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I don't want to spoil the surprise for everyone or anything, but I hear from some sources that this giant rubber stamp and the floor of the House of Representatives have a date this evening some time after 10:45 pm ET. If I were an enquiring mind, I might turn on C-Span1 and watch the House for a while.
Those 30 Something Dems sure do make a girl want to pop some popcorn...so sit back, relax and enjoy as the Democrats take it to the Rubber Stamp Republicans yet again.
After Nancy Pelosi's scorching speech earlier, this ought to be goooood.
(And perhaps I can wheedle the story of the making of the giant rubber stamp out of my sources -- if I do, I'll share it with everyone.)
UPDATE: Speaking of Pelosi's scorching speech, reader obsessed provided a link to it. Just in case you missed this in the gas thread below, I wanted to be sure anyone who was interested got a listen. Crooks and Liars has video of the Pelosi speech as well.
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I was going to make a joke about buying rubbers, but chose discretion instead.
helloooo goddess Christy of the truth! Fitzzzzzzzzz.
…too fitzy for milan, new york and japan…
lol sharkbabe!
within the next 1000 days we could very well have our first female President: ex-Speaker Nancy Pelosi ! Keep up the good work…
Go Mike Ross
I think I just had my first EPU
So many books and so few nightlight bulbs.
Touching on the last couple of topics here and many others
Democracy Now had a wonderful interview today.
This book I am putting ahead of Glen G since his is not out.
Antonia Juhasz on The Bush Agenda: Invading the World, One Economy at a Time. Listen or read at
http://www.democracynow.org/ar.....25/1343214
This interview has detailed answers to the questions we savor.
but chose discretion instead.
No you didn’t :)
Yeah Christy! Yeah FDL and Fitz!
OMG I am soooo glad you are back!
I have been watching CSPAN sense I got home from work and had the pleasure of seeing the Republicans blame Clinton for the gas prices.. BWHAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!
Raymond (fmr COE Exxon, the guy with the goiter) got 145k/day in his severence package. I may puke.
Wow, that’s the second biggest rubber stamp I’ve ever seen.
Thanks Jane and Christy for a great day and a great blog. Just got a whoooosh of too tired, so signing off.
Night, firedogs.
“Republicans blame Clinton for the gas prices..”
Pathetic LOL
Yes it REALLY was WONDERFUL to see Pelosi waste no words and pull no punches - the worse it gets for the junta, the more aggressive the Dems need to be.
Here’s a meme for ‘em:
OFF-FENSE! (clap clap)
OFF-FENSE! (clap clap)
(repeat ad infinitum)
And the entire rubber-stamp bit is a thing of beauty, a weapon of perfection that is going to leave serious marks.
(Sorry for all this macho-violent verbiage - it’s all figurative)
Christy–we are so happy you are back and that you had a good time w your family.
Glenn Greenwald’s book yesterday #50,925 and today is all the way up to #3!
pretty OT: To bring you up to date my daughter got married Saturday. Stupendous happiness all around. 40+ immediate relatives from all over the country and another 100+ friends. The overarching emotion: JOY. Right before the ceremony she was trembling and nervous and asked me “do i look beautiful?” magical gown, tiara, cinderella shoes, roses matching her pink cheeks, jewelry from mom, veil arranged and rearranged by her sister, and she wants to know IF SHE LOOKS BEAUTIFUL? makes me cry to contemplate.
my blessing to her: bliss, to live with the person with whom you can share everything, you make each other want to reach beyond to accomplish something extraordinary, and you can, because you have faith in each other, you understand each other, you can tell each other anything including the embarrassing and weak and silly stuff, but above all you experience great JOY going thru life with this person to experience it at your side. it is a rare gift, many people never find this, and most people glimpse it only for a short time. happy indeed is the one who can find their soul mate, where you feel you will never run out of things to say to each other because all of your life is what you want to share with that person.
So please give your daughter an extra hug in anticipation of the day when she will belong to someone else…….
Pelosi speech…. very true
Pelosi past actions…..pathetic
Hell, she has been one of our biggest problems
Go ahead fire away….but in your heart you know Im right.
Hey Christy - thanks for the heads up - already set the TiVo
exxon guy: Goiterdammerung
Think progress reports, that FOX news has just confirmed, that Snow Job will succeed McClellan.
