The Murmur of Crow 01.11.06: Silence of the Dems
Posted by Brandon Crow on 01.11.2006
Not since 1992, when the economy was in the toilet and headed further south, and Bill Clinton charismatically expressed his vision of the country, and then George Bush Sr. got caught on camera checking his watch impatiently during a presidential debate, has the political climate been so ripe for the Democrats. But where are they?
Before we get started today, I'd like to say that I am more convinced than ever that my partner in crime here at 411 Politics, Jason Easley of the Political Universe, and I have some kind of cosmic connection. A few weeks ago, Jason penned a fantastic, insightful and honest column on race relations in America. That column posted here just one after I experienced the atrocious treatment at the hands of the old white couple in Williamsburg, Virginia. I had just made up my mind to write a column about it when I read Jason's column. I immediately sent him an email recounting my experience and how he had beaten to the punch.
Well, it seems that Mr. Easley has "stolen" my column again… no, no, I jest. He's just quicker to the trigger than I am. It's unbearably hard to keep up with the super-cyclonic mind of Jason Easley. Many days, I'm just grateful some god somewhere has allowed me to share this earth with him…
This morning, as I was half way through with my column for the week, I pop over to 411 Politics and lo' and behold, there is "The Braniac" again, posting a column on the very subject I was writing on… and doing it better than I can ever hope to…
Ok, let's get to my column for the week, and then some very, very good emails from readers on racism in America.
This week, I want to talk about the Democrats. Let's start with a little joke: what do the current Democrats and Osama bin Laden have in common?
They're both so well hidden nobody can find them.
Where are the Democrats? What has happened to them?
After five and a half grueling years of nonstop Bushit and ultra-conservative Christianism, it appears as if the pendulum might be swinging back the other way. For starters, "Bush Almighty" himself is talking about pulling out of Iraq, albeit slowly. He can euphemize the words as "troop withdrawal," but we know it's a pull out.
He even admitted his administration underestimated the will of the Iraqi insurgency, just not in as many or as clarified words. By the way, his televised admission of this fact played a big part in his dismal poll numbers climbing back up a bit. This idea that Bush ought to take responsibility and just admit the mistake, was originally, and has been a strong part of the Democratic suggestion.
And here out west in California, our beloved actor-governor, Arnold Schwarzeneggar recently dumped his "Arnold Bush" persona and adopted a kinder, gentler "Arnold Kennedy" public image.
The winds definitely seem to have shifted a bit. Most likely, this shift originates from the citizens tiring of Republicanism and tiring of the Bush antics, especially after all of the stinging corruption.
At this point, the public does not seem particularly enamored with, or even the slightly impressed by the Republican Party and their buffoonery veiled as "leadership." In a recent AP-Ipsos poll taken the week of January 6th, "Americans are leaning sharply toward giving Democrats control of Congress (Sacramento Bee)." The poll also shows that when it comes to elections for seats in 2006, "Democrats are favored 49 percent to 36 percent."
This is a very positive sign and something the Democrats should consider themselves lucky to have found on the side of the road. I say "found" because we all know they didn't really do anything spectacular on their own to earn this favorable opinion.
But that's not all. The news gets even better: Bush's approval numbers have deflated again from 47% back down to roughly 39 or 40%, depending on what polls are utilized. His approval rating for handling Iraq sits firmly at about the same place.
Yet the Democrats have done nothing. When was the last time you remember any Democrat speaking up or saying something useful that could possibly push them into the majority next election?
The only thing I get from any Democrat is Howard Dean, via relentless emails harping about Judge Alito. If not that, it's Howard Dean asking for monetary donations. That's it.
Come on! Wake up, Democrats! What else do you guys need to get off your knees and finally get up, and pull up your pants so you don't have to get screwed by the Republicans anymore?
I think the Democrats are waiting for a sign. They're praying for their Moses to show them the way and lead them out of political exile. Well, ask and you shall receive, my good Democrats.
You can't have Moses, but you can have Bond, Rich Bond. The former Republican National Committee chairman is on record with the press, saying, "there is an acute recognition [that] if the Democrats had any leadership or any message, they could be poised for a good year."
