News and Notes: 06-25-08

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:26 AM

From NewsMax: Bill Clinton Offers Support to Obama :

Bill Clinton extended an offer to help in a one-sentence statement from spokesman Matt McKenna. "President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States," McKenna said.

Just another example of how passing gas has become newsworthy. In this case, it's actually laughing gas. What a tightrope the Clintons have to be walking these days, knowing that if Obama wins, Hillary can't run in 2012. Yet they have to appear to be helpful and unified with Obama, who is someone who makes them sick to their stomach.

Speaking of gastrointestinal problems and passing gas:
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From the Eagle Times: Local Democrats thrilled with Obama, Clinton visit: Senators coming to Unity on Friday

Yes, a town named Unity. A town in New Hampshire. A town that split the vote, 107 to 107, between the two candidates. And, look away, here they come...

State Rep. Tom Donovan, D-Claremont, said he's "grateful and excited" that the two senators chose to come to Unity."It's really an honor," he said. "As far as I know this will be the first time they've joined hands."

Well that's good. Half of America will be brought to tears by this symbolic, politically expedient, display. This half-wit susceptibility is why Obama, the most ridiculous candidate in generations to run for President, is pulling out to such a Grande (I'm drinking coffee) lead in the polls.
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From LA Times: Obama holds 12-point lead over McCain, poll finds

Buoyed by enthusiasm among Democrats and public concern over the economy, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has taken a sizable lead over Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the opening of the general election campaign for president, a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll has found.

Yes, concerned about the economy, we've decided we need someone who'll tax it back to health and encourage high gas prices for the good of the planet.
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International Herald Tribune: Life on the fringes of U.S. suburbia becomes untenable with rising gas costs

Suddenly, the economics of American suburban life are under assault as skyrocketing energy prices inflate the costs of reaching, heating and cooling homes on the outer edges of metropolitan areas.

But don't worry. We'll develop alternatives in about 20 years. Meanwhile, we can only hope that demand will continue to fall and burst the gas bubble.
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From Bloomberg: Gasoline Demand Falls 2.7% Amid Record Prices, MasterCard Says

U.S. gasoline demand fell 2.7 percent last week...It was the ninth consecutive week of declines from the year-earlier period.

They make the rather interesting claim that this is because people are cutting back on vacations, even though nine weeks ago we were at the beginning of April. Reality is tough, and the reality is that people who were living paycheck to paycheck can't afford an extra $200 per month for gas. People who can't afford $4 gas are simply out of luck. They are having to find work-arounds.
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From the AP: Rockets fired at Israel from Gaza shake truce

Palestinian militants fired three homemade rockets into southern Israel on Tuesday, threatening to unravel a cease-fire days after it began, and Israel responded by closing vital border crossings into Gaza.

Forth of July is coming and no one will report when my neighbors shoot professionally made rockets into my yard, and this has only been going on for a few years. Trouble in Palestine has been going on since Joshua led Moses' people across the Jordan to conquer Canaan. That's 3200 years for those keeping track at home. Sure, there were some spans there when there was peace, but not that many.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. There is still plenty of time for peace before Iran finishes its nuclear program. Then the only question will be whether the landscape will be too contaminated with radiation to drill for oil.
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Make art, not war:


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News and Notes: 6-24-2008

Written by Paul Zannucci on 9:08 AM

There's a chance we may not have to worry about Obama after all. According to this article from TheRegister, CERN declares Large Hadron Collider perfectly safe.

For those who don't know, the Large Hadron Collider, is a particle accelerator that might generate black holes. Of black holes, the LSAG declares: "According to the well-established properties of gravity, described by Einstein’s relativity, it is impossible for microscopic black holes to be produced at the LHC. There are, however, some speculative theories that predict the production of such particles at the LHC. All these theories predict that these particles would disintegrate immediately. Black holes, therefore, would have no time to start accreting matter and to cause macroscopic effects."

In other words, physics still hasn't advanced far enough for them to do the math to prove that black holes won't be generated and grow, but the theories say it won't happen.

In the spirit of Monty Python's Life of Bryan, always look on the bright side of life! If they are wrong and we get sucked into a man-made black hole later this summer, at least the country won't have to endure another step down the primrose path of liberalism.
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Speaking of the apocalypse, we have a story on the anti-Christ, Dobson accuses Obama of `distorting' Bible.

I'll let readers choose which one is the anti-Christ, Dobson or Obama; however, I'd like to point out this comment from the article, "Even if we did have only Christians in our midst, if we expelled every non-Christian from the United States of America, whose Christianity would we teach in the schools?" Obama said. "Would we go with James Dobson's or Al Sharpton's?" referring to the civil rights leader.

What a hideous view of Christianity Obama has if he considers Al Sharpton a spokesman for the religion. Personally, I can't stand Dobson, but Sharpton? Geez. He's about as much a spokesman for Christianity as Pee Wee Herman.
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Another victim of the gas and economic crunch, In weak economy, forgoing $4 lattes for home brews. Is it just me, or was paying $4 for a latte always stupid--even before the economic downturn?
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Religion continues to unravel. Americans: My Faith Isn't the Only Way to Heaven. It's no longer about what the religious texts say; it's about what feels right and sounds good.

"The survey shows religion in America is, indeed, 3,000 miles wide and only three inches deep," said D. Michael Lindsay, a Rice University sociologist of religion.

Ain't that the truth. And all this theology of convenience is having a toll on faith in general. Even atheists are struggling: 21 percent of self-identified atheists said they believe in God or a universal spirit, with 8 percent "absolutely certain" of it.

Hmmm. Would it be too misanthropic of me to pull for the black hole thingy?
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Speaking of being misanthropic, there is a cure for me right around the corner: Scientists find childbirth wonder drug that can 'cure' shyness .

As it turns out, the drug, oxytocin, is a sort of real love potion, creating a feeling of attachment for the person taking it, making them like, or love, other people more and thus lifting their shyness, making them more trustful, etc. Count me out. I'll just stay in my cabin writing my manifestos.

But this is especially funny given this product, Liquid Trust Spray, which promotes oxytocin as an aerosol you can use to get others to trust you. Seriously, go look at the site; it's kind of freaky. But as you are filling out the order form and typing in your credit card number, keep in mind that you're actually spraying the stuff on yourself, which means that it will be you, much more than the people around you (if they are impacted at all, which is doubtful) who will suddenly become drunk with love and trust. It will be like having one too many drinks at the bar and thinking that suddenly everyone around you is finding you funny.

On the bright side, there is real science out there being conducted on this drug as a therapy for autism and certain anxiety disorders. Just stay away from the Liquid Trust.

(Ed update: I decided to conduct the Great Oxytocin and Liquid Trust Spray Experiment--purely in the name of science)

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New and Notes: 06-23-08

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:58 AM

(sorry I'm late. I was on the phone all morning.)

From AP: Oil rises despite Saudi output pledge

Saudi Arabia said Sunday it would produce more crude oil this year if the market needs it. The kingdom announced a 300,000 barrel per day production increase in May and said before the start of the meeting in Jeddah that it would add another 200,000 barrels per day in July, raising total daily output to 9.7 million barrels.

There you go, the awful truth. Saudi Arabia announces that it's trying to help and pushes production up a measly 200,000 barrels. Please note that their entire production will then be 9.9 million barrels a day and that we could be getting 7.5 million barrels a day for the next 20 years out of ANWR. Yet people say that the amount of oil in ANWR isn't worth the effort. That means they are lying.
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From TheGuardian: Put oil firm chiefs on trial, says leading climate change "scientist"

James Hansen, one of the world's leading climate "scientists", will today call for the chief executives of large fossil fuel companies to be put on trial for high crimes against humanity and nature, accusing them of actively spreading doubt about global warming in the same way that tobacco companies blurred the links between smoking and cancer.

Once again, major media outlets forget to use quotation marks when referring to climate "scientists". Let's make something absolutely clear about science. Science works within a paradigm. Scientists almost always have an end result in mind when they formulate theories and run experiments. These "end results in mind" typically fall under the umbrella of the current scientific paradigm. This is well and good. However, climate science is in its infancy and is really too complex at this point for the normal model to work. You see, the paradigm is too grand right now due to a lack of knowledge. Climate "scientists" can never break the paradigm because there is always just another way of looking at the information. And a new science without a breakable paradigm is not a science at all. It's closer to astrology.

If the hurricanes weren't worse, then they weren't supposed to be. If it's raining a lot this year, then it's supposed to be. If the hole in the ozone layer magically closes, then it was supposed to close. If we have a few years cooler than normal, then we were supposed to. You see, the current state of climate knowledge is so poor that anything that happens can be worked into the climate change, anthropogenic global warming paradigm.

It's bunk, and I don't care if they sue me.
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From the AP: McCain offers $300 million for new auto battery

The Republican presidential nominee-in-waiting thinks the government should offer a $300 million prize to the person who can develop an automobile battery that leapfrogs existing technology.

Now we're talking. They had people falling over themselves to win a few million dollars in the x-prize race to space. Perhaps $300 million can, in fact, inspire a new technology; although people in the know who I talk to say it isn't possible under the laws of physics and chemistry to improve battery technology that much. I suppose we'll see.
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Iraq to award oil contracts to foreign firms

Iraq will award contracts to 41 foreign oil firms in a bid to boost production that could give multinationals a potentially lucrative foothold in huge but underdeveloped oil fields, an official said on Sunday...Iraq's crude reserves are estimated at about 115 billion barrels, but it is sorely lacking in infrastructure and the latest technology to which it was denied access under years of international sanctions after the 1991 Gulf War.

Get that? 115 billion barrels? That's 100% of the current U.S. consumption for over 15 years. That's a lot of oil. Sorry Dems, but if the war wasn't about oil, maybe it should have been. Get rid of the bozo, terrorist dictator and let Iraqis restore their economy and get at their natural resources. Sounds like a win-win to me.
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Supreme Court meets Monday morning

No quotes. Just asking for a moment of silent prayer after their last decisions.

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News and Notes: 6-21-08: Obamatized, Life on Mars, Armageddon Comes Earlier Every Year, Pooh--Secretary of Defense

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:12 AM

Obamatized! A huge leap in the polls. Newsweek is tingly all over.

Michelle's baby's daddy has apparently, but not really, taken a huge lead in the latest Newsweek polls. Never mind that the data is so far away from every other poll out there, which seriously calls into question its accuracy, Newsweek jumps all over it with unadulterated glee.

"With numbers consistently showing rock-bottom approval ratings for President Bush and a large majority of Americans unhappy with the country's direction, the opposing-party candidate should, in the normal course, have attracted more disaffected voters. Now it looks as if Obama is doing just that(!)"

Yes, I added the exclamation point. It just seemed like it needed it.

Gee, I guess it's okay that he went ahead and adapted the Presidential Seal to his own use.
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Scientists ponder whether ice on Mars ever melted

If there were ever liquid water on Mars, that would make it a better environment for life.

"The holy grail is to find water near the surface of Mars," said astrobiologist Mitch Sogin

I just want to point out two things. One, why is there a field called astrobiology? Talk about foresight. We can't even get back to the moon right now, and we have people who major in astrobiology?

Second, I know a planet where the conditions for life are absolutely perfect. Yet, so far as we know, life doesn't continuously and spontaneously develop on Earth. What makes us think that life would have spontaneously developed in a puddle on Mars? Of course, I'm no astrobiologist.
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U.S. "experts": Forecast is more extreme weather

Yes, Armageddon does seem to come earlier every year.

For some reason, MSNBC forgot to put quotation marks around "experts" so I corrected that for them. Probably just an oversight. Anyway, we learn that a group of climate chicken littles from the U.S. Climate Change "Science" Program (they keep forgetting to put the quotation marks around "science"), says that we can just keep expecting worse and worse weather.

"Heat waves and heavy downpours are very likely to further increase in frequency and intensity," the report stated. "Substantial areas of North America are likely to have more frequent droughts of greater severity. Hurricane wind speeds, rainfall intensity and storm surge levels are likely to increase. The strongest cold season storms are likely to become more frequent, with stronger winds and more extreme wave heights."

They came up with this data during a seance, after which the lead channeler of the Earth Spirit had to be helped from the room due to exhaustion.
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Since Obama wants to use Winnie-the-Pooh as an example of how to conduct foreign policy, Photoshop users everywhere have been inspired: http://michellemalkin.com/2008/06/19/the-obamapooh-photoshop-collection/

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News and Notes: 6-20-2008

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:53 AM

From NewScientist: Scrapping 'mpg' could boost sales of greener cars

What they are wanting to go to is a system that shows how many gallons per 100 miles a car uses: "For instance, trading in an SUV that travels 10 miles for every gallon of fuel for another that can go 20 miles, saves 5 gallons on a 100 mile journey. However, trading a small 25-mpg car for a 50-mpg car saves only 2 gallons per 100 miles travelled."

They also suggest that the car seller should try to help you understand the math: "The researchers also think consumers could make more informed choices if...dealerships helped them make the correct calculations."

First of all, dealerships are well known for helping you understand math, are they not? I'm sure they would take a few extra moments away from convincing you that you just made a financial deal Warren Buffet would be amazed by to help you calculate how much your new mini-van was going to cost you at the pump.

Why not just put the cost of fuel per year and month based on the average mileage driven at the current cost of fuel (you could provide a table so that you don't have to change the sticker all the time). For instance, at $4 per gallon, my 12 MPG Jeep costs $4000 per year to run for 12,000 miles, the national average. If, on the other hand, I bought the 29 MPG Escape Hybrid, it would cost me $1655 per year for gas. That would save me $2345 per year, or $195 per month, on gas. If people think about it in those terms, as impacting their monthly budgets, it could actually change buying decisions.
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From CNN: McCain attacks Obama for opting out of public financing

In (an) e-mail, Obama said the public campaign financing system allowed "special interests [to] drown out the voices of the American people" and asked his supporters to "declare our independence from a broken system."

Conveniently, now that Obama has raked in major cash, he sees things a little differently than he did just a few months ago:

QUESTION: “If you are nominated for President in 2008 and your major opponents agree to forgo private funding in the general election campaign, will you participate in the presidential public financing system?”
OBAMA: “Yes. I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests. I introduced public financing legislation in the Illinois State Senate, and am the only 2008 candidate to have sponsored Senator Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) bill to reform the presidential public financing system. In February 2007, I proposed a novel way to preserve the strength of the public financing system in the 2008 election. My plan requires both major party candidates to agree on a fundraising truce, return excess money from donors, and stay within the public financing system for the general election. My proposal followed announcements by some presidential candidates that they would forgo public financing so they could raise unlimited funds in the general election. The Federal Election Commission ruled the proposal legal, and Senator John McCain (r-AZ) has already pledged to accept this fundraising pledge. If I am the Democratic nominee, I will aggressively pursue an agreement with the Republican nominee to preserve a publicly financed general election.” (Sen. Barack Obama, “Midwest Democracy Network Presidential Candidate Questionnaire: The Responses Of John Edwards And Barack Obama,” Midwest Democracy Network, Released 11/27/07)
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From Yahoo News: Scientists believe Mars lander exposed ice crumbs

"Crumbs of bright material initially photographed in the trench later vanished, meaning they must have been frozen water that vaporized after being exposed, Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson, said in a statement."

Good thing they spent a lot of money putting all sorts of sophisticated instruments on that lander. The soil dug out of the trench was found to NOT contain any water. Now if ET can just walk past the camera, we'll know if there's life on Mars.
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From International Herald Tribune (NYT): U.S. says exercise by Israel seemed directed at Iran

"Israel carried out a major military exercise earlier this month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities."

There's been no word that I know of from Barack Obama who hasn't ruled out, and in fact seems to prefer, an alliance with Iran.
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From CNS: Dems Challenge Bush on Executive Ban on Offshore Drilling

In typical Democrat fashion, they didn't actually address the issue but just spit back a pile of half-truths and liberal rhetoric. President's Bush's call on Wednesday for Congress to lift its 27-year moratorium on offshore drilling is an "example of typical Bush White House politics," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev) told Cybercast News Service Thursday.
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News and Notes: Presidental Economies, Worry Over the Sun, Taxing Big Oil

Written by Paul Zannucci on 7:50 AM


In the global addition of The New York Times, we get Obama and McCain hit old notes on the U.S. economy


Given that this is, after all, The New York Times, we get such lovely, undocumented, and essentially ignorant statements as, "But several analysts have said they believe that McCain's plan would increase the deficit more, because of the size of the tax cuts he is seeking." But, overall, this is a pretty good piece showing that the economic policies of the two candidates is similar to the overall philosophies of their parties. McCain wants to keep the Bush tax cuts and add some more cuts, while Obama wants to add more taxes to "the wealthy". Unfortunately, in today's climate, both parties have to come up with massive spending promises, "but several analysts" (every Republican I asked) said that Obama's plans would increase the deficit more because of the size of the new government spending he is planning.

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Yet again from The New York Times we get this story on Hillary and Santa comparing lists: Those loyal to the Clintons take note of those who were not


While Hillary Clinton has a short list of people who disappointed her, Bill Clinton, who reportedly has an encyclopedic memory of all the people he has helped, employed or appointed over the years, apparently has a far longer one, the campaign officials said.


Hillary and Bill should have kept in mind that all the people they had helped were Democrats. Friendship and loyalty don't mean anything when it comes to joining the conga line of the latest liberal movement. Just grab the waist of the person in front, kick out your feet and throw your head back in ecstasy--a cause! a cause!

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A couple of stories using the phrase 'a black Camelot': Mincing Up Michelle and She Dresses to Win


All this means is that I assume it's okay for me to refer to Obama now as the black Jimmy Carter.

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From ScienceDaily we get this story about the sun lacking spots: Sun Goes Longer Than Normal Without Producing Sunspots


"It continues to be dead," said Saku Tsuneta with the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, program manager for the Hinode solar mission. "That's a small concern, a very small concern."


Somehow, this is all our fault. The scientists have no idea why the sun has gone through a two-year period without sunspots and don't know what the future will bring. "Tsuneta said solar physicists aren't like weather forecasters; They can't predict the future."


I'm pretty sure that was meant as a joke. Solar physicists do, in fact, try to forecast sunspot activity, as this information is particularly important for anyone with a satellite in space. The difference is that their predictions, as of yet, are not politicized, so when they are wrong, they don't have to go out of their way to manipulate the science to show that they were right after all (see last year's temperatures, the predictions on hurricanes, and hole in the ozone layer).

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From CNN we get this story on Dennis Kucinich (shown in a picture with a woman I can only hope is his great granddaughter but believe to be his wife) and his plans: Kucinich introduces Bush impeachment resolution


House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has repeatedly said she would not support a resolution calling for Bush's impeachment, saying such a move was unlikely to succeed and would be divisive.


It must be tough to be a moron even to other Democrats.

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For the second day in a row, we get a Democrat congressman who won't endorse Obama. Yesterday it was Tim Mahoney from Florida. The latest polls have McCain up pretty well in both of these states.

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Somehow this angered Bill O'Reilly last night. Nevertheless, do we really want more taxes on oil companies? Do we really want the government deciding how much profit is too much? These two questions could be in the Foxworthy "You might be a liberal if..."

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Today is the Anniversary of RFK's Assassination

Written by Paul Zannucci on 6:32 AM


But he died the next day. This is probably why Hillary is waiting until Saturday. If no one kills Obama by then, she's just going to give up.
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Meanwhile, Antoin "Tony" Rezko, a prominent, former fundraiser for Obama, has been convicted of bribery and fraud. Is it just me, or should Obama have known better than to trust someone named Antoin "Tony" Resko? That just sounds like the name of a walking scandal, and that comes from someone of Italian descent.

Rezko didn't help Obama with his presidential campaign, and Barack will skate by on this thanks to that and to a complicit media. The inability to pick the the right people to associate with is a serious problem, however. From Rezko and the church to, well, Michelle, Barack is obviously oblivious when it comes to sizing up people. I bet the folks in Iran can't wait to win him over.
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Speaking of winning over Iran, the brilliant Thomas Sowell uses it as one reason to support McCain in this piece, Obama and McCain.
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In this story, Go Johnny--Go Johnny--It's Your Birthday--Go Johnny, a substance in red wine, when taken in lunatic amounts, may help to slow aging and maybe even reverse a little of the damage. The substance, resveratrol, can be obtained either by drinking 100 bottles of red wine each day or via supplement. I'd say it just depends on who wins the election as to which way I'd go.

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Clinton dropping out on Friday? God Bless Elk Point.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:12 PM

She's done according to this earth shattering ABC piece, Clinton Preparing to Drop Out of Presidential Race.

I believe I speak for the entire civilized world when I say, "Whatever." Stop talking about it and just drop out, already.

UPDATE: Now it's Saturday. I should have kept all these reports in the same post. According to reports from Fox and Friends First, she has been encouraged to end the race by Charlie Rangel and Barnie Frank. Side note: Can you imagine being a part of a party in which you are expected to take the advice of these two seriously?
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In much more wonderful news, a new oil refinery might actually be built in the U.S. thanks to the amazing voters of Elk Point, S.D. In this story, Union County approves zoning ordinance for Hyperion, we learn that a whopping 58% of voters had enough intact guts left after the traditional anti-oil publicity campaign to still vote for the new zoning, called Energy Center Planned Development.

In a county with a mere 10,000 registered voters, the project will create 4500 construction jobs and then over 1800 full time permanent jobs at between $20 and $30 per hour in pay. It will handle 400,000 barrels a day and help...well, everything but the imaginary carbon problem.

God Bless Elk Point!

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Eating Insects, Iran Nukes, Cap and Spend

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:46 AM



Earlier this year the Food and Agriculture Organisation held a conference to discuss how entomophagy - eating insects as food - could contribute to sustainable development.

If we can just keep becoming more and more progressive, perhaps some day we can work this concept into legislation. Just think how healthy it would be for Mother Earth if only we were required to put, say, 20% ground worm into ground beef.
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From The Wall Street Journal: Cap and Spend

As the Senate opens debate on its mammoth carbon regulation program this week, the phrase of the hour is "cap and trade." This sounds innocuous enough. But anyone who looks at the legislative details will quickly see that a better description is cap and spend. This is easily the largest income redistribution scheme since the income tax.

Hmm. Copying and pasting that was a lot easier than writing these long tirades as I've done the last few days. Let's try it again.

Ms. Boxer expects to scoop up auction revenues of some $3.32 trillion by 2050. Yes, that's trillion. Her friends in Congress are already salivating over this new pot of gold.

Okay, I have to stop now. I'm beginning to feel this tingly, inspired feeling.
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Sen. John McCain Monday called for tougher worldwide pressure on Iran and painted his potential rival Sen. Barack Obama as naive about the Middle East.

Oh, come on, John. Give peace a chance. Obama is going to open up a dialogue with Ahmadinejad.
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All together now:

"Imagine there's no countries,
It isn't hard to do.
Nothing to kill or die for,
No religion too.

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace..."

I feel so enlightened now, don't you? I can't wait for Obama to head over there and spread the love.
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I'm pretty certain I saw my first ad for this election about thirty-two years ago. At that time, Obama was only fourteen and a little idealistic.

"The sooner we can bring the party together, the sooner we can start focusing on McCain in November," Obama told reporters in Michigan.
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Congressional Democrats want to ban Pentagon propaganda on the Iraq war, but they are likely to find that enforcement is easier said than done..."At the end of the day, a lot of what the Defense Department is doing is trying to raise support for the military," said Ken Bacon...Last month, the House passed legislation to prohibit the military from engaging in "any form of communication in support of national objectives..."

Make up your own string of expletives to go with this.


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Congress and Oil Prices, Bush and Security, Sarandon to Italy

Written by Paul Zannucci on 9:09 AM

An Op-Ed from WSJ: Blame Congress for High Oil Prices

That price, which has risen to record levels, is set by the intersection of supply and demand. On the one hand, world-wide demand has accelerated mainly due to the rapid growth of China and India....On the other hand, supply has been curtailed by the cartel-like behavior of foreign national oil companies...Congress by its actions over the years has ensured the economic viability of the national oil company cartel.

The actions of congress amount to preventing the exploitation of vast reserves available in America and off the coasts of America. According to the article, it is estimated that there is enough untapped natural gas to meet the need of 60 million homes for over a century and enough oil to produce gasoline for fuel oil for 60 million cars and 25 million homes for 60 years.

These figures do not include the oil found in oil shale. If we are able to cheaply extract this oil, then you could add, perhaps, another few hundred years to the above equations. Yes, there are resources available. Resources here in America. The problem is that many a liberal would consider the CEO of Exxon to be the American equivalent of Osama bin Laden. The other problem is that conservatives are a very soft-spoken voice of reason. Since the 1994 "Contract with America", conservatives have lost their way, getting excited mostly for inconsequential things like the ineffectual impeachment of Bill Clinton and posting the Ten Commandments in public places.

Yet again, I feel compelled to promote the Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less (and get the cool bumper sticker) campaign started by American Solutions. They now have more than 100,000 people who have signed the petition. To check it out, go here.
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From the Washington Post: U.S. Cites Big Gains Against Al-Qaeda

While cautioning that al-Qaeda remains a serious threat, Hayden said Osama bin Laden is losing the battle for hearts and minds in the Islamic world and has largely forfeited his ability to exploit the Iraq war to recruit adherents.

I checked this three times and it really is the "Post" and not the "Times" reporting this very positive view of the war on terror. If this sort of open honesty becomes a habit of the mainstream media, Bush could see his approval rating increase to the high 20's by the time he's out of office. Actually, despite the vast differences between the two, anything that is good for Bush is good for McCain's chances in November.
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Back to the traditional source of reality, the WSJ: The President Has Kept Us Safe

With President Bush-bashing still a national pastime, it's notable how much international terrorism has been forgotten, and how little credit the president has received for keeping Americans safe.

This is a piece written by a New York liberal, someone who predominately disagrees with the policies of the Bush administration (in fact he just lumps them together as "failed policies"), and yet he wonders how, in the wake of 9/11 and the global terrorism that quickly ensued, that Bush is not given credit for his greatest success.
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What the heck? Back to the Washington Post: On Policy, Obama Breaks Little New Ground

Obama has not emphasized any signature domestic issue, or signaled that he would take his party in a specific direction on policy, as Bill Clinton did with his "New Democrat" proposals in 1992 that emphasized welfare reform or as George W. Bush did with his "compassionate conservatism" in 2000, when he called on Republicans to focus more on issues such as education.

I'm calling the FBI. Clearly the good folks at the Post are being held hostage by some radical conservative group and today's issue is a cry for help.
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To the WJS: The Obama Gaffe Machine

Sen. Obama is often an indifferent speaker without a teleprompter. He has large gaps in his knowledge base, and is just as likely to dig in and embrace a policy misstatement as abandon it. ABC reporter Jake Tapper calls him "a one-man gaffe machine."

Barack "57 states" Obama is a real man of genius. The biggest problem is that McCain is likely too principled to call his opponent on most of the gaffes, which means the alt-media will have to hammer him every chance we get. So far, Republican leadership hasn't shied away from the bigger gaffes, such as his Memorial Day speech, but we are yet to see the concerted effort to tie him to his tongue has was done with Al Gore. Perhaps that will come later.
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And, yes, Susan Sarandon has declared that she will move to either Canada or Italy if John McCain is elected in November. First of all, she clearly doesn't pay any attention to Italian politics, as Silvio Berlusconi (after briefly being out of office) was just sworn in, again, as prime minister on May 8th. He makes John McCain look like Nancy Pelosi.

But my real question is, what kind of ego maniac thinks that a threat to move out of the country will actually sway votes? I mean, I guess it could sway votes to McCain, but that's about it. I think that in this election if McCain wins we should demand that these stars and starlets follow through with their courageous promises of leaving us alone.

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Al Qaeda and WMD, More on Jupiter's Global Warming, Etc.

Written by Paul Zannucci on 8:02 AM


From CNN: McCain buying Michigan, Pennsylvania airtime

"The fact that he's expanding into these states is a clear signal that both the general election has begun and fundraising has fattened his campaign accounts," Tracey said.

And, in fact, Pennsylvania and Michigan are perfect places for McCain to start his big push. Hillary won both of these states (even though Obama wasn't on the Michigan ballot--don't think that will make Michigan like him more), which have had reasonably close general elections in both 2000 and 2004. There is a real opportunity for McCain, beloved by many a Democrat, to do well in some of these swing states that have been swinging the wrong way lately.
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From the Washington Post: Clinton's Grim Scenario

A woman uniformly described by her close friends as genuine, principled and sane has been reduced to citing the timing of Robert F. Kennedy's assassination as a reason to stay in the race -- an argument that is ungenuine, unprincipled and insane. She vows to keep pushing, perhaps all the way to the convention in August. What manner of disintegration is yet to come?

That doesn't sound grim. That sounds delicious. Who titled this piece for the Washington Post? Hillary Clinton = Jesse Jackson on steroids. Get used to her. She'll be running for president every 4 years. That just makes me happy.
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Back to CNN: Bill Clinton says wife is victim of a ‘cover up’

“'Oh, this is so terrible: The people they want her. Oh, this is so terrible: She is winning the general election, and he is not. Oh my goodness, we have to cover this up.'"

So says Bill Clinton as he imitates the folks of the vast left wing conspiracy against Hillary. How did someone once so politically savvy become so impotent? Well, being married to Hillary doesn't help your virility, but I think Bill somehow considers this his run for a third term.
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To The Hill: McCain camp claims it has money lead over Obama

While McCain is raising far less money than Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.), he is also not forced to spend as much money, because he has clinched the GOP nomination.

The ugly truth is that Obama is raising money at such a clip that he hardly cares that he's still in a battle with Hillary. If Obama briefly stops spending after the last primaries in early June, he'll have a significant money lead over McCain by the end of the month.
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To Breitbart: Report: Billions in defense spending unchecked

"The continual degradation of audit resources that is occurring at a time when the (Defense Department) budget is growing larger leaves the department more vulnerable to fraud, waste, and, abuse and undermines the department's mission," the report states.

This is hardly surprising. And I suspect you can't hire outside accounting firms due to security concerns. Perhaps we need a surge not just in Fallujah but also in military auditors. Do the job but don't steel the money, please.
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To ABC News: Al Qaeda Supporters' Tape to Call for Use of WMDs

"Supporter videos are made by fans or supporters who may not have ever had any contact with a real terrorist," Venzke said. "These videos almost always are comprised of old video footage that is edited together to make a new video."

Al Qaeda fans. These are the people so pathetic they can't actually be Al Qaeda; they can just admire Al Qaeda from afar. I become more misanthropic every day.
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CNN: Obama uses Daschle to make blue-collar pitch in new SD spot

In the 30-second spot, former Sen. Tom Daschle says that Obama “is rooted in the same values as most South Dakotans. He has an understanding of America — rural and urban alike.”

I've stared at this for about 5 minutes and can't think of anything to say. Perhaps I need to go back and rewatch the videos from Obama's church. I'm sure there are some South Dakota values in there somewhere, and I just missed them.
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From FoxNews: Jupiter Grows Third Red Spot

The idea that Jupiter is undergoing global climate change was proposed in 2004 by Phil Marcus, a mechanical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley. He predicted large changes in the southern hemisphere starting around 2006 that would destabilize jet streams and spawn new storms.

More crazy people from Berkeley talking about climate change. But wait! Does this mean that extreme climate change can occur without the intervention of humans? Of course, there's no correlation between Jupiter, a gas giant, and Earth, which only has free-range gas giants (think Al Gore and Ralph Nader), but still, can anyone really think that if we weren't all living on Jupiter (don't think about it too hard) that Al Gore wouldn't be going ballistic right now? We humans have an overly high opinion of ourselves and our reach.
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CNN: McCain calls for slashing U.S. nuclear arsenal

"Today, we deploy thousands of nuclear warheads. It is my hope to move as rapidly as possible to a significantly smaller force," the presumptive Republican presidential nominee said at the University of Denver.

This came from a speech laying out his "nuclear security policy." This was followed by a back and forth between McCain and an Obama spokesperson as to who had the most liberal policy. I feel so secure now.

I'll be gone for a few days as I turn my pool into a bomb shelter.

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