Santa 4 B.O. '08

ObamaFest Chicago Grant Park

Paul Tay — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:31:58 EDT

Who wants to go to the real deal Obama vic party in Chicago's Grant Park? We can leave on a Greyhound bus, 6:30 p.m., 3 November and arrive Chicago 10:00 a.m. 4 November. One-way tix: $119.

Why 'Bama Should Go Mano-y-Mano With 'Cain

Paul Tay — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:05:11 EDT

1) Public interest will be SERVED;

2) 'Bama got NOTHING to lose;

3) Straight Talk Express can't keep facts STRAIGHT.

Kucinich: Conscience of the Party. Conscience of AMERICA.

Paul Tay — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 11:47:29 EDT

Repugs ISO champs. Turns up CHUMPS.

Paul Tay — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 21:28:34 EDT

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer Sat Apr 7, 12:18 PM ET

WASHINGTON - The GOP presidential race can be summed up this way: three strong contenders and a hunger for someone else. "There's no question that there's a very open field," said Ken Mehlman, a former
Republican National Committee chairman. Unlike in 1980, 1988, 1996 and 2000, "there's not a presumptive front-runner," he added.

The nomination fight has become even more fluid since the year began, which is unusual for a party that typically has a clear heir apparent.

For now, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has the lead in national popularity polls. Ex-Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has the most money. Arizona Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) may have the superior national political operation.

But none has a clear advantage in all three areas — polling, fundraising and organization — that are traditional measures in determining which candidate is in the best position to become the nominee. Perhaps more telling, Republicans say, is that none has articulated a message or offered an agenda that a majority of the party supports.

"What's missing so far is a clear down-the-line conservative champion, an establishment candidate," said Greg Mueller, a GOP consultant.

Nine months before the leadoff Iowa caucuses, the fragmented field and disenchantment with the top candidates may present an opportunity for a fourth contender to emerge.

That could be an underdog such as Sen. Sam Brownback (news, bio, voting record) of Kansas or two former governors — Mike Huckabee of Arkansas or Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin.

Other prominent Republicans are flirting with a run, including former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, and could shake up the field. The latest to express interest is Fred Thompson, the actor and former Tennessee senator who, friends say, is seriously considering a bid. He is running third in a few national polls without doing anything more than acknowledging he was thinking about running.

Such buzz is evidence of the degree to which GOP voters are seeking alternatives to Giuliani, Romney and McCain. Conservatives who dominate the Republican primary see all as flawed.

In Iowa, Susan and Roger Rowland of Clive are attending campaign events to find someone to embrace. Last week, they saw Giuliani one night and Romney the next. But they were not impressed enough by either to commit. They have not seen McCain and are open to learning more about others, too.

"There are a lot of candidates out there, but I don't really know what I'm looking for," Susan Rowland said, sighing. Her husband said, "If I had to pick today, I'd probably pick Romney, but I'm really glad I don't have to pick today."

The Rowlands are not alone in their uncertainty.

"Significant numbers are really undecided," said David Redlawsk, a University of Iowa political scientist. Short of someone else catching fire or entering the race, he said, "in a year where Republican caucus-goers are focused on electability, they may ultimately hold their nose and pick one of the three."

It is Giuliani, McCain and Romney among the nearly dozen Republican presidential hopefuls who appear best positioned to capture the nomination.

Projecting invincibility, McCain spent more than a year meshing loyalists from his failed 2000 bid with some of
President Bush's top political operatives to build what he hoped would be an unrivaled organization. Despite its depth, McCain gradually has faltered.

Last week, he announced raising a disappointing $12.5 million in the year's first three months. During a visit to Baghdad, he made upbeat comments about security only to have Iraqis mock his characterization. He told CBS' "60 Minutes," in an interview to be broadcast Sunday, that he misspoke.

To get back on track, McCain ordered an overhaul of his fundraising operation and better controls on spending. He scheduled policy speeches, including the first this Wednesday in which he will defend his support for Bush's policy in
Iraq. Other speeches and an official announcement tour are set for this month as he seeks to regain momentum.

Once he made clear he was serious about running, Giuliani jumped to a double-digit edge in national polls. His built-from-scratch political operation is not yet on par with the others. Still, Giuliani ended the January-through-March fundraising period with a respectable $15 million raised.

He continues to lead in national surveys but his advantage has softened as he has come under increased scrutiny. He has faced questions about his business dealings and about his ties to Bernard Kerik, the former New York City police commissioner against whom prosecutors reportedly are pursuing multiple charges.

Giuliani also has had to answer for his abortion-rights stance and clarify statements suggesting his wife would play a significant role if he were president.

Romney set out to prove he was a threat by ensuring he had a stellar fundraising start. He succeeded, collecting a surprising $21 million in the year's first three months.

Yet he remains significantly low in national polls. He continues to be dogged by his reversals on abortion and gay rights, and his equivocations on other issues. He resumed television advertising in Iowa and New Hampshire to define himself. His campaign is eager to start debates, where aides believe he will shine.

