In An Alternate Times-World (Old Times There Have Been Forgotten)

With Obama as a launching point Timeswoman Kate Zernike writes about Presidential charisma; at one point she takes up the question of whether Kennedy's charisma could have pushed his Civil Rights legislation through the Congress, or whether (as Hillary noted in New Hampshire) it took the more pragmatic dealmeister, LBJ.  However, Ms. Zernike goes historically and hysterically awry with this:

When Mrs. Clinton talked about how it took Johnson as well as the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to achieve the rights legislation, Ms. Goodwin said, “she was absolutely right.” Johnson’s great mastery was to get the support of Southern Republicans. “It required his understanding of absolutely every single senator,” Ms. Goodwin said. “They were a team. Without Martin Luther King agitating the country and J.F.K. picking up the bill there would not have been that pressure on the Congress, and without L.B.J. there would not have been a bill.

Ms. Goodwin is not quoted as lauding Johnson's mastery of the Southern Republicans, so I am left believing that to be Ms. Zernike's extrapolation.  However, per Wikipedia, there were darn few Southern Republican available to vote, and all opposed the Civil Rights Act.

Let's see - in the House, where the outcome was not in doubt, Southern Democrats opposed the original bill by 87-7; Southern Republicans opposed it by 10-0.

In the Senate, where many thought the bill would be killed in committee or filibustered to death, Southern Democrats opposed the bill by 20-1; the lone Southern Republican Senator also opposed the bill.

For these purposes, "Southern" means a member of the 11 Confederate States of America.

Baffling.  Maybe Ms. Zernike is referring to border state Senators, but the story from the Deep South was nothing like she presented here.

Comments

[Sue]

Where is Karl Rove these days?

Alive and well and reporting for Fox. ::grin::

[Sue]

Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder predicted riots in the streets if the Clinton campaign were to overturn an Obama lead through the use of superdelegates.

OT will love this.

[hrtshpdbox]

"And it starts with 'c'."
Michelle Obama may need to refresh her memory about some things she can be proud of, but that's no reason to call her a communist.

[Sue]

but that's no reason to call her a communist.

He called her a cynic. Disregard if I'm not catching the joke here.

[anduril]

Steve Sailer's blog on Michelle Obama's Chip on her Shoulder contains a link to a Newsweek profile of her. Sailer's blog focuses on her experience as an affirmative action admittee to Princeton:

Newsweek has a long article on the wonderfulness of Mrs. Obama, but she sounds like she's got a log-sized chip on her shoulder from lucking into Princeton due to affirmative action. For predictable reasons, being admitted into one of the Big Four super colleges and being given lots of financial aid didn't instill in her a feeling of gratitude toward the benevolence of white people. Instead, it just fed her adolescent self-consciousness and racial paranoia. The bad news is that she doesn't seem to have gotten over it yet. (She's 44).

She did well in school (she skipped second grade), but she was not at the top of her class. She didn't get the attention of the school's college counselors, who helped the brightest students find spots at prestigious universities. "Princeton, the Ivy Leagues swoop up kids" like [her brother] Craig, Michelle says. "A black kid from the South Side of Chicago that plays basketball and is smart. He was getting in everywhere. But I knew him, and I knew his study habits, and I was, like, 'I can do that too'." Some of her teachers told her she didn't have the grades or test scores to make it to the Ivies. But she applied to Princeton and was accepted.

Overwhelmingly white and privileged, Princeton was not an easy place for a young black woman from the inner city. There weren't formal racial barriers and black students weren't officially excluded. But many of the white students couldn't hide that they regarded their African- American classmates as affirmative-action recipients who didn't really deserve to be there.

Angela Acree, a close friend who attended Princeton with Michelle, says the university didn't help dispel that idea. Black and Hispanic students were invited to attend special classes a few weeks before the beginning of freshman semester, which the school said were intended to help kids who might need assistance adjusting to Princeton's campus. Acree couldn't see why. She had come from an East Coast prep school; Michelle had earned good grades in Chicago. "We weren't sure whether they thought we needed an extra start or they just said, 'Let's bring all the black kids together'."

Obviously, this program wasn't put together by the Princeton klavern of the Ku Klux Klan, it was planned by the Princeton diversity sensitivity outreach nook. One reason diversicrats want to bring all the black freshmen to campus before everybody else is so they'll bond to each other, not to random whites and Asians during the regular orientation week. During the first few days of a new phase of life, you are very emotionally open to bonding with the other people who are going through the experience with you. So, the diversicrats can build a constituency by holding special pre-orientations for blacks.

Acree, Michelle and another black student, Suzanne Alele, became inseparable companions.

Exactly as planned.

