Money, Money, Money

Did you see the 2007 oil company revenue reports that just came out (I barely found it as our Charlotte Observer hid it on page 3 of the Money section preferring to give preferential coverage to breaking language barriers). Exxon Mobil "earned" $40.6 BILLION in Profits for 2007 (of which they "earned" over $11 Billion in the last 3 months of 2007 alone), Chevron "earned" $18.7 BILLION in profits for 2007, and Shell "earned" $27.5 BILLION in profits (a new record for a British company profits in 1 year). I use the term "earned" because we all know they stole and cheated the consumer out of every penny of that. Exxon broke the record for earnings by 1 company in a year in the U.S. by breaking their own 2006 record of $39.5 BILLION in profits. How much profit does a company need to make? Senator Charles Schumer (D-NY & a member of the Senate Finance Committtee) urged Congress to repeal tax breaks for the oil industry. What good will that do? They will just pass it on to consumers. what Congress needs to do is put a price cap on gas prices (I suggest $2.00/gallon which will still give them a huge profit margin). Congress regulates phone companies, electrial companies & natural gas companies, why not the oil indusrty? THis would be the biggest stimulus to the economy and set the U.S. back on the path to economic recovery, growth, and power among the nations of the world.

Charlotte Makes It Big

Charlotte finally made the big time. We are #9 on a Forbes list! That's right. Charlotte is the place to be if you like...to be miserable! Charlotte is ranked 9th worst in misery in U.S. out of 150 metro areas. We are below Detroit, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago and L.A., but we are above Atlanta, Cleveland, Baltimore, Boston, New Orleans, and any city you pick from New Jersey! It was based on Commute times, Weather, Unemployment, Superfund sites, Income tax rates, and Violent criume. Of course Charlotte disputes the violent crime rate used. Forbes took the figure from the FBI files' 2005 data where Charlotte has 838 violent crimes per 100,00 people and that that figure included the entire metro area-Anson County, Cabarrus County, Gaston County, Union County as well as Mecklenburg County. The leaders said that they should have used the figures from 2007 (which are not out from the FBI) which the Charlotte police department released last week showing a rate of 960 violent crimes per 100,000 people! Does that mean we would jump into the top 5? Is this the recognition as a "World Class City" that Charlotte is looking for?
Look at the income tax rates for Charlotte as well. The average per pays $2409 in local government taxes each year-the most of any city in the state, and yet we have the worst roads, leadership, school system (it has been ordered by the court system to provide better education for the children), and sprawl. We certainly get our money's worth.
Superfund sites include 8 of the 30 statewide sites, but the EPA has listed all but one of those as "under control." Makes me feel better and I can sleep like a baby knowing that EPA is on the job. I remeber when I lived in Raleigh that the EPA had abandon its office in the Research Triangle Park due to asbestos in the construction.
Congratulations Charlotte, you finally made the big time, and I am sure the way our leaders are taking us, we will easily be number 1 before the decade is over!

Song Sung Blue

My boredom has reached its apex and I have now started compiling a list of theme songs for the candiates (and other people of non-importance). Here it is:

"W": "I've Got A Tiger By The Tail"-Buck Ownes & The Buckaroos
"Eve Of Destruction"-Barry McGuire
"The Fool"-Sanford Clark
"Yakkety Yak"-Coasters
"I Really Don't Want To Know"-Ronnie Dove
"Puppet Man"-5th Dimension
"Tell Me A Lie"-Sami Jo
"Paying The Cost To Be The Boss"-B.B. King
"Greenback Dollar"-Kingston Trio
"Lies"-Knickerbockers (also for Bill)
"Somebody's Watching You"-Little Sister
"Wasn't That A Party"-Irish Rovers

Cheney: "Light My Fire" The Doors
"I Shot The Sheriff"-Eric Clapton
"Spooky"-Classics IV
"Wooden Heart"-Joe Dowell
"Armed And Extremely Dangerous"-First Choice
"Big Shot"-Billy Joel
"Shoot'em Up Baby"-Andy Kim
"Fire, Baby I'm On Fire"-Andy Kim
"Money"-Kingsmen
"Confidential"-Sonny Knight

