Happy Sunday, Everyone! And I say to myself, what a WONDERFUL WORLD.
Happy Sunday, Everyone! And I say to myself, what a WONDERFUL WORLD.
Even though 3Chics Politico is written and curated by three women: Ametia, Rikyrah, and SouthernGirl2, I must nominate this as one of the most engaging blogs I've found. Devoted to politics and culture, these three shine a light on contemporary life with humor and spirit.
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Bill Clinton: President Obama is selling the “biggest fairy tale I’ve ever seen”
Thursday, May 22, 2014 5:52 PM UTC
Koch brothers’ Detroit abomination: Stunning avarice and cruelty reaches new low
Why is their group giving millions to stop bipartisan bankruptcy settlement for Detroit? The details are harrowing
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It’s against that backdrop that the Koch brothers’ new crusade against a landmark bipartisan settlement of Detroit’s bankruptcy crisis seems particularly greedy and cruel. After much controversy and debate, Michigan’s Republican Gov. Rick Snyder has agreed to provide $195 million in state funding that will limit pension cuts to no more than 4.5 percent and protect the Detroit Institute of Art from liquidating its collection.
“This is a settlement. This not a bailout,” Snyder said. “And I want to be very, very clear about that.”
Not so fast, Gov. Snyder. Americans for Prosperity has built a shiny website, shamelessly named StrongerDetroit.com, that shrieks “NO MORE BAILOUTS.” It has committed to contacting 90,000 Michigan conservatives to get them to tell their Republican representatives to buck Snyder and (what rhymes with buck?) Detroit. The group promises to run ads against any Republican who votes in favor of the bankruptcy settlement.
Remember, Snyder is no bleeding-heart liberal; far from it. He has come under fire from Democrats and civil rights advocates for his heavy-handed use of executive power to put the finances of struggling Michigan cities, including Detroit, under state control, often usurping the power of African-American elected officials. In 2012, he flip-flopped on campaign promises to oppose an anti-union right to work law, signing the bill much loved by the Koch brothers.
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Of course, Detroit bashing has long been a staple of right-wing rhetoric, in which the city’s troubles are solely the fault of poor choices and corruption by its African-American leaders and the moral faults and bad behaviors of its African-American residents. Dog-whistling about Detroit continued during the 2012 GOP primary, you’ll recall, when Newt Gingrich declared: “I know how to make the whole country look like Texas. President Obama knows how to make the whole country resemble Detroit.”
But some Michigan Republicans are tuning out the dog-whistling and Koch-whining. Foundations and arts benefactors have pledged $466 million for the deal, while the United Auto Workers and the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council have pledged to contribute to the settlement. That has won over Republicans who said they’d oppose the deal unless unions coughed up money too.
http://www.salon.com/2014/05/22/koch_brothers_detroit_abomination_stunning_avarice_and_cruelty_reaches_new_low/?source=newsletter
Actress Thandie Newton: ‘There’s This Ghettoization of Makeup Right Now’
The 41-year-old film star, known for her roles in The Pursuit of Happyness and Mission: Impossible II slammed the beauty store Boots for taking beauty products for dark skin off shelves sooner, forcing darker women of color to go to specialty stores to get products that suit them.
British actress Thandie Newton isn’t impressed with the lack of representation of products geared for dark skin in beauty stores, and is calling the industry out on it.
According to the Daily Mail, the 41-year-old British and American film star accused chains, such as Boots, of only stocking dark shades of makeup when a line is originally launched, before taking them off the shelves and leaving darker women to their own devices to find what they need in specialty stores.
Speaking at an event at Selfridges, a high-end department store chain in the U.K. last Tuesday, the actress, who also represents Olay said, “If the makeup was in there longer, the girls would go and get it and then the stores would get more, and they’d realize that everybody wants it, and then they would stock it.
“There’s this ghettoization of makeup right now. The right shade is there for everybody but you can only get it at specialized shops,” she added. “’So you don’t go to Boots. So as a result we are all being physically separated when we go and buy makeup.”
Newton also lamented the lack of dark-skinned models, the Daily Mail notes, saying that the situation was something she hates.
http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2014/06/actress_thandie_newton_there_s_this_ghettoization_of_make_up_right_now.html?wpisrc=obinsite
Grambling family sets world record for the most graduates from one university
June 22, 2014
Posted by admin
The Guinness Book of World Records has officially recognized the Wayne Family of Marion, Louisiana, for having the highest number of graduates in a family and from the same university – Grambling State University.
Grambling State University is probably best known for Eddie Robinson the coach – for 56 years – of a winning team. Now, the university has another achievement to be proud of. The Wayne Family was notified last month that their bid to be recognized had been accepted. A total of 86 members of the family attended the HBCU out of which 40 graduates were accepted by Guinness.
The Wayne family has been a part of the university’s student body from 1956 to 2010. They graduated with degrees in a diverse range of subjects: education, criminal justice, computer science, electrical engineering, business, music education and English literature.
Although the family made a claim to 52 graduates, only 40 of them were accepted because of missing and/or lost documents. Yet, they still managed to beat the record – by a large margin, it must be said – that was previously held by the 15 family members in Alabama.
http://naturallymoi.com/2014/06/news/grambling-family-sets-world-record-for-the-most-graduates-from-one-university/
Child’s mother sues after her son hangs himself with school jump rope
June 22, 2014 Filed under children, News Posted by admin
A mother is suing a daycare for wrongful death after her five year old son was found hanging from a jump rope at the school. The little boy passed away from his wounds, and the mother is trying to figure out what happened.
The shocking incident took place in Michigan City, Indiana. Amareon Williams was at Tricia’s Playhouse day care center at the time and the boy instantly died on June 9th after being left unsupervised. The boy’s mother is hurting over her inability to protect her child on that day and may never be able to get rid of her pain.
“I just hurt for my baby. I hurt for him so bad, because Amareon was a special kid,” his mother, Anita Laflore, said. “I just wish I could have protected him. I wish that I could have been there. I wish I could have saved him because he’s gone now. He didn’t deserve that.”
The lawsuit references several warnings that were given to the facility by the state, many of which were ignored. Despite these warnings, the facility remained in business, putting the children’s lives at risk. The mother’s legal team says that the daycare should not have been operating without addressing these very serious problems.
“Six weeks prior to this tragedy, six serious violations were found which caused the state to put them on probation,” attorney Mark Novak said. “This is an unspeakable tragedy. This is a tragedy that never should have happened.”
http://naturallymoi.com/2014/06/news/amareon-hanging/
Student Becomes First African-American Valedictorian At Benjamin Cardozo High School
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – A Queens high school student has made academic history after becoming the first African-American student to be her school’s valedictorian.
As 1010 WINS’ Mona Rivera reported, Shanelle Davis is a senior at Benjamin Cardozo High School in Bayside and will be graduating at the top of her class.
“It’s an incredible honor. It’s still surreal to me,” she said.
Davis, who lives in Jamaica, Queens, said she didn’t realize she was making history until the studentrankings were announced.
“Out of 845 students and mine said number one. And then afterward I was speaking to administration in theschool and they’re like ‘you know we’ve never had an African-American (valedictorian) before.’ Then that’s how I found out,” she said.
Davis said she hopes that her achievement inspires underclassmen in her school.
“School is like, it’s very diverse, but it’s predominantly Asian. So most African-Americans in the school think that OK so since there’s been like always an Asian or a white valedictorian that they can’t do it. But then I can be an example for them to show that they can also do it. So maybe next year they’ll have another African-American one,” Davis said.
Davis, who is a Milken Scholar, plans to attend Harvard University in the fall. She is the first in her family to attend a four-year college.
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/06/18/benjamin-cardozo-h-s-student-becomes-first-african-american-valedictorian/
Hey, 3ChicsPolitico
A wonderful fellow blogger, Rippa, has some serious eye problems & need help. He’s going blind & needs surgery. Please help him out and donate. If you don’t have a lot, donate what you can. If you can’t give, share this link with others so they may give. God bless Rippa to receive the much needed finances to have this surgery.