The three of them talked often about the racial divide on campus—especially how white students they knew from class would pass them on the green and pretend not to see them. "It was, like, here comes a black kid," says Acree. The black students tended to hang out together at the Third World Center, a social club on campus, while the white party scene revolved around Princeton's eating clubs.

Michelle felt the tension acutely enough that she made it the subject of her senior sociology thesis, titled "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community." The paper is now under lock and key, but according to the Chicago Sun-Times, Michelle wrote that Princeton "made me far more aware of my 'blackness' than ever before." She wrote that she felt like a visitor on the supposedly open-minded campus. "Regardless of the circumstances under which I interact with Whites at Princeton," she wrote, "it often seems as if, to them, I will always be Black first and a student second." (Today, Michelle says, not quite convincingly, that she can't remember what was in her thesis.)

If she'd gone to, say, the University of Illinois or wherever she would have gotten in without affirmative action, she wouldn't have spent four years knowing that she was below the student body average in intelligence; she wouldn't have spent four years worrying that everybody else was noticing she wasn't as smart as the average; and she wouldn't have spend four years, plus the next 22, hating them for noticing it.

[clarice]

Jane. a report yesterday said Rove was advising the Reps on how to beat Obama. (You notice Soylent wasn't reporting in this weekend.Just saying.)

[hrtshpdbox]

"He called her a cynic. Disregard if I'm not catching the joke here."
I probably didn't really think he was calling her a communist. But I'm probably also not sure he meant cynic, either.

[centralcal]

On Sunday, after welcoming Baldilocks to JOM, I made the following comment:

"In all of the discussion about the pros and cons of Obama's candidacy, no one mentions his wife Michelle. Personally, I think she is a big negative in his campaign."

Yesterday, Michelle Obama was big news over her "first time as an adult to be proud of America" nonsense. I think she is a big problem that is only going to get worse with time.

[Sue]

But I'm probably also not sure he meant cynic, either.

Then ignore the paragraph preceding the "c" to get where you are going.

[RichatUF]

Sue-

Richmond Mayor L. Douglas Wilder predicted riots in the streets if the Clinton campaign were to overturn an Obama lead through the use of superdelegates....

So now Obama's factions are promising violence if they don't get their way.

/snark

And I dropped this comment in another thread when TSK9 dropped the Scary graf from Huffpo: Obama has Ayres, well Billary has Susan Rosenberg and Linda Evans. Obama consorts with former terrorists, Billary pardons and frees them. The RW really can't believe digging up their radicalism in the 1960's [she was alive and on campus someone might have even a picture of her at some SDS function] and their pardon scandals during Bill's term...

[GMax]

OT

Dont you think there are some wild celebrations in the street in Little Havana today? Castro has resigned. Of course meet the new boss, and his name is still Castro, but he is 76 so not much younger and not really revered as anything by anyone. The days of communism in Cuba may well be coming to an inglorious end. Lets hope we are not bucking the trend here...

[anduril]

Jonathan Last also discusses Michelle's America: Mrs. Obama talks about herself and her country. His portrait is consistent with that in the Newsweek article (to the extent it was quoted by Sailer).

[RichatUF]

GMax-

Miami coverage

Raul might not be the successor. Would be interesting if Chevez were to try to step into the breach to "protect the revolution from American interference."

[Other Tom]

Vnjagvet: I can take a picture of the glove, but don't know how to get it to you. Any ideas?

Actually, Houtteman was traded to the Indians before the midway point of the 1953 season (I cheated and confirmed this through the reference guide).

[hrtshpdbox]

"Then ignore the paragraph preceding the "c" to get where you are going."
You're right, my bad. Apologies.

[hit and run]

calling her a communist. But I'm probably also not sure he meant cynic, either.

I can assure you that I most definitely did NOT mean cynic, if you know what I mean and I'm probably sure I don't think you do.

Hint: read it again and pay particular attention to the phrase "it takes one to know one".

Need more? I will alert you to my proclivity to use my own special made up words. My variation on verbal strategery.

[vnjagvet]

OT - Maybe it was Newhouser that was traded in 1954, but I know they both pitched then.

Clarice and Rick Ballard have my email address.

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

Reading the bit that Anduril highlighted brings todays contest into a nice bright relief. MO "resents" the fact that the nice white progs who selected her (and BHO) as worthy of becoming overseers for their black identity plantations weren't more subtle. Does the white Madison Mafia, led by a pinko faux fem resent the fact that one of their overseers has had the audacity to leave the plantation? Will WI-2 put him in his place by going for the pinko faux fem Alinsky Acolyte or will it be gripped by BHO Fever and go for the black Red Alinsky Acolyte?

