Beware the Clinton wrath

If you have something negative to say about Senator Clinton or her supporters, especially the female supporters, expect to fear for your job. Such is the reaction found on even the most conservative of news cable networks. Fox has been covering the comments of Randi Rhodes for 3 days now, and they continue to be surprised by the failure of Air America to fire Ms. Rhodes.

You may be wondering, what could a liberal radio personality say that would be so horrible? She called Senator Clinton a Wh***. Add to that the fact that she said the same of Geraldine Ferraro.

Now if you think this was bad keep in mind a few facts. This was not on the radio. It was not in a public forum. It was not open to the public. In fact the video of the event, of which excerpt have been running on Fox News for days, seems to be taken on a cell phone. This is still not enough for some considering what was said. But the last fact is perhaps the most important fact, Randi Rhodes was doing a stand-up comedy act.

That last fact is the most important of all the facts. That is comedic expression. Poor taste perhaps, but far from worthy of the indefinite suspension that she received. And dissimilar to other events with celebrities with horrendous humors.

Unlike the infamous words of Don Imus, this was not on public airwaves. This was not an attack on private citizens. The comments were made in reference to the public political actions of Senator Clinton and Ms. Ferraro. I don’t approve of what was said, but I note the difference.

Like the comments of Opie and Anthony, this was a private venue. It was not available to the general public, and if it was not taped would never have been an issue. The crowd, in general, seemed to agree and enjoy the comedy skit.

Like Michael Richards it was intended to be humorous. It was supposed to amuse and entertain the crowd. In this case it was exactly what was happening. The women in the crowd seem to enjoy the comments as much as the men. There was no expression disapproval or anger. So unlike the Michael Richards event, Rhodes did not cross the line. Actually Richards didn’t just cross the line, he lost his mind.

But the power of the Clinton machine is immense. The major news media has leapt to her defense, wording the event (and manipulating the video) to seem as if this were a public venue or part of her daily work responsibilities. It’s presumed by the media as if Air America had created this event and solicitate these comments.

The real problem of this is the effect it has on Free Speech. By trying to minimize these kinds of events, and by trying to get every instance of such actions punished to a manner beyond appropriate and environment of stifled speech occurs. That is unfair and dangerous. Even for speech that many might find objectionable.

As I defended Duane ‘Dog’ Chapman, in so far as he should not have lost his job for the private racist conversation he had with his son, I say the same of this event with Rhodes. Private conversations and events that are closed to the public should not be held to the same standards and punishment as public ones. Jobs and lives cannot be regulated by politically correct polispeak standards.

I wanted Don Imus fired because he attack private citizens, without provocation, in a manner demeaning to women and racially prejudiced. I wanted Michael Richards to never work again because he crossed the line of humor and made a racial attack based on his own anger and inner demons in a public venue (which he himself acknowledged). I opposed the call to have Opie & Anthony being fired as they were on a radio station that requires paid subscribers, and allows those subscribers to change the channel if they don’t like what they hear. I opposed Dog Chapman being fired because it was a private conversation, even though he acknowledged his constant and racist charged use of derogatory terms.

Based on that I must support Randi Rhodes. She should not be suspended, and definitely not fired. This in fact should have no affect on her day job at all. The media needs to stay out of this issue – which only exists because they created it.

And for the record I don’t listen to Air America, I’m far from a liberal, a Republican, and have no love for Senator Clinton or Geraldine Ferraro.

And down will come Spitzer, craddle and all - 3.11.2008.1

Well there is no end to the buzz about Eliot Spitzer. I was in New York City yesterday as the news about his involvement in the prostitution ring was announced. The Dow Jones Index dropped an extra 40 points on the news before rebounding a bit. And there were several mixed emotions circling the city.

Essentially, the overwhelming thought was ‘what a shame, couldn’t happen to a nicer guy’. I did not hear from a single person that believes he will not resign. In fact one individual, at Conway’s next to Grand Central, guaranteed that Spitzer will resign. He was already told that by someone in the administration, and they are just biding time now. For whatever positive moment they expect I don’t know.

Personally I can’t see how he can’t resign. He is a lawyer, an officer of the court. And he admitted breaking the law, thus he must be disbarred. He also has lost all ability to avoid claiming his innocence, thus he will be punished by the law. A Governor cannot be in jail, and disbarred and maintain office. He has to go.

What I have not seen so far are reactions of people throughout the City and state. What I have noted are the following:

Support and a hope for him to recover from this by a Hispanic professional.
Glee from White financial professionals.
Good riddance from a White guard.
Jumping for joy (not literal) from a Black delivery man.
Anger from an Irish bartender.

Sorry I didn’t get a reaction from any women. These were all reactions that I observed or heard within the first half-hour of the breaking news.

One thing I did not hear or see was the question of how this might affect the political machinations of Senator Clinton. She has long allied herself with the Governor, and his 2nd in command was preparing to take on her seat in the Senate if she attained the Presidency. Both were involved in the fiasco that was Senator Hillary Clinton’s answer about supporting Spitzer’s proposed Driver’s liscences for illegal aliens.



Yet so far there is no connection at this moment.

What do you think about this? Will it affect Hillary, should he resign, are Republicans wrong for holding him to the oath of office and laws he has long ago committed to?

Presidential candidates as video games

Well there have been a lot of serious discussions on all the Presidential candidates for some time now. Given that, I was looking to see if there was any less serious news out there for a change. And I did find it.

