Saturday, August 13, 2011

Mayor Nutter and Flash Mobs - From Joyful Silliness to Disgracefully Sinister

When flash mobs first came on the scene a few years ago, they were meant to be seemingly spontaneous moments like one of the first in Grand Central Station in 2008. With the used of social networking sites and cellphone text messaging, they've been staged in malls during Christmas to sing the "Hallelujah Chorus" and public squares around the country to perform dances that look just like something out of a movie musical. Even Oprah was the "victim" of one of the biggest and most fabulous flash mob events staged during an outdoor performance by the Black Eyed Peas. All that was needed is a large group of willing participants, a cellphone, lots of surruptitious rehearsals, and the reward could be that 15 minutes of fame on YouTube and smiles from the crowd. Just plain joyful silliness.

But what started out as just plain joyful silliness has now turned into something more sinister. By using the same social networking sites and cellphone text messaging, others are staging spontaneous thefts, robberies, beatings, and even attempted murder. In Wisconsin, Washington DC, and other places around the country, fast food joints, department stores, convenience stores, and state fair goers have been robbed, punched, kicked, and worse for no other reason than the perpetrators could. And, most interestingly, when reports appear in the news, they fail to report that most if not all of the perpetrators are black teens. [I know, not very P.C. of me to notice].

In response to the recent this recent turn which has hit Philadelphia particularly hard, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter made a very honest speech [see below] at the Mount Carmel Baptist church in last Sunday. This was right before he gave another official speech announcing that the city will imposed a 9pm curfew for anyone under 18 years old that will include increasing fines to parents of children repeatedly caught out after the new curfew. I know it’s a long speech, but it needs to be read in its entirety. It is strongly worded and, sadly, the kind of speech that only a black community leader can make, but rarely do. Needless to say, the usual suspects in the black community – Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Charlie Rangel, James Clyburn, heck, even President Obama - have remained uncharacteristically silent by not showing either support or resounding rebuke. Just the {{sound of crickets}}.

Well, that's not entirely true. There was one response from Annette John-Hall, a black columnist at the Inquirer published on philly.com. In her rebuke, she complains “that Nutter expressed in no uncertain terms the sentiment that so often shackles black people - that the unlawful actions of a few smear everyone else. Something whites never have to fear.” Ah, yes "shackles black people". You know, Ms. John-Hall, it "shackles" us all when we deny that there is a problem. The first step to recovery is recognizing there is a problem and the problem is people who continue to "shackle black people" in the chains of ignorance and continuing to justify random violence. I am not sure where Ms. John-Hall grew up, but in the community where I grew up (overwhelmingly white), we had a code of behavior that we had to uphold or fear disgracing our family. So, Ms. John-Hall you are just plain wrong.

I applaud Mayor Nutter for recognizing there is a problem and the problem is adults who are allowing kids, ANY kids whether black, white, asian, hispanic, martian or whatever, to run amok like feral animals and excusing their behavior because of [fill in the blank]. Enough is enough.

Mayor Nutter's speech in its entirety:

Now I must say first: two things. One: Some of you may know that 30 Americans died overseas, an elite unit of our military. Whether you agree with our foreign policy or not, I certainly ask that you would pray for the men and women who risk their lives each and every day to make sure that we can enjoy the freedoms, as Americans, that some of us seem to take for granted. They’re serving their country. Other people make the decision about what they do and where they go, but they’re doing their job. And unfortunately, one of those 30 is the son of a Philadelphia police officer. So I would ask that you would keep all of them, but especially that Philadelphia family that’s been affected, in your hearts.

Now, I’m gonna say some things this morning that I know, from time to time, many of you think but may not say. It will not be PC, but I told Reverend Campbell that I will recognize that I’m in church and I’m in his pulpit, so I will certainly be respectful. On the other hand there are some words that we know that are also found in the Bible, and I may use a few of those. Pastor mentioned that we’ve had some incidents in Philadelphia, the most recent of which was the Friday before last, 20, 30 kids running around Center City, and it’s happened in other parts of Philadelphia as well. A 16-, a 17-, a 19-year-old, and yes, an 11-year-old. And while I may have been out of my office, I was not out of communication. And I sent a message to Police Commissioner Ramsey first thing that morning, as soon as I heard that report, read that report, that we have to do something, and we put our team together that day, to start working on some things, and so I want to share my thoughts.

