Postmortem

So here's the postmortem feedback I'm getting from my real-world, and not just FB, interactions with voting blacks:

"DNC you done f@&$ up!"

Why?

The main reason for the GOP opposition to the President has been racism pure and simple.

Nothing else stands up to scrutiny.

There is absolutely NOTHING really different about this President on policy or rhetoric than any establishment Democrat and/or their administration, past or present.

Nothing.

Nothing except his ethnicity.

By 'accepting' that Obama is 'unpopular' in your purple and red districts, which made you run from him in your respective campaigns . . .

. . . You 'joined' the GOP in discriminating against this Black Man, your POTUS because of his race!

You basically smeared this president . . . this black man's legacy with a racist disdain for all the accomplishments he's made the entire 6 years he's been in office.

And in doing so you've made your 'great white hope' Hillary vulnerable as well.

She's ripe for another upturning of her 'inevitability' just like in 2008.

Just like you . . . Hillary too has distanced herself from the president . . . further offending millions of us in this country that have been stalwart supporters of yours for decades now.

The message:

You value the white, racist vote or support the most . . . indirectly.

I say indirectly because your rhetoric isn't overtly racial like the GOP but . . . your avoidance of him on sure fire public opinion winners in terms of policy . . . is also indefensible.

The result is that only the white, racist vote 'mattered' to you in the end.

And you ran with that.

And you got your clock cleaned.

And you pissed off one of your most ardent pillars of support with your cowardice.

I voiced that frustration and anger at you with my most recent piece about your political malfeasance

And I am being proven correct it seems.

You want to hear another thing about Hillary that makes her so vulnerable as well?

Barrack Obama's support also includes MANY whites, young people and other ethnicities of color.

A big issue you ran away from was immigration . . . which ALSO disappointed the now largest group of non-whites - Hispanics.

Also MANY hardcore liberal whites LOATHE her as well . . . and are just waiting for someone else to step in to deny her the 'prize' again. Many are actually vowing to vote against her irrespective of if another candidate comes up or not . . . which could be fatal to any presidential run on the left losing that significant sliver of support, due to the fact that the GOP are now victorious may be able to ride this popularity into 2016. 

How?

The Press will help them do so to preserve the ratings bonanza of an election year narrative of a close presidential race.

I've seen it happen over and over again. With all the money the GOP have to spend the Press will be eating out of their palms in 2016.

Also a little bit of history is surfacing to bite the Hillary Clan on their asses as well:

A wide multi-ethnic swath on the left hasn’t truly forgiven Hillary for her racist tactics against President Obama in 2008 and her prolonged pointless campaign against him as well.

And please spare me the PC line about it 'made his campaign better':

Hillary did that out of spite for his usurping what she thought was 'her entitlement' or 'her turn' . . . and it isn't lost on any astute politico out there.

I can guarantee that if Barrack Obama had lost to McCain in 2008 the Clintons would have wasted no time turning the Obama's 'Name' into 'mud' and a liability. The Clintons would have also punished politically all who supported the Obamas in their 'losing campaign'.

"You should have went with Us! You see now!?"

So yeah DNC we haven't forgot about that. And Hillary we see through you as well.

The Democratic Party has done some damage to a major pillar of their base by their cowardice and racism this fall.

We won't soon forget it.

Take this as an FYI to all ye ‘Good Old Boys’ in the DNC:

What you did on Election Day and the lead-up to the same has spelled the end of your party taking People of Color for granted.

You need to choose.

And choose with solid conviction . . . or we'll see the obliteration of the entire racist two party system within the next few years.

Surprised by my threat? It's not a threat it's a promise.

Didn't you get the memo? We'll be the numerical majority in this place in less than 40 years.

With the constituency you chose to back this fall dying out . . . blacks and others of color, along with forward thinking whites and young people will form a rainbow coalition, which will be America's New Majority.

Get wise and get in with us now . . . or get rolled over to extinction.

We are angry and sick of your empty racial platitudes where we're concerned.

Consider yourself warned Democratic Party . . . or you'll follow the GOP to sleep with the WHIG Party.

