April | 2015 | The Obama Diary

Well, we now have two declared candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. (If we’re being charitable, three, but who’s counting Lincoln Chafee?)

Hillary Clinton is on her “listening tour” (didn’t she do that in 2008?), and seems to be listening somewhat. She gave a speech calling for the end of mass incarceration; a mass incarceration she called for back when her husband was president. But, people change, that was 20 years ago, and being the good rationalist I am I will keep an open mind. I’m certainly not going to dismiss her out of hand if she wins the nomination, because the thought of someone more conservative and unhinged than Antonin Scalia taking his seat on the Supreme Court should give even the most side-eyed Democratic Clinton-hater a bucket-full of pauses.

And then we have Bernie Sanders. I really don’t know why he’s running. He might have made an impact as an independent; but, props to him, he didn’t want to split the left vote, so he’s giving it the old college try. But an old guy with unkempt hair who looks like he should be feeding the pigeons probably won’t have the financial wherewithal to take on the Koch/Adelson money machine (something Hillary will have no problem doing should she win). Bernie running is part vanity, and part to get his issues out beyond his acolytes. (This is assuming that the media give him any attention, even if he is running as a Democrat. The media is good at ignoring those who are inconvenient.)

Some are rooting for Deval Patrick to enter. Many are pinning their hopes on Martin O’Malley. And, of course, there’s always Jim Webb. (I jest.)

Of course, I have questions.

Continue reading ‘An Open Letter’

When your police tweet is a lie but also accurate http://t.co/3NgBlv72z8
—
Mark Agee (@MarkAgee) April 29, 2015

"He was handcuffed and placed in a transport van in good health. He emerged a quadriplegic." vox.com/2015/4/28/8509…
—
jesseWilliams. (@iJesseWilliams) April 29, 2015

****

Great commentary from Donna Dem (@NoShock). This was in response to GGail’s comment about Donna’s tweet

MLK: A riot is the language of the unheard CBSNews Video cbsnews.com/videos/mlk-a-r…
—
Donna NoShock (@NoShock) April 28, 2015

****

I don’t believe that it is an either or situation. Like PBO said today it is a combination of both. Personal responsibility along with the right economic metrics will have a profound impact on folks lives. But for the grace of God and being born in a family that placed a high value on personal responsibility and respect for your fellow man that could have been me or my kids in those streets last night.

****

Another image you won't see on CNN. http://t.co/UHhha3aaQo
—
Tim Fair (@PointWellTaken) April 28, 2015

****

My skin is black so I believe that I was marked from the time of birth. Society looks at me differently. They want me to believe that we are all created equal but having my West Point, Army Captain, straight laced, never been in any trouble sons followed around the CVS from isle to isle simply because of the color of their skin tells me that this is not a fair or equal society. Driving through the city whether its a predominately Black or White or Hispanic area and knowing that when I see a police cruiser pull over a car that there is a 90% chance that the person in that car is a black male because of the numerous times that my guys get pulled over for driving while black is all the indication I need to understand the powder keg that is waiting to explode in our society.

****

Crickets from the media! - Protester Schools TV Anchor About Media Coverage Of Baltimore Riots huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/28/bal…
—
Nelson (@Yardarm756DD) April 29, 2015

#BREAKING Photo: Looters steal billions of dollars, destroy businesses, leave thousands homeless: #FreddieGray http://t.co/O7ogrFptng
—
Rs = 2GM/c^2 (@AnarchoPhysics) April 28, 2015

****

No one is condoning violence but yes I do understand the violence. Because some of us are better educated and doors of opportunity have been opened for us who took advantage and walked through doesn’t mean that this opportunity is there for most of us. We still have the highest unemployment rate as a people in this country. We still are the least educated people in this country. We are still the last to get hired and the first to get fired in this country so when you mix these elements with poverty, drugs and a criminal element you get the results you saw last night. Many affluent Blacks are working with communities all over this country. You see it with the Boys and Girls Clubs, you see them as sports coaches in our little leagues, you see them volunteering to tutor disadvantage kids, you see them setting up non-profits to help ex-felons acclimate back into society. Then you see Federal Grants get cut and food stamps and fuel assistance cut back and head start programs all but eliminated. We take two steps forward and one step backward.

