LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

How Cathy Hargraves Got To Pimp Slap Desirée Rogers In Public

Ya wanna see Big Public Pimp Slapping Mean Girls Fight? Bearded by written by another black prima donna, Robin Givhan (who is rightwing, btw) on behalf of Cathy Hargraves. You say up close and personal beefs can't be allowed to influence what gets published as news? Well, then, I've got some news for You. Read it here in the Washington Post, which has laid off its journalists who report on national issues, starting with Barton Gellman, who did the most in depth book study of Darth Vader, Angler, based on the multi-part story he did initially for -- The Washington Post.

The voice of disgruntled, let-go White House social events staffer Cathy Hargraves, "who predated the Obamas as in-house guest-list guru and abruptly quit in June, according to Newsweek, because she had been stripped of much of her responsibility by Rogers," is all over this article, which is considered Big! Important! National! News!

The pretext for this hatchet job is that Desirée Rogers, in her attention-seeking whore flamboyance, is the one who is responsible for the Salahis crashing the party. Oh. Freakin'. Dear. Even though, why yes, this was the failure of the freakin' secret service.

Listen Read this:

In recent years, social secretaries had always quashed their own public profiles, demurred from seeking the limelight, in service to their position and in deference to the first lady. Indeed, the names of the most recent social secretaries -- Cathy Fenton, Lea Berman and Amy Zantzinger probably ring no bells outside of Washington circles. Those who have more prominent profiles such as Ann Stock, who worked in the Clinton administration and now at the Kennedy Center, and Letitia Baldridge of the Kennedy years, waited until their post-White House years to step into the spotlight.
As I read sections of this aloud to Vaquero, he immediately began to compose a song, in defense of Our New Orleans Native Zulu Queen -- which, of course, Desirée Rogers has been. Cathy Hargraves, of course, never has been. And never will. She didn't get featured in Vogue either. The cruelty, O the cruelty.

2 comments:

K. said...

And I've been worried about health care and Afghanistan!

I just downloaded Paul Sanchez' new CD Farewell to Storyville. The title track is a very nice cover of the song Billie Holiday sang in the film New Orleans.

Foxessa said...

These are all connected.

Four stories in the WaPo Style section this week, pimp slapping Desirée, the First Lady and Obama -- two of them about the Salahi invasion and the Secret Service Fail, which are blamed on Rogers and the White House -- one of them taking the Obama White House to task for invoking Exec. Priv against Rogers's testifying re the Salahi invasion and screaming about 'transparency' -- and one somehow finding fault with the First Lady's seasonal decorations for the White House, though just what is wrong is never stated, thiough it is hinted that they may be a 'little cold' (in fact nothing is wrong -- they are lovely and traditional and I wish I could be there on one of the tours to see them in person).

But I love the White House women, proving themselves far tougher -- no way were they throwing Desirée to the wolves upon the wolves' demand.

Love, c