Saturday, July 5, 2008
Pssssst, don’t tell King Abdullah.
Proving that with leadership and innovation anything is possible (are your listening Detroit?) Mercedes-Benz is aiming to phase out fossil-fuel powered vehicles over the next seven years, replacing its entire lineup with autos powered by electric motors, fuel cells, and biofuels.
The company has already invested almost $4 million in its Sustainable Mobility program, and plans to invest another $14 million by 2014.
Imagine? Within 7 years, no Mercedes will need fossil fuel to zip down the highway. Call it, the seven year ditch.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Protesters today repeatedly interrupted President Bush’s Fourth of July speech at Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s residence in Charlottesville, VA.
No sooner had Bush started speaking at the naturalization ceremony welcoming new American citizens than protesters began shouting at him, calling him a “war criminal.”
The President paused in his remarks and then responded, “To my fellow citizens, we believe in free speech in the United States of America.”
One woman moved towards the stage before being stopped by security, but other protesters still made their voices heard.
Only minutes later, another protester shouted expletives at the President, while still another called Bush “a fascist”.
By the time Bush finished his 10-minute remarks, at least nine protesters had been escorted out of the event by law enforcement.
Protesters also lined the President’s motorcade route, chanting “Arrest Bush” as he drove to and from the Monticello ceremony.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Former Sen. Jesse Helms who served 30 years in Congress, died today in North Carolina. He was 86.
Helms was one of the most vehemently homophobic U.S. Senators in modern politics. He was an “angry white male” before it was cool. His political agenda was driven by a lifelong opposition to democracy and diversity.
In Jesse Helms’ world, African Americans were “negro hoodlums,” and gays were “sex perverts.”
I am confident, the bottomfeeders at Fox News will spend the weekend euligizing this rightwing pig.
Friday, July 4, 2008
“That’s why I support striking Title II from the [FISA] bill, and will work with Chris Dodd, Jeff Bingaman and others in an effort to remove this provision in the Senate.” - Barack Obama, responding to critics on his official website
Friday, July 4, 2008
“Laura, I don’t see any of them fireworks y’all are talking about.”
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Throughout his presidential campaign, Barack Obama has gone from a hard-edged, vocal opponent of the Iraq war that defined his early stump speeches to using more nuanced rhetoric calling for a phased-out drawdown of all combat brigades at a rate of one or two a month, lasting up to 16 months.
Now that he’s won the Democratic nomination, Obama opened the door Thursday to altering his plan to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq in 16 months based on what he hears from military commanders during his upcoming trip there.
On the airport tarmac in North Dakota, Obama told reporters:
“I am going to do a thorough assessment when I’m there. I’m sure I’ll have more information and continue to refine my policy.”
While Obama insists his position on ending the Iraq was has not changed at all, his comments today were at very least curious as they did not mention the 16 month timeline for complete U.S. troop withdrawal. The Netroots are once again buzzing. Over the past two weeks, Obama has taken many positions that seem to have him at odds with his base.
Obama said he would vote in favor of the Telecom Immunity bill, he wrote out a large check to former rival Hillary Clinton to help her retire her campiagn debt, he said he opposes a return of the Fairness Doctrine and he plans to expand Bush’s faith-based initiatives.
And now Obama says he plans to “refine” his policy to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq. Bill Kristol predicted on Fixed News that “the big news next week” would be that Obama would “flip-flop” on pulling out of Iraq “after he spoke to General Patraeus.” Is Obama out to prove Kristol correct?
Thursday, July 3, 2008
President George W. Bush’s economic nightmare continues unabated.
The all-important July jobs report came out today and the news wasn’t good. In fact, it was dire.
Employers trimmed jobs from their payrolls in June for the sixth straight month, as the government’s closely watched report Thursday showed continued weakness in the labor market.
The Labor Department reported a net loss of 62,000 jobs in the month. That matched the job loss figure for May, which was revised higher from 49,000. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com had forecast a loss of 60,000 jobs.
The June number brought to 438,000 the number of jobs lost by the U.S. economy so far this year.
Frankly, I can hardly wait to hear how this braindead administration tries to spin the grim employment news. So far they’ve tried to blame everything from the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, to the Yankees failing to make it to the World Series, and to solar flares on Alpha Centaurus.
The only fact that is indisputable is, George W. Bush has been a catasprohy for the U.S. ecomony.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute projects soaring temperatures and lethal heat waves around the world in the coming century.
Consider, during the European heat wave of 2003, temperature in parts of France hit 104 degrees and fifteen thousand of people died. In 1995, a heat wave in Chicago saw the mercury reaching 106 degrees and about 600 people died.
According to Andreas Sterl, author of a new Dutch study:
“In a few decades, people will look back at those heat waves and we will laugh. We will find those temperatures lovely and cool.”
Sterl’s computer model shows that by the end of the century, high temperatures for once-in-a-generation heat waves will rise twice as fast as everyday average temperatures.
