The jury is deliberating. The wiretaps have been heard. The verdict may be moments away. See the Bob Secter, Jeff Coen, Stacy St. Clair, and John Chase story from the Chicago Tribune below or by clicking here.  

The former gov signs autographs for fans. Photo: E. Jason Wambsgans - Chicago Tribune

Nationally syndicated radio talk show host, Dr. Laura Schlessinger said the word "Nigger" over and over on her nationally syndicated radio show. She was involved in an embroiled conversation with a Black woman who is married to a white man. The conversation drifted from the caller growing tired of her husband's friends inquiries on race. The conversation then took a turn for the worst when Dr. Laura signified that the caller was sensitive.

She said, "If you're that hypersensitive about color and don't have a sense of humor, don't marry outside of your race. Don't NAACP me." She also said, "On HBO listening to Black comics, you hear Nigger, Nigger, Nigger. I didn't call anybody a Nigger." Maybe Dr. Laura is right. I've heard a lot of black people use that word repeatedly - toward one another. But don't let an outsider say it. Fireworks! Should she be fined, kicked off the radio, or praised for her courage to say a word that Black people get away with all the time?

So if sticks and stones hurt our bones and names can never hurt us, why can't we use the words, nigger, spic, wetback, honkey, kike, dago, wop, polock, moulan yan, ho? When are words hurtful and when are they innocent? Can we legislate word use? Does word use violate morals, ethics, or just feelings?

So although we say that some words aren't that bad, they seem a little uglier when we actually say them or hear them. Can words really hurt or is the pain an invented figment of our linguistic imagination?

It's not what you're called, it's what you acknowledge.

Dr. Laura gives us a piece of her mind in a Mel Gibson styled rant - N-word everywhere! What do you think?

Should Blacks be the only people allowed to use the "N" word?

The jury is still in deliberation with 24 counts before them. So the question remains: Will the former governor be found "not guilty," acquitted on all charges?

Rod Blagojevich smiling before going to court. Tribune Photo: Michael Tercha.

It is looking good for the governor now because the longer it takes to render a verdict, the more it appears that the jury may be hanging, swinging, and drifting into the "not guilty" zone. The following  list contains the charges Mr. Blagojevich is facing. Although intimidating, the jury has to decide if the evidence is concrete enough to take the former gov to the slammer. 

SUMMARY OF CHARGES

COUNTS: Racketeering (Count 1); conspiracy to commit racketeering (Count 2), wire fraud (Counts 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13); attempted extortion (Counts 14, 15, 19, and 22); conspiracy to commit extortion (Counts 17 and 21); bribery (Counts 16 and 20); conspiracy to commit bribery (Counts 18 and 23); and making false statements to the government (Count 24).

Charisma, confidence, and 2 lawyers by the name of Sam Adam may work on his side. The conviction or acquittal - in the balance.

Ieshuh Griffin is running as an independent state assembly candidate in Wisconsin, and independent candidates can have a statement on the ballot. She chose this phrase:  "not the White man's bitch."  Here is the  link to Wisconsin News.  I am not the White Man's Bitch.

Ieshuh Griffin says this is her political philosophy, wanting to empower the lower income citizens in North Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Kevin Kennedy from the Government Accountability Board finds the statement on the ballot as inappropriate. But some board members said that she is simply saying "I am not under the White man's direction." The board voted 3-2 in favor of her proposal to have her description on the ballot, however she needed four votes for her proposition to pass. There was one board member absent, and she is now lobbying to have that vote counted before her statement is deemed unusable.

What are your thoughts on Ieshuh Griffin claiming that she is "not the White man's bitch"? Freedom of speech? Can a candidate win with a slogan like that on the ballot?

She says, she is not referring to an actual person, therefore she doesn't claim that her slogan is race based. She doesn't consider herself a bitch (a female Canis lupus familiaris forced to acquiesce - for breeding purposes). Griffin says that her statement is more of a "power statement" than one of race.  She says, "freedom of speech includes the freedom to express the truth."

It's good to see a sister running for office and telling everyone that she isn't a bitch, nor a ho.

