''Fired Up, Ready To Go''

When glazing at a map of South Carolina most people would recognize the state capital of Columbia and the historic city of Charleston.

While both cities play integral parts in the race for the White House 2008, the small desolate county of Greenwood might carry the most importance as the state prepares for the January 29th Democratic primary.

This is the place where Presidential candidate Barack Obama first learned the chant ''Fired Up, Ready To Go'' by rambunctious council woman Edith Childs. During a speech he gave in front of twenty people at the local church several months ago, Ms. Childs belted out these five words and all of the residents responded in unison ''Fired Up, Ready To Go''.

Obama was unsure of how to respond to this upbeat and exuberant crowd so he replied by saying the same five words over and over again until he began to feel excited and essentially ''Fired Up''. As I discovered at his speech last Thursday at Washington Square Park, he utilizes this chant as a rally cry to bring all the people together and to get them behind one common cause.

As the Presidential scene heats up and Obama becomes even more prominent everybody will start to hear him echoing this sentiment. This is a terrific opportunity for him to distinguish himself with this one chant and gravitate all Americans to get up and make a difference.

Ron Paul, Bill O'Reilly, Politics, Blacks and Racism

This video spawned from the reactions I got from my first two videos on the subject of Ron Paul, Bill O'Reilly, Blacks and politics, as well as the "window" that was opened to another part of how society thinks.

Overall, I think it's very good to have a dialog on race as many of the improvements in American society and racial and sexual relations have come within the last 70 years, but many young adults active in politics now were born after the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment and the Civil Rights Act before it. Thus, they lack a real tangible understanding of how America was and why these laws are on the books.

Congressman Ron Paul's presidential run has drawn many young people – many of whom lack an understanding that laws are in place to protect us from ourselves – or more to the point, each other. Thus, one person wrote to advocate dropping hate crime laws because they bought in to Ron Paul's expressed idea that to point out racism is racist – forgetting that Congressman Paul himself was recently recorded as pointing to an act that's racist.

But many Paul supporters got after me about asking a question about Paul's 1996 campaign newsletter and its racist statements for the CNN/ YouTube Republican Debates . I've not seen Congressman Paul address this question in the Presidential Race or in the debate of last week. As I state in both videos, I think it's time he did, and to denounce the support he gets from White Supremacist groups.

Some wrote comments that Paul's participation in the "African American hosted" debate moderated by Tavis Smiley was evidence of his lack of any racist thought. I disagree with this because Pau's a free marketier who seems to enjoy arguing with people (thus his appearance), but came away convinced that Paul could handle answering the question I posted for the CNN/ YouTube Debates. Indeed, a question that still remains unanswered.

I was also upset with that debate, as it placed the African American inferiority complex on display for a public audience. We see a debate where the Presidential candidates are thanked for attending and much time is spent chastising those who did not. In other words, thanks for remembering us Black Americans. Who cares if Giuliani, Thompson, Romney, and McCain didn't come? And why thanks the candidates who did come? Heck, they're supposed to be there in my view.

The other video that received a lot of views and controversy was my innocent video essay blasting Bill O'Reilly for his weird comments upon visiting Silvia's, an upscale Harlem soul food restaurant. O'Reilly said essentially that he was surprised to find the Black owners and patrons created a nice restaurant that was "like any other New York restaurant."

For Bill to make that statement in 2007, with the CEO of American Express being Black, and with other examples of Blacks who are running companies and cities, and restaurants, I was totally upset with Bill, and don't know what drove him to make statements like this.

Bill spent the entire week hammering CNN and other news outlets for hammering him on his statement. He enlisted the help of Fox News Contributor Juan Williams who was the voice on the other end of Bill in the now famous clip. Williams, who's Black, explained that O'Reilly had done nothing wrong at all and that they disagree all the time.

But Williams is a friend of O'Reilly and thus not really eligible to make comments as he's got a bias toward his friend. O'Reilly is not my friend or yours – we don't know him well enough to be comfortable with the "friendly racism" he expresses, nor should we. Williams is certainly a good friend, but he didn't get Bill off the hook in this case.

