ThinkFast: August 19, 2008
ThinkFast: August 19, 2008
The oil industry is spending record amounts of money this year to protect its interests as Congress considers a barrage of energy bills. According to the most recent figures from the Center for Responsive Politics, the industry has spent $55 million on lobbying so far in 2008 and is on pace to break last year’s $83 million record.
Though the White House has long maintained publicly that President Bush had no involvement in the firing of nine U.S. Attorneys, “the administration’s lawyers have been more ambiguous” while speaking in federal court. “The White House press people lie, but the lawyers have to tell the truth because they’re officers of the court,” former House counsel Stanley Brand told ABC News.
Bob Woodward’s newest book — “The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008” – reportedly “traces the internal debates, tensions and critical turning points in the Iraq War during an extraordinary two-year period.” Politico reports, “The book’s revelations are likely to propel a re-examination of the Iraq war into the headlines just as the fall presidential campaign is taking off.”
Harry and Louise, the iconic couple who starred in TV ads credited with defeating President Bill Clinton’s health-care plan, will appear in new commercials soon. But this time, they will be urging congressional action and plead with the new president “to promote an overhaul of the health-care system as his top domestic priority.”
On the trail today: Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) is expected to tour an offshore oil rig off the coast of Louisiana. Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) will address the Veterans of Foreign Wars annual convention in Orlando, FL.
Iraq is fast becoming at top U.S. customer for military sales, having spent $3.1 billion on U.S. weapons since January 2007 — a number that will “grow exponentially as Iraq uses its vast unspent reserves of petrodollars to develop its army.” In the past two months alone, “the Pentagon has alerted Congress of a possible $8.7 billion worth of additional military sales to Iraq.”
With new ethics rules in place, “Corporations and convention party planners are scrambling” to throw legal parties at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. “Corporate lobbyists are spending as much time talking to their lawyers as to event planners,” while “party planners are trying to come up with innovative ways of providing protein to hungry conventioneers without crossing the line into an actual meal.”
“The Senate has trimmed the amount of earmarks in its fiscal 2009 spending bills, but the House has increased its total slightly from last year,” according to a report from Taxpayers for Common Sense, which found that “the dollar amount of earmarks has decreased by more than 15 percent in the Senate bills while increasing by almost 7 percent in the House,” compared to the FY2008 bills.
This fall, anti-affirmative action measures are expected to be on the ballots of Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska. In response, affirmative action supporters in Colorado are attempting to place a ballot proposal that would condemn quota systems based on race, but also “say that affirmative action permitted by the U.S. Supreme Court should continue to be allowed.” The move has “infuriated backers of Ward Connerly.”
The Clinton administration approved the morning-after pill, RU-486, “using its standard procedures,” a new GAO report finds. Critics — including three Republican senators who have attempted to ban the pill — argued previously that “the agency inappropriately used an approval process intended for drugs to treat ’serious or life-threatening conditions.’”
And finally: Yesterday, the Capitol’s journalists were agog over the Jonas Brothers, who visited the White House. There the brothers received a “policy briefing” (they are interested in children’s health issues), filmed a public service announcement with Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, and spent time with Vice President Cheney (”whose granddaugthers are major fans”). Stacy Cohan, a reporter for WTTG-TV, said, “As a member of the press, I have never asked anyone for an autograph, ever. But my niece wants their autograph more than anything in the world.” The Jonas Brothers also stopped by Madame Tussauds to unveil their wax replicas.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Clan McCain: The Family That Shuns Together…
Last Tuesday, NPR broadcast a story about Cindy McCain’s business and charity work. In it, Ted Robbins described McCain as the only child of Jim Hensley, a wealthy Arizona businessman. The next morning, NPR received an e-mail from Nicholas Portalski of Phoenix, who heard the story with his mother.
“We were listening to the piece about Cindy McCain on NPR, All Things Considered, and it just struck us very hard,” Portalski said. His mother, Kathleen Hensley Portalski, is also Hensley’s daughter.
So the media’s favorite blonde isn’t an only child after all? Beer Heiress Barbie has a–GASP!–middle class half-sister? A half-sister who was effectively cut out of Daddy Beerbucks’ will, to the sole benefit of Cindy? A half-sister, the existence of whom Cindy McCain has never publicly acknowledged? Wait, wasn’t this a story line from “All My Children”?
