WHERE’S THE NEWS?

THE NEWS HAS BEEN CANCELLED.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/business...ia/23logan.html

One reporter who has been accused of aiding “The terrorists” in Iraq is Lara Logan, who continues to attempt to report the conditions in Iraq which are horrific.

WATCH LARA LOGAN ON THE DAILY SHOW – Even Jon Stewart has no words
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh2A_SYuhls

OIL

Rampant unregulated speculation continues to drive up the price of oil Poor Lindsey Graham looked like he was going to cry yesterday on Meet The Press when paired with Senator Joe Biden Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee. Our troops in Afghanistan see a High Value Target but can’t take him out. “No air” coverage!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePZK27t1HqE

Senator Lindsey Graham whose become McCains handmaiden has his nose rubbed in THE FACTS on DRILLING OFF SHORE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzjQ_G3YWfM

THE RACE

Obama has a 51 -36 percent lead over McCain among registerd voters nationwide as of today.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/142465

OUR CULTURE

There’s a cultural phenomenon in poorer rural communties. Girls who are missing unconditional love in their lives are having babies younger and younger. 17 girls show up pregnant at a small rural high school in Gloucester, Mass.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8...1815845,00.html

And rest in peace, George Carlin.



HOMEWORK

OIL

Rampant, unregulated speculation causes prices to rise...despite the Saudis saying they're upping production:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/06/23/...s.ap/index.html

Iraq. Nahhhhhh. It was never about oil.
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/06/22/9805/

BUSH DEMANDS MORE DRILLING, INCLUDING ANWR, IN SATURDAY RADIO ADDRESS. WV CONGRESSMAN NICK RAHALL GIVES A FANTASTIC RESPONSE.
http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/06/congressman_nic.php

THE RACE

KEEP THESE NUMBERS....AND WE WIN.

Newsweek Poll shows Barack with a 15 point lead.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/142465

Bush Adminstration. Third Term.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200806220002

Smear watch...

Monica Crowley on The Laura Ingraham Show insists Obama is a Muslim.. Will SOMEBODY rid us of these over frosted blonde bimbo cameracandy who couldn't SPELL Muslim.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200806200006

From Friday: Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk says : "if we see Obama there's a shoot on sight order" Obviously a gaffe on Osama. Think it was an accident?
http://progressillinois.com/2008/06/18/kir...-drilling-claim

The Old School Right Wing Smear Machine is having trouble raising money...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/us/politics/21ads.html

BOB BARR: THE RIGHT'S RALPH NADER?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/22/g...y_n_108517.html

CULTURE

17 girls end up with baby bumps at Gloucester High School
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8...1815845,00.html

But Wait! This is the Bush Era! Family Values!? Abstinence Only??

"......The past decade has been difficult for this mostly white, mostly blue-collar city (pop. 30,000). In recent years, jobs have all but disappeared overseas, and with them much of the community's wherewithal. "Families are broken," says school superintendent Christopher Farmer. "Many of our young people are growing up directionless."

More

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/20/p...t_n_108344.html

Oh, the right wing's sacred 'Abstinence Only' sex ed doctrine? Utter failure, according to a FEDERAL REPORT:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...7041301003.html

Meanwhile, Gloucester officials scramble to debunk
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nati...103_ndig23.html

It's what I've been saying for years. Georgia will be a "Blue State" in 2008. Obama will take the 15 electoral votes, and Jim Martin will take Saxby Chamblis's Senate seat. Buh-bye.

Stunning words and feeling from Lara Logan, which calls for a dramatic reaction. Where is it? I want this crappy war to end now. (I've about run out of words.) Sorry. Don't even cuss anymore.

Thunder Horse goes online:



Domestic production goes up, but so does the price of oil. It's a supply problem - yeah right.

I think at one point in the interview Stewart tried at a joke, just to cheer her? And it did make a dent in her demeanor. She is just as affected as one of our G.I's coming back here. Here there is no war. Here there is no coverage of that war. And that is a double wammy for our returning G.I.'s.

Numb?

It's like we are all on "ignore." And that's all manufactured/instigated by our friendly corporate propaganda machines all these years.

This is the good news.

I'm braking my word by posting here again as I swore I would never do again to say:

Thank you George Carlin, you'll be missed

Randi Rocks my socks off!!!

I miss George Carlin already, RIP my hero of comedy and free speech.

Randi - BIG changes in Sunday AM TV schedules here in NYC area since you left - McLaughlin is now on WCBS, after Face the Nation. I have to TiVo Meet the Press, now!

One must be careful watching McLaughlin, though ... they're good on some issues,but remember who produces the show - The FINANCIAL TIMES! Therefore, we are NEVER gonna get any truth about the current oil "crisis" there - they don't wanna TOUCH that story!

I thought Biden did a fairly good job on MTP. Lindsey Graham makes me wanna puke, though! How on EARTH can any McCain backer even THINK of using the term FLIP-FLOP???!!! Grampy's flip-flops put the Flying Walendas to SHAME!

Randi, please get Lara Logan on your show!!!

The McCain Prize Its Just A Nother Gimic For You Get Nothen McCain Offers 0 Million for New Auto Battery http://www.newsweek.com/id/142465



http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/23/1...ew-auto-battery

An interesting point to consider ... New Oil Leases = New Oil FUTURES!

Oil FUTURES, these days. are worth MORE than oil. Once you begin to PRODUCE oil with your lease, you turn your futures into real oil, which, in today's upside-down market, DECREASES the value of your holdings!!!

Referring back to my prior post, where I thought Biden did really well was in discussion of the campaign finance issue, pointing out that the SPIRIT of ALL Campaign Finance legislation is to keep the BIG, MONEYED interests from BUYING favors from the new office holder via their contributions. He also reminded us that Obama HAS NOT TAKEN, AND WILL NOT TAKE PAC or Lobbyist $$. Who is Obama gonna owe favors to when HE gets elected? 1.2 MILLION AMERICANS, that's who!

You got a problem with THAT, Lindsey Graham???

BTW - I just realized that with THIS post, I have made more posts to Randi's Message Board than Randi has.

I'm fairly certain that, as far as genetics is concerned, Islam is passed JUST LIKE Judiasm - if your MOTHER is Jewish, than YOU are!

I asked a Rabbi why this was the case once ... he told me the following - You may THINK you know who your Birth-Father (sperm-donor?) is, but in almost every case, there are no witnesses, and you are simply taking the word of one or two conspiring individuals, with an agenda. There ARE, usually, disinterested 3rd-party witnesses (e. g., Doctors and Nurses) who can verify the identity of your Birth-Mother!

um Randi Malik Obama is Michelle Obama's brother in law

her brother is this guy

Craig Robinson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_Robinso...sketball_coach)

OIL PRICE SPECULATION

On C-Span, 6/23/08, all day Rep Bart Stupak[D-MI] has help these hearings - 5 hr's... House Committee Energy & Commerce

You can watch it on http://www.c-span.org/


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Reuters
US House bill goes after energy market speculation
06.20.08, 3:17 PM ET


United States - By Jasmin Melvin
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives on Friday would crack down on over-the-counter crude oil trading and go after speculators suspected of pushing oil prices to record levels.

The Prevent Unfair Manipulation of Prices, or PUMP, act, would eliminate loopholes allowing energy traders to amass excessive profits while inflating the price of oil for consumers, by trading on foreign markets and entering into other deals that currently escape federal oversight.

The bill's main sponsor, Rep. Bart Stupak, Democratic chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, said excessive speculation was "killing our economy."

Speculation usually accounts for only $8 to $9 per barrel to the cost of crude, but in current markets, he said, speculation is adding about $65 to $70 a barrel -- almost half the price of oil.

"We don't mind people making money," Stupak said. "We're not saying end speculation. We're saying end the excessive speculation that continues to put a higher and higher floor (on oil prices)."

Democratic Rep. Jay Inslee said the law of supply and demand, which some have cited as causing the rise in oil prices, are not at work here. "These are the laws of what happens when you allow manipulation and excessive speculation, because you don't have a fair review of these markets," he said.

Under the bill, overseas trading of energy commodities, such as on the InterContinental Exchange, would be subject to the same rules as U.S.-regulated markets, if traders use U.S.-based computer terminals or the transaction has a delivery point on American soil.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, which oversees futures trading on U.S. exchanges, would also get authority to monitor bilateral trades and swaps that occur between two parties and are not negotiated on a regulated exchange.

"The CFTC has allowed 117 different exceptions for swaps," Stupak said. "When you allow 117 exceptions, you have part of the market that's basically doing what it wants with little or no oversight from the government."

Stupak said this allows traders to drive the price of oil to what is most beneficial for them. The PUMP bill would require reporting and recordkeeping for all such transactions, allowing the CFTC to monitor for fraud and manipulation.

The bill would also require the CFTC to set position limits on the number of energy contracts a trader could control "over all markets" and would no longer allow speculators to be exempt from position limits for hedging risks, unless they have "legitimate anticipated business needs."

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would retain the authority to prosecute market manipulation, and get the added authority to freeze the assets of companies it prosecutes.

Companies would no longer be able to liquidate and distribute their assets before a verdict to avoid monetary penalties.

The legislation has more than 50 co-sponsors, including some Republicans. Additionally, a coalition of consumer, labor and business organizations, representing mainly the airline industry, endorsed the PUMP bill. (Editing by Walter Bagley)

Copyright 2008 Reuters, Click for Restriction
Oil Surge, No End In Sight

Oil Climbs As Iran Mulls Cut

RE: Dianne Feinstein ~ Randi.... I'm from California and we voted for Dianne because she (at one time) actually voted on behalf of her constituency. In the past year or two she has changed her tune and I will/can no longer support her and her DemoCorporate ways (maybe she has turned into a NeoCon). The talk in California is that many people are angry with her for the choices she is making (ie. Mukasey and others) and it looks like she will have a competition if she chooses to run again.

Gotta ask about this - you guys did a recall election on your Governator - Can ya do another one (maybe 2??) on your Senator(s)??

Happy as Punch to be apart of the forum.. Been putting it off for a while so I could finish up some projects, But now it's time.
RIP Carlin. I wonder if the media will cover his passing like they did for Russert? My thought-no.
No disrespect to Russert. Just a comment on the lack of coverage of actual news.

Welcome aboard!

I wouldn't trade Boxer for anyone out there.

Feinstein and Harmon are another story. I think they will be seen as neo-Cons in the Lieberman mold.

Jebus Thunder Horse, formerly called Crazy Horse is the largest oil platform of it's kind in the world and cost about a billion dollar$ to construct...It's owned by BP & EXXonMobil and operated by BP...that same oil company known for it's incompetence up in Alaska... low maintainance standards to save money...(BP shuts oilfield) or market manipulation? The Thunder Horse section of the gulf is expected to be productive for 25 years.

Oh, now I get it, how come oil companies aren't compelled to build platforms, and pipes and pumps that don't break under normal wear and tear...a break leads to a shut down which drives up the price...a spill drives up price and they don't even pay for the clean up if they even bother to clean it up cuss they pass the cost on to the consumer and take profits away from investors by having to have to spend billions more to replace broken shit and the execs take their hundreds of million$ bonuses for driving up the price.

I almost can't wait till the majority of Americans can't afford to buy oil for cars..then and only then will people come up with clever alternatives. I hope I don't live long enough to actually see it happen, it won't be pretty; but it's the only way the spoiled Americans will get busy with the alternative energy cuss they love and need to drive, air conditioning, hot water, and all the other products we use oil in the manufacturing of.

Randi's show's been great; exactly what we need. Glad she picked up on Lara Logan interview.

GEORGE
CARLIN
R.I.P.
Wasn’t He hear a Minute Ago
http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/pop...13&src=news

This is my first time writing on this message board, (POP!). One of the people who called in on the show today raised a concern about the FISA bill. Paraphrasing, she said, I believe, 'if this FISA bill weakens the fourth amendment, then doesn't it also make it easier to overturn Roe V. Wade?', and I think there was agreement on the issue.

So, since I promised myself that I am going to take action, at least in some small way, every time I am feeling fed with what MY representative government is doing. On Friday I almost crashed 2x while while calling 15 different Senators offices, including Harry Reed, and the offices of 8 representatives, my own, and others I've met or heard speak, including Speaker Pelosi, (next time I'll pull off the road and park before I call), to let them know how disappointed I am with this proposed FISA bill, (Thank You Randi for giving us the phone # sometime last year, US Congress-202.225.3121/US Senate majority Judicial Committee-202.224.7703/US House majority Judicial Committee-202.225.3951).

Well today, from my office, I lit up the phone lines again, and after leaving my messages of concern, one of the congresspersons assistants asked me, had I had called the Judicial Committee?, 'err... well... no', so I did, and they said the FISA bill can't legally affect the Roe V. Wade ruling and will not make it easier to overturn Roe V. Wade. Since I've come to question my government on just about every thing lately I wanted to know what do you think Randi, did you find out anything?, how about my fellow poster's?

Even if I was a little premature in calling Congress, I still like the idea of Randi exposing the truth to us, and tens of thousands, (hundreds of thousands, millions, ...), of her listeners lighting up the phone lines to Congress, and flooding the email boxes of congresspersons with our concerns. We may have a little ways to go to get to those higher numbers, but I can dream, and anticipate can't I!

I hope this post isn't too long, I am a virgin here though so please be nice, Roblo

Welcome.

Have you read the bill?

I understand your point, but unlike Judaism, Islam is only a religion - not a race.

Judaism is a RACE????

I second that nomination!!

Thats my home work, as time allows.