
Despite a low approval rating, Rolling Stone magazine has put President Barack Obama on its cover as one of the ““one of the most consequential and, yes, successful presidents in American history.”
The declaration, made by Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, is found in a story written by Krugman, who defends the commander-in-chief to prove why he’s been successful during his final two years in office.
“Obama faces trash talk left, right and center – literally – and doesn’t deserve it. Despite bitter opposition, despite having come close to self-inflicted disaster, Obama has emerged as one of the most consequential and, yes, successful presidents in American history,” Krugman wrote. “His health reform is imperfect but still a huge step forward – and it’s working better than anyone expected. Financial reform fell far short of what should have happened, but it’s much more effective than you’d think. Economic management has been half-crippled by Republican obstruction, but has nonetheless been much better than in other advanced countries. And environmental policy is starting to look like it could be a major legacy.
As successful as he claims Obama has been, Krugman notes the criticism the President has received from various critics.
“First, however, let’s take a moment to talk about the current wave of Obama-bashing. All Obama-bashing can be divided into three types. One, a constant of his time in office, is the onslaught from the right, which has never stopped portraying him as an Islamic atheist Marxist Kenyan. Nothing has changed on that front, and nothing will,” he said Krugman. “There’s a different story on the left, where you now find a significant number of critics decrying Obama as, to quote Cornel West, someone who ”posed as a progressive and turned out to be counterfeit.” They’re outraged that Wall Street hasn’t been punished, that income inequality remains so high, that ”neoliberal” economic policies are still in place. All of this seems to rest on the belief that if only Obama had put his eloquence behind a radical economic agenda, he could somehow have gotten that agenda past all the political barriers that have con- strained even his much more modest efforts. It’s hard to take such claims seriously.
“Finally, there’s the constant belittling of Obama from mainstream pundits and talking heads,” he continued. “Turn on cable news (although I wouldn’t advise it) and you’ll hear endless talk about a rudderless, stalled administration, maybe even about a failed presidency. Such talk is often buttressed by polls showing that Obama does, indeed, have an approval rating that is very low by historical standards.
“But this bashing is misguided even in its own terms – and in any case, it’s focused on the wrong thing.”
Good Black News
Donna Brazile, a key Democratic political strategist, author, and journalist has announced that she has donated her papers to the Special Collections Unit of the Louisiana State University Libraries. Brazile is a 1981 graduate of the university.
The collection includes 32 boxes of materials. Included in the archives are photographs, correspondence, drafts of speeches, memoranda, campaign management and research files, and memorabilia.
Brazile currently serves as vice chair for voter registration and participation at the Democratic National Committee. Previously, she was interim chair of the DNC and chaired its Voting Rights Institute. In 2000, Brazile was the campaign manager for the presidential bid of Al Gore. She has taught in the women’s studies program at Georgetown University, the University of Maryland-College Park, and the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.
Brazile is a nationally syndicated columnist and a political commentator for ABC News and CNN. She is the author of Cooking With Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics (Simon and Schuster, 2004).
article via jbhe.com
Comedy Central’s The Minority Report With Larry Wilmore has found a head writer.
Thede was most recently head writer on syndicated daytime talker The Queen Latifah Show and also wrote for Chris Rock when he hosted the 2014 BET Awards, as well as the NAACP Image Awards. She was previously a writer on BET’s satirical comedy Real Husbands of Hollywood, which starred Kevin Hart, Boris Kodjoe and Nick Cannon for the first two seasons.
A Second City and Improv Olympic alumna, Thede’s sketch/improv credits includeI n the Flow With Affion Crockett, Mike Epps‘ sketch comedy series Funny Bidness and Clunkers. She has appeared in BET’s Second Generation Wayans, Fox’s Goodwin Games, TV Land’s Hot in Cleveland, UPN’s All of Us and Comedy Central’s Key & Peele, in addition to the Marlon Wayans film A Haunted House.
The Minority Report, like the Daily Show and The Colbert Report, aims to provide a comedic look at news, current events and pop culture from different perspectives not typically seen on television.
The news comes three months after former The Daily Show showrunner Rory Albanese was tapped to head up the 11:30 p.m. show, reuniting him with Daily Show corespondent Wilmore. Jon Stewart also serves as an executive producer. Wilmore, a veteran producer in his own right, transitioned from his duty as executive producer/showrunner on ABC’s black-ish, which earned a full-season order this week, in September to focus on launching Minority Report.
article by Philiana Ng via hollywoodreporter.com

A Brooklyn man who has spent the past 29 years in prison for murder is expected to walk free on Wednesday.
