THE WASHINGTON REVIEW & COMMENTARY: Weekly News From The White House

The handsome and talented Paul Newman has died. Newman succumbed to cancer at home in Westport, Connecticut. He was 83.

Born on January 26, 1924, in Shakers Heights, Ohio, Paul Newman grew up in a middle American home. Known to be unruly and rebellious, Newman was expelled from Harvard and soon after joined the Navy where he served for three years and saw action in World War II.

Paul Newman was known as a strong thespian with raw energy and charisma. With piercing blue eyes and a cool demeanor, Newman presented an image of the classic Caucasian actor. Paul Newman was just not an another actor plucked from a pool of B-list extras, nor was he discovered waiting tables at a soda shop. Newman was a student of his craft. He took the art of acting seriously having studied at the famed New York Actors’ Studio. Newman was a trained method actor, a style made famous by Lee Strasberg.

Newman made his Broadway debut in 1953, starring in the William Inges play, “Picnic.” The following year, Paul Newman starred in his first film, a dud, “The Chalice.” The movie was such a flop that Newman took out a newspaper ad and apologized. In 1986, Paul Newman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in “The Color Of Money,” a sequel to his hit, “The Hustler.” This would be his eighth nomination and first win. Newman was nominated for an Academy Award ten times. Paul Newman won a Tony in 2002, an Emmy in 2003, and a Golden Globe in 2005.

As an activist and philanthropist, Paul Newman supported various charitable organizations, and in fact, founded several of his own. In 1982, Paul Newman and friend A.E. Hotchner, founded “Newman’s Own,” which has sold more than $200 million in products. These sales have all gone to charity. “Newmans Own” is a collection of various food staples that are healthy, nutritious and environmentally friendly. In June 2008, Paul Newman turned over $120 million along with entire “Newmans Own” company to charity.

Paul Newman was married twice and enjoyed a rewarding partnership with second wife, film and Emmy-Award winning actress Joanne Woodward for 51years. Together they have five children.

Paul Newman…One of the Greats! Dead at 83.

Paul Newman’s Greatest Films:

“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “Exodus,” “The Hustler,” “Cool Hand Luke,” “The Sting,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” The Verdict,” “The Long, Hot Summer,” “Paris Blues” (w/Sidney Poitier and Diahann Carroll), “Hud,” and “From The Terrace.”

As a director:

“The Glass Menagerie,” “Harry & Son,” “Rachel, Rachel,” “Sometimes a Violin”

It was a debate within itself whether or not Senator John McCain should show up at Ole Miss Friday night. It was a debate whether or not there should even be a debate given the status of the $700 billion dollar Congressional bailout proposal. But just in case, visitors to the great state of Mississippi were reminded Thursday that despite the critical financial crisis that America is facing, if the debates were cancelled, shopping and costly sight-seeing of museums and tourists attractions are the next best thing.

Fortunately, the 2008 Presidential Debates kicked off without a hitch or a bipartisan agreement on the $700 billion bailout proposal. I watched the debates and made some pretty good notes out of my observation. Instead of reporting who said what and why, I have decided to report what perhaps the average American was thinking as the minutes of the debate ticked away:

9:02pm: Barack Obama’s suit is eye-catching. John McCain’s looks kinda washed out. Like the colors are faded or something. Makes me think of that color fade commerical by Tide. Also reminds me of the Presidential Debates between JFK and Nixon. Who is McCain’s stylist? Fire ‘em!

9:28pm: $10 billion a day spent on the war in Iraq? How much is that a month? A year? Five years? $360 billion times five! Where’s my calculator…

9:30pm: Ok. If you’re going to attack a brotha, look ‘em in the eye will ya! McCain refuses to eyeball Obama even after being asked repeatedly to speak directly to him.

9:36pm: Had to get something to drink. Oil company profits! Give us a slice of that! What does McCain consider “rich?” Why would he ask Obama that? Obama has one house to his seven!