Given the shifts in the field, Republican consultant Alex Vogel said, "You have to wonder whether gravity takes hold again and conventional wisdom will apply or whether this really does indicate a new paradigm in the Republican primary."

"Pimp" NOT a good thing in 'hoods

Paul Tay — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 05:49:08 EDT

Ok, so Santa crashes Tulsa's MLK Parade yesterday with the PIMP AMERICA VOTE OBAMA sign. One brothaa VEHEMENTLY insisted Santa DEEP-six "PIMP" from the sign. At first, Santa refused, trying to explain "PIMP" is a good thing in the WHITE neighborhood he hails from, North Pole.

Brothaa PERSISTED and compared the term, PIMP, to that other N-word. At which, Santa wholeheartedly agreed to the said measure of 86'ing 'PIMP.' Ok, maybe it's OK for brothaas to use the word between brothaas, but, it's NOT ok for non-brothaas to use the word.

Whatever. So, the NEW sign: BARACK AMERICA VOTE OBAMA. Just to keep the peace and NOBODY gets confused on Santa's intention at first blush, as the sign rolls in July on its way to New Hampshire for the BIG primary.

And, what is the meaning of giving "dep?" It seems it's ok with the brothaas, but, NOT law enforcement types. To Santa, it's just a good way to press a whole lotta FLESH, without passing kooties.

Mitt offers commissions

Paul Tay — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 05:25:43 EDT

By GLEN JOHNSON
Associated Press Writer

AP Photo/Elise Amendola tcdacmd="cc=wdn; dt";
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Latest Photos of Mitt Romney

Latest News Romney offers student fundraisers money

Romney finds peril in checklist for '08

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Romney seeks cash lead over competition

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BOSTON (AP) -- A millionaire thanks to his work as a venture capitalist, Mitt Romney is acutely aware of the motivating power of money. His presidential campaign hopes it will have a similar effect on college students, which is why it's offering them a cut of their fundraising.

Participants in "Students for Mitt" will get 10 percent of the money they raise for the campaign beyond the first $1,000. While candidates often offer professional fundraisers commissions up to 8 percent, campaign experts believe the Massachusetts Republican is the first to do so with the legion of college students who have historically served as campaign volunteers.

"For the kids that want to get involved in a political campaign and they don't want to spend their summer painting houses, they can help the campaign and themselves at the same time," said Romney spokesman Kevin Madden.

Others take a dimmer view.

"It may very well succeed, but I'd like to think that he'd approach young people and college students based on their commitment to the country, not because they want walking-around money," said Steve Grossman, a prominent Massachusetts fundraiser and past chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, is engaged in a fundraising battle with rivals for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination, including such better-known candidates as Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Presidential candidates must report their first-quarter fundraising numbers April 15. Those totals will strongly contribute to perceptions of political viability.

Running third or worse in public opinion polls, Romney is looking to raise at least $15 million to cement his status as a top-tier candidate.

Successful applicants to Students for Mitt get an ID and source code so the campaign can track donations made at their behest.

The participants are asked to contact members of their academic, social and family circles, and point them to Romney's Web site. The students get 10 percent of all money above $1,000 that is contributed under their ID and source code.

"I spend a lot of hours at the campaign here," said Sarah Isgur, second-year student at Harvard Law School, who is raising funds from classmates, friends and family members, among others in the Boston area. "Some students are working at a law firm and earning $3,000 per week. My opportunity cost is pretty high some times, and this can take the edge off that."

What's in Obama's mp3?

Paul Tay — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 13:10:00 EDT

Ok, people, I need to update the playlist for the Mobile Musik Machine that will travel to the Obama rallies on a bicycle. Help me out, people. What's in the Man's mp3?

Breaking: House to W--Grab yer sack. US outta Iraq.

Paul Tay — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:28:34 EDT

The U.S. House of Representatives just handed the President a DIRECT order to pull troops from Iraq by September 2008, by a vote of 218-212. The vote was strictly along party lines, with Republican leaders claiming the vote is tantamount to admitting DEFEAT.

60 US Senators will be needed to send the withdrawal bill to the President, who has VOWED a veto.

Obama and Healthcare costs

Paul Tay — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 07:47:07 EDT

It seems at every stop Obama makes he talks about affordable healthcare for all. Certainly I would support some combination of Canadian-style care and privatized model. But, hey, what do I know?

But, one aspect of health insurance system that ALWAYS gets UNDER my skin is healthy, fit, physically-active people subsidize SMOKERS, and FAT people, who cause their OWN demise and make the rest of us pay in the process.

Obama, suppose you set the NATIONAL example to quit smoking and REALLY contributing to ONE solution to the healthcare CRISIS?

Just a suggestion. Santa LOVES ya brothaaaa! Otherwise, he wouldn't have made the suggestion in the first place.

How to get brochures and flyers

Paul Tay — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 21:30:24 EDT

Martha Mattes writes:

By any chance would either one of you know if there are brochures or flyers on Barack Obama available, and if so, how we can get a HUGE quantity for March 31?

