Kevin Marshall's America » Barack Obama

Mitt Romney Talks to the NAACP, Goes About as Well as You’d Expect

kevinmarshall — Wed, 11 Jul 2012 17:30:39 +0000

Mitt Romney spoke to the NAACP and it went down about as well as you’d expect for a guy who looks and talks like the white villain in a black 90s comedy.

For what it’s worth, he did much better the first time he ran for President:

Why Obama’s Statement on Gay Marriage was Right and Wrong

kevinmarshall — Thu, 10 May 2012 02:11:07 +0000

Just in case you’ve been completely unplugged and shut in today, President Obama finally came in support of gay marriage. Some cited the convenient timing with last night’s referendum in North Carolina, but to that I can only say that it’s logical for his feet to be put to the fire on this issue in light of the national reaction and his previous cowardice (where he said his views were “evolving”).

It’s pretty wild that he chose an election year to do this, and that his people decided to go with what’s right over what’s convenient. There will be some political opportunities stemming from this, but I think the risks outweigh the reward. People claim that he would have lost states where this could have an effect, but given the expected level of contention in states like North Carolina and Virginia, amongst others, I’m very skeptical of that assertion. I think the view that it’s safe if not advantageous for him to do so comes from the fact that a slim majority in national polls favor marriage equality. But we still use the electoral college and there’s quite a bit of regional disparity in that poll.

So as quickly as I muttered “about fucking time” in reaction to his statement, I also appreciated the move from a historic standpoint.

But I do have to say I’m disappointed in Obama’s assertion that in regards to this issue he still “respects states’ rights.”

When you’re talking about economics and infrastructure, I’m willing to entertain “rights of states” arguments. But just as it’s wrong for civil rights to be put up for a referendum, it’s also wrong for it to be viewed as a “state issue.” This country’s history with civil rights has proven, time and again, that it can’t be something that’s punted off to the lower levels of government just to satiate someone’s religious fervor for libertarian and/or anti-federalist ideologies.

If civil rights were left to states, we’d still have areas in this country where segregation was a mandate. To cede federal authority on such matters is wrong, and it ignores ample historical evidence that supports it.

Osama bin Laden had porno, you guys

kevinmarshall — Fri, 13 May 2011 20:25:13 +0000

True story:

(Reuters) – A stash of pornography was found in the hideout of Osama bin Laden by the U.S. commandos who killed him, current and former U.S. officials said on Friday.

The pornography recovered in bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan, consists of modern, electronically recorded video and is fairly extensive, according to the officials, who discussed the discovery with Reuters on condition of anonymity.

I have two reactions to this.

When I was told verbally that Osama bin Laden had a porn stash, I heard it as “porn ‘stache,” as in one of these:
Enough already with the secrecy and the lack of transparency, President Obama. Where are the pictures?!

Home video from Osama bin Laden’s compound reveal he was THAT GUY

kevinmarshall — Mon, 09 May 2011 14:10:09 +0000

Seen above, the Pentagon has released home videos of Osama bin Laden that it attained during the Navy Seal raid that killed the terrorist leader.

Most revelatory:

He loved watching videos of himself on TV. Yes, he was that guy.

“Guys guys, check out this part…..WHAMMO, hahahahaaha! Right in the face of the infidels! Heh! Guys, HEY, guys, watch this! Are you watching? Shhhh, listen…YOWZA! Ouch, that one’s gotta hit close to home! Oh man, Allah Ackbar. Guys, watch this part…”

Totally deserved it.

All joking aside: I think it does reveal a bit of what’s not talked about, which is that despite insistence that the movement was to re-establish an Islamic caliphate to rule over the region, there was no shortage of ego and cult of personality behind Bin Laden’s efforts and the following he attained.

Like so many before him, he had charisma. Pundits and journalists mistake his soft speech and thoughtful pauses for a lack of it, but that’s misleading. It was a different type of charisma that Bin Laden exuded which gave him the appearance of a thoughtful, reflective holy man. Charisma is not exclusive to extravagance and pounding your fist on the podium during oratorical rants.

Like Carlos the Jackal and so many other terrorists before him, the more involved he became in the movement the less it became about the actual movement itself, creating a level of self-deification owing either to egomaniacal delusion or outright insincerity. This does not mean we should not examine the means and the cause. Rather, no matter who or where we are, caution should always be exercised when a man becomes bigger than the movement he propogates.

This is what fundamentalism in all its forms always, inevitably, breeds.

More absurdity: Obama’s long-form certificate of live birth

kevinmarshall — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 13:31:37 +0000

click for full size

But WAIT A MINUTE – his mother signed it on August 7th, but the attendant did not sign it until ONE DAY LATER. Also, he has a II next to his name, which indicates that he is either a clone or a robot.

WHAT’S GOING ON YOU GUYS IS OBAMA EVEN A REAL HUMAN BEING?