What if the Presidential candidates were video games? Which one might they be? Would America like the game and play it? Well at least on site took the trouble to figure it all out.

For Senator Obama, currently the Democratic frontrunner for the Presidential nomination and a one-time long shot, the game selected was Final Fantasy VII. The game was a huge hit, and some felt a bit overrated. Its mix of action, fantasy setting and plot caught many gamers by surprise. Would I agree this is his game? Mostly.

Senator Clinton got Donkey Kong Country 3. It was a popular but played out series. Simple to play, not real flashy in graphics. It was heavily dependant on the prior premise of the game. It’s a good choice but I think Mario Bros. is a better pick.

Mario Bros. is an old game, for a very old platform. It’s stile of play is based on several other popular games, and incredibly simplistic to play. The plot is contrived, and the graphic are boring compared to modern games. While hugely popular when it first showed on the scene, it’s still known though obviously dated. While updates continue to be popular with primarily children, it’s all based on the same old ideas. Several of the updates have failed, but because of its original status it continues to stick around trying to compete with more popular and innovative games. That sounds more like Clinton to me.

Senator John McCain gets an obscure and odd choice. Desert Bus is a game that never actually got released, and is not what most would expect. Very long (8 hours non-stop) and involving Arizona (isn’t that cute) this unknown game does describe some aspects of the Senator. Not exactly the best depiction of the man though.

I would probably choose Metal Slug. It focuses on Senator McCain’s military experience. They are the good guys, the game is popular, and considering there are 6 versions of the game determination is evident. The good guys are willing to take on all types of enemies, and not afraid to muck it up in melee. The graphics may be old, but it kind of works for the game. Simple and direct. I think that works better.

Game With a Brain goes on to include Mike Huckabee, whom I feel has zero chance of getting nominated. But their choice of game is excellent. Bible Adventures is his video game counterpart. I don’t think I need to say more.

Ron Paul was not included, though several comments asked about him. Well he really isn’t a factor in any sense of anything involving the Presidential race. But since this is about humor I thought I’d give him a try. The game I picked for him is Katamari Damacy. The game is odd in the most tame description. It’s addictive to many and an underground hit. Much like Ron Paul, the game is bizarre.

So there are my thoughts. Who did you think got it right? Game with a Brain or me? Or do you have a better comarrison than either of us?

Russell Simmons to Presidential candidates: I have a question - 1.29.2008.1

So here is something you don’t hear about every day. In fact it’s something you probably have not heard about at all.

Many celebrities, entertainers and notable figures in America are involved with the Presidential candidates. Most are endorsing this candidate or that one. Famously so far in this nomination cycle there has been Ted Kennedy, Jon Voight, Viggo Mortensen, Chuck Norris, Barbara Streisand, and of course Oprah Winfrey. That is just to name a few of those involved at the moment.

The various Presidential candidates love the attention that famous figures bring to their campaigns. Most of the time. There are exceptions, one of those being when they are getting questioned by the famous. Then it’s not something they want to get into so publicly. Just as often, it’s something they won’t respond to either.

Case in point is the fact that Russell Simmons, the equally famous brother of Rev. Run, currently known for his Run’s House cable television show and previously for Run-DMC the rap group. Mr. Simmons is a respected businessman, a mogul that launched his career with rap hip hop and has expanded from there. None question his acumen, nor his dedication to improve the lives of African Americans. He has long been a symbol of success, without the need to degrade women and exploit stereotypes as say Bob Johnson – creator of Black Entertainment Television – did.

Recently Mr. Simmons joined with Dr. Benjamin Chavis, and health and spirituality author Deepak Chopra in sending an open letter to the Presidential candidates.

“The questions included asking the candidates to discuss their thoughts on being inclusive of people who might not be part of the political mainstream, the importance of diversity, issues related to the environment, poverty, the war in Iraq, and how to move towards, as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. put it, a “beloved community” where all humans are treated with respect , justice and love.”

Considering the enormity of what the next President of the United States will be deciding, choosing paths that will determine the direction and presence of the nation for at least the next decade or longer, I commend their action.

I just hope they get a response.

Given the fame and success of these individuals, and the ability to influence and connect with the vast numbers of hip hop and rap fans of voting age, I would expect they will get a response. Except that this response has been pledged to be released, uneditied, to the public. Based on my own experience, that may not get a response.

Since 2006 I have been awaiting responses from several of the Presidential candidates. I have sent out letters and contacted the various campaign staffs, all to no avail. To date, not one candidate has responded to the letters I have sent out. I suspect that it is the fact that I will be releasing the answers, verbatim, for the public to view. While I reach Americans and international readers in over 60 nations besides virtually every state of the nation (including Alaska) and number my readers in the tens of thousands each month, the fear is that everyone will see their written responses, I suspect.

A written response is undeniable. It’s not like a speech or debate, where they are limited in the scope of their answer or can be misunderstood in the context of their answer. It does not provide the candidates wiggle room to say one thing and then flip that answer later. Plus in reaching the world, they will not be able to tailor the answer to a specific groups or local concern. Listen to how every candidate speaks about farming issues in Iowa; cars, unions, and industry in Michigan; religion and race relations in South Carolina; and you see that they often change the focus of how they sell themselves. And if you listen closely you will find that they at times contradict what they have said at different times in front of different groups. But a written answer does not allow for a forgetful mind or a short, overly simplified, ambiguous (non-)answer.

