Illinois Environmental Leaders for Obama

One add to: Media - Friend or Foe? - Arm yourself against lies! (5)

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 14:28:06 EST

Let's use the member of campaign of change to help Obama and get the change.

Cable news and right wing blogs are swarming with the revisionist history on the New Deal. Arm yourself against lies, spin and propaganda by reading info from a number of sources.

Here down a article about this topic. [Media Matters is a progressive media watchdog and fact checking organization which has received accolades from numerous sources (except the right wing media which often gets debunked by Media Matters).]

The link to digg it and for article: Conservatives Cherry-Pick 1930s Unemployment Figures

Conservatives cherry-pick 1930s unemployment figures in continued assault on New Deal

Summary: Columnists Mona Charen and George Will continued a trend among conservative media of responding to comparisons between the current economic situation and that of the 1930s and between Barack Obama and FDR by attacking the New Deal. In separate columns, both Charen and Will cherry-picked unemployment figures to assert that the New Deal did not reduce unemployment. But historians and progressive economists have noted that unemployment fell every year of the New Deal except during the 1937-38 recession; further, Nobel-laureate Paul Krugman has said it was a reversal of New Deal policies, not a continuance of them, that contributed to rising unemployment in 1937 and 1938.

Yes we can! Best wishes, Steffen

http://changeforbetterworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-way-to-say-goodbye-to-neocons-bush.html

Formal Petition to Attorney General-Designate Eric Holder to appoint a Special Prosecutor to investigate and prosecute any and all government officials who have participated in War Crimes.

My way to say GOODBYE to neocons, Bush and Cheney! ( 5)

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 18:30:30 EST

You can Digg it: My_way to say GOODBYE to neocons, Bush and Cheney!

A picture from me to say goodbye from most bad president of US and all neocons.
We can only hope many people will long enough remember. Bush had a lot bad gifts for the change! Let's take care the poor and normal people will not have to pay now too much after the rich made profit in good time!
And what's with impeachment now?! What's with hidden knowledge of Sept. 11 2001?
[ Maybe an explanation of picture: it's made like an "egg laying wool milk sow" a metaphorical-idiomatic term in Germany]

Yeah, and here you can see something new about neocons were bringing to us - for me to say: don't forgive Bush and neocons and there is still a lot to work of. We will and can do this too - Yes we can!
I got now message too like "If anybody can clean up the mess bush left, it's President Obama." - Yes and Obama likes people helping still to do the work - help him! We were a big and strong movement and so people got knowledge back how strong people can be together!
Whistleblower: Bush's NSA spied on EVERYONE
(already 4255 Diggs) The NSA had access to ALL YOUR COMMUNICATIONS, regardless of who you were or whether or not you were communicating internationally.

The change - Obama Acceptance Speech - Change is come to America (5)

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 14:15:20 EST

next post in my main blog about "Change for better world" - here i collected some movies from this day and shortly before.

(And i saved it to hard disc too. If some original will not be longer responsible in YouTube i will bring it new.)

Please, ckick this link to see the movies:

The change - Obama Acceptance Speech - Change is come to America

[But of course - it's just beginning with the change, there is a lot to do. Please stay in touch, however we do that, through these groups or some other way. ]

did anybody get tickets for grant park nov 4 ?

Jim Shipp — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:27:05 EDT

I was just wondering if anyone got tickets for Tuesday night's event in grant park ?

I responded to the email about two hours after it was sent, but was put on a wait list ...

Help Barack Win Wisconsin

Lakefront Democrats for Obama — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:10:47 EDT

GET ON THE BUS with volunteers from the 42nd Ward to help Barack win Wisconsin.

We have been reassigned to Wisconsin. We will get back to everyone with new details ASAP but I'm told that our canvassing location will be in Southeast Wisconsin (Milwaukee, Racine or Kenosha).

I would like to invite you to AGAIN join me in traveling to a battleground state to campaign for Barack Obama on Saturday, October 25 through Sunday, October 26.

Since Gov. Sarah Palin started scaremongering against Barack Obama last weekend, John McCain's rallies have turned into surreal displays of open bigotry. In Minnesota this weekend, McCain finally tried to tamp down some of the hate—before continuing his attempt to associate Obama with Bill Ayers in the same gathering. The following three links are videos of his angry and hate-filled supporters, including a disraught woman who tells McCain she is scared of Obama because he is an "Arab."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf6YKOkfFsE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiESklGDuH4&feature=user

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjxzmaXAg9E&feature=related

We need you on ground now more than ever in the battleground state of Wisconsin to show these hate filled McCain supporters that no candidate can win the White House by utilizing racism and fear to motivate voters.

We are still renting a bus for the trip this time - and SEATS ARE ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVED BASIS. The bus will leave at 6:30 am from a location in the 42nd Ward to be determined. Otherwise, volunteers can travel on their own or car caravan with the group to our office destination.

We will canvas in Wisconsin from 11AM to 4PM on Saturday and Sunday and then return to Illinois Sunday evening.
IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON ATTENDING PLEASE FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING SIGN-UP FORM AND EMAIL IT BACK TO michigan.obama.volunteers@gmail.com or fax to 312-278-0001.

You can also call Jacqui de Leon at (773) 661 - 9349 or (949) 292 - 5119 should you have any questions.

DATES:
( ) Saturday, October 25 - Sunday, October 26
( ) I can travel Saturday only

CONTACT INFO:
First Name:
Last Name:
Phone: ( ) - ( ) cell ( ) home ( ) business Preferred Email:

TRANSPORTATION:
Do you need transportation? Y/N
Do you have a car you can drive? Y/N
If yes, would you be able to drive other volunteers in your car? Y/N
If so, how many? ___

LODGING:
Do you need information on local hotels? Y/N
Do you need information on shared housing? Y/N

Deregulation - wars - bank crisis - movie Bush without words - (5)

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:35:24 EDT

Deregulation - wars - bank crisis - movie Bush without words

To look the movie you must go to my blog. Unfortunately the situation can still change to be more terrible and so movie is not fun like could be.

(If you have a chance give a Digg please.)

Normally this should be known since hundred of years - without regulation a lot of banks will fall for profit! The end is always the same, like Bush McCain would be the same too - we, the world need change! Of course it's now more worse like we had known last crisis because of huge amounts of wasted money in wars too.(post continued)

Help Barack win Michigan!

Alena — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 17:29:37 EDT

By now, you've probably heard the news that John McCain is scaling back his campaign in Michigan. But, the Michigan Obama campaign is not slowing down one bit, and needs your help more than ever! Michigan has a history of elections being decided in the final weeks before Election Day, and polls here are known to swing dramatically in the last days before the election. While polls currently show Senator Obama in the lead in Michigan, we all know how volatile polling can be - and how important it is to keep our momentum going in Michigan.

Sarah Palin said it herself on Fox News Friday: "I want to get back to Michigan, and I want to try." Michigan's Lt. Governor John Cherry, a veteran of Michigan politics, predicts McCain's announcement will lead" to a flurry of anti-Obama spending by independent groups." The McCain campaign may be pulling out of Michigan, but their supporters aren't giving up. Michigan's Republican Party is redoubling its own efforts to elect John McCain, which is why it's so important to keep our focus on Michigan so we can ensure it votes for Senator Obama on November 4.

Come to Michigan to help keep this critically important battleground state in the Obama column on Election Day! With only a month until the election, there's never been a more important time than now to get involved. From knocking on doors to making phone calls, you can make the difference in this vital swing state. To get involved, visit mi.barackobama.com/cometomi, or contact Derek Dobies at 734-740-6698.

Top 10 Tax Sweeteners in the Bailout Bill

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:00:25 EDT

Top 10 Tax Sweeteners in the Bailout Bill
Categories: Federal Budget, Headlines By TCS
Tags: bailout, budget
Pub Date: Oct 03, 2008

Update:
The House has just passed the final version of the 2008 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, without making any changes to the version received from the Senate. The final vote was 263-171. To see how your Representative voted, click here.

Note:

In the analysis below we identified where we could specific champions of each provision. One thing that we did not explain very well is that many of the provisions are “extenders.” Meaning that what this legislation does in many cases is simply extend existing law that was set to expire at the end of this year, and in some cases it reinstates existing legislation that expired earlier in the year. So we couldn’t necessarily go back in history to identify who originally promoted some of the provisions. Many of these provisions had already been voted on and passed earlier this year, but had not been voted on in the House. So the Senate simply stuck them on to the underlying legislation. This is also true for other things tacked onto the bill, such as the Alternative Minimum Tax patch.

The following are some of the top tax sweeteners in the Senate passed Bailout Bill. Not all the provisions are per se outrageous, but collectively are intended to help Congressional leadership get final passage of the 2008 Emergency Economic Stabilization Act.

Sec. 503. Exemption from excise tax for certain wooden arrows designed for use by children

Current law places an excise tax of 39 cents on the first sale by the manufacturer, producer, or importer of any shaft of a type used to produce certain types of arrows. This proposal would exempt from the excise tax any shaft consisting of all natural wood with no laminations or artificial means to enhance the spine of the shaft used in the manufacture of an arrow that measures 5/16 of an inch or less and is unsuited for use with a bow with a peak draw weight of 30 pounds or more. The proposal is effective for shafts first sold after the date of enactment. The estimated cost of the proposal is $2 million over ten years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

The Oregon senators were the initial sponsors of the provisions. According to Bloomberg News, the provision would be worth $200,000 to Rose City Archery in Myrtle Point, Oregon.

Sec. 317. Seven-year cost recovery period for motorsports racing track facility

Track owners want to be able write-off the cost of their facilities on their taxes over seven years - a depreciation timetable many of them have used for decades. But the IRS has wanted to stretch it to at least 15 years and has raised questions whether the increasingly popular tracks really belong in the same tax category as amusement parks.

Auto track owners are simply trying to get out of paying more taxes - which they'd have to do if they deducted less every year. These owners have gotten plenty of tax breaks over the years from states and localities eager to get speedways. The provision would be extended 2 years till the end of 2009 and would cost $100 million. The provision encompasses all facilities including grandstands, parking lots and concession stands.

Sec. 308. Increase in limit on cover over of rum excise tax to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

Extends until December 31, 2009 a rebate against excise taxes charged on rum imported from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. A $13.50 per proof gallon excise tax is applied to distilled spirits imported to the U.S. Under this provision a $13.25 rebate is returned to PR and the VI, and is retroactive back to January 1, 2008. Permanent law sets the rebate at $10.50 per proof gallon, but the PR and VI provisions have generally been in place since the first Clinton Administration. The most recent extension of the $13.50 rebate expired January 1, 2008. Cost is $192 million.

Sec. 301. Extension and modification of research credit

The legislation reestablishes and extends the lucrative tax credit for companies doing research and experimentation in the United States. Companies that have benefited from this provision include Microsoft Corp., Boeing Co., United Technologies Corp., Electronic Data Systems Corp. and Harley-Davidson. The two-year extension is estimated to cost $19 billion.

Sec. 504. Income averaging for amounts received in connection with the Exxon Valdez litigation

The bailout bill would give a tax break to Exxon Valdez plaintiffs, allowing them to average out their punitive damages awards over three years rather than suffer a one-time tax hit from the Internal Revenue Service, as well as other provisions. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) is a big supporter of this provision. Cost is estimated at $49 million.

Sec. 601. Secure rural schools and community self-determination program.

Secure Rural Schools lead sponsors Reps. DeFazio (D-OR), Bill Sali (R-ID); Sens. Wyden (D-OR), Larry Craig (R-ID), are major boosters of this program that expired in 2006. In 1908 the federal government agreed to share logging revenue from Forest Service land with neighboring communities that could not tax the land because it was federal. As logging declined in the 1990s, the "county payments" program was initiated in 2000 to directly provide federal funding, more than half going to Oregon, to deal with the loss of revenue. The original version of this provision was introduced as a bill in early 2007 and was estimated to cost $2.2 billion when the OR and ID delegations came to agreement. To give the package more heft, Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT) was added to the package, bringing the total cost to $3.3 billion. PILT provides more general funding to counties for federal lands located within their borders. Sen. Reid (D-NV) talked about the PILT program being one of the important elements of the package when the Senate passed the bailout bill.

Sec. 201. Deduction for state and local sales taxes

Allows residents of states that don’t pay income tax to deduct, from their federal taxes, sales tax paid over the course of the year. States that benefit include Texas, Nevada, Florida, Washington and Wyoming. The bailout bill extends this provision for 2 years at a cost of $3.3 billion.

Sec 502. Provisions related to film and television productions

In an effort to keep film and television productions in the U.S, they would be eligible for a tax incentive program. Under this program, the cost of production of qualifying films would be permitted to be immediately expensed -- that is, fully deducted from income for tax purposes -- in the year the expenditures occur. This provision also makes permanent other favorable tax treatments for production. Historically Rep. Diane Watson (D-CA) has been a supporter (dating from its creation in the 2004 corporate tax bill). The cost is estimated at $478 million over 10 years.

Sec. 325. Extension and modification of duty suspension on wool products; wool research fund; wool duty refunds

The tariff relief (duty savings) is intended to benefit U.S. worsted wool fabric producers that use imported fibers and yarns as inputs, as well as U.S. tailored clothing manufacturers that use imported fabrics as inputs. This provision was originally introduced as a bill in December 2007 by Reps. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Melissa Bean (D-IL). It extends current law provisions until 12/31/14, and in some cases to12/31/15. The 2010 to 2015 cost is estimated to be $148 million.

Sec. 309. Extension of economic development credit for American Samoa

This extends by two years a previously approved tax credit, the American Samoa economic development credit. In general, this credit allows certain corporations operating in American Samoa a tax credit. The possessions tax credit allows these corporations to offset a portion of their U.S. tax liability on income earned in American Samoa from active business operations, sales of assets used in a business, or certain investments in American Samoa. The cost is $33 million, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

Other Examples:

Here are some other interesting provisions

Sec. 201. Inclusion of cellulosic biofuel in bonus depreciation for biomass ethanol plant property

Current law allows taxpayers to write-off 50% of the cost of any facility placed in service before January 1, 2013 that produces cellulosic ethanol. This provision expands the types of facilities that may be written-off to include production of other cellulosic biofuels in addition to cellulosic ethanol.

Sec. 211. Transportation fringe benefit to bicycle commuters

Allows employers to provide a benefit to employees for costs associated with bicycle commuting, including purchase and repair of a bicycle, bicycle improvements, and bicycle storage. This provision was proposed in 2007 in the Senate by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and in the House by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). This provision is estimated to cost $10 million.

Sec. 323. Enhanced charitable deductions for contributions of food inventory

Extends by two years, until December 31, 2009, a provision allowing for deductions related to the charitable donation of “apparently wholesome food”—defined as food intended for human consumption that meets all quality and labeling standards imposed by law and regulations even though the food may not be readily marketable. This provision also changes the application of the law as it relates to donations by farmers and ranchers. The cost is $149 million, according to Joint Committee on Taxation.

Sec. 324. Extension of enhanced charitable deduction for contributions of bookinventory

Extends by two years, until December 31, 2009, a tax benefit for the contribution of books to public schools. The provision is worth $49 million.

Sec. 602. Transfer to abandoned mine reclamation fund

Transfers interest earned on money in the abandoned mine reclamation fund to the United Mine Workers of America Combined Benefit Fund, which helps pay health benefits for retired miners and their dependents who worked under collective bargaining agreements that promised lifetime health-care benefits. States with the most miners receiving benefits have historically been Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and Ohio. This provision extends existing law to include a $9 million transfer for 2010.

Biden v. Palin: Who Won the Debate?

Lakefront Democrats for Obama — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:12:21 EDT

Vote in our Online Poll: Who won the Vice Presidential Debate?

Click here to vote:

http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e2dfypegfltaz13u/start

Mortgage Guarantees vs Wall Street Bailout

Alan in Elgin, IL — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:34:53 EDT

The root cause of this financial crisis is adjustable rate and interest only mortgages that were available to consumers for zero money down. These mortgages have a fixed rate for the first few years and then the rate is adjustable. The assumption was that house prices would continue to rise and when the adjustable rate kicked in the homeowner would simply refinance their house. With falling house prices it has become impossible to refinance because the value of the house is now less than the amount owed to the mortgage provider. Banks will only loan issue a new mortgage for the current assessed value of the home, so home owners are stuck paying as much as 15% interest rates on their existing loans because they cannot refinance.