Click on the link below and you’ll see how to donate & who has donated to this worthy cause.
http://www.gofundme.com/ajvlds
THE MONEY QUOTE RIGHT HERE:
Norman: "In spite of my growing up in the Jim Crow laws of the segregated south,, PEOPLE need to understand that we had communities, we had families, and extended families,that made sure we understood that we were people, that we were worth something, and that we were LOVED. MORE THAN ANYTHING THAT WE WERE LOVED
Monday, June 16, 2014
Authenticity
I doubt that anyone has ever honestly used the word “authentic” to describe Hillary Clinton. And so as far as I’m concerned, if she decides to run in 2016 and gets the Democratic nomination, it will be back to politics as usual.
In contrast, we are living in an era where the President of the United States is described this way:
He doesn’t do schtick well, right? It goes back to that authenticity thing. He knows who he is, he believes who he is and he’s not going to put on some facade just because he’s supposed to glad-handle someone.
When a person is authentic you can trust them, whether you agree or disagree on any particular issue. Its a sad but true fact of politics that having someone in the White House that you trust is probably a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. That’s why I’ve wanted to savor every moment of these eight years. I’m not very confident it will ever happen again.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/06/authenticity.html
ON POINT
Thursday, June 19, 2014
The “what about me?” syndrome
For years black academics criticized the Obama administration for not targeting programs to the African American community. Obamacare didn’t count – even though it has disproportionately affected people of color. All of his talk about income inequality didn’t matter, neither did his proposal for universal pre-K. What they wanted to see were initiatives that directly (and only) affected African Americans.
Then along came the announcement about President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper” program targeting boys of color. It didn’t take long for many of the same critics to go after that one because it didn’t include girls. As I see it, this is what most efforts to target a specific community will eventually face…the “what about me?” syndrome.
That’s not to say that its wrong to initiate and promote targeted programs. Sometimes they’re needed. Its more about the fact that when they are proposed, we need to remember WHY they’re targeted and – by definition – will exclude.
There’s a reason why I referred to “black academics” in describing the critics. Efforts like “My Brother’s Keeper” have been underway in many communities around the country without the kind of backlash we’re seeing to President Obama’s initiative (see: Becoming a Man). There are even national programs like the Cradle to Prison Pipeline started years ago by the Children’s Defense Fund (based on the fact that 1 in 3 black boys will spend time in prison over their lifetime) that have escaped the “what about me” syndrome. That’s because people in the community (both men and women) KNOW these issues in their bones. It is their sons, grandsons, brothers, nephews, etc. who are living the reality right in front of their eyes. Truth be told, they’re pissed and want action to change things…yesterday!
All of that is not to say that women of color don’t experience their own kind of oppression in this country. But the last thing that is going to be effective is to simply import an initiative designed to help boys (i.e., My Brother’s Keeper) and assume it will be effective in helping girls. As someone who worked in this field for decades, I can say with certainty that both the challenges and the solutions are very different. This is an example of where targeted initiatives are necessary.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-what-about-me-syndrome.html
GOTV
just finished watching one of my guilty pleasures: Malibu’s Most Wanted.
cracks me up everytime.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Republican rhetoric is dangerous
Over the last six years, we’ve seen challenges to the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s presidency take the form of demands to see his birth certificate, threats to blow up the global economy if he doesn’t comply with Republican demands, and a government shutdown with this as an accompanying visual.
The latest craze has been to call the President “lawless.”
House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) calls President Obama’s tenure “an increasingly lawless presidency.” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) cites “the president’s persistent pattern of lawlessness.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) called a hearing to examine how Obama “has blatantly disregarded the Constitution’s mandate to faithfully execute the laws.”
And first-term Rep. Randy Weber (R-Tex.) amped up the rhetoric an ugly notch, with pre-State of the Union tweets — from the House floor, no less — denouncing Obama as “Kommandant-In-Chief” and a “Socialist dictator.”
