If this nation is to survive, it is no longer US VERSUS THEM, we have to find a way to .....sm
Posted By: Cyndiee on 2009-02-27
In Reply to: 10 Reasons.......... - sm
stand united, and when our representatives are proposing or propositioning or supporing something that is NOT supported by the PEOPLE, their constituents, then we have to make calls, write letters, fax, vote, ect. I believe this two party system is doomed and that it is antiquated, there is such an ideological wall between the two parties that nothing will get done with all the finger pointing, blaming, etc. The American people are wise enough to know what is good for them, what works for them (and I mean a majority of us, not "chosen few" of Wall Street, lobbyists, oil interests, etc)., the representatives have to come back to the people. So sick of the blame game and insults, if we love this country and "the American way of life" we had all better band together, work together, LISTEN to each other's fears and needs, and concentrate on now and THE FUTURE, the long-haul. Just my humble opinion, this is all getting old and tired, and such a waste of time and energy. Instead of insulting on this board, perhaps we can spend time getting in touch with our representatives' offices, and perhaps getting a broader base of support for the Independent Party (isn't independce what we are all about?) IMHO
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- 10 Reasons.......... - sm
- If this nation is to survive, it is no longer US VERSUS THEM, we have to find a way to .....sm - Cyndiee
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Yep, we will survive
There's metal walls in the thing too. I hadn't thought of it but I bet it is a fall out shelter. We also have a storm cellar that is said to have been here since the Civil War. This underground contraption is a little far from the house to be a storm cellar. Anyhow, I'm kinda glad it's here. We may have use for it.
Yep, it's a good idea to pick that buckshot out of squirrels.LOL Haven't had squirrel in years but I recall it was tasty. Deer are pleniful too. Saw 3 yesterday in a 6 mile stretch that had been hit by cars.
I think the country can survive
if this debate is postponed as elections are in November. However, our economic crisis is happening RIGHT NOW and if something isn't done soon.....God help us all.
IF they survive in their own country.... sm
I personally don't think Gitmo should be closed completely, but if it has to and these detainees are released, I don't think they would last a week in their own countries. They failed in their mission and were captured by "the infidels."
I just hope we can all survive it and that the next attack isn't
smallpox, because after 4 years, we STILL don't have enough vaccines to protect Americans. That's something that should have been a priority, but you're right. He doesn't care how many people die under his watch. He said so himself regarding his legacy: He'll be dead.
I'm sure not celebrating what he does. All I can do is hold my breath for the next 3 years and hope he can do no further HARM of a permanent nature.
I wonder how many American deaths he's going to be responsible for through neglect and obsession with Iraq before the end of 2008.
And yes, I'm angry because I think we're morally STUCK in Iraq. Bush broke it, and we will all be fixing it for generations to come.
Can the Democratic Party Survive
http://www.mensnewsdaily.com/archive/s/shore/2005/shore022805.htm
If we survived BUSH, we can survive anything!
If we survived a presidency that began auspiciously by the election being STOLEN from the legitimate winner, and all the other borderline legal activities by Bush, we sure don't have anything to worry about now! Republicans are just going to have to get used to the fact that they lost this time - they couldn't steal the election this time.
15 Companies That Might Not Survive 2009
Who's next?
With consumers shutting their wallets and corporate revenues plunging, the business landscape may start to resemble a graveyard in 2009. Household names like Circuit City and Linens 'n Things have already perished. And chances are, those bankruptcies were just an early warning sign of a much broader epidemic.
Moody's Investors Service, for instance, predicts that the default rate on corporate bonds - which foretells bankruptcies - will be three times higher in 2009 than in 2008, and 15 times higher than in 2007. That could equate to 25 significant bankruptcies per month.
We examined ratings from Moody's and data from other sources to develop a short list of potential victims that ought to be familiar to most consumers. Many of these firms are in industries directly hit by the slowdown in consumer spending, such as retail, automotive, housing and entertainment.
But there are other common threads. Most of these firms have limited cash for a rainy day, and a lot of debt, with large interest payments due over the next year. In ordinary times, it might not be so hard to refinance loans, or get new ones, to help keep the cash flowing. But in an acute credit crunch it's a different story, and at companies where sales are down and going lower, skittish lenders may refuse to grant any more credit. It's a terrible time to be cash-poor.
That's why Moody's assigns most of these firms its lowest rating for short-term liquidity. And all the firms on this list have long-term debt that Moody's rates Caa or lower, which means the borrower is considered at least a "very high" credit risk.
Once a company defaults on its debt, or fails to make a payment, the next step is usually a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. Some firms continue to operate while in Chapter 11, retaining many of their employees. Those firms often shed debt, restructure, and emerge from bankruptcy as healthier companies.
But it takes fresh financing to do that, and with money scarce, more bankrupt firms than usual are likely to liquidate - like Circuit City. That's why corporate failures are likely to be a major drag on the economy in 2009: In a liquidation, the entire workforce often gets axed, with little or no severance. That will only add to unemployment, which could hit 9 or even 10 percent by the end of the year.
It's possible that none of the firms on this list will liquidate, or even declare Chapter 11. Some may come up with unexpected revenue or creative financing that helps avert bankruptcy, while others could be purchased in whole or in part by creditors or other investors. But one way or another, the following 15 firms will probably look a lot different a year from now than they do today:
Rite Aid. (Ticker symbol: RAD; about 100,000 employees; 1-year stock-price decline: 92%). This drugstore chain tried to boost its performance by acquiring competitors Brooks and Eckerd in 2007. But there have been some nasty side effects, like a huge debt load that makes it the most leveraged drugstore chain in the U.S., according to Zacks Equity Research. That big retail investment came just as megadiscounter Wal-Mart was starting to sell prescription drugs, and consumers were starting to cut bank on spending. Management has twice lowered its outlook for 2009. Prognosis: Mounting losses, with no turnaround in sight.
Claire's Stores. (Privately owned; about 18,000 employees.) Leon Black's once-renowned private-equity firm, the Apollo Group, paid $3.1 billion for this trendy teen-focused accessory store in 2007, when buyout funds were bulging. But cash flow has been negative for much of the past year and analysts believe Claire's is close to defaulting on its debt. A horrible retail outlook for 2009 offers no relief, suggesting Claire's could follow Linens 'n Things - another Apollo purchase - and declare Chapter 11, possibly shuttering all of its 3,000-plus stores.
Chrysler. (Privately owned; about 55,000 employees). It's never a good sign when management insists the company is not going out of business, which is what CEO Bob Nardelli has been doing lately. Of the three Detroit automakers, Chrysler is the most endangered, with a product portfolio that's overreliant on gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs and almost totally devoid of compelling small cars. A recent deal with Fiat seems dubious, since the Italian automaker doesn't have to pony up any money, and Chrysler desperately needs cash. The company is quickly burning through $4 billion in government bailout money, and with car sales down 40 percent from recent peaks, Chrysler may be the weakling that can't cut it in tough times.
Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group. (DTG; about 7,000 employees; stock down 95%). This car-rental company is a small player compared to Enterprise, Hertz, and Avis Budget. It's also more reliant on leisure travelers, and therefore more susceptible to a downturn as consumers cut spending. Dollar Thrifty is also closely tied to Chrysler, which supplies 80 percent of its fleet. Moody's predicts that if Chrysler declares Chapter 11, Dollar Thrifty would suffer deeply as well.
Realogy Corp. (Privately owned; about 13,000 employees). It's the biggest real-estate brokerage firm in the country, but that's a bad thing when there are double-digit declines in both sales and prices, as there were in 2009. Realogy, which includes the Coldwell Banker, ERA, and Sotheby's franchises, also carries a high debt load, dating to its purchase by the Apollo Group in 2007 - the very moment when the housing market was starting to invert from a soaring ride into a sickening nosedive. Realogy has been trying to refinance much of its debt, prompting lawsuits. One deal was denied by a judge in December, reducing the firm's already tight wiggle room.
Station Casinos. (Privately owned, about 14,000 employees). Las Vegas has already been creamed by a biblical real-estate bust, and now it may face the loss of its home-grown gambling joints, too. Station - which runs 15 casinos off the strip that cater to locals - recently failed to make a key interest payment, which is often one of the last steps before a Chapter 11 filing. For once, the house seems likely to lose.
Loehmann's Capital Corp. (Privately owned; about 1,500 employees). This clothing chain has the right formula for lean times, offering women's clothing at discount prices. But the consumer pullback is hitting just about every retailer, and Loehmann's has a lot less cash to ride out a drought than competitors like Nordstrom Rack and TJ Maxx. If Loehmann's doesn't get additional financing in 2009 - a dicey proposition, given skyrocketing unemployment and plunging spending - the chain could run out of cash.
Sbarro. (Privately owned; about 5,500 employees). It's not the pizza that's the problem. Many of this chain's 1,100 storefronts are in malls, which is a double whammy: Traffic is down, since consumers have put away their wallets. Sbarro can't really boost revenue by adding a breakfast or late-night menu, like other chains have done. And competitors like Domino's and Pizza Hut have less debt and stronger cash flow, which could intensify pressure on Sbarro as key debt payments come due in 2009.
Six Flags. (SIX; about 30,000 employees; stock down 84%). This theme-park operator has been losing money for several years, and selling off properties to try to pay down debt and get back into the black. But the ride may end prematurely. Moody's expects cash flow to be negative in 2009, and if consumers aren't spending during the peak summer season, that could imperil the company's ability to pay debts coming due later this year and in 2010.
Blockbuster. (BBI; about 60,000 employees; stock down 57%). The video-rental chain has burned cash while trying to figure out how to maximize fees without alienating customers. Its operating income has started to improve just as consumers are cutting back, even on movies. Video stores in general are under pressure as they compete with cable and Internet operators offering the same titles. A key test of Blockbuster's viability will come when two credit lines expire in August. One possible outcome, according to Valueline, is that investors take the company private and then go public again when market conditions are better.
Krispy Kreme. (KKD; about 4,000 employees; stock down 50%). The donuts might be good, but Krispy Kreme overestimated Americans' appetite - and that's saying something. This chain overexpanded during the donut heyday of the 1990s - taking on a lot of debt - and now requires high volumes to meet expenses and interest payments. The company has cut costs and closed underperforming stores, but still hasn't earned an operating profit in three years. And now that consumers are cutting back on everything, such improvements may fail to offset top-line declines, leading Krispy Kreme to seek some kind of relief from lenders over the next year.
Landry's Restaurants. (LNY; about 17,000 employees; stock down 66%). This restaurant chain, which operates Chart House, Rainforest Café, and other eateries, needs $400 million in new financing to finalize a buyout deal dating to last June. If lenders come through, the company should have enough cash to ride out the recession. But at least two banks have already balked, leading to downgrades of the company's debt and the prospect of a cash-flow crunch.
Sirius Satellite Radio. (SIRI - parent company; about 1,000 employees; stock down 96%). The music rocks, but satellite radio has yet to be profitable, and huge contracts for performers like Howard Stern are looking unsustainable. Sirius is one of two satellite-radio services owned by parent company Sirius XM, which was formed when Sirius and XM merged last year. So far, the merger hasn't generated the savings needed to make the company profitable, and Moody's thinks there's a "high likelihood" that Sirius will fail to repay or refinance its debt in 2009. One outcome could be a takeover, at distressed prices, by other firms active in the satellite business.
Trump Entertainment Resorts Holdings. (TRMP; about 9,500 employees; stock down 94%). The casino company made famous by The Donald has received several extensions on interest payments, while it tries to sell at least one of its Atlantic City properties and pay down a stack of debt. But with casino buyers scarce, competition circling, and gamblers nursing their losses from the recession, Trump Entertainment may face long odds of skirting bankruptcy.
BearingPoint. (BGPT; about 16,000 employees; stock down 21%). This Virginia-based consulting firm, spun out of KPMG in 2001, is struggling to solve its own operating problems. The firm has consistently lost money, revenue has been falling, and management stopped issuing earnings guidance in 2008. Stable government contracts generate about 30 percent of the firm's business, but the firm may sell other divisions to help pay off debt. With a key interest payment due in April, management needs to hustle - or devise its own exit strategy.
