Que pasa?
JOHN MCWHORTER COMMENTARY: What Can Be Done About The Incomprehensibility Of Shakespeare?
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| The Bard Of Avon: Shakespeare |
He continues his commentary: "In the past I have suggested careful translation into modern English of the passages in Shakespeare that truly cannot come across intelligibly. However, an alternative would be the general acceptance that anyone who wants to get a full meal from a Shakespearean evening should read the play beforehand. Seeing Shakespeare cold would seem, in the future, as antique as it is beginning to be to see an opera without supertitles."
More: "In fact, if we accepted that Shakespearean language, while aesthetically beautiful to hear in many ways, must be treated as spoken writing, we would be on our way to becoming what I imagine as a linguistically ideal society—a topic I touch upon in my book coming out next week, What Language Is (And What It Isn’t and What It Could Be) (which is not about Shakespeare, for the record). Namely, there is casual speech—baggy, emotional, choppy—and written language—tight, cool, long-winded. But then, there are two other categories complementing these, less apparent as categories, per se, but equally central to human expression and ideally subject to less confusion and controversy. One is written speech—i.e., emails, texts, and the like, which would cease to alarm people as sullying 'writing' if classified as talking with the fingers. Then, there is spoken writing. In the old days this was speeches pitched on the oratorical level of William Jennings Bryan’s 'Cross of Gold' set piece. Today, this place could be occupied by Shakespeare—one would be expected to engage it as writing as much as engaging it as sound."
Allen West Blasts Tea Party 'Schizophrenia' Over Debt Ceiling
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| West side-eyes the Tea Party movement: "Y'all are schizo" |
He ain't pleased about a primary challenge: "West addressed the accusations on Laura Ingraham's radio show, saying he would continue to support Boehner's plan. "'I think what we have to ask ourselves is, If you're telling me that I need to vote no against the Boehner plan, then what am I voting for?' West said. I'm going to stand with this Boehner plan and, once again, if the folks who one minute they're saying that I'm their 'Tea Party hero' and what, three or four days later 'I'm a Tea Party defector' -- that kind of schizophrenia I'm not going to get involved in."
NAACP: "End The War On Drugs"
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| NAACP head Benjamin Jealous |
More: "The NAACP noted that African Americans are 13 times more likely to go to jail for the same drug-related offense than their white counterparts. The resolution endorses the expansion of rehabilitation and treatment programs as an alternative to sending drug offenders to prison. It also endorses the expansion of methadone clinics and other proven treatment protocols."
The article continues about the NAACP's move: "Once the NAACP's board of directors ratifies the resolution in October, the organization will encourage its 1,200 chapters to organize campaigns to advocate for the end to the war on drugs."
Open Thread Saturday
Had a rough week? Going buck wild for some of that Rihanna-wannabe sweetness? Don't keep it on the down low (allegedly) like Atlanta-area Bishop Eddie Long, who is facing a fifth down-low accuser (yes, that's a guy pictured left) who decided not to join that infamous four-fella lawsuit. Spill out your heart in the thread.
SIDE-EYE POST OF THE DAY: Nikki Haley Is White?!
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| Governor Nikki Haley |
The article continues: "And boy, that rankles Democrats and some of her fellow Republicans as well. 'I believe she is the most corrupt person to occupy the governor’s mansion since Reconstruction,' John Rainey, a longtime Republican fundraiser and power broker told The Nation. And now they’ve found the perfect 'white lie'. They can use to it drive home the point that she is brown, that despite those blue power suits and that nice all-American National Guard husband, she is different, not one of them. They can now do it without being accused of playing race politics. They are hoping this might mark the beginning of the end for this particular shooting star story. Haley’s comet — the new face of the American South — now revealed to be an optical illusion. Now she’s brown, now she’s not."
Larry Elder: "The Democrats' Budget Plan Is To Attack The Tea Party Movement & Misquote Reagan"
Asserts the libertarian-conservative Republican pundit in California, about the debt ceiling debate: "To hear Democrats tell it, two things cripple the chance for a budget deal: the dastardly tea party, and the GOP's failure to understand that its beloved Ronald Reagan was actually militantly pro-tax. Gag me. The same we-won-the-election-and-elections-have-consequences lefties now cry out for 'bipartisanship.' Those who cheered the bulldog way that ObamaCare became law now want the resurgent Republicans to 'reach across the aisle,' 'set aside partisan rancor' and 'put the country first.'"
He continues his commentary: "Democrats hold a bad hand. What to do? Claim that President Ronald Reagan considered the full faith and credit of America so important, default so unimaginable, even he would have accepted higher taxes. MSNBC's Chris Matthews quoted part of a 1987 Reagan address: 'Congress consistently brings the government to the edge of default....This brinkmanship threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits. Interest rates would skyrocket, instability would occur in financial markets, and the federal deficit would soar. The United States has a special responsibility to itself and the world to meet its obligations.'"
More: "Nice try. Reagan's address did not end there. Here's the part the Matthews skipped over: 'For those who say more taxes will solve our deficit problem, they are wrong. Every time Congress increases taxes, the deficit does not decrease, spending increases. It's time for a clear and consistent policy to reduce the federal budget deficit....You don't need more taxes to balance the budget. Congress needs the discipline to stop spending more, and that can be done with the passage of a constitutional amendment to balance the budget....But I....will not permit Congress to dismantle our national defense, to jeopardize arms reduction or to increase your taxes. I am determined that will not happen.'"
DSK's Accuser: Bookerista Perspectives
As you may know, the Guinean woman accusing former IMF chief and possible French presidential candidate Dominique Strauss-Kahn of rape has outed herself. DSK's lawyers are crying foul about her media interviews. Bookeristas weigh in about Nafissatou Diallo:
France: Neoafricain:"La Victime Aux Deux Visages (Double-Sided Victim)!"
The conservative blogger in France argues that Nafissatou Diallo deserves her day in court: "Since that famous date of May 14, 2011, each of us has imagined the young Guinean's face. For some, she is a liar who falsified her record and has gone rogue as some profiteer who found a good way to entrap a wealthy man in order to solicit money. Others envisioned a poor young African immigrant who works hard to raise her daughter alone far from her native land, who was abused by a rich and powerful pervert."
He continues his commentary: "We now have the true face of this young woman. A young Fulani, rather coquettish in her appearance, describing in stark terms the rape she claims to have suffered. By appearing voluntarily before the court and media, her lawyers have assumed that they can handle the inconsistencies in interviews. And we know just how brilliant lawyers and communications experts are for the Socialist tenor [DSK]."
