By Pablo Fanque All This Is That National Affairs Editor
Something on The Drudge Report yesterday struck me as playing the race card. Matt Drudge posted a link to a Reuters article on Yahoo News titled "Obama goes door-to-door to drum up votes in Ohio." The Reuters article used this photograph from the Associated Press:
The Drudge Report, however, used the same title for their teaser, but included an entirely different photograph:
Isn't this playing the race card? I guess, they could have put a subtitle "Obama molests Blonde Norwegian-American soccer mom." but I may just be a little suspicious after the all the race baiting we saw over the weekend in the Palin-McCain campaign. ---o0o---
Sky Pilotis an interesting, flawed, and powerful song from my youth. Obviously some YouTubers think it is a paean to the military. I tend to think it's less about the military than about war. It's an interesting period piece.
"Sky Pilot" was released in 1968 song on an Eric Burdon & The Animals LP, The Twain Shall Meet. It was a long song, with one part on side one and one on side two of the 45 RPM single; on the LP, it was probably contiguous. It hit number 14 on Billboard (it had a lot of great competition that summer). The song was seven minutes and change--very unusual in 1968.
I saw Eric Burdon perform the song at a rock festival in 1972, and even got to talk with him for about three minutes near the backstage, while he shared a joint with another performer (Delaney Bramlett of Delaney and Bonnie). Like every single one of my celebrity sightings, I didn't have a camera. Come on...cassette tapes and 8 tracks had just barely been invented.
As a side-note, the bagpipe music at the end of the song is a bootleg recording of the pipers of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards playing "All The Bluebonnets Are Over The Border" captured by Burdon on a cassette recorder while performing at a school. The UK government sent him a scolding letter about his unauthorized of the song, but that is about as far as it went. Ah, the good old days...
Sky Pilot
He blesses the boys as they stand in line the smell of gun grease and their bayonets they shine he's there to help them all that he can to make them feel wanted he's a good holy man.
Sky pilot, sky pilot, how high can you fly? you'll never never never reach the sky.
He smiles at the young soldiers tells them it's all right he knows of their fears in the forthcoming fight soon there'll be blood and many will die mother and fathers back home they will cry.
Sky pilot, sky pilot, how high can you fly? you'll never never never reach the sky.
He mumbles a prayer and it ends with a smile the order is given they move down the line but he'll stay behind and he'll meditate but it won't stop to bleeding or ease the hate.
As the young men move out into the battle zone he feels good with god you're never alone he feels so tired and he lays on his bed hopes the men will find courage in the words that he's said.
Sky pilot, sky pilot, how high can you fly? you'll never never never reach the sky. ---o0o---
click to enlarge President Martin Van Buren a/k/a Van Ruin
Martin Van Buren was the first President born as a United States citizen. He was the last vice president to be elected to succeed the president under whom he served. . .until then Vice-President George H.W. Bush was elected.
He was described as a "dandy," much like President Chester Alan Arthur, and loved frenchified clothes, expensive wine and rich food. His muttonchops were even more impressive than those of another dandy, President Chester Alan Arthur.
Van Buren presided over the economic Panic of 1837--the worst recession the U.S. had ever experienced (ahem, up to that time).
Before he was President, Van Buren moved from the New York State Senate, to the New York attorney general's office, and onto the U.S. Senate. Unhappy with the policies of President John Quincy Adams, Van Buren aligned himself instead with Andrew Jackson, the war hero who wanted a return to the Jeffersonian policies of a small government.
In Washington, he continued his party-building efforts on a national scale. Jackson was elected and named Van Buren secretary of state, in recognition of his political skills (and his indispensible help during the 1828 election).
Van Buren oversaw the nation’s foreign affairs and continued to build the organization that would become our beloved Democratic Party. He was one of Andrew Jackson’s most trusted advisers and friends. Van Buren nimbly threaded his way through the palace intrigues and in-fighting that marked Jackson’s fractious cabinet. Toward the end of his first term, Jackson fired most of his cabinet, cut his relations with Vice President Calhoun, and dispatched Van Buren to the political calm of London as U.S. minister to England. He replaced Calhoun in the next election with Van Buren.
His enemies called him "Martin Van Ruin." He lost the 1840 presidential election, and became a one-term President. . .not quite as ignominious as a one-hit wonder rock band, but no picnic either.
Van Buren played key roles in the creation of both the Democratic Party and the so-called "second party system" in which Democrats competed with their opponents, the Whigs. He ignored calls from some Americans to respond to Canadian and British provocations with force, working instead through diplomatic channels to calm the roiled waters.
The two happiest days of his life, according to Van Buren, were the day he was inaugurated President and the day he left the office. ---o0o---
Thanks, as always to Jeff Clinton for finding this nugget on the internets.
The Psychic, Blossom Goodchild, says she has received a channeled transmission from the Galactic Federation of Light.
