ThinkFast: July 31, 2008
ThinkFast: July 31, 2008
Exxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,” as second-quarter profits rose 14 percent. “Net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share, from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, last year.”
Citing reductions in violence in Iraq, President Bush said this morning that “combat tour lengths for U.S. troops will be reduced to 12 months from 15 months.” While 147,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, Bush said troop reductions might be possible because the “terrorists are ‘are on the run.’”
Senate conservatives debated yesterday whether to threaten a government shutdown as a way to force a vote on offshore drilling. Congress would have to pass a continuing resolution in September to keep the government functioning, and conservatives are mulling a filibuster.
The Department of Health and Human Services is “reviewing a draft regulation that would deny federal funding to any hospital, clinic, health plan or other entity” that does not allow employees to opt out of providing birth-control pills, IUDs, and the Plan B contraceptive. The draft considers certain contraceptives as destroying “the life of a human being.”
On the trail today: Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be in Cedar Rapids, IA visiting with flood victims, and then will host a town hall meeting on the economy. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will host a town hall meeting today in Racine, WI.
Iraq and the U.S. “are close to a deal on a sensitive security agreement” that satisfies Iraq’s “desire to be treated as sovereign and independent.” The agreement “guarantee[s] that there would no longer be foreign troops visible on their land — and leaves room for them to discreetly ask for an extended American presence should security deteriorate.”
11: The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq this month. That is “the lowest monthly toll since the 2003 invasion, according Pentagon figures, highlighting what US commanders say is a marked drop in overall violence.”
More than 3.7 million Americans have had their full-time jobs cut to part time because of weak business, which is “the largest figure since the government began tracking such data more than half a century ago.” The loss of pay has reinforced “the downturn gripping the economy” for millions of American families because “paychecks are shrinking just as home prices plunge and gas prices soar.”
Govs. David Paterson (D-NY) and Martin O’Malley (D-MD) write that state governments are stepping up where the Bush administration has fallen down. States are addressing economic problems by doing “more with less,” but “no matter how prudent states are, they cannot solve the nation’s economic problems on their own.” The governors advocate “a second stimulus package that includes investments in our nation’s infrastructure.”
California, New York City, three other states and a coalition of environmental groups will file notice today that they plan to sue the EPA “to push it to regulate pollution from ocean ships and aircraft that is causing global warming.” Under the Clean Air Act, “a U.S. district court can compel the EPA to take action to protect the public’s welfare if the agency delays doing so for an unreasonably long time.”
And finally: Grassley prescribes a legislative laxative. Yesterday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) complained about “Democratic leaders stymieing his tax-extenders legislation” by using “a metaphor to which many of his silver-haired colleagues could relate.” “Issues are building up,” said Grassley. “The Senate is constipated. This body needs a…laxative.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Senate Republicans block effort to aid paralyzed vets
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has done it again. The Christopher and Dana Reeve Act, named for the actor who became a champion of the disabled, is part of a broad package created by Democrats which lumps together 36 bills.
It would have allocated $25 million for research on spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation and measures to improve the quality of life for paralyzed Americans. The effort is backed by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, which claims 19,000 members. Some 200,000 Americans suffer spinal cord-related injuries.
“We have a war with many veterans who suffer some from spinal cord injuries or paralysis,” said Lee Page, associate advocacy director for Paralyzed Veterans for America told the Navy Times Tuesday. Republicans blasted the bill as an attempt to bait them and distract from measures to deal with high gas prices.
“They’re using every trick to get us away from dealing with high gas prices,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Senate_Republicans_block_effort_to_aid_0730.html
The GOP’s lack of supporting the troops that have returned home injured is deplorable. This bill is a small part of the Advancing America’s Priorities Act, and the other 35 bills are vitally important also. This is ridiculous that the GOP is playing games with necessary research and funding that is needed to accomplish these worthwhile goals.
Another fine example of Senators looking out for our best interest and cutting back on wasteful spending in government. Mitch McConnell & Coburn don’t want to deal with insignificant details like vets suffering, ALS, homeless youths, or valuable research for children’s cancer. Our attention can’t be diverted from issues like high gas prices that should be an important American priority. In Coburn’s own words “You have to be courageous to not spend money, … and we don’t have many people who have that courage.” (sarcasm off)
July 31st, 2008 at 9:02 amExxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,”…..
..while breaking the back of of the U.S. economy.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:03 amYouTube video exposes cop who attempted to cover up assault on bicyclist
“Cyclists here already face enough obstacles,” said New York City Councilman David Yassky. “Law enforcement shouldn’t be one of them.” A New York City police officer has been placed behind a desk after being caught on tape deliberately pushing a man off of his bike during a Friday Critical Mass event in Times Square.
22-year-old rookie Patrick Pogan, former football offensive lineman and son of a retired NYPD detective, claimed in court documents that 29-year-old Christopher Long of Bloomfield, New Jersey was “forcing multiple vehicles to stop abruptly or change their direction to avoid hitting the defendant.” Pogan also alleged that Long knocked him to the ground after deliberately aiming the bicycle towards him.
UPDATE: MyFoxNY has it that the police officer in the video – 22-year-old Patrick Pogan – has been stripped of his badge and gun and the NYPD has “placed the officer on desk duty pending the outcome of a department investigation.” The cyclist, Christopher Long, has not commented, but his lawyer said, “The video speaks for itself.”
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/YouTube_video_exposes_cop_who_attempted_0730.html
The police officer perjured himself in court documents to cover up his display of police brutality. Good thing the YouTube video came out to support Long’s account of what happened. For anyone that hasn’t seen this video check it out at the link above. Pogan is the perfect example of a guy that should never be allowed to become a police officer. I smell a serious lawsuit against Pogan and the NYPD. If the NYPD is serious about not condoning police brutality; the outcome of the department investigation will be that Pogan violated his oath to uphold the law and protect it’s citizens from harm. He should be fired.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:04 amExxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,”…..
They still haven’t paid the bill for Prince William Sound…
July 31st, 2008 at 9:05 amExxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,” as second-quarter profits rose 14 percent. “Net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share, from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, last year.”
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But this is OK, right? Because Exxon Mobil is going to take these profits and invest them in the development of alternative energy, right? Like they agreed to, right?
Nah — I suspect that they will use their money in a number of creative ways:
1) Lobby the h*ll out of Congress to promote legislation that will allow them to make even MORE obscene profits.
2) Make the executive layer of the corporation so rich they will all be farting through silk.
3) Grab as much land as they can for oil leases, and then not drill on them until they can make even MORE money by doing so.
At what point will the rest of us be outraged?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:07 amThat’s like seven weeks before the election. I hope Dem leadership has enough sense to call bluff on this.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:07 amThe book “Shock Doctrine” by N. Klein offers a blueprint for what Bush&Co have set in place in this country. Historical evidence shows that the future is not good if we do not abandon the Bush policies and programs.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:08 amThe Department of Health and Human Services is “reviewing a draft regulation that would deny federal funding to any hospital, clinic, health plan or other entity” that does not allow employees to deny providing birth-control pills, IUDs, and the Plan B contraceptive. The draft considers certain contraceptives as destroying “the life of a human being.”
