For a quick summary of this article, play the clip.
“Madam Speaker, I have, for the past 35 years, expressed my grave concern for the future of America . The course we have taken over the past century has threatened our liberties, security and prosperity. In spite of these long-held concerns, I have days–growing more frequent all the time–when I’m convinced the time is now upon us that some Big Events are about to occur. These fast-approaching events will not go unnoticed. They will affect all of us. They will not be limited to just some areas of our country. The world economy and political system will share in the chaos about to be unleashed.
Though the world has long suffered from the senselessness of wars that should have been avoided, my greatest fear is that the course on which we find ourselves will bring even greater conflict and economic suffering to the innocent people of the world–unless we quickly change our ways.”
Who said this? A Republican or a Democrat? The answer may shock you, or maybe it won’t, but either way it’s at the end of this article. That said, is anything being done to protect our way of life from the gradual onset of globalism?
Well, yes, finally Congress is starting to see the light. Let’s start with CNN reporting Wednesday that the U.S. Senate has passed a bill which intends to rein in out-of-control oil speculators. Apparently, House Republicans want to add 28 amendments to the bill while the Democrats only want to allow them 2. Quite a divide there, I’d say, and it seems the main sticking point is the Dems’ refusal to allow Republicans to ease up on oil drilling restrictions.
“This is not some arcane subject; this is the biggest issue in the country,” said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky. “It’s on the floor now. We say, let’s deal with it. We’re not afraid to vote on their amendments, they shouldn’t be afraid to vote on ours. Let the Senate work its will on the No. 1 issue in the country.” -CNN
McConnell is right. This is the biggest issue in the country, so why are so-called ‘progressives’ lagging behind so-called ‘conservatives’ on it? We’re not going to find better energy sources later without all of the energy we have now, and with experts estimating that speculation increases the cost of a barrel of oil anywhere from $40-$60, can the Democrats really afford to play chicken with our energy policy? This is their chance to kill two birds with one stone. I guess they’ll pass in order to make an unnecessary show of political force. I like to speculate too, and I speculate that the Dems had better start reaching across the aisle, lest they be labeled obstructionists.
Case in point: on Thursday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission charged Optiver Holding BV with oil market manipulation stemming back to 2007. ‘Oh, there’s no price gouging; it’s supply and demand,’ conservatives cried back then! They may be getting it right now, but this was a major blunder of the Republican Party (or conspiracy, depending on who you ask) that will eventually lead to a McCain defeat at the hands of a voting public that is increasingly seeing them, and indeed him as well, as out of touch.
Speaking of out of touch…
Wow! What an incredible campaign. You know, bragging about having done what they should have and all that. It’s interesting to note that the 60-year marker mentioned here coincides with the end of World War II. This was the war during which women and minorities proved that they were ready, willing, and able to assist our military on the battlefield and during which still other women assumed the ‘traditional’ roles of their husbands while they were off fighting the German occupation or the battles in the Pacific. If necessity is the mother of invention, then desperation is the mother of inclusion, and yet, you can’t ask, and you can’t tell.
When is the military establishment going to realize that this is an opportunity for them to prove their dedication to real inclusion whilst giving open gays and lesbians an opportunity to prove their allegiance to our nation – a nation that for so long didn’t want them? Moreover, the military stands to reap the benefits of increased personnel levels for upcoming operations in Afghanistan as well as higher morale as more and more studies find our current troops very accepting of alternative lifestyles, reflecting that this last bastion of the ‘ol’ boys’ club’ is finally joining the social reality of the 21st century, the reality that my generation is known for its intolerance of the intolerant, which of course brings us to 2008 and our very real probability of electing our first African-American POTUS.
Meanwhile, in other armed forces news…
Senator Barack Hussein Obama. ‘Yeah, I said it, big whoop, wanna fight about it?’ *ahem* Mr. Osama, err, Obama, was away on holiday, err, touring the world, on a mission of conquest, err, peace and diplomacy. Ok, now that I’ve made that point:
Senator Obama went on a worldwide tour to promote his ability to be effective in foreign relations. The trip was highly successful, the proverbial ‘Mission Accomplished’ banners in full display, but then… what’s this? The old codger, John McSame, calls out the good Senator from Illinois for canceling a visit to a hospital for wounded veterans in Germany.
“A new McCain ad that began airing Saturday in selected markets also chides Obama as disrespectful for making “time to go to the gym” during his European visit while at the same time canceling the visit with wounded troops.” -AP
File under: extreme reach. Sounds like good old fashioned McCain rhetoric to me! I mean, of course Obama went to the gym. He’s not you, you pudgy old fart! But seriously (also from AP):
“Obama’s campaign called the accusation “wildly inappropriate.” His spokesman has claimed that the visit to a military hospital in Germany was scrapped after the Pentagon raised concerns about political activity on a military base. Earlier, though, the campaign had said Obama decided the visit might be seen as inappropriate politicking. However, the Pentagon said the senator was never told not to visit.”
Sorry Mack, but Obama’s tour was a resounding success which will likely overshadow your own ‘foreign policy’ for the rest of the campaign. Oh wait, you mean you don’t have a foreign policy? Phew, ok, Obama does, you can just latch onto his!
“I think voters can take a look at this trip and say to themselves that this guy can function effectively on the world stage,” Obama said. -Bloomberg
I concur.
Dude, where’s my clue?
“The issue of economics is not something I’ve understood as well as I should… I’ve got Greenspan’s book.†I think we all know who is the proud owner of that gem of a quote; why it’s none other than John Sidney McCain III (his name sounds so stuffy I’d rather vote for someone named Osama, err, Obama). In the meantime, Obama’s putting together his dream team of economic advisers. Where are all the leaders? Well, they’re all right here. Rubin, Buffet, and Volker – reporting for duty, sir! What does McCain have? A dunce cap, a lack of understanding of the most common, everyday issues, and a book by the former Federal Reserve Bank Chairman. Hey, if you can’t get the man, then you better have the book, right?
And finally the answer to our trivia question:
Ron Paul
SMS
