Kanye has Snapped

[El Sitherino]

Besides, this isn't a thread to discuss the president. Lets get back to the simple-minded rapper that sparked this discussion.

Considering he's the main point of Kanye's speaking out, this is a thread to discuss the president. Were Kanye's words correct? In a sense they were.

[MdKnightR]

Considering he's the main point of Kanye's speaking out, this is a thread to discuss the president. Were Kanye's words correct? In a sense they were.

 

Still, Kanye's comments were somewhat akin to shouting "FIRE" in a crowded theatre. We need to concentrate on unifying, not dividing. Now he will be lumped in with the dishonored Dixie Chicks because of his comments.

 

As for presidential griping, start another thread about it. If you want to make a statement for change, vote Libertarian. The majority of Kanye's comments didn't have as much to do about Bush's domestic policy as it did with the media.

[TheOssusKeeper]

Wow, I heard a little of this on the news, but didn't get the whole story... I wonder what M. Myers was thinking when West went off like that? He was obviously stunned, because instead of continuing with the lines on the prompter, he allowed West his turn… I’m guessing there were some that wished he hadn’t… anyway, did West think he was striking a blow for ‘his people’ on ‘the Man’ or what… the whole thing seems a bit weird to me, like some of it was rehearsed by key people at the show, if you noticed, they didn’t cut to a commercial or go to anyone else until he was basically done, then they cut to Tucker…

 

About the levies though, they did have plans for such a severe storm, they have had plans in place for 30+ years and the funds to fix the levies to withstand such a storm, however, they never used them, why is anyone’s guess… Basically, there was poor organization from the beginning, but the Red Cross wasn’t the only ones down there trying to help out, the Coast Guard was there from the beginning even while the storm was raging, but they could only do so much, that could be said of any one that showed up down there during the first five days after the storm, while the President and his cabinet was setting on their thumbs… If Bush wasn’t always on vacation, maybe he could get things done… As far as who to blame for the levies not being up to par, is anyone’s guess. The funds and the plans and the man power was there, all they needed to do is fix it. Had they done that, the damage would not have been as severe as it was…

[Char Ell]

Thanks for the link, Darth333! I heard that Kanye West "went off" during the NBC benefit concert but didn't have much in the way of details.

 

Simply stated, Kanye West used the recent benefit concert as an opportunity to express his personal political views to a large audience. Do I give his diatribe any credence? Much the same as I do with any other celebrity; very little, if any. I might think they're a great actor or a great musician/singer but I make up my own mind when it comes to values and politics. I believe in the USA's constitutional right to free speech but just because someone can speak their mind doesn't mean I have to listen or agree with them.

 

It seems to me that the federal government was slow out of the blocks in getting assistance to the people of New Orleans. The reason why though is still somewhat nebulous IMO as there is a lot of finger pointing still going on. Kanye West seems to have determined that the slow reaction by the feds was due to racial discrimation.

 

As far as the media portrayal of blacks "looting" vs. whites "looking for food" I'm not really sure. It's my understanding that New Orleans was 67% black. From what I've seen on TV it seems like mostly black people that stayed through the hurricane in the New Orleans area. So to me it stands to reason that's why I mostly see black people. When I see individuals, regardless of race, taking TV's, DVD players, stereos, and other non-essential items from deserted stores I would call that "looting." When I see individuals, regardless of race, taking food, water, medicine, diapers, or other essentials I consider that the "right to survive." In truth, I haven't really noticed how the media characterizes the taking of goods from New Orleans stores. Perhaps it's my built-in media filter that doesn't automatically take what the media reports as fact. For example, I recall the media reporting that New Orleans had really dodged the proverbial bullet in the initial hours after the storm. That report doesn't seem very accurate to me now.

 

"Bush hates black people." Now this statement I don't understand. Didn't Bush at one time have a black American as his secretary of state and a black American woman as his national security advisor? If he hated black people like Kanye West says then why in the world would he have black people in his cabinet? Now that Colin Powell is gone and Condoleeza Rice is the only one left does that mean that Bush hates black people? The assertion doesn't make much sense to me.

 

Truth be told Bush is ON RECORD for saying he dislikes black people. You can look it up at your library. Records section and such.

I did a quick Google search but didn't find anything that quoted Bush saying he disliked black people. Would you care to provide a reference to support your statement? I know you're good at that kind of stuff.

 

Where's that Dragnet detective when you need him? "Just the facts, ma'am. Just the facts."

[El Sitherino]

Would you care to provide a reference to support your statement? I know you're good at that kind of stuff.

Check the library, that's where I found it at.

[Aash Li]

Check the library, that's where I found it at.

 

Sorry, but thats not gonna cut it. "check the library" doesnt help at all. What book? what magazine? What newspaper? Did you use the internet at the library? If so, then what keywords did you use?

 

Unless you can give us some sort of reference, then I wont take your word for it.

[Hannibal]

Firstly, Aash Li the Governor of Louisianna is a woman not a man.

Also the construction of the levies is not just a job for the governor just like the rescue efforts aren't just the job of the president. Both are leaders that make due with the information they are given by their subordinates. Both failed because of it.

 

The state decided to save money buy only building a levy that could withstand a category 3 (bad mistake).

Bush's mistake is taking the advice of people who were getting jobs for unqualified former college roommates. This old boy network is ridiculous. Head of FEMA is not a job you can learn as you go. That to me was the biggest mistake. When you have people that instead of taking action start holding press conferences you in trouble, when local governments and church groups from all over the country set up truck loads of food, clothes and water to help and they get turned away your in trouble. Here in the DC area we had a group of VA disaster workers packed and ready to go within a day after a local sheriff in Louisianna called in tears begging for help. They drove down there and were turned away because of possible legal liability? It starts from the top and in this case it's a bad choice of leadership. Bush needs to give better investigations of the people he appoints. Remember the guy from NY they wanted to head Homeland Security? They just don't check.

 

OT - If you see Kanye he's frustrated. Black, white, whatever could you possibly have watched what was going on and not been? Imagine surving the worst disaster in American history then having your baby die 3 days later because no one rushed to help and those that did were turned away. Frustration turns to anger.

[Killwithhonor]

oh and too add to my post, the war was started by his father and hes trying to clean it up, but hes not doing a very good job of it

[El Sitherino]

Sorry, but thats not gonna cut it. "check the library" doesnt help at all. What book? what magazine? What newspaper? Did you use the internet at the library? If so, then what keywords did you use?

I'm not really sure what to tell you. It was in the public record files at my local library. And I remember hearing stuff about it back in the 90's when he said it.

 

Unless you can give us some sort of reference, then I wont take your word for it.

K, no skin off my back.

[lukeiamyourdad]

Now he will be lumped in with the dishonored Dixie Chicks because of his comments.

 

Nope. Kanye is a rapper. He appeals to black people. Black people are mostly democrats. Black people usually don't like Bush and Republicans since right-wing extremism usually equals racism.

The Dixie Chicks are country singers. Country singers appeal to Republicans and right-wing cowboys. When they showed their were leftists, the right-wing cowboys did a childish thing. They boycotted them because of their political orientation. Which is stupid, childish and utter idiocy only nutters can do.

Since when does an artist have to be of a certain political orientation to appeal to the masses? Nevermind that question...

 

Sorry for the rant...

 

 

Back on topic,

 

I frankly don't think it was the time or place to do such a comment, but I certainly don't think Kanye is in the wrong for making it. He's angry to see that its mostly black people who are stuck there, black people who didn't get any help.

It's understandable that under the emotions, he snapped without thinking.

 

Celine Dion also snapped. Everyone snaps when it comes to this. When you think that a country Sri Lanka gave money to the US, something is wrong.

 

It also makes you wonder, if the richest country in the planet can't take care correctly of its own citizen, can your own country take care of you in a similar situation?

[MdKnightR]

oh and too add to my post, the war was started by his father and hes trying to clean it up, but hes not doing a very good job of it

 

Actually, it was Saddam Hussein who started it all. If he hadn't gotten ambitious by taking over Kuwait, there would have been no war. I know what you are about to say...we cared about Kuwait only because of the oil, but that is simply not the (whole) case. As has been exhibited in history, dictators who get out of hand cause major problems. Look at Hitler. He was basically allowed to attack Poland, but that was only a first step in his plans to dominate Europe. By the time the other world leaders caught on to how powerful the 3rd Reich had become, it was too late to avoid a long war. Had Bush Sr. adopted the isolationist policy instead of learning this history lesson, Saddam might have succeeded in taking over the Middle East. Don't blame everything on the president of the time.

[El Sitherino]

Saddam might have succeeded in taking over the Middle East.

 

... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, yeah right. Israel would've taken his ass down before he got anywhere near them.

[TheOssusKeeper]

... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, yeah right. Israel would've taken his ass down before he got anywhere near them.

 

I agree with IS, it would've stopped with Israel if it had gone that far, they wouldn't have been able to take Israel...

[MdKnightR]

... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA, yeah right. Israel would've taken his ass down before he got anywhere near them.

 

Perhaps, but he might well have taken Saudi Arabia and Iran before attempting to take Israel. Thankfully, we will never find out!

[ForceFightWMe12]

I frankly don't think it was the time or place to do such a comment, but I certainly don't think Kanye is in the wrong for making it. He's angry to see that its mostly black people who are stuck there, black people who didn't get any help.

It's understandable that under the emotions, he snapped without thinking

 

That's pretty much where I stand. It was deffinatly not the time nor the place, but I understand why he said what he did.

[Char Ell]

Since when does an artist have to be of a certain political orientation to appeal to the masses?

 

I decided not to ignore the question...

I think the answer is that the masses generally don't care about an artist's political views until said artist starts to air them in public. Then of course there are those who will accept the artist's view and make it their own because there is no way that the artist could be wrong. And then there are those who will react negatively and reject the artist and his products. Then maybe there are a few out there like me who don't agree with the artist's views but will continue to enjoy the artist's talents if I liked them before they publicized their views.

 

I'm not sure that I've even heard a single Kanye West song. All I really know about him is that he's a rapper that recently performed on the MTV music awards show with Diddy, or maybe it was P. Diddy... or Puff Daddy... or was it Sean John? Bah, I can't keep track.

 

I definitely think Kanye West is entitled to his opinion and, as others have stated, I understand why he is upset. What I don't understand about his mindset and and that of many others is how they focus the blame on one individual. I guess it's just natural human tendency to want to make things simple by having a single person as the scapegoat. But as far as I'm concerned the tragic failures in New Orleans were most likely caused by multiple factors, not just George W. Bush.

[Hannibal]

The President, whether he be Republican Democrat or whatever, always has and will receive the blame when something goes wrong. None have been immune. The lose and win re-elections based on it.

 

Always remember "The buck stops here." That works both ways good and bad.

[Char Ell]

Yes indeed. Funny how that works. Doesn't make sense to me though, especially in such a large and bureaucratic government. Like I said, I guess people in general just want to make things simple and having the president to blame is fairly simple and straightforward. Then of course when things go well the president is usually quick to take credit even though he may not have had all that much to do with it.

[ForceFightWMe12]

OoOh! Bush admitted that the blame stopped at him! HA!

[Hannibal]

As president he had to. If he hadn't and continued with the Administration's "never wrong" stance he would have been eaten alive.

[ForceFightWMe12]

well no kidding. he should have done it earlier. would've saved him and everyone else a hell of a lot of trouble

[Det. Bart Lasiter]

Who gives a f*** what Ja Rule thinks at a time like this?! I need some answers that Ja Rule might not have...

 

-Dave Chappelle

 

Ja Rule = rapper(a bad one, but one none the less)

Kanye West=rapper(better than the aforementioned one)

 

To those who may call me hypocritical for this post:

I don't turn to Dave Chappelle to answers. Now, my opinion is similar to what Kanye's was, but I don't base mine on his, and if you base yours on any celebrity's, keep your thoughts to yourself, they're probably not relevent/pertinent anyways. Instead, go watch news stories on them, preferably a few different ones, other than FOX News( ), then weigh all the reporters' opinions and any un-filtered facts that may slip through the government's dragnet on actual facts(i.e the bodies floating in the streets and the 2-week response from many vacationing officials (I'm lookin' at you Cheny!)).

[MdKnightR]

Well, I can say 2 things about Bush taking responsibility...1. good for him! 2. and on the contrary, so what? It isn't going to hurt his political career to do so. This is his last term in office and he doesn't have to worry about re-election.

 

Tonight, a co-worker of mine said that he heard someone (I think another rapper) say that it wasn't a black-white race issue that was slowing the response to the disaster. It was his opinion that it all boiled down to the amount of poor people that were needing help. Sounds more logical to me.

[lukeiamyourdad]

Tonight, a co-worker of mine said that he heard someone (I think another rapper) say that it wasn't a black-white race issue that was slowing the response to the disaster. It was his opinion that it all boiled down to the amount of poor people that were needing help. Sounds more logical to me.

 

 

GEORGE W. BUSH DOESN'T CARE ABOUT POOR PEOPLE!

 

-some rapper

 

[ForceFightWMe12]

Yeah, somehow, the 'fact' that things were slowed down by 'racial issues' seems very unlikely to me. I also think that a lot of it had to do with the idiot that was previously running FEMA. Hopefully this new guy will help things...already things are begining to look up. I mean, I think around...45% or so of the city is now underwater rather than the 80% that was previously.