Should so few have so much power over this mess and our Future? The 30 who'll rule on Florida, Michigan delegates!

It is preparing to start. I hope to keep up with this it is important!

(CNN) -- Decisions on whether and how to award Florida and Michigan delegates to presidential candidates Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Barack Obama are expected to be made Saturday by a 30-member Democratic Party panel.

Below is information about the members of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee, which will decide what to do about Clinton's victories in the two states' primaries, both of which were unsanctioned because they were held too early for the party's liking.
Neither candidate campaigned in either state, and Obama wasn't on Michigan's ballot. Clinton -- who trails Obama in delegates and would benefit from validated victories in those two states -- wants all of Florida's and Michigan's delegates to have votes at the party convention.
Each panel member is a superdelegate unless noted. This list starts with the panel's co-chairs and then lists the rest of the members in alphabetical order.
CNN.com will stream live coverage of the meeting on Saturday, starting at 9:30 a.m. ET.
Alexis Herman, Virginia• Panel co-chair• U.S. secretary of labor, 1997-2001• Uncommitted

James Roosevelt Jr., Massachusetts• Panel co-chair• President and CEO, Tufts Health Plan• Former chief counsel, Massachusetts Democratic Party• Uncommitted

Donna Brazile, District of Columbia• Chair, DNC Voting Rights Institute• Manager of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign• Uncommitted

Mark Brewer, Michigan• Chairman, Michigan Democratic Party• Superdelegate vote stripped under current DNC rules• Uncommitted

Martha Fuller Clark, New Hampshire• State senator, elected 2004• Lost congressional races in 2000, 2002• Supports Obama

Ralph C. Dawson, New York• Labor and employment lawyer• Uncommitted

artina Flournoy, District of Columbia• Former co-chair of DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee• Finance director of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign• Deputy manager of Bill Clinton's 1996 presidential campaign• Supports Clinton

Carol Khare Fowler, South Carolina• Chair, South Carolina Democratic Party• Married to fellow Rules and Bylaws Committee member Donald Fowler• Supports Obama

Donald Fowler, South Carolina• Adjunct professor, University of South Carolina• DNC chairman from 1994 to 1997• Married to fellow Rules and Bylaws Committee member Carol Khare Fowler• Supports Clinton

Yvonne Atkinson Gates, Nevada• Commissioner of Clark County, Nevada, from 1993 to 2007• Uncommitted

Alice Travis Germond, West Virginia• DNC secretary, elected in 2002• Former vice president, NARAL Pro-Choice America• Political director of Bill Clinton's 2002 presidential campaign• Uncommitted

Jaime Gonzalez Jr., Texas• Attorney• Supports Clinton

Janice Griffin, Maryland• President and CEO of government relations firm Griffin & Associates• Member, 2008 Democratic National Convention Credentials Committee• Secretary of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign• Supports Obama

Alice Huffman, California• President, California State Conference of the NAACP• Founder of public advocacy firm A.C. Public Affairs• Supports Clinton

Thomas Hynes, Illinois• Chair, DNC Midwest Caucus• Member, DNC Executive Committee•

Harold Ickes, District of Columbia• Senior adviser to Clinton campaign• White House deputy chief of staff under President Bill Clinton• Son of Harold L. Ickes, interior secretary under President Franklin Roosevelt• Supports Clinton

Ben Johnson, District of Columbia• Former assistant to Bill Clinton• Former director, White House "One America" Initiative• Director of consumer programs under President Jimmy Carter• Supports Clinton

Elaine Kamarck, Massachusetts• Lecturer in public policy, Harvard University• Senior policy adviser, Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign• White House aide to Bill Clinton and Gore, 1993 to 1997• Supports Clinton

Allan Katz, Florida• Only panel member to oppose sanctions against Florida, Michigan• Tallahassee city commissioner since 2002• Supports Obama; superdelegate vote stripped under current DNC rules

Eric Kleinfeld, District of Columbia• General counsel, Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign• Adviser to Hillary Clinton's Senate campaigns• Chief counsel, Bill Clinton's 1996 presidential campaign• Supports Clinton

David McDonald, Washington state• Counsel, Washington State Democratic Party• Lead counsel for Microsoft in several cases• Uncommitted

Mona Pasquil, California• Northern California co-chair, Asian American and Pacific Islanders for Hillary• Deputy political director for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign• Supports Clinton

Mame Reiley, Virginia• President, The Reiley Group, a political consulting firm• Senior adviser to Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine• Member, DNC Executive Committee• Supports Clinton
Garry Shay, California• Chairman, California Democratic Party Rules Committee• Supports Clinton

Elizabeth Smith, District of Columbia• Political director, American Federation of Teachers• Supports Clinton
Michael Steed, Maryland• Founder and managing partner of private equity firm Paladin Capital Group• Member, board of visitors, Duke University's Sanford Institute of Public Policy• Supports Clinton

Sharon Stroschein, South Dakota• Director of U.S. Sen. Tim Johnson's Aberdeen district office • Supports Obama

Sarah Swisher, Iowa• First vice chair, Iowa Democratic Party• Political director, Johnson County (Iowa) Service Employees International Union• Supports Obama; previously supported Clinton
Everett Ward, North Carolina• Former executive director, North Carolina Democratic Party• Supports Obama

Jerome Wiley Segovia, Virginia• Founder, Latinos for Dean, which supported Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign• Uncommitted deciding Michigan and Florida

* We will stay abreast of this!

James Joiner
Gardner Ma
http://anaveragepatriot.blogspot.com

with War encroaching our own Borders along with the race to secure untapped energy reserves: We discuss Trying to head off an Arctic 'gold rush'

I have written about this a few times in respect to the encroachment of war on our northern border. While Bush is off instigating war around the world our adversaries are doing it to us on both our borders. Last time we talked about South America but highlighted the nightmare unfolding in the Arctic

Today an update and I hope it works out! Five states bordering on the potentially energy-rich Arctic Ocean have met in Greenland in an attempt to head off a new "gold rush" in the high north. They agreed to settle disputes through the UN procedures in an orderly way. "The five nations have now declared that they will follow the rules," said the Danish Foreign Minister Per Stig Moller. "We have hopefully quelled all myths about a race for the North Pole once and for all." however, there is still all to play for in terms of exploiting resources and it remains to be seen if the procedures are used. Louise de la Fayette, visiting professor at the University of Greenwich said: "I am disappointed that they seem to have rejected proposals for a comprehensive legal regime for the Arctic. Watch the video

"Since they share a common ocean and common challenges and since they already cooperate to a considerable extent, the Arctic states should find the political will to go one step further to organise and consolidate their efforts in a new regional seas agreement." A key aim of the meeting - organised by Denmark and also attended by Russia, the United States, Canada and Norway - was to reaffirm the rules governing rights over the seabed contained in the UN Law of the Sea Convention. This says that a country has the right to drill for minerals up to 200 nautical miles (370km) from the edge of its continental shelf. It can make a claim that the shelf goes beyond that and, if the claim is accepted, rights would then be extended. Already, Russia has made a huge claim on the basis that an underwater feature, the Lomonosov Ridge, runs from Siberia to the North Pole. It argues that Russia owns the rights extending from the ridge, and that would include the North Pole.

Last year a Russian submersible planted a metal Russian flag on the seabed under the Pole to illustrate its claim. Russia's claim is currently being considered by a technical panel. Norway has also lodged a claim. Who claims what in the Arctic

A former Canadian Foreign Minister, Peter MacKay, said of the Russian flag expedition: "This is posturing. This is the true north strong and free [a line from the Canadian national anthem], and they're fooling themselves if they think dropping a flag on the ocean floor is going to change anything. There is no question over Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic... You can't go around the world these days dropping a flag somewhere. This isn't the 14th or 15th century." The race to establish claims has been driven by the reduction in sea ice. This opens up the possibility of easier exploration for gas and oil. "Ice loss is really happening," said Simon Belt, professor of chemistry at the University of Plymouth. He went on a Canadian ship through a largely ice-free Northwest Passage last September to see the changes for himself. "It is very serious and has implications not just for mineral exploration. Ice acts as a heat shield for the planet by reflecting UV radiation, and without it the Gulf Stream would also not be what it is today. There is significant ice loss. Trying to head off conflict over the Arctic

James Joiner

Gardner Ma

http://www.anaveragepatriot.com/

perfect storm,Putting the last nail in the coffin: Are the oil companies doing Bush's heavy lifting and Bringing America down so he can take control?