The Federation will reveal themselves tomorrow, October 14th, 2008, by revealing their 2000 mile wide vessel. The spaceship will remain visible for 3 earth days.
The good news, according to Blossom, is they come in peace and love. . .like our old pal Klaatu from The Day The Earth Stood Still. Check our Blossom's message in the YouTube video, above.
Let All This Is That know if you see the vessel tomorrow! ---o0o---
By Pablo Fanque All This Is That National Affairs Editor
What a week for the John McCain-Sarah Palin Presidential juggernaut! Video clips of their rallies show crowds screaming “treason!” or “terrorist!” at the mention of Mr Obama's name, and at times even darker imprecations like “kill him!” and “off with his head!"
As we wrote earlier, McCain has been forced to appeal for calm, responding to boos from a crowd on Friday: “I have to tell you he is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president.” He later snatched the microphone later from a woman who suggested Senator Obama was an Arab.
This past weekend, civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis said the atmosphere at Republican rallies was similar to those of George Wallace, the segregationist presidential candidate. “Senator McCain and Governor Palin are sowing the seeds of hatred and division.”
At a weekend campaign event in Iowa, McCain was forced to repudiate a pastor who introduced McCain saying that millions of foreigners were praying to “Hindu, Buddha, Allah — that his opponent wins”.
Most Republican insiders and even the rank and file openly admit the McCain-Palin campaign has been desperately adrift, flailing against the economic storms, farcically suspending the campaign to fix the economic problems facing the nation, and having to carry the increasingly heavy baggage of Governor Palin. An Alaskan legislative commission on Friday concluded she had "abused her powers as Alaska Governor by trying to orchestrate the sacking of a state trooper who was her former brother-in-law." Sarah Palin's rallies have generated ugly racial sound clips and both she and McCain appear unable to control their supporters.
In short, it's about time to break out the oxygen and put this campaign in the I.C.U.
Time to pull the draw sheet over the patient?—click to enlarge
Over the weekend, in between trying to seem like a decent person (and possibly rescue some good will for when he trudges back to the Senate in defeat) at his increasingly hate- and invective-filled rallies, John McCain huddled with advisors, struggling to formulate an economic plan that won't be laughed off the stage at this week's debates. We'll see the fruits of those discussions in just a couple of days.
Almost anything Carl Wilson sang is worth listening to, and Trader is way up there.
Trader
[whispered by a child...for who knows what reason?: Hi] Trader sailed a jeweled crown Humanity rowed the way Exploring to command more land Scheming how to rule the waves. Trader spied a virgin plain And named it for velvet robes Wrote home declaring, "There's a place Where totally folks are free (Happily completely) Nourishment fills the prairies and the hillsides And animals stalk the mountains and the seaside And fish abound the lakes and birds the skies Signed sincerely."
Trader found the jeweled land Was occupied before he came By humans of a second look Who couldn't even write their names shame Trader said they're not as good As folks who wear velvet robes Wrote home again and asked, "Please help Their breasts I see; they're not like me Banish them from our prairies and our hillsides Clear them from our mountains and our seaside I want them off our lakes so please reply Signed sincerely."
Trader he got the crown okay Cleared humanity from his way He civilized all he saw Making changes every single day say Shops sprang over the prairies and the hillsides Then roads cut through the mountains to the seaside The other kind fled to hide, by and by, And so sincerely Cried.
Making it softly Like the evening sea, trying to be Making it go Creating it gently Like a morning breeze, a life of ease Eyes that see Beyond tomorrow, through to the time without hours Passing the Eden of Flowers Reason to live.
Embracing together Like the merging streams, crying dreams Making it full Begging intently For a slight reprieve, a night of ease Hands to touch Beyond the sorrow, on to the force without power Piercing the crust of the tower Reason to live.
Hoping Like a budding rose, humbling shows Making it. Struggling lonely Like a desert field, break the seal, make it real Ears to hear Beyond the showers, on to the suns of tomorrows Burning the flesh of all sorrows Reason to live. Reason to continue Reason to go on Reason to live ---o0o---
President Jackson is probably best known for his mug starring on the Twenty Dollar Bill. As you probably know, his nickname was Old Hickory. He was a hero in the War of 1812, where he took the British for a ride. Jackson was a polarizing figure who nevertheless dominated American politics in the 1820s and 1830s.
In the Battle of New Orleans on January 8, 1815, Jackson's 5,000 soldiers stomped the Brits. Out of 7,500 British soldiers, the British had more than 2,000 casualties vs. Jackson's 13 killed and 58 wounded or missing.
Possibly the most shameful legacy of Andrew Jackson's presidency was his advocacy of a policy of "Indian removal." In his December 8, 1829 Annual Message to Congress, Jackson stated:
"This emigration should be voluntary, for it would be as cruel as unjust to compel the aborigines to abandon the graves of their fathers and seek a home in a distant land. But they should be distinctly informed that if they remain within the limits of the States they must be subject to their laws. In return for their obedience as individuals they will without doubt be protected in the enjoyment of those possessions which they have improved by their industry."
