tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-127001572024-03-13T11:49:06.103-04:00Democrat From KentuckyWe promote fair and honest political discussion from all sides of the ideological spectrum While my own opinions and my contributors tend toward a more progressive view, that's not always the case. I ask people to comment freely and openly to promote fair discourse.Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.comBlogger697125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-25303619906049806592010-09-13T17:56:00.008-04:002010-09-14T13:17:15.302-04:00A long time comingIt's been a long time since I've posted anything on this blog. There's been a lot of garbage going on in politics, especially the advent of the Tea-Party movement or as I call it the Tea-Bag movement. My own state of Kentucky is a battleground for that movement with our U.S. Senate race between Democrat Jack Conway and Republican Dr. Rand Paul, backed by the Tea-Baggers and son of Ron Paul, libertarian Republican from Texas.<br /><br />They're calling for the <a href="http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20100914_GOP_says_no_deal_on_tax_cuts.html" target="_blank">tax reductions</a> to apply to the wealthiest . The problem roads have to get paved, schools have to be built the military has to be maintained etc. The Republicans want to put into play tax cuts for the wealthier members of our nation, stating that this money can be used to create more jobs. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickle-down_economics" target="_blank">trickle down</a> or supply side economics theory doesn't work, regardless of what the Reaganites said. Heck, even Reagan's chief economic advisor later said it was trickle down economics.<br /><br />If one follows our nation's history, one can see, when similar paths are followed economically, speaking, it pushes our country into recessions, depressions and panics. Will Rogers described it "money was all appropriated for the top in hopes that it would trickle down to the needy." The problem is that over the last 10 years, the people living at or below the poverty level has increase substantially, they're less jobs available, people who are working are making less money and the wealthiest 5% or so still control about 80-90% of the resources in this country. That's a massive disconnect that's getting worse.<br /><br />A quote mentioned in wikipedia reference is quite relevant today, "There are those who believe that, if you will only legislate to make the well-to-do prosperous, their prosperity will leak through on those below. The Democratic idea, however, has been that if you legislate to make the masses prosperous, their prosperity will find its way up through every class which rests up on them." This was from William Jennings Bryan during his legendary "Cross of Gold" speech.<br /><br />What continues to compound this problem is President Obama continues to rely on private industry to bring our country out of the recession and it's not going to work that way. Roosevelt didn't bring us out of the Great Depression by waiting for businesses to bail us out. He got people working with the various programs. Obama, as do many people in Washington need to realize they need to work on the lowest rungs economically if they wish to strengthen the country and society as a whole. It's the only way we'll fly and history supports this.<br /><br />I'm going to start posting again because I just can't sit idly by and continue to see our country turn even more into a nation of "Every Man For Himself."Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-76349731239302883622007-06-14T08:08:00.001-04:002007-06-14T08:08:31.979-04:00Revitalization<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>RIght now, I'm in the process of changing the look of this blog. I know it's been a year since I've posted much but it's my goal to resume posting with some frequency in the future. Obviously, there's not enough opinion in the form of blogs in the internet so I thought I needed to get mine back in the fray.<br /><br />In any event, there will be more content coming, mostly on the weekends I would think but will get some at night too. Thanks for those that read and contribute.</div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1167635670796485092007-01-01T02:14:00.000-05:002007-01-01T02:14:30.810-05:00Happy 2007I'm going to restart things here for the coming year. My posting will mostly be limited to Thurs, Fri. and Sat. for the moment, I will be posting regularly after a long hiatus. In honor of the New Year, here's Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns<br /><br />Should auld acquaintance be forgot, <br />And never brought to mind? <br />Should auld acquaintance be forgot, <br />And days of auld lang syne? <br />And days of auld lang syne, my dear, <br />And days of auld lang syne. <br />Should auld acquaintance be forgot, <br />And days of auld lang syne? <br />We twa hae run aboot the braes <br />And pu'd the gowans fine. <br />We've wandered mony a weary foot, <br />Sin' auld lang syne. <br />Sin' auld lang syne, my dear, <br />Sin' auld lang syne, <br />We've wondered mony a weary foot, <br />Sin' auld ang syne. <br />We twa hae sported i' the burn, <br />From morning sun till dine, <br />But seas between us braid hae roared <br />Sin' auld lang syne. <br />Sin' auld lang syne, my dear, <br />Sin' auld lang syne. <br />But seas between us braid hae roare <br />Sin' auld lang syne. <br />And ther's a hand, my trusty friend, <br />And gie's a hand o' thine; <br />We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, <br />For auld lang syne. <br />For auld lang syne, my dear, <br />For auld lang syne, <br />We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet, <br />For auld lang syne.