March 13, 2015

Stop blaming white racism on black rappers - Washington Post Article

So, reasonable minds keep wondering when exactly the so-called "Lean Forward" folks at MSNBC going to fire the entire Morning Joe Crew? Probably never because its' "Black Folks" fault "White Folks" like the ones on Morning Joe said borderline racist things about "Black Folks" and their "Hip-Hop" music culture excuses anything like the Boys on the SAE Bus singing a song about Lynching some of those folks. #SMH

"There are a lot of truly idiotic ways to talk about popular culture. But if I could banish just one of them from the realm of public discourse, it would be the weird and persistent tendency to blame white racism on black rappers.

The latest invocation of this idea came on “Morning Joe,” where the participants got themselves into a state of high indignation upon hearing that Waka Flocka Flame had cancelled a planned appearance at the University of Oklahoma after members of the school’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Epsilon were taped repeating a grotesquely racist chant. For host Mika Brzezinski, it was a matter of hypocrisy, noting that the rapper both conjures up violent scenarios in his songs and uses some of the same slurs the boys used. “It’s full of n-words, it’s full of f-words. It’s wrong,” she argued. “And he shouldn’t be disgusted with them, he should be disgusted with himself.”

The hypocrisy canard is so old it’s dusty, and Willie Geist got a chance to parse what was wrong with it. But other comments during the segment were even more revealing.

Bill Kristol cast the fraternity members as victims of brainwashing, suggesting that “Popular culture becomes a cesspool, a lot corporations profit off of it, and then people are surprised that some drunk 19-year-old kids repeat what they’ve been hearing.” And host Joe Scarborough went even further, arguing that white audiences wouldn’t encounter these words or scenarios if only rappers would clean up their acts. “Anybody that watches ‘Empire’ knows that 70 percent of the [audience for hip-hop] audience is white,” he insisted. “It’s a white audience, and they hear this over and over again. Do they hear this at home? Chances are good, no, they heard a lot of this from guys like this who are now acting shocked.”

This ridiculously naive formulation stays in circulation because it’s convenient. It sets up a scenario in which a pure and gentle majority (which means white) culture is polluted by black people. It argues that white people who transgress can’t be held responsible for their racism because they have been poisoned or brainwashed. It’s an equation that always solves for white innocence and black guilt. (Kristol, Scarborough and company might also consider what it means that they consider white college students so weak-minded that they’ll just repeat anything they hear.)

Most of the time, people who blame rap for white racism can get away with this shoddy argument for causality. But in the University of Oklahoma case, this attempt to lay blame looks especially foolish because the fraternity members themselves have explained where the chant came from.

“The song was taught to us,” Parker Rice said in a statement. And not by Waka Flocka Flame or any other rapper, but by Rice’s fraternity brothers. While the national office of Sigma Alpha Epsilon denies that the chant is currently taught as part of initiation or fraternity ritual, the organization did say that the fraternity would look into reports that the chant had been cropping up at other chapters: “Some of the allegations refer to incidents, which Sigma Alpha Epsilon acknowledges, from more than 20 years ago. Although we cannot change the past, we can learn from the present and alter the future.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/03/11/stop-blaming-white-racism-on-black-rappers/

March 13, 2015

Basic Math on Michigan Proposal 1 of 2015 Ends with Questionable Results

Sometimes, Politicians think we are stupid....

That is the best description one can muster for the shell game being played on Michigan residents about efforts to raise the State's Sales Tax from 6% to 7%.

Last weekend, while attending a local informational form on Proposal 1 of 2015 - a measure designed to hike taxes on purchases not related to food at any grocery store chain or independent operator in Michigan - an moment of clarity arose.

If the basic math and surface details of Proposal 1's lead to a reasonable conclusion the measure by its core design takes earned revenue away from the coffers of Michigan's lower, middle and working class were not clear as a bell before this moment in time, this hypothesis was quantified in recent conversation with a elected official we shall leave nameless.

Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2015/03/oped-basic-math-on-michigan-proposal-1.html#ixzz3UIJG0QPd
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February 26, 2015

What Is Independent Underground News and Talk: The Real, True 'Underground' Difference

Often imitated, never duplicated -- Independent Underground News & Talk along with Independent Underground Radio LIVE & The IURL Affiliate Network of Shows is Michigan's TOP Independent Progressive Left - Urban Politics News, Commentary and Informational site.

Read more: http://j.mp/TheRealUndergroundMI
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February 25, 2015

How the Midwest Was Won for the 1%: Right to Work for Less

This piece will be a bit reflective but not too long in nature. To start, in the readers mind let us travel back to a time where all the core Midwest States supported the rights for workers to unionize.

It would be the year two thousand eight. Slightly prior to the November 2008 election of America's First African-American President, Barack Obama.

What are the Midwest Core states of the historical Northwest Territory: Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois.

Two of these states in the years since 2008 are now Right to Work for Less - or widely known as Right to Work. The States are Michigan and Indiana.

