Cobalt6 - Front Page

Win the war

Glade — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:40:16 GMT

It is won! As Iraq War veteran Brandon Woods reminds us, if freedom means anything, it means the U.S. should not occupy another nation against its wishes. The Iraqi prime minister and people have asked us to make a plan to leave. Yet, John McCain wants to occupy Iraq indefinitely. This new ad by VoteVets.org is airing nationally.

Gilmore files false info on campaign forms

Glade — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 11:02:51 GMT

According to the Washington Post Jim Gilmore filed two financial disclosure forms with false information. The first was filed in 2007 during his brief presidential campaign. The second was in May 2008 when he was running for U.S. Senate.

Gilmore attested that he was on the board of directors of Windmill International of Nashua, NH. But, in reality Gilmore was on the board of another unrelated company by the same name based in VA. That company is embroiled in a lawsuit alleging it attempted to get fraudulent government contracts in Iraq.

The Gilmore campaign says this was a "clerical error."

Huh? Clerical error? Way too convenient of a typo. Guess it was a "math mistake" that wrecked the state budget during Gilmore's misadventure as governor.

Why Have Gas Prices Gone through the Roof?

Carey for Sam — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 15:15:32 GMT

Those big signs at gas stations along every major road in the sixth district shout our dilemma. We can't afford to drive the vehicles we own. In a few short months, gas prices have destroyed the family budget and now threaten our entire economic health.
Over the past few weeks in parades, at fairs, and on doorsteps, I have heard the same concern: the price of gas. We are in a crisis, and families need help today.

What happened? And will things get better or worse? First, let's talk about why the price escalated.

Not everyone agrees on why the prices rose as quickly and as high as they did. I'll take you through the conventional explanation, which offers no quick solution. Then, I'll end with a possible dilemma we can fix with the appropriate legislation and effective energy policy.
One reason for increases in price is simple supply and demand. However, supply and demand didn't hit the wall overnight. There's no doubt demand has escalated. Americans use 25 percent of the oil produced worldwide, and developing countries, especially China and India, are trying to catch up to our pace. Right now the world demands 87 million barrels a day, while oil production lags behind at 85 million barrels a day. OPEC, with two thirds of the world's oil reserves, could produce more but has no incentive to do so while reaping such healthy profits.

The Iraq War has contributed to the crisis also. Oil production was interrupted and has not climbed back to prewar levels. Though the shortfall is only about a quarter million barrels a day, it's easy to see how that shortfall fits the supply and demand picture. To make matters worse, our military operations in Iraq use great quantities of oil, costing us money for which we gain no useful economic output. In fact, our military operations protecting the shipping lanes and oil refineries and other needs of the foreign oil industry we depend on adds more to the demand, pushing prices higher.

Couple those problems with the weak dollar. Our addiction to oil and weak domestic production force us to spend $33 million per hour on foreign oil. We import nearly 70 percent of the oil we consume, sending the money to places where it has no chance of entering our economy. When we send more dollars out of the US, we weaken the dollar and gas prices go up again. Then we must send even more money out --- a cycle that hits us weekly at the gas pump and the grocery store and every other sector of our economy.

Okay, all that makes sense but doesn't answer why prices rose so fast. In 2000, at the request of Enron and other energy companies, Congress exempted energy markets from government regulation. A 2006 Senate report warned speculation uninhibited by regulation would send prices sky-high, but our representatives paid no attention. With no oversight, energy traders have gone wild with market manipulation and excessive speculation. Investors looking for good returns and a hedge against the falling dollar have found an unregulated energy market provides them the perfect opportunity. Their opportunity may account for as much of 60 percent of today's oil prices, according to several analysts.

I'll address possible solutions to these problems in my next article. If speculation is indeed the main driver of high prices, we can provide some short-term relief perhaps, but the supply and demand issues necessitate a long-term commitment for an energy revolution in our country. In 1999, we could get gas for 90 cents a gallon; those days are past. We must create a secure supply of energy that is pro-national security, pro-environment, and pro-growth. The responsibility rests with all of us.

http://www.samrasoul.us/energy...

Column written by Sam Rasoul

At times I don't even know why I bother. But, of my own free will, I bother, so it's my own fault.

Shannondov — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 18:04:39 GMT

This from the DNR (Daily News Record) blog.

To see the original letter with the whole thread following, click here:

http://www.dnronline.com/opini...
(post #46): Re: 45 - There's my favorite number again. Shannon would have us believe that all violent deaths in Iraq are the fault of George Bush and he supplies a list of news sources.

-- He's referring to my reference in an earlier post to the extensive list of highly credible, journalistic sources that I posted earlier as documented source material compiled and utilized by

http://www.iraqbodycount.org/ --

No context is provided, nor are any of the killers identified. You would also have to be of the mind that no violent deaths occurred in Iraq pre Gulf 2; and that, of course, is ludicrous. He hasn't proved anything and, of course, it is impossible to disprove a negative. I could "extrapolate" that the global temperature is going to rise a degree next year, and I could probably provide a long list of "sources". Sorry, doesn't make it so. And I'm already home. Net serve. Scott Ritter, in addition to being a pedophile, is pretty much shunned by his fellow Marines. You may value his opinion, I do not. Iran could shut down the Strait for a few weeks, at best. That's the opinion of some "tip of the spear" guys, not a bunch of chair bound REMF's at the Pentagon. Unfortunately they don't post here, although they find you guys amusing. I don't much care if we drill or not, I don't have to pay for my gas. It is, however, becoming increasingly clear that the Dems are the party most responsible for our inability to tap our own resources. As for getting all the bad guys together in one place so we could service them; it seems to have worked in Iraq. So much for your argument, and your game for that matter. I have to go check on The Voice now; I'm starting to worry about him.

Posted: July 19, 2008, 1.06pm
By: welder, Keezletown

(post #47): Re: 45 - There's my favorite number again. Shannon would have us believe that all violent deaths in Iraq are the fault of George Bush

Oh no, many of those deaths are a result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about.

Does that help?

and he supplies a list of news sources.

That would be the wholly credible news sources that report the numbers of dead in Iraq that are later tallied into a (conservative by all accounts) grand total by the IBC.

Does that help?

No context is provided,

The context is that these are wholly credible news sources that report the numbers of dead in Iraq that are later tallied into a (conservative by all accounts) grand total by the IBC.

Anything else I can help you with?

nor are any of the killers identified.

Most of the dead are a result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about.

You would also have to be of the mind that no violent deaths occurred in Iraq pre Gulf 2;

I never said or implied any such thing. What I DO imply is that there are at or about 100,00 people dead (and that would be a conservative estimate, by all accounts) as a direct result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about.

and that, of course, is ludicrous.

Yes. What is not ludicrous is that there are at or about 100,00 people dead (and that would be a conservative estimate, by all accounts) as a direct result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about.

He hasn't proved anything and,

There are at or about 100,00 people dead (and that would be a conservative estimate, by all accounts) as a direct result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about. That's it, that's all there is to it, nothing left for me to prove.

of course, it is impossible to disprove a negative.

I'm not the one trying to "disprove" anything. What I am saying is there are at or about 100,000 people dead (and that would be a conservative estimate, by all accounts) as a direct result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about. That's it, that's all there is to it, nothing left for me to prove.

I could "extrapolate" that the global temperature is going to rise a degree next year, and I could probably provide a long list of "sources". Sorry, doesn't make it so.

No, but what is so, by all credible and verified accounts is that there are at or about 100,00 people dead (and that would be a conservative estimate, by all accounts) as a direct result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about. That's it, that's all there is to it, nothing left for me to prove.

And I'm already home. Net serve. Scott Ritter, in addition to being a pedophile, is pretty much shunned by his fellow Marines.

Your point?

You may value his opinion, I do not.

Up to you. Doesn't matter, the truth is the truth, and the truth is that by all credible and verified accounts is that there are at or about 100,00 people dead (and that would be a conservative estimate, by all accounts) as a direct result of the lack of police and security, the lack of access to medical care and clean water and the brand new branch of AQ that didn't exist in Iraq before Dear Leader's botched attempt at imperialism and the insurgency that said botched attempt at imperialism has brought about. That's it, that's all there is to it, nothing left for me to prove.

