For all the racial profiling assessors regarding the Louis Henry Gates, Jr. arrest, looks like the record of the 911 call and the released notes from the arresting and other officers clearly demonstrates that some people need to leave “THE MAN” alone.
Knowledge is power. Nonetheless, people who live to be right in their own eyes will still try to extract some adverse racial motivations from actions and dialogue in the highly over-publicizied incident when there was none. At least on the part of Crowley, the arresting officer, towards Gates.
Now, Mr. Gates is reputedly calling for the nation to move on. This magnanimous stance is quite convenient as it comes after the transcripts and notes show Gates escalated and really charged the entire incident and called a cop with a good record a “racist” simply because the cop did his job and had a spat with Gates, a Black man.
Obama needs to think again when attempting to defend any of his homeboys. Correction: “esteemed colleagues”.
Again, “The Man” is at play and causing a rucus with the arrest and four-hour detainment of Yale Graduate and Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates. By now, you would think that Black folks and “conscious” folks of other races would abandon the notion of “The Man” who gets too much credit in situations where common sense is overridden and self-responsibility is despised. It is much easier to cry racism and point to a plethora of social behavioral theories than to accept the bare-boned truth. Sometimes Black people do stupid stuff and race has absolutely nothing to do with it.
First, a call is made to the police because Mr. Gates’ allegedly appeared to be breaking into his own home. Apparently, the door was jammed. Questions flare about why the police was even called. Of course anyone in a residential neighborhood who views someone trying to force a door ajar should call the police. People break into homes in broad daylight. Doctors murder their own wives in broad daylight. Mr. Henry Louis Gates lives in the real world where men just like him-not just stereotypical younger Black male thugs-commit heinous crimes. Accomplished, affluent, successful people often find themselves in prison garb for quite some time because they have committed crimes.
Mr. Gates was allegedly into his home by the time the police confrontation began. Allegedly, the cops knew exactly who he was when they arrested him. There is a huge gap-between when Mr. Gates supplied proof of identity and was arrested-that Mulloverthis is not willing to suppose is filled with improper behavior by law enforcement simply because Mr. Gates is a Black man. Mr. Gates was allegedly “shocked” that after he proved who he was, the incident continued.
Having had to prove TWICE that I lived in my own house because the burglar alarm went off in the middle of the night, I disengaged it, and answered the calls from the alarm company with the appropriate code, I know how aggravating it is to look at law enforcement (two white officers) who challenged me because of what could have actually been “suspect”. However, having an appreciation for law enforcement-the same fellas that might have been answering the same call if I actually had a gun pointed to my head by an intruder-governed my disposition in getting my license, a piece of mail with my name and address on it, and answering numerous questions. There was no unseemly conduct or display of irritation to the point where after having established my identity, I could have been arrested for disorderly conduct. By the way, being one who is more than averse on my legal rights and most knowingly and audibly equipped to express them, I could have stopped the officers much sooner than they chose to stop in both encounters inside the home where I LIVE. However, I did not. I worked with the program. Mulloverthis smiled and thanked the officers both times, although I could have been indignant.
Law enforcement cannot cease to stop a swurving car because Jesse Jackson may be in it, or fail to make initial inquiries because Black people are involved. Nor, should law enforcement have to be disrespected, interrogated, or challenged because they have to do their job. Those cops did not know who Henry Louis Gates was, and even if they did, so what. Yaleducativism, Harvardism, and African-American intelligencia does not absolve anyone-including Mr. Gates-from knowing that law enforcement must be respected, even if they want to be tough guys/gals. The cops were within reason to confirm Gates’ identity and then ensure that there was nothing fishy going on, despite the fact they were dealing with “Henry Louis Gates”.
If the depth and breadth of Mr. Gates’ interaction with the Cambridge police consisted of him providing identification and fully cooperating with the officers, then the officers do need to offer an apology. If not, Mr. Gates and his supporters need to sit down somewhere and eat some chocolate.
Meanwhile, Mulloverthis chooses to commend the people that help to keep our neighborhoods safe and when everday “good” people do bad things, sometimes have to put their lives in danger to muddle through the particulars. Thumbs up to law enforcement.
Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich has done it again. The crowned king of heart wrenching Inflammatory Jargon has called for the resignation of Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House. Newt’s call for action surrounds Pelosi’s whimpy and allegedly disingenious response to whether or not she knew of the now inhumane use of waterboarding as an “enhanced interrogation” tactic against detained al Qaeda suspects. Nanci clearly stated that she was misguided, and the CIA misguides Congress all of the time. Homegirl says she was briefed, and alludes to a mere cursory mentioning of it in 2002. She blamed her lack of information–or brain freeze–on the CIA. Newt and other conservatives believe this weakens the national security of the US, in the largest connect the dots slippery slope argument I’ve seen in a long time.
Here’s what I think: When there’s a rat in the house, set all different kinds of traps. Whichever one catches the critter first, is the winner. Whether Newt’s cry against Pelosi is legitimate or not, Mulloverthis has been waiting for this day. Pelosi can take her anti-Christian efforts and influence some place else.
Anyway, we all know, Pelosi isn’t going anywhere without a fight. FAGHEDDABOWDIT.
Provisional talent, Wanda Sykes, had the honor of presenting fodder at the 2009 White House Press Correspondents’ dinner. Of course, the on-again, off-again comedic actress received much criticism for her tasteless railings against the former administration and its royalty, and the specific commentary regarding Rush Limbaugh.
Wanda pushed the bucket hard enough to see whether the compressions would disturb the natural progression of crests and troughs in the predictable waves of laughter throughout the room. Did she cross the line? What line? The bounds of decency or political correctness are more ambiguous each day. At least, depending upon the valuation standards employed by the critics of the day. Principled disapproval would certainly require any critics of Ms. Wanda’s nifty elocution to be up in arms against Rush Limbaugh’s continual blather. The thing about hypocrisy, is that it holds true whether one be of the left or the right, or of any racial persuasions.
What we should remember is that Wanda is a comedian. It’s her job to push the envelope. The correspondents laughed. They even responded to the frightening imagery of the arms of some of the former First Ladies. Additionally, she doesn’t have any shows that won’t be canceled before we can program them in the on demand functions, except for voice acting on the Nick network. She had to make the most of her moment. Wanda enjoys paying taxes and needs to make her money.
If you ask my opinion, and I know you didn’t, Mulloverthis says, “Leave Wanda alone.” Rush has a much broader and regularly scheduled sphere of influence where he leaps from the precipice and takes many of his gutter audience members with him.
What is the problem? The Republican tea parties around the country to protest against excessive government spending and the proposed tax increases to the upper-class (or at least wealthiest Americans) are a great idea. We have always been a nation that values the freedom of expression. As long as the protests–I mean parties–remain peaceful, who cares?
We must learn to accept the concerted efforts of the disconcerted to complain about what President Obama is doing to our country. Obama didn’t start the bail-out madness. He just continued it. So, if the insiduous economic course of treatment our President is ensuing to repair and re-build a bloodied economy is far-fetched, please, place the blame and proper socialist characterizations right where they belong. A number of Repubs were in agreement with the economic aid the government decided to give those on Market Street and Wall Street before Obama smiled with his perfect teeth and ever raised his right hand. Remember?
Furthermore, we accepted the diabolical response of Condoleeza reputedly shopping on New York’s Fifth Avenue for shoes–albeit an intoxicating experience–while Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed New Orleans. We endured the ghastly nervous grin of former President George Bush cradled in the comfort of an auspicious presidential appearance and photo-op with 2nd graders when he got the 911 announcement. Even church folks put the finger up and tip out of a room when the bladder signals an impending release. Yet, the top-ranked repub sat still until his brain finally got the signal and alerted him that our nation was under attack and he might just have to do his job as President. If this isn’t enough to conclude that these tea parties are nothing but gatherings for railers to re-direct pent-up frustrations, the inclusion of Joe the plumber ought to allay unnecessary fears. The unofficial Repub pawn and GOP desperation celebrity actually appeared as a speaker at the Lansing, Michigan tea party/tax protest. I firmly predict we will not see another Revolutionary War. American Repubs, although empassioned and committed, have become more concerned with the superfluous.
So with the recent history of my fellow conservatives who largely identify themselves as Republicans, this is really no big deal. The concern that I have is with false advertising. When someone hosts a tea party, I expect tea. With all of the musings about these tea parties, this is my concern: Who is hosting one where I can get a good cup of a flavorful antioxidant like mandarin white tea?
Andy Warhol is credited with authoring the statement, “In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” The pirates–and they are by no means heroes–seem to be taking their fifteen minutes of fame a bit too seriously. Not only have they verbally committed to striking against US ships, but also to continue to target US ships as some sort of repercussion for killing their dingy cohorts last week. You would think that the estimated $150 million dollar gain from last year’s badwill piracy would help keep the thieves focused: Keep on pirating and sequestering the spoils. Do not invoke the attention of the world, and the wrath of the world police. Keep on living the bling bling life after a hard day’s work from traversing the seas, robbing ships, holding people hostage, and negotiating with the crew’s countrymen for money. Now, the hellacious criminals have to defend their sub-human honor and fight the ones that defend themselves. They want to be part robber, part celebrity. The Somali bandits will soon find that greed and pride don’t mix.
Nonetheless, I am left with two questions:
1. If these pirates are reachable such that they are issuing statements to the press, why are they still able to talk?
2. Who is going to inherit their money–or will there be treasure hunts– when they are gone?
MULLOVERTHIS.
For updates on the situation, here are some articles with insightful coverage:
And every pirate will have his too. Did you all know I had to look up the word “pirate” to make sure that the cognitive meanings impressed largely by cartoons was in fact correct? Here’s a working definition of a pirate from www.dictionary.net:
1. A robber on the high seas; one who by open violence takes the property of another on the high seas; especially, one who makes it his business to cruise for robbery or plunder; a freebooter on the seas; also, one who steals in a harbor.
2. An armed ship or vessel which sails without a legal commission, for the purpose of plundering other vessels on the high seas.
The cartoons did a fantastic job of registering the definitive worth of pirates in Mulloverthis’ mind. A few noted and inconsequential distinctions:
1. Real bad pirates (and the badder they are, the more “piratey” they are) have one eye missing, so wear eye patches, typically black ones.
2. Pirates wear archaic hats, look unkept, and are always inebriated.
3. Pirates aren’t African.
But, these African lunatics off of the Somalian shores who wake up day after day, thinking of how they can capture, seize the goods of, hold hostage, and potentially murder people in ships sailing through those waters probably didn’t anticipate their lucrative business would be defrayed when they targeted Americans. Don’t they know that we are the world police? We are the sheriff in anybody’s town, village, or water when we have humanitarian causes. Don’t they know that while we pledge to fight against piracy and any more potential US hostages by the gutless nincompoops, we will need to heighten our pursuit of inland criminals who capture children that disappear every day? Here’s one more battle that America has to fight. Look forward to increased navy presence and whatever other forces need to be deployed so that we can keep up our tough guy image.
Let’s hope that “YES WE CAN” get some of that commitment to dealing with drug cartels in South America that trickle down to affect the children in our neighborhoods. While there is certainly a need to protect our citizens abroad, there needs to be balance in policing the world when our men are safe while thieves need to be taken down in our own backyards.
Amazingly, Bill O’Reilly and many others can’t see the code language of this Presidential Election. Marc Lamont Hill appeared on Bill’s show last week. MarC took issue with certain code language, the repeated use of which obviously sends an implicit message to a specific consitutency. Or, at the very least, certainly excludes a specific constituency. Although Bill was not a ravenous bull with Marc, he did not agree. He could not comprehend how Marc could put such an onous on mere words.
Really? Now, that’s incredible.
Palin can reach out to the “hockey mom”, “six pack Joe”, and “redneck”. Who is Sarah Palin’s fishnet designed to reach? Amazingly, Oprah reaches the same crowd with simply being herself, a woman who grew up as a young nappy headed black girl from the South who was molested by her family member, became promiscuous, lost a baby as a young teenager, and got back on track and never went back. Today, she is an entertainment mogul and leading voice of influence (which Mulloverthis does not advocate) to people all over the world. Sarah Palin can’t put her batteries in her brain and get behind a podium and think that most African Americans will relate to her. Regardless of which economic classification, cultural affinity, or upbringing, African Americans are not rednecks and overwhelmingly, are not hockey moms. The hockey rinks all over this great land the RNC platform and attendance during the convention reflect this obvious gap and mismatch.
Roland Martin, a CNN contributor, also tagged this issue this past weekend. However, an African-American female analyst would not be boxed in, because she played soccer, so her mother was a soccer mom. She could relate to Sarah Palin. This kind of relatedness explains why so many African-Americans do overwhelmingly relate to the Republican party platform on values and moral isssues, yet choose to register and vote Democrat. Somehow, the Democratic code language tends to be more endearing to the masses of diverse African-Americans. Maybe that is attributable to the use of language that is not automatically exlusionary. Imagine the array of Obama supporters if his public addresses were laden with remarks like “I’m just an average brother“. Bill O’Reilly would put his thinking cap on and recognize that Obama wasn’t “reaching” out to him, or men like him, at all.
So Palin has won the attention of women who can relate to raising children, professional women who juggle family and career, and conservate Christian women because we can relate to her. However, those who she can relate to, puts us in another ballpark. Her language and words indicate that she is reaching for the sixpack Joe and the mothers of the overwhelmingly White hockey players.
If I had to choose a debate winner, it would have to be McCain. This resolve wouldn’t be based upon any substantive edge for McCain. Both senators were superb, polished, and well-spoken at sticking hard to their campaign positions on the economy, foreign policy, the War on Iraq, taxes, and energy issues. Both presidential candidates did not present anything new, or stir up the debate by issuing a challenge to their opponent. McCain tried to throw out a life-line for Americans by suggesting that the government should consider buying out, or subsidizing homeowner mortgages to help alleviate the mortgage crisis and save some families from losing their homes. Obama, on the other hand, acted like the moderator was there to simply manage the questions because he ultimately controlled the timing, rebuttal, and the like. Obama isn’t even president, yet everyone must oblige him. This was beyond confidence, it was simply arrogant and rude.
BUT, I don’t have to choose.
McCain nullified his edge from simply trying to get the extra credit points by being himself. America got to see the real McCoy when he referred to Senator Obama as “that guy” or “that one”. Whatever McCain’s exact verbiage was, I could not believe he pointed to Obama and referenced his opponent in such a deragatory manner. Words have context and had McCain even looked at Obama during the first debate, or acted like he was in a debate last night against Senator Obama, the words might have had a different “read”. Clearly, McCain was condescending and is such an unpersonable human being that he could not even go through a debate without showing his true colors. Pun intended and unintended.
As Obama hammered the theme of reviving the middle class, McCain didn’t miss one opportunity to point out that Obama isn’t as experienced as he is. What McCain failed to realize is that Americans are no longer concerned about inexperience, at least to the point where it matters. Obama didn’t make it this far because most Americans find him too inexperienced. And for those of us who would feel more comfortable with a more seasoned statesman, McCain’s Pebbles (the Flinstones) Palin appointment as the Republican Vice Presidential nominee completely undermined any real belief that McCain believes experience should be weighted. So, McCain’s assertion that “we don’t have time for on the job training” instantaneously boomeranged to the Repubs camp cutting off McCain’s own neck for picking Bam Bam’s dream girl, the betcha gotcha redneck loving maverick promoting Palin, who conveniently quoted the New York Times to incite pandamonium against Obama for terrorist associations, this past week. Yet, and please pause while digesting this irony, this same woman who has not found time for intense preparation on how to use the language of dignitaries–which a US potential President and Vice President should practice–because there’s such favorite “darn” words that a non-Washington insider should just be able to say at a Presidential level only when she is a cute redneck white woman, has constantly berated the media and blamed her ignoramus-ness during the Couric interview on another “gotcha” moment with the media. Why cite and trust the integrity of the media, which Palin claims she was once a part of, when it is convenient to discredit Obama, but when the same journalists pose questions to Palin that make her uncomfortable, the media are “gotcha” captains? Well, Palin needs minimal basic comprehension here: there will be “gotcha” moments all the time during her potential Vice-Presidency with real questions for real issues that are only “gotcha” because they are above Palin’s head. McCain’s comment landed Mulloverthis right on top of his own political suicide and poor judgment in appointing Palin. Although Pat Buchanan and others credit Palin with bolstering McCain’s ticket, once the fan mail is opened in a few weeks, this country will find that most people put their ultimate trust and invested their hopes in voting for the other side.
