Organizing for America | Posts with the tag gas prices

Posts with the tag gas prices

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As of December 17 Gas Prices are the Rise - Again.

By Stephanie Sulger RN, MS - Dec 17th, 2008 at 4:07 pm EST

Read this article by Egan Sanders, a “HyperMiler”....

Save Gas to Help the Economy and Your Finances by Hypermiling

I’m sending out this email to offer some effective tips for people to save money on gas. If you find that they work for you, please share them with as many people you can. Saving gas saves us money and is good for our economy and the environment.

I’ve been experimenting with these “hypermiling” techniques for the last few months. My 1997 Toyota is only supposed to get about 23 miles per gallon. By hypermiling I get on average 35-38 miles per gallon – over a 50% increase! Most of my driving is in the city which usually wastes more gas. If you have a newer car that already gets higher gas mileage then this will likely boost it even further.

Even though the price of gas has come down recently that doesn’t mean that it’s going to stay there. At this time I see no logic in the stock market and in the trading of commodities like gas. Also, the more gas we use, the more of that money goes overseas - often to countries that don’t like the U.S.; like Venezuela, Russia, and Iran.

Lessening our dependence on foreign oil is also a matter of national security. We are funding countries that are not truly democratic with our oil money. Saving gas is patriotic and these techniques are life-long habits that will pay dividends for many years to come.

Our national debt is also out of control and saving gas is one way we can ease it. By reducing our use we can help our own economy and be an example to other countries.

Until electric vehicles are widely available, we also have to realize that burning fuel harms the environment. Global Warming is a reality. Do we really want our children and grandchildren to inherit a more polluted and harsher environment? While I’m hoping our new president will put new programs into place, we all have to our part. We are all part of the solution and we can act now.

Okay, enough with the commentary…here are the basic techniques. More information can be found on the site for the man who invented hypermiling, www.cleanmpg.com

1. If you can avoid driving – do so; walk, bike, carpool and/or take public transportation. I live close enough to my bank that I can walk to it. If you commute to work see if you can carpool with a coworker at least once a week.

2. Reduce your car’s weight. The heavier your car is, the more gas you use. Clean out your car and remove unnecessary objects. All that stuff in your trunk is wasting gas. Also, don’t fill up your gas tank all the way – a full tank adds more weight to your vehicle.

3. Properly inflate your car tires. Familiarize yourself with your car’s proper tire pressure and montor it regularly.

4. Search for the cheapest gas prices online by visiting www.gasbuddy.com. I was surprised about the wide difference in prices even within a few miles of where I live. The larger chains generally charge more than other independent stations.

5. Drive five miles under the speed limit. Right away you reduce your gas use by 10%! If you try this you’ll find that you get to places on time. At the most you may lose a few minutes, but I found myself often meeting up with the same people at the next stop light who had sped past me. Driving slower is relaxing, too. If no one is on the road drive ten miles under the speed limit. You will get to where you are going in about the same time at a slower speed. Less traffic means fewer red lights because most stop lights are automated. When traffic is low they stay green or change quickly.

6. Avoid wasteful idling. When you turn you car engine on – go; when you get where you are going, turn off the engine immediately. Most cars nowadays are fuel-injected and don’t need to be warmed up. Shut off your engine if you’re stopped for more than 10 seconds to save even further on gas. So, if you stop at a drive thru ATM, turn off your engine. Some stoplights are over a minute or two. Why burn gas while you wait?

7. Combine errands. Before you head out to drive ask yourself, “Is there anything else I need to do while I’m out?” Instead of driving to do just one thing, combine errands and plan your route in advance. You can grab a coffee at Starbucks, go to the post office and then stop at the supermarket all in one trip. This kind of driving saves gas and also creates less wear on your car. It only takes a moment to plan your route. To drive fewer miles UPS has their drivers plan their routes to avoid left turns, and instead make as many right turns as possible.

8. Pay attention to how you accelerate and decelerate – braking. Have an anticipatory focus and be a smart-braker! Flow with the traffic and try to brake as little as possible. Every time you rapidly accelerate, or break hard to slow down, you waste gas. Try to keep a consistent speed and stay in one lane. Rather than braking, gently ease up on the gas pedal when coming to a red light and avoid a full stop - if you can. If you time it right the light may turn green and then you can slowly re-accelerate without having to do so from a complete stop.

9. Avoid additional gas wasters like running the air conditioning/heat and driving with the windows down. If you need to run the a/c or heat, turn it off a few minutes before you arrive at your destination. You can also use the vent or fan to intake and circulate air inside your car.

I know this initially takes effort, but if many people started to do this it could make a huge impact. I found with a little practice it becomes easy and automatic to do.

Thanks for hypermiling.

Egan Sanders

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Barack is the Greener Candidate with the Cleaner Campaign

By LauraT - Nov 3rd, 2008 at 9:26 pm EST

Also listed in: Atlanta for Obama 08 | Bloggers for Obama | Georgia Action Team

While blogging about the League of Conservation Voter's endorsement of Democratic Senate candidate Jim Martin in Georgia, I took a closer look at the environmental group's analysis of Obama's environmental positions. The LCV published a comparison chart (in PDF format) outlining the environmental policies of Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain. Obama has a lifetime enviornmentally-friendly score 86 percent vs. 24 percent for McCain. And for 2007, the most recent year scored, McCain was given a 0 (yes, that’s zero) vs. 67 for Obama.

