Alternatives

Typically, I am not in favor of alternatives (you know, like alternative lifestyles). There is one exception; Alternative energy. I am for them. I think they're great. I do have a couple of problems with them (otherwise it just wouldn't be me).

First off, they really aren't available, at least not at a price the average American can afford. You can talk about wind, solar, hydrogen etc. until you are blue in the face, but until there is a decent, affordable way to harness the energy it isn't going to fly.

Second, and this is probably bigger than the first point, let's say that someone comes up with a car that runs on tap water (or whatever). Is everyone supposed to trade in their current vehicles for the wonder car? Number one, very few of us would be able to afford it. New technology usually comes out of the box at a hefty price tag. Number two, even if the every day Joe could afford it, the manufacturer couldn't keep up.

I think we should be doing everything, looking into anything that makes us energy independent. I believe that it is vital to our national security to do so. We are paying $700 billion dollars annually for our oil, mostly to countries don't like us too much, but love our money. While we are looking at all of the possibilities for the future, we need to drill here, drill now and pay less. It is absurd that we beg the sheiks for more supply, but won't drill on our own land. I would urge everyone to sign the petition at the linked website and let your voice be heard. More than 70% of Americans support drilling domestically. It is time we put both houses of congress on notice and remind them that they work for us and that we can take away their power just as fast as we gave it to them.

About time

Today the New York Times reports that President Bush lifted the executive moratorium that bans drilling for oil on the outer continental shelf. This is a move he should have made a few weeks ago when he first asked congress to remove their moratorium.

This will do absolutely nothing as far as domestic drilling is concerned until congress removes their moratorium, which is highly unlikely. The Democrat party is playing a dangerous game with the American people. We aren't used to, and actually resent paying $4+ per gallon for gasoline (we aren't part of the EU after all).

This election should have been a no brainer for the Democrats. The presidents approval ratings are at an all time low somewhere in the mid 20's (although congress has nothing to laugh about, their approval rating is 9%). This is an issue that is first and foremost in the minds of voters. If the Republican party gets on the right side of this issue, November may not be as cold as they thought.

Tony Snow R.I.P.

I was saddened to see that Tony Snow has died after a long battle with colon cancer. The same disease also killed his mother. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and children.

Maybe I will, Maybe I won't

According to this AP report, it appears that our good friend Senator Obama has changed his mind (again) on pulling our troops out of Iraq immediately.

"I am going to do a thorough assessment when I'm there," he told reporters on the airport tarmac here. "I'm sure I'll have more information and continue to refine my policy."
During his presidential campaign, Obama has gone from the hard-edged, vocal opposition to Iraq that defined his early candidacy to more nuanced rhetoric that calls for a phased-out drawdown of all combat brigades that, at a rate of one or two a month, could last 16 months. He has said that if al-Qaida builds bases in Iraq, he would keep troops either in the country or the region to carry out "targeted strikes."

Naturally, the Republican party smelled blood in the water.

"There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience," said Alex Conant, a spokesman for the national Republican Party.

For all of his talk of hope and change (or is it change and hope) and a new kind of politics, Senator Obama is proving to be just another politician who will say or do whatever it takes to get elected. I don't have a problem with that, but lets try to be honest about it, shall we?

He's in the money

Just to make the liberals mad, which is something he has been doing for almost 20 years, Rush Limbaugh has extended his contract through the year 2016. His reported signing bonus is in the 9 figures. That makes his signing bonus alone in excess of $100 million dollars! The total value of his contract as reported by Drudge is $400 million. That will buy a lot of Allen Brothers Steaks.

Congratulations Rush!

Will the real Colin Powell please stand up

There has been a lot of talk about Colin Powell supporting Senator Obama in the presidential election (apparently they met in mid-June). As Jim Geraghty reports at the Campaign Spot, he has a lot to gain from endorsing Obama. I disagree, however that Obama has so much to gain. According to Geraghty:

The questions surrounding Obama - experience, accomplishments, familiarity with the military and national security issues, connection to middle-American values - are all Powell's strengths. If the retired general and former Secretary of State says Obama will do okay as commander-in-chief, a lot of Americans will exhale with relief.

Just because the former Sectetary of State says Obama will do fine, doesn't make it so. He has absolutely no executive experience, limited National experience (of the three years he has been a U.S. Senator, he has spent two of them running for president.) and pretty much no foreign policy experience. A nod from Powell is just that and nothing more.

The real question is will Mr. Powell continue to support John McCain. He donated the maximum to the McCain campaign in August of last year.