Arkansas Blog

This MAY not be the "best" reason, and that's not why I'm writing it...I just wanna complain: WTF?!!
My wife got home yesterday, picked up the DoG, then YELPED!! "Obama wins a historic election, and this rag prints this puny picture - not a full shot AND McCain is there too?!!! That is just not right." Exactly.
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What an incredible name and an incredible coincidence to be born on such a historic day. Is it a sign for Benjamin Barack's future? I like how that sounds.

Good news! Little old Arkansas made the editorial page of the New York Times today.

We should be proud of ourselves, no? Link is at the blue name.

My reason: As I write this my housekeeper has just arrived. I am concerned that we may run out of paper towels over the course of the cleaning. I know how good newspapers are at getting windows streak-free.

For many years I had the Dallas Times Herald from the day John Kennedy was shot in Dallas. I also had a copy of one of those full page ads taken out by conservatives in Texas making the case that Kennedy was destroying America. I was convinced that the attitude of those very conservatives cost Kennedy his life, and even though the deed was done by a crazed Oswald, I guess, I still think the attitude of conservatives poisoned Texas and all of America. I kept that newspaper so that if I had children in the future, they could be reminded as adults that although there is great goodness in America, we are also capable of producing great evil and we must be forever vigilant. During one of our moves, that paper was destroyed.

I still think the Cheneys, Bushes, McConnells, Elizabeth Doles, etc., of the world poison our culture and our nation. Most of us have been avoiding those poisoned wells as evidenced by the election of this young black man as POTUS. But some still love the taste of that bitter bile of hate and imbibe daily. I pray that in my lifetime there will be an election when the percentage of those voting for the candidate who is appealing to the worst in us will fall far, far below the 46 percent that McCain apparently just garnered.

I want to wake up some day after an election and learn that no one voted for those who want to destroy us, the poisoned wells have dried up and have been boarded over and the public has its eyes wide open. They are educating their children with no desire to keep them dumbed down, they are willing to fund those things that benefit us all rather than the few. We won't be beating our chests and threatening our neighbors in the world nor destroying our planet by the greed of our corporations. We will truly believe in freedom - in our bedrooms, in our churches, on our phones and around the world. We will think before we act and we will be revered for our goodness and generosity, not reviled for our bombast and greed.

That front page doesn't guarantee my dream will be fulfilled, but it gives me reason to continue to hope.

Another little NY Times article that will warm the cockles of your Democratic Heart cites the quandry of all those poor rethug foot soldiers in DC. They will have few job prospects in the DC area and many will be forced to sell those high priced houses they bought during the housing bubble. We know who caused that don't we? Aw too bad!

Clik to read the article!

%$^$%$%$R link didn't come thru.

Try again.

I probably should have it because it will fit right into my pack-rat of a house and join my ephemeral of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, talking Woody Woodpeckers, Va-rrooom motors, Hotel Freiderica/Sam Peck, all promotion items put out by the Arkansas Gazette, including a heavier-n-hell newspaper rack, a ticket from the first-ever game at War Memorial Stadium, James Bond toy attache cases, Secret Sam attache, hundreds of flat advertising lighters, cat-eye marbles, bumper stickers, Winthrop Rockefeller, Astro Base toys, Hanna-Barbera Quick-Draw McGraw breakfast trays, an animatronic Elvis, more newspapers, including a New York Times front page on the battle of Pea Ridge, yet more newspapers, a signed Zogi the Magician photograph, aluminum Christmas trees with color wheels, some more newspapers, 8mm cartoon reels, and a lifesize Sarah Palin blowup adult toy.

I'm joking about the blowup doll.

I would like the newspaper so I could shove it up Hussman/Greenberg's pitiful asses. It's media folk like them that gave us Monkeyboy and that give journalism a bad rap.

(Yes, I know that would be a waste of a perfectly innocent newspaper; but the poetry/potential pleasure are too much to resist...at least for a heathen like me.)

Yawn. Question: When will Brummett, et al quit kicking Bill Clinton?

"WTF?!! My wife . . . picked up the DoG, then YELPED!! "Obama wins a historic election, and this rag prints this puny picture - not a full shot AND McCain is there too?!!! That is just not right."

Larry, you obviously don't have the Little Rock city edition of yesterday's DoG. The front page of the city edition has a huge, top of the fold headline that reads:

OBAMA TRIUMPHS
McCain concedes; U.S. elects 1st black president

Beneath those headlines is a large photo of a broadly smiling Obama, Michelle, and Jill and Joe Biden taking the stage after Obama's acceptance speech. No photo of McCain appears on the city edition's front page.

