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Michelle Obama's Sheer, Feathered Dress: Saturday Night Fever (PHOTOS) Top
The first couple attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner on Saturday night. Mrs. Obama wore a black below-the-knee dress with a sheer top ( her second of the week ) and feather detail. Photos and pool report below. From the pool report: The president delivered the keynote address Saturday night at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Phoenix Awards Dinner. The president launched into a speech heavy on references to civil rights advances over the decades for African Americans, then segued to a laundry list of what he wants in legislation on health care - but notably did not mention the so-called "public option." The motorcade departed the White House at 7:54 to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. We arrived in a cavernous room where thousands were finishing their meals while the Clarence Knight Orchestra provided entertainment. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), the 21st chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, introduced the president and first lady who then appeared on stage. It was a black tie event. The first lady wore a slim, sleeveless black dress. The president wore a tuxedo with a black bow tie. At first, the president walked to a podium on stage right, before being directed to another on stage left. "They don't want me to be on the right," he joked. "This is the CBC." The speech was heavy on references to civil rights advances for African Americans, starting with George Henry White, a congressman from North Carolina who served from 1897-1901. It was a scary time for blacks. Obama mentioned "strange fruit growing on the poplar trees." He discussed the civil rights movement and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He then discussed economic stabilization during his presidency. "Some people seem to have forgotten how bad things where when I took office," he said. The president then moved on to "health insurance reform." This portion of the speech included many of the tenets of his recent speech to Congress, except in the portion where he discussed individuals with no insurance currently. He emphasized providing those people with "affordable choices" but did not mention the so-called public option. "We are talking about expanding choices," he said. The motorcade left the building at 8: 50 p.m. Mark Benjamin Salon National Correspondent Desk: 202 857-5125 Cell: 202 302-3769 Follow HuffPost Style on Twitter and become a fan of HuffPost Style on Facebook ! More on Michelle Obama Style
 
Family Field Trip! Obamas Visit Jefferson Memorial, Washington Monument Sunday Night (PHOTOS) Top
The First Family paid a visit to the Jefferson Memorial and Washington Monument on Sunday evening. Photos and poll report below. From the pool report: The First Family and relatives went on a brisk sightseeing tour this evening, visiting the Jefferson Memorial and the Washington Monument. Along for the fun: Maya Soetoro-Ng, the president's half-sister, her husband, Konrad Ng, and their daughters Suhaila and Savita. FLOTUS' mother, Marian Robinson, also attended. First stop was the Jefferson Memorial, at 7:25 pm. We're told it was POTUS' first outing to the memorial (and an uncomfirmed report from a National Park Service official suggested it was the first non-event visit by a president since FDR.) POTUS was inside for just under 10 minutes and emerged to brief cheers from the public. He wore white sneakers, gray pants, a dark jacket over a white shirt and the customary White Sox cap. FLOTUS, who walked with her daughters, wore a dark cardigan over a white blouse. The Washington Monument was next, at 7:45 pm. A crisp, steady wind whipped the American Flags surrounding the monument as the family bound inside. Thirty or so tourists stood nearby, enjoying an unexpected addition to their late visit. A half moon and clear night sky completed the tableau. The group left at 8:05 pm and returned to the White House at 8:12 pm. "We have a lid," reports our handler, Katie Hogan. ----------------------------------------------- Alex Leary St. Petersburg Times Washington Bureau Follow HuffPost Style on Twitter and become a fan of HuffPost Style on Facebook ! More on Photo Galleries
 
Virginia M. Moncrieff: Philippines Notebook: A national disaster brings death and blame. Top
Like any Asian capital city, Manila is a magnet for people from the countryside wanting to make a better living. The city groans to over capacity; squatter villages and shanty towns spring up and ten years later they have taken permanent hold with their own infrastructure (usually involving illegal electricity and water supplies), their own laws, their own endless cycle of poverty as inhabitants marry each other and the shanty towns spread further and the cycle continues. Last week, I filmed in a particularly violent, poor part of Manila. A shanty town of such renown that the Filipinos I travelled with cracked jokes nervously as we approached. If we wanted to buy a gun, a woman, drugs or contraband we were heading in the right direction, they said, double locking the car doors . The night was monsoonal; a steady sheet of rain came down. The area was ankle deep in grime, it smelled bad, there were leaks and drips and mud and garbage everywhere. Open electrical boxes frizzed out wires inviting electrocution. This was an ordinary monsoon night. Happens every year. Saturday comes and so does tropical storm Ondoy (known internationally as Ketsana). It rained more that day than the storm that caused the Katrina disaster in New Orleans. The wind racketed around my apartment, (safe on the 18th floor, safe in middle class Manila); the rain beat the crap out of the building. It didn't stop. The terrible infrastructure in this city could not cope with the rain. Throughout the day, the news reported that there was flash flooding. It got worse. It turned into a national disaster as people tried to get away from the rising waters. An overburdened city is an overburdened city and on Saturday regardless of whether you lived in a shanty town (first and most badly hit) or in a utilities-paying neighbourhood (collateral damage and lots of it), it was time to pay the price. People were literally washed away. There was something so poignant about seeing people clinging to umbrellas as they were literally armpit high in water, as if the last protection they had against death was holding onto a useless piece of nylon. Blame is an important part of the process. There has not been civil, military or natural disaster in any country that I can recall when questions have not been asked afterwards about government inability to deal with the consequences of rain, riots, or terrorism. So it is here. On Sunday a photo of Mikey Arroyo (son of the President) taken that day in his local liquor store, choosing between expensive bottles of alcohol went like the clappers round the internet. There was no surprise responses just wicked commentary about Mikey showing his standard form in the insensitivity stakes. On Saturday opposition representative Teofisto Guingona, citing government audits said that President Gloria Arroyo had violated Philippines budget laws by spending the entire annual $16 million national emergencies fund on her frequent, and very often extravagant foreign trips. (She has been on an average 6 foreign trips a year since becoming President in 2001). Blame may make you feel better, as if you were helpless in the face of someone else's wickedness, incompetence or corruption. But it doesn't get you off your roof and onto dry land and it doesn't find your missing relatives. The eerie feeling in Manila right now is more than blame, it's mourning. More on Asia
 