The solution is to put the banks in a position where they are willing to refinance existing mortgages. My proposal is that the bank servicing the current loan be required to offer the any homeowner with a adjustable rate mortgage the option of converting that mortgage into a 30 year fixed rate mortgage at the current rate offered to new customers (i.e. 6.5% vs 15%). This conversion must be offered without any preconditions (such as credit score or home valuation) and at no cost to the customer. Also no additional money can be added to the new mortgage, it is a straight conversion of the existing loan. In exchange the government would guarantee the new loan for 20% of the loan amount.

If the homeowner subsequently defaults on the new mortgage, then the bank will receive the value of the property plus the loan guarantee, but only up to the point where the loan is paid off. Neither the bank nor the homeowner can profit from this government money.

With a loan guarantee, banks will be willing to refinance existing mortgages and the adjustable rate mortgages that have a high risk of default will be flushed from the financial system. Homeowners will not be forced into defaulting on their current mortgage because they have no way to refinance.

As adjustable rate mortgages are replaced by fixed rate 30-year mortgages, the derivatives based on these mortgages will acquire a lower risk (become less “toxic”) and they will also become easier to value. The return on these derivatives will also fall, but those returns were unrealistic anyway, because they were based on the premise that homeowners would be willing to pay 15% on their mortgage for a home that was falling in value.

The current bailout plan has taxpayers buying the high-risk derivatives directly from the banks to improve their bottom line, but it does nothing to improve the chances that the underlying mortgages will be paid or reduce the rates of mortgage defaults. It provides no incentive to the banks to hold the loans or to stop their predatory lending practices in the future. The bailout is much more expensive than addressing the root cause of the problem and unlikely to succeed.

My plan is not a bailout for anybody! Homeowners pay off their existing loans and stay in their houses. The return on mortgage derivatives falls, but so does the risk, so the value will be more predictable and the market will be more willing to buy and sell these financial instruments again.

Alan Jenks

Help expose dirty tricks this election season

Alan in Elgin, IL — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:48:37 EDT

Could a dirty trick played online affect this year's election results?

As more and more people turn to the web for voting and election information, there is a real danger that so-called "deceptive practices" that we've seen offline will move online this year.

Help Common Cause track and expose online deceptive practices!

In past election cycles, we've seen misleading flyers that tell people that Republicans should show up to vote on Tuesday and Democrats should show up on Wednesday. Or that say if you've ever gotten a traffic ticket, you're not eligible to vote. (See real-life examples here.)

We've already seen how misinformation spread over the Internet can have an impact on the political campaign: the emails falsely claiming Obama is a Muslim; fake Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and Rudy Giuliani websites with misleading statements; a website offering to register people to vote for $9.95, a process that is free; and the head of the NAACP having to release a statement that an email listing "10 Reasons Not to Vote for Hillary Clinton" supposedly authored by him was a hoax.

Will we see similar online misinformation campaigns regarding how to vote, who can vote, where to vote, and when to vote?

Think about how fast rumors and misinformation can circulate on the Internet. We can't afford to have this year's election called into question because of online dirty tricks.

If you see a website or receive an email with questionable voting information between now and Election Day, please let us know about it.

We're on the lookout for:
* Emails that appear to be from the Secretary of State or other election official, advocacy organizations, or some other supposed authority that contains false information about the voting process.
* Spoofed election administrator, government or advocacy organization websites with misinformation on the voting process.
* False information about how, when or where to vote spread through social networking sites like Facebook.

We're not looking for:
* Emails containing false information about a candidate, his/her record, or his/her policies.

Please let us know about any online deceptive practices that you see by going to
www.commoncause.org/DeceptivePractices or forwarding suspect email messages to
DeceptivePractices2008@gmail.com. And please share this message with your friends.

Thanks for all you do,

Susannah Goodman
and the rest of the team at Common Cause

Common Cause is a national nonpartisan organization with chapters in 38 states. Our mailing address is 1133 19th Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20036. Our phone number is (202) 833-1200.

Congratulations, Corporate Crime Fighters! Coup Averted for Three Days! ...from Michael Moore

Alan in Elgin, IL — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:45:16 EDT

Friends,

Everyone said the bill would pass. The masters of the universe were already making celebratory dinner reservations at Manhattan's finest restaurants. Personal shoppers in Dallas and Atlanta were dispatched to do the early Christmas gifting. Mad Men of Chicago and Miami were popping corks and toasting each other long before the morning latte run.

But what they didn't know was that hundreds of thousands of Americans woke up yesterday morning and decided it was time for revolt. The politicians never saw it coming. Millions of phone calls and emails hit Congress so hard it was as if Marshall Dillon, Elliot Ness and Dog the Bounty Hunter had descended on D.C. to stop the looting and arrest the thieves.

The Corporate Crime of the Century was halted by a vote of 228 to 205. It was rare and historic; no one could remember a time when a bill supported by the president and the leadership of both parties went down in defeat. That just never happens.

A lot of people are wondering why the right wing of the Republican Party joined with the left wing of the Democratic Party in voting down the thievery. Forty percent of Democrats and two-thirds of Republicans voted against the bill.

Here's what happened:

The presidential race may still be close in the polls, but the Congressional races are pointing toward a landslide for the Democrats. Few dispute the prediction that the Republicans are in for a whoopin' on November 4th. Up to 30 Republican House seats could be lost in what would be a stunning repudiation of their agenda.

The Republican reps are so scared of losing their seats, when this "financial crisis" reared its head two weeks ago, they realized they had just been handed their one and only chance to separate themselves from Bush before the election, while doing something that would make them look like they were on the side of "the people."

Watching C-Span yesterday morning was one of the best comedy shows I'd seen in ages. There they were, one Republican after another who had backed the war and sunk the country into record debt, who had voted to kill every regulation that would have kept Wall Street in check -- there they were, now crying foul and standing up for the little guy! One after another, they stood at the microphone on the House floor and threw Bush under the bus, under the train (even though they had voted to kill off our nation's trains, too), heck, they would've thrown him under the rising waters of the Lower Ninth Ward if they could've conjured up another hurricane. You know how your dog acts when sprayed by a skunk? He howls and runs around trying to shake it off, rubbing and rolling himself on every piece of your carpet, trying to get rid of the stench. That's what it looked like on the Republican side of the aisle yesterday, and it was a sight to behold.

The 95 brave Dems who broke with Barney Frank and Chris Dodd were the real heroes, just like those few who stood up and voted against the war in October of 2002. Watch the remarks from yesterday of Reps. Marcy Kaptur, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Dennis Kucinich. They spoke the truth.

The Dems who voted for the giveaway did so mostly because they were scared by the threats of Wall Street, that if the rich didn't get their handout, the market would go nuts and then it's bye-bye stock-based pension and retirement funds.

And guess what? That's exactly what Wall Street did! The largest, single-day drop in the Dow in the history of the New York Stock exchange. The news anchors last night screamed it out: Americans just lost 1.2 trillion dollars in the stock market!! It's a financial Pearl Harbor! The sky is falling! Bird flu! Killer Bees!

Of course, sane people know that nobody "lost" anything yesterday, that stocks go up and down and this too shall pass because the rich will now buy low, hold, then sell off, then buy low again.

But for now, Wall Street and its propaganda arm (the networks and media it owns) will continue to try and scare the bejesus out of you. It will be harder to get a loan. Some people will lose their jobs. A weak nation of wimps won't last long under this torture. Or will we? Is this our line in the sand?

Here's my guess: The Democratic leadership in the House secretly hoped all along that this lousy bill would go down. With Bush's proposals shredded, the Dems knew they could then write their own bill that favors the average American, not the upper 10% who were hoping for another kegger of gold.

So the ball is in the Democrats' hands. The gun from Wall Street remains at their head. Before they make their next move, let me tell you what the media kept silent about while this bill was being debated:

1. The bailout bill had NO enforcement provisions for the so-called oversight group that was going to monitor Wall Street's spending of the $700 billion;

2. It had NO penalties, fines or imprisonment for any executive who might steal any of the people's money;

3. It did NOTHING to force banks and lenders to rewrite people's mortgages to avoid foreclosures -- this bill would not have stopped ONE foreclosure!;

4. It had NO teeth anywhere in the entire piece of legislation, using words like "suggested" when referring to the government being paid back for the bailout;

5. Over 200 economists wrote to Congress and said this bill might actually WORSEN the "financial crisis" and cause even MORE of a meltdown.

Put a fork in this slab of pork. It's over. Now it is time for our side to state very clearly the laws WE want passed. I will send you my proposals later today. We've bought ourselves less than 72 hours.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com

Sarah Palin Interview With Katie Couric - full video

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 11:23:24 EDT

Sarah Palin Interview With Katie Couric

Click Here!

With all the McCain hoopla over the last two days, you may have missed the Sarah Palin interview with Katie Couric...I know I did. But, this is the woman that could literally be a heartbeat away from the presidency. You need to see this. Much of this interview is quite unbelievable. You can watch the first two clips and see the full Palin interview, or see additional clips of her answers to specific questions. And, just because we can all use a good laugh...If nothing else, check out the last video clip, it's really funny.

MySpace Launches MyDebates.org

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:35:09 EDT

MySpace and the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) have launched MyDebates.org, a new Web site focused on the upcoming Presidential debates.

Citizens can submit questions to MyDebates.org for possible inclusion in the town meeting debate.

Visitors to MyDebates.org will be able to participate in an "Issues Quiz" that will determine their views on 14 issues, including the economy, national security, the environment, same-sex marriage, education and healthcare. After taking the quiz users can compare their stance on the issues with the candidates and view a state-by-state breakdown of how other Americans feel on the issues.

Users will have the option of downloading a personalized application that can be embedded on a blog, a social networking site like MySpace, or another Web site. The application will have a summary of the user's stance on the issues, on-demand playback feature and issue-based tracking, allowing users to follow a candidate's stance on the issues during the debate series.

MyDebates.org will also feature high-quality video streaming and as the candidates are speaking, an "issue icons" will light up as candidates mention specific topics. Videos of the debates will be housed on the site in their entirety. Videos will be bookmarked to allow users to go directly to the issues.

"The CPD believes that the Internet can be used to personalize the debates in a way that allows for in-depth examination by individual citizens and joint discussion with others," said Janet Brown, Executive Director of the Commission on Presidential Debates.

"Our partnership with MySpace is an important step forward into integrating new media into the debate series."

The first presidential debate will take place on Friday, September 26 and will be followed by a vice presidential debate on Thursday, October 2. The second presidential debate will take place on Tuesday, October 7 and the final debate will be on Wednesday, October 15.

Will you get an Obama Tax Cut?

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 15:07:48 EDT

Barack Obama promises to cut taxes for 95% of Americans, but 53% of Americans actually think Obama will raise their taxes.

This site uses data from the non-partisan Tax Policy Center to determine whether or not you will receive an Obama Tax Cut.

http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/

Spread the word!

John McCain's Record on the Environment

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:22:14 EDT

No doubt you have heard John McCain tout his record on the environment.

What you won't hear him say is that he has voted against increasing fuel efficiency standards and renewable energy, and supported billions in subsidies for Big Oil and other polluters.

This is why LCV has worked with our friends at Brave New Films to create a video exposing the reality behind McCain's rhetoric.

Click here to watch a short video, then spread the word!

Here at LCV, we are committed to educating the media and the public about John McCain's true record on the environment. The truth is, John McCain's energy plan is nothing short of a continuation of the Bush-Cheney dirty energy plan.

This plan would lead us down the same path paved by Big Oil and Dirty Coal which has gotten us into this energy crisis to begin with.

Watch this revealing video about John McCain's record, then pass it on.

We all need to do our part to educate the public and the media on the real McCain record. After you watch the video, share it with everyone you know. And call Senator McCain at 202-224-3121 to tell him to stop siding with Big Oil and support clean energy in the upcoming vote. Thank you for all you do for the environment.

Sincerely,

Gene Karpinski
League of Conservation Voters

Funding for Public Transportation

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:17:48 EDT

It's pretty absurd that in a time when gas prices are soaring higher and higher, funding for public transportation is steadily being cut back.

Tell the Senate to pass funding measures for alternative transportation!

In June, the House passed H.R. 6052, the "Saving Energy Through Public Transportation Act," by a vote of 322 to 98. This bill would authorize emergency grants to mass transit authorities to expand services.

Now, the Senate needs to pass a comparable measure.

McCain Seen as Less Likely to Bring Change, Poll Finds

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:06:14 EDT

McCain Seen as Less Likely to Bring Change, Poll Finds
By ROBIN TONER and ADAM NAGOURNEY
Senator John McCain is widely viewed as a “typical Republican” who would continue or expand President Bush’s policies.

McCain ad misrepresents Obama's tax plan. Again.

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:03:16 EDT

There He Goes Again
September 18, 2008
McCain ad misrepresents Obama's tax plan. Again.

Summary
The McCain-Palin campaign has released a new ad that once again distorts Obama's tax plans.

The ad claims Obama will raise taxes on electricity. He hasn't proposed any such tax. Obama does support a cap-and-trade policy that would raise the costs of electricity, but so does McCain.

It falsely claims he would tax home heating oil. Actually, Obama proposed a rebate of up to $1,000 per family to defray increased heating oil costs, funded by what he calls a windfall profits tax on oil companies.

The ad claims that Obama will tax "life savings." In fact, he would increase capital gains and dividends taxes only for couples earning more than $250,000 per year, or singles making $200,000. For the rest, taxes on investments would remain unchanged.

The McCain campaign argues in its documentation for this ad that, whatever Obama says he would do, he will eventually be forced to break his promise and raise taxes more broadly to pay for his promised spending programs. That's an opinion they are certainly entitled to express, and to argue for. But their ad doesn't do that. Instead, it simply presents the McCain camp's opinion as a fact, and it fails to alert viewers that its claims are based on what the campaign thinks might happen in the future.

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Obama's going to need some help - Al Gore

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:49:11 EDT

Dear MoveOn member,

Elections matter. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track. I'm personally focused on what I think is the greatest threat and greatest opportunity—averting the climate crisis and "repowering America" using clean, cheap energy sources. That's why I'm supporting Barack Obama. He's the sort of transformational leader who could move us through such deep, structural change.

But trust me, Barack can only succeed if we also elect more champions in the Senate to stand up to the incredibly powerful oil lobby.

Those leaders are emerging—and three of them are in close Senate races. Kay Hagan in North Carolina, Mark Udall in Colorado, and Al Franken in Minnesota are all real, clean-energy heroes who need our help to win. And they're fighting against Republicans who have taken hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions from the oil industry.

Can you help elect three champions of clean energy to the Senate? You can donate by clicking here:

https://pol.moveon.org/give/energy.html?id=13906-3871490-Hk6Ukfx&t=3

At the convention, I said that the oil industry has a 50-year lease on the Republican Party. And they're drilling it for everything it's worth. Unfortunately, this is no joke. It's the sad truth. Look at what's going on in Congress right now. We're in an energy crisis, and the burgeoning solar and wind power business is on the edge of shutting down—because Republicans are blocking the tax incentives they count on. Yet they'll fight to the death for huge oil industry subsidies.

This election offers us our best chance ever to elect leaders who will switch our economy to home-grown, renewable, zero-carbon energy—and restore our economic health, our national security, and stabilize our climate.

Here's a little about these good folks:

Kay Hagan is a North Carolina state senator and a strong supporter of solar power. She pushed to require North Carolina utilities to adopt renewable energy.
Rep. Mark Udall of Colorado has one of the highest lifetime scores in Congress from the League of Conservation Voters. His opponent is a former congressman turned oil executive who makes oil deals in Iraq.
Al Franken is fighting for green jobs in his home state of Minnesota. He's proposing a national "Apollo project" to fuel the development of new technologies in clean and renewable energy.

You can read more by clicking below.