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/25/its-tony/
good vibes, egregious…
I’ve been stampin that stamp all over my workplace. The bookkeeper stole my stamp pad and hit it somewhere. I’m gonna get me one of those rainbow pads and paint the town red, yellow, blue and green. I’m going to Manhattan for a week this coming weekend and I’m bringing it with me! So, if anyone sees my stamper, I was there.
Larry - I’m with you, but pick some democrat whose positions you DO like and chain the poor slacker to a chair in front of a video screen, Clockwork Orange style, and play that Pelosi clip, and her previous one on Katrina, over and over and over until it sinks in.
On fuel…
One word - Brazil
Last week on some cable show someone said if the US made a national and substantial commitment to alternative fuel $$$$$ the oil futures traders would sh*t all over themselves and the price per barrel would tank immediately. I think he was spot on. Right now were paying about a $20 per barrel “geo political” premium which is bull.
IMO, long term, Brazil did it (became energy independent), why can’t we?
Seriously, I have a Rubberstamp Republican in mind, and I’d like to offer him up for the eagles to pick on here.
His name is Tom Latham, he “represents” Iowa 4. I have previously whined in this space about how no one opposed him and he had a free ride in November. But that changed right before the deadline.
This really nice guy/doctor/newbie politician, Selden Spencer, has stepped in, and of course the brains in DC aren’t doing much to help him because he doesn’t know the score or whatever. Anyway, I’ve tried to do the FDL due diligence on him, he agrees with Lamont’s reproductive freedom issues statement, and he needs help. http://www.spencerforcongress.com/
I’m wondering if you folks would be willing to help adopt him. Not necessarily just money, although I’m sure that’s as important to him as anyone. I got his campaign linked to ACTBLUE. But with your formidable brainy research and thinking capability–look at his website and critique? Oppo research on Latham? Advice? Issues framing? Whatever anyone thinks would be helpful, please send to susan at omnitelcom dot com.
Zennurse, you were looking for something to do from home. I haven’t forgotten that thread. Here’s a place to look and see if it works for you.
Did anyone catch NPR’s coverage of Pelosi and the Dems this afternoon — they prefaced the piece with how gleeful the Dems were that gas prices had soared and this would be a great club to wield against the Republicans — no sources cited, just the “facts.”
I think soon it’s time to focus on some of the so-called liberal NPR folks — Jim Lehrer the other night responded to the emails he got excoriating him for putting on a general who called for Rumsfeld to step down, emails that accused him of undermining the morale of troops in Iraq. The only pressure they get seems to come from the right and they certainly don’t veer to the left (Gwen Ifill anyone). And don’t get me started on the odious Scott Simon, who just about creamed thinking of attacking Iraq every Saturday in his little essay during the run-up to the war. Attacking Fox is easy, it’s the other “serious” ones like Ifill, Simon & Klein we’ve got to keep our eyes on.
cbl, with all the laughter you just made me give up, I must say, former CEO exxon not a sufferer of thyroid disease, but just plain ole fat and conspicuous consumption followed by compulsive dieting, then the gorging thing. This, coupled by fear of the scalpel and an enormous ego, renders that face, that face. I wish him good health, and the survivors of our aggression both here and abroad, his wealth.
g’nite zennurse.
OfT: Prior thread BobbyG commented that ethanol is a BTU negative. This may be correct, and I am anything but an expert.
On an earlier thread, however, cbl linked to this National Resources Defense Counsel Article. If I am reading it correctly, ethanol is in the positive column wrt BTU’s.
I haven’t had time to read it all, but it may be that ethanol’s BTU’s are significantly impacted by what is used to produce the ethanol, for example switchgrass versus wheat. Again, I am out of league here, just wanted to share information.
Larry #16, we gotta work with what we’ve got, and I say when somebody finds his or her balls, give ‘em some love and encouragement, and don’t cut off yer nose to spite yer face. Nobody’s been more critcal of Pelosi than I, but if she does good I’m happy to give her props. If she needs criticizing tomorrow I do that too.
egregious - [with tears of remembering] My daughter was wed 13 years ago this month. And she told me she wanted to get married as I lay in bed totally disabled with this dreadful disease. With nothing to offer her as far as help, she and her husband-to-be went to his parents to explain that I could not help. With the graciousness that I have never experienced before, they put the whole wedding on. My daughter looked great, even down to her Nike white tennis shoes under her gown (the tomboy never gives up).
