Path of Progress

Papa John's Big Mouth

John Schnatter has resigned his post as Chairman of the Board of Papa John's. He has apologized for using the N-word. What did that cost him? Schnatter about 30 percent of Papa John's. As of March 12, his stake was worth $622 million, though a recent decline in the company's stock price now values it at $479 million as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

Banned Commercial: Debt and China

The following race-baiting commercial reminds me of the classic "You better learn Japanese, they own us now..." And the "Russians Are Coming!" and the Germans and the Japanese, and the Mexicans... and well, I guess this is about what we should expect out of American culture?

Americans are very bi-polar. They celebrate diversity and the globalization of the planet, but are racists and protectionists on the same face. Which one wins? Whomever it's talking to.

Haters Gonna Hate

Cracker Ass Kinect?

Is the new Microsoft Kinect game system “racist?” Consumer Reports says no.

The problem began when Gamespot reported:

[Our] testing suggests facial recognition features of Microsoft’s motion-sensing camera system might not work properly for some gamers. . . . In testing the Kinect, two dark-skinned GameSpot employees had problems getting the system’s facial recognition features to work.

Consumer Reports, which generally takes a neutral position on any item it tests, says the claims are false.

Consumer Reports did not encounter this issue with the Kinect and facial recognition when we first tested it. But it did remind of us a similar rumor about a`racist’ HP laptop—which we debunked—last year.

The organization went on to support is report through extensive tests. Kinect’s operation is affected by room lighting, and nothing more, Consumer Reports wrote.

The claim of “racism” is astonishing, because it is unimaginable that a huge corporation would launch one of its most critical products without extensive testing. Microsoft has had Xbox hardware problems in the past, but that hardly rates with claims that it produced a machine loaded with discriminatory software.

Major consumer products launches are often followed by reports from test firms and the media of supposed flaws meant to harm consumers. That assumes that firms like Microsoft are willing to commit a form of suicide that could cost them hundreds of millions of dollars.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Read more: Consumer Reports Says Microsoft Kinect Is Not “Racist” - 24/7 Wall St.

Now, no one said the PRICE POINT wasn't racist... expect the nice folks at Sony or Nintendo Corp to make that claim once this one doesn't stick.

GOP Courts New Voters

A Houston based group called Raging Elephants is looking to change their dynamic with their new billboard, "GOP Is The New Black" campaign. The new billboard depicts a number of well-heeled African-American actors while trumpeting the new slogan. Its also likely to spark a debate that may include allegations of race-baiting, as well as a certain inquiry into where the funds initially came from...

And no word on who decided that this was a good idea, or not the lamest thing anyone has ever seen.

'Bandit' Obama billboard

A billboard depicting Barack Obama as an Islamist suicide bomber, a gay and a Mexican bandit has triggered a storm of criticism in a western US city weeks ahead of crucial polls.

The colourful poster of the US president -- under the ironic slogan "Vote DemocRAT" -- is attracting attention from media worldwide and from people clogging a local parking lot for a closer look.

The local Republican Party chairman said the billboard is in bad taste.

Doris Downey, the owner of a company whose parking lot is being invaded by people taking a closer look, is angry that her business is being disrupted.

"I have no problem with freedom of speech, but I do have a problem with causing problems for others, and this is causing problems for us on top of all this," she said.

"I don't know who commissioned that thing, which I think is despicable, but they should own up to it," Downey said. "Anonymous opinion gets no respect from me."

Cap'n's Half Cent... I'll say this much -- Obama plays a lot of villains to a lot of different people... but the left side fringe did the same thing with Bush and Cheney... so I guess it's not racist?

I have an idea...

Dude, that's a terrible, terrible idea.

Compare and Contrast

Let's compare and contrast the 'Draw Muhammad Day' that the internet staged back in May, and the new 'Burn the Qur'an Day' coming up on September 11th.

First off, let's review Draw Muhammad Day. This 'event' was an attempt by a some folks on the internet who felt they needed to stand up for the freedom of speech - because of the death threats against the South Park creators Matt and Trey, death threats to cartoonists in Holland, and the arrest of a cartoonist in Denmark.[1] were getting out of hand. The community was standing up for the freedom of speech, in defiance of Islamic sensitivity that threatened death. It was 'our' decision that no one should ever be restricted in what they can say... no matter how insensitive, crass or rude it is. Even blasphemous . (shameless self promotion)

Predictably, the 'Draw' day, did not create a peaceful environment for both parties to pause and reflect upon their ways... nay, instead there was a blowback that tried to get participating websites censored for their blasphemous transgressions. Most notably Facebook. The public responded by using their right and showed a restriction of rights for sensitivity to offense of others was not going to stand. People do not have the right to not be offended - at least, not in the West. And not on this issue.