You see the way the economy is tanking and bringing the lives of many average Americans down because of a purposely created financial house of cards. I have tried numerous times to get people to realize it was going to cave and that it was set up for Bush by Allen Greenspan. I will spare you what I wrote on it but Michael Whitney articulated it wee over a year ago with The Second Great Depression

At the same time the economy is tanking oil prices are being allowed to skyrocket affecting 100% of every aspect of our lives as you are all experiencing. As of yet I have been posing the question of how High the prices will go before many can no longer afford to drive to work and American Demographics are drastically changed as a result! in response to yesterdays story Larry sent me a story that seems to be the beginning of the end for most Americans flying and it brought this whole mess full circle for me knowing Bush is allowing things to happen in this country until he can find an excuse to take total control of our America and stay in Power. Anyway first the story:

* Fuel suppliers demand airlines pay cash in advance By Carl Mortished and Amanda Andrews : Airlines are being forced to pay cash in advance for jet fuel as the major oil companies tighten the screws on an industry that is being crushed by an extraordinary surge in the price of crude oil. Sources within the airline industry indicate that credit is being denied to most of the leading American carriers and the practice is moving to Europe and Asia. So uncertain is the cash solvency of the industry that jet fuel suppliers insist on prepayments into special bank accounts. A credit controller at a leading European multinational oil company told The Times that the oil industry was moving to jet fuel prepayment. “It’s common in the US and it is moving to Europe. We have been moving to prepayment since Swissair went bust.” The need to put up money before delivery of fuel is a huge financial burden that has been shifted from the oil companies to the airlines. According to John Armbrust, a US jet fuel consultant, the oil industry had $5 billion (£2.5 billion) of jet fuel credit outstanding to airlines before the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Now they are demanding that airlines leave cash on deposit.

“The airlines can’t afford it. Traditionally, oil companies extended credit for 14 or 21 days and some as long as 30 days. Now, most American airlines are on prepay. South West is one of a few likely to still get credit.” The extent of the cash squeeze was highlighted last week when American Airlines said that it would charge $15 per bag checked even as it revealed plans to shed 75 aircraft, shrinking the airline’s capacity by 12 per cent. The price of jet fuel has risen by 60 per cent since January and American Airlines paid $665 million more for fuel in the first quarter of this year than in the same period of 2007. The credit crunch is likely to worsen and a number of financial institutions will fail, according to research from Atradius, the credit insurance group which conducted a global survey of its customers’ views of the financial outlook. Although Atradius said that companies expect the number of failures to be small, about 65 per cent expect there to be failures.

The group added that direct exposure to sub-prime lending is higher in Europe than in the United States even though the bulk of the sub-prime mortgage defaults are in the US and many of the securities these loans are packaged into would have originated from US-based mortgage companies.

“Some explanation for this may be investments by European companies in US securities offering higher returns and more frequent use of secondary financial markets to securities receivables by European countries,” it said. Atradius added that only 12 per cent of companies across the world do not expect an economic slowdown in the next year. In Britain, more than 90 per cent of companies surveyed expect a slowdown, the highest percentage. About one in six companies expects a slowdown of only the national economy; a quarter expect a slowdown of the global economy and half expect a slowdown of both. The expectation of a slowdown is also high in Mexico, the United States, Spain, Italy, France and Belgium and lowest in Sweden and the Netherlands.

* Weasel Dog pointed out growing Airlines Bankruptcies which will help in Bush's end goal! Airline Bankruptcies would also bring another bailout for us. What I was thinking about is that Knowing Bush's oil connections Sending me this just turned on a light bringing everything that is happening full circle. Leaving Bush once again to appear the hapless victim as he appears forced to action and have to take total control. Bush could put an end to all this as far as I am concerned. Her is the friggen Decider! We all see that the slime has the power to force whoever he wants to do whatever he wants. Bush set in motion the demise of many average Americans with his implementation of new credit rules and Bankruptcy laws amongst a myriad of other laws designed to further reign in average Americans and enrich the wealthy further widening the divide between the classes. Over the years he has also had Greenspan setting up the demise of many average Americans with a banking, financial, and housing system designed to entrap many. Lastly the oil companies seem to be putting the last nail in the coffin raising prices uncontrolled to what has rapidly become a crisis level and at a very opportunistic time for Bush.

** Many of you know If President McCain looks in jeopardy Bush will attack Iran before elections and with financial crisis purposely mounting will be justified cancelling our facade of fair elections in our facade of a Democracy and declare martial order so he can stay in control of his mess or have the complicit powerless Congress call for a Constitutional Amendment to keep Bush at the helm of his Forever war and new societal, middle east, and world order. The perfect storm to bring down this purposely created house of cards is upon us and almost gone full; circle!

James Joiner

Gardner Ma

www.anaveragepatriot.com

An Update on yesterdays story The rapidly failing economy will change Demographics! It's moving Quickly and daily!

Yesterday I posed the question At what point can Americans no longer afford to work where and at where they want but must settle for less to survive? I was just in the process of preparing an update to the situation based on what I read this morning but while I am putting this together I just heard an analyst scratching the surface of reality for the first time saying he sees $7 gas. I will guarantee you $10 and he feels it will begin to dictate where you live in the future. I will guarantee it in many instances. Bingo but it is already here!

Yesterday I said I have been thinking about much of this for years but at one time here in America it was thought of as Communistic or something! However the time has come. First I have to tell you, what is happening to our oil prices does not have me a happy camper. I would not be averse to the daily skyrocketing prices if I did not know speculators, the mega rich were driving up the prices, only to become obscenely wealthy at the expense of average Americans. I am insulted watching as the Average Americans life gets increasingly tenuous because of regulations put in by Bush to further enrich the affluent while squeezing you ever tighter and those that should don't friggen get it and Bush just denies it and carries on! .

The middle class has to be dropped a little lower and the purposely established new societal order Bush has been actively implementing at least since 2004 with a working class to service the affluent is almost finished. you see natural causes being allowed to do just that highlighted by Katrina and New Orleans. Anyway I am concerned this will all come to a head around election time and it will lead to total world chaos! I have written so many books, Pamphlets, Stories, Letters to Politicians, Media outlets, over the years I think I am ready to give up but it is happening!.With that said world wide chaos aside, this is all coming to a head societally and of late I have found myself wondering at what point can average Americans no longer afford to work? Or to have to relocate because of the price of oil and gas! I hate to say it but I see some positive things coming out of all this. I keep seeing stories of people hawking everything they own so they can keep ahead of the debt collectors. There are daily stories of people Hawking their gold teeth and Pawn shops doing an increasingly lucrative business. Our society was going the route of the Roman Empire which is normal in the cycle of life of a society. Bush has merely sped up that process along with everything else. work place killings, murder suicides, and mass shootings and killings are increasing as societal conditions get increasingly tenuous.

I can remember after 9/11 when the idiots in charge stupidly said no one is going to change our way of life! in the same token I remember when oil first started skyrocketing and gas at the pump started climbing. People stupidly said they'll never curb my driving. Well! in both instances even a fool can tell you, you are only saying "Thank You Sir give me another" You are just asking for things to get worse. as a little child I learned shut up or put up period and most people are to naive to realize that. as I said about any fool! At a time when gas prices are at an all-time high, Americans have curtailed their driving at a historic rate. The Department of Transportation said figures from March show the steepest decrease in driving ever recorded.Yesterday I highlighted that people are learning to compromise and some of you responded with your own adjustments. Today it is being felt deeper and moving rapidly! Consumers are feeling worse about their personal finances and prospects - far worse than government statistics about the economy would indicate. Only a few years ago, Americans who considered themselves middle class were scrimping to pay for their kids' college education. Now, many of them are struggling to cover far more basic needs - gas and groceries.

