Today's Thoughts And Rants: October 24, 2018

It has been a minute since I produced a blog. I have been feeling under the weather. Honestly, I still am a little. But, with recent events I have to say a lil sumthin sumthin. So, let's hit it...


•The Jamal Khashoggi incident is atrocious. The response by some has been deplorable.


Fox News and the right-wing echo chamber once again showed their ass and how low rent they can be. They have spread misleading rumors and outright lies about Khashoggi all in an attempt to give cover to Donald Trump in his attempt to give cover to Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman. They have accused Khashoggi of being in the Muslim Brotherhood although they have provided no proof whatsoever. Khashoggi has been alleged to be an ally of Osama Bin Laden, which is a falsehood.


Khashoggi, as a reporter, interviewers Bin Laden over the years. He also did praise Bin Laden back in the 1980s and early 90s as a revolutionary and true disciple of Islam. It should be noted the United States was also quite fond of Bin Laden during the same time period. The U.S. funded him and helped trained his soldiers in Afghanistan because he was helping us fight the Soviet Communists. We were also aiding the Taliban despite knowing exactly what they were. In fact, we greatly aided in giving Bin Laden his "street cred" and giving him the power and weaponry that he eventually turned around and used on us. But, don't take my word for it. Look it up for yourselves. Google it. Research it. Like with Sadaam Hussein we saw him as a necessary evil for the greater good until he "got out of his lane".


As for Khashoggi, he pointedly and without qualification criticized Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. He consistently called out Bin Laden's radicalism. But, Fox News and the demagogues on the right conveniently leave that out.


The Trump administration has no desire to go after MBS because we have a $14.5 billion arms deal with the Saudis and obviously money is much more important than integrity or right and wrong. But, we already knew that because we've been funding and arming the Saudis' illegal war and simultaneous genocide in Yemen. What are some innocent brown women and children's lives when there is mad cheddar to make. Hell, the Trump administration and the right-wing hate Islam and detest Muslims; yet, they bend over backwards and perform all sorts of mental gymnastics to be apologists for the single most fundamentalist theocratic Islamist government on the face of the earth who harbors and trains terrorists including 15 of the 19 September 11th attackers! Why? MONEY!


•Politicon was this past weekend. I will break it down in an upcoming blog either Thursday or Friday. I watched a couple of excellent panels and debates. I just wanna say I saw a different side to Charlie Kirk and Tucker Carlson who deserve props for actually showing up and staying committed to the debates they agreed to. Both men showed some humanity and compromise.


Now, before my liberal and progressive friends freak out, Tucker Carlson is still a douchebag. He is still an asshole for peddling White Nationalist talking points and nonsense although he claims he's doing no such thing. Charlie Kirk is still a propagandist shill. He displayed again this weekend his intellect hovers between cursory and remedial. His obsession with Kayne West is at minimal disturbing. He can never be forgiven for unleashing Candace Owens' vapid sellout ass upon us. However, as I said, both showed a different side. And, no, I didn't forget nor was unaware that Kirk showed his ass during his debate with Hasan Piker. In my next blog I will certainly dive into him getting hella triggered by Cenk Uguyr because it was not only massively revealing it was funny as hell!


• Finally, let me say the pipe bombs that were sent to George Soros, The Clintons, The Obamas, Eric Holder, John Brennan by way of CNN and Rep. Maxine Waters should be wholesale condemned. But, of course, the right-wing nutjob contingency and social media immediately displayed their inability to empathize or use constraint. They have already started spewing conspiracy theories about the bombs being an intentional distraction from the migrant caravan coming from Honduras. It really does continue to amaze me the lack of intellect and common decency some of these folks possess.


People could have died today. Theoretically two former presidents could have been assassinated this morning. Yet, the crowd who has spent the last two weeks lecturing everyone on the left about incivility and hyper-partisanship literally ignored the potential catastrophe that could have taken place today while literally bathing in incivility and partisanship by accusing Democrats of either bombing their own or faking bombs to distract from a caravan only they are incessantly obsessed over. By the way the FBI has confirmed all of the bombs while "crudely conceived were fully functional".


See, this is why I don't want one damn person on the right lecturing me or anyone else about civility. If you're regurgitating this fucking bullshit or not calling it out, you can SIT YO ASS DOWN! Seriously, *take a damb seat*!


President Trump eventually got around to condemning it. Of course, he has a rally tonight so he could be back to babbling his crap or spewing these inane conspiracy theories as I write. Regardless, I don't wanna really hear from him either. He has been ginning up his cult with lies about a "left wing violent mob" because people exercised their free speech by protesting Brett "Keystone Light" Kavanagh. It should be noted the majority of those protestors were sexual assault survivors and women-some of whom had babies on their hips. Scarrrrryyyyy. And, yes some people interrupted Colonel Sanders...errrrr...I mean Mitch McConnell's meal last Friday night. While I don't agree with the methods it was hardly a violent mob. Perhaps, Mitch should not be so enthusiastically attempting to rip people's Medicaid and healthcare from them. Anyway, Trump has repeatedly stood before his adoring mobs at his "daddy needs love" rallies and erroneously vilified Democrats and labeled the free press "the enemy of the people". So for him to act as if he has no responsibility in this shit and the pugilistic discourse currently taking place in this country is at best disingenuous and irresponsible.


Not to mention where was the right two weeks ago when Gavin McInnes and his Proud Boys beat down three people in the streets of New York City? Where were they when the Proud Boys did the same in Portland, Oregon a couple of weeks before?


And, let me be clear I would implore my friends on the left to not automatically assume what happened the last 24 hours or so is the responsibility of some right-wing terrorists. However, allow me to implore my friends on the right to not act as though it's not conceivable, if not likely, right wing extremism isn't directly responsible. Of the domestic terrorism that takes place in the United States 71% of it is committed by far right groups. That is from the FBI. So, let's stop bullshittin and let's find a way to disagree without violence, intimidation and terrorism.


The discourse in this country sucks! And, it begins with the so-called decent good people demonizing anyone who disagrees with them. It also starts with people who claim to love Jesus doing the opposite of Christ and labeling anybody they disagree with as literally Satan or "demon rats", if you will. We should be better. The question is are we going to be better and are we actually better.

Today's Thoughts And Rants: October 18, 2018

•The Jamal Khashoggi murder is not only a tragedy but is becoming an American disgrace. It would appear the President of the United States is implicitly helping Saudia Arabia cover up what is an obvious murder. Khashoggi was a journalist whom over the last couple of years has exposed the Saudis corruption and the corruption of the Crown Prince, MBS. Khashoggi has been a dissident and an antagonist of the Saudis for some time. The Saudis killed him in cold blood.


The United States should be demanding accountability for this. But, as is often the case, the U.S. is dragging their feet and displaying overt hesitancy in condemning Saudia Arabia's atrocious actions. Why? Money, of course. As Trump bluntly said we're doing billions of dollars in arms deals with the Saudis.


These weapons deals are the watermark of another heinous Saudi endeavor, the genocide in Yemen. The American bankrolling of this genocide started under Barack Obama's tenure and has increased under the Trump administration. The Saudis have bombed innocent women and children. In addition, they are blockading food, medicine and necessities from entering Yemen which has caused a famine not seen in 100 years. (Let that sink in.) And, the United States of America has not just turned a blind eye to the death of civilians and children; but, worse, they have provided money and weapons to the Saudis so they can commit this genocide.


•Yet another brilliant piece of journalism was unveiled yesterday detailing the Trumps' penchant for lying, misleading and defrauding. ProPublica published an outstanding piece enumerating a number of failed buildings and hotels that Trump Organization led by Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump simply lied to investors and buyers about the quality of the property or the value. Funny thing is regardless of the ventures' failure or poor financial performance the Trumps always came out relatively unscathed.


The article also recounts the numerous questionable licensing deals and failed management of buildings. Also, of note was the frequency which Ivanka was caught lying about numbers and financial success. Like father, like daughter I guess.


I suggest reading the article. It is lengthy but much like the New York Times detailing the numerous ways the Trump's committed tax fraud it is a well written well sourced nuanced piece of journalism.


•Speaking of Trumps, lemme speak on Melania a bit. I have given her the benefit of the doubt but no more. People on my Twitter and in person have repeatedly said Melania is every bit as trifilin as the rest of that family. I have frequently been reminded she was a birther and made racist remarks about President Obama.