'Burn a Qur'an Day', on the surface, appears to be nothing more than some racists in Florida getting out the message that they hate Islam. Deeper down, it's a huge publicity stunt. A stunt-fund raiser. Sure beats Sally's Car Wash suggestion. One can imagine that impressionable Christian extremists might feel that burning a Qur'an is the same as standing up to extremist islam-o-terrorism? Nothing like a good book burning to show that an idea, right gang? What these folks in Florida are broadcasting is that Islam, and apparently Holy Books that are not their own, are not welcome in their neighborhood. I'll even say that they might be trying to say that Islam isn't welcome in their country or even on the entire planet. Apparently Jesus didn't teach anything about loving your neighbor? Well, not in their church anyway. And they didn't pass their eight grade Constitution tests, either. The right they are using to express this opinion during this event, the first amendment to the Constitution, is the exact same right that guarantees the right of the Islamic population in the U.S.A. to practice their religious expression in their country as well. Which is similar, but not equal to the 'Draw Muhammad Day.'

Both are hypocritical, maybe even ironic. But, the two events are entirely different and in some ways opposite of each other in terms of expressing freedoms. For instance, it is ridiculous for people of Muslim faith to expect people not of Muslim faith to abide by rules of their religion. They can avoid pork, wine, and be misogynistic to their women all they want - I guess - and that's their deal. But if they even suggest, by force of death, that I can't have bacon? Well, in the immortal words of Bugs Bunny, "Of course you know, 'dis means war!" Let's make a deal - I'll leave you alone in your pursuit of happiness, as long as you provide me the same courtesy.

However, I'm not so crass as to burn their Holy Book in a church parking lot on September 11th.

“That was mere foreplay. Where they have burned books, they will end in burning human beings.” (German: “Das war Vorspiel nur. Dort, wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man am Ende auch Menschen.”)
~ Heinrich Heine, Almansor (1821)

Just so we're clear...

If you're having trouble reading it - http://imgur.com/mwu1d.jpg, or click on the picture.

And if you're having trouble keeping the two apart, the graphic isn't going to help.

What was hilarious, to me, was that Al Sharpton's thrown-together-in-haste group couldn't get a speech out - and it was cut n' pasted from King's speech. The best part on their team was that they actually had organ play-off-music ala the Oscars.

And the other side, they changed their tune to be more religious in nature, and were also cutting and pasting Obama's and King's speeches. The speeches were rambling and trying very hard not to be political - it was more like a Promise Keeper's parade than a TEA party rally.

It was interesting to see that when they knew they were going to get clobbered with the King Anniversary, how they changed the tone and the graphics -- but those pictures weren't created in a day. They weren't just whipped up and sent to the printshop overnight.

But the main take away here is that the people that the Left are pointing their fingers at and laughing at these folks via John Stewart, and they are still not being taken seriously. They're branded a joke and racists - and the Left have no clue why they're going to get spanked in the mid-term. And, more importantly, if two idiots like Sarah Palin and Glen Beck can raise the flag to rally the troops to march into Washington -- someone a little more charisma and is a tad more clever could tell them what kind of shirt to wear and do it again. And a lot less peacefully.

The Week In Review - Sunday Comics

Like most Sundays I try to toss a couple cartoons up to either cap off the week, or mention a few things that I missed - intentionally or not. So let's start off with the Mosque at Ground Zero, or near it. I showed everyone the video that some folks got banned because it was so over the top. I don't think things should be banned. CBS and NBC were fools not to take their money. Free Speech is one of those grand things that allows idiots to let everyone know exactly how foolish they are. Sarah Palin, David Duke, Mel Gibson - it's great to hear them tell us what they really think. And to solve the problem at Ground Zero, how about they just rebuild what was already there, and have no religious icons or gathering places anywhere near it?This week the Unemployment Benefits for millions of Democrat voters has been extended, even though no one's really sure how the Federal Government is paying for it. But the Democrats convinced everyone that it was the obstructionist Republicans who were stalling their checks. Good political win for the Democrats there!
There's been a lot of talk about the Black Panther voter intimidation case getting thrown out. I think John McCain and Sarah Palin did a better job, and I guess the judge agrees with me.
The Pork-u-lus bill doesn't seem to be working out.
Financial Reform was passed, but, lets be honest - it's just setting up the dominoes for next time.
And meanwhile Mr. Obama's poll numbers and his Super Powers are shrinking.
And meanwhile at Comicon - this happened.
Have a great week.

