Righting the Wrongs of the Past Eight Years II- Guantanamo Prisoner Released

LONDON – A Guantanamo prisoner who claims he was tortured at a covert CIA site in Morocco returned to Britain a free man Monday after nearly seven years in U.S. captivity — the first inmate from the U.S. prison camp freed since President Barack Obama took office.

Binyam Mohamed flew into a British military base and was expected to be out of custody within hours.

Mohamed's claims of torture, abuse and extraordinary rendition are at the heart of several lawsuits. Lawyers on both sides of the Atlantic are suing for secret documents they say prove the United States sent Mohamed to Morocco and that Britain knew of the mistreatment — a violation under the 1994 U.N. Convention Against Torture.

"I have been through an experience that I never thought to encounter in my darkest nightmares," Mohamed said in a statement released by his attorneys.

"Before this ordeal, "torture" was an abstract word to me ... It is still difficult for me to believe that I was abducted, hauled from one country to the next, and tortured in medieval ways all orchestrated by the United States government."

He said he wasn't yet "physically nor mentally capable of facing the media."

British authorities said he would undergo interviews Monday with the police, border control agents and immigration officials, who would help him apply for temporary residency. MORE

Flying the Friendly Skies...With the Rest of Us

For those of you still outraged over Timothy Geithner's income tax lapse, maybe you'll take comfort in this: at least the Treasury secretary isn't flying first class these days.

Passengers were relieved to see Geithner joining the commoners in coach on the 7:30 p.m. Delta shuttle Sunday night from New York to Washington.

As one Sleuth informant who was on that flight told us, Geithner appears to be "so humbled" that he chose to ride with "the rest of the ordinary folks." (Among the "ordinary" folk flying coach on the Delta shuttle was Lynn Blitzer, wife of the one-and-only and very unordinary Wolf Blitzer).

Customers on the shuttle are used to seeing government bigwigs opting for first class, where the airline routinely seats Cabinet secretaries as a courtesy for "security reasons." And these days, of course, with the pin stripes on aching Wall Street all sullied and tattered, fewer passengers are willing to pay for first class. So needless to say, there were seats available to Geithner.

But he bypassed first class and went straight to coach, no doubt walking past folks who got a good chuckle out of the Greek tragedy-gone-awry cartoon in Sunday's business section of the New York Times depicting Geithner surviving his tax fiasco, which you can see here.

Geithner, the lucky lone survivor in a trifecta of Obama administration nominees who failed to pay their taxes, is part of a trend, it would seem, in low-profile travel.

Two weeks ago, Susan Rice, soon after she was confirmed to be President Obama's ambassador to the United Nations, was spotted riding in coach on a morning Delta shuttle from Washington to New York.


So maybe even if the "no drama" part of Obama hasn't quite taken hold with his fledgling Cabinet, his message of egalitarian inclusiveness has. At least when it comes to flying.

First Lady's African American Fashion Designer-less Wardrobe Questioned

The blogsphere is bubbling over with disparaging--and often racist--comments leveled at former model Amnau Eele (a woman- some people don't seem to get this because she has an African name and her hair is cut short) over statements made to Women's Wear Daily regarding the lack of African American representation among First Lady Michelle Obama's inauguration wardrobe. Although it's truly a waste of time for me to add anything further to yet another viral "debate about nothing," I will add my two cents worth only because it is snowing outside and I need something to do.

I believe it's only natural for someone representing an organization such as the Black Artist's Association to speak out in support of its members. Eele's comments should be taken at face value as she's probably not the only person who has something to say, positive and negative, about the woman who is, as of Tuesday January 20, 2009, the most famous and widely-admired First Lady in this country's history (example-I've never seen so many people opposed to the color 'green' in criticizing Mrs. Obama's inauguration day outfit). Eele has every right to speak out on behalf of her organization as does any spokesperson without fear of reprisal.

Since what's done is done, I don't believe there's anything further to say on the subject. However, I'm certain that Michelle Obama, outspoken and straight-forward as she is, will respond to these criticisms in an appropriate manner if she believes it is necessary. I think one need only to look at the First Lady's track-record, prior to and since she became Mrs. Barack Obama, to understand clearly where she stands on African American issues.

As for me, it is my opinion that the First Lady's inauguration day Isabel Toledo-designed outfit was a home run. Although, I wasn't crazy about her Jason Wu ball gown, I can see clearly where such a design was appropriate for a First Lady having to make appearances in front of large crowds at ten different balls. She needed to look elegant, yet completely covered, and the dress accomplished the goal.

When I say Barack you say Obama, Barack! Obama! Barack! Obama!

Virginia's race for Governor just heated up. Superstar Democrat strategist/campaign manager Joe Trippi apparently intends to throw his punches on behalf of Brian Moran while longtime Clinton (any Clinton) associate Terry McAuliffe continues to seek Virginians support at town hall-style meetings and through viral messages. Let's see how many times each candidate and their reps can invoke Barack Obama's name in a sentence over the next few months. We still don't know if the Republicans will offer up any serious candidates viable enough to turn Virginia's blue eyes red. Read Trippi's Diary on Daily Kos.

Back In The High Life

U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed a throng of visitors from around the world to the first open house of their administration Wednesday January 21, 2009.

Anway- I named this post "Back In The High Life" because during MSNBC's Morning Joe inauguration coverage yesterday, I caught Steve Windwood's Back In The Highlife Again being played over images of the millions of Americans congregating to witness Barack Obama's swearing in ceremony at a cut-away to commercial. The song played briefly while breathtaking images of the multitudes streamed across the television screen and it made for a extremely moving tableau. Although the morning cold was almost unbearable, spirit, goodwill, and hope for a brighter future motivated the crowds more than any natural desire to stay warm. Get the song on iTunes. I think you'll find that it goes well with the Obama movement.

Lyrics | Steve Winwood lyrics - Back In The High Life lyrics

At Last

For all those, living and deceased, who sacrificed for this moment...at last.

The Ground Beneath Us Has Shifted

Barack Hussein Obama is officially the 44th President of the United States of America. How does it feel? It feels pretty damn good!

If A Picture Ain't Worth 1000 Words...

In the shadow of Lincoln, our time has come.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, 2009. One more day...

Comerford Food

President and Mrs. Obama have decided that White House exective chef Cristeta Comerford will serve the Obama Administration. Mrs. Obama sited commonality with Chef Comerford regarding family and an interest in healthy eating as the primary reason Comerford was asked to say on. Comerford is yet another shining example of the outstanding achievements and contributions many immigrants make in the U.S.

African American First Family Shows the United States Exactly How Family Values Works

BREAKING NEWS!!! After years of enduring Republicans' and U.S. self-described conservatives' lip service to family values and claiming moral high-ground on the social front over African Americans--while perpetrating immorality on all levels (yes, war is immoral)--the Obama-Robinson family has finally come along to show Americans exactly how family values really works.

First Grandmother Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, is moving to the White House to help the President and First Lady maintain a working extended family and continuity for daughters Malia and Sasha. Mrs. Robinson's move to the White House sends a strong message to African American families that the family that works together, stays together and grows powerful together.

Read the AP Story