Will you join me in supporting three champions of clean energy? They really need our help. Just click here:

https://pol.moveon.org/give/energy.html?id=13906-3871490-Hk6Ukfx&t=4

And thanks so much for all you do,

Al Gore

Help Stop Another Alaska Road Boondongle

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:45:25 EDT

Last week, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved a bill that would remove Wilderness protection from some of the world's most important wetlands habitat in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

The bill's chief aim is to build a very costly road in Alaska, linking the small communities of King Cove and Cold Bay. Like other earmarks that have provided millions of dollars to benefit relatively few Alaska citizens, the Izembek road is a pet project of Alaska's congressional delegation.

All that remains before this very dangerous bill becomes law are votes in the House and Senate. Unfortunately, rather than considering this bill on its own merits, it is possible that both chambers will try to bundle the Izembek road project with a large number of other public lands bills—including some important bills to protect Wilderness in California, Oregon, Michigan, New Mexico, and Colorado—for an up or down vote on the whole package.

We urgently need your help TODAY to make sure this does not happen! Please write your Senators and Representative to ask them to oppose the Izembek bill, and to keep it off any larger package of public lands bills.

Most gratefully,

Kathy Kilmer
The Wilderness Society

The Ugly New McCain

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:36:05 EDT

The Ugly New McCain
By Richard Cohen

McCain has turned ugly. His dishonesty would be unacceptable in any politician, but McCain has always set his own bar higher than most. He has contempt for most of his colleagues for that very reason: They lie. He tells the truth. He internalizes the code of the McCains -- his grandfather, his father: both admirals of the shining sea. He serves his country differently, that's all -- but just as honorably. No more, though.

McCain Able to Skirt Limits of Federal Financing

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:34:01 EDT

McCain Able to Skirt Limits of Federal Financing
By Matthew Mosk
With backing from the Republican National Committee, McCain has taken advantage of loopholes such as "hybrid" television advertisements and joint fundraising committees that may keep him close to financial parity with Obama.

McCain Embraces Regulation After Many Years of Opposition

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 13:28:23 EDT

McCain Embraces Regulation After Many Years of Opposition
By Michael D. Shear

A decade ago, Sen. John McCain embraced legislation to broadly deregulate the banking and insurance industries, helping to sweep aside a thicket of rules established over decades in favor of a less restricted financial marketplace that proponents said would result in greater economic growth.

GET OUT THE VOTE IN GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27TH AND 28TH!

Lakefront Democrats for Obama — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 09:44:52 EDT

CHICAGO CANVASS

GET OUT THE VOTE IN GRAND RAPIDS MICHIGAN ON SEPTEMBER 27TH AND 28TH!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs7vtv

Offshore Drilling - A Message from Barack Obama

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:58:17 EDT

senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
Wed 9/10/08 10:14 AM

Dear Alan:

Thank you for advising me of your opposition to oil and gas drilling in offshore lands of Alaska, Florida, and Virginia. I appreciate hearing from you, and share your concern for our country's sensitive marine areas.

Continued proposals to drill for oil is not the answer to solving our country’s energy problems. Our country needs a more balanced national energy policy that promotes conservation and the development of renewable energy sources. I support increasing the fuel efficiency standards for automobiles, promoting the use of biodiesel and ethanol fuels, and creating incentives for private companies to explore the possibilities of alternative forms of renewable energy. By relying more on energy conservation and shifting our country's goals toward exploring and expanding viable sources of renewable energy, we can develop a sound energy policy that also preserves our planet’s natural resources. Encroaching upon the vulnerable habitats of our coastline is not only bad environmental policy, it is short-sighted energy policy as well.

With regard to high oil prices, the Energy Information Administration reports that drilling in the Outer Continent Shelf in the Pacific, Atlantic and eastern Gulf regions in areas that are not open to drilling “would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030. Leasing would begin no sooner than 2012, and production would not be expected to start before 2017. Because oil prices are determined on the international market, however, any impact on average wellhead prices is expected to be insignificant.” To view the full report, you can visit:

http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/aeo/otheranalysis/ongr.html

In addition, a House and Senate Joint Economic Committee analysis found that drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuse could reduce fuel prices between 1 to 4 cents by 2018, an amount that could be reduced should the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) choose to limit oil production -- a strategy they have employed in the past. I have enclosed this study for your reference.

The solution to mitigating gas price shocks, therefore, is further distancing the nation from OPEC pricing and making a long-term transition to alternative energy sources and improved conservation or development of oil and natural gas substitutes. Without this approach, oil and gas drilling will only postpone what will be a major crisis -- far worse than current conditions.

In the short term, however, I have worked to address the unchecked speculation that is occurring in our energy markets and contributing to the fuel price volatility experienced by motorists. On June 12, 2008, I joined my colleague Senator Dick Durbin in introducing S. 3130, a bill to increase transparency in the oil futures markets by providing greater resources to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to detect and punish price manipulation and excessive speculation. This bill also moves the CFTC inspector general out of the CFTC Chairman’s office, and stops speculators from escaping U.S. regulations by manipulating the use of foreign markets.

You may also be interested to know that I introduced the Oil Subsidy Elimination for New Strategies on Energy (Oil SENSE) Act last year to repeal more than $3.7 billion of unwarranted subsidies, programs, and tax incentives for oil and gas companies that were included in the 2005 Energy Policy Act. The Oil SENSE Act also requires oil and gas companies to resume payment of royalties for the production of oil or natural gas from Federal land, which could be worth more than $7 billion over the next 5 years. By removing unnecessary incentives that only encourage the expansion of offshore drilling, we can allot more resources to incentives that promote the development of renewable energy resources.

Finally, I also support the Consumer-First Energy Act of 2008, a proposal introduced in May by Senator Reid, as it addresses the root causes of high gas prices I discuss above.

Again, Alan, thank you for contacting me. You can rest assured that I will continue to be a strong voice for our environment while working with my colleagues to develop policies that will lead to true energy independence while ensuring environmental sustainability.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

It's a Mess Out There!

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 14:19:14 EDT

Don't beleive the campaign lies!

Get the truth behind this week's spin at FactCheck.org

The truth will set us free!

Compare Obama and McCain Energy Plans

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:47:53 EDT

Congress this week took up legislation to decide America's energy future. The question in Washington is the same as it is in the presidential campaign - "drill baby drill" or a policy that promotes real solutions, a plan for a reasoned future that invests in clean energy and good jobs.

The Apollo Alliance is pushing back against drilling proposals that won't solve our energy crisis and promoting a much better one that will, our own The New Apollo Program. The New Apollo Program is a comprehensive national economic development strategy to scale up and accelerate development of the clean energy sector and create millions of green-collar jobs.

In pursuit of those goals, this week we published a careful analysis that compares the proposals in The New Apollo Program with those put forward in Barack Obama's New Energy For America Plan, and John McCain's The Lexington Project.

Help block dirty fuels in western wildlands

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:42:56 EDT

Despite a powerful citizen outcry, the Bush administration is
poised to sacrifice more than two million acres of wildlands in
Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah for the production of dirty fuels.

Please take action right now to block this attempt to turn vast
expanses of our natural heritage into industrial wastelands.

Go to http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction
and tell the Bush administration to stop targeting our last
wildlands for destructive tar sands and oil shale development.

Tar sands production, which involves extracting heavy oil mixed
with sand and clay, generates three times the amount of global
warming pollution as conventional fuel production. Tar sands and
oil shale development are expected to leave behind giant toxic
waste sites, and could drive mountain lions, black bears, mule
deer and bald eagles from their habitat. These projects would
also use enormous amounts of clean water -- a precious resource
that is already scarce in the arid West -- and threaten air
quality and human health.

Go to http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/takeaction
right away and tell the Bush administration to keep dirty fuel
production out of America's West and promote clean energy
instead.

Thank you for helping to protect our last western wildlands.

Sincerely,

Frances Beinecke
President
Natural Resources Defense Council

Off Base on Sex Ed

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:37:05 EDT

Off Base on Sex Ed
September 10, 2008

A McCain campaign ad claims Obama's "one accomplishment" was a bill to teach sex ed to kindergarten kids. Don't believe it, on several fronts.

Summary
A McCain-Palin campaign ad claims Obama's "one accomplishment" in the area of education was "legislation to teach 'comprehensive sex education' to kindergarteners." But the claim is simply false, and it dates back to Alan Keyes' failed race against Obama for an open Senate seat in 2004.

Obama, contrary to the ad's insinuation, does not support explicit sex education for kindergarteners. And the bill, which would have allowed only "age appropriate" material and a no-questions-asked opt-out policy for parents, was not his accomplishment to claim in any case, since he was not even a cosponsor – and the bill never left the state Senate.

In addition, the ad quotes unflattering assessments of the Illinois senator's record on education but leaves out sometimes equally harsh criticism directed at McCain in the same forums.

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Energetically Wrong

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:32:05 EDT

Energetically Wrong
September 12, 2008

Palin says Alaska supplies 20 percent of U.S. energy. Not true. Not even close.

Summary
Palin claims Alaska "produces nearly 20 percent of the U.S. domestic supply of energy." That's not true.

Alaska did produce 14 percent of all the oil from U.S. wells last year, but that's a far cry from all the "energy" produced in the U.S.

Alaska's share of domestic energy production was 3.5 percent, according to the official figures kept by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

And if by "supply" Palin meant all the energy consumed in the U.S., and not just produced here, then Alaska's production accounted for only 2.4 percent. Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed on our Web site:

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What does a lobbyist controlled McCain-Palin ticket mean for you?

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 13:23:37 EDT

It means lobbyists come first. On jobs, health care, energy, America’s standing in the world — lobbyists pay big bucks to make sure their special interests come first. And time and time again, McCain has given lobbyists what they paid for.

On Jobs

McCain’s top dog, campaign manager Rick Davis, helped pave the way for job losses in Ohio — putting the interests of his former lobbyist client, Airborne Express, above yours. Read More

On Energy

Senior Campaign Advisor Charlie Black lobbied for Big Oil for eight years. McCain’s tax plan would save Big Oil $4 billion. Lucky coincidence? Or planned convenience? Read More

On Health Care

Employed at the top of the McCain campaign are former lobbyists John Green and Wayne Blank who have put the interests of health insurance and pharmaceutical companies above yours. Read More

On America's Standing in the World

Senior Foreign Policy Advisor, Randy Scheunemann pocketed $2.6 million lobbying McCain on Soviet interests while on McCain’s staff. That’s not country first. Read More

http://www.johnmccainrecord.com/mclobbyist/

John McCain's ads are LIES

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:28:43 EDT

Here's the video proof.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH0xzsogzAk

McCain-Palin Distorts Our Finding

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:24:02 EDT

McCain-Palin Distorts Our Finding
September 10, 2008

Those attacks on Palin that we debunked didn't come from Obama.

Summary
A McCain-Palin ad has FactCheck.org calling Obama's attacks on Palin "absolutely false" and "misleading." That's what we said, but it wasn't about Obama.

Our article criticized anonymous e-mail falsehoods and bogus claims about Palin posted around the Internet. We have no evidence that any of the claims we found to be false came from the Obama campaign.

The McCain-Palin ad also twists a quote from a Wall Street Journal columnist. He said the Obama camp had sent a team to Alaska to "dig into her record and background." The ad quotes the WSJ as saying the team was sent to "dig dirt."

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Belittling Palin?

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:20:11 EDT

Belittling Palin?
September 11, 2008

A McCain-Palin TV ad accuses Obama of being "disrespectful" of Palin, but it distorts quotes to make the case.

Summary
The McCain-Palin campaign has released a new TV ad that distorts quotes from the Obama campaign. It takes words out of context to make it sound as though the Democratic ticket is belittling Palin:

The ad says "they said she was doing 'what she was told.' " But the Obama adviser who's being quoted didn't accuse Palin of meekly following orders. What he actually said is that she made a false claim about Obama's legislative record and added, "maybe that's what she was told."
It says "they lashed out at Sarah Palin; dismissed her as 'good looking,' " But "they" didn't lash out at all. Obama – who is the one pictured – didn't say anything like that. The only one the McCain campaign quotes is Obama's running mate, Biden, and he actually offered the remark as a compliment. Biden said the "obvious" difference between Palin and himself is "she's good looking."
The ad says Obama was "disrespectful" when he accused Palin of "lying" about her record. But the truth is Palin's claim to have "said no" to the "bridge to nowhere" is indeed a dubious one, as we and many have pointed out.

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McCain Grilled On "The View": Sarah Palin, His Abortion Stance, His Obama Attack Ads, And More

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:15:18 EDT

The ladies of "The View" confronted John McCain today for lying in recent attack ads, pressed him on abortion and questioned his choice of Sarah Palin.

In arguably his toughest interview yet, co-host Joy Behar asked McCain, "There are ads running from your campaign... Now we know that those two ads are untrue, they are lies. And yet, you at the end of it say you approve these messages. Do you really approve these?"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/12/mccain-grilled-on-the-vie_n_125972.html

Palin - Just the Issues

ilsearcher — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 23:40:30 EDT

The Palin Positions

Anti-abortion (even if the pregnancy is due to incest or rape)
Anti-gay rights (opposes gays receiving benefits enjoyed by hetero-sexual marriage)
Opposes legalizing marijuana (but smoked it when it was legal in Alaska)
Supports teaching creationism alongside evolution in public schools
Supports teaching intelligent design in public schools
In favor of allowing parents to “opt out” of school text books they find offensive
Pro ANWR and offshore drilling (to her credit, she also supports alternative energy, however, some alternatives she favors are not green)
Anti-environmentalist (opposes protecting salmon, wants to remove the polar bear from the endangered species list; wants more timber industry, mining, oil drilling and fishing despite environmental concerns)
Opposes sex education in public schools
Supports ending the ban on handguns
Believes in health care driven only by the market & business
Has offered no opinion on equal pay for equal work

Do these positions represent what we want a Vice President of the United States to believe in?

RNC - Republicans today are not standing for own values and moral

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 12:27:42 EDT

RNC - Republicans are not standing for own values and moral

Post of green antiwar blog "Change for better world -"

- Ron Paul on November Ballot for President

- Cheney colleague admits bribery in Halliburton oil deals

- Insane Neocons Will Drive Us to War with Russia and Nuclear Confrontation

- Out of Touch: Cindy McCain's Monday Outfit Cost $300,000

- 5 Deeply Disturbing Things About Last Night’s RNC

- McCain operatives stole American Flags for a political stunt

- "Republican Flag Pins "Made in China"?

- Stop the greed at home too! Obama and McCain Tax Proposals

- McBush - Election speeches of Bush and McCain compared... (movie)

62 diggs (Monday 8.)

8 Comments

Don't Believe Industry Scam on Drilling Arctic Refuge

urban gardener — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 09:38:51 EDT

FACT MEMO: Don't Believe Industry Scam on Drilling Arctic Refuge

By Kathy Westra

Don't Believe Industry Scam on Drilling Arctic Refuge 2,000 Acres Sound Bite Ignores RealityPublic debate is focused on how this nation will tackle its chronic over-reliance on fossil fuels that continues to result in high fuel prices and worries about energy independence.

Unfortunately, patently false claims by the oil and gas industry continue to find traction in news stories across the nation. One of the biggest myths that industry would like the media and the public to believe is that drilling the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge will require only 2,000 acres.

I'm sending you this memo today so that you can see through this myth, one that has been pushed by the oil and gas industry for decades. Make no mistake, the 2,000 acre claim is false and the entire 1.5 million-acre Coastal Plain would be impacted by drilling. Any drilling in the Arctic Refuge would dramatically disrupt wildlife and cause permanent scars that would unalterably change this important American wilderness, creating industrial development that would sprawl across the entire coastal plain of the Refuge.

As industry continues its multi-million dollar campaign to bombard the media and the public with rhetoric on drilling, you'll see the 2,000-acre myth and other deceitful arguments coming directly from the lips of industry allies in government who hope to capitalize politically on American suffering over high gas prices. Don't be fooled into accepting these falsehoods as facts.

Drilling the Arctic Refuge would not help ordinary Americans. It would simply help line the pockets of oil companies that reported record second quarter profits of $48.1 billion in 2008. The evidence is clear. If oil were discovered at commercial quantities, gas prices would drop by only a few pennies per gallon and not until 2030, according to our own government's Energy Information Administration. [1]

Despite this fact, the oil and gas industry and like-minded politicians continue to advocate drilling and misrepresent its impacts. Retired Republican Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (NY) saw through the lies and once noted: "The proponents of drilling add insult to injury with their spurious arguments in favor of drilling. It is only a few thousand acres, they say. That is like saying, do not worry, the tumor is only in your lungs. The drilling will have impacts that will affect wildlife throughout the area."