The pubs will not survive if they continue to . . . .
let the Evangelicals control them!
AMEN! I hope we also survive his incompetent
nm
We can no longer
call it the war on terror and yet look at what these terrorists say. I just don't get it. We are fighting a war against terrorism. Why can't we say that? What is so wrong with calling it like it is. They are terrorists who want to bomb us and kill us....but OMG....don't call them terrorists.
Seriously, if I were Obama.....I don't think I'd be comfortable with my wife and 2 little girls living in D.C. with these kinds of threats.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511740,00.html
My list would be much longer :) nm
z
Hi Chele....I am getting that it is no longer available...
any other way to get there? Thanks!
Video no longer available.....
It appears the video that is the subject of this post was pulled from YouTube after Warner Music filed a copyright infringement claim against its producer. Hopefully, it will reappear soon with no music or different music. We’ll see. In lieu of the video, the links that appear below this graphic are well worth your time to review, so scroll down now…
Below are links to news sources cited throughout the video shown in the order in which they appeared in the video:
The video was much better and the music was good. It sucks they took it off, but at least here are the links that this person used to make the video.
Anyone been wondering just how much longer
this Sam person is going to totally monopolize and bully this forum, before the moderator finally steps in and boots her off?
You are so right, and the longer more the denial goes on . . . .
the quicker their extinction. YEA 
Hopefully we will no longer be spending billions on the
.
If these wars go on much longer we will need to reinstitue
.
If these wars go on much longer we will need to reinstitue
.
What a joke. You no longer have any credibility. nm
.
Just shows that majority of USA no longer truly
nm
How much longer do you loons intend to
Back in the real world we have a Black Friday that has turned deadly with Walmart stampedes and Toys R Us shootouts, a death toll nearing 200 in Mumbai terrorist attacks, the Obama administration security team about to be revealed, an ADDITIONAL 800 billion dollar bail out being flushed down the bottomless black hole that is the US financial sector, while at the same time, no bail out in sight for consumers, 600 billion dollars being pumped into backing mortgage securities, a plan that seems to favor the banks over the home owners, a back-burnered obstacle course for the Big 3 bail out and scores of other pertinent and interesting subjects for discussion. Yet here we are...day 3 or 4 (I've lost count), mired down in this bog of BC blather.
This discussion has advanced from the sublime to the ridiculous. We now have posters who, with a perfectly straight face, are trying to orchestrate an ill-advised, exhortative grass roots movement to dump thousands upon thousands of our hard-earned dollars to bolster this mob-mentality driven, collectively delusional, pathologic attempt to unseat our country's President-Elect. This, despite the fact that no amount of frivolous law suits is going to affect the ultimate outcome of this fool's folly. It take a whole lot of gall to justify begging for financial backing for such a ludicrous, self-serving agenda to nowhere.
Greed and corruptionhas been going on longer than
you think, from the beginning of time. It's just now more in the open with the media and technology. It wasn't just "under the Republicans" as you state. It's been going on under the dems, too, and still going on. Look at Barney Fife and some of the others. Some get caught, others do not.
If you look at the websites for contributions, then the pork, you would know what I'm talking about.
uh, helllllooooo its been longer than one night
It's been six weeks. That may not be a long time but you would think in those 6 weeks there would be at least one little small thing that would be good. But nothing...nada....zip. Just talk of gloom and doom, it's going to get worse, I'm going to have to break some of my promises to you, yada yada yada. Six weeks and not one inkling of hope. No, it's been six weeks and more people are losing their jobs, more people are losing their homes, more people are losing their pensions, kids are graduating from school but have no jobs to go to. His ratings are dropping like a lead weight. The rate it keeps going I'm going to be laughing in a couple years when America has the opportunity to vote again for new members in congress/senate.
So what are we going to hear later..."it's only been 6 months" or "it's only been a year" or "it's only been 4 years".
Psssst - Art Bell is no longer on the air.
Just to keep you up on things. There is a show called Coast to Coast but George Nouri hosts it.
I actually don't listen to him...comes on too late at night and I just don't like him as an interviewer, but sometimes he'll have an interesting guest.
But I always keep an open mind. However, you are correct, there are some nutcases out there. All we have to do is look at this last election to realize its true with what we got stuck with.