Thus I expect that while the fame and recognition of Russell Simmons far exceeds my own, he will receive the same response I have. None at all.

And that is an insult and shame.

The candidates hope to be the President of America. To be the leader of the nation. I understand that every question sent to them cannot be responded to. I understand that their staffers qualify who gets to be acknowledged based on their own biases. I can accept that my tens of thousands of readers may not be enough for the candidates’ radars (though it is more than enough to change the elections of 2004 and 2000 combined), or that the emphasis I have to Black and Hispanic/Latino issues is “too controversial”. But that is not true of entertainers.

Presidential candidates use entertainers and celebrities to buy votes. Their fame is the currency they use to convince voters of the worth of the candidate. But it is those same notable figures that have the ability to get answers individuals like myself are denied. And they should be able to have that reply and put it in the public view.

Barack may want my sister to vote for him, and will use Oprah to gain her attention and trust for that vote. But shouldn’t Oprah share, in writing if possible, the answers to questions of importance that Obama gave her to gain her trust and endorsement? Wouldn’t it be equally as compelling to know that the concerns of Oprah, or George Clooney, or Rick Schroder or whatever celebrity/entertainer are the same as ours and the answer that made them sure this was the right choice?

I think so. But to do so is to be honest and direct. 2 things that politicians are not known for, no matter who they are. But I hope to be proven wrong.

We will see if Russell Simmons gets his answer. I hope he does get one, and that it is shared with us all. It’s what should be done. But I won’t get my hopes up, no matter the fame, recognition and deserved success of the person asking the questions.

Darfur vs. political poll numbers

When I think of Darfur I am reminded of a quote,

“Man's inhumanity to man is not only perpetrated by the vitriolic actions of those who are bad. It is also perpetrated by the vitiating inaction of those who are good.” – Dr. Martin Luther King.

Back in June I noted that there had not been a single candidate that had spoken about the atrocity in Darfur. Today that genocide in Darfur continues, Congress has not acted, and the Presidential candidates continue to turn a blind eye. Not only that, but the major news media continues to have a blackout of any information on this issue, going so far as to be silent on even the recent Don Cheadle film on this subject.

Yes, there was a film about Darfur that came out in November. Did you hear a single review? Did you read about it in your newspaper? Highly unlikely, just as it’s unlikely that you will hear a single candidate discuss this issue while they argue about who has more experience in international matters.

How can we believe ANY candidate has international experience when they cannot mention and seem to be unaware of a massive, 4 year long genocide? The candidates running for the Presidency can even figure out the national level of concern in that they have not done anything on HR 180 IH. That is the title of the resolution in Congress all year that has received scant attention.

“The point is that the United States government has reacted pitifully in regard to Darfur. So far 3 sessions of Congress have been discussing this and still nothing has been done. And here is the proof. On January 4th Representative Lee introduced HR 180 IH. If you wonder what that means it’s the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007 (Introduced in House). So far any attempt at accountability has gone out the window.”

Now some may say I am being unfair. They will note that during a YouTube debate several candidates spoke about Darfur. And they may note that Senators Dodd and Obama also have a resolution. I will counter that empty soundbites and resolutions that sit and do nothing are just the equivalent of eye candy. It’s fluff to look busy and important without the substance of conviction.

“As for Senator Clinton, she got a bit of all the best answers and combined them, mostly. She agreed on the need for sanctions. She agreed on a no-fly zone. But she would not agree to place ANY troops on the ground.

Senators Dodd and Obama (as well as Biden and Clinton) co-sponsored Senate Resolution 559 (introduced on Sept. 7, 2006), which encouraged President Bush to work with NATO and the UN in establishing a no-fly zone.”

Congress has been so busy trying to find ways of taking down President Bush and his administration that they have failed to even notice the murder of hundreds of thousands of people. Presidential candidates are so busy puffing themselves up they can’t even commit to divesting their personal holdings in companies that are supporting the Sudan and the genocide in Darfur.

It is a n international embarrassment that the U.N. has more backbone than our nation on this issue. The fact that the U.N. has committed 26,000 troops to protecting lives in that region is paltry, but at least an attempt at something.

“And politicians can take the simple amount of time it takes to act on HR 180 IH, Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007, forcing companies to admit if they are supporting the regime that is murdering women and children for no reason beyond the fact they exist. I dare even one politician to provide a reason that is logical that explains why this has not passed yet. To explain why this simple act has yet to be passed after 7 months seems inplausible to me. That only 151 Representaives have backed this is sad. How many lives will it take to move forward and act?”

We are America. We can do better. We can do more. And that action starts and ends with out political leaders. We elect them to do our bidding. They are there to enrich our nation, our world, and the lives of everyone we influence. And the influence of America is virtually inarguably massive.

"It is up to citizens in these early primary states to determine the agenda of the presidential candidates," New York Times journalist, Nick Kristof, said at an event at Drake University in Des Moines [...]. "Iowans, specifically, can use their voice during the caucuses to bring Darfur to the attention of the presidential candidates."

Think of this. If we can turn a blind eye to the suffering and death of millions of people, that we can help end, how long until we turn a blind eye to Robert A. Hawkins, and all the others that commit mass murders in our malls and schools. How long before we accept the suffering of those in our nation that suffer from hurricanes, earthquakes and floods? How long before we become so inhumane as to allow murders of anyone not exactly like us, that us being an individual determination?