<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Robert Burns" rel="tag">Robert Burns</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/. New Years Eve" rel="tag">. New Years Eve</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Auld Lang Syne" rel="tag">Auld Lang Syne</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1159677895030822622006-10-01T00:44:00.000-04:002006-10-01T00:44:55.043-04:00Mark Foley: SICK SICK SICK!!!The political party that has long represented the "moral" compass of our nation has reached another high. I've not written in a while so I need to rebuild things a bit(which I'm going to do) but this thing with <a "href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060930/ap_on_go_co/congressman_e_mails_43" target="_blank">Rep Mark Foley</a>, R-FL, has given me a case of the redass.<br /><br />I guess what bugs me the most about this is that the Repugs sat on this for months. Now today, Repug leadership came out and said Foley needs to be thoroughly investigated. The point is, they tried to keep it quiet and would've not doubt pushed it under the rug if some groups hadn't begun pushing. <br /><br /><blockquote>_Rep. John Shimkus, R-Ill., chairman of the Page Board that oversees the congressional work-study program for high schoolers, said he did investigate but Foley falsely assured him he was only mentoring the boy. Pages are high school students who attend classes under congressional supervision and work as messengers.</blockquote><br /><br />Certainly, I understand giving someone the benefit of the doubt, however, in some cases like accusations of sexually harassing teenagers, it's best to heed caution and be thorough. Obviously Shimkus and others thought this would go away.<br /><br /><blockquote>Just as Shimkus' explanation was released, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi of California proposed to the House that its ethics committee investigate and make a preliminary report in 10 days. She demanded to know who knew of the messages, whether Foley had other contacts with pages and when the Republican leadership was notified of Foley's conduct.</blockquote><br /><br />Foley needs to be thoroughly investigated. If these accusations are anywhere close to being true, then he needs to be locked away. Of course NAMBLA might be having a pledge drive right now.<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Mark Foley" rel="tag">Mark Foley</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/John Shimkus" rel="tag">John Shimkus</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Dennis Hastert" rel="tag">Dennis Hastert</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Nancy Pelosi" rel="tag">Nancy Pelosi</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1154977884896583582006-08-07T15:11:00.000-04:002006-08-07T15:11:25.406-04:00Looks Like Lamont Levels Lieberman?The Connecticut Democratic primary also known as the Liebernan-Lamond brawl is in full swing.The Connecticut Senate race is one of the most contentious in the country and it's between Democrats. The most recent Quinnipiac poll shows Lieberman has closed the gap, now only trailing by 6%, 51 to 46. In most polls, figuring in the margin of error, Lieberman could pull this out. <br /><br />The wonderful lady at <a href="http://majikthise.typepad.com/majikthise_/2006/08/live_from_lamon.html" target="_blank">Majikthise</a> is blogging events as they happen over at Lamont's campaign HQ. <br /><br />Lamont's campaign has been built around opposing the war in Iraq, something Lieberman didn't do. Much of Lamont's support has been from progressive bloggers who resented Lieberman for his hawkish stance. If Lamont wins, upsetting a 3-term incumbant U.S. senator, the blogger movement will pick up incredible power, especially those affilliated with groups like DailyKos. <br /><br />Stephen Elliott of The Progressive had a good <a href="http://progressive.org/mag_elliott0806" target="_blank">article</a> in this month's issue discussing the YealyKos convention. He also discusses this election and what will happen if Lamont wins:<br /><br /><blockquote>Still, they are making a difference and they are growing exponentially and they are here to stay. The biggest test case is forthcoming when Joe Lieberman faces off against Ned Lamont in the Connecticut primary. The Netroots community is vehemently anti-Lieberman. The bloggers call him Bush’s favorite Democrat. Markos, in his keynote speech on opening night, promised that Ned Lamont would win the primary. If he does, it will fundamentally change everything. If the Netroots can unseat a sitting Democratic Senator, they will assume control of the party. And control of the party will forever change the Netroots.</blockquote><br /><br />So... what happens when the "NetRoots" becomes the group in power in the party. Will they become the same as the others in power. As much as some would like to believe that would be the case, very few survive gaining those levels of power with their integrity intact. I would submit that this will be the same thing. But that's another post. <br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Lamont" rel="tag">Lamont</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Lieberman" rel="tag">Lieberman</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Connecticut" rel="tag">Connecticut</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Democrat" rel="tag">Democrat</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/primary" rel="tag">primary</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Senate" rel="tag">Senate</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/DailyKos" rel="tag">DailyKos</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/MajikThise" rel="tag">MajikThise</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1154976541553200172006-08-07T14:49:00.000-04:002006-08-07T14:49:01.766-04:00Oil Prices in the tankIt looks like oil prices are in the tank after BP announced <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060807/ap_on_bi_ge/oil_field_shutdown_23" target="_blank">yesterday</a> they would be shutting down oil production in the Alaskan North Slope region. The resulting production loss accounts for about 400,000 barrels a day or roughly 8% of the total U.S. output. It will also account for about 2.5% of BP's total worldwide production. Considering oil prices were already high, this will force them to rally even further. <br /><br />As of this posting, prices were hanging around $77.05 a barrel and climbing on the Nymex and gas prices were around $2.26. <br /><br />The Wall Street Journal <a href="http://online.wsj.com/page/2_0030.html?mod=2_0030" target="_blank">reported</a>:<br /><br /><blockquote>The average U.S. retail price of a gallon of unleaded, regular gasoline was $3.036 on Monday -- near its all-time high of $3.057, reached Sept. 5 after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. "I suspect that record will fall in the next 48 hours,'' said Tom Kloza, an analyst at Oil Price Information Service in Wall, N.J., noting that pump prices around the country are likely to rise 5 to 10 cents a gallon.</blockquote><br /><br />BP new this area was having problems though as these pipelines were corroding and they had huge problems about 6 mos. ago Again from the WSJ:<br /><br /><blockquote>In March, a BP transit line in the North Slope spilled 267,000 gallons of oil. It was a month before BP was able to install a bypass on that line to resume operations. BP is currently under criminal investigation for that spill. "It makes you wonder, if this time the pipeline will be shut down longer than it was in March because inspection will be more stringent,'' said Phil Flynn, analyst at Alaron Trading Corp. in Chicago.</blockquote><br /><br />This is in addition to all the other "normal" things that kick fuel prices up like war in the Middle East, hurricanes, people driving the cars, etc. <br /><br />This is just one more reason these folks need to kick up our fuel prices. I'd say oil will probably hit $80 a barrel before the week's out and gas maybe $3.30 a gallon fore unleaded. I'd hate to be an incumbant right now. <br /><br />I will say the Energy Dept. is prepared to dump some oil onto the market but this announcement doesn't seem to have calmed the market much. There's no timetable on how long fixing this problem might take either. <br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/BP" rel="tag">BP</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oil prices" rel="tag">oil prices</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Alaska" rel="tag">Alaska</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oil shortage" rel="tag">oil shortage</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1154658950729737162006-08-03T22:35:00.000-04:002006-08-03T22:35:50.963-04:00Clinton Reams RummyIt looks like Senator Clinton (D-NY) took the time to <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060804/ap_on_go_co/clinton_iraq_7" target="_blank">ream</a> the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld over his handling of the Iraq offensive. She claimed the whole thing was an incompetent mess and called for Rummy to resign. <br /><br />I agree wholeheartedly. With thousands of American soldiers dead over a bogus war. Then we figure in the rough average quoted last week by Tim Russert on the Today show of roughly 100 Iraqis a day. Doing the math on this doesn't take brilliance. It would seem, based on the numbers, we've got our own little genocide going, with the U.S. being responsible directly or indirectly for the deaths of well over 36,000 people per year. This is 3 years <b>AFTER</b> the the major combat is over. How is this better than what Saddam Hussein did?<br /><br />All this goes on while our troops are sorely needed elsewhere. We're creating our own war for the future. <br /><br />I'm beginning to think Bush and Rumsfeld should go on trial for war crimes.<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hillary Clinton" rel="tag">Hillary Clinton</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Donald Rumsfeld" rel="tag">Donald Rumsfeld</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Iraq War" rel="tag">Iraq War</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/genocide" rel="tag">genocide</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1154572394980110832006-08-02T22:33:00.000-04:002006-08-02T22:33:14.996-04:00A long time...Unfortunately, it's been a while since I've posted. I've a number of personal issues going on and those needed to be resolved, to some extent. While they're not solved completely, I plan on getting back to the posting every day stuff I was doing before. The political world is hotter than ever, with a corrupt White House and a corrupt governor in the Frankfort. It seems like there's plenty to be done and lots to talk about. <br /><br />One thing I will mention is WLAP 630's new morning talk show host, Ferrell Wellman. Dave Baker quit and Wellman took over. I'd say he's probably as good as it gets for this kind of thing. He's got nearly 2 decades as reporter in Frankfort and while his show may have conservative leanings, I'd say he'll give a fair shake to whatever comes down the pike. I also like him because he was one of my professors in college. He was certainly one of the best. <br /><br />I'll see you tomorrow. Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1149730572894692922006-06-07T21:36:00.000-04:002006-06-07T21:36:13.110-04:00Chandler/Abramson in '07?Talk about a powerhouse ticket in Kentucky. Mark Hebert over at WHAS 11 in Louisville <a href="http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/WHAS11_TOP_ChandlerAbramson.6376d915.html" target="_blank">reported</a> on a meeting between Congressman Ben Chandler and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson and the speculation is that the two may be considering a run for the governor's race in '07. <br /><br /><blockquote>The last time Ben Chandler ran for governor, he picked Louisville businessman Charlie Owen as his running mate. A meeting Tuesday raised the possibility if Congressman Chandler runs again, another Louisvillian, Jerry Abramson, might be his lieutenant governor running mate. <br /><br />“You could certainly speculate to that effect,” said Chandler via phone.</blockquote><br /><br />This is certainly an interesting situation and as the article speculates, a Chandler/Abramson ticket would be incredibly strong and a definitive favorite. Many have been calling for both to run for governor. <br /><br />One scenario could be Chandler running one term then going to the Senate, assuming Bunning doesn't run again. It's a distinct possibility. This would leaver Abramson, an established and successful executive running the governor's office. It's sheer speculation at this point but it's certainly an interesting possibility. The only catch is that were that ticket to lose, both men's political careers would be over, without question.<br /><br />What are your thoughts? Who would replace Chandler in the 6th Congressional district?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ben Chandler" rel="tag">Ben Chandler</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Jerry Abramson" rel="tag">Jerry Abramson</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kentucky" rel="tag">Kentucky</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1149363776295782322006-06-03T15:42:00.000-04:002006-06-03T15:42:56.333-04:00A new pollAnother thing I've not put up in a while is a new poll. The new poll is on our governor. Should Ernie Fletcher resign? He's currently fighting with the attorney general's office (Democrat) and the lieutenant governor's office (Republican). It would lseem our governor is running out of friends.<br /><br />What do you think?<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ernie Fletcher" rel="tag">Ernie Fletcher</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Steve Pence" rel="tag">Steve Pence</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Greg Stumbo" rel="tag">Greg Stumbo</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kentucky" rel="tag">Kentucky</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1149363605247073522006-06-03T15:40:00.000-04:002006-06-03T15:40:05.263-04:00This weekendIt's the first annual <a href="http://www.fortharrodbeeffestival.org/" target="_blank">Fort Harrod Beef Festival</a>. If you're in Harrodsburg, Ky today or tomorrow, come check it out. They have all kinds of good things and tomorrow will be karaoke. HOO HAH!<br /><br />But seriously... check it out. I went over there this morning and they had lots of crafts and music and good food. Plus the food competitions. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ft Harrod Beef Festival" rel="tag">Ft Harrod Beef Festival</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kentucky" rel="tag">Kentucky</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/beef" rel="tag">beef</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1149308986916453362006-06-03T00:29:00.000-04:002006-06-03T00:29:46.930-04:00It's been a whileI know it's been a while since I've posted anything. I've had a lot going on. I will begin posting regularly again though. <br /><br />First up are the problems with old Dirty Ernie and his former Lt. Governor, Steve Pence. This is just one more nail in the coffin of the Fletcher administration. Brett Hall, the governor's mouth piece, <a href="http://www.wave3.com/Global/story.asp?S=4980293&nav=0RZF" target=blank">speculated</a> that Pence is going to run for governor though Pence has denied he's running for anything. <br /><br />There are some other interesting things going on here too. Pence announced his plans not to seek reelection on the Fletcher slate earlier this week. He also said he plans to resign his position as head of the Justice cabinet. The next day, Fletcher asked for Pence's resignation and Pence promptly said, "No!" So what gives? Do we have a civil war going on in the Republican Party? For a party that seemed unified, they are coming apart at the seams. Fletcher picked Pence for the job.<br /><br />It does bode well for state Republicans and Fletcher is running out of time to clean this mess up. One can be sure he'll face primary competition next year and I'd say it'll get ugly. <br /><br /><br />Did I mention that Brett Hall <a href="http://www.bluegrassreport.org/bluegrass_politics/2006/06/what_the_fk.html" target="_blank">dropped</a> the F-bomb to Larry Dale Keeling over at the Herald-Leader, yet no other paper is going to publish the statement. And I thought the Courier Journal had more cahoneys.