Whoops, I mean the longer their denial . . . .
 but I'm sure my point is made. Now go ahead, Flamers!
versus
The first sura of the Qur'an is an example of this. It is a short prayer that is repeated by devout Muslims each day and ends with these words:
Keep us on the right path. The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray. (1:6-7)
Muhammad was once asked if these words pertained to Jews and Christians. His response was, "Whom else?" (Bukhari 56:662).
you need versus?
xx
The Supreme Court won't stop him for much longer.
Thate 5-3 decision would have been a 5-4 decision, had Roberts not recused himself from ruling due to his prior ruling in the case at a lower court.
Alito and Roberts are Bush loyalists who will vote in his favor every time. Same with Scalia and Thomas.
Justice John Paul Stevens, who wrote the majority opinion, is 86. This means there is a very good chance that Bush will have the opportunity to appoint a third Supreme Court Justice, thus negatively tipping and fixing the scales of justice for decades to come, long after Bush is gone. Some radical right-wingers (including Ann Coulter) have publicly called for the assassination of a Supreme Court Justice, and Pat Robertson has been *praying* for another Bush appointment. If/when that happens, freedom as we know it in the United States will be gone for generations.
In the meantime, the current Supreme Court ruling won't mean much. They're already talking about creating a law to make Bush's tactics legal.
Not that even THAT would matter much. Bush hasn't agreed with Congress' laws 750 times since he's been in office, and he's issued *signing statements* allowing him to ignore the law.
He apparently views himself as having expanded Presidential powers in a time of war. Maybe that's a large part of the true reason we're at war with Iraq.
says "we're sorry...this video is no longer available...nm
nm
HELLOOO...It took your guy a LOT longer to make the mess!
...don't you worry about it.
mean versus Obama
Notice how many of the really mean posts, like the one who called Senator Obama, Osambo, are pro-McCain/Palin. John McCain and Sarah Palin never focus on the issues. Listen to them closely - what exactly are they going to do about unemployment, foreclosures, poverty, the meth epidemic across the nation, health care, taxes, and the war that has been going on far too long? Can you answer these questions? All John McCain does is talk about Obama. John McCain is losing the election and running scared, so he attacks Obama. Check out the facts. Obama was 8 years old when Bill Ayers was a radical. Ayers is in his 60s and a washed-up radical. Have you even looked at a picture of this man? It will make you laugh when you realize this is the guy McCain is associating Obama with in hopes that McCain can win the election. It is one attack after another. Senator Obama was raised in Kansas by his "white" grandmother. Senator Obama has two young children whom he takes to soccer practice regularly. McCain is making Obama sound like some kind of terrorist. How many terrorists take their kids to soccer practice? Do you think Senator Obama would jeporadize his children's lives by being a terrorist? His kids look pretty well-adjusted to me.
I live in Arizona where McCain is our senator. Arizona also has a huge meth epidemic, high percentage of poverty, horrible health care, and racism to say the least. Even Arizona's State Governor, Janet Napolitano, is endorsing Senator Obama. She has had to work side-by-side with John McCain and she isn't even endorsing him. Do you think the Governor of Arizona would endorse Senator Obama if he was the terrorist that the McCain/Palin ticket is trying to make him out to be. Even a 1st grader could see that McCain is bitter because he is losing.
You have to be really gullible to believe anything the McCain/Palin ticket has to say. Honestly ask yourself what you think John Mcain is going to do for this country in the next four years if he can't even help his own state of Arizona.
Upwards of $500,000 versus $10.....sm
It does make one wonder, doesn't it?
I wonder if the POTUS can be held in contempt of court?
The longer this goes on, the bigger terrorist breading ground sm
Iraq becomes. This is getting past ridiculous. Now, I don't think we should just pull out, but I think we need to let them have it, and there will be more US casualties, and get out ASAP.
Bidens words - no longer $250K - Now $150K (nm)
x
This has been ongoing for almost a year if not longer. Links inside. sm
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s110-2433
www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4600891
On December 7, 2007, Obama introduced the Senate version of the Global Poverty Act of 2007 (S.2433). On February 13, the bill cleared the ...
