One Trick Pony

This is where I get so frustrated with the Republican party. In discussing oil prices, their main focus is on drilling more oil. This is a longer term solution. While not a bad idea I think it is time that they stop being so damn bull headed about exploring alternative energies. I agree with removing the regulations on drilling in certain areas as a stop gap until we can get some other options in place but they also need to realize that oil is the past and present but not the future.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365627,00.html

They just further make themselves look like one trick ponies in energy policy and look like they are in the pockets of oil companies. I am not saying that I believe that is completely true but it sure makes it hard to argue otherwise when they act like this.

Here's a crazy concept stop interfering and thinking that you have any control. Or... worse screwing things up like the Corn Ethanol subsidies and let the free market dictate where to head. The market is more efficient at finding solutions that bureaucracy is.

Mass Transit Ridership Surprise

For some reason it appears to surprise some people that mass transit ridership numbers have increased as gas prices have increased. That seems like a bit of a no-brainer. In a market where fuel is cheap everyone wants their freedom. When fuel costs are higher, they are willing to deal with less freedom and will ride mass transit. Just FYI - Most people do not really do anything to "Save the Planet". It usually revolves around how does it directly effect them and there pocketbook.

Mass transit will be widely accepted and ridden in two scenarios: heavy traffic and high fuel prices. If you have either one or both mass transit becomes and option that people will consider.

Now that said the article that I linked to also describes how people are having problems with mass transit. To me this is a two-fold problem: government is notoriously pathetic at maintaining, managing and running ANYTHING. Too many examples to name. Second, this is a perfect time and reason to find a way to raise taxes for mass transit. While there is demand voters will be accepting of tax increases to pay to fix the transit systems that they are now actually riding.

The First Decent Presidental Campaign News in Months: Rice for VP

Well, who knows if it will happen or not but I must say it would be welcome news to me. Condi may actually be thinking about the VP spot with McCain. This would actually give the ticket a more conservative credential and a few battling points against the second coming of Obama.

I have a huge amount of respect for Condi and I hope that McCain and Condi get together and consider how much stronger the ticket will be if they can work together.

Here's hoping.

Dan Senor: Condoleezza Rice Is Pursuing the VP Spot

Left wings talking heads

I find it amazing that the biggest talking heads on the Left's talk radio circuit have been Stuart Smalley, I mean Al Franken, and Randi Rhodes.

Franken is a comedian whose "fame" is from Saturday Night Live. He had a few parts that were somewhat funny but does that make him a political pundit or Senator?!?!

Then you have Rhodes. A potty mouthed comedian that got on the radio by being a shock jock.

Air America Host Suspended for Clinton Remarks

Pretty impressive names!! Nice work Air America.

Bush: US Must "Get Off Oil"

Well I must admit that I really was a Bush supporter some time ago. I am not a Bush basher now but I must say that he has proven to not do much of anything over the last 3 years in office.

Now he makes the statement that US must "Get off Oil". Really?? What has your adminstration and the Republican congress that you had for SO long done to solve the energy issues in the United States? Nothing. Can you show me the energy policy that your administration has been using? Oh no... there wasn't one. Now as a lame duck President you make an obvious statement without any need to back it up.

Bush: US Must "Get Off Oil"

I am tired of politicians who are so great at policy decisions except when they actually have to make them. Luckily the capitalist economy in this country will provide for the problem without the politicians getting involved.

Strange Views

I was just listening to the radio and the old song "War" by Edwin Starr was on. The lyrics are very sad in my opinion but I think that tie into today's politics.

"War, huh, yeah... What is it good for....Absolutely nothing"

Absolutely nothing? Interesting viewpoint. I am glad that the founding fathers of the United States didn't believe that. I bet that the French are glad that we didn't believe that during the 1940's. I would bet that the people of Kuwait are glad that we don't believe that.

Now, are wars good? The answer is yes and no. That is because although they cause destruction they are also necessary to deal with problems. When humans are no longer evil then I believe that wars will no longer be necessary until then it is a necessary part of the human existance.

