Hyprocrisy at it's best

This is the statement issued by Bob "I got money" Johnson, founder and CEO of BET.

Billionaire businessman Bob Johnson, a close Clinton adviser and friend, said on CNN's "American Morning" on Wednesday that Obama could best forge party unity by offering Clinton the vice presidential slot.

A day after the final two primaries in South Dakota and Montana, Johnson sent a letter to House Majority Whip James Clyburn to lobby the Congressional Black Caucus to endorse Clinton as Obama's running mate. Saying Clinton would "entertain the idea if it's offered," Johnson said, "This is Sen. Obama's decision. If the Congress members can come together and agree as I do that it would be in the best interest of the party to have Sen. Clinton on the ticket, they carry that petition to Sen. Obama." "This is not a pressure. This is elected officials giving their best judgment," said Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television.

Johnson's letter to Clyburn says, "You know as well as I the deep affection that millions of African-Americans hold for both Senator Clinton and President Clinton."
It continues, "But most important, we need to have the certainty of winning; and, I believe, without question, that Barack Obama as president and Hillary Clinton as vice president bring that certainty to the ticket."

I find it ironic that now, after the Clintons and "The Black Caucus" have gotten their butts whipped, they expect full cooperation from Obama and his camp. This is the same Bob Johnson that:
1. Insinuated that Obama was a drug dealer of some sort.
2. Called him an uncle tom: Johnson went on: “That kind of campaign behavior does not resonate with me, for a guy who says, ‘I want to be a reasonable, likable, Sidney Poitier ‘Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.’ And I’m thinking, I’m thinking to myself, 'This ain’t a movie, Sidney. This is real life.'"
3. Said Obama was only in his position because he was black.
4. Is this the same guy that held a closed door meeting to try to sway "The Black Caucus" to switch to Republican alliances in order to better the "Black" community?

My problems with Bob Johnson and BET and the Black Caucus.
Bob Johnson - Please don't tell me that you are in tune with the Black community. There are very few billionaires that I would say fully understand the "Black" experience today. That is not to say that they have not struggled or overcome to get to where they are at, but it is a new day with a whole new set of problems.
BET - If you want to do something, stop showing music videos and re-runs for 16 hours of the day. What happened to the BET Nightly News, Tavis Smiley? Give me a political show on BET regardless of if the network takes a hit on ratings. Then I would believe that you are about change and not just about making some change (dollars).
The Black Caucus - This election will be interesting. The Black Caucus when I use the phrase refers to the "Old" Black leaders whom are supposed to lead us to the promise land but seem to be so tied to "Old" White leaders (CLintons for example) that they seem to miss the boat. Jesse Jackson, Sharpton and the like need to be progressive in their attacks, not just the same old fight.

So if I am Obama - I say hell no to a Clinon VP. Who wants the 3am Lady in the background saying no do it this way, or promoting her own agenda. Could this be the winning ticket because of the Black Caucus ties to Clintons? Possibly. But this can't be the only winning formula. If it is, Obama better run for this hills if someone yells..."Get your hand outta my pocket."

Youtube of the Day

Boondocks submitted by CBeans.

McCain's Potential Vice Presidential Candidates

McCain is in the process of selecting someone to join his ticket
By Jill Konieczko
Sen. John McCain disclosed that he is in the "embryonic stages" of selecting a running mate, whom he hopes to introduce at the Republican National Convention. While he refused to disclose any names, McCain told reporters that the list is about 20 deep. Here are names we've identified in media reports (we'll update the list as we hear of more):

Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour
North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist
Former Arkansas Gov. and former presidential candidate Mike Huckabee
Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty
Former Ohio Rep. and former Director of the Office of Management and Budget Rob Portman
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
Former Massachusetts Gov. and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney
Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford
FedEx CEO Frederick Smith
GOPAC Chair Michael Steele

Obama Vice President Picks: Who Are The Frontrunners?

Obama Vice President Picks: Who Are The Frontrunners?

by Will Thomas
With the Democratic nomination now in its endgame, it's time to speculate on that question that makes politicos weak at the knees: who will be tapped to be vice president? Unlike the top job, there is no election here, and it's the first big choice that we get to see the candidate make about his cabinet.

So, who will Obama pick? Will he favor someone with experience like Joe Biden? A Western governor like Janet Napolitano? Or will he satisfy the media's desire for a dream team and try for the Obama/Clinton ticket?

We've identified 10 possible VP choices for Obama, as well as the general criteria that might guide his decision. Think we're missing someone? Let us know in the comments section. And be sure to register your favorite on HuffPost's Vice President poll.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A VEEP

Location, location, location: A VP who is popular at home can help land a win in a tossup state. It's one reason why someone like Sherrod Brown (OH) could be a good pick. Of course, location isn't everything; Cheney, after all, is from Wyoming.