And now George Will has joined the chorus with a column titled Stopping a Lawless President. The means Will is advocating to do so would be for the Republican-led House of Representatives to challenge President Obama in court for his failure to adequately implement Obamacare. This is one of those times that I’m tempted to echo the President’s words and simply say, “Please proceed, Mr. Speaker.” The idea that Republicans would mount a constitutional challenge to the President’s implementation of a law that they were trying to sabotage and/or repeal would present an interesting spectacle.
But that ignores the fact that – especially in our polarized political climate – this kind of talk is dangerous. I hope I don’t have to lay out why. I’ll simply say that promoting the idea of a “lawless” president in the minds of those who are already considering “second amendment remedies” is a recipe for disaster. While establishment Republicans attempt to calm the fires they ignited with their radical fringe back in 2010, this kind of rhetoric simply throws gasoline on the flames.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/06/republican-rhetoric-is-dangerous.html
from Miranda at POU:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/22/billie-holiday-barack-obama-and-the-pain-of-black-women.html
Joshua knows of what he speaks.
I saw Joshua Dubois in 2009 at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, being interviewed by NPR’s Krista Tippett
AUDIO
http://www.onbeing.org/program/obamas-faith-based-office-meeting-joshua-dubois/135
This is real fking bullshit right here. WTF is wrong with the media? What in the name of God is wrong with ABC asking Dick Cheney about Iraq?
Karl is trying to help REVISE Iraq, by giving Cheney a mic, the very THUG who constructed the war for PROFIT, is now going to tell the BLACK POTUS what to do in Iraq, now that’s some fucking BULLSHIT right here.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Republican rhetoric is dangerous
Over the last six years, we’ve seen challenges to the legitimacy of Barack Obama’s presidency take the form of demands to see his birth certificate, threats to blow up the global economy if he doesn’t comply with Republican demands, and a government shutdown with this as an accompanying visual.
http://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2014/06/republican-rhetoric-is-dangerous.html
Jesse Norman on MHP. She is BREAKING.IT.DOWN.
SG2, can we get the clip posted when available, PLEASE?
OK
That was a very good interview, Ametia. ICAM.
And she has the endorsement of George H. W. Bush? WTFF? I mean really. It’s like the Sarah Palin and Katie Couric interview all over again.
Loves Louis Armstrong this morning.
Lee Atwater, GOP’s RACE-BAITING DEVIL
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_8E3ENrKrQ
And his widown Sally
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi4vBdZyQe0
DUMB as a BOX-O-ROCKS!
From the comments:
Stamper4 days ago (edited)
“I expected more cogency from the woman who used to ass-fuck Lee Atwater with a 14-inch black dildo.”
Unbelievable.
UH HUH
Ametia, ignorant morons like her and Sarah Palin gets elected to office and don’t have one damn clue about anything. They have no business running for office.
Yes, Sally and nem are the EPITOME of white privilege. They DON’T have to KNOW anything, just have white skin. DESPICABLE.
*facepalm*
Just embarrassing.
LOL Of course they don’t think we NOTICE the sheer IGNORANCE on display, it’s their universe you know!
What did Fannie Lou Hamer say?
White Americans today don’t know what in the world to do because when they put us behind them, that’s where they made their mistake… they put us behind them, and we watched every move they made.
AMEN!
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/06/the-victimology-of-hillary-clinton/373129/
Go David Frum! TELL.THE.TRUTH. about this woman.
Come on RIDE.OR.DIE.JOE.RUN.RUN.RUN.
Good Morning, Everyone :)
check your e-mail, please. thanks!
Good Morning, Everyone :)
Thanks, Ametia, for posting Louis Armstrong singing “What a Wonderful World.”
I was watching Louis Armstrong’s eyes in this particular recording. His eyes seemed to show what he saw and felt about the world at that time…. while at the same time singing this song as a type of “I Have a Dream” song.
Good Morning, Yahtc we have to Everyone. Yes; to believe it to see it.
Happy Sunday, everyone!