Michelle Obama's Slave Roots

My guess is that CNN's getting some extraordinary news value from its reporting on First Lady Michelle Obama's slave history, "Tracking Michelle Obama's Slave Roots" (via Memeorandum):

In many places across the South you can walk in the footsteps of slaves, and if you understand the history, it is not a happy journey. The same is true at Friendfield Plantation outside Georgetown, South Carolina.

It's not exactly "Gone With the Wind," but what makes this overgrown 3,300 acres of marsh and pine trees stand out is this: The family of first lady Michelle Obama believes her great-great grandfather was held as a slave here and labored in the mosquito-infested rice fields.

It makes Friendfield Plantation a symbol of something more than servitude. It's the symbol of something that's never happened before: One important segment of an American family's journey from the humiliation of slavery to the very top of the nation's ruling class.

CNN recently was the first television network allowed to visit the plantation and shoot video. It's not a museum. It's just private land, still with shadows of its past.

Friendfield's most distinctive historical feature, perhaps, is the dirt road known as Slave Street.

Six white-washed little shacks are all that remain of the slave quarters, even though rows of these houses once stood on the property. About 350 slaves lived here during the 19th century.

The houses are nothing special -- no plumbing, of course. The wooden walls are paper thin in places. It would have been hot and humid in summer, and most certainly cold in winter, although the shacks had fireplaces.

They would have been crowded: probably one or two families living in a space smaller than a modern-day garage.

As a professor whose own ancestry includes grandparents who were slaves, the story of Michelle Obama's family is fascinating and vital to the national discussion of where we are today.

But as a political analyst, I find it extremely interesting that CNN would now devote so much coverage to President Obama's ties to the peculiar institution. The second video above includes snippets of Anderson Cooper's interview with the President in Ghana. As I wrote previously, Obama's visit to Africa was the latest stop on his global apology tour. And there's no greater sin in American history than the evil of slavery. CNN's shameless exploitation of racial sympathy is to be expected. But it's simply despicable that the President himself would pander this issue, given that his rise to national power was predicated on a pledge to advance the cause of post-racial America. Obama launched his career on the national stage with one of the most important political speeches of a generation. At the 2004 Democratic Convention, Obama proclaimed:

Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us - the spin masters, the negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of "anything goes." Well, I say to them tonight, there is not a liberal America and a conservative America - there is the United States of America. There is not a Black America and a White America and Latino America and Asian America - there’s the United States of America.

But instead of those majesterial words, we have the lost promise of Obama's rhetoric five years on. Race relations have deteriorated under this administration. The politics of race is more bitter than ever, as we have seen this week amid the confirmation hearings for the president's racist "wise Latina" nominee.

See also, Shelby Steele, "Obama's Post-Racial Promise: Barack Obama Seduced Whites With a Vision of Their Racial Innocence Precisely to Coerce Them Into Acting Out of a Racial Motivation."

Also, Glenn Beck, "Is This How the Post-Racial Obama Administration Begins?"

Ricci at Sotomayor Hearings: 'Firefighters Who Earned Promotions Were Denied Them...' (VIDEO)

From the Los Angeles Times, "Sotomayor Hearings: Frank Ricci, Plaintiff in Conn. Discrimination Case, Finally Speaks":

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Frank Ricci, the witness we’ve all been waiting for at Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation hearings, finally took the floor and told his story to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

There were no stunning revelations. But Ricci, addressing the appellate court denial of his civil rights case, laid down one line straight from the Republican playbook:

“Americans have the right to go into our federal courts and have their cases judged on the Constitution and/or federal laws,” he said, “and not on politics or personal feelings.”

Ricci has been the most vocal of the 19 New Haven, Conn., firefighters who sued under federal civil rights laws after the results of a promotion test were thrown out. The city did so because it feared it would face a lawsuit from black and Latino firefighters claiming the tests had a discriminatory effect on minorities. The white plaintiffs lost at the trial court and before Sotomayor’s appeals court panel, but eventually prevailed in the Supreme Court.

Several of the firefighters, dressed in uniform, sat behind Ricci during the hearing. Another plaintiff, Lt. Ben Vargas, also testified.

Also, Ricci's testimony from the Washington Post, "Frank Ricci Testifies at Sonia Sotomayor's Confirmation Hearings" (Transcript):

The lieutenant's test that I took was without a doubt a job- related exam that was based on skills, knowledge and abilities needed to ensure public and the firefighters' safety.