In closing, I'm happy we have an active dialog about race and racism, but I'm most displeased with the debate's display of African America's inferiority complex – it's something that must be eliminated and soon. We need to remove these mental chains and grow.

New England Patriots Sued For "Deceiving Customers"

Over at our NFL Business Blog, David Kaye reports that a fan is suing the New England Patriots for "deceiving customers" in the wake of their cheating scandal.

Barack Obama Ahead In Iowa - First With Likely Caucus Goers

Much to the apparent dismay of Politico's Ben Smith , who's downplaying the news, Senator Barack Obama's ahead in Iowa according to a poll of likely caucus-goers. It's a 4 point lead.

Jets ticket holder sues Patriots and coach Belichick, seeks damages of more than $184 million

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr., AP Sports Writer
September 28, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- A New York Jets season-ticket holder filed a class-action lawsuit Friday against the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick for "deceiving customers."

The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Newark, N.J., by Carl Mayer of Princeton Township, N.J., stems from the Patriots being caught illegally videotaping signals from Jets coaches in New England's 38-14 season-opening win Sept. 9.

"They violated the integrity of the game," Mayer's attorney, Bruce Afran, told The Associated Press. "This is a way of punishing Belichick and the Patriots."

Mayer is seeking more than $184 million in damages for Jets ticket holders.

Belichick was fined $500,000 by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, and the team was fined $250,000 for violating a league rule that prohibits clubs from using a video camera on the sidelines for any purpose -- including recording signals relayed to opposing players on the field. New England also must forfeit a first-round draft pick next year if it makes the playoffs or a second- and third-rounder if it doesn't.

"They were deceiving customers," said the 48-year-old Mayer.
"You can't deceive customers."

The lawsuit maintained that because other teams found illegal videotaping by the defendants, Jets ticket holders should be compensated for all games played in Giants Stadium between the Jets and Patriots since Belichick became head coach in 2000.

The two calculated that because customers paid $61.6 million to watch eight "fraudulent" games, they're entitled to triple that amount -- or $184.8 million -- in compensation under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization Act and the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act.

"How many times have the Patriots done this? We find it hard to believe they did it just once," Mayer said. "We just want to get to the truth of the matter of what the Patriots did to the Jets. I think the ticket holders are genuinely concerned about it. This is a type of misrepresentation."

Patriots spokesman Stacey James declined to comment on the lawsuit.

Mayer and Afran, who consider themselves public interest lawyers, have been thorns in the side of New Jersey politicians for years, filing lawsuits and demanding investigations to advance their grievances. They are well known in the state but generally have had little success in their causes.

Both have lost bids for elected offices, and Mayer once served as a presidential campaign adviser to Ralph Nader.

Their demand in March for a probe of Gov. Jon S. Corzine's gifts to a former girlfriend was rejected by a federal prosecutor. In 2006, a judge vetoed their effort to block Corzine's appointment of Rep. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., to fill the governor's seat in the U.S. Senate.

They also failed to get a court to order a special election to replace Gov. James E. McGreevey when he resigned in 2004.

Now, they're taking on the Patriots.

Their latest lawsuit asserted that the secret videotaping violated the contractual "expectations and rights" of Jets ticket holders "to observe an honest match played in compliance with all laws and regulations."

The actions of Belichick and the Patriots violated federal and state racketeering laws, as well as the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and New Jersey Deceptive Business Practices Act, according to the lawsuit.

"Having been a lifelong Jets fan, as soon as I heard this, I was completely outraged," Mayer said.

"The NFL just slapped them on the wrist. I'm a consumer lawyer, and this is consumer fraud."

Associated Press Writer Jeffrey Gold in Newark, N.J., contributed to this report.

Clinton: Give every newborn $5,000

Do you agree with Hillary's proposed idea?

WASHINGTON (AP) – Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Friday that every child born in the United States should get a $5,000 "baby bond" from the government to help pay for future costs of college or buying a home.

