tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67409832024-03-14T10:34:39.530-05:00The Thorn Papers...this blog kills fascists...Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.comBlogger678125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-9594050712232384652009-01-20T08:32:00.001-06:002009-01-20T08:32:12.953-06:00Inauguration Day<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Just for posterity's sake. In roughly two and a half hours, Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.<br/><br/>And here in Oxpatch, snow - SNOW! - is falling. It absolutely never snows here. <br/><br/>Beautiful.<br/></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-72888595199032836562008-11-03T19:06:00.001-06:002008-11-03T19:06:19.556-06:00Roger Wicker Endorses Obama!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Well, either that or he's playing despicable Republican games, trying to deceive the electorate. <br/><br/><img src='http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/wicker-sample-ballot1.jpg' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/><br/></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-31203975791242044132008-10-24T15:03:00.001-05:002008-10-24T15:17:31.096-05:00Something's Happening Here<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>This is shaping up to be a 1980-style map reshaping. Strange bedfellows and wide-ranging coalitions are the order of the day. Via <a href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-kark/obama-signs-and-confedera_b_137607.html'>HuffPost</a>:<blockquote>I spotted the large Obama sign in front of the confederate flag on my way to U.S. Representative Rick Boucher's luncheon in Pearisburg, Virginia, Saturday. As a longtime resident of Giles County, I am accustomed to seeing confederate signs dotting the countryside. One store has confederate flag pillows prominently displayed outside every summer. But, I must admit I was surprised to see the Obama sign with a confederate flag behind it so I stopped to ask about it. <br/><br/> <img width='229' height='237' alt='2008-10-24-Picture31.png' src='http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2008-10-24-Picture31.png'/><br/><em>Obama/Biden sign with Confederate flag behind it.</em><br/><br/><img width='290' height='246' alt='2008-10-24-Picture32.png' src='http://images.huffingtonpost.com/2008-10-24-Picture32.png'/><br/><em>Pete Martin, Obama Supporter</em><br/><br/>"Well, it's about time for a change, don't you think?" asked Pete Martin, the owner of the store where the sign was prominently displayed. Pete sells produce, camouflage clothing, and of course, confederate flags. I answered "Yes, it is" while I inquired about the apples for sale, $7 for a bushel! I purchased my apples and drove into Pearisburg for the luncheon.<br/><br/>When I arrived, I encountered Willi Dean, a local African-American, who asked if I could get more large Obama/Biden signs. I have been ferrying carloads of these signs, just like the one in front of Pete's store, for several weeks for people to put up all around the county. Willi had been delivering them to African-American families but some were afraid to put up the large signs. "We don't want no trouble" Willi said. But, now, it seemed it was alright since many large signs were sprouting up all over the county.</blockquote></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-12630431879076545162008-10-14T11:12:00.001-05:002008-10-14T11:12:58.044-05:00Obama's On Xbox<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Very interesting. Obama is <a href='http://gigaom.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/obama-on-xbox-360.jpg?w=350&h=302'>advertising</a> inside of an Xbox360 racing game:<br/><br/><img src='http://gigaom.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/obama-on-xbox-360.jpg?w=350&h=302' style='max-width: 800px;'/><br/></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-91659908564187277632008-10-14T11:10:00.001-05:002008-10-14T11:10:16.282-05:00Tommy's On the Hunt<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>And <a href='http://www.folo.us/2008/10/14/roger-wicker-and-alabama-defense-contractors-part-2-the-new-york-times-fleshes-out-some-details-about-cantrell/'>something's smelling a bit fishy in Roger Wicker Land</a>.