Take Stacy and Chuck Burris. The Pittsburgh, Pa., couple view themselves as solidly middle class. In recent months, however, they've felt anything but. Burdened by high cost of food and fuel, they are having trouble balancing their budget even though Chuck Burris earns a "comfortable salary" as a software engineer. The parents of five children, three of whom are grown, have essentially stopped eating out and entertaining and are considering canceling the annual family vacation to Maine. They keep to a Spartan shopping list and have planted a larger garden. Instead of buying their 12-year-old daughter summer clothes, they are turning her pants into shorts by cutting off the legs and getting hand-me-downs from family.

Never before in previous recessions have they had to cut back like this. "We are struggling to stay in the same place," said Stacy Burris, 47. "You don't mind pinching pennies to send your kids to college. You do mind pinching pennies when it's simply to buy some eggs." Many others nationwide are feeling similarly strapped. Recent consumer sentiment studies and polls show that Americans feel worse about their financial situations and the economy than they have in decades, even as economists debate just where things stands. And people don't expect things to improve anytime soon. "Consumers are very financially stressed, more than what's indicated by the job and income statistics," said Scott Hoyt, senior director of consumer economics at Moody's Economy.com. High fuel and food costs, coupled with miniscule raises and shrinking home values, led more people to report that their personal finances have worsened than at any time since 1982, according to a recent consumer survey by Reuters and the University of Michigan.

The future looks grim to them, too. Just one in five households surveyed expect their finances to improve during the next year, the least favorable in half a century. Three-quarters of those surveyed said they expected the nation's economic troubles to continue over the next year, the highest level since 1980. They predict the unemployment rate will jump by one percentage point to 6.0% by year end. "Consumers are the ones in trouble here," said Paul Ashworth, senior U.S. economist with consulting firm Capital Economics. Consumers are being pummeled by plummeting home values, a weak stock market and soaring grocery and gas costs. Weighing even more heavily on consumers is uncertainty about where the economy is headed, said Ken Goldstein, economist with The Conference Board. It's unusual to have such slow growth for so many months and Americans don't know how to respond. "What's really pushing consumers into a funk is the fear of what's coming next,

" Goldstein said. "You can't be sure you know exactly where we are or where we're going. Consumers are afraid that the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train." That's exactly how Chris Ackerman feels. He said that he and his wife, who live just outside Seattle, find that their paychecks no longer cover their rent, student loans and daily living expenses. That is forcing the young couple to turn to their credit cards to make ends meet. They've already cut out much of their entertainment and trips to visit her family and friends 30 miles away. If gas and grocery prices continue to rise, Ackerman, who works for an importer, said he'll have to stop contributing to his 401(k) plan. He doesn't see many other options. "The worst part is looking to the future," said Ackerman, 25. "What if everything keeps getting worse. That's the scariest part. Is my grocery bill going to double again? What will we do?" Making a good living, but still feeling strapped

* Today I reiterate The compromises are just beginning and I hate to say it when this is done we will be better, stronger, and more serviceable and functional as a society but we have some changes to make. Gas prices have been increasing for 20 straight days. Here in New England it is the price of heating oil next year and beyond that has me concerned! As I keep hearing of hot gas compensation, a gas tax holiday, using our oil reserves, curbing oil co. tax incentives, I hate to say it people but you are screwed. They have your number, they know Bush is complicit, and Congress is worthless. This is just beginning and I see $10 gas at the pump in the not too distant future. What would that do to your lifestyle? Let me give you an idea!

** People have begun to evaluate their daily habits.Do I have to go out to eat? Do I need those trinkets? new clothes? Can I find a cheaper place to shop? A closer place? Do we need that vacation? Can we stay local? Aah Local now there is the key. There is our future. Go back to your roots. It is normal but most Americans are not use to compromise. Get use to it. I was wondering how much higher does the price of gas have to be before many people can no longer afford to work and would be forced to make a compromise that in the end may be better for them, society, and our communities? Think of your situation or maybe you don't want to but last weeks AAA study showed it cost an estimated $850 per month to own a car. You can handle that at at $10 an hour if you lived with your parents, had a room mate, or cheap rent. $20 an hour would do it and give you a comfortable place to live and you could own a house and continue to drive to work if there was 2 making that money and you were lucky enough not to get caught by those teaser rate mortgage loans. What it all boils down to is many people are screwed and if they are to make it we have to go back to the way society was in 1942 and we will be all the better for it though you may not like it!!

*** I see the necessity for people to maybe take a lesser paying job to stay local. I see a return to down towns. A resurgence of local life. a return of local stores, local theaters, and local points of concern and interest. I see a return of public interest in their cities,more concern over what is happening their, more community involvement. I do not like what is happening but I see it bring many families and communities back together as only hard times can and sadly you see it every day. It will soon be not because of natural disasters but our own man made disasters. We will persevere! How do you feel today?

James Joiner

Gardner Ma

www.anaveragepatriot.com

The rapidly failing economy will change Demographics! At what point can Americans no longer afford to work where and at where they want...

The rapidly failing economy will change Demographics! At what point can Americans no longer afford to work where and at where they want but must settle for less to survive?

Okay it is "high"time we talk about it no not pot! I have been thinking about much of this for years but at one time here in America it was thought of as Communistic or something! However the time has come. First I have to tell you, what is happening to our oil prices does not have me a happy camper. I would not be averse to the daily skyrocketing prices if I did not know speculators, the mega rich were driving up the prices, only to become obscenely wealthy at the expense of average Americans. I am insulted watching as the Average Americans life gets increasingly tenuous because of regulations put in by Bush to further enrich the affluent while squeezing you ever tighter and those that should don't friggen get it and Bush just denies it and carries on! . The middle class has to be dropped a little lower and the purposely established new societal order Bush has been actively implementing at least since 2004 with a working class to service the affluent is almost finished. you see natural causes being allowed to do just that highlighted by Katrina and New Orleans. Anyway I am concerned this will all come to a head around election time and it will lead to total world chaos! I have written so many books, Pamphlets, Stories, Letters to Politicians, Media outlets, over the years I think I am ready to give up.

With that said world wide chaos aside, this is all coming to a head societally and of late I have found myself wondering at what point can average Americans no longer afford to work? Or to have to relocate because of the price of oil and gas! I hate to say it but I see some positive things coming out of all this. I keep seeing stories of people hawking everything they own so they can keep ahead of the debt collectors. There are daily stories of people Hawking their gold teeth and Pawn shops doing an increasingly lucrative business. Our society was going the route of the Roman Empire which is normal in the cycle of life of a society. Bush has merely sped up that process along with everything else. work place killings, murder suicides, and mass shootings and killings are increasing as societal conditions get increasingly tenuous. Most recently this was highlighted yesterday by a string of shootings in New York City that left 8 wounded

I can remember after 9/11 when the idiots in charge stupidly said no one is going to change our way of life! in the same token I remember when oil first started skytrocketing and gas at the pump started climbing. People stupidly said they'll never curb my driving. Well! in both instances even a fool can tell you, you are only saying "Thank You Sir give me another" You are just asking for things to get worse. as a little child I learned shut up or put up period and most people are to naive to realize that. as I said about any fool! At a time when gas prices are at an all-time high, Americans have curtailed their driving at a historic rate. The Department of Transportation said figures from March show the steepest decrease in driving ever recorded.

Compared with March a year earlier, Americans drove an estimated 4.3 percent less -- that's 11 billion fewer miles, the DOT's Federal Highway Administration said Monday, calling it "the sharpest yearly drop for any month in FHWA history." Records have been kept since 1942. According to AAA, for the first time since 2002, Americans said they were planning to drive less over the Memorial Day weekend than they did the year before. Tracy and Adam Crews posted on iReport that their annual Memorial Day weekend has traditionally involved camping and fishing. "Well, due to the continual rise in gas, we felt our only recourse was to nix the idea this year and stay home" in Jacksonville, Florida, they wrote. Instead, the couple said they "decided to camp out in the backyard. We set the tent up, just finished installing our above ground pool, and cleaned up the grill. ... We have ourselves a campsite! It's been a blast!"

