Saturday, November 01, 2008
Texas Tech Stuns Number One Texas 39 to 33
This was one of the most amazing college football games I've ever seen and I've seen a lot of them. In a thrilling pass-o-rama, Texas Tech's Mike Leach showed the nation what an incredible passing game he's developed on ABC television and I watch it. Wow. Texas Tech 38, Number One Texas, 33 . A game that people will talk about for years to come.
Internet Overtakes Newspapers As Source Of Political News
According to a study by the the Pew Research Center , the internet is now the major source of election news. The study shows that the Internet is beating newspapers in audience draw. Also, but no surprise, Fox News draws a Republican audience, whereas CNN and MSNBC were mostly Democratic. Here's what they report:
Many more Americans are turning to the internet for campaign news this year as the web becomes a key source of election news. Television remains the dominant source, but the percent who say they get most of their campaign news from the internet has tripled since October 2004 (from 10% then to 33% now).
While use of the web has seen considerable growth, the percentage of Americans relying on TV and newspapers for campaign news has remained relatively flat since 2004. The internet now rivals newspapers as a main source for campaign news. And with so much interest in the election next week, the public's use of the internet as a campaign news source is up even since the primaries earlier this year. In March, 26% cited the internet as a main source for election news, while the percentages citing television and newspapers remain largely unchanged.
Paul Cobb On Chauncey Bailey, Mayor Ron Dellums & Oakland
Paul Cobb is a long-time Oakland, California writer, activist, community organizer and now publisher of the Oakand Post. I met Paul at his office in Downtown Oakland to talk about a wide range of subjects, but the two I was most interested in talking about were who killed Chauncey Bailey and what Paul thought about the current Mayor of Oakland, Ron Dellums.
Bailey was an Oakland journalist who was supposedly murdered by people associated with Your Black Muslim Bakery (YBMB) on August 2, 2007. But Cobb and others believe that the chain of events that led to someone, perhaps Devaughndre Broussard of YBMB, murdering a journalist in the line of duty is more complicated and may lead to people and institutions one would not expect.
Cobb's assertions regarding the relationship between Bailey and members of the Oakland Police Department would seem to match the concerns expressed in this website article by the Chauncey Bailey Project. The person who shot Bailey was wearing a ski mask so true identification was never done. Broussard confessed to the killing, but this to may be a coverup.
Related blog post on Bailey's passing:
http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2007/08/oakland-journalist-chauncey-bailey-in.html
In our talk for this video, Paul got in some interesting information. Without coming out and saying it directly, Cobb believes that an Oakland Police officer had some role in Bailey's eventual death. He says this twice in the video. In this video, Cobb also said that California Attorney General Jerry Brown took Bailey's research files from him and never returned them. A view that's controversial, considering that Mayor Dellums has asked Brown to investigate the matter of Bailey's murder.
Cobb talks about Barack Obama and what his friend the late Dr. Martin Luther King, would think about Barack's historic success in becoming as of this writing the first African American presidential nominee of either party. What Cobb says is not just that he would be proud, but it is the culmination of his dream.
Those are some of the highlights of a man who's life goes back to his personal relationship with Martin Luther King.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Dr. Cornell West On Riz Khan's Show - "Free Market Fundamentalism"
Dr. Cornell West of Princeton is one of America's foremost intellectuals and an expert on sociology and race in America. I had the pleasure of briefly meeting Dr. West at the Democratic National Convention. Dr. West's comments are featured on Riz Khan's show on AlJazeera English.
Here, West first talks Barack Obama's impact on how Black America sees itself, then about how a social industrial relationship between politcs and the military serves to hold the lower classes in their place and hamper social mobility.
Part 1
Part 2:
Here, West first talks Barack Obama's impact on how Black America sees itself, then about how a social industrial relationship between politcs and the military serves to hold the lower classes in their place and hamper social mobility.
Part 1
Part 2:
Baffle the exit poll pundits - show unity November 4th
There is a special feeling pervading the polling place on voting day, a sense of participation that transcends the partisan posturing of the preceding weeks and months. If you’ve never voted before I hesitate to shape your anticipation, but 
there’s no denying the sense of being a part of something that’s happening nationwide. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I wish that there were fewer people exercising “early voting” options, though I grant that there are fine, legitimate reasons that every state and territory should make that not merely possible, but easy.
I also understand the desire to flash your allegiance in a year when the focus is on national politics, particularly as the rhetoric from certain candidates has been more inflammatory than inspirational. I feel strongly about who I’ve campaigned for - there are signs in my yard right down to the level of my choice for city council, my car is practically a rolling billboard, and there’s no time I’m seen in public when there’s any doubt which candidate I support in the presidential election.