Not the White Man's Bitch

Ieshuh Griffin is running for state office in Wisconsin, and she wants voters to know she is "NOT the white man's bitch".

She wanted that statement posted under her name on the ballot for state representative, in the place where the candidate's political party would be listed. "Its not racist, its not a slur...its not pointed to a particular person, in my point of view the average politician is a token" Griffin says.

Despite that, for some reason, the state's Government Accountability Board said no, and now Griffin is suing. She says her "freedom of expression" is being "suppressed". GAB spokesman Reid Magney says Griffin was denied because "Staff determined that her language used on her declaration of candidacy is perjorative in nature and does not satisfy the requirements of Wisconsin statutes". One board member asked "what if she just said 'not under the white man's influence? Is that okay?" No direct answer was given.

Griffin is running as an independent, to replace State Representative Annette "Polly" Williams, who is retiring after 30 years in office.

On a blog, which says its paid for by "The Poor People's Piece of the Pie Campaign", a statement attributed to Griffin is posted saying "There currently is...an in-depth corruption within our government... SLAVERY, yes SLAVERY has returned in almost every aspect except name".

Ieshuh has shown her light on the growing racism in the land that is not being addressed. Liberty is always for freedom from intimidation and discrimination. I wish Ieshuh the best of luck in her lawsuit and candidacy. Science knows she knows how to get attention.

Jalapenos

Heterosexual, white boy, Methodists.

This song/video is supposedly causing people to get really upset? Politicians are trying to ban it?

The Bellamy Brothers’ newest song release titled “Jalapenos” is being met with great controversy over the lyrics, which are very politically and sexually charged regarding some of the current political and pop-cultural events, such as gun control, immigration issues, and Tiger Woods affairs... sounds a lot like this here blog?

Furthermore, the song is accompanied by a music video featuring actors wearing giant masks, for example Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Tiger Woods, and of course girls in string bikinis are featured throughout the video.

The Bellamy Brothers stated that they hope their new song “Jalapenos” does not offend anyone, they were just trying to add a smile to people’s faces as they always have. I wonder if their passports will still be valid on their way home from their European tour?

Seriously though - Banning this? Come on? Meantime, I'm sure Ray Stevens is watching these developments closely.

Al Qaeda Is Racist

Mr. Obama disparaged al Qaeda and affiliated groups' willingness to kill Africans in a manner that White House aides say was an argument that the terrorist groups are racist.

Speaking about the Uganda bombings, the president said, "What you've seen in some of the statements that have been made by these terrorist organizations is that they do not regard African life as valuable in and of itself. They see it as a potential place where you can carry out ideological battles that kill innocents without regard to long-term consequences for their short-term tactical gains."

Earlier today a senior administration official said the Obama administration believes that Al Shabaab carried out the attack.

Explaining the president's comment, an administration official said Mr. Obama "references the fact that both U.S. intelligence and past al Qaeda actions make clear that al Qaeda -- and the groups like al Shabaab that they inspire -- do not value African life. The actions of al Qaeda and the groups that it has inspired show a willingness to sacrifice innocent African life to reach their targets."

This can be seen, the official said, in the 1998 bombings of U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, when hundreds of Africans were killed and thousands wounded.

"Additionally, U.S. intelligence has indicated that al Qaeda leadership specifically targets and recruits black Africans to become suicide bombers because they believe that poor economic and social conditions make them more susceptible to recruitment than Arabs," the official said. "Al Qaeda recruits have said that al Qaeda is racist against black members from West Africa because they are only used in lower level operations."

"In short," the official said, "al Qaeda is a racist organization that treats black Africans like cannon fodder and does not value human life."

The president also said in the interview that "it was so tragic and ironic to see an explosion like this take place when people in Africa were celebrating and watching the World Cup take place in South Africa. On the one hand, you have a vision of an Africa on the move, an Africa that is unified, an Africa that is modernizing and creating opportunities; and on the other hand, you've got a vision of al Qaeda and Al Shabaab that is about destruction and death.