Unfortunately, I hear a lot of politicians singing the same lyrics in their speeches. That to me is very scary. A country who believes that war is not good for anything is going to a punching bag.

Nothing Better To Do

So here we are. We have troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. The economy appears to be headed for recession. We have shootings every other week in a school somewhere. We are in the middle of the war against terrorism in the world. And what is your congresman doing? Trying to indict Roger Clemens!! Everything going on and Congress is interfering in baseball??

What ever happened to the concept of limited federal government that the Constitution described? The government has gotten so bad that they now are overseeing Major League Baseball. What's next? Investigate the use of non-USGA golf balls on the PGA? Maybe they could investigate how to get a real playoff in college football.

WAKE UP PEOPLE... This is NOT something that the morons in Washington D.C. should be doing!!!

Interesting Inflation Information

Now mind you I am not a Ron Paul fanatic or anything crazy like that but it does make me wonder how the Chairman of the Fed can watch gold, silver, oil, foreign currencies soar and then with a straight face say inflation is in check. It is because they only watch price indexes not the value of hard assets. For centuries gold was a standard because it's value didn't change. Now amazingly, it's price is skyrocketing but there is no inflation?

Here is an interesting article about the current economic situation:
Confidence Plunges, Inflation Rate Soars

I also find it kind of interesting that it never fails that the economy becomes a huge issue in every Presidential election cycle. Amazing how that cycle works.

Imagine That!

For quite some time I have been extremely skeptical of the global warming theories. I would agree that for a time frame the earth may have been getting warmer. My contention is that there are cycles that cause this to happen. Obviously, there was a pretty large global warming phenomenon after the Ice Age. We have such a small sample of real temperature data and I don't believe that we can accurately predict the temperatures of the past so how can we truly predict what is happening. We can't even predict tomorrow's weather but people contend that they can predict the next 20-100 years.

Anyway, guess what the statistics are now showing... global cooling. Amazing, the ice sheets are falling into the water. Why would that happen? Maybe for the same reason that you put ice in your drink to cool it down. Now, let's say the temperatures of the oceans fall. Being that they cover 75+% of the earth what affect will that have? It would more than likely cool down the earth. Could it possibly be a regulating feature of the earth for the warm/cool periods?

Here are a couple of articles:

Temperature Monitors Report Widescale Global Cooling

Forget global warming: Welcome to the new Ice Age

Now, I am no scientist who is making huge money from the governments of the world (hint...hint) but it sure seems like the gravytrain maybe nearing the station. My recommendation... grants for the science of the disasters that will be caused by the next Ice Age. Sounds like a multi-billion dollar research study and market for the smart scientist.

Politically Homeless: Lack of a Candidate

I am currently in a position where I feel like my principles are making it so that I don't even want to vote. The Republicans are looking like they are going to select a very moderate John McCain (albeit not as "moderate" as Guiliani). The Democrats are fight over who can become more liberal.

I hear tons of people saying that conservatives should support John McCain because he is a Republican. I have also heard that we should vote for McCain to keep Hillary out of office. I am not convinced of this approach to voting.

First of all, I think McCain probably has a better shot against Hillary than Obama. Hillary and McCain are both closer to center than any of the other candidates and there is a lot of people who do not want the Clintons in office again. Due to the fact that Hillary and McCain agree on quite a few issues independent and moderate Democrats could possibly vote for McCain. Many conservatives will hold their nose and vote for McCain to "keep Hillary out".

As for the other, argument that we should vote for the Republican candidate. I have also heard that the conservatives are tearing the party apart by fighting McCain. First of all, I am in principle a libertarian conservative and by current necessity I typically will lean toward Republican candidates. That does NOT imply that I really care that much about the Republican party. As the Republicans continue to move to the left, I will hope that another option presents itself (maybe the conservative or Reagan party). Anyway, my point is that I am a conservative first and a Republican distant second so the argument that I should vote for McCain and that I should fall in line sounds like something the Democrats want - Don't ask questions just fall in line. Above and beyond that should I really throw my principles out the window and support McCain?