Obama08OK would like to have a table at the Tulsa County Democratic Convention on March 31, and we would also like to pass out literature to those attending the Martin Luther King parade that afternoon. As you know, the latter event typically draws huge crowds.

Let me know if you know anything -- thanks!

Here's the deal, Martha. There are NO brochures and flyers. This campaign is NOT the usual traditional top-down kinda campaign. If you want flyers and brochures, look to the person who's in your mirror every morning. If you want signs, forget about getting any. Make them yourselves. T-shirts? No problem. Use a sharpie. Bumper sticker? Well, at the OKC rally, someone gave me exactly TWO. I kept one and gave the other to the Subway sandwich guy, who gave me a foot-long sandwich and a drink for it. I managed to snag a souvenier ticket, even though I didn't even get in. But, hey, WHO CARES?! People, this AIN'T yo' daddy's political campaign. This whole road show is all about DIY. So, LET'S GET TO WORK!

First big Barack disappointment

Paul Tay — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 23:55:54 EST

Well, people, it had to come sometime, the first big Barack disappointment. Elaine Dodd, a member of the Obama in Oklahoma steering committee reports Obama will visit the Tulsa home of George Kaiser. The luncheon, by invitation only, will cost attendees $2,300 per person.

Then, Obama will jet to OKC for maybe another HIGH-dollar event most of us proles won't be able to afford. Oh, well, I knew the first of many disappointments had to come sometime.

Thanks a MILLION for getting our hopes up.

Chelsea's mom hot for females

Paul Tay — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:21:21 EST

By DEVLIN BARRETT, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 47 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton called Tuesday for the majority of voters, women, to help her break the nation's highest glass ceiling by electing her the first female president.

"Today, women are a majority of the voters, a majority of students in college, and we are a growing presence in the Congress. But there are still far too few women in leadership positions," Clinton told a crowd of roughly 1,300 at a luncheon for EMILY's List, a national political committee that raises money for Democratic women candidates who favor abortion rights.

Go Sully, GO!

Paul Tay — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 08:36:46 EST

WASHINGTON -- A spokeswoman for U.S. Rep. John Sullivan said Monday that the Oklahoma Republican issued an apology for describing critics of his Tulsa Race Riot legislation as "bigots" because he realizes that such words are inappropriate.

Christina Tuff also said Sullivan chose to apologize in a letter to the editor that was published in the Sunday Tulsa World because of previous letters the newspaper had published on his comments.

"He feels that his letter . . . speaks for itself," Tuff said. "He realizes the words chosen were inappropriate and decided to respond directly to those who had written letters to the editor that ran in the paper."

Sullivan's apology grew out of reactions to comments he made last month when he introduced a bill to make a memorial to the 1921 riot part of the National Park Service.

During an interview on the legislation, the congressman conceded that some people in Tulsa resist that plan.

"There are people that don't like this. I know, but I don't care. I think that certainly it is something we need to have," Sullivan said.

"If those people think that it is wrong to have a memorial to this, that's their problem. They are either bigots or they don't understand."

Tuff confirmed that it was the use of the word "bigot" and the letters generated by his use of it that triggered the apology.

"I apologize to those I may have offended in a Tulsa World story," Sullivan wrote in his letter to the editor. "The use of inflammatory language, unfortunately, has taken away from the purpose of my interview, which was to promote legislation honoring the victims of the 1921 Tulsa race riot."

He also encouraged those who disagree with his proposal to read the text of his legislation, examine the findings of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission and visit the memorial once it is completed.

"The 1921 Tulsa race riot was the greatest domestic disturbance since the Civil War," Sullivan wrote.

"By the time the violence had ended, an estimated 300 people were killed, and 35 to 40 square blocks of the Greenwood community were destroyed."

Obama, PLEASE wear some KEVLAR

Paul Tay — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:18:50 EST

If anyone has seen the Obama u-tubes from Selma, they were nothing short of AMAZING. Beautiful lyrics, cross between JFK, RFK, and MLK. AMAZING, people, amazing.

Which brings up the DARK side of America's political MESSIAHS. They get ASSASSINATED. DAMMIT, I want to go to the Obama Inaugural, NOT a damn WAKE.

Playing to the cameras

Paul Tay — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 07:27:55 EST

As many of you might have noticed, street surveillance cameras are like reproducing like a whole lotta horny wabbits.

They are mostly pretty useless, ostensibly for catching bad guys and some pie-in-the-sky notion of keeping the public safe from the said bad guys. And, guess what? The footage is mostly UNREGULATED.

There is NO set uniform policy on how those footage might be used. Someone is probably watching you picking your nose in your car and having a jolly good time at your expense. Some of the footage are already on u-tube.

So, let's put the cameras to good use, people. Wave an Obama sign at the cameras, maybe spiced it up with a little song and dance!

