From the files of it's ok if you are a republican governor in America

Rod Blagojevich was the 40th governor of Illinois. He was first elected in 2002 and was re-elected in 2006. Blagojevich was born in Chicago in 1956. He graduated from Northwestern University and earned his law degree from Pepperdine in California. Before being elected governor, Blagojevich was a Cook County assistant state's attorney and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996. Late in 2008, Blagojevich was arrested for political corruption and later convicted on several charges, most notably for his attempts to control who would replace Barack Obama in the Senate following his first presidential election victory. The Illinois House of Representatives impeached Blagojevich, and the Senate voted in early 2009 to remove him from office. In 2011, Blagojevich was sentenced to 14 years in prison and began serving that term in 2012. He is married to Patti Blagojevich and the couple have two daughters, Amy and Annie.

EYE am just saying If Ron Blagojevich were a republican he wouldn't be in jail for his attempts to control who would replace Barack Obama in the Senate. 

Alabama's culture of corruption and cronyism is unlikely to faze voters because the white male dominated media will make sure it doesn't faze voters.

We can trust the media to turn the losers into the winners and the winners into the losers.

#SweetHomeAmeriBamafication 

The Media enabled #GOPChickens are ducking and dodging #DonaldTrump, but it's too little, much too late

Bigotry is "The Donald's" Trump Card

“… like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them…each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. And it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.” Senator Barak Obama April 6, 2008
“A certain segment has basically been feeding a kind of xenophobia. There’s a reason why hate crimes against Hispanic people doubled last year. If you have people like Lou Dobbs and Rush Limbaugh ginning things up, it’s not surprising that would happen.” Senator Barak Obama May 22, 2008

You reap... 

In its despair and confusion, a large segment of the American populace is prepared to believe anything it’s told, in part because we are a country less and less educated, increasingly unable to tell fact from fiction because we are so unschooled in basic essential knowledge about America and the world.

What you sow.. 

Donald Trump is standing on a platform of hate that the Republican Party built for him.
Trump’s proposal to bar Muslims from entering this country is hateful, despicable and vile. His statement is a slap in the face to the millions of peace-loving Muslims living here and to those who want to travel and live here.
This sort of racism has been prevalent in Republican politics for decades. Trump is just saying out loud what other Republicans merely suggest.

This is who and what they are. 

This is how ALL blacks were transformed into welfare recipients, a whole group of people looking for handouts, although that was a myth. Nope, I take that back it was an outright lie! Images of black women was the old “welfare queen” trick used by Ronald Reagan to drum up negative opinions and attack black women, attaching a negative stigma to them in the process. But more so Reagan used it to stir up negative sentiments towards poor people, which resulted in selfishness and cold heartedness in the charity department. Yup, they want to eliminate help for the poor. It works every time.

Is this who they will always be?  

"One of the things we can't do is, we can't let them distract from what we're all about, and what we're trying to accomplish. We're trying to keep the focus on comprehensive, universal health care reform, and they're going all over the place. They are desperate, uh, they don't have leadership, uh, they really don't know what to do, and so, I think we're going to continue to see a lot of crazy things happening, like all of the, uh, outrage that has been demonstrated at these town hall meetings, like the kind of statement that Congresswoman Jenkins made, and let them define themselves, let them reveal who they are. The American public needs to see that."~Representative Maxine Waters (D.CA)

Time will tell the truth. 

Cooper asked Sanders what evidence he had that the Republican opponents would take Alabama back to Jim Crow days. Sanders said, "Well, there's a certain mean spiritness that's out there, not only in Alabama but it's in America. And that makes this election extremely important."

You think? 

"How #Baltimore's #MarilyMosby Just Discredited the #BarackObama, #Cory Booker Style of Black Politics"

Black politicians normally distance themselves from the black community, but not Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby. What does that say about the future of black politics?

The headline should read:  How Baltimore's Marilyn Mosby just discredited the white, male-dominated media's style of black politics.



