The day after his Best Documentary win at this year's Academy Awards, I sat down with filmmaker Charles Ferguson for a conversation about his film, Inside Job. The full conversation airs tonight on PBS.
The day after his Best Documentary win at this year's Academy Awards, I sat down with filmmaker Charles Ferguson for a conversation about his film, Inside Job. The full conversation airs tonight on PB...
The day after his Best Documentary win at this year's Academy Awards, I sat down with filmmaker Charles Ferguson for a conversation about his film, Inside Job. The full conversation airs tonight on PB...
"Inside Job" won the 2011 Academy Award for best documentary on Sunday night. The film's director used his acceptance speech to deliver pointed criticism of...
As much as we were all hoping that Banksy would win and create entertaining shenanigans (especially with Oprah presenting the award), alas the anonymous graffiti...
I watched the Fergueson clip. Then I watched the Reverend Farrakhan assessment of his brother, President Obama. He appeared to have mixed emotions about the President's allegance and accomplishments as do I. I was chagrined--even shocked-- to hear Reverend Farrakhan's warning to Obama's unnamed enemies that if he were assassinated there would be hell to pay. The theme of the roundtable discussion of black leaders was love and this leader was laying down the gauntlet of race war if Obama were assassinated. This dangerous demigoguery would be disastrous for black citizens and their white brothers and sisters, if such a revenge were attempted to be carried out by the black masses. The Reverend Farrakhan talked as if he were a stranger in a dangerous and hostile country. His words were of distruction rather than reconstruction. I am at a loss how to address this hopelessness and vow of vindictiveness in a powerful black leader.
themodernleader: I watched the Fergueson clip. Then I watched the
More often than not TS has the best talk show on TV.
Mr. Smiley always engages his guests while putting he personal style on the proceedings.
When the discussion is over you'll understand the topic and what the guest had to say about it.
I often say to myself; "Is it over already?"
Bravo.
NHBill: More often than not TS has the best talk show
Tavis, I owe you a HUGE apology! You saw this coming. You were the Paul Revere for the AA community but instead of hearing you out, we chastised and criticized you for going against our "hope and change". I pray that AAs will stop looking to Obama to save us...he's not. "WE" possess the power to bring about the change we desire and deserve. Actually, I feel that Obama's presidency has been a setback for the Black community. I feel that we've regressed instead of progressing. I'm afraid, four more yrs of him will put us back in the cotton fields. Take care and keep doing what you do.
KnowzyRowzy: Tavis, I owe you a HUGE apology! You saw this
Tavis, great interview! I think you and I may have been the only African Americans who voted for Obama who saw this coming. I, unlike most who supported Obama, don't blame his shortcomings on Republicans. As you stated in your interview with Mr. Ferguson, the staff Mr. Obama surrounded himself with only confirmed my fears. Those who defend this president either do so on one of two theories, one, he really wants to do the right thing but the right is stopping him, or two, he has a conservative democratic party to deal with. Both have merit, but both portray Obama as a weak leader.
The honest truth is this; Mr. Obama is governing as he wants to. I know that's hard for his remaining supporters and defenders to accept. but to think this guy, coming from nowhere, to defeat the Clinton machine is so weak he can't control the party he heads, is ludicrous. This President is not some weak person who can't control his party or the political message. He is, however, in perfect sympatico with Wall Street and the corporations who have purchased his services for his time in the White House.
The conversation Cornell West revealed he had with Obama further buttresses my point. According to Mr. West, Obama, when asked about his dealing with issues of job growth in the African American community and the poor, asked Mr. West when he and others would cut him a break, speaks volumes of Obama's focus as president.
madprogressive: Tavis, great interview! I think you and I may have
My shoulders slumped and I heaved a sigh when I read "when asked about his dealing with issues of job growth in the African American community." Since I am white and I suppose everyone else supposes my needs are lighter because of my skin color, it just shows how very far we are from creating any concensus for a humanist society. I've been out of work for 3 years, I am 60 yo and I do not get hired because a company is afraid of some punitive action of a subgroup for not hiring me. Years ago I'd been scrutinized as I sold some old family things to buy a small bit of carpeting to cover some boards and try to make seating in my sons room, so it wouldn't look so bad. The people looked askance at me, as if I wasn't the real owner of the items. I voted for Obama and I live in Georgia. You don't have to tell me how racist they are here. I've lived here all my life. I just wish African Americans considered others. During a strike, when I had no job or income, the person at the county offices was more than happy to deny me food stamps. She wasn't like me.
