Watching the TV talking heads tonight, and the subject was Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Sen. John McCain's (72nd birthday today!) choice as Veep.
One thing the Repubs kept saying was the Gov. Palin had the highest approval rating of any U.S. governor. No solid numbers were mentioned, but one Repub talking head said that it was more than 80 percent.
So what? One Democratic governor of a Western red state has -- according to a recent poll -- an 81 percent approval rating. He's the only Democrat among the five state elected officials, and he has to deal with a veto-proof legislature, dominated by Republicans. He's a life-long hunter, and his hobby is rebuilding traditional sheep wagons. He opposed the feds' wolf-reintroduction rules, and boosted the budget of the state arts agency to record levels.
Who is this magic man? Gov. Dave Freudenthal of Wyoming.
So Sarah Palin's a Republican governor in a Republican state and has a high approval rating.
So what?
Friday, August 29, 2008
Convention wrap-up -- final day
Once the bus returned me to the Denver burbs tonight, I drove to my uncle's house, picked up my gear and drove back to Cheyenne, getting in about 12:45 a.m. We made a pretty fast getaway from Mile High Stadium and the buses seemed to get priority entering I-25, which was eerily empty, with only our bus and a white Homeland Security van jockeying for space. The city closed the highway from 5:30 p.m. until midnight for security reasons. Just what prompted that decision is hard to say, since the stadium is far enough from the highway to protect against any kind of explosions. If there's one thing this convention had -- security. Denver cops, Lakewood cops, Aurora cops, ATF agents, TSA screeners, Secret Service and, I'm assuming, FBI. We had police in the hotels and on the buses. When is enough security enough? When we say it is!
One classy move the cops made -- providing an escort for the non-permitted march on Wednesday by Rage Against the Machine and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Something like 3,000 participated in that march, which made it the largest one at the convention.
More convention wrapping up in the morning.
One classy move the cops made -- providing an escort for the non-permitted march on Wednesday by Rage Against the Machine and members of Iraq Veterans Against the War. Something like 3,000 participated in that march, which made it the largest one at the convention.
More convention wrapping up in the morning.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
At the DNC on finale night
Jesse Jackson meets the press on the floor of Mile High Stadium during the DNC Aug. 29.
Blogging from Mile High -- cell phone only
It's been a long week of carrying around this laptop and connectors and cords and a power strip and all the rest of the gizmos a blogger needs. So, as I prepare to go down to Mile High Stadium, I am leaving this laptop behind. I shall miss it, but blog via tex message and photos on the cell phone. Let's see how this works, shall we?
If you don't hear from me during the next 24 hours, I've probably been detained in "Gitmo on the Platte" for subversive thoughts.
Pray for me.
If you don't hear from me during the next 24 hours, I've probably been detained in "Gitmo on the Platte" for subversive thoughts.
Pray for me.
Code Pink hits the Denver streets
Hero worship at the DTC Hyatt
Wow! I just met Roosevelt Grier in the lobby of the Hyatt Place Hotel. He's walking with a cane these days and is a bit more gray, but it's him all right. A great man. Marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., active in the Civil Rights struggles from the 1960s onward. And a pretty good football player, too.
Here's some background on "Rosey" Grier from Wikipedia:
Here's some background on "Rosey" Grier from Wikipedia:
As a professional football player, Grier was a member of the original Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams and played in the Pro Bowl twice.
After Grier's professional sports career he worked as a bodyguard for Robert Kennedy during the 1968 presidential campaign and was guarding the senator's wife during the Robert F. Kennedy assassination. Although unable to prevent that killing, Grier took control of the gun and subdued the shooter, Sirhan Sirhan.
Grier's other activities have been colorful and varied. He hosted his own Los Angeles television show and made approximately 70 guest appearances on various shows during the 1960s and 1970s. Grier is known for his serious pursuit of nontraditional hobbies such as macrame and needlepoint. He has authored several books, including Rosey Grier's Needlepoint for Men in 1973. Grier became an ordained Christian minister in 1983 and travels as an inspirational speaker. He founded American Neighborhood Enterprises, a nonprofit organization that serves inner city youth.
Obama puts Bush's big lie to the test
Sometimes it takes someone with a keen eye to portray what's happened politically in the U.S. during the past 20 years or so. Bradley Burston writes from New Orleans in the Aug. 27 in Israel's Haaretz.com:
In the end, Bush's inexplicable air of harmlessness may be his real legacy. His genius was the glorification of ineffectuality. He played to perfection the part of the good ole boy who revels in the knowledge that things are not as bad as these insufferable, effete, under-manly liberals, intellectuals, elitists, eggheads, high talkers would have us believe. Here was the common man with the common man's truth -- be happy with what you've got, and as for these nay-sayers, may they not bring all o us down with them.
And no one was as good as Bush at promulgating -- perhaps, also, at himself believing -- the big lie. Here, after all, was the man, the moneyed, Yale Skull and Bones legacy son of a moneyed president, grandson of a U.S. Senator trading on his identity as the caricature of the common man, this self-styled rancher, this apparent dirt farmer. A lie as big as the great Texas sky. And Americans lined up to buy it.
It was too scary not to.
What could be more scary, at this point, than Obama bring right? The extent of the changes that need to be made are, in fact, frightening in dimension. There is, undeniably, something in human nature that suggests that if things are this bad, changing them could only be worse. What frightens me, at this point, is the possibility that Americans have come to prize mediocrity over excellence, turning a blind eye to facing hard truths full on. Fox News, meanwhile, has gone back to trying to persuade America that global warming may be a fiction, after all. Who better than Fox to know a fiction when it reports one? What may frighten some Americans about Barack Obama is his very excellence. His fiercest critics have so far had little else to go on.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Meet the DNC delegates: Patrick Goggles
Patrick Goggles has spent four years in the Wyoming Legislature as the representative from House District 33. His district takes in most of the Wind River Reservation from Crowheart on the west to almost Red Canyon on the east side of Lander. It includes the town of Hudson but not Lander, which Goggles calls "the hole in the doughnut." Just an indication of the strange shapes of Wyoming's districting (and gerrymandering by the Republicans).