Andy was responsible for a number of POTUS firsts: he was the first populist president to not rise from the aristocracy; he was the first President to have his vice-president (John C. Calhoun) resign, and he was the first to marry a divorcee. Most importantly to the partisans among us, he helped shape The Democratic Party. He may have believed in democracy, and been a Democrat, but sadly, he "owned" up to 150 slaves, who worked his nearly 1,000 acre plantation. ---o0o---
Alaska investigator Steve Branchflower's report on the Sarah Palin abuse of power case was made public Friday. The Governor may or may not be censured, but the report makes clear she and "the first dude" abused their positions in going after their former brother-in-law. The following are verbatim excerpts from Steve Branchflower's report:
"Governor Palin knowingly permitted a situation to continue where impermissible pressure was placed on several subordinates in order to advance a personal agenda, to wit: to get Trooper Michael Wooten fired. She had the authority and power to require Mr. Palin to cease contacting subordinates, but she failed to act. "
"Such impermissible and repeated contacts create conflicts of interests for subordinate employees who must choose to either please a superior or run the risk of facing that superior's displeasure and the possible consequences of such displeasure. This was one of the very reasons the Ethics Act was promulgated by the Legislature. "
"Governor Palin has stated publicly that she and her family feared Trooper Wooten. Yet the evidence presented has been inconsistent with such claims of fear. The testimony from Trooper Wheeler, who was part of her security detail from the start, was that shortly after elected to office, she ordered a substantial reduction in manpower in her personal protection detail ... an act that is inconsistent with a desire to avoid harm from Trooper Wooten or others."
"It is noteworthy that in almost every contact with the subordinate employees, Mr. Palin's comments were couched in terms of his desire to see Trooper Wooten fired for reasons that had nothing to do with fear. His comments were always couched in terms that he was a bad Trooper, that he was not a good recruiting image for the AST, that his discipline amounted to nothing more than a slap on the wrist, that nothing had happened to him following the administrative investigation, and so forth... "
"I conclude that such claims of fear were not bona fide and were offered to provide cover for the Palins' real motivation: to get Trooper Wooten fired for personal family related reasons."
John McCain was booed yesterday for calling Barack Obama a decent man (in fairness, the booing was mostly against Obama), asking for respect for him at one of his town hall meetings. One man said he was "scared of Obama" and McCain replied the was a decent man who "you should not be scared of."
A woman said she can't trust Obama and McCain shook his head yes. She went on to say "he's an Arab." McCain vigorously shook his head no and took the microphone away from her and began explaining no, "No, Ma'am, he's decent family man and citizen I just happen to have disagreements with..."
John McCain lit this fire and is now distressed to see the fire spread out of control. He needs to slap a muzzle on his lipsticked pit bull Sarah Palin. It was refreshing to see a distressed John McCain show a little bit of what he had when some of thought he might change America.
Reign in the hate, Senator McCain. You have 24 days to walk away from this election with your head held high. We all know something is wrong when even Karl Rove says you have crossed the line. . .
James Monroe succeeded President James Madison, and was easily elected with almost no opposition. He won re-election in 1820 by a landslide and took every electoral vote except one.
The best deal of his Presidency? He bought Florida from Spain for about $5 million. Monroe had a long career as a soldier, diplomat, governor, senator, and cabinet official. His eight years in office were mostly prosperous and uneventful. He is best known for the Monroe Doctrine, which became a backbone of U.S. foreign policy. The Monroe Doctrine basically said that America would resist European intervention in the Western Hemisphere. In other words: "not in our house!"
Click JQA to enlarge
John Quincy Adams, the son of POTUS No. 2, attended Harvard and held several diplomatic posts over the years. He was elected to the Senate in 1803 and after 1809, held many other diplomatic posts. As Secretary of State for James Monroe, he worked closely with POTUS 5 to formulate The Monroe Doctrine.
In 1825, no presidential candidate received a majority of electoral votes. Adams, with the support of Henry Clay, was elected President by the House of Representatives over Andrew Jackson. His independence did not sit well with The Federalists, who kicked him out of the party. Leaving the White House, Adams ran for the House as a Whig, and stayed there many years, and in fact, experienced a stroke on the floor of the House and died two days later. ---o0o---
"We've been seeing some pretty over-the-top attacks coming out of the McCain campaign over the last several days," Obama told Charlie Gibson, "he wasn't willing to say it to my face. But I guess we've got one last debate. So presumably, if he ends up feeling that he needs to, he will raise it during the debate."
That's just about as close as you can come to throwing down the gauntlet, and calling the "war hero" a gutless pansy.
Barack Obama's situation reminds me of something Adlai Stevenson once said:
"I have been thinking that I would make a proposition to my Republican friends... that if they will stop telling lies about the Democrats, we will stop telling the truth about them."
