Sorry, but Ray Nagin is an idiot.

[speedoo]

He says today that "God meant NO to be a 'chocalate city'."

The man is incompetent as a mayor and he is an idiot.

[suffragette]

1. Why does referencing the great P-Funk make him an "idiot"?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chocolate_City

[goclark]

7. Thanks for the link ~ NO was a chocolate city

rich in culture, fine people and the home of amazing music performed by chocolate people.

To me, chocolate comes in all tones.

There is white chocolate too!

Harry Connick Jr. is the coolest. He is my idea of White Chocolate!

[suffragette]

11. Ok, now I'm craving

a cup of hot cocoa :)

[goclark]

13. Yea! A cup of cocoa with

my White Chocolate Man, Harry Connick, crooning in the background.

:donut:

[suffragette]

14. Mmmm - mmmm.

:toast:

[awoke_in_2003]

27. Damn you

now I need a hershey bar :)

[goclark]

28. I just heard Nagin this morning - Tuesday

They played the entire tape.

It sounded, IMO, like he was reassuring the "chocolate" citizens of NO that he would be supporting them.

Interesting because I believe my (his) brothers and sisters must have worn his chocolate butt out for him to make those dramatic statements on MLK Day.

He did not have to March in the parade, GW didn't and would not March.

So many are bashing him for being a Republican, he WAS a Republican. He ran as a Democrat, for what ever reason, he is a DEMOCRAT.

I would much rather woo him to our side instead of theirs.

Recall, in the clip he BASHED the Iraq war, not something that he should have done if he wanted to please the Boy King.:)

To me, he is a POLITICIAN, but he is not an Idiot.

He is extremely smart in many ways.

I must say I admire him for his town hall meetings. He really got an ear full because they were really punching him in some of those talks.

To me an IDIOT would be GWB = can't form a simple sentence, afraid to speak his lies in front of a hostile audience and a KNOWN CROOK.


Nagin is a work in progress to me, rough around the edges but no Idiot.

CNN said that he said "Chocolate etc." because he wanted to get reelected.

That surprised me because most of the Blacks that I know left NO and aren't going back. Or, their homes were totally destroyed and are not going to be included in the rebuilding.

His "base" may have disappeared and he would have done better politically if he had taken the middle of the road.

I will hold my finally decision on him and believe that something that Bush said or did to him made him believe that he needed to send a clear message to WHITE CHOCOLATE Bush America.

[long_green]

35. sometime this year, we're going to have to have an election

That election will be, like everything else with Katrina, unprecendented. It will turn on absentee ballots from all of the people who left town. "Chocolate City" is Nagin's appeal to those African-American citizens, whether or not they're coming back.

[goclark]

38. I understand but

he did not have to be that specific in order to appeal to them.

No one forced him to say those words.

He could have just as easily said, " My brothers and sisters, we know how much you have given to make NO a place that EVERYONE wants to admire and to visit."

"We want YOU to come home to YOUR city, the city of your ancestors, the city that you made famous by your hard work, your down home cooking and your awesome music."

OR

"Brothers and Sisters, come on home!"

That is ALL he would have needed for US to hear, remember that WE African Americans speak in code anyway, he could have said any number of things for us to read it loud and clear that he was going to try and protect our property and our heritage/ties to NO.

And even if he was trying to get their votes, what the hell is wrong with that --- he is a POLITICIAN not a Baker!

[long_green]

43. nothing wrong with trying to get elected

But his judgment? Wow. Just last week, Nagin, who has plenty of opposition in black New Orleans, condemned the angry citizens who objected to the four month moratorium on issuing building permits in hard hit areas; most of the people objecting are African-American and he shot them down in rather dismissive language. So he starts this week with the "CC" stuff which includes a very dismissive reference to Uptown (white) New Orleans, without whom his first campaign for mayor would never have gotten off the ground. With two statements he opens the door for an African-American challenger and says no thank you to any more money from the wealthiest citizens in the city. What's next?

