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Monday, September 29, 2008

Fareed Zakaria's Take on Palin

Fareed Zakaria
Editor of Newsweek International, columnist
PostGlobal co-moderator Fareed Zakaria is editor of Newsweek International, overseeing all Newsweek's editions abroad. He writes a regular column for Newsweek, which also appears in Newsweek International and often The Washington Post. He is a member of the roundtable of ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanapoulos" as well as an analyst for ABC News. And he is the host of a new weekly PBS show, "Foreign Exchange" which focuses on international affairs. His most recent book, "The Future of Freedom," was published in the spring of 2003 and was a New York Times bestseller and is being translated into eighteen languages. He is also the author of "From Wealth to Power: The Unusual Origins of America's World Role" (Princeton University Press), and co-editor of "The American Encounter: The United States and the Making of the Modern World" (Basic Books). Close.
Fareed Zakaria
Editor of Newsweek International, columnist
PostGlobal co-moderator Fareed Zakaria is editor of Newsweek International, overseeing all Newsweek's editions abroad. He writes a regular column for Newsweek, which also appears in Newsweek International and often The Washington Post. more »



Palin Is Ready? Please.

Will someone please put Sarah Palin out of her agony? Is it too much to ask that she come to realize that she wants, in that wonderful phrase in American politics, "to spend more time with her family"? Having stayed in purdah for weeks, she finally agreed to a third interview. CBS's Katie Couric questioned her in her trademark sympathetic style. It didn't help. When asked how living in the state closest to Russia gave her foreign-policy experience, Palin responded thus:

"It's very important when you consider even national-security issues with Russia as Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America. Where--where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to--to our state."

There is, of course, the sheer absurdity of the premise. Two weeks ago I flew to Tokyo, crossing over the North Pole. Does that make me an expert on Santa Claus? (Thanks, Jon Stewart.) But even beyond that, read the rest of her response. "It is from Alaska that we send out those ..." What does this mean? This is not an isolated example. Palin has been given a set of talking points by campaign advisers, simple ideological mantras that she repeats and repeats as long as she can. ("We mustn't blink.") But if forced off those rehearsed lines, what she has to say is often, quite frankly, gibberish.


Couric asked her a smart question about the proposed $700 billion bailout of the American financial sector. It was designed to see if Palin understood that the problem in this crisis is that credit and liquidity in the financial system has dried up, and that that's why, in the estimation of Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson and Fed chairman Ben Bernanke, the government needs to step in to buy up Wall Street's most toxic liabilities. Here's the entire exchange:

COURIC: Why isn't it better, Governor Palin, to spend $700 billion helping middle-class families who are struggling with health care, housing, gas and groceries; allow them to spend more and put more money into the economy instead of helping these big financial institutions that played a role in creating this mess?

PALIN: That's why I say I, like every American I'm speaking with, were ill about this position that we have been put in where it is the taxpayers looking to bail out. But ultimately, what the bailout does is help those who are concerned about the health-care reform that is needed to help shore up our economy, helping the--it's got to be all about job creation, too, shoring up our economy and putting it back on the right track. So health-care reform and reducing taxes and reining in spending has got to accompany tax reductions and tax relief for Americans. And trade, we've got to see trade as opportunity, not as a competitive, scary thing. But one in five jobs being created in the trade sector today, we've got to look at that as more opportunity. All those things under the umbrella of job creation. This bailout is a part of that.

This is nonsense--a vapid emptying out of every catchphrase about economics that came into her head. Some commentators, like CNN's Campbell Brown, have argued that it's sexist to keep Sarah Palin under wraps, as if she were a delicate flower who might wilt under the bright lights of the modern media. But the more Palin talks, the more we see that it may not be sexism but common sense that's causing the McCain campaign to treat her like a time bomb.

Can we now admit the obvious? Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice president. She is a feisty, charismatic politician who has done some good things in Alaska. But she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start. The next administration is going to face a set of challenges unlike any in recent memory. There is an ongoing military operation in Iraq that still costs $10 billion a month, a war against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan that is not going well and is not easily fixed. Iran, Russia and Venezuela present tough strategic challenges.

Domestically, the bailout and reform of the financial industry will take years and hundreds of billions of dollars. Health-care costs, unless curtailed, will bankrupt the federal government. Social Security, immigration, collapsing infrastructure and education are all going to get much worse if they are not handled soon.