Obama in OKLAHOMA!!!!!!! Ooooooooh MY Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Paul Tay — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 05:23:30 EST

Tulsa, Ok)--Campaign insiders say Barack Obama will visit Oklahoma on March 19th. Rallies and fundraisers for the Democratic Presidential candidate are being planned. One of his supporters is Tulsa State Senator Jabbar Shumate. The lawmaker says Obama is able to get white voters to look beyond his African-American background and consider the man as a viable candidate. It is expected he will stop in Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

"He is coming on March 19," state Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City, said. "He'll attend a fund- raising lunch in Tulsa, then fly to Oklahoma City for a rally in the late afternoon and a fundraiser in the early evening."

The events' locations have not been determined, Rice said.

Besides Rice, those involved in Obama's Oklahoma campaign include former Second District Congressman Brad Carson of Claremore and state Reps. Jabar Shumate, D-Tulsa, Ryan Kiesel, D-Seminole, and Anastasia Pittman, D-Oklahoma City.

An Oklahoma Poll conducted in January for the Tulsa World and KOTV, channel 6, ranked Obama the third choice of state Democrats, behind Hillary Clinton and John Edwards.

Getting REAL complicated, REAL quick

Paul Tay — Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:57:58 EST

By SINAN SALAHEDDIN, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago

BAGHDAD, Iraq - U.S. and Iraqi forces staged raids in Baghdad's main Shiite militant stronghold Tuesday as part of politically sensitive forays into areas loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Troops have held back on broad sweeps through the teeming Sadr City slums since a major security operation began earlier this month, targeting militant factions and sectarian death squads that have ruled Baghdad's streets.

Al-Sadr withdrew his powerful Mahdi Army militia from checkpoints and bases under intense government pressure to let the neighbor-by-neighbor security sweeps move ahead. But Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and others have opposed extensive U.S.-led patrols through Sadr City, fearing a violent backlash could derail the security effort. The pre-dawn raids appeared to highlight a strategy of pinpoint strikes in Sadr City rather than the flood of soldiers sent into some Sunni districts.

At least 16 people were arrested after U.S.-Iraqi commandos — using concussion grenades — stormed six homes, police said. "My sons and wife were very terrified," complained Muhand Mihbas, 30, who said his brother and six cousins were taken in the sweeps. "Does the security plan mean arresting innocent people and scaring civilians at night?"

At a news conference, the Pentagon's No. 2 commander in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ray Odierno, declined to comment on whether there were special tactics for Sadr City. "We will go after anyone who we feel is working against the government of Iraq," he said. "We will keep at this until the people feel safe in their neighborhoods," Odierno added.

U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told Al-Arabiya television that forces "will increase our operations in the coming days," but noted that the security crackdown in the capital should continue until at least October. Bombings continued to hit across central Baghdad on Tuesday. At the popular Kabab Abu Ali restaurant, a bomb left in a plastic bag exploded during the busy lunch hours, killing at least three people and injuring 13.

About the same time, a suicide bomber struck an area filled with restaurants and ice cream parlors. At least five people were killed and 13 injured, police said. Earlier, a bomb-rigged car exploded in a parking lot, killing at least two people, police said. Battles and violence also raged in other parts of Iraq. In the Wassit province, southeast of Baghdad, Iraqi forces engaged in intense fighting with suspected Sunni insurgents along a key highway, police said.

Near the northern city of Mosul, a suicide bomber struck a factory, killing at least four people. A separate suicide car bombing in Mosul killed at least six policemen and injured 38 police and civilians, said police said police Col. Aidan al-Jubouri. Iraqi authorities, meanwhile, have arrested a suspect in the attempted assassination of Shiite Vice President Adel Abdul-Mahdi, an aide said. The aide said the arrest was made after reviewing security camera video from Monday's blast, which ripped through an awards ceremony at the ministry of public works and killed at least 10 people.

Abdul-Mahdi received leg injuries and was briefly hospitalized. The aide declined to give any further details about the arrest or the suspect. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. The bomb was planted under a chair in the first row of the meeting hall — about six feet from the vice president, the aide said. Police initially thought the bomb was hidden under a speakers' podium. "Investigations are being done to figure out how the attack was planned," Abdul-Mahdi told Furat television. Abdul-Mahdi is one of two vice presidents.

The other, Tariq al-Hashemi, is Sunni. Iraq's president, Jalal Talabani, remained in a Jordan hospital. Talabani, from Iraq's Kurdish north, was taken to Amman after falling unconscious Sunday. He regained consciousness and his aides blamed the episode on fatigue and exhaustion.

His private physician, Dr. Yedkar Hikmat, would give no timetable on his discharge, saying only that rumors Talabani had heart problems were "categorically wrong." In the southern Qadisiya province, meanwhile, Iraqi security forces said they captured 157 suspects linked to a shadowy armed cell called the Soldiers of Heaven, or Jund al-Samaa.

The group was involved in a fierce gunbattle last month with Iraqi forces who accused it of planning to kill Shiite clerics and others in the belief it would hasten the return of the "Hidden Imam" — a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad who disappeared as a child in the 9th century. Shiites believe he will return one day to bring justice.