(C) BantuProgressiveRant 11/17/14

Political Malfeasance

I've got to vent . . . 

You in the DNC kinda deserved what you got Tuesday.

No seriously:

You folks really piss me off!

I've been a staunch defender of the party and our president for years through some of our biggest battles from the ACA to Bin Laden to the Consumer protection agency . . . and I feel like all my energy I put into fighting for you and defending you has been a waste!!

You guys are guilty . . .

Guilty of Political Malfeasance

And that's pretty grave crime considering what is at stake or what is now vulnerable . . .!

(From here on out for the rest of this rant: 

"They" = GOP)

The Democratic loss on Tuesday is the definition of political malfeasance.

Let's list a few out of a smorgasbord of tacts and facts that Democrats could have used to actually achieve victory:

THEY shut down the government costing the regular guy billions in pay and benefits

The ACA is working to the point they've BACKED AWAY from it.

THEY'RE infested with racists and blatantly court them as part of their base

THEY CRASHED the world economy

THEY started TWO wars on a credit card

THEY LIED about Iraq's WMD AND CONNECTION TO 911 resulting in more than 4000 servicemen losing their lives in a country that is now being overrun by ISIS!

THEY have consistently for DECADES shown that they don't care about the non-wealthy

THEY'RE against the minimum wage increase and actually want to do away with it.

THEY want to tell women what they can and cannot do with their own bodies

THEY disenfranchise millions of voters of color.

THEIR disrespect and intransigence is seething with racism toward the POTUS and people of color nationwide.

THEY'VE blocked every piece of legislation that would have created any sort of infrastructure work over the past six years . . . and each day these structures languish in disrepair and decay it puts millions of our lives in danger while using them.

THEY'RE funded by the most treasonous, racist people and lineages in this country's history.

THEY want to tell you who you can and cannot love

THEY blocked and killed immigration reform!

THEY have gutted public schools and stolen the funds to give to for-profit charter schools for decades now leaving these institutions a shell of their former selves literally in terms of buildings and in terms of efficacy.

THEY did NOT get Bin Laden despite almost a decade of supposedly trying and THEN publicly admitting they aren't focused on him anymore . . . which meant that 3000 NY's that died on 9/11 took a back burner to all sorts of other crap . . . AND THEY have the BALLS to actually 'campaign on' 9/11 for the Presidency in 2008??

THEY . . . THEY . . . THEY . . . Etc . . .!

Let me be clear:

The above, far from exhaustive list is COMMON to and/or can be blamed on the GOP AT EVERY LEVEL - School Board to Presidential candidate.

They have been pushing this national agenda with their sycophantic records and actions for decades now at every level and at every instance they've gotten power.

Their 'bad' is a national exhibit

So you need a national approach when fighting them at all levels.

It's so damned obvious.

So DNC . . .

. . . Ahhm WHERE was this 'national branding' in all the local and state elections in the lead up to Tuesday??

So much low-hanging political fruit applicable to ALL state and district races that you folks basically ABANDONED!!

Republicans have been running a 'national branding campaign' and applied it to local and state elections in 2010 and now 2014 . . . and democrats can't seem to do anything similar.

Why!??

And all you chicken crap assholes that went to embrace Hillary instead of your president, running FROM the ONLY accomplishments you have . . . how's the packing going!???

EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU THAT RAN FROM THE PRESIDENT AND THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS MADE . . . LOST!!

Hillary is not viable in 2016.

Yes I said it.

And your cowardice and yes racism has made sure she won't be too.

The way you pave the way for any progressive presidential candidate is to fight like hell for the progressive accomplishments that were actually achieved.

You don't run from them!

Hillary will be trumped again like she was in 2008 for a candidate that will vigorously OWN all the democratic accomplishments of the most recent administration and run with it.

Only if such a candidate fails to show themselves will she get the 'grudging nod' because as a liberal I'll never let a conservative win if I have anything to do with it.

But she'll never have the fire and devotion from the base and even from the center AND some folks on the right that Barrack Obama had.