And the American government is stretched to the limit. Between the Bush tax cuts, homeland-security needs, Iraq, Afghanistan and the bailout, the budget is looking bleak. Plus, within a few years, the retirement of the baby boomers begins with its massive and rising costs (in the trillions).

Obviously these are very serious challenges and constraints. In these times, for John McCain to have chosen this person to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible. McCain says that he always puts country first. In this important case, it is simply not true.

Posted by Fareed Zakaria on September 28, 2008 10:56 PM

Sunday, September 28, 2008

...And now the political right begins to turn on Sarah Palin

From the Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008)

A conservative columnist who welcomed Sarah Palin's entry in national politics says she's proved to be a dud and should step aside as John McCain's running mate.

Kathleen Parker, writing in National Review Online, says her "cringe reflex is exhausted" after watching the Alaska governor stumble through TV interviews and it's become clear to her that Palin is out of her league.

"No one hates saying that more than I do," Parker writes. "Like so many women, I've been pulling for Palin, wishing her the best, hoping she will perform brilliantly. I've also noticed that I watch her interviews with the held breath of an anxious parent, my finger poised over the mute button in case it gets too painful. Unfortunately, it often does."

Beautiful Spoof of Katie Couric/Sarah Palin

Friday, September 26, 2008

NWA and Delta Shareholders Approve Merger.

By DAVID HO
Cox News Service
Friday, September 26, 2008

NEW YORK — Northwest Airlines shareholders overwhelmingly approved a combination with Delta Air Lines on Thursday, agreeing to meld their 82-year-old company into what may become the world's biggest carrier.

Later, shareholders of Delta Air Lines Inc. meeting near Atlanta voted their own approval of the merger by agreeing to the issuance of new stock.

Nearly all Northwest investors voting — 98 percent — decided in favor of the Delta acquisition. The proposed merger now faces a Justice Department antitrust review.

"We're making the case to them and we think the case is a very compelling one," Northwest Chief Executive Doug Steenland said in New York. He told reporters he is confident government approval will come in time for the deal to close this year.

About 60 people attended the annual meeting, which Steenland said is likely the last for Eagan, Minn.-based Northwest. Under the merger, the combined airline would be called Delta with headquarters in Atlanta.

"We came to the conclusion as a board, working with our shareholders, that it was in Northwest's collective, long-term interest to pursue consolidation,"Steenland said. "Having a financially sound and stable airline is the best source of job security."

But many Northwest employees are less certain.

"If the merger does goes through, it inevitably is going to result in massive job loss, dislocation, consolidation and closures, which will have a devastating affect on airline employees, their families," said Stephen Gordon, directing general chair for the International Association of Machinists unit that covers Northwest. TheIAM is the airline's largest union, representing 12,500 baggage handlers, reservation agents and other ground workers.

A skeptical Gordon told Steenland and Northwest board members that Delta executives say no airline hubs will be closed and no employees will be laid off. He said similar promises have been broken in other recent airline mergers.

"Delta's Atlanta hub and Northwest's Memphis hub are less than 400 miles apart. Delta has a hub in Cincinnati while Northwest has one 300 miles away in Detroit," Gordon said. "Are we really expected to believe that Memphis and Cincinnati won't be closed?"

Later, Steenland said, "This is an end-to-end merger where there's little overlap."

"Five years from now, I'm confident we'll still see all the (cities) will still be strong viable hubs for the merged carrier," he said.

Under the deal, Northwest shareholders would receive 1.25 shares of Delta stock for each share they own.

New Yorker Ken Kaminski, one of the few shareholders to attend the meeting, said "notoriously bad labor relations" have affected the carrier's service, and he worries that will extend to Delta.

Northwest is heavily unionized, while pilots are the only major Delta union. Delta has agreed with pilots of both airlines on a joint contract, although they are still dealing with seniority issues.

Outside the Manhattan meeting, dozens of demonstrators representing Northwest flight attendants and ground workers gathered around a giant, inflatable rat, chanting: "What do we want? No merger!"

They held signs that read: "Save my airline from another bankruptcy."

Gordon and other union representatives criticized Delta at the meeting for ignoring them and planning to sacrifice employees to make the merger work.

"Delta, with its headquarters in the deep South, intends to continue to battle unionization and will stop at nothing to maintain their plantation-style management," Gordon said. "There will not be labor peace from theIAM until we're recognized by Delta."