Here in Georgia, Republican encumbent Senator Saxby Chambliss is rated at only 5 percent in LCV’s 110th Congress 2008 National Environmental Scorecard. According to the LCV, Senator Chambliss has accepted $107,500 in contributions from oil and gas interests for his 2008 re-election campaign. His signature negative advertising is therefore funded, in part, by oil companies. Considering the recent gas shortages and high prices we've suffered here, along with all Chambliss' negative TV ads we've had to endure, it's clear that Jim Martin is the cleaner candidate-in more ways that one. You can check out my full blog post on the environmental issue at lifeonq.com.

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Unemployed Accountant For Obama

By Karen Funk Blocher - Sep 18th, 2008 at 11:53 pm EDT

A page featuring Barack Obama's recent 2-minute video about the economy invited readers to "share your story" on the economic situation. I did so, and I think it's worth sharing again here:

A little over a year ago, I was a staff accountant for a national mortgage broker, making adequate pay while the company was riding high on the housing bubble. In mid-August 2007, I learned from a newspaper headline that my company had collapsed, and arrived at work as my co-workers were walking out with their boxes of belongings. Needless to say, I lost my job as well.

After a temporary position with a clothing retailer, I found myself working for a large RV dealership. But we all know what gas prices have done this past year. Who can afford to fill a $100,000 RV with diesel fuel? So that job, too, went away. Now, another temp job later, I am unemployed again, and one of my recruiters tells me that displaced CFOs in Tucson are taking lesser positions, pushing everyone else down a rung. This is a "fundamentally strong" economy? Not where I'm sitting!

Everything Barack Obama is saying about the economy makes sense to me. Let's have some of that, please, because it really is the "change we need." John McCain is more likely to provide incentives for the execs from that mortgage company I was with - the millionaires who are now back in business under another name. Meanwhile, I've had a paycheck from the bankruptcy court in payment for my last two weeks of work at that company. I think it was for about $65.

See also the recent post on my main blog:

Unemployed, Dog-Loving Woman For Obama

Karen

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McCain and Palin: a Bridge to Nowhere

By Michael from Arlington Heights, IL - Sep 14th, 2008 at 11:52 pm EDT

Voiceover:

"Palin keeps lying and denying her support for a bridge for 50 people that would cost $398 million dollars. And McCain's plans, the same as Bush's, are a bridge to nowhere for the middle class. He'll sell out America--again. You want a fourteen-trillion dollar national debt? Another stupid war? Seven dollar a gallon gas? Tax cuts for billionaires--again--when we just can't afford it? Wise up, middle class. Don't be fooled again by McCain and Palin and George W. Bush's Republican Party. McCain and Palin are a Bridge to Nowhere. I'm Barack Obama and I support this message."

Visuals: Open with a depressing picture of some little-known suspension bridge. "Bridge to nowhere" should be flashed in red across image of McCain and Palin. "$398 million" should flash across Palin. The Debt amount should be flashed in red across an image of McCain. Palin should get the $7.00 gas amount. "Tax cuts for billionaires" should show a couple of creepy-looking, sycophantic lawyers and accountants in suits congratulating an evil-looking rich man smoking a cigar [I'm not kidding] fading into a pic of McCain and Bush for the text "George W. Bush's Republican Party." "Wise up middle class" should show a middle-class couple looking worried, blonde wife, two cute kids. "McCain and Palin are a Bridge to nowhere" should superimpose their earlier pic over the pic of the ugly bridge. Read More »

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DRILLING...OIL GOING TO THE HIGHEST BIDDER!

By Mike Ciriello - Sep 14th, 2008 at 9:57 pm EDT

Also listed in: Charlotte NC for Barack | Huntersville, NC for Obama in '08 | Lake Norman for Obama

All oil drilled goes on the WORLD market.

The highest bidder gets the oil.

Increased drilling off the coasts of America will guarantee two things. Oil companies will make more money and oil and gas extracted will be sold to the highest bidder and the highest bidder could the US, or, it could be China or Japan or India or France. If you think more drilling is going to save you money, or make America "free from foreign oil", think again.

Can oil be drilled off our shores without a major environmental disaster destroying your favorite beach? Probably. But that's not really the question we should be asking...the question should be who does off shore drilling really help?

The average American consumer, giant multinational corporations or anyone really? In this political season when the facts get lost and are replaced by lies that appeal to the emotional instincts in all of us, it's good to have information from non-partisan, unaffiliated, sources to understand that not all problems have easy answers. This is one of them...to drill or not drill is not as simple as some would have us believe.

(MORE...) Read More »

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Who is Increasing Whose Taxes?

By Michelle - Sep 11th, 2008 at 9:45 am EDT

McCain likes to tell us that our taxes will go up if Obama is elected into office. The reason McCain doesn't say more than a sentence on this point is because if he went into the details of his tax plan, he would lose the votes of middle America. Since McCain isn't talking, I figured I would say a few words on his behalf. I can't say this message is approved by McCain, but we can't expect it would be now can we?

McCain's Mischaracterizations

McCain has said:

"Under Senator Obama's tax plan, Americans of every background would see their taxes rise--seniors, parents, small business owners, and just about everyone who has even a modest investment in the market."

