First, the Obama administration said the $787 billion (aw, what the heck, with interest, make it an even $trillion) stimulus would keep unemployment from going above 8%. Well, that was a point-and-a-half ago with this latest grim jobs report.
The Obama team’s now making another prediction: that we’re headed to 10% unemployment. Bet they’re right about that one.
So an analyst at the EPA compiles a 98-page report that basically says connecting greenhouse gas emissions to global warming is a bunch of hot air. Specifically, it notes the “downward trend over the past 11 years” of “global temperatures,” and that “scientists do not necessarily believe that storms will become more frequent or more intense due to global warming, and that the theory that temperatures will cause Greenland ice to rapidly melt has been ‘greatly diminished.’ ”
Welp, guess who just got reassigned at President Obama’s EPA?
Yes, just as the Senate begins to take up that important cap-and-trade energy bill, this analyst, Alan Carlin, has a new job at the EPA, and his report was hushed up. That was until he went to Fox News with it.
Meantime, Media Matters takes exception to the reported 11-year decline in temperatures and other aspects of Fox’s coverage.
Politics may be the biggest smokescreen of all when it comes to global warming.
Former SNL comedian and liberal commentator Al Franken’s headed to Washington, and the laugh’s on the GOP. Democrats will have a filibuster proof 60-vote majority in the Senate, now that Minnesota’s Supreme Court has finally named him the winner of that disputed election, and Coleman is giving up any more challenges. This has huge ramifications in the debate over issues like healthcare reform and the climate/energy bill. If Dems all stick to gether, whatever they and President Obama wants passes. If three of the moderates shift, there are still at least three liberal Repbulicans who can push through that legislation.
*********
President Obama and Iraqis are praising and celebrating the withdrawal of U.S. troops from urban areas in that country. Our troops will still be close by in case all you-know-what breaks out. Let’s hope Iraq’s security forces are ready to handle this. I have this bad feeling that Iranian-trained cells are really going to test them. Already there’s been another terrible bombing. This deadline was pretty much forced on the Bush team, as John McCain needed cover from the anti-war support for Obama in last year’s election. Let’s hope running a war by calender doesn’t come back to bite us.
*********
Gov. Mark T.M.I. Sanford is talking again. Now he’s given the Associated Press an “emotional” interview, saying that the Argentine mistress is his “soulmate,” but that he’s still trying to patch things up with the wife. (I’m sure this went over real well with her). (Wait there’s more). Guv also says he saw the Argentine woman more times than he previously admitted, and, that he “crossed the line,” with other woman, though the Argentine woman is the only one he actually had sex with (read: the only one that said “yes.”)
This guy needs to shut up if he wants to continue in office. If not, tell it to Dr. Phil.
********
And while we’re on the subject of political/marital indiscretions … Friday’s Special at Southfield Grill: XXXL orders of grilled Vitter. Porn Star Stormy Daniels brings her listening tour to the lunch crowd at the Shreveport restaurant. Shouldn’t it also be called a Looking ‘n’ Listening tour?
I thought it would be nice if this Cap’n Trade guy (left) (or is that Cap’n Crunch?) had his very own thread for y’all to sound off on, since I obviously missed the boat. So as I brush up on the subject, here’s the latest on the issue.
Seriously though, I didn’t write about it earlier because:
a) I thought it was a foregone conclusion that it would pass the House (though it squeaked by with 44 Dems voting against it). So I thought I’d wait for the real battle in the Senate (where hopefully they’ll actually read the darn thing).
b) I thought Gov. Sanford, the Hurricane Chris disaste,r and the deaths of Farrah and Jacko on the same day were more interesting topics. (Y’all did hear Michael Jackson died, right?)
and c) I’ve got other stuff to do besides this blog.
But clearly, this issue has struck a major chord. Of course, people are going to be a little hot when they hear they may be paying an extra $100 a month or more for their energy needs, plus whatever else they buy that’s manufactured.