9:43pm: Obama, no you didn’t! No you didn’t show your dead soldier bracelet, too! That was beyond stupid! Let McCain do that bit! It is beyond childish for either of you to do that bracelet thing in the first place! Whoever told these grown men to act like they are five year old kindergartners should be fired!

9:48pm: I wish McCain would get off that “Miss Congeniality” crap! Obama is not Gay nor is he a Tranny or a closeted Drag Queen. You would think that McCain would look Obama in the eye behind that crack!

10:01pm: Obama kinda fumbling around there. He already made the point that he voted against invading Iraq. Now McCain has laid a good one on him: ” The next President will have to decide how we leave, when we leave and will we leave behind.” I liked that. True point.

10:02pm: I wish they stop using that word “fundamental.” Tenth time already, I think. Maybe I need to keep a record.

10:11pm: That Obama really knows his history. Glad that he does. McCain may have lived it, but there’s nothing wrong with getting educated on a matter if you weren’t born when it happened. Good for you Barack! Why is McCain smiling? Why won’t he smile at Barack? Doesn’t make sense…

10:13pm: There’s that word again: fundamental difference.

10:15pm: Uh Oh! McCain fired up! Getting kinda animated there! McCain’s getting in some hot points! And he’s laughing! Cool! Too bad he still ‘fraid to look at homeboy.

10:18pm: Are we gonna overuse this word too? (precondition)

10:19pm: McCain, you’re making no sense here! If you saw the letters K-G-B in the eyes of Putin, why is it so hard to suppose that a cold war could be in the future? KGB equals the cold war! DUH!

10:35pm: I lost an uncle in the Vietnam War. I empathize with McCain, as the rest of American does. Obama is really listening to McCain. Respecting McCain. Too bad that doesn’t work both ways!

10:37pm: Americans do not doubt John McCain’s commitment to U.S. Vets. Is he going to continue to beat us over the heads with it?

So, those were the highlights from the average American watching the debates. Americans don’t really care about the numbers and the figures. What Americans really want to know is: how long the war is going to last, will America invade Iran without provocation, how high will taxes become in the next four years, will gas prices ever drop below $3, can America afford to fund universal health care and why is milk and cereal so doggone expensive?!

AND…Why is it so hard to look your opponent in the eye, especially if you are confident that you are the one to lead a nation?

Okay. There are so many things to detail about Monday’s “View.” Whoopie wore a hideous black dress with huge bright read pearls, black stockings and the ugliest pair of plastic red shoes that ever was! Ironically, Elizabeth Hasselbeck picked out the ensemble, they say. Simply horrible! Why didn’t anybody have the courage to tell Whoopie that she looked absolutely terrible? Well, it wasn’t her fault.

President Bill Clinton sat on “The View” couch poised and ready to go!

The ladies of “The View,” in all fairness, weren’t as hard on President Clinton as they were on Senator John McCain. I suppose this is because everyone appeared to be giddy and enambored over the former President. He does have a certain charisma and va-va voom that oozes. Perhaps this factor temporarily blinded the ladies of “The View.” All except Elizabeth Hasselbeck who appeared to truly care less. Hasselbeck maintained a blank expression that could very well be mistakened for utter dislike. Even so, she remained silent with only an occasional prepared question for President Clinton.

President Clinton, however, was his usual charismatic self, ducking and dodging, if not outright lying about how his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton felt about being passed over for the VP nod, or the reasons behind Sen. Clinton’s apparent delay in conceding to Barack Obama upon realization that he carried enough votes to win the Democratic nomination. But, of course, when the Democratic Party is attempting to show a united face in order to defeat the Republicans this November, it is to be expected that President Clinton will not disclose the real deal. We’ll have to wait a couple of years for him to tell all in his memoir.

But on the hot topic of the day, the proposed $700 billion dollar bail-out in order to stabilize a collapsed economy crisis, President Clinton acknowledged the various reports from market analysts that the market crisis began during his administration. Clinton stated that upon doing his own independent research, he found that today’s market has more than doubled since his presidency and that those calls for  placing unwarranted blame are unsubstantiated.