McCain has been criticized for deceiving Americans by mischaracterizing Obama's tax plan. He fails to say "some" Americans (specifically those making over $250,000), who, admittedly, can be of any background, are the ones that may see tax increases under Obama's plan, NOT "every American" as McCain prefers to incorrectly generalize.

Define "Rich," Please

When asked, McCain quipped that if you're talking about only income, then $5 million is how he defines being "rich." In stark contrast, Obama pointed out that anyone making $250,000 or more is in the top 3-4 percent in this country and thus "doing very well;" rich by U.S. standards. One thing is evident -- the two men have quite disparate standards on what defines the wealthy.

Tax Decreases for Who, Exactly?

The Haves Over the Have-Nots According to McCain's Plan

While McCain is correct in saying he will decrease taxes, what he fails to mention (just as he and Palin failed to mention the phrase "middle class" at the RNC), is that the taxes he is promising to decrease are taxes on the rich, by his definition, those making millions in income alone every year.

Unless, your finances look like that of McCain, who out of the 535 members of Congress ranks the ninth richest, having assets valued at about $36.5 million (and a wife with assets estimated at $100 million), you will not benefit from McCain's promised tax cuts. This is because McCain, who once opposed the Bush-devised tax cuts for the rich, now not only supports the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, but has three or four additional tax cut proposals planned for America's socio-economic elite. The Arizona Senator's tax cuts are even worse than those put into place by Bush, being twice as expensive and thus adding to our nation's growing deficit.

Me, Me, and Others Just Like Me

McCain's tax cuts are even more focused on diminishing the taxes of the wealthy than Bush's were. "In fact, under McCain’s plan, John and Cindy McCain would get a $300,000 tax break while middle class Americans would save only $319. The McCains save $60,016 more under McCain’s tax plan than under Bush’s." Shouldn't McCain change his slogan to "Me First?"

Obama Actually Puts America First

Obama, on the other hand, promises a tax cut to the 95% of American families that make less than $250,000 a year. Obama's own tax reform plan is aimed at hardworking Americans -- the same Americans that are struggling with rising fuel prices, ballooning mortgages and record job losses - not at helping Obama himself. Obama's plan includes "a tax cut for 150 million middle-income Americans, a homeowners tax benefit for those stuck in the subprime mortgage crisis, an end to income taxes for seniors making less than $50,000 a year and a tax code reduced in complexity." This is change that will benefit the backbone of America, the people that actually need it , and consequently work to stabilize and grow our economy over time.

“ 'McCain and the Republicans keep mischaracterizing my plan,'said Obama, seeking to clarify his own proposals. 'If you are a family making less than $250,000 a year, my plan will not raise your taxes. Period. Not income tax, not payroll tax, not capital gains tax, not any of your taxes. And chances are you will get a tax cut.' "

Taxing Those That Can Afford To Be Taxed

I will tell you one thing Obama isn't doing that McCain is -- Obama isn't guaranteeing that he won't increase taxes on the rich. While Obama's largest tax cuts are to those making the least, McCain will give his largest tax cuts to the very wealthy. When you really think about it, do the rich need their taxes decreased? If there's someone that can afford to pay into our taxes, isn't it the rich? A family making $30k a year that is taxed 30% only brings in $21k a year; someone making $5M a year that is taxed 30% still brings home $3.5. It's much easier to support your family on $3.5M than on $21k, don't you think?

McCain's Taxes Won't Create More Jobs

McCain has repeatedly said on the campaign trail, "My tax cuts will create jobs. His tax increases will eliminate 'em." As the experts have pointed out, "if McCain wants to create jobs, cutting the corporate tax rate isn’t the place to start. According to the Congressional Budget Office, a corporate tax cut 'does not create an incentive for [corporations] to spend more on labor' and 'is not a particularly cost-effective method of stimulating business spending.'" McCain has chosen to follow the Bush economic philosophy which forgets about America's working and middle classes. "Job growth in the eight years before Bush came to office was significantly better than in the eight years since. But to McCain, the Bush-Norquist agenda of tax cuts for corporations takes precedence over anything aimed at the anyone else." So much for McCain's promises to create more jobs through tax cuts.?

Focused on America, Not Himself
If someone should have our vote, it should be the man looking out for America, not the man looking out for himself and his equally placed friends in hopes of squeezing out some extra cash from their multitudes of homes, extensive stock portfolios and exorbitant yearly incomes. How can we expect our country to be led in the right direction if our country's leader is selfishly looking out for himself and the one percent of Americans with finances mirroring his? As McCain looks out for himself and others that are wealthy like him, he leaves the rest of America in the dust and, if you ask me, that's not exactly putting "country first," is it? Read More »

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Big Oil Getting Bigger

By BestAmyEver - Sep 7th, 2008 at 6:48 pm EDT

I was just catching up on Michael Moore's appearance on Larry King the other night- and I was interested in an AP article that he referenced. Just read it and you can see one of the reasons why gas prices are so high while top oil companies are seeing record profits... Yet another reason why I'm voting Obama.

Source: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=100495

Customers getting pinched as oil profits go to investors The Associated Press

HOUSTON - As giant oil companies such as Exxon Mobil get set to report what will probably be another round of eye-popping quarterly profits, just where is all that money going?

Companies insist they're trying to find new oil that might help bring down gas prices, but the money they spend on exploration is nothing compared with what they spend on stock buybacks and dividends.

