Zennie's Zeitgeist

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

Senator Barack Obama's NAACP Speech : Video and Text
2008-07-15 03:15:00
CRW_6803, originally uploaded by Joe Lamb.This is the video and text of Senator Barack Obama's speech on Monday before the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in Cincinnati. Video : It is always humbling to speak before the NAACP. It is a powerful reminder of the debt we all owe to those who marched for us and fought for us and stood up on our behalf; of the sacrifices that were made for us by those we never knew; and of the giants whose shoulders I stand on here today.They are the men and women we read about in history books and hear about in church; whose lives we honor with schools, and boulevards, and federal holidays that bear their names. But what I want to remind you tonight ? on Youth Night ? is that these giants, these icons of America?s past, were not much older than many of you when they took up freedom?s cause and made their mark on history.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was but a 26-year -old pastor when he led a bus boycott in Montgomery th...
More About: Text , Speech

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Would Serve Obama
2008-07-15 02:50:00
In this video, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger tells ABC' "This Week" host George Stephanopoulos that he would indeed serve in an Obama Administration if he were called to do so. "I will take his call now, and I will take his call if he were President. I don't think this is one of those things where you can be partisan."
More About: Arnold Schwarzenegger

Zennienet.com - The Newest Social Tagging System
2008-07-15 02:27:00
If you use Digg, or Reddit, or Mixx, then you're familar with "social tagging". Now, there's a new system right here at Zennie's Zeitgeist, and will soon be on our other blogs: Zennienet.com Try it.
More About: Social , System , Tagging

Tony Snow Remembered On "Face The Nation"
2008-07-15 02:21:00
A person who passed too young, former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow , was remembered on CBS' "Face The Nation ":
More About: Bush administration

Chicago Tribune / LA TImes Shrink - Tribune Co Fires Staffers
2008-07-15 01:06:00
On the very day the New Yorker jumps the shark, the Tribune Company announces firings, including the editor of the Chicago Tribune and the publisher of the LA Times . The reason: readers flow to online sources and advertisers go with them.
More About: Fires , Chicago Tribune

New Yorker, Jesse Jackson, Ralph Nader Use Racism Against Obama
2008-07-14 15:18:00
In this installment in my video series I discuss the New Yorker cartoon of Barack and Michelle Obama and how it compares to Jesse Jackson 's "nuts" gaffe of last week (which I contend was not a gaffe and was a deliberate action), and Ralph Nader's most unfortunate statement that Senator Obama was "acting white." I feature New Yorker Editor David Remick's explaination of the creation and use of the cartoon, and provide commentary. I then explain that all three actions were examples of "jumping the shark" -- using race to get attention for their message, but doing nothing to improve the American condition in the process.
More About: Barack Obama , Racism

New Yorker's Cartoon Of Barack And Michelle Obama An Outrage
2008-07-14 13:06:00
If you've not seen this cartoon for the New Yorker,then here it is in all of its glory. It shows Barack and Michelle Obama in all of the stereotypical garb and poses that bigots and racists -- same thing -- have complained about. It has Michelle as a terrorist doing the "fist pump" and Barack in radical muslim garb.Why?What's the point of this? A number of outraged Obama supporters have flooded the listservs on this matter, and one person John Hay of TellingThoughts.com took up an email conversation with the cartoonist Barry Blitt:t appears as though ?The New Yorker? is now running for cover over their outrageous and highly defamatory Obama magazine front cover. Possibly grounds for a costly New Yorker payout after Senator Obama gets the election out of the way.Below is the New Yorker cartoonist?s response to an emailed complaint over the cover. It was posted early today by an Obama supporter MK, on one of the Obama site threads.***************************New Yorker Cover Ar...
More About: Cartoon , Michelle Obama