The first is, this nonsense must stop. It must stop. If you want to act like a butthead, your butt is going to get locked up. And if you want to act like an idiot, move, move out of this city. We don’t want you here anymore. First, I want to apologize. I want to apologize to all the good, hard-working, caring people here in this city, and especially our good young people, here in Philadelphia. But I have to tell you this morning, that I am forced by the stupid, ignorant, dumb actions of a few, that we will announce tomorrow actions that we will take that, unfortunately, will affect many here in our city.

Parents, get your act together. Get it together. Get it together right now. You need to get hold of your kids before we have to. Parents who neglect their children, who don’t know where they are, who don’t know what they’re doing, who don’t know who they’re hanging out with, you’re gonna find yourselves spending some quality time with your kids, in jail, together. Together.

Now this stupid behavior requires a strong response. But I can assure you that we are not just going to be responding. We’re going to be much more proactive in our activities, and we’re going to try our best to anticipate some of these senseless, teenage, insane acts that we’ve been seeing over the past few months.

Parents, mothers, and fathers. Now I happen to know that raising children is kind of tough. I’ve got two kids, one of whom is a teenager right now. If you need help, we have help for you. The department of human services, community behavioral health, and many other social-service agencies. Do not be afraid, do not be ashamed, to reach out and ask for help, counsel, guidance, or support. But you need to get the help now, before it’s too late for the help to help you. Get some help.

Fathers, fathers. Fathers have a particularly important role to play. Not more important than mothers, but just as important. You know you’re not a father just because you have a kid, or two, or three. That doesn’t make you a father. A father is a person who’s around, participating in a child’s life. He’s a teacher who helps to guide and shape and mold that young person, someone for that young person to talk to, to share with, their ups and their downs, their fears and their concerns. A father has to provide a structure to a young boy, on how to become a good man. A good man. A father also has to be a good role model, and help a young girl be a strong woman.

Now let me just say this, if you’re not doing those things, if you’re just hanging out out there, maybe you’re sending a check or bringing some cash by, that’s not being a father. You’re just a human ATM. You’re just an ATM. And if you’re not providing the guidance, and you’re not sending any money, you’re just a sperm donor. You’re just a sperm donor. You’re what the girls call out in the street: “That’s my baby-daddy. That’s my baby-daddy.” That’s not good enough. Don’t be that. Don’t be that. You can do better than that.

And you know something, that’s part of the problem in our community. Let me speak plain. That’s part of the problem in the black community. And many other communities. But a particular problem in the black communities, we have too many men making too many babies that they don’t want to take care of and then we end up dealing with your children. We’re not running a big babysitting service. We’re running a big government and a great city. Take care of your children. All of them. All of them.

You know, you’re sitting around with your jaws tight, oh she got two, three other guys around; well, if you were doing what you were supposed to be doing she wouldn’t be with those two or three guys in the first place because you would be there, taking care of all of your children. Now, you are around for the sex. Now be around for the parenting. Be around for the parenting. Because let me tell you something — the immaculate conception of our Lord Jesus Christ took place a long time ago, and it didn’t happen here in Philadelphia. So, every one of these kids has two parents who were around and participating at the time. You need to be around now. There ain’t no immaculate conception happening up in here.

Parents, you need to step up, before we have to step to you. Now tomorrow, at twelve noon on Dilworth Plaza, we’ll be making a series of announcements. Got a ton of folks involved in this effort. It’s not a one-time thing, it’s not a summertime thing. I heard a child say “Amen.” Some of them smarter than some of these adults running around here. Tomorrow we’re going to announce a series of steps and actions that will be taken. Some will be positive, and some you won’t like. Unfortunately, that’s the way it goes. But some of the more positive things we’re looking at is programs and services and activities at our rec centers, other supports we may be able to provide, we’re going to get our social-service agencies involved, but also the D.A. will be more involved, and the courts will be more involved. We took a whole lot of stuff, a couple years back, and by the way, every one of those libraries is open. Tell your children: Get a book. Read a book. Learn something. Schools open September 6, on Tuesday, the day after Labor Day. Spend the next month reading. I’d like to try that for a change.

