Angry Black Man

Adios Amigo!

2009-01-20T10:38:00.001-08:00

Ok, in keeping to my one day pledge to set ABM's anger aside, I will temper my comments on Bush's departure. Suffice it to say...I don't know what I am more happy about, Barack Obama being inaugurated or the realization that the Bush nightmare is finally over! I believe history will mark him as the worst President in US history. I won't wait for history however...I'll say it now (but today without anger). While I wish him well cutting wood on the ranch, I will be happy if I never see him again. He has done much damage to our nation and it will likely take a generation to recover from it.

I do hope that he will do something profitable with the rest of his life however. CNN's Roland Martin suggested that former President Bush dedicate his life to rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. Now that would be truly admirable, but Bush is not that introspective...and why should he fix something that he thinks he handled right the first time, right? Well I'll end this before I break my no-anger pledge.

Adios Amigo, don't let the door hit ya...

The Begnning of a New Era...and the End of a Big Error

2009-01-20T07:59:00.000-08:00

Ok folks, the Angry Black Man is going to suspend all anger on the occasion of this auspicious event. Today is truly the beginning of a new era. Our President has just challenged us in his inaugural address to "put away childish things" and work to rebuild America in this "New Era of Responsibility", which he defines as "-- a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world; duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task."

So today, each of us who really loves America must examine ourselves, look deep within to seek what we can do to contribute to this effort. For, in our new President's words..."This is the price and the promise of citizenship."

So ABM is shelving his anger for a day to reflect on history, but tomorrow I'll be right back at it, for as long as injustice, corruption, stupidity and REPUGNICANS exist in America...ABM will still have work to do, but for today you can call me PA...Proud American!

You can view the text of the inaugural address here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/01/20/obama.politics/index.html

Making a Difference

2009-01-11T15:58:00.000-08:00

I ran across this article on CNN and really found it amazing. Here, Spencer Brodsky, a 17 year old Jewish boy from Maryland created a project to buy stoves for the women of Darfur. Now we're not talking about GE Profile, rather smaill efficient wood-burning stoves. These stoves are important because firewood there is scarce and many women are raped or murdered as they roam miles and miles from their homes foraging for firewood to cook their food.
Many of us talk about making a difference, but seldom do. Here is an extraordinary young man who is making a tremendous difference before he is even old enough to vote! If you are as moved by his effort as the ABM was, I hope that you will consider donating $30 to buy one of these stoves to support this project. Below is the link to Spencer's website, where you can read his story and about the women of Darfur. There is also a link on it for donations.

http://www.stovesfordarfur.com/Home_Page.html

ABM: Back in the Saddle with the January "Good Guys of the Month" Award

2009-01-11T06:34:00.001-08:00

Ok fans, the ABM has been out of pocket for about a week but I'm back in the saddle and ready for a year that will be full of surprises (because Idiots are so unpredictiable). Well first out of the chute was going to be Ol' Undependable Adam "Pacman" Jones for his usual studpidity, but just as I was about to put pen to paper (actually cursor to screen....but you feel me), I ran across the most incredible sports story I have read in probably 10 years.... I really can't do it justice, but ESPN's Rick Reilly, did so I invite your attention to football story that is not just "feel good", it's REAL GOOD and is a wonderful example of people who truly "get it" in what sports is supposed to mean and even more important, a bunch of "Bible Thumpers" who actually READ what the Good Book says and demonstrated the love it speaks of in a rare and wonderful way.

These people in Grapevine, Texas truly "walked the walk" when the team from Grapevine Faith School (GFS) played the "convicts" of Gainsville State School. To the credit of the great people of GFS, they appreciated the fact that these "convicts" were actually young kids who life had about given up on and really needed to feel the love and compassion that was so lacking in their lives. So on that night in Grapevine, Texas, the people of GFS cheered on the boys from the state prison school like they were their very own sons!

The ABM takes his hat off to the fine people of Grapevine, and awards the ABM "Good Guys of the Month" (GGOM) Award for January 2009 to GFS Head Coach Kris Hogan and the fine players and families of GFW. And to any schools looking for a coach of tremendous character, find a guy like Hogan and lock him down to a multi-year contract!

Ok, enough of my blabbering, here's the story. Enjoy...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?section=magazine&id=3789373

PS and for those who wonder why we have a "Good Guy of the Month" but an Idiot of the Week, I'm not really sure, it just seems that we find 4 true idiots for every truly worthy Good Guy, must be some twisted Law of Average Idiots

Bobby Rush and the Race Card

2008-12-30T21:56:00.000-08:00

Well fresh off the Coveted ABM Idiot of the Week award, we already have next week's Iow (It's my award so I can shift the calendar as I wish to recognize true stupidity). After Governor Kickback ignored all caution and appointed Roland Burris to fill Obama's senate seat, we had Bobby "Pocketfull of Race Cards" Rush stepping up to the plate saying anyone who opposes the appointment is racist.

