"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere"~Edit

Government action is not the whole answer to the present crisis, but it is an important partial answer. Morals cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. The law cannot make an employer love me, but it can keep him from refusing to hire me because of the color of my skin. Martin Luther King,Jr.

Regular readers know I started Redeye's Front Page after my front page privileges were revoked at Left in Alabama for allegedly posting factually incorrect information on the front page and refusing to correct it after it was pointed out to me. I was also accused of writing about race too much, making those who disagreed with me feel like they were racist, always wanting to have the last word and told if I wanted to have freedom of speech to start my own blog. Which I did, but even now anonymous commenter's post the same criticisms and attempt to tell me what and how I should write on this blog and accuse me of being obsessed with Left in Alabama blah, blah, blab, blab. But that's OK, I firmly believe in freedom of speech and the right for everyone to express their point of view. I respect individual freedoms and individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Is it too much to ask for the same respect in return?

It's not the first time I've been banned from a forum because of my point of view, and it probably won't be the last, because for some reason blog administrators and right wing talk show host believe they own the public airways but I digress, but each and every time it happens I will "whine" about it loud and clear. Silence helps the oppressor, not the oppressed.

I make no apologies for being opinionated, my daddy taught me to give as good as I get, to fight fair, win like a winner and to lose like a winner. He also taught me to stand up for my rights, to stand up for the rights of others, and to encourage others to take the same just stand.

Which brings me to the latest chapter in the Left in Alabama vs Redeye Saga and exposes the real difference between liberals and conservatives. Strike that, it exposes the difference between fairness and unfairness. One of the front pagers, as they are known, posted a diary in what I believe is a backhand attempt to use the Constitution of the United States of America to justify practicing discrimination like the religious right use the bible to justify their actions under the guise of compassionate conservatism. In the course of the discussion one of the resident righty's takes the sheet off and exposes the power of white supremacy and privilege.

You are correct that I left when I felt my point of views were disruptive and unappreciated as opposed to contributing to the conversation. I think it is fair to state that I attempt to leave as graciously as I could muster. I did not whine or carp about others being unfair.

My point is that you have a great deal to add to the conversation. Use your posts, even if limited, to provoke serious discussion. If you wish to do a point - counterpoint routine, let me know and I will take the opposite side. Do not lessen your attributes by constanting carping about the rules. Sadly all of us must abide my rules we are not particularly fond of.

Note the patronizing, condescending tone of the comments? I couldn't respond on LiA because my username is disabled, OP I hope you're reading.

Why am I not surprised you are on the side of injustice? What worries me the most about your position is that you say you are an officer of the courts where justice is blind and citizens are entitled to equal justice. It worries me greatly someone with your point of view is/was in a position of power.

No OP, it's not about abiding by rules we are not "particularly fond of". Rules are fair not fond. Those of us committed to equality and social justice work within the system to repeal unjust rules. What if Rosa Parks had just abided by the rule that she had to ride at the back of the bus, or stand if there were no seats so a white person could sit down? What if Martin Luther King, Jr. and others had just gone along to get along with rules of Jim Crow? What if our LBGT sisters and brothers didn't fight for their right to fight for our country? Rules should apply equally. One set of rules for one person/group and another set rules for another group is discrimination. I'm surprised as an officer of the court you don't know this. I worry about the fate of those who came before you seeking justice in a court of LAW.

I appreciate your concern for my "attributes" but as for me I will continue to protest the double standard and the unfair treatment, because that is who I am and what I am about. Freedom and equal justice is a right not a privilege.

"some men see things as they are and ask why; he dreamed of things as they could be and asked why not."~ Senator Ted Kennedy eulogizes his brother Senator Robert Kennedy

The Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party shows you how to deal right wing republican Bully's

And NO, you don't bend over and take your gang banging like Girlie Men, and NO you don't resign yourself to go along to get along. YOU CALL THEIR BLUFF. You call out they HYPOCRISY. You stand up to them. Kudos to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the progressive, I mean LIBERAL caucus. This is what I'm talking about!

From Talking Points Memo

"If we're going to lose, let's lose with a strong message," Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) -- chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus -- told me and another reporter in the Speaker's Lobby this afternoon.

Earlier today, he and other progressives interrupted the tax plan's glide path by blocking a key procedural measure -- a stalling tactic they hope to leverage into being given a chance to vote on substantial changes to the bill. All efforts to amend the legislation are expected to fail. But rank and file Dems are angry that during the brief floor debate over the cuts they were given only one shot at a relatively narrow, symbolic amendment to raise the estate tax.

As long as they're being set up to fail, progressives want that measure to include a whole range of changes to the bill.

Oh, and remember how the righty's were complaining about Congress not knowing what was in the health care bill, that President Obama didn't have hearings on C-Span nor did he include the republicans? Can't find a link, but outgoing Florida democratic Congressman Alan Grayon (Liberal) makes note the government is getting ready to spend trillions without what's knowing what's in the bill(besides tax cuts for the rich, the estate tax and unemployment insurance) without hearings or mark ups. Now ain't that a dip?

I heard a Talking TeeVee Chuckle head say the democrats want to push this bill through before the republicans take over the house because "they would come up with something much worse and cut off unemployment insurance" blah, blah, blab, blab. I say Let em Bring it On. The blood will be on their hands. To quote Governor Howard Dean, I'm tired of being bullied by the right wing. If you don't stand for something you will fall for anything. Freedom is worth fighting for.

Alabama Congress Critter Elect Watch

Well it's a good thing Orange Cry Baby Bohner doesn't hold a gudge, AL05 Congress Critter elect Mo Brooks was appointed to the House Armed Services, Science and Technolgy Committes, but will he be able to bring home the bacon in light of his no pork (earmarks) pledge? Oh wait, he unsigned the no earmarks pledge after he signed the no earmarks pledge. I wonder if Mo is going to refuse to accept his Obma Care while he's trying to repeal Obama care for the rest of us?

Psst Mo! Tell President Obama, Senator Harry Reid and Representative Nancy Pelosi I said please don't hold it against the residents of the 5th district because you are the rep. We need our big government spending and contracts here in the Tennessee Valley.

From the nobody listens to me file

Has anyone noticed but me that republicans are bipartisan when it's benefits them? Bipartisianship to republifcans means you join us, we don't join you.

Mo, Dale, Teabaggers, how about joining with Democrats/liberals fighting for health care reform, or the Jobs bill, or bringing our troops home from Iraq? Bipartisanship is two way, not one way.

Words of caution and advice to my progressive/democratic friends. Make sure you identify yourselves as such so that you won't be lumped in with the Teabaggers. They are NOT your friend(s). Don't let yourself be used to enable the right wing/conservative agenda.

Meanwhile, AL07 Congress Critter Elect Terri Sewell is Just about Ready to move into her prime office space on The Hill.

I haven’t decided the locations of all the district offices,” she said. “We will keep the ones at the courthouse in Selma and in Livingston at the University of West Alabama, but in Birmingham, I haven’t decided on a location.”’

She fared well in the lottery among freshmen members of Congress for the vacated offices at the Capitol. “I got a good lottery number,” Sewell said, “No. 5 out of 85. It’s a great location, 1133 Longworth — on the first floor and the first office. That’s great accessibility.”

She also elected the Regional Whip

The day before, Sewell had been in Washington at a regional meeting of Democrats, where she was elected the regional whip for Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

Being the whip for the region means she’ll check on votes and ensure the Democratic delegates from this particular region in the United States have the facts about the policy, legislation or track they are taking as a group, she said.

Wow, that ought to really help the residents of the 7th district with jobs and economic development.

Psst Terri! What Congresswoman Maxine Waters said;

“This should help her be an effective representative, and I expect her to work hard on behalf of the constituents who have shown much confidence in her,” Waters said. “I look forward to working with her within the House of Representatives as a whole and in the Congressional Black Caucus on issues of importance to all Americans, where they live in Alabama or California: job creation and economic development, education and training, quality health care and more.”

Redeye Watch over and out...for now.

Redeye's Reading List

The weather outside is frightful so let's take a blog stroll together. Warning, this blog stroll is heavy on racial issues *gasp*, so come along if you dare.

This C-Span caller from Sweet Home Alabama, should put an end to the specualtion the gop is making inroads with minorities and that it doesn't bode well for democrats. *snicker*

To be fair, two callers on a talk show does not make the republican party racist. I mean these guys sounded as old as Methuselah, so I can understand their disdain for not only hope and change. But also the addition of the bumbling-incompetent-bald headed-wide nosed having RNC Chairman, that is Michael Steele. Yep, those guys were the exception to the rule because we all know that the republican party isn't racist. I mean if they were, they would have never elected Steele, right?

The chase contiues, look out for the traps. *sigh*

Things seem to intensify during the holiday season. People's emotions tend to get the better of them, and their true feelings always comes out. It's why my man racism works in overdrive around this time. But I have no problem with chasing his ass around the room and shining a light on him when he stops.

Out of sight out of mind. Words of Love for Georgia Prison Strikers;

Every single day, prisoners face the same deplorable and unnecessarily punitive conditions that you have courageously decided to stand up against. For too long, this nation has chosen silence in the face of the gross injustices that our brothers and sisters in prison are subjected to. Your fight against these injustices is a necessary and righteous struggle that must be carried out to victory.

Sheltered White Men

A Sheltered White Man is a white man whose experience rarely goes beyond that of well-to-do White Americans. The power of his class, race, sex and country shelters him from much of the bad done in the world.

True, most people’s experiences are limited by class, race, sex and country. And most people understandably avoid experiencing the bad in the world as much as they can.

What makes Sheltered White Men different is their power:

Speaking of sheltered, priviledged, powerful white men, Gary Palmer says extending the Bush tax cuts for the rich will make Christmas merrier for Alabama. Uh Gary, I'm waiting...

It would be particularly bad for the Alabama economy. According to a report by The Heritage Foundation, if Congress fails to extend the Bush tax cuts, Alabama would lose an average of 9,873 jobs per year, peaking at almost 12,500 jobs by 2016. The average household income in Alabama would go down by $3,498 per year and overall, individual income taxes would go up by $5.3 billion, according to The Heritage Foundation report.

One of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century has been the decline of liberalism and the ascendancy of conservatism. Amen and Amen.

While there are many opinions for the cause of this phenomenon the one that is the most fraudulent is that America is a conservative nation. This false premise has been propagated by those who want to maintain some fictitious sense of America’s past and a desire to reverse the progress we have achieved. Over the course of the last 50 years they have steadily and persistently chipped away at those ideas which defined liberalism (shared sacrifice, equality, and shared responsibility) and replaced them with greed, selfishness, and special interests while simultaneously demonizing liberalism as socialism.

What's on your reading list?

So much hypocrisy, so little time

Excuse me, but if you campaign on a platform form of ethics reform, shouldn't you at least have some ethics?

If you run on a platform of taking out the trash in Montgomery, shouldn't your own damn house be clean?

If you hold candidates and and elected officials to the highest ethical and moral standards shouldn't you hold yourself to those same standards?

If you uphold the principle that All men/women are created equal and are entitled to equal rights how do you justify discrimination?

Consider this a righteous Redeye Rant because I am sick and tired of all the double talk and back talk. The cats and other critters over at Left in Alabama seem shocked the Alabama gop used ethics/reform and anti corruption as a campaign slogan.

With Governor Riley's ethics reform proposals, the Republican Wrecking Crew is at it again and they are making yet another effort to Defund the Left by wrecking the Democratic Party by starving its constituent movements or shutting down the avenues by which its leaders receive contributions.
Now, we have the outlines of Governor Riley's ethics reform package. Two key proposals of Governor Bob Riley's ethics reform package are nothing more than a blatant attempt to defund the Left and the AEA, a key interest group within the Alabama Democratic Party. Those are the proposals to prohibit AEA from collecting dues by payroll deduction and the ban on so-called "double dipping," i.e., so as to prohibit a member of the Alabama Legislature from holding another government job including public school jobs. Both of these proposals have already passed in a Senate committee.

I tried to tell them this was about putting Dr. Joe Reed in his place, but did they listen? Noooo. According to them Joe Reed is the cause of all of Alabama's ills. He's the reason the Alabama legislature turned from blue to blood red. Never mind that Joe Reed wasn't the head of the Alabama Democratic Party and has never been the head of the Democratic Party. Never mind that Joe Reed has spent his life fighting for the rights of the disenfranchised. Never mind Joe Reed was the duly elected leader of the Alabama Education Association. Never mind Joe Reed was not afraid to speak truth to power. Never mind all of those things. Joe Reed had to be put in his place once and for all because it was time for some *ahem* new leadership.

By new leadership I suppose they mean someone who will be the opposite of Joe Reed. Well are you happy with your "new leadership" now? Are you happy the good guys have been replaced by the bad guys? Any teacher who voted for the Alabama gop will get what they deserve. They bit of their nose to spite their face. But don't worry, the Alabama Democratic Party, Dr. Joe Reed and Dr. Paul Hubbert will save you, because that's the kind of organization/people they are. They fight for what is right.

''This is about power,'' said Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro. ''This is about a group that has not had power for 136 years. These are mechanisms by which they will be able to maintain power in this august body.''
Voters on Nov. 2 broke more than a century of Democratic control of the Legislature. Republicans now run both the House and Senate.
Sen. Roger Bedford, D-Russellville, said the bill "rises to the top of petty politics.'' He said Riley pushed for the bill to punish AEA and ASEA because they didn't support his favorite candidate for governor, Bradley Byrne. Byrne lost the Republican primary to Gov.-elect Robert Bentley.

wargolem has one of the best explanations of the rank gop hypocrisy and what it means for teachers, strike that, liberals in Alabama.

As for me i personally know what i call it - Hypocrisy 101. This particular person said of his opponent during the election "Well all he did was go down there to montgomery and vote himself a raise." Guess what? All you did was go down there and the first thing you did was to screw over the teachers and they tend to have a long memory.

Redeye Rant over and out...for now.