Headlines with summaries
Florida Energy Group Action Site. Updated June 24 with latest on Peterson Amendment! [See situation Room]
This site is primarily for Floridians who want to take meaningful political action to convert our two U.S. Senators from a “No Drilling” policy to a “Responsible Drilling” policy that includes off-shore Florida. Or, replace them. Also, for political action to praise or convert our other elected officials, as appropriate, to a responsible drilling policy, now. It has a Situation Room, an Act Now! section, a Communications Room and a link to Newt Gingrich’s Drill Now web site. While it is primarily designed for Florida voters, people from other states may get some good ideas. Click here to go to The Florida Energy Group Action site.
Goose Award: Fifteen Senators feed the energy crisis! On Thursday, May 15th, the liberals on the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to block oil shale development in Colorado. President Teddy Roosevelt, who acted to federalize this land for future oil development must be spinning in his grave. Of course, these cowards didn’t rush out and tell the American voters what they had done. So I will. Read the full post
Call to Action: Two Florida Senators hugely responsible for energy crisis
In 2006, U.S. Senators Bill Nelson, D-FL and Mel Martinez, R-FL were instrumental in killing a House-passed bill that would have ended the 25 year old oil drilling moratorium in 85% of U.S. coastal waters. Later that year, Congress opened a huge area of the Gulf of Mexico for drilling. Again, these Senators ensured that no drilling would take place within 125 miles of Florida, thereby denying the state millions and billions of oil royalty dollars, that four other states will get. It’s time for these Senators to change or go. Read the full post
Call to Action: The Energy Crisis is Mainly Congress’ Fault
“Take care of your minutes, and the hours will take care of themselves.” Earl of Chesterfield, Lord-lieutenant of Ireland
For thirty years Congress has squandered its minutes to produce our Nation’s current hour of energy crisis. It’s time to vote the people who have done this, out. Read the full post
Call to Action: Sign the FairTax Petition
The FairTax is a complete revenue neutral overhaul of the Federal Government tax code. It makes taxes simple, transparent and fair. It makes it very difficult for politicians to raise our taxes without our knowledge. It will transition America to a ’saving’ nation and make it far more competitive in the world. The FairTax movement needs our help with a petition they intend to present to congress on April 15th, the dreaded ‘tax day. Read the full post
World Events: David M. Walker steps down as Comptroller General
After nine years in a fifteen-year position as Comptroller General of the United Sates, David M. Walker has left government service. David Walker has been the primary voice of authority raising awareness both in government and the public, for the looming fiscal sustainability issues plaguing our country. Although this is bad news on the face of it, he may have more influence over this problem in his new position, than he had as Comptroller General. Read the full post
Election 2008: Obama and Clinton - Not Qualified!
The working title of this post was “Election 2008: Senator Obama’s and Clinton’s Credentials.” When it was done I was forced to change the title. Read more to understand why four years of Obama will likely be reminiscent of President Carter. Or four years of Ms. Clinton will likely be reminiscent of President Nixon and a nation still bitterly divided. Read the full post
Patriot book review: Younger Next Year
I found a bug in the original release of this post that shuts down the site (no permanent damage). So I rebuilt the file and am re-releasing it. This book wouldn’t normally fit into this website’s genre, but it is so important to anyone over 50, that I had to review it. Americans are living longer. But for many, the last few years may be very rough, something that may well be avoidable. Read the full post
Goose Award: Bush Administration exempts companies from reporting fraud and waste in overseas government contracts
The Bush administration attempts to install multi-million dollar loophole in mandatory fraud, waste and abuse reporting in overseas contracts. For its trouble, the Bush administration gets a well deserved Goose Award for handing the American taxpayer and our kids, yet another load of crap. Read the full post
Campaign 2008: Maverick? Where’d that come from? And what does it mean for the nation?
