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

"Shhhh! Let Them Continue to Eat Glass . . .!"

Well Ashley Judd is NOT going to run . . . too liberal for the State, etc, etc, etc . . .

. . . and McConnell WILL retain his seat. You just watch . . .!

Seriously WHEN does someone start to educate these backwards folks in these Red States like Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia, etc, that it’s REPUBLICAN POLICIES WHICH HAVE CAUSED ALL THEIR FACTORIES TO SHUT DOWN, THEIR TOWNS TO TURN TO GHOST TOWNS . . . that the party's economic platform has meant seriously scant 'boon' the underclasses? The poorest states in our union ARE Red States, mostly! They persist being poor as a DIRECT result of the people in those state’s political choices. When does a Democrat run there with FACTS SHOWING the people there THE TRUTH . . . instead of running a 'Republican-Lite' or someone that 'passes undetected'? THAT is the problem. THAT is why the Democratic party ALWAYS disappoints when it’s time to close the deal: They're all strident and 'gung ho' for This position or That . . . but 'at closing' they neuter or water-down the final product out of 'consideration' for 'nervous Democrats in Red States'.

These folks in these Red States NEED to be woken UP.WE ARE KEEPING FOLKS WHO MOST NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE SELF-HARM DONE BY THEIR IDEOLOGICAL CHOICES IGNORANT! THAT IS AN EXCEEDINGLY CRUEL POLITICAL CALCULATION! WHERE is the COURAGE in the Democratic party to FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE the perceptions of and unravel the TRUTH about what policies work and WHO they affect?

WHERE IS IT!?

Ashley has it . . . but it appears the Democratic Establishment doesn't value it much . . .

I’m starting to think there’s a reason Republicans continue to have an edge over us in the collective, lay, perception of the parties in terms of who is more ‘macho’ or is more convicted in their views and tactics. They continue to enjoy a little undeserved political respect out there because WE lack such conviction when it comes to what we eventually put out there . . .! We need to be ‘campaigning’ 24/7 in these Red States . . . even in Texas and Louisiana too . . . USE local examples to SHOW folks just how WRONG the GOP are for them.

I suspect, however, that we’re not going to see any such profiles in courage. The Democrats will resign to ‘leaving the folks they want to represent stewing in their own intellectual filth’, like leaving a baby in a shitty diaper too long in other words. It is like seeing someone constantly eating glass and cutting the crap out of their lips and mouth, bleeding like hell . . . but you balk at saying anything because they are the best customer at your store. Furthermore, you won't say anything publicly against the 'abusive parent’ (GOP) that TOLD them it's good to 'eat glass' . . . for the same concerns of offending them.  All this permitted masochism for the Red Staters, just so they can say they have ‘seat’ or a ‘D’ in that district or have ‘D’ as number 56 in the Senate. What about the ‘quality’ of that ‘D’? If that Democrat is forced to act, for all intents and purposes, like a Republican to keep the seat . . . what is the use?

The frustrating thing is that Democrats are essentially 'playing on the political landscape' in terms of sensibilities, and political tactics that RONALD REAGAN 'wrought'! WHY haven't the Democrats tried to 'blow that up' THE moment he left office?  Instead we had Dukakis making a fool of himself trying to be something he wasn't. Bill Clinton, and to a lesser degree Obama, moderating themselves along with other things to keep these essentially misled and fooled voters, these 'Reagan Democrats' 'pacified' in their 'wallow' and abandoning the true Progressive spirit that aims to earnestly teach and convince folks why you are better than the other side.

Now the Democratic approach to Red States is 'Don't rock the boat too much, blend in'.

It's disgusting!

That need to preserve those seats won with this 'stoop to say you're a D but not BE a 'D!' . . . has resulted in some very weak, porous legislation coming from the Democrats when they're in an unassailable position in terms of numbers and public agreement/popularity.