They are together with 4 kids and very much in love. Agree to all who have kids, give them a hug before they are gone from your everyday life. But never gone from one’s heart.
Thanks egregious for sharing your thoughts on your wonderful day.
Bush is the master of setting up fake “investigations” that will make it look like they are doing the right thing. Does anyone actually believe that there will be a real investigation to get to the bottom of the high oil prices and oil company collusion? Christ, the oil companies are in collusion with the government. When they raise their prices, it is with a wink from the same people whose campaigns they fund and who will be getting jobs with them when they are out of office. The price of oil is largely tabbed to how much money they can get out of the ignorant American public before they vote out the leaders who allow it to happen.
Alum Takes on the White House: Exclusive with Patrick J. Fitzgerald
http://www.regis-nyc.org/news......;Type=Main
Now the cat’s out of the bag, permit me to suggest Cynthia McKinney as the point of the phalanx it will take to effect this bit of political theatre.
Leisler NYC # 24
Ready, set, go! I vowed to stop giving to PBS/NPR until they understood that I get it now– bushco installed rethugs within their ranks and when I answer their phone pleas for $ with a question wrt to that, I never get an answer from the caller. I give no money to the simple solicitors. Now I ask for a call back from a manager and then days later we have a conversation. I transmit my concerns, so far no changes, ergo, no money. They keep calling every 2 wks. ;)
Oh… There are the Democrats… where y’all been?
As for Nancy Pelosi, I can say only one thing: Daaannnnnnggggg!!!!
mojo sends
exxon guy: Goiterdammerung
BWA-HA-HA-HAAAAA!!
We should post a sign by his corporate parking space that says, “No Goitering”. We can call the oil scam “Goitergate”. And write him a country song, “Here’s a Goiter, Call Someone Who Cares”.
CNN seems to be pushing the “if Democrats gain control it will be all subpoenas, all the time, and maybe even –gasp– impeachment” Ken Mehlman line. Wolfie’s interview today with Ted Kennedy was a prime example. All of his questions were focused on the prospect of non-stop investigations, a prospect he apparently finds distasteful but I find entrancing.
If the Rethugs really think this line is going to work to rouse their dwindling base, how about rousing ours by pushing back with “accountability, transparency, oversight?” How about “no more rubber stamps?”
Once upon a time, long long ago, I was on the staff of a Senate investigating committee. It was hard work; it consumed a year of my life; it made a difference, at least for awhile. I would happily take a leave of absence to go do it again. Hot and cold running subpoenas? Bring ‘em on.
Top ten United States searches on Google shows gas rising.
1. 420
2. nick lachey
3. silent hill
4. nepal
5. miss usa
6. chernobyl
7. gas prices
8. reggie bush
9. mothers day
10. denise richards
http://www.google.com/press/ze.....apr06.html
exxon guy: Goiterdammerung
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *sigh* *wiping eyes*
Larry 16 - you’re right. But I’ll take what I can get. Every damn dem except Feingold Conyers Waxman Jackson Lee etc has been pathetic. I’m gonna make a point of sending email love for every bit of strong talk. They ARE getting better.
egregious 15 - you make me verklempt - thank you for sharing/letting hang out all your emotion here
I hope I am not comment whoring, but I dug up some comments from 2001 WH press conference on energy policy. I think it is important to understand that what we see today is a direct result of Bush/Cheney energy policy. They were wrong Big Time, once again, is all that happened. Here is link to comments.
http://www.firedoglake.com/200.....ment-79942
“Right now were paying about a $20 per barrel “geo political†premium which is bull.”
To expand on that, that extra $20 per barrel has nothing to do with supply and demand. It’s worst case scenario future “perceived” supply and demand. As the worlds largest consumer (now), we can set the price per barrel by lowing consumption, or “perceived” future lower consumption ; )
Angie #32
I stopped a couple of years ago for the same reason. Karl Rove did this. I do wish I could contribute $ to individual programs, now they all do without.
It’s not nice to make fun of thyroid sufferers…:) I’m having mine removed next month.
re 23, I should add that Russ Feingold is doing a fundraiser for Spencer this Sat, in Ft. Dodge Iowa, after the 4th district convention at the always classy Starlite Village for you Iowans. If Russ likes him…
Just an OT drive-by to pimp David Sirota’s book, “Hostile Takeover,” since I missed the earlier book club thread.