Bill: "The Other Woman"-Ray Parker, Jr
"My Ding-A-Ling"-Chuck Berry
"Seven Little Girls Sitting In The Back Seat"-Paul Evans
"Sometimes A Fantasy"-Billy Joel
"Wives And Lovers"-Jack Jones
"The Cheater"-Bob Kuban & The In-Men

Hillary: "Crying"-Don McLean
"She's A Bad Mama Jama"-Carl Carlton
"It's a Man's Man's Man's World"-James Brown
"Girls Can Get it"-Dr.Hook
"Witchy Woman"-Eagles
"I Will Survive"-Gloria Gaynor
"The Bitch Is Back"-Elton John
"Walk Like A Man"-Grand Funk Railroad
"Maneater"-Daryl Hall & John Oates
"I'm Every Woman"-Chaka Khan
"Why Me"-Kris Kristofferson

Obama: "Black & White"-Three Dog Night
"Cool Jerk"-Capitols
"Jive Talkin'"-Bee Gees
"Wasted On The Way"-Crosby, Stills & Nash
"That Old Black Magic"-Sammy Davis Jr
"It's All In The Game"-Tommy Edwards
"String Along"-Fabian
"Stoned Soul Picnic"-5th Dimension
"The House That Jack Built"-Aretha Franklin
"Once Upon A Time"-Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
"Rock The Boat"-Hues Corporation
"Mecca"-Gene Pitney

Edwards: "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road"-Elton John
"Goodbye Cruel World"-James Darren
"Jeans On"-David Dundas
"Where Were You When I Needed You"-Grass Roots
"When Will I Be Loved"-Linda Ronstadt
"The End Of Our Road"-Gladys Knight & The Pips
"Another One Bites The Dust"-Queen

McCain: "Rubberband Man"-Spinners
"No More Mr. Nice Guy"-Alice Cooper
"Still In Saigon"-Charlie Daniels Band
"Mack The Knife"-Bobby Darin
"Can I Change My Mind"-Tyrone Davis
"Double Vision"-Foreigner
"Nobody But Me"-Human Beinz
"Sad Eyes"-Robert John
"Spanish Harlem"-Ben E. King

Romney: "(We're All) Clones"-Alice Cooper
"I Got A Name"-Jim Croce
"I'm A Man"-Spencer Davis Group
"Knockin' On Heavens Door"-Bob Dylan
"A Walkin' Miracle"-Essex
"Wisdom Of A Fool"-Five Keys
"Mockingbird"-Inez Foxx
"Man On The Corner"-Genesis
"Amen"-Impressions
"Call Me Mr. In-Between"-Burl Ives
"Monkey Time"-Major Lance
"Charade"-Sammy Kaye & His Orchestra
"The Way We Were/Try To Remember-Gladys Knight & The Pips
"Please Come To Boston"-Dave Loggins

Huckabee: "Guitar Man"-Elvis Presley
"Mississippi Squirrel Revival"-Ray Stevens
"Never On Sunday"-Don Costa & his Orchestra
"Mr. Bass Man"-Johhny Cymbal
"No Sugar Tonight"-Guess Who (he's diabetic)
"The Joker"-Hilltoppers
"Rave On"-Buddy Holly
"Never Can Say Goodbye"-Jackson 5
"Ego"-Elton John
"Carry On Wayward Son"-Kansas
"Reverend Mr. Black"-Kingston Trio
"Why Not Me"-Fred Knoblock

Ron Paul: "Who Am I"-Petula Clark
"Ain't Too Proud To Beg": Temptations
"Uneasy Rider"-Charlie Daniels Band
"Does Anybody Know I'm Here"-Dells
"Goin' Down"-Greg Guidry
"See You Later Alligator"-Bill Haley & His Comets
"Want Ads"-Honey Cone
"The Impossible Dream"-Jack Jones

Paul & Huckabee: "Neither One oF Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)"-
-Gladys Knight & The Pips

Giuliani: "D.O.A."-Bloodrock
"Runaway"-Del Shannon
"Mama Told Me Not To Come"-Three Dog Night
"The Boy From New York City"-Ad Libs
"Drift Away"-Dobie Gray
"Those Were The Days"-Mary Hopkin

The Republicans: "The Boys Are Back In Town"- Thin Lizzy
"Exodus"-Ferrante & Teicher
"The Power Of Gold"-Dan Fogelberg
"Going In Circles"-Friends Of Distinction
"Have I The Right?"-Honeycombs
"Good Ol' Boys"-Waylon Jennings
"Honky Cat"-Elton John

The Democrats: "Kung Fu Fighting"-Carl Douglas

All The Candidates: "I Want You To Want Me"-Cheap Trick
"Send In The Clowns"-Judy Collins
"What A Fool Believes"-Doobie Brothers

The U.S.: "Rescue Me"-Fontana Bass
"I Can't Stand It"- Eric Clapton
"The End Of The World"-Skeeter Davis
"It's The Same Old Song"-Four Tops
"How Do I Survive"-Amy Holland
"Stop Stop Stop"-Hollies
"Don't Leave Me This Way"-Thelma Houston

Democrats vs Republicans: "Super Fly Meets Shaft"-John & Ernest

Other songs to be placed where you think is best:
"The Jerk"-Larks
"The Matador"-Major Lance
"Who'll Be The Fool Tonight"-Larsen-Feiten Band
"Trampled Under Foot"-Led Zeppelin
"Sweet Nothin's"-Brenda Lee
"You Can Depend On Me"-Brenda Lee
"The Duck"-Jackie Lee
"Is That All There Is"-Peggy Lee
"Give Peace A Chance"-John Lennon
"Free"-Tommy Leonetti
"One Track Mind"-Bobby Lewis
"Run For Home"-Lindisfarne
"Rip It Up"-Little Richard
"Lonesome Loser"-Little River Band
"Cool Change"-Little River Band
"Standing At The End Of The Line"-Lobo
"Turn Me Loose"-Loverboy
"Cruel To Be Kind"-Nick Lowe
"Best Of Both Worlds"-Lulu
"Got To Be Real"-Cheryl Lynn
"Torn Between Two Lovers"-Mary MacGregor
"Shame Shame"-Magic Lanterns
"Everybody Plays The Fool"-Main Ingredient
"Just Too Many People"-Melissa Manchester
"Blinded By The Light"-Manfred Mann's Earth Band
"Twilight Zone"-Manhattan Transfer
"It's A Miracle"-Barry Manilow
"Superman"-Herbie Mann
"I Will Follow Him"-Little Peggy March
"Nowhere To Run"-Martha & The Vandellas
"Living A Lie"-Al Martino
"Bring The Boys Home"-Freda Payne
"The Great Pretender"-Platters

That's enough for today. I'm sure I will expand on this later as the drudgery of evil and lies drags on and is finally narrowed down to one "elitist" from each party. For now,

"Keep it real and keep them real"

Who's out?

Rudy Giuliani is expected to drop out today (like he was in it to begin with) after bypassing the other primaries to put all of his eggs in 1 basket in Florida. John Edwards is also expected to drop out today. Rudy's disappearance won't be noticed by anyone, but Edwards should affect the Democratic Primaries for Super Tuesday even if he does not throw his support behind Clinton or Obama. If nothing else, it should not split the white vote which some have been saying has been happening. If Hillary now gets his white voters, will that be enough to gain the nomination? Time will tell. Now we can have some good knock-down drag-out sparring between Hill & Obi without some adult sanity from Edwards mixed in. Let 'em at each other and see what happens. Meanwhile Mickey (McClain) is picking up steam and may win the Republican nomination. All this talk about his age is way overblown as people are living longer and Social Security keeps upping the age limit (I cannot receive full benefits until 70 now), so why would anyone think at 71 he would be useless. He looks better than "W" who's alot younger. We will now wait and see what transpires on Tuesday and may the least evil of the candidates win!

Obama=JFK

Did anybody catch the interview with Obama on NBC after the President's State of the Union address? After talking about how pleased he was with the endorcement by Caroline Kennedy & Sen. Ted Kennedy, he went on to compare himself to John F. Kennedy! With good reason? Caroline Kennedy said he "offers that same sense of hope and inspiration" that her father did. Ted Kennedy had this to say: "There was another time, when another young candidate was running for president and challenging America to cross a new frontier. He faced criticism from the preceding Democratic president, who was widely respected in the party (referring to Harry S. Truman).
"And John Kennedy replied, 'The world is changing. The old ways will not do. ... It is time for a new generation of leadership. So it is with Barack Obama."
With these accolades being heaped on him, no wonder he thinks he's the second coming of JFK, but lets compare the men:

JFK: (Taken from the Congressional Quarterly of 1960) Voted for Social Security benefits, education, urban renewal, and civil rights. In addition he voted for a $6 billion tax cut, for reducung taxes on small corporations and increasing taxes on large corporations, for increasing the personal tax exemption, and for across the board cut in Federal spending.

Obama: (Taken from the Congressional voting record): No vote (did note vote yes or no!) on abortion issues, education loans, farm subsidies, child health insurance, on implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 commission, on Guantanamo Bay detainees, offshore drilling in Virgina, Energy Act of 2007 (bill that calls for increasing fuel efficiency and an increase in the production of renewable fuels), Attorney General, and a No Vote on the Iraq Withdrawal Ammendment on 12/18/2007-a bill in which he is listed as a Co-Sponsor! He also did not vote on an immigration bill that would appropriate $3.00 billion to be used to hire full-time border patrol agents, improve employment eligibility verification, and fund security measures along the U.S. and Mexican border that include building a fence, establishing vehicle barriers, utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles, placing ground-based sensors and cameras, and removing and detaining undocumented immigrants. He did vote for such tough legislation as child safety locks on handguns, but he also voted for reducing the Medicaid deduction for generic drugs from 17% back to 11%. He did vote No on declaring English the national language as well as banning illegal immigrants convicted of aggravated felonies, domestic violence, stalking, violation of protection orders, crimes against children, or crimes relating to the illegal purchase or sale of firearms, from gaining legal status (which means he wants to allow these people to become permanent residents here).

Here is a good one:

Voted NO on 12/16/2005 on the USA Patriot and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization which was to invoke cloture on a conference report that extends the authority of the Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) to conduct “roving wiretaps” and access certain business records through December 31, 2009, and makes the remaining provisions of the Patriot Act permanent.
Then he voted YES on 03/02/2006 on the USA Patriot and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization which was to adopt a conference report that extends the authority of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to conduct “roving wiretaps” and access certain business records through December 31, 2009, and makes the remaining 14 provisions of the Patriot Act permanent.

John Kennedy was willing to make a stand especially on controversial issues such as civil rights. He stated , "I believe that a minimum program must include at least: 1. The enactment of the Part III provisions eliminated from the Civil Rights Act of 1957 which give the Attorney General the right to initiate and intervene in litigation of this nature. 2. Full use of the President's power to issue executive orders stating the constitutional objective of equal opportunity and directing all federal agencies to shape their policies and practices to achieve this goal. 3. Enactment of a bill ... to outlaw the bombing of homes, churches, synagogues and community centers and to bring the FBI into the picture when such bombing occurs. 4. Absolute protection of the right to vote ... by federal registrars or by referees, or by a combination of both ... also ... the maintenance of voting records and the right to inspect those records."( March 28, 1960)

He also stated that The Republicans "talk about their prosperity, but it is a prosperity for some, not for all. And it is an abundance of goods, not of courage. We have the most gadgets and the most gimmicks in our history, the biggest TVs and tailfins, but we also have the worst slums, the most crowded schools, and the greatest erosion of our natural resources and our national will. It will be for some an age of material prosperity, but it is also an age of spiritual poverty." March 28, 1960. This applies to us today.

If Obama's new generation of leadership includes sitting idly by while others take on the challenges of the U.S. and the world, then he is not man I want for President. He is trying to have his words speak louder than his actions and unfortunately that is what most people believe.

So to Sen. Obama I reaffirm the great words of the late Senator Lloyd Bentsen, "Senator, you are no Jack Kennedy."

Be On Time!

Don't you hate when you go to a movie or a show that is supposed to start at a certain time, and you get there early and ths show starts and you're starting to get into when other people arrive late and either obstruct your view or distract you with their sounds? I do! Everyone knows what time a show starts. Is it too much to ask that you get there on time or if you are late that you be considerate of others? Must be! Consideration for others has gone down the sh-----! This day, everyone is looking out for themselves and to hell with others! Parents don't have manners much less teach them to their children. Kids are so busy interacting with their iPods, iPhones, texting, computers, and other electronic gizmos that they don't know how to interact with real people. What we need is for a giant solar flare to come down & knock out all the world's electronics so that people with have to interact with each other on a face-to-face personal basis. Maybe then we can get back to manners and respect for others. Then again, maybe not...