One of my indicators was the Democratic Leadership Council and the VP choice that he would make. Part of my indicators has come to light.

Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama may be the most liberal senator by one group’s scorecard, and the Democratic Leadership Council may be a centrist organization trying to pull the Democratic party away from the left.
Is there any issue on which Obama differs from the DLC agenda?

None, said Chairman Harold Ford, who narrowly lost a race for U.S. Senate in Tennessee two years ago. He said the organization’s main goal now is getting Obama elected president.

It helps that the organization —founded after the 1984 election to move the Democratic Party to the right — has no issue positions it asks members to sign on to. Leaders generally back a more pro-business, pro-trade agenda.

Huh?  Pro-business, pro-trade positions---damn that sounds more repub than democrat!  Where have those positions gotten this economy so far?  Retaining power, not the well being of the people is the only concern.

IMO, the DLC is the bane of progressivism. It will just keep the status quo in power and any change will be incremental not the sweeping chage some are expecting.

Sorry to pee on your parade!

And, in an attempt to find some humor even in the seriousness of trying to restore sanity to the world, we must laugh about the White House forwarding news of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's praise of the Obama plan to the news media.  Don't you know that the lunatic in the White House just hates it when that happens (and it's happened numerous times)?!?!

Finally, someone (Obama) found the courage to stand up and shout, "Enough!" and move to withdraw the military from the Middle East before even more damage results.

This crazy idea of not leaving until we accomplish some undefined mission needed quashed ASAP.  Just as business people learn that you don't throw good money after bad, finally Obama stands for not continually throwing good, young people into a poorly conceived, needless, and senseless war.  Those of us who remember Vietnam recall our ignorant leaders lying to us to keep us in the fray and telling us that we couldn't leave until we accomplished some undefined result.  Bush picked up on that lunacy and thought that Americans would buy into it again.  Unfortunately, he proved correct for too long.

Now, if America will rally to elect Obama, we can look forward to ending this war, bringing our brave troops home, and rebuilding a flagging economy that threatens American way of life far more than anything that Bush says we're fighting either in Iraq or in Afghanistan.

Let's rally behind Obama, elect him as President, and demand that he move fast to stop this senseless war!

In the meantime, can you see the steam rising from the Whitehouse? That's evidence of the blown gasket!

I believe that a tax that works with steps on the hind end might bolster productivity and the desire to re-invest in the United States. It would hinder the temptation to create shelter corporations and other off-shore structures to funnel revenues into as a way to bypass excessive taxation.

Defining how much is enough is difficult, but is an issue that should be tackled. As an individual, I would be more tempted to spending more as a consumer if I had more money left. These days I scrape to save and invest knowing that even those profits will be taxed. It's like having a non-productive partner in my business transactions!

In looking at a business - perhaps taxing 35% up until a certain dollar amount would make sense, then backing off after that threshold is reached to say 30% and so forth until they reach the no tax zone. In theory companies would be inclined to make to that no tax zone but pay their taxes in full up to a certain amount. Currently, accountants are employed to find ways not to pay taxes from dollar one.

I am not a tax expert - just an observer of human nature. I believe that a windfall tax is foolish and will hurt our country. It is punishing excellence and enforcing mediocrity. Our land was built on free enterprise. Stifling re-investment is certainly not the way to go!

An Obama victory in December may trigger huge sell offs of stock and stifle any desire to reinvest - that is more urgent than hedging against a Democrat victory in December is to address issues NOW. The Dollar is tumbling, and little is said about the effects this is having on our economy. You may argue that we can export more - the issue is that we also import supplies and corporations being in the business of profits are also less likely to invest in the United States if they can preserve the value of their capital by parking surplus funds overseas buying Euros. This will hurt us badly and for the first time in many American's lives, currency exchange rates may have a meaning.

Increased taxation, i.e. FICA and repealing the Estate Tax phase out is simple tomfoolery. The Candidate for Change will have us asking for change!

Throughout the 90s, and Clinton's tenure, these movements gained the momentum to take them into the 2000s with full force. With the exception of the Bosnia/Serbia conflict, large International paranoia seemed to be at a low (even during the Gulf War). This always results in a push towards personal morality and tastes. What happened during the prosperous 50s? Things were going, well... well. So people turned to their paranoia in the forms of gender identity, the red scare, nuclear holocaust, and worries about the ever growing counter/drug culture. The 90s, in a sense, led to the Neo-Conservative movement in this same way. A God-Send then came for them in the form of the scandal of the decade. With Clinton's, and Dems' and left-wingers', days numbered, popularity shattered, this new form of Conservative was poised to take over a party, and infiltrate mainstream politics. And it did.

The early 2000s are chalked full of a plethora of wins for the movement. The robes draped over Lady Liberty, the Ten Commandments outside a courthouse, the ALMOST Constitutional Amendment banning gay marriage, etc. The Republicans gave in because, just like the Democrats, they want votes. Fast forward to 2008.

The Republican Party, and the Conservative movement, is divided. The remnants of Bible-thumping nutcases still lingers, albeit it is much much smaller than it was 5 years ago. Fiscal conservatives have become downright angry (as they should), and without a voice. Even though half the country (roughly) claims they'd vote for McCain right now, 70% of the country doesn't like the current administration. As a result, the candidate of their choice panders to many different viewpoints and the whole spectrum of Conservatism: he's worked across the aisle in the past so there's your folks not far off of center, he claims to be fiscally responsible, he's a military hero, yet he's anti Gitmo, torture, etc., he is religious yet progressive in a way. McCain exemplifies where exactly the Party is at in 2008: unsure of himself, very patriotic, simple messages and language, and without a strong/overt political identity. There's a reason why Brownback didn't come close to winning, and a reason why Huckabee or Romney lost out. Huckabee and Brownback both are simply too far Evangelical and/or religious for this revolution in the party. Christ-Cons, as I said earlier, lost steam a long time ago. Romney has the fiscal-con thing going for himself, but he loses a large chunk of Republicans to a guy like Ron Paul who's preaching an end to policing the world, bases and prisons in other countries, and continuously shipping money overseas out of the taxpayers pocket (Romney was very gung-ho on these types of issues).

