Diana2:47PMJul 13th 2008

PART 1:

Great compilation of vids, T. I've already commented on J-Mac's gaffes, so I'll go on to Jesse Jackson, Jr. Even though I agree with his point, I believe that family loyalty should out-trump politics and he should have taken a pass on this...plus it was the manner in which he threw Daddy under the bus (pardon the cliche du jour).

"Protesting" Librarian--somehow, I don't think that this type of quashing of free speech would have occurred at a similar Obama event....just guessing here. Plus it was so damned innocuous. Scary.

Bravo to your bud, Mr. Greenwald. Now, I am not the biggest Michelle O. fan in the world, but even I find the race-baiting employed by Fox News to be beyond the pale. The "lynching party", "baby mama", "mean country" (not even her quote), and the "terrorist fist jab" were especially unfair....and cringeworthy.....

Diana2:48PMJul 13th 2008

PART 2:

Although I do find Nas' song lyrics a but disturbing, I do agree with his major premise about Fox News. T-- your October article, ETC., have helped me to see the "protest" element at play here (as opposed to merely being gratuitous), the same with his use of the "N" word as the original title of his upcoming CD. Before I repost what I thought to be the best parts of your insightful article concerning the use of the "N' word, I would like to ask if anyone caught Nas' lyrics of "O'Reilly...Oh, Really..."? Where is our fave PUMA, anyway?
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TC: "I wrote a really long, well thought-out essay on this subject about a year or so ago, and if I can find it, I'll post it in the comments section, but the gist of it was that maybe the word shouldn't lose it's power. Nas references people of the civil rights generation who might be offended, and seems to dismiss them, or rather, grants higher priority to his mission of disempowering the word than placating his elders. He reasons that he can explain it to them later.

I don't think the problem is that they don't understand Nas' angle. I think that the word has been used over the years as a weapon, as a way to instantly conjure the full force of White oppression, to put someone in a place they don't want to be, that no justification, however valid, can deaden it's impact. I also believe that to diminish the power of that word is to diminish it's ability to lay naked the fetid souls of those who use it that way.

Everyone has their own personal policy about that word. Personally, I decided that I would always censor the word to the euphemism "The N word" unless I was directly quoting someone, and it was for the purpose of identifying that person's bias. I even struggled with whether to write it out as the proper title of the album. Not because I'm afraid to offend, I curse all the time, I love to offend. But only for a good reason.

In general, I am against censorship, with the view that words are the writer's paint. I just think people need to know the picture they're painting, and how it will move people. Nas may usher in a world where the N-word is as common as "Hello". It may lose it's power completely, when the last people to remember it's punishing use have passed on. But it will always be an ugly spot on the pallette."

Just say no to Obama4:39PMJul 13th 2008

OBAMA SAYS WERE ARE LIKELY IN A RECESSION

How sweet of him to tell us what the Average American ALREADY KNEW!

It is even much nicer that he is saying it from his PRIVATE JET, that he flies almost daily sometimes twice daily.

At a time when the Average American is stuggling to pay for gas just to go to work, OBAMA IS CONSTANTLY FLYING AROUND THE COUNTRY IN A PRIVATE JET!

Soon he will be flying around the world on his Private jet. We are told the Barack and Michelle are not Rich and more down to Earth! What a bunch of crap!!!

Obama has outspent EVERYONE! The taxpayers have paid for Secret Service for his campaign and His Vacation.

Wake UP! IF OBAMA IS SPENDING MONEY LIKE THIS JUST RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT WHAT DO YOU THINK HE IS GOING TO DO IF ELECTED PRESIDENT!!!!!!!

GO AHEAD DONATE TO HIS CAMPAIGN , YOU WANT HIM TO HAVE A GREAT TIME IN EUROPE, DON'T YOU!