That’s right I’m back! I know it’s been a minute. You know, like all of July. My schedule changed and I could not muster the energy to get this done. But I’m back now. So let’s go.
Who put a quarter in Ben Carson?
Carson recently wrote an op-ed for Fox News denouncing critical race theory and taking shots at Ibram Kendi, author of How to be Antiracist. Carson wrote: “Contrary to Kendi’s recent claim, CRT and so-called antiracism are very much real, and are the vanguard of a radical, revolutionary movement that seeks to overthrow the established order in every area of society, including capitalism itself. CRT’s focus has primarily been the classroom, but it’s also gaining momentum in board rooms, corporate trainings, and even the U.S. military – which is now suffering a lack of wartime readiness as a result of an excessive focus on CRT. Research has shown that factors such as the presence of a stable two-parent family, educational choices and economic prosperity, among others, account for the large bulk of observed racial differences, rather than the boogeyman of racism. Thus, CRT and antiracism are founded on racist, conspiratorial drivel.” Fox News: Dr. Ben Carson: Fighting critical race theory – this is how we stop this blatantly racist ideology The Root: Ben Carson Writes Anti-Critical Race Theory Fan Fiction for Fox Snooze and Calls It an Op-Ed As experts on CRT have explained CRT is a study that examines how race affects the law and other structures and institutions. The core idea is that race is a social construct, and that racism is not merely the product of individual bias or prejudice, but also something embedded in legal systems and policies. The basic tenets of critical race theory emerged out of a framework for legal analysis in the late 1970s and drew lines around areas deemed poor financial risks based on racial composition of residents. Banks subsequently refused to offer mortgages to Black people in those areas. Today, those same patterns of discrimination exist through facially race-blind policies, like single-family zoning that prevents the building of affordable housing in advantaged, majority-white neighborhoods and, thus, stymies racial desegregation efforts.
As far as Carson is concerned, Root writer, Zack Linly said it best: “Black conservatives really only exist to parrot narratives for white conservatives. They almost never have an original thought of their own, so they willingly sit on the hands of Republican puppeteers and serve as their “Black friends” who will tow their false narratives with pre-approved platitudes and language vague and substance-free enough to convince right-wing rubes that they’re smart negroes who know what they’re talking about.” Linly also pointed to Carson’s lack of evidence for all of his claims about research. So, to recap, Ben Carson is a clown and a puppet. He gets carted out everytime conservatives need a Black face; otherwise he’s mute. And I for one wish he would stay mute.
Bezos Out
As I’m sure you know by know, Jeff Bezos is headed to space. Blue Origin will launch its first crewed mission on its New Shepard rocket today to fly its founder Jeff Bezos and three other passengers to suborbital space and back. Liftoff is set for 9 a.m. EDT (1300 GMT) from Blue Origin’s Launch Site One in West Texas and will launch Bezos, his brother Mark Bezos, Mercury 13 and aviation pioneer Wally Funk and 18-year-old Oliver Daemon. Last week, it was Richard Branson earning his astronaut wings riding a space plane from Virgin Galactic, a company he founded 14 years ago, to an altitude of more than 50 miles above the skies of New Mexico. CNBC: Jeff Bezos on critics of billionaires going to space: ‘They’re mostly right’ This is as American as apple pie: Billionaires doing things that don’t matter.
Look Who’s Talking Now
“House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has nominated five Republican representatives to serve on the House select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. His list for the Democratic-led probe into the deadly melee includes three lawmakers who voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results after the attack. To lead the GOP contingent of the panel, McCarthy tapped Indiana Rep. Jim Banks as ranking Republican. “I have accepted Leader McCarthy’s appointment to this committee because we need leaders who will force the Democrats and the media to answer questions so far ignored,” Banks said in a statement. “Among them, why was the Capitol unprepared and vulnerable to attack on January 6?” McCarthy’s other nominees are: Illinois Rep. Rodney Davis; Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan; Rep. Kelly Armstrong of North Dakota; and Texas Rep. Troy Nehls. Banks, Jordan and Nehls voted against certifying the election. NPR: GOP Leader McCarthy Taps 5 Republicans To Serve On Jan. 6 Select Committee I thought there were no questions that need to be answered. Isn’t that why you didn’t want the committee? Seems like when the House Democrats moved forward you came up with some questions.
I got some ice cream, you can’t have none
At least, you can’t have any in the West Bank. “Ben & Jerry’s, the iconic Vermont-based brand, announced Monday that it would no longer sell ice cream in the West Bank. In a statement, the company said it was “inconsistent with our values” for the ice cream to be sold in Palestinian territory that was occupied by Israel. Ben and Jerry’s said it would not be renewing an agreement with a local licensee when it expires at the end of next year. Though Ben & Jerry’s ice creams would no longer be sold in occupied Palestinian territories, “we will stay in Israel through a different arrangement,” the statement continued. You know who was big made? Opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu; he tweeted that Ben & Jerry’s showed Israelis “which ice cream NOT to buy.” The decision to pull out of the West Bank came after pressure from pro-Palestinian groups, which argued that the sale of Ben & Jerry’s products in Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory was at odds with the company’s support for social justice.” Washington Post: Ben & Jerry’s decision to pull out of West Bank prompts rancor in Israel
The Culture Commentary 