****

And then there's this. #BaltimoreUprising http://t.co/oD7T6wrE7t
—
deray mckesson (@deray) April 29, 2015

Did you hear about the black man killed by police this month? #BlackLivesMatter http://t.co/Y0vbwnoZIr
—
TheObamaCAT (@TheObamaCat) April 29, 2015

****

Couple that with the conservative entertainment complex filling peoples heads with the notion that we are all basically leeches looking to live off the government and people feel hopeless. So take all that into consideration. My guys have great jobs, a well balanced family, they understand the consequences of their actions and take personal responsibility for themselves but yet are still racially profiled almost weekly. Now take a kid who doesn’t have those values and treat them like they are less than human and you get less than human behavior. Quite frankly I’m surprised that anyone is surprised at what they are seeing in Baltimore.

****

#BaltimoreLunch is still happening after school today. 3:00pm at St. Marks 655 N Bentalou and Gilmore Homes at 3:30 RT PLS
—
Charles Wade (@akacharleswade) April 29, 2015

‘Burn Or Loot Something So It’s Newsworthy’ http://t.co/DXhQL2T8dy
—
TheObamaDiary.com (@TheObamaDiary) April 29, 2015

****

What. The. Hell. RT @kanYeBreast: BEG PARDON?!! RT @ElleJ614: The fuck?! RT @LadieeAsh: Wow. http://t.co/SgvRKLkRkD
—
Goddess Artavia ☥ (@SOOPGOLDEN) April 29, 2015

The story is simple: Gray died in state custody. Unlikely anyone will be punished. (Which explains the riots.) That's pretty much it.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) April 29, 2015

****

That moment when researching the history of BPD's dirty tricks and you come across a familiar name. Your father's. http://t.co/zsTnRfFaUm
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) April 29, 2015

Justice for #FreddyGray begins with answers and transparency , not curfews, rubber bullets and tear gas.
—
zellie (@zellieimani) April 29, 2015

****

Basic media ideas are ill-suited. This story goes back to 1972. (at least) But we don't have a way to present that.
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) April 29, 2015

We have a good idea as to what will happen after Baltimore "calms down." This isn't new. And in that sense, it isn't "news."
—
Ta-Nehisi Coates (@tanehisicoates) April 29, 2015

****

As long as police officers are not held accountable for their actions, "the community" is nothing more than hostages to a gang of thugs.
—
Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) April 28, 2015

The community has been set up to fail. Our political system continues that failure. Our judicial system continues that failure.
—
Chris Kluwe (@ChrisWarcraft) April 28, 2015

****

My prayers go out to all my brothers & sisters in Baltimore. This battle is hard but crucial. The revolutionary youth will change the world.
—
Amandla Stenberg (@amandlastenberg) April 28, 2015

"Violence doesn't accomplish anything." Well, damn. That makes the US military budget an even bigger waste. Let's fund schools now instead.
—
April Apathy (@dyrbert) April 27, 2015

****

Baltimore Orioles Exec. Issues Surprisingly Powerful Defense of Protesters' Right to Be Outraged alternet.org/civil-libertie…
—
Steve Crandall (@JayandSteve) April 27, 2015

Take a moment to read the Orioles' COO @JohnPAngelos statement on #Baltimore. It is worth your time. http://t.co/1ObqMfEiL5
—
Kasie Hunt (@kasie) April 28, 2015

****

John's Hopkins University. #FreddieGray http://t.co/lFPTaZyT9M
—
deray mckesson (@deray) April 28, 2015

MD law requires arraignment w/in 24hrs. ~235 arrested at Monday #BaltimoreUprising still held: buzzfeed.com/maryanngeorgan… http://t.co/S2Cp66JYIJ
—
Keegan Stephan (@KeeganNYC) April 29, 2015

****

If you didn't see @Deray put Wolf Blitzer right today, watch it Thank you @Deray for your truth-telling #Baltimore youtube.com/watch?v=m7eMNc…
—
TheObamaCAT (@TheObamaCat) April 28, 2015

If you ignored the black guy saying it for years, but are all ga-ga over the white lady saying it once, you're the problem
—
SheriffFruitfly (@sherifffruitfly) April 29, 2015

****

Across the street from Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore: http://t.co/skd8oDUblY
—
Kevin Rector (@RectorSun) April 29, 2015

A Mondawmin Mall entrance right now http://t.co/TKcvc5MY4d
—
Kevin Rector (@RectorSun) April 29, 2015

****

Learn the stories of 101 unarmed black people killed by police last year. Mappingpoliceviolence.org/unarmed
—
deray mckesson (@deray) April 29, 2015

This is what West Baltimore normally looks like... how was this not already a state of emergency http://t.co/U3Fwjip4is
—
Political Line (@PoIiticalLine) April 29, 2015