USA: Samuel Gonzalez: "Diallo Ain't Nothing But A Scammer"
Asserts the conservative Republican blogger in New York City: "This reason this con artist/maid/hooker is going on a media offensive is she and her lawyer are trying to put pressure on DSK to settle for some cash to go away. Make no mistake, it’s all about cash!"
Crystal Wright: "The Government's Proposed Kid Food Ad Guidelines Is A Job Killer"
Asserts the conservative Republican in Washington, D.C.: "Thanks to proposed new 'voluntary guidelines' on what food companies can market to children proposed by a government interagency working group comprised of four federal agencies, Americans could see the economy lose another 74,000 jobs. At a time when the country’s unemployment rate is 9.2% with more than 14 million people out of work, the 'voluntary guidelines' of the Interagency Working Group (IWG) Proposal on Food Marketed to Children which are in fact tantamount to mandatory regulations sans judicial review, are job-killers and are not welcome news."
She continues: There is no scientific evidence that proves that food ads targeted to kids are the cause of our nation’s escalating childhood obesity problem. Nevertheless, Congress commissioned the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Department of Agriculture and Centers for Disease Control to 'conduct a study and develop recommendations for standards for the marketing of food' to children under 17. In a blatant example of government overreach, the IWG issued 'voluntary guidelines' for the food and beverage industry to follow 'voluntarily' when marketing products to kids. If certain products manufactured by food companies don’t meet these guidelines, the government would strongly urge companies (code for prohibit) to stop advertising these products to kids through television, the internet, packaging, movies, in – store displays and even schools."
U.S. Somalis Raise Money For Famine Relief
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| Dialing for dollars in Minnesota |
The article continues: "But Minnesota Somalis are taking precautions. The state has been the center of a long-running federal investigation into the recruiting of Americans to join al-Shabab, a terror group responsible for much of the violence in Somalia. As part of that investigation, two Minnesota women were accused last summer of soliciting money and clothes for refugees in Somalia but steering the money instead to al-Shabab. To guard against that, Somalis are carefully partnering with or donating to long-established relief organizations."
Info about the famine: "The United Nations estimates that more than 11 million people in East Africa are affected by the drought, with 3.7 million in Somalia among the worst-hit because of civil war there. Somalia's prolonged drought devolved into famine in part because neither the Somali government nor many aid agencies can fully operate in areas controlled by al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab. The U.N. has said it will airlift emergency rations later this week in an effort to try and reach at least 175,000 of the 2.2 million Somalis who have not been helped yet."
7/29 VIDEO: An Unlikely Chinese Opera Star
Now African-Americans are even starting to make inroads in Chinese opera LOL. Here's one young brotha who is turning heads in USA and China: "Tyler [Thompson], 15, is a standout student in Chew's Oakland-based Purple Silk Music Education program, which teaches children and youth -- mostly from low-income immigrant families -- how to sing and play traditional Chinese music. The program's Great Wall Youth Orchestra & Chorus has performed around the country. Tyler has learned to sing several well-known pieces of Chinese opera, a centuries-old form of musical theater known for its elaborate costumes, clanging gongs and cymbals, wide-ranging vocals and highly stylized movements."
How did Mr. Thompson get involved? "Tyler, who comes from a music-loving family, began learning how to sing in Chinese a decade ago when he was a kindergartner in Chew's music class at Oakland's Lincoln Elementary School, where about 90 percent of students are Asian. Chew quickly recognized Tyler's talent and recruited him to join her Purple Silk music program, where students learn to sing Chinese songs and play traditional instruments such as a two-string violin called an erhu, a four-stringed lute known as a pipa and a bamboo flute called a dizi."
U.S. May Lose AAA Rating Even With A Debt Deal
From Bloomberg (hat tip: TheRoot.com): "BlackRock Inc., Franklin Templeton Investments, Loomis Sayles & Co., Pacific Investment Management Co. and Western Asset Management said the U.S. faces losing its top-level debt rating as officials struggle to raise the $14.3 trillion borrowing limit and reduce spending. Investors are warning a cut is likely as President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner argue over how to increase the debt ceiling, while also trying to curb borrowing. The government needs to boost the cap by Aug. 2 so it can keep paying its bills, according to the Treasury Department."
More: "The comments suggest that the world’s biggest bond managers are resigned to the fact that the U.S. rating will be cut. Standard & Poor’s, which has rated the U.S. AAA since 1941, said July 14 that the chance of a downgrade is 50 percent in the next three months and it may cut the nation as soon as August if there isn’t a 'credible' plan to reduce the nation’s deficit."
Herman Cain Leads In Fox News Airtime
From Politico, about the conservative Republican businessman and presidential candidate (hat tip: theGrio.com): "The liberal group Media Matters released a report this week showing a wide divergence in the amount of airtime different Republican presidential candidates get from Fox News. The study, which covers June 1 to July 24, identifies seven candidates who have made 10 or more appearances: Herman Cain (19), Ron Paul (17), Tim Pawlenty (14), Michele Bachmann (13), Newt Gingrich (12), Gary Johnson (11) and Rick Santorum (10). Then there are the candidates who have made fewer than five appearances: Mitt Romney (3), Jon Huntsman (2) and Buddy Roemer (1). Thaddeus McCotter is in the middle range, with seven Fox hits."
More: "Cain has been on the air for a total of three hours and eight minutes since June 1, according to the study. That’s more than three times as much as Romney and Huntsman have been on Fox, combined. The study doesn’t address whether the different levels of attention the candidates receive is a result of Fox’s programming choices (who they want to have on the air) or the candidates’ scheduling decisions (which Republicans want to appear on 'Cavuto.')"
19th Century Black Community Unearthed In Central Park
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| Student archaeologists at work in Central Park |
The article continues: "That all changed eight weeks ago, after they won permission from the city to excavate in an area of the park near 85th Street and Central Park West. While the borings of the past produced just a few artifacts, the dig, which will end on Friday, generated 250 bags of material that should keep the scholars busy for months, if not years. The work on Wednesday alone yielded a toothbrush handle fashioned of bone and the lid of a stoneware jar."
More: "About two-thirds of the residents of Seneca Village were African-American, while the rest were of European descent, mostly Irish. The community was settled in the 1820s, a few years before slavery was abolished in New York. Despite old news reports that the village was a squatter camp, it was, in fact, made up of working- and middle-class property owners."
