45 years ago today, in Washington, DC — I have a dream

for Bayard Rustin — and all the rest of us who remain “Brother -and Sister- Outsiders” — who still don’t have the opportunities, equality, and rights that others have — and that we all deserve.

Am I the only one who’s a little frustrated by posts and comments that complain about some other unspecified posts or comments somewhere?

You know, like this post?

Some of you know that I am an, er, critic of Israel, but I am a big fan of parts of its English media, especially the newspaper Ha’aretz, and not just on its Mideast coverage. Here’s an intriguing column by Bradley Burston on the US election. He’s basically written Obama off.

Take a long walk in this land of dreams and all you’ll see is Obama. Obama lawn signs, Obama bumper stickers, window placards, lapel buttons, anklets. In souvenir stores, Obama t-shirts compete successfully with longtime best-sellers touting Bourbon Street and carousing alligators.  Read more 

NBC News Political Director Chuck Todd:

Beginning Tuesday night and extending at least midway through Wednesday, you’ll have to forgive those of us in the media if you hear us humming the song “You’re So Vain.” The Clintons will probably think this convention’s about them.

The fuck I will forgive you.

msnbc.com headline: “Obama says McCain running ’cynical’ campaign”

It is with deep regret and after much contemplation (an interesting variant spelling of “cowardice”) that I hereby resign from Correntewire.com blog and request that my name be removed from the masthead. This is no longer a site I wish to be associated with.

Do what you want with my previous writings; they belong to the blog and you can’t un-write history. A lot—indeed, as best I can recall, nearly all—of what I wrote here I am entirely proud of. But my business, interest and passion is getting Democrats elected to public office, including Barak Obama as the next President of the United States.

That does not seem to be a popular attitude around here any more and so I think it is best that I depart.  Read more 

The New Yorker and Hipster Racism, (what a great phrase, hipster racism, I will have to remember that).

With friends like these

Truly, it is really an offensive cover. It only thinks it is satirical. It reinforces serious lies and does great damage to our public discourse.

We don’t really have what I’d call “power” here in the blogosphere, not yet at least. But and still: it’s fascinating to read Open Left of late. If anyone can be said to be ’connected’ and ’in touch’ with the Village establishment, it’s these folks. And Dayum! Can you say, “not happy with Mr. Hope?”

It’s funny. Since I took my Pledge not to say anything negative about him until after November, it seems I can’t find anything but that in the progressive blogosphere. The feeling I have isn’t quite schadenfreude, nor bitterness, or even ’I told you so-ism,’ but the hope (heh) that it’s finally beginning, and we’re coming together to see that ’third way’ centrist DLC crap is just that. Crap. When ’mainstream’ blogs are getting it, I can’t help but smile.  Read more 

I suppose this is the logical conclusion of the American Health Neglect System:

CIGNA Creating a Virtual Health Care Community

BLOOMFIELD, Conn. & SAN FRANCISCO—(BUSINESS WIRE)—Today CIGNA, a leading health service company, is announcing the development of a virtual health care community. This computer-simulated world is situated on a Second Life® island, where seminars, interactive displays, educational games and virtual health consultations help foster real and sustainable behavior change that improves health.  Read more 

Sits on Wellpoint’s Board of Directors

Susan Bayh, wife of Senator Evan Bayh, sits on the board of directors of Wellpoint, a huge health insurance company. poputonian has an excellent run down of the history of Wellpoint.  Read more 

Like alot of folks, I don’t often visit WKJM’s blog. But today, I was interested to see how the koolaid was tasting and took a stroll.

That’s how I found Greg Sargent’s helpful compilation entitled “Was The Media Unfair To Hillary? Here’s Our Rundown”, arriving, “just in time to not make a difference” as the man says. But with the difference not made, this is now merely the koolest invitation to pull up a comfy chair and have some popcorn that we’ve had in some time.  Read more 

Via The Sideshow,

limerick:
In the past I cheered Olbermann’s rants—
Loved his anti-war, anti-Bush stance.
But misogynous bluster
Is all he can muster
In Olbermann’s mirror-romance.

14th St, NW, Wash., DC

I snapped this on the way to work today on 14th and P NW DC. It is the window lettering of Bob Gold Mitchell Williams which is some bourgeoisie furniture store. It speaks volumes for the transition of 14th Street in this decade.

Yeah, it is about slip covers, sheets, and towels, but sheesh.

More from Hoogrrl  Read more 

David Broder’s Moonlighting: Post columnist benefits from corporate speaking deals

So it’s surprising to see that Broder, who recently took a buyout, but will continue to write his Post column, appears to be a regular presence these days on the business lecture circuit, and has even spoken to major health care groups. Do a Google search and you’ll see that Broder is represented by a number of speaker’s bureaus, including Grabow, which says it is “your David Broder booking agent for private corporate events.”  Read more 

Broder is identified (in various promotional and other online materials I found) as a featured speaker at events such as these:

[Slightly updated below]

Kidz, I’m here to give you some harsh news. I was part of this blog before the horserace, I expect to be part of it long afterwards. Lambert is my Brother, and no matter what he says or does, he has my love, and knows that. Same with the rest of the MCB Sr. Fellows, past or present. But I’ve been on the phone, a lot, lately with higher ups and people in the know, and it’s no more or less than I’ve been saying: it’s not up to “us” anymore, and the people in whose hands it is…well, they won’t “let her win.” As the Princess, the ahead of the curve evil bitch, the sad, sick Edwards supporter of old, and Deaniac before that, I’m telling you. Nah. Gunna. Happen. It’s time to deal.

This is the best blog you’ll ever read, and not because of me. But because even as I expect some to jump all over my ass for this post, I’m fairly sure that my “different” opinion will be welcomed, and stimulate some minds. Because you all are the best, all of you, even those I think are wrong and clouded and uncritical and the rest. Unlike the rabble, I know you Listen.

At this point, for a long time now, I haven’t cared which one is picked. I still don’t. And: I could be wrong, very, very and publically wrong. I’ve tried, for all these long months, to “believe” something different could happen. I no longer believe it can. I won’t bore you with why, except to say that smarter and more in the know people in my life are telling me so. I’m going out on a small limb and trusting them, and as much as I don’t like it for feminist reasons (you will never convince me she got a fair shake, even as I know for a fact how she fucked it up herself in some ways too), I’m asking you all to Sober Up, Let Go, and Be Real. It’s time.

Go Ahead with the remaining WWTSBQ posts and the like. I’m not offended. I’m annoyed; some of you posting here lately are way below Correntish standards and we’ve tolerated that, for various reasons. But I’d really like to bring things back up to snuff, which is to say, in and up to Reality World. Even my Divine friends who’ve been behind her for a long time, have let go. So I ask you, as one who has long argued that a “Black” man will never win the prez race (heh) in this country, what are you going to do when the HrC party is over? It’s coming to an end. I know this as one who’s thrown many successful parties and knows when it’s time to kick out the stumblers. Don’t let that be you.

I’d like my balanced blog back, I’m tired of reading about the horserace. Soon, none of what you’ve put so much effort into will matter. I tried to say this in a “nice” way, months ago, and got ignored. Well, you won’t be ignoring me soon. It’s over. The moderate, UChicago econ advisor-having, throw the progressive under the bus, guy is going to win. It’s not your fault. Don’t feel guilty, or sad. As a Deaniac, I’m telling you: I’ve been there and you can get over it. But, more importantly: you and I both know why it’s going to be very rough this fall for BHO. So. It will soon be time to put your $ where your mouth is, and stand up for Kerry, I mean BHO and make a difference. Are you ready? It’s time for you to get ready. I’m tellin ya true. In love, and with compassion. Trust me, we’ve been here before, and this time, I’m really Hoping (heh) we can do better.

But without you, we won’t. Are you willing? Or is being Bitter and Right more important to you? Flame away, I can hack it.  Read more 

This morning, The Big Boss (TBB) and I had a conversation about firing someone who works for us on contract. Ever since the guy came on board, he’d seen a mean streak in his work that he just didn’t like and we’ve heard from others who don’t like it either. The guy has his fans but it was clear things weren’t going to work out. TBB told me about a particularly nasty e-mail from the guy that he wasn’t going to answer but decided to just go ahead and fire him, because it was better than stewing about it over the weekend.  Read more 

Health care’s new math

When does 20% of $753.95 equal $641.60? When $753.95 equals $2,808.

Health systems have contracts with insurers about what the insurer will pay for a given procedure. While the specifics are confidential, Cigna’s contract with Sentara allowed for a “case rate” to be applied. In Dockter’s case, that meant the epidural injection she received was part of a group of outpatient surgeries that were all covered at the case rate of $2,808.

Just one of many examples of the sleazy behavior of our health neglect system. I am trying to document as many as I can.