That's Rich Bond, former RNC Chair admitting to the world the predicament the Republicans find themselves in! But it doesn't stop with him. Other top level Republican operatives are also plainly admitting that in 2006 and 2008, Republican fatigue and distrust could gain the Democrats huge votes, not to mention a majority in both houses.
Where are the Democrats? Where have all the Democrats gone? Oh, I need a heeero!
Please, somebody stand up and show some spine. And some mind.
In addition to general fatigue with Bush and the Republicans, recent scandals, indictments, pending indictments and the guilty plea of lobbyist Jack Abramoff has left a huge gash in the chest of the Republican party. Not since 1992, when the economy was in the toilet and headed further south, and Bill Clinton charismatically expressed his vision of the country, and then George Bush Sr. got caught on camera checking his watch impatiently during a presidential debate, has the political climate been so ripe for the Democrats.
Look at what all of the major newspapers in the country are saying about the Abramoff case:
The Washington Post: "Abramoff represented the most flamboyant and extreme example of a brand of influence trading that flourished after the Republican takeover of the House of Representatives 11 years ago. Now, some GOP strategists fear that the fallout from his case could affect the party's efforts to keep control in the November midterm elections."
USA Today: "What set Abramoff apart from legitimate Washington power brokers, federal prosecutors say, was his willingness to exploit an extensive network of Capitol Hill contacts -- from well-positioned congressional staffers to members of the Republican leadership -- regardless of the rules."
The Wall Street Journal: "Making the bribery case especially striking -- and worrisome for members of Congress -- is that some of its elements include transactions that occur in Washington every day. It is commonplace for lawmakers to solicit campaign donations from lobbyists, who routinely offer them in hopes of gaining advantage. Yet Mr. Abramoff also went far beyond routine practice by furnishing lawmakers with lavish trips, free meals and entertainment as well."
The New York Times: "In a city whose history is rife with scandal and the political price it exacts, from the F.B.I. sting operation known as Abscam to the savings and loans collapse involving 'the Keating Five,' some experts feared that the Abramoff investigation would eclipse all the rest."
The Los Angeles Times: "The corruption investigation surrounding lobbyist Jack Abramoff shows the significant political risk that Republican leaders took when they adopted what had once seemed a brilliant strategy for dominating Washington: turning the K Street lobbying corridor into a cog of the GOP political machine."
And yet, still silent lips and couched thoughts from the Democrats. As a left-leaning independent, I can't tell you how disappointed I am.
Reader Email:
From Kolt:
Wow, I know racism exists in America, and I hate that you had to experience what you experienced, but I'm glad to see your commentary on it. It's an eye opener how subtle racism can be nowadays, but I know exactly what you're talking about. When I moved to Tampa, FL in 1994, within the 1st 2months of living here, racism slapped me in the face.
By the way... I'm black... In ‘94, my family packed our bags, moving from Syracuse, NY to Tampa, FL. We moved into a mobile home community (not a trailer park). While living there, I experienced the disrespect of having neighborhood kids go out of their way to get into my backyard and urinate. On my way to school I was witness to the ashes of a cross that had been burned in my front yard. It was small, maybe 2 feet long & 1 foot wide but it was there.
IN 1995 FOR CRYING OUT LOUD.
As you can tell, we were the first black family on the block. This became apparent when 1 day, my brothers and I went to play basketball and while we were playing, we got berated by a 5 year old who came out calling us nigger and a host of racial slurs... I mean this was a 5 year old cursing out a 16 year old, a 15 year old and an 11 year old black person all by himself. My brother kept telling the kid to go home & bring his parents out, which of course never happened. (Crow's note: just goes to show you how deeply engrained racism is, and how early on this starts. Even at five, this little white boy felt he entitled enough to exhibit ownership over three black teens).
It was confusing to be talked to that way, hear a little kid calling me nigger like I'm nothing and using that word to attempt to hurt me. As time went on, I befriended a few neighborhood kids, and being the only black one, I felt uncomfortable at times having to answer questions like what's the difference between nigga & nigger, and if black people still get offended if a white person calls them nigga or nigger, then why do rappers use the n-word.
