Thursday, July 13, 2006

World Cup Headbutt

Zidane apologizes



I'm sorry but no regrets - Zidane


Zinedine Zidane has apologised for his headbutt on Italian defender Marco Materazzi in Sunday's World Cup final.

But the French legend does not regret his actions, alleging on television that Materazzi provoked him by insulting both his mother and sister.

"It was inexcusable. I apologise," said the 34-year-old Zidane. "But I can't regret what I did because it would mean that he was right to say all that."

Materazzi responded by denying he said anything about Zidane's mother.

"I didn't mention anything about religion, politics or racism," said the Italian on Wednesday.

"Naturally, I didn't know that his mother was in hospital but I wish her all the best.

"Zidane is my hero and I have always admired him a lot."

Zidane was sent off for headbutting Materazzi in the chest in the second period of extra-time in the final in Berlin.

The Frenchman claimed he had been provoked by the Italian and appeared on French TV station Canal Plus on Wednesday to explain his actions.

"It was seen by two or three billion people on television and millions and millions of children were watching," he said.

"It was an inexcusable gesture and to them, and the people in education whose job it is to show children what they should and shouldn't do, I want to apologise."

Asked what had caused to react so violently, he said Materazzi had directed some "very hard words" at him.

"You hear them once and you try to move away. But then you hear them twice, and then a third time," said Zidane.

"I am a man and some words are harder to hear than actions. I would rather have taken a blow to the face than hear that."

Zidane, who retired from football after Sunday's final, also called for Materazzi to be punished for his part in the incident.

"We always talk about the reaction, and obviously it must be punished. But if there is no provocation, there is no need to react," said the former Real Madrid and Juventus player


Without question, this had to do with race.

I mean, this was in the World Cup final. You would either have to be the biggest asshole on the planet or have a very good reason for acting that way.

And if people didn't think he was provoked, they would be after his head. People take losing a World Cup on a mistake normally unforgivable.

The fact that he wouldn't apologize for what he did is not just over a loss of temper. Because unless it's happened to you, you'd never understand it. Somethings you recognize right away, and that reaction looked all too familiar.

As Thurgood Marshall said "My father said when a man calls you a nigger, you have some business to settle right there."

A lot of people may not see it, but I've lived through a couple of those moments and that's how you react.

posted by Steve @ 12:22:00 AM

Rove booed...

Two posts coming from Steve Gillard he was on a roll today.


Hey, we didn't mean it, honest


You can't treat us like
this chicken

Rove Tells of 'Shared Values' With Latinos
The GOP strategist cites faith, family and Bush's immigration plan at a La Raza conference in L.A.
By Teresa Watanabe and Michael Finnegan, Times Staff Writers
July 12, 2006

White House political strategist Karl Rove touted "shared values" of faith and family and reiterated President Bush's support of broad immigration reform in a Los Angeles address Tuesday to one of the nation's largest Latino civil rights organizations.

In a lunchtime talk at the National Council of La Raza's annual conference, the Republican advisor outlined Bush's plan for stronger border security, workplace enforcement, a guest worker program and earned legalization for undocumented immigrants.

"He understands immigration is a positive force in this country … vital to keep this country going," Rove said, prompting applause from the crowd of a few thousand.

But he drew scattered boos when he highlighted Bush's recent approval of $1.9 billion in funding for more border security, including deployment of National Guard troops, and was disrupted twice by hecklers who unfurled antiwar and anti-Bush banners.

Rove, who shared his own family story of Norwegian immigrants, also told the crowd that assimilating by learning English was critical to both national unity and boosting the pay and career potential of immigrants. "English binds us together as Americans and enables us to share our common life," he said.

Speaking after Rove, New Mexico's Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson outlined his own immigration plan — which was strikingly similar to Bush's. Unlike Rove, however, he was not booed when he promoted tougher border security to crack down not only on illegal immigrants, he said, but also on drugs and violence.

Rove's appearance comes as both parties try to tap the fast-growing Latino electorate, which is becoming more independent. About 40% of Latinos voted for Bush in the 2004 election, compared with 56% for Democratic candidate John F. Kerry.


I bet he wants to hit Josh Bolten over the head with a brick every day he sees him. The GOP won't see the damage their Final Solution to the Mexican Problem has led to until they start losing races in Hispanic districts. No one knows how severe it will be, but Rove getting booed, and remember, Bush wasn't on the extreme side of this is a hint.