[goclark]

44. They will vote him in or out, he is grown and he can take it

Since I am not walking in his shoes, and I sure would not have wanted to even try to do the Katrina recovery, it is his opinion.

Something tells me that the wealthy citizens are going to come back strong.
One thing White people know how to do very well is to grab land and make a profit when they see it.

I'll take my hat off to them for that --- they know about land and money.


Nothing Negin can say or do will turn Whites away from NO.

First of all, they have already determined exactly what they will give and not give to NO, Negin has no real power, he is doing the White mans bidding.

[goclark]

56. He did not have to say those words to appeal to us

As I mentioned before, African Americans learn as babies how to speak so that White people do not know exactly what we mean.


We talk with our eyes to each other.Even to strangers.

If you're in a mall and you see two Black strangers pass each other, watch what happens. Usually, we drop our eyes in a certain way and make a connection with our eyes, then we will say softly, "Hello."


My grandparents did it, my parents do it and all my friends do it to - no matter their age.

All he would have to say is.... "Yea, I'll be looking to see you all in the New New Orleans, it will be like Old Times with a NEW look."


As he stated yesterday,he was caught up in the moment.

Whites can not possible understand the emotional ties that African Americans, especially of voting age, feel about that day.

[goclark]

2. I would call Bush an idiot

I would have to see the link to Nagin's complete remarks.

[Swamp Rat]

National Funk Congress Deadlocked On Get Up/Get Down Issue

CHOCOLATE CITY—After months of ceaseless debate, including last week's record 76-hour filibuster slap-bass solo from Senate Rubber Band Minority Leader Bootsy Collins (D-OH), the National Funk Congress is no closer to resolving its deadlock over the controversial "get up/get down" issue, insiders reported Monday.

Enlarge Image
Senate Rubber Band Minority Leader Bootsy Collins (D-OH).

"Get up-uh, get on up! Get up-uh, get on up!" shouted Getuplican Party supporters on the steps of the Capitol as the debate, as well as a massive 14-piece instrumental jam, raged within. The pro-up-getting demonstrators' chants were nearly drowned out by those of a nearby group of jungle-boogie Downocrats, who called upon all citizens to "Get down, get down!"

(snip)

more:

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/29205

[vi5]

5. Hahaha.....excellent...

Not only was it appropriate to the thread, but it made me remember that article from back when it first ran. I love the Onion.

[suffragette]

8. Hey! One Nation under a Groove

I'd dance with you any day, Swamp Rat.

[CatWoman]

16. DO YOU PROMISE TO FUNK?????

:D

[suffragette]

19. Gettin' down just for the funk of it.

I promise.

[Swamp Rat]

24. Yeah!

[ariesgem]

48. The WHOLE FUNK and nuthin but the Funk!

[peekaloo]

25. LOL

turn this mother out.

[mattclearing]

31. I remember that article...a classic! n/t

[CottonBear]

3. He was a Republican until he ran for Mayor.

I have a hard time deciding when he's speaking from his a heart as a black man and as a citizen of NOLA and when he's speaking as a politician.
He certainly spoke his mind during the Katrina disaster but, since then, he seems to have gone back onto the poltically correct reservation for the most part.

edit: On MLK day, I'm going to believe that he meant no harm or ill will with his statement.

[goclark]

21. Maybe he realizes that he has to play the IDIOTS game

in order to get anything for NO.

I am not supporting or defending him.

I just understand what it is like for a BLACK person in charge of anything to be at the mercy of the Bush Crooks.

I do know this, it is able to express himself better than the Boy King!

He just has no real power.

He also talks in a way that has a touch of arrogance. That is a big problem for any Black man in Bush America.

[Loonman]

4. Yep, he's an idiot

http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1137439449238130.xml&storylist=louisiana

[Catherine Vincent]

6. And he's a republican.

Remember that.

[goclark]

12. He WAS a Republican

unless I missed something, he ran as a Democrat.