Senator John McCain has been branded a maverick. Why was he so branded? It could be that he is the single most qualified person to unite our country and take it forward in a way that will again make America proud. Read the full post
Election 2008: Mainstream media reports gloom on three bellwether issues
According to a recent Associated Press report, “(President) Bush is leaving his successor an enormous fiscal dilemma.” Deficits of $410 billion this year and $409 billion in 2009. And a national debt of $5.9 trillion, nearly double what it was when he took over. The next president will likely not be able to deliver on campaign promises made today - permanency of all Bush tax cuts by the Republicans or greatly expanded healthcare by the Democrats. The next president will need to fix the fiscal mess. That person will have to have proven trustworthiness and solid judgment. Above all else. Read the full post
Call to Action: Two choices for President, one from each party
As we head into Super Tuesday, Americans have a duty to ensure that each party nominates a candidate that is fiscally responsible, can lead the whole country and can unite the people. Such a president will please neither the far left nor the far right but just might be able to lead the nation forward. Read the full post
Minuteman Honor Role - First Award - Forty Second Boyd (and featuring guest author, Bill Whittle)
The first ever Minuteman Honor Roll recipient is a man who’s ideas, tactics and strategies are enabling General Petraeus and his forces to win the peace in Iraq. His theories and strategies are helping to transform Army senior management into a true 21st Century leadership organization. As a result, the Iraq war is fading as the number one issue in the 2007-2008 presidential campaign. Americans are starting to shape the campaign around the bellwether issues: Runaway government spending; securing the borders; skyrocketing health care costs; education; and oil dependence. Read the full post
Call to Action: Make sure the right leader is still in the race for 2009 America - “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
- Variously attributed to an ancient Chinese proverb, physicist Albert Einstein and writer Rita Mae Brown.
- During its life, the 2007-2008 presidential campaign will have seen three political Americas. At the time of the general election, will the right person to lead 2009 America still be in the race? Read the full post
Lighten up - Entertainment time: Assume the Position
This is an HBO original that has morphed to the internet. For about 28 minutes, Robert Wuhl will entertain you, educate you and make you laugh ’til your sides hurt, in Assume the Position. Don’t open this until you can devote the time to escape the world and take it in uninterrupted. After seeing it, I thought about changing the name of this website to IsraelBissellRides.com (just kidding). A tip of the tri-tipped hat to Captain John Monroe (Hawk) Smith, USN-Retired for bringing this wonderful piece to our attention. Enjoy!
Call to Action: Change agents and the next president
With the presidential candidates all scrambling to paint themselves as change agents, we should examine what “change” means. What change would be good for our country and what wouldn’t? And what are the presidential character traits necessary to lead this country forward in the right direction? Read the full post
Call to Action: The five top homeland security and national security issues Congress should be talking about - and isn’t (besides the Iraq war & war on terror).
Five critical issues that will shape the U.S.A. for your children and grandchildren, that our elected officials should be acting on - and aren’t, are outlined in this investigative report. Read the full post
Lighten up - A tip of the tri-tipped hat - Which side is the gas cap on?
Ever forgot which side of the car your gas cap is on? Or been in a rental car and had to figure it out quick? Numerous websites will give you the answer if only you ask the question. And it’s as close as your dashboard. Read the full post
Call to action: The case for oil shale and the other “hard” things
The world’s conventional oil reserves total 2.7 TBbl (trillion barrels). Most of the unconventional oil reserves are in North America, 1.7 TBbl in Canadian tar sands and 2 TBbl in U.S. oil shale.
We need a Manhattan style national project for energy independence, including conservation, drilling, and renewable and unconventional fuels. One significant piece must be to accelerate our oil shale production capability dramatically. We can learn from the Brazilians and Canadians. Read the full post
Call to Action: Support our legislators’ efforts to cut off the looming fiscal crisis
Four courageous Congressmen have taken on two major bellwether issues and they’re doing it in a very bi-partisan way. They have a plan based on the highly successful BRAC process that actually could work - but it’s being opposed by the Vice President and the Speaker of the House. This plan and these Congressmen need our support now! Read the full post
Minuteman Honor Roll - A brand new category
This new category highlights and honors people who are working diligently on one or more of the five top bellwether issues that will shape our nation. Read the full post
Lighten up - joke time: The Preacher
An old country preacher had a teenage son, and it was getting time the boy should give some thought to choosing a profession. Like many young men, the boy didn’t really know what he wanted to do, and he didn’t seem too concerned about it. One day, while the boy was away at school, his father decided to try an experiment. Click here to see what happened
Goose Award: Senate’s most powerful democrat squanders $$, Senate’s time over talk show host
“Nero Reid fiddled while Rome Washington burned $$ at an unsustainable rate!” Nevada Senator majors-on-minor, wasting Taxpayer $$ and the entire Senate’s time, skewering a radio talk show host while the real issues that will shape our nation go untouched. Read the full post
Call to Action: Health care costs could bankrupt the nation
Health care costs (Medicare and Medicaid) have doubled as a percent of the federal government’s total budget over the last 21 years. They will nearly double again in the next ten years. The outlook is just as gloomy for state and local governments. These costs are out of control and un-curtailed, could bankrupt the USA. Read the full post
Lighten up - joke time -Hillary proposes $1 billion for homeowners
Click on cartoon for full size
Goose Award: Hillary proposes $1 billion for homeowners
Today Reuters reported that Senator Hillary Clinton proposed $1 billion to “help homeowners pay their mortgages.”
