Drill Baby Drill

Heritage Foundation: Thanks to technological advances, offshore energy production has become very safe, as is witnessed by the excellent record of recent years.

Institute for Energy Research: Offshore energy exploration and production in the United States is safe and environmentally sound. Over the past 50 years, the U.S. oil and gas industry has developed innovative, 21st century technologies and exploration techniques that are efficient, pose little threat to the environment, and ensure worker safety.

Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK): Offshore drilling is environmentally safe. Major spills from platforms are nearly non-existent.

John Boehner (R-OH): The Democrats’ energy tax would not only restrict the use of environmentally-safe offshore drilling, but would “permanently close some domestic refineries, which could permanently raise the price of gasoline,”

John McCain (R-AZ): Modern drilling technology is environmentally safe.

Oh Really?



Once again the RepubLIEcans are exposed. What is sad how much damage is caused before people see the truth.

"support and defend the Constitution of the United States"

Those words are in the oath of office that every Senator and Congressman take. As of today a number of Senators are supporting a bill that would defy the Constitution and prevent our Justice Department from finally bringing terrorists to trial. The bill sponsored by Lindsey Graham cuts funding to try to force the Attorney General to stop planned criminal trials. Some of these terrorists have been held without trial for 8 years.

What has always given our country the moral authority when it comes to justice around the world is the fact that unlike many places in the world, we have a constitution that provides Fair trials to all, no matter how disgusting the crime was. For the first time in our History, we lost that authority in the world as the Bush Administration made a mockery of our Constitution and held prisoners without trial.

Americans rejected that, they elected Barack Obama. But now these Senators want to trash our Constitution and eliminate such trials as we have had in our country for over 200 years. It is a said day that we in America are actually debating having fair trials.

They took an oath of office saying they would support and defend the Constitution, apparently they have decided to break that oath.

Here are the names of some of those traitors to the Constitution:

Lindsey Graham, John McCain, Jim Webb, and Blanche Lincoln

Old Race Baiting Trick a Hoax

Using the oldest Race baiting trick in the world Ashley Todd a 20 year old McCain volunteer claimed she was attacked, beaten, and a B carved in her face because she was a McCain supporter.

Fox News of course and the buffoon Sean Hannity jumped all over this story. McCain himself called the girl.

It turns out it was a Hoax.

KDKA is now reporting that the Pittsburgh Police have now confirmed the entire story was a hoax.

This is the kind of racial fear tactic used years ago making false claims of crimes and attacks by blacks to stir up racial hatred. Remember "To Kill the Mockingbird?"

Apparently some McCain supporters will try anything in their desperation.

Enough is Enough!

I will not stay quiet while I watch the very basis of our democracy attacked by people wrapping themselves in flags and calling themselves patriots.

I will not stay silent as the Ohio Secretary of State, who is a very capable experienced and knowledgeable public servant, receives death threats, unmarked boxes with powder shipped to them, and cyberhacking of their web site, trying to interfere with our electoral process.

What has made our country unique was that we change leaders peaceably. A rare occurrence in the majority of the nations of the world. This is what has made our country great, it is what has made us the envy of many in the world. And to see this violence, threats and anger being stoked is putting our nation at risk.

Shame on you Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Michael Savage and all those of you that are spewing hate on the air waves. Shame on you people at rallies that scream words like "terrorist, kill him, socialist."

Shame on you John McCain and Sarah Palin who not only allow this to go on but to stoke this anger yourselves. Using the words "socialist" and "paling around with terrorists" are despicable. I used to believe you were a man of honor John McCain, it is quite clear you no longer are.

Shame on those who are attacking those groups that are bringing more Americans into the electoral process with false claims of fraud with not so hidden racism under the surface.

You are not patriots, you do not put "country first," you are instead traitors. Traitor: a person who commits treason by betraying his or her country. Yes John McCain and Sarah Palin and the right wing nut jobs on the radio on Fox News you are indeed traitors. You are responsible for turning our nations peaceful election process into a violent one. Every death threat, every response by bomb squads, every violent act on your behalf you are responsible for.

Reasons to Vote for Obama

Iraq: America and the world was told by our leaders that Iraq was an immediate threat, that they had weapons of Mass Destruction and that they had ties to 9/11. We now know all those things were false. One man in this race had the judgment and foresight to come out against this war and that man was Barack Obama.

