May 17, 2008
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Robert59
Recent comments by this user
McCain Promises To Win War, Kill Bin Laden, Stop Terrorism In One Term
Oil Billionaire T. Boone Pickens Orders 667 Wind Turbines
I think it goes beyond oil. Pickens is from the Panhandle. He's seeing these communities dry up and die. Ranches and farms don't require lots of workers. Small towns have almost zero industries.
These wind farms could be the salvation of small town America. They will have to be maintained, rebuilt every 30 to 40 years. Who knows? Some of the construction might actually make more sense to have fabricated close to the source.
Even tycoons have a nostalgic side to them. Oil created alot of jobs and pumped alot of dollars into small towns, but the work force was often migratory, creating instability which hurt the community.
Can you imagine all the skilled craftsmen and engineers this industry will demand? posted 05/15/2008 at 18:45:42
These wind farms could be the salvation of small town America. They will have to be maintained, rebuilt every 30 to 40 years. Who knows? Some of the construction might actually make more sense to have fabricated close to the source.
Even tycoons have a nostalgic side to them. Oil created alot of jobs and pumped alot of dollars into small towns, but the work force was often migratory, creating instability which hurt the community.
Can you imagine all the skilled craftsmen and engineers this industry will demand? posted 05/15/2008 at 18:45:42
You're right. It doesn't make sense. Having lived in S.A. there are plenty of commercial buildings with hundreds of thousands of square feet of flat roofs, ideal places to mount solar panels.
And old warehouses could have a second life. Most are structurally sound. Put solar panels on the roofs. posted 05/15/2008 at 18:37:33
And old warehouses could have a second life. Most are structurally sound. Put solar panels on the roofs. posted 05/15/2008 at 18:37:33
What I intend to do is spend the 6 to 7 thousand dollars it costs and invest in a geothermal system for my house. That will pay for itself in a couple of years driving my utility bills from 300 a month to 50.
I can then take the money saved from that and invest in an electric car.
The money saved not buying gas I can install a combined system of solar panels.
I don't know where you live but talk to someone about going geothermal and if it's possible. Here the ground is soft. Go 6 feet down, lay pipes, run air or water through them, install a heat pump for the air, heat it to the temperature you like which is only a few degrees, ditto for your water heater, and you're pocketing real coin immediately. posted 05/15/2008 at 17:17:06
I can then take the money saved from that and invest in an electric car.
The money saved not buying gas I can install a combined system of solar panels.
I don't know where you live but talk to someone about going geothermal and if it's possible. Here the ground is soft. Go 6 feet down, lay pipes, run air or water through them, install a heat pump for the air, heat it to the temperature you like which is only a few degrees, ditto for your water heater, and you're pocketing real coin immediately. posted 05/15/2008 at 17:17:06
Individual photovoltaic solar units is laudable, but not great public policy. It would be better if we spent our tax dollars building giant solar thermal farms.
But Kill the Messenger makes an even better point; we need to do this while learning to conserve. Geothermal heating/cooling of houses, insulated concrete for walls, rainwater capture systems, all of these should be the standard. posted 05/15/2008 at 17:11:32
But Kill the Messenger makes an even better point; we need to do this while learning to conserve. Geothermal heating/cooling of houses, insulated concrete for walls, rainwater capture systems, all of these should be the standard. posted 05/15/2008 at 17:11:32
Actually, doing it would provide power to close to 3 million (based on the Texas model). Since Rhode Island is only a little over a 1000 square miles and the U.S. is 3,537,438.44 square miles you're thinking small.
239,000 square miles would do it but that's if we based it on land. We can generate a whole lot more energy putting them at sea. And it's not like they take up all the land they are on. Here's what each model needs.
For best performance, the GE 1.5-megawatt turbine needs 82 unobstructed acres around it and the Vestas V90 needs 111. On a ridgeline, the sloping away of the land and the hope that the wind is always perpendicular to the line of the ridge mean that about 5 acres are actually cleared around each turbine.
That's 173 thousand turbines for the entire U.S. at 111 acres per turbine (19 million acres) 29,687 square miles a drop in the bucket. posted 05/15/2008 at 17:07:22
239,000 square miles would do it but that's if we based it on land. We can generate a whole lot more energy putting them at sea. And it's not like they take up all the land they are on. Here's what each model needs.
For best performance, the GE 1.5-megawatt turbine needs 82 unobstructed acres around it and the Vestas V90 needs 111. On a ridgeline, the sloping away of the land and the hope that the wind is always perpendicular to the line of the ridge mean that about 5 acres are actually cleared around each turbine.
That's 173 thousand turbines for the entire U.S. at 111 acres per turbine (19 million acres) 29,687 square miles a drop in the bucket. posted 05/15/2008 at 17:07:22
And I bet if you wanted to you couldn't get a loan. Unless it's a home equity loan at an adjustable rate. Again, we need smart policies, not stupid ones like the one we just saw (160 billion that accomplished nothing tangible). posted 05/15/2008 at 16:50:13
Tom,
I like the way you think. I just hope with fresh blood in Congress and in the White House we can pressure those feeding at the trough to go on a severe diet.
You're right about the need for desalinization plants. Another option is massive pipelines bringing fresh water from Canada and the northern U.S. to the arid west.
Investing in infrastructure will enrich this nation, but it will take a long term commitment and it's going to take smart federal investments. posted 05/15/2008 at 16:46:48
I like the way you think. I just hope with fresh blood in Congress and in the White House we can pressure those feeding at the trough to go on a severe diet.
You're right about the need for desalinization plants. Another option is massive pipelines bringing fresh water from Canada and the northern U.S. to the arid west.
Investing in infrastructure will enrich this nation, but it will take a long term commitment and it's going to take smart federal investments. posted 05/15/2008 at 16:46:48
It's not free. There's an alternative, called communism. The state builds it and maintains it with tax dollars. Oilmen have been profiting from Mother Nature ever since they discovered oil could be used to create energy.
Sure he'll make a profit, but what's wrong with that? What he won't make is Mafia like profits. posted 05/15/2008 at 15:53:45
Sure he'll make a profit, but what's wrong with that? What he won't make is Mafia like profits. posted 05/15/2008 at 15:53:45
Solar thermal is an even bigger part of the answer.
It can take the heat generated and store it in what is essentially a salt bath for later use. Or it can go even further. Since it generates so much heat it can make the production of hydrogen cost effective. The hydrogen produced can be used to power the plants that generate electricity.
We can only do this if government leads the way making it possible for companies to build wind and solar farms. I'm even for giving the automakers billions to completely retool to produce only electric cars.
And Central Texas should be safe for the bats. The Panhandle is much better, but the best place on land is North Dakota. Even better would be to site them offshore. posted 05/15/2008 at 15:49:22
It can take the heat generated and store it in what is essentially a salt bath for later use. Or it can go even further. Since it generates so much heat it can make the production of hydrogen cost effective. The hydrogen produced can be used to power the plants that generate electricity.
We can only do this if government leads the way making it possible for companies to build wind and solar farms. I'm even for giving the automakers billions to completely retool to produce only electric cars.
And Central Texas should be safe for the bats. The Panhandle is much better, but the best place on land is North Dakota. Even better would be to site them offshore. posted 05/15/2008 at 15:49:22
Do the math.
For 36 billion we could provide all the wind 23.5 million Texans need. At night they could plug in their cars and have them recharged for the next day.
400,000 acres sounds like a lot, but it's only a 25 mile by 25 mile piece of land.
Texans used 285,419,000 barrels of oil to drive their cars and trucks.
At $126 a barrel that's nearly 36 billion a year, 3/4 of it going overseas.
36 billion is a small investment. For the price of one year's oil purchases Texas could become energy independent.
This is a no brainer. Congress, if you want to pump up the economy how about doing smart deficit spending? Screw income tax rebates and housing bailouts. Invest our dollars in energy independence.
300 million people in this country. For every 2 billion invested in wind we could provide power to 1.3 million people. Clean power, putting Americans to work in manufacturing and construction. Good for the environment, good for the nation, good for the world (since we consume 25 percent of the energy).
Compare the 460 billion invested in wind against what we spend on oil each year (2. 77 billion a day). In less than 5 months it's paid for itself, good for 30 to 40 years. posted 05/15/2008 at 15:43:16
For 36 billion we could provide all the wind 23.5 million Texans need. At night they could plug in their cars and have them recharged for the next day.
400,000 acres sounds like a lot, but it's only a 25 mile by 25 mile piece of land.
Texans used 285,419,000 barrels of oil to drive their cars and trucks.
At $126 a barrel that's nearly 36 billion a year, 3/4 of it going overseas.
36 billion is a small investment. For the price of one year's oil purchases Texas could become energy independent.
This is a no brainer. Congress, if you want to pump up the economy how about doing smart deficit spending? Screw income tax rebates and housing bailouts. Invest our dollars in energy independence.
300 million people in this country. For every 2 billion invested in wind we could provide power to 1.3 million people. Clean power, putting Americans to work in manufacturing and construction. Good for the environment, good for the nation, good for the world (since we consume 25 percent of the energy).
Compare the 460 billion invested in wind against what we spend on oil each year (2. 77 billion a day). In less than 5 months it's paid for itself, good for 30 to 40 years. posted 05/15/2008 at 15:43:16
Even The Racists Are Deserting Hillary
And that's why West Virginia doesn't matter. McCain will get its electoral votes. Kentucky is the same way, but it's historically a lot more Republican. Clinton will do well there, but in the general election that state will go for McCain.
What's Obama to do? Stick with his plan. Get more people registered because it's those first time voters who are an untapped mother lode. Think about it. In a good year a little over 60% of registered voters cast their ballot in a presidential election. That leaves 40% of registered voters sitting at home basically voting NO. And what about the tens of millions of Americans who aren't registered.
Clinton is dividing the party and in the long run she's destroying her electability. If she gets the nomination she'll alienate millions of Obama supporters who will feel cheated. She'll alienate millions more who might have voted. McCain will win. And in 4 years she'll try again but get nowhere. posted 05/14/2008 at 14:06:30
What's Obama to do? Stick with his plan. Get more people registered because it's those first time voters who are an untapped mother lode. Think about it. In a good year a little over 60% of registered voters cast their ballot in a presidential election. That leaves 40% of registered voters sitting at home basically voting NO. And what about the tens of millions of Americans who aren't registered.
Clinton is dividing the party and in the long run she's destroying her electability. If she gets the nomination she'll alienate millions of Obama supporters who will feel cheated. She'll alienate millions more who might have voted. McCain will win. And in 4 years she'll try again but get nowhere. posted 05/14/2008 at 14:06:30
Hillary Agonistes: Why Doesn't She Concede?
She would rather destroy the party than to not be the nominee.
She aims to take this all the way to the convention. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot. 15 June means nothing. Do the math and if she wins the remaining primaries she still can't beat Obama.
She'll plead her case in 'smoke filled' back rooms, twist arms, cut deals, and steal the nomination.
What she fails to grasp is by doing that she will hand McCain the keys to the White House. All those Obama supporters will stay home come election day. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:22:18
She aims to take this all the way to the convention. Anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot. 15 June means nothing. Do the math and if she wins the remaining primaries she still can't beat Obama.
She'll plead her case in 'smoke filled' back rooms, twist arms, cut deals, and steal the nomination.
What she fails to grasp is by doing that she will hand McCain the keys to the White House. All those Obama supporters will stay home come election day. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:22:18
The Israel I Was Fighting For
And Bubba,
The bigger point I was trying to make is monetary compensation to the Palestinians in return for right of return. Why isn't that part of the equation? I'm all for a Jewish homeland, but let's be serious. We in the West did good authorizing its creation, but we also did bad screwing the Palestinians out of their land.
Why aren't Germany and Italy paying the Palestinians? Why wasn't Bavaria made the Jewish people's new country?
Arabs Muslims have a mixed history of dealing with Jews, but they weren't the promulgators of the Holocaust. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:37:12
The bigger point I was trying to make is monetary compensation to the Palestinians in return for right of return. Why isn't that part of the equation? I'm all for a Jewish homeland, but let's be serious. We in the West did good authorizing its creation, but we also did bad screwing the Palestinians out of their land.
Why aren't Germany and Italy paying the Palestinians? Why wasn't Bavaria made the Jewish people's new country?
Arabs Muslims have a mixed history of dealing with Jews, but they weren't the promulgators of the Holocaust. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:37:12
Bubba,
Look at the number of settlements built in the West Bank and tell me Israel isn't expanding its borders. Even Bush talks about the settlements referring to their existence as the reality on the ground.