If I had to money on it in Vegas, I'd bet on Obama winning the next election, but McCain does have a shot. Where I'm leading with this: regardless of who wins the next election, what will the Republican nominee look like 8-12 years from now? What will the Party look like 8-12 years from now? Another Republican dominance is coming, it's inevitable. Like the economy always floating back and forth. With Neo/Christ-Cons very much so a thing of the past 10 years from now, history looking back at the Cheney/Bush/Rumsfeld Administration controversies, an ever declining American dollar and dominance, and the remaining financial scars of a war MUCH longer than most thought and a economic/market scare, this NEW Republican Party will look to one word: Isolationism.

We will see a push towards isolationism from not the entire Party, but a large chunk of it. The Neo-Cons took control from only a chunk at first as a result of the past 10 years of socio/political history, this could happen the same way. A movement built from the ground up. Crazy enough to inspire the same type of heads who want Creationist Museums and pragmatic enough to launch the middle to their feet. If a guy like Ron Paul can get a significant amount of the Party to sway onto his ideas, where would that lead? It's the only way to go other than towards center. Isolationists. But Isolationism in the future has one gigantic enemy to dodge: Globalization. Could isolationism ever return into such a globalized world and world economy? It's interesting. How would the rest of the world react? To answer that, we'd need to know how exactly the world will look in 10-15 years. Which is completely impossible when we look at how the world looked in the mid-90s, it was a totally different place. It is certain that new economies are emerging right now, as I type. India, China, Iran, Australia. And there are always those countries who will always have some sway in the world. Germany, France, Great Britain, etc.

Is American Isolationism possible in the next 15 years? I don't know, it is a stretch... but if anyone has the ability to do it, it's the Republicans. Then again, we could all be dead by then.

-Sonny

Debate on politics, peoples struggles, movement for separate state and parties talking of Telangana refer to several inter-related aspects. Sometimes there is gap between people and the parties supposed to be their champions. People are fighting exploitation and the political parties maintain distance from the people. It is serious if people are at loggerheads with the political party. kanche chEnu mEsthe ? prajalu eTu pOtharu

Such situations demand whether one goes with people or party. Polepally is one such example and the debate in essence is grappling with this disconnect. Debate is required to address and understand the problem so as to resolve the conflict.

Polepally anti-SEZ struggle is four year old. Forty one farmers have died due to trauma, poverty and related problems caused by eviction from their land. Villagers were harassed, cheated and threatened to leave the lands and flee. They refused to submit and challenged the atrocities and employed every tool possible in their fight for justice. They approached all political parties, Human Rights Commission, media, RTA among other means. But in vain. All along the local Legislator from Telangana Rashtra Samithi Party was actively working for the SEZ lords. Much of the tragedy and the struggle would not have come to the notice but for the importance it got because of the May 2008 by-elections. Those who were starving and harassed by the authorities and land mafia took to elections and nominated 13 villagers to expose the injustice. They got around 8700 votes in support of their struggle. Former MLA lost.

The struggle continues for justice. Recently there was protest in Hyderabad where the villagers were glad to have the support of Devender Goud of Nava Telangana Praja Party who joined the dharna  demanding Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation to stop playing the role of looting poor people’s lands for SEZ lords. They propose to hold a Public Hearing shortly

Telangana e-groups have several mails on why and why not support Polepally struggle.

Some put forth an argument that it is not proper for the Polepally villagers to take 'political process'  (like contesting elections, dharna etc). For this group Polepally people should confine to legal aid, and should not waste precious energies on fighting SEZ induced displacements which are plenty and are bound to rise if YSR government comes to power gain after 2009. Energies of politicians and others should be used optimally for causes other than Polepally. The group seems to advocate that Polepally and their supporters should not waste efforts on their problem. Instead they must contribute their might to dislodge Congress government.

Yes, Public Hearing may be partial relief. Also there is need to think of what is complete solution to the problem and those who advocate ‘No Action on Polepally’ must suggest the real solutions.

About how many politicians have done what in Polepally naramedham is public knowledge. Perhaps all politicians and their spokespersons failed to even read page one stories of Polepally in popular dailies like The Hindu, Eenadu, Aandhra Jyothi among others. Or they pretended ignorant while the death toll of farmers went up to 41 in sync with the collective political silence in Telangana.

.

All that the politicians & their spokespersons did in Polepally was to go in May 2008 and beg votes from the rest who have survived the disaster. Congress, TDP, TRS etc have been silent on the killings in Polepally. Silence on this issue was conspicuous. Like the silence of our politicians on Polavaram, Pothireddypadu, Begumpet airport, greater Hyderabad among other issues. 

.

A dozen killings in Kalinganagar shocked the world. Forty one deaths in Polepally and calibrated silence maintained to date by our polity and intelligentsia is surprising

A section of Telangana NRIs in their appeal to Congress MPs to vote against their party mentioned concern of Polepally. The Appeal asked what happened to the conscience of Congress leaders when farmers died in Polepally SEZ. True, our leaders owe an explanation.

Fears expressed by some friends about what could happen if the Congress comes to power again, by any chance. These fears are not valid. Because no other party said anything different from that of Congress. One can appreciate if any party fought against Polepally or SEZ in general. All parties in Telangana are like Congress on SEZ.  

Some friends suggested that we should not talk of Polepally before elections and some said we should not talk of it after elections. Some friends think we should not do anything on Polepally or any other people's issues till we achieve our separate state. That we should have only a SINGLE POINT AGENDA. They expect all our problems will be wiped out one fine morning when we achieve separate state.

There is a different section of telangana supporters. They suggest that fighting for separate state and fighting against unjust policies and acts of the government are not exclusive and that need to go together. Immediate and concrete problems cannot be ignored for a separate state that is beyond weeks or months or years. People cannot sit comfortably and talk of change of power to some other party someday after one election or the next. Four years passed and another year will go for next elections. Issues cannot be ignored till there is a non Congress Government

One cannot expect the next government will be different especially when we have members of the alternatives like Laxma Reddy who acted as agent of Aurobindo Pharma that is responsible for death of 41 farmers

That's no solution. We will achieve our state one day. But can we ignore some losses taking place now which are irreversible. We cannot get back our rivers hijacked to Andhra or Rayalaseema & thousands of crores of rupees wasted destroying nature & causing immense trauma to the people everywhere

Polepally protest is against something unjust. There is no guarantee that they will win. They are fighting because it is a non-negotiable like one’s self respect. They may succeed or not like any other struggle

We need to support the struggle because SEZ killings are not just

Bharath Bhushan

David Davis

Jul 19, 2008 - The World needs a change of leadership, and I believe that Bugs Bunny is just the person for the job. I realize we already have a gang of crazy animals watching over us and ready to pounce: politicians, corporate executives, corporate-owned media and greeting card companies. Bugs Bunny, on the other hand, is a domesticated and tame animal. His agenda would include tranquilizing this organized animal syndicate in order to prevent them from stampeding over the people whom they refer to as ordinary and average.

Bugs Bunny's most endearing and politically viable trait is his incorruptibility. Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely, however, Bugs has a track record dating back to the 1940's of only fighting back in retaliation to another's provoked attack. Basically, he would have a foreign policy of non-intervention. With Mr. Bunny ruling the world, borders wouldn't exist. There will, however, always be dissidents, insurgents, and wacky rebels who believe they could run Earth more effectively than Bugs. The planet Mars would be the only foreign power. The sole threat we would have to defend ourselves against would come from the Martian who will always be an enemy to the people of Earth, Marvin.

To appease the hawks, I'll emphatically remind people that Bugs Bunny has never initiated violence, but he's also never backed down or been held to silly timetables or civilian casualties. This incontrovertible fact has been proved time after time in the hundreds of five-minute documentaries which captured his life and times so well, and in absolutely brilliant color and depth. And I'll state to the doves that you'll be able to sleep securely at night knowing Bugs Bunny will never launch a first-strike against Mars, nor try to seize any potential water source Marvin the Martian may possess.

Gun control is the only issue that makes Bugs Bunny a controversial figure. Gun control would be his top priority. Evading Elmer Fudd and Yosemite Sam was fine when Bugs was just a mere civilian, but he'll have much more important tasks with which to to concern himself after he's acquired absolute dominion over the planet Earth.

Taking over the world through a Democratic process will be difficult and time-consuming (fortunately, Bugs Bunny doesn't age, which is another trait that gives him excellent political viability). The first step will be to get him on the ballot in all 50 states. Ralph Nader will be assisting Bugs in this endeavor. In the event that Bugs Bunny can't achieve power through a Democratic process, he'll enlist the aid of George Bush, Dick Cheney, Karl Rove and Speedy Gonzales.

Please remember Bugs Bunny in November of 2008, and pass all this information along to your foreign friends using two cups and a string. Please do not leak the details of this plan to Marvin - he'd definitely launch a covert operation to discredit and demoralize Bugs Bunny, thereby leaving the citizens of the Earth with our current level of corruption and animal attacks.

Why? I'm honest and have a conscience. That would never do in the upside down world of politics........but if I was President................

1. First, I would stop immigration completely. No one, and I mean no one comes in until this mess is sorted out. The ones that are here already would be rounded up in 30 days and forced to walk back to Mexico. They came here on foot, I see no reason to give them a cushy drive or flight back. Period. If you are not from Mexico, then you get to see the country first hand. You can now deal with the Mexican immigration policy.

The U.S.A. will not be concerned with making or staying friends with another country anymore.

2. Anybody on death row... EXECUTED NOW.
Anybody in prison with a life sentence..EXECUTED NOW. There is no reason to feed and house these criminals that have reneged on societies' membership dues.

If you don't have a life sentence but you have murdered, raped , robbed, molested, tortured or maimed an innocent human being...EXECUTED. We don't need your kind in a civilized society and you won't be rehabilitated. This would insure you cannot learn new ways to hurt people and there would not be anymore idiotic liberal judges to let you out.

3. Affirmative action - Abolished

4. Income tax and IRS - Abolished

5. Race baiting and civil rights legislation - Abolished.

Why? We live in a time where people know the score. It does not have to be forced. If you are hard working, honest and have morals and ethics, you will succeed. In America, there is no way you can't.

6. No more gun control - after all, the criminals are put to death and the word gets out there are no more 3 strike rules, we really wouldn't need gun control but it would still be abolished.

7. Open drilling for natural resources anywhere feasible for our country. It would be done responsibly with huge consequences if the drilling companies were reckless.

8. Any country, religion or foreign leader that threatens the U.S.A. would be swiftly dealt with using extreme prejudice. That means DEAD! You would threaten our people ONCE.

9. All newly emptied prisons would be converted for the homeless to stay in for 6 months. You would have a chance to clean up and become productive. If not, you would face the consequences. We would not have anybody on the free dole of handouts..WHY? because their would not be handouts. If you decide to commit a crime, look at NUMBER 2.

10. If you make or sell illegal drugs in any form or fashion, you will be rounded up and put to death.

11. Total change out of Congress. ANYONE that is in this corrupt good ol' boys club - OUT! No benefits or retirement either. They would have to go work in the society they lived their life avoiding.

12. Any and all stupid , freedom crushing laws that have been legislated would be repealed.

No one should tell us to wear a seatbelt or what type of lightbulbs to use. If you want to fly through a windshield because you did not care to protect yourself....that should be your choice.
No more passing laws under the guise of "it saves peoples lives". People have a GOD given built-in meter for this. It's called self preservation.

There are so many more, but I had to stop before I had an aneurism.

Her brief posting, cutely titled, "Three Blind Mice", simply stated, "And the biased media continues...should we be surprised? Probably not."

That was followed by the following three URLs.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/kyle-drennen/2008/07/17/network-anchors-join-obama-world-tour-little-coverage-mccain-travel

http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/07/if_a_network_anchor_falls_in_t.html

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/entertainment&id=6274320

Not that the media does NOT have a bias. Of course it does. It always appears biased in favor of whoever you oppose! But I was amused to read the first link. So, I posted a follow up note to Ms. Bateman'sc comment.

I acknowledged that she did make a valid point. But I went on to say that it was amusing to read the first link and have a real pro-Republican blogger quote the... (gulp)... New York Times for an objective comment. :-)

I did not check that blog's previous postings to see what they may have to say about some opinions that Fox News Channel simply is a Republican Party propaganda machine.

This is not to defend the anchors Amanda criticized above, or their myopic lemming-like networks. But, let's not forget that, media bias not withstanding, the media reports things based on interestingness from the public's perspective.

So, Britney Spears' sister having a baby gets on the cover of People magazine but not, say, the Sudanese leader possibly being charged with genocide.

Is that particular choice a show of "bias" against black politicians or world leaders? Of course not - though I am sure some will want to think so. No. We have to look at other possible angles also.

Even my Republican friends, and objective conservative media professionals all admit, McCain has just not been a very interesting candidate or politician in a very long while. He is NOT good at thinking on his feet when an unfamiliar question is posed to him.

(See this video online of him totally lost and clueless http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/mccain_respect_contraception/ ).

He seems uncomfortable with his position. All he can do is appear "resolute" in sticking to the failed policy of the war in Iraq.

People immediately "accuse" me that I must be some extreme liberal, or Democrat, if I dare criticize anything about Republicans. But, in fact, I am a thorough independent.

Ironically, I had been a loud supporter of John McCain for President in 2000 and fully believe we would have been far better off as a nation having him, despite his somewhat loose-cannon personality, as President than the joke of the millennium George W. Bush that fate, and the Supreme Court, foisted on us.

(2004's re-election of George Bush is something Republicans and his voters have to take the blame for and know that history will judge their actions as the most destructive single influence starting America's decline in the world at a time it should have been getting far more loved, respected and emulated worldwide).

So, much that I supported McCain over Bush in 2000, and much that I respected him for being a war hero (as opposed to a war Zero like Bush), I cannot bring myself to support him for President of the United States in 2008. He has served his country ably, well, sincerely, and should be commended and respected for that. That alone is not reason to elect him President.

Does that mean, somehow, that Obama is the perfect candidate. Surely not. Obama can make mistakes, Hillary can still cause trouble enough for the Democracks -- sorry - Democrats to lose the election.

That means McCain can obviously not give up. But, just being a candidate does not a campaign make. He needs to smarten up. He has no momentum at present. He has no great ideas. He is sticking to bad ideas on Iraq. He is not exciting to the populace. Even worse, especially from the media perspective, he is just not interesting anymore.

That is what his campaign in disarray has to focus on. Try to make him be more exciting, interesting, and, yes, more creative and original than he is at present. Can it be done?

What do you think?

Now let us consider the situation where the govt. is toppled. What impact is it going to make on people of India and abroad?

                  First and foremost the nuclear deal will be put back into the box for a while? How long? No one knows. A lot will depend on who gains power in both the US and India. Mr. Obama (MS word spelling check recognizes Osama but not Obama, don't worry sir you'll soon make it if you do make it to the hot seat!) has been opposing all kinds of help to India courtesy Indians stealing all the jobs from the Americans and then he thinks India is getting too much in the nuclear deal and the US hardly anything. What about the Monetary support from the Indians for your election campaign sir? And if India TV (A Hindi news channel in India) is to be believed Mr. Obama is a great devotee of Lord Hanuman. So doesn't it really make us think that all this is a publicity stunt by Mr. Obama? We have seen in the past and will surely see it in future. Political leaders everywhere will talk anything to appease the public for votes, but they ultimately end up doing things which will be in accordance of their own interest, or what the intelligence agencies want, or what the party demands for the good or bad! So Mr. Obama knows that outsourcing is not only good for the developing countries but a necessity for the developed nations. He also knows that nuclear deal will not only provide support in terms of technology and fuel but along with it comes economic and military co-operation. So no matter what; The deal is very dear to the US as well, irrespective of whether it's Mr. Obama or Mr. McCain.

                      Second I can see why CPI is opposing (that's what they can do), but why is that the BJP is opposing? Good question, is it because it's compromising with our sovereignty. The answer is no, it is because they were trying to ink a similar deal but were turned down by the Bush administration. So they don't want congress to sign this historic deal. The BJP wants to come to power and seal the deal.

                      Elections now what? While Congress has been crying foul that all the forces are trying to topple the govt.! Infact the strongest statement congress has made till date is that nuclear deal is more important for county's security and they are willing to sacrifice the govt. for it. So now if the govt. topples then Congress will ride on the sympathy wave, showcasing its concern for the country. So if the govt. falls or if it stays then the congress is the one which is going to gain!

                         Won't the high prices and oil crisis act as an anti-incumbent factor and work against congress coming to power again?  Yes, it will surely among the people in the metros? What about the rural India, the guys who make or break the government. Lot will depend on the Monsoon this year; if it's good then it's good news for congress. If it's bad then congress can probably reserve its seat in the opposition for the next five years. But wait my rustic intelligence says won't the people in the village ask the simple question of why the government toppled?  Yes, they will and probably they will think that it was unfair to congress and vote for congress in the elections. And did I just think that Mr.Chidambaran's much criticized agriculture loan waiver was a plan for this time, they could see the govt. pushing for this deal, toppling and coming back to power after elections courtesy these sops! Probably yes. The inflation if not completely tamed will be atleast under control by that time. So no plans for guessing, it's a well thought out move by the Congress. So the situation definitely seems more nonchalant for the congress!

A bridge has fallen, the Mississipi river flooded Orleans like some pathetic third world city, airports are too cramped up as they are incapable of containing the surge in passenger & cargo levels, the East Coast experienced the emergency shut down due to grid overload (causing massive blackout), railway tracks are thinning out and overall capacity is on downward trend, and more.

They seem to be unrelated, but for economists and sociologists the trends all tell the same story. Pieced up together, they indicate crumbling infrastructures. Not because the structural engineers of America are sloppy, and definitely not that the heavy equipment sector couldn’t provide quality machines to reinforce the burgeoning infrastructure need of the juggernaut US economy.

The true story is that, as the economy shifted to the ‘virtual economy’, there was the systematic abandonment of infrastructure as a priority for fiscal and budgetary allocations. “Leave that to the private sector!” was the slogan for infrastructure. Even the famed fast lanes of America are already being sold out one after the other to the highest bidders, financial speculators all led by the likes of Felix Rohatyn & partners, thanks to deregulation and liberalization.

The thing is, most of America’s major infrastructures—airports, wharfs, roads, bridges, dikes, dams, power distribution, and more public works—were built in the 50s and 60s yet, at the height of the post-war boom under the aegis of the New Deal. Such infrastructures now require massive renovation, with entire replacement for those decaying beyond salvaging.

Did the civil engineers of America speak about the matter clearly? They did, and they have been saying alarming things since the 1990s yet. At the height of the ‘bridge over troubled water’ fiasco, they came out with the report that ¼ of America’s roads and bridges needed major repairs and replacements as soon as possible.

The other sectors’ experts have spoken as well. In the airlines industry, no less than state officials have forewarned that if no renovations (toward expansion) will be done on airports in 10 years’ time, there will be major crisis in the airlines sector. The possibility of emerging markets overshooting the USA’s cutting edge in air transport delivery also looms ahead in the short run.

With no reversal of policies in sight, chances are that, in 20 years’ time, the USA will be an apocalyptic landscape of fallen bridges, impassable roads, rotten wharfs, fallen dikes and inoperable dams, rotten buildings left to nature, and forest cover claiming back once bustling cities.

Only a timely policy reversal can nip the apocalyptic future in the bud. That is, if the political bigwigs in the coming election—McCain and Obama—do their homework well, comprehend the problem deeply, and begin large-scale strategic solutions to colossal problems in infrastructures.

[Writ 06 June 2008, Quezon City, MetroManila.]  

By COL. RIAZ JAFRI (RETD.)

Monday, 23 June 2008.

RAWALPINDI, Pakistan—Liaqat Bagh to be renamed Benazir Bhutto Bagh, Murree Road to be renamed Benazir Bhutto Road, 27 December to be declared official holiday after Benazir Bhutto’s death anniversary, Lahore to be turned into Larkana, Presidency to be taken over by a PPP worker, the Prime Minister commutes all death sentences to life imprisonment as Benazir Bhutto’s birthday gift to the nation (read ‘gift to murderers’). All this, of course, without any authority.

The Co-Chairperson – not even an Member of National Assembly - being given full protocol and allowed the use of bullet proof SUV with tainted glasses (who says it violates the law?); the construction of Tarbela Dam abandoned at the whims of someone, anyone, without even being discussed in the Parliament, PM announcing publicly without any hesitation to restore the judges immediately on receipt of orders from Zardari (what a Prime Minister!), PM performing Umra with 80 plus guests and hangers-on, of course at your and my expense; and then BB death probe by U.N. – at what colossal costs and with what outcome - anybody’s guess, et al.

What is all this? Is it the democracy or the government of a person, for a person, by a person? Where is the Parliament, which unlike the previous ones is claimed not to be a rubber stamp? Are these acts democratic in nature and spirit? Or, is the present democracy yet another facet of the maadar pidar azaad Jiala jamhuriat? Jo jee mein aye karo, yahaan kaun poochhaney wala hai ?!!

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd) is based in Rawalpindi. His commentary is appears frequently in several national Pakistani dailies. He can be reached at jafri@rifiela.com

Every day, I try to chose happy. And by God, I wonder why I have to! It should be easy and clear: I want happiness, not sweating the small stuff, those little things or events that can completely throw me off if I let them like someone cutting in front of you while driving or well.... I chose happiness now and will not continue the list!

It is a moment to moment surrender and bringing in the tools I have been given the first one being, making a choice. Literally, you have 3 to 10 seconds to decide will I loose it or do I have to get so caught up...

Try it. I challenge you.

The next time something comes up that you know and feel will get you on your high horses, pause and try to chose a road you have not taken often before and perhaps asking yourself: do I want to be right or... do I want to be happy?

And a little meditation here and there always helps.

Happy travels and walking it with you!

"he supported prospective U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's proposalthatU.S. troops should leave Iraq within 16 months … ‘U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes,"

Jake Tapper of ABC also reports

The misfire comes at an odd time for Bush foreign policy, at a time when Obama's campaign alleges the president is moving closer toward Obama'srecommendations about internationalrelations -- sending more U.S. troops to Afghanistan, discussing a "general time horizon" for U.S. troop withdrawal and launching talks with Iran.

This is great for Obama, but horrible for the White House.  Mainly, its a White House embarrassment, because they are the ones that leaked the story to the press accidentally.  A White House staffer was supposed to send the e-mail with Maliki's statements internally among other White House staffers, but the staffer who sent the e-mail pressed the wrong button and the press go the e-mail.  The other reason this would be an embarrassment is because the White House mainly Bush doesn't support Obama's position, obviously since hes a republican and its an election year. 

Also a major embarrassment for McCain, who by the way, claims he has extensive foreign policy experience and knowledge.  You would think for a guy who claims to have "extensive foreign policy experience" that he would know how to draft a plan for withdrawal of troops.  All McCain seems to draft is a plan for staying there, which the Iraqi government doesn't want.  If the surge has worked, then why do we have combat forces still in Iraq? And if the surge has worked, then why does McCain think there will be a resurgence of attacks in Iraq near our election time?  I hope the American people are thinking about this, rather then blindly believing what they hear on TV and deeply thinking about the contradictions in McCain's arguments.

This is just great for Obama.  Barack has been saying all this time, withdrawal in 16 months but keep troops there to protect bases and the embassy.  Also, he wants to move troops to Afghanistan to actually fight the war on terror, which for some reason this administration has forgot about.  You would think this would be reasonable but the McCain camp has a different view, which is staying there in Iraq.  Fortunately the most important people who would know whats good for their country thinks its reasonable.  Those people being the Iraqis.  Im also sure that our troops wouldn't mind coming home and having shorter tours of duty either.  I doubt this will help Obama with people who already oppose him for whatever irrelevant issue, but for people who vote on the issues and undecided, this will definitely cement what most think about Obama.  That hes going to bring this war to an end, and that Obama has the right experience and grasp of the issues to be president of the United States.

As others have said, this is probably a photoshop, but the point is it pretty much sums up his real campaign.

The 81st Assembly District is the only district in the Madison Metropolitan School District where there will be a primary contest for a State office this September. The Cap Times posted an overview of the race to replace Dave Travis and Q&As with the candidates last week. Since we all know that the Assembly is crucial to achieving real, positive education finance reform in our State, I thought it would be good to run down where the candidates stand in this area. Excerpted from the Q&As and websites, in alphabetical order:

Eric Englund

Q&A:

Enhanced funding for education at the primary, secondary and university level.

Website:

But our schools also face many serious challenges. They are dealing with the dramatically rising costs of things like special education and pupil transportation. And they are working with a state school funding formula that many believe is outdated and in need of serious reform.

Quality primary and secondary education in Wisconsin is shaped by the actions that occur in the State Capitol in Madison. Those actions will determine whether or not our children and grandchildren will continue the traditions of quality education in our state.

Here are some ideas of what we might do when the Legislature convenes in 2009:

Many legislators are advocating for a thorough review of our current school finance system to make sure we are providing our kids with the best possible education. Such a review could provide an opportunity to assess all aspects of state involvement in our schools to make sure we are helping, not hurting, our schools.

And we can expect that the state’s budget woes will continue. Funding of K-12 education is a major portion of the state budget, so the amount of money our schools receive from the state will continue to be front and center in the debate over the next state budget.

Education Related Endorsements:

None listed.

Peng Her

Q&A:

I have a father who was a school teacher, a sister who is a principal and three other siblings who work in the education field. As you might imagine education plays a very important role in my family. I honor them and all educators by making sure we fully fund our schools by fighting to eliminate the revenue cap, make funding equitable for schools, invest in early childhood education, shift the cost from tax payers back to corporation for fair taxation. A quality education system is the foundation of a strong democracy and healthy economy.

Website:

A quality education system is the foundation of a strong democracy and healthy economy.

To maintain a quality education system we have to:

1. Eliminate revenue caps that are strangling our schools
   We have to stop pitting property owners against students. Every two or three years, like many school districts throughout the state, Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) has to go to a referendum to adequately fund the school. They did not have to introduce a referendum last year only because a TIFF Zone was closed in the city of Madison, allocating a one-time revenue source to the MMSD. Many school board members believe they will need another referendum this coming fall.
2. Make funding equitable for schools by changing the funding formula
   The funding formula should be based on needs of the school not property value of homes in the district.
3. Invest in early childhood education
   Research clearly demonstrates that high-quality early childhood education yields significant results throughout children’s lives, including improved academic performance, reduced special education placements, higher graduation rates, and reduced involvement with the criminal justice system.I worked for the Children’s Museum and as a father of three children I can attest to the importance and success of early childhood education. American’s first kindergarten class was created in Watertown back in 1856, and we need to get back to our roots and invest in early childhood education.
4. Shift cost from tax payers back to corporations for fair taxation for our citizens
   Just in the last two decades, the state's revenue from corporate income tax has been nearly cut in half. The Dept. of Revenue confirms that over 60% of companies whose tax returns showed annual receipts of over $100 million paid NO corporate income tax (2003).

Wisconsin lost $643 million in 2006 corporate tax. Imagine how much better our schools would be if corporations started paying their fair share of corporate tax. I support Senator Dave Hansen’s (D-Green Bay) Corporate Tax Accountability Act that does not raise taxes but it gives all Wisconsin citizens information about Wisconsin’s tax code and who is, and is not, paying their fair share.

Help me fulfill our promise to our children by giving them the best education possible.

Education Related Endorsements:

Arlene Silveria - Madison School Board President Bill Keys - fmr Madison School Board President Bill Clingan - fmr Madison School Board member Ray Allen - fmr Madison School Board member Shwaw Vang - fmr Madison School member, Cindy Crane - Exec. Dir. of Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools, Ashok Bhargava - MATC Foundation Board member, Dan Guerra - Nuestro Mundo Inc Board member.

Tim Kiefer

Q&A:

Nothing.

Website:

Nothing.

Education Related Endorsements:

Madison School Board Member Ed Hughes.

John Laubmeier

Q&A:

Invest in infrastructure to keep/make this economy healthy. By infrastructure I mean education (elementary, secondary and college). We need to keep tuition low enough at our technical colleges and public universities so that all our children can afford to get the education needed to be productive workers in this increasingly "flat" world. Included in this school funding is a reexamination of the whole school funding formula, funding caps and QEOs. We need to invest in roads, bridges, dams, utilities, etc. to make Wisconsin the envy of the other states.

Website:

Focus on the Issues: K-12 Education

"As an economics teacher, I know we can't have everything. However, as a teacher, I can vow to make schools a top priority in the budget."

I have literally devoted my life to education. I can honestly say that I have been a student in a classroom every single year since first grade (I hesitate to tell you that is over just over fifty straight years). Briefly, my commitment to K-12 education can be listed as follows:

• Classroom teacher of Economics and History for the past 34 years
• Social studies department chair for 29 years at Waunakee High School
• WIAA official in basketball and baseball
• Statistician and bench official for Waunakee High School boys' home football and basketball games
• Forensics judge
• Debate coach
• Teacher's union officer for three years
• Teacher's union negotiator for 11 years
• Master's Degree in educational administration
• Master's Degree in curriculum and instruction
• Licensed school administrator, guidance counselor, and teacher

I know the effect of QEOs. I know the effect of spending caps. I know the pain of failed referendums. I know the effect of crowded classrooms. I also know that I have been lucky to be in Waunakee during most of those years. Many school districts have it far worse....

In preparation for my run for the 81st Assembly district seat, I sought advice from experts on how to resolve the riddle of school financing. While the advice somewhat varied on nuisances of various funding variables, the one common thread was the need for simply more money for public education. A second theme was the need to do away with spending caps. Let the local school board members, who must literally face their voters each and every day in their small towns and neighborhoods, decide what is best for the children of their school district. Should the heavy hand of the State reach into every classroom and affect every student? Do legislators in Madison really know if a local school district should replace a roof or maintain a strings program?

Just as these experts called for more funding for schools, teachers feel that way too. The June, 2008 "On WEAC" newsletter reported that delegates to the WEAC Representative Assembly voted increased school funding as the number priority for WEAC lobbying efforts for the next session of the legislature. "School funding ‘is the critical, most important issue right now,' said Dana Westedt, a WEAC Representative Assembly delegate from Reedsburg." The second most important issue was health care reform.

As a teacher's union negotiator, I know that health insurance costs eat up raises. As a teacher nearing retirement, I know that health insurance costs are a major barrier for potential retirees.

I can't promise that I can help balance the State's budget, increase funding of local schools, and provide a whole new health care program (in addition to funding a host of other worthwhile items from the university system to roads). However, I can promise that I will work hard in the State legislature to increase funding of schools and to bring about health care reform. Balancing the state budget is going to be very difficult. As an economics teacher, I know we can't have everything. However, as a teacher, I can vow to make schools a top priority in the budget.

Education Related Endorsements:

Retired UW-Madison Professor of Education Administration George Kliminski, Monona Grove High School Principal Paul Brost.

Kelda Helen Roys

Q&A:

Education: Every child in Wisconsin deserves a quality public education -- the best we can provide -- and that means adequately funding K-12 schools as well as our great university and technical college systems.

Website:

Every child in Wisconsin has the right to a quality public education - the best we can provide.

We will only succeed economically if we invest in our children and prepare them for the jobs of the future. Our schools must be adequately funded, staffed by caring professionals, and not pitted against property taxpayers. Wisconsin has a tradition of excellent public education, but chronic underfunding has endangered our educational system. We need wholescale reform of our educational funding formula to continue providing a quality public education for every child. I am proud to be endorsed by Rep. Sondy Pope-Roberts, a leader in improving public education.

Schools are central to communities: the state should support local school boards in their efforts to keep neighborhood schools open, provide innovative and responsive teaching, and meet the needs of diverse students. State government must be a partner to school boards, recognizing that there is no "one-size-fits-all" solution to improving our educational system. The state must provide adequate resources and ensure accountability and transparency.

Accountability means more than yanking funding when test scores dip - it should reflect the broad range of skills and information that today's students need to master, like critical thinking, problem solving, synthesizing ideas and writing. Rather than holding teachers hostage to a hollow "accountability," we must ensure that teachers have the tools needed to succeed: proper training in their subject matter, manageable class sizes, continuing training and professional development opportuities, and responsive and effective administrators.

In addition to improving our K-12 education, we must create a culture of lifelong learning. Wisconsin's excellent University system and technical colleges are crown jewels of our state, and the engine of our long-term economic growth. We must ensure that these institutions remain affordable for working families so that all kids who are willing to work hard have meaningful access to higher education. Likewise, we should ensure that Wisconsin workers can receive job training and continuing education to enhance their careers and their earning power.

We must stop pitting education against homeowners. Property tax escalation is a serious problem, and homeowners are now being asked to shoulder much more than their fair share of the cost of educating our citizens. Education and home ownership are twin pillars of the American dream: we all have a stake in educating America's future workforce, and we all have a stake in ensuring that working families, retirees, and young adults are not priced out of home ownership.

Property taxes are too high, yet schools are still underfunded - why? Because under pressure from corporate interests, the legislature has systematically slashed corporate taxes. Over the last 30 years, the share of the tax burden borne by homeowners has gone from about half to a whopping seventy percent, because businesses are paying less and less. In just two decades, the state's revenue from corporate income tax has been nearly cut in half. Wisconsin is dead-last in the share of state and local taxes paid by business, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston study - in fact, the Dept. of Revenue confirms that over 60% of companies whose tax returns showed annual receipts of over $100 million paid NO corporate income tax (2003). This imbalance is unsustainable and unfair. Businesses must once again pay their fair share for the cost of producing educated, skilled workforce that will power our economy and their companies.

Solving the challenges facing our educational system will not be easy. We must make tough choices, especially politically and financially. I believe our state must comprehensively reform our educational funding formula and fully fund public education, to live up to the demands of our economy and to fulfill our collective potential.

Education related Endorsements:

State Representative Sondy Pope-Roberts, Ruth Robarts, fmr Madison School Board member.

Justin Sargent

Q&A:

Fix the state education funding formula.

Website:

Educational Opportunities & School Funding

My involvement in our neighborhood school's PTO has allowed me to see firsthand the need for improved public education funding. We must invest in great schools for kids and lifelong learning opportunities for adults. Doing so will increase opportunities for our children, strengthen our communities and build our economy. Put simply, good schools benefit everyone.

As a proud graduate of Wisconsin public schools, I want all children to enjoy the same educational opportunities that I had growing up. These opportunities made Wisconsin an education leader for decades. For the sake of our children and our state, we can't afford to neglect our commitment to education...

In a time of economic uncertainty and tight family budgets no one is clamoring to pay more taxes. But what I hear when speaking to people in the 81st District is not an objection to taxes but concerns about tax fairness and how the tax dollars are being spent. People want more state funds spent on the public schools to lower the burden on local property tax payers; ...

The biggest problem with current Wisconsin taxes is that they fall disproportionally on middle class property owners. Recent tax policy on both the state and federal levels have reflected a pattern of giving tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy on the theory that this will trickle down and help less wealthy people. This has not happened. And, while some Wisconsin corporations are paying their share, there are many who have used tax loop holes and tax evasion methods to avoid paying taxes in Wisconsin.

Education Related Endorsements:

Senator Kathleen Vinehout, Marjorie Passman, Madison School Board Member, Former Madison School Board Member and education advocate Carol Carstensen, Barbara Arnold, Ed Blume, David Cohen, Andrew Gussert.

Some good candidates and some strange bedfellows.

Thomas J. Mertz

What are you thinking when it comes to your no load mutual fund selections? Are you saving pennies and sacrificing dollars?

Are you spending your time looking at expense ratios, analyzing Morningstar ratings and searching for funds with low fees and no 12b1 charges? If you are like most people, you know these things in and out. You've spent hours evaluating them, and your chosen mutual funds cost little to purchase and maintain. But they still don't perform to your hopes and expectations.

So, why is this happening? Because this kind of investing focuses on cost as opposed to value.

Investors with this philosophy have usually interviewed numerous advisors. But instead of trying to find someone suitable with a sensible approach, they only want to know who has the lowest fees. That's like going to the cheapest auto repair shop and getting the best price, but your car still doesn't run well.

Then there are the investors who call or email me wanting a recommendation on a no load mutual fund. They want one with no 12b1 charge, but they completely ignore the issue of how the fund might perform.

Both these kinds of investors spend their time trying to save pennies and in the process they are losing dollars. Instead of falling into the penny wise, dollar foolish trap, here are some ideas that will assist you in evaluating the end profit rather than just the short term saving.

1. Shift your focus from penny pinching to looking at the big picture: What can a mutual fund or an advisor do for you, not how much does it cost? Why? If you buy a given no load mutual fund at the right time and it gains a tidy 15% for you over a 6 week period, would you really care about the costs? If a mutual fund—or an advisor for that matter—can give you superior performance and an increase of several percentage points over your bargain price pick wouldn't you pay an extra 0.25%?

2. Consider finding a fee-based investment advisor who uses a facts-based methodology and has a track record indicating those kinds of returns. For example, in my own practice I used a trend tracking approach to get my clients into the market on April 29, 2003. Plus, our research and homework led us to recommending funds that gained anywhere from 11.50% to 22.00% over the following 6 week period. How did you do during that time? Do you think any of my clients care whether one of these funds has a small 12b 1 charge? Or whether they have the lowest expense ratios in the industry? I know they don't.

The bottom line is to look at costs as balanced by performance and that's where you find value. Then seek true value not simple savings, enjoy healthy dollar-level returns and don't sweat the pennies.

About The Author Ulli Niemann is an investment advisor and has been writing about objective, methodical approaches to investing for over 10 years. He eluded the bear market of 2000 and has helped countless of people make better investment decisions. To find out more about his approach and his FREE Newsletter, please visit: www.successful-investment.com. ulli@successful-investment.com