Clinton, her party's front-runner in the 2008 race, made the suggestion during a forum hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus.

"I like the idea of giving every baby born in America a $5,000 account that will grow over time, so that when that young person turns 18 if they have finished high school they will be able to access it to go to college or maybe they will be able to make that downpayment on their first home," she said.

The New York senator did not offer any estimate of the total cost of such a program or how she would pay for it. Approximately 4 million babies are born each year in the United States.

Clinton said such an account program would help Americans get back to the tradition of savings that she remembers as a child, and has become harder to accomplish in the face of rising college and housing costs.

The New York senator did not offer any estimate of the total cost of such a program or how she would pay for it. Approximately 4 million babies are born each year in the United States.
Clinton said such an account program would help Americans get back to the tradition of savings that she remembers as a child, and has become harder to accomplish in the face of rising college and housing costs.

She argued that wealthy people "get to have all kinds of tax incentives to save, but most people can't afford to do that."

The proposal was met with enthusiastic applause at an event aimed to encourage young people to excel and engage in politics.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," said Rep. Stephanie Stubbs Jones, an Ohio Democrat who attended the event and has already endorsed Clinton. "Every child born in the United States today owes $27,000 on the national debt, why not let them come get $5,000 to grow until their 18?"

Britain launched a similar program in January 2005, handing out vouchers worth hundreds of dollars each to parents with children born after Sept. 1, 2002.

Earlier this month, Time magazine proposed a $5,000 baby bond program.

Barack Obama - 24,000 People Storm Washington Square - Video Set

On September 26th, 24,000 people stormed New York's Washington Square to see and hear U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. Here's a collection of YouTube videos taken by different people at the event:

Obama Rally - Gates Finally Open



Obama Rally - From a Distance



Obama Rally - Up Close - "American People Are The Answer"



Obama Rally - Washington Square - "Experience"



Obama Rally - "Fired Up; Ready To Go"

Bob Schock - California Personal Injury Lawyer Wins $3M Case

This video is based on the lawsuit that Bob won and is discussed below and here.

Kids Get $3M in Mom's Death
Montereyherald.com
June 20, 2007
Original Montereyherald.com article: Kids Get $3M in Mom's Death
A Monterey County jury awarded almost $3 million to the children of a woman killed when a Monterey cypress toppled on her car on Highway 1 north of Moss Landing on New Year's Day last year.
'There was a message with this,' said Bob Schock, an attorney representing two of Jacine Calderon Sarmiento's children. 'After the verdict, the jurors said they hoped the state of California would do something about the trees along the highways.'
Sarmiento, 45, was driving along Highway 1 during a raging storm on Jan. 1, 2006, with her 5-year-old daughter when the tree fell on her vehicle. Sarmiento was killed and her daughter, Athena, suffered minor injuries.
At the time, emergency crews reported that two other cypress trees from the grove along the highway fell while they were trying to extricate the victims.
The jury deliberated for about five hours Monday, capping a weeklong wrongful-death trial against the state Department of Transportation, before announcing its verdict.
The jury ruled that Athena should receive about $932,000 in economic damages and another $1 million in noneconomic damages. Jacine Sarmiento's other two children, teenagers who live in Altoona, Pa., were each awarded almost $526,000 in noneconomic damages.
The cypress grove is adjacent to the Highway 1 intersection with Struve Road. Schock said an inspector had checked the trees prior to the accident, after a eucalyptus had fallen, and had determined the area was safe.
Representatives from Caltrans said the agency 'respectfully disagrees' with the judgment.
'This was a tragic but freak accident, with no negligence,' said Colin Jones, public information manager for the Caltrans regional office in San Luis Obispo.
While the tree was old -- about 90 years old -- it was not in bad health. Rather, the ground was saturated and the winds were gusty on the day of the accident, said Caltrans officials.
Susana Cruz, a spokeswoman for Caltrans, said crews inspected the trees in the grove after the accident and removed some branches.

