Ride The High Horse

News:  A mostly white pool club in a Philadelphia suburb kicks out 65 black day-campers, fearing that they will "change the complexion" of the club.  Or, maybe there was a legitimate safety issue.  The Valley Club story has been picked up by the NY Times, the LA Times, the WaPo, USA Today, the AP, CNN, ABC News, and many more.  Left unreported in all major news outlets - club chairman John Duesler is an Obama supporter and determined progressive.

Not News:  Thirty to fifty black teenagers, allegedly chanting "It's a black world", assault six whites; one victim is hospitalized for five days with head injuries.  Akron police can't figure out whether this is a hate crime, explaining that the victims never mentioned the "it's a black world" angle.  This story has been picked up by the Akron Beacon Journal (1, 2) and some local television stations (NBC (with the wrong date), ABC).

Why the disparity?  Geez, a toughie.  I'll guess that reporters love to write, and their few remaining liberal readers love to read, stories where they can imagine themselves standing boldly in Selma reporting live from the right side of history.  And the story writes itself - "Even in the Age of Obama...".  Dissonant factoids, such as the politics of the Valley Club chairman, the similar treatment of two other day camps, or the possibility that the whole thing was an unexpected surprise to the club membership, are pushed aside as the liberal media delights in finding racists in our midst.

The Akron story, sadly, provides no such uplift.  The only glimmer of hope of an interesting story is that the Akron police are correct, that the victims did not mention the "It's a black world" detail until they talked to reporters, and the "real" story is of duplicitous whites smearing a bunch of... well, misunderstood black youths.

Otherwise, well, no Selma fantasies here.  Sorry.

UPDATE:  So sue them!  The Creative Kids have a creative lawyer who intends to file a lawsuit shortly.  This is in response to a decision by the Valley Club to re-invite the day campers.  John Duesler won't let a lawsuit darken his day:

Michael Kuldiner said Monday that he expects to file a federal lawsuit within a week on behalf of most of the families and the day camp, Creative Steps Inc., against The Valley Club in Huntingdon Valley.

Kuldiner said he is also seeking the removal of all club members who used racially derogatory language when the black and Hispanic children went swimming June 29.

...

The president of the swim club's board of directors, John Duesler Jr., said late Monday that he has only heard of Kuldiner's call for the board's resignation from reporters.

Asked whether he would resign if necessary to resolve the dispute, Duesler said, "Absolutely, yes."

Duesler said he has been tried unsuccessfully to get someone to take his place for the past couple of years.

"This is a small community club. This is not a country club, just a Memorial Day to Labor Day club run by volunteers," he said.

Hmm - Duesler's plan to get himself off the board is coming together....

Comments

[Old Lurker]

Ditto, Ann!

More pics please.

[boris]

Dr. Zero: "If McCain had won in 2008, then immediately resigned for health reasons and left Palin in the White House, would she have cost us less than a trillion dollars?"

No question.

[PaulL]

Noonan is not really a surprise. How could her "kinder, gentler nation" comment be construed except as a slam against the previous administration, Reagan's?

With Ibama, it is no more difficult to explain than that he makes Noonan's heart go pitter-pat.

[Thomas Collins]

Daddy, my child in Alaska loved the care package you and your daughter sent up. She asked me to obtain your email address so she could send you a thank you note. So, if you wouldn't mind, please send me an email at nunway@aol.com with your email address, and I will forward it on to her.

[centralcal]

Happy Birthday, Ann!

[jimmyk]

These journalists are primarily wordsmiths, which is a big reason they fall in love with b.s. artists like Obama and Bill Clinton, and why they look down on more plain-speaking but substantive people like Bush and Palin.

[Extraneus]

Happy Birthday, Ann!

[sbw]

"These journalists are primarily wordsmiths"

Phooey! A smith is a craftsman, recognizing what can be done with raw material. These so-called journalists are apprentices who play in the raw material with no vision of constructive use.

