When I wrote about Jesse Helms last week, I described him as one of the last politicians to apologize for his racist actions before and after the Civil Rights Movement.

Well I was wrong, as there is another senator who is in denial over his past bigoted ways.  Robert Byrd is writing his memoirs, called "Robert C. Byrd: Child of the Appalachian Coalfields", in which he discusses his involvement in the Ku Klux Klan:

The 770-page book is the latest in a long series of attempts by the 87-year-old Democratic patriarch to try to explain an event early in his life that threatens to define him nearly as much as his achievements in the Senate. In it, Byrd says he viewed the Klan as a useful platform from which to launch his political career. He described it essentially as a fraternal group of elites -- doctors, lawyers, clergy, judges and other "upstanding people" who at no time engaged in or preached violence against blacks, Jews or Catholics, who historically were targets of the Klan.

Thus, Byrd tries to make it seem as if it was just a bunch of successful good ole boys who had a fetish for white sheets and hoods.  It's amazing that even today, with him being a bastion of American leftism, that he cannot be honest about what the Klan was and his activities in it.  To explain it as if it were a local chapter of the chamber of commerce serves as a slap in the face to the many people and families the Klan targeted and terrorized.

While Byrd asked for forgiveness for his involvement in the Klan, his candycoating of his time in it and the people who were with him negates that apology.  What he truly is sorry for is that it became public.  After all, it was the Klan who encouraged him to get involved with politics, and he wrote a letter urging the growth of the Klan the very same year he won his first election as a state representative in 1946. 

Indeed, he has characterized the Klan identity as an "albatross" around his neck, as if it only a mere burden to his political career instead of a legitimate concern to America.  But more than likely, that isn't the case, at least in the early part of it:

Stunned Democratic state party officials, including then-Gov. Okey L. Patteson, urged him to drop out of the race [after the 1946 letter was made public]. Byrd survived the ensuing political firestorm, won the general election and went on to serve six years in the House before winning his Senate seat in 1958. During his Senate campaign, he told a newspaper reporter that he personally felt the Klan had been incorrectly blamed for many acts committed by others.

Is it possible that he gained popularity because of his connections to the Klan?  While I'm not inferring West Virginia was completely racist, it's not hard to believe that 1950's West Virginia would be indifferent to a senator being a former Klansman.  I'm sure people in that area knew several prominent figures - as Byrd said himself - who were involved in the Klan.  Besides, it wasn't like Byrd did anything during the 50's and 60's to prove anyone wrong.

But don't hold your breath for any so-called black leaders or civil rights leaders to call Byrd out for his KKK fence-straddling.  Since he was against the War on Iraq, he's one of them.  Besides, he still wields so much influence in Congress that no politician would dare criticize him.  Maybe if he would have written his memoirs during the impeachment, where he was very critical of Clinton's deeds and the attitude of the Democrats during that time, they would have been more vocal.  And as you probably heard earlier this week, Ralph Nader gets that treatment as well.

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UPDATE:  To my knowledge, Byrd never apologized or addressed his obstruction of civil rights legislation.  Does he plan to address that in his book?

Well, so far Bill Walton has sounded like an idiot ("Tim Duncan is a shell of his former self), "Heartbreak" has played 10 times already, and Stuart Scott has looked like a fool trying to talk slang ("The Pistons have sipped LB's Kool-Aid").

Just some quick words.  First, San Antonio needs to recapture that heart and fearlessness that they played with in Game 1&2.  They have no choice but to push the envelope, as a third straight loss would almost seal the deal to them losing the NBA Championship.

I'd just like to remind everyone that I am liveblogging the entire NBA Finals.  Sunday's coverage starts at 9:00.  Tuesday's coverage starts at 9:00 as well.

Thus, if you can't get to a television, or want to read some commentary while you watch it, stop on in.

Previous NBA Finals Coverage (I have liveblogged all of the series except Game 2):

You know, everytime I get slightly worried about the Republicans screwing up something that could be used against them in a future election, the Democrats always remind me that they'll never get it.  Whether it's news of corruption, another Hillary campaign finance violation, or another idiotic comment from Howard Dean, the chances of the Democrats staying the minority for quite a long time are virtually guaranteed.

The latest blunder, as I'm sure you've heard by now if you've been paying attention to the news or the blogosphere, is Illinois Senator Dick Durbin's idiotic statement likening U.S. interrogation tactics to the Nazis and the Soviets.  Here's his statement after reading an example of the conditions in Guantanamo Bay:

If I read this to you and did not tell you that it was an FBI agent describing what Americans had done to prisoners in their control, you would most certainly believe this must have been done by Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime--Pol Pot or others--that had no concern for human beings. Sadly, that is not the case. This was the action of Americans in the treatment of their prisoners.