The gov't already takes enough of my money. If this passes, the gov't will be taking even MORE of my money, your money, EVERYBODY'S money.
Be scared, be very scared.
find out. I find sam's posts to the point
nm
wilson versus rove
Ms. Wilson is Valerie Plame, she is married to Joseph Wilson. She worked for the CIA but Rove gave her name to Robert Novak, thus jeopardizing her life.
abortion versus rudolph
Science has not determined when life begins, at conception? After the first trimester? But the argument is moot, actually, as it is legal to get an abortion, it is not legal to take the law into your own hands and kill because you do not agree with the legal medical procedure that is being performed. Enormous difference. Law abiding citizens do not kill because they disagree with the law.
Facts versus opinion.
If you choose to ignore the facts, so be it.
unborn versus born
I do not think they would choose their life over a child that was already born, but I do think many would choose (and do choose) their own life over an unborn child's life. And by life I don't necessarily mean a medical condition. If my daughter were a teenager (she is not quite there yet) and she was pregnant, and she chose abortion, her father and I would certainly support that choice versus her giving up a promising future to raise an unwanted child, especially at such a young age.
I know others would not choose that, but many do everyday. Certainly, I think men and women should choose birth control, abstinence, etc., but birth control fails, mistakes happen, rape happens, incest happens, and I don't feel anyone should have to give birth if they don't want to or aren't prepared for the responsibility of parenting.
Many women chose to give their babies up for adoption, and that is a wonderful choice for them. However, not the best choice for everyone. I want everyone to be able to have that choice.
Attack versus observation
So if someone called me a big, fat, smelly, ugly, loud-mouthed, foul hag that could qualify as an observation (in your words) and would therefore be acceptable? I mean, technically someone could say they OBSERVED these traits in me. When does something cross the line and become a personal attack?
My take on all this is that if it originates from one of the C-posters it's an observation. If it originates from an L-poster it's an attack. Not always, but in general. Could be due to the whole political board system have a very very far right-leaning slant........
experience versus wisdom
to change the downward course of the nation. Haven't you been listening?
Senator versus presidency
Sure, I can see where a lot of this would be overlooked while running for a senate position versus president of our country. The higher the position, the more you look into someone's history and that is what separates the boys from the men....
Income tax versus sales tax......sm
Since sales tax was brought up below, let's take a little poll..........
Do you believe that a federal sales tax to replace the current income tax system would be a good move? Do you think it would be more fair or less fair and why?
I'll post my opinion separate from this.
deflation versus inflation
Deflation is better no matter what they say.
There has never been a country who went into hyperinflation that did not have a collapse of the government. (bankruptcy or worse)
I will go with the pay cut and cheaper gas.
Stimulus versus tax cuts
Stimulus means SPENDING
Non-refundable tax rebates means every $1.00 spent creates $1.02 in economic activity. 2 freaking cents (makes sense to the pubs.....I guess)
Infrastructure - every dollar spent equals $1.59 in economic activity (bridges, roads, etc.)
Food stamps (which the pubs want to cut out of the bill) - every dollar spent equals $1.73 in economic activity. This is the single most productive stimulus we have. Food stamps will get SPENT, unlike tax rebates.
If the pubs have their way, the bill will be 42% tax cuts which will not benefit job creation or improve the economy. They want to fail. Why? And you all call your senators to support this? If it gets pushed through like this, you have only yourselves to blame when everything goes to helll. You can't blame Obama for this cluster.
Independent versus Liberal...sm
" In the political realm, an Independent is generally the term used to describe a candidate who is not affiliated with any political party. The word has evolved to some degree and can also be used to describe a candidate who is not a member of a country’s main political parties. In the United States, if one is not a Republican or a Democrat, one might be referred to as an Independent or a third party candidate
Liberalism in the United States is a broad political and philosophical mindset, favoring individual liberty, and opposing restrictions on liberty, whether they come from established religion, from government regulation or grom the existing class structure.
"First, liberalism holds that there is no way to authenticate and prove as true any one version of the Christian faith...Second, liberalism rejects the Bible as being the actual Word of God to man...Third, liberalism restates the doctrine of Christ to show his utter humanity...Fourth, liberalism denies that the Bible has any inherent moral authority over men...Fifth, liberalism denies that mankind is lost and under the condemnation of sin...Sixth, liberalism has no concern with the New Testament concept of the church."
According to this I qualify as a political Independent and a religious Liberal.
Chickenhawks versus true heros
Oh wow, this is a great post. Makes the point and leaves no doubt about who the true heros are.
Chavez oil versus American fat cat oil companies
Article from Juan Gonzalez, a NY Daily News columnist, RE: Hugo Chavez and his oil versus American oil companies:
Oil fat cats vs. Hugo Chavez |
|
|
I pulled into the Mobil gas station on 11th Ave. in Manhattan yesterday for my weekly stickup from the oil companies.
Their take this time was an astonishing $3.05 per gallon for premium unleaded.
"Every three or four days the price goes up," said Patel, the man in charge of the station. "Lots of complaints from my customers."
Complaints from everyone except oil executives.
Last year, Exxon/Mobil, the world's largest corporation, posted the highest profits of any company in history - more than $25 billion. The oil giant, based in Irving, Tex., is on track to shatter that mark this year, with revenues that now approach $1 billion per day.
Which brings me to Pat Robertson and Hugo Chavez.
Robertson, the right-wing evangelist and friend of the Bush family, publicly called this week for the U.S. government to kill - or at least kidnap - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
"This is a dangerous enemy to our south, controlling a huge pool of oil, that could hurt us badly," Robertson said. His less-than-Christian remarks ignited an outcry and forced him to issue an apology of sorts, though he still insisted that he had at least "focused our government's attention on a growing problem."
That "problem," quite simply, is that Chavez, a radical populist who has been voted into office repeatedly by huge majorities in his own country, controls the largest reserve of petroleum outside the Middle East.
Neither Robertson, nor former oil executives George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice, nor their buddies at Exxon/Mobil, Chevron, etc., are happy about all this.
Even more scandalous for Big Oil, Chavez is using Venezuela's windfall not to fatten his own country's oligarchy but to benefit the Venezuelan poor and help neighboring countries.
Yesterday, while Robertson was issuing his half-baked Chavez clarification, the Venezuelan president was in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he announced a new oil agreement with that country's prime minister, P.J. Patterson.
Under the agreement, Venezuela will supply 22,000 barrels of oil a day to Jamaica for a mere $40 a barrel. That's far lower than the current world price of about $65 a barrel. With the price of gasoline in that destitute nation already more than $3.50 a gallon, the Chavez plan means more than half a million dollars a day in savings for Jamaica on oil imports.
Chavez also announced his government will provide $60 million in foreign aid to Jamaica and finance the upgrading of that country's oil refineries.
The agreement is part of a broader Chavez plan called Petrocaribe, which he unveiled at a Caribbean summit in Venezuela last June.
At that conference, Chavez offered the same kind of deal to the leaders of more than a dozen other neighboring nations, including Dominican Republic President Leonel Fernandez and Cuba's Fidel Castro.
Fernandez jumped at the offer because his government is nearly bankrupt from oil prices. Last year, the Dominican Republic spent $1.2 billion on oil imports; this year, it expects to fork out more than $3 billion. The price of gasoline in Santo Domingo has zoomed past $4 a gallon in recent days.
Pat Robertson looks at Chavez and sees a devilish danger. He wants our government to "take him out." Over at the White House, Bush and his aides may use more restrained language, but their goals are not much different.
But there's a whole different view down in Latin America, where a half-dozen nations have seen liberal and populist governments swept into office in recent years.
Down there, Chavez has become the new miracle man of oil. Unlike Exxon/Mobil and the Big Oil fat cats, who wallow in their record profits while the rest of us pay, Chavez is spreading the wealth around.
A dangerous man, indeed.
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Roe versus Wade majority and problems with the law
Actually, I've read where if put to a vote polls have shown that Roe versus Wade would be overturned. Whether abortion is right or wrong aside many people, including many liberal lawyers say that RVW is a badly written law in the first place.
primary opponent versus people
from own party who make their living promoting the repub cause. Big difference in motivation.
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