No longer is America The Beautiful as seen thru the eyes of the leaders of today's right wing conservative republican party. It started with the election of Ronald Reagan. Mr. Reagan preached that government was the problem. It was too big and too expensive Reagan said and when he left office he was the biggest spender of them all and the biggest deficit spender at that. The national debt increased 186% on his watch. Reagan's attack on the federal government was an attack on the American people, for without the people there would be no government. The baton was passed down that bread the leaders of the republican party that we know today.
Those leaders of the right wing conservative republican party today think of themselves as the elite and look down on everyone else, especially the middle class and those who are truly in need. They lack character, courage, American ideals and the basis integrity in dealing with those things that really matter and make a difference to our country and its people. They are shallow individuals who are indifferent to America and its people's needs. They prefer the wealthy, corporate America and their lobby. They openly lie to the people on matters of importance and engage in personal attacks because they have no record of accomplishments or progress they can talk about.
They can not compete with the voice of reason, it makes them feel inadequate,they talk tough but have no substance. They have never seen a record republican federal deficit they did not love or a national debt increase that bothered them in the least. The past republican administration is a great example.
Those party leaders of today put their anti American ideology before America, its needs and their candidates running for the republican Presidential nomination are running on an anti American platform. They would rather see the President and the country fail and have no real policy or program to keep America the Beautiful. They like to project themselves as "hawkish" but they are really "chicken" because they are not capable of debating the real issues. They hide behind the wedge issues of abortion, gay marriage, the separation of church and state. They have backed off "family values" since they have proved to be hypocrites on the subject matter.
Serving the general needs of the country and its people are not part of their being a public servant. To them America the Beautiful is no longer acceptable. They have substituted their anti American ideology for everything Beautiful America has always stood for. And that really says it all.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
The Republican Party's Presidential Candidates
Some of the names have changed, but not the anti American ideology they preach. The two debates and their campaign speeches are a sad rerun of their recycled rhetoric. They still offer no plans to the American voters and instead they keep up their personal attacks against President Obama. Their oratory is still abortion, big government, federal spending, who among them is the most conservative, tax cuts for the most wealthy, special interest groups and tax breaks for Corporate America.
Their rhetoric goes back to the Reagan years, but now it is more right wing, hypocritical, actual lies, a disdain for the American voter, a love of the special interest groups and down right anti American. They still evoke Reagan's disdain for big government even though Reagan was the biggest federal spender in history when he left office.
This bunch of republican candidates want to finish the job Reagan started and George W. Bush almost finished, that is bankrupt the federal government. That was obvious when the candidates were silent during their party's desire to shut the government down concerning the debt limit extension.
Their campaign is about the same old failed policies of their party. Lower taxes for corporate America, less regulation and make the middle class pay more. Trickle down economics is still their number one policy agenda that has failed dramatically. What could be more dramatic than the pitiful shape Bush and the republican party left the country in when he left office. Their ignorance on the economy, job creation and balancing the federal budget is played out in their past failures.
It would be a devastating blow if one of those candidates would actually be elected President. Yet, it could happen because President Obama has not shown consistent leadership or called the republicans out for what they are. That is a disappointment to all Americans but Obama is still the best candidate to lead our nation even with his short comings. When the election of 2012 rolls around, hopefully the American voters will have realized that the republican party they put in charge in the U.S. House and the republican party candidates are not fit to lead our country with their anti American ideology.
Their rhetoric goes back to the Reagan years, but now it is more right wing, hypocritical, actual lies, a disdain for the American voter, a love of the special interest groups and down right anti American. They still evoke Reagan's disdain for big government even though Reagan was the biggest federal spender in history when he left office.
This bunch of republican candidates want to finish the job Reagan started and George W. Bush almost finished, that is bankrupt the federal government. That was obvious when the candidates were silent during their party's desire to shut the government down concerning the debt limit extension.
Their campaign is about the same old failed policies of their party. Lower taxes for corporate America, less regulation and make the middle class pay more. Trickle down economics is still their number one policy agenda that has failed dramatically. What could be more dramatic than the pitiful shape Bush and the republican party left the country in when he left office. Their ignorance on the economy, job creation and balancing the federal budget is played out in their past failures.
It would be a devastating blow if one of those candidates would actually be elected President. Yet, it could happen because President Obama has not shown consistent leadership or called the republicans out for what they are. That is a disappointment to all Americans but Obama is still the best candidate to lead our nation even with his short comings. When the election of 2012 rolls around, hopefully the American voters will have realized that the republican party they put in charge in the U.S. House and the republican party candidates are not fit to lead our country with their anti American ideology.
