Archive for January 16, 2012
The Language of the Unheard
Martin Luther King, Jr.:
I would be the first to say that I am still committed to militant, powerful, massive, non-violence as the most potent weapon in grappling with the problem from a direct action point of view… But it is not enough for me to stand before you tonight and condemn riots. It would be morally irresponsible for me to do that without, at the same time, condemning the contingent, intolerable conditions that exist in our society. These conditions are the things that cause individuals to feel that they have no other alternative than to engage in violent rebellions to get attention. And I must say tonight that a riot is the language of the unheard.
Something to think about as we head into an election year during which the voice Washington will hear is the voice that “speaks” with money.
We’re all unheard now.
The “Suspense” Over Who Will Win in South Carolina is Pure Media Hype
I am amazed when I listen to and read coverage of (1) the Republican presidential “debate” on Fox tonight, and (2) news about next Saturday’s primary in South Carolina. This is typical of what’s out there:
If it lives up to the tradition of South Carolina’s down-and-dirty Republican primaries, Monday night’s presidential debate in Myrtle Beach will be a raucous affair.
After all, the Fox News faceoff has all the elements needed for a slugfest. The candidates are tired by this point, and tired of each other. For Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry, South Carolina could be their last stand. They’ve been sharpening their lines of attack against Mitt Romney and now have a chance to deliver them before a national audience.
But they may muzzle themselves, as they did at that ABC debate the Saturday night before the New Hampshire primary. Each of the candidates held back, seemingly waiting for someone else to go first. The result was a flat debate in which Romney emerged largely unscathed. (Perhaps realizing they had whiffed, Romney’s rivals were a bit more aggressive at the next morning’s Meet the Press debate.)
The calculation they must make is this: Voters are often turned off when candidates appear too negative. It’s one thing to let your Super PAC carpet-bomb your opponent; it’s another thing to tackle him with your own bare hands. The danger is that the candidate seems like a hatchet man and obscures his positive message.
But if the also-rans don’t bloody Romney on Monday night—or at the CNN debate in Charleston on Thursday—he’ll likely roll to his third straight victory in the Jan. 21 primary.
So, “For Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Rick Perry, South Carolina could be their last stand?” How so? The only Republican candidates on the ballot there are Mitt Romney and Ron Paul.
Yes, Gingrich, Santorum and Perry have their legacy to defend but there is virtually no contest in that state anymore what with the ballot limited to Romney and Paul and ah, gosh, I don’t think there’s any question whose going to win.
So again, this hype about a horse race in South Carolina is just bullshit.
And why are pollsters including the others in their polling? They aren’t on the dang ballot so what does it matter?
- Romney: 32 percent
- Gingrich: 21 percent
- Paul: 14 percent
- Santorum: 13 percent
- Huntsman: 6 percent
- Perry: 5 percent
- Other: 2 percent
- Undecided/ No opinion: 7 percent
It’s as if the whole American media empire is gaming us — for ratings.
Beware folks.
Do the Koch Brothers Own Your Senator or Representative?
Last week, “Americans for Prosperity” the Tea Party group founded and funded by the Koch Brothers, released its “112th Congress Mid-Term Review Key-Vote Scorecard.” The review, “ranks Members of Congress based on their votes on the most important free market issues,” meaning it ranks members of congress based on votes that will benefit the billionaire Koch Brothers.
Will SC Governor Nikki Haley Quit If Obama is Reelected?
South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley spoke at a Tea Party rally this morning and she said this, which seems to imply that she might quit if President Obama wins re-election:
With no mention of Romney, Haley focused her time on voting the president out in November.
Haley noted the National Labor Relations Board challenge to a Boeing Dreamliner facility in North Charleston and Justice Department suits against the state’s new immigration and voter ID laws.
“What they don’t know is that you don’t mess with us here in South Carolina,” Haley said.
That is why the election in November is so important, she said.
“At the end of the day, when we all come together, I cannot continue to lead South Carolina with President Obama in office,” she said. “President Obama is the hardest part of my job and he has to go.”
She sounds so tough but she isn’t. Haley was the Tea Party darling when she was elected in 2010 (with Sarah Palin’s endorsement) but she has since endorsed Romney. Romney? She doesn’t stick to her principles anymore that ol’ Mitt does.
Anyway, I’ll follow-up on November 7.
“Breaking News” Insanity
Just saw a “breaking news” alert on CNBC that the markets are closed today.
Really? Really?
Happy Birthday Martin Luther King, Jr.
I remember my father attending marches in Bloomington, Indiana during the civil rights movement in the 1960′s. I remember my parents being afraid of repercussions as a result of their activities, like a brick tossed through the front window or a bomb under their car. That kind of thing happened back then folks. White people who thought African-Americans should be treated equally were thought of as traitors, insurgents and terrorists.
I remember the day Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. So I think it’s repulsive that K-Mart is commemorating “MLKDAY” with a money-making sale. Nothing could be farther from what Dr. King fought for and nothing could be farther from what those who rallied with him stood for:
This is just shameful.
