Though you present yourself as supporting Senator Obama, it is clear that the purpose of your post is to divide this community. Why? First, no one with even the most superficial understanding of modern U.S. history, would disrespect the generation of African-American community leaders you are attacking.

Bill, Hillary and myself grew up with the fierce people. The best and most beautiful among us died before 30 and if they didn’t die of the own passion they were gunned down, like Malcolm X and John Lennon. But strangely enough the fierce ones, more than the rest of us, seemed to die young anyway.

I am sorry for you that the only fierce people you knew were so distant and are so dead. In my life I've known hundreds of fierce artists and activists. I know hundreds still. Who do you think these ministers and community leaders who support Senator Clinton are? These "house Negros" as you call them are of the fierce generations of African-Americans who carried the Struggle forward after the tragedy of all those right-wing assassinations. Their endorsement of Hillary honors a history of shared struggles and personal relationships, and current political alliances.  

I just saw a spokesperson for the Council of Black Mayors on CNN. She announced that FEMA is refusing the pleas of small town African-American mayors in Alabama and Mississippi for food, water and rescue services, because THE PROPER FORMS HAVE NOT BEEN SUBMITTED. FEMA refuses to allow the Council of Black Mayors to act on their behalf.

Can the the dkos community PLEASE help pressure FEMA to act. People are still dying!

UPDATE!!!!9/5/05 10:18 (PST)
I just spoke with Dionne Mahaffey Muhammad, the press contact for the National Council of Black Mayors(NCBM). She states that the situation in remains unchanged. More after the jump.

Does the progressive community fully understand what is at stake if the "nuclear" option is successful? Yesterday I spoke with a very progressive and politically active friend. This friend said to me that the Senate "had the filibuster only for the last hundred years. We survived without it before and we'll survive without it again."  The truth is exactly opposite--the Senate has alwas had unlimited debate. On the Senate web site is a very brief history of the filibuster. Please use this link to inform yourself and others.