November 24, 2004
Declaration of Independence banned in California school

Cupertino, California school teacher Steven Williams has been barred from showing his fifth grade students the Declaration of Independance and other historic American documents, simply because they contain references to God.
Since May, Williams has been required to submit lesson plans and teaching materials to the principal of Stevens Creek Elementary School, Patricia Vidmar, for approval.
Monday, Williams filed a discrimination suit in US District Court in San Jose, claiming he had been singled out for censorship because he is a Christian.
"It's a fact of American history that our founders were religious men, and to hide this fact from young fifth-graders in the name of political correctness is outrageous and shameful," said Williams' attorney, Terry Thompson."Williams wants to teach his students the true history of our country," he said. "There is nothing in the Establishment Clause (of the U.S. Constitution) that prohibits a teacher from showing students the Declaration of Independence."
Williams asserts in the lawsuit that since May he has been required to submit all of his lesson plans and supplemental handouts to Vidmar for approval, and that the principal will not permit him to use any that contain references to God or Christianity.
Among the materials she has rejected, according to Williams, are excerpts from the Declaration of Independence, George Washington's journal, John Adams' diary, Samuel Adams' "The Rights of the Colonists" and William Penn's "The Frame of Government of Pennsylvania."
"He hands out a lot of material and perhaps 5 to 10 percent refers to God and Christianity because that's what the founders wrote," said Thompson, a lawyer for the Alliance Defense Fund, which advocates for religious freedom. "The principal seems to be systematically censoring material that refers to Christianity and it is pure discrimination."
This needs to stop. Teaching historical documents and about those who created those documents has no business being watered down to satisfy someone's notion of political correctness. And to have the very audacity to eliminate the Declaration of Independance from a school curriculum is unconscionable.
I'm proud of this nation, and proud to be an American. All three of my children are taught about what those documents are and what they mean, and should mean to each and every person in this country. And I defy any educator --and I come from a family of educators who agree with me-- to try to tell me otherwise.
On checking the website for Stevens Creek Elementary, I found that the site is down this evening. Whether that was due to the interest from around the nation, or due to some action by the school or the Cupertino Unified School District is not known at this point.
John Bambenek has graciously supplied us with the contact information for the school and school district:
Stevens Creek School
http://www.cupertino.k12.ca.us/Stcreek.www/
10300 Ainsworth Drive
Cupertino, CA 95014
(40
245-3312
Patricia Vidmar, Principal
(40
245-3312 x 110
Fax (40
245-7484
Part of the Cupertino Union School District:
http://cupertino.ca.campusgrid.net/home
10301 Vista Drive
Cupertino, CA 95014
(40
252-3000
William E. Bragg, Superintendent
bragg_bill@cupertino.k12.ca.us
Board:
board@cupertino.k12.ca.us
I'm sure they are tired of all the calls, faxes and e-mails, but this is one case where, quite frankly, I don't give a damn.
Have at it, true believers!
Posted by: mhking at
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And so it goes when we entrust our children to the dregs of educated society. The old saying that, "Those who can, do; those who can't, teach" finds some purchase here. Teachers have the lowest SAT scores of any other college degree group and it would follow that they are as one with the brainstems who populate Sociology, Anthropology, and other social science fields of study. Give those same libtards power and position and they will abuse it every time.
The above isn't a condemnation of EVERY teacher, but those who are teachers know the relative intelligence of the broad category (no insult to broads intended).
Posted by: skh at November 25, 2004 07:12 AM (0xwoN)
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http://www.bluelemur.com/index.php?p=446
11/24/2004
Declaration of Independence ban at public school said bogus: Teacher reportedly forced pupils to listen to Christian dogma
Filed under: General— site admin @ 10:24 pm Email This
Declaration Of Independence banned!
The seemingly preposterous headline made major waves on the conservative Drudge Report and Fox News network Wednesday, joining Reuters and the Associated Press, in a misleading story that exhibited serious reportorial negligence, RAW STORY has learned.
The story, which reports that a California teacher has been banned from giving students documents from American history that refer to God, including the Declaration of Independence, is said a product of right-wing spin.
In fact, Cupertino public school principal Patricia Vidmar banned documents relating to God because the teacher had been forcing students to listen to what some felt was Christian propaganda, a media watchdog site reports. According to the site, the school had told him to stop but he did not comply, at which point the principal required that he submit his lesson plans to her in advance.
The teacher, Steven Williams, sued for discrimination and is now being represented by a conservative Christian legal group, Alliance Defense Fund.
Alliance Defense Fund boasts of other legal “successes,” including the right of Boy Scouts to refuse gays from ascending to leadership positions.
According to People for the American Way, a watchdog group, ADF was founded by 30 Christian ministries to serve as a counterbalance to the American Civil Liberties Union.
The organization defends the right of Christians to “share the gospel” in workplaces and public schools, asserting that efforts to curb such speech at work and schools are “anti-Christian.”
None of the major news agencies reporting on the story included quotations from the school or the principal, stating that a spokesman had referred them to a staff attorney. The articles suggest they did little research beyond the statements provided by WilliamÂ’s attorneys.
Reuters included scant information about the group who sued on Williams behalf, saying only that the group advocates “religious freedom.”
A media watch site, Seeing the Forest, first caught the story Wednesday evening.
“The school did not ‘ban the Declaration of Independence’ – that is just a lie,” Editor Dave Johnson, who is a fellow at the Commonweal Institute, wrote. “This story is like when you hear that a man was ‘arrested for praying’ and you find out he was kneeling in the middle of a busy intersection at rush hour and refused to move.”
California’s Education Code does allow “references to religion or references to or the use of religious literature … when such references or uses do not constitute instruction in religious principles … and when such references or uses are incidental to or illustrative of matters properly included in the course of study,” as William’s lawyers have pointed out.
It does not, however, allow for forced religious dogma in public schools.
****Do some research before you accept some story fed to you by Fox News and the mainstream SENSATIONALIST (not liberal) media******
Posted by: Scurvy at November 28, 2004 08:00 PM (L43DG)
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You know, Scurvy, that the same charges you levy against "right-wing" media could also be levied against the tin-foil-wearing Indymedia-types of sources you mention (and even more-so).
My source is Reuters -- part of the "mainstream" media. They have not retracted said story. In addition, in another entry here, I have linked directly to the court papers in question.
No one is "lying," as you imply -- Mr. Williams has been prohibited from using the Declaration and other documents in his teaching. And contrary to your bleatings, that is just plain wrong, no matter how you spin it.
Posted by: Michael at November 29, 2004 01:44 AM (bJ0qq)
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Folks, please remember the "source" for this story is the plaintiff's attorney; hardly an impartial witness. In fact, he is ethically bound to represent his client "zealously". I suggest that before anyone passes judgment we wait and see what the response from the School's attorney is.
Better yet, why not provide both sides with "due process of law" and wait for the case to be argued and decided in court (including any appeals)? I know it's great fun to sound off without waiting for little things like evidence, facts, and truth, but it's neither responsible, nor wise.
Posted by: Etaoin Shrdlu at November 30, 2004 08:34 PM (xhlWO)
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Let's get one thing straight - it was not the Declaration that was banned, it was the teacher's
heavily edited excerpts of the religious references that was banned.
Further, some of the material banned was bogus to begin with. One item was the "Washington Prayer Journal", which the Smithsonian has rejected as not being a true Washington artifact based on handwriting from known samples of the time and the fact the spelling was too good. (Washington was a notoriously poor speller)
One of the quotes is also bogus.
Clearly, the teacher came with an agenda of pushing a "Christian Nation" view, and got the media to hyperventilate the religious right by lying about what this was really all about. Aren't these the same people who want to put the Ten Commandments in the classroom? And now they violate one - "Thou shall not bear false witness"
Posted by: Steve at December 09, 2004 02:38 PM (sywzM)
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As a parent at Stevens Creek School, Cupertino, CA, the school accused of banning the Declaration of Independence, I am shocked with the misrepresentations of our community school that have put our children and school staff at risk. Since the lawsuit Williams v Patricia Vidmar hit the media before Thanksgiving, the school has received over 3000 angry calls and emails from all over the country, many of which were extremely threatening, combative, profane, and decidedly unchristian in tone. Our shell-shocked school secretary now sends all out-of state calls to the recorder. Two sheriffs patrol the campus daily.
Our parents are uniting to correct the mis-information about our school. If you are interested in the truth, please see our website, stevenscreekparents.org. At Stevens Creek, my daughter was taught the usual California curriculum, with the complete Declaration of Independence and religious context of our forefathers. We say “under God” in our Pledge of Allegiance. The Good News club and Boy Scouts meet after school on campus. Our school is bristling with holiday decorations of every variety.
The Alliance Defense Fund, an Arizona-based Christian advocacy group, has already tried this case in the media. I believe that our school was the unlucky target of its pre-existing political agenda. How can the message of our tiny community school compete with that of a slick group of attorneys with their $15 million budget?
We implore you to write responsibly about our situation. While you debate lofty issues, our children are at risk. This surely can't be your goal. By the time this lawsuit is resolved in favor of Mrs. Vidmar, it will no longer be a front-page story. The ADF, however, will have collected another truck load of donations from the mis-informed.
Posted by: Jean Marie at January 19, 2005 03:20 PM (K6jw+)
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For those of you who are following the case, the School District has filed a Motion to Dismiss that will be ruled March 28, 2005.
The ADF has issued a press release in which they back-peddle on their "banning" charge, claiming that they are not responsible for the inaccurate press, which in my opinion, is preposterous. I believe that this press release is given only to reporters that ask for it, and it does not appear on the ADF web site. This ADF press release was reported by both the San Jose Mercury News and the Cupertino Courier, and it is posted at http://www.eriposte.com/philosophy/fundamentalism/stevenscreek.htm.
The parents of Stevens Creek School will continue to work for a full retraction and an apology from the ADF. Mr. Williams may be entitled to his day in court, but the ADF is not entitled to mislead the public and endanger our children.
Posted by: Cupertino Mom at February 06, 2005 08:45 AM (K6jw+)
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November 23, 2004
NAACP supports Rice in statement

