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A Cast (e) of One

post from Docudharma - Front Page on 03 November 2009 05:40:43 PM. © Docudharma - Front Page

(dark & ugly essay warning; these feelings are just my feelings at this moment, not judgmental commentary on any reader here or elsewhere)The idea of Unity is a sham that will never happen. We are all divided by invisible, unbreachable barriers of social[...]

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CA-10: National Medias Forgotten Race Proves
Victory for Progressives

post from Firedoglake on 03 November 2009 05:40:39 PM. © Firedoglake

[Ed. Note: Dave Dayen has more on the CA-10 race.]You’re forgiven for not knowing that the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the clusterFOX Congressional race in NY-23 and referenda on stripping same-sex marriage rights[...]

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http://seminal.firedoglake.com/diary/12639

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CNBC Reporter: Keflezighi’s Marathon Win
Was ‘Empty’ Because He Was An Immigrant Rather Than U.S.-Born

post from Think Progress on 03 November 2009 05:39:00 PM. © Think Progress

On Sunday, U.S. media outlets reported that for the first time in 27 years, an American had won the New York City Marathon. Meb Keflezighi was born in Eritrea, “growing up in a hut with no electricity.” He and his family moved to Italy when he was 10 years old, and came to the United States two years later. Keflezighi “began running in junior high in San Diego, then went on to star at UCLA.” He said he it was with “big honor and pride” that he wore the USA jersey while running in the marathon. Watch a post-marathon interview with Keflezighi here:

video details and more

However, CNBC Sports Business Reporter Darren Rovell doesn’t think Keflezighi deserves all this praise because when his mother gave birth to him, she wasn’t in the U.S. Rovell wrote a column yesterday saying that Keflezighi’s victory wasn’t “as good as it sounds” because Keflezighi is an immigrant, and this fact “takes away from the magnitude of the achievement the headline implies”:

Given our disappointing results, embracing Keflezighi is understandable. But Keflezighi’s country of origin is Eritrea, a small country in Africa. He is an American citizen thanks to taking a test and living in our country.
Nothing against Keflezighi, but he’s like a ringer who you hire to work a couple hours at your office so that you can win the executive softball league.

Around noon today, Rovell posted a “convoluted sort-of apology” clarifying yesterday’s piece, writing, “Let me be clear: Meb Keflezighi is an American and any suggestion otherwise is wrong.” He now granted Keflezighi’s win legitimacy only because the runner was “brought up through the American system”:

I said that Keflezighi’s win, the first by an American since 1982, wasn’t as big as it was being made out to be because there was a difference between being an American-born product and being an American citizen. Frankly I didn’t account for the fact that virtually all of Keflezighi’s running experience came as a US citizen. I never said he didn’t deserve to be called American. [...]
It turns out, Keflezighi moved to the United States in time to develop at every level in America. So Meb is in fact an American trained athlete and an American citizen and he should be celebrated as the American winner of the NYC Marathon. That makes a difference and makes him different from the “ringer” I accused him of being. Meb didn’t deserve that comparison and I apologize for that.

How long does someone have to be in the U.S. and go through the American “system” to be counted as legitimate? In today’s New York Times, academics who study race and sports note that there are still “undercurrents of nationalism and racism that are not often voiced” in sports. ?There is this notion about innate physiological gifts that certain races presumably possess. Quite frankly, I think it feeds into deep-seated stereotypes,? said David Wiggins, a professor at George Mason University.

Yesterday, Keflezighi responded to the criticisms, saying, “I?ve had to deal with it. But, hey, I?ve been here 22 years. And the U.S.A. is a land of immigrants. A lot of people have come from different places.?

(HT: bustacap at DailyKos)

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Early Exit Polls

post from MyDD on 03 November 2009 05:37:21 PM. © MyDD

We're still trying to track down some more background numbers, but some of the news nets are beginning to selectively release exit poll data. Per CNN, voters in Virginia did not see their state's gubernatorial race as an opportunity to voice opposition[...]

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Dick Armey needs a new metaphor

post from Daily Kos on 03 November 2009 05:34:02 PM. © Daily Kos

Dick Armey on the network of teabaggers supporting Doug Hoffman in NY-23:

I would say it’s the tip of the spear.

Actually, Dick, you've got it all backwards. Really, you do.

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w-metaphor

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Steeped In Village Think

post from TalkLeft on 03 November 2009 05:33:00 PM. © TalkLeft

Ezra Klein dives into the deep end of the Village pool:

Look at the Senate right now: If Democrats have 60 votes, it's because conservative activists kept running primary challengers against Arlen Specter. If they fall short, it's likely to be because liberal activists ran a primary challenge against Joe Lieberman.

Yep, ole Joe Lieberman was a down the line liberal Dem until the 2006 election. He was "with us on everything but the war." Ezra Klein -- now officially a Village idiot. See also Atrios ("[I]t'll be interesting to see how the Villagers will react. My guess is they'll portray [the NY-23 Teabaggers] as just folks exercising their patriotic duties, unlike those dirty f*cking hippie traitors who ran a primary against the greatest man in America, Joe Lieberman." (Emphasis mine.))