My take: I’m all for a cleaner, greener planet, and no reliance on foreign oil. I could live without the global warming scare tactics. And a tax on polluters is a tax on all of us who use what they produce (like gasoline and electricity) (hey, that’s pretty much all of us, isn’t it?) So I’m hoping there’s a solution that’s more private enterprise and less government impo$ed.
I also predict that with more sunlight and media exposure (hopefully no one else like Jacko dies when the Senate gets ready to vote) this plan as written gets defeated; just as I predict that nationalized $ingle payer healthcare reform will go down to defeat. I believe the people will let their Congresspeople know how they feel about it, and will force change that’s better.
Anyways, thanks for keeping me on my toes, gang (see next thread).
… Burninhell Madoff has been sentenced to 150 years in prison. Good. It was not enough for him to give up the billions Burninhell made off with, (who knows what fraction of that may be recovered?). He simply could not be allowed to ever take a breath of freedom again.
Madoff apologized to his thousands of victims, whose lives he destroyed. Whatever. I hope the prison stinks like rotting garbage in the sewers of New York City.
I spent part of the smokin’ hot weekend under the A/C and a ceiling fan, downloading some cool, new jazz. The lead track on my latest mix is one of my favorite artists, saxophonist Richard Elliot. Check him and his band out here with “Move On Up.”
Nice, huh? Great brass with some butt wiggle. I’ve seen Richard and his band twice in concert. He’s a great showman.
I’m really excited about all the new smooth jazz that’s coming out this year. That is my sound.
Another of my favorites, trumpeter Rick Braun, has a new album next month. Already this year, some of my other faves — The Rippingtons, Spyro Gyra, Boney James, and Marion Meadows have new releases. So this is a great year for smooth jazz.
If you’ve never heard it, smooth jazz — or fusion jazz — is a mix of jazz, r&b and pop. The Grammys don’t recognize it. The jazz police hate it. Heck with ‘em. I love it. And if this is all new to you and you’re curious, give those artists a click. Bet your butt wiggles.
Let’s look at the list of GOP governors who were seen as rising stars, and possible presidential contenders, but who’ve faded, starting with:
Mark Sanford, South Carolina: So much for him being against stimulus; This guy goes all the way down to Argentina for his. And guv, unless you look like the CATO lady, um, or my wife, I really don’t want to hear politicans talk about their “sparking thing” or “overdrive.”
Bobby Jindal: The Louisiana guv sent cringes coast to coast with his GOP response.
Rick Perry: If it was possible that America might go for another Texan so soon after Bush, Perry may’a shot hissef in the boot with his big talkin’ that sounded like secession.
Now, if Romney can just figure out how to beat that funny feller from Arkansas who used to be a guvnuh. Perhaps if he tells more jokes that strike a wrong chord.
Oh, and if Christian conservatives can just get past that whole Mormon thing, and Romney’s “evolvement” on abortion .
Five hours and five miles. That’s all that separated the deaths of two of the greatest entertainment icons of our lifetimes (and my adolescence) in L.A.
First on Thursday we learned of Farrah Fawcett’s death from cancer at the age of 62. And later in the day, the story that knocked Farrah off the lead –the death of pop legend Michael Jackson, 50.
In 1976, I was 14, and waiting anxiously in front of the tv to see that wonderously sexy Farrah Fawcett. Just one season on Charlie’s Angels, but it was enough for her to become a huge sex symbol. (Thank goodness for re-runs). And , oh yes, I had THE poster, (though Mom wasn’t so wild about it).
Enjoy this tribute with some lovely photos of Farrah, set to an appropriate disco tune.
Those are the ways I’ll remember her. Though later, Farrah would win over critics as an actress with three Emmy nominations.
I’ll remember the Michael Jackson we knew before he became Jacko from the land of bizarro. I got into some of his music in the late 70’s. This was my favorite from 1979, “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.”
