"The relatively modest investment of about $16 Million between 1998 and 2004 to select political organizations has been remarkably effective at manufacturing uncertainty" Report by the Union of Concerned Scientists commenting about Exxon Mobil’s expenditure of millions in order to manipulate public opinion about global warming to create confusion.
For a long time I have admired Dorothy Day as a modern day saint. She was a normal human being who made moral mistakes during her life yet came to a point where she was able to devote her life to her religious principles. For me, love of God has been a lot easier then the second commandment of love of neighbor. Love of God allows me to have a telephone booth relationship with God. I go in the booth,…
I received a Radio Spirits® catalog and had fun looking through it at the many old time radio broadcasts I used to listen to. People of my generation did not grow up watching television. There was no television to watch. Instead, we had the public library and the radio to listen to. I can remember radio broadcasts where I was totally absorbed in listening to Westerns, comedy, suspense and stories about action hero’s. Books were another wonderful source of entertainment….
Underhanded dirty tricks to punish or intimidate one’s political enemies is nothing new in politics. Richard Nixon had his "dirty tricks" squad including people like Charles Colson & Gordon Liddy. Lyndon Johnson had his Bobby Baker and political administrations over time have had their "junk yard dogs’ – aides who leaked damaging information to press about an opponent or who made public attacks on a political opponent, leaving the politician free to disavow any connection. The Bush administration has used…
May 1, 2003: President George W. Bush – USS Abraham Lincoln Mission Accomplished speech: "Major combat operations in Iraq have ended. In the Battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed." July 2, 2003: "My answer is bring ’em on." —President George W. Bush, challenging militants attacking U.S. forces in Iraq, December 20, 2005: "My fellow citizens: Not only can we win the war in Iraq – we are winning the war in Iraq." January 11, 2006:…
In 2002 we learned for the first time just how close we had been to nuclear war in during the Cuban Missile crisis. A summit meeting was held in 2002 in Havana regarding the anniversary of the Cuban missile crisis with key participants from Russia, the U.S. and Cuba attending. Information was exchanged and newly declassified Russian documents disclosed. Following the meeting, The National Security Archive reported that participants had learned from the newly obtained information, that one man had…
While the Bush administration continues to stick its head in the sand regarding global warming, a new $100,000 report documents the cost to Washington State from global warning. The report, "Impacts of Climate Change on Washington’s Economy" was the result of a study by Washington and Oregon researchers. The report concludes that "It’s safe to say that virtually every aspect of the state’s economy will be effected by climate change." The report found that increased carbon dioxide will mean higher…
I previously reported on the shameful amount of money being paid outgoing Home Depot CEO Robert Nardelli (1/3/07). Now a group of shareholders have sued to stop the company from paying him a $210 Million dollar prize as he exits the company by resigning. Suit was filed in Georgia asking for an injunction to stop payment. The suit alleges "Nardelli’s tenure has been marked by abuse of shareholders and disappointing shareholder returns. There has been widespread criticisms of Nardelli’s lack…
A 9th Circuit Federal Appeals Court on Friday reduced the verdict against ExxonMobil for its 1989 Prince Williams Sound oil spill which dumped eleven million gallons of crude oil along 1500 miles of shoreline. The original $5 Billion dollar award was reduced by the court to $2.5 Billion dollars in a 2 – 1 opinion. In 1994 an Alaska jury awarded the original verdict on behalf of some 34,000 fisherman who had been damaged by the spill. An appeal to…
The Seattle PI today reports that on Tuesday President Bush announced he was lifting a ban on oil and gas drilling in Alaska’s Bristol Bay. His action now allows the Interior Department to allow drilling on some 5.6 million acres as part of a five year leasing plan. Bristol Bay leases would be available in 2010 And 2012. Given Mr. Bush’s appointments to the Interior Department of people who support oil industry interests, the Department is expected to rubber stamp…
