Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Shocked and Awed
As many people who know me can attest to, I’m a bit of a news junkie. So I am one of those types that watches all news, all day, read all the news blogs (liberal and conservative), and will not take any calls or visitors during the hours of 9a-1p because the Sunday news shows are on.
HOWEVER, as I watch this election progress into a sea of lies, deception, smear tactics, diversions and pandering, I am truly afraid. Will the Republican Rovian machine do it again? I think to myself, come on America, you MUST be smarter than this. However, looking at the polls, I’m not so sure.
The Republican party’s popularity is growing among the folks that are consistently hurt the most by their policies. Yet, working class white men and women just can’t resist the Republican brand. Maybe it makes them feel rich? Maybe they care more about preventing gay people from getting married or what I do with my utereus, than their own economic and global survival? Maybe the Democratic party is too closely associated with Black people? Its the only way I can explain a block of people consistently voting against their economic interests. Yay! I know our lives are terrible, Im suffering, my son is at war, i’ve been laid off and have no health insurance and the world is generally worse off after 8 years of Republican rule– BUT I think I’ll have a little more please? There is a cognitive dissonance to what is unfolding in this election right now, and I am literally stunned. McCain being a war hero is not gonna feed your kids.
As I watch these rallies and polls, I’m just speechless. I’m just sitting here, mouth agape, that half this country would like to elect McCain/Palin. Not that I dont respect opinions that differ from mine, but when those differing opinions are based on nothing anyone can seem to articulate, the opinion becomes suspect. And Im not some raving partisan. I’ve agreed with republicans in the past (though never George W.) and dems in the past. I base my decision on what POLICIES will benefit me and my community. I don’t care who you vote for, its your decision. But at least make a decision based on some common fucking sense. The fact that folks have newly signed onto the McCain campaign because of a woman they know NOTHING about and whom they have never heard speak without a script? RUFKM??? McCain, who tried to convince us the world was too dangerous a place to be left in the hands of the risky, young Obama–picks this broad as #2? That’s his idea of Country First? Politics over competence? Thats how highly he values the American People? What kind of game is this?
A part of me thinks McCain is somewhere thinking ( as he’s being manipulated by the Republican Coven), this isnt me. A once honorable man, has now reduced himself to smears and lies and tactics, and there’s no turning back now. Even if someone was genuinely interested in Mccain, you still would have no idea of what he plans to do with the country because he never talks about it. No issues, no policies, no nothing. Change my ass. He just shamelessly feeds us BS day after day. Now Obama is sexist? This from a man who allowed a Republican questioner to ask him “how are we gonna beat the bitch” at a town hall meeting without any protestation whatsoever ? Anything to divert from issues and policy. Its almost sad. And what’s scary is that people are actually buying it.
So perhaps the debates will change the game. Lets see what happens when McCain and Palin actually have to debate on the issues. When Palin finally hits Meet the Press and sits down with some journalists who arent afraid of her. When McCain begins to do press conferences again. When Palin isnt saying the same 10 lines over and over again. When we can finally see the two candidates side-by-side away from handlers. When McCain and Obama finally go head-to-head on the issues, lets hope the decision will be clear.
OK, I just had to get that off my chest. With that being said, every once in a while I find a post where I must admit, I couldnt have said it better myself. Here is a posting by Bob Cesco about the state of the presidential election as of today Sept. 10 2008. Enjoy and discuss.
Fooled Again
by Bob Cesca
It’s happening again. Regardless of the outcome of this thing, it’s clear that half of America is falling for the same superficial trickery that gave us eight years of George W. Bush. You know the routine. Who do you want to have a beer with? Who is more plainspoken? Who would you like to drive your kids to hockey?
Only this time around, America is exponentially worse off than it was in 2000 or 2004, which only makes the degree to which certain voters are being tricked all the more infuriating and incomprehensible. Show of hands: have you gone all Howard Beale yet this week?
I’d do the list of Republican Epic Fail, but it’s too exhaustively long to enumerate here. So here’s a thumbnail. The day after Sarah Palin’s historically overrated Edie McClurg With Lying performance at the Republican convention, the Dow tanked 344 points. The day after that, the Republicans got their bounce — an unemployment rate bounce to 6.1 percent — the highest level in five years. Two days after that, Secretary Paulson announced the government’s “deprivatization” of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. And yesterday, the Dow dropped another 280 points. All of this within the last seven days.
So what are the Republicans and the barbecue media talking about today? A pig metaphor that’s older than John McCain. John McCain! A cynical, sell-out politician who chose for his running mate someone who probably thinks Fannie Mae is this and Freddie Mac is this.
It’s no wonder why Americans are ignoring issues that are literally right in front of their faces.
Today on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, we overheard some accidental truth-telling as to why this is happening. Chris Matthews was on with Scarborough and Andrea Mitchell (sitting in for Mika who, I think, was off updating her Sarah Palin Fansite & Web Shrine) and Matthews was poking Scarborough and Buchanan about their wall-to-wall pig remark coverage.
MATTHEWS: Two days from now — I want to ask you, what will we talk about two days from now?
SCARBOROUGH: Whatever the McCain campaign wants us to talk about, because the McCain campaign is assertive.
Shockingly honest. To be fair, however, the complicity of far-right talk radio — all 1,000 radio stations nationwide — makes Scarborough and Buchanan look like Bernie Sanders and Mike Malloy. Naturally, today, we’ll hear righteous indignation all over AM radio — Rush Limbaugh, who loves his novelty Hillary Clinton nutcracker almost as much as his “feminazi” jokes, drooling on his phallic cigars while decrying Senator Obama’s so-called sexist remark.
We all know why this is happening. Senator Obama said it during his convention acceptance speech in Denver:
Because if you don’t have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don’t have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.
You make a big election about small things.
Small things. Like lipstick. And the Republicans get away with it because everyone with barbecue sauce stains on their mouths will, as Scarborough inadvertently admitted, talk about it.
What else gets short-changed in lieu of the small things? Adequate debunking of the most disgusting Republican attack ad since Lee Atwater’s Willie Horton ad or Alex Castellanos’ White Hands ad. Instead, the new McCain ad depicting Senator Obama as a creepy perv who wants to tell your kids about their down-there places is aired over and over and over on cable. And the very serious discussion swirling around this ad? How will Obama respond to this? Will this damage Obama? When do we get to show the ad again?
You wouldn’t know it while watching Morning Joe, but the truth is that the legislation in question had to do with age-appropriate education that would help to protect children from sexual predators. I repeat: to protect children from sexual predators.
Our collective question for Senator McCain has to be: Why are you against that, Senator? Why don’t you want to protect our children from perverts, pedophiles and predators? Between that and your vote against SCHIP, it’s clear that you aren’t interested in keeping America’s children safe. Obviously, you’d rather win an election.
It’s no wonder why a baffling number of Americans are refusing to vote based on the issues happening literally in their own back yards. And so we have a Republican ticket — a ticket that exactly matches in every way the Bush-Cheney administration — enjoying an incongruously high level of polling support, despite the situation on the ground in almost every American town and suburb.
Given their record of success in years past, it’s no wonder why the Republicans do what they do. But this goes beyond cause and effect. It’s their nature. They’re simply unable to govern, so all they have left are their basest, most cynical and depraved instincts. Their presidential ticket is composed of two incompetent, corrupt liars who want to continue the Bush legacy (while also lying about their “change” message). But they’re good at whining; they’re good at smearing; and they excel at fear-mongering. John McCain has fully embraced Karl Rove’s brand of insect politics.
With a complicit barbecue media at their disposal — a team of fainting goats on cable news and AM radio — their screaming and stomping gets plenty of airplay. But worse than that, it gets an obscene amount of undue validation. Because when it doesn’t, the Republicans crap their cages until the goats faint again. Consequently, casual viewers who aren’t as knee-deep in this stuff get the wrong impression as to what’s truly important. Or they become so flummoxed by the noise that they throw their hands in the air and, with an exhausted yalp, declare both candidates equally as awful. George W. Bush “won” in 2000 due to that exact phenomenon.
And I remain very confident that Senator Obama is going to win this time. My mantra: the Obama team defeated the most powerful and popular Democratic brand in America. His campaign is the most disciplined we’ve seen in decades. His financial resources are record-breaking. Yet, if McCain ends up winning this thing, we can only conclude that it’s because he so fully embraced a form of Rove Republican politics — tactics so unprecedented in their deceitfulness and snark that they will have successfully obscured a full decade of undisputed failure, not to mention what Mort Zuckerman called this week “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.”
In the face of all of this, can anyone seriously deny that John McCain and the Bush Republicans are successfully fooling Americans — again?
—Bob Cesca
www.bobcesca.com
Monday, August 18, 2008
Thanks to YOU CINAW is a FINALIST for Best Culture Blog of the Year!
Vote for CINAW at www.blackweblogawards.com!!!
**UPDATE: I lost. **
A new post and an award nomination in the same week. It must be about to snow. Thanks to everyone who nominated this blog for the Black Web Blog Awards. It is now a Finalist for the Category of Best Culture Blog. SO, when you have absolutely nothings else to do, please visit www.blackweblogawards.com and vote for me!!! Practice your voting on me so by November you’ll be a pro. YES YOU CAN!!! Whether you vote or not, I appreciate your support over the last year.
Friday, August 15, 2008
What’s With This “Wifey” Bullshit?
OK, a reader wrote to me venting her frustrations about the new relationship category of “wifey.” It seems as though we now have the categories of: single, married, divorced, and has-a-wifey. It’s a peculiar moniker indeed for one’s significant other. It actually sounds rather sweet. It seems to occupy the space between girlfriend and wife. But to me, it signifies exactly what’s wrong with relationships today.
*I’m not sure if this term has permeated the white community yet, but like everything else black folks do, its coming.
Now at first glance it would seem that calling someone your “wifey” is a compliment, an expression of their commitment to you, an elevation of you from girlfriend to something more. But upon further examination of what this term means and who exactly benefits from the designation, the “wifey” title is revealed to be a total and complete cop-out.
In a culture where committed relationships are rare and marriages even rarer, it seems that men and women are settling for a cheap imitation. Wifey is often described as “not your only, but your favorite” or “wife material.” I had a friend of mine who told me that he reserves expensive gifts for wifey and gives the other women cheap things. But unfortunately, the “wifey” designation is not a stepping stone to marriage, it’s the final stop. The notion of commitment has morphed from being with only one person, to having one special person that you treat a little better than the others. And you know whats really scary: women are eating that shit up!
Its almost like we have accepted that committed relationships are impossible so if are going to be with someone, its considered a victory to attain wifey status. It reminds me of the African American woman author Audrey Chapman who years ago suggested that man-sharing was okay because of the lack of available black men. Get the fuck outta here. And its not that you accept the wifey title blindly. Everyone who has a man willing to use that term, also knows what it means. It basically means a life of looking the other way, as long as you are (in the immortal words of the infinitely wise Trina) his “baddest bitch.”
At some point I went to sleep and woke up in the Negro Twilight Zone. A culture who survived slavery, Jim Crow and segregation in part because of the strength and dogged perseverance of the family, has now come to this. Not only do we accept not being married, we accept not even being exclusive. What happened to the self-worth of women in the last decade where we just settle for any damn thing?
Women are actually proud to be “wifey.” “Its alright because I know he’s coming home to me!” RUFKM? Really? Since when did we start volunteering to be cheated on? This isn’t about the men. You teach people how to treat you. This is your call.
Don’t fool yourself ladies. This is nothing but an issue of low self-esteem. The need for a warm body in the bed at night. Someone to take to family cook-outs and events. In a nation of women who too often grow up without a father’s love, sometime we need to tell ourselves that some man, any man, out there thinks we’re special. Even if its not quite special enough. Sometimes that’s all you need. I can dig it. I’ve been there. Hell, I’m there right now. But I will go to every party, happy hour, island vacation, play, concert and movie by my damn self, before I’m someone’s wifey. Shit, I got Tivo.
Have you ever stopped to think why you are only “wifey” and not “wife” or fiancé ? Have you ever asked? Would you dare? Of course not. Because then he might leave.
Be strong ladies.
Peace People.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Nominate Me: I Know, Shameless.
CINAW family,
Please help your girl break into the blogosphere cool kids circle by nominating my blog for a Black Weblog Award. While I usually bristle up at any award that contains a racial qualifier — I want to win something dammit! Its been a good run, but those little trophies for “participation” from 5th grade just dont cut it anymore.
You can nominate me at http://www.blackweblogawards.com/
Thanks for your support!!!
Peace people.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Am I A Bad Black Person? Part II
Am I the only black person who has no interest in watching CNN’s Black in America? If I get one more forwarded email telling to watch that show, I’m gonna scream. I’m sorry, but I am just so tired of watching a bunch of black people sit on a stage and talk about their damn issues. What makes us do these types of programs and who exactly are they for? It seems to me that white people wouldn’t be all that interested and black people know this shit already. We just love to sit in front of cameras and debate our condition. Some Blacks are doing well, some are doing bad. OK, got it. Plus, if Michael Baisden is involved in any way, how good could it be? There are all these “black program” conventions that just need to be retired, like spoken word. If I hear one more random black spoken word voice-over…
“Hmmm…we need some more elements…lets see, what do black people like? Hip hop? No this should be serious. I know! Spoken Word! They love that shit!”
I stopped watching Tavis and his State of the Black Union special on C-Span about five years ago. Now don’t get me wrong, my first couple of times watching I got a big kick out of it. Me and my mom or friends would talk back to the TV and get a big kick out of all the militant rhetoric and inspirational flourishes. It was great fun. However….
Fast forward five years and you see those same Negroes sitting on that same stage talking about the same shit. All of a sudden the pontificating seems cliché, the topics out of touch, the mission unformed and ultimately fruitless, and worst of all Michael Eric Dyson and his too fast alliteration is just plain annoying. I don’t know, the whole thing just feels old and tired.
So then I give the Emotional-Negro-Issue-Discussion format one more chance and watch Hip Hop V. America II on BET—ok this is my type of thing, pop culture, sexism, responsibility perhaps this discussion will yield some revolutionary thought, some innovative ideas and insightful perspectives. Nope. Just a bunch of yelling and screaming, split verbs and people talking over each other. The dumbest ones are the loudest so the people who actually have sense (Lola Ogannaike) cant get a word in edgewise. I know, I know, it works for the McLaughlin Group but throw in David Banner and Deelishis and things just go horribly wrong.
So then I give the Emotional-Negro-Issue-Discussion format one more chance and watch Hip Hop V. America II on BET—ok this is my type of thing, pop culture, sexism, responsibility perhaps this discussion will yield some revolutionary thought, some innovative ideas and insightful perspectives. Nope. Just a bunch of yelling and screaming, split verbs and people talking over each other. The dumbest ones are the loudest so the people who actually have sense (Lola Ogannaike) cant get a word in edgewise. I know, I know, it works for the McLaughlin Group but throw in David Banner and Deelishis and things just go horribly wrong.
I guess I’m just too busy BEING black (and writing blogs) in America to watch it. I figure I’m black every single day so why do I need to watch it on TV? Blackness on TV has gotten so boring and cliche. Tell me something new for a change. I’d rather watch Susie Orman or Michelle Singletary, at least with them I’m gonna learn how to make some damn money.
So, I’m sorry Soledad, although you are one of my favorite anchors on TV, I probably won’t tune in to Black in America tonight. You know why Soledad is one of my favorites, because she’s excellent at what she does. There’s an old saying that the solution to racism is excellence. I wish we would sit around and talk about that. At home.
Gotta go, Murder She Wrote is coming on and I haven’t seen this one….
Am I a bad black person?
Peace people.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
The Thirty Worries
Have you ever caught yourself watching “Intervention” on A & E while drinking? And you know you’re only one bottle away from that cheap motel room surrounded by friends and family? But that’s another post for another day.