<br/></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-60356543058436654612008-10-14T09:16:00.001-05:002008-10-14T09:16:35.484-05:00Bernstein on Liddy-McCain<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I'd <a href='http://mitchcohen.blogspot.com/2008/05/go-for-head-shot.html'>written about this</a> several months ago, but am glad to see it getting more visibility. <a href='http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carl-bernstein/ayers-and-the-mccain-g-go_b_134256.html'>Carl Bernstein returns</a> to the disturbing relationship between John McCain and G. Gordon Liddy, and the former's admiration for the latter's "adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great." As Carl asks:<blockquote> Which of Liddy's "principles and philosophies" was McCain referring to? Liddy's advocacy of break-ins? Firebombings? Assassinations? Kidnappings? Taking target practice with figures nicknamed Bill and Hillary?<br/><br/>During the same period that Bill Ayers was a member of the Weather Underground, Gordon Liddy was making plans to firebomb a Washington think tank, assassinate a prominent journalist, undertake the Watergate burglary, break into the office of Daniel Ellsberg's psychiatrist, and kidnap anti-war protesters at the 1972 Republican convention.<br/><br/>Re: Liddy's "continued success and adherence to the principles and philosophies that keep our nation great:" Did McCain mean to include Liddy's instructions to listeners of his radio show in 1994 (around the time Ayres and Obama were on a board together discussing education programs and other plots) on how to shoot Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms agents (aim for the head)?</blockquote>Seriously. How about some uproar and outrage over McCain's refusal to be candid with the American people about his relationship with a convicted felon and unrepentant terrorist? One whose support, we should remember, Sen. McCain actively sought.<br/><br/>In any case, if you were looking for some sort of objective understanding of John McCain's cowardice in not bringing up the mud slung at his rallies when face to face with the man he's smearing, this should help. It's probably not a subject he wants to get backed up against the wall on by Obama. Not with tens of millions of Americans watching. <br/><br/>And oh yeah, he's neither courageous enough nor principled enough to do so, even if it wouldn't blow up in his face.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-41002975754820657982008-10-10T14:03:00.001-05:002008-10-10T14:03:55.097-05:00WTF?<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>This is funny. <br /><br /><div class='youtube-video'><object height='344' width='425'><param value='http://www.youtube.com/v/iz4Z6L4u8E4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1' name='movie'> </param><param value='true' name='allowFullScreen'> </param><embed height='344' width='425' allowfullscreen='true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/iz4Z6L4u8E4&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1'> </embed></object></div></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-71267759007036280472008-10-06T16:10:00.001-05:002008-10-06T18:26:43.109-05:00Two Great Ads<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Meant to cut the legs out of Angry McNasty's new shift to an all-negative, all-the-time campaign strategy. And they're both effective. First, Obama's:<br/><br/><div class='youtube-video'><object width='425' height='344'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/Y42RErUjfAc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1'> </param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true'> </param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/Y42RErUjfAc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='344'> </embed></object></div><br/><br/>And then this one, the better of the two, actually, from the DNC:<br/><br/><div class='youtube-video'><object height='344' width='425'><param value='http://www.youtube.com/v/nHW-RO1_WN0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1' name='movie'> </param><param value='true' name='allowFullScreen'> </param><embed height='344' width='425' allowfullscreen='true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/nHW-RO1_WN0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1'> </embed></object></div></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-33921587973258718982008-09-29T15:08:00.001-05:002008-09-29T15:29:46.457-05:00Dow Down Nearly 750<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>UPDATE: Make that 777. Yeesh a mighty.<br /><br />And McCain wants the credit. From <a href='http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=AF9F10EC-18FE-70B2-A82949C5A24271A8'>Politico</a>:<blockquote>Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and his top aides took credit for building a winning bailout coalition – hours before the vote failed and stocks tanked. <br/><br/>The rush to claim he had engineered a victory now looks like a strategic blunder that will prolong the McCain’s campaign’s difficulty in finding a winning message on the economy. <br/><br/>Shortly before the vote, McCain had bragged about his involvement and mocked Sen. Barack Obama for staying on the sidelines. <br/><br/>“<b>I've never been afraid of stepping in to solve problems for the American people, and I'm not going to stop now</b>,” McCain told a rally in Columbus, Ohio. “Senator Obama took a very different approach to the crisis our country faced. At first he didn't want to get involved. Then he was monitoring the situation.”