David McCallum, together with co-defendant Willie Stuckey, were found guilty of kidnapping and shooting Nathan Blenner, 20, in a Bushwick park in October 1985. The two 16-year-olds were sentenced to 25 years to life behind bars the next year.
Stuckey died in prison in 2001, but McCallum has had his innocence championed by late boxer Rubin “Hurricane” Carter, who served 19 years in prison after he was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1966.
David McCallum, who was just 16 when he was found guilty of kidnapping and shooting a man in 1985, is expected to have his conviction overturned by a New York judge today. Just two months before Carter died in April he wrote an op-ed for the New York Daily News in which he called for Brooklyn District Attorney Kenneth Thompson to review McCallum’s case.
“My single regret in life is that David McCallum… is still in prison,” Carter wrote. “Knowing what I do, I am certain that when the facts are brought to light, Thompson will recommend his immediate release.”
The anticipation continues for Black Enterprise’s 10th Annual Women of Power Summit, where power women across the nation will convene for three days of fellowship and networking. Added to the list of keynote speakers is the president of Ariel Investments L.L.C., Mellody Hobson, and the inspiration for Scandal‘s Olivia Pope, Judy Smith.
Hobson worked her way up from intern at Ariel Investments L.L.C. to president of the Chicago investment firm. Ariel is known as one of the largest African American-owned money management and mutual fund companies in the United States. In addition to her role as president, Hobson serves as chairman of the board of trustees for Ariel Investment Trust.
REGISTER TODAY: Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary in Florida for 2015
Aside from her work at Ariel, Hobson is chairman of Dreamworks Animation SKG Inc., as well as the director of The Estée Lauder Cos. Inc. and Starbucks Corp. Hobson is nationally recognized as a financial expert and has contributed her expertise in investments to the Tom Joyner Morning Show, Black Enterprise, and ABC’s Good Morning America. In 2010 she earned a spot on Black Enterprise‘s 75 Most Powerful Women in Business list, and in 2013 she was announced as one of Black Enterprise‘s Most Powerful Corporate Directors.
Smith, recognized by many as the real-life Olivia Pope, Smith has paved a career for herself as an author, television producer, and CEO of the crisis management firm Smith & Co. Prior to founding Smith & Co., the Washington, D.C., native served in several high-profile roles including partner at a few Washington, D.C.-based nonprofits, and a White House position as special assistant and deputy press secretary to former President George H. W. Bush. She later broke into television as senior vice president of Corporate Communications at NBC, just to name a few.
Her work in crisis management for many notable cases including Monica Lewinsky, actor Wesley Snipes, and NFL player Michael Vick caught the attention of screenwriter and director Shonda Rhimes, who developed the popular television drama Scandal inspired by Smith’s work. Serving as co-executive producer of the show, Smith offers expert advice and insights on how to portray crisis management issues on-screen.
With exemplary resumes that have catapulted them to become nationally recognized businesswomen, Mellody Hobson and Judy Smith will offer advice and business tips on how to take charge of your career at Black Enterprise’s Women of Power Summit.
The 10th Annual Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm, March 2–4, 2015, will be held at Fort Lauderdale Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, FL. This executive leadership summit is designed to train, equip and encourage women to become industry leaders, learn career strategies, and discover proven work–life balance techniques. Register Now! http://www.blackenterprise.com/wps
article by Courtney Connley via blackenterprise.com
According to cnn.com, first lady Michelle Obama, never one to miss an opportunity to champion healthy eating via making light of social trends (think “Dougie” or “Evolution of Mom Dancing”), has co-opted a popular tune — and, in six seconds, created a viral sensation.
Here’s how it happened.
In an #AskTheFirstLady segment, Barack Obama impersonator Imman Crosson, or @AlphaCat, asked Obama, “How many calories do you burn every time you ‘turn up’?!”
And she responded with:
https://vine.co/v/OqJKZVQami9
Yes, that’s the first lady grooving with a turnip to DJ Snake and Lil Jon’s “Turn Down for What.”
Obama is known for her commitment to health, especially among children and young people. Her “Let’s Move” campaign aims to “solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation.”
