Ray Nagin needs to go

[Ghoulish Delight]

I sincerely hope he gets voted out in April. Is anyone else as offended by his most recent comments as I am? Let's examine them, shall we?


"I don't care what people are saying Uptown or wherever they are. This city will be chocolate at the end of the day," Nagin said in a Martin Luther King Jr. Day speech. "This city will be a majority African-American city. It's the way God wants it to be."

And by way of pathetically trying to justify the "chocolate city" crap...

"How do you make chocolate? You take dark chocolate, you mix it with white milk, and it becomes a delicious drink. That is the chocolate I am talking about," he said.

Now, that's marginally offensive, actually quite laughable. I'm don't even want to get into the debate about public figures using such questionable racial terms...it's this next bit that really has me going.


In his speech, Nagin also said "God is mad at America," in part because he does not approve "of us being in Iraq under false pretenses."

"He is sending hurricane after hurricane after hurricane, and it is destroying and putting stress on this country," Nagin said.Did I miss something? Was he posessed by Pat Robertson while I wasn't looking? :mad: That sh!t angers me. What an irresponsible, pompous comment to make.

[scaeagles]

I was going to post something about this in the Pat Robertson thread, but glad this one was started.

I found his whole "chocolate" definition to be pretty funny. Like "oops - I gotta figure out some way to cover myself" and this was the best he couild come up with. He thinks anyone will believe that? Whatever makes him feel better. If a white mayor somewhere talked about wanting to build a "lily white" city, and then justified it by saying he likes flowers and wants a huge botanical garden to draw tourists, he'd be branded a racist, and rightfully so.

And I actually found his "God is mad at the US" comment funny, too, but only because I think the man is so completely inept that I can't take anything he says seriously.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I'd bet that all the white people that can actually rebuild and stay are going to vote him out, no matter what "God wants" :rolleyes:

[Motorboat Cruiser]

I think that once someone has made a definitive statement as to who among us is to blame for a natural disaster, pretty much everything else that they say can be written off.

[lizziebith]

I really have issues with this "God" dude and all his smitey uncoolness.

[Prudence]

So, God smote New Orleans because of hedonism in the city and US participation in Iraq.

I think what we can learn from this is that God is multi-tasking.

[Alex]

Now, I'm not one of them, but why is it so unreasonable for people who believe that the Old Testament approximates actual history to believe that in modern times similar calamities speak to god's state of mind?

As for whether Nagin gets reelected the thing I need to know is how his comments played in New Orleans. It doesn't much matter how they play in San Francisco, New York City, or on the cable network news.

[Not Afraid]

Personally, I don't find the "chocolate" comment offensive but I find his lame explanation ridiculous.

And, people who claim to speak for God are lunatics and make me wish we still had asylums to put them in. (Not really, but some people are just NUTS!) What I don't understand is why the general public can just accept that some doofus has been "chosen" to speak for God. Don't they realize that God can make better choices than that?

[lizziebith]

It's not unreasonable for THEM to believe it...but crimeny! This is not Old Testament culture! And we are all sharing the same air here in the mighty 2006. By which I mean that some folks need to learn some things. Get up to speed. Join us in these new-fangled times. Why do I think this post will be one of those I regret...

[scaeagles]

I'm no theologian, but I would suspect that it could have something to do with the "old covenant" vs. the "new covenant", grace and forgiveness through Christ rather than through our own actions. There were also plenty of "bad" places throughout the OT that were not....smote? smitten? smitted?.....

I think what it comes donw to with Robertson and Nagin (in this instance) is the chutzpah to to profess that they know the mind of God and why something bad would happen.

I, for one, am more in line with the teachings of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes - ""I have seen everything during my lifetime of futility; there is the righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in wickedness." (ch. 7 v. 15)

Things happen. People theorize as to why. No one knows. There may not be a reason why. And no one knows the mind of God.

[Alex]

Did not the founders of pretty much every religion claim to speak for and/or to God?

Personally, I do think they were all delusional but I think that of anybody who simply thinks god exists at all. Or is it only nuts to think that god is still talking to people in this day an age?

It's ok to think that God used to smite people through natural disasters but that somehow he has evolved into a better person? That God, perhaps, spent the years 50 BCE to 1876 CE in an anger management seminar and has emerged a much nicer person?

I'm afraid I don't see why Nagin's comment about an angry god are so ridiculous (though I, of course, think they are for more fundamental reasons).

[lizziebith]

Things happen. People theorize as to why. No one knows. There may not be a reason why. And no one knows the mind of God.

I'm scared...this liberal likey what scaegles say. When do get my warm cap for that stay in Hades?

[Gemini Cricket]

Speaking as someone who is brown, I am not offended by the chocolate remark. I myself am a light milk chocolate. When in Hawai'i, I am dark chocolate. Sometimes I am coffee colored. Ralphie is white chocolate.
:D

[scaeagles]

It's ok to think that God used to smite people through natural disasters but that somehow he has evolved into a better person?

