A Size 10 Farewell to Bush

I'm going to make a prediction that no one will be trowing shoes at Barack Obama when his term is over in four to eight years. Today is the day when Obama is officially elected by the electoral college to be the 44th president of United States.

In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, the 538 electors performed a constitutional process to legally elect Democrat Barack Obama the 44th president.

Associated Press

One positive sign for Iraq is that six Blackwater mercenaries have been charged with manslaughter for killing civilians in a bloody incident in Baghdad on September 16, 1007. Federal prosecutors call the incident an "unprovoked and illegal attack."

Since Bush is not fazed by the shoe attack, why not release the Iraqi reporter who threw the shoe--Muntadar al-Zeidi? It was described as an "audience interruption" by the White House, but reportedly, it could cost him two years in jail. The Iraq Prime Minister, Nouri Maliki, reportedly, wants a sentence of 7-8 years. There was a rally held in Sadr city to demand his release today, so it is clear that some Iraqis do not consider al-Zeidi a criminal.

Who can blame the guy for staging a direct action demonstration of sorts? Reportedly, he was severely beaten after the incident. There may be extenuating circumstance because he was recently kidnapped and tortured for three days by U. S. forces. The 28-year old has been covering the invasion since the beginning and has lost close relatives. As he threw the shoes he said this in Arabic:

"This is a gift from the Iraqis, this is the farewell kiss, you dog.
This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq."

Muntadar al-Zeidi has secured his legacy as a hero to Iraqis, Muslims and admirers around the world. Even Bush has opined that his actions are demonstrative of a free Iraqi -- "So what the guy threw a shoe at me... that's what people do in a free society." Who can disagree, freedom to express dissent and freedom of speech are hallmarks of a democracy.

Barack Obama has outlined a sixteen month timeline for ending the war in Iraq. It is a timeline that many in the media have expressed doubt about.

"But the media pouncing repeatedly on any sign of ambiguity in Obama's plans seems to reflect wishful thinking on their part more than it does any particular insight into his strategy."

FAIR

Now that Iraqis have symbolically given Bush a slap in the face with this shoe incident and the U.S. and global economy has nosedived, there is more incentive then ever for the U.S. to leave Iraq; the sooner the better. Unfortunately, Obama's and the Bush plan is to station more troops in Afghanistan. This escalation of the Afghan occupation is very troubling because these so-called wars were not necessary, there should have been a cooperative international police action to capture the people who perpetuated the 9/11 attacks.

Obama is the Rage

Ralph Nader in effect called Barack Obama an "Uncle Tom". Nader said that it was Obama's choice so far to be an Uncle Tom to the giant corporations. Ralph was a bad boy. He should apologize immediately.

But if he doesn't, so what? It's Ralph's thing to "rage against the machine." He's an activist gadfly for consumer protection. No one should expect Nader to give that up; though he should be more circumspect and respectful to President-Elect Obama. Obama has not even stepped into the oval office or sworn on the bible to uphold the constitution, unlike Bush, who should be the target of Nader's vitriol because of the full mess he's made of this country. Nader has lost control of his facial muscles and twitches and squints throughout the whole interview. I hope he gets it together. I want to still have some respect for him.

But the fact is, Barack Obama has suddenly become as establishment as you can get, and it stands to reason that many people will align against him. Who knows, if he continues to do the things that Nader outlined (he is a politician!), I might get in that long line.

I don't think Obama is going to be too offended--he will just brush off racial attacks by people like Nader, Berlusconi and that racist Austrian pundit or any others that have the balls to speak their bigoted, prejudicial or racist ideology--it's not acceptable to do so and it's progress that they will get plenty of criticism (even from unexpected quarters!)... IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT YOU DON'T HEAR FROM, THAT LET THEIR HATE SPEAK OUT THROUGH THE BARREL OF A GUN OR OTHER WEAPON WHO ARE DEADLY.

I don't know if this rumor is rooted in truth (see the links below; it's true), but I heard a caller to WBAI's Hugh Hamilton show voice the concern that many White people went out and brought guns after Obama won the Democratic nomination and even more armed themselves when Obama won the presidency. It is ironic that many of the guns purchased will most likely not protect or secure these folks, but may end up facilitating domestic violence, crime or a tragic accident.

Of course FOX "twilight zone" NEWS would jump on Ralph Nader for this – you know "Divisiveness R' US" is their unofficial motto. Surely, these propagandist, racist, ignorant buffoons have said much, much worst against Barack Obama in particular and Black people in general. I'm certainly not buying the bridge they are trying to sell with their feigned outrage over Ralph's misguided remarks.

On a positive note, the Obama administration is set to recognize science... first thing will be to reverse the Bush policy on prohibiting stem cell research. Yeah!

I can't find it, but I also wanted to put up a chart from the new change.gov website that was displayed on Keith Obermann that has all the branches of the government listed UNDER the constitution. Hey, that's CHANGE I CAN BELIEVE IN!

By the way; can Bush pardon himself?


Obama Countdown
created by James Miller

Further Reading:
On Concerns Over Gun Control, Gun Sales Are Up
"Sales of handguns, rifles and ammunition have surged in the last week, according to gun store owners around the nation..."

Gun sales up in N.C. after Obama win

Guns Sales are up ten billion percent

Gun Sales Up Before Election

Obama election prompts surge in US gun sales

Sarah Palin blamed by the US Secret Service over death threats against Barack Obama

I Don't Know this America, But I'm most happy to meet it

Two American moments, which one will we extend and sustain? "I know the America on the left. I am so glad to meet the America on the right. I will never forget November 4, 2008." – Ezili Dantò by Marguerite "Ezili Dantò" Laurent Haitian Perspectives November 5, 2008 I grew up with the picture on the left. That's the America that lynched Black soldiers in their uniforms after World War II. It's the America I was taught. It's the America unfortunately I've lived through. It's the America that killed the Dreamer. Yes, I grew up with the picture on the left. I know that America. But yesterday, on November 4, 2008, I was most happy to actually meet the America that chose to make the picture on the right its new dawn.... Honestly, as someone raised in post-Civil Rights America, I don't know this America. I didn't think it was possible. I am most happy to meet this America and I am most thankful for President-elect Barack Obama's unyielding audacity of hope. Most happy to have taken part in it because he envisioned what could be. I am glad to meet this America of new possibilities, this America of November 4, 2008. I want to be part of this America where I don't feel an outsider to Officialdom because I work for human rights, workers rights, reciprocal trade, respect for Haitian democracy and constitutional rule. I hope that that America won't again turn away from this hope for the poor and disenfranchised all over this planet, and go back to promoting the special interests of the corporate elites, valuing profit over people. Senator Barack Obama's victory has introduced me to the possibility of that America. That's a stunning feat. I hope all of us rise up to meet this America we all took a glimpse of on November 4th. Change would truly have come if we actually ACT to extend the November 4th values and broad, inter-generational coalition, across the races, transcending political party, class and creeds that was forged to elect Barack Obama. And extend it each and everyday of our lives. I didn't believe it existed or could be pulled forth in my lifetime. That I've lived to see it, to know it's there and not just the ephemeral dream; that I have lived to see a Black man, this man of integrity and enormous vision and competence, this son of an African, with an aunt who is still an "illegal alien" about to call home, a White House built by the forced labor of African captives, that this America exists and was pulled forth for the world to see, makes me more thankful than I can say. I pour libation for all the Ancestors who did not live to see that the color line has been crossed. I weep for all the American lives and Iraqi lives in Iraq and elsewhere around the world that paid the ultimate price for this day to come so simply. I pray the children in the Congo will benefit from this new day. I hope this means Haitian lives will also be more valued and a new US-Haiti partnership is on the horizon. I pray that a new dawn of American leadership is at hand and hope that President Barack Obama will work with us as we've outlined in "What Haitian Americans are Asking of the New US President." Four years ago, part of HLLN mission, as articulated in Campaign Six was to help to elect a President that would not extend the tyranny and disenfranchisement of the Black masses that Bush Regime change brought to Haiti in February 2004. We hope to retire that campaign now and have a working relationship with this new Congress and this new President. Yes we can - Wi nou kapab. I thank and am so deeply grateful to all those who worked to get out the vote and so blessed to meet this America I don't know but want to get to know, sustain, belong to and have a relationship with. It's been a long time coming... Ezili Dantò Haitian Lawyers Leadership Network (See Background Essay)