So keep running from him Alison Grimes and others . . . you paid on Tuesday for it and if the party doesn't wise up you'll KEEP paying.

And we'll have that bastard from NJ as POTUS in 2016.

Mark my words Democrats.

And for crying out loud:

Trying to be above the fray is no longer respected by the electorate anymore!

The GOP have been branding your party carte blanche as an inept, pacifist entity for decades . . . 

Listen:

It's 'ok' the call them COLLECTIVELY everything from hood wearing racists . . . to courting the same . . . to accusing them of wanting folks to die in lieu of health care!

Alan Grayson had it right.

Stop being so damned 'respectful'!

In the age of reality TV this prim and proper, cotillion bullshit is NOT respected by the public anymore.

You look like a loser and you look weak.

Can't you see that?

Get with it damn it!

You screwed America Democrats with your malfeasance, racism and cowardice . . . thank you.

Sick of your limp-wristed antics!

Go for the damned political jugular already.

And don't go blaming POTUS like some of you have:

He HAS to sound conciliatory. He is the ceremonial head of the country and its his duty to be all cumbayah with his rhetoric.

YOU are supposed to be the political operatives and elected officials! You have no such strictures placed on you! Is Barrack Obama your rhetorical 'mule' that you need to ride to electoral or political victory??

Must he do ALL your speaking for you??

Must he 'carry all your weight'?

The more things change eh?

Funny you were more independent and took more initiative when Bubba was in . . . you didn't need to be told to verbally and fiercely smack down any sort of slight against Bill by the GOP or the fickle media.

Why have you been holding your hands behind your back with this POTUS?

I said it before you folks have a race issue within too it seems:

This black man has to 'do it all without any help' when none before ever had to try so hard.

Yes I went there because I can't see ANY other viable reason for the 'hand off' attitude you folks have had towards the man!

Damn you democrats . . . I support you . . . but your double standard with respect to this president is really trying my patience!

And I'm not the only one that feels that way.

Do your jobs damn you!

I'm getting really tired of your decades-old Political Malfeasance.

When is enough enough!??

(C) BantuProgressiveRant 11/6/14

Going IN on it! More Race Talk . . .

Learn What Racism Is

I have seen on FB, comment sections under magazine articles and blogs, folks talking about 'reverse racism'. This is a term that I have seen mostly Caucasians use when they are relating their experiences when they were subjected to antagonism by Non-whites, just because they are ‘White’.

'Reverse Racism’ is a misnomer.

They really experienced racial PREJUDICE . . . Not RACISM

Reverse racism in itself indicts the original 'perpetrators' - White on Black - as the Real Deal. 

Think about it.

Was that the real ‘intent’ of using that term folks? You used it to equivocate what ‘They’ were doing to you as no different to what ‘You’ have been known to historically do to ‘Them’, right? That says that Racism and all the nasty behaviors associated with it, originated with ‘You’ per se. This rather ‘awkward’ affixing of this ill chosen, possibly, again, misnomer of an adjective in ‘reverse’, is an obfuscator to ‘spread around’ the ‘heavy filth’ of a practice that is commonly attributed to ‘You’.

Were you trying to admit historically that ‘your people’ were the progenitors of such disgusting tendencies and occurrences?If you weren’t please refrain from using this rather ‘sloppy’, guilt-ridden ‘comeback’ or retort for an asshole of another ethnicity, who chooses to act like the ‘brown stuff’ to you for something you can’t control – Your Ethnicity. They were idiots and disgusting fools; label them as such.

In addition, Racism has an element of real-world power to it:

If the racial prejudice, or what has been born out of it (Institutional Racism), gives a definite, tangible benefit to the perpetrator, and as such, gives them 'power' over others or the target(s) of their prejudice, then that is Racism.

All other racial biases and race-based antagonistic behaviors and practices against different ethnic groups who aren't in 'power', or even against those in 'power' is prejudice, which is as old as man and is too common.