[PeterUK]

Journalists belong to the liberal elite,irrespective of left or right.It is a tribe,they all piss in the same pot.They all have imaginary ,candy floss occupations.They are parasites to a great extent.It can never be allowed to emerge they are superfluous to requirements.In Obama they have the ultimate product of the parasite classes.They will defend him to the death,because he is them,and they are he.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Happy Birthday Ann!

[Captain Hate]

Laura Ingraham on FNS pundit panel: Be still my foolish heart.

Happy birthday, Ann.

Journalists used to be wordsmiths of sorts, before J-schools leached all that out in favor of lying dogmatically.

[Sue]

Happy birthday Ann.

[Melinda Romanoff]

DrJ-

OL owns the 1923 Steinway. The only thing I own from that era is a hand-forged, three tine rake, with a hand polished (from use) hickory handle. His post at the LUN.

[Thomas Collins]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ANN
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU

Just be thankful, Ann, that I don't have the computer skills to attach an audio clip of me singing Happy Birthday! :-))

[narciso]

Habby Birthday, Ann, o.k, someone's got to tell me out how they know all these birthdays & anniversaries and moving days.

[Captain Hate]

Juan Williams is an example of what afflicts what passes for "elite" journalists: They have no understanding of how businesses work. He just got completely pwn3d by not recognizing how removing the chances of increased costs to small businesses in the near future increases the chances of them hiring additional people.

[Pofarmer]

The only thing I own from that era is a hand-forged, three tine rake, with a hand polished (from use) hickory handle.

Ya know, my most cherished things are some of my grandpa's old tools. I have a two man crosscut saw hanging on the shed wall. An old Hog oiler. A fence stretcher/house jack that we know was my Great Grandfathers, but may, in fact, be somewhat older than that. I had my Grandfathers blacksmith hammer, that, somehow, was lost(man I hate that). These are the things I cherish, because they tell the story of where I came from.

[Pofarmer]

He just got completely pwn3d by not recognizing how removing the chances of increased costs to small businesses in the near future increases the chances of them hiring additional people.

So, basically, he doesn't understand that every dollar that goes out in taxes is a dollar that can't go to an employee?

[Pofarmer]

These guys are DETERMINED to have a govt sponsored depression.

[Melinda Romanoff]

Explaining to the spouse the need for a Stretcher/jack was a bit of a challenge. I didn't get away with the reason you need two.

I agree completely with the losing tools sentiment, especially the "pass-me-down" stuff. My uncle has the early 1800's brass cast pot (I'm not in a hurry to get this one>) for soap making and apple butter from the family. Third weekend of October is apple butter day! Long day, but worth the effort.

[hit and run]

narciso:
o.k, someone's got to tell me out how they know all these birthdays & anniversaries and moving days.

I've told you before: NSA wiretaps

[Captain Hate]

So, basically, he doesn't understand that every dollar that goes out in taxes is a dollar that can't go to an employee?

I think he understands that because I hold him on a higher plane (perhaps incorrectly) than empty suits like Olberman who are completely lacking in cognitive ability. Where I believe Juan and his ilk are lacking is insight into how uncertainty of potentially huge increases in expenses impacts planning for the future which drives the current staffing level.

[hit and run]

For Jane: http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2009/07/12/rep-john-fleming-r-la-04-so-you-want-a-government-run-health-care-plan-democrats/>So, you want a Government-run health care plan, Democrats? Fine. Sign yourselves up for it.

[Captain Hate]

Wow, in the adjacent poll 45.9% responded (I almost wrote "think") that de gubimint should help save the newspaper industry!! Maybe I should be encouraged that it's less than 52%

[PaulL]

Rasmussen Reports: Strong approval at 28%, a new record low. Still at -7 for Approval Index. That makes last four days -8, -7, -7, -7.

Unfortunately overall approval spread is now 6 points positive instead of the last few day's 3.

[Pofarmer]

Obama on the defensive. About time.