And how long will it be before we realize that there is no difference between turning a blind eye to this genocide and committing the murders ourselves?

Discussing 50 cent interview on Fox News

It’s amazing what money will make some people do. Some have sex for it; others sell poison (drugs) to children. The prisons are filled with thieves and petty robbers, and sometimes there are those willing to prostitute themselves just for a buck. In this case I’m referring to 50 cent (Curtis Jackson) appearing on Fox News with Neil Cavuto at 4:50pm Monday, to market a new line of Pontiac cars that he was involved in creating (in other words he put his name on it).

Considering the broad net cast upon Fox News, and the general mood in the gangsta rap industry for the channel I found it amusing that Jackson would appear. But then again, trying to sell the new Pontiac on BET wouldn’t really be possible.

1. There is no news program for him to be on
2. Gangsta rap targets young poorer African Americans
3. The rating suck as few really watch the channel compared to most other cable network programs (though I think they exceed CNN)

So I find it interesting that Jackson went on the channel to pitch the new car essentially to a more conservative, generally White, predominantly Republican, basically older audience. But since he is getting paid (no doubt a licensing deal and or record company perks I imagine) he goes where he is told. But don’t confuse gangsta rappers with sell-outs! That’s just not fair or Black, so I’ve been told.

For those that missed the interview, it was no hatchet job. It was fair and generally stayed on point about this promotion. I found it interesting that for a guy ranking #2 on the Forbes list of top rapper incomes, he only has 3 cars (he never mentioned if any were the car he was pitching). The modesty seems far from the persona he markets on stage, video games and that movie flop.

Which lead to a question about his film coming out next year, April 12th. Sadly I will find something more interesting to do than see him in the film, like take a nap, but I was shocked to hear that Mr. Robert DeNiro and Mr. Al Pacino are in the film. How did he pull that? It’s not like he has talent, nor is he having sex with the director (I presume) so I don’t know what got him the role. I am going to guess it’s a very minor role that will be marketed and hyped as if he were the lead in a $100 million film. No matter what you think of the guy, the fact is he is no Will Smith, or even an Ice Cube.

While this was ongoing, Neil Cavuto referred to a conversation he had with Mr. Sean Combs. They showed a brief clip and the difference in the style between Mr. Combs and Jackson was stark. Mr. Combs looked professional, sharp, casual and wealthy in his suit. Jackson looked like he was just at the gym and paid too much for the quality he had on.

But I digress. Neil Cavuto asked a question of interest about how gangsta rappers are all trying to go mainstream, getting into movies and pretending to be actors. The question was, and I paraphrase both the question and answer,

“I notice that there seems to be a move away from the violence and more to the mainstream. Are you moving away from the violence?

[50 cent] It’s not a move away from aggressive content. Success removes us from the environment, we aren’t writing about those things as much. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there or that someone isn’t writing about it. We’re just not around it.”

Again, I am paraphrasing. If anyone can show me an official transcript I will gladly correct the wording, but the essence has not been changed. And “aggressive content” was exactly the term Jackson used. He was coached very well by his PR people. I was almost impressed by the ex-convict. The subtle change in terminology changing violence, which is what, is advocated and accurately describing the actions described in gangsta rap, to aggressive content implies that his lyrics are no worse than a game of touch football. Talk about spinning a scenario in your favor.

And it’s interesting to note that for the most successful rappers, the ones most in favor of the n-word, being ghetto fabulous, and living the thug-life, (in general) are the ones that have left the ghetto, and lead lives mostly without any connection to the actions they continue to promote. From what I interpreted from Jackson’s words, he believes that essentially the top and longest running rappers are fakes since they have no connection to the events they proclaim rap is meant to ‘keep real’.

[Why do people keep saying that? What does it mean? Keep it real. Like you can fake life. Like there is a choice in being alive. This isn’t the Matrix, when stuff happens it happens. The statement is ignorant, a result of minds refusing to stretch to find the words that actually convey the thought in their head.]

Now add to all this the fact that Jackson likes Senator Hillary Clinton, because he liked her husband. What President Clinton has to do with her holding the Presidency makes no sense to me. She did not gain experience in running the government by osmosis, nor did she have a real power or position when she was First Lady. And her policies, if you can figure out what they are, seem to not match his.

Of course, like most I’ve noticed in support of Senator Clinton, Jackson is strongly against President Bush. When you call the sitting President “without compassion” you clearly state your reasoning. This is not a good reason to pick the next President though. President Bush is not going to run again. He is not going to be elected again. The logic runs false.

And how dare he call any sitting President “without compassion”. I may not agree with all the actions of President Bush, but that is not the same thing as to insult the leader of our nation. I can respect that Jackson may want to bring the troops home, but I also realize that this ex-convict is hardly the most astute political thinker.

While President Bush may be slightly more articulate than 50 cent, he is advised by far greater minds, and has always acted in a manner that seems to be guided by a belief that his actions are in the best interest of the nation. Disagree if you wish, but there has not been a successful terrorist attack in this nation to date, several attempts have been made but all were thwarted. And the economy, while not perfect is good.

All in all I found the interview interesting. Curtis Jackson left me unimpressed, his efforts to sell whatever increases his personal wealth left me unfazed. I was amazed that he found himself in a film with quality actors, and learning his political beliefs just makes me hope he keeps them to himself in the future. But it was a fair and mild interview.

