Bob Schaffer a No-Show at Republican Dinner

Zappatero shared the story of Bob Schaffer not attending the El Paso County (Colorado Springs) Lincoln Dinner. His campaign manager, Dick “Macaca” Wadhams attended instead. Zappatero’s post said Schaffer is sending Wadhams, but I don’t think that’s what is happening. Republicans have top-down control and I think Wadhams is in firm control of Schaffer. I think Wadhams didn’t want Schaffer attending.

I can’t fathom the reason. Maybe because groups in the Springs are questioning how Bob Schaffer could support forced abortions. Wadhams can’t have the people that get out the vote for corporate-crats questioning his candidate’s supposed credentials on this subject.

Additionally, it appears Dick “Macaca” Wadhams is better than Bob Schaffer at intimidating those who do have the gall to question his candidate, including members of the press. If I paid $80 for a dinner, I would demand the opportunity to speak with the person who wanted to be Sen. Wayne “Do-Nothing” Allard’s replacement. This just goes to show how much Republicans care about the little guy.

Randomness 4/25/08

A report by the Genographic Project details how a natural, localized, long-term drought 70,000 years ago might have nearly wiped out our species. For the curious, global CO2 concentration levels jumped between 280 and 300ppm in these dry years. Today’s concentration: 380ppm and increasing. Long-term droughts of yesteryear that were localized could become global unless we stop forcing the climate system with our greenhouse gas emissions.

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John McCain showed what an imbecile and hypocrite he is yesterday with the following:

John McCain tured still hurricane-damaged areas of New Orleans and declared that if the disaster had happened on his watch, he would have immediately landed his plane at the nearest Air Force base.

He offered a pledge Thursday to New Orleans residents that their situation will not be forgotten and that such a botched disaster response will never happen again.

I’m not sure what having John McCain at a nearby Air Force base would have done for hurricane survivors. In any event, it doesn’t matter. Anybody that was actually paying attention the day Katrina ravaged the Gulf Coast will remember that McCain and Bush were celebrating McCain’s birthday in Arizona. Neither Bush nor McCain cared one iota what misery Gulf Coast residents were going through. That’s because they’re elitist snobs. Bottom line: McCain is in no way fit to lead this nation to anything but more disaster.

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With oil flirting with $120 per barrel and gas threatening $4.00 per gallon, what kind of vehicles were sold last month? Smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles, that’s what. Truck and SUV sales suffered.

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Democrats are trying to tamp down public expectations for health care reform starting next year, even if they retake the White House this year. I have news for them: the health care crisis this country is facing is not going to go away. Too many people are being screwed by an immoral, profit-or-nothing system that only benefits executives. Too many people are not getting care. Senior Democrats are under the mistaken impression that they’re leading on this issue, when the reality couldn’t be more different. Senior Democrats love their cushy, guaranteed jobs (where they receive stellar health care paid for by taxpayers) first and foremost. What the people want gets considered well after their own petty wishes are granted. Exacerbating the problem is the perception that the Democratic nominees are guaranteeing major overhaul of the system. If that doesn’t occur quickly, I expect huge blowback. Something has got to give in this tug-of-war and I know the American people are tired of being shafted.

Colorado Legislature & Health Care

Colorado Senate Democrats sent out an email a few days back patting themselves on the back for passing health care bills this year. I wanted to take this opportunity to put the following on the record: Democrats didn’t go nearly far enough on health care this year.

The 208 Commission was formed to solicit input from citizens. Regardless of the source, every story I heard about their public meetings contained some variant on: “Single-payer universal health care is the only solution we want.” I went to a few meetings, I’ve stayed in contact with other activists and people I’ve met. That message has not changed. Democrats have not offered any sort of universal health care plan. They have nibbled around the edges of the health care problem we all face. And that’s not good enough.

I’ve heard the Governor and the legislature basically want to wait until next year when a Democratic president and Democratic Congress is in place so universal health care can be introduced at the federal level.  Hmmm.  That sounds nice.  Except what happens if McSame gets elected?  How many more years do we get to wait?  Quite frankly, a Democratic-controlled Congress won’t guarantee universal health care.  They’ve proven themselves to be too scared of their own shadows to effectively do our business.

No, the Governor and Democratic Legislature in Colorado took the easy path this year.  Meanwhile, our accessibility to quality health care didn’t improve.  As progressive as I am, I will not help pat them on the back this year.

Udall, Coffman, the 4th Amendment & the Media

Udall told members of the White House Advisory Board on Radiation and Worker Health last Thursday that the way the federal government treats sick nuclear weapons workers and their families “speaks volumes about us as a society.” It’s pretty typical stuff for our current administration and Republicanism in general: workers get screwed as those in charge change the rules mid-stream. It once again boils down to: Republicans don’t believe government works. So why elect them and let them prove their ideology stinks?

By the way, what is Bob Schaffer’s (Rep. Udall’s opponent for CO’s 2008 Senate race) take on this issue?

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From Colorado Ethics Watch:

Through open records requests and other research, Colorado Ethics Watch has identified significant blocks of time on the official calendar of [Republican] Secretary of State Mike Coffman that were either used for meetings with potential funders of his congressional campaign, or are unaccounted for as private appointments and meetings. In the meantime, it is unclear whether Secretary Coffman is meeting critical goals and deadlines required of him as Colorado Secretary of State.

Coffman was elected to this office in 2006, despite the horrid performance of his Republican predecessor. It was unfortunately an under-the-radar kind of race. Coloradans, in their search for a type of bipartisanship that simply doesn’t exist with today’s Republican Party, elected Coffman in the hopes he would “balance” Gov. Bill Ritter. The balance that has been put on display: unethical Republican activities and ethical Democratic activities. You know Republicans would make this the headline-du-jour for weeks if a Democratic Secretary of State did the same thing.

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The corporate stenographers working at major media outlets are serving the country well, don’t you think? I sure do: In the past 30 days (from Apr 5th backwards), 65 times more Obama-bowling articles showed up on a NEXIS search than Yoo-4th Amerndment articles. What’s the significance? John Yoo, while at the U.S. Department of Justice, wrote a memo which authorized torture and presidential lawbreaking. The Bush administration has declared the Fourth Amendment to be inapplicable to “domestic military operations” within the U.S. Barack Obama went bowling.

Which story did the corporate stenographers decide to report on? The bowling story. Why? Well, according to Republicans, because the media is too liberal. It seems to me that if liberals ran the corporate media outlets, they would raise a red flag about the 4th Amendment being declared inapplicable. No, the media has been led around by right-wing extremists who want Americans to believe liberals want to take their guns away. Liars and fear-mongers: today’s Republican Party.

President’s Weekend Random Goodies

A collection of things today:

Atlantis successfully deployed and installed the Columbus science module to the ISS. The link has a nice picture of the current configuration of the ISS after Atlantis undocked earlier today. A couple of small tasks were left to the ISS inhabitants to finish up. The space shuttle Endeavour began its move to the launch pad also. STS-123 will deliver a new addition to the station’s Canadarm2 robotic arm and the first segment of Japan’s massive Kibo laboratory (nice picture!).

The military is planning on shooting down a defunct spy satellite. Russia says it’s a weapons test (it is) and China is worried about it. Well, why worry about what those two think? They’re only nuclear-armed countries that our current administration isn’t doing so hot a job of interacting with.

Jared Polis has an extended diary responding to Vincent Carroll’s attack on his economic status. Funny how Republicans never shoot their own for being successful, regardless of the policies they’re advocating. Ave Cassandra talks more about problems with insurance companies: their efforts to prevent care from actually occurring.

John Andrews (past president of CO Senate & fellow with the Claremont Institute) had an opinion piece in yesterday’s Post. Let me start by saying I can’t believe this guy is a fellow of an institute that produces policy papers. His column yesterday, continuing a long-term writing pattern, was filled with name calling and fear mongering. I guess that’s all Republicans ever had anyway, but it’s painfully obvious now that all their policies have failed so spectacularly. Just a small example: “President Barack Obama’s maturity deficit against the GOP’s war-hero nominee…” How childish. I certainly do not remember John touting Sen. Kerry’s war experience or maturity against an AWOLer in 2004. Party above principle seems to be the operating state for Republicans.