Last week exposed her for the vapid, shallow content in being a trophy wife woman she truly is. First, she said she is "one of the most bullied women on the world". The "on the world" part of the comment aside what an absolutely stunningly ignorant and self-absorbed thing to say. On its face it is an asinine remark because she is not bullied. If anything people have excused her and held her up as some paragon of Trump resistance because she trolled her banal husband a few times. Also, it was such a tone deaf thing to say when there are kids out here literally trying to kill themselves because of online and school bullying.


Then, Melania said the "rumors" of Trump's infidelities don't bother her because she has other concerns. Really? Like what? This sounds like the words of a woman who is perfectly content being a trophy wife and doesn't care what shenanigans her husband is involved in as long as the checks clear.


Perhaps, before she takes her #BeBest bullshit to the public she should apply it to her household first.


•HEY, WHITE PEOPLE, STOP CALLING THE POLICE ON BLACK FOLKS FOR MERELY EXISTING! 911 is exclusively for emergencies; not your insecurities and bigotry.


Dayum! Black folks can't do shit! Now, we can't babysit or attend our children's soccer games. Apparently, nine year old boys can't even walk out of a grocery store and their backpack brush up against some woman without her accusing the child of groping her ass.


This shit is out of control. Spare me your apologist bullshit! Spare me your #NotAllWhitePeople! Spare me your faux anger! Start calling your peoples out whether they're friends, family or co-workers. Stop going into "friendly territory" to vent your alleged anger. Share these stories on your social media. When you hear people defend this crap (and I know you do) call those people out then and there. Stop coddling soft racism.


I am telling you black folk are beyond fed up with this bullshit! We cannot do a muthafuckin thing without fear of some racist ass white person calling the police on us for simply existing and because the presence of Negros makes them nervous.


Eventually, an African-American is going to get shot over this shit or one is going to snap on somebody and the racist will play the victim and then shit will hit the fan! What really needs to happen is people who frivolously call the police need to suffer actual consequences from the authorities like substantial fines and/or jail time.

The Bemoaning Of Incivility Is A Trap The GOP Lays For Democrats

Republicans crying about incivility is the biggest con job they have perpetrated against Democrats yet.


On its face it is an absurd assertion that Democrats are the uncivil party. If the surface is scratched just a little it becomes apparent it's laced in hypocrisy.


However, the GOP launches these attacks and wails about the degradation of politics because it works. It is apart of their psychological warfare.


Republicans are fully aware the Democratic Party is the essence of neuroticism. They know Democrats never want to be seen as cruel, lacking empathy, aggressive nor uncivil. Sorry, Dems, it's the truth.


So, what better way to get inside their heads than to accuse them of being the very attributes they loathe regardless if it's untrue they are guilty of those things.


Also, claiming Democrats are uncivil is a primary method of silencing them. If they can convince enough Democrats they are being too boisterous or aggressive in their persistence or protest, then they know said Democrats will drown out the remaining dissenting voices. Resistance...dead.


Many Democrats have finally caught onto this tactic. They are not falling for the banana in the tailpipe. They are holding their ground and standing up for their principles.


The election of the current president along with the subsequent policies of said administration has spurred anger, frustration and energy into the Democratic base. In droves people have protested and resisted.


In fact, these people referred to as the #Resistance, have taken a page out of a similar wave of resistance that took place back in 2010 named The Tea Party.


The Tea  Party was a movement on the right that was essentially born out of protest to then president, Barack Obama. The Tea Party also went after other Republicans they deemed as too establishment.


The Tea Party made a habit of protesting almost everything President Obama did. They not only went to the streets but effectively utilized social media. They badgered and harassed elected members of both parties. Their methods were effective and also aggressive.


So, it's a bit ironic now that the Tea Party and Republicans in general are labeling Democrats "uncivil" for protesting with the exact same vigor they did.


No, it's actually hypocritical.


Recent events such as the Child Separation policy and the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation along with the likely ramifications of that confirmation have further inflamed passions within a large portion of the Democratic base.


Democrats have protested in Washington. Democrats in Congress have actually shown backbone fighting back against baseless allegations and insidious mischaracterizations. People on the left are actually taking principled stands and not backing down. They are confronting elected officials demanding their voices be heard and these officials defend their record. Basically, they are exercising their First Amendment rights.


This has caused Republicans to become apprehensive and fearful of what an actual energized Democratic base could do. Actually, they already know. They saw what happened in New York's 14th District with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's stunning decisive primary upset of Joe Crowley.


So, their response has been to do what they always do...fear monger. They have labeled the left "violent" and an "angry mob".


Now, there's no credible evidence of this violence and mob mentality. Yes, there have been protests and shouting but violence certainly hasn't broke out. Of course, the strawman of Antifa will be cited but they have not been sanctioned nor endorsed by any credible politicians and groups on the left. In fact, everyone from Progressives to corporatists Democrats have disavowed and repudiated Antifa. But, why allow pesky minutiae like facts to get in the way of a good story.


What is really hilarious is that the whining about angry mobs and "violent left" is antithetical to the Conservatives' narrative that people on the left are betas and snowflakes who sip lattes and eat avocado salads with brie like sissies. So, are they a violent angry brood or bitchy little snowflakes who need a safe space? It is very confusing.


The truth of the matter is Democrats cannot, again, fall for the okie-doke.


It is insane how the Republicans and Democrats literally have the classic abusive relationship. The GOP constantly mocks, belittles, demonizes, attacks and lies about Democrats. They label them with fake and slanderous tags. Then, when Democrats decide enough is enough and fight back Conservatives pull the proverbial abuser move accusing them of being the abuser. They project while simultaneously painting themselves as the victim. It's the quintessential method of emotional manipulation.


And, it usually works with stunning perfection. Democrats back down under the guise of "taking the high road". To hell with the high road when dealing with folks who believe no road is too low to travel.


Recently, former Attorney General Eric Holder and Satan's favorite grandma, Hillary Clinton, were in the news for faux controversies being accused of inflaming the fires of incivility.


Let's take Hillary's nonsensical controversy first. She said, "You cannot be civil with people who seek to destroy everything you believe in and stand for." Ok. What is the problem?


Well, Fox News, lost their minds. They said she was calling for violence and being irresponsible. Uh-huh. What I noticed, aside from the obvious gaslighting, is nobody on Fox nor any Republican addressed what she actually said.


See, they claim to be about the exchange of free ideas and that of course we all love America; it's just we have different avenues we want to take to see her successful. You know, civility. But, nobody confronted what she actually said because if they did, their stated desire for civility would be exposed for the disingenuous babbling it is because they know she is telling the truth.


The faux controversy over Eric Holder is even more nefarious and disingenuous. At a fundraiser last week Holder said, "Michelle Obama said, When they go low we go high.' No, when they go low, we kick 'em."


My honest initial reaction to this was, "Ok." I never thought he meant it literally. I took him to be speaking metaphorically.


Oh, but the right-wing went full on aneurism over it. They accused Holder of inciting violence. One knob on Fox News said, "This is unacceptable for a former attorney general to speak this way. He's an upholder of the law." Sista! Pipe down.


I literally saw five news segments (including "left wing" outlets) about this. As I said, I thought it was being blown out of proportion. Yesterday, I was proven to be correct.


Joy Reid on AM Joy played the entire clip. It appears right after (next sentence actually) Holder said to "kick 'em" he emphasized that he was speaking literally. He meant Democrats needed to fight back instead of allowing lies and mischaracterizations to lie in the name of "civility".


Well, well, ain't that about a.....Five different anchors (CNN, MSNBC, Fox, TYT and Secular Talk) only aired the first part of that statement. Now, in fairness, only one of those outlets mischaracterized Holder's comments. But, the overriding narrative dictated by Republicans was Eric Holder is calling for violent rebellion.


The Democrats have to stop allowing the GOP to get away with this bullying and bullshit. Defending yourself, fighting back, protesting and vehemently stating facts is not being violent nor is it being like an angry mob.


If Democrats want to win, they have to quit cowering to GOP idiocy and hypocrisy.


Seriously, are Democrats going to be lectured on civility from people who support Donald Trump and co-opt everything he does? Are they going to be lectured on civility by people who are apologists for a Neo-Nazi who ran a woman down in the streets in #Charlottesville? Are Democrats going to be lectured about civility by folks who support a President who locks children in cages separating them from their parents? Are Democrats going to be lectured on civility by people who said nothing when their presidential nominee openly and repeatedly advocated for violence against anyone who protested his campaign?


This bitchin about civility is a ruse. Dems, Republicans don't want you to be more civil; they want you to be silent and compliant.