But on Tuesday, I’ll wear purple.
No matter who you think is the best candidate or party there is one truth Barack Obama articulated way back in 2004. “The pundits like to slice and dice us…" It makes for better television coverage, and they want you watching their network(s) to insure their ad revenues are high, so every year they seek to make it more compelling coverage of what they seek to portray as a more dramatic election. Despite that, on Tuesday when we make our communal pilgrimage to express our preferences, “there are not red states or blue states. There is the United States of America.”
On Tuesday, November 4th, what will you wear while you cast your ballot?
there’s no denying the sense of being a part of something that’s happening nationwide. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I wish that there were fewer people exercising “early voting” options, though I grant that there are fine, legitimate reasons that every state and territory should make that not merely possible, but easy.I also understand the desire to flash your allegiance in a year when the focus is on national politics, particularly as the rhetoric from certain candidates has been more inflammatory than inspirational. I feel strongly about who I’ve campaigned for - there are signs in my yard right down to the level of my choice for city council, my car is practically a rolling billboard, and there’s no time I’m seen in public when there’s any doubt which candidate I support in the presidential election.
But on Tuesday, I’ll wear purple.
No matter who you think is the best candidate or party there is one truth Barack Obama articulated way back in 2004. “The pundits like to slice and dice us…" It makes for better television coverage, and they want you watching their network(s) to insure their ad revenues are high, so every year they seek to make it more compelling coverage of what they seek to portray as a more dramatic election. Despite that, on Tuesday when we make our communal pilgrimage to express our preferences, “there are not red states or blue states. There is the United States of America.”On Tuesday, November 4th, what will you wear while you cast your ballot?
Got purple?
Zennie Abraham on CNN International - Video
I was featured in a discussion on the role and impact of bloggers in the political campaign that was hosted by Errol Barnett, who's a reporter for CNN International and produced by Jessica Ellis, of CNN's Special Projects unit. If you remember Errol's name, he is the same person who interviewed me regarding my use of New Media at the Democratic National Convention.
The idea was to have two bloggers, one Democrat (me) and the other Republican. The Republican choice was Adam Brinkley . Adam's the blogger known for the "Draft Sarah Palin" movement, and since it obviously succeeded, he's due a measure of both congratulations and blame for Governor Palin's political rise and her gaffs along the way.
That aside, one has to give him his props on his achievement.
The talk appeared on CNN International, which means that it was seen around the World, but not in the United States (Rats!) Which at first may read as a "less than" until you realize that you're seen in probably every airport and hotel in the industrialized World. I even got an email -- right off the bat of the airing of the segment -- from a friend of mine who lives in Oakland, but was visiting Africa!
Regarding the segment, it was a short, but great conversation which one can see below in the embeded video. But that written, either Errol or someone edited out the part of the conversation where I pointed out to Adam that more than one McCain advisor was openly critical of Governor Palin (I thought I'd liven things up a bit), and Adam said that whomever was doing that should be fired.
He's totally right. McCain should listen to Adam more often. Plus, Governor Palin should give part of whatever riches she gets from now on to Adam. Were it not for him, she'd still be hunting moose in Alaska.
Here's the video:
The idea was to have two bloggers, one Democrat (me) and the other Republican. The Republican choice was Adam Brinkley . Adam's the blogger known for the "Draft Sarah Palin" movement, and since it obviously succeeded, he's due a measure of both congratulations and blame for Governor Palin's political rise and her gaffs along the way.
That aside, one has to give him his props on his achievement.
The talk appeared on CNN International, which means that it was seen around the World, but not in the United States (Rats!) Which at first may read as a "less than" until you realize that you're seen in probably every airport and hotel in the industrialized World. I even got an email -- right off the bat of the airing of the segment -- from a friend of mine who lives in Oakland, but was visiting Africa!
Regarding the segment, it was a short, but great conversation which one can see below in the embeded video. But that written, either Errol or someone edited out the part of the conversation where I pointed out to Adam that more than one McCain advisor was openly critical of Governor Palin (I thought I'd liven things up a bit), and Adam said that whomever was doing that should be fired.
He's totally right. McCain should listen to Adam more often. Plus, Governor Palin should give part of whatever riches she gets from now on to Adam. Were it not for him, she'd still be hunting moose in Alaska.
