UN investigates Syria chemical weapons use

Aljazeera

Justice Dept. to monitor voting in three Alabama towns and in Maricopa County, Arizona

Gadsen Times

The U.S. Justice Department on Monday said it will monitor municipal elections in three Alabama towns and in Arizona that like Alabama is at odds with the Obama administration about immigration.

The department in a statement said it will monitor elections in Lanett, Phenix City and Reform as well as Maricopa County, Ariz., “to ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965.”

“The Voting Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the election process on the basis of race, color or membership in a minority language group,” the statement said.

More 'Voter Fraud' Fraud- South Carolina lawmakers: No racial intent behind voter ID law

Reuters

South Carolina defended its new voter-identification law in federal court on Monday, arguing the requirement that all voters show a form of photo ID prevents fraud without discriminating against black voters.

The Obama administration blocked the law in December, its latest attempt to stop a wave of laws in Republican-controlled states that require voters to show certain forms of photo ID at the polls.

The federal government says the state laws make voting more difficult for blacks, who are less likely than whites to have the required forms of photo ID and are also more likely to vote for Democrats. South Carolina's legislature said it passed the identification law last year to prevent people from posing under a fake identity when going to vote, and to inspire more confidence in the integrity of elections.

The hearings are expected to go for another four days, with a decision likely before the November 6 national election.

The case is State of South Carolina v. United States of America and Eric Holder, Jr., U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, No. 1:12-cv-203.

Republican Convention Taking Place In City With America’s Highest Homeless Rate

ThinkProgress

As they kick off the Republican National Convention in Tampa Bay, Florida, this week, Republicans will be descending upon the city with the nation’s highest rate of homelessness, as CBS News noted:

As Republicans gather for their national party convention in Tampa, they will be aware of the stormy weather but may not see another issue clouding the city.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area has the highest rate of homelessness in the nation, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness in a report issued earlier this year — 57 homeless for every 10,000 residents.

There are about 16,000 homeless people in the Tampa area, and one in five of them are children.

Presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney has not laid out any plans when it comes to combating homelessness. However, back in April, an NBC News reporter overheard Romney telling rich donors that he may eliminate the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which would bring an end to critical programs like Section 8 housing vouchers and community development block grants, assuming Romney didn’t just shuffle them around to another department.

Birther Joke from Mr. Funny Man - The Joke is on who?

The Grio

On MSNBC’s Morning Joe, RNC Chair, Reince Preibus called it a “moment of levity” and he can’t fathom why anyone would read and/or interpret Romney’s comments as anything other than a gentle ribbing of this nation’s first black president. Hardball’s host, Chris Matthews was quick to take Preibus to task, asserting the seriousness of the racialized nature of the “birther” movement and continuous attempts by a cast of characters from Donald Trump to the Arizona sherriff Joe Arpaio, to an assortment of Republican lawmakers, who are politically committed to “othering” Barack Obama.

All of this is to say nothing of the fact that jokes are the spinal cord of racial animus in our country – both historically and in the current Obama-era moment.  People say things joking around that they really mean.  And too many racial jokes or racialized jokes are just that – mean.  Romney’s joke about not having to verify his birthplace/nationality, is essentially a joke about the privilege to not show his papers – birth certificate or taxes.  It has a dark immediate history in birther attacks and their willful refusal to accept the facts of President Obama’s identity, but it also captures the longer arc of history where people of color in this country have had to craft origami models of their IDs in order to navigate these United States without undo harassment by the state.

Racism in the 21^st Century, broadly speaking, aside from discrimination and systemic bias, is also very much about the inherent suspicion directed at certain groups of people.  That a presidential candidate would delve into these problematic discourses is not funny at all.

Camden (NJ) disbands police department

The Grio

Recognized as one of the most dangerous cities in America, Camden New Jersey is reported to be disbanding its police department as part of an austerity measure that would leave almost 270 officers without jobs.

In a move that has been criticized and considered to be a union-busting tactic, the officers that are retained would be part of a new non-union division of the Camden County Police department.

According to reports from the Philadelphia Inquirer, under the layoff plan designed by Camden Mayor Dana L. Reed, the 270 officers would serve their last day on the force by December 31st of this year, while field training for the county force that is dedicated only to serving Camden could being as early as October.

The crime rate in Camden is thought to be so high that the police force doesn’t respond to minor incidents like auto theft and vandalism.

