All right, now even the local races are starting with the "drill here, drill now" mantra. We have to, they say. We need to stop sending all that money overseas (to countries that don't like us very much).

Time out!

What's wrong with this picture?

First of all, there is already drilling going on in this country. Also, there is a lot of land under lease to the oil companies that they are not currently drilling on (in?) because they don't really need to. Why not? Because they are getting all the oil they need from their current sources. There is no shortage people (not yet anyway). The OPEC nations and the oil companies control the supply, to some extent, to protect the price, but seriously, does anybody think that's the story? There is no shortage. Go to any gas station, any day, any time and fill 'er up. The supply is there.

So what about drilling more in the U.S.?

Again, the oil companies could do more if they wanted. They don't need to. Possibly some of the protected areas, off-shore, ANWR, would more readily yield their black treasure and the oil companies would drill there and less in the middle east but, so what? It'll still belong to them. Will they just give it to us and say "Hah! Take that Arabs!"? No. What will they do? Sell it to us, right? Well, actually, not even. Sell it on the world market? Bingo. The same world market that already exists, that already is well controlled and well supplied.

So what is gained?

Anybody?

So much for the idea that the government should defend the shores, protect private property and provide basic services. Or does this fall under that rubric?:

Bernanke supports higher spending
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Ben Bernanke says the outlook for the US economy remains uncertain

US Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke has said more government spending may be needed to combat economic weakness.

A fresh round of stimulus would be a good idea, he told the US House of Representatives budget committee.

Although Mr Bernanke stopped short of saying the US was in recession, he said the American economy was now in a "very serious slowdown".

Hopes of a fresh economic stimulus package pleased investors, with the main Dow Jones index ending up 4.7%.

"Consideration of a fiscal package by the Congress at this juncture seems appropriate," said Mr Bernanke.

His comments were welcomed by Democratic leaders in Congress, who called on Republicans and the White House to work together to formulate a plan.

A White House spokesman said it would have to wait and see what Democrats, who control both halves of Congress, put forward.

'Serious consequences'

A series of crises in the housing, credit and financial sectors have badly hit the US economy.

"If the Congress proceeds with a fiscal package, it should consider including measures to help improve access to credit by consumers, home buyers, businesses and other borrowers
Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve chairman

Many analysts are forecasting the US economy will shrink later this year and early next year. This would meet the classic definition of a recession - which is two quarters of negative growth.

However, some economists believe the economy is already in a recession, something that Mr Bernanke more than hinted at.

"We are in a very serious slowdown in the economy which has very serious consequences for the public," he said.

"Whether it's called a recession or not is of no consequence."

'Promoting growth'

In his speech before the committee, Mr Bernanke suggested that Congress should design a stimulus package so that it would be "timely and well-targeted".

He said it should limit the longer-term impact on the government's budget deficit, which hit a record high in the last financial year.

Any government spending would need to kick in quickly to encourage people and businesses to boost spending and help the economy during the period in which economic activity would be otherwise weak, he said.

The Federal Reserve chairman also said the package should include provisions that would aid the jammed credit markets, which has been a major factor in the economy's slowdown.

"If the Congress proceeds with a fiscal package, it should consider including measures to help improve access to credit by consumers, home buyers, businesses and other borrowers," he said.

"Such actions might be particularly effective at promoting economic growth and job creation," he added.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/7680453.stm

Published: 2008/10/20 21:47:07 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

It's too bad that the current ruling partry can only see government as a potential force for good in the direst of emergencies.

(Goes with below)

I too have admired John Lewis for quite some time. And I agree with him here. More comments at bottom.

McCain in 'hatred' war of words


Republican presidential candidate John McCain has become embroiled in a war of words with racial undertones after clashing with a civil rights icon.

John Lewis accused Mr McCain's campaign of "sowing hatred" against opponent Barack Obama and said he was reminded of 1960s segregationist George Wallace.

Mr McCain, who recently said Mr Lewis was one of his most admired Americans, called the reference "beyond the pale".

Mr McCain has also tried to cool his supporters' resentment of Mr Obama.

In Minnesota on Friday, Mr McCain defended Mr Obama after some at the town hall meeting labelled him a "terrorist", "an Arab", a "traitor" and a candidate who inspired fear.

The Republican's campaign has also suffered from a legislative probe in Alaska that found his vice-presidential running mate and state governor, Sarah Palin, had abused her power.

With just over three weeks to go to the election, she has again denied any wrongdoing in the affair.

Rally boos

Democratic Congressman Lewis is considered one of the key figures of the civil rights movement.

He said: "Senator McCain and Governor Palin are playing with fire, and if they are not careful, that fire will consume us all."

My statement was a reminder to all Americans that toxic language can lead to destructive behaviour
John Lewis


Mr Lewis said the "sowing of seeds of hatred and division" reminded him of Alabama Governor Wallace's rhetoric in 1963 that was blamed for a church bomb attack that killed four young girls.

Mr McCain reacted angrily, calling the reference "shocking and beyond the pale".

"I am saddened that John Lewis, a man I've always admired, would make such a brazen and baseless attack on my character," he said.

Mr Lewis later said his reference was not a direct one, but was simply pointing out that "toxic language can lead to destructive behaviour".

He also welcomed Mr McCain's attempts to cool angry supporters at Republican rallies.

At the Minnesota meeting, Mr McCain said Mr Obama was a decent family man and voters should not be afraid of him, but drew boos for defending him.

The Obama campaign quickly said it did not believe Mr McCain's campaign was in any way comparable to Wallace.

Abortion attack

The McCain campaign has targeted Mr Obama over his alleged links to 1960s militant William Ayers.

Mrs Palin said Mr Obama was "palling around with terrorists".

On Saturday, Mrs Palin defended herself against the findings of the Alaskan investigation.

It found she had abused her power by allowing her husband to put pressure on officials to sack her former brother-in-law, a state trooper who was in a bitter custody battle with her sister.

Asked by a journalist in Pennsylvania if the accusations were correct, she said: "No, and if you read the report you will see that there was nothing unlawful or unethical about it."

The report said Mrs Palin failed to act to stop her husband contacting the officials in the case known as Troopergate.

Mrs Palin on Saturday stepped up her attacks on Mr Obama, calling him a pro-abortion radical.

"He hopes you won't notice how radical, absolutely radical, his ideas on this and his record is until it's too late," she said.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7665780.stm

Published: 2008/10/12 08:56:12 GMT

© BBC MMVIII

Sarah bararedneck is quite a peach, no? With her beliefs and the policies she is connected too I don't think she is in any position to be calling Obama a "radical". Maybe if they have footage of him being ministered to by a witch doctor/priest.

And as to her claim that she "has done nothing wrong"; her and ever other criminal ever.

What a great campaign! Go team! (I wonder if McCain is regretting his choice yet)

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court Mark Twain

This is Twain at his best, showing us what we were like 1300 years ago, (from Twain's time). Turns out we haven't changed that much.

Humans, in this story anyway, are gullible, superstitious and cowardly. But also capable of being intelligent, thoughtful and courageous. The difference seems to be leadership. Twain's Yankee provides new, enlightened leadership and for a time human progress is accelerated.

But then an old and familiar drag on progress reasserts its influence. Leading to...armageddon.

Read it!