Nakeisha Easterwood of Smyrna, Georgia, said with gas prices on the rise, she sometimes catches rides with friends, and doesn't drive into town more than once a day. "It's crazy," she said. According to AAA, the national average price for a gallon of regular gas rose to a record $3.936. That compares with an average price per gallon of $3.23 last Memorial Day. "With it being near $4 a gallon, you definitely have to drive slower and pick and choose when you're going to do it," said Steve Kahn of Roswell, Georgia, at a Memorial Day festival in Atlanta. Some Americans have turned to public transportation. Ridership increased by 2.1 percent in 2007, in part because of rising gas prices, according to the American Public Transportation Association. Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, the group said. The Energy Information Administration says gas consumption for the first three months of 2008 is estimated to be down about 0.6 percent from the same time period in 2007. people are learning to compromise

* The compromises are just beginning and I hate to say it when this is done we will be better, stronger, and more servicable and functional as a society but we have some changes to make. Gas prices have been increasing for 20 straight days. Here in New England it is the price of heating oil next year and beyond that has me concerned! As I keep hearing of hot gas compensation, a gas tax holiday, using our oil reserves, curbing oil co. tax incentives, I hate to say it people but you are screwed. They have your number, they know Bush is complicit, and Congress is worthless. This is just beginning and I see $10 gas at the pump in the not too distant future. What would that do to your lifestyle? Let me give you an idea!

** People have begun to evaluate their daily habits.Do I have to go out to eat? Do I need those trinkets? new clothes? Can I find a cheaper place to shop? A closer place? Do we need that vacation? Can we stay local? Aah Local now there is the key. There is our future. Go back to your roots. It is normal but most Americans are not use to compromise. Get use to it. I was wondering how much higher does the price of gas have to be before many people can no longer afford to work and would be forced to make a compromise that in the end may be better for them, society, and our communities? Think of your situation or maybe you don't want to but last weeks AAA study showed it cost an estimated $850 per month to own a car. You can handle that at at $10 an hour if you lived with your parents, had a room mate, or cheap rent. $20 an hour would do it and give you a comfortable place to live and you could own a house and continue to drive to work if there was 2 making that money and you were lucky enough not to get caught by those teaser rate mortgage loans. What it all boils down to is many people are screwed and if they are to make it we have to go back to the way society was in 1942 and we will be all the better for it though you may not like it!!

*** I see the necessity for people to maybe take a lesser paying job to stay local. I see a return to down towns. A resurgence of local life. a return of local stores, local theaters, and local points of concern and interest. I see a return of public interest in their cities,more concern over what is happening their, more community involvement. I do not like what is happening but I see it bring many families and communities back together as only hard times can and sadly you see it every day. It will soon be not because of natural disasters but our own man made disasters. We will persevere!

James Joiner
Gardner Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

Memorial Day 2008: First a letter whose opinion I share and then some!

I have to preface this with my own feeling and that is that since Bush I have had serious doubts as to why we have been in conflict or war throughout our entire history as you know and I have posted on it. I no longer trust our Goverments motivations as you know but I absolutely honor all men and women who have answered the call and especially for those that have lost their lives in defense of us and their families! Then I fewejztgsglul it every day!

First a letter whose opinion I share and then some:

Memorial DayBy Rep. Don Young

May 25, 2008Sunday

Every year at this time we enjoy a three-day weekend in honor of Memorial Day. But how often do we actually stop and remember why we have the extra day off from work? This country is home to millions of courageous men and women who have served their country with honor and bravery, and Alaska is where many of them call home.

As we enjoy the nice weather and time with our loved ones this weekend, our American soldiers are overseas fighting those who wish to do us harm. We sleep safe and sound at night because of the freedom they provide us. Many of these heroic men and women, and their families, have given their all in the name of freedom and in the defense of the United States, and for that, there are not enough words or sentiments to thank them.

We speak often of supporting our troops, but support alone is not enough. We must also respect them, respect their families, and respect the good work they do.
Take time this weekend to remember our brave men and women overseas, and those who have gone before us in the name of liberty. If you see a service-member, stop and thank them for all they do for us each and every day and say a prayer for their safety.
contact or donate to our troops
From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all of our men and women of the Armed Services, and thank you to your families. You epitomize the American spirit. God bless you and God bless our fine country. That was from Representetive Young. I would like to express my own cocern and appreciation for my sons, god am I thinking of you, and for all the men and woman serving us and being abused by Bush!
Memorial Day
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Memorial Day Weekend)
This article is about the holiday in the United States.
Memorial Day
Observed by
United States
Type
Federal (and most U.S. states)
Significance
Honors men and women who have died in military service
Date
Last Monday in May
2008 date
May 26, 2008
2009 date
May 25, 2009
Observances
visiting cemeteries
Memorial Day is a United States Federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (in 2008 on May 26). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. men and women who perished while in military service to their country. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War

Traditional observance
Many people observe this holiday by visiting cemeteries and memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. US Eastern time. Another tradition is to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers usually place an American flag upon each grave site located in a National Cemetery.

In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also used as a time for picnics, barbecues, family gatherings, and sporting events. One of the longest standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, which has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911. Some Americans also view Memorial Day as the unofficial beginning of summer and Labor Day as the unofficial end of the season. The national "Click It or Ticket" campaign ramps up beginning Memorial Day weekend, noting the beginning of the most dangerous season for auto accidents and other safety related incidents. The U.S. Air Force "101 Critical Days of Summer" begin on this day as well. Many Americans use Memorial Day to also honor any family members who have died, not just servicemen.

Memorial Day formerly occurred on May 30, and some, such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW), advocate returning to this fixed date, although the significance of the date is tenuous. The VFW stated in a 2002 Memorial Day Address, "Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed a lot to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day." Hawaii's Senator Daniel Inouye, a World War II veteran, has repeatedly introduced measures to return Memorial Day to its traditional day since 1987.

Community Observance
In addition to national observances, many individual communities hold memorial observance for fallen soldiers who were from that town by having a ceremony in a church or town memorial park. It is also common for fire and police departments to remember and honor members lost in the line of duty. Towns often hold a memorial day parade to remember those people. Participation in such a parade is by community organizations such as members of the local emergency services and their vehicles, Rotary Clubs, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and bands from the local high school or church groups. Communities may also hold a town-wide picnic barbecue at a local park in which the whole town is invited to attend.

History
Following the end of the Civil War, many communities set aside a day to mark the end of the war or as a memorial to those who had died. Some of the places creating an early memorial day include Charleston, South Carolina; Boalsburg, Pennsylvania; Richmond, Virginia; Carbondale, Illinois; Columbus, Mississippi; many communities in Vermont; and some two dozen other cities and towns. These observances eventually coalesced around Decoration Day, honoring the Union dead, and the several Confederate Memorial Days.

According to Professor David Blight of the Yale University History Department, the first memorial day was observed in 1865 by liberated slaves at the historic race track in Charleston. The site was a former Confederate prison camp as well as a mass grave for Union soldiers who had died while captive. The freed slaves reinterred the dead Union soldiers from the mass grave to individual graves, fenced in the graveyard & built an entry arch declaring it a Union graveyard; a very daring thing to do in the South shortly after North's victory. On May 30 1886? the freed slaves returned to the spiffed up graveyard with flowers they'd picked from the countryside & decorated the individual gravesites, thereby creating the 1st Decoration Day. A parade with thousands of freed blacks and Union soldiers was followed by patriotic singing and a picnic.

The official birthplace of Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York. The village was credited with being the birthplace because it observed the day on May 5, 1866, and each year thereafter, and because it is likely that the friendship of General John Murray, a distinguished citizen of Waterloo, and General John A. Logan, who led the call for the day to be observed each year and helped spread the event nationwide, was a key factor in its growth.

General Logan had been impressed by the way the South honored their dead with a special day and decided the Union needed a similar day. Reportedly, Logan said that it was most fitting; that the ancients, especially the Greeks, had honored their dead, particularly their heroes, by chaplets of laurel and flowers, and that he intended to issue an order designating a day for decorating the grave of every soldier in the land, and if he could he would have made it a holiday.
Logan had been the principal speaker in a citywide memorial observation on April 29, 1866 at a cemetery in Carbondale, Illinois, an event that likely gave him the idea to make it a national holiday. On May 5, 1868 in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, a veterans' organization, Logan issued a proclamation that "Decoration Day" be observed nationwide. It was observed for the first time on May 30 of the same year; the date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of a battle. The tombs of fallen Union soldiers were decorated in remembrance of this day.

