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Subscribe to RSSThe League of Conservation Voters is going up with a $500,000 ad buy to run through Oct. 7 in Denver ahead of Wednesday's debate hitting Mitt Romney on his opposition to the wind tax credit.
It features a man -- Chris Maese, of Pueblo, CO -- who says he was a worker at a wind turbine facility in Pueblo and blames Romney's opposition to the tax credit for him losing his job.
"Until a few weeks ago, I had a job building wind turbines," Maese says in the ad, adding, "I got laid off because Mitt Romney and his friends in Congress want to eliminate tax credits for the wind industry. I think Mitt Romney is not in touch with the little guy. He's always been a supporter of big oil. He has friends that are in the big oil industry. That might be great for Mitt Romney and big oil, but try telling that to my kids."
To back up its claim, the group writes in a press release: "Politico reported that senior Senate sources have said that Romney’s opposition to extending the PTC 'derailed' a bipartisan Senate agreement to renew the tax credit. The New York Times similarly reported that 'Senate Republicans removed' the PTC extension from the Senate Finance Committee’s tax extenders package 'to show their loyalty' to Romney. Two weeks later, Vestas announced the layoffs at its Pueblo facility."
Brian Snyder / Reuters
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney departs his campaign headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts September 30, 2012.
Romney's opposition to the Production Tax Credit is something President Obama has pushed in states like Colorado and Iowa, where estimates are that there are about 12,000 jobs in the wind industry. In Iowa, Republicans -- from the state's governor, Sen. Chuck Grassley, and even Rep. Steve King -- are on the opposite side as Romney and criticized him for it.
Ad buyer and NBC partner SMG Delta confirms the ad buy -- $475,000 on local broadcast and another $25,000 on cable.
Leave a Comment:
I do not understand today's Republican Party being so anti-environment and anti-technology. Our Tea Party governor also speaks derisively of wind and tidal turbines, industries Maine actually has an opportunity to lead the nation in developing.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has spent 1 million dollars attacking Independent candidate for senate Angus King, citing his business interests in wind technology. The irony is, those who know Angus King the best, business leaders who are members of the Maine Chamber of Commerce, are backing his candidacy because he is pro-business.
You might ask yourself that question about why Kennedy's were so opposed to a wind farm in Cape Cod. Seems like they didn't want their ocean view obscured by such an energy saver.
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/ken-shepherd/2010/04/29/wapo-buries-kennedy-opposition-cape-code-wind-farm-paragraph-14
If the government subsidizes alternate energy sources, that can make them cost effective enough to compete with fossil fuels, and the fossil fuel industry really doesn't like any kind of downward pressure on their prices and profits.
Amy B. Portland, ME
I do not understand today's Republican Party being so anti-environment and anti-technology. Our Tea Party governor also speaks derisively of wind and tidal turbines, industries Maine actually has an opportunity to lead the nation in developing
Amy Great point
The issue is not worth the money for the right wing supporters. It not just the US Chamber of Commerce against energy' it the filthy polluting Koch bros and that ALEC. Of course we know "MYTH" does not have neither the mental effort nor the emotional resources to realize how clean energy effects not just our economy but our health and the health of the planet; since he is out of touch with the universe.
4 more 4 44
Obama/Biden 2012
Bev I see you ignored that the beloved Ted Kennedy was the major opponent of wind farms in Cape Cod.
ksw62118
Bev I see you ignored that the beloved Ted Kennedy was the major opponent of wind farms in Cape Cod.
News Busters? Isn't that the outfit run by that clown Brent Bozell who lives on FOX NOISE'S Hannity?
Buried deep in your inept link is the opposition had a lot more to do with envirovental hazard and the Wampanoag Native American tribes that the turbines would disturb spiritual sun greetings and ancient burial grounds now covered by the sea.
the us chamber of commerce is nothing but a mouth piece, as is every state chamber of commerce, for the big corps and nothing else! do not be mis-lead by a name.
big oil and gas are doing to the wind/solar energy what they did to the electric car, they bought it up and threw it in moth balls.
just look around the world, wind and solar work. and these big box stores who are members are placing solar on their bldg roofs and over parking structures to run their utilities and yet their leaders blast the industries???
put the dems in, take away the oil subsidies and give them to wind and solar and lets reduce cost and improve air quality and the enviroment! obama/biden/dems 2012
Sorry Bev you can try to discredit the source (a common political tactic) but here are several others to support the truth.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/16/us/wind-farm-faa/index.html
http://www.capewind.org/article108.htm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/12/robert-f-kennedy-jr-expla_n_573958.html
ksw, Reality is a fox news conspiracy theory to Bev. with Bev and most lefty posters, nihil novi sub sole
Caesar -
Republicans ignore FACTS because they think they have a Liberal Bias.....
Amy B. Portland, ME
You expect too much. First they have to accept evolution before they can move on to other things.
nice try TNS. what a joke that statement is. ksw went further to show that even your liberal sites supported his statement. So what about FACTS again? I kinda thought so. But with BEV, everything is a 'fixed noise' conspiracy. LMAO @ YOU!
Amy,
Maybe the President ahould be more concerned about this news from Colorado:
Real Unemployment Reaches 20% In 7 Colorado Counties
September 28, 2012
DENVER — The slowest economic recovery since World War II is going especially slow for sections of Colorado, according to a letter from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (CDLE) obtained by The Colorado Observer.
In seven counties in Colorado unemployed individuals are close to or exceeding 20% of the population, a letter from the Chief Economist of CDLE to the U.S. Department of Agriculture says.
http://thecoloradoobserver.com/2012/09/real-unemployment-reaches-20-in-7-colorado-counties/
Amy -- Well said! Republicans in IOWA are very angry with Romney on his position on wind energy. So much so that they cancelled a fund raiser with him.
Ballie -- LOL.
Republicans want to keep us dependent upon foreign oil. They are pro big business. Wind farms are small business, and the GOP/TP hate small business.
Dont_carry_it_all
it's not funny - it's scary. There are people out there who believe that evolution is fake because monkies in zoos don't turn into humans....
Well, we all know Romney is pro-oil even though he recently dumped his investments which included securities from companies with ties to Iran & investments in the state-owned Chinese oil company just to sterilize his 2011 tax returns.
Bayllie,
Well then, where did Bachmann and Perry and the other members of the Seven Dwarfs come from, if not zoos?
ksw62118 - And your point? Ted Kennedy is not running - he's deceased. This is about the two candidates who ARE running.
You reference something from years ago. Please try to keep up. We are in 2012 most educated individuals know we need alternative energy sources. It is time we move from our dependence on oil and have other options. The fact that Romney is in the back pocket of big oil say it all.
Obama/Biden 2012
Ksw - Kennedy disapproved of the wind farm because of the potential for harm to wildlife. The FAA have had some misgivings due to the amount of low flying small plane traffic in the area - flights to nantucket and other coastal trips.
Some groups oppose it based on the NIMBY philosophy. Don't live anywhere near there but me personally would not mind the look aesthetically. The NIMBY philosophy is prevalent in my neck of the woods as well. I don't want those gas drilling (fracking) accidents waiting to happen in my neighborhood. We are already feeling the repurcussions or should I say tremors.
NBCDFW.com (Sept. 30, 2012)
___________—
Three earthquakes shook North Texas on Sunday and Saturday night.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirms a magnitude 2.1 earthquake occured Sunday at 10:41:09 p.m. The epicenter is 32.841°N, 96.930°W. The location is southeast of Las Colinas Country Club along Carl Road and north of Highway 183. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage.
Sunday night's earthquake was less than 24 hours after two other quakes. The U.S. Geological Survey confirms a magnitude 3.4 earthquake occured Saturday at 11:05:01 p.m. southwest of Las Colinas Country Club near North McArthur Blvd. and West Rochelle Road. That was followed by a magnitude 3.1 earthquake at 11:09:03 p.m at Loop 12 Walton Walker Blvd., just north of I-30 in far West Dallas
Jack in Portsmouth
Perry & Bachmann think they came from the Nice Man in the Sky aka God. I'll bet they don't believe in science, untill of course, it's time to benefit from the tax-payer-funded operation.
