I'm gonna start a new column, with some articles on people who are so misinformed, these must be wet dreams for Republicans and right wingers.
Check out this article, and be sure to watch the video. I don't think it's possible for someone to have their head in the sand more than this woman.
And the truth is, I hope that she actually takes the time to find out the truth. Because I think she's a poster child for a very dangerous group of people in this country.
This isn't a 'she has to vote my way' kind of thing. I don't care who she votes for. But be INFORMED, for god sake.
This is a large (and growing) population who believe everything they hear, based on prejudices and lies. All of these people were suckered into voting for Bush, and they're being lied to and spun to believe ridiculous things, and spreading the lies and hatred in their communities.
The frightening thing is that their minds are so closed, that they've convinced themselves they're right.
Go watch the video and then visit the Concerned Women for America website, who have turned a pro-choice situation into Obama being for infanticied.
This situation has to do with Obama's nixing of the Illinois Born Alive Infants Protection Act.
One of the people who was at a hearing for the House Judiciary Subcommittee on this issue was registered nurse Jill L. Stanek, who was named one of the top 30 pro-life causers in the nation. She's become a celebrity, so it's pretty clear to see an agenda here amongst pro-lifers.
You can read her transcript here, in the comments section of this crazy blog, if you'd like.
For another view on the entire issue, Alternet has a very interesting and eye opening article on the entire debate happening almost strictly online.
I don't see this as a make-or-break issue this year, especially being pro-choice and having read this Alternet article.
There are bigger issues than this.
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
letter to Obama
I just read an article on the whole FISA bill and a lawsuit with AT&T, and it prompted me to write to Senator Obama, I figured I'd post it here.
----------
Senator, I just wanted to voice my opinion on the FISA bill.
It being an election year, Bush and the Republicans are using this opportunity to push you and other democrats into a corner, and it's working. There is a kow-towing here that is almost unprecedented. The Democrats, who can be accused of moving more centered, who ended up backing the war... aren't Democrats supposed to be the civil minded politicians? Forget the past. We have to. It's a new election. The end of a terrible era.
The Republicans have spun the FISA bill so that being against it means being for the terrorists, or some such nonsense. Being against it means that you're not concerned with keeping America safe, blah blah. It's very upsetting to me, not to mention any rational person in the US (basically half of us) that politicians feel they can use scare tactics and pressure to pass a bill that is not only setting up America to become a police state, but also denying us civil liberties that are locked into the Constitution.
You know, we've come to a peak where the average citizen has had enough. Not a breaking point, but a peak, where this years election is going to bring out a huge population of voters who are sick of the Bush regime. The problem is, having a stance of 'better than Bush/McCain' is not sufficient to bolster confidence in our next president, nor next years daunting task of fixing the economy. Frankly, it'll be you. Unless you or your wife ends up saying something monumentally stupid, you pretty much have this election sewn up. But right now you stand for compromise.
Do we compromise civil liberties now? Do we compromise the privacy of US citizens to get votes? Is that the kind of America we are now? Wouldn't it be better to come out against the FISA bill, regardless of your 'ties' to AT&T, and show a strong front for Democracy? Isn't this kind of compromise just perpetuating an America run by corporations and fueled by the greed of President Bush?
When it comes to the lives of the 300 million people who live here, doesn't it seem fair to say that with each compromise, the face of America is changing for the worse? The world has lost so much respect for us. We've just had 8 years of compromise and scare tactics. 8 years of the worst President on record. 8 years of being forced to take it from someone who doesn't care one iota about American citizens.
The Constitution is important. The ideas, the beliefs, the words that were said to us all by politicians we voted into office, they are important. I won't give examples, but this year has been a nightmare for voters who put some Democrats into office.
We're all hoping that in five months, the person who gets voted into office is going to follow the Constitution. He's going to listen to the people. He's going to continue to have new, wonderful, positive ideas. And he's going to cherish the beliefs that make this a great nation.
You know McCain isn't going to provide that. You know we've been without that kind of honor for a while now. You know how important it all is.
Compromise has its place. It does. But not when you compromise on something illegal.
-----------
Feel like contacting the senator yourself? Go here.
----------
Senator, I just wanted to voice my opinion on the FISA bill.
It being an election year, Bush and the Republicans are using this opportunity to push you and other democrats into a corner, and it's working. There is a kow-towing here that is almost unprecedented. The Democrats, who can be accused of moving more centered, who ended up backing the war... aren't Democrats supposed to be the civil minded politicians? Forget the past. We have to. It's a new election. The end of a terrible era.
The Republicans have spun the FISA bill so that being against it means being for the terrorists, or some such nonsense. Being against it means that you're not concerned with keeping America safe, blah blah. It's very upsetting to me, not to mention any rational person in the US (basically half of us) that politicians feel they can use scare tactics and pressure to pass a bill that is not only setting up America to become a police state, but also denying us civil liberties that are locked into the Constitution.
You know, we've come to a peak where the average citizen has had enough. Not a breaking point, but a peak, where this years election is going to bring out a huge population of voters who are sick of the Bush regime. The problem is, having a stance of 'better than Bush/McCain' is not sufficient to bolster confidence in our next president, nor next years daunting task of fixing the economy. Frankly, it'll be you. Unless you or your wife ends up saying something monumentally stupid, you pretty much have this election sewn up. But right now you stand for compromise.
Do we compromise civil liberties now? Do we compromise the privacy of US citizens to get votes? Is that the kind of America we are now? Wouldn't it be better to come out against the FISA bill, regardless of your 'ties' to AT&T, and show a strong front for Democracy? Isn't this kind of compromise just perpetuating an America run by corporations and fueled by the greed of President Bush?
