he (Lieberman) a white guy, can use the RACE CARD (double ouch)!

Think about that for a moment as you read other comments below:

Blogsphere:

Bloggers are generally saying the picture could be racist in nature. It's too bad they can't be united against war.

welcome to my new home.

2006-08-03T09:10:00.000-04:00

welcome to my new home. I have completed the migration of linking older posts to this blogger platform. With change comes opportunity. I have decided to take the opportunity to change the way my blog is structured. The blog will become more of a daily journal regarding my thoughts on current political events involving African-Americans throughout the U.S. I will post political news articles, videos, and comment on politics, screwed up politicians, good politicians (which will probably be very rare) and things that piss me the hell off.

So... sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. and come back often.

P.S. If you don't like how I think or have issue with what I write, please feel free to comment and let me know what you think.

The “ethnic cleansing” of Southern Lebanon

2006-08-02T20:32:00.001-04:00

August 1st, 2006

African-American Political Pundit says, the writer of this article articulates much of the real disgust a majority of Americans feel towards our government as the Bush administration supports the “ethnic cleansing” of Southern Lebanon. Please read this article.

by Paul Craig Roberts

Gentle reader, do you know that Israel is engaged in ethnic cleansing in southern Lebanon?

Israel has ordered all the villagers to clear out. Israel then destroys their homes and murders the fleeing villagers. That way there is no one to come back and nothing to which to return, making it easier for Israel to grab the territory, just as Israel has been stealing Palestine from the Palestinians.

Do you know that one-third of the Lebanese civilians murdered by Israel’s attacks on civilian residential districts are children? That is the report from Jan Egeland, the emergency relief coordinator for the UN. He says it is impossible for help to reach the wounded and those buried in rubble, because Israeli air strikes have blown up all the bridges and roads. Considering how often (almost always) Israel misses Hezbollah targets and hits civilian ones, one might think that Israeli fire is being guided by US satellites and US military GPS. Don’t be surprised at US complicity. Why would the puppet be any less evil than the puppet master?

Of course, you don’t know these things, because the US print and TV media do not report them.

Because Bush is so proud of himself, you do know that he has blocked every effort to stop the Israeli slaughter of Lebanese civilians. Bush has told the UN “NO.” Bush has told the European Union “NO.” Bush has told the pro-American Lebanese prime minister “NO.” Twice. Bush is very proud of his firmness. He is enjoying Israel’s rampage and wishes he could do the same thing in Iraq.

Does it make you a Proud American that “your” president gave Israel the green light to drop bombs on convoys of villagers fleeing from Israeli shelling, on residential neighborhoods in the capital of Beirut and throughout Lebanon, on hospitals, on power plants, on food production and storage, on ports, on civilian airports, on bridges, on roads, on every piece of infrastructure on which civilized life depends? Are you a Proud American? More>>>

Source: yalibnan.com

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Reader Rant: yes i am a proud american– Pundit; your anti-semitism is showing–

2006-08-02T20:32:00.000-04:00

August 1st, 2006

Reader Rant - Goldman: yes i am a proud american–prouder than you must be with al sharpton and jesse jackson on your side–your anti-semitism is showing–

African-American Political Pundit responds

African-American Political Pundit says: Why is it anti-Semitism when people tell the truth? Is it because you can’t handle the truth, so you hide behind something in order to feel protected? Stop using the “anti-Semitism card” every time someone says something about our country. I’m probably more of an American than you could ever dream to be. My ancestors, like most African-American families, probably placed more honest work, blood, sweat and tears, into this American earth than you could ever understand or admit too.
So, Mr. “Goldman” you need to stop the “anti-Semitism card” garbage. That anti-Semitism card may have value in your circles. It comes up as an "in-valid card" here.

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Commentary: If Condi Rice is Incompetent as Secretary of State…

2006-08-02T20:26:00.000-04:00

July 31st, 2006

By: Deborah Mathis, BlackAmericaWeb.com

It was bound to happen that Condoleezza Rice’s magic would fade. She had a long honeymoon, but it may be over. Last week, Republicans — that’s right, Republicans — began whispering that the secretary of state was in over her head in dealing with the sticky, maddening, always impetuous Middle East. Some even tossed around the “I” word — incompetence.

I, for one, never believed Rice deserved to be the nation’s top diplomat, but not because she doesn’t possess the intelligence and experience for the job; I think she does. Rice is no Harriet Myers, who may well have lacked the chops to sit on the highest court in the land, especially considering she had never so much as presided over traffic court. It’s just as well that she slithered back to the White House counsel’s office to affirm more bum decisions by the client-in-chief.