“You could argue that we should have reined in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, even though there weren’t any problems then. We had the Democrats and the Republicans all over us because they had so much political money to give!” President Clinton recalled. Not willing to accept the blame for a crumbling economic system that was stable during his tenure in the White House, President Clinton surmised that “risk taking and unaccountability has led us to this…this whole thing started with the mortgage crisis.”

When pressed as to whom he thinks will become the next President of The United States, President Clinton did not hesitate to say affirmatively that Barack Obama will. Then he outlined why he believes his assumption is correct by factoring three concrete reasons:

1. 2/3 of the American people are facing a debilitating financial crisis.

2. America is becoming more diverse.

3. Voter registration is up for Democrats and flat for the Republicans in 20 of the most important states.

While “the American people admire Sen. John McCain,” President Clinton stated, Americans are looking for a change in government. Elizabeth Hasselbeck did not look that happy upon hearing President Clinton break it down the way only he can. But, President Clinton was quick to point out that “there will never be a time when both the perfect free market and the perfect government will solve all the problems.”

The highlight of the entire show? Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s forced silence. Priceless!

Eight-time Grammy Award winner Natalie Cole has been hospitalized since September 12th due to the side effects of chemotherapy and other medications the vocalist has been taking to fight her courageous battle with Hepatitis C, a spokesman has reported. Natalie Cole revealed several months ago that she is battling the disease.

Natalie Cole was in the middle of a whirlwind promotional tour for the upcoming release of “Still Unforgettable,” a collection of duets with her legendary father, Nat King Cole. “Still Unforgettable” is the sequel to the hit Grammy Award winning masterpiece “Unforgettable.”

Natalie Cole is expected to make a full recovery and at that point return to her promotional tour.

Solange Knowles is on a serious media kick. Last week, you could find Solange on “The View.” This week, Tyra’s show. Solange Knowles is making the rounds hard. No doubts about that. But doesn’t it seem as if she is running a marathon? You know what I mean. Running fast and furious away from Beyonce’s mammoth shadow. That particular sprint is a long and taxing one. I hope that Solange has trained hard for this event because it will take nearly everything she’s got to succeed. But can she?

Well, considering that Solange’s latest release, “Sol-Angel and The Hadley Street Dreams,” (whatever that means!) is selling at a semi-moderate pace and the critics haven’t completely panned the endeavor shows in itself that there is a possibility that Solange could stand alone, minus Beyonce’s influence. The collection of music that Solange has presented showcases an amazing awareness of songwriting and musical production that is incomparable to what is on the charts at this time.

The obvious throw-back to sixties and seventies soul/R&B is exactly what propels Solange above and beyond what’s happening amongst her peers. If you take a close look at the leading R&B/Hip Hop female performers, you will find that even though the music is slightly different, the lyrics and the melody are one in the same. There is no diversity, no creativity or individuality that sets one female vocalist apart from the next. I use ‘vocalist’ loosely.

However, Solange’s obvious determination to find her own voice and showcase is quite evident on “I Decided” and “Sandcastle Disco.” These examples display Solange’s acknowledgement and rapt aptitude about what is going on around her in the music industry. Solange has done a masterful job in distinguishing herself from other R&B vocalists. This includes her sister Beyonce.

But let’s not get it twisted. Little sista better kick it up a notch between now and November because word on the street is Beyonce’ is itching to release her new music by Thanksgiving. That’s right! So, Solange, get out there and make it happen, NOW! Before the Beyonce’ BLITZ!

That also goes for Destiny Child’s group member Michelle Williams. Get that album out NOW before its’ too late! Remember what happened to poor Kelly. If you don’t know, better ask somebody!

O.J. Simpson must have felt a wave of nausea overcome him on Monday as he sat in a Las Vegas courtroom, listening to another prosecutor make a case for him to live the rest of his life behind prison bars. Orenthal James Simpson faces a dozen or so felony charges that includes conspiracy to commit a crime, robbery, assault and kidnapping with a deadly weapon. These charges stems from an incident that took place last year with O.J. Simpson seeking to reclaim items that were allegedly stolen from his home. These items were collector trading cards, pictures, trophies and other memorabilia that O.J. Simpson said were a part of his exclusive collection and not for sale.