Barack Obama Oakland Party Sunday, September 30th, 1 PM

From the Barack Obama website -- link in the title of this post.

Update! - Click For Video From Event

Oakland/Northern California HQ Opening with BLACKALICIOUS (Meeting)
We are extremely excited to announce our FREE Grand Opening party with special musical guest Blackalicious! Live and in person, in the middle of 14th Street in downtown Oakland!

"Like a few other West Coast rap acts, including the Pharcyde and Jurassic 5, Blackalicious has generally favored what hip-hoppers call the "positive tip"; in other words, its lyrics have often been spiritual and uplifting rather than violent or misogynous. Like a lot of experimental alternative rappers, Blackalicious can be quirky and eccentric; nonetheless, spirituality is a big part of the group's music."

It's going to be AMAZING. Don't miss it.

WHEN: Sunday, September 30, 1:00 PM

WHERE: 436 14th Street, 3rd Floor - directly in front of the 14th Street exit of the Oakland City Center BART station, between Broadway and Franklin.

WHO: Everyone! Bring your friends and families.

WHAT: A party to celebrate the opening of the first office outside of the Early 4 states! Music, speakers, and good times.
Time: Sunday, September 30 at 1:00 PM
Duration: 2 hours
Host: Brent Messenger
Location:
Oakland/N. California Heaadquarters (Oakland, CA)
436 14th Street, 3rd Floor
Oakland, CA 94612

Video - Barack Obama NYC Rally Washington Square 9-26-07

Senator Barack Obama drew 24,000 people to Washington Square September 26th 2007 for a milestone New York rallly in Washington Square.

This is a set of videos created by John Loving, parts one, two, and three:

Part One



Part Two



Part Three

Whole Foods Market is now in Oakland at 27th & Harrison

The 55,000 square-foot Whole Foods Market has just opened today at 27th and Harrison and brings good news and the promise of reviatalization to an area that has been waiting for both for too long.

I was given a tour of the new place one day before its opening by Jolyn Bibb, Marketing Specialist of Store Openings for Whole Foods. While the video shows the store and what Jolyn said, I can tell you its quite a place to be in. A breath of fresh air.

There's an official opening today which begins with a "Bread and Baking" ceremony at 8:45 am before the doors open at 9 AM. Through the day there will be music, food samples, and a guest appearance by famous local chef Paul Bertolli. Plus, reusable Whole Foods Market Green Bags will be given to the first 5,000 customers with a purchase of $15 or more, and a raffle for a giant gift basket filled with a variety of products.

There's a lot of food stations in this facility as well. There's something called a dine-in Market Bistro which has made-to-order foods including sandwiches and soups, and an Asian Express Island, to name some of the areas in this giant food city.

Whole Foods has made an exciting place to be. Check it out!

Reed Walters - Jena 6 DA's NY TImes Op-ED Show Race Bias Applied To Law

Reed Walters -- the district attorney in the Jena 6 case -- wrote a most unfortunate op-ed in today's New York Times. He may have thought he was explaining his position, but he really opened a can of worms.

Aside from admiting he a "small-town lawyer" he also wrote this...

I cannot overemphasize how abhorrent and stupid I find the placing of the nooses on the schoolyard tree in late August 2006. If those who committed that act considered it a prank, their sense of humor is seriously distorted. It was mean-spirited and deserves the condemnation of all decent people.

But it broke no law. I searched the Louisiana criminal code for a crime that I could prosecute. There is none.

A DA can find some law to prosecute if he or she wants to. My first thought was Reed Walters could have charged the noose-hangers with Disturbing the Peace, which they certainly did.

To determine why he didn't do this, I called the office. The receptionist said she would relay my message to him. His office number is (318) 992-8282 - the fax is (318) 992-4731. Please be polite when you call.

The bottom line is that it's hard to see that racism didn't play a roll in Walter's blindness to the legal options as well as the very disturbing door he leaves open to anyone who would taunt Blacks in this way.

Really upsetting.