When crap like this does not even shock me any more, I know that we as a country are F_cked.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:09 amCongrats Exxon Mobil, can I at least have a kiss?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:09 amWhile 147,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, Bush said troop reductions might be possible because the “terrorists are ‘are on the run.’”
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Yes, terrorists are “on the run” on odd days. On even days they are a grave threat that we must all be afraid of…very afraid.
Does anybody believe this crap anymore?
Of course, even if Bush cited any numbers to back up his statements, they’d be suspect because they had been filtered through Bushco.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:10 amEconomy update. Remember the last time some wingnut said “ZOMG you stoopid bushating librul traitor, the ekonomie is NOT in recession!”?
Well, as usual, the wingnuts were wrong.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:11 amExxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,”…
Drill Here. Drill Now.
This is the new Republic mantra. I think we should drill in every Republic’s backyard to begin with.
As I posted yesterday, 3-4 billion barrels of oil lie beneath the Bakken Formation in Eastern Montana & Western ND.
Not ONE big oil interest is there.
This is a last minute ’surge’ by big oil to tie up all potential land for future drilling rights. Republics support it because big oil supports Republics. A current example is McNasty, who flipped on offshore drilling & has since collected over a million dollars in campaign contribution.
Drill a Republican. Drill Now.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:11 amExxon actually made $11.97 billion in profit. A special charge for the Exxon Valdez spill reduced it some $280 million.
While the Bushies push more oil exploration to “solve high prices”, oil companies rake in record profits, continuing their 3 year pattern.
http://peureport.blogspot.com/2008/07/exxonmobile-profit-kiing-of-world.html
A pox on the oil company houses!
July 31st, 2008 at 9:12 amBush said troop reductions might be possible because the “terrorists are ‘are on the run.’
Wasn’t the plan to chase them down wherever they were, wherever they went? Oh, right, except for Pakistan and or another country that doesn’t have oil.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:14 amMission Accomplished! Anyone who thinks the Cheney admin has been a dismal failure doesn’t realize what its mission was. Oil prices have quintupled during its reign. Federal leases in ANWR and offshore are merely garnishes.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:14 amOn the trail today: Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be in Cedar Rapids, IA visiting with flood victims, and then will host a town hall meeting on the economy. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will make nasty accusations and say stupid shit today in Racine, WI.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:15 am5th Estate Says:
Bush said troop reductions might be possible because the “terrorists are ‘are on the run.’
Wasn’t the plan to chase them down wherever they were, wherever they went? Oh, right, except for Pakistan and or another country that doesn’t have oil.
Yeah, the terrorist are on the run all right.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:17 amThey are running over our bases in Afghanistan, you know the war that Bushco and the MSM have forgotten about….
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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For those of you who find the current crop of news today a bit depressing, here’s a little bit of a laugh break for you.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25935910/
I’m 52 myself, and I can’t remember the last time I got carded anywhere. Governor Gregoire gives me hope…
July 31st, 2008 at 9:17 amSo bush has cut the time troops spend in harm’s way to 12 months on and twelve months off, what Jim Webb wanted two years ago. What a victory for freedom! When will bush stop the stop-loss of soldiers? When will bush fully fund the VA so the returning vets can get the care they earned and deserve?How many mercaniers are still in Iraq?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:18 amOn Exxon-Mobil.
Any day now they’ll use some of those profits to start drilling on all the land they’ve leased but haven’t exploited yet. Annyy…..day now…any….day…..now
July 31st, 2008 at 9:20 amDid I sleep through the definition change whereby a blastocyst became a human being?
BTW, I wonder how many lives are destroyed by an unwanted and literally unaffordable pregnancy?
So glad so many small gummint conservatives feel that the uterus is property of the State. No hypocrisy there.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:20 amSenate conservatives debated yesterday whether to threaten a government shutdown as a way to force a vote on offshore drilling.
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The GOP really only has one shot at making this type of play, and even this one shot comes with a great deal of risk that they will look like the bad guys in the eyes of the votes.
Therefore, they should pick their battle carefully.
So what are they choosing to put all their chips on? Off-shore drilling? Figures they would choose an issue that will do nothing to help the American people and will only serve to suck up to the oil industry.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:21 amThe Department of Health and Human Services is “reviewing a draft regulation that would deny federal funding to any hospital, clinic, health plan or other entity” that does not allow employees to deny providing birth-control pills, IUDs, and the Plan B contraceptive. The draft considers certain contraceptives as destroying “the life of a human being.”
This pandering to the religious right is ridiculous. To stoop to denying birth-control pills & IUD’s is arcane. This opposition takes us back to the 1930’s when, in the Christian tradition, birth control had long been associated with promiscuity and adultery, and resolutely condemned.
Next up, condemned women will have to wear scarlet letter on chest.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:23 amThe agreement “guarantee[s] that there would no longer be foreign troops visible on their land…”
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Oh great — every military recruiter’s dream. New orders: enlist ONLY invisible people…
July 31st, 2008 at 9:25 amGood morning, Freedom Rebel!
July 31st, 2008 at 9:25 amThe oil companies are beneath contempt. They are causing enormous suffering, and do not give a rat’s behind. It is all about money. They are disgusting.
Great! Bush says you only need to stay a year in Iraq, and not 18 months! How generous! He’s going to be out of a job in January, perhaps he will volunteer to go over and help.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:26 amSenate conservatives debated yesterday whether to threaten a government shutdown as a way to force a vote on offshore drilling….
Heeeellloooooooo, 1994!!!
“Old dogs”. “New tricks.” Sumptin’ like that…. Only thing they forgot is that the preznit is one of theirs….
Cheers,
July 31st, 2008 at 9:26 amZimzone Says:
John McCain (R-AZ) will make nasty accusations and say stupid shit today in Racine, WI.
While claiming no one else speaks for him, including that guy named John McCain, that keeps disagreeing with what he says.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:27 ammissmolly nails it.
To the wall.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:28 amWait a minute. Didn’t Georgie already decide Iraq was “fully sovereign?” He wasn’t just funnin’, was he?
(I must admit, I always thought sovereignty was a binary condition – a territory’s either sovereign or not, there’s no “fully” about it. Amazing how the Busheviks create their own language; one might even call it Newspeak.)
July 31st, 2008 at 9:28 amand good morning wayne, cavjam, zimzone, misshusseinmolly, stateofthedivision. bobwusrt. wayne, RUC cerious, marie…
July 31st, 2008 at 9:29 am#26 5th Estate Says:
Good morning, Freedom Rebel!
Good to see you 5th Estate :) About your blog, when are you going to start writing again? You do such awesome work. I have read through a number of your articles. You are truly gifted. No pressure, just asking.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:30 am11: The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq this month. That is “the lowest monthly toll since the 2003 invasion, according Pentagon figures, highlighting what US commanders say is a marked drop in overall violence.”