Bladdivan: Say Goodbye To Shy Bladder Syndrome With SNL's First Commercial Parody Of The Season (VIDEO) Top
Do you have a shy bladder? Problems peeing in front of other men? If so, Bladdivan is for you if you don't mind seriously embarrassing side effects and a new propensity for creepy family fun. To see more SNL commercial parodies, click here. WATCH: Get HuffPost Comedy On Facebook and Twitter! More on SNL
 
Donald Fisher Dead: Gap Co-Founder, 81, Dies Top
PORTLAND, Ore. — Donald G. Fisher, who co-founded apparel giant Gap Inc., has died at age 81 after a long battle with cancer. The company said Fisher died at his home in San Francisco on Sunday morning surrounded by his family. Those who knew him said he was a great entrepreneur and philanthropist who helped shape the retail world and his local community. Fisher and his wife Doris opened the first Gap in 1969 in San Francisco, after running into difficulties finding jeans that fit. They named the store after the idea of "The Generation Gap" and sold jeans and music, to appeal to a younger crowd. The simple, affordable style that became the namesake brand's trademark resonated with shoppers and took off quickly. A former real estate developer with no previous retailing experience, Fisher initially anticipated maybe "as many as 10" stores. But Gap grew to be one of the nation's largest specialty retailers with more than 3,000 stores in over 25 countries. Gap Inc. now also operates the Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta brands. It became a publicly traded company in 1976 and reported sales of $14.5 billion in its 2008 fiscal year. Fisher guided the company through its largest growth phases, serving as CEO from the company's inception through 1995 and as its chairman until 2004. He continued as a company director and as chairman emeritus until his death. "Today we lost a friend, a mentor and a great visionary," Glenn Murphy, CEO and chairman of Gap Inc. said in a statement. "Don and Doris took a simple idea and turned it into a brand recognized as a cultural icon throughout the world and changed the face of retail forever." National Retail Federation CEO Tracy Mullin said Fisher's true entrepreneurship permeated everything he did, and was part of the reason Gap became such a great global brand. "It feels like the end of an era in a way," Mullin said. "He really was unique in many ways and people really liked him." The company was one of the first dominant brands, pioneering the idea of cheap chic, retail consultant Burt Flickinger III said. He said many retailers continue to model themselves based on the company's design. "Americans would not be able to afford well-made clothes at the low prices and highest possible quality that they have today if it were not for what Don started," Flickinger said. Fisher was also widely recognized for his commitment to philanthropy and the San Francisco Bay community where he was born and raised and the company's headquarters still remain. The Fishers' personal art collection is renowned and includes some of the 20th century's most well-known artists, including Richard Diebenkorn, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol and Willem de Kooning. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art announced Friday it was partnering with the Fishers to house the couple's some 1,100 works to create one of the nation's greatest art collections. Don Fisher was also a charter school advocate, and active in the United Way, Teach for America and other educational efforts. The Fishers gave $15 million in 2000 to create the KIPP (Knowledge is Power Program) Foundation, a national network of free, open-enrollment, college-preparatory public schools to serve students in underserved communities. They have provided millions more to support the organization through the years. "Don's contributions to public education, particularly for underserved communities, cannot be overestimated," said KIPP Foundation CEO Richard Barth. "He used what he learned in growing Gap Inc. to show us what we could do in public education, and tens of thousands of children have benefited from his commitment and generosity." San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said Fisher was a "great San Franciscan, a loving husband and father, and a dear friend. His unwavering commitment to our city's arts and civic culture will be remembered for generations to come." Fisher is survived by his wife Doris, their three sons and 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers and their wives, Jim and Diane Fisher and Bob and Ann Fisher. His son Bob Fisher continues to serve on Gap's board of directors and Doris serves as an honorary lifetime member of the board.
 