I'm not throwing stones only at Israel, but it has shown zero good faith when it comes to settlement construction. And since Israel has the power, it's pretty obvious the Palestinians haven't increased the size of the land they hold. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:32:58
Look at the number of settlements built in the West Bank and tell me Israel isn't expanding its borders. Even Bush talks about the settlements referring to their existence as the reality on the ground.
I'm not throwing stones only at Israel, but it has shown zero good faith when it comes to settlement construction. And since Israel has the power, it's pretty obvious the Palestinians haven't increased the size of the land they hold. posted 05/14/2008 at 00:32:58
I understand why Jews felt the only way to have real security was through the creation of a Jewish state. And I understand why the UN approved the creation of Israel.
What I never understood is why anyone is suprised at the Arab reaction. And I don't think groups like Hamas want peace, but something I've never heard in all of this is compensation in lieu of right of return.
Israel doesn't help matters when it constantly expands its borders creating new facts on the ground.
What would happen if the international community dictated a solution, calling for Israel to withdraw to the pre 67 borders, creating a Palestine with the remaining land, constructing a wall if need be and militarily separating the two peoples, and attacking if necessary those who commit violence? What would happen if to pay for the creation of a Palestine the European community funded it?
I understand why a Jewish democracy can make a strong case for being unique, but the West failed to compensate the Arabs for their losses. Maybe it wouldn't make a difference, but maybe it would. posted 05/13/2008 at 19:18:58
What I never understood is why anyone is suprised at the Arab reaction. And I don't think groups like Hamas want peace, but something I've never heard in all of this is compensation in lieu of right of return.
Israel doesn't help matters when it constantly expands its borders creating new facts on the ground.
What would happen if the international community dictated a solution, calling for Israel to withdraw to the pre 67 borders, creating a Palestine with the remaining land, constructing a wall if need be and militarily separating the two peoples, and attacking if necessary those who commit violence? What would happen if to pay for the creation of a Palestine the European community funded it?
I understand why a Jewish democracy can make a strong case for being unique, but the West failed to compensate the Arabs for their losses. Maybe it wouldn't make a difference, but maybe it would. posted 05/13/2008 at 19:18:58
What Men Can Learn From French Women
I never and I mean never wear a watch. And I'm never late. posted 05/14/2008 at 14:18:39
Mortgage Companies Post Losses, Reveal Extent Of Crisis
The person reporting this should do some analysis before writing, "there were also some hope that the worst of the housing crisis is over."
The subprime peak hits this month and next meaning foreclosures won't peak until October, November.
Then a year later the Opt As reset. Smaller numbers but bigger in terms of dollars. Those foreclosures will hit late Dec 2009 Jan 2010.
We are 19 to 20 months from seeing the full impact. Anything else is wishful thinking or outright lies. posted 05/13/2008 at 00:33:10
The subprime peak hits this month and next meaning foreclosures won't peak until October, November.
Then a year later the Opt As reset. Smaller numbers but bigger in terms of dollars. Those foreclosures will hit late Dec 2009 Jan 2010.
We are 19 to 20 months from seeing the full impact. Anything else is wishful thinking or outright lies. posted 05/13/2008 at 00:33:10
JPMorgan Chase CEO: Recession Just Beginning
I think the 82 recession which hit my family and I hard (my parents lost their house), I newly possessed of a master's degree, couldn't find a job much less get an interview after sending out 300 resumes. Whole neighborhoods in Houston and to a lesser extent in Dallas became ghost towns.
The '82 recession will look like the good old days compared to this next downturn which is why I think they're low balling it.
The country's economic fundamentals are in a mess. A 10 trillion dollar national debt, oil still climbing, two wars, and we haven't even talked about all the personal debt out there and the first of two waves of foreclosures, neither of which have peaked.
The '82 recession, it's why I ended up in the military. posted 05/13/2008 at 16:16:19
The '82 recession will look like the good old days compared to this next downturn which is why I think they're low balling it.
The country's economic fundamentals are in a mess. A 10 trillion dollar national debt, oil still climbing, two wars, and we haven't even talked about all the personal debt out there and the first of two waves of foreclosures, neither of which have peaked.
The '82 recession, it's why I ended up in the military. posted 05/13/2008 at 16:16:19
First Warren Buffet now the CEO of JP Morgan Chase telling us they think we're in a recession. Neither professes to know how deep it will be; my guess is they are both low balling it as to call it like it is would terrify people.
As for the stock market what a useless gauge of the economy and the president is even worse. posted 05/13/2008 at 14:51:20
As for the stock market what a useless gauge of the economy and the president is even worse. posted 05/13/2008 at 14:51:20
Sex And The American Mom: 1 In 3 Report Getting Action On The Side
I'm not surprised. I know alot of men who are married to very nice looking women and they spend their free time griping about their wives while ogling every thing that walks by or pops up on the screen. Alot of them turn down their wives obvious attempts to have sex in favor of doing something else.
So what's a girl to do? Find someone who puts out physically and emotionally whose attention is on her as a complete package. And if they can't meet that someone they'll go for someone who at least pretends. posted 05/13/2008 at 14:44:58
So what's a girl to do? Find someone who puts out physically and emotionally whose attention is on her as a complete package. And if they can't meet that someone they'll go for someone who at least pretends. posted 05/13/2008 at 14:44:58
The Bipartisanship Scam
It's not a mistake or a parody, but written from a Republican point of view.
Where I work I'm knee deep in the bastards. Now I know how Davey Crockett felt at the Alamo,except it's not Santa Anna's army that has me surrounded, but hard core Republicans.
And Arianna they believe everything bad is because of the Democrats. They've tried to extend a hand, but we keep slapping it away.
Amazing how I get through a shift without puking or going postal. posted 05/13/2008 at 14:38:54
Where I work I'm knee deep in the bastards. Now I know how Davey Crockett felt at the Alamo,except it's not Santa Anna's army that has me surrounded, but hard core Republicans.
And Arianna they believe everything bad is because of the Democrats. They've tried to extend a hand, but we keep slapping it away.
Amazing how I get through a shift without puking or going postal. posted 05/13/2008 at 14:38:54
Beirut Is Burning
Yeah, Durango. I'm an idiot and a veteran of the first Gulf War.
A million died in the Iran/Iraq war fought over 8 years.
Do you remember the fire bombings of Dresden (24, 000 to 40,000 over 3 days),
Battle for Berlin (530,000 dead), Stalingrad (nearly 2 million dead), Philippines campaign where the Japanese lost 400,000 soldiers? I haven't even scratched the surface. And we haven't even talked about WW1, the 62,000 who died the first day of the Battle of the Somme?
The bigger point you missed is the threat to the west posed by radical Islam, minimal.
Like I wrote earlier, the Iraqis and Iranians are amateurs when it comes to total war. posted 05/11/2008 at 18:34:06
A million died in the Iran/Iraq war fought over 8 years.
Do you remember the fire bombings of Dresden (24, 000 to 40,000 over 3 days),
Battle for Berlin (530,000 dead), Stalingrad (nearly 2 million dead), Philippines campaign where the Japanese lost 400,000 soldiers? I haven't even scratched the surface. And we haven't even talked about WW1, the 62,000 who died the first day of the Battle of the Somme?
The bigger point you missed is the threat to the west posed by radical Islam, minimal.
Like I wrote earlier, the Iraqis and Iranians are amateurs when it comes to total war. posted 05/11/2008 at 18:34:06
Article 24 of the Lebanese Constitution
(1) The Chamber of Deputies is composed of elected members; their number and the method of their election is determined by the electoral laws in effect. Until such time as the Chamber enacts new electoral laws on a non-confessional basis, the distribution of seats is according to the following principles:
a. Equal representation between Christians and Muslims.
b. Proportional representation among the confessional groups within each religious community.
c. Proportional representation among geographic regions.
(2) Exceptionally, and for one time only, the seats that are currently vacant, as well as the new seats that have been established by law, are to be filled by appointment, all at once, and by a majority of two thirds of the Government of National Unity. This is to establish equality between Christians and Muslims as stipulated in the Document of National Accord [The Taif Agreement]. The electoral laws will specify the details regarding the implementation of this clause. posted 05/11/2008 at 09:33:48
(1) The Chamber of Deputies is composed of elected members; their number and the method of their election is determined by the electoral laws in effect. Until such time as the Chamber enacts new electoral laws on a non-confessional basis, the distribution of seats is according to the following principles:
a. Equal representation between Christians and Muslims.
b. Proportional representation among the confessional groups within each religious community.
c. Proportional representation among geographic regions.
(2) Exceptionally, and for one time only, the seats that are currently vacant, as well as the new seats that have been established by law, are to be filled by appointment, all at once, and by a majority of two thirds of the Government of National Unity. This is to establish equality between Christians and Muslims as stipulated in the Document of National Accord [The Taif Agreement]. The electoral laws will specify the details regarding the implementation of this clause. posted 05/11/2008 at 09:33:48
I've read the same thing. And just this past week some of the more powerful ayatollahs chastised Ahmadinejad for spending too much time worrying about the end of times and the return of the 13th imam instead of more worldly problems like high inflation and unemployment.
Both Lebanon and Iraq are drains to the Iranian treasurer, but with oil at 126 a barrel, perhaps Iran is not feeling the pain as much as we thought.
Another reason for our nation to become energy independent. The media worries about China while the greatest transfer of wealth from the West occurs each time we fill up our cars. posted 05/11/2008 at 09:29:46
Both Lebanon and Iraq are drains to the Iranian treasurer, but with oil at 126 a barrel, perhaps Iran is not feeling the pain as much as we thought.
Another reason for our nation to become energy independent. The media worries about China while the greatest transfer of wealth from the West occurs each time we fill up our cars. posted 05/11/2008 at 09:29:46
Well written S1mon posted 05/11/2008 at 02:53:42
I don't doubt those Iranian diplomats have seen plenty of horrors, but the truth is Arabs and Persians don't have a clue about war. The Iran Iraq war was bloody, but it pales against the total war of WW2.
It's why I have never shaken in my boots at the thoughts of radical Islamists. The words make me think of the Wizard of Oz when they are walking in the woods. Instead of singing lions, tigers and bears oh my the words would be imams, mullahs, and radical Islamists oh my.
Over time Muslims will integrate into the west become more secular. But let's say they don't and they truly threaten the "West".
Should that happen, mass deportations, trade embargoes, and the bombing of every major city in the Islamic world would end the threat. Comparing any Islamic state to a cold war USSR or a Nazi Germany or Japan is ludicrous. They have no industrial base to speak of and no ability to really project power. They are at best an annoyance. posted 05/10/2008 at 18:38:06
It's why I have never shaken in my boots at the thoughts of radical Islamists. The words make me think of the Wizard of Oz when they are walking in the woods. Instead of singing lions, tigers and bears oh my the words would be imams, mullahs, and radical Islamists oh my.
Over time Muslims will integrate into the west become more secular. But let's say they don't and they truly threaten the "West".
Should that happen, mass deportations, trade embargoes, and the bombing of every major city in the Islamic world would end the threat. Comparing any Islamic state to a cold war USSR or a Nazi Germany or Japan is ludicrous. They have no industrial base to speak of and no ability to really project power. They are at best an annoyance. posted 05/10/2008 at 18:38:06
Nice editorial but you're scratching the surface and not going to the root of the problem. Lebanon's problems began a long time ago when it came up with a complex formula to share power rather than have true representative democracy. They were a democracy in name only and the peace between Sunnis, Christians, and Druze was tenuous. Shiites were not even part of the equation.
The influx of Palestinian refugees changed everything, upsetting the demographics and the balance of power as they brought all their weapons and their military experience with them. Lebanon became a failed nation the minute it let Palestinians use its territory to launch attacks from.
The ensuing civil war allowed the Shiites to step into the power vacuum as Sunnis and Christians slaughtered each other.
Iran and Syria found the Shiites to be perfect proxies.
If there was truly one man one vote Shiites would run the country unless Sunnis, Druze, and Christians joined together to block them. It's why the Shiites now dictate foreign policy.
The U.S. has little real influence in Lebanon because the groups that could control the Shiites, disarm them, integrate them fully into the government are too busy fighting each other.
Could our diplomacy be better? Yes as it could be based on reality, not desire, but it still wouldn't fix the Humpty Dumpty called Lebanon. posted 05/10/2008 at 18:26:28
The influx of Palestinian refugees changed everything, upsetting the demographics and the balance of power as they brought all their weapons and their military experience with them. Lebanon became a failed nation the minute it let Palestinians use its territory to launch attacks from.
The ensuing civil war allowed the Shiites to step into the power vacuum as Sunnis and Christians slaughtered each other.
Iran and Syria found the Shiites to be perfect proxies.
