BIG LAUGHS FROM OBAMA & McCAIN!

"All an employee has to do is quietly whisper "union" in one of its stores, and Walmart sends in its storm troopers, otherwise know as Labor Relations Rapid Response Teams whose duty is to quell any attempts to unionize. They use the infamous "donut" meetings to drive home the point that "associates" don't need to join a union, because "merit pay increases" save them from those nasty union dues."

"According to the article written by Ann Zimmerman and Kris Maher, at this latest gathering of the clan, an employee asserted the Walmart "meeting leader" told the group, "I'm not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill (Employee Free Choice Act) will pass, and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union." This greatly, and understandably repelled an unnamed customer supervisor from Missouri, who said, "I am not a stupid person."

"There are two American agendas that need a great deal of insight - that on the domestic front, and how the world see’s us. Bush failed - he couldn’t come up with any policies on his own - instead, he let Dick Cheney and Karl Rove do his thinking for him. And the both of them were only interested in lining their pockets with George W. Bush as the front man."

"I’m glad to see he’s taking time away from campaigning to better understand the challenges ahead. You see, Barack is traveling the world to better understand it. In short, he’ll hit the ground running - after all, he’s headed to the Presidency in January. I really don’t see how John McCain can get even enough electoral votes, let alone popular votes to occupy the White House, aside from pure political chicanery."

"Its important that Obama understand all the issues the day he walks into the Oval Office. With a Middle East war going longer than World War II, the continuing effects of global warming, a stripped economy, healthcare in the dumper - it is a bewildering beast that lies ahead."

"Sometimes the most frightening people are the ones you work for - in the case of active veterans, the US Military and the Veterans Administration. Remember the "Gulf War Syndrome" which found its way into the press near the end of the first Gulf War under George Herbert Bush's Presidential Administration - well, its George Walker Bush at the helm - like father, like son!"

"The act of giving experimental drugs to unknowing vets is illegal under the rules of the Nuremberg Code. Here is a soldier among many, being made guinea pigs for drug experimentation - you know, the guys and gals who are putting their lives on the line for the freedom of Iraq."

"5. No experiment should be conducted where there is an a priori reason to believe that death or disabling injury will occur; except, perhaps, in those experiments where the experimental physicians also serve as subjects."

"9. During the course of the experiment the human subject should be at liberty to bring the experiment to an end if he has reached the physical or mental state where continuation of the experiment seems to him to be impossible."

"10. During the course of the experiment the scientist in charge must be prepared to terminate the experiment at any stage, if he has probably cause to believe, in the exercise of the good faith, superior skill and careful judgment required of him that a continuation of the experiment is likely to result in injury, disability, or death to the experimental subject."

"In closing remarks, Committee Chairman, John D. Rockefeller IV said, "The results of our investigation showed a reckless disregard that shocked me!" According to the committee chairman, the Pentagon and VA people threw caution to the winds, having inoculated hundreds of thousands of military personnel with no warning and no safeguards taken. In a survey of one hundred and fifty troops, fifteen of seventeen received Botulinum Toxoid - and were told they could not refuse to take the aforementioned shots - HOLY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!"

"And as people drive less, some gas stations are simply going out of business - trying in vain to sell their commercial properties in a real estate market that has tanked as more and more people find themselves going bankrupt and being foreclosed on."

Much like the Ford Model T, the Tata Air Engine Vehicle comes in different versions to meet the need.

The Tata Taxi makes a lot of sense, especially when hauling one or two people to an airport and back.

A small passenger van for four, but lots of leg room to spare in a very efficient design.

"Their latest automotive creation is virtually powered by air...that's right...compressed air. Here's how it works. The French-designed K'Air, otherwise known as "VPA" (Vehicles with Pneumatic Assistance) or "VPP" (Vehicles with Pneumatic Propulsion) aim to escape constraints of thermodynamics."

"One of the Tata/MDI vehicles is the CityCat, it can reach up to 68 miles per hour with a cruising range of up to 125 miles. Unless Ford, Chrysler and General Motors get serious, they could be further crippled by manufacturers like Tata Motors from India. Tata is already building plants in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France. Cars will be initially offered in Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and Panama in the Western Hemisphere."

"Plus there is another aspect to consider - developing and utilizing the technology will reduce the impact of OPEC on world wallets, and make it much more difficult to fund terrorist activities...anybody seen Dubai lately?"

"I'd like to thank Observer News columnist/friend Dale Morrow for bringing this technology to my attention!-)"

"Bush will do anything for a buck including flushing planet Earth down the greenhouse gas drain. What ol' Georgie has not figured out - is he will go with it as we all will. The latest Bush gaffe among many is purposely censoring a climate report. It took a court order to force the President's administration to reveal it...four years late! Environmentalists had to legally wrestle it out of Bush's hands - and for good reason..."

"The 1990-enactred law requires a full comprehensive scientific assessment of global warming issues every four years - the Bush Administration was trying to sidestep its obligations for its full term! THUS BREAKING THE LAW!!! We've wasted nearly a decade under George W. Bush's administration that we can't get back...EVER!!! "

"Rick Piltz, director of Climate Science Watch , a non-profit Government Accountability Project regards George W. Bush's foot-dragging as totally begrudging - further saying, "It's important the government go on record, honestly acknowledging the stuff."