For example, Institutional Racism in this country has ALWAYS been a ‘White vs Other’ 'breakdown' because for centuries arguably ONLY WHITES were legally and socially allowed to fully 'take advantage' of the unique experiment that is our Democratic Republic. Whether it be even simple physical liberty, education, political participation (voting and running for office), property rights, and various machinery and operational licenses, Whites have had an relatively ‘unhindered’ opportunity to pursue and enjoy the benefits of acquiring such. This culminates into a very ethnically specific, empirically observable, accumulation of wealth, status and power of all sorts in this society and economy. Those who did NOT fit into the 'preferred' ethnicity, were barred from ‘consuming’ ANY such 'fruits', and for centuries this exclusivity was maintained by force as well as legally.

Racism is a system for imparting exclusive benefit on members of a specific ethnicity.

 

Accept Your Present, Know The History . . . and What It Means, It’s Legacy

At this time in our human history, Whites ARE and have been that 'preferred' ethnicity. 

It was not always so though:

Africans and people of African descent were once the top dogs of the planet. Where they interacted with any other ethnicity, as the Moors did over most of Europe, any prejudice THEY might have had towards Europeans at THAT TIME, would be Racism as well!

They were the ethnicity 'in power' and in charge of all ‘spigots’ of 'opportunity' back then in that world.

Now it is the Caucasian.

That is a fact. There is no need to feel uncomfortable acknowledging such. It's just true.

It is the reason why, collectively, they are 'ahead' in this country and worldwide, in terms of wealth, power and deferential, authoritative influence on countries they once dominated or colonized. Many of the countries we now refer to as the Third World, fit that bill. Although there is resentment from the locals/indigenous people (racial prejudice against whites is on the rise in Hawaii according to some recent reports), the governments, for the most part, aspire to be on good terms with majority white nations, because they are almost always the wealthiest and most powerful.

Again, they have arrived at that point due to the subjugation and domination of people NOT of their ethnicity.

Sorry but it’s all true. Ask Walter Rodney and others for that ‘breakdown’.

Let me step 'forward' to today to make my point clear:

Our everyday life is filled with examples of how 'ahead' whites are.

For instance, I've never taken a flight where the majority of the first class or business class travelers aren't white. That's a simple empirical observation that you can extrapolate to other arenas but let’s stay here. Everyone knows that a first class ticket is more expensive than coach is.Anyone who is in first class is there because they can afford it. If there are less people of color seen consistently, as is the case, it can be assumed it is because they can't afford it. I'm saying it’s no secret that you get more comfort in first class; those that can do.

Now . . . Please don't make the common retort I've gotten when I've tried to make this point of . . .

"So should they feel guilty that they can do that, and others can't!?"

No, they shouldn't. 

We all do what we can; use whatever we have at our disposals to enjoy life. You've got it? Use it.The truth is that collectively our societal systems, for centuries, has left You and Your Forebears largely unhindered and without inter-ethnic 'competition' for the fabled 'American Dream'.You've had a head start to be able to 'fly first class well-represented'. This isn't 'envy' as some who are shallow would accuse me of being captive to. It's a plain, unemotional assessment of an easily-observed and verified fact and/or statistic.

First Class, like so many other 'pleasures' in this country and, in fact, the world over, that require more than average sums of money or resources to experience, seem to have, as a vast majority of the 'patrons', who can be called White or Caucasian.

Is this just luck why so many members of a particular ethnic group dominate a certain economic and class strata?

Many would love that to be the case for the sake of their consciences. Again, you do what you want with your resources . . . but reality doesn't 'owe you' a blissful, pervasive, indignant ignorance of the true cost of your advantages.

True that no white alive today can really be held responsible for the damage wrought by their forebears and shouldn't be held responsible for it either. However, you do need to recognize how fully it has circumscribed your existence, your worldview, your philosophy to life. As part of that recognition acknowledge the hardships still being impugned on others not like you. It is when you refuse to face what might make you feel uncomfortable, falsely believing everyone's generational and personal histories are the same as yourself and ‘insist’ on it . . . you become an unwitting agent of continued discrimination, and thus, pain against and inflicted on those not like you.

Another thing:

This ethnically subjective system built by your forebears is actually DESIGNED to 'support' and make seamless such deliberate obliviousness. It is so insipid that many don't even realize that they're doing that mental dance. You provide fuel for this engine of prejudice to keep going; passively, where you are concerned, but even fatally, where others are concerned. 

Open. Your.Eyes. The evidence is stark and is almost omnipresent. 

“The Racial Stockholm Syndrome” or Colorism

Racial prejudice today and its cousin colorism between other non-white ethnic groups also is a spin-off of White vs Other racism. It comes from dominated, colonized, enslaved and/or conquered non-white people's the world over 'accepting', at the subconscious level collectively, the inherent racial, inferiority 'assertions' about themselves, intimated socially, legally, by force etc by the dominant group. Along with that is the simultaneous imbibing of the dominant group's 'assumed' superiority as well. This is a carte blanche ‘swallowing’, in every way, from physical appearance to language, religion . . . almost all the cultural markers, that they are 'inferior' to their ‘conquerors’ vision of beauty or other standards. These people after a few generations clamber over themselves to see if they can 'identify' with the dominant culture and standards ‘in any way possible’.

Because 'They', The Dominant, have it all.

Why not try to be like Them to curry favor and opportunity, to not feel like they’re at the bottom of all things?

The process of assimilation, when we speak about immigration, has elements of this supplication to it, if you think about it.

Here are some others:

Asians and the operations they endure to give them the 'western look'.

Asians and East Indians anglicizing their names for 'easy consumption' within the existing system.

Blacks use weaves and/or straightening their hair.

People of color the world over using skin bleaching creams to lighten their complexion.

. . . and so much more.

From this clamoring to gain acceptance and favor, a certain class structure or perceptions of class developed between the different non-white groups. Blacks ended up on the 'bottom' because of how ‘far away’ from 'the ideal' they were.Also, they were THE identity most ‘campaigned’ against when one consumes popular culture from societies held captive to this sort of foundation of White on Black Racism. There have been demonstrated tendencies and incidences of Asians, East Indians, and Hispanics exhibiting prejudice against Blacks and their darker-skinned kin because according to well-entombed racial ‘dictates’ such a ‘tint’ is indicative of  the social and societal bottom rung on pretty much everything.

Meanwhile they are victims of very similar and some of the most vile racist actions by the majority just like the Black . . . but hold on to some 'belief' that they MUST BE BETTER than 'them' for a whole host of reasons:

Lighter skin complexion

Long, straight hair and/or hair texture and color.

Similar Body Type even . . .

Here's the sad thing:

Even within their own groups (blacks are also guilty of this) they discriminate against each for being too close to the ‘reviled visage’ of 'Black' in any way it can be 'defined', for any and/or  combination of the aforementioned reasons. The ‘victims’ have come to accept their ‘tormentors’ ‘reasoning for the torment’. 

A Racial Stockholm Syndrome is now pervasive in many non-white and black communities worldwide.

Now behold the ingenious, automated ‘sentience’ of this built-in, racial infrastructure: 

It 'imparts/denies' a 'gradient' of benefit and opportunity based on how close or how removed you are from 'the standard'.

These groups take this 'standard' and apply it among themselves against each other and yes Blacks did/do it too. The resultant self-hating mess is called colorism and it has done unimaginable damage to communities of color all across the world.

Conclusion

There has been this sort of explosion of race-based discussion across all media as of late, in a way I don't think has happened since the 1960's at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. We've seen activists and scholars rise to somewhat national prominence due the highly charged atmosphere where race is concerned, which was undeniably precipitated with Barrack Obama's ascension to the White House. By itself, that achievement for blacks is one that, personally, I never thought I'd see in my lifetime. From Melissa Harris-Perry, Tim Wise to Cornell West, Al Sharpton and even Tavis Smiley have 'suddenly' found avenues to express their passions in a legitimate and serious way. These luminaries have been at this for, in some cases, decades. Suddenly, with Barrack Obama's rise, the opportunity to really discuss this great stain on this country has presented itself . . . and they've risen to the occasion.