Please Yellowdog if you believe that I have some swamp land to sell you. The Kennedy's opposed because they didn't want their ocean view to be spoiled. I am not saying we shouldn't explore alternate fuel sources but those sources are not without cost for exploration. I am an avid supporter of the environment but many of those sources are not readily viable at this time at a low cost.
Ballie - I had a great laugh this weekend watching some TV evangelical program explain that early biblical texts fully support the concept that dinosaurs and humans frolicked side by side, splashing in streams, playing hide-and-seek, and other such pearls of wisdom. I have to admit, it was so utterly fascinating, I couldn't turn the channel.
The right wing freaks are so far out there, they have completely redefined the genre science fiction.
Once upon a time there was a radical president who tried to remake American society through government action. In his first term he created a vast network of federal grants to state and local governments for social programs that cost billions. He set up an imposing agency to regulate air and water emissions, and another to regulate workers’ health and safety. Had Congress not stood in his way he would have gone much further. He tried to establish a guaranteed minimum income for all working families and, to top it off, proposed a national health plan that would have provided government insurance for low-income families, required employers to cover all their workers and set standards for private insurance. Thankfully for the country, his second term was cut short and his collectivist dreams were never realized....
....his name was Richard Nixon
Ballie -- The "neanderthals" roaming amongst us need only to look in the mirror when they complain we are falling behind in the world when it comes to science and math.
They can't add and they certainly don't understand science.
It is scary, agreed.
RedDevPS
Where do you think The Flinstones came from? Actually, The Flinstones was the first Jersey Shores -type of programming. REALTY TV!
ksw62118
Have you ever been to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket? There is nothing there...and that's the point.
But regardless, Kennedy is dead so why bring him up? Obama was and is for the wind power so stay on topic, and leave the dead guy out of it.
Good grief!
What's that great tearing sound I hear? Could it be the Republican's "Big Tent" beginning to shred? Surely reasonable Republicans can't continue to support this nonsense.
I read an article in the newspaper over the weekend where it explained that if industrialized countries, and particularly the United States, doesn't stop burning fossil fuels and turn to renewable energy, in 8 years global warming will be irreversible, and cause serious damage NOT JUST to the planet, but to human life as well.
Republicans continue to deny these extreme conditions exist because they gamble on fossil fuels on the stock market and make big money, which is why I don't believe Republicans' argument that they are concerned about their childrens and grandchildren's future.
If Republicans were concerned more about their children then they are about making money on the stock market, they'd address global warming immediately before it destroys the planet and our way of life.
Obama/Biden 2012
ksw62118.........
Democrats are not in favor of wind turbines EVERYWHERE.
But, you GOPeaParty folks are not in favor of wind turbines ANYWHERE.
You see: Your position is extreme. Our (democrats) position is moderate and reasonable.
Thanks for pointing that out.
See that wind turbine in my Avatar? That belongs to the company I hired here in upstate New York to make virtually all of our parts. I did it because it's the smart thing to do. I also have ~100% of my home electricty powered by a grid-connected solar system I installed on my roof last year. Walking the walk is important to me.
1) There are places where wind makes sense: there is wind (!), and no one objects.
2) Wind and other alternatives is the smart thing to do: there is a "no-return date" looming where we are GOING to melt our continantal ice. I'm just not OK with submerging Florida, even if I'm not personally going to see it.
Why is there even a debate? One place where you see hypocrisy about the Nantucket liberals? So what? Is that a reason to abandon a SMART technology everywhere? Some things are not a left-right issue. Jeez.
Ian:
Very good point; any technology can be abused. I support solar panels on roofs, but not when they cover productive farm land.
Environmentalist vote
4 more 4 44
Then why do you deny the pursuit of clean reliable energy using the excuse a rich man didn't want his view blocked? It doesn't require exploration for wind energy, it's all around us. If you truly do support the environment why make up feeble excuses to support it's demise? There's plenty of wide open spaces in Colorado where wind power could generate tremendous amounts of clean energy. Don't dismiss it to make some kind of point.
.Obama the promise BREAKER!! Equals a LIAR!!! BIG EMBARRASSMENT to the USA!!!
Obama’s promise that his healthcare proposals would “never be purchased with [a] tax increase on middle-class families.” The SUPREME COURT & JUSTICE DEPT say it is a TAX!!! .Attack on the middle Class! Taxation by misrepresentation---the LARGEST TAX in World History!!! Does he remove the tax part????....NO!!!
…….…NOW Obama wants to invade Syria and Iran!!!
..mr. American businessman..YOU DID NOT MAKE THAT!! It was stolen from the back of the worker---PURE MARXISM!!...this is PURE
…ANTI-American…tell it to Ford or Steve Jobs or the Mom& POP store on the corner>>>How is it that NON taxpayers built an Infrastructure??
…Now BOZOhussen tells the UN that the 9/11 attacks on USA embassy’s were from a lame youtube video!!. While Over-the-HILl’ry and the Fed Security depts. say it was Al-Qaeda Islamic Terrorists… He tells the UN that NO where in the World should anyone be able to say anything against Islam or its profit( yes spelled that way on purpose~~). The Constitutional genius has forgotten the 1st Amendment!!.. TOtaLLY Un-American!!
Remember these?
THE OBAMA CHRONICLES:
“I promise 100% transparency in my administration.”.
“I promise NO NEW TAXES on a family making less than $250K a year.”.
“I will allow 5 days of public comment before I sign any bills.”.
“I will remove earmarks from PORK projects before I sign any bill.”.
“I will end Income Tax for seniors making less than $50K a year.”.
"I will bring ALL of our troops home within ONE year."
“I’ll put the Health Care negotiations on CSPAN so everyone can see who is at the table!”.
“I’ll have no lobbyists in my administration."
"I'll close Guantanamo."
"I'll resign if I don't cut the deficit in half by the end of four years."
"I'll unite the people of this great country."
“The TROOPS will be home for CHRISTMAS.” WHY ARE MORE LEAVING EVERYDAY???? AND DYING every day…
NOW Obama invokes Executive Privilege( as a Sen. called it’s use a RUSE!) for Holder on GUN SMUGGLING and killing US Agent Brain Terry!!! That only applies if Obama was part of it!! Obama & Holder should be on trial for giving Machine Guns to the Mexican Drug cartels!!
BETTER KNOWN AS LIES.
Fool me once shame on YOU!
Fool me twice shame on ME!
Even Joe BIDEN has endorsed ROMNEY for Prez!!!!
BozoHussan=Chicago MOB politics=NBC=GE= no taxes from the bought and paid for cronies ==twist every crises toward Pravda PressPROPAGANDA!!
$$$$16 Trillion in Debt….that is 12 zeros… the population of USA is 320 Million,,6 zeros===$$$ 50 Thousand for every Man&Woman&Child!!
Yet Reid –Senate & Obama-White House control do not want to balance the Budget!! These numbers do nor count the obamaDoNOTcare act that is the Largest TAX in World history…No ONE can afford it!!! There is only one reason that these numbers do NOT worry you…you think that you are Entitled to free ride and you will not have to pay!!! . Sober up America!!!
Others have already spoken about NIMBY so...
dangerfield - He set up an imposing agency to regulate air and water emissions, and another to regulate workers’ health and safety.
The EPA and OSHA still the bane of modern conservative's life and their primary sources of wailing. Just consider my recent conversation with Brianb about OSHA and other regulations.
A note, most democrats understand the view of government having a responsibility to protect and serve people equally through legislation and a common concern for others. Most conservatives believe that the less government regulations in place enables corporations to drive the market whether it be on the topic of energy or any other.