By Barack Obama
Sunday, July 12, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/11/AR2009071100647.html

Nearly six months ago, my administration took office amid the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. At the time, we were losing, on average, 700,000 jobs a month. And many feared that our financial system was on the verge of collapse.

The swift and aggressive action we took in those first few months has helped pull our financial system and our economy back from the brink. We took steps to restart lending to families and businesses, stabilize our major financial institutions, and help homeowners stay in their homes and pay their mortgages. We also passed the most sweeping economic recovery plan in our nation's history.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was not expected to restore the economy to full health on its own but to provide the boost necessary to stop the free fall. So far, it has done that. It was, from the start, a two-year program, and it will steadily save and create jobs as it ramps up over this summer and fall. We must let it work the way it's supposed to, with the understanding that in any recession, unemployment tends to recover more slowly than other measures of economic activity.

I am confident that the United States of America will weather this economic storm. But once we clear away the wreckage, the real question is what we will build in its place. Even as we rescue this economy from a full-blown crisis, I have insisted that we must rebuild it better than before. For if we do not seize this moment to confront the weaknesses that have plagued our economy for decades, we will consign ourselves and our children to future crises, sluggish growth, or both.

There are some who say we must wait to meet our greatest challenges. They favor an incremental approach or believe that doing nothing is somehow an answer. But that is exactly the thinking that led us to this predicament. Ignoring big challenges and deferring tough decisions is what Washington has done for decades, and it's exactly what I sought to change by running for president.

Now is the time to build a firmer, stronger foundation for growth that not only will withstand future economic storms but that helps us thrive and compete in a global economy. To build that foundation, we must lower the health-care costs that are driving us into debt, create the jobs of the future within our borders, give our workers the skills and training they need to compete for those jobs, and make the tough choices necessary to bring down our deficit in the long run.

Already, we're making progress on health-care reform that controls costs while ensuring choice and quality, as well as energy legislation that will make clean energy the profitable kind of energy, leading to whole new industries and jobs that cannot be outsourced.

And this week, I'll be talking about how we give our workers the skills they need to compete for these jobs of the future. In an economy where jobs requiring at least an associate's degree are projected to grow twice as fast as jobs requiring no college experience, it's never been more essential to continue education and training after high school. That's why we've set a goal of leading the world in college degrees by 2020. Part of this goal will be met by helping Americans better afford a college education. But part of it will also be strengthening our network of community colleges.

We believe it's time to reform our community colleges so that they provide Americans of all ages a chance to learn the skills and knowledge necessary to compete for the jobs of the future. Our community colleges can serve as 21st-century job training centers, working with local businesses to help workers learn the skills they need to fill the jobs of the future. We can reallocate funding to help them modernize their facilities, increase the quality of online courses and ultimately meet the goal of graduating 5 million more Americans from community colleges by 2020.

Providing all Americans with the skills they need to compete is a pillar of a stronger economic foundation, and, like health care or energy, we cannot wait to make the necessary changes. We must continue to clean up the wreckage of this recession, but it is time to rebuild something better in its place. It won't be easy, and there will continue to be those who argue that we have to put off hard decisions that we have already deferred for far too long. But earlier generations of Americans didn't build this great country by fearing the future and shrinking our dreams. This generation has to show that same courage and determination. I believe we will.

The writer is president of the United States.

[Pofarmer]

Should have highlighted this passage.

But once we clear away the wreckage, the real question is what we will build in its place. Even as we rescue this economy from a full-blown crisis, I have insisted that we must rebuild it better than before. For if we do not seize this moment to confront the weaknesses that have plagued our economy for decades, we will consign ourselves and our children to future crises, sluggish growth, or both.

I'd say he'll insure it.

[jimmyk]

Phooey!

Of course I meant "wordsmith" somewhat derisively, meaning that they value style over substance. I think PUK said it best: "They are parasites."

[Old Lurker]

"DrJ-

OL owns the 1923 Steinway. The only thing I own from that era..."