When it comes to the lives of the 300 million people who live here, doesn't it seem fair to say that with each compromise, the face of America is changing for the worse? The world has lost so much respect for us. We've just had 8 years of compromise and scare tactics. 8 years of the worst President on record. 8 years of being forced to take it from someone who doesn't care one iota about American citizens.
The Constitution is important. The ideas, the beliefs, the words that were said to us all by politicians we voted into office, they are important. I won't give examples, but this year has been a nightmare for voters who put some Democrats into office.
We're all hoping that in five months, the person who gets voted into office is going to follow the Constitution. He's going to listen to the people. He's going to continue to have new, wonderful, positive ideas. And he's going to cherish the beliefs that make this a great nation.
You know McCain isn't going to provide that. You know we've been without that kind of honor for a while now. You know how important it all is.
Compromise has its place. It does. But not when you compromise on something illegal.
-----------
Feel like contacting the senator yourself? Go here.
3 recent McCain articles
McCain backs gay marriage ban in California.
8 inappropriate jokes by McCain.
McCain doesn't know the price of gas.
Sigh.
8 inappropriate jokes by McCain.
McCain doesn't know the price of gas.
Sigh.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
4th amendment woes
Well, first we have Obama saying he won't back a filibuster of the new FISA bill, when he said he would.
Word is coming out that Blue State Digital, a company directly responsible for helping Obama raise funds, has ties with AT&T, one of the companies that the FISA bill would protect.
And now we have Senator Russ Feingold discussing the searching of laptops of Americans who are coming back from overseas.
What exactly is happening in this country?
Seems to me that politicians we're supposed to be trusting are compromising our civil liberties. Democrats are being forced to pass bills because it's an election year. Bush is using his last few months to leverage his all encompassing plan to send America into the shitter, his final Presidential legacy plans.
Obama is in a tough situation. Does he kow-tow until he's President? Or does he take a stand and then get the shit kicked out of him by Republicans who say he's soft on terror and the security of the nation? If he does the latter, he's got to sit there and take it as the citizens of this country get screwed over by adictator president.
Disgusting.
Word is coming out that Blue State Digital, a company directly responsible for helping Obama raise funds, has ties with AT&T, one of the companies that the FISA bill would protect.
And now we have Senator Russ Feingold discussing the searching of laptops of Americans who are coming back from overseas.
What exactly is happening in this country?
Seems to me that politicians we're supposed to be trusting are compromising our civil liberties. Democrats are being forced to pass bills because it's an election year. Bush is using his last few months to leverage his all encompassing plan to send America into the shitter, his final Presidential legacy plans.
Obama is in a tough situation. Does he kow-tow until he's President? Or does he take a stand and then get the shit kicked out of him by Republicans who say he's soft on terror and the security of the nation? If he does the latter, he's got to sit there and take it as the citizens of this country get screwed over by a
Disgusting.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Oregon senate seat... watch this.
Check out this article from Boston.com about how a seat in Oregon is possibly up for grabs, and an unlikely Senator bosting a...
Well, just go watch it.
Amazing, the landscape of politics these days.
Well, just go watch it.
Amazing, the landscape of politics these days.
the direction of oil
Two articles today about oil and what Congress can do about it.
An article on The Wall Street Journal talks about 4 energy analysts who presented their case to Congress. They go on to talk about the speculation market and how it's inflated the price of oil.
This ties in to an article dealing with the Enron loophole that created the speculation market problem, supposedly.
What makes me laugh about the whole thing is the line where the Republican Senator of Texas who pushed the Enron bill through is now an economic advisor to McCain.
Unreal.
Obama is out to close the loophole. In this US News.com article, he places the blame squarely on Republican Texas Senator Phil Gramm.
Have to wait and see what Congress decides to do about this, but it's pretty clear that if this action, of closing this provision in the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, decreases oil prices in the US, whatever candidate pushes for it will garner a large support base.
Having an aide who is responsible sounds like a big problem.
An article on The Wall Street Journal talks about 4 energy analysts who presented their case to Congress. They go on to talk about the speculation market and how it's inflated the price of oil.
This ties in to an article dealing with the Enron loophole that created the speculation market problem, supposedly.
What makes me laugh about the whole thing is the line where the Republican Senator of Texas who pushed the Enron bill through is now an economic advisor to McCain.
Unreal.
Obama is out to close the loophole. In this US News.com article, he places the blame squarely on Republican Texas Senator Phil Gramm.
Have to wait and see what Congress decides to do about this, but it's pretty clear that if this action, of closing this provision in the Commodity Futures Modernization Act, decreases oil prices in the US, whatever candidate pushes for it will garner a large support base.
Having an aide who is responsible sounds like a big problem.
Monday, June 23, 2008
John McCain and Michelle Obama... oh boy
You know, it's bizarre how, in the internet age, a ridiculous company like FOX would go out of their way to edit something like this from all transcripts. I've seen this a few times on a few different sites, this isn't a hoax.
My dad was a Vietnam vet. He did two tours. And he was not proud of America for doing what they were doing. First, he goes over there and it's hell, you know. Not Hanoi Hilton hell, but hell none-the-less.
Then he comes home to anti-war protesters... I remember I took some pictures of the Vietnam memorial and gave them to my dad. I was, christ, in 5th grade, I think? He looked at them and said "You can keep these, I don't want them."
So, while I understand what McCain is saying... as a presidential candidate, I don't think it's possible to say something dumber, unless you say "I really respect George W. Bush."
McCain hasn't said that, has he? Christ, I'm sure it's out there somewhere...
But the biggest problem here is the Michelle Obama connection.
This is an awful video, the sound synch is way off, but Michelle Obama has been attacked repeatedly in the press, especially by right news networks like FOX, about her statement of being proud of America for the first time in her adult life.
