Is This Image Racist ?

Well, I guess you would need to know the intent of the Photoshopper. Even then, you would need to know the intent of the person displaying the image, too. It is posted here for review. It certainly makes a clear message to Americans that the president's healthcare plans are akin to primitive witchcraft. Dunno what message it would send to the folks who live with the guy in the picture. Might be good foreign policy PR.
"Witch Doctors" are common in many cultures. They frequently use herbal remedies, they are frequently the most educated people in their communities & the mix of faith and science is not questioned. Most of the people who engage in these belief/social systems are dark skinned people with little industrial development. Nobody in America has a problem dismissing these other people's beliefs. Use of the term Voodoo is fairly accepted in the US as meaning quackery & trickery. It is a real belief system, of course & people in America practice it. Referring to Ron Reagan's economic theories as Voodoo Economics didn't phase anybody. Referring to Obama's initiatives similarly brings accusations of racism, however. What would have ensued if Reagan's theories had been labeled Lutheran Economics? Pentecostal, Catholic? (I think the real name for "trickle down" is neo-liberal. Of course Reagan couldn't have anything to do with the word "liberal" as he had managed to turn it into a four letter word almost single handedly)
In reality, Euro-Americans have moshed up religion & science a lot over the years. Monks practicing alchemy actually came up with some good results. What's kinda funny is that the folks who cooked up this image & use it is that they are probably more likely to mix up religion & science than their opponents.
The image also seems to have more to do with health cafe delivery than what Obama is targeting which is health care access.
So, the image actually misses the target & on top of that, it is hypocritical.
As the contempt for other cultures lifestyles is pretty much racist at the core, the image is clearly racist. Similarly, labeling Reagan's theories voodoo would also be racist as it demeans predominantly black Haitians beliefs. That Obama is in the picture with his head pasted onto the body of a presumably African guy is not inherently racist. But maybe that was the intent of the Photoshopper. I dunno. Spastic and inconsistent use of the racism charge renders the charge meaningless & the accusers irrelevant.

In the 2/13/09 episode of NOW, David Brancaccio discusses some of the problems of the latest stimulus package in relation to mass transit particularly. Much of the show focuses on Charlotte's light rail system. It addresses the fact that federal spending in states is usually based on what the state spends money on and states usually spend on highways while cities are left to maintain mass transit, so the lion's share of federal transportation money is going to highways instead of mass transit.

"Mass transit. Cities and states, strapped for money, are cutting back on mass transit even as it becomes more popular with Americans. Meanwhile, President Obama is calling for increased mass transit as a necessary step toward energy independence."

Ironically, Obama's focus on "shovel ready" projects is that his stimulus bill actually empowers the old Bush administrations agendas.
NOW story with video here

Why Did Obama Name This Guy Secretary of Agriculture ?

Obama has named Tom Vilsack Secretay of Agriculture.
From what I can see, he is a lawyer from Pittsburgh who got involved in Iowa politics after marrying an Iowess (?). His legislating seems to be big government, big business, labor and city oriented. I am not seeing any advocacy for farmers or even individual property owners.
Is his job more about school lunch programs than farming issues like land conservancy, safe growing techniques, tariffs, treaties and whatnot ?
He's no Henry Wallace.
He bred chickens, developed hybrid corn and was a relentless advocate for farmers and rural life.
Vilsack's preference for unrestricted eminent domain should make small farmers in heavily populated states like Ohio wary.

Northside celebrates the inauguration of the 44th president of the US of A with 3, count 'em, 3 events !