Many of the states of the U.S. South refused to celebrate Decoration Day, due to lingering hostility towards the Union Army and also because there were very few veterans of the Union Army who lived in the South. A notable exception was Columbus, Mississippi, which on April 25, 1866 at its Decoration Day commemorated both the Union and Confederate casualties buried in its cemetery.

The alternative name of "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882 but did not become more common until after World War II and was not declared the official name by Federal law until 1967 . On June 28, 1968 the United States Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill which moved three holidays from their traditional dates to a specified Monday in order to create a convenient three-day weekend and for the first time recognized Columbus Day as a federal holiday. The holidays included Washington's Birthday (which evolved into Presidents' Day), Veterans Day and Memorial Day. The change moved Memorial Day from its traditional May 30 date to the last Monday in May. The law took effect at the federal level in 1971 . After some initial confusion and unwillingness to comply at the state level, all fifty states adopted the measure within a few years, although Veterans Day was eventually changed back to its traditional date. Ironically, most corporate businesses no longer close on Columbus Day or Veterans Day, and an increasing number are staying open on President's Day as well. Memorial Day, however, has endured as one holiday during which most businesses stay closed because it marks the beginning of the "summer vacation season," as does neighboring Canada's Victoria Day which occurs on the prior Monday.

In literature and music
The southeastern U.S. celebrates Decoration Day as a day to decorate the graves of all family members, and it is not reserved for those who served in the military. The region observes Decoration Day the Sunday before Memorial Day. Jason Isbell of the rock band Drive-By Truckers chronicled such an event in his epic ballad "Decoration Day," which is also the title cut to the eponymous album.
Charles Ives's symphonic poem "Decoration Day" depicts the holiday as he experienced it in his childhood, with his father's band leading the way to the town cemetery, the playing of Taps on a trumpet, and a livelier march tune on the way back to the town. It is frequently played with three other Ives works based on holidays as the second movement of A New England Holidays Symphony. Memorial Day USA
I am going to post this tribute to our war dead, to my sons and all our men and women serving and those that have served in the past. I have to take some time out for a cook out etc. before my better half revolts but I will try to stop in on occasion. You all have a nice day!

James Joiner
Gardner Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

Events are moving quickly: middle east appeasement as Bush ignored meanwhile failing McCain relies on Failed Bush!

8 Years of success has sure raised hell with Bush hasn't it?

It's funny but after Bush just failed once again in the middle east as expected where while in Israel He equated Obama's willingness to talk to Hamas to appeasement using the example of appeasing the Nazi's during WW2. Talking Compromise whatever you want to call it is necessary for peace in the middle east. the rest of the world including the middle east and Obama realize it as Bush chooses to ignore it in his quest for war with Iran, total middle east breakdown, and ultimately World War Three! Some around here have mentioned Israel "appeasing" Syria after Bush's departure but with developing events it is time to look at the big picture in this regard!

As you know by now Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said peace talks with Syria will be conducted secretly to limit the chances that leaks to reporters might scuttle the negotiations. Olmert, speaking at the start of his weekly Cabinet meeting, said he hopes to avoid the pitfalls that caused the last round of talks with the Syrians in 2000 to break down. ``We have no intention to conduct these negotiations through the media or through daily statements,'' Olmert said in remarks broadcast on Israel Radio. Israel and Syria disclosed last week that they have been conducting indirect talks through Turkey aimed at restarting peace negotiations. Among the most delicate issues in dispute is Syria's demand that Israel return the Golan Heights, which it captured during the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israel, Syria and Turkey have engaged in ``meticulous preparation that will match our expectations from the negotiations to the reality as it is today, and not as it was 10 or two years ago,'' Olmert said. In a survey published last week in Israel's Yediot Ahronot newspaper, 52 percent of Israelis opposed giving away any of the Golan, compared with 29 percent who said at least part of it could be swapped. Nineteen percent supported returning the whole territory, according to the poll by the Dahaf Institute. Olmert told Cabinet members the government will soon make a decision on military action in the Gaza Strip to stop the firing of Palestinian rockets at Israel. He said neither the Gaza decision nor the Syrian talks would damage the ongoing peace talks with the Palestinian Authority, which both sides say they hope to wrap up by the end of the year. Negotiations not Appeasement

Israel realizes the necessity of conversation, negotiations, whatever you want to call it as Bush knows but once again must ignore as war is his only goal. Anyway the middle east realizes the brevity of the situation Bush has put the middle east in thanks to his instigation "Democratization" again against Bush's stupid advice: Lebanon's parliament gathered on Sunday to elect army chief Michel Suleiman as head of state, reviving paralyzed state institutions after an 18-month standoff between a U.S.-backed cabinet and the Hezbollah-led opposition.

The election is part of a deal brokered by Qatar last week to defuse a crisis that had swept Lebanon to the brink of civil war, with Hezbollah briefly seizing parts of Beirut and routing government partisans. At least 81 people were killed. Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani was among scores of dignitaries in Beirut for the vote. The many foreign ministers on the guest list included those of Iran and Syria, which support Hezbollah, and their regional rival Saudi Arabia."It is today a great day of hope for Lebanon, starting a new process of consolidation of democratic institutions," Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said.Lawmakers from the anti-Syrian ruling majority and the opposition assembled for the 5 p.m. (1400 GMT) session to elect Suleiman president and fill a post vacant since November. The vote had been postponed 19 times because of the crisis. The deal struck in Doha met the opposition's main demand for veto power in a new national unity government and secured the choice of a president on good terms with Syria and Hezbollah.

The agreement, which also stipulates a new law for 2009 parliamentary polls, has calmed a conflict that had stoked sectarian tensions, paralyzed government and hurt the economy.Parliament has not met for over 18 months, crippling Prime Minister Fouad Siniora's government. Bouts of violence claimed scores of lives and revived memories of the 1975-90 civil war.The Doha deal was widely seen as a setback for Washington and its allies, which had pressed for Hezbollah to be disarmed. Saudi Arabia, France and Egypt back the Beirut government while Iran and Syria support the opposition. No U.S. administration official was expected at the parliamentary session though a delegation from Congress was due to attend. Iranian Foreign Minister Manoushehr Mottaki visited the grave of Hezbollah leader Imad Moughniyah, who was assassinated in Damascus in February, before the vote -- which coincides with the anniversary of Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000.

Under Lebanon's complex power-sharing system, the president is always a Maronite Christian, the prime minister a Sunni Muslim and the speaker of parliament a Shi'ite Muslim. Suleiman, who relinquishes his post as army commander, fills a chair vacated in November by Emile Lahoud, an ally of Syria. Appointed army chief in 1998 when Damascus controlled Lebanon, Suleiman is inescapably linked to the Syrian-dominated era. He coordinated closely with Syrian troops before they were forced to withdraw from Lebanon in 2005 by an outcry sparked by the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik al-Hariri. As president, Suleiman will have to grapple with a slew of divisive issues including ties with Syria and a U.N. Security Council resolution that calls for all militias to be disarmed -- a demand supported by Hezbollah's Lebanese opponents. Middle east brokered Helbollah Lebanon compromise

Meanwhile on the home front as we discussed the other day McCain is self destructing

Unbelievably to me President Bush, who has steered clear of the campaign trail this year, will appear at three fundraisers next week for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. The White House hopeful will join its current occupant for at least one of those events, all of which are closed to the press – although White House spokeswoman Dana Perino did say there was a chance that Bush and McCain might make a public appearance together at some point. "President Bush is fully committed, 100 percent committed, to making sure that John McCain is elected to be the next president of the United States of America," Perino said Friday, adding that he would “do what he can when he can.” Despite the president’s record high disapproval ratings, Perino said he would be an asset on the trail. "President Bush is a formidable campaign fundraiser, as has been reported over the years, and I expect that he'll continue to be," she said. Bush to headline McCain fundraisers next week

I happen to agree with Dana Perino! As the middle east is beginning to realize they must ignore what Bush wants and proceed on their own if there is any chance to make things work after the mess Bush has made of things, and Most Americans realize Bush has made a mess of things you have to realize McCain absolutely is going to finish this mess for Bush if underhanded or not he gets the chance. Bush is a plus? A plus to who? Only the affluent who he has enriched but I guess that is all that matters as he lets average Americans and our America fail so he can create his now society and they and the Religious wrong I mean right are all that matter!