<br/>McCain, grinning, flashed a sarcastic thumbs-up. </blockquote>John. Please. For the love of God. Stop now.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-60319973686586303612008-09-29T15:04:00.001-05:002008-09-29T15:04:41.421-05:00Holy Crap<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I'd imagine some very serious drinking is about to commence at the <a href='http://www.killarneyrose.com/'>Killarney Rose</a>.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-4637740543000501502008-09-28T14:08:00.001-05:002008-09-28T14:08:36.889-05:00Horror Movies<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I've been spending a lot of time lately revisiting the horror movies which gave me the willies in my youth (that's one of the benefits of being a father of a young son) and I'm sad, but not surprised, to say that most don't hold up, and the chilling nature I remembered as a boy is no where to be found. For what it's worth, my son's a tougher critic than I, and we've yet to find one that's actually scared him. <br /><br />But today, I saw something that absolutely chilled me, to the bone. Hell, to the marrow. Icy, aching marrow. <br /><br /><div class='youtube-video'><object height='344' width='425'><param value='http://www.youtube.com/v/EzuIHjQYW2c&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1' name='movie'> </param><param value='true' name='allowFullScreen'> </param><embed height='344' width='425' allowfullscreen='true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/EzuIHjQYW2c&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1'> </embed></object></div><br /><br />That scares the ever loving shit out of me.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-36939061571036705862008-09-26T14:35:00.001-05:002008-09-26T14:35:08.200-05:00Stream the New Dylan Free<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Y'all know I have an affinity for Bob Dylan. Well, imagine my happy surprise to learn that <a href='http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080926/ap_on_en_mu/music_bob_dylan_stream'>he'll be releasing his new album one week early and streaming it for free during that week on NPR</a>. Fun begins at 12:01 AM EST on Tuesday. I'll update with a link when I find it.<br/></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-73061279876603130882008-09-25T19:11:00.002-05:002008-09-25T19:17:03.108-05:00We Know He's Coming<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='http://www.folo.us/2008/09/25/obama-at-ole-miss'><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: left;'><img width='400' height='372' border='0' src='http://www.folo.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/obama-sticker.jpg'/></div></a></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-30954251682620580332008-09-24T17:48:00.001-05:002008-09-25T08:01:35.744-05:00Letterman Cold Cocks McCain<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>UPDATE: Here's video.<br/><br/><div class='youtube-video'><object width='425' height='344'><param name='movie' value='http://www.youtube.com/v/XjkCrfylq-E&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1'> </param><param name='allowFullScreen' value='true'> </param><embed src='http://www.youtube.com/v/XjkCrfylq-E&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' width='425' height='344'> </embed></object></div><br /><br /><br />And rightfully so, I'd say. By way of <a href='http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0908/Letterman_mocks_McCain_cancellation.html?showall'>Politico</a> (who got it from Sludge, to whom I won't link):<blockquote>David Letterman tells audience that McCain called him today to tell him he had to rush back to DC to deal with the economy.<br/><br/>Then in the middle of the taping Dave got word that McCain was, in fact just down the street being interviewed by Katie Couric. Dave even cut over to the live video of the interview, and said, "Hey Senator, can I give you a ride home?"<br/><br/>Earlier in the show, Dave kept saying, "You don't suspend your campaign. This doesn't smell right. This isn't the way a tested hero behaves." And he joked: "I think someone's putting something in his metamucil."<br/><br/>"He can't run the campaign because the economy is cratering? Fine, put in your second string quarterback, Sarah Palin. Where is she?"