What I will talk about however is the fact that all the thirty-somethings I know, including me, seem to be drowning in stress. Its an odd phenomena however because for the most part these people have no “real” problems. They are generally healthy attractive, educated, make good money, own homes and cars. Some are single, some are married. Some have children, others are child-free. Some are artists, some are stuffed shirts. Some are straight, some are gay. All are relatively well-adjusted, smart, motivated men and women who have the bulk of their upwardly mobile lives in front if them. But all that doesn’t stop us from being scared to death. I call this condition the Thirty Worries.
I will be the first to admit that my thirties have been the highlight of my life. In my teens I was awkward, insecure and socially maladjusted. In my twenties, I got a little more attractive and had an absolute blast but I was silly, drank too much, wasted a lot of time and made lots of bad choices. So here come the thirties, I got some good sense and I was suddenly comfortable in my own skin. After the death of my father I became fearless. My close encounter with mortality made me look at life differently. I live every day to the fullest. I refuse to be miserable or settle or let others define who I should be. I am strong, confident and people seem to like me OK. My hair is tempermental but natural, I’m good to people, I wear t-shirts with profanity on them, and I love old people. I’ve applied all the life lessons I’ve learned in my teens and twenties and for all intents and purposes I’m doing okay. But that doesn’t stop me from being constantly stressed out about where my life is going.
It’s a stress I haven’t quite experienced before. There’s something about your thirties that adds a certain gravitas to every decision. Everything becomes some kind of crossroad. Every date is a potential spouse, every job is a major career move, each period brings you closer to running out of eggs. There is an enormous amount of self-imposed pressure to figure it all out. Whatever “it” is. Forget the fact that you are currently doing just fine, you feel like you have to have the plan all together. You must know what you’ll be doing for the next 20 years. Otherwise, theres like a big black hole of life staring at you. And its terrifying. All of the possibilities and infinite choices that were exciting in our twenties turn into angst and doubt about what direction we’re going in. We tell ourselves that if we don’t have it all figured out by now, we’re in trouble, irresponsible and doomed to a life of wandering aimlessly.
Friends who have jobs now wonder is this really what they want to do, friends who don’t have jobs feel like abject losers, those of us who have our own businesses wonder if we should pursue a career path with a little more security ( and money) and those who want to start businesses struggle with the decision whether to leave the safety of their current positions for an uncertain future.
Its like all of a sudden we become too sensible. We feel as if its too late to make any major mistakes. The stakes are suddenly so high for everything. Do you want children? We are afraid if we don’t have kids we’ll regret it and afraid if we do have kids…we’ll regret it. Yet at some point ( and soon) a decision must be made.
In the meantime we try to drown out the cacophony in our heads with cocktails and prescription drugs and sex and Ritalin, gossip blogs and Golden Girls re-runs (ok, maybe that’s just me). And its odd because at any point if someone asked you what you were worried about, its doubtful you would be able to articulate exactly what was bothering you. On paper you look awesome. You have checked off all the items on the checklist that are supposed to guarantee a successful life. But somehow, strangely, you feel anything but successful. In fact, its like the war in Iraq, you no longer have any idea what success really means. Is it domestic bliss, moguldom, being independent and free? You no longer know, but you feel like you need to figure it out. And fast.
There was an article in the Washington Post a while ago about whether having too many choices actually contributed to stress and unhappiness in people’s lives. I’m starting to see that maybe there’s something to that. Because most of us can choose to do whatever we want, our failures or our shortcomings are all our own. There’s no blaming society, glass ceilings, discrimination, lack of opportunity—it’s just you and your decisions. When things go bad, it’s you and your decisions. When things go great, it’s you and your decisions.
And when you have no idea what the next ten years will look like ( and I mean NO idea)…. It all comes down to you and your decisions. The thirty worries.
And when you have no idea what the next ten years will look like ( and I mean NO idea)…. It all comes down to you and your decisions. The thirty worries.
I need a drink.