Blogger Influence Studies Miss The Point - Print Media Is Dying
2008-07-14 11:28:00
I happened over to Flopping Aces, a political blog, and noticed their reference and post on a study that questioned the infuence of bloggers in politics. The study was done in the "olden" days of blogging, circa 2006, and so is already questionable because there were 2 million blogs then, versus over 100 million today. But the main point missed by Flopping Aces is that with ad dollars moving toward the Internet, and reporters being laid off left and right, blogs remain the one place to go to get news. Yes, biased -- for example, we tend to be pro-Barack Obama -- but that is why people surf blogs. The bottom line is that the way we're getting our news is changing fast and in this sea of alteration is difficult to question the power of blogs. We're at a point where almost every major news channel on television looks like blogs for news, then uses their content or story idea to some degree. That fact is not in the study's discussed.
More About: Media , Studies , Blogger , Print

"Yes We Can" - Tribute to Obama By Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt
2008-07-13 18:44:00
"Yes We Can" is the new musical and video tribute to Senator Barack Obama for President by Maria Muldaur and Bonnie Raitt. I was asked to co-produce and distribute the video on behalf of Maria Muldaur, Bonnie Raitt, and Joel Joseph of Studio B Recording in Sausilito, CA. It's not to be confused with the first great "Yes We Can" video and song by Will-I-Am, which is a terrific and pioneering work of its own. Also see www.yeswecanthevideo.comHere's the video:> On Metacafe. > On Google > On My Space> On Crackle> On Sclipo> On Viddler> Dailymotion> On AOL"Yes We Can" by Zennie Abraham is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.Based on a work at www.yeswecanthevideo.com.Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at www.yeswecanthevideo.com.> On Yahoo
More About: Tribute

Sunday, Bloody Sunday
2008-07-13 15:28:00
We have always known music is powerful - that it can affect people, reach them on a very visceral level. Here, then, is a reworking - a mashup, if you will - of a song that was already full of power and emotion. U2's "Sunday , Bloody Sunday" courtesy of YouTube and 1962verbodivino.Sunday, Bloody Sunday...I cant believe the news todayOh, I cant close my eyes and make it go awayHow long...How long must we sing this song?How long? how long...'Cause tonight...We can be as one tonight...Broken bottles under childrens feetBodies strewn across the dead end streetBut I wont heed the battle callIt puts my back upPuts my back up against the wall...And the battle's just begunThere's many lost, but tell me: who has won?The trench is dug within our heartsAnd mothers, children, brothers, sisters torn apart...Wipe the tears from your eyesWipe your tears awayWipe your tears awayI wipe your tears away (Sunday, bloody Sunday)I wipe your blood shot eyes (Sunday, bloody Sunday)Sunday, bloody sunda...
More About: George W Bush

Women Can Be Sexist Too: Clinton Supporters And Sexism
2008-07-13 07:49:00
This video is nothing less than a monologue on how some remaining female supporters of Senator Clinton for President are, in pointing out sexism, being sexist themselves.I point to Salon.com's Editor-in-Chief Joan Walsh as a main example and as one who looks the other way when Michelle Obama is the target of sexism and racism, but not Senator Clinton, followed by Harriet Christian, the terrible and outwardly racist Clinton supporter who gained national attention for her racist and sexist rant against Senator Barack Obama at the DNC Rules Committee Meeting of May 31st.In fact, I point to this blog "Too Sense" and the article "The Limited Empathy of Joan Walsh" where the blogger dNa writes:Walsh and Ferraro, experts both on being a black man and running for president, and presumably how easy such an endeavor is, given the vast number of black presidents we have elected. It wasn't that Obama built a top-tier fundraising organization, (from scratch) studied the primary rules and how t...
More About: Women , Sexism , Supporters

Germany Says Bush Did Not Pressure Them To Cancel Obama Speech
2008-07-12 18:22:00
As we move closer to Senator Barack Obama 's much anticipated speech in Germany , we have this report from Poltical Gateway that says Germany claims the Bush Administration did not pressure them to try and stop the Obama speech from happening,Yeah. Right. Like I believe the Bush White House had nothing to do with the "outing" of CIA operative Val Plame.
More About: George W , Speech

Tony Snow - Former Bush Press Secretary Passes Of Colon Cancer
2008-07-12 16:19:00
Tony Snow, former White House / Bush Administration Press Secretary, passed away at the young age of 53 after his battle with Colon Cancer . He will be missed. I always enjoyed his perspective and his reasoned approach. He seemed like a very good person.
More About: Tony Snow , Colon Cancer