Strong anti-war record: It's not a requirement that someone be against the war to run on an Obama ticket, but they will have to have a good track record explaining why they changed their mind. Otherwise, expect all those comments about Hillary Clinton to come up, as well as one word: "opportunist."

Post-partisan record: If you're running to overcome the divided state of politics, you probably won't inspire confidence by picking Sen. Russ Feingold as your running mate. Sen. Jim Webb (a former Republican) or Gov. Schweitzer (picked a Republican as his Lieutenant General) are good examples.

Complementing record: On the one hand, a VP can balance a candidate's weaknesses. On the other hand, they can magnify those shortcomings. Richardson and Biden, for example, have long resumes that let them go toe-to-toe with McCain, but it could remind voters of Obama's inexperience.

THE TOP TIER
Jim Webb
Webb is the closest thing to a frontrunner for Obama's VP these days. A former Republican, he served as Secretary of the Navy for Ronald Reagan. Webb defeated George "Macaca" Allen to become a junior senator in Virginia.

Pro: Webb is a good foil for Obama's post-partisan message, and he's got the military credentials to match up with John McCain. He's good at playing the attack dog, which will let Obama take the high road. And he's from trending-blue Virginia, which would be a great pickup in November for Democrats. He's also pro-guns.

Con: Webb can be a little out-of-control as attack dogs go.

Hillary Clinton
This ticket is either a dream or a nightmare. Some see it as the only way to reunite the Democrats in time for November. Other see it as the fastest way to destroy the Obama brand.

Pro: Strong appeal with working class voters and women.

Con: See Iraq War vote, 3AM phone call, Bill Clinton in South Carolina, and the month of March.

Bill Richardson
You know him, you love him; he's the New Mexico governor with a heart of gold, a kickin' mustache, and -- thanks to James Carville -- a new nickname.

Pro: You've heard them all before. A foreign policy resume a mile long, executive experience, and a lock with Hispanic voters. And he picked Obama, despite his Clinton ties.

Con: Did you watch any of the debates?

Joe Biden
He is Mr. Foreign Policy. He also claims the best line of the primary season thus far. Too bad no one told Iowans he was running for President.

Pro: He trumps any foreign policy claims that McCain brings to the table. He can hit McCain hard.

Con: He tends to hit everyone hard. And he's a Washington figure, which could hurt a campaign running against Washington.

Brian Schwietzer
Never heard of him? You should. Schweitzer has been Montana's governor since 2005, and is currently one of the most popular governors in the country.

Pro: In addition to his executive experience, Schweitzer has spent a good amount of time around the world (including the Middle East) in his former life as an irrigation developer. His popularity and his pro-gun stance could help Obama in the Mountain West area. He also refused PAC and special interest money during his 2004 campaign. He's also criticized the economic consequences of the Iraq War, an approach that Obama has recently adopted.

Con: Despite his travels, he has no official foreign policy experience. He also doesn't bring in any delegates from his own state (though that could be offset if he helps in places like North Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado).

WORTH WATCHING
Janet Napolitano
Another popular Western governor, Napolitano has settled into a second term in McCain's very red home state. She also backed Obama early in the race.

Pros: She has proven her executive capacity in Republican territory, as well as the Southwest, which will help sway Obamicans. A female candidate could also help reunite the Democrats.

Con: Her stance on immigration could prove costly among Hispanic voters.

Sherrod Brown
Brown is a favorite among progressives for his economic populism and outspoken criticism of the war.

Pro: Could help deliver an important swing state.

Con: Doesn't really satisfy the idea of a unity ticket.

Chuck Hagel
A Republican senator who has fought with Bush tooth and nail over the Iraq war, Hagel is one of three Republicans who voted with the Democrats over a withdrawal plan. He also has served on the Banking, Foreign Relations and Intelligence Committees. Hagel has also said he's considering endorsing Sen. Obama.

Pro: Broad Senate experience. A living embodiment of Obama's commitment to work with like-minded Republicans. Also is a veteran with experience in Reagan's administration

Con: He is still a Republican (especially on abortion and health care), which would not sit well with a lot of Democrats.

Wesley Clark
Rhodes Scholar turned four-star general and once-presidential candidate. A star resource for Democrats on military affairs.

Pro: John McCain would have to salute him. And he has Southern appeal.

Con: Backed Clinton early and has been a very active surrogate. Not always the best politician on a national stage.

Kathleen Sebelius
Talk about reaching across the aisle. This Kansas governor convinced a Republican to leave his party, become a Democrat, and run as her lieutenant governor. Kansas is rife with stories of Republicans undergoing conversions, and Sebelius gets a good amount of credit for this.

Pro: Another Red-state governor with an excellent post-partisan record. Having a female VP could be a strong ticket.

Con: Sebelius didn't wow anyone with her response to the State of the Union, which raises questions about how she would do on the national stage. And her location in Kansas doesn't add much that Obama doesn't already get from Illinois.

Tom Daschle
The former South Dakota senator, Daschle has been a strong supporter of Obama's campaign; he's a national co-chair and is rumored to play a big part in the campaign strategy.

Pro: Can bring in votes from his home state.

Con: Weak campaigner: he lost his Senate seat while he was the sitting Majority Leader.

HONORABLE MENTION
Mike Bloomberg
Sure, most voters have never heard of him. And sure, he's never been a national player. But the current mayor of New York has been a darling of the media, as they spent months seeing if he would get into the Presidential race. Coupled with some private conversations with Obama that caused a tizzy in the fall, a Bloomberg candidacy could cause some media attention that would rival that of even John McCain.

Pros: Excellent economic record. Interested in policy minutiae. Post-partisan (former Republican switched to Independent). Media darling.

Cons: Unheard of outside his home state. It's tough not to seem like an elitist when the world 'billionaire' applies to you.

---

Wal-Mart throws in $100 gift card with Blu-ray player purchase

06-03-2008

 

Given that $100 at Wal-mart is essentially as good as cash, we can only imagine how titillating this offer may seem for Blu-ray holdouts. Announced today, the mega-retailer will be offering a $100 gift card with the purchase of any Blu-ray player from June 8th through 14th -- and yes, Sony's PlayStation 3 is included. In case this wasn't enough to maybe-possibly get the general public to actually pay attention to the format, Wally World will also sell "select" BD titles for $15 starting on the 8th. Since the format war ended earlier this year, we've seen report after report proclaiming that Blu-ray adoption just wasn't taking off here in America, but with a theoretical net price now close to $200 (albeit for a few days only), we can certainly see the masses taking notice at long last.

[I need to get another stimulus so I can finally get me one]
 

Clipse and A.I.

Sports Ticker

Baseball
Interesting facts about Baseball so far in 2008:
A 2nd baseman, Chase Utley is leading the majors in HR. He, along with about 5-6 other hitters, could potentially hit 50 hrs or more. Are we sure the problem was "steroids" and not the balls being juiced?
Cubs in first place in June for first time since slavery. Not really slavery but definitely since apartheid and Jim Crow.

Basketball
Finals start Thursday night. Lakers will win the series unless Bill Russell takes over as player coach of the Celtics.
Flip got Flipped. Out as Detroit Pistons Head Coach, replaced by Michael Curry (no relation to Stephen Curry).
Other Coaching News - Nellie re-ups with Golden State. But what does that mean for Baron Davis?
Vacancies - Phoenix, Chicago (Reported that Doug Collins would be reincarnated), Boston (after Finals)
While you are talking about Chicago - check out their homepage and "Riding with Larry Hughes". Mean car collection. All murdered out.

Halle Berry Strikes Again

No not really, but this guy must have went to defensive driving school to wipe out a whole marathon of bike riders. The driver was apparently drunk and fell asleep at the wheel pummelling riders at a bike race along the Mexican-American border.

Alcoholic Ice Cream?

Frost on the Vine, a Chesterfield ice cream and gourmet foods store, was selling wine ice cream.

It was cold, creamy — and 5 percent alcohol content.

"Eat an ice cream, catch a buzz," joked Blase Bottcher, of St. Louis, just after tasting a spoonful. "What a deal, huh?"

Bobby Watson, a co-owner of Frost on the Vine, has sold the wine ice cream — made by Mercer's, based in upstate New York — for a year.

"It's the only ice cream we're aware of that you have to be 21 to eat it," Watson said.

A pint of the wine ice cream is equal in alcohol content to a glass of wine, Watson said. It sold Sunday for $2.50 a scoop — and a sign at the booth notified customers that proper identification was required.

Delycia Daggs of Ferguson, who enjoys an occasional drink, preferred the Red Raspberry Chardonnay. "It's got a little tang to it," she said. "And when it melts in your mouth, you can taste the liquor."

Daggs' mother, Vee Lee of Jennings, isn't big on alcohol. But at her daughter's urging, she tried a scoop. She could taste the wine in the ice cream. And she liked it.

"This is my first time" to Taste of Clayton, Lee said. "And what a way to start it off."

Obama: Yes He Can

According to the AP, Barack "The Obamanator" Obama officially clinches the title of Free World Leader of the Democratic National Convention (I wanted to make it sound more interesting than what it is). With this announcement, there has yet to be an official bowing down from Hilary "The Pants Suit" Clinton.

So the stage should be officially set between Obama and John "The American Hero" McCain.