It he would have described murders, mutilation, gassings, or something of that sort, I think most people would have understood the reference.  However, he talked about detainees who were left in interrogation rooms on the floor while the air conditioners were either on full blast or were cut off altogether, and loud music was played to keep them awake.  None of that comes CLOSE to the horrors described by the survivors or witnesses of concentration camps or gulags, especially when these regimes are some of the biggest mass murderers in history.

Nevertheless, I was content to let this comment slide.  After all, Ted Kennedy made a similar idiotic comment after the Abu Gharib photos became public, and I was pretty sure that condemnation would come and Democrats would sort of back away from Durbin a bit.  However, none have, and the left-wing bloggers in the blogosphere have also come to the defense of Durbin.

If left-wing bloggers want to know why they don't have more influence in the media (especially after how they spurned their cries for more coverage of the Downing Street Memo) then this might help:

And let's not forget, "torture" was used as a rationale for this war -- as in, we'll invade and end the torture.

Of course, none of that has happened. The torture that was so bad under Saddam, is equally bad under U.S. command. And Dick Durbin had the balls to say it so on the Senate floor.

Even if we are to take Kos's explanation for face value - he says it wasn't saying the amount of torture was equally bad, only the fact that torture is being used - it's statements like these that show the fallacy of leftist thinking.  You can't simply make an equation by looking at the surface of the two things you are comparing.  There are other underlying factors and objectives behind these activities that need to be discussed first. 

To claim interrogation tactics that could possibly divulge information which would save the lives of our soldiers in their struggle to secure Iraq is as equally bad as the countless murders Saddam and the Bathist regime committed makes no sense whatsoever.  Saddam tortured and killed political opponents, and jailed any and everyone that provided the least bit of resistance to his policies or to his henchmen.  For the most part, most of these people were sentenced to death and torture because Saddam could do it and nobody could stop them. 

In these prisons there is a chain of command, and detainees are reviewed and over 200 of them have been released and sent back to their respective countries.  Over 130 have been punished for treatment that was against military regulations.  I wonder how many times the Bathist government punished Republican Guard officers for mistreating prisoners?

Luckily, media outlets are not falling for this viewpoint, and are criticizing Durban.  In fact, the Boston Herald called for Durban's resignation.  Hopefully others will see Durban's comments for what they really are and call for him to either apologize fully (and not this joke of an apology either) or resign.

Or at least that's what he said.

From the NY Daily News:

Speaking Wednesday night at a Washington fund-raiser to retire the debt from his 2004 presidential campaign, Nader complained that Democratic Party powerbrokers had kept him off the ballot in such Southern states as Georgia and Virginia - which reminded him of the oppressive Jim Crow laws that denied African-Americans equal rights.

"I felt like a [n-word]," remarked the 70-year-old white multimillionaire graduate of Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

Actually Nader is Lebanese, but we won't go into specifics.  And from what I heard, it isn't the first time he's used that word either.

At least Al Sharpton was honest when commenting on this:

"If Ed Koch had said what Ralph Nader said, we'd be marching," Sharpton noted. "This [scolding] doesn't rise to the level of a march. It rises to the level of a wrist slap."

But why is that the case?  It's because Sharpton likes Nader and hates Ed Koch, even though neither of them have been accused of being racist.  As long as you're rubbing elbows with Sharpton or someone on the left, you're allowed a few blunders here and there.

From the AP:

PHILADELPHIA - Rapper 50 Cent is pulling out of next month's Live 8 concert because of a scheduling conflict with his new movie.

The shooting schedule for "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" — a film based on the life of the artist formerly known as Curtis Jackson — recently changed and will now conflict with the July 2 show on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, publicist Yvette Gail said.

Now I'm not that hyped about Live 8.  I think it means well, but ultimately won't do anything to end poverty in Africa.  But this is a charity event, and Curtis is being very selfish for passing up the concert to shoot a movie, and a movie on HIS life, no less.  You mean he couldn't have rescheduled it for a couple of days later? 

The concert is in Philadelphia, and the shooting is in Toronto, which isn't no more than a seven hour drive (and you know he wouldn't be driving anyway).  Even if he didn't want to fly back, he could have drove.  To pull out like that is messed up.