Via Crooks and Liars comes this YouTube of Reverend Michael Pfleger giving a FAWKS interviewer a brief tutorial on what is what and why what is what is what it is.

++++

Coal Boss: If You Take Photos, ’You’re Liable to Get Shot’

“If you’re going to start taking pictures of me, you’re liable to get shot,” the chairman of one of the country’s biggest coal mining companies, Don Blankenship of Massey Energy, told an ABC News reporter before grabbing the reporter’s camera.

The incident this week, in the parking lot of a Massey Energy office in Belfry, Ky., is just the latest chapter in the saga of Blankenship’s controversial relationship with the West Virginia Supreme Court, which is hearing appeals that could cost his company hundreds of millions of dollars.  Read more 

Torture Architect John Yoo Hypocritically Blasts Democratic Party For Violating Constitution’s Intent

Via the indispensable Avedon Carol.

This bit of white entitlement has been widely cited as evidence of the horrible opportunism of the Obama campaign, but actually it shows something rather sad about some of the opposition to Obama.

First, let’s note that the publisher of the Wilentz piece is notorious for its use as a “liberal” place to attack the left left and here for its hyping of Bush’s war and so on.  Read more 

On the Chanting Obama Protesters…

It looks as though at a recent campaign event for Senator Clinton some Obama supporters were chanting “Hillary go home” or some such.

First off, let me say that the Obama supporters were completely within their Constitutional rights as the right to express one’s ideas publicly (especially one’s political ideas) is one of the founding pillars of this democracy. I realize that each side wants to make sure the best candidate wins the nomination (and of course each side thinks that its candidate is the best candidate) and is fighting to make sure that happens.  Read more 

The punchline, poop-eater? Scrap the Yap, Meowz r Now! (full text here for no subscription)

The best theory we can come up with is that … cat ownership leads to reduced stress levels which, in turn, lowers the risk of cardiovascular disease” he suggested.
…
The study also produced another surprising and perplexing result: Dog owners did not have the same level of protection against heart disease as their cat-owning counterparts.

Brrrring it on, testes-felchers. I guess slobbering and knee-humping isn’t as theraputic as it’s cracked up to be. swish, swish.

Your turn, Fido.

This is such a good piece I’m going to reprint the whole thing, and then go think about a proper response. Good on S’ville for giving this author a voice, and for starting a much-needed discussion. Bisexuals have it worse than mulatto Deep Space Nine fans; only trannies and Native American boxers can really understand the Pain.

by Sarah in Chicago

Hi, I’m Sarah and I’m biphobic.

I say such not to be proud of it, but rather to own up to it. We all have our own prejudices, so having or not having a prejudice is not what I am too concerned about here, but rather, if we are working to get rid of those we have, and particularly, how we do so.

I’m biphobic because I’ve been a part of lesbian communities for a long time, since I started to come out in my freshman year of university. Biphobia, as any bisexual woman will tell you (and any honest lesbian), is pretty endemic to the community, not inherent in it, mind you, but certainly endemic.

To a certain extent you can understand where it comes from. Being a sociologist I know that smaller communities tend to be more policing of the boundaries of a collective sense of identity, and the performances thereof. Further, oppressed minorities tend to be defensive of anything perceived as ’other’ inside their group as someone that could be working to undermine efforts, that doesn’t really share the same oppressions.

And a lot of lesbians take this position. They argue that if bisexuals want to be part of the lesbian community, they need to take the community as lesbian, and that a woman that loves men or a man needs to deal with such. They argue that there is privilege in being partnered in a heterosexual relationship, however, queer the woman therein may be, and that such privilege is antithetical to the community.  Read more 

That title is probably too clever by half, and I’m sure LB will yell at me for it, but he’s busy elsewhere today so don’t tell him, k? I submit this in full for those who’ve been too busy bashing Dems to notice the Republican frontrunner exploding in the room. It’s been suggested to me that McCain running out of matching funds money practically guarantees Mittster as Veep, I’m not sure if I’m convinced but we’ll see. Meanwhile, does the above play into the McCain/Iseman fun and games? Gotta love the Brit snark, “another pencil-thin blonde.” Heh. Anyway, pass this one on to your Republican friends bitching about the “lying, librul JooYork Times.” This is what blogs do best, and GOS is still a nice place to go for that. Remember, it’s “what he did for her afterwards, not what he did to/under/with her in their as-yet undefined private time before.”  Read more