I’m sure steady temperatures of 118-120 degrees didn’t have anything to do with casualty reductions.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:30 amOn the trail today: Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will be in Cedar Rapids, IA visiting with flood victims, and then will host a town hall meeting on the economy. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) will host a town hall meeting today in Racine, WI.
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Today appears to be a good day to compare apples to apples, since both Obama and McCain are conducting town hall meetings.
I would be interested to know what differences exist between these meetings. For example, is anybody allowed to attend? Or are these meetings “invitation-only”? How are the questions vetted? In what ways are these two town hall meetings the same, and how are they different from each other?
The media don’t really report on these details, but I’m curious. Perhaps I’ll check the Cedar Rapids and the Racine news outlets tomorrow and see how their local press covered them.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:31 amThe Department of Health and Human Services is “reviewing a draft regulation that would deny federal funding to any hospital, clinic, health plan or other entity” that does not allow employees to deny providing birth-control pills, IUDs, and the Plan B contraceptive….
Regulations cannot exceed the scope and the power of the legislation that authorises them. If they do not enable or implement some legislation that specifies that it should be implemented through regulation, they are void.
Also, regulations are subject to public comment and review before they take effect, under the APA. If they want “public comment”, let’s give them public comment.
Cheers,
July 31st, 2008 at 9:31 amRoyal Dutch Shell made $11.56 billion, up 33% from a year ago. Chevron announced tomorrow.
Conservatives have to play their oil cards between earnings announcement. Bush must be cursing the timing of ExxonMobile’s nearly $12 billion in earnings. People who vote, also drive cars.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:32 ammisshusseinmolly Says:
I’m 52 myself, and I can’t remember the last time I got carded anywhere. Governor Gregoire gives me hope…
I’m 54 and I remember, in my younger days, getting pissed off when they carded me. Getting carded started to really suck the day they they stopped :)~
July 31st, 2008 at 9:33 amYesterday, Sen. Chuck Grassley (Obstructionist R-IA) complained about “Democratic leaders stymieing his tax-extenders legislation” by using “a metaphor to which many of his silver-haired colleagues could relate.” “Issues are building up,” said Grassley. “The Senate is constipated. This body needs a…laxative.”
That’s right Senator and the laxative will most likely come in November when many of your obstructionist goosestepping party boys are shown the door to make way for Democracy. Enjoy the Republican twirl around the toilet, Senator. That great sucking sound you will hear won’t be coming from the Republican Men’s bathroom but the voting booth.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:34 amExxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,” as second-quarter profits rose 14 percent. “Net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share, from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, last year.”
Anyone who believes that the oil companies give a hoot what we are paying for gasoline and what it is doing to our country need their heads examined.
It’s time to impose a windfall profit tax and to rescind the tax breaks for the big oil companies.
Also, regarding the Republicon’s screaming for offshore drilling as a solution to our high gas prices, if the Democrats feel the need to do something for political cover, I have the solution for them. They need to put restrictions on the oil leases whereas if they don’t start drilling within a year, they lose the lease. It should also require that any oil that comes from the lease must be sold on the US market. Then watch how fast the oil companies back pedal on their demands to drill off-shore. Actually, the “drill within a year” requirement should also be imposed on the leases the oil companies currently hold.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:34 amAnd good morning to you, 5th Estate!
At this point, I don’t know if Exxon (or any of the other oil companies) will drill on any of their leases anytime soon. It’s so much more profitable to allow demand to exceed supply, and their priority now is to be the richest. Sigh.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:36 amWhile 147,000 U.S. troops remain in Iraq, Bush said troop reductions might be possible because the “terrorists are ‘are on the run.’”
Bush should feel free to use any slogan he wants as long as he brings our troops home. But, this is a stupid slogan. The “terrorists” (really insurgents fighting to throw out an occupying force) are not on the run. AQ has been kicked out by Iraqi forces and the insurgents are laying low because it looks like they may get what they want. That is for us to get the hell out of their country.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:37 amBack at ‘ya, 5th Estate, & good morning to all.
Here’s to a Troll free day at the blog & work place.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:37 amSenate conservatives debated yesterday whether to threaten a government shutdown as a way to force a vote on offshore drilling.
So, let them close down the government. That is just going to make the people even madder at them than they are right now. Anyone with an IQ above room temperature knows that offshore drilling won’t solve our problem with high gas prices. It’s just a desperate land grab on the way out the door.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:39 amCaption:
July 31st, 2008 at 9:39 am‘We want our profits to be THIS MUCH bigger…
misshusseinmolly:
You are at an awkward age: Those in between years when you look old enough see R movies and buy booze without being carded, but too young to automatically be given a seniors discount. (Or be on AARP’s mailing list!) :)
July 31st, 2008 at 9:41 amThe Department of Health and Human Services is “reviewing a draft regulation that would deny federal funding to any hospital…..
I certainly hope that they can’t do this without congressional approval. You certainly can see the desperation of the Republicons. They are desperately trying to approve every piece of legislation they know won’t have a prayer of a chance of passing once the Democrats control the whitehouse and the Congress.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:41 am**More and more keeps coming out about how our elections have been stolen yet NO COVERAGE. Both Ohio and Georgia now have evidence thanks to Spoonamore. Anyone in Florida want to join the fray?
Documents show Georgia’s Secretary of State knew of Diebold patch
Larisa Alexandrovna
Published: Wednesday July 30, 2008
Georgia complained to Diebold about patch after election
On Dec. 3, 2002, Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox’s office faxed documents to the then-president of Diebold Election Systems Bob Urosevich listing a series of issues that occurred shortly before the November 2002 election.
Documents provided to RAW STORY by a whistleblower close to Cox’s office show that one of the key problems Georgia officials were trying to resolve was related to an unauthorized patch installed on machines prior to the election.
In one document, Cox’s office asked Urosevich for confirmation that a “0808 patch was applied to all systems; confirmation that the patch was not grounds for requiring the system to be recertified at national and state level; as well as verifiable analysis of the overall impact of the patch to the voting system” (See attached pdf, p. 3)
Cox didn’t know prior to the election that a patch had been installed, the source said. Cox, who is now president of Young Harris College in Georgia, returned phone calls but could not be reached for comment by press time.
“People working for Diebold were told to keep this quiet so Cox would not find out,” the whistleblower said. “They knew she was in over her head and had come to completely rely on Diebold. They controlled the warehouse, the machines, and the certification. There were no state employees.”
Diebold renamed itself Premier Election Solutions in 2007. The company has come under fire on numerous occasions for failing to protect its software from hackers, and its systems have been decertified in California. Maryland’s House of Delegates voted to ban the company from its electronic voting in 2006, though the law didn’t pass the Senate and state is now considering Premier for their optical scan systems.
According to this individual, this was the patch that he then passed on to cyber-security expert Stephen Spoonamore. Spoonamore, a highly regarded computer security specialist who has worked for US government agencies, has since come forward claiming that he took the Diebold patch to the Department of Justice — specifically to the Cyber-Security/Cyber-Crime unit of the Computer and Intellectual Property Section — after it was brought to his attention.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:42 amRead the rest:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Documents_reveal_Georgia_was_warned_of_0730.html
Iraq and the U.S. “are close to a deal on a sensitive security agreement” that satisfies Iraq’s “desire to be treated as sovereign and independent.”