It's just frustrating

Democrats may have won the battle for the election but are poised to lose the war for the Public accepting, across the board that democratic policies benefit them. The Press, with the exception of MSNBC, is kowtowing to where they perceive the ratings and money to be:

Conservative-minded multinational corporations(money) and the Tea Party/GOP(ratings).

As a result . . .true journalists 'don't do so well with ratings' and sponsors are loathe to advertise on their shows . . .

Exhibit A. Soledad O'Brien is now gone from CNN.

Exhibit B. They Renewed David Gregory for MTP.

Democrats need to change their tactics if they don't want to get buried in the media that the public is still subliminally addicted to. I propose they 'eject' the corporate democrats as the leaders of the establishment and return/switch to your grassroots as the main driving force now! Follow the example of OFA and Howard Dean.  Start being proud of who you are no matter where in the country you find yourself!  Don't be GOP-lite to win office or we'll get beaten bad in 2014.

Right now, although Democrats enjoy public opinion solidarity on ALL of their policy prescription, STILL haven’t learned, or lack the courage of their convictions, to ‘cash-in’ on that nascent, convergence of public sensibilities and their voiced goals. I thought you prided yourself on being ‘better’ than the GOP, DNC . . . but you’re worse. You hear the crunch of Glass in Mouths, you see the blood constantly dribbling from the millions of tortured orifices . . . but you pretend that that belief system it’s Cake.

“Shhh! Let them continue Eating the Glass . . . we need to ‘get in’”

(sigh!)

McConnell will keep his seat . . . because if folks want the real Troglodyte they’ll VOTE for the real one . . . instead of a Democrat ‘pretending’ to be one! After all, they are so accustomed to the self-inflicted lacerations and the taste of their own blood . . . what’s another few years of the same . . . right Democrats?

The Scorpion . . . and The Frog

Justice Scalia today said:

“The Voting Rights Act is Perpetuation of Racial Entitlement”

Wow.

Although we’re shocked . . . we shouldn't be surprised: Their party openly coddles racists and have taken racial politicking to new highs or lows, depending on which end you are.

The thing is Registered Democrats and Liberals OUTNUMBER the racists and xenophobes on the Right . . . but still we have Republicans ‘winning’ and then installing justices like this miscreant on the bench. 

Republicans have been winning despite our superior numbers and have been destroying the lives of constituents at the state level too . . .

Now I could wax all nice and intellectual-sounding about this, with a ‘tempered, controlled rage’ at how yet again “These damned Conservatives . . .!” are ‘up to their old tricks!’

BORING and INCONSEQUENTIAL!

I've got to light-into my fellow Liberals for a second because . . . 

We’re full of SHIT!

Seriously we need a kick in the ASS!!!

Listen we need to put the myriad of liberal fulminations 'on a leash' for the good of the country at large :

Fuck the Public Option

Fuck the Drone shit

Fuck chafing at Rahm Emanuel for calling you ‘retarded’

Fuck chafing at Barrack Obama 'not using clear strong language in defense of a certain trio of sacred cows'.

And FUCK wanting all this ‘pious’, pure, ‘transparent to all (including our adversaries)’ angle of attack when it comes to the political battling we MUST do!

WE HAVE BEEN STEADILY LOSING THE 'IDEA’ OF THIS COUNTRY RIGHT ON OUR WATCH!

The Conservatives have dealt yet another blow TODAY against the very essence of what this country is about: The voting rights act may be seriously weakened.

For fucks sakes if we don't protect the gains we've got over the 20th century we won't have a viable country to even fight about!!

FUCK the ‘Right to Politically Abstain’!!!

Fuck staying home because you're mad at the President or your Congressman/Senator!!

As Liberals WE CANNOT AFFORD THAT SHIT ANYMORE for the long term foreseeable future!

Who the fuck does that!? Are we that stupid?

We are the only ideological group in the world that STAY HOME to supposedly 'show our displeasure'.

That's bullshit and that needs to stop like yesterday.

We keep staying home in midterms and then bitch and complain when the fucking Elephants act like the ‘societal scorpions’ they are and ‘sting’ the shit out of the country!?

