Eric Oines writes: You are all missing the point. White people defining "Black leadership" is stupid, just as Black people defining "white leadership" is stupid. I think what Booker T is saying, if I may, is that this whole "Black leadership" thing ends up being a way to pidgeon-hole people of color and then discredit people who speak out. And of course, Mr. Krasnoff took the bait immediately with a litany of "discredited Black Leaders". Randy Staten doesn't represent Booker T Hodges any more than Rush Limbaugh, Strom Thurmand, David Duke, Tim Pawlenty, Robert Lillegren, or RT represents me. I just love how some of the white folks get defensive when the tables are turned.
Peter Schmitz responds: Well done, Eric!!! All this nonsense coming out of our current mayor's mouth regarding black leadership is a determined effort by him, Doug Grow and their corporate masters at the Star Tribune to divide and conquer an oppressed population in our city. While triangulation and turning black people against other benefited Bill Clinton and his corporate masters, R.T. and his buddies, as I've said before, need to realize that only Bill Clinton can get away with being Bill Clinton (thank God!). As for the Mayor's relationship with the Star Tribune: Andy Driscoll is correct that the Star Tribune endorsed Sharon Sayles Belton over him. In addition to not endorsing Rybak, the Strib continuously downplayed the successes of R.T.'s campaign up to the general election. They even had the audacity to bring up his troubled relationship with a sibling. After R.T. won the election, the Star Tribune warned the mayor elect, in a strongly-worded post-election editorial, not to listen to the "granola" faction that supposedly swept him into office. Well two years later, the Mayor has reformed. In addition to gutting the Civilian Review Authority (thus depriving reasonable and timely recourse for those brutalized by our local police) he now supports public funding for a new sports stadium as well as the 35W Excess Project. Had Mr. Hodges called the Star Tribune <The Rybak Times> two years ago, he would've been way off the mark. But now that R.T. is doing such a good job pleasing his corporate masters beyond their original expectaions, the name rather fits. Thank you, Booker T. Hodges for your keen insights. I hope you consider running for mayor. -----Peter Schmitz CARAG REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
