The "Dean Metric": President Obama Exposes GOP; Gets Public Option

Throughout the mighty 2008 United States Presidential election, there was perhaps no one "analyst" that I listened to more carefully than former Vermont Governor and former DNC leader, Dr. Howard Dean. His insight into the eventual outcome of 2008 was sharp and always on point. And now, as the temperature on the health care/insurance reform debate has heated up, it is again Dr. Howard Dean who continues to make the most resonant observations. And the most revealing observation that Dean has made thus far deals with his speculation that Obama will ultimately push for and get the public option into whatever health care/insurance bill that comes out of Congress. More specifically, Dean has shed light on the likelihood that Obama's recent "soft" comments about the public option are really calculated statements designed to show that Republicans (by and large) are not up for any reasonable (good faith) compromises or negotiations, and that furthermore, they're actually opposed to any reform in health care and the health insurance industry. I have a feeling that this time Dr. Dean is right once again.

Check out: http://standwithdrdean.com/

-Amir Said

Inconvenient Truth: American Slavery

Somewhere, somehow, when I was younger, I got the notion that slaves were only owned by rich white men on big plantations. Truth is, slaves were a common thing; many whites (rich or poor) in the South in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries owned at least 2 African (black) slaves. Even more haunting than that, however, is the fact that many slave owners (white males) fathered children with many of their female slaves. The "inconvenient truth" here is the fact that, on most occasions, the slave owners sold the children they sired...

-Amir Said

12-Step Redemption Program; Mainstream Media Gets 2nd Step Right

Ever sense the mainstream media fell asleep on the job six years ago, by not diligently scrutinizing the malarkey the Bush administration pushed about Iraq, Sadaam Hussein, and WMDs, they have been clamoring to "make it right." Well, having begun the a 12-step redemption program--the first step being their role in getting President Obama elected--they're seemingly focused (well, at least MSNBC is) on making sure that the health care debate not only gets a fair shake, but that serious wholesale health care and insurance reform actually gets done. To that I say: Kudos, mainstream media. Glad to see you're awake on the job again.

-Amir Said

"I'm Gettin' That"... 'Dean Martin Variety Show' DVD

There's one particular benefit to staying up late--or never sleeping, depends on how you look at it. Every now and then you catch an infomercial for "an amazing product at an amazing price." Such is the case with the 'Best of the Dean Martin Variety Show' DVD. Yes, the good folks over at Gunthy-Renker (infomercial kings) have figured out that there's a market for rare mid-1960s and mid-1970s variety shows. I belong to that group. That's why I'm gettin' that 'Best of Dean Martin Variety Show' DVD.

-Amir Said

"Lunatic Fringe": Danger in Small Numbers

Seven months after Obama's historical presidential election, it's clear that culture has taken on a new meaning. Whether because of mental, financial, and/or an emotional threat, there is a group of Americans who have found themselves on the other side of cultural progression and plain old common-sense reason. These "Americans" (in quotes because they believe that America is there's alone) are mostly middle and lower middle-class, middle-aged white males (and some females), who have increasingly become phobic of anyone's rights or progress but their own. There is no leader among them. Instead, their guidance is provided by double-talking lobbyists (ex-Congressmen) and corporate front-men who's only interest is to keep things as they were.

These "Americans," now collectively known as the "lunatic fringe," are increasingly using mob rhetoric, and are becoming more and more embolden by some notion that this is 1776, and they have the right to grab their muskets and blast away at the British. Only, their gun scopes and mental break-downs are not being directed at some Governor from the old empire across the pond. On the contrary, this lunatic fringe has its sights set on all reasonable Americans who are concerned with moving the United States forward rather than, well, no where.

But the problem with the notion that one can stop the charge of change is that is premise itself is entirely undermined by the limits of human biology. Yes, despite any effort to compromise the certainty of age, the truth is: we all get older. Likewise, change happens, with or without those who prescribe to its fundamental role in life. So here, it's not that I'm concerned with if change is going to happen. Indeed, it has: my 13 year old son knows more about the United States Constitution and "clash for clunkers" than he does about this year's NFL rookie class--and he studies the NFL draft like Mel Kiper's paying him a commission. What I'm concerned about. No, what we all must be concerned about is what price is this lunatic fringe going to make us pay? Will it be two U.S. Senators? Will it be a mom or a dad, a daughter or a son? Will it be another Security Guard? Another federal building? Another bombshell to the American pysche?

You see, when I think about the lunatic fringe's recent "disruption strategies," it alarms me far more than the "birther talk." These disruption strategies, that force innocent, information-seeking Americans into a sort of clash with the lunatic fringe, have gone dangerously too far. And that reminds of something that I learned a long time ago: one fool with a gun can mess it all up for everybody.

-Amir Said