And Now To Punish The Opposition!

Eeeewww! This frightening display of repressed anger best summarizes the RNC--a string of spiteful personal vendettas settled with excessive special interest $$. But somehow this poster image is quite fitting when you consider the target audience. Much to my surprise, Zell Miller did not rip out of his skin and fly out of the arena at the end of his speech, but I'm still convinced he's human.

At the conclusion of George W. Bush's very unimaginative speech last night, I was left frustrated and amused by the gullible patrons holding up flip-flops inside George's lair--especially those who were not reaping the benefits of Bush's Personal Favors Program--wait, were there any?

Here's an 'I wonder if...': I wonder if 9/11 never happened, what exactly would be George W. Bush's selling point (not that there's one now)?

I won't insult your intelligence by pointing out all of the holes, statistical exaggerations, outright lies and overall transparencies in George's verbal diarreah, but what I do want to mention is the plight of the protestors.

First of all, congratulations and many thanks to the two or three protestors who managed to permeate George Bush's henchmen last night and made it inside to interrupt his incantation to nation. This gives viewers outside this country some inclination that not all Americans are giddy yes-men who applaud bafoonery. We have circuses for that.

State Supreme Court Justice, John Cataldo, is fining New York City $1000 for each of the 470 protestors he felt was held in custody too long.

I guess Mayor Bloomberg's purpose in having as many protestors arrested this week in an effort overwhelm the system, was served. He can now safely say that American tax $$ were spent, not on the special perks and reorganizing the city to accomodate the RNC, but on the arrests of unruly protestors who just would not conform and keep quiet. Pretty convenient, I'd say.

I still say, "Resistance is not futile!"

This Just In....

WBAI (an invaluable publicly supported free-speech radio) has learned that in preparation for George's W's arrival in New York City today, a 'secret escape train' is standing by, beneath Madison Square Garden, to wisk our beloved president away to safety in the event of an emergency.

More coverage on this developing story and related atrocious George Bush arrival stories later ...

Old Themes, New Parrots

It appears that I spoke too soon in my earlier blog when I presumed that the GOP saw the superficiality in showcasing good Negroes @ the 2000 RNC.

Day 2 of this year's RNC indeed showcase their version of happy Blacks-of course it was earlier in the evening's events and covered by the cable networks and PBS. The major network slot was reserved for Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Bush family. As usual, most of the Blacks there at the time were on stage. The cameras jumped from the speaker to the elated Blacks in the audience who were drunk with joy and decorated with Bush buttons and party top hats.
Synoposis: This year's token Black (I think his name is Mike Steel), who of course represents all people of color in this country, boasts how "we can do it all ourselves," and "anything is possible in America," which once again reinforces the racist ideology that Blacks are slothful and lazy. Our economic situation and the fact that over one and a half million more people this year slipped below the poverty line, is not a result of institutionalized racism, but because we lack ambition. Not original folks!
And so misguided.

Moving onto the jeweled prizes of the RNC, Arnold Schwarzenegger and George W. Bush’s wife and daughters. Since I already ranted about Arnold, let's just go right to the pathetic and transparent display of Bush's happy and functional family.
The Bush twins, Jenna and Barbara with their insane attempt at being topical by referencing pop culture, MTV style? (Maybe a reality show is in the works for them).
Perhaps, it would be cute if they were like, 9 years-old, but @ 22 it's not so cute.
"We spent the last four years trying to stay out of the spotlight," Jenna Bush said to laughter from the delegates. "Sometimes we did a little better job than others."-CNN
C'mon folks.
Finally, First Lady Laura Bush dutifully addresses the emotional and sensitive side of George Bush as a loving husband and dad making tough decisions in order to secure the safety of our country.
She's actually well-spoken and the more intelligible member of the Bush regime, but her talents are wasted.

Sadly, she goes on to talk about their family dog Spot, which of course borrows heavily from Richard Nixon's old Watergate speech where he portrays himself as an honest family man who would never resort to corrupt activity or abuse his power. He talks of his little dog Checkers in a sad attempt to tug at the heartstrings of Americans so as to divert their attention away from real issues.

My question: Why did George Bush's campaign strategists choose this old brain washing tactic to build up our President? Are they trying to tell us something?

RNC, Day 2: A Nausiating Display of Psuedo Pop Culture Sans the Issues

"I once was in a movie called 'True Lies'...I think that's what John Kerry should call his campaign." I'm paraphrasing as I watch Arnold's speech right now, but that's basically how he opened his speech. Can you say fluff?

He also used terms like, "economic girly-man" (another derrogatory reference to the Kerry's campaign), and of "Arnold, I'll be back!" to a rousing round of applause. Will his block-buster movie references ever be replaced with a real debate on the issues?

As I anticipated the thesis of his speech is a string of self-congratulatory, imperialistic rhetoric about freedom and the American dream that "they" (the axis of evil) hate, which George W. Bush will preserve.
Yes, I enjoy and appreciate certain freedoms that come with being an American citizen, but how the hell is George W. Bush gonna improve my quality of life and my economic interests?

And...oh my God, here comes George W's daughters to further soil the world's views of Americana.
I gotta get back to this. This is absolutely mortifying. I think this was scripted by an MTV writer.
Did they just say, "Shake it like a polaroid picture?"
More on this developing atrocity later...

RNC's Minority Report

According to RNC's website:

"This President and the GOP have a good story to tell - we just need to work harder to get the message out to the minority community. Everybody knows about the President's appointments of people of color to key positions in the White House, Cabinet and throughout his Administration. Black voters will be more inclined to side with the President, however, when they hear about his leadership in reforming education by holding schools accountable, by increasing flexibility for families, by expanding parental options and funding programs that actually work. They ought to know that President Bush has shown his commitment to black colleges and universities by significantly increasing their funding. He has been a tireless champion for faith-based initiatives that give social services to the disadvantaged and provide mentoring for the children of the incarcerated. This President delivers on his promises."

I love how organizations like the Republican Party attempt to compartmentalize people of color from a position of authority. This false sense of capturing the "true" sentiments of people of color in this country, and the blind, unchallenged acceptance that traditionally follow that rhetoric, is the kind of contaminant that tends win over the undecided voters of color, prompting them to vote against their best economic interests.

It's even more pathetic to witness Republican delegates like Alan Keyes perpetuate these statistical myths, yet refuse to respond to critics who question their token representation.
None will acknowlege or even question the notion that their race has anything to do with their Republican nomination.
This year's RNC boasts that Republican delegates of color increased by 17 percent.
Again, a loose statistic tossed around to appease the undecided voters. One has to wonder what the Republican definition of "person of color" is.
Does a white Republican delegate who hired a Jamaican nanny to raise their children that's considered part of the family, considered a person of color?

I guess white Republicans realized how obvious their tokanism appeared on camera at the 2000 RNC, when they strategically dotted their seats with Minority delegates and conservatives and paraded Bush's nephew, George P. Bush (nicknamed by the Bush family, the little brown one).
Fortunately, that minstrel show was short-lived and the media hype around George P. Bush died down after George W.'s "election."

Vile Self-Serving Creatures: An In-depth and Unbiased Comparative Analysis of the Republican Agenda

It is now commonplace to come face-to-face with a vile and loathesome subway rat brazenly scurrying alongside a platform terrorizing straphangers every so often. Today was no different. On our way into Manhattan to catch a movie, me and a friend were mezmorized by a very bold, melon-sized subway rat comfortably weaving amongst commuters striking fear and anxiety in the hearts of many faithful commuters and rendering them helpless.

But what was different today, on the eve of the Republican National Convention, was that this giant rat, to me, was clearly a metaphor for the audatious, and arrogant Bush supporters who were arriving into New York City to impose their right-wing agenda onto the free-thinking amnd pro-active New Yorkers who realize the very real threat of contamination that George W. Bush and his wealthy supporters embody.

Amidst the dense, hot and sticky city air, filled with rage, anti-RNC protestors lined the streets of Times Square this evening as agitated police officers canvassed the area, conveying the illusion of complete control.

"Facists, go home!" shouts some angry protestors at a few startled RNC attendees who attempted to inconspicuously venture out into the teeming Midtown streets, perhaps to do a bit of shopping or get a picture near ground zero--who knows.
Well just like the common subway rat we encountered earlier that evening, our visitors were spotted and shoo'd away.
My friend retorts, "Maybe now they'll get a sense of what it feels like to be told, 'Nigger, go home'."

We were both quite amused at the peaceful culture clash we witnessed then laughed our heads off. Well what did our visitors expect? A good ole Texas ho-down from the NY welcoming committee? I don't think so.

Much to their chagrin, these RNC tourists, with seemingly sheltered and priveledged lives, won't be getting the kind of reception they would anticipate if they were spending their American currency in a third world country.
That kind of ass-wiping is the exclusive duty of our Bush-lovin' mayor Mike Bloomberg.