The NAACP has
released a statement condemning the offensive language from Madison, WI radio host John "Sly" Sylvester, where he referred to Secretary of State-designee Condoleezza Rice as "Aunt Jemima," and outgoing Secretary of State Colin Powell as "Uncle Tom," last week.
(NAACP President Kweisi) Mfume said, “Her counsel is respected and valued in her field and in the upper echelons of her political party.” Moreover, “Rice, a PhD and former Stanford University Provost, is an example of how far hard work, education and determination can take one to new heights,” said Mfume.He went on to say that “attacks on Rice by the radio host and political cartoonists who use stereotypes and racial caricatures are just as bad as those who hide under sheets and burn crosses. This is something the NAACP has fought against for more than 95 years and something we will continue to oppose.”
It took long enough.
On the other side of the coin, Sylvester continues to have his supporters, and those in the People's Republic of Madison who look down on blacks who dare to think outside the box, and who dare to leave the socio-political plantation that they'd prefer that all blacks stay on.
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Is this the same race quota NAACP that I knew. "...example of how far hard work, education and determation". What, no repatriation, no affirmative action, judging by the content of the character, and not by the color of the skin?
Posted by: BigFire at November 23, 2004 10:54 AM (S6QRd)
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We all should be offended when a stereotypical term is tossed at anyone much more when the target is an example of an American success. We all should agree that racial quotas are wrong for everyone, yet affirmative action DID play a very big part in access to the American system for blacks, women, etc. The mistake that was made is the reliance on that programme as a way to advance, just like a business that is given economical incentives such as tax breaks or grants. If the existence of the programme is necessary for the continued success than the programme is a failure. The same planning should be applied when the goal is true equality. The step that the supposed national black leadership failed to make in the 70's 80's and 90's is to require a high level of education of the masses. The correlation to higher drop-out rates can often be traced back to primary education. If educational excellence is not goal it will be rarely achieved. The day the NAACP challenges the NEA and parents for solutions to the poor state of education, I will find great pleasure in paying dues to the organisation. The "No Child Left Behind" Legislation's requirements should be the minimal that each community looks to attain. The nature of the causes of equality (the purposed intent of the NAACP) should be neither Republican nor Democratic, but to find solutions. The wasted time on saving the little-success programmes of affirmative action does nothing to help the masses of under-educated American youth, black, brown, or white, while the rest of the world's nations eagerly send their best and brightest to America to succeed. Every section of America has an interest in the success of the others. As the US Olympic MenÂ’s Basketball team has proven, hard work triumphs all else, while the lack of it is an invitation of defeat.
Posted by: G. Miller at November 24, 2004 05:45 AM (eriZf)
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On a similar note, Project 21's accusations against, "...liberal blacks and others of racism after President Bush's nomination of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice for secretary of state," was
mentioned in today's Washington TIMES.
Posted by: LCVRWC at November 24, 2004 06:28 AM (L3qPK)
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The NAACP was clearly risking irrelevancy if it had continued to be silent on this matter.
I'm sure they will point this statement out to the IRS, showing they are truly bipartisan. LOL.
Posted by: Neo at November 27, 2004 12:41 PM (uQU0D)
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Jesus tap-dancing Christmas! The NAACP came out and defended Rice? That must have taken some guts; they probably had to focus-group it for a week. I guess the fact that she was never going to kiss Mfume's or Bond's rear end finally got through. So they've decided to buy some influence and access, eh?
I guess they figured that remaining silent while Rice got slimed by the white liberals wasn't such a smart idea after all.
Be Seeing You,
Chris
Posted by: Section9 at November 29, 2004 05:14 PM (h+ILp)
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funny how liberals are all about minorities, multi-culturalism, political-correctness,screaming "You are Racist!",but once there is an educated, smart black woman in congress, they just go apeshit. Yeah, they would prefer her to be in line with 5 kids and a welfare check. Sickening. I guess the idea of a black woman who speaks 4 languages, is good in figure skating, piano playing, and working with her brains just is not appealing to the weakminded ones. They can just FOAD.
Posted by: tasha at December 05, 2004 06:49 PM (ZhvMb)
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Clueless Artest refuses to apologize