And in an ironic twist, I happened to click on a picture on the same news article link (Yahoo) which happened to be from E! Online, and it had this caption:

50 Cent is taking aim at some DVD producers for allegedly failing to keep a promise not to cash in on the rapper's name.

Yeah.  Obviously 50 knows something about breaking promises.

Coming up in a few minutes.  I didn't feel like hearing Greg Anthony and Bill Walton's mouths so I watched Smackdown.

BRB.

9:05:  I wish ABC would get a new theme song for the playoffs.  "Heartbreak" isn't that bad of a song, but it gets tiring once you've heard it six or seven times. 

Hubie said the Spurs point of emphasis tonight was to protect the ball and get it to the big man (Duncan) to reestablish dominance.  I agree.

9:09:  They got Carrie Underwood (the American Idol winner) singing the national anthem.  Not bad.  She still looks like a bootleg Go-Go with that hair though.  She needs an extreme makeover.

9:15:  Tafoya said Ginobili denied that the thigh bruise impeded his performance Tuesday night. 

Can you say, Bullshit?  Even if he was able to run, I bet he thought twice about running in there like a crazed man as he did in Game 1 & 2, which means the mental factor was there.

Starting lineups have been given.  Tipoff starts in a moment.

9:18:  Ginobili gets a foul right on the tipff.  Not good.  But on the other end Bruce Bowen starts off the defensive stand with a block.  Duncan gets the first score.  Spurs starting off good, as Muhammad scores on the next possession.  4-0 Spurs.

9:23:  After a couple of Spurs turnovers, the Pistons explode and go on a 10-3 run scoring several of those on the fast break.  Duncan's having trouble protecting the ball, and after getting fouled on a reach in which turned into a steal, Popovich goes nuts and gets teched up early in the game.  11-7 Pistons.

9:35:  Right now everything is going the Pistons' way.  When Ben Wallace is hitting 15 foot jumpers, you know you're in trouble.  San Antonio can't get anything set on offense and look pretty clumsy out there.  6 turnovers for the Spurs in this quarter alone.  18-10 Pistons.

9:45:  The Spurs get back to business, and the guy who helps them do it is unherald rookie Beno Udrith from Slovenia, who came in for Parker.  A big three followed by another basket gives him five points off the bat.  Role players are getting it done, but now it's time for Duncan and Parker to wake up.

A big three by Rasheed with 1.1 seconds left gives the Pistons a nice lead at the end of the 1st by 6, 23-17.  Second quarter's bout to start.

9:48:  The Spurs act as if they never bothered to address that trap the Pistons continue to set at half court from Game 3.  They're getting punished for it, as they continue to turn the ball over which creates fastbreaks and advantages on the other end.  Spurs are down by 10.

9:57:  The Spurs are getting nothing from their backcourt, which continues to cough up the ball.  They can't even get it into the paint, and when they do, the Pistons aren't giving them any room.  The Pistons went on a 14-0 run until Devin Brown hits the three, Pistons up by 14.

10:03:  Well the game isn't over yet.  The Spurs get a couple of baskets on the inside, and then they go into the bonus with about 6 minutes left in the half.  Spurs are still down by 12, but they're down without no Ginobili and no Parker.  Whatever it is, those guys need to shake it off and start producing.

10:08:  I don't understand why you would feed the ball to anyone on the Spurs who's not named Duncan, especially with both Wallaces in the game.  But the Spurs are determined to force that inside game.  That's not going to cut this lead.

Devin Brown has had a solid game tonight so far.  Too bad none of his teammates have played worth anything though.  Pistons up by 14.  43-29 with 3 and a half left.

10:15:  You can't tell me Ginobili isn't hurt.  Prince juked him so quick, took him to the hole and jammed it.  Ginobili is that slow that he couldn't step in and cut him off from the basket?  Please.  45-31, 2:25 left.

10:26:  Halftime.  51-36 Pistons.

You know something's wrong when your bench is outscoring your starters, particularly in the backcourt.  Parker and Ginobili would have been better off not playing that whole half.  Parker only had 2 points and Ginobili 6, but Ginobili hasn't taken a shot inside the arc yet.  Everytime he drives to the basket he's getting hammered.  He hit one three, and hit 3-4 from the line.

The Pistons should really just keep doing what they've been doing.  In the last game, Rip shined on Bruce Bowen.  Now it's Tayshaun Prince that's making Ginobili look bad.  Ginobili's stock has dropped so quickly between Game 1 and tonight that you'd think Enron cooked his stats from Game 1.  It's sad.

