#TTownforMikeBrown #BlackLivesMatter: Roll Tide!

#BlackLivesMatter scenes from peaceful demonstration at #UA #TTownForMikeBrown pic.twitter.com/iKkaTBxuYf
— Leigh Garner (@reporterleighg) December 4, 2014

As a win or lose Auburn Tigers fan I never thought the words Roll Tide would roll off my lips, but I have to give credit, honor, and praise, when credit, honor, and praise, are due.  While UAB students are protesting the demise of their football program, University of Alabama students staged a silent protest of Michael Browns grand jury decision.

 TUSCALOOSA, Alabama -- University of Alabama students organized a silent protest Wednesday of the grand jury decision in the fatal police shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson. 

Student newspaper The Crimson White reported nearly 300 students took part in the protest and sit-in at the Ferguson Center, a hub of campus activity. 

Participants wore all black clothing, with many carrying signs and utilizing social media hashtags like #TTownforMikeBrown and #BlackLivesMatter to share photos of the protest. 

Some chose to lie down to represent the four hours Brown's body lay in the street on Aug. 9.

Wouldn't it be great if students from Auburn University and the University of Alabama  joined  forces with students from Alabama State University and Alabama A&M University in a massive march with the DREAM one day their children will live in a country where the content of their character is not judged by the color of their skin?  I'm looking sideways at Y-O-U Joe Scarborough, Charles Barkley, Rudy Giuliani, and Casey Wardynski.

Best hour of my life!! Be the change you want to see...#letsdowork #TTownForMikeBrown
— NearaP.is.She (@ItzMe_NearaP) December 3, 2014

Eye "believe the children are our future, teach them well and let them lead the way"

JoeScarborough calling an unarmed dead teen a "Thug" was the last straw for me

Poor joe Scarboroug, as  a Southern white male he is used to black football players just playing for massa& shutting up.#handsuprams
— thefieldnegro (@fieldnegro) December 1, 2014

So, University of Alabama Alum, red, republican, right wing, congress critter turned Talking TeeVee Pundit Head Joe Scarborough used the public airways to spew misinformation, and smear Michael Brown after some members of the St. Louis Rams football team dared put their hands in the air before the game on Sunday in solidarity with protesters in Ferguson,

Scarborough’s bloviating was unrelenting and exhausting. The talk show host believes the black people supporting the Ferguson based protests are using a poor example by taking up the cause of the “thug” named Mike Brown. As an aside, I think I would like that word to go the way of b*tch, f*g, and ni**er. When do you ever hear that term used against anyone except people of color?

After you watch the video read 8 Thoughts on Joe Scarborough's Ferguson Rant.

 1) There is nothing more insufferable than a pompous white guy telling black people how to act. This should be so damn obvious. Even Joe himself points out the unfairness to black people on the streets and in the courts of this nation. The system is rigged and only a white fool doesn’t know that. The difference is, black people live it. Considering that, imagine having a rich white guy going on television and letting you know what you have the right to be outraged over? A man who can hail a cab with ease, can shop in a retail establishment without being watched, and has many fewer worries about getting shot just because of an accident of birth. At least moderate your damn tone.

#BringBackImus
#JustSayNoToMorning Joe

A Third Open Letter to Joe Scarborough

I am re-posting this letter by contributor  Average  Citizen under my byline due to technical difficulties.  Links inserted for emphasis and clarity.~RedEye

I confess to regularly watching “Morning Joe” for the political discourse and as a barometer for what some Republicans are willing to accept as true (Fox News doesn’t work for this purpose) in the face of overwhelming facts. My previous two open letters were related to Joe’s support of the voter ID laws while being highly disingenuous as to their content and impact and failure to acknowledge the political motivation as opposed to fighting a minuscule level of alleged fraud. This letter has to do with his defense of Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell, Republicans who came under fire, but can count on their ally Joe Scarborough to be their apologist and offer a strong defense against the least of what has been alleged, while ignoring the major issues.

Let’s start with former Governor Bob McDonnell, who along with his wife, was indicted on 14 counts of violating Federal laws. They not only accepted, but requested hundreds of thousands of cash and gifts from a wealthy businessman who wanted support in launching his company. Having access to no more information than you and your producers Joe, I’ve seen the direct flow outlined in the indictment showing both the “quid” and the “pro quo” when calls were made to set up meetings with state officials within hours of receiving gifts. There’s a promotional picture of the ex-Governor doing his best Vanna White imitation holding a can of the product in question at a launch party he hosted at the Governor’s mansion. Yet you Joe are in denial.