Every now and again someone here says something that is so perfectly true and beautiful and real that it quite takes my breath away - and today it was you, egregious.
Cozumel #39: or, maybe, stop threatening to start a war.
C-SPAN is on Blue Dog Fire
ps. mine’s overactive. Goiterdammerungette.
My daughter looked great, even down to her Nike white tennis shoes under her gown (the tomboy never gives up)
aw, that’s me, GrannyJ - if I were straight :)
love the image
best to you and your family
ccmask– i have thyroid problems, big time too. sux! Hope everything goes very smoothly for you.
southpaw– I have already made my apologies and entreaties to my favorite shows– Prairie Home Companion is my favorite! Garrison seems to get it. ;)
wesgpc,
“Cozumel #39: or, maybe, stop threatening to start a war.”
That too, and some diplomacy with Venezuela as far as that goes also ; )
These “Bring it On” cowboys don’t know what diplomacy is though.
Susan#42
Sounds like a good candidate and a good cause,keep fighting the fight.Hard to get people to focus sometimes.
I can’t think of a better endorsement than Russ.
P.S. have you seen the new Progressive Patriot T-shirts w/don’t spy on me ?F-’in cool,I’ll take 2
New York builder agrees to World Trade Center deal
Silverstein — who signed a 99-year lease for the Twin Tower complex two months before Sept. 11, 2001 — and the Port Authority have disagreed over construction and ownership of the $7.3 billion project, adding to delays over money, security and the architectural vision for the site.
NEW YORK, April 25 (Reuters) - Rebuilding the World Trade Center site took a leap forward on Tuesday after several years of bickering, when the developer agreed to terms on how to construct four gleaming office towers on what is now a pit in Lower Manhattan
The developer and landowner had been haggling over Silverstein’s $10 million-per-month rent for the site, plus how to divide billions of dollars in rebuilding funds, including more than $3 billion in tax-exempt Liberty Bonds and $4.6 billion in insurance proceeds awarded to Silverstein.
http://today.reuters.com/inves.....ICTURE.XML
Me: I wonder who is going to be in charge of security……
CNN seems to be pushing the “if Democrats gain control it will be all subpoenas, all the time, and maybe even –gasp– impeachment†Ken Mehlman line.
Damn right it will be. How many Republican officials have to go to jail before they realize people have caught on that they deserve to be investigated?
I can’t wait for the GOP to try to fire up their base with a line that the Democrats can characterize as “please keep us in power, it’s the only way to keep us out of jail!”
egregious– beautiful, and blessings on you and your family. thank you! you do know, that your offspring will always be yours with thoughts and feelings like those! ;)
hey ccmask - you know what we’re makin fun of is greedy fatcat fuckhood, not honest thyroids - sending your situation all good vibes
Susan # 23
am not a political operative - so I never understand why endorsements aren’t front and center on candidate’s sites (had to dig for 10 min. on Harold Ford’s site)no mention of Finegold, and what about Harkin, has he endorsed him ?
and the fact that Latham never says no to pork, votes party line 92% of time and GWB 89% should be immediately visible in today’s blue trending environment - e.g. am willing to bet Latham voted ‘yes’ on tax breaks and subsidies to Big Oil
Re Pelosi, Bush et al and oil/gasoline prices. We can’t have it both ways, but both parties try to outdo each other. I spent 20 years working for a California state agency committed to alternative energy development. Alternatives to traditional resources were always “just around the corner” and “if the economics continue to improve, they will be cost competitive with conventional energy sources soon.” But “soon” kept moving back just beyond the horizon. That was 30 years ago, when oil prices first quadrupled in the 1st oil embargo and then doubled again in the 2nd during Carter’s years. We went through Carter’s five energy statutes, some now long ago repealed. We predicted that oil prices would exceed $100/bbl within a few years, but it never happened.
Lessons from that era are hard, but still apply. The competitiveness of alternative fuel sources depends on sustained development and investment back by government. The private sector can’t carry the risks. And those in turn depend on the sustained and predictable period of very high prices for coal/gas/oil. We may be almost there; maybe not. But these industries tend to be highly concentrated at the production, refining, and delivery sectors. So they tend to be vulnerable to manipulation in fact, and suspected manipulation that appears at times indistinguishable from ordinary supply/demand fundamentals. So pricing looks suspicious even when nothing wrong is happening. But the problem is that investment in alternative is highly risky unless government takes on the risk and rams in through. But what to invest in? The debates are endless. I support only demand-side reductions, because that’s the only winner under all scenarios. All the supply-side options are highly debatable, with many tradeoffs between safety, environment, and economics.