<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ernie Fletcher" rel="tag">Ernie Fletcher</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Steve Pence" rel="tag">Steve Pence</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Brett Hall" rel="tag">Brett Hall</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Larry Dale Keeling" rel="tag">Larry Dale Keeling</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Lexington Herald-Leader" rel="tag">Lexington Herald-Leader</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1147803400376168042006-05-16T14:16:00.000-04:002006-05-16T14:16:40.406-04:00Less than a thousand more days of Bush...<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">So we've got less than one thousand more days of Bush. More and more candidates will start surfacing soon for the job of president. Right now, McCain and Hillary are certainly front runners in discussions for propective candidates. What kind of messes do they need to clean up after Bush leaves?<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bush" rel="tag">Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/McCain" rel="tag">McCain</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Hillary Clinton" rel="tag">Hillary Clinton</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/presidency" rel="tag">presidency</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/elections" rel="tag">elections</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1147803010853448952006-05-16T14:10:00.000-04:002006-05-16T14:10:10.860-04:00Open Day<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">What else do you want to talk about today?</div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1147802956423298972006-05-16T14:09:00.000-04:002006-05-16T14:09:16.476-04:00Election Day...<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Today is primary day in Kentucky. So... who did you vote for?<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kentucky" rel="tag">Kentucky</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/primaries" rel="tag">primaries</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/elections" rel="tag">elections</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1147473286312685542006-05-12T18:34:00.000-04:002006-05-12T18:34:46.336-04:00Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO)<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">There's an interesting article over at <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/5/11/13147/9972" target="_blank">Kos</a> about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This is an allied organization consisting of Russia, China, states of the former USSR, and a number of observer nations including India and Iran. They are a treaty organization to act as a foil to the United States. It's a pretty big foil. <br /><br />One comment is the organization's investment into South American recently. It's interesting because there's a lot going on here. I recommend reading it. What're your thoughts on the matter?<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Shangahi Cooperation Organization" rel="tag">Shangahi Cooperation Organization</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Russia" rel="tag">Russia</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/China" rel="tag">China</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/World War III" rel="tag">World War III</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1147471735073472232006-05-12T18:08:00.000-04:002006-05-12T18:08:55.243-04:00Ernie Fletcher Indicted<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It looks like the fine governor of Kentucky faces a variety of charges, all of which leave our state with a black eye with the rest of the country. The Herald Leader currently has a decent <a href="http://www.kentucky.com/mld/kentucky/news/breaking_news/14556190.htm" target="_blank">story</a> and Mark Nickolas' <a href="http://www.bluegrassreport.org/bluegrass_politics/2006/05/grand_jury_indi.html" target="_blank">Bluegrass Report</a> has some great insight into the matter.<br /><br />The indictments are the culmination of a long investigation by the Attorney General's office into violation of the law involving hiring and not following the rules of the merit system. <br /><br />Right now, none of the top state Republicans are talking about any of this. <br /><br />An interesting little side note:<br /><br /><blockquote>Fletcher becomes the third sitting Kentucky governor to be indicted and the first since Flem Sampson was charged in 1929 with receiving improper gifts.</blockquote><br /><br /><br />Some other notes about the situation:<br /><br /><blockquote>The indictments came exactly a year after a transportation personnel official, Doug Doerting, walked into Stumbo’s office on May 11, 2005, and dropped off boxes of e-mails and documents showing questionable hiring decisions, which started the investigation.<br /><br />But the timing was more than symbolic.<br /><br />The one-year window to charge someone with violating or conspiring to break state merit employment laws was set to expire Saturday.<br /><br />That’s the anniversary of the May 13 firing of transportation cabinet inspector Mike Duncan, who claims to have been terminated once administration officials learned he had supported Fletcher’s Democratic opponent in the 2003 governor’s race.<br /><br />His firing was the last in a string of personnel decisions alleged to be politically motivated. <br /><br />Fletcher was specifically charged yesterday with political discrimination in connection with that move.<br /><br />The indictment says the governor “willfully ordered, directed, approved or otherwise participated” with previously indicted Transportation Cabinet Secretary Bill Nighbert, Deputy Secretary Jim Adams and former Administrative Commissioner Dan Druen to fire Duncan, a merit employee.