Robert Kuttner: Listening to Paul Volcker Top
You know how far politics has swung to the right when the most left wing guy in the room is the former chairman of the Federal Reserve. But that's what financial reform has come to. Paul Volcker was an early backer of Barack Obama. He counseled Obama on one of the best speeches of his campaign, his March 27, 2008 address on financial reform at Cooper Union, and sat in the front row as Obama delivered it. This was the speech where Obama declared that no corner of the financial system should be unregulated . And when Obama clinched the Democratic nomination, Volcker was introduced as a senior advisor. But when it came time to allocate the jobs, the people with the real power managed to freeze out the grand old man of finance. Volcker, who had been touted as a possible treasury secretary, ended up chairing an advisory panel with little influence, the President's Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and for the most part his phone doesn't ring. The board, appointed last year, did not even have its first meeting until May 20. Yet Volcker has continued to speak out, and he is worth listening to, even if the White House is ignoring him. In his recent testimony before the House Financial Services Committee , Volcker made it clear that he had serious reservations about the recent administration and Federal Reserve policy of propping up financial institutions deemed "too big to fail." Volcker said that the actions amounted to an unintended and unanticipated extension of the official "safety net," an arrangement designed decades ago to protect the stability of the commercial banking system. The obvious danger is that with the passage of time, risk-taking will be encouraged and efforts at prudential restraint will be resisted. Ultimately, the possibility of further crises -- even greater crises -- will increase. Volcker explicitly challenged the very centerpiece of the administration's proposed reform program, the idea of focusing on "systemically significant institutions," which presumably would come in for additional supervision, but would be rescued if they got into trouble. Volcker said: The approach proposed by the Treasury is to designate in advance financial institutions "whose size, leverage, and interconnection could pose a threat to financial stability if it failed." Those institutions, bank or non-bank, connected to a commercial firm or not, would be subject to particularly strict and conservative prudential supervision and regulation. The Federal Reserve would be designated as consolidated supervisor. The precise criteria for designation as "systemically important" have not, so far as I know, been set out. However, the clear implication of such designation, whether officially acknowledged or not, will be that such institutions, in whole or in part, will be sheltered by access to a Federal safety net in time of crisis; they will be broadly understood to be "too big to fail." Think of the practical difficulties of such designation. Can we really anticipate which institutions will be systemically significant amid the uncertainties in future crises and the complex inter-relationships of markets? Was Long Term Capital Management, a hedge fund, systemically significant in 1998? Was Bear Stearns, but not Lehman? How about General Electric's huge financial affiliate, or the large affiliates of other substantial commercial firms? What about foreign institutions operating in the United States? And, without using the words, Volcker in effect called for a restoration of the core principles of the Glass-Steagall Act, separating commercial banking from investment banking and proprietary trading. He said: As a general matter, I would exclude from commercial banking institutions, which are potential beneficiaries of official (i.e., taxpayer) financial support, certain risky activities entirely suitable for our capital markets. Ownership or sponsorship of hedge funds and private equity funds should be among those prohibited activities. So should in my view a heavy volume of proprietary trading with its inherent risks. Volcker made similar remarks in a speech in Los Angeles earlier this month. The point is that there is an entirely orthodox view of how to reform the financial system well to the left of the administration's. Similar criticisms have been made by progressives like Paul Krugman and Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, as well as relative conservatives such as former World Bank chief economist Simon Johnson. But it doesn't get much more orthodox than Paul Volcker. As Congress deliberates the details of financial reform, several of the key elements of the Obama program fall short -- the idea that "systemic risk regulation" should just be bucked to the Federal Reserve; that immense financial conglomerates are perfectly fine as long as the Fed is keeping an eye on them -- the same Fed that totally missed the sub-prime disaster and that is owned by its member banks; the acceptance of the premise that customized derivative securities need not be traded on exchanges; the continuing toleration of the business models of behemoth financial conglomerates such as Goldman Sachs, which mix investment banking, hedge-fund speculation, proprietary trading for their own accounts, and commercial banking -- making them walking conflicts of interest. Last week, there was a revealing skirmish on the House Financial Services Committee. The administration blueprint for reform, issued last June and currently being debated in several Congressional venues, includes a Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA). In the draft sent to Congress, the proposed Agency had the authority to require that in addition to marketing other, more complex and risky retail products, banks and other institutions would be required to offer "plain vanilla" products. For example, a bank that marketed more lucrative and risky adjustable rate mortgages would also have to offer a traditional 30-year fixed rate mortgage. A similar "plain vanilla" requirement has been part of New York State banking law for three decades. But when the White House endorsed the idea, the banking lobby went berserk. It targeted members of the Financial Services Committee, offering campaign contributions to friendly legislators and threatening to support the opponents of pro-consumer members. On September 22, Chairman Barney Frank sent his colleagues a letter declaring that he would oppose any "plain vanilla" language, adding that in his draft of the bill: "Financial institutions will not be required to offer plain vanilla products and services and CFPA will not have the authority to approve or change business plans." Testifying the next day, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, never an enthusiast of the proposed consumer agency, said Frank's changes were fine with him. But of course, the whole point of consumer regulation is to require banks to "change business plans" when those plans are built around insane products such as sub-prime loans or usurious credit cards. The bill is not even out of committee and the bankers' lobby is having its way. If the American financial system needs anything, it needs a lot more plain vanilla -- fewer products of Byzantine complexity that serve no economic need other than the profit of their sponsors, less excessive risk, and more service by financial institutions to the real Main Street economy. We should be paying a lot more attention to plain vanilla type guys like Paul Volcker. Robert Kuttner is co-editor of The American Prospect and a senior fellow at Demos . His best-selling book is Obama's Challenge . More on The Fed
 
U.S. Seeking Tougher Sanctions Against Iran Top
The Obama administration is scrambling to assemble a package of harsher economic sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program that could include a cutoff of investments to the country's oil-and-gas industry and restrictions on many more Iranian banks than those currently blacklisted, senior administration officials said Sunday. More on Israel
 
Lisa Derrick: Gods Bless America! Queens NY GOP Won't Dump Pagan Candidate Top
In a stunning show of tolerance that defies theocon C-Streetism, the GOP in Queens, NY will not replace Pagan high priest Dan Halloran as their candidate for District 19 city council in the November 3 election. Considering George Bush administration officials objected to giving author J.K. Rowling the Presidential Medal of Freedom because the Harry Potter books "encouraged witchcraft," that's a very open-minded stance. Halloran is First Atheling or king in his faith, Theodism, a cultural, religious, and martial organization; dedicated to reviving the folkways of the Norman peoples of Northern Europe... Theodism is basically a reconstructed/revisionist form of pre-Christian Northern European polytheism, which differs doctrinally from the similarly Norse-based Astaru and the more familiar Celtic based-based Wicca; though they share some of the same holidays, based on solar and lunar cycles. In Theodism, kings are also the high priests; the gods Tyr, Odin and Thor offer their blessings in the form of luck on the priest-king and thus down through the people. Halloran-- an attorney and partner in the firm Palmieri, Castiglione & Halloran , served as legal counsel and incorporating attorney for the New York City Pagan Pride Project , and the chairman of the state Republican Liberty Caucus--has been endorsed by the Queens County Republican Party. Phyllis Curott , a New York-based attorney, author, activist and Wiccan high priestess doesn't know Halloran, but isn't surprised to find a Pagan running for office, though the party affiliation was a little eye-opening. She told La Figa exclusively: Pagans are everywhere, I've been saying it for years. Doctors, soldiers, bankers, lawyers with all sorts of political views. But an official Republican Party candidate! Move over Christian right, here come the Pagans. I certainly disagree with his politics, but it's great that he's running. Queens GOP Chairman Phil Ragusa and the GOP executive committee were aware of Halloran's religious beliefs when he announced his candidacy; and Halloran was the odds on favorite to win the city council seat in Queens against newcomer Kevin Kim until the Queens Tribune ran a story about Halloran's faith. Turns out the article was far from objective, because, as reports the Village Voice: a Kim campaign consultant also happens to be the VP of the Queens Tribune, and because Queens congressman Gary Ackerman, who founded the paper and still holds a chunk of it, used to be Kim's boss and who urged his old employee to make the race... After the Tribune article hit, it looked like the local GOP honchos were going to replace Halloran on the ticket with a conservative Democrat and slip Halloran into State Supreme Court post--except that Halloran, admitted into the bar in 2003, lacks the required 10 years as an attorney to take the judgeship. But on Thursday, the Republicans stood by their man. Queens County GOP Vice Chairman Vince Tabone, who is also the spokesman for Halloran's campaign, told local reporters : I think it's particularly repugnant to have a religious test. We saw people trying to do that with [President Barack] Obama and Mitt Romney. Flushing is a birthplace of religious freedom. It's part of Queens' heritage. It's a community where Protestants and Catholics and Sikhs live side by side. Attoney Curott--who is High Priestess of the Temple of Ara, along with being an Ambassador to the Parliament of World's Religions--optimistically sees this as an opportunity for greater acceptance of pagan faiths, especially in Republican politics: Attitudes have certainly changed--the Republican Party apparently already knew he was Pagan! They're defending his religious freedom, advocating religious tolerance and condemning a religious test for office as repugnant. Marvelous. Quite a change from Jesse Helm's introducing legislation to take away the tax-exempt status of Wiccan religious institutions. Or Bob Barr's condemnation of religious observances by Wiccan soldiers on military bases, or President Bush's remarks that he didn't think Wicca was a religion so he "hoped the military take another look at it." Let's hope it's change we can believe in. And Halloran himself says: I don't think any of this is really relevant to the City Council race. It's like talking about what church you pray at. That you understand the divine is the most important part...As long as we proceed in our civic lives with dignity and honor, that's what matters. For a more in depth version, click here
 
Cameron Sinclair: We're Hiring: Finding Talent in a Down Economy Top
For the past nine months we've been facing an odd predicament, hiring in a down market . Since the beginning of 2009 we've been taking on about one person a month and are still looking to fill eight more positions. You read that right, eight. I know that will hardly do a dent in the current unemployment rates, but it means that by year end my organization would have doubled in size. It's pretty daunting dealing with expansion and developing a sustainable model while thinking about a possible contraction. I'm assuming that even though 2008 was good to non- profits there will be no real 'giving season' at the end of this year. Do Gooders Need Not Apply We've been getting lots of resumes, but what is making things difficult is that a number of folks applying think working in the non-profit world means 'an easier gig' than their last corporate job. While there is no need for suit and tie, this doesn't mean that the charitable sector does not require equal standards of professionalism. Our work revolves around providing pro bono or at cost professional design and construction services to communities in need. Whether it is building an orphanage in India or elder housing on reservations, the need for a licensed architect is a requirement on all jobs. At the same time, while we are a 501(c)(3), we run our books like any construction project. Keeping budgets tight means that our staff can make a bigger impact and running jobs efficiently means that communities do not lose faith in the long process of building. So while we respect your decade of work at 'one of the big banks' or your desire to 'do good,' we need folks that can utilize their talents to create, support or empower change on a local level. It doesn't need to be a career but it does need to be your passion. Someone Unlock the Doors On the flip side that passion is out there. We've found an incredible number of recent graduates and mid-career professionals willing to go and do 'tour of duty' out in communities around the world. Young professionals honing their architectural skills while seeking the betterment of others. They are on the Gulf coast of the United States, in rural Kenya and in the informal settlements of urban India. In the last year we've had the honor to work with American, Canadian, Romanian, South African and Ugandan designers -- all sharing a common interest, using innovative design to make a difference. So our office might seem quaint next to your previous zen cool space but if you're still passionate -- we're hiring full time positions (3) and taking on some global design fellows (5).
 
Country Boys Taco Truck Owners Fernando And Yolanda Martinez Win First Place At Vendy Awards Top
NEW YORK — A husband and wife who sell tacos and quesadillas have been named New York City's best street vendors. Fernando and Yolanda Martinez took first place Saturday at the fifth annual Vendy Awards, which celebrate the best of the city's street food. The Martinezes make Mexican specialties out of their cart in Brooklyn and sell them for about $6 a dish. They say they're happy to know people love their food. About 700 hundred people attended the awards ceremony at the Queens Museum of Art. An Austrian food cart called Schnitzel and Things was named rookie of the year.
 
Byron Williams: Trip to Washington Always Stir Deep Feelings Top
Whenever I come the Washington, D.C. I always take time to make certain pilgrim journeys. I enjoy sitting on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial at the place where Martin Luther King electrified the nation with his "I Have a Dream" speech. I try to imagine the hope that permeated the crowd on that sweltering August day in 1963. I also go to Arlington National Cemetery to visit the grave of NAACP Field Secretary in Mississippi, Medgar Evers, one of the early martyrs within the civil rights movement. His assassination occurred in arguably the most chaotic 24 hours in American history. June 11, 1963, began with the self-immolation of a Buddhist monk at a busy intersection in downtown Saigon. Alabama Gov. George Wallace stood symbolically in front of the University of Alabama to prohibit two Negro students from registering for classes. President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation that evening elevating the cause of civil rights to a moral issue. These events occurred before Byron De La Beckwith hid in the bushes and cowardly shot Evers in the back as he returned to his Jackson, Miss. home. Though tragic, Evers death also symbolizes the hope during a very hostile time in 1963. But 46 years later, in many ways, America is a very different place. Hard to imagine two years ago Rep. Barbara Lee, president of the Congressional Black Caucus would have the honor of introducing an African American commander in chief, as she did at the annual CBC conference dinner. Many attending the conference see racism still at work. They view many of the protests against President Barack Obama as nothing more than thinly veiled racism. And some would conclude that "thinly veiled" is giving the behavior the benefit of doubt. From the street corner where I stand, signs that refer to the president as "primate in chief" or the American taxpayers are the "Jews for Obama's oven," reflect overt racism and hatred of the highest order. When South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson called the president a liar before a joint session of Congress, how would reasonable people define that one? Wilson's defenders point to the vitriol leveled toward former President George W. Bush by liberals during his eight years in the White House. But no one on the left felt the former president's actions justified publicly disrespecting the office of president of the United States or the House chamber. Was it Obama's policy on health care or the percentage of melanin in his skin that led to Wilson's uncontrollable urge to forget the setting by calling the president on his alleged mendacity? Wilson's political background, which includes favoring keeping the Confederate flag flying at the South Carolina statehouse, robs him of portraying himself of a populist swept up in the moment -- at least from my perspective. I agree with former President Jimmy Carter who recently stated: "When a radical fringe element of demonstrators and others begin to attack the president of the United States as an animal or as a reincarnation of Adolf Hitler or when they wave signs in the air that said we should have buried Obama with Kennedy, those kinds of things are beyond the bounds," We have certainly witnessed an unhinged element of the country that few would conclude were not racist. But should we make the nuts emblematic of the whole? If the fringe were remotely close to a majority, there is no way Barack Hussein Obama would be the 44th President of the United States. I find the subtext to most discussions on racism depend greatly on who decides what's racist, is it the perceived victim or victimizer? Those accused of racism talk about their intentions, while those feeling the pain of racism talk about their experience. This makes racism in the public conversation the elephant in the room -- an emotion-based conversation with each side feeling right rest solely with their perspective. Moreover, any discussion on the impact of racism that does not include poverty is, in my opinion, useless. I suspect that we will continue to discuss poverty long after the need to discuss racism has diminished. But racism cannot and should not be ignored. I would certainly welcome the day when racism is truly behind us, confined to the ash pile of irrelevance along with the fringe groups who seek to keep its flickering embers alive. Byron Williams is an Oakland pastor and syndicated columnist and blog-talk radio host. He is the author of Strip Mall Patriotism: Moral Reflections of the Iraq War. E-mail him at byron@byronspeaks.com or visit his Web site: byronspeaks.com
 
David Paterson On Meet The Press: "I'm Blind, I'm Not Oblivious" (VIDEO) Top
ALBANY, N.Y. — David Paterson thrived politically as a state senator, working his way up in a nearly all-white Albany political structure. Now, he's governor, and things have never been worse. For nearly a year, Paterson, the state's first black governor, has been battered by a faltering economy and with poll numbers hovering at record lows. This week, he learned President Barack Obama's administration is worried he'll drag other Democrats down in 2010 if he runs for a full term, perhaps even threatening the narrow margin the party needs to ward off filibusters in the U.S. Senate. These days, Paterson finds himself very much alone. Paterson said Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" that Obama never directly asked him to step aside, and he wouldn't discuss what presidential aides may have told him confidentially. But the legally blind governor added he's heard the message from Democrats in New York and Washington: "I'm blind, I'm not oblivious." "But I am running for governor," he said. "I don't think I am a drag on the party. I think I'm fighting for the priorities of my party." At an Associated Press event in Syracuse last week, Paterson said that when he was Gov. Eliot Spitzer's lieutenant governor, he had never envisioned becoming the state's chief executive. "I had this grand plan that Hillary Clinton was going to become president," he said. "Maybe the governor would appoint me to the Senate." In January 2008, that was the plan. Paterson worked to draw black voters to Sen. Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. On TV screens and front pages, he was wedged next to President Bill Clinton and closer to the senator than Chelsea. Democrats thought it was a well-deserved fit for Paterson as a reward for bringing the party close to controlling the state Senate for the first time in decades. Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch said Paterson was capable, highly intelligent and courageous. Paterson was the dashing statesman in an otherwise plodding Albany. He was smart, collegial, a reformer, ambitious and funny – on purpose. Now, for many, he's a punch line. Even Paterson is starting to talk about exit scenarios. "I don't think anyone who is clearly hurting their party would take an action like running when it is going to make the party lose," he said. Then he added a shot: "I'm not sure those that are always calling for loyalty in the Democratic Party have been loyal themselves." Albany's top two legislative Democrats – Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Senate Conference Leader John Sampson – last week committed to Paterson "right now" and "until otherwise known." Another Democratic pal, Rep. Gregory Meeks of Queens, called Paterson "my governor, my friend, who has done a relatively good job." For a sitting governor, that praise is a few shades shy of faint. All of this comes days after Washington Democrats sent a clear message that Paterson should step aside for the popular Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. They are concerned that a weak top of the ticket could hurt other Democrats, including Kirsten Gillibrand, whom Paterson appointed to fill Clinton's Senate seat. A Paterson run could even entice Republican savior-in-waiting Rudy Giuliani to run for governor. "He needs a game-changer," said Lee Miringoff of the Marist College poll, which found Paterson had a 17 percent approval rating. Many, however, say the game is over. Last week's criticism and an apparent snub by Obama who gushed over Cuomo during a New York visit was embarrassing publicly for Paterson. Worse, it may be lethal financially, giving Democratic campaign contributors cover to cut checks to Cuomo and, with the apparent blessing of the nation's first black president, not worry about a backlash. That will make Paterson's decision for him. It was the same force that made Cuomo exit the 2002 race for governor as money and support flowed to then-state Comptroller Carl McCall in his losing campaign to unseat Gov. George Pataki. Without friends, a free flow of campaign cash and the contacts made from a previous campaign for governor, Paterson is mostly alone. Inheriting the job 18 months ago when Spitzer resigned amid a prostitution probe and governing through the worst fiscal crisis in state history left him saying "no" to powerful, well-funded special interests, while repeatedly committing his own political missteps, including the ugly process to replace Clinton with Gillibrand. Paterson angered the Kennedy family when he didn't embrace Caroline Kennedy for the job and a Paterson operative later leaked unsubstantiated rumors about her in an attempt to show she was ill suited. He is left with a message that is not much more than his character – which polls show New Yorkers like – and how he feels he kept the state from worse fiscal fates faced by other states. So Paterson says he's "clearly running" even as Democrats urge him to reconsider. "You don't give up because you have low poll numbers," he told "Meet the Press." "If everybody can tell what the future is, why didn't they tell me I'd be governor? I could have used the heads-up." WATCH: Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News , World News , and News about the Economy More on Meet the Press
 
Bears Beat Seahawks 25-19 As Cutler Finds Hester Late Top
SEATTLE — Jay Cutler pumped his fists. He hugged his linemen. And he raised both arms triumphantly – all inside the final 2 minutes. Exactly the scenes the Bears envisioned when they traded a king's ransom to Denver to get him. Cutler's miserable Chicago debut two weeks ago became further forgotten when he completed all three of his passes on Sunday's decisive drive. The third was for 36 yards to Devin Hester with 1:52 remaining, rallying the Bears to a 25-19 victory over the depleted Seattle Seahawks. Seattle (1-2), playing without seven injured starters, drove to the Bears 29 with 30 seconds left. But Seneca Wallace, starting because quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was out with a broken rib, threw high and incomplete to Julius Jones on fourth-and-2 to seal the win for the Bears (2-1). Cutler finished 21 of 27 for 247 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception. "Any time you can get Devin Hester one-on-one, it works," a confident Cutler said on the field seconds after the game ended. Cutler completed more than 70 percent of his throws last week against the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers – a strong response to the career-high four interceptions he threw in a loss on opening night at Green Bay. Chicago was up 17-16 with 8 minutes left when Seahawks rookie linebacker Aaron Curry sped into Cutler's passing arm and knocked the ball loose. Cory Redding recovered the fumble at the Bears 39. Olindo Mare, who was just 4 of 6 on field goals, converted the turnover into a 46-yard field goal. The Seahawks led 19-17 with 5:17 remaining. The Bears answered by driving to the Seattle 36 by the 2-minute warning. Matt Forte was bent back awkwardly at the end of an 11-yard run. Adrian Peterson replaced him and ran twice for 12 yards. Then Hester ran a slant route inside Travis Fisher, who was playing because Seattle was without starting cornerbacks Marcus Trufant and Josh Wilson. Safety Deon Grant tried to level Hester but nailed Fisher instead. With both Seahawks on the turf, Hester trotted in for the go-ahead score. Seattle's T.J. Houshmandzadeh lost a fumble after a catch on the second play of the third quarter. Danieal Manning knocked the ball out from behind, and Adewale Ogunleye recovered at the Seahawks 42. Cutler then found Johnny Knox on third down over the middle. The rookie juked Curry and dived in for a 7-yard touchdown. Chicago had its first lead, 14-13. Seattle would have answered by taking the lead if oft-injured Deion Branch, making his season debut, hadn't allowed a third-down pass to go through his hands at the Bears 11, or if Mare hadn't missed his second field goal of the day on the next play. On Seattle's next offensive play, Wallace – who set career highs with 26 completions in 44 attempts and 261 yards – threw a slingshot-like toss across his body while pressured in his end zone. Lance Briggs made a diving interception at the Seahawks 14. Robbie Gould turned that into a 37-yard field goal and the Bears led 17-13. The Seahawks debuted blinding, nuclear green jerseys. They should have been wearing ones with a red cross on them. Hasselbeck, nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones and three-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lofa Tatupu were among the starters missing for Seattle. Six others played while banged up, leaving Seahawks coach Jim Mora saying he just hoped to have 45 healthy bodies dress for the game. Yet Seattle jumped out to a 13-0 lead after 18 minutes. Cutler threw his fifth interception of the season in the first quarter, after Chicago had reached the Seahawks 17. David Hawthorne, who also had 16 tackles in his first career start while replacing Tatupu, got the tipped pass. Seattle converted that into the first of two field goals by Mare in the half. The Bears scored just before halftime thanks to a replay review. Forte caught a short pass and ran until hit at the 2. As he reached the ball forward for the goal line, Jordan Babineaux knocked it free and recovered the fumble. Forte slammed his helmet into the turf as Mora did a dance on the opposite sideline. But after a review, referee Don Carey ruled Forte was "down by contact." Two plays later, on fourth-and-goal, Cutler threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Greg Olsen to get Chicago within 13-7 at the break. More on Sports
 