The President of the United States not only must use good judgment to get us out of this war responsibly and fast, but use the similar wisdom when deciding to use military force in the future.

Foreign Policy: John Kennedy said one should negotiate not from fear but from a position of strength. Bush and McCain don’t believe we should talk to our enemies at all. Obama has shown the wisdom and vision that we must use diplomacy first with friends and enemies alike. It was negotiations that have prevented many wars, it was negotiations that kept the cold war from becoming the last world war, and it was negotiations that brought peace between Egypt and Israel.

Integrity: Just looking at the commercials run by both McCain and Obama shows a clear difference in integrity. While Obama’s commercials talk about the differences on the issues, McCain’s are full of character attacks and mistruths. Obama has expressed his vision consistently for years, in his speech in 2004, his books, and his current campaign. His positions have been consistent, while McCain has changed his positions on just about every significant issue including torture.

Leadership: While McCain has jumped back and forth on issues, his campaign has floundered from one tactic to another. Barack Obama has inspired a movement. His campaign is clearly run by him, with his vision and his leadership. McCain seems to be run by his campaign staff. Barack draws 10s of thousands, 100,000 just yesterday in St Louis, he does so because of the hope, the vision and the leadership he has displayed. In short Obama leads, McCain reacts.

Economy: It is simple after 8 years of republican economic policies; it is clear to Americans and to the world it has not worked. Joblessness is up, the average American’s income is down, foreclosures are at sick levels, and our banks are in danger of failing. We have gone from a federal surplus to the largest national debt in history. We need change. McCain supported Bush’s policies in his words “90% of the time”, that is not change.

Energy:While John McCain spouts simplistic solutions like "drill here, drill now," Obama shows the vision that we cannot drill our way out of this crisis. We must not only do something about prices at the pump, but we must end our dependence on foreign all for our own security, and me must end or dependence on oil totally for the future of our environment. Barack Obama has comprehensive plans to not only solve our immediate needs for oil but to invest in alternative energy solutions for long term results.

Change: It is not just the policies of the Bush administration that will change; our politics will change under Barack Obama. He has lead a movement. He has brought millions into the political process that have never been there before. Republicans and independents are joining this movement for change with Barack Obama. Such power and enthusiasm will bring change to this nation and the world. McCain will keep us in the failed past with partisan attacks.

Vision: Barack Obama has written two books laying out his incredible vision on every issue and our nation as a whole. He displays the vision in his writing and speeches that show that he sees the problems and he sees the possible solutions. He sees the good and the bad of proposals from all sectors both on the left and right. He has the vision to find the best path among all of those proposals and actually achieve results rather then just partisan knee jerk reactions to such problems.

Faith: Barack Obama has never taken his faith for granted. He found Christianity as an adult. The way he has lived his life, in his career, as a father and as a man has shown the kind of person he is. He has a history of working with faith-based institutions to achieve things to help our citizens. He is a man of love, inclusion and helping his fellow man. He is shown by his actions his moral values.

Taxes: The Republicans have been redistributing our wealth. While the middle class has lost wealth, the rich have gotten richer. This campaign isn’t about socialism. It is about fairness. It is about the middle class paying less of the tax burden and the wealthy paying their fair share. It is about getting rid of the tax breaks for the oil companies and companies shipping jobs over seas, is about giving tax breaks to 95% of Americans. It is Barack Obama that will do that, not John McCain.

Health Care: No one disputes that our health care system is a mess. No matter how hard you work in life, how right you do everything in savings and insurance, one major illness, one lost job can cause it all to tumble. Just getting suggested tests in physicals can end up costing you thousands. McCain wants to damage the one part of health care that works, employer provided health care. He wants to tax health benefits. Obama wants to improve the rules on pre existing conditions; he wants to give Americans options including employer provided, individual plans and federal plans. Quite clearly Obama wants to take what works and improve what doesn’t and McCain wants to destroy the only part that is working.