"Scott McClellan was born in Austin, Texas in 1968 to Carol Keeton Strayhorn, a former Texas State Comptroller and her husband, Attorney, Barr McClellan. He came from good political stock - his late maternal grandfather, Page Keeton was the Dean of the University Of Texas School Of Law. His Brother Mark, was head of the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services. In my research, Scott has no actual press experience. His work history indicates he was the campaign manager for his mother, worked in political grass roots efforts, and was Chief Of Staff for a Texas State Senator. In college, he was the president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon at The University Of Texas in Austin."

"As to Scott McClelland's book, "What Happened", it may very well be required reading in political science classes in the future. In fairness to McClelland, he said a lot of things he was required to say by his bosses - including GWB, he was a paid mouthpiece. As such, like any of us, unless we are fired or quit or find something better - we live by that paycheck no matter how bad it is...its called survival."

"We've now been in this conflict longer than we were in World War II. Britain, France and other counties in Western Europe knew if they were to be free of the tyranny of Nazi terror, they had to pitch in to regain their freedom - United States could not do it on its own. And no matter how much fire power we have now - we can't bring freedom to the conflicted Middle Eastern countries, unless they themselves are willing to work for it."

"If you can get past the General Davis Petraeus statements that the surge is working - you'll hear something entirely different from the commanders and their troops in the field. While after initial success with the "surge" tactics, its now apparently becoming unraveled. As I reported a year ago in this column, the Iraqi troops looked more upon American involvement as a steady paycheck, rather than an investment in freedom. One field commander in the Time article reports that Iraqi Security Forces continue to rely heavily on Coalition Forces than on their own initiatives."

"Earth Day came to life on April 22nd, 1970 as a symbolic symbol to the needs of cleaning up the garbage mankind has saturated the skies, lands and waters of lakes, streams and oceans. However, at its beginnings, not much attention was paid to it, save those with foresight about the quality of our future environment. At that time, environmentalists were referred to in less than kind ways."

"Scientists continued to make notes, and take their longitudinal measurements in understanding what was happening to planet Earth. However, commercial interests who's interests didn't run "eye-to-eye" with the environmentalists did everything they could to downplay the problem. Oil companies produce a by-product that pollutes, same for factories and automotive concerns. Therefore its in their interests to not go through costly processes to protect the environment."

"Cities like Los Angeles, California have had to deal with smog for quite some time - that could be considered our "parakeet in a coal mine" litmus test as it concerns paying attention to the environment."

"As to McCain...well, he doesn't have a clue beyond continuing an unpopular war in the Mideast. Question is, where is your tax money better spent?"

"I figured I'd take a break from all the political news - I'm sure you are overloaded on the stuff anyway. So - the first thing I'd like to do, is Welcome You Back!"

"....when it comes to food, let's hope our grandchildren are smarter than we were..."

I suppose when some people read the August 1st, 2008 edition of The Wall Street Journal, they were surprised at one of it's story headlines: WALMART WARNS OF DEMOCRATIC WIN! Further into the article, one realizes that Walmart is trying its best to get "associates" to vote Republican - in a round about way. Recently, Walmart had called thousands of its store managers to a mandatory meeting in Bentonville, Arkansas (where the company is headquartered), as well other parts of the country. One of its main topics (as usual) was to make sure the managers understand a top priority was to stamp out any signs of unionization. All an employee has to do is quietly whisper "union" in one of its stores, and Walmart sends in its storm troopers, otherwise know as Labor Relations Rapid Response Teams whose duty is to quell any attempts to unionize. They use the infamous "donut" meetings to drive home the point that "associates" don't need to join a union, because "merit pay increases" save them from those nasty union dues. Donut meetings usually occur before a store opens or after it closes for a day. The managers bring in boxes of doughnuts as a cheap way to build good will with employees, while telling them what Bentonville expects of them. If a manager feels you are "not part of the team", you'll find yourself being "coached" - usually the next step to dismissal. Walmart also has an "open door policy" for its employees - however, realize its sometimes a way to focus in on the troublemakers, rather than solve an issue. If you ever bump into an employee away from a store, or an ex-employee, ask them - it may make you gasp!

As the nations' largest private employer, Walmart carries a lot of political clout. And it's intimidating techniques have worked well in keeping employees in line. According to the article written by Ann Zimmerman and Kris Maher, at this latest gathering of the clan, an employee asserted the Walmart "meeting leader" told the group, "I'm not telling you how to vote, but if the Democrats win, this bill (Employee Free Choice Act) will pass, and you won't have a vote on whether you want a union." This greatly, and understandably repelled an unnamed customer supervisor from Missouri, who said, "I am not a stupid person. They are telling me how to vote!" David Tovar acknowledged meetings were taking place for store managers and supervisors around American, but added, "If anyone representing Walmart gave the impression we were telling associates how to vote, they are wrong and acting without approval." The Employee Free Choice Act makes it easier for groups to unionize, and this has Bentonville (home office) worried. Past attempts to unionize were met with strong slaps to employees. Very few were successful in forming a union, and it usually met with layoffs and other acts to keep employees in line. A while back, Walmart in-store butchers in East Texas unionized - shortly afterwards, Walmart eliminated the butchers by going with prepackaged meats instead. When a store in Canada organized, they were promptly shut down - the company's line was the store had become unprofitable. Sam Walton was reported to say, "If Walmart goes union, I'll tear each store down, BRICK BY BRICK!" And it goes without saying, this is no idle threat! Other intimidation tactics included the wrongful firing of a Kingman, Arizona "associate" who had supported a UFCW shop. It further increased pressure by threatening to freeze merit pay increases of employees who have voted for union representation.