I have no ill feelings towards any of my friends, as they were just ignorant kids who didn't deal with black people on a regular basis. However, one day, my friends were hanging around some older kids, high schoolers of 14 or so, and I came up on my bike. My friends were talking to the other kids to the side. All of a sudden, my friends tell me I (me) need to get outta there.
We all ride out on our bikes. I couldn't believe why we had to go, but they said that those other kids were calling me all kinds of names (nigger and all), and that they were talking about lynching me!!
I didn't get scared, rather I didn't take them seriously (Crow's note: Oh, you sooooo should take them seriously. That mentality, very unfortunately, is still very rampant in some parts of this country). I couldn't imagine a handful of kids jumping me and murdering me that simply, but it has happened to other black people in our present day America (Crow's note: And as recently as just forty years ago…) and there is no sign that tomorrow's headlines won't have some racially charged crime in the spot light.
As I grew up, my neighborhood changed, I befriended a number of peers and more black people moved in to what seemed like a more tolerant place. But I met racism in high school in my senior year (2000 – 2001). I dated a white girl, and her parents didn't like the fact that I was black. Everybody in school knew about our affair, and when her parents found out, the father actually came to my school & spoke to one of my football coaches about me, and my coach later pulled me aside & told me about the guy, and how he was being all racist to the point my coach felt it was necessary to warn me to watch out for this guy.
After the parents found out, I can swear to GOD they had some lady taking pictures of us in the patio like some private investigator and the parents threatend to change schools if she kept seeing me. The relationship fell apart (Crow's note: No, really? I jest. Of course it fell apart. Nothing survives that much pressure and scrutiny, not to mention racist ideology).
As a bill collector, I've had little children to Sgts in the U.S. military berate me by calling me nigger for no good reason, and I'm calling these people over the phone!! Some are clever enough not to say "nigger" but call me a thug, or something like that. I think the USA needs a long, in-depth discussion on racism.
I'm writing because I really want to remind people that we are not that far removed from a racially divided America. This is not the tolerant country that some people think. Look at all the racsim I was exposed to, and this is just the stuff that stands out in my memory. I can assure you I've delt with a lot more racism than this.
All in all, I just want to let you know, I see where you're coming from, and I appreciate the way you presented your column. The sarcasm is perfect, and your column made me think so much. Thanks for the column; it's the first of yours I've read & it won't be the last.
From Rick:
"White people still feel like they're the only real Americans. They own this land, they "earned it through hard work and ingenuity," so therefore, it is rightfully theirs. And nobody else's. The land is theirs, the air is theirs, the earth is theirs, the right to education is theirs, the jobs are theirs."
Most people would look at this statement and consider it racist. I, however, just look at it as a guy letting his anger make him sound like a bigot.
What happened to you is pretty crappy, there's no doubt about that. It's very sad to hear about what happened to you in Colonial Williamsburg. "In this day and age" is it surprising that black people are still treated like that in some parts of the country? No, it is not. It has been 141 years since the end of the Civil War. It has been 103 years since (taken from memory, so some details may be wrong) the governor of Mississippi publicly stated that they would have to hang a thousand niggers to put them in their place after Booker T Washington dared to have dinner with the president and his wife.
It is 38 years since the assassination of Martin Luther King brought an end to the civil rights movement. And it has been about 14 years since hip-hop became mainstream. There is a definite progressive movement towards race acceptance and forgiveness. This is a beautiful thing.
It's not over yet, though. You will find small islands of hatred, ignorance and fear amongst the citizenry of the United States. Though I do not know if it was your intention, in your anger you generalized all white people in the ignorant category. This does a great disservice to us who are ashamed of that type of thinking. It also does a disservice to you by making your logic and belief system seem contradictory and flawed. I applaud you for including different minorities in your column. It seems that when most Americans think of race relations, they see them in black and white terms. Enjoyed the read.
My response to Rick:
Hey Rick,
Thanks for writing. I understand exactly what you mean when you say that some of my writing makes me seem like an ignorant bigot as well. Believe me, it was not my intention to generalize all white people into the category of racists. I was thinking about this the whole time I wrote the column. I knew I'd get some negative feedback (and I don't think yours is negative), or that I'd get tagged about it some. But I didn't want to input the idea that "I know these are only isolated incidents" because that, I believed, would kill the point I was really getting at, which is it still exists, and on a large scale. The most crucial point is that not only does racism exists, racism exists on a much larger scale and is more prevalent than we know/would like believe or acknowledge.