I refuse to call him names on MLK Day.

He is a Black Mayor with really NO power unless he attempts to get along with THE IDIOT, GW Bush.

He may not be perfect but I wonder if he would be treated like this had he been a WHITE REPUBLICAN.

[SixStrings]

9. " Its the way god wants it to be"...

Anybody else find that to be a chilling statement?

[speedoo]

26. that's why I think he's an idiot.

Using God to further his agenda is the what out idiot Cowardpresident does all the time.

[goclark]

32. Black People Are Mainly Christian and

he was speaking in language they/we understand.

Many Black Americans do believe that God was sending a message to America to Wake Up and understand the situation about Iraq, the poor and Civil Rights.

He was speaking to his audience.

Bush doesn't have an exclusive contract with God, to say that means that Democrats or others can't believe in God or refer to God in their remarks.

That idea is playing right into the ROVE playbook.

Edit: I heard a Black Woman say the other day," George Bush don't own Jesus!"

[Solly Mack]

10. good thing being an idiot isn't a crime

I know I'd be in jail...I take comfort in knowing I wouldn't be alone either. The world is full of idiots - for levity and to help nurture a false sense of well being in others. Course, some are just plain aggravating.

* disclaimer - the ONLY person I called an idiot was myself

[H2O Man]

15. You're silly. n/t

[butterfly77]

17. The only thing he cares about is getting re-elected...

He is a phony hyocrite who is a bushite, he changed his party to democrat to win the election.

[CatWoman]

18. .....

Chocolate City"
Uh, what's happening CC?
They still call it the White House
But that's a temporary condition, too.
Can you dig it, CC?

To each his reach
And if I don't cop, it ain't mine to have
But I'll be reachin' for ya
'Cause I love ya, CC.
Right on.

There's a lot of chocolate cities, around
We've got Newark, we've got Gary
Somebody told me we got L.A.
And we're working on Atlanta
But you're the capital, CC

Gainin' on ya!
Get down
Gainin' on ya!
Movin' in and on ya
Gainin' on ya!
Can't you feel my breath, heh
Gainin' on ya!
All up around your neck, heh heh

Hey, CC!
They say your jivin' game, it can't be changed
But on the positive side,
You're my piece of the rock
And I love you, CC.
Can you dig it?

Hey, uh, we didn't get our forty acres and a mule
But we did get you, CC, heh, yeah
Gainin' on ya
Movin' in and around ya
God bless CC and its vanilla suburbs

Gainin' on ya!
Gainin' on ya!
Gainin' on ya! (heh!)
Gainin' on ya!
Gainin' on ya!
What's happening, blood?
Gainin' on ya!
Gainin' on ya!
Gainin' on ya!

Yeah!
What's happening, black?
Brother black, blood even
Yeah-ahh, just funnin'

Gettin' down

Ah, blood to blood
Ah, players to ladies
The last percentage count was eighty
You don't need the bullet when you got the ballot
Are you up for the downstroke, CC?
Chocolate city
Are you with me out there?

And when they come to march on ya
Tell 'em to make sure they got their James Brown pass
And don't be surprised if Ali is in the White House
Reverend Ike, Secretary of the Treasure
Richard Pryor, Minister of Education
Stevie Wonder, Secretary of FINE arts
And Miss Aretha Franklin, the First Lady
Are you out there, CC?
A chocolate city is no dream
It's my piece of the rock and I dig you, CC
God bless Chocolate City and its (gainin' on ya!) vanilla suburbs
Can y'all get to that?
Gainin' on ya!
Gainin' on ya!
Easin' in
Gainin' on ya!
In yo' stuff
Gainin' on ya!
Huh, can't get enough
Gainin' on ya!
Gainin' on ya!
Be mo' funk, be mo' funk
Gainin' on ya!
Can we funk you too
Gainin' on ya!
Right on, chocolate city!