If there was truly one man one vote Shiites would run the country unless Sunnis, Druze, and Christians joined together to block them. It's why the Shiites now dictate foreign policy.
The U.S. has little real influence in Lebanon because the groups that could control the Shiites, disarm them, integrate them fully into the government are too busy fighting each other.
Could our diplomacy be better? Yes as it could be based on reality, not desire, but it still wouldn't fix the Humpty Dumpty called Lebanon. posted 05/10/2008 at 18:26:28
The Fierce Urgency of Now
You're right Larry, this is a crossroads election, akin to Lincoln or FDR. Unfortunately, even though I support Obama, I don't know if he is truly visionary or will it be four more years of kicking the can down the road.
I do know he is the best choice, but without sweeping victories in Congress he will have a hard time getting much done. The reality is other than the war and all things tied to the War Bush accomplished little real change and none one could define as visionary.
If energy independence isn't the foundation of this next presidency we're going to see things go from bad to worse. As we meet all our energy needs through domestic production we'll create millions of jobs, meaning billions more taxes to pay off the debt. But we also need to tackle the biggies health care and retirement.
It's not just the federal government who has made promises it can't keep, but businesses and state and city governments. The amount of unfunded pensions is mind boggling and through accounting slights of hand they've hidden the real cost. posted 05/12/2008 at 10:21:44
I do know he is the best choice, but without sweeping victories in Congress he will have a hard time getting much done. The reality is other than the war and all things tied to the War Bush accomplished little real change and none one could define as visionary.
If energy independence isn't the foundation of this next presidency we're going to see things go from bad to worse. As we meet all our energy needs through domestic production we'll create millions of jobs, meaning billions more taxes to pay off the debt. But we also need to tackle the biggies health care and retirement.
It's not just the federal government who has made promises it can't keep, but businesses and state and city governments. The amount of unfunded pensions is mind boggling and through accounting slights of hand they've hidden the real cost. posted 05/12/2008 at 10:21:44
Let's "Bomb" Myanmar -- with Rice
People have no grasp on how difficult and how inefficient mass airdrops are. We did this during Bosnia Herzogovina (high altitude drops delivering Meals Ready to Eat). The environment was benign compared to Myanmar.
In B-H, the people didn't need potable water, but in Myanmar they do. Very difficult to airdrop water without it breaking to pieces. And besides what the people need are ways to filter the water that is available and make it safe to drink, cook, and wash with.
If we really care about the innocent loss of life what we should do is take the Burmese government at its word, deliver the aid to airports they choose and let them distribute it. If they fail or use it inappropriately the culpa is theirs not ours.
What we could insist on is for them to allow us to set up crisis response groups (in the old days known as airlift control elements) who would control the airhead, handle the parking of the aircraft and the cargo offload. Since most of it will be palletized they would ensure the pallets get back on later aircraft to be used again. posted 05/10/2008 at 16:18:26
In B-H, the people didn't need potable water, but in Myanmar they do. Very difficult to airdrop water without it breaking to pieces. And besides what the people need are ways to filter the water that is available and make it safe to drink, cook, and wash with.
If we really care about the innocent loss of life what we should do is take the Burmese government at its word, deliver the aid to airports they choose and let them distribute it. If they fail or use it inappropriately the culpa is theirs not ours.
What we could insist on is for them to allow us to set up crisis response groups (in the old days known as airlift control elements) who would control the airhead, handle the parking of the aircraft and the cargo offload. Since most of it will be palletized they would ensure the pallets get back on later aircraft to be used again. posted 05/10/2008 at 16:18:26
Not as simple as you make it.
A couple of things worth pointing out.
The Myanmar regime has threatened to shoot down any aircraft trying to airdrop supplies without its approval. They possess enough surface to air missiles (SA-2s and man portable shoulder launched) and fighter aircraft (to include MIG 29s and F-7s) to make their threat credible to a transport aircraft that is flying low and slow conducting an airdrop.
The other thing about airdrops is without people on the ground ensuring a safe drop zone, people will get killed or supplies end up in inaccessible places.
The international community lacks the will to militarily go into Myanmar, topple the dictatorship, and provide humanitarian relief. What will happen instead is half a million or more will die. posted 05/10/2008 at 15:35:10
A couple of things worth pointing out.
The Myanmar regime has threatened to shoot down any aircraft trying to airdrop supplies without its approval. They possess enough surface to air missiles (SA-2s and man portable shoulder launched) and fighter aircraft (to include MIG 29s and F-7s) to make their threat credible to a transport aircraft that is flying low and slow conducting an airdrop.
The other thing about airdrops is without people on the ground ensuring a safe drop zone, people will get killed or supplies end up in inaccessible places.
The international community lacks the will to militarily go into Myanmar, topple the dictatorship, and provide humanitarian relief. What will happen instead is half a million or more will die. posted 05/10/2008 at 15:35:10
Killing the Dream
Knowledge is a racist. He is not what the civil rights movement was about. And who is he to demand land? Segregation is not the answer.
I found it a knee slapper he wants land in the northwest which has been a haven for America's other nut jobs, from neo Nazis to end of worlders.
As for reparations take them and like BubbaC33 said transfer them to the families of Union soldiers (vast majority had no dog in the fight; they didn't own slaves and the end of slavery meant nothing to them economically) who died fighting so they could be free.
If any group deserves land it's the Native Americans.
Perhaps Obama can get blacks to start expanding their vision of what's possible and start seeing the good in America (and I'm not saying there's bad because there is). You won't get there in a return to segregation. Look at Liberia and what a success that turned out. Or how about Haiti? posted 05/12/2008 at 10:39:10
I found it a knee slapper he wants land in the northwest which has been a haven for America's other nut jobs, from neo Nazis to end of worlders.
As for reparations take them and like BubbaC33 said transfer them to the families of Union soldiers (vast majority had no dog in the fight; they didn't own slaves and the end of slavery meant nothing to them economically) who died fighting so they could be free.
If any group deserves land it's the Native Americans.
Perhaps Obama can get blacks to start expanding their vision of what's possible and start seeing the good in America (and I'm not saying there's bad because there is). You won't get there in a return to segregation. Look at Liberia and what a success that turned out. Or how about Haiti? posted 05/12/2008 at 10:39:10
TRCimino,
You must be a realtor or someone who confuses emotion with math. If you want to really help a poor person, educate them on why they it's in their best interest to rent and to invest.
Previous generations of Americans had it alot worse than today's and they saved. This is where I part with many of my fellow liberals as individuals have to assume responsibility. It's up to us to provide them tools to make smart decisions, not to decide what is best for them. posted 05/11/2008 at 21:39:26
You must be a realtor or someone who confuses emotion with math. If you want to really help a poor person, educate them on why they it's in their best interest to rent and to invest.
Previous generations of Americans had it alot worse than today's and they saved. This is where I part with many of my fellow liberals as individuals have to assume responsibility. It's up to us to provide them tools to make smart decisions, not to decide what is best for them. posted 05/11/2008 at 21:39:26
You're overlooking the interest you are paying to own that home. To own that 225,000 house you paid almost 261,000 in interest. And that interest is not a one for one swap with your taxes but your taxable income. At 28% tax rate your benefit for that interest is 73,000 dollars.
So you still paid 188,000 in interest. Take it to its logical conclusion. Just to break even on your investment you need sell that house 30 years down the road for 413,000. Granted if you paid historical rent averages (5% of the house price or 937 a month, 11,244 annually, or 337,320 for 30 years you'd still be in the red 76,000 dollars.
Now what if you had taken the difference between your historical rent (937) and your mortgage (1349) which is 412 dollars and invested it at the same 6%. At the end of 30 years you'd have 416,341.50 in the bank.
Rent doesn't seem so stupid now does it? posted 05/11/2008 at 09:57:15
So you still paid 188,000 in interest. Take it to its logical conclusion. Just to break even on your investment you need sell that house 30 years down the road for 413,000. Granted if you paid historical rent averages (5% of the house price or 937 a month, 11,244 annually, or 337,320 for 30 years you'd still be in the red 76,000 dollars.
Now what if you had taken the difference between your historical rent (937) and your mortgage (1349) which is 412 dollars and invested it at the same 6%. At the end of 30 years you'd have 416,341.50 in the bank.
Rent doesn't seem so stupid now does it? posted 05/11/2008 at 09:57:15
What is so bad about renting? I rented for 20 years, loved the freedom it gave me. Our kids never felt deprived they were living in a rental. And the freedom it gave us was liberating. I bought a home 5 years ago for sentimental reasons, not financial ones. And while I love this house it's an albatross in many respects.
As for Mr. Bell you need to go back and listen to the eyewitness accounts. Were the cops scared? You bet which is why they fired alot of bullets. As for Mr. Bell and his passengers they were the ones shouting about getting guns.
Liquored up courage and lots of posturing got them shot and Mr. Bell dead. posted 05/10/2008 at 19:15:39
As for Mr. Bell you need to go back and listen to the eyewitness accounts. Were the cops scared? You bet which is why they fired alot of bullets. As for Mr. Bell and his passengers they were the ones shouting about getting guns.
Liquored up courage and lots of posturing got them shot and Mr. Bell dead. posted 05/10/2008 at 19:15:39
Here's more. Rent almost never exceeds a house note.
Take a 225,000 house. Payments on a 30 year note at 6% would be $1384. (X 12 would be 16608 annual payments). That's nearly 7.4 percent rent/price yield just to break even.
To get back down to the historical 5% rent/price yield (annual rent of 11250 or $937 a month) the price of that house needs to drop to a little over 156,000 (69,000 dollars).
What is a reasonable rent/price yield for US residential real estate? According to Morris Davis of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Andreas Lehnert and Robert Martin of the Fed, the long-term average is 5% (i.e. the annual rent of a house should be about 5% of its market value). As the Economist magazine has reported, at the height of the US housing boom, this figure dropped to as low as 3.5%.
Currently, this ratio is at about 4.3%, which implies that average US housing price has to drop another 14% in order to return to its historical fair value. posted 05/10/2008 at 19:08:13
Take a 225,000 house. Payments on a 30 year note at 6% would be $1384. (X 12 would be 16608 annual payments). That's nearly 7.4 percent rent/price yield just to break even.
To get back down to the historical 5% rent/price yield (annual rent of 11250 or $937 a month) the price of that house needs to drop to a little over 156,000 (69,000 dollars).
What is a reasonable rent/price yield for US residential real estate? According to Morris Davis of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Andreas Lehnert and Robert Martin of the Fed, the long-term average is 5% (i.e. the annual rent of a house should be about 5% of its market value). As the Economist magazine has reported, at the height of the US housing boom, this figure dropped to as low as 3.5%.
Currently, this ratio is at about 4.3%, which implies that average US housing price has to drop another 14% in order to return to its historical fair value. posted 05/10/2008 at 19:08:13
And I'm telling you it's a horrible investment. Most families would be much better off renting and socking away money into stocks and bonds. And equity means nothing if you can't sell the house to return to you what you've invested.
Home ownership is nice for emotional reasons, not financial ones. posted 05/10/2008 at 18:57:33
Home ownership is nice for emotional reasons, not financial ones. posted 05/10/2008 at 18:57:33
TRCimino,
I'm compelled to comment, "For many, their home is the only form of investment they can afford."
Homes are actually horrible investments and they always have been. By the time you pay it off you've paid three times what it's worth. In addition you've sunk tons of money maintaining it over the course of the 30 year on average payoff. Throw in repairs. And we haven't even talked about the taxes you pay for living in a home you own versus one you rent.
Home ownership is all about the heart, not the wallet, just like Valentine's or Mother's Day. posted 05/10/2008 at 16:25:35
I'm compelled to comment, "For many, their home is the only form of investment they can afford."
Homes are actually horrible investments and they always have been. By the time you pay it off you've paid three times what it's worth. In addition you've sunk tons of money maintaining it over the course of the 30 year on average payoff. Throw in repairs. And we haven't even talked about the taxes you pay for living in a home you own versus one you rent.
Home ownership is all about the heart, not the wallet, just like Valentine's or Mother's Day. posted 05/10/2008 at 16:25:35
What I don't understand about Republicans is they are taxpayers too and this bailout of Wall Street and this housing disaster is going to hit them like everyone else, but they have a blind spot as huge as Texas when it comes to taxpayer funded welfare for the rich. posted 05/10/2008 at 15:26:19
That's exactly the point Angelus. It's up to the institution, not the individual, to level with someone and tell them NO, you don't qualify, I'm not issuing you a credit card, here's what you can afford.
They however didn't and stil don't. These institutions are VULTURES.