DNC Convention Media Walkthrough At Pepsi Center - Video
2008-07-11 20:23:00
This is the video -- 35 minutes long -- of my trip to the DNC Convention Media Walkthrough in Denver, Colorado. It started with my flight to Denver on United that Monday night, which was delayed for about two hours. My intent was to get in during the day but because of the flight backup, I ended up getting in at 11 PM. The other problem is that I'd not been to Denver since the age of 14. In other words, before I knew how to drive. So my first thought upon landing was "Where the hell am I." My second view was who do I call if I'm lost? Yikes! At any rate, the people at National Rental Car in Denver, were great. They gave me a Toyota Prius for rent at a cheap rate. I was inimidated just because it's a vastly different car, but after a short training session, and a drive, I was a big fan of the car. Especially since it had a GPS device. That was a life-saver for me. Wow. I finally got to my hotel room at the StayBridge Suite in Englewood, Co. Nice big place of a room, wi...
More About: Video , Pepsi , Center

McCain Elderly Protester Removed - Brandon Keating Sr Starts With A Bang
2008-07-11 20:11:00
YouTuber Brandon Keating Sr. started off his appearance on Zennie's Zeitgeist with a bang, presenting his take on a video of an elderly John McCain protester's unnecessary and questionable treatment by law enforcement. Welcome Brandon and keep them coming! See it with a click here > BRANDON!
More About: Bang , Elderly , Protester

Netroots Blog Caltics Attacking Senator Diane Feinstein
2008-07-11 19:38:00
I happened to visit the Calitcs Blog , when I saw an article calling for nothing less than the censure of Senator Diane Feinstein . Why? Because of her support for the FISA bill that just past, and her alledged role as swing vote confirming, as Caltics put it, the appointments of Michael Mukasey, President Bush's torture-condoning nominee for Attorney General, and Leslie Southwick, a racist and homophobic judge.Yikes!It seems that no action has stopped Feinstein, according to Caltics.:We've tried everything to get Sen. Feinstein's attention. Phone calls. Emails. Faxes. Petitions. Protests. Smoke signals. We even launched an online petition supporting a proposed California Democratic Party censure resolution of Sen. Feinstein last November that spread like wildfire across the grassroots, with 35,039 Californians signing on in support.The censure movement also catalyzed national media attention, fueled by endorsements from MoveOn.org, Progressive Democrats of America, the Californ...
More About: Netroots

DNC Convention - DNCC Releases List of Credentialed Blogs
2008-07-11 19:26:00
Which blogs are the "credentialed blogs" for the DNC Convention ? Here's a list below. This blog also has a blog roll of them if you look to the right and scroll down. But here's the list: 2008 Democratic Convention Watch http://demconwatch.blogspot.com43rdStateB lues.com http://43rdstateblues.comAFL-CIO NOW Blog http://blog.aflcio.orgAfrican American Political Pundit http://aapoliticalpundit.blogspot.comAMER ICAblog.com http://americablog.comAsian American Action Fund Blog http://aaa-fund.comBadlands Blue http://badlandsblue.comBagnews Notes http://bagnewsnotes.comBeliefnet http://beliefnet.comBitch Ph.D. http://bitchphd.blogspot.comBlogger News Network http://bloggernews.netBlogging For Michigan http://bloggingformichigan.comBlogHer http://blogher.comBlue Hampshire http://bluehampshire.comBlue Indiana http://blueindiana.netBlue Jersey http://bluejersey.comBlue Mass. Group http://bluemassgroup.comBlueGrassRoots http://bluegrassroots.orgBlueNC.com http://bluen...
More About: Blogs , List

Faith, Hope, and the Courtship of South Carolina
2008-07-11 15:07:00
South Carolina hasn't voted for a Democrat for president since Jimmy Carter. According to Linda Hansen, the voters in the "Palmetto State" have been no use to "liberal" candidates after primary season:"Truth to tell, we South Carolinians have been jilted before we got to the altar so many times we don't bother with trousseau shoppin' any more. We've lost faith. Abandoned hope. The Dems gave up on us long ago and the GOP knows we can be had, cheap."Come senators, congressmenPlease heed the callDon't stand in the doorwayDon't block up the hall...The times? They are a-changing: In the summer of 2007 Senator Barack Obama promised the people of South Carolina he'd work for them if they'd have him. Obama's keeping his promise, which reflects his fifty state strategy. Ms. Hansen compares the state of the McCain & Obama campaigns, and while the polls suggest that McCain has the traditional lead, the mood on the ground is - evidently - not indicative of a Republican lock on the ...
More About: Faith , Hope , South , South Carolina