I'm getting old and miss-recalled the details so I checked my file after it became clear, no surprise, that JOMers know more about these things than I do...too. It is a 1920 Model "O", which model was discontinued in 1923.

The joke in the family - all knowing a rebuild was in its future - was my siblings let me inherit it so I would get stuck with the tab. I'm the dummy and had no idea a new one would be cheaper than the rebuild. But it is beautiful and does sound wonderful. Upon it's return from Steinway heaven, it received a more prominent location in the Lurker House.

[Rob Crawford]

It is amazing how the east coast "suckups", pardon me, i.e. Noonan and Brooks, were so willing to give Obama's blank resume the thumbs up and overlook his complete lack of character regarding life, family, country,etc--but never once, giving Sarah Palin a benefit of doubt.

It's a class issue. No, not just that Noonan and Brooks have no class, but the perceived class of Ivy League vs. the Great Unwashed. The squishies and the lefties apparently truly believe that attending Certain Schools between the ages of 18-22 make a person uniquely fit for government, and that nothing you do afterwards can make up for the lack or detract from that experience.

Seriously -- I saw someone attempt to defend Barney Franks by citing his attendance of Harvard. That was about 50 years ago -- we're being asked to judge a guy pushing 70 not on what he's been doing recently, but on his academic status when he was 18!

Similarly, with Palin, she's condemned for never having gone to an Ivy. Never mind all she's accomplished since then; her worthiness was, for them, fixed when she chose which college to attend.

[Pofarmer]

Similarly, with Palin, she's condemned for never having gone to an Ivy. Never mind all she's accomplished since then; her worthiness was, for them, fixed when she chose which college to attend.

Well, they've attempted to create an aristocracy in the U.S.

How has that worked out with the Ivy's at the levers of power?

[Rob Crawford]

Ah, but pofarmer, their answer is that there just aren't enough of them with enough power. Their belief in their own brilliance is non-falsifiable.

[Ignatz]

--I'm the dummy and had no idea a new one would be cheaper than the rebuild.--

I hope you guys realize how nice a shotgun you could be buying with all this money you're tossing at pianers.

[Pagar]

The writer is president of the United States.

I believe that The writer is someone who works for the president of the United States.

[Ignatz]

--Some of my African American friends down South don't necessarily feel that way. Huntsville is okay for some of them, but not 10 miles outside, and I have heard the most despicable things from my own family members in Florida.--

Have to agree matt.
Some friends, an interracial married couple with four beautiful kids, followed the wife's parents to rural WV to see about moving there. It was made plain in less than a week that would not be a very wise move so they stayed here in CA.

[RichatUF]

Thanks for the Obama editorial Pofarmer.

It reads better in the original German.

[Jane]

Hey ANN - Happy happy birthday!

[Jane]

For Jane: So, you want a Government-run health care plan, Democrats? Fine. Sign yourselves up for it.

Yippie!

[Porchlight]

Happy Birthday, Ann!

[Jack is Back!]

Back here in Southampton waiting to leave port for Cherbourg we are disheartened at English bowling and Australian batting. Too much time in the field, soggy legs. Need those for superior batting. Ask Ponting.

On another front, Murdoch will not talk about the phone hacking scandal they are trying desperately light up under him and his News of the World. Some former celebrities are bragging that they may not have been in box office hit in years but at least their cell phone was hacked.

For those who have no idea what I am writing about then PeterUK will explain.

Lastly, something we have been through in spades but just now hitting the UK - bunch of military casualties in Afghanistan have highlighted the inadequacy of British equipment being quartermastered to the troops. Big row brewing and could be the final straw in Brown's mattress.

/You man in England

[Old Lurker]

And a shot gun might be a lot more useful when the hordes come swarming too, Ignatz. Unless we can roll the pianer over onto the floorsafe Rick sold me.

[peter (Lenten Sunday dispensation)]

The Steinway "o" model is one of the nicest sounding pianos ever made. I believe it came in 5'11" size. Not sure, but I think that Steinway in Germany still makes it.