You forcefully claim that the Governor broke no Virginia state laws and how the Fed’s had no business getting involved. The law used to indict the couple, the Hobbs Act, was old (1951) and therefore not relevant somehow. This is a portion of what the law states;

 “ Whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or attempts or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in violation of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”

Since you have decided that Federal law doesn’t apply somehow to Republican Governors that you support, I think we can find some Virginia state laws they violated although you have absolved them. They gave away state property to their children including liquor, pots and pans and food from the Governor’s mansion. State law would consider that theft. They obstructed justice by telling lies to prosecutors along with the people of the state in their claims that first they and then their daughter paid for a reception and dinner again held at the mansion. I’ll give you credit for being consistent in your defense of McDonnell as you have backed him for months as this scandal unfolded. No doubt if convicted, you’ll clamor for a fine and no jail time as if he did nothing really wrong.

With Chris Christie your apologist theme is that he hasn’t done anything that politicians haven’t always done. In your view he merely used the levers of power to get others to bend to one’s will. There are two separate issues currently with Christie; the shutting down of access lanes to the GWB in apparently some sort of political retribution, and the alleged extortion attempt involving state controlled Hurricane Sandy relief funds to Hoboken.

Regarding the bridge your first deflection was to try to focus instead on Benghazi and the IRS indicating somehow that it was not worthy of further inspection in light of those other alleged scandals. You tried to suggest that the issue was over after the second round of dismissals of Christie staffers without acknowledging the several other members of Christie’s staff already named in E-mails in having a role, and having no explanation how the Governor was somehow unaware of what was in the newspaper and television daily and the subject of multiple calls and e-mails to his office. His version of the story, and his seeming lack of interest despite his acknowledged micromanaging style, seems perfectly acceptable to you.

Regarding the withholding of Sandy funds until the Mayor of Hoboken approved funding of a development project for the Rockefeller Group (to the exclusion of all other developers), you’re response was to lambaste the Mayor who came forward. She didn’t do what you say you’d have done which was to threaten the Governor who had the power to in this case allow your town to remain crushed in the aftermath of the hurricane. Mayor Zimmer has spoken with the Federal prosecutor for the area and made statements which if untrue could land her in jail. You side with the broad denials of the accused as they shield themselves with defense lawyers and stonewall.

A real news person would follow the story. What efforts have been made by the state to push this development down the throat of Hoboken, while shutting out other developers of similar projects on nearby seemingly equivalent land? What do the E-mails between the Port Authority Chairman Samson, the Governor’s office, the Lt. Governor and others say? You imply she’s a liar but make no effort to ferret out the truth.

Joe you are a defender of the rich and powerful and have lost touch with the people. While you see these instances as either not important or business as usual. It’s clear that your alliance is with the 1% who may no longer be funding your elections but now are your advertisers. You tell the parts of the story that meet your objective and drown out and cut off others with opposing views. The barometer you are is no longer that of the moderate Republican but that of the complete apologist for the rich, wealthy and powerful. Shame on you!

An apology to Left in Alabama, and a question for the Alabama Democratic Party

 New Alabama Congressional Map

When the Cats and other Critters were talking about gerrymandering and redistricting as far back as 2007 and 2009,  I was kind of  taken a back because I thought they were bashing racially gerrymandered districts to abolish long held minority voting blocks,  by questioning  why we still need minority voting districts.

Little did I know they may have been trying to warn us (democrats)  republicans were plotting to, as my Daddy says,  spank us with our own switch.

The question is...did we (democrats) mess around and let them (republicans) redistrict the 7th district, paving the way for a conservative who happens to be black to mis-represent Alabama's 7th congressional district?

I'm  just asking....

RedEye's National InSecurity Week in Review

 

Remember the color-coded terrorism advisory scale created by a Homeland Security Presidential directive in response to the 9/11 attacks?

Remember when Bush and Company said they were sending our sons and daughters to Iraq and Afghanistan to fight-them-there-so-we-don't-have-to-fight-them-here?

What color is the Terra Lert?

Does Terra Lert brown mean run, or run and hide?

Are your Ducks taped?

Is your watta bottled?  

 Will 1776 commence again if guns are taken away?

Are we safe yet?