Max, thank yew very much for the NYT offer, but I'm content with yesterday's USA TODAY front page which I think is much more impressive. It has already been placed in my sealed permanent collection of such items. I've got front page newspaper coverage of everything from man's first walk on the moon to the JFK, MLK, RFK assassinations to 9-11. Hey, am I special or what?

Cheapdate - quick answer? Never.

Clinton was gonn'a be The Brums ticket to the big time, columns in the NYT & WP, his invite to the talk shows and all the right DC cocktail parties. Instead Clinton thumbed his nose at DC society and The Brum had to tuck tail and hie on back to the wilderness. And continue his career as a backwoods hack.

Max,
You also should "auction off" the first page of the NYT's After the Vote section today. The map above the fold on the front shows in color those counties throughout the United States which trended more Republican [red] or Democratic [blue] from their votes in 2004 vs. 2008. ARKANSAS is by far the state that turned the most red. What is the matter with the people of this state? The Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation has a new focus on poverty. I suggest they start funding the topic of Poverty of the Mind and Spirit. What the heck is wrong with the people of this state which formerly produced for the national level the likes of Robinson, McClellen, Mills, Bumpers, Pryor [Senior], and yes, Clinton. Now we produce dwarfs like Lincoln and Pryor [junior]. Is it the Southern Babtist, evangelical stranglehold on the state as witnessed in the anti-gay amendment's passage? Is it the deep and abiding economic poverty still plagueing the state? Is it the unthinking, unquestioning mentality bred by the general anti-intellectual attitudes in the state? Where does this crap come from and how can these folks be liberated to join the 20th century let alone the 21st??? That should be the task of government [ya, fat chance of the idiots leading government who rely on the ignorance of the led], the media [ha, when the DOG maintains the same backward attitudes], and the non-profit sector [starved for funds from a stingy government they can't do much]. Even the academics who supposedly have the protection of the gown to criticize how things are -- remain largely silent. I remember the billboard captured in the photo of the 101st coming across the Broadway Bridge in 1957. It read something like this, "If Arkansans will not improve the state, who will?" Well, Who Will!

PS: Also in my sealed, permanent collection of treasured items is the Rumba party photo of the positively beautiful and elegant Queen Jazzy of Hot Springs!

Yeah, Janus, that photo appeared on the front page of the September 25, 1957, edition of the Arkansas Gazette (also in my collection). The large, lighted billboard read: "Who will build Arkansas if her own people do not?" It was a helluva good question then, and still a good 'un a half-century later. I think of that billboard every time I see people here on this blog decrying state and local efforts (including tax incentives) to bring more industry and jobs to the state.

Another good sidebar article. Moveon.Org now has more members than the the NRA and contributed big bucks to Obama's campaign. The Internet and blogging communities have really changed the face of political discourse. For the better I might add!

Not to disparage your offer, Max (Wonder where my Elvis Dies papers are --haven't seen them since I moved ten years ago.), but may I suggest to those who have or are expecting new babies write your thoughts and recollections about the election for that young'un to read later. Oh, and only to read . . . DON'T GIVE IT TO 'EM until you're dead and gone, since 90% of 'em will toss it in the recycle bin.
If I can have a vote on this issue, I'll go with Zelda's entry. (Sideways, Zelda, with a pair of 3 inch Jimmy Choos in it, for both Paul and Walter.)

When my daughter was born several months back, I wandered out to grab the day's newspaper to commemorate, but when I got to the box I didn't have any change. I wandered back to my room to grab some and immediately got caught up in phone calls and completely forgot for two days. We never found one.

Last night, as we were watching the news, we realized we screwed up again. Forgot to grab a paper. Don't know if my own forgetfulness is a good enough reason but I thought I'd take a stab at it.

Of course, if there's anyone out there with a stockpile of old Dem-Gaz newspapers (say, from April of this year) that would be even better.

Moxie, I did the same thing yesterday. Stopped at the NYT rack, palmed all my change--not a quarter in the whole bunch--went to the nearest cashier to get change for the rack...all sold out when I returned.

Max,
I will take you up on that offer and here's my reason:
In 1995, my boyfriend at the time and I were in terrified awe when we watched on tv the horrible tragedy that happened in Oklahomma in April. We talked for hours as it unfolded before our eyes about where we as a society must be heading for this to happen on such a scale. We bonded that day as I'm sure all of us did when first we heard of the bombing.
One year later, exactly one year later to the day, I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. God gave me a reason to celebrate the day, instead of mourn with the rest of the nation (as much). Then when the September 11 attacks happened, my daughter could not help but wonder about what she heard everyone talk about those days, those months following. She witnessed along with all the many children at the time the evil the world can inflict. She was confused and sad like every single one of us at the time.
Time and time again, despite the ills of the world that she hears about, or witness through one form of media or the other, I ground her the best I can and tell her to see past the worst for the good in everyone. I've told her time and time again, more so now that she's 12, that tolerance and hope, forgiveness, and selflessness will always surpass ignorance.
On November 5th at 6:30 in the morning, instead of barking at her to wake up and get ready for school, I walked quietly into her room bending down near her ear...
"Wake up, wake up, Obama is the new President of the United States." I spoke in a whisper to her.
"YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!" She replied with a fist jab in the air.