But we can't see that: We have folks that did NOT vote last couple of elections due to NDAA or the drone issue or the public option or Obama's ‘less-than strident liberal rhetoric’ . . .

We have folks trying to take out a sitting Senator or Congressman over ONE issue . . . weakening them enough for the GOP to take the seat.

We need to UNIFY for the Big Picture and NEVER let our ‘subsidiary actions’ imperil that, but if it might or does quash it!

"We have our principles!"

Fuck your principles.

What will you eat, oh esteemed Vegetarian, when you’ve been shipwrecked, the greenery is questionable or scarce and all that’s there is steamed fish or wild boar?

Will you starve yourself to death!?

THAT IS WHERE WE ARE NOW, DAMNIT!!!

Wake UP!!

We want to act like we're this giant net that is actually keeping the country afloat by our principled stances and our own brand of activism(no matter how unappealing and benign our methodology is when it comes to moving the public), we fall in love with the ‘struggle’ and almost forget about the long term more viable picture.

We think we’re kicking shit big time when what we really have is this 'proud' strainer that has no clue what it really is and think that the few shells and little pebbles that are still in our 'maw' are the important stuff . . .

Wrong: Idea of this country is all that 'sand' that has almost totally drained out onto the floor!

Wake UP!!!

Ok I've gotten the nascent angst out of my system. It is time for some hard truths.

First up: I’m SICK and TIRED of the Liberal mouthpieces, opining with rapid, pragmatism-challenged, cubby-holed vapidity about Obama not living up to his ‘liberal fanfare’. The man NEVER was a, quote, ‘Liberal’, a la a Dennis Kucinich. He has always sold himself as a centrist, a pragmatist who wants to take the ‘best ideas of both parties and strike a happy medium. You will NOT get a Bernie Sanders for a Presidential candidate that has an actual chance at winning that prize.

You are going to get only more Barack Obama's, more President Clintons - Centrists willing to compromise and assuage the anxieties of the Reagan Democrats that have actually decided presidential elections for decades now.

They ‘pacify’ them sufficiently so they may actually help them ‘DESPITE themselves’!

Accept it!

And you want to mention Hillary?

Dream on!

She'll 'moderate herself big time' if she decides to run and actually wants to win.

You will be stuck, for the most part with a mix of bad (corporate-friendly) and good (lukewarm defender of labor).

Get used to it.

Why should you ‘settle’? Because our Democratic forebears capitulated to the corporatocracy so that they’d stop being outspent in campaigns.

That allowed Reagan and the Republicans in the 80’s to do a damned good job, virtually unopposed, thus tacitly blessed by Democrats, of hegemonizing this precious fount of voters in the middle of the country.

This ‘programming’ has worked so well, many have made voting Republican an inextricable part of their culture(s)!

Like I said, blame our democratic forebears who decided to go corporate instead of sticking with labor and others 'who brung 'em'.

Chuck Schumer, Rendell, Cory Booker, Christopher Dodd are functioning like, or are corporate Democrats.

Search your feelings 'Paduans'

Why have Democrats, time and time again, on some emotionally-vituperative issue, always seem to ride at a full gallop 'hollering and whooping' it up, bringing us along with them to the trough, but when the time comes to make it ‘real’ . . . that ‘horse never drinks deeply' enough?

We've neutered our party by the choices of our forebears AND by our disgusting, short-sighted, and myopic political practices. We have a very heavy lift.

Democratic disunity and political abstinence (stay home protests) allow conservative evil all across this country.

Search your feelings 'Paduans' . . . and consider the following facts and questions:

We outnumber them on the voter rolls but yet they dominate most of the governorships and state legislatures all across this country even in NY!

Why are they winning?

Why are they able to do such damage to the country?

We're the Opposition and we're supposed to stop them: Why haven't or can't we?

Why are we always 'reacting' to their bullshit? Why aren't they 'reacting' to us?

We have all the ideas that most of the public agrees with . . . WHY ARE WE ALWAYS ON DEFENSE!?

