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“I can’t vote because I got three felonies,” Mr. Benton told Ms. Bell. He had finished a six-month sentence for possession of $600 worth of crack cocaine, he said. But Ms. Bell had good news for him: The Florida Legislature and Gov. Charlie Crist, a Republican, changed the rules last year to restore the voting rights of about 112,000 former convicts.

“After you go to prison — you do your time and they still take all your rights away,” Mr. Benton said as he filled out a form to register. “You can’t get a job. You can’t vote. You can’t do nothing even 10 or 20 years later. You don’t feel like a citizen. You don’t even feel human.”

Felony disenfranchisement — often a holdover from exclusionary Jim Crow-era laws like poll taxes and ballot box literacy tests — affects about 5.3 million former and current felons in the United States, according to voting rights groups. Read the full story here.

I'm just wondering if anyone is paying attention to the economy these days. Gas hit $5.20 in Lawrenceville, GA, cars are not being repossessed because dealers have nowhere to store them, and Lehman Brothers is having problems.

Lehman Brothers fights for survival

The law of the financial jungle has all but accounted for one of Wall Street's biggest beasts, the investment bank Lehman Brothers. Its chief executive Dick Fuld has been desperately looking for a buyer over the weekend, write Louise Armitstead and James Quinn in New York

Despite its position high above the Manhattan skyline, the 32nd floor of Lehman Brothers headquarters is known among junior traders as "the Jungle".

For this is the domain of Lehman's indomitable chief executive, Dick Fuld, nicknamed The Gorilla, and the nerve centre of Wall Street's fourth biggest bank.

According to insiders, Fuld, 62, has for months barely left his den for longer than a few hours: he's worked from 5am to 2am most days fighting to defend the bank at which he has spent his entire working life.

But last weekend, as Lehman Brothers lurched towards impending disaster, even the most loyal members of Fuld's troop admitted that the battle was nearly over. Read the full story here

Even though she hasn't had any presidential candidates on her show. It's great to know Oprah has enough money to stand the heat. Unfortunately, many Black businessmen who openly support Senator Obama are not as lucky. After Iowa I had so much hope for the future of this country but low-and-behold, racism is alive and well in America. The international papers knew the real America would show it's ugly face.

The article below is a good defense of Oprah's decision not to have the presidential candidates on her show. The only problem I have with this commentary is the fact that she questions - as did many fans of Oprah - if Oprah was putting race ahead of gender.

Did anyone think she just thought Barack Obama was a better candidate and was not deciding who she would support to lead this nation based on race or gender. That's an ignorant thought. No one ever questioned large numbers of Black people voting for a particular candidate in the past and they have historically voted for the democratic nominee. Now, just because that nominee is Black, why assume someone as intelligent and accomplished as Oprah Winfrey is supporting Senator Obama because he is Black.

Who's the racist? America may have come a long way, but Americans have a long way to go.

Don't Blame Oprah - A Commentary By Susan Estrich

Poor Oprah. Of course, Oprah is not poor by anyone's definition (we should all be so poor), but she found herself between a rock and a hard place on the question of whether to invite the newest, and right now probably the biggest, celebrity in the world on her show. To do Sarah or not to do Sarah? No good answer.

Of course, the ratings would be huge. And when someone in the entertainment business decides NOT to do something that would garner unbelievable ratings and attention, that decision is always subject to scrutiny.

But Oprah's decision to endorse Barack Obama for president last year has put her in an awkward place, straddling the roles of celebrity and politico, of entertainer and advocate, in a way that has probably done her far more harm than good, financially speaking. Endorsing Obama did not endear her to her many fans who counted themselves Hillary supporters, and who thought that if there were anyone in the world who should stand up for the first woman to mount a serious presidential campaign, it was Oprah. Was she putting race ahead of gender, racial solidarity ahead of ladies first? Read the full story here

by by SantaFeMarie, Daily Kos

1980 - 1984
Obama: B.A. in political science with a specialization in international relations from Columbia University.

Palin: Wasilla High School, captain of the state-champion basketball team. Miss Wasilla, runner-up in the Miss Alaska pageant, also Miss Congeniality, although that is now disputed.
Him: Ivy League degree.
Her: tiara.