When we see Barrack Obama stride out from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, to make a speech or do a press conference or his weekly address . . . it makes Blacks, the world over, feel very proud, vindicated. 

I feel PROUD!

Why?

That cheering many of you heard from many Black neighborhoods when he was elected was expressions of vindication. You may or may not be able to empathize with that feeling for yourself, but that is what it is. Some will say:

“. . . well he just happened to be the best man for the job out of who was left . . .!”

True.

But for us in the African Diaspora that acknowledgement for a position with as much power, visibility and prestige that the POTUS carries . . . is HUGE!

Our History has seen us constantly being denied the opportunity and advancement, even when it was clear we were the best person for the job. Whether it was because we were barred from legally doing so, or the more subtle institutional prejudice took its toll . . . we for too long were crushed under a glass ceiling.

And now the ultimate of these barriers have been shattered.

We feel vindicated.

For all the brutal, physical control and destruction, for all the psy-ops waged on the African Diaspora to wipe away, the fundamental question of ‘Who Am I’ and the Future that inevitably will be carved out with the Answer . . . we feel vindicated because it has all failed!

It has failed because one of US is now There.

I close with 'yell' of a 'verse' to explain:

Vindication

For the all of the Weight of the Ghastly Loss . . .

For all the suffering of the Middle Passage Lost

For the last few Centuries of suffering . . .

For enduring the malicious scarring . . .

Mutilation . . .

Evisceration . . .

Violation . . .

Castration . . .

Subjugation . . .

. . . of My Many, Inter-echelon Traveling Bodies . . .

For all of the Targeted, Constant Mind Rapes

To . . . Wipe Away My Sense of Self, 

At cutting out My Mental Tongue

So I can no longer ask freely:

“Who Am I Really?”

Using the Bloody Sponge to . . .

Sop-up the very essence My Humanity . . .

My Dignity . . .

My Integrity . . .

I now play MY Trump Card Forcefully:

Barrack Obama, THE Leader of this Country!

For Those who liked the Deal of 3/5^th’s

For Those who liked to use whips . . .

For Those cry about ‘taking Back!’ . . .

While for Centuries They rode to prosperity

On My Back . . .!

For Those who Experimented on me at Tuskegee . . .

And practiced Torture on Me . . . in preparation

For the Infamous Holocaust in Germany . . .

For Those responsible for My Countless, Stolen, Progeny

Lost down the bellies . . . of Swamp Beasts

So you could temporarily

Profit from Reptilian Leathery . . .

For Those that spat on Me . . .

Set Dogs on Me . . .

Turned Hoses on Me . . .

For Those that High-Hung Me . . .

While Burning and Carving Me . . .

Making Still-Live, fractious Souvenirs From Me . . .

You really thought you could contain Me . . .?

Terrorize me . . .?

Rape Me . . .?

Desecrate Me . . .?

Murder Me . . .?

To Stop my True Potential from Bursting Free!?

You’ve failed . . . miserably . . .!

LOOK at the returns from Ohio and see ‘Me’:

Barrack Obama, the 44^th in the Presidency

Ain’t that Ironic to see . . .

That my forebears built That Residency . . .

It probably wasn’t intended for the likes of Me . . .

But now one of US holds the sacred Presidency . . .

So next time you pull me over due to my color . . .

So next time you follow me around the store . . .

So next time I pass and you click-shut your door . . .

So next time I ride with you and you clutch your purse

Tighter just a bit more . . .

These ignorant slights hurt just a bit less than before . . .

I’ll look you right in your . . . eyes

Maybe then you’ll realize . . .

That I now glisten . . .

My Soul twinkles with the joy of my forefathers in Our Heaven

My Aura lights up along with hundreds of millions worldwide

With a solemn, unshakeable, overwhelming Pride . . .

You’ve failed . . . miserably,

To squelch Me . . .

Now watch the pep in my stride,

Watch me in a quandary as I glide . . .

Everywhere . . . What is it that possesses me?

Vindication!!

You couldn’t have EVER stopped Me!

Barrack Obama, My President Be!

© BantuProgressiveRant 8/8/13