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

NWA Emergency Landing Video

A couple of years ago NWA had a nose gear collapse on landing in Guam. No one was injured in the event and while unusual this type of incident isn't unheard of. The video was taken by a passenger and posted on YouTube.
There are a couple of things I'd like to point out about it. First, during the actual landing you will hear flight attendants yelling commands. These commands are from our training and were executed exactly as they were supposed to be. The disturbing thing is that none of the passengers seem to be following the instructions. While the video is interesting the video taker should be BRACED. Also notice all the heads you see sticking up over the tops of the seats. None of those individuals are following the instructions of the crew (which, I might point out, is a violation of federal law). THIS IS FOR YOUR SAFETY, PEOPLE! The flight attendants and pilots are trained TO SAVE YOUR LIFE. If a flight attendant starts yelling "BEND OVER, STAY DOWN", for GOD'S SAKE, DO IT!
The other thing I'd like to point out is that in the upper left hand corner of the video you will see a passenger stand up as the plane nears a stop to get something out of the overhead bin. ABSOLUTELY one of the most STUPID things a person can do.
All in all, a very interesting video and a great opportunity to point out to the flying public what can happen. This was a completely unexpected event and there was no indication that the landing gear was going to collapse until it did. The flight attendants and pilots responded remarkably well and showed great calm and excellent skills in their procedures but many of those people could have been seriously injured or killed because they simply failed to listen.
Enjoy the video. The first minute or so is just some video of the approach and isn't that exciting but bear with it and it will get there.

Brian's oil rant, or "Why Oil is Unpatriotic!"

There has been a long discussion this election cycle about oil. Although as I'm writing this oil has retreated nearly $40 a barrel from its summer high the black gold is trading at historically high prices. The long term outlook on oil isn't great as many oil experts (including multi-billionaire and former Republican money man, he financed the Swift Boat ads against Kerry, oil-tycoon T. Boone Pickens) say that we have hit peak production of oil and rising demand will drive prices higher with limited or no ability to increase production.
From "Energy Information Association" the official source on energy statistics in of the US Government....

Because the United States is the world's largest importer, it is easy to forget that it:
is the oldest major global oil producer;
is formerly the Number 1 global oil producer;
is currently the Number 2 global oil producer;
has produced more oil, cumulatively, than any other country (180 billion barrels from 1918 to 1999);
has produced more oil, cumulatively, than the current reserves of any country but Saudi Arabia.

http://www.eia.doe.gov/pub/oil_gas/petroleum/analysis_publications/oil_market_basics/supply_text.htm

From www.infoplease.com
The Top 20 Oil Reserve Countries

Rank Country Proved reserves
(billion barrels)
1. Saudi Arabia 264.3
2. Canada 178.8
3. Iran 132.5
4. Iraq 115.0
5. Kuwait 101.5
6. United Arab Emirates 97.8
7. Venezuela 79.7
8. Russia 60.0
9. Libya 39.1
10. Nigeria 35.9
11. United States 21.4
12. China 18.3
13. Qatar 15.2
14. Mexico 12.9
15. Algeria 11.4
16. Brazil 11.2
17. Kazakhstan 9.0
18. Norway 7.7
19. Azerbaijan 7.0
20. India 5.8

Top 20 countries 1224.5 (95%)
Rest of world 68.1 (5%)
World total 1,292.6

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0872964.html

So, what these two important charts tell us is the following:

+ The US is the #1 IMPORTER of oil, the #2 PRODUCER of oil and only has reserves to place itself at #11 on availability.
+ Four of the five countries with the largest oil availability have questionable ties to terrorist organizations and of the top 10 largest oil reserve holding countries only one(!!!) has a stable government that is consistently pro western in its policies (that would be Canada).
+ Oil is traded as a worldwide commodity. Even though oil might be produced in a particular country that oil doesn't necessarily make it to the market in that same country but is placed on the world market at market prices. A specific example which would clarify this is ANWR (Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge) in Alaska. Most pundits which support the drilling for oil in this region point to the reduction on foreign oil in the US. The argument is a bit of a false one as the oil produced there would be sold to the highest bidder wherever in the world that would be and not necessarily used in the US.

So, onto my rant....
We cannot increase domestic production in the US by large amounts and we certainly will not be able to produce enough oil to be self sufficient. No matter what the US does in oil production we will continue to send a massive percentage of that money sent to countries that aren't friendly to us. There is no way around it, period.