With this, I'm sure you can see why FOX has gone out of their way to edit their transcripts.
These things seem to get the hackles up on people who don't go and do some research, or take into consideration the context. And they vote with their insignificant amount of knowledge, because it's better to hear about politics from 3rd or 4th hand mouths than from trusted sources.
Any anti-war protester over the last five years is not 'proud' of America. They're ashamed. Does that mean they hate America?
This isn't an issue, in my opinion. But you'll be hearing a lot about this FOX editing in the weeks to come, if they don't lay off the Michelle Obama attack, and frankly I think that the McCain line is worse.
ethanol
In conjuncture with my previous post about McCain's new car battery contest, this post deals with a possible choice of a new fuel source.
This article reports on the stance on ethanol by the two candidates. The article also details some ethanol pros and cons.
Here is an article by The NY Times on Obama's ties to the ethanol industry.
Just by reading this Times article, it's easy to come to the conclusion that setting up ethanol as the new fuel source is setting up a new industry to buy political candidates and influence. In realistic terms, this is a practice that isn't going to go away. You can't run for president, for congress, or as a senator or any other public office without money. Campaigning costs money.
Setting up a new business like ethanol is going to upset a lot of other businesses.
Ok, ok, mainly one.
Speculators would say that either the car companies will drag their feet creating a new kind of engine (and then selling the cars that would run on ethanol) OR car companies would break away from oil companies and embrace the new power player.
The Daily Green article mentions something interesting. Even though ethanol costs more to produce than gas, and will eat up our crops and all that, it also might be a necessary step to move in the right direction. Leapfrogging technology happens all the time. Albeit with things that are substantially less costly than cars.
Imagine, on a smaller scale, software that gets advanced, generation after generation. It moves platforms, it fixes bugs... the auto industry has been under little burden to improve their engines. The laws imposed on the industry for cars to run more efficiently are a joke.
With advances in fuel economy, options, and emissions, who knows what might happen. But one thing is certain.
See, what Obama says he wants a new fuel source, to take the money we're spending out of the middle east. He's going to get a lot of support for that from voters.
The problem is, the corn industry in the US can't possibly supply us with the demand we'll need. We can't sustain that type of output, it just won't be possible. We can't get both crops and a fuel source out of our farm land without terrorizing the environment. And I don't think that's a compromise the Americans are willing to make. That means we'll have to go to countries like Brazil or China for ethanol, both of which have been using it as a fuel source, successfully.
I'm in no way shape or form throwing support to ethanol. From what I've read, it's not the best way for us to move forward, but it would be a move forward, slowly releasing us from the grip of oil. Creating new engines to run on other forms of fuel will only lead to the evolution of engines.
But if half of the bullet points The Daily Green has listed are true... sheesh. That's like taking a gun away from someone and giving them a another gun.
I need more information. But the signs of political pitfalls are there. Perhaps setting up a new industry, to take away from one that's been raping the citizens of all countries, on top of the planet, won't be such a bad thing.
Of course, they can do the same thing, if not properly regulated.
Boy, we're just doomed to repeat ourselves, aren't we...
(so this is what flip-flopping is like...)
This article reports on the stance on ethanol by the two candidates. The article also details some ethanol pros and cons.
Here is an article by The NY Times on Obama's ties to the ethanol industry.
Just by reading this Times article, it's easy to come to the conclusion that setting up ethanol as the new fuel source is setting up a new industry to buy political candidates and influence. In realistic terms, this is a practice that isn't going to go away. You can't run for president, for congress, or as a senator or any other public office without money. Campaigning costs money.
Setting up a new business like ethanol is going to upset a lot of other businesses.
Ok, ok, mainly one.
Speculators would say that either the car companies will drag their feet creating a new kind of engine (and then selling the cars that would run on ethanol) OR car companies would break away from oil companies and embrace the new power player.
The Daily Green article mentions something interesting. Even though ethanol costs more to produce than gas, and will eat up our crops and all that, it also might be a necessary step to move in the right direction. Leapfrogging technology happens all the time. Albeit with things that are substantially less costly than cars.
Imagine, on a smaller scale, software that gets advanced, generation after generation. It moves platforms, it fixes bugs... the auto industry has been under little burden to improve their engines. The laws imposed on the industry for cars to run more efficiently are a joke.
With advances in fuel economy, options, and emissions, who knows what might happen. But one thing is certain.
See, what Obama says he wants a new fuel source, to take the money we're spending out of the middle east. He's going to get a lot of support for that from voters.
The problem is, the corn industry in the US can't possibly supply us with the demand we'll need. We can't sustain that type of output, it just won't be possible. We can't get both crops and a fuel source out of our farm land without terrorizing the environment. And I don't think that's a compromise the Americans are willing to make. That means we'll have to go to countries like Brazil or China for ethanol, both of which have been using it as a fuel source, successfully.
I'm in no way shape or form throwing support to ethanol. From what I've read, it's not the best way for us to move forward, but it would be a move forward, slowly releasing us from the grip of oil. Creating new engines to run on other forms of fuel will only lead to the evolution of engines.
But if half of the bullet points The Daily Green has listed are true... sheesh. That's like taking a gun away from someone and giving them a another gun.
I need more information. But the signs of political pitfalls are there. Perhaps setting up a new industry, to take away from one that's been raping the citizens of all countries, on top of the planet, won't be such a bad thing.
Of course, they can do the same thing, if not properly regulated.
Boy, we're just doomed to repeat ourselves, aren't we...
(so this is what flip-flopping is like...)
McCain tries for a Hail Mary
Republican nominee McCain has decided that the best way to capture the imaginations and hearts of voters who want a president to end the energy crisis we're going through is to bullshit them with a new contest.
