Prometheus 6

I've been holding out on you. I've been taping the convention on CSPAN while watching some of the coverage on PBS. It was the best way to get more data than noise.

Now that we're at the end of the convention I'll give you the only links I felt guilty about hoarding. PBS had a panel of historians analyzing the convention. Asking folks whose careers depend more on generating light than heat was an excellent thought. 

Best of all, you're like one degree of seperation from one of them, Peniel Joseph, author of Waiting 'Til the Midnight Hour: A Narrative History of Black Power in America.

Here are the transcripts. The first two have streaming video, the second two most likely will have it later today.

• Historians Reflect on the Democratic Party's Fractious Evolution
  One of the world's oldest political parties, the Democratic Party has evolved over the past 100 years despite different ideologies held by its members and leaders. A panel of historians discuss past fractions within the party and the leaders who have tied Democrats together, including Sen. Barack Obama
• In Speech, Clinton Tries to Unite Party Behind Obama
  As the Democrats wrap up day two of their convention in Denver, analysts and historians review the night's key moments, in particular Sen. Hillary Clinton's speech in support of Sen. Barack Obama.
• Historians Praise Former President Bill Clinton's Convention Address
  Former President Bill Clinton spoke emphatically in support of Senator Barack Obama Wednesday night at the Democratic Convention. Analysts and historians react to the speech.
• Analysts, Historians Give Final Thoughts on Wednesday Night DNC
  Following Joe Biden's keynote speech on Wednesday, analysts and historians give their final thoughts on the third night of the Democrat national convention in Denver. 

I get this really interesting email on upcoming political coverage from PBS Vote 2008...I suppose I should thank whoever subscribed me to the email list except that it wasn't me and that kind of sucks...

TAVIS SMILEY -- Weekdays at 11 pm (check local listings) -- A smart hybrid of news, issues and entertainment. This Friday: A panel discussion recapping the Democratic Convention with guests Marc Morial (National Urban League), Cornel West (Princeton University) and Matt Bai (New York Times magazine).

Mr. Bai: let me suggest you become known for talking to Black folks rather than about Black folks.You won't have nearly as much competition.

There is no room in decent discourse for comparing a candidate for president to Hitler.

Seriously though...suppose the comparison is apt? This position blinds you to the rise of demagogues by defining them out of existence.

Because it's not just the President people apply Godwin's Law to. Given our pretense that we are our aspirations, we'll pretend we reach the standard we pretend Presidents have attained. We know for a fact there are Nazis and haters and bigots and mysogynists thinly veiling their intent. I would say the Pat Buchanans and Lou Dobbses of the world really do represent their demographic better than the public speeches of the Republican Party but given that Confederate English is a different language than News Anchor English, it's possible they are speaking directly.

Tiptoeing Around That Big Hyped Hope
Mother Jones’s Obama feature falls flat
By Jane Kim Wed 20 Aug 2008 12:23 PM

The current Mother Jones has a slew of writers, historians and thinkers responding to this question: “Is Barack Obama exaggerating when he compares his campaign to the great progressive moments in US history?”

The last post, titled Yes it is possible to have too much time on your hands, was an error. I had the wrong video embedded. These are the people with too much time on their hands,

And that's why Jon Stewart is the most trusted man on television...which I think is sufficient.

Is Jon Stewart the Most Trusted Man in America?
By MICHIKO KAKUTANI

IT’S been more than eight years since “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart” made its first foray into presidential politics with the presciently named Indecision 2000, and the difference in the show’s approach to its coverage then and now provides a tongue-in-cheek measure of the show’s striking evolution.

In 1999, the “Daily Show” correspondent Steve Carell struggled to talk his way off Senator John McCain’s overflow press bus — “a repository for outcasts, misfits and journalistic bottom-feeders” — and onto the actual Straight Talk Express, while at the 2000 Republican Convention Mr. Stewart self-deprecatingly promised exclusive coverage of “all the day’s events — at least the ones we’re allowed into.” In this year’s promotional spot for “The Daily Show’s” convention coverage, the news newbies have been transformed into a swaggering A Team — “the best campaign team in the universe ever,” working out of “ ‘The Daily Show’ news-scraper: 117 stories, 73 situation rooms, 26 news tickers,” and promising to bring “you all the news stories — first ... before it’s even true.”