And whatever you do, just stay out of trouble. Think for yourself. Don’t do stupid stuff. Now, some of you know, I grew up nine blocks from here, 5519 Larchwood Avenue. I’m gonna be West Philly, no matter where I live, no matter what I do, for the rest of my life. But before I ever heard of the Philadelphia Code or the Pennsylvania Code or any other code, I was very familiar with the Basil and Catalina Code. That was the code of my parents. Now, I have to tell you. When I heard this particular report, and we’ve had other instances, but it is inconceivable to me, inconceivable to me, that in my teenage years, that I would be out somewhere, let alone downtown, at nine o’clock at night. Impossible for me to fathom. Because my mother said: “Boy, I know you have a watch. But if the watch stops working, if you forget to wind it, if the battery breaks, there’s only one thing you need to do. Look up. When that light goes on, have your butt on the steps. I don’t care whether it’s Eastern Standard Time, Daylight Savings Time, Pacific Time, Mid-Atlantic Time, North Pole time. When that light goes on, have your butt on the steps. Don’t let me have to look for you.” Now, that’s what she said. It was really easy. Real simple. And you know, I know a lot has happened in the 40 years since I was an early teen. I know that some things have changed. But now there are a few things that don’t — or shouldn’t — change. Respect other people. Keep your hands to yourself. Don’t touch what doesn’t belong to you, or what you didn’t earn. Keep your butt in the house, or on the steps, until you’re told otherwise. And mind your manners. Now, my parents made it very clear that these were their rules, and that as long as I lived in their house, that was it. See, because I didn’t own anything in that house, and I had a job, and I bought stuff with my own money, but when I crossed that threshold, it was theirs. That room — we’re letting you sleep in that room. This air conditioning — we let you have some of that air conditioning. That heat that I paid for, we let you have some of that heat. Those clothes on your back, I bought those clothes. I brought you in here, I’ll take you out of here. So let’s be very clear about the rules. Now, when you get old enough, and you move out, then you can do what you want to do. But as long as you’re living in this house, you do what I tell you to do. And that’s the way it was.

Well, that’s the way it needs to be.

Now, parents, please talk to your children. Talk to them today after service, talk to them tonight, talk to them tomorrow, because things are going to change. This is some serious stuff. This is not a joke, this is not a game, we’re not funning. Curfew is going to be enforced. Other things are going to happen. And they need to understand that there are serious consequences to aggressive, violent, idiotic, stupid behavior — not only for the teen, but also for the parents and the guardians. Everybody is going to be held accountable in this one. We’re taking these steps for the safety of all of our citizens, and our teenagers. And out teenagers. We want to make sure that they don’t either do something that’s going to get them in trouble, or be somewhere where they may get hurt. This is about all of us. It’s about everybody. And so let me say it again. The bottom line: This nonsense must stop. Right now. Right now.

And lastly, to our teenagers, you know, young people always talk about “Well, I gotta get respect.” You get respect when you give respect. That’s how you get respect. And I believe in my heart and in my soul that 99 percent of the young people here in this city of Philadelphia are good and have good intentions in their heart. So I don’t want anyone to think that we’ve got thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands and untold numbers of bad young people running round, because we don’t. We have some really great young people in this city. They go to school. They try to get good grades, they try to graduate and go on with their lives. They participate in sports, art, music, poetry, cultural services. They’re out tutoring. Some of them have jobs and are working. Some are taking care of their siblings, parents, and even grandparents. Unfortunately, there’s a few — could be a hundred, could be a couple hundred, could be a thousand (that’s still less than 1 percent) — but there’s some really bad ones. And, unfortunately, they engage in violent behavior. They’re lawless, they act with ignorance, they don’t care about anybody else, and their behavior is outrageous.

Well, we’re not going to tolerate that. We won’t tolerate it, and we’re not going to excuse it, because there is no excuse for it. Sense and nonsense cannot exist in the same place, in the same city, in the same world, and is not going to happen here in Philadelphia. You can’t have both at the same time. Can’t have both. And so, this behavior could have actually resulted in even more injuries, or worse. They could have killed somebody. Oh, then they’d really be in a world of trouble. Then all the sudden, they’d be crying: I want my mom, I need my dad, I need somebody. No, it’s too late then. No, no, we’re past that. It’s too late. It’s too late. You’ve damaged yourself, you’ve damaged another person, you’ve damaged your peers, and quite honestly you’ve damaged your own race. You damaged your own race. So, to our young people. If you want black folks, if you want white folks, Latinos, Asians, or anybody else to respect you, and not be afraid when they see you walking down the street, then leave the innocent people who are walking down the street, minding their own damn business, leave them alone. Stop it. Cut it out. We’ve had enough of this nonsense going on. We’ve had enough. Some of them should be ashamed of their behavior. And some of them have made shame on our race. I’m speaking plainly. I’m telling you what’s on my heart. It’s a disgrace, what’s going on. Not one of these victims, not one, did anything to any one of those young people. They weren’t bothering them, they didn’t say anything to them, they were minding their business, some were out enjoying themselves, some were just coming from work, they didn’t do one thing. And then all of the sudden, for the cowards that some of them are, in the crowd, thought they were anonymous, jumped up and started beating on people, assaulting them, in the streets of this city.

Well you know, now, if that was one of their friends, if that was their brother, if that was their sister, their moms, their grandmoms, somebody, they’d say, “Oh, that ain’t right, that’s wrong.” Well, it’s wrong when you do it too. It’s wrong when you do it too. And so if you want to be aggressive, we’re going to be aggressive. And let me just share this with you: We got the biggest, baddest gang in town — a committed group of citizens and a committed government and we’re working together and we’re not going to have this nonsense anymore. And lastly let me say, some of those young folks are lucky. They’re lucky that one of those citizens didn’t jump up and start whipping their butt, which, clearly, they did not have enough of when they were young themselves. They’re lucky they didn’t get themselves beat up with this nonsense. So, let me close. We want a safe city. We will not tolerate ignorant, stupid, out-of-control behavior. It hurts our citizens, damages property, and besmirches our reputation as a great city. And so to all of our young people, but a particular message to our young African-American boys and girls, let me say this:

If you want all of us — black, white, or any other color — if you want us to respect you, if you want us to look at you in a different way, if you want us not to be afraid to walk down the same side of the street with you, if you want folks not to jump out of the elevator when you get on, if you want folks to stop following you around in stores when you’re out shopping, if you want somebody to offer you a job or an internship somewhere, if you don’t want folks to be looking in or trying to go in a different direction when they see two or twenty of you coming down the street, then stop acting like idiots and fools, out in the streets of the city of Philadelphia. Just cut it out. And another thing. Take those doggone hoodies down, especially in the summer. Pull your pants up and buy a belt, because no one wants to see your underwear or the crack of your butt. Nobody. Buy a belt. Buy a belt. Nobody wants to see your underwear. Comb your hair. And get some grooming skills. Comb your hair. Running round here with your hair all over the place. Learn some manners. Keep your butt in school, graduate from high school, go on to college so you can go and make something of yourself and be a good citizen, here in this city. And why don’t you work on extending your English vocabulary. Extend your English vocabulary beyond the few curse words that you know, some other grunts and grumbles and other things that none of us can understand what you’re saying. And if you go to look for a job, don’t go blame it on the white folks, or anybody else. If you walk in somebody’s office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back and your shoes untied and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arm, on your face, on your neck, and you wonder why somebody won’t hire you. They don’t hire you because you look like you’re crazy. That’s why they’re not hiring you.

So, you do those things, and act like you got some sense, and you’d be surprised what opportunities will open up to you. That’s what was on my mind. That’s all I’ve got to say.

72 comments:

Tennessee Jed said...

sounds kind of like the Cosby syndrome. At it's heart the difference is some people believe in a degree of self-responsibility, others deny it at all costs. As a long time Philly guy, I applaud both those Philadelphians

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, I read about this a good deal the other day. Wow! What a direct and truthful speech. Can you imagine though if he had been white? If Rush had said this, the left would be calling for his head for him being a racist.

Let's hope these people listen. They are doing so much harm to themselves and their community and our country with this garbage. It's time to wake up and start behaving like responsible adults.

AndrewPrice said...

P.S. The Iowa straw poll numbers should be coming out soon. This could be interesting. It will definitely affect 3-4 people and could clear up the race.

Of course, I honestly don't think it will ultimately matter as Rick Perry is the 900 pound gorilla in the room.

Tennessee Jed said...

Andrew - Perry is that. Didn't get to talk too much about the debates. My take is that it was too bad Gingrich has the baggage he does. I thought he was best on substance. If it was just about growth, I'd like Herman Cain, but he is too much of a southern minister. To me, Romney seemed weak. He is trying to sound "conservative" but he is too transparent as a politician.

AndrewPrice said...

Jed, I honestly think Perry has this in the bag. He's the obvious choice for everyone who doesn't like what's already in the field... which is most people.