Barack security

Paul Tay — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 23:27:33 EST

Going through the videos of the Obama rallies, I am very concerned about his safety. He's out in the open. A high-power sniper rifle from long distance or a small caliber hand gun at close range would cause a whole lotta damage.

Remembering the BIG assassinations of the 60's, JFK, MLK, and RFK, and without going into details, what steps are in place to insure Obama safety?

Demookies go for Richardson. (PUKE)

Paul Tay — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:50:18 EST

Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson gained the support of three prominent Democratic bloggers and activists in Oklahoma today.

Calvin Rees, Tim Reese and Jane Luttrell of DemoOkie.com lined up behind Richardson Friday.

“Richardson is right for Oklahoma” said Calvin Rees, co-owner of the blog site, routinely visited by hundreds of party activists across the state. “Richardson’s progressive ideas and experience in the United Nations and as Governor of New Mexico have prepared him for the job.” Rees said.

“Richardson should be very popular in Oklahoma. His experience as Secretary of Energy gives him insight into stimulating domestic production of oil and gas which makes us less dependent on foreign oil,” Reese added.

Jane Lutrell said it was easy to give her support to Richardson. “I like Bill’s ideas and his stance on the issues. I plan on working very hard for him this upcoming presidential cycle.”

Both Rees and Reese were General Wesley Clark delegates to the Democratic National Convention in 2004. They indicated while they still like Clark, they believe Richardson would make the best candidate in 2008.

World Court to hear Tulsa Race Riot case

Paul Tay — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 08:41:36 EST

The Organization of American States' Inter-American Commission on Human Rights will be asked Friday to intercede on behalf of several hundred people claiming damages as a result of Tulsa's 1921 race riot.

The one-hour hearing Friday morning at the OAS headquarters in Washington, D.C., is the result of a petition filed in November 2005 by Charles Ogletree, a Harvard University law professor.

Ogletree had led the legal team that filed a federal lawsuit in Tulsa in February 2003. The suit argued that the statute of limitations, normally two years in such cases, should not apply in this case because state and local officials withheld important information concerning the riot and because of racial prejudice in Oklahoma courts.

The Northern District for Oklahoma rejected that argument. It dismissed the suit, Alexander, et al v. Oklahoma, in 2004, and its decision was upheld by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals.

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case in May 2005.

Only the statute-of-limitations issue was considered during those proceedings.

The petition to the Organization of American States makes many

<A href="Link <IMG src="Link BORDER=0 WIDTH=300 HEIGHT=250 ALT="Click Here"></A> <a href="Link src="Link height="280" width="336" align="center"></a>
of the same arguments as the federal lawsuit, in addition to alleging violation of the OAS' American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man.

The petition says the OAS' Inter-American Court "has repeatedly made clear that states may not rely on statutes of limitations to shield themselves from responsibility for international crimes" and charges that dismissing the suit because of the statute of limitations denied victims "their right to access the courts and to an effective remedy."

Friday's hearing will be to determine whether the Inter-American Commission on Human rights will admit the petition for consideration.

The commission, if it finds in favor of a petitioner, tries to mediate a settlement. If that doesn't work, it can recommend "remedies." If those are rejected, the commission can refer the matter to the Inter-American Court in Costa Rica.

In practice, though, the commission can do little more than encourage the U.S. to reach an agreement with the plaintiffs, or scold it if it doesn't. The U.S. government does not recognize the Inter-American Court's jurisdiction and has typically ignored adverse rulings by the commission.

The commission hasn't ruled on the merits of a case involving the U.S. since 2005, when, in separate cases filed three years earlier, it sided with two inmates on Texas' death row.

Neither case seems to have been materially affected.

One involved a Mexican national who had already won a favorable ruling from the World Court and, as a result, is awaiting a new sentencing hearing.

The other case involved a minor executed while the commission considered his petition. The commission ultimately ruled that his family deserved compensation from the federal government, but nothing seems to have come of the recommendation.

The Tulsa riot of May 31-June 1, 1921, is regarded as one of the most destructive in U.S. history. It resulted in dozens of deaths, hundreds of injuries and millions of dollars in damage.

UPDATE: (Washington, DC)--The case of the 1921 Tulsa race riot is heard by an Organization of American States tribunal. Riot survivors argue justice has been denied as they seek damages and reparations. The riot left what was then known as the "Black Wall Street" in ruins. The number of people killed is not exactly known. U-S courts have refused to take the case, sometimes citing the statute of limitations has run out. Survivor attorneys claim this is a continuation of a conspiracy to deny justice. An OAS commissioner promised to put the case on the "fast track". Even if a future ruling favors the survivors there are doubts they will collect any reparation dollars.

Rice on Obama: Brothaaa kewl

Paul Tay — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:47:01 EST

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice finds Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama appealing and says it won't be much longer before race isn't a barrier to becoming president.