Mr. Grey Ghost: "Chris Christie, It's Time To Lose Weight"
Asserts the conservative Democratic blogger in New York, after the New Jersey governor and conservative Republican was hospitalized with breathing problems: "I'm glad he's doing ok, but maybe this bit of news will finally get Christie to wake up and do something about his weight. Forget that his weight is an easy target for smear merchant liberals who can't debate the issues, way more important is Christie's health and the fact that he has a wife and kids to think about."
He adds: "Then too is the fact that Christie's weight is an issue image wise -- even if you're a fan of his, it's hard not to pay attention to how fat he is. I've seen pictures of Christie making speeches and although you try your best to stay focucsed [sic] on his words, it's impossible not to ignore the sweat pouring from his brow, sweat-drenched dress shirts or the thought that God forbid he might have a heart attack when he gets really angry."
More: "Bottom line Christie's weight is not healthy and he needs to get a dietician, a nutritionist, a trainer, whatever and do something about it. He's 48, grossly overweight and suffers from asthma -- not a good combination for him, his family or his political future and more people need to be upfront and tell him that."
Detroit Continues Shrinking (Despite Official Denial)
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| A clearly distressed neighborhood |
Here are some statistics about the Motor City: "Detroit's population of about 713,000 is down about 200,000 from 10 years ago, according to U.S. Census figures, and has fallen more than 1 million since 1950. Some areas have fewer occupied homes than vacant ones. Bing's administration has worked with community leaders for months on the effort, in which neighborhoods have been classified as steady, transitional or distressed. It comes as entrenched companies and foundations are trying hard to lure newcomers into downtown and Midtown -- two more stable neighborhoods -- to rebuild the population base."
A Bookerista Responds
DarkStar, a moderate-conservative Republican blogger in Maryland, is giving the "Detroit Works" project the side-eye: "Do I need to break this down? Mayor Bing is going to support the areas of the city that need the support the least, and not support the areas of the city that need the support the most. So, look at this example. If area A is decent and has a recreation center, the center will get support. But if area B is not decent, and has a recreation center, that center will not get support. Schools in more affluent areas will get more support, while schools in other areas, will get less support. Despite what he said about fire and police services, do YOU believe the police will serve the worst areas the same? Especially since they don't do it, now?"
NAACP Urges Minorities To Up Vote In 2012
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| NAACP head Benjamin Jealous |
The article continues: "'We must fight against any attempt to segregate, isolate and steal the black vote,' said the Rev. William Barber, president of the NAACP's North Carolina conference. Barber noted that after a record 92 percent black turnout in the 2008 presidential election, in 2010 15 million blacks did not vote, including 3 million who were registered."
The NAACP whips out its "voter ID is racist" meme, even though we use IDs for other tasks: "Panelists at a session on building black political power painted a grim picture of how low income minority voters are being disenfranchised by new laws in many states. Such laws require a state-issued photo ID in order to vote, a current address on IDs, restrictions on restoring voter rights to ex-felons and prohibiting early and Sunday voting. 'These laws were all passed with the intent of reducing the minority vote,' said David Bositis, senior research associate of the Joint Center of Political and Economic Studies in Washington D.C. A voter ID law in Wisconsin will disenfranchise 71 percent of African-American men in Milwaukee, Barber noted."
Herman Cain Apologizes For Offending Muslims
From the The Tennessean, about the conservative Republican businessman and presidential candidate: "Two weeks after demeaning efforts to build a mosque here [in Murfreesboro, Tennessee], Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain apologized for offending Muslims and acknowledged their right to religious freedom. Cain fell short of addressing comments he made in Murfreesboro where he said a mosque construction project is an attempt to 'sneak' Shariah law into the legal system and that communities should be allowed to ban mosque from being built."
His apology: "He met Wednesday with four American Muslim leaders at the ADAMS Center in Sterling, Va., and emerged saying he 'enjoyed heartfelt fellowship and thoughtful dialogue' about people of different faiths trying to restore the American dream. 'While I stand by my opposition to the interference of Shariah law into the American legal system, I remain humble and contrite for any statements I have made that might have caused offense to Muslim Americans and their friends,' he said in a written statement. 'I am truly sorry for comments that may have betrayed my commitment to the U.S. Constitution and the freedom of religion guaranteed by it. Muslims, like all Americans, have the right to practice their faith freely and peacefully.'"
More: "Saleh Sbenaty, a spokesman for the Islamic Center of Murfreesboro, said Thursday he felt Cain’s apology is 'too little too late.' 'Although we accept his apology, however, we wish that he did not make such inflammatory statements against American Muslims in the first place,' Sbenaty said. 'As a presidential candidate, Mr. Cain should know more about the First Amendment before making these statements.' Sbenaty pointed out that Cain did not address the remarks he made in Murfreesboro. 'If our mosque is not innocent, then by default it is guilty and I am not sure what it is guilty of,' Sbenaty said. 'I also do not know of any American Muslim who is trying to replace the Constitution of the U.S. with something else.' Sbenaty called Cain’s allegations 'very serious' and said he needs to retract them immediately. He also encouraged Cain and other presidential candidates to 'open a dialogue' with Muslims across the country to 'build bridges of understanding and create unity rather than promoting stereotyping and division.'"
Open Thread Friday
Yes, I'm back again! Are you feeling that inner child? That inner tiger? Well, let it out in the thread. Just don't be like resigning Rep. David "Tigerman" Wu (D-Oregon).
Black Gentrification In D.C.
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| Buppies are renovating homes like this one |
Scott Hosting Town-Hall Series For Presidential Candidates
From The Hill, about the U.S. Congressman: "[Rep. Tim] Scott, a conservative freshman who is a member of the GOP leadership team, will first host former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman (R) at an Aug. 7 meeting at Charles Towne Landing in the Palmetto State. The series is meant to help the state's voters vet the GOP presidential candidates ahead of the South Carolina primary next year, one of the earliest and most influential nominating contests of the 2012 cycle."
A statement from Rep. Scott: "'South Carolina has chosen every Republican nominee since Ronald Reagan in 1980, and 2012 will be no different,' Scott said in a statement. 'Our country cannot take four more years of President Obama. This year, it is more important than ever before that Republicans choose the right candidate, so that we can restore conservative values to the White House and get our country back on track.'"
Sweden: Sabuni Touts New Law On Board Gender Quotas
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| Nyamko Sabuni |
The article continues about Minister Sabuni: "Sabuni, a member of the [center-right] Liberal Party (Folkpartiet), explained that the government would like to see a at least a 60-40 gender balance and local government-operated companies are not making the grade."
More: "Despite her plans to introduce legislation to force gender quotas on local government-run companies, Sabuni does not believe the government should interfere with gender balance of private company boards."
7/25 "DON'T START NONE, WON'T BE NONE" VIDEO OF THE DAY: Barber Shop Owner Beats Down Employee Who Sold Drugs From His Shop While He Was Away On Business
Hat tip to Mr. Ref for this one. Warning: foul language. I can't say that the employee didn't deserve that beatdown though, although the owner probably should've just called the police...
Justice Malala: "Africa Is Idle While Thousands Die"
The South African center-right commentator slams African leaders' response to the famine in Somalia: "The Africans are dying again. This time it's the Somalis, thousands of them. Emaciated and parentless children, looking like walking skeletons, are arriving in camps in Kenya after walking for days without drink or food. Behind them lie arid lands and warfare. Don't bother looking for the story on the front page of your newspaper. It is on page 11, hidden among sexier stories. Our front pages are reserved for earth-shattering events such as the death of Amy Winehouse."
He continues his commentary: "Eleven million people are affected by the famine sweeping across the Horn of Africa. No, you have not heard about it from our politicians. Don't worry. Black life is cheap. It is the cheapest thing in the world. We are here again. We are back in the 1970s, when Europe and other Western powers looked at our continent, shook their heads and muttered about African mismanagement. They said they would send 'humanitarian aid', they would send doctors. We are back in the 1980s. Bob Geldof or someone like him will help put together a song, we will all mutter that 'We are the world', money will be raised and some of it will buy food and medical supplies for those children and their starving families. But Africa will not lift a finger to help its own. That is because black life is at its cheapest in the regard of African political leaders. Black lives are nowhere as invisible as they are to African leaders. African leaders do not see black people - especially not when they die."
Christopher Arps: "Gay Marriage Is Another Blow To The African American Family"
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| Does gay marriage threaten the African American family? |
He continues his commentary: "As a woman ages, she is less likely to ever marry. The last census found just 36 percent of African-American women were married, down from 62 percent in 1950. In some African-Americans communities there is a negative birthrate due to abortion. It portends a bleak future for black America. Why add same-sex marriage to the mix? With the black family in freefall, why redefine and diminish the value of marriage?"
More: "After legitimizing homosexuality through legal same-sex marriage, the next logical step is to further advance this 'alternative lifestyle' in school curricula. This is already underway in California. But, in reality, this will be a pyrrhic victory. Many parents will be outraged that their children are taught material betraying their values. Will harmony have been achieved? Hardly. And new confusions will certainly tear at the black family. Controversial issues such as same-sex marriage will always stir up passions. We are blessed to live where we can have these debates. I have sincere empathy for homosexuals’ desire to live without stigma, ridicule or threats of physical violence. At the same time, I also desire empathy for those who don’t want traditional marriage changed by a vocal minority seeking social acceptance."
Amy Winehouse: Bookerista Perspectives
The 27-year-old's autopsy has come back as "inconclusive". However, police don't suspect foul play. Toxicology reports should be coming in within the next few weeks. Meanwhile, bookeristas in three countries discuss the British singer's death:
Britain: Walaa Idris: "Amy Winehouse's Legacy Isn't Only Her Music!"
The Conservative Party activist in London asserts that there's a cautionary tale: "Dying at such a young age is always very sad and tragic. And although, Winehouse’s death – which could have been caused by an overdose – was a great shock it unfortunately was not a surprise."
She continues: "Her short life although troubled was full and rich – with her music she reached and touched millions all over the world. Her vivid lyrics and powerful unique voice will stay the test of time but her true legacy is her troubled soul and addictive self destructive personality. It will be a waste to talk about one without the other – because Amy’s story is a reminder to all that drugs and alcohol are lethal weapons, their excessive use and dependency should be treated seriously."
Aaron Laramore: "Rep. Allen West Should've Showed More Class In His Response To Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz"
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| Rep. West is still giving ol' girl the side-eye |
He continues his commentary: "That said, if you are going to accuse someone of lacking in class, you should show a little yourself. If you put what she said up next to what he said and you don’t know any of the background (90% of people won’t) his response looks over the top. The only way it looks reasonable is if you know something about the backstory and that['s] my problem with it. If your sound bite has to be explained, you lost the soundbite war."
John McWhorter: "MSNBC Would Be Wrong To Hire Al Sharpton For A Nightly Hosting Gig"
Asserts the moderate-conservative commentator in New York: "He is, after all, quite entertaining. To share a room with him is to immediately understand why he stays in the media spotlight. Roll the tape again and he would likely be a comedian. His hosting a radio show has seemed just the thing. Quite another thing, however, is the notion of Sharpton as a peer to Keith Olbermann or Lawrence O'Donnell. There are issues of gravitas that typically inform choices such as these. If Olbermann lost his welcome because of his political contributions, then we cannot help but notice that Sharpton comes with a certain amount of baggage."
He continues: "Need a cable talk show host have led a morally pristine life? Certainly not; Fox News personalities are not all choir boys, and America quickly got past the initial oddity of Eliot Spitzer's co-hosting a (short-lived) show on CNN. However, it is hard not to perceive that Sharpton has a great deal more moral transgression in his past than Spitzer's seedy extended peccadillo. Besides, Spitzer lent to the job his penetrating analytical skills and longstanding engagement with the issues of the day. This is something Sharpton, despite his intelligence, does not bring to the table. We classify Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity neither as geniuses nor as impartial, of course, but both are hungry generalists in a way that Sharpton is not and has never claimed to be. They, in other words, are talk show hosts; Sharpton is a race crusader."
More: "Sharpton hosting a serious talk show on a major television network is more of the same. 'The Reverend' certainly has name recognition and entertainment value. But the ample negatives remain, and it's difficult to imagine that a white figure harboring them would be sought out by MSNBC as an evening host. The implication, unintended but no less unfortunate, is that Sharpton's hiring is acceptable because he is black. That is, to expect a black man to own up to serious mistakes or engage with detail is to miss the point when he is famous and charismatic. There was a time when it was acceptable to think of black people as most welcome in the role of entertainers. In his protest work, Sharpton has played a role in getting America ever further from those days of entrenched racism. It is ironic, to say the least, that MSNBC is now putting him in the shop window to lend the place a little color."
LURITA DOAN OP-ED: Obama's Intent To Gut The Military
The conservative Republican, who was head of the General Services Administration during the George W. Bush administration, opines: "Military spending is an area which, traditionally, in past years, Dems have loved to cut. Democrat eagerness to cut military spending is the result of a fundamental, ideological difference: the GOP believes the U.S. is served best by a strong military, both at home and abroad, while Dems believe that a more kumbaya, we-are-the-world, approach is the way to best protect America. Obama, who first launched his apologize-to-the-world tour on this premise, has never been a keen supporter of endeavors military. Obama's recent threats, that our veterans might not receive their retirement and disability checks if a debt ceiling-budget compromise is not reached by 2 August, just prove that point."
More: "It seems clear that the $100 billion in defense cuts proposed in the FY2012 budget are merely the tip of the iceberg. Further cuts will likely be proposed because the budget dollars for defense are so big and because cutting in this area will appease at least one faction of the Dems' ideological extremist base. The Gang of Six proposal called for almost trillion dollars ($886 billion) in cuts from defense. Others have proposed that some direct cuts could come from canceling air craft carrier construction (not surprisingly, the Dems have pointed to the USS George H.W. Bush) as one of the possible candidates for cancel[l]ation. Other proposals include the reduction of U.S. troops in Europe and Asia, as well as at home. Others propose to implement cuts to military health care, reduce the U.S. nuclear arsenal and reduce the military research and development efforts and even revise the military pay and compensation scale. Certainly, any of these proposals would reduce the amount of military spending, and thus reduce overall federal spending, but we would be weaker as a nation as a result."
Booker Rising response: Neither the Democrats nor Republicans are proposing the serious spending cuts that we need to get America in fiscal order: $1 trillion+ in cuts per year for the next 10 years ($10 trillion total). Yes, I'd do an across-the-board 50% spending cut for the U.S. government (I'd prefer to slash all the areas that the federal government has no constitutional power or responsibility, but I'm willing to compromise). Given that the U.S. government's debt is $14.5 trillion, that's what we'll have to do at minimum in order to be solvent. So yes, defense would get also get the slash. Cutting $40 billion a year from Defense (heck, even the Democrats' $100 billion a year proposal) ain't enough in my book.
Stanley Crouch: "New York Charter Schools Win In Court, & The Teachers' Union & NAACP Lose. This Is A Victory For Kids"
Asserts the moderate-liberal columnist in New York City: "On Thursday night, Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Paul Feinman decreed that 15 charter schools could proceed with stalled plans to open in spaces that once belonged to public schools and the city could also close 22 troubled public schools. This decision proved that, however hard it might be, children in need of a quality education (and the parents who want it for them), can be victorious over a powerful labor union and a legendary civil rights organization that has plunged itself into darkness in the interest of its benefactors."
Mr. Crouch continues his commentary about the court case: "It is also a victory for Mayor Bloomberg, who wants to be seen as having reformed New York's schools. It comes on the heels of his having appointed Dennis Walcott to head the schools in the wake of the shortlived tenure of Cathie Black, who was a stupendously bad choice. Walcott was the right choice to lead the schools during the fight against the NAACP and UFT. He thought it ridiculous that the NAACP cited 1954's Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court victory as a precedent. Well, he was right and they were wrong. This was something well understood by the 3,000 people who rallied in protest against the suit up in Harlem earlier this summer; a rally in support of the UFT's position was laughable in comparison."
Charles Onyango-Obbo: "Crony Capitalism Has Hurt Uganda's Ability To Compete In East Africa"
The Ugandan-born moderate columnist in Kenya argues that Kenya's freer economy is running circles around Uganda: "To mark South Sudan’s independence, many newspapers in the region ran supplements. However, the supplements in the Kenyan papers revealed the extent to which banking, hotel, construction companies, and even universities from the country have entered South Sudan ahead of regional rivals."
He continues his commentary: "The reason for this isn’t because Ugandans are lazy, they are not. It isn’t that Ugandan companies are unimaginative. It isn’t even that we are a nation of small-minded fellows who can only sell grasshoppers (popularly known as nsenene), bananas, and jackfruit (fene) in regional markets. Rather, it is about what it takes to succeed in business in Uganda, and what kind of companies have arisen from the peculiarities of economic liberalisation in Uganda over the last 20 years. During privatisation, quite a few companies were sold to fellows with political connections. That in itself is not a problem, because one’s political allegiances has nothing to do with one’s business acumen. However, privatisation happened concurrently with economic liberalisation, so while for example hotels that had been nationalised were sold off, licences were given for investors to build new hotels. Rather than compete, the politically connected fellows who had bought off the State companies sought protection to allow them 'stabilise' and recoup the money they had used to buy the assets."
More commentary from Mr. Onyango-Obbo: "Now we are paying the price, because most Ugandan companies cannot compete outside the country because they cannot succeed in markets where they have to pay taxes, and where they cannot get subsidies and protection from government officials. Uganda helped the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Rwanda Patriotic Army in their liberation wars. But in both these countries, Kenyan firms have the big hotels, banks, construction companies, supermarket chains, while Ugandans sell bananas (matooke), are barbers and mechanics. This is not to sneer at matooke and fruit sellers. On the contrary, it is to admire and say the bigger Ugandan companies should learn from them."
NASA Shuttle Era Ends: Bookerista Perspectives
Lurita Doan: "Obama Weakens America To Russia's Advantage"
The conservative Republican commentator and former federal government official under the Bush II administration writes: "Instead of pushing the agency to focus on its core mission and core competencies, Obama has allowed NASA to take itself out of the space business, and thus take the country out of space for the next 30 years. NASA's reduction of mission will result in thousands of jobs lost 'as contractors for the shuttle program begin to lay off workers.'"
She continues: "Worse, to put a man in space, America will now be required to pay Russia for shuttle space. Not too surprisingly, Russia has already stepped forward and declared that the next decade will be 'the era of the Soyuz' as Russian space exploration continues."
Samuel Gonzalez: "Obama Smiles At America's Decline"
Asserts the conservative Republican blogger in New York City: "There’s no better metaphor for the decline of American exceptionalism than the reality we need to hitch a ride with the Russians to get to space. This is totally unacceptable and embarrassing for those who love the country! We have a president that doesn’t believe in American excpetionalsim [sic] and is purposely managing her decline with policies aimed at bankrupting the country so he and the Democrats can remake the devastation with even bigger government. That is the plan and people better wake up to it before we become a [T]hird [W]orld nation."
Rep. Allen West: "It's Just A Matter Of Time Before Gays Break Down The Military"
The conservative Republican Congressman and former Army lieutenant colonel ain't feeling the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" military policy. From the Miami New Times: "In another public reaffirmation of his belief that gay people are going to make America lose wars, Florida Republican Congressman Allen West said at a dinner in Plant City Saturday night that 'when you take the military and you tell it they must conform to the individual's behavior, then it's just a matter of time until you break down the military.'"
Rep. West despises comparisons to the integration of black troops: "He also said that the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy was nothing like the integration of the U.S. military after World War II, according to the Tampa Tribune. 'Let me explain something to you,' he said. 'I can't change my color. People can change their behavior.' The statement is a rehash of one he made to the Heritage Foundation in May, in which he said the military should not be made to accommodate the demands of 'a very small special interest group.'"
Juan Williams Discusses His New Book
In Muzzled: The Assault On Honest Debate, the moderate-liberal commentator talks about the intolerance he encountered even before being fired by National Public Radio. He talks with National Review Online’s Kathryn Jean Lopez about the book and life after NPR. Some excerpts:
On being told by one NPR news executive that him holding some socially conservative views and being friends with conservatives infuriated NPR's old guard: "They see any black conservative as a weirdo. And that is the polite way to say it. The impolite version is to call me a sell-out and an Uncle Tom. In the middle of my controversial firing, one journalist said I deserved to be fired and humiliated because I appear on Fox and debate conservatives — 'sleep with dogs, get fleas.' What I can reliably report about the mindset of NPR Washington managers is that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are the real black leaders and civil-rights leaders. Clarence Thomas, Condi Rice, black ministers, and social conservatives on the other hand, to their mind are properly portrayed as aberrant and not really black. They offer a very limited range of political voices from the black community on the theory that anyone who is not a Jackson–Sharpton liberal is out of line, does not represent how black people really think. This is the all-black-people-think-alike school of journalism. I find it offensive and said so throughout my time there."
On what he's learned from the NPR controversy: "The big lesson for me was the intolerance of so-called liberals. I say intolerance because I grew up as a black Democrat in Brooklyn, N.Y., and always thought it was the Archie Bunker Republicans who practiced intolerance. My experience at NPR revealed to me how rigid liberals can be when their orthodoxy is challenged. I was the devil for simply raising questions, offering a different viewpoint, not shutting my mouth about the excesses of liberalism — a bad guy, a traitor to the cause."
On populist outrage's toll on public opinion polls: "Populist outrage is the stock-in-trade for so many talk-show hosts — from Limbaugh to Olbermann — that I’d have a very long list of names. The problem is not politically slanted talk shows. The problem is that they are so dominant that there is no room for people who want to hear all sides of a debate that leads to some reasoned solution to critical issues of the day."
Corporate Giving: Up In 2010, Flat In 2011
Kenneth Durden, a libertarian-conservative blogger, writes: "Donations to charity from 100 of the nation's largest corporations were up 13% in 2010, totaling approximately $4.9 billion. The level of giving is expected to be flat for 2011. This isn't good for charities, especially at time when the Obama administration is repeatedly going after limiting individual tax deductions for charitable gifts. That's one of the more bizarre moves a president could make, particularly one who claims to be concerned about people in need. But does he value charity? Based on his own tax records, not much."
More: "It just seems, time and again, that our president believes government should be the source of services and assistance. Government first. Government knows best. There's a name for this ideology. It's not hateful to call it what it is -- statism or more commonly, socialism."
Booker Rising response: It is true that before he became a U.S. Senator, President Obama and his wife had low charitable donations. However, that's not the case now. Some 14% of the Obamas' income last year was donated to various charity. In 2009, they gave 6% of their income (and that excludes the $1.4 million Nobel Prize money, which didn't count as personal income because -- per U.S. rules -- it went directly to charity). In 2008, they also gave 6%. The Obamas are charitable. However, Vice President Joe Biden and his wife ain't with their own money.
Upcoming Events
Sunday, July 24, 10:30am ET, USA: Mayor Cory Booker Appears On "Meet The Press"
The moderate-liberal Democratic mayor will appear on a roundtable on NBC's Sunday morning show. I assume that he will be talking about his efforts to revitalize Newark, New Jersey, as well as current events.
Sunday, July 24, 2:00pm PT, USA: South Central Los Angeles Tea Party Protests NAACP Convention In L.A.
The "rally to expose the failed big government agenda and lies of the NAACP" will be held directly outside of the Los Angeles Convention Center (1201 South Figueroa Street), where the NAACP is having its 102nd annual convention. The rally will take place between 2:00pm-4:00pm PT. Jesse Lee Peterson, the conservative Republican head of BOND (Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny) Action, is heading up the effort.
Sunday, July 24, 4:40pm ET, USA: Deneen Borelli Appears On Fox News Channel
The conservative Republican will appear on a current events panel on “America’s News Headquarters”, at around 4:40pm ET.
Zora Neale Hurston, Zombie Hunter
From io9.com, about the late libertarian Republican anthropologist and author: "She's best known as the author of Their Eyes Were Watching God and one of the luminaries of the Harlem Renaissance. But in her capacity as a folklorist, Zora Neale Hurston also recorded an encounter with a real-life zombie. In Tell My Horse, her 1938 recounting of her fieldwork in Haiti, she talked about what she'd seen....In this radio interview, Hurston relates the story:"
The article continues: "So how did one of the Harlem Renaissance's great talents wind up photographing a zombie? Folklore was very much in vogue in the 1920s and 30s. This was the period Margaret Mead published Coming of Age in Samoa, New Yorkers enthusiastically embraced Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and Mrs. Osgood Mason financially supported both Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston in their folk-influenced artistic endeavors."
More about Ms. Hurston's work on zombies: "Her patron paid the bills Hurston roamed the [D]eep [S]outh, collecting Black American stories, spirituals, and beliefs. But she was especially fascinated by hoodoo, which she felt was misunderstood by white scholars. Valerie Boyd relates in the biography Wrapped in Rainbows, many treated it as a series of cheap tricks and foolish superstitions, whereas Hurston respected it as a fully developed folk religion."
ELLIS WASHINGTON OP-ED: Can Africa Be Saved?
Asks the conservative Republican commentator: "Can Africa be saved? Like all nations going back to antiquity, if Africa makes the right choices, yes – but if Africa continues to make the wrong choices in its leadership, religious, economic and political philosophy, it is doomed to have the vast majority of its people essentially eking out a living in Stone Age conditions ruled over by a few ruthless, tyrannical black leaders and their legions of crony autocrats who, since the end of the white Colonial Period (1960), have continuously plundered and pillaged Africa's vast natural resources while the people live in virtual voluntary slavery conditions – faceless, soulless proletariat cogs of a vast Marxist socialist state machinery that slowly grinds to death the people's collective dreams, hopes and their pursuits of happiness."
More: "If Africa is to survive and thrive, then three things must occur: 1) All of the murderous Marxist-socialist tyrants of the past must be vilified, forced from office and judged for their crimes against humanity; 2) Have African tribal and crony political and Marxist economic systems replaced by free-market capitalism throughout the continent; 3) Africa must turn from its tribal, pagan, witchcraft and Muslim traditions, repent and turn to the Lord, for if the trillions paid to 'help' Africa from United Nations, European and American aid just since 1960 hasn't put Africa on the road to prosperity, then only the Lord can save any nation."
Mr. Grey Ghost: "Liberals Get Angry At Laura Ingraham For Daring To Criticize Chris 'Woman Beater' Brown"
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| Laura Ingraham doing her criticism of Chris Brown |
More: "Of course, some of this reaction to Ingraham comes from black liberals having long been trained by the white, mainstream press to hate FOX News. But as the FOX story notes, some of it also comes from sheer and utter devotion to Brown, regardless of the fact that he beat up a famous black woman senseless and seemingly remains clueless about the ramifications of such actions judging from a handful of frightful incidents that've happened since he beat Rihanna to a pulp. Yet somehow, it's Ingraham who is the bad guy here for coming down hard on a woman beater."
Obama Officially Ends Ban On Gays In The Military
From the Associated Press: "President Barack Obama on Friday formally signed off on ending the ban on gays serving openly in the U.S. military, doing away with a policy that has been controversial from the day it was enacted and making good on his 2008 election campaign promise to the gay community. The president joined Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Adm. Mike Mullen, the top U.S. military officer, in signing a notice and sending it to Congress certifying that military readiness would not be hurt by repealing the 17-year-old 'don't ask, don't tell' policy. That means that 60 days from now the ban will be lifted."
Is Allen West Being Smeared With The 'Angry Black Man' Brush?
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| Rep. West side-eyeing all the haters |
I continue zeroing in on racist stereotyping: "Meanwhile, Lois Frankel -- a liberal Democrat who is running against Rep. West - has set up a WestHatesWomen.com website, and associates Rep. West with domestic violence. Rep. Mike Honda (D-Calif.) compares Rep. West to the Koran-burning preacher, simply for expressing his views. Letters to the local newspaper in Rep. West's district claim that Rep. West's verbal disagreement with Rep. Wasserman Schultz could lead to thuggery on Rep. West's part. Liberal commentator Keith Olbermann asserted on his new show that Rep. West may shoot someone 'live on TV'."
More from my commentary: "Outside of military combat, the former Army lieutenant colonel has no documented history of physical conflict. Nevertheless, white liberals' first instinct is to associate this black politician with wife-beaters and deranged psycho-killers. It serves as a tactic to trivialize both the man for defending himself and his political agenda which threatens their orthodoxy. A black man -- especially a conservative one -- is never supposed to get angry in the public square. Black conservatives are supposed to be quiet, and defer to liberals. They aren't supposed to challenge the impact of liberalism on black communities or question Democratic policies, as Rep. West does."
ANDREW MWENDA COMMENTARY: NATO-Imposed Regime Won’t Liberate Libya
Asserts the Ugandan libertarian journalist: "You cannot build a country on the basis of abstract ideals because there is no textbook good solution. A policy or institution does not work because of its intrinsic qualities but rather how those qualities interact with other variables in the society. What is technically good as “best practice” elsewhere can produce disastrous results when implemented in a society without considering other factors and combinations in a country."
More: "Therefore, a solution for any society cannot be based on an abstract theory. It has to evolve organically from multiple negotiations, renegotiations, concessions and compromises with many diverse groups. Of course sometimes a decision may be forced down the throat of one group by another, and this may be necessary to move on. But force alone cannot be a sustainable basis of power and problem solving. The software of rule is legitimacy and what is a politically legitimate process may be technically inefficient and slow. As the French and NATO allies struggle to 'save' the people of Libya from the tyranny of Gaddafi, this may be an important reference point. They need to let the rebels seek a solution by themselves. Left on their own, they may find more effective ways to defeat Gaddafi or creative ways to accommodate him and his entourage. In other words, the balance of forces on the ground in Libya should be the ones to shape its political trajectory, not the lofty motives of foreigners about abstract ideals."
Republican Party Makes Big Gain With White Voters, Modest Gain With Black Voters. Loses Support Among Hispanics
The Republican Party has especially made gains with young whites and poor whites. From the Pew Research Center (hat tip: TheRoot.com): "Notably, the GOP gains have occurred only among white voters; a two-point Republican edge among whites in 2008 (46% to 44%) has widened to a 13-point lead today (52% to 39%). In sharp contrast, the partisan attachments of black and Hispanic voters have remained consistently Democratic."
It continues its analysis: "While Republican gains in leaned party identification span nearly all subgroups of whites, they are particularly pronounced among the young and poor. A seven-point Democratic advantage among whites younger than age 30 three years ago has turned into an 11-point GOP advantage today. And a 15-point Democratic advantage among whites earning less than $30,000 annually has swung to a slim four-point Republican edge today."
Section 8 Chaos In Dallas: Bookerista Reaction
Duane Brayboy: "What Would Our Forefathers Think Of Us Today?"
The conservative blogger in Atlanta metro writes about recent chaos in Dallas, Texas for Section 8 vouchers and remembers Black America's days of self-pride: "When I saw this video [recently] of thousands of mostly Black folks literally running to the government for a chance at subsidized housing, my heart just sank. Yes I am quite aware that welfare is touching folks of all races (especially in this economy), all backgrounds, etc. I am also aware of corporate welfare. But for those Black folks who always throw those cards on the table as a response to scenes like the one above, I think it is time to stop diverting the issue. We have to take a serious look at OUR OWN HISTORY and realize that somewhere down the line we dropped the ball."
Kenneth Durden: "Another Welfare Mob"
Asserts the libertarian-conservative blogger about the Dallas scene: "This situation is sad and frustrating. Sad that people are so desperate. Frustrating that the dependence on government is so ingrained in our society. Looking at this video made me think one thing, especially seeing these young healthy men. If your happy ass can run that fast, you need to be running to find a job. Sorry, but some things need to be said a certain way."