Ok, the ABM tries at all cost to avoid profanity and keep our dialogue at a high level, but I ask your indulgence just this once...

BULLSH*T! Don't insult our intelligence Bobby Rush!

Come on Congressman Rush, we're not that stupid. Roland Burris might be the epitome of integrity and a candidate for sainthood, but he's stained. Just to accept the appoitment casts doubts on his judgement given the political context(last week he called Blago reprehensible) and today his defenense of Blago smacks of WFIM (What's in It for Me) . I think Burris has already displayed he is not up to the challenge. Granted he is 71, has run for governor (defeated in the primary by of all people Blago) and Senate with no success, so this is his last chance. This does not justify his selling his soul and aforementioned integrity to defend the indefensible.

Now back to Bobby Rush. The ABM is outraged that BR would toss the Race Card on this one (there's enough real racism still out there that this "card" should be reserved for real cases. There's no racism in this at all. We have a governor on FBI tape saying he's going to give the seat to the highest bidder and when his tail is caught in a crack, he appoints a Black man (who by all accounts would be very qualified to serve) to change the game.

Message to Bobby Rush: BR we're beyond all that shyt. In 2008 we will support the candidate who represents our interests (see President-elect Obama) not just based on skin color. Yes, we do need more black senators, but I damn sure don't want the only Black senator to be wreaking with the stench of corruption from day one. He will be ineffective as a senator no matter how qualified he is. I don't care if he's blue, any appointee of Blago at this point is unacceptable.

The Audacity of...well Audacity

2008-12-30T21:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, hot off the press, this year's Idiot of the Year is Illinois governor Rod "I'm Innocent" Blagojevich! There was never any competition really, but today, said Idiot really raised the bar by appointing former state Attorney General Roland Burris to file President-elect Obama's senate seat. Well Blago has taken political corruption to new heights in trying to sell the senate seat. Even though the FBI has him on tape he's denying everything. (Kinda like former Congressman William "Cold Cash" Jefferson from Louisiana who was narrowly defeated by a Repugnican in a 60% democratic district after the feds found $90,000 in marked bills in his refrigerator (the people of New Orleans need their head examined for even making him the Democratic nominee (note to Democrats...I'll call you out too if you dont' clean out your closets...the ABM's wrath is not solely reserved for the Repugnicans)

Now Roland Burris may be the salt of the earth and a great guy, but his candidacy will always be stained with Blago's stench. This is the same guy who was calling Blago's actions reprehensible last week...until Blago decided to use him a a token creating a dilemma for those who would oppose the appointment...criticize the appointment at the expense of being called a "racist" for opposing the appointment of a black man (see next post on Bobby Rush and the Race Card).

So let's all give Governor (hopefully soon-to-be-inmate Blagojevich a round of applause for raising idoicy to historic heights. He's a one of a kind dumbass and deserves this coveted recognition as the ABM's Idiot of the Year. Governor...take a bow, you really outdid yourself.

Man shoots talker at movies, police say...

2008-12-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

Ok, come on now folks, is it really that serious? Apparently for James Joseph Cialella, 29, of Philadelphia it was, as he opened fire and shot a man for talking during a Christmas Day showing of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". According to police Cialella told the family sitting in front of him to be quiet. An argument followed and Cialella then approached the family threw popcorn on the little boy then shot the father in the arm, as he was standing between Cialella and his family, according to the police report.

So this is how they celebrate Christmas in the City of Brotherly Love? I know my friends in Philly will take exception, but I really think this guy is probably a frustrated Eagles and/or Sixers fan who snapped because his woman forced him to watch a chick flick while he was suffering from an overdose of Tryptophan, holiday beverages and bad college bowl games.

Good thing it wasn't a real good action flick, this fool might have shot up the whole theater. Fortunately the shooting victim is recovering and Mr. Itchy Trigger Finger is locked up in the Philadelphia jail.

Idiot of the Week - Christmas Week Edition

2008-12-27T10:10:00.000-08:00

Ok folks, in the spirit of the holiday season, the original ABM plan was to forego selecting an IoW this week...you know, peace on earth and goodwill to all men...but, good idiots never rest, not even for the Yuletide season, so I have been forced to scrap that plan, shake off my Tryptophan-induced stupor and call out another dubmass who has distinguised himself through world class-level stupidity. No folks, this one could not wait until next week. This distinguished idiot is none other than Chip Saltsman, a Tennessee Repugnican, who has been linked to Mike Huckabee and Bill Frist in past campaigns.

