Methinks the Elephant Doth Protest Too Much

by: kelster

Wed Aug 20, 2008 at 08:07:58 AM EDT

Just when I thought the Livingston County Press & Argus was back to being a good, solid community paper, this morning's editorial reminded me that they are still marching in lockstep with Rep. Mike Rogers' orders.

Earlier this month, the P&A ran a story about opposition to Rogers' energy video from a national Arab-American group, which was concerned about its stereotypical images of swarthy, scary Arabs. It was pretty straightforward news piece, with comments from the group and responses from Rogers.

Since Arab-Americans make up less than 2% of the 8th District, this story didn't get much traction. Pro-Rogers voters automatically dismissed the complaints, and anti-Rogers voters weren't a bit surprised.

It was interesting, then, to see an editorial in today's P&A devoted entirely to "defending" Mike Rogers' energy video.

GOP calls for protesters against Speaker of the House to bring their own crayons

by: kjbas58

Thu Aug 07, 2008 at 11:00:40 AM EDT

The intention of the protest is to build on the Grand Oil Party's juvenile stunt last week where they preached to each other in the dark after the House and Senate were adjourned for the annual summer break on how giving oil companies more leases in environmentally sensitive areas will reduce gas prices. The email blast to supporters says the intention is to "... send her a strong message that she needs to call Congress back into session now, and hold a vote on an energy bill that will allow America to develop America's oil." No word on why they don't just ask the head oil man in the White House to call them back into session since he has the power to do that, or why for all but the last 18 months of President George Bush's time in office when the GOP controlled both Houses of Congress no real energy plan was adopted.

To help in the protest and to lend an air of authenticity, Anuzis is asking his followers to bring homemade signs, and since he knows they probably can't think of any catchy slogans for themselves, he sent along some helpful suggestions, such as "Gas b-4 Book Tour" "Bring Congress Back" "We Want Lower Gas $" "End The Shutdown" and "Give Us A Vote."

Bill Nowling and the MGOP communications team have really outdone themselves. That was money well spent.

I have a few slogans of my own for the Grand Oil Party attendees to use: "Food stamps for Exxon," "We don't need no stinking books," "Books are for liberals," "Tell Bush to tell you to bring Congress back," "Drill on those thousands of leases you already have," "oil execs need help to pay for their Bugatti Veyrons," or "We need our gas prices to go down by 2 cents in 10 years now."

The Ann Arbor stop will be Pelosi's first stop on a 13-city book tour, and because there are so many people expected to want to meet the Speaker, Borders began giving out wristbands this morning when the store opened. According to Borders, the wristband guarantees a place in line, but offers no guarantee you'll meet the Speaker.

I have a better suggestion for the GOP: buy a book at Borders to benefit a Michigan company. That may be asking a little too much. Buy a DVD while you are there and do some real good. Make sure you carpool.

Zero Carbon Output - a must do

by: PhilShepard

Tue Mar 25, 2008 at 13:55:04 PM EDT

An article in the Washington Post on March 10:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/09/AR2008030901867.html

lays out the disturbing implications of some recent scientific studies.

The world must bring carbon emissions down to near zero to keep temperatures from rising further.

With only 80% reductions by 2050 on the policy table so far, it's clear we have yet to countenance the true dimensions of the problem of ameliorating climate change.

Moreover, the problem is not just one of acknowledging the science, but rather, as Stve Gardiner (Philosophy, University of Washington) put it, "is a classic inter-generational debate, where the short-term benefits of emitting carbon accrue mainly to us and where the dangers ... are largely put off until future generations."

Dingell enrages Daily Kos (UPDATED: front-page noted at DKos)

by: David Boyle

Tue Jun 05, 2007 at 13:02:48 PM EDT

  "John Dingell (D-Michigan) and Rick Boucher (D-Virginia) are divisive, obtuse, arrogant scumbags, pure and simple.
  These two men are the prime movers behind a bill in the House Energy and Commerce committee, of which Dingell is the chairman and Boucher a subcommittee head.
  Get this: The San Francisco Chronicle breaks the story and the draft legislation can be read here, supposedly and here.

Why is it always your friends who screw you over the hardest?  (I don't know, David, but I have a feeling you've got more below the fold. -- E.B.)

My Solution to Gas Prices: A Federal Oil Refinery Company

by: philgoblue

Tue May 29, 2007 at 17:33:28 PM EDT

Oil is just too important a commodity for the US economy to be left in the hands of private enterprise when it should be clear that with $10 billion dollar quarterly profits yet outrageously high prices at the pump -- prices that are slowing commerce and hurting the economy -- the market in general and the leading oil companies and refineries have failed to work in the public interest.