As a policy, if you want sustained, predicatable high prices to justify alternative investments, you need government intervention — read: taxes. The Europeans understand this. Our economists understand this, but every US politician, Repub and Dem, who spoke out today was in denial. They see the effect of higher prices on ordinary people who vote and run away. Did anyone recommend a higher gasoline tax today???
So if higher oil/gas prices are necessary to get alternatives, but are politically third rails, responsible policy must focus on what to do with the taxes that ensure sustained high prices. How do you rebate it back into the economy to alleviate the indvidual hardships, soften the transition to alternatives (which will take decades) and support the infrastructure needed for alternatives — (the supply-side winner yet to be determined, as others above note wrt to whether A or B are net “positive” or “negative.”)
There was no responsible discussion today on energy, just a lot of demogoguery that makes finding real solutions even harder. But just remember, the real cost of an oil-based economy is Iraq, tens of thousands of deaths, with Iran maybe next, and the paying for the Sixth Fleet forever. It is a bad bargain, and that’s something else that was not said today. So I wish Pelosi would could angry more often, but not that way about high gasoline prices.
CNN seems to be pushing the “if Democrats gain control it will be all subpoenas, all the time, and maybe even –gasp– impeachment†Ken Mehlman line.
I hope they say that over and over. Maybe they see how much programming / revenue impeachment will provide.
DMM 51 thanks. You know,we focus a lot on the big picture here, but there are little simple things we can do down where real people are trying to take on huge windmills. That is the point, in my mind, of the rubberstamps. Something small, real, and potent.
cbl 56 Good idea. I’ll pass along.
ron paul is way cool, now. gives me hope that all people can change. next, he will announce as an independent or democrat… change your affiliation, man!
asapp, usa!
(as soon as politically propitious, united smart americans)!!!
CBL 56 am seeing someone from Harkin’s office tomorrow, and will ask about this
What’s gonna happen to Karl Rove?
April 25, 2006 06:47 PM / Bush Leagues .
When governments or the politicians who run them make announcements that are highly unusual, the journalist’s job is to begin asking: “Why this?” and “Why now?”
Of course, journalists shouldn’t expect to be spoon-fed the true answer by the folks they cover. Things rarely happen that neatly and honestly in governance and politics. So the best way journalists can get closer to the truth is to begin by putting the unusual announcement into its true context. Which means asking themselves: “What else is happening that involves these players and could cause them major problems ahead?”
http://www.capitolhillblue.com.....rov_1.html
sorry ccmask, hope all works out for you healthwise -
O/T
just saw and am blown away by the Brzezinski
statement (over at C/L)
there is nothing new or earth shattering for any of us - but the idea of someone from his background and era would spell it out so plainly gives me hope -
Zbigniew Brzezinski TMSI
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006
WASHINGTON Iran’s announcement that it has enriched a minute amount of uranium has unleashed urgent calls for a preventive U.S. air strike by the same sources that earlier urged war on Iraq.
. . .”If there is another terrorist attack in the United States, you can bet your bottom dollar that there will be also immediate charges that Iran was responsible in order to generate public hysteria in favor of military action”
jeebus
Via Atrios — Greenwald is # 3
It seems like Ron Paul is filibustering. Does his staff read FDL?
Listening in to Cspan, Ron Paul is very dry on economics, no stamps!! Is it really gonna happen? So trying to stay up….
dunno, Susan, but it is remarkable that a R is doing this at length talking about Empire…
Angie #32
Absolutely; it’s incredibly damaging when an outlet like NPR frames Pelosi as gleeful over the misery of the American people facing high gas prices. Think of those suburbanites listening during their long drive home…this is far more damaging with this demographic than outright right-wing media as they’re supposedly objective with still a “liberal” reputation. Frankly, far too often Scott Simon & his ilk just reiterate Rovian talking points in a sotto voce New Age format that makes the medicine all that much easier to swallow while still feeling good about being nice to all the less fortunate of the world.