Of course Walmart is not the only organization that feels threatened by the Employee Free Choice Act, others such as Cintas Corporation - the uniform people are also fighting against EFCA. Cintas has gone as far as launching a site called "Cintas Votes." The site is instructing visitors write to their congressmen to vote against the act. As to the politicians, Barack Obama has said repeatedly he would sign the EFCA into law - hence Walmart and other major corporations opposing his candidacy. Not surprisingly, Republican candidate John McCain opposes the EFCA, voting against attempts to have it enacted in 2007. Mr Tovar toes the company line by saying he believes "the EFCA is a bad bill, and we have been on record as opposing it for some time." May I remind the reader, Tovar is a WalMart paid hack...HE KNOWS WHERE HIS PAYCHECK COMES FROM! There are two camps here. Unions have seen their membership drop practically in half, companies want to keep their record profits in their pocket. Employees are seeing their dollar devalue day-by-day. It is a vicious circle that for the time being will only get worse. If anyone reads history, they will remember the Ford Motor Company's fight to keep unions out. It was a very bloody and deadly affair - and behind it was Henry Ford. He also threatened to tear his company down if it went union. Eventually Ford did go union, and Ford was forced to concede. However, there were many sacrifices on the road to a union shop.

This is an example of where things stand. Everyday whether there are unions or not, Americans are finding themselves unemployed or underemployed as more good-paying jobs are shipped to China. We continue to find the country's employees becoming low-paid "service workers", if employed at all. Our trade balance is way out of whack. Its an election year - and many lobbyists are working overtime, so are entities wishing to control the election. Even if the popular vote favors one candidate, the final arbitrator, the electoral college may favor another - against the will of the people - one need only remember the race of Gore vs. Bush, and we know how that turned out. Sad to say, the best man didn't win...and we are all paying that price today!                

Sometimes the most frightening people are the ones you work for - in the case of active veterans, the US Military and the Veterans Administration. Remember the "Gulf War Syndrome" which found its way into the press near the end of the first Gulf War under George Herbert Bush's Presidential Administration - well, its George Walker Bush at the helm - like father, like son! It seems that doctors at the Long Beach Veterans Administration found a little gray smudge on the X-Ray of a twenty-five year-old Special Forces Ranger - a blob next to the pituitary gland. However, the VA denied the finding of why the vet was suffering from excruciating unremitting headaches, and thus its treatment was denied. An expensive operation was finally performed on the soldier at UCLA to remove a tumor a half year after he was turned down by the VA.

What was found-out, is the vet was given three shots of a suspicious nature (it was never explained to the soldier as to what the reason for the drug was, or why it was being given) just before his platoon was sent to the Middle East. The soldier blames the tumor on those shots. His girlfriend explained that the soldier had an increase in agitated behavior upon his return and said his sperm burned her during their lovemaking. Apparently many of the soldiers sent overseas were given two to three injections according to the unnamed soldier. The act of giving experimental drugs to unknowing vets is illegal under the rules of the Nuremberg Code. Here is a soldier among many, being made guinea pigs for drug experimentation - you know, the guys and gals who are putting their lives on the line for the freedom of Iraq. If you think I hated the machinations of the George W. Bush Administration before - its triple that now, after hearing news like this.

For those of you unfamiliar, the Nuremberg Code was the result of a trial in 1947 of twenty-three Nazi doctors and medical administrators who conducted hazardous and forced medical experiments on individuals - considered crimes against humanity. In the Nuremberg Code, judges set forth ten conditions for permissible medical experiments;

                 ...the question is, did the Pentagon and VA act in good faith?

...in my answer, I think not!

In a 1953 directive, U.S. Defense Secretary Charles Wilson's findings found favor with the Nuremberg rulings. However, in a report by the  Association of American Physicians & Surgeons, found that the Pentagon acted improperly as concerns the Nuremberg edict and recent actions, and as such, was a direct violation of the code.

In a 1994 report called "Human Experimentation & Other Intentional Exposures" conducted by the Department of Defense (DOD), the Senate Committee of Veterans Affairs somewhat agreed that there was indeed a violation, more or less. In closing remarks, Committee Chairman, John D. Rockefeller IV said, "The results of our investigation showed a reckless disregard that shocked me!" According to the committee chairman, the Pentagon and VA people threw caution to the winds, having inoculated hundreds of thousands of military personnel with no warning and no safeguards taken. In a survey of one hundred and fifty troops, fifteen of seventeen received Botulinum Toxoid - and were told they could not refuse to take the aforementioned shots - HOLY HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS!

