There have been a lot of stuff going on in the news that I've been itching to blog about but I've been out but here are my thoughts on some of the stuff:
Being "Young" Is Not An Apology: The three culprits who've been using this line are: Michael Phelps, Alex Rodriguez and Chris Brown. Phelps on the "bong" picture. Seriously, what was Phelps thinking? He was one of the most popular figures in the world last summer and something didn't click that this is a bad idea especially when he had a DUI four years prior after another Olympics. So what is the lesson here: Phelps need to find a hobby that wouldn't get him in trouble after the highs (no pun intended) of the Olympics.
The next is A-Rod who's straight up lying. He doesn't want to say the "S" (Steroids) word but he knew he's taking something as an athlete he doesn't know of for two freaking years. Come on! And when you look at the statistics of those years (2001 through 2003), A-Rod hit 20 more home runs more than the years he didn't juice. But he didn't know what he was taken . . . give me a break!
And Chris Brown, I'm just dumbfounded he'll lay a hand (allegedly) on a woman regardless of his age. Folks should stop justifying he's just 19. He needs some serious help and I'm a Christian but I don't think just speaking with a Pastor will cut it - he needs psychological help!
The OctoMom: St. Francis says we should "seek to understand rather than being understood" and the book of Proverbs states "in all thy getting, get understanding." Can I just say this: I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS WOMAN! I'm trying but I'm left scratching my head how a woman after six kids will have another eight without a husband or justifiable means to take care of the children. It makes absolutely no sense.
The NY Post Monkey Business: The NY post was in the wrong. I don't care if they tried to justify the cartoon about another monkey tragedy in Connecticut. If that was the case, then the cartoonist won't need to put a caption stating the stimulus bill because the reader would get it.
But the timing of this cartoon is just ill-advised considering its BLACK HISTORY MONTH and we have the first African American President. He-llo, are you guys thinking?
Also, for the cartoonist to try to justify the strange depiction by being sarcastic to ask if anyone would think he'll draw a cartoon showing the assassination of a President. Hmmm No, no one said that, we're saying you're showing a racist picture in a poignant time of history - GET THE PICTURE?
Welcome Madam Secretary: I'll end on a good note by seeing a new image on the world stage - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
What a defining and diplomatic image to show the world as Clinton exited off the plane landing in Tokyo with an Asian-inspired lining of her coat. America is BACK!
It finally happened after all the rumblings about President-Elect's National Security Team, with Sen. Hillary Clinton (Sec. of State) being the loudest one of them all. The positions included Attorney General (Eric Holder), Homeland Security (Janet Napolitano), Defense(Robert Gates), National Security Advisor (Gen. Jim Jones) and U.N. Ambassador (Susan Rice).
I've said it before (over a week ago) that I admire the positions though I was surprised with Clinton for Secretary of State (even though I believe she'll do a great job).
But my post today is really geared to the far-left liberals and there own rumblings about the way Obama is loading up his cabinet. Psss, liberals: How about we have a little conversation. You guys are beginning to bug me just like the ultra-conservative folks during the campaigning season.
There is a difference between how you campaign and how you govern. Some of you (liberals) still expect Obama to be doing the former instead of the latter. Say this after me: YOU GOVERN FROM THE CENTER!!! (One more time)
I'll give you a state example: Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican. But sometimes you may not know he is really a Republican by the way he governs. He is a green (not in experience but with the environment) Governor. He extended the hours of the early voting registration to the angst of his Republican colleagues who felt he would benefit the other party (it turned out to be true), and he's fighting for felons to have their right restored to vote. You wonder why he has a high approval rating?
So you may not like that he picked Gates (from the Bush administration), but Gates has shown he is not an idealogue like his boss and have actually talked about diplomacy and brought a voice of reason since he was hired in 2006.
The other person you're up in arms about is Clinton. For that, I just say "get over it." Politics make strange bed fellows. And just like John F. Kennedy needed Lyndon B.Johnson after a contentious primaries, Obama needs Clinton. Like her or not, the woman is brilliant and there are 18 million voices to prove that. Also, she's a global brand name and don't you think Obama could use someone like that while he concentrates on the domestic debacle we call the economy?
So to the guys who are really left of me, I say have patience. Yes you voted for change and change you got. He is the only President-Elect facing mind-boggling challenges in over 70 years. Why fault him for bringing the most experienced hands to help him guide the ship?
