63 percent want to vote out the incumbents

Time for real change and real turnover?

63 percent of Americans want to vote against Congressional incumbents, according to the latest polls, but will they?

While these are the most anti-incumbent results in polling history, angst against incumbency has been growing for many years. Yet, the results at the polls have not really reflected this growing pre-election anger in most instances.

Is this finally the time all that changes? Could 50 percent Congressional turnover, or more, actually be possible? Or, will angst-filled voters simply avoid the voting booth in their typical apathetic manner?

Are you ready to vote against the incumbents?

40.6 billion reasons why Americans should register to vote and vote

$4.00 gas is cheap?

So, ExxonMobil profited $40.6 billion dollars this year. That's plenty of money to keep buying Congress, as oil companies have been doing for decades.

But I don't care about $46.6 billion.

In the 1990's it cost America more money to secure and transport oil from the Middle East than the oil from the Middle East was worth. Yet, Americans don't pay for the security costs of oil at the gasoline pump. In fact, if Americans paid the real cost of gasoline at the pump, gas would probably cost $10.00 or more per gallon.

Environmental costs would probably push this cost even higher.

Yet, not one Republican is really addressing this issue, nor are any Democrats. Despite the fact that military-industrial complex that runs our government via cheap oil has created two wars in the Middle East, 9/11 and created massive pollution, not one mainstream politician is taking real action to change this.

OUR government has failed us, and voting 100 percent Democrat or Republican won't change that fact. Democrats have run Congress and the White House. Republicans have run Congress and the White House. Little has ever changed.

Vote against the incumbent in 2008!

Register to vote!

Bush more popular than Congress?!?!

Bush testing out a plug-in hybrid vehicle

George Bush is unpopular. That's no secret. According to the most recent Gallup Poll, Bush's approval rating is holding steady at about 33 percent. This low approval rating led many to believe that the unpopular President helped lead to a Democrat-controlled Congress.

But is that the real story?

According to the same Gallup poll, Congress has an approval rating of just 29 percent. Congress is even less popular than the President?

I think Democrats better wake up, as better Republicans. Ultimately, Democrats probably won control of Congress simply because they weren't Republicans - that's it. It was a vote for change that gave Democrats control of Congress.

Yet, has anything really changed? Certainly, the gross, unproductive partisanship of Congress has not changed, and nothing is being accomplished. Even worse, it is possible that essentially nothing will be accomplished until early 2008 - at best.

Perhaps in 2008, when America again votes for change, it shouldn't be limited to replacing Democrats with Republicans or vice versa. Instead, perhaps EVERY incumbent should be replaced?! Perhaps EVERY incumbent should be replaced with an Independent candidate?

Now that would be a change. Seriously, could it get any worse? When the best that is accomplished is, well, nothing, can it really get any worse?

Register to vote. Take a stand for change in 2008.

Government spending at all time high

"For the first seven months of this budget year, which began Oct. 1, revenue collections and government spending are at all-time highs.

However, the spending total of $1.585 billion was up at a slower pace of 3.2 percent from the previous year."

So the government is out-of-control, but it isn't spinning quite as quickly out-of-control?

Let's do it. Register to vote! Dump the incumbents!

(Source: Yahoo via Drudge)

Not just the President: America is also mad at Congress

Get rid of all the incumbents?

The people of the U.S. are not very happy with the job the President is doing according to every poll. A new poll, however, indicates the people are just as unhappy with Congress, despite a switch from Republican control to Democrat control.

"The survey found only 35 percent approve of how Congress is handling its job, down 5 percentage points in a month. That gives lawmakers the same bleak approval rating as Bush, who has been mired at about that level since last fall, including his dip to a record low for the AP-Ipsos poll of 32 percent last January." (GuardianUnlimited)

If we expect change, isn't it time to really change Congress? So, register to vote and lets vote out the incumbents - ALL of them. Yes, a few good people will be lost, but isn't it time for a fresh start?

Hillary or Obama: A vote for change?

Either a woman or a black man is a big change

There's an interesting article in the TimesOnline about Republicans that are converting to Democrats to support Barack Obama's run for President. Why? Because these converts believe Obama could unite the country.

“I think we should design campaigns that appeal, not to 51% of the people, but bring the country together as a whole,” said Matthew Dowd, President Bush's Chief Campaign Strategist in 2004. And, apparently, Dowd believes Obama has the best chance of achieving that end.

Could a politician actually unite the country these days, especially one coming from one of the major parties - both of which seem to relish campaign-funding partisanship? I hope so.

Even better, I hope these different candidates (not rich white males) can get more Americans to register to vote and, more important, to vote.