In the other three states it appears RTW is literally around the corner from being enacted.

Especially in Wisconsin where non-college graduate Governor and budding Presidential candidate Scott Walker (R) is pushing for the state Assembly to pass RTW before the end of February, or by no later than early March.

Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2015/02/oped-how-midwest-was-won-for-1-right-to.html#ixzz3Sn03QpVm
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February 24, 2015

Community Members Stand With Washtenaw County Only African-American Judge Fight To Stay On Bench

"Members of the Washtenaw County Community filled a meeting room at Brown Chapel African-Methodist Episcopal Church on Monday evening in a vow to stand behind the Honorable J, Cedric Simpson, 14-A District Court Judge fight to stand on the bench.

Simpson, Washtenaw County's only remaining African-American Judge faces March 30 hearing before the Judicial Tenure Commission after a formal complaint was filed against him in mid-November 2014.

Judge Simpson who attended the event with relatives, was moved to tears by the overwhelming attendance of community members, groups and organizations during the event offered brief remarks."

Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2015/02/community-members-stand-with-washtenaw.html#ixzz3ShfjY7z0
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February 22, 2015

Lean Forward, Going Left for MSNBC/Comcast Will Switch to Lean Back, Drive Right - The Daily Beast

Saying this was predictable was a understatement.

Comcast, the Republican leaning corporation they are, goal was to drive the Firebrand of MSNBC off the channel --- that was and always will be Keith Olbermann -- allow for his "replacement" Rachel Maddow to try and fill K.O. shoes (that has NEVER happened and they knew this).

Next, the goal was built a series of parrots ---oops folks who sounded similar to Rachel around her (can one say OVERKILL) -- and drive the quasi "Liberal Network" into the ground.

That is exactly what has happened and it was designed just that way.

See the point was to drown America (or at least the America that watches MSNBC faithfully -- which has been falling by the day since the 2012 Elections) with so-called "News Anchors" -- NOT -- Commentary Hosts -- YEP --- that repeated the same ole', same ole' from program to program similar to sheep walking in a line to the barn.

Viewers (the ones who watches less and less MSNBC by the day) became ever so growing sick to death of the lack of original thought (screaming CAN WE HAVE THOM HARTMANN), fiery yet critical when necessary Progressive Stances (screaming the entire FREE SPEECH TV LINEUP) and a complete inability to stop toning the lines of Corporate Dems (..."Hillary is a shoe-in" --- a day after the 2012 Presidential Election) and since .

Now the chickens have come home to roost (for lack of a better catch phase). The Big Money Comcast donors (not you or I) want to FLOOD the AIRWAVES with Republican Presidential Candidates, talking points, Citizens United Money --- you name it. With such, Bye-Bye to "Lean Forward" and Hello to "Drive Right"!!

From The Daily Beast:

“Everybody in the food chain from top to bottom understands that the Olbermann era is over,” said an MSNBC source, referring to the glory days during George W. Bush’s administration when incendiary liberal Keith Olbermann regularly attracted a million viewers—many of them seeking refuge from White House and Republican talking points.

The MSNBC source said, “Going left was a brilliant strategy while it lasted and made hundreds of millions of dollars for Comcast, but now it doesn’t work anymore...The goal is to move away from left-wing TV.”"

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/19/after-msnbc-axes-ronan-farrow-and-joy-reid-s-shows-is-chris-hayes-next.html

And BAM --- she drops the mic! She being I..... Told ya....

In the end, MSNBC/Comcast w/ Billions upon Billions of dollars of post Citizens United money will keep Rachel -- however look for her "reporting" (Commentary) to change BIG TIME.

Chris Hayes will soon move from show host, back to correspondent -- and eventually back writing for dollars with The Nation. Joy Ann Reid clock is ticking just like Ronan "Ole' Blue Eyes alleged son Farrow as the duos former show host, now correspondent days are numbered.

The Cycle's three bobble heads with the exception of Ari Melber --who's the smartest one of that bunch-- will go back to blogging, or Abby Huntsman -- back on Daddy big bucks (Jon Huntsman) payroll.

Ari is likely will be tapped to fill the 9:00 pm slot as Rachel's last stand will be placing her head to head with the O' Reilly Factor at 8:00 pm ET. Yet, she will be kept until after the 2016 Election cycle (you know for if nothing else for the corporate media critics to discuss how bad her ratings will be against Brian Williams II (in lies) Bill O'Reilly.)

Alex Wagner -- might keep 4:00 pm ET slot as rumor has it she is Phil Griffin's Favored Person EVER... .

Al Sharpton --- weekends then nothing which in IMHO would NOT be a lost after his Glamour Shot at SNL 40 with no other than Sister "Valley Trash" (she called herself this) Sarah Palin -- who has called the sitting President of the United States -- a Boy.