<br/><br/>"What are you going to do if you're elected and things get tough? Suspend being president? We've got a guy like that now!"</blockquote>Indeed. McCain can't focus on more than one thing at once, hardly the quality we'd want for the man who would have arguably one of the most demanding and complex jobs on the planet. <br/><br/>And I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it until his pasty face is sweating under the Ford Center lights, there is no more important time for the American public see these two candidates debate. The topic should obviously shift to the most pressing issue at hand, and it would be good that the two have been preparing for a foreign policy discussion. They'd have to think on their feet, and speak note from rote memorization, but from a thorough understanding of the issues. I have no doubt that Obama would excel in that situation, as I have little doubt McCain would flounder.<br/><br/><a href='http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/9/24/172140/374/17/609160'>Hunter</a> hits the nail on the head:<blockquote>The debate simply is going to have to address on the economy, at least in part.<br/><br/>So fine -- let's change the focus of the debate to the economy. It would be a fine opportunity to see what the candidates can do without weeks of advance preparation with surrogates, talking points, and the like -- what better test of candidates then to simply ask them about these issues, and let them talk. Such a debate would be exactly what many of us have been waiting for, including, purportedly, John McCain himself -- a chance for a true spontaneous debate between the two candidates.<br/><br/>I don't think it should require much to just switch the topic of the debate and be done with it. John McCain has been in the Senate for 26 years. If he's not ready to talk about the economy now, he isn't ever going to be.</blockquote><br/><br/></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-16468140231254910012008-09-24T16:58:00.001-05:002008-09-24T16:59:13.930-05:00First Poll of Reaction to Latest McCain Stunt<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>SurveyUSA is out with a flash poll conducted immediately after McCain chickened out:<blockquote>America's First Reaction: Friday's McCain-Obama Debate Should Still Be Held On Friday, But Perhaps with New Focus<br/><br/>Immediately after John McCain's announcement 3 pm ET today, Wednesday 09/24/08, that he was suspending his campaign and seeking to postpone Friday's schedule presidential debate, SurveyUSA interviewed 1,000 adults nationwide. Key findings:<br/><br/>A majority of Americans say the debate should be held. Just 10% say the debate should be postponed. A sizable percentage of Americans, 36%, think the focus of the debate should be modified to focus more on the economy. 3 of 4 Americans say the presidential campaign should continue. Just 14% say the presidential campaign should be suspended. If Friday's debate does not take place 46%, of Americans say that would be bad for America. </blockquote></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-90877790344938918972008-09-24T16:52:00.001-05:002008-09-24T16:52:06.104-05:00Demand the Debate<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Don't let McCain get away with his cowardly political stunt. The American people deserve to hear from the candidates at such a crucial moment in American history.<br/><br/><a href='http://www.demandthedebate2008.com/'>Sign the petition</a>.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-83102249499202784392008-09-24T16:18:00.001-05:002008-09-24T16:18:39.425-05:00Jack's With Me<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I like the way that Cafferty thinks.<br /><br /><div class='youtube-video'><object height='344' width='425'><param value='http://www.youtube.com/v/LsQoMZcxVdI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1' name='movie'> </param><param value='true' name='allowFullScreen'> </param><embed height='344' width='425' allowfullscreen='true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/LsQoMZcxVdI&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1'> </embed></object></div></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-74542453274127129942008-09-24T14:03:00.001-05:002008-09-24T14:21:50.617-05:00Un-Friggin Believable!!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Breaking news just now: John McCain is trying to postpone Friday night's debate under the pretense of wanting to focus on the economic crisis. <br/><br/>Unbelievable. more as it develops.<br/><br/>From <a href='http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26872907/'>MSNBC</a>:<blockquote>Republican John McCain says he's directing his staff to work with Barack Obama's campaign and the debate commission to delay Friday's debate because of the economic crisis.