Rice has the portfolio. Her academic credentials are strong and impressive. She certainly has the charm thing down. And she was, after all, national security adviser. The woman knows her stuff, no doubt. What makes her unfit as secretary of state is not that she doesn’t know what to do to make things better for global relationships, but rather that she doesn’t do it. The man who got her gig prefers dictation over diplomacy and lording over listening. It’s his way or the highway, and Condi Rice is his parrot. More>>>

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Lieberman a weasel?

2006-08-02T20:22:00.000-04:00

August 1st, 2006

African-American political Pundit says: The Washington Post ran a pretty interesting article about Senator Joe Lieberman’s eroding political base. The post article talks about how many democratic faithful are now supporting a political newcomer rather than Lieberman. It appears that many democratic voters in Joe Lieberman’s home district consider him a “liar” and a “weasel”.

I agree with the New York Times who endorsed his opponent (Lamont). However, I respectfully will not call the Senator a liar, but he does have a “weasel like” political approach. He is known around Democratic and Republican circles as a real kiss-up to Bush.

The N.Y. Times is right on the money; Senator Lieberman has offered the nation a “warped version of bipartisanship” by supporting Bush. The war in Iraq and Israeli incursion into Lebanon has been an economic boom for American bomb makers, Lieberman and his (American tax payer) bomb dropping friends in Israel, but a bust for American troops, innocent civilians, Iraqi’s, Lebanese women and children and the American tax payer.

He still supports Bush’s war policy today.

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The Republican Party and the African-American Vote

2006-08-02T20:18:00.000-04:00

July 31st, 2006

African-American Political Pundit says: This is for all of you Black Republican “haters”.

Here is a Black political history lesson for you from Mr. Carl Tate of The National Black Republican Association.

Source: National Black Republican Network

I. The History

Any discussion on the subject of the African-American vote has to begin with the Republican Party and its efforts on behalf of early civil rights. It is odd that a political organization founded to abolish slavery and combat inequality is now vilified as racist and elitist. Indeed, there are only two options for this change in perception, either the organization has genuinely changed or it is the victim of gross mischaracterization. I believe in the latter and intend to prove it by refuting the former.

From its very beginning the Republican fought for equality, coming into existence to combat “Slave Power,” (the influence Southern Democrats had over the nation). The first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, took the nation to war for the cause of freedom. Republicans successfully executed the civil war and in response drafted the Constitutional amendments that, for the first time, gave African-Americans the right to vote, access to the justice system and equality under the law. It should be noted that these constitutionally guaranteed rights and privileges were curtailed by the Democrats and their allies on the federal and state judicial benches.

Many Democrats and liberals of today love to whitewash the history of the Republican Party or they speak of the Republican Party betraying its history. Nothing could be further from the truth, the Republican Party continues to fight for equality and played a key role in the African American community’s struggle for real freedom in the twentieth century and beyond.

The Party worked with prominent African Americans such as Booker T. Washington to establish an efficient black workforce which in turn made up the backbone of the black economy. The Party stood up for African Americans in the courageous fight against southern lynching, while success in the Democratic Party was measured by how much an individual opposed rudimentary civil rights for African Americans.

While Republican Presidents, Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, were speaking against racial segregation and Jim Crow laws in the very heart of Dixie, the Democrats were marching arm in arm with their brethren in white sheets.

It was an economic depression that first changed the way African Americans voted and allowed the Democratic Party to claim that it had always been the defender of American blacks. It was a lie, but an effective one, that took advantage of a nation torn apart economically. With the end of the Great Depression and World War II, many African American returned to the Republican Party and a Republican President, Dwight Eisenhower, created the nation’s first civil right’s commission, granting prominent African American leaders their first opportunity to push for real civil rights reform (the commission was first chaired by then Vice-President Richard Nixon).

II. Civil Rights

The civil rights movement is generally believed to have begun during the 1950’s and ended sometime in the mid 1960’s, during which the Democratic Party claimed credit for killing southern Jim Crow laws. Again, nothing could be further from the truth. It was a Republican President who appointed a Republican ex-Governor Chief Justice of the Supreme Court who wrote the landmark civil rights decision in Brown v Board. It was a Republican effort in the United States Senate that gave the nation the first civil rights law since the end of the Civil War. As the 50’s made way to the 60’s the Democrats dug in their heels, and answered the Republican efforts on behalf of African Americans with a noxious document titled, “The Southern Manifesto.” The “Southern Manifesto,” called for massive resistance to civil rights for African Americans and proclaimed the supremacy of the white race; every one of the document signatories was a Democrat.

