Sarah Palin's difficult choice about her pregnancy

Todd S. Purdum wrote an interesting article about Sarah Palin. The article discusses her rise to national attention as Senator John McCain's running mate and how she was a handful for McCain's staff. The story also recounts some interesting details from those in Alaska who have dealt with Palin's brand of politics.

However, one quote from a Palin speech in Evanville, IA is very disturbing if not hypocritical. Palin was speaking to a group of conservatives who have her same values. According to Purdum, Palin found out that she was pregnant with her son Trip in Texas. This is the decision process that she went through, “While out of state, there just for a fleeting moment, I thought, Nobody knows me here. Nobody would ever know. I thought, Wow, it is easy to think maybe of trying to change the circumstances and no one would know—no one would ever know. Then when my amniocentesis results came back, showing what they called abnormalities—oh, dear God—I knew, I had instantly an understanding, for that fleeting moment, why someone would believe it could seem possible to change those circumstances, just make it all go away, get some normalcy back in life.”

Of course, Palin did not decide to terminate her pregnancy, but she had a choice to make. These are very revealing statements, but what they really show is the hypocrisy of one who vehemently anti-choice. Palin and others like her would deny the same decision process to every other American woman even in the event of rape and incest.

Palin's son was born with Down's Syndrome. She chose to have her son, even though she chose to hide her pregnancy from her staff and others. The question is, does Palin realize that if she had her way she would not have had those choices to make. Abortion is nasty business, but maybe it is a private matter between the woman and her creator. Sphere: Related Content

Is it time to end the War on Drugs

Click the title: The article above recounts how Mexico's crack down on drug cartels has generated less product in Canada and spawned violence

The Los Angeles Times is reporting that the drug war has changed borders. Tougher law enforcement in Mexico has created a cocaine shortage in the Canada and now gangs in that country are trying to fill the market need. Mind you that most of their product is he

aded her to he good 'ol USA but what has happened is that they have squeezed the Canadian market to trickle and started

a gang war.

According to the article parts of Vancouver have seen several shooting deaths in just the last year. Most of the shootings have been teenagers. One particularly heinous crime was the stabbing of a young man who fought furiously. His hands were cut so bad that the scars could be seen during his funeral.

The fact is that in this time of econo

mic crisis the drug war is too expensive. For instance the Drug Library reports that it cost the United States $450,00 a year to c

onvict

and house one prisoner. That same money could be used to treat and educate 200 people. The war on drugs cost more th

an $50 billion dollars a year and we only stop about 1% of the drugs that come into our country.

The Wall Street journal reports that Latin countries that have borne the brunt of our war are now saying that it is a failure.

Meanwhile, violence due to the drug war has spiraled out of control prompting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to say, "Our insatiable demand for illegal drugs fuels the drug trade. Our inability to pr

event weapons from being illegally smuggled across the border to arm these criminals causes the deaths of police, of soldiers and civilians."

The question is will we ever be able to prevent this from happening? The Drug Library goes on to compare the life of a drug addict in New York where drugs are criminalized and in Liverpool, England where drugs are not criminalized. The difference is shocking.

The United States needs to answer some serious questions about its drug war. We need to decide if it works and if not should we stop it. First, we need to get past all of the rhetoric.

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Is Murder Ever Justified

Abortion is a nasty issue in American politics. Many of people who find abortions immoral, however, still support a woman's right to choose. Those who consider abortions murder do not support a woman's right for an abortion no matter the circumstances. The issue is a thorny one and Americans have been fighting this battle for decades.

One of the nastiest battles is on the front of late-term abortions. With the death of Dr. George Tiller of Kansas, there are now less than a handful of doctors in this country who perform later term abortions. As unpalatable as abortion is, to many late term abortions are criminal.

Tiller was the US' largest practitioner of late term abortions. As such, he was a target of FoxNews and other right wing pundits. Bill O'Reilly called him "Tiller the baby killer" on numerous occasions. Ann Coulter said that she doesn't agree with killing of abortion doctors, but refuses to push her morals on other people (watch videos above). Hal Lindsay hopes that Tiller burns in hell.