Speaking for me only

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Madoff Accountant Pleads Guilty To Fraud

post from TPMMuckraker on 03 November 2009 05:25:00 PM. © TPMMuckraker

Bernie Madoff's former accountant has pleaded guilty to fraud in connection with his auditing of Madoff's operation. But David Friehling denied that he knew anything about the underlying massive Ponzi scheme, which Madoff has pleaded guilty to orchestrating.

Friehling admitted that he didn't independently audit Madoff's financial statements, saying he took Madoff's claims at "face value." But he said (sub. req.) he put his own and his family's money with Madoff. In what was "the biggest mistake of my life, I placed my trust in Bernard Madoff," he said.

Friehling pleaded guilty to securities fraud, aiding or abetting investment advisor fraud, obstructing the administration of Internal Revenue laws, and making false filings with the SEC.

Federal prosecutors had charged that Friehling -- who said he was introduced to Madoff through Friehling's father-in-law -- created false financial statements for Madoff's firm, over many years. And that he had falsely certified that he had conducted proper audits.

Friehling is cooperating with prosecutors, but nonetheless faces a statutory maximum of 114 years in prison.

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Kucinich: Protect Rights of Consumers From
Insurance Companies!

Dennis: Right again! [...]

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Technically American

Well, that’s a new one on me. This year’s New York City Marathon winner is American, but not enough to make us proud, according to Darren Rovell, CNBC sports reporter.

He actually did use the term, ‘technically American’.

Meb Keflezighi, who won yesterday in New York, is technically American by virtue of him becoming a citizen in 1998, but the fact that he’s not American-born takes away from the magnitude of the achievement the headline implies.

Darren Rovell can go ahead and sulk. I’ll just say, ‘Go USA!’.

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http://kmareka.com/2009/11/03/technically-american/

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Scoville wins mayoral post, Ard tops city council
votes

The City of Georgetown will have a Democratic mayor and city council remains under Democratic control after today's election. Unofficial results show Democratic mayoral candidate Jack Scoville receiving 821 votes with second place, write-in candidate Ron Charlton garnering 358.

City council gains a new member tonight after Democratic candidate Jeanette Ard topped all others with 1050 votes. Republican incumbent Paige Sawyer had 866 and Democratic incumbent Brendon Barber finished with 846. Finishing out of the top three were Dedric Bonds (704), Jim Moody (566) and Bruce Yablin (212).

There was a little shock amongst the people at the Board of Elections office with Republican mayoral candidate Marty Tennant and his efforts. Tennant received 188 votes. Petition candidates Bob Sizemore (205) and Kizzie Lawson (181) swayed the rest. Tennant had some comments to offer after tonight's results.

Congratulations to Jack. I wish him well as Mayor. He will have a big job ahead of him.

No surprise with Sawyer. It seems people enjoy the fact he's anti-steel mill. They enjoy the pro-tourist stance with no results herein. But I do have to say one thing. I congratulated him and offered my support towards his role in providing more transparency in city government. I look forward to working with on that.

Jeanette Ard now has something to live up to. The people in the city spoke volumes and elected her by a huge margin. Now, Ard has to live up to the hype. I urge her to continue the movement towards open government and lay off the notion of nonpartisan elections. Having political parties is far more important in elections of all kind than most people think.

Voter turnout in the city w

as also a shock - 34.9 percent. But, with 2008 totals being about 30 points higher, it's not much to cheer about. People should realize that city and county elections benefit (or harm) you more than anything done in Washington.

In specific precincts, it was downright embarrassing. Dreamkeepers could only muster 230 votes out 965 registered voters. Georgetown #3 was more dismal. Out of 1351 registered voters, only 283 casted votes.

Proves the point that the establishment only want the select few in order to control and maintain power.

Charlton, the write-in Republican, won his home precinct - Georgetown #5. But that was a bitter victory. In the end, Scoville proved to be too much for the others.

Which leads me to this...

Jack, I voted for you today. I had two signs in my yard for you. I had a bumper magnet on my vehicle. I gave you free time on my blog. I supported Democratic philosophy.

I congratulate you on your victory.

Now, seeing that you ran on Democratic principle, I urge you to enact your plan as soon as you step into office. This city is hurting. People are struggling. You will now be our beacon of hope. It's important that you stand up for all the people of the city, even those who feel they aren't appreciated. I am sure you'll pay attention to the pathetic turnout out of our West End. Those people need to feel included in our process. Make them feel important, Jack.

Make the city feel important. Make us want to be involved. Push for transparency. Give us our government and make it accessible to all. Push for televised city council meetings. Hold town hall forums. Go door to door and surprise the people of the city with one-on-one visits.

Make our city feel warm, Jack.

We need it in this cold time we are in.

Read The Full Article:
http://thepoliticsofjamiesanderson.blogspot.com/2009/11/scoville-wins-mayoral-pos
t-ard-tops.html

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