He's proposing an offer of $300 million dollars to the company that comes up with a better car battery, one that will outperform hybrids and reduce the need for oil.
Now, there are also two conflicting reports. Yahoo (linked above) states that:
In addition, a so-called Clean Car Challenge would provide U.S. automakers with a $5,000 tax credit for every zero-carbon emissions car they develop and sell.
CNN states:
The challenge would allow $5,000 tax credits to buyers of such cars, making such vehicles more appealing to consumers and thus easier to sell.
Whom to believe? Yahoo's AP report seems more along the lines of Big Business bought politicians. CNN's report seems to be the kind of fantasy line that presidential hopefuls say to get votes, and then don't follow through.
Nowhere in there does it answer any real questions about such a contest. Who would judge it? When would it take affect? How long is the contest going to run?
Who in their right mind is going to think that Big Oil is going to allow something like this to even remotely happen without a fight?
Why would we give up tax dollars to a person who would receive an unbelievable amount of money for the patents alone? As an incentive? I think that independent engineers have plenty of incentive in this economic atmosphere, and anyone capable of actually creating a new kind of battery, engine or fuel source that will be more efficient and economically progressive will do so, not because of a contest, but because in a capitalistic country, they're going to clean up.
McCain's support is floundering, and so he comes up with a marketing technique type of announcement to get him some air time and some sound bites. Well, it's working. Now we just have to see if American's are going to fall for it.
He's proposing an offer of $300 million dollars to the company that comes up with a better car battery, one that will outperform hybrids and reduce the need for oil.
Now, there are also two conflicting reports. Yahoo (linked above) states that:
In addition, a so-called Clean Car Challenge would provide U.S. automakers with a $5,000 tax credit for every zero-carbon emissions car they develop and sell.
CNN states:
The challenge would allow $5,000 tax credits to buyers of such cars, making such vehicles more appealing to consumers and thus easier to sell.
Whom to believe? Yahoo's AP report seems more along the lines of Big Business bought politicians. CNN's report seems to be the kind of fantasy line that presidential hopefuls say to get votes, and then don't follow through.
Nowhere in there does it answer any real questions about such a contest. Who would judge it? When would it take affect? How long is the contest going to run?
Who in their right mind is going to think that Big Oil is going to allow something like this to even remotely happen without a fight?
Why would we give up tax dollars to a person who would receive an unbelievable amount of money for the patents alone? As an incentive? I think that independent engineers have plenty of incentive in this economic atmosphere, and anyone capable of actually creating a new kind of battery, engine or fuel source that will be more efficient and economically progressive will do so, not because of a contest, but because in a capitalistic country, they're going to clean up.
McCain's support is floundering, and so he comes up with a marketing technique type of announcement to get him some air time and some sound bites. Well, it's working. Now we just have to see if American's are going to fall for it.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Maine
There's a fight for a senate seat in Maine happening now. I found a great article on Political Critic about the current atmosphere of the nation and how even bipartisan Republicans like Susan Collins might be forced out because of the bad Republican name.
Wikipedia has an ok page on Senator Collins and her opponent Tom Allen.
This is a comment I left on the Political Critic page.
I don't know much about the Senator from Maine, but your assessment seems astute. With blind loyalty to parties (especially during the Bush Administration), it's understandable how easy a Dem like Allen can come in and shake things up thus, but his video is an ABC book of touching points, as if written by a 5th grader.
"I will get us a soda machine. Nancy says soda is bad for your teeth. What they hell does she know!"
I can't say whether or not he would be a good Senator, but for god sake, the "I this" and the "she that" campaign is so nah-nah-like in its childishness... can't we get past that? Or is it the only thing that works any more?
Perhaps these sound bites worked in the past, but I have a feeling the country is done with that, and the people are doing their best to find the leaders they want. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. - J
Here is Representative Allen's video:
Here is a video posted by The National Republican Senatorial Committee:
Is it just me or does a video made by a committee of Republicans just not pack as much of a punch as, say a video made by an opponent? I watched the video, I saw the comments, especially the one about the trip to Miami paid for by a pharmaceutical company (I liked how the slipped that in after Michael Moore's Sicko film)... and I don't think people are going to care. All of congress is bought and paid for by either a pharmaceutical or insurance or oil or car company. That's no surprise to anyone.
To quote the film Casino: "I had dozens of politicians and state officials coming through that place every week. Why not make him happy? For politicians like our State Senator up there, everything was on the house. These guys won their comp life
when they got elected... so, hey, why not take advantage of it."
We'll see how things turn out, but I figure that every state and every district has got its reps either waiting on the defensive or ready for a few quick anti-Rep sound bites. One way or the other, I think the next four years are there for the Democrats to either do it right or screw up completely. I don't see much middle ground.
Wikipedia has an ok page on Senator Collins and her opponent Tom Allen.
This is a comment I left on the Political Critic page.
I don't know much about the Senator from Maine, but your assessment seems astute. With blind loyalty to parties (especially during the Bush Administration), it's understandable how easy a Dem like Allen can come in and shake things up thus, but his video is an ABC book of touching points, as if written by a 5th grader.
"I will get us a soda machine. Nancy says soda is bad for your teeth. What they hell does she know!"
I can't say whether or not he would be a good Senator, but for god sake, the "I this" and the "she that" campaign is so nah-nah-like in its childishness... can't we get past that? Or is it the only thing that works any more?