A semi-intelligible Ron Artest appeared on NBC's
Today Show this morning, and demonstrated that he
clearly has no clue of the magnitude of his wrong-doing. To hear him tell it during the interview with Matt Lauer, he didn't do anything wrong.
Artest then boasted of the fact that "I never harmed anyone." Makes you wonder what he was trying to do when he was throwing haymakers at fans in the stands?Asked to explain why he went into the stands, Artest statede: "I was frustrated. The tape speaks for itself."
He continued, describing the situation when he was lying on a table at courtside and was hit by a cup of beer: "It was just like 'wow, a cup and a beer,' it almost hit my eye. It was like 'wow.'"
Lauer: "Did it pop into your mind that 'I've crossed a line'?"
Revealing the extent of his self-delusion, Artest replied:
"I think I'm pretty disciplined. You can answer the questions from the tape."
Artest did not apologize, and spent the latter part of the interview trying to hype his upcoming rap CD, claiming that he hoped the girls (the group Allure, who's CD he's producing) aren't hurt by this.
Artest insists that the suspension levied by NBA Commissioner David Stern was too harsh, and says the he hopes to be back by playoff time -- as if the Pacers now have anything beyond a snowball's chance in hell of making the playoffs in the first place.
He claims that once he comes back that he can "help the League improve its image."
Don't mind the cynical chuckle from me. After all, Artest only has been suspended from games every year for the period he's been in the League due to his volatility. Never mind that he was actually benched 12 games in high school due to his volatility.
It's painfully obvious that this is a man with major impulse control issues. And sadly it's painfully obvious to everyone except Ron Artest.
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Since Artest believe his rap career is more important than his NBA one, and the basketbrawl only earn him more credibility amounst his CD's likely audience, why should he be sorry? Oh, the $3.5 million does hurt, but the record sale should compensate a bit for that. Since he had wanted to take a month off to promote the record, this suspension should help.
Posted by: BigFire at November 23, 2004 09:12 AM (S6QRd)
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I was thinking a 50-75 game suspension would suffice........now the punk should just a year, straight up, for QB's Finest.
Yet another of the great men that Queenbridge projects has produced - one of THE top low-income democrat breeding plantations.
Oh, we got welfare reform now?? No more extra cash for the more kids you have...........that's right - my bad. Next option: abortion. Thank you, liberals.
Posted by: Beau at November 23, 2004 10:27 AM (GpmN8)
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Ah, I'm soooo proud to be a St. John's (Law School only) alum.
So proud.
Posted by: Tony Iovino at November 23, 2004 01:11 PM (sQDP2)
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BigFire's got it. The effect on Artest is essentially nill.
Posted by: Mike H. at November 23, 2004 09:28 PM (ib/bd)
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He claims that once he comes back that he can "help the League improve its image."
haahahahahahahah nuts nuts nuts
Posted by: MJ at November 25, 2004 06:21 AM (hs73+)
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Kenneth to step down from CBS Evening News

Dan "What's the Frequency Kenneth" Rather
will be stepping down from the anchor chair of the
CBS Evening News in March, 24 years after assuming the role of anchor and managing editor from Walter Cronkite.
Rather's been under major fire after several reports critical of President Bush, the truth and veracity of which were questionable at best.
"I have been lucky and blessed over these years to have what is, to me, the best job in the world and to have it at CBS News. Along the way, I've had the honor of working with some of the most talented, dedicated professionals in the world, and I'm appreciative of the opportunity to continue doing so in the years ahead," Rather said in a statement.
Kenneth didn't mention the "Rathergate" scandal in his statement, though critics will most likely point to that as a part of the reason for the announcement.
He'll continue as a correspondent to 60 Minutes, and will likely contribute other reports to the network. There's been rampant speculation as late as yesterday that Rather might anchor an 8P ET newscast for CNN, but no word one way or the other on that front (even though former Rather-boss Jonathan Klein is taking over as head honcho for CNN's domestic newsroom).
CBS has not named a successor to Rather, but most pundits point toward Chief White House Correspondent John Roberts as the most likely candidate for the center seat.
Rather's departure comes on the heels of next week's retirement of long-time NBC anchor Tom Brokaw, who will be replaced in the anchor chair on the NBC Nightly News by Brian Williams.
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November 22, 2004
Wisconsin radio shlock jock Sylvester gives "apology" & insults further

Madison, WI radio personality John Sylvester gave a half-assed "apology" for racially insulting Secretary of State-designee Condoleezza Rice in a
letter to newspapers this morning.
I'm concerned that I have offended many African-Americans by using a crass term to describe an incompetent, dishonest political appointee of the Bush administration. I apologize. I know the term "Aunt Jemima" is not complimentary to African-American women who have worked so hard and yet receive so little from our great country.I will not, however, apologize for pointing out that while Rice has clearly enjoyed the American dream, she has allowed herself to be used as a black trophy by an administration that is working hard to deny that dream to other African-American women.
Rice has had a very successful career in academia, but unfortunately she has clearly forgotten that many African-Americans are still paying the price for a country that promoted years of segregation, oppression and discrimination.
This radio hack thinks that by giving a back-handed slap at Rice, and by extension black conservatives across the nation, that he can attone for his offensive behavior.
I would dare say that it doesn't. If anything, it adds fuel to the fire.
Sylvester presumes to think for black America, and feeds into the misconception that black America is an ideological and intellectual monolith that can be led around by a would-be white "good guy" who's come to save the day from the "eeevil" conservatives.
He figures he can get away with insulting black conservatives, because in his pitiful little mind, blacks who happen to be conservative "aren't really black after all."
Pathetic. Simply pathetic.
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What an asshole. Sorry for using profanity like that on your blog, but this guy deserves no less.
"I will not, however, apologize for pointing out that while Rice has clearly enjoyed the American dream,"
Yes, especially when she was growing up in Alabama in the 60's as an African American, I'm sure she truly enjoyed the American dream.
Someone should explain to this idiot that when you are in a hole, it behooves one to stop digging.
Posted by: Tman at November 23, 2004 05:30 AM (Fho+X)
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I usually respond to those who are PC with I am always biased and bigoted, the difference between mine and yours is they are only mine not yours. Everyone has biases. Call them choices or whatever. If one cannot chose what he likes and dislikes using the knowledge gained in his lifetime he does not live in a free country. That said it is entirely within the right of the legislatures of the various political spaces to enact laws to govern trade and commercial enterprises, they cannot though govern thought.
My personal bias is against Ignorance......... when it is the result of bias.........
whhjr
Posted by: whhjr at November 24, 2004 03:24 PM (Ke5Tl)
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arh...just take a look at the guy. I guess it was a traumatic childhood, or something...
Posted by: tasha at December 05, 2004 06:52 PM (ZhvMb)
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Julian McMahon is Doctor Doom!

As I see the progress on 20th Century Fox's adaptation of Marvel's
Fantastic Four (opening July 4, 2005), I continue to become more and more impressed.
Looking at this shot of Nip/Tuck's Julian McMahon as Victor Von Doom in full costume and makeup for the upcoming summer blockbuster, I can safely say THEY GOT IT RIGHT!
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Please that is not Dr. Dooms mask.
Whats with all the soft curves.
Posted by: Scott at November 22, 2004 12:17 PM (o2TWn)
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It's official; the Washington Nationals will begin playing baseball this season

Major League Baseball announced that upon their move to the Nation's Capitol, the Montreal Expos will become the Washington Nationals. This is a return to the original name of the Washington baseball team, which was known as the Nationals from 1901 to 1956. "Senators," the more widely known name, was an informal name for the earlier team, and the offical name of the second chapter of Washington's baseball history, from 1960 to 1971.
The team's primary logo is shown above, but caps will be similar to those of the old Washington Senators, which last played at DC's RFK Stadium in 1971.
The Expos will play at RFK until a new stadium is built in Southwest Washington, near the Navy Yard on the Anacostia River.
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What can I say... Montréal's loss - DC's gain.
I'll miss the old rivalries between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Expos - it has always been a dream to see the World Series played between these 2 teams. Sadly, not anymore.
Enjoy.
Good blog, BTW. Keep it up, eh?
Your Inquisitive Neighbour to the Norff, blah, blah, blah...
Posted by: Jacques Vader at November 22, 2004 06:37 PM (4hquJ)
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Here is hoping for artificial turf in that new stadium.
Posted by: hchutch at November 23, 2004 06:08 AM (SIlfx)
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The fact the Mayor Williams let stupid statehood politics interfere with naming the team the Senators was shameful.
That being said, "The Nationals" has a ring to it. Love that logo!
Posted by: Steven J. Kelso Sr. at November 24, 2004 07:28 PM (U4SDZ)
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Yes! I have always missed the Washington team. It will be great to have that city back in the fold.
Posted by: BobG at November 28, 2004 01:42 PM (Dfc3M)
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RE: Here is hoping for artificial turf in that new stadium.
Nah! Not here in ideal grass growing country. Are you nuts?
James
Posted by: James at January 04, 2005 10:18 AM (o+YpH)
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Hey! Check out our new fan site http://www.wnationals.com We'd love for you to give your input and be a part of the team.
Paul
Posted by: Paul at March 27, 2005 05:26 PM (dJ2bi)
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Shameless, gratituitous back-patting department
The
2004 Weblog Awards are undergoing nominations at this point -- you can nominate your favorite weblog (like me, nudge-nudge, wink-wink, hint-hint) for one or more categories.
According to Kevin Aylward from Wizbang, voting for the nominees should commence on December 1, 2004.
As I said in the title, I'm being shameless, so I'd love to be nominated and voted for (nudge-nudge, nod-nod, wink-wink) in one or more categories.
(So, to coin an old Chicago voting phrase, vote early and vote often!)
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November 21, 2004
Basketbrawl fallout continues with more suspensions

The suspensions have been lined up like dominos; Indiana's Artest gets to sit out the remainder of the season sans pay, Jackson is benched for 30 games, O'Neal for 25. Detroit's Ben Wallace is suspended for 6 games, while Anthony Johnson is out for 5, and Eldon Campbell, Chauncey Billups, Derrick Coleman and Reggie Miller each getting docked a game for leaving the bench during an on-court altercation.
Of course, the players' union is calling the punishments excessive, and is promising an appeal as early as tomorrow.
NBA Commissioner David Stern says that the League has to demonstrate that they are serious about discipline in matters like these.
"We have to make the point that there are boundaries in our games," Stern said. "One of our boundaries, that have always been immutable, is the boundary that separate the fans from the court. Players cannot lose control and move into the stands."
Artest claims that he isn't being treated fairly, given the circumstances.
"I respect David Stern, but I don't think that he has been fair with me in this situation," Artest said in a statement released by the players union in which he also expressed his regrets."The NBA has singled out Jermaine O'Neal in an arbitrary and capricious way," agent Arn Tellem said, faulting the NBA for not considering the players' fear for their own safety.
Pacers co-owner Herb Simon issued a statement saying "We believe that there was a rush to judgment and not enough opportunity for all sides to be heard. We will vigorously support our players in any available appeal process.
Indiana fans and writers alike came to Artest and the Pacers' defense over the weekend, but they all fail to realize that if incidents like this are allowed to stand without repercussions for all involved -- players and fans alike -- that the NBA's already tarnished image will slide into the toilet for good.
The fans were wrong; they were no better than drunken fans at a NASCAR event or in the bleachers at Wrigley Field or Fenway Park. But the players are supposed to be professionals. They have a responsibility to be mature enough to step away from situations like that, not to wade into the middle of them like an out of control bull in a china shop.
Oakland County, MI police are expected to have something to say in the matter as the week progresses, and criminal charges against the fans involved in the fracas are expected. It is less clear as to whether charges will be levied against the players involved.
The wheels of justice continue to slowly grind forward.
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Yeah, not only are these players suspended, but the lawsuits are gonna start to fly soon, especially since now it seems that Artest might have hit the wrong fan.
Posted by: Stone at November 22, 2004 07:10 AM (FWis6)
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November 20, 2004
The wheels of NBA justice begin to turn for last night's basketbrawl

For their parts in the ugly brawl that marked the end of last night's Pacers-Pistons matchup, Detroit's Ben Wallace, along with Indiana's Ron Artest, Stephen Jackson & Jermaine O'Neal have been
"suspended indefinitely" by the NBA.
...a fight with fans that commissioner David Stern called "shocking, repulsive and inexcusable - a humiliation for everyone associated with the NBA."League officials and police were examining videotapes of Friday night's melee and interviewing witnesses. The NBA issued a statement saying it was reviewing rules and security procedures "so that fans can continue to attend our games unthreatened by events such as the ones that occurred last night."
Artest, O'Neal and Jackson - who all threw punches at spectators in the stands or on the court at the end of the nationally televised Pacers-Pistons game - were to begin serving their suspensions Saturday night, when Indiana hosted Orlando.
Wallace's suspension will start at home Sunday night against Charlotte, the next game for the reigning NBA champion Pistons.
The exact length of the four players' bans could be announced as early as Sunday.
Wallace claims that he didn't start the fight, but that he was just "playing the game."
Quiet as it's kept, he's right. His team was losing, and Wallace was going up for a layup. Artest (already a pegged for a loose cannon with little business in the League) hit Wallace from behind in a hard, blatant foul that should have earned him an instant technical foul.
Wallace retaliated (which arguably, he shouldn't have done) by shoving Artest, and that started the on-the-floor fight that got settled after a few minutes.
Artest then laid down flat on his back in the middle of the scorers table. That should have gotten Artest another foul, if not an outright ejection, but things were about to get much, much worse.
Artest took a full cup of beverage in the face from a fan. And instead of being the professional that he's supposed to be and removing himself from the situation, he charged into the stands going after who he thought was the drink thrower. And he took a swing at the wrong fan!
Then, unbelievably, O'Neal & Jackson took off into the stands along with Artest, swinging at fans along the way!
As far as I'm concerned, Artest's NBA career should be over. Period. If I were commissioner, O'Neal and Jackson would be forced to sit out the season. All would be fined in addition to the suspensions and expulsions.
But I'm not commissioner. David "Show me the money" Stern is. So don't hold your breath.
The League may give the length of the suspensions as early as tomorrow, as the NBA tries to put this sorry chapter behind them.
Local police were reviewing ESPN's game footage to determine if criminal charges would be brought against anyone, fan or player. I expect to hear something from the local authorities on Monday or Tuesday.
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The only thing that any of those guys respond to is the Bottom Line. So, I say take it out of their hides. Fire 'em and don't pay 'em a dime. Isn't there any sort of clause in their contracts that will permit this?
And then find the jerk who threw the beer at Artest and sue him into a hole so deep his grandchildren will be broke.
Oh, and I agree with your cynical view of Stern. They need to find someone to run things who's got some moral authority. Some street creds in the proper sense.
Posted by: Toby Petzold at November 20, 2004 04:31 PM (3UNGF)
2
I think the whole thing was funny. From Artest napping on the scoring table, to his punching the wrong fan, to the fan that ran on the court and got hit twice. That's classic comedy - it reminded me of the movie Slapshot when the Hanson brothers were in the stands looking for the fan that threw his keys and hitting everybody but him.
Posted by: Keith at November 20, 2004 07:46 PM (DrZwK)
3
Personally, I don't think it's an issue of whether these are NBA players, who did what and hit who, etc, but of the mostly missed fact in this whole thing: an idiot threw a beer in the guy's face! Fan, professional, or any of that other jazz the guy deserves a smack in the face. Given, Artest was a little out of line, but this man is a professional athlete, not a superhuman. About 1/10000 people could say they honestly wouldn't try and take a swing at a guy who throws a damned beer in their face after a fight when they're trying to calm themselves down and control their anger. You may as well smack a sleeping tiger in the ass till it wakes up, and expect not to get bitten. While Artest and teammates may have been out of line, the fact of the matter is the dumbass deserved to get his face kicked in. These guys are professionals, but shouldn't be treated differently because of it. Plain and simple, they're just people, very big, muscular people, and if someone's drunk and stupid enough to instigate one of them, then you can expect them to try and beat the crap out of the guy. Later,
-Nick
Posted by: Nick at May 08, 2005 01:53 PM (gi6HD)
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Timeline of the NBA's "Big Brawl" last night