A piece of history for a child that is keenly aware of her own. I know she would appreciate it all her days Max.

Quapaw, if you ever start feeling poorly, kindly notify me---that sounds like one hell of an estate sale!

I think Mr. & Mrs. DBI should have it. They drove all the way from Ft. Smith and back on the

same night.......and, brought their 2 girls, for their first ever trip to Little Rock, to see the

first tan man ever elected president of the US........that is devotion.

We love our DBI family.

Moxiemoron, yesterday's editions of the AD-G sold out, of course. However, they've printed 5,000 more copies to satisfy requests. You can go to the paper's main office and get one for 50-cents. Or you can order a copy sent to your home for $2. There's an order form on page 10B of today's paper. Or, call customer service at 501-378-3456 or 1-800-482-1121. Yer welcome. Or as the kids say these day, "No problem."

Janus: "Is it the unthinking, unquestioning mentality bred by the general anti-intellectual attitudes in the state? "

Yes. It's simply too much work for some people to think. We're in a vicious cycle and, if the TImes map is accurate, we're leading the nation in being unreflective. We don't value education because not enough of us have a good education and we're not going to get out of that fix because not enough of us value education. Way too many of our best and brightest simply leave.

And I wish I had a solution. This beautiful place is my home.

Yes, squared!! It is that exactly, and at the risk of repetitiveness I'll once again recommend "Building Constituencies in Arkansas" a seminal study funded by the Wintrhop Rockefeller Foundation that 'splains the attitudes of Arkansawyers - even though it's 20 years old now...

Reminds me of the time I was hanging at the Capitol at lunch waiting for a committee to restart, and the Rep from Russellville/Dardanelle (who later was involved in reselling state-owned farm equipment for HIS profit) - brain lock, can't /..... OOPS - Lloyd George was "reminiscing" about a recent junket to Europe, and was BRAGGING that "after I tried that French food once I found a McDonald's and ate ALL my meals there for the 3 days we were in Paris!" As Rodney Dangerfield dubbed: Dumb Brag!

THIS is precisely the mentality (along with ingrained racism) that fuels the Morons who voted for McPain/Failin'. I'm just sayin'....

Zelda gets my vote!!
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...and THANKS Durango - I should have looked at the website; we get the "state" edition up here...

Thanks, Mrs. Basil. I'll be sure give you a heads-up on my untimely passing and the resulting estate sale. The list above isn't the half of it. I swear I'm insane.

ARK. BLOG: I second.

Max,
Might I suggest donating the front page of the NYT to Central High School National Historic Site so it can help generations to come understand the importance of Senator Obama's election to the U.S. Presidency in the context of civil rights and U.S. History? That way tens of thousands of people from all around the U.S. and the world can enjoy and learn from it.

Re: Benjamin Barack Kimbrough

His two year-old sister was proudly wearing her "I'm a big sister" t-shirt and button that they give to new siblings at the hospital yesterday. Since we have all been anticipating the birth of the new baby, I began asking her about him. When I asked her his name, she said, "Obama, Obama." "Your baby is named Obama?" I quizzed. I guess that's a little easier than Barack if you're two!!

Why should I get the Times front page? Well, I'm old and by the time Obama finishes his second term I'll likely be moldering in my grave. I'll leave it to you in my will so you can enjoy giving it away twice.

>>ARKANSAS is by far the state that turned the most red. <<
Janus

Sweetie never, never underestimate the power of National Rifle Association. President Clinton warned about more than once. Obama had the balls to talk gun control when a Senator and during the Presidential debates. That's why you see Ark, Ok Miss, Ga being the epicenter of the red dots.

Max, I have no eloquent reason for requesting your front page of the NYT other than it will look very good next to my framed front page of the ADG announcing, in 2" letters

.................................................CLINTON AQUITTED......................................

I plan to bequeath the framed Clinton headline to my rw brother. I think the Obama headline should be donated to the UAF Law School which now has it's first black person as Dean.
I have a feeling it would get a prominent place.

Thanks, Durango, but I actually found a copy about 30 mins ago at the Kroger in Hillcrest. Looked like there were several more copies if anyone else didn't happen to grab one yesterday.

Excellent, Moxie! Happy to hear it.