Wow, the nerve of them wanting to be treated as sovereign and independent. Who do they think they are. Don’t they know that we OWN them?
It’s about time the Iraqi’s start standing up to their occupier.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:43 am11: The number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq this month. That is “the lowest monthly toll since the 2003 invasion, according Pentagon figures, highlighting what US commanders say is a marked drop in overall violence.”
It’s a drop in overall violence towards US soldiers, but not necessarily a drop in violence towards Iraqi’s.
I read the other day that one of the reasons for the drop in violence towards US soldiers is that they are no longer out there patrolling the streets and roads, thereby not getting blown up by roadside bombs. The soldiers are mostly being kept on base, so they are not a target. Just another way to “cook the books” to make it look like the escalation of troops worked to reduce violence in Iraq.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:45 amThe governors advocate “a second stimulus package that includes investments in our nation’s infrastructure.”
Which is exactly what should have been done in the first place. It puts money into our economy and serves a good purpose. Whereas sending citizens $600-$1,200 did nothing to stimulate the economy. Most people put the money in a savings account.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:47 amOil for Iraq Liberation Act Announcement
Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) will hold a press conference on the Oil for Iraq Liberation Act tomorrow morning on the Cannon Terrace.
The Oil for Iraq Liberation bill will prevent U.S. based oil companies from development of and investment in petroleum resources of Iraq.
“Recently we have seen evidence of a concerted effort to pressure the Iraqi government into privatizing Iraqi oil fields against the will of its citizens. We have also heard that certain high level architects of the Iraq war stand to gain financially. This bill will ensure that the Iraqi oil money stays out of the hands of U.S. oil companies who would otherwise benefit from the US attack on and occupation of Iraq.”
http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=99122
“The conference will be: Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. on the Cannon Terrace”
You gotta love this guy for all of his efforts. Keep up the great work Dennis…..
July 31st, 2008 at 9:49 amFreedom Rebel Says:
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has done it again.
I’m not exactly sure what parliamentary procedure Coburn uses to obstruct legislation, but I’m wondering why the Democrats can’t use the same procedure. Why didn’t some enterprising Democrat use that procedure to stop the FISA legislation from being voted on?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:49 amFreedom Rebel: About your blog, when are you going to start writing again?
Many thanks for the kind words. I’ve been thinking about it but dreading doing it again. But then if I don’t why did I bother in the first place, just to give up? So, gosh-darnit, “as god is my witness” I SHALL BLOG AGAIN! Thanks for the nudge!
July 31st, 2008 at 9:50 amThis thread is 43 minutes old and there are 9 deleted comments. Has something changed at TP about blocking comments, posters or IP’s?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:50 amBush said troop reductions might be possible because the “terrorists are ‘are on the run.’”
Yep. On the run to Afghanistan …
July 31st, 2008 at 9:53 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Why didn’t some enterprising Democrat use that procedure to stop the FISA legislation from being voted on?
I’ve been asking that same question, Bilbo. Even with a small majority, the Dems just can’t seem to find it within themselves to implement practices that give Republics a ‘taste of their own medicine’.
Is it because Congress is a two headed Hydra, working behind the scenes to ensure most of them benefit from one-sided laws?
July 31st, 2008 at 9:58 amI’m beginning to wonder. Look at Pelosi. She put absolutely no effort into really ‘draining the swamp’, did she? She spends time hawking her new book instead of facilitating Kucinich’s impeachment article or KKKarl’s contempt charge.
It’s usually the long term Congress Critters one has to watch. Holding office, apparently, clouds one’s judgment over time.
Couple that with the short attention span of American voters & you have a recipe for corruption and self interests.
The draft considers certain contraceptives as destroying “the life of a human being.
No! The illegal occupation of Iraq DESTROYS LIVES!
Contraception prevents the possibility of creating life.
YOU CAN’T DESTROY SOMETHING THAT HAS YET BEEN CREATED!
Mucking forons!
Sorry for the post and run, massive back logged paperwork. Will gladly discuss any opposing viewpoints later this afternoon.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:58 am#52 Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) has done it again.
I’m not exactly sure what parliamentary procedure Coburn uses to obstruct legislation, but I’m wondering why the Democrats can’t use the same procedure. Why didn’t some enterprising Democrat use that procedure to stop the FISA legislation from being voted on?
Good Morning Bilbo :) I don’t think they are taking very good notes. The Republicans give them fine examples everyday how to block, hold or divert legislation. I agree how could they possibly drop the ball of the FISA Bill, they are in the majority. (Of course, you would never know it they way they have voted) The Blue Dog Dems are really hurting us bad. That is a very large block, and the progressive dems are catering to them far too much.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:59 amHow long before the insanity of believing in a magic man in the sky that is obsessed with your genitalia is an automatic disqualification for public office?
I mean, come on, belief in superstitious fairy tales should, at the very least, make one unelectable.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:02 amFreedom Rebel, I agree…Blue Dogs & Red Rats are gumming up America’s legislative process & outcomes.
Yesterday, Congress couldn’t even pass legislation that would have allowed stock market oil speculators to be reined in.
Go ahead…make my day; drill a Republican.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:02 amI haven’t spent one dime on gasoline in over 60 days.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:02 amI realize that hasn’t kept me from spending more on other aspects of life that depend on the oil companies. Not going to the pump, for me, is a start.
#53 5th Estate Says:
Freedom Rebel: About your blog, when are you going to start writing again?
Many thanks for the kind words. I’ve been thinking about it but dreading doing it again. But then if I don’t why did I bother in the first place, just to give up? So, gosh-darnit, “as god is my witness” I SHALL BLOG AGAIN! Thanks for the nudge!
I know it is alot of work. It is very time consuming also. Let me know when you start, I look forward to a great read :)
July 31st, 2008 at 10:03 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Why didn’t some enterprising Democrat use that procedure to stop the FISA legislation from being voted on?
You mean like when Dodd put a senator hold on the original FISA bill and Reid ignored it and pushed the bill through anyway?
For some strange reason, Reid only honors holds placed by Republicans. Really strange for a “Democratic” Senate Majority leader.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:04 amWayne Says:
Bilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
Why didn’t some enterprising Democrat use that procedure to stop the FISA legislation from being voted on?
You mean like when Dodd put a senator hold on the original FISA bill and Reid ignored it and pushed the bill through anyway?
For some strange reason, Reid only honors holds placed by Republicans. Really strange for a “Democratic” Senate Majority leader.
I think Coburn used some other kind of a parliamentary procedure. Otherwise they would not have to be combining all the bills that Coburn has blocked into one bill to try and pass the legislation. I don’t believe that Reid would allow all those bills to remain blocked if he had the power to unblock them.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:08 amExxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,” as second-quarter profits rose 14 percent. “Net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share, from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, last year.”
That profit works out to ~$1,481.48 a second. Truly obscene.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:09 amBilbo said:
I’m not exactly sure what parliamentary procedure Coburn uses to obstruct legislation, but I’m wondering why the Democrats can’t use the same procedure. Why didn’t some enterprising Democrat use that procedure to stop the FISA legislation from being voted on?