Chief Deputy Prosecutor Chris Owens played a tape of Simpson going ballistic upon breaking and entering a suspected memorabilia dealer’s hotel room, shouting profanities and threats. Seeking some type of “street justice,” as it would seem, Simpson was said to have been waving a gun and totally going insane over the fact that the dealer was planning to profit from stolen merchandise.

The only problem with this argument is that O.J. Simpson should have filed a police complaint before executing his “vigilante tirade.” Which is one of the reasons why he is facing life in prison if found guilty of the serious charges against him. It has to be a sad case of deja vu for O.J. Simpson.

In other O.J. news, Fred Goldman made an appearance on “The View” on Monday to talk about the re-releasing of “I DID IT! The Confessions of a Killer,” which of course coincides with the start of the second installment of the O.J. Simpson trial/parade…The Millennial Edition. Goldman stated that even though the criminal trial against Simpson for the deaths of his son, Ron Goldman, and O.J. Simpson’s ex, Nicole Brown Simpson, went horridly wrong, in his opinion, the present trial has nothing to do with the first.

“If he [Simpson] were found guilty because people wanted to get even for his acquittal[October 3, 1995], it would just be another indication of how messed up our system is. He should be found guilty of these charges and these charges only.”

An Oprah-free world? Is that possible? Who would survive it? Is a boycott really necessary?

The Florida Federation of Republican Women seem to think it is and they are prepared to take the boycott to the limits! Well, at least for another six weeks. Come on! Who really do these women think they are? Do they believe that boycotting Oprah Winfrey’s international daytime phenomenon is going to get VP candidate Governor Sarah Palin closer to “The Oprah Winfrey Show” couch? If that is the purpose and intent, then the Florida Federation of Republican Women are sadly mistaken.

Oprah is not going to back down. There is zero amount of pressure that an individual or an organization can apply to her that will make Oprah rethink her stance. Sales of “O Magazine” are up and “The Oprah Winfrey Show” is enjoying high Nielsen ratings since the beginning of the new Fall ‘08 season. So, the boycott has yet to make a ripple of a wave in Oprah’s ocean.

The Florida Federation of Republican Women are not committed to this boycott for the sake of wanting to inform voters on what Gov. Palin’s platform is, Charles Gibson thoroughly dissected it last week on ABC. The Florida Federation of Republican Women are only interested in generating negative publicity for the Obama campaign and generating sympathy and support for the McCain campaign. That is crystal clear. If Oprah had invited Barack Obama to come on her show to discuss his political agenda for winning the White House in November, then perhaps it would be a safe bet to scream “BOYCOTT!” if she refused to have the McCain/Palin duo on her show. However, Obama’s last appearance on the “Oprah Winfrey Show” was in 2006.

Furthermore, Gov. Palin’s leap into American history is indeed a moment in time to remember. No one is debating this. Winfrey stated in her press release last week that she would love to have Palin on the show. After the election. What is so difficult to understand about that? Would it be fair to assume that Winfrey has some sort of prejudice because of her loyalty to Obama? That is a fair conclusion. But the mere fact that Barack Obama, John McCain, Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton, who is also now a supporter of Obama, have not appeared on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” this election season has to mean something. If Winfrey were found to be a hypocrite and a liar because she used her program as a political platform for Obama/Biden and not extend the same courtesy to McCain/Palin after publicly stating that she would not use her show as such, then an inquiry would be necessary.

On the opposite side of the coin, it is a little amusing to see the core base of Winfrey viewers gearing up to boycott her. It is certainly no secret that “The Oprah Winfrey Show” makes it a habit to cater to the interests of upper middle class Caucasian ‘hockey mom’s’ in suburbia. That is why Florida Federation of Republican Women president Linda Ivell can validly say that “It just seemed so odd…” to not ask Gov. Sarah Palin to come on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” when she supposedly has overwhelmingly much in common with Oprah’s viewing audience.

