Condi up to bat.
 

Wow, is she quick on her feet, very smart. You can listen to her right now. The funny thing about this administration is the high profile blacks Rice/Powell are obviously there on merit, while the white guys appear to be just money/connections people.

Ms. Rice is brilliant. But I believed Powell on the WMD last February and now he says it was all wrong. Guh.

I'm interested to see if she gets hung out to dry for the administration.

Its also interesting this surprise at, or notability of conservative smart black folk, women. The rarity of the combo. So ridiculously off topic if race or gender comes into play here- but good theater. I watched some coverage on BET, some current events program, where they discussed whether you could support Condi as a sister, even if you might not dig her policy leanings. A coworker listening here with me, who's a middleaged black woman, is pretty convinced that Rice will be used as the handy goat here- is waiting for it.

I think she's simply a team player. Its the nature of the team that's curious.

Y'all act as if there is any reason to believe any on them in the first place.

She just bitch-slapped Bob Kerrey flat-out upside the head after a series of strategic declassifications. Something like

"I recall a speech by you, Mr. Kerrey, [in 2000] in which you argued that the correct strategic response to the USS Cole was to take on Saddam Hussein."

Oh that's gotta hurt.

Ok, what damn format does NPR use for their audio stream?

I was thinking the same thing.

Quote:

I think she's simply a team player. Its the nature of the team that's curious.

*shakes head* I'm still trying to wrap my mind around that one. Black conservatism...funny. It does exist, I know because I grew up in a pretty conservative family, but politically...I can't do it.

And yeah, I know that the Dems aren't all that either, but better than the Repubs, IMO.

My dad thinks blacks should have their own political party. I'm not holding my breath on that one. Just like with anything that "we" try to do on our own...somehow, something gets sabatoged and goes right to hell. :mad:

But don't you think this country is already polarized enough along racial lines? Wouldn't a black political party just make things worse? It seems to me that too many white "Archie Bunker" types would automatically vote against someone who was affiliated with a black (or hispanic, or Asian) party without even bothering to consider that candidate's stand on the issues. Besides, don't the issues of merit cut across color lines? I'm not niave. I know that racial and ethnic prejudices are still real problems in this country, but doesn't the fact of their existance hurt every last one of us, whether white or black? Just curious.

You correctly stated that racial and ethnic prejudices still exist in america. they always will as long as there is someone saying "we should have our own ________ because of our color, faith, sex, IQ, etc."
the idea of having a party just for black americans is just as offensive as standing up and saying "ok now, there are too many minorities in our party now, they don't understand what we are trying to accomplish. so as of now, we are establishing a new 'whites only' party" anybody who did that should be tarred and feathered. political issues are not a "black problem", "brown problem", or a "woman's problem" they are "PROBLEMS"
life in america (or anywhere) will never be perfect, but the more people try to separate themselves according to any classification, the more fragmented our society will become and it just becomes a viscious cycle.

What does your dad think about Rainbow/PUSH, then?

Stay on target!
 

I'm amazed at what it took to even get her on the stand. The Commission basically had to blackmail the White House intoletting her take the stand. Ridiculous.
Why is it that this particular administration is so damned concerned with secrecy? What do they have to hide?

Honestly, I don't know. I'd have to ask him, and get back to ya. That reminds me: I have to call him. He's in the hospital (nothing serious...gall stones).

"But don't you think this country is already polarized enough along racial lines? Wouldn't a black political party just make things worse? It seems to me that too many white "Archie Bunker" types would automatically vote against someone who was affiliated with a black (or hispanic, or Asian) party without even bothering to consider that candidate's stand on the issues. Besides, don't the issues of merit cut across color lines? I'm not niave. I know that racial and ethnic prejudices are still real problems in this country, but doesn't the fact of their existance hurt every last one of us, whether white or black? Just curious."

"You correctly stated that racial and ethnic prejudices still exist in america. they always will as long as there is someone saying "we should have our own ________ because of our color, faith, sex, IQ, etc."
the idea of having a party just for black americans is just as offensive as standing up and saying "ok now, there are too many minorities in our party now, they don't understand what we are trying to accomplish. so as of now, we are establishing a new 'whites only' party" anybody who did that should be tarred and feathered. political issues are not a "black problem", "brown problem", or a "woman's problem" they are "PROBLEMS"
life in america (or anywhere) will never be perfect, but the more people try to separate themselves according to any classification, the more fragmented our society will become and it just becomes a viscious cycle."

I invite you both (and anyone else) to go to the following website, and watch the video clip of Dr. Henry Louis Gates discussing his documentary "America Behind The Color Line". You may find some answers to your questions.

Tavis Smiley--PBS

Scroll down to the section that says, "Empowerment", and click on Dr. Gates' picture to see the video clip. He has a lot to say.

In addition, I invite you to read an except from the book that the documentary is based on:
America Behind The Color Lines excerpt.

Interesting comments from author Michael Eric Dyson:
Michael Eric Dyson On Terrorism and Tupac

Resources:
African American World-History

Black Planet

Lady S., thank you for the informative, as well as interesting links! Hope your Dad is OK.:)

Welcome to the Cellar, Lookout.:) You make an excellent point, it seems that everyone has to add a qualifier before American these days.

BTW, Slate wasn't impressed with Condi.

As was pointed out not quite a month ago, I'm now a year past having dealt with that.

Gall stones are easier to deal with once you realize you are not having a heart attack ... and a LOT easier to deal with once you have the gall bladder removed.

Good luck to him, hope all goes well.

From that Slate article: We know FBI agents in AZ, MN and IL were on the trail of those 11 September terrorists. We also know that without pressure from above, then those FBI agents were told not to investigate. The quote from those IL FBI agents as it was yelled at them, "You will not open a criminal investigation."

Had Rice not waited for someone to tell her what to do, then at least three teams of FBI agents could have been empowered to investigate further. Furthermore, FL FBI agents were not even told to look for terrorism. Primary administration advisors never bothered to even 'shake the tree' for more informaton even after that 'historical' document? Of course not - according to Condi Rice testimony.

Why does Condi Rice need someone to tell her what to do before she takes 'actionable' action. History says quite bluntly that she should have been the originator of action - to find out what is and is not happening to avoid future terrorist attacks. My god. This nation's number one investigator in terrorism - John O'Neill - had to resign because he complained too loudly that no 'actionable' items existed.

To those who see emotionally, the Condi Rice testimony made her look good. To those who need facts, she did nothing everytime the 'actionable' item had to be originated by her.

Rice has already said she will not be part of the next George Jr administration.

Holy crap! I actually agree with tw!

Holy Crap! I actually made it all the way through one of tw's posts!

To put it in perspective though, I understand that there were 70 different terrorist investigations going on around the time of 9/11.

Oh yes and Condi Rice is not in charge of the FBI.

Piddling little details

Condi's not in charge of anything, she's an advisor. Shouldn't she have been advising instead of just listening?....or ignoring?

edit
After thinking about that statement for a minute it occurs to me that she is the new school of management. The ones that don’t know the business, they just take credit for there underlings successes and blame failures on others. It probably never dawned on her to take an active rule in coordinating them.

I’ve had this gnawing feeling ever since I heard that three FBI field offices were told to back off, that someone made the decision to go after bigger fish because if an individual terrorist cell did act, they would only kill a few Americans anyway.