It's been a while since I did the "rundown" of a few things buzzing in my mind and in our world, so why not now:
ObamaMANIA: Is it only me who's getting fed up of all things Obama 24/7 especially when it comes to merchandising? I get it! This is a historical time but a few days ago when I saw GQ named Barack Obama as one of its Men of the Year, I exclaimed "aaarh!" Faithful readers of this blog know I've said I made a decision a few years ago (after Obama's 2004 DNC keynote speech) to buy most magazines he graced. But I find that decision to be fiscally irresponsible these days. Then a couple of days ago, Lewis Black of The Daily Show was along the lines of my train of thoughts . . .
Cabinet-Proof Selections: Okay I know I said I'm getting tired of the Obama-Mania. But hey, the cabinet positions weren't part of that. So I agreed with the Eric Holder pick for Attorney General. The man is a brother and if confirmed, he'll become the first African American AG (he served as deputy for Janet Reno in the Clinton years). But I'm confounded with the Hillary Clinton pick for the Secretary of State. I thought she will be GREAT at Health but Tom Dashle (who's equally qualified) got that position. I don't know . . .
By the way, Obama needs to start picking a few Latinos (there are rumblings) for his cabinet. Two-thirds of Latinos went for Obama, so they are justified in wondering when their turn in seeing a visible cabinet member who represents them.
Hugh Jackman is Sexiest Man Alive: Well-deserved! Jackman is not really my type, Psyche, he's exactly my type with the rugged good looks, "nice guy" character and OMG, the British accent - what can I say . . .But I will say this to People Magazine, it's been a long while since you had a brother on the cover as "sexiest man alive." Only Denzel (excellent choice) has had that honor. I believe you could find more guys of color.
To All The Single Ladies - Have A Good Laugh with this (Justin Timberlake is sick):
It’s eight days before the election and in biblical terms, eight signifies the number of new beginnings. Well, I hope our nation will really have such new beginning by voting for the right man for the job (in my opinion, Barack Obama) but in the meantime, it seems like dog years to get to November 4th.
I’m getting restless with this election and maybe because it also falls around my birthday and I would like to spend my time on what to do in the next phase of my life than listen to another “I approve this message” and other clichéd election terms. So I reflect on the longest election season I’ve ever been a part of, I would like to say things about it I will not miss:
CNN’s John King’s psychedelic election map: I thought I was the only person paying attention to John King’s fascination with his electronic toy called the map but I busted laughing last Thursday when I saw SNL spoofing what I’ve been thinking for months – Enough with the hypnotizing red, blue, pink, grey colored map!
Shouting Pundits: In all my years (though light years) of observing politics, I have never seen such passion or feistiness from pundits that resulted in shouting matches. OMG! I felt like telling some of these pundits “we are not deaf but your shouting matches made us wish we were.” Honorable mentions with the eardrums splitting are most folks at Fox News i.e. Bill O’Reilly and Sean Hannity.
Buzz-Killing Words: Oh there are so many but let me oblige you with those words: battleground states (Florida, Nevada, etc), Bradley effect, hockey moms, soccer moms, Wal-Mart moms, working-class, and middle-class.
Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View: Now I think it is necessary to have a “conservative” voice on the view but my God, Hasselbeck has ignited some unnecessary sparks in her defense for the Republican party and her dislike for the Democratic party. It is okay to criticize your party every now and then but not so with Hasselbeck; she will find the good for a Republican but not so much for a Democrat.
Keith Olbermann and his “special comments:” I’m an equal opportunity girl and just like I had a problem with the conservative Hasselbeck; I have a problem with the liberal Olbermann. Now I like Olberman and I get he’s trying to channel the late great Edward Murrow by his “good night, good luck” sign off but come on, you’ve got to be balanced. Olbermann has made it mission to go against Fox News, or as he calls the network “Fox Noise,” or “Fix News.” And his viewers know his on-going feud with “Billo” (Bill O’Reilly) but this viewer would like a day when I don’t have to hear Fix News or Billo, or another “special comment.” The news will be just fine – well, I can only hope.
Race in the race: Yeah you read that right. It’s the issue of race in the race to the white house. I feel in almost two years of watching this election I’ve had to listen to questions like “is he black enough?” “Will race affect this race?” and the like. Just last weekend I said to myself if I find another “race roundtable” discussions, I’m gonna scream.
What I found funny is that most of these questions were coming from white pundits. Seriously, how could four white people gather around an oak table on some of these political shows (i.e. Meet The Press) and they are talking about race? Where is a person of color? I understand you can’t get the go-to black pundit (Donna Brazille) all the time but there are others. I wish Tim Russett was still alive. If those race discussions were going to be brought up, there will be PBS Gwen Ifill or NPR Michelle Norris to balance the table. I’m just saying.
Pandering from the candidates: Have there been another election season that had this much pandering? Examples: Hillary Clinton taking shots of whiskey showing is “one of the boys,” Obama going bowling (note to Barack: stick with basketball), or McCain with his incessant “Joe the plumber” to show he relates to the middle-class (in what world?)
Preachers in politics: Now I get preachers are citizens too and they have freedom of speech. But there is something called separation of church and state. This election season has brought about preachers who almost derailed a candidate’s presidential campaign. In Obama’s corner: Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, and Rev. Jesse Jackson. In McCain’s corner: Arnold Conrad, John Hagee and Rod Parsley.
So the aforementioned are just some things I will not miss as this election season comes to a close. But it was a fun ride and I must say by channeling one of an old times variety show signoff: I’m so glad we had this time together.
So the Mainstream Media (MSM) has been trying to create conflict and drama about Billary - Bill and Hillary Clinton. What would they do? How would Sen. Clinton throw in her "full-throated" (I have no idea how this phrase became the buzz word of this election season) support. Well, too bad, she came in gracious and according to Barack's words last night, "rocked the house."
Hillary used humor to great effect. I liked the "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits," and the twin cities description with John McCain and President George W. Bush - it's kinda hard to tell them apart.
She thanked her supporters for the historic run of her campaign and in the same way asked the so-called supporters if they were in it for her or for the issues with examples of folks deprived of those issues - health care, economy, etc. I thought that was the turning point of the speech. That was her plea for unity.
And did you see how she channelled Harriett Tubman? Who knew Hillary had that kind of soul in her? She told her supporters and fellow Democrats to "keep going" regardless of the challenges they may (and will) face.
But all the aforementioned wasn't enough for the MSM. They started asking questions: Why didn't she define Barack Obama? Why didn't she say he was qualified? Oh for crying out loud! This is all part of the MSM insatiable appetite for drama. The lady did what she was supposed to do and then some. She's been campaigning for Obama over the past month. Let it go! Besides, there have been many Democrats before her who were not as gracious. Oh, I forgot - those were men!
Now to Bubba, I mean President Bill Clinton. That was the dark cloud the MSM were predicting because of his impassioned support for his wife and a little (a euphenism) sulking for her loss. Again, what did the pundits think Bill, the smartest politician of his generation will do? Come on stage and tell them screw you for all you put me through?
Anyway, I thought he was good; almost great (I've heard better speeches from him). Bubba came on stage with his favorite song from Fleetwood Mac which he used during his 1992 acceptance speech "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow." I can't count how many times I've heard that song anytime Bill had to come on stage for various events.
And the crowd obliged him for almost five minutes. Gosh that was 16 years ago he first won the election. Boy was I young (or younger then since I wasn't old enough to vote). I'm glad the first sentence was for his support for Barack Obama. He talked about how qualified Obama was and for his first brilliant decision to choose Joe Biden. He showed the disparity of the choices Americans face and how it will be in their best interest to choose Barack and Biden. As always, he "still believed in a place called hope."
Great to be back after an exam and as much as I'm suffering from some effects of sleep deprivation, I'm itching to post some thoughts. So let's go for the rundown for this week.
Georgia On My Mind: No not that Georgia of the United States but that of a Republic with her conflict with Russia. I'm glad as of today, they've agreed to a cease-fire but it still stings that many lives were lost in the process.
Phelps, Phelps and More Phelps: Are you catching the Olympics and watching this phenomenon called Michael Phelps? I can't believe I'm paying attention to swimming instead of basketball.
And I'm not alone, the whole country is under the spell of Phelps to the point of knowing what he eats for breakfast (4,000 calories) and all day. Seriously, how does that guy eat roughly 12K a day and stay in such great shape? Even the Tom Joyner Morning Show crew was having some fun a couple of days ago about Phelps so-called diet.
The Minority Will Be Majority (by 2042): So the U.S. Census Bureau declares America will be the faces of all kinds of ethnicities - cool! Maybe then the question of "where are you from?" will start becoming obsolete.