And if you don't like either of these candidates, then get out and vote for your candidate. And, if you don't like any of the candidates, then vote for a third party candidate - that's a better vote for change than not voting at all.

So, register to vote. If the far majority of eligible voters start voting and keep voting, then politicians will have to listen to the people, rather than the lobbyist controlled two party political system.

Ex-CIA Chief: Buy a Prius, fight bin Laden

The best tool for America's battle for foreign oil independence?

Former CIA Chief "drives a Prius, and he says that if you live in a country dependent on imported oil, it's your patriotic duty to do the same. His argument is simple: It's a bad thing for transport to depend on oil when the great majority of that oil lies in volatile parts of the world whose governments are hostile to the West. Moreover, he argues that, by making the Middle East so wealthy, we're indirectly subsidizing terror. For Woolsey, the cash register at your local gas station is a collection box for Al Qaeda. "We're paying for both sides in this war, and that's not a good long-term strategy," he says. "I have a bumper sticker on the back of my Prius that reads, 'Bin Laden hates this car.'"

Read the complete MotorTrend article.

A call to those that don't vote

So you don't think your vote will count? Or, maybe you don't think there is really any difference between Republicans and Democrats - both are just controlled by well-funded lobbyists? Well, that is no excuse not to vote. If you fit either one of these categories, get out and vote, dammit. Vote for a third party candidate. Even if you have to vote for a Democrat or Republican, then vote against the incumbent. Vote for someone new. If millions of us vote third party and/or against incumbents we could make it much harder for lobbyists and special interest groups to control the outcome of elections. So register to vote. You can make a difference!

Re: Report Rebuts Bush on Spying

I read the article, Report Rebuts Bush on Spying in the Washington Post, and I didn't think much of it. While I'm not opposed to an investigation into the issue, how can any judgement be made without knowing all the facts? Since much of the program is top secret, then the Congressional Research Service really can't fully study the spying program in full detail, correct?

Nonetheless, American privacy is an important issue, and an unbiased investigation might be worthwhile. Unfortunately, Washington isn't capable of an unbiased investigation.

After reading the story, I checked out some blogs and found myself at fatcat politics. Fatcat isn't really about fatcat politics, it is about slandering Republicans.

O.K., that is fine. Many Republicans are funded by fatcat corporations and lobbyists, but so too are many Democrats.

Man, I really tire of elitist Democrats. While I probably agree more with Democrats on many issues, I actually trust Republicans more. While I rarely, if ever, vote for Republicans - I would vote for McCain - they seem to at least stand for consistency. Too often Dems. just seem to stand against things, not for things. I say either lead, follow, or get the F _ CK out of the way.

While I wasn't a big fan of Hillary when Bill took office, you have to give the Clintons credit, they tried to lead and I sometimes think Hillary might prove to be much more of President than her husband - she won't be chasing young interns. (I'm an independant, dammit, how can I be plugging Hillary?)They tried to take on health care, much the same way Bush tried to take on Social Security. That's leadership.

That's why I was annoyed by an image on fatcat linking corporations, Republicans and the Iraq War. Let's face it, corporate money dominates all politicians in one way or another. Anyway, below is what I wrote:

____________________________________________________________

Wow, the Iron Triangle?

So the Iron Triangle doesn't include both Dems and Repubs? Democrats don't have any corporate ties?

Anyway, it seems to me we went to war in Iraq in an attempt to stabilize the Middle East, and WMD was a piece of evidence - now proven largely incorrect - as to why the area needed to be stabilized in the war against terrorism, but it was by no means THE reason.

Now you can argue that Iraq wasn't a good method for stabilizing the Middle East or for fighting terrorism, but that doesn't seem to be what you are doing.

You just want to slander Republicans. Fine, I don't really care because I see both parties as the problem.

Still, in reality almost every smoking gun against Bush and going to Iraq used by Democrats now, was available to Democrats before the war, yet they went along.

It's sort of ironic that you think Iraq was about WMD and Zarqawi sees Iraq as a battle between Islam and Democracy, which seems to give some credence to the Bush belief.

You obviously hate Bush and have always hated Bush, so your glasses are only focused on proving your point that Bush sucks, rather than focusing on the real problems of the Iron Triangle and the real problems of fatcat politics.

Please understand I am not defending Bush, but the Iron Triangle and 'fatcat' politics have run both parties since both parties were founded. Let's be fair if we really want this to change.

In reality being a Democrat isn't NEARLY enough. In fact, it might not be helpful at all.

