"Interview with a not-so-average Joe" Prelude

I have sent the following request to a person of great interest to few, yet with a wealth of knowledge greater than many:

I approach your greatness with a request to interview you for the purposes of free expression of multiple viewpoints on my blog. Since my interview with Lynne Williams fell through with her complete and total silence, I seek to interview you. The topics I will be interested in will be Iceland (particularly your knowledge of its historical cultures), Easter Island, and any temple based upon now lost documents in India.

Email (alright, facebook) request over. That's right folks, I am a man of only the most professional of practices.

Green Revolution Update

I know many are wondering why I have not posted on the Iranian situation (mostly because of your emails). While events are continuing, and deaths are increasing, as of yet there is no visible change. The protests themselves was a change, but they have yet to take the next step. For what I see in the movement is just a willingness to make themselves sheep to the slaughter, and until they move to become wolves themselves and take their country and their freedom back no further stories about this uprising will occur. They need to know what they want and get what they want. Peaceful reform does not seem to be working, as the Iranian government is already using violence beyond what took place in America during the civil rights movement.

If you want freedom you must make yourself free. First know what removes your freedom: is it the one who gives orders or bullets? Which one is to blame ultimately for your oppression? Target the source of oppression first, and that will limit the bloodshed that oppression brings to you.

If bloodshed is limited, stick with peace. Yet for Iran, peace has not worked. To be treated as a savage means you must become a savage to become free. In the chaos of violence is held the chaos of freedom- freedom being the peaceful result of liberating violence. Do not mistake my words for that of a radical. I am not endorsing violence against any non-violent or democratic government. I am saying a regime taking away freedoms with no legitimate elective system that uses violence and oppression to maintain power is deserving of a violent response by the oppressed. It is their only way to gain a just freedom in Iran. In this situation, these events, I endorse violent action. It is only in this circumstance, my viewpoint is not the same for Thailand, or Egypt. Certainly not for America. In Europe, only Belarus is oppressive yet a movement for freedom must take place before a fight for freedom.

E-Mail Mysteries Continue

A while back I got an email from Al Franken, and I was confused as to how I got on his email list. Well, going back through I have registered officially for only two email updates: from the former campaign website obama.com and from the White House email list. Somehow I have now received emails from "democracyinaction" and "Communities Standing Together".

Add this to a small email faux pas conducted by Lynne William's campaign in which all email receivers saw the email of everyone else who got the email, after having someone who supports Lynne use their own email to send the message instead of using an official Lynne Williams campaign member email.

I guarantee that any campaign I am part of shall always respect the privacy of all supporters and not engage in such activities which would reveal your information to anyone you do not approve to have see it.

In other news, I was hoping against hope that my special interview with Lynne Williams (yes, I try to represent as many sides as possible, now stop staring at this sentence with your mouth open). Due to schedule issues we couldn't meet in person, so we agreed (two weeks ago) to have an email interview. I send questions, she sends responses. Well, we corresponded frequently about the interview and then once I sent it, I have received no response. So, tomorrow (as tonight I will admit defeat to the pull of sleep) I shall post my review of the Bruce Poliquin issues and Rosa Scarcelli jobs proposal.

The betrayal was not intentional
It was forced by unkind fate
Yet it was hidden by feelings of fear
And justice never came

As the sky looks upon my soul
I stare up unaware of the toll
Waiting for the day the pain will end
And I will finally begin to mend

Justice is a lie we invent
To approve our excuses true
Yet with all the energy spent
True can never break through

I can not understand
Those who have no plan
As they have no purpose
And leave once in the hearse

Do it now
Say it now
You agree finally
You can see

Do it now
Say it now
You agree finally
You know you can see

You don't have to talk
Just look into my eyes
Justice still is denied
Yet we just go for a walk

Looking to the houses
Seeing stars in background
Talking of truths
None can take away

Attacked by forces beyond our control
Pedal faster than the attacker
Laugh in joy for your savior
Sacrafice nothing for love

Wading through the tall grasses
We enjoy what lacks in the masses
Knowledge of them all
That they live yet can't see

We observe
They suffer
We see
They stumble
We live
They die
Why?

Was that too alarming?

Perhaps calling my life an emergency in my now deleted post was a little over the top. I'm taking the next two weeks off to do paperwork and celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone.

Anti-Israel Propaganda Also Anti-American Because It Is All Anti-West

I recently mentioned how quickly a global response against Israel would form should Israel strike Iran. As evidence the reaction to the U.S. air strike against militants has instantly been declared a genocidal act against civilians by Iranian state TV, Houthi rebels, Al Qaeda, left-leaning blogs and news agencies in the U.S., and the opposition party in Yemen. All within 24 hours, and for an incident taking place in Yemen this is way too soon to confirm anything of the status of those killed. Yet, the international and leftist movement in America have already declared this another reason to take away Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.

Should Israel strike Iran this same network of international anti-West media outlets will claim war crimes as well with only the accusations of Hamas, Hezbolla, Syrian, and Iranian controlled media outlets. It will quickly be picked up by various sources elsewhere around the world and actual journalism will be thrown out the window so that the race to be the first to report a news story, no matter how illegitimate, will be won.

Candidate Website Update

I was preparing a special addition to the review of Bruce Poliquin and Rosa Scarcelli's campaign websites and currently there has been a delay in getting the second half prepared (this is what I get for relying on other people, if you want something done you have to do it yourself).

So, Monday I will post regardless of having the extra piece ready.

