With all of the political posturing about drilling for oil on the the Continental shelf or in ANWR, I have yet to see any politician provide a guarantee that any/all oil extracted from the Continental shelf/ANWR/Florida will stay within or be sold only within the United States market.

Where is my guarantee?  Will we spoil our natural wonder just to ship the oil to East Asia at market prices?  Before we go any further in this debate, I want a Drill Here, Sell Here guarantee!

Any and all new leases must pay reasonable royalties and ship the crude to US refineries/processors only.  If a refinery can not handle the capacity, the oil is sent to the Strategic Oil Reserve.  Now, don't even get me started on price.  Should this crude be sold at market rates?  Hmmm.  The oil companies have wanted these leases for years.  How about they sell it to us at 2002 rates?  It was a good deal back then at those rates, why not now?  

Many may say that the Drill Here, Sell Here movement smacks of price controls and nationalization.   I say it is about cooperation and breaking our dependence on foreign imports.  It is a national security issue.  I am certain that all parties can agree on that. This isn't about profits, it is about patriotism!

Page Six:  A well-placed friend of mine in the Illinois Republican inner-circle told me on the not-so-hush-hush that the Illinois delegation is quite unhappy with McCain's performance in the general thus far.  Although Illinois Republicans are famous for running Alan Keyes against a future presidential contender, I think this is worthy of a look-see.  Unsubstantiated yes, uncorraborated [sic] yes, possibility yes ... but the word is that there may be a play for Romney at the convention in St. Paul.

In a nut shell, my friend said that if Romney is not offered or is offered and declines the VP slot, then everything is a go for a contentious fight at the convention.  My friend went even further to say that if Romney is not offered the VP slot, it is a sign that McCain knows about the play.

BTW.  Don't ask for verification or validation.  This is what it is.  

As the presumptive nominee (no jinx please), Barack Obama has inspired me to break out of my lurking malaise and commit to the following: 1000/100/10

I will donate $1000.00 over the next five months to his campaign.

I will volunteer 100 hours to his campaign in a swing state (for me it is either Indiana or Wisconsin).

I will bring 10 new voters to the polls.

This is my solemn pledge to the twin pillars of HOPE and CHANGE.

Listening to Tim Russert, Lil' Timmeh, tater-head, et al, I still get the distinct impression that his 'old man' the venerable Big Russ is still living in a trailer.

With his homespun ways and his homemade pies, Big Russ speaks for us all - by golly.  As Russert waxed tonight on Countdown, "I still think of my father sitting around wondering how Washington will work for guys like us."  

My goodness Timmeh, you make $5m a year.  Buy Your Dad a House

Hat tip to an anonymous Atriot over at Eschaton.  Here is the the story:

And a link to the story:

http://www.ajc.com/...

Although this is a work in progress, recent McCain family news suggests that the McCain family has pretty strong ties to the troubled mortgage industry.  

First, Andrew McCain - John McCain's Stepson - is CFO of Hensley & Company - Cindy McCain's family run business.  see Hensley & Company Officers

Second, Andrew K. McCain was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of a mid-sized Nevada/Arizona bank called Silver State Bancorp.  see Andrew McCain Appointed to Silverstate Board

Now for the interesting stuff.

For those who follow Jerome a Paris and bondad posts closely, you know that prices for agricultural, mineral, and fossil fuel commodities have skyrocketed in the last two years.  Just yesterday, Jerome a Paris posited that oil prices could hit unprecedented new heights (possibly $200 per barrel).  However, that dire prediction pales in comparison to what has happened overnight in Asian trading markets.

Ok, I have had it.  No, this isn't a GBCWY'ALL diary; but if I see one more Obama supporter taking another Obama supporter to task... well I just don't know what I would do.

Sure, I expect Bilary supporters to blast me about my obnoxious comments posted in their fundraising threads, as well as, my insufferable gloating about Obama's chances in America Somoa. But when an Obama supporter tells me to stop pestering Edwards' supporters; well, I just want to say 'stop your bitchin' if you know what I mean - wink, wink.

Just for your information, there are many people on this site who have a lot of spare time.  We may not be that productive or have much class, but we sure do like stickin' it to the Clinton people.  It reminds us of high school... aah good times.

Finally, if these Obama supporters don't stop. Well, I will... I will just hold my breath and refuse to vote for Obama.  There, wouldn't that just get ya right where it hurts.

[UPDATE: Detente is off. Clinton just said that McCain had a "legendary record". http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...

Yes, we all know that the delegates may or may not be seated.  However, after last week's Official Obama Gloat Thread (OOGT) see below, I think it is only appropriate to have another thread dedicated to HRC's considerable "win" in Florida.

