Forgive and Forgotten

It’s been said that Black people are a very forgiving people. For examples, you can look to the fact that we didn’t kill white people en masse because of slavery, colonialism, Jim Crow, George Bush. George W. Bush... I mean didn’t we all cheer when OJ ‘I got love for nothing but white women’ got off? Don’t we still got love for Marion Barry? And so on.

But for me the best example of Black people’s ability to “forgive” is that scene in the Five Heartbeats when they’re performing at the Apollo like theatre and the piano man is playin ‘A Heart Is a House for Love’ all slow. And the people are booing. And throwing things at the stage. And then Duck aka Robert Townsend knocks the piano man off the stool, and Eddie ‘Kaing’ Jr. (don’t know his gubment name) jumps down from the stage and holds that long ass note. And the crowd goes wild. As if Holyfield just won the fight(c) Outkast. That to me is the epitome of Black folk. Of how quickly our loyalty can shift. But then when you got our ass. You got us. I mean people still buy R. Kelly records, right? Riight.

So I simultaneously chuckled and wept when I saw this article in the Washington Post about how the CBC doesn’t want to complain too much to Obama about what he’s “not doing”. Because? Because he’s our first Black President, but he’s not a BLACK President, he’s just President who just happens to be a Black man and we can’t tell him to fix Black issues because… Because he is not just our President. M’mkay. An excerpt:

Several CBC members and aides talk derisively of an oft-quoted Obama phrase: that a "rising tide" for America will "lift all boats." They see it as rhetoric intended to justify why the administration has not focused on their communities at a time when unemployment among African Americans has climbed to 16.5 percent. "I can't pass laws that say I'm just helping black folks," Obama told the American Urban Radio Networks. "I'm the president of the United States. What I can do is make sure I'm passing laws that help people, particularly those who are most vulnerable."

Many in the 42-member, all-Democratic CBC passionately disagree.
African Americans and Latinos "bear the brunt of this economic recession," said Maxine Waters (Calif.). "We must not shy away from targeted public policy that seeks to address the specific and unique issues facing minority communities."

If Obama hears Waters's point, it is from a distance. Friends of hers say she has had no phone calls from the president and no consistent contact with other administration officials despite her position as a subcommittee chairman and a key player on the House Financial Services Committee.

WTF? And I went to hear Rev. Jeremiah Wright (heh how apropos) at a Revival last week and he told us that now means - What’s this foolishness? So, What's This Foolishness? Unemployment among African Americans is at 16.5%?!? Yo son! That’s bananas. That’s at some ignorant levels. I mean I get where Obama is coming from with his lift all boats. But we’ve got to face facts and admit that some of us are in yachts, some of us are in speed boats, some in canoes, and some are floating in the sea on a life raft tryna get to that small ass boat that rescues people. But it’s full. So word up Congresswoman Waters – targeted public policy indeed.

And when one continues reading the article, it’s revealed that approval ratings for Obama amongst African Americans is at 91% (I mean take that poll with a grain of salt – but I’m sure it’s still pretty high). Cause from my view from here, I've heard Black people be on some: He can’t do it all in his first year; he acquired these problems; give him more time; we can’t bad mouth him. Cause white people are looking at you! © Wanda Sykes. And so on.

And yet. In April 2009 Obama eased Cuba travel restrictions. And I'm sure a certain group’s eyes are on Obama and his real position on Israel and please believe if he doesn’t act accordingly, he will pay for throughout his term and into the 2012 elections. And that's just two specific groups in America who are getting their needs targeted and met. I just stopped looking for more. But we all know they exist. Right? Riiight.

I wonder why Black people are so willing to forgive. To give free passes. To let things ride. To fight for somebody who abandoned us a long time ago, for fear that if you leave 'em out in the cold where they ass belongs, then the white man will tear them apart. I’m sure there are some deep historical/psychological/social reasons for this behavior that I could research and such. But in the right now I wonder, do we just not want to to fight? Is it easier to accept what's handed to us cause they singing so sweet when they bring it to us? Is it because we don’t feel like we have anything to fight with? No “real” power, influence, deep pockets?

This makes me think that Martin n’em musta had a helluva time back in the day when they were like, “y’all we fina stop taking the bus until we can sit in the front.” Sayy whaaaat?!!? I bet nigs was mad as hell, “like yo! You trippin! How am I supposed to get to work?" Pause. Wait for it, wait for it... "You want me to what? Walk? Boy, I mean Pastor stop…” I mean can you imagine what would have happened, what could happen, if every single Black person or like a good 70% of us stood together on an issue. Stopped with this 'Black people are not monolithic' mess for like two seconds. Just one issue. Any issue. Pick an issue. Now stop. Think about it. Man, ain’t no telling where we’d be. Maybe in some yachts or something.

