I’m sad to say that Joe Biden not only stepped on his tongue, but he spilled some of his racial beans as well. I won’t comment on the offensive nature of his remarks since others have already done such a good job. I will say that Biden’s remarks are much like those of Michael Richards or Isaiah Washington in that they come from a deep reservoir of cultural sentiment (or should I say resentment?) towards black and/or gay folk. It doesn’t matter what his intentions were. In fact, I have no doubt that Biden’s intentions were generally benign, but that matters little when he opened his mouth merely to find a place for his political foot.
UPDATE: My man got on to speak on the O’Reilly Factor.
Category: Politics
Disagreeably Agreeing
Here, a good man was taking a position that as he understands it, is of God. Yet, many of us saw sanctimony, arrogance, even hatred. The arguments are so pitched and positions so entrenched that they can cause hard feelings among the closest of friends. (Even I fell victim to my emotions getting ahead of my judgment.) I knew that the debate was important, but there had be a better way.
Recently, I had a long email conversation with some friends about an article on gays. Naturally, differences arose and one particular guy voiced his strong opposition to it on the grounds that it is “against God.” I took exception to this. At one point, he made some very personal disclosures and his experiences with “working with gay men” and relatives dying of AIDS. Not exactly trivial stuff or glib commentary.
He rooted his entire argument on the grounds of the dictates of his faith, dictates whose very nature are unyielding and absolute. I knew this to be a powerful means for living a sanctified life “apart from the world”, but very, very dangerous when operating in it, esp. the public square. His arguments elicited accusations of “holier-than-thou” sanctimony and the like, which upon reflection were unfair but typical in today’s political environment of acrimony and bitter suspicion. Here we have a good man taking a position that is God’s as he understands it. Yet, some of us saw sanctimony, arrogance, even hatred in his words. The debate is so pitched and positions so entrenched that they can cause hard feelings among the closest of friends. (Even I fell victim to my emotions getting ahead of my judgment.) I knew that the debate was important, but there had be a better way.
Fuzzy Math
I’ve long been a fan of Robert Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of books and was surprised to come across this gem of an article. Not for the writing, but for the statement on our leaders inability to even adequately manage this country’s vast wealth. This applies esp. to Bush who has borrowed into the stratosphere. And let’s not forget that in the midst of repealing the so-called “death tax” that only 1 in 37,000 of us will actually pay. More of the burden for repaying this debt will fall to our children long after those who are responsible for it have left the scene.
What Ails GM and America?: Why the Rich Get Richer – Yahoo! Finance:
“I would say that what’s good for GM and for America is to treat workers and investors fairly. Tell us the truth. Admit incompetence. Stop pretending. Stop the fuzzy math. Of course, telling the truth will mean being thrown out of office, but that might be a good start for an economic recovery.”
I’ve long been a fan of Robert Kiyosaki and the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of books and was surprised to come across this gem of an article. Not for the writing, but for the statement on our leaders inability to even adequately manage this country’s vast wealth. This applies esp. to Bush who has borrowed into the stratosphere. And let’s not forget that in the midst of repealing the so-called “death tax” that only 1 in 37,000 of us will actually pay. More of the burden for repaying this debt will fall to our children long after those who are responsible for it have left the scene.
Dealing with the Devil?
Print Story: US sweetens offer to Iran: diplomats on Yahoo! News:
“The United States is proposing ‘lifting sanctions partially, not only waiving sanctions but actually lifting them,’ in an agreement to be worked out in multilateral talks that would start once Iran suspended uranium enrichment, said a senior Western diplomat, who requested anonymity.”
I think we have some final proof of the failure of Bush’s preventative war doctrine. We are dealing with the Axis now. So much for cowboy diplomacy.
It’s Not What You Know
The Harvard Crimson :: News :: Bush’s Personal Aide To Enroll at Business School:
“A 26-year-old college dropout who carries President Bush’s breath mints and makes him peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches will follow in his boss’s footsteps this fall when he enrolls at Harvard Business School (HBS). “
After reading this article, I was a bit dumbstruck for adequate words. However, my good friend Taalib was not so afflicted:
I don’t wanna hear a damn thing about how Affirmative Action “let’s in” unqualified blacks and trumps qualified whites. People accept who they wanna if they have the power. Former HBSers should be in an uproar!
T (“Merit is still worth something to me,” DA!)
Ousted CIA No. 3 Is Target of Raids
Ousted CIA No. 3 Is Target of Raids:
“Federal agents yesterday searched the CIA offices and Northern Virginia home of Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, the spy agency’s No. 3 official who was forced to resign this week amid a widening criminal investigation into allegations of government corruption and bribery.”