 

High Occupancy Toll Lane

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    How much would you pay to drive in the fast lane? Tribune reporter, Richard Wronski, gives us the details on traffic congestion pricing and the benefits of you paying a little extra for you to drive in a lane that has no back-ups, stop and go, and traffic jams. Let me tell you something. I hate traffic. The windshield time of commuting is the biggest waste of time known to man and you know you hate it too. Call me if you are sick of traffic jams and parking lots in the middle of the circle interchange, the toll roads, the Dan Ryan, Edens, Stevenson, Kennedy and the Bishop Ford.

    Does Chicago need Hot Lanes? H.O.T. Stands for High Occupancy Toll Lanes which means you pay a premium to get into a lane with no traffic - allowing you to be on your merry way and to flow to your destination. These lanes are being considered in 22 states and charging motorists for the privilege of having a clear path, just may be the answer. But if traffic was slowing down on your way to work or home, would you be willing to pay from $1 to $10 to maintain highway speed?  They have them in Minneapolis, MN, and in Orange County, CA, but drivers are paying on average, about 3 bucks for the fast lane...HEY! You know you hate that Dan Ryan elevated curve, that starts bouncing when too many cars get up there. It makes for a pretty view of the city, but you're gonna be late for work. Are you willing to PAY -  to reduce your traffic jam headaches? Or should you just leave a little bit earlier, exercise your patience, and relax?

I was impressed with this year's BET Awards. In the past, they haven't always booked the best talent. Also, past performances have been lackluster. But 2010 was much different. Thank God for BET booking El DeBarge - a stellar performance - that all the young singers needed to see. Tyrese's tribute to Teddy Pendergrass was honorable, and Prince's Lifetime Achievement Award was most appropriate. 

I am not one to compliment BET often, but kudos to the network that tries its best to represent Black Entertainment. Good job BET.

 

Slavery supposedly ended in the mid 1800's, but the year 2010 is still bamboozled by comments made by an NBA team owner.  According to Rev. Jesse Jackson, the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers is the epitome of a slave master. I agree. LeBron James gave Cleveland seven good years and brought the team out of obscurity. Cleveland's owner, Dan Gilbert, wrote an open letter to Cavs fans, and I have attached the letter in this blog.  Rev. Jackson says, "He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers. His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner / employee relationship -- between business partners -- and LeBron honored his contract." 

Here is the quote from Massa Dan Gilbert from de Cavalier plantation.  Also, see Jonathan Capehart's blog in the Washington Post.

Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;

As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.

This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his "decision" unlike anything ever "witnessed" in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.

Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.

There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You simply don't deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.

You have given so much and deserve so much more.

In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:

"I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER 'KING' WINS ONE"

You can take it to the bank.

If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our "motivation" to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.

Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.

Sorry, but that's simply not how it works.

This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown "chosen one" sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And "who" we would want them to grow-up to become.

But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called "curse" on Cleveland, Ohio.

The self-declared former "King" will be taking the "curse" with him down south. And until he does "right" by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.

Just watch.

Sleep well, Cleveland.

Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day....

I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:

DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue....



Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers

 

That was the entire letter from the Dan Gilbert. Now here are the quotes from Rev. Jesse Jackson.

"He has gotten a free pass," Gilbert told the AP in a phone interview late Thursday night. "People have covered up for [James] for way too long. Tonight we saw who he really is."

Jackson said Gilbert's comments were "mean, arrogant and presumptuous."

"He speaks as an owner of LeBron and not the owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers," the reverend said in a release from his Chicago-based civil rights group, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. "His feelings of betrayal personify a slave master mentality. He sees LeBron as a runaway slave. This is an owner employee relationship -- between business partners -- and LeBron honored his contract."

LeBron is not a slave, but Dan Gilbert thinks so. Owning a team has its privileges, but declaring the ownership of people is off limits.

 

 

 

LeBron James is the most popular person on planet earth this week. Where will he go?

Send me your thoughts on LeBron James and the team who will sign him. Where will LeBron go?

Do you think Mayor Daley is the violence enabler, committing or allowing genocide in Chicago by trying to keep guns out of the hands of law abiding, 2nd amendment protected citizens? Did he enable torture practices, when he was state's attorney? Watch former Mayor Jane Byrne and WBEZ journalist, John Conroy, discuss the gun ban and the Jon Burge conviction on Garrard McClendon LIVE. Call me at 773-883-3450 to leave message.