We all had an equal opportunity to succeed as individuals, and we were all provided a road map to prepare for the exam.

Achievement is neither limited nor determined by one's race but by one's skills, dedication, commitment and character. Ours is not a job that can be handed out without regard to merit and qualifications.

For this reason, I and many others prepared for these positions throughout our careers. I studied harder than I ever had before, reading, making flash cards, highlighting, reading again, all while listening to prepared tapes.

I went before numerous panels to prepare for the oral assessment. I was a virtual absentee father and husband for months because of it.

In 2004 the City (ph) of New Haven felt not enough minorities would be promoted and that the political price for complying with Title VII (ph), the city civil service rules, and the charter, would be too high.

Therefore they chose not to fill the vacancies. Such action deprived all of us the process set forth by the rule of law. Firefighters who earned promotions were denied them.

Despite the important civil rights and constitutional claims we raised, the Court of Appeals panel disposed of our case in an unsigned, unpublished summary order that consisted of a single paragraph that made mention of my dyslexia and thus led many to think that this was a case about me and a disability.

This case had nothing to do with that. It had everything to do with ensuring our command officers were competent to answer the call and our right to advance in our profession based on merit, regardless of race.

Americans have the right to go into our federal courts and have their cases judged based on the Constitution and our laws, not on politics or personal feelings.

The lower court's belief that citizens should be reduced to racial statistics is flawed. It only divides people who don't wish to be divided along racial lines. The very reason we have civil service rules is to root out politics, discrimination and nepotism.

Our case demonstrates that these ills will exist if the rules of merit and the law are not followed.

Our courts are the last resorts for Americans whose rights are violated. Making decisions on who should have command positions solely based on statistics and politics, where the outcome of the decision could result in injury or death, is contrary to sound public policy.

I watched Ricci testify. You can see at the video how his reading is stilted. But he articulates the issues perfectly.

What a guy!

And, as usual, we saw early this week the left's scurilous attempt to smear the firefighter. See, "The Borking of Frank Ricci."

Change! Obama Administration OKs Logging in Tongass National Forest, Alaska! Takes Page From Palin Playbook; Dems' Radical Coalition Cracking?

From the leftist Mother Nature Network, "Obama Administration Green Lights Logging in Tongass National Forest":

The Obama administration has approved the sale of timber from the Tongass National Forest in Alaska.

The 17-million acre forest is the largest stand of continuous temperate rain forest in the U.S. and contains a lot of old-growth trees. It's basically a snapshot of what the world looked like before we rolled heavy onto the scene.

The U.S. Forest Service gave the green light for the sale after approval from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack who stated in May that he would be the final gatekeeper on all decisions to sell timber from roadless ares of the national forests.

This first sale will come after seven miles of roads are built for the 381-acre clear-cut. This makes Hulk mad. Vilsack said that the main reason he approved the sale was to provide jobs to the area. Here's a radical idea -- those loggers should get new jobs not involving cutting down old-growth trees.

Jobs should not trump mountains, nor should they trump the last great stand of old-growth temperate rain forest left in this great nation of ours. Instead of spending the millions of dollars the federal government intends to pour into road construction to clear cut the area, how about giving the loggers job buyouts so they can find a new career with some scratch in their pockets?

How do you like that Bruce Banner flourish?!! ("Green is a good color nowadays, because it represents nature. Hulk was the first environmentalist!")

The video's from the National Resource Defense Council's BioGems environmental PAC.

And wait! You can't get it better than this!

Check this out: In 2008, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin endorsed the Bush administration's plan to open the Tongass to timber and logging interests, "Swaths of Tongass Opening for Logging: New Rules Would Let Industry Into 3.4 Million Acres":

The Bush administration on Friday released a revised management plan for the southeast Alaska forest, the largest in the country at nearly 17 million acres. The plan would leave about 3.4 million acres open to logging and other development, including about 2.4 million acres that are now remote and roadless. About 663,000 acres are in areas considered most valuable for timber production ...

"This is a tremendous step toward having a sustainable, integrated timber industry," Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said. "We remain committed to responsible development that protects the diversity and health of the forest's wildlife while sustaining jobs and subsistence for residents of Southeast Alaska."

A previous policy statement from the Governor's office is here: "State of Alaska Comments on Tongass Land and Resource Managment Plan Amendment and Draft Environmental Impact Statement" (April 27, 2007).

The Obama administration's coming out early and strong for election 2012, trying to cut Governor Palin off at the knees on environmental policy. I guess the Governor's WaPo op-ed this week hit the administration hard.

