The Day after the #SOTU and the Repubs are mad now....#IWonTwice

Does Boener have to look like he's getting a colonoscopy everytime Obama says something good about America? I thought Repubs loved America?
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) January 21, 2015

President Obama didn't call out the republicans (and some democrats) to my satisfaction, but he did  throw some major shade  with a drop the microphone moment  that has republicans begging for cheese to go with their whine. 

Republicans tried to get snarky with President Obama during the State Of The Union, but were quickly shot down by an off the cuff presidential reply. After the exchange, conservative media cowered and whined about the president’s “rudeness.”

They can dish out the rudeness but they can't take it, and I suspect rudeness  is code for Uppity, but I digress. Obama isn't the first democratic President to throw shade at republicans, but he's the first African American President, and that's what makes them mad.

So how are they going to get Obama for daring get Uppity  I mean rude to them?  Well, first it was the Voting Rights Act now the republican controlled Supreme Court's Poised To Make It Easier To Deny Someone A Home Because They are Black. 

 For four years, civil rights advocates have struggled to keep the Supreme Court from eliminating a key prong of federal fair housing law. This year, their luck is probably going to run out. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs v. The Inclusive Communities Project, a case that could leave many victims of housing discrimination unable to win their case in court. Based on the justices’ unusual eagerness to hear the issue presented by Inclusive Communities, their decision is likely to end badly for civil rights.

Let's be clear, republicans showed us who/what they really are last night.

They don't want your child(ren) to have access to a quality public education.

They don't want anyone to have access to quality, affordable health care.

They want to build more new prisons than new schools.

They want to recruit our sons and daughters to fight wars based on dead wrong intelligence.

They are against Fair Housing.
 
They are against poor women (not to be confused with rich women) having access to a safe legal abortion.

They are against equal pay for women, heck they against fair pay for period.

They hate us for our freedom.  I thought I would throw that one in for flavor.

This is the party the media enabled to take control of the House and the Senate.

I HOPE they are happy.

The Struggle: Achievements and Principles

I wanted to make this pic my cover photo over at Facebook, but the text on the left side wouldn't be visible beneath my personal photo (well, that's not really me, of course, as I'm not a canine, though some of my best friends are). But since that wouldn't work out, and since I'll be guest blogging over here awhile by Redeye's special request, I wanted the pic of our accomplished President Obama to be my debut post. I know you're going to miss Redeye's style (with which I know I can't compete!) but I hope you'll give me a chance - because Redeye did!
I've never understood some people's angst for our President, and I've had to conclude that sadly, the rumors of him being black are true. Well, to be more accurate, he is actually of mixed races: he's Oreo, black and white, so to call him black just because he looks black is inaccurate.
I had always hoped that it was far more than race that made him despised by some. He is accomplished, coming out of rather humble beginnings, and yet, through his own striving and perseverance and making and taking every opportunity, he beat the odds of being a poor, undereducated, incarcerated black boy. That is, after all, too often the cultural stereotype, isn't it?
President Obama is a role model not only for young black males, but for us all. I am so glad that he has the personal demeanor that he does, and I am so ashamed and outraged at the likes of Georgia's Tea Partyian Rep. Joe Wilson for his "You lie!" stunts during the State of the Union (for which he recieved a formal rebuke from the House of Representatives). Notably, Sarah Palin recently revived the lyin' line, even dusting off the birthers' conspiracy theory for good measure. Some folks say anything for attention, especially if they can dress it up with what they call fighting for "principles."
I was reminded of principles while watching Melissa Harris Perry's segment today on NYPD's "stop and frisk" policy, which set quotas for police officers as "productivity goals." Apparently the principle of the police officers' work ethic is supposed to be stronger than our American principles of the 4th and 14th constitutional amendments. Never mind that 88% of all NYPD stops end without an arrest, and actually promote crime by leaving "entire neighborhoods demoralized and suspicious of police."
So young men in New York are routinely subjected to constitutional violations, even as our President demonstrates that color is no bar to achievement. He achieved and is a superb role model for us all, especially for youthful black men who again have another distinguished black man as an example and as a leader. And yet, there are those who attack President Obama not for his living our American principles, but for their own perversion of them.
We still have a long way to go to fulfill Rev. Martin Luther King's dream of "a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Or, as Melissa Harris Perry's father signed her birthday cards, "The struggle continues. Love, Daddy."

A Memorial Day Photo Blog with Links and Commentary

Say, have you seen my Democracy?  You know the Democracy with Liberty and Justice for ALL? Not the Democracy that sent our sons and daughters to W-ar based on DEAD WRONG INTELLIGENCE, and not look back, but will look back at a democratic Presidential Candidate who wanted to end poverty.  SMH

America is The Land of the Free because of the Brave.  The first Memorial Day was celebrated on May 1, in 1865 by freed slaves, missionaries and teachers,  in a ceremony honoring Union soldiers who died in a Confederate Prison Camp in Charleston, South Carolina.

None dare call it Treason.  Yet they want us to sing God Bless America?  No, No and,

NO.

God HELP America sing America again.

I, Too, Sing America By Langston Hughes

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow,

I'll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody'll dare

Say to me,

"Eat in the kitchen,"

Then.

Besides, 

They'll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed--

I, too, am America.

240,000 white republicans have spoken in New Hampshire, now it's on to South Carolina. Yee Haw!

And the winners are, Willard "Flip/Flop Mitt" Romney, Ron "racist newsletters" Paul, and John "country first McSame" Huntsman, in that order.  Willard may have won, but  60% of voters voted for for the other guys. Which tells me republicans aren't sold on their front runner.  I wonder why?  Snark

So now it's on to the racist, I mean conservative, Christian, red, republican, confederate, slave state of South Carolina.  Which may explain why Willard starting slinging red meat in his victory speech, accusing President Obama of not knowing what it means to be an American,  who wants to turn America into a European-style entitlement society.  Code for birth certificate, welfare, food stamps.  

Here are some facts about the conservative state of South Carolina, which according to the Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads,  is known for it's bare knuckles politics.

South Carolina is the home of  The Orangeburg Massacre at South Carolina State University where three black students were shot and killed by police during a peaceful protest.

South Carolina is the home of former republican U.S. Senator Strom Thurmon, racist by day, hypocrite by night.

South Carolina is the home of  current republican U.S Senator Jim "Waterloo" Demint.

South Carolina is the home of U.S. Congressman Joe "You Lie" Wilson.  Speaking of Congressman Joe "You Lie" Wilson, he will address a group of defense and military leaders at a  $1,000.00 per person luncheon in Huntsville, AL today. Dale "voter suppression with the state seal of approvall" Jackson will introduce Congressman Mo "I will do anything short of shooting them" Brooks who I'm assuming will introduce Wilson.  What's up with out of state/city Congress Critters raising money in North Alabama?

South Carolina is the state vowing to sue the United States Department of Justice, to enact a sate voter ID law, which they have already said punishes black voters.

South Carolina is the state where republican Governor Nikki Haley rejects the NAACP push to remove the Confederate Flag from atop the Statehouse.

I can't wait to see which candidate will emerge victorious in the Battle for South Carolina.

Orangeburg, S.C.  A student loaded onto a gurney after the shooting on Feb. 8, 1968. Photo by Bill Barley.
Today's Must Reads
The Rude Pundit, A Brief List of Conservative Men Who Need to Be Punched in the Balls.

Shock Treatment

A Massachusetts Mormon vs The Safe Black Guy for President

What color is the Terror Alert?

How come we don't have those color coded Terror Alerts anymore?

The system was created by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 3 on March 11, 2002, in response to the September 11 attacks. It was meant to provide a "comprehensive and effective means to disseminate information regarding the risk of terrorist acts to Federal, State, and local authorities and to the American people." It was unveiled March 12, 2002, by Tom Ridge, then the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security. However, responsibility for developing, implementing and managing the system was given to the U.S. Attorney General.

In January 2003, the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began administering the system. The decision to publicly announce threat conditions is made by the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security, according to Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5.[1]

Remember how after 911 everyone was all ginned up to go to war to fight them over there so we wouldn't have to fight them over here?


Remember how all Muslims were being lumped into the same category as the 911 hijackers?

Folks must call the Arizona shootings exactly what they are; acts of terrorism. Whether the shooter is white, black, or brown equal scrutiny should be given to a person who commits crimes of this nature. A person’s religion and the length of his name should not determine how the crime is reported. A terrorist is a terrorist. Because many allow the media to shape their thoughts and drive the conversation, the media helps facilitate racial flames at its leisure. The political pundits are carefully picked for their skills at stroking the audiences depending on what outlet you watch. Dumb pundits are chosen to play down a point and hateful pundits are picked to create more intolerance. They play us like puppets

Sarah Palin and her media enablers say don't blame them, blame the mentally ill among us.

The shootings in Tucson should be of concern to everyone. There are millions of people who already feel aggrieved and angry and they have now been incited by right wing invective calling for “Second Amendment remedies.”

The same mentally ill who need access to quality affordable health care which the gop infused, media enabled Tea Party vows to repeal.

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), the incoming chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee, whetted conservative appetites early in the year when he pledged not only to push for repeal of the president's health care reform law, but also suggested that the votes would be there to override a veto in the House.

Now republicans want strict gun control and to erect a Plexiglas shield around Congress as Joe Wilson "you lie" slogan is etched onto line of Assault Rifles.

So, is the Terra Lert red, orange, green, yellow, blue? Should we run or run and hide? Should we get out our Duct Taped and Bottled Water?

Are we safe yet?

What's the difference between Charlie Rangel and Joe Wilson despite the obvious?

The Big House will vote wether to lynch, I mean censure Representative Charlie Rangel (D.NY) today. I'm sure members of the grand old party are lighting the torches and cracking their whips in anticipation of putting that uppity boy in his rightful place. but Charlies Rangel doesn't deserve censure

When the House votes Thursday to discipline Rep. Charles Rangel – who was found guilty of 11 counts of ethics violations – the 80-year-old congressman and war hero should receive a reprimand, not censure.

Did Rangel make serious mistakes by failing to pay some taxes and report personal income? Absolutely. And he should have known better, especially since he chaired the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which is all about tax legislation.

But should Rangel be forced to stand before Congress and face public humiliation? No.

Rangel has been through enough embarrassment. Censure is the highest ethics punishment a lawmaker can receive outside of expulsion. Why drag Rangel to the House floor and force him to stand before his peers and take a verbal flogging? It accomplishes nothing.

Was Rep. Joe "you lie" Wilson censured for heckling the President of the United States during the State of the Union address and bringing Tea Bag Tactics to our House?

Representative Wilson got off with an apology (of sorts), Charlie Rangel should get the same.

Humbled and apologetic, Rangel wrote a note to Congress: "I am truly sorry for my mistakes and would like your help in seeing that I am treated fairly."

Rangel shouldn’t get kicked while he’s down. A reprimand seems appropriate, especially since Rangel was not found guilty of corruption. Rangel is cantakerous, stubborn, and throws theatrical fits, but he's no crook.

If Rep. Joe Wilson got off with a reprimand after publicly disrespecting the President of the United States of America, a reprimand is certainly good enough for Rep. Charlie Rangel who is guilty of sloppy bookkeeping.

The House of Representatives passed a resolution Tuesday reprimanding Rep. Joe Wilson for shouting "You lie!" during President Obama's address on health care. The resolution states that the House "disapproves of the behavior of the Representative from South Carolina."

Why have another televised high tech lynching of an uppity black man?

Never mind...we know.