RedEye

"NRA to African Americans: You'll need guns to protect yourself from the government"

This is a  a photo I snapped on March 4, 2007 of the late civil rights activist Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth being pushed in his wheelchair across the Edmund Pettus Bridge for the annual reenactment of the voting rights march in Selma, Alabama by the future President of the United States of America Senator Barack Hussein Obama. Also pictured are former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and civil rights activist Al Sharpton.

When I first read this headline;   NRA to African Americans:  You'll need guns to protect yourself from the government, I scoffed, but as time, rhetoric, and events progressed I thought, if any group has reason to protect itself out of fear of the government it's African Americans.  Para quoting the late Fred Shuttlesworth, it looks like black folks have to fight for the right to breath again.

In an attempt to kill Section Five of the Voting Rights Act, attorneys from Shelby County, Alabama told the U.S. Supreme Court it was not 1965 anymore, and they were right (pun intended), it's 2013, and things didn't get better in Sweet Home Alabama with the election of the first African American President....they got worse. The Simple Minded Savior describes present day Alabama to a T.

 I was born and raised in this God forsaken state and it IS still stuck in the 50's and 60's. It's not a stereotype and why anyone would want to visit here is beyond me. Oh yeah, they can come visit and see what main attraction? The CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM...Some parts of the interstate still have a confederate flag flying high and proud so what's he talking about? And the fact that one of the State Legislators called Black people "ABORIGINES" on tape and it was part of a trial transcript makes no never mind. Yeah, you're right, Alabama has not one racial problem, it's a beacon of hope, a melting pot of sorts for the nation. This State, Alabama, should be held out as the example of how loving a state should be. *sarcasm* If Jesus came back right now and came to an Alabama suburb, he would be labeled a dead beat liberal hippie and crucified a second time.

  Sitting Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia thinks voting rights are a gift the government gave black people.  A gift black folks didn't earn and don't deserve. 

Today was the day that the Republican challenge to Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act was argued before the Supreme Court. Arguments were fiery, but this particular quote from Justice Scalia was one worthy of Jim Crow. If ever there was a reason to preserve Section 5, Scalia articulated it. Via TPM:

Roberts and Kennedy led the questioning challenging the Voting Right Act. Justice Sonia Sotomayor led the questioning defending it.
Justice Antonin Scalia attributed the continued congressional reauthorization to a perpetual “racial entitlement” and suggested that it will be renewed into “perpetuity” because members of Congress would never let it lapse for fear for political repercussions.
“I don’t think there is anything to gain by any senator by voting against this Act,” Scalia said. “This is not the kind of question you can leave to Congress. They’re going to lose votes if they vote against the Voting Rights Act. Even the name is wonderful.”

Justice Scalia's words undermine the very core of our democracy.   And if that's not scary I don't know what is.

RedEye Around the Web

Despite White House Press Secretary Jay Carney's assertion  "now is not the time to talk about  gun control laws",  and  keep we the peeps from demanding gun control legislation in wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings, "We the People" petition site is the  most popular ever. 

"Immediately address the issue of gun control through the introduction of legislation in Congress," it says. "While a national dialogue is critical, laws are the only means in which we can reduce the number of people murdered in gun related deaths."

Guns don't kill people...oh wait...guns actually do really kill people.  The argument that "Guns don't kill people....people kill people" is a fallacy that needs to be held up to the ridicule that it deserves.

Does anyone really think that guns aren’t the important part of this equation? How many people would be alive today if the possession of guns had been tightly controlled? How many would be celebrating this Christmas with their loved ones if the assault weapons ban hadn’t been allowed to lapse?

How about some media control too?  The media narrative is out of control.  However this is the same media who enabled Bush and Company to take our troops to war based on dead wrong intelligence.....