Read the full post
Call to Action: Contact our Presidential Candidates
Write the Presidential Candidates about the issues critical to our nation. Six simple steps.
“Government is the people’s business and every man, woman and child becomes a shareholder with the first penny of tax paid.”
Ronald Reagan
Lighten up - joke time - summer vacation
Johnny was all excited about their upcoming annual trip to Disney World.
“Son,” his dad said, “There’s been a change of plans. We’re going to Washington D.C. instead.”
Johnny was crestfallen for just a moment, then he brightened, blurting, “That’s okay! We’ll still be visiting a Mickey Mouse operation!”
Setup and punch line first appeared in comic strip Grand Avenue, by Steven Breen, Florida Times-Union, August 20, 2007.
Comptroller General Walker’s Credentials are Impeccable and His Message is Grim
David M. Walker is a highly seasoned executive in both the public and private sectors. He’s half-way through his fifteen-year term as Comptroller General of the U.S. He is so concerned about the direction the Federal Budget is taking, he’s decided to by-pass elected officials and go directly to the people. He has the respect and support of both the left and right and he needs the active support of every American who believes our republic should survive. Read the full post
Lighten up - joke time - The Blue Pigeon
The mayor of Phoenix was very worried about a plague of pigeons in Phoenix. The mayor could not remove the pigeons from the city. All of Phoenix was full of pigeon droppings. The people of Phoenix couldn’t walk on the sidewalks or drive on the roads. It was costing a fortune to try to keep the streets and sidewalks clean.
One day a man came to City Hall and offered the Mayor a proposition. “I can rid your beautiful city of its plague of pigeons without cost to the city. But, you must promise not to ask me any questions. Or, you can pay me five million dollars and ask one question.” Read the rest of the joke here.
Call to Action: Needed Now! A border security bill that finishes the job.
Good legislative progress is being made for screening maritime shipments and passenger aircraft cargo; protecting citizens who report suspicious suspect terrorist activity from lawsuit; and securing our Southern Border. Not enough is being done to know who is in our country and what their legal status is, or to give employers the tools and hold them accountable for who they hire. Please read and act on this Post.
Lighten up - joke time - Congress is back
This Ed Gamble cartoon, “Congress returns…” appeared in the Florida Times-Union on July 10, 2007. It’s guaranteed to bring tears to your eyes. Feel free to pass this on.
After you’ve had your laugh or cry, you might want to check out the article, “Besides the Iraq war, the five top homeland security and national security issues Congress should be talking about - and isn’t.”
Terrorism: Pakistan’s Musharraf takes a stand: It could be good for America - or not
President General Musharraf’s forces stormed and retook control of the Red Mosque without killing women and children. He has ordered the military to rid the country of terrorists and extremists, including al Qaeda and the Taliban in the Northwest provinces. The terrorists, now with their backs to the Afghan border, have vowed to fight back and their first three suicide bombs have killed 70. The fight is on - or not. Read the full post
Lighten up - joke time - North Korea
“The Globe reports that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il raises money by selling fake Viagra pills. What it is about this guy? None of his missiles seem to launch.” –Jay Leno
North Korean dictator Kim Jung Il may be stepping down. Yeah, experts in the State Department say he could be replaced by his son, Menta Li Ill.” –David Letterman
“The latest political rumor, North Korea ruler Kim Jong Il is close to naming his successor. Yeah, he said the only person with glasses big enough to replace me is Nicole Richie.” –Conan O’Brien
Now that you’re warmed up, check out the latest news and analysis on North Korea’s nuclear program, right here.
World events: The real problem with North Korea’s Nuke Program.
North Korea is dragging its heels on shutting down its nuclear program, but is the real danger nuclear weapons? Or what untraceable ’stuff’ they might be able to provide terrorists? Find out here about the more realistic threat and what Pyongyang must give up in addition to its nuclear reactors. Read the full post
Lighten up - joke time - Energy Independence.
Researchers at U-MASS have announced a breakthrough for energy independence: a clean-burning, renewable energy form that is easily harvested. Called LipoDiesel, the substance uses the organic fat deposits suctioned away during liposuction….Read the rest of this great satire here.
Now that you’re warmed up, check out the article The National Security Imperative for America to Become Energy Independent
Energy: The National Security Imperative for America to Become Energy Independent
America is on a path to go from importing 28% of our oil in 1972 (the first oil embargo) to 70% in 2025 if we don’t do something. This is the opening dialog on the challenges, the consequences of maintaining the status quo, and how each American can help. Read the full post