That’s my time y’all! Happy Rum Punch Friday!

Black people don't be swayed by Eddie Kaing Jr.'s sweet voice! Cause if you try to take his spot, you ain't gon' get it. Cause you ain't got.

Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

The alarm goes off at 5 a.m. “Fcuk,” I say aloud. This is real. It is really inauguration day. And we are really going to brave the traffic, the cold and the crowds, to witness history, our country’s first African American President. I get up from the couch as the house is packed, filled with Courvoisier, Amaretto, my two cousins, my brother, my aunt and my parents. My mom is in the kitchen cooking us a country breakfast of grits and eggs, cheering us on, we who are part of the Joshua generation. Everyone is getting ready, bundling up, putting toe warmers in shoes, sweatpants on top of leggins, two sets of gloves. It is not a game. This is not the day to try and look cute. And no one does.

We leave the house at 6 a.m., before the sun is out, when the streets are eerily still. We head to Georgia Avenue to catch the 70 bus which if you anything about the uurea, is a notorious bus route in the city. I lead the freedom songs. Well the one thing we did right was the day we started to fight. Keep your eyes on the prize. Hold on, hold on. We hop on the bus and away we go, to watch history! As the bus travels and we pick up passengers who are just as excited about this day, it starts to sink in. It.is.gonna.be.fcukin.cold. Oh and we’re gonna witness history!

The bus finally reaches downtown. We head down 7th Street, ready to keep on walking towards the Mall. And then we see it. A closed gate. And a big ass crowd who is chanting. Singing. Not moving. This can’t be life. We walk on over to 12th Street. Same damn thing. My brother bogards his way close to the front. And we stand. And we wait. And we stand. And wait. We learn that the gate is supposed to open at 7:30 a.m., but the generators for the metal detectors are out. Of course. And then we learn that there are only five, count them FIVE metal detectors for all these damn people. So we stand and we wait for hours and hours.

We make “friends” with the people around us. Some guys drove 16 hours from Florida, had no hotel room, came specifically for the swearing-in and were gonna drive back home. We get squished and pushed and groped and separated from my brother and cousins. They get through the gates. And we stand longingly outside them with the rest of the crowd that is quickly growing and moving up the block. Never in my life had I been surrounded by that many people. It was a feeling beyond words, to be around people of all ages, colors, creeds. All there for a common purpose, to share this moment together. And if you have to use adjectives to describe, the best I can do is that... It was breathtaking. Amazing. Simply incredible. And unforgettable.

And then it happened. We got right up to the gate and the police officer says, “we’re gonna close this gate for awhile. And when we open it back up, you can’t go to the Mall. This will be for the parade route only.” What the hell? So how do we get to the Mall? “You’ll have to walk around the White House,” he says. It seems like a riddle. Or a cruel joke. It’s 11 a.m. How will we ever make it in time?

We leave the crowd and duck into a café to regroup. Courvosier and Amaretto seemed discouraged. And on top of all that Courovisier can’t feel her toes. And she can’t lose her toes. Time is ticking. “We have to keep going,” I say. “We have to find an alternative route. We can do it. We’ve come this far. We have to see this happen!” I couldn’t believe I was saying these words, me, one who was never ride or die for Obama, had no intention of even going to the Mall until the night before, was now pushing the team to keep their eyes on the prize. Hold on. Cause when it came down to it, I was no fool. This was what my people died for. Fought for. Prayed without ceasing for. We look at each other, take a collective sigh, and head up 12th Street, away from the Mall, to go around the White House. Could we make it? Did we make it? Find out on Monday!

That’s my time y’all! Happy Rum Punch Friday!

NO JOKE, PREPARE TO VOTE MONDAY

A lot has led up to this day and over the past few months I have made it a hobby to collect as much ridiculous emails, pictures, videos and songs circulating as I could. Up until this last week, I thought it would be interesting to recap the silliness that showed its ugly head during this circus but today that is NOT the case. I don't want to contribute that craziness today. Although, my intent with posting the collection would have been to encourage people to take this election more seriously, I am afraid that message might have gotten lost. SO in keeping with the spirit of my true purpose...today...Monday November 3rd, 2008...it is NO JOKE, PREPARE TO VOTE MONDAY!

Today’s post goes out to all of those who registered and plan to vote tomorrow. There is no doubt that when you are prepared you are more likely to succeed. Here are my TOP 5 tips for the BIG day…

1. Refresh Your Memory Don’t forget it took a minute to get here…listen and remember not to take voting for granted. (Click the picture and listen.)

2. Plan Ahead (Don’t get played.) Check your registration. Make sure you know your polling location. Read up on the rules for your state if you are not on the list and have your contingency plan in place. Visit 866 Our Vote.

3. Dress Appropriately (No showboatin’…tuck your Obama piece in your shirt temporarily.) Political activity is not allowed within 50 feet of a building used for voting, in some states.

4. Catch or Give A Ride (Especially if you think they look like they are voting for Barack) Be helpful on this day. Offer your assistance. Cut down on traffic and save on gas (chuckle).

5. Be Courteous and Respectful (Leave Sha’tangy or whateva your ignorant ghetto persona is called at home.) This is an important DAY, take it seriously. He/she can come out later. (chuckle)

Give this man a reason to stand proud folks!
Share with us how you plan to make tomorrow worthwhile.

I am Courvoisier...a woman...and I approve this message. (chuckle)

Much luv until next week...peace :)

Introducing a Possible...Mudslide

Description: I am a man.

Please, Don't Vote!
As most of us head to the polls, we already have in mind who we are going to vote for. We’ve watched every debate, heard every proposed policy, and fairly evaluated the character of each candidate…or have we?? There has been more buzz during this election than I can remember. This is THE election where history could seriously be made. We had the first woman presidential candidate in Hilary Clinton and now the first possible woman VP in Palin. We also have the first black candidate in Obama (sorry Jesse, you didn’t count – although your thoughts on punishment by circumcision lets me know you got some thug in ya…a crazy thug…but I’ll give ya a lil credit). Back to my point…I’ve never heard so many people wanting to vote this time around. But if you are voting for Obama because he is black or voting for McCain because he has a woman VP then you is ignant.

I had a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character… Well, I don’t have four kids, and a may have borrowed that dream from MLK, but that statement says it all. My personal survey shows a good majority of black folks are voting for Obama because he is black. NOT because he is the best candidate. They couldn’t even tell me what issues Obama supports! They pretty much know as much as their co-worker, friend, or stranger on the bus has told them. The same was going on when Hilary was running. A lot of her supporters were on her side because she was a woman. Now woman folks are voting for McCain because of his female assistant. And Palin could be one Clinton intern or Cheney hunting trip away from being President. I understand that you want someone you can identify with, but to vote for someone because they are black or white, male or female, Republican or Democrat is foolish. Would you be voting for Obama if he was white? What about supporting Palin if the first name was Steve instead of Sarah? Whether you are white and voting for Obama or male and supporting Palin, if you are not voting because of their character, but because of their gender and race, then you shouldn’t be voting.

- Mudslide

Real Talk

Disclaimer: If you’re an Obamaholic, you may not want to read any more of this.

So last Sunday, me, my mother, my grandmother and Amaretto journeyed through the rain and a tornado watch, to my mother’s friend’s house to discuss the 2008 political season with a multi generational group of Black women. I went hoping for a healthy, substantive discussion on how Black women were being completely left out of the political equation, but it quickly turned into a ‘WE LOVE OBAMA, THAT MAN CAN DO NO WRONG!!’ fest.

Disclaimer #2: Now for those of you still reading, I should stop right here and tell you that I’m not an Obamaholic. I’m not on the O train. Admittedly, I’m at the O station, but I haven’t bought that ticket yet. And so that is the place from where I write.

So we’re sitting around the living room dining on fried chicken (go Obama!) and pasta salad (go Hilz!) when all hell broke loose. Ok maybe not literally. But basically once Amaretto and I expressed our displeasure/hesitance/question marks about the O man, we were pounced upon, trounced on and damn near held down for an exorcism to be immediately followed by a baptism in some Obama holy water. Not that we didn’t see it coming. Everywhere we go, Amaretto and I are the only ones who have the audacity to raise our eyebrows at all the Obamaholics. On occasion we are met with some like minded people; shout out to that cool chick who said “for real change to happen, there must be blood in the streets and heads must roll!” But I digress…

What pissed me the hell off about this group discussion was that there was a lack of actual discussion and analysis. These women had a myriad of excuses for Obama’s gaffes, mistakes, half truths. Yes, I said half truths. Now, this is not to say that other candidates, i.e., Hillary haven’t lied, we all know that Bosnia sniper story was pure lies and madness. But I focus on the Golden Boy because that was the main focus of the Sunday round the living room discussion. Every misstep he has made was “reasoned,” explained, or justified. To the point that I had to throw up my hands and ask, “When will this madness end?”

And by madness, I mean the lack of questioning of what Obama is gonna do for us, Black folk. Uh oh. Did I take it too far? Now, I’ve heard the argument that Obama is running for THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, not black america. True, indeed. When he speaks he is addressing all the needs of America. As someone said that night, he’s “Keeping us all in mind.” Or is he?

The fact that as a race of people, we have not dared ask “whatcha gonna do for us when the chips are down” bothers me because we are ignoring and exchanging our interests for the momentous occasion of seeing a Black man elected President. I know that it would be an amazing feat, believe me I would love to tell my kids that I voted for the first Black President of the U.S.A., but I fear that too many Black people are hoping and assuming that our needs will be met.

Yes, I believe that Black people have a different set of needs, issues and problems from the rest of America. And since I know that we’ll never receive reparations, someone has got to address our concerns. And while I do believe that some of them need to be addressed and handled within the community, but let’s not play ourselves, if we’re gonna play this game of living in America, then government intervention and action (at all levels) is also necessary. And so I think it’s only fair for us to ask all candidates, “What is you gon’ do for us?” Just like that. Other groups do it. Other groups ensure their needs and demands are heard. Jews. Cubans. Indians. Gays and Lesbians. Shit, Canadians even. They have no shame in using their clout or exchanging their vote for deals and favors.

But right now so many of us are being swayed by a nice smile and flowery rhetoric. And as one woman said at the discussion, “Obama has a nice butt.” Lord have mercy. That Sunday, my thoughts were confirmed, because I feel in my soul that Obama pimped the Black vote like any other Democrat would. He put in the obligatory “work” to get us: attendance at the NAACP & Urban League conferences, recitation of speeches at Black churches, visitation to the local barber shop. He pimped us. And once he won South Carolina and he knew he had won us over, he put us in the corner and told us to be quiet, because he had to win white folks over now.

Think I’m wrong? Yesterday on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Tavis Smiley, Black America’s favorite man we love to hate, talked about how the National Newspaper Publishers Association (i.e., Black newspapers) had to have a “come to Jesus meeting” with all three candidates because they are not advertising in our publications. Tavis said, “One doesn't have to spend. [We know who that is] And the other two figure why spend?” And why should they spend money to reach Black audiences? 1. Because they get “free” media by appearing on every Black radio show, where Obama is fawned over and Hillary is invited because of those pesky government rules and regulations. 2. They don’t have to spend money and advertise to us, because they know they have us in their pockets-Obama especially, since we have given Billary the proverbial middle finger.

But on this particular Sunday, all of this was ignored. Hillary was constantly regarded as a she devil. I’m sorry, a lying she devil. Two snaps and a neck roll. And Obama. Well, you would have thought he was about to walk on water, feed the masses with just a two piece and a biscuit and then raise some people from the dead. People were visibly upset that we did not agree with them. At the end of the evening they approached me and Amaretto and said, “We hope we changed your mind.” Hmmm… I never said I didn’t or wouldn’t vote for him. I merely questioned him. Nothing wrong with that. I looked at his whole. I examined everything about him. I mean these women already assumed that McCain doesn’t have our best interests at heart merely because he’s a Republican. Then they ripped Hillary up one side and down the other and called her everything but a child of God. We aren’t gonna treat all candidates equally? Or is this affirmative action politics? Cause when I asked if they would vote for Obama if he were a white man delivering a hope, change, jazz hands message, I was met with silence.

I had to bite my tongue, but I so wanted to say to them: I’m sorry I can’t be one of Obama’s ride or die chicks. Because I think that at the end of the day, when the cameras have been turned off, the screaming crowds have gone home, gymnasium lights have been dimmed, and the façade of campaigning has been removed, Obama is just a man. And more importantly, he is a politician. (Rev. Jeremiah Wright said it this morning-holla!) Through and through. With his own motives. His own dreams. His own hopes (that have nothing to do with us). His own eyes on the prize. And I know that we want him to get that prize. But at what cost?

That’s my time y’all! Happy Rum Punch Friday!

You want to be somebody that might get you kilt?

Did you catch African American lives 2 on PBS last night? Fascinating stuff. A recurring theme throughout the night was the sacrifices that people made in order to make a better life for themselves and those to come. They would rather risk life and limb for feedom, the right to vote, the right to have land and raise their families peacefully. Chris Rock shed actual tears as he learned that his great great grandfather served in the civil war, the South Carolina legislature and was a prosperous land owner.

And then Chris talked about how he wanted to be president when he was little. "President or a comedian" and his mother was like noooo. To paraphrase he said, "I was born feb 7th and 2 weeks later Malcolm X was shot. That was the world I was born into." His mama said, "You want to be somebody that might get you kilt?"

and that immediately made me think of Obama and all this talk about people not wanting him to run cause he might get kilt. But watching the AAL2 and also having just finished Lalita Tademy's Red River (the true story of the masscre of hundreds of free Black men who dared exercise their right to self-government in Reconstruction-era Louisiana), I thought damn is this what we have evolved to?

self preservation over progress. unwilling to sacrifice so that we can maintain what we have. I know it's hard to make comparisions to those before us. those where-would-we-be-if-they-hadn't-marched-and-fought type arguments. Cause they aint had much to lose (or did they?) So many of us think it is futile today but wasn't it even more futile then? With what they went up against: Jim Crow, the White League, the KKK, and regular apathetic white folk who didn't stop their more radical brethern, just on the other side of slavery, not a pot to piss in or a window to throw it out of, practically speaking they couldn't have possibly had a chance in hell to overcome, succeed, win yet they tried anyway and they did.

Why? Because they were fed up with the way they were living. And fighting was better than pushing through, barely making it, living with the scraps.

You know I think about it sometimes. Why bother? What are we all doing just playing in the White man's bullshit game. Let me protect me and mine. It's funny this mentality is the norm from middle class to the projects. young men die sensilessly cause they don't see nothing better. the middle and upper class die the death of complacency cause they don't want to lose the small status they've attained and they damn sure aint steppin out to push for better, more for those who don't have.

True enough, Obama is no Martin (he says so himself) he's not the conventional civil rights leader gettin bricks thrown through his window. and he's not ours alone (which may be the real problem). But dammit if that uppity Negro aint trying to do something. Stepping over the black establishment, the white establishment, the democratic establishment and saying ima do this my way. And yeah I hear it, can he really, what if he flip when he gets in, what if he fails? really though, these are concerns any time we elect a new president.

But watching AAL2 last night I kept thinking, damn the ancestors would be proud, those who stepped up, fought and died. One difference may be that they didn't have so many whites behind them. Or maybe we have memories of those whites that were behind them during reconstruction who cut and run when things got difficult. who knows...

Listen as Michelle talks about her husband's safety in america as a black man...

An Indictment on Feminism

For the past month, there have been a litany of articles by women professing their support for both Democratic front-runners’ candidacies. What I seem to find intriguing and puzzling is the raison d’être given by Clinton female supporters. It all reads as a crock-pot full o’ s*** (excuse my French)!

So, Gloria Steinem kicked things off, first. There may have been others before her, but I honed in on her op-ed piece in the New York Times Women are never Front-runners . An op-ed written and published in that newspaper is a big deal, since it is a national newspaper with undeniable national exposure. The brouhaha began with Steinem’s declaration of why she was voting for Hillary. Her assertion that Hillary’s fight for the White House is to break the highest glass ceiling and that Barack Obama’s candidacy embodies the “good ol’ boys network” of preclusion – is bull****. Now, I’m not sure if Gloria truly believes what she meant or the implications of her assertion, but if you have the clout and you utilized your leverage to run an op-ed piece in the New York Times you want to be heard. And Bellini heard you loud and clear.

Did Steinem forget the glass ceiling was created by white men? Unbeknownst to Steinem she alienated legions of women of color – me included – who find her assertion inaccurate thus insulting. If you want to make the reckless decision and dismiss Barack Obama’s candidacy as a cakewalk, I am hear to inform it is not. I’m sure you read his autobiographies. This man had dealt with paternal abandonment, interracial upbringing, substance abuse – all while being Black in the United States of America – don’t get me started. But that’s okay Gloria, I’ll characterize your opinion as pure naiveté. All your life you’ve seen black men active members and participants of the “good ol’ boy club”, you’ve seen them create businesses just to tell women NO, you’ve seen black men flourish with their wealth and deny you entrance – right. . . right?

Let’s move south of Intestate 95

Over the weekend, Erica Jong featured an op-ed piece in the Washington Post, Hillary vs. the Patriarchy (read this crap). (Folks when you travel to the Nation’s Capital you will get caught up inside the beltway – and the Capital beltway by virtue of its design creates an echo chamber. At times, there are views and opinions espoused by our Members of Congress, punditocracy, etc. . . that only resonate inside the echo chamber. So for most of your benefit, you are given the pleasure of not hearing what bounces of the walls of the beltway. . . I digress.)
Although, Jong does a better job of pinpointing the target by exposing Bill Kristol, her title’s inclusion of patriarchy does little to buffer the damage. Jong asserts her support for Hillary, yet implores the reader to identify with Hillary’s obstacles including persevering in a precarious marriage with a philandering husband – ummm. . . that’s not my problem. She would also add that Hillary’s commitment to raising their child is pure admiration – ummmm. . . that’s her job irregardless of the circumstances. Jong wants sympathizers for Hlllary, she is running for commander-in-chief – there is no sympathy. You must get the job done irregardless of sex, creed, or gender.

You feminists are hurting your plight, yes your because I choose to dismiss myself from this farce.

P.S. Folks Tsunami Tuesday shook things up and the Dems have a long way to go -- there is no clear victor. To my Republicans -- do yourself a favor and tell Romney to go sit down (he is a stubborn somebody) Just like the Super Bowl Sunday's upset -- continue to expect the unexpected in '08!


cheers,

Bellini

January Digest

Folks it’s been a long month. New Hampshire feels like last year, and that was only a few weeks ago. The preliminary primaries have all been accounted for and the emergence of the parties players are visible. Obama, Hillary, McCain – please stand up!
Sayonara Edwards (ooopps – the cat is out the bag), Guiliani, Thompson, Huckabee, Romney (I’m calling you out now).
Let’s press on with analysis. . .