The things they fail to see is that the corporations they so devoutly praise have no obligation to them. Corporations are there for a profit often made at the citizen's expense. The GOP other major tenent is to make government smaller, irregardless that this will only diminish the public needs and making them secondary.
Things to think about corporations...Source below.
Corporations govern our lives with little accountability without proper regulations.
Corporations intrude on our personal lives by collecting private information about us and tracking us on our computers for marketing or other reasons.
Health insurance companies make decisions about your life based on their goal to maximize profits.
Energy companies employ lobbyists to write bills that will maximize short term profit and gain without concern about what it may do to the public or the environment. (1)
1. The Litte Blue Book - George Lakoff
SmBusOwner - Did you do this because of a government tax credit, or because you feel it is the smart thing to do? I will agree with you that it is the smart thing to do. My problem is why won't people use wind turbines unless the government gives them tax credits? To many people and businesses feel that the government should pay for their benefits from alternative energy sources. BTW, solar and wind power are not new energy sources, both have been around for many years.
I don't believe the government should be giving tax credits for any energy source or subsidies to any businesses including farmers. If one's product is good and affordable the public will buy it.
Both really. Sure, I took credits and incentives. They are there to encourage. Governments do this all the time. Oil has been getting subsidies for over 100 years. Local governments give sports teams tax breaks to install the new stadium because it will benefit the community. We get a mortgage deduction for our interest expense. These kinds of things are all over the place. Everything does not stand on its own initially. For solar and wind, subsidies help the industry. If our government would fight just as hard to stop Chinese solar dumping, we wouldn't have had the solar companiy failures, but that would have been political, wouldn't it? I like to think of investments like this from the prism of "is this going to be good for the country (or community)" rather than politically. I'm political and have plenty of opinions, but when you're talking about OUR government making expenditures (direct or through tax incentive), it had better make sense for us all.
@YellowDog
My beef with the EPA is that they are trying to implement the Administration policies, when these policies cannot get past congress. It is another extension of executive power. If you don't like the Congress you'll get your chance to change it in November.
@sfcret
Like your pro-market approach. I wish we would see more pro-market politicians and less pro-business politicians. Stop trying to pick winners.
@smbusownerinNY
How is it good for the country if by the time you have to replace your solar panels the money the government borrowed to pay for them is still costing interest? This is the issue right now. The total government revenue is spent on Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and interest. Everything else is borrowed. The government's contribution to your solar panels will never have a positive return so that money will cost the future generations as far as the eye can see.
sfcret.......you said:
1. The PRODUCTION costs of fossil fuels (particular coal and middle-eastern petroleum) is quite low (however, the supply is quite limited). This allows fossil fuels producers to engage in predatory pricing to prevent others (i.e. wind, solar, etc.) from entering the energy markets. They have done this several times in the past (most notably during the Reagan administrations).
2. The environmental costs (of fossil fuels) is not factored into their market prices. This gives them a competitive advantage over green energies which have far less environmental consequences but higher costs of production.
The GOPeaParty has systematically defended these (true) subsidies enjoyed by the fossil fuels industries.
If and when fossil fuels companies are required to pay for their environmental damages and are prevented from engaging in predatory pricing, green energies (i.e. wind, solar, etc.) would require no subsidies.
I actually agree with your statement regarding environmental costs. However, who decides what the "true" costs are, and how does the economy cope with the economic impact of higher energy costs. Further, how do you enforce the "true" environmental costs on foreign producers. Not much point in reducing coal and oil here simply for China to suck up the resources. I also wonder what the cost would be on the major producers like Russia.
"American Girl" makes the statement that we have 8 years. I have seen no feasible plan to reduce fossil fuels to any meaningful level that would not devastate the economy. I also do not believe in putting too much government money into a particular source. Look at the mistake that was ethanol.
Alan, NJ........you said:
Fortunately, it isn't necessary to decide what the "true" costs are. It is only necessary to take measures that make green energies sufficiently competitive so they will be developed and deployed.
Europe (including Germany) has been "coping" with substantially higher fossil fuels costs (than has the U.S.) for several decades. Obviously, it is (as Germany proves) possible to "cope".
It is not our job to "enforce the 'true' environmental costs on foreign producers". That job will be accomplished by reality and their own populations.
The answer to (even cheap) folly by others is not to follow. It is to wisely lead in a better direction.
This is what President Obama means when he says "our path is a hard one, but it leads to a better place".
BTW---ethanol is not a mistake. Look at Brazil's program. Success lies in how it is implemented. If we can switch our feedstocks from sugars (i.e. corn) to cellulose (wood waste, switch grass, etc.), ethanol will be a spectacular success. Sufficient R&D will allow us to make that switch.
Alan,
My subsidy came from the part of the budget that was paid for already ;- )
Seriously though, an investment in infrastructure is OK to pay for over time. A wind turbine of solar panel will be producing for 25 or maybe even 50 years (the wind turbine should last that long anyway).
Money is free right now anyway. The cost to borrow is less than inflation. THIS is the time to be investing in things that will put people to work and helping our future (i.e. avoiding those rising seas--which will cost a lot, don't cha know?)
ksw62118........and here I did not even know Kennedy was running for resident this time !
Dangerfield: some very good points.
And don't forget, it was Nixon that first went to China and began talking to the Russians about reducing nuclear arms. Not sure if the China thing is a good thing. :)
I have to laugh at all of this! As I have said before I work for staunch Republicans borderline birthers.
Went to the fax machine on Friday and there was all of this paperwork on solar for one of my bosses.
Hummmm - I remember him debunking that when solar first came out and years later.
I believe he has some money invested in the Big Oil companies too!
Government subsidies of alternate energy are no different than Asian countries subsidizing flat panel displays. All new technology (think moon mission) is expensive because there will be failures as well as successes. It all depends on whether a country wants to be a leader or a follower. Whether you want to profits that are sure to follow to come to US companies or foreign countries.
But that's not what we did. We went big for corn based ethanol and it was promoted as a win-win. Now we can't get ourselves off of the subsidies because their are too many vested interests and it's been shown to be more environmentally destructive than gasoline. Its actually a lose-lose. As to Germany is not as green as you like to think, unless you are open to nuclear.
You may also be interested in this effect of the German experiment
http://notrickszone.com/2012/05/01/germany-succeeds-making-energy-unaffordable-for-15-of-its-population-600000-households-disconnected-annually/
And here is further opinion that Germany will turn away from green energy and more towards conservation.
In any conversation about alternative energies, it is good to remember that the US once led the world in these. Then, Ronald Reagan repealed the tax credits for these industries and they moved overseas.
China has invested aggressively in solar and now they lead the world in this technology. They can produce them more cheaply there than we can here. That does not mean that the US cannot make breakthroughs in the next generation of solar technology, but we will have to invest aggressively as well. We are in a race in which Reagan gave away our lead, but we can regain the lead here, but at a higher rate of failure than we would otherwise have had.
shaak322
That's because they were supported by the hated Jimmy Carter. He also had the solar panels removed that Carter had installed on the White House roof. Whatever Carter did, Reagan opposed. Kind of like the Republicans of today. If the Democrats were to issue a policy paper saying it was a bad idea for people to bang their heads against brick walls, the entire Republican leadership would be in intensive care suffering from skull fractures and concussions.
When the government subsidizes alternative fuels they do it with our money.
When we use fossil fuels we pay taxes for the privilege.
Since the government has an insatiable appetite for money to spend the government should outlaw alternative fuel sources
Alan, NJ.......you said:
Conservation --IS-- green energy.
Regarding just one non-passive green energy in Germany (wind), take a look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power_in_Germany
If you don't have confidence in Wikipedia, refer to the many references in the article.
The fuel alcohol (originally known as gasohol) program in this country was ALWAYS intended to eventually use feedstocks that do not compete with the food industry. In fact, many alcohol proponents have argued we should be using methanol rather than ethanol since methanol (as the Germans proved in WWII) can be economically made from many more feedstocks than ethanol.
In a sense, alcohol fuel has been its own worst enemy in that its presence in the marketplace has worked to keep gasoline prices down. That relatively low price has stymied further research and development toward alcohol fuels.
Whether fuel ethanol subsidies should be continued given current market conditions is a fair subject for debate. We both know which side American grain farmers are on.
But, your assertion that ethanol is "more environmentally destructive" than pure gasoline is only opinion. No scientific consensus exists for that assertion. One thing is certain: ethanol is less environmentally damaging than tetra-ethyl lead. Many also consider it less damaging than MTBE. This, as you may know, is pertinent because ethanol, like those other two substances, boosts octane.
GOP stands for Ginormous Oil Partnership
and I thought it meant Gigantic Oil Profit Protectors!
GNOP don't need no fact checkers...GNOP CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!
C'mon Mythe - show us the 1040's! What ARE you hiding @?!
You're both wrong - it's Gross Old Perverts! Ask any woman!
Obama/Biden 2012
I thought it was Gooey Old Pricks!
Of all the things that "GOP" might stand for, what it does NOT stand for is "common sense"!
Obama/Biden 2012
We had the failed company Solyndra that Obama invested heavily in with American tax dollars, never mind the fact that this company was a huge investor in Obama's election in 2008. Now Obama wants to do with again with another solar company in Oregon. This company also invested in Obama's campaigns. Surprise, surprise.
JerseyGirl
Solyndra was one company that failed, but many others are succeeding.
Any venture capitalist will tell you that they only need one big winner to make up for many small losers. It is not much different when the government invests in new technology companies. Some losers were expected, but it is the progress that all green energy companies make, that will tell the story of our government's investment in green jobs.
shaak...
The government has no business in the venture capital business with my money!
Old fat guy,
Yet, I bet you are fine with subsidies for oil companies that made a record 137b profit last year.
Our government has been investing in new industry for many many years. It is why we are the world leader in many. When we stop these investments and other countries continue them, we will lose big time.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/08/15/faa-rules-cape-wind-project-poses-hazard-planes/OE2wjqPigBiff4jTi31gOP/story.html
That's the Romney we all love. Torture dogs and starve middle class and working poor. Give oil a slobbery tongue kiss, while getting groped by Shel Adelson.
Mitt: "What? Wind jobs!? The only wind I'm interested in, is the wind being expelled by my pampered ass." *flatulates* "Crap! Ann, clean up in aisle Mitty, I just shat myself."
Obama is only for the poor and the rich, he doesn't give a crap about the middle class. Ask yourself why so many poor voters vote for him? He supports the entitlement society to bring down Capitalism and redistribute the wealth. He also supports the wealthy and gladly takes their money for re-election. Can you say George Soros and Warren Buffet just to name a couple. Of course we can't forget all the rich movie stars.
Whether Obama cares for the middle class or not at least his plans won't screw us. Reagan's plan was to cut the top rate from 70% to 35% and pay for it with removing some unnamed deductions. Those unnamed deductions ended up being the credit card and consumer loan interest deduction. 90% of Reagan's tax cut went to the top 5% yet almost all of it was paid by the middle class. Fool me once.
Jersey Girl,
Your logic is astounding!! He supports the poor and rich? Yet you go on to say he takes from the rich to give to the poor? This makes little or no sense? Unless you are deeper than that, and you mean he plans to take some from the rich (higher tax rate) to strengthen the middle class by growing it from the poor, in which case more rich will be created because more demand will create more business opportunity.
Blaming Romney for something he didn't even vote on? Seems like they could come up with something a little more directly related to Romney.
NorCalModerate, I must say that you are correct. Personally I think the gist is that Romney would closely echo the sentiments of those who are, right now, able to vote on such issues. As far as blaming/attacking Mitt - it's just plain fun. Based on his career at Bain, it seems like he truly doesn't care about the common people, as they were almost always the first to go during a buyout ( I admit, that most of this comes from articles in liberal rags like Rolling Stone, et al.). I can't help it. I don't really care for Obama, but Romney feels slimy. You know, like when you wake up in the morning, swing your legs over the edge of the bed, and then, sqish, you step in that surprise that your dog left for you. Ewww.
I do enjoy reading your posts, however. They are concise, and bereft of the vulgarities that I enjoy employing.
Romney will is a good guy, you only see how the media portrays him. If the media had done the same thing to Obama, I doubt he would have gotten elected the first time. They totally ignored his connections to Chicago maffia and the Black theologist, Rev. Wright. They never spoke of his connection to Bill Ayers who was involved in bombing buildings during the late 60's where people were injured or killed. The only reason Bill Ayers never went to prison is because his family was very rich and well connected.
I think you slept thru the 2008 election, jersy
Nor cal-"Blaming Romney for something he didn't even vote on? Seems like they could come up with something a little more directly related to Romney."
Well how much more related to Romney could that be.From the story: "Politico reported that senior Senate sources have said that ROMNEY"S opposition to extending the PTC 'derailed' a bipartisan Senate agreement to renew the tax credit. The New York Times similarly reported that 'Senate Republicans removed' the PTC extension from the Senate Finance Committee’s tax extenders package 'to show their loyalty' to ROMNEY. Two weeks later, Vestas announced the layoffs at its Pueblo facility."
Looks pretty related to Romney to me.
Here's a few other thing's related to Romney:
1. When in Prep school he led a gang of boys who assaulted another boy and cut his hair off because he was gay.He was 17-18 then.Many courts try kids even 14 today as an adult for assault crimes.And today that would come under the "hate crimes" laws. But being the wealthy son of a governor I guess gives him a pass.He say's he doesn't remember it,though all the others in the gang have no problem remembering.
2.Also in Prep School and College he used to get his kicks dressing as a Michigan State Trooper,he used to pull over motorists posing as a trooper.A crime under Michigan law by the way.But again,being rich and connected lets you get away with a lot in his world.
3.To avoid the draft during the Vietnam War he goes off to Paris to do "missionary" work.Not some third world country,to bring Mormonism to the poor.But Paris,where I'm sure the French Catholic's were just as happy to have Mormons ring their doorbell's as most Americans are.Yet today he thinks it would be nice to dress-up as our military Commander in Chief.
4. During his time at Bain,a company known as a prime example of an outsourcer,shipping American jobs overseas . He brags to his fat cat donor's that Bain's job was to "Harvest" the companies it acquired.Like a surgeon harvesting body parts from the dead. He states that he "likes" to fire workers.And for icing on the cake,he lies about when he left Bain,and then is caught in the lie.
5.Before running for President he sold his huge investments in a Chinese Oil Company working hand in glove with Iranian Oil Companies trying to break our sanctions on Iran.Yet we are to believe this man would look out for America's interests in the world.
6.He won't talk details about his budget plans if he's elected President.But what little he does say is he will cut taxes on the wealthy,cutting revenue by billions,raise the military budget even more than Bush,and at the same time pay down the deficit.Unless he is an Alchemist that can turn lead in to gold, as people believed in the Middle Ages.His figures just can't add up.Unless that is,he plans on slicing up every program for the poor,the middle class,and senior citizens that is. But considering he likes to fire ,and is an expert in harvesting,that is probably what he plans.Which would be a good reason to not want to give out details.He knows that would not be accepted by most of the American people.
These are just a few things related to Romney for people to think over.If we add his record as governor of Mass.,his flip flop on almost every thing,his big donor Adelson also being the bankroller for Israels PM Netanyahu (which accounts for Romney's pro-war stand,and Netanyahu's pro-Romney stance) ,his picking Paul Ryan,almost as bad as Santorum,as a part of the extreme right-wing as his VP pick.And his not even knowing that plane windows don't open because the cabin is pressurized.And opening them in flight would kill you.The list of reasons why he shouldn't be President is endless.
The only real choice Nov.6th Obama/Biden.
NORCALMODERATE: YOU ARE CORRECT! I LIVE in Colorado, Denver, and just saw the ad tonight. WHAT is so blatant and obvious lies, is that this hispanic microbe says he lost his job because Romney voted to do away with taX CREDITS FOR ALTERNATE energy sources... and so this pathetic microbe lost his job..... THE TRUTH: This company also has a plant in Wndsor, Co... just north of Denver. They have been laying people off because of this suck wad economy. FURTHER MORE, ROMNEY NEVER was in ANY position to effect ANY tax credits that influence wind power. THE AD is nothing but lies and yet, these STUPID brain dead supporters of Obama accept the ad as a truth!! FURTHER more, these people are so desperate, they will say anything and distract from Obama's failed policies.... THESE are the ones that are MORE DANGEROUS to the U S than Alquida!
UNCLE BOB: You are a parasitic micobe, pathological liar that is void of any brain wave pattern and cognitive process!! YOU embody stupidity! >>>>>>THE ONLY REAL CHOICE is Romney and Ryan... we already KNOW, that FOUR YEARS of failures and lies IS NOT THE CHOICE to MAKE!!!
It isn't a matter of placing blame. If you're a business that depends on subsidies do you support a candidate that opposes you getting them? Sad anyone would have to point out something so obvious.
So,Eric I assume your maybe 12,at least mentally.Besides insulting me,I noticed you didn't refute one single thing I said.The reason being that everything I wrote has been reported in papers over and over in the past.So until you have anything intelligent to say.Your insults just go to show anybody reading them what's wrong with the people supporting Romney. I guess Santorum was right when he said that the Republicans would never get the smart people to support them.
Odama/Biden the only intelligent choice.
Eric: Your logic is illogical. No company would spend $500,000 in ads against Romney declaring his policies would destroy their company and cost jobs just because they want to waste money. Opposing someone whose stated policies would ruin your business makes sense to most of us too bad it doesn't to you. You really think your name calling rants will swing people to Romney? He'd probably rather have ads like this one running than have people like you supporting him.
jerseygirl- I usually do not respond to your tripe, however, I am not sure what planet you were on during the 2008 run-up, but the planet I live on had 24/7 newscasts devoted to discussing Reverand Wright, Bill Ayers, etc ad infinitum and into perpetuity.
Now there are dozens of "books" available which will tell you any amount of boogeyman stories about some made up image of Barack Obama. The thing I find most funny is the Obama you all seem to despise is made up entriey of whole cloth, about 80% of all the boogeyman talk has NOTHING to do with the real Barack Obama, just some made up image about marxist, communist, muslim, neo-colonial BS.
Smackwhackle, thanks!... I think!! Lol!
More of Rmoney's hipppocracy. He says he has plans to create jobs but then he in private, he advocates Republican actions that remove the Production Tax Credit, leading to lay-offs at a wind turbine manufacturer. Sadly, it makes sense, because his friends in the oil business want to kill off any tax incentives for development of alternative energy resources. It is important to ask, "What is the best path forward for US energy policy?" It seems prudent to continue development of alternative energy resources, for three reasons; First, even though there may be sufficient fossil fuels (oil, nat gas, coal) available to meet our needs today, those resources are non-renewable, and will eventually be depleated. Secondly, despite the on-going chorus of global-warming deniers, there continues to be mounting evidence that climate change is taking place. Again, the prudent course of action is to advance technology that will reduce the need for burning the fossil fuels that contribute to the problem. And third, the US has the opportunity to build a new industry in alternative energy production that could be a leader in the world economy. If the problems with climate change continue to increase, then this market will most certainly expand, and we should sieze this opprotunity to stay in front of it. Creating real jobs in a growing inustry will do far more to help our economy than giving more tax breaks to big oil companies.
gbard1
Creating real jobs in a growing inustry will do far more to help our economy than giving more tax breaks to big oil companies
I agree.
Or wind power companies. Tax breaks and subsidies cost us all in the end. So, it wouldn't be any cheaper in the long run, just a redistribution of cost. We would all have to pay.
Please stop making sense the RWNJs that post here can't hear you.
Excellent post.
Wind power is forever, an oil well has a limited life. A tax credit for wind farms will generate clean energy forever. Oil is already so profitable the need for tax breaks is absurd. Anyone really believe oil companies wouldn't drill without tax breaks?
"Wind power is forever."
Except when the wind doesnt blow.
What is forever is massive taxpayer handouts to corporate cronies running these money losing wind power farms...
Solyndra type failures, all of them.
Bob in Virginia - yeah, that's why they are having to temporarily shut down some of the turbines out west that are producing TOO MUCH power.
Stupidity - that's all the far right has!
Obama/Biden 2012
Republicans hate "wasted" money invested in wind energy but support 10's of billions every year in subsidies for ethanol and paying gentlemen farmers not to plant during food shortages. Republican hypocrisy at it's finest. At least when a subsidized wind farm begins creating energy it continues to do so for 40 - 50 years before needing upgrading. How long does that gallon of ethanol last?
Republicans don't care about America. Otherwise why did the republicans just vote against jobs for our returning veterans?
Why have republicans repeatedly voted against jobs?
Remember in 2010 the republicans ran on jobs, jobs, jobs. And no jobs.
Now the republicans are running on jobs again. Now they claim that Romney who could not produce jobs when governor suddenly can now produce jobs while giving himself more tax cuts.
The very same Mitt the twit who can't release his tax returns because they prove that Romney was a terrible businessman.
VOTE FOR AMERICA...VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT 2012
It looks like you have issues! Yes, voting for Odumbo ,is certainly nothing to be proud of. Most people with even a little bit of common sense, will definitely not admit voting for this worthless idiot in 2008! With all of the LIES, FRAUD, AND CORRUPTION attached to this idiot, no one with even a half of a brain could vote for this piece of crap I hope this helps you, good luck!
dandydon1 - people of intelligence and integrity have no problem saying they voted for President Obama in 2008 and will do so again this year. The low information voters like yourself can't possibly understand that!
Obama/Biden 2012
AF - you need to do some research and see what was in that bill that was objected to. Then come back and tell us all if you would have passed it with the junk in it.
You seriously claim republicans won't pass anything because of attached pork? Who do you think the kings of pork are? You're the one making the claim you prove it.
AF - The bill for Veterans was full of junk and put out there as a political ploy only. There are already numerous job bills and other programs for out Veterans, at least 8 currently in effect.
This is what's wrong with Washington, they just keep adding more and more programs instead of auditing and adding to or deleting current programs. Look at the GAO reports and you can find that billions of dollars are being spent because of fraud, duplication of programs and waste.
Republicans are the kings of pork. Built a bridge to nowhere lately?
Bush campaign promise:
"To restore confidence in government, [George W. Bush] will…attack pork-barrel spending."
After elected fact:
This guy is a illegal, and probably spent most of his time sleeping on the job! I would get rid of this parasite too! *** Light bulb moment****** the windfarms are subsidized by the government and paid for them on the taxpayers dollar! They are there to produce power, and reduce power costs to the taxpayer. Odumbo's plan, (as stupid as it is) is to shut them down when they are producing too much electricity.. LOOK, ODUMBO, THAT IS NOT WHAT THEY ARE FOR! This character has no experience in anything except being a perfect IDIOT! ANYONE else that can stand 4 more years of his stupidity has to be a idiot, also. Come on damocrats, wake up from your coma, and let's take this country back! (Just search windfarms shut down)
dandydon1 - after trying to read your post I can say the "DUMBO" here is you. The total idiotcy of your post is beyond belief. The fact that you actually wanted others to read it is pitiful!
Obama/Biden 2012
Seeking sanity... The name fits you. As crazy as it sounds, The government pays them to build windmills and produce power, and then when they do produce too much, then the government (Odumbo) pays them again to cut back! This is just more of the same idiotic Odumbo policys. Let's vote Odumbo out in november, and help to get this country back on track. Try to get off of your food stamps, and get a job!
dandydon1 - prove it! You make stupid accusations - prove them. Post a source.
And, yes, still seeking sanity in the GOP but as people like you prove daily, there is none to be found!
Obama/Biden 2012
seeking sanity****On the google, or any other "search" screen type in***windmills shut down for producing too much power***Any gradeschool kid can do it! Yes, this is just another Odumbo program!
dandydon1 - you should probably learn to differentiate between what you write and reality. IF YOU actually bothered to read, the wind turbines may be shut down, temporarily, for creating too much power and for endangering salmon during the melt season. Also, it proved we need more work done to be able to move the excess energy from one grid to another. Not a bad problem to have and certainly the right way for the country to be moving.
Get a clue - your post wasn't even close to being factual.
And, if you're following someone names Odumbo - that's your stupidity.
Our President - President Obama, has us heading in the right direction with renewable and clean, abundant energy. And, improving the transmission of energy will add thousands of jobs!
Obama/Biden 2012
dandydon
I looked up what you referenced, and all I found was that Washington State did have to shut down some of the wind turbines due to producing too much electricity that the grid couldn't handle it; with competing electricity being produced from the hydro electric dams. The true meaning from your post is that we need to upgrade our entire electrical grid. It is over 50 years old. This isn't something to blame Obama, but, part of what Obama has been stating for over 2 years.
Lets invest in America's infrastructure; bridges, roads, electric grid, water mains and sewers, upgrading the phone lines, power lines, cellphone towers, etc. Part of the problem is that republicans have said no to all of this. If anything, start blaming the republicans who won't start doing the upgrades to help America grow and strive to keep up with technology.
JackieK - and that would create HOW many jobs? Thousands - so it makes good sense, right? Republicans will just NEVER get it!
Obama/Biden 2012
SeekingSanity: Why feed the idiots? He has earned his(?) ignore. ☺
Obama/Biden for the sake of our planet.
Dandydon: And yet despite your claim the owners of these wind farms are spending half a million dollars bashing Romney and his influence in shutting them down which would mean Obama's reelected. Educate yourself before you make yourself appear more foolish. If that's possible. Typical republican rant without a lick of sense.
Seeking Sanity,
Amen....I didn't want to introduce the jobs idea into my post because I was trying to let dandydon off easy by showing him that it is really the republicans that are costing the taxpayers money, not Obama. I wholeheartedly agree that thousands, if not tens of thousands of jobs could be produced if we had the will power to actually upgrade the electric grid, the underground wires, and cellphone towers to keep up with demand and technology. I believe that our aged, worn out electric grid has been a topic of national security for the past several years too; but, the republicans would rather we be vulnerable to a possible terrorist attack than beef up national security. Thanks for your response.
Solar and wind power have been hyped as the 'next big thing' since the Carter Administration.
Just another excuse for liberals to raid the public treasury and dole out tax dollars to their corporate cronies...
Bob,
And coal and oil haven't been doing the same thing for over 50 years, mainly with republicans...hypocrisy there. Coal and oil are not infinite, and we will run out; besides shooting out emissions, and harvesting the energy that destroys the environment. The republicans have been in coal and oil back pockets and dictate the energy prices now. If liberals are going for renewable energy that doesn't hurt the environment, then who is on the winning side.
Bob in VA - and that's how long the idiots of the far right have been blocking the new energy sources. You'd think by now you guys would have wised up but NO!
Obama/Biden 2012
Dumber than a sack of hammers!
I am not even going to bother defending this statement. The evidence is obvious from the leader of the party and their lame party platform and down through the ranks to those poor, lowly TeaBaggers that obviously don't know any better.
Much evidence is available in these posts. If you have time to waste just try reading some of them..... zzzzzzzzzz!
All Romney supporter that are fat, narcissistic, overindulged, bloated and greedy and basically undeserving of the ridiculous wealth you have been allowed to accumulate ( +35 yr. of policies favoring the rich over the working middle class). I can understand why you want to keep suckling that nipple and encouraging people to keep drinking the Kool Aid.
All other Romney supporters- Please read the first line above.
All rational humans- Vote Obama/Biden The only logical choice and the only party FOR THE PEOPLE.
To Rob k45*****Close your eyes for 10 seconds, and dream about bunnies! When I snap my fingers, you will come out of your Odumbo trance, and back to reality. I hope this helps you, good luck. Let me know how you make out!
We all need to Vote a Straight Democratic Ticket and clean out that rat hole republican-tea bag Congress.
Job 1***You need to read the above post and do the same thing. WE have to get you out of your trance! Get back with me, and let me know how you make out. We need to get you out of your Odumbo trance. I'm sure that you will all thank me later!
dandydon1.......
Is your intent to criticize President Obama's intellect or his ears?
Are you aware your candidate seems perfectly suited for Omega Theta Pi (in Animal House) ? Good grief.....he is even an intolerant bully who talks tough but takes a vacation in France rather than risk a tour in Vietnam.
BTW----Why should you believe a Romney administration would be any less incompetent than his campaign?
Seriously.....is Romney the best you folks have to offer?
Ian - Seriously.....is Romney the best you folks have to offer? Actually he is! Isn't that frightening????
Obama/Biden 2012
@ Job1: It's F'n IDIOTS like you that have destroyed this country. Vote 100% partisan! IDIOT!
Hmmm SS... Change it back...
So you want to go back to losing 750k jobs a month? Bigger government? Greed and War mongering?
I bet you do vote 100% partisan, and are scared that this election might have a huge reversal from 2010.
Since the Reps have vowed to block anything from the Dems and refuse compromise. This is what they have said repeatedly. I would have to agree with Job1, vote an all Dem ticket this go. It would cause the Reps to drop their b@tsh!t crazy antics and really try to work for the American public again. Then start electing some back in 2014 and 2016.
We do need conservatives and liberals, they balance each other when they work together. We just don't need b@tsh!t crazy. Right now conservatives have been high-jacked by fanatics.
Same opposition to wind energy here in Kansas.
http://www.hutchnews.com/Editorialblogs/edit-pompeo-wind-tax-credit
Congressman Pompeo claims to oppose oil energy tax credits also. Haven't seen that happen yet and probably never will. The congressman knows where his bread is buttered and is sure isn't buttered by Siemens workers in Kansas. Kansas Republicans voted him into office .... what in the hell do Republicans have against progress?
Wind competes with gas and oil. When you're bought and paid for you don't bite the hand that feeds you.
Wind power cannot compete in the marketplace, unless the government hands our tax dollars to their cronies running wind farms...
Now shame on you for thinking that I am against Odumbo's values. I really like that new car that carney said he is proposing! The new energy efficient vehicle will have solar panels on the roof, hood, and sides. It will have a windmill mounted on the roof, and the trunk will open up with a toilet bowl there so when it is parked in a public area, everyone can use it to make a bowel movement in. He wants to get in there and stir it up, and eventually come up with methane gas. Wow, he wants to use methane gas to power it also. Yes this guy is so smart, I'm sure that you don't want him to get away! I would like to be around when he makes his trial run., or try to get it into the garage!
Bob, that is simply not true. All energy took decades to develop to where it was profitable. Look at Nuclear. Hundreds of billions and 30 years to make more electricity that it took to make it.
We have 3% of the worlds oil in all our lands and we consume 20% of the world's supply. It dont add up Bob. Oil is not our future and the 40 Billion annual subsidy should be taken away from big Oil and put into alternatives. Tax breaks should be given to alternative energy producers, the little guys who will be the energy giants of the future with some help.
Bob, your dinosaur thinking on energy is archaic and obsolete. Oil is running out and we are at the mercy of middle east countries for our energy future. We cannot drill our way to independence. We cannot be self sufficient on oil. DO THE MATH Bob.
You say wind power is not economical. That's not factual at all. You conservatives act like its all or nothing rather than all in. Biofuels are showing great promise and they are getting cheaper to produce all the time. Its also renewable.
The US has mass potential for vast Solar farms feeding the Southwest, Hydroelectric in the NW, thermal power serving Wyoming, Natural gas powering rigs instead of diesel, Wind power on the plains , electric and biofuel cars, fuel economy standards, ALL IN.
Its not a political issue Bob. Its an American all-hands innovation necessity. You will never get that Drill baby Drill will not lower your gas bill one cent nor stop it from rising. Oil is not America;s energy future. Oil is a geo-political dependence.
You say you want freedom, but here you are, keeping us dependent on other countries for energy. I submit you cant separate the politics out of it and therefore will equate change and alternatives as a dangerous and personal threat to your way of life.
The dinosaurs are dead Bob, and their final product of crude is running low. Alternative energy is the future despite pathetic attempts to politicize it and demonize it. Keep howling at the gates of progress, Bob, but in the meantime, step aside and let the US innovate on new energy.
Of all the federal energy subsidies in 2011, renewable energy gets 6.4 times more than fossil fuels.
WSJ: " for every tax dollar that goes to coal, oil and natural gas, wind gets $88 and solar $1,212. After all the hype and dollars, in 2010 wind and solar combined for 2.3% of electric generation—2.3% for wind and 0% and a rounding error for solar. Renewables contributed 10.3% overall, though 6.2% is hydro. Some "investment."
Why not eliminate all federal energy subsidies? This would get the government out of the business of picking winners and losers—mostly losers.
Mr. Obama's plan to eliminate oil and gas subsidies would lower the budget deficit by less than $3 billion a year, but creating a true level playing field in energy, and allowing markets to determine which energy sources are used, would save $37 billion. That's an energy plan that makes sense."
Bob your math doesn't add up. If oil receives 3b a year and wind get 88 times as much and solar gets 1,212 times as much (not even including coal and natural gas, which would throw your numbers further off), then wind and solar would be receiving 3.9 trillion, which is more than our government spends a year on everything!
You advocate keeping oil subs, and take out the rest for a more equal playing field. Bogus! We have spent an insane amount of subs for our oil industry over many many years! If you want an equal playing field, it would either have to be they pay all those subs back, or we sub new potential energy sources. Otherwise Oil has the big advantage. Plus, block oil from buying patents and then keeping them from being developed to protect themselves from competition. Even if you got them to pay all the subsides back, they still had the advantage of having them to develop to the point of profitability.
Border Joe Please cross, you're on the wrong side.
What a bunch of morons - still bickering over republicans and democrats. Can't you see that neither on has our best interest in mind? Obama has no interest in alternative fuels than Romney does. Take your blinders off and look around you.
Romney is only interested in making the rich man richer and Obama is only interested in keeping the poor man poor, I see that as no difference. Why do we insist on limiting ourselves to only 2 parties? Surly there is something better for us than this.
By the way, once Obama has taxed the piss out of the rich and middle class - who do you think is ultimately going to pay? Here is a hint, it's not the rich.
Especially when all these "Rich" politicians have written themselves OUT of all the Tax Hikes to be sure they are not affected personally. Dem's AND Rep's are both guilty of this...
They haven't written themselves out of letting the bush tax expiration of those making over 250k.
Give it a rest, some are actually willing to raise their own taxes to help this country. While Romney is only consistent on one issue, lower taxes. That is a hell of a difference.
Romney can debate all he wants the media has already decided that Obama is going to win this debate.
NEWS FLASH*****Obama creates more jobs! It seems that he plugged the toilet in the white house this morning, and they called in 5 union plumbers to unplug it. These are union jobs, so the junior man of the crew will have to unplug it , and the others will encourage him on! This will look good on the weekly report. A REMINDER TO ALL DEMOCRATS., YOU ALL BE SURE TO GET OUT THERE AND VOTE ON NOV 9th. *******(Lets see just how many show up!)
This guy claims he lost his job because Romney "WANTS" to end the tax cuts. How in the HELL can a tax cut that Romney "WANTS" to end make this guy loose his job? He didn't say the Tax Cut has gone away and now his job is gone.
Maybe you should look at the REAL reason you have lost your job. The Current Administration that has been "FIXING" the economy for the past 4 years has FAILED MISERABLY!
Incredibly STUPID commercial if you ask me, and I believe it will only HELP Romney's position.
All these folks bringing up objections to alternative energy are just shortsighted.
Nuclear Energy took MANY failures and 3 DECADES of research and practice at the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars to produce more electricity than it took to make it. I guess we wouldn't have nuclear energy as an alternative if these nearsighted teabaggers had their way back then.
The math is simple and compelling and worth repeating here again as I have now for months:
The US has in all of its drill-able sites (including the arctic refuge , east coast expansion, pacific expansion, gulf coast expansion and off US territories) only 3% of the Worlds Supply of Oil. The US consumes 20% of the world's oil supply. DO THE MATH.
We cant go with Oil alone...we will not be able to produce enough for our own consumption domestically. Like it or not, oil is a finite resource and will do nothing but go up in price.
The lions share of the oil in the World is shipped through the straight of Hormuz. If its blockaded or even littered with sunken Iranian ships, that supply stops. Our entire energy dependence goes beyond supply but to logistics and middle east political divisions and future wars.
Why not invest in Solar, Wind, Biofuels, Natural Gas and accept the failures along the way? We have certainly done that for Oil. For Nuclear energy and even NASA. Hundreds of Billions.
As a start, Take the annual $40 Billion in Oil subsidy and covert it to laying the infrastructure foundations for a new energy grid that utilizes local/regional power resources (ALL OF THEM).
Included in this should be the construction of a network of private enterprise electric/biofuel stations that extend the use of vehicles converted to use alternative fuels. There should be competition with the ARCO, Shell and Chevron stations who will always sell only gasoline.
Reduce taxes SIGNIFICANTLY on private companies producing alternative fuels and electricity sources. The level of reduction based on increased capacity and efficiency
These are just 2 measures that could help both reduce oil consumption dramatically and create jobs in the medium to long run.
If you make it so that people can buy a hybrid, electric or run on biofuel, knowing they can reach an 'energy station' within 50-100 miles or so to re-fuel , served by regionally provided sources of alternative fuels, then the US energy future will have changed forever. The energy will get cheaper, the jobs will continue to rise and we wont have to rely on middle eastern countries for our future.
When it comes to our energy future, we have no alternative but ALTERNATIVES!
Drill baby drill is a fools errand
Obama/Biden 2012
2Lane
Well written and very well reasoned post. Congratulations, and I agree with everything you wrote. Thank you for your logical, rationale, fact based post.
I'm sick and tired of my tax dollars going to pay for liberal crap that doesn't work. It's bad enough the leftwing welfare leeches sit at home and do nothing and we pay all of the bills.
Trouble:
I'm tired of paying for all the wars, oil, gas, and coal subsidies too. I'm also tired of paying for corporate welfare and not getting anything but jobs shipped overseas. I can complain on the same line of thought as you. Care to have any meaningful ideas and input on how to put your tax dollars to some good for all of America? Or are you just going to complain for the sake of complaining about "liberal crap".
JackieK - I know you are not an independent but that is fine, your choice. I agree we should quit subsidizing oil, gas, & coal. Along with that I believe we should not be funding alternative energies either. Politicians from both parties for years and years have been adding subsidizing programs to benefit themselves or their supporters. I also don't believe we should be subsidizing large corporations and farming. We have to quit adding subsidies to the current tax codes. We can not keep adding to the current code.
Congress needs to completely revise or rewrite our burdensome tax codes to do away with subsidies, loop holes and non-beneficial tax credits. We need a new and understandable tax code that everyone can understand. We had a saying in the military, when discussing policies and procedures, called "KISS", meaning "Keep it simple stupid."
I have heard both Romney and Ryan talk about the need to revise the tax codes, but I have not seen anything from the Obama campaign. We also need to have Congress to perform an audit of all government programs and all government agencies before adding more. The GAO Reports are a good place to start, but neither party has seen fit to even address the GAO Reports. For a start, if you are really interested, google "GAO Reports Mar 2011".
sferet: I am an independent, not registered with either party. This year, I am leaning liberal due to the republican state legislation, and the republican party stance on women's reproduction and trying to legislate that. Otherwise, I usually split the ticket, voting for the best candidate.
I agree with most of your post above. I, too, would like to see the subsidies done away with. I also agree we need to simply and reform the tax codes. I'm in agreement with you and your post. Thanks for having a decent discussion with facts and stating your position with respect.
Ryans budget plan does sound very good. Simplifying taxes, eliminating loopholes etc. The only problem is like Reagan there's no specifics before they get elected. If Reagan had said before the election that his tax simplification plan would give 80% of the cuts to the richest 5% and the only loopholes or deductions he would close/eliminate would be those that benefited the middle class he'd never have been elected. Had he told the middle class that to pay for the tax cut for the rich he was eliminating the credit card and consumer interest deduction that mostly benefited the middle class he'd have lost. Fool me once.
Very similar to Reagan, Romney/Ryan refuse specifics. They have no intention of eliminating a single deduction or loophole for the rich. Republicans have fought tooth and nail to protect farm subsidies for rich gentlemen farmers who've never farmed and paid well not to do so. They've fought well to protect subsidies to mega corporate ethanol producers even when we face shortages of corn which causes massive price increases for meat and corn products. I assure anyone that if Ryan/Romney are elected none of the simplification will benefit anyone with less than a 7 figure income.
Here's something that ought to give Camp Romney heartburn.
There's a poll out that finds the Republican candidate for president, Mitt Romney, is less popular than George W. Bush.
This Bloomberg News survey shows the former president with a favorability rating of 46% compared to 43% for Romney.
Bush gets an unfavorable rating of 49%. Romney gets 50%.
Why do these boards always have to be Americans against Liberals?
How much electricity is generated when the wind isn't blowing?
I live in Michigan, and rarely in 365 days do we NOT have some wind blowing. How did the rural midwest farms deal with the windmills to help draw water up from the wells? Seemed to work 95% of the time in years back.
Electricity can be stored. Oil can be stored. Solar energy can be stored. Nothing is a constant stream. This is why we have storage facilities.
How much oil will be flowing if the straight of Hormuz gets blocked? just sayin...and by the way, I think its funny when shortsighted republicans think that WindPower would be the only form of energy in that area
The point is that you want to have a variety of energy sources based on what works well in that area. Different mixes for different areas. Washington State (my state) has Hydroelectric and Solar in Eastern Washington where there ar big rivers and its sunny , WindFarms on the western slopes of the Cascades and the Columbia River Gorge (where its windy) and Nuclear power. Seattle also has Biofuel Production facilities gearing up for use of alternatives to diesel.
My electric company for a slightly higher charge allows me to choose to get my electricity from renewable sources. Its happening whether the conservatives like it or not. So I get a good chuckle when I hear them demonizing renewable energy while howling about gas prices while defending Big Oil and 'Drill Baby Drill'.
The Dinosaurs are dead and their final product, oil, is dwindling. So why keep focusing on a dying form of energy that we cannot sustain opurselves with no matter how much we drill.
Remember....the US has at most with all her lands (open for drilling or not) 3 % of the worlds oil supply. We as a country now consume 20% of the world's supply. DO THE MATH.
None. However when the turbines aren't turning nothings wearing out and nothings being depleted. Every drop of oil produced puts us one step close to the day there's no more oil to recover. If the wind stops we're dead anyway.
I like the way this conversation has been going. And I strongly support the development of legislation that is based on the question, "How is this good for the country in the long term?"
The country is all of us. It isn't Republicans or Democrats or businessmen or farmers or urban developers. It's everyone. If you really want to make good decisions, you must make those decisions based on long-term outcomes. The short term outcome of oil drilling is having something to sell that people want. The long-term outcome is that you eventually run out of oil and dumping the carbon load that we are currently dumping into our environment is degrading our air, our water, our soil and our climate. While there is still some very small amount of time, we need to switch over to alternative energy sources as quickly as possible, develop transportation systems that do not depend upon oil fuels, and store our oil reserves for a future when oil is in short supply, because there are applications of oil that do not now have substitutes and may not for the foreseeable future.
We need to rebuild our infrastructure (creating lots of jobs) and we need to plan for a changing world when we rebuild that infranstructure. We need to create products and manufactured goods that we can build in the US in cost effective ways, and those products and goods should make a positive contribution to our economic well-being and our physical well being.
If we could stop using religion and extremist political views to fuel the debate, we might be able to agree on some things that are good for all of us. No one wants a dying planet, not even the extremists, because they will die along with the planet.
Just because something makes a profit and is good for business does not mean it is good for the country or for the people. We need to differentiate between profit and prosper. There is a significant difference in long term outcomes for all of us.
Well said....I agree wholeheartedly. I'm for all AMERICANS.....not for ideology, party or one class or another..
It is a clear fact that the YouTube video ignited spontaneous demonstrations in
all Muslim countries including Libya. Libya was never spared from the anti-YouTube
video demonstrations witnessed in all Muslim countries including Indonesia.
Republicans must therefore not be allowed to mislead the public that similar
spontaneous demonstrations witnessed in all Muslim countries never occurred in Libya.
In Libya, the spontaneous anti-YouTube video demonstrations provided a good
opportunity for bad people who had been longing for such opportunity to arise to terrorize American Embassy. These ill-minded people took advantage of the spontaneous demonstrations to attack our Embassy with weapons left behind in the streets of Libya as a result of the just ended war against
Gadhafi.
Question-- Did spontaneous demonstrations against the YouTube video witnessed in Egypt and all
other Muslim countries occur also in Libya?
Answer--- Yes
Question---Can we believe Republicans when they insist that similar demonstrations against the YouTube video
witnessed in all Muslim countries never occurred in Libya.
Answer-- No. Muslims in Libya just like Muslims in all other Muslim countries demonstrated
against the YouTube video but the Libyan demonstrations were hijacked by
ill-minded people who had all along been longing for an opportunity like that
to occur. They took advantage of the demonstrations by mingling with the rest
of demonstrators to attack the USA Embassy with heavy weapons left behind in
the streets as a result of the just ended war.
It is a clear fact that the YouTube video ignited spontaneous demonstrations in
all Muslim countries including Libya. Libya was never spared from the anti-YouTube
video demonstrations witnessed in all Muslim countries including Indonesia.
Republicans must therefore not be allowed to mislead the public that similar
spontaneous demonstrations witnessed in all Muslim countries never occurred in Libya.
In Libya, the spontaneous anti-YouTube video demonstrations provided a good
opportunity for bad people who had been longing for such opportunity to arise to terrorize American Embassy. These ill-minded people took advantage of the spontaneous demonstrations to attack our Embassy with weapons left behind in the streets of Libya as a result of the just ended war against
Gadhafi.
Question-- Did spontaneous demonstrations against the YouTube video witnessed in Egypt and all
other Muslim countries occur also in Libya?
Answer--- Yes
Question---Can we believe Republicans when they insist that similar demonstrations against the YouTube video
witnessed in all Muslim countries never occurred in Libya.
Answer-- No. Muslims in Libya just like Muslims in all other Muslim countries demonstrated
against the YouTube video but the Libyan demonstrations were hijacked by
ill-minded people who had all along been longing for an opportunity like that
to occur. They took advantage of the demonstrations by mingling with the rest
of demonstrators to attack the USA Embassy with heavy weapons left behind in
the streets as a result of the just ended war.