It seems that this fool sent out hundreds of holiday music CDs with included a song entitled "Barack the Magic Negro" which is sung to the tune of "Puff the Magic Dragon". The song first aired on the radio show of repugnican has been, Rush Limbaugh. Well maybe Rush was high on Oxycontin as usual, but what's this Saltsman fool's excuse. You can read the full text of the article on CNN here : http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/26/rnc.obama.satire/index.html

You know I won't waste too much time on this one...it is what it is. The Repunicans just don't get it. This idiot is acuatlly a candidate for Chairman of the Repugnican Nat'l Party...oh I pray he wins. Given their track record of being stuck somewhere between the Dark Ages and the Civil War, I would not be surprised if they make him Chairman. And to think these jackasses are standing around scratching their heads wondering why they just lost the election in landslide proportions at every level from President down to local school board. They just can't figure out why 96% of Blacks, 67% of Hispanics and 56% of woman (ok, ladies, you probably are smarter than us guys) voted for Barack Obama!

Ok, I have wasted enough time on this truly extraordinary idiot. Back to my football, leftovers and afternoon naps. Happy Holidays to all, but stay on alert...idiots don't even take Christmas off, so beware!

Somebody Please Stop Them!

2008-12-19T21:05:00.000-08:00

Ok, you may have heard about the Duggar family of Tonitown, Arkansas who just "welcomed" their 18th child. These people crank one out every year just about this time. Michelle Duggar the perpetual preggo Mom is 41 years old and has spend 11years of her life pregnant.

Folks is it just me...or is this shyt absolutely crazy. At least they find some way to support all the kids and don't seem to be on welfare, but...WTF? They're already talking about kid number 19! I love children and my three kids have been a blessing but I cannot imagine multiplying them by 6 and talking about more. These people are out of their damn minds! I don't care what anyone says or what religious slant they try to put on it. Yes, God said "be fruitful and multiply", but I really don't think he expected just one family to populate an entire state. Makes me ashamed to admit I'm originally from Arkansas!

Maybe we can put birth control medication in the water of Tonitown, Arkansas or something...

Idiot(s) of the Week

2008-12-17T09:41:00.000-08:00

Editorial Note: Folks, before you ask about Illinois Governor Rod "Big Pimpin'" Blagojevich...he's hands down Idiot of the Year and ABM will fete him appropriately in a year-end addition.

Now, just when you think you have looked ultimate stupiditity right in the eye (see OJ below), they just seem to make even better idiots. Our honorees this week are a truly exceptional couple...of idiots! They are no other than Heath and Deborah Campbell of Easton, Pennsylvania (wish I had their address because I'd personally lead a protest, because their stupidity must be stopped!) These rocket scientists are so immeasurably dense that they cannot understand why people are disturbed that they named their son (drumroll please) ADOLPH HITLER CAMPBELL!!! I know you think ABM as started drinking holiday egg nog a little early, but I soberly swear this one is for real.

The Campbell family story came to the news because they were outraged that a local bakery refused to spell out their son's full name on a birthday cake. Apparently Mr and Mrs Dipshyt think it perfectly acceptable to tag their unsuspecting kid with a moniker that will have him scrapping for the rest of his life. Just imagine (I know this is probably asking too much from the Dipshyts whose collective IQ is probably somewhere south of that of the earthworm) this kid getting picked on by bullies on the playground. I don't think little Adolph will be getting invited to play groups either. His college applications will probably be shit-canned because admissions officials will think it's a prank. I'm pretty sure that AH will have a hard time even getting a job as a sanitation worker (no offense to those who help to keep our neighborhoods clean, but you get the point).

I hope these ultra-idiots are saving their money because the therapist bills for little Adolph will probably approach $1 million before he even reaches middle school. Yep folks, this one has ABM literally frothing at the mouth. Most sane people wouldn't name their dog Adolph Hitler, not to mention their first-born son.

I often say that we make people apply for a license to buy a dog but allow any fools to become parents...ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I humbly submit Mr and Mrs Dipshyt, oops...I mean Campbell as Exhibit A. Clearly they are guilty of Capital Stupidity and should be terminated so that they don't continue to procreate (their other toddlers are similarly named JoyceLynn Aryan Nation Campbell aged 2 in a few months and Honszlynn Hinler Jeannie Campbell who is 1). They are clearly guilty of infecting the gene pool beyond recovery and must be stopped now. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I rest my case.

Folks I couldn't make this stuff up if I wanted to...

The Shoe is On the Other Foot...

2008-12-14T20:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, I admit I laughed my ass off on this one. Some irate Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at President Bush today in Baghdad during an impromptu press conference. Fortunately our President has great reflexes and ducked both of them. While I'm no fan, I still don't like anyone in a foreign country attacking my president. This is the USA dammit...dont' #$%% with us! Let them try that shyt with Obama...and the ABM is geting on a plane with the quickness.

