PhotOh! Tea Baggers, circa 1950 vs. 2010

By GottaLaff

My Twitter pal Geoff9cow posted a Twitpic that I had to share. Compare and contrast:

Circa now:

The more things change, the more things stay racist.

H/t: VNDNBRG

Texas schools: Latinos v. Joe McCarthy

By GottaLaff

What's wrong with Mexican Americans that they don't think McCarthyism is a good thing with which to indoctrinate our children?

Jefferson? Pfft! Influential Latinos? Fugetaboutit!

Conservative right wing nut job commie pinko accusers? Thumbs up!

The 44-member Mexican American Legislative Caucus [in Texas] is upset not enough historically significant Latinos are part of the curriculum. They also are concerned about proposed standards that lend less weight to the contributions of founding father Thomas Jefferson and give more to conservative leaders such as Sen. Joe McCarthy.

State Board of Education Chairwoman Gail Lowe is encouraged, and that's all that really matters:

"We are encouraged by the positive responses we have received about the social studies standards we adopted in March," Lowe said. "We also understand there will be some who disagree with our decisions, regardless of the content of our curriculum."

Yeah, those whiners. Kvetch kvetch kvetch. Who do they think they are, demanding that American history be taught accurately, representing people of influence in a fair and balanced way that comports with, you know, facts!

That's crazy!

Can We? A Brief History of American Racism

By GottaLaff

The wonderful Melissa Harris Lacewell wrote a simply exquisite piece that I won't even begin to chop up into excerpts.

Just go read it. It's clear, it's concise, it's heartbreaking, it's inspiring, it's eye-opening, it's thought-provoking... it's Melissa Harris Lacewell. Need I say more?

Go here. Then come back and comment. I have a feeling I know what you'll say.

The Daily Show- Tea Party Tyranny

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Didn't any of them ever crack open a history book? Gaw.

Obama Picks White House Photographer

What do you want to bet that Mr Souza is going to be very busy? I like the fact that's he's a Midwest guy, and since he's already done a book of Obama photography, Obama probably feels comfortable with him. Check out the photos at his website. h/t Ben.

ATHENS, OH (January 4, 2009) - Photojournalist and NPPA member Pete Souza has accepted the position of official White House photographer for President-elect Barack Obama, he told News Photographer magazine tonight.

Souza received the offer for the position from Robert Gibbs, the new president's longtime spokesman who is also Obama's incoming White House press secretary.

It won't be Souza's first time in the Oval Office. He was also a White House photographer during President Ronald Reagan's second term.

Souza, 54, said he accepted the offer today after talking with Gibbs and reaching an agreement that the primary function of the White House photography office will be to document Obama's presidency for the sake of history.

Andrew Sullivan: Palin Matters

By GottaLaff

(click on image to enlarge)

Consider this:

Andrew Sullivan: "Some readers think my continuing attempt to expose all the lies and flim-flam and bizarre behavior of Sarah Palin is now moot. She's history -- they argue. Move on. I think she probably is history. Even Bill Kristol and his minions in the McCain-Palin campaign may not be able to resuscitate her political viability now. But even if she is history, she is history that matters."

She's relevantly irrelevant.

History Is Not On McCain's Side

John, you're no Ronald Reagan.

Gallup: "There have been only 2 instances in the past 14 elections, from 1952 to 2004, when the presidential candidate ahead in Gallup polling a week or so before the election did not win the national popular vote: in 2000 (George W. Bush) and 1980 (Jimmy Carter). And in only one of these, in 1980, did the candidate who was behind (Ronald Reagan) pull ahead in both the popular vote and the Electoral College and thus win the election."

Today's Early Voting Story- Grab The Kleenex

Via Ben again. He's getting some really good ones.

Upon arriving at the Hamilton County Board of Elections in Cincinnati to vote early today I happened upon some friends of my mother's — three small, elderly Jewish women. They were quite upset as they were being refused admitance to the polling location due to their Obama T-Shirts, hats and buttons. Apparently you cannot wear Obama/McCain gear into polling locations here in Ohio.... They were practically on the verge of tears.

After a minute or two of this a huge man (6'5", 300 lbs easy) wearing a Dale Earnhardt jacket and Bengal's baseball cap left the voting line, came up to us and introduced himself as Mike. He told us he had overheard our conversation and asked if the ladies would like to borrow his jacket to put over their t-shirts so they could go in and vote. The ladies quickly agreed. As long as I live I will never forget the image of these 80-plus-year-old Jewish ladies walking into the polling location wearing a huge Dale Earnhardt racing jacket that came over their hands and down to their knees!

Mike patiently waited for each woman to cast their vote, accepted their many thanks and then got back in line (I saved him a place while he was helping out the ladies). When Mike got back in line I asked him if he was an Obama supporter. He said that he was not, but that he couldn't stand to see those ladies so upset. I thanked him for being a gentleman in a time of bitter partisanship and wished him well.

After I voted I walked out to the street to find my mother's friends surrouding our new friend Mike — they were laughing and having a great time. I joined them and soon learned that Mike had changed his mind in the polling booth and ended up voting for Obama. When I asked him why he changed his mind at the last minute, he explained that while he was waiting for his jacket he got into a conversation with one of the ladies who had explained how the Jewish community, and she, had worked side by side with the black community during the civil rights movements of the '60s, and that this vote was the culmination of those personal and community efforts so many years ago. That this election for her was more than just a vote ... but a chance at history.

Mike looked at me and said, "Obama's going to win, and I didn't want to tell my grandchildren some day that I had an opportunity to vote for the first black president, but I missed my chance at history and voted for the other guy."