And it’s not as if Cindy McCain has actively disabused the media from labeling her as Jim Hensley’s sole progeny: “McCain herself routinely uses the phrase “only child,” as she did on CNN last month. “I grew up with my dad,” she said then. “I’m an only child.”
Hold onto your Stetsons, because the story turns eerily familiar: “Jim Hensley was a bombardier on a B-17, flying over Europe during World War II. He was injured and sent to a facility in West Virginia to recuperate. During that time, while still married to Mary Jeanne, Hensley met another woman — Marguerite Smith. Jim divorced Mary Jeanne and married Marguerite in 1945.”
How special is it that Cindy’s daddy treated his first wife with the same courtesies that John McCain treated his. With a father like that, it’s no wonder that Cindy McCain hooked up with Ol’ Mavericky. Maybe Freud did have a point.
By the way, this story comes on the heels of the release of court documents on Saturday in which it was revealed that Roberta McCain, John McCain’s mother, sued McCain’s first wife — you know, the crippled one who raised his kids–for the return of some relatively innocuous trinkets that she had given to Carol McCain during her marriage to Roberta’s sanctified son.
And let’s not forget Meghan McCain’s upcoming children’s book, just in time for the Republican National Convention, in which she neglects to mention her half-siblings from Daddy’s first marriage. I’m sensing a pattern here. All that money and they can’t even buy compassion.
http://firedoglake.com/2008/08/18/clan-mccain-the-family-that-shuns-together/
McCain campaign spokesman Tucker Bounds said in an e-mail, “ After John and Carol McCain’s divorce, there was apparently some confusion about belongings that were Roberta McCain’s but we understand the court papers were unintentionally filed, and the matter never went further in the legal system. It went nowhere, and was of no consequence.” Roberta’s lawsuit sought personal property she claimed Carol was refusing to return. The disputed items included an “18th century Burmise Buddist Preist (Burmese Buddhist priest)” valued by Roberta at $2,000, and a “Butlers Tray for Liquor” she valued at $225.
Unintentional lawsuit, don’t insult our intelligence. “I have never heard of what you’re talking about. … I will put my hand on a Bible,” she said, to attest that she had never sued Carol. Roberta denied filing the lawsuit, her denial prompted laughter from the ex-daughter-in-law. “Yes, she sued me,” Carol said in a brief phone interview. Not only are they liars, they have no scruples whatsoever.
**Footnote of interest: Jim Hensley is very much like McCain, so much so that when he died. All Kathleen inherited was $10,000 from the Hensley estate estimated at that time to be worth around $50 to 70 million dollars.** This must be an example of their “Christian Family Values” that the McCain’s hold in such high regard. John McCain quote of the day “I’m running for president of the United States because I want to help with family values.” They put a whole new spin on dysfunctional.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:00 amThe oil industry is spending record amounts of money this year to protect its interests
This is why a windfall profits tax is necessary. They won’t do the right thing on their own, because they never do.
Despite protests to the contrary and full-page color ads in newspapers that say that windfall taxes hurt us, not them, the only way we’ll be able to make the switch to altenative fuels is by reducing the power of Big OIl.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:08 amThe Clinton administration approved the morning-after pill, RU-486, “using its standard procedures,” a new GAO report finds. Critics — including three Republican senators who have attempted to ban the pill — argued previously that “the agency inappropriately used an approval process intended for drugs to treat ’serious or life-threatening conditions.’”
They aught to start calling themselves what they really are – which isn’t pro-life – but anti-woman.
Their anti-woman agenda assumes a right to be able to tell women what we can and cannot do with our bodies and our lives. Like they know better becuase they are men? Please.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:12 am“The White House press people lie, but the lawyers have to tell the truth because they’re officers of the court,”
Think about that. These people purposely lie to the public.
Now, that may not be a surprise to most posters here, but seeing it in print just pisses me off.
Why do they have to lie? And are we sure lawyers don’t lie? Isn’t Gonzales a lawyer. Bartlett? Addington? Libby?
You get the picture. They ALL LIE! They see that as their job.
If nothing else, maybe President Obama will at least instruct his staff not to lie to us.