In a way, that is a little “odd.”

10 time Grammy-Award winner Kanye West was arrested on felony vandalism charges Thursday outside of Terminal 4 at the L.A International Airport, LAPD has reported.

West and his road manager / bodyguard Don Crowley, were photographed by two unidentified TMZ paparazzi inside the airport to West’s chagrin. West, according to TMZ, grabbed the camera from one paparazzi and smashed it to the ground. It was earlier reported that Don Crowley was in some sort physical altercation with the paparazzi, but this has been confirmed as a rumor.

TMZ proudly claims to have captured the incident on video and plans to show portions of Kanye West’s airport fiasco on its’ website. No surprise there. Sounds like TMZ created a win-win scenario for themselves.

Hmm.

In 2008, it is beyond sad to report that there are still cowards and hate mongers who refuse to let ignorance take a back seat in their pitiful lives.

Apparently, at the Abilene Christian University, where African American students make up about 13% of a student population of 4,700, cowardice and ignorance is the discussion of the moment. Last week, university student Daniel Paul Watkins, a political science major, entered his student government office to find a noose lying casually on his chair.

Reporting this incident to the Abilene Christian University campus police and other university officials has so far proved to be futile. There has been no arrests in the case and no suspects. The local police department nor the FBI have been contacted regarding the incident either. Why? According to Abilene Christian University President Royce Money, “campus police are are still determining if the case could be considered a hate crime.”

What more significant could Abilene Christian University campus officials need in calling this heinous incident a hate crime than a noose? A noose. Symbolic of the legally sanctioned mass murdering of African American males, and occasionally African American women, by means of lynching, which also included other methods of torture such as burning, quartering, the butchering of male reproductive organs, gang rape and etc.

With a history as such closer to the pulse of African Americans than many realize, it is difficult to ascertain why Abilene Christian University officials refuse to acknowledge it instead of sitting on their hands, absolving themselves of the entire matter. Money told the Associated Press Monday that “someone has jeopardized the fine reputation of a top academic institution…the entire image of a university is challenged by an individual.”

So there it is! The reason why Abilene Christian University officials are so reluctant to call a noose, situated on a chair purposely with an invisible, historic message attached to it a ‘hate crime’ is simply because “reputation” translates into tuition monies. Dollars. Greenbacks. Euros. Without a public outcry on this matter, this ‘hate crime’ at  Abilene Christian University will fade into obscurity, away from public scrutiny, and then subsequently breed future incidents of this sort, more heinous than the first.

If Abilene Christian University officials are not careful, Michael Baisden and The Family, along with the tens of thousands who participated in the march for justice regarding the Jena 6, publicity of a different kind will arrive on their doorsteps that will most definitely incite the type of ‘reputation’ that I am most assured will not be a cakewalk.

This has got to be one of those moments that has to go into the ‘too good too be true’ category.

A young African American man named Kevin is claiming that he is the father of Bristol Palin’s unborn child. He is doing so in a video-taped, confession styled expose’ on Youtube and his MySpace site.

Kevin claims to have been involved with Bristol Palin on and off during her relationship with her now fiance. What is interesting about this whole confession, is that “Kevin” says that he wants to be a father to his child and that the Palin family is against his involvement.

“Ms. Palin is keeping me away from my child,” Kevin confess sincerely in a white tee-shirt and a solemn face, “to keep her political career in good standing. An African American male the father of her 17 year old child’s baby probably wouldn’t be the best for her campaign.”

Is this some kind of joke? Or a hoax? Kevin continued by claiming that he was in Alaska with his uncle who works on Alaskan pipelines when he supposedly met Bristol Palin. He says that everybody knows the truth about the pregnancy.

Interestingly enough, it is newsworthy when a young African American father wants to play an active role in their child’s life. However, it happens to be downright disgusting to make and hurl false accusations and claims of fatherhood to further ones career. Kevin is an aspiring Los Angeles rapper.