Jackie Chan was nowhere to be found, but finally, we have found a fully sorted-out timeline of last night's game-ending brawl between the Pistons, the Pacers and the fans at The Palace of Auburn Hills.
The brawl began with 45.9 ticks on the clock as Indiana's Ron Artest blatantly fouled Detroit's Ben Wallace hard as Wallace was going up for a layup. Indiana was ahead 97-82. Or in other words, there was no way Detroit could even consider winning.
The melee escalated from there.
- Wallace wheels around and delivers a hard, two-handed shove to Artest's chin, which leads to pushing and shoving with several players near midcourt.
- Artest lies on the scorer's table with his hands behind his head, looking relaxed. Wallace tries to get at Artest, but is held back by teammates and coaches.
- As players shout at each other, Wallace throws a wristband toward Artest, who stands up briefly before lying back down on the scorer's table.
- An unidentified fan near midcourt hits Artest in the face with a cup filled with ice and a beverage.
- Artest storms into the stands and attacks a fan, who he thinks hurled the cup at him.
- Indiana's Stephen Jackson joins his teammate in the seats and starts throwing punches.
- David Harrison, Eddie Gill and Fred Jones of the Pacers, Detroit's Rasheed Wallace and former Piston Rick Mahorn try to break up the fight between Pacers and fans, who land their share of punches.
- Back on the court near Indiana's bench, Artest punches a fan wearing a Pistons jersey who walked toward him. After another fan tries to tackle Artest and as he tries to stand up, Jermaine O'Neal runs toward him and lands a vicious right hand on his face.
- Pacers players and coaches leave the floor and are showered with beer, popcorn and assorted debris, including a folding chair.
- Indiana's Jamaal Tinsley tries to go back on the court, holding a metal dust pan over his head before he is turned back to the locker room.
Pistons coach Larry Brown took the mike and attempted to quell the disturbance, but tossed the mike down in disgust after it became obvious that the fans were in no mood to be placated.
Players from both teams left the arena without commenting to the press, but both coaches gave their two cents about the ugly incident, both calling it "unbelievable."
UPDATE: Here's a video of the brawl, courtesy of my blog-brother Avery Toley.
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here.
great blog
cheers
michael
Posted by: mikey at November 20, 2004 04:31 PM (7aG5o)
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hahahahahha hope you all enjoyed watching my powerful punch hit that mofo's face.
Posted by: J.O. at November 25, 2004 06:33 AM (emQbG)
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November 19, 2004
Someone shoot the designer. Please.

That is the new Jetta?
Just damn. It's just plain ugly.
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Cars seem to go through design phases together. This phase seems to be the loaf-of-bread-on-a-skateboard phase, Prius and Ford Focus are other examples.
Not that 1950s tail fins or the 1990s wedge cars that all looked like they were going downhill were things of beauty even in their day.
Mostly, you (and me!) are just getting too old to appreciate the modern stuff. I'll bet the music is too loud, too.
Posted by: Fred Boness at November 19, 2004 07:55 PM (Ophlv)
2
Don't shoot the designer, shoot the Suits. From personal experience I can tell you that the marketing/exec muckety-mucks with absolutely no design sense nor training tell the designers what to do. Further, committee design usually results in a camel (a horse designed by committee).
I've often suggested that designers show up at staff meetings with new strategy and marketing plans, designers being arguably better at sensing trends, and see how that goes over.
When pigs fly. In the meantime place the blame where it belongs.
Posted by: Avik at November 20, 2004 05:41 AM (Ai1rC)
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It looks like one of those Toyota Echos...I remember some fast-food burger place had a pretty funy commercial where a guy was driving a car named the Speck (McDoodle's, I think). That's what this thing looks like. I've often wondered if a company couldn't make a killing these days by doing what the VW folks did for years...pick a design and stick with it for years--decades, even. The Beetle had slight changes over the years, but parts were easy to find and they weren't a pain in the ass to work on.
Doing that, I'd think they'd save zillions in rettoling costs. I read somewhere that it costs upwards of $20 million just to design a single cup holder for one of today's models. Amazing.
Posted by: skh at November 20, 2004 07:33 AM (0xwoN)
Posted by: Digger at November 20, 2004 05:16 PM (FYEx6)
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I don't like foreign cars, but back in the day, the Jetta was hot! Ugh...
Posted by: Steven J. Kelso Sr. at November 24, 2004 07:24 PM (U4SDZ)
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I have a 2004 1.8 Turbo that is a great car. The new Jetta looks like a freakin Honda. I don't like the Passat's either. I may be out of the VW business. I've owned 4, 2 Jettas a Passat and an old Fox. All were excelent cars with the distinctive German look and feel. This new car is simply crap.
Posted by: dman1310 at March 28, 2005 11:23 AM (03+cg)
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i have to agree with everyone the new jetta looks so darn ugly i hated the boxie style before the 99-04 years then started loving the jetta when they changed the look but now the new one just shot them in the foot i ask everyone who wants a jetta please wait BOY COTT THE NEW JETTA show how really mad we are with vw then they will change their mind and make something better next time
Posted by: Sarah at June 09, 2005 11:33 AM (+RoHO)
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P21: Black Activists Condemn Anti-Rice Hate Speech
Project 21 released a press release this afternoon on the constant and continuous bashing of Dr. Rice -- I'm quoted in the piece.
Black Activists Condemn Anti-Rice Hate SpeechCivil rights Leaders Criticized for Ignoring Attacks on Conservative Minorities
For Release: November 19, 2004
Contact: David Almasi at 202/371-1400 x106 or Project21@nationalcenter.org
President Bush's nomination of Condoleezza Rice as secretary of state as resulted in harsh liberal criticism that members of the black leadership network Project 21 consider racist.
Along with their condemnations of offensive commentators and cartoonists, Project 21 members also are critical of self-professed civil rights leaders who are remaining silent on current and previous racial attacks on black Bush Administration officials.
Over the past few months, and peaking this week with her appointment, cartoonists have been using Dr. Rice's race as a point of ridicule. Demeaning political cartoons by Pat Oliphant and Jeff Danziger accentuate Dr. Rice's black features and feature her speaking in rural southern dialect. Garry Trudeau called her "Brown Sugar" in his "Doonesbury" comic strip. Earlier this year, cartoonist Ted Rall questioned Dr. Rice's race in a comic suggesting she was President Bush's "house nigga" and needed "racial re-education." Universal Press Syndicate distributes Oliphant, Trudeau and Rall. The New York Times distributes Danziger.
On November 17, radio host John "Sly" Sylvester called Dr. Rice "Aunt Jemima" and secretary of state Colin Powell "Uncle Tom" on his WTDY (Madison, Wisconsin) radio show. Sylvester, who also is the station's program director, is refusing to apologize, but has said, "I will apologize to Aunt Jemima." The station's owner, the Mid-West Broadcast Group, is declining to discipline him.
In late October, a conservative host at WISN in nearby Milwaukee was suspended for a week for calling an illegal Mexican immigrant a "wetback."
While some local leaders have condemned Sylvester's comments, the Madison chapter of the NAACP has so far declined to make a statement. Project 21 asked the NAACP's national leadership to condemn Rall's racist cartoon in July, but no action was taken. Jesse Jackson and the National Association of Black Journalists were also contacted at the time. They took no action.
"To hear the leftists tell it, conservative blacks have become the new 'trash class' of American society," said Project 21 member Michael King. "And with the continued cricket-filled silence from the professional civil rights crowd, the Jesse Jacksons and Al Sharptons give tacit permission and acceptance of such language and tactics."
King's comments are echoed by Project 21 member Mychal Massie: "The recent racist attacks and mimicry of Condoleezza Rice are infuriating and despicable. Even more insufferable is the deafening silence of the elite liberals. I believe their silence is proof positive of their personal racist attitudes. Obviously condemning racist attacks against a man and woman who are conservative and black is not a worthy undertaking for them."
Project 21, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization, has been a leading voice in the black community since 1992. For more information, contact David Almasi at (202) 371-1400 x106, e-mail Project21@nationalcenter.org or visit Project 21's website at http://www.project21.org/P21Index.html.
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Check out bookerista blog.
Looks like the NAACP and Urban League have spoken out.
Posted by: DarkStar at November 20, 2004 08:24 AM (BbmiU)
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Psst! Hey buddy! Want a free Sirius® satellite radio?