Now if I had been the President getting shoes thrown at him, the headlines would be a lot different:

"US President beats a mutha@#$#@ down in Iraq"

"All American Ass Whipping in Baghdad"

"US President: Once He Threw the Shoe, I Blacked-Out...It Was On and Poppin'"

Idiot of the Week

2008-12-08T18:54:00.001-08:00

Folks...this one is just so easy, that it's not even fun. Without fanfare, I will simply announce that this week's raining dumbass is none other than OJ "The Juice" Simpson. Isn't it written somewhere that with age comes wisdom? This guy seems get stupid-er with each passing day. I know his kids have got to be tired of him embarrassing them! I can just imagine their conversation:

Arnelle Simpson: "Uh oh...Dad's on TV again"

Jason Simpson: "Ok, what's his stupid ass done this time to make me wanna take up residence in a monestery"?

Arnelle: "Says something about a stick up in a Las Vegas hotel"

Jason: "Whatever! I told him I'm not coming down to some jail to visit his ass the next time. I'm so sick of him I'm going to change my name."

Arnelle: "But Jason, he's our Dad!"

Jason: "Whatever! Hey, how does Jason Lipschitz sound?"

Arnelle: "It sounds stupid"

Jason: Whatever! Maybe Jason Gotti...at least if I'm going to be named after a criminal, it won't be a dumb one".

There was really no competition at all this week. This guy now stands convicted of FELONIOUS STUPIDITY and sentenced to so many years in jail that folks don't agree on the count (I was pushing for CAPITAL STUPIDITY so we could exectute him so he can't do anything else stupid).

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall when they hatched this stupid plan.:

OJ: "Hey man that memorabelia-selling dude has got my shit"

Other Criminal Idiot #2: "For real man? Whatchu wanna do?"

Criminal Idiot #3: "Hey OJ , let's go get yo shit man."

Idiot #2: "Yeah, that's it! We'll bum-rush his ass in the hotel and take yo shyt back"

OJ: "Ok, but what if it's a lot of 'em or they fight back"?

Unidentified Idiot: "It's all good OJ...I'm strapped"

OJ: "Yeah...it's all good."

OK, all it would have taken was one moment of even partial sanity by one of the above mentioned idiots to put the brakes on such a stupid-assed idea. NO...no one in that room had one scintilla of anything remotely resembling common sense. Instead that moment became "the Birth of Stupid"! Now this really pisses ABM off! The stupid #%$$%#$ managed to beat the murder rap (for my money he did it, but that's another topic) so he should have taken his ass somewhere and chilled. Instead each year he gets progressively more stupid. I am truly hoping that prison will put a halt to that tumor growing in his head called stupid. Otherwise, stupid will eventually kill him. Well at least now, if he's stupid there, we don't have to watch it on TV.

Congratulations Juice! You are our Idiot of the Week (and likely frontrunner for the Idiot of the Year award)...you better hope Pacman really comes up with a doozy for his next act...and soon, the year's almost over.

Turn that @#$% music off!!!!!

2008-12-02T13:53:00.000-08:00

Ok, this is one that makes the AMB wanna holler everytime I call certain people and hear "Please enjoy the music while your party is reached"! Afterward I am forced to listen to a minute or so worth of inane music while they "reach my party"! This just makes my blood boil. I don't want to hear your music! I have better things to do. My time is valuable so either answer the damn phone or give me voicemail. If I want entertainment I will buy a concert ticket or listen to my own music on my Ipod.

Once friend forced me to listen to 3 minutes worth of "Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge"...by the time said friend picked up I was "about to lose my head!" Another friend has inaudible hip hop at about 150 decibels blasting. It sounds more like someone's stuffing T-Pain through a wood chipper rather than any identifiable "music". When they finally do answer they complain that I force them to repeat everything twice because I've gone partially deaf while "enjoying the music".

Grow up people! I can at least understand music if I call my teenager (won't like it but I can understand), but when it comes to 40-somethings it's pretty ridiculous. In fact it makes me not want to call them at all. Worst of all is having to listen to this garbage only to have to leave a message because the "party" is probably too busy searching for other horrible music for me to "enjoy" while I'm losing my mind waiting on them to answer the damn phone. Makes me wanna "reach" through the phone and choke the living @$#% out of my "party". Talk about cruel and unusual punishment. Torture is supposed to be against the law in America, I'm sure that statute covers "Ear Worms" somewhere.

So here's a tip...TURN THAT DAMN MUSIC OFF, because if I am forced to listen to "Murder by Numbers" one more time, I might commit it! I'm already deaf and I've been "pushed to the edge" so...don't give me any ideas

Shopping to die for

2008-11-30T19:44:00.000-08:00

WTF? Less than 5 minutes into the celebrated "Black Friday" and the body count started. Some poor Wal Mart temp was trampled and suffered a fatal heart attack. Reportedly the shoppers were upset later when they had to close the store for a short time to remove his body. "I've been in line since yesterday" was all that shoppers had to say in response to the poor man's death.