James Warren: The Week in Magazines: Obama the "Self-Entangling Giant" and How to Have Sex During Dinner at a Restaurant Top
No matter how much he might disdain the George W. Bush presidency, especially when it comes to misuse of executive branch power, Barack Obama may be a "self-entangling giant" who is going down the same perilous path argues no less an initial Obama sympathizer than journalist-historian Garry Wills in the Oct. 8 New York Review of Books . Wills, a Northwestern University historian emeritus, argues in " Entangled Giant " that Bush left office unpopular and disgraced, with Obama set on ending illegal acts like torture and indefinite detentions, denial and legal representation to detainees, and nullification of laws by signing statements, among others. But he then contends that, "The momentum of accumulating powers in the executive is not easily reversed, checked or even slowed." Our entire post-World War 2 history "caused an inertial transfer of power toward the executive branch," replete with a de facto monopoly on nuclear power, a vast worldwide network of military bases, the systems of classification and clearance, the "war on terror" and what Wills calls the "cult of the commander in chief." And while Obama has taken certain steps, like announcing the future closing of the Guantanamo Bay detention center, there are other actions and statements that give pause: the CIA asserting that it may retain the practice of sending prisoners to foreign nations; the Justice Department decision to abort a trial by invoking "state secrets"; refusing to release photographs of "enhanced interrogation"; the release of gay personnel from the U.S. military at rates equivalent to the Bush years; and what Wills deems Obama's defiance of the Constitution's "full faith and credit" clause, mandating states to recognize laws passed by other states, via Obama's defense of the Defense of Marriage Act, allowing states to refuse to recognize other states' approval of gay marriages. Most of his case involves national defense and he concedes, "It should come as no surprise that turning around the huge secret empire built by the National Security State is a hard, perhaps impossible, task." In sum, he argues that Obama will become a prisoner of the national security prison we've built over decades; an empire of military bases and imperial dealings largely unknown to the average citizen. "He feels he must avoid embarrassing the hordes of agents, military personnel, and diplomatic instruments whose loyalty he must command," writes Wills. "Keeping up morale in this vast, shady enterprise is something impressed on him by all manner of commitments. He becomes the prisoner of his own power. As President Truman could not not use the bomb, a modern president cannot not use the huge powers at his disposal. It has all been given him as the legacy of Bomb Power, the thing that makes him not only Commander in Chief but Leader of the Free World. He is a self-entangling giant." ---Remember the passions elicited by the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' decision last year to remove 437 children from a fundamentalist Mormon compound in Eldorado, Texas? In " With God on Their Side ," October's Texas Monthly returns to the scene of some initially alleged crimes after all the charges have been settled and nearly every child is back exactly where they were originally, and wonders whether justice was truly served. Katy Vine does a very fine job taking one through the history of the dispute, the seeming mix of Texas politics and bureaucratic spinelessness, and strongly suggests that the Mormons got off very easy. In particular, there is rather strong testimony from a respected family law expert who briefly worked for the clearly disorganized state on the case overseeing its legal strategy and urged strong action in some individual cases, including terminating parents' rights in some instances as a result of seeming underage marriages and child abuse. But he was rebuffed, in the process coming to believe that key players simply did not understand the breadth of incriminating evidence, and quit. Even acknowledging that putting some children up for adoption would have been traumatic, the family law expert is left wondering if it was truly better "to return girls to families in which underage marriages had occurred and might occur again? 'They think they're going to wind up happily holding hands in heaven,' he said. 'That doesn't make it something we can tolerate in a decent society.'" ---The Sept. 26 Economist offers a knockout, 14-page report on " Mobile Marvels ," or how, "Once the toys of rich yuppies, mobile phones have evolved in a few short years to become tools of economic empowerment for the world's poorest people. These phones compensate for inadequate infrastructure, such as bad roads and slow postal services, allowing information to move more freely, making markets more efficient and unleashing entrepreneurship." This focuses on three trends: the spread of mobile phones in developing countries and the accompanying rise in home-grown mobile operators that exceed the heretofore Western incumbent firms; the rise of China's two leading telecoms-equipment makers from low-cost, low-quality operators to high-quality and innovative powers; and development of a raft of new phone-based services in the developing world, which go far beyond text messages and phone calls, with new data services including agricultural advice, health care and financial transfers. And whereas government-run phone monopolies do remain in places like Ethiopia, they are being dwarfed in impact and innovation by the real competition one finds in spots like war-ravaged Somalia, a poor nation with no real government where a dozen mobile operators seek market share and explain a far greater "mobile teledensity" (how many phones one finds per 100 people) than Ethiopia. As telling are the many ways in which it's now apparent that the spread of phones promotes economic development, especially money transfers or mobile banking, which derives from the custom in the developing world of using prepaid calling credit as an informal currency far more efficient than physically sending it from one place to another. "In the grand scheme of telecoms history, mobile phones have made a bigger difference to the lives of more people, more quickly, than any previous technology. They have spread the fastest and proved the easiest and cheapest to develop. It is now clear that the long process of connecting everyone on Earth to a global telecommunications network, which began with the invention of the telegraph in 1791, is on the verge of being completed. Mobile phones will have done more than anything else to advance the democratization of telecoms, and all the advantages that come with it." ---The Oct. 5 issue of Business Week (which may, sadly, be a dead man walking among long-proud weeklies) inspects " Europe's New McCafe Culture ," namely McDonald's' attempt to upend Starbucks as Europe's top coffee chain by opening coffee shops in existing franchises. Starbucks has about 1,200 stores in Europe, with McDonald's planning to have 1,300 by the end of 2010 and to try to undercut Starbucks on price. Can it do so, surmount its inherent double-edge sword of a fast-food image and succeed? Well, then, the comments from one Parisian quoted here best not be duplicated continent-wide: "I don't care how good their coffee is. The smell when you walk into a McDonald's is so greasy, it's nauseating." ---The Sept. 28 Sports Illustrated offers a hard-to-ignore headline: "At age 17, Bonnie Richardson won the Texas state track team championship all by herself. Then she did it again." Gary Smith does a typically lovely job profiling Richardson, one of three members of her high school track team and the only one to qualify for the state championship (in her division, namely the 380 high schools with enrollments of fewer than 200). Needless to say, to win the team title with just one person is, ah, difficult. And high rise dweller, please note: she can nail an eight-point buck with one clean shot from a bow and arrow (the head is stuffed and mounted on the family's living room wall). ---Finally, we have "Bad Girl Sex" from October's Cosmopolitan , or what is ever so delicately phrased as "Get Naughty Tonight" in a piece with a list of "12 taboo moves [that] should really drive him loco with lust." This highly empirical analysis includes the general topic ("Try a bit of bondage") and both a "naughty move" and an "even naughtier move." Thus, with bondage, there's either tying your hands together and "let him devour you" in bed or "have him tie your hands with a scarf and hang them on a hook on his door before he tantalizes you with oral." This also includes beckoning your male friend from a restaurant table by telling him you forgot something in the car, then texting him that you need his help and, when he arrives, going at it hot and heavy in a presumably less-public area of the parking lot. It's unclear whether you're supposed to place your food order before or after the text message. More on Magazines
 
Countrywide Phone Calls: Lawmakers Want More Information About VIP Program That Lent To Politicians Top
The discovery that Countrywide Financial Corp. recorded phone conversations with borrowers in a controversial mortgage program that included public officials -- and that those recordings have been destroyed -- has prompted new congressional calls for more information about the program. Rep. Darrell Issa of California, the ranking Republican on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, is trying to subpoena the remaining records of Countrywide's VIP loan program. More on Banks
 