And it ain't hot either!
Howard Stern (Mike spits on sidewalk) is giving away free Sirius satellite radio systems with a committment to a one year contract (of course you've gotta pay to get the thing installed, too). It comes out to a $150 value, overall.
Not that everyone is a Stern fanatic (actually, I can't stand the guy), but Sirius has all sorts of programming including each and every NFL play-by-play broadcast in the League.
Here's what ya gotta do:
- Go to this site.
- Click the "Redeem Your Certificate" button.
- If it's not already filled in, enter "263" in the "promo code" box.
- Click "Add To Cart" next to the Audiovox radio (that's the only model available for the promotion)
- Enter your e-mail address as the "Certificate Number" on the next screen
- Select your accessories
- Purchase your subscription
And it's all yours.
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Madison, WI radio host continues racially offensive remarks against Rice

John Sylvester, who is known on the air as "Sly,"
continued an on-the-air tirade against Secretary of State-designee Condoleezza Rice on WTDY-AM Madison, WI yesterday. Sylvester referred to Rice as "Aunt Jemima," and compounded his verbal assault by calling departing Secretary of State Colin Powell "Uncle Tom."
Sylvester claims that his black listeners "gave him permission" to use those disparaging terms about the duo, whom he insists are "letting themselves be used" by conservatives -- as if they don't have an original thought capable of being conserative.
Sly, the on-air name for John Sylvester, told WTDY-AM (1670) morning show listeners that Rice, who is black, bought her way into the White House with obedience to President Bush."I'm not apologizing for what I said," Sylvester said Thursday in an interview. "I stand by it.
"I was aiming that directly at a black person that is letting himself (and herself) be used by an administration that has been extremely hostile to minorities," he said.
"Being subservient and being a black role model are two different things. I think (Rice) has not only been bad for the country and for national security, but I think she's been a bad black role model.
"I don't think being subservient to white people and not blowing the whistle on their misdoings is a good role model at all."
The "soul patrol" continues its "acceptance-by-silence" rule over Sylvester's bleatings; that "rule" appears to be par for the course for all of the racially-tainted criticism of black conservatives in general, and Rice in particular of late.
Political cartoonists continue to lampoon Rice in bigoted cartoons across the nation, yet if any conservative-leaning commentator, writer, columnist, cartoonist, talk show host or anyone else for that matter, even strayed near that path, he/she'd be run out of the nation on a rail. And that goes the same for conservative blacks as well as whites, especially as noted by the amount of hate mail I've entertained behind my past criticisms of Jesse Jackson in print, online and in the broadcast media.
The double-standard is alive and well in black America, and I'm sorry to say that there appears to be no end to it in sight.
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Vent here:
WTDY's Studio Lines (during local programming only):
(877) 867-1670 Toll Free
(60

321-1670
*123 on your US Cellular mobile phone
WTDY's mailing address:
WTDY
P.O. Box 2058
Madison, WI 53701
Business Office: (60

273-1000
Fax Line: (60

271-8182
WTDY's Management:
General Manager: Tom Walker
Operations Manager/Program Director: John Sylvester
Promotions Director: Bonnie Oleson
Posted by: A Redder State of Mind at November 19, 2004 09:48 AM (NwpZc)
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Weren't some Democrats upset over the jokes about Jesse Jackson and Rosa Parks in the movie Barber Shop? Those weren't even racists ones. It seems their sense of humor (and racial sensitivity) depends on the target. If it's conservative blacks, anything goes. If it's liberal blacks, better watch out.
Posted by: Lawrence at November 19, 2004 05:14 PM (E/V1e)
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Why does Sly have to even address Condi's skin color? Why is that even brought into the debate in the first place? Could it be that there's actually racism on the left? Let God be the judge of that, but thank God we need not take seriously the lefts dribble anymore. Long live the GOP.
Posted by: Michael Gallaugher at November 21, 2004 07:13 PM (iB1ES)
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Mr. Slyvester,
I do not know what Black people who you deem gave you permission to slander the good names of Dr. Rice and Mr. Powell, but I do take exception to your irresponsible behavior. As an African American man, I have encountered many white people on the left that went out of their way to inform me that they have black friends. My answer to them has always been "so what". What difference does it make whether you have black friends or not. That does not make you a non racist. What makes you a racist is that you go out of your way to malign people of other races (even if you have permission to engage in such reprehensible behaviors). Mr. Slyvester, I can understand if you do not agree with the political views of Dr. Rice, but I do believe that you have a responsibility to the greater community, therefore I cannot accept your outright racism. Thankyou for listening and good day.
Posted by: Russell H. Pressley at November 22, 2004 04:01 PM (eEs44)
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I completely agree with John (Sly) Sylvester's remarks about Condoleeza Rice. As an advisor, she has never given Bush a single bit of advice; she has only done what she thought he wanted. What a sycophant! How somebody who is supposed to be smart could only want to serve Bush (who is too dumb to even have a conscience) instead of the country at large, as she is suppposed to, is beyond me. But, there is no doubt that she was accurately described by Sly. So Sly, hell no, don't apologize to anybody about this.
Posted by: brant watson at November 22, 2004 05:36 PM (apVBD)
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Just saw John Sylvester on Hannity and Colmes. What a prick! You are a disgrace. I'm glad both Hannity and Colmes didn't allow you to just shoot your mouth off. A pathetic piece of excrement like you needs to be scrapped off your boot just like dog shit!
Posted by: Charles Lee at November 23, 2004 04:44 PM (h3UHO)
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The fact that rice is black makes no difference to me. What does make a differenc is the she is named in a lawsuit along with Bush, Cheney, and all the rest for having forknowledge of the World Trade Center attacts. See 'Transcript: Alex Jones Interviews Stanley Hilton' on PrisonPlanet.com. This is a subject that should be explored more on the mainline media.
Posted by: mike at January 07, 2005 05:24 PM (KEFza)
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WashingtonPost.com finally drops Ted Rall
Ted Rall has finally been given the axe from the
Washington Post's web site.
Rall, whose cartoons give new meaning to the term "bedwetting liberal," has been under fire off and on since insulting former Arizona Cardinals player Pat Tillman, after his death with in combat in Afghanistan.
Rall's infantile scrawlings have included racially-tinged etchings against National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, and most recently (and what got him yanked from the Post) a cartoon that showed a drooling mentally ill student.
Rall said he thinks the site dropped his work because of a Nov. 4 cartoon he did showing a drooling, mentally handicapped student taking over a classroom. "The idea was to draw an analogy to the electorate -- in essence, the idiots are now running the country," he told E&P."That cartoon certainly drew a significant amount of negative comment from our users," said WashingtonPost.com Executive Editor Doug Feaver when contacted by E&P. But he added that the decision to drop Rall was a "cumulative" one that had been building for a while.
"Ted Rall does very interesting work," Feaver said. "Some of it is not funny to an awful lot of people. We decided at the end of the day that it just did not fit the tone we wanted at WashingtonPost.com."
Rall was dropped effective Nov. 15, according to Feaver.
The Post received some complaints from readers criticizing the decision to drop Rall.
Rall himself criticized the site for the decision, saying that it was only over one "boneheaded drawing."
I, for one, won't be lamenting the Post's decision, but I'm sure there are plenty of other Kool-Aid drinkers who will.
If you've just GOTTA see the 'toon that got him finally yanked, it's below the fold.
more...
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I was going back through the archives for the Powell-Rice bashing cartoon called Uncle Tom's Cabin when I realized that i was wasting my time. Why dig through that crap when it's nice and sunny out?
Posted by: Laurence Simon at November 19, 2004 07:37 AM (uBCxH)
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Some of us "working stiffs" are still chained to the keyboard.
Posted by: Michael at November 19, 2004 09:26 AM (CO/Uo)
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Well, that The Washington Post's loss then, isn't it?
Rall is easily one of the best cartoonists working (along with Tom Tomorrow, Matt Davies, Tom Toles, Jeff Danziger, Pat Oliphant, etc.)
Since Ted's honesty tends to grate with some people, I can understand how the Washington Post would drop him since the Post has a really uncomfortable relationship with honesty.
The Post prefers instead to tow the line for the Bush Administration - the lyingest most criminal administration in history.
Posted by: Jack Frost at November 19, 2004 02:33 PM (i8ptR)
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Check out my post on that....Very politically incorrect....Some things don't need to be joked about....PERIOD....You'd be amazed how simple YOU could become a vegetable by getting smacked in the right spot.....Think of THAT next time you decide to give a handicapped person a hard time...
Posted by: CrzyDJM at November 19, 2004 04:51 PM (76tG3)
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Jack Frost, where will you be appearing next for your comedy act? Name one person in Bush's administration that has been charged with a crime. Just one. Now review the dozens of asshats from Clinton's administration that were not only charged, but CONVICTED, of crimes. It figures that facts don't matter to a liberal jackass, though.
The fact that you think Rall's simplistic scribbling qualify him as one of the best carttonists working today also says something about your appreciation of political satire and veracity. You leftards embrace anybody who is an advocate of making the foundations of our country crumble. I've got news for you, Bubba, the country voted against the liberal agenda. Quit your whining and live with it.
Posted by: skh at November 20, 2004 07:39 AM (0xwoN)
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'Name one person in Bush's administration that has been charged with a crime. Just one.'
Look, just because the Congress is too cowed to actually bring up charges doesn't mean these guys aren't criminal.
Check it out: There's this war going on over in a country called Iraq (you may have heard about it). The administration told us several reasons that that country was an imminent threat.
We were told that they had 'WMD' and could attack at any minute - after long searches and many taxpayer dollars, every search has come up empty. We we're told we were 'liberating' the country for Iraqis - but after we've killed civilians in the thousands, that doesn't seem to be the case.
You see, the Bush administration LIED to get us to go to Iraq causing a war that has needlessly cost the lives of over 1,100 of our soldiers and over 100,000 Iraqis. This illegal, businessman's war of first resort is a WAR CRIME, and the Bush administration should be held accountable.
Their insistance that the Geneva Conventions are antiquated and quaint notwithstanding.
'Now review the dozens of asshats from Clinton's administration that were not only charged, but CONVICTED, of crimes.'
I don't like the Clinton administration, either, but whatever they were convicted of none of it rises to the level of an illegal, businessman's war of first resort.
And besides, couldn't you get Clinton on something better than a blowjob? With all the actual criminal things Clinton was involved in, that was the best you could do?
A hollow victory, my friend.
'It figures that facts don't matter to a liberal jackass, though.'
What's with the name-calling? Why are you so hostile?
'You leftards embrace anybody who is an advocate of making the foundations of our country crumble.'
Uh... Ted doesn't make 'the foundations of our country crumble', he points out the hypocrisy of your favorite ideology and it pisses you off.
Your boys in the Bush administration however are managing to make ''the foundations of our country crumble' - take a gander at the Bill of Rights-shredding U.S.A.P.A.T.R.I.O.T. Act sometime (no, I mean, REALLY look at it). Recall their attempts to place a highly descriminatory anti-gay amendment in to our Constitution. Watch them bankrupt the country morally and finacially in an illegal businessman's war of first resort in Iraq.
If you think that Ted's a threat to America, I'd have to wager you have your priorities out-of-whack.
'I've got news for you, Bubba, the country voted against the liberal agenda.'
No it didn't.
Bush stole the 2000 and 2004 elections and everybody knows it. In 2004, there's evidence everywhere and every glitch found so far has been in Bush's favor - EVERY ONE.
So please don't lecture me on your new agenda based on a false presidency.
'Quit your whining and live with it.'
How often have you typed this sentence in the last couple of weeks? I ask because it seems like a knee-jerk reaction to put it at the end.
I wasn't whining at all - in fact my tone is rather cheery. I like how you attack/slander me right off the bat for having a different viewpoint than you - very classy.
I suspect I won't be hearing from you again.
Posted by: Jack Frost at November 21, 2004 08:26 AM (lTEQm)
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November 18, 2004
Troops find Al-Zarqawi hideout with "Al Qaeda" sign out front

US GIs going through the beleagured Iraqi city of Fallujah happened upon what is believed to be a training center for the terrorist group headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi -- the very group that started the latest beheading craze (starting with Nick Berg).
And how did the troops know it was Zarqawi's place? Probably because of the "Al Qaeda" sign out front.
In video footage shot by an embedded CNN crew, soldiers walked through one imposing building with concrete columns with a large sign in Arabic on the wall reading "Al-Qaeda Organiation" and "There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is his messenger."Inside the building, US soldiers found documents, old computers, notebooks, photographs and copies of the Qu'ran.
The footage also showed that flight patterns were found for aircraft, along with plans and instructions for how to shoot them down.
There were also two letters inside the house, one from al-Zarqawi giving instructions to two of his lieutenants in the region. Another sought money and help from the terrorist leader.
Just damn.
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"If your friend invites you over to help take the wheels off of his house...."
Is it just me, or does the new Clinton Presidential Library, from a distance, look for all the world, like an oversized double-wide trailer hanging out over the edge of the Arkansas River?
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It's not just you. Even The Economist noticed.
I say, the architect knew what he was doing.
Posted by: Fausta at November 19, 2004 05:30 AM (SXxna)
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Looks like that to me.
So, does that make it okay for Rush to call Clinton and his wife "poor white trash", again, as he did on Wednesday?
Posted by: DarkStar at November 19, 2004 01:49 PM (cnw1A)
3
Actually, you're right, it really does look like a double-wide...
Posted by: Jack Frost at November 19, 2004 02:36 PM (i8ptR)
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November 17, 2004
Shop smart! Shop S-Mart!

