President Obama: Git R Done!
There. I said it.
Like so many Americans with at least half a brain, I am sick to death of ignorant, stupid jackasses who think they know what’s best for America. We all know them. The ones who don’t read — but claim to. The ones who can’t name the founding fathers — yet use the memory of them for their own misguided, selfish purposes. The ones who think that government is bad — but have no idea how to replace it or make it better. The ones who spend their time bashing Obama because they feel powerless, never realizing that — right or wrong — their own words have power.
Obama rode into office on the white steed of populist anger at a Republican government that didn’t believe in government and worked hard to prove its misbelief right, and a left-wing that thought they saw their hearts in his eyes — and thought they heard their hearts in his words. Pre-election Barack Obama was an agent of change. But now, we fear, post-inaugural Barack Obama is an agent of big banks, big pharma, and big words – without the big balls to carry through on his big promises — at least to us.
We’ll see.
Ever since the fiasco that was the Massachusetts special election last Tuesday, the word “populism” has seen a huge spike in usage — mostly from the right. Using the Tea Party bigots (I’m sorry, “Tea Party Americans,”), the Republicans are claiming Scott Brown’s victory is a victory for “Average Americans.” Never mind that Brown, a real estate lawyer and graduate of tony Tufts University and Boston College, owns five houses and may just be too cheap to buy another damn truck.
Maybe Obama needs his own truck. He’s made it clear by railing against banks and tossing up a spending freeze that he’s moving toward the dangerous ground of trying to score points by tapping into this populist rage. Tom Friedman said it today, in, “Adults Only, Please,”
“Lately, we’ve seen an explosion of situational thinking. I support the broad proposals President Obama put forth last week to prevent banks from becoming too big to fail and to protect taxpayers from banks that get in trouble by speculating and then expect us to bail them out. But the way the president unveiled his proposals — “if those folks want a fight, it’s a fight I’m ready to have†— left me feeling as though he was looking for a way to bash the banks right after the Democrats’ loss in Massachusetts, in order to score a few cheap political points more than to initiate a serious national discussion about an incredibly complex issue.”
Ditto.
But who knows? In this week’s Newsweek, Michael Cohen writes,
“Three forces have conspired to prevent President Obama from running the country effectively: congressional Republicans, congressional Democrats, and the American people. Obama should confront them in the State of the Union.”
And I think Obama should kick the shit out of them. Seriously.
But we know Barack Obama. He won’t.
But he will find a way to come out swinging when his back is up against a wall. So, Mr. President, start swinging. It’s time to say “STFU” to the GOP, the Blue-Dog Dems, and the special interests. You’re never going to get them to like you, respect you, or work with you. It’s time to lead, take no prisoners — consequences be damned.
President Obama, here’s a list of things we need to hear you say in tonight’s State of the Union address. And, more importantly, follow up on. You want to tip your hat to “populism?” In the words of one of the most famous American populists, “Larry The Cable Guy,” it’s time to “Git R Done.”
Civil Rights
Stop teasing and slowly doling out little bits and pieces. Americans deserve equality — all Americans. Yes, even LGBTQ Americans. Why not put together a comprehensive package of LGBTQ rights — rights that you promised us, rights you campaigned on, and some you didn’t.
Repeal DADT. For the 66,000 LGBTQ Americans now proudly serving, and for the 13,500 who were discharged for being who they were created to be. Embrace them all, and invite back the ones we lost to DADT.
Repeal DOMA, and ensure all couples can adopt.
Push Congress to have ENDA passed. Then sign it.
Economy
Jobs at all costs. Throw caution to the wind. No, you don’t even have to do that. Create a “Rebuild America” program. Fix America’s infrastructure. Our roads and bridges are falling apart. Don’t wait for the next Michigan bridge collapse. Don’t wait for the next catastrophe to happen. Do it now. Repair bridges. Build bridges. Build schools. Build wind farms. Pay people to figure our how to remove our country from being dependent of foreign oil. Pay our best and brightest to go to college. We know you hold dear the value of education — act on that. American minds and spirit are the only assets we truly have left.
Find an appropriate path to dress down Wall Street — one that doesn’t force the DOW to drop 5% in two days. But one that says, “Bankers, we’re in charge now.”