Monday, August 15, 2011
The American Electorate: Out Of The Loop On Facts
The American voters ignored the facts concerning the economy, job creation and balancing the federal budget when they voted the republican party to once again lead the U.S. House that gave the country a split congress. The electorate easily forgot that it was the policies of a republican President and his party that gave the country an economic calamity with record job losses, a financial industry failure and who reversed President Clinton's balanced budgets in the very first fiscal year budget of George W. Bush. A disastrous turn around for the country and its people in such a short time.
Then came the mid term election in November that gave the republican party control of the U.S. House. The party that vowed not to work with the President received the backing of the electorate despite the past horrible performance of the republic party that should have been fresh in the voters mind. To make matters worse they elected the extreme element of the republic party, the tea party. The voters used excuses like, "send them a message" and other hype to justify their actions. And now eight months later the republicans in congress continue their opposition to the President's agenda that would move the country and its people forward.
The Obama administration bailed the economy out of the ditch, arrested the record job losses and once again created new jobs that put the GDP back in positive territory. The voters wanted a miracle however because they thought the recovery and job creation was too slow. They forgot about the past record of the republicans failure, the severity of the recession and the fact that it took almost 10 years for our country to recover from the great depression. The Bush and republican meltdown was more than just the average recession.
So the electorate forgot about the past in their eagerness for a miracle and launched by their vote the republican farce that played out in extending the debt ceiling. The republicans looking to hold on to everything responded by voting against everything that would move the country forward by using the false claim of having a mandate by the electorate. No such mandate actually exist and the country and the voters who wanted change now find the country in worse shape since the November elections.
The tactics being used by the republicans in the U.S. house to keep the economy crippled until the next Presidential election is anti-American. It is nothing new and the voters knew that when they went to the polls to vote. The republican party, especially the tea party are laughing out loud that they fooled the voters once again. The voters are also finding out that the tea party took little time to align themselves with corporate America and their lobby to grab a share of campaign contributions.
It was President Clinton who reversed 12 straight years of record deficit spending by the Reagan -Bush administrations, paid down debt, accumulated surpluses and put our house in fiscal order. The republicans are not about to let Obama do the same thing after the George W. Bush disaster. That is what is behind the republican party's anti-American ideology.
Total federal spending at the end of President Obama's first fiscal year budget was down 1.6% from the previous last fiscal year budget of George W. Bush. The first time total federal spending was down in over 50 years. But what the hell, what voter needed those facts. They would rather listen to the republican hype and out right falsehoods. Those voter can not now claim they did not know what would happen because the past record of the republican party tells the true story and speaks for itself.
Then came the mid term election in November that gave the republican party control of the U.S. House. The party that vowed not to work with the President received the backing of the electorate despite the past horrible performance of the republic party that should have been fresh in the voters mind. To make matters worse they elected the extreme element of the republic party, the tea party. The voters used excuses like, "send them a message" and other hype to justify their actions. And now eight months later the republicans in congress continue their opposition to the President's agenda that would move the country and its people forward.
The Obama administration bailed the economy out of the ditch, arrested the record job losses and once again created new jobs that put the GDP back in positive territory. The voters wanted a miracle however because they thought the recovery and job creation was too slow. They forgot about the past record of the republicans failure, the severity of the recession and the fact that it took almost 10 years for our country to recover from the great depression. The Bush and republican meltdown was more than just the average recession.
So the electorate forgot about the past in their eagerness for a miracle and launched by their vote the republican farce that played out in extending the debt ceiling. The republicans looking to hold on to everything responded by voting against everything that would move the country forward by using the false claim of having a mandate by the electorate. No such mandate actually exist and the country and the voters who wanted change now find the country in worse shape since the November elections.
The tactics being used by the republicans in the U.S. house to keep the economy crippled until the next Presidential election is anti-American. It is nothing new and the voters knew that when they went to the polls to vote. The republican party, especially the tea party are laughing out loud that they fooled the voters once again. The voters are also finding out that the tea party took little time to align themselves with corporate America and their lobby to grab a share of campaign contributions.
It was President Clinton who reversed 12 straight years of record deficit spending by the Reagan -Bush administrations, paid down debt, accumulated surpluses and put our house in fiscal order. The republicans are not about to let Obama do the same thing after the George W. Bush disaster. That is what is behind the republican party's anti-American ideology.