It's good news for shareholders, including mutual funds and retirement plans for millions of Americans, but no help to drivers already making drastic cutbacks to offset the high cost of fuel.

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The "good news" about skyrocketing oil prices

By Andrew Duggan - Sep 3rd, 2008 at 4:18 pm EDT

<b>Why this isn’t just the ’70s all over again</b>

There were some positives that came out of the oil crisis of the ’70s and ’80s; the US government put in energy efficiency standards and emission controls, such as the 1970 Clean Air Act Amendments which mandated a 90% reduction in mobile source emissions. While the full reduction required in the 1970 statute wasn’t really achieved until 1993, we did see major innovations, such as Ford and GM implementing the catalytic converter in 1975, which have had profound benefits for fuel efficiency and environmental quality.
While the Gross Domestic Product rose significantly during that period, about 27%, all consumption fell by 17% and our imports from the Persian Gulf fell by half. This reduced the price of oil simply because demand fell. The reduction in the price of oil swept away most of the interest in renewable energy and the whole industry in the 70’s and 80’s collapsed.

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Energy Endorsement vs. Economic Injustice

By Stephen L. Rush - Aug 26th, 2008 at 8:17 pm EDT

At the Convention Tuesday evening (Aug 26), CNN reported that working class Americans still want to hear Obama's plan for the economy. On YouTube, Stephen L. Rush offers Obama a comprehensive economic proposal to make war unnecessary and diverting this economic winter, along with offering Obama the endorsement of For Fuel Freedom Incorporated, the energy company with the oil independent and carbon-negative solution for ethanol/bio-diesel. Mr. Rush also decries injustice for foreclosed homeowners, Katrina refugees, and sexual murder of women in Mexico. www.youtube.com/v/r-1qn6O3vc8 [8.88 minutes].

~Stephen L. Rush

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Why WE are HERE

By TarekP4Obama - Aug 25th, 2008 at 4:59 pm EDT

Also listed in: 4 groups

Our family has not been good at getting the GOP off of our internal issues. Here are the facts. We have some of our family who believe that a protest vote for McCain will honor Senator Clinton's run for President. Can you honestly say that this is your reason for voting this cycle? Let's look at this from another vantage point. If Hillary Clinton were our nominee, would I vote for John McCain? Absolutely NOT!!!! Why? Because, in looking at my next president, I liked Hillary, but I liked Barack more. I appreciate Senator McCain has a war hero, but he cannot be my vote for president. I am so emphatic for all of us, that I would like for you to look at the issues today. Russia is now become an issue. There is a strong military arms tie between Russia and Iran. Pakistan's president is stepping down. The genocide in Darfur is continuing. Our economy has been rudderless for years. My belief that Barack is better, is not to take away from McCain's achievements. He would rather make you believe that we have not put together a grassroots campaign. He is selling the image of this grassroots campaign growing through technology available to him. This is not an issue. This is fact. The growth of our nation comes from us believing in each other. I would prefer that if you don't believe in Obama-Biden to vote for the other party. But, please don't tell me that polls in August cost you from believing that change is coming. Please don't tell me that an ad that Rush Limbaugh said would be coming in April is going to cost us to forget our power. WE ARE A FIST!!! All of us. We have found out that we have a voice. For so long we did not feel that Washington can change because of us. Barack Obama said no to PAC money and sent back $100K today that came through Congressman Rangel; a person I well respect from New York. Why? Because, that it was gained from PAC money. BELIEVE in your desire for better my friends. Our families depend on us to not breathe the smoke, but for us to put out the fire. We are here because we are mentally prepared. Now let's get battle tested. Make sure that you write to your local news channels and papers and let tham know that you won't accept their use of fractional news reporting. The Associate Press (AP) was responsible for a lot this reporting this weekend. This is not our calling. Do not use your energy to fight old politics. Use this week to recharge our momentum. This is why we will WIN IN NOVEMBER.

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Change We Need!!!!!!!!!!

By Richard McConnell - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm EDT

As a person that is about to start a new small company that is dependant on gas prices, I know that Sen. Obama will give this country the change it needs. I am planning to open a pest control company in 2009. Part of pricing will be GAS PRICES!!!!!! I believe that he offers the best chance to help us lower those prices, and help companies,like mine, help the economy of this country be the powerhouse it once was!!!!!!!!!!!

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What's the National Taxpayers' Union?

By Chris Roesel - Aug 22nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm EDT

Also listed in: 4 groups

Being unemployed, the rise of gasoline prices especially hits me. So, when the National Taxpayers' Union (NTU) called me today urging I contact my representative, I was interested. What I understood from the call is that the NTU, whoever that is, wants more drilling in the USA. From my understanding of economics, that will displace my paying of high prices to foreigners and make it so I pay more of my high prices to USA suppliers. Prices may also go down some if worldwide demand decreases. That’s good re our foreign debt, 50% of which is due to buying petroleum from other countries. But I've also heard about global warming. A Pentagon study found global warming would produce more of a crisis by 2025 than terrorism. What’s the plan about that? Why not urge Congress to re-set CAFÉ 2020 (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiencey) to 50 MPG rather than 35, which was the target they set in August? It's presently 44 MPG in France but only 27 in the USA. Wouldn’t that kill two birds with one stone, so to speak? I’d really appreciate guidance on this one. I really hate to urge things that aggravate some problems while easing others, don’t you?

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A new idea for business owners

By Shaun - Aug 19th, 2008 at 12:25 am EDT

My name is Shaun Dunn and I am the owner of a small, 6 employee, construction contracting business in Seattle, Washington. This year to support and encourage my employees to get out and vote I will be giving everyone the day off, with pay, and holding a voting party to celebrate the day.

The question of why we vote on Tuesday is a puzzling one. From explinations I've heard the logic for this day is based on reasons that have long been out of date. I believe it's time to change the day(s) we are allowed to vote. In many democracies voting takes place on a weekend and/or over many days. I believe this simple change in our approach to how we vote would increase the turnout significantly. I often wonder what percentage of employees know it is their right to have time off to go vote and how many employers encourage their employees to get out and vote.

I believe if this idea is allowed to spread, many other small businesses could easily afford to do the same thing. I also know many large companies could do the same thing.

As a business leader I believe that it's my responsibility to not only provide a positive work environment for my employees, but to help facilitate their ability to lead a healthy and fulfilled life away from work.

Another thing I offer to my employees is a paid day off to take a yearly physical which they can access through the health benefits I pay 75% of. These benefits are the best coverage we were offered, has a low $200/yr deductible, and is active on the first of the month following the employees 30 day mark. So, the longest my employees wait to have this comprehensive medical coverage is 60 days. This is a significant extra expense that I do not take into consideration when figuring their wages, which are very competitive, as I also believe in universal healthcare. I would gladly pay extra taxes as an employer, if it meant my employees had access to universal healthcare.

On another note I would gladly pay $10/gallon for gas, but I digress as the most important idea I want to spread this election season is the idea of employers encouraging and facilitating the right of their employees to get out and vote.

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Time For Republicans To Take A Bow

By NiceLadyinLawrenceville - Aug 16th, 2008 at 12:30 am EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Who made the rule that says that every Black person in America has to be a Democrat? Is it peer pressure, church, or the community or circumstances?

Let me start off by being as nice as possible.....I'd like to think that my education affords me the opportunity to be open minded, but the legacy of Karl Rove and his tactics makes it impossible for me to wrap my head around the Republican Party as a credible party. I am sure there are many fine individuals in the party, and I am sure that someRepublican has accomplished something good before. There was a time when the Republican Party represented abolitionists who wanted to free slaves. There's certainly nothing bad about that.

However these days, the Republican Party is exemplified by Rush Limbaugh, who goes on air with nasty... well things I am too ashamed to even type. Here... watch it yourself. Try not to vomit. What in the world does that have to do with helping our nation deal with loss of jobs, homeless Hurricane Katrina victims, the war in Iraq, the price of gas. Absolutely nothing. They have no answers, so this is what they resort to. How does he look himself in the mirror?

How do they look themselves in the mirror, when they send nasty text messages to young Congressional pages of the same sex? When they tap dance in the airport bathroom? When they out a CIA agent? When they call a team of female athletes "hoe's".

They wag their finger at all the rest of us and then admit to all kinds of problems from prescription drugs like Limbaugh to massages by male prostitutes.... um and exactly when in the midst of this show they are putting on... exactly when are they focused on policies that might dig us out of the hole we are in as a nation? Can we get an intermission from the crap to solve some problems?

Most likely, some of the Republicans are really working hard, and really good people, I mean... Barack Obama never demonizes anybody. He is better than me at that. I am a nice lady I think, but even I get tired. When Republican pundits like Rush or Hannity sit on their holier than thou behinds and debate whose affair was more terrible.. .McCain's or Edward's... and Hannity claims that McCain's is a more acceptable affair since McCain was a POW, I know the Republicans are short on things to talk about. I am sure that for either wife it was equally horrible, especially if someone is sticking a microphone in your face and debating it on TV ad infinitum. They don't care who they hurt, everyone is game when they run out of excuses and switched to entertaining us with garbage.

You know, being black sometimes puts you in a situation where you have to explain yourself, your culture, black on black crime, or why young cats walk around with their pants hanging down. It's not fair, a white person never has to apologize when a Jeffrey Dahmer eats somebody! Yet I feel like it is necessary for some of the Republicans who are knowledgeable about political matters to explain a few things. Like... where is Osama Bin Laden? Where are the weapons of mass destruction? Instead, in the Presidential Elections, they talk about things like... whether Gore invented the Internet, what Kerry was doing on a boat in Vietnam a million years ago, or spreading lies ...for instance, that a bleeding heart liberal Dukakis let a bunch of wild black murderers out to run through the lily white country side or maybe they just want to discuss whether Jimmy Carter's brother has a drinking problem.

Since Republicans are just not able to give any answers of any substance, then it is the circumstances which make it impossible to pay their soap opera circus any credence right now. It's time to focus on what we can do to make this nation better. I believe that begins with electing Obama. I really appreciate when someone can stand on a podium and make me proud of my country when I see the whole world cheering that there is hope for our nation to be lead by someone remarkable.

I'd like to dedicate a song to the Republicans though...... It's Rihanna.....
And don't tell me you're sorry 'cuz you're not
Baby when I know you're only sorry you got caught
But you put on quite a show
Really had me goin'
But now it's time to go
Curtain's finally closin'
That was quite a show
Very entertainin'
But it's over now (But it's over now)
Go on and take a bow

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57. Johns Friends at Work: I predict gas prices hitting yearly low around election week.

By Walt - Aug 14th, 2008 at 4:26 pm EDT

Also listed in: Scientists & Engineers for Obama

Some people here probably remember that we had a big drop in gas prices in November 2006, just around election day. In November 2004, around the presidential election, we had gas prices of $ 1.80/gal. also. The problem is this:

If you look at this graph you'll see that in the 2006 election gas prices peaked in late July '06, started to fall around August 1st, and then continued to fall until shortly after the November '06 election. Then they started to creep back up again.

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/3691/ch1gaschartul5.jpg

This time I noticed another gas-price peak in late July '08 with a similar turning point just around August 1st. I think it's safe to predict that gas prices -for whatever reason- will continue to fall all the way though November, and bottom out around election day +- 2 weeks.

This will will take a lot of the heat out for McCain. Come November, people will say "well, gas prices aren't not all that bad". Most likely McCain will tie the falling energy costs to his "successful" proposal for more domestic drilling, and there will be quite a few stupid people buying into this. It also will distract the political discussion away from the dominating energy issue right now, back to safety and security, a filed where McCain plans to score big.

We are well advised to expect significantly lower fuel prices in November and prepare for another security&saftey debate.

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Offshore Drilling

By Realist Unknown - Aug 10th, 2008 at 7:44 pm EDT

Can You Afford $15 Gas

Imagine a time in the United States when the price of regular gas barely reached over the $1 mark. That era was in the early 1980’s when the Federal government placed restrictions on the areas where oil could be drilled for off our nation's coast. Now we fast-forward to the present and reality hits us in the face like a concrete brick. Gas is now at a relatively high price and unfortunately, those restrictions on the outer continental shelf drilling still stand.

After much thought and research of the causes. I have come to the same conclusion as many experts that we must “DRILL HERE and DRILL NOW”. I acknowledge this is not a fix-all solution to our energy woes but merely a Band-Aid until alternative energy sources can be brought up to par with oil. However, oil is presently the life-blood of our nation and the price of gas is on the majority of American’s minds. This is accentuated by reading the following excerpt that appeared August 7, 2008 on US News and World Report’s internet site in regards to the Presidential Race.

More than half of those in a USA Today/Gallup Poll in late July said they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who favored easing restrictions on offshore drilling, while one third said they'd be likelier to oppose that candidate.Moreover, the subsequent quote from an article posted August 1, 2008 on Newsweek’s website again exposes the significance of the issue at hand.

Until recently, coastal states had taken a "not in my backyard" approach to offshore drilling. But that's beginning to change, now that gas prices are hovering at or above $4 per gallon. In Florida, 60 percent of voters now support drilling off their coasts. Perhaps more surprising, a majority in eco-conscious California is also willing to tap waters off the state's shorelines.

No matter how one looks at the evidence, it all leads to one fact: The price of gasoline will continue to be unstable. According to the statistical agency of the Department of Energy, gas prices have increased as follows.

May 1993 to May 2003 by only $.40

May 2003 to May 2008 by $2.57

May 2007 to May 2008 by a whopping $1.07

Therefore, if the trend of gas prices continues at the conservative estimate of $1.07 per year, then the price for a gallon of regular gas will be as follows.

May 2009 $5.15

May 2013 $9.42

May 2018 almost $$15 dollars

Then the sudden plummet in price recently illustrates the instability of gas. It went from record high of $4.06 per gallon to an average of $3.88 nationally in just two weeks as stated on the Department of Energy’s website. This is detrimental to our country because it gives Americans the false impression that price of gas has reached its peak and thus only drop. However, this is more than likely false when considering the many factors that affect the price of gas such as the increase in world demand, the decrease in national oil production, natural disasters, and geopolitics. Geopolitics is one area that as a Nation can be removed from the equation.

Geopolitics is an issue because of the reality that most of our oil is imported although we are the third largest oil producer. In fact, 60 percent of our oil is imported as stated by the Energy Information Administration. Of that amount, 20% comes from Africa and 16% from the Persian Gulf. This is significant because any fighting in Africa or talk of war with Iran can instantly skyrocket the price of gas.

Therefore, you ask what you can do about it. Well, we must urge our Nation’s leaders to “DRILL HERE and DRILL NOW”. The Washington Post reports that 75 billion barrels of oil have been declared off limits in our own country of which would be enough oil to replace every non-North American import for 22 years. Of that 75 billion, 18 billion barrels lie in the restricted areas of the outer continental shelf as reported by the E.I.A.

Much has changed since the Federal bans on offshore drilling were enacted to include tremendous advances in technology that allows oil to be drilled with far more precision and environmental care. Not even powerful hurricanes such as Katrina and Rita caused any significant oil spills from the thousands of allowed oil well rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. Additionally, the Mineral Management Service states, “over the past 20 years, less than .001 percent of the oil produced in U.S. state and federal waters have been spilled.” Furthermore, almost 60% of the oil that enters North American waters comes from natural seepage.

Like many of you, I love the beach and would be completely against offshore drilling if the slightest chance of an oil spill existed. Nevertheless, the revelation of $15 gas in just 10 years is enough for me to DEMAND CHANGE AND DEMAND IT NOW. So, sign the American Solutions petition at http://www.americansolutions.com/ to implore our Nation’s leaders to “DRILL HERE AND DRILL NOW”. In doing so, you will be heard amidst the masses of millions that feel the same pain as you instead of the government drowning out your single and silent voice.

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Every Little Helps : Tire Pressure and regular Tune Ups

By Sam C. - Aug 8th, 2008 at 9:43 am EDT

Also listed in: Apple Valley for Barack Obama | Eagan for Obama | Environmentalists for Obama

Time magazine an a great article on Obama's tire pressue comment.

I'm certainly not going yaay Obama's solved the problem, the auto technician or even a common person on the streets will tell you, check your tire pressure and get your vehicle tuned up for good fuel economy.

The nations or even McCain's response shouldn't be "We'll that doesn't save me $50 a week on gas at the pump". No it certainly doesn't save you $50, maybe it'll save you let's say $1.5 (3% - according to the Time article) . Sure not a whopping ammount, but a good start in the right direction. Certainly better than "Drill! Let's start drilling!" Sorry McCain, the black stuff (oil) isn't exactly going to flow out of the earth and get purified. Let's also think about the wildlife, fawn and flora that's going to be devastated, because greedy big oil wants to drill for yet more consumption. Because that's what we need in the USA, more Made in China crap to go in landfills and more oil consumption.

I'll take the tire-pressure argument. It's the whole "If we all do a little we can do a lot!". If everyone on your street did that, it'd be say $10 saved, it is also the favour you've done to the environment (priceless), the longivity of your car, and now you're thinking greener. You'll probably want to do more good green things. If you brush your teeth regularly, you probably also take care of your eyes right?

Using Obama's, the auto technician or even the word on the street (old school thought) a regular tune up will save you 4% on gas. Wow! Now I'm saving *does the quick math* another $2 on my gas. Hurrah! $3.50 saved! Yes you have to pay to get your car serviced, and you probably have to pay 50cents to get air in your tires. But it's your car and your environment. Long term thinking/mentality is what we're looking at.

I met a man today on the way to work who coasted before coming to stop lights. He indicated that this saved him money on gas (I later met and chatted with him). What a brilliant idea (again it's not a lightbulb moment) but makes that much difference. I'm not only saving on gas by coasting before I get to a light, but I'm doing my brakes a favour. One more thing to do.

Obama's is empowering the American people, the message is also very real. As much as we'd like to hear drilling will magically produce oil and all our problems will go away, they really won't. Some things don't have an instant pill you can pop and cure like energy, healthcare (AIDS doesn't have a pill - sorry), education (the most important one!), there are no clever pills.

Thanks for reading! :)

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Supporters Tout Obama Energy Plan in Manchester and Portsmouth, New Hampshire at the Pumps

By New Hampshire HQ - Aug 7th, 2008 at 4:12 pm EDT

Supporters of Barack Obama's Campaign for Change in New Hampshire gathered outside a gas station in Manchester and another in Portsmouth today to talk with motorists and tell them about Senator Obama's New Energy for America initiative.

While supporters passed out Senator Obama's New Energy for America Blueprint leaflet to customers and passers-by, several speakers spoke about why Senator Obama would be the best choice as President for the Granite State because of his Energy policy.

Jack, the first speaker, knows Barack Obama well:

I'm from Senator Obama's home state of Illinois, where I work as an environmental advocate working to bring clean energy and price relief on energy issues for Illinois consumers. I've worked closely with Senator Obama over the last twelve years to try to bring rate relief, electric and gas price relief to Illinois consumers. And I know, I've seen his dedication to environmental protection and acting in the public interest, and he has exactly the kind of leadership that America needs to get us out of our energy crisis...
Who needs help -- Exxon-Mobil, which just made $12 Billion in one quarter? Or those of us who are paying these prices at the pump? Barack Obama knows that New Hampshire drivers and drivers across America are the ones who need relief; not big oil.
I encourage you to go to the website and look up the details of Barack's Energy Plan. NewEnergyforAmerica.com has the solutions we need to solve this problem and Barack Obama is the right candidate at the right time to help America do it.

Sally spoke next. She is a life-long Independent from Exeter, NH:

I will tell you, in 2000, I was kind of hoping that John McCain was going to be the Republican candidate for President. I thought he was saying the right things and making the right choices for us. He didn't win, and we've had eight years of an administration that I really have come to believe has taken a lot away from us.
I'm wondering where I'm going to get my money to pay for my heat this winter. I know my gas prices are going up. I know my electric prices are going up. I've got friends and family who are real concerned right now how they're going to get through a New England winter.
This is a major impasse and we need somebody here to step up. We need to take ownership as voters in this country and do something for ourselves, and not rely on everyone else to do it for us. And I think that Obama has gotten that message through.

Finally, we heard from David, an engineer from Manchester:

This is a grassroots effort -- as much as we have to vote to elect a new President, that not alone is going to change anything if we don't get a leader. We need a leader who's going to stand up and use the power of the Oval Office to engage people again. To say, this is our country, we can do it, and we need to make these changes. And that's why I'm such a big Barack Obama supporter. Because it's not just solutions from up high, it's leadership which means getting people to actually follow something that's good. That's what leadership is; it's to get people to follow and do what's good for the country.

You can go to NewEnergyforAmerica.com to learn more about Barack Obama's plan or click HERE to view a speech the Senator recently made in Lansing, Michigan on the subject.

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It's the Stupidity, Stupid!

