I often think that we need either a third party, or sort of a split of the two parties so we can get more options, but I see the benefit of a two party system also. But, I maintain no allegiance to either party. However, the Democratic Party is becoming more appealing everyday, while the Republicans run away from me.
Go the official National Republican website and the official National Democratic website. You will begin to see what I mean. What do these two sites have most in common? Barack Obama. He is featured on both sites prominently. He being mentioned on both sites should come as no surprise but, Sen. John McCain takes a secondary role on his own party's site. I fully expect the opposing candidate to be bashed on a party's website, but that should be secondary to the positives of your own candidate.
Anti Obama links are prominent on the RNC website, while voter registration and calls to actually educate yourself are on the DNC website.
The Republicans are known for their negative campaign tactics but, they should learn a lesson from the Democrats. The Democrats learned in 2004, that you cannot run against a candidate, you have to run a candidate. The Anybody But Bush campaign that was the 2004 Democratic Presidential campaign was unsuccessful. No matter how unpopular your opponent is, you must first prove why your candidate is superior. Also, Obama is far more popular than Bush.
Bottom Line? Get used to hearing President Obama.
Rabbit
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Shale
This is related to the last post.
Oil shale?
Do not tell me we need to use oil shale if you do not know what it is.
Bottom Line? If we get to the point that we need to use oil shale. I promise you we are in deep trouble.
Rabbit
Oil shale?
Do not tell me we need to use oil shale if you do not know what it is.
Bottom Line? If we get to the point that we need to use oil shale. I promise you we are in deep trouble.
Rabbit
Drill Me--- No Sex Jokes Please
The new political solution for lowering gas prices is to drill off the shores of the United States.
What happened to the gas tax holiday? I was totally looking forward to that 18 cent a gallon break. That would mean $1.80 less for a tank, which would make that tripling of gas prices since I started driving completely worth it. Not to mention, how much I was hoping I could get to drive over potholes everyday because there would not be any money for road maintenance and construction.
As you probably expect or already know, the Bush Administration is pushing for offshore drilling. My first argument against this policy is not based in any fact about the pros or cons of offshore drilling. It is about credibility. The Bush Administration is the same group that told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, that Iraq would use them on us, that Iraq was directly connected to 9/11, that Valerie Plame was not a CIA operative, that Scooter Libby should not go to jail, that the government should not pay for all of a veteran's college tuition, that social security is going bankrupt, and that China is drilling for oil off the coast of Florida.
So why should we believe their claims now?
Now, if everything the Bush Administration is saying about offshore drilling is true, let's think about what may happen if we allow this to happen.
Hurricanes: Offshore drilling proponents point to how well oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico held up during Hurricane Katrina. But, what about oil and gas prices? They spiked. Hurricane Katrina was our first taste of $3.00 per gallon of gas. So, less than three years later what are we considering? Putting more oil rigs into the ocean? If we get more of our oil from the ocean, the price will spike even more, every time there is a hurricane.
Environment: Completely ignoring the obvious environmental impact of continuing our current oil consumption, let's examine the environmental impact of just getting the oil. Destroyed reefs, depleted fish populations, and of course the oil spills are but a few reasons not to do it. Sometimes, when people criticize environmental groups, I just want to tell them to google "ecosystem."
Local Economics: Tourism is a huge industry for many of our coastal towns. As a North Carolina native, I know our fragile Outer Banks are an asset, both as a barrier and as a tourist destination. While the claim has been made that we will not be able to see the rigs from the coast, I imagine boaters and fisherman do not want to ride past oil rigs. Tourists also do not want to compete with roughnecks for hotel and restaurant space. Tourists want clean oceans. Also, tourists want to spend money in places that have few ways of getting money otherwise.
What are we getting?: The most generous projections give us about 20 billion barrels of oil. We consume over 20 million barrels a day. That means we would have enough oil to last us two and a half years. If we go through with this policy, leasing would start in 2012, production would start in 2017, and we'd actually get the oil in 2030 (And you liberals think the Bush Administration doesn't care about the future). So this means we get 2 1/2 years of oil, 22 years from now.
Alternatives: I might actually consider offshore drilling if it were easy and a quick solution. But, in twenty years, we could be completely off of our oil addiction. How? It is not simple, but it starts with pressure. Pressure on our automakers to increase the viability of hybrids, electric, and hydrogen fuel cells. Pressure on our government, particularly local governments to increase public transportation. Most of all, we need pressure on ourselves to actually accept new technology and also conserve.
Bottom Line? There should be a National Slap an Oil Executive Day.
Rabbit
What happened to the gas tax holiday? I was totally looking forward to that 18 cent a gallon break. That would mean $1.80 less for a tank, which would make that tripling of gas prices since I started driving completely worth it. Not to mention, how much I was hoping I could get to drive over potholes everyday because there would not be any money for road maintenance and construction.