That is what I'm saying!

Republicans used to say for DECADES:

“Young People, minorities, young women, naturalized immigrants, poor people . . . or ANY ONE of our so-called Base Groups can't be counted on the show up.” 

“They can't be relied on.”

“They're skittish and easily 'frustrated'/distracted from exorcising their political rights with efficacy, useful timing and in sufficient numbers to overwhelm any 'systemic attrition' they may encounter.”

And guess what?

They've been RIGHT!

We moved that needle the closest in decades to a 50% eligible voter participation (which is still an appalling statistic when compared to other developed nations) in 2008 and 2012 . . . but I fear it won't last in 2016 or even 2014.

It may not happen for a combination of the reasons Republicans have correctly deduced about our maddeningly-persistent, uniquely-liberal quality of a political Cat Herd, but it may falter due to the fact that we may not have a charismatic candidate like Barack Obama as our standard bearer to whip our emotions into frothy batter, and stir us to grassroots action.

We'll STILL have to organize like we did in 2008 and 2012 . . . but not because of passion . . . or emotional 'high'.

It will be, must be, because of necessity, worry about ‘things we hold dear’, an intellectual dovetailing around a common philosophical dream for the country, and a working, easily regurgitated list of specific measures and laws we need to protect, or strengthen.

It’s not 'Sexy' . . . and neither will any of the potential candidates at this juncture be.

It doesn't lend itself to the easily-lobbed sound bite.

We need to embrace some good, old-fashioned civic duty, and participate at unheard-of historical levels . . . if we want to undo the damage the conservative has done to the country's economy, our collective intellectual/educational exportable product, and the philosophy/psychology of how we understand ‘What our Obligations are To Each Other’ - 'Socialism' should be elevated and exorcised as a word/concept to be feared, into to One that is desired and strived towards, where and when it matters - Social Safety Net, Economic Inequality, the Reclamation of the Commons, the punishment of the magnates(Robber Barons’ 2.0) who flout ethical standards and our laws.

But that takes a sustained, smart and eager movement to reverse the effects.

Do we have that within us Liberals? 

Can we GET PAST the ‘minutia’ of ‘strict rhetorical content’, take off the blinders when it comes to real ideas for national insurance programs solvency, quit being whiny, ADHD, ‘Johhny-Come-Too-Lately’s when it comes to politics and policies . . . and focus on saving the country for the long haul?

Can you do it?

I hope you can . . . because I have. 

This is bigger than me, and we need to stay the course consistently for the next Eight to Ten Presidential elections if we’re to enact the substantive change we say we want.

Listen: I’m hard on my fellow liberals because I sincerely believe we are the best suited in ideas and intellectual curiosity to usher-in this country’s best days ever . . . but we aren’t being smart about it, we’re being played and lead around by Republicans if you think about it.

Our dysfunction, myopia, piety, naïveté, and disunity allow the POISON of the GOP to thrive!

We NEED to address this in a pragmatic, politically offensive, practical way!!

Unfortunately the emotional need for ‘clear-throated bellowing’ of our values does NOT lend itself to political fortune, which you NEED to make change.

We allowed the public to get too hegemonized so now we have to slowly 'reprogram' it.

Sorry for the unfortunate, robotic choice of words but hegemony IS 'programming'.

We have a proud legacy of impressive world-renowned laws we’ve passed and we’ve shepherded this country into the modern era . . .

We have a heavy lift to turn those past successes into that of the 21st century.

So if you're as upset over the Scalia comments, like I was, start paying attention and VOTE ALWAYS . . . among other things.

They can’t seem to help themselves with ‘What They Do’ . . . even if they go down with the calamity they cause . . . and we’re the Frog that has been carrying Them and the country over the River, ‘undersung’ for decades . . . but we keep getting ‘stung’.

I think it’s time we stop being envenomed and our unity ‘dissolved’, our superior vision ‘blurred’ by these folks . . .

We’re supposed to be better than that.

