Everybody talkin' 'bout Tavis ...

... about how he's a punk and his loyalties lie with the wrong candidate and how he needs to grow up. OK, some of it I'll agree to, but some of it is just wrong and I'll tell you why.
For those of you who don't know, Smiley, a 12-year political commentator for the Tom Joyner Morning Show, has decided to leave the job at the end of June saying that he simply has too much on his plate. If he were anyone else, I might agree, but Smiley has been wearing an 'S' on his chest since "BET Tonight with Tavis Smiley." So I don't buy the whole, "I've got too much stuff on my plate," nonsense.
While I don't agree with his political choice and I feel like his leaving the TJMS is a cop out, but that brotha has been responsible for jump starting the dialogue on a lot of issues that we need to address.
Over the years I have the good fortune of having seen Smiley speak on two or three occasions and he talks a great game. He has a way of presenting some of these issues that speaks across generational lines.
Of course there's a draw back to this. The jacked up part is in all this dialogue, the brotha offers no solution whatsoever of how to do better. Maybe it's just me but I feel like he shouldn't be talking about it unless he has a solution to do better. Hell, he can even get help.
What he needs to do is form some sort of task force in major metro areas to assess what needs to be done to better those communities and let it spread throughout the region. I'm sure there are several people in every community who are willing to put forth the work if they have someone willing to help.
Honestly, I think he's done a lot of good and he shouldn't be ridiculed the way he has been. Granted some of his past actions border on the juvenile and dare I say, petty, but you have to give credit where it is due. Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
In this morning's commentary he said that he's working on three different documentaries and publishing books by several visionaries like the great Cornel West and the inspirational Iyanla Vanzant and he needs time to pursue those "passion projects."
I understand that, but what's wrong with taking a leave of absence? He could very well have taken a leave of absence from the show and they could have let Jesse Jackson Jr., or even Kevin Powell take over for a while.
The thing that surprises me is he is leaving so soon. I know the end of June is a long way off but I kind of hoped he'd stick around at least until the 2008 Election wasn't such a hot button issue.
Regardless of his reasons or excuses for leaving, I wish him the best and I hope the TJMS crew finds a replacement worthy of filling his shoes.

There's no crying in politics!

Right?!

Apparently there is and it worked out smashingly for the former First Lady. Of course I am addressing her quivering voice moment last week before the New Hampshire primary. It's a little old but I am still pissed about it and let's face it, she won the primary because of it.
Think I'm lying, take a look. She looks so beat down and tired and someone asked her a question and I guess she couldn't take it anymore. OK, I hope you picked up just a hint of sarcasm in that last statement.

That crap was calculated or miscalculated I should say. I don't know why she thought crying would solve her problems. To be completely honest with you, I think she played right into the hands of all her naysayers.

These folks have long said that a woman can't make it in the White House. That the stress of it all coupled with PMS will make for quick, rash decisions and I personally think that she's set us back a few decades with all this fake boo-hooing nonsense.

Yea that's right, I said fake! Even if it is not fake she still needs to get herself together because if she can't handle the stress of the campaign, how is she going to handle the stress of running the country? I think she just lost herself the election.

And speaking of politics, why won't you guys leave Tavis Smiley alone for his comments about Barack Obama? I applaud Mr. Smiley for stepping up to say what so many other folks are thinking.

Take a look.

The man is simply saying 'do your research before you vote Obama in.' I don't think there's anything wrong with that. I do think it is wrong to vote for somebody based on what they look like, what their gender is and who they are connected to. I'm not saying Obama is the wrong candidate, I'm not saying he is the right one, I am saying that he needs to be researched.

Personally, I don't trust anyone who WANTS to be the president. That's the hardest job in the world and it doesn't pay much so he or she would have to be in it for the perks. It just kind of makes me wonder, what perks are they in it for?