So, a note to Kevin: If you’re on the up and up, your career is over. If you’re a liar, your career is over. Think about that nice and hard the next time you decide to “tell all” on Youtube.

Lavande’ & Chocolat Amer has decided not to publish Kevin’s My Space Page for obvious reasons.

The political season and the stress that goes along with it for television viewers is in full swing. On Monday’s “Ellen,” Michelle Obama semi-campaigned for her husband, Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama. Ellen DeGeneres was able to bring out the funny from Michelle and it seemed as if she loosened up a bit. Which is a good thing. Michelle Obama is way too young to act like a iron-stiff librarian as some candidates and First Ladies have been in the past.

It was definitely refreshing to see the conversation remain light and tension-free between Michelle Obama and Ellen. However, I am sure that that was not the case on “The View” when Michelle was last on.

If you listen to Elizabeth Hasselbeck tell it. Over the weekend, the very opinionated and seldom wrong Hasselbeck decided to do some campaign stomping for McCain/Palin at a fundraiser. In her special sarcastic way, Elizabeth Hasslebeck disclosed that when “a certain candidate’s wife appeared on the view, there was a list of topics that could not be discussed,” and then insinuated that the Obamas “had something to hide.”

I watched “The View” that day, as I have previously reported on this site, and in my opinion, Michelle Obama was very forthcoming and personable about the topics that was discussed. She spoke of her family, her children, her 16 year marriage to Barack Obama, her acute love of fashion, Barack’s political aspirations and why she feels her husband should be President of The United States.

What else substantial did Michelle Obama not cover? She wa not there to run down Barack Obama’s energy or health care plan. Nor was she on “The View” to debate what others on the campaign circuit said about her ie. Cindy McCain and the “I Love My Country Why Don’t You?” tirade. Michelle Obama was on “The View” to give the audience and the viewing audience at large, a clear picture of who she is and what she herself stand for. The idea was to soften and broaden Michelle Obama’s appeal overall. She was not on “The View” to feed Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s id.

The sad thing about Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s ‘revelation,’ is that it cheapens the entire interviewing process. Michelle Obama is not the only person to be interviewed that has a list of topics that are not up for public discussion. It is nothing for a journalist to receive a request to forward questions in advance from a person to be interviewed. It is up to the journalist, however, to agree to such conditions or not. Obviously, Barbara Walters and “The Views” producers chose to go along with the Obama publicists suggestions in order to secure Michelle Obama’s appearance.

What is so bad about that, Elizabeth? Could it be that Michelle Obama was able to do what no other guest has on “The View,” which is to put an uncomfortable muzzle on your mouth? Has anyone noticed that when Elizabeth Hasselbeck doesn’t get her way, she throws a ‘terrible two’s’ tantrum? In this particular case, Hasselbeck decided to do so at the expense of Michelle Obama. If my memory serves me correct, Elizabeth Hasselbeck said in an exclusive interview with FOX News’ Hannity and Combs immediately after Michelle Obama’s appearance on “The View” that everything went well and that there were no hard feelings or animosity on the set. Hasselbeck stated the same thing when questioned at length by CNN’s Larry King.

So, which is it? Sounds a little suspect to me. Should the public at large believe the hype? Should the public buy into the obvious and desperate tactics of Elizabeth Hasselbeck to swing independents and Hillary Clinton supporters to McCain/Palin’s pocket? Hopefully Hasselbeck’s desperation was as apparent as the Pinocchio-sized nose that grew rapidly on her face and the huge invisible cleaver she wielded in her hand as she delivered her fundraiser address.

The Drudge Report erroneously reported Friday that talk show queen Oprah Winfrey refuses to even consider Republican Vice Presidential candidate Governor Sarah Palin as a guest on her show because of her own highly publizized support of Barack Obama.

But Oprah Winfrey adamantly denied those reports in a press statement that was released from Harpo Studios Friday.