Here's the video:
Woman Yells "N-Word" On Obama, Sarah Palin Says Nothing
Ok. This is not right. Sarah Palin, who's known for stopping in the middle of a rally to take on a heckler, didn't do so this time, and let a woman in the crowd who yelled the "N-word" when Palin referenced Barack Obama go on without a verbal correction of the heckler. Does that mean she agrees?
At least the Alaska Gov. could have said "Now, you know, that's not allowed here! Barack Obama is a true Patriot that we disagree with."
At least the Alaska Gov. could have said "Now, you know, that's not allowed here! Barack Obama is a true Patriot that we disagree with."
Salon's Max Blumenthal Smears Zennie, Having Smeared Sarah Palin's Friend Steve Stoll
If you regularly check out my blogs or videos, you may remember my interview with Steve Stoll, who was presented in a Salon website article on "Sarah Palin's Right Wing Mentors " as a member of the John Birch Society.
Well, when I created a blog post with the Salon article as a base , Stoll saw it on Google and -- having pretty much had it with this Salon article getting repeated all over the place online (just Google "Steve Stoll palin ") -- contacted me. After some back and forth, Stoll agreed to talk to me via video -- I agreed to give Stoll a platform to present his case.
In doing so, Stoll got to clear his name, which was pretty much dragged through the mud in the article. First, he's not a member of the John Birch Society and is a Barack Obama supporter. He's not the weird guy that Max and his co-writer David Neiwart painted him as. Stoll's mentioned all over the place in the article, as if they talked to him.
They never did.
So I was happy to make the video. And Steve was happy too. But then today, I have this public comment exchange with an "mblumenthal" -- Max Blumenthal...Which Max starts off with this:
And on that matter, I am happy to present you with an equal time on video. But also it's good to think about it from Steve's point of view. I think the story would have been just as powerful without him.
Stoll misleads and the ever-credulous Zenni enables. I left numerous messages for Stoll, giving him to opportunity to respond to John Stein's allegations. He never called back. My co-author, David Neiwert, not only called Stoll at least ten times, he appeared at his home to query him. Stoll never called back or came to the door. We reported Stein's allegations as allegations, not facts. Stoll, meanwhile, hid from the light of day. Further, he won't address his sabotage of John Cooper and Stein.
Moreover, I guess you have to throw me into the "Chris Matthews" category because he was able to "draw out" Michelle Bachmann and let her fall on her own sword; such is the power of video. It's a different medium. I did draw out Steve. Those words are his. I'm proud of that. Also I Steve mentioned that you called him.
"Stoll misleads and the ever-credulous Zenni enables." -- it also reads as if you have formed a view of Steve without meeting or knowing him. That's not good at all. I've talked to many people on my video who's views I do not agree with. But I give them a platform so that we can be informed. You imply that you did not attack Stoll's character, then turn around and do so. Geez, man.
Here's my point: Max -- in this exchange -- seemed to me to have a kind of axe to grind regarding Steve Stoll. Max says he wasn't trying to smear him, then goes right ahead and does that in the public comments. Moreover, if you look at the article, it does not report Stoll as "perhaps" or "maybe" having done something, it's written as if it was fact.
I offered Max the chance to allow me to video his point of view.
I'm still waiting Max.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
NFL EXPANSION-Will there ever be another team in Los Angeles?
NFL EXPANSION-Will there ever be another team in Los Angeles?
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-managing partner Football Reporters Online
You can be sure that at one of the next few owners meetings, the subject of expansion will come up again. There is just too much money to be made, and too many fans to attract not to consider expansion. Why some owners complain the expansion would “dilute” the product is beyond me. The NFL is About two things: Making money and entertaining it’s fans, in that order.
Let’s look back for a bit. That last time there was true expansion was 1995, when Carolina and Jacksonville came into the NFL to bring the total of teams to 30. I don’t count the Houston Texans because they were replacing a franchise that moved (the Oilers) to Tennessee and became the Titans, Just like the return of the Cleveland Browns in the early part of the new century replacing the original Browns after they moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. So there is your brief history up to now.
Oddly enough, the second largest television market in America still does not have a team, Los Angeles. The Rams moved to St. Louis when it’s owner complained to the league and the commissioner that they could not make money in L.A. with an outdated stadium (the coliseum was built for the 1932 olympic games). The owners begrudgingly agreed to allow the move. So the question remains” will Pro Football ever return to L.A.? There have been whispers in recent years of different investment groups who claim to be interested, but nothing has ever come to fruition. A second stumbling block has been Raiders owner Al Davis claims of infringement on his territory. Last time I looked at a map, Oakland was about 500 miles north of Los Angeles. Sorry Mr. Davis, but when you moved back to Oakland, you lost the right to make that complaint.