I'll give you a great example. Just today my teenager received a credit card in the mail. She obtained it on line. Her credit limit for this card is $250.00. APR for purchases is 9.9%, for cash advances 19.9%. The best is yet to come.
She is unemployed. And her available credit isn't $250.00 but $71.00 because to have the privilege of using this credit card (which she pays interest on) she owes $95.00 for a program fee, $29.00 for an account set up fee, $48.00 for an annual fee, and $7.00 for a monthly servicing fee (total $179.00).
If that doesn't illustrate the criminality and predatory nature of the finance industry nothing does. posted 05/10/2008 at 15:24:29
They however didn't and stil don't. These institutions are VULTURES.
I'll give you a great example. Just today my teenager received a credit card in the mail. She obtained it on line. Her credit limit for this card is $250.00. APR for purchases is 9.9%, for cash advances 19.9%. The best is yet to come.
She is unemployed. And her available credit isn't $250.00 but $71.00 because to have the privilege of using this credit card (which she pays interest on) she owes $95.00 for a program fee, $29.00 for an account set up fee, $48.00 for an annual fee, and $7.00 for a monthly servicing fee (total $179.00).
If that doesn't illustrate the criminality and predatory nature of the finance industry nothing does. posted 05/10/2008 at 15:24:29
No azureblue, you're wrong.
Rents correlate with income while house prices don't. There are plenty of places in the country where rents are affordable but house prices aren't.
And comparing rent to house payments is an excellent way to see just how out of kilter house prices are. posted 05/10/2008 at 15:14:10
Rents correlate with income while house prices don't. There are plenty of places in the country where rents are affordable but house prices aren't.
And comparing rent to house payments is an excellent way to see just how out of kilter house prices are. posted 05/10/2008 at 15:14:10
How so Derek?
Why should the mortage companies get a free ride at the taxpayer expense and the poor homeowner lose his house? Who cooked the books and got those homeowners into houses they couldn't afford?
No one says the judge has to let the homeowner stay; if they can't afford what he deems fair the judge can either offer the same terms to another buyer or give it to the mortgage holder.
Personal responsiblity applies to companies too. posted 05/10/2008 at 07:29:32
Why should the mortage companies get a free ride at the taxpayer expense and the poor homeowner lose his house? Who cooked the books and got those homeowners into houses they couldn't afford?
No one says the judge has to let the homeowner stay; if they can't afford what he deems fair the judge can either offer the same terms to another buyer or give it to the mortgage holder.
Personal responsiblity applies to companies too. posted 05/10/2008 at 07:29:32
Raymondf
I am a liberal. Like you I'm also frugal and I do believe in personal responsibility which is why the mortgage companies should have to eat the greed they served up. Have a great vacation! posted 05/10/2008 at 00:32:36
I am a liberal. Like you I'm also frugal and I do believe in personal responsibility which is why the mortgage companies should have to eat the greed they served up. Have a great vacation! posted 05/10/2008 at 00:32:36
Nice article. I'm not a big fan of Frank's plan as all it's doing is legitimizing the taxpayer bailout of Wall Street. His plan won't help the bottom 50 percent. The best plan is the one Wall Street and the administration are dead set against; judges empowered to make the decision as to what constitutes a fair payment plan at a reduced price. The mortgage holder then eats his bad decision.
That doesn't fly because mortgage companies know they can salvage more of their loss through the current system.
Next year when the alt As resest and those houses go into default Wall Street will be singing a different song.
Don't be so assured the voters won't be fooled. They followed the current president over the cliff. And many of them are buying the race card or the Muslim card or the weak on defense card when it comes to Obama. And I'm sure plenty of them were salivating over the idea of a gas tax holiday not understanding it will make things worse (drive up the price by increasing demand, defer maintenance on roads and highways causing the layoffs of tens of thousands of those hard working Americans you write about). Ditto for the calls to drill in ANWR (doesn't help a bit) or for more refineries (cuts into oil company profits so they don't want them). posted 05/09/2008 at 18:29:15
That doesn't fly because mortgage companies know they can salvage more of their loss through the current system.
Next year when the alt As resest and those houses go into default Wall Street will be singing a different song.
Don't be so assured the voters won't be fooled. They followed the current president over the cliff. And many of them are buying the race card or the Muslim card or the weak on defense card when it comes to Obama. And I'm sure plenty of them were salivating over the idea of a gas tax holiday not understanding it will make things worse (drive up the price by increasing demand, defer maintenance on roads and highways causing the layoffs of tens of thousands of those hard working Americans you write about). Ditto for the calls to drill in ANWR (doesn't help a bit) or for more refineries (cuts into oil company profits so they don't want them). posted 05/09/2008 at 18:29:15
The Recent Market Rebound? Just a Sucker's Rally
Amen Frangelica. posted 05/10/2008 at 07:25:24
This is bigger than a bear versus bull market. This is about power. The party in power is Republican; its supporters are Wall Street and big business. The goal is to keep as many Republicans in office come November as possible. The party wants to hold onto the presidency, but if that's not possible they'll settle for keeping the balance in Congress the way it is. The party already owns the Supreme Court. And the party has the allegiance of the general officers (the ones who count). And let's not forget the Fed (I'd bet the remainder of my life's retirement checks Bernanke is a Republican).
Their strategy to avoid a fiasco in November is to delay the recession. All indicators must be manipulated be to show some growth, however anemic. No two quarters of negative growth. And keeping Wall Street artificially propped up is a grand part of the equation. Who owns stocks? Republicans, mainly.
Who would leave the party and vote for an alternative should Wall Street reflect economic reality? The Republican base, the ones who give money that keeps the party in power.
And they don't care how they do it. Pump money we don't have into the economy is the strategy they've chosen. And the taxpayers are too stupid to realize Bush, Congress, and the Fed are making things worse not better.
Magicians creating an illusion. And Democrats like Pelosi are going along because if they didn't their party would be blamed for Bush's mess. posted 05/09/2008 at 15:51:34
Their strategy to avoid a fiasco in November is to delay the recession. All indicators must be manipulated be to show some growth, however anemic. No two quarters of negative growth. And keeping Wall Street artificially propped up is a grand part of the equation. Who owns stocks? Republicans, mainly.
Who would leave the party and vote for an alternative should Wall Street reflect economic reality? The Republican base, the ones who give money that keeps the party in power.
And they don't care how they do it. Pump money we don't have into the economy is the strategy they've chosen. And the taxpayers are too stupid to realize Bush, Congress, and the Fed are making things worse not better.
Magicians creating an illusion. And Democrats like Pelosi are going along because if they didn't their party would be blamed for Bush's mess. posted 05/09/2008 at 15:51:34
Another "The Hillary I Know"
Are you talking about the Hillary you wished you know or the one we've all seen?
Hillary (and I have to include Bill as a vote for her we all know is a vote for them) is so hell bent on being the nominee she is willing to destroy the party.
Today provides a perfect illustration. Listen to the audio of her interview where she says she is the only one who can draw white working class voters and independents. Then we have Begala saying the same thing.
Race is an issue again because she is making it. If she cared about the party and her country she would have withdrawn from the race after Tuesday night and started championing for Obama.
Instead she didn't. She's now determined to get the Michigan and Florida delegates, but only if they are allowed based on the election results. If this happens she'll get 73 Michigan delegates, Obama zero, 105 Florida delegates and Obama 67.
She still can't pull ahead if Obama concedes this and she knows it so she's determined to take this all the way to the convention and put the superdelegates in this no win situation. And you can bet in the months to come she and Bill will be playing the race card ad nauseum.
If you're like me and she wins the nomination based on the super delegates vote I say damn the Democratic Party. posted 05/08/2008 at 18:54:43
Hillary (and I have to include Bill as a vote for her we all know is a vote for them) is so hell bent on being the nominee she is willing to destroy the party.
Today provides a perfect illustration. Listen to the audio of her interview where she says she is the only one who can draw white working class voters and independents. Then we have Begala saying the same thing.
Race is an issue again because she is making it. If she cared about the party and her country she would have withdrawn from the race after Tuesday night and started championing for Obama.
Instead she didn't. She's now determined to get the Michigan and Florida delegates, but only if they are allowed based on the election results. If this happens she'll get 73 Michigan delegates, Obama zero, 105 Florida delegates and Obama 67.
She still can't pull ahead if Obama concedes this and she knows it so she's determined to take this all the way to the convention and put the superdelegates in this no win situation. And you can bet in the months to come she and Bill will be playing the race card ad nauseum.
If you're like me and she wins the nomination based on the super delegates vote I say damn the Democratic Party. posted 05/08/2008 at 18:54:43
What Can Still Tank the Economy? The Bush Administration Hearing No Evil, Seeing No Evil
Jeff,
Why is Fannie Mae losing money? Because the administration and Wall Street have pushed it to lower their standards, to accept more risk. Do subprime loans, increase the loan ceilings, bundle the notes, blah blah blah and the end result has been a disaster.
Too bad the heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac didn't fall on their swords and say NO; we're fine the way we are. We don't need to be another lemming.
What Wall Street is really trying to do is to pawn off all their crappy loans to Fannie Mae so the taxpayer ends up eating the bill. posted 05/07/2008 at 17:31:38
Why is Fannie Mae losing money? Because the administration and Wall Street have pushed it to lower their standards, to accept more risk. Do subprime loans, increase the loan ceilings, bundle the notes, blah blah blah and the end result has been a disaster.
Too bad the heads of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac didn't fall on their swords and say NO; we're fine the way we are. We don't need to be another lemming.
What Wall Street is really trying to do is to pawn off all their crappy loans to Fannie Mae so the taxpayer ends up eating the bill. posted 05/07/2008 at 17:31:38
I'm not convinced Frank's plan is going to make things better. The trend I detect in all these programs is a taxpayer bailout of Wall Street. The Fed has loaned them half a trillion or more dollars. Frank's bill will keep the price of houses artificially high. The truth is houses became grossly overvalued, not just here but all over the world. Their ascent certainly didn't correlate to wages.
And I have to agree all these band aids won't fix the systemic problems; if anything they will make it worse adding hundreds of billions or even trillions to the national debt making our dollar weaker meaning we will pay for it at the gas pump.
Even worse the more stupid debt we incur the fewer options we have available to us. Make the national debt 11 trillion instead of the 9.7 it is now and then go to Congress and suggest we spend another trillion or two to become energy independent and boost the economy. They'll laugh because then our dollar will be really worthless.
If the Fed wants to bail out Wall Street let them do it on their dime, not mine. Ditto for the housing industry and even the homeowner. What I'd prefer is a huge liquidation sale where these houses sell for what they would at an auction and the mortgage holder absorbs the loss.
This infusion of capital has only given banks seed corn to issue consumers loans at high interest, welfare for the rich. posted 05/07/2008 at 17:26:57
And I have to agree all these band aids won't fix the systemic problems; if anything they will make it worse adding hundreds of billions or even trillions to the national debt making our dollar weaker meaning we will pay for it at the gas pump.
Even worse the more stupid debt we incur the fewer options we have available to us. Make the national debt 11 trillion instead of the 9.7 it is now and then go to Congress and suggest we spend another trillion or two to become energy independent and boost the economy. They'll laugh because then our dollar will be really worthless.
If the Fed wants to bail out Wall Street let them do it on their dime, not mine. Ditto for the housing industry and even the homeowner. What I'd prefer is a huge liquidation sale where these houses sell for what they would at an auction and the mortgage holder absorbs the loss.
This infusion of capital has only given banks seed corn to issue consumers loans at high interest, welfare for the rich. posted 05/07/2008 at 17:26:57
Not Mexican Independence Day: Cinco de Mayo
We did take the fight to the British by invading Canada, but most historians agree we weren't trying to annex Canada but to force the British to quit supporting the Indians who we were fighting and to get them to stop seizing our ships and pressing our sailors into the British navy.