Health Care Request

I just got an email asking me why I don't write more about the health care back and forth in the senate. Quite simply I don't find corruption as worthy of headlines as they are of prosecutions. Being neither a lawyer or a judge I find the scandal of the "Louisiana Purchase" or the "Nebraska Medicare Payment Exemption While Getting Full Medicare Benefits" (sorry, haven't found a good name for this deal yet) to be just another failure of our system. The failures are so numerous I feel everyone knows about them already. If they don't, they probably won't be reading this blog anyway.

Every earmark, every vote getting deal, every campaign fundraiser connection, every tax cheat, every diplomatic screw up, and every marriage betrayal is common news. Our leaders are not just imperfect for the job but unfit for society. I don't think anyone disagrees with this. That is why for some reason we keep sending them to the prison known as Washington D.C. so they can continue to be housed, fed, and isolated from society by our tax dollars.

Guantanimo Bay just selectively tortured prisoners of war. Washington D.C. tortures every single American in every aspect of our lives by irritating our senses; especially our common sense. What the guards of this prison don't seem to understand is we could easily send the corrupt packing at any election.

We all know they are not doing the job they are supposed to. So why do we keep hiring them? Lets send the ones we got to a maximum security for their continued crimes and let some new prisoners enter D.C. for early release on good behavior.

U.S. Bombs Yemen Militants

The Al-Qaeda in Yemen has been attacked via drones by the U.S. Obama ordered the attack under knowledge an attack against U.S. interests was imminent from that area.

Details of the attack are limited right now and the only sources are non-independent reports (Press TV, Examiner, Yemen government) and claims of success (or genocide) can not be confirmed.

Since 2006 (yes, 2006 again, it was a good year for me, what can I say?) I have been aware of Yemen as an unstable country with enemies to the U.S. I also said we will have to take action within Yemen's borders to resolve the long running civil war.

No matter how arrogant, pious, self-absorbed it may sound it never gets old:
I told you so.

Iran Invades Iraq 1

Over the years Iran and Iraq have not had good border relations, and the border itself has been violated many times. So I am going to start tracking border incidents from now on.

On Thursday some Iranian troops took over an oil well in Iraq near the border in Southern Iraq.

Oil well No. 4 was taken over by 11 Iranian troops. Iraqi forces are massing a kilometer (about half a mile) away.

Iran rejected the claim before admitting it and then claiming the well as Iranian.

Ongoing situation, do keep track as no word from Israel yet.

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/iraqi-troops-in-standoff-247318.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gYiU_MRlReyRg2CPjdoSTJlUpcoQ

Fundraiser

I have zero reservations after a week of considering this post. The reason is I have put my efforts into knowing the candidates positions and qualifications and a while ago I determined for myself that Bruce Poliquin is qualified and represents my Reagan-based values the best of all the candidates.

Now, I have shared my findings with my readers over the past year (yes, it has been a long journey already). If you are not informed I suggest you scroll down and follow the links to the candidates websites and read up. If you are informed you have made your conclusions about which candidates you support. While Rosa Scarcelli and a few others have fundraisers going on right now, Bruce Poliquin has a $24 dollar campaign ongoing until the end of the year.

Why tell you about it? Because right now the preparations for the primary are coming. While I could make the case for Bruce right now I doubt it would change your mind. So all I can do is suggest that if you support him you follow the link at the bottom and show your support for his message and efforts to become governor. You could also become a volunteer, even more important than a cash donor, and follow the second link to join the Bruce Brigade.

The choice is up to you but considering who we could end up with I think you will want to make sure your candidate is the victor this election and for those who support Bruce this is your chance to do so.

For the $24 donation:
https://secure.qgiv.com/cps_donors/index.php?key=poliquinmg

For the Bruce Brigade:
http://www.bruceforme.com/index.php/volunteer_register/

For Bruce's main website:
www.bruceforme.com

Another Israel Centered Conflict

Despite the posturing, years of defiance and threatening to destroy Israel, evidence of a nuclear weapons program, proven aid to the Taliban in Afghanistan and Al Qaeda in Iraq, the coming war with Iran will be blamed on Israel. First, how do I know there will be a war?

Israel has been quiet. The leadership was vocal about Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran for months, and now for the exception of the deal to release Shalit (a soldier captured by Hamas) the leadership is quiet. Look through the past offensives and you will see a lead up of six months where four months were usually diplomatic and calling for international action. Then the headlines drop down with the news of increased activity by Hamas, Hezbolla, or whoever the attacker may be but it is not acted upon by the world.

Well, the past couple of weeks more rockets have been falling on Israel. Israel has done the usual voicing of complaint but has not turned to the international community this time.

So why would a war with Iran become an Israeli centered conflict? Israeli forces would occupy Gaza, tank divisions would capture Damascus, and Southern Lebanon would see increased air attacks and possibly Israeli special forces operations. This on top of the Israeli air strikes in Iran which would be the primary reason for starting the conflict: Iran's nuclear program. Yet, that would pale in comparison to the actual tug of war battles Israel's ground forces would be waging.

The second Israel strikes Iran has a global network of nations willing to instantly declare Israel the wrong doer, while the West will wait to see if it was justified. Such an instant reaction will certainly play against Israel in the UN and in global opinion. This is simply because world leaders, no matter how ridiculous their statements, are always listened to more than a logical observer. Such leaders will also charge war crimes just in the fact that the casualties are "disproportionate" to the nations other than Israel, disregarding any logical explanation (Israel has better training, equipment, the fighting is taking place in non-Israeli territory, ect.)

At first Israel will be victorious as they will probably be conducting this as a preemptive strike and have the element of surprise. However the U.S. leadership may be wary of having Iranian forces flowing into an already difficult situation in Afghanistan and/or destabilizing Iraq. Such fears could lead to neutrality or a limited bombing campaign only along any position of Iranian offensives against the U.S. With U.S. leadership in doubt the world will look to the other viewpoint for leadership, and that would be anti-Israel.

So at first the global opinion will be shock, but by the third day headlines will be anti-Israel. By the end of the week accusations of war crimes will be so numerous in the chaos of war that Israel will be condemned without the truth being known. Israel will be left an equal to any regime of oppression by the end of the month after the conflict begins. I have no idea how long the war will last but the sooner it ends the better for Israel because that would mean the sooner the truth and investigations to Israel's innocence can begin to repair a global anti-Israel spike.

Copenhagen Violence

230 more violent environmentalists have been arrested in Denmark. Carry on everyone nothing to see here....just violent environmentalists.

Clean Elections Discussion

To begin I only have questions to those who support clean election funding:

Is a system which allows different rules for different candidates a fair system?

How much money should be given to political campaigns by a government 400 million dollars in debt?

Israel Solution

Just a quick thought: how about we have Gaza become part of Israel and move all Gaza residents to the West Bank. In return, Israel will remove all settlements from the West Bank. The issue of Jerusalem will sadly still be an impossible road block, but it would end the Gaza issue and the settlement issue for most of the West Bank. Jerusalem is still the sticking point because there is no city of equal value in the West Bank.

Jerusalem Solution?
Could it be possible to declare Jerusalem neutral, while dividing it equally right down the middle of the city while the Old City area is internationally monitored? What I mean is have the borders of Jerusalem be the furthest extent of either Israel and Palestine and have the city be divided 50/50 in territory where Palestinians get half, and Israelis get half, and the Old City be managed by, dare I even say it, the UN. Have all construction in the Old City that has begun finished, with no new construction. The "border" in the city should be divided along the easiest natural boundaries or by neighborhood.

Now the issue will be certain neighborhoods will be seen as important to one side or the other- tough luck. Get on your own side or hope your new neighbors are friendly. Sure, it won't be pleasant, and for a while there will be a bad aftertaste but a generation of bad feelings for a solution to a ten thousand year old problem sounds like a good deal.

I like to call this the True Two State Solution.

The Race for Governor - Green Party

-Lynne Williams-
As her opponent has an inactive campaign it seems she will be the front-runner for the Green Party. Her website was difficult to analyze due to the existence of common sense within my veins.

To summarize:
Water should be free.
Health care should be a single payer system (Socialism).
Support of charter schools and opposition to consolidation.
The labor issues is simply represented by SEIU and ALF-CIO conference declarations. SEIU, if you shall remember, are the Purple Shirts. Followers of this blog will remember how I said Unions were becoming political, or maybe they won't. Go back a few months and read up folks.

The Race for Governor - Republican Candidates

As I would be clearly biased towards some of these candidates I am streamlining my opinions down to nothing and outlining only the proposals of the candidates through direct quotes of their respective websites:

-Paul Lepage-
I strongly support repeal of all new sales taxes.
The jobs that our state needs are not the kind that can be created by our governor, state legislature or any other government entity.
I will oppose any effort to undermine traditional values in our great state.

Overall he needs more detail and on more issues.
-Peter Mills-
Until we have funded our binding promises, our budget motto must be, “Pay as you go or do without.”
School based health clinics.
Affordable dental clinics in which patients contribute to the cost of their own care.
Rural Health Centers where patients pay a sliding scale fee.
Use of our charity care hospitals as outreach agents for public health.
Nutrition and health education.
Although conservation is crucial, cheaper power is even more important.

While covering a lot of issues he has very few actual proposals. Health care is his strongest issue.

-Les Otten-
Ultimately, if Maine declares energy independence, and takes meaningful steps in that direction, the industry will follow.

Otten has a lot of philosophy with little specifics. The line above I feel shows the empty promises Otten has. He may be good at politics but not, I feel, as a common sense leader. Declaring energy independence does not mean you will automatically become energy independent. He does not detail the steps to take either. However, it sounds nice so he uses it. Otten is politics as usual.

-Matt Jacobson-
Note: I am quoting as directly as possible, but not using everything so this is not meant to be connecting.

That includes eliminating Maine’s costly corporate income tax, and streamlining state permitting and regulatory approval processes. I also will establish a Governor’s Opportunity Fund that would earmark money for grants or loans to help attract new companies and create new jobs.
I will push for a business cost-matching tax credit that would keep other states from recruiting away our Maine businesses. And let’s finally make a meaningful change to keep our people in Maine: we will eliminate the state’s punitive estate tax and the income tax on military retiree pensions.
[A] 100% seed tax credit [for new businesses].
That includes mandating that decisions on regulatory applications must be made within 120 days, and that routine business applications will be decided in 48 hours or less.
We will also eliminate the state income tax on the earnings of active duty military personnel to keep these families in Maine.
[A high capacity power line from Canada to the rest of New England. This will create income from infrastructure for the state of Maine along with cheaper energy.]
[E]nd Dirigo Health.

Overall Jacobson has a good balance of specifics and philosophy. While much revolves around reducing taxes (and specific taxes at that) his proposal for a major electrical line connecting Canada to the rest of New England is one of the few gems out there among politicians. I recommend businesses and the government to look at that proposal with or without these candidates.

-Bruce Poliquin-
While the other candidates had comparatively short issue examinations, Bruce is similar to Rosa Scarcelli in sheer amount of coverage. While his is not as lengthy as hers it is comparable across the ten issues he focuses on. The big picture ten point plan of Bruce Poliquin is as follows:
1. Create a Positive Attitude Toward Business Development and Jobs.
2. Carefully Reduce State Spending to National Averages or Less.
3. Lower Taxes to National Averages or Less.
4. Audit Sate Programs, Departments, and Agencies to Improve Efficiencies.
5. Promote Competition Among Health Care Insurance Companies to Lower Premium Costs.
6. Improve Education System to Better Prepare Students for College and Beyond.
7. Simplify Business Regulations to Create New Jobs.
8. Complete Infrastructure to Enhance Our Quality of Life.
9. Aggresively Pursue Strategies to Lower Energy Costs.
10. Protect Our Environment while Promoting Job Creation.

The plan is really a set of goals, but I suppose that is always the last chapter of a plan. His other 9 website pages covers the detailed proposals he has and I will cover them, Scarcelli's Jobs proposal websites in full before the end of the week.

-Republican Party-
Matt Jacobson
http://www.jacobsonforgovernor.com/
Paul LePage
http://www.lepage2010.com/
Peter Mills
http://www.millsformaine.com/
Les Otten
http://www.lesotten.com/
Bruce Poliquin
http://www.bruceforme.com/
J. Martin Vachon
"I am the only candidate who will reverse the trend of social decay that threatens our civilization." -Note: I like civilization, I just don't think the position of governor is the best place to achieve an end to social decay.

The Race for Governor - Independent Candidate Websites

As only two of the candidates running as independents have worthwhile websites, I shall review them next.

-Eliot Cutler-
His strategy page lays out the proposals which stand out the most. An independent candidate appeals to me because they are not burdened by political affiliation. So his first proposal to lower the cost of electricity is to create:
"Maine Energy Resources, a publicly-owned business chartered to operate as a public power authority, will use low-cost, tax-exempt capital to generate electricity throughout Maine from our renewable resources and will accelerate the development of clean and low-cost electricity in Maine. Maine Energy Resources will invest in energy efficiency in Maine and will enter into public-private partnerships with energy entrepreneurs. Maine Energy Resources will not export electricity out of state, because an important part of its mission will be to put the electricity to work in Maine. "

An exact proposal outlining its function is something few of the Democratic candidates did. However, two of his three health care ideas lack detail while his third will make many disregard him completely on the issue:
"We will reward healthy behaviors and pay for healthy outcomes, de-emphasizing payments for procedures as much as possible, because many of the diseases we pay to treat are preventable."

To turn on those who need treatment is a hard pill most Mainers are not going to swallow. However he makes up for it by taking the initiative to (if for a good purpose) expand the government in order to reduce its overall size:
"As governor, I personally will chair a commission similar to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), which the federal government uses to determine which military bases to keep or to close. This commission will review all state programs and agencies, and within a year will make a series of recommendations to make state government more innovative, more efficient and less costly. I will present those recommendations to the Legislature as a single package, and on behalf of the taxpayers of Maine I will ask the Legislature for a simple “yes or no” vote."

I personally feel we have the resources and knowledge to close some programs already (Dirigo health care) this would help us find the little things that serve no purpose. Much of the remainder of that part of Eliot's website is explaining the economic philosophy behind his proposals. This is a unique approach only done by Rosa Scarcelli so far. Most candidates just throw philosophy out there with no proposals to support it, or vice-versa.

-John Whitcomb-
I feel John is sending the message of everyone who is fed up with the government and politicians not doing what they say they will do. He is venting and while lacking any substantial proposal is promoting common sense. I feel the only drawbacks to his campaign will be the lack of experience and specifics along with a low name recognition.


-Independents-
Samme Bailey
"I'm not qualified".
Eliot Cutler
http://www.cutler2010.com/
Augustus Edgerton
Not Found.
Alex Hammer
Anyone who knows him knows why I didn't give the link.
Beverly Cooper-Pete
Not found.
John Whitcomb
http://whitcombformaine.com/

The Race for Governor - Democratic Candidate Websites

First of all I loaded all the websites at the same time for the Democratic candidates 5 times to determine which websites were most advanced or dial up friendly. The rank from fastest to slowest loading website is as follows:

*Note: I will never endorse or encourage a felon, particularly one who has committed felonies in relation to political campaign funding. That is why Peter Truman is not going to be examined in this.

1. Donna Dion
2. Libby Mitchell
3. John Richardson
4. Rosa Scarcelli
5. Steve Rowe
6. Dawn Hill

--The Websites--
-Donna Dion-
Donna Dion's website has an opening page requesting we give her money so that she can qualify for more money from the government (I.E. those of us who don't want to give our money willingly). Her ideas are not outstanding. To quote a summary of her ideas:
We can build from the blueprint to form a strong State structure that will carry all citizens forward to a better tomorrow.

Excerpt over. To clarify for those who can't pick it out:
We can form a strong State structure that will carry all citizens to tomorrow.
Clarification over. If you still don't see something wrong with that, move to Europe and live it for a few years.

She starts listing her ideas on the "blueprint for success" page and seems to get bored towards the last few making short three word issues. There are no actual proposals. As I read her website I see a running theme of the government controlling the workforce via schools and taxing of businesses.

-Libby Mitchell-
Libby Mitchell's website has no page for her ideas, never mind her proposals. It has a news and bio page, and a volunteer page. Her campaign is also taking government (I.E. our money) funds.

-John Richardson-
I often read, but find little value in the bio pages of candidates. John's page is long, and the part I find most interesting is the entire page is written in the third person.

His economic, environment, and alternative energy section focuses on preserving the "natural assets" of Maine. He gives no proposals on how to do so.
His ideas for small businesses is as follows: "I will reduce taxes on small business, contain healthcare costs, lower energy costs through new renewable energy sources, increase access to high-speed telecommunications and encourage innovation."
Now, lowering taxes is a good idea. Not a proposal. I inquire as to which tax should be lowered to candidates all the time and they say they will look at each when they get in office, or sometimes they stutter and admit defeat. However, it is an idea and a promise not often kept. The other parts of his ideas still have no proposals.

While saying he has a plan on health care, he actually doesn't give it.

The smarter government he proposes with no definition of smarter involves him examining how government works once he is in office. I say you should already know how government works before you get in office.

His ideas for school involve investing in teachers (with what? more money? more students?) and identifying the students with extra needs early on (with more teachers?). He never has any proposals on how to achieve any of this, and those questions I pose can be answered if he simply contacts me.

His transportation ideas revolve around investing in transportation. Investing here, and there, and everywhere is what his campaign seems to emphasize. Since he clearly hasn't seen the latest budget reports I feel he is not a good candidate for governor.

I was glad to see that John makes a point to let the readers know his ideas page will have more detailed positions soon. I shall keep you up to date when that occurs.

-Steve Rowe-
His page is appealing and direct to purpose. His website covers the most issues topically of all the Democratic candidates. However, this seems to be for nothing as while he is aware of the issues he has few proposals for them.

In agriculture a lengthy report is distinguished by nothing of substance. Perhaps the mentioning of agriculture as an industry to keep our youth in Maine after having them go to college is either a mistake or some form of unspoken enlightenment on his part. Unless the farms start paying six figures, a college graduate will not seek such a job.

In the choice section he supports abortion, yet considering it is a national standard set by the Supreme Court that is a non-issue for a governor.

His jobs and economy proposals are still non-existent. With repetitious talk of current industry as important assets while also saying we will move to the future seems flawed to me. One often thinks of the future as something different, rather than the same. Also mentioning cluster industry seems like a bad policy for such a rural state.

In education there is nothing new but politics.
Nor in Energy and Environment, Marine (fishing industries), Health Care, or Veterans pages.
He makes a point to encourage voters to vote No on 1, despite that election having come and passed.

He supports an increase in sales tax and lowering of income tax believing that most things purchased in Maine are bought by people from out of state. I'm sorry but the groceries are bought by Mainers.

Steve Rowe is a politician pure and simple. He does the lip service to appeal to whoever he wants to have vote for him, but is unoriginal and out of touch.

-Dawn Hill-
For some reason her website took forever to open on my computer in each of the tests, and it lacked anything of substance. There is no ideas page and it is the same as it was months ago with a promise to update soon.

-Rosa Scarcelli-
Note: I will report on her job ideas and proposals due to the amount of reading necessary to report on her page. It was very in depth. She has impressed me with the amount of thought and research placed into the reports she places forward. She is obviously not your standard politician. I will be giving my analysis sometime this week, but I instantly know her format is how politics should be: organized, transparent, full circle, and logical.

While she has only one report (Jobs) complete, the rest are previewed with standard political introductions. However, the opening sentences propose an outline of actual solutions:
-weatherize buildings
-cut the bureaucratic elements of education to make sure the money reaches the students (school consolidation without school closure it initially appears)

She stands out for several reasons:
-"Our goal isn't smaller government or bigger government, but dramatically better government."
Call me old fashioned, but I believe government should care for people and make their lives better.
-"I'm not one of those who thinks government is the sole problem or that everything government does is evil. But neither do I think that government has all the answers, or that it always does everything right."

That alone makes her one of the best candidates on the Democratic side of the election. She knows the limits of government and is not moving forward with a sense that government is always the solution or that business is always the solution. She is moving forward with common sense. While her personal belief favors the use of government she is willing to admit it has drawbacks. This is something I haven't seen from a Democratic candidate in Maine for a long time.


I encourage you to read further about the candidates and make your own decisions:
-Democratic Candidates-
Donna Dion
http://donnajdionforgovernor2010.com/
Dawn Hill
http://www.dawnhillforgovernor.com/
Elizabeth (Libby) Mitchell
http://www.libbymitchellforgovernor.com/
John Richardson
http://www.johnrichardsonformaine.com/
Steven Rowe
http://www.roweforgovernor.com/
Rosa Scarcelli
http://www.rosaformaine.com/home
Peter Truman
I do not support felons involvement in politics.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=282192∾=PHnws

News

There is so much going on today a general recap of the news:

Syria and Iranian military alliance is secure:
http://www.israeltoday.co.il/default.aspx?tabid=178&nid=20166

Iran has and is working on a nuclear weapon:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BD3JU20091214

North Korean weapons were recently captured in Thailand. The weapons were heading to Sri Lanka (we need to improve diplomacy to make sure Sri Lanka does not try to purchase these weapons again) :
http://www.groundreport.com/World/Miltary-Plane-With-Weapons-Heading-Towards-Sri-Lan/2913770

Chile is having a free and fair election after decades of dictatorship:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1417314320091214?type=swissMktRpt

We are insulting crucial allies in the chaotic Horn of Africa region:
http://www1.voanews.com/english/news/africa/east/Ethiopia-PM-Rejects-US-Criticism-Calls-Ties-with-Washington-Solid-79183642.html

War crimes continue in the Democratic Republic of the Congo by all sides as a new offensive "brings control" back to tribal regions:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hI7NeaZ-D91AVd6PrYx7PlF0Nn5Q

Some fools (not charged as they were not involved in the final transportation plans) were helping send a helicopter to Iran. We have a trade embargo with Iran:
http://televisionwashington.com/floater_article1.aspx?lang=en&t=3&id=16440

Republican Party "Divided?" / Iran Update/ Democrat Healthcare Dies

Some in the past few months have seen the growth of the Tea Party movement from a grass roots campaign across the country without political affiliation protest the wrongs of both parties. They hold the values which the Republican Party only speaks of but never acts upon. In Florida an official Tea Party has been formed politically giving an official competitor to the GOP. I believe you will see the GOP's only hope for survival in the "blue dog" Democrat movement. We may become "parliamentary" with the victory of the Tea Party should it become a majority.

Why do I say this? Because Tea Party followers know the founding fathers knew political parties would be a major cause of failure for the country. Yet we know that modern man in Democracy can not prevent itself from forming alliances so thus having a Republican, Democrat, and Tea Party and possibly Socialist and Green Party congress is in our future.

Meanwhile in Gaza Hamas has held a rally in its own support. They said they will never recognize Israel. Iran sent a message of support for Iran saying they will support Hamas until the destruction of Israel. And some people still want to negotiate with Iran? What do you negotiate?

In other news Democrats will not get their bill passed on health care. The only hope for Dems next year is to agree to pass the GOP proposal and move forward with that. If something goes wrong they can blame the Republicans and if it goes right they can say they helped pass it. It is the only way they can win.

Turkish Kurds Irritated

As the violence in Turkey increases (they banned the only political party representing the Kurds who represent 1/5 of the population) one can look to Iraqi Kurdistan for the solution. Sure, Mosul and Kirkuk are a mess but overall autonomy for the Kurds in Iraq was a relatively peaceful solution. The same semi-autonomous political structure should be granted to the Kurds in Turkey.

Merry Christmas

And if you don't like it you can translate it as either "have a good day" or "go to hell". I'll let you decide how to translate it.

The Race for Governor - Crowded

Here is a list of candidates and their websites. Some have been omitted due to not being able to find the website, and some are omitted to save you some time. I have provided the various reasons should a website not be given. Next week I will detail the proposals which stand out as unique. I could detail every proposal but there is only so many times you can hear a group of politicians say "I support the schools" before realizing such a statement means absolutely nothing for policy or separation from other candidates.

-Democratic Party-
Donna Dion
http://donnajdionforgovernor2010.com/
Dawn Hill
http://www.dawnhillforgovernor.com/
Elizabeth (Libby) Mitchell
http://www.libbymitchellforgovernor.com/
John Richardson
http://www.johnrichardsonformaine.com/
Steven Rowe
http://www.roweforgovernor.com/
Rosa Scarcelli
http://www.rosaformaine.com/home
Peter Truman
I do not support felons involvement in politics.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=282192&ac=PHnws
-Republican Party-
Matt Jacobson
http://www.jacobsonforgovernor.com/
Paul LePage
http://www.lepage2010.com/
Peter Mills
http://www.millsformaine.com/
Les Otten
http://www.lesotten.com/
Bruce Poliquin
http://www.bruceforme.com/
J. Martin Vachon
"I am the only candidate who will reverse the trend of social decay that threatens our civilization."
-Green Party-
Patrick Quinlan
Not found.
Lynne Williams
http://www.lynnewilliams2010.org/
-Independents-
Samme Bailey
"I'm not qualified".
Eliot Cutler
http://www.cutler2010.com/
Augustus Edgerton
Not Found.
Alex Hammer
Anyone who knows him knows why I didn't give the link.
Beverly Cooper-Pete
Not found.
John Whitcomb
http://whitcombformaine.com/

Political Violence in Copenhagen

The climate change debate has gone into scandal since East Anglia's leaked emails. However, the opposition is going through the proper peaceful forms of dissent against scientific fraud and political agendas. However, supporters of the idea that humans cause climate change don't represent themselves as peaceful or legitimate when 600 of them decide to riot in favor of legal action on climate change.

Out of the 30,000 on a "peaceful" march 600 decided to riot. This shows the majority as peaceful yet to this day I've yet to see a riot of those within the opposition to human caused climate.

Some shall claim this was a one time incident however 40 people earlier in the week were arrested for rioting in favor of action on climate change.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/copenhagen/article6954510.ece

Fixed-Price Contracts In Military Research

The Pentagon has decided to move forward with having fixed-price contracts for new weapon research and development. I have yet to determine if this will apply to manufacture of already widely used weapons as a logical decision would have, or if this only applies to research.

This would make sense if it was for production. You say what you are going to pay for a product and the various companies can "bid" (lower than original price) for the contract. Having a price fix of not having companies come up with their costs first makes sense as a company will always look for a profit.

Now, I know some instantly are thinking "companies are greedy and the government should just tax the profit out of them". Not exactly. With a fixed price before bidding companies would either accept lower bids or lose the business. A government tax on the companies would simply add paperwork that would cost more than this alternative.

My problem, however, is the restriction on research. A fixed contract for research will drive companies away because they will not have the funds they need to achieve results. I would prefer a system where there is a set budget for research, as a whole, possibly divided up based on area of research and tell all companies to come up with a product fitting the required aspects if they want the research fund. A competition with military industries would be beneficial because their incentive would be guaranteed production rights for which they would be given enough profit to overcome the loss of research if they bid appropriately. Overall the government cost would go down, and the military industry would become more efficient and effective. (In other words: no more $500 hammers.)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5BA42720091211

Conflict Potential

Some who know me personally know I've been following conflicts all over the world and looking for areas of possible conflict. Recently I've found focus on Cyprus, and in the past couple of weeks efforts to unify the island have dimmed and other events have created cultural stresses between the Greek and Turkish populations. Most recently the grave robbery of the former president's resting place has increased tensions. While I do not think open conflict will occur tomorrow, it is something to keep track of.

The Races

John Richardson has entered the gubernatorial race to be governor of Maine. He has the most experience in government of the candidates fielded so far that I can see. This works to his benefit and his detriment depending on how you look at it.

I can honestly say him being in the Maine House of Representatives for 8 years and being Speaker of the House in his tenure was not used to improve the state's dismal budget situation, tax abuse, and common sense reduction. I simply can not react positively to a candidate who has had previous experience in government because all that experience means is they were part of the establishment that brought us to our problems now.

To find out more check out this link:
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111222&catid=2

Blog Comment Update

Due to the spam growing in number in the comments section of my blog I will be adding that fancy human detector to all comments known as moderation. Do not worry, if your comment is on topic and not promoting a product your comment will get through (with perhaps some modifications with adult language.) This is not meant to silence anyone except the spammers and I hope you understand.

Healthcare Reform

Ban pre-existing condition exemptions. A fine line bill that would bring a much needed reform and accomplish something that the past months have failed to do. Think about it:
In total 5 million people are not granted insurance for pre-existing conditions. You want to enable large portions of people to get insurance without a single government dollar being spent? Ban pre-existing conditions and solve 5 million of the uninsured problem. Quick and simple, though I suppose that is too much to expect of government.

Harness a Possible Cheap Energy Source 2

When I wrote my article in June I had no idea that it was in operation since at least 2004. I also did not know how perverse the government would make the idea. To recap my proposal was to use prison labor with equal safety and standards as anyone else and equivalent credits to their release (a credit being a prison "currency" which a prisoner could use to any number of purposes, these credits would only work in prison thus preventing drug smuggling to a certain extent). Well, this idea of prison labor was already in operation. The prisoners earn at most $1.15. Some earn as much as 25 cents. This is the first area where my plan is altered.

To add to the madness in the example the representatives used 160 prisoners were given a job while 80 civilians were laid off. This is where the operation goes away from being a net benefit for society.

The amount the prisoners earn is not going to convince them that life outside of prison is any better working as they are compared to committing crime. There is also no reward for their work (25 cents, seriously?). Then, laying off non-criminals, those who have not harmed society, to give jobs those we separated from society for safety is just ridiculous.

These prisoners will not be reformed. The prison environment they experience is nothing like society, which my proposal achieved. This is "insourcing" jobs. We all know outsourcing is when a company sends jobs overseas for cheap labor, well the government, our own government, is insourcing. It is taking jobs of Americans and giving them to a cheaper source under complete control of the government.

The current system reminds me of the gulag system of the Soviet Union. You worked in exchange for housing, food, and right to life and there was no market for which anything you made was usable. This system has prisoners working in exchange for housing, food, and 23 cents to $1.15 with prison exchange. The difference is the amount of time the prisoners in our system are officially in has a deadline. However, since it does not reform them and seems guarantee a return the gulag never loses the prisoner. What proof do I have for this lack of a reformed prisoner? The fact that the government has free insurance to employers who take the prisoners later and suffers the problem of the "reformed" prisoners continued criminal actions.

This must stop now based on two arguements:
1. The prisoners are not reformed and the overall net return is not beneficial.
If that isn't good enough:
2. They are taking the jobs of citizens who need the continued experience of a valuable society in order to avoid entering the zone of poverty most enabling of criminal intentions.



U.S. Representatives Pete Hoekstra's and Dave Camp's article: http://hoekstra.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=159687

My article in full: http://rhkinc.blogspot.com/2009/06/harness-possibly-cheap-energy-source.html

The Federal Prison Industries in question: http://www.unicor.gov/?navlocation=AboutUNICOR

Uganda - I hate stupid people.

They are not in the news for the support of rebels in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, at least not today. Today Uganda is in the news for proposing legislation to have a death penalty for homosexuals. It has made this blog because the idea for this legislation came from Americans. Yes, you heard right. As the news story goes:

KAMPALA, Uganda — Proposed legislation would impose the death penalty for some gay Ugandans, and their family and friends could face up to seven years in jail if they fail to report them to authorities. Even landlords could be imprisoned for renting to homosexuals.

The measure was proposed in Uganda following a visit by leaders of U.S. conservative Christian ministries that promote therapy for gays to become heterosexual. However, at least one of those leaders has denounced the bill, as have some other conservative and liberal Christians in the United States.

Excerpt over. So to their credit, some of our people did oppose this bill. However, it is like a KKK member saying threatening and slanderous things about blacks to a crowd of kids and saying they had no responsibility for the kids actions when they attack a black kid.

The article goes on:

The Ugandan legislation in its current form would mandate a death sentence for active homosexuals living with HIV or in cases of same-sex rape. "Serial offenders" also could face capital punishment, but the legislation does not define the term. Anyone convicted of a homosexual act faces life imprisonment.

Anyone who "aids, abets, counsels or procures another to engage of acts of homosexuality" faces seven years in prison if convicted. Landlords who rent rooms or homes to homosexuals also could get seven years and anyone with "religious, political, economic or social authority" who fails to report anyone violating the act faces three years.

Excerpt over. This is quite simply ridiculous however unimportant, time for a one liner heard often in these proposals:

David Bahati, the legislator sponsoring the bill, said he was encouraging "constructive criticism" to improve the law, but insisted strict measures were necessary to stop homosexuals from "recruiting" schoolchildren.

Excerpt over. Quite simply I hate stupid people. The article bloviated further:

"The youths in secondary schools copy everything from the Western world and America," said high school teacher David Kisambira. "A good number of students have been converted into gays. We hear there are groups of people given money by some gay organizations in developed countries to recruit youth into gay activities."

Excerpt over. I hate stupid people.

The article goes on to cover the current state of homosexual freedom in Africa overall:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gNOsUTPIL6zoTWAGRTzPqmx3__IgD9CFBHJ00

Poland Spring

I am in Poland, Maine. Poland Springs water is bottled here (possibly harvested as well). I would like to point out that what we all pay $2.50 a bottle for is cheaper from tap water. It is the same thing without the plastic.

War is Not Illegal

War is not illegal, just very unpleasant and sometimes not justified. It is human nature. War does not have to involve weapons of death and destruction.
Evidence? Soccer/football.
That is all, resume your day's regularly scheduled activities.

Stone

The family killed on that day
Was the mark of the start of the loss of many
Brothers in arms to the cause of freedom
That never seems to come
So as the night drifts coldly on
We look to God for forgiveness for the acts of our sons.

So as the enemy sleeps in their beds
A rebel of our own mistakenly cuts off their heads
Its a moment that we dread
A moment we fear
Because we know your revenge will be clear
Two more families, two more homes
As we seek one more to claim justice done

Yet justice never comes
We are never done
They need a job and we need a gun
But they have the gun and we have the job
So sell ourselves to them
End the bloody war
Let them make our dresses hem
And we'll be able to find another purpose to live for

Yet now another act of death
Has come upon us all
Someone has lost their breath
And their body takes a fall
Missing in charred rubble their funeral is gone
Taking away the last thing we're meant to love

Another bomb another day
Another sniper shot away
Soldier and sniper both at once
On and on goes the violence

Bring civilization back with a simple stone
Not with a bomb or a plane or a factory
But another stone
All revolutions start with a stone
Imagine where we'd be without homes
Built out of stone.

Blast from the "Past" (Obama's 100)

When observing President Obama’s first hundred days one often sees parallels to the thoughts and actions from the first hundred days in the Franklin Roosevelt and Ronald Reagan presidencies. From the handling of public opinion to the engagement of opposition to the individual legislative acts the first one hundred days of President Obama’s administration likens itself more to Franklin Roosevelt’s administration than to Ronald Reagan‘s.
The first similarity between all three is their predecessors. For Franklin Roosevelt the greatest criticism of Herbert Hoover was the inaction and continuation of laisser-faire economic policy. This policy emphasized the separation of the government from the economy. This led to the economic collapse of the nation with only minimal relief effort placed on restoring the economic sector. Roosevelt was elected to act.
Ronald Reagan followed the disaster that was Jimmy Carter‘s administration. Aside from the gas rationing, declining economy, and massive inflation of the Carter administration the Iran Hostage Crisis showed to Americans that our military was weak and our standing in the world not respected. The hostage crisis lasted over a year at our embassy in Iran and Carter seemed to favor inaction in American’s eyes. Ronald Reagan was elected to act.
President Barack Obama followed George Bush’s presidency. Like Hoover’s and Carter’s presidencies, George Bush was one of the most unpopular in history. He was seen as ineffective for seven years in two wars, and for the last two years of his presidency he was seen as slow acting on the economic downturn that was often compared to the great depression. Barack Obama was elected to act.
These three presidents also had another connection other than the conditions that their predecessors left for them. The policies that they lay down in the first hundred days of their administrations stand out as a fundamental change from the foundation of government policy they each inherited from each other. It is in this way that President Obama is most like Roosevelt.
This is because Roosevelt entered office and immediately extended a bank shutdown holiday after his inauguration. This was not only a prevention of a collapse of the banking system due to the “run on the bank” events but also a successful alteration of a fundamental policy that had minimal government involvement in the economy. This simple act, although only lasting for three days after his inauguration, changed the way government looked at the economy. Now the government policy was to rescue the economy instead of allowing the businesses to recover on their own. The New Deal policy replaced the laisser-faire policy which was in place since the end of the Reconstruction era.
It was the speed with which this action was taken that also set the pace for Roosevelt’s first hundred days. The New Deal, a series of 15 legislative government actions that created new government programs intended to create jobs and end the depression, was passed within the first hundred days. The New Deal created a dizzying number of programs, several of