(C) BantuProgressiveRant 2/27/13

For the Birds . . .?!

With all this talk about the ‘Fiscal Cliff’ . . . I find myself becoming exceedingly ANGRY with Republicans AND our Media Apparatus in this place. So I've got to let loose some steam here. Bear with me . . . and cover your ears if you are too pious for cursing.

Part I – To Republicans and Their Ideological Sympathizers

Fuck ALL Y'all Republicans!!

Republicans in this country look like FOOLS to the world!!

And fuck off with that 'we don't care about the world! We only care about right

here!' bullshit I KNOW is coming . . . BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD MARKETS

AFFECTS YOU RIGHT HERE, YOU MORONS!

These ignorant, Republican, sons of bitches in congress need to FUCKING RESIGN!!

A bit of history here:

The democrats held the house from 2007 throughout the last two years of Bush’s second

term . . . WITH Republicans in the Senate and Republicans in the White House; flip of what it is now . . . but guess what?

NO FISCAL CLIFF!!!

NO DEBT CEILING DEBACLE!!!!

NO INTRANSIGENCE THAT LOST THE USA HER TRIPLE A CREDIT RATING!!

Now why the fuck was that, huh??

You think the Democrats with Pelosi and Rahm weren't partisan as hell!?!??? You think they weren’t always scheming to regain power and retain power??

OF COURSE they were . . . but they knew how far to take it! They would NEVER let their Politics roil the markets and induce REAL PAIN on the Public the way this clusterfuck is about to!

BUT THESE MOTHERFUCKERS DON'T CARE, DON'T KNOW OR BOTH!!!

Part II – To the Main Stream Corporate Media

And to David Gregory and the rest of the chicken shit media apparatus: FUCK YOU!!

David Gregory was in a tizzy about criticism from an Obama advisor, which called ‘what he and others like at CNN do’ worthless and part of the reason the Republicans have been getting away with all this obstructionism. Gregory countered that the advisor was wrong because Americans only look at results and Washington has not produced any . . . 

Ahhm . . . I did I say FUCK YOU, right?

We are NOT that myopic and STUPID out here, ‘David-Republican-Shill’ Gregory. We want Results . . . but in the absence of them, we would also like to know WHY and WHO is fucking up the flow! So do your fucking job and tell us just WHO is causing all the ‘Problems’ . . .!

YOU ARE A BIG PART OF WHY THESE ASSHOLES CAN FUCK UP THE WORLD ECONOMY LIKE THIS!!

Your insistence on 'appearing even-keeled' despite the fact that one side is fucking crazy . . . and the other is way more reasonable, although far from perfect . . . is providing COVER for these know nothing IDIOTS, exclusively on the political Right, to hide behind the veneer of ‘legitimacy’ and ‘responsible governing by principle’ . . . when it is anything BUT!

PRESENT THAT TRUTH DAMNIT!!

But I know we won't see that. Oh No . . . we can’t have that!

The Entertainment Division insists that the News Divisions turn a profit through ratings.

Republicans, with their colorful, bombastic ignorance seem to bring ratings – the Reality TV Phenomenon.

You call them the mental patients they are, they sulk and slink back to Fox . . . and that fount of the Conservative Entertainment Complex will continue to trounce you on your time slot, which you so desperately want to top. And that’s all you folks seem to care about these days.

Its times like these I really miss Tim Russert

He did not CARE about competing with Fox News . . . it was about the PRODUCT and his duty to the Public.

But lately Gregory and others attitude is ‘Fuck the constitutionally-mandated Fourth Estate duty, of objectively-informing the Public about who is fucking up in Washington, and who’s trying to get something done’!!

Part III – Back to You Republicans

The Republican party drives me to curse up a storm!!

Their people are fucking crazy, and they don't have any idea or curiosity about how a country runs!!

Incredible!!!

Never have I read about and seen such ignorance and 'masturbatory celebration' of the same, mixed with the piss of economic kamikaze-ism to force their world-view on the country and the world, that has SOUNDLY REJECTED THEM!!!