Yeah, get deep
Real deep
Heh
Be mo' funk
Mmmph, heh
Get deep
Bad
Unh, heh
Just got New York, I'm told

[TahitiNut]

34. Milk chocolate is my favorite.

:evilgrin: Love is but a song we sing
And fear’s the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Though the bird is on the wing
You may not know why

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Some may come and some may go
We will surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moment’s sunlight
Fading in the grass yeah

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

If you hear the song we sing
You will understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It’s there at your command

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now

Come on people now
Smile on your brother
Everybody get together
Try to love one another right now
Try to love one another right now
Try to love one another right now

[0007]

20. I agree!

[Sgent]

22. It comes off poorly on the national stage

but was a perfectly fine quote in NOLA, where the songs and jazz are remembered by msot.

As for him being an idiot, he has probably done as good a job as anyone could. I especially like the forceful and forward looking reconstruction plan that his commission has produced. Its innovative, shows leadership -- and he didn't back down from the tough decisions either.

[The Whiskey Priest]

23. To Give Him the Benefit of Doubt

He could have been referring to color of the Mississippi river and how god intended for NO to be under the Mississippi.

[Yollam]

29. You're not coming off so hot yourself...

Black culture IS New Orleans culture. A white, gentrified New Orleans (which some developers are licking their chops for) would be the death of New Orleans, replaced by another fake, Disneyfied mall like Times Square has become.

That's all he's saying, but in a more colorful way. So what's your problem?

If the people of Chinatown were fighting to save their neighborhood from gentrification, would you call them idiots, too?

[goclark]

30. Excellent Point!

I bet the "Boondocks" will have a lot to say about the feelings of Nagin --good and bad.

I love the Boondocks on TV because the two little grandchildren can break things down and make us truly look at ourselves!

Right on!

[fishnfla]

36. "That's all he's saying" You sure about that?

'cuz I read he said 'God is mad at America and the black people too' So he sent the hurricanes as punishment. So God made NO chocolate and then went like Soddom and Gomorrah on the natives? Who's gonna be able to stop that?

Get real,the man has gone around the bend.

[Yollam]

37. He has his take on things...

God talk of any kind sounds like mumbo-jumbo to me anyway, but what he said was more sane than anything any Bush-loving bible thumper would say.

Okay, so he thinks black people are culpable in part for what has befallen them in NOLA. As a black man, I think he has the right to say that. Do you even know what he meant? Maybe he was talking about political apathy, or the obsession with material wealth and bling, I have no idea why he felt that way, but I wouldn't just call him an idiot for saying so. He has been through a "helluva" year. I'd give him a little leeway on a MLK day speech.

[goclark]

41. Speak Yollam!

He didn't even have to address the issue.

Didn't have to attend the March!

Didn't have to remind them that NO was a Chocolate town, we African Americans are not stuck on stupid ---we know the racial composition of NO. :)

I have to cut him some slack too.
It seems so easy for White Americans to try to define the words that they think he should say and be mad if he doesn't say their words.

This is 2006, not 1864, and as much as GW wants to treat ALL of us ( Democrats, Blacks, Poor, Whites that don't vote and are not lead by him) like slaves,he can say any god damn thing he wants to say!


They have never been Black for one second and they want to tell an African American Mayor, who was in CHARGE( as much as the almighty King George would let him be) of KATRINA (with NO help from our good old Brownie INC.) how he should feel on MLK Day!

MLK Day is a very emotional day for African Americans. Speaking to a group of African Americans on MLK Day in the city that they have all loved would cause me to say words that can not be put on an internet site. :)

[fishnfla]

47. Ok he's black so he gets to be an idiot on MLK day

he has now apologized for his remarks

He was a bigger idiot in August for packing people into the Super Dome with the power about to go out.

no slack from me, sorry

[Quixote1818]

33. If we are going to be consistent then we should condemn what Nagin said

I won't call him an idiot but what he said was very disappointing and just plane stupid. I think he is smarter than that and I don't know why he said it.

