Archive for Democratic Blogs
Ashley Todd, How Twitter and Raw Story Caught McCain Supporter
Posted by: | CommentsThe scare tactics of the John McCain team.
More race baiting from the John McCain/Matt Drudge campaign. Or as The Field Negro said, another white person cries wolf: or, in this case, Obama.
AAPP: It was great that CNN refused to pump up the story. Fox & Friends’ loved to pump up her lies, and race baiting political hate crime. If this was the 1940’s and 50’s a Big Black Guy would have been lynched. What! A Big Black Obama Supporter carving a B into a white woman who attacked her. Thank god, some things have changed in this country, there are now black police officers, detectives and other police officials who questioned the story from the beginning. If this was the deep south or deep north, a black man may have been dragged out of some place and blamed for a crime that never happened. Maybe blogger Jabrielle Ballentine is right, she did it in order to fuel racial tensions. She should be charged with conspiracy to incite a riot.
Ashley Todd’s assault has been confirmed to be a hoax, the McCain volunteer made up attack story reports the Chicago Tribune.
The Police have said there are inconsistencies in the McCain staffer’s story. The Police reportedly admitted Friday the attack was a hoax. I guess the McCain Campaign will have to drop any planned Willie Horton type ad regarding Ashley Todd on the tube. I know the far right news outlets, and conservative bloggers will be pissed. The McCain Camp Has Its Own Tawana Brawley.
You see, the 20-year-old Ashley Todd was facing a Polygraph test to be administered by officials after claiming she was brutally beaten over her political views.
I didn’t cover this robbery story as it sounded like it was fabricated. I like many other bloggers thought this story sounded shaky and smelled awfully weird. The old race baiting trick about a white girl going into a black neighborhood, blaming a black guy for an assualt, fondling and robbery. What really was strange was the writing of the B backwards on the face. I knew that in reading and hearing about robberies, there was a problem that would come out in the red neck wash. You see, black folks (negros) don’t write messages on people, after a robbery, they just get the hell out of the neighborhood.
New we learn that it was all a bogus hoax, blaming the black man again.
Get this, Ashley Todd, claimed she was attacked and robbed of $60 at an ATM in the Pittsburgh, Bloomfield area Wednesday night when a ‘6′4, 200-pound black man‘ mugged her and discovered she was a McCain: McCain/Palin supporter. Get this, according to Todd, the black man robbed her at knifepoint before noticing the McCain bumper sticker on her car - triggering him to allegedly begin beating Todd with his hands and feet and carving an odd, backwards “B” on her face with his knife. More HERE
Now, as reported in Raw Story, shortly before a John McCain campaign volunteer was reportedly robbed at knifepoint and had a “B” carved in her face after her assailant noticed that her car carried a McCain bumper sticker, the woman blogged last night that she was “Stubbornly searching for a bank of america to avoid ATM fees” and had somehow ended up “on the wrong side of Pittsburgh.”
Ashley Todd, a 20-year-old Texas college student, told cops that she was robbed of $60 by a 6′ 4″ black man who weighed about 200 pounds. Todd claimed that when her assailant noticed the McCain sticker on her vehicle, he punched her in the head and carved the letter on her right cheek (a battered Todd can be seen at right).
Shortly before the reported 9 PM attack, Todd updated her Twitter page with a post noting that she was, “Stubbornly searching for a bank of america to avoid ATM fees.” Soon after, she blogged, “Pretty sure I’m on the wrong side of pittsburgh.” Three hours after that update, Todd wrote, “Oh the blog I will be making soon…Its been a rough night.”
A screen grab of Todd’s Twitter page–which was linked from her page on a College Republican National Committee web site–can be found below. At about 6 PM (est) tonight, Todd’s Twitter page became protected and was no longer publicly available. More HERE
Blogger, African American Political Pundit writes for the blog African American Political Pundit
Brokaw looked old. McCain looked old. Obama looked young and Presidential
Posted by: | CommentsI could not agree more with Tom Shales of the Washington Post when he wrote, Brokaw looked old. McCain looked old and Obama looked young. Yes, Brokaw looked old, McCain looked old and Tom Brokaw treated Obama as the Hired Help.
Tom Shales was right when you wrote, “The biggest wet blanket on the debate stage, however, was moderator Tom Brokaw, who also played a kind of military role: Commander of the Clock. Time and again, the NBC newsman inflicted frivolous rules on the candidates that only served to frustrate true debate and the kind of give-and-take that a “town hall” format supposedly encourages. At least twice, Obama started to answer one of Brokaw’s questions only to have Brokaw call instead on McCain, which was rude and embarrassing.”
Tom Shales was also right when he wrote, “Exactly what the rules were remained unclear, even though Brokaw explained them at the start of the debate. He called for “discussion” periods that seemed only a minute long; what kind of a “discussion” is that? If a discussion really did threaten to break out, Brokaw got grumpy and called it off. The least important thing on an occasion such as this are a bunch of arbitrary rules concocted by the debate organizers (with the counsel of both parties, Brokaw insisted).”
AAPP: I agree with many media watch organizations such as Media Matters. I also agree with journalist, such as the Huffington Post, Hartford Courant, Kansas City Star, St. Petersburg Times, and bloggers regarding Brokaws performance last night. I hope this was Brokaw’s last stand as a debate moderator. As it sure looks like this may have been John McCain’s last stand, and he lost it. John McCain’s attack on Barack Obama failed last night. It’s clear that the momentum has turned against him.The bottom line with the economy on the verge of collapse, McCain failed to achieve the political surge he needed, even with the additional help from his buddy Tom Brokaw. John McCain’s proposal of another $300 billion plan to buy up bad mortgages was not thought out.
Barack Obama was a master last night. He acted presidential and gave reassurance to the American people that he is ready to lead. While Tom Brokaw looked old and John McCain just looked… old and acted color aroused.
L.N. Rock, is a regular contributor and writes for African American Political Pundit.com
Sarah Palin: A Smart Move… Or Not?
Posted by: | Comments
In case you haven’t heard by now, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin has been chosen as John McCain’s running mate for the presidency. Palin has had more than one success during her short term (so far) as governor:
• Exposing ethical violations among Alaskan Republican leaders
• Canceling pork projects, including the ‘bridge to no where’
• Maintaining a 60% approval rating – she’s a “true conservative”
• Coining the term ‘VPILF’
A good choice then?
Maybe. As one anonymous Digg commentator put it:
“[T]his is a brilliant move by McCain:
1. She would be the only candidate with executive experience (McCain, Biden, Obama only have legislative experience)
2. Appeals to conservatives
3. Will channel the women vote, and Hillary supporters’ in particular
4. Charismatic, smart, principled, dedicated, American all the way
5. Younger than Obama
6. Wow factor: will definitely embellish the ticket ;)”
Or maybe not?
However, Palin carries some serious baggage. As one anonymous Redditor put it:
“In one move McCain took experience off the table, fired a shoot at his racist/misogynist supporters, doubled down on Big Oil, and made corruption an even bigger issue. It may well be game over.”
To explain: Palin has very little experience – a criticism McCain has applied to Obama. Palin is close to Big Oil just by being governor of Alaska, and as well by trying to block polar bears from receiving protection under the Endangered Species Act. And as to the comment that she makes ‘corruption an even bigger issue’ – Palin has painted herself as huge on hunting down corruption, while at the same time she herself is under investigation.
So…
What do you guys think?
A List of Former Soviet Breakaway Regions and How We Can Prevent the Next South Ossetia
Posted by: | CommentsSimmons writes at Thoughts on the World, The International Relations Blog, and Thoughts on Global Warming.
