Is anyone seriously surprised, offended, or concerned about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s 2008 observation that Barack Obama stood a better chance of election because he was “light skinned” and “did not speak with a Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.” Hell, if we’re honest, we’d admit the truth of Reid’s words, like them or not, and move on to create a more perfect union in which a dark-skinned-Negro-dialect-talking-person can be elected president. Or work on getting health care, jobs, protection from the banks and foreclosures, and a long list of other necessities for all citizens, whatever their skin tone or dialect.
What about the loss last night of the Massachusetts Senate seat held by Ted Kennedy to the Republicans, and with it 60 votes in the Senate?! Scott Brown’s victory puts health care reform and other aspects of the President’s agenda in serious jeopardy. Not to be cold, but it’s not as if Kennedy’s death came as a surprise. Why wasn’t there a better candidate than Martha Coakley – is it asking too much in Red Sox heaven to know who Curt Schilling is? - vetted, prepped and ready in the wings? Where were the democratic strategists? Who’s responsible for this debacle? Can we please hear the sound of heads rolling?
Where’s the outrage at reports that 2 of the 7 American CIA operatives blown-up by a Jordanian double agent suicide bomber on December 30 in Afghanistan were employees of Blackwater, now known as Xe, the world’s largest – and thanks to the US government and our tax dollars – most lucrative private army? This after assurances that Blackwater employees only perform “security” functions. Enough of this war made easy and virtually invisible, if not cheap. How long do you think the wars in Afghanistan or Iraq would go on if there were no mercenaries to be hired, we admitted the “volunteer army” is nothing but a poverty draft, and reinstated a national draft? As the US military floods into Haiti, no doubt these private security companies are lined up and licking their chops to get into Haiti. Keep your eyes open, and be ready to head them off at the pass.
Congratulations to Sarah Palin, the repressed schoolmarm with the glasses and prim bum from Beginners Porn 101 and saviorette of the Republican Party, on her new gig for Fox News. Regular exposure, even in a Faux News format can’t help but reveal what an uniformed, xenophobic, arrogant bimbo Palin is. If the Republican’s still nominate her for president in 2012 and Americans are stupid enough to vote for her, it’s time for those of us with some sense to head to the airport. Me, I’d rather take my chances with scads of would-be panty bombers.
A report released yesterday by the Pew Research Center, “The New Economics of Marriage: The Rise of Wives,” reports that women are increasingly better educated than their husbands and earn more money. Is this a revelation? For whom? The report has already spawned several articles and much discussion. Read it, check out the articles in the New York Times and Washington Post. More Friday.
Don’t Forget Haiti!!!
Jill Nelson 1/20/10 – The blog with the musical notes!