Demand Congress pass a health care bill. Demand the public option be put back. Tell America that they wanted it, and you’re going to fight for it.
Congress
This may be hard for you sir, but the time has come to play hardball. Dirty, nasty, mean-spirited, low-down, roll up your sleeves, roll in the mud politics.
Call out every Congressman who voted or stood against health care reform.
Call out every Congressman who voted or stood against your nominees — like Erroll Southers.
Call out every Congressman who voted or stood against the stimulus.
Call out every Congressman who voted or stood against any of your platform.
Connect the dots for the American people. Show us why obstructionists are the real terrorists.
Fight back, sir.
In short, Mr. President, tell America you’re going to fight for us. And make sure you do. Because, right now, it feels like you’re not.
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U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, Republican of Georgia, is under fire after praising University of Mississippi students, some wearing American flag outfits, mocking a Black woman protester by making monkey sounds and shouting, “lock her up.”
“Counter-protestors at the University of Mississippi made racist remarks — including monkey noises and comparisons to Lizzo — towards a Black woman who was part of a planned protest against the war in Gaza,” Los Angeles Magazine reported Friday.
Collins, who tried to defund Vice President Kamala Harris’ Office in November, declared his support for the counter-protesters at “Ole Miss,” as the University is called.
“Ole Miss taking care of business,” he wrote on social media, atop the video (below).
The counter-protesters, as evidenced in the video, appear to be mostly white.
A large number of users on the social media platform X responded, accusing the Congressman and the counter-protesters of racism.
“When is the inevitable ‘I don’t have a racist bone in my body’ tweet coming,” wondered Rewire News Group editor-at-large Imani Gandy.
“Which part is your favorite, Mike?” asked Fred Wellman, the former executive director of The Lincoln Project. “Is it the white kid acting like a monkey at the black woman or the white security guy acting like she’s a threat? I’m trying to figure out which flavor of racism has you all excited the most?”
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Harvard Law Cyberlaw Clinic clinical instructor Alejandra Caraballo responded to the Georgia GOP congressman, “Thanks for confirming you’re a massive racist piece of sh*t.”
Mississippi Free Press news editor Ashton Pittman wrote: “Rep. Mike Collins, R-Georgia, praises a video showing a University of Mississippi frat boy dancing like a monkey and making monkey noises near a Black woman student who was protesting for Palestine while other frat boys chant ‘lock her up.'”
In a separate post describing a separate video taken of the same group Pittman wrote: “Frat bros at @OleMiss chant, ‘Lizzo! Lizzo!’ and shout, ‘F**k you fatass, f**k you b*tch’ at a Black woman who was protesting for Palestine. Do people really think these counterprotestors are doing it to support Jews?”
Journalist John Harwood did not mince words, writing, “Congressman proud of the racism.”
“Okay, Mike. We get it,” wrote podcast host, documentary director, and author W. Kamau Bell. “You want to be famous for being a racist. Fine. I’ll help you become a famous racist. You’re welcome.”
The original video is here.
See Rep. Collins’ post and the video below or at this link.
Caution: the video is disturbing.
Ole Miss taking care of business. pic.twitter.com/JiL9hs2pHz
— Rep. Mike Collins (@RepMikeCollins) May 3, 2024
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Amid more damning revelations from her soon-to-be released book, embattled South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem will head to Mar-a-Lago this weekend as ex-president Donald Trump auditions potential vice presidential picks in front of high-dollar donors. Noem was also slated to attend a Republican fundraiser in Colorado this weekend but it was canceled over alleged safety concerns after news broke she had bragged about shooting her 14-month old dog.
While Noem’s shooting to death of her wirehaired pointer, Cricket, which she detailed in the book, is still making headlines overnight a new revelation made news: Noem falsely claims in her book she met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un.
A spokesperson for Noem “seemed to concede that the Kim story was false Thursday night,” and notified her publisher, Politico’s Ryan Lizza reported in his exclusive.
But less noticed appears to be the actual text of Noem’s false story, in which she brands children she ministered in church “little tyrants,” and compared them to the murderous North Korean dictator.
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“Through my tenure on the House Armed Services Committee,” Noem wrote, according to Politico, “I had the chance to travel to many countries to meet with world leaders. I remember when I met with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. I’m sure he underestimated me, having no clue about my experience staring down little tyrants (I’d been a children’s pastor, after all).”
CNBC reported this week Trump “will mingle with potential vice presidential running mates and wealthy Republican donors at the Republican National Committee’s spring donor retreat. The meetings are likely to act as informal tryouts for a short list of politicos in the running to join the Trump ticket.”
The list of Republican “special guests” includes U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, and J.D. Vance, Rep. Elise Stefanik, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
Also expected to attend are House Speaker Mike Johnson, U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds of Florida and Wesley Hunt of Texas, former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and other elected Republicans along with RNC co-chair Lara Trump.
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NBC News, which says Rep. Donalds is also under consideration, on Friday added there will be “a fundraising retreat that could serve as a screening session” for potential vice presidential running mates.
Meanwhile, the Jefferson County, Colorado Republican Party chair announced a fundraising dinner Noem was slated to attend was canceled after threats were made, The Denver Post reports.
“We understood there was a planned organized protest outside of the hotel, led by Progress Now,” Nancy Pallozzi said. “I felt that our event would be negatively impacted, and we could not take the risk that those who made threats would cause physical harm.”
Over the weekend independent 2024 presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. spoke at a fundraiser for a far-right anti-government group in Erie County, New York – a slice of the country that had a large proportion of residents arrested and charged for crimes related to the January 6 insurrection. Kennedy, a conspiracy theorist and vaccine denialist, increasingly is embracing the far-right.
“That group, Constitutional Coalition of New York State, has founders who not only have ties to Donald Trump but are also connected to the stop-the-steal movement through their activist network, which includes groups that had a presence at the Capitol on Jan. 6,” The Daily Beast reported Friday. “It’s yet another instance of Kennedy—who is mounting one of the most well-funded third-party presidential threats in decades—serving as a peculiar bridge between his own anti-establishment movement and Trump’s.”
The Southern Poverty Law Center includes the Constitutional Coalition of New York State (CCNYS) on its page of anti-government groups. Political Research Associates, which detailed the high proportion of January 6 residents arrested and charged, included the Constitutional Coalition of New York State in its February report on “The Rise of the Far Right in Western New York.”
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“If you don’t think the government is lying to you, you’re not paying attention,” Kennedy told attendees at the CCNYS fundraiser, The Buffalo News reports.
“CCNYS founders Nick and Nancie Orticelli are also affiliated with the Watchmen, a nearby militia who Nick has encouraged his social media followers to join. The Watchmen had several members at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and one member, Pete Harding, is still facing charges for violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds,” The Daily Beast noted. “Nancie Orticelli has also hosted the Watchmen’s founder, Charles Pellien, on her weekly radio show on several occasions.”
One of Kennedy’s goals in traveling to New York was to get on the ballot for the November presidential election. Various polls show him taking votes from both President Joe Biden and ex-president Donald Trump, but Kennedy currently has only qualified to be on the ballot in three states, Utah, Michigan and Hawaii, the newspaper reported.
But The Washington Post on Thursday reported The American Independent Party of California, which has a history of “far-right ties,” and “backed segregationist and former Alabama governor George Wallace in 1968, nominated Kennedy for president.”
Kennedy “said this week that he has qualified to be on the ballot in California and will accept the nomination of the American Independent Party, which has a history of associating itself with far-right figures and individuals who have expressed racist views.”
Some news reports and RFK Jr. himself say the Trump campaign was actively courting Kennedy, attempting to convince him to consider being the ex-president’s 2024 vice presidential running mate.
“That MAGA dalliance with Kennedy could be coming back to bite the Trump campaign, some Republicans close to the former president worry,” The Daily Beast also reported.
“’They can only blame themselves,’ a Trump-aligned strategist told The Daily Beast, requesting anonymity to speak candidly about private conversations about the risk Kennedy poses, ‘because they cozied up to him and thought it was funny.’”
Watch WIVBTV’s report on Kennedy’s trip to New York below or at this link.
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Congressman Pummeled for Praising Students Mocking Black Protester With Monkey Sounds
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