Perhaps these sound bites worked in the past, but I have a feeling the country is done with that, and the people are doing their best to find the leaders they want. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking. - J
Here is Representative Allen's video:
Here is a video posted by The National Republican Senatorial Committee:
Is it just me or does a video made by a committee of Republicans just not pack as much of a punch as, say a video made by an opponent? I watched the video, I saw the comments, especially the one about the trip to Miami paid for by a pharmaceutical company (I liked how the slipped that in after Michael Moore's Sicko film)... and I don't think people are going to care. All of congress is bought and paid for by either a pharmaceutical or insurance or oil or car company. That's no surprise to anyone.
To quote the film Casino: "I had dozens of politicians and state officials coming through that place every week. Why not make him happy? For politicians like our State Senator up there, everything was on the house. These guys won their comp life
when they got elected... so, hey, why not take advantage of it."
We'll see how things turn out, but I figure that every state and every district has got its reps either waiting on the defensive or ready for a few quick anti-Rep sound bites. One way or the other, I think the next four years are there for the Democrats to either do it right or screw up completely. I don't see much middle ground.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Obama problem?
Here's an article on the latest telecommunication immunization bullshit that the Bush Administration is trying to pass, and it seems that Obama is getting caught up in it.
Here's the problem. The Bush Administration decided to tap the telecommunication industry to illegally wiretap and basically fuck us all in the ass over the 4th amendment.
Then, to cover their own asses, they came up with a bill that protected all the companies that did the said fucking.
The problem is, and if you read the comments at the article, people are pissed off, and saying they aren't going to support Obama...
It's almost as if someone said "Obama has had intimate relations with his mother." At least, that's how they're reacting.
People, it's an election year. He's already against the war. He's for a better economy. He's for getting big oil to stop what they're doing. It would be very easy for anyone to spin that anyone against this bill is not for the protection of the United States.
Why isn't that clear to see? Sure, the bill is bullshit. Anyone with a pair of half glazed eyes can see that, and it's another step for the Bush Admin to distance themselves and the people who paid for their campaigns from prosecution in the future.
It's amazing how black and white people get during an election year. You KNOW McCain isn't going to go against this law. You know he's not going to go against the Bush Administration. So wake up!
More and more this blog (and it's so goddamn early to just say "Here's my choice") is going pro-Obama. And I don't want to just blindly follow someone. I want to be objective and realistic.
Although objectively and realistically, McCain is a nightmare.
But anyone who doesn't see that the fix is in, for a good reason, is blind to the black / white view that has damaged us these 8 years. And if you think this is the worst the Bush Administration has handed down, you should really look at the post I left earlier today.
Some things HAVE to happen. It's quite easy to understand. This is an imperfect world. There is no wand, there is no easy fix, there is no bright light at the end of the tunnel. The light is dull or semi-bright, depending on your perception, and the only thing we can do is fight, equally, together, to brighten it.
You don't like what Obama has to say? Write a letter. You hate this bill? Write a letter. Call you congressman. Look to the left, the numbers, the emails are all right there.
J
Here's the problem. The Bush Administration decided to tap the telecommunication industry to illegally wiretap and basically fuck us all in the ass over the 4th amendment.
Then, to cover their own asses, they came up with a bill that protected all the companies that did the said fucking.
The problem is, and if you read the comments at the article, people are pissed off, and saying they aren't going to support Obama...
It's almost as if someone said "Obama has had intimate relations with his mother." At least, that's how they're reacting.
People, it's an election year. He's already against the war. He's for a better economy. He's for getting big oil to stop what they're doing. It would be very easy for anyone to spin that anyone against this bill is not for the protection of the United States.
Why isn't that clear to see? Sure, the bill is bullshit. Anyone with a pair of half glazed eyes can see that, and it's another step for the Bush Admin to distance themselves and the people who paid for their campaigns from prosecution in the future.
It's amazing how black and white people get during an election year. You KNOW McCain isn't going to go against this law. You know he's not going to go against the Bush Administration. So wake up!
More and more this blog (and it's so goddamn early to just say "Here's my choice") is going pro-Obama. And I don't want to just blindly follow someone. I want to be objective and realistic.
Although objectively and realistically, McCain is a nightmare.
But anyone who doesn't see that the fix is in, for a good reason, is blind to the black / white view that has damaged us these 8 years. And if you think this is the worst the Bush Administration has handed down, you should really look at the post I left earlier today.
Some things HAVE to happen. It's quite easy to understand. This is an imperfect world. There is no wand, there is no easy fix, there is no bright light at the end of the tunnel. The light is dull or semi-bright, depending on your perception, and the only thing we can do is fight, equally, together, to brighten it.
You don't like what Obama has to say? Write a letter. You hate this bill? Write a letter. Call you congressman. Look to the left, the numbers, the emails are all right there.
J
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Americas new light bulbs
If you read my post on oil in America, and you check out the comments, a buddy of mine, crotchety old man reminded me of the light bulb joke that is about to be forced on Americans.
I saw this video posted on youtube from a reddit post, about three weeks ago, about a new kind of light bulb Americans are going to be forced to use come 200somethingsomething. (edit: Here's the original article I saw.)
It's funny how these things are just passed, without people knowing it. Without any notification, any serious news coverage... and it seems to me that something like this, while seemingly unimportant, can have a trickle effect for the future that is hard to interpret now.
But I think it's very clear that someone is going to be making a ton of money on this deal.
Cui bono? Who profits?
It's the most important question when it comes to legislation being presented and passing.
I saw this video posted on youtube from a reddit post, about three weeks ago, about a new kind of light bulb Americans are going to be forced to use come 200somethingsomething. (edit: Here's the original article I saw.)
It's funny how these things are just passed, without people knowing it. Without any notification, any serious news coverage... and it seems to me that something like this, while seemingly unimportant, can have a trickle effect for the future that is hard to interpret now.
But I think it's very clear that someone is going to be making a ton of money on this deal.
Cui bono? Who profits?