The response to President Obama's special  task force headed by Vice President Joe Biden to create proposals to decrease gun violence proved to be an economic stimulus for gun dealers/manufactures.  The proposed recommendations produced calls for a Gun Appreciation Day to send a loud an clear message to Congress and President Obama to keep your "hands off my guns",.  Ironically, this event will be held on the same day we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr, who was shot and killed  by a single .30 bullet fired from a Remington 760 Gamemaster rifle while fighting for non violent social change.

Waive your rights while waving your guns!  YeeHaw!!

 Next month, the Supreme Court will take up a challenge to the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the most effective law of its kind in the history of the United States. A century after the Civil War, the act, in abolishing many forms of discrimination employed by the Southern states, such as poll taxes and literacy tests, finally turned the legal right for African-Americans in those states to vote into an actual right to vote. Bipartisan congressional majorities have reauthorized the law four times, most recently in 2006. (It passed the House overwhelmingly and the Senate unanimously, and was signed into law by George W. Bush.) The question now is whether the Supreme Court will strike down the Voting Rights Act as a violation of states’ rights.

Psst!  Mr. President Obama  sir, you know you are doing something wrong when Joe Scarborough,  and the mainstream media, of all people, accuses you having too many white men in the White House.   I don't know why anyone is surprised women and minorities need not apply for high level positions with the Romney, I mean Obama, administration.  I knew when the white, I mean right wing media made candidate Obama renounce, reject and repudiate Reverend Jeremiah Wright, poor black folks, not to be confused with rich black folks, were going to get left behind. 

And they want us to sing God Bless America?

No!  No!  No!  God Help America.

Gun violence saturates our children’s lives and relentlessly threatens them every day. It has romped through their playgrounds; invaded their birthday parties; terrorized their Head Start classrooms, child care centers, and schools; frolicked down the streets they walk to and from school; danced through their school buses; waited at the red light and bus stop; lurked behind trees; run them down on the corner; shot them through their bedroom windows, on their front porches, and in their neighborhoods.

"Keep them honest" For real

45 days after Trayvon Martin was killed,  and Sanford FL police chief Bill Lee said the case was closed, George Zimmerman has been arrested thanks to Special Prosecutor Angela Cory.  I admit I am surprised at the outcome.  I never expected the State of Florida to throw George Zimmerman under the bus for murder of a black child.  I will also admit I thought she wouldn't press charges hoping to provoke a violent reaction from the African American Community as proof Zimmerman was justified in killing Trayvon.  Is my faith in the justice system restored?  Not quite.  We still have to have a fair trial.  However if the trail is fair and the verdict is not guilty I will accept it and move on, unlike those who never got over the OJ verdict.

It's a good thing we didn't have to depend on our UNfair and UNbalanced  mainstream media to advance this issue.  I thank God for the race hustlers and others who stood up for what is right (no pun intended).

Today's Must Read
Trayvon Martin 1994-2012~Rest in Peace Sweet Child

Must See Video
 What Joe Scarborough said

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Zimmerman Camp Standing their Ground

Funeral Director, no cuts or bruises on Trayvon's hands and knuckles, calls police investigation the most unprofessional he's ever seen.


Several explosive new developments today in the case of Trayvon Martin.  

What took so long for the police to notify Trayvon`s parents about the death of their son? Why wasn`t the suspect, George Zimmerman arrested? Why has he been able to claim self defense when the facts contradict that claim that in fact he chased Trayvon? And why weeks later, Zimmerman is still free and still able to carry a weapon?

What Everyone Should Know about the Trayvon Martin Case. 

What Joe Scarborough said all the damn way!

"If the facts are as they appear now, whoever is running the Police Department, whoever is running the State Attorney's office down there are not worthy of the public trust, have betrayed the public trust.  They are unworthy of representing the people of Florida..

Post SOTU Commentary

"Do you think we should spend more federal dollars we don't have to keep people in houses they can't afford?"  Imus in the Morning replacement Joe Scarborough said NO, they should be tossed out into the street, in response to President Obama's proposal of a new task force to tackle investigation of bank's mortgage lending practices.  So, how did investigating banks who put people in homes they couldn't afford morph into spending more federal dollars we don't have to keep people in houses they can't afford?

The gop infused, media enabled, Tea Party politics of Obstructionism and Negativity is coming home to roost.   Despite what the Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads say, the majority of the American people,not to be confused with the Suckers, blame republicans, not democrats, for the grave state of our Union.

Despite the misinformed opinion of some, food stamps is not an entitlement program, and black folks aren't issues food stamps because their black.  Food stamps are issued based on need.   Thanks to republican polices and obstructionism, more Americans need food stamps.