You motherfuckers don't give a FUCK about the fact that there was JUST AN ELECTION!??

You know the Monarchic mindset of the public - They CHOSE OBAMA's AGENDA!!

Compromise is one thing, BUT IT IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE IN OBAMA AND THE DEMOCRAT's DIRECTION!

They WON!

Democrats keep sleeping on these guys . . . but they are like fucking Mordor:

"There is Evil there . . . that doesn't Sleep!!"

Republicans LOST the last election and the ones before that too . . . and lost soundly. So what do they do? The Cheat and Steal . . . or Change the Rules! They DO NOT Ever ‘Sleep’

They are thinking about making all the states they now control ‘proportional elector’ states like Nebraska and NH, which would be determined by their now famously gerrymandered districts, instead of winner take all like it is in most states.

It was ‘fine’ for them this whole time until Now.

Then no matter how many votes a Future Democratic candidate would get statewide – it would negate the population centers’ impact and give the clout to the rural, poorer, whiter and less educated folks, which are THEIR Base.

Republicans win coming and going!

Rachel Maddow did a segment on this recently . . . unbelievable!

Democrats have a real fight on their hands to stop this and frankly they have ‘slept’ on how craven these Republicans are for power and how desperate they have always been to keep it and acquire it. They think that it is owed to them like some sort of birthright. Losing is an unacceptable ‘phenomenon’ for these clowns . . .! They act like . . .

“There MUST have BEEN A MISTAKE! Why would you even think about voting for anybody else? If you’re so inclined, you MUST be unfit to vote ‘somehow’ . . . and we’ll find that ‘smoking gun’ that proves you are!(Or we’ll ‘invent it’ . . . if we must!). We must always be in power . . . anything else is unconscionable and is grave miscarriage of justice and threat to us all . . .!”

Therefore, the shenanigans in Florida, Ohio, Virginia, etc in November, are par for the course with these folks.

And as for some of you conservatives being offended by my language??

I WANT YOU TO BE OFFENDED UNTIL YOU WAKE THE FUCK UP AND START TO SEE THE

DOWNRIGHT TREASONOUS, SOULLESS SHILL OF CORPORATIST HUSK PUPPET, PARADING VAMPIRE-LIKE, FEEDING ON THE SOULS, BLOOD AND DREAMS OF THE CITIZENRY!!!!

YOU NEED TO APOLOGIZE TO THE FUCKING WORLD REPUBLICANS, FOR DARING TO ASSOCIATE YOURSELF WITH THIS FILTH THAT CALLS ITSELF A POLITICAL PARTY, THAT SNORTS THE GROUND BONES OF LINCOLN AND IKE LIKE COCAINE AND USES IT AS THE MAKE-UP FOUNDATION FOR THEIR BARELY-FEMININE, HOLLOWED OUT HARPIES!!!

YES I WANT YOU TO BE OFFENDED BECAUSE THE PRESS, WHO'S JOB IT IS TO OFFEND YOU AND SHAME YOUR PARTY BACK TO SANITY, WON'T DO IT!!

I REALLY CANNOT BELIEVE THIS SHIT!

Its way past partisan here: YOU MOTHERFUCKERS ARE PHYSICALLY DESTROYING THE

COUNTRY AND WHAT IS WORSE:

THE IDEA OF THIS COUNTRY IS STARTING TO LOOK, IN THE EYES OF THE WORLD, LIKE A HUGE JOKE . . . ALL BECAUSE OF YOU!!!!

THANK YOU, TRAITOROUS PIECES OF EXCREMENTITIOUS REFUSE!

For the good of the country, the Republican Party needs to become extinct starting in 2014 . . . or else we’re through as a country.

I want to say this whole, epic, tidal wave of shit-laced swill is, as the saying goes – “For the Birds . . .!”

But I can’t . . .

Seriously, you could not even feed this to the proverbial ‘Birds’ . . . you’d KILL them.

Mixed Up Priorities

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