My 18% beats your 29%

Today we read that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is calling President Bush a “total failure” and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is telling reporters that the President only has “a 29 percent approval rating."

Most folks are probably wondering where the democrats found these two “leaders.”

It appears Harry and Nancy failed to notice what their leadership the last couple of years has garnered in terms of approval ratings. Here’s part of an article from the Associated Press:

The public's view of Congress is even worse. Its approval rating has hit a new low of just 18 percent, down from 23 percent last month, according to a new AP-Ipsos poll. Bush's approval is at 28 percent, about even with the 29 percent rating last month.

You’ve got to love the way the democrats are running the country, right? I mean food prices are soaring, their energy plan has increased gas prices by a couple of dollars per gallon, and we recently found out that it’s been 20 years since Congress has taken this long to pass an Appropriations (spending) bill.

With leadership like this, can we really afford to have the democrats control the White House, too?

Nancy will be visiting Montana next weekend (July 26). Maybe she will explain this new math to the group she meets with in Missoula.

Great Idea!

Sometimes you gotta love press release headlines:

Tester: Keep Foot-and-Mouth Disease on ‘other side of the world’

"Foot and Mouth Disease doesn't belong in any corner of the world," Tester said.

Oh...that’s foot AND mouth not foot IN mouth.

Never mind.

Obama’s Excellent Adventure

Barack Obama is taking a trip to the Middle East and Europe to check things out and bolster his foreign affairs résumé along with his National Security credentials.

He really needs to nail this trip with no gaffes, fouls, or penalties. If he comes across as halfway credible in foreign affairs and national security issues, he may just cruise to an election win. These issues are at the top of his weakness list.

If Obama’s excellent adventure has a few mistakes, it may derail the campaign, and if he screws up, there’s a good chance someone will report it. Everyone (and their mothers) appear to be packing their bags to go on the trip.

I can imagine this trip being a lot like a Rolling Stones concert (only instead of semi trucks rolling in, we’ll see plane after plane touch down) with the crowds building like they are waiting for a rock star to hit the first chord on his or her Fender guitar…and the crowd goes wild.

Obama’s opponent, John McCain, has taken several of these trips with little coverage. McCain is not a “rock star” and therefore he does not earn the following that Brian, Charlie and Katie from the networks will give Obama on this summer adventure.

All this attention being paid to Obama’s trip is not all bad for McCain. McCain hopes the cameras will be trained on Obama for every minute of this trip. He hopes that someone may ask Obama a Commander in Chief question that he cannot answer or that Obama might say or do something to anger a foreign leader. Maybe Brian, Katie or Charlie will catch Obama asking one of his advisors a question like, “We still have troops in Europe although World War II ended 60 years ago; whutz up with that?”

Politics are a lot like a poker game and Obama is “all in” with this excellent summer adventure.

Sunken Request

It appears that U.S. Senator Jon Tester’s request almost a year ago for the Navy to name their next submarine the USS Montana fell on deaf ears (twice). They did not even name the second newest submarine after Montana.

This just in from the Department of Defense (DoD):

The Navy announced today that the next two Virginia-class attack submarines will be named the USS Minnesota and the USS North Dakota.

According to the DoD, this is the third ship named the USS Minnesota and the second ship to bear the name of North Dakota.

Ahoy mates – Minnesota and North Dakota have more clout with the U.S. Navy. Arrgh!

Flex Fuel & Flex Promises

Here we are in the middle of the summer when Montana families are taking vacations and farmers are getting ready for the harvest, and gas is just too expensive — all because government hasn’t done anything to look for alternatives. It is time for leadership in Washington.
-Jon Tester, July 2006 press release (accessed 07/14/08)

I think most folks would love to go back to the “good old days” of gas less than $3.00 per gallon, like it was in July 2006 when Tester issued that press release.

Sure, politicians make a lot of campaign promises, and they break a lot of them, too. I think it’s important that voters hold them accountable for making good on these promises, like the one about lowering gas prices.

By the way, how’s the lowering of gas prices working out for you the last two years? Since January 2007, gas prices have increased about $2.00 since there’s “leadership” in Washington.

Tester is also a proponent of ethanol for our vehicles. From the same campaign website:

Real Investment In Bio-Fuel Technology To Create Jobs In Montana And Lower Gas Prices. America must invest in Bio-fuel technology and production. Ethanol and bio-diesel are important tools we need to free our country from foreign sources of oil while providing new markets for Montana ag producers and creating new, good paying jobs for Montana and rural America

I own a flexible fuel vehicle. Yes, me. With the lack of action by the democratic-controlled Congress, gas prices are hitting $4.10 per gallon, and going up each week, I decided to see where I could purchase E85 (85% ethanol, 15% gasoline) fuel for my vehicle (you know - to do my part until Congress decides to drill for our oil).

So, I went to the internet and found out that with all this talk about freeing our country from foreign sources of oil, this U.S. Department of Energy website site tells me there are no public E85 fueling stations in Montana for me to do my part.

According to another website, there may be two public stations (Helena and West Yellowstone), besides the two for the government (one at Malmstrom AFB and one at Yellowstone National Park).

Even if the current “leadership” makes E85 easily available to purchase here in Montana, it may be more expensive per gallon than unleaded gasoline. If so, who can really afford it? How about we just drill, now!

$4.10, $4.25, $4.50, $4.75, $5.00...

With a gallon of gas around $4.10, I, as well as many other Americans, are starting to wonder if our government will step up to the plate and help us.

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if they took politics out of all the plans and ideas in Washington and they just tried to do what was right because it was right and nobody cared who got credit for it?

That very seldom happens in the political world these days.

Yesterday I was pleased the hear that President Bush has lifted the executive ban on offshore drilling. Now the ball is in the democrat-controlled House and Senate’s court, as they will need to lift their ban, too.

It does not appear they will. With only a few weeks left before they leave Washington for the year, the time is now for people to let them know their feelings on the high cost of gasoline in this country.

Although lifting the offshore drilling ban is just one of ways to make our country more energy independent, it is not a quick fix. Americans want at least some action. If Americans believe there’s hope to combat these high energy costs down the road that will help us in many ways. Yes, it is somewhat psychological – something to look forward to and something to ease the pain as we tell ourselves, “There’s help on the way.”

Sadly it appears the Democrats want to run out the clock on the 110^th Congress, which by most accounts is one of the worst do-nothing Congresses in history. The Democrats hope and pray they win more seats and the White House in November. If the past two years are any indication of their leadership, we may not be able to afford much more of their leadership. The high cost of fuel is making it difficult for most Americans. It is the biggest election issue because it is affecting Americans more than anything else.

Congressman Denny Rehberg has a four-part plan that you can view HERE. His comprehensive energy plan covers four main areas: Fossil Fuel Production, Conservation, Alternatives, and Technology. I’ve read Rehberg’s plan and it makes sense for America. I don’t see how the left side of the aisle or the right side of the aisle could disagree with his ideas, but I am sure someone, somewhere, will.

With energy costs becoming the biggest issue this election season, Americans are looking for answers and we don’t like waiting. So far it appears the Republicans have better answers and are willing to consider more options. Time will tell which political party better explains their energy plans. No matter what, politics and political jockeying will play a big part in whatever Congress does or does not do to ease our pain.

$4.10, $4.25, $4.50, $4.75, $5.00…

FISA

Well, I made it through the first weekend, and I was not arrested under the new FISA Amendments Act of 2008 (FISA) that President Bush signed last week. I even used my cell phone, home phone and computer. I may have used my debit card, too.

About 67% of the U.S. House members voted for the bill and about 69% of the Senate members. When the President signed the bill, members of both parties attended the ceremony. Is this bipartisanship in an election year or what?

In the Senate, 28 of the most liberal members voted against the bill, including Montana’s own Jon Tester. Of course, Tester was on TV over the weekend trying to reassure Montanans that he really cares about our security as well as our constitutional rights.

The 28 most liberal members of the Senate did not include Barack Obama, who changed his views on the bill and voted for it. He’s trying to be elected President, so he wants people to believe he cares about our national security.

I’ve even seen a few letters to the editor trying to put fear in people by saying we are losing our rights and that we are being spied on, or that we have lost the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Well, the weekend passed and big brother left me alone. I’m sure it’s the same for almost everyone across the globe (except those who are terrorists or harboring terrorists). The Fourth Amendment is alive and well. America is a little safer thanks to the members of the House and Senate who voted for the FISA Amendments Act of 2008.