[RichatUF]

from the editorial-

and make the tough choices necessary to bring down our deficit in the long run

He is going to raise taxes and this is the warning.

as well as energy legislation that will make clean energy the profitable kind of energy

Let that one roll around in your head for a while.

Providing all Americans with the skills they need to compete is a pillar of a stronger economic foundation, and, like health care or energy, we cannot wait to make the necessary changes.

Wouldn't it be better to reform public education so high school graduates wouldn't need a year or two of remedial training to prepare them "for the jobs of the future"?

In a bit of a rush but those were the things that jumped off the page. He is still using his "do nothing" critique and a base-superstructure argument.

[Old Lurker]

I think you are correct about the size, Peter. And the sound at least to my undeserving ears.

[PeterUK]

Jack is Back.

Lies,incompetence,stupidity,parsimoney - take your pick.
The entire government should be used for mine clearance.

[Fresh Air]

I believe that The writer is someone who works for the president of the United States.

If the subjects and verbs agree, you be certain it wasn't him. Anyone seen Bill Ayers lately?

[Fresh Air]

By the way, what a load of tripe. We can't pull out of a recession without fundamentally altering our way of life in America through government intervention, ownership and massive taxation...?

This guy is the shallowest, most pitifully stupid person out of all 437 people running Washington. His education really reminds me of the stonerheads in college, taking bong hits whilst dilating upon subjects they barely knew anything about. He copped all this Marxist crap at a freshman seminar 30 years ago and it has been sitting there in his mushy melon like mosquito eggs, waiting to hatch ever since.

Thanks again to the IDIOTS in this country who voted for Zero!

[Rick Ballard]

"Wouldn't it be better to reform public education so high school graduates wouldn't need a year or two of remedial training to prepare them "for the jobs of the future"?"

The Ogabe/Emanuel "job of the future" involves dragging you butt off the mattress on the floor ever two years to vote for a (D)irty Fascist thief. CAC provided the blueprint.

They really can't afford an educated electorate - they have to have a well indoctrinated one (see Ivy League model).

[RichatUF]

Rick-

They really can't afford an educated electorate - they have to have a well indoctrinated one (see Ivy League model).

Yep. I think they would also like to get a bunch of 18-21 year olds out of the work force and give them a few advanced courses in community organizing and Ayersian "Hate America First".

I suppose his model is that neo-fascist group City Year that has been running adverts on TV for the last couple of months.

It is going to be a long 3 and a half years.

[Strawman Cometh]

"Wow, in the adjacent poll 45.9% responded .."
Quick Poll: whose postings brought up the ad for the Anger Management course?

[Jack is Back!]

PeterUK,

Its amazing that out of L'Aguila the only Brown to emerge with a positive spin is Sara. The Downing St. Boys have decided since Gordo is kryptonite then she is golden and somehow we need to sympathize with him since his wife is really a caring person who hates veal.

Then when there are so many important issues to discuss like proper military transport for British troops in IED environments we get Frost on Sunday interviewing the MEP of the BNP about immigration and "civic-British". I am sure Brown is sighing in relief.

/We are all Sotonians.

[clarice]

Andy McCarthy's on a roll today:

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=OGNhOWJlNTE2YmM3NzViM2RkNzBjNGMyNGY4OTk0MjA=

[Old Lurker]

"/You man in England"

JackBack...catch any Wimbledon?

[Pofarmer]

I hope you guys realize how nice a shotgun you could be buying with all this money you're tossing at pianers.

Speaking of shotguns, every fourth we shoot claybirds, handguns, 22's for the kids, etc. I know there are several folks that have shot for the first time at our place. Anyway, I made the mistake of shooting a couple of Benelli's that my Inlaws bought. One pump and one Semi-auto. I know you can go classier than that yet, but, man, them things are niiiccceeeee. Too bad my wife knows what they cost.

[Pofarmer]

It is going to be a long 3 and a half years.
It's already been a pretty long 6 months.

[matt]

Make mine Beretta, Ignatz & Po.