 And finally, let's get the facts right, guys, okay? Pretty much everything reported on the shooting in the first few hours turned out (once again) to be completely wrong. And that is not even counting all the breathless speculation which I'm positive went out over the 24-hour news networks (which I refused to watch as the story unfolded, just on general principles). When you're on the air non-stop, and there is little or no information, don't try to scoop everybody else when you have not checked your facts. The police have gotten a lot better about refusing to release information until facts are known (and the police, to be fair in this instance, did release erroneous information which the media dutifully reported), but the news media itself needs to do a much better job of policing what goes out over their airwaves in the first few hours of any breaking story.

Grand Old White Male Party gets diversity memo.   I thought republicans didn't believe in affirmative action and quotas?  Anyhoo...meet the soon to be only African American Senator serving in the United States Senate from the red state of South Carolina, Tim Scott (r. Tea Party).

 He will do the bidding of the Good Old Boy network down there, which should be profoundly depressing most of the time. Perhaps there will be some hope for him somewhere down the line. He seems like a genuinely nice person of deep religious faith who has a permanent smile plastered on his face.

Red State Protest in the Reddest of the Red States....also known as Sweet Home Alabama.  Yee Haw!

As if Mitt Romney’s 61 percent performance in Alabama wasn’t proof enough, most of the state’s Republican electors wore red clothing Monday to highlight Alabama’s red state status.

RedEye signing off!

Democrats highlight America for Americans

Listen.  That giant popping sound you hear are the heads of republicans and Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads exploding after the electrifying and inspiring opening night of the Democratic National Convention.  So much for the lack of enthusiasm for President Obama meme.

After the peanut throwing, name calling, mean, vindictive, spectacle that was the Republican National Convention, I am so thankful the world got the see real democracy.  Real patriotism.  Real Americans.

It was fitting the ghost of Ted Kennedy rose to haunt Mitt Romney from the grave.

Democratic Governor Duval  Patrick said it's time for democratics to grow a spine and start standing up to the right wing attack machine who are trying to bully the President out of office.

Democratic Governor Martin O'Malley said Yes we can blame the GOP for the unemployment numbers they are now crying crocodile tears over.

Sweet Home Alabama born and bred Lilly Ledbetter made the equal pay for equal work real.

San Antonio,Texas Mayor Julian Castro highlighted the RNC war on the truth. Note the Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads and the are focusing on his 3 year old daughter's hair flipping.

Democratic New Jersey Cory Booker bought the house down warning delegates democracy is a spectator sport.

Tonight former President Bill Clinton will remind us The Republicans Built the National Debt they now claim to be so concerned about.

But the star of the show was First Lady Michelle Obama who told the world success is not about how much money you make,  it's about the difference you make in peoples lives.  

All I'm going to say is, anyone that votes for the Romney/Ryan Ticket, you are who you vote for, and you get what you vote for.  You won't be hurting President Obama, minorities, women, labor, LBGT, and democrats.  You will be hurting yourselves.

GOP View of Rights Fist Dap Jobsanger

In Memory of Andy Samuel Griffith June 1, 1926-July 3, 2012

The Andy Griffith Show was one of the staples of my childhood.  It was a family affair.  We would gather around the Philco Television set and be transported to Mayberry RFD, immersed in the lives of Andy, Barney, Aunt Bee and Opie.  My father still watches reruns, only he calls it the Barney Fife show.

One of my favorite episodes was when Andy tricked Opie and his friends into reading their history books, but it's also how I learned about the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere,  the American Revolution, as well as other historical facts and social values.

 I sure do miss the good old days when the public airways were used to educated and inform the public..

RIP Sheriff Taylor

Today's Must Reads

Charles Blow Breaks it down like a fraction about Obama HATE

Romney You're Doing It Wrong

Freedom Rider:  Demonizing the Poor 

In the 21st century The American Media has nothing to offer except platitudes about the plight of single mothers who made bad decisions about men~Margaret Kimberly

"John McCain looked at Mitt's tax returns and decided Sarah Palin would be a better VP"

Said former White House Chief of State and Chicago Mayor Rham Emanual on ABC's  This Week, who then told Mitt to man up and stop whining.