</blockquote><br /><br />It's a sad day when this happens in Kentucky. IT goes to show though that Fletcher was a lousy leader in Kentucky. He made poor choices for advisors and instead of supplanting the Republicans into power, he managed to injure the party for years. The question is how long will this last. Of course he could pardon himself. <br /><br /><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Kentucky" rel="tag">Kentucky</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Ernie Fletcher" rel="tag">Ernie Fletcher</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/culture of corruption" rel="tag">culture of corruption</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Republicans" rel="tag">Republicans</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1147009728959726502006-05-07T09:48:00.000-04:002006-05-07T09:48:48.986-04:00Porter Goss Gets The Boot; General Michael Hayden In?<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The war over civil liberties continues to be fought and a major battle is coming. In the wake of Porter Goss's boot from the running the CIA, one according to the NYT, the main candidate for the replacement is one General Michael V. Hayden.<br /><br /><blockquote>But General Hayden, the principal deputy director of national intelligence, would also face serious questions about the controversy over the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program, which he oversaw and has vigorously defended.</blockquote><br /><br />So we're going to get a man in who vigorously defends violating the rights of Americans. I guess this just makes him one in a line for the current administration.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bush" rel="tag">Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Porter Goss" rel="tag">Porter Goss</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Michael Hayden" rel="tag">Michael Hayden</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Domestic Surveillance" rel="tag">Domestic Surveillance</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/civil liberties" rel="tag">civil liberties</a><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bush" rel="tag">Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Porter Goss" rel="tag">Porter Goss</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Michael Hayden" rel="tag">Michael Hayden</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Domestic Surveillance" rel="tag">Domestic Surveillance</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/civil liberties" rel="tag">civil liberties</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1146803359560181362006-05-05T00:29:00.000-04:002006-05-05T00:29:19.806-04:00Stephen Colbert's Burning Bush<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">I've not weighed in yet on the whole issue of Stephen Colbert's vicious attack on the president and mainstream media. All I have to say is it's about damned time. His humourous and scathing attack is in the greatest tradition of political satire and if the president can't handle it, his skin is too thin for the job. <br /><br />I've gotten a link to the segments. This will take you to the first one and then you can view the others from there.<br /><br /><embed align="middle" bgcolor="000000" flashvars="flvBaseClip=2723919" height="332" name="efp" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" src="http://www.ifilm.com/efp" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="410"/><br /><br />It's interesting that some people at Comedy Central take their jobs very seriously as comedians in their original and true sense. Unfortunately, more won't say the same thing and many news folks are brutally critical of all sides of the political spectrum more. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/35804/" target="_blank">Alternet</a> has an interesting take on the thing, particularly referring to Bush's speech in March of 2004 when he poked fun at not finding the WMDs:<br /><br /><blockquote>The backlash only appeared a day or two later, and not, by and large, emerging from the media, but from Democrats and some Iraq veterans. Then it was mainly forgotten. I never understood why Sen. John Kerry did not air a tape of the episode every day during his hapless final drive for the White House.<br /><br />In any case, another 1,900 Americans have died in Iraq since Bush's ha-ha home video. As it happens, the Downing Street memo, and a similar British document that surfaced recently, suggested that Bush doubted WMDs existed and "fixed" the intelligence to take the nation to war. What a riot.<br /><br />At that same Downing Street memo forum at the Capitol last year that Milbank mocked, former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, after cataloguing the bogus Bush case for WMDs and the Iraqi threat, looked out at the cameras and notepads, mentioned the March 24, 2004 dinner, and acted out the president looking under papers and table for those missing WMDs. "And the media was all yucking it up ... hahaha," McGovern said. "You all laughed with him, folks." Then he mentioned soldiers who had died "after that big joke."</blockquote><br /><br />The media needs to be slapped around and the president needs to be put on trial for high crimes, misdemeanors and stupidity.<br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Stephen Colbert" rel="tag">Stephen Colbert</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George Bush" rel="tag">George Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/WMDs" rel="tag">WMDs</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1146776992951855922006-05-04T17:09:00.000-04:002006-05-04T17:09:52.986-04:00It's been a while...