Other Investment groups have stated that without a new stadium project in place or at least major upgrades to the current venue. With the tightening economic troubles, monetary support from the local government will be minimal if at all. So it turns into a case of “Who” will step forward to lead an investment group. California’s “Governator” has said that a “replacement” franchise is important for the continued growth of the Greater L.A. area. A new team could draw 2 Billion dollars of new income to the local economy. By contrast, the return of The Browns generated nearly 1 billion dollars to the local Ohio economy, and it continues to grow.
Balance that with the cost of buying into the NFL (Dan Snyder paid 800 million to the Cooke family for the Redskins, currently they are worth nearly 1.5 billion) and you have an instant formula for success.
The NFL however, never rushes into anything. As a business, they desire to expand two cities at a time. If California get’s it’s 4th team back in L.A., where will the other team go?? San Antonio? Salt Lake City? Las Vegas? Portland? With the sagging economy needing a fix, could any of those cities really support an NFL team? Well, Vegas could, and San Antonio might, but the others are doubtful. The fans sure want more teams, and so do the players and coaches, because it would mean more jobs. But with the end of the current CBA just on the horizon, expansion just might be on hold for the time being.
By Dr. Bill Chachkes-managing partner Football Reporters Online
You can be sure that at one of the next few owners meetings, the subject of expansion will come up again. There is just too much money to be made, and too many fans to attract not to consider expansion. Why some owners complain the expansion would “dilute” the product is beyond me. The NFL is About two things: Making money and entertaining it’s fans, in that order.
Let’s look back for a bit. That last time there was true expansion was 1995, when Carolina and Jacksonville came into the NFL to bring the total of teams to 30. I don’t count the Houston Texans because they were replacing a franchise that moved (the Oilers) to Tennessee and became the Titans, Just like the return of the Cleveland Browns in the early part of the new century replacing the original Browns after they moved to Baltimore and became the Ravens. So there is your brief history up to now.
Oddly enough, the second largest television market in America still does not have a team, Los Angeles. The Rams moved to St. Louis when it’s owner complained to the league and the commissioner that they could not make money in L.A. with an outdated stadium (the coliseum was built for the 1932 olympic games). The owners begrudgingly agreed to allow the move. So the question remains” will Pro Football ever return to L.A.? There have been whispers in recent years of different investment groups who claim to be interested, but nothing has ever come to fruition. A second stumbling block has been Raiders owner Al Davis claims of infringement on his territory. Last time I looked at a map, Oakland was about 500 miles north of Los Angeles. Sorry Mr. Davis, but when you moved back to Oakland, you lost the right to make that complaint.
Other Investment groups have stated that without a new stadium project in place or at least major upgrades to the current venue. With the tightening economic troubles, monetary support from the local government will be minimal if at all. So it turns into a case of “Who” will step forward to lead an investment group. California’s “Governator” has said that a “replacement” franchise is important for the continued growth of the Greater L.A. area. A new team could draw 2 Billion dollars of new income to the local economy. By contrast, the return of The Browns generated nearly 1 billion dollars to the local Ohio economy, and it continues to grow.
Balance that with the cost of buying into the NFL (Dan Snyder paid 800 million to the Cooke family for the Redskins, currently they are worth nearly 1.5 billion) and you have an instant formula for success.
The NFL however, never rushes into anything. As a business, they desire to expand two cities at a time. If California get’s it’s 4th team back in L.A., where will the other team go?? San Antonio? Salt Lake City? Las Vegas? Portland? With the sagging economy needing a fix, could any of those cities really support an NFL team? Well, Vegas could, and San Antonio might, but the others are doubtful. The fans sure want more teams, and so do the players and coaches, because it would mean more jobs. But with the end of the current CBA just on the horizon, expansion just might be on hold for the time being.
A quick question for MN Senator Norm Coleman
Norm, my friend, if you don't answer this before election day it's going to look like you're worried the answer would ruin any hope you have of re-election. Don't you want to get this out of the way before your debate Sunday night?One quick answer, Senator? How do you respond to allegations that Nasser Kazeminy funneled a lot of cash to your wife? Do you realize that pretending you can't hear the question makes people think you know there's a real basis to the lawsuit?
OK, you're right; there was more than one question there.
109-Year-Old Daughter of a Slave Casts Vote for Obama
Amanda Jones, 109, the daughter of a man born into slavery, has lived a life long enough to touch three centuries. And after voting consistently as a Democrat for 70 years, she has voted early for the country's first black presidential nominee.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
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