Saturday, January 17, 2009

The Obama-ssiah is Coming!

Kudos to Mike Flugennock for designing the poster. http://www.sinkers.org/posters/

The poster says it all.




26 comments:

Anonymiss said...

Indeed. When I realized that I was a fan rather than a supporter of Obama, his policies became clearer and his dancing around questions became much more obvious.

It's nice to see a Black person as POTUS but how nice and at whose expense?

I read something where he used "trickle down." I'm very afraid.

Khadija said...

Greetings, Anonymiss!

You said, It's nice to see a Black person as POTUS but how nice and at whose expense?

I read something where he used "trickle down." I'm very afraid."


Indeed.

My anxiety about the following deadly combination of

1-Black folks' blind, unthinking, Obama-mania; PLUS

2-the crashing economy; AND

3-the repercussions of an Obama Administration (that frolicking Blacks have NOT considered) is what prompted me to start this blog! I've said this before (in my very first blog post), let me repeat this here:

"If elected, a Pres. Obama will feel the need to prove to Whites that he's not partial to us. He will do this by ignoring our issues and problems. There won't be any help coming from an Obama Administration. Not specifically for Black folks.

Because Black folks are addicted to symbol over substance, most of us will continue to support a Pres. Obama no matter what he does. Even while he literally ignores us to death. After all, we 'gotta support a brother.'

We love seeing Black faces in high places. Even when these Black-skinned folks do a great deal of damage to our interests. [For examples, see Black folks' continued expressions of support and admiration for Colin Powell, Condoleeza Rice, etc.]"

Anonymiss, I've been VERY concerned about the Obama-ssiah's positive references to Ronald Reagan.

I was a teenager during the Reagan years. I remember the Reagan years.

I remember reading news stories interviewing elderly people who were eating dog food because they couldn't afford their medication AND food at the same time.

I remember.

I remember how Reagan cloaked himself in fake populism.

I remember.

I find it extremely disturbing to note how the Obama-ssiah is mimicking many of Reagan's moves. Keep in mind that Black folks have already formed a cult of personality around this POLITICIAN.

Black folks are about to reap the whirlwind. Many of us will end up NAKED, HUNGRY & OUT OF DOORS. (As Min. Farrakhan has put it.)

Those of us who continue to maintain contact with reality need to continue our preparations. Somebody's going to have to pick up the pieces for each of our loved ones while the Obama-ssiah ignores us to death.


Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Anonymous said...

Once the honeymoon is over, reality will set in. I do, however, hope that Michelle Obama leaves a wonderful mark.

tasha212 said...

Khadija,

That cartoon is hilarious! You what scares me also? I don't know if you'vr noticed this , but I've noticed that even "revolutionary" black leaders have failed to be critical with regard to the Obama-ssiah. People like Min. Louis Farrakhan, even though when promted by whites, Obama denounced any association with him. Alot of people who I thought would be critical of him have either been silent or have drank the O-Aid like the masses. I don't know if it's because of the old mantra that we're supposed to be silent for the sake of "black unity" or what but I was quite surprised.

LostGirl#1 said...

"Keep in mind that Black folks have already formed a cult of personality around this POLITICIAN."

___________________________________

Please continue to speak this truth.

Khadija said...

Greetings, LorMarie!

I believe that most Black folks will remain in their Obama-induced stupor. Even while they starve and shiver in the cold. Meanwhile, among other current events, didn't I read something about 34,000 jobs are being lost due to Circuit City going out of business? {sigh}

The only saving grace I see in this is the spirit-boost that [typical-BW-looking, brown-skinned] Michelle O's presence will give to dark-skinned Black girls.
_____________________

Greetings, Tasha212!

Yep. It is funny. I first saw it posted on the Freedom Rider blog (it's on my sidebar). That blog author, along with her colleagues at Black Agenda Report, has called BS on the Obama-ssiah's deep flaws from the very beginning.

About Min. Farrakhan and others who should know better falling into the Obama-ssiah worship:

1-Munir Muhammad (of CROE) talked about the folly of this in the video clip from his show I posted on my blogpost Reality Check from Munir Muhammad.

2-Although, I wonder if Min. Farrakhan and others DO know better, and are praising Obama to placate their followers. I've seen how even the Black Republicans at work have been heavily chugging the "O"-kool-aid.
__________________

Greetings, Miss Pinky!

Oh, yes. I plan on continuing to speak out! Especially about what the Black Republicans over at AfroNerd [what's wrong with them?--LOL!] refer to as "the unattractive truth." Or as I'll call it, "the unflattering truth." LOL!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Anonymous said...

