What else needs to be said?

"When Robert Kennedy ran for president, we supported him. We're proud of it. And if he had lived and been elected, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years." --Bill Clinton

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Cynthia Tucker chimes in on racists and the GOP.

As was illustrated by the Confederate flag wavers who went after Georgia Governor Barnes:

Whenever it is politically expedient, Republicans cozy up to segregationists, Confederate sympathizers, anti-immigrationists and other mossbacks who still resent the civil rights movement.

To show how the Republicans have accepted racists into their mix to win elections, she points out how Bush, while criticizing Lott, has appointed racists to high office:

In 1998, John Ashcroft, then a U.S. senator, was interviewed by Southern Partisan, the last redoubt of secessionism. Among other quaint views, the magazine celebrates the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, defends slavery and holds in high regard Nathan Bedford Forrest, a founder of the Ku Klux Klan.

Ashcroft praised Southern Partisan.

"Your magazine also helps set the record straight. You've got a heritage of doing that, of defending Southern patriots like Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson and Jefferson Davis. Traditionalists must do more. I've got to do more. We've all got to stand up and speak in this respect, or else we'll be taught that these people were giving their lives, subscribing their sacred fortunes and their honor to some perverted agenda."

She brings up a few other good topics in this well written piece.

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Holy cow! We hit the trifecta!

#1 Mary Matalin leaves her post as top advisor to Bush.

#2 Cardinal Law resigns.

#3 Kissinger steps down as chairman of 9/11 panel.

What a shame Trent Lott is still trying to deny being a racist. If he would have stepped down as incoming Majority Leader, I would be out blowing my paycheck on lottery tickets.

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Women's groups condemning other comments Lott made at party.

When I was a kid playing football, we called this "piling on."

"Lott not only insulted millions of African-Americans last week, but he also offended women," said NOW [National Organization for Women] President Kim Gandy. "The Thurmond birthday celebration sounds like a toast to the 'good old white boys.' Lott clearly yearns for a time before women and people of color crashed the party."

The story quotes Lott joking with Thurmond with remarks about Brittany Spears, Viagra pitchman Bob Dole, and Hooters. NOW and Lott have battled for years, as Lott seems to hate gender equality as much as racial equality.

If somebody can track down an audio tape of Lott that starts with, "A rabbi walked into a bar....," Lott can be credited with a hat trick.

Another AJC story has interviews with people from Lott's hometown.

"Lott just took his hood off, that's all," said Kevin McBeath, 25, a food service worker who was getting a haircut at Brothaz and Sistahz Barber and Style Shop on Market Street. "Trent Lott is four steps away from the president, saying the nation would have been better off if Thurmond had been elected in 1948."

Asked how he thought the nation would regard Mississippi in the wake of Lott's remarks, McBeath said, "How's it look? How's our state flag look, you know what I mean?"

It appears that African Americans interviewed think Lott is a racist, and have always thought that way. White people, however, think Lott is a good ol' boy "fine fellow" and not a racist. There are clearly some race issues in this state that recently voted to leave the confederate battle flag on their state flag.

This whole issue sadly shows a much more serious problem, that most are ignoring. Trent Lott, a high ranking elected Republican, was allowed to make racist and sexist remarks for decades without ever being criticized by the press or other elected officials. That this could go on this long, is ridiculous. The man is obviously a racist and has always been given a pass. The only reason it hit the mainstream press this time is because leftist bloggers like Joshua Marshall and Atrios kept pushing the issue. The mainstream press choose to ignore the story until it no longer could. Democrats choose to jump on the bandwagon after it left the station, likely to avoid Republican criticism.

Don't expect any serious change to occur after this story dies. This is all for show. Business as usual will take place when the Senate reconvenes in January. Lott may have to step down as Majority Leader, but he will still sit in our United States Senate making decisions for our great country. We are still fighting racism. Lott is probably not the only elected official we are fighting against.

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It is nice to see that Equal Opportunity is working!