If WI-2 goes for the faux fem, will the plantation in WI-4 go up in flames or will it just wait for November and show its displeasure in the voting booth? Gwen Moore's kid is out of jail now on that tire slashing charge, maybe he can keep things calm in WI-4?

I would credit Dean's Revenge for this more than I would the Dark Lord. Dean's the one that improved the connection with the SEIU and helped BHO Fever take hold. RW has her hooks in with most of the black overseers (the ones who are looking around nervously these days) and Dean needs to break them free for 2012.

[hit and run]

You're right, my bad. Apologies.

No need. I'm just having fun and nothing can throw me off that course.

Even my own cynicalisticness.

Peace and love.

[Other Tom]

How did the Obamas manage to earn $983K in 2006?

[Sue]

OT,

The Audacity of Hope. Or Dreams of My Father. One of those or both.

[Rick Ballard]

Book advance from Random House. Figure out who pulled the strings at Random House to get him the advance and you've found BHO's puppet master.

[ROA]

It is revealing that Michelle Obama is claiming that the first time she has been proud to be an American was when her husband became the front-runner in the Democratic presidential primary. At about the same time Bob Geldof is praising President Bush and the United States for its actions in Africa over the past seven years.

Mr. Geldof is an Irish rock and roll singer and longtime social activist who has helped, along with U2 rocker Bono, raise awareness about need in Africa. His most well known achievement is organizing the Live Aid concert in 1985, which raised money for debt relief for poor African countries.

But Mr. Geldof has remained closely engaged with African affairs since then, and he spoke off the cuff to reporters today who were waiting for a press conference with Mr. Bush and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

Mr. Geldof praised Mr. Bush for his work in delivering billions to fight disease and poverty in Africa, and blasted the U.S. press for ignoring the achievement.

Mr. Bush, said Mr. Geldof, "has done more than any other president so far."

"This is the triumph of American policy really," he said. "It was probably unexpected of the man. It was expected of the nation, but not of the man, but both rose to the occasion."

"What's in it for [Mr. Bush]? Absolutely nothing," Mr. Geldof said.

Mr. Geldof said that the president has failed "to articulate this to Americans" but said he is also "pissed off" at the press for their failure to report on this good news story.

"You guys didn't pay attention," Geldof said to a group of reporters from all the major newspapers.

http://video1.washingtontimes.com/fishwrap/2008/02/bob_geldof_in_rwanda.html

[RichatUF]

Rick-

Full disclosure-I haven't been keeping up with events in WI, but going on what I've been able to gleen from the threads here:

MO "resents" the fact that the nice white progs who selected her (and BHO) as worthy of becoming overseers for their black identity plantations weren't more subtle.

Could this be the reason for the "plagerism" charge? For serious students and professionals whom have run the gauntlet, it is a non-trivial accusation and it goes to BHO's core support. A RW research op might have been digging into MO and BHO's academic record and dropping some breadcrumbs in the "elite communities" out there in WI.

I would credit Dean's Revenge for this more than I would the Dark Lord. Dean's the one that improved the connection with the SEIU and helped BHO Fever take hold...

I just wanted to clear this up for my own understanding-the "Dean's Revenge Thesis" is actually using BHO as a stalking horse to eliminate the Clinton's and their cronies from the top of the DNC power structure. In the end, Dean doesn't care whether BHO wins or loses the general, his purpose is to eliminate the Clinton's in 2008. If BHO looks to go on to win the general, Dean can position himself either as a possible VP or stay in the DNC to weed out the Clinton dead-enders.

[Topsecretk9]

Thanks for the link ROA

"You guys didn't pay attention," Geldof said to a group of reporters from all the major newspapers.

There's really so much to conclude about this.

[RichatUF]

Rick-

Book advance from Random House. Figure out who pulled the strings at Random House to get him the advance and you've found BHO's puppet master.

Random House->Bertelsmann->Bertelsmann Foundation

curious grafs [sorry about all the wiki links and clips]-

Bertelsmann itself is not publicly listed, and is majority owned (76.9%) by the Bertelsmann Foundation, a non-profit organisation and political think tank set up by the founding family Mohn.[3] The remaining 23.1% is owned by the Mohn Family. Albert Frère, a Belgian industrial, owned 25% of the Bertelsmann until 2006.

In February 2001, Groupe Bruxelles Lambert, headed by Albert Frére purchased 25% of Bertelsmann AG. André Desmarais, President and Chief Executive Officer, Power Corporation of Canada, was named to the Board.

Clues???

[Sue]

Susan Sarandon, strikes again...