Total federal spending at the end of President Obama's first fiscal year budget was down 1.6% from the previous last fiscal year budget of George W. Bush. The first time total federal spending was down in over 50 years. But what the hell, what voter needed those facts. They would rather listen to the republican hype and out right falsehoods. Those voter can not now claim they did not know what would happen because the past record of the republican party tells the true story and speaks for itself.
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Debt Ceiling Special Committee
The President, the leaders of the U.S. Senate and House and members of congress approved of a special commission of 12 to implement the cut of approximately $1.4 trillion from the budget over the next decade. The committee will be appointed by the leaders of each party. This action once again proves that we have a congress that is void of leadership and a President that has not yet learned to lead.
Then to top it off the House has taken a 5 week vacation while the country still is in economic trouble and job creation has been forgotten. The republican party is again taking the lead in trying to prolong the economic problems they and the Bush administration created to sabotage the re election of President Obama.
Appointing committee's is nothing new for congress. It is a way to dodge their responsibilities and put the spot light on some one else. The special committee will be no different than others and corporate America's lobby will be on them like gravy on rice to protect their interest. It will be business as usual and the can will be kicked down the road once again. The republicans on the committee only responsibility is to make sure Obama, the American economy and job creation fail. They do not want to see another republican sponsored depression and recession turned around again on a democratic President's watch.
The news media is no help to the American people. They relish the fact that the congress is dysfunctional, it gives them a perpetual story to report on. They feed the dysfunction of congress by interviewing the same 12 or 15 members of congress over and over again and the people never hear from the hundred's of other members of congress who have something important to say.
The country was coming out of the economic chaos that was brought about by Bush and the republican's failed policies. And things have been getting worse since the republicans took control of the house. The best hope for America and its people is for Obama to start calling out the republican party for their unAmerican ideology and for the people to return both houses of congress to democratic control in the next election and give the democrats at least 60 votes in the senate to cut off debate so the democrats can enact a democratic agenda.
The proof is before our very eyes how the republican agenda has failed. Do the people need any more proof? It is noticeable that the republican party does not talk about the Bush administration and never mention the Clinton administration. There is a reason why, one was a great success, the other was a failure.
Then to top it off the House has taken a 5 week vacation while the country still is in economic trouble and job creation has been forgotten. The republican party is again taking the lead in trying to prolong the economic problems they and the Bush administration created to sabotage the re election of President Obama.
Appointing committee's is nothing new for congress. It is a way to dodge their responsibilities and put the spot light on some one else. The special committee will be no different than others and corporate America's lobby will be on them like gravy on rice to protect their interest. It will be business as usual and the can will be kicked down the road once again. The republicans on the committee only responsibility is to make sure Obama, the American economy and job creation fail. They do not want to see another republican sponsored depression and recession turned around again on a democratic President's watch.
The news media is no help to the American people. They relish the fact that the congress is dysfunctional, it gives them a perpetual story to report on. They feed the dysfunction of congress by interviewing the same 12 or 15 members of congress over and over again and the people never hear from the hundred's of other members of congress who have something important to say.
The country was coming out of the economic chaos that was brought about by Bush and the republican's failed policies. And things have been getting worse since the republicans took control of the house. The best hope for America and its people is for Obama to start calling out the republican party for their unAmerican ideology and for the people to return both houses of congress to democratic control in the next election and give the democrats at least 60 votes in the senate to cut off debate so the democrats can enact a democratic agenda.
The proof is before our very eyes how the republican agenda has failed. Do the people need any more proof? It is noticeable that the republican party does not talk about the Bush administration and never mention the Clinton administration. There is a reason why, one was a great success, the other was a failure.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Buddy Roemer: Republican Presidential Candidate
Former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer announced his candidancy to join the republican field for their party's nomination for President. In doing so Roemer made it clear that corporate America and their lobby are running things in Washington because of the wealth they pass around in campaign contributions. He also made it clear that is why the status quo in Washington exists.
In his announcement, Roemer showed how campaign finance reform can easily be done by refusing to accept campaign contributions from corporate America and their lobby. Roemer understands that he will probably not be able to compete with the rest of the field who will be more than willing to sell their soul. But the beauty of his decision is that it is the only true way of reform because there are no laws or court in our land who can force him to take campaign contributions or find it to be unconstitutional.