I kept my examples to those two incidents b/c I think they illustrate what I was trying to get across better than others I have. And there was no point in using them all; it would get tiresome very quickly.
Again, I hope you understand that my purposeful omission of "I'm not generalizing" was because I didn't want to come across as an apologist. That would be equivalent to turning the other cheek and sweeping it under the rug, and I just don't think we ought to anymore.
From Gord, who's written in before:
Happy New Year my friend, you start 2006 off with a bang! Before I comment on your column, I must say that the one thing that struck me after reading it was...I didn't know you were black. (Crow's note: Why does everyone automatically assume I'm black because I wrote about racist whites? I got four emails that assumed this. It's interesting but this automatic jump to the conclusion that I'm black tends to pull us back to that stereotype of racism in America only being between blacks and whites).
Let me explain. Before this column, you were just a man. Someone with whom I shared opinions regarding politics and religion. Race never factored into my enjoyment of your insights, nor will they in the future. What this says to me is that, without knowing anything about you, I identified with you through your thoughts and opinions. The color of your skin was never a concern. It is a shame that some will now identify you by your race, rather than your words.
Racism exists in every society on this planet. There is no country where it is not present. The only place I've seen that is free of racism is in the kindergarten classrooms in my school. Children don't separate themselves into ethnic groups, they only see other kids. It is only after years of media propaganda do they start to let the ethnic stereotypes take hold.
As for your experience in the south, I have to say, in all honesty, it sounds typical. The Southern States seem to be caught in a time warp. They seem to think that the days of plantations and cotton picking were the "good old days." The wealthy whites held power over an entire race of people. That kind of power is not easy to let go of.
Be well.
From Jeff Modzelewski:
I'm sitting here, reading your column, and I just want to beat my head against the wall, partly from shame and partly in disgust. Thank you for making me hate my white ass. Just kidding. The fact that racism is still in existance in this country is one of the least talked about problems, especially by whites. As you said, it's moved on from forms of more "institutionalized" racism (slavery, Jim Crow laws, Japanese internment) to more something more intuitive (for racists).
Hopefully the part of your column about the teenagers giving you and your wife their seats at the mall is more indicative of the direction that the country is moving than the old folks in Virginia or the asshole in the car. (Crow's note: I agree with you Jeff. I think the teens are a better indication of the shift in society at large. Nonetheless, it both pains and disturbs me to see racism still so widely spread and racist ideologies so deeply held).
Basically I just wanted to commend you on a great column (one in a line of many great columns), and thank you for giving me my allotted dose of self-loathing for the day. Have a good one.
From Mark L. who lives in Tampa, FL:
I just read your piece on racism and I completely agree with you. Mind you I am of the "evil" white man category, but I do agree. Racism is a serious problem. However, most of your examples don't make sence. New Orleans wasn't taken care of because none of the people there have money. Bush doesn't care about the poor. Hilary has a better chance of winning because she's a Democrat, she's the wife of one of the most respected presidents the U.S. has ever had, and she'd be the first woman.
However, I apologize for your bad experiences. I hope 2006 gets better for you.
By the way, I happen to live in Tampa, Fl. and, until you've been to northern Florida, you have no idea what racism is. (Crow's note: Man, what is it about Tampa?!)
From my fellow 411 Politics writer, "The Politics God" Jason Easley:
I just hope you aren't developing Jesse Jackson vision. Everything in this country isn't about race. Don't let the bad experiences lead you down that path. There was one point in your column that I wish you would have directly addressed, and that is that the degree of racism appears to be directly related to a person's age.
I am willing to bet the guy in the parking lot was at least middle aged or older. It is the actions of our younger people that give me hope. I see a lot of good signs when I watch today's teens and even kids interact. Despite much conservative moaning, I think that we have a chance for a better future. I fear that it will take an epic racial incident to push the nation into the next phase of reform.
Also from my fellow 411 Politics writer, Joe Rivett:
Your column on racism was probably the best thing I have ever read on 411. (Crow's note: Damn! What a high compliment! A big thanks and an "aw shucks!" to good old Joe!)
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