James Joiner
Gardner Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

The task before us is leaking out. Keeping Obama Alive is MLK's Keeping hope alive. Remember the past and Hope For the Future! Keep Obama, hope Alive!

You all know by now what Hillary said and said Friday that she regretted comments that evoked the June 1968 assassination of Robert Kennedy as part of her explanation for why she was staying in the presidential race late into the primary season. i think it was a Freudian slip and will explain in a moment but first her excuse. Earlier Friday afternoon, she told the editorial board of the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Argus Leader that "My husband did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California. I don't understand it," she said. Wait a minute what the hell?

Clinton complained that "people have been trying to push me out of this ever since Iowa" and said that position "historically ... makes no sense." Later at an event in Brandon, South Dakota, she said, "Earlier today, I was discussing the Democratic primary history and in the course of that discussion mentioned the campaigns that both my husband and Sen. Kennedy waged in California in June in 1992 and 1968, and I was referencing those to make the point that we have had nominating primary contests that go into June. That's an historic fact." Watch more of Clinton's comments to the editorial board » The campaign of her rival for the Democratic nomination for president, Sen. Barack Obama, reacted quickly. "Sen. Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," it said in a statement.
* Her campaign first defended the remarks, saying the New York senator had been making a historical parallel. "She was simply referencing her husband in 1992 and Bobby Kennedy in 1968 of historical examples of the nominating process going well into the summer. Any reading into it beyond that is inaccurate and outrageous," Clinton spokesman Mo Elleithee said. Kennedy, the brother of slain President John F. Kennedy, was shot and killed just moments after claiming victory in the California primary in 1968. Clinton's campaign manager, Maggie Williams, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that people may have "misinterpreted what she meant."

Therein lies the truth! The truth is leaking out! Check this out! I will maybe do something with this for later! Many around here want to hear nothing but positive get very mad at me when I say just wake up look at the past and realize what we have before us. It is up to us to keep Obama alive. That is our duty our version of keeping hope alive. I keep telling people to remember MLK, RFK, and JFK. Remember what happened to them, remember Kent State. It has all been excused and nothing adequately solved. You know conspiracy theories aside I believe those behind the right did it all and more. This mess will bge much worse because events get larger not smaller as we progress. read all the excuses and watch the other video if you want

It is all going to happen again only repercussions will be much more dire. Think positive but plan for reality. The right is not going to allow the awesome power amassed under Bush or their agenda into the hands of Dems thus putting and end to it. Forget about it. Hillary let the cat out of the bag that is all. People should be smart enough to know what we are dealing with hear. Some around us think Hillary on the ticket will signal Obama's assassination. I firmly believe at least a furtive attempt is a foregone conclusion. There are those I stay in touch with around Europe and Australia that point out that RFK, JFK, and MLK, were shot with high power weapons and given no chance to live while the facade of an attempt on Reagan was by a pea shooter and only allowed his agenda to move forward.

It is no coincidence that Regan's mess and banner were picked up by Daddy Bush and coming to a head under little Bush. As you know, this mess was on hold here, in the middle east, and around the world, until the right could find the right mindless unintelligent cheer leading loser to fool the people and blind to the consequences push this agenda through In Bush they found their man and this is well on its way. They will not be denied now! I am convinced that President McCain is already a foregone conclusion as far as the right is concerned. If there appears to be a problem getting that to happen underhanded or not via an Obama assassination or a Hillary nomination which would lead to President McCain, Bush will attack Iran first and be very concerned anyway you look at it what happens from there. Remember the awesome power Bush has to control every State, every States power grids and Militia, and to imprison all against the government and its supposed righteous agenda. remember those NAFTA prisons! I don't want to rain on anyone's parade.

I just want people to realize we are the enemy not the terrorists. They are merely the tool! I love seeing everyone so involved in Politics today and we need it. I just want people to realize what they have a task before them. I see I have an Email from the relentless Liberal I have to get too. This is probably his concern too but him and those around him think we have been here before but there is no way in hell. I will continue to try to get them activated and concerned citizens like yourself and others here to realize the brevity of the situation and the task before us while an important positive attitude is kept. Take care and continue to fight for Obama, our America, and our Children some of which are fighting Bush's Forever War as I write this!

James Joiner

Gardner Ma

http://www.anaveragepatriot.com/

McCain is self destructing: Blowing off the Military, America's needs, Dumping his enablers Lobbyists and Spiritual Leaders, Barak's chances improve!

Yesterday was all about McCain primarily his arrogance over the military and his distancing of his his really perverted spiritual backers. After watching for the last week the issues piling up and McCain distancing himself from everyone that got him this far as he attempts to reinvent himself with a new set of lies so he can hopefully fool enough people to get elected as President. That is up to Obama! First let me put it all together as the full picture so you can look at it all at once and evaluate the situation in its entirety as we know it today! The more he distances himself from Bush the worse he gets and the more like him he gets!

I'll be a son of a gun! I wanted to start this off with the passing of yesterday's GI Bill that Obama rightly voted for and McCain abstained from. I just searched 3 1/2 friggen hours and I couldn't find the Bill? I wanted to show that it should really turn off many of the Veterans Groups that have all along been one of the backbones of McCain's Campaign. I wonder what my sons think of McCain now? McCain and Bush's big opposition to the Bill is that they think too many Veterans will opt out of their Forever Wars and get out to go to College. I really do not see that as a problem because many will be drawn to the Military as a means to afford College especially as the entire economy races South. It drove us in the military in the early 70s. Also included in the Bill were substantial funds to improve our failing infrastructure and improve unemployment benefits. McCain not wanting to vote on that Bill that was very important to our military, Katrina victims, hurting Americans, and American Society as a whole should tell many how important they are to McCain and what his priorities are and it is not them, the troops, or our Country that is in trouble!

I was offended that McCain could justify being against the bill but very disturbed over his ignorant response to Obama when he mentioned McCain abstained knowing his friends Rove, Bush, and Cheney, either didn't serve at all or went AWOL. He is okay with the fact that His Bosses either didn't serve having dodged Vietnam or got in the Reserves and went AWOL. I will go to my death knowing Bush received special favors to keep him from serving in Vietnam. Anyway he jumped right on Obama: I listened to this exchange between Obama and McCain. Obama criticized McCain and rightly so for not voting in favor of giving the troops added benefits. McCain in his smart ass holier than thou tone said I do not need someone who has not served in the military telling me how to treat the troops and that was the end of that one. McCain shut him up and it made McCain look strong. That should have been the beginning and Obama should have shut him up. Obama should have responded saying I do not have to be a woman to know how to treat them.Thus shutting McCain up, taking no punches, shutting him up, and appearing wiser as he is and more presidential. He has to learn how to fight like theses idiots. Taking the higher ground is just going to be a quicker way out of town. Do I have to teach Obama how to debate on this level? If he does not learn we are already done!

Anyway McCain is also biting the hands that fed him by dumping his many Lobbyists in response to Obama's efforts! While McCain claims holier than thou on the pork issue he is more than vulnerable on the Lobbyist issue. The New York Times notes McCain is finding a "thorny path" on this issue. "McCain’s political identity has long been defined by his calls for reducing the influence of special interests in Washington. But as he heads toward the general election as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, he has increasingly confronted criticism that his campaign staff is stocked with people who have made their living as lobbyists or in similar jobs, leaving his credentials as a reformer open to attack. The process of trying to purge the campaign of conflicts that in appearance or reality might violate Mr. McCain’s stated principles or cause him political trouble has so far focused only more attention on the backgrounds of his aides and advisers.”

“The delicate task of writing and enforcing the new conflict-of-interest policy has fallen to Mr. McCain’s campaign manager, Rick Davis, who was himself a lobbyist until he took a leave of absence from his firm, Davis Manafort, two years ago." The paper also notes a slew of potential senior staffers who may have conflicts. "Wayne Berman, the campaign’s deputy finance chairman, has lobbied for the governments of Cyprus and Trinidad and Tobago, along with many other corporate clients. Christian Ferry, who is a lobbyist for Mr. Davis’s firm, is Mr. McCain’s deputy campaign manager. Susan Nelson, the finance director of the campaign, was as recently as last year a registered lobbyist for the Loeffler Group, for companies, including AT&T that have had business before Mr. McCain on the Commerce Committee. John Green, who has been reported to be coordinating the campaign’s efforts with congressional Republicans, is registered as a lobbyist for Ogilvy Government Relations, Mr. Berman’s firm. Carlos Bonilla, described by the McCain Web site as an economic adviser, is also a registered lobbyist."