Obama is a top-tier contender among Democrats and his wide support early in the 2008 race just shows that we've come a very long way, Rice said Sunday. "I do think we've come a long way in overcoming stereotypes, role stereotypes about African-Americans. I will say race is still a factor. When a person walks into a room, I still think people still see race. But it's less and less of a barrier to believing that that person can be your doctor or your lawyer or a professor in your university or the CEO of a company. And it will not be long, I think, before it's no longer a barrier to being president of the United States," Rice said.

VA to black people: My bad

Paul Tay — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 07:05:39 EST

RICHMOND, Va. - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery.

The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's approval.

The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans."

The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub.

The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery "ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation's history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding."

Iraqi civilian death toll? No BIG deal.

Paul Tay — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 09:35:42 EST

Saturday, February 24, 2007 By NANCY BENAC, Associated Press Writer 1 minute ago

WASHINGTON - Americans are keenly aware of how many U.S. forces have lost their lives in Iraq, according to a new AP-Ipsos poll. But they woefully underestimate the number of Iraqi civilians who have been killed.

Iraqi civilian deaths are estimated at more than 54,000 and could be much higher; some unofficial estimates range into the hundreds of thousands. The U.N. Assistance Mission for Iraq reports more than 34,000 deaths in 2006 alone.

Among those polled for the AP survey, however, the median estimate of Iraqi deaths was 9,890. The median is the point at which half the estimates were higher and half lower.

Christopher Gelpi, a Duke University political scientist who tracks public opinion on war casualties, said a better understanding of the Iraqi death toll probably wouldn't change already negative public attitudes toward the war much. People in democracies generally don't shy away from inflicting civilian casualties, he said, and they may be even more tolerant of them in situations such as Iraq, where many of the civilian deaths are caused by other Iraqis.

"You have to look at who's doing the killing," said Neal Crawford, a restaurant manager in Suttons Bay, Mich., who guessed that about 10,000 Iraqis had been killed. "If these people are dying because a roadside bomb goes off or if there's an insurgent attack in a marketplace, it's an unfortunate circumstance of war — people die."

HUGE HUGE turnout in Tulsa!!!

Paul Tay — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 01:08:22 EST

Yipeeee! The Oba-Mania Critical Mass was a HUGE HUGE success! Several hundred Oba-Maniacs JAMMED Brookside ALL night LONG!

Eat yer heart out, Austin! Even without the MAN, Oba-Mania CM was a HUGE success. Several HUNDRED dollars were collected to pay for brand spankin' new Obama signs and T-shirts.

Til March, people!

L.A. Rally

Paul Tay — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 22:20:27 EST

I am so jealous of L.A. Dang it. Oh, well. There will be a special guest, REALLY special, at the Oba-Mania Critical Mass. And, guess what? The esteemed guest is even BIGGER than ALL of Hollywood's celebrities, combined, at the <a href="Link. Rally</a>.

Only three more days, people!

Obama in Oklahoma

Paul Tay — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 19:41:57 EST

From <a href="Link class="twphotocaption">Question for 2/13/2007:

Which 2008 presidential candidate would you vote for if the election was today?

Arizona Sen. John McCain21.7 %Illinois Sen. Barack Obama14.2 %Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani31.7 %Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee 1.3 %Delaware Sen. Joe Biden 0.6 %Texas Rep. Ron Paul 3.9 %Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback1.1 %New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton13.8 %Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards8.9 %Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney2.9

Obama in South Carolina

Paul Tay — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:35:14 EST

Intro: They called me Yo Momma. Part II: Si Se Puede.

Senate shoots. SCORES!

Paul Tay — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:51:39 EST

WASHINGTON -- The Senate scored a MAJOR point on the Iraq war in a sharply worded showdown Saturday as the Democrats OUTPACED Republicans, 56-34, in the bid to repudiate President Bush's deployment of 21,500 additional combat troops.

As expected, Oklahoma Sens. Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, both Republicans, voted against the repudiation. Obama voted 'yes,' before rushing back to the campaign trail.

Pundits predict a SLAMDUNK by July, when all HELL is expected to break loose in Iraq. Recently declassified intel reports, written by a bunch of BRAIN-dead monkeys at the Cleveland Zoo, indicate temporary enemy withdrawl to allow U.S. troops to establish positions which can be easily TARGETED. Can you say TET, people?

Tulsa Integrates

Paul Tay — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 09:41:20 EST

Integration early, easy on west side
By LEIGH WOOSLEY World Staff Writer
2/18/2007

View in Print (PDF) Format

It was an unspoken rule in the 1950s that blacks stayed on the north side of Tulsa and whites on the south.

An exception was South Haven, a small enclave of close-knit black families nestled among a circle of whites in west Tulsa. The color lines were closer but still distinct in this blue-collar-working part of town.

Blacks and whites were divided by the trolley line, which was rarely crossed except maybe by youngsters for a pickup baseball game on a Sunday afternoon.

Life was friendly but separate. Then 1955 happened.