The facts support Rep. Boehlert's astute assessment:

Science confirms that the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge (also known as the "1002 Area") is no barren wasteland, but instead serves as home to more than 250 animal species and birds from all 50 states. The Gwich'in people consider the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge a sacred place and have relied on the Refuge's caribou and other wildlife resources for thousands of years.

There is no requirement that the 2,000 acres be contiguous. Oil corporations want you to think they are talking about one compact area of 2,000 acres. But, as with the North Slope oil fields west of the Arctic Refuge, development would sprawl over a very large area. A map showing the real footprint of Arctic Refuge oil development is attached.

Although drilling proponents claim that only 2,000 acres would be opened to industry, most legislation that has been introduced to allow drilling would open the entire 1.5 million acres of the coastal plain.[2]

Whatever oil and gas lies under the coastal plain is spread throughout the 1002 area, according to the U.S. Geological Survey[3]. Therefore, networks of pipelines, gravel pits and roads would need to be built, fragmenting wildlife habitat.

Even if the 2,000 acres were contiguous, it would have a huge impact on the wilderness. For example, the 12-lane wide New Jersey turnpike stretches more than 100 miles across the state but covers only 1,773 acres.

The 2,000 acres does not include all oil industry infrastructure, facilities, or operations. The 2,000 acres argument only includes the area where oil production facilities actually touch the ground but excludes gravel mines, roads, and pipelines (except their posts).[4]

It does not cover seismic or other exploration operations across the 1.5 million acre area. It also does not account for air and noise pollution, which are carried far from development.

The oil and gas industry's claim to be able to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in an environmentally responsible manner simply ignores reality. In fact, you can find about the industry's checkered past at Prudhoe Bay and more about this myth here AlaskaWild Myth Fact Sheet . [ PDF ]

As our nation continues to debate strategies for achieving energy independence and lowering high fuel prices, we hope you will continue to question those you interview to determine if they are giving you the whole picture. Please let me or Drew Bush know if we can be of further assistance.

[1] EIA, "Petroleum Supply and Disposition, ANWR Drilling Case" (Results from Side Cases, Table D12), Annual Energy Outlook 2007, February 2007, p. 202. EIA estimated that in 2030 the Arctic Refuge would produce 650,000 bpd at an estimated price of about $63.00 per barrel, which would reduce the price of a barrel of oil by approximately $0.85. (This estimate converts EIA data to 2008 dollars using the GDP deflator and assumes a one-to-one impact on gasoline prices; $0.85 / 42 = $0.02 per gallon.)

[2] H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005, Sec. 2206,
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.6:

[3] U.S. Geological Survey. April 2001. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, 1002 Area, Petroleum Assessment, 1998, including economic analysis. USGS Fact Sheet FS-028-01.
Bird, K.J. 1998. Chapter AO. Assessment Overview. In: The oil and gas resource potential of the 1002 area, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska, by ANWR Assessment Team, U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 98-34. Figs. AO6-15.

[4] Identical amendment in H.R.4 and H.R.6: "Ensure that the maximum amount of surface acreage covered by production and support facilities, including airstrips and any areas covered by gravel, beams or piers for support of pipelines, does not exceed 2,000 acres on the Coastal Plain."

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Drilling for Clean Energy - Washington Post

urban gardener — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:50:49 EDT

Drilling For Clean Energy By Jim Marshall and Roscoe BartlettFriday, September 5, 2008; Page A21

The controversial bans on drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge have preserved precious oil and natural gas reserves owned by the public. Thank environmentalists for this unintended gift.

But for these bans, we would have wasted the reserves without a strategic plan. Leasing and drilling would have lowered world oil prices by a few cents, benefiting more foreign consumers than Americans. The federal revenue from royalties, lease payments and taxes would have been used to meet current federal expenditures. And our remaining publicly owned oil and natural gas would be substantially depleted. Consequently, our dependence on foreign energy sources would be even greater than it is -- and it is likely that the current commodity price crisis would be worse.

We hope this price crisis prompts the adoption of a strategic plan to use the remaining value of our federally owned oil and natural gas reserves to fund a clean, affordable and independent energy future for America, a goal worthy of short-term environmental concessions and risks. Virtually all general drilling bans should be lifted. We should permit drilling offshore and in the ANWR and require that it be done with appropriate care.

Before granting additional drilling rights, however, we should fundamentally change the terms of future oil and gas lease agreements to ensure that taxpayers capture more of the revenue from our remaining reserves. Today's agreements provide exceptional profits for leaseholders when prices rise, so much so that leaseholders have a significant financial incentive to delay production until prices rise. That must change.

To achieve a huge net win for the environment, the federal revenue from future oil and gas production should be placed in a trust fund and used to foster a clean energy future for America. This must supplement, not replace, other environmental commitments we have made. We should jump-start the necessary federal investments for this secure energy future by immediately issuing bonds (perhaps called Energy Independence Bonds) against this expected revenue. Issuing such bonds would guarantee that our remaining oil and natural gas revenue is actually used to establish energy alternatives. The bonds would have to be repaid with that revenue.

Opinions vary concerning the volume of remaining federal oil and gas reserves and the amount of federal revenue they would produce. But by any measure, it is an enormous sum. Estimates are in the trillions of dollars, assuming competent federal management. In a sharp break from current practice, none of this revenue should be shared with host states. Most host states already enjoy revenue from oil and gas production on state lands. They have no legal or inherent claim to federal revenue, and the drilling bans have removed any practical expectation of revenue from the areas they affect. Lifting those bans would still give host states windfall benefits from jobs, economic stimulus and tax revenue related to federal production. Most important, host states would directly benefit from federal expenditures used to secure America's energy independence. Diverting revenue to states would hamper our national effort. We are all in this together.

Simply adopting a plausible U.S. strategic plan for energy independence would have a positive impact on world oil prices. And absent a significant supply disruption, oil's economic stranglehold would be eliminated if domestic demand stayed flat or grew only slightly while U.S. consumption of alternatives to oil, including natural gas, increased by a few percentage points a year. With prompt federal action, we could quickly achieve these demand and growth rates and greatly reduce oil's pressure on prices.

The United States can be virtually free of fossil-fuel use within a few decades -- if we pursue this goal aggressively. (Air travel may be the exception.) To meet such an objective, we would turn principally to solar and wind energy. Nuclear should be in the mix as well, at least for the near future. We should rethink biofuels, discouraging those that compete with food production or degrade the environment while encouraging those that capture energy from waste. We are intrigued by the possibility of building a direct current superhighway that would permit the efficient transmission of nuclear, solar and wind power throughout the nation. But we should adopt a strategic plan before making any such tactical decisions. Clean energy technologies developed with federal funding should be federally owned and strategically shared with other nations.

Taking these reasonable steps promptly would avoid an economic train wreck that now seems inexorable while greatly improving our national security. America would again be leading the world, this time toward a sustainable future.

Jim Marshall, a Democrat, represents Georgia's 8th District in the U.S. House. Roscoe Bartlett, a Republican, represents Maryland's 6th District.

Who is Sarah Palin?

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:53:10 EDT

Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:

She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.1
Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.2
She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.4
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.5
She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.6
How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.7

So Governor Palin is a staunch anti-choice religious conservative. She's a global warming denier who shares John McCain's commitment to Big Oil. And she's dramatically inexperienced.

In picking Sarah Palin, John McCain has made the religious right very happy. And he's made a very dangerous decision for our country.

This is information the American people need to see. Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Noah, Justin, Karin and the rest of the team at moveon.org

Sources:

1. "Sarah Palin," Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

2. "McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate," NARAL Pro-Choice America, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=1

3. "Sarah Palin, Buchananite," The Nation, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=2

4. "'Creation science' enters the race," Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=3

5. "Palin buys climate denial PR spin—ignores science," Huffington Post, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=4

6. "McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy," Sierra Club, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=5

"Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past," League of Conservation Voters, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=6

"Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor," The Times of London, May 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=7

7 "McCain met Palin once before yesterday," MSNBC, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=13661-3871490-R.q1oXx&t=8

Video: Sarah Palin's Shameful Record on Wolves

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:44:41 EDT

Despite strong scientific, ethical and public opposition to aerial hunting, Governor Palin has…

Proposed paying a $150 bounty for the left foreleg of each dead wolf.
Approved a $400,000 state-funded propaganda campaign to promote aerial hunting.
Introduced legislation to make it even easier to use aircraft to hunt wolves and bears.

If you care about wildlife, please watch this video right now -- and then share it with every friend, neighbor, conservationist and wildlife lover you know.

Healthy Energy Development: Protect Our Lands, Waters, and Public Health

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:56:31 EDT

As Congress returns to its few remaining weeks in session this year, the Senate is poised to hold an Energy Summit and the House appears ready to move forward on comprehensive energy legislation, which could include the repeal of billions in subsidies for oil and gas companies, opening some areas for offshore drilling, extending tax breaks for efficiency programs and wind and solar development; subsidies for mass transit, and curbs on oil speculation.

Whatever shape this legislation takes, it's essential that Congress ensure protection for our land, waters, and public health.

http://action.wilderness.org/campaign/healthy_energy/w66xsed4q36djj7?

Healthcare NOT Warfare

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:04:18 EDT

“nearly one in six Americans has no health insurance, and tens of millions of others are woefully under-insured--while the war in Iraq continues to further skew the U.S. government's budget priorities.” - Norman Solomon

The time has come to redirect unnecessary and wasteful military spending to meeting human needs.

http://pdamerica.org/articles/misc/2008-02-29-14-19-42-misc.php

1,000,000 Signatures for Impeachment

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:42:23 EDT

Send a history-making message to Congress:

1,000,000 signatures for impeachment.

On September 10, 2008, we want to deliver ONE MILLION signatures to
Congress urging them to exercise their Constitutional authority and mandate to
hold this President - and all future Presidents - accountable.

Please sign NOW! And ask everyone you know to sign.
The power to change the world is in your hands!

Go to http://www.kucinich.us/

Michael Moore's new film is online for free

Alan in Elgin, IL — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:26:00 EDT

Come watch the trailer for the new Michael Moore movie entitled "Slacker Uprising". You will be able to download the entire movie for free on September 23rd if you sign up!

http://slackeruprising.com

"This is being done entirely as a gift to my fans. The only return any of us are hoping for is the largest turnout of young voters ever at the polls in November." – Michael Moore

The Melodies of McLOVIN - what's the best?(4)

! Steffen from European Union, Dr. - Together We Can! Yes. We. Can. — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:26:19 EDT

Digg this list too - Change for better world - Wandel fuer bessere Welt Digg it

Yes, Bush-administration and "the same" is leading a country too, but not well, only leading to use more weapons and to occupying places in the world because of oil and so leading to waste more money. Stop this; save money, lives and nature - bring jobs back, restore the future! Yes we must fight, but for new energies and our future, to get Obama elected!

What is the best of "The Melodies Of McLovin"? Use Digg it to vote - the best is with highest number of Diggs!

You want to be creative and want be part of this contest? Very well! Tell the other your link in a comment here and i will insert your link into table with small picture to click to your site. Topic must be Bush and McCain hugging and in addition background with bad politic (wrong way) Bush and McCain standing for both.

Now feel free to vote with a quick click for a Digg. (Click on picture and you get it big, click next on the big and you can Digg.)

But because the table is not well displayed here in MYBO you might go to same, but normal displayed table in blog "Change for better world - ... ", if you want.

title

picture

title

picture

The Melodies Of McLOVIN - Iraq

Th Melodies Of McLOVIN

- Iraq, oil and crying woman

The Melodies Of McLOVIN - Dying For Oil

The Melodies Of McLOVIN - Dying For Oil And Vet

The Melodies Of McLOVIN - " The Burning City "

Drilling in Stormy Waters

urban gardener — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 09:18:56 EDT

Excerpted from 8/29/08 report by Jeffrey Rubin and Peter Buchanan (CIBC World Markets); for full story.

http://research.cibcwm.com/economic_public/download/feature1.pdf

Stormy weather in the Gulf of Mexico is once again threatening both oil production and refinery capacity in America’s energy heartland. And with both oil and gasoline inventories much lower than when Katrina and Rita hit, the price consequences could be even worse this time. Any replay of the 2005 storm season could see gasoline prices soar to $5 per gallon.

More importantly they would all but signal a death knell to the hopes of lessening American dependence on foreign oil. Until hurricanes ravaged production, the Gulf of Mexico was the only source of new supply growth. And now even that seems to have come to a halt.

more follows.....

Sarah Palin - no friend to the Environment ....

urban gardener — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 11:45:21 EDT

...or a lot of other people either....

Read a few comments from an article posted on SFGate Politic Blog :-

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=24593

"Our new Governor Sarah Palin would NOT make a good vice presidential candidate. She is proving in our state of Alaska she is a divider, not a uniter. On many issues now she has gone against the majority vote in our state. Sarah Palin is behind the move to move our state capital from Juneau to Anchorage Alaska even though this will devastate the families of southeast Alaska. Many people will lose their homes, jobs, entire life’s savings; families will be torn apart all because of moving the capital. The people of Alaska have voted down moving the capital time and time again. This issue is being pushed again by only a few legislatures and Sarah Palin. Sarah Palin and a few Republican legislatures just passed a bill to REPEAL the FRANK Initiative. This bill gives Alaskans the right to vote on moving the capital and it gives us our right to know the cost of the move. Sounds like the Bush administration doesn’t it, it is. Other issues like hunting wolves from airplanes; this has been voted done time and time again by Alaskans and when she first took office she put a Bounty on wolves. Sarah Palin aligns herself with Ted Stevens and Don Young and does not support the science behind global warming and is fighting against listing the polar bear on the endangered species list. She is part of the old Republican style of leadership that takes hope away from people, and our right to vote on issues and our right to bring forth initiatives. There is a movement across this country to end this old Republican style of leadership. People want change; they want things to be done the right way for the right reasons. Yes we even want change in Alaska, Sarah."

" I am truly sickened, shocked, and disgusted that John McCain would have such poor judgement to choose this wretched woman for VP!

Sarah Palin is completely out of touch with her own voters. Twice she has ignored the wishes of Alaskans and has continued to allow the criminal air assault on Alaska's magnificent wolves.

The Game board has hired pilots to chase these beautiful and harrassed animals to EXHAUSTION and then shoots them! They've killed 800 wolves this year alone!

Her administration spent millions of dollars on a PR campaign to "educate" the population that killing hundreds of wolves is "good for the state!" Yea, right!

It not only shows terrible judgment but is a crime against nature."

more below....

Sarah Palin ? Count me officially dumbfounded......

urban gardener — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:32:35 EDT

John McCain and Sarah Palin ?

I'm appalled at the implications should these people get into office.

More drilling, more conservatism in the supreme court, more shattering of civil rights, less concern for the environment, and no way out of our oil predicament.

And how on earth can a former beauty pageant queen who ran for office in a town of 7000 people possibly be considered qualified for the office of Vice President, even as the Governor of Alaska - an oil producing state - is it painfully obvious or what ? With a husband that works for BP ? Another oil shill in the White House.

Say goodbye the ANWR.

People better start mobilising fast, donate like crazy, and nip this potential disaster in the bud !!

This does not represent a forward-looking strategy for the US.

Biden: An excellent environmental choice

Lauren Rosenthal — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:47:49 EDT

I was going to research and post a blog entry on our new VP candidate and then I found that Kathleen M. from Alaska already did the work. I am pretty excited about this ticket-- just comparing the League of Conservation Voter scores is enough to convince some voters. Kathleen wrote:

Just look at some of the facts about Biden's environmental record that earned him a lifetime score of 84 from the League of Conservation Voters (Obama's score was 96; McCain's, a pitiful 26):

* Supports an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050

* Supports 40 miles-per-gallon fuel efficiency standards by 2017

* Wants the US to use 20% renewable energy by 2020

* Opposes offshore drilling or drilling for oil in the Arctic (ANWR)

* Take Big Oil's $2 billion dollar tax breaks to pay for offshore wind farms

* Ensured protection of 100% of the coastline in his home state

* Wrote a plan to exchange debt-relief for rainforest protection

* Believes polluters should pay Superfund fees to clean up their toxic waste

* Wants the US to take a stronger stance to end commercial whaling

Best of all, he's got the voting record to back all of this up. Being from Alaska, I like it that Delaware is a coastal state and Biden can lend his voice to healthy fisheries and sustainable economies.--

The Reappeariance in Springfield (illinois)

Jim Shipp — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:41:22 EDT

Yesterday's presentation of Joe Biden as the vice presidential candidate was a really hot time for all those who attended. I was in the crowd on the old state capitol building lawn from around noon until the speechifying was over.