I don't particularly care for him, but I see that he will have a lot of appeal. He'll play well with K-Street, who will switch from Romney. He'll play well with Evangelicals who will switch from whoever they were finally going to pick. He'll play well with people who want a conservative, but who think Bachmann is a poor choice. And he's got some Tea Party cred.

That only leaves the Huntsman crowd, the Paul crowd, and the Palinites.

On the debates, I wasn't very impressed. They all remain small minded, weak, and very poor at attacking. As a group, they also continue to talk about the wrong things, i.e. abortion and gays. That's not what people care about right now, but most of them don't seem to get that. And none of them give any sense of confidence that they actually know how to change things except being "not Obama."

Santorum in particular exposed himself as the still obsessed with the gay/abortion issue. I thought his claim to being the original Tea Party candidate was laughable. Bachmann continues to be in her own world. Newt sounds good, but I see no substance behind his words. Was Pawlenty there? Romney looks presidential, but doesn't think presidential.

I have yet to hear anything out this whole group that I thought made them sound ready for the job or like they had any useful ideas.

What did you think?

AndrewPrice said...

(Bev, fyi, I had to fix your code -- it was causing the site to disappear for people using Internet Explorer. It should be ok now though.)

BevfromNYC said...

Thanks for fixing the problem Andrew. I was on the subway when the article went live.

AndrewPrice said...

No problem Bev. It was strange that it was taking out the site in IE, but not in Firefox. It turns out there was just some strange code that appeared in the middle of it. I'm not sure why that happened, but it happens sometime. Blogger is by no means a flawless system.

BevfromNYC said...

Tenn J - I forgot that the "Cos" was from Philly. It is about taking responsibity and not excusing bad behavior. Being poor is not an excuse for mayhem. THere is an op/ed piece out of London that takes Nutter's tone in regards to the UK rioters which is equally as honest. Basically the writer blames the British "Nanny" state for creating an underclass of young adults who don't care about anything and don't want to care. I will try and find it to post the link.

Anonymous said...

Amen! (Apparently, I was a black churchgoer in a previous life.) :-)

Sadly, the middle school my dad teaches at could use this guy.

Re: the debates, I watched about 3/4 of it out of mild (or morbid) curiosity. I don't have much to say, except... Minnesota nice, indeed! :-)

I also read this funny online comment when Rick Santorum mentioned Iran's treatment of women and gays:

Admittedly I've had a few pops, but I think I just heard Santorum say Iran "tramples the rights of gays", and even made it sound like a bad thing... reading the Sierra Nevada label now to see if hallucinations are a possible side effect. :-D

AndrewPrice said...

Testify Brother ScottDS! ;-)

That's a funny comment about Santorum and actually rather a good shot at the guy. Although, his issue is abortion. Bachmann is obsessed with gays.

Minnesota nice? Is that an endorsement of Pawlenty?

I think a lot of schools could use Nutter's attitude -- especially in the bigger cities. When I got to DC, I was stunned at what I saw going on there. What I saw in the news night after night looked more like a cross between prison and a gang-jamboree than anything most people would consider education. And yet, no one seemed bothered by it.

BevfromNYC said...

Am I a bad person 'cause I just can't stomach the debates this early? I guess since I can't vote in the NY primary because I refuse to declare a party, I have just let the party faithfuls choose they want to run and then voted accordingly. Though I may declare a party for 2012 even though I am adamantly an "independent".

Unknown said...

Scott and Andrew: If Santorum hadn't previously alienated gays, moderates, liberals and some of us conservatives, he put the frosting on the cake at the debates. Being a social conservative is not a bad thing, but it can't be the only thing. I'm still waiting for him to explain how abortionists and gays have caused the collapse of the American economy. I realize that the economy is only a minor issue, but he could try to address it. LOL

BevfromNYC said...

Oh Andrew, I sometimes I get weird codes when I switch from "html" to the other view. I usually clean them up, but sometimes I miss some. I put this up from my work computer (don't tell anyone...hey, it was on my lunchtime!). It's possible that some weird code was created that way. Blogger is quirky though.

BevfromNYC said...

Scott - I think I want to be a black churchgoer in my next life. They are certainly very enthusiastic and wear great hats! The hats are almost as good as the ones at British weddings.

StanH said...

Great speech Bev. This is the kind of talk I heard as a kid, “when the lights on your butt’s on the steps,” ha (the implication it will be your ass, and they meant it) …I love it. Today kids would call child services, and being dutiful beaurocrats they’d answer the complaint, arresting the parents.