Tha fallacy of Ogabe's screed is that the kids still come out of the JC's only partly educated. It has replaced the last 2 years of High School in many states. Remedial English and Math are two of the most popular courses.

A piece of paper means nothing without the underlying education except that a ticket's been punched. I heard the Fed is going to start printing diplomas soon.

[PeterUK]

"The Downing St. Boys have decided since Gordo is kryptonite then she is golden and somehow we need to sympathize with him since his wife is really a caring person who hates veal."

Then why did she marry 250 pounds of condemned veal?

[PDinDetroit]

I hope you guys realize how nice a shotgun you could be buying with all this money you're tossing at pianers.

Just one? How can you buy just one shotgun, or one gun of any type for that matter?

I believe that I may have become a gun nut - see LUN.

[PDinDetroit]

Ibama will be coming to the Detroit Area this coming Tuesday to an Invitation-Only Event, right before making an appearance at the MLB All-Star Game. There will be a ticket lottery for people currently going to Macomb Community College.

This guy is the most arrogant and insecure Presidents I have ever seen. No Joe The Plumbers will be allowed in and no unscripted questions, no doubt.

This guy needs to be booed off any stage he comes near. Can't we have a new TV Show: "So you think you can be President?". I would vote for Captain Hate to fulfill a "simon-type" role.

[Walter]

Remedial English and Math are two of the most popular courses.

One of the more hedonistic parts of my misspent youth as a banker included an evening MBA program at SF State (part of the California State University system). As a proud holder of an Econ degree, I was insulted to have to take basic tests in math and English during the enrollment process.

I was further insulted to learn that nearly 25% of those enrolling failed either one or both.* A non-trivial portion of those taking the then-necessary remedial courses had the opportunity to experience the class more than once.

Points are, I guess, that (1) I should have done Haas or Stanford; (2) forget about high school, junior college, or even 4-year degrees--a postgraduate degree may be the popular place to pick up these skills.

And I should be grateful that I don't have similar metrics** for the math competency of law school applicants or graduates.
_________________
* To be fair, ESL for Pacific Rim students probably counted for many of the English failures.

** The reason I do not have similar metrics may have more to do with the lack of a required test than the better math competency of the legal community.

[JM Hanes]

Pofarmer:

"Man, it's getting tiring explaining to people that what the think Palin said, are things that the MSM made up, or Tina Fey, or whatever."

This may not help much if you're actually talking to folks out in the real world, but you if you've got their emails, you could try sending them Palin and the Piranhas of the Press, which came recommended by Michael Barone. It was written by an actual reporter who, among other things, covered the White House for 10 years. I can't seem to find my link for Chaco's Palin rumor page, which tackles the fictions directly, but someone else may be able to supply it.

[MaryD]

Happy Birthday, Ann. For the pictures alone, you're now in the will!

[Pofarmer]

That's a nice start PD.

[narciso]

Ask and you shall receive;

[Captain Hate]

Can't we have a new TV Show: "So you think you can be President?". I would vote for Captain Hate to fulfill a "simon-type" role.

I've never watched a minute of American Idol but I approve of this message.

[MayBee]

Happy Birthday, Ann!
I hope Michelle wears something really special to help you celebrate your day!

[RichatUF]

Happy Birthday Ann.

[PeterUK]

Happy Birthday Ann.
Your pictures of the refugee camp are great.

[boris]

Today Ann is my favorite.

[Manuel Transmission]

Re: shotguns

A few years back, I convinced Mrs. M/T that she needed a nice shotgun so we could take up sporting clays as a retirement gig (no golfers here). I figured a Beretta O/U 20/28 was about right. The shop only had one so they offered me (well, I needed something, too!) a Caesar Guerini 20ga O/U. OMFG is that thing gorgeous. About as good as it gets without getting into the handmade class. Sort of like getting a nice Kimber instead of a heavily worked over Colt 1911 for three times the money.