That year ended the long-held tradition of busing black children from South Haven across town to attend school at Carver Junior High and Booker T. Washington High School.

South Haven students were allowed into the all-white schools just a few miles from their homes: Clinton Junior High and Webster High.

The 1955-56 Webster yearbook says it became Tulsa's first high school to fully integrate that year. Students at the time say Clinton Junior High School integrated, too.

Local historians, former teachers and representatives of Tulsa Public Schools can't verify details.

But when a story ran last weekend in the Tulsa World about Central High School

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integrating in 1957, some people called with accounts of integration two years before on the west side of town.

The Radford family of South Haven had 15 children, all of whom attended Clinton and graduated from Webster. The older kids were some of the first black students at the once all-white schools.

The oldest Radford child, LaDon, grew up thinking he would play basketball and graduate from Booker T. Washington.

Radford wound up in 1955 attending ninth grade at Clinton, a school he always passed but never attended. Radford said he was one of about 20 black students to first attend the school that year.

Another 15 or so black students became the first at Webster.

"I didn't want to go," Radford said. "Our parents forced us to do it. They were more experienced than we were, and they wanted us to go to an integrated school, even though we wanted to stay where we were.

"You didn't have much choice when my parents sat you down and made a decision. That's how it was back then."

It was also a time when "separate but equal" was a way of life. A 1954 Supreme Court decision changed that by finding segregation unconstitutional in public schools.

In compliance with that ruling, the Tulsa School Board in 1955 redrew neighborhood boundaries and put some black students in all-white schools and vice versa.

The decision to integrate Webster was a decision between the principals at Washington and Webster, said Bill Allen, a teacher and basketball coach at Webster from 1951 to 1986.

"We knew Tulsa was going to integrate, so we did it a year earlier than the other schools," Allen said.

"Our kids living so close together had played in pickup games in the park and stuff. They knew each other, and I think integration probably went smoother at Webster than anywhere -- maybe in the whole country."

Lewis Long, a future Oklahoma state senator, was standing outside Webster when the black students arrived that first day of school in fall of 1955. Long, who is white, said TV stations and newspaper reporters were there to get the story.

But there wasn't a story, he said.

"Three different reporters came up to us and asked us when the fights were going to start," Long said. " We said, 'Man, we don't know what the hell you're talking about. We ain't fighting.'

"And there wasn't one fight. At least not one that I can remember."

Blacks and whites at the school were peaceful, but very few were friends, said Patricia Perkins, Radford's younger sister who graduated from Webster in 1964.

"The white people would speak to you at school, but we didn't go to their parties and they didn't go to ours," said Perkins, a 60-year-old elementary teacher in the Tulsa Public School system.

"There was no socialization. Even in the cafeteria, the blacks sat at one table and the whites sat at another. It was very hard for our social lives."

Most black Tulsans lived on the north side. South Haven was a cultural exception born from the 1921 race riots in Greenwood, when blacks found a haven west of town.

Gail Emerson graduated from Webster in 1956. She is white.

What was South Haven like?

"I don't know because I was never in it," Emerson said. "There was no reason for us to see them. There was no reason to. We were several communities all meshed on that side, but they (black people) shopped at one store and we shopped at another."

That changed only during school hours.

"It wasn't so much the kids," Radford said. "It was the older people. It was like you were still separate but 'so-called' equal when I first went to Webster."

Today, the student body of both Clinton Junior High and Webster High are about 50 percent white and just over 20 percent black.

"Everybody's cool with each other here," said current Webster sophomore Derrick Wells. "There's nothing racist going on at this school. People hang with everybody."

Obama States

Paul Tay — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 18:56:05 EST

I will be keeping an eye on which states Obama visits. Not knowing too much about polling, the visited states indicate to me which ones Obama thinks he has a chance.

He won't waste time in Oklahoma, so, that's why I know Oklahoma will go Pretty Boy. PB thinks he has a chance in OK and will visit. Chelsea's Mom won't visit here. So far, I know of the following states Obama thinks he has a chance:

Six more days til the WORLD's first Oba-Mania Critical Mass!

Paul Tay — Sat, 17 Feb 2007 09:53:05 EST

Just a reminder to EVERYONE around the world with a REAL bad case of Oba-MANIA! Bring your bicycles and join special guest, Santa, for the MOST rolicking load of Oba-MANIA anyone can endure on two-wheels.

Last Friday of every month until the Man is the PREZ! 1648. 3701 S Peoria. Tulsa, OK. If you can't make it to this crap-ass State, do one yerself at wherever yer at! Oklahoma: We are third-rate. So, we try HARDER!

Rudy IN

Paul Tay — Thu, 15 Feb 2007 09:53:11 EST

By JoAnne Allen 31 minutes ago

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, acclaimed for his leadership after the September 11 attacks, confirmed he is running for U.S. president in 2008, eliminating any lingering doubt about his candidacy.

