I’m surprised it has taken so long for American politicians to realize that the surest way for the nation to reach energy independence is to annex neighboring oil-producing countries that have extra oil to sell and just keep it for ourselves. That is effectively what one of Mitt Romney’s potential VP picks, Paul Ryan, suggested while lecturing President Obama about “gimmicks” that cannot lower gasoline prices.

Here’s how this works: All you need to do is approve more oil pipelines to carry oil from the Canadian tar sands all the way to refineries along the Gulf Coast where the refined products will be sold to world oil markets just us Americans.

There is important work the MSM does and in some areas they are good at it. The question is, will the forces that do not want “the media” to do a good job, overwhelm them?

If you are unable to get ABC and wish to have a comparable intellectual discussion, rent a copy of Animal House.

Additionally, I’ll add, since the media finds the clown show that is the GOP primary more interesting and important, now is the moment for each group to examine how they started, what has happened, what kind of impact they had and what they could do better to be a force of change within their community. The media doesn’t really expect anything from Occupy right now. The broader American population thinks Occupy is largely a thing of the past. So, this is a good time for rebuilding and renewing aspects of the movement that need to be polished and refreshed before big actions that are planned in the coming months.

Ground Wars by Rasmus Kleis Nielsen is an essential new bible for political campaigns locked in the everlasting battle that has become modern American politics.

This book is useful for everyone from a neophyte about to join their first campaign to career campaign operatives and consultants. Neophytes will gain a broad overview of exactly what to expect on their first campaign with the benefit of having their upcoming experience framed within the broader picture of politics. Career campaign operatives and consultants, will appreciate the book’s focus on the “ground war” as an essential component of the modern campaign as well as the historical background on how we got here, which many of them will have experienced firsthand. In the short time Nielsen spent embedded in the campaigns and in authoring this book he has managed uncover and write about what few who live and work in politics are even aware of.

A letter by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press (RCFP) and co-signed by 46 news media organizations and associations was written to the US Defense Department requesting access to records during the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning, who is accused of leaking classified information to WikiLeaks.

Journalists covering the proceedings decided to send the letter because during court proceedings, such as the Article 32 hearing, the media has not been granted access to documents, including the court docket. This means journalists have had little to no idea of what was being discussed in regards to motions or orders filed.

Give credit to Jake Tapper, senior White House correspondent for ABC News, who in a press conference challenged the Obama Administration for celebrating aggressive journalists that have died in Syria as it simultaneously goes after similar journalism in the United States.

Whip me, beat me, take away my charge card, I would like to kiss this entire speech by Digital First CEO John Paton with tongue.

The New York Times’ Bill Keller has renewed his feud with Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks. In his latest column, Keller attempts to set the record straight on the leaks organization, but his efforts seems a petulant attack that fails to establish the charges he lays at WikiLeaks feet.

The unclassified version of a report on the war in Afghanistan was finally published for public viewing last Friday. The report is by Lt. Col. Daniel Davis, a seventeen-year Army veteran who just returned from his second tour of duty in Afghanistan. It asserts military leaders in Afghanistan have lost much of their integrity and have routinely distorted the truth of the war.