<br/><br/>In a statement, McCain says he will stop campaigning after addressing former President Bill Clinton's Global Initiative session on Thursday and return to Washington to focus on the nation's financial problems. </blockquote>Nice attempt at some bold political theater there bucko, but I think that putting country first might be better demonstrated - and the public far better served - by having the debate as scheduled and focusing on the economy. Think of it, a real-deal political debate in the midst of - and focusing on - a real deal crisis. <br/><br/>I think the fate of humanity itself could spare the super-human patriotism of St. John McCain for a few hours on Friday night.<br/><br/>Never mind the $6 million Ole Miss has sunk into this thing at this point.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-1474480274555155242008-09-24T13:37:00.001-05:002008-09-24T13:37:46.086-05:00An Invitation to Oxford from Obama<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Just received this info:<blockquote>Show your support for Barack this Friday, September 26th, at an Obama for America visibility event before the first presidential debate at The University of Mississippi.<br/><br/>Here are the details:<br/><br/>Rock the Debate<br/>Visibility and Watch Party<br/><br/>The Grove<br/>University of Mississippi<br/>Oxford, MS<br/><br/>Friday, September 26th<br/>Program Begins: 12:00 p.m.<br/><br/><a href='http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/msoxforddebate'>RSVP</a><br/><br/>http://ms.barackobama.com/RockTheDebate</blockquote></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-82551194399799417452008-09-24T09:08:00.001-05:002008-09-26T08:02:32.760-05:00Daily Journal Catches Up With folo<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><a href='http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=279546&pub=1&div=News'>Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal</a>, Wednesday September 24th:<blockquote>JACKSON - Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann based his recent argument for placing the special U.S. Senate race at the bottom of the ballot on precedent, but his office's research overlooked the last such race, which was at the top of the 1947 general election ballot.<br/><br/>Hosemann, the state's chief elections official, said this week he was unaware that the 1947 election in which John Stennis was elected to the U.S. Senate was a special election at the top of the ballot.</blockquote><a href='http://www.folo.us/2008/09/21/one-last-historical-comment-about-the-special-election/#more-4787'>folo, Sunday, September 21st</a>:<blockquote>I almost headed this post “The Secretary of State forgot John Stennis.”<br/><br/>Recall that on Friday <a href='http://www.folo.us/2008/09/19/a-little-senate-special-election-ballot-history/'>I posted</a> the ballot for the state-wide election in 1947, in which there were both the state election and the special election for United States Senate, occuring after Bilbo’s death. John Stennis won that race. The ballot for the 1947 special election had the special election for Senate at the top, above the race for governor. Here’s the <a href='http://www.folo.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/official-ballot-1947.pdf'>1947 official ballot</a>. I noted that the only other special election for Senate was in 1941.<br/><br/>In the court filings for the special election ballot case, Secretary of State Hosemann filed <a href='http://www.folo.us/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/hoseman-affidavit.pdf'>an affidavit</a> that said he’d researched special elections from the past. It also said:<blockquote>Mississippi has not had Special Election for a United States Senator since 1941. The Special Election on September 23, 1941 was not held during the General Election. Therefore, no precedent for the last sixty years exists. …</blockquote>A <a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Stennis#U.S._Senator'>few minutes with Wikipedia</a> would have prevented this misunderstanding for anyone who remembered that John Stennis once occupied the seat currently in contest.</blockquote>Nice work Tommy.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-44973269321820750272008-09-24T08:53:00.000-05:002008-09-24T08:54:00.375-05:00MS Dems Press Conference on the Oxford Square<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>For all the media in town, and for all the locals who want to show their support for a progressive future for America (which is our only hope at this point, honestly), thought I'd pass along the following item.<blockquote>OXFORD (Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008) – Mississippi Democrats will hold a news conference at <b>3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24</b>, to highlight how Republican presidential nominee John McCain’s stand on the Iraq war has cost us at home.<br/><br/>The news conference will be on <b>the east side of the Oxford Square next to Oxford City Hall, 107 Courthouse Square</b>.<br/><br/>Mississippi Democratic Party Chairman Jamie Franks will lead the news conference and talk about how McCain’s policies threaten to further harm an economy already in turmoil. Other Democratic Party leaders are expected to attend.</blockquote>Please do show up. With all of the lowlife tactics being used in the run-up to the debate (specifically, trying to eliminate any visible sign of the - quite substantial, I should add - support for Obama that exists here in Oxford as the national media descends upon the town), it sure would be helpful to have every Obama supporter in town show up and show the world they're here.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-89400840348248346092008-09-24T08:20:00.001-05:002008-09-24T09:53:26.140-05:00For Our Debate Visitors<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>I can see from our web stats that we're getting a lot of traffic from folks who are searching for the Oxford Town post about the localized historical nature of Obama's presence here as a candidate for President. As the <a href='http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/us/24miss.html'>NY Times has gone into the same subject</a> (more or less), and the town is filling with visitors for the Ole Miss Presidential Debate, I thought I'd re-post <a href='http://mitchcohen.blogspot.com/2008/06/oxford-town.html'>the following from back in June</a>:<blockquote>About a month and a half or so ago, my family, the dog and I were out walking on the Ole Miss campus, and I saw, for the first time, the signs advertising <a href='http://www.olemiss.edu/debate/'>the upcoming presidential debate</a> the University wil be hosting in September. Of course, I'd known the debate was scheduled for some time, recognizing it as the coup it was for the town, the school and the state. It's the first debate of the general, and even then - despite the rancor of the primary season - I knew it was going to be a match up between Obama and McCain.<br/><br/>But on seeing the signs, with that understanding in my mind, I was struck with overwhelming emotion. "Are you crying, Daddy?" my littlest one asked. And yeah, sap I am, I was. The historical significance just bowled me over. I kept hearing Bob Dylan in the back of my head, singing <a href='http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/oxford.html'>his ode to our fair town</a>, back in the day, when it was far less fair:<br/><br/><blockquote>Oxford Town, Oxford Town<br/>Ev'rybody's got their heads bowed down<br/>The sun don't shine above the ground<br/>Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town<br/><br/>He went down to Oxford Town<br/>Guns and clubs followed him down<br/>All because his face was brown<br/>Better get away from Oxford Town<br/><br/>Oxford Town around the bend<br/>He come in to the door, he couldn't get in<br/>All because of the color of his skin<br/>What do you think about that, my frien'?<br/><br/>Me and my gal, my gal's son<br/>We got met with a tear gas bomb<br/>I don't even know why we come<br/>Goin' back where we come from<br/><br/>Oxford Town in the afternoon<br/>Ev'rybody singin' a sorrowful tune<br/>Two men died 'neath the Mississippi moon<br/>Somebody better investigate soon<br/><br/>Oxford Town, Oxford Town<br/>Ev'rybody's got their heads bowed down<br/>The sun don't shine above the ground<br/>Ain't a-goin' down to Oxford Town</blockquote>For the historically challenged, the song speaks to the chaos and hatred that accompanied James Meredith's enrollment at Ole Miss in 1962. It was, as a friend who runs historical tours reminded me just yesterday, the second time in less than a hundred years that Oxford was under US military occupation, the first having been in 1864 during the Civil War.<br/><br/>From <a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Town'>the Wikipedia entry on the tune</a>:<blockquote>On September 20, 1962, an African American student named James Meredith became the first minority student enrolled in the University of Mississippi. His enrollment, ensured by the protection of the US Marshalls under direct order from then-President John F. Kennedy, sparked rioting on the campus of the university. During the ensuing violence, countless students were injured and two were killed. The song Oxford Town is concerned with the events surrounding the campus riots and the enrollment of James Meredith. In a larger scope, the song deals with the American Civil Rights Movement.</blockquote>A black mark on Oxford and the University, for sure, and a moment in history that still reverberates here today. A couple of years back, after 44 years, the University erected a statue of Meredith approaching a portal to commemorate his struggle:<br/><br/><img src='http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/485866011_0e2ff392c2.jpg?v=0'/><br/><br/>Well deserved and then some, considering what he'd gone through both here in '62 and beyond. Many of you might remember this iconic photo:<a href='http://www.nandotimes.com/nt/images/century/photos/century0236.html'><br/><br/><img src='http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v217/revco2k2/century0236.jpg'/><br/><br/><i>Civil rights activist James Meredith grimaces in pain as he pulls himself across Highway 51 in Hernando, Miss. after being shot during a voting rights march, June 6, 1966. Meredith, who defied segregation to enroll at the University of Mississippi in 1962, completed the march from Memphis, Tenn., to Jackson, Miss., after treatment of his wounds.</i></a><br/><br/>In any case, back to the future. Or the recent past, as the case may be. I stood there, looking up at the signs, not far from the gunfire and teargas of 1962, with tears rolling down my face, hearing Dylan's song somewhere off in the distance. And when I learned yesterday that <a href='http://mitchcohen.blogspot.com/2008/06/redefining-nature-of-politics-from.html'>Dylan himself had endorsed Obama</a>, it all came back.<br/><br/>There's a thousand and one reasons that I support Barack Obama; his progressive vision, his brilliance, his palpable sincere compassion and conviction, his willingness to fight, the list goes on and on. But I've never wanted to see him president simply <i>because</i> he's an African-American. Not that I didn't see his candidacy in that historic light, it's just never been a defining reason for my support.<br/><br/>But that morning, realizing that he would be coming <i>here</i>, to Oxford Town, the first black man with a real shot at the presidency (and that shot's getting stronger and stronger as the days go on), to this University whose buildings are still pockmarked with 46 year old bullet holes from the Meredith riots....well, it knocked me for one hell of a loop. It's almost beyond my ability to put into words. <br/><br/>This man, this great man, will be coming here to close that circle once and for all. <br/><br/>And beyond the incredible joy and pride that we'll all feel as Democrats and Americans, we should also see this in the light of history. It will be an amazing moment for Mississippi and America. And I'll be here, and my kids - who, in their blissful colorblindness, thank God, don't even understand yet why this is so astoundingly significant - will be here too. <br/><br/>And it just brought tears to my eyes. <br/><br/>"Yes, baby, Daddy's crying. But it's only because I'm happy."</blockquote><br /><div class='youtube-video'><object height='344' width='425'><param value='http://www.youtube.com/v/VbYgF9I2iJg&hl=en&fs=1' name='movie'> </param><param value='true' name='allowFullScreen'> </param><embed height='344' width='425' allowfullscreen='true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://www.youtube.com/v/VbYgF9I2iJg&hl=en&fs=1'> </embed></object></div></div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-31590325358140837622008-09-23T11:19:00.001-05:002008-09-23T11:19:30.860-05:00Tuesday Morning Oddities<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>Well, seems as though Oxford's been invaded by an army of Segway scooters. Looks like the police and (strangely enough) the campus ROTC folks will be on two wheeled futuristic patrol. I've seen about a dozen so far.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-49184206524486796842008-09-22T22:56:00.001-05:002008-09-23T13:19:36.466-05:00Cowards Move Under Cover of Darkness<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>In advance of Friday's debate, there's been <a href='http://www.oxfordeagle.com/archives/2008/0908/091508-091908/091608/news3.html'>a rash of thefts and destruction of Obama yard signs</a> throughout the town of Oxford. Sometime in the last hour, some useless, no count sack of shit took mine.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6740983.post-81927060759836906332008-09-22T18:04:00.001-05:002008-09-22T18:07:23.382-05:00Kevin Smith<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>If you didn't catch Bill Moyers on Friday, you should definitely take the time to watch <a href='http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/09192008/watch2.html'>this discussion with Kevin Smith</a>.</div>Mitchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02965471254796806972noreply@blogger.com0