I can’t stand these dumb people who say we are lucky that gas is so cheap as compared to other countries. Then they start saying that Starbuscks coffee is $18.00 a gallon and nobody complains and mousse for your hair is $56.00 a gallon. Geez…this is so ridiculous. Of course, a gallon of mousse would last forever, unless OPEM starts getting in on the action. The point is, we are getting ripped off worse than Kenny boy did at Enron because the big shots knows they will never be held accountable. I blame it on Cheney. He is a big bad Dick. I also wonder if this is payback for them losing the Dubai deal…….
I thought I heard the chair (or whomever) say Ron Paul had the floor until midnight EDT.
subpoenas, impeachment? hey! sounds good to me………………..
FITZ! FEINGOLD! FIRE, dah dah DOG, LAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Snow on Bush:
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/25/snow-on-bush/
Anyone check out the air machine at their local gas station…..I won’t be surprised if that goes up too….bahstads.
Oh whee, the local news (KARE 11 again) did a gas story and used their footage from the 1970s gas lines. Showed how gas stations were forced to be closed on Sundays. Good job by the Bush government to bring back the salad days.
Susan in Iowa - I think Russ’s national stature is growing by the day - to have him in anybody’s corner is huge. Your seriousness and passion toward the nuts & bolts of a taking a House seat for the anti-fascists is impressive and worthy of all emulation and support.
Are you old enough to remember Sen. Dick Clark? I got a feel for political Iowa when working for him after he left the Senate (only lasted one term). Iowa is really progressive. Harkin is a giant.
I personally loved and followed Mr. Moyers and I did respect Pat Mitchell. I heard what they had to say and had to stop the money going to CPB because of Kenneth Tomlinson. Could not stand what I started hearing as ‘news’. This admin has ruined the public part of public broadcasting and it is dangerous.
Does anyone get Cspan on the internet and if so does it ever go for more than 3 minutes without “timing out the server”?
Did I miss the rubber stamps?
Is this what it’s come to? Prop comedy not worthy of Gallagher or Carrot Top?
Jesus Christ, we get it it’s a locked box, I mean a rubber stamp. Excuse me if I’ve told you this before but I have a problem with repetition. And have I also mentioned my problem with repetition?
Now somebody in the opposition ask someone in power why we are still in Iraq, who our “war” is being fought against, why Zarqawi still exists to taunt and frighten, and if there’s time at the end of the day, then you can play with your toys.
scarecrow 57 - all the utter total rude truth of the entire matter in five paragraphs
The two Dems who first introduced the original “rubber stamp republican” stamps a few weeks back are on C-SPan now. They have the floor until midnight.
Mr Blifil,
Thanks for stopping by, always good to hear from a White House staffer.
I don’t know how many of you know this, but Pelosi wrote and posted a substantially long post a few weeks ago exclusively for Daily Kos. It was not well received. She was so far in over her head that it was almost sad to watch. She was playing them/us for rubes, basically. She was excoriated by something like 4 or 5 hundred replies. Very few in the positive.
FDL and others have taken some due credit in the past for turning some things around in the heads of the status quo. I think today’s speech by Pelosi is another example of that happening. I don’t think she would have been so confidently outspoken if not for what she experienced by having posted at Daily kos.
Sorry CCMask. Oil is a commodity. It’s a world-wide thing. Ever heard of the term Petro-dollars? Oil is money. Should a dollar be worth less in the the USA and worth more in France?
We have become spoiled by the people who’ve kept gasoline so cheap in this country. It’s not normal. And hasn’t been since we started running out of oil in the ground here (back in the late ’60’s).
We’re addicted to oil. We used to have public transport in this country. We let it fall by the wayside because we thought we could have cheap gasoline forever.
We’ve blown off solar and wind power and energy conservation for so long that we’re in deep doo-doo now. we may be able to dig ourselves out but it’s not going to be soon and it is going to be painful. Can you say “world-wide depression”? We may be able to avoid one but it’s not a sure thing.
4 dollar gasoline (regular) is a slam dunk, and i’m not talking about a summer peak price, i’m talking about “the new normal”. And that’s if we’re lucky. It may be staved off for a while, say next year, or maybe ‘08 but it won’t be far off.
T. Boone Pickens was on CNBC today. You may or may not like guys like him but you can take what he says about oil to the bank. He said that it would only take one big oil supply to be stopped by some war or big political crisis (say, Iran or Saudi) and we could see $100 to $150 oil.
I have to say, I think the street theater of Wasserman Schultz, Meek and Delahunt is pretty good late-night television. Or maybe it’s like a video podcast. Could be better, but there’s something about it that is riveting. With or without rubber stamps.