The other beauty part is that it does not cost the tax payers one cent or tie up time in congress passing empty campaign finance reform laws with all the loop holes elected officials love to do. The news media should give Roemer the same coverage they give to others but they won't because most of today's news media is owned by corporate America who support the status quo.
The country needs more candidates like Roemer who reject the buying of elected officials. If enough candidates would do that over a period of time it would catch on. The voting public should understand that to refuse campaign contributions is the only true and workable campaign finance reform that will work for the benefit of America and the people. Voter should express that in the voting booth.
This writer has written several commentaries concerning the subject matter. Maybe just one touched a cord with Mr. Roemer and started the ball rolling. Hopefully, real campaign finance reform the easy way will take hold and set an example of how this simple change will return government to the people and for the people. We already know the status quo of wealth for votes does not work. Understanding the past is still the key to the future. Are there any other candidates out there that have the character and courage? And that really says it all.
In his announcement, Roemer showed how campaign finance reform can easily be done by refusing to accept campaign contributions from corporate America and their lobby. Roemer understands that he will probably not be able to compete with the rest of the field who will be more than willing to sell their soul. But the beauty of his decision is that it is the only true way of reform because there are no laws or court in our land who can force him to take campaign contributions or find it to be unconstitutional.
The other beauty part is that it does not cost the tax payers one cent or tie up time in congress passing empty campaign finance reform laws with all the loop holes elected officials love to do. The news media should give Roemer the same coverage they give to others but they won't because most of today's news media is owned by corporate America who support the status quo.
The country needs more candidates like Roemer who reject the buying of elected officials. If enough candidates would do that over a period of time it would catch on. The voting public should understand that to refuse campaign contributions is the only true and workable campaign finance reform that will work for the benefit of America and the people. Voter should express that in the voting booth.
This writer has written several commentaries concerning the subject matter. Maybe just one touched a cord with Mr. Roemer and started the ball rolling. Hopefully, real campaign finance reform the easy way will take hold and set an example of how this simple change will return government to the people and for the people. We already know the status quo of wealth for votes does not work. Understanding the past is still the key to the future. Are there any other candidates out there that have the character and courage? And that really says it all.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Conservatism: The Ugly and UnAmerican Ideology, Chapter II
I wrote a commentary under the above title Jan 30, 2008. That is over 3 years ago and the republican party in congress and their leaders are showing how truly ugly and UnAmerican their ideology really is in the current debt ceiling debate. The party that is most responsible for the national debt being a problem wants the congress and the American people to follow their advise to finish the job they started to bankrupt the country.
The tea party is showing their hand in all of this with their extreme agenda but make no mistake, there is no difference between the tea party and the republican party. They are one and the same and that is why the republican party supported the tea party candidates with money in the last congressional election.
Voters who supported the republican party are receiving what they asked for. They should not be surprised by the damage being done to the country and have no right to be ignorant concerning the republican party's true ideology. I know many of them are complaining and saying that is not what they voted for but the republicans have a past history and the voters knew how conservatism as practiced by today's republicans is truly an ugly and unAmerican ideology. That says it all.
The tea party is showing their hand in all of this with their extreme agenda but make no mistake, there is no difference between the tea party and the republican party. They are one and the same and that is why the republican party supported the tea party candidates with money in the last congressional election.
Voters who supported the republican party are receiving what they asked for. They should not be surprised by the damage being done to the country and have no right to be ignorant concerning the republican party's true ideology. I know many of them are complaining and saying that is not what they voted for but the republicans have a past history and the voters knew how conservatism as practiced by today's republicans is truly an ugly and unAmerican ideology. That says it all.
Monday, August 1, 2011
A Failure In Leadership: Kicking The Can Farther Down The Road
The President and leadership of both parties in congress just kicked the debt limit can down the road again by an agreement on the debt ceiling that is in stages and does not address the problem. In fact it is an agreement that is open ended with no closure.
The President's lack of leadership and courage in dealing with the republican's anti American ideology is a preview of things to come for our nation and its people. The President caved on all the issues he said he supported, revenue enhancement, long term debt limit until after the election and not in stages, a fair and balanced approach and too many other issues he said he believed in.
President Obama and the leaders of congress showed their cowardice by their decision to appoint a super committee to do the work they themselves were elected to do. One can be sure the committee will fail and I will have a future commentary on that subject. Obama's decision to embrace this so called compromise and caving in to those who are responsible in the first place for the national debt to be a problem illustrates just how weak a leader he is. President's Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy would have called out the republicans for what they are, a bunch of hypocritical liers and fiscal thieves.