SitandStay: My shoulders slumped and I heaved a sigh when I
When the unemployment rate for African Americans runs double that of the national average and is as high as 25% among young black men its fare to ask the president if there's anything he's doing.
ruolivert: When the unemployment rate for African Americans runs double that
The unemployment rate in the black community is twice that of the majority community. African Americans supported this president with more than 90% of their vote and have every right to ask what he is going to do about it. That has nothing to do with your situation. There are more than enough advocates for the majority population, which is one othe reasons why the unemployment rate in that community is half the rate of AAs.
FloridaLAW: The unemployment rate in the black community is twice that
Obama is not interested in solving this country's problems. Otherwise, he would've:
1. stopped the wars
2. permanently closed military bases currently in almost every country on the planet,
3. brought American soldiers back home and have them defend us from within our borders (note to BO: ask the Pentagon what ICBM stands for),
4. reduced the 16 "intelligence" agencies to something that actually works,
5. withheld pentagon funding pending an audit to find the "missing" 2? 3? trillion$,
6. restored honor to the US military and disbanded the American Foreign Legion (aka blackwater, etc.)
7. closed Gitmo,
8. repealed clinton's NAFTA,
9. repealed clinton's gramm-bliley-leech act and re-enacted FDR's Glass-Steagall Act (repealed by clinton),
10. introduced the Single Payer option,
11. created a Pecora-style Commission and started prosecuting the banksters; appointed Bill Black as Chief Counsel (convicted 1000 S&L banksters)
12. repealed subsidies for Big Oil and bankers,
13. closed the Fed,
14. introduced election finance reform,
15. repealed the traitorous "patriot" act,
16. studied FDR's presidency.
Obama has done nothing of consequence to arrest the out-of-control national debt: http://www.usdebtclock.org/
and now is looking to expand his wars in the Middle East by meddling in Libya, to gift Libya's oil fields to the american robber barons.
Republicans are not an option. Neither is the clinton woman. Time to start looking for someone who cares for this country with real and tested skills, not well-choreographed stunts.
leslie_bates: Obama is not interested in solving this country's problems. Otherwise,
A very concise and comprehensive list.
Unfortunately, I do believe that only a very small percentage of the politicians
and voters would go along with us.
ElkoJohn: A very concise and comprehensive list. Unfortunately, I do believe
Well, you've gained a fan here, right up to and including "the Clinton woman." The Clintons are the fair-haired couple of both the Bilderbergers and the Council on Foreign Relations. When Clinton was President, he had no qualms about selling the average Americans down the river with NAFTA and then signing the bill, just as he was leaving office, that set aside the FDR program which put a fire wall between Wall Street gambling and mainstream banks. He likes to put on a facade of being for the common man, but his actions speak louder than his slick words. Mrs. Clinton is no different.
And, the list of 16 things that Obama has not done and should have (if he truly meant "change we can believe in") is right on! Nope, the Republicans and Democrats are two heads on the same corporate beast.
MBin: Well, you've gained a fan here, right up to and
It might have been a gratuitous remark, but his intent is correct. Remember, it was her husband that continued a lot of the deregulation policies of his Republican predecessors, and to thiink Ms. Clinton would've come in and basically invalidated her husband's presidency by repealing many of the disastrous policies passed by her husband is not living in the real world. As a matter of fact, I think Mr. Clinton's guilt is what's driving his insatiable philanthropy. Don't get me wrong, I support his philanthropy efforts 100% and have donated to the Clinton foundation, but he could've done so much more to affect positive change as president, and I guess in his own way, he's trying to make up for failing to do so. But then again, when you look at former presidents, Democratic presidents tend to do these type activities, while Republicans simply go off to enjoy their ill-gotten gains.
madprogressive: It might have been a gratuitous remark, but his intent
If this documentary Oscar winning doc, INSIDE JOB, doesn't get the message across to our nation( see his other 2 similar documentaries written by him) what will? How much do we as citizens have to say to make this financial institution meltdown a real crisis to all of us?
CB5: If this documentary Oscar winning doc, INSIDE JOB, doesn't get
Start by taking your money out of the big banks and putting it into your local credit union.
You are a shareholder and the money stays local.
Then get the credit union's credit card and either close* or transfer the others - enough people do this and we start to hurt them back...
* if you have had a credit card for a long time and pay on time, closing it WILL affect your credit rating adversely. If this is the case keep it open and only use it when you know you can pay it off right away with no interest.
idyllick: Start by taking your money out of the big banks
Having to keep a credit card open or ruin your credit score is economic blackmail worse
than being forced to get healthcare coverage. But,.. so right on,.. credit unions haven't
had competitive rates,.. but would if membership increased dramatically. There have been
insurance co-ops,.. in Texas, of all places, I think? We can't keep sending ALL of our money out of communities, where it can't be easily watched, and expect lasting growth.
heartlander64: Having to keep a credit card open or ruin your
I was chagrined--even shocked-- to hear Reverend Farrakhan's warning to Obama's unnamed enemies that if he were assassinated there would be hell to pay. The theme of the roundtable discussion of black leaders was love and this leader was laying down the gauntlet of race war if Obama were assassinated. This dangerous demigoguery would be disastrous for black citizens and their white brothers and sisters, if such a revenge were attempted to be carried out by the black masses. The Reverend Farrakhan talked as if he were a stranger in a dangerous and hostile country. His words were of distruction rather than reconstruction. I am at a loss how to address this hopelessness and vow of vindictiveness in a powerful black leader.
Mr. Smiley always engages his guests while putting he personal style on the proceedings.
When the discussion is over you'll understand the topic and what the guest had to say about it.
I often say to myself; "Is it over already?"
Bravo.
The honest truth is this; Mr. Obama is governing as he wants to. I know that's hard for his remaining supporters and defenders to accept. but to think this guy, coming from nowhere, to defeat the Clinton machine is so weak he can't control the party he heads, is ludicrous. This President is not some weak person who can't control his party or the political message. He is, however, in perfect sympatico with Wall Street and the corporations who have purchased his services for his time in the White House.
The conversation Cornell West revealed he had with Obama further buttresses my point. According to Mr. West, Obama, when asked about his dealing with issues of job growth in the African American community and the poor, asked Mr. West when he and others would cut him a break, speaks volumes of Obama's focus as president.
Good for Ferguson.
1. stopped the wars
2. permanently closed military bases currently in almost every country on the planet,
3. brought American soldiers back home and have them defend us from within our borders (note to BO: ask the Pentagon what ICBM stands for),
4. reduced the 16 "intelligence" agencies to something that actually works,
5. withheld pentagon funding pending an audit to find the "missing" 2? 3? trillion$,
6. restored honor to the US military and disbanded the American Foreign Legion (aka blackwater, etc.)
7. closed Gitmo,
8. repealed clinton's NAFTA,
9. repealed clinton's gramm-bliley-leech act and re-enacted FDR's Glass-Steagall Act (repealed by clinton),
10. introduced the Single Payer option,
11. created a Pecora-style Commission and started prosecuting the banksters; appointed Bill Black as Chief Counsel (convicted 1000 S&L banksters)
12. repealed subsidies for Big Oil and bankers,
13. closed the Fed,
14. introduced election finance reform,
15. repealed the traitorous "patriot" act,
16. studied FDR's presidency.
Obama has done nothing of consequence to arrest the out-of-control national debt:
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
and now is looking to expand his wars in the Middle East by meddling in Libya, to gift Libya's oil fields to the american robber barons.
Republicans are not an option. Neither is the clinton woman. Time to start looking for someone who cares for this country with real and tested skills, not well-choreographed stunts.
Unfortunately, I do believe that only a very small percentage of the politicians
and voters would go along with us.
And, the list of 16 things that Obama has not done and should have (if he truly meant "change we can believe in") is right on! Nope, the Republicans and Democrats are two heads on the same corporate beast.
You are a shareholder and the money stays local.
Then get the credit union's credit card and either close* or transfer the others - enough people do this and we start to hurt them back...
* if you have had a credit card for a long time and pay on time, closing it WILL affect your credit rating adversely. If this is the case keep it open and only use it when you know you can pay it off right away with no interest.
than being forced to get healthcare coverage. But,.. so right on,.. credit unions haven't
had competitive rates,.. but would if membership increased dramatically. There have been
insurance co-ops,.. in Texas, of all places, I think? We can't keep sending ALL of our money out of communities, where it can't be easily watched, and expect lasting growth.