So tell me folks, have we gotten that depraved over material goods that we have no regard for the loss of a man's life...as long as we get that deal on the plasma TV or that designer handbag we couldn't afford before (and will probably be empty because we spent the last of our money on it...but hey, we'll look good). Is it really worth it to stomp the life out of a man just to be first in the door to get that GI Joe doll with the Kung Fu grip? (ok, that was a flashback to my childhood, but you feel me). Where along the way did the Wii, Xbox and Blu Ray Disc player, become more important than respect for human life?

Friends asked me, "ABM did you get some good deals on Black Friday?", my response was "Hell no, you couldn't pay me to go into a mall on the day after Thanksgiving". One day after giving thanks for all we have been blessed with, we're ready to choke the living shit out of that $%^% who cut in front of us at the cash register!

Well I stopped truly enjoying Christmas years ago, when it went so commercial that most people couldn't recall the true meaning of the holiday. I prefer Thanksgiving when all I have to do is make sure everyone is well-fed and it's all good. I prefer to do my shopping online and plan to do as much as possible online this year. My ultimate dream is to one day go through an entire Christmas season without setting foot once in a mall.

Guess you can't blame a man for dreaming, huh?

Idiot of the Week

2008-11-30T18:10:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm starting a new feature entitled "Idiot of the Week". This award will be bestowed upon the individual who most conspicuously embodies the concept of Capital Stupidity (rising to the level of punishment by death so that they don't further infect the gene pool)by word, deed, or both. In some weeks there may not be an award if no one really qualifies...this award is not given lightly, so the individual really must "earn" it.

That said, it gives me great displeasure to present the inaugural ABM's Idiot of the Week Award to Plaxico Burress, wide receiver and idiot extraordinaire for shooting himself in the leg with his own gun in a nightclub on Friday night. Now folks, it takes a real special variety of idiot to exhibit stupidity to this degree. Plaxico is unable to accept this award in person because he's not getting around to well.

We wish him a speedy recovery and a big fine for being such a dumbass. Few things piss the ABM off more than a spoiled assed overpaid man-child who cannot grow the hell up and represent the organization and fans that are paying him millions of dollars to simply play a game and keep his ass out of trouble. How difficult is that...?

Well stay tuned because given his previous track record, Plaxico stands a good chance to win future IoW (Idiot of the Week) Awards, though Pacman Jones has been quiet for about a month, which means he's overdue for doing something incredibly stupid any minute.

ABM will accept nominations for IoW from readers. Just email me at bew795@yahoo.com and I will gladly consider all nominees.

Catharsis...

2008-11-29T22:16:00.001-08:00

That's what Aristotle called the reaction that his contemporaries experienced when viewing Greek tragedy plays. This process which involves the release of pent up emotion or energy is exactly what Black Americans (and many others too) experienced on the night of November 4th as America elected its first Black president. I took an informal survey of at least 50 Black friends, colleagues, aquaintances, etc. and there was only one (Mike...I know your ass is lying) who said they did not shed tears at this historic event. Though it meant many different things to different people, the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President struck a chord within the hearts of many.

Some have wondered where I have been in the last month, well to be honest...I have literally been speechless. I guess I am still processing what this historic moment means to me individualy and corporately as part of American society. For the first time in several years, I am optimistic about America again.

So does this me the ABM isn't angry anymore? Hell no, there's still enough injustice, insensitivity and stupidity for me to write about for the rest of my days. There are still many ironies in our society and I will continue to point them out.

No the ABM hasn't gone soft just because we elected Obama...there's still a lot of work for us all to do and the ABM is rolling up his sleeves and doing my part to rebuild the America I love.

Stay tuned...

5 More Days and a Wake Up!

2008-10-30T18:51:00.000-07:00

I know some of you are tired of all the political commercials, phone calls, knocks on the door, etc., but this is the price to pay to change our country. ABM is sending out big props to everyone who is volunteering and/or contibuting to a campaign. It's never been more important so let's see this through til the finish.

Also the ABM doesn't want to hear any whining or complaining about how you waited in line for 5 hours. We will wait that long for concert tickets or to see a movie on opening night, so we should be willing to wait to cast the most important (and for many first) vote of our lifetime. So wait! Take snacks, your IPOD, a good book to read, your best friend to talk to...whatever it takes to get you through the wait. Vote early if you can because polls will be madhouses on election day.

Finally, if someone says you are not on the rolls or can't vote or try to intimidate you or anyone else in any way, call 1-877-874-6226 to the Voter Protection Center. They have lawyers on call all over America to help clear up any issues.

Once again, much love to all you out there fighting to make America better. The ABM hopes this video will help to inspire you to fight a little harder, because...it's 5 more days til a wake up!