The President and the democratic party were on the right side of the issue when they opposed extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and on the right side of the issue concerning the debt ceiling with a balanced approach that would have increased revenue by canceling the tax loop holes and corporate welfare for Corporate America and could have made both cases if handled properly. The President's weakness, lack of leadership and courage on both issues is a prelude to what the average American is in store for.
President Obama has shed all the positive positions he took during the campaign and does not even have a message anymore that he is able to articulate. He talked about having lines in the sand he would never cross, but he let the republican's hot air move those lines back over and over again.
The President has failed his responsibility to the American people who elected him to lead instead of being led. The excuse that this is the best deal he could get indicates the President has been overwhelmed and does not understand what the Presidency is all about. Congress is beyond hope because they suck up to corporate America and the special interest lobby. The President does not have to put up with that and the constitution gives him the authority to look after the well being of the nation and its people. The President lacks those leadership qualities and the courage to step up to the plate and fulfill his constitutional responsibility and duties.
The President's lack of leadership and courage in dealing with the republican's anti American ideology is a preview of things to come for our nation and its people. The President caved on all the issues he said he supported, revenue enhancement, long term debt limit until after the election and not in stages, a fair and balanced approach and too many other issues he said he believed in.
President Obama and the leaders of congress showed their cowardice by their decision to appoint a super committee to do the work they themselves were elected to do. One can be sure the committee will fail and I will have a future commentary on that subject. Obama's decision to embrace this so called compromise and caving in to those who are responsible in the first place for the national debt to be a problem illustrates just how weak a leader he is. President's Roosevelt, Truman and Kennedy would have called out the republicans for what they are, a bunch of hypocritical liers and fiscal thieves.
The President and the democratic party were on the right side of the issue when they opposed extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and on the right side of the issue concerning the debt ceiling with a balanced approach that would have increased revenue by canceling the tax loop holes and corporate welfare for Corporate America and could have made both cases if handled properly. The President's weakness, lack of leadership and courage on both issues is a prelude to what the average American is in store for.
President Obama has shed all the positive positions he took during the campaign and does not even have a message anymore that he is able to articulate. He talked about having lines in the sand he would never cross, but he let the republican's hot air move those lines back over and over again.
The President has failed his responsibility to the American people who elected him to lead instead of being led. The excuse that this is the best deal he could get indicates the President has been overwhelmed and does not understand what the Presidency is all about. Congress is beyond hope because they suck up to corporate America and the special interest lobby. The President does not have to put up with that and the constitution gives him the authority to look after the well being of the nation and its people. The President lacks those leadership qualities and the courage to step up to the plate and fulfill his constitutional responsibility and duties.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Raising The National Debt Ceiling
President Obama did not handle the extension of the Bush tax cuts at the end of last year very well and is failing to handle the debt ceiling issue a lot worse. The President needs to start showing leadership and courage and stop pussy footing around with the leaders of the republican party and their anti-American ideology.
Obama should tell the leaders to go take a hike if they don't raise the ceiling in a clean bill with no attachments and that he will fulfill his constitutional duty as President and not let the country default on its debt obligations. The republicans are never going to work with the President for the benefit of the country and its people and it is time for him to get tough and carry out the responsibilities he owes to the American people. Obama was elected by the people of all America, members of congress were not and he should be pushing his democratic agenda instead of playing games with the little boy republicans.
The President should also be reminding the people every day that it was the republican administration of George W. Bush and his policies that created the national debt problem, the economic meltdown, the record number of job losses and economic problems for the middle class. He should also point out that no republican administration has presided over a balanced federal budget in over 50 years and that deficit spending is their method of operation.
The President should also be telling the republicans he is not about to listen to them concerning the economy, job creation or any thing to do with fiscal matters since the republicans have no positive record of accomplishments on any of those issues that are so important to the U.S. and its people. Obama needs to do those things immediately and often and stop letting the republicans control the dialog with their lies.
If the President is not up to the leadership challenge and take charge with courage it is this writers hope that some democrat with leadership and courage will run for the democratic nomination in the next election. President Obama is better than any republican candidate but he is not fulfilling his duty as a leader and that is what a President should do, lead.
Obama should tell the leaders to go take a hike if they don't raise the ceiling in a clean bill with no attachments and that he will fulfill his constitutional duty as President and not let the country default on its debt obligations. The republicans are never going to work with the President for the benefit of the country and its people and it is time for him to get tough and carry out the responsibilities he owes to the American people. Obama was elected by the people of all America, members of congress were not and he should be pushing his democratic agenda instead of playing games with the little boy republicans.
The President should also be reminding the people every day that it was the republican administration of George W. Bush and his policies that created the national debt problem, the economic meltdown, the record number of job losses and economic problems for the middle class. He should also point out that no republican administration has presided over a balanced federal budget in over 50 years and that deficit spending is their method of operation.
The President should also be telling the republicans he is not about to listen to them concerning the economy, job creation or any thing to do with fiscal matters since the republicans have no positive record of accomplishments on any of those issues that are so important to the U.S. and its people. Obama needs to do those things immediately and often and stop letting the republicans control the dialog with their lies.
If the President is not up to the leadership challenge and take charge with courage it is this writers hope that some democrat with leadership and courage will run for the democratic nomination in the next election. President Obama is better than any republican candidate but he is not fulfilling his duty as a leader and that is what a President should do, lead.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Drilling Offshore Louisiana In The Gulf Of Mexico: Facts And Nothing But The Facts
The American people and especially the people of Louisiana have been out right deceived and lied to concerning offshore drilling in the Gulf Of Mexico, the impact of rigs working or not working, the moratorium and the effects there of. This commentary will provide the true facts and show what President's policies were best for the nation, the people of Louisiana and yes the best for the oil industry.
The deceivers opposed the moratorium after the BP spill even though the explosion took the lives of 11 rig workers and no one seemed to have the answer as to what caused the explosion. President Obama made the right decision with the temporary moratorium. The opposition shoved safety aside and did a disservice to the families of the 11 workers who lost their lives and the workers themselves. The deceivers will herein after be addressed as the opposition.
The opposition kept talking about rigs moving out of the Gulf, being idle, rig workers in the thousands being laid off and making America more dependent on foreign oil all because of the moratorium. However, as Boone Pickens pointed out, the nation was more dependent on foreign oil before the BP explosion.
The record you are about to read concerning offshore drilling in the Gulf off Louisiana will not only tell the real story of the deception but point out how the largest exodus of rigs from Louisiana offshore in the Gulf happened on the republican watch of President George W. Bush along with the highest sustained price of a barrel of oil in the past 40 years.
The below annual yearly average of rigs working offshore Louisiana in the Gulf under the following administrations are:
1) The administration of President George H. W. Bush:
1989 72 Rigs working
1990 76 ditto
1991 57 ditto
1992 38 ditto
The annual average of rigs working under Bush's time in office 60.75
2) The administration of President Bill Clinton:
1993 60 Rigs working
1994 78 "
1995 82 "
1996 88 "
1997 102 "
1998 106 "
1999 88 "
2000 118 "
The annual average of rigs working under Clinton's time in office 90.25
3) The administration of President George W. Bush:
2001 119 Rigs working
2002 92 "
2003 85 "
2004 79 "
2005 79 "
2006 73 "
2007 61 "
2008 53 "
The annual average of rigs working under George W. Bush's time in office 80.12
Note 1: The above number taken from Baker-Hughes rig count annual average by states 1987-2010 and is the bible of rig activity used by the oil industry. The numbers do not represent the high or low for the year but the average.
One must note the offshore rig count declined 34 rigs on President George H.W. Bush's watch from his first year in office to his last. It increased by 58 rigs on President Clinton's watch and increased every year except one. The rig count not only declined on George W. Bush's watch by 66 rigs, it also declined every year except one. Does any one remember the opposition asking what happened to those rigs that caused the exodus on Bush's watch and where did they go.
The annual average price of a barrel of oil on George H.W. Bush's watch was $33.26. Under Bill Clinton's watch it was $24.78 and under George W. Bush's watch it was $51.34. In fact the highest sustained annual price of a barrel of oil on George W. Bush's watch was the highest in over 30 years and lasted 6 straight years.
Note 2: The above numbers on the annual price of a barrel of oil was taken from Historical Crude Oil Prices posted at inflationdata.com. It does not show the highest or lowest yearly price but the average.
The above numbers show that the Clinton Administration and its economic policies provided the oil industry with the best conditions to operate under and they responded with rig activity. Clinton's policies also provided the American people and the people of Louisiana the lowest sustained prices of a barrel of oil and there fore gasoline in the last 40 years. The record also is complete that Clinton raised the Corporate tax rate during his administration and increased taxes on those making over $200,000.00 a year and it had a positive effect onthe economy and did not hurt drilling one bit. The opposition has egg all over their faces.
There were good reasons for the moratorium on Gulf drilling after the BP spill that anyone with common sense can understand. What happened on George W. Bush's watch with the more than doubling the price of a barrel of oil and the exodus of rigs from the Gulf is called greed and one can be justified in concluding it was the result of the secret decisions made by the Bush administration and the energy industry executives. Why operate more rigs when the price of oil was doubled.
You could go back to the Reagan years and the results would be the same. The Clinton record would knock Reagan's socks off. So much for the fairy tale of republican conservatism.
Special Note: For related comparison of the above Presidents see my past commentaries on the Economy, Deficit Spending, the National Debt and Federal Spending.
The deceivers opposed the moratorium after the BP spill even though the explosion took the lives of 11 rig workers and no one seemed to have the answer as to what caused the explosion. President Obama made the right decision with the temporary moratorium. The opposition shoved safety aside and did a disservice to the families of the 11 workers who lost their lives and the workers themselves. The deceivers will herein after be addressed as the opposition.
The opposition kept talking about rigs moving out of the Gulf, being idle, rig workers in the thousands being laid off and making America more dependent on foreign oil all because of the moratorium. However, as Boone Pickens pointed out, the nation was more dependent on foreign oil before the BP explosion.
The record you are about to read concerning offshore drilling in the Gulf off Louisiana will not only tell the real story of the deception but point out how the largest exodus of rigs from Louisiana offshore in the Gulf happened on the republican watch of President George W. Bush along with the highest sustained price of a barrel of oil in the past 40 years.
The below annual yearly average of rigs working offshore Louisiana in the Gulf under the following administrations are:
1) The administration of President George H. W. Bush:
1989 72 Rigs working
1990 76 ditto
1991 57 ditto
1992 38 ditto
The annual average of rigs working under Bush's time in office 60.75
2) The administration of President Bill Clinton:
1993 60 Rigs working
1994 78 "
1995 82 "
1996 88 "
1997 102 "
1998 106 "
1999 88 "
2000 118 "
The annual average of rigs working under Clinton's time in office 90.25
3) The administration of President George W. Bush:
2001 119 Rigs working
2002 92 "
2003 85 "
2004 79 "
2005 79 "
2006 73 "
2007 61 "
2008 53 "
The annual average of rigs working under George W. Bush's time in office 80.12
Note 1: The above number taken from Baker-Hughes rig count annual average by states 1987-2010 and is the bible of rig activity used by the oil industry. The numbers do not represent the high or low for the year but the average.
One must note the offshore rig count declined 34 rigs on President George H.W. Bush's watch from his first year in office to his last. It increased by 58 rigs on President Clinton's watch and increased every year except one. The rig count not only declined on George W. Bush's watch by 66 rigs, it also declined every year except one. Does any one remember the opposition asking what happened to those rigs that caused the exodus on Bush's watch and where did they go.
The annual average price of a barrel of oil on George H.W. Bush's watch was $33.26. Under Bill Clinton's watch it was $24.78 and under George W. Bush's watch it was $51.34. In fact the highest sustained annual price of a barrel of oil on George W. Bush's watch was the highest in over 30 years and lasted 6 straight years.
Note 2: The above numbers on the annual price of a barrel of oil was taken from Historical Crude Oil Prices posted at inflationdata.com. It does not show the highest or lowest yearly price but the average.
The above numbers show that the Clinton Administration and its economic policies provided the oil industry with the best conditions to operate under and they responded with rig activity. Clinton's policies also provided the American people and the people of Louisiana the lowest sustained prices of a barrel of oil and there fore gasoline in the last 40 years. The record also is complete that Clinton raised the Corporate tax rate during his administration and increased taxes on those making over $200,000.00 a year and it had a positive effect onthe economy and did not hurt drilling one bit. The opposition has egg all over their faces.
There were good reasons for the moratorium on Gulf drilling after the BP spill that anyone with common sense can understand. What happened on George W. Bush's watch with the more than doubling the price of a barrel of oil and the exodus of rigs from the Gulf is called greed and one can be justified in concluding it was the result of the secret decisions made by the Bush administration and the energy industry executives. Why operate more rigs when the price of oil was doubled.