I arrived in Springfield around 11:20 and the line to enter the grounds was already snaking back and forth on several streets.for about the first ten minutes, it was stationary and volunteers were milling along the line asking folks to volunteer to go to various states to help canvas, organize and get out the vote in November. The line started moving slowly forward and gradually picked up 'steam'. both figuratively and literally. the temp was about 90 and the sun was out most of the time. Around noon, the line split in two directions, and slread out the crown a little, just before the line of tables, metal detectors and US Marshalls checking the crowd for things of a dangerous nature I finally reached the lawn about 12:15. Only about an hour and 45 minuters before the event kicked off. I spent the time wandering around and chatting with people and hoping for some water to fall from the sky to cool us off, but none fell. At around 1:55 pm, thje music ended.

The first speaker was the mayor of Springfield. He chatted at the crowd for just a minute and then introduced the father of one of the first casualties of the Afghanistan war. He talked for about a minute about veterans issues. He then introduced a local springfield preacher, who led the group in a brief prayer. The music went back on but only for about 30 seconds.

Barack came out and the crowd went wild. He spoke to the crowd for about 20 minutes about why he picked Joe Biden as his running mate. It sounded good to me. He then introduced Joe Biden. Joe talked for about 20 minutes how impressed he has been with Barack and the honor it is to be selected as someone's running mate for the highest elective offices in the country.

I think we have a great team and I will work to the best of my abilities to get them elected in November.

Oil Myths

Seeksustainability.com — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 01:53:14 EDT

Oil Myths

Photo by: Dancing Deer Photography

Four dollar a gallon gas has pushed oil and energy independence to the forefront of the political debate. Politicians and their surrogates can be confusing. We at Sustainable Home Styles thought we’d debunk a few myths about oil.

Myth 1: A majority of the U.S oil imports come from the Middle East.

The United States uses 20.5 million barrels of oil a day. Half is imported from other countries. Our main supplier of oil is Canada, our neighbor to the north. Five countries supply 66% of our oil imports: Canada (1.840 million barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1.579 million), Mexico (1.116 million), Venezuela (1.030 million) and Nigeria (0.851 million).

Source: Energy Information Administration

Myth 2: Oil will eventually run out.

This might surprise some people, but oil will not run out. Oil companies drill for the easiest (and cheapest) oil to bring to the surface. Once that oil runs out they drill for oil that is harder (and more expensive) to harvest. Eventually, oil will get so expensive to locate and harvest that it will not be affordable. This will force us to develop other energy sources.

Myth 3: Opening up more drilling off the U.S. coastline will cause the price of gas to drop.

This has already been done. In 2006 Congress enacted “The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act” which allowed expanded drilling in the Gulf. This area of 8 million acres contains an estimated 40 billion barrels of oil. In 2006 a barrel of oil cost $60. Today, with world demand increasing and only 7 billion barrels of oil found in the Gulf, the price has doubled. Expanding drilling rights to oil companies would not lower the price of oil.

The debate today over the federal moratorium on offshore drilling would net an estimated 8 billion barrels (assuming the other 10 billion barrels located off the California coastline is blocked). Even if this moratorium is lifted, Bush’s Energy Department states that we can’t expect any impact on oil prices until the year 2030.

Energy independence is an important issue we must solve. The myths surrounding oil have clouded the fact that the United States needs a comprehensive energy plan that relies on renewable resources.

For more tips on eco-friendly living please visit www.seeksustainability.com.

Find a place to stay for Bill and Dixie Johnson and the Obama Unity cart!

Beth McLennan — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:50:39 EDT

Hello fellow Chicago-area Obama supporters!

On August 26th, Bill and Dixie Johnson will be coming through town with their Obama "from Divide to Unity" cart. They are taking it from Divide, MT to Unity, NH the last week of August.

Please see for details:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/FromDividetoUnityforObama

They need a place to stay for the night, and hopefully some fellowship with Obama supporters. They'd also love to do some convention watching and possibly get some media coverage while they are here. I am out of town that week, darn it.

If you can help, please get in touch with Bill at dividemt@aol.com

Thanks!
Beth McLennan

Obama Backs Words With Action

Cameron Davis — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 07:44:48 EDT

It's been big news in our region -- including battleground states Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and sometimes Minnesota -- that both presidential candidates say they support the Great Lakes Compact to set uniform, binding water conservation standards. Barack Obama was a co-sponsor of federal Compact legislation to back the Compact. John McCain did not co-sponsor. While Sen. McCain didn’t object to the Compact, there’s a pattern developing: he says he supports our waterways, but doesn’t co-sponsor legislation to put actions behind his words.

The Great Lakes are the lifeblood of our region. Barack Obama understands that. He and his family have lived near Lake Michigan with his family for nearly 20 years. I support Barack Obama for president because he’ll act quickly to save the waters that I love, not simply talk about his support for the Great Lakes.

Complaint Filed and Active With the EPA Office of Civil Rights:Going on 5 Years: What's Wrong With This Picture?

The CEO — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:02:30 EDT

Environmental Justice

From: Darryl Harris

XXXXNXXXXXXXX

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

To: Mr. Napoli - U.S. EPA, Office of Civil Rights
(Mail Code 1201A), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W,

Washington, D.C. 20460

Environmental Justice Complaint against IDEM’s Issuance of the Permit to Midwest Medical Solutions LLC

I Darryl Harris who reside in a residence, just out side a mile of the private for-profit Infectious Waste Facility, am aggrieved and adversely affected by the permit issuance to Midwest Medical Solutions. As a residence living in the effected area and district, not receiving a notice of decision, believes this would have impeded my legal right, duty, and privilege to pursue financial, legal and public health interests with this matter. According to Indiana Code IC 4-21.5-3-1, IC 4-21.5-3-5 and IC 4-21.5-3-6.

Every one whom I spoke with in our 4th district Claimed not to have received a Notice of Decision sent by IDEM even as they lived with in 100 yards of the proposed facility. The Notice contained information on how to contest the decision. We believe that IDEM’s permitting and it evaluations prior to permitting this LLC (Limited Liability Company) was carried out in a discriminatory manner.

The Lake County Solid Waste District who represents us to the state has an State approved plan and authority for the management, reduction and disposal of solid waste as well as the authority to determine the need for such a facility as it relates to the public health, needs to be met and environmental concerns. They where over looked by IDEM as well. We in the City of Gary and East Chicago Indiana are already over burdened with air pollutions, water pollutions, and soil contaminations. According to the Post Tribune local newspaper, the EPA has determined that our district failed every test in 2005. As the EPA has reduced its standards lieu of the Clean Sky’s Act, our EPA classified district failing all test, sends a very serious message to the people of our community and others like it. I believe that it would be in order to have a reassessment under the Equal Protection Clause as we are seriously overburdened with pollutants. As was done in the following case:

Kenneth Owen, Environmental Justice Enforcement Requires Reassessment Under the Equal Protection Clause, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and Environmental Statutes, 30 Golden Gate U. L. Rev. 379, 391 (2000)

We need the same.

The demographics our community here in Gary’s 4th district is made up of more than 90% minority and low income poor residence with a significant number of children and seniors within 100 yards of the proposed facility. As you follow the EPA’s Interim Guidance procedures to conducting a comparative analysis, more will be reviled on the existing health conditions that are environmentally related. Our water sediments have never been cleaned as once promised by our former state governor Kernan, meanwhile these company posses a potential mercury hazard (among others) and would affect drinking water in more areas out side our fourth district, as they use steaming processes for disinfection. Moreover, they plan to use a landfill to dispose of this solid waste with in the city limits I believe.

The IDEM office understood clearly, what impact millions of tons a day of infectious waste could have on a community, a municipality, and the State. I believe it may even be possible that intentional discrimination was part of permitting process. Lori Kaplan IDEM commissioner has stated before a commission in Washington D.C. That “H.R. 1213, introduced by Congressman Jim Greenwood, represents a measured approach to providing states and localities with tools to limit but not eliminate out-of-state waste shipments. There are five separate provisions within H.R. 1213 that Indiana could utilize today. The first is the presumptive ban that does not allow landfills to accept out-of-state waste unless authorized through a local host agreement, state permit, or an existing contract. The second is the authorization of a state to limit out-of-state waste amounts based on receipts in 1993. The third and most important of the provisions for Indiana is the recognition of the "Needs Law" that Indiana has used with some limited success, but which is subject to challenge. The fourth provision provides that out-of-state waste can comprise, at a minimum, 20% of a state’s total MSW. And the last provision is the ability for state’s to impose a cost recovery surcharge on out-of-state waste to recoup the expenditure of tax dollars incurred as a result of the receipt of out-of-state waste.” (Hearing by the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials)

Unfortunately, HR 1213 HR. 411, and HR 1730 are three bills that still has not been ratified by the U.S. Congress, meanwhile IDEM has chosen to allow Midwest Medical Solutions haul more that 5 million tons a day, of Municipal and Interstate infectious medical waste into our small already over burdened city. Who is regulating these shipments? Are these transportation vehicles monitored with Geographical Tracking Devices? Especially during a time when there is Bio Terrorism concerns being discussed in Washington D.C. IDEM could have at least assured that there would be CDC funding designed to prepare our state with Biological Emergency Preparedness was in full effect before giving this “LLC” (Limited Liability Company) a permit to operate. That was not done. The State of Indiana has not received its CDC funding to prepare us for a bio-emergency, and many politicians, local health professionals and every day citizens are concerned about that, whereas committees and subcommittees have in congress and the senate accepted the fact that “Bio Terrorism and Infectious Waste should be one in the same during their discussions”. (C-span)

Moreover, IDEM bypassing our Lake County Solid Waste District entails an abuse of discretion as they Violate IC – 13-20- 1 IC 13-21, and IAC 11-9. According to the Environmental Law Group, Bingham McHale LLP:

“The governing law at issue, Indiana Code (“IC”) 13-20-1-26, sets forth the requirement that a person who applies for a permit pursuant to IC 13-15-1-3 for a solid waste management facility must demonstrate that there is a local or regional need in Indiana for the facility. 329 Indiana Administrative Code (“IAC”) 11-9-5, which implements the statute, states that in addition to other permit application requirements, the following is also required: A description of the need that would be fulfilled by constructing the proposed facility as follows:

(A) For facilities proposed in areas with approved district solidwaste management plans, a description of the need identified in

the district solid waste management plan required under IC 13-

21-5…(emphasis added)

329 IAC 11-9-5 goes on to state:

accompanying materials in accordance with this rule [329 IAC 11-9].

If it is determined that there is not a local need in Indiana forthe solid waste management facility, the commissioner shall deny

the permit application. (Emphasis added)

(Whitney Johnson, 2006)

What is really clear is that this LL company could have a much better profit margin in long term growth if located anywhere other than in the heart of our City. This company would impose a less discriminator presence and reduce its health risks to human life if it where located in a more remote area. My district is hit by emissions from several companies with in approximately 1-5 miles around us. We already have a disproportionate amount of health risks. Moreover, our property taxes have doubled for Lake County and Cook County here in North West Indiana, beginning last year.

Why in Gary? I would hope that the EPA would allow their Science Advisory Board, to determining the disproportionate environmental burdens, as was done in the following case;

University of Michigan, “Environmental Justice Case Study: Shintech PVC Plant in Convent, Louisiana,” Background section, <http://www.umich.edu/~snre492/shin.html> (last accessed June 24, 2003) (hereafter cited as University of Michigan, “Environmental Justice Case Study”) (during this time, EPA analyzed a disproportionate burden by using data from the 1990 census and estimates of industry-reported emissions.)

IDEM is not in compliance with Executive Order 12,898 and Title VI as Tools for Achieving Environmental Justice, pursuant to Public Law 103-419 by no stretch of the imagination. In addition, the violating of Indiana State Codes insures shortcomings to remain in IDEM’s Practices and present a dangerous case to our nation as it relates to infectious waste and bio-terrorism. Meanwhile our low income, minority poverty-stricken districts that are already overburdened, are held hostage during these times and would prove to be the first casualties.

Bio Terrorism and Infectious waste is one in the same. The poor seems to have no protections as our governments over look us, even as we are proactive in sounding the alarm. Just look at the Louisiana aftermath as the poor face unprecedented challenges of our time, trying to get the help they need because of what has been called a natural disaster. I beg to differ. Poverty coupled with many other factors yet to be seen caused that catastrophe. Yet poverty is the primary culprit.

In our conclusion, there are no legitimate reason why the benefits of the proposed facility outweigh the severity of the disparate impact and disparate risks. Midwest Medical Solutions LLC is now appealing the last court decision that ruled in the favor of the Lake County Solid Waste District, which had been overlooked by IDEM. Midwest Medical Solutions permit is determined in a court of law to be illegitimate, yet they are resolute and still pursue us in our district.

I do believe they Are targeting us because we are poor and minority and believe they feel they can do, as they will, because we are powerless and have no protections under the Clean Sky’s Act. It disappoints us to the highest degree to know IDEM did every thing possible to make that happen. What is their motive, Why our area, for what reason? What is their agenda?

A voice for our community

Darryl M. Harris

Appendix

Three Bills Pertaining to the Transport of Solid Waste: H.R. 382, H.R. 411 and H.R. 1730
Hearing by the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
3:00 PM
2123 Rayburn House Office Building

Indiana Court Holds Solid Waste Management District Has Authority to Determine Need for Waste FacilityBy Whitney Johnson, Environmental Law Group, Bingham McHale LLP1 See Cause No. 45D05-0411-MI-00140.2 See Cause No. 04-S-J-3355.3 See Order of June 23, 2005, page 17, Lake County Solid Waste Management District v Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Lake County Superior Court, Civil Division, Room 5, Hammond, Indiana.4 See Cause No. 03-S-J-3198.5 Order of June 23, 2005, page 10.6 Effective July 1, 2005 IC 13-20-1-2 was amended to eliminate the reference to a permit specifically described in “IC 13-15-1-3 for a solid waste management facility” and now applies to a “permit for a solid waste disposal facility or a solid waste processing facility, except for a transfer station.” (See Senate Enrolled Act No. 279)

SIGN THE PETITION :

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/cleanwater/

A New Generation of CEO's

The CEO — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 04:01:50 EDT

A New Generation of CEO’s

We live our complete lives effecting principle in one form or another, we live in the boundaries of natural laws alive with all kinds of principals where we affect the lives of others in vicarious ways if not insipid. We then can reasonably expect that the rewards or retribution from our actions and/or inactions would be the manifestations or the results from principals applied or the lack there of in our living. What principle do you apply in your life, in your work, in your interaction with others, or even more effectively, in all of your day-to-day affairs? The answer is easy…...Look at your results.

CEO Freedom's Choice LLC. Alternative and Renewable Energy: Bringing Truth to Power

Truth to Power The CEO

A better bioenergy solution

Todd.B. (office of citizen) — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:01:56 EDT

What if you could take any organic material, and turn it into energy, and solve the climate change crisis at the same time?

Research is being planned to demonstrate just such a system at Cornell University.

One of a suite of approaches presently under consideration to reduce our collective carbon footprint involves utilizing an anaerobic biodigester, or as I call it, an artificial stomach. Utilizing bacteria, this system can convert any organic material into a biogas, which would then be burned in a refitted traditional power plant.

Great New Green T-Shirts!

Kelly from Barrington, IL — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 13:19:57 EDT

We are happy to offer you what you've been asking for - an Obama t-shirt that you can proudly wear to show your support of the greenest candidate to ever run for president. Enjoy!

Sustainable school yards

Beth McLennan — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:22:26 EDT

I think some were discussing this topic on our Obama Smart Growth email list--

http://www.sustainableschoolyard.org/index.php

APA (American Planning Association) will soon have a webpage of its own featuring this exhibit and our specific contributions.

