Harold Ford spoke in Little Rock today

[Changenow]

Presumably he is in town for the 50th anniversary of desegregation of Central High School. His visit and speaking engagement were sponsored by the Clinton School.

He was funny, a moderate Republican,as smart as a moderate Republican can be, and totally out of touch with what racism is in America. Someone asked him about Jena. His reply was an interesting insight into his world perspective. He answered that he'd recently attended a dinner with black billionaires and other African American financial leaders. From that experience he extrapolated that things have improved dramatically for blacks in the US, although people on both ideological extremes may see it differently. One can only hope that Mr. Ford isn't acquainted with the facts about Jena.

The most interesting thing he shared was that he was in Hong Kong recently at a meeting with the CEO's of several major corporations. In the meeting the impact a recession in the US would have on the Pacific Rim was discussed. Mr. Ford reported that these powerful business leaders believed that a US recession will be contained, and not negatively effect the Pacific region. Sounded ominous for those of us in the containment zone.

Overall, I have no idea why the guy calls himself a Democrat. It's better that he isn't in the senate, with more like him the chance for real change would become even more remote. Democrats simply must take a stand on the issues and elect candidates accordingly.

[Exultant Democracy]

1. That "man" is an embarrassment.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Wow. He's not even a man? I can't stand the repub-lite crap he spews....

... but saying he's not a man is going a bit far. What is he, 3/5 of a man?

[Exultant Democracy]

3. slime. eom

[hfojvt]

4. He can't be a man

'cause he doesn't smoke
the same cigarettes as me.



Maybe he's a lizard?


can I get a little help here Swamp Rat?

[BlooInBloo]

5. Holding... holding....

[sandnsea]

6. Denial

I suppose if you remove yourself from a 'difficult' situation, it's easier to just put it behind you and ignore it then to do anything about it. Even as all these racist goons crawl out from under their rocks, there are still those who want to pretend it's all isolated incidents that have no connection to those people stranded on rooftops in New Orleans. Connecting them is too overwhelming. Denial is easier.

[Changenow]

7. Yep

He talked about how strict his family was when he grew up, beatings with all sorts of weapons, he made child abuse sound like a good thing. The message was that if families beat their children, or were at very least severely draconian, then there wouldn't be Jennas.

He said his father overcame poverty. The message was that if his father did it so can those kids in Jena, if they are beat enough, that is.