Today's Thoughts And Rants: October 11, 2018

Today, I'm going to touch on a few topics. I will try to be brief. But, I have some shit on my mind, so... Leggo....


•The Right, especially the Alt-Right, still being all in their feelings about Taylor Swift is giving me life right now. It is so comical that these people really do seem to possess ZERO self-awareness or acknowledgement of their own hypocrisy. It is also hilarious their "outrage" is drenched with disingenuousness.


You wanna know why the Charlie Kirk's of the world, Fox News and right-wingers are so dismayed by T-Swizzle endorsing Democrats and progressivism? They feel betrayed. They have been gut punched. Taylor Swift was their ideal pop star...so they thought.


She was a bastion of wholesomeness and purity. She was the antithesis to the slutty evil Beyoncé. She was the "good girl" while Katy Perry and Lady Gaga were the harlots and liberal skanks who supported Satan herself, Hillary Clinton. Now, I assume they just glossed over that she went through more boyfriends than most people do toilet paper. Where I come from some would call that being a ho but...


The Alt-Right had dubbed Tay Tay and her lack of rhythm self an "Aryan princess". The very seldom "cobbler indulging" dudes of the Alt-Right held Taylor up as "Aryan female physical perfection". (Just let that shit sink in for a minute. Katie Perry or Lady Gaga or Carrie Underwood or Ariana Grande wasn't seen as " Aryan PHYSICAL perfection" but Taylor Swift? 😐 )


*Sigh* Anyway...


•Politicon is next weekend. For those unfamiliar with Politicon, it is a convention where political wonks and junkies get together for two days. They usually hold panels and have debates. Something interesting has been taking place though. Several Conservatives scheduled to debate Progressives have been backing out without providing reasons.


Ann Coulter was scheduled over a month ago to debate Secular Talk's Kyle Kulinski. Without notice she backed out although she is still scheduled to appear at Politicon. Other instances of Conservatives cancelling debate appearances are: Steven Crowder reneging on debating The Majority Report's Sam Seder; Ben Shapiro backing out of debating David Packman and Dave Rubin refusing to accept The Young Turks' (TYT) Ana Kasparian challenge to a debate.


It is odd the "free exchange; always willing to debate" crowd seem very unwilling to debate Progressives. The only person holding steadfast is Tucker Carlson who is slated to debate TYT's Cenk Uguyr.


•I am going to say yet again how impressed I am with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Regardless of baseless attacks from Republicans and their distortions of her words, if not outright lying about her, she holds her ground. While there are a couple of subjects she could stand to educate herself a little more about, she is well versed regarding the majority of topics. She innately understands politics and how to relate to people. The other day she did an interview with Chris Hayes which she was outstanding and beyond impressive. She is attractive, smart and has a disarming charm. AOC is going to be a player in the game for a long time! Sorry, corporatist Democrats and Republicans.


•I saw a meme the other day that was so misleading and disingenuous. In fact, some of it was just patently dishonest. The meme centered around a black guy #WalkingAway from the Democratic Party and addressing accusations of being a sellout.


First, for most black folks being a black conservative does not inherently make someone a "sellout" or an "Uncle Tom" or a "coon". That shit is a red herring employed by some white conservatives and Uncle Ruckuses  to distract from actual coonery.


Many black people, a plurality (if not a majority) agree with several conservative principles involving fiscal and criminal justice issues. Many black folks would say they are with smaller government believe it or not. When it comes to religious/moral issues I would say a significant number of blacks lean conservative because of the stature of the church in the black community.


Here is where many blacks and many conservatives (not actual Conservatism) part ways. Issues like systematic racism cause a fissure. Systematic racism most definitely exists although it appears many in the Republican Party pretends it doesn't. The criminal justice system including law enforcement inarguably disproportionately treats black and brown people differently but many Republicans act like that is a myth. Not just systematic but practical and anecdotal racism not only exists in substantial volume but has been on the rise in recent years. Many Conservatives say that is a lie and in fact "reverse racism" is way more pervasive and prevalent when not only statistical but empirical evidence says that is utter bullshit. Black and brown people know irrefutably that claiming reverse racism is the "real scourge" is disingenuous nonsense.


Now, what makes a black conservative a sellout, an Uncle Tom, a purveyor of coonery, a certified train rider if you will is when they willingly say racism against people of color whether they are black, brown, yellow or red is miniscule or worse nonexistent. What makes one a coon is when they go on television or write in publications or go on the radio and spout White Nationalist and Neo-Nazi talking points. Coonery is knowingly belittling actions and/or statements intended to shed light on racism and bigotry and hatred. Uncle Tomming and Aunt Tomasining is shucking and jiving, tap dancing, genuflecting and debasing oneself for money, influence and favor or worst of all mere acceptance from people who will never truly accept you. Going full Uncle Ruckus is selling out your people for the hope of acquiring love and respect from people who will never love and respect them. Furthermore, they are (wittingly or unwittingly) fulfilling a fetish some people have of seeing others demean themselves by disparaging people who are just like them or saying things about those people they either don't have the guts or feel they can't get away with saying themselves.


See, that strawman of black Conservatives are coons only works on the weak minded and fearful. It doesn't work on the intelligent and critical thinking. Black conservatives like Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, Tara Setmeyer, Tim Scott (most of the time), Shermichael Singleton, and even Larry Elder I would never call "coons"! Candice Owens, Ben Carson, Stacey Dash, Paris Denard, Kristina Pierson and Jason Whitlock on the other hand...all I hear is the Quad City DJ's, "C'mon, ride this train. Now ride it. Come on, now ride this train. Ride it...I think I can. I think I can. 🚃🚃🚃"


•And, that leads me to the sunken place...Kayne West. This foooooooool herrrrrrrrre.


He goes to White House today under the guise of discussing criminal justice reform and the violence in Chicago with President Trump. However, not one muthafuckin word was mentioned about either. Instead, Kayne slobbered over Trump talmbout how great he is. 😐 Kayne put on a full fledged minstrel show. He performed very well for the President. He stopped short of calling him " Massa" and washing his feet for him. Although if he had, it wouldn't have been any more demeaning and embarrassing.
Trump literally looked like a plantation owner whose "best nigger" had put on a performance that greatly pleased him and his invited guests. It was embarrassing, head shaking and tear inducing. One of the once greatest socially conscious hip hop artists of all-time reduced himself to nothing more than house nigga, Fiddler, shuckin and jivin for Massa's pleasure.


Apologists spare me the "mental health" line. That had nothing to do with that bullshit today. And, MAGAs please spare me the "free thinker" and "Kayne REALLY cares about his people" horseshit. No way on God's earth can you regurgitate that idiocy and trite cursory with a straight face. NOT ONE DAMB WORD ABOUT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM. OR CHICAGO WAS UTTERED.


www.facebook.com/robbase2110


www.twitter.com/robbase2110


www.instagram.com/robbase2110


www.patreon.com/robeasley

Apathy, Ignorance, Sanctimony And The #DumDumLeft Is Why Liberals Can't Have Nice Things

"Ignoring the forrest for the trees" should be the motto of the current Democratic Party. It would be hard to argue it is not already the quasi mantra.


When it comes to most of the major issues in this country (living wage, equal pay for women, legalizing marijuana, gun control, foreign policy, criminal justice reform, getting corporate pac money out of politics and Medicare for all) the majority of the country sides with the Left. Only about 1/4 of the country self-identifies as a Republican. Yet, the Democrats can't win elections on the local and state levels. Their electoral success is limited in Congress. And, while they have won six of the last seven presidential elections, they've managed to actually enter the White House in four of them because they lost the Electoral College. So, even when they win, they lose.


Why is this the case? How can a party that has a majority of the country agreeing with its stances have no power? Democrats don't control the legislative nor the executive branches of government. And, now, they don't seem to have any firm grasp on the judicial. They just lost any influence on the Supreme Court.


Many reasons exist for the Democrats' ineptness. Awful leadership is atop the list. Catering to corporate and lobbying interests along with a vacuous affinity to compromising with people who have absolutely no desire to compromise with them instead of actually listening to their base and adhering to their needs and voices.


This leads back to the 2016 Presidential election. Yes, we need to stop litigating it but it provided valuable lessons that still appear are not being learned.


The Neo-Liberal wing of this party, which is also where the power structure lies, is literally suppressing victory. It is not deliberate, but it is obvious. While the Neo -Liberals and corporatists want power they seem to be content with the status quo. They don't want the boat rocked.