By Steve Charing - Aug 5th, 2008 at 11:56 am EDT

Also listed in: gays for Obama

Karl Rove knew what he was doing [mcrove.jpg] during the 2004 presidential campaign. The newly formed Department of Homeland Security following marching orders from the Cheney-Bush war machine issued frequent color-coded terrorism warnings during the final few months of the campaign.

Not there were any imminent threats, but the constant reminders were a ploy to scare the voters into believing that only George W. Bush could protect the American people from a terrorist attack. Lost in this is the fact that the attacks on September 11, 2001 occurred nearly 9 months into the first Bush term. Not much protection W.

Rove and other GOP strategists acknowledged that the key to winning the reelection of a totally inept incumbent is to prey on the fears of an astonishing large number of American voters. Besides those faux terror alerts they employed other scare tactics, especially in such battleground states as Ohio. Fear of two gay men kissing a few houses down the street ignited the hysteria over "gay marriage," thus pulling otherwise indifferent voters to the polls to register their contempt of such a horror.

These homophobes and so-called social conservatives voted Republican. Despite voting against their best economic interests, (and they see now how such a ghastly election outcome could, in fact, be ruinous) they chose to keep Kenny and Michael from getting hitched.

Sad to say, there are too many stupid people in this country. Many of these still believe Saddam Hussein attacked us on 9/11. They are quick to buy into the simplicity of quick fixes and fall victim to hype and believing the smears leveled against a candidate. And the GOP whose brand is equal to anthrax or worse, Exxon-Mobil, must exploit the stupidity of the voters or at least their lack of education.

Senator John McCain was once a politician who would eschew those tactics. Not anymore. Karl Rove’s protégé now heads up his campaign, so fasten your seatbelts.

A barrage of GOP-produced negative ads, floating over the airwaves, the Internet, You Tube and news-hungry broadcast and cable television channels are designed to malign Senator Barack Obama as part of Rove’s Fear and Smear playbook. They have no other choice because of the Republicans’ swampy reputation after two terms of Bush and their lack of vision for the future.

Throw money at the stupid voters who cannot discern a snake oil deal when it is right before their eyes. Give them a "gas tax holiday" that will save them a relatively miniscule amount. Nevermind that the transportation fund is already hurting from the diminishing tax revenue caused by reduced driving.

But that’s OK. The GOP will tell the stupid voters to blame liberal Democrats (especially their convenient straw man Bill Clinton) for any future structure failure involving hundreds of bridges. It’s worth saving those $30, right?

Now the new fraud is offshore drilling. "Drill more oil, dammit, so that these sky-high gas prices will go down!" Right. McCain used to be opposed to offshore oil drilling. But he knows voters are stupid and will buy into a quick fix. In fact, a shocking 70 percent have.

What goes unsaid is that there is not a supply problem concerning oil. The prices have been shooting up until very recently as a result of a combination of complex factors including speculation, geopolitics and the weak dollar.

Moreover, the effects of newly found crude oil should there be such discoveries would not have an immediate impact on prices, but an uninformed public still believes in miracles.

Prices have recently come down some as a result of reduced driving and more cautious speculative activity because Congress is beginning to get serious about containing it. The price of gas has fallen because of reduced demand, not increased supply.

It doesn’t matter what the issue, the stupid voters are in the Republican fear and smear sights. They are fed the mantra, "the surge is working" over and over until it oozes out of their ears.

They are exposed to ads that link a Harvard educated charismatic leader to vacuous celebrities to mock the idea that just maybe Barack Obama stands for something that the rest of the world appreciates.

The stupid voters seem to prefer one of their own.

When an amazing 9-country tour brings nothing but praise and hope from the international community, but it is derided and mocked by a jealous Republican presidential campaign, you know who the target audience is.

It’s the stupidity, stupid!

www.SteveCharing.blogspot.com

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Barack to Hold Town Hall in Youngstown and Berea on TUESDAY!

By Michael in Ohio - Aug 3rd, 2008 at 7:26 pm EDT

Also listed in: 9 groups

Barack is back! This Tuesday he'll be holding Town Halls in both Youngstown and Berea, to talk about his agenda to help hard-working families in Ohio. He'll map out a new direction for this country to solve the most pressing problems, from lost jobs to rising gas prices. Here are the details:

TOWN HALL WITH BARACK OBAMA, Tues. Aug. 5th

Austintown Fitch High School
4560 Falcon Dr.
Youngstown, OH 44515

Doors open at 7:15 am
Limited on-site parking
The event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are REQUIRED. Tickets are limited and will be available on a first come, first serve basis at the ticket distribution location listed below:

Trumbull County Democratic Headquarters
164 High St. NE
Warren, OH 44481
Sunday 4:00 pm-8:00 pm, Monday 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

The Mahoning County Campaign for Change Headquarters
5020 Market St.
Youngstown, OH 44512
Sunday 4:00 pm-8:00 pm, Monday 10:00 am-9:00 pm

TOWN HALL WITH BARACK OBAMA, Tues. Aug. 5th

Baldwin-Wallace College
Lou Higgins Recreation Center
136 E. Bagley Road
Berea, Ohio 44017

Doors Open: 12:00 PM
The event is free and open to the public. However, tickets are REQUIRED. Tickets are limited and will be available on a first come, first serve basis at the ticket distribution location listed below.

Obama Campaign for Change
Parma Office
5580 Ridge Road
Parma, OH 44129
Sunday 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Monday 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

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