The gop doesn't have a plan, so they use weapons of mass distraction like an Atlanta, Georgia judge orders President Obama to appear in court on Thursday to counter a birther claim.  I thought republicans were for tort reform? Snark

Although President Obama used his speech to obliterate the gop lies and obstructionism, his team must desegregate.

Do the math.
In 2008, encouraged by Obama’s surprisingly strong showing in the caucuses in overwhelmingly white Iowa, Black voters launched their own grassroots efforts to elect the “first Black president,” Obama won, despite receiving just 43 percent of white voter support nationwide.
The problem in 2012 is that Axelrod and “Team Obama” seem intent on delivering the same basic approach they used in 2008, wrapped in high-tech gadgetry and bolstered by more money than has ever been spent in a presidential campaign.
At its core, however, the outreach strategy, is flawed, and unless the campaign takes steps very soon to ensure African American senior-level strategic input, and an effort that reflects a healthy respect for Black voters, the “First Black president” will only get to serve one term in office.

Today's Must Reads
With Democrats like Artur Davis who needs republicans?
Hollering  Anti Semitism-Edited

Must See Videos
TYT on The State of the Union 
S#it Republicans say about Black People

When Censorship Comes to America...

I'm not buying the Keith Olbermann was suspended because he knew the terms of his contract and he knew the rules spin. Keith Olberman is a liberal but he's not stoopid. And it would be different if MSNBC didn't have a pattern of firing progressive voices in favor of go along to get alongs. Remember Phil Donahue?

Gabriel Sherman's piece in New York magazine (10/3/10) on the cable news wars includes a bit of history on MSNBC's firing of progressive host Phil Donahue in 2003; an internal memo at the time worried that the show would be "a home for the liberal anti-war agenda at the same time that our competitors are waving the flag at every opportunity." Sherman focuses on MSNBC personality Chris Matthews--who sometimes claims he was opposed to the Iraq War--and his desire to get Donahue fired:

Like LiA blogger Dragontide, I wonder if MSNBC was just looking for a reason to get rid of KO;

From the NY Times link:

"The suspension comes at a particularly tricky time for MSNBC. NBC Universal is in the midst of a change of ownership, with its potential new owner, Comcast, seeking final federal approval for the sale. It hopes to conclude the deal by the end of the year."
Maybe Comcast wants a completely different NBC. Seems to me that the proper thing to do would have been to ask Olbermann to not contribute to anymore campaigns and leave it at that. In any event, it's going to be interesting to see how this all plays out.

Then we have Rick Sanchez who was fired from CNN after giving a satellite radio interview in which he called Jon Stewart a “bigot” and suggested that Jews run CNN and the news media in general.

Keith Olbermann was suspended after POLITICO reported he made three campaign contributions to Democratic candidates. POLITICO recently hired former republican Congressman Joe Scarborough and they have a daily segment on Morning Joke, I mean Joe.

Starting on Oct. 1, Politico will run weekly opinion columns by Joe Scarborough, the MSNBC host and former United States representative, and Michael Kinsley, a columnist for The Atlantic.

I smell a rat too.

So let me get this straight; MSNBC suspends Keith Olbermann for donating money to dumbocratic candidates, and their rivals, Radio Rwanda, allows their on air personalities to run for republican office? I swear liberals are getting softer and softer by the day. You all have got to get hard core like the republiclowns. Do you think Radio Rwanda would fire one of their biggest earners over some s^&t like this? Hell News Corp gave over a million dollars to that racist- right out of central casting- Haley Barbour, and didn't even sweat it.

Still, like Aaron Goldstein, I smell a rat. You know the world is upside down when conservatives are ripping MSNBC for suspending Olbermann.

It ought to be against network policy to use the public airways to spread lies and misinformation but I digress. Did Keith Olberman actually violate NBC policy?

Check out the fine print of what NBC policy said, as of 2007, about political activities on the part of NBC employees:

"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the President of NBC News or his designee."

Emphasis mine. This is a bit difficult to parse. But this does seem to say that those who are worried that their "standing as an impartial journalist" would be jeopardized by political activity should report it. Last time I checked, Keith Olbermann doesn't pretend to be an "impartial journalist."

So let me see if I have this right(pun intended), MSNBc employees have to ask permission from management to donate their own damn money to political candidates? What if management says no? I guess only anonymous corproations are allowed "freedom of speech".