I will admit it. I voted for Obama. Part of it was a vote for him and a big part was a vote against McCain and the prospect of having Sarah Palin in the White House.

I have to wonder when people, whether or not they support Obama, seem not to recognize how he has been packaged, marketed, and sold to the American people. That is just a little scary to me because it was so frighteningly effective.

roslynholcomb said...

I'm not sure what people are expecting from Obama. I myself don't expect any more or any less than I would from any other president. I'm not looking for a president to address black issues. IMO, many if not most black issues are best addressed within ourselves and within the often mythological 'black community.'

My main concern at the moment? I don't have health insurance due to pre-existing conditions. My next concern? My 401k has lost 25% of its value in the past year. A president who will address either or both of those issues is all good with me.

.

Khadija said...

Greetings, Shocol!

I voted (early) for Obama. As I said at the time, I did so without enthusiasm. He was (marginally) better than the other "mainstream" candidates.

As I said at the time, I would have preferred to have better candidates to choose from. There is little to no difference between the Obama-ssiah and Hilary Clinton when it comes to policy. That is a very sobering thought.

Shocol, you didn't say this, but let me say in general: Blacks need to get over the extremely simplistic notion that criticism of "x" candidate = a person didn't vote for "x" candidate. Blacks need to get over the 2nd grade notion that they can predict a person's voting patterns by their positions.

Some Black people are capable of understanding nuances. Some Black people are capable of holding more than one thought in our brains at the same time.

Some of us comprehend the idea that support of "x" candidate does NOT have to = RABID support of "x" candidate, nor rabid support of ALL of "x" candidate's positions. Some of us understand that support of "x" candidate in 1 specific election does NOT mean ETERNAL, UNDYING support of "x" candidate.

Instead of our traditional hysterical, emotion-based, crusades in support of false messiahs, Blacks need to grow up and learn how to make pick and choose based upon our interests.


I made a tactical decision to vote for the Obama-ssiah in this election. I have NEVER liked or trusted him. At all. From the very beginning of his career here in Illinois, he has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I can't stand crossover, spineless punk, Negro politicians. This sums up the Obama-ssiah.
____________________

Greetings, Roslyn!

You said, "I'm not sure what people are expecting from Obama."

Response: People are expecting the DRAMATIC "CHANGE" that the Obama-ssiah claimed (read: lied) to represent. This is how he marketed himself. How could anybody miss this?

You said, "I myself don't expect any more or any less than I would from any other president."

Response: The Obama-ssiah didn't market himself as being more or less "any other president." See above response.

You said, "I'm not looking for a president to address black issues. IMO, many if not most black issues are best addressed within ourselves and within the often mythological 'black community.'"

Response: Do you notice that everybody except AAs IS looking for a president (any & every) president to address THEIR issues?

In fact, everybody else INSISTS that every presidential candidate support THEIR interests. And they get these promises up front from the politicians. Before even considering giving them any support.

That's why the Obama-ssiah promised to support Jewish-American interests and Israel when he went (grovelled) before AIPAC. As wealthy as they collectively are, they make sure that US government money and weapons keep flowing to that foreign country.

Meanwhile, here we are---a relatively poor & powerless people---talking about how we don't (read: shouldn't) expect the candidate that solicited our 90-95% support to address our issues. Even though he has promised to address everybody else's issues. What's wrong with this picture?

Nobody except us expects to address issues by themselves "from within" in the absence of supportive government policy.

AAs' failure to expect (or demand) anything at all from politicians is why we always come away empty-handed. If he's not going to do anything for US, why should/did we vote for this individual?

For me, the point of voting for the Obama-ssiah was the very slim hope of somewhat mitigating the disaster that is headed our way. McCain and the fanatic (Palin) would have ensured our doom. It would have been better to have better candidates.


Peace, blessings and solidarity.

roslynholcomb said...

As far as I'm concerned, he is addressing MY ISSUES. My issue at the moment is that I don't have health care. That seems to be at the forefront of the man's agenda, at least as near as I can tell.

I can't imagine anything that would be a bigger change than that. If we can get some type of health care plan that makes some sense it would be the biggest change in this country since the New Deal.

I never said he shouldn't address black issues, though frankly I can't imagine any black person who wouldn't be helped by health care, I said it's not something that at the forefront of MY agenda.

Other issues that he's promised movement on, like education, are certainly beneficial to black people. It would seem to me that the issues on his agenda are very much 'black issues.'