I told you folks, South Carolina would be the bellweather state.

What we learned about Barack’s candidacy?
The Palmetto State was the first encounter Barack had with a core constituency of the Democratic Party to support his presidential candidacy. Not only did he garner the black vote, but he mobilized them to come out and vote in record numbers. Also, I can’t forget to mention that he beat Hillary in a 2-1 margin. He and Hillary split the white male vote and she won white women.

What Hillary failed to learn?
When you choose to switch your candidacy to a co-candidacy the same rules don’t apply. Bill is dually your asset and liability; we knew that going into the race. Currently, I only see liability – although things could change. You have let your husband run amok; you gave him license because he used to be president. You decide to leave the Palmetto state to concert resources for Tsunami Tuesday, the decision was made for Bill to hang around ‘cuz he knows how to communicate with black folks. Tst.tst... Well, that plan didn’t work out, so you decide to dismiss Saturday’s outcome and instead the co-candidate masqueraded defeat? Where were you? And to add insult to injury your co-candidate trivializes your opponent’s victory by inadvertently surmising the win was a “fairy tale” -- incredulous!
This lesson should have been learned by now – obviously it hasn’t – you do not play Russian Roulette with the foundation of your core constituency. Did your advisors care to share with you Kathleen Kennedy Townsend’s fate in Maryland’s gubernatorial race? (quick synopsis – she bailed on her core constituency by overlooking qualified members of her party’s core constituency for Lt. Governor) She didn’t win. . . do you want to win?

Hillary you’re a quick study (New Hamsphire taught us a lot about you) take notes.
A. The race for your party’s nomination might be won with the Clintonian tactics you currently employ, but you will lose the election. I’m still leery of the fact that a person with high negatives is the serious contender.

B. If you choose to still adopt a platform of change “breaking the glass ceiling” –speak on that message. You are muddying your platform, so I’m not listening. I want to see you, not Bill. Bill you had your turn – the innocuous effect you thought your husband wielded – he does not. Tell him to go tend to his foundation and exercise good there.

C. Be a fool and listen to Pat Buchanan (McLaughlin Group -- January 27,2008) if you want to, rather I would think you would be receptive to the prudent advice of colleagues in your party. They told you to chill, get to it Ice Queen!

GOPers
McCain won Florida -- folks couldn't take no more of flip-floppin Mitt. If you compare the amount of money Romney spent to receive the votes -- McCain wiped Romney out. Although, the question must be asked, how will the evangelicals -- the core constituency for 18 years --react to McCain? Tsunami Tuesday, we're ready, time to shake things up!

cheers,

Bellini

Checkmate!

It was 1992, when the first Clinton’s campaign was resuscitated by New Hampshire’s primary and the Granite State gave his wife the same fate last night. Ahhh. . . but when that black guy Barack made a breakthrough; you guys didn’t have a clue. (You guys were thrown a curve ball last week – good ‘cuz you needed one. Let’s get one thing straight, I am conspiracy theorist #1; so if I hadn’t drawn those conclusions – you shouldn’t either [smiles, dark n’ stormy]). But the game’s not over, it’s only gotten more interesting. Pundits want to hide under a rock be’cuz they’ve been wrong every turn, the “inside beltway” crew defined as media living inside the Capital Beltway are all wrong. Wrong about Iowa, wrong in New Hampshire – good lesson for folks. √ for race

What’s next. . .

South Carolina

Half of the population is black, now South Carolinians vote for the candidate who you really like. I mean it. Ain’t nothing better than the mainstream squirming in their seat ‘cuz they can’t call the outcome of South Carolina’s primary. Let’s make folks sweat. Another curveball is nice, we should be expecting the unexpected in ’08. For those of you that could not fathom the curveball that happened last week, I’ll put things in perspective for you.

Was Bellini surprised that Obama did well in Iowa – NO; was she surprised Hillary came in for third place – hell yea! Although Obama’s campaign appeared to fizzle 3 months ago, at the end of the day money talked. During fundraising time, prior to the primaries, he banked 30 million dollars for the initial reporting quarter. Giving money to folks is not a hollow gesture. If folks were all rhetoric and no action, no one would have given him money – you feel me; Obama earned more than Hillary during that quarter—that should have told you something then.

Now you folks need to find your own voice, your own issues, determine your priorities, be proactive and check candidate’s website and stop waiting to be forcefed shit. The exercise called voting is cerebral intensive it requires research, deliberation, conversation. Stop being lazy!!!

I can’t stress it enough, 2008 is the year to expect the unexpected. For my Republicans, I won’t leave you in the dust. I’ll provide you some analysis too. All types of things are happening with your candidates. In the past, Americans have been in a trance, and now folks are waking up – metaphorically speaking at least I hope. It’s anybody’s race for the taking on the GOP side. McCain might get some legs, just to lose them again in South Carolina? Huckabee is that irritating thorn to Romney, Guiliani’s backside – can’t seem to get rid of him. All those bible-toting folks just love that boy. Ahhh. . . I promise to break it down on the GOP side. . . I can’t get enough. . . stay tuned

P.S. on a funny note
She was crying and stuff. . . Hillary you can’t cry when someone hurts your feelings – it’s life. You put a shell on for so long and it turned so many off (me included). I want to think its genuine, but I’m not convinced. You were lucky. White woman felt one of their own being attacked and they struck back with the ballot. √ for gender

√mate

South Carolina what are you going to do?


cheers,

Bellini

Vote Or Die... It Makes Me Cry

We who believe in freedom cannot rest
We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes
Struggling myself don’t mean a whole lot I come to realize
That teaching others to stand up and fight is the only way my struggle survive
I’m a woman who speaks in a voice and I must be heard
At times I can be quite difficult, I’ll bow to no man’s word.

- Ella’s Song, Sweet Honey In The Rock


With all the talk about the Iowa caucus, the upcoming primary elections, and Barack Obama kickin a** in the polls, I revisit a conversation I’ve had with myself often over the years since my 18th birthday:

To vote or not to vote, that is the question.

As simple as it sounds, ain’t nothing simple about it. The presidential election process of this country is one of the most complicated, well-crafted, manipulative, corrupt, autocratic, antiquated systems I have ever heard of. What is the point of me casting a ballot only to have it not counted because the majority of my state did not vote the same way? What is so wrong with counting all the apples together and all the oranges together the way we learned in kindergarten? How bad would this society really be if hard working, tax paying folk had a say in the way their money was being spent?

I could do the usual Dark & Stormy statistical breakdown but I’m not in the mood for numbers today. Today I’m just feeling like plain common sense and belief that a true democratic world could exist.

The first time I voted, I was proud to become a part of history. I was inspired by knowing that I was honoring those who gave blood, sweat, tears, and even life so that I would have such a privilege. I felt like a real adult doing adult things. Taking an active role in my community and the world around me.

Then one day I woke up. Circa 2000 presidential elections to be exact. I witnessed highway robbery on the primetime news. The nation watched with horror as the true rulers of the “free world” flexed their muscle and let us regular folk know just how much power we really have.

When ’04 came around, non-partisan groups everywhere tried to rally people to register to vote and convince them that their vote really mattered. They used the argument that the close results of the previous election was proof that every vote is necessary.

Remember this foolishness?

Exactly. Some things need not be treated as the latest fad. What started out as a great idea turned into yet another minstrel show. I chuck it up to poor execution. Inspiration and admiration are not synonymous. But I digress.

Are all these gimmicks necessary? Does it even matter? Why waste my time? These are the questions I ask myself. I'm the first person to preach to folks that they cannot evoke change within the current system without first using it and understanding it. That it's best to jump off the revolution from the inside. I've always believed that it was my right as a tax paying citizen to vote. That I will honor the 15th amendment to the United States Constitution even though I think it's bullsh*t.

Something has changed within me because I am contemplating waving my white flag on this battle. Or is it just my being a lil' more wiser and a lil' less greener?

Maybe its just that nightmare I had last night about a brown presidential hopeful becoming yet another martyr for the cause.


Tumultuously Yours,

Dark & Stormy

conservative views in Black face

I don’t really consider myself a political junkie like bellini. I don’t even consider myself one who loves to talk about politics all that much. And when someone starts a conversation with so…are you into politics? I know whatever follows can't be good. especially when these words are spoken by a Black republican.

This past Saturday night, one of my homegirls from the hometown* was hosting a small Christmas party for a group of young black professionals about town. surprisingly everyone is pretty down to earth…except for this one dude, I shall call him Black Good Ole' Boy ("BGOB").

Picture it...black male, mid-twenties, new lawyer, suede blazer, loafers and a button up shirt. a chocolate covered good ole boy. no, seriously he talks in that folksy how ya'll doin? way. think matthew mcconaughey in a time to kill except way less down for the people.

So as a group of us are sitting around the dining room table enjoying our drinks, BGOB starts in….so who’s ya’ll’s favorite candidate?

crickets crickets...

the rest of us kinda look at each other and then finally this other dude, the Representative, takes the bait….oh obama’s my guy. I like him, I like what he stands for, and what he’s about. Cut to BGOB, he gives a smug little smile and says obama huh? well why do you like him? What about him do you like? What does he stand for?