The story behind is the story is Keith Olberman got Dan Rathered by GE. Scared of losing influence with the Republicans in Congress, GE Executives cravenly did what they do best: protect their bottom line. Suspending Olbermann had nothing to do with drawing "a distinction between the journalistic standards of their news division and the standards of Fox." GE's own record of political contributions makes that very clear.

The difference between Keith Olbermann and Juan Williams is that Olbermann is in trouble for putting his money where his mouth is. Williams was putting his mouth where his money is. h/t AllesKlaar

Psst Keith, Rick and Dan! I feel your pain. You should join forces and start your own Network.

I keep on asking: WHERE THE H.... IS THE PRO-DEMOCRATIC MEDIA? (specially radio). I can drive through Texas and listen to at least dozens of Spanish radio stations and I can't find 1 pro-democratic station (only 1 in Dallas).

As long as we don't have "Pro-democratic" (liberal) radio in every major city in the US. Republicans are going to keep on ruling this country.

President Obama needs to speak on this.

Bring. It. On. Update

Dag, I step away from the blogosphere for a little while and all hell breaks loose on the political front.

Update: Sign the petition to put Keith Olbermann on the air now!

MSNBC suspended Keith Olberman without pay because he didn't disclose contributions made to three democratic congressional candidate. Psst KO! Don't you know thanks to the Supreme Court ruling all you have to do is incorporate (become a corporation)and you can donate as much money as you want. And, you can do it anonymously. Or you can be a right wing republican TeeVee Talking Head.

Even if you set aside the hypocrisy of the Joe Scarborough double-standard, Phil Griffin's explanation for suspending Keith Olbermann doesn't add up.

Griffin says Olbermann violated a policy requiring NBC News reporters to obtain approval for making political campaign donations that "jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist." But Olbermann isn't an "impartial journalist" and doesn't claim to be. Neither is Joe Scarborough, a point that NBC itself made in excusing Scarborough's donations.

Yep. There is something rotten in the Cotton over at MSNBC.

MSNBC suspended host Keith Olbermann today, following revelations that he made campaign contributions to three Democrats in the elections -- a violation of MSNBC policy.

But a search of OpenSecrets.org reveals that MSNBC host Joe Scarborough and MSNBC contributor Pat Buchanan have also made contributions to political campaigns.

If the democrats had gonads (which we know they don't)Before the 112th Congress convenes, the Senate of the 111th would pass the 400 bills sent to them by the industrious House… That's what the republicans would do. Another thing the republicans would do is pick the member with the biggest gonads to lead them. But do the democrats do that? Nooooo. They want to throw the member with the biggest gonads under the bus in favor of the member with no gonads. The Talking TeeVee Pundit Heads are breathlessly talking about the brewing fight between Steny Hoyer (Blue dog), Jim Clyburn (too nice) and Nancy Pelosi to be Minority leader.

Let me say right off the bat I am behind Nancy Pelosi 100%. Why should she fall on the sword? She did her part. Plus that, she does not cut and run. If mild mannered Harry Reid, who barely won re-election can remain Senate Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi can be House Minority Leader. If Robert Gibbs, David Axelrod, Eric Holder, Tom Villseck and Valerie Jarret can keep their jobs, Nancy can keep hers. Plus that republicans are skeered to death of Nancy Pelosi.

Just because democrats lost the majority and squandered a filibuster proof Senate doesn't mean we should roll over and play dead. On the contrary it should make us fight harder. There are three things in our favor.
1. Democrats are still the majority in the Senate so they can check any craziness that comes from the house.

2. President Obama is still in the White House and has his trusty VETO pen and signing statements.

3. Most of the Blue Dogs are history. Progressives prevailed. The democratic minority is going to be as effective as the republican minority was because they will be UNITED in their opposition. Snicker

We don't need a mealy mouth or a Blue Dog as our leader, we need a proud, courageous liberal leading us. Like lamh32 said;

We need Nancy knocking heads now more than ever, since we are no longer in the Majority. Nancy seems like the ONLY one who can do that and who has a credible chance of being elected.

Sign the petition in support of Nancy Pelosi.

Hmmm...I wonder who 7th district Congresswoman Terri Sewell will vote for?

On October 19th, U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer, the Majority Leader of the House, will be coming to Birmingham as Terri's special guest at a fundraiser for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). She's also made financial contributions to other Dems in Alabama and is campaigning with Alabama Democrats up and down the ballot to prevent a Republican takeover.

It. Is. On.