The Price Of Gas And The Democratic Congress

Does anybody remember the vow the Democrats made to the American consumer? You know, the last time they promised hope and change; when they huffed and wheezed that if we gave them control of the congress they would give us lower prices at the pump. In fact, Nancy Pelosi went so far as to launch a press release explaining that her party had a "common sense plan to help bring down skyrocketing gas prices." Of course, we saw a display of Pelosi's common sense On Larry King back in April.



What exactly was that "common sense" approach? They never actually revealed their plan but the results are as clear as the Sunday buffet table after a visit from Michael Moore. So before you blame "That dag nab oil-guy Bush" for higher prices at the pump, take a peek at the impact the Democratic congress has had with their "common sense approach" on this chart that I snagged from the Pirate King :

But apparently the chart above only reflects Phase I of the Democrats "common sense approach" to gas prices and it shouldn't take Professor Trewallerny to divine the nature of Phase II -- if it involves the Democrats it involves taxes . . . and not the cutting kind. As reported by CNN:

With gas prices setting records daily, Republican presidential hopeful John McCain and former Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton called for a 90-day suspension of the federal fuel tax to give drivers a little relief at the pump.

The Democrats would have none of it and in the end voted down the attempt at easing our pain through this limited tax relief and, in fact, are considering raising fuel taxes by another 10 cents.

Now I'm left wondering, what is Phase III of the Dems "common sense approach"? Thoughts?

Barack Obama: Insanity Concerning Iraq

This is a must see ad from the McCain campaign concerning Barack Obama's view of Iraq. It'll never play in its entirety on the Tube, so check it out on the YouTube.



H/T: To Nikki for finding this one!

The Genius Of Barack Obama

OK, this is old news but it is new me. I just saw these Barack Obama gems on Baldilocks:

While campaigning in New Mexico, Obama said, "On this Memorial Day, as our nation honors its unbroken line of fallen heroes — and I see many of them in the audience here today – our sense of patriotism is particularly strong."

Which is almost as funny (or sad) as:

Obama also spoke about his uncle, who was part of the American brigade that helped to liberate Auschwitz. He said the family legend is that, upon returning from war, his uncle spent six months in an attic. [Note: the Russians liberated Auschwitz]

Ahhhh, and since we're reminiscing:

Obama's Mis-state
Another Geography Lesson From Barack Obama

Obama Abroad

First he joined a Liberation Theology church to gain some street cred. Then he hooked up with the windy city's underbelly to create some political cred. Now Barack Obama is pulling up stakes to take his circus overseas for some foreign policy cred, and every clown in the media is somersaulting in his wake.

According to CNN:

Obama's trip, which includes visits to Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, is intended to bolster his foreign policy credentials amid concerns that he has not convinced voters of his suitability to be the next U.S. president.

Well, if he hasn't convinced voters, he has certainly herded the major networks into line as all of them have been rounded up into his posse to go across the pond. Quite a contrast from McCain's trip back in March which was without secret service or a single prime-time network news anchor.

Now, before you moan that this is just a glitz-laden attempt to gild a presidential candidate who has no foreign policy substance, consider what CNN believes we can all gain from this trip.

The trip would offer a more critical opportunity to gauge Obama's suitability for statesmanship, CNN European political editor Robin Oakley said: "People have been saying to me, 'Look, this guy has only been in national politics for three years, let alone international politics.' We don't really know exactly what he is going to do."

Ah, yes. Because everyone knows that a single field trip abroad with the fawning media will be a perfect gauge of how Obama will handle immigration, trade and terrorism. Maybe his next trip will be a stroll down Walgreen's analgesic aisle so we can get a handle on his capability to address health care issues.

The fact is that this is a trip with a two-fold purpose. To, as Susan Estrich told FoxNews, give Obama "a platform to fend off McCain’s foreign policy attacks" and to develop footage of hugs and kisses from Europeans to tell us how much they would love America if Obama was our President. The success of this trip, then, will depend on the gullibility of the American people. Will voters believe that a big-top tour around the globe gives Obama Foreign policy credibility? Will voters believe there is anything that will make Europeans love us?

Personal Note: I lived in Germany during the Clinton years and, despite what you hear from Chris Matthews, they didn't like Americans then either.

Talking To An Axis Of Evil

President Bush has decided to send the country's third-ranking diplomat to Switzerland this Saturday to participate in discussions with Iran concerning their nuclear enrichment programs. According to CNN:

Undersecretary of State William Burns will accompany a European Union delegation during a meeting with Saeed Jalili, Iran's top nuclear official . . . The move could dramatically alter the three-decade stand-off between the U.S. and Iran. Some western nations and Israel suspect Iran is intent on developing nuclear weapons and want Tehran to suspend uranium enrichment. Iran says it wants to develop nuclear power to produce electricity.

What is up with Dubya decision to participate? Has he decided that this particular axis of evil is really only an axis of sorta bad? Will we soon see pics of Ahmadinejad bareback riding in Crawford? I don't think this is anything that dramatic. Nor do I think this is a complete reversal of administration policy. According to State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack, U.S. participation in this event simply signifies our unanimity with the United Nations in wanting Iran to suspend their nuclear program. OK, so I have a problem with signifying unanimity with the UN, but I can't condemn the trips as it stands. According to the White House, they continue to hold firm that they will not meet directly with the Iranians until Iran takes certain steps.

"Iran needs to suspend its uranium enrichment and reprocessing related activities. Should they take that single step, the United States and its partners in the P5+1 will meet with the Iranian delegation any time, any place, anywhere to talk about a variety ... of subjects, but certainly our focus will be on the Iranian nuclear program."

So I personally don't have a problem with this particular trip. However, as long as Iran is identified as a terrorist state seeking to enrich uranium, let's not invite them to a Reykyavik picnic.

Rough Night

Had a little too much to drink tonight to compose a proper post, which is probably why I've been staring at this picture for altogether too long.

Skål

The New Yorker's Image Of The Obamas

The New Yorker has long been a practitioner of disturbing satire, much of the time being unintentionally dropped into their "serious articles." But have they gone too far with the cover scheduled to hit the racks next week?

According to The New Yorker:

[The cover] combines a number of fantastical images about the Obamas and shows them for the obvious distortions they are. The burning flag, the nationalist-radical and Islamic outfits, the fist-bump, the portrait on the wall? All of them echo one attack or another. Satire is part of what we do, and it is meant to bring things out into the open, to hold up a mirror to prejudice, the hateful, and the absurd. And that's the spirit of this cover.

According to Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton:

The New Yorker may think, as one of their staff explained to us, that their cover is a satirical lampoon of the caricature Senator Obama's right-wing critics have tried to create. But most readers will see it as tasteless and offensive. And we agree.

According to The Khaki Elephant:

The image is absolutely ridiculous. Michelle's hair is completely wrong, Barack's wrist looks far too straight and powerful in the fist bump, and the flag they're burning doesn't seem to have all 50 stars.

Just Try To Keep That Manhole Covered

Officials in Flint, Michigan say they've had to replace hundreds of manhole covers and grates that were probably stolen and sold for scrap. The Flint Journal reported Monday that nearly 400 cast iron covers and grates have been taken from streets in the past year. A cover can fetch $20 from a scrap yard but can cost the city more than $200 to replace. --FoxNews

In other news

When Massachusetts became the first state to issue marriage licenses to gay couples in 2004, it left one big roadblock in place: Out-of-state couples need not apply. Now an effort is gaining momentum to repeal a 1913 state law that has prevented out-of-state gay couples from getting married. The law says couples cannot be married in Massachusetts if their unions would be illegal in their home states. -- FoxNews

Monica Conyers: Money For Sludge

City Councilwoman Monica Conyers has once again done the city of Detroit proud. She has apparently moved beyond bar fights and juvenile disruptions of city council meetings to a more profitable endeavor.

According to The Detroit News:

Federal investigators have electronic surveillance evidence that allegedly links Detroit City Council President Pro Tem Monica Conyers with receiving a payment or payments in connection with a city-approved sludge contract, two people familiar with the investigation said.

But did the green change the scene?

Conyers -- who changed her position from speaking in opposition to the sludge contract to voting in favor of it -- and at least one other council member are under FBI investigation in connection with possible bribes related to the $47 million contract with Synagro Technologies Inc. of Houston. . . . In November, the City Council voted 5-4 to award a contract to Synagro.

It sure looks like Monica's vote made the difference. As the wife of our country's second-longest serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, John Conyers Jr., there's no doubt that she has a handle on politics, it's just the whole personal integrity thing she seems to forget.

Dear, Synagro
I'd be willing to drop some lettuce in a $47 million fund if you could clean up the sludge flowing through our local government.

McCain / Obama: The Younger Years

Saw this at Confessions of a Closet Republican and it made me laugh . . . which means it's circle time to share




And I could even ignore the you're/your confusion.