Ed Schultz -- well he MIGHT want to fire back up his daily radio show and kill the podcast -- as he might be next on the chopping block of MSNBC's "Drive Right in the 2016 Elections stance". Just saying....

Morning Pluke and Stepford Wife Mika are coming on for now FOUR HOURS in the morning -- taking over for Thomas Roberts (a true news anchor) "Way Too Early". Four hours of straight un-watchable Drive Right TV to start a day. Yep, MSNBC will be the new Faux News light indeed.

Yet there are those who will continue to place their heads in the sandbox and say "No MSNBC is not going to change. They will keep "Leaning Forward" and other feel good phases like that," they boast.

For those individuals, feel free to make the blind familiar with this "Well Placed" MSNBC source statement to the Daily Beast on February 19, 2015 (as it needs to be repeated -- often):

The MSNBC source said, “Going left was a brilliant strategy while it lasted and made hundreds of millions of dollars for Comcast, but now it doesn’t work anymore...The goal is to move away from left-wing TV.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/19/after-msnbc-axes-ronan-farrow-and-joy-reid-s-shows-is-chris-hayes-next.html

Maybe now or maybe never, who knows --- folks will wake up and get on board with True Progressive Networks like Free Speech TV, TYT or smaller yet indeed Progressive resources like Independent Underground News & Talk along with a variety of others programs on the netwaves. Who knows!

February 20, 2015

The President Makes It Clear: He Loves America -- Rudy G. Needs to Take A SEAT!

As we are getting prepared for our Progressive Talk Radio Podcast -- Independent Underground Radio LIVE tonight (Thursday, February 19, 2015) at 9pm ET, we had the honor of researching video evidence of where the sitting President of the United States Barack Obama -- made it pretty darn clear HE LOVES AMERICA.

So, next time a Tea Partier, Bottom of the Barrel Scraping Republican or just completely Head in the Sandbox Citizen repeats the vile LIE of Rudy Giuliani (who slept with his Second Cousin by the way) --- show them this video from the 2008 campaign!

And Thank You President Barack Obama!!!

February 16, 2015

Rev. Al Sharpton: Time to Turn in your 'Black Civil Rights Leader' Card

Kid you not. This writer was on her way to sleep in bed as the time is mighty late in arctic cold Michigan early Monday Morning then....

The above picture landed right on our Independent Underground News & Talk Facebook page. At first, the usual initial thoughts came to mind: Photoshop Bomb, Hacked Facebook Page, One Big Facepalm Moment in Time Event.

However, it appears none of this is true, and worst -- the picture is likely real as the quote says:

"On the red carpet with Sarah Palin at the 40th anniversary of Saturday Night Live #SNL40," described on the Rev. Al's Facebook page."

Oh My!"

Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2015/02/oped-rev-al-sharpton-its-time-to-turn.html#ixzz3RtWZGaQa
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February 16, 2015

More Things Stay The Same -- A Michigan Politics Post State Dems Convention Commentary

It literally took twenty-four hours to write this commentary....

This is most prudent sentence to effectively describe what took place at the Annual Convention of Michigan Democrats located in Detroit on Valentine's Day 2015. Before circling the aftermath of what did stay the same, it would be best to travel back in time to November 4, 2014 -- a day that will live in infamy.

Michigan Democrats lost big time with exceptions of former Congressman -- now Senator Gary Peters (D), former Southfield Mayor now Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D - Oakland County) becoming first African-American Woman elected from the state to Congress since 2010, and former private Attorney now Justice Richard Bernstein to the Michigan Supreme Court.

Lawrence, Peters and Bernstein's wins were profound, yet in reality these candidates won these races on their own merit.

Now, back to what happened Democrats in other Statewide elections in the year 2014.

Read more: http://www.reachoutjobsearch.com/2015/02/more-things-stay-same-michigan-politics.html#ixzz3RreYW6sR
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February 9, 2015

Guest: Matt Stannard Executive Director from Commonomics USA 2/5 - IU Radio LIVE

Welcome to Independent Underground Radio LIVE (IURL) - MICHIGAN'S TOP POLITICO PODCAST - Aired each Tuesday & Thursday at 9pm ET.

On The Show:
Our Guest Matt Stannard, the Executive Communications Director of Commonomics USA will stop by to discuss the organizations efforts to bring light to the horrible LoanSharking Practice of PayDay Loans and why the fix is to immediately adopt Public Banking practices nationwide!

Host Monica RW is an owner/writer for the popular Independent Underground News website, media consultant for ROJS Media LLC, a experienced grassroots and elected local political leader, and brings her researched Independent opinions to the political issues of the day.

With Our FIFTH YEAR on Blog Talk Radio, syndicated by Tune In, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iTunes, Learn Out Loud and Player FM Networks, Independent Underground Radio LIVE (IURL) have received over 1.5 Million downloads since 2010!!

Call into the show with your thoughts and opinions at 347-934-0185 or tweet us @IUNewsTalk.

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