The news you haven't seen on news television - 8.10.2007.1

I find it interesting how much time was spent today on the various news media discussing the local vote to repeal a 40 year old ban on tattoo shops in Key West, Florida. Picking on Fox News, this story was on every hour today from roughly 11 til the writing of this post. Each time the story included a piece by a reporter on the scene, making it a total length of approximately 3 minutes. That may not sound like a lot, but for a 24/7 news channel it is substantial for such a fluff piece. Let just think of what might have been able to fill that time slot today.

There is the news that the Black Family Channel has been forced to leave cable television and will only be found online. Though the channel reached 16 million households, many cable and satellite providers refused to carry the channel. It seems they thought BET, and sometimes TV One as well, was more than enough African American programming. So much for the 500 channels of diversity that HD television was proclaimed to provide.

Looking at the Presidential race, a question posed to Senator Clinton that I would believe could catch anyone’s attention was

"Are you black enough?" asked Malveaux, echoing a question often asked of rival Democratic candidate Barack Obama, who is biracial. "What makes you a better candidate over a black man representing issues confronting African-Americans?"

Wouldn’t you have loved to hear that answer?

Well maybe those 2 stories are too serious. Maybe something less important to the nation. How about being able to have virtual sex on Second Life? For those unfamiliar Second Life is a MMO similar to the popular and famous The Sims.

"Eros LLC decided people would pay to equip their online selves — which start out with the smooth anatomy of a Barbie or Ken doll — with realistic genitalia and even more to add some sexy moves."

There’s a bit of sauce to start the weekend with.

Let’s get even less relevant. How about the fact that 50 cent has stated he will quit his solo rap career if his next album does not outsell artist Kayne West. Both have upcoming releases on the same day. [Just this once I'm hoping Kanye West does really well.]

Actually several of these stories could have each been presented in the time allotted to talking about the tattoo ban. Seriously. There are too many things that deserve more time. I particularly believe the first 2 deserve the national attention, but I have to believe even the bit about 50 cent (I really hate that name) is more of interest to the nation.

21 minutes is barely a lunch break in most lives, but in television it’s a hit prime time show, breaking news, a peace treaty or a war starting. It’s the time a family may gather; it’s where some gather their grasp of the world.

Maybe it’s me, but I’d still love to see Senator Clinton’s face as she tried to answer the above question. (oh, her response didn’t answer the question but rather deflected it to a totally different direction.)

This is what I think, what do you think?

Where are the straight answers on Darfur? - 7.25.2007.1

Excerpt from Vass, on Darfur. I will be following this subject from time to time on both blogs.

Some may recall that I recently raised the question of what is happening with HR 180 IH. You may not recall the name it has in the House of Representatives, but it’s also known as Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007. This is one item of several that are sitting in Congress waiting for some action to be taken by the nation. Not everyoe is aware of this but at least one person had his YouTube question presented to the Democratic candidates in their recent debate.

Only 4 of the Democratic hopefuls were given the chance to respond. They were Governor Richardson, Senator Biden, Senator Clinton, and Former Senator Gravel. In my opinion none were satisfactory answers, though they were decent soundbites….

As for Senator Clinton, she got a bit of all the best answers and combined them, mostly. She agreed on the need for sanctions. She agreed on a no-fly zone. But she would not agree to place ANY troops on the ground.

Senators Dodd and Obama (as well as Biden and Clinton) co-sponsored Senate Resolution 559 (introduced on Sept. 7, 2006), which encouraged President Bush to work with NATO and the UN in establishing a no-fly zone.

Ok, first off a no-fly zone just does not work. Not in England (Germans during WWII), Viet-Nam, Bosnia, Iraq nor Darfur. … Stopping a plane flying overhead does not stop AK-47 and machete wielding troops from killing people.

Economic and political pressure is one option, but like a no-fly zone it does not stop anything. Cuba, North Korea, and Iraq have all had (or have) sanctions for years if not decades. Yet North Korea has nuclear weapons, Cuba still is a Communist dictatorship and we attacked Iraq. …

Face it, it takes troops. Just like it did in Bosnia. …

Full post found on www.mvass.com

Has a celebrity or entertainer endorsement changed your mind? - 7.18.2007.2

I was just writing about Ms. Oprah Winfrey, and her up-coming fund-raiser for Senator Obama on my political blog, and I asked a question. Does the endorsement of a celebrity or entertainer make a difference in voting preference?

Seems a simple question. I mean if Snoop Dogg, or Akon, or Mr. Denzel Washington endorsed Senator McCain, Senator Clinton, or Mr. John Edwards or Mr. Rudy Giuliani, would that change your opinion of the candidate? Why?

Also let me ask this. Have there been any endorsements by a celebrity or entertainer that changed and/or confirmed your choice of candidate?

Let me hear your voice.

Latest results of of the Presidential race poll - 7.3.2007.1

Just a little housekeeping on a few items I forgot to mention earlier in the month. I wanted to let you know the current status of the Presidential poll that can be found on this and my other sites.

There has been increasing interest as we approach the primaries, and more attention is focused on the Presidential candidates of both parties. While some of the candidates have fallen to the wayside one or two are yet to decide if they will enter the fray. Given that, here are the leaders out of the 11 candidates found on the poll.