Bill Walton said we're seeing "shrinkage" from the Spurs.  Oh god.

10:50:  Second half started, and the Pistons continue their dominance.  The Spurs can't gain traction so far, and they're messing up on the little things; missing ft's, not taking advantage of offensive rebounds in the paint, etc.  Pistons up by 15.

11:00:  Popovich needs to come up with something new, because this isn't working.  All the Wallaces are doing is camping out in the lane.  That's it.  Duncan can't get anything going, as he is only 4-12 tonight.  Anything Muhammed puts up is getting thrown into the stands, and the guards have yet to do anything in this game.  I think it's just about time to say this series is tied.  Pistons leading by 15 with 6 minutes to go in the 3rd.

11:05:  Now Lindsey Hunter goes nuts.  He scores Detroit's next seven points, and looks like an All-Star.  Tony Parker should be ashamed of himself by the way he's playing tonight.  68-51 with 3 and a half left.

11:13:  Tim Duncan is on the bench looking like he lost his puppy.  Sad.  The bench has taken over the offensive production now for Detroit, as they've scored their last 13 points.  Methinks we're going to see another Darko appearance.  End of 3rd quarter, and the Pistons are up by 17, 74-57. 

Liveblogging starts approx 9:00PM EST.

I expected the Spurs to lose Game 3, and they didn't disappoint.  However, they lost it in a way that produced several questions.  For example, what kind of shape will Manu Ginobili be in tonight?  Will Tim Duncan step up and dominate the paint like he did in Game 1?  Is it time to question Bruce Bowen's impact on defense when guarding Rip Hamilton?  Are we going to see the high-tempo Spurs that were in Game 1 and 2, or the laxadaisial Spurs that floundered in the second half of Game 3?

This could be the game that defines the rest of the playoffs.  Once again, the Pistons have placed themselves in a must-win situation.  Ben Wallace has to be the defensive monster he was throughout Game 3, which means keeping Tim Duncan pinned down and unleashing a beating to any Spur that even thinks about driving the lane.  The moment Parker and Manu start driving the lane recklessly and making baskets is the moment the Pistons blow this game.

Rip Hamilton has to continue his offensive production.  If he has a bad game, the Pistons have a bad game.  Chauncey Billups, no matter what kind of streak he gets in, can't do it alone.  And we're still waiting for Rasheed Wallace to have a 15+ point game and stop being a distraction and a letdown for the Pistons.  I know it's hard for him to do, but he must keep his emotions in check and place his eyes on the basket.

These questions will be answered tonight.  See ya then.

Pew's Hispanic Research Center has had their nosees to the grind, and this is what they found out about illegal Mexican immigrants (via Craig DeLuz):

Passel's report dismantled another widely held assumption: Only 3 percent of the undocumented immigrants work in agriculture. The greatest numbers, 33 percent, work in the service industry.

The rest work in construction, production, installation and repair, sales and administration, transportation and material moving, and management and business.

And that's not all, as Pew's press release shows:

Unauthorized workers make up a large share of the workforce in a number of occupations that require neither government licensing nor education credentials. For example, about a quarter of all drywall and ceiling tile installers in the United States are unauthorized migrants, as are about a quarter of all meat and poultry workers and a quarter of all dishwashers.

And who do you think, other than whites, make up the gist of construction jobs other than whites, or work in the meat and poultry (definitely in NC) industry, or wash dishes at restaurants?

The answer?  Blacks.

Having lived in both urban and surburban Atlanta and lived in rural North Carolina, I always knew these assumptions were always a crock, but the Pew study confirms it.  But Pew's most shocking statistic has to be that one out of every 11 Mexican residents are coming to the U.S.  Folks, that's an out-right migration, and it will continue to cost jobs for both blacks and entry-level whites in the years ahead.

Chris Kelly over at Michelle Malkin's Immigration Blog links to a CS Monitor article about the other side of immigration, as Indians from as far as 500 miles away are moving into Mexico to help manage the fields that illegal immigrants leave behind.  Mark In Mexico, who I've noticed in the last couple of days, has a few words on this as well.

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UPDATE:  Another thing I wanted to mention in this entry was the illegal immigrant crackdown in New England, where they arrested 187 illegal immigrants in six days; a good number of them on violent crimes charges, including rape, drug trafficking, assault and battery, among other things. 

So yeah, some of them are finding other things to do....when they aren't working of course.

Good line by Jay Tea at Wizbang:  "But I'm sure these people are just committing the rapes, assaults, and drug crimes that Americans don't want to do."