It's a great idea and something that is easy to create, not too costly, and critical to educating and engaging children in good care for the environment.

Beth

Anyone but Hillary for VP

Jim — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 23:57:49 EDT

Please ask Barack Obama to not choose Hillary as his VP.

Please forward this to everyone you know

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/anyonebuthillaryforvp

where the candidates stand on transit

Beth McLennan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 10:37:50 EDT

from the DCist:

(thanks to Bonnie for the link!)

We thought it might be a good idea to see where the two presumptive major party presidential candidates stand on federal priorities for transit.

Let's start with Barack Obama. Sen. Obama has been quietly hailed as the candidate with the most forward positions on mass transportation. Of course, this really shouldn't come as any surprise, as the Illinois lawmaker has been interested in the topic for years - he petitioned for more efficient transit through low-income areas of Chicago in 2003, and mentioned in May of this year that he's had interest in copying the efficiency of the Northeast Corridor system in the Midwest: "One of the things I have been talking bout for awhile is high speed rail connecting all of these Midwest cities -- Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis." Speaking of Amtrak, Obama is a big supporter. He was a backer of the Lautenberg-Lott Amtrak bill in 2007, which would provide about $11.6 billion to Amtrak over the next six years. Obama's energy and climate stance includes promises to "reform the tax code to make benefits for driving and public transit or ridesharing equal," and to change the "transportation funding process to ensure that smart growth considerations are taken into account." Obama also opposes a federal gas tax holiday - instead, he believes that high prices of gasoline should "give individuals much more of an incentive to look at trains and mass transit as an alternative."

Of course, most of the recent Obama love from transit-types has come from his remarks in Portland, Oregon:

"It’s time that the entire country learn from what’s happening right here in Portland with mass transit and bicycle lanes and funding alternative means of transportation. That’s the kind of solution that we need for America. That’s the kind of truth telling that we are going to do in this campaign and when I am President of the United States of America. We don’t need gimmicks.”

Then there's John McCain. Well, Sen. McCain doesn't have too much to say when it comes to national transit objectives (we suppose it's a case of 'if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all'). But if there's one thing that we do know, it's that McCain hates Amtrak - at least in its current state. The Arizona Senator has been attempting for years to dissolve Amtrak and create small, privately owned rail companies. In fact, McCain has sworn that if elected, the shuttering of Amtrak would be a "a non-negotiable issue."

We'd also imagine that if McCain were to be elected president, current Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters would either remain at her post or handpick a successor. While Peters does favor congestion pricing, she also shows no signs of wanting to change the ratio of mass transit and highway spending from current levels.

McCain's web site does have a Climate Change issues section, but doesn't mention anything regarding transit's potential to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions. He is in favor of the gas tax holiday that was so lambasted earlier in the primary season - but on the other hand, he found trouble in Michigan's primaries for failing to pander (to put it kindly) to American automobile makers. McCain on transit is anonymous at best, regularly quixotic, and could likely be a downright killer of projects like future Metro expansion.

Obviously, there are plenty of other pressing issues to vote on in this election cycle, but one that is so widely linked with economic growth and the ability of Americans to get to work should be close to the top of the list.

AP CALLS IT FOR OBAMA!!!!!

Jim — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:42:12 EDT

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/jameseaton/gGB9sv

YES WE CAN!!!!!!

Jim — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:58:24 EDT

AP: Officials say Hillary Clinton will acknowledge tonight that Barack Obama has the delegates for the Democratic presidential nomination

Happy to have joined New Urbanists for Obama-- a request for the group

Beth McLennan — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:31:02 EDT

Hi-
I just joined the group and I am pleased to be a part of such a good idea. Thoughtful, well-done urbanism is going to be a key to solving a whole mess of problems we currently face in this country and the wider world, and I think Barack will be open to our ideas once he is president. I also believe an Obama presidency will be fruitful in terms of federal appointments so that we can start getting things done at a national level instead of fighting the reactionary policies of the last 8 (+) years.
This is a somewhat off-topic request, but--I'm looking for information. My work right now is finding out about what communities are doing to incorporate energy consumption, energy choices, and climate change issues into their local planning efforts. Planners are on smart growth's front lines, but few are fully aware of the impact their work can have in terms of efficient energy use, diversification of energy supply, and emissions reductions. Our project will collect best practices and make those efforts available to planners and community activists all over the country.
If you are aware of planning documents or regulations that you feel actively integrate energy or climate issues into planning in your city, county, or region, please contact me. Thanks for your time!
Yes We Can!
P.S.-I am a major Obama button-maker (over 12k made and given away so far) and I will try and design a cool button for the group. I'll let you all know once I start making them. My web page about the buttons is here:
http://zgbethie.googlepages.com
Beth McLennan
beth@mclennans.net
bmclennan@planning.org

The Time Has Come

Debbie — Fri, 23 May 2008 22:55:21 EDT

We've been waiting to give Mrs. Clinton space and time to get that she is not going to win the Democratic Nomination. We've been waiting for the wrong thing. We've been hoping that she would step out gracefully and for the good of the Party. Wrong. Instead she has gone into an altered universe where she is the center and noone else counts, nothing else matters. Her comments today have changed the course of this election at last. She has been hoisted on the petard of her own greed, her own sense of entitlement, her own self-righteousness.

We have been tiptoeing around on the subject of her being the VP? She's finished. If the superdelegates don't step up to end this now, I think she will have a nervous breakdown. She needs to be put out of her misery by having the delegates take responsibility to end this debacle. Finishing the primaries was fine. I had no problem with her going through the whole contest. But her rhetoric has only gotten more heated instead of concilliatory. She is not doing anything to draw the party together, rather she is doing whatever occurs to her mind to get what she wants.

I say enough. IS ANYBODY LISTENING???? ENOUGH!!!!!

I'm Confused

Debbie — Tue, 20 May 2008 09:54:08 EDT

I keep hearing that HRC campaign staffers are ready to help Barack Obama. Why would he want any of them? Her campaign has been a diseaster from the beginning. Our campaign has worked liked a well oiled machine. Everyone gets along and all are on the same page. I am confused about injecting these divisive staffers into such a well run campaign.

Yeah Oregon

Debbie — Mon, 19 May 2008 13:03:47 EDT

I just finished my first set of phone calls to Oregon. This is the most enthusiastic response I've had since NC. It feels so great to have people discuss issues and not hang up as soon as I say who I am. The 75,000 supporters who came out to see Senator Obama on Sunday must be the tip of the iceberg in Oregon. Yeah!! What a good feeling. Keep on calling....

Just When We Need IT

Debbie — Mon, 19 May 2008 00:21:47 EDT

It seems to me that just when we were getting tired we got a shot in the arm. John Edwards' endorsement, George Bush being George Bush in public, and John McCain agreeing with him. And then today, 75,000 people came to hear and see Barack Obama in Oregon. This man has had a good week. Enough said. Let's enjoy a beautiful moment and get ready for the battle soon to follow. Nothing is static in our beloved country. Change is the only thing we can count on. Let's just remember TOGETHER WE CAN...YES WE CAN!!!

Whew! Kentucky is Tough

Debbie — Sat, 17 May 2008 13:27:06 EDT

I just spent the last hour making calls to Kentucky voters. I got one person at home who told me she was an Obama supporter. Mostly I had to leave messages. One woman told me she thought HRC was the best candidate. Unfortunately the rest of the people I did reach hung up as soon as I said who I was supporting. Well, I guess that's the way it goes. One man told me he wasn't voting for a Muslim and hung up before I could talk to him about his misunderstanding.

Senator Obama really needs to get his story out more and let people begin to know the real person. If you don't watch the news and just hear 527 comments, there isn't much good to get out of this election. So...keep on calling and don't be discouraged. We're going to win them all over before this is over...

Reach out to a Hillary supporter

Jim — Sat, 17 May 2008 10:26:13 EDT

It is time to unite the party! Every one of us know someone who is a supporter of Hillary Clinton. Most of us know many. Now is the time to reach out to these supporters. Start talking to them about John McCain and what will happen if he is elected. Tell them we all understand their support for Hillary. If Obama hadn't run she would have been our party's nominee. But the writing is on the wall, so we must come together. We can not afford four more years of the filaed bush policies. Go to Hillary blogs, and general blgs, and say positive things about Hillary, but then say no matter what, we must defeat the Republicans and John McSame. We can change this country if we work together.

YES WE CAN!!!

Jews and Obama

Debbie — Thu, 15 May 2008 18:52:22 EDT

I'm really tired about the news commentary and Republican position about Senator Obama and his foreign policy. No one thought Richard Nixon would build any bridges with communist countries and yet during his presidency he opened China to the world. We don't know what an Obama foreign policy will look like yet, but it is certain that he will not do anything to put the United States in danger. He loves this country, and unlike our current president, will have a well thought out strategy for engaging our friends as well as our adversaries. The thing is, it might not look like what we are used to. It may have a different feel to it. Reaching across divides in our country as well as in the world HAS to look different. What we're doing now has not only not worked, but has reduced our standing in the world as well as the worth of our dollar. We need to encourage people coming together. This could entail negotiating in unusual ways, but never to hurt our country.

We have seen the effect of the power of our weapons. We need to employ ALL our skills to bring the nations of the world to a place of willingness to talk. Everyone deserves to be heard. There are levels of this and I feel confident that a President Barack Obama will find the way to draw us together. Let's go forward with confidence and hope, not fear and threats.

I am a Jew and I believe that Barack Obama loves this country, is completely committed to Israel and I am not alone in this thinking. The talking heads need a day off to come up with some new talking points. This is not a valid one.

John Edwards

Debbie — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:07:46 EDT

Thank you, John Edwards. Your support has come at a very important time. Barack Obama can win white working class voters, and your endorsement will help him. Your decision to set down the cynicism and fear and support this campaign has a very positive effect on this fight for the nomination. I appreciate your difficult decision. It must be hard to see someone you feel sure will win start losing. Analysing these results and deciding to make your support public for Senator Obama is very important to bringing the Democratic Party together.

Yes we can. All of us have a hard fight. We all have strength and character. We can make a difference and we will.

Sincerely,

Debbie in Evanston,IL

To Repeat....

Debbie — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:57:18 EDT

I have said this before and will say it again. This nomination is ours to win. Breathing deeply and remaining calm, not being overly reactive to statements of other candidates, and making thoughtful and human steps forward are the strategies that will carry us forward through the next three weeks. We will let the primaries play out and the pundits talk and the candidates speak. We will all watch and listen and wait until May 31 and June 4. Then the election season will begin. This is not an election for the faint of heart. We must gird ourselves to get through the waiting period. That's the fact.... Let's stop complaining and whining about others' comments. Three weeks is a short time.

a blog post for perspective

Beth McLennan — Wed, 14 May 2008 10:51:39 EDT

From the Huffington Post:

* While Clinton's win in West Virginia was impressive it should be placed into context. West Virginia is populated with a high percentage of older, non-college, white voters - Clinton's strongest base of support. The impact of her overwhelming victory there is limited by the state's small size. It is the 13th smallest state - only slightly larger than Idaho - and represents .6% of the nation's population. That's why it has only 28 delegates, compared to North Carolina's 115.

* When it comes to blow outs, Obama has won 21 contests by more than 20% -- Clinton only 3 (West Virginia, Oklahoma and Arkansas).

* Even if Clinton were to win 65% of the 189 remaining pledged delegates (which she has no chance of doing), Obama would only need one of every three super delegates remaining today. In fact of course, he actually leads Clinton both in overall super delegates and number of super delegates he has picked up in each of the weeks since Super Tuesday.

* While West Virginia was another reminder that Clinton does has more appeal than Obama among lower income whites, the Washington Post/ABC Poll released yesterday shows how much that is offset by his much greater strength among the independent voters who will mainly decide the fall presidential race. The poll showed Obama leading McCain with this key group by nine points -- 51% to 42%. Clinton led McCain by only 3 points, 49% to 46%.

* The best news for Obama last night came from Mississippi. Democrat Travis Childers victory in Mississippi's first district special election demonstrated conclusively the ineffectiveness of Republican attempts to make Obama a negative for Democratic house candidates.

President Bush won the first district by 25% in 2004. The former Republican incumbent (Roger Wicker) won reelection in 2006 by 66%. Yet Childers won with a healthy 54% to 46% victory -- even after the National Republican Campaign Committee devoted almost $1.3 million of its scarce dollars trying to "tie" Childers to Obama.

It had tried the same tact in Louisiana where Democrat Don Cazayoux was also successful in taking a seat that had been in Republican hands for 3 decades.

And earlier this year, when Democrat Bill Foster won an Illinois special election to succeed retiring former Republican Speaker Dennis Hastert, he recruited Obama to make his closing pitch in a TV commercial.

As much as they wish it were true, Obama will not hurt Democratic candidates in down ballot races - even in very conservative districts. In fact in many cases just the opposite is true. By mobilizing huge numbers of young people and African American voters in November, he will make it more likely that Democrats take an increasing number of Congressional seats in former Republican strongholds - especially in the South.

PHONE CALLS

Debbie — Mon, 12 May 2008 09:39:17 EDT

We know that phoning other states really works. We have 24+ hours to make calls to West Va. Let's do it. Even if we each get one voter to cast a ballot for Barack Obama, it will help. So CALLCALLCALLCALL......

Debbie in Evanston,IL

Let's end this... and unite the party

Jim — Fri, 09 May 2008 23:01:54 EDT

It is extremely important to keep contacting super delegates and tell them it is time to unite the party. There is no way Hillary can catch up in elected delegates, and the super delegates should not go against the will of the voters. We need to put the pressure on them now!

Here is a list of uncommitted “Super Delegates”

http://www.superdelegates.org/Category:Delegates_who_are_uncommitted

Here is a list of “Super Delegates” who have endorsed Clinton. Tell them it is their responsibility to unite the party

http://www.superdelegates.org/Category:Delegates_who_endorsed_Hillary_Clinton

Here's how to contact DNC officials

Mailing Address:
Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Main Phone Number:
202-863-8000

See this link to contact house members

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

See this link for Senate members

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Let's Pause and Reflect

Debbie — Fri, 09 May 2008 14:09:52 EDT

Okay Obama supporters. Let's all stop a moment and take a deep breath. Just because there is a negative vibration from our democratic opponents, does not mean we have to join in. The reason I support Barack Obama is because he stands for the issues and telling the truth. He is dignified and decent. I believe that if he had his way there would never have been a negative statement from this campaign. He responded when he was attacked, but I don't think he instigated the negative force.

In this same vein, I believe we should follow his lead now. He is okay with HRC running out the primaries. There's no real reason not to. Let's not get into the angry response when a candidate who has put her all into this fight is trying to take in that she is not going to come out on top. She's in denial and refuses to accept the obvious. Let's let her take her time, and let's be generous. I've lived my life by a wise saying once given to me in a low moment. THE BEST REVENGE IS TO LIVE A GOOD LIVE. Let's not say or do anything that our campaign will regret. We don't have any regrets now. Let's keep it that way. When we take the high road, we get to observe some gorgeous scenery....

YES WE CAN....

Debbie in Evanston,IL

The North Carolina Win and the Indiana Tie

Debbie — Wed, 07 May 2008 22:53:12 EDT

It's hard to believe the momentum has changed so fast in just 24 hours. We've been counting the votes and mathematically convincing ourselves that Senator Obama is going to win the nomination. But these last two primaries make what we know into what IS. And now we just need to play a dignified and respectful waiting game.

Staying calm still holds us on course. There is always an unexpected bend in the road, but so far, we've been able to steer around through over and under these bends. We're still on course and can see the light. We need to stay smart and positive. No sense in pushing the river, since it's already running over its banks.

Politically, I've never wanted anything more than to see this man as President of the United States. This is not going to be an easy presidency for anyone. There is much healing needed in the world from the mess our government has made over the last 8 years. We owe so much money all over the world. We have bull-dozed our way into places we should never have dared to go. And the next president has to clean up all this mess. And that doesn't even consider our own economy, health, poverty, education, jobs......

Our support is only just beginning. We will need to tighten our belts, do with less, pay our taxes and help each other. We will need to pull together as a country to get ourselves out of this mess, and with honest leadership we can do that. We're going to hear a lot of things we wish weren't true. But finally we may have a real leader who will help us look to the future, think before we act, plan for contingencies and act responsibly.