And of course, Obama's willing to throw another hard-left constituency under the bus to get right on natural resources policy. So now, in addition to the radical gay lobby, we now have enviro-extremists pissed at the administration!

Cool!

No political party can win without its most motivated activists. Further divisions in the leftist coalition will push more moderates over to the GOP in upcoming elections. Polls are already showing a deepening decline in the president's approval ratings: See, "Obama's Approval Drops 9 Points in a Month," and "Obama Approval Continues Decline."

See also, John Aravosis, "Gay Groups Decry Obama Defense of DOMA."

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UPDATE: Linked at Riehl World View, "The Left: Cracks In The Coalition?," and Sundries Shack, "Oh, It’s Just a Few Trees, Right Greenpeace?"

Obama Health Reform May Threaten Economy

From Keith Hennessey, "Wrong Health Reform Will Hurt Economy":

The president is correct that health care reform is essential to a strong economy. He accurately identifies the underlying problem as extraordinary growth in health spending, leading to slower wage growth, too many uninsured and unsustainable government spending. He is correct that reform needs to “bend the cost curve” downward to stop families, employers and governments from chasing their own tails. Unfortunately, the legislation being developed in Congress moves in the opposite direction.

After the vice president admitted the administration had misread the economy, the president said administration officials, instead, had incomplete information — but yet they would not have done anything different in the too-slow stimulus. We need to prevent a recurrence of the stimulus mistake on health care.

At a time of rising unemployment and extraordinary short-term economic weakness, these bills would hurt the U.S. economy. The economic damage they would cause outweighs the benefit of reducing the number of uninsured.

The bills would bend the health spending cost curve upward. Amy Finkelstein’s research shows that the creation of Medicare increased long-term health spending growth, and this new entitlement would exacerbate that trend. The president references Dartmouth’s excellent research about regional spending differences, and yet legislation would reinforce these differences by subsidizing high-cost urban areas more than low-cost rural areas. Insurance mandates for guaranteed issue and community rating would raise premiums, as they have in New Jersey, and government-mandated benefits and cost-sharing would, over time, become more generous and expensive as politicians pander.

Higher premiums would mean lower wages. Employers would face a new mandate to provide government-defined insurance, losing the flexibility to structure compensation and health insurance based on labor market demand. Employers who fail to obey would face two Cabinet secretaries with the authority to impose arbitrary punitive taxation to “encourage” compliance.

Employees who want to keep the health insurance they have now would need to persuade their employer to run two systems. This clunky and costly bifurcated system would lock some employees into their current jobs and calcify our flexible labor force.

More at the link. Also, more from Keith Hennessey, "

Plus, "CBO Sees No Federal Cost Savings in Dem Health Plans," and "Bombshell: CBO Chief Tells Congress ObamaCare Will “Significantly Expand” Federal Spending."

And, from The Blog Prof, "House Health Care Bill Makes Private Insurance Illegal!!!" (featuring video and a link to Investor's Business Daily, "It's Not An Option").

More at Memeorandum.

And, from June, Dr. Peter S. Rosenbloom, "Obama Care: Robbing From Peter to Pay Paul."

Related: Michelle Malkin, "Obamacare in the House: Do the Blue Dogs Have Any Bite?"

Video Hat Tip: Conservatives for Patient Rights.

How’d You Ever Get So Darn Wise, Latina?

From Dan Collins, "Wise Latina":

Bama’s Supreme nominee, a-nominee.
Bama’s Supreme nominee, a-nominee.
How’d you ever get so darn wise, Latina?
Giving O a victory, a-victory.
Tingle up Chris Matthews’ fat thighs, Latina?
Never gonna stop, shut it up,
Such a motor mouth,
Always backing down when your
Argument’s headed south
Why why why i yi woo? W W W Wise Latina...

The original provided for reference:

Awesome Hat Tip: The Other McCain.

'Ask God What Your Grade Is' ... Judge Rules in Favor of LACC Student Defending Traditional Marriage

From the Los Angeles Examiner, "Judge Rules in Favor of LACC Student Defending Traditional Marriage":

A California court has ruled in favor of a Los Angeles Community College student who said he was called a "fascist bastard" by his teacher for defending traditional marriage.

The court also ordered LACC to strike from its website a sexual harassment policy that censors speech deemed "offensive" to homosexual people.

Saying it violates students' free speech rights, a federal judge has barred the Los Angeles Community College District from enforcing a sexual harassment policy that bans "offensive" remarks in and out of the classroom, the Los Angeles Times reports.

U.S. District Judge George H. King granted a preliminary injunction against pressing the policy at the request of Jonathan Lopez, an L.A. City College student who in February filed a suit accusing a professor of censoring his classroom speech about his religious beliefs, including opposition to gay marriage.

Lopez said his professor called him a “fascist bastard” and refused to let him finish his speech against same-sex marriage during a public speaking class last November, weeks after California voters approved the ban on such unions.

When Lopez tried to find out his mark for the speech, the professor, John Matteson, allegedly told him to “ask God what your grade is,” the suit says.

Lopez also said the teacher threatened to have him expelled when he complained to higher-ups.

The district disciplined the professor, John Matteson, and Lopez received an A in the course. His suit sought financial damages and a ban on enforcing the sexual harassment code, according to the LA Times.

King said the policy's use of "subjective" terms such as "hostile" and "offensive" discouraged students from exercising their 1st Amendment rights.

See also, Los Angeles Examiner, "Student Wins Court Ruling After Being Slandered for His Spiritual Morals: Ask God Your Grade."

This is great news.

My question is how come this story's not plastered across newpapers nationwide? Not a toughie. Obviously, Judge King's decision violates the left's "gay marriage is inevitable" meme, and the liberal media-commissars wouldn't want to deviate from the program. Seriously. A Google search right now turns up paltry results (look here, here, and here).

It's fascinating, really, since a look over at Volokh Conspiracy pulls the mask off of the "rights" program of the radical left. Judge King has enjoined the LACC district's policy on sexual harrassment, and check out the language highlighted by the court:

It is important to be aware that sexual remarks or physical conduct of a sexual nature may be offensive or can make some people uncomfortable even if you wouldn’t feel the same way yourself. It is therefore sometimes difficult to know what type of behavior is sexual harassment. However the defining characteristic of sexual harassment is that it is unwanted and pervasive. It’s important to clearly let an offender know that certain actions are unwelcome. The four most common types of sexual harassment are:

1. Sexual Harassment based on your gender: This is generalized sexist statements, actions and behavior that convey insulting, intrusive or degrading attitudes/comments about women or men. Examples include insulting remarks; intrusive comments about physical appearance; offensive written material such as graffiti, calendars, cartoons, emails; obscene gestures or sounds; sexual slurs, obscene jokes, humor about sex ...

I like the part that says "the defining characteristic of sexual harassment is that it is unwanted and pervasive."

Man, that's broad. Who's to say what's "unwanted," much less "pervasive." On that standard, my class lectures include a lot of "unwanted" comments that would be deemed as "harrassment" by the left's gay marriage ayatollahs.

And get this, from an update at Volokh, "A Footnote You Wouldn't Want to See in a Court Opinion":

This case is likewise not mooted by Defendants’ recent revelation that the Policy was supposedly repealed in 2007.[2] First, the Policy continues to appear on the District’s and LACC’s websites.... Thus, Plaintiff, and other students and employees, can reasonably believe they are subject to the Policy and experience a chilling effect.

[2] We are chagrined that defense counsel and Defendants’ representative who were present at the oral argument on June 10, 2009 were apparently ignorant of the status of a policy they purported to defend. This lack of preparedness is viewed with great disfavor.

It's important to remember that the First Amendment is central to the debate over same-sex marriage. After Californians passed Proposition 8 last November, the gay radical lobby launched its infamous outing and shaming campaign to intimidate and silence those who exercised their First Amendment rights to contribute to the intitiative measure (see, "Outing Liberal Blogger – Bad; Outing Prop 8 Donors – Good"). In the immediate aftermath of the election, Diana West described the chill in California as "soul-grinding" and akin to "something out of Soviet show trial history."

There's no word on the District Court's ruling at some of the big gay radical blogs, for example, Joe. My. God., Pam's House Blend, or Towleroad. The ever-so-prodigious Andrew Sullivan is on vacation from The Daily Dish, but hot-shot stand-in Conor Friedersdorf missed this story as well.

Pretty interesting, you think? Recall that these folks are quick to shout down "unwanted" speech they deem offensive (see, "Pam Spaulding Falsely Accuses Christians of Inciting Violence — But What About Her Own Behavior?").

No comment on the Volokh post at Memeorandum either.

It's a big news week, but not that big. The Sotomayor hearings are winding down, the administration's trying to keep the health reform story alive in the press, and folks have pretty much forgotten about authoritarianism in Iran. One might think even the Los Angeles Times would run a piece on the story, but I'm not holding my breath.

(Now, if the court would have upheld the LACC District's policy, THAT would have been big news!)

For additional background, see Eugene Volokh, "Professor in Speech Class Refuses to Grade Student's Presentation."

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UPDATE: Patriot Room links! See, "Court Rules 'Ask God What Your Grade is' Prof Violated Student's 1st Amendment Rights."

'One Small Step' No Longer Seen as Such a Giant Leap for America

My stomach's always a little tight while watching the space shuttle launches. Today's was no different. Of course, it's a thrill as always to watch that rocket ship take off and to see the solid fuel boosters peel away as the shuttle leaves the atmosphere:

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The Washington Post has the story of today's lift-off, "Endeavour Launched On Sixth Attempt." As the report indicates, "Success came on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the liftoff of man's first moon landing. Endeavour blasted off a little after 6 p.m. from its seaside pad - the same one used to launch Apollo 11 on July 16, 1969."

That historical marker might seem as important as other milestones of the decade, like the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But as the Pew Research organization indicates, the powerful national urge to reach high and touch the face of God may be receding from the American ethos. See, "'One Small Step' No Longer Seen as Such a Giant Leap for America":

Four decades after the first American astronauts walked on the moon, that historic accomplishment has lost some prominence in the eyes of the public.

Ten years ago, when asked to name America's greatest achievement of the 20th century, the specific accomplishment cited most frequently -- at 18% -- was space exploration or the moon mission. Overall, 47% cited any achievement in science, medicine or technology, including space.

But in May of this year, when the public was asked to name the greatest U.S. accomplishment of the past 50 years, somewhat fewer (12%) specifically mentioned space exploration or getting a man to the moon as the greatest achievement. Only about a quarter (27%) mentioned an achievement in science, medicine or technology. (For more from this survey, see " Public Praises Scientists; Scientists Fault Public, Media," July 9, 2009.)

Check the link for more. Statistically, just as many people said the election of the first black black president was as great an accomplishment as the successes of the space program.

Change!

See also, AubreyJ, who is our top shuttle-launch blogger: "4- Watch Launch and Mission Live Of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-127."

Plus, see Rand Simberg, "A Giant Leap for Commercial Spaceflight."

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UPDATE: Via Memeorandum, here's an awesome photo-essay from The Big Picture, "Remembering Apollo 11."

Perhaps this anniversary will turn public opinion around a bit.

Velociman's not too optimistic, "We Choose To Go To The Moon":

July 16th marks the 40th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 11. I explain to my daughters that once upon a time we were a great nation that strived for the stars. No more. Now we are ashamed of glory, because some fucking crackhead might feel neglected if we don't dote upon her, and slather her with our largesse at the expense of the Great Things. Obama is sacking the Constellation program. We won't be going back to the moon, and forget Mars.

But once upon a time the Senator packed us up in the station wagon and drove to Titusville to see my aunt, and to witness the launch of Apollo 11. It was a goddamned beautiful thing, too.

Hat Tip: American Digest.

And thank goodness for patriots and eternal optimists. See Buzz Aldrin, "40 Years After Apollo 11 Moon Landing, It's Time for a Mission to Mars."

Public Respect for Ayatollah Khamenei Takes Hit on Heels of Protests

The Berman Post has been doing some phenomenal Iran blogging, continuing with today's entry, "Iranian Revolution (Day Thirty-Three)."

One of the pieces highlighted there is from today's Los Angeles Times, "Supreme Leader Khamenei Diminished in Iranians' Eyes."

For two decades he was considered to be above the petty political squabbles, a cautious elder contemplating questions of faith and Islam while guiding his nation into the future.

But Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, whose title of supreme leader makes him Iran's ultimate authority, has gotten his hands dirty. His decision in recent weeks to so stridently support the nation's controversial president after a disputed election has dramatically changed his image among his people, setting in motion an unpredictable series of events that could fundamentally change the Islamic Republic.

"Public respect for him has been significantly damaged," said one analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Opposing him is no longer the same as opposing God."

The venerated Khamenei has even become the target of public jokes and criticism.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad "commits crimes, and the leader supports him," was a popular slogan during the riots of June 20, the day after Khamenei delivered a blistering Friday sermon in which he said that the election a week earlier had been won by Ahmadinejad.

At July 9 demonstrations, protesters mocked the ayatollah's son, Mojtaba, who many believe hopes to succeed his father.

There's more at the link.

The odd thing here, of course, is that the regime's not too worried about public opinion. I'm also wondering how seriously the hardliners around Khamenei have been substantially weakened. The Times piece notes that there's something of a power struggle brewing, but reports earlier have suggested that the faction led by Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, has tightened its grip on the elite Revolutionary Guard. See my earlier entry on this, "Mojtaba Khamenei, Revolutionary Guard, Key to Power in Iran."

See also, Atlas Shrugs, "Day 32 Iran Revolution: Twitter: 'People in Iran have but ONE weapon - Your Attention!'"

McCain Family Feud

Robert Stacy McCain says "she's kinfolk," then proceeds to wallop Meghan McCain with surprising brutality:

A reasonably attractive young gay man has no problem getting with two or three guys a night. And that's if he's really picky. (Read And The Band Played On, by Randy Shilts.) So when some lonely, frustrated woman wants to hang around with gay guys because it's the only male companionship she can get, she is recognized for the truly pathetic loser she is.

Meghan McCain says she likes hanging with gay guys. But is a guy gay if he likes hanging with betties? And as you can tell from the block-quote above, "The Other McCain" handles your queries with an amazingly intimate familiarity with same-sex culture! NTTAWWT!!

Check out her interview with Jamie Kirchik at Out Magazine, "Meghan McCain Will Be Heard." I wanted to embed the video anyway, so this is a chance to link to the piece (at Memeorandum too).

Instapundit Carblogging

Well it's not all hotlinks and traffic over at Instapundit. The dude's a car guy, Mazda cars, to be exact, "RX-8 UPDATE":

Okay, it’s now been, believe it or not, nearly 6 years since I bought the Mazda RX-8. Since it’s a second car, to be driven to the mountains on nice days, etc., it’s still low-mileage, but it still drives like new ...

Check Glenn's archive of Mazda blogging here. And, he just updated with "CONGRESS AND THE AUTO DEALERS ..." (link).

I like Honda cars. I wrote about my new Honda Civic here: "What Happened to Buy American?" Plus, while searching, I just remembered this post, which is substantive, "A Post-Auto-Industrial Society."

I wasn't planning a carblogging series, however. Actually, I need to blog less and wash my Honda!

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But wait! Here's an Instapundit Bonus!

I wrote about mommy-bloggers previously: See, "Are You Getting 60,000 Unique Visitors Every Month?", and "The Blogger Mom: New Career Trajectory for the Internet Set." In the former post I poked fun at the Classy Mommy blog (discriminatory against involved-daddies?).

But Glenn links to a serious mommy-blogging entry from Katie Granju at Babble, "Are Sponsored Reviews and Endorsements on Mommyblogs Getting Out of Hand?":

What's odd to me is that marketers don't seem to recognize this credibility gap in deciding who qualifies as a true influencer among the mombloggers. Obviously, pageviews and audience engagement (number of comments on the blog, etc), as well as the blogger's effective cross promotion across other social networking sites help to determine whether a momblogger is a "social media influencer." But there's a less tangible credibility factor that should be pulled into the formula as well. It's my belief that bloggers who do an excessive number of product reviews and endorsements likely don't wield the same kind of meaningful influence with their audience as the ones who do very few or more judiciously chosen paid reviews and endorsements. And some mombloggers may have a smaller audience, but within that audience, they have more credibility, meaning that their reviews are theoretically more valuable to sponsors. That's why, in my job as a social media strategist with a PR firm, I don't automatically go for the "big" blogs with lots of flashy reviews and endorsement deals when I'm putting together a list of mommyblogs for one of my corporate clients to approach.

Sounds serious!

And just think ... I was only joking around!

More good stuff at Instapundit.

Jackson Addiction Followed Pepsi Accident in 1984: LAPD to Treat Death as a Homicide; Public 'Never Can Say Goodbye' to Jackson Tragedy!

There are some noteworthy Michael Jackson developments worth sharing.

First, US Weekly has a video teaser online, "How Michael Jackson's Pill Addiction Began." But check out KABC-TV Los Angeles, "Jackson's Addiction Began After Accident." The video is intense. Jackson's head is completely engulfed by flames while filming the Pepsi ad. He jumps and twirls, with the last second or so showing sheer panic:

US Weekly reports that Jackson's drug addiction began after the shooting of his Pepsi commercial in 1984.

Usmagazine.com has released footage of the Jackson's Pepsi commercial accident that was shot at the Shrine Auditorium on January. 27, 1984.

During the commercial shoot Jackson suffered from second and third-degree burns on his scalp and body after the pyrotechnics erupted too early. The King of Pop was unaware that his hair was on fire.

The singer was prescribed several medications and it was at this time that his addiction to painkillers and plastic surgery began, according to a source for US ....

Check Rolling Stone as well, "Michael Jackson Pepsi Ad Footage Unearthed From 1984 Shoot." And the Wall Street Journal, "When Michael Jackson’s Hair Caught Fire: A Legendary Ad Man’s Story."

Also, was Jackson murdered? The LAPD is upgrading its investigation to a homicide case. See Fox News, "Conflicting Reports Surface on Whether LAPD Will Treat Jackson Death as a Homicide."

Also, the Los Angeles Times takes a dishy angle, "Who is Dr. Conrad Murray and What Does He Know About Michael Jackson's Death?" And TMZ, "LAPD Treating Jackson Death as Homicide." Plus, L.A. Examiner, "VIDEO: LaToya Jackson Says Michael Jackson Was Murdered by His Greedy Entourage."

Will the Michael Jackson story ever go away? Not as long as there's profit somewhere, for someone.

See, Tim Rutten, "Too much Michael Jackson? Newspaper Editors and TV Producers Undercut the Value of Serious News Media When They Let Website Hits and Social Media Vollume Dictate Their Coverage." And, Project for Excellence in Journalism, "Media Swing from Protests in Iran to the Passing of the King of Pop." A Marxist take is at Chris Hedges, "The Man in the Mirror."

Well, what can you do? Jackson's still still popular: "Michael Jackson Album Sales Highlight Physical, Digital Merits."

More here, Bill Wyman, "The Tragedy of Michael Jackson: The Self-Proclaimed King of Pop Was Nobody's Victim."

Rule 5 Rescue: Breanne Ashley Nude!

Well, all work and no play makes a blogger old and gray (or however that line goes).

So, it's time for another Rule 5 Rescue! Actually, I haven't posted hotties in bikinis for some time, but hey, a guy's got to help out his red-blooded conservative readers! Check out Breanne Ashley! I happened to be watching Fox Sports Net last night, and the goodfellas over there featured a Hooters International Swimsuit marathon. After watching that, I was saying to myself, "Dude, you spend too much time with cable news!" So here she is, and don't tell my wife!

Now, I'm not kidding about the nude, or at least semi-nude. She's over at this dude's place, topless. I added "nude" in the title to test Robert Stacy McCain's theory about Google-bombing the hot babes. "Hits is hits," he says. Okay, we'll see, although I prefer quality traffic from friendly bloggers and allies. (And if you're new to The Other McCain, check out, "How to Get a Million Hits on Your Blog in Less Than a Year.")

Speaking of friendly bloggers, check out Green Mountains Homesteading. The guy sends me a lot of traffic, and I think the members of the "Rule 5 community" should add him to their blogrolls and their weekend FMRA entries.

Also, Ace of Spades HQ links to my essay on the tea party impacts on Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration, "Schwarzenegger Gets the Message." Here's the killer quote:

Schwarzenegger was and is the ultimate RINO, and no one can have any delusions that he really believes in cutting spending. Nor that, were the pressure lifted from him, he wouldn't happily go back to the path of least resistance, raising taxes and increasing spending.

Dan Riehl's also been very generous with the linkage, and Glenn Reynolds sends awesome traffic. It's almost unbelievable how many people read his blog. No wonder the guy can't get a summer vacation! (No kidding. See, "No Day at the Beach: Bloggers Struggle With What to Do About Vacation.")

Plus, my buddy Kenneth Davenport's been linking as well, and he too needs some Rule 5 assistance - so check out his hot blog! And thanks to The Astute Bloggers and Fishersville Mike too!

And as I noted last weekend, send your posts to TrogloPundit and he'll link! The dude also just got his first Memeorandum thread, so he's got some creds! (See, "Levi Johnston is Single. Meghan McCain is Single.") Troglo's also a Hooters blogger - and who's to complain about that!

For a good read, see Steven Givler's, "David Brooks' Senator Revealed." Also, check over at my good (feminine) blogging friends, Carol at No Sheeples Here!, Jill at Pundit & Pundette, and Cassandra at Villainous Company. Wait, don't forget Skye at Midnight Blue as well!

