Telling Stories

"Hit Head Here"

That's how I felt after reading through this entry at The Albany Project, a liberal/progressive blog about New York State politics with a focus on Upstate NY issues.

They had a Q-and-A session with Tracey Brooks, one of the Democratic congressional candidates for NY-21.

As a caveat, I must say a few things: first, I don't live in the district; second, I don't favor or support any Democratic candidate; third, what I've heard and read about Ms. Brooks is very positive and encouraging.

All that aside, I had to cringe when I read this - and I'm not blaming Ms. Brooks since it could have been TAP's staff who got it wrong.

For some background, here are a few of Brooks' stances that she expressed to me in my interview with her . . .

On gas prices . . .

- Investment money into alternative energy;
- Increase miles per gallon standards;
- Higher CAFE standards;
- End unnecessary price gouging . . .
- Invest more in renewable energy businesses

Emphasis added.  Higher Corporate Average Fuel Economy, or CAFE, standards are based in part on miles-per-gallon.  So, listing it twice is redundant unless you clarify - if that is indeed the intent - that you want higher mpgs for all vehicles, not just those subject to CAFE standards or that you believe that CAFE credits should be eliminated.  Look here for more info on CAFE standards.  Since she didn't explicitly talk on this issue, I can't tell what she wants to do.

And that is never a good thing for a politician.

Then there is the "investment money into alternative energy/invest more in renewable energy businesses."  Isn't the former a subset of the latter?

But the one that really annoyed me was "end unnecessary price gouging."

Can anybody tell me if there is any form of necessary price gouging?  I didn't think so.  Besides, there is no proof anywhere that price gouging is taking place in the oil and gasoline markets.  Are the oil companies raking in huge profits?  Yes.  Are these profits the result of sky-high oil prices?  Yes.  Is there any evidence that the oil companies are manipulating the global oil market? No.  Are prices being manipulated at the local level?  That's unclear.  But, at worse, we're talking about a couple of pennies either way.

I'm disappointed because when a candidate lays out her platform, the last thing she needs in an obvious "ooops" moment a la Jeannie Pirro running for the U.S. Senate.

Laying out issues in this manner only leaves the perception that Ms. Brooks really lacks in-depth knowledge of these issues.

And that's never a good thing for a politician.

I Guess McCain Must Change His Tune Now

From the Atlanta Journal Constitution on July 7:

McCain and his top foreign policy advisers, including Sen. Joseph Lieberman, have stressed the military approach to Iran and condemned attempts at dialogue advocated by Obama.

From the New York Times on July 15, 2008:

We cannot tolerate nuclear weapons in the hands of nations that support terror. Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is a vital national security interest of the United States. No tool of statecraft should be taken off the table, but Senator McCain would continue a failed policy that has seen Iran strengthen its position, advance its nuclear program, and stockpile 150 kilos of low enriched uranium. I will use all elements of American power to pressure the Iranian regime, starting with aggressive, principled and direct diplomacy – diplomacy backed with strong sanctions and without preconditions.

From Reuters wire services today:

With just six months left in office, the Bush administration has done an about-face in joining talks with Tehran over its nuclear program, a move analysts say is driven partly by a desire to avoid war with Iran.

When your President's administration is starting to pursue an approach closer to your opponent's, you know you just can't buy a break!!

Further Proof That Bad Ideas Never Get in the Way of Politics

After a well-deserved summer break (because if I'm the one taking the break it's always well-deserved) I'm back!

President George W. Bush planned to lift a ban on oil exploration in the Outer Continental Shelf on Monday as part of an effort to ease record high oil prices, the White House said.

"States are going to be able to make decisions for themselves as to whether or not they want to do more offshore oil exploration off their shores, and how far out that would be, and what the revenue sharing would be when it comes to that," Perino said.

I've written before why this is a bad idea:

[a] 2007 Department of Energy study found that access to coastal energy deposits would not add to domestic crude oil and natural gas production before 2030 and that the impact on prices would be “insignificant.”

We have to wonder whether this is the best possible expenditure of time and effort.  Do we really want to risk the environmental harm associated with offshore drilling for relief that won't come for more than two decades down the road?  We can accomplish so many other things in terms of developing alternative energy sources between now and then.  We can do more to reduce our dependency on oil - foreign or domestic - if we raise the CAFE standards and we continue to provide tax incentives for hybrid and other similar vehicles.

I won't go into greater detail because it's pretty self-explanatory: this won't help us today, it won't help us any time soon, and it will help us very little when it finally happens.

Those are the facts.

The politics of it, however are pretty different though.  Right now, Arbusto looks like he's doing something "for the little guy."  In politics, the appearance of action is sometimes more important than actually accomplishing something, so he's got some brownie points coming to him.

How does this help McCain?  Well, if the Democrats in Congress don't lift the ban - and judging by the way they promptly rolled over on FISA, that's a big if - the Democrats are the bad guys who stand in the way of helping Americans reclaim their G-d-given right to cheap oil.

What should the Democrats do?

The Democrats should lift the ban.

There, I said it.

After all, two can play that political game.  If the Democrats agree to lift the ban, they should do so as a "triple dog dare ya" to Bush and the Republicans.  By doing that, the Democrats can first, point to the still-rising or not-dropping oil prices through the rest of the summer and fall and, second, can put on the defensive all the governors on those states where offshore drilling could take place, like Arnold in California, Crist in Florida, and Jindal in Louisiana.  Lets see what decision they make if it's up to them to open up their waters to offshore drilling.

It could be the gift-that-keeps-on-giving for the Democrats.  They get to prove their point, they get to hammer away at McCain and the Republicans on that issue, and they put a lot of Republican Governors on the spot.

Instructions for Giving Your Cat a Pill . . . or Not

Since I became a cat owner - or, more appropriately, owned by a cat - I am getting all the guidance and information I can get on cat topics.  This is pretty handy.

How to Give Your Cat a Pill (...or NOT!)

1) Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2) Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa.  Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3) Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4) Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right fore-finger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5) Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6) Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7) Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep Shattered Doulton figures from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8) Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9) Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply band-aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10) Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed.  Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11) Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus jab. Throw Tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12) Ring fire brigade to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.

13) Tie cats front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small spanner. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of fillet steak. Hold head vertically and pour 1/2 pint of water down throat to wash pill down.

14) Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call at furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15) Arrange for local humane society or animal shelter to collect cat and ring local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.