Mike Papantonio of Air America's Ring of Fire talks with author Jon Mills, who'll tell us how the Bush administration, and the powerful corporations that have been pulling the strings from behind the scenes, have stripped away almost every aspect of privacy in American life.

September 1, 2008

I got up at 5:00 am this morning. It takes me a bit longer than it should to get out of the house – just like I pack a little more than I should when traveling – and I had a train to catch. I was going to Chicago and then, after a short layover, onward to New York City.

My job was to get the Southwest Chief at 7:45, which meant that my checked baggage had to be at Union Station in Kansas City by 7:00 am. Well, thanks to Jan, we made it with no problem. Of course, we had to check with CNN first to see how Gustav was doing. Things did not look good.

It is Labor Day – a day that has come to mean many things in my life. Most notably, it is the day of the huge West Indian Day parade on Eastern Parkway back in Brooklyn, New York – the culmination of weeks of celebrations around independence and national pride. For people like me, the day is always burdened with a political responsibility – either I am marching with a candidate and/or an entourage or I am the candidate (only once so far.) As much as tourists flock to see the parade for the music and splendor, the politicians and their appendages are a critical part of what makes the parade a “must see’ event.

Last year, I was part of a rogue float sponsored by the Caribbean-American Weekly that hoisted a huge picture of Barack Obama with Calypso star The Mighty Sparrow and other community leaders. (The paper had already endorsed Obama.) Response to the float politely appreciative during that long, hot day. Many people, particularly Caribbean women, were enthusiastic about Hillary Clinton. We were definitely “on the edge,” politically.

Well, I am missing this year’s parade, but I am sure the reaction is quite different – if there’s another float! And next Saturday I will march with working people in New York City to celebrate the now-deferred Labor Day.

August 31, 2008

If it’s Sunday in Kansas, it’s church day. Jan and her family members belong to a small local Baptist church and we attended the 11:00 am service. Prior to leaving the house, we were watching CNN’s coverage of Hurricane Gustav and the potential modifications being made by the Republican Party to their convention plans. I don’t know what to think.

The Democratic Convention was so important to the party; it’s hard to imagine the Republicans being helped in any significant way by this change. But they may not be hurt. I think the low-key approach is appropriate and potentially beneficial. They just announced that Bush and Cheney won’t be attending. That’s unfortunate for US! The Republican Party just got off the hook for part of its legacy!

The church was nice with good, clean modern lines. The people were all very friendly and welcoming (though some assumed that both Jan and I were visitors, despite her long-time membership – Jan’s husband is white). The church appears to do some good outreach work to the poor, including those in other nations.

There was the requisite overhead electronic screen to guide congregants through hymns. There was the requisite band to provide that soft rock feel to the music. Jan’s son, Jeremy, was playing the piano with the band on this day. And there was the requisite blonde, thin-voiced soprano to lead the songs of praise with a level of passion I simply cannot define (let’s leave it at that).

August 30, 2008

I’m wiped. The cold / allergy attack that has burdened me since last Sunday’s debacle at JFK has kept me off my “A game.” I wake up late simply because I could not have awakened any earlier. Janice takes me on a tour of Kansas City neighborhoods. She and her family have only been here two years and, frankly, they’re not lovin’ it. But Jan and Jerry are feisty and find a way to make things happen.

I won’t bore you with tourist details, but I will say that KC has some interesting history and a lot of (small) neighborhoods. I wanted to visit the Jazz Museum and the Negro League's museum, but I decided those were better to experience with the rest of my family (my wife is a baseball fan and she and my sons would enjoy both of these experiences.) We decided to visit the National World War I Museum (www.nwwone.org) – which seemed appropriate in the aftermath of the Convention and given our current global concerns. It was impressive and sobering. It was also a reminder of how Black Americans were always considered to be less important to this nation no matter what their level of “patriotism” may have been. (Check out my brief discussion with some of the young Museum staffers.)

One great feature is the tower at the museum, which provides an outstanding view of the Kansas City proper -- as well as other areas if you know what you're looking at!

A chunk of Jan’s family is here in KC, including her sister and her mother. We joined them for dinner at the home of friends. They live in the “Northlands” as does Jan – an area which, as I have since been informed, has had its share of racial issues over the years.

August 29, 2008

Getting out of my hotel this morning was pretty smooth. I packed way too much stuff, so yesterday I sent a box home via UPS Ground to meet me upon my return to Brooklyn. Unfortunately, my bags still are unwieldy, but better than they were (particularly since I would have had to carry that extra “convention stuff” as well).

My itinerary calls for me to take a Greyhound bus from Denver to Kansas City – the ride is a little less than 12 hours. I have not done that for awhile, but that’s why I’m taking this trip. Reminding myself a bit of the America outside New York City is important to me and my political perspective.

As I zip up the bags, CNN is breaking the news that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin is John McCain’s pick as a running mate. It’s a shocker, frankly. Not that he picked a woman; I sort of expected that as a response to the “Hillary” factor. No one seems to have really expected this particular woman, however. She’s even younger than Barack Obama (making me feel even older) and her experience in office is minimal, if impressive. The A Mayor and a Governor in a very interesting state. Palin is also clearly anti-choice and pro-gun. The latter won’t hurt her with too many Democratic women; the former is a big deal. This should be even more fascinating than I anticipated.

August 28, 2008

It’s over! What a speech! What a moment! I have been in tears for the past 30 minutes and trying to collect myself. Why am I so emotional? Yes, I am honored to represent the heritage of the Owens family – Black and “mixed” – at this convention; it is hard to grasp the enormity of this moment for my Dad and for so many others who came before me.

Yes, I am thrilled by the potential of a different future for my two young sons. Obama’s candidacy – win or lose – will provide new options for each of them in their lives.

What is hard for me to articulate here, however, is the most selfish aspect of this victory. I am Obama. He is a mixed-race guy only two years younger than me whose mother could have been my mother. I went to Harvard; he went to the Law School. We both married strong, well-educated and beautiful partners. We share the burning desire to lead or at least participate in politics. We both lost our first efforts to go to Congress and it rocked our worlds. We both are liberals at heart who are unafraid to question orthodoxy and attempt to find some middle ground in order to ensure that problems are addressed. We both are concerned with the State of Black America, but act upon our concerns through a simple mantra: “What is good for Black Americans, is good for all Americans!”