I hate it, but I’m awfully uninspired by our field of candidates so far…we’ll see. The good news in my opinion, it doesn’t matter, Barry’s toast.

Joel Farnham said...

He sounds like Reverend Jessie Jackson when he is only talking to blacks. Still, it is impressive. Already liberals are shooting arrows at him. How DARE he?!! Obviously he isn't authentically black! The meme might even stick to him. It won't stick with the conservative internet crowd. Seriously, this might be the first time some have heard a black man upset at the fools the younger generation have turned themselves into.

This is what a flash mob should look like. I caught it over at Michelle Malkin's website a couple of years back.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, That's like the flash mob Bev links too with 200 some people freezing in Central Station. It's a clever idea.

AndrewPrice said...

Lawhawk and Scott, Are you sure abortion isn't at fault for our bad economy? Santorum seemed pretty sure there was a connection.

** rolls eyes **

BevfromNYC said...

Joel - See? Just fabulous! That flash mob makes me literally weep with joy. I love how the crowd reacts. That's what I love about the Grand Central mob. The reaction of the crowd is so typically NYC'ish. There's the annoyed ones, the scared ones, the ho-hum ones, and then there's the worker on the walkie-talkie not knowing what to do...

BevfromNYC said...

LawHawk - I would think NOT having an abortion would be the cause of economic problems, not having them.

Ed said...

Yahoo is announcing that Michelle Bachmann won the straw poll. So that's the end of T-Paw.

T-Rav said...

Media, starting tomorrow: "Mayor Nutter is an Uncle Tom and a race traitor." Obviously, no black man except Obama can utter those words.

Also, you should know better, Bev. Never include the words "fabulous" and "Black Eyed Peas" in the same sentence, ever.

T-Rav said...

Like everyone else, apparently, I was mostly irritated with how the last debate went. I think everyone there had some good moments and some bad moments--except Romney and Huntsman, who had no good moments because I don't like them. But mostly, Romney continued winning by default because no one will attack him. That pseudo-presidential demeanor of his is really starting to tick me off, in case no one noticed. I'll probably be monomaniacal about it in two or three weeks without treatment. Meanwhile, the Tea Party votes for the foreseeable future will probably be split between Perry and Bachmann.

T-Rav said...

Final results from Ames straw poll:

Total votes cast: 16,892

1. Michelle Bachmann 4823 (29%)
2. Ron Paul 4671 (WHAAAAA???) (28%)
3. Tim Pawlenty 2293 (14%)
4. Rick Santorum
5. Herman Cain

Also, Rick Perry got 718 write-in votes.

BevfromNYC said...

"Never include the words "fabulous" and "Black Eyed Peas" in the same sentence, ever."

T-Rav - It was just a coincidence. I thought I would sound more like I knew what I was talking about by mentioning the band. I have been duly warned. Oh, by the way, look over there, I think I see a kitten...

T-Rav said...

No way, Bev. I'm not falling for that again; I've barely recovered from the last ambush. If I come for your kittens again, it will be when you least expect it.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, They seem to be giving Nutter a pass. I'm not sure why.

On the straw poll, thanks for the numbers. That's actually a pretty low turn out all around.

Black Eyes Peas said...

To Bev & T-Rav:

Surely you mean, "ALWAYS" include "fabulous" when speaking of the Black Eyed Peas.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, I don't think Romney had any good or bad moments. He sounded like a generic candidate. I can't recall a thing he said.

I think the next debate will be key. If Perry comes in and just punches him in the face 2 or 3 times, then this will be over. If he lays back, then we have a long slog ahead of us with Romney remaining the front runner.

BevfromNYC said...

Andrew, it's not that they are "giving him a pass". They are ignoring his statement altogether. "Silence is NOT consent" in this case. Silence means that they want his statement to go away fast. They learned from Cosby's statement that if they condemn it, it just keeps it in the news cycle longer.

BevfromNYC said...

To Black Eyed Peas (and T-Rav):

Now I'm really confused. I don't know who I should try to appease. This must be the way Obama feels. Oh, I know! It's Bush's fault!

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, That's true, but compare it to how they would have reacted if he had been a white Republican. They would be forming lynching committees and there would be talk about hate crimes, yada yada yad.

BevfromNYC said...

