Betzee said...

Betzee at 01:03 PM JST - 24th June

Charlie Black, an adviser already in the spotlight for his past lobbying work, is quoted in the upcoming July 7 edition of Fortune magazine as saying such an attack “certainly would be a big advantage to him.” Black said Monday he regretted the comment.

Great...so he's hoping for more death…

Posted in McCain disavows aide's comment about terrorism at 01:03 PM JST - 24th June
Betzee at 11:55 AM JST - 24th June

You're not suggesting that the RNC would actually consider mounting a terrorist attack on the US, are you?

No! No! No! But I'm certain they've discussed how a sudden attack would impact the election and how they would spin it to their advantage. Ditto for the Obama campaign. Nobody wants…

Posted in McCain disavows aide's comment about terrorism at 11:55 AM JST - 24th June
Betzee at 11:45 AM JST - 24th June

After doing a little research I realized I was wrong in assuming the 1981 ban on off-shore drilling was in response to an oil spill off Santa Barbara at that time. In fact that oil spill occurred in 1969, at a station 6 miles off the coast, and galvanized the…

Posted in Obama details plan to tax excess oil company profits at 11:45 AM JST - 24th June
Betzee at 11:21 AM JST - 24th June

Taka,

I guess Charlie Black never did a stint in the Navy or he would know, "Loose lips sink ships!"

Posted in McCain disavows aide's comment about terrorism at 11:21 AM JST - 24th June
Betzee at 11:17 AM JST - 24th June

Strategists do put everything on the table--behind closed doors. But to say this publicly makes it hard to convince the electorate politicians are anything other than cynical manipulators whose primary concern is gaining/retaining power, not their country's welfare.

Posted in McCain disavows aide's comment about terrorism at 11:17 AM JST - 24th June
Betzee at 04:09 AM JST - 24th June

By the way, what other country if they knew they had oil reserves would prevent people from drilling, certainly not the Saudi's, the Chinese.

But neither is a democracy which allows citizen and interest group participation in policy-making. Although very different systems, both are riddled with corruption which is a…

Posted in Obama details plan to tax excess oil company profits at 04:09 AM JST - 24th June
Betzee at 10:30 PM JST - 23rd June

The platforms were never removed; they are visible to the naked eye of anyone who drives on the 101.

They may not be the actual platforms but something similar used to secure the hole cap. Nonetheless, the evidence of the drilling which occurred almost three decades ago is a permanent…

Posted in Bush says Democrats keep blocking his energy plans at 10:30 PM JST - 23rd June
Betzee at 10:08 PM JST - 23rd June

As for me, no bailouts for any oil companies whose profits dip unless their CEO's take a pay cut to $100,000 a year. I'm not a big fan of corporate bail-outs when the CEO's are still making millions of dollars a year.

The other day I was reading an article…

Posted in Obama details plan to tax excess oil company profits at 10:08 PM JST - 23rd June
Betzee at 12:47 PM JST - 23rd June

The ban on offshore drilling was originally implemented back in 1981 after a spill off scenic Santa Barbara. The platforms were never removed; they are visible to the naked eye of anyone who drives on the 101. Obviously, it was quite close to shore.

How much oil is where and…

Posted in Bush says Democrats keep blocking his energy plans at 12:47 PM JST - 23rd June
Betzee at 12:09 PM JST - 23rd June

Taka,

The subsidies come in the form of tax-write offs. This is how Arbusto managed to stay in business despite never hitting oil; the investors took advantage of the IRS tax-code provision which allowed them to deduct up to 75 percent of their losses.

In short, slashing subsidies would involve…

Posted in Obama details plan to tax excess oil company profits at 12:09 PM JST - 23rd June