Freedom Of Speech has it's limitations
2008-07-11 03:07:00
I would first like to thank Zennie for inviting me to this blog and have the ability to post here. My views may not represent how you feel, or how Zennie feels. I do thank him for giving me a voice on here. Now this may be an old story, but I am still upset with it. I was completely in awe when I discovered that the McCain camp removed the Librarian from the so called "Public" event for holding a sign that read "McCain = Bush".  I was further disgusted when I learned she was cited for "Trespassing".  Yes, trespassing at a public event. Public meaning "people in general", public meaning "NON PRIVATE". If we have the freedom of speech, shouldn't we be allowed to express ourselves the way we see fit? Shouldn't we be able to express our opinions even if it does not "fit in" with the republican party?If you missed the actual video, here is the 61 year old librarian being cited for "trespassing".And here is my response. Please excuse the cursing, as I am a former sailor. lol
More About: Freedom , Freedom of Speech , Speech

McCain Advisor Phil Gramm "We're A Nation Of Whiners" - Video
2008-07-10 20:19:00
Senator John McCain's campaign will look back on this as a terrible day and a major one in what seems to be an incredible one-week meltdown that will certainly lead to a bump in the polls for the already leading Democratic Senator Barack Obama. Former Senator and McCain Advisor Phil Gramm made a comment that's caught fire. Everyone's having a field day with what Phil Gramm said. Former Senator Gramm seems to think that Americans should just shut up and take the fact of the worstening economy without comment: ?You?ve heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession,? Gramm, a former Texas senator, told the newspaper, adding that the presumptive Republican nominee will face an uphill battle fighting those perceptions.?We have sort of become a nation of whiners,? he said. ?You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in ?decline? despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy.?This di...
More About: Video , Nation , Whiners

Jesse Jackson doesn't speak for me.
2008-07-10 15:15:00
Why is it Christian "leaders" so often seem to want the REST of us to follow precepts and/or adhere to standards of behavior that they don't apply to themselves?Have Reverend Jackson and Pastor Dobson jumped the shark?I'm glad Jesse Jackson apologized for his inappropriate language and that he's trying to do a bit of damage control. I know the media love dishing dirt and all this colorful talk (or in Jackson's case, "off color") of fruitcake and nuts, but like James Dobson before him, Jesse Jackson doesn't speak for me.read more | digg story
More About: Speak , Barack Hussein Obama

Fox News' Fred Barnes Baffoonery: "Who Reads Bloggers?" He Asks.
2008-07-10 09:08:00
Fox News Fred Barnes ' has a knack for trying to be so conservative and score points with the Bush Adminstration, that he makes dumb statements more often than not, by far.Barnes -- on today's Fox News Panel With Britt Hume -- famously observed, in response to how some liberal browsers were attacking Obama on his support of the reformed FISA Act, said "Who Reads Bloggers ?"Well, in the sprit of that civic dis, we have "The Fred Barnes Watch" -- coming soon.

Senator Clinton and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg On Obama Plane Wednesday
2008-07-10 08:26:00
Senator Clinton and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg On Obama Plane Wednesday What does it tell you when Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg (who's heading Senator Barack Obama's search for a vice presidential candidate) are on the Obama airplane on the same day that Senator Obama casts a vote in favor of a slightly refined Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that Clinton opposed?It tells me that Clinton's going to be the Vice Presidential Canidate for Obama. This story comes from The Washington Independent, who's contributor SRIDHAR PAPPU wrote:We awoke on the Obama plane on the Reagan International Airport tarmac with news that we'd have not one, but two special guests on our trip to New York. The first was Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama's onetime nemesis and now seemingly close cohort as she tries to both influence the direction of the general campaign and recoup the millions of dollars in debt she owes as the result of the rac...

