Amazing how yesterday’s punchlines become today’s headlines. Just after the Iowa caucuses last year I pointed out that the term “Black President” had scarcely ever been taken as a serious term. There’s a reason why that theme has been a staple of black comedians. Recall: Chris Rock and Chris Tucker’s late 90s race to develop their competing scripts about the first black man elected the the presidency. Now add to that Cedric the Entertainer’s skit about a black Chief Executive legalizing weed and putting the national debt on an installment plan. And Richard Pryor’s bit where the presidential news conference dissolves into a literal media fight.

Two weeks ago I delivered a keynote titled “In Defense of George W. Bush” for a conference on “The Culture of Conflict.”  My more provocative claim is that “GWB is the most powerful fall guy in American history” was really a way of outlining the ways in which we — the public — bear a great deal of responsibility for the tragedy of the Bush era. I also examined some of the ways in which the War on Terror was consistent with American history not exceptional. Given that the audience responded with my first ever standing ovation, I thought that you AE readers might find it interesting as well. An excerpt is below and the link to the pdf of the entire speech is included.

My girl Jen Brea article on Obama’s election and the shifting demographics in America is worth checking out. There is a lot to be said and written regarding Obama’s identity and how it is that he can be both biracial and the first black president. Part of the problem, as I’ve pointed out is that Michelle is likely every bit as “biracial” as Barack but the circumstances under which she came to be are far different from those of her husband — and a conversation this country is not prepared to have, even if it did manage to elect a brother President.