That tune sort of became my personal theme song for our football team my senior year in high school, as our Ardmore Tigers rolled toward what we hoped would be a state championship. I enjoyed the Thriller album a few years later. But after that, well, we know the rest of the story. Again, I’ll choose to remember the amazingly talented singer and dancer he was from my younger days, whose music transcended race probably like no other.
Before lawmakers finished some of that business, like, oh, the budget, they found time for this on Wednesday.
Yes, that was Shreveport Rep. Barbara Norton honoring her “godson,” Hurricane Chris, on the House floor, and then Chris entertaining the lawmakers with his musical talent.
Thanks to aggiedad for first bringing this to my attention. We did the story at 10. You’ll hear Norton explain why she did this. And then we’ll all have cake in back.
much of the time when ABC handed over its news programming from dawn to near midnight to President Obama’s drive for nationalized healthcare. But from what I did see, Charles Gibson and Diane Sawyer asked good, tough questions, and so did the people chosen to be in the White House, er, town hall. But the problem is — as was predicted — alternative ideas from conservatives on how to make health insurance more available were not discussed. You only heard Obama’s long winded answers that made it sound like he has all the answers.
So what did we have? An Obama campaign event. ABC News would’ve served you better had they devoted their all-day coverage to straight, fair, balanced news reporting and analysis so that you can decide; rather than giving Obama a bigger, uneditted megaphone than he already has. That’s basically my review. Here’s another from someone who watched more than I was able to. And here’s a recap from ABC (the day after) that’s actually quite fair and enlightening.
All that said, I’ve got this hunch. I just believe that a big, nationalized health care system is not going to fly. Yes, even though Obama’s party has strong control of Congress with a few RINOs sprinkled in the Senate, I think it fails. I think when people fear they may lose the doctor they like and trust, and the insurance plan they’re already satisfied with, people are going to rebel in possible tea party fashion.
Why would they fear a nationalized system? Well, let’s see. A public health care option. You mean the government’s going to set up a plan to compete with private insurance companies? A government that can change the rules whenever it wants? And possibly drive private companies out, so that more and more people depend on government? You’re going to tax our employer-provided health benefits? Making it cheaper to go on the government plan? … sending still more people under the government’s umbrella? And I’m going to wait how long to see my new government-approved doc? And the government’s going to decide if I get that treatment or surgery I’d like? And — here’s the biggee — just how much is this going to cost us? No really. How much? And that money comes from where?
I could be wrong. But I think these are the kind of things that get people to pick up the phone or write their Congresspeople. And maybe, just maybe, rally in the streets.
Better hurry. Because the government’s operating in crisis mode. Do the words stimulus and bailout mean anything to you?
First, the Obama administration said the $787 billion (aw, what the heck, with interest, make it an even $trillion) stimulus would keep unemployment from going above 8%. Well, that was a point-and-a-half ago with this latest grim jobs report. 
So an analyst at the EPA compiles a 98-page report that basically says connecting greenhouse gas emissions to global warming is a bunch of hot air. Specifically, it notes the “downward trend over the past 11 years” of “global temperatures,” and that “scientists do not necessarily believe that storms will become more frequent or more intense due to global warming, and that the theory that temperatures will cause Greenland ice to rapidly melt has been ‘greatly diminished.’ ”
Former SNL comedian and liberal commentator Al Franken’s headed to Washington, and the laugh’s on the GOP. Democrats will have a filibuster proof 60-vote majority in the Senate, now that 
Gov. Mark T.M.I. Sanford is talking again. Now he’s given the Associated Press 
when they hear they may be paying an extra $100 a month or more for their energy needs, plus whatever else they buy that’s manufactured.
… Burninhell 
The only way 
“overdrive.”
Sarah Palin: Been there, 
Five hours and five miles. That’s all that separated the deaths of two of the greatest entertainment icons of our lifetimes (and my adolescence) in L.A.
Admittedly, I was either: