idrankwhat

Yes, it was a real (albeit loaded) question, actually two questions poorly worded. One would be "WTF?" and the other would be "what line of reasoning are ANWR drilling proponents subscribing to when they posit that a minimal temporary influx of oil will lead to any real consumer price reductions in the global market.?" And just to touch on a couple of your points, I think the taxes are necessary to secure funds for highway infrastructure. I think that increased development of alternative energy would help drive the price down more than drilling due to the decreased demand as well as the increase in competition. And What would make people think that an oil company, which is having no trouble with meeting gasoline production demands, would want to invest the $billions necessary to build a new refinery considering that by operating that refinery they would flood the market and reduce their profits?

Yes. I agree that it's very much a matter of perspective but I also think that weaponry and financing play a role in the perception. Tank = Army IED = Terrorist

I've got a somewhat related question regarding oil/gas supply. Folks like Sean Hannity call for "energy independence" via drilling here in ANWR and offshore. Let's forget about the reality that drilling more here at home will do nothing to make us energy "independent" due to our consumption habits. Since we don't have a nationalized oil system, what would make anyone think that the additional oil extracted would benefit the US gasoline market? What incentive would oil companies have to sell us cheaper fuel? They're multinational companies who are in the business to make money, not provide us with cheaper gas. Short of calling for nationalized petroleum, I don't see how it would make much difference with the exception of the relatively minor influx into the global supply.

And they should. We get ourselves into trouble when we hide the true costs of things which is what you're doing when you take money out of the front pocket at the pump and the back pocket via the Treasury. If gas cost us $4/gal 10 years ago the SUV craze would have crashed and we'd all be driving plug in Hybrids by now. Possibly and overstatement but you get the idea.

Unbelievable. Yep, this guy is going to change things. And they're going to be much worse. Windfall profits tax is a lousy idea. It was bad when Hillary mentioned it and it's bad now. Unless of course he's not serious about the actual tax and is playing a political move in order to do two things: get the energy debate going and to get his opposition on record as "supporting" the oil companies. IMHO, the debate should not be about a new kookie tax but more about repealing subsidies.

I wish the rest of the country had your sense of priority. I just checked the CNN headlines and was the Kucinich story there? Nope, but this one is. http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/10/jones.flowers.ap/index.html Damned "liberal media".

Congressman Wexler's been after Cheney for quite a while and now that McClellan is going to testify under oath to the Judiciary Committee his campaign is gaining steam. This could/should be interesting. Wexler's certainly got some ammo. These are the questions he wants to ask McClellan: 1. What role did President Bush, Vice President Cheney , and key administration officials take in the effort to reveal the identity of covert CIA agent Valeria Plame Wilson – thus destroying her network and putting lives in jeopardy? 2. What role did President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and key administration officials take regarding the firing of U.S. Attorneys or political reasons? 3. What role did President Bush, Vice President Cheney, key administration officials take in conspiring to blatantly break U.S. and International laws prohibiting the use of torture? Impeachment seems like a touchy subject for the Democrats right now. While it might be justifiable I don't know if it's the best strategy for the party this fall. They stand to win big at the moment in both the executive and legislative branches. While I think that getting rid of the current executives has value I think that being able to appoint three or so SC Justices who are not in the "Scalia mold" has greater value. Sometimes it's best to know how to pick your battles.

Halliburton was busted defrauding the taxpayer under Cheney's leadership. They also solicited business with Iran (via a fax machine in the Caymans) until Iran pulled the deal due to security concerns. I believe that Cheney still has deferred compensation ties with the company and they certainly have done quite well at procuring and maintaining lucrative contracts related to Cheney's war. All of the above has a direct impact on the American taxpayer. I don't see Rev Wright's relationship with Obama in quite the same light. Unless you want to talk about tax exempt status then you might have an "in". Or maybe if Obama starts the "war on WASPs" then I'll concede.

No, that's "Woosta". Pronounced the same as my three year old describing a male chicken.

No, that was Rev. Parsley and it was "spiritual guide and moral compass".

Damn, I miss that character! Here is a great clip with Jackie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzowSs9mNOM (For those who haven't seen it: Kramer spilled hot coffee in his lap and hired Jackie to sue the vendor. Someone gave Kramer a balm to put on the burn, and Jackie is PO'd because it healed the burn before they could use it as evidence.) That's egregious!!

Sickening. Just sickening. It was obviously a veritable slap in the face of all of the veterans who have lost limbs in the war. Damned anti military, America hating, terrorist sympathizing elitist. I mean what other possible reason could he possibly have for celebrating in such a manner? Oh yea, . Come on, fess up. There are a few of you who started nodding your heads just a little when you read that.

How is he racist? How is he anti-semitic? Specifics please. And while you're coming up with an answer I'm going to go post something on the McCain blog. Maybe something that's overtly anti-canine-avatarish. Hmmm...but that's not likely to work is it? Instead of McCain taking the heat for my post the headline will read something about a dog hating lib trying to hack a real American patriot's website. The horror! Meanwhile, there will still be absolutely no discussion of Obama or McCain policies.

Friday the dollar slipped some more, a prognosticator predicted $150/barrel oil within a month and Israel threatened to bomb Iran. Anyone can pick and choose their reasoning to suit their argument. The bottom line is that we depend on the stuff too much. Cut usage and we all benefit. My vote is for a four day work week, electric cars and mass transit for everyday travel and leave the petroleum based products to aviation related activities for the time being.

Deeply rooted, race based hatred and anger at someone's actions is not a particularly good comparison in my opinion. You may as well be comparing marital love with pedophilia. But to get to your question, I don't "hate" Bush. I don't wish him physical harm. I hate what his administration has done to our country and I will be greatly relieved when they're gone. I will continue to be irritated at them afterwards because they get to retire on our dime as we also pay to try to clean up their mess. But that irritation will probably be to a lesser degree than the ire that I feel towards the guy driving in the left lane at exactly the same speed as the guy on the right who is doing 53mph. I hate those guys.

"Over the Rainbow" by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, "IZ" (big Hawaiian ukelele guy). But if I can't find that one, this always gets me. Dear penis I don't think I like you anymore You used to watch me shave Now all you do is stare at the floor Ohh, Dear penis I dont like you anymore It used to be you and me A papertowel and a dirty magazine That's all we needed to be getting by Now it seems things have changed And I think that you're the one to blame Dear penis I don't think I like you anymore He sings: Dear Rodney I don't think I like you anymore 'Cause when you get to drinking You put me places I've never been before Dear Rodney I don't like you anymore Why can't we just get a grip on our man to hand relationship Come to terms truly how we feel If we put our heads together We just stay home forever Dear penis I think I like you after all Oh and Rodney While you're shaving, shave my balls

Ask him for a pin check. If you end up on the same plane, fart.

This seems to back up your poll. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080606/ap_on_el_pr/obama_generation_3

1. Lower taxes result in business growth. true, in most cases 2. Business growth results in more taxes being paid by businesses than in a situation where business growth is stagnant or negative. Not necessarily. Taxable profits can be buried through numerous means. For the last few years that John Snow ran CSX, before he ran the Treasury, he boasted that CSX paid zero % in taxes (and I believe

The one that "they" will bring? How's that? Oh, that's right. Possession is 9/10. They'll be called "Obamavilles" I presume. But hey, you never know. Obama may embrace the neo-principals of conservatism with their war cry: "There's PLENTY of money. See, I have more checks!"

Or Richard Mellon Scaife.

I'm not sure of his source but Obama's website states that in 2004 $2.1 billion was spent lobbying Congress, or approximately $4.8 million/legislator.

I don't contend that "corporations own him", especially since his campaign finance reform is one of the reasons that Republicans don't like him. I'd contend that special interests and lobbyists own our government but that's a different thread. This election is breaking new ground with regard to campaign financing. Obama's doing extremely well at raising money via the internet from small donations while McCain is suffering from the old school fund raiser mentality, not to mention the fact that his party isn't particularly excited about him. That said, I do believe that the RNC is well funded so even if McCain goes with public financing there's plenty of money ready to be spent on his behalf. That will probably work out better for McCain anyway. That way he can keep his fingerprints off of all the personal attack ads that are to come. As for your concerns over money and influence, you're preaching to the choir if you're serious about it (not simply upset because a Dem is blowing a Rep out of the water in the funds dept). I'm convinced that the only way to fix our government is to treat donations to public officials as bribes and that elections need to be 100% publicly financed. We're seeing the government that money can buy and it's not a good thing.

More specifically: Obama McCain

Obama's been the recipient of small amounts of money from large numbers of people. So I guess to answer your question, he owes more to the average guy than he does the large donor class.