The Pardu

Archive for March 11th, 2015|Daily archive page

Sheikh Or GOP?

In Freshman Senator Tom Cotton, Sheik Or GOP on March 11, 2015 at 8:11 PM


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Why does this remind me of Republicanism?

Lebanese TV Host Rima Karaki 

Here’s why!

The "47"…….Not Treason, Not Sedition, Not A Violation Of The Logan Act. " How About "Dumbasses?"

In "Stupid Trail"; 47 Steps Away From Dumbsville.", Not A Violation Of The Logan Act, Not Sedition, Not Treason, ten mistakes, The 47 on March 11, 2015 at 6:43 PM


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How about a quick run through ten mistakes from the recent open letter to Iranian leaders from 47 stumbling GOP Senators?
MISTAKE One: Following a freshman Senator down a path littered with signs marked “Stupid Trail”; 47 Steps Away From Dumbsville.

MISTAKE Two: Literally signing the Open Letter

MISTAKE Three: Proudly and mistakenly publicizing the letter probably encouraged and by party money-brokers.

MISTAKE: Four: Ultimately, failing to self-reflect on the party;s body of work since the Bush Era Crumbled. There are no “we were right” flags to wave.


MISTAKE Five: Not consulting US Constitutional scholars before keyboarding such an amateurish item.

MISTAKE Six: Underestimating that old axiom, “every action has an opposite and equal reaction.”
MISTAKE Seven: Failing to grasp the axiom above, and then failing to anticipate a very cerebral and cogent response from people gifted with intellect, time to prepare a response and who will use the letter as fodder to help their cause.

MISTAKE Eight: Acting without deep reflection of lingering perception the United States is perceived by millions as elitist, heavy-handed (regarding placing other nations in a position of subservience), and acting above international law. 

MISTAKE Nine: An eagerness to work towards embarrassing President Obama without proper contemplation of the letter’s author. Cotton is a war hawk who has stated interest in killing the nuclear negotiations and he has exercised poor judgment in making this statement.


Before the Tenth Mistake, watch this townhall Q and A for a few minutes.  He seems to suffer from a form of PTSD. 
MISTAKE Ten: Failing to recognize every act of obstruction, every seditious act and every failed anti-Obama action….the GOP as enacted a party has failed.  

Ten GOP mistakes that led to this:

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif official response from VOX Dot Com

Asked about the open letter of 47 US Senators to Iranian leaders, the Iranian Foreign Minister, Dr. Javad Zarif, responded that “in our view, this letter has no legal value and is mostly a propaganda ploy. It is very interesting that while negotiations are still in progress and while no agreement has been reached, some political pressure groups are so afraid even of the prospect of an agreement that they resort to unconventional methods, unprecedented in diplomatic history. This indicates that like Netanyahu, who considers peace as an existential threat, some are opposed to any agreement, regardless of its content. 
Zarif expressed astonishment that some members of US Congress find it appropriate to write to leaders of another country against their own President and administration. He pointed out that from reading the open letter, it seems that the authors not only do not understand international law, but are not fully cognizant of the nuances of their own Constitution when it comes to presidential powers in the conduct of foreign policy. 
Foreign Minister Zarif added that “I should bring one important point to the attention of the authors and that is, the world is not the United States, and the conduct of inter-state relations is governed by international law, and not by US domestic law. The authors may not fully understand that in international law, governments represent the entirety of their respective states, are responsible for the conduct of foreign affairs, are required to fulfil the obligations they undertake with other states and may not invoke their internal law as justification for failure to perform their international obligations. 
The Iranian Foreign Minister added that “change of administration does not in any way relieve the next administration from international obligations undertaken by its predecessor in a possible agreement about Irans peaceful nuclear program.” He continued “I wish to enlighten the authors that if the next administration revokes any agreement with the stroke of a pen, as they boast, it will have simply committed a blatant violation of international law.” 
He emphasized that if the current negotiation with P5+1 result in a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, it will not be a bilateral agreement between Iran and the US, but rather one that will be concluded with the participation of five other countries, including all permanent members of the Security Council, and will also be endorsed by a Security Council resolution. 
Zarif expressed the hope that his comments “may enrich the knowledge of the authors to recognize that according to international law, Congress may not modify the terms of the agreement at any time as they claim, and if Congress adopts any measure to impede its implementation, it will have committed a material breach of US obligations. 
The Foreign Minister also informed the authors that majority of US international agreements in recent decades are in fact what the signatories describe as “mere executive agreements” and not treaties ratified by the Senate. 
He reminded them that “their letter in fact undermines the credibility of thousands of such mere executive agreements that have been or will be entered into by the US with various other governments. 
Zarif concluded by stating that “the Islamic Republic of Iran has entered these negotiations in good faith and with the political will to reach an agreement, and it is imperative for our counterparts to prove similar good faith and political will in order to make an agreement possible.”