Undecided? Need I Say More...

2008-10-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, there's still a few clowns out there who are "undecided". Hopefully this will help them make up their minds...

Here's Johnny!

2008-10-16T20:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, I watched last night's final debate and really didn't take a lot away that I didnt' already know. McCain tried his best to goad Obama into losing his temper and acting unpresidential...didn't work. Obama must have ice water in his veins...the kinda guy I want with his finger on the nuke button.

McCain however seemed to be doing his best to practice what they taught him in his Anger Management classes. I could swear he was forcing himself to smile (more on that dastardly smile later) so hard he nearly busted a gut! He was seething and didn't do a good job of masking his intense dislike for Senator Obama. I could tell he was silently counting to ten, saying the alphabet backward and memorizing his grocery list...anything to refrain from jumping up and choking the #%$ out of Barack, lol.

Everytime Senator McCain smiled that bezerk, mad-scientist grin, I got a flashback to Jack Nicholson in The Shining! He looked like he was plotting a masacre while trying to appear pleasant and gracious...all while getting ready to blow up the building! Don't thnk I want him walking around with the nuke codes in his back pocket...he may forget his Metamucil one morning and...bang! he decides to bomb Canada. And the rest of the night when he wasn't displaying that diabolocal smile, I just kept thinking Walter Matthau in Grumpy Old Men...

I don't think he did anything to help himself in any of the three debates. Each time he seemed more irritated, like he needs to eat more fiber. Each time he showed America that he really is a frustrated, foul-natured man who wouldn't be much fun in the White House. More importantly, he has displayed that he does not have the temprament to be President. I think that came through loudly and clearly to most who viewed the debates. Hopefully they will remember that image on November 4th...

Sara Smile...

2008-10-03T17:32:00.000-07:00

Watching last night's VP debate, I was actually impressed that Sarah Palin is a quick study. She didn't fall on her face as many predicted. She held her own and avoided confusing her talking points. That said, she was pretty thin on substance. Right off the bat, she told us that she would be answering the questions she wanted to answer, not necessarily the questions that the moderator actually asked.

Throughtout the night she continued to remind us that she is strong on energy...even when the dicussion was about Iraq, the Wall Street bailout or how she would pursue bipartisan solutions to our problems. In fact it sounded like she was lobbying for the job of Secretary of Energy rather than VP.

The most irritating thing, however, was her attempt to use her beauty and charm to deflect questions and mask her ineptitude on many critical issues. With a wink and a smile she sought to change the subject many times to something she actually knew about....Alaska. Too many times she smiled her dazzling smile (ok, she bested Biden on "cute" points) and told us she would not bore us with actual answers, rather she would give us straight talk. When she really wanted to emphasize he unwillingness to answer questions, she added an even cuter wink to the aforementioned smile. I kept thinking Biden is losing this debate...he's just not cute enough to be VP. (after all, isn't this what people really want after 8 years of a decidedly "uncute" VP). Yes, that will bring America out of its economic doldrums...more cuteness.

In fact I think cuteness is really underrated in America. After all, who needs competence on foreign policy issues when you've got cute. Just look at how the newly inaugurated (and newly widowed) Pakistani President Asif Zardari drooled over her in their brief photo op meeting in New York during the UN General Assembly. Yes the man who recently lost his wife former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to assassination only a few months ago, almost asked McCain's hottie running mate out on a date! Now that's what I call real international diplomacy. Here her cuteness helped to forge stronger relations with Pakistan (even despite the fact she still cannot find Pakistan on a map).

Next we can send her down to Wall Street where she can end the world credit crisis with her cuteness. You see that's what the problem has been, not a lack of liquidity in financial markets, but a lack of cuteness. Give Governor Palin a few hours and with a wink and a smile she will put our economy back on track (after all, her running mate said our economy is sound so all it should take is a little cuteness to clean up this mess).

As I write this, the McCain-Palin team is working hard to develop a strategy to use said running mate's cuteness to end the war in Iraq. I doubt those evil Al Qaida terrorists will be able to stand up to an unrelenting barrage of intense cuteness.! Who needs shock and awe, when you can bring your enemies to their knees with a wink and a smile?

Meanwhile the Obama-Biden campaign is working furiously to amp up its "cute factor". Good luck Team O-B...you've really got your work cut out for you as your message of hope and change is really no match for cuteness.

(below is a Sara Palin Debate flowchart that I really wish I had been clever enough to come up with - special thanks to http://www.adennak.com/)

*photo courtesy of 23/6 Comedy News

I voted today...

2008-10-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

I am 42 years old and have never been in a voting booth. Before you say "ABM, you've never voted?!", let me explain. I am in the military and am a resident of Florida but am never there at voting time so I have always voted absentee (and for the record, since I turned 18 I have never missed a presidential or congressional election).