All the other great blogging friends of American Power are here (and don't be shy about sending me an e-mail to to be added to the roundups):

Grizzly Mama, Dustbury, Darleen Click, Doubleplusundead, Blazing Cat Fur, Robert Belvedere, Sono Annoiato, The Astute Blogger, Thunder Run, The Classic Liberal, Conservative Grapevine, Cassy Fiano, Jim Treacher, NetRightNation, Q and O, Urban Grounds, Chris Wysocki, The Daley Gator, Just One Minute, Dave's World, The Oklahoma Patriot, Right Wing Sparkle, Conservatism With Heart, Dr. Helen, Laura Elizabeth Morales, Charles G. Hill , Blueshelled, The Nose on Your Face, All-American Blogger, Paco Enterprises, Nice Deb, Becky Brindle, Fishersville Mike, Monique Stuart, No Sheeples Here!, Dana at CSPT, Glenn Reynolds, Obi’s Sister, Right Truth, Gold-Plated Witch on Wheels, Chicago Ray, Ace of Spades HQ, Natalie's Blog, Ann Althouse, Pirate's Cove, Diminished Expectations, The Conservatives Who Say F*ck, Joust The Facts, Panhandle Poet, Steven Givler, Moonbattery, Sweating Through the Fog, Three Beers Later, PA Pundits, Sister Toldjah, Duck of Minerva, Wolf Howling, Right Wing Nation, Right Wing Nuthouse, Melissa Clouthier, Steve Bartin's Newsalert, The Western Experience, Jammie Wearing Fool, ShrinkWrapped, The Average American, Paco Enterprises, Ken Davenport, Doug Ross Journal, The Blog Prof, Fausta's Blog, Clueless Emma, Obob's World, Seymour Nuts, Red State, Dr. Sanity, The Desert Glows Green, Not One Red Cent, Vinegar and Honey, Dan Collins, Scott Kingsmore, The Astute Bloggers, The BoBo Files, Grant Jones, Tapline, New Testament News, Wizbang, William Jacobson, Phyllis Chesler, Right View from the Left Coast, Generation Patriot, Macsmind, Flopping Aces, Edge's Conservative Movies, Stop the ACLU, Snooper's Report, Grandpa John's, Cranky Conservative, Jimmie Bise, Little Miss Attila, Moe Lane, Private Pigg, Pundit & Pundette, The Rhetorican, R.S. McCain, Saber Point, Stephen Kruiser, Suzanna Logan, GrEaT sAtAn'S gIrLfRiEnD, TrogloPundit, Villainous Company, PoliGazette, Prying 1, Paula in Israel, Pamela Geller, Vanessa's Blog, Pat's Daily Rants, Bob's Bar & Grill, Power Line, Melanie Morgan, Dave in Boca, Neo-Neocon, Right in a Left World, Flag Gazer, Stephen Green, The Tygrrrr Express, The News Factor, Israel Matsav, The Conservative Manifesto, Gates of Vienna, Sparks From the Anvil, Gateway Pundit, Political Pistachio, Liberty Pundit, Not One Red Cent, Right Truth, Dave's Notepad, The Red Hunter, Maggie's Farm, The Next Right, This Ain't Hell, Stop the ACLU, Politics and Critical Thinking, Riehl World View, Midnight Blue, Caroline Glick, The Griper, FouseSquawk, The Other McCain, Cheat Seeking Missiles, Roger Simon, Classical Values, Samantha Speaks, Grizzly Mama, The Capitol Tribune, The Patriot Room, The Real World, RADARSITE, Serr8d's Cutting Edge, Bloviating Zeppelin, Born Again Redneck The Educated Shoprat, St. Blogustine, Yid With Lid, Pondering Penguin, Betsy's Page, The Anchoress, Ace of Spades HQ, Right Wing Sparkle, Ed Driscoll, Cold Fury, Michelle Malkin, Neptunus Lex, Neo-Neocon, The Liberty Papers, The Monkey Cage, Law and Order Teacher, Mike's America, AubreyJ, Dan Collins, Track-a-'Crat, The Jungle Hut, Wake Up America, Dan Riehl, Nikki's Blog, Big Girl Pants, Maggie's Notebook, Hummers & Cigarettes, Mark Goluskin, Jawa Report, The Skepticrats, Sarge Charlie, Swedish Meatballs Confidential, Five Feet of Fury, Amy Proctor, Blonde Sagacity, Liberty Papers, TigerHawk, Point of a Gun, Right Wing News, And So it Goes in Shreveport, Thoughts With Attitude, and Kim Priestap.