Broncos 23, Oakland Raiders 3: Who's Your MVP? Top
The Broncos dismantled the rival Raiders in Oakland Sunday 23-3. Read the AP story about the game and vote for Sunday's MVP. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)--All that offseason disfunction in Denver is a thing of the past. Josh McDaniels and Kyle Orton have the Broncos off to a 3-0 start. Orton threw a touchdown pass to Brandon Marshall(notes), and rookie Knowshon Moreno ran for 90 yards and a score to lead the Broncos to a 23-3 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. McDaniels caused an immediate stir when he was hired to replace the fired Mike Shanahan as coach in Denver last offseason. He alienated Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler before trading him to Chicago for Orton, then suspended Marshall in the preseason. But once the season started, things couldn't have gone much better for the Broncos. They capitalized on a lucky bounce to win the opener at Cincinnati and followed that with convincing wins over Cleveland and Oakland (1-2). The schedule gets considerably tougher starting next week against Dallas, but the Broncos have to be pleased with where they stand now. Orton again played mistake-free football, going 13 for 23 for 157 yards. He has not thrown an interception in three games, a far cry from the flashier Cutler, who made more big plays last season but also more mistakes with 18 interceptions. The Broncos have committed just one offensive turnover all season, and even that didn't end up hurting them. Two plays after Correll Buckhalter fumbled deep in Denver territory, Darren McFadden gave it right back to Denver with a fumble of his own. That recovery by Brian Dawkins was just one of many big plays from coordinator Mike Nolan's defense. The Broncos have allowed just 16 points all season, getting six sacks from Elvis Dumervil the past two weeks. The Raiders offense looked inept for a second straight week and this time the defense couldn't keep Oakland in the game long enough for JaMarcus Russell to steal one at the end, as he did last week in Kansas City. The Raiders were held to 137 yards, their second straight week with less than 200 yards of offense. This is just the third time since the start of the 1993 season that Oakland has put together back-to-back games like that, with the other two coming under Art Shell in 2006. Russell threw two first-quarter interceptions and was the target of boos all afternoon from the frustrated Raiders fans. Russell, who entered the game completing 35.2 percent of his passes, finished 12 for 21 for 61 yards, with only 1 passing yard in the second half. Matt Prater kicked three field goals and Buckhalter added 108 yards on 14 carries for the Broncos. The Broncos dominated the first half but only had a 13-3 lead to show for it. LaMont Jordan was stopped on a fourth-and-goal from the 1 to thwart their first drive and Denver had to settle for a field goal after driving inside the 5 late in the half. The other 10 points were set up by interceptions thrown by Russell. He was picked off by Renaldo Hill following the goal-line stand when Darrius Heyward-Bey fell as his feet got caught up with a defender. That set up the 2-yard TD pass to Marshall. The second interception by Andre Goodwin set up a 48-yard field goal by Prater. Russell put together one sharp drive in the second quarter, leading to a field goal by Sebastian Janikowski. NOTES: Rich Gannon broadcast the game for CBS after the Raiders tried to ban their former QB from pregame production meetings. ... This was the 100th all-time meeting between AFL rivals, including two playoff games. The Raiders hold a 56-42-2 edge.
 
Karen Robinovitz: A Moment of Success (Finally!) Top
Back to the action of production and getting the business up and running. In the last piece of the story, we had just received 30,000 damanged components - and I was suddenly suffering from severe acid reflex, brought on by stress. After going through weeks upon weeks of debate with the manufacturer to replace them... missing shipping dates... losing the UK opportunity to star in 62 windows (and receiving a 13,000 pound bill for the screw up)... a whole lot of crying... an enormous dose of fear... thoughts of giving up... we had... finally... a moment of success! In case you missed it, this picture shows you the kind of damage we had when we attempted to fill the components we didn't know were cracked until we - well - tried to fill them! Look closely and you will see a fracture in the component that caused the leaking! Here it is again! Can you imagine? This is the story of a bit of our bright light - see my vlog below! Stay tuned for more purple action! Mwah! Karen Purple Lab Creatrix
 
Dean Allen: GOP Candidate Raffles Off AK-47 At South Carolina Campaign Rally Called "Machinegun Social" (VIDEO) Top
GREENVILLE, S.C. — A candidate to be South Carolina's next National Guard leader skipped the fiery speeches for firepower, launching his campaign with what he called a "machine-gun social." The Greenville News reports some 500 people came out to a shooting range Saturday for Republican Dean Allen's political rally. He wants to be the next adjutant general, the person who leads the state's National Guard. Attendees paid $25 for barbecue, a clip of bullets for target practice and the chance to win a semiautomatic AK-47. Whoever wins the rifle will have to undergo a background check. Allen says he is an Army veteran who wanted to celebrate Second Amendment rights. South Carolina is the only state that elects its adjutant general. More on GOP
 
Beating Death Of Derrion Albert, 16, Caught On Video Top
Chicago police are still investigating the gang fight that erupted Thursday in Roseland that resulted in the death of 16-year-old Fenger High School student Derrion Albert. Albert was killed in a melee near the school that police believe is a continuation of ongoing tensions between Fenger students that are members of rival gangs. An amateur video of the brawl shows dozens of people punching, kicking and swinging wooden boards in the street. Albert was struck by blows from one of those boards, Fox Chicago reports , and the video obtained by Fox shows a person getting hit with a board and then stomped on after falling to the ground. As people rush to help the injured person, a voice can be heard on the video yelling, "Derrion, get up!" Watch the footage (WARNING: GRAPHIC VIOLENCE): Albert's mom said witnesses told her that her son "trying to help another student and kind of got mixed in with the crowd of the fight and he was hit." A memorial and march planned for Sunday was rescheduled for Monday at 1 p.m., the Tribune reports . More on Video
 

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