I for one look forward to digging in and getting started.

Help Out There in Obama Land!!!!!

Debbie — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:40:45 EDT

Hi You all in the Blogosphere,

I need an infusion of positive energy. I've spent most of today making phone calls to Indiana. I've been hung up on more than in any other state. More men have told me they won't vote for Obama because he's against guns, and they hang up on me before I can even talk about the issue. I have tried starting my calls with info about my story and get hung up on. Tell me some of you are having a better time. One man told me he was a convicted felon and he couldn't vote.

HELP....I want this man to be President and have been emotionally, mentally, physically and financially committed to him. Please lets get him elected. Let's come up with new phone strategies. Give me new ideas. Is anyone out there? I feel like "Horton Hears a Who"...
Debbie, Evanston,IL

Sensenbrenner/Dr. Zorba BBQ Event

Paul Chase — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:14:11 EDT

This event showed up on by dashboard. It is being hosted by someone named Mary Lang Sollinger. I know Dr. Zorba Pastor has a popular NPR radio show. What confuses me is Sensenbrenner. If it's Wisconsin District 5 Representative Jim Sensenbrenner and the fundraiser is for him, people should know that he is a Republican and one of the most heinous and divisive figures in the last congress, right up there with Tom Delay. If it is a different Sensenbrenner, then my apologies. I notice 39 people have signed up for the event. I just hope they are not being duped into donating to Rep. Sensenbrenner's campaign. That guy, at the very least, needs to be defeated.

Keep the presure on!

Jim — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:10:01 EDT

It is extremely important to keep contacting super delegates and tell them it is time to unite the party. There is no way Hillary can catch up in elected delegates, and the super delegates should not go agains the will of the voters. We need to put the presure on them now!

http://www.superdelegates.org/Category:Delegates_who_are_uncommitted

Here's how to contact DNC officials

Mailing Address:
Democratic National Committee
430 S. Capitol St. SE
Washington, DC 20003

Main Phone Number:
202-863-8000

See this link to contact house members

http://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

See this link for Senate members

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

Check out the couple in the second picture!

Beth McLennan — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 15:30:29 EDT

Hi Obama friends!

Take a look at this--

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/caitlinharvey/gGBcj8

Eleanor has on one of our buttons!!! She and her husband Jim are the couple in the second picture. She has on the "Obama Mama" button. So far we have made and given away close to 4000 buttons to people in PA, IN, NC, and KY.

Check out our project:

http://zgbethie.googlepages.com/

Beth

Senator Obama's U.S. Senate Record

ilsearcher — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 13:39:08 EDT

Thanks to an Obama supporter who prepared information on Senator Obama's Leadership in the U.S. Senate compared to Senator Clinton's, I think his Senate accomplishments she stated are worth noting:

In 3 years in the United States Senate, Senator Obama sponsored and co-sponsored 570 bills, of which 15 became law.
In his first year in the United States Senate, he authored 152 bills.
He has introduced amendments to 50 bills.
Significant bills passed into law: Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act and Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventioanl Weapons Threat Reduction Act
Subjects of Senator Obama's bills introduced, but not passed into law: Foreign Policy (12), Public Health (3) including elimination of all lead in toys sold in the U.S., Government Accountability (2), Health Care (21), Needs of Armed Forces (2), Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (25), Congressional Ethics and Accountability (12), Education (11), Homeland Security (2), Discrimination (4), Mortgage Issues/Economy (2).

Did you know 60% of the DOE budget goes to Nuclear Weapons ?

urban gardener — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 11:42:01 EDT

If you didn't know that, view this video from Global Public Media...

http://globalpublicmedia.com/peak_moment_energy_independence_americas_road_not_taken

Energy researcher Glenn Rambach's charts show how America budgeted for energy independence following the OPEC embargo in 1973. Then the Reagan administration switched to having "the market" create research incentives, so federal funding declined severely. He says we've lost 30 years, are spending in the wrong places, and need to get back to serious research in energy development. (www.thirdorbitpower.com.) Episode 98.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here's the 2008 Budget, by the way...

http://www.cfo.doe.gov/budget/09budget/Content/ApprSum.pdf

Button-making project-- updated info

Beth McLennan — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:24:34 EDT

Hello all--
I'm an Obama supporter in Evanston, IL. I've been campaigning and volunteering in IL, OH, and WI so far. I've noticed that buttons, signs, and stickers are always in short supply. Here's what I'm doing-- I started a button-making project, for PA and then on to the other upcoming primary states. A graphic designer in Denver created button designs for me. This designer, Chris Cox, has made posters for the Colorado and national Obama campaigns and the buttons feature similar art-- you can see them here:
http://www.changethethought.com/obama-2008/
I bought a high quality semi-automatic button-making machine and materials to make 2250 buttons. A supporter in Ohio bought supplies to make another 500. I (and other people I can convince to help) make the buttons, and I pay for printing all the button art, and also for shipping costs. I spoke to the Philly and National offices and this project does not violate campaign finance laws, because I'm not giving money directly to the campaign, I'm just sending people buttons to give away.

What I need help with is purchasing button-making supplies. I found a great cheap place to buy the supplies. Every $48.95 (plus shipping) I can round up pays for supplies to make another 1000 buttons. I'm happy to accept donations on PayPal OR have people buy supplies directly from the company and have the company ship them to me. I use 2-1/4" pin-back button sets. This where I buy the button parts:
http://stores.americanbuttonmachines.com/Categories.bok?category=Button+Supplies%3A2.25%22+Button+Supplies
Smaller amounts of supplies can be bought more cheaply from them too-- the $48.95 is one of their better rates. This price is cost for the supplies ONLY-- no extra for my labor or anything else. That works out to 0.05 cents per button-- WAY cheaper than buying finished buttons from any other source.

If this is something you would be interested in getting involved with, please contact me by email <beth@mclennans.net>, or call me at 773-405-1401.

Since getting started on March 17, I've mailed out 600 buttons and I'm loooking forward to sending many 1000s more!

Best wishes,
Beth

PS-please don't ask for finished buttons unless you are actively involved with the campaign AND live in an upcoming primary state. That way we can all know that the buttons are getting put to the best use. If you decide to purchase a large chunk of supplies I WILL send you a sample of the batch that is made with your contribution, although it might take a little while, as my focus has to be on PA, NC, IN, KY, etc for now. Also, if you live near Evanston, IL and would like to come to a button-making party, please let me know!!

Almost like being there...

Lauren Rosenthal — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 18:08:38 EST

James from Columbus, OH transcribed the comments of environmental leaders in Columbus, Ohio on February 29th. Links to all of the comments, photos of the speakers and a podcast are all below. Thanks, James! James writes for IrregularTimes.com where you will find the full posting as well.

Here are all four:

1. Robert Sussman: Link

2. Cameron Davis:
Link

3. Dan Martin:
Link

4. Question and Answer:
Link

Each of the links contains a text transcript and a link to an audio podcast of the proceedings.

The Washington Post lamely attacks Obama's climate ideas

Beth Adams — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:06:29 EST

Is Obama's climate plan missing something?
by Joseph Romm 27 Feb 2008

Post columnist Sebastian Mallaby, in an absurdly titled column, "Obama's Missing Ideas," proves once again that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Obama's ideas about climate solutions are probably the very last place one can find something missing.

Obama has a terrific climate plan, full of winning ideas, as I have blogged many times. Yet Mallaby claims that "good ideas are actually quite scarce. Just take a look at climate change."

Mallaby's "case" is based on two climate ideas many people have always thought were lame (which he never actually bothers to link to Obama), one climate problem that is pretty straightforward to solve, and one idea Mallaby thinks is new that is in fact quite old, is not really a climate idea, and as such has limited climate benefits.

First he says, "A couple of years back, ethanol was touted as a good answer to global warming." Uh, no. Corn ethanol, which is what he attacks, was not considered a "good answer to global warming" by any energy or climate expert I have ever met. To the extent climate advocates even tolerated the fuel, it was strictly as a bridge to cellulosic ethanol. To the extent that corn ethanol was supported on policy grounds by politicians [as opposed to support for the farmers or a desire not to offend Iowans], it is primarily from people who are concerned about our dependence on imported oil, not global warming.

Does Mallaby even know that Obama supports "a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard," which would block any fuel that increases greenhouse-gas emissions -- or that he supports accelerating the development of cellulosic (i.e., low-carbon) ethanol? These are good ideas.

Next Mallaby complains about "carbon trading with developing countries":

The system developed under the Kyoto Protocol allows companies in the rich world to pay companies in the poor world to reduce emissions. This sounds like another smart idea: Emissions can be cut cheaply in developing countries, so we get to reach our climate goal without too steep a financial penalty. But emissions trading with developing countries has been a bust. China has deliberately designed factories to release prodigious quantities of greenhouse gases, then pocketed billions for redesigning them.

Well, first off. This is not, as Mallaby claims, "carbon trading with developing countries" -- since they don't buy any carbon permits from us. This is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM). Second, lots of people, including me, always thought this was a dumb idea. I don't know what Obama thinks of the CDM -- among his dozens of climate ideas, he does support "international offsets under the carbon cap to promote the transfer of low carbon energy to developing countries." That is perfectly reasonable.

Mallaby's conclusion: "So two apparently excellent climate-change ideas have been rudely pierced."

My conclusion: "Two lousy/dubious ideas in theory have been shown to be lousy/dubious in practice."

In either case, I don't see how this reflects badly on Obama's climate ideas. As if to underscore my point, Mallaby veers his SUV off the road entirely ...

He points out that "Obama favors a cap-and-trade regime." He then immediately says, "This is indeed a good idea, and the candidates are right to back it." But then he says it has a flaw: It will raise the domestic price of carbon-intensive products but not the imported price from "countries in which carbon isn't taxed or capped." He claims:

... it will push what remains of carbon-intensive U.S. manufacturing to other countries. Given Obama's threats to withhold tax breaks from firms that shift American jobs abroad, he must admit this is a quandary.

Mallaby presents this as some new, unsolvable problem. It isn't. Heck, even the Lieberman-Warner bill, "America's Climate Security Act," authorizes the president to require importers of "GHG-intensive manufactured products from that nation to submit emissions allowances of a value equivalent to that of the allowances that the U.S. system effectively requires of domestic manufacturers" starting in 2020. I have little doubt Obama would endorse that approach or something similar -- so this isn't much of a "quandary" for him. We'll find out this spring, since I assume he'll vote for Lieberman-Warner if it doesn't get too watered down.

View article:http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/2/27/11100/2987

washington post misrepresents Obama's climate solutions

Beth Adams — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:01:26 EST

Obama's Missing Ideas
By Sebastian Mallaby Monday, February 25, 2008; Page A15

"Understand that what's lacking right now is not good ideas," Barack Obama declared in Thursday's debate. "The problem we have is that Washington has become a place where good ideas go to die." The audience applauded heartily, and Obama's lines boomed out of my radio at breakfast the next morning. But the truth is that, on some of the big issues facing the next president, good ideas are actually quite scarce. Just take a look at climate change.

A couple of years back, ethanol was touted as a good answer to global warming. Venture capitalists poured cash into the concept of powering vehicles with crops from the Midwest rather than oil from the Middle East, and farmers were delighted. But a new article in the journal Science demonstrates that the ethanol craze is premised on an accounting error. If you grow crops to turn into biofuel, you are using land; somewhere in the world, forest or grassland will probably be plowed to make up for the acreage taken out of food production. If you account for the greenhouse gases released by that plowing, fueling cars with corn-based ethanol almost doubles greenhouse gas emissions for every mile driven, according to Timothy Searchinger, the lead author of the Science article. Ethanol made from switch grass would boost emissions 50 percent, assuming the grass was planted on good cropland.

Then there is carbon trading with developing countries. The system developed under the Kyoto Protocol allows companies in the rich world to pay companies in the poor world to reduce emissions. This sounds like another smart idea: Emissions can be cut cheaply in developing countries, so we get to reach our climate goal without too steep a financial penalty. But emissions trading with developing countries has been a bust. China has deliberately designed factories to release prodigious quantities of greenhouse gases, then pocketed billions for redesigning them.

So two apparently excellent climate-change ideas have been rudely pierced. Biofuels not only fail to reduce global warming but they also consume billions in taxpayer subsidies. To the extent that they take land from farming rather than forestry or pasture, they push up the cost of food, hurting the poor. Meanwhile, emissions trading with poor countries has poured billions into the coffers of the Chinese state, which is already sitting on $1.5 trillion in foreign exchange reserves and hardly needs the money.

If these policies don't work, perhaps there are plenty of other good ideas with which to replace them? Like John McCain and Hillary Clinton, Obama favors a cap-and-trade regime. This is indeed a good idea, and the candidates are right to back it. But a cap-and-trade system is not the silver bullet that advocates sometimes imply. The same is unfortunately true for that other popular cure-all, a carbon tax.

Expires on Feb. 29, 2008 Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Act (HR 5351)

Beth Adams — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:33:37 EST

I found myself watching the National Governor's Association Tech and Alternative program on CSPAN this week. John Doerr, a venture capitalist for KPCB, was a presenter and one of his Calls to Action is that the governors urge their senators to extend the ITC and PTC which are about to expire and will be taking up this week.

Specifically this refers to the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 (HR 5351), which would extend the 30% investment tax credit (ITC) for solar energy property and the production tax credit (PTC) for qualifying renewable energy facilities.

The legislation calls for the repeal of certain tax benefits enjoyed by oil and gas companies. Charles Drevna, president of the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, told Reuters the proposed legislation should be blocked because it targets "the domestic oil and gas industry for punitive taxes that would discourage reinvestments in new technologies and facility efficiency upgrades, to say nothing of hurting its competitiveness with state-owned oil companies in unstable regions of the world."
The Heritage Foundation also opposes the legislation.

Sorry Mr. Drevna, your logic is flawed. Exxon is pulling in a billion dollars a day, they should have been reinvesting in new technologies in the 1970's when people were actually lining up at the pump to get fuel. It's time to move forward without them if they are dragging their feet.

More than 350 leaders in the renewable energy industry ranging from small business owners, venture capitalists, investors, associations and academics have sent a letter to Congress calling for the passage of the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Production Tax Credit (PTC) extensions prior to March 1, 2008.

Mr. Doerr also stated that the last time these were allowed to expire, investment into renewable energy dropped by 80 percent. This gave advantage to China and other countries which potentially reduce growth of green industry related jobs in the United States.

We definately need the tax credits to be extended so that capital investment continues. I want to see a country where every Citizen will eventually be able to afford having renewable energy installed at their homes. My eventual goal is to be energy sufficient but that is not possible at this time because the cost per watt is still too high even though the technology exists to drop the cost within the means of everyone. I've emailed both Dick Durbin and Barack about this, as they are my Senators.

shallow media dialogue

Beth Adams — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 09:34:38 EST

A gallon of coffee would not get these media types to look beyond the 'story of the moment' to create intellectual dialogue about foreign politics. They leave that task to the numerous other news outlets who provide well rounded discourse about these subjects as well as academia journalists.
Frankly, apathy seems to be the enemy of the people in this case. American Citizens have very busy lives and unfortunately are being programmed to accept short sound bites as proof that someone else is actually working on solving the problems. This is why I turn to news from BBC, The Guardian, Radio France International and others so that I can form my own opinion that will take into account a world view.

Many believe America is the best country in the world. I believe there is greatness in all persons and do not want to belittle anyone with the above view. I like to point out that the U.S. General Accounting Office ranks the United States 16th out of 28 in comparison to other OECD countries on selected key economic, social and environmental indicators on average. See page 16 of report for indicators. http://gao.gov/cghome/d07740cg.pdf The entire report is concise and objective review as well as a wealth of useful information. The OECD http://www.oecd.org/ is the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and includes most of the democratically elected countries of the world.

The United States is the wealthiest country, so why do statistics prove otherwise? I am joyous that so many people are hard at work changing the status quo into a positive journey for our future. Thank you everyone and good luck with the canvassing!

Environmentalists at Ohio State Moritz College of Law Friday 2/29

Lauren Rosenthal — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:28:12 EST

In case you missed this amazing panel discussion in Columbus, Ohio go to http://irregulartimes.com/index.php/archives/2008/02/29/clinton-epa-official-robert-sussman-speaks-on-environment-and-barack-obama/ for the full text of comments by Clinton EPA Official Robert Sussman and a link to a podcast. The comments by the other two speakers, Cam Davis and Dan Martin, will be posted soon. When you get to their site at http://www.irregularnews.com/ go to Elections 2008 and look for the other two podcasts. If you find them before I do send the link in a comment!

Thanks to Jim attending the event and recording it so others can hear/read the remarks too.

Bush Administration efforts to dismantle Roadless Area Conservation rule

Beth Adams — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 23:39:08 EST

Signed into law in 2001, the Roadless Area Conservation Rule protects nearly 60 million acres of the country's national forest lands from most road building, mining and logging. Over the last seven years, the Bush administration has tried to amend or repeal the landmark regulation to give states more flexibility. The rule threatens to open thousands of acres of pristine public lands to private development.
Find out how you can help shape the answer. Share Your View with the Federal Government:

E-MAIL: IDcomments@fsroadless.org
POSTAL MAIL: Roadless Area Conservation-Idaho, P.O. Box 162909, Sacramento, CA 95816–2909 FAX: 916-456-6724
Related Links: Idaho Public Comment Period - http://roadless.fs.fed.us/idaho.shtml
U.S. Forest Service: Roadless Area Conservation - http://roadless.fs.fed.us/
The National Resources Defense Council: Roadless Area Rules - http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/qroadless.asp

Thanks Humane Society, injustice undone

Beth Adams — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:39:45 EST

It may have been overlooked in the media, but from the report I read at the Humane Society, I understand that all the slaughterhouse people had to do was get the cattle through one gate, that if they walked through the gate, then they were legally fit for slaughter and considered meeting USDA inspection. This cannot be a singular incident but an underlying culture at this slaughterhouse operation. This was a long term HSUS undercover investigation. Based upon what I laid out above, is it possible that the USDA inspectors witnessed this animal torture periodically? Or did the plant only torture when the inspectors were not around? I would like to know how many days of the week or month the USDA inspectors worked at this facility. Some subordinate employees have had charges filed against them, lets hope their management is prosecuted as well.

It was a sickening video, and I hope that it does spur folks into supporting the Humane Society. The Humane Society is just about the only advocacy group that is successful in getting this kind of important information to the public. At times, they do this at great peril and with the advent of the internet, their timely information prevented millions of children that participate in the National School Lunch program to continue to ingest possibly contaminated meat.

The main concern about downed cows is from the following:
The practice of slaughtering downed cows is especially troubling now that the link between downed cattle and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), also known as mad cow disease, has been firmly established. Of the 15 known cases of BSE-infected animals discovered in North America, at least 12 involved downed animals.

My well loved 52 year old next door neighbor here in Illinois contracted and died from the human form of mad cow disease, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease. It went misdiagnosed as depression for several months, and as she slowly started losing motor functions her physician sent her to a psychologist to help her overcome her self-induced symptoms. It wasn't until she lost almost all motor function, that she was allowed to be admitted to the hospital where the physicians' intern called the diagnosis upon his first visit and a brain biopsy was performed that confirmed our suspicions. Her family opted for non-intervention and without nourishment she passed away at home after two weeks. We shared a fence for 21 years, we share the same birthday, we shared our lives.

Creutzfeldt-Jacob has been deemed a one in a million disease. My Aunt's sister in North Carolina died from this disease the summer before my neighbor so as symptoms expressed themselves, I became more adamant that she was not suffering from any type of depression that something more serious was working upon her mind and body.
My Aunt's sister must have had a really good physician because she was diagnosed much earlier than most people and lived for about 3 years before finally succumbed to the disease. She volunteered to be a research patient throughout and is the longest lived study patient in the history of the disease if I recall correctly. How is it that I personally know 2 people who have contracted this rare disease? This is why I worry about the meat that you eat.

One thing that has not happened in the media is taking the discussion one step further. Next step: To the cattle lots where these ruminant animals subsist upon a mostly corn diet that adds pounds but destroys the neutrality of their highly evolved digestive systems. I'm probably preaching to the choir but here is a good discussion from PBS that reviews the issue well.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/meat/interviews/pollan.html

And for an enjoyable look into a story similar to 'where the corn grows' check out the King Corn movie. http://www.kingcorn.net/
You may be surprised and end up searching for your local natural and organic farmers this year.

Hillary is a Hoot! Give Monsanto the boot!

Beth Adams — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:45:52 EST

Have you checked out her website? ''Only you --Our incredible Online Community -- can act quickly and decisively enough to create a level playing field."

Level playing field? Shoot, she started her campaign well in the advantage and has done little to uplift the spirits of the nation like Barack. One of her vital themes is "Yes, I can." Now that Barack's inclusive "Yes, we can." theme has gained momentum and strength, she co-opts his theme's during campaign rallies as well as tries to differentiate herself from him with all her I can do this, I will do that,'s.

Her ploys are adept, frequently using the words 'common sense' . I'm very interested in food issues, so I am currently reading a blog written by Lindsay Levin which is a "Statement from Hillary" about the recent beef recall. My first critique is that she does not know the actual name of the lunch program. It's National School Lunch (NSL) program. Heck, I know this thru indirect exposure of working with school districts. In the blog it states she will fully fund the food safety system and in a different official press release on the website, the specifics say a 50% appropriation increase. While it will enhance an over burdened system, what will she do about other food stuffs? I wonder if she thinks Monsanto can help us.

It should be noted that she has connections to Monsanto through the Rose Law Firm where she worked and through Bill who hired Monsanto people for central food- related roles. The "Rural Americans for Hillary" lunch and campaign briefing on October 30, 2007 was held at the lobbying firm Troutman Sanders Public Affairs, Monsanto's lobbyists.

Sounds like Hillary is tailoring her rural policy to reflect the needs of big agribusiness. While corporate America and lobbyists may want someone like Clinton in the White House, regular Americans need someone who will stand up for them and fight for real change.

Keep up the great work Citizens!

MCCAIN SCORES A ZERO ON LEAGUE OF CONSERVATION VOTERS SCORECARD

Lauren Rosenthal — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 14:57:16 EST

THIS JUST IN BY WAY OF A SIERRA CLUB PRESS RELEASE. IT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 21 February 2008
>Contact: David Willett, 202.491.6919
>         Josh Dorner, 202.675.2384
>
>                  McCain Scores a ZERO on the Environment
>            Arizona Senator Skipped Every Crucial Vote in 2007
>
>Washington, D.C.--In the 2007 National Environmental Scorecard released
>today by the League of Conservation Voters, John McCain receives a score of
>ZERO. McCain was the only member of Congress to skip every single crucial
>environmental vote scored by the organization, posting a score lower than
>Members of Congress who were out for much of the year due to serious
>illnesses--and even lower than some who died during the term. By contrast,
>the average Member of Congress scored a 53 in 2007. McCain posts a
>lifetime score of only 24.
>
>          Statement of Carl Pope, Sierra Club Executive Director
>
>"We were appalled two weeks ago when John McCain was the only Senator who
>chose to skip a crucial vote on the future of clean energy in
>America-dooming the measure to fail by just a single vote. As it turns
>out, this was merely the most recent example of a clear pattern of missing
>the most important votes on energy and the environment--as his abysmal LCV
>score clearly demonstrates.
>
>"McCain missed votes to save his constituents $499 million dollars at the
>pump and at least $550 million on their energy bills, while creating more
>than 10,000 new clean energy jobs in his home state.
>
>"Out of 535 Members of Congress, John McCain is the only one who chose to
>miss every single key environmental vote scored by the League of
>Conservation Voters last year. When it came time to stand up and vote for
>the environment, John McCain was nowhere to be found.
>
>"Every other Member who received a zero from LCV last year at least had the
>temerity to show up and vote against the environment and clean energy time
>after time. And unlike John McCain, I doubt any of them would claim to be
>environmental leaders or champions on global warming.
>
>"The votes chosen by LCV represent the most important votes on the most
>pressing environmental matters facing us today: energy, global warming,
>clean water, stewardship of our public lands, and other crucial issues.
>Republicans and Democrats alike in both chambers received perfect scores of
>100 this year, proof that being green isn’t a question of red or blue.
>
>"John McCain’s LCV score exposes the real record behind the rhetoric: a
>lifetime pattern of voting with polluters and special interests instead of
>consumers and the planet when it comes time to stand up and be counted. Or
>perhaps worse yet: a consistent refusal to stand up and be counted at all.
>We encourage people to contact John McCain and tell him it’s time to start
>showing up to vote when the environment is on the line."
>
>-------
>
>For more information please visit: www.lcv.org/scorecard
>
>League of Conservation Voters 2007 Scorecard Senate votes, all of which
>John McCain missed:
>1.    Cloture on H.R. 6, the energy bill (6/21, Vote 225)
>2.    Passage of H.R. 6, the energy bill (6/21, Vote 226)
>3.    Maintaining Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) in H.R. 6 (12/7,
>Vote 416)
>4.    Taking away giveaways to Big Oil to subsidize clean energy (12/13,
>Vote 425)
>5.    Loosening public health and environmental regulations on refineries
>(6/13, Vote 210)
>6.    Undermining the RES with coal and nuclear energy (6/14, Vote 211)
>7.    Offshore drilling in Virginia (6/14, Vote 212)
>8.    Liquid coal (6/19, Vote 213)
>9.    Environmental safeguards for biofuels (6/20, 219)
>10.   Consider global warming for water projects (5/15, Vote 166)
>11.   Appropriately prioritizing water projects (5/15, Vote 165)
>12.   International family planning (9/6, Vote 320)
>13.   Farm Bill subsidy reform (12/11, Vote 417)
>14.   Farm Bill subsidy caps (12/13, Vote 424)
>15.   Eminent Domain for public parks (12/3, Vote 429)
>
>                                      # # #

Common Oil questions, and answers from a Petroleum Geologist

urban gardener — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 10:52:10 EST

Colin Campbell interviewed by Julian Darley(2002)

30 Aug 2005
View all related to Climate Change | Natural Gas | Oil
View all related to Colin Campbell Colin Campbell, petroleum geologist, discussing oil depletion, natural gas, government reactions & ramifications speaking Julian Darley at his home in Ballydehob, Ireland.

http://globalpublicmedia.com/colin_campbell_interviewed_by_julian_darley_2002

Are we running out of oil? [0:55] | mp3 | transcript
What is the significance of 'peak' oil? [2:09] | mp3 | transcript
How does oil discovery relate to depletion? [5:37] | mp3 | transcript
Where does oil come from? [8:21] | mp3 | transcript
How is natural gas different from oil & is it a substitute? [10:22] | mp3 | transcript
What is a 'resource pyramid' (using coal as an example), and why does it not apply to oil & gas? [3:02] | mp3 | transcript
Why don't know we know more about the coming oil crisis? [9:38] | mp3 | transcript
What does back-dating the reserves mean, and why is it so important? [5:54] | mp3 | transcript
How are the oil companies reacting to oil depletion? [13:54] | mp3 | transcript
Why is the price of oil so unstable and unpredictable? [8:25] | mp3 | transcript
How have governments reacted? [11:48] | mp3 | transcript
Is the great interest shown by the US (and others) in the Caspian & Iraq justified from an oil perspective? [16:08] | mp3 | transcript
What is your assessment of the idea that extra Iraqi oil may be used to reduce oil price and destabilise Saudi Arabia? [1:24] | mp3 | transcript
What is Canada's situation? [6:03] | mp3 | transcript
Are 'crustal' hydrocarbons and gas hydrates going to save us? [7:14] | mp3 | transcript
Will Russia be able to 'fill the gap'? [6:07] | mp3 | transcript
What is the role of economics in hastening oil depletion? [7:19] | mp3

Thankful for friends and Springfield Illinois to Wisonsin

Beth Adams — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:52:02 EST

First I want to thank my 3 new friends for the invitation to join them. I hope those with fundraising goals meet them. William - I befriended you because you are actually someone I know!

This Saturday Central Illinois will be sending a happy host of folks to canvas in Wisconsin. If you are near Springfield, Decatur and Normal, sign up and take a trip north. It's going to be cold no matter whether you are here are there, so might as well be hanging out together ramping up the excitement of February 19th's Wisconsin primary.

Perhaps we can swing into downtown Chicago to pick up some Garrett's carmel corn on the way up! It's not far off Lake Shore Drive. Yes, their popcorn is probably GMO, but I rarely eat GMO or at fast food joints so I can afford to be a little mainstream when it comes to Garrett's popcorn. Speaking of corn, if you haven't seen the King Korn documentary movie, http://www.kingcorn.net/ check it out.

I'm done making phone calls for the night and report that 2 callers in a row wished me blessings! I felt the blessings come right thru my cell phone from those fine Ladies of Virginia and I pass them along to all of you. Unoppress yourself, Virginians, and let Barack Obama stand with you.

Peaking of World Oil Production - Recent Forecasts

urban gardener — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 11:59:11 EST

This report by Robert Hirsch gives an update to the 2005 report on Oil Depletion, commissioned by the government, but written by an independent body.

Both report URL's are listed for your review.

Executive Summary

"
Executive Summary

Because oil is a depleting, finite natural resource, world

conventional oil production will reach a maximum, called “the peak,”

after which production will decline. Using differing methodologies

and information of widely varying quality, experts and organizations

have attempted to forecast the likely year of conventional oil

production peaking. Their range of estimates extends from late last

year to an apparent denial that it will ever happen. Almost all

forecasts are based on differing, often dramatically differing

geological assumptions. Explicit account of investment rates in

new and expanded production has been relatively rare.

Because of the large uncertainties, it is difficult to define an

overriding geological basis for accepting or rejecting any of the

forecasts. However, the IEA recently warned that worldwide

investment in expanded oil production has been considerably less

than needed to continue world oil production that is adequate to

meet expected world demand. Thus, geological limits may be

yielding to investment limitations.

As noted in previous literature, peak oil presents the world with a

risk management problem of tremendous complexity and enormity.

Prudent risk minimization requires the implementation of mitigation

measures roughly 20 years before peaking to avoid a very

damaging world liquid fuels shortfall. Since it is uncertain when

peaking will occur or whether it will be due to geological or

investment limitations, the challenge is indeed vexing."

Full Report at this link :-

http://www.odac-info.org/assessments/documents/Hirsch-Recent%20Forecasts.pdf

http://www.netl.doe.gov/publications/others/pdf/Oil_Peaking_NETL.pdf

This election should be about the issues!

Alan in Elgin, IL — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:12:07 EST

Our next president could be the one who finally takes on global warming, and who leads America into a new energy future. In my opinion, energy and global warming are two of the most urgent problems our new president will face when he or she takes office exactly 360 days from now.

But I am astonished that, instead of the presidential candidates facing tough questions about their plans to solve these two problems on the campaign trail, something else is happening, something very frustrating to me.

Of the nearly 2,938 questions asked of the presidential candidates by the top five TV political reporters to date, only four mentioned global warming. Four! That's only one more than the number of questions asked about UFOs. Yes, you read correctly, Unidentified Flying Objects!

Watch a video to learn more and take action:
http://environmentillinois.org/action/what-are-they-waiting-for?id4=ES

Environment Illinois is asking you to join hundreds of thousands of others in asking America's leading reporters, "What on earth they are waiting for?" Help us stop the absurdity of the media ignoring the greatest environmental and economic challenge of our generation.

Please take a minute to check out this video that highlights some of the more absurd questions these reporters felt compelled to ask while ignoring global warming and critical clean energy solutions. Then sign our petition urging these reporters to get serious about addressing climate change and about putting America on a clean energy path.

America is at a critical crossroads and who our next president is and the decisions she or he makes will make all the difference in determining the health, safety and well-being of our country. What truly are these reporters waiting for?

Watch the video and sign our petition:
http://environmentillinois.org/action/what-are-they-waiting-for?id4=ES

And thank you for helping us shape media coverage about these critical issues.

And, after taking action, if you want to learn more about our clean energy campaign, go to www.environmentillinois.org.

Sincerely,

Rebecca D. Stanfield
Environment Illinois State Director
RebeccaS@environmentillinois.org
http://www.environmentillinois.org