rblack198's blog
Posted at 1:04pm on Jun. 10, 2008 Why simply having the letter R next to your name isn't good enough.
By rblack198
I'm sure everyone is having their mailbox flooded with requests and denouncements from the RNC either asking for money or asking why you've been ignoring them or both. These mailings implore us to support the GOP candidates because we can all agree that the Dems will be worse, oh so much worse. To me to turn an old phrase the proof is in the pudding.
Like most I'm frustrated, perplexed, annoyed and depressed about how several of our GOP members of Congress come pleading every few years with new promises only to deliver the same tried and true nonsense.
Posted in Energy — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 12:13pm on Nov. 23, 2007 No Senate Recess over Thanksgiving
By rblack198
Just some random thoughts here that someone may have already covered (if so my apologies). I'm curious as to everyone's opinion on the Senate still being "in session" over this Thanksgiving Break to prevent recess appointments. I read this a.m. that Webb gaveled the session to start and close within 22 seconds on Tuesday.
How would it play if every Republican took this chance and actually showed up on the Senate floor ready to take on the business of the country while the Dem side of the isle stood empty? Fully realizing this is only symbolic, but couldn't they then claim to simply be waiting on the majority to finish their vacation while they try to address the problems facing our nation? Would they be allowed to take any action or make any speeches without being "allowed" by the majority to do so?
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Posted at 9:58pm on Aug. 7, 2007 Earmarks, Spending and Taxes Oh My.
By rblack198
This is a bit of an offshoot of Erick's Ron Paul earmark blog. I'll avoid the whole is Ron Paul the end all be all of fiscal conservatism and go a little further. Let's say we all argee (hypothetically) that Ron and his $8 million is the best the taxpayers have in Congress when it comes to special projects and fiscal conservatism. My question is, even conceding this fact, why are we satisfied by that. Why as a party are Republicans simply content with SPENDING LESS than Democrats as if that is somehow a badge of honor? This prolonged campaign season I have seen repeatedly from the RNC, NRCC, and NRSC prouncements of how much worse the Dems are than the Rep's, why do we accept this premise as being good enough. You've all I'm sure gotten the pleas from the RNC proclaiming how much worse it could be.
Posted in Congress — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 4:29pm on Jun. 11, 2007 Chairman Obey on Earmarks
By rblack198
This is in response to Boehner's letter criticizing his practices.
"Obey told reporters: "If they think they can demagogue the earmarks process all the year long and expect Democrats to carry the burden of passing earmarks, they're wrong.... There will be no earmarks for anybody.""
There will be no earmarks for anybody . . . I like the sound of that.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070611/ap_on_go_co/congress_earmarks_2;_ylt...
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Posted at 8:09pm on Jun. 7, 2007 Dorgan on C-Span 2 row 6:06 pm cent 6/7/07 - free market
By rblack198
In all hopes his amendment kills the bill I have to respectfully disagree with his take on economics right then. Claims the free market and supply/demand is broken. The argument only works if he assumes nothing else changes, for all you econ nerds out there like myself thats the ole ceteris paribus (be gentle never learned to spell that correctly) argument, works great in theory. He's using the illegal as the means to get by paying lower wages, though I agree that's exactly the role.
Posted in Immigration — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:30pm on Jun. 3, 2007 Spending reality check
By rblack198
After watching Bill O'Reilly and James Carville at the Peneta Institute talking politics on CSPAN I ran a quick search about the fairly tale budget "surplus" of $5.3 trillion James was prattling on about. As we all know budget projections and actual results are obviously the same thing and exogenous events don't affect the economy, budgets, or tax collections (you know like terrorist attacks, corporate scandal, recessions). Basically Jimmy claims we've gone from $5.3 trillion ahead to nearly nine in the whole, despite the fact I've got issues with the GOP and their spending habits these days I don't think they managed to screw up quite that bad.
Posted in Economy — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 6:57pm on May 22, 2007 GAS PRICES TOO HIGH???
By rblack198
Got a problem, call the US House of Representatives, theres no jurisdiction outside their reach. Point of fact, does the US government buy the oil, that is made in to gasoline and other refined products, and then re-sell to "BIG OIL"? The US Government can sue OPEC for selling to private businesses at too high a cost, OUTLANDISH, ASINIE, etc. etc?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070522/ap_on_go_co/congress_energy_1
Posted in Energy — Comments (22) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 8:17pm on May 15, 2007 For policy Wonks and Free Speech Advocates
By rblack198
Well it looks like another blow for free speech today. Agree with them or disargee with Opie and Anthony were suspended from XM radio for 30 days. XM's management has deemed their speaking of some comments made last week to be too much to handle I guess, "something about responsibility that creative freedom requires". The makes at least two big names Imus, O&A and a lesser known name JV and Elvis from 92.3 Freem FM in New York all fired or suspended for "inappropriate remarks".
Posted in Policy — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:30am on May 15, 2007 Missouri 8th Congressional District
By rblack198
Is anyone on here a native of the Missouri 8th District? I'm a native Missourian myself and continue to struggle with the press I see regarding Jo Ann Emerson of the 8th District. My first frustration was a result of her yes vote regarding the minimum wage increase. That doozy was followed up with a yes vote on the now stalled "let's stick it to Big Oil Act of 2007". Now I see that she thinks we need to increase the level of Food Stamp Assistance via johncombest.com
Posted in 2008 — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:46pm on May 10, 2007 Good News/Bad News
By rblack198
Well good news and bad news on the economic front. Let's start with the good news:
"So far this year, tax revenues total $1.505 trillion, an increase of 11.2 percent over the same period last year. That figure includes $383.6 billion collected in April, the largest monthly tax collection on record."
So as we all know tax cuts do work. And now the bad news:
"For the first seven months of this budget year, which began Oct. 1, revenue collections and government spending are at all-time highs."
Posted in Economy — Comments (0) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 11:05am on Feb. 25, 2007 Ed Rendell on FNS
By rblack198
Chris Wallace asked both Rick Perry and Ed if they'd given any thoughts to the speculation of being VP picks. Rendell's reply was something like "I haven't worked for anyone since I was 30 years old", "I enjoy being my own boss". Now I'm not totally up on the Pennsylvania Constitution and Ed's bio, but as the Governor of said state one would think Ed works for the People of Pennsylvania. Possibly Mr.
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Posted at 2:26pm on Jan. 24, 2007 Five Republican targets for defeat.
By rblack198
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm...
The above link is a roll call vote on cloture for the Min Wage Act of 2007 S.2. Someone who knows these things, did John Warner used to be a Democrat? I'm certain Norm Coleman used to be. Specter continues to act like on as do the ladies from Maine. I guess I'm asking what is the over/under for Norm switching parties since the winds have shifted and what are the odds the RNC stifles any primary challenges for the other four dopes should they run again (realizing fully Snowe just got re-elected).
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Posted at 12:20pm on Jan. 19, 2007 What is the job of a member of Congress?
By rblack198
The past couple of months have really made me think about what exactly the role of a member of Congress is. The past two weeks have only amplified that and increased that to the role of government, but thats for another day. Reading the GQ article on Senator Coburn I truly believe he is one of the few that get it. Somewhere he talked about emergency spending following Katrina and the railroad relocation in Mississippi. Good idea, but was that the role of Congress to use taxpayer dollars to benefit one state or locality. Is it their job to earmark funds for state projects? Is it their job to bring grants and federal funds back to the state? Or is it their job to do what in the best interest of the country by representing thier respective state in the matter. I don't know when it happened, but why does it seem that every state in the nation is no longer self-sufficient. Look at medicaid for instance, a state program that survives with matching federal funds, on top of federal programs that also provide for assistance via foodstamps and low income housing assistance.
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Posted at 5:20pm on Jan. 16, 2007 CLEAN Energy Act of 2007
By rblack198
Or more precisely "Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act of 2007" H.R. 6.
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:1:./temp/~c110qPIll5::
Watching CNBC over lunch and they are discussing the "legislation" that will be debated this week in the house. This is part of the 100 hours, days, weeks, whatever unit of time we determine agenda of the Democrats. An alternate title is "Ending Subsidies for Big Oil Act of 2007" sounds refreshing doesn't it. Essentially what we have here is attempted legislation to jack up the price of oil and gas in order to pass the "conservation fee" on to promote alternative energy. This is tantamount to taxing Ford on every vehicle and using that tax to promote GM. The fees in the legislation amount to $9 per barrel for oil and $1.25 per mmBTU of Natural gas. But wait they wouldn't possibly do this if the price fell right? Wrong, well sort of, the threshold price of oil is $34.73 per barrel and for nat gas its $4.34 in 2005 dollars. Also included is the mandatory renegotiation of the 98 and 99 leases that excluded royalty payments. Sorry those were my words, I think the actual language gives the lessee the ability to ask for the change, but if you don't ask and don't change you can't bid on any new leases in the Gulf.
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Posted at 6:14pm on Jan. 6, 2007 Biofuels Security Act
By rblack198
http://www.agriculture.com/ag/futuresource/FutureSourceStoryIndex.jhtml?...
Having not seen the actual text of this bill I hate to jump to conclusions, but I see some holes. 2030 is a ways off yes, but lets assume all the REQUIRED ethanol comes from e85 or corn ethanol, thats 20 billion bushels of corn, record US crop is close to 12 billion bushels. Twenty billion means no food use, no feed use and no exports, plus picking up a whole lot of acres currently in Conservation Reserve.
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