Kitt is right — Nancy got roasted for her posts a dKos (fairly or unfairly, I don’t know), but she was totally on fire today.
Pelosi for President 2007!!!
Check out this Fitz-clusive interview! What a sweetheart:
http://www.regis-nyc.org/news......;Type=Main
Mr. Bilfil,
Our Iraqi trained troups captured and held Zarqawi for several days. Noone identified him and he was released.
Sharkbabe
For utter rude shrewd cold truth
http://www.democracynow.org/ar.....25/1343214
we have got to get out of iraq and this arguement is the best I have seen in awhile.
Kitt, thanks a lot for your 82.
Jane and Christy really opened my eyes to what a hammering Dems had taken over the years from the NYT’s and the WaPoo. And everyone else in the corporate media lines up to the right of those two. I think it’s understandable that some have been slow to recognize the change. The fact that Ms. Pelosi appears to be “getting it” is great news and badly needed.
Go DelaHunt! (D)
He said this admin has been providing welfare for big oil.
Breaking news: Bush resigns!
(well, maybe not)
Joementum’s ‘on-the-air’ - just ran what seemed like 60 secs post-local news NBC Hartford. Highlighted saving sub base jobs near the top, and all the rest of his ‘accomplishments’ (including labeling it as ‘Bush’s Medicare plan’hmmmm…). Interestingly, near the end “You may not always agree with him…” (an allusion to Iraq?)
just so you know.
Also, pachacutec’s earlier post on ‘Lotus 1-2-3′ electioneering was a well chosen metaphor. You don’t win wars, or elections by fighting the LAST battle.
Now, what’s up on C/Span?
Sharkbabe 75
The handle “in Iowa” as opposed to “from Iowa” sort of frames me. I grew up in Arizona (see the Udall side discussion yesterday, in the Late to The Party thread) lived 20 years in Oregon, now find myself here. Don’t know anything about Dick Clark, but I came here just as the 2000 campaign was starting. It’s a really interesting political laboratory. I would defend the caucuses, until the last Clinton chocolate lab dies, as a giant microscope to examine candidates without the media veil, without filters.
All I’m asking here, is a humble “help him,” if you have some ideas to pass on. I’ve been talking to his campaign for a while, but wanted to make sure he was really aligned with Lamont, who this community supports, before putting it out there. I’ve read Crashing The Gate, and here’s my book review. It made me want to apply those insights to a real campaign. Spencer is so unimportant, the DNC isn’t paying attention. But in this potential wave year, guys like this awkward warm liberal doctor might actually pull off a win. I’m trying to help him on issues and other things, but I’m no genius like Bob Shrum (heh) so I go to my virtual community and ask for help. I’d like to try to invent something here. As in, translate this stuff we’ve been doing for years into the new medium. If you think it’s appropriate, I’d be grateful for ideas.
Great comment scarecrow, thanks.
IMO, we need a tax strategy wrt to foreign and domestic oil that insures price stability at a point high enough to develop these alternative fuels. This will produce jobs in the U.S., reduce our trade imbalance, and give our creditors confidence.
I watched part of Pelosi’s speech on CNN just now. I was unimpressed. Her phrases were cliche-ridden She really, really needs a better writer! I haven’t had time to go through threads here for days, and won’t until the semester is over and my grades are in, but I have to say that from what I’ve seen here and elsewhere, very few get it yet:
Even though the price of available fuel is so high that low and middle income commuters are deeply impacted, the fault for this syndrome’s current state lies no more with the oil companies than with many other entities. And that includes the Clinton administration, which was stupid enough to bring debilitating issues to the table in ‘93 and ‘94 - issues which contributed to his party’s ‘94 eclipse - instead of a vital new energy policy including far stricter CAFE standards, which might have re-energized environmental politics at that important time.
When I see a Dem leader photoed stepping out of a Prius or a diesel Golf, I’ll start getting more optimistic about the party’s ability to turn this around.
Fucking George Bush spends more time on a bicycle than half the Dem leadership put together! That_is_disgusting_but_true.
C-SPAN with these three Dems is like a Late-Nite at FDL thread with only three commenters. The banter is always interesting.
btw, the huge rubber stamp appears to be sitting on the desk on the right side, to the left of Mr. Meek (D-Florida).