They did. Senator Dodd tried to put a hold on the FISA bill but amazingly, Senate Majority Leader Reid wouldn’t honor it. It’s inexplicable that the opposition party can obstruct whatever legislation they don’t like but when a member of Reid’s own party makes a principled stand for the constitution he’s not only ignored, but Reid even accused him of grandstanding.
This is part of the most unbelievable aspect of all this. When the Republicans controlled Congress, the administration tried to push through similar legislation but failed. It took a Democratic Congress to pass it.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 31st, 2008 at 10:13 amApparently Kit Bond (R-MO) didn’t see Exxon’s and Shell’s earnings reports, over $23 billion between the two. He’s pressing the vote on expanded drilling on C-SPAN 2.
Funny, the news channels aren’t leading with the Bush push, unlike yesterday. They’re spotlighting Exxon’s nearly $12 billion in earnings.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:18 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
I think Coburn used some other kind of a parliamentary procedure. Otherwise they would not have to be combining all the bills that Coburn has blocked into one bill to try and pass the legislation. I don’t believe that Reid would allow all those bills to remain blocked if he had the power to unblock them.
Coburn is using the exact same procedure that Dodd used ( Senator hold ), Reid just doesn’t want to piss the Republicans off while giving members of his own party the shaft.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:20 amMisshusseinmolly: 3) Grab as much land as they can for oil leases, and then not drill on them until they can make even MORE money by doing so.
The US makes a grab for control of ME to guarantee oil for the US (them) per the PNAC plan of 1998.
US oil companies make record profits not from gaining control of Iraqi oil reserves, but from the general mayhem that ensues.
The huge increase in oil prices makes the exploitation of formerly commercially low-profit oil fields viable and attractive.
US oil companies push to gain access/control of Iraqi oil, stymied somewhat by Iraqis.
Existing US land-based drilling permits are ignored and Big Oil pushes for drilling in Alaska (a tough environment with high expenses).
Big Oil pushes for more offshore drilling permits.
GOP promotes Big Oil’s schemes.
Whilst molly notes a “land grab” I also note an “offshore grab”—with the technical exception of Alaska. Is Big Oil, flush with profit, trying to secure the more difficult and expensive to extract-from oil fields first? Because if they then exploited those first prices would stay high or go higher and then as supply began to drop off they’d finally fall back on the land-based easier-to extract fields acquired at what would by then be bargain-basement lease terms, making them more profitable still? And US big oil would then have a vast amount of economic control too.
So yeah, maybe it is a grab, but involving not just land or maximizing profits but also of political control.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:22 amCalifornia, New York City, three other states and a coalition of environmental groups will file notice today that they plan to sue the EPA “to push it to regulate pollution from ocean ships and aircraft that is causing global warming.” Under the Clean Air Act, “a U.S. district court can compel the EPA to take action to protect the public’s welfare if the agency delays doing so for an unreasonably long time.”
I have an idea. If the EPA is not doing it’s job, then let’s get rid of it. Why should my tax dollars be spent funding something that isn’t doing the job it was designed to do? There is no purpose. Sue to have it removed or the persons responsible for them not doing their jobs removed.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:22 amExit Stage Left Says:
I’m 54 and I remember, in my younger days, getting pissed off when they carded me. Getting carded started to really suck the day they they stopped :)~
Good Morning Exit Stage Left :) I’m surprised that one didn’t bother me. Considering I wouldn’t let anyone celebrate my 27th birthday because, I was getting close to the big “30″. When I turned 40, my sister who is ten years younger, put all these lawn ornaments in my yard with the grim reaper.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:23 amReid may be a Mormon, but in many ways, he’s just a moron.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:23 amPaul W Says:
This is part of the most unbelievable aspect of all this. When the Republicans controlled Congress, the administration tried to push through similar legislation but failed. It took a Democratic Congress to pass it.
Every one of the sorry b@stards that voted for it got their payoffs from the telcos. Just check the “donations” from the telcos for each one.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:23 am#60 Zimzone Says:
Freedom Rebel, I agree…Blue Dogs & Red Rats are gumming up America’s legislative process & outcomes.
Yesterday, Congress couldn’t even pass legislation that would have allowed stock market oil speculators to be reined in.
Go ahead…make my day; drill a Republican.
Good Morning Zimzone :) I’m glad Glen Greenwald and some of the grassroots organizations are going after the Blue Dogs during their reelection campaigns. They are going after Steny big time, he more than deserves to be booted out. I hope their efforts are successful, I just wish they would go after Pelosi.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:27 amBush will speak on Energy from West Virginia in just a few minutes. I hope he takes questions and some enterprising reporter asks about record Exxon, Shell, BP, & ConocoPhillips profits.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:29 am**More and more keeps coming out about how our elections have been stolen yet NO COVERAGE. Both Ohio and Georgia now have evidence thanks to Spoonamore. Anyone in Florida want to join the fray? Dammit TP – I tried to post this about an hour ago and it is STILL aw3aiting moderation. I am sick of having to write to you explaining that I am injured and have to compose in word and paste into comments. We are told our one way of fighting all of this is at the ballot box yet if our elections are fixed, what chance do we have? You, TP, arre not helping this.
Documents show Georgia’s Secretary of State knew of Diebold patch
Larisa Alexandrovna
Published: Wednesday July 30, 2008
Georgia complained to Diebold about patch after election
On Dec. 3, 2002, Georgia Secretary of State Cathy Cox’s office faxed documents to the then-president of Diebold Election Systems Bob Urosevich listing a series of issues that occurred shortly before the November 2002 election.
Documents provided to RAW STORY by a whistleblower close to Cox’s office show that one of the key problems Georgia officials were trying to resolve was related to an unauthorized patch installed on machines prior to the election.
In one document, Cox’s office asked Urosevich for confirmation that a “0808 patch was applied to all systems; confirmation that the patch was not grounds for requiring the system to be recertified at national and state level; as well as verifiable analysis of the overall impact of the patch to the voting system” (See attached pdf, p. 3)
Cox didn’t know prior to the election that a patch had been installed, the source said. Cox, who is now president of Young Harris College in Georgia, returned phone calls but could not be reached for comment by press time.
“People working for Diebold were told to keep this quiet so Cox would not find out,” the whistleblower said. “They knew she was in over her head and had come to completely rely on Diebold. They controlled the warehouse, the machines, and the certification. There were no state employees.”
Diebold renamed itself Premier Election Solutions in 2007. The company has come under fire on numerous occasions for failing to protect its software from hackers, and its systems have been decertified in California. Maryland’s House of Delegates voted to ban the company from its electronic voting in 2006, though the law didn’t pass the Senate and state is now considering Premier for their optical scan systems.
According to this individual, this was the patch that he then passed on to cyber-security expert Stephen Spoonamore. Spoonamore, a highly regarded computer security specialist who has worked for US government agencies, has since come forward claiming that he took the Diebold patch to the Department of Justice — specifically to the Cyber-Security/Cyber-Crime unit of the Computer and Intellectual Property Section — after it was brought to his attention.