Obama jumped on the lobbyist issue yesterday. "During a speech at a high school here, Obama said voters should be concerned that ‘after nearly three decades in Washington, John McCain can't see or won't acknowledge what's obvious to all of us here today -- that lobbyists aren't just part of the system in Washington, they're part of the problem.’” “McCain's campaign shot back quickly, challenging Obama to "shed light on the long list of federal lobbyists advising him on policy issues’ and accusing him of diverting attention from more serious matters. ‘Every moment that Senator Obama spends attacking individual volunteers on our campaign is time he's not using to address issues of real importance in the lives of Americans,’ said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds." And as we predicted yesterday, the blind quotes are telling. Check this out: "Some of McCain's advisers said Monday they are mystified by the new policy, which they said gives Obama an opening to attack their candidate. ‘The most interesting thing in every campaign is the self-inflicted wound. This is a great case,’ said one GOP fundraiser, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss McCain's campaign decisions candidly. ‘When asked to name the 10,000 things people think are the most important issue, this doesn't make the list.’”
OBAMA VS. MCCAIN: THE LOBBYIST WAR

McCain is dumping his lobbyists and as far as I am concerned anyone who has dealings with them should be fired and tried. Average Americans, we the people, must be put back in the process and we will under Obama. Now I am happy to say to top it off yesterdays big issue with straight talking McCain as you know was his Spiritual endorsements: Finally Mr. McCain repudiated the Rev. John C. Hagee, a televangelist, after a watchdog group released a recording of a sermon in which Mr. Hagee said Hitler and the Holocaust had been part of God’s plan to chase the Jews from Europe and drive them to Palestine.

Later in the day, he also rejected the endorsement of the Rev. Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, Ohio, whose anti-Muslim sermons were broadcast on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Thursday. Specifically on Hagee’s sermon on the Holocaust, McCain said, “Obviously, I find these remarks and others deeply offensive and indefensible. I did not know of them before Reverend Hagee’s endorsement, and I feel I must reject his endorsement as well.” A few hours later, after an ABC News report on Parsley started making the rounds, an AP reporter asked McCain about Parsley’s belief that the United States was created in order to destroy Islam. “I believe that even though he endorsed me, and I didn’t endorse him, the fact is that I repudiate such talk, and I reject his endorsement,” McCain said. It’s about time. Keep in mind, McCain was all-too pleased to not only seek out the support of these religious extremists, but to accept their endorsements, praise their “leadership,” and even campaign alongside them. McCain now claims he didn’t realize how crazy Hagee and Parsley really are. McCain slowly backs away from Hagee, Parsley — will there be consequences

You know he knew I am sick of the lying. McCain is finally being held account. He has been getting a buy up until now. he is now burning his bridges in an attempt to find new lies as he tries to reinvent himself. It is up to Obama to highlight these lies and uncover the living lie that is John McCain. Things are looking better for Obama every day as the soft underbelly of mealy mouthed McCain comes to light and I look forward to the one on ones between McCain and Obama. As long as Barack responds accordingly to McCain's smart ass dismissals we stand a beautiful chance of saluting President Obama. God Bless America!

James Joiner
Gardner Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

This is disgusting! What the hell is it going to take? The state of Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as threatened!

With oil prices up to $135 this morning and I fully expect to go to $200 very quickly I was going to talk about the skyrocketing oil prices that just jumped $4 in one day and the effect that is going to have not just on our rapidly increasing food prices but absolutely 100% everything and incidentally I am rushing right now as I have to get ready to go to New Hampshire food shopping so more on that when I get Back. Anyway once again I have to digress for something more important. This is disgusting! What the hell is it going to take? this morning I saw this picture and I was mortified but it got worse when I read the story and had to forget about the stupidity that went on over the farm Bill and I am peeved as something underhanded went on there and the chief slime pulled a fast one again. Someone please feel free to explain. Anyway...

The state of Alaska will sue to challenge the recent listing of polar bears as a threatened species, Gov. Sarah Palin announced Wednesday. She and other Alaska elected officials fear a listing will cripple oil and gas development in prime polar bear habitat off the state's northern and northwestern coasts. Palin argued that there is not enough evidence to support a listing. Polar bears are well-managed and their population has dramatically increased over 30 years as a result of conservation, she said. what the frig will it take? Climate models that predict continued loss of sea ice, the main habitat of polar bears, during summers are unreliable, said Palin, a Republican.What the frig? The announcement drew a strong response from the primary author of the listing petition. "She's either grossly misinformed or intentionally misleading, and both are unbecoming," said Kassie Siegel of the Center for Biological Diversity. "Alaska deserves better." Siegel said it was unconscionable for Palin to ignore overwhelming evidence of global warming's threat to sea ice, the polar bear's habitat. "Even the Bush administration can't deny the reality of global warming," she said. "The governor is aligning herself and the state of Alaska with the most discredited, fringe, extreme viewpoints by denying this." As marine mammals, polar bears are regulated by the federal government, not the state. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne last week made the listing decision and said it was based on three findings. "First, sea ice is vital to polar bear survival. Second, the polar bear's sea-ice habitat has dramatically melted in recent decades. Third, computer models suggest sea ice is likely to further recede in the future," he said.Summer sea ice last year shrank to a record low, about 1.65 million square miles, nearly 40 percent less than the long-term average between 1979 and 2000. Unbelievable!

Polar bears rely on sea ice for hunting ringed seals. In recent years, summer sea ice has receded far beyond the relatively shallow, biologically rich waters of the outer continental shelf, giving polar bears less time in prime feeding areas. Polar bear researchers fear recent effects of the loss of sea ice on Alaska polar bear populations. A 2006 study by the U.S. Geological Survey concluded that far fewer polar bear cubs in the Beaufort Sea were surviving and that adult males weighed less and had smaller skulls than those captured and measured two decades previously — trends similar to observations in Canada's western Hudson Bay before a population drop. A U.S. Geological Survey study completed last year as part of the petition process predicted polar bears in Alaska could be wiped out by 2050. Kempthorne said last week he considered every point Palin made, and rejected them. However, he sought to limit the economic effect of the decision with the inclusion of "administrative guidance" that said the listing would not be used to create back-door climate policy outside the normal system of political accountability. He also said that the threat to polar bears did not come from the petroleum industry. I beg to differ and drilling in Alaska's ANWR will be the end of them in the wilds of Alaska! What the hell is wrong with us?

In response, conservation groups including the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council are seeking to overturn Kempthorne's administrative actions and seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Palin and other state officials called arbitrary a decision to list a healthy species judging by what they deem uncertain modeling of future climate change and unproven long-term impact of any future climate change on the species. State Natural Resources Commissioner Tom Irwin said it could have wide economic effects. "Inappropriate implementation of this listing decision could result in widespread social and economic impacts, including increased power costs and further increases in fuel prices, without providing any more protection for the species," he said. Deborah Williams, a former Interior Department special assistant for Alaska and an advocate in the state for global warming response, said Palin's lawsuit was not a prudent use of state money. "Clearly Secretary Kempthorne put a tremendous amount of thought into the listing decision and concluded correctly that listing was required," she said. Pleas look at the link for additional compelling pictures! Alaska Will Sue to Block U.S. Listing of Polar Bears as Threatened

I am just blown away! With the terrible effect oil and the environment is going to have on our near future let along our distant future if we are that lucky what the heck is it going to take to make our Government act responsibly? They show no concern for surviving into the future so...

James Joiner
Gardner Ma
www.anaveragepatriot.com

Hagel is upset with some of McCain's comments on Iran. Unfazed McCain moves on to lie about Obama's intentions with Cuba! will Republicans jump ship?

CNN) — John McCain needs to cool his rhetoric attacking Barack Obama over foreign policy, one of the Arizona senator's good friends in the Senate said. According to a report on Huffington post.com, Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican and long time friend of McCain, said Tuesday he is "very upset" with some of the things the party's presumptive presidential nominee has been saying as he campaigns for the White House. "We know from past campaigns that presidential candidates will say many things," Hagel reportedly said. "But once they have the responsibility to govern the country and lead the world, that difference between what they said and what responsibilities they have to fulfill are vastly different."