Well, I'm going to back Obama. But I hope -- I think that he, as a symbol, has really excited people, and he's definitely confusing to everyone who really hates America for hating Muslims because a name like Obama and a black man, they're probably going to go "Oh, wait a minute -- What?" It's kind of like when you're out on the line for freedom to have an abortion and you're incredibly pregnant. They just can't quite figure it out.

So I think he definitely has convinced people that he stands for change and for hope, and I can't wait to see what he stands for.

Via http://wizbangblog.com/

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

The Dean - SEIU connection is the critical element. SEIU provides the ground troops for Dean and is quite willing to stomp on its members (vide NV) in order to pursue a "larger" agenda. SEIU is very important in the prog plantations and is working very hard to make sure that the next generation of overseers (see that Gwen Moore bio) is under its control rather than under the control of the white Madison Mafia types.

I don't think BHO is gonna get the nomination. BHO Fever might be running a little hotter than anticipated but it will fade and RW will get the nomination. Can she win the battleground states without strong support in the plantations? Not by my scorecard.

Advantage Dean in 2012 and advantage SEIU in the struggle to replace the old overseers.

The plagiarism story might have had a tiny bit of purpose along the lines you mentioned but I believe that the purpose was actually to get a bit of play on the picture of BHO and Duval together - like the BHO-Sharpton picture. Just another identity politics touch brought to you by nice white thoughtful Gramscians.

André Desmarais - gee, that sounds sort of familiar.

[Sue]

Via wizbang. Or just via!

[Topsecretk9]

It's kind of like when you're out on the line for freedom to have an abortion you act like you are a foriegn policy expert and you're really incredibly pregnant just an actor. They just can't quite figure it out.

[Bill in AZ]

Wonder if there is anyone that can translate what Sarandon said... I fed it into babelfish and it abended.

[glasater]

Am certain that the brilliant folks who comment here would find this Andre Desmarais link pretty easily regarding the Oil For Food program.
Could be that Obambi is playing with some heavy hitters.

[RichatUF]

Rick-

SEIU is very important in the prog plantations and is working very hard to make sure that the next generation of overseers (see that Gwen Moore bio) is under its control rather than under the control of the white Madison Mafia types.

So this is really a power struggle at the heart of the DNC between the top-of-the-heap that came of age during Watergate and those who "have waited their turn" in the waning years of the Cold War? This could really get interesting.

...the purpose was actually to get a bit of play on the picture of BHO and Duval together - like the BHO-Sharpton picture...

I hadn't thought of it like that-

André Desmarais - gee, that sounds sort of familiar...

So many dots I'm beginning to see a constellation of interest...

for instance:

Paul Volker->BHO

Nadhmi Auchi->"Tony" Rezko->BHO

Desmarais [from 2006, not currently from what I can find]->Bertelsmann->Random House->BHO

I always reach for the top shelf.

[RichatUF]

glasater-

Mark Steyn did a great job on this too...

FR archive of other articles

Curious that RW and BHO would both be sending some bootlickers out to Assad?

[Rick Ballard]

Rich,

Kick a quaking rootball real hard and see what happens? As to Damascus - where else are the Copperheads supposed to meet up with AQ allies? AQ is a little discouraged about continuing with the Copperhead program in Iraq and Afghanistan (something about mortality tables and Wedding Seekers) and needed to be discouraged from doing something stupid in the west - especially during the period when Pelosi has blinded our best SIGINT assets.

Kinda makes you wonder about who had Mugnaiyeh shortened - at least he's no longer an uncontrollable hothead.

[kim]

Ultimately, historians are going to find the Bush presidency very successful, and sociologists of journalism and science are going to find our times extremely curious.
==============================

[cathyf]

Book advance from Random House. Figure out who pulled the strings at Random House to get him the advance and you've found BHO's puppet master.

Hey, I think that's a cheap shot. Obama is a real author, and made Random House lots of money.

[glasater]

Rich--thanks for the links at FR.

Kim--'Ultimately, historians are going to find the Bush presidency very successful, and sociologists of journalism and science are going to find our times extremely curious.'

From your mouth to God's ear--although Kissinger has his thoughts on the President's legacy.

[cathyf]

On the other hand, sociologists of junior high will find that it makes complete sense.

[Rick Ballard]

"U.S. Sen.-elect Barack Obama, whose 1995 book jumped onto best-seller lists after his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention, has landed a three-book deal worth $1.9 million."

Sure looks like a Jim Wright special from here. Or perhaps his writing talent was so effectively hidden that it took 10 years to discover?

[Sue]

("The Audacity of Hope," it turns out, was the name of a sermon Obama heard a reverend deliver on a Sunday morning shortly after the death of Harold Washington, the black mayor of Chicago, and after Obama had decided to leave his job to attend Harvard Law School.)

Is anything his?