It's not a matter of not expecting anything from politicians, it's an issue that from where I sit most of the issues that I've seen government attempt to address have been made worse by their interference. At least that's what I've seen after more than a decade working in social services.

Jews demand action on Israel, a relatively abstract proposition that doesn't actually come into their homes or impact them directly. Most so-called 'black issues' would involve direct government intervention in our homes. And from where I sit, that's never a good thing.

Khadija said...

Hello there, Roslyn!

You didn't say this, but let me note that not all of Black folks' problems are the result of self-inflicted wounds. Black folks DO have specific needs/issues that are not covered by "catch-all" remedies. There are some "Black" issues that I expect immediate action on, such as:

1-The Justice Department finally prosecuting financial institutions that redline and discriminate specifically against Black borrowers and insureds; and

2-environmental racism.

I never said that you said that Obama "shouldn't address black issues." It's just that the argument that you're raising dovetails into those raised by Obama worshippers. They loudly tell any Black person who is critical of Obama that we are wrong to demand that he address Black issues.

They tell those of us who want something tangible in exchange for our support that "he's going to be the President for everybody, not just Blacks."

On one level, this is true. But there are other considerations. Such as the fact that no other voting block gave Obama 90-95% of their votes. Furthermore: (1) I refuse to be satsified with coming away empty-handed; and (2) since Obama was content to reap the political benefit of being heralded as a Black messiah, he needs to deliver some specific benefits to his Black worshippers.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Anonymous said...

Like Anonymiss, I can admit that I am more a fan than a supporter. Truthfully he was never my first pick (Edwards was) that said, I do hope once we get over the emotional high of having a Black POTUS, that we will be willing to look at him with a critical eye.

At the end of the day, he is a politician and a man so I am not expecting miracles. Right now I suspect whatever change he is hawking will look better than what we are currently living with.

Amenta said...

The only way to be thrown under the Obama bus was to be on Obama Street in the first place. This man is here to do a job for his investors. It seems his top master is Warren Buffett. He owns a large piece of President Obama and who knows who else has a piece of him.

Buffett and his type are the people President Obama will be working for. All others, such as ourselves will only get the byproducts of their windfall (trickle down, Anonymniss) and a trickle it will be. On that alone U.S. citizens will praise him a great president dispite what wickedness he will work on us and around the world. And I have said before that he will do dirt to people that the masses of U.S. citizens and many people black people in the western hemisphere (I have listened to Jamaica, Grenada, St. Lucia and Trinidad all day and its Obama days there as well) will accept in the name of expediency, cause if it were a Caucasian they would scream racism with the quickness.

All hail Lord Obama!

Khadija said...

Greetings, BlackGirlinMaine!

You said, "I do hope once we get over the emotional high of having a Black POTUS, that we will be willing to look at him with a critical eye."

Sadly, 'tis not to be. I mean, have we ever looked at Condi or Colin with a critical eye? Nope. Not even after what they've done.

Condi: Shopping for expensive shoes, and going to see "Spamalot" while Black bodies floated down the streets of New Orleans. We still like and admire her.

Colin: Figuratively putting on fishnet stockings, a pair of high heels, and allowing Bush to send him out "on the stroll" to lie to the UN in support of the upcoming US invasion of Iraq. We still like and admire him.
___________________

Greetings, Ensayn1!

You said, "The only way to be thrown under the Obama bus was to be on Obama Street in the first place."

{loud gales of laughter}

Note to self: Gotta stay OFF of Obama Street. And hike over to 2nd Great Depression Preparation Avenue!

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

LISA VAZQUEZ said...

Hey there Khadija!

*LOL*

You know this is cracking me up royally!!

*LOL*

I needed a good belly laugh!

Peace, blessings and DUNAMIS!
Lisa

Hagar's Daughter said...

The mania is frightening. It's one thing to "celebrate" an accomplishment or history or this moment, but what going on is just plain foolishness.

I can't believe folks are saying, "Now anything is possible." Say what? "Anything" is possible and has been; who needed Obama for that? If "anything" was not possible, then how did he become POTUS? Get a grip people!

Another thing that is very scary is to hear all these white men (news anchors) spouting myths that they and others really believe: We are in a nation where race no longer matters. If it weren't so serious and so upsetting and frightening it would have been hilarious. But racism, especially "color-blind" racism, is no laughing matter.

Khadija said...

Greetings, Hagar's Daughter!

As I said in my first post:

"4. For example, if Sen. Obama is elected president this means that the days of crying to Whites about racism are OVER. For real. They won't entertain that noise anymore. They will say that racism can't be that bad---after all, a Black (sort-of) man was elected president.

[For the purposes of this discussion, I won't go into detail about how in order to be the first viable "Black" presidential candidate, it seems that the candidate must be half-Other and half-foreign origin. In order to have a serious chance to be the first Black president, it helps that Sen. Obama is half-White and half-something-other-than-African-American. Politically, this is a a new "paper bag test" in operation.]

5. Black leadership (such as it is) does not have any other strategy beyond protesting racism. Collectively, Black folks don't have a back-up plan. This is a problem."


AAs are in a LOT of trouble. Most of us are just too stupid to realize it. Those of us who know better need to continue our preparations. I hope I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that even more dramatically dreadful things will be happening with the economy by this summer. Folks, the clock is ticking.

Peace, blessings, and solidarity.

iriegal said...

Beautiful poster

The Original Wombman said...

I really tried to get into the spirit of jubilation on Inauguration Day just because folks were so light and happy and elated and in the midst of these economic hardships and that kind of thing has been scarce--celebrate others joy. I didn't want to be a "Debbie Downer" as I'm often called but by the time 7:30 rolled around and I was getting my tea together to sit with my babies and watch Wheel of Fortune and they were still covering the inauguration, well, I had just about had it. Call me a hater if you want: I want to know what kind of stuff folks are smoking! What exactly do folks think is going to happen? I for one have a pit in my stomach that has been worsening ever since the oath was taken and the speech made. I'm straight up nervous about this presidency and president and just hoping against all odds . . .

You know, for the sake of my children, I hope against all odds and history that issues of racism start to get a little better. That at least in their lifetime they can expect to have equality and justice. I think of children like Emmett Till and the Four Little Girls and hope this with all my heart. This has very little to do with Obama and more with individuals shifting their personal perspectives and changing within themselves. I have hope for the evolution of mankind as a whole. I don't know if Obama being elected can spark that in folks. In fact, I'm highly skeptical because I tend to think that kind of change comes from inside. But there's a chance, however slim and I'm embracing it. I have a sinking feeling that this "lovey dovey" "we all are one" nonsense will dissipate as quickly as the "unity" we had after 9/11.

[puts bag over head] I'm so glad I'm not the only "hater" (because anyone who isn't waxing poetic about Obama-ssiah is indeed a hater).

Khadija said...

Greetings, Iriegal!

Yep. It's a good poster. *Smile*
__________________

Greetings, Chi-Chi!

You said, "Call me a hater if you want: I want to know what kind of stuff folks are smoking! What exactly do folks think is going to happen?"

I don't call it a "hater's club." I call it "the resistance"! LOL! Here's my answer to your questions:

Black folks are on a permanent, crack-like, and soon-to-be-fatal, high on symbolism. They're not even looking for anything else to happen! The symbolic advance of having a brown-skinned individual in that job is sufficient for most Blacks. They will take imaginary comfort in the Obama-ssiah's presence while they freeze and starve. The end.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Tam said...

Condi: Shopping for expensive shoes, and going to see "Spamalot" while Black bodies floated down the streets of New Orleans. We still like and admire her.

I don't think the average AA person liked Colin Powell or especially Dr Rice. They grudgingly said she was intelligent, but stupid for working with Former President Bush. It was something about her being a woman. It is that plantation mindeset.

As for President Obama, I watched beginning at 7 a.m all the way to 11 p.m. I thought it was beautiful. I, too am more of a fan than a supporter, yet I could not stop watching. His policies are far different from mine. I don't believe in Federalizing Healthcare or rescuing private entities because of their greed and stupidity. Yet, I could not in this election cycle see voting for McCain (whom I supported over Bush in 2000) I could never have voted for him so long as Sarah Palin was his running mate. However, President Obama's VP Choice is not that much different. Joe Biden reminds me of a used car salesman.

One, final point about Dr. Rice. While it was poor judgment for her to be shoe shopping and later watching a play. What more could she or anyone else in the Bush administration do for people who did not want to do for themselves. Please don't say they were poor, because it seems that every Christmas these "poor people" sure know how to give their kids "a good Christmas"

Khadija said...

Greetings, Tam!

You said, "I don't think the average AA person liked Colin Powell or especially Dr Rice."

I hear a lot of Black folks praising and expressing pride in these two individuals when their names come up. I rarely hear criticism of anything that these two have done.

You said, "One, final point about Dr. Rice. While it was poor judgment for her to be shoe shopping and later watching a play. What more could she or anyone else in the Bush administration do for people who did not want to do for themselves."