Senator Ted Kennedy Returns To The Senate
2008-07-10 08:10:00
Senator Ted Kennedy Returns To The Senate Senator Ted Kennedy , courageously battling terminal brain cancer, returned to his Senate duties and in the process displayed his uncanny knack for great political timing. Recognizing that his vote would not only break a tie in the overall voting for a bil preventing a six percent cut in Medicare, but perhaps bring some Republicans over to the Democratic Side, Kennedy made the trip to Capitol Hill, and was given a war hero's welcome. I can't wait to see him at the Democratic National Convention. You just know he's excited to appear before this grand stage.
More About: Senator

Obama Supports Revised FISA Bill Today
2008-07-09 20:09:00
Upsetting Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee Senator John McCain, who has to reach for the tired "flip-flop" strategy, Senator and Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee Barack Obama backed the passage of "FISA ", The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, in the Senate today.Developing story.
More About: Today , Bill

Julie Donaldson, Sports Reporter Testifies Ivan Lattimore Beat Her
2008-07-09 19:10:00
Julie Donaldson, Sports Reporter Testifies Ivan Lattimore Beat Her In an unfortunate and sad twist of events, Julie Donaldson, the famous New York Mets features producer and sports reporter who's Internet popularity rocketed with a video of her being doused with beer by celebrating NY Mets after they won the pennant in 2006 that became so popular one can't even find it anymore, has testified that her bofriend Ivan Lattimore bear her.In a case of "What was she thinking", the Boston Globe reports:Since she and Lattimore started dating, Donaldson said, there have been at least four violent episodes. The first, she said, occurred at the Super Bowl in Arizona and resulted in bruises on her arms. "I wore a long sleeve shirt and didn't tell anyone," she said.The second attack was more serious, she said. After a Celtics game against the Miami Heat on March 30, Donaldson said that she lied to Lattimore about her whereabouts and that he was waiting for her when she returned to her apartmen...
More About: Julie

Checking in at DNC Convention Media Walkthrough
2008-07-08 20:35:00
This is but one of many images I have from the DNC Convention Media Walkthrough in Denver. This one directly from my iPhone. It is at Pepsi Center, which is where the convention will be held August 23 - 28.The big news was the move of Senator Obama's acceptance speech to Invesco Field next door.More in our video series.

Obama's Comprehensive Energy Plan
2008-07-08 18:35:00
Barack Obama's energy plan will provide meaningful short-term relief for our families and make a historic investment in alternative energy development that will create millions of new jobs, keep the cost of energy affordable and secure our energy independence once and for all. This is the sort of leadership the current generation of Americans needs - and demands - from our elected officials.Learn more about Obama's comprehensive energy plan at: http://www.NewEnergy ForAmerica.comThe Columbus Dispatch Ad Watch said the RNC was "Stretching the Truth":While Obama is offering real solutions for America's energy future, the Republican National Committee recently released a false, negative ad attacking Barack Obama on energy."The commercial accurately points out that McCain favors temporarily lifting the federal gasoline tax, which Obama opposes. Nearly every reputable economist says lifting the gas tax would save motorists nickels and dimes and not produce one new gallon of ...
More About: Plan , Comprehensive

A BACKSTAGE PASS to see OBAMA accept the nomination in Denver?
2008-07-08 18:03:00
All you have to do is donate at least $5 this month via special links provided at the Obamesque blog and you're in the running to meet Senator Barack Obama BACKSTAGE and see him accept the Democratic nomination in front of 75,000 people. Can you imagine seeing the convention from this perspective, and meeting the man who will probably be the next President of the United States?If you're one of the ones selected you also get to bring a guest. Let's spend a few nights in Denver , shall we?History in the making, and you can be there with the crew from Zennie's Zeitgeist (we're covering the whole convention.)read more | digg story
More About: Nomination , Backstage , Pass

Zennie In Denver for DNC Convention Media Walkthrough
2008-07-08 07:52:00
Zennie In Denver for DNC Convention Media Walkthrough...and I'm off to sleep, having just got in at 1 AM after a massively delayed flight. It's a one-day trip. The meeting's at 8 AM at The Pepsi Center. Stay tuned. Video camera's with me as well.