Also, for anyone following that path, there is an old timer in Polson, MT that will fit them to your body. The ladies, especially, need serious fitting done 'cause the shotguns were all built for guys. They had to make Mrs. M/T a new buttstock from a treetrunk to even get close.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

AnnAnnAnnAnnAnn:

Go Ann. Have a good time today, and many more happy birthdays.

And keep the FLOTUS booty pics coming.

[glenda]

Ann..Happy Day, girl!!
I hope this is the year you'll always remember as the one when we took our country back! and our money, and our dreams and whatever you wish for when you blow out those 25 candles!!! ♥

[Caro]

Ann! Happy Birthday, and yes,yes, yes. More booty pics. We will never, never, never get enough.

[Old Lurker]

"And keep the FLOTUS booty pics coming."

Suggest the Nikon 28mm wide angle lens next time.

["We were out of ammunition" said the professor of rhetoric from Maine.]

Browning 12g Gold Hunter.
Savage .410 single shot.
Stevens .22 semi.
Erfurt Mauser 8mm.
Carcano carbine 6.5mm.
Carcano drill model 6.5mm.
CO2 pellet pistol 1911 style .17 relv. action.

[Jim Rhoads a/k/a vjnjagvet]

We need to get the word out to the WH press corps photography unit, OL. There must be at least one who would be willing to oblige.

SUGGESTED CAPTION:

The First Booty (wide angle view)

[Old Lurker]

Heh!

[PD]

What's a hog oiler?

[PD]

Ann,

Happy birthday!

(thought I better put that in a separate post from my previous one)

[cathyf]

Happy birthday, Ann!

As Eyore would say, "many happy returns of the day!"

[Pagar]

The writer is president of the United States.

Here's someone who thinks the president or his writer, didn't get it exactly right.

Responding to the President’s op-ed</blockquote>

[Lesley]

Happy Birthday, Ann.

Your beautiful Halloween pics were my favs.

[Maurice]

I live near this swim club, though I'd never known of it before this story came out. The local papers have been covering the incident and fall-out pretty extensively.

a few other things that have come out..

The club president, Duesler, who'd stupidly used the term 'complexion', and his wife, who is also a club official, took it upon themselves to invite camps from Philly to the club as a charitable act. They were concerned that the kids wouldn't have pools to go to this summer due to budget cutbacks in the city.

So they invited 3 camps to use the facilities.

But they didn't adequately inform the membership of this fact. So when legions of kids started showing up, the paying membership rebelled. There was a membership meeting, and the members voted to revoke these camp memberships. It wasn't Duesler's decision.

Also being that most of the kids were new to the pool, they hadn't taken the club's swimming test, which meant that they were restricted to the shallow end. This is likely why parents were pulling the younger children out of the pool. The entire shallow end was filled with 65 kids. If you've seen a picture of the pool, you'll immediately recognize why this would be a problem, simply from a safety perspective.

The camp director, Alethea Wright, initially claimed to have heard the racial statements second hand, but now it appears that she's claiming to have heard them first hand.

It also turns out that the parents at the pool had spoken to her and voiced their complaints that there were too many kids in the shallow end. They'd also told her that they'd be taking-up the issue at a club meeting. So Wright's claim that this came out of the blue is suspect.

[Detroit Childhood]

My Detroit childhood was filled with delightful incidents like this. I live in Los Angeles today and I'm not racist. But when the Mexican gangs started running blacks out of the area, I shrugged. What comes around, goes around, I thought. It's safe to visit the Watts Towers, now.

[SDN]

"The only glimmer of hope of an interesting story is that the Akron police are correct, that the victims did not mention the "It's a black world" detail until they talked to reporters, and the "real" story is of duplicitous whites smearing a bunch of... well, misunderstood black youths."

Oh, yeah, I'm sure that we can believe they didn't mention it to the cops.... because if they had and the cops had recorded it, they would have to actually do something about it. Kind of like in Britain, where noting the religion of those "alienated utes" burning your car is officially frowned on.