You could go back to the Reagan years and the results would be the same. The Clinton record would knock Reagan's socks off. So much for the fairy tale of republican conservatism.
Special Note: For related comparison of the above Presidents see my past commentaries on the Economy, Deficit Spending, the National Debt and Federal Spending.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Louisiana's Ecosystem Restoration And Its Little Children Elected Officials
President Obama's request for $35.8 million for ecosystem restoration in Louisiana that was part of his $30.6 billion water and energy bill was defeated by the republican controlled U.S. House on July 16. Instead of the $35.8 million, Louisiana will receive $1 million. Lets see, the last time I checked all of Louisiana's representatives in the U.S. House are republicans, except one. They really have clout with their party don't they.
Louisiana's elected officials who represent the state on both the state level and in the congress are out to lunch when it comes to taking care of the state's ecosystem. Little boy Scalise on the floor of the U.S. House held up a football and told his republican friends and said, I want to hold up this football to present that every single hour Louisiana alone loses an entire football field of land that's eroded away. That according to a Times Picayune article dated 7/16. What Scalise did not mention is that erosion is mainly caused by the oil industry operations in Louisiana.
Little boy Scalise, his party and Louisiana's elected officials are beholden to the oil industry and there in lie the root cause of the problem concerning the state's ecosystem. Scalise and his party want to cut everything coming out of the Obama administration so the party told him to go jump in the lake because you are one of us and gave Louisiana $1 million instead of the $35.8 million requested by Obama. The President has a better feel for Louisiana's needs than Scalise and his party.
The big failure to address the state's ecosystem restoration over the last 40 plus years is the oil industry operations, their failure to put the land back together like they found it and the state's elected officials who have failed to pass legislation to hold the oil industry responsible for their damage to the environment. Former governor David Treen had the answer in CWEL, but the state's law makers never had the character or courage to pass such legislation. They were always to busy doing the oil industry's bidding. Little boy Scalise could have introduced CWEL when he served in the state's legislature but he was to busy defending big oil. Scalise missed a chance to hold up that football before the Louisiana legislature when he was a member of that body and give that speech to them. But the little boy had no courage.
Now we see elected officials want most of the fines to be leveled on BP for the spill to be dedicated to Louisiana's ecosystem restoration. BP should be held responsible for the damage they caused but Louisiana should hold the oil industry responsible for the damage they caused for the last 40 plus years.
This is a major example how the oil industry and their lobby control our elected officials with campaign contributions. The other is the massive tax breaks doled out, once again by you know who, our elected officials. Has any one heard of a tax loop hole for the middle class, the forgotten few who are left out.
Louisiana's elected officials who represent the state on both the state level and in the congress are out to lunch when it comes to taking care of the state's ecosystem. Little boy Scalise on the floor of the U.S. House held up a football and told his republican friends and said, I want to hold up this football to present that every single hour Louisiana alone loses an entire football field of land that's eroded away. That according to a Times Picayune article dated 7/16. What Scalise did not mention is that erosion is mainly caused by the oil industry operations in Louisiana.
Little boy Scalise, his party and Louisiana's elected officials are beholden to the oil industry and there in lie the root cause of the problem concerning the state's ecosystem. Scalise and his party want to cut everything coming out of the Obama administration so the party told him to go jump in the lake because you are one of us and gave Louisiana $1 million instead of the $35.8 million requested by Obama. The President has a better feel for Louisiana's needs than Scalise and his party.
The big failure to address the state's ecosystem restoration over the last 40 plus years is the oil industry operations, their failure to put the land back together like they found it and the state's elected officials who have failed to pass legislation to hold the oil industry responsible for their damage to the environment. Former governor David Treen had the answer in CWEL, but the state's law makers never had the character or courage to pass such legislation. They were always to busy doing the oil industry's bidding. Little boy Scalise could have introduced CWEL when he served in the state's legislature but he was to busy defending big oil. Scalise missed a chance to hold up that football before the Louisiana legislature when he was a member of that body and give that speech to them. But the little boy had no courage.
Now we see elected officials want most of the fines to be leveled on BP for the spill to be dedicated to Louisiana's ecosystem restoration. BP should be held responsible for the damage they caused but Louisiana should hold the oil industry responsible for the damage they caused for the last 40 plus years.
This is a major example how the oil industry and their lobby control our elected officials with campaign contributions. The other is the massive tax breaks doled out, once again by you know who, our elected officials. Has any one heard of a tax loop hole for the middle class, the forgotten few who are left out.
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