...so what does a Pentagon spokesperson say?

"In all peacetime applications, we believe strongly in informed consent, and its ethical foundations...BUT, Military Combat Is DIFFERENT!"

Its summer 2008 as this is being written. Iraq and Iran are talking cooperative ventures. President George W. Bush and his boss, Vice-President Dick Cheney are allegedly burning their papers before they each say goodbye to Washington for good. And gasoline has now topped $4 a gallon as it makes its way to $5 a gallon. I could recall paying 55 cents a gallon when I first started driving...and I thought that was expensive. And as people drive less, some gas stations are simply going out of business - trying in vain to sell their commercial properties in a real estate market that has tanked as more and more people find themselves going bankrupt and being foreclosed on. I had just finished re-watching Michael Moores' documentary film "Roger & Me", about the demise of Flint, Michigan - previously a bustling auto manufacturing city,,,no more!

...simply put, the news is bad - more jobs are continuing to be lost while we pour billions of dollars in continuing GWB's war...

However, things are looking much brighter in India thanks to companies like Tata Motors which recently bought Land Rover and Jaguar from Ford. You see, Tata Motors is experiencing growth, building affordable cars not only for domestic consumption, but soon to ship to the United States at the end of the year. Their latest automotive creation is virtually powered by air...that's right...compressed air. Here's how it works. The French-designed K'Air, otherwise known as "VPA" (Vehicles with Pneumatic Assistance) or "VPP" (Vehicles with Pneumatic Propulsion) aim to escape constraints of thermodynamics. To do this, the vehicles need to be ultra light, no more than 250 kg at present. These figures allow for consumption of compressed air at 120 Liters a minute. However as compressed air, it will develop a dynamic push of 4kN. In other words, enough to power a vehicle.

Tata Motors along with MDI, have brought the concept to market in a select number of models for India, but soon to ship worldwide by 2010...including the United States where advance orders will be taken by end of this (2008) year. Vehicles with this concept are said to cost between $5,100 to $7,800. What truly makes these cars exciting as urban vehicles is the car can run up to 1,000 miles between recharges using an internal combustion engine, however, that drops to 30 miles in strictly compressed air mode. Naturally there are companies experimenting with different concepts involving hybrid technologies.

The advantages to this type of power plant are many;

• Air-powered vehicles can be charged on the grid, much like electrical vehicles...imagine bypassing gas stations, saving money!

• Compressed air reduces the cost of manufacturing automobiles by as much as 20% - no need for cooling systems, fuel tank, spark plugs or mufflers!

• No need for even a transmission, just an air-flow valve.

• Since there's no need for petroleum, there is no need for expensive transportation of fuel, cutting down pollution even more!

• Cost to fill 'er up from empty would be as little as $2 for 340 liters of air. That's "fill-up", not $2 per gallon!

• Longer storage life when compared to batteries - and less pollution - think sulfuric acids and lead.

• Lower leakage rate when compared to batteries.

• Lower initial cost when compared to battery electric vehicles.

• Compressed air not subject to taxes like fossil fuels.

• No pollution - PERIOD!

• In summer, the same air that powers the car can cool the passenger compartment as form of air-conditioner.

• Compressed air is not a fire hazard - only a rapid depressurization hazard, mitigated by using carbon fiber tanks.

• Air turbine technology is similar to proven steam turbine technology.

• Simpler to build with low tech materials means automotives can be recycled at lower cost

• Can refill air tanks at home using a standard AC socket to operate compressor.

• Lighter vehicles less abusive to roads.

• Air compression significantly cheaper than other modes of fuel.

The disadvantages are;

• When air expands in engine, it cools down via adiabatic cooling and loses pressure, thus its ability to work at colder temperatures.

• Cold temperatures will also cause engine to ice up.

• Compressed-Air Engines (CAE) are currently less robust than fossil-fueled engines.

• Using energy to compress air is less efficient than charging a battery in an electric vehicle.

• Four hours to refill at home - five minutes at a commercial filling station.

• Governments would lose tax income, unless new tax schedule is created.

One of the Tata/MDI vehicles is the CityCat, it can reach up to 68 miles per hour with a cruising range of up to 125 miles. Unless Ford, Chrysler and General Motors get serious, they could be further crippled by manufacturers like Tata Motors from India. Tata is already building plants in Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and France. Cars will be initially offered in Columbia, Peru, Ecuador and Panama in the Western Hemisphere.

Ford, Chrysler and General Motors would do well to develop their own versions built in USA factories, even if it means (and it will) paying royalties to both MDI and Tata! Where American engineering might compete with Tata Motors is producing a design to work in ulta-cold temperatures. However, if Detroit executives continue to sit on their fat asses, American's will feel even less inclined to be loyal to domestic models when gas is expected to hit $5 a gallon.

Plus there is another aspect to consider - developing and utilizing the technology will reduce the impact of OPEC on world wallets, and make it much more difficult to fund terrorist activities...anybody seen Dubai lately?

I'd like to thank Observer News columnist/friend Dale Morrow for bringing this technology to my attention!-)

Barrack Obama, Our Next President!