Limbaugh Suggests Obama Admin Manipulated Hurricane Forecasts To Harm GOP Convention

Media Matters

From the August 27 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:

Previously:

Limbaugh: Obama Is "Hopeful" Hurricane Will Hit Tampa During GOP Convention

Professional Liar Karl Rove Drops Welfare Whopper To Deflect From "Pants On Fire" Romney Ads

Media Matters

Fox News' Karl Rove distorted President Obama's record on welfare reform, falsely claiming the administration "will not approve any policies which reduce the level of welfare assistance." In fact, the letter Rove cited as evidence said the administration would not grant waivers to states if their program would block access to the benefit programs. It did not declare that states could not reduce the level of assistance.

In recent weeks, Rove's American Crossroads has been cheering and enabling Mitt  Romney's dishonest campaign to accuse the Obama administration of stripping work requirements out of welfare reform. In fact, the waiver program simply grants states flexibility in figuring out how to comply with federal guidelines on transitioning aid recipients to work.

Rove appeared on the August 27 edition of Fox's America Live to discuss the Republican National Convention. After Fox's Juan Williams pointed out that the Romney campaign has made false claims about Obama, including the false claim that "welfare is going to be expanded under President Obama," Rove pushed back. According to Rove, a letter from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said the administration would not approve "any policies which reduce the level of welfare assistance."

Federal judge approves DOJ settlement over Seattle police department

Jurist

A judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Washington [official website] on Friday tentatively approved a settlement agreement between the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the City of Seattle relating to a DOJ investigation of the Seattle Police Department (SPD) [official websites]. Judge James Robart gave provisional approval for the agreement [joint motion, PDF], which will implement a package of reforms that overhauls police rules, especially on the use of force, and installs an independent monitor to oversee the department and make regular reports to the court and public.

Mutiny in the house? Black White Party Members Left Off Mittens Site

Field Negro

Negro republicans are upset with Mitt Romney for not including them on his website. Apparently he has every other group but the Negro. And here you all thought being in the house with Mitt would get you certain privileges. You all must think your name is Artur Davis or something.

GOP to America: 'We Built It.' But Who's the We? (built "it" off the backs of slaves)

ColorLines

Today's official theme at the forlorn Tampa gathering is "We Built It." The GOP doesn't specify who the "we" are or what the "it" is exactly.

With zero percent support amongst blacks for the Republican ticket, African Americans have apparently concluded that the "we" is not them. The 44-point gap amongst Latinos and the 33-point gap amongst youth would seem to suggest that these groups believe the same.

That's because on jobs--the number one issue important to black and brown America, young people, and the country as a whole--Mitt Romney is largely silent.

Up to 100 Korans burned in Afghanistan: U.S. military investigation

Citizens for Legit Gov

A U.S. military investigation released on Monday determined that American troops burned up to 100 Korans and other religious materials in Afghanistan during a February incident that led to deadly riots and strained relations between the two countries. Six soldiers received administrative punishments over the incident, which the investigation concluded was due to factors that included a lack of trust between Americans and Afghans.

Picture of Michelle Obama Meant to Show that Although she is 1st lady she is still Considered a Slave by many

madamenoire.com

Yes, that’s who you think it is. The wife of Barack Obama, the right-hand woman of the Commander-in-Chief of our nation, the First Lady of the United States; naked, nude, depicted as a slave on the cover of the August issue of the Spanish magazine, Fuera de Serie. Seated wrapped in an American flag, with one breast exposed, and a wrap around her head in the likeness of the famous Afro-Guadeloupean female slave painted by French artist Marie-Guilhelmine Benoist in 1800, the weekly lifestyle supplement to the Spanish newspaper Expansión wants to convey como “Michelle Se Come A Obama (Michelle eats Obama).”

It’s hard to say which came first, the clever headline that accompanies the feature on the Flotus, “Michelle Tataranieta De Esclava, Dueña De América” (Michelle great-great granddaughter of a slave, owner of America) or the brilliant idea to use artist Karine Percheron-Daniels’ nude image of her. But one thing that is consistently clear throughout the entire piece, whether by imagery or word choice, is the idea that Michelle Obama is and always will be a slave in far too many people’s eyes, no matter how far we’re removed from physical enslavement, and how high of a position she’s climbed to in society. [MORE] 

Gallup: Most Americans Still Predict Obama Will Win 2012 Election

Gallup 

Americans are much more likely to believe Barack Obama (58%) rather than Mitt Romney (36%) will win the election. Romney supporters are less optimistic that Romney will win (65%) than Obama supporters are that Obama will win (86%).

Obama versus Party of Whiteness

The Final Call

He is Barrack Hussein Obama, president of the United States of America. After nearly four years in office, the biggest obstacle he faces now in his bid for re-election may be overcoming perceptions related to his race, rather than any comparison with his opponent.