Ready to buy Lands' End clothes, Kenmore appliances and Craftsman tools at your local K-Mart? How 'bout Martha Stewart housewares or Joe Boxer underwear at Sears?
You time will be coming soon.
K-Mart is purchasing Sears in an $11 billion deal that was announced today.
Both chains will still exist, though "a number" of K-Mart locations will be rebranded as Sears stores.
The new company, to be known as Sears Holding Co., will be headquartered in Chicago. This comes as a disappointment to business-watchers here in metro Atlanta, as K-Mart was seriously considering moving their corporate headquarters to Atlanta as recently as this past September.
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Uh, Michael, that $11
billion.
Great. Now K-Mart can bring its marketing genius to the Craftsman empire. Seriously, K-Mart is braindead. Their stores are dumps, their employees are not unlike zombies. This, I think, doesn't bode well for Sears.
Posted by: skh at November 18, 2004 03:59 AM (0xwoN)
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What is being created here is the largest bankruptcy of 2007.
Posted by: Tony Iovino at November 18, 2004 03:28 PM (0eViP)
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Gads. Even after stewing over this all day, I can't think of an upside to all of this. I mean, Craftsman tools will be owned by the same brainstems who were at the controls when K-Mart went from shitty to downright laughable. Mssrs. Sears AND Roebuck must be doing red-line RPMs in their respective tombs. If this deal goes through, I'll pay off my Sears card and never shop in one of their swamps again.
Really, what's the thought process occuring here? "We can't profitably manage the X-thousands of stores that we now have. *ding!* Ooh, how 'bout this!? Let's buy an established retail chain and ruin it, too!" What a crying shame. Sears should be crucified for dereliction of its fiduciary responsibility to its stockholders. Dopes.
Posted by: skh at November 18, 2004 04:09 PM (0xwoN)
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Absolutely GREAT subject line....Coming from a horror movie fanatic, you couldn't have said it any better....He he he he he....."Shop Smart, shop S-Mart!!!!" Beeeeee-yoo-ti-ful.....
Posted by: CrzyDJM at November 19, 2004 12:58 AM (GSdIn)
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They're also doing another remake of the Evil Dead, with Bill Campbell as the house-ware clerk from S-Mart, so this is yet another sign of end-time.
Posted by: BigFire at November 19, 2004 01:01 AM (6pock)
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LOL @ the Army or Darkness/Evil Dead reference.
Posted by: Jeff at November 19, 2004 06:19 PM (nV5Rk)
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Thats great.. i just made a comment last night aobut K-mart becomming S-Mart... wonderful humor
Posted by: Babette at December 05, 2004 11:01 AM (6krEN)
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Leftists figure it's fair game to insult Rice's race -- after all, she's "only a conservative"
Leftist columnists and cartoonists have opened up with both barrels on Secretary of State-designate Condoleezza Rice. As many remember, moonbat Ted Rall used his waste of space in newspapers everywhere this summer
to insult Dr. Rice's race. Project 21 sent a formal letter of protest (under my signature) to Rall's synidcator, Kansas City-based United Press Syndicate, demanding Rall's removal from their slate of cartoonists, barring an apology. We also sent letters to the National Association of Black Journalists, the NAACP and Rainbow/PUSH, asking for their support in the matter.
United blew us off, saying that it was a free-speech issue; the NAACP sent us a form letter that basically said thanks, but no thanks; and from the NABJ & Jesse Jackson, we heard crickets.
Just last month, political cartoonist Jeff Danziger went down the same racially insulting road. At least Danziger had the where-with-all to pull the cartoon after a ruckus ensued over it's content.
Well, now that Dr. Rice has been nominated as the next Secretary of State, the moonbats are crawling out of the woodwork.
Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Pat Oliphant has scrawled cartoons for multiple days of Dr. Rice as represented by a parrot with exaggerated lips, bucked teeth and dark skin, perched on a pirate's (President Bush's) shoulder.


A new column in the UK's Mirror newspaper continued the insult-fest.
IF THERE were a monkey in the White House - and many reckon there is - then his trainer would be the world's most powerful person.
Other political cartoonists made Condi fodder for varying degrees of insulting fury across the nation.
As I've said here and elsewhere though, I'm not holding my breath waiting for any outrage on the part of the "soul patrol." After all, both the "soul patrol" and the remainder of the leftists out there have proven that racist statements against blacks are OK (contrary to their constant bleatings), provided they're against blacks who happen to be conservative.
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Well gosh, Mike; you were expecting a fair assessment of Dr. Rice's accomplishments, no doubt?
Posted by: Section9 at November 17, 2004 06:04 PM (h+ILp)
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I can understand the pirate association
Ms. Rice is an abxolute treasure.
I'm 79----I'm not too much into hero worshiping. There are exceptions----Ms Rice is one
Posted by: mcknightl.j@sbcglobal.net at November 18, 2004 02:58 AM (a1Fap)
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I guess you've never seen a political cartoon before. Let me explain, since apparently you haven't. In political cartoons, physical features are lampooned and exaggerated, no matter what your race is. Now do you understand?
Posted by: Sneeze Limbo at November 18, 2004 06:50 AM (KiFK4)
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The cartoons are very much racist in nature. I hope there is a very strong outcry against them.
However the article IMHO is not. If you read the full article is appears the "monkey" being mentioned is President Bush and Rice is the trainer. Even the 2nd sentance of the article makes that clear when it says "In the case of George W Bush, almost everything he knows about foreign policy has been learnt from Condoleezza Rice." So this article has to be taken in full and not in part. It is not at all racist. Although it is very disrespectful to the President.
But who would expect a respectful article from the UK press? We'll see who they want help from next time a threat is on their doorstep!
Posted by: Darnell at November 18, 2004 08:09 AM (x4cpB)
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I guess you've never seen a political cartoon before. Let me explain, since apparently you haven't. In political cartoons, physical features are lampooned and exaggerated, no matter what your race is. Now do you understand?
Let's try it on the other foot. If Rush Limbaugh had done a cartoon about Jesse Jackson and Clinton in a similar fashion, lefties like you would have screamed until hoarse. The soul patrol would have been advocating the death penalty.
And you know it.
Damned hypocrites.
TV (Harry)
Posted by: Inspector Callahan at November 18, 2004 08:36 AM (qKXq+)
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The Inspector is right. What if Cox & Forkum produced an ad depicting Jackson or Sharpton as stereotypical blacks? The liberals would come unglued. Of course, those two fellows are too classy to do such a thing, but the comparison is telling.
I think that having Ted "What Gall!" Rall and the other liberal asshats expressing the sentiments of a growing number of left-of-center voter is actually helpful. It promotes discourse about race and the divisive issues that the "Party of Inclusion" have been pimping for years. As the libtards continue to alienate more and more of their constituency, the Republicans will surely benefit.
Posted by: skh at November 18, 2004 04:15 PM (0xwoN)
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I am only glad to have the great opportunity to live in the south and not have to read the garbage you people put out. I typically love political cartoons, however, your group goes well beyond any reason. Hopefully, I will never have to live near your rag circulation
Posted by: Ron at November 19, 2004 01:25 PM (jglVz)
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Um, actually, Pat's been drawing her as a parrot for quite awhile now - long before she was being considered for yet another job she isn't qualified for.
See, Condi's been Bush's parrot since the beginning and Pat has been portraying that literally in his cartoons.
Posted by: Jack Frost at November 19, 2004 02:39 PM (i8ptR)
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This is just another conservitve right wing way of trying to make the left look like something they are not.Racist. That belongs to the Rebublicans!Please,Condi has the rebal flag on her back.Any African-American that supports Bush has a hidden racial backing.
Posted by: JOE at April 11, 2005 01:26 PM (F8xrO)
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