It's the most important question when it comes to legislation being presented and passing.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
McCain going after women's votes
Here's a video talking about McCain going after women's votes, now that Hillary is out of the race.
Sorry about the commercial. I guess it's more important to get that revenue than get straight to the news.
I'm not exactly sure how McCain thinks that he'll get women's votes when... well, here, let's see.
There is the report he called his own wife a something.
This guy... oh man, who has the balls to ask this? NSFW
Here is a great article from the NY Times that talks about how McCain's advisors during the 2000 election were convinced he was sleeping with a lobbyist.
Not to mention how he treated his ex-wife when he came home from the war. A former model, she'd gotten into a car accident. Lost 5 inches because of reconstructive surgery. Gained weight. When he comes home, he starts sleeping with other women and dumps her for an heiress.
He dumps the woman who waited for him.
Yeah, I can see the average American woman siding with him.
Sorry about the commercial. I guess it's more important to get that revenue than get straight to the news.
I'm not exactly sure how McCain thinks that he'll get women's votes when... well, here, let's see.
There is the report he called his own wife a something.
This guy... oh man, who has the balls to ask this? NSFW
Here is a great article from the NY Times that talks about how McCain's advisors during the 2000 election were convinced he was sleeping with a lobbyist.
Not to mention how he treated his ex-wife when he came home from the war. A former model, she'd gotten into a car accident. Lost 5 inches because of reconstructive surgery. Gained weight. When he comes home, he starts sleeping with other women and dumps her for an heiress.
He dumps the woman who waited for him.
Yeah, I can see the average American woman siding with him.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
oil in america
I found this off of Professor Smartass's blog. While that might not be a name you trust right off the bat (first impressions and all), you should check the site and the article out.
While I'd like to keep this a political blog, since oil is such a big issue, I'd like to point you all to an interesting article on the Committee on Natural Resources website.
To summarize the article. Big Oil companies are sitting on 68 million acres of land and not drilling, fucking over the American consumer for their own profits.
The Resources committee is a congressional committee of the House of Representatives. It's chairman is Nick J. Rahall, a Democratic Representative from West Virginia.
I write that because it's easy for certain 'committees' to just say "Hey! We're gonna try and pass a bill." This is actually a committee that can get it into the right hands and get it done.
That's not to say that the Administration we are currently under won't try and block it. It's pretty clear that this Administration was bought and paid for by oil lobbyists.
But, they can try and we can help.
I HIGHLY suggest that you contact your Representatives, Senators, Governors and witch doctors about The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act of 2008 (H.R. 6251).
Here is a list of the members of the House of Representatives.
Here is a list of all the U.S. Senators.
Here is a list of all the U.S. Governors.
If you don't already have a personal witch doctor, do it yourself.
Letters to politicians work. Tell them how you feel. They don't know you. If they don't hear from you, nothing will change. You can't expect others to continually do the work for you. (this is assuming that you've never sent out a letter to a politician... if you have, don't stop now.)
Repetition, volume, solidarity. All send strong, powerful messages.
J
While I'd like to keep this a political blog, since oil is such a big issue, I'd like to point you all to an interesting article on the Committee on Natural Resources website.
To summarize the article. Big Oil companies are sitting on 68 million acres of land and not drilling, fucking over the American consumer for their own profits.
The Resources committee is a congressional committee of the House of Representatives. It's chairman is Nick J. Rahall, a Democratic Representative from West Virginia.
I write that because it's easy for certain 'committees' to just say "Hey! We're gonna try and pass a bill." This is actually a committee that can get it into the right hands and get it done.
That's not to say that the Administration we are currently under won't try and block it. It's pretty clear that this Administration was bought and paid for by oil lobbyists.
But, they can try and we can help.
I HIGHLY suggest that you contact your Representatives, Senators, Governors and witch doctors about The Responsible Federal Oil and Gas Lease Act of 2008 (H.R. 6251).
Here is a list of the members of the House of Representatives.
Here is a list of all the U.S. Senators.
Here is a list of all the U.S. Governors.
If you don't already have a personal witch doctor, do it yourself.
Letters to politicians work. Tell them how you feel. They don't know you. If they don't hear from you, nothing will change. You can't expect others to continually do the work for you. (this is assuming that you've never sent out a letter to a politician... if you have, don't stop now.)
Repetition, volume, solidarity. All send strong, powerful messages.
J
Monday, June 16, 2008
McCain videos
I don't want to just single McCain out, but I had to send these videos to my mom, and I figured I would give you all a look-see.
If you haven't seen these, they're worth a look.
If you have (waving hand) these aren't the videos you're looking for...
This last one harps on one story a lot (and it's a really good story), but it puts into perspective what he'll say to put things in a light they don't deserve.
If you haven't seen these, they're worth a look.
If you have (waving hand) these aren't the videos you're looking for...
This last one harps on one story a lot (and it's a really good story), but it puts into perspective what he'll say to put things in a light they don't deserve.
The White House 1 - US citizens 0
For anyone who hasn't seen All the President's Men... or any film for that matter where political figures and big business are seen shredding documents, well, that's a thing of the past.
Now we have the White House disposing of millions of emails which were sent during the period leading up to the Iraq war.
Here's the article.
Here's what started it all.
Here is the response from CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) who was suing the White House Office of Administration for the missing emails. This is a fascinating read.
Clearly we don't need all of the puzzle pieces in this situation. And I'm not getting all conspiracy theory on anyone. It's impossible, in this day and age, for there not to be back up servers in one of the most secure and technologically up-to-date offices in the whole country.
And this 'mistake' coupled with the timing could not be construed as coincidence.
This is a great example of the spin, and the pressure exerted on D.C. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
My favorite part in the CREW article is:
After initially agreeing to provide records, OA changed course and claimed it was not an agency and, therefore, had no obligation to comply with the FOIA. OA made this claim despite the fact that even the White House’s own website described OA as an agency and included regulations for processing FOIA requests.
Unreal.
Now we have the White House disposing of millions of emails which were sent during the period leading up to the Iraq war.
Here's the article.
Here's what started it all.
Here is the response from CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington) who was suing the White House Office of Administration for the missing emails. This is a fascinating read.
Clearly we don't need all of the puzzle pieces in this situation. And I'm not getting all conspiracy theory on anyone. It's impossible, in this day and age, for there not to be back up servers in one of the most secure and technologically up-to-date offices in the whole country.
And this 'mistake' coupled with the timing could not be construed as coincidence.
This is a great example of the spin, and the pressure exerted on D.C. District Court Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly.
My favorite part in the CREW article is:
After initially agreeing to provide records, OA changed course and claimed it was not an agency and, therefore, had no obligation to comply with the FOIA. OA made this claim despite the fact that even the White House’s own website described OA as an agency and included regulations for processing FOIA requests.
Unreal.
McCain economy article from Reuters
Here's the article.
The title is McCain seen as best choice for economy. The article is written by Jennifer Ablan.
I remember reading this article, it was re-printed on Yahoo, and thinking that it could basically be summed up in one word: bullshit.
First off, the American people are split up into a number of different groups, when it comes to demographics. Race, sex, financial disposition, location, family status, etc. But there are only three different groups when it comes to the economy of the country. The rich, the middle class, and the poor.
Yes, there are those people that can just reach the middle class from poor... and a handful of people who can grab hold of the rich title from middle class. But grey areas aren't relevant here, unless you're at the cusp. And cusps always hurt, in any generation, from any administration.
In the first two paragraphs... I mean, I can't even believe what I'm reading. First, Wall Street experts are saying that McCain would be best for the country's economy. Then... next paragraph... Wall Street is backing Obama. With cash.
Cue Jon Stewart spit-take.
One of McCain's plans is the eliminate the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) plan. Initially set up to have higher income households that had been receiving benefits so they didn't have to pay taxes (or very little) actually start paying taxes. The plan has morphed into something that still taxes households who live in certain high-tax areas and make over $100,000 a year. Seems to be there are some drawbacks as it continues to evolve. But only for people whose household incomes are over a certain amount.
So, one of the things he'd like to do is relieve higher income households the burden of paying these taxes.
I can understand why Wall Street Experts would be in favor of such an idea.
McCain also wants to slash corporate taxes. I would find it impossible to believe that said corporations would pass this savings on to their customers. That is an assumption, but a pretty reliable one.
James Caron of Morgan Stanley goes on to say "In this environment that we're in right now, the last thing you want to have is higher taxes and taking money out of the consumers' pockets."
I see.
This is one of those soundbite sentences that people around the country read and go "Who wants to take more money out of my pocket for more taxes?!?" They don't put it in context. They don't look at the man and see if he's got an agenda.
Take a look at this Money.com article on the breakdown of which consumers will actually be having money taken out of their pockets.
David Bianco, chief U.S. strategist at UBS Investment Research. "Wall Street would welcome McCain with open arms."
Of course they would.
"The market will respond to McCain corporate tax cuts," said participant Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital in Greenwich, Connecticut.
No shit. Less taxes for corporations means bigger profits.
McCain's tax ideas are skewed, as was Bush's, to help the rich. Plain and simple.
We get these three guys to give us their expert opinion, and then we find out that investment industry has given more money to Obama than any other candidate.
So, already the validity of the title of the article is bunk. It's very easy to get three different people who make over $100,000 a year to say "I like McCain's tax solutions better than Obama's".
Wall Street 'experts' are a dime a dozen, and frankly, the country is not in the hands of these people. They make up a small portion of the investment industry and seem to only give a shit about themselves and their fellow financial peers. I have news for these experts. All the profits that those companies that McCain is worried about helping? They all make their money from the 90% of the country that doesn't make $100,000 a year or more. It's sheer numbers. There are more of us.
And as I stated, there is no way these companies will pass along their savings to consumers.
Henry Kaufman sheds some much needed light on the entire scenario. It's too soon to tell who's going to be best for the American economy. And it's true. But time is wasting. You can see the two major candidates buying their time and waiting for the moments when they can say the major lines about the issues Americans think are important. They're waiting for THE opportune moment to grab people's attentions.
But if McCain sticks to his guns, it'll be pretty clear who's got the better policy.
Perhaps I'm over simplifying. I'm sure there are more in depth articles out there on the policies of these two candidates, and as time goes on we'll see more specifics on their plans. But there are certain things in these articles that are pretty clear.
I'm really looking forward to see who runs as an independent, and what their financial policy dictates.
The title is McCain seen as best choice for economy. The article is written by Jennifer Ablan.
I remember reading this article, it was re-printed on Yahoo, and thinking that it could basically be summed up in one word: bullshit.
First off, the American people are split up into a number of different groups, when it comes to demographics. Race, sex, financial disposition, location, family status, etc. But there are only three different groups when it comes to the economy of the country. The rich, the middle class, and the poor.
Yes, there are those people that can just reach the middle class from poor... and a handful of people who can grab hold of the rich title from middle class. But grey areas aren't relevant here, unless you're at the cusp. And cusps always hurt, in any generation, from any administration.
In the first two paragraphs... I mean, I can't even believe what I'm reading. First, Wall Street experts are saying that McCain would be best for the country's economy. Then... next paragraph... Wall Street is backing Obama. With cash.
Cue Jon Stewart spit-take.
One of McCain's plans is the eliminate the AMT (Alternative Minimum Tax) plan. Initially set up to have higher income households that had been receiving benefits so they didn't have to pay taxes (or very little) actually start paying taxes. The plan has morphed into something that still taxes households who live in certain high-tax areas and make over $100,000 a year. Seems to be there are some drawbacks as it continues to evolve. But only for people whose household incomes are over a certain amount.
So, one of the things he'd like to do is relieve higher income households the burden of paying these taxes.
I can understand why Wall Street Experts would be in favor of such an idea.
McCain also wants to slash corporate taxes. I would find it impossible to believe that said corporations would pass this savings on to their customers. That is an assumption, but a pretty reliable one.
James Caron of Morgan Stanley goes on to say "In this environment that we're in right now, the last thing you want to have is higher taxes and taking money out of the consumers' pockets."
I see.
This is one of those soundbite sentences that people around the country read and go "Who wants to take more money out of my pocket for more taxes?!?" They don't put it in context. They don't look at the man and see if he's got an agenda.
Take a look at this Money.com article on the breakdown of which consumers will actually be having money taken out of their pockets.
David Bianco, chief U.S. strategist at UBS Investment Research. "Wall Street would welcome McCain with open arms."
Of course they would.
"The market will respond to McCain corporate tax cuts," said participant Alan Ruskin, chief international strategist at RBS Greenwich Capital in Greenwich, Connecticut.
No shit. Less taxes for corporations means bigger profits.
McCain's tax ideas are skewed, as was Bush's, to help the rich. Plain and simple.
We get these three guys to give us their expert opinion, and then we find out that investment industry has given more money to Obama than any other candidate.
So, already the validity of the title of the article is bunk. It's very easy to get three different people who make over $100,000 a year to say "I like McCain's tax solutions better than Obama's".
Wall Street 'experts' are a dime a dozen, and frankly, the country is not in the hands of these people. They make up a small portion of the investment industry and seem to only give a shit about themselves and their fellow financial peers. I have news for these experts. All the profits that those companies that McCain is worried about helping? They all make their money from the 90% of the country that doesn't make $100,000 a year or more. It's sheer numbers. There are more of us.
And as I stated, there is no way these companies will pass along their savings to consumers.
Henry Kaufman sheds some much needed light on the entire scenario. It's too soon to tell who's going to be best for the American economy. And it's true. But time is wasting. You can see the two major candidates buying their time and waiting for the moments when they can say the major lines about the issues Americans think are important. They're waiting for THE opportune moment to grab people's attentions.
But if McCain sticks to his guns, it'll be pretty clear who's got the better policy.
Perhaps I'm over simplifying. I'm sure there are more in depth articles out there on the policies of these two candidates, and as time goes on we'll see more specifics on their plans. But there are certain things in these articles that are pretty clear.
I'm really looking forward to see who runs as an independent, and what their financial policy dictates.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
the mission
This is a strange thing for me to do. I'm really a nobody.
Let me re-phrase that. You don't know me. Political analysts the world over don't know me. Candidates, Senators, Governors, pretty much everyone holding an office doesn't know me.
Perhaps they read one of my letters I sent to them, about this or that. I'm not sure.
I see all of those letters being treated like screenplays in Hollywood. They're all being read by readers. The stupid ones get thrown out. The ones with actual grammar, structure and story get put in with the pile marked 'readable'.
The ones with an anti-message get passed around the office. The ones with something to say... depends on the day of the reader.
There are a lot of problems in the US, and the economy is one of them. I know, I know, bear with me.
See, every morning I travel to work, being driven by my mom or my sister. We own a family business. We all work very hard. And this economy is killing our company. So, every day we drive, we talk about what-not. And one day, some political discussion came up with my mom and as I listened to her (and I love my mom), I noticed how out of touch she was with what was happening, politically. Same with my sister. And yes, I love her, too.
There's a difference between reading a CNN article, and understanding the force behind a CNN article. The same can be said for The New York Times, The Washington Post, US News and World Report, Time Magazine, The LA Times, and any other newspaper, magazine, broadcast service and internet website that has an opinion and a favorite.
Then there is the force behind the news. And this comes in many different forms. But they all use one tool.
For the cynical and realistic, they recognize this tool as the spin. The code in which most political (and business) spirits thrive on. The spin can shift blame, put others in a better light, damage the most credible of people by taking their words and changing the context... it's a frightening power. And it's very effective. The Bush Administration has been the KING of the spin. The machine in place worked on the country for 7 years, relentlessly.
It's power is waning, and most intelligent people are either just waking up and seeing the destruction it's caused, or have known about it, and dealt with it accordingly.
The truth seeps. It is fluid like, and every once in a while you'll catch a glimpse of it. Now, there is truth and there is TRUTH. We see the former all the time. And it's full of facts. But, as I said, the majority of the time, there is an opinion or favorite behind the words. And it's bent.
The TRUTH. Hard to come by. But there are fighters. All over, there are fighters. There are journalists with integrity. There are politicians who can't go a day without wanting to vomit. There are everyday people who won't look the other way, no matter how gruesome or frightening or detrimental to their personal safety.
I don't know enough about these people. It's one of the other reasons I started this.
I'll be posting news stories. Videos. Bone prophecies collected from witch's and shamans. And I'm going to try and dissect them. I expect to be wrong sometimes. I welcome comments from everyone.
You'll see my header. That question mark, at this point, could be anything (although it was originally supposed to be a whipped cream pie... made one, shot photos of it... blech, came out awful, tasted worse.) And that could either be us, or U.S. Take your pick.
You want to leave comments? Absolutely no problem. No anonymous comments. You want to call me out on something? Let me know who you are.
Like I said, I'm nobody. But everyone started out as nobodies. And look at what they're all accomplishing.
John
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