Billionaire BET founder Bob Johnson sent a letter to Majority Whip James Clyburn seeking to lobby the Congressional Black Caucus to support Senator Clinton for VP.  If Johnson had any true friends, say some fellow billionaires, they would tell him to sit down somewhere and that he has torn his britches with Black America.

I watched Bush's address this morning as a citizen. I had to shush my wife a couple of times from outrage; she was supposed to be downstairs working. After his address, MSNBC had on a general and the question he was asked was if President Bush was correct about America being safer. The general's polite response was that we can't yet make that assertion.

In other words, President Bush is asserting another falsehood as true and out of respect to the Office of the President, because guests would like to be invited back as experts and eventually get gigs, or because it isn't protocol to do so, no one simply says President Bush's statement is false. Not true. I'm not saying call the man a liar. But this thing gets mushier and mushier. That's why McCain can get up there and say any flipping thing and they call it a gaffe.

From today's address:

Our men and women in uniform are performing with characteristic honor and valor. The surge is working. And as a return on our success in Iraq, we've begun bringing some of our troops home.

As a return on our success? Really?

Flipping

When the first slew of Obama is a secret Muslim e-mails came to my inbox, I was not surprised. That one in particular came from an African American schoolteacher responsible for nurturing and inspiring critical thinking in middle school students was  disconcerting and a bit sad.

My friend that sent this e-mail in particular typifies the category of Republican Because Someone Demonized Democrats or RBSDD. Oftentimes, this group of African Americans are also religious and have been convinced that Democrats are infant killers and usurpers of God's authority with their cloning, AKA stem cell research. This group tends to be secretive, my sister recently confiding to my mother that she voted for Bush twice, being one such example.

However, when my father-in-law sent the latest e-mail disguised as information on the Antichrist and Oprah Winfrey and then swung at Obama in closing, I had to admit that he didn't fit the profile. So why are these black people sending me Obama e-mail?

[Warning: This diary is about black stuff, is politically incorrect and I am unapologetic.]

Black Entertainment Television founder Bob Johnson apologized today for the remarks he made concerning Senator Obama. Johnson apologized in a letter to Obama which stated:

"I'm writing to apologize to you and your family personally for the uncalled-for comments I made at a recent Clinton event. In my zeal to support Senator Clinton, I made some very inappropriate remarks for which I am truly sorry. I hope that you will accept this apology. Good luck on the campaign trail."

In the same article, the Obama campaign responded that they have accepted the apology and were going to "leave it at that."

Well, I don't accept the apology and I will tell you why.

Tucker just said that Dailykos (that single entity, Jonathan E.Dailykos) said that a Romney win would be diluted or polluted beccause of Democratic voters being a part of the process. Aaaaaaaa [buzzer sound] You missed the boat again.

He then referred to the Obama e-mails and asked a question about bloggers and those e-mails. I'm just naive, aren't I? They aren't that internet illiterate? Are they?

Having succumbed to rubbernecking against my better judgment and supposedly my superior character at far too many diary battles, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to every single individual that does his/her part to help me to be an informed and active citizen.

Daily Kos is a lifeline; it is hope, it is informative, it is passionate and it is where I go everyday for any semblance of normalcy, relief and fortunately, most of the time, for a bit of comic relief (healing).

Jump, jump (Kris Kross will make ya ...)

For Thanksgiving, my Big Mama traveled from Piedmont, AL to Nashville, as much to visit her sister, ill, in an elderly home, as to celebrate the holiday. Having visited last month, she knew that her 92-year-old sibling was struggling, knew that the time drew near. Moved from Bordeaux Hospital to Vanderbilt by her two daughters that have traveled from California, we had all been informed that she could go at any time.

My Big Mama's sister, my great aunt, has only one daughter that lives in Nashville and I grew up playing with my cousins on Underwood Drive. One of her grandsons, Sgt. Taylor had re-enlisted in the Army after Iraq, living with me in Orlando and obtaining an Associate's Degree and had traveled from Ft. Hood, TX to the Calfornia desert for training and we knew he'd be the most difficult to bring to her beside in the final hours.

We knew the Army had protocol for this; we also know the strains and difficulties under which our U.S. military labors given the present situation. Much to our relief and to our somewhat surprise, Sgt. Taylor has made it to his grandmother's bedside almost immediately.

CNN just reported that Al-Jazeera has a new audio tape of bin Laden.

State Rep. Richard Curtis, R-La Center has resigned from office in a statement released to the Republican caucus.

The Columbian:

In a statement released by the Republican caucus, Curtis, R-La Center, said "Today I submitted my letter of resignation to Gov. (Chris) Gregoire effective immediately.

In several news stories of the past couple of weeks, the phrase "warns U.S." has appeared over and again. These warnings have come from countries in Asia and the Middle East, messages to the United States to take caution as to an action or decision. These warnings have served to signal to the U.S. that the consequences of our actions will be counteractions on the part of other nations and that we might not be happy with the consequences.

That one can google "warns U.S." and a number of current news stories populate the browser isn't necessarily indicative of the weakened position of the United States courtesy of Bush/Cheney and poor foreign policy. However, that we are being warned from the gravest to the minute is interesting and who is issuing these warnings significant.

[Paraphrasing while I'm watching Countdown with KO], I was astonished to see Rep. Harman (D, CA) say Senator Mitch McConnell's [R, KY] heart is in the right place because he is knowledgable on intelligence.

When asked about the August vote, she said that there was intelligence circulating but that upon her checking, the intelligence community didn't find the source credible.

After the Pentagon came out denying that they were giving any consideration to reinstituting the draft, in opposition to Lieutenant General Douglas Lute's statement Friday, the draft continues in the news cycle.

Two Iraqi War veterans, John Bruhns and Pinelli were on Hardball with Chris Matthews and I found the exchange very interesting for a couple of reasons. Already diaried by LivesInAShoe Draft Debate on HairBall I would like to add a bit more from what both guests espoused.

Pinelli was in support of the draft; Bruhns spoke against.

First of all, I made a poor decision which resulted in me not being able to go to Yearly Kos so I'm pissed. Secondly, this O'Reilly bullshit has me doubly pissed. We oughta open up both barrels and let 'em have it. [Note: When I say both barrels, it is simply an expression. I am not advocating shooting him in the face Cheney style. Please, Homeland Security. Don't come fuck with me. I'm just an insignificant peon at the premier left wing hate site at my mom's house, in the basement, in my pajamas, et cetera, et cetera.]

So I get up EVERY morning, and I get on DK. I pray before, drink a little water, sometimes get my coffee and sit in this metal chair (my wife has plush, adjustable chair, that I bought, with the netting in the back and the cushions.)

Jump with my ranting ass.

On the op/ed page in today's Tennessean, a soldier opines on the bleakness of the Iraq war, that the president ignored the military reality of Iraq.

I can almost hear the sadness in the voice of Iraq War veteran Mike Krause as another day passes, more of his brothers are maimed and killed, Republicans repeat talking points and the key players prepare for August vacation.

As I sit at this computer, watching a summer day fall on Middle Tennessee, it is hard to comprehend the fact that four years ago today, I was at war.

Four years ago, I was north of Baghdad, enduring the stifling Iraqi summer and daily mortar attacks. Now I sit in suburban traffic and help my wife pick out colors for our guest bedroom.

It could be that I haven't slept a lot and that usually makes my body temperature seem a degree or two warmer. It could be that I have been away from home since October of last year working on a project but since I ain't in Iraq, I will STFU on that one. However, I believe that it is a disconnect from what I see/believe and what those who "represent me" are saying.

From the front page Politics of Fear Part III via LATimes:

If the politics of the war do not change, Republicans fear ...

I know the answer. Republicans fear that more American lives will be lost? Annnhhhh. Wrong answer.

Republicans fear that a concerted effort will not be made on behalf of Congress and the President to rally the Iraqi governmental factions toward unity, governance and decrease in violence? Annnnnnh. Wrong answer. Death of more Iraqi children? Not even close.

A June 24 AP article "Decline for military in black recruits" cited "other job prospects are soaring" and "relatives of potential recruits increasingly are discouraging them from joining" as the top two reasons for the decline by more than one-third of enlisting black recruits.

"The global war on terror has taken its toll, no question," said Curt Gilroy, the Pentagon's director of accession policy, in an Associated Press interview.

The soaring of job prospects, discouraging relatives and the toll from the global war on terror, completely and totally miss the point and is typical in America's continuing cosmetic discussion of African Americans.

I have been in Nashville, off and on, for the past eight months working with my mother on a historical project.  My mother is a history professor at the university from which I graduated. This summer, instead of teaching, she has been working on a couple of projects and doing a bit of traveling with my father.

While driving to various places, she often finds local bookstores and looks for books on the Civil Rights Era; she especially enjoys audio books so that she and my father can just listen to books as they travel.

My mother is working her way toward being comfortable with computers and the Internet.  She told her department head that if he wants her to know anything that is e-mail only, he had better knock on her door and tell her in person or send the secretary with a message or else she will not know what the occasion is or when to arrive.  In that she has been at the university thirty years longer than he has, unfortunately he acquiesces.

(jump)

I met a guy a few years ago when I moved to Orlando and we hit it off perfectly. He is carefree; I am carefree. We had great conversations and just always had a good time.

He plays guitar in a band and I would come out to see him around the city. We have a great group of friends, all from the service industry in all of the restaurants, hotels and individuals that work at the airport.

One night, he confessed something to me, something he felt he couldn't have told me before that night. In all of the weeks and months, nights at bars and Orlando Magic games. In all that time, he kept hidden a secret, that this particular night, tugged on his soul to reveal.

[Drumrolll and prepare your gasps] He told me he was a Republican. Last night, he text me with the latest revelation.

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