There is lots of speculation about just  what's in Mitt's Tax Returns.

Fine Whine?

RedEye's Week In Review Friday the 13th Edition

This is what they mean when they scream, "I want my country back!", they're not far removed from this..What Would Jack Do

Which is why they are getting ready to play The Black Card, and nominate a well-liked (by who?), respected (by who?),  black woman for Republican Vice President because she will be a good vote getter(sic).  Snark

Meanwhile, another, well-liked, respected, republican, black, female Lt. Governor and Mitt Romney surrogate, is facing a Lesbian Sex Scandal.  Not surprisingly, gop women are defending her by bashing her accuser.  SMH


Lying, Liars, and the Liars who tell them, Mitt Romney Edition. You get what you vote for.

Mitt Romney took time off from his vacation to gloat about the high African American Unemployment numbers,  placing the blame on President Obama.  It's not President Obama's fault the republicans are obstructionist.   I guess Mitt is the only one who can get a pass for getting free stuff. Snicker

This is the kind of  Instructional Leader I wish we had instead of the Instructional Leader we have.  Madison County not on the same page as Huntsville on Digital Books.  And they wonder why those who can flee Huntsville to the detriment of those who can't.  


Friday the 13th Must Read
For Congressional  Dirtbags who Voted to Kick 18-26 Year Olds Off Their Parents Insurance Plan

I Wish Y'all Compassionate, Conservative, Christians, Would Make Up Y'all's Doggone Minds!

Obama's Pastor:  God Damn America, U.S. to Blame for 9/11 ABC News

Either President Obama is a Christian who sat in Reverend Jeremiah Wrights' Trinity United Church of Christ for 20 years, or he is a Muslim who sat in Reverend Jeremiah Wrights Trinity United Church of Christ for 20 years.    Y'all can't have it both ways.

If then candidate Obama was made to denounce, repudiate and reject, Minister Louis Farrakhan's endorsement , shouldn't the republican Presidential candidates, and other high profile republicans,  be made to renounce,repudiate and reject Rush Limbaugh and others??   I'm just asking....

Psst!  Everybody knows Aborigines, I mean,  Muslim is The New "N" Word.

The Story of Us: Five Years Ago Today

We've come a long way. Take a few minutes to reminisce! Remember?

State Senator Hank Sanders tried to tell y'all the republicans want to bring back slavery

What's that you say? Representative Michelle Bachman (r. MN) is running for President on a pro slavery anti porn platform? I'm shocked! Shocked I tell you. NOT.

GOP Presidential candidate and front runner, Rep. Michelle Bachman was the first Joker, I mean gop candidate to sign the Family Leader's pro-marriage pledge

The Family Leader, a prominent Iowa group that promotes Christian conservative social values, said Thursday it is asking all presidential candidates to sign a pledge regarding their personal convictions on traditional marriage.

The pledge is entitled, “The Marriage Vow – A Declaration of Dependence upon Marriage and Family.”

The organization’s chief executive officer is Bob Vander Plaats, a conservative evangelical leader who was the state chair of Mike Huckabee’s Republican presidential campaign when he won the 2008 Iowa Caucuses. Vander Plaats said the Family Leader will not support any candidate who declines to sign the pledge.

“If you are looking at being a leader of our great country….we would like to have you pledge personal fidelity to your own spouse and a respect for the marital bonds of others,” Vander Plaats told reporters at a news conference on the steps of the Iowa Statehouse.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, quickly signed the pledge Thursday, while an aide to to former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said he never signs any pledges. A spokesman for U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, said the congressman has reservations, while a representative of President Barack Obama’s Democratic campaign committee declined comment.

Now all of that sounds good and well, but the Devil is in the details.

Slavery had a disastrous impact on African-American families, yet sadly a child born into slavery in 1860 was more likely to be raised by his mother and father in a two-parent household than was an African-American baby born after the election of the USA's first African-American President.

There they go re-writing history again.

Actually, the wording of that piece is also wrong. There were no Black "households". Blacks couldn't own property. Also, while Blacks were parents, they were powerless. Their kids didn't belong to them, but the Massa. So it really wasn't a "two parent" household at all. It was the slavemaster, his family, his paid employees, all the other white folk--any of whom could, at any time, usurp the parents or discipline the children. So, yeah, not really a household at all but a labor camp. Also? Back in the white folk days of yore, white kids were most likely to be raised with two parents, even when their mothers were little more than chattel and kids were forced to work almost as soon as they could stand. Oh, for those wonderful days of old!

"Oh, for those wonderful days of old!" This is what Alabama State Senator Hank Sanders was talking about in his mad as hell robo call to democratic voters;

Hello this is Hank Sanders, Alabama state Senator, and I’m still mad as hell. I say hell no! I ain’t going back to the cotton fields of Jim Crow days. I’m going forward with Ron Sparks, Jim Folsom and others who would do right by all of us. I hope you are mad as hell and will not go back, and you have the power to choose. I will stand until hell freezes over for Ron Sparks for Governor and Jim Folsom for Lt. Governor on November the 2nd.

Paid for by Alabama New South.

The threat is real.

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) -- Civil rights groups have criticized a white city councilman in Warner Robins, Ga., for telling a black colleague during a public meeting that he should work in a cotton field.
The exchanged happened during an argument Monday between Councilman John Williams, who is white, and Daron Lee, who is black.
"I was disrespected last Monday," Lee said in televised comments. "I'm getting tired of y'all talking to me any kind of way. I'm sorry, I'm not in a cotton field. OK?"
"You should be," Williams replied.
Lee said in an interview with WXIA-TV that he considered Williams' comment a racial remark. Black slaves labored in the cotton fields of Southern plantations until slavery was banned in 1865 after the U.S. Civil War.

This is how they feel and who they are. This is why The Alabama State President of the NAACP objected to The Azalea Trail Maids being the only official representative in the Inaugural Parade of President Barack Hussein Obama. There were some who just couldn't understand why it was a reminder of Slavery. It was the opening salvo.

When you see a single young woman, let alone fifty, as a neon-colored caricature of Miss Scarlett at the Barbecue, it calls to mind, well, Miss Scarlett at the Barbecue. I’m sure girls north of the Mason-Dixon line wore hoop skirts too—we’ve all seen Little Women—but the silhouette of the big ruffledy Barbie-cake skirt and parasol is forever linked in the American mind with the antebellum South. And not just any aspect of the South, but the sprawling, colonnaded white plantation house, where in the evening by the moonlight you can hear those darkies singing. And when we choose to present that as the single representative image for our state, it looks like we’re yearning to hear ‘em singing again. It just does, y’all.

If President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder don't get off their Donkey's and reign in the gop we will be singing and slaving again.

WASHINGTON -- Former President Bill Clinton went after Republican governors and legislators on Wednesday for their "disciplined, passionate, determined effort" to pass controversial voter ID laws that could keep some traditionally Democratic voters from casting a ballot in 2012.
"There has never been in my lifetime, since we got rid of the poll tax and all the other Jim Crow burdens on voting, the determined effort to limit the franchise that we see today," Clinton said in his keynote address to a roomful of young progressives at the Campus Progress National Conference.
"This is not rocket science. They are trying to make the 2012 election look more like the 2010 election than the 2008 election."
Clinton specifically chastised Florida Gov. Rick Scott ® for imposing a five-year waiting period on the restoration of voting rights for ex-prisoners, many of whom fall into racial groups that have traditionally voted Democratic -- and would likely vote for Democratic candidates in 2012.

I wish I were in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten.

Can you hear him now?