Whoooa brah…we are not in the court room, the Representative is not on trial here. But the Representative sticks to his guns and goes head to head with BGOB, explaining quite well why he has put his support behind 'bama. I sit quietly not wanting to jump in but wanting to jump ya know.

So then BGOB spits out this little gem that I can't resist seeing as how I consider myself a defender of people's rights and all. all these democrats talking about universal healthcare with no real plan on how they will implement it. I can't get behind such half-cocked ideas. I don’t want anybody telling me what doctor I can and cannot go to, blah blah blah…

Whooooaaa brah….here you go with the exaggerations, you know good in hell well none of the democrats are calling for that kinda plan. And I say to him: They are starting the dialogue and saying hey…every person deserves healthcare no matter how much money they make. The democrats want to make healthcare affordable for all. I think everyone has the right to be healthy. None of the republicans are saying anything close to that….

And then BGOB hit me with the kicker…

BGOB: Well I wouldn’t say healthcare is a right per se. I mean just like everyone doesn’t have a right to an attorney... I don't want the government compelling me to give my services away for free...

Mint Julep: Uuuuuhhh yes they do, it's in the Constitution [dumb ass!]. Every criminal defendant no matter how much money they don’t have is entitled to a defense…. and you have an obligation to do pro bono work as a member of this profession... [black republican bastard!]

And we went back and forth some more with him saying stupid shit about doctors’ profit margins going down, doctors not being able to survive under a universal health plan (I later found out his stepdad is a doctor). everything he said made me throw up a little in my mouth until I finally excused myself to go get another drink.

BGOB is the reason I can’t get down with the black republicans. I mean i'm not super liberal by any means, in fact my views are a bit conservative on some issues but if you can come out yo mouth talkin bout people don't have a right to be healthy and you can't recall one of the fundamental rights deeply ingrained in our legal system, the right to competent legal representation, then something is terribly terribly wrong with ya. i mean really how does one get to be this way? has his little bit of privilege in upbringing, getting a professional degree and entering a profession heavily populated with old white conservative men so deeply polluted him, robbed him of his concious mind? republicans just lack the ability to feel for others, to understand the plight of others, to help others...

and that's just crazy to me.

*the hometown is in the South if ya didn't know.

can a brotha just be

For all my people out there that are not politically astute, have no fear -- be'cuz Bellini is your certified political junkie willing to help you out (fact #2 -- my bread 'n' butter degree is political science) . . .

So apparently, Obama has closed in on Hillary's lead in the Iowa polls (pay attention to questions 5-8). All the pundits are curiously watching the developments be'cuz Iowa is considered a watershed moment in presidential elections. For Obama its considered his make it or break it state and this is why : Hillary has been built up by the media as the inevitable candidate to beat for the Democratic and presidential nomination -- quite interesting considering half of Americans that would normally vote haven't made their mind up.

The Iowa Caucus is the first state to have their primary and its outcome will wield much influence over voters in New Hampshire (the 2nd state to have their primary following Iowa). He needs the wave of viability -- where wining Iowa will encourage New Hampshire to follow trend and recognize his electability so he can make it through South Carolina. But before we get to that point there are still 4 democratic debates that must take place. Any child of politics knows one gaffe (or whatever irrelevant, minor event the media chooses to zero in on) and a candidate can be screwed (do you remeber Howard Dean and screamfest, i don't even know what all the bruhaha was all about but the media had a field day and that was the beginning of the end of Dean's presidential campaign).

So, Obama I need you to be on your A+++ game, don't give any of your opponents or the media a wedge of opportunity at your expense. Buckle down!!! Now in the midst of all of this is Obama's secret weapon (besides his wife Michelle Obama) . . . Oprah.

What no political pundit or junkie is certain of is the Oprah effect. I mean Oprah can resurrect a novel from the dead and it goes #1 -- unbelievable. Now some people assume its easier selling books than a politician. nope not Bellini -- I think the latter. . . I think it should be easier selling a politician versus a book. I hope I'm right too, cuz I don't like how folks are just dismissing him from the history books it ain't cool. So, here's how Oprah is supposed to benefit Obama:
1. she is supposed to pull some of the women from under Hillary's hat,
2. she should pull some of the sistas back to Obama. . . and that my folks will give Obama the edge he needs to win!

There are too many hypotheticals that can happen in 2008 -- no one is guaranteed to win their party's candidacy nor the presidential election. So, let a brotha just be. . . don't rule him out before the last count. (fyi -- I am a registered independent , I don't have a peculiar inclination for any candidate)

For all my junkies out there, the fun is about to begin . . . I can't wait. Bellini will provide more political analysis in 2008. . . stay tuned . . .


cheers,

Bellini