After Tiller's death, O'Reilly claimed that murder of any type was wrong and played the victim because major left wing pundits said that he had "blood on his hands". The fact is that O'Reilly's speech was reckless at best and possibly criminal. He speaks to an audience that is armed and sometimes paranoid. He knew that he was handing some nutcase a motive for murder and he continued to use hate speech. Coulter's statement was even disavowed by O'Reilly and Lindsay well is LIndsay. He has made a fortune on the fears of the faithful.

The questions is where are the laymen who believe that these people are urging hate? Or do they secretly harbor gratitude for Tiller's murderer? Is there ever a good reason to murder? Do most religions condone the murder of Tiller? Bill O'Reilly did long before Tiller was murdered and Ann Coulter and Hal Lindsay did after he was dead. How about other conservatives?

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Is socialism being used as a racial slur in reference to Barack Obama

In his article titled "Republicans make socialism appealing" blogger Pandora points out that by bantering around the word socialism in reference to Obama administration, Republicans have actually brought back a word that had been taboo in American society for many years. He points out a recent poll by the Rasmussen Report that shows that only 53 percent of Americans believe that socialism is "bad". However, some people believe that using the word socialism has a darker connotation when used in relation to African Americans. The question becomes do certain virulent Republicans use the word Socialism in place of the n-word when describing President Barack Obama?
During the election, Kansas City Star Columnist Lewis Diuguid, accused Sarah Palin and John McCain of doing just that. Said Diuguid, "The "socialist" label that Sen. John McCain and his GOP presidential running mate Sarah Palin are trying to attach to Sen. Barack Obama actually has long and very ugly historical roots."
He goes on to point out that J. Edgar Hoover used the word liberally to describe such notable African American activist as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., W.E.B. Du Bois, and Paul Robeson. All of these men were active in trying to improve the lives of African Americans through activism. Hoover went on to call such men as Jim Brown and Bill Russell communist they recently revealed on Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
Republican pundit Rush Limbaugh uses the word to describe an entire group of people he describes as unAmerican and it has become the new buzzword for Fox News. They use it to describe such Obama policies as comprehensive health care. According to them health care for everyone would mean the end of the world as we know it.
The truth may be more sinister in regards to Republican's use of socialism. Is the Republican party using the word socialist as a buzz word for the more extreme factions in their midst. Is the word socialist just another word for ni**er?

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MySpace.com Blogs - Lisa Marie Presley MySpace Blog

Below is a link to Lisa Marie Presley's Myspace post about her love and loss in Michael Jackson. It is really amazing.

MySpace.com Blogs - Lisa Marie Presley MySpace Blog

Shared via AddThis

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A Tribute to Michael Jackson

Many people disagree with giving Michael Jackson the title the King of Pop. Jackson, who died of cardiac arrest yesterday in his home in Brentwood, CA, will of course be remembered for the adorable kid who first appeared on our TV screens with Ed Sullivan when he was 11-years-old. All will recall his problems with the law and how he became a cartoon later in life. He will also be remembered for a solo act that made him a true superstar all over the world. However, what only a few people will remember about Michael Jackson is that he and his music transcended the boundaries that had kept America separate.

Sure, he is infamous for his publicity stunts with Bubbles the chimp and shopping in disguise. Some of us wondered why he had this fascination with McCaulay Culkin and we understood why he wanted to be Peter Pan. He eventually did become a cartoonish character after multiple plastic surgeries and his skin color changing. When he was later charged with molestation some of us wondered if he had not brought the allegations on himself.