It isn't over, 'till it's over - and it is over for Hillary's bid to be President this time around. Hillary is a fighter and I admire that. She is a highly intelligent, hard-driven politician. Like Obama, she worked very hard to maintain her campaign up to the very last moment. And I have no problem in saying she was my first choice to run for President in the general election based on her intelligence and experience. Hillary's only Achilles heel, is she is a little over strident and shrill in her performance - turning off both men and women. However, those sins are forgivable for me as regards Mrs. Clinton. We need a President who is highly focused on the issues - someone who doesn't need a teleprompter at a press conference to get the message across - and who is also highly intelligent. Hillary has proven herself on the issues of Socialized, er, Universal Health Care. She "walked the talk" when her husband, Bill, was President. Sadly, the original Universal Health Care package was sunk at the hands of the majority of the Republicans in the House and Congress. The question is whether Hillary should remain as a Senator, or move on the possibility to become Barrack Obama's Vice-Presidential running mate?

As to Barrack Obama? I'm a little concerned as to his inexperience in the Washington beltway, but thankfully Obama is highly intelligent, young  and focused. It's possible as well, that his relative inexperience as a politician may very well turn out to be his and America's greatest asset. Like Hillary, Obama is a highly motivated lawyer by trade, graduating from a first class institute like Harvard. He has worked the grass roots route and understands the importance of the issues we face. What I truly liked about Obama, is he stuck to the issues - and was not a mudslinger - Hillary unfortunately started throwing political mud balls at Obama, and that was the beginning of the end of her bid to lead the Democratic ticket. However, we have to move beyond campaign politics in Hillary's case - focusing on what she had to offer as a Presidential hopeful. Obama's lack of desire to avoid the "gutter" art of campaigning that usually goes along with election stumping is truly refreshing. Rather than further dividing the Democratic camp, he urged unity in what is going to be a truly memorable year in politics. And as I said, Obama is highly, HIGHLY intelligent - a vast improvement over the imbecile President who now sits in the Oval Office.

As to John McCain? Get real, at seventy-something plus, he should be enjoying a retirement rather than running for President. I'm sure he is a nice and intelligent man - but come-on, do you really want someone who is near the end of the human life-span running the country? This is a highly stressful job that can cause any individual to crap out. Then there is the question of the sanity of a man who suggests we stay in a war zone for a hundred years, when domestic issues are dearly crying for attention...GIVE THE WORLD POLICEMEN "MINDSET" A REST FOR CRYING-OUT LOUD!!! Then too, in the back of my mind, I can't help wonder if the Republicans already know they are going to lose the election, and running McCain with no intention of him winning the White House...you know, using him as a paid "sitter" until the election is over with. As to the Democratic and Republican commercials, they both hit me as "text-book" plastic - very hollow, indeed. However, the "slick" McCain spots are irritating at best. One sees a lot of nice pictures like power turbines and other "feel-good" stuff that at the end of the day mean nothing - McCain really does not have any serious plans to turn anything around - he is simply a "placeholder" for this election and nothing else!

Which brings me back to the question as to whether Hillary should be Obama's Presidential running mate? The answer is a resounding yes! Hillary knows the Washington beltway, she had played a part in the highly successful Bill Clinton Presidency - you know, the guy who didn't get us into a very deadly war by allegedly altering the facts. The guy who DIDN'T push us into a recession, the guy who didn't attempt to lease control of our ports to Dubai businessmen during a period of a war in the Middle East, like shithead GWB tried! As to brain cells? Georgie fried his as a Frat Boy in college! Alcoholics or recovering alcoholics do not make good fathers or mates - and especially, Presidents! Sorry, I went on a rag, but someone who has experienced a two-week marriage to a drunk, and lived with one for three quarters of a year many years ago - I know pretty well, they have very limited intellectual capacity - and Bush was the last person we should have put in the White House! Come to think of it, Bush lost the popular vote - it was the Electoral College who put bonehead in office two terms running! That's scary to think about, isn't it?

...okay, enough of that!

First and foremost, whether Hillary gets the nod as Vice-Presidential running mate is inconsequential to my mind. If the election were held tomorrow, my vote goes to Barrack Obama, period!

...as to Rush Limpbah, Fox News Channel and Clear Channel Communications...BAH HUMBUG!!! May you each choke on a lump of coal in your Chirstmas stocking!                      

Everyday, President George W. Bush shows his extreme stupidity - and people die because of it. Bush will do anything for a buck including flushing planet Earth down the greenhouse gas drain. What ol' Georgie has not figured out - is he will go with it as we all will. The latest Bush gaffe among many is purposely censoring a climate report. It took a court order to force the President's administration to reveal it...four years late! Environmentalists had to legally wrestle it out of Bush's hands - and for good reason...

Here are some of the things the report forecasts ahead for the inhabitant's of Planet Earth...it is a grisly reminder of the stupid greed of George W. Bush and Dick Cheney - and it is scary...Very, VERY Scary...

• Increased heat-related deaths and deaths from smog. As a matter of fact, its predicted in Los Angeles, death rates may increase by more than 1,000 annually by 2080 - even the Midwest and Northeast will be very vulnerable to death by heat.

•  

• Fresh water shortages coast-to-coast will cripple the United States as demand outstrips supply...this is NOT science fiction!

•  

• Billions of dollars will need to be spent in order to upgrade the nation's power grid in order to meet energy requirements to cool a country - but it will be a juggernaut, because more fossil fueled plants will spew more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. An example is, Seattle's energy consumption could increase by 146% at current numbers by the end of the century.

•  

• Wildfire season has increased by 78 days over the last three decades. That number is due to significantly increase!

•  

• Increasing also is insect infestation, food and waterborne microbes and diseases with pathogen outbreaks currently causing $1.5 billion in annual loses - predictions are those numbers will go much higher.

•  

• A ruptured American Health Care System is likely to fail - especially for those poor, elderly, disabled and uninsured - may I remind you as humans, all will eventually fall in at least one of those groups.

The Republican Bush Whitehouse said it preferred issuing studies on individual global warming issues rather than using the report's information to form strategies into workable plans of action. The 1990-enactred law requires a full comprehensive scientific assessment of global warming issues every four years - the Bush Administration was trying to sidestep its obligations for its full term! THUS BREAKING THE LAW!!! We've wasted nearly a decade under George W. Bush's administration that we can't get back...EVER!!!

Rick Piltz, director of Climate Science Watch , a non-profit Government Accountability Project regards George W. Bush's foot-dragging as totally begrudging - further saying, "It's important the government go on record, honestly acknowledging the stuff."

As Andrew Weaver, a Canadian climate scientist says, it's a "litany of bad news in store for the U.S.!"      

Scott McClellan was born in Austin, Texas in 1968 to Carol Keeton Strayhorn, a former Texas State Comptroller and her husband, Attorney, Barr McClellan. He came from good political stock - his late maternal grandfather, Page Keeton was the Dean of the University Of Texas School Of Law. His Brother Mark, was head of the Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services. In my research, Scott has no actual press experience. His work history indicates he was the campaign manager for his mother, worked in political grass roots efforts, and was Chief Of Staff for a Texas State Senator. In college, he was the president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon at The University Of Texas in Austin.

Scott and George W. Bush met when he was hired to be the former governors' deputy press secretary, later promoted as Governor George Bush's traveling press secretary. McClellan became White House Deputy Press Secretary when George Bush took over the Presidential helm. Later, Scott became White House Press Secretary when Ari Fleischer stepped down. McClellan learned his trade on the job. Reason Bush might have chosen the young man in the first place is because he had no actual press credentials beyond working for politicians and political causes - less chance Bush would be exposed for his incompetence...or so he thought.

McClellan found himself out of a job when he became an alleged scapegoat in the Valerie Plume Spy-Outing Affair, and the botched handling of Katrina Relief efforts. He became "wingman" and took one for the team - later learning he was expendable as far as the Bush White House was concerned. In his book, "What Happened: Inside The Bush White House & Washington's Culture Of Deception", Scott writes;

"The most powerful leader (not anymore) in the world had called upon me to speak on his behalf and help restore credibility he lost amid the failure to find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. So I stood at the White House briefing room podium in front of the glare of the klieg lights for the better part of two weeks and publicly exonerated two of the senior-most aides of the White House: Karl (the Turdflower) Rove and Scooter Libby. There was one problem. It was not true"

McClellan was eventually replaced by conservative writer and talk show host, Tony Snow, who later stepped down due to illness, when the job went to Dana Perino. Dana does have journalist credentials working as a reporter for WCIA TV, a CBS affiliate in Illinois. Her college major was Mass Communications. Her official view of McClellan's "tell-all" book is; "Scott, we now know, is disgruntled about his experience at The White House. We are puzzled. It is sad. This is not the Scott we knew." It should be mentioned that for all her education and press experience, Dana admitted on NPR's "Wait, Don't Tell Me", she had no idea what the Cuban Missile Crisis was until recently. Uh, Dana, didn't you have any core courses in American and World History - as a matter of fact, were you even paying attention in your fifth grade history class? Geez, only in the George W. Bush administration!-)

As to Scott McClelland's book, "What Happened", it may very well be required reading in political science classes in the future. In fairness to McClelland, he said a lot of things he was required to say by his bosses - including GWB, he was a paid mouthpiece. As such, like any of us, unless we are fired or quit or find something better - we live by that paycheck no matter how bad it is...its called survival. And yes, Scott has found a way to turn his misery into an honest buck...more power to him. For that matter, a few years after the Bush White House becomes history, you can count Dana has a few things to say about her limited experiences with the President and his administration. "Remember, its just a job!" 

When I read the May 12th, 2008 issue of Time Magazine, I became a little dismayed and greatly saddened by our state of affairs in U.S. policy. We've lost a great deal of American lives in trying to encourage freedom in a country (Iraq) that does not seem to have much interest in the concept anyway. We've now been in this conflict longer than we were in World War II. Britain, France and other counties in Western Europe knew if they were to be free of the tyranny of Nazi terror, they had to pitch in to regain their freedom - United States could not do it on its own. And no matter how much fire power we have now - we can't bring freedom to the conflicted Middle Eastern countries, unless they themselves are willing to work for it. However, it does not seem to be the case as billions to trillions of American dollars are being pumped into an oil rich nation - what are our leaders thinking?