Andrew:
That kind of goes without saying. No one but a black leader could have ever made that speech. And, frankly, I think he could not have made it "officially" which is probably why he made it in a church "preaching to the choir".

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, True. I'm just pointing that out. Plus, I think it's worth pointing out that normally, they savage the guy who made the statement. Even Bill Cosby suddenly found himself under attack for various things after he spoke up.

By the way, in terms of registering to vote, isn't New York's primary too late to matter?

Joel Farnham said...

LawHawk,

I have been over at some Palin sites and they seem convinced Palin is going to join in the Presidential Race. They even parse what she says every time she is asked by some reporter. I wrote that Palin better get in soon or she will be like Fred Thompson. Of course, any slight criticism of Palin is suppressed on their sites.

Fred Thompson created a big stir last time out, but timed it wrong. If she waits too long, her ootsy cutesy way of putting off announcing will do her nomination in before it even starts. Conservatives-4-Palin is starting to get that. "What I take away from this response is that as far as the Governor is concerned she would wait longer to make an announcement, but she understands that a decision must come sooner so it doesn’t appear like she’s stringing people along." What she doesn't say is that Palin is stringing people along.

Am I convinced she will get in? Yes. Will it create a third Party? If the Republicans work extra hard at stopping her, yes. Andrew better polish up his contender assessment on Palin.

Any legitimate critique of Palin better be dead-on-balls accurate. Palinistas will go through it with a fine tooth comb. And don't go where the MSM have already gone. "She's a quitter, She only dropped out because she wanted the money from a book sale." ... etc. These veins have been mined out. While there might be some more gold to mine, most of it is fool's gold.

In this climate of Any One But Obama (AOBO), Palin has a good a chance as any of the other contenders. I know you and Andrew detest her and what she is doing to Conservatism, but you can't stop the signal. ;-)

BevfromNYC said...

Actually we are having our primary earlier this year mainly because it WAS irrelevant. Instead of August/September, it will now be in April. There's nothing a New Yorker hates more than being irrelevant.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, I think you're going to be disappointed. I don't see Palin running. In fact, someone noted today that she has done no groundwork for getting into the race. In other words, she's done nothing to prepare a run.

She's only flirting with running whenever she needs publicity for a book or her daughter's books or tv appearances.

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

Do you have your assessment ready to go?

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, I hate the fact that Iowa and New Hampshire start the election. You couldn't pick to less relevant and more idiosyncratic states. That needs to change.

You should see about getting New York to push for a change there. :-)

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, I don't. Sorting through what is real and what isn't with her is a real nightmare. No one tells the truth about her on either side and I'm having a hard time finding an actual record.

I'll get it done soon though. All my plans got set back with the hospital stay.

AndrewPrice said...

By the way, here are the full results:

Bachmann (4,823)
Paul (4,671)
Pawlenty (2,293)
Santorum (1,657)
Cain (1,456)
Perry (718 write-in votes)
Romney (567 write-in votes)
Gingrich (385)
Huntsman (69)
McCotter (35)

Ed said...

Andrew, That's depressing about McCotter.

Joel, Palin has waited too long. She lost the spark she had and now in the backseat. I don't know if she'll run or not, but she won't win. I think it will be Romney or Perry.

Joel Farnham said...

Andrew,

Have you heard of the various 4-Palin sites? That is where she will get her troops.

Also, what book is she pushing now? Her daughter's?

Why was she in Iowa? To push a book that has already been played out? To promote a movie that has been out there for over a month? Nope, it is to keep her in mind.

Ed, she will have waited too long if she waits until after the next debate. My guess is she will announce on August 29th. Three years to the date of her coming on to the national scene.

AndrewPrice said...

Joel, Beats me what she has in the works. But it is amazing how often her flirtations with running coincide with some money making project and then mysteriously stop the moment the project has passed.

I think she's playing you, just like Gingrich played his followers for years.

Keeping you thinking that she's just about to jump in.... and then finding some excuse why she couldn't is part of that.

Ed said...

Joel, We'll see, but I think she's waited too long. I think she could have had the nomination three or four months ago, but now she's let people start to look into alternatives and I think Perry or Bachmann have drained away her support.

T-Rav said...

Joel, I suspect Andrew's avoiding a 2012 Contenders installment on Palin until or unless she actually runs for president, so as to avoid the absolute meltdown over her that has occurred at other conservative sites. At least, that's the course I would take.

T-Rav said...

Bev, you can never go wrong by blaming Bush for anything, including the Black Eyed Peas.

Speaking of which, shut up Black Eyed Peas! You ruined the Super Bowl!

T-Rav said...

Andrew, you're welcome for the early numbers.

On Romney, maybe that's a good thing, since every poll shows that the "generic Republican" is sure to beat Obama. Maybe we should support him after all? :-)

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, It's a little of all of it, but really I am seriously behind -- losing 4-5 days will do that to you.

Also, it's honestly very hard to find out the truth about her. She is subject to an amazing amount of propaganda both pro and con.

Also, since she hasn't jumped in the race, there hasn't been much of a rush at this point.

I'm not worried about the meltdown because I don't think our audience works that way. You folks are all smart and thoughtful... something I can not say of everywhere else.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, I will reluctantly support whoever it is because Obama is such a disaster, but I hate the idea of blowing this historic opportunity on a guy like Romney who thinks that raising the minimum wage is the way to go. Unfortunately, most of our candidates represent exactly that -- a wasted opportunity.

thundercatkp said...

I think Sara Palin is a disgrace to the Republican Party. Every time she opens her mouth something stupid comes out. I try to ignore most of what she says mainly because I'm not in a habit of following people I think are uneducated and wishy washy. God helps us all if she ever did win!!!! My theory of 'everything balances it's self out in the end' would be blown away forever.

T-Rav said...

thundercat vs. Joel, round 1! Ding ding ding!!!

AndrewPrice said...

Yeah, what T-Rav said! LOL!

thundercatkp said...

Joel lives with thundercat....I'm the most stubborn ;)

thundercatkp said...

P.S. Notice the silence...heehee...it's good to be a girl.

AndrewPrice said...

That or you've killed him. I'm envisioning Joel's blood pressure blowing his head clean off! LOL!

thundercatkp said...

Hmmmmm...know any good lawyers?

No body no murder...didn't you claim something like that when T-Rav was missing :)

AndrewPrice said...

Technically, they can still try you without a body, but it's always a good idea to get rid of the. . . er, it's a real shame when murderers get rid of the bodies. Yep. Horrible... just horrible.

As for T-Rav, I recall wishing him well, but I don't recall at all trying to get my hands on his stuff. No siree... I would never do that. ;-)

thundercatkp said...

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...and you didn't have plans to avoid his zombified body either ;)

AndrewPrice said...

Well, I do like to be prepared and you never know when someone will turn into a zombie! :-)

thundercatkp said...

.....backyard is all family owned forest...not only is it good to be a girl it seems it's also good to live in TN

thundercatkp said...

Yeah. When it comes to zombies best be prepared.

...are you sure T-Rav is T-Rav and not a zombie?

T-Rav said...

Breaking News: I am not, nor have I ever been, a zombie. So stop rifling through my stuff, Andrew!

Also, Pawlenty is out of the race as of this morning.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, Glad to hear it.

Uh... it wasn't me in your stuff. ;-)


I figured Pawlenty would quit. He seemed finished after the first debate.

BevfromNYC said...

T-Rav: That is exactly what I would expect a suspected Zombie to say...

Pawlenty out...possibly Giuliani in.

AndrewPrice said...

Bev, I've been debating doing a Giuliani article, but I wanted to wait until it was clear he would jump into the race.

He has zero chance and I can't see why he would try, but I keep hearing he's interested. I'm thinking he's running for VP.

I think the next one out will be Gingrich who will claim lack of money or support or that he thinks he has a better chance in 2016 or something.

We should also lose Santorum, unless he decides to hang on for grim death.

Anonymous said...

I'll miss T-Paw, but he was just draining cash that should have gone to other candidates to fight Obama.

Ed said...

We should do a pool. List the order in which they drop out - like an NCAA bracket! :)

T-Rav said...

Andrew, it's disappointing but you have to be able to survive this tough primary season. I was hoping he'd stay around longer, but oh well.

There is a silver lining: the Minnesota GOP is planning to approach Pawlenty to run against incumbent Dem Amy Klobuchar for Senate. That would be good if he runs; it would transform that seat from a likely Dem hold to a toss-up.

AndrewPrice said...

T-Rav, That is a silver lining, so let's hope he does run against her. It would stink if he decided to drop out now and make some money.

rlaWTX said...

ohhh, the conversations I miss over the weekend...

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