Today I filled out my abseentee ballot and sent it off. Since it is such a historic time for America, I wanted to capture my vote in a photo. Now that I've done my duty I will continue to spur others on to do so, because if you don't vote...you get no love from the ABM.

Voting today made me very reflective. As I have shared before, I am very fearful about our country's future. Maybe I've been spoiled, never having to worry if the sun will come up for America tomorrow, but I worry more than ever what kind of America my kids will inherit from my generation.

So today...I voted for them. I voted my interests and I voted theirs. I cast a ballot to protest the sad state of affairs that the Repugnicans have created in the country I call home. I voted to say, "No more". No more of the insanity we call the US government. No more to a myopic, disasterous foreign policy. I voted for democracy...not that sham of a system we have lived under for 8 years and try to force on others.

While I was at it, I voted for justice. No more to the erosion of our civil rights, to election manipulation, to bold faced lies and outright theft. Yes, today I voted for truth, saying no to a government that would not know the truth if it hit it square in the face.

Today I didn't vote for a candidate...I voted for a philosophy. I would never vote for a candidate just because of the color of his skin....Dr. King wouldn't be proud of me for doing that. Rather I voted for the philosophy that government is supposed to protect us...rather than hold us down while rich thieves steal from us. And I voted for the belief that torture is wrong even if the torturer speaks English as a native language.

Finally, I voted for hope. I didn't even read Obama's book about hope...didn't need to. All I needed to do was look around me and see the devastation wrought by the party that promised everything and delivered less than nothing. The Repugnicans have destroyed hope and I want a President who will bring it back.

We as a nation have been sleep at the wheel. Meanwhile we've been raped, pillaged and plundered. Something has to change...and today I did my part in making that change a reality.

I won't even think about telling you who to vote for, ABM would never be so presumptuous, but here in ABM's house if you don't vote you get no love. In fact nothing makes ABM angrier. If you are happy with your present and optimistic about your future then stay home, don't even waste the gas to get to the polls. Sleep in late that day and have a two hour lunch. Make sure you hit a happy hour before going home...while you still have one. If you wake up one morning and no longer recognize the country you live in, suck it up, deal with it, apply for your unemployment and food stamps, find a good homeless shelter and a nice soup kitchen. Do what ever you have to do to survive, but, whatever you do, don't blame me...because I voted today.

6%

2008-09-23T19:45:00.000-07:00

Six percent, that's how much a of a difference race could make in this election. At least according to an Associated Press-Yahoo News poll conducted with Stanford University which sought to determine the potential effect of race on Senator Barack Obama's candidacy on election day. They polled 2,227 adults across America and their results tell a sad story. Rather than vote their interests voters are still stuck on race as a compelling reason to vote against Senator Obama. Likewise I'm sure the perception amoung some is that Black people will just vote automatically for the senator because of his skin color...maybe some will, but many are voting their pocket book, their health insurance, their job or their children's future.

The Repugnican (spelling intentional) Party has damn near destroyed America as we know it in the last 8 years and all John McCain needs is 4 more years to finish the job! This reminds me of an encounter I had with a Repugnican congressional candidate outside my daughter's school last week when attending Open House. This gentleman came up to me and introduced himself after seeing me pick up a couple Obama bumper stickers from the table and told me he was a Repugnican running for Congress. He offered me some of his campaign literature and i politely refused to take it. To which he replied, "Well I'm not running against Barack Obama". I froze in my tracks, looked him in the eye, and said, "This has absolutely nothing to do with Barack Obama. Your party has nearly destroyed the country I love and there is no way I will vote for anyone who would even call themselves a Republican. Sir, you've got the wrong party." Several people who were around applauded lightly or voiced their approval in some way.

It just made me angry that our country is falling apart and all this guy thought I cared about was race. Dammit...I'm not blind, yes, I'd love to have a Black President, but more importantly I want a President who looks forward and fights for our future, rather than looking backward as does Senator McCain. I applaud Senator McCain and honor him for his wartime service...he is a true American hero and I'll be the first to take my hat off to him, but that doesn't mean we OWE him the White House for it! If you could stomach the Repugnican National Convention (I watched...have to know what the enemy is up to) it was all about THE PAST. We heard about his service in Vietnam ad naseum, but very little about our future and how he wants to make it better. Isnt' this the same guy who said he didnt' know much about the ecnonomy? And I won't even start on Governor Palin...I will save that for another post of its own.

So if you are in that 6% who would rather vote skin color over your own interests, then go ahead. While you're at it, you might start looking for other nice countries to live in that don't mind taking a few American immigrants, because when the Repugnicans get through with us, we'll be economically, politically and morally bankrupt and America as we knew it will never be the same.!