Madison and his advisors believed that conquest of Canada would be easy and that economic coercion would force the British to come to terms by cutting off the food supply for their West Indies colonies. Furthermore, possession of Canada would be a valuable bargaining chip. Frontiersmen demanded the seizure of Canada not because they wanted the land, but because the British were thought to be arming the Indians and thereby blocking settlement of the west. [18] As Horsman concludes, "The idea of conquering Canada had been present since at least 1807 as a means of forcing England to change her policy at sea. The conquest of Canada was primarily a means of waging war, not a reason for starting it."[19] Hickey flatly states, "The desire to annex Canada did not bring on the war." [20] Brown (1964) concludes, "The purpose of the Canadian expedition was to serve negotiation not to annex Canada."[21] Burt, a leading Canadian scholar, agrees completely, noting that Foster, the British minister to Washington, also rejected the argument that annexation of Canada was a war goal. [22] posted 05/06/2008 at 15:33:32
Madison and his advisors believed that conquest of Canada would be easy and that economic coercion would force the British to come to terms by cutting off the food supply for their West Indies colonies. Furthermore, possession of Canada would be a valuable bargaining chip. Frontiersmen demanded the seizure of Canada not because they wanted the land, but because the British were thought to be arming the Indians and thereby blocking settlement of the west. [18] As Horsman concludes, "The idea of conquering Canada had been present since at least 1807 as a means of forcing England to change her policy at sea. The conquest of Canada was primarily a means of waging war, not a reason for starting it."[19] Hickey flatly states, "The desire to annex Canada did not bring on the war." [20] Brown (1964) concludes, "The purpose of the Canadian expedition was to serve negotiation not to annex Canada."[21] Burt, a leading Canadian scholar, agrees completely, noting that Foster, the British minister to Washington, also rejected the argument that annexation of Canada was a war goal. [22] posted 05/06/2008 at 15:33:32
It has nothing to do with being a liberal. When I was a kid in the Panhandle where Mexican Americans were no more than 10 percent of the population it was celebrated in all the public schools. And if you know the Panhandle you'll understand that part of Texas is conservative and very Republican.
I can't think of a better way to show solidarilty with fellow Americans (as in Norteamericanos). Like us they got tired of being a colony and broke free. We had to do it again in the War of 1812 and Mexico had to do it a second time in the 1860s.
Yom Kippur is a religious holiday so I'm not certain what a Jewish holiday has to do with celebrating a famous battle. And Cinco de Mayo isn't a national holiday so it's not costing the taxpayer a dime. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:32:22
I can't think of a better way to show solidarilty with fellow Americans (as in Norteamericanos). Like us they got tired of being a colony and broke free. We had to do it again in the War of 1812 and Mexico had to do it a second time in the 1860s.
Yom Kippur is a religious holiday so I'm not certain what a Jewish holiday has to do with celebrating a famous battle. And Cinco de Mayo isn't a national holiday so it's not costing the taxpayer a dime. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:32:22
Believe it or not July 4th. Denmark which has no U.S. bases has the biggest 4th of July celebration outside of the U.S. posted 05/05/2008 at 12:15:44
Thanks for the history lesson Congressman Baca.
Having spent more than a few summers on the Guadalupe River close to Seguin I wonder if the Texas born Mexican general Seguin was related to Colonel Juan Seguin who was one of Sam Houston's lieutenants. He became Mayor San Antonio and was a state senator.
And I'm glad you reminded Americans that Cinco de Mayo celebrates the defeat of the French at Puebla, not when Mexico won its independence from the Spanish. posted 05/05/2008 at 10:25:37
Having spent more than a few summers on the Guadalupe River close to Seguin I wonder if the Texas born Mexican general Seguin was related to Colonel Juan Seguin who was one of Sam Houston's lieutenants. He became Mayor San Antonio and was a state senator.
And I'm glad you reminded Americans that Cinco de Mayo celebrates the defeat of the French at Puebla, not when Mexico won its independence from the Spanish. posted 05/05/2008 at 10:25:37
McCain Calls for 700+ New Nuclear Plants (and 7 Yucca Mountains) Costing $4 Trillion
All the more reason to build them here. Do people realize what we did in the span of 4 years during WW2? If we dedicate ourselves heart and soul to becoming energy independent we can do it.
Si se puede. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:40:22
Si se puede. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:40:22
And you don't think we could fabricate containment vessels if given a couple a years? posted 05/05/2008 at 15:52:34
You need to do some reading on solar thermal. It can generate all the power we need and then some.
I'm not opposed to nuclear as I believe it's part of the solution. And whether we like it or not so is coal. China and India run on coal and they're not going to stop anytime soon. So it's in our best interest to see if this clean coal technology really works and to do that we need to finish the plants we started. After that we need to license the technology to other countries.
We're so far behind the power curve on this it will take a massive mobilization like we had in WW2 to transform our nation from one dependent on oil and natural gas to run our vehicles to one plugged into the power grid.
We kicked this can down the road for 35 plus years and now it's a crisis. Unfortunately nothing is in our favor (10 trillion dollar national debt, the beginning of what I think will be a long recession, two wars, an industrial base that is a fraction of its past, and underfunded programs like social security and medicare).
We can overcome the hurdles but it will take a lot of sacrifice posted 05/05/2008 at 15:49:37
I'm not opposed to nuclear as I believe it's part of the solution. And whether we like it or not so is coal. China and India run on coal and they're not going to stop anytime soon. So it's in our best interest to see if this clean coal technology really works and to do that we need to finish the plants we started. After that we need to license the technology to other countries.
We're so far behind the power curve on this it will take a massive mobilization like we had in WW2 to transform our nation from one dependent on oil and natural gas to run our vehicles to one plugged into the power grid.
We kicked this can down the road for 35 plus years and now it's a crisis. Unfortunately nothing is in our favor (10 trillion dollar national debt, the beginning of what I think will be a long recession, two wars, an industrial base that is a fraction of its past, and underfunded programs like social security and medicare).
We can overcome the hurdles but it will take a lot of sacrifice posted 05/05/2008 at 15:49:37
I have no idea where you came up with 4 trillion, but it's a completely bogus number.
Nuclear plants cost about 12 billion to build (840 billion for the 700 plants).
Storage at Yucca (serving the 100 plus reactors in operation today) would cost 58 Billion.
Construct an additional 6 for 348 billion.
I'm not advocating any one technology over another but for less than 1.2 trillion dollars we could meet the nation's energy needs and have plenty left over. Too bad we didn't start this decades ago and get our light vehicles converted to electric.
The technology I find most intriguing is solar thermal. It causes alot less pollution (manufacturing) than photovoltaic and you can store the energy in a container of sodium and potassium chloride. You could even use the energy to create hydrogen and use it to power other plants.
Trucks and aircraft are going to need oil for the foreseeable future, but we could take our consumption of oil down to our domestic production.
McCain is on the right path, energy independence. If Obama and Clinton don't beat the drum even louder he's going to capture alot of votes. posted 05/05/2008 at 10:13:09
Nuclear plants cost about 12 billion to build (840 billion for the 700 plants).
Storage at Yucca (serving the 100 plus reactors in operation today) would cost 58 Billion.
Construct an additional 6 for 348 billion.
I'm not advocating any one technology over another but for less than 1.2 trillion dollars we could meet the nation's energy needs and have plenty left over. Too bad we didn't start this decades ago and get our light vehicles converted to electric.
The technology I find most intriguing is solar thermal. It causes alot less pollution (manufacturing) than photovoltaic and you can store the energy in a container of sodium and potassium chloride. You could even use the energy to create hydrogen and use it to power other plants.
Trucks and aircraft are going to need oil for the foreseeable future, but we could take our consumption of oil down to our domestic production.
McCain is on the right path, energy independence. If Obama and Clinton don't beat the drum even louder he's going to capture alot of votes. posted 05/05/2008 at 10:13:09
Black Hills on Table Again
Thanks.
Justice Blackmun was one great American.
Funny when they talk about this country's original sin it's always in reference to slavery. We never hear about the real original sin, the taking of lands from the first Americans. I realize it was part clash of civilizations and an overpopulated Europe, but what happened was wrong. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:46:25
Justice Blackmun was one great American.
Funny when they talk about this country's original sin it's always in reference to slavery. We never hear about the real original sin, the taking of lands from the first Americans. I realize it was part clash of civilizations and an overpopulated Europe, but what happened was wrong. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:46:25
Thanks for the education. So in 1980 the Supreme Court said 146 million was fair compensation for 40 million acres of land. The Lakota smartly refused the money but that doesn't mean they are now owed 863 million.
What they are owed is 40 million acres, but the chance of that happening is small. How does the 1.3 million acres of NFS land figure into this (as part of the original 40 million acres)?
Thanks. posted 05/05/2008 at 10:47:33
What they are owed is 40 million acres, but the chance of that happening is small. How does the 1.3 million acres of NFS land figure into this (as part of the original 40 million acres)?
Thanks. posted 05/05/2008 at 10:47:33
Mr. Giago,
I'm totally ignorant about this issue. 863 million dollars is alot of money, but is a pittance for 1.5 million acres (575 per acre).
Job creation is a must to bettering the lives of the Lakotas and the Black Hills offer the best location to place wind powered turbines. Not only could Lakotas benefit from leasing that land they could also get full time employment in the construction and maintenance of those wind powered turbines.
Best of luck to you and the Lakotas. posted 05/04/2008 at 19:31:50
I'm totally ignorant about this issue. 863 million dollars is alot of money, but is a pittance for 1.5 million acres (575 per acre).
Job creation is a must to bettering the lives of the Lakotas and the Black Hills offer the best location to place wind powered turbines. Not only could Lakotas benefit from leasing that land they could also get full time employment in the construction and maintenance of those wind powered turbines.
Best of luck to you and the Lakotas. posted 05/04/2008 at 19:31:50
Futures Traders Bet On Dollar Gain For First Time Since 2005
You're assuming the alternative to the Euro is the dollar. Don't be surprised if it's not the yuan or if the OPEC countries band together and demand to be paid in something stable Canadian dollars or yen.
Regardless of what happens to the Euro the dollar ain't going up because all our primary trade partners know it's worth is very questionable. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:53:26
Regardless of what happens to the Euro the dollar ain't going up because all our primary trade partners know it's worth is very questionable. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:53:26
The dollar will fall further. We now have our allies on the peninsula (Kuwait for one) giving serious consideration to pegging oil to another currency. The Fed's interest rate cuts haven't helped anyone but banks and investment houses. They are able to borrow money at ridiculously low rates and lend it for ridiculously high.
What's good for them is bad for the consumer and for holders of American debt who want higher rates of return when they buy bonds. This drives the value of the dollar even lower.
There's no sign oil will level off or decrease and while the reset of subprime loans peak in June (full impact felt Oct Nov) the peak for the Alt As doesn't occur until late 2009. Those loans are fewer in number but greater in value.
Wishful thinking on the part of futures traders.
If you think I'm full of crap, why is Warren Buffett stating if he had a billion dollars to invest today he would not put most of it in the U.S. but in countries like China and India whose currency is appreciating? posted 05/04/2008 at 19:12:13
What's good for them is bad for the consumer and for holders of American debt who want higher rates of return when they buy bonds. This drives the value of the dollar even lower.
There's no sign oil will level off or decrease and while the reset of subprime loans peak in June (full impact felt Oct Nov) the peak for the Alt As doesn't occur until late 2009. Those loans are fewer in number but greater in value.
Wishful thinking on the part of futures traders.
If you think I'm full of crap, why is Warren Buffett stating if he had a billion dollars to invest today he would not put most of it in the U.S. but in countries like China and India whose currency is appreciating? posted 05/04/2008 at 19:12:13
The Dummies' Guide to Stupid Leaders and Misleading Numbers
Well, if you didn't own a cat you'd be 600 ahead (just kidding, but I couldn't resist). I know how attached people are to their pets, but it's something I've never understood. posted 05/05/2008 at 18:55:34
Those aren't the laws of economics, but Photofarm's laws of economics. The natural laws of economics are:
by Fred E. Foldvary, Senior Editor
A natural law is a proposition that is universal to a subject matter. In science, a natural law consists of propositions describing and explaining observed regularities. There are in economics some basic regularities which have been designated as natural laws of economics. These include:
1. The law of demand.
2. The law of supply.
3. The law of diminishing returns (law of decreasing marginal productivity).
4. The law of one price.
5. Gresham's law.
6. The law of reflux.
7. Law of supply and demand.
8. The law of diminishing marginal utility.
9. The law of unintended consequences.
10. The law of iterated expectations.
11. Engel's law.
12. Wagner's law.
13. Foldvary's law of inequality. .
14. Say's law of markets.
15. Law of time preference. 16. Law of the market.
17. Pareto's law of distribution.
18. Law of cost.
19. Law of comparative advantage. 20. The law of wages.
21. The law of rent.
22. The law of capital goods.
23. Walras' law.
24. The law of economizing.
25. The law of economic rationality.
26. The Gaffney effect. posted 05/05/2008 at 09:41:33
by Fred E. Foldvary, Senior Editor
A natural law is a proposition that is universal to a subject matter. In science, a natural law consists of propositions describing and explaining observed regularities. There are in economics some basic regularities which have been designated as natural laws of economics. These include:
1. The law of demand.
2. The law of supply.
3. The law of diminishing returns (law of decreasing marginal productivity).
4. The law of one price.
5. Gresham's law.
6. The law of reflux.
7. Law of supply and demand.
8. The law of diminishing marginal utility.
9. The law of unintended consequences.
10. The law of iterated expectations.
11. Engel's law.
12. Wagner's law.
13. Foldvary's law of inequality. .
14. Say's law of markets.
15. Law of time preference. 16. Law of the market.
17. Pareto's law of distribution.
18. Law of cost.
19. Law of comparative advantage. 20. The law of wages.
21. The law of rent.
22. The law of capital goods.
23. Walras' law.
24. The law of economizing.
25. The law of economic rationality.
26. The Gaffney effect. posted 05/05/2008 at 09:41:33
Well, my feathered friend. The economist I quoted, not I, left it out. I need to do some researching to see how inflation factors into GDP calculations. I would think it has to be a part of the equation, but if it's factored into the value of the what's been produced I'm not sure it strengthens your argument or weakens it.