I talked to Patrick, a member of the Northern Arapaho tribe, on the floor of the Pepsi Center. He lives in rural Mill Creek but his home precinct is in Ethete.
He said he's been interviewed by Wyoming Public Radio, a radio station in South Dakota, RezNet News out of the University of Montana, and several others. After we talked he was off to be interviewed by the BBC.
This is his first convention, but he remembers watching politics as far back as 1960 and the Kennedy-Nixon debates. He has relatives all over Wyoming, and four of his nephews recently finished Marine boot camp and will be headed to Iraq after further training. His son-in-law has served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army and one in Iraq.
Goggles is an Obama supporter and nominated Sen. Obama at the Fremont County convention back in March. That upset his brother, a Clinton supporter, but Patrick says that he's getting over it.
He stresses the "unity" theme that's at the heart of this convention. "The end result is a unified front behind one candidate and that's Barack Obama."
I talked to Patrick, a member of the Northern Arapaho tribe, on the floor of the Pepsi Center. He lives in rural Mill Creek but his home precinct is in Ethete.
He said he's been interviewed by Wyoming Public Radio, a radio station in South Dakota, RezNet News out of the University of Montana, and several others. After we talked he was off to be interviewed by the BBC.
This is his first convention, but he remembers watching politics as far back as 1960 and the Kennedy-Nixon debates. He has relatives all over Wyoming, and four of his nephews recently finished Marine boot camp and will be headed to Iraq after further training. His son-in-law has served two tours in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army and one in Iraq.
Goggles is an Obama supporter and nominated Sen. Obama at the Fremont County convention back in March. That upset his brother, a Clinton supporter, but Patrick says that he's getting over it.
He stresses the "unity" theme that's at the heart of this convention. "The end result is a unified front behind one candidate and that's Barack Obama."
Let Wyoming answer the roll call!
It's hell being the last state on the alphabetical list at a political convention.
Sen. Barack Obama was just named the Democratic Party's presidential candidate by acclamation. New Mexico (Home of a bunch of artists especially in Santa Fe!) yielded to Illinois (Home of the Valentine's Day Massacre!) which in turn yielded to New York (Home of New Yorker magazine cartoons that we don't understand!).
And who announced this?
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
The delegates roared their approval. And the rest of the alphabet didn't get to answer the roll call.
That included North Dakota, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Do I have all the post-New York states?
Rumor has it that the Pennsylvania governor is really mad. Our delegation is disappointed.
I vote that we secede from the Union and form our own country of states which didn't get to answer the roll call to make Sen. Obama's nomination official. Not sure what to call it. The United States of the Ignored? The Silenced Ones? The USA World Book, Nor-Wyo?
We'll think of something.
Sen. Barack Obama was just named the Democratic Party's presidential candidate by acclamation. New Mexico (Home of a bunch of artists especially in Santa Fe!) yielded to Illinois (Home of the Valentine's Day Massacre!) which in turn yielded to New York (Home of New Yorker magazine cartoons that we don't understand!).
And who announced this?
New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.
The delegates roared their approval. And the rest of the alphabet didn't get to answer the roll call.
That included North Dakota, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin, West Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Do I have all the post-New York states?
Rumor has it that the Pennsylvania governor is really mad. Our delegation is disappointed.
I vote that we secede from the Union and form our own country of states which didn't get to answer the roll call to make Sen. Obama's nomination official. Not sure what to call it. The United States of the Ignored? The Silenced Ones? The USA World Book, Nor-Wyo?
We'll think of something.
Hummingbirdminds answers it all for you
My friend and writing colleague Liz Roadifer from Pine Bluffs has some questions about the convention. I will attempt to answer them.
Q: What does everyone have to eat and drink at the Pepsi Center?
A: As for food, you can get gruel, either plain or with water drizzled over it. Beverages include water.
Q: Do you have access to the press room (is there a press room/area)?
A: Yes. I currently am in the Bloggers' Lounge and it is crowed with bloggers of all stripes. Some are not striped. I was near the CNN control booth and got to meet Bill Richardson. He is as tall and bearded as he is on TV. I wandered into one of the press tents (I have a press pass) and saw journalists from Japan, Mexico, Germany and New York. The Weather Channel is not here.
Q: Have you seen the guys, and gal, from The Daily Show who are working the convention, including Jon Stewart? (he's supposed to be quite short).
A: I have been looking high and low (especially low) for Jon Stewart but haven't seen him. The closest I got was a sign at the Campus Inn near University of Denver that read "Welcome Jon Stewart" in big letters and "Welcome DNC" in very small print. I used to hang out at the Campus Inn when my wife Chris and I lived in Denver and attended DU hockey games. I have been on the lookout for Samantha Bee who seems to be eternally pregnant. No sign of her yet.
Q: Does everyone get to keep the signs they hand out to wave for each speaker? (they really look good on TV).
A: I grabbed some of the signs from last night and hauled them back with me. I saw some people hauling signs away in huge black garbage bags. Wonder what they will do with them?
Liz: Can I pick you up one of those signs?
Q: What does everyone have to eat and drink at the Pepsi Center?
A: As for food, you can get gruel, either plain or with water drizzled over it. Beverages include water.
Q: Do you have access to the press room (is there a press room/area)?
A: Yes. I currently am in the Bloggers' Lounge and it is crowed with bloggers of all stripes. Some are not striped. I was near the CNN control booth and got to meet Bill Richardson. He is as tall and bearded as he is on TV. I wandered into one of the press tents (I have a press pass) and saw journalists from Japan, Mexico, Germany and New York. The Weather Channel is not here.
