Thou Shall Know Thy Subject

A light fare here but still about our unique political atmosphere. I couldn't let this one go when I saw this clip on CNN's Late Edition with Wolf Blitzer. It featured Sen. Mark Sanford, a supporter and surrogate of Sen. John McCain. Since Sen. Barack Obama referred to McCain as "McSame" meaning he's the same as President George W. Bush, Blitzer wanted Sanford to differentiate his Candidate from W. Well, it wasn't about what was said but what was left unsaid; check out this video:


Seriously, Senator! The question was how different was McCain from Bush NOT how alike they are - help your guy out. The aforementioned video reminded me of Ms. Teen South Carolina geographical mess seen here:


Tags: Mark Sanford, Wolf Blitzer

When A Woman's Fed Up

Okay Readers! You get three for one today. That's what getting a breather from the books and having a good (no, great) night sleep I haven't got in many days will do.

Let's talk about my favorite subjects these days, Florida, we even got a TIME magazine cover (not a good one)this week and to borrow a phrase from the Tom Joyner Morning Show, "this is INN (Ignorant Negro News)." Too bad both are linked. This is a story that has South Florida buzzing for the past few days but because of the news on the National scene, I took a pass.

It's about Fort Lauderdale's Chief of Police, Frank Adderly and his wife, Eleanor Adderly involved in a domestic dispute. But this is not just the regular domestic dispute with the man attacking the woman, nope. It's about the woman shooting at her husband several times, in her words, "to scare him."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't shoot at someone (much less your husband) THREE times in his direction to "scare" him. I would say "kill" him is more in order here. Thank God he escaped without any wounds. But what's on everyone's minds around South Florida is what did the chief really do to warrant such actions from his wife. And though the Judge has ordered both to stay away from each other (seriously, does the judge have to say that) for at least a mile, the Chief through his attorney has said he will post his wife's $25,000 bond. HUH! Check out the video here:


Now that must be love or something I don't understand to post your would be killer's bonds. The chief released this statement: ``Despite these trying times, I support and stand by my wife. I love her very much and will do everything possible to get her whatever assistance she needs during this difficult time.'' I've heard of the "stand by your man" mantra but this one is reversed.

This is INN because Adderly happened to be the first black Chief of Police in the city of Fort Lauderdale's 97-year history. Think about that, you get the highest office in law enforcement in a major metropolis, only for your private matters to spill into streets. Also what was his wife thinking? She's not only shooting at a private citizen but a cop! A chief cop! I don't care what he's done, you may think murder but don't act on it - your life is too precious to go to prison.

Tags: Frank Adderly, Eleanor Adderly, Domestic Disputes, Fort Lauderdale Police Chief, South Florida, Time Magazine

Brett Favre's Double Talk?

This is why I NEVER believe any athlete who announces retirement. I don't care if he or she (but let's stick with male athletes since they are the main culprits) says this is DEFINITELY a speech of calling it a career. The last person with the most public retirement speech after flirting with the idea for two seasons was Brett Favre. Check out his tearful speech here:

But four months later, here we go again with an athlete changing back his mind on not really retiring with Favre demanding the Green Bay Parkers give him a release. Picture me rolling my eyes as I heard many sports commentators expressing their surprise.

My cynism started as a teenager with the greatest person to ever played basketball, Michael Jordan announced his "retirement" to play baseball. Then he came back, won three more championships, then he "retired" in 1998 after his sixth and last championship. But Jordan wasn't done, he came back again in 2001 to play for the Wizards stayed through 2003. Now he is officially "retired."

Not only that, Jordan's sidekick, Scottie Pippen was no different. He tried getting back to the NBA over a year ago with trying to join the Miami Heat for the 2006-2007 season. Just because you're in better shape than most guys your age after years of "retirement" doesn't mean you can play on the professional level as you did. Seriously!

There is something about walking away from the spotlight after many years of reveling in it every week. Many athletes have spoken publicly about their private pain of retiring, whether they thought it was too early or too late wasn't the point. It was not being used to the sound of silence. If they haven't planned (and some who have - think Jordan)for such deafening silence, they could go crazy. Now they are not seen as mini gods when they played, they are now regular everyday citizens like everyone else. Think about how that state could be when you've been told since you were a kid as the greatest thing since slice bread.

Then folks who go against the narrative by retiring at the height of their career a la Detroit Lions famed running back, Barry Sanders get so much flak for retiring too early or not caring about the fans. Wow, a person who actually thinks his life is his and nobody else's. Imagine that!