[snooper2]

39. Did you hear the rest of his comments..

Basically, he said it takes black chocolate and white milk to make a chocolate milk.
I think that with the religous statement make him more of a goofball than anything else. He won't
be re-elected.

He needs to stop prancing around and get to work doing something constructive....

[MsAnthropy]

40. I disagree

I don't think it's anyone's place to judge him unless you've been through what he and his city has been through

[goclark]

42. Thank you MsAnthropy!

If anyone needs to condemn him it should be his fellow African Americans.

Believe me, we don't need no help telling our politicians EXACTLY what we think!

If we don't want him elected, we won't elect him again.

That is unless GW and Diebold have a different plan.

[Cascadian]

45. My first thought when he said all of this was "what is he smoking?"

I understand what you mean.



John

[UTUSN]

46. No Need to Be Sorry - He's a True DINO

***********QUOTE**********

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nagin

Before his election, Nagin was a member of the Republican Party and had little political experience; he was a vice president and general manager at Cox Communications, a cable communications company and subsidiary of Cox Enterprises. Nagin did give contributions periodically to candidates, namely President George W. Bush and former Republican U.S. Representative Billy Tauzin in 1999 and 2000, as well as to Democratic U.S. Senators John Breaux and J. Bennett Johnston earlier in the decade.

Days before filing for the New Orleans Mayoral race in February 2002, Nagin switched his party registration to the Democratic Party. Shortly before the primary election, an endorsement praising Nagin as a reformer by Gambit Magazine gave him crucial momentum that would carry through for the primary election and runoff. In the first round of the crowded mayoral election in February 2002, Nagin received first place with 29% of the vote, against such opponents as Police Chief Richard Pennington, State Senator Paulette Irons, City Councilman Troy Carter and others. In the runoff with Pennington in May 2002, Nagin won with 59% of the vote. His campaign was largely self-financed.

Shortly after taking office, Nagin launched an anti-corruption campaign within city government, which included crackdowns on the city's Taxicab Bureau and Utilities Department. Nagin also made a controversial endorsement of current Republican U.S. Representative Bobby Jindal in the 2003 Louisiana Gubernatorial Runoff over current Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco, and only reluctantly endorsed U.S. Senator John Kerry in the 2004 Presidential race.

Nagin received a B.S. degree in accounting from Tuskegee University in 1978 and an M.B.A. degree from Tulane University in 1994. He and his wife, Seletha Smith Nagin, have three children: Jeremy, Jarin, and Tianna.

*************UNQUOTE**********

[goclark]

50. Sounds like he wanted to make the Republicans mad with

his words on MLK Day --- interesting.


He is a mixed bag, so what!

If they don't want him in office, they won't elect him.

Perhaps by that time, NO will be all White Chocolate and he can run as a Republican again.


For Me, I would rather have him on the Democrat column right now.
IMO, Georgie didn't give him a crumb and now he realizes that he better get on back to his people.

By the way, he selected very beautiful names for his children and he married a lady with a not white sounding name.

He went to one of the finest HBC in the nation, that tells me a lot.

He had a choice, he could have gotten in a white school from the start.

[ariesgem]

49. NO is a Chocolate City

Do you have a problem with that?

[King Coal]

52. Yeah, I have a big problem with that.

NO is an American city. A melting pot city. Do you have a problem with that?

[Beelzebud]

51. He's not stupid for "chocolate" comment. It's the "god punshed us"

nonsense.

Is he planning on guest hosting the 700 club sometime?

[Strong Atheist]

53. Agreed. nt.

[Bridget Burke]

54. Hey, what about those school buses?

Don't want to miss any talking points.

The remark was taken out of context.

[bridgit]

55. he knew what he was implying, and his lame "do YOU know what...

chocolate is?" reply was a 'hip hop response', the place would have freaked the hell out if it had been pointed out instead that we're talking: New Orleans, and not New Mozambique :eyes: