Growing up watching political news there were very few black political analysts on television. I remember seeing @Eugene_Robinson@drjlastword and Carl Rowan mostly, but black people being asked strictly about politics, economics or culture on news programs was rare
Usually you had to be a politician or NAACP director before you'd get booked to discuss whatever was happening in Congress let alone some international event or tragedy. But there was ONE event I remember every black person being asked to comment on : The Million Man March
If you were a black politician or political commentator even if you didn't ATTEND the Million Man March it was almost a requirement that you account for or disavow some of the speakers at the event before you were allowed to speak on air. Regardless of the subject
Black politicians, analysts and commentators up until very recently, have been required to disavow other controversial black people or positions in order to get a platform to speak nationally. The bad faith calls for Obama to disavow Rev Wright was a prominent recent example
Today the Republican Party not only provided full throated support for a white nationalist president, but almost 100% publicly or privately backed a coup attempt against Joe Biden that killed 5 people and injured others. That can't be swept under the rug
Every member of the GOP interviewed from now on should be asked up front : Do you acknowledge the legitimate election of Joe Biden? If the answer is anything but yes, the interview should be over. They should be asked similar questions about the #insurrection
If Obama could be asked to disavow his pastor, and black politicians and analysts can be required for years to disavow radical members of the Black Panther Party and other groups, Republicans ticket to media access should be denouncing Trump's racism and terrorist #MAGA uprising
This won't happen of course. The kid gloves with which #MarjorieTaylorGreene is being treated shows us that all to much of the Press won't hold literal TERRORIST sympathizers accountable. But if that doesn't happen the violence and the audacity of the violence will get worse
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I was a kid when this happened but this is the first time I remember seeing the national press talking heads develop a completely ridiculous narrative about a candidate and push it until it became reality. Nobody cared about that scream except D.C. insiders
Howard Dean was Bernie before Bernie. He had the most innovative primary campaign in the history of American politics at the time, his use of email and early internet strategies launched dozens of careers in marketing and politics
Similar to 16' Sanders, 04' Dean was the true believer that the GOP privately feared could win, but that Democrats were CONVINCED would be a disaster that fall. rollcall.com/2003/10/03/gop…
I was pretty bored w/ the #NFC playoffs this year because once #Seahawks and (ahem) Goff / #rams were out, there really weren't any amazing stories to tell because almost nobody's legacy is going to change going forward, now #BucsvsSaints almost gaurantees it
If Rogers makes another SB so what? He's already a top 5 QB all time. Even if he somehow BEAT the #Chiefs (and that won't happen) who's he going to leap over on #NFL QB Mount Rushmore? Nobody. Another ring changes nothing for him
If Brady wins on the road in Green Bay and makes a 10th #SuperBowl what does that make him? The GOAT + 1? I mean, he's already the most successful QB ever. Another appearance or even beating the #Chiefs (Won't happen) doesn't change his legacy either
You have members of Congress, and staffers reporting the following:
Panic buttons were removed from @RepPressley offices rendering her staff helpless bostonglobe.com/2021/01/13/nat…
When government institutions, either through incompetence or intention fail to properly apply laws and provide for the people the private sector steps in. If Congress, and law enforcement had held Trump accountable a social media ban wouldn't be necessary
Why is this important? Because big social media sites are almost public utilities at this point. Trump has clearly violated rules for Twitter & Facebook, but the time it took to ban him is a reminder that these companies wield tremendous and occasionally arbitrary power
The consequences of breaking rules of conduct on social media are not applied equally or consistently. So forgive me if I don't cheer when it finally happens. These bans amount to taking a gun away from a mass shooter, when they're down to their last 12 bullets
@KamalaHarris said racism was a national security issue. She was absolutely correct and we're seeing that play out both in today's coup attempt and the complicity of many police caught on camera aiding and abetting the coup. But there's a more obvious indicator....
Arrests... 127 arrested after #BlackLivesMatter protests over #BreonnaTaylor in Louisville. Good found a way to snatch and physically harm more than that...
Over 165 people protesting #jamesblake being shot 7 times in the back by a cop were arrested in Kenosha. In only a day or two of protests
"He/She/They are better than the terrible person Trump had in the position before" is NOT a rationale for being complacent about any cabinet picks by in the incoming Biden administration. In fact that attitude could lead to major electoral backlash in 2022 and 2024
Unless they are demonstrably corrupt or have a history of breaking the law, I generally feel that an incoming administration should be able to pick their team. The public has the right to see the White House rise or fail with their full squad.
There were Trump picks that were TERRIBLE, Betsy DeVos being a prime example. But he had a right to pick her, and Democrats at least put up a fight because they knew she'd be terrible buzzfeednews.com/article/jhause…