Obama Is Not The End of Black Politics
Earl Dunovant
Copyright © 2008

Matt Bai's article, Is Obama the End of Black Politics?, caused a lot of conversation in my circles. There wasn't so much agreement as understanding; as a self-described stranger to the Black communities he did about as well as could be expected. He spoke to successful Black politicians about Black politics, and wove it into a nearly complete narrative of Sen. Obama's campaign to date. With a few additions and edits as the campaign progresses it could serve as the official version.

The article definitely implies the presence of folks like Cornell Belcher, Artur Davis, Cory Booker, Michael Nutter and Deval Patrick is proof of a change in Black politics, a culmination of sorts. As a description of Black politics, that needs enhancement, and I think the first step is to understand what we are talking about when we say “Black politics.”

Now, watch him bring the same level of expertise to presidential politics.

Already, there is reason to believe that race is weighing Obama down. A survey this year by CBS and the New York Times found that 94 percent of respondents would vote for a black presidential candidate. But when asked if "most people" would, the number dropped to 71 percent. Notre Dame political scientist David Leege estimates that 17 to 19 percent of white Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents will resist voting for Obama because he is black. That's far more than the percentage of Republicans who may vote for Obama because he is black. And it's a major reason that this election -- despite Obama's myriad advantages -- remains close.

I just found out Tales of the Black Freighter will be made into an animated movie and released as a separate DVD. They announced it in May, but it's news to me.

Google News informs us that the Russians are invading the South

Here's the Miles Davis music player from the official Miles Davis site. Enjoy for a while.

Where’s the Landslide?
By DAVID BROOKS

Why isn’t Barack Obama doing better? Why, after all that has happened, does he have only a slim two- or three-point lead over John McCain, according to an average of the recent polls? Why is he basically tied with his opponent when his party is so far ahead?

Because running polls, parsing and reparsing statements, broadcasting every $500 YouTube video the McCain campaign makes extends the campaign. It gives guys like you something to talk and write about.

Because John McCain is worse than even Bob Dole was. They may have to draft Jack Kemp for VP again.

You guys have ads to sell, so you need articles to wrap around them. So you commission a poll, and write about it for a week like they're all the people in the world. And while people like me write about what you wrote about, another poll of a somewhat different demographic is taken.

And so it goes.

Well, isn't this special?

Tallahassee Democrat senior writer Stephen Price was singled out and asked to leave the area reserved for media at a rally for John McCain in Panama City, Florida, on Friday. He had showed his media credentials and employee i.d. in order to enter the area when a member of McCain's security detail asked him to leave. "I explained I was with the state press, but the Secret Service man said that didn't matter and that I would have to go," Price said. When another reporter asked why Price was being removed, she too was led out of the area.

Other state reporters remained. Price was the only black reporter among those surrounding McCain's bus ... was he being "profiled"?

You know Price's editor had to step up.

Jonathan Block of the McCain campaign, who was not there at the time of the incident, expressed regret, but stated, "I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that race had nothing to do with it."

...is not shared by the media.

Haters of the mainstream media reheated a bit of conventional wisdom last week.

Barack Obama, they said, was getting a free ride from those insufferable liberals.

Such pronouncements, sorry to say, tend to be wrong since they describe a monolithic media that no longer exists. Information today cascades from countless outlets and channels, from the Huffington Post to Politico.com to CBS News and beyond.

But now there's additional evidence that casts doubt on the bias claims aimed -- with particular venom -- at three broadcast networks.

The Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University, where researchers have tracked network news content for two decades, found that ABC, NBC and CBS were tougher on Obama than on Republican John McCain during the first six weeks of the general-election campaign.

You read it right: tougher on the Democrat.

The Warner Music Group asserted its copyright claim against YouTube, which is the reason for the take-down.  McCain's campaign has re-posted the video, sans Warner's intellectual property. It's ironic that a United States senator, who has been part of a body that has so repudiated the idea of fair-use, is feeling the repeated stings resulting from its own legislative history.

McCain Campaign Yanks 'Obama Love' Web Video
By Sarah Lai Stirland
July 25, 2008 | 7:46:53 PM

Redlasso Shuts Down In Response To Fox/NBC Lawsuit
Jason Kincaid

Redlasso, the video site that allows bloggers to post clips of television content, has shut down its beta in response to a recently filed lawsuit by Hulu-backers Fox and NBC.