<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">It's been a while since I've posted and for my regular readers (if there are any left) I apologize for my intermitten posting over the last few weeks. I've had a lot going on but I aim to rectify the problem.<br /><br />One thing, as my pal Greymagius pointed out, is an insanely crappy senate bill, SB 1955. The <a href="http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s109-1955" target="_blank">Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act</a>, also called the Enzi bill(after it's primary sponsor, Michael Enzi, R- Wyoming). <br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/5/2/151127/2173" target="_blank">DailyKos</a> for a little more info and details. Needless to say, this bill is pure unadulterated evil perpetrated by the Republican Senators (and one Democrat) to strip human beings of basic medical care. While I'm a little late on this, folks here in Kentucky could expect to lose silly little things like:<br /><br /><blockquote>Alcoholism Treatment <br />Ambulatory Surgery <br />Bone Marrow Transplants <br />Bone Density Screening <br />Dental Anesthesia <br />Diabetic Supplies/Education <br />Emergency Services <br />Home Health Care <br />Mammography Screening <br />Mental Health (General) <br />Mental Health (Parity) <br />Metabolic Disorders (PKU) <br />Minimum Mastectomy Stay <br />Off-Label Drug Use <br />TMJ Disorders </blockquote><br /><br />So just remember, you lovely ladies out there will lose out on mammograms. We crazy people won't get our Ritalin and Prozac and your grandmother won't have that home health nurse to help take care of her. Did I mention that Medicaid is being cut, the states can't make up the difference and Medicare won't catch all the baby boomers. Really... this is just social Darwinism at its new high point. <br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Enzi bill" rel="tag">Enzi bill</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/SB1955" rel="tag">SB1955</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/health insurance bill" rel="tag">health insurance bill</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/social darwinism" rel="tag">social darwinism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/DailyKos" rel="tag">DailyKos</a><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Enzi bill" rel="tag">Enzi bill</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/SB1955" rel="tag">SB1955</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/health insurance bill" rel="tag">health insurance bill</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/social darwinism" rel="tag">social darwinism</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/DailyKos" rel="tag">DailyKos</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1145936325970797442006-04-24T23:38:00.000-04:002006-04-24T23:38:45.990-04:00Bush Tough On Gas Companies: BWAHAHAHA!!!<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Bush is <a href="http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=1885546" target="_blank">saying</a> he's ready to get tough on gas prices by ordering a probe into price gouging. He's responding to a recent letter from the Republican leadership in Congress after the Democrats (Charles Shumer) called for a probe a week ago. <br /><br />Now the entire laughable thing about all this is it's simply a smoke screen. Who the hell does he think he's fooling by "probing" price gouging. Someone needs to probe his head to find the alien devices inside. He won't bite the hand that feeds him. <br /><br />From the AP story:<br /><br /><blockquote>Bush is under pressure to do something about gas prices that have reached nearly $3 a gallon. In a new CNN poll, 69 percent of respondents said gasoline price increases had caused them personal hardship. Other polls suggest that voters favor Democrats over Republicans on the issue, and President Bush gets low marks for handling gas prices. <br /><br />House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., urged Bush in a letter Monday to order a federal investigation into any gasoline price gouging or market speculation. <br /><br />Bush was working on the speech aboard Air Force One as he flew home Monday evening from a four-day trip to California that ended with a swing through Las Vegas. McClellan outlined part of the speech to reporters traveling on the plane. <br /><br />McClellan said Bush also will announce that his attorney general and Federal Trade Commission will send a letter to all 50 state attorneys general, who have primary authority over price gouging, to remind them to stay on top of the issue and offer federal help to do so. And he will call on energy companies to reinvest their profits into expanding refining capacity, developing new technologies and researching alternative energy sources. <br /><br />"I think you'll hear the president say very clearly that he will not tolerate price gouging," McClellan said.