Either way, I've thought the same thing and also wonder how the official inflation rate never made any sense.
Su gallo calzonazos posted 05/05/2008 at 08:53:01
Either way, I've thought the same thing and also wonder how the official inflation rate never made any sense.
Su gallo calzonazos posted 05/05/2008 at 08:53:01
There's a few things Wright said I found difficult to swallow (government creating AIDS, blacks learning differently than whites which sounds to me like he's blaming teachers instead of parents for Johnny being unable to read, or lumping all whites into the slave owner category when most Europeans didn't even set foot in this country until after the civil war).
All that said he is right when he says the chickens have come home to roost. If you think our energy, trade, and even domestic policies are linked to our foreign policy it's obvious he is onto something.
We support governments all over the world who deny their citizens the freedoms we have and undermine those who do, and it's all done to fatten the wallets of multinational corporations who haver ZERO allegiance to this country or what it stands for. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:43:31
All that said he is right when he says the chickens have come home to roost. If you think our energy, trade, and even domestic policies are linked to our foreign policy it's obvious he is onto something.
We support governments all over the world who deny their citizens the freedoms we have and undermine those who do, and it's all done to fatten the wallets of multinational corporations who haver ZERO allegiance to this country or what it stands for. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:43:31
Of course the biggest point I saved for last. Basically NBER is using apples to determine a recession when economists use oranges.
Finally, the NBER does not use the mechanical rule of two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth in determining whether we had a recession or not. The NBER looks at a variety of economic indicators and puts more emphasis " among other variables " on employment and labor market conditions. We do know that employment in the private sector has now fallen for four months in a row and that overall non-farm employment (including the government employment) has fallen for three months in a row. So I do expect, leaving aside possible future downward revisions in the Q1 figures, that the NBER will eventually date the beginning of the 2008 recession to the first quarter of 2008. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:28:13
Finally, the NBER does not use the mechanical rule of two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth in determining whether we had a recession or not. The NBER looks at a variety of economic indicators and puts more emphasis " among other variables " on employment and labor market conditions. We do know that employment in the private sector has now fallen for four months in a row and that overall non-farm employment (including the government employment) has fallen for three months in a row. So I do expect, leaving aside possible future downward revisions in the Q1 figures, that the NBER will eventually date the beginning of the 2008 recession to the first quarter of 2008. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:28:13
Fourth, fifth, and sixth points he makes
Fourth, since the quarterly GDP figure compare the average GDP in the first three months of 2008 to the average GDP in the last month of 2007 even a flat or slightly falling GDP in some months of Q1 is consistent with the average being positive relative to the previous quarter (that is the average of three growing months). And data on monthly GDP (say from Macro Advisers) show that GDP started to fall in February of 2008. This is the typical inertia in growth figures that comes from looking at quarterly, rather than monthly, figure. Thus, the Q2 GDP contraction will be larger than otherwise.
Fifth, both durables goods consumption and non durable goods consumption grew at a negative rate in Q1. What boosted an anemic 1% growth in Q1 consumption was a still positive growth in services consumption. Durable consumption spending is clearly collapsing (-6.1%) But the fact that spending on non durable goods is falling " something that has not happened in decades " is an ominous sign.
Sixth, the only good news on growth came from net exports. But with sharply rising oil prices in the last few months you are going to see a sharp rise in imports of oil and energy goods in Q2 that will further depress Q2 growth. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:26:32
Fourth, since the quarterly GDP figure compare the average GDP in the first three months of 2008 to the average GDP in the last month of 2007 even a flat or slightly falling GDP in some months of Q1 is consistent with the average being positive relative to the previous quarter (that is the average of three growing months). And data on monthly GDP (say from Macro Advisers) show that GDP started to fall in February of 2008. This is the typical inertia in growth figures that comes from looking at quarterly, rather than monthly, figure. Thus, the Q2 GDP contraction will be larger than otherwise.
Fifth, both durables goods consumption and non durable goods consumption grew at a negative rate in Q1. What boosted an anemic 1% growth in Q1 consumption was a still positive growth in services consumption. Durable consumption spending is clearly collapsing (-6.1%) But the fact that spending on non durable goods is falling " something that has not happened in decades " is an ominous sign.
Sixth, the only good news on growth came from net exports. But with sharply rising oil prices in the last few months you are going to see a sharp rise in imports of oil and energy goods in Q2 that will further depress Q2 growth. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:26:32
Next he talks about investment
Third, now all components of fixed investment (residential investment, non-residential investment in structures and capex spending by the corporate sector (i.e. non residential investment in software and equipment) are now in negative growth territory. This is a major difference relative to 2007 when structures investment and capex spending were significantly positive. The investment recession is now clearly spreading from housing to non residential commercial real estate and to real capital spending by the corporate sector. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:25:18
Third, now all components of fixed investment (residential investment, non-residential investment in structures and capex spending by the corporate sector (i.e. non residential investment in software and equipment) are now in negative growth territory. This is a major difference relative to 2007 when structures investment and capex spending were significantly positive. The investment recession is now clearly spreading from housing to non residential commercial real estate and to real capital spending by the corporate sector. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:25:18
Then he talks about housing
Second, residential investment is in total free fall, collapsing at an accelerating annual rate of 26.7%. But GDP figures underestimate the true fall in aggregate demand as they do not separate residential investment into true final sales of new homes and into the unsold inventory of new homes that are produced and not sold. Thus, all production of new homes is assumed to be sold in the national income accounts data. But we know that home sales are falling more than production of new homes, that cancellation rates (running at a rate of 20-30%) are not included in the new home sales figures and that the inventory of unsold new homes is actually rising. Thus, if the BEA had correctly measured final sales of domestic product, by having a separate line for the change in the inventories of new unsold homes (the equivalent of the change in business inventories), the figure for final sales of domestic product would have been even more negative than the already negative 0.2%, probably a negative 1.0%. So the national accounts make a methodological mistake in measuring final sales of domestic product by assuming that the change in inventories of unsold housing is always zero, something that is obviously wrong especially during a severe housing recession. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:24:02
Second, residential investment is in total free fall, collapsing at an accelerating annual rate of 26.7%. But GDP figures underestimate the true fall in aggregate demand as they do not separate residential investment into true final sales of new homes and into the unsold inventory of new homes that are produced and not sold. Thus, all production of new homes is assumed to be sold in the national income accounts data. But we know that home sales are falling more than production of new homes, that cancellation rates (running at a rate of 20-30%) are not included in the new home sales figures and that the inventory of unsold new homes is actually rising. Thus, if the BEA had correctly measured final sales of domestic product, by having a separate line for the change in the inventories of new unsold homes (the equivalent of the change in business inventories), the figure for final sales of domestic product would have been even more negative than the already negative 0.2%, probably a negative 1.0%. So the national accounts make a methodological mistake in measuring final sales of domestic product by assuming that the change in inventories of unsold housing is always zero, something that is obviously wrong especially during a severe housing recession. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:24:02
Got this from economist Nouriel Roubini's website
Apr 30, 2008
The official headline for U.S. Q1 GDP growth says a positive 0.6% growth but the details are ugly and confirm that we are in a recession.
First of all, if you exclude the increase of inventory of unsold goods (that moved positive after a negative figure in Q4) the Final Sales of Domestic Product were a negative 0.2%. In other terms, inventories of unsold goods added an artificial 0.8% to Q1 growth boosting it from a negative 0.2% to a positive 0.6%. So actual aggregate demand (Final Sales of Domestic Product) " the actual measure of growth of true demand - fell in Q1. And this build-up of inventories in Q1 means that the fall in GDP in Q2 will be larger than otherwise as firms will have to reduce that large inventory of unsold goods via a further reduction in production and employment. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:23:02
Apr 30, 2008
The official headline for U.S. Q1 GDP growth says a positive 0.6% growth but the details are ugly and confirm that we are in a recession.
First of all, if you exclude the increase of inventory of unsold goods (that moved positive after a negative figure in Q4) the Final Sales of Domestic Product were a negative 0.2%. In other terms, inventories of unsold goods added an artificial 0.8% to Q1 growth boosting it from a negative 0.2% to a positive 0.6%. So actual aggregate demand (Final Sales of Domestic Product) " the actual measure of growth of true demand - fell in Q1. And this build-up of inventories in Q1 means that the fall in GDP in Q2 will be larger than otherwise as firms will have to reduce that large inventory of unsold goods via a further reduction in production and employment. posted 05/05/2008 at 06:23:02
GDP Grew Last Quarter? Only If You Believe In Santa Claus
Did you not understand his article?
The numbers aren't good. They are fiction. They are fudging the numbers to give the appearance of growth. Take two of the data elements, a 2.6 percent inflation rate which we know is pure crap and counting inventory as growth. All that excess inventory means people aren't buying and a bogus inflation rate really hides how much the economy shrank.
Go over to the government's EIA website and look at their data on oil. You see the same misuse of data because they have purposely low balled the cost of a barrel of oil.
This reminds me of the invasion of Iraq, manipulation of the facts to sell a war and now they are manipulating the economic data to get you to vote McCain.
Notice how Democrats are labeled lefties by the talking heads. I'd love to see a Democratic candidate knock the shit out of one of those talking heads when he refers to them as leftists. I've never heard a Democrat talk about a state run economy or calling religion the opiate of the people. Democrats have allowed the right wing nut jobs to portray them as a bunch of Bolsheviks. posted 05/02/2008 at 16:20:05
The numbers aren't good. They are fiction. They are fudging the numbers to give the appearance of growth. Take two of the data elements, a 2.6 percent inflation rate which we know is pure crap and counting inventory as growth. All that excess inventory means people aren't buying and a bogus inflation rate really hides how much the economy shrank.
Go over to the government's EIA website and look at their data on oil. You see the same misuse of data because they have purposely low balled the cost of a barrel of oil.
This reminds me of the invasion of Iraq, manipulation of the facts to sell a war and now they are manipulating the economic data to get you to vote McCain.
Notice how Democrats are labeled lefties by the talking heads. I'd love to see a Democratic candidate knock the shit out of one of those talking heads when he refers to them as leftists. I've never heard a Democrat talk about a state run economy or calling religion the opiate of the people. Democrats have allowed the right wing nut jobs to portray them as a bunch of Bolsheviks. posted 05/02/2008 at 16:20:05
James Frey And Nan Talese: Oprah Duped Us!
And James Frey wants us to pity him. He deserved the raking he got and worse. He's a phoney who wrote a fictional story with him as the central character chronicling his fake drug addiction.
Fraudsters like him should be in jail. posted 04/30/2008 at 14:57:10
Fraudsters like him should be in jail. posted 04/30/2008 at 14:57:10
The New Security
I don't remember Carter's energy plan but will have to google and take a look. posted 04/30/2008 at 19:30:09
If we make energy independence our nation's number one objective we'll have a better idea of what we need to do with regards to the nuts and bolts of national security.
Getting off the petroleum addiction by increasing our electrical grid and getting all cars plugged into it will bring our petroleum consumption in line with our domestic consumption.
We'll keep dollars at home, providing Americans good paying jobs.
The world's oil companies are not to be trusted to solve this problem. Each time the price of a barrel of oil goes up puts more money into their pockets. They don't care the 654.8 BILLLION dollars we are paying foreign governments each year is destroying this country. posted 04/29/2008 at 17:45:51
Getting off the petroleum addiction by increasing our electrical grid and getting all cars plugged into it will bring our petroleum consumption in line with our domestic consumption.
We'll keep dollars at home, providing Americans good paying jobs.
The world's oil companies are not to be trusted to solve this problem. Each time the price of a barrel of oil goes up puts more money into their pockets. They don't care the 654.8 BILLLION dollars we are paying foreign governments each year is destroying this country. posted 04/29/2008 at 17:45:51
The Good Fight
Senator Reid,
Thanks for giving us this snapshot and I'll be headed to the bookstore this weekend to buy it.