So for all the people who calling Favre to task for his decision to come back to the NFL, put the mirror to your face and see if you will joyously walk away from a gift you were born to have and you've being using it well for over half your life. I don't care if he's pushing 40, he still (currently) a top five quarterback. And even this cynical writer will change her tune, and welcome him with open arms if the rumors are true and Favre decides to be a Miami Dolphin! It will be like the second coming of an older Dan Marino - think about it Favre, playing in the below 0 degree Winter in Wisconsin or the sunshine of Miami?

Tags: Brett Favre, Green Bay Packers, Miami Dolphins, Athletes Retirement

New Yorker's Bad Satire

I get satire. Anyone who knows me knows I love my daily dose of the Daily Show or Stephen Colbert, I loved "In Living Color" for its brilliance and I've been a fan of SNL for years. So why don't I get this particular brand of satire by The New Yorker?

I got this story like many Americans on the various morning shows today and I kept mulling it over to see whose side I could take. After thinking about the story for the past few hours (with emergencies with my laptop), I'll say this, it is not the New Yorker's. This is simply a misstep on the word "satire."

Satire is NOT something you need to explain to people to get it as the New Yorker's editor was doing today on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" or MSNBC live. People normally get it as I posted here on "Baracknophobia." The problem with this cover is that many Americans are not familiar with this publication called "the New Yorker." This is normally not a magazine you find on their coffee tables. I'm not one of those Americans but I feel this image (with no words of what the picture was all about) will perpetuate the fears the editor was saying on the morning shows he was trying to bring to light.

Seriously Mr. Editor! A picture of Michelle Obama resembling the 60s to 70s black icon militant Angela Davis only with the AK 47 strapped to her back (which made it worse). Then you have Sen. Barack Obama in the turban that caused so much fuss early this year though he was only wearing his heritage of Kenya's outfit (which all dignitaries do by the way).

And the items go on with the American Flag (which Obama has caught unnecessary flak for not wearing a lapel pin) burning up in the fireplace and America's most notorious terrorist, Osama Bin Ladin (how many people have been caught with the intentional or unintentional slip-up by replacing the "b" in Obama for the "s" in Osama?) Way to go Editor! What a great job you have done to really scare straight middle and southern Americans who see this cover all over the screens and in their bookstores to NOT vote for Obama.

Isn't this ironic that the left leaning magazine is really the one sabotaging the Presidential Democratic Nominee's chances? The right has publicly condemned the magazine's cover as tasteless. Read that last sentence one more time because it is true. But in my mind I can't help but wonder if the "right" isn't secretly rejoicing for manna from heaven for folks rushing to their base even if they don't agree with its Nominee's views.

Tags: The New Yorker

Hear Me Whine Gramm

I said yesterday the gaffes and apologies keep coming this election season. Only in today’s case, there is no apology – the culprit chooses not to “retract any of it.” Yes I’m talking of Sen. John McCain’s top economic advisor, Phil Gramm saying and I quote “we’ve sort of become a nation of whiners . . . just like you have mental depression, this is a mental recession.” Wow! I’m learning twisted words in this administration and election season than ever before. If it is not enhanced interrogation (torture), it is now a mental recession on the part of Americans experiencing tough times. Gramm says it’s all in our heads.

Seriously! This is what we get when a politician has lived in a bubble of his posh lifestyle in Washington for so long, he gets out of touch with the state of the people – the people the Politician is supposed to serve.

As I watched this story unfold yesterday, I couldn’t help but remember the severe misstep by the former President George H. Bush in 1992’s election season when he had no clue electronic scanners existed in the grocery store. But his opponent, trying to get to the office for the first time, former President Bill Clinton knew the price of milk (at the time) on a whim making him seem connected to the plight of the American people while his rival who was the sitting President was clueless. After all, it was during that time we got that iconic phrase from Bubba’s campaign: It’s the economy, stupid!

But not to Gramm, a person called an “economic guru” who was supposed to help McCain. who admitted some months ago not knowing much about the economy appear credible. Not anymore! In less than 24 hours, McCain has kicked his longtime friend off the “straight talk express” to the curb saying, “he doesn’t speak for me, I speak for me.” Gramm chose not to back down on his videotaped comments but only to say he didn’t make his comments about the people but the leaders. Ok, when did a “nation” as he mentioned consists of only the leaders? These folks must really think we are stupid.

Anyway, allow me to give Gramm a proper send-off and live up to the “whiners” we are: It’s not in our heads we are paying almost $5 at the gas pump, more than 100 percent a few years ago when our incomes are not making the corresponding jump. It’s not in our heads when the price of groceries also is making the same over 100 percent hike. It’s not in our heads that our homes are losing their value and our neighbors are foreclosing theirs left and right. And it’s not in heads that your administration miniscule stimulus checks didn’t stimulate us to treat ourselves but to pay everyday bills and past days debts. It’s on our over-extended credit and debit cards and our decreasing bank balances.

Tags: Phil Gramm, Mental recession

Jesse's Nutty Remarks

Why now? Not only I can't believe I have to make a quick post in the midst of studying for a few major exams and opportunities but just less than five months into a major election, the gaffes and apologies keep coming! Unless you're living under a rock the past 24 hours, you know I'm talking about Rev. Jesse Jackson's, how should I put this nicely, "nutty" remarks.

I can't believe a camera-loving, microphone-ready for his unique rhyming skills person in Jackson, would make such a blunder in assuming the mic was off by whispering his crude remarks about a Presidential candidate. And of all places, Fox News? Those of you who have been reading this blog since its inception in May can tell I don't hold that "fair and balanced" network with much regard.

And this is not the first time Jackson got in hot water in just this election season (no need to rehash the past). Just last September, he accused Sen. Barack Obama of "acting white." Then he had to apologize and of course, he already apologized yesterday for his desire to emasculate (literally) a candidate he supposed to be a supporter of. I feel like singing the One Republic megahit song "it's too late to apologize."

You know I told a family relative last night who was wondering what the major news was about since she hasn't been in front of a TV or computer (I seem to be the go-to person on anything political and pop-culture in the family) that this whole situation made me realize that a Saturday Night Live skit I watched some months ago got something right.

It was a cartoon-like skit featuring Obama, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton and how Obama tried various moves to distance himself from those two by sending them to no-name places around the world where a mic and camera cannot be seen. Also, in the cartoon, if Obama couldn't think of a place to send them and the media is approaching for an interview, he gives his Secret Service a look to cause a distraction to get Jackson and Shapton out of there.

Life has literally imitated art this past 24 hours and it was as if the SNL skit was a self-fulfilling prophecy, only without Sharpton. I don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water. I acknowledge and grateful for the contributions Jackson has made to society, I may not always care for his methods.

But I'm confounded when a person wants to just stay on the tracks and reminisce of years gone by when the train has left for a new destination. Hel-lo Reverend: Let me hip you to your Bible right quick, your God acknowledged the wisdom of the children of Issachar because they understood the times.

We are not in the thick of the civil rights movement of 40 years ago and say what you want, Obama is NOT going to be the President of the black race but the United States. It's time to recognize there is a shift and you may still be disappointed you could not win the election (twice) for the highest office in the Land but why don't you encourage yourself that because you ran before and after some black candidates, Obama might have a shot at winning this election. So please, do what your own son said yesterday and keep hope alive and any insults to yourself. Boom Shaka Laka!!!

Tags: Jesse Jackson, Crude Remarks, SNL, Al Sharpton

Meet The Family

I got into my home last night around 9:30, and I did like what most people do after turning on the lights, hit the remote. I checked out CNN and I had to roll my eyes when I saw on Larry King Live the story of A-Rod and his estranged wife. So I changed the channel a few seconds later to MSNBC and the show, "Verdict with Dan Abrams" and what did I see? The cutest black family I've seen in a while on TV; The Obamas.

That's a pause moment. I thought to myself what a great thing not seeing people who look like me constantly in a negative light in the media but a family like I know represents many black families enjoying the 4th of July festivities. Only, in this case, they are being interviewed by Access Hollywood since the father is a Presidential Democratic Nominee.

I thought the kids, Malia and Sasha were too cute and they definitely have their father wrapped around their fingers (like most daughters). They teased him from wardrobe choices, to leaving his heavy suitcase in the middle of the room that gets them tripped.

Many have wondered if it was expedient of Sen. Obama to show his children in such limelight rather than wave and be quiet. But I think it is great to see a Presidential candidate in another light, a personal and relatable side.

But as of this morning, Sen. Obama didn't think so; he felt the interview was a mistake. He thought they got carried away. Hmmm Senator, that's what you do on the 4th of July, which also happened to be one of your daughter's birthday - you get "carried away." Don't get so buttoned up and make the John Kerry's mistake of 2004 with the word your opponents are throwing around these days; being seen as an "elitist."

Tags: Obama's Family, Access Hollywood, Dan Abrams, Verdict