</blockquote><br /><br />So what's he going to do on the national level? Is he going to go after the oil companies for manipulating the market? Doubtful unless it's to have dinner back at the ranch in Crawford. This is <b>PURE</b> garbage. Hell... he probably owns a few million shares in Exxon Mobil as does Dick Cheney and all the Bush family. They're getting richer off this. Yep... I'm saying it out loud. The president of the United States, George W. Bush, has an obvious conflict of interest and is committing the basest level graft possible. That's why he won't do anything about it. Never mind the polls saying most of America is experiencing personal hardship. As long as he doesn't. <br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Bush" rel="tag">Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/EExxon Mobil" rel="tag">EExxon Mobil</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oil prices" rel="tag">oil prices</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Dick Cheney" rel="tag">Dick Cheney</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/" rel="tag"/></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1145892912146717342006-04-24T11:35:00.000-04:002006-04-24T23:01:28.126-04:00More Oil Insight...I found a great piece over at <a href="http://ezraklein.typepad.com/blog/2006/04/why_are_oil_pri.html" target="_blank">Ezra Klein</a> over the price of oil, why it's happening and some notion on the future. <br /><br />I think folks need to look at oil prices for the last couple of years. Consider the price of oil has nearly tripled in the last two years. Has demand really increased that much? Also consider that ExxonMobil has had record profits in the last year and are projected to have another record setting quarter. They are merely stacking the deck. <br /><br />Now... in the companies' defense, consumption of petroleum based products, mainly gasoline hasn't slowed much. One could argue they are merely pushing the limits to see what the market will support. Unfortunately a lot of middle class folks and poorer will pay a hefty price in the process. Pay attention to the farmers too. They run farms of gasoline and diesel fuel. Food costs will surely climb too. I'd say Farm Aid will be busy this year.<br /><br /><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/oil prices" rel="tag">oil prices</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Exxon Mobil" rel="tag">Exxon Mobil</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Farm Aid" rel="tag">Farm Aid</a>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1145824841094793942006-04-23T16:40:00.000-04:002006-04-23T16:40:41.176-04:00Sunday Afternoon<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">What's going on in your world? I myself got up and went to meeting this morning, had lunch, came home, changed clothes and have been and will continue to work in the yard. Once the mowing is done it's off to euthanize dandelions. </div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1145678746778834372006-04-22T00:05:00.000-04:002006-04-22T00:05:46.796-04:00Miss Kentucky Crowned Miss USA<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">For those interested in such things, congratulations goes to Tara Elizabeth Connor, 20, of Russell Springs was <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060422/ap_en_ce/miss_usa_7" target="_blank">crowned</a> Miss USA in tightly contested pagent. <br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Miss USA" rel="tag">Miss USA</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Miss Kentucky" rel="tag">Miss Kentucky</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Tara Elizabeth Connor" rel="tag">Tara Elizabeth Connor</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Russell Springs" rel="tag">Russell Springs</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12700157.post-1145678375164022512006-04-21T23:59:00.000-04:002006-04-21T23:59:35.233-04:00Record Oil Prices And Bush Is Helpless<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">OIl hit record highs on the market today, soaring past $75 a gallon with no apparent end in sight. With problems continuing to mount in both Iran and Nigeria, the only thing we can do is bend over and grab our ankles.<br /><br />Many "experts" list a number of problems resulting in such high prices at the pump but with $3 a gallon or more, results is what we need. The working men and women of this country continue to be forced in dire financial straits and it's all because of the price at the pump. <br /><br />President Bush <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060422/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_2" target="_blank">spoke</a> at Cisco Systems today in SIlicon Valley and while he ackknowledged rising prices are "like a tax, particularly on the working people and the small-business people," he won't do anything about it. He said that any price gouging will be "dealt with firmly" but he won't do that because the entire oil industry is gouing the price. It's being done at the market place and reports are already showing ExxonMobile will have another record quarter.<br /><br />So let's put this in perspective: He's killing our young men and women in Iraq, he's wreaking havoc on the poor in places like New Orleans and now he's trying to make everyone else poor in the process. He says he can't do anything about it. This is proof he's merely a pawn in office. He <b>CHOOSES</b> not to do anything about it. Presidents in the past have knocked heads with big companies. Hell... Teddy Roosevelt butted heads with JP Morgan. But then again, Dubyah is a far cry from Teddy. <br /><br /><br /><br />Technorati Tags: <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/OIl Prices" rel="tag">OIl Prices</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/George Bush" rel="tag">George Bush</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Exxon Mobile" rel="tag">Exxon Mobile</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/Teddy Roosevelt" rel="tag">Teddy Roosevelt</a>, <a href="http://technorati.com/tag/JP Morgan" rel="tag">JP Morgan</a></div>Stithmeisterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04763713545634318506noreply@blogger.com0