As you probably expect or already know, the Bush Administration is pushing for offshore drilling. My first argument against this policy is not based in any fact about the pros or cons of offshore drilling. It is about credibility. The Bush Administration is the same group that told us that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, that Iraq would use them on us, that Iraq was directly connected to 9/11, that Valerie Plame was not a CIA operative, that Scooter Libby should not go to jail, that the government should not pay for all of a veteran's college tuition, that social security is going bankrupt, and that China is drilling for oil off the coast of Florida.
So why should we believe their claims now?
Now, if everything the Bush Administration is saying about offshore drilling is true, let's think about what may happen if we allow this to happen.
Hurricanes: Offshore drilling proponents point to how well oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico held up during Hurricane Katrina. But, what about oil and gas prices? They spiked. Hurricane Katrina was our first taste of $3.00 per gallon of gas. So, less than three years later what are we considering? Putting more oil rigs into the ocean? If we get more of our oil from the ocean, the price will spike even more, every time there is a hurricane.
Environment: Completely ignoring the obvious environmental impact of continuing our current oil consumption, let's examine the environmental impact of just getting the oil. Destroyed reefs, depleted fish populations, and of course the oil spills are but a few reasons not to do it. Sometimes, when people criticize environmental groups, I just want to tell them to google "ecosystem."
Local Economics: Tourism is a huge industry for many of our coastal towns. As a North Carolina native, I know our fragile Outer Banks are an asset, both as a barrier and as a tourist destination. While the claim has been made that we will not be able to see the rigs from the coast, I imagine boaters and fisherman do not want to ride past oil rigs. Tourists also do not want to compete with roughnecks for hotel and restaurant space. Tourists want clean oceans. Also, tourists want to spend money in places that have few ways of getting money otherwise.
What are we getting?: The most generous projections give us about 20 billion barrels of oil. We consume over 20 million barrels a day. That means we would have enough oil to last us two and a half years. If we go through with this policy, leasing would start in 2012, production would start in 2017, and we'd actually get the oil in 2030 (And you liberals think the Bush Administration doesn't care about the future). So this means we get 2 1/2 years of oil, 22 years from now.
Alternatives: I might actually consider offshore drilling if it were easy and a quick solution. But, in twenty years, we could be completely off of our oil addiction. How? It is not simple, but it starts with pressure. Pressure on our automakers to increase the viability of hybrids, electric, and hydrogen fuel cells. Pressure on our government, particularly local governments to increase public transportation. Most of all, we need pressure on ourselves to actually accept new technology and also conserve.
Bottom Line? There should be a National Slap an Oil Executive Day.
Rabbit
Sunday, June 15, 2008
JR.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, I am not a Dale Earnhardt Jr. fan. As a matter of fact, this blog is starting to have a anti-NASCAR feel to it.
Don't get me wrong. I love racing. I was raised on racing. But, NASCAR is not racing, it is a 4 hour commercial.
There is no greater beneficiary of the giant commercial that is NASCAR than Dale Earnhardt Jr. Think about it, you may love the commercials Peyton Manning is in, and he may work as a very effective spokesperson for your product. But, Jr. brings an obsession. He has throngs of fans willing to buy the crap from his toilet if he told them they should.
He does this through his marketability, not racing ability. Lets face it, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and honestly? Probably half of the drivers who crawl into a race car on Sunday are better drivers than Jr.
That does not matter in a world where fans lack intelligence (For the record, I have the right to slam white southern/redneck men, everybody knows they have the right to attack their own people/heritage). Jr. won a race today by pure luck and now his fans are bracing for the dominance he has never shown. The dominance that they claim will be there.
Me? I'll keep on laughing (under my breath, drunk rednecks are dangerous) as better drivers continue to show their superiority.
Bottom line? Local Saturday night short track racing is better than NASCAR.
Rabbit
Don't get me wrong. I love racing. I was raised on racing. But, NASCAR is not racing, it is a 4 hour commercial.
There is no greater beneficiary of the giant commercial that is NASCAR than Dale Earnhardt Jr. Think about it, you may love the commercials Peyton Manning is in, and he may work as a very effective spokesperson for your product. But, Jr. brings an obsession. He has throngs of fans willing to buy the crap from his toilet if he told them they should.
He does this through his marketability, not racing ability. Lets face it, Tony Stewart, Kyle Busch, and honestly? Probably half of the drivers who crawl into a race car on Sunday are better drivers than Jr.
That does not matter in a world where fans lack intelligence (For the record, I have the right to slam white southern/redneck men, everybody knows they have the right to attack their own people/heritage). Jr. won a race today by pure luck and now his fans are bracing for the dominance he has never shown. The dominance that they claim will be there.
Me? I'll keep on laughing (under my breath, drunk rednecks are dangerous) as better drivers continue to show their superiority.
Bottom line? Local Saturday night short track racing is better than NASCAR.
Rabbit
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