Ezra Klein’s VOX includes a summary of the highlights of Zarif’s response:  here.

At the end of the day (excuse the cliche), and as stated above in MISTAKE ONE, the GOP has again traipsed down the “Stupid Trail” with a sure visit to Dumbsville.

 Why place your own head on the Guillotine? 

Quick Hit: The Iranian Open Letter from 47 US Seditionist

In McCain runs for cover, The Iranian Open Letter on March 11, 2015 at 5:14 PM


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As we move away from the supremely ignorant open letter to Iranian leadership from the GOP in the US congress, reports are some who signed the letter are scrambling for cover.

Can you guess who might be leading the charge from a safe haven?

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Post by Ezra Klein.

….AND THE BAND PLAYS….

The Daily GOP Ignominious II: Lindsey Graham Would Order The Military Against The US Congress! Why Joke As Such?

In Lindsey Graham, R-SC, The Daily GOP Ignominious on March 11, 2015 at 4:56 PM


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From time to time, we find comment from the GOP that needs no additional opine nor afront. One set of words (as a joke) came from the war-hawk mouth of a former Air Force JAG officer. Lindsey Graham, R-SC, must have suffered yet another episode of constipation of the brain accompanied by chronic diarrhea of the mouth. 

Mediaite

Lindsey Graham Jokes: I’d Use the Military to Force Congress to Reverse Defense Cuts

by Andrew Kirell | 1:35 pm, March 11th, 2015

During his remarks before the Concord City Republican Committee last week, Sen. Lindsey Graham(R-SC) suggested that robust military spending is absolutely necessary to defeat ISIS forces abroad, and that, as president, he would use the military itself to force Congress to reverse budgetary cuts to defense and intel.

In brief audio obtained by Ben Swann.com, Sen. Graham purportedly suggests he would use the military to restrict the movement of Congress until they complied:

…[A]nd here is the first thing I would do if I were President of the United States: I wouldn’t let Congress leave town until we fix this. I would literally use the military to keep them in if I had to. We’re not leaving town until we restore these defense cuts. We’re not leaving town until we restore the intel cuts.

Seeing the high possibility that this could be Graham’s special brand of humor, we’ve reached out to his office and will update if and when we hear back. 

Asked for comment or clarification, Graham responded to the right-leaning website with this boilerplate: “Due to the large volume of mail I receive, I regret that I am only able to respond personally to inquiries from South Carolinians. “ 

[UPDATE — 3:42 p.m. ET: As his office clarifies, Graham was employing over-the-top humor to win over his audience.]

Some soon we forget George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Congressionals like Graham.   Isn’t there a national defense contractor conference courtney running someplace in the US?

The Daily GOP Ignominious: Fox News’s Megyn Kelly Validates Her Role In Right Wing Media (VIDEO)

In Fox News, Megyn Kelly, Racist email and Ferguson MO, The Daily GOP Ignominious on March 11, 2015 at 2:09 PM


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I start this piece with a five minute plus segment from Fox News. Please forgive (in advance), starting a piece as such, but the segment is at the center of yet another example of the Fox News business model. What you are about to see is all out propaganda and meant for people who allow Fox managers, editor and producers to shape their minds; thus shaping their lives. Megyn Kelly, linked.


http://mediamatters.org/embed/static/clips/2015/03/09/38975/fnc-kf-20150309-kellydojfergusonracistemails

If you watched the segment and I seriously hope you forced yourself to view a few minutes of Kelly’s twisted garbage. Now, expand your rational viewing with a segment from last night’s Rachel Maddow Show.

For perspective on Megyn Kelly and her audience, recall the Fox News host who just days before Christmas 2013, broadcast this….

http://gu.com/p/3y7dy/stw
https://embed.theguardian.com/embed/video/media/video/2013/dec/13/santa-white-jesus-white-fox-news-megyn-kelly-video

The following Maddow segment simply nails Right wing media and the very reason the nation is divided down racial liens. Right wing media thrives off racial disharmony and the network literally promulgates racism as overt as one can imagine. Obviously, they are successful beyond all consideration as the normally brainiac Maddow suffered a tsunami, “Wow.”

http://on.msnbc.com/1B2LqGK

‘There will never be a n***** SAE’: Perfunctory Apology, Parenting Disclaimer, And No Lessons Learned

In Lawrence O'Donnell, OU SAE Fraternity shutdown, post-racial America, The Last Word on March 11, 2015 at 11:21 AM


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‘There will never be a n***** SAE’ to the tune of If You’re Happy And You Know It.