VA Gov 4 'Bama

Paul Tay — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 20:10:58 EST

By BOB LEWIS, Associated Press Writer 2 hours, 28 minutes ago

RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will endorse Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (news">Link, bio">Link, voting">Link record), perhaps as early as the weekend, two officials said Wednesday.

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Obama will headline the Democratic Party's annual Jefferson-Jackson Day fundraising gala in Richmond on Saturday night, an event Kaine will attend along with Democratic Sen. Jim Webb and former Gov. Mark R. Warner.

Kaine has a strong political relationship with Obama, who traveled to Virginia the last two years to campaign for Kaine's gubernatorial campaign in 2005 and for Webb last fall.

"He has been real helpful, yeah," Kaine said at a news conference Wednesday. He would not directly confirm the report, but said there would be weekend developments.

"I'm still pondering (it) in deep detail and am likely to make an announcement sometime soon," Kaine said with a grin. "I think it's going to be a great day Saturday is what I think."

South Carolina Uncle Toms Back Chelsea's Mom

Paul Tay — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 19:44:06 EST

By JIM DAVENPORT, Associated Press Writer Tue Feb 13, 4:23 PM ET

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Two key black political leaders, State Sens. Robert Ford and Darrell Jackson, said they believe Clinton is the only Democrat who can win the presidency. Ford said Obama winning the primary would drag down the rest of the party.

"Then everybody else on the ballot is doomed," Ford said. "Every Democratic candidate running on that ticket would lose because he's black and he's at the top of the ticket — we'd lose the House, the Senate and the governors and everything."

The wisdom of a mainstream Oklahoma Democrat

Paul Tay — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:22:01 EST

Post Reply Oklahoma Democratic Forum Posted by: Dave Guinn ®
2007/02/12, 20:30:40
Edit

Illinois Senator Barack Obama, candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, screwed-up in a stump speech today when he said American soldiers who died in Iraq "wasted" their lives. This is his quote: "We ended up launching a war that should have never been authorized and should have never been waged and to which we have now spent $400 billion and has seen over 3,000 lives of the bravest young Americans wasted."

Black people WAY too smart?

Paul Tay — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 12:11:07 EST

In the 60 Minutes segment, Obama conceded that black people may be TOO smart to just automatically vote for him, just because he's black. He says he's proud of their sophistication. He's down something like at least 20 points behind Chelsea's mom.

I say, "BULL." Black people ain't any more smarter than the next Billy Bob driving the pickup sporting a Confederate flag. It's more like they've been BRAIN-washed to think a black guy can't run this crappy country into the ground like the rest of the honkies.

If Obama says NO to Iraq war, like Ali said NO to Vietnam, he can't POSSIBLY do any worse than Pretty Boy or Chelsea's mom.

DON"T listen to FUD, fear, uncertainty, and doubt, pushed by Faux News Network, people. In fact, suppose you guys just turn OFF the damn TV, yell at the top of your lungs, I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, and pitch the crappy thing out of your window.

Go BLACK, VOTE BARACK!

Black Wall Street

Paul Tay — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 10:23:46 EST

On 31 May 1921, a large white mob, aided and abetted by the City of Tulsa Police Department and the Oklahoma National Guard, slaughtered almost 1,000 residents, burned world-reknowned black-owned businesses, and dropped BOMBS from aeroplanes onto a prosperous neighborhood known as Greenwood, aka Black Wall Street.

The mob action remains America's worst race riot. I'd like to personally invite Barack to visit Black Wall Street, at the intersection of Greenwood and Archer, and honor the memories of the dead and the dignity of the few remaining survivors on a national stage.

Like the Alamo, the Holocost, and Nanjing, we will NEVER forget Black Wall Street. Obama, come to Oklahoma, lay a wreath, and make a speech. There is really NOTHING left of BWS, except our memories. Mainstream Oklahoma trying to cover its SHAME.

New rules for Obama signs

Paul Tay — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:34:46 EST

1) 5 words or less

2) Must fit on 18" X 24" coroplast

3) Catchy and easy for motorists zipping by at 45mph to remember.

Examples:

Don't Do Crack Vote Barack

Jack Yer Sack 4 Barack

Out of Iraq Vote Barack

Call Yo' Momma Vote Obama

I inhaled too, twice

Don't Know Jack Vote Barack

Grab Yer Sack 4 Barack

Ok, people. You get the idea. Post yer own slogans for everyone else to use. QUIT with the lame-ass, wordy slogans ALREADY, people.

Despicable

Paul Tay — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 15:11:06 EST

So, now the headlines are reading, "Black Enough?" WTF, people? THAT's offensive!

The race issue

Paul Tay — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 22:27:17 EST

NO doubt EVERY neo-con extremist whacko WILL use race against Obama, just like they used it against Harold Ford. We gotta be ready. Instead of getting offended and angry by it, let's have fun with it, people! We shouldn't allow words like NIGGER, COON, and other racially charged derogatories have so MUCH power.

Do as I say. Not as I do. So, don't be making fun of da CHINAMAN, yours truly!