I am not quite sure what I will decide. I can honestly say that I won't be voting for Obama or Hillary, but if I vote for McCain it will definitely be with my nose plugged.

Yet another book!

I am going to say that Bush is not my favorite President but I also do not believe that he is the worst. Now that said, on with my thought.

It amazes me how many "former" aides to the President have seized on the current hate Bush market to make some money. Everyone that has ever worked in the Bush White House is either on a speaking circuit or selling a book about how they knew better.

Now, the former Press Secretary is writing a book in which he blames push for the Scooter Libby issue.

Former Aide Blames Bush for Leak Deceit

I am not sure if any of this information that all of the former aides is releasing is true or not. I would really question motives when each one of them is set to make a pretty decent amount of money for selling the books or giving the speeches.

Also, what ever happened to the stateman's honor and dignity where former aides and politicians showed each other respect? It has become a complete free for all. Unfortunately, I don't see it getting better any time soon.

Sarkozy stays in the fight

Normally, I am not all that interested in politics in France or much of Europe (yeah I'm the typical uninformed American). That said this fight that Sarkozy is fighting is very interesting to me.

I am an unabashed capitalist. I believe that the free markets for the most part are better than government at almost everything. So to me it is an education on Socialism's effects to look at France. Now, Sarkozy is attempting to fight many of the problems with Socialism with the cure - Capitalism. It appears that the Socialists are going to attempt to fight back.

I was just reading an article on the BBC website that is discussing the current state of affairs and it seems like the first real battle is going to be hard fought.

I really hope that Sarkozy is successful but I think that he is in for a long fight and will probably get a few bruises.

France's Current Issues

It looks like Nicolas Sarkozy may really be in for a battle in France. He is attempting to bring back some market sanity into a very socialized country. Of course, reform is not going to be easy and some people are going to find it extremely difficult because they are going to be expected to change.

The country currently has regulations that completely protect employees from losing their jobs. They have craddle to grave protections on pretty much everything. They also have serious economic problems. I think that most economists would say that deregulation would drastically help their economic problems. With all of the regulations, the companies can't be competitive which is causing a lot of their issues.

I believe that many of the battles Sarkozy is facing are some of the same battles that the Iron Lady - Margaret Thatcher faced in the UK in the 1980's. Many of her reforms were aren't all that popular at the time but history shows that it has been good for the country in the longer term.

Will history reflect as kindly on Sarkozy or will he just get derailed and get thrown out? It will be interesting to see Socialism fight Capitalism.

They admitted it!!

I was amazed when I recently read an article about the U.N. announcing that they have drastically overestimated the number of AIDS cases in the world. They cut the number by 40%!!!

Anyway that's not what amazed me. What did amaze me was two statements that were made in the article with very little emphasis.

1. "Having millions fewer people with a lethal contagious disease is good news. Some researchers, however, contend that persistent overestimates in the widely quoted U.N. reports have long skewed funding decisions and obscured potential lessons about how to slow the spread of HIV. Critics have also said that U.N. officials overstated the extent of the epidemic to help gather political and financial support for combating AIDS."

2. "There was a tendency toward alarmism, and that fit perhaps a certain fundraising agenda," said Helen Epstein

Both statements amazed me because they are so true. The U.N. has really only been concerned about fundraising not about actually solving the problem. This is the very nature of government.

There are so many "crisises" in the world that follow this same approach. First, the "scientists" yell that the sky is falling. They ask for funding to research the problem. They ask for funding to find the solution. When the funding and interest dwindle, they either yell that it is much worse than orignally thought or they find something else to yell about (i.e. get money for) .

Global Warming, AIDS crisis, world hunger, endangered species, avian flu, SARS, etc. Not that any of these items don't have a seed of truth but everyone is blown out of proportion in order to gain funding without doing the necessary research.

To best understand the issue... Follow the money!

Politics of Personal Destruction

I am hoping that a time comes that the politics of personal destruction at least calms down. I can understand Republicans attacking Democrats but attacking people in your own party isn't going to help win the Presidency in my opinion.

Apparently ads are being run attacking Romney's religion.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/1107/AntiRomney_antiMormon_calls_being_made_in_Iowa.html

Pretty pathetic turn of events in the primaries. Unfortunately not surprising.

The Making of Queen Hillary 2: Thanks Wolf

From Drudge:

"CNN debate moderator Wolf Blitzer did an 'outstanding' job in Vegas, a senior adviser to the Hillary campaign said early Friday. 'He was outstanding, and did not gang up like Russert did in Philadelphia. He avoided the personal attacks, remained professional and ran the best debate so far. Voters were the big winners last night.'

A rival campaign insider charges: 'Wolf turned into a lamb. No follow-up question on Clinton's huge flip on drivers licenses?'"

Isn't it nice that Wolf was so willing to help out Queen Hillary's campaign?

Politically Homeless 6: New Book

Well, I really meant to continue writing the series of articles about the lack of a political party that really fits my viewpoints but then some other items came up and took up a lot of time. I do intend to keep working down this path for my own sanity.

Anyway, along the same line of thinking, I started reading Bernard Goldberg's book Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right and I really find it to be interesting. He seems to discuss some of the exact concepts that I have been thinking about.

We'll see what the rest of the book brings.

The Making of Queen Hillary

Madame President...

That is exactly what many people want to hear and what many campaign advisors in Hillary's campaign are trying to create (or manufacture).

I have read two stories today about Hillary's campaign officials dictating or manipulating how the questions are asked during debates. After the last debate and the beating that she took in the non-Clintonesta press I do understand.

Here is an article about rigging the questions:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/13/clinton.planted/index.html

Now it seems that Wolf Blitzer is being told to be nice and not gang up on her in Thursday's debate.

Are the Democrats really interested in Democracy? Is there something that Hillary is afraid of?

One-sided Freedom of Speech for the Boss

I haven't posted in some time but the stupidity I just read gave me a great reason. Here are a a couple of excerpts from the news report about poor Bruce Springsteen (from Drudge Report).

"When reminded that his anti-war views, prominent on his new album, "Magic," will cause people to say he is unpatriotic -- as his critic have charged before -- Springsteen says "That's just the language of the day... the modus operandi for anybody who doesn't like somebody... criticizing where we've been or where we're going," he tells Pelley. "I believe every citizen has a stake in the course, direction of their country. That's why we vote... It's unpatriotic at any given moment to sit back and let things pass that are damaging to some place that you love so dearly and that has given me so much," says the 58-year-old musician. In the interview, Springsteen points out the direction in which the U.S. is going, by his estimation. "I think we've seen things happen over the past six years that I don't think anybody ever thought they'd ever see in the United States," says Springsteen. "When people think of the Unites States' identity, they don't think of torture. They don't think of illegal wiretapping. They don't think of voter suppression," he tells Pelley. "They don't think of no habeas corpus," he says, referring to the people being held by the U.S. government in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. "Those are things that are anti-American," Springsteen says. "There's been a whole series of things that... I never thought I'd ever see in America," he tells Pelley."

Okay two issues I have with this political genius's comments. First of all you have the freedom of speech to say whatever you want on your albums. I completely support your right to bash everything that is going on in the U.S. I even support people's right to bash Bush, the Iraq war, and yes even the soldiers (even though that proves how stupid they are). Those soldiers and many before them have fought, shed blood, and died for your right to be stupid. My problem is that you complain when people call you unpatriotic. Isn't that just freedom of speech? It just happens to be speech you don't like. Amazingly freedom of speech goes both ways.

Second issue, should someone who says "They don't think of no habeas corpus" really be trying to discuss habeas corpus? Do you know what habeas corpus is and who is a right granted to "Boss"? Bruce: For your information habeas corpus is granted by the Constitution. The Constitution is a document "For the people and by the people". Definition of The people: Citizens of the United States. Last I knew the people in Club Gitmo were from the Middle East. Unless something has changed the Middle East still isn't covered by the Constitution, neither is Gitmo.

I wish that people would get their facts straight and attempt to tie some actual facts to their rants.


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