"And I think it presents a pretty clear contrast in terms of the future that most Africans want for themselves and their children," Mr. Obama said. "And we need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to support those who want to build, as opposed to want to destroy."

Wow. Wait until he finds out that AlQ-duh's stance on gay marriage? (PSssst - they're against it)

Look, I understand that this was a tailored message, but, but... when is Mr. Obama going to realize that the terrorists aren't a political group that simply disagrees with his policies?

Well, maybe now if he treats AlKayDuh like the Klan or the Tea Party (there's not a distinction in his Cabinet's mind) perhaps he'll take the safety off and take care of business? No, he'll just have Jessie Jackson demand some Affirmative Action in the AlKayDuh HR department.

Race Card Missfire

Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert says he "strongly" disagrees with Jesse Jackson's criticism of his recent comments about superstar LeBron James.

When LeBron said he was leaving Cleveland to join the Miami Heat, Gilbert fired off an incendiary letter to Cavs fans, ripping the 25-year-old and calling his decision "cowardly behavior."

Later, Gilbert said that he that he felt the NBA's two-time MVP quit during the playoffs the past two years and that James "has gotten a free pass."

On Sunday, Jackson responded to Gilbert's remarks by saying the Cavs owner sees James as a "runaway slave" and that Gilbert's comments put the player in danger.

Dear Rev. Jackson:

Dan Gilbert managed to look like an ass all on his own. You didn't have to come along and say something to make people forget it. Come on, he promised they'd win without SuperLeBron. That's a big pile of stupid all by itself. Then you pulled up and made an even larger pile of stupid. Bonus: your analogy doesn't work - no slave was ever offered $120 million to stay on the plantation.

PS - You may want to be a tad more concerned about your son trying to purchase that Obama Senate Seat? I can't imagine that heat being be good for the shakedown business?

Texas Congressional nominee wants to impeach Obama, opposes UN... with a twist

Republicans have had a good laugh at the expense of South Carolina Democrats, who nominated Alvin Greene to challenge for Jim DeMint’s Senate seat despite the fact that Greene didn’t campaign, has a pending felony obscenity investigation, and is barely coherent in his media interviews. (Wow, sounds like an Illinois race to me... Scott Lee Cohen, anyone?) But the tables are turned and now it may be time for Democrats to laugh at Republicans. The nominee for the Texas’ CD-22 has publicly called for Barack Obama’s impeachment and wants to abolish the UN. Democrats would have a field day making Kesha Rogers the face of the Republican Party across the entire nation … if it weren’t for the fact that Rogers is a Democrat:

South Carolina’s unexpected Democratic nominee for the US Senate, mystery man Alvin Greene, says he wants to play golf with Barack Obama. But in Texas, another surprise Democratic primary winner, congressional nominee Kesha Rogers, wants to impeach the President. So while South Carolina party officials are still unsure of what to do about Greene’s success at the ballot box, Texas Democrats have no such reservations — they wasted little time in casting Rogers into exile and offering no support or recognition of her campaign to win what once was Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay’s old seat.

Rogers, 33, told TIME she is a “full time political activist” in the Lyndon LaRouche Youth Movement, a recruiting arm of the LaRouche political organization that is active on many college campuses. The LYM espouses LaRouche opposition to free trade and “globalism” (the UN, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund) and it also calls for a return to a humanist classical education, emphasizing the works of Plato and Leibnitz. On her professional looking campaign website, kesharogers.com, she touts the LaRouche political philosophy — a mix of support for the economic policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the impeachment of President Obama — and calls Obama a “London and Wall Street backed puppet” whose policies will destroy the Democratic Party.

Well, maybe Texas Democrats in the 22nd district just got fooled from another Greene-like stealth candidacy. I’m sure they didn’t hear about Rogers’ nutty, LaRouchian politics before casting their ballots. Rogers probably got listed first on the ballot, right? Actually she was, but that’s not why she won:

Unlike South Carolina’s Greene, Rogers ran a high profile campaign, staking out a corner on a major intersection in the district to appear almost daily with a large sign: “Save NASA. Impeach Obama.” She garnered 7,467 votes, 53% of the vote, in a three way race that included a local information systems analyst Doug Blatt, who gained endorsements from local Democratic clubs and labor groups, and Freddie John Weider Jr., a preacher and onetime Libertarian candidate; Blatt came in second with 28% of the vote and Weider won 20%.

