Tag: Film

Bush Administration Blames Bill Clinton for Deficit

Trish

It’s not just me and you who don’t have enough money to go around. The Bush administration has pushed the government to the point of bankruptcy too. Starting Oct. 1, when the 2009 fiscal year begins, we are toast.

We have just got to get somebody smart in the Oval Office again. America can’t survive another mean-spirited, half-wit puppet president.

The White House on Monday predicted a record deficit of $490 billion for the 2009 budget year, a senior government official told CNN.

The deficit would amount to roughly 3.5 percent of the nation’s $14 trillion economy.

The official pointed to a faltering economy and the bipartisan $170 billion stimulus package that passed earlier this year for the record deficit.

As one economist said at the time of the stimulus proposal,

Let’s drop the euphemism of “stimulus package” and call this agreement by its proper name: “deficit spending.”

The Bush administration has been the borrow and spend ticket since it came to power. When, in the history of the world, has a government simultaneously cut taxes (for the rich) and funded war? There’s a reason the answer to that question is: never.

President Bush inherited a budget surplus of $128 billion when he took office in 2001 but has since posted a budget deficit every year.

The Bush administration has spent heavily on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and faces a large budget shortfall in tax revenue because of Bush’s tax cuts and a souring economy.

So who do they blame for the current state of affairs? Give yourself a gold star if you answered, “Bill Clinton.”

…the senior administration official says the budgetary problems stem from what is believed to be inadequate defense, intelligence and homeland security resources that were handed down from Clinton.

Oh please.

[Democratic North Dakota Sen. Kent] Conrad, who chairs the Senate’s budget committee, accused the president of “squandering” the surplus he inherited from President Bill Clinton and said the increased debt the government has taken on to cover the deficit has undermined the value of the dollar and hurt the overall economy.

“If they gave out Olympic medals for fiscal irresponsibility, President Bush would take the gold, silver and bronze,” Conrad said. “With his eight years in office, he will have had the five highest deficits ever recorded. And the highest of those deficits is now projected to come in 2009, as he leaves office.”

And speaking of Bush leaving office, I have a confession to make. I used to think, back when the Republican primary was ongoing, that it might not be so bad if John McCain were their nominee. I looked at the nut jobs he was running against, plus I accepted some of the “maverick,” decent guy crapola that I now see is completely false.

Even worse, watching McCain campaign the past month or so, I truly, truly believe he is as dumb as the Current Occupant. We have just got to get somebody smart in the Oval Office again. America can’t survive another mean-spirited, half-wit puppet president.

Oil Spill Comes as Floridians are Told Drilling is Safe

Trish

Is this the future for Florida?

A chemical tanker collided today with a fuel barge from one of three nearby refineries in the Mississippi River near New Orleans, causing the barge to split in half and spill 420,000 gallons of oil into the waterways.

A sheen at least 12 miles long spread down river, and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality said efforts were being made to minimize the impact on air and water quality and wildlife.

Drinking water intakes were diverted or closed in the area and citizens were asked to conserve water use to maximize supplies on hand pending resumption of water treatment operations, the New Orleans water department said.

Floridians have been told that Louisiana and Alabama allow drilling off their coasts and nothing bad ever happens to them. Right.

The Coast Guard has deployed 45,000 feet of inflatable booms to contain the spill and is lining up another 29,000 feet, but it could be days before the river is reopened, she said.

The accident left a sheen over 90 percent of the area, she said.

However, the spill is much smaller than the ones that followed Hurricane Katrina in 2005, when the Coast Guard estimated that more than 7 million gallons of oil were dumped into the Mississippi and nearby waterways.

While the accident is still under investigation, you can’t help but wonder if rough seas in the wake of Hurricane Dolly are partly to blame. But then again, Floridians been assured that oil operations always stand up to any weather challenge.

Of T. Boone Pickens, Al Franken, and Hope for the Planet

Trish

T. Boone Pickens has done the impossible. The billionaire Texas oil man changed my father, a man who listens to entirely too much talk radio, from saying that oil alternatives are so much flooey and we should get real and drill in Alaska, to saying we must look beyond oil for our energy future. This commercial did it.

Al Franken was right when he said the Bush Administration is to global warming what Herbert Hoover was to the Great Depression

Pickens is one of many people who believe in the concept of “peak oil.” They state that at some very recent point, like 2005, we reached the top of the bell curve of potential oil reserves on the planet, and it’s downhill from here. They believe we have already used, therefore, more than half of the earth’s oil, and the finite resource will grow only rarer in the years ahead. I — like you probably — think they’re right. And even if we haven’t peaked yet, it’s only a question of when.

T. Boone’s “Pickens Plan” proposes using wind energy to power homes and businesses, and calls the Great Plains, “the Saudi Arabia of wind power.”

A 2005 Stanford University study found that there is enough wind power worldwide to satisfy global demand 7 times over — even if only 20% of wind power could be captured.

Building wind facilities in the corridor that stretches from the Texas panhandle to North Dakota could produce 20% of the electricity for the United States at a cost of $1 trillion. It would take another $200 billion to build the capacity to transmit that energy to cities and towns.

That’s a lot of money, but it’s a one-time cost. And compared to the $700 billion we spend on foreign oil every year, it’s a bargain.

True that. He also calls for cleaner burning and more efficient natural gas to fuel our cars. Bush’s beloved corn-based ethanol? Puh-lease!

The funny thing is that Pickens isn’t even trying to get through to George W. Bush. He knows a lost cause when he sees it.

[…]

Florida’s Economy Tanks as Governor and Girlfriend Party in Europe

Trish

Photo from the governor’s web site. Caption reads, “Governor Charlie Crist and Carol (sic) Rome with His Royal Highness, Charles Philip Arthur George, The Prince of Wales.”

Floridians who still read a morning newspaper drank their coffee over this bad news.

Florida’s economic slump is worse than state economists had predicted earlier this year, and now they say it’ll last about six months longer than previously expected.

Their February outlook had been for recovery to start about a year from now, but a new update says things probably won’t begin turning around until the end of 2009.

“It’s a bit more bleak than it was originally,” legislative economist Amy Baker said Thursday.

Carole Rome’s engagement ring

The housing market, which boomed bigger in Florida than the rest of the country, went bust-er here as well. Dried-up credit wells mean less businesses willing to take risks in the state. Tourists are staying home because of their own money woes, which leave them unable to afford the gas or airfare to come here, or the prices once they arrive. After all, one-day tickets to Disney’s Magic Kingdom are $71 each for ages 10 and up, and that’s just for park entry. A hamburger and soda will run you at least $10.

So it’s not looking good if you’re a Floridian…unless you’re Charlie Crist or his fiancee, Carole Rome. While we get the bad news back home, they’re whooping it up in Europe, schmoozing with royalty, ambassadors, and the media. In what is billed as an economic development mission, the governor and his intended are having a blast on the taxpayer’s dollar.

Rome’s soon to be ex-husband was said to be divorcing her for her profligate ways and expensive tastes. Charlie Crist, longtime “bachelor” and a lifer on the public dole, doesn’t even own a house. But thanks to people like me — and her willingness to marry a man long reported to be gay — Carole can live in the governor’s mansion and spend summers in Europe.

Republicans are great at lecturing the rest of us to pull our weight so government won’t have to provide for us. Are they thinking if we did, there would be more there for them?

Find Out How Others Were Stimulated

Trish

It’s not Friday but it feels like it is, and you know what that means! Time to goof off and kill work hours online until the parties start. And have I got the fritter-er for you.

www.HowISpentMyStimulus.com is a bizarre cross between MySpace and PostSecret, but of course the subject is how people spent their stimulus checks. Some of it is pretty stimulating.

  • Vials of sperm (shipping not included)
  • A tiny garden behind a teeny, tiny house
  • Payment toward a new president (contribution to Obama campaign)
  • Annual check-up and shots for yellow Lab
  • Child’s club foot surgery
  • “A nice fat sack of Herbage”

And on and on. The site is nicely done, and for some reason I probably don’t want to understand, utterly fascinating. Go see.

Thinking of Trading Cars for Better Gas Mileage? Visit this Site First

Trish

Buck’s post on his family’s decision about which car to drive highlighted a question many people are asking. He and his wife chose wisely, according to an amazing web site everyone should use: www.fueleconomy.gov. Among other things, the site allows you to compare two vehicles side by side and see how much you can expect to spend on fuel.

To use Buck’s example, he will probably get 31 mpg city and 39 highway with his 1994 Suzuki Swift, for a combined total of 34 mpg — exactly what he reported. His 1999 Isuzu Rodeo, on the other hand, will likely only get 18 mpg in city driving and 22 on the road, for an average of 20 mpg. But the comparisons don’t stop there.

It will cost Buck & Co. $3 to drive the Suzuki 25 miles because it will use .74 gallons of gas. That will add up to an annual fuel cost of $1,799, based on average miles. The Isuzu, however, will cost $5.10 to drive 25 miles and will burn 1.25 gallons of gas, for an annual cost of $3,060. Huge difference!

We’re not done yet. At the end of 12 months, the Suzuki will have used 10.1 barrels of oil while the Isuzu will burn up 17.1 barrels. Finally, the carbon footprint on the Suzuki, on a scale of 3.5 to 16.2, is only 5.4. The Isuzu? A much bigger 9.2.

If you’re trying to figure out whether trading your gas guzzler will make sense, use this site. You’ll keep from miscalculating something that could cost you mucho dinero down the line.

And Buck, one more thing. No matter which car you choose, install a K&N air filter. I did, and I’m now getting one extra trip to Jacksonville on a tank of gas. And while I’m sure you wouldn’t want a trip to J-ville, period, it’s a big help to me.

Is Your Car Gaining Value? Mine Is

Buck Banks

I don’t drive much. I either ride a bike or walk to work, and confine my driving mostly to one day on the weekend when we run errands, do the grocery shopping and go to brunch at Burger Bob’s.

But we are a two-car family, though my wife also mostly walks or rides to work. The car that we use for getting around and hauling everything from furniture to garden supplies and kayaks is a white 1999 Isuzu Rodeo. The other is a white 1994 Suzuki Swift, which has fallen into disrepair due to neglect and disuse.
swift.jpg
Although we were considering buying a new hybrid, with a kid in college and one about to start, it seemed prudent to rehabilitate Swifty and use it as our main vehicle for getting around town. The thing only has 48,000 miles on it, but the exterior is looking pretty bad from the ravages of the South Florida climate, falling mangoes and hurricanes. The interior, however, is like new.

So we took it down to the corner gas station to have it fixed up, and Kathy went online to try and locate some parts we need, like the antenna that was lost in Hurricane Wilma. Fixing Swifty up ain’t cheap — it cost us about $900 to put on new tires, belts, brake pads, change all the filters, etc. And we’re going to have it painted so we’re not embarrassed to drive it.

It’s fun to drive, with its zippy little four-cylinder engine and five-speed manual transmission. And it gets more than 30 miles per gallon around town, 35 on the highway.

The interesting thing is we have come to find that Swifty has gained value while we couldn’t give the Rodeo away if we wanted to. Indeed, the guy at the gas station put it inside the bay and locked it up at night, leaving much higher-priced SUVs parked in the unfenced lot, because, he said, Swifty was more likely to get stolen.

In searching for parts online, we came across an advert for the same car, same year, but with 150,000 miles on it listed for $2,195. That may not sound like much, but when I bought the car 14 years ago, it only cost $7,400, and the Blue Book value is just $700. I found another listing for $10,000, but those were Australian dollars and the car had been “customized” by someone with more money than taste or sense.

Kathy’s co-worker wants to buy it. Our pizza delivery guy wants to buy it. Our Haitian mechanic wants to buy it and send it to Haiti where he says it’s the preferred vehicle of car dealers.

But I think we’re going to keep old Swifty. I have a feeling that as the price of gas rises, so will the value of our 14-year-old subcompact hatchback.

McCain: “I’m Not a Dumb F**k on the Economy”

Trish

Remember when John McCain admitted, as is his straight-talkin’ maverick-elicious wont, months ago that he’s not really up on the economy? Well so does everybody else. And now he’s backpedaling like Lance Armstrong.

McCain has tried previously to deny that he ever claimed ignorance of economic matters, but that quote won’t go away

The original remark…slipped out last December in New Hampshire when McCain said, “The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should.” He went on to joke, “I have Greenspan’s book,” referring to the biography that has just been published at the time by former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

McCain has tried previously to deny that he ever claimed ignorance of economic matters, but that quote won’t go away.

No, even on a campaign stop/vacation in Columbia to address Americans’ greatest concern right now (for those who guessed the e-word again, you’re wrong), the War on Drugs, his candid and witty moment follows him.

…”Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts…asked McCain why he went abroad when the No. 1 issue for voters was the U.S. economy.

“You have admitted that you’re not exactly an expert when it comes to the economy,” Roberts began.

“I have not. I have not. I actually have not,” McCain interrupted. “I said that I am stronger on national security issues because of all the time I spent in the military. Very strong on the economy. I understand it. I have a lot more experience than my opponent.”

Let’s recap. McCain is very strong on the economy. He understands it and everything. Hey, I’m convinced. But how come he has no ideas on what to do about anything, you know, economic?

“I’m not ignoring the economy,” he said. “I’ve been speaking about it over the last two weeks.” McCain said a key to reviving the economy is ending the country’s dependence on foreign oil, and he ticked off elements of his energy plan, including more offshore oil drilling and nuclear power plants along with increased use of wind, solar and clean coal technology.

See? McCain understands the economy. Or is it energy? If you were hoping he’d weigh in on the credit and housing crises, keep waiting. When asked what he’d do about that stuff, McCain said, “Uh, I got nothing.”

[Las Vegas Sun’s Jon Ralston asks about the foreclosure bill in Congress]

[McCain] It is imperfect but I am also saying, and I may not have said this a month ago, we may have to do more.

[Ralston: “Like what?”]

[McCain] I don’t know, but we may have to do more…The housing crisis continues to deepen…

Just call McCain the Man with the Plan…for the War on Drugs.

McFlipflop: McCain Reverses Stand on Offshore Drilling in Just 18 Days

Jon Ponder

On May 29, McCain said offshore drilling would have no effect in the short term. Just 18 days later, he said it would:

John McCain, June 16, 2008: Providing additional incentives for states to permit exploration off their coasts would be very helpful in the short term in resolving our energy crisis.

John McCain, May 29, 2008: But I also have to tell you that with those resources, which would take years to develop, it would only postpone or temporarily relieve our dependency on fossil fuels.

McCain’s statement in May is correct.According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), it would take five years to get production started off shore, and in the offshore drills would increase domestic supply by 7 percent — in 22 years. The EIA describes the effect of offshore drilling, in both the short term and the long term, as “insignificant.”

So, on June 16, it appears McCain bent the truth to score a political point. If so, there really is no difference between him and George W. Bush.