Q: Have you seen the guys, and gal, from The Daily Show who are working the convention, including Jon Stewart? (he's supposed to be quite short).
A: I have been looking high and low (especially low) for Jon Stewart but haven't seen him. The closest I got was a sign at the Campus Inn near University of Denver that read "Welcome Jon Stewart" in big letters and "Welcome DNC" in very small print. I used to hang out at the Campus Inn when my wife Chris and I lived in Denver and attended DU hockey games. I have been on the lookout for Samantha Bee who seems to be eternally pregnant. No sign of her yet.
Q: Does everyone get to keep the signs they hand out to wave for each speaker? (they really look good on TV).
A: I grabbed some of the signs from last night and hauled them back with me. I saw some people hauling signs away in huge black garbage bags. Wonder what they will do with them?
Liz: Can I pick you up one of those signs?
Fritz Mondale drops by to see WyoDems
Thanks to LarCoDems head honcho Mike Bell for bringing in V.P. Walter Mondale yesterday to meet the Wyoming delegation.
As a younger man in 1990 in Minnesota, Mike worked to elect Mondale's son Ted to the state legislature. He and the Mondales have stayed in touch.
"Mike came in and handled volunteers and we won the election," Mondale said. "So, I told Mike to go to Wyoming and run things there."
(Laughter)
Mr. Mondale looks great at 80. Still has a firm handshake and can make a speech.
"We live in dire times," her said. "It's real and it's now. We must act."
As a former Clinton supporter, he urged us all to get behind Sen. Obama so we can wrest control of the U.S. Government from the Bush-Cheney cabal.
"The only way that we now can support the things that Hillary supported is to get behind Obama. I worry about this country if we can't get that sorted out."
He had high praise for Obama's choice as running mate. "Obama showed what he was made of. This is the single most unambiguous step that a presidential candidate can make."
He paused to survey the room.
"I think that Jimmy Carter was brilliant."
(More laughter)
Mr. Mondale spent the better part of an hour with us, and then melted into the Colorado sunshine.
As a younger man in 1990 in Minnesota, Mike worked to elect Mondale's son Ted to the state legislature. He and the Mondales have stayed in touch.
"Mike came in and handled volunteers and we won the election," Mondale said. "So, I told Mike to go to Wyoming and run things there."
(Laughter)
Mr. Mondale looks great at 80. Still has a firm handshake and can make a speech.
"We live in dire times," her said. "It's real and it's now. We must act."
As a former Clinton supporter, he urged us all to get behind Sen. Obama so we can wrest control of the U.S. Government from the Bush-Cheney cabal.
"The only way that we now can support the things that Hillary supported is to get behind Obama. I worry about this country if we can't get that sorted out."
He had high praise for Obama's choice as running mate. "Obama showed what he was made of. This is the single most unambiguous step that a presidential candidate can make."
He paused to survey the room.
"I think that Jimmy Carter was brilliant."
(More laughter)
Mr. Mondale spent the better part of an hour with us, and then melted into the Colorado sunshine.
We're all Dems on this bus
Driving the bus this afternoon from the Hyatt Place Hotel at the Denver Tech Center was William Fentroy from Jacksonville, Florida. We hit it off quickly because he saw my 2006 Gators' National Championship cap and then showed me his official Gator cell phone holder. Gators everywhere.
He graduated in 1986. He's originally from New Iberia, Louisiana, which also is home to fictional detective Dave Robicheaux in James Lee Burke's mystery novels.
What happened to the mills and factories around New Iberia and Martinville is not fiction. All the jobs were shipped overseas by CEOs who wanted to own as many houses as John McCain (seven, at last count). As William explained, it cost 99 cents per six-pack of underwear made at the Union Underwear (Fruit of the Loom brand) Factory. The workers were paid decent wages and thousands were employed there.
The compaany shipped all the jobs to Malaysia where they could pay the workers meager wages and it cost just a quarter for each six-pack of underwear.
"Who reaped the profits?" I asked.
"Who do you think?"
Uh oh. Even more 20,000-square-foot houses for Dick Cheney's exclusive community in Jackson Hole. Just call it the Republican Free-Market Underpants Windfall.
He graduated in 1986. He's originally from New Iberia, Louisiana, which also is home to fictional detective Dave Robicheaux in James Lee Burke's mystery novels.
What happened to the mills and factories around New Iberia and Martinville is not fiction. All the jobs were shipped overseas by CEOs who wanted to own as many houses as John McCain (seven, at last count). As William explained, it cost 99 cents per six-pack of underwear made at the Union Underwear (Fruit of the Loom brand) Factory. The workers were paid decent wages and thousands were employed there.
The compaany shipped all the jobs to Malaysia where they could pay the workers meager wages and it cost just a quarter for each six-pack of underwear.
"Who reaped the profits?" I asked.
"Who do you think?"
Uh oh. Even more 20,000-square-foot houses for Dick Cheney's exclusive community in Jackson Hole. Just call it the Republican Free-Market Underpants Windfall.
Gary Trauner's statement on energy issues
From Gary Trauner's U.S. House campaign:
ENERGY PRESS STATEMENT 8/26/08 FROM GARY TRAUNER
Since the day I started running for Wyoming's lone seat in the US House, I have been saying that the search for sustainable energy independence is the issue of our time. It affects our national security, our economy, our environment and the legacy we leave to future generations.
But over the past four months, as I have continued to campaign door to door, community to community, I have heard countless stories of the incredible burden that out of control gas prices have put on Wyoming's families, businesses, and particularly, seniors on fixed incomes.
As I attended forum after forum during the primary season, most of my opponents embraced the simple slogan of "Drill Here, Drill Now." That's not enough.
Some of them also mentioned diversifying our energy sources. That's not enough, either.
The key issue of our time is for America to break what President Bush called in his 2006 State of the Union address, "our addiction to oil."
To do that, we must bridge the gap with the energy sources of today to get to the energy sources of tomorrow. With diesel right here at this station [Ghost Town Gas Station, Casper, Wy Diesel $4.19] over four dollars a gallon, our choice has already been made for us. Yet, it is going to take leadership, honesty, straight talk and tough choices to achieve our goals.
That's why simple slogans like "Drill Here, Drill Now" won't get it done. How many of you know that nearly 1/3 of the oil taken from under American territory every day is sent overseas to foreign countries? That's right – everyday, 1.6 million barrels of American oil and petroleum products goes to foreign countries. American oil that could be filling our trucks, heating our homes, and fueling our nation.
Giving new leases to energy companies - without holding them accountable - only puts money in their pocket, and doesn't bring down the price of gas. After all, there are millions of leased acres today that are not being used or even explored.
My proposal has three key elements: Short-term, long-term and immediate action.
In the short term, at the risk of repeating myself, "Drill Here Drill Now" is not good enough; What we need is "American oil for the American people", or if you like "Drill Here. Sell Here. Now." It's really pretty simple. I propose that Congress approve new leases under the following conditions to ensure accountability:
o One, every drop of oil drilled under American soil and American waters must go to the American people.
o Two, just like our coal leases, use it or lose it. If oil companies don't drill in a reasonable amount of time, then we'll find someone who will.
That's to help bridge the gap, but as Oil Tycoon Boone Pickens says, "This is one emergency we can't drill our way out of."
So we must have a long-term strategy too that is more than paying lip service to energy diversity, because that's not good enough either. Therefore, any legislation to allow new leases or to open up new areas to drilling must also be coupled with an "Apollo moon" type of project for long-term energy independence.
This means a firm and lasting commitment from our federal government to work in partnership with private enterprise to provide the policy framework, regulatory certainty and market incentives to encourage, research, develop, and financially support a diverse range of alternative fuel sources.
Let me be clear: government should not and must not dictate which specific sources of energy are the long-term answers. In fact, the answer truly lies in diversity.
We need to explore everything from clean coal technologies (including carbon sequestration to rejuvenate tired oil and gas fields), to wind power, solar power, biofuels, hydrogen, and sources yet unknown. Conservation, and energy efficiency in our appliances, vehicles and buildings are also critical aspects of this firm and lasting commitment.
Finally, we need immediate action, to reign in out of control gas prices. Therefore, we must immediately use all the tools at our disposal to bring down the price of gas. These include:
o Reigning in and properly overseeing speculators who manipulate the futures markets solely for financial gain;
o Acting now to materially increase fuel economy standards;
o Providing market certainty by restoring the expired tax credits for wind & solar that are currently being held up by political posturing in DC, while incentivize other forms of alternative energy; and
o Putting more money in Americans' pockets by eliminating unnecessary tax breaks and subsidies to the most profitable companies in the history of the world.
Taken together, these steps will bring down the price of gas and groceries; allow us to take back our national and economic security from dictatorships like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Iran; and ensure a lasting legacy for future generations.
There will be resistance to change - there always is. We must also remember that the politics of simple slogans solves nothing. And it won't help make gas more affordable for a rancher filling up his tractor or a miner driving to work. As Charles F. Mason, the H.A. 'Dave' True Jr. professor of petroleum and natural gas economics at the University of Wyoming, said in the Casper Star on June 15, "the notion that the nation could simply drill more wells to become 'independent' of foreign oil imports simply isn't realistic. 'It's a myth,' He went on to say, and I quote: "It's a great place to make a stand if a politician is up for re-election. But realistically, I don't see that as having a significant impact."
My vision will have a significant impact by turning adversity into opportunity and recognizing what has made America great over the years: properly utilizing the role of government to help guide and unleash the power of private enterprise to solve complex issues. Taking these steps will immediately relieve the pain and the pump, continue to grow high quality jobs here in Wyoming and ensure the best jobs for our children in the economy of the 21st are right out their back door here in Wyoming.
ENERGY PRESS STATEMENT 8/26/08 FROM GARY TRAUNER
Since the day I started running for Wyoming's lone seat in the US House, I have been saying that the search for sustainable energy independence is the issue of our time. It affects our national security, our economy, our environment and the legacy we leave to future generations.
But over the past four months, as I have continued to campaign door to door, community to community, I have heard countless stories of the incredible burden that out of control gas prices have put on Wyoming's families, businesses, and particularly, seniors on fixed incomes.
As I attended forum after forum during the primary season, most of my opponents embraced the simple slogan of "Drill Here, Drill Now." That's not enough.
Some of them also mentioned diversifying our energy sources. That's not enough, either.
The key issue of our time is for America to break what President Bush called in his 2006 State of the Union address, "our addiction to oil."
To do that, we must bridge the gap with the energy sources of today to get to the energy sources of tomorrow. With diesel right here at this station [Ghost Town Gas Station, Casper, Wy Diesel $4.19] over four dollars a gallon, our choice has already been made for us. Yet, it is going to take leadership, honesty, straight talk and tough choices to achieve our goals.
That's why simple slogans like "Drill Here, Drill Now" won't get it done. How many of you know that nearly 1/3 of the oil taken from under American territory every day is sent overseas to foreign countries? That's right – everyday, 1.6 million barrels of American oil and petroleum products goes to foreign countries. American oil that could be filling our trucks, heating our homes, and fueling our nation.
Giving new leases to energy companies - without holding them accountable - only puts money in their pocket, and doesn't bring down the price of gas. After all, there are millions of leased acres today that are not being used or even explored.
My proposal has three key elements: Short-term, long-term and immediate action.