If you get to a library, grab the issue and turn to page 38. What I read here is nothing new, just a continuation under the George W. Bush administration. If you can get past the General Davis Petraeus statements that the surge is working - you'll hear something entirely different from the commanders and their troops in the field. While after initial success with the "surge" tactics, its now apparently becoming unraveled. As I reported a year ago in this column, the Iraqi troops looked more upon American involvement as a steady paycheck, rather than an investment in freedom. One field commander in the Time article reports that Iraqi Security Forces continue to rely heavily on Coalition Forces than on their own initiatives. In other words, America and other countries forces are basically propping up Iraqi Minister Nouri al-Maliki's administration and military. Reports have been coming in that at least one-third of the Iraqi forces never show up for battle. And some of the Iraqi troops go to the other side! This does not bode well in our continuing involvement.

Training Iraqi troops is a major problem - six weeks (two additional weeks for police) basic training in dealing with guerilla-style warfare apparently is not cutting it. We've trained 559,397 in the military and police ranks, paying $375 a month to military personnel, and $95 for policemen...not much. And maybe that's part of the reason they are not as motivated as they should be. The article does point out that the Kurds seem to be the better fighters among the lot. However, the "rank and file" Iraqi solider is getting the reputation as being "incompetent" and "poorly-disciplined" in their endeavors - in other words, they're only there for the paycheck! Funnier yet, was remarks of the 4th Brigade Combat Team saying that their successful efforts were partially due to the fact that the Iraqi forces did little. That's a far cry from the official stance of "As we look to (Basra) ...we see a much improved Iraqi security force" according to Lieutenant-General Lloyd Austin, the number two man in command of American troops in Iraq on April 23rd, 2008.

Getting beyond that rhetoric, is Iraqi troop incompetence out of areas of direct conflict. At a small desert outpost in the Anbar province - an Iraqi police vehicle fired a round of machine gun bullets just a few feet from a group of U.S. Marines - barely missing one of our troops. Their excuse was a car passing through a checkpoint had honked at them and the gunner felt the need to retaliate with a round of bullets. American troops who fight alongside don't place a great deal of trust in their Iraqi counterparts, saying their forces are rife with sectarian loyalties. Another understandable part is Iraqi troop fears that once American troops do pull out, they will incur the wrath of the militias. Indeed, that is a scary prospect! And, there are no easy answers no matter how one looks at it. However, we can't be there forever, let alone Republican Candidate McCain's suggested 100-year plan. Thank-You President Bonehead...er, George W. Bush!

Its no secret our troops are over-extended. They want to come home to their families, and their families want them back home. Iraq is sharply divided on at least three fronts - each with their own agendas. If they wish to split Iraq into three (of their own desire) different countries in coming to a peaceful resolve, then the world should let them. We need to get to the basic resumption of improving our own country's infrastructure - becoming energy independent in the process. Gas prices continue to soar, thanks to George W. Bush and Dick Cheney policies. We've spent so much time and money on the current President's war, and way too little in reversing global warming. American's are going broke powering their vehicles in conventional ways - and  Washington is not giving them any real answers. On a recent trip to the Middle East, President George W. Bush asked Saudi King Abdullah to pump more oil, in hopes of bringing down prices of crude. In polite terms, the King told Bush to "STUFF IT" as they formally celebrated seventy-five years of Saudi and American relations. Somehow I feel the King realizes Bush is of little importance as he ends his Presidential run. As to Cheney, well, he's distancing himself from his puppet creation...      

Earth Day was celebrated on April 22nd. And, with it we saw a lot of commercials commemorating Earth Day with commercials saying how dedicated they are to cleaning up the environment - including the oil and automotive industry of late. And that's okay, however, I still wonder if its a more "feel good" thing in their attitude, rather than an honest effort. Earth Day came to life on April 22nd, 1970 as a symbolic symbol to the needs of cleaning up the garbage mankind has saturated the skies, lands and waters of lakes, streams and oceans. However, at its beginnings, not much attention was paid to it, save those with foresight about the quality of our future environment. At that time, environmentalists were referred to in less than kind ways. Even the scientific community was drawn and quartered by commercial concerns, and some less-than-brilliant individuals - including those in political offices, and media-types like Rushed Limpbah (i like this name better than his stage name) who decried in the past, that concerns about the environment were more or less hogwash. Meanwhile President George W. Bush, decided Kyoto was not his thing by not being in attendance. Most likely he felt it would be an embarrassment to his Vice-President, Dick Cheney, one time chairman (and may return to that post after the November elections) of Halliburton.