The 1960’s broke open the floodgates and the Republican Party was effectively robbed of its legacy. The Democratic Party was able to take credit for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, although it was Republican support that broke a Democratic filibuster in the United States Senate. The Democratic Party tagged the Republican Party with the label of racist, and extremist, although it was our Party that introduced the first civil rights laws in the nation’s history. It was our Party that stood up to Al Gore, William Fulbright, Robert Byrd, and Fritz Hollings. It was our Party that established government programs to aid black economic growth such as the Minority Business Agency. It was even our Party that forcefully backed affirmative action, through Nixon’s “Philadelphia Program.”

III. The Why

Now the Republican Party has the opportunity to reclaim our legacy in the area of civil rights and compete among the African-American vote. It’s extremely important that the Party do so, not only for its own success but for the success of African Americans. The Party as of right now has established a majority based on its support in the South. The South has allowed us to cobble together a conservative coalition and so long as the South stays in our column along with a “swing state,” the Party will be assured an electoral majority. The African American vote should play a key role in a strategy for victory. Take the state of Ohio for instance; in 2004 the state was won by President Bush by a margin of 120,000 votes with 16% of the state’s black vote. In 2000, President Bush won the state by a similar margin but with only 9% of the black votes. Clearly blacks made up for the ground Bush lost between 2000 and 2004 in Ohio. Similar results can be seen in Florida, another pivotal “swing state.”

The African American community needs the opportunity to have a real choice politically. Currently political realities have exposed blacks to the perils of being a marginalized constituency, completely shut out from influence and the reins of power. I liken the black today, to the union vote or the trial lawyers vote, all three have become pillars of the Democratic Party; political special interests that only receive marginal attention from a political party desperate to reclaim power. It amuses me when I read about the NAACP condemning Bush for refusing to meet with them because no one would say anything if he refused to speak before a convention of the AFL-CIO or the Trial Lawyers Association.

IV. The How

Hopefully, the reasons for a Republican outreach effort have been established, so what remains is the how. A few suggestions:

1) We must establish a set of policies, conservative policies, geared toward the African American community. A set of proposals modeled on the “Contract for America,” that includes:

Jack Kemp Style Free Enterprise Zones: eliminate corporate taxes in urban, economically depressed areas while offering additional incentives for businesses to move in and provide jobs for residents.

Faith-Based Initiatives: compile a list of the nation’s most successful faith based groups and tout their achievements in African American communities.

Free Education Zones: an expanded school choice program that would allow public funding for private schools and charter schools and close public schools that don’t perform well.

2) Emphasize the shared values of our Party and the African American community. Not only do we share a history, we share values with a deep connection to churches. Our Party fights against government intervention while standing up for traditional family values. The gains the Party has made in the African American community has been directly connected to our Party’s opposition to gay marriage, abortion and high taxes. I can’t tell you how many people I have spoken with at church or at my barbershop who talk the talk of a Republican but because of forty years of misinformation still vote as a Democrat.

3) And lastly, the Republican Party must keep the faith in its outreach efforts. The Party must be willing to spend the effort and time needed to compete among African American voters. We must be willing to defend our history and correct common misconceptions, in forceful language.

The Republican Party has a history it should be proud of and should never be afraid to defend its legacy. Much has been made of our southern strategy but that strategy allowed us to effectively integrate the south, electing President Nixon who swiftly enforced federal judicial rulings. Much has been made of “our” Confederate flag, but we were the ones who fought it when it was flown against union troops and we were the ones who fought it when Democrats hoisted it back atop their statehouse in the 1960’s. Both African Americans and the Republican Party have a historic opportunity and we both should take advantage of it.

Note: African-American Political Pundit is growing and we must move to a new Blog Platform.

Effective 8.7.06 my blog will be available at: http://AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.blogspot.com
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Intelligence reports indicate the leader of Hezbollah is hiding in a foreign mission in Beirut, possibly the Iranian Embassy

2006-08-02T20:16:00.000-04:00

July 31st, 2006

Intelligence reports indicate the leader of Hezbollah is hiding in a foreign mission in Beirut, possibly the Iranian Embassy, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.

Israeli military and intelligence forces are continuing to hunt for Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s secretary-general, who fled his headquarters in Beirut shortly before Israeli jets bombed the building last week.

“We think he is in an embassy,” said one U.S. official with access to the intelligence reports, while Israeli intelligence speculates Sheik Nasrallah is hiding in the Iranian Embassy.

If confirmed, the reports could lead to an Israeli air strike on the embassy, possibly leading to a widening of the conflict, said officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Foreign embassies are sovereign territory and an attack on an embassy could be considered an act of war.

Hezbollah leader said to be hiding in Iranian Embassy
Iran Focus, Iran - Intelligence reports indicate the leader of Hezbollah is hiding in a foreign mission in Beirut, possibly the Iranian Embassy, according to US and Israeli …

Hezbollah leader possibly hiding in Iranian Embassy
ShortNews.com, Germany - … at the possibility that Sheik Hassan Nasrallah, secretary-general of Hezbollah, has fled his headquarters in Beirut and is currently hiding at Iranian embassy. …

Iranian Embassy denies alleged Iranian support to Lebanese …
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran - under title ‘Diplomacy can stop the war’ to the effect that Iran supplies weapons to Hizbollah in Lebanon is utterly baseless,” Iranian Embassy said in a …

Nasrallah Said Hiding in Iranian Embassy
The Conservative Voice, NC - … On Thursday, some reports are advising that terrorist Hezbollah in Lebanon leader Hassan Nasrallah is holed up and hiding in Lebanon’s Iranian embassy. …

Canada: Iranian embassy whines about anti-Muslim bias
Judeoscope.ca, Canada - … locked up on trumped up charges of sedition, it is ruled by a gang of criminal Mullahs responsible for the death of countless Iranian childen, women and men …

Threat to US Embassy: Iranian mission denies report
Hindu, India - … Iran. The group has a history of strong enmity with Iran,'’ the Iranian Embassy’s press attaché, Saeid Asadi, said in a statement. …

Iran: Nasrallah not at Iranian Embassy in Beirut
IranMania News, Iran - … rejected the rumors being spread by the ‘Zionist’ regime suggesting that Hezbollah secretary general Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah is at the Iranian Embassy in Beirut …

Iranian embassy condemns Zionist regime’s aggression on Lebanon
Islamic Republic News Agency, Iran - Iranian Embassy in Ukraine released a statement on Thursday, condemning Israeli terrorist regime’s recent aggression on Lebanon which led to the martyrdom of …

The Dumbing Down of Black America by Black Media

2006-08-02T19:51:00.000-04:00

July 30th, 2006

African-American Political Pundit says: This article is right on point! I had to share it with you. Thank you black commentator.com for reprinting this article. This article originally appeared in the Atlanta Voice.

By Professor James Clingman, Jr.
Much of what I hear, see, and read in Black media these days is an insult to Black people. Entertaining to some, no doubt, but still insulting. Knowing that very few positive messages are coming from so-called “mainstream” media, you would think our Black media would take up the slack and do more to uplift, enlighten, and educate our people rather than acquiesce to the desires of those who control the vast majority of the media outlets in this country.

You would think that, at the very minimum, Black owned and operated media would make a firm commitment to smarten us up rather than dumb us down with silly, meaningless, empty messages and images that only capitulate to the status quo. You would think… But, as Brother Glen Ford of Black Commentator once chided me for wrongly assuming that Black-owned media are really Black conscious media, and for suggesting we secure more of the same, Black ain’t necessarily Black, is it?

Like many of our Black politicians, much of our Black media are really doing a job on us by keeping a wide range of Black folks, especially our children and young adults, uninformed, misinformed, and just plain dumb. Watch that (white-owned) outlet we call Black Entertainment Television; listen to some of the conversations on some of these so-called Black radio stations; read some of the absolute junk in some of our pseudo-Black newspapers, magazines, and websites. You will see that we are, as our elders used to say, “Going out of the world backwards.”

Having been a guest on many radio shows, and a several television shows, across the country, I can attest to the fact that there are media hosts who do not fall into the dumbing-down category. I desperately want to name them for you, but I know I will omit someone. If you really want to change the messages going into your brain, you can find them; it’s not that difficult to do.

One of the first things you can do is use your critical thinking skills to determine the validity and usefulness of what you listen to on these shows. Don’t just settle for the entertainment aspect. As a conscious person, ask yourself what the benefit is to listening or watching certain material. Remember: “Garbage in, garbage out.” If we are getting a daily mega-dose of nonsense, of falsehoods, of non-educational clap-trap and slap-stick, it’s no wonder we are so far behind in serious aspects of economic empowerment. It’s no wonder we seldom follow through with initiatives that will make us stronger, as individuals and as a collective.

In case you didn’t know, as Booker T. Washington once said, “There are some Negroes who don’t want the patient to get well.” They want us to remain psychologically crippled to keep us dancing to their beat and buy what they are selling. They want us to keep on bobbing our heads and shuffling our feet and guffawing throughout the day, oblivious to our plight and totally without a clue as to how to fix it. Thus, we get a barrage of jokes, self-deprecating comedy, and exploitation on television. We are on the receiving end of mindless “beats” that are pounded into our brains by 1200 watt speakers in the backseats of our cars. We are fed some of the most useless rhetoric, much of which is not even factual, by brothers and sisters on the radio who obviously have no idea what they are talking about. And, as we read our Black newspapers, we are ensconced in a lifelong dream of hitting the number, getting psychic readings, or checking our horoscopes before we make a move.

Even in the spiritual marketplace, we are the subjects, or should I say fodder, of hucksters who want to sell us God’s blessings, as if they have cornered the market on His grace. It’s fascinating that on Sunday mornings we can find a white “preacher” on BET selling us a quarter-ounce vial of miracle water that will cure sickle-cell disease, all for the low cost of $206.00. Of course, if you send him more money, well, you know the deal.

Brothers and sisters, isn’t it bad enough that we are being dumbed-down by white folks? Why do we except the same thing from our own people? We must do better than that. Take politics. What do you think of the statement attributed to the ex-footballer, Lynn Swann? “I certainly believe that George W. Bush is the most qualified and most credible candidate to fulfill the role as president of the United States.” Now, I didn’t hear Swann say that, I just read that he said it. But if he did say that, in light of what we have experienced over the past five years from the Bushman, why should anyone, Blacks especially, vote for Swann to be their governor?

We had better take stock of what is going on in this country, right in our own backyards. There are Black folks who control media outlets that do not operate in the best interests of Black people. Why would you support them – in any way? They do not want us to get well, nor do they care if we ever get well. The next time you find yourself wasting your valuable time ingesting their mind-numbing potion, remember this saying: “When the ax enters the forest, the trees view the handle as one of their own.” Just because it’s Black on the outside, doesn’t mean it’s Black on the inside.

James Clingman is an Adjunct Professor, Univ. of Cincinnati, Dept. of African American Studies on “Black Entrepreneurship.” He is the founder of the Greater Cincinnati African American Chamber of Commerce, served as its first Executive Director and President. Jim also writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column, Blackonomics, circulated via the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Watch for his column in your local newspaper. Jim also is the author of numerous books including the new book, Black O Knowledge. Contact him at P.O. Box 62642, Sharonville, OH 45262, (513) 489-4132 or visit his website at blackonomics.com.

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Politopics hating on Dick Gregory

2006-08-02T19:49:00.000-04:00

Politopics hating on Dick Gregory

July 30th, 2006

African-American Political Pundit says: Here is another Black Republican’s view of Dick Gregory. To bad she is so concerned about what others think. Dick Gregory has been doing “in your face” commentary before she was born. It’s too bad this silly women feels “embarrassed” when Dick Gregory calls it the way he sees it. Black and whites have known about Dick Gregory’s political commentary for years. Ms. Angela Winters just does not get it. Hatred of your own race is just as bad as hating whitey… Its all hate.

Source: politopics.com

politopics.com says:

And yes I do love me some Wonkette. The very slutty, foul mouthed site tells us Why Bush Only Gave the Second Most/Least Believable Speech at the NAACP Convention. They are funny, but come on. Who keeps inviting this guy? Or maybe he just invites himself. Is he supposed to be the entertainment and just doesn’t know it? I was at the National Association of Black Journalists conference last year in Atlanta and this joker went off buck wild on how horrible white people are, what they do to us and what they owe us. There were white folks all up and through that joint. White folks who believe in diversity or wouldn’t have been there otherwise. It was so embarrassing and quite a few people left. I left too. It’s just so tired. Blame whitey, yada, yada, yada.

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A blog to watch: Mirror On America

2006-08-02T19:47:00.000-04:00

July 30th, 2006

African-American Pundit says: Mirror on America is a web blog that asks critical questions & gives raw uncensored commentary. This blogger provides a blog without fancy graphics, and gimmicks. He concentrates on covering News, Race, Religion, Politics, Music, and anything on his mind in a straight forward way. Mirror on America is a blog to read. I read it every day.

African-American Political Pundit

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Massacre of Lebanon continues

2006-08-02T19:43:00.000-04:00

July 30th, 2006

More Than 50 Killed in Israeli Airstrike as the world looks on

34 Youths Among 56 Dead in Israeli Strike

Photograph by : AP Photo/Nasser Nasser

African-American Political Pundit says: The killing of more than 50 people, most of them women and children is just one of the many reasons for the Bush administration to call for a ceasefire. I’m in agreement with Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora who has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire as well as an international investigation into the Israeli massacres in Lebanon. It’s a disgrace Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is in Jerusalem conferring with Israeli officials (probably negotiating how to provide more bombs), maintaining her insistence that calls for a cease-fire in Europe and the Arab world are premature. But why should American’s be surprised at the Bush Administration? American’s voted him into office for a second term (or did they).