Some of his findings for future heat waves:
• Chicago would reach 115 degrees
• Paris could reach 109 degrees
• Los Angeles could hit 117 degrees
• Delhi could spike to 120 degrees
• Baghdad could soar to 122 degrees
Extreme temperature put a huge demand on the body, especially for people with heart problems.
And it’s not just at the end of the century. By 2050, heat waves will be 3 to 5 degrees hotter than now “and probably be longer-lasting,” Sterl said.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Back in 1998, American hubris was at an all time high. U.S. lawmakers dismissed the excitement surrounding the launch of European monetary union — the Euro. Arrogant Americans called it “a silly attempt to imitate the dollar,” and said “it’s doomed to fail.” What a difference 10 years and a 10 trillion dollar debt makes.
Today, the mighty Euro is literally kicking the dollar’s butt.
According to a report in Bloomberg, the Euro may be nearing an “explosive breakout,” reaching record levels against the U.S. dollar, according to a Citigroup Global Markets Inc. research note.
Thanks to a lack of economic policy by the Bush administration, coupled with the enormous American debt and rising oil prices, the exchange rate may approach $1.69 per Euro by September.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
It looks like the eastcoast media elites such as Chris Mathews, David Gregory and Wolf Blitzer got it wrong again.
According to the last GALLUP poll, Hispanic registered voters’ support for Barack Obama for president remained consistent and strong in June, with Obama leading John McCain by 59% to 29% among this group.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Speaking to news affiliate in Missouri yesterday, Obama gave two thumbs up for Kansas governor and possible veep mentionee Kathleen Sebelius:
“I love Kathleen Sebelius. I think she is as talented a public official as there is right now. Integrity. Competence. She can work with all people of all walks of life, but I promised that I am not going to say anything about my vice president until I actually introduce my vice president.”
Forget the buzz that Obama will select Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia. The Democrats can’t risk losing Webb’s seat to a Republican. Then, there’s the pesky issue of Webb’s temperment. Now, Kathleen Sebelius is definitely a possibility.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Phew! I’m sure glad we’re not in a recession.
Amid sagging sales, coffee chain Starbucks Corp said Tuesday that it now planned to shut 600 underperforming U.S. stores, with the loss of about 12,000 jobs.
The Seattle coffee giant had previously announced plans to shutter 100 stores. In ramping up the closures, company executives cited the need to change with the times. As consumers face higher gasoline and food prices, many are cutting back on extras such as the gourmet coffee drinks that made Starbucks famous.
Each store employs about 20 workers; the job reductions amount to about 7% of Starbucks’ global workforce.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Don’t you just love being lectured by the Saudis?
Case in point, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, whose nation is the world’s number one oil exporter, called on consumer countries [the USA] to get used to high prices in comments published on Tuesday.”Consumer countries have to adapt to the prices and the mechanisms of the market,” the king said in an interview published by the Kuwaiti daily Al-Siyassah.
“We have nothing to do with the current sharp increase in crude prices,” he said reiterating the Saudi position that speculation, rising demand and the taxation of oil products in consumer countries were to blame.
“These countries must reduce their taxes on fuel. If they want to contribute to easing the burden on ordinary consumers,” he said.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
President Bush’s controversial program of steering Federal dollars to faith-based social service programs and religious groups has earned him the ire of many who say the program is a violation of the ‘Separation of Church and State’ doctrine.
But in a move to appeal to Bible-thumping, evangelical voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is announcing plans that would expand Bush’s faith-based program to get religious charities more involved in anti-poverty programs, food banks, and youth ministries.
From the Left has obtained prepared comments Obama will make today at Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio:
“The challenges we face today, from putting people back to work to improving our schools, from saving our planet to combating HIV/AIDS to ending genocide, are simply too big for government to solve alone. We need all hands on deck.”
Ostensibly, the difference between Bush and Obama’s appproaches to faith-based initiatives is in Obama’s case, Obama does not support requiring religious tests for aid recipients nor using Federal money to proselytize. Still though, the Federal dollars in religious programs is troubling to many who believe the separation of church and state is being violated by such programs.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Appearing Sunday on CBS’ Face the Nation, retired General Wesley Clark, speaking as an Obama surrogate questioned John McCain’s military service saying:
“I don’t think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president.”
Clark also said McCain lacked the executive experience necessary to be president, calling him “untested and untried.”
While Clark was on message attacking McCain’s executive experience, questioning McCain’s military record caused an immediate dust-up that required Obama to depart from his speech on patriotism and publicly denounce Clark’s comments.
Is Wesley Clark, a former Hillary Clinton supporter, working for Obama or PUMA? Memo to Clark, leave McCain’s military service out of the campaign. Such remarks only serve as a distraction and helps to undemine Obama’s message.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Two medical helicopters collided on Sunday as one was taking off and the other landing, killing at least six people and critically injuring three others, officials said.
Three of those killed were aboard one of the helicopters, officials said, and the other three dead and one of the injured people were aboard the second aircraft.
Among the dead on the landing helicopter at the hospital was a patient from the Grand Canyon’s South Rim, as well as the helicopter’s pilot and paramedic.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Yeah, I know, it isn’t political but sometimes you just have to laugh.