Live by the sword. Die by the sword.
Gays as Political Pigskin
Senate panel OKs gay-marriage ban – Yahoo! News:
“The measure passed 10-8 on a party-line vote. Specter said he voted for the amendment because he thought it should be
taken up by the full Senate, even though he does not back it. The gay-marriage ban is one of several hot-button social issues Republicans are raising to rally conservative voters ahead of November’s congressional elections.”
Specter, a master at doublespeak, knows his politics. On the one hand, he says he is opposed to the first amendment in American history that would abridge the rights for U.S. citizens but he ensures it goes to a debate in the Senate where ostensibly it could be sent to the states for ratification. Why? Because in an election year that debate will energize voters to vote GOP, even if it’s against their interests. He knows the amendment probably will not pass or get killed on floor debate, but the voters’ ignorance, hatred, and/or fear will energize them for the fall. Talk about wanting it both ways! As a black man who has witnessed the effects of the GOP’s racist “Southern Strategy” and coded race baiting with”welfare queens” and Willie Horton, I know how first hand how cynical and evil this is.
The Tax Shell Game
“Middle-income households would receive an average tax cut of $20 from the agreement, according to the joint Urban Institute-Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center, while 0.02 percent of households with incomes over $1 million would receive average tax cuts of $42,000.”
More tax shell games by the GOP. Pandering to the base in an election year. Nothing more really.
Treasury Secretary John Snow asserted that the tax breaks that would be extended have ushered in a period of rising business investment and strong economic growth. “When you get investment occurring and strong GDP growth, you get jobs,” he said. The “investment” on dividends and capital gains mostly goes to those in the secondary market: investors trading shares with each other. When I sell GE stock, the firm doesn’t get a dime. Now if they extended or even lowered taxes on IPO’s or secondary offerings, Snow’s claim would be more believable as that money is directly invested in firms which hire people. If the goal was to increase savings, I could see a tax credit on cap gains and dividends inversely related to income, but that wasn’t the goal here.
America Before Your Agenda
The Exposure of Valerie Plame:
“I don’t go into security matters. But, you can be sure that we discussed security at great length with various agencies,” Wilson said.
And Wilson says there have been specific threats. “There have been specific threats. Beyond that, I just can’t go.”
There are some things you just don’t do, whether you have the power to do them or not. The ends can never justify the means. Many have sought to justify President’s Bush’s outing of a CIA agent through the ignoble path of press leak on the grounds that he was combating misinformation about Saddam Hussein’s pursuit of uranium and the threat he posed to the US. What a fatuous argument. Wilson wrote an op-ed and laid out his concerns about the reasons for going to war in full public view for all to see, to agree or disagree. The President who has a bully pulpit from which to preach, could have challenged Mr. Wilson directly also in full public view via press conference or op-ed of his own, well one of his writers. That would have been, as my mother-in-law likes to say, “too much like right.”
Instead, the President chose to engage in shady (some would say sh*tty) political attack because the direct honorable approach was futile. Wilson, as we all know, was right. To destroy Wilson’s wife’s career with reckless disregard for her safety, the safety of the people with whom she has done business undercover, compromising the CIA’s ability to conduct intelligence in the interest of national security, and destroying Plame’s ability to continue her essential work also in the interest of national security, all in the name of “hardball” politics was one of the most egregious acts a President can make. There is simply no excuse. And I am ashamed of Republicans who would try to excuse it. Patriotism should always trump partisanship.
Talk about Power
Mexico’s Fox backs down on drug law – Yahoo! News:
“MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – In a surprise reversal, Mexican President Vicente Fox will not sign a widely criticized reform to decriminalize the possession of small quantities of marijuana, cocaine and heroin, his office said on Wednesday.
The president’s office said the law, which also toughened sentences for dealing and holding larger amounts of the intoxicants, would be sent back to Congress for revision.
‘In our country the possession of drugs and their consumption are, and will continue to be, crimes,’ the office said in a statement.”
Wow. It’s amazing how much power and influence America has over its neighbors. Every time they attempt to legalize anything related to illicit drugs by the democratic process, we step in and put the screws to the leaders to alter the law or prevent its ratification. What’s important to note here is that American power is limited to how energized the local populace is on this. If the Mexican or Canadian people really want it. There is little we can do to stop it. That’s the power and danger of democracy. People make choices you may or may not like. Look at Hamas.
It will be interesting to see how all of this pans out, esp. the “revisions.” Personally, I applaud legalizing possession by users and focusing prosecuting this war on the real combatants, the major drug suppliers and distributors. It’s sad we can’t wake up to that idea.