‘You can hang him from a tree, but he’ll never sign with me, there will never be a n***** SAE’.
Oklahoma University President David Boren has taken decisive action against two members of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity for their leadership in one ofthe most racist exhibitions (caught on video tape) in decades. Two students have been expelled from the University and the fraternity ordered off campus. (See Mediaite below)

The exhibition was video taped on a cell phone and was accomplished surreptitiously, but still a blemish on the commonly accepted premise, American is healing its past. These were very young people, and were it not for the video camera their acts would have gone unreported and subject to promulgation. 

As is almost always the case, the unvealed racists are not offering the standard perfunctory apology and excuses for their actions.

 Parker Rice, Dallas Texas…..
‘I am deeply sorry for what I did Saturday night. It was wrong and reckless. I made a horrible mistake by joining into the singing and encouraging others to do the same.’

‘On Monday, I withdrew from the university… I admit it likely was fueled by alcohol consumed at the house before the bus trip, but that’s not an excuse.

‘Yes, the song was taught to us, but that too doesn’t work as an explanation… For me, this is a devastating lesson and I am seeking guidance on how I can learn from this and make sure it never happens again.’
The ever-present excuse: “alcohol.” Never the confession of “my upbring, and my environment planted a seed that eventually led to my growing to adulthood as a racist.”

The Daily Mail UK reports….

It came as a second member of the group, Levi Pettit, was identified by his own family, who branded his role in the chant ‘disgusting’.

Scroll down for videos, and both apologies in full (article linked here)

Parker Rice Parker Rice

Parker Rice, a University of Oklahoma freshman from Dallas, has been identified as the conductor leading the ‘there will never be a n***** SAE’ chant on Saturday. He is shown left in the video and right wearing branded SAE clothing 

Cut it off! As one frat brother gleefully sings a racist chant, another steps in and tries to cut off recording of the shameful incident 

Another one: Levi Pettit was also identified by his family today, who apologized for his ‘disgusting’ behavior. Right, Levi Pettit – a star golfer at Highland Park School – is pictured putting in a 2013 photo 
Rice, who lives in Dallas, was unmasked earlier Tuesday as the tuxedo-clad leader of the song by Daily Mail Online.

Read more
. 

I published a piece yesterday with evidence of other racists acts from members of the fraternity founded in the “great state of” Alabama.


Last night Lawrence O’Donnell, The Last Word, placed icing on this cake like no other. O’Donnell pointed out the perfunctory nature of apologies as that from Parker and he pointed a finger at the altered state in which his parents live. Better yet, O’Donnell pointed a finger at the reality of parents who’s son has shown an inner core of showboating with an anchor in racism.


 http://on.msnbc.com/1B2MhqU
http://player.theplatform.com/p/7wvmTC/MSNBCEmbeddedOffSite?guid=n_lw_1okla_150310_508004

Students expelled; OU SAE Fraternity shutdown

Yet there is more.  The undercurrent of racism in the fratenity also manifest in the fun-loving “House Mom.”
And, post-racial America moves forward.

 An update peep at “white privilege”…

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Post by Tim Wise.

SAE Has A History Of Racism And Anti-Semantic Acts

In American Conservatism, CNN's Carol Costello, SAE Fraternity, Think Progress, White Privilege on March 11, 2015 at 10:25 AM

American conservatism is also imbued in some of our young and manifest as racism.  Now, guess how it got there!



 Unless you are visually impaired, you need no introduction to the following one minute video. 


 The video was apparently taken by a young woman bus rider who did not take part-in, nor sympathize with, the racist chanters and members of the SAE Fraternity.


Watch for the over-the-top exposition of “white privilege” that manifest as raw racism with no real purpose beyond personal satisfaction of the psyches of a few. A few who were obviously raised in racist household and who without question was raised by racist parents. 

As we rant and rave about the horrors of ISIS, recognize that we also have undercurrents of over the top horrors in our communities and apparently among our young. The SAE chant (obviously not new to the Fraternity) and references to the “hanging tree” is all I need for reinforcement of my view regarding growing racism and hatred form conservatives.