And Then There Were Two

It’s official - the Democratic side of the presidential race is down to two people: Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

This comes one week ahead of Super Tuesday.

I’ve been an Edwards supporter since his announcement - he has brought into focus the theme of two Americas.  Corporate interests are trying to strong-arm our government and real people are suffering as a result.  At this time, I’m transferring my support to Barack Obama.  I’ve had very little against him - he’s incredible visionary and forward looking.

Hillary Clinton to me represents 20th century politics - she is not an agent of change.  I think the Clintons feel frustration over what they couldn’t accomplish in the 1990’s and want another shot at their agenda.  I just don’t think that agenda accurately reflects where America is right now.  For instance, we don’t need insurance mandates.  We need single-payer universal health care.  We don’t need to treat climate change and the environment as third-rate issues, and I don’t see where Hillary has championed their cause.  We need to stop the occupation of Iraq, not extend our presence.  I don’t see Hillary as the best person to achieve that goal.

It will be interesting to see where things will head.

State of the Union Science and Energy

Bush talked some about science and energy matters tonight. Some details and my analysis below.

“To build a future of energy security, we must trust in the creative genius of American researchers and entrepreneurs and empower them to pioneer a new generation of clean energy technology.”

We apparently must trust in that genius up to the point where his political hack appointees redact every scientific conclusion brought forward and actively work to threaten researchers’ work. But entrepreneurs can get some tax breaks. Heh.

“Let us fund new technologies that can generate coal power while capturing carbon emissions.”

Repeat after me: there is no such thing as clean coal. Solar and wind are cleaner. Let’s work on those, ‘kay?

“Let us increase the use of renewable power and emissions-free nuclear power.”

Yes to the first. Heck no to the second. True to Republican values, it appears they want to build nuclear (nukular if you’re Bush) plants now and let future generations deal with the nuclear waste.

“And let us complete an international agreement that has the potential to slow, stop, and eventually reverse the growth of greenhouse gases.”

There’s an international agreement now and we’ve thus far refused to sign onto it. It’s not a matter of one existing or not, it’s a matter of stop acting like a petulant child and working with the rest of the world.

“The United States is committed to strengthening our energy security and confronting global climate change.”

Bulls***. Maybe the citizens are, but our politicians clearly are not. Bush and Cheney jump when the Saudis say to and leading Republicans maintain climate change is a hoax. That’s not taking things seriously.

“So I ask the Congress to double Federal support for critical basic research in the physical sciences and ensure America remains the most dynamic nation on earth.”

I enjoy the hypocrisy here. Bush’s budgets have consistently underfunded science research and we’re becoming less dynamic with each day. NREL almost lost their funding in the past couple of years and other labs in Colorado are having their budgets cut this year, following cuts last year. You have to think science is real before you can talk about its funding.

“In November, we witnessed a landmark achievement when scientists discovered a way to reprogram adult skin cells to act like embryonic stem cells. This breakthrough has the potential to move us beyond the divisive debates of the past by extending the frontiers of medicine without the destruction of human life.”

We still don’t know how useful these manipulated lines will be. Scientists know much more about embryonic stem cells. And when I hear Republicans call for fertilization clinics to be closed, I’ll buy into this ‘human life’ nonsense they bring up.

“So I call on the Congress to pass legislation that bans unethical practices such as the buying, selling, patenting, or cloning of human life.”

And no human-animal hybrids. All these things are among the most critical issues we’re facing today.  Almost as important as scary brown people who hate our freedom.

More catching up

I saw a few headlines that I wanted to capture and make comments about.

The EPA has concluded that greenhouse gases pose a threat to the nation’s health. If upheld, this would require regulations to rein in emissions. I can hear Republicans’ heads swelling at the thought of government ‘intrusion’ into business decisions. Hey, if emissions are so good for us, why don’t we have ‘tailpipe bars’? It’s just what plants inhale, after all.

Colorado’s health care commission is set to report to the legislature. What’s at stake? Hundreds of thousands of uninsured and underinsured Colorado citizens. What did citizens overwhelmingly recommend to the commission? Single-payer care. What will we get? Well, nothing this year as even Gov. Ritter seems too scared to act on one of our most pressing issues. Which tells me the Governor and others are likely receiving signals that Democrats will win even more State House and Senate seats; at the least, they seem unlikely to lose enough to switch control back to the kids (Republicans). Ritter has said he’s hesitant to implement a plan while Democrats look likely to win back the White House. He doesn’t want to burden Washington with another state health care plan with no federal infrastructure. Um, Governor? Maybe 20 different plans will drive home the necessity of implementing a federal single-payer system. Let’s do what’s good for Coloradans and let the feds work their own issues out, huh?

Finally, the energy industry in Colorado is threatening to take their ball home and not let us play with them anymore. Cry babies, the lot of them. What’s got their diapers in a twist? “Colorado’s oil and gas industry is hopping mad about new energy development regulations being written by the state…” ‘”If the rules were approved as proposed, “We would be very, very disappointed,” Collins said. “I’d feel aggrieved that our industry was not taken into account.”’

That’s correct: all the mean Democrats never let the poor, abused extractive industry put in their opinion on what the rules should be. Here’s the real problem, ya’ whiners: Gov. Owens and the previous joke of a state legislature allowed, nay invited, your industry to walk all over the interests of the citizens of this state for eight years. My opinion wasn’t taken into account to any realistic degree prior to this.

But let me put this another way: take your freaking ball home and go drill in someone else’s state. My state would be better for it. The future does not lie in your direction and I know that irritates and scares the crap out of you, but the sooner you realize it, the better off we’ll all be.  Which reminds me, the Saturday Rocky Mountain News had a good article about renewable energy yesterday I want to write about.  Next post.

Framing 1/1/2008

Happy New Year! Last night was fun - I got together with a group of friends, had a nice dinner and partied just past midnight. I’m glad the wind has died down today, however. Days on end of it was starting to get irritating.

So here’s what’s on my mind: the way in which issues are discussed, or framing. For instance, this article at the Denver Post carries this headline: “Colorado’s use of terror grants blasted.” The story behind that headline? Gov. Owens’ (R) administration didn’t set up response systems according to Department of Homeland Security guidelines. Some funding wasn’t allocated properly, other funds were moved around to obstruct proper accounting and there was a lack of communication between a Hazard Committee and the former governor. You know, pretty common Republican methods of governance.

Here’s the kicker: at what point of the article did Owens’ administration come up as the party of interest? The 13th paragraph, within a segment of the article subtitled “State officials point to progress“. Which state officials are those: Owens’ officials or current Gov. Ritter’s officials? The latter, of course. It’s interesting that the cause of the problem is identified in the solutions part of the article, instead of the section where the background is laid out.

Now, what might this have to do with framing? What if the roles were reversed and Owens was cleaning up after Ritter? I know, that comes straight out of an alternate universe, but let’s go with that line of thought for a moment. How would the article have been written then? I’m not screaming conspiracy, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Ritter, being a Democrat, would have been identified earlier. In fact, I bet he would have been named in the headline. Something like “Ritter worked to undermine CO citizens’ safety” or something close to that. Because you know the corporate media loves to label, or frame, Democrats as weak on security issues. Because from the media view-point, Democrats aren’t masculine enough to even want to protect citizens. Despite mounds of evidence to the contrary.

Just a little more on this subject: “Owens rejected a bipartisan state Senate panel’s unanimous recommendation to unite homeland security efforts in one department. Owens said the senators showed a “pervasive lack of understanding” of the state’s homeland security efforts.”

Isn’t that interesting. Owens rejected a bipartisan state Senate panel’s unanimous recommendation. Because they showed a “pervasive lack of understanding”?! How incredible is that statement? Did Owens try to communicate the efforts he cited to that panel? We don’t know because the article fails to mention it. Or did Owens act like the father figure and ignore advice from the non-father figure? He knew better than everybody else how best to act, apparently. Except for the little problem of spending money he shouldn’t have and acting against policies that were set up at the federal level. Hmm, another example of a Republican supporting state’s initiative when it works for their interests.