As an Edwards supporter who will support the eventual Democratic nominee (with every once of energy I have), this is an opportunity for HRC devotees to sing praises, talk trash, and otherwise be obnoxious.  

If you are an Obama/Edwards supporter, this thread is not for you.  Just walk away.  

By the way, the Mother Of All Gloat Threads (MOAGT) will occur next Tuesday at approximately 9pm EST.

For what a gloat thread looks like please see the following:  (OOGT)

With the results called in record time.  I offer this Official Obama Gloat Thread for any and all Obama supporters.  Please use this as your official gloat thread.  

As a strong supporter of the eventual nominee, I am certain that there will be other gloat threads for both HRC and JE.

Do not recommend the mothership!

It's about unity, maybe?  So's let's talk about my checkbook, baby.  

You don't want no borin' partisan stink... Hmmm, well let me think.

Yo, suzie's got an answer.  How about a flat-screen for my credenza?

If not that Daddy-o, I could always leech a new patio!  

You say you got none, well baby, I just want some.  

My wallet needs a jump-start... now that I hear you got heart.

Hey gals over there!  How bout stoppin' me from robbin' beer?  

If my wit, man, is not so ample, maybe I can live with just a sample.

Not enough coin? Damn. Then ... just gimme' a gram.

In a sharp turn from free-market principles, the Republican Bush Administration has enacted price controls on the home lending industry. Citing the success of numerous Soviet-era economic policies, and the New York city rental market, some say, Mr. Bush has adopted a more populist posture in the vein of South American leader Hugo Chavez.

After watching 60 Minutes with Matt Lauer for the entire first half hour, I had a few feelings that I need to share with you.  

Imagine for a second if Larry Craig decided to run for President; won the nomination; and he was up against Hillary.  

Now we all know Hillary leans to the right and takes it (money) from corporations.

Now imagine a scenario where Larry Craig sits to the left of Hillary.  If his position is right and he takes the appropriate stance on the burning issue of the moment, would you get behind him?

(Now this is always something I've feared might happen if Hillary was leaning too far to the right - the Republicans would find someone who leaned to the left.)

I know nothing about Craig, but what I saw surprised me.  He's fully credentialed and the Religious Right, say in Colorado Springs (Dobson territory), might be very comfortable with him. After that he'd be looking heavily at blue-collared workers in New Hampshire.  

My way or the highway doesn't seem to be Craigs style.  Maybe it is just a result of Bush fatigue, but I might want to get out of this double helix.  If it's Hillary I might be on the fence.  With Craig, I might just lean on the fence.  

Your thoughts?

From the crypt, Mario Puzo continues to tap out compelling, taut tales of the clan Corleone.

Puzo's latest entry into the drawn-out tale puts the young Fredo, 8 years old, in the middle of a viscous, blood-letting of pint-sized proportions.  As the story unfolds, we see Fredo surrounded by a corporate-sponsored cabal of saccharine, bloviated, and cross-dressing adversaries, Little Fredo averts and avoids the raging polemicists as he nestles at his Hollywood manse ....  

Enough already, Fredo is in.  Frediction: Won't be here on February 6th.  Here's a link to the nytimes.
Little Fred and His Rented Red Truck

Now that I am a member of a legitimate "media entity", I believe it is high time that we "employees" of said "media entity" deserve union representation.  With great newsgathering organizations such as the Detroit Free Press and ABCnews well-represented, I believe we deserve similar, if not better, union representation.  After all, this is not just a blog: it is a "media entity"!

It is our right to unionize - from the National Labor Relations Action:

Section 7:
"Employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representation of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining·."

Section 8(a):
"It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7·."

Although we true-believers know that Rudy Giuliani spent time in the rubble of the World Trade Center, "as often, if not more" than the first responders, some times pesky little facts get in our way.

It seems as though Rudy's boast could be verified.  See below.

Is there any one man better qualified than Lester Petrie for the office of President?  I think not.  In our country's greatest moment of need, he stood alone, at the ready, steeling a nation in sorrow.  

As his extensive biography details http://en.wikipedia.org/... there is no one who is more responsible for calming the nation and preparing us for the sacrifices to be made.  As his biography suggests, the world turned to him and remembers him as the man of the moment.

In our war against the forces that want to take this great nation and reduce it to rubble, we need a man like Lester Petrie to lead us.  Only he knows and understands the tragedy of that infamous day.  Only he knows how to deal with the existential threat to the American dream, your dreams, and your children's dreams.  

Came across this  essay/review of The New American Militarism.  The author, my wife, wishes to remain anonymous.  I think it is kind of interesting for those of us who wonder why we are where we are today.  Finally, it might be time to question what our role is in this entire process.  Her discussion starts here: