Do They Know Something We Don't?

Who's the "They" I'm referring to? Those 'good ol' boys' religious perpetrating neo-cons that's who.

We know McCain only allowed limited access to his medical reports. What I don't get is why the corporate media has gone along with it. Well, I can guess! We know if it had been Obama this would have been a front page story of how he was playing 3-Card Monty with the public.

While I'd like to give McCain the benefit of the doubt I feel doing so would be to our peril. Which brings me to Palin. What if her puppet masters have seen all of McCain's medical records? They might know something of importance that would've blown his campaign to smithereens and the price of their silence was to put one of their own in the #2 slot.

Since McCain has already admitted his campaign is about anything but the issues what else is left? More smoke and mirrors? I can't wait to find out what secrets and lies have been held close to the vest that are sure to be revealed.

Mark my words - a lot of people will be sighing relief that we managed to dodge yet another bullet.

h/t TheRealMcCain.com 

The Love Of Money - Ah You Know the Rest!

Well, we're going to get the Republican spin and scrub job on the latest Wall Street crash. It's the worst since 9/11. This has been coming for some time. As a voter I'd think all that needs to be discussed right now is the economy and lay it at the feet of those at fault - the Republicans.

It's not just about laws not being followed as if it was an accident of chance. This current administration has been run on secrets and lies and no transparency. There has been no regulation or oversight combined with lobbyists run amuck. This may be an unpopular concept but greed and selfishness left unchecked will destroy this country.

Typically parents want their children to have a legacy that is more productive and prosperous than what they had. If things don't change how will that happen? Now our great-children will be paying off this debt.

John McCain can't even remember how many houses his wife owns. He won't be able to fix this when he refuses to admit to source of the problem. I'm certain the Bush administration is hoping for a major distraction - like a war - to keep people preoccupied again. Here's to hoping people wake up and smell the stench.

Objects in the Mirror Seem More Important Than They Are

Seriously.

Last week it was about lipstick, pigs and dogs. Now it's about Obama Waffles. So what's it gonna be next week? I for one am sick to death of the fake outrage, distractions and non-troversies. The first Presidential debate kicks off September 26th and I for one can't wait. Then we'll really have something to complain about. 

• Will John McCain get all of the questions beforehand?  Probably. 
  
• Will the teevee pundits talk about how well he did even when any 5th grader would say he sucked?  Likely. 
  
• What are the odds of the moderator talking over Obama as he tries to answer a question on a scale of 1-100? 99.99%.   
  

As an update to my 2nd Friday post about my faith in humanity being somewhat restored I didn't get to mention that the women on the View pawned McCain - gasp! They actually asked questions, real questions from him and insisted he answer them. Thank goodness for the internets and video embedding cos I refuse to watch that bastion of partisan bias anymore. He actually got a little flustered. This is a morning talk show, people, not Meet the Press. 

We must have experienced an alternate universe where the corporate media wasn't doing everything possible to get McCain elected short of telling people outright to vote for him. I'm sure it was just a lapse in the space continuum and it won't happen again. 

You know as bad as it is that McCain chose Palin as his VP some good can come from this. Some women will be forced to examine their exclusionary behavior and racism. Some people who would like nothing better than to say they knew better all along will have to try to get along with others. I was actually proud of Obama for choosing a much stronger and competent candidate in comparison. If you took away the top of the ticket from both major parties would you want Joe Biden or Sarah Palin running this country? 

Perhaps now those people squawking about how 'inexperienced' Obama is will acknowledge the man's use of common sense and wisdom in things that count like the withdrawal of Iraq, the focus on Pakistan and the economy for example. One can hope, right? McCain's 26 years in the Senate equals his age difference to Obama only and in no way indicates he would make a suitable let alone a superior POTUS. 

You can take that one to the bank.

Update with video.

Some of My Doubts About Humanity Have Been Restored

Paul Begala just did a funny mocking of Shrub on Real Time. Bill Maher is slamming the Democrats for screwing up their campaigning. I disagree with his assessment that Barack should have picked Clinton for VP since McCain chose Palin. McCain may have wanted to pick someone else - as rumored it was LIEberman - but he needed to energize the Republican base. If Obama had chosen Clinton he would have pissed off the majority of the Black voters [6 out of 10 which are Black WOMEN] and McCain most likely still would have chosen Palin. She would have been portrayed as a woman with family values and Clinton would have been the she-devil. They would have dragged out every story about more revelations of hidden scandals from now until November and it would have tanked Obama. Then there's the pending Ron Paul election fraud case against the Clinton's set for trial in November. There's a reason why it has received scant attention from the media. I know Hillary has a lot of supporters and I'm not looking to bash either Clinton but it is what it is. McCain proves every day how ill-equipped he is for POTUS.

Thanks to Queen of Spain for the Twitter message about the following blog:

http://womenagainstsarahpalin.blogspot.com/

I knew there were a enough smart women out there, it's just the Corporate Media chooses to ignore us. Here's their latest post.

Dear readers,

It's been one week since we sent out a letter to a few friends and family members asking them to respond to Sarah Palin's candidacy for Vice President. We had never done anything like this before. What motivated us? It's pretty simple: we were tired of feeling angry and helpless. We were thrilled to receive the first 100 letters in reply. Their eloquence and passion were inspiring, their rage and frustration palpable. Our disbelief began to mount as those 100 letters turned into 1,000 letters, which then turned into 10,000 letters. And as we sit here writing you now, we have reached nearly 100,000 letters.

What does all this mean? While this country is capable of shocking acts of slander, deception, and shameless cruelty—see the political ads running across your television screens, the ignoble headlines leafing out across the newspapers—we are also capable of generosity, of intelligence, and of kindness toward those who are unlike ourselves but for whom we would like to stand up anyway. To that end, many men have been writing in, expressing worry about the women and girls in their lives, and we thank them. Their words and yours, which have been flooding our in-box, are eloquent, thoughtful, and earnest. And furious. And right.

Your letters often begin by saying that the possibility of a McCain/Palin presidency does not so much make you worry for yourself as for the lives and opportunities of your daughters and granddaughters, your sons and grandsons. It is this selflessness that is so moving to read again and again. As Betty W., 82, from MS, said, "Thank you for your efforts to consolidate our voices into a single chorus."

We want to thank all of you who have contributed your voice. We are working hard to post your letters, and we hope that you'll be patient. This website is for all of you. We hope you'll take solace in the words of your neighbors near and far, and that you'll become inspired to take further action so as to ensure that McCain/Palin are not elected. If a letter sent to 40 people can turn into 100,000 responses in one week, what can you do within your own community?

VIVA!

Lyra & Quinn

Go check out the site and read the responses from the intelligent half of this nation.

Since Anybody Can Be Picked for Vice President Why Not You Or Me?

So as you may have heard Sarah Palin fumbled a bit in her interview with newsreader Charles Gibson. See when you and your network are so biased and desperate for participation that you make what should be a continued vetting process an open book test you lose whatever credibility you have left. You should not get the kudos for being referred to as a journalist when everything you do is to the opposite of such a noble profession. Let's not let off all the other news organizations and so-called media elite who've taken a pass at vetting the Republicans while putting both Obamas through the wringer. They have done grave harm by not asking tough questions - especially when you pick and choose who to be tough with and who to coddle. Plus Gibson fed her the answers!!!

I still haven't forgotten that joke of a debate between Clinton and Obama where he was sandbagged and neither should we. When you are paid upwards of $8 MILLION per year to read from a teleprompter, not ask serious questions from your favored politician and KISS ASS, I have the right to cry foul at a fool. And the snide antics of that Survivor contestant who's the head bobblehead on the View have not gone unnoticed either. When you parrot your political party talking points down to the letter, talk out both sides of your mouth and cry on cue when called out on your prejudice you are just as offensive as the Trojan Moose being paraded as a serious contender.