Most immediate polls show Obama as the winner. Obama’s lead in the debate probably corresponds with the overall lead Obama has over McCain in the latest presidential pick polls. It is time for voters to make final decisions. History has proven that politicians make a boat-load of promises that they often do not keep. So now is the time for Americans to mullover the history, judgment, personality, accomplishments, and ideals of McCain and Obama to choose the next President.
Folks need to stop fussing about Republican John McCain and his recent campaign decisions. With all sparring aside, no one can really blame McCain for attempting to “suspend” his campaign in order to dodge last week’s presidential debate at Ol Miss. McCain knows he does not have the presence to appear before the public against Obama. While Obama poignantly referred to “John” over and over again, John kept talking to the moderator, and barely ever looked over at Obama. John’s body language spoke volumes: “I know you don’t think I should even be listening to you, junior senator.” Senator McCain’s shut-down demeanor towards Obama didn’t move Obama at all. Obama’s smug incredulous look wreaked of his superior arrogance bred out of intellectual superiority.
Although there was clearly no winner, per se, McCain and Obama did hold their own. In other words, should most people just read the transcript, content-wise, no one prevailed against the other. Voters just have to decide who will represent their best interests in leading this nation. However, too many people are moved by the “swagger” of Obama or the subtle I-know-so-much-more-than-Hussein-does by McCain’s constant “see, what Obama does not understand is…” editorialization. McCain was passionate about the foreign policy exchange and tried to convince the masses that we should relish his expertise as opposed to Obama’s in dealing with foreign affairs and nations.
My favorite part of the debate was when Obama, obviously tired of John McCain’s story-telling drama, made reference to his bracelet from a mother of an Iraq soldier.
Obama ought not attempt to counter-lullaby the people. That’s McCain’s card, which he pulled from the deck of tricks within the first 2 minutes of his speech. The entire debate began in the context of Senator Ted Kennedy’s condition. That was a genius move to show how compassionate McCain really is, unlike the reality of his image born through complete cuss-outs and intemperate behavior.
The recent polls may show Obama had an edge in the debates, but these results really reflect the greater approval Obama has right now. Most people know who they preferred before the first question was asked. As long as the favorite did not flop, the favorite won. Now, McCain has to figure out what his next super-hero stunt will be to defray Obama’s lead and momentum on the campaign trail. Each major crisis–from Galveston to the Lehman crash–warrants McCain’s country-first postponement, or suspension of regular campaign and party activities. This approach would have been nice for Condi and President Bush to take when Katrina hit. Condeleeza’s shoe shopping trip could have certainly been delayed, but who could care about New Orleans when in the heart of the NYC Fifth Avenue shoe mecca? Clearly, McCain is a prioritizer who needs to focus, focus, focus while Obama is a multi-tasker.
Friends, you will have to decide which leader has the sensitivity to muddle through near-chaos and STILL get the job done. McCain’s debate performance has proven that he can campaign beyond the hook of his POW Vietnam experience and address the real issues, one by one.
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Furthermore, we accepted the diabolical response of Condoleeza reputedly shopping on New York’s Fifth Avenue for shoes–albeit an intoxicating experience–while Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed New Orleans. We endured the ghastly nervous grin of former President George Bush cradled in the comfort of an auspicious presidential appearance and photo-op with 2nd graders when he got the 911 announcement. Even church folks put the finger up and tip out of a room when the bladder signals an impending release. Yet, the top-ranked repub sat still until his brain finally got the signal and alerted him that our nation was under attack and he might just have to do his job as President. If this isn’t enough to conclude that these tea parties are nothing but gatherings for railers to re-direct pent-up frustrations, the inclusion of Joe the plumber ought to allay unnecessary fears. The unofficial Repub pawn and GOP desperation celebrity actually appeared as a speaker at the Lansing, Michigan tea party/tax protest. I firmly predict we will not see another Revolutionary War. American Repubs, although empassioned and committed, have become more concerned with the superfluous.