Obama’s message is Hope. McCain’s message is toxic, & more of the same.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:12 amZz; cue in the water-carrying apologist trolls to defend BushCo in 3…2…1…
probable troll response;
August 19th, 2008 at 9:19 amButt, butt, butt, Bill Clinton lied first!
Mornin FR, great post, and OT, we had a blast in Cabo.
Here’s a nice article on Musharref and butt buddy Bush from Juan Cole via Salon this AM
The fall of Bush’s man in Pakistan
August 19th, 2008 at 9:19 amNice Post FR! And OT, we had a blast in Cabo.
Here’s a nice article by Juan Cole in Salon today re: Mushareff and Bush’s undying support for the corrupt dictator.
The fall of Bush’s man in Pakistan
August 19th, 2008 at 9:21 amShould “In God We Trust” Be Removed From U.S. Currency?
http://www.atheistrev.com/
If you have an opinion on this (and I suspect you do), head over to MSNBC to cast your vote in this unscientific poll. I realize this will not change government policy, but it cannot hurt to show people that there is a difference of opinion on the practice of promoting theism on our currency.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10103521/
August 19th, 2008 at 9:21 amWhoa! double play post. WTF, the first edition didn’t show..Oh well, read it twice, for effect.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:22 amIraq is fast becoming at top U.S. customer for military sales, having spent $3.1 billion on U.S. weapons since January 2007 — a number that will “grow exponentially as Iraq uses its vast unspent reserves of petrodollars to develop its army.” In the past two months alone, “the Pentagon has alerted Congress of a possible $8.7 billion worth of additional military sales to Iraq.”
__________
And now we see the real reason why we invaded Iraq.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:23 amEvery time McCain plans to visit an oil platform in the Gulf, a Tropical Storm develops in the Gulf. Coincidence? :)
August 19th, 2008 at 9:24 amShould the motto “In God We Trust” be removed from U.S. currency? * 3092033 responses
Yes. It’s a violation of the principle of separation of church and state.
40%
No. The motto has historical and patriotic significance and does nothing to establish a state religion.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:24 am60%
#6 RUCerious Says:
Mornin FR, great post, and OT, we had a blast in Cabo.
Thanks RUC, so glad to have you back. I’m glad you had a great vacation.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:25 amBob Woodward’s newest book — “The War Within: A Secret White House History 2006-2008” – reportedly “traces the internal debates, tensions and critical turning points in the Iraq War during an extraordinary two-year period.
From the Politico article:
**What happened to the Woodward of the Watergate era? Is he now a rethug water-carrier? How can ANYONE portray ANYTHING we have done in (to?) Iraq in a positive light?
August 19th, 2008 at 9:28 amhttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/us/politics/19veep.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Obama Ready to Announce Running Mate
WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has all but settled on his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate rollout plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday morning, aides said.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:29 amConyers Calls Committee Back From Summer Recess To Investigate Suskind Allegations
House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers has taken the highly unusual step of calling his committee back from summer recess in order to investigate allegations by Ron Suskind that the Bush administration forged a letter to buttress the links made between Saddam and 9/11, and Saddam and WMD. The congressional Authorization for the Use of Force Against Iraq, the “”War Resolution” which, as far short as it fell of a congressional declaration of war, gave the invasion its constitutional legal cover, and gave Bush the authorization to invade only after he had certified to congress the existence of these two critical links. If Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11, and if he did not possess WMD, the war was off.
http://www.buzzflash.net/story.php?id=65065
August 19th, 2008 at 9:30 amRUCerious Says:
Here’s a nice article on Musharref and butt buddy Bush from Juan Cole via Salon this AM
The fall of Bush’s man in Pakistan
August 19th, 2008 at 9:19 am
______
Good article! Ties in well with what Ron Suskind has been saying about the Cheney Administration and Bhutto:
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/8/13/the_way_of_the_world_ron
August 19th, 2008 at 9:31 amIraq is fast becoming at top U.S. customer for military sales,
It feels like 1983 all over again. Next thing you know, Culture Club and Hall & Oates will be making comebacks.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:32 amRenewable Power’s Growth in Colorado Presages National Debate
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/17/AR2008081702193.html
DENVER — When Colorado voters were deciding whether to require that 10 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable fuels, the state’s largest utility fought the proposal, warning that any shift from coal and natural gas would be costly, uncertain and unwise.
Then a funny thing happened. The ballot initiative passed, and Xcel Energy met the requirement eight years ahead of schedule. And at the government’s urging, its executives quickly agreed to double the target, to 20 percent.
In Colorado — a state historically known for natural gas and fights over drilling — wind and solar power are fast becoming prominent parts of the energy mix. Wind capacity has quadrupled in the past 18 months, according to Gov. Bill Ritter (D), and Xcel has become the largest provider of wind power in the nation.
The politics and economics of energy are shifting here in ways that foretell debates across the country as states create renewable-energy mandates and the federal government moves toward limiting carbon emissions. One advocate calls Colorado “ground zero” for the looming battle over energy.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:34 amAnd freedom and justice for all if you’re white.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:35 amHarry and Louise, the iconic couple who starred in TV ads credited with defeating President Bill Clinton’s health-care plan, will appear in new commercials soon. But this time, they will be urging congressional action and plead with the new president “to promote an overhaul of the health-care system as his top domestic priority.”
Are the collectors hounding Harry and Louise?
I’m so glad the propaganda kept the free markets so free. The term ‘free markets’ sounds much more assuring and comfy, I’m sure the over 40 million uninsured would agree.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:35 amunbelievable Says:
Obama Ready to Announce Running Mate
Those who donated to Obama ( yeah, I donated to him because McCrazy has to be defeated, though I am still sorely disappointed in the FISA vote. ) are supposed to get an email of the announcement early in the morning before the news gets it.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:36 amFreedom Rebel Says:
——————————————————————————–
Clan McCain: The Family That Shuns Together…
August 19th, 2008 at 9:37 am**Good morning FR! :D You beat ME to it this time! Great post about Cindy McSame from MPR. My spouses family had something similar happen in their family only all the children are full brother/sisters. Grandpa (an old German) left everything to his son (worth millions) and a house for the daughters to split. Bitterness has never left the family. I think what is worse is that the son never even offered to share anything. He started sellinf off land parcels and made about 7 million after Grandpa died. Sometimes family values suck!
Who said the following?
Hint: It’s a leading candidate for the Veep slot on the Dim ticket…It would be a real shame if the clusterfnck in Iraq prevented “US” from invading Iran…
August 19th, 2008 at 9:37 amTesting…..
Lost 2 posts this morning, not even showing as moderated, weird.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:38 amwell, one finally showed and my test post showed. Hmmmm
August 19th, 2008 at 9:40 amSame problem here, Wayne. I also found myself logged in as ‘fritz.’
August 19th, 2008 at 9:41 amhussein toasterhead Says: Good article! Ties in well with what Ron Suskind has been saying about the Cheney Administration and Bhutto:
Seems that the Bush Regime really underestimated the martyr status of their culture, and actually shot themselves in the foot by not do everything imaginable to keep Bhutto alive.
By making her a hero in death, they essentially guranteed that their puppet would fall.
Perhaps if we suggest that Impeachment is forthcoming, Bush and Cheney will also resign. It’s what cowards always do. Look at Nixon. Then look at Clinton. All we (Congress) had to do was make Impeachment an imminent threat and they would have simply run away.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:42 amU.S. report says poorest countries record greatest population growth
A report released on Monday said that the world’s poorest countries have the greatest population growth.
According to the annual report by the Washington-based Population Reference Bureau (PRB), titled Population Data Sheet, a total of 1.2 billion people live in the countries categorized by the United Nations as developed countries while 5.5 billion people in less developed countries.
“Nearly all of world population growth is now concentrated in the world’s poorer countries,” said Bill Butz, president of the organization.
http://blacklistednews.com/news-1152-0-6-6–.html
**Hasn’t the US tied foreign aid to no birth control/abortion? I guess this is their form of birth control — starve them to death. How humanitarian.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:43 amYesterday, the Capitol’s journalists were agog over the Jonas Brothers,
Why am I not surprised?
August 19th, 2008 at 9:45 amWhat’s up with TP’s logins? Were they hacked or something overnight?
August 19th, 2008 at 9:47 amWayne Says: ( yeah, I donated to him because McCrazy has to be defeated, though I am still sorely disappointed in the FISA vote. )
That vote was the point in which many of us switched from ‘for Obama’ to ‘for not-MCain’.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:47 am# 20 Fred Says:
This fall, anti-affirmative action measures are expected to be on the ballots of Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska.
And freedom and justice for all if you’re white.
and do NOT expect any assistance from Obama.
He’ going to have to throw AA under the bus to prove to terrified WHITE people that he’s not really a Knee-grow at all…and it won’t matter a bit, because despite what they say, I guaran-fookin-TEE you, cuz the McSame campaign to provide every WHITE voter in the USofA with a (plausibly deniable, howsoever specious and spurious) “reason” NOT to vote for ‘the kaffir’ will work, Obama’s toast…
It will turn out that Murka can salvage its ‘reputation’ for fairness and equity and similar propagandistic crapola, merely by NOMINATING a Knee-grow, obviating the necessity of actually electing him…kinda like a peace process: as long as there’s a process, there’s no need to actually have ‘peace.’
August 19th, 2008 at 9:49 amAnd the beat goes on Says:
**Hasn’t the US tied foreign aid to no birth control/abortion? I guess this is their form of birth control — starve them to death. How humanitarian.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:43 am
______
That’s not entirely true – programs that fund abortion are not allowed under current policy, but condom distributions are allowed (though mainly for HIV/AIDS prevention, as opposed to birth control).
The best way to slow fertility isn’t condom distributions and birth control pills, but educating girls. Women who stay in school longer marry later, have fewer children, and are better-equipped to raise healthier children.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:49 amMcWars Says: Same problem here, Wayne. I also found myself logged in as ‘fritz.’
Ditto – was showing as ‘cynicalgirl’ though. Odd.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:49 amunbelievable Says:
Renewable Power’s Growth in Colorado Presages National Debate
Renewable energy will become the next big money grab for the likes of T. Boone Pickens, as demonstrated in his non-stop on air commercials (at least here in Pennsylvania)
It should come as no surprise that Mr. Pickens owns HUGE wind farms, and exclusive land leases, and is trying to get government subsidies so he can make them profitable so he can sell “his” energy back to us.
Lest we forget, Mr. Pickens was the third largest donor to the Swiftboat Vets for Truth with his generous donation of $2 million.
PEACE
August 19th, 2008 at 9:53 amhussein toasterhead Says: The best way to slow fertility isn’t condom distributions and birth control pills, but educating girls. Women who stay in school longer marry later, have fewer children, and are better-equipped to raise healthier children.
Without exception, every country that treats females as equals to males has a higher standard of living for all members of their society, which includes financial stability and reduced poverty. The converse is also universal.
But as long as Conservatives, with their anti-women agenda are in control, the US will continue to parallel third-world nation statistics, rather than first-world.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am#23 And the beat goes on Says:
Freedom Rebel Says:
——————————————————————————–
Clan McCain: The Family That Shuns Together…
**Good morning FR! :D You beat ME to it this time! Great post about Cindy McSame from MPR. My spouses family had something similar happen in their family only all the children are full brother/sisters. Grandpa (an old German) left everything to his son (worth millions) and a house for the daughters to split. Bitterness has never left the family. I think what is worse is that the son never even offered to share anything. He started sellinf off land parcels and made about 7 million after Grandpa died. Sometimes family values suck!
Good Morning and the beat goes on :) In my case a great grandmother that was worth alot of money had a nephew take care of her before she died. He and his son stole her blind and left her penniless the last year of her life. (They sold her house out from underneath her also, which was worth quite a bit all by itself.) They both died in seperate freak car accidents only a year after she past away. I was a young child at the time and I will never forget my father saying “See what can happen when you steal.”
August 19th, 2008 at 9:56 amThe oil industry is spending record amounts of money this year to protect its interests as Congress considers a barrage of energy bills. According to the most recent figures from the Center for Responsive Politics, the industry has spent $55 million on lobbying so far in 2008 and is on pace to break last year’s $83 million record.
We can no longer maintain the illusion that the big oil companies will eventually team up with congress and concerned consumers to develop alternative energies. We must make Exxon and their ilk obsolete by letting the world pass them by. Within 15 years they should be the Dollar General of energy, drowned out by a combination of wide spread conservation, hybrid, electric and smaller cars, and wind power.