I can't speak to what all religeons profess, but in Christian theology, I would again figure it is the difference between the old covenant and the new covenant.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

I see Alex's point. I'd have to say sure, it's possible that God is punishing people all the time with horrible things. But that doesn't mean that I could tell punishment from happenstance, or that anyone else could, either.

The religious side of me says that if God wanted to punish someone, or a group of people, then that someone or group would have to realize it themselves. If a person is a thief and an earthquake causes everything they own to be destroyed, they may say to themselves, "God is telling me to be a better person" and turn their life around (and this may be God's plan all along). If I go up to someone after an earthquake destoys everything they own and tell THEM "God is telling YOU to be a better person", then that person isn't going to say "Oh, hey, thanks for translating that for me, here I was just thinking that I was unlucky." There may even be people whose lives were utterly changed by Katrina that are now saying to themselves "God wanted me to start over" or "God was showing me the error of my ways". I'm willing to bet that there are plenty who are doing better for themselves because of it. But that's their own affair.

In short, let God do his own lesson-teaching, and it's beyond anyone else's ability (or business) to help God out with that.

[wendybeth]

Speaking as someone who is brown, I am not offended by the chocolate remark. I myself am a light milk chocolate. When in Hawai'i, I am dark chocolate. Sometimes I am coffee colored. Ralphie is white chocolate.
:D

Yeah, but I'm skim milk. Does that mean I wouldn't be welcome there?

It's easier to blame God than yourself for failures- he was the Mayor, and his city was destroyed on his watch. Of course, since God did it, that totally absolves Nagin for any part he may had had in the devastation and the aftermath.

Maybe he could have a chocolate sale to finance his new city?:D

[Drince88]

Oh, this one was a LOT of fun at work today!

One theory is that he can't justify not running for re-election, but doesn't really want to keep the job, so he's seeing how many people he can alienate so that he doesn't win the election. A big part of that will depend A LOT on who is running against him.

He also had quite a conversation with Dr. King about the state of things - including shootings at the second-line the previous day, black-on-black crime, the African-American community not taking care of their women or children.

For those of you who want to see the speech - here's a link (http://www.wwltv.com/sharedcontent/VideoPlayer/videoPlayer.php?vidId=46812&catId=53) (it's about 8 minutes)

He did have some decent things to say - he just lost a TON of credibility as a 'leader' (if he had a ton to lose) by some of it.

But the up-side is, I may know what I'm going to do for Mardi Gras this year!


As I was looking to see if I could find a transcript of the speech, I did run across this article (http://www.wwltv.com/local/stories/wwl011706khlevee.1038d38e.html) that postulated the amount of damage if the levees had done what they were SUPPOSED to be designed to do. I'm not sure if these postulations assumed that the barge did or didn't run into the one levee (I can't remember which one that was on).

I can usually look at a few articles on the website before I have to 'sign in'.

[Jazzman]

Nagin has already proven what a clueless idiot he is, so his comments don’t surprise me much, and it’s hard to be offended by something so absurd anyhow. His comments are as laughable as he is. What does offend me, however, is the lack of outrage, or even minimal public debate about them. As scaeagles pointed out, if any white public figure had stated that their city would become a white town because that’s what God wanted, you’d find every minority leader in the nation flying out of the woodwork, raging for his head. But a black man says something like this and it’s, “Eh, no big deal. He’s just a dork.” I cannot stand double standards, and this sheds a bright light on one of the biggest and ugliest ones in America today.

How sad that this moron made these comments on the day we celebrate Martin Luther King, a true civil rights leader who preached equality, peace and tolerance, and referred to whites as his white brothers and sisters. Poor man must be rolling over in his grave these days.

[Drince88]

There's been quite a bit of debate about it around here - but you're right, Jazzman :(

[Alex]

Is it the word "chocolate" that is offensive or the underlying principle? Because ever since the hurricane I've heard concerns that blacks will be redeveloped out of New Orleans.

Because if the word "chocolate" doesn't offend me when browsing porn I don't see why it should offend me when discussing economic redevelopment.

Maybe if he'd said:

"This is either going to be a chocolate city or a cracker city. It can't be both because as everybody knows chocolate doesn't go with crackers. Cookies, yes. Definitely cake. So maybe the chocolate could go with something like a cookie or cake, but I'm not really so sure that chocolate goes with fig newtons.

Maybe graham crackers. They have chocolate graham crackers don't they? Yeah, that's it. We'll develop in a way that joins together the chocolate in New Orleans with the crackers in New Orleans and I'll abdicate in favor of a Billy Graham mayorship. Everybody loves Billy Graham. Here's hoping that cracker don't die before we rebuild."

Surely that would have been a message of unity that everybody could rally around.

[lizziebith]

Is it the word "chocolate" that is offensive or the underlying principle? Because ever since the hurricane I've heard concerns that blacks will be redeveloped out of New Orleans.

Because if the word "chocolate" doesn't offend me when browsing porn I don't see why it should offend me when discussing economic redevelopment.

