Remembering local Pittston soldier who just died in Afghanistan.
● During his childhood, his sisters recall he often played with military action figures like GI Joe. At times, he would drag his siblings outside their Pittston home to play Army.
● Thousands of private counselors are offering free services to troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with mental health problems, jumping in to help because the military is short on therapists.
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Think about the Bush administrations ties to big oil the next time you're pumping in $58 for a tank of gas!
History Flashback: In 2001, Chevron changed the name of it's oil tanker "Condoleezza Rice", so it wouldn't be a huge, floating reminder of the Bush administration's ties to the oil barons. No, I am not kidding. Rice was on the board of Chevron for 10 years before being named to the Bush cabinet, and Chevron actually named one of their oil tankers after her. Think about THAT when you're filling up your gas tank next time!
George W. Bush, 1978-84: senior executive, Arbusto Energy/Bush Exploration, an oil company; 1986-90: senior executive of the Harken oil company. Dick Cheney, 1995-2000: chief executive of the Halliburton oil company. Condoleezza Rice, 1991-2000: senior executive with the Chevron oil company, which named an oil tanker after her.
Prior to taking a position as President George W. Bush’s Chief of Staff, Andrew Card served as the principle lobbyist for General Motors. Just one year earlier, Card was head of the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA, which is no longer in existence), where he used his lobbying skills to combat the tightening of fuel efficiency regulations. Card contributed close to $10,000 to the political campaigns between 1999 and 2000, and General Motors gave approximately $813 million in campaign funds, 68% of which went to the Republican Party.
● 2001 Flashback: Leaving a wave of controversy in its wake, one of the most visible reminders of the Bush administration's ties to big oil - the 129,000-ton Chevron tanker Condoleezza Rice - has quietly been renamed, Chevron officials acknowledged yesterday.
I predicted a while back, $4/gallon by Memorial Day...looks like we're almost there!
● The New Daily NEPA/AAA DAILY GAS RECORD: $3.90/gallon-$58/tank; $1.46/gallon-$21/tank when oilmen Bush/Cheney took office
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre--Hazleton Regular Mid Premium Diesel
Current $3.904 $4.116 $4.297 $4.900
Yesterday $3.861 $4.071 $4.250 $4.851
Month Ago $3.545 $3.738 $3.903 $4.442
Year Ago $3.086 $3.253 $3.397 $2.935
Highest Recorded Price:
Regular Unl. $3.904 5/24/2008
Dsl. $4.900 5/24/2008
● Energy expert: Gas could reach $15 per gallon
NEPA:
● Things to do locally in NEPA, there's lots of fun things to do around here so you don't have to travel far and waste gas! Give yourself a dose of NEPA!
Personally? I love the Red Sox and hate the Yankees, but I'm a temporary Yankee fan when I see the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees! We went the other day, and it's a lot of fun for everyone! We are very fortunate to have this in our area! We won special tickets, and got a tour: we got to go on the field, in the dugout, in the bullpen, in the booth with the announcer and all the computers running all the scoreboards, and then we got free hats! Then we ate in the restaurant, and watched part of the game from there. Awesome!
Statement of the day: My wife said to me, "You cannot be trusted with tomato sauce!"
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● John McCain and the Death of Conservatism. John McCain's presidential campaign is based upon a single premise: "I'm well prepared to continue the Bush era." Despite his unearned reputation as a maverick, McCain is a rock-ribbed conservative who advocates the same flawed ideology that has driven every Republican administration since Reagan: a bloated military establishment, a neutered Federal bureaucracy, lower taxes for the rich and powerful, and incompetent management.
● WSJ: McCain 'on the defense over ties to lobbyists'
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The Existentialist Cowboy:
● FBI Evidence that Indicts George W. Bush for Mass Murder, War Crimes and Torture. A 370-page report by the Justice Department Inspector General references an FBI investigation of US torture that accuses the Bush White House, the National Security Council, the Pentagon and the Justice Department with 'ordering and planning' torture, including 'procedures' that resulted in death to 'detainees'. In other words --murder!
● CIA Protects Al-Qaeda Group From Extradition. Jundullah organization, blamed for bombings in Iran, being advised by U.S. intelligence reports ABC News
Get your propaganda straight, would ya? U.S. ambassador to Iraq, David "Crock of Bullshit" Crocker, said "Al Qaida in Iraq near defeat".
Whoops! He was LYING!
This syndicated propagana story was in the local Wilkes-Barre Citizen's Voice this morning:
● BAGHDAD - The U.S. ambassador to Iraq said Saturday that al-Qaida's network in the country has never been closer to defeat, and he praised Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for his moves to rein in Shiite and Sunni militant groups.
But NOW...I find THIS story on the CV's website, and not the one that was in the paper!
● BAGHDAD (AP) -- The U.S. military distanced itself Sunday from remarks declaring al-Qaida in Iraq close to defeat, saying the terror network is "off-balance and on the run," but remains a very lethal threat.
And then, read THIS:
● Iran brokered a temporary peace between two warring factions of the American-backed government – in part to keep American forces, particularly airpower, from turning Sadr City into a charnel house. But that is not how it was portrayed by the ever-faithful toter of White House water, Michael Gordon, of the NYTimes!
● LEONARD PITTS: Conservative pundits long on rhetoric, short on the facts. Don't read this column yet. First, I want you to do something. Google ''Chris Matthews + Kevin James.'' This will bring up video of the latter, a conservative L.A. radio pundit, being questioned by the former last week on MSNBC's Hardball. You must see this video.
