This is definitely a moment...


What planet is this woman on? There are so many things that come to mind, I can't even begin to put them all down in this post. But two that on are the top of my list are: 1) If you have to give permission as to whether your husband can see his mistress or not, then you probably haven't realized that you are his wife, not his mother. 2) Mrs. Sanford, have some self-respect and kick the idiot to the curb. Why in the hell would you want this man if he's obviously shown a love for someone else? Remember the saying: If you love something set it free...if it comes back, it's yours or just republican deadbeat.

She's already said he wasn't the person she thought he was, so move on. What is the deal? He obviously isn't interested in making the marriage work and even if he does put on the pretense of trying, it's obvious he's in love with someone else. The cat is out of the bag so pretending you're a happy family values couple isn't working anymore.

This reminds me of the book I just read about plantation owers who fell in love with their slaves. The woman at the "big house" usually knew what was going on but tried so hard to live in denial.

____________________________________________





SULLIVAN’S ISLAND —South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford said Friday her husband repeatedly asked permission to visit his lover in the months after she discovered his affair.

“I said absolutely not. It’s one thing to forgive adultery; it’s another thing to condone it.”

Jenny Sanford spoke to The Associated Press during a 20-minute interview in the living room at the coastal home where she sought refuge with their four sons. They were her first extended comments on the affair.


She said when her husband, Gov. Mark Sanford, inexplicably disappeared last week, she hoped he was hiking the Appalachian Trail, as his staff told those inquiring about his absence. That he had dared to go to Argentina to see the other woman stunned her.

“He was told in no uncertain terms not to see her,” she said in a strong, steady voice.

“I was hoping he was on the Appalachian Trail. But I was not worried about his safety. I was hoping he was doing some real soul searching somewhere and was devastated to find out it was Argentina. It’s tragic.”

The Sanfords separated about two weeks ago. She said her husband told the family he wanted some time away to work on writing a book and clear his head.

“I had every hope he was not going to see her,” the first lady said.

“You would think that a father who didn’t have contact with his children, if he wanted those children, he would toe the line a little bit.”



http://www.thestate.com/803/story/843243.h...

I love that

It makes me want to cry...tears of joy of course

Some said Obama needed to wait until he "seasons" a little more, hell, I even admit, I found myself early on asking this, but as I look back over the last two years since Obama announced he was running for President, I see how a "perfect storm" was simmering just below the surface. His vision for the future of our country could not wait four more years and that to me resonates more than anything that is happening now. For him to make the bold move to run at that time, knowing the odds that were against him, surely now must remove any doubt that he is someone who can lead this country. I don't think anyone could have predicted how all these "events" could have come together at the perfect time, but this is what HISTORY making is all about--and I for one, am so glad to be able to witness it front and center

I know we have three, long, tumultuous weeks--and the attacks will get worse, as well as the concern of the so-called, "October surprise"--but I am seeing the light at the end of this long eight years in the tunnel.

Like many of you, I am going to bust my ass doing what I can for an Obama win and will remain CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC, since we have lived and seen all too well, the shenanigans the repubs pull when backed against the wall--and they are indeed cornered now.

So, in the spirit of hope and getting our country back, here's to three weeks of working our asses off

My favorite Obama moment (so far). I think he does his best speaking when he's had ENOUGH!

This should get you EVEN MORE pumped for tonight because between what is going with our economy and the little trip to the WH yesterday for the photo-op, I think we can honestly say, he has had ENOUGH! I can't wait


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

can we take this seriously? I know we HAVE to take it seriously, but come on, when Andrea Mitchell says, "they may have to have someone sit in for Joe Biden in the debate so he won't be too hard..." bullshit! If she can't handle Biden, then how the hell is she going to handle Putin?

And this "executive experience" thing they are spewing...this makes her qualified to be second in command to the highest office in this nation?

And let's not forget, the sympathy vote for her having a Downs Syndrome child. This is a slap in the face to many, MANY women who take care of a mentally/physically disabled child daily. I worked as a case worker for mentally/physically disabled children and I have nothing but respect for those who do this daunting and emotionally draining job. But to politicize it--as if she is the only one who has ever made this choice--is beyond reproach. Secondly, there are MANY, MANY PRO-CHOICE women who have made the same decision--because they, HAD A CHOICE!