The Spring's antics and the incredibly racist fallout from it was both avoidable and sadly predictable. The only question is the punishment they exact in the election

posted by Steve @ 4:50:00 PM

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

NCLR que haces?!

I'm not sure how I feel about Karl Rove speaking at the NCLR.... read this post.



Karl Rove will speak to a Latino group in California on Wednesday. Let's remind everyone of where the Bush administration stands on Latino issues

by John in DC - 7/11/2006 10:01:00 PM

Karl Rove is planning on address one of the largest Latino organizations, La Raza, tomorrow in California. In commemoration of the Bush administration's new-found love for the same Latinos they wanted to kick out of the country last week, with the help of a friend who put the following list together, let's take a way down memory lane, shall we:
Rove’s Outreach to Hispanic Voters

Today, Karl Rove will address the National Council of La Raza. Unfortunately, his grand strategy to attract Hispanic voters to the Republican Party is in jeopardy because of a revolt of House Republicans on immigration. Will the Bush Administration be able to go beyond their campaign rhetoric and really reach out to Hispanic voters? Accomplishing this task will require standing up to the right wing of the Republican Party. Unfortunately, Bush and his Administration have been better at talking the talk of reaching out than they have been of walking the walk.

THEN: Bush Campaigned in Spanish

In Davenport, Iowa: ''La Sueño Americano.” “Over a breakfast of burritos and beans at a neon-colored Jalapeño Mexican Cuisine in Davenport, Iowa, this summer, Bush spoke of his goal that everyone share in ''la sueño Americano.'' [The Miami Herald, 10/9/99]

In Los Angeles, California: Ingles y Mas: “As Bush addressed a crowd of 3,000 last week at the Latin Business Association in Los Angeles, he signaled his sensitivity. 'Ingles solamente' isn't the way, Bush said. Instead of English only, the goal is Ingles y mas, English and more. 'Children of any background should not be used as pawns in bitter debates on education and immigration.’'' [The Miami Herald, 9/9/99]

In Chicago, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia, Bush Sang the National Anthem in Spanish. "When visiting cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, or Philadelphia, in pivotal states, Bush would drop in at Hispanic festivals and parties, sometimes joining in singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner' in Spanish, sometimes partying with a 'Viva Bush’ mariachi band flown in from Texas." [American Dynasty, Kevin Phillips]

NOW: Bush Says the National Anthem Ought to Be Sung in English.

Bush: “I think the national anthem ought to be sung in English, and I think people who want to be a citizen of this country ought to learn English and they ought to learn to sing the national anthem in English.” [4/28/06]

THEN: Undocumented Mexicans Who Had Crossed Illegally Were “Hard-Working Citizens”.

Bush: “We share values with Mexico. They’re common values — values that unite people, whether they live in the United States or whether they live in Mexico. And what are those values? … The willingness to work hard. America is known for our ability to work hard. Think about the Mexican worker who walks 500 miles across a desert to find work. Those are hard-working citizens. We share that very important value of people willing to roll up their sleeves and work hard.” [White House, 9/6/01]

NOW: Terrorists, Drug Dealers, and Criminals Sneak into the United States.

Bush: “To defend this country, we have to enforce our borders. When our borders are not secure, terrorists, drug dealers, and criminals find it easier to sneak into America. My administration has a clear strategy for dealing with this problem: We want to stop people from crossing into America illegally, and to quickly return the illegal immigrants we catch back to their home countries.” [White House, 10/22/05]

THEN: Bush Floated the Idea of Amnesty.

Bush – as Part of an Effort to Woo Latino Voters – Floated the idea of an Amnesty. “Since arriving in Washington, President George W. Bush has persisted in believing that the GOP can engineer a major shift in US. electoral politics and seize a sizable chunk of a voting bloc that the Democrats have come to assume is solidly loyal. Using Cabinet picks and tailoring policy -- including floating the idea of granting an amnesty to more than 3 million Mexicans living in the United States illegally -- the president has continued with a high-profile effort to woo skeptical Latinos away from the Democrats.” [Washington Times, 10/1/01]

NOW: Bush Wavers on Comprehensive Reform

The Bush Administration Issued a Statement of Administration Policy in Support of the Sensenbrenner Immigration Bill – a Bill that Would Make Felons of Undocumented Workers.

Bush Shows Signs of Wavering on Comprehensive Reform. “Republicans both inside and outside the White House say Mr. Bush, who has long insisted on comprehensive reform, is now open to a so-called enforcement-first approach that would put new border security programs in place before creating a guest worker program or path to citizenship for people living in the United States illegally.” [New York Times, 7/5/06]

Republicans Predict Bush Will Abandon the Path to Citizenship. “But one Republican close to the White House, granted anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, predicted that Mr. Bush would ultimately abandon the idea of a path to citizenship.” [New York Times, 7/5/06]

THEN: Karl Rove Outlined a Strategy to Attract Hispanic Voters

Karl Rove Outlines the Strategy: “Mission and Goal” is to Attract Latino Voters. “The broad statistics and the doubts, though, aren't deterring the White House. Earlier in the year Karl Rove, the president's senior political adviser, told reporters in Washington that grabbing a bigger share of the Latino vote is "our mission and our goal" and that it will require the effort of all Republicans "in every way and every day working to get that done." [Washington Times, 10/1/01]

For Rove – It’s about the Math. “Rove sees the math as simple: For the president to get re-elected the Republicans need to keep competitive in voter-rich states such as Illinois, where an increasing Latino presence threatens to make the political environment friendlier for Democratic candidates, RNC campaign strategists tell Insight. Bush needs to ensure a win in Florida and focus on several smaller states where Latino numbers are gaining -- states such as North Carolina, Iowa and Oregon.” [Washington Times, 10/01/01]

Bush Political Operation Understands the Importance of the Hispanic Vote. "We got 35 percent of the Hispanic vote" in the last election, RNC spokesman Trent Duffy recently told Insight. ‘If we don't get that up to 38 or 40 percent, it's all over.’ Matthew Dowd, a Bush adviser in last year's election campaign, has chorused regularly in sessions with Rove that more must be done on the Hispanic front, White House sources say. [Washington Times, 10/01/01]

Rove Set the Strategy. “Going into the campaign, chief White House political strategist Karl Rove stated he wanted to increase the President’s share of the Hispanic electorate from 35% in 2000 to at least 40% in 2004.” [Washington Times, 11/10/04]

In 2004, Rove’s Political Operation Met its Goal for Attracting the Hispanic Vote. “In the 2004 election, the Hispanic vote really did matter—particularly in the race for the White House. An estimated 9 million Hispanics cast ballots—more than ever before. According to exit polls, President Bush won as much as 44 percent of the Hispanic vote—improving on the 35 percent he received in 2000 and breezing past the stated goal of White House senior adviser Karl Rove, who had said he’d be happy with 40 percent.” [Dallas Morning News, Editorial, 11/9/04]

NOW: Because of House Republicans, Rove’s Strategy is in Jeopardy

Immigration Threatens Bush Inroads with Hispanic Voters. “If Hispanics bolt the GOP because of immigration, it would erase the inroads George W. Bush has made in opening the party to the group, both as Texas governor and president. What's more, a strong Latino turnout could help Democrats win control of Congress in the November elections and change the landscape in the next presidential race.” [Dallas Morning News, 5/6/06]

House Republicans Jeopardize Bush’s Plans to Draw Latino Voters to the Republican Party. “By pushing English-only policies and tough measures against illegal immigrants, House conservatives are endangering President Bush's goal of drawing millions of Latino voters to the Republican Party and helping realign ethnic politics for years to come, according to an array of analysts and officials.” [Washington Post, 6/30/06]

House Republicans Are Blocking the Renewal of the Voting Rights Act. “The latest blow to Bush's efforts to woo Hispanics came last week, when a band of House Republicans unexpectedly balked at renewing the 1965 Voting Rights Act, partly because of a 30-year-old requirement that many local governments provide bilingual ballots. The revolt, which forced House GOP leaders to abruptly postpone a vote, came as House Republicans are stiffening their resistance to Bush's bid to allow pathways to legal status for millions of illegal immigrants while also strengthening borders and deportation efforts. [Washington Post, 6/30/06]

Bottom Line: The Rove Strategy Isn’t Working

According to the Latino Policy Coalition, Bush has a 28 percent approval rate among Latinos and the GOP Congress has a 23 percent approval rate. “Latino voters are making up their minds earlier in the mid-term election cycle and trust Democrats to do a better job than Republicans on issues such as health care, economic issues facing families, education and immigration, according to a survey released today by the non-partisan Latino Policy Coalition (LPC). The extensive survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners in 23 states across the U.S., also found Latino voters overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the job performances of both President Bush and the Republican-led Congress.”

Sunday, July 09, 2006

World Cup




The games were good the refs sucked. and Mexico was soo close yet soo far. Here is an intresting representation of what this brazilian comic termed the new Dia de los Muertos.