Why I Call Them Repugnicans

2008-09-23T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hey ABM can't you spell, some might ask. Yep, pretty well too, but you have to understand that when discussing the modern Republican party, the first thing that comes to mind is REPUGNANT. Defined by Webster's, repugnant means incompatible, inconsistent or exciting distaste or aversion as in a morally repugnant practice. Yep, hits the nail right on the head for me.

Something that is repugnant usually sickens or nauseates us. That's exactly what 8 years of Repuglican rule has done for me. Just the thought of what they've done to the country I love, the country that I have served in uniform my entire adult life, sickens me to my very core. Remember 8 years ago when Repugnicans promised us morality, family values, TRUTH, responsibility and above all, accountability. Yep, this was the American Pie, moral crusader regime who was supposed to make America that bright beacon on the hill. They ranted and raved against immigrants, homosexuals, thsoe who wanted to government regulation and oversight on the business world and most of all the evil, immoral Democrats, personified by the Clintons. They said, "elect us and we will make everything better:"

Hello, I don't know about you, but I was doing fine 8 years ago. I slept well at night and felt confident that America would only grow stronger and more vibrant. We were at peace and had a prosperous economy. Americans had real hope back then. So, what have we gotten out of those empty promises? Let's examine the record:

Do the names, Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, Libby, Rove and the Patriot Act mean anything to you? How about Alberto Gonzalez, Jack Abramhoff, Kenneth Lay, Bernard Kerik or Tom DeLay? Do they ring any bells? Or Tom Foley, Larry Craig, Ted Haggard, Duke Cunningham or Randall Tobias? Still drawing a blank? Well try Googling these names and read for yourself. These are just a few examples of the rampant lies, abuse of power, corruption, greed, crimanility and malfeasance of every type imaginable. (Check out this link for an interactive "Scandal Map" http://slate.com/features/2007/scandal_guide/scandalmap.html )

The party who promised a strong defense, lied to us about Iraq and used terrorism to justify everything they want to do whether it is legal or not. If it's real illegal, they will just change the laws to make it legal. They want to remake the world on their neocon theories without the benefit of considering history, culture or regional politics.

The party who promised to protect society against homosexual culture, has had more gay sex scandals than you can shake a stick at (no pun intended of course). This is the party of Foley who sent lascivious emails and text messages to teenaged House pages....and the Speaker of the House Denny Hastert helped cover it up! This is the party of Senator Larry "Wide Stance" Craig for Minneapolis Airport bathroom fame (wonder if he flew to the Twin Cities for the Repugnican convention?)

The party who promised accountability presided over the biggest economic meltdown since the Great Depression (the jury is still out on this one) while their friends in the banking, real estate and petroleum business got filthy rich and then pulled the rug out from under the people who live on Main Street, all the while telling us our economy is fundamentally sound. They bankrupt companies, running them into the ground then running off with huge severance packages...can you say Golden Parachute? Where the hell was our government when Wall Street was fleecing America? Now as Bill Maher recently said, "We're asking the poor to bail out the rich".

The party who promised to "clean up Washington" has left a foul stench in our nostrils. It will take a least a generation to clean up their messes. Yep, the Repuglicans have left a huge pile of #@$ for us all to clean up...hope you've got a big shovel.

The US Economy on Life Support...$700 Billion Dollars Worth of Bad Medicine?

2008-09-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

Ok, I've had it! This is the first post on Angry Black Man. Well I'm not angry in the usual sense that Black men are characterized as, rather I am mad as hell that my country is falling apart at the seams and too many people dont' seem to give a damn. The Repugnican (spelling intentional) party and all their rhetoric about deregulation and lack of government oversite (in the guise of reducing Big Government) have let their friends on Wall Street squeeze every dime out of our economy like the air out of a balloon.

So what's the solution (drum roll please) Ta Da! You, Mr. or Mrs. American Taxpayer, pull out your checkbook and make out a modest $700 BILLION DOLLAR check to prop up the economy. Well I'm no economic whiz, though I did get an A in it in college, but I dont' remember the part about how buying 3/4 of a TRILLION dollars worth of BAD DEBT, is a good thing. That wasn't in the textbook. I read it cover to cover and didn't find that part anywhere. And, oh yes, they don't want any oversight, just mail in the check and "trust us". Well that's like leaving your doors unlocked, posting a sign in your yard announcing it and inviting every criminal in town to stop by for a visit.

So we're supposed to give $700 Billion dollars to the same bunch of kleptomaniacs who fleeced us once and let them figure it out. And just like the Patriot Act, it's so essential that we do this quickly and take a vote without reading the fine print..."trust us". Last time I checked our money said "In God We Trust". If He asks us for $700 Billion then I say ante up, but to give those crooks (wasn't Treasury Secretary Paulson a former Chairman of Goldman Sachs after all?) that much money without any real oversight and accountability is pure lunacy. If we do...then we deserve what we get!