Weekend Update - Feeling a Little Gassy Lately?

Can someone - anyone - tell me why gas prices are so high?  No, really.  Now that I'm retired I should be out driving around, visiting friends and relatives, traveling a little, getting some "me time."  But I damn near have to take out a loan just to fill up the tank before the trip, and gawdhelpme I have to do it again when I get home.  What's the deal?  Oil prices are down, demand is down, supply is up, and gas prices just keep going up.  Why isn't congress launching a huge investigation and pounding their fists on their respective podiums demanding inquiries and law suits and arrests?  Oh wait, I think I know ...

• "According to current estimates, OPEC member countries have made significant additions to their oil reserves in recent years … As a result, OPEC's proven oil reserves currently stand at well above 1,190 billion barrels."  And that's a report from OPEC's own website.
• The price of gas keeps going up, and our standard of living keeps going down because of it.  The oil companies get away with, of course, because those giant billion dollar a year profits makers have congress, and even presidential campaigns in their pockets. Let's face it folks, there ain't much we can do about it. 
• And oh does the money flow when those high flying horse dancing Republicans get together for a weekend of fun, frivolity, and $15 a glass Scotch.  Money seems to be no object for these people.  Do you think they managed to talk about how high gas prices are affecting the poor in America?  Nah, why spoil a good party?
• But we all know that corporations are people, according to our beloved Supreme Court, and now Mitch McConnell thinks proposed legislation requiring companies to disclose their campaign spending would stifle their free speech. He describes the current push to disclose the sources behind campaign contributions as a “political weapon,” used by the Democrats, “to expose its critics to harassment and intimidation.” Most of us call that accountability.
• Let's assume you're a congressman.  Lobbyists come before you to influence you to vote for whatever giant multimillion dollar company they work for, and because of all the handouts and perks you receive from them, you vote in favor of that company.  But before you do, you call your broker and buy up some of that company's stock.  And because of your vote the stock goes up and you make millions.  In most places that's called "insider trading." Pretty neat little trick, right?  Should be illegal, right?  Guess what ...

Apparently It's Summer

(Today is the day of the Summer Solstice, the first day of Summer.  Except in Oregon.  We're always just 48 hours away from a rain shower.  The other day it got up to almost 80 degrees so the boy and I went down and bought a pool for the back yard.  He played in it one day.  The next day it rained.  Phooey.  I'm depressed.  But I digress ...)

• Samuel Werzelbacher, the bald-headed douchebag also known as "Joe the Plumber," is running for congress in Ohio.  Sam's big on gun ownership, and loves to shoot fruit and vegetables while declaring his love for America.  He also claims, as a "student of history," that the Holocaust was caused by gun control.  “In 1939, Germany established gun control. From 1939 to 1945, six million Jews and seven million others unable to defend themselves were exterminated,” says Sam.  Sam made a video the other day, and his campaign spokesman, Phil Christofanelli, maintains it's not at all offensive.  You be the judge.
• I like this statement: If you have to lie to make your case, maybe your case isn't so strong. Mitt Romney just doesn't grasp that concept apparently.  In a stump speech Monday the Mittster said this:  "a doctor told him that he had to fill out a 33-page change-of-address form, several times, to get the post office to send his mail—including reimbursement checks—to his new location. That is what happens with government-run organizations where you have 'no competition.'"  Is he really that clueless?  Have you ever changed your address?  A post card.  Two minutes on-line.  Good grief.
• Strange things are floating ashore over here on the West Coast.  Here in Oregon an enormous floating dock from Japan's tsunami washed right up on the beach.  Further north of us other objects including a car have washed ashore.  But in California they're worried about "radioactive buckyballs."  Seems that Japan's tsunami-damaged nuclear reactors at its Fukushima complex have blasted out soccerball-sized objects that are said to have been formed when water hit the super-heated, primarily uranium-oxide, fuel in the damaged reactors.  Kind of takes the fun out of beachcombing, don't it?
• So what happened over there at Facebook?  It went public and everyone was thinking ohmygawd I've got to sell everything I have and buy shares and we're all going to be rich rich rich!  And then ... nothing happened.  Mark Morford reports "Facebook In Sweet Decline."

Here's Some News

(Arthur has returned from his trip to China and files this report.)

When I was traveling overseas I was pleasantly surprised by the Bloomberg News International Channel, that seemed far less blindly pro-business than CNBC or any of the other Business channels. It appeared to be focused on reporting news, rather than manufacturing it. Mayor Bloomberg sounds like a complete tool, but his television channel and his news service may be worth paying attention to. Polls are only as good as their design and their questions. Bloomberg seems to have come up with quite different results from Rasmussen (a GOP front) and the more mainstream (or so I thought) pollsters like Gallup. One thing that one can say about Bloomberg is that he is so wealthy that he couldn't be bought, whereas the others? Not so clear that they could not be swayed by some generous backhanders. Think it couldn't happen in this great country? Umm, think again. Karl Rove's secret PAC has been raising gazillions, and that is just the public part of the process. Anyone who thinks that there isn't any black money floating around this election year should sit down and think about it for a moment. It has been estimated that Mitt Romney will be asked to pay up to five million dollars a year more in taxes if he isn't able to (a) win the election, and (b) stop the Bush tax cuts from expiring as they are scheduled to do. Oh, and that huge deficit that means that we should short-change retirees and demolish Medicare, Social Security, Welfare, Education, Road building, Medical research, Student Loans, Firemen, Policemen and Teachers? That would not exist, were it not for the "Bush Tax Cuts". In a recent speech Bush said he wished those tax cuts had a different name, since he did not enjoy hearing about how negative their impact had been. Tsk, tsk, poor little Georgie!

 

I continue to be strongly of the opinion that the American people have every right to create massive boycotts of Billionaires who donate to Super PACs. I think the entire Super PAC model and the "Citizens United" decision by the Supreme Court was a travesty and a disgusting perversion of the principles our country stands for. The Supreme Court needs some retirements and replacements of the ideological stiffs who have brought us such poor decisions. Given who got them in office, it would also be fair to describe it as the "Bush Court", though that might give George an additional bit of pain and tentative connection to reality.

 

What I find fascinating in the Bloomberg poll is that the majority of Americans appear quite able to see what a sheltered and entitled tool Mitt Romney is. I find that quite encouraging. I was interested to read that Romney recently got a $77,000 tax write-off for losses associated with his part ownership of a "dancing horse". I don't wish to appear to be a hayseed, but a dancing horse? Seriously? Presumably one that enters into "dancing horse competitions"? Wow. The Late Night comedians must be sending Romney thank you notes.

 

Arthur

The Nervous Republicans

Being a Rookie Retiree (barely three months out of the chute) I'm beginning to see things I never noticed when I was working everyday.  Things like the growth rate of grass.  I swear I could mow the lawn in our backyard every other day, it grows that fast.  And cats.  Ever wonder what your cats do all day when you're at work?  Well it's nothing to write a book about, I'll tell ya.  They do absolutely nothing.  Oh they'll occasionally get up and waddle over to their food dish and eat a couple morsels of crunchy Indoor Weight and Hairball Care, but then it's back to the exact spot they've been lying in since dawn.  Cats are to retirement like peel is to a banana.  No, I will not explain that.  Another thing I've noticed since I've been retired is that there's really not much on television during the day worth watching.  Believe me, I've watched most of it.  (Note: The tolerance-time-period for whistling the theme from The Andy Griffith Show is about two hours.  After that time, apparently your wife is legally authorized to kill you.)  And here's something else I've learned:  There really IS nothing that has to be done today, that can't be put off until tomorrow.  But I digress ...

• Ever heard of Gary Johnson?  You probably have somewhere.  He "the other guy" running for President.  Gary Johnson's name will be on the ballot in every state this election, right next to, or immediately following, Barak Obama and Mitt "the Barber" Romney.  Johnson started out as a Republican candidate for president, but dropped out to run for the Libertarian nomination after the former New Mexico governor’s brand of socially liberal, fiscally extremely conservative politics (for the uninitiated, Johnson’s for legalizing pot, he’s pro-choice, pro-gay marriage and he wants to slash the federal budget by more than $1 trillion in his first budget) failed to gain any traction in the crowded GOP primary.  I saw an interview with him the other day and was rather impressed with his demeanor.  The time restriction didn't allow Johnson to delve too deeply into his convictions but he seemed like a reasonable fellow.  Perhaps those of you who just can't bring yourselves to vote for President Obama for whatever reason, should take a good hard look at this fellow.  He might be talking your language.  And he's making the Romney camp nervous.
• Apparently Jeb Bush, brother of Dubya, is getting his head straight on the thought of retirement from Republican politics, and I hope this means we no longer have to worry about him becoming a candidate in the future.  He had the audacity the other day to say his father, the aging and increasingly confused George H.W. Bush, and the still deceased Ronald Reagan would have a hard time fitting in with the current leadership of the Republican Party, the tea baggers.  Criticize the Tea Party?  Ohmygawd. And now The Pope of the Republican Party, Grover Norquist, has called him "foolish," and stopped just short of calling Jeb Bush "stupid."  Goodnite Jebboy.
• What happens when a clergy person -- a minister, a priest, a rabbi, an imam -- realizes he doesn't believe in God?  Well, they're calling it a "major threat" to religion.  You know something's going right when even clergymen begin to realize that god is just a dangerous myth.  Check out this fascinating story Clergy People Coming Out as Atheists.

Weekend Update - Misc. Edition

• So you think Willard Cummerbund Romney would be a good President who would represent all the people in America?  really?  Do you have your own personal car elevator?  Are you worth $250 million and still call yourself "unemployed?"  Do you randomly make $10,000 bets with people?  Do you even know what "dressage" is?  Please, do me a favor, think again. 
• The times they are a-changin', goes the song, and being in the latter part of my sixth decade I can attest to that fact.  Tolerance is actually, finally growing in America, in spite of some still very closed minds in our society.  Mark Morford writes "It's OK to be a little amazed. The U.S. military -- after no small amount of legal coercion and serious scowling -- has now officially outpaced the church, the GOP, social conservatives, Mormons, black preachers, Mitt Romney, Fox News and your Republican grandparents in nearly all matters of gender, female empowerment and fundamental sexual freedom. Is it not a thing?"  All the Dead People Say Yes.
• They hung George W. Bush the other day.  Well, let me rephrase that, Dubya's picture was hung in the White House, and for a while it seemed the press corps was almost nostalgic for the good old days of foul ups like Afghanistan, Iraq, Katrina, and Bin Laden.  It doesn't look too good for President Obama right now, he seems to be slipping in the public eye.  It'll cost you $10 for a magnetic 2012 campaign bumper sticker.  Maureen Dowd brings all this together with "Dreaming of a Superhero."
• We're past Memorial Day now, and along with thousands of other people around here I paid my respects at the resting sites of several relatives and friends.  I decided to wear my Vietnam Veteran's hat, just 'cause, and as usual when I wear it in public I got several comments of "welcome back" from the usual crowd of well meaning people.  But there's always something about that phrase that's bothered me.  In this article from Truthout, a Marine veteran attempts to explain that feeling.  "Don't Thank Me for My Service."
• Washington D.C. has a wonderful environment-saving program consisting of free bicycles planted around town for people to use when they need them, in lieu of driving or hailing a cab.  Good idea, don't you think?  Actually, according to some Conservatives, it's all a COMMUNIST PLOT!
• One of my "never-miss" programs on the tube is "The Daily Show."  Host Jon Stewart on Wednesday was feeling down about the 2012 presidential election. It’s “going to suck,” he said in a defeated whisper. But then — out of nowhere — a gift from the comedy gods!  We're ALL thankful for Donald Trump.  Watch the video here.

Pre-Weekend Update - Stupider Edition

(The family is leaving town for the Memorial Day weekend, attending birthday parties and going shopping on the Oregon Coast, so here's your Weekend Update in advance.  See you Monday!)

• I've visited several states in the South, I even lived in Texas for a year or so, and I found that for the most part the people who are raised there and stay there all their lives are decent, polite, and charming people.  But I also noticed that under all the "y'all's" and the "ahm fixin' to's" was the constant hum of racism.  Back in the sixties I asked a white haired gentleman what he thought of the marching and the protests that were going strong at the time.  He told me he couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about because "we've always treated our negroes good."  He figured all the fuss was being caused by "northern agitators from Chicago."  I, of course, was appalled, and determined to get back to the sanity of Oregon as soon as possible.  Forty five years later I've begun to realize that racism, as well as other forms of intolerance, are spreading across America.  Mark Morford reports on "All the States That Hate You."
• How much would YOU pay for a vial of Ronald Reagan's blood?  Would you pay $30,000?  Of course you would.  However, I must sadly inform you the auction has been cancelled, for some silly reason.  I guess some people just don't have a sense of humor.
• Arizona's  Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is undoubtedly feeling better now that the State of Hawaii has verified President Obama's birth certificate.  If anyone an come up with an intelligent reason why Arizona has become the weirdest state in the union, I'd love to hear it.
• Ever paid an enormous amount for movie tickets to see a movie you really really want to see and some parent with two or three kids sit right behind you and talk and talk and throw popcorn at you and your date?  No?  Well, if it does happen, here's what you do.  First, jump up and hit the 10-year-old in the face.  A hero is born ...
• "This week’s NATO summit on the future of the war in Afghanistan probably did not get to the matter of burn pits or abandoned latrines. These are the details of hell."  The war in Afghanistan continues.  It's time to end this nonsense (Where's that "Mission Accomplished" sign?) once and for all and bring our troops home.  Robert Koehler gives us "The Pits of Hell."
• Did you know that Americans currently pay just about the lowest taxes in the entire world?  So just what exactly is the Republicans problem?  Oh, you know.  Timothy Geithner takes a moment to carefully explain why they are so stupid.
• It's official:  Watching FOX News makes you stupider.  Well, we told you that years ago, so just consider this a reminder.

"Job Creators"

Having Mitt the Barber run for President may have the effect of shining a light on the ultra-wealthy and their tax benefits. If so, the legacy of Mitt's run may prove ironically very, very good for our economy and our society, while leaving all of his exceptionally wealthy friends with a painful hangover, wishing fervently that Mitt had just stayed home.

I heard this guy on the radio yesterday and he seemed to be making very good sense. He originally did this short video for something called "TED", a website with a series of four to twenty minute clips about various subjects, but the organizers of "TED" felt that this clip was "too controversial" for them to post. When something that is not advocating violence or insurrection is seen as seditious, that can often be a cue that it might be seen as having a considerable impact on society.

TED is at: http://www.ted.com/

(BTW:)   By the way, I don't know anything about TED, I just found it fascinating that they were too paranoid to let this guy's video be aired after he recorded it, lest they invite the wrath of the Entitled Ones. I think his seditious ideas warrant far more distribution.

Arthur