"I'm very upset with John with some of the things he's been saying," Hagel added. "And I can't get into the psychoanalysis of it. But I believe that John is smarter than some of the things he is saying. He is, he understands it more. John is a man who reads a lot, he's been around the world. I want him to get above that and maybe when he gets into the general election, and becomes the general election candidate he will have a higher-level discourse on these things." Hagel, who is not running for reelection in November, has become an outspoken critic of the War in Iraq and he said in April he is open to the possibility of endorsing Obama's candidacy.

Speaking Tuesday night at the Italian ambassador's Washington residence, Hagel specifically took issue with McCain's criticisms of Obama's position that he would be willing to meet with leaders like Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinjad without preconditions. "I never understand how anyone in any realm of civilized discourse could sort through the big issues and challenges and threats and figure out how to deal with those without engaging in some way," Hagel said. Hagel's comments follow a prolonged back and forth between both McCain and Obama over the best way to deal with Iran. Speaking to CNN Tuesday, Obama said McCain "essentially wants to continue George Bush’s policies of not talking to leaders we don’t like and not talking to countries we don’t like." McCain suggested at a Chicago campaign event Monday that Obama doesn’t understand the "basic realities of international relations" and that engaging Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad diplomatically would only embolden him. "Senator Obama has declared, and repeatedly reaffirmed his intention to meet the President of Iran without any preconditions, likening it to meetings between former American Presidents and the leaders of the Soviet Union," said McCain. "Such a statement betrays the depth of Senator Obama’s inexperience and reckless judgment. Some Republicans revolt against McCain's Lies

Also Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama continued their tussle over foreign policy Tuesday, shifting their argument to whether the U.S. should engage Cuba's communist regime. Sen. John McCain addresses a town hall meeting in Miami, Florida, Tuesday. Over the last few days, the two have sparred over whether the U.S. should engage diplomatically with another regime considered hostile to the U.S. -- Iran. At a Tuesday campaign event in Miami, Florida, McCain attacked Obama's position in favor of a possible relaxation of the Cuban embargo policy and discussions with the leadership of the island nation.

"These steps would send the worst possible signal to Cuba's dictators -- there is no need to undertake fundamental reforms, they can simply wait for a unilateral change in U.S. policy. I believe we should give hope to the Cuban people, not to the Castro regime," said the presumed Republican nominee, saying the embargo needed to remain in place until the Cuban government democratized. Watch McCain blast Obama's stance toward Cuba »

But in an interview with CNN, Obama, the front-runner in the Democratic presidential race and potentially McCain's rival in the general election, said McCain had mischaracterized his position on Cuba. "I have never said that I was prepared to immediately normalize relations with Cuba," Obama said. "The only person who has flip-flopped on this issue is John McCain, who in 2000 said that he would be prepared to start normalizing relations even if a whole host of steps have not been taken. That is a reversal from the position he is taking now." Obama said Tuesday that his policy, which would loosen restrictions on remittances from Cubans living in the United States to relatives on the island, and on their travel between the United States and Cuba would be "a show of good faith" that would help move the U.S.-Cuba relationship "in the direction of normalization." McCain just won't stop lying

My question is will republicans start Jumping ship as they realize the continued lies and war mongering of McCain and what thet would mean to our and the worlds future?

James Joiner

Gardner Ma

http://www.anaveragepatriot.com/

When I heard Bush's remarks on Iran were edited Knowing we can trust no one I couldn't figure out the truth or who it really benefited. Help! plus...

White House criticizes NBC News' editing of Bush interview ???

Omitting the president's sentences is called 'deceitful.' He was answering a question about whether his comments in Israel on negotiating with terrorists were directed at Barack Obama. The White House criticized NBC News on Monday for what aides to President Bush called "deceitful" editing of an interview in which Bush was asked whether comments about the president of Iran were directed at Sen. Barack Obama.

Bush aides were angered by the way the president's answer was portrayed when correspondent Richard Engel asked about his address to the Israeli parliament last week.Bush had mentioned the president of Iran in the speech and said: "Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along." Obama, the front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination, considered that an attack on him. The White House denied it.

Engel asked Bush if he had been referring to Obama. As it appeared on “Nightly News” on Sunday and the “Today” show#24696422 on Monday, Bush's response was: "You know, my policies haven't changed, but evidently the political calendar has. . . . And when, you know, a leader of Iran says that they want to destroy Israel, you've got to take those words seriously." NBC deleted the following passage between those sentences: "People need to read the speech. You didn't get it exactly right, either. What I said was that we need to take the words of people seriously."

Bush counsel Ed Gillespie, in a letter to NBC, said that "this deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured story line is utterly misleading and irresponsible." The unedited Bush interview#24696309 is on the network's website, NBC noted, saying the reporting accurately reflected the interview. Gillespie said: "It's simply absurd for people to have to log onto the Internet and stream video to get accurate information from NBC News."
In NBC's nightly newscast Monday, anchor Brian Williams noted that the White House objected to the editing. who does this really benefit

The White House launched an unusual attack on a national news network yesterday for its editing of an interview with President Bush, whose controversial speech comparing negotiations with Iran to the appeasement of Nazis has prompted debate in Washington and on the presidential campaign trail. In a letter to NBC News President Steve Capus, presidential counselor Ed Gillespie complained that a report on the "Today" show distorted Bush's remarks last week to the Israeli Knesset and did not include the president's objections to questions from reporter Richard Engel.

"This deceitful editing to further a media-manufactured storyline is utterly misleading and irresponsible," Gillespie wrote, adding that NBC should air Bush's responses "in full." NBC News said in a statement that the story "accurately reflects the interview" and questioned the White House's criticisms. "NBC News, as part of a free press in a free society, makes its own editorial decisions," the statement read. The dispute illustrates the reverberations from Bush's speech on Thursday, in which he compared those who seek talks with Iran and radical Islamic groups to those who gave in to the Nazis before World War II. "We have an obligation to call this what it is -- the false comfort of appeasement," Bush said. he forgot to mention his Grandfather Prescott being complicit with the Nazi's and he forgot to mention the Senator he was talking about was a Republican.

Although Bush did not mention Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), the remarks were widely seen as an attack on the Democratic presidential front-runner, who has said he would be willing to talk with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad without preconditions during his first year in office. The presumptive GOP nominee, Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), said yesterday that Obama's willingness to talk with Iran reveals "inexperience and reckless judgment." "It is likely such a meeting would . . . fail to persuade him to abandon Iran's nuclear ambition, its support of terrorists and commitment to Israel's extinction," McCain said. Obama fired back that McCain was mimicking the policies of the Bush administration in which "anything but their failed cowboy diplomacy is called appeasement." "For all their tough talk, one thing you have to ask yourself is 'What are McCain and Bush afraid of?' " Obama said in Billings, Mont. "I'm not afraid we'll lose some propaganda fight with a dictator. It's time to win those battles, because we've watched George Bush lose them year after year after year."

The sparring provided a likely preview of a general-election fight to come between McCain and Obama, even as Obama's Democratic rival, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.), continued to prepare for primaries today in Kentucky and Oregon. "We're going to keep fighting for the nomination," Clinton said in Prestonsburg, Ky. The Obama campaign, which won the endorsement of five superdelegates yesterday, including Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), sees the calculus differently. With the pledged delegates Obama is likely to win today, he will have won a majority with only three contests left. He must win more superdelegates to officially claim the nomination.

Who benefits from this editing that to me seems useless? I refuse to believe that any MSM can do that and still be allowed to be involved. I did just see an article saying Barack proposed legislation on restraining the Media if he is elected and that is way overdue in this increasingly underhanded environment! I also am dismayed that Hillary just flat out refuses to go away. I also heard that Obama picked up another 25 Delegates. It is only a matter of time. We must get this going between Obama and McCain sooner than later. I firmly believe it will be to our benefit and draw more people to Obama making an underhanded move to stay in power by Bush or to steal the election for McCain not impossible but much more consequential! Please give me your input on any or all of this!

James Joiner

Gardner Ma

www.anaveragepatriot.com