Women of white supremacist groups are finally allowed to be more than just submissive, as the Bible teaches. They are now allowed to be involved with leadership, bomb making, and recruiting. Aw, isn't that just swell.

"Women have played an auxiliary role - they baked cookies, made punch - they didn't have primary roles, they didn't set the goals, they didn't set the values," said Art Jipson, a sociology professor at the University of Dayton who studies extremist groups. "But taking the movement as a whole, there has been a dramatic shift in the way women are perceived and in the roles that are available to them."

Roles? Wash sheets, iron sheets, make funny hats- that isn't a role? Goals? How about moving out of the trailer? Values? How about "All men are created equal?"

"Children, they are what drives us to better ourselves and our people. It takes a very strong and deeply committed woman to be a part of the cause. She has to be a mother, partner, and warrior all in one," one young woman, Tina Edwards, is quoted as saying on the Stormfront Web site. "She must understand that this is not a game nor is it for the faint of heart ... It is about securing the existence of our race and a future for white children."

Securing an existence for your white children? How about sending them to college instead of making them drop out so they can help fortify the militia stronghold?

Oh wait, this is great.

There are also dating services to help lonely racists find companionship.

WRM (White racist male) is seeking WRF for long term commitment. Me: 25 years old, 5' 7", 190 lbs., with most my real teeth. Have GED, so have a shot at a future. You: Must like being outdoors in camoflage or white robes, gunshows, mullets, Trent Lott, Ted Nugent, and old Chevy's. Must be racially pure, and not hung up on expensive material things. Should be good at washing white sheets. Prefer breedable blondes with pale skin. Must be able to wrap hair around a pencil and have it fall back out to being straight. Prefer local girl, although I can move my home for the right one. I mean I can really move it, I still have the wheels. If you have a bass boat, that is really cool!

Edited to add: My lame attempt at humor bothers me a bit. Many fine people have suceeded in life with GEDs. Not all gun enthusiasts are racist. Ted Nugent is not a racist as far as I know, although he is a conservative nutcase. Chevy's are not as good as Ford's, but they are driven by good-hearted non-racist people. The idea of a dating service for racists just tickles me, however. So I will leave this part up. I would love to see somebody write that ad up better.

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One columnist's amusing look at cycling as a sport.

It's just that -- let's face it -- bicycling isn't a sport. Ever heard of a Fantasy Bicycle League? No, you haven't. If the season doesn't start with a bunch of guys gathering around a keg and holding a draft, it isn't a real sport. Although bicycling does have one thing in common with the upcoming SI swimsuit issue: The swimsuit models shave their legs, as do bicycle racers, to cut down on wind resistance.

At least that's their story. But I don't believe them. You'd have to be hairier than the Abominable Snowman to get slowed down on a bicycle by your own hair.

Actually, we shave our legs to piss off guys like you! There is no other reason.

Besides, this is America, where it's not considered a real sport unless it comes with a beer ad. When famous bicycle riders start appearing in Coors commercials in a hot tub next to "the Twins," I'll know bicycling has become a sport. Now, I've got to go shave my legs.

We may not have a beer commercial, but we have a Norelco commercial! "What's that?" "Guuu???!!!"

Actually a very funny piece. Lance Amstrong, Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, is probably laughing his ass off.

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I just love this picture.

I am proud to hold many of the same beliefs that he does. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a Senate Majority leader who could say the same while looking at this photo?

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Can you help a liberal radio personality out?

Here is the goal: Lets find out why Clear Channel will not syndicate Randi Rhodes, South Florida's liberal talk radio goddess. Everybody has been complaining about how the conservative media stifles liberal voices. This is a case that clearly illustrates it.

First radio programmers say that there is not a market for liberal talk radio. Well, Randi Rhodes airs directly after Rush on WJNO. She is the top rated show on that station, getting better numbers than that "big fat idiot." While she may not pull as well in the mid west as Rush can, there is certainly a market for her on the east and west coast. I bet there are advertisers who would love to target this underserved market. Liberals buy stuff also, if we can get to the bank to cash our welfare checks.

Other radio stations have said that if they air a liberal talk show, they are deluged with calls and emails from right wingers complaining. Well, the right wing dingbats do not need to be dictating what we get to listen to. This is a small minority with nothing better to do than try and keep viewpoints other than their own off the air. Radio programmers need to quit letting these guys run over them. They will eventually quit calling and go back to posting whining comments with other freepers at Freeperville if they realize that their games are no longer working. These guys will send hundreds of emails a piece, trying to make themselves look like a large segment of society. They are not.

Rush "big fat idiot" Limbaugh has said that he will leave Clear Channel if Randi Rhodes is syndicated. I don't think that Clear Channel wants to let Rush program their stations, but they could be fearful of him leaving. However, I doubt that he would leave. Rush thinks only about himself and his wallet. Clear Channel gives him the best market penetration available now. By going to a smaller syndicate, he would lose money in the long run. He is bluffing.

(I'll tell you a secret. Rush really does not have as many listeners as he thinks. He is listened to on 600 radio stations by 14.5 million listeners each week. The "each week" is the deceiving part. If one listener tunes in Monday thru Friday, he counts as five listeners. His listeners are pretty loyal, and usually listen five days a week. So he really has an audience of less than 3 million. He draws less than WWE's Smackdown. A bunch of sweaty guys in tights draws more than Rush.)

So why don't liberal talk show host like Randi Rhodes get syndicated? Is it because big business that owns most media outlets would rather have conservatives shoving their beliefs down your throat? Do media conglomerates want to keep you from hearing the truth about the Republican Party and its policies? Is it because corporations who donate millions of dollars a year to Republican candidates want to be sure that their investments get elected, as many have charged recently? Maybe.

What can you do? Contact local radio station, especially Clear Channel's talk radio outlets. Demand more balanced talk radio. Point out Randi's show and how it beats Rush's ratings. Contact Clear Channels officers, which are listed on Take Back the Media's website. Make noise!

You can listen to Randi Rhodes over the internet. She is broadcast from 3-5 p.m. eastern time on WJNO out of West Palm Beach Florida.

Articles for more information:

Take Back the Media, "Why isn't Randi Syndicated."

New York Times, "Why the Right Rules the Radio Waves."

Charlotte Observer, "Talk Radio is Serious Politics."

Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Talk Radio out of tune with Reality"

For more in depth research: If you want to see what right wing freeper lunatics have to say about the NY Times article above and talk radio in general, visit this link. It is really amusing!.

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The lunatics are running the asylum.

Georgia legislators will introduce a bill early next month that refers to abortion as an ''execution'' and will require any mother seeking an abortion to go to court to obtain a death warrant.

''A mother would have to argue why the child should die and why her rights would take priority over the rights of the child,'' said Rep. Bobby Franklin, R-Marietta, who sponsored the legislation.

Dear Bobby Franklin:

Instead of trying to prevent abortion, a legal medical procedure in the United States, why not work for improving the lives of the children already here. Perhaps we can work towards universal healthcare for all children, government subsidized childcare so parents can continue with work and education, nutrition assistance for children who are poor thought no fault of their own, housing assistance for homeless children, an improved education system for all children regardless of race, religion, or income, and better laws protecting children from abuse and exploitation?

Maybe abortions can be prevented by teaching thorough and comprehensive sex education in school? Preventing pregnancy would reduce abortions. I don't know of any pro-choice person who would fight you if you decided to prevent abortions this way. As a matter of fact, I bet all pro-choice people would help you in your battle to prevent abortions by preventing pregnancy. Think of all the abortions you could stop this way. God would love you for it!

However, if you really want to prevent abortion I have an idea. Why don't we change society so that no woman feels that she cannot bring a child into this world? What do you think? Does this idea rule or what?

Until you wish to prevent abortions through a different manner, will you quit wasting our state's time and money with these ludicrous legislative moves.

Sincerely,

Tim

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No body is implying that Dilulio was being dangled from a window.

"My criticisms were groundless and baseless due to poorly chosen words and examples. I sincerely apologize and I am deeply remorseful."

-- Former Bush White House official John DiIulio last week after calling Bush political aides "Mayberry Machiavellis."

"I offer a complete and utter retraction. The imputation was totally without basis in fact, was in no way fair comment, and was motivated purely by malice, and I deeply regret any distress that my remarks may have caused you, or your family, and I hereby undertake not to repeat such a slander at any time in the future."

-- John Cleese, while being dangled from a window by Kevin Kline in the 1988 film "A Fish Called Wanda."

Seems a little fishy though.

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Governor Elect Perdue's conservative leanings are starting to come out.

The Dec. 2 e-mail newsletter to supporters from [Christian] Coalition [of Georgia] Chairwoman Sadie Fields states that she received a call from the governor's transition team requesting a meeting to "discuss and plan how to best implement a pro-family agenda ... The governor-elect is very in tune with our values, and wants to work with us on accomplishing our goals."

Among the agenda priorities the pair evidently hold in common are anti-gay bills that would require schools to notify parents of any new club forming on campus -- a slap at after-school, gay-straight alliance clubs -- and new regulations for abortion clinics.

Beth Cope, the executive director of Georgia Abortion Rights Action League, says she isn't surprised by the letter.

"This is exactly what happens," Cope says. "[Conservative candidates] go and quietly get endorsements from the right wing, while not letting on to the public what their plans are."

Do you ever wonder why he never actually said what he wanted to do, except the flag issue that he is moving away from? These conservatives sneak up on you!

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Racism still a major force in politics.

A man from Mars - or from Europe - might expect Mississippi voters to favor progressive taxation and generous social programs. After all, the state benefits immensely from the legacy of Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson: it doesn't pay a lot of federal taxes because it has the lowest per-capita income in the nation, and it does receive a lot of aid. Unlike, say, New Jersey, which pays far more into the U.S. Treasury than it gets in return, Mississippi is a major net recipient of federal funds.

But Mississippi is, in fact, the home of Trent Lott - a leader of a party determined to roll back as much as it can of the Great Society, perhaps even the New Deal. Why do Mississippi and its neighbors support politicians whose economic policies seemingly run counter to their interests?

Many people vote against their own interests because of racism. The Republican party feeds off people like this. Racists will always vote for Republicans. Anti-abortion zealots will always vote Republican. N.R.A. members will always vote Republican. These people refuse to look at the big picture and see what political party's platforms will really help them with their life. Would education programs help you advance in life? Would subsidized daycare reduce your daycare bills or allow your partner to work? Would national healthcare give your underinsured or uninsured children better healthcare? Would tax cuts targeted at the working people and middle class benefit you more than tax cuts for the very wealthy? Would limited welfare for people below the poverty line not only be compassionate, but also stimulate the economy better than corporate welfare?

Hate and fanaticism are powerful. Are they powerful enough to cause you to vote against your own best interest?

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Conservative press finally starts reporting Lott's comments, the following week.

Lott's original comments:

"I want to say this about my state: When Strom Thurmond ran for president, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

What was Thurmond's platform? According to a copy of an original sample ballot:

"A vote for the Truman electors [Thurmond's opponent] is a direct order to our Congressman and Senators from Mississippi to vote for passage of Truman's so-called civil-rights program in the next Congress. This means the vicious FEPC -- anti-poll tax -- anti-lynching and anti-segregation proposals will become the law of the land and our way of life in the South will be gone forever."

During his 1948 campaign Thurmond gave a speech defending segregation; an audio can be listened to on the NPR website. This is the speech most newspapers and media outlets are incorrectly quoting. During the speech he said:

"I wanna tell you... Ladies and Gentlemen.... That there's not enough troops in the Army to force the southern people to break down segregation and admit the nigger race into our theaters, into our swimming pools, into our homes, and into our churches."

