The 45th Democratic National Convention starts today at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. By week’s end Senator Barack Obama will no longer be referred to as a presumptive Democratic Party nominee for president. Senator Barack Obama is expected to accept his party’s nomination for president on Thursday at INVESCO Field at Mile High, a stadium that holds 70,000 plus and home of the NFL’s Denver Broncos. Side note for you football fans, Denver won back to back Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII (1998, 1999). Tonight’s headline prime-time speaker will be Michelle Obama. Tuesday the headline speaker will be Senator Hillary Clinton. On Wednesday, Senator Barack Obama’s Vice Presidential Nominee, U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) will take the stage. Also speaking on Wednesday is Former President Bill Clinton, former Senator Tom Daschle, Governor Bill Richardson and Senators Evan Bayh (previous VP contender) and John Kerry. Full details regarding the program on Thursday have yet to be released.
Colorado is a key ‘battle ground state, ’ 1 of only 3 states out west listed as a virtual toss-up by the New York Times Electoral Map. Up for grabs are 9 electoral votes, one less than Minnesota site of the RNC. Once considered a perennial GOP stronghold, Colorado has gone Republican for three consecutive elections and 12 of the past 14. However, President Bush won Colorado by less than 5 percent in 2004 as the state has become steadily more Democratic. The Democratic Party has been surging in Colorado and has picked up the governorship, a Senate seat, and two U.S. House seats. An increasing Hispanic population and Republicans attempts to strengthen immigration laws may be problematic and help Senator Obama.
Democratic Businessman Jared Polis, who recently won a three-way primary battle, is one candidate hoping to get a boost from the DNC. The 33-year-old Polis, who would be one of the youngest Congress members if elected, has big advantages in both fundraising and political demographics for his general election race against little-know Republican nominee Scott Starin. Colorado’s 2nd district was formally held by five-term Democrat Mark Udall, who is running for Senate with a slight lead, is listed as ‘safe democrat.’
One thing is for certain. Partisans, pundits, and political junkies will keep ‘all eyes on Colorado’ well after the Democratic National Convention.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Drill Now: Gaining Momentum, will Congress act?
Everyone knows that markets respond in an anticipatory way. Therefore the U.S. simply signaling an intention to drill will reduce the price at the pump. Best guess is about a $1 per gallon drop in price over one or two short weeks time.
Prove it, you say? Look at President Bush recent removal of an executive order that has no effect of law, considering a current federal law preempts it. Just having made that move dropped the per gallon price by fifty cents in about a weeks time. The market responded.
So what needs to be done? Congress needs to take up an energy bill and the Democratic majority needs to procedurally allow the drilling amendment to be brought forward. Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership in Congress, especially in the U.S. House of Representatives went on a (5) week summer break without bringing the bill to the floor. Why? Strategy! They knew that their were enough votes in congress to pass the drilling amendments, so they gavel session to a close and sent congress home to campaign.
In the meantime...
Senator Barack Obama has switched from opposed to drilling to "willing to consider it."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has switched from opposed to drilling to "an openness to allowing an offshore drilling vote."
They must have finally got around to reading the polls.
The big question now is...will she actually follow through and allow the vote?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(see below for Boehner and Blunts quotes about the speaker's intention)
“If Speaker Pelosi is truly sincere about having a vote on deep-ocean oil and gas drilling to help bring down fuel costs, she should use her power as Speaker to call Congress back into session immediately and schedule a vote on the American Energy Act,” Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement released Tuesday morning.
“I was certainly encouraged to hear the Speaker last night suggest a willingness to allow the House to have an up-or-down vote on the merits of unlocking the potential of America’s abundant energy resources. But the proof will be in the proverbial pudding,” Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) stated.
Prove it, you say? Look at President Bush recent removal of an executive order that has no effect of law, considering a current federal law preempts it. Just having made that move dropped the per gallon price by fifty cents in about a weeks time. The market responded.
So what needs to be done? Congress needs to take up an energy bill and the Democratic majority needs to procedurally allow the drilling amendment to be brought forward. Unfortunately, the Democratic leadership in Congress, especially in the U.S. House of Representatives went on a (5) week summer break without bringing the bill to the floor. Why? Strategy! They knew that their were enough votes in congress to pass the drilling amendments, so they gavel session to a close and sent congress home to campaign.
In the meantime...
Senator Barack Obama has switched from opposed to drilling to "willing to consider it."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has switched from opposed to drilling to "an openness to allowing an offshore drilling vote."
They must have finally got around to reading the polls.
The big question now is...will she actually follow through and allow the vote?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(see below for Boehner and Blunts quotes about the speaker's intention)
“If Speaker Pelosi is truly sincere about having a vote on deep-ocean oil and gas drilling to help bring down fuel costs, she should use her power as Speaker to call Congress back into session immediately and schedule a vote on the American Energy Act,” Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) said in a statement released Tuesday morning.
“I was certainly encouraged to hear the Speaker last night suggest a willingness to allow the House to have an up-or-down vote on the merits of unlocking the potential of America’s abundant energy resources. But the proof will be in the proverbial pudding,” Republican Whip Roy Blunt (Mo.) stated.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Democrats who believe McCain is the REAL DEAL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSpcxkKlEFA
Click through to this youtube segment to find clips of Democrats praising Senator John McCain. There is no question that he is a "do-er." He works together with bot sides of the aisle. He gets things done!
Senator Barack Obama can talk his cute little game by using words like "hope" and "promise" and "yes we can" but all of that just feels pretty empty to me. After (4) years in the U.S. Senate can anyone name one thing he has done? Do you remember his name being mentioned as part of any ground breaking legislation?
Kind of feels like when you drink a warm Coca Cola too fast on a hot summer day!
Click through to this youtube segment to find clips of Democrats praising Senator John McCain. There is no question that he is a "do-er." He works together with bot sides of the aisle. He gets things done!
Senator Barack Obama can talk his cute little game by using words like "hope" and "promise" and "yes we can" but all of that just feels pretty empty to me. After (4) years in the U.S. Senate can anyone name one thing he has done? Do you remember his name being mentioned as part of any ground breaking legislation?
Kind of feels like when you drink a warm Coca Cola too fast on a hot summer day!
Monday, August 4, 2008
Pandering Politicians
Websters defines 'Pandering' in the following
: to act as a pander; especially : to provide gratification for others' desires
Now I want to prefice this by saying that yes of course both sides do pander but this is just one of the most recent and richest examples.
Senator Barach Obama announced today a broad energy plan which includes two reversal of his previous policy.
One he is calling for the exercise of the U.S. Strategic Reserve = Pandering --> Repbulicans have been calling for this since gas hit $3 a gallon and now Senator Barack Obama wants to talk about it why? Oh yeah, I forgot...he is running for president and he is willing to tell the majority of americans "in the middle" on the political spectrum that he agrees with them. You see he is smart, politically astute, motivated, he knows he has the Democratic Party base "locked up" so now he needs to reach towards the moderates in in the middle. He needs to, in a clever way, convince people he is willing to consider exercising the U.S. Strategic Petroleum reserve. Meanwhile, should he ever be in a position to make that decision, should he be president, he has no intention of sigining such a measure. He will assuredly find a way to derobe himself of responsibility of following through on this campaign pledge.
Two he is calling for "some offshore drilling" as long as it is done in a "responsibile way" = PANDERING --> Republicans have been asking for Congress to open ANWR (Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge and offshore drilling in gulf and other coastal waters for quite some time. Senator Barack Obama's attempts are merely a ruse designed to trick those in the middle who may be inclined to agree with him on some issues but are being squeezed in the pocketbook. Honestly, Senator Obama play here in the least is to look as if he is "willing to reach out" and work with both sides of the issue. When in fact he is just telling them what they want to hear. He is co-opting the parts of the Republican agenda for his own political gain while simultaneously trying to "steal his opponents thunder" on an issue that he knows is winning in the polls with the american people. Drill more, payless now!
Third he wants to end oil dependancy in 10 years = PANDERING and completely ludacrious. Every economist in the world knows that a conversion, even if the technology where here right now today...and it isn't, could not even possibly occur in such a short amount of time.
Obama thinks of 10 years like a young person would 10 years still equals..."like forever."
McCain sees 10 years very differently. Ten years to McCain is...only twice as long as he spent as a prisioner of war.
No matter how cliche, commercialized, and overdone Senator John McCain's "Straight Talk Express" has become you can still trust it.
With Senator Obama...you get the feeling he will say and do anything to become president!
: to act as a pander; especially : to provide gratification for others' desires
Now I want to prefice this by saying that yes of course both sides do pander but this is just one of the most recent and richest examples.
Senator Barach Obama announced today a broad energy plan which includes two reversal of his previous policy.
One he is calling for the exercise of the U.S. Strategic Reserve = Pandering --> Repbulicans have been calling for this since gas hit $3 a gallon and now Senator Barack Obama wants to talk about it why? Oh yeah, I forgot...he is running for president and he is willing to tell the majority of americans "in the middle" on the political spectrum that he agrees with them. You see he is smart, politically astute, motivated, he knows he has the Democratic Party base "locked up" so now he needs to reach towards the moderates in in the middle. He needs to, in a clever way, convince people he is willing to consider exercising the U.S. Strategic Petroleum reserve. Meanwhile, should he ever be in a position to make that decision, should he be president, he has no intention of sigining such a measure. He will assuredly find a way to derobe himself of responsibility of following through on this campaign pledge.
Two he is calling for "some offshore drilling" as long as it is done in a "responsibile way" = PANDERING --> Republicans have been asking for Congress to open ANWR (Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge and offshore drilling in gulf and other coastal waters for quite some time. Senator Barack Obama's attempts are merely a ruse designed to trick those in the middle who may be inclined to agree with him on some issues but are being squeezed in the pocketbook. Honestly, Senator Obama play here in the least is to look as if he is "willing to reach out" and work with both sides of the issue. When in fact he is just telling them what they want to hear. He is co-opting the parts of the Republican agenda for his own political gain while simultaneously trying to "steal his opponents thunder" on an issue that he knows is winning in the polls with the american people. Drill more, payless now!
Third he wants to end oil dependancy in 10 years = PANDERING and completely ludacrious. Every economist in the world knows that a conversion, even if the technology where here right now today...and it isn't, could not even possibly occur in such a short amount of time.
Obama thinks of 10 years like a young person would 10 years still equals..."like forever."
McCain sees 10 years very differently. Ten years to McCain is...only twice as long as he spent as a prisioner of war.
No matter how cliche, commercialized, and overdone Senator John McCain's "Straight Talk Express" has become you can still trust it.
With Senator Obama...you get the feeling he will say and do anything to become president!
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Lobbyists Wanted!
Issue
A recent TV ad by a particular U.S. Senate candidate discusses the issue of former and retiring Congressmen and women becoming lobbyists. Click here to view this ad spot on You Tube.
The ad suggests that Congress has been considering how long a former member has to wait before becoming a lobbyist either 1 or 2 years.
"Right now hundreds of former members represent big oil and special interests, no wonder gas is $4 a gallon. Something has got to change. If elected I will work to make sure former members of Congress never become lobbyists."
Viewpoint
Here we go again! Another wanna-be politician running for Congress against Congress! Another politician making blanket statements equating all lobbyists and "special interests" as evil.
Time to debunk the myth!
Here are the facts.
Elected officials cannot not possibly be experts on every issue that comes before them. They rely on their staff and yes professional lobbyists to inform them on issues. It is a fundamental part of the system. Remember at some point lobbyists are just organized citizens.
Do some lobbyists represent big oil and big coal? Yes!
Are all lobbyists and 'special interests' bad? No!
Are there bad actors in every industry? Yes!
Should we punish the many on account of the few? No!
Is there something wholly un-American about dictating by law what job an individual pursue? Yes!
Remember the "Americans" all have lobbyists (American Heart Association, American Lung Association, American Medical Association) are you calling them 'special interests?' Should they be banned from Washington? Also, the Alzheimers Association has lobbyists should they not enjoy a quality and professional candidate who might also happen to be a former member of Congress with an extensive network and excellent knowledge of the process? If we allow some but not others then where do we draw the line?
It is time for all candidates to stop using sensationalistic but empty calls to end 'special interests' and lobbying.
Most lobbyists are exceptionally educated, professional, and highly dedicated to "doing the right thing."
Lobbyist does not necessarily equal "dirty, rotten, scoundrel!"
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Why High Gas Prices!
Time for a little review. Just five years ago in July 0f 2003 Twin Cities gas average was 1.57 per gallon and as recently as December 23, 2006 we were paying $1.89 per gallon. So what is the real deal with gas prices. Who is to blame? The answers might just shock you!
Well if you are the kind of democrat that wants to believe everything that the liberal media spoon feeds you then you probably think that George Bush and his big oil tycoon, a la monoply, vice president and their ill founded and funded war are to blame for the worldwide increase is gas prices. However, the reality that couldn't be further from the truth. So what is keeping gas prices so high, we examine that question here together.
First the demand side of the issue. Industrialized nations throughout the developing world have increased their the overall global demand for fossil fuels. Just think about it why do you think Bejing looks worse than Los Angeles on every given day. Not to mention the U.S. continues to use its fair share now more than ever. This increase in demand puts price pressures on the barrel price of fuel keeping prices staggeringly high.
Second, the supply side of the issue. OPEC has a long history of intentionally withholding production to limit the supply of oil on the market at any given time. They actually meet, discuss the what their daily output should be, and are sophisticated enough to know exactly what the resulting barrel price, price per gallon, and more importantly what their return on investment will be. The general public must understand that OPEC has no incentive to increase supply and lower prices because that would in turn reduce their financial gains.
Third, the United States has a strategic reserve. The United States does hold significant strategic reserves. Their release always lowers prices.
Fourth, expanding drilling. The U.S. States in its wisdom has made it illegal for any further exploration or drilling in Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. You can blame Democrats here. Dominanted by greenies these environmentalists are intentionally driving up prices to further their political agenda. $4 a gallon gasoline, they are reveling in moment and celebrating the success. They have the general public believing that only clean technology will fix our dependancy on foreign oil and fossil fuels all together. They love it!
Fifth, Democrats in Minnesota raised your gas tax. This is the flat out truth, ask them and they will tell you straight out that they raised your gas taxes at a time when gas prices were at an all time high. There is no avoiding this truism.
So what would drop the gas prices tomorrow?
-Decrease global demand.
-Force OPEC to increase production
-Exercise the U.S. Strategic Oil Reserve
-Legalize off shore and ANWR drilling
-Just begining the process of moving men an materials to the oil fields of ANWR would signal OPEC to drop prices. Oil would not even have to begin flowing before prices would drop and stabilize.
-Actually, recover ANWR oil and begin making it available to U.S. Citizens immediately. Export as little as strategically possible to keep global prices low.
Long Term:
-Invest in smart car technologies
-Invest in clean technology
-Switch grass bio-fuel has tremendous promise, could you imagine a fuel from the weeds growing at the side of the road.
Well if you are the kind of democrat that wants to believe everything that the liberal media spoon feeds you then you probably think that George Bush and his big oil tycoon, a la monoply, vice president and their ill founded and funded war are to blame for the worldwide increase is gas prices. However, the reality that couldn't be further from the truth. So what is keeping gas prices so high, we examine that question here together.
First the demand side of the issue. Industrialized nations throughout the developing world have increased their the overall global demand for fossil fuels. Just think about it why do you think Bejing looks worse than Los Angeles on every given day. Not to mention the U.S. continues to use its fair share now more than ever. This increase in demand puts price pressures on the barrel price of fuel keeping prices staggeringly high.
Second, the supply side of the issue. OPEC has a long history of intentionally withholding production to limit the supply of oil on the market at any given time. They actually meet, discuss the what their daily output should be, and are sophisticated enough to know exactly what the resulting barrel price, price per gallon, and more importantly what their return on investment will be. The general public must understand that OPEC has no incentive to increase supply and lower prices because that would in turn reduce their financial gains.
Third, the United States has a strategic reserve. The United States does hold significant strategic reserves. Their release always lowers prices.
Fourth, expanding drilling. The U.S. States in its wisdom has made it illegal for any further exploration or drilling in Atlantic, Pacific, Gulf of Mexico, and the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge. You can blame Democrats here. Dominanted by greenies these environmentalists are intentionally driving up prices to further their political agenda. $4 a gallon gasoline, they are reveling in moment and celebrating the success. They have the general public believing that only clean technology will fix our dependancy on foreign oil and fossil fuels all together. They love it!
Fifth, Democrats in Minnesota raised your gas tax. This is the flat out truth, ask them and they will tell you straight out that they raised your gas taxes at a time when gas prices were at an all time high. There is no avoiding this truism.
So what would drop the gas prices tomorrow?
-Decrease global demand.
-Force OPEC to increase production
-Exercise the U.S. Strategic Oil Reserve
-Legalize off shore and ANWR drilling
-Just begining the process of moving men an materials to the oil fields of ANWR would signal OPEC to drop prices. Oil would not even have to begin flowing before prices would drop and stabilize.
-Actually, recover ANWR oil and begin making it available to U.S. Citizens immediately. Export as little as strategically possible to keep global prices low.
Long Term:
-Invest in smart car technologies
-Invest in clean technology
-Switch grass bio-fuel has tremendous promise, could you imagine a fuel from the weeds growing at the side of the road.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
MN Senate Is Not Up for Re-Election
Yesterday (07/09/2008) the Associated Press released a story about a particular Minnesota DFL Senator who decided to resign the day after the election this year. This story immediately prompted the misinformed to post comments following the story stating it was a conspiracy and strategy. Some complained that extra money would be wasted on the special election. They wanted the Senator to pay for the cost of the special election out of his own pocket. They could not understand and cried foul about him waiting until the day after the election, so he would not be included in the general election.
News flash political uninformed masses who can't resist the temptation to comment about politics even though they obviously don't understand the system, the Minnesota Senate is not up for election this year. Therefore, he could not have the seat be decided in this years general election. And Why should he pay? In fact, it is to the citizen constituent's advantage that he not pay the cost of the special election and be in a position to exert undue influence on the result of an election.
Just one short message and a soon to be "Practical Politician" classic!
Tune in next time!
Practicial Politician seeks to educate the general public about MN politics, policy, and process. Examples are "ripped from the headlines" and reviewed to illustrate strategic points from the simplistic to the down right complex.
News flash political uninformed masses who can't resist the temptation to comment about politics even though they obviously don't understand the system, the Minnesota Senate is not up for election this year. Therefore, he could not have the seat be decided in this years general election. And Why should he pay? In fact, it is to the citizen constituent's advantage that he not pay the cost of the special election and be in a position to exert undue influence on the result of an election.
Just one short message and a soon to be "Practical Politician" classic!
Tune in next time!
Practicial Politician seeks to educate the general public about MN politics, policy, and process. Examples are "ripped from the headlines" and reviewed to illustrate strategic points from the simplistic to the down right complex.
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