The images on the bus are not far off form the US past and young people who adorned ties and “Sunday-go-to-meet-attire” to witness a killing. 

http://cnn.it/195xjuK

http://www.cnn.com/video/api/embed.html#/video/us/2015/03/09/lv-banfield-sae-racist-bus-song.cnn

SAE has a storied history with roots in the deep US South.

SAE was founded March 9, 1856, at the University of Alabama, five years before the American Civil War, according to the fraternity website. When the war began, the group had fewer than 400 members, of which “369 went to war for the Confederate States and seven for the Union Army,” the website says.

Interesting!  But, let’s jump forward to a more nascent look at the SAE.

CNN’s Carol Costello and a spokesman for the SAE.  Recall…“If is quacks like a duck and walks like a duck…..”

Think Progress also published a piece with a detailed chronology of recent episodes of outright racist for members of the fraternity. It seems their Confederate army roots continue to sprout saplings.


Think Progress
This is hardy the first time, however, that an SAE chapter found itself in hot water due to the racist actions of its members. To the contrary, a brief search for publicly available articles and in the news database Nexis uncovered several similar incidents:
  • In 2013, the frat’s Washington University in St. Louis chapter was suspended after pledges reportedly sang racial slurs to African American students. According to one description of the incident,
    One guy began to recite the lyrics to a rap song (Bitches Ain’t Shit by Dr. Dre) as if it were a slam poem. He was reading the lyrics from his phone. The majority of the group of guys he was with found it funny and some were laughing. One member of the group was videoing the event on his phone. The guys in the group asked the black people in the booth to “show some respect” for the performance. As [redacted] continued to recite the lyrics, he came across the word “nigga” and said it with no hesitation. One of the black students tossed an empty bottle at him in anger only to be told by the group that it was part of the song, so it was okay. The black student replied that it was still offensive and the group apologized half-heartedly.
    The student later apologized and admitted that this stunt was “part of an initiation for Sigma Alpha Epsilon.” The president of the Wash. U. chapter also apologized on Facebook.
  • In December of 2014, SAE’s Clemson University chapterhosted a “Cripmas” party, named after the California-based “Crips” street gang. Photos of the incident depicted attendees at this party flashing gang signs and dressed in costumes intended to make them look like gang members. Much of the chapter’s leadership resigned after this incident, and the chapter “suspended all activity indefinitely” shortly after the incident, according to a statement by SAE’s national office.
  • In 2006, an SAE member at the University of Memphis quit the fraternity after two other frat members harassed him for dating a black woman. According to an editorial in the Memphis Commercial Appeal, the former SAE member “said SAE members used the N-word to refer to his girlfriend” and that they “also suggested that he must have met Darden on the street one night and that he couldn’t possibly be interested in a real relationship with someone of another race.” The Associated Press later reported that two students were suspended by SAE’s national office after they determined that these students “made comments that were inappropriate and unbecoming.”
  • In 2006, SAE’s Baylor University chapter hosted an “E-Dawg”-themed party that the university’s NAACP chapter labeled “insensitive.” According to the Baylor Lariat, pictures “captured students wearing bandanas and holding 40-ounce bottles in brown paper during the party. One of the pictures depicted a student who covered herself in bronzer in imitation of a black person.” The pictures were discovered after they were posted to Facebook.
  • In 2000, SAE’s Oglethorpe University chapter was put on probation, along with chapters from three other fraternities, after an incident where African American students visiting from other schools faced racial harassment and assault. According to one news report uncovered on Nexis, officials at two predominantly black colleges that competed in a cross-county meet at Oglethorpe “complained that Oglethorpe students in fraternity houses threw bottles at athletes and screamed racial epithets.”
  • In 2009, Valdosta State University in Georgia hosted a community forum on “Heritage, Hate or Fear?” that was inspired by the university’s SAE chapter’s practice of flying a Confederate Flag on its front lawn. A lawyer for the fraternity’s national headquarters warned that the chapter could lose its charter if it continued to fly the flag.

If you think the SAE episode was that of young people who may have consumed far too much alcohol, think again.

How about the mock family lynching discovered on a US military base at a family housing unit?

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The problem is a deep rooted mindset that flows under the surface in America. A deep core reality that has not been extinguished in part due to US politics, but moreover it thrives within the minds and inner core of people raised by bigots and racists. To argue differently is an exercise in futility.