Would Sarah Palin have gotten a job as Vice President at a Fortune 500 company? Or a major Charitable organization like the Ford Foundation? On Wall Street? Me thinks not! It just makes my blood boil to hear of how some women are so easily swayed by the idea of this woman as VP of the United States, just because she is a woman. That is not feminism. That is worship of motherhood and assignment of character traits we don't know she has. Furthermore, she is not the one in charge - unless those right-wing nutjobs who are pulling her puppet strings are planning on McCain taking ill as soon as he's sworn in. Shoot if I were McCain I'd be employing food testers, air sniffers and an extra extra pair of eyes and ears.

On the other hand Cindy has put a lot of time and money into promoting her hubby's political career so she can be First Ladyeeeeeee. I'm certain she'd be the real barracuda if Palin overstepped her role. Nobody puts Cindy in the corner! Seriously though these types of women kill me. They won't do the work by launching and running their own campaigns. They insist on living vicariously through men. Is this a testament of how far women have not come or how ruthless some women are in looking out for their own interests above anyone else's? How many women overcompensate when in a position of authority and are more overbearing, more rigid and less compassionate than some of their male counterparts? There is a distinct skill set involved in managing authority that is different from managing people.

This is truly Silly Season in this political season when all the Corporate Media talks about are animals and lipstick. It's a bait and switch to represent fake outrage while ignoring yet another investment company on the verge of collapse (Lehman), a pending natural disaster (Hurricane Ike) and how unprepared the country is for supporting more armed conflicts (Russia & Georgia).

I Will Remember You

There's going to be lots of tributes and discussions today on the 7th anniversary of September 11th. I remember being asleep and hearing the word 'bomb' on the radio. I immediately jumped up cos when you live in earthquake land a prompt response is necessary. I had no idea what was going on and still groggy I turned on the tv and saw my world split in two. I had left NYC for good just 2 years prior due to the mass gentrification and lifestyle crackdown imposed by the Mayor and Big Business takeover. 

I was born in Upstate New York and had moved to NYC after completing high school to pursue my dreams of being a working actor. I loved loved loved NYC. The dirt, the grime, the smells, the fast pace, the heightened sense of danger lurking around every corner was intoxicating. This was a NYC post-bankruptcy but before the subsequent rent hikes. When you'd still see homeless people on the streets and people squatted old abandoned buildings. I never had any money but felt so rich in culture and always had something to do. I always felt the presence of two angels by my side and the hope of a great future so it was a heady experience. 

I went to Windows on the World restaurant a few times and it was always a treat. They definitely enforced their dress code so it was a great date night excursion. The view was second to none! I always felt a little nervous about being so high up. The expanse of the lobby to the elevators took several minutes to walk. The World Trade Center buildings were definitely a testament to phallic glory and a staple of lower Manhattan. There was a great historical and old world feeling to the entire neighborhood with City College bordering the water and the Staten Island Ferry within walking distance.  

I am so glad I lived there during that time. I was lucky in that I never paid more than $400 for rent - of course I had to live with at least two other people at all times to do so. We were able to still find a rent-controlled apartment or share with a long-term resident. I consider it NYC's golden age. I haven't been able to go back since. I fear I won't recognize the city anymore. It was already undergoing its metamorphosis from being bohemian with rich people to being all rich all the time. The fail safes for moderate earners are a thing of the past with Metropolitan Life selling Stuyvesant and the Salvation Army selling two of its women's residences. 

This is indicative of a bigger trend across the country where it seems the laws of the jungle prevail. It's now survival of the fittest - or really the luckiest. As long as you have some connection where you can get a leg up or someone with means to float you a mini-loan you'll be fine. Just don't get sick! There is nothing wrong with struggling, but at what point does it becomes a never-ending cycle of futility? If everyone is out for themselves and big business rules where does that leave the rest of us?

When those Towers fell we were horrified and outraged. We felt an injustice had occurred. We rallied together. We took care of each other. There were a few days when it seemed the collective was united and focused on being there for each other. So what happened?  

I really hope people take the time to remember what is really important and what is at stake. Our choices will determine the course this country will take in the next few years. We can build each other up or tear each other the shreds and continue to step on people as we focus on ourselves only. I hope we make the right decision.  

Gimme A Break!

So I am feeling a wee bit cantankerous over this alleged love fest with the pig-in-lipstick aka Sarah Palin and some women voters. Hey, she started it with her (actually her MALE handlers') written speech containing that ridiculous comparison of dogs and mothers. I have no children or pets but felt sufficiently offended on behalf of both. Woman = Pit Bull = BITCH? Hmm, so who's the sexist now? 

Of course it's all Barack Obama's fault. For having a penis. And being Black. One drop rule forever in effect here. No wait, it's Oprah's fault because she should give airtime to Queen Palin - just don't ask her any questions! Oprah has been positively difficult this entire election season for thinking for herself, running her show the way she sees fit and just not being grateful. Cos Amerikkka has been so good to its browner skinned citizens ever since those Mayflower boat people came here with their smallpox and guns and religion.

It's their fault for not being like "us". Of course none of us are like the "us" the Republicans espouse - even when they're addressing members of their own party. 

Speaking of dogs I was reading Aunt Jemima's Revenge and blogger Professor Tracey posted a question about why PETA hasn't gone after Sarah Palin over her bragging about killing animals for sport. That got me wondering why haven't we heard a peep from them so I asked. I got a very lame response about how they don't endorse candidates. So what does that have to do with their agenda? Aren't they supposed to be exposing all forms of animal cruelty from anyone who does it? What was so special about Michael Vick, then? I didn't even know who he was until the negative press and subsequent prosecution pile up on the poor guy. Not that he was without blame, but again this justice system has shown itself to be a Just For Us and None For Others sham. PETA has no credibility when they pick and choose campaigns in such a glaringly biased manner. 

Note to PETA: You are full of shit! 

What happened to all those people who took to the streets to protest and had the pitchforks ready all in the name of racism, er animals? Why have we never seen these people before or since? Where are they when a child goes missing - particularly a child of color? Or a woman is raped? I mean I like animals. I do. Probably not as much as some but we did have a few dogs, cats and rabbits growing up. I cried when a stray my brother and I'd found and taken home got sick and died. I just didn't get the level of outrage levied at one athlete when we've got mass murders, child molesters and corporate raiders bankrupting this country. THAT offends me. 

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So I've watched the new season of 'Prison Break' and 'Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles' and I have to give them mixed reviews. Wentworth Miller is a fine actor and an even finer specimen of male hotness but this season BLOWS! Can you believe it's the 4th season? It has become a low-rent '24' even down to the plot but without all the fun 'Real Time' clock, intense action and suspense. Are we really supposed to believe this latest stretch of plot unbelievability? Sarah got to keep her head. No mention of LJ and Sophia after Lincoln was brought back. Bellick is still in the mix. Michael Rappaport as a Federal Agent. GTFOH! And now the scary bad hit man is acted by the guy who played Khadijah's boyfriend from Living Single. I knew the writers had painted themselves into a corner right out the gate because Season One was so damn good. One positive remains: SUCRE! They had better keep Amaury Nolasco or else!!! Shoot they might as well bring back C-Note just to hear him call Michael 'Snowflake' again. Fix it or end it.  

Terminator looks good so far because my expectations were low to begin with. I still have to pretend I believe these teeny tiny people have the strength of a bodybuilder and the skills of a ninja but oh well. Shirley Manson is a robot!! Right now if Fox is deciding which show to put on hiatus when '24' comes back in January I go with 'Prison Break'.  

***************

One more thing. I watched Fashion Rocks last night and I have one thing to say. Well two or three. Adele should have performed instead of Duffy, but alas me thinks somebody decided to go blonder and thinner. How boring! When will they retire Fergie because she is like so 2006. Justin TimberFAKE! should not under any circumstances ever sing a Marvin Gaye song again. Or any of the great Black male soul singers. It is an insult and a sacrilege. The End....