Your background reminds me of my dad, only he was a sharecropper's kid on the Mississippi Delta. His dad had a bad heart and an even worse temper. My own parents are opposites, my mom a career Army officer's daughter who went to the best schools and my dad who went to school because of the GI Bill.
They both liked their liquor and my dad can fix or build anything. He is also a good salesman, but a poor businessman and we spent his entrepenuerial decades being evicted from house after house, him being in jail for writing hot checks or not paying his bills.
Their dysfunctionality as a couple and his selfishness to blaze his own trail made the 5 of us who we are today.
Again, thanks. posted 04/30/2008 at 15:21:19
Thanks for giving us this snapshot and I'll be headed to the bookstore this weekend to buy it.
Your background reminds me of my dad, only he was a sharecropper's kid on the Mississippi Delta. His dad had a bad heart and an even worse temper. My own parents are opposites, my mom a career Army officer's daughter who went to the best schools and my dad who went to school because of the GI Bill.
They both liked their liquor and my dad can fix or build anything. He is also a good salesman, but a poor businessman and we spent his entrepenuerial decades being evicted from house after house, him being in jail for writing hot checks or not paying his bills.
Their dysfunctionality as a couple and his selfishness to blaze his own trail made the 5 of us who we are today.
Again, thanks. posted 04/30/2008 at 15:21:19
Bush Press Conference: It's A "Tough Time For Our Economy"
We consume about 22 million barrels of oil per day. Do the math, but approximately every 45 days we go through 1 billion barrels of oil. We would consume every drop of oil in ANWAR in a few days shy of 2 years.
Keep in mind that oil won't hit the market for nearly a decade. Keep in mind it will probably add to existing U.S. production, merely replace what has been tapped out.
The cure to our consumption is to conserve and to disconnect our transportation system from the petroleum IV.
We've got to go electric and to do that we need to expand our electrical production by a factor of five. To get there we need to attack it like we did World War 2. Our crusade for the next decade should be to conserve and to transform.
Nuclear and clean coal are part of the equation, but we can't let wind and solar lag behind.
Trucks and airlines may have to continue burning petroleum based products, but that doesn't mean the rest of our transportation system can't be plugged into the electrical grid. posted 04/29/2008 at 15:15:58
Keep in mind that oil won't hit the market for nearly a decade. Keep in mind it will probably add to existing U.S. production, merely replace what has been tapped out.
The cure to our consumption is to conserve and to disconnect our transportation system from the petroleum IV.
We've got to go electric and to do that we need to expand our electrical production by a factor of five. To get there we need to attack it like we did World War 2. Our crusade for the next decade should be to conserve and to transform.
Nuclear and clean coal are part of the equation, but we can't let wind and solar lag behind.
Trucks and airlines may have to continue burning petroleum based products, but that doesn't mean the rest of our transportation system can't be plugged into the electrical grid. posted 04/29/2008 at 15:15:58
Why Jeremiah Wright Is Willing To Destroy Barack Obama; This Campaign Really Is Generational
Wright and Obama see the world through different prisms. I don't for a second believe Wright is trying to derail Obama's candidacy; what he is trying to do is to unsmear his reputation. In the end reputation matters and Wright feels he has been slandered.
This is all background noise. posted 04/29/2008 at 14:52:49
This is all background noise. posted 04/29/2008 at 14:52:49
Obese Inmate Sues Jail Because He's Lost 100 Pounds
F*** him. Jail is the best thing for him. Hopefully it will add lots of years to his life to correlate with the long sentence he'll receive.
Socipaths just don't get it. posted 04/28/2008 at 12:08:40
Socipaths just don't get it. posted 04/28/2008 at 12:08:40
Military Propaganda Pushed Me Off TV
Everywhere I turn these days Barry McCaffrey's name pops up.
If anyone out there thinks he's a genius, remember he is one of the major architects, if not the mastermind, behind our very failed war on drugs.
Iraq's not the first war he got wrong. posted 04/28/2008 at 10:41:52
If anyone out there thinks he's a genius, remember he is one of the major architects, if not the mastermind, behind our very failed war on drugs.
Iraq's not the first war he got wrong. posted 04/28/2008 at 10:41:52
The Next Vaccine-Autism Newsmaker: Not Isolated, Not Unusual
Is this a relatively inexpesive test that could be used to screen infants? Those who had mitochondrial impairments would only be immunized if their parents agreed to it while those without would get immunized.
This is why universal heatlh care is so important. It's not a question of government negligence but of something unknown. We know immunizations save tens of thousands of lives and with this breakthrough we might be getting a better idea at the cost.
Families with autistic children need help as these children are expensive to care for, especially as they age. This is where society should share the burden which it would with universal health care. posted 04/28/2008 at 07:29:21
This is why universal heatlh care is so important. It's not a question of government negligence but of something unknown. We know immunizations save tens of thousands of lives and with this breakthrough we might be getting a better idea at the cost.
Families with autistic children need help as these children are expensive to care for, especially as they age. This is where society should share the burden which it would with universal health care. posted 04/28/2008 at 07:29:21
Arianna Discusses The Right Wing's "Lunatic Fringe" On ABC's 20/20
Actually Redrover666, it was progressives like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson who signed into law legislation that made it expensive to employers when employees were injured or killed on the job.
Compensation for a death went from 200 to 2000 dollars. Once their wallets were hit, they suddenly became interested in worker safety.
OSHA could drive the rate even lower. Workplace deaths among Hispanics are increasing (nearly 300 per year since '98) which makes me wonder what OSHA is doing. Are they targeting industries that have lots of Hispanics, teaching them about workplace safety, or ignoring those industries because those are industries friendly to the Republicans (agribusiness, construction)?
In fairness to the lunatic right I do have to wonder why Arianna has zeroed in on those issues as opposed to what I consider the ultimate one, energy independence.
35 years since the first oil embargo and we are more dependent on foreign oil than ever before. posted 04/28/2008 at 11:16:15
Compensation for a death went from 200 to 2000 dollars. Once their wallets were hit, they suddenly became interested in worker safety.
OSHA could drive the rate even lower. Workplace deaths among Hispanics are increasing (nearly 300 per year since '98) which makes me wonder what OSHA is doing. Are they targeting industries that have lots of Hispanics, teaching them about workplace safety, or ignoring those industries because those are industries friendly to the Republicans (agribusiness, construction)?
In fairness to the lunatic right I do have to wonder why Arianna has zeroed in on those issues as opposed to what I consider the ultimate one, energy independence.
35 years since the first oil embargo and we are more dependent on foreign oil than ever before. posted 04/28/2008 at 11:16:15
I decided to take a second look at Stossel's charts. Contrary to what he presented, workplace deaths are rising. Check it out for yourself.
http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0005.pdf posted 04/27/2008 at 08:37:31
http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/cfoi/cfch0005.pdf posted 04/27/2008 at 08:37:31
It has everything to do with it; it's called hypocrisy. She at least is willing to admit. She called it contradiction.
The problem with all the policy pundits on the left and right is the lack of details. How exactly do you help the poor? How exactly do you fix the economy? How do you increase the standard of iving?
For me it's all about becoming energy independent as a nation. Through nuclear, clean coal, wind, and sun, combined with real energy conservation, we cut down on our energy requirements and move our nation off the oil grid and onto the electric.
Just think if we had started this after the first oil embargo. Instead of all that wealth going across the ocean it would have ended up in the wallets and purses of Americans. If you want to get people out of poverty get them into the middle class. Their kids will be the ones who reap the rewards breaking the cycle. You'll end hopelessness which breeds fatalism leading to drug use and violence.
You'll simplify foreign policy. It won't be resource driven but based on real national security issues.
Energy independence, goal number one. posted 04/26/2008 at 17:11:17
The problem with all the policy pundits on the left and right is the lack of details. How exactly do you help the poor? How exactly do you fix the economy? How do you increase the standard of iving?
For me it's all about becoming energy independent as a nation. Through nuclear, clean coal, wind, and sun, combined with real energy conservation, we cut down on our energy requirements and move our nation off the oil grid and onto the electric.
Just think if we had started this after the first oil embargo. Instead of all that wealth going across the ocean it would have ended up in the wallets and purses of Americans. If you want to get people out of poverty get them into the middle class. Their kids will be the ones who reap the rewards breaking the cycle. You'll end hopelessness which breeds fatalism leading to drug use and violence.
You'll simplify foreign policy. It won't be resource driven but based on real national security issues.
Energy independence, goal number one. posted 04/26/2008 at 17:11:17
The Next Generation
More reason to have a draft and for formal declarations of war.
The trend is for the military to become even more estranged from society. That is not good for the military or the republic.
Parallels Vietnam to a certain degree. Officers and senior NCOs went from being respected to despised. In the case of Vietnam they were seen as getting a square filled. Now, it's a springboard to gettting hired as a contractor. Again, this is not good for the institution. Only a matter of time before discipline goes to hell.
Not sure I agree with you about being more family oriented. Those who value their family will leave. Those who value their family but lack the skills or confidence or have too much invested in the service will stay, but they will be the ones who find all sorts of excuses as to why they shouldn't go back.
Thanks for sharing the thoughts. Used to be in the Air Force its combat arms branch (mainly aviators)
voted with their feet heading to the airlines. Then the airline industry quit hiring and quit paying so well and the service offered great benefits. Our quality of life is head and shoulders above the others (4 month rotations instead of 15) and the duty is for the vast majority less demanding on a personal level.
I have in the past several years met more aviators who are tired of deployments. They are headed to corporate America. posted 04/28/2008 at 12:25:19
The trend is for the military to become even more estranged from society. That is not good for the military or the republic.
Parallels Vietnam to a certain degree. Officers and senior NCOs went from being respected to despised. In the case of Vietnam they were seen as getting a square filled. Now, it's a springboard to gettting hired as a contractor. Again, this is not good for the institution. Only a matter of time before discipline goes to hell.
Not sure I agree with you about being more family oriented. Those who value their family will leave. Those who value their family but lack the skills or confidence or have too much invested in the service will stay, but they will be the ones who find all sorts of excuses as to why they shouldn't go back.
Thanks for sharing the thoughts. Used to be in the Air Force its combat arms branch (mainly aviators)
voted with their feet heading to the airlines. Then the airline industry quit hiring and quit paying so well and the service offered great benefits. Our quality of life is head and shoulders above the others (4 month rotations instead of 15) and the duty is for the vast majority less demanding on a personal level.
I have in the past several years met more aviators who are tired of deployments. They are headed to corporate America. posted 04/28/2008 at 12:25:19
The Undeniable Virtue of Jeremiah Wright's Pro-Blackness (and the Problem with Pro-Whiteness)
So black racism is okay because it doesn't affect me on a personal level?
No, Louis Farrakhan has never prevented me from doing anything but Bull Connor or Strom Thurmond never did anything for me.
Being pro black is racist because it implies other races are inferior. Ditto for pro white, pro red, pro yellow, pro brown. And if the only way to feel good about yourself is through your racial identity that's pathetic. posted 04/26/2008 at 05:08:13
No, Louis Farrakhan has never prevented me from doing anything but Bull Connor or Strom Thurmond never did anything for me.
Being pro black is racist because it implies other races are inferior. Ditto for pro white, pro red, pro yellow, pro brown. And if the only way to feel good about yourself is through your racial identity that's pathetic. posted 04/26/2008 at 05:08:13
I hear what you're saying and you're a victim of stereotyping. There's no quick fix. As long as the black community remains broken the stereotypes and the suspicisons will fester.
I had a friend from Nigeria who had car trouble and here he is in his clerics (he was a priest), knocking on doors, speaking with a very thick Nigerian accident, but in a white neighborhood and people were too scared to open the door.
It wasn't they didn't want to help him; their fear of crime prevented them. He understood their fear but he couldn't help feeling bitter. posted 04/26/2008 at 05:00:28
I had a friend from Nigeria who had car trouble and here he is in his clerics (he was a priest), knocking on doors, speaking with a very thick Nigerian accident, but in a white neighborhood and people were too scared to open the door.
It wasn't they didn't want to help him; their fear of crime prevented them. He understood their fear but he couldn't help feeling bitter. posted 04/26/2008 at 05:00:28
You'll have to present statistical evidence to back up your claim that Africans from war torn countries are underperforming when they come to this country. I've read just the opposite, but anecdotal success stories aren't the same as empirical proof.