Iran could shut down the Strait for a few weeks, at best.

Dude, Iran could shut down the Strait for as long as they wanted to. Get a grip.

That's the opinion of some "tip of the spear" guys, not a bunch of chair bound REMF's at the Pentagon.

Again, your point?

Unfortunately they don't post here, although they find you guys amusing.

Dude, you're the funny one.

I don't much care if we drill or not, I don't have to pay for my gas. It is, however, becoming increasingly clear that the Dems are the party most responsible for our inability to tap our own resources.

It's the Dems, it's the Dems, it's the Dems, it's the Dems.

(*yawn*)

As for getting all the bad guys together in one place so we could service them; it seems to have worked in Iraq.

Welder logical fallacy number 807.

So much for your argument,

Yes, there is so much to my argument, and hardly anything at all to yours.

Surprise, surprise.

Posted: July 20, 2008, 4.52am
By: Shannon Dove [that's me], Harrisonburg

McCain either is confused or lying.....and CBS covers his ass

kestrel9000 — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:05:58 GMT

AP:

"Because of the surge we were able to go out and protect that sheik and others. And it began the Anbar awakening," McCain said, referring to the U.S.-backed revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaida in Anbar province. "I mean, that's just a matter of history."
The problem with McCain's statement - as Obama's campaign quickly noted - was that the awakening got under way before President Bush announced in January 2007 his decision to flood Iraq with tens of thousands of additional U.S. troops to help combat violence.

And McCain's latest campaign ad is all whiney about how the media supposedly fawns over Obama.
There are no words.

The irony of a parody of a satire

Glade — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 09:43:45 GMT

We are all familiar with The New Yorker cartoon cover that satirized the GOP lies and fear mongering about Barack and Michelle Obama. Vanity Fair, in solidarity with their friendly competitors in publishing, has stepped up to the publishing plate:

And heaven knows we've published our share of scandalous images, on the cover and otherwise. So we've been watching the kerfuffle over last week's New Yorker cover with a mixture of empathy and better-you-than-us relief.

You can check out Vanity Fair's parody of the The New Yorker's satire here.

David Horsey, the wonderful cartoonist at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, has another contribution for the "irony-challenged literalists" who were upset at The New Yorker. Pass the Viagra, honey.

Swiftboating Obama in Shenandoah County

Glade — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:58:19 GMT

Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-Woodstock) brought us back to the dark days of McCarthyism while speaking to a breakfast in Woodstock last weekend. According to the Northern Virginia Daily, Gilbert said

"Barack Obama is a borderline communist. He is a Marxist and everything that goes along with it . . . . I believe that most people, people that get up and go to work and try to raise a family . . . they are not big-government socialists."

Add this to the growing list of lies about Barack Obama. The lie that he is Muslim. The lie that he won't say the pledge. The lies spread by unsourced emails. The lies spread by FOX News. The lies of Todd Gilbert.

Get the facts and don't let these scurrilous fabrications go unchallenged. Tell Todd Gilbert to stop the name calling, to stop the lies - DelTGilbert@House.state.va.us, office is in Woodstock (no phone number listed; wonder why?).

Cobalt Cut

kestrel9000 — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:40:52 GMT

McCain caught flatfooted

Glade — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 00:23:10 GMT

Chuck Todd gets it exactly right.

While the evidence is still fresh

Glade — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:29:16 GMT

On the Chris Mathews Show, Howard Fineman explains the real reason Bush is rooting for McCain:

FINEMAN: If you're in this White House, you want another Republican administration to follow. You don't want a Democratic administration coming in there while the evidence is still fresh, so to speak. To look at it the way...
MATTHEWS: With the subpoena power...
FINEMAN: With the subpoena power and looking through all the records and looking at all the decisions that were made. You want to cover over your two terms with a third term the way Ronald Reagan did with George HW Bush.