More Billmon insight –
http://billmon.org/archives/002406.html
… It said a lot about the ideological spirit of the early Reagan era that so many Republicans were willing, even proud, to stand up and make that argument on behalf of Big Oil, the industry Americans have loved to hate since John D. Rockefeller first started playing Monopoly.
But that was twenty five years ago, before the Republicans traded the Laffer Curve for the sign of the cross. Conservatism these days is a burnt out hulk — intellectually adrift, compromised by power, hopelessly hooked on pork, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the voters (not to mention the Justice Department.) …
Great energy discussion continuing from the last thread! America’s energy dependence is the crux of EVERY problem we face.
Scarecrow #57, you said a mouthful. I played my wife the Pelosi video exclaiming:â€why can’t the Dems talk like that everyday?†She agreed, but noted: “Now I want to hear HOW she’s going to get us off oil.â€
new thread: “Late Nite, War for Fun and Profit”
Fucking George Bush spends more time on a bicycle than half the Dem leadership put together! That_is_disgusting_but_true.
Maybe I misunderstand you? Are you saying that Senators and Representatives should ride bicycles to work? And then you will take them seriously?
Yay HUGE rubber stamp on CSPAN
back to the thread (the teenager and I fight over the computer - my turn !)
scarecrow # 57 - great stuff, I had to read it a couple times, b/c of my comp skills not your writing and just wanted you to know well thought out, logical stuff like yours does get read and appreciated.
ok, how about a little dessert ?
is rwcole here ? I ask b/c I just witnessed something rw said would happen when GWCF’s #’s went low, low 30’s -
O’Reilly to Juan Williams -
(somber tone) . . . “I’m afraid they are headed into (hesitates) Jimmy Carter territory, and if they don’t turn it around, and I mean turn it around pronto, they will be seen in history as a very poor, weak presidency”
rwcole - you rock !
John Casper — I assume a different tariff on “foreign” oil would violate trade agreements and lead to confusing pricing between foreign vs domestic oil that would confuse downstream prices. Gaming would then appear as to what is “foreign” and what is “domestic.” As Enron showed us in California electricity crisis, the “games” followed logically from the incentives created by the pricing rules. Nothing Enron did was irrational.
A common, consistent tax on all oil-related fuels might be simpler, less amenable to gaming, and have the same desired effects you list. The point of the tax system is to prevent the concentrated owners of the oil industry from suddenly boosting supplies and pushing prices back below the break-even point for the alternatives (probably harder now than it was 20 years ago). That has killed alternatives many times.
Sharkbabe — yes, hard realities, but then why should this be any simpler than any other politial problem? Like immigration?
Delahunt just mentioned scarecrow and my friend, tinman, and then Meek shows us the stamp!!!
Susan #92, if you’re still here in EPU territory, are you going to YearlyKos? If so, consider bringing your candidate with you. The workshops promise some very practical advice and the networking opportunities should be helpful. He can come to the FDL breakfast. I’ll treat (for the breakfast, not the whole thing!).
ck # 85 - Speaker of the House Pelosi - works for me - imagine the help she’ll be with the re-election of (”I used to be President Elect”), Al Gore! Here on the central coast of California we’re still waiting for the minority leader to do some explainin’/revision of her pathetic Kos post.
; )
Anne- from one Central Coaster to another…RE-elect Al Gore!
If I understand correctly, the House of Representatives of the Illinois general assembly has before it a resolution, HRJ0125, containing:
and per http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/042506A.shtml :
and per section 603 of Jefferson’s manual, which has been adopted by this session of the House, such a resolution preempts other House business. I’m just saying that’s what I think I’ve read.
How about “Patsy” Roberts?
Fahrender-#83
I know it is a commodity. Only it is something that belongs to everyone, given by Mother Earth. For some to have to begin to sell family heirlooms to get to work while others eat $200 plates of veal marsala, is wrong when it is a natural resource.
It is not like the oil companies invented something, for pete’s sake. I’m all for people getting patents and making money, but when they take it from the ground……..
I guess our only role is to send off our young sons to die for oil, while back home, their mothers get raped at the pump.
BarbaraB 103
I checked back this am and found your kind offer. Thank you for that, and for the advice.
I had not thought about Yearly Kos due to too much other stuff going on, but I’ll suggest it to Spencer’s campaign.
While we’re at it, how about a central billboard somewhere: “Worst. President. Ever.” I’d happily pay my share for it.