Puff, Puff, Pass - Caroline Kennedy's turn at the "Party" joint

As it was with the Changeling, the fix is already in. Whether he wants to or not, Gov. David Paterson will be appointing the Kennedy kid to finish Senator Clinton's term - regardless of how much hell people raise about Caroline Kennedy's lack of "experience" or how many times she says, "You know." Hell, none of them raised any questions about the Changeling's deficiencies, or how many times he said "Uh!" (Class, repeat after me - PA-TRI-AR-CHY)

This exchange last year between Mos Def, Dr. Cornel West and Bill Maher is a little long, but interesting. Mos makes a good point at the 9:13 click...



...and I agree with him completely. I'd just add that ANY political office, ANY top media position and ANY executive banking position - not just the presidency - is treated like a "party joint" within the institution of white supremacist capitalist patriarchy.

Nepotism is essential to keep the money and power in the hands of those who've always had it. Obama's selection changes nothing (They just allow him to play the game a little bit. You know, stuff like earmarks to the hospital that tripled MO's salary, or he and Jarrett's Grove Parc bonanza, or that sweet deal on the mansion?).

He's the perfect "two-fer" - as long as he doesn't step out of line. They believe his brown face will, at once, be the vehicle that allows them to maintain their kind of status quo, and repair America's image in the world. And with all this sui generis, "post-racial" nonsense, the media side of the afore-mentioned, unholy triumvirate is more than happy to do whatever they can to keep up the charade.

I really think they chose him because they saw in him, the budding of the same power-hungry, cutthroat greed and hubris they possess that has fueled their manipulation of the masses for all this time. Easier to control the puppet's strings when the joints are already oiled right? And it worked - beautifully! "All sheeple present and accounted for, Sir!"

Now comes the Princess of Camelot, poised to cash in her nepotism chips with the aid of Uncle Teddy, continuing to rage mightily against going "gentle into that good night." This is just more shining up shit and calling it gold folks.

Let's be clear. Gov. Paterson was appointed in the aftermath of Spitzer's dalliances. If he wants to keep his job next election - and I'm sure he does - he'll fall in line. He knows all too well, what will ensure he keeps it is not that pesky election by the people thing, but rather, those "Games Mother Never Taught You."

CORRECTION: ea..."Just a nitpick: Patterson was Lt. Gov. He is Governor now because of succession. I think that is right."
Si, está correcto. ¡Gracias Mujer! Nitpick away, it makes both of us better. And as a result, I read some more about Gov. Paterson. Now I'm pissed I may be right about this appointment!

• "Elected to represent Harlem in the New York State Senate in 1985..."
• "In 2002, David Paterson was elected minority leader of the New York State Senate, the first non-white legislative leader in New York’s history."
• "And 2006 saw Mr. Paterson make history again by being elected New York’s first African-American lieutenant governor."

He's been elected a time or two. Shouldn't he have some political capital built up to say, "No" to this very wrong thing?

"Real Time with Bill Maher" is Real Time for Hillary Clinton

Just finished watching Real Time with Bill Maher and though I'm really not into the "vote for the Black guy because I'm Black or vote for the woman because I'm a woman" meme, one thing I know is true - we women have lived in a patriarchy all our lives in America and I'm sick and damned tired of it. Bill's guests tonight were actor Adam Goldberg, NPR's broadcast and digital media journalist Farai Chideya (whose show, "News & Notes" I absolutely love!), Joe "Morning Joe" Scarborough, Real Time correspondent Jeremy Scahill and via satellite, Clinton campaign chairman Terry McAuliffe. As I watched the panelists and Bill discuss the election and Iraq (great clip and insight from Scahill on this), I bristled every time Farai tried to make a point. Though she had been invited, presumably because she had something of value to offer to the conversation, the men acted like she did not even exist. On several occasions, she tried (to no avail) to politely interrupt Scarborough's patronizing lecture about what was happening in the election or what was going on in Iraq, by saying over and over again, "Excuse me, I just have to say..." - at least, not until she finally said forcefully to Scarborough, "No! You listen!" at which point Adam Goldberg dryly interjected, "I was told at the pre-interview, there would be no yelling." I could not help but equate what I was seeing to the Democratic race for the nomination. Like Sen. Clinton, Farai is an engaging, talented and intelligent woman. Like Farai, she's often forced to say, "No! You listen!" to the patriarchal, condescending American media (which, by the way, includes a sprinkling of women like Maureen Dowd or The Washington Post's insufferable, guest columnist, Charlotte Allen who feel they have to grab their proverbial "balls" and insult other women in order to be "one of the boys" or work out some deep, Electra complex childhood wounds) and even Sen. Obama himself. I totally agree with essayist and author, Katha Pollitt in her rebuttal (to Ms. Allen's self-hating opinion piece in the Post), "Dumb and Dumber: An Essay and Its Editors" In it, she said, "Misogyny is the last acceptable prejudice, and nowhere more so than in our nation's clueless and overwhelmingly white-male-controlled media. . . ." Sen. Clinton is repeatedly lambasted by both the mainstream media and Obama supporters whenever she holds her ground or actually goes on the offensive against the senator from Illinois. It seems she's damned if she does, damned if she doesn't. I'm sure she's sick and damned tired of it too.