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson (follow @lakinhutcherson)

Chris Rock is returning to Saturday Night Live. The comedian and former SNL cast member will be back at Studio 8H to host the Nov. 1 episode, the show announced Tuesday. Rock was part of the main ensemble for three seasons, from 1990-93.
Joining him as the musical guest will be Prince, who released two albums, Plectrumelectrum and Art Official Age, earlier this month.
Rock marks the latest ex-SNL cast member to take hosting duties during the show’s 40th season. Sarah Silverman, who was a main player from 1993-94, and Bill Hader, who left in 2013, have both led episodes. Rock next stars in Top Five, a Toronto title that hits theaters Dec. 5.
Jim Carrey, promoting Dumb and Dumber To, has been set as host for the Oct. 25 episode with musical guest Iggy Azalea.
article by Philiana Ng via hollywoodreporter.com
J. C. Penney on Monday named a Home Depot executive, Marvin Ellison, as president and as its next chief executive, tapping a seasoned retail hand as it struggles to assure investors that a nascent turnaround after two years of heavy losses will be lasting.
Mr. Ellison, currently executive vice president for stores at Home Depot, will join Penney on Nov. 1 and will also be a board member, the company said. He will succeed Myron E. Ullman III as chief executive on Aug. 1, 2015, when Mr. Ullman will become executive chairman for one year — a carefully coordinated handover that appeared to stress stability and continuity after a rocky succession at the retailer last year.
Penney’s losses have slowed under Mr. Ullman. But Mr. Ellison, 49, is now charged with expanding the retailer’s business — a tough task in a market under siege by “fast fashion” juggernauts like H&M and Forever 21 and online retailers, as well as reinvigorated rivals like Macy’s and T.J. Maxx.
Mr. Ellison’s background suggests he will start with the fundamentals. An operations expert who oversaw Home Depot’s 2,200 stores in the United States, Mr. Ellison led a largely successful bid to cut costs and raise store productivity at Home Depot, analysts noted. Before his 12-year tenure there, Mr. Ellison served for 15 years in various positions at Target.
“Over the course of his career, he has proven his ability to produce results by improving operations, building customer loyalty, and motivating his teams,” Mr. Ullman said of Mr. Ellison in a news release. For his part, Mr. Ellison said that Penney was “moving in the right direction” and that as chief executive he would focus “on positioning the company to compete in a rapidly changing retail environment.”
Penney has been trying to chart a growth path by undoing many of the changes introduced by its former chief, Ron Johnson, who was hired from Apple to try to inject pizazz into the 112-year-old Penney. When his turnaround bid — built on a strategy that stressed designer boutiques and fewer discounts — backfired, and saddled Penney with heavy losses, the company abruptly fired Mr. Johnson and brought back Mr. Ullman, who had led the chain from 2004 to 2011.

The Higher Heights Leadership Fund is on a mission to get more black women to vote in the upcoming midterm elections. The 2012 presidential elections had the biggest turnout for black women, with black women consisting of nearly 60% of black voters who participated. They actually had the highest turnout of any group.
And yet the number isn’t nearly the same for midterm elections. Just 46.5% of black women voted in the 2010 midterms. It’s not easy to get people excited or interested in midterm elections, but these elections do matter.
It’s incredibly important to create a more representative democracy in our country. That goes for those who vote as well as those we elect. And black women are underrepresented in our government.
So the Higher Heights Leadership Fund started the #BlackWomenVote campaign in order to get more black women to the polls during these upcoming midterm elections.
#BlackWomenVote provides information about voting and the election, like “Pledge to be a Higher Heights Voter,” “Personal Voting Plan,” “Knowing your Voter Status,” “Sister-to-Sister Calling List,” and “Activate your Online Network.”
“Black women have the potential to take this country by storm. We have the collective power to elect representatives who will champion our interests and support legislative actions that will that will improve education, health care and economic opportunities for our communities,” the Black Women Vote website states.
It’s so important to get out and vote and make our government a more representative one.
This is the only way to ensure that every voice is heard. Voters have the opportunity to make sure that their interests are being taken into account and that they have someone speaking up for those interests. The midterm elections might not seem as important as a Presidential election, but they really could have a big affect on people’s lives. Will you join #BlackWomenVote?
article by Robin Lempel via act.mtv.com