Now Democrats have refused to provide her any support, Time reports, accusing her of racism because of her connection to the LaRouche movement — which is an interesting allegation, considering that Rogers is African-American. Maybe someone should have looked at her picture before leaping immediately to the race-baiting smear. They would have been better off questioning her sanity.

Texas-22 will likely be a footnote in the midterm elections, with incumbent Republican Pete Olsen handily beating Rogers in the general election. It should draw attention to one widely misreported aspect of the Tea Party movement, however:

During the campaign, she was photographed carrying an oversized portrait of the President with a Hitler-style mustache penciled on his lip.

As those of us who have attended the Tea Party rallies and followed the movement know, it’s been the LaRouchies all along who have brought the Obama-as-Nazi posters along. The media, however, insisted on tarring the entire movement with those posters rather than report on their actual origin. I wonder whether they’ll be inclined to treat the Democratic Party the same — and in this case, Rogers won an election among Democrats based in part on that campaign imagery.

by Ed Morrissey

This Picture Just Broke My Brain Pan

Submitted by kimbuhleightuff: “welcome to mississippi.” via [stfuconservatives.]

I'd say it's ironic modern art... but that might be incorrect.

6 Shot in Chicago Overnight

On another hot night in Chicago, at least six people were shot in four separate incidents on the South, West and North Sides, officials said.

Two people were shot at about 9:38 p.m. in the 3600 block of West Schubert Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood, police said.

A 20-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man were stopped in traffic there when a male assailant approached their vehicle and shot them. The woman suffered a gunshot wound to her leg and was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital. She is now listed in "stable" condition. The male victim was treated on the scene for a graze wound to his leg.

Less than an hour later, two teen boys were shot in the 5200 block of South Mozart Street in the Gage Park neighborhood. The youths were sitting on a porch when a male suspect jumped out of a vehicle and opened fire, police said.

One victim, 15, was shot in the arm, and the other victim, 17, was shot in his hand and leg. Both teens were taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital and listed in fair condition, police said.

At 11:10 p.m., a 19-year-old man was shot on the 100 block of West Fullerton Drive in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on the North Side. He was taken in critical condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

A 33-year-old man was found shot at about 3:29 a.m. in the 1400 block of North Karlov Avenue in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood, police said. He was walking on the street when he heard gunfire and then was shot in the leg. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition, police said.

Earlier Monday afternoon, a 16-year-old boy was shot in the 3400 block of West 53rd Place, police said. The youth was walking down the street when three male suspects in a vehicle approached him. The suspects got out of the vehicle and began arguing with the teen, then beat him. One of the suspects pulled out a handgun and shot the teen in his thigh, police said.

The boy was taken to Mt. Sinai in serious condition and as of 6:30 a.m., police report his condition has not changed.

As of 6:50 a.m., no one was in custody for any of the shootings. Wentworth Area, Belmont Area and Grand Area detectives are investigating.

Thanks for the cutn'paste, Chicago Tribune.

Now, how's that gun ban working out Mr. Mayor? Perhaps you should take your rifle and stick it up the shooter's asses?

Rand Paul Takes Kentucky

Rand Paul Wins Republican Senate Nomination in Kentucky

Rand Paul, one of the early leaders of the Tea Party movement, won the Republican nomination for Senate in Kentucky on Tuesday night, delivering a powerful blow to the party's establishment and offering the clearest evidence yet of the strength of the anti-government sentiment simmering at the grass-roots level.

Mr. Paul, the son of Representative Ron Paul of Texas, easily defeated Trey Grayson, the secretary of state from Kentucky. Voters turned against Mr. Grayson even though he had the support of the state's best-known political leader - Mitch McConnell, the Senate Republican leader.

Take note, Washington.

And I'm happy to see the evil racist violent teabag movement found their voice at the ballot box. It's also pleasant to see the G.O.P. got their man handed back to him in that ballot box.

The grassroots raised money for Rand in small donations.

Trey Grayson had fundraisers thrown for him by the establishment. 21 Senators at one fundraiser, AIG lobbyists throwing another, endorsements from McConnell, Dick Cheney, Giuliani. And with all that weight and cash -- their horse got it's head chopped off.

That's awesome.

Sunday Comics: Week in Review

And that was the week. Hope you had fun? See you next week.