The Blue Ball Inauguration celebration
Presented by Cincy Rocks Obama and you!
Northside Tavern
4163 Hamilton Avenue
Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 8 pm.
More info

AND

off the Avenue Studios
1746 Knowlton St.
9:30 am
Folks are asked to bring a potluck brunch dish
children are welcome ...
Watch the event on the widescreen, enjoy a fire in the courtyard

AND

C&D
1714 Hanfield
Bye-bye Bush Bash
Come Celebrate the Obama Inaugration
6PM
Drink Specials
Music by BJ Dunaway
Presented by CityBeat and C&D

AND

If you're still in celebration mode on Saturday (and I know all you wild eyed liberals will be)

A (Not So) Fair and Balanced Farewell to Bush
Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Cluxton Alley Coffee Roasters
4037 Hamilton Avenue

The Damn Dog
One of Obama's campaign promises was to get a family dog, primarily, at his daughter's, Malia's, request.
Thanks to Bush's pup, Barney, biting a reporter, this promise has been brought to light. Thanks, Barney, for holding the press' feet to the fire to hold the president elect's feet to the fire on this burning issue.
Now they just have to pick a pup.

....oh god....
Because many people would refer to Mr Obama as a "half breed", he has to be careful about his choice. Because he is a liberal and has to appease crazed liberal animal rights groups, he needs to decide if he should get a traditional purebred dog or a new combo breed or a mutt. because Malia has allergies, does he get a hairless or.....
Apparently, Malia wanted a Cockapoodle, which is supposed to be a good choice for owners with allergies. Animal rights activists, who hate, despise, and loathe the notion of purebred dogs and consider anybody who breeds them to be the embodiment of Cruella De Vil, have succeeded in convincing Mr Obama to get a "rescue". No idea if this means a Cockapoodle is out. I would hate to see the kid's hopes dashed by cockamamie political correctness run amok.
I feel sorry for these guys and the hoops they are going to have to jump through and the BS that is going to be slung at them over what should be a very personal family decision.
FWIW, I like "mutts". I have allergies and like dogs - LOVE cats. You get used to 'em after awhile allergywise. In a place that will be as impeccably maintained as the president's, 16 cats and platoon of pups shouldn't be much of a problem.
I am sure Malia will grow to love whatever she ultimately gets. I would only suggest a female, so the kids can experience their pooch having a litter of puppies. Shouldn't be too hard to give away some presidential puppies.
oh wait - HSUS & PETA will need to stick their noses into it.....

LA Times story here.

Buying an Election
In what is shaping up to be the first billion dollar presidential campaign, Obama has outspent McCain almost 2 to 1 overall. McCain has outspent Obama in Minnesota and Iowa.
Obama has outspent McCain 3 to 1 in Pennsylvania. Obama has outspent McCain 3 to 1 in Virginia. Obama has outspent McCain 3 to 1 in Florida. Obama has outspent McCain more than 8 to 1 in North Carolina. Obama has outspent McCain almost 9 to 1 in Indiana. Obama has only slightly outspent McCain in Ohio on TV spots, Obama's being largely positive to McCains being almost entirely negative.
Selling a candidate is like selling a can of beans. A can of beans is a can of beans. We all know the famous Bush dog who plots against his loyal master to reveal the "secret recipe". This piques our interest and while our first and only can of Bush beans might result in us spitting out the first mouthful, we have purchased a can. The first purchase is always done through advertising and salesmanship. Subsequent purchases require the product to be worth a crap. More and better advertising can lead us to purchase one product over another once.
The thing is, our choosing a president is something we only do once and then we have to put up with the goombah for four years. And we have to swallow - repeatedly.
Obama and Palin are clearly the exciting personalities of this race. Similarly, do you purchase Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man, the Virginia Slims chick, the White Owl chick (I'm really dating myself now...), or do you just roll up some dried weeds, stick 'em in your mouth, set 'em on fire and suck ?
Ultimately, they all make you gag.
My recommendation ?
Choose none of the above.

Science Debate
The front running presidential candidates are asked a set of questions bout their stance on science, technology, energy, environment and education.
The gist of their answers ?
Obama - throw money
McCain - incentives
For the most part, they agree on all the issues, it's just a matter of how to deal with them. The difference in their strategies is basically the same difference between Democrats and Republicans we are only too used to.
Still, after Bush's recent jog back to the middle ages, these guys seem refreshing.

Story here.