I remember one of the trolls uttering, “If you don’t like the price of oil, don’t buy it.” The natural resources belong to the inhabited planet, and those resources are intended to benefit them. Greed has no place in tampering with our natural resources, so if the oil companies don’t like to price their oil with respect to humanity, they shouldn’t touch our oil. I’m sure there are oil companies drowned out by merger-clogged Exxon, Texaco, et al who would love to start drilling while thinking about the needs and hardships of consumers.
Stick it, Rex Tillerson.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:56 am#25 Wayne Says:
Testing…..
Lost 2 posts this morning, not even showing as moderated, weird.
Wayne, something happened on this site because my system didn’t like it and prompted me to end the program. I had to shutdown the computer and reboot. Now it is okay.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:58 amHey there unbelievable. Maybe TP was trying to induce “mock-a-poster” day, though I don’t know anything much about ‘fritz.’
August 19th, 2008 at 9:59 amspencers mom Says: Lest we forget, Mr. Pickens was the third largest donor to the Swiftboat Vets for Truth with his generous donation of $2 million.
I realize he has an agenda here, but most conservatives who are jumping on the green energy bandwagon don’t know that. For once, tehir ignorance is actually to our advantage if it gets more of them on board in green energy.
This remains the the problem with Capitalism – there will always be those who exploit anything and everything they can for financial gain. Why Europe and Canada are going more Social in their government…
August 19th, 2008 at 10:00 amY’know, there’s worse things T. Boone Pickens could be doing with his money than helping wind power become viable in the U.S. I say let’s adopt a “wait and see” approach to this guy. Sure, he’s positioned to make money off the deal, but if he succeeds, we could be looking at the start of something positive. I just hope the components for those windmills get made in the U.S. We need the manufacturing jobs here.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:01 amMcWars Says: Hey there unbelievable. Maybe TP was trying to induce “mock-a-poster” day, though I don’t know anything much about ‘fritz.’
Howdy. I thought maybe Mr. P finally made good on his threat to hack this site… LOL :)
August 19th, 2008 at 10:05 amHi spencers mom — I give Mr. Pickens partial credit for being a big oil man willing to send a positive message in speaking out against maniacal drilling, but in looking to beef up his estate before his expires he also sends a negative message by indirectly encouraging mucky big oil investors to simply bring their experience and get in on the ground floor.
I don’t want to see another project ruined.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:12 amI’m not slamming Pickens for his attempt to bring green energy to the forefront. I just did a bit of research on who this “Pickens fellow” is (kinda ignorant, I guess…) and found the Swiftboaters stuff.
Anything that gets us off the current oil-go-round is welcome, but as House of Roberts says, I hope we create American jobs by manufacturing this technology here.
Call it sour grapes on my part, but I’m against people like Pickens making huge amounts of money because my tax dollars subsidized his business venture.
PEACE
August 19th, 2008 at 10:21 amI don’t care what Pickens motivations are or if he’s a nice guy. If he can get a serious wind program and make money doing so, it’s a win.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:21 amYou are right, House of Roberts. I don’t want to sound too cynical. I just want the worst of the oil men who put us in this precarious position to stay out of it. And to my knowledge, Mr. Pickens isn’t part of that problem. If the implications are widespread in benefiting humanity over the long term, I don’t mind that the person/people moving us forward make some money.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:22 amMcWars Says: I don’t want to see another project ruined.
As long as US Capitalism drives our economy, everything that’s even remotely profittable will be ruined. Ultimately, putting money first ruins the best of ideas time and time again.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:24 amPeople first, money second — your words, unb. That is 21st century socialism.
*BURN* SOCIALISM! *OW, BURN!* WHAT, I ONLY SAID SOCIALISM! *HOT, HOT! OWWWW!*
August 19th, 2008 at 10:39 amunbelievable Says:
As long as US Capitalism drives our economy, everything that’s even remotely profittable will be ruined. Ultimately, putting money first ruins the best of ideas time and time again.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:24 am
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Yes, if you define capitalism as “putting money first.” I don’t consider that capitalism, I just call that greed.
There are a lot of different approaches to capitalism, and there are a lot of for-profit companies out there, some large, some small, who put social justice and worker rights and environmental protection ahead of profit.
True, the old model of “anything-for-a-dollar, screw the worker, screw the environment, mortgage the future for immediate gratification” capitalism has to go. It’s responsible for most of the environmental, political, and social ills of our planet today. But I believe capitalism itself can change if consumers demand better behavior from the companies who depend on us for their revenue.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:41 amMcCain asked if they could get “back” to the Supreme Court issue when it hadn’t come up yet. It had, however, for Obama. Either McCain was confused, or he had been told the Supreme Court was one of the questions and couldn’t remember if it had come up yet. Here’s the transcript:
WARREN: Let’s deal with abortion. I, as a pastor, have to deal with this all the time, every different angle, every different pain, all of the decisions and all of that. Forty million abortions since Roe v. Wade. Some people, people who believe that life begins at conception, believe that’s a holocaust for many people. What point is a baby entitled to human rights?
MCCAIN: At the moment of conception. (APPLAUSE). I have a 25- year pro-life record in the Congress, in the Senate. And as president of the United States, I will be a pro-life president. And this presidency will have pro-life policies. That’s my commitment. That’s my commitment to you.
WARREN: OK, we don’t have to beleaguer on that one. Define marriage.
MCCAIN: A union — a union between man and woman, between one man and one woman. That’s my definition of marriage.
Could I — are we going to get back to the importance of Supreme Court Justices or should I mention —
WARREN: We will get to that.
MCCAIN: OK. All right. OK.
WARREN: You’re jumping ahead…
August 19th, 2008 at 10:44 amYes he is. But the only way to jump ahead is to know what’s ahead. Then again, John McCain was a POW, so how dare we suspect him of cheating. Oh that’s right, he cheated on his wife. But I’m sure he wouldn’t cheat on a debate question. Wife, sure. Debate question? For McCain, that would be immoral.
The oil industry is spending record amounts of money this year to protect its interests as Congress considers a barrage of energy bills. According to the most recent figures from the Center for Responsive Politics, the industry has spent $55 million on lobbying so far in 2008 and is on pace to break last year’s $83 million record.
I guess we’re screwed then. Just look at how easy it was for the telecoms to buy Congress.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
August 19th, 2008 at 10:52 amRU-486 is not the morning after pill. RU-486 is an abortifacient. Plan B is the morning after pill.
August 19th, 2008 at 10:53 amThe oil industry is spending record amounts of money this year to protect its interests as Congress considers a barrage of energy bills.
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And the sickening thing is, I know where all that money is coming from. From me. And many others like me, as we pour a larger and larger percentage of our paychecks into our gas tanks.
And to add insult to injury, the “interest” the oil industry is paying all this moolah to protect is for us to continue doing the same, with no alternatives in sight.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:09 amRBlatman at 10:53 am
I think you are correct. I have had a hard time keeping that straight since the media seldom does either. The linked article does not refer to the pill as “the morning after pill”.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:21 amMcWars Says: People first, money second — your words, unb. That is 21st century socialism.
Yep. It’s why the Euro is worth 1.5 times the dollar, the pound nearly twice as much, and even the Canadian loon is worth more these days! :)
I’m all for Social Democracies. We’re more than half of one already. We just have to make progress and push forward like all other Industrialized Nations. It’s why McCain cannot win in November.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:55 amhussein toasterhead Says: Yes, if you define capitalism as “putting money first.” I don’t consider that capitalism, I just call that greed.
Why I called it US Capitalism. Adam Smith would not have approved of how we use his economic strategy that distributed the wealth and power to the masees, not consoldated it in the hands of 10% of the population.
Even then, I still think Capitalism isn’t as good for a society as Social Democracies are – and all other Industrialized Nations are proving me correct :)
August 19th, 2008 at 11:58 amwhatever was going on here, just may be happening at C&L -
i’m unable to refresh or load a new page…
would be helpful if TP could give a clue…
out to mow.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:14 pmg’day all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MUY9S6iCvk
August 19th, 2008 at 2:34 pmI wonder how much money they’ve spent on alternative energy solutions?
August 19th, 2008 at 6:20 pm