We have had Vietnamese, Croatians, Serbs, Albanians, Afghans, Kurds, Cambodians, El Salvadorans, and Guatemalans who came here because of war and I haven't heard they are underperforming. posted 04/26/2008 at 04:55:08
We have had Vietnamese, Croatians, Serbs, Albanians, Afghans, Kurds, Cambodians, El Salvadorans, and Guatemalans who came here because of war and I haven't heard they are underperforming. posted 04/26/2008 at 04:55:08
Pretty harsh to call me a bigot because I don't agree with Mr. Ridley. Talk about being open minded (not). And to label me as someone who espouses white supremacy is pure crap. What's a cop out is for black Americans to always point the finger outward, never inward. And when you advocate black supremacy you are as guilty of bigotry as a white supremacist. posted 04/26/2008 at 03:20:38
What else would you call it? They are not embracing African culture. Africans don't refer to each other as N------; that's an American/colonial term. posted 04/26/2008 at 03:15:03
I didn't say slavery had no impact. What I said was the black American community is broke.
And Native Americans have plenty of problems, but we're talking about black Americans today.
Jim Crow and slavery were horrible and their damaging effects long lasting, but what broke the black community was the civil rights movement and our transition to a service oriented economy.
Blacks who could left the ghetto leaving those who couldn't behind. The result has been a backward slide that began in the 60s and has only gotten worse. I'd venture to guess blacks in the inner city feel even more alienated from mainstream America than they ever have. posted 04/26/2008 at 03:11:34
And Native Americans have plenty of problems, but we're talking about black Americans today.
Jim Crow and slavery were horrible and their damaging effects long lasting, but what broke the black community was the civil rights movement and our transition to a service oriented economy.
Blacks who could left the ghetto leaving those who couldn't behind. The result has been a backward slide that began in the 60s and has only gotten worse. I'd venture to guess blacks in the inner city feel even more alienated from mainstream America than they ever have. posted 04/26/2008 at 03:11:34
It's not the dumbing down. I haven't read Obama's book but one of my coworkers said he dedicated it to Reverend Wright. I personally agree with some of Wright's views. I believe our foreign polcies did come home to roost on 9/11/2001. I also understand why Obama attended church there. His wife's family and his early power base call Trinity home.
The media should be dissecting McCain for the same poor decisions. Any man who wants to be president and is incapable of seeing the hate or paranoia espoused by men like Wright or Hagee needs to have their judgement questioned.
Shame on the media for not putting McCain through the paces with regards to Hagee, Falwell, Robertson. Obama can at least rationalize why he attends Trinity. McCain's rationale is trolling for votes.
Any Catholic or Jew who votes for McCain is a fool. By the company he keeps you know the kind of man he is, a bigot. posted 04/25/2008 at 16:49:59
The media should be dissecting McCain for the same poor decisions. Any man who wants to be president and is incapable of seeing the hate or paranoia espoused by men like Wright or Hagee needs to have their judgement questioned.
Shame on the media for not putting McCain through the paces with regards to Hagee, Falwell, Robertson. Obama can at least rationalize why he attends Trinity. McCain's rationale is trolling for votes.
Any Catholic or Jew who votes for McCain is a fool. By the company he keeps you know the kind of man he is, a bigot. posted 04/25/2008 at 16:49:59
Espousing one's blackness is no different than espousing one's whiteness. Either way you cut it, it's racism. It fosters an us against them mentality which is why the black community absolutely sucks at introspection.
The black family unit broke down and blaming all the whites in the world will not put it together again.
All Reverend Wright is doing is perpetuating the blame game. And all you're doing is making excuses for racist behavior. I see it where I work among some blacks who refuse to take performance feedback from whites. They then won't take it from another black because that black is now the Uncle Tom.
And if you insist on going down that road, let's call it what it really is. It's not black culture they are identifying with because in Africa Africans behave in totally different ways. They are embracing slave culture. That's the common bond and as long as you view yourself as a slave or a descendant of a slave and consider yourself branded for eternity you'll act like one.
There's lot of racism in this country but do you see Asians, Hispanics, and other immigrants failing like you do blacks? Do you see Africans or blacks from the Caribbean failing like you do native born blacks? NO you don't because their communities might be stressed, but they aren't failed. posted 04/25/2008 at 16:09:44
The black family unit broke down and blaming all the whites in the world will not put it together again.
All Reverend Wright is doing is perpetuating the blame game. And all you're doing is making excuses for racist behavior. I see it where I work among some blacks who refuse to take performance feedback from whites. They then won't take it from another black because that black is now the Uncle Tom.
And if you insist on going down that road, let's call it what it really is. It's not black culture they are identifying with because in Africa Africans behave in totally different ways. They are embracing slave culture. That's the common bond and as long as you view yourself as a slave or a descendant of a slave and consider yourself branded for eternity you'll act like one.
There's lot of racism in this country but do you see Asians, Hispanics, and other immigrants failing like you do blacks? Do you see Africans or blacks from the Caribbean failing like you do native born blacks? NO you don't because their communities might be stressed, but they aren't failed. posted 04/25/2008 at 16:09:44
Rush Limbaugh Sings: "I'm Dreaming Of Riots In Denver"
I'm a lifelong Democrat and the truth is Limbaugh (as much as I despise him) sees the potential of the convention taking a turn for the worse. If people on the street and at the convention feel they are being robbed of choice by the party elite, there could very well be violence on the streets.
I think the media, Dean, Pelosi, Reid, and even dear Arianna are making too much out of the Clinton Obama battle.
Let them continue to duke it out and let it be bloody. Obama needs to prove he can court more than the young, the minority, the maverick, and the Republican crossover. He needs to carry the majority of the dirt (counties) in these upcoming primaries or Clinton has made her point; he's another McGovern who will be thrashed come November.
Obama spoke today about energy but fell way short of espousing anything bold. At this point if he can't articulate that vision he really hasn't paid it too much thought.
No one says he has to be an NRA lover, but the next time he's around those who are he should assure them we have enough laws on the books. If anything needs to be further regulated it's too keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill. posted 04/25/2008 at 16:21:58
I think the media, Dean, Pelosi, Reid, and even dear Arianna are making too much out of the Clinton Obama battle.
Let them continue to duke it out and let it be bloody. Obama needs to prove he can court more than the young, the minority, the maverick, and the Republican crossover. He needs to carry the majority of the dirt (counties) in these upcoming primaries or Clinton has made her point; he's another McGovern who will be thrashed come November.
Obama spoke today about energy but fell way short of espousing anything bold. At this point if he can't articulate that vision he really hasn't paid it too much thought.
No one says he has to be an NRA lover, but the next time he's around those who are he should assure them we have enough laws on the books. If anything needs to be further regulated it's too keep firearms out of the hands of the mentally ill. posted 04/25/2008 at 16:21:58
Congress Sees Video Evidence Of Alleged Syrian Nuclear Facility
I'm not surprised as North Korea is a one market economy, marketing arms. It can't feed its people. It can't produce enough energy to light their homes or to keep them warm. And it's gripped with a Jim Jones paranoia which is why it wants nukes. Now that it has them, it wants to sell them to other technologies because nuclear technology isn't worth much unless it brings in real money.
It used to blackmail the South into giving it money and food, but I don't think the South is believing the threats anymore. Either that or they are tired of paying the North protection money when they have a better trained (albeit smaller military) , backed by the U.S., and a first world economy.
Syria is a boil on the world's ass. It's behind much of the violence in Lebanon. It's done a masterful job of dividing Lebanese and undermining the government of Lebanon's legitimacy. And if Hezbollah thinks Syria is its friend they need to think again. If they can get the factions to go at it again they can then swoop in and annex Lebanon.
We need to keep the pressure on North Korea and Syria. I don't believe Saddam's WMDs are there because he didn't have any, but I also believe Syria wants nukes. People forget Turkey bullied it into coughing up Ocalan and Israel does what it wants with impunity. Then there's the presence of U.S. troops on its border. posted 04/24/2008 at 15:25:23
It used to blackmail the South into giving it money and food, but I don't think the South is believing the threats anymore. Either that or they are tired of paying the North protection money when they have a better trained (albeit smaller military) , backed by the U.S., and a first world economy.
Syria is a boil on the world's ass. It's behind much of the violence in Lebanon. It's done a masterful job of dividing Lebanese and undermining the government of Lebanon's legitimacy. And if Hezbollah thinks Syria is its friend they need to think again. If they can get the factions to go at it again they can then swoop in and annex Lebanon.
We need to keep the pressure on North Korea and Syria. I don't believe Saddam's WMDs are there because he didn't have any, but I also believe Syria wants nukes. People forget Turkey bullied it into coughing up Ocalan and Israel does what it wants with impunity. Then there's the presence of U.S. troops on its border. posted 04/24/2008 at 15:25:23
What Does the Petraeus Appointment Mean?
They'll approve his nomination because if they don't the Republicans will have a field day accusing them of putting our nation's security at risk, politicizing the military blah blah blah.
Only two real choices before us. Stay the course which will drain us dry and still may not succeed or pull the plug and wish the Iraqis all the best. Second option isn't even possible unless we get a Democrat in the White House and gain more seats in Congress. Even then it might not happen, but it's what needs to happen. posted 04/23/2008 at 16:27:56
Only two real choices before us. Stay the course which will drain us dry and still may not succeed or pull the plug and wish the Iraqis all the best. Second option isn't even possible unless we get a Democrat in the White House and gain more seats in Congress. Even then it might not happen, but it's what needs to happen. posted 04/23/2008 at 16:27:56
Why I Predicted the PA Results Exactly Right
True, but that's where Clinton has an advantage. She has her husband's legacy to fall back on, the good times enjoyed by all even as we were bleeding jobs, ignoring radical Islam, not regulating Wall Street (dot com bust).
Seriously, when people see her soundbytes I'm sure they think she'll return us to what was a prosperous time in this country under Bill.
Obama lacks that luxury. Mudcat has an interesting perspective on why Obama isn't appealing to traditional Democrats and an opportunity he blew in Pennsylvania when he didn't attack Clinton's ties to anti union Walmart or her support for NAFTA and how it bled jobs from this country. posted 04/24/2008 at 15:38:59
Seriously, when people see her soundbytes I'm sure they think she'll return us to what was a prosperous time in this country under Bill.
Obama lacks that luxury. Mudcat has an interesting perspective on why Obama isn't appealing to traditional Democrats and an opportunity he blew in Pennsylvania when he didn't attack Clinton's ties to anti union Walmart or her support for NAFTA and how it bled jobs from this country. posted 04/24/2008 at 15:38:59
What Pennsylvania showed is Obama's appealing to too narrow a demographic. If the trend continues (even if he wins in North Carolina and Indiana) where he carries only a few counties while Hillary carries the rest, it strengthens her argument about his nationwide electability.
What the Obama camp needs to do is figure out how to make their message (Change) appeal to more than the young, the upper middle class, and blacks. There's no meat in the word change and he needs to put it there. How is he going to accomplish his changes? How is he going to make life better for the family in small town America (by the way he is right they are disillusioned)?
He's got time to figure a way to connect with those centrist voters who are more worried about the economy, healthcare, social security, the war than they are about America as the melting pot.
I think the answer is energy independence. From it he'll have answers for alot of other problems, from income inequality to balancing the budget. posted 04/24/2008 at 06:49:07
What the Obama camp needs to do is figure out how to make their message (Change) appeal to more than the young, the upper middle class, and blacks. There's no meat in the word change and he needs to put it there. How is he going to accomplish his changes? How is he going to make life better for the family in small town America (by the way he is right they are disillusioned)?
He's got time to figure a way to connect with those centrist voters who are more worried about the economy, healthcare, social security, the war than they are about America as the melting pot.
I think the answer is energy independence. From it he'll have answers for alot of other problems, from income inequality to balancing the budget. posted 04/24/2008 at 06:49:07
Last Night Clinton Won the Pennsylvania Primary, but Lost the War for the Nomination
I'm not a fan of earmarks, but their impact is overexaggerated. You could take all the earmarks out of the budget and we'd still be running 400 billion plus annual deficits.
The media has made this front page news when it's really small potatoes. And you're right, not all earmarks are pork. posted 04/24/2008 at 15:30:56
The media has made this front page news when it's really small potatoes. And you're right, not all earmarks are pork. posted 04/24/2008 at 15:30:56
No, Tina. We need a plan that actually delivers. It's his job along with Pelosi and Reid to sell universal health care to the American people. And everyone needs to be covered and paying into the pot or we're simply avoiding the problems (not only not providing health care but doing nothing to contain costs). posted 04/23/2008 at 20:05:13
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Zero.
There is no guarantee Iraq will be at peace in 2013 or 2023 or 2033. None.
McCain's one of those who still believe if we had stayed the course in Vietnam we'd have ended up winners. posted 05/15/2008 at 16:41:24