Environmental scientists have been warning us for quite sometime, we were headed for an environment meltdown since the 1960's and possibly earlier. Scientists continued to make notes, and take their longitudinal measurements in understanding what was happening to planet Earth. However, commercial interests who's interests didn't run "eye-to-eye" with the environmentalists did everything they could to downplay the problem. Oil companies produce a by-product that pollutes, same for factories and automotive concerns. Therefore its in their interests to not go through costly processes to protect the environment. I'm old enough to remember the controversy of smokestack scrubbers being required...well, on smokestacks! In an off-handed way, industry moving to Asia has helped make our environment a little cleaner - and air in China and other Asian industrialized countries a little dirtier. Look for some Olympic hopefuls and spectators suffer asthma attacks during the games. Cities like Los Angeles, California have had to deal with smog for quite some time - that could be considered our "parakeet in a coal mine" litmus test as it concerns paying attention to the environment. However, we didn't pay attention than - thankfully, we appear to now. Companies like Volkswagen are trumpeting their new "cleaner" diesel engines hitting the market, GM is promising to take us from gasoline to (eventually) non-polluting vehicles like the Chevy Volt concept car which is a "plug-in" hybrid...or as Chevy calls it, an electric vehicle with a range-extender using fossil fuels for a small engine which kicks in to charge the batteries when needed - it is a step in the right direction.

As to politicians, they usually go towards where the wind is blowing - in this case, popular opinion mixed with ways to keep their corporate supporters happy. George W. Bush feigned interest in the environment during his first run for the Presidency in 2000 - however, once he got the job, it seems he suddenly had amnesia where it concerned the health of Mother Earth. Bush is a lame duck as his Presidency winds down. He seems pre-occupied with his legacy more than anything else. He has issued limp mandates as it concerns cleaning up the environment - well, any effort in the right direction is a good step. But of more importance, how do the contenders for his "soon-to-be-vacated" office stand? This question was fielded in the April 14th, 2008 issue of Newsweek magazine.

John McCain (R) supports cap-and-trade driven by the market, but is unclear on mandatory caps. He favors increasing efficiency standards, but has no set target. As to renewable energy, well, he's for it, but offers no set goal. On bio-fuels, but will offer no subsidies for them. He supports the use of conventional coal, but has not offered any real opinion on coal-to-liquid fuel. He supports nuclear power to keep emissions down, and to promote energy independence.

Barack Obama (D) supports a cap-and-trade system mandated to cut CO2 emissions 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. He also supports raising efficiency standards to 52 mpg by 2026. Obama sees 25% of America's energy needs to be met by renewable energy in 2025. He looks to have at least 60 billion gallons of bio-fuels on the market by 2030. He supports coal-to-liquid fuels - provided if they emit 20% fewer carbons then conventional gas. He does not consider nuclear power as "optimal", but its still a usable source of energy.

Hillary Clinton (D) also supports a cap-and-trade to cut CO2 emissions 80% of 1990 levels by 2050. In her case, she supports increasing fuel standards to 55 mpg by 2030. Like Obama, she looks to 25% of America's energy needs to be met by renewable energy in 2025. And like Obama, she sees 60 billion gallons of bio-fuels in the pipeline by 2030. As to coal-to-liquid fuels, she would support the effort if it results in 20% less carbon than conventional gas. On nuclear energy, Hillary is agnostic because of its high cost and radioactive waste problems.

What this says, is both Clinton and Obama are setting goals, much like President Kennedy had in American's getting to the moon. And achieving energy plans should be a lot more plausible than rocket science. As to McCain...well, he doesn't have a clue beyond continuing an unpopular war in the Mideast. Question is, where is your tax money better spent?               

...are we back?

...whew, well we're getting there...

As you may notice, MALL 727 is being reworked into a widescreen format. As an increasing amount of our readers are purchasing high contrast widescreen monitors, we needed to upgrade. So, with the new format, we are able to fit more into the package as a result. However, that means more work in putting together the site, here. I figured I'd take a break from all the political news - I'm sure you are overloaded on the stuff anyway. So - the first thing I'd like to do, is Welcome You Back!

Spring for us in the north, has finally arrived. I really have not seen anything in bloom yet, however, that will occur any time now. I've decided to do a little planting of my own - although, I'm far from the gardener my Grandfather, Arnold Andrew DeJean was. For a city boy, he really did have a green thumb. Come August, his plants grew really high and plentiful - naturally, we feasted from the fall into the next spring. As you can guess, I miss him...

It's funny, something we've taken for granted over generations, is more in the news now. First, concerns about what we eat, and how it affects our health. Second, the recall of food products from China. I used to order those big deluxe super pizzas from pizzerias across town - my favorites included Ohio Pizzeria, Jerome's, A Slice Above - to name a few. But, I had to give up pizza with cheese - my arteries were clogging up. That was a hard give!-) However, I'd like to be around for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren - and it was either the pizza or me? ...and if there's no me, there's no pizza either - some choice...

As to what I do eat...well, frozen low fat yogurt and I still agree - and recently, Frito-Lay has brought out baked low-sodium chips under their Flat Earth brand. Actually, they are pretty good - and use a lot of natural ingredients - something for us aging baby boomers to cheer about. It's the old, "I wish I knew than, what I know now" thought...however, I think the extra-crispy fried chicken was my worst sin as it concerns food. As more people end up going to have heart procedures performed - trans-fats are gaining more attention. This has caused food processors to re-think their ingrediants - including one major fast-food chicken chain. However, we only have ourselves to blame - we ate the stuff, didn't we? As to the fast food joints - don't look for the "nutrition label" openly displayed in their businesses, or anywhere on their "super-size" take-out buckets anytime soon.

....when it comes to food, let's hope our grandchildren are smarter than we were...