Guns: Barack Obama believes the second amendment guarantees the individual right to bear arms. He has no desire to take away your guns. He does believe that responsible restrictions should be allowed to restrict the type of weapons people have in communities for the safety of that community. Having weapons for hunting and protection is one thing, owning flame throwers are not. McCain has no vision on guns he just follows the NRA line.

Wisdom: For their Vice Presidential running mates, John McCain chose Sarah Palin, Barack Obama chose Senator Joe Biden. Need I say anything more.

You: The republican’s election after election have managed to distract voters away from the issues that actually affect each of us every day. Health Care, Jobs, the Economy, Education are examples. Election and election we have voted against our own self-interests, this time we must use our own experiences and our own checkbooks to decide who to vote for. If we do that, the clear choice is Barack Obama.

Olbermann:McCain Campaign, Clear and Present Danger to this Nation

McCain tries to put the toothpaste back in the tube

After a week of McCain, his campaign and his Vice Presidential nominee spewing hate, division, and all kinds viral attacks on Obama that have little to do with truth, today McCain asked his supporters to be respectful. Meanwhile he is still running a hate ad on television in Ohio saying Obama is "dishonorable," "increases risk on the troops," and the ultimate fear line, "who is Barack Obama?"

McCain has been following the slippery slope right wing hate radio tactics by all week long. Repeating lies and innuendo that is usually the turf of the right wing wacko radio talkers like Limbaugh, Savage, Hannity, and O'Liar. It backfired.

Not only have the polls shown his negatives going through the roof, but Obama is making great gains in poll after poll. Now even Republican leaders have been criticizing and separating themselves from McCain.

Can McCain put the toothpaste back in the tube. It is too little too late. McCain has shown he has no honor in this campaign. He is not fit to be President.

An Open Letter to Senators Voinovich and Brown

Dear Senators,

The hate speech and the rhetoric by the McCain campaign questioning the character of another United States Senator is sickening. It is a black mark on the reputation and the history of the United States Senate.

Campaigning is one thing, but this has gone way over any line of integrity and morality.

I demand that you and others in the United States Senate make a statement publicly and to the McCain campaign that this is not acceptable.

Joseph A. Ritchey Jr.

Contact George Voinovich

Contact Senator Brown

I Come From a Family of Heros

I rarely just post a link to another blog but this is a must read.

I come from a family of heros

Grumpy McCain Proves He is Factually Challenged

McLiar said Obama wanted to raise taxes on people making $42,000 a year.

The Facts: Obama's tax plan as verified by the independent Tax Policy Institute lowers taxes on 95% of American Citizens.

McLiar said he has and will take care of Veterans.

The Facts

Voted twice in 2003 against funding for body armour for national guard & reserve troops. Also in 2003 when the military was clearly about to be overextended he voted against increasing the size of the military. He voted against the dwell time amendment that provided military personnel 12 months at home for 12 months in country. And most recently was against the GI bill in 2008. One veterans group gives McCain a grade of D on veterans issues, another says he has supported veterans with his votes 20% of the time, Obama 80%

McLiar said he worked for renewable energy.

The Facts

He has voted against funding for renewable energy 22 times.

McLiar said he was against torture.

The Facts

In the most incredible flip flop for a former victim of torture. McCliar voted to allow torture in 2005.

Once again McCain proves that he is a:



Honesty is the most important trait in a President, John McCain is not qualified to be President

McCain and GOP play politics while a bank fails

Country First?

After days of intense negotiations and hard work Congressional Leaders had reached an agreement to deal with the economic crisis. Then comes in Super Senator John McCain flying in on his white horse to "save the country."

What happened next is the most disgusting display of politics above the good of the country in the history of this nation. McCain and a handful of Republicans scuttle the deal, at first it appeared they were just stalling so McCain could arrive so he could take credit for the deal. This was clear in an interview McCain was hoping to be given credit for any deal. But now their motives are clearly to delay any deal to create a crises and distraction from McCain's plummeting chances to be elected President.

While they play these games Washington Mutual fails. This is the largest bank failure in American History.

Good job McCain!

She needs more time to study!

Why is John McCain suspending his campaign? Well at first I thought it was just a stunt to look like he actually was engaged in the economic crisis. Then when I heard he was suspending commercials I thought, oh that's it, running behind on cash, find a reason to stop paying for commercials for several days.

But CNN has just reported the real reason. They want to postpone the debate one week, moving the Vice Presidential Debate back another week.

This is rich, apparently someone needs more time to memorize her answers to questions she hasn't a clue about.

Who Broke the Window?

When I was a kid I was clearing the screen on an etch-a-sketch a bit too vigorously and it somehow managed to fly through my parents huge glass picture window. Now in my humble opinion I was a pretty smart kid, well except for how I cleared the etch a sketch, within seconds I was carefully cleaning up the glass.

As expected my parents came flying out to the living room to ask, who broke the window? My response was that it wasn't important how it got broken but that there was glass everywhere and we have to clean it up.

Have you noticed that is how Bush and McCain govern.

Terrorists attack the United States and kill 3000. When questions were asked about the warnings that the Bush administration had, their response was, that what was important is that we do what we need to do now to get the terrorists.

Bush lies us into a war with McCain's support. The response, well how we got into the war is old news, its the surge that matters.

New Orleans drowns and Bush and FEMA show total ineptness at reacting to the problem, causing the additional deaths and suffering of hundreds if not thousands. Their response, no point in pointing fingers except its the democratic governors fault, but we need to work to bring the city back.

Now we are on the brink of an Economic meltdown. Bush, McCain and the Republicans who's 20 years of gutting our economic system of all the safeguards that were put in to prevent this from happening are saying, this isn't a time for blame, we have to work together to fix this.

You know what. My parents didn't fall for this tactic on the window and neither should we. Its time for Blame. The policies of the Republicans like George W. Bush in power have put our country at risk to terrorism, war, more vulnerable to natural disaster and now economic ruin.

Yes it is squarely the fault of the Republicans. Its time for change. Its time for Barack Obama.

Will McCain's Stunt Work?

The man who 6 days ago said: "The Fundamentals of the Economy are Strong." Is trying to convince the American people that he is running to Washington to solve the problem. This is a purely political stunt to draw attention away from his terrible week, and his plummet in the polls.

Lets look at the facts shall we. John McCain a week ago didn't seem to realize there was a problem. Then he was against the bailout for AIG, then he was for the bailout for AIG. McCain is the man with a 26 year history of eliminating all the regulations and safeguards in our banking system that were in place to prevent this from happening, now he wants to fix the problem he created.

This attempt to say this is about leadership and not politics is totally proven false by the fact that Barack Obama called John McCain first at 8:30 this Morning that they put out a joint statement on the issue. John McCain calls Obama back at 2:30 and agrees. Then within minutes he goes in front of the press and pulls this grandstand move asking for the debate to be cancelled.

First of all if John McCain was able to use the technology like "the email" as he calls it, he would have been engaged in this debate at Congress all along. I can assure you Barack Obama has been involved every step of the way. Their physical location in the 21st century is irrelevant to their work on this bill.

Secondly what does a debate at 9pm on Friday night have to do with getting this bill passed. I would hope any President of the United States has the ability to multitask and handle many serious issues at once. If John McCain isn't capable of doing that, then he shouldn't be President.

There are many serious issues going on every day. A major American city drowned while Bush flew to California for a fund raiser. Troops are under fire in Afghanistan and Iraq every day. The economy has been heading this direction for months. Yet now all the sudden the Republicans and McCain decides its time for him to be engaged?

These serious issues are exactly why we need debates for Americans to pick the leader who will handle them. Some people are voting already, Ohio can start to vote in 6 days. The debates should not be postponed.

This is a political stunt pure and simple. Are Americans smart enough to realize that?

Wait Just a Damn Minute!

Ok let me get this straight. Wall street and the big banks were given complete freedom by the "conservatives" like Bush and McCain to do anything they want, any time they want with no significant regulation or oversight. Their theory being that the Free Market will control what will happen better then government.

So they did what they wanted. Many in these institutions made millions creating false wealth, shoddy business practices, giving bad loans and creating all kinds of strange instruments in order to get wealthier and wealthier.

And guess what, the Free Market did work, this bubble of false wealth is bursting. But now they are telling us, that the problem is these institutions got so big and so important in our economy that we have to bail them out.

So now comes George W Bush and Hank Paulson. George who created false crisis to rush our country into war, to pass the Patriot act, the single most devastating law to constitutional rights in our country's history, now wants us to buy that this is another crises and we need to jump in and do something now without thinking about it.

Hank Paulson a former CEO of one of the companies that helped create this mess, Goldman Sachs, now Secretary of the Treasurer, wants Congress to give him $700,000,000,000. He is going to hire "consultants" these would of course be people from these very institutions that mismanaged us into this mess. Then Hank and these other cronies what to protect the people that made millions of this mess by giving their former colleagues our tax money to keep them from losing all their millions they made while most of America suffers.

And here is the kicker. He wants complete authority with no oversight whatsoever. Sound unbelievable? Here is section 8 of the proposed bailout. "Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency."

The money they want to give to their friends and colleagues is your money. It is your children's money. In fact 700 billion is approximately $2500 for every man, woman and child in the United States.

Are you ready to give $2500 of your money to help out the guys who made millions through mismanagement? Then tell them use it anyway you want and we won't watch or review it?

I think not. This is Bush and Hank Paulson trying to raid the safe before they leave the company in a few months.

Obama is saying. Hold up lets look at this. McCain is all over the place as usual. The facts are some bailout will be necessary. But throwing more money without changing the regulatory situation that Bush and McCain created is just plain stupid.
Bailing out those that made millions while leaving the people that were wrong who are losing their homes, is just plain immoral.

We need wisdom from a man like Barack Obama to actually solve the problems that created this mess. Not a transfer of the funds of the U.S. Treasury to the millionaires that created and benefited from it.

How Dare They

This morning I sat and watched George W. Bush preach to us on what is good for the economy. Later he went on to say "I decided to act and act boldly." Then he gave us his apparently new revelation. "Turns out that the collapse of one part of the system affects the whole system."

George W you have lost all credibility in telling anyone what is good for the economy. It is your policies that have crippled not only the U.S. Economy but has put the worlds economy in danger. Claiming that you acted at all especially "boldly" is crap. You Sir have done nothing.

Then yesterday there was John McCain. Mr Keating 5 himself who interfered to stop investigation into a failed savings and loan to lead to the last economic crises. Who preached for 26 years against regulation to let the corporations and banks do whatever they wanted. To allow greed to rule rather then common sense. To put our nations economy at risk. To have a campaign run by the very people that has influenced Congress to allow this to happen. Then you try to blame Barack Obama?

Hypocrites, both. Liars both. You are both directly involved in creating this mess. Americans want change. Not more protections for the corporations so that they can operate on a motive of greed and when they mess up we the taxpayers have to pay to keep them alive?

Yes I am pointing fingers. Because it is clear who is responsible. The Republicans are clearly responsible. It is them that said all regulation is bad. It is them that have given the corporations every thing they want. It is them that allowed greed and profits to grow for the rich on the backs of the middle class. Now suddenly they want government intervention to have the very middle class that has been injured by all of this to now pay to bail them out.

How dare they try to take credit for fixing the problem they created. How dare they ask for us to pay for their greed. How dare they try to blame Barack Obama.

Enough is Enough, It is time for real solutions offered by Barack Obama. Not more money to the corporations that have blown it.

The Economic crises forces McCain to face reality.

For almost a month now the McCain campaign has tried somewhat successfully distract the media and the voters from the real issues in this campaign. By spouting lies and false accusations and distortions. We have been hearing about lipstick, pigs, troopergate, and tanning beds. But and issue has exploded and forced McCain and the media to deal with it. That is the Economy

For 28 years Republicans have been selling the American voter a bill of goods. That it is government that is the problem. It's the regulations, the controls, and the taxes. Privatize everything and market forces will take care of it all. Help the rich and corporations get richer and some will trickle down to you.

Let's look at what has happened.

Oil Companies were deregulated and given tax breaks, they make record profits while prices are crippling the budget of every American and effecting the economy with higher prices in every sector.

Banks were deregulated. They are failing at an alarming rate causing people to lose their savings, pensions and costing taxpayers with bailouts. Record foreclosures causing millions to lose their homes. Others to lose the value of their primary asset.

Corporate tax breaks were given that has resulted in huge bailouts and salaries for CEO's while these corporations ship more and more jobs overseas.

The rich have gotten richer the middle class has gotten poorer. Averages wages have dropped.

What did not happen is that though Bush and McCain wanted to privatize social security they failed. Can you imagine if they had with what has happened in the stock market? Millions of Senior Citizens would be left with nothing.

McCain has again and again over the years fought regulation, blamed government oversight and tried along with the other Republicans to call responsible oversight, regulation and preventative measures everything from "liberal" evils to socialism.

Now suddenly McCain is for Regulation?

John McCain IS partially responsible for this mess after his 32 years of leading us down this path to economic ruin along with his Republican cohorts.

His claiming he can fix it now is like a guy pushing someone in the deep end of the pool and then asking for a reward for saving him from drowning.


Enough is Enough, John McCain. Americans will not fall for your labeling everything "liberal", to your 3 second sound bites that mean nothing.

There is a man that has detailed the policies and changes this country needs in his 3 books, in every speech and in detail in his literature and web site. A man that has had consistent views and plans on what changes this Economy needs, unlike McCain that came up with his plan yesterday. That man is Barack Obama. He is the President Americans need.

McCain's Friends

Help Moveon.org air this ad

McCain's Lie of the Day:The Economy

McLiar had this to say yesterday on CNBC. "I understand the economy. I was chairman of the Commerce Committee that oversights every part of our economy."

According to the Washington Post this is actually what the Commerce Committee does:

The full list of Commerce Committee oversight areas follows:


1. Coast Guard.
2. Coastal zone management.
3. Communications.
4. Highway safety.
5. Inland waterways, except construction.
6. Interstate commerce.
7. Marine and ocean navigation, safety, and transportation, including
navigational aspects of deepwater ports.
8. Marine fisheries.
9. Merchant marine and navigation.
10. Nonmilitary aeronautical and space sciences.
11. Oceans, weather, and atmospheric activities.
12. Panama Canal and interoceanic canals generally, except as provided
in subparagraph (c).
13. Regulation of consumer products and services, including testing
related to toxic substances, other than pesticides, and except for
credit, financial services, and housing.
14. Regulation of interstate common carriers, including railroads,
buses, trucks, vessels, pipelines, and civil aviation.
15. Science, engineering, and technology research and development and
policy.
16. Sports.
17. Standards and measurement.
18. Transportation.
19. Transportation and commerce aspects of Outer Continental Shelf
lands.

But if McCain really wants credit for this mess the Republicans have created who like him have eliminated every regulation to prevent this banking crises from happening then it's all his.

Also today in McCain's new ad, "Enough", he says: "I won't tolerate a system that puts you and your family at risk. Your savings, your job."

Oh really, for decades McCain has worked to eliminate every regulation that does protect our families and savings. Speaking of savings, when McCain took money to intercede on the behalf of now convicted savings and loan felon, Charles Keating, who's savings was McCain protecting then?

McLiar's New Ad: Crisis

Here is the text of McLiar's new ad on the Economy.


"Our economy in crisis. Only proven reformers John McCain and (vice presidential candidate name banned from this web site) can fix it."

Proven reformers? McCain has voted with Bush 90% of the time. How is the Bush Economy working out for you. His Vice Presidential Candidate took a town of 6000, that was financially sound and left it in huge debt."

"Tougher rules on Wall Street to protect your life savings."

Really now? This would upset the lobbyists that run McLiar's campaign. In particular his Chief Economic advisor, Phil Graham who was the architect of the banking reform bill that has created this mess in the first place.

"No special interest giveaways."
Lets see, 150 lobbyists are part of McCain's campaign. The VP candidate requested a higher number of earmarks then any other state in the union, and requested 27 Million in earmarks for a town of 6000, people.

"Lower taxes to create new jobs."

Oh yes lower taxes for the rich and corporations and it will trickle down to the middle class. Yes this has been the Republican plan since Reagan now, how is this working out?

Here is the truth on the Tax plans:
Your Tax Cut with Obama


"Offshore drilling to reduce gas prices."
Oh yes drill here drill now, so that our gas prices in 2030 may come down a few cents, what from $8 a gallon to $7.97?

Smoke, mirrors and simplistic do nothing solutions. McCain clearly offers more of the same.