Senator Obama leads with 43% of all votes. Senator Clinton trails in second with 21%, followed in third by Senator McCain at 13%. Mr. Rudy Giuliani is the only other candidate with double digit results, 11%, and is in fourth place.

It’s not surprising to see this kind of result considering the leadership position Senator Obama has taken in raising funds in the latest quarter. What is surprising is that Senator McCain still leads all other Republican candidates though pundits are currently claiming he is all but out of the race.

Perhaps the pundits should take a look at these results before making some of the claims they have made. Still I have to ask, what is the motivation for such a huge lead? Is it the 52% woman turnout so far? Does it have to do with the 60% turnout of those over the age of 35? Or are there more solid complete answers about issues affecting the nation coming from Senator Obama than any other candidate? We shall see.

Whatever the reason, once the primaries are done, I will be announcing the Presidential candidate that M V Consulting and all of my sites will be supporting. Feel free to make your arguments for whichever candidate you prefer from now til then. And keep voting, your voice counts!

Apple and George Orwell meet Senators Clinton and Obama - 3.19.2007.1

Have you seen the latest news on Senator Obama’s campaign? The power of the internet and besieged Youtube is shining at the moment. If you haven’t heard about it, an ad is circulating on Youtube that is essential the groundbreaking Apple Computer ad from the 1980’s, modified slightly.

This new ad replaces the old imagery with comments made by Senator Hillary Clinton, as drones blithely watch. The savior is a woman, now wearing an Obama t-shirt that breaks the screen freeing the masses while enforcer/police are racing to catch up. The original ad was a stunning re-imagining of the book 1984. If you haven’t read that book you’ve missed a great read. It’s relevance is probably stronger today than ever in the past.

It’s a sharp look at Senator Clinton, and to a degree all democrats. It highlights the vacuum between what some politicians are saying, and what they have actually done. And it brings up the soundbite methodology and poll driven commentary many in the Presidential race are using today.

Whether Senator Obama is the right choice or not isn’t exactly the question. The fact that politicians expect blind obedience is. I’m interested to see what might be the response from the Senator Clinton camp.

For those who are wondering, so far Senators Clinton and Obama are tied for the lead in my poll. The poll includes individuals from virtually every age and sex from 18 to 65, in pretty even numbers. Senator McCain is in a close second. Given is the fact that the numbers are low so far.

I’m not huge on taking polls myself, but this one is only 6 quick questions. I’m interested in seeing what more of you my readers think. I’m especially interested after this ad. While I’m sure more will vote in 2008, I’m looking forward to these early indications. It’s especially interesting as there has still been no reply from any candidate to my letters sent (which can be found at Presidential Letters) and none of the candidates have actually given firm positions they stand for. Lots of talk about they like this or hate that, comments about changing this, but not one firm plan or position on the how or details.

Perhaps that’s why they haven’t responded to my simple but important question? They are afraid to take a stance? Perhaps they all don’t want to really wake up the masses, as the Youtube ad suggest? Why not ask them why they won’t respond to me. And let me see your thoughts on the poll.

You can’t complain about what you get if you don’t ask questions.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Repost of Letter to Senator Obama - 1.22.2007.1

This is a repost of the letter sent to Senator Obama, found orginally at Vass. Any response from the Senator will be posted unaltered when received.

January 22, 2007
Dear Senator Obama,

I am contacting you today as part of an ongoing series of letters that I am sending to many of those that are planning to run for President of the United States. To date I have written letters to Senator Clinton, Mr. John Edwards, and Mr. Mitt Romney.

I am the author/writer of several blog sites including Black Entertainment USA (www.blackentertainmentblog.com). My letter to you, as well as any response from you will be posted on these sites without alteration.

Senator Obama I am aware that you are a junior Senator, having served 2 years at this time, representing Illinois. As I am from New York I am not familiar with the platforms you were elected for. What was the main issue that you campaigned on, and what progress have you made in attaining that? What laws have you helped to pass, or prevented from passing, that have directly benefited your constituents and African Americans in general?

As a fellow African American I’m sure you are aware that there are several issues that are of great impact to the Black community. One of the most important may be the issue of education. What have you done to improve the number of African Americans that finish high school and/or seek higher education? If you were to be elected President, what plan would you follow that will improve the education system in America?

In terms of your own education I ask a question that has recently been in the news. It has been stated that during the 4 years in Jakarta you had attended a Madrasa. I wonder if you feel this has any influence on the education you received, or more importantly do you believe that having lived and studied overseas provided you any benefit that your peers may not have had?

It has also been stated that you are a smoker. If this is true do you believe that has any effect on your views on healthcare? In addition how do you feel about the current trend to leave businesses without a choice and disallow smoking? Do you believe that the smoking ban is fair to businesses, and does it make sense to have a ban while also allowing adult citizens to purchase cigarettes?

As a lawyer that worked on civil rights issues, what do you believe you can do, or are doing currently, to improve the rights of African Americans and Latino/Hispanic Americans or any other people of color in this nation? What do you feel is the largest obstacle and what plan do you have to remove it?

In terms of national healthcare, do you agree with the push for a national healthcare system? If you do how would you have this program funded? What would you do to motivate institutions and individuals to seek out new innovations with the profit motive removed? How would you ensure that a national program would not function in the same manner most feel other government institutions do, such as the education system (which most feel is a failure)?