Maybe if he'd said:

"This is either going to be a chocolate city or a cracker city. It can't be both because as everybody knows chocolate doesn't go with crackers. Cookies, yes. Definitely cake. So maybe the chocolate could go with something like a cookie or cake, but I'm not really so sure that chocolate goes with fig newtons.

Maybe graham crackers. They have chocolate graham crackers don't they? Yeah, that's it. We'll develop in a way that joins together the chocolate in New Orleans with the crackers in New Orleans and I'll abdicate in favor of a Billy Graham mayorship. Everybody loves Billy Graham. Here's hoping that cracker don't die before we rebuild."

Surely that would have been a message of unity that everybody could rally around.


I love smores...

[wendybeth]

Thanks, Alex- now I'm hungry.

[Not Afraid]

I just ate more chocolate.

[Alex]

I'm not a big fan of chocolate. Please don't tell the NAACP.

[€uroMeinke]

I think I will replace the term "African-American" with "Chocolate" in all my future workplace interactions.

[Not Afraid]

Honey, SOMEONE in this household needs a viable job!

[€uroMeinke]

It's a damn shame my executive VP is no longer Chocolate - so what's the food/race term for Iranian?

[CoasterMatt]

Kabob!

[€uroMeinke]

Kabob!

But she's a woman - KaJanet?

[Stan4dSteph]

Falafel!
Hummus!
Tabbouleh!
Mayor McTerrorist!

[Not Afraid]

Himmus and Hermmus

[lizziebith]

Is it the word "chocolate" that is offensive or the underlying principle? Because ever since the hurricane I've heard concerns that blacks will be redeveloped out of New Orleans.

Because if the word "chocolate" doesn't offend me when browsing porn I don't see why it should offend me when discussing economic redevelopment.

Maybe if he'd said:

"This is either going to be a chocolate city or a cracker city. It can't be both because as everybody knows chocolate doesn't go with crackers. Cookies, yes. Definitely cake. So maybe the chocolate could go with something like a cookie or cake, but I'm not really so sure that chocolate goes with fig newtons.

Maybe graham crackers. They have chocolate graham crackers don't they? Yeah, that's it. We'll develop in a way that joins together the chocolate in New Orleans with the crackers in New Orleans and I'll abdicate in favor of a Billy Graham mayorship. Everybody loves Billy Graham. Here's hoping that cracker don't die before we rebuild."

Surely that would have been a message of unity that everybody could rally around.


I love smores...

[Ghoulish Delight]

I love smores...
Yes, but what do you think of smores?

[Prudence]

I'm only so-so on smores. Does that mean I can't attend mardi gras?

[Gemini Cricket]

And here I thought Germany was the Land of Chocolate.

"Mmmm. The Land of Chocolate..." ~ Homer Simpson

[€uroMeinke]

And here I thought Germany was the Land of Chocolate.

"Mmmm. The Land of Chocolate..." ~ Homer Simpson

Germans are definately Krauts - or sausage - The Swiss though might be Chocolate, and perhaps the Belgians too.

[Snowflake]

For me:

Chocolate = Belgium, hands down

Hmmm, huumus, fattoush, kabobs, NA I am still hungry!

[Not Afraid]

Snowflake, you RUINED me last night with the food talk. Pasta with Pesto just didn't do it al all. Tonight, it is heroin chicken for me.

[Snowflake]

Snowflake, you RUINED me last night with the food talk. Pasta with Pesto just didn't do it al all. Tonight, it is heroin chicken for me.

Well, we MUST have heroin chicken when I am in Long Beach, as I said on the phone, never too much garlic. :evil:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Germans are definately Krauts - or sausage - The Swiss though might be Chocolate, and perhaps the Belgians too.Belgain waffles, Swiss cheese! The colors work better than chocolate.

Just don't call me gefilte fish, I don't eat the stuff.

[Not Afraid]

Swiss Chocolate, German Beer, Belgian Endive ;)

[Ghoulish Delight]

I think I will replace the term "African-American" with "Chocolate" in all my future workplace interactions.And, using Alex's "it's good enough for porn" test, don't forget to replace "woman" with "slut" or "ho".

And don't forget to let us know how your next performance evalutation goes. :D

[scaeagles]

don't forget to replace "woman" with "slut" or "ho".

I tried replacing "wife" with those once, and it wasn't pretty.

[Ghoulish Delight]

I tried replacing "wife" with those once, and it wasn't pretty.What, pornos? Yeah, the real thing's much better.

[Alex]

And if you have any young interns in your office, the appropriate phrase would be "barely legal."

[scaeagles]

What, pornos? Yeah, the real thing's much better.

No, actually it was more like - "Hey boss, how long have you been married to your slut?" or "My ho is over there."

[Not Afraid]

God, I miss NirvanaMan!

[tracilicious]

God, I miss NirvanaMan!


I wouldn't go attracting God's attention to this thread. He'll crash our servers.

[Drince88]

Check this out --- www.mayorwonka.com I can't decide if I like the second 'category' or the 4th more.

There was another one I got as an email - they finally found a sponsor for the Superdome - Hershey's kisses, and the accompanying picture showed the 'dome' replaced with a silver kiss-shaped roof.