This VP pick is such a slap in the face to women who have worked hard only to be passed over by the "beauty pagent winner" and we should be hearing women raise the rafters, 'cause let's be real, we all know this was a political choice. There were so many more qualified GOP women...it's just ridiculous.

I guess I should be happy since this is a ticket that is so ridiculous how can anyone vote for it, right? Well, one would hope so, but we have a lot of fundies and Americans who are STUCK ON STUPID.

This is an update post from an email:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discu...

I got from my fundie brother-in-law spouting off that Barack Obama was a "clown" for not putting his hand over his heart for the national anthem and ridiculing his middle name, "Hussein". While I get a lot of these "spam" emails from him, this one really hit a nerve. I wanted to fire off a "fuck-you idiot," however, this would only start a bigger riff between us and it wouldn't do anything to help educate him on his ignorance.

But this morning, I received a response from one of those who was "spammed" by this too. It was one of the best responses to this type of crap and I wanted to share it with you. For those like me who need help coming up with the right words for these "clowns" this is definitely a keeper!

Here it is:

"clown" & "Hussein" ?
Shameful Shameful,
This man is my friend, please take me off of these type of list.

Also, FYI Only as a way of helping read the following and be even more
..informed:




At Cincinnati, Bill Cunningham, according to the LAT, who "introduced
presidential candidate John McCain at a rally here today accused
Barack Obama of sympathizing with 'world leaders who want to kill us'
and invoked Obama's middle name -- three times calling him 'Barack
Hussein Obama.' " John McCain repudiated Cunningham's low tactics and
said that using the middle name like that three times was
"inappropriate" and would never happen again at one of his rallies.

I want to say something about Barack Hussein Obama's name. It is a
name to be proud of. It is an American name. It is a blessed name. It
is a heroic name, as heroic and American in its own way as the name of
General Omar Nelson Bradley or the name of Benjamin Franklin. And
denigrating that name is a form of racial and religious bigotry of the
most vile and debased sort. It is a prejudice against names deriving
from Semitic languages!

Christian, Western heroes have often been bequeathed Middle Eastern
names. Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar, the medieval Spanish hero, carried the
name El Cid, from the Arabic al-Sayyid, "the lord."

Barack and Hussein are Semitic words. Americans have been named with
Semitic names since the founding of the Republic. Fourteen of our 43
presidents have had Semitic names (see below). And, American English
contains many Arabic-derived words that we use every day and without
which we would be much impoverished. America is a world civilization
with a world heritage, something Cunninghamism will never understand.

Barack is a Semitic word meaning "to bless" as a verb or "blessing" as
a noun. In its Hebrew form, barak, it is found all through the Bible.
It first occurs in Genesis 1:22: "And God blessed them, saying, Be
fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl
multiply in the earth."

Here is a list of how many times barak appears in each book of the Bible.

Now let us take the name "Hussein." It is from the Semitic word,
hasan, meaning "good" or "handsome." Husayn is the diminutive,
affectionate form.

Barack Obama's middle name is in honor of his grandfather, Hussein, a
secular resident of Nairobi. Americans may think of Saddam Hussein
when they hear the name, but that is like thinking of Stalin when you
hear the name Joseph. There have been lots of Husseins in history,
from the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, a hero who touched the
historian Gibbon, to King Hussein of Jordan, one of America's most
steadfast allies in the 20th century. The author of the beloved
American novel, The Kite Runner, is Khaled Hosseini.

But in Obama's case, it is just a reference to his grandfather.

It is worth pointing out that John McCain's adopted daughter, Bridget,
is originally from Bangladesh. Since Hussein is a very common name in
Bangladesh, it is entirely possible that her birth father or
grandfather was named Hussein. McCain certainly has Muslim relatives
via adoption in his family. If Muslim relatives are a disqualification
from high office in the United States, then McCain himself is in
trouble. In fact, since Bridget is upset that George W. Bush doesn't
like her "because she is black," and used her to stop the McCain
campaign in South Carolina in 2000, you understand why McCain would be
especially sensitive to race-baiting of Cunningham's sort. The
question is how vigorously he will combat it; he hasn't been above
Muslim-taunting in the campaign so far. (And, the McCains really
should let Bridget know that she is Asian, not "black." The poor girl;
Bush and Rove have done a number on her, and Cindy's confusion can't
help.)

The other thing to say about grandfathers named Hussein is that very
large numbers of African-Americans probably have an ancestor ten or
eleven generations ago with that name, in what is now Mali or Senegal
or Nigeria. And, since so many thousands of Arab Muslims were made to
convert to Catholicism in Spain after 1501, many Latinos have distant
ancestors named Hussein, too. In fact, since there was a lot of
Arab-Spanish intermarriage, and since there was subsequent Spanish
intermarriage with other European Catholics, more European Americans
are descended from a Hussein than they realize. The British royal
family is quite forthright about the Arab line in their ancestry going
back to Andalusia.

Obama, being a cousin of Dick Cheney on one side and having relatives
in Kenya on the other, is just more and more typical of the 21st
century United States.

So, anyway, Obama's first two names mean "Blessing, the Good." If we
are lucky enough to get him for president, we can only hope that his
names are prophetic for us.

Which brings me to Omar Bradley. Omar is an alternative spelling of
Umar, i.e. Umar ibn al-Khattab, the second caliph of Sunni Islam.
Presumably General Bradley was named for the poet Omar Khayyam, who
bore the caliph's name. Omar Khayyam's Rubaiyat, in the "translation"
of Edward FitzGerald, became enormously popular in Victorian America.

Gen. Omar Bradley, who bore a Semitic, Muslim first name, and shared
it with the second Caliph of Sunni Islam, was the hero of D-Day and
Normandy, of the Battle of the Bulge and the Ruhr.

Would Mr. Cunningham see Omar Bradley as un-American, as an enemy
because of his name?

What about other American heroes, such as Gen. George Joulwan, former
NATO Supreme Allied Commander of Europe? "Joulwan" is an Arabic name.
Or there is Gen. John Abizaid, former CENTCOM commander. Abizaid is an
Arabic name. Abi means Abu or "father of," and Zaid is a common Arab
first name. Is Cunningham good enough to wipe their shoes? Is he going
to call them traitors because they have Arabic names?

What about Congressman Darrell Issa of California? ("`Isa" means Jesus
in Arabic). Former cabinet secretary Donna Shalala? (Shalala means
"waterfall" in Arabic).

I won't go into all the great Americans with Arabic names in sports,
entertainment and business, against whom Cunningham would apparently
discriminate on that basis. Does he want to take citizenship away from
Kareem Abdul Jabbar and
Ahmad Jamal ? What about Rihanna
<"sweet basil," "aromatic">? Tony Shalhoub ?

Let us take Benjamin Franklin. His first name is from the Hebrew Bin
Yamin, the son of the Right (hand), or son of strength, or the son of
the South (yamin or right has lots of connotations). The "Bin" means
"son of," just as in modern colloquial Arabic. Bin Yamin Franklin is
not a dishonorable name because of its Semitic root. By the way, there
are lots of Muslims named Bin Yamin.

As for an American president bearing a name derived from a Semitic
language, that is hardly unprecedented.

John Adams really only had Semitic names. His first name is from the
Hebrew Yochanan, or gift of God, which became Johan and then John. (In
German and in medieval English, "y" is represented by "j" but was
originally pronounced "y".) Adams is from the biblical Adam, which
also just means "human being." In Arabic, one way of saying "human
being" is "Bani Adam," the children of men.

Thomas Jefferson's first name is from the Aramaic Tuma, meaning
"twin." Aramaic is a Semitic language spoken by Jesus, which is
related to Hebrew and Arabic. In Arabic twin is tau'am, so you can see
the similarity.

James Madison, James Monroe and James Polk all had a Semitic first
name, derived from the Hebrew Ya'aqov or Jacob, which is Ya`qub in
Arabic. It became Iacobus in Latin, then was corrupted to Iacomus, and
from there became James in English.

Zachary Taylor's first name is from the Hebrew Zachariah, which means
"the Lord has remembered."

Abraham Lincoln, of course is, named for the patriarch Abraham, from
the Semitic word for father, Ab, and the word for "multitude," raham,.
Abu, "father of," is a common element in Arab names today.

So, Mr. Cunningham, Barack Hussein Obama fits right in this list of
presidents with Semitic names. In fact, we haven't had one for a
while. We are due for another one.

A blessed and good one.

it really puts all the pettiness of this primary into perspective. This man is in for a REAL fight--one that I know he will take on as fierce as "a lion." I remember so well when JFKjr died and how he was there for Caroline. That image of him with his arm around her when they took JFKjr's ashes out to sea still resonates with me. I was only three when JFK died and seven when Bobby died, however looking back over history at that time, I've always wondered where the strength came for him to carry on the way he did afterwards. He is a very special person and to know that this hits us in so many different ways makes it so palpable.

I'm just so sad as I know many of you are too.

maybe she really doesn't see it? This primary has reared an ugly side of her that I've never seen before. I always knew that Hillary was once a republican. In fact, one of my favorite authors, Diane Mott Davidson, says that Hillary Clinton lived in her dorm and tried to draft her into the Young Republicans:

"...Diane gave up writing to study political science at Wellesley. There she lived across the hall from Hillary Rodham (now Clinton), who drafted her into the Young Republicans!"http://www.dianemottdavidson.com/about.htm...

But this doesn't really matter. Hillary left the "dark side" a long time ago and has stood strong on some prominent Democratic issues. I've always admired her for that and her tenaciousness to stand behind Bill.

However, what strikes me now, as this primary continues and her desperation to win this race increases, is something that I've see in so many over the years growing up and living in the south which is--the mentality that blacks are "worthy" and "hard-working", and even "liked", however, they're not quite as good as "them". I strongly believe it is the major factor fueling this tenacious race. Oh, many would never say it outright (unless they're Pat Buchanan) and they honestly would shudder if they--themselves--even thought there was the slightest chance they thought this way. But before now, the "status quo" has never been challenged on this level, which is why this primary has reared an ugly side of racism that is subtle and often not seen.

Sure black athletes are revered now, but I remember when Howard Cosell was reprimanded for his comment about a player when he said, "watch that monkey run." I don't think Cosell actually meant it to be an overt racist comment to ridicule, but the vile words stung and made a stance in how we approached black athletes after this. I know it still happens (Tiger Woods comes to mind) but it is quickly denounced and reprimanded. (Rush Limpball comes to mind here after Donavan McNabb comment)

So here we are at a time when a black man is running for the highest office in our country. The "bar" has shifted again and the "status quo" is being challenged again. I can hear the thoughts of those who wince at a having a black president: "A black man should not be president. They'll only 'cater' to their black folks,.." Yes, it's disgusting and sad, however, I say this because I've heard it many times growing up in the south and it all boils down to fear. Barack Obama was right when he said he "cringed" at how his grandmother was "fearful of blacks." He went on to say that she knew it was wrong, but couldn't help but feel that way. This was so telling of him and his ability to understand the plight of the black man as well as the fear of the whites. Many still feel this way, even though they don't realize it. I suspect many don't want to acknowledge their feelings, because they really don't want to feel this way. But those seeds of racism were planted at an early age and they have roots.

Which brings me back to Hillary Clinton. While I don't think Hillary Clinton is racist. Let me say it again:I DON'T think Hillary Clinton is racist, I do get a sense of entitlement that gives off the appearance of such and her words are proving this to be true. Whether that "entitlement" that she shows is due to her really believing she is "entitled", or whether there is a small part still in the back of her subconscious mind, is only for Hillary Clinton to know. But it has brought out the tones of inadvertent racism and that's what's bringing this hot topic to the center of her campaign.

Flush it out and get rid of the fear many say. But for some, it's rooted pretty deep. I strongly believe that it's the cause for many of the "hard white voters" that Hillary continues to speak of and while I don't really think she realizes how "racist" this sounds, (maybe she does, but I would like to think she doesn't) it continues to perpetuate the myth that "blacks aren't good enough," and that IS, racist thinking.

I'll be so glad when this isn't an issue any more, but I suspect it won't be in my lifetime.

of the most inspirational leaders like MLK to Rev. Wright. And you know what you're doing.

For those with a short memory, MLK was a very spiritual man as well as a very humble man. Coretta Scott King reminds me of the epitome of love and support as she persevered during such horrible hardships, while her husband was alive and after his death. I can't see MLK smiling down at this farce.

It's disgusting that we, WE, as a "supportive" arm of the Democratic party, would stoop to the level that the GOP rigorously does to divide and spit on our Civil Rights as well as the Constitution. I grew up in the south. My school was integrated when I was in the 7th grade. It wasn't a game, nor a political contest. A struggle to understand a new culture and fear dominated our lives daily. And for those of us who managed to "understand" and grow during these times, didn't do it with a bunch of bullshit-rating-hungry reporters breathing down our necks, who savored every bite of their networks approval.

No, we MADE it work because our differences paled in comparison to what made us similar and we genuinely liked one another for that.

"Senator Obama and Michelle work hard to maintain a sense of normalcy in their marriage. One way they do that is by raising their kids back home in Chicago. "You just really want to stay grounded in a place that you feel is home," Michelle says.

Even though Senator Obama often spends part of the week in Washington, D.C., Michelle never lets him out of his household responsibilities.

Senator Obama recalls a time he was excited about introducing a bill on nonproliferation, but nuclear weapons were far from Michelle's mind. "I called Michelle and I'm saying, 'Look, this is going to be a terrific piece of legislation,'" he says. "She says, 'We have ants.'"

Michelle asked the senator to stop for ant traps on the way home. "I'm thinking, 'Is John McCain stopping by Walgreen's to grab ant traps on the way home?'" he says.

"If he's not, he should be," Michelle says.

Is Senator Obama an embarrassing dad?

-snip-

Some may be surprised to learn that while trying to solve the world's problems, Senator Obama continues to contribute to family chores—including ordering pizza and balloons for his daughter's birthday party. He even offered to get goody bags for the party, but Michelle drew the line. "I was, like, 'Oh, you can't handle goody bags, buddy,'" Michelle says. "I said, 'You'd walk into that party store and your head would explode.'"

"But the pizza and the balloons, they were there on time," Senator Obama jokes.

--much more--




http://www.oprah.com/tows/slide/200610/200...




I saw this interview on Oprah and it was way before he ever announced he was running for president. What struck me was the intense love he has for his family and while he continues to fight in this Democratic primary, it shows that he is just a man. A simple man who wants to make things better for the "little people."


----------------------------

and I was even ready to support her. I even felt for her as I watched the Barbara Walters special a few years ago (when she said she wouldn't run in 2004) while she spoke of the hurt she felt after Bill's affair. I laughed when she said, "only Barney the dog wanted to be around Bill that weekend, even though Chelsea and she were there." (They had gone to Martha's Vineyard with the Cronkites and the Kennedys.) I remember her talking about playing cards with JFKjr and others till late in the night. It was a very warm and likable interview.

When this primary started, I knew we had a great selection of candidates and I stayed neutral. I watched all the debates and I still remained neutral. While I liked and respected Obama after 2004 Dem convention keynote speech, I wasn't sure if it was his time, but I wasn't totally sold on Hillary--mainly 'cause I didn't want to see her go through all the crap the repubs would throw at her. I genuinely liked her and my 88 year-old Democratic mother and I talked about it all the time.

I really sat on the fence for a long time. It wasn't until after super Tuesday when she started to lose that I saw a side of her that I didn't like as woman, but also as someone I wouldn't want as my President. I agree that she is intelligent, capable, "battle ready" but there was still something not quite right.

Then she did that big "scolding" in Ohio and that's when I knew, I didn't want a President who would act like my mother. She talks down to those who disagree with her. We've seen that for seven years in Bush. It's not Presidential and it's down right annoying.

As far as voting for a woman, I can say, I don't vote gender first but who I think will make the best President--first. I think Barbara Boxer would be an awesome candidate (I'm sure she wouldn't want the job though) as well as a few others. It's a not a woman/man thing but a Presidential thing. Hillary thinks she is the only woman qualified to be President but she's not. She's just the only one hungry enough for it even though the majority are not hungry for her.

With that said though, I still keep an open mind and try to give her the benefit of the doubt.

No one can justify this. Saying "we're sorry" just doesn't quite cut it. So without dialog, how can we finally heal the destructive history that so many just choose to shove under the rug. I certainly can understand the anger. I was a white kid, living in a "leave it to beaver" neighborhood in the '60's. I guess I was lucky. I didn't have to worry about waking up to burning crosses in my front yard or wondering if I would make it school alive. No,this was never discussed by my parents much less school. It was just simply "not to be discussed." Period.

To think that this kind of evil was even tolerated, is not only disgraceful, but is down right embarrassing as a country who was founded on hope. Whether, it's race, gender, or religious beliefs, we still see this intolerance spewed. Yep, it's time for a new dialog.








more...

www.withoutsanctuary.org/main.html

so I'm glad the Reverand Wright saga plays on. While his words have stirred up such a shit-storm, not just with DU, but the media and just about anybody who's listening--whether for or against Obama--I say then, it's about damn time. While I knew this would happen eventually, I just didn't think I would live long enough to see it with my own eyes--a black presidential candidate. We are living a part of history that will have profound effect in the history books to come.

I suspect many didn't expect this "race" to get this far. Some expected a Hillary blow-out, but mostly, many didn't expect to see the presidential qualities that are very evident in this "black guy"...who has "thrown quite a few kinks" in what was suppose to be the easy road. For this, we are seeing all kinds of hissy fits to show he's just--well, dammit,he's just not right for the job. I mean, "he's a nice guy and all," but hey, you know it wasn't suppose to ever, EVER be this way...right

Wrong. History has taught us that in order to grow and become a better nation, we have to move forward. Remaining stagnant, breeds complacency and laziness and quite frankly--desperation. This race has done more for growth, complacency, and laziness combined, while testing old philosophies. Without that, the "little people" in this world mean nothing.

Fact is, this presidential "race" reached deep in the barrel and pulled out something that has been hidin' in there a long time--and the funny thing is, many didn't even know it was there--that is until their convictions were tried and tested. Some passed with flying colors, but some still have "make-up" work to do after class.

My dad was a bigot. No, he didn't wear the bedsheet and cone, nor did he want to see any harm done to the "n---", as he would put it, but he wanted them to stay in "their place" and he sure didn't want them moving in "his" neighborhood. But one of his most loved employees was an old crippled black man named, "Charlie." My dad was the only white man at his funeral, but even in death, "old Charlie was just a nice ol' black man." Never, "a man that I was proud to have worked for me." This was the '60's and early 70's and watching his beliefs and fears, while being front and center, brought out a flood of emotions. I swore I would never be like my dad. I'd be much better than this and I would like to believe I have been. Or am I? I would like to think a definite "yes" to this, but what's clear to me now, is how cowering so long to the "status quo" just because of fear from it NOT being the "right" time.

I don't think *most* people choose to be racist. But what this presidential race has shown is something much deeper and it roots itself at the core of our beliefs.

Well, it is the right time. Now.

As I watched the 2004 keynote speech, I was in awe of Barack Obama. I too--like many others--saw him as presidential and hoped one day he would run. I didn't expect it to be so soon. With that came fear. Fear of it not being "time" yet. Would our country accept him as president--a black president? But as I caucused for him, I no longer felt fear of this not being the "time" yet, but empowered. Empowered to know that I will have helped make history by setting aside "fear" to help elect a very worthy candidate.

No, many don't choose to be racist in their views, but because of fear they can get stuck there.

don't know it until their convictions are tried. As long as "uncle Tom," stays where he's suppose to stay, then there's no reason for the uproar. Being born and raised in the south, in the 1960's, I'm sad to say, the mentality continues. The "status quo," has been accepted too long and now that we are FINALLY making strides in getting out of the muck and slog we've been in for so many years, people who never realized their bigotry (which is mainly based in fear) are having a hissy fit.

My dad was a bigot. No, he didn't wear the bedsheet and cone, nor did he want to see any harm done to the n*****, but he wanted them to stay in their place and didn't want them moving in "his" neighborhood. I loved him dearly, but I hated his views--and we had many heated arguments.

Cali--I know what you mean.