What role, if any, do you feel religion plays in the government? Do you believe that the fact you have never served in the Armed Forces would have any effect on your ability to perform as Commander-and-Chief?

Speaking of the Armed Forces, at this time there is a general feeling that the war in Iraq is going badly. President Bush has just announced a plan that would elevate the number of troops serving in Iraq. The democratic party is generally opposed to this plan. What exact alternative would you implement in place of this current plan, and what plan would you establish to ensure the safety of Americans if Iraq becomes more unstable (thus promoting terrorist attacks on America)?

Do you feel that the fact you have little experience in the Senate, or with dealing with international politics, is a hindrance to your ability to act as President and if not why?

Recently there has been a growing apprehension among some in the nation about the number of immigrant that are allowed into the nation for non-European nations (as per Rep. Goode). How do you feel about this? Also there is a strong debate on what to do about the large numbers of illegal immigrants. What plan do you have to deal with this issue?

I thank you for taking the time to read and to respond to this letter. As I stated earlier this will be posted on several sites, particularly Black Entertainment USA (at the address noted above).

Sincerely,

Michael Vass
President – M V Consulting, Inc.
Author – Black Entertainment USA and Vass
info@blackentertainmentblog.com

Repost of letter to Senator Clinton - 1.17.2007.4

This is an exact copy of the letter sent to Senator Clinton, originally posted on my Vass site. All responses from any Presidential candidate will be posted unaltered.

December 16, 2006
Senator Clinton,

I am a citizen, former military, an entrepreneur, and resident of upstate New York. As we approach the 2008 presidential race, more and more of the talking heads on television are commenting that you are the leading hopefully for the Democratic Party. Based on that I would like to ask a few questions.

Before I go any further I must mention that I am the owner of 2 blog sites, and co-author of a third. The site that pertains to this subject the most is the www.mvass.com site. This letter, along with any response I receive, will appear in at least that blog.

If you review the site you will see that I have followed your progress and commented on several actions. While these reviews may be critical, that is due to my desire to promote the best government possible with disclosure to the public that consists of detailed relevant commentary. I invite you to review the site and respond to any comments I have made. My focus is not personal, as I do not know you, and has always centered on the actions or comments of your office and fame.

With the above said, I wonder why should anyone expect that you would run for the Presidency? While many believe that as a female candidate you could cause more women to vote than what is normally found in an election, but that is not a valid reason. To say that you are one of the few Democratic political figures that have name recognition and little negative exposure is also a good thing, but not a reason.

What legislation have you initiated, that has passed, that has benefited those living in NY state and/or this nation? When I say benefited I ask that you demonstrate the actual improvement and not the projected improvement that a study or poll has stated. Obviously any recent legislation (less than 6 months) can’t be expected to have necessarily had an immediate effect.

As a key Democrat I ask, what your party has done for African Americans in the last decade, and more importantly since you have taken office. What legislation has passed that benefits African Americans that was initiated by the Democratic Party since you have gained office? To be fair, what legislation has the Democratic party prevented that would have harmed African Americans (in NY state and/or the nation) and how did the party derive that this legislation was harmful?

What are your positions on the platforms? I have heard several soundbites for multiple politicians and none seem to really mean anything when thought about, at least to me. In the recent mid-term elections many Democrats seemed to have won, in my opinion, on the basis that they were for a change in policy. Yet none seemed to have an answer as to what that new and different policy was or could be. In a soundbite such an answer may work, but that is not a reason to be elected for, especially not presidential candidates if such a choice were up to me.

In addition I ask what are you doing to help small businesses? What are you doing about improving the public education available in New York State (especially city schools)? What are you doing to address the drop-out rate of African American males? And what are you doing for Latino/ Hispanic Americans on the above matters?

Lastly, what is your position on the various laws and actions that are in place or proposed to impede illegal aliens from entering this nation from our southern border only? Do you agree or disagree with the thought that more should be done to protect our largely unwatched northern borders, especially since there has been evidence of how dangerous this lack of attention has been.

Senator Clinton, I look forward to your responses on these questions. I also plan to ask these questions, or similar ones, of Senators Obama, McCain, and any other candidate for the presidency (actual or rumored) throughout 2007.

Thank you for your time and attention in this matter.

Sincerely,

Michael Vass
info@blackentertainmentblog.com
President – M V Consulting, Inc.

The joys of Will Ferrell, Ping Pong and the Police - 1.5.2007.1

With the new year started I’ve decided to add a few different thing to the posts for the site. One thing that I will be adding is specifically due to the up-coming Presidential elections. For those that have visited my Vass site this is not new news but I am planning to write letters to the Presidential candidates, hopefully all of them, addressing concerns and asking specific questions on their platforms. My letters to these individuals will be posted unaltered, and when I receive a response it will be posted unaltered as well. At this time I have sent a letter to Senator Clinton, and Mr. John Edwards. Neither at this time have responded. I will try to mention the status of the letters going out, and any responses received on this blog once a week, but definitely at least once a month. The leadership of this nation is our choice, this is an opportunity to learn what we are choosing.

A separate item I plan to add on a weekly basis is a bit of a calendar. I hope to highlight various dates of note to Black Americans, and Latino Americans. This includes birthdays of famous individuals, ground-breaking firsts, and other items.