BBC: Russian recognizes Georgian rebels
Reuters: Russia warns Moldova against Georgian mistake
A list of former Warsaw Pact breakaway regions
It is easy to forget, with the way the mainstream media acts, that Kosovo, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia are not the only regions trying to gain independence in the former Soviet Union (FSU) and its regional allies – the countries of the Warsaw Pact. Almost all of these regions have received backing from Russia. Without further ado, the list:
Movements supported by Russia
• South Ossetia (Georgia)
• Abkhazia (Georgia)
• Nagorno-Karabakh (Azerbaijan)
• Nakhchivan (Armenia)
• Crimea (Ukraine)
• Transnistria (Moldova)
Movements not supported by Russia
• Chechnya (Russia)
• Kosovo (formerly in Serbia)
The next war
Where is Russia most likely to provoke war in next? Crimea in the Ukraine has been widely seen as the next target. The Ukraine almost received NATO membership this year, and is becoming a closer ally of the United States. Russia has begun handing out citizenship to those living in Crimea – exactly what it did in Georgia, and Russia’s main excuse for war.
However, Crimea has not been a flashpoint for violence, unlike South Ossetia and Abkhazia. As well, Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko is not as nationalistic or as hotheaded as Georgian president Mikhail Saakashvili.
Preventive measures
As I’ve argued before, we must include Georgia and the Ukraine in NATO as soon as possible. One, to deter Russian aggression and to ensure any attack by Russia could be properly responded to. Two, to isolate Russia. The policy of containment worked during the Cold War. There’s no reason it shouldn’t work now.
Deal Would Have the US Out of Iraq by 2012 - A Good Plan
Posted by: | CommentsThis is my first post at The National Republicrat. So Hi, my name is Simmons, and I also blog at Thoughts on the World, The International Relations Blog, and Thoughts on Global Warming.
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NYT: Draft Accord With Iraq Sets Goal of 2011 Pullout
Note
I cannot fully write about this yet because of the fact that the agreement has not been released, and I don’t know if the full treaty will every fully be released. However: details will continue to come in, and as they do, I will write new articles.
A good plan
United States and Iraqi negotiators have been haggling over a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) for several months now. Up until now, the international military presence in Iraq has been legitimized by United Nations Security Council Resolutions. This new agreement will last three years and its main points are this:
1. U.S. troops must move outside of cities by June 30, 2009
2. Withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces by the end of December 31, 2011
3. No immunity for private contractors
4. Some immunity for American soldiers (immunity if on base or on duty)
5. A failsafe in case Iraq collapses
This plan is much better than either plan submitted by the two presidential contenders: McCain would stay too long (forever), Obama too short (16 months). This plan does not have the drawbacks of either.
Michael Cohen over at Democracy Arsenal and in the WSJ today argues that no immunity for private contractors will impede on their ability to do their duty properly in Iraq. That is not true for at least two reasons:
1. Any private contractors put on trial that didn’t really do anything wrong will not be convicted; U.S. pressure will assure that.
2. Because the Iraqi government was so strong about putting this resolution in the agreement, the government gains legitimacy among the Iraqi people. Maliki, in particular, looks extra-nationalist and therefore extra popular.
On Iran
I’ve noticed a lack of discussion about Iran on this. I’m waiting to see Iran’s reaction to this (and consequently the reaction of Muqtada al-Sadr). I’ll keep y’all posted.
On the Sunni Awakening
The NYT is also reporting that the Shiite-led Iraqi government is refusing to incorporate the 100,000 strong Sunni Awakening – Sunnis paid by the U.S. to take up arms against Al-Qaeda and other insurgents. It is vital that the al-Maliki government incorporates the Sunnis into the government. It is impossible to state the importance of this enough. If they are not incorporated, I fear a resumption of the civil war and a strengthening of the insurgency.
Democratic Blog Posts
Posted by: | CommentsThis section will be dedicated to political blog posts. We will have both Democratic and Republican bloggers on this site.