Amy Winehouse Dead At 27
From the Associated Press: "Amy Winehouse, the beehived soul-jazz diva whose self-destructive habits overshadowed a distinctive musical talent, was found dead Saturday in her London home, police said. She was 27."
The article continues about the British singer's death: "Police confirmed that a 27-year-old female was pronounced dead at the home in Camden Square northern London; the cause of death was not immediately known. London Ambulance Services said Winehouse had died before the two ambulance crews it sent arrived at the scene."
More: "'I didn't go out looking to be famous,' Winehouse told the Associated Press when 'Back to Black' was released. 'I'm just a musician.' But in the end, the music was overshadowed by fame, and by Winehouse's demons. Tabloids lapped up the erratic stage appearances, drunken fights, stints in hospital" as well as drug rehabs. "Performances became shambling, stumbling train wrecks, watched around the world on the Internet," according to the AP.
Herman Cain Vs. Islam: Bookerista Perspectives
Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) -- who is the only Muslim member of the U.S. Congress -- has slammed Mr. Cain's comments. Bookeristas ain't done talking about the conservative Republican presidential candidate's proposal that Americans should be able to ban mosques in their areas:
Nadra Enzi: "Let's Dedicate A Mosque To Herman Cain"
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger and Muslim in Louisiana argues that Herman Cain is topping Pat Buchanan in political hate speech: "Saying communities have the right to ban mosque construction ranks right up there on the harmony scale with 11 o'clock Sunday being the most segregated hour in Christian America. I'd hope candidate Cain would recall this little tidbit: statistically as a Black man he's far more likely to be harmed by a fellow Black male Christian or a Christian police officer engaged in brutality than a Muslim of any race working for Al Qaeda?"
He continues his commentary: "Demonizing Muslims to stir up the Right's religious imperialists makes great copy. It may even earn brownie points among that segment of the electorate. But, as a sign of someone's fitness to protect the rights of all Americans from state-sponsored bigotry it's not too encouraging. As a Muslim; Black man and Republican (with common sense on social issues) whose political style trends toward being an 'American Panther' for the little guy, I'd like to offer a compromise proposal: Let's build a mosque and dedicate it to that stalwart champion of religious freedom for all Americans, the Hermanator!"
DarkStar: "Herman Cain & Sharia Law"
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in Maryland takes issue with Mr. Cain's claim that the U.S. Constitution doesn't protect Islam because sharia law is a combination of religion and political values: "1. There is nothing in the Constitution about separation of church and state. What IS in the Constitution is banning the federal government from establishing (declaring) a national religion.
2. If someone does something under Sharia law that violates local or federal law, the local or federal law is what is followed. For example, if a man has a teenage girl who is Americanized, and she "gives up the cookies" to a boy and her father finds out and kills her, no matter what he states about Sharia law, he is going to be charged and tried for murder.
3. The freedom of religion is protected in the United States. Christians in the U.S. are correct when we say it appears Christians are the only religious believers whose religious ideas are under attack, but Cain is going against the Constitution, which in our county, reigns supreme for LAW.
The more Herman Cain speaks, the more he seems to be under and misinformed."
Rep. Allen West: "U.S. Tank Sales To Egypt Threaten Israel"
From CBN.com, about the conservative Republican Congressman: "Rep. Allen West has called on the House Armed Services Committee not to sell military equipment to the Egyptian government. West cited the sale of M1A1 Abrams tanks, which could 'seriously jeopardize the safety and security of the State of Israel,' especially if the Muslim Brotherhood assumes power in the government. 'One of the greatest threats to Egyptian stability, as well as to regional stability, is the growing prospect of a new Egyptian government under the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood,' West wrote in a letter to Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon."
More from the former Army lieutenant colonel: "'The last thing I want to see is Egyptian MIAI tanks rolling through the Sinai toward Jerusalem,' West concluded."
Kwame Okoampa-Ahoofe Jr.: "Ghanaian Center-Left Politicians Propose Rounding Up, Prosecuting, & Imprisoning Gays. Will Ghana Become Uganda Or Iran?"
Asks the Ghanaian-born English professor in USA and board member of the center-right Danquah Institute (Ghana), as center-left politicians call on Ghanaians to rat out their neighbors: "Anyway, the recent call by the [center-left] Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, for law-enforcement agents to summarily round up and prosecute any Ghanaians suspected of homosexual orientation ought to be vehemently condemned (See 'Minister Orders Arrest of All Homosexuals' Peacefmonline.com 7/19/11). And on the latter score, we take this opportunity to call on the United Nations’ Human Rights Commission (as well as the UN Security Council) to promptly step into what may well become a pathological fit of national lunacy in Ghana before the country irretrievably falls over the proverbial precipice."
More: "Indeed, what makes the Western Regional Minister’s virtual, brutal and primitive declaration of open season on gay and lesbian Ghanaians immitigably criminal is the clearly outrageous call for law-enforcement agents to break into the private homes and apartments of these bona fide citizens who have done absolutely no harm against anybody and drag them before the judicial courts of the land. And on the latter score, may I humbly suggest a far more constructive use to which our already overstretched law-enforcement agents could be put? And it is simply that I would rather have our police personnel ferreting out those big-name and big-time hypocritical politicians who routinely rape and seduce underage young Ghanaian women and prematurely turn them into sex slaves and prostitutes!"
News Corp. Phone Hacking Scandal: Bookerista Perspectives
Michael Bowen: "Hacking, News Corp., & Rough Justice"
The moderate-conservative Republican blogger in California writes: "There are several angles to pursue in this that I will be brief about. One: The extent to which this is a non-issue in a planet spewing forth more and more accessible news of equal or higher quality than that profiting the MSM. Two: The extent to which this non-issue is more significant to MSM outlets and journos attempting to reclaim reputations for rigor and righteousness. Three: The contrast between the political significance of Murdoch and Assange with no moral regard to the crime of cracking. Four: The outrage of The News of the World itself."
Stanley Crouch: "Has Rupert Murdoch Finally Been Outfoxed?"
Asks the moderate-liberal columnist in New York: "The question now is whether the scandal will bring down the most successful propaganda fount in the world, Fox News, or if it will simply continue to sell factoids as 'fair and balanced' fact. This is much more serious than merely hurling mud at a target who has long helped Republicans by slinging loads of mud. The basic problem is, as Carl Bernstein points out in Newsweek, Murdoch became terribly influential with a simple way of doing things: Just reduce every issue to a child's level of perception with sensational headlines leading only to black and white, bad and good. In the practices of his mammoth News Corp., Murdoch always sent ethics and fact flying out the window in favor of profits."
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