Read the rest:
http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Documents_reveal_Georgia_was_warned_of_0730.html
July 31st, 2008 at 10:32 amI have tried posting twice a story from Larisa about more Diebold fraud in Georgia. TP is holding my posts for “moderation” — I have repeatedly had to contact them because of my injury and the fact I have to compose in wWord and post in TP because they don’t give you a chance to preview before posting. I AM NOT SPAMMING!!! Sorry, but this is getting real old and how in the hell can some of us participate? Awaiting moderation is a joke because unless you contact them, it never gets released. Sorry, I am so pissed I could spit nails and all I get from TP is crickets chirping. Have a good one all….
July 31st, 2008 at 10:40 amExxon Mobil broke its own record for “the highest-ever profit by a U.S. company,” as second-quarter profits rose 14 percent. “Net income in the quarter rose to $11.68 billion, or $2.22 a share, from $10.26 billion, or $1.83 a share, last year.”
Studies show that they give this money back to their share holders and NOT to exploration as they promise (obviously with their fingers crossed).
Reverse Robin Hood – stealing from the middle class to give to the rich. Funny how many middle class people stopped driving, causing the demand for oil to drop significantly.
We need to push the Obama Administration and Congress on IMMEDIATELY creating alternative ebergy policies, investments, and jobs. Short of storming the Bastille, it’s how we’ll laugh last.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:41 amBush & Cheney will be on the run when people finally wake up to the fact they orchestrated 9/11 which is the sole cause of our reckless foreign policy and tanking economy.
It will something out of Frankenstein: millions and millions of torch bearing villagers.
Yup.
Bush and Cheney “on the run”
love it.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:41 amcavjam Says: The draft considers certain contraceptives as destroying “the life of a human being.”
What exactly are they going to do with all those people they wish to produce? We’re already feeling the consequences of too many people on the planet now. We’re about 4.5 billion too many already.
Statistics show that about 70% of all pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. Odd how they aren’t getting upset about that, but rather about the nominal amount aborted on purpose.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:44 amYou know, sometimes I wonder if we’re seeing the fruits of the Administration’s warrantless wiretapping in the behavior of key Democrats in Congres….
July 31st, 2008 at 10:48 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says: It’s time to impose a windfall profit tax and to rescind the tax breaks for the big oil companies.
AGreed.
We also need to dispell the myths floating around tha doing this will pass on to us in higher prices. If we can’t afford $4 a gallon, we sure aren’t going to be able to afford $5 a gallon either, which will then lower demand even further than $4 has lowered it – about 1.5 billion miles in the last six months.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:48 am#80:
Do you mean the reason Pelosi capitulated on impeachment is because they have wiretapped her and they have the dirt on her?
I thought this all along.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:51 amRantingTommy Says: How long before the insanity of believing in a magic man in the sky that is obsessed with your genitalia is an automatic disqualification for public office?I mean, come on, belief in superstitious fairy tales should, at the very least, make one unelectable.
Odd that NOT believing in Santa Claus is cause for not getting elected.
If 15% of Americans are admittedly non-believers, then the odds that none of our “Representatives”, except the guy in Southern Californa who came out, are non-believers is absurd.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:53 amAnd the beat goes on Says:
Sorry, I am so pissed I could spit nails and all I get from TP is crickets chirping. Have a good one all….
Good Morning and the beat goes on :) I’m sorry you are in moderating hell. I know the word a nalysis gets you moderated, not sure about the other words on the list.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:54 amDoes this also include vasectomies? I mean, come on. If insurance companies will pay for a man to have a vasectomy, why won’t they pay for a woman’s contraceptives? And are these employees only going to deny “birth control” to women? Isn’t a vasectomy a form of birth control?
This is the argument that we need to be making.
July 31st, 2008 at 10:55 amhttp://www.democracynow.org/2008/7/31/headlines
July 31st, 2008 at 11:01 amThe only 2 people in Congress I have respect for are Kucinich and Feingold.
EVERYONE else is corrupt.
The New Axis of Evil:
Bush Administration, Congress, Military Industrial Corporate Complex and The Corporate Bought and Sold Media.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:02 amfreedom rebel said:
The Blue Dog Dems are really hurting us bad. That is a very large block, and the progressive dems are catering to them far too much.
I imagine that you may have already read this, but, in case you haven’t:
Let’s give “Blue Dogs” the boot
Pushing conservative Democrats out of Congress could help the party stand up to the GOP.
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/29/blue_dogs_die/print.html
July 31st, 2008 at 11:08 amBush said troop reductions might be possible because the “Muqtada al-Sadr called a temporary cease fire of his Shia militia, and we are paying the Sunnis $300/month apiece to not shoot at our troops.’”
July 31st, 2008 at 11:09 amThis just in:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25949309/
It always amazes me when we find a federal judge not in Bushco’s pocket.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:15 amBush took no questions after his energy speach. He sprinted off the stage, true to his promise to sprint to the finish.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:21 amYesterday, the BBC has a piece on the RAND study. It inspired a post:
http://arisfreedomswitch.blogspot.com/2008/07/rand-suggests-shift-in-terror-strategy.html
July 31st, 2008 at 11:22 amOf course McCain thinks differently,he put ad blaming Obama for gasoline prices.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:22 amMcCain thinks the majority of us are fools to believe his crazy claim.
I hope this issue will come in future debates between Obama and McExxon exposing the hefty profits of oil barons.
tarazan Says:
“Of course McCain thinks differently,he put ad blaming Obama for gasoline prices.”
Is this the same mclame who can’t remember the last time he bought gas? mclame is hardly a credible source on the matter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/john-mccain-doesnt-know-t_b_109601.html
July 31st, 2008 at 11:27 am#88 mary Says:
freedom rebel said:
The Blue Dog Dems are really hurting us bad. That is a very large block, and the progressive dems are catering to them far too much.
I imagine that you may have already read this, but, in case you haven’t:
Let’s give “Blue Dogs” the boot
Pushing conservative Democrats out of Congress could help the party stand up to the GOP.
http://www.salon.com/ opinion/ feature/ 2008/ 07/ 29/ blue_dogs_die/ print.html
Good Morning Mary :) Good to see you. I have read it and it is a wonderful article. Thank you so much for posting it. We need to make sure that more progressive Dems are elected or progressive Independents. (Unlike the Liebermann turned Republican Independent)
I agree with you Mary, Blue Dogs need to be booted out…. There are two in Southern Ohio of course, that part of the state needs to be kicked in the butt for the way they vote. In northern Ohio, where I’m at we upset Dick Cheney so bad on his last visit, with our picketing and booing he left after 20 minutes. Never to return to our part of the state since, good riddance. Northern Ohio knows how to give a very cold welcome to Republicans.
Have a good day Mary :)
July 31st, 2008 at 11:28 amSave The Planet? How About Saving The Republic?