Instead of listening to their base they continuingly concede to the GOP without getting anything of significant value in return. An example of this is the military budget. The Democrats signed off without much pushback on the Trump Administration expanding an already bloated military budget to $700 billion while saying virtually nothing about social programs including the VA getting slashed under the guise of "we don't have the money for those programs".


Another example of the party leadership' ineptness or simple willful malpractice is not pushing the issues the party claims to care about. Medicare For All is something the majority of Americans favor. However, people like Senate Minority Leader, Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and House Minority Leader, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), belittle the idea. Likely they reject it because they don't want to upset the insurance companies. They along with most of moderate, centrists and neo-liberal wing say, "How can Medicare For All be paid for?" This question is being asked by people who signed off on an unnecessary increase in military spending to $700 billion.


The party leadership doesn't appreciate their base. They don't adhere to their concerns. They seemingly refuse to make any competent attempt to energize the base. They take it for granted. All of this is partially why turnout for the 2016 election was low.


However, the corporatist neo-liberal wing of the party is not at fault alone. A small but boisterous section of the Progressive/Leftist wing has caused issues and consternation also.


Before and after Hillary Clinton won the nomination in 2016 the "Bernie or Bust" crowd made it clear they would not support Clinton. It was understandable. They believed Bernie Sanders was cheated out of the nomination. While the DNC was abhorrent in their overt bias for Clinton the fact is she won the nomination by obtaining the most votes. But, that's neither here nor there.


The issue was this wing of the party literally went on the offensive against Clinton. They repeated and vehemently insisted they abhorred Donald Trump; yet, they didn't criticize him but obliterated Clinton.


Their criticisms were legit and mostly factually accurate. However, they seemed to not understand or simply didn't care that their relentless attacks on Clinton and refusal to support her candidacy was ignoring the forrest for the trees. They seemed to fail to realize what was at stake in the election.


Their nuanced issues with Clinton was neglecting the larger scale issues.


This attitude has continued since the election. Basically, anyone who doesn't see things precisely the way they do they dismiss as naive, a cuck or a fake. The attacks on the Democrats are incessant but there doesn't seem to be be many, if any, attacks on Trump nor his policies per se. They complain about his policies but somehow lay the blame solely at the feet of the Democrats.


This wing of the party other Progressives have began to dub the #DumDumLeft has also began implementing purity tests and demonizing anyone they deem has veered even slightly right of them.


An example of this is recently a well-known and well-liked leftist YouTuber, Jimmy Dore, totally dragged New York District 14 House candidate, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, for saying New York Democratic governor, Andrew Cuomo, should be supported in his re-election bid.


Ocasio-Cortez is a Democratic Socialist who has become a rock star in the Progressive movement and has well established her Progressive roots and beliefs. She endorsed Cuomo's opponent in the primary, Cynthia Nixon. AOC's "endorsement" of Cuomo, who make no mistake is a corporatist Democrats, wasn't her saying he is a great candidate. It was her saying that he is better than the alternative.


Yet, Dore went off on her and the progressive takeover of the Democratic Party. He called the attempted take over fake. He also implied AOC was fake. And, while most agree AOC shouldn't have said anything regarding Cuomo, they understood where she was coming from. But, for Dore and the #DumDumLeft it was seen as traitorous which is patently stupid.


The entire AOC/Dore situation highlighted a major problem with this insurgency during the 2016 election. Politics and issues are often complex. Rarely are they black and white. Gray is usually the dominant color. Ironically, however, when it comes to voting for candidates the choices are almost always binary even if there are more than two choices.


This is what this insurgent sector of the left didn't grasp in 2016 and apparently still do not.  Jill Stein never had a chance; neither did Gary "Aleppo" Johnson. The choice was between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. And, yes, Hillary is a centrist, an interventionist, a war hawk, a corporatist and corrupt; however, Trump was all those things plus anti-women's reproductive rights, anti-unions, favored giving tax cuts to the rich, xenophobic, transphobic and racially a bigot, if not a full fledged White Nationalist. The man openly said he wanted to ban all Muslims from entering the country, he wanted to build a wall to keep Brown folks out and wanted to bring back "stop and frisk" to keep Black people in check. So, how did they not see this was a binary choice? They claim to care about those issues.


Jimmy Dore (not to single him out necessarily) said choosing the lesser of two evils is a false choice and "propagandist bullshit". The fact is it is not. The country now realizes it is not a false choice.


Both aforementioned wings of the party are about to learn the hard way that sometimes choices are binary and choosing the lesser of two evils is real.


One of the greatest acts of political malpractice in modern times is the way Democrats ignored the importance of the judiciary.


Conservatives have seen the importance of the judiciary for decades. They have been feverishly working and manipulating to mold the courts into their liking because they understand the judiciary is where the real power is. Legislation can be voted into law but it only remains law if the courts allow it.


Democrats appear to not understand the importance of the courts or simply did not care.


The Merrick Garland fiasco should have been made a central issue of the 2016 campaign. It is not hyperbole to say the GOP stole the Supreme Court seat vacated due to Scalia's death nor is it hyperbolic to say President Obama's constitutional oath and right was violated and hijacked.


But, the Democrats did nothing to fight back. They whined and bitched some but ultimately they did what they always do. They acquiesced and cowered.


In fairness to Clinton during the debates she stressed the vitality of the courts but it was never apart of her campaign and stump speeches. It certainly was never stressed as a central issue  by the DNC or party leadership.


It was clearly an issue that could have been a rallying cry for the entire party. It certainly is an issue that people within the party who claim to be policy oriented should have understand its importance and pertinence.


Because of the neglect, apathy and misguided sanctimony Donald Trump won the presidency. Furthermore, he and the Republicans control the Supreme Court and are gaining influence in the federal courts.


Liberals should think about this. President Trump hasn't been able implement or fully implement his most amoral and heinous policies such as the Muslim ban and separating migrant children from their parents because of the federal courts intervention. Thanks, Obama and Bill Clinton.


Now, give this some thought. The #DumDumLeft said the courts don't really matter. They are "not as important as policy".


Well, here is the thing now that President Trump has been able to add Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court giving it a decided Conservative majority. Issues that are near and dear to Liberals are in danger and likely in lame duck status.


Unions have already been gutted. Civil Rights are going to be partially rolled back. Citizens United is as good as completely safe. The Muslin Ban will likely be implemented. Trump will be protected from consequences of his crimes and corruption. And, Roe V Wade might not overturned but will be so gutted it essentially might as well be.


Imagine if Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren or Kristen Gillibrand win the presidential election in 2020. Let's say a President Sanders or a President Warren get Medicare-For-All to pass. The opposition will sue and the case will very likely go before the Supreme Court. As currently constituted what are the chances that the court will uphold law?


The federal judiciary matters.


The selling out, the apathy, the sanctimony and the ignorance that has pervaded the left from one end of the spectrum to the other has been destructive. Refusal to see the bigger picture and hold noses for the greater good has placed the Democrats as bystanders to what is certain to be erosion of 60 years of social and cultural progress.


The party with the overwhelming majority of the country on its side has managed to allow this country to become minority ruled.


Inexplicable. Unforgivable.

October 5, 2018: Odds And Ends

•As I predicted and expected it appears Brett Kavanaugh will be confirmed. The FBI investigation was a predictable sham. Their hands were essentially tied as they were not allowed to interview Kavanaugh nor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. They were also instructed to not interview several other witnesses who possessed information that could've been germane to the investigation. Trump and the Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans pulled a bait and switch on the Democrats.


But, I really don't want to hear any whining and crying from the Democrats. At least a large swath of them I don't. They essentially got what they deserved. This entire fiasco should have never been. Well, at the very least, the significance of this Supreme Court seat. This could have all been avoided if the neo-liberal corporatists Democrats in Congress had a backbone and told the GOP to go fuck themselves when they blatantly violated President Obama's constitutional right to fill the seat vacated by Anthony Scalia's death. The seat Neil Gorsuch (Donald Trump's first Supreme Court pick) now occupies rightfully belongs to Merrick Garland.


However, it's not just congressional Dems that are culpable. I also blame apathetic Liberals and the #DumbDumbLeft. The Dumb Dumb Left which is comprised of Progressives who are inanely sanctimonious, foolishly idealistically dogmatic and seem more interested in burning shit down than finding ways to implement progressive values and policies. You know, like through the judiciary. Instead of seeing the importance and vitality of the courts like Conservatives do they just shrug their shoulders. They nonchalantly say imbecilic impertinent shit like the Supreme Court doesn't matter. That is just the tip of the spear of their idiocy. (I will put out a blog tomorrow dedicated to dragging these fools for their misguided self-righteousness, impetuous sanctimony, and their painful lack of perspective for the big picture.) Anyway, the Dems' fuckery is going to cost us all.


•This "aggrieved male" movement and its ideology that says it's not sexual assault accusers and victims along with women in general that still are expected to deal with boorish, misogynistic and sexist attitudes that are the victims ; it is actually the men whom still hold onto these arcane views of women and who literally exemplify every stereotype of a chauvinistic piggish asshat who are the true victims. First, no you're NOT! Second, I thought your ilk were the ones who decried "victim mentality". Or, is that only when it's the marginalized and disenfranchised groups you're victimizing? When those groups fight back it's then ok for you to play the victim and go into full snowflake mode. And, for every woman who co-signs this shit and becomes an apologist for it, shame on you! Y'all literally Aunt Tomasinaing for dudes who don't think you're shit. They don't see you as equals. You should demand you and every other woman be respected and heard and not to have yo pussy grabbed without consent by some clammy entitled douchbag. Moving on...


•Meritocracy is a myth! Don't believe me? Look no further than one Donald J Trump. Trumpsters, I know y'all refuse to listen or read one negative word about Dear Leader, but I implore you to read the New York Times piece about the tax schemes Fred Trump implemented to make Cheets a millionaire before he was 10. It is not fake news. It is an article that is going to win a Pulitzer. It is in-depth, intrinsic, detailed and explicitly sourced. The article details what I have been saying for three years which is Trump is and has always been a fraud. He is not a great businessman. He is an irresponsible buffoon who had to be bailed out of financial catastrophe by his daddy time and time and time again. Just read the article.


•Kayne West needs to have a plethora of seats. His act isn't a publicity stunt. It is the culmination of years of self-aggrandizing, surrounding himself with sycophants, filling his inner circle with an influx of fuckery and non-serious people and being staunchly fundamentally opposed to reading or learning.


Kayne thinks he's a genius because he's been told he's a genius. He is a musical genius but because he's a malignant narcissist he began believing that genius translated into having a high intellect. Nobody would tell him that is not how it works. Nobody told him to be intellectual you have to be well read and embrace knowledge and critical thinking.


And, let keep it 100 here. Why wouldn't he think he's an intellectual when be has spent the better part of the last decade in the midst of the sea monkey shitshow that is the Kardashians and Jenners.


www.facebook.com/robeasley


www.twitter.com/robeasley


www.patreon.com/robeasley


www.instagram.com/robbase2110

Random Rants And Thoughts: October 1st, 2018

•This Brett Kavanaugh mess has worn me out. Like everything else it's become a partisan issue. The people on the right whining about partisanship are just as guilty as they say people on the left are. It is utterly idiotic and shamelessly hypocritical to bitch, "But, this was from so long ago", when they bring up Bill Clinton's bullshit every chance they get regarding every situation. "This bill has too much pork in it. The Democrats always want to spend your money. Remember they are the party of Bill Clinton who had sex with Gennifer Flowers."


•One thing has become crystal clear. Rape culture not only exists in this country; but, it is prevalent and pervasive. Folk' innate response is to not just disbelieve the victim but begin an earnest campaign to discredit and slut shame her. Now, that is unless the victim can provide some political and/or tribal purpose. If the victim is white and the accused is black, of course she has been assaulted. If the accused is someone who can alter a potential law or is a figure of the opposite political ideology, he is most certainly guilty. But, the general default position is that most women alleging sexual assault are liars and just trying to tear down men. Don't roll your fucking eyes at me for what I said in this blurb because we all know it's the truth. Slavery is America's original sin; but the archaic view of women, the dismissiveness of sexual assault and the coddling of rape culture is America's most enduring and repeated sin!


•Donald Trump Jr is a douchebag. I saw a quote today where "his father's greatest disappointment" said he worried more about his sons than his daughters (regarding sexual assault allegations). Yeah, because a plethora of sexual assault allegations are women falsely claiming men sexually harassed and/or assaulted them while a miniscule few are men actually guilty of sexual harassment and/or assault. Lawd! This dude is a sexist chauvinist asshat! Well, wait...I mean his sons have him as a father and Donald Trump as a grandfather teaching them to be misogynistic piggish boorish clowns and it's ok to grab women by the pussy. Hell, when you're a star they let you do it. So, I see where Usay has a point to worry more about his sons.


•The NFL has had a helluva good start to its season. However, I am not down with what Earl Thomas did yesterday. I like the dude. I understand his frustration with his contract. I get he was pissed about sustaining a season ending injury. But, flipping off the Seahawks sideline was classless. They had been allowing him to be an ass and basically disrespect his teammates by not showing up for practice. They had been actively seeking a trade at his request. He could've displayed a bit of decorum yesterday.


•Finally, lemme address the Kayne situation. Look, his #SNL performance was what it was. He had to expect boos when he came out sporting a #MAGA hat and spit those self-pity weak ass apologist lyrics for his Trumpification. Honestly, I don't give a shit about that. He can support whomever he wants to support. But, he has to provide some intelligent argument for that support when he begins making public statements and pontifications of that support. This fool went on Twitter talmbout America is no longer outsourcing jobs and building factories here supporting American workers. I suppose it was an homage to Trump. Here's the problem. It's factually inaccurate. Trump has actually outsourced more jobs in his first 20 months in office than Obama in his last 20. That is fact.


However, that wasn't the most egregious part of his tweet. He also advocated for "abolishing the 13th Amendment". 😐 The 13th Amendment, for you kids at home, abolished slavery. Now, I know Kayne isn't asking for slavery to be reinstituted. That would mean he wouldn't be married to Big Booty. It would also mean instead of metaphorically him genuflecting to Massa and keeping Massa's feet warm he would literally be at Massa's feet keeping them warm.


The issue is this Neeeeeeeeeegro doesn't know what the 13th Amendment is! Why is he tweeting about it? Instead of kissing Trump's ass and saturating himself in his own hype he should read a damn book! Read the damn Constitution!


This is shit is so infuriating. More than that it's depressing. It is really disheartening to see one of hip-hop's true icons debase himself and go down this death spiral. It's not hyperbole to say Kayne West's first two albums are two of not only the greatest hip-hop albums of all-time but two of the greatest albums period of all-time. Kayne's lyrics were deep and poignant. Through The Wire and It All Falls Down (or the Stacey Dash unofficial biography lol) are two of the best well written songs in rap history in my opinion.


But, then his mother died. From there it's been a steady decline. The roles of the mother and grandmother in a black male's life cannot be measured. Since Kayne's embracing of Trump and this increase and intensity in odd behavior I have heard many people half jokingly say, "Kayne needs a long embracing loving hug from a black woman." The comment has been meant more symbolically than literally. But, there is some real truth in it. Him being in that sea monkey Kardashian shitshow cannot possibly be healthy for him. From all accounts he doesn't have one person in his inner circle that can be point blank honest with him. He has pushed away anyone that will be real with him. Kayne has surrounded himself with "yes men" which is the classic narcissist move. Kim Kardashian is the closest thing to a voice of reason in his life. Let that sink in. He has literally surrounded himself with sycophants and grifters like Candace Owens who tell him he's a genius and others just don't understand his unique intellect. They tell him the world hates him for having his own mind (ie: supporting Trump) and for thinking outside the box. That is literally some charlatan bullshit Candace Owens told him.


He's in the sunken place. This fool is out in them Twitter streets advocating the abolishment of the 13th Amendment and saying mind-boggling stupid shit like slavery is a choice. But, we (meaning me, his fans, ect) are all culpable for this. When this Negro started referring to himself as Jesus we should've stepped in instead of chalking it up to being "unique" or being sea monkeyed. When his black ass was starting Twitter beefs with Amber Rose which she subsequently tore his ass up we should've sounded the alarm instead of laughing at him. When this knucklehead started a GoFundMe page claiming he was broke and people actually gave him money we should've pulled the rip cord. We all thought it was funny and not so secretly applauded when he was a dick to Taylor Swift because it was nice to see her shaded. Truth is, regardless of how pretentious and insufferable she can be, it wasn't funny. It was obnoxious and prickish. We should've called him out for it. While we cringed at his odd obsession with Beyoncé we should have said, "No! This obsessing over B is weird!" When he started a clothing line peddling those ugly ass clothes and those damb hospital shoes he kept acting like were stylish kicks we should've collectively said, "Chile, please! That looks like some knock off Goodwill shit!" But, we didn't.