The Politico published a three page article on something I tossed off two years ago.

I had some kind of informal panels on blogging at the ASALH convention last week. I explained the difference between the Conservative and Progressive subnets is that the Progressive side is about gathering ideas while the Conservative side is a command structure.

DLC not withstanding...

It's a good article, though. Interestingly enough, the difference between it and my little pronouncement is pretty much the one they point out between liberal and conservative new media...reporting vs. opinion. I opined, they reported, so I got three sentences and they got three pages.

I still opine, though...

So I show up at Fox News HQ at, like, two seconds before 2 pm, which is when Color of Change, Nas and MoveOn.org were to present Fox News with 600,000+ letters requesting that the act right. ndre Banks was theres and I figured I should meet folks I support so regularly. Since I didn't make it to Netroots Nation and will not make it to Blogging While Brown this was the last opportunity for a while.

We had 45 seconds to talk. Andre was busy. Lotta-lotta media coverage; Fox even had this squirrelly little guy out there with a mike and a tape recorder. I recognized this Latino brother that interviewed me while he was at Columbia...he's working The Newshour's website now. I was interviewed by Reuters, god knows if or where it will be used. Met two cute white chicks who bummed a cigarette. They were wearing colorofchange.org t-shirts but did not know Fox won a lawsuit that established they have the first amendment guaranteed right to lie. This is to say even people who are offended by Fox don't know how bad they are.

McCain Mocks Media 'Love Affair' with Obama
By Howard Kurtz

John McCain's strategists have unveiled a new weapon against what they view as fawning coverage of his Democratic rival: mockery.

The campaign has posted two online videos, filled with clips of journalists saying nice things about McCain's opponent, and an e-mail message to reporters declaring: "It's pretty obvious that the media has a bizarre fascination with Barack Obama. Some may even say it's a love affair.... If it wasn't so serious, it would be funny."

The gimmick: asking people to vote on which video they prefer and promising to put that one on the air. Privately, though, McCain aides say they will be satisfied if the videos go viral, firing up supporters and donors, and that it isn't clear any of this will find its way into a campaign ad.

Hip Hop Artist Nas to Join Protest of FOX Race-Baiting and Obama Smears

ColorOfChange.org & MoveOn.org Members To Deliver Over 600,000 petition signatures to FOX headquarters in Manhattan

Hip hop star Nas will join members of ColorOfChange.org & MoveOn.org on Wednesday to deliver 620,127 petition signatures demanding that FOX end its pattern of racist attacks against Black Americans including presidential candidate Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. The group will make the delivery at 2:00pm on Wednesday, July 23rd at FOX in Manhattan.

Jack and Jill Politics has all this video from the Netroots Nation thing that just ended. Black bloggers should attend to this one in particular (sound is screwed for the first two and a half minutes or so...be patient).

Free video chat by Ustream

Links to Drudge on the othe side of this link. It's not directly linked...because, that's why. But the rejected article is copied in as an update to the original post, as well as a bit of back and forth between the Times and McCain's people. In a nutshell, it seems the Times was looking for a policy piece and McCain submitted a campaign piece. This may be the first time in media history the difference was notices, so McCain is crying foul.

Why the New York Times were right to reject John McCain's article

The New York Times has rejected a piece by Senator John McCain, having already run one by Barack Obama. And you know what? I think they may be right.

Here's how I would have dealt with the two articles if I had been been given them as Comment (OpEd) Editor here at what the Americans insist on calling the London Times.

Court tosses FCC ‘wardrobe malfunction’ fine
Three-judge panel rules agency ‘acted arbitrarily and capriciously’

PHILADELPHIA - A federal appeals court on Monday threw out a $550,000 indecency fine against CBS Corp. for the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show that ended with Janet Jackson’s breast-baring “wardrobe malfunction.”

The three-judge panel of the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the Federal Communications Commission “acted arbitrarily and capriciously” in issuing the fine for the fleeting image of nudity.

The 90 million people watching the Super Bowl, many of them children, heard Justin Timberlake sing, “Gonna have you naked by the end of this song,” as he reached for Jackson’s bustier.

The court found that the FCC deviated from its nearly 30-year practice of fining indecent broadcast programming only when it was so “pervasive as to amount to ’shock treatment’ for the audience.”