Chuck Baldwin
July 30, 2008
Yesterday, the Politico quoted House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as saying, “I’m trying to save the planet; I’m trying to save the planet.” She was responding, of course, to pressure that she and her fellow Democrats are experiencing to suspend a congressional ban on offshore oil drilling in the face of skyrocketing energy prices. It would be really wonderful, however, if the liberal congresswoman could get as energized about saving our once great republic.
Herein lies another problem: the vast majority of our politicos (from both major parties) do not even seem to know what kind of country the United States was designed to be. Virtually every reference made to the United States by our civil magistrates is that we are a “democracy.” That’s odd; someone should have told our Founding Fathers, because they emphatically rejected the concept of creating a “democracy” in favor of creating a constitutional republic.
Has anyone quoted the Pledge of Allegiance lately? Does it say, “And to the democracy for which it stands”? Or does it say, “And to the republic for which it stands”? Of course it says “republic.”
At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, a passerby asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got–a republic or monarchy?” Franklin replied, “A republic–if you can keep it.”
Ladies and Gentlemen, that is the sixty-four million dollar question: Can we keep our republic? Can we keep our constitutional form of government? Can we keep our constitutionally protected liberties?
In Federalist No. 10, James Madison (”The Father of the U.S. Constitution”) said, “[D]emocracies have ever been spectacles of turbulence and contention; have ever been found incompatible with personal security or the rights of property; and have in general been as short in their lives as they have been violent in their deaths.”
The fear of what happens to freedom and liberty under democratic rule is what prompted Madison and the rest of America’s founders to labor so hard to create what they did: a constitutional republic.
Under God, it is allegiance to the Constitution that has preserved our liberties, our peace and happiness, our security, and our very way of life. Furthermore, it is the repudiation and rejection of constitutional government that is responsible for the manner in which these very same blessings are currently being lost.
Someone needs to remind Rep. Pelosi that it is not her duty (nor does she have the power) to “save the planet.” And by the same token, someone needs to remind Senators Barack Obama and John McCain that they are not campaigning to be President of the World, but President of the United States.
What every elected officeholder is expected and required to do is very simple: they are required to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Period. End of story.
Our public servants are not charged with saving the snail darter or the Spotted Owl, or saving the profits of the international bankers, or saving Wall Street in general, or saving the perks of corporate lobbyists, or saving Freddie and Fannie, or saving the peoples of the world from all the bogeymen, or even saving humankind or the planet itself. What our public servants are charged with, however, is preserving (saving) our constitutional republic.
Of course, the problem is, the people who are charged with the preservation of our republic are the ones who are the most responsible for its destruction. The American people have far more to fear from Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama, and John McCain than they do from any foreign adversary, because our leaders have proven that they have absolutely no fidelity to the principles of constitutional government. They have no compunction about eviscerating the protection of our freedoms, or about abolishing the vanguard of our liberties. They are Machiavellian, making King George of old look like a mere amateur.
No, I take that back. It is not our civil magistrates who are most responsible for the destruction of our republican form of government: it is “We the people.”
At the end of the day, it is the responsibility of the people to govern themselves. We must be willing to hold our civil magistrates accountable to the contract they made with us, which is to uphold constitutional government. It is our duty to “throw off” any system of government that does not secure our liberties and protect our Constitution. And this we have not done.
Christian pastors and ministers have failed us. The “Religious Right” has failed us. College professors have failed us. High School teachers have failed us. Newspaper editors and publishers have failed us. TV news anchors and reporters have failed us. Parents have failed. Friends have failed. The two major political parties have failed. As a whole, no one is talking about, or even thinking about, the loss of constitutional government, national independence, and sovereignty. Few seem even conscious that this is taking place.
Worrying about which major party wins a general election is like worrying about whether Coke or Pepsi sold more soft drinks last month. Pick your poison. One is just as bad as the other. Neither has any fidelity to the Constitution or to the principles of liberty, which it represents. Both John McCain and Barack Obama are enemies to constitutional government. Both are in the process of sacrificing our national sovereignty to global entities. Both men lied when they took an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution. So, why should we care which impostor wins the election?
It is up to the American people to enforce constitutional government. From a Christian perspective, it is “We the people” who are the “powers that be” in Romans chapter 13. Under our form of government, the source of authority and the source of legitimacy reside with “We the people.” We are not the slaves of any king or despot. Our elected leaders are public servants, not private masters. In a nutshell, they work for us. They are contracted to preserve our liberties and our way of life. When they fail, they must answer to us.
So, when will the American people pick themselves up by the bootstraps and start acting like free citizens and stop groveling before these imbecilic political parties? When will we set this political house in order?
Of course, all of this demands that each of us understands constitutional government and the principles upon which liberty rests. It also demands that each of us be prepared to do whatever is our personal duty to preserve this republic.
Patriotism is more than waving a flag on July 4th, or singing The National Anthem at a ball game, or wearing a flag lapel pin on Flag Day. For an American, real patriotism means that we are willing to preserve and protect our constitutional republic. Remember, Franklin’s answer: “A republic–if you can keep it.”
Nancy Pelosi can talk about saving the planet all she wants to: her duty, however, is to preserve, protect, and defend the U.S. Constitution. And that is also the job of every single American citizen. Unfortunately, most of us are no better at doing our job than Pelosi is at doing hers.
July 31st, 2008 at 11:34 amOil companies making record profits and Republicans pushing to make them even more profits in the Legislature.
Government hard at work for their for corporate constituents!
July 31st, 2008 at 11:44 amFreedom Rebel – it’s always good to see you! I love your passion.
I was glad to see Salon put some light on the issue of the “Blue Dogs”. They seem to be close to taking over the Democratic party if they haven’t already.
I hope you also have a great day!
July 31st, 2008 at 11:53 amdary11-
July 31st, 2008 at 11:55 amre:Town Hall Meetings
Trust me, they will give a free ticket to anyone for as long as they have tickets available… they will not be screening attendees, ANYONE can get one if they get to the office in time to claim one… that means if you hurry you can get one for yourself and for your other brother daryll…
You know who does carefully control attendees at public events? Bet you’ll never guess…
Edit:
July 31st, 2008 at 11:57 amSenate (conservatives) “energy-company toadies, lackeys and prostate-lavers” debated yesterday whether to threaten a government shutdown as a way to force a vote on offshore drilling. Congress would have to pass a continuing resolution in September to keep the government functioning, and (conservatives) “energy-company toadies, lackeys and prostate-lavers” are mulling a filibuster.
There are people who listen to AM radio?
July 31st, 2008 at 11:57 amThe draft considers certain contraceptives as destroying “the life of a human being.”
So life begins before conception now? By that logic, menstruation is a crime.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:01 pmI listen to Air America on AM 820 WCPT. You know, that radio network the right-wing a-holes keep telling us went out of business.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:02 pmBilbo Hussein Baggins at 9:34 am
“…Also, regarding the Republicon’s screaming for offshore drilling as a solution to our high gas prices, if the Democrats feel the need to do something for political cover, I have the solution for them. They need to put restrictions on the oil leases whereas if they don’t start drilling within a year, they lose the lease…. Actually, the “drill within a year” requirement should also be imposed on the leases the oil companies currently hold.”
They need to have to trade the already held “useless leases” in on the new ones. I don’t think our Dems are creative enough. They should not be allowed to hoard leases, anymore!
July 31st, 2008 at 12:14 pmWhat I, modestly, would call ‘nobly empty rhetoric.’ Sound and fury, bombast, sentiment, righteousness, all the right notes.
Falls apart for me at the ‘bootstrap’ level. I have learned to almost instinctively distrust folks who haul out that ol’ trusty bootstrap metaphor.
Have you ever tried that? It’s tricky
Physics gets in the way. Turns out it’s damn near impossible. Archimedes, or somebody, gets in the way.
Ya gotta have a place from which to apply force and ya gotta have a lever.
Through a near-century-long program of taught ignorance and helplessness, the Govt/Entertainment/Propaganda machine has ground down the public education of the citizen from mere competence to near imbecility. “school” has grown expert at churning out waves of earnest, willing, uncritical, unwary consumers–that became their job, around 1970, after it became obvious that the students rebelling in the streets had learned the lesson of liberty all too well…
No one schooled outside the privileged class has had the kind of education I took for granted in my youth. I could and did read critically in the 8th grade (circa 1958/59), a competence you will visit thousands of contemporary classrooms vainly before you once encounter it in Murkin schools today (except for the schools of the wealthy/privileged.)
The “people” have been schooled in passivity, ennui, and television. It’s really hard to expect much out of ‘m when they’ve got a plasma screen, survivor, bud in the fridge and the pizza guy at the door…
July 31st, 2008 at 12:15 pmall’s im sayin
Good morning, everyone – excellent piece on Adkisson and his ties to rightwing hate:
Right-Wing TN Church Shooter is Fan of O’Reilly, Hannity, Savage
Jonathan Kim
On Sunday, 58-year-old Jim Adkisson entered the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church during a children’s performance of the musical “Annie Jr.” In a guitar case, he carried a shotgun and 76 rounds. Adkisson killed two church members, Greg McKendry (60) and Linda Kraeger (61), and wounded six more before he was wrestled to the ground as he tried to reload. What was Adkisson’s motive? From RawStory:
A report from the local Knoxville news details the findings from Adkisson’s home, along with key statements from a document written by Adkisson related to an apparent motive behind the violent attack that rocked the suburban community:
“Adkisson targeted the church, [Investigator Steve] Still wrote in the document obtained by WBIR-TV, Channel 10, ‘because of its liberal teachings and his belief that all liberals should be killed because they were ruining the country, and that he felt that the Democrats had tied his country’s hands in the war on terror and they had ruined every institution in America with the aid of media outlets.’
“Adkisson told Still that ‘he could not get to the leaders of the liberal movement that he would then target those that had voted them in to office.’”
July 31st, 2008 at 12:30 pmYeah, right. A FOX poll.
In your wildest, Cheetos-smeared wet dreams, moron.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:32 pmWith 76% of Americans currently supporting exiling Bush offshore immediately, Bush has an obligation to jump in the ocean.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:32 pmThe trolls like dary11 are trying to sneak in with supposedly normal comments but could be just lying so they don’t get booted out.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:52 pmSt. Augustine, a name once used by Mr. P and now a regular poster is questioning deleted posts. I suspect that is also Mr. P trying to pass for a regular.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:52 pmWith 76% of Americans ( including 7 of 10 democrats ) currently supporting more offshore drilling immediately, Congress has an obligation to bring this to a vote.
Here in San Diego, with some of the previously highest prices for gas in the country, the price has been falling, and rapidly. $.45 in the past two weeks alone. The funny thing? Arco is the company selling at the lowest prices – and there’s a Exxon-Mobil across the street, selling it for $.24 a gallon more.
July 31st, 2008 at 12:53 pmKay #96. Thank you for posting the article….Peace~Blessings~Justice
July 31st, 2008 at 1:15 pm#108 tokin librul Says:
No one schooled outside the privileged class has had the kind of education I took for granted in my youth. I could and did read critically in the 8th grade (circa 1958/59), a competence you will visit thousands of contemporary classrooms vainly before you once encounter it in Murkin schools today (except for the schools of the wealthy/privileged.)
The “people” have been schooled in passivity, ennui, and television. It’s really hard to expect much out of ‘m when they’ve got a plasma screen, survivor, bud in the fridge and the pizza guy at the door…
all’s im sayin
Well said tokin librul :) In my case, I was extremely lucky being in a great school district with some incredible progressive teachers that went beyond what they were required to teach. I see what passes at high school for classes and it has become a tragic loss. They are certainly not going to produce great leaders or young adults with inspiring visions for the future. Or at least not as many as they use to. High School in many cases has become mind numbing; unless you are going to a private school or are lucky enough to be in a good school district.
There is a combination of factors from the administrators, curriculum, lack of good books, lack of proper funding, etc… the list goes on. I was surprised at how much in had changed since I had gone and my daughter entered High School. I believe in progress but if something is not broke don’t fix it, not when their fix is standardized testing, that has proven to be a complete failure.
Great post tokin :)
July 31st, 2008 at 1:17 pm#110 Leftside Annie Says:
Good morning, everyone – excellent piece on Adkisson and his ties to rightwing hate:
Good to see you Leftside Annie :)
great post thank you….
July 31st, 2008 at 1:19 pmRecord profits for a quarter when miles driven by Americans actually dropped…….hmmmm.
Clearly these people are putting the screws to the public to the full extent possible knowing once Obama gets into office he’ll be shining the lights on these cockroaches.
Their argument was that windfall profits would prevent alternative engergy investment. They have no genuine interest in that. Let other players(non-oil backed) get into the space to compete. I’m all for the strongest windfall profits tax imaginable. These people are all about the bottom line regardless the cost to the economy. They deserve no favors or special consideration as they offer none in kind.
July 31st, 2008 at 3:17 pmBusiness Week’s marketing and advertising correspondent David Kiley notes that Sen. John McCain’s recent ad asserting that Sen. Barack Obama wouldn’t visit wounded troops in Germany unless cameras were allowed “is a lie. It’s a blatant lie.”
“What the McCain campaign doesn’t want people to know, according to one GOP strategist I spoke with over the weekend, is that they had an ad script ready to go if Obama had visited the wounded troops saying that Obama was…wait for it…using wounded troops as campaign props. So, no matter which way Obama turned, McCain had an Obama bashing ad ready to launch. I guess that’s political hardball. But another word for it is the one word that most politicians are loathe to use about their opponents — a lie.”
July 31st, 2008 at 4:18 pmThe Department of Health and Human Services is “reviewing a draft regulation that would deny federal funding to any hospital, clinic, health plan or other entity” that does not allow employees to deny providing birth-control pills, IUDs, and the Plan B contraceptive.”
So, I hope my pharmacist is not some whacko who does not like fat people (there are people in Healthcare who beleive that fat people do not deserve treatment) and they deny me my high blood pressure drugs. Would THAT be what they have in mind?
July 31st, 2008 at 11:53 pm