No, we didn't and now Kayne is referring to himself as "Ye", sporting #MAGA hats, full throated supporting a dude who is antithetical to everything he espoused on College Dropout and Late Registration and on Twitter promoting the abolishment of the Constitutional amendment that ended slavery because he doesn't know it's the amendment that ended slavery.


"Wake up, Mr. West. Wake up, Mr. West!"......--------------------Um, he gone. He gone...

Random Rants And Thoughts: September 29, 2018

• This Brett Kavanaugh situation is tiring. No, actually people's refusal or disingenuousness in not placing proper context on the situation is tiring. I'm so tired of hearing about due process. One, it's laughable the people demanding due process demanded Al Franken be thrown out of the Senate and John Conyers out of the House of Representatives. Neither of whom received due process. Also, this is a job interview; so, Kavanaugh is not inherently afforded due process. By the way I am sure the mothers of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice and Philande Castile are wondering where these proponents of due process were when their sons were unjustly murdered.


• I love how Republicans just can't leggo of the Clintons. Then, they lie and mislead about aspects of Bill Clinton's nonsense. I mean to suggest Bill Clinton's depravity and fuckery hasn't been litigated is abject silliness and lying. The man was impeached for lying under oath about getting his donut stick glazed. And, ironically the dude who went after him the hardest and asked the most pervasive sexually explicit questions about it was none other than "Mr. Virgin" himself, Brett Kavanaugh. Also, this bullshit I've seen on social media suggesting Democrats are defending Clinton while ruining Kavs' life is side splitting hilarious. Nobody is defending Bill Clinton. Most of the Democratic base wishes the Clintons would just go away.


• I have said my piece about Bill Cosby. I have people upset or disappointed with me because I'm not jumping on the "Cosby is a martyr" train. Sorry. I don't think he's a sympathetic figure. However, as I said in my blog I completely understand why some folks are livid Cosby is going to spend 3 to 10 in the crisper while other sexual predators who are white go free. I just think you can be angry about that and still acknowledge Cosby is a sexual predator. These allegations arose to the surface a few years ago but they've been hovering around the surface for decades. It was rumored and in some cases known of Cosby's shenanigans. It's partly the reason other famous black celebrities never embraced him. They thought he was a fraud. One more thing anyone who thinks I am some type of train rider or the male version of Candace Owens because I am not defending Bill Cosby at all costs simply hasn't been following this blog or my social media. I would say I'm offended and insulted but the insinuation is so ludicrous and devoid of intellectual honesty it's not worth my being offended. As I said in the blog, we have plenty of positive black male role models in the public eye that I don't feel we have to settle for wholesale defending sexual predators Oh, and it is certainly not lost on me how some people say they have no problem believing Cosby or O.J. are guilty but think Kavanaugh and Trump are innocent. I see them. I see them.


• I hope the #DumbDumbLeft and Dems in general have learned a lesson from this Kavanaugh shitshow. The judiciary matters. The Left has to start caring as much about the courts as the Right. Because Democrats acted like punk bitches regarding the Republicans dick move about Merrick Garland Neil Gorsuch was confirmed to the Supreme Court which is making this Kavanaugh confirmation so vitally important. People like Jimmy Dore telling Progressives the Supreme Court doesn't really matter is political commentary malpractice. Apart of the reason Republicans despite being the minority in the country always have power is because they get the bigger picture. Yes, gerrymandering and voter suppression are significant causes too; but, they also understand what power brings and affords them. They are well aware on every major and vital issue in the country except maybe military spending the country is decidedly left of center. So, they intricately understand controlling the judiciary is vital to implementing their agenda.


•Democratic leadership is so woefully inadequate and out of touch with the Democratic base and the country. #ThatIsAll


•Dabo Sweeney may live to regret shafting Kelly Bryant


• Anyone who thinks the New England Patriots are in trouble haven't been paying attention the last 17 years.


• The Atlanta Braves are back in the playoffs! I've been a fan for 40 years and will be a fan for 40 more.


•Ronal Accuna should be the unanimous National League Rookie of the Year!


• And, Big Brother...Smh. It's a shame Tyler didn't win. He played the best game. I am truly indifferent about Kaycee winning. I didn't particularly care for her. Honestly, I didn't care for the cast as a whole. I know some people felt this was the best season in years. Meh. I don't know about that. Bring on Celebrity Big Brother 2!

I Get It, But Bill Cosby Is Not Desrving Of Martyrdom

I fully understand the frustration over Bill Cosby receiving jail time for sexual assault. I really do.


It seems unfair and blatantly transparent something nefarious is taking place. The Cos, an ill 81 year old black man, is going to the clink while a plethora of white men accused of sexual assault seemingly are skating free. Sure, they have, perhaps, lost their livelihoods and reputation but they still have their freedom. Matt Lauer, Charlie Sheen, Charlie Ross and Kevin Spacey to name a few. Noticeably, I left out Harvey Weinstein because Harv has been charged with sexual assault. Indictment is inevitable and I think conviction even in this fucked up judicial system is all but certain.


Of course, it would be journalistic malpractice of me not to mention the President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, whom 19 women have credibly accused of sexual assault. It would certainly appear Trump will face no legally punitive repercussions for his alleged crimes. Although Summer Zervos seems destined to ensure he faces civil and financial consequences for his misdeeds.


So, I get it. I comprehend why many black and brown folks along with some white brothas and sistas are saying, "Wayment! Wait! A! Damb! Minute! Why is Bill Cosby going to be anticipating "mystery meat Tuesdays" while the likes of Bill O'Reilly is free making shitty YouTube videos?"




It is a beyond legitimate question. However...


Bill Cosby is guilty! Forget he was found guilty in a court of law. Anyone who listened to evidence and to Cosby let alone watched his demeanor knows he's guilty as sin.


Cosby has never acted like an innocent man. He has never sincerely advocated his innocence. Instead he attacked his accuser's credibility. He attacked the prosecutors for having the audacity to put him on trial but never staunchly proclaimed he is innocent.


This is partly why I am stunned to see the voracity which many are defending him. I am shocked to see the degree many are going to cite the perceived unfairness he is supposedly being subjected.


People are floating Alex Jones level conspiracy theories to propagate their defense. Some people are claiming this is an elaborate scheme to bring Cosby down. I ask why not do this 25 years ago when he was relevant. But, this like most conspiracy theories lack any intellectual thought or facts or commonsense.


I realize I might be in the minority here but I am not just getting this "black unity for Cosby no matter what".


William Cosby is not a martyr nor is he deserving of martyrdom.


Yes, Cosby broke glass ceilings for African-Americans in comedy and television. Without question Cosby has been a prominent figure in African-American history. Certainly, the Cos has been a role model (of sorts).


But, Cosby's relationship with the black community is complicated and strained to say the least.


Many of the people defending him today were rolling their eyes about him before the sexual assault allegations came to the surface.


Cosby was a beloved figure whom most of us didn't want at the summer picnic. He was that uncle we loved because he did do some wonderful things from time to time but we didn't want around because he was an asshole. All he did was put you down, rip on your clothes, talk shit about your music, nitpicked every word you said and had a "holier than thou" aurora. Then, if you displayed being fed up with his shit, he would remind you what he's done for you and how much better he is than you.


Cosby was a terrific philanthropist but that philanthropy always came with strings attached and at a certain level was cursory and pretentious.


Cosby gave what seemed tirelessly to historically black colleges and universities. He used the Cosby Show to honor black art and jazz. But, Cosby always stiff armed important aspects of black culture.


He was notorious for constantly putting down black youth. He offered (what I would say were fair) critiques of the way many black people talked and presented themselves; but those critiques were hollow because they never had any substance behind them encouraging blacks to be better. So, the criticisms came across as elitist and demeaning.


Cosby never embraced the black youth and the evolving culture. He criticized music and fashion. He constantly bemoaned "pants being worn showing crack" but never actually contributed meaningful actions that helped the black community.


We all know teenage pregnancy was and is a prevalent issue within the black community. He never offered solutions. He just continuously called young black girls "whores" and "immoral tramps". Never did he actually use his influence and power to address the issues and seek solution.


Bill Cosby was the prototypical "I got out of the hood so it should be easy for you to do" guy. He acted and talked as if he didn't endure struggle, racial pushback and racial resentment.


What blows my mind is so much of Cosby's attitude toward the black community is strikingly similar to what people like Candace Owens, David Clarke, Ray Lewis and Jason Whitlock propagate. And, the majority of Cosby's ardent defenders refer to those people as "coons".




Now, I am not disagreeing but I am perplexed. Why go to the mat for someone who over the years evidence has indicated wouldn't do the same for you?


Honestly, some of the shit Cosby has said is straight out of the White Nationalist talking point playbook. Don't get me wrong. I don't think Cosby is Paris Denard before Paris Denard, but he certainly gave cretins like that fodder.


I just don't see where Cos is worthy of this persecution status black folks seem to be way too eager to give him.


This actually may sum up my feelings about Cosby. The Cosby Show was a great, if somewhat unrelatable, show. It certainly put African-Americans in a positive light.




But, I always felt his greatest gift to black television was "A Different World". While the gift was certainly accidental it was nonetheless awesome.


"A Different World" was originally designed to be a way of giving Lisa Bonet her own vehicle while actually keeping her in line. But, Bonet was a wild free spirit and effed up her chance by "going behind Mr. Cosby's back" making that disturbing movie with Mickey Rourke.


That movie got her kicked off A Different World but put Cosby and NBC in a situation. A Different World because of The Cosby Show lead-in had become a top 10 show in its inaugural season but now was without it's star. Debbie Allen convinced Cosby to let her run the show and build the storyline around Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Harrison) and Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy).


Cosby remained executive producer but gave full creative control to Allen and stayed out of the way. The result was what is arguably the most influential and successful shows that was designed to directly appeal to black youth and young adults. But, it not only attracted black viewers but white viewers as well.


A Different Word took head on social and racial issues. It was one of the first shows that addressed nuanced issues within the black community that solely affect and center around black people. The show engaged discussion about taboo issues like skin color within the black community and the role of mammie and other slavery and Jim Crow imagery and characters.


The show dug deep into HBCU cultures along with addressing white integration into HBCUs


A Different World actually depicted the diversity within black communities in a way that was relatable to all black folks and white folks. Everybody knows a Whitley, a Dwayne, a Ron Johnson, a Kimberly Reese, a Freddie Brooks, a Lena James, a Shazza, ect.


But, suddenly NBC executives began getting nervous with the social and political issues A Different World addressed without fear. NBC began exerting creative control. Cosby, who was always uncomfortable with the show's storylines did little to misdirect NBC. When Allen and A Different World cast members asked Cosby to interject and allow the show to continue what made it successful and a pop icon he refused and essentially allowed NBC to kill the show.


To me that sums much of Bill Cosby up.


Look, I really do get the angst, frustration and anger over what is arguably more bullshit systematic racism. I understand that there is (at times) what seems to be an nefarious intentional assault on black men in this country especially any that are doing positive things for communities of color. Look no further than LeBron James and Colin Kaepernick.


But, hoping aboard the persecution train for the likes of Bill Cosby, R. Kelly and Chris Brown seems misguided. They're not worth the energy.


Bill Cosby's contributions to society and the black community in particular are undeniable. Cosby is most definitely a trailblazer.


However, what he has detracted seems to be outweighing what he contributed.


I have read tweets and posts of people saying the allegations against Cosby have been proven false. That simply is not true. Cosby hasn't even ardently denied the claims nor proclaimed his innocence. That should tell you something.


We have plenty of black role models to look up to without having to settle for defending sexual predators. The well is not that dry.


I appreciate what Bill Cosby has done and given us.


I think it is bullshit that Cosby is serving three to ten as an 80 something year old man while a predator like Trump is president.


But, Bill Cosby is not deserving of martyrdom. It is simply not a hill worth dying for.

Victim Blaming, Victim Shaming

"All lives matter!"


"All victims should be heard and respected."


Folks love to say the two previous sentences, but they seem to have trouble putting those statements into actual practice.


The former statement is one of the most cringe worthy statements ever because it drips with cynicism, condescension and disingenuousness. It is a rebuff to "black lives matter". However, it is not meant literally because it's usually uttered after someone laments the unnecessary and often unjustified deaths of black people. And, way too often these deaths come at the hands of law enforcement.


The latter statement of "victims should be heard and respected" is much too frequently a statement that is soaked in patronage and dismissiveness. The words sound empathetic on their face but it is really just specious and condescending.


It's no secret over the last couple of weeks two of the stories dominating the headlines are Bret Kavanagh's nomination and impending confirmation to the Supreme Court along with the killing of Dallas, Texas resident Botham Jean at the hands of Dallas police officer Amber Guygur.


Both of these stories have illuminated some very real and very pervasive issues within our society. What has stood out to me, however, is the penchant many people have to blame the alleged victim and then shame said victim.


Now, this is blaming and shaming is not unilateral. It often appears to be quite subjective depending on what the crime is, who the victim is and who the alleged perpetrator is.


Victims of sexual assault, for example, often face ridicule, besmirching and not being believed. This is why sexual assault and abuse are atop the list of the least reported crimes and have been forever. Especially if the alleged assaulter is someone well known, influential or has a exemplary reputation the victim is presumed to be lying and must go well above and beyond to prove they have been violated. And, even then...


We see what happens when a person of color is the victim of police brutality or worse murdered. It is always assumed the person of color is a criminal or did something to precipitate the "unfortunate" incident. For some people the attitude always is regardless of facts law enforcement is beyond reproach and the black/brown person did something causing them a deserved death.


The most disturbing trend and pattern of behavior beyond the victim blaming is the victim shaming.


We see this happen all the time.


People always say about assault and abuse victims, "Why didn't they report it?" It's a specious question because people know why victims don't report. They are scared and likely have been threatened of consequences if they say anything. Victims often feel shame and turn guilt inward. They are afraid of not being believed and name called which is like being assaulted all over again. So, there is no mystery why people don't report. You have to be pretty damn dense or just callous to not comprehend that.


And, what I hear is, "If it was me, I'd tell." Ok. That is you. That is not the standard procedure and feelings of most sexual assault victims. And, what I always say to those folks who say that, "Are you a victim? If not, you don't really know what you would do. It's always easy to flap your gums about hypotheticals you don't think will happen nor can imagine happening."


Then, the worst to me are people who are victims but degrade and demonize other victims for not saying anything or waiting for a long period of time because they themselves said something or went to authorities.


People cannot be this un-empathetic and simple-minded. Can they?


It is wonderful you were able to have the strength to go to the authorities and fight back. It's awesome you felt you had a strong enough support system to stand up to your assaulter. But, you're an anomaly. Not everyone is strong like that. Not everyone has a solid support system. Not everyone has faith in their support system. And, far too often that lack of faith has been proven to be justified for many victims.


I would be remised if I didn't mention the people who call sexual assault, sexual abuse and rape victims "sluts, "whores" "skanks" and "loose". Ya know the folks whose first words to an assault victim is, "What were you wearing? Were you drinking? Why were you there? Did you lead him on?"


It is astounding to me how people like that live with themselves. Never does the idea of displaying empathy occur to them. Let alone does the concept of holding the assaulter to account cross their mind. It is inconceivable to say about the perp they should not take advantage of someone or attack someone regardless of their mental or emotional state or what they were wearing.


For that matter what their sexual history is. I don't give a shit if a woman bangs every dude in a 50 mile radius. It's HER CHOICE! Her perceived sexual promiscuity does not give license some piece of shit to rape her! If you think it does, YOU NEED JESUS AND AN INFUSION OF HUMANITY!


Now, regarding just about every time an unarmed person of color is assaulted or murdered by those sworn to protect them the same type of heinous shaming takes place.


It almost never fails immediately after the death an intense scrubbing of the victim's background takes place. If the brotha so much as stole a piece of Bubblicious, it is leaked to media as if it serves as some sort of justification.


Take the Botham Jean case. Amber Guygur ILLEGALLY entered his apartment. She says she was disoriented after working a 15 hour shift and mistakenly entered his apartment because the "door was ajar". I'll ignore the bullshit about a 15 hour shift as an excuse. But, I won't ignore multiple witnesses saying they heard banging on the door and shouting from Officer Guyguy before two gunshots were fired.


Guygur said Jean didn't adhere to verbal commands. Uh, excuse me, heffa but why did he have to adhere to your commands? You weren't on the clock. And yo ass was in his house uninvited and ILLEGALLY!


For the record no weapon nor sign of a weapon was found. No struggle appeared to take place.


However, a warrant was requested and granted to search Botham Jean's apartment for drugs but no such warrant was sought for Amber Guygur's dwelling.


Subsequently, a small amount of weed was "discovered" in Jean's apartment. This info was leaked to the press who took no time in making it public without any context.


After public outrage the police made it clear they do not know if the chron was Jean's. Of course, it really doesn't matter because the desired narrative had been set and the victim shaming was in full swing.


This happens all the time. Some innocuous infraction from the victim's past is found to distract from what happened in the present. Even if the infractions are more than innocuous they never have any bearing on the incident that took place but if they can make the obvious victim look like bad the desired effect is successful.


It is despicable!


The practice of victim blaming and then victim shaming is a tried and true method. It's simple. Shift the attention away from the actual crime. If racism or sexism has to be employed, so be it.


The reason for this could be as plain as folks holding onto archaic principles or misguided attempts to hold onto certain folks' supremacy. Or, it may be to protect a political ideology or an individual for a number of reasons, most of which are usually self-serving.


#WhyIDontReport began trending Friday. It's a very real thing. I have stated several times I know a couple of women who were sexually assaulted and I know a couple of more who were physically abused. It is so easy to say the victims should talk. However, it's never easy for those victims to talk or take actions.


Their fears and concerns are real and justified.


It should be noted abusers and assaulters don't just inflict physical damage on their victims but emotional and mental damage. The emotional damage does not only stem from the act of depravity itself. Almost always threats, victim shaming, intimidation and emotional manipulation is employed by the perpetrators.


These are just facts.


People are afraid of not being believed. In the vast majority of cases proof nor witnesses are readily available. Sexual assaulters are cowards, so it's not as if they are doing this shit in the open for all to see.


Proving these things are hard. So, most victims decide to say nothing because why would they want to be doubted and called names and assaulted all over again?


Why don't they report? Because their lives don't really matter.


Why do people of color say, black lives matter? Because it doesn't really seem to many they do matter.

Hey, Tucker Carlson, Diversity Is Great!

Allow me to state the obvious which is Tucker Carlson is an insufferable douchebag!






In recent weeks Carlson along with the likes of Laura Ingram and NRA TV "eye candy" (we really need a healthcare system overhaul especially the vision care) Dana Loesch have ranted and lamented diversity.


Last week Tucker did a segment "asking" how is diversity our strength. It was a rhetorical question obviously because he literally demonized the idea of diversity.


Like Ingram, Loesch and a host of others the primary root of Carlson's rant is immigration. The other root of dissent is having a society that embraces all ethnicities, religions and lifestyles. You know like what is detailed in that pesky United States Constitution.


Cloaking his true point in a guise of "merely asking a question" Tucker inquired how is society improved being constituted of people who are different from you? How is it good to have neighbors "you can't understand or don't share the same values with"? How is the "military better off filled with people who you have nothing in common? "Diversity isn't good in a marriage."


These people have literally said eff the dog whistle and picked up a megaphone. They are not even hiding it anymore. Tucker's little rant, just like Laura Ingram's a couple of weeks ago, is laughably transparent and apparent.


I will give Tucker this. He framed his white nationalist talking points in a manner which gives him the perception of plausible deniability. Whereas Ingram isn't smart or savvy enough to soft pedal the bigotry. Her "Ingram Angle" was more of a blunt object over the head.


Now, Loesch, who is in totality the most loathsome of the three people I've mentioned which is saying something for me since Tucker is the poster boy for someone with a punchable face. She went on this bizarre rant about some kids cartoon, Thomas The Tank Engine.


She bemoaned the cartoon adding two "female trains"-one of whom is apparently from Kenya. She proceeded with this diatribe, "Nobody knew the original trains were white so why did they feel the need to have diversity?"


Then, presumably so upset over the addition of these trains, she digitally imposed Ku Klux Klan hoods over the front of them. Seriously! She did. I am not joking. She actually had Klan hoods superimposed over a kids' cartoon character.


Uh, whose wine soaked most likely to be on a Dr. Phil episode titled "My Mom Is Always Hammered And Hitting On My Friends" soccer mom is this? Whomever she belongs to come get her ass right now! She's drooling on my good couch.


Seriously, these hacks aren't even making a cursory attempt any longer to hide their bigotry.


Regardless of the musings of these idiots diversity is and always has been great. This country was built on diversity, was it not? We are a country that is supposed to embrace diverse ideas, religions, opinions and people.


While people like Carlson and Ingram sleep better at night by believing white men are responsible for everything good that has ever happened in the country it's simply not factual. Multiple races, nationalities and ethnicities contributed and still contribute to this country. Where would we be without the contributions of the Chinese, Irish, Italian, Mexicans, Latin Americans, women and African-Americans?


Diversity allows people to grow and learn. For instance, take something like music. Having a diverse taste in music allows one to appreciate music as a whole and their preferred genre. All music is a subsidiary of other genres.


Diversity among people is even better. When someone has a diverse circle of friends and acquaintances it provides them two things. The first is the ability to appreciate other folks' cultures and life stories. It also provides them depth and understanding. When one embraces diversity they not only learn to appreciate that which is different they also realize despite our differences we have innumerable commonalities. Why? Because at the end of the day we're all human and all equal.


When Tucker says diversity is bad for the military and marriage he displays how ignorant he truly is. The military is similar to a sports team. People have to put aside their petty prejudices and bigotry because they all presumably have the same end goal, victory.


Of course, I suspect Tucker's mentioning of the military has to do with LGBTQ service members, so he would say the military would be better off without the "distraction". I say embracing those different from you helps you grow as a person. It doesn't mean you have to unilaterally agree with their lifestyle but it also doesn't mean you can't learn from them and understand why they are the person they are. Not to mention, if someone is able bodied and wants to serve this country they should be able to do so.


As far as Tucker's not so veiled comment about marriage. Marriages featuring people of different backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures are just as successful as marriages of people with similarly shared traits. People who are different from one another compliment each other. If both people are hotheads, for instance, that is likely a recipe for disaster. But, Tucker wasn't speaking about personality traits. He was revealing his disapproval of diverse marriages.


And, this disturbing absurdity Dana Loesch displayed on NRA TV tho....My first question is why are so enthralled with what a cartoon (most people don't know nor care anything about) is doing? Secondly, why does the cartoon adding female trains and a black train trigger you so? Hey, Dana, you do realize you just dropped all pretense about your racism, right? Why does the topic of diversity bother you?


Again, the dog whistles have been chunked into the ocean. These clowns are regurgitating their hateful vitriol through a megaphone.


Predictably, they clutched their pearls when people rightfully said their ramblings were racist with twinges of White Nationalism. They feigned the act of victimhood. In Tucker's case he was "merely asking a question". Loesch said she was simply speaking about political correctness run amok.


Whatevs. They are lying. They are overtly utilizing racism and fear of the other as political currency. They are giving a wink and a nod to the Alt-Right.


Truth is there is a significant segment of our society who wholly reject diversity. They want the country to go back to a time everyone "knew their place". They long for the time society had a hierarchy and equality was a value we sanctimoniously preached to other nations and pretended to embrace while not employing it in any meaningful fashion.


These are the folks Tucker, Dana, Laura and their ilk are signaling. And, these aren't all people wearing hoods and covered in Aryian tattoos. In fact, most of them aren't. They are people who embrace a White Nationalist message while pretending they don't. They are neighbors, co-workers, fellow church goers, pastors, community leaders, friends and family. It is the truth. Full stop!


And, when Tucker Carlson mentions an unshared value system he's virtue signaling. It is an asinine statement, but it works with people who see black and brown people as alien and different.


Of course, regardless of race or religion or national origin all people believe in protecting their loved ones and a desire to be prosperous and an orderly society. However, these virtue signalers feed the atrocious and amoral narrative that people from south of the border, the majority of people of color within the country and folks on the left don't believe in family, rule of law or basic morality. They imply (often not so subtly) that all of these different people are animals and immoral. Thus, diversity is bad and evil. Incorporating these types of people are detrimental to society. These type of people are destructive to the fabric of society.


It really is disgusting. It is abominable, honestly.


I have never had much use for Tucker Carlson or Dana Loesch. I have always thought Tucker was a racist going all the way back to his days on MSNBC. Loesch has always said insane and bigoted things but does it with a smile and a sultry appearance so she gets away with it.


What they are doing with their rhetoric is so blatantly obvious. As I keep saying, they have just abandoned the dog whistle.


Diversity is our strength whether certain segments of the country like it or accept it.


And, I do agree some aspects of diversity are counterproductive. Since we're a country that embraces diverse thought and opinion, it means we even embrace thought that is void of depth and opinion is void of facts, logic and intelligence.