In the short term, at the risk of repeating myself, "Drill Here Drill Now" is not good enough; What we need is "American oil for the American people", or if you like "Drill Here. Sell Here. Now." It's really pretty simple. I propose that Congress approve new leases under the following conditions to ensure accountability:
o One, every drop of oil drilled under American soil and American waters must go to the American people.
o Two, just like our coal leases, use it or lose it. If oil companies don't drill in a reasonable amount of time, then we'll find someone who will.
That's to help bridge the gap, but as Oil Tycoon Boone Pickens says, "This is one emergency we can't drill our way out of."
So we must have a long-term strategy too that is more than paying lip service to energy diversity, because that's not good enough either. Therefore, any legislation to allow new leases or to open up new areas to drilling must also be coupled with an "Apollo moon" type of project for long-term energy independence.
This means a firm and lasting commitment from our federal government to work in partnership with private enterprise to provide the policy framework, regulatory certainty and market incentives to encourage, research, develop, and financially support a diverse range of alternative fuel sources.
Let me be clear: government should not and must not dictate which specific sources of energy are the long-term answers. In fact, the answer truly lies in diversity.
We need to explore everything from clean coal technologies (including carbon sequestration to rejuvenate tired oil and gas fields), to wind power, solar power, biofuels, hydrogen, and sources yet unknown. Conservation, and energy efficiency in our appliances, vehicles and buildings are also critical aspects of this firm and lasting commitment.
Finally, we need immediate action, to reign in out of control gas prices. Therefore, we must immediately use all the tools at our disposal to bring down the price of gas. These include:
o Reigning in and properly overseeing speculators who manipulate the futures markets solely for financial gain;
o Acting now to materially increase fuel economy standards;
o Providing market certainty by restoring the expired tax credits for wind & solar that are currently being held up by political posturing in DC, while incentivize other forms of alternative energy; and
o Putting more money in Americans' pockets by eliminating unnecessary tax breaks and subsidies to the most profitable companies in the history of the world.
Taken together, these steps will bring down the price of gas and groceries; allow us to take back our national and economic security from dictatorships like Russia, Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Iran; and ensure a lasting legacy for future generations.
There will be resistance to change - there always is. We must also remember that the politics of simple slogans solves nothing. And it won't help make gas more affordable for a rancher filling up his tractor or a miner driving to work. As Charles F. Mason, the H.A. 'Dave' True Jr. professor of petroleum and natural gas economics at the University of Wyoming, said in the Casper Star on June 15, "the notion that the nation could simply drill more wells to become 'independent' of foreign oil imports simply isn't realistic. 'It's a myth,' He went on to say, and I quote: "It's a great place to make a stand if a politician is up for re-election. But realistically, I don't see that as having a significant impact."
My vision will have a significant impact by turning adversity into opportunity and recognizing what has made America great over the years: properly utilizing the role of government to help guide and unleash the power of private enterprise to solve complex issues. Taking these steps will immediately relieve the pain and the pump, continue to grow high quality jobs here in Wyoming and ensure the best jobs for our children in the economy of the 21st are right out their back door here in Wyoming.
The view of the DNC from afar
My sister Molly from Tallahassee says that last night's speakers at the DNC were being viewed negatively in the Sunshine State. Too anti-McCain. Too many attacks on the former POW. Molly is one of those citizens who vote for the candidate, no matter which party. I sometimes wish I was that way but it passes and I vote Democratic. Especially this time out, when McCain is just more of the McSame.
Molly asked about the mood inside the hall. Raucous, enthusiastic, positive. Those are three descriptors I can think of. Many signs distributed. Dancing in the aisles to the R&B songs by the house band. Star-gazing, especially when Ashley Judd sat down about ten rows behind us in the Kentucky section.
It's a big show, an expensive production. But so what? It puts the Democrats on center stage for a week. It gets us charged up. We get to meet cool people. The Republicans will do this all next week.
Here's what I like: being around a bunch of Democrats. We are few and far between in Wyoming. I've met some incredible people. Rode the Light Rail back to the Englewood station last night with a Catholic Sisters of Loretto nun. As you know, nuns these days have been freed from their penguin outfits and now wear civvies and are very engaged in their communities. I believe her name was Maureen Fiedler (sp?) who has her own radio show that melds religion and politics (must look up her web site to get more info). She's from the social justice activist tradition. Since that's my tradition, we had a great talk as we watched ATF agents and their dogs search each train for explosives. I was surprised to see them using Labradors for the searches. Labs are great dogs with sensitive noses, but I thought German Shepherds were dogs of choice for law enforcement.
At the station with us was a man from northern Mississippi who was a state senator. He ran against a Democrat who had switched parties to Republican while in office -- and beat him. He said his district was very much Democratic, and that the state legislature had Democratic majorities. That was cheering to this guy from Wyoming who suffers under a state Senate which is 23-7 Republican and a that also has a ridiculous Repub majority.
Both of these people -- a nun from Maryland who went on a hunger strike for the Equal Rights Amendment battle in 1972 and this Mississippi senator with his down-south accent -- were very positive about the night's proceedings. Positive and tired.
Stay tuned for tonight's action, which includes speeches by Sen. Biden and Bill Clinton and a host of others. I will get there early to avoid the crowds.
Molly asked about the mood inside the hall. Raucous, enthusiastic, positive. Those are three descriptors I can think of. Many signs distributed. Dancing in the aisles to the R&B songs by the house band. Star-gazing, especially when Ashley Judd sat down about ten rows behind us in the Kentucky section.
It's a big show, an expensive production. But so what? It puts the Democrats on center stage for a week. It gets us charged up. We get to meet cool people. The Republicans will do this all next week.
Here's what I like: being around a bunch of Democrats. We are few and far between in Wyoming. I've met some incredible people. Rode the Light Rail back to the Englewood station last night with a Catholic Sisters of Loretto nun. As you know, nuns these days have been freed from their penguin outfits and now wear civvies and are very engaged in their communities. I believe her name was Maureen Fiedler (sp?) who has her own radio show that melds religion and politics (must look up her web site to get more info). She's from the social justice activist tradition. Since that's my tradition, we had a great talk as we watched ATF agents and their dogs search each train for explosives. I was surprised to see them using Labradors for the searches. Labs are great dogs with sensitive noses, but I thought German Shepherds were dogs of choice for law enforcement.
At the station with us was a man from northern Mississippi who was a state senator. He ran against a Democrat who had switched parties to Republican while in office -- and beat him. He said his district was very much Democratic, and that the state legislature had Democratic majorities. That was cheering to this guy from Wyoming who suffers under a state Senate which is 23-7 Republican and a that also has a ridiculous Repub majority.
Both of these people -- a nun from Maryland who went on a hunger strike for the Equal Rights Amendment battle in 1972 and this Mississippi senator with his down-south accent -- were very positive about the night's proceedings. Positive and tired.
Stay tuned for tonight's action, which includes speeches by Sen. Biden and Bill Clinton and a host of others. I will get there early to avoid the crowds.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Day Two of the DNC wrap-up
Wrap-up on day two of the DNC:
Made it a goal to miss most of the early proceedings this evening. My ass was deadened by six straight hours of sitting last night. Fortunately, I had other blogging errands this afternoon, and then had to stand in a very long line (see previous post).
Gov. Schweitzer of Montana is one spell-binder of a speaker. He knows his energy issues. I'm still not convinced of his coal-to-gas plan, and the whole sequestration thing. We're dealing with the same issues in Wyoming. Big issues. I'm counting on wiser heads to make sense of this stuff for me.
Sen. Clinton has never been a slouch in the speech department. Not on par with husband Bill, but she also gives shorter speeches. "Unity" was the theme and it should be. The Clinton delegates in our group seemed satisfied with her call for togetherness. Tomorrow comes the voting.
And now I have to get out of here before they sweep me up with all the discarded signs.
Made it a goal to miss most of the early proceedings this evening. My ass was deadened by six straight hours of sitting last night. Fortunately, I had other blogging errands this afternoon, and then had to stand in a very long line (see previous post).
Gov. Schweitzer of Montana is one spell-binder of a speaker. He knows his energy issues. I'm still not convinced of his coal-to-gas plan, and the whole sequestration thing. We're dealing with the same issues in Wyoming. Big issues. I'm counting on wiser heads to make sense of this stuff for me.
Sen. Clinton has never been a slouch in the speech department. Not on par with husband Bill, but she also gives shorter speeches. "Unity" was the theme and it should be. The Clinton delegates in our group seemed satisfied with her call for togetherness. Tomorrow comes the voting.
And now I have to get out of here before they sweep me up with all the discarded signs.
Bush & McCain: separated at birth
Great quote from Hillary Clinton:
"It's fitting that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities."
That got a big laugh. Nice line.
"It's fitting that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities."
That got a big laugh. Nice line.
This is dedicated to the one I love
To my wife, Chris:
I am in a stadium full of people cheering for your candidate, Hillary Clinton. To judge by the thousands of waving red, white and blue signs, there must be more Hill delegates than those for Barack. I wish you could be here, as I know you would be cheering the loudest. And you can cheer loudly, if the hundreds of baseball, football and basketball games we've seen together is any indication (I'm still having trouble hearing out of that left ear).
Hillary is gracious in defeat and supportive of Sen. Obama. I know it's taken awhile to deal with your disappointment. You're the feminist in the family and you've taught me a lot about being one, too. You're a member of Hillary's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits, although I haven't seen you in too many pantsuits (you're more a bluejeans kind of feminist).
You're here in spirit. No doubt you have a few tears watching Hillary deliver her speech.
We'll vote together in November for a Democrat that can lead us out of the morass that the Republicans got us into. We've always pulled in the same direction -- peace and justice for all -- and I hope that all Democrats can do the same.
I am in a stadium full of people cheering for your candidate, Hillary Clinton. To judge by the thousands of waving red, white and blue signs, there must be more Hill delegates than those for Barack. I wish you could be here, as I know you would be cheering the loudest. And you can cheer loudly, if the hundreds of baseball, football and basketball games we've seen together is any indication (I'm still having trouble hearing out of that left ear).
Hillary is gracious in defeat and supportive of Sen. Obama. I know it's taken awhile to deal with your disappointment. You're the feminist in the family and you've taught me a lot about being one, too. You're a member of Hillary's Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantsuits, although I haven't seen you in too many pantsuits (you're more a bluejeans kind of feminist).
You're here in spirit. No doubt you have a few tears watching Hillary deliver her speech.
We'll vote together in November for a Democrat that can lead us out of the morass that the Republicans got us into. We've always pulled in the same direction -- peace and justice for all -- and I hope that all Democrats can do the same.
Schweitzer: Energy sense from Montana
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer devoted most of his prime-time speech tonight to issues of energy independence.
Here's a great line: "We can't drill our way to energy independence, even if we drilled in all McCain's backyards, even the ones he doesn't know he has."
He also said that McCain wants more of the same Bush/Cheney non-energy policy. "McCain voted 25 times against renewable energy, biofuels, solar energy and even wind power. McCain took more than $1 million in contributions from energy companies. Now he wants to give those same energy companies $4 billion in tax breaks."
Do we need four more years of the same? NO!!!
Here's a great line: "We can't drill our way to energy independence, even if we drilled in all McCain's backyards, even the ones he doesn't know he has."
He also said that McCain wants more of the same Bush/Cheney non-energy policy. "McCain voted 25 times against renewable energy, biofuels, solar energy and even wind power. McCain took more than $1 million in contributions from energy companies. Now he wants to give those same energy companies $4 billion in tax breaks."
Do we need four more years of the same? NO!!!
Dems (most of us anyway) wait in long lines
Me and thousands of my most personal friends in the Democratic Party were standing in line to get into the Pepsi Center. It was cordial, with more schmoozing that pushing and shoving. And a lot of texting on cell phones. Dems love to text.
But the minutes turned into a half hour and then an hour. Rumblings could he heard.
And then some people began to butt into line. You know how it was in second grade. "Don't butt." "No cutting." And most of your fellow second-graders listened.
And then some power brokers showed up with their handlers and began shoving into line. Several of us yelled "No cutting." One of them was me. A big dude in a while polo shirt stood up on the flank of the line and repeated, "Thanks for waiting in line.," He had a deep voice and I would have listened. But I wasn't trying to shove in line. I was awaiting like the rest of my fellow proles.
A group of well-dressed Dems of my age group stood with the cops, waiting to butt into line. They wore tenuous looks, as if our shouting was not music to their ears. But they eventually found a way to scoot into the line.
"Thanks for waiting in line" I met him later and he said he worked on veteran's affairs for the New York delegation. I don't doubt it. His first name was Clete. Way to go!
Thanks for waiting in line, indeed.
The DNC better take this situation in hand. Tomorrow evening is the voting. And to have a bunch of delegates miss their votes is not going to go down easy, not even with the line cutting contingent.
Get it now: Obama in a bottle!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Ted Kennedy rouses DNC crowd
His voice wavered a few times, but I think it was more from emotion that from the rigors of cancer treatments.
Ted Kennedy was introduced by Caroline Kennedy, followed by a film of the Senator sailing with his kids and grandkids.
Wish they hadn't closed out the speech with that old Top 40 nugget, "Still the One," which was bad when it first appeared, and hasn't improved with age.
Michelle Obama coming up after we boogie to "Celebrate," by Kool and the Gang, sung by the in-house band.
Ted Kennedy was introduced by Caroline Kennedy, followed by a film of the Senator sailing with his kids and grandkids.
Wish they hadn't closed out the speech with that old Top 40 nugget, "Still the One," which was bad when it first appeared, and hasn't improved with age.
Michelle Obama coming up after we boogie to "Celebrate," by Kool and the Gang, sung by the in-house band.
Nancy Pelosi at the DNC podium
Many of you viewers at home just saw Nancy Pelosi speak at the DNC. So, I won't go into the details, but just give you my impressions.
She's a good speaker. She looks good, although my view was partially blocked by the Torch Ginger blooming right in front of me.
There have been some harsh words in the blogosphere recently about Pelosi and her Congressional Democratic colleagues. Why didn't you end the war in Iraq? Why did you renew FISA? Why didn't you tell your Republican colleagues to stick their mindless obstructionism where the sun don't shine?
It's been frustrating for all of us who got jazzed up in 2006 and gave the Dems the majority in the House and a tie in the Senate. The margins we gave are not enough.
What about next time? No more excuses?
She's a good speaker. She looks good, although my view was partially blocked by the Torch Ginger blooming right in front of me.
There have been some harsh words in the blogosphere recently about Pelosi and her Congressional Democratic colleagues. Why didn't you end the war in Iraq? Why did you renew FISA? Why didn't you tell your Republican colleagues to stick their mindless obstructionism where the sun don't shine?
It's been frustrating for all of us who got jazzed up in 2006 and gave the Dems the majority in the House and a tie in the Senate. The margins we gave are not enough.
What about next time? No more excuses?
Next time, bring tumbleweeds for DNC decor
Note to self: Next convention, bring some Russian Thistle, sagebrush and Indian Paintbrush plants to decorate the delegation sign and official blogger post. Got the idea from the Hawaiian delegation sitting right in front of us. They brought three-foot-tall cuttings of Heliconia and Torch Ginger which they wrapped around their placard. It's pretty, but the greenery and orangery and reddery is now blocking my view of Howard Dean and Nancy Pelosi at the podium.
We wouldn't have that problem with the very spare limbs of thistle. At the first sign of the breeze (or a good burst of AC air), the Russian Thistle would go tumbling along and become tumbleweeds.
Driftin' along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds.
We wouldn't have that problem with the very spare limbs of thistle. At the first sign of the breeze (or a good burst of AC air), the Russian Thistle would go tumbling along and become tumbleweeds.
Driftin' along with the tumblin' tumbleweeds.
Trauner in Casper & Cheyenne Tuesday
Just received this from the Gary Trauner campaign for Wyoming's lone U.S. House seat:Gary Trauner, candidate for U.S. House of Representatives will hold a press conference tomorrow on Tuesday, August 26, at 9:30 a.m. at the Ghost Town gas station at 6680 W. Yellowstone Hwy. in Casper, then at 3 p.m. at the Trauner HQ in Cheyenne, at 211 W. 18th St.
The Cheyenne location will have a dial-in option for those around the state who cannot attend. DIAL IN: 712-451-6100 / PASSKEY: 721718#
Trauner will discuss his "American Energy for the American People" proposal and then take questions.
For further information contact Adam Ruff at 307.699.4956, or reply to this email.
Now -- finally -- Day One at the DNC
The proceedings began at 3 p.m. or so. I was still trying to get off the DNCC bus which shuttled me and one cohort from the Denver Tech Center hotel that houses the WYO delegation. The drive was slow going behind the bus caravan taking the circuitous route through downtown Denver. We had a police guard on our bus -- recent retiree from the Department of Corrections but also a trained cop. He said that the driver had to follow a designated route or else. Not sure what "or else" meant. But I did see a lot of well-armed cops and Homeland Security people along the route.
The good news was that once we got to the Pepsi Center vicinity, we breezed into the secured convention grounds. What took me at least 30 minutes yesterday took 7 today. best to take the bus, especially when we have our own security guard. By the way, I had to ask if he was a Democrat. He said he was not, but his brother in Casper, Wyoming is. Yet another Democrat discovered in Wyoming!
Once I got inside the P.C., I saw former comedian and now Minn. Congressional candidate Al Franken. He's a lot smaller in person.
Howard Dean is at the podium now. Thus far, he has not yelled out in an unseemly manner. But there's still plenty of time for that.
Earlier, we saw Dave Freudenthal and Montana's Brian Schweitzer (sp?) in a film about the rising Dems of the West. Much talk about energy, too, the traditional in-the-ground variety and the new kind that is powered by wind and solar.
More later...
The good news was that once we got to the Pepsi Center vicinity, we breezed into the secured convention grounds. What took me at least 30 minutes yesterday took 7 today. best to take the bus, especially when we have our own security guard. By the way, I had to ask if he was a Democrat. He said he was not, but his brother in Casper, Wyoming is. Yet another Democrat discovered in Wyoming!
Once I got inside the P.C., I saw former comedian and now Minn. Congressional candidate Al Franken. He's a lot smaller in person.
Howard Dean is at the podium now. Thus far, he has not yelled out in an unseemly manner. But there's still plenty of time for that.
Earlier, we saw Dave Freudenthal and Montana's Brian Schweitzer (sp?) in a film about the rising Dems of the West. Much talk about energy, too, the traditional in-the-ground variety and the new kind that is powered by wind and solar.
More later...
Launch Minus-One: DNC in Denver
And it ain't even started yet....
Sunday began (as I mentioned earlier) with an antiwar demonstration at the Colorado Capitol. More media members were present that protestors. One TV guy lugging a big camera said into his cell: "I'm here at the Capitol Building with a couple-hundred demonstrators. What do you want me to do with them?"
Not sure what the person at the other end of the line said. But I do know what the counter-protesters wanted to do to: shut up. As the sign of the warniks said: "Want peace? Then shut up and let us do our job." If only we knew what that job was.
A FOX News contingent arrived at the demonstration. A trio of three young guys wearing scarves over their faces and dressed in democracynow.org T-shirts, shouted: "FOX News go home!" And then: "Fudge the main stream media." Only they didn't say "fudge." In other words, "shut up."
With so many urging others to shut up, it was refreshing to hear Cindy Sheehan say "they won't shut me up -- don't let them shut you up." "They" were the "corporate entities and corporate political parties" that apparently control both parties, including the Democrats. Disabled Vietnam Vet Ron Kovic spoke out. "Dr. King said that a time comes when silence is betrayal." He urged the crowd to march together peacefully (they did) and not to let "them" shut you up.
"We will not go quietly into this dark American night," Kovic said. "We will not bow, we will not scrape."
He roused the crowd with a shout: "The Whole World Watching!" Not sure if that was a chant at the 1968 Dem convention, or the SDS at Columbia, or maybe the 1972 Repub convention in Miami where Ron was roughed up. It also was featured on a 1970 album by Chicago.
I am having a devil of a time finding wireless spots for my laptop. This morning, I'm at the local public library using a public access computer. Yet another reason to love libraries. Earlier, I tried to connect at a mall Starbucks but after several frustrating tries, the barista told me that I had to buy an AT&T card for two hours of Internet access. In a pinch, I would do that. But free computers are always better -- and more dependable.
Attended a breakfast meeting with the WYO delegation this morning. Everyone received their credentials and many briefings. The gavel goes down at 3 p.m. at the Pepsi Center where I'll be hooked up with an ethernet connection and won't have to search the skies for an AT&T satellite. Besides, we already know that the Pepsi Center has no wireless due to "security concerns."
See you at Monday's convention session...
Sunday began (as I mentioned earlier) with an antiwar demonstration at the Colorado Capitol. More media members were present that protestors. One TV guy lugging a big camera said into his cell: "I'm here at the Capitol Building with a couple-hundred demonstrators. What do you want me to do with them?"
Not sure what the person at the other end of the line said. But I do know what the counter-protesters wanted to do to: shut up. As the sign of the warniks said: "Want peace? Then shut up and let us do our job." If only we knew what that job was.
A FOX News contingent arrived at the demonstration. A trio of three young guys wearing scarves over their faces and dressed in democracynow.org T-shirts, shouted: "FOX News go home!" And then: "Fudge the main stream media." Only they didn't say "fudge." In other words, "shut up."
With so many urging others to shut up, it was refreshing to hear Cindy Sheehan say "they won't shut me up -- don't let them shut you up." "They" were the "corporate entities and corporate political parties" that apparently control both parties, including the Democrats. Disabled Vietnam Vet Ron Kovic spoke out. "Dr. King said that a time comes when silence is betrayal." He urged the crowd to march together peacefully (they did) and not to let "them" shut you up.
"We will not go quietly into this dark American night," Kovic said. "We will not bow, we will not scrape."
He roused the crowd with a shout: "The Whole World Watching!" Not sure if that was a chant at the 1968 Dem convention, or the SDS at Columbia, or maybe the 1972 Repub convention in Miami where Ron was roughed up. It also was featured on a 1970 album by Chicago.
I am having a devil of a time finding wireless spots for my laptop. This morning, I'm at the local public library using a public access computer. Yet another reason to love libraries. Earlier, I tried to connect at a mall Starbucks but after several frustrating tries, the barista told me that I had to buy an AT&T card for two hours of Internet access. In a pinch, I would do that. But free computers are always better -- and more dependable.
Attended a breakfast meeting with the WYO delegation this morning. Everyone received their credentials and many briefings. The gavel goes down at 3 p.m. at the Pepsi Center where I'll be hooked up with an ethernet connection and won't have to search the skies for an AT&T satellite. Besides, we already know that the Pepsi Center has no wireless due to "security concerns."
See you at Monday's convention session...
Sunday, August 24, 2008
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