Quote of the Day:
It is arguable that, because of his inexperience, Obama is not ready for the presidency. It is arguable that McCain because of his boiling moralism and bottomless reservoir of certitudes, is not suited to the presidency. Unreadiness can be corrected, although perhaps at great cost, by experience. Can a dismaying temperament be fixed?
- George Will, The Washington Post, September 23, 2008
E-NOTES: WHEN THE NEWS IS NOT ENOUGH. THE BLOG OF E. ETHELBERT MILLER
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
POLITICS MAKES ME DISNEY
I was reading the latest issue of Politico and came across this statement by Julian Zelizer describing the debate between Carter and Reagan:
When debate night finally came, Carter demonstrated an impressive command of the details of public policy and the issues facing the nation. But Reagan offered a superb performance in front of the cameras.
Americans pick their leaders the way we now select winners on American Idol or Dancing With The Stars. It has nothing to do with knowledge or experience.
Now, let me tell you a joke. The media would have you believe that race is a major factor in the upcoming election. The media will also tell you that many American voters are undecided about who they will vote for. Doesn't this sound strange? I don't think Obama is going to turn white before or after the debates. So if the issue is race what is there to decide?
Do you think it will all come down to the number of votes Ralph Nader receives? It's all about Nader right? So who is going to be the "culprit" if Obama loses. Here is my Christmas list:
- White woman older than my mom.
- Jewish voters in Florida who looked for Sammy Davis on the ballot.
- White men with only high school degrees living in Ohio and believe Obama went to Kent State.
- Cuban American voters in Florida upset with Obama no longer smoking.
- Black people who didn't vote and said their vote didn't count.
- Native Americans living in South Dakota who believed the vote was another broken promise.
- Muslims who didn't vote for Obama because they thought he was a Muslim.
Monday, September 22, 2008
DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN?
What if the upcoming national election was another 911. A moment that turns or shapes our nation in such a way that we cannot go back to the way things were. The crossing of a border or boundary. A new way of looking at the world or a way of looking at the world without hope. Take your pick. An Obama victory will bring back the Joe Louis leap; the shadowboxing knockout of one's fears and disbelief. A victory will bring back the Jackie Robinson slide underneath a Yogi McCain tag. Republicans as shocked by the call as the daring of a black man trying to steal home or enter the White House.
An Obama defeat and one will believe every white person has a hood in their closet and had a change of heart in the ballot booth. An Obama defeat and blacks nationalists will have new t-shirts to sell, proclaiming how the election was stolen and how black people were turned away from the voting booths in large numbers. Of course some voting machines didn't work. Cornel West will have eight long sentences explaining why you should buy his next book and how the election script reminded him of The Matrix. Maybe I should wait for The Oracle to fix a new batch of cookies. What do you think? Deja vu all over again?
PALIN WATCH:
So Sarah will shake a few hands and take pictures with a few world leaders. Look for her to hug Kissinger and understand "instant" foreign policy. Did someone order it to go? Please pass the language tapes since we're trying to learn quickly. Folks better go heavy with the cosmetics. The upcoming debate ain't nothin but a beauty pageant. Smile, say nothing and get elected. Geez.
Polar Bear Moms for Obama.
Cool Poppa Jerry got a brand new book:
THE KATRINA PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF TRAUMA AND RECOVERY by Jerry W. Ward will be published by the University of New Orleans Press in November 2008.
You may get information about the book by accessing http://www.unopress.uno.edu/
THE KATRINA PAPERS: A JOURNAL OF TRAUMA AND RECOVERY by Jerry W. Ward will be published by the University of New Orleans Press in November 2008.
You may get information about the book by accessing http://www.unopress.uno.edu/
NEWS
For Release
22 September 2008
Contact: Kathy Engel 631 537 5792
Bastienne Schmidt 631 537 8859
A Sea of East End Women For Obama for Video Shoot
22 September 2008, Sagaponack, NY:
On Sunday September 14 at a small gathering photographer Philippe Cheng said that he envisioned “a sea of women’s faces” in support of Obama, and to counter the curve ball Palin pick by McCain. The following Sunday, September 21, after less than a week in planning, more than 425 women of all ages, calling themselves Obama Mama’s, from different communities and backgrounds, flooded a Sagaponack, New York, field for a video shoot in support of Obama.
Signs abounded, like “Listen to your Mama, Vote Obama!”, as did enough energy to re-light Yankee Stadium.
The message was clear: If you care about women, vote Obama/Biden.
Men came to support and schlepped. Children held signs.
$1,180 were raised for Vote Ohio Today.
Local singer/songwriter Terry Winchell wrote a new song the night before which the crowd echoed: Yes We Can! Yes We Will!
She was accompanied by ThunderBird Sister singer Becky Genia.
In response to phone calls the day before, internationally recognized cinematographer Don Lenzer joined in, Jackson of Ray Smith and Associates brought their “cherry picker” for the overhead shot, and Mike Clarke and Jim Lawler from Crossroads music showed up with a sound system.
It was a day where community filled the Sagaponack sky and a whole bunch of women made it clear as they joined hands and raised their arms toward the sky, and the cherry picker (!), that they will make sure women get to the polls to vote.
Photographer Bastienne Schmidt said of the experience: “I was totally impressed by the quick succession of having a simple idea and seeing it transformed into an amazing reality of 425 people gathering on Daniel’s Lane in Sagaponack of women for Obama.”
For Release
22 September 2008
Contact: Kathy Engel 631 537 5792
Bastienne Schmidt 631 537 8859
A Sea of East End Women For Obama for Video Shoot
22 September 2008, Sagaponack, NY:
On Sunday September 14 at a small gathering photographer Philippe Cheng said that he envisioned “a sea of women’s faces” in support of Obama, and to counter the curve ball Palin pick by McCain. The following Sunday, September 21, after less than a week in planning, more than 425 women of all ages, calling themselves Obama Mama’s, from different communities and backgrounds, flooded a Sagaponack, New York, field for a video shoot in support of Obama.
Signs abounded, like “Listen to your Mama, Vote Obama!”, as did enough energy to re-light Yankee Stadium.
The message was clear: If you care about women, vote Obama/Biden.
Men came to support and schlepped. Children held signs.
$1,180 were raised for Vote Ohio Today.
Local singer/songwriter Terry Winchell wrote a new song the night before which the crowd echoed: Yes We Can! Yes We Will!
She was accompanied by ThunderBird Sister singer Becky Genia.
In response to phone calls the day before, internationally recognized cinematographer Don Lenzer joined in, Jackson of Ray Smith and Associates brought their “cherry picker” for the overhead shot, and Mike Clarke and Jim Lawler from Crossroads music showed up with a sound system.
It was a day where community filled the Sagaponack sky and a whole bunch of women made it clear as they joined hands and raised their arms toward the sky, and the cherry picker (!), that they will make sure women get to the polls to vote.
Photographer Bastienne Schmidt said of the experience: “I was totally impressed by the quick succession of having a simple idea and seeing it transformed into an amazing reality of 425 people gathering on Daniel’s Lane in Sagaponack of women for Obama.”
A morning meeting with Andy and Pam at Busboys (14th & V). Much laughter for breakfast.
The new Busboys and Poets will open for dinner - this Wednesday evening. Come visit the new place located at 5th & K Street, NW. This will be third Busboys in the area. Holly Bass will be coordinating the literary events at this site. A sweet home for the Baby Diva who continues to be amazing. Look for Busboys to move next into publishing with their own Imprint. First book off the grill will be Ethelbert's memoir "The 5th Inning." One should be able to taste the sentences and paragraphs of this book in late March 2009.
New Book:
Hubert Harrison: The Voice of Harlem Radicalism, 1883-1918 by Jeffrey B. Perry.
This Columbia University Press publication is scheduled to be in bookstores by November/December 2008.
Here are early promotional links including—Reviews
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-13910-6/hubert-harrison/reviews
Description
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-13910-6/hubert-harrison
Contents
http://cup.columbia.edu/book/978-0-231-13910-6/hubert-harrison/tableOfContents