Despite all of that, what makes him King in our hearts was his ability to transport and audience from their seats. His performance of Billie Jean at Motown's 25th Anniversary is legendary and it was Robert Hilburn who later wrote that it was that performance that catapulted him to that title of "King of Pop". And no matter what we thought of his private life or problems later own that is what made him King. His music was not the greatest and even his songs were sometimes shallow, but his performance of those songs, whether in the studio, live, or on video was always electrifying. Just watch Billie Jean and enjoy:

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Michael Jackson: A True Visionary

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Brian Oxman Says Jackson's Death Linked to Drugs

Brian Oxman (pictured), family friend of Michael Jackson, speaking on CNN said that "Anna Nicole Smith's case had nothing on the case of Michael Jackson. This family has been trying to take care of Michael Jackson. The people around him have been enabling him." This is in response to the death of the King of Pop at the age of 50 in his home in Brentwood, CA. A Los Angeles Coroner spokes later confirmed the pop icon's death by cardiac arrest.

An emotional Oxman was on his phone outside of UCLA Medical Center where he had just had a closed door meeting with Jermaine and Randy Jackson where they could do nothing but sob. He said that at that point he had not received any information from the family because they were "stunned". Oxman then went on to compare the King of Pop's death to that of Anna Nicole Smith.

You may recall that two doctors and Smith's boyfriend were later charged giving Smith a lethal drug cocktail. CNN later reported that "Dr. Khristine Eroshevich surrendered at the Van Nuys, California, jail, said police and jail officials. Bail was set at $20,000, but Eroshevich had not posted bail as of Monday afternoon.

Eroshevich was charged last week along with Howard K. Stern, Smith's longtime partner and attorney; and Dr. Sandeep Kapoor. Stern and Kapoor were arrested and released from a Los Angeles County jail Thursday night after each posted a $20,000 bond."

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Rest in Peace King

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A Principled Disagreement

On a recent Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel I watched NBA legend Bill Russell and NFL great Jim Brown talk about their activism during the 1960s. I was really interested in Brown's assessment of Michael Jordan's and Tiger Woods' lack of activism in the face of gang violence and overt racism in coaching ranks of the NFL and Major League Baseball. There is also the issue of the unavailability of access to major competitive golf by African Americans and other American minorities.
My question to Mr. Brown is this, "What were you fighting for?" Were you fighting for the rights of Mr. Jordan and Mr. Woods to be whom they please or where you fighting a battle that will never be won? The world that Mr. Jordan performed in and in which Mr. Woods continues to perform is a vastly different place. Your world was marred by racial hate and violence. Mr. Woods' parents are interracial and Mr. Jordan is one of the most recognized athletes in the world. In your world, African Americans galvanized around one common cause. In their world African Americans have become a fragmented society with upper-classes assimilating into American culture and the lower-classes relegated to the fringes.
You expect Mr. Woods and Mr. Jordan to go wading off into the battle of young African Americans killing themselves when that world is as foreign to them as African-American women were to you during your film career. Michael Jordan grew up with a loving father and mother who were the caretakers of his dreams. Tiger Woods was playing golf on TV when he was two.

Tiger Woods At 2 Years Old - The funniest movie is here. Find it
I agree with you that these two ultra-competitors should take a more social role in the world they live in. However, both of these men contribute to the fight quietly and with a modicum of dignity. Yet, you chide Mr. Woods for teaching kids to play golf.
As an African-American educator, I see the devastation caused when our African-American students who don't have access to these worlds are left on the fringes. I'm more interested in the fact that Mr. Jordan is keeping kids in school in his home state and that Mr. Woods is active in opening up all areas of athletics to all people.

I think it is time that we look at this fight in a different light. Muhammad Ali's fight was a fight against injustice and I applaud you for stepping in and supporting him when you did. However, the battle is different and you may be asking two people who are unequipped to lead the fight. You and Mr. Russell created Michael Jordan and Tiger woods. You should be proud, but don't blame them for just being themselves, it is what you fought for.

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Hypocrisy comes 'home to roost'

You can't make this stuff up. Governor Mark Sanford (pictured above), one of Bill Clinton's top critics during the Monica Lewinsky scandal, not only disappeared for five days, but he was in Argentina having an affair with a woman whom enjoys watching "the erotic beauty of you holding yourself (or two magnificent parts of yourself) in the faded glow of the night's light". Sanford's hypocrisy only highlights the problem that Republican's face when they fall off their moral high horse.
During the Clinton affair, Sanford was a Congressman who criticized Clinton and called him a rascal. He went on to call for Clinton's resignation. His moral grandstanding was hailed by the GOP and thrust him into the political spotlight.

But back in 1998, according to the Post and Courier, he said of Clinton, “Very damaging stuff. This one’s pretty cut and dried.” Calling the overall situation messy, he added: “I think it would be much better for the country and for him personally [to resign]."

Rhetoric like Sanford's helped vilify Clinton and keep the Lewinsky incident in the public eye. Now, he ask us and his wife for our forgiveness because he is truly sorry. Sanford should do what he asked Bill Clinton to do in 1998: Resign. He should go away and let us forget about his posturing and wind blown diatribes about stimulus. Go away Sanford. Sphere: Related Content

What's in a Picture.

Iconic images that changed history. Sphere: Related Content

A Crook and a Racist

Modern journalist amaze me with their naivete. Who of the millions of African-Americans, Women, Jews, Latinos and other ethnic groups did not know that Richard Nixon was not only a crook, but a racist. Now pundits for the Los Angeles Times are musing over how they wondered if Nixon was motivated by race. Well yes, Richard Nixon was a senator during the time of Joseph McCarthy, and though he prepared better, he was just as vehement about his hate of groups that he thought were Anti-American and as the article points out, became more virulent when he was on the campaign trail.

Now we have Nixon showing his racism in his own words. Just because members of the GOP say they are not racist and that their policies are for the better good, that doesn't make it so. Don't forget, Lincoln first tried to relocate slaves. Sometimes it is political pressure that causes us to change history.

Nixon did some good things, but in the end, just like those who followed, he was a crook and a racist.

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Licking His Wounds

After getting the crap kicked out of him in the previous legislative session, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford needed a vacation. The only problem is, he forgot to tell his staff and they began to speculate that he was on the Appalachian trail. Actually, Sanford was in Argentina driving down the coast.

The fact is that Sanford was licking his wounds after his state's Supreme Court decided that he had to take federal Stimulus Funds. Sanford was the GOPs hope for 2012 because of his decision not to take stimulus money and if he did take them, he would use it to only pay down the states' deficit.

The problem is the South Carolina unemployment rate is over 11%. South Carolina schools are moving up, but are still in the bottom half of state rankings. South Carolina needs stimulus just like the rest of the country does.

Sanford's rhetoric was not enough to stop the people of South Carolina from understanding that they need this money. It is rhetoric like Sanford's that has kept America from advancing its social services and kept us fighting 200-year-old battles over racism and class.

I hope that Sanford cleared his head and now realizes that rhetoric and political grandstanding will not solve America's problems. It's going to take hard work and some sacrifices on all of our parts.

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This video is shocking. It shows a young lady dying in the streets of Iran. She was shot by a police officer as she got out of her car to watch the demonstrations. I post it here because it brings home the reality of what happens when religion runs the state. We are all equal under out constitution and the beautiful thing is that we can all be different too. America needs to grow up so that the world can see our power and not have to pretend it doesn't exist.

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Coming of Age

Here's an article from Robert Reich of that liberal bastion, The Wall Street Journal, detailing why we need health care and asking the all important question of why Democrats are stalling. The truth is that we need health care coverage for all Americans and now is the time. Welcome to Grow Up America. Open your minds and your hearts and maybe we can conquer our fears and our problems together.

Millions of Americans are without proper health insurance. Yet, while other countries have settled this debt with society, we continue to espouse rhetoric that undercuts the message that every second a child dies before its first birthday in this country, that we have over 13 million uninsured children, and that the rate of those who under-served in this country is greater than that of any Western nation. We need to grow up.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose...Jim Elliott
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall receive mercy...Jesus
What difference does it make to the dead, the orphans, and the homeless, whether the mad destruction is wrought under the name of totalitarianism or the holy name of liberty and democracy?...Ghandi

A right delayed is a right denied.

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom. ...Dr. Martin Luther King

Love is kind...Paul

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness...The Declaration of Indepenence

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