As the world looks on:

Agony over innocents
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia MOTHERS in shock embraced their dead children as rescue workers tackled the rubble and dust of buildings flattened by Israeli bombing raids on south Lebanon …

Airstrike hits peace hopes
The Australian, Australia PEACE talks were derailed yesterday when Israeli warplanes carried out the most deadly strike of the war, killing at least 54 refugees, including 37 children …

Red Cross: At least 56 killed in Qana strike
Hindu, India : An Israeli strike that devastated a building in Qana killed at least 56 people, including at least 34 children …

Slow, patient toil, and another body is found
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia RESCUERS clawed at the rubble with their hands in the wreckage until help came from the Red Cross, Lebanese Army and locally based UN peacekeepers after …

Israeli air strike kills 23 children
Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia - The deadly raid provoked outcry from world leaders and prompted the Lebanese Government to cancel a visit by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. … unday, smashing windows and ransacking …

Rice set to leave Jerusalem on Monday -official
Reuters AlertNet, UK - JERUSALEM, - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will return to Washington on Monday to focus on getting a UN resolution that will lead to …

Ceasefire calls grow after Israel raid kills 51 Lebanese
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - Beirut/Tel Aviv - An Israeli raid Sunday on a building sheltering civilians in a village east of Tyre killed 51 Lebanese, leading to calls for an immediate …

Analysis: Another massacre in Qana
Monsters and Critics.com, UK - By Sana Abdallah -AMMAN, Jordan (UPI) — Lebanese rescue workers, with Red Cross symbols across their vests …

Israel orders probe of Qana raid
Daily News & Analysis, India JERUSALEM: Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz on Sunday ordered the army to immediately investigate the raid on the Lebanese village of Qana that killed …

34 Youths Among 56 Dead in Israeli Strike
ABC News - A man looks at the bodies of Lebanese victims, recovered from the rubble of a demolished building that was struck by Israeli war plane missiles at the village …

Rice to Return to DC, Bypassing Beirut
Forbes - By KATHERINE SHRADER. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is abruptly breaking off her diplomatic mission …

Corpses pulled from Qana rubble
Daily Telegraph, Australia - By Hussein Saad in Qana, Lebanon. RESCUE workers placed the body of a girl on the ground and ran to search for more. They heaved …

34 Youths Among 56 Dead in Israeli Attack
ABC News - civil defense worker carries a body of a young Lebanese child recovered from the rubble of a demolished building that was struck by Israeli war plane …

Israel condemned as 50 die in rocket attack
Ireland Online, Ireland - Israeli missiles struck a southern Lebanese village today killing about 50 civilians – half of them children – when the building they sought refuge in …

Israeli attack draws outrage
Aljazeera.net, Qatar - Western and Arab leaders have condemned Israel ’s attack on a village in south Lebanon which killed at least 50 civilians, among them children, as protesters …

ngry Protesters Break into Beirut UN Building
Zaman Online, Turkey - By Anadolu News Agency (aa), Beirut. After Israel bombarded the Lebanese village of Qana, angry protesters broke into the UN building in Beirut. …

Lebanese Stage Mass Protest of Israeli Bombing of Civilians
Voice of America - By VOA News. Thousands of Lebanese demonstrators have joined angry protesters who broke into a UN compound in Beirut following a …

Israeli air strike kills 51
Sydney Morning Herald, Australia A Red Cross rescuer worker walks past dead bodies after Israeli air strikes on the southern Lebanese village of Qana. An Israeli …

Dozens Killed by Israeli Missiles in Lebanese Village
FOX News - QANA, Lebanon — Israeli missiles struck this southern Lebanese village early Sunday, flattening houses on top of sleeping residents. …

Analysis: A second Qana Massacre?
BBC News, UK - By Martin Asser. The southern Lebanese town of Qana is known for two events in history, and there could soon be a third as news comes …
Dozens killed in Lebanon air raid
BBC Bulgaria, Bulgaria - 6 hours ago
More than 40 people, including 20 children, have been killed in an Israeli air strike on the southern Lebanese town of Qana. Displaced …

Dozens killed, hurt in Israeli airstrike
Houston Chronicle, United States - By KATHY GANNON Associated Press Writer. QANA, Lebanon — An Israeli airstrike Sunday killed at least 50 people _ more than half …
Moms search for dead children
News24, South Africa - Qana - Mothers embraced their dead children in shock on Sunday as rescue workers tackled the rubble and dust of buildings flattened by Israeli bombing raids on …

Beruit

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Migrating Blog to new Blog Platform

2006-08-02T19:40:00.000-04:00

July 30th, 2006

Ok folks, I’m in the process in migrating over from my current blog platform to blogspot.

