Rip Rap

Obama Accepting Public Financing

A lot has been made of Barack Obama's decision to forgo taxpayer funding for the General Election.

Obama Refuses Taxpayer Money:
Obama turned down $84 million in federal money in opting out of the federal system -- the first major-party candidate to do so since it started in 1976.

Obviously, there are many reasons why publicly financed campaigns are the right way to go, but it is possible as crazy as it sounds, that $84 million is not enough to run for President. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Obama is in a strong position because nearly half of his donors have given less than $200. On that note, it certainly looks like Obama IS accepting public financing.

Drilling For China - Not Lower Prices

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Fed up with record gas prices, drivers often scapegoat big oil companies for high prices at the pump, but in a recent survey, more Americans directed their scorn towards Washington lawmakers.

Now we're blaming government for the will of the "free markets." What could this mean?

Excerpt:
As a result, 90% of those surveyed support an increase in alternative energy development, and 81% want the U.S. government to allow more drilling on and off our nation's shores.

We know where this debate is going. But before we start any drilling, Americans should demand Congress to declare our energy policy a matter of national security and nationalize our energy/oil resources and service sector. IF LOWER prices are really.....the goal. Otherwise, American oil will be sold to the highest bidder in the (phony) free markets, and that won't bring the price down one penny.

If warming threatens global security, should not our nation’s energy policy be a matter of national security? Point two for energy nationalization.

Concrete + Asphalt + Homes = WaterWorld

Floods: A Man Made Disaster:
Global warming seems to be creating a modest increase in violent downpours, but the real problem is the transformation of Midwestern wetlands into farmland and asphalt, which has eliminated the region's natural sponges and forced billions of additional gallons of rain into already swollen waterways.

You don't say. Over here in southern Wisconsin......we call that "Smart Growth."

After Ten Years in Congress and Eight Years With Bush, Rep. Paul Ryan Says.......

Wisconsin State Journal Excerpt:
"I don't want to be in politics my whole life. I want to be there long enough to make a difference."

Bush: Democrats Obstructing Oil Profits

Chicago Tribune:
"The fundamental problem behind high gas prices is that the supply of oil has not kept up with the rising demand across the world", Bush says today. "One obvious solution is for America to increase our domestic oil production."

Bush Economics 101. THEY need more oil, and we can sell it to them. Hurry...drill now before the price goes down!!

But in other words Bush is saying, "Just because the price of oil has steadily gone up since I invaded Iraq – don’t blame me. But even though drilling for oil won’t reduce gasoline prices, it’s a good argument against environmentalists and democrats."

Feingold Knows Opposition Well

Examiner Excerpt:
"I don't see how Obama really wins the presidency if he loses Wisconsin," Feingold said. "So it's essential for us to do everything we can and to not ignore the power of the McCain biography, which is no slouch, even though the Obama biography is amazing too."

I agree with our senator here, that McCain will be tough to beat. Remember, George W. Bush was re-elected to a second term and despite his low approval ratings now, he would would probably squeek out a third term if he could run. The right-wing/GOP media machine is not to be "misunderestimated." Plus I'm convinced that GOP candidates have a built in 10 to 12 point handicap in their advantage before they even start to campaign.

But at age 72, John McCain’s biography as a POW war hero and U.S. Senator should be in its last editing stages of the final chapter.

Iraq Oil Service Contracts Liberated

U.S. Nears First Major oil service deals:
BAGHDAD — Iraq is close to signing oil service deals with several major Western oil companies in an effort to boost its output capacity, the country’s oil ministry said Thursday — the first major Iraqi contracts with big Western companies since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

That's how it's reported in our local paper here in Janesville. The New York Times and U.K Reuters had a slightly different take on it.

Reuters/UK Excerpt:
A total of 46 companies, including those from China, India and Russia have memorandums of understanding to provide that assistance to Iraq but were not awarded contracts.

NY Times Excerpt:
There was suspicion among many in the Arab world and among parts of the American public that the United States had gone to war in Iraq precisely to secure the oil wealth these contracts seek to extract.