“The item in today’s Drudge Report is categorically untrue. There has been absolutely no discussion about having Palin on the show,” Winfrey disclosed. Oprah also reiterated that she is keeping to her decision not to use her show as a political platform. “I agree that Sarah Palin would be a fantastic interview, and I would love to have her on after the campaign,” Oprah’s statement concludes.

The Drudge Report also detailed the great divide amongst Harpo employees. Sources claim that the office atmosphere is in as much turmoil as the nation over who should become the next President of The United States. With Winfrey and one of the talk show host’s executive producers being top contributors to the Obama campaign, The Drudge Report’s source alleges this to be the real reason why Sarah Palin will not be asked to come on the show.

The musical compilation of The Jacksons was celebrated at the BMI Awards held at the Wilshire Theatre on Tuesday. The entire Jackson clan were present san Jermaine and Michael, as younger sister and pop superstar in her own right, Janet Jackson, presented her brothers with the BMI Icon Award for lifetime achievement.

Janet Jackson emotionally told the audience that “family is the most important commodity that all of us have.” With tears crowning the sides of her eyes, Janet continued after naming each of her brothers:

“I salute you for your talent and your musical gifts that you have given the world. I tell you that every time we speak. I’m so excited to salute you!”

The Jacksons were honored in a musical tribute by this generations ‘icons’ that included Mario, Ray J, Lloyd, JoJo, Keri Hilson and Bobby Valentino. Music group ONE also performed.

The legacy and power of The Jacksons’ music could be felt as recent as last Thursday at the Democratic National Convention when their 1982 hit “Can You Feel It?” was played after Barack Obama delivered his historical acceptance speech.

Still love you Marlon, Michael, Jermaine, Tito, Jackie and Randy! Congratulations!

Stripped Olympian gold medalist Marion Jones was released from a federal prison early Friday morning, a spokesman told the press.

Serving the majority of a six month sentence for lying about her steroid use under oath before a federal grand jury, Marion Jones was released to a half house at about 8am Friday.

Jones’ attorney was not available for comment.

Amid a room packed full of loyal Kilpatrick supporters and remnants of his out-going administration, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick entered the conference room to deliver his final address to a loud applause and whistles of support. Looking assured and confident after taking a plea deal that will see him behind bars for at least 120 days, Mayor Kilpatrick told the awaiting press, and in essence, Detroit citizens, that what had transpired Thursday was merely a “new beginning, not the end.”

“Detroit is a remarkable example of progress and resilience,” Kilpatrick said as he listed the numerous achievements that his administration made for the betterment of Detroit. Saying that it had always been his dream, since the age of 9, to be the mayor of his “hometown, Detroit,” Kilpatrick reflected that “true public service is bigger than one individual.”

With those opening words, Kwame Kilpatrick stated that after “prayers and fasting, I have decided to step down as Mayor of the city of Detroit. I take full responsibility for my actions and poor judgement…now is the time to move forward. Standing strong means stepping down.”

Then, in a not so startling move on the mayor’s part, Kilpatrick, in the same breath, denounced Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s involvement in the mayoral removal hearings that were suspended Thursday afternoon. Basically blaming the media, “those with political aspirations,” and Granholm for his problems, Kilpatrick then told the governor that he “wish her well.”

Mayor Kilpatrick thanked his loyal supporters for sticking by him and praying for him because those prayers made “my wife [ Carlita Kilpatrick] and I closer than ever.” Closing his resignation speech on a higher note, Kilpatrick told his loyal supporters and Detroit citizens what his future plans would be:

“[Because of your support] I will tell you Detroit, that you have set me up for a comeback!”

Well, well, well! As soon as former Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s plea deal was announced, suspect police chief Ella Cummings releases a statement that she is retiring.

Surprising? Not if you are a faithful reader of Lavande & Chocolat Amer! Chief Cummings, if you recall, was an important team player in the sly firing of three whistle-blower Detroit police officers. Text messages prove that she and one other Detroit Police Department top official were in constant communication with former chief of staff Christine Beatty, plotting and scheming the firing of those whistle-blowing police officers without just cause. Actually the cause was just in the eyes of now former Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick and Christine Beatty. Those three police officers stumbled unto the affairs of the mayor with Beatty and other women. These officers also began to unravel the Manoogian Mansion scandal and the mismanagement of city funds for the mayor’s personal usage.