If that isn't true why is incumbency, in both parties, just a few percent under 100%? Why did Carville say the last election would be determined by just 3% of voting Americans? Why do average members - regardless of party - leave Congress much richer than when they started?

Groups like the UAW, for example, inevitably, collude with GM at times. That's why a number of Dems voted against increased fuel efficiency standards this last fall, when they had the numbers to make it happen. Instead, they wanted their piece of the corporate pie - the same corporate money they use to fund the Democratic party.

Do the ends always justify the means?

Pretending like this is just a Republican issue will only guarantee that very little will change. So congratulations, perhaps you will impeach Bush, but you'll still accomplish nothing regarding fat cat politics.

Thus, is this really a 'fatcat politics' site, or just a 'I hate Republicans site'?

_____________________________________________________

Anyway, to me, this is just more reason to register to vote. Again, if you don't believe in either party, you still need to vote. Vote for a third party if you don't want to vote for either major party, but PLEASE vote.

If we think so many politicians are corrupt, why do we keep voting for them?

According to a CNN poll, over half the people believe that the majority of those in Congress are corrupt.

This isn't a new trend in politics. The belief that Congress is corrupt has been an ever-growing sentiment, and a sentiment that Bill Clinton successfully utilized to become President.

Yet, if so many believe that those in Congress are so corrupt, why is the rate of incumbency so high? Are 'the people' so disgusted they just choose not to vote?

GET REGISTERED TO VOTE. Don't just complain. Vote. If you don't think your vote counts, then vote Independent or for the Green Party. Who cares if they don't win, your vote can still send a message, even if your candidate doesn't win.

If you think those in Congress are corrupt and you aren't even registered to vote, then I think your more stupid than they are corrupt. So elevate your intelligence and register to vote.

Exxon's $9 billion oil profit: Why is Congress giving tax dollars to oil companies?

From Hybridcarblog.com

Hybrid cars are not the answer to today's oil problems. Sure, everyone could drive a Toyota Prius and America could end foreign oil dependency, but one vehicle isn't going to save America from foreign oil. Even if everyone wanted to drive a Prius it would still take years before that many hybrids could even be produced.

Thus, critics dismiss hybrids as hype, noting that today's hybrid technology costs do not justify the savings in fuel economy. As if investment never leads to cheaper costs and better technology - I mean look at computers, what a wasted investment!

Instead, America would rather rely on big energy, such as Exxon Mobil. That's right, the same Exxon Mobil that "said Thursday high oil and natural-gas prices helped its third-quarter profit surge almost 75 percent to $9.92 billion" according to the AP. The same Exxon Mobil that is going to be given tax payer money to help alleviate the oil shortage in America.

Now, that's a plan!

And we're going to need more oil, a lot more oil, not only in the U.S., but worldwide. Unfortunately, that oil might not exist. According to an extremely interesting NYTIMES article, Doubts Raised on Saudi Vow for More Oil, Saudi Arabia might have far less oil than they have been proclaiming to the world, and a serious oil crunch could be just around the corner.

Don't worry, I'm sure Exxon will use some of its profits and tax payer incentives to help out the average American!

If oil supplies do stagnate, where is the oil going to come from to run all the diesels that are going to save America according to the Detroit News? Nothing like putting all your eggs in one basket.

Why not invest in technology?

Experimental hybrid vehicles have already been built that can achieve more than 100 mpg, some even achieve as much as 250 mpg, and others have claimed that a flex-fuel plug-in hybrid could achieve as much as 500 mpg. Additionally, flex fuel plug-in hybrids could utilize gasoline, diesel, biodiesel, electricity or even hydrogen. Is that too many options?

What the hell are we waiting for? Why does America continue to provide tax dollars to the oil industry? Why do we allow automakers, including Toyota, to continue to sell gas-guzzlers? Why not subsidize the cost of a fleet of Ford Escape hybrids and Toyota Highlander hybrids that achieve at least 50 mpg? That technology exists right now, yet instead we give billions to oil companies?

Oil, not technology, is the solution to America's problems, at least if you ask Congress. I guess almost 10 billion in profits provides a lot of favors.

So yeah, 100 mpg hybrids are too expensive and hybrids are just hype, but spending billions and billions on oil companies, oil refineries, the hydrogen highway, and fuel cells is a bargain - at least for Exxon Mobil it is.


Register to Vote!

More refineries, or more hybrid cars?

Congress has become a joke, or maybe it has always been joke. Special interests, not the people's interests, are always the priority. And, who can blame Congress? Since half the people don't care and don't want to vote, I guess the power of lobbyists should be expected.

Instead of Congress focusing on more oil refineries and more tax incentives for oil companies, why not bail out the American auto industry and fund hybrid cars?

Bio-diesel hybrids could end foreign oil dependency as fast as they can be made. Additionally, Congress would be helping an important American industry. Moreover, ending foreign oil dependency could save the country more than a trillion dollars according to studies (more).

What are we waiting for? Get registered to vote and make sure that everyone you know is registered to vote. Don't worry about who they are voting for, just make sure they vote.

Americans must take a stand against the American auto industry

Everyday, segments of America exercise rights every bit as important as voting. The choices we make, as consumers, essentially fund the people - rich shareholders - whom fund American politicians.

Automobiles, are one of the biggest purchases Americans make, and it's become one of the most important choices.

Vehicles, such as the SUV, are, quite simply, anti-American.

Even Bill Ford Jr. admits that car exhaust contributes to global warming, and that SUVs have had, at times, a dangerous past.

In just 50 years, Southern California has become a city highlighted by its notorious smog - something that kills people, and shortens the lifespan of millions of others.

This wasn't some natural phenomenon, this was man-made.

According to the Pentagon, global warming is one of the greatest threats to American security.

So what are American auto corporations doing about it? What are American corporations, who stand by "Buy American", really doing to help Americans?

Is building bigger SUVs what America stands for?

O.K., let's forget about the environment. Big gas-guzzlers can only make sense if gas is cheap.

Has enforcing cheap, foreign-derived oil cost America?

While, cheap gas has allowed Americans to drive huge, waste-of-everything vehicles, it has also required immense military action in the Middle East, seeded terrorism and anti-Americanism, led to two wars in Iraq, and helped bring about 911.

So now what is the auto industry, particularly, the American auto industry, doing about it?

Ford is releasing 20,000 Ford Escape hybrids. Sure, that isn't even a percent of their sales, but what a nice gesture.

Of course the Escape hybrid couldn't have been produced if Ford didn't lease its hybrid technology from Toyota. See, Toyota perfected the hybrid powertrain with the Toyota Prius.

If not for the Prius, America would be decades away from the Escape hybrid.

Now, Honda is releasing the Accord hybrid, it's third hyrbid model, and Toyota will be releasing several more models in 2005.

Ironically, only Japanese companies have addressed these issues, issues that should be a national priority to all Americans and American corporations.

They say, in many parts of America, cars are an extension of peoples' personalities. Imagine what that says about many Americans.

F_ _ _ the environment. F _ _ _ the Middle East and all Muslims, in fact, F _ _ _ everybody else in the world. I don't care about the future. It's not my responsibility. My kids can clean up my mess, and if you don't like it, I'll just run you over.

While SUVs are not evil, they are completely unneccessary in the driving conditions of most Americans, and they promote irresponsibility.

If something is unneccessary, and destructive, wouldn't the intelligent and the simple thing be to get rid of it?

Americans have been duped to believe that SUVs stand for American freedom of choice.

In reality; however, SUVs stand for anything but freedom.

American auto corporations have had plenty of time to clean up their dirty act.

Now it is up to the people to represent. Do we stand for arrogant irresponsibility, or do we stand for Freedom?. Hybrid cars and other fuel efficient vehicles and technologies represent not only freedom, but the future. Anything less is unacceptable.

Join the revolution.

Register to vote.

Politics: Money is the Name of the Game

The Democrats have already raised $13,000,000.00 for the next election, according to reports released today.

Democrats also announced having raised at least $400 million in the 2003-04 election cycle.

The Republicans haven't provided their final numbers yet, but most expect final numbers to be in the same range as the Democrats.

That's right, folks, almost a 1,000,000,000.00. Nine zeros, baby, a billion dollars.

A billion dollars to elect someone whom doesn't even represent the majority of Americans.

Think this is ridiculous? Do something about it!

Register to vote! Don't like either party? Register Independent, just register.

Click here to register to vote!

Smoke Dope, But Don't Vote?

Do you smoke weed, yet you don't vote?

Get off your ass, man. Register Independent. Let the squares know that you are going to vote.

I'm not advocating marijuana usage. Any drug is a crutch, but I believe that you can make those decisions by yourself.

The paranoia and government hypocrisy regarding not only marijuana, but more important, hemp, would be a complete joke, if not for the immense potential of hemp.

While many marijuana and hemp advocates rant about huge conspiracy theories dating back to Henry Ford, science alone, justfies marijuana legalization.

Recently, the Editors of Scientific American stated, "outdated regulations and attitudes thwart legitimate research with marijuana. Indeed, American biomedical researchers can more easily acquire and investigate cocaine. Marijuana is classified as a so-called Schedule 1 drug, alongside LSD and heroin. As such, it is defined as being potentially addictive and having no medical use, which under the circumstances becomes a self-fulflling prophecy."

Moreover, the article quotes the journal of Nature Medicine as saying that marijuana's "clinical potential is enormous" - a direct contradiction to it's classification. "The potential may include treatments for pain, nerve injury, the nausea associated with chemotherapy, the wasting related to AIDS and more."

In other words, the U.S. Federal government is in violation of it's own rules and regulations. More disappointing, marijuana's cousin, hemp, offers even more potential than marijuana, but is defined as marijuana by ignorant Federal legislation.

So, we know the people need to set the government straight on this and many other issues, so register to vote.

Not voting is for punks. Not taking action isn't a vote against the system, it's a vote of stupidity. If you don't like the system, vote against it by registering Independent!

Register to Vote

Why the 90 percent mass is better than the 30 percent herd.

I read an interesting piece in Scientific American, called Common Sense, by Michael Shermer. The piece essentially claims that for a group to be smart it should be "autonomous, decentralized and cognitively diverse."

Massive amounts of data, according to Shermer, show that "For solving a surprisingly large and varied number of problems, crowds are smarter than individuals."

Of course crowds and the herd mentality can also be a problem "when the members of a group think uniformly in the wrong direction."

It is almost impossible not to think of Republicans and Democrats as herds. Essentially, only a tiny percent of people decide the entire agenda of a whole herd of people.

Both major parties are the antithesis of "autonomous, decentralized and cognitively diverse".

Even worse, neither party tries to mobilize 'the people' only people that think similarly. Neither party; therefore, will make America stronger.

Only a majority of eligible voters voting can help America achieve the potential of democracy. Yet, both major parties focus on control of democracy, rather than actually achieving democracy.

Register to Vote. Register Independent.

Dem Leaders Question Kerry's $15 million nest egg

According to a CNN article, "Democrats are questioning why he sat on so much money that could have helped him defeat George Bush or helped down-ballot races, many of which could have gone our way with a few more million dollars," said Donna Brazile, campaign manager for Al Gore's 2000 presidential race.

While Kerry is yet to respond, the move is almost certain to impact the 2008 election.

Additionally, Kerry has another $7 million "on hand in a legal and accounting compliance fund that he could use for legal expenses in a 2008 campaign."

Just a little a pocket change to the Two-Party System.

For the complete article, click here.

Click here to register to vote.

Where is America's Largest Voting Bloc?

"The Biggest Voter Turnout since '68."

Wow, less than 60 percent of eligible voters voted in the 2004 Presidential election!

So, less than 30 percent of eligible voters decided the President of the United States. If everybody who didn't vote, voted for the same Third Party Candidate, they would easily determine the President of the United States.

Yet, these people are basically ignored. If you are one of them, nobody cares about you. You mean nothing - at least to anybody elected to represent people in your area.

Perhaps you don't care, or don't think your vote will matter.

It can. If you don't vote for "them".

If you think all politicians are the same, vote against them.

Your vote really can mean something.

But, if you don't register to vote, it won't matter.

So, if you don't feel like a Republican, or a Democrat, be an Independent. You can still vote for a Republican or a Democrat.

More important you'll send a message to all politicians that your vote requires results, not experience, not image, not campaigning skill, and not money-raising skills - just results!

If politicians can't achieve results for the people, they can get a job working with the people, and give someone else a try. The norm should not be career politicians.

Click here to register to vote!

Does Your Vote Matter?

A new study recently revealed that college students don't believe their vote matters in the presidential election. Even worse the study found that, "only 19 percent of American college students believe that politics is "very relevant" to their lives, and 43 percent believe that politics has little or no relevance".

Actually, even worse, is the fact that these students are mostly correct. Political insiders will tell you, because of the Red/Blue zone, only about 2.5% of the electorate is going to decide the vote. Additionally, in the last election, over 98% of congressmen were re-elected, and sadly, the candidate who spends the most, wins, PERIOD.

Therefore, money controls not only the elections, but America. Yet, "we the people" do have recourse. We the people most revolt, and we must revolt by voting in numbers never before attained, and we must feel free to vote third party.

Freedom of choice is the greatest weapon against tyranny, yet we have almost no choice, and now Democrats want to "legally" prevent Ralph Nader from getting on the ballot. Is that democracy, or facism?

Just get out and vote, and if you don't feel like your vote will count, vote against the 2 party system. Your vote can matter. (Click here to Register to Vote.)