Lott's office has issued a short apology:

"A poor choice of words conveyed to some the impression that I embraced the discarded policies of the past. Nothing could be further from the truth, and I apologize to anyone who was offended by my statement."

Nothing could be further from the truth? Lott came up through the ranks of the original Dixiecrats, his first full-time job was as an administrative assistant to Dixiecrat Congressman William Fulmer. He must know what there platforms were. Even as late as 1998 he was writing columns for the Council of Conservative Citizen's (CCC) newsletters. The CCC, which espouses racist beliefs, has ties to the old white citizen's councils, which were organized in the 1960's to obstruct civil rights reform. Blogger LeanLeft has a list of 14 articles Lott wrote for this organization. Lott has recently denied having any "firsthand knowledge" of the CCC. Nothing could be further from the truth?

Lott's apology said he used a poor choice of words that night. Conservative pundits have said that the remarks were made informally and hastily at a birthday celebration. However, it has been noted by people watching the event on CSPAN, that Lott was reading from prepared remarks, and he seemed to emphasize the praise of Thurmond's presidential platform. This did not appear to be a slip of the tongue in anyway. This did appear to be one racist praising an old Senator's racist and notorious past.

While the vast majority of the press ignored the remarks, lefty bloggs such as Atrios, LeanLeft, and Talking Points Memo have been all over this trying to push the issue. Yesterday former Vice President Al Gore called for an apology from Lott, or congressional censure. Notable civil rights activists Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Julian Bond have finally chosen to speak up. It needs to be noted that the press all but ignored these remarks initially. Many Democrats, who should be protecting minorities from these types of policies, also chose to ignore them.

Hopefully we will now see some outrage.

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There is a sucker born every minute.

And Jim Bakker, disgraced PTL leader, keeps on finding them. Amazing!

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P.L. A. has a great entry on untrustworthy lawyers and politicians.

Dwight Meredith describes the differences between trustworthy and untrustworthy lawyers. Then he compares untrustworthy lawyers with members of the Republican party. It is a nice piece of writing. If people want to know why you cannot make "handshake" deals with the current administration, show them this story. P.L.A. is a very good blog to visit from time-to-time

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Finally they may widen the damn bridge!

Fulton and Cobb Counties have been fighting for a decade over the Johnson Ferry Road bridge, which spans the Chattahoochee. While Cobb did widen the road on their side, Fulton County has steadfastly refused to do the same, or agree to widen the bridge. Now during rush hour the streets of Fulton County in that area are all but deadlocked, allowing the Fulton residents to breath the noxious exhaust of 75,000 idling cars daily. Fulton County officials have always refused to see how they have continually shot themselves in the foot over the project.

U. S. Representative Johnny Isakson broke the stalemate by having the project named the No. 1 priority for federally funded road improvements. No longer will local leaders control the fate of the commuters mired in traffic because of the feud. Proposed plans will be unveiled Tuesday at Sandy Springs United Methodist Church, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

It looks like they will widen Johnson Ferry to Abernathy, and then widen Abernathy towards 400. That will help. A great additional solution would be to widen Riverside Drive to where it connects with 285. That is the quickest way to funnel off some of the traffic; the two lane road is already packed during rush hour. However, rich people live along that road, so it will never happen. They have managed to keep that exit as the only non-commercial exit on 285. You don't think they would ever let the road be widened for the good of the many, do you?

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Ann Coulter writes new conservative children's book.

"That's mean!" said Susan.
"Liberals are bad!
They hate us and call us names and want to take away our guns!"

White, Christian children need a book that tells them how to pull themselves up by their boot-straps and succeed in the world. They do not need the liberal press telling them how "everyone's a winner."

I think you get the idea. Go read the article. It is on Salon and it is not even a premium article.

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