Over the past few months my traffic has increased 100 fold and I want to bring new resources, feeds, videos, and other content to my blog.
The migration should take a few days and should be completed by 8.7.06

There should be no interruption in the Blog itself.

The African-American Political Pundit Blog will stay operational on this WordPress platform until then.

After 8.7.06 my blog will be available at: http://AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.blogspot.com
or through http://AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.com

Keep on Blogging!

AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.com

This post migrated from AfricanAmericanPoliticalPundit.com WordPress platform on 7.3.06

Darryl Hicks’ Grassroots Campaign

2006-08-02T19:34:00.000-04:00

July 29th, 2006

African-American Political Pundit.com says: Darryl Hicks’ Grassroots Campaign for Georgia Secretary of State has not been getting a lot of national attention such as the Black Republican Senate Races in Maryland and Ohio but his election is just as important to the people of Georgia who deserve skilled leadership. His campaign is making in-roads across the state of Georgia (learn more) including a grass roots campaign that is based on the discussion of issues and not race. He has been aggressively pounding the pavement over the past 6 months, laying the critical foundation for his grassroots campaign strategy. Today, after returning home from his 5th tour of middle and south Georgia counties, Hicks is unveiling his impressive list of supporters. He continues to build personal relationships with an ethnically and politically diverse group of community and corporate leaders, as he has done throughout his campaign. Hicks says,“My grassroots beginnings have lead me to create my grassroots campaign – I believe the people have to know that they are electing someone who is just like them. “I believe we must give politics back to the people, and insist upon old-fashioned accountability.” Hicks, a former corporate executive, has more than twenty years of applicable experience and fully understands the administrative role and responsibilities of the Secretary of State’s office. He has spent the last 6-months reaching out to voters in 91 of the 159 counties in Georgia. With an “A” list of supporters signing on daily, his message of voter education and customer service resonates throughout the regions. “It is my goal to touch the people,” says Hicks. “I want them to know that I am here and available for them, and that is the type of service I will insist upon when I am Secretary of State.” Within the last few weeks, Hicks’ campaign has received key endorsements from Ambassador Andrew Young, the Macon Telegraph and the Thomasville Times Enterprise. Hicks said he is humbled by the groundswell of support he has received throughout his campaign. “I am very encouraged by the momentum we have gained in such a short period of time and with limited resources. We’re hoping that our efforts and messages will get the seal of approval from voters this Tuesday,” said Hicks. “I have faith in the voters of Georgia, that they will demonstrate complete confidence in me and my ability to deliver the services that they deserve.”

African-American Political Pundit says: I like Darryl Hicks because he is a true family man. I will be following this campaign on my blog.

Darryl Hicks and Family

UPDATE: Former UN Ambassador and Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young announced his official endorsement of Hicks as Georgia’s next Secretary of State. “I believe that Darryl is by far the best candidate for the job of Secretary of State,” said Young (learn more) Darryl Anthony Hicks was born in Atlanta, GA in 1963. He is the fourth of seven children born to Reverend Oscar and the late Mabel McCartha Hicks. In 1981, he attended Morris Brown College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting.

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Charles Barkley Eyes Run For Governor

2006-08-02T19:32:00.000-04:00

July 28th, 2006

Basketball Hall-Of-Famer Considers 2010 Alabama Race, Saying GOP ‘Lost Their Minds’

Former basketball star Charles Barkley says he’s switched political teams from Republican to Democrat and is again talking about running for governor in his home state, possibly in 2010.

“I really believe I was put on Earth to do more than play basketball and stockpile money,” said Barkley, who started his career with the Philadelphia 76ers. “I really want to help people improve their lives, and what’s left is for me to decide how best to do that.”

Barkley, a Leeds native who has been an NBA analyst with cable network TNT since his 2000 retirement, has been talking about running for governor of Alabama since he was playing with the Phoenix Suns in the 1990s. In 1995, he said he was considering running in 1998 as a Republican, but that never materialized.

Barkley continued to identify himself as a Republican until recently, when he switched parties. “I was a Republican until they lost their minds,” he said earlier this month. More>>>

Race matters in Brooklyn - Jewish candidate stirs up black area

2006-08-02T19:21:00.000-04:00

July 28th, 2006

Interesting issues of “race” in a political race in Brooklyn as a Jewish candidate stirs up Brooklyn Political scene.