Response: They could have and SHOULD HAVE responded with the same energy and vigor that they had for security issues. Instead of the callous disregard that was demonstrated by Bush's flyover without stopping, and by Condi's shopping spree & Spamalot.

The Bush Administration knew how to mobilize federal resources to enforce security lockdowns. They could have (and should have) used those same resources to stage orderly rescues and evacuations during Katrina.

It actually has very little to do with the judgment, poor or otherwise, of the citizens involved. Nobody factors in the citizens' judgment or choices when it comes to security issues. Citizen judgments are EQUALLY irrelevant to the government's sworn responsibility to respond to its own citizens during natural disasters.

About Condi: Since she knew that she didn't care and was not going to lift a finger to assist her fellow citizens, the least she could have done was kept a low profile while this disaster played out on cable news. Instead of enjoying nights out on the town and shopping for expensive shoes. That's the kind of behavior that is expected from an Imelda Marcos or Marie Antoinette. NOT from a public servant.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

roslynholcomb said...

I hear a lot of Black folks praising and expressing pride in these two individuals when their names come up. I rarely hear criticism of anything that these two have done.

That's interesting. Most black folk I know disparage them on the regular, her, more than him, but both pretty much. To the point that conservatives are always commenting on the way black people put Condi and Colin down. Most of the people I know have them in the same category as Clarence Thomas. And these are southern blacks who tend to be more conservative. I could never be down with folk who were in favor of terrorist action in Iraq.

Khadija said...

Hello there, Roslyn!

Unfortunately, I see a LOT of politically comatose Black folks all around me (at work, in my biological family, etc.).

Granted, Condi doesn't get the "he's a good 'brother'" affection that I hear folks giving to Colin; and yes, I think there's definitely sexism involved in that. But when her name comes up, I hear Blacks talking about how "smart" and "accomplished" she is. And nobody talks about her shoe-shopping & Spamalot during Katrina.

As far as I'm concerned, both of these characters are as FOUL as Clarence Thomas. Unfortunately, I rarely hear that particular opinion expressed.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.

Faith at Acts of Faith Blog said...

Well I agree with certain aspects of the worshipful behavior of certain Black people. I saw it first hand at the Inauguration. I celebrated because it was the end of the Bush reign of terror and Palin needed to be kept far far away from the White House! Obama has to be given the chance to fail though before some people will come out of their haze. I for one am hoping that he is the exception to the rule but I am prepared to be disappointed. I want his Presidency to be successful though. It's a challenging situation to watch when you can see the factions that are determined to work against him though and I really don't like the disrespect from newscasters who refer to him by his first name. There is just so much structurally wrong with everything in this gov't that he could have the best intentions and still get messed up. Or assassinated. Let's say for example that he did publicly state more, where is the collective that would have his back? The Black elites didn't support him nor did the Civil Rights Industrial Complex. So who else was he going to go to? You know no politician can get elected w/o bowing down to AIPAC and a bunch of other groups. It's not his fault Black people don't have it together. Look at the praise heaped on Bill Clinton until he showed his true colors last year. I say definitely hold him accountable, but I don't want to see his Administration fail either. I think people are still waiting to be rescued instead of taking up arms for battle and I just can't figure out why the focus is so off. I see all the sneaky, swarmy, unethical people who work in gov't. I look back at the Eddie Murphy film, The Distinguished Gentleman. It started off as a joke that he got elected as a con man only to try to do some good as a con man (politician) and those that opposed his efforts. So I'm not trying to promote negative thinking and a can don't attitude but I wonder how anyone with ethics ever gets anything done in office. It's very difficult. Perhaps I'm being too generous, but I do see some good in the Obamas and the way they interact with each other. That's not the typical political family. His win wasn't typical and again I'm hoping for atypical results. This time though I'm not going to sit back and watch, I'm going to be an active participant in trying to make that happen. If McCain had won I'd be trying to figure out how I could leave the country and I know things would be worse off no matter what.

Khadija said...

Greetings, Faith!

A relative emailed me a pdf file of a 2009 "Been a Long Time Coming" Barack Obama calendar. The caption under one month's picture of Obama reads "Heaven Sent" with his image in the stars over a mountain. [!!??!!]

[At least I think it was a mountain. My eyes stopped focusing after I saw the "Heaven Sent" caption.]

Gina at What About Our Daughters has a blog post about a so-called "Obama effect" that has been observed with Black students' academic acheivements.

{the cult of personality gains momentum}

All of this and the mentality that makes this possible is a grave problem.

Peace, blessings and solidarity.