For the record, Cummings has denied any involvement in the Detroit scandal.

Hmm.

Kwame Kilpatrick has accepted a plea deal minutes ago! The terms of the plea deal requires that Kilpatrick resign from office immediately, give up his state pension, surrender his law license and pay a $1 million dollar restitution.

Kilpatrick will serve 120 days in jail and a probationary period of 5 years. Kwame Kilpatrick will not be able to hold an elected office until his probation has ended. Sources say that Kilpatrick cleared his office in the City County building on Wednesday!

This morning, the Wayne County Prosecutors office and the attorneys for Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick are meeting in court to work out the terms of Kilpatrick’s plea deal. Allegedly. At this time, both parties are in conference with the presiding judge in his chambers.

Christine Beatty, former Chief of Staff and former lover of Mayor Kilpatrick, is sitting in the courtroom with her attorney. The evidence that she is crying and visiblyshaken is more than obvious.

Will the madness that began with an alleged wild party at the mayor’s residence back in 2002, come to a sad conclusion soon?

Stay tuned!

Right on the heels of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain’s announcement of Alaskan governor Sarah Palin as his pick for VP, the boom dropped on Palin’s seventeen year old daughter’s pregnancy. What a dilemma! How do you keep up the facade of a political party that parades ‘ old-fashioned American values’ while supporting a vice presidential candidate that has a daughter who has become a national statistic?

Well, the Republican party is attempting to do just that Wednesday evening at the Republican Convention where Governor Palin will speak in front of millions about her personal and political life. Mostly political one can only hope. In the audience, Palin’s family will be accompanied by her soon-to-be son in law, father of her grandchild. What sense in any reality does that make?

The alarming reality of the whole situation is that the teens are planning to marry. What is this, the 1950’s? A shot-gun wedding masquerading as a band-aid for the Republican party? Is marriage the only way to contain a political embarrassment? Is the Republican party setting women’s rights back to the stone age with this impending teenage marriage? What of the alternatives to a quickie marriage? Does a seventeen year old pregnant mother to be have to sign her life away by making not one, but two life-changing, life-altering decisions that she is barely mentally able to understand, nor fully comprehend? In a country that has the highest divorce rate of any other industrialized nation in the world, why would Governor Palin sanction a shot-gun, teen-aged marriage that on all knowledgeable and foreseeable fronts, is doomed before it begins?

Perhaps the Republican party and Governor Palin will clue us in Wednesday night at 10pm.

Contributed by Lavande & Chocolat Amer Staff Reporter

Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller created a media frenzy by issuing a statement saying that embattled Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick had agreed to a plea deal and then moments later, rescinding that statement. Sources in Detroit are divided over what to make of the rescinded announcement. Insiders in the KIlpatrick administration say that the Mayor has no intentions of accepting a plea deal that was leaked by the Wayne County Prosecutor’s office weeks ago.

However, Judge Edward Ewell, Sr. told the Detroit Free Press late Wednesday that Kwame Kilpatrick is expected to plead guilty 9am Thursday morning in front of Wayne County Court Circuit Judge David Groner.

Will he or won’t he? Mayor Kilpatrick would more than likely stand a better chance politically if he did plead out instead of going to trial. A trial would indeed disclose the mayor’s dirty, filthy laundry for all to dissect. The audience could very well include indirectly the mayor’s immediate and extended family. Why put the ones he love through such a traumatic and publicly humiliating experience?

Why put Detroit residents through more of the same kind of intense national scrutiny that they have survived for more than three years now? If the mayor does plan to plead guilty Thursday, he will do the citizens of Detroit and his own family a huge favor.

For once Kwame, think of the citizens whom you work for and not your own selfish, prideful interests.