Who is the Extremist?

As if we didn't know that there are crazies in Congress?!?!?!  Its irresponsible that an elected member of Congress was at this "rally" (I think hate mob might be a more appropriate description).  Events like this remind me of how far we are from bringing our stated principles in line with reality.  I am always amazed at how "certain" folks throw around the term "extremist".  Perhaps they need a mirror?

IL and NJ do the Crazy Dance

Given the sorry economic climate in both Illinois and NJ, do neither of these Governors have nothing better to do with their time and respective state resources?  Moreover, while I understand and appreciate the fact that states (and cities) compete with one another for "business" (ie, trying to convince businesses to relocate or open a plant/office or other outpost in their respective borders), but from a larger perspective, we are really just transferring losses and gains from one geographic location to another...The bigger issue is about fostering an environment where the U.S. actually produces something tangible (and I am not talking about creating another mechanism with an inflated valuation and questionable social utility that's used to market the same tired products)...Moreover, given the very attractive incentives that states and municipalities very often offer to attract to businesses, you have to ask whether the lost revenue from the incentives offsets the economic and psychological gains?  (I don't know the answer to that question, but I hope the powers that be are doing the analysis...)

Govenor Haley Barbour is Crazy

Mississippi Governor Haley Harbour claims that the Obama Administration wants gar prices to increase in order to force Americans to buy more fuel efficient cars....This is beyond political cynicism...its just plain crazy...Using Governor's Barbour rationale, I ask for the justification beyond rising gas prices during the Bush Administration? (Personally, I thought it was to economically benefit Bush's oil industry buddies)...But, Governor Barbour is no stranger to ludicrous comments.  Bottomline is that rising gas prices further illustrate the need for Americans to conserve, reduce and reuse, but I don't believe that its an example of the President's Administration to force Americans to fully adopt and embrace this philosophy-that would be political suicide.  As the 2012 Presidential Race shapes up, I am sure that there will be no shortage of crazy comments on a variety of topics.  Hold on to your hats!

Are Blacks in the Film Industry Being Lazy?

Kudos to Anthony Mackie for speaking his mind...Personally, I don't have a problem with his word choice (like the writer at The Root)...You can't make an omelet unless you are willing to break some eggs (I am not sure if that makes any sense, but I like it..).

What Crazy is Happening Today?

Slate has a great piece on the current state of Sudan. I first became enlightened about the atrocities in that African country recently, after reading, "What is the What", a heartbreaking (and surprisingly humourous at times) autobiograpical account of the life of Valentino Achak Deng.  The chronicles his experience as a refugee from Southern Sundan (the book is written as a novel).  My mind was completely blown away (and, honestly, my heart and soul ached in a million places).  I knew that Dafur was (and remains) an international problem, but, I really didn't understand the history and the politics until after reading Mr. Deng's story.  Adding insult to injury to the thousands of Sudanese refugees (not to mention that millions those who have lost their homes, livelihoods and lives),  Omar Al-Bashir, the current Sudanese "President" claims that he won't run for "re-election in 2015---nevermind all of the harm and terror that he has already inflicted on the citizens of that Country (and the billions that he is accused of embezzling....What's stopping him from resigning now?  What's stopping the International War Tribunal from prosecuting him for War Crimes right now?

Today, I picked up "The Race Card", a book witten in 2008 by  Richard Thompson Ford, a Law Professor at Stanford.  Its early in my reading, but I think I have found an analysis of race relations that seems more contemporary and relevant than a lot of what's currently on the market (whether the market is Barnes and Noble or the various cable news networks).  Personally, I am tired of the accusations of racial discrmination that do more to advance the personal agenda of the accuser than to actually remove the systemic racial discrmination that negatively impacts the life experiences of many African-Americans---from sub-standard housing to poorly functioning schools.  I don't know anything about Professor Ford (not that I have heard of every law professor, but I do try to stay abreast of what's going on in legal education)....


The NFL and the Player's Union has agreed to an extension of their contract negotiations...My personal opinion is "who cares?" (I am not a huge sports fan---not because I don't understand sports or appreciate the dedication inolved, but I think that the money involved is ridculous, especially considering the other problems facing the country, ie., education...).  While I am under no delusion that my opinions are in the majority on most topics, I am positive without any reservation that I am in the minority with regard to my attitude on sports.  Nonetheless, I don't really care...I think its ludicrous what cities/municipalities spend to lure in sports teams and stadium deals, and then the tax payers are left to deal with the downside while the owners and player make out like bandits.  This is only one of the many problems that I have with "organized sports"...

Please Tell the Clippers Organization the Dates for Black History

There are all kinds of problems with this LA Clippers promo for back history month---how do you determine "underprivileged"?  The fact that children have to be accompanied by an adult means that the organization with still receive compensation for an adult ticket (never mind the concession sales)...(FYI- none of these comments are mine, although I agree with them...I picked them up from a sportswriter with Yahoo, although I didn't link to his/her article)...But, the most egregious error is the fact that the promo is being run in March...Black History month is in February!  This just cracked me up!  Personally, I don't like how Black History Month has turned into an opportunity for Coke, McDonald's, Ford and now the Clippers to exploit a history of marginalization for their own economic gain.  Moreover, I like hearing about Black History 365 days out of the year- not only during the month of February. So, I feel like the concept has become a bit dated...

Pandering to the Lowest Common Denominator Never Ends

Mike Huckabee falsely claims that President Obama grew up in Kenya (then his PAC issued a correction---he grew up in Indonesia).  This shtick (taking shots at Obama's upbringing for political gain) is so old that its beyond tiresome.  The obvious point is to continue to paint him as a mysterious "other" relative to the "hard working" citizens of America's heartland (read: white). 

A question that I have is whether the fact that Obama wasn't born in Kenya invalidates  the Huckster's point about the President's perspective on the Brits (since didn't grow up in Kenya)?  What exactly is the President's perspective on the British?  And, quite frankly, if Kenyans do have a negative view of the British, who can blame them?  Are the Kenyans supposed to view the Brits as some type of saviors?  From what I understand about the colonization of Africa, the Africans didn't exactly call the Europeans to come down and take over!

I don't even have the energy to attempt an analysis.  Bottomline is that the 2012 Presidential Race should be a doozy.