T Boone Pickens says this on his website www.pickensplan.com
"As imports grow and world prices rise, the amount of money we send to foreign nations every year is soaring. At current oil prices, we will send $700 billion dollars out of the country this year alone — that's four times the annual cost of the Iraq war.
Projected over the next 10 years the cost will be $10 trillion — it will be the greatest transfer of wealth in the history of mankind.
America uses a lot of oil. Every day 85 million barrels of oil are produced around the world. And 21 million of those are used here in the United States."

TEN TRILLION DOLLARS! Think about that. $10,000,000,000,000. To put that in perspective, the Gross Domestic Product of the United States in 2007 was $13.8 trillion. Put a different way, if we continue the purchasing of oil at current rates for 10 years is the same as GIVING AWAY EVERY SINGLE PAYCHECK OF EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN...FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR!

So, what do you and I do? Here are some things to talk about.

+ COAL. As a native West Virginian myself I understand that coal comes with some issues but the clean coal technology has advanced at incredible rates over the last few years. We are building coal to liquid fuels plants in many parts of the US and already use coal effectively for electric creation. Our supplies are remarkable, too. The US contains about 27% of the worlds coal supply and much of it is easy to mine and ship.
+ Natural Gas. (From T Boone Pickens) "Natural gas is significantly less expensive than gasoline or diesel. In places like Utah and Oklahoma, prices are less than $1 a gallon. To see fueling stations and costs in your area, check out cngprices.com.
Domestic Natural gas is our country's second largest energy resource and a vital component of our energy supply. 98% of the natural gas used in the United States is from North America. But 70% of our oil is purchased from foreign nations.
Natural gas is one of the cleanest, safest and most useful forms of energy — residentially, commercially and industrially. The natural gas industry has existed in the United States for over 100 years and continues to grow.
Domestic natural gas reserves are twice that of petroleum. And new discoveries of natural gas and ongoing development of renewable biogas are continually adding to existing reserves.
While it is a cheap, effective and versatile fuel, less than 1% of natural gas is currently used for transportation.
+ Wind (Again, from T Boone Pickens) Studies from around the world show that the Great Plains States are home to the greatest wind energy potential in the world — by far.
The Department of Energy reports that 20% of America's electricity can come from wind. North Dakota alone has the potential to provide power for more than a quarter of the country.
A 2005 Stanford University study found that there is enough wind power worldwide to satisfy global demand 7 times over — even if only 20% of wind power could be captured.
Building wind facilities in the corridor that stretches from the Texas panhandle to North Dakota could produce 20% of the electricity for the United States at a cost of $1 trillion (WE'RE GOING TO SPEND 10 TRILLION ON OIL WITH MOST OF THAT MONEY LEAVING THE US). It would take another $200 billion to build the capacity to transmit that energy to cities and towns (ALL OF THIS WOULD CREATE HIGHER PAYING JOBS THAT COULDN'T BE OUTSOURCED OVERSEAS).

I know that is a lot of information to digest but it does prove why I say that oil is unpatriotic. The government needs to prod American development of the resources we have here in the US. The creation of wind farms, the increased emphasis on coal (which even GWBush has pushed), the conversion of cars to natural gas along with nuclear power, continued research into bio-diesel (this company can produce fuel grade diesel using bacteria http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/08/12/bug.diesel/) and the continued development of technologies that allow natural grasses like sawgrass to be converted into biodiesel can create a stronger US. These technologies and a redevelopment of the electric grid to handle wind energy production could create tens of thousands of jobs that could never be exported while freeing the US from financing our own enemies.
The continued use and development of oil based technologies doesn't advance the US economy, security or our future in any substantive way. No matter how much "drill drill drill" we get from the domestic oil producers, we will continue to be primarily dependent on foreign production and sending money to anti-American governments at a rate faster than we send money to China! THAT MAKES OIL UNPATRIOTIC!
$4 gasoline is, in my estimation, a great thing for the American consumer as it forces us to realize what we are doing. We have been given a GREAT opportunity to look beyond oil and make changes while we can but before we have to do it. Please check out T. Boone Pickens website at www.pickensplan.com for one interesting plan to help plus keep pressure on your political leaders through a quick email or phone call.
I hope that this post has been informative, feel free to leave a comment. The more discussion on this topic the better answers we get. I don't claim to be an expert but I certainly am interested in finding answers to some of these issues.
That is my rant.