Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon says it feels like it's April fools day at the US House. After listening to Rep. Shimkus of IL demand that since Europe has turned to coal for energy, we should too and 'WHEN WILL WE?" before yielding the floor to the Rep from GA Phil Gingrey who stands to announce that he has come to the floor supportive of the small business innovative research act, and with amendments approved he intends to support the bill.  He goes on to say (with the help of a large red placard graphic titled "THE PELOSI PREMIUM")  "That the price of gasoline the day Bush was sworn in was $1.49, the day Mrs Pelosi was sworn in the price was $2.33 and 15 months into her leadership gas prices have spiked to $3.50 per gallon."  He continues the disparagement by saying this is "deplorable" when the Democrats campaigned and made a pledge to bring down the price of gasoline.   Next Mr. Defazio listens to Rep. Vernon Ehlers of MI, who claims that the increases to SBIR and STTR are out of line because they come out of the budgets of other agencies.  As an example he uses NIH (National Institutes of Health). After a quick statement eluding to the fact that without full consent of the science committee, and little time to meet these funding cuts were made. He proclaims none of his colleagues want to reduce the funding for the national science foundation or the Dept. of Defense.   Mr. DeFazio rises, "I believe it's April Fools Day here on the floor of the house, to hear the members of the 'Grand Old Oil Party' talking about how they are there for the consumers, they want to do something to help American consumers. The same party that benefits disproportionately from massive campaign contributions, from the oil and gas and coal industries," " the same party that holds the White House, with two oil men in the white house, the same party that on the senate side defeated our energy provision because they would have 'god forbid' made the oil and gas companies pay taxes like other members of the corporate community. It would have taken away subsidies,  they are crying crocodile tears about the massive profits their buddies are making, their campaign contributors, their sponsors.  And the president, the 'oil man' and the vice president 'the oil man' the supply services company".  With fairly one breath, when asked to yield Mr. DeFazio quickly adds "no, I won't yield".   The representative goes on to outline the republican white house and party issues that have effected the bottom line, including that the WTO's mandate that no company manipulate the supply of a commodity simply to drive up the price, and since OPEC is doing that and there are 5 members of OPEC on the WTO, "will this president, the oil man, the friend of the Saudis and the others, will he file a complaint? No, I wrote to him 3 years ago asking him to do that, the answer was no."

Mr. Shimkus, I hear they still use dynamite over the reef in the Philippines as a method of fishing, should we do that too?

Mr. Gingrey, Apples and Oranges.  I'm not sure how it's pertinent to compare the speaker of the house to the president of the US.  I'm not sure if a 'congrats on your promotion' card from hallmark is in order or a basket of flowers and a letter of regret.

Mr Ehlers, I went to the NIH site and looked over the awards, there under A on the first page I found ACI worldwide inc. , a communications company focused on electronic payment systems. This 'health?' company was awarded grant money in 2005.  In 2007 their gross profits were $225 million, yet their net income was $9.13 million IN THE HOLE.  No one is confused by your misdirection, the business' you refer to are oil companies and DOD research.

April 18, 2008 at 17:59:38                  Complaining Accomplishes Nothing                       by Mark A. Goldman   

Have you noticed that all this complaining that commentators engage in accomplishes very little?  What would accomplish something?  There is only one course of action that can make a difference now.  If you have a better idea, I'd like to hear it. 

If you really want to make a difference and energize the discussion, the way to do it is to shift your support and attention to Ralph Nader until the media decides to take that support seriously.  He consistently talks about real issues.  He's the only candidate who speaks truth to power and has a record of following through.  No other candidate does.

It's never too late to be true to yourself.  You say a vote for Nader is a vote for McCain.... not if there are enough of them.  Make sure there are enough of them.

Technorati Tags: Ralph Nader,Vote,president,election

Andrew Cross, Daily Vidette Staff

"You have to have a thirst for justice," Ralph Nader, author, attorney and presidential candidate, said while addressing students, faculty and community members on Monday evening.

"You have to have a sense that you matter, that you count," Nader continued, advocating the importance of being an engaged citizen."

How do you know your Independent run is having an impact?  Major party candidates pick up one your primary platform issues.

Unfortunately for this candidate however, he's 2 strikes and a foul down on the count.  He's been caught saying one thing to the American people about his stand on NAFTA, and reassuring Canadians it's all just campaign talk.  Now he's been caught saying one thing to endear himself to a special interest group while trying to tell the American people of "what he really meant".  Nothing new here, politician willing to say anything to anyone to get the ticket.  I'm considering the Wright deal the foul ball, in case your keeping tally.

There are many people living in big white houses on the hill that have bet their future against impeachment.  If this were any other period in time, they might have been right.  But these people have caused the deterioration of our country's good name.  We as a people are kind, generous, compassionate, hopeful and forgiving.  They have set in motion actions that are counter to that which we hold dear and the hope we have in our hearts for the future of our country and our ideals.  They have compromised the Constitution of these United States, breaching a trust that touches the heart of every single person living in America today.  Politics are one thing, if poor judgement were the only issue here they would be safe in their assumptions.  But the situation they find themselves in today, the situation they thought they would never see, which no doubt gave them their courage, is nothing so petty as that.  The lines that have been crossed need to be addressed.  Our reputation MUST be restored for us to proceed interacting with the world outside our door.  Our confidence must be restored for us to once again begin doing the great things this country is capable of.  Our constitution must be restored to the liberty ensuring document that has MADE this country the leader it has been in the past and the leader it will be, MUST be, in the future.

Results 1 - 10 of about 43,900 for mccain "i know more". (0.22 seconds)  

NBC's Tim Russert asked him this: "Senator McCain, you have said repeatedly, quote, 'I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.' Is it a problem for your campaign that the economy is now the most important issue, one that by your own acknowledgment you're not well versed on?" McCain replied, "Actually, I don't know where you got that quote from."

Actually, the quote came from a 2005 piece by Stephen Moore, in which McCain said: “I’m going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics that I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated.” McCain also said this, per a December 2007 Boston Globe article: "The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should. I’ve got Greenspan’s book.”

Another McCain remark, answering a question on why some Republicans aren't enthusiastic about his bid, also raised our eyebrows: "But, look, I won the majority of Republican vote in both New Hampshire and South Carolina."                             Well, according to the exit polls, Huckabee slightly beat McCain among self-identified South Carolina Republicans, 32%-31%. And Romney slightly beat him among self-identified New Hampshire Republicans, 35%-34%. The independent vote in both states was instrumental in putting McCain over the top in those contests.  

  "I know more about this stuff than anybody in this room," McCain added. 

  "a quote in which he claimed he knows "a lot less about economics" than "military and foreign policy issues." In response to the debate question, McCain suggested he had not said it, asserting, "I don't know where you got that quote from. I'm very well-versed in economics."

 

22 years in military
member of armed services committee
"every major national security challenge in the last 20 years"
chairman of the commerce committee
Regan Revolution

"I know economics very well, certainly better than Senator Clinton or Senator Obama so let's clear that up"

Here's what I know, He rails against lobby money, but takes lobby money (gifts count, Sir). He says he really only knows about the military, I believe him on that, he is FOR the current situation in Iraq, on board with plans for Iran, he's old school when we are all looking for "Change" "Clean Slate" or here's one he might "Know"  ABOUT FACE!

And here's what I know now, he will say whatever he thinks sounds good at the moment, seemingly oblivious to the fact his every word is being recorded and documented. It's a pretty dangerous thing to not be aware of your surroundings like that.