Clinton Supporters Won't Shut Up: Gee, maybe I'm just a bit young but I haven't seen anything like this with folks still whining about their candidate losing the Primaries. GET OVER IT!!! Long before Hillary Clinton conceded, the Math just didn't add up she was going to be the Democratic Nominee. And Tim Russert (RIP) called it in April (which got on a lot of supporters nerves).
Only for her Chairman, Howard Wolfson, saying this week that if John Edwards had admitted to his affair at the beginning of the Primaries, Clinton could have won Iowa, blah, blah, blah! Shoulda Coulda Woulda . . .Forget that most Edwards supporters (according to Pollsters) had Barack Obama as their second choice. This is all the fuzzy Math her campaign seem to concort.
Then the issue of putting her name in the ballot at the Democratic Convention. Seriously, this is why the Democrats get on my last nerves sometimes. They always seem to find a way to screw something up when the road is paved for them. I hope history doesn't repeat itself because when in-fighting happens at the convention instead of showing a united front, they normally lose the election.
That's just a snapshot . . . hope to get back to my blogging ways next week.
Awww, isn't that special? Two former rivals all color-coordinating, the winner kissing his closest contender on the cheek and chatting on the plane. Am I being punk'd? Ok, I loved the script - well played.
Both parties had to do this. I thought Clinton was more herself than ever before. Sure she had to prepare her speech; the "hearts," "united" words were directed to her base (women). And Obama was extremely gracious to her and acknowledged the hard-fought campaign they had; that in my opinion, toughened him up as a candidate.
Obama has a long way to go with some women but I thought his speech was a beautiful introduction to who he is as a father to two young girls, his fight for them to take for granted women will make just the same amount as the guys for the exact same work, and how his contender handled bias (about her gender) with grace.
So does this little place called "unity" bring the momentum the Democrats need to win the white house for the fourth time in 40 years? Not so fast, but I think it's a good start.
Now that’s how you give a speech. From now on, that’s how you give a speech. I guess the adage is true: better late than never. Such was the case with Sen. Hillary Clinton’s speech Saturday afternoon. I thought to myself, why didn’t she give such speech last Tuesday night? That way I wouldn’t have criticized her the day after.
But as I listened to a few pundits, I understood the reasoning behind waiting a few days to rally her supporters. But some of the said supporters, i.e. Rep. Charles Rangel of New York and Hillary Rosen, one of her senior advisors called her out for now bowing out gracefully the last day of the Primaries.
However, I have to say Clinton redeemed herself by the Saturday speech. Even a cynic like me had tears in her eyes before its end. I could almost imagine how difficult it must be to be that close to being President; a dream she must have had for a long time to make history only to step aside for another kind of history to be made.
So in that sense, I empathize with her. But much more, I admire her courage in the face of defeat. I commend her for not showing a semblance of self-pity but looking forward to a greater feat that could be accomplished, electing Sen. Barack Obama as next President of the United States.
What was that last night? Here I was waiting to hear a great speech from the most formidable opponent I’ve ever seen and I was left dumbfounded. What was Sen. Hillary Clinton thinking? I wasn’t sure if she was still stuck in the first stage of her grieving process, the state of denial. But I thought with the delegate numbers, she should have been on the last stage of acceptance by now.
There I was listening to what was supposed to be a great speech with congratulating her opponent Sen. Barack Obama for the strong campaign he ran (note to Sen. Clinton: He won), getting the popular vote (not exactly), and energizing a diverse base through her campaign (most women over 65). Then there were some grand moments in the speech about climate change, health care and the Iraq war. “Great Senator, we’re waiting for the touch,” I thought to myself. “ . . .And I will be making no decision tonight” she said. Are you kidding me!
The look I gave my TV set must have been a Kodak moment. Senator, how do you blow a defining moment like that? Gosh! You don’t cheapen a critical time your party needs unity to asking for petitions (and money) on your website.
The great Paul Newman once said, “show me a good loser and I will show you a loser.” But in some instances, I respectfully disagree with Mr. Newman. Sometimes, the most gracious loser could be the utmost winner in character. I was looking for such character in Sen. Clinton and I was left wanting.
I’m a woman and she represents a person who shattered the marble ceiling. It is nothing short of inspirational. But as much as I want to see a woman be President of the United States in my lifetime, a black man who could accomplish the same feat for the first time captured my hope. Last night could have been a time she showed herself a real profile in courage. It is disheartening she failed to seize the moment, in seeing you don’t have to win everything to be one.
Aren't I woman too? So why am I dumbfounded everytime Geraldine Ferraro finds another willing camera to blast Sen. Obama and the media (specifically Tim Russert) for another exhibit of sexism? The latest camera is on FOX News, the enemy territory but who cares, air the dirty laundry of your party to folks who really would love to see that party's failure come November.
Ferraro is old enough to be my grandmother, so I want to give her all the respect she deserves for her contribution to society but she is really making it tough not to tune her out. I feel like calling her to the side to tell her she is tainting her legacy of feminist rights BIG TIME! The taint is coming from playing the victim; the antithesis of what the feminist movement is all about.
Making statements such as "all the surrogates that they had out there, from the black journalists — you know, have you read Bob Herbert recently in the past six months? There wasn't one column that had anything decent to say about Hillary." WTH! Bob Herbert is one of the most respectable journalists out there (black or white) and he calls it as he sees it regardless of race. So because he happens to be black, he automatically supports Barack Obama? Are you freaking kidding me?
Then she went after Tim Russert (this is where you could really see she's losing her bearings - all pun intended): "When Tim Russert came into the campaign and he went after Hillary in the debate, he had done that also when she ran for the Senate here in New York," Ferraro said. "And we complained about it then. He kind of almost was up on the stage helping her opponent." Ok Time-out! Russert goes after EVERYBODY!!! I guess Ferraro has been living in a bubble for many years for not watching Meet The Press or the parody on SNL. What does Ferraro want? Russert to ask Sen. Clinton easy questions and overlook her policy decisions? Then what is he getting paid for?
And don't even get me started on her perceived sexism from Obama. Ferraro saying Obama was belittling or demeaning Sen. Clinton for shrugging off the Philadephia debate - What? Let's be honest, Obama has gone out of his way to be very gracious to Clinton even with the latest RFK gaffe because he doesn't want to run the typical mudslinging political campaign.
So Ferraro, please do us all a favor especially for the future of women coming after you and stop playing the victim - it doesn't help our cause.
I'm quick to criticize the MSM (Mainstream Media) when it is slow or lazy about an issue but I hope to be quicker to complement when it really gets something right. Yes there is a long way to go with MSM but when one of its members really takes the time to research and take a courageous stand on an issue even against a powerful politician gaffe, I have to say BRAVO. So much props to Keith Olbermann of MSNBC for calling Sen. Clinton out on the bizarre RFK assassination comment as seen here:
This election season must be really draining when one of the smartest politicians starts throwing “assassination” comments around without realizing the impact of such word. I’m talking about Sen. Hillary Clinton of course defending her reason for staying in the race since her husband didn’t get the nomination till mid of June (not really true) and RFK was assassinated in June (chilling but true). I’m more confounded by the day why a person I long admired resorted to spinning some words and events to make a case for her candidacy.
As usual, the TV pundits had a field day dissecting what Sen. Clinton meant by the latest gaffe. Personally, I don’t think she meant any harm to Sen. Barack Obama but I find it hard to believe her excuse of having the Kennedys on her mind these past days as the reason for the controversial remark. Granted, the bad news of Sen. Ted Kennedy malignant brain cancer diagnosis has been on everyone’s minds but she made the same remark to TIME magazine back in March when there was no event about the Kennedys. So what gives?
It is becoming the modus operandi of Sen. Clinton a la Bosnia sniper attacks and now the RFK comment to spun events for her benefit. She can’t blame exhaustion when it can be proven she mentioned the same scenarios three other times. Also, she can’t compare RFK’s run with hers when he officially entered the race on March 16, 1968 before his assassination in June of the same year. Sen. Clinton has been in the race for over a year and winning Primaries since January – as usual, this is fuzzy math on her path just like her calculation for winning the “popular vote.”
A black female with a very unique background still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up - numbers or words. Equally successful at both but the latter really keep me up at night. This blog will be how I see the world around me especially in the area of politics, pop culture and a little bit of sports (basketball fanatic). Until my next post, welcome aboard.
The NY Post Monkey Business: The NY post was in the wrong. I don't care if they tried to justify the cartoon about another monkey tragedy in Connecticut. If that was the case, then the cartoonist won't need to put a caption stating the stimulus bill because the reader would get it.
Welcome Madam Secretary: I'll end on a good note by seeing a new image on the world stage - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