1985 - 1990
Obama: moved to Chicago; became a community organizer as director of the Developing Communities Project (DCP), a church-based community organization on Chicago's far South Side. During his three years as the DCP's director, its staff grew from 1 to 13 and its annual budget grew from $70,000 to $400,000, with accomplishments including helping set up a job training program, a college preparatory tutoring program, and a tenants' rights organization.

Moved to Boston to attend Harvard Law School. Selected as an editor and then elected president of the Harvard Law Review, a full-time volunteer position functioning as editor-in-chief and supervising the law review's staff of 80 editors.

Palin: Bachelor of Science degree in communications-journalism, with a minor in political science from the University of Idaho. Brief stint as a sports reporter for local Anchorage television stations; left to join her husband in commercial fishing.
Him: sterling legal education.
Her: sportscaster.

1991 - 1995
Obama: graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School; received contract and advance to write a book ("Dreams from my Father") as well as a fellowship at the University of Chicago Law School. Directed the Illinois Project Vote from April to October 1992, a voter registration drive with a staff of 10 and 700 volunteers that achieved its goal of registering 150,000 of 400,000 unregistered African Americans in the state, leading Crain's Chicago Business to name Obama to its 1993 list of "40 under Forty" powers to be.

Palin: member of the Alasaka Independence Party which advocates "Alaska First". Elected to Wasilla city council.

Him: Expert on our nation's fundamental legal principles.
Her: plotted to leave the Union; thinks Pledge of Allegiance was written by our founding fathers, doesn't know what a Vice President does.

Read the full break down at Daily Kos

I already knew that one of the reasons Sara Palin was selected was her ability to deliver a good speech, so it came as no surprise that she did a great job with her speech. It was well written and effectively positioned her as a Washington outsider with experience managing people and money. I personally believe they spent too much time trying to belittle Barack Obama rather that finding a way to distinguish themselves in a classy way - a little gutter politics going on with the Republicans.

But that wasn't my problem. What was up with her family? Was it a rent-a-family? If so they could have done a better job in casting and wardrobe. Her husband seemed as if he didn't know the kids. They passed the poor baby around until it ended up in the arms of the youngest girl who proceeded to use spit to slick the child's hair into place. I'm sure that was learned behavior. The pregnant, unmarried, teenage daughter was holding hands with her boyfriend. The youngest girl had to tell the others when to stand and wave. What a mess.

When the bunch finally went on stage there was not much communication among the family aside from the official passing off the sleeping baby. You would have thought they never met before. The poor little girl desperately wanted Palin to notice or acknowledge her, but mom never looked down. Her and Dad Palin were too busy enjoying the attention. The little girl proceeded to follow her mom around the stage. I actually felt bad for the little poor child. She had practiced her wave and was ready for her moment – but it never came ‘cause mom and day never paid attention. The former PTA "Hockey Mom" must have played with another team because that crew didn't seem connected in any way.

The baby needed to be in bed and the youngest girl needs attention - she was so cute she could have won the hearts of America. If only her parents noticed she was there.

The awkward last few minutes were topped off with the entrance of John McCain who, aside from hugging his running mate, acted as if he didn’t know Palin either.

If McCain happens to stumble upon the presidency, we have to pray for his good health because the thought of the Beverly Hillbillies, I mean, Palin family in the White House is frightening.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s convention speech, Associated Press

Text of Republican vice presidential candidate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech to the Republican National Convention on Wednesday, as prepared for delivery:

Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens: I am honored to be considered for the nomination for vice president of the United States …Full speech here

According to Associated Press, Ohio Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones died this evening due to a brain hemorrhage. Jones was the first Black woman to represent Ohio in Congress and a strong critic of the Iraq war.

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH-11)

Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones is the first African-American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives from Ohio. Congresswoman Jones is a lifelong resident of the 11th District, which encompasses most of the East Side of Cleveland and parts of the West Side of Cleveland and includes parts of 22 suburbs.

Currently in her fifth term in office, the Congresswoman, a strong advocate for many issues, has championed wealth building and economic development, access and delivery of health care, and quality education for all. The Congresswoman chairs the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (Ethics). Additionally, she serves on the powerful Ways and Means Committee and is an active member of numerous Congressional Caucuses, including the Congressional Black Caucus.