Jewish candidate stirs up black area

Source:A Black man with a library

“Am I Black Enough For You?”

There goes the neighborhood. Black politicos have their collective underwear in a bunch after David Yassky announced he was running for the 11th Congressional District seat, now vacated by the retiring Major Owens. For those of you who don’t know, the 11th isn’t any old district. Representing parts of Crown Heights, Flatbush and Bedford Stuyvesant, it was one of the first districts created by the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which sent Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to Congress. Read More >>>

Why David Yassky can’t win

David Yassky.com

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African American (Black) Political Pundit

We have moved

Lashawn Barber: There’s a rage in Harlem!

Field Negro: Some of my best friends are white

website of the week

Token for the day: I Was invited boss!

Clinton meets with Lilly White Blogger Group in Harlem

Still updating the new blog site

Bush To America: Lets Torture our Enemies

Migration of African-American Political Pundit Blog

Maryland Senate Race "Grand Daddy of all primaries"

Fenty represents change in D.C. Election

Maryland may elect the country's first openly gay black state lawmakers

Jews need not apply?

Janet Jackson: "Hillary as President would be Great"

Killer Bag

Plastic bag art

Tight Brooklyn, NY Congressional Race

Jesse Jr. for Mayor of Chicago?

Ok, Now all the republicans are jumping ship.

Thoughts from Field Negro

Looney Coons. (The Coonies)

Buchanan: ‘The Country I Grew Up In’ Was ‘89 or 90 Percent White. I Like That Country’

Don't suicide bomb!

Hot Congressional Race In Maryland

No confidence in House, Senate , Rumsfeld or Bush

George Allen, and right wing wants this man to be president ?

Beyond Macaca: The Photograph That Haunts George Allen

Post Katrina: There's still no substitute for competence.

The Untold Story of Hurricane Katrina

White Lesbian Nominee to represent a historically black Birmingham district in the state legislature

Protestor to George Allen: "Have you ever used the N word ?"

Allen cancels event because of protesters

by kos

Sat Aug 26, 2006 at 05:11:07 AM PDT

Republican Bob Corker dodging debate against Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Harold Ford Jr.

Service in Iraq: Blacks have a death risk about 30 to 40 percent lower than that of non-blacks.

An American Disgrace - "Who is to blame for the violence in our communities?

Is Steele really gaining blacks' support ??

Virginia's Senator Apologizes for "offending" campaign worker

CBS Supports Racial Segregation 2006 style

Race, Racism, Survivor and CBS

Bush meets with Republican Supporter about "Those People" in New Orleans

Jefferson's Ever Shrinking Re-election Chances

Bushflash.com

Lynne d Johnson's "favorite of the moment blogs"

My Favorite Blogs

Sources Show with latest syndicated contentSort chronologicallyShow source titles only

Conyers on warrantless eavesdropping by NSA

Politics and YouTube.

Racism impacts on New Orleans recovery effort says Mayor Nagin.

Nagin blames delays on racism, red tape

Can the Blackwell Machine count the votes fairly in Ohio?

Lynn Swann gets campaign support from Bush

Bush Administration: No Thanks Jesse

U.S. Senator calls campaign worker a " Macaca " meaning "monkey" then apologizes

Has Israeli Apartheid policies come back to haunt Israel on the battlefield?

African-American Republicans running for State-Wide office in record numbers

African-American Democrats running for State-Wide office in record numbers

Condoleezza Rice and her chance to be U.S. President

Patrick Riding High in Massachusetts

Israeli Apartheid

Teflon Jefferson has a dozen people seeking his seat

“Black Flight” from Birmingham

City's black familes leaving for suburbs

Police Brutality in Chicago Then and Now

Racism, Politics, Palestinians and Condoleezza Rice

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman loses but this "closet Republican" is no independent

Cynthia McKinney loses Georgia primary to Hank Johnson who is no conservative

A few examples of what some liberals pass off as "tolerance".

List of Black Conservatives Running Across America

Joe on the ropes - may be next Defense Secretary

Black Voters should ask Sen. Lieberman, "what have you done for us lately".

Iraq war veteran who lost an arm and leg mugged in Maryland

Shooting Victim Had Served in Iraq - Police Probe Pentagon Row Slaying As Family Mourns 'Likable Guy'

Amos Williams is a man with a purpose and mission.

Iraqi Mayor: Send me to Abu Ghraib - "just for the summer"

"Republicans and Democrats are going to have to love their children more than they hate each other."

Lieberman pissed off over blackface but not about war in Iraq

welcome to my new home.

Sources