In this week:
Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln
The first African American child is born in America in 1624. His name is William Tucker.
Congressional Black Caucus formed in 1974
The fountain pen is patented by William B. Purvis in 1890

Looking at other things happening in the last couple of days, there was good news for Mr. Will Ferrell and his family. Mr. Ferrell is now the father of his second child, a boy born just two days short of the new year. Congratulations and cheer to Mr. Ferrell and his family on this wonderful addition. I wish him the best.

In hopeful news there is a rumor that the band, the Police, will perform together again. It’s been some 2 decades since the band performed a tour and many have hoped to get a chance to see such a performance. While some of my readers may be unfamiliar with this band I believe they may be familiar with the lead singer and sometime actor Sting. For those that are unaware Sting did not start off as a solo artist. Actually they were not even a band at first, they were English teachers at a British school as I recall. (Yes Sting is British as are the other members of the band.)

It wasn’t until after the band had several chart topping hit albums that Sting went off to try his hand at a solo record. This lead to a very successful career. But there was never any reason why the band could not have continued. Unlike other break-up stories there were no frictions that would cause the band to end, as happened with the Beatles as an example. So a final performance tour would be a coup for fans who never got to see them together one last time. Keep your fingers crossed.

In the arena of the unusual there is news of a new challenge for Ping Pong players. If you thought you could take on Forrest Gump this is the next level for you. It’s called TriPong and the game is played with 3 players on a modified table. This is no joke, the game has been picked up and should be available for the next holiday season.

Perhaps it’s because I’m a city boy, but is there a real demand for ping pong? I mean I’ve never known anyone with a table, and only saw people playing the game at college. Call me sheltered but I never knew it was that popular. I suppose if you do have a table, this is a must have. I can definitely see how it could be good to give all the kids something to do besides playing a computer game. So if you are worried about your kids eye-hand coordination your wish has been answered. Except if you live in the city, I think.

This is what I think, what do you think?

Rappers, Clemency, and Interactive Videogaming Entertainment

It's Christmas time (I don't care what religion you are, its the name that most attribute to this time of year) so it seems entertainers and celebrities and some others are being good, hoping Santa and the rest of us will forget anything they've done that was bad this year. That is with the exception of rapper Foxy Brown whom seems to treat her judge in the same manner as she is alledged to have treated workers in a nail salon.

Of course everyone is celebrating various parties, and it wouldn't be a real rap record-release album party without something happening to bring the police. In this case the rapper in question, deceased notorious-b.i.g., wasn't even there for the festivities.

On the more nice side of the the list is Mr. Ethan Hawke who has added his name to the list of celebrities asking govenors to grant clemency to a convicted killer. This clemency request though is backed by the state Office of the Public Defender.

Overall there was nothing of any real importance, or that I wanted to discuss, this week - beyond my thoughts on Reparations to Black African Americans. Then a judge goes and bans a new state law.

Video games, or interactive videogaming entertainment, may not be black (though a huge number of games that involve drugs and violence do have black african americans as pro-/antagonists) oriented, it is entertainment, and as a pround 37 yr old gamer it is of interest to me. So this news item caught my attention. A judge temporarily blocked a California state law, signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger, banning the sale of violent video games to minors. This law has its roots in the Grand Theft Auto "Hot Coffee" uproar from earlier this year.

The law prevents sale of games such as Resident Evil 4, Ninja Gaiden Black, Battlefield 2, God of War and The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay to minors. It does allow the sale of games such as Burnout, Need for Speed, WWE Smackdown, Silent Hunter and others. [This of course assumes that any ratings from the Entertainment Software Association or ESRB are ignored] The reason I am mentioning these games is because while not directly involving humanoids the games on the approved list do provide "...killing, maiming, and dismembering...". In addition the games, notably to me WWE Smackdown and its ilk, "...as a whole, to lack serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors." Any wrestling game out now definitely in my opinion "enables the player to virtually inflict serious injury upon images of human beings or characters with substantially human characteristics in a manner which is especially heinous, cruel, or depraved..." By definition of the law many games should be banned. And if the law were more than political soundbites [which I hate and see this as] it would be more clear in what it intends.

Of course, much like Sen. Hilary Clinton, Gov. Schwarzenegger is just making a political stand. What politicians and former entertainers-turned-politicians, in my humble opinion, should do is allow parents to determine what is appropriate for their children. If a parent gets of their duff and pays attention to what their child(ren) is doing they will know what the games are about and if it is appropriate.

Even further why I dislike this law is that it uses the same argument posed by those who used rap to excuse acts of violence. The "the music made me do it" crowd. By that I mean the two police officers and a dispatcher killed by a Grand Theft Auto-playing teenager case. A killer is still liable, and a killer, whether they listen to Betheoveen, Tupac, a dog (Son-of-Sam reference for the younger readers) or a track of music while playing GTA.

Entertainers (black, white, purple, or corporations for all it matters) have the freedom in this nation to present what they call entertainment [or interactive videogaming entertainment as the case may be]. The masses are free to agree or not. You don't have to like it, but you can't ban it nor should you try to get political soundbites and brownie points from it.

A bit more political than usual, but the freedoms we have should never be allowed to slip away just because its a slow week, a holiday is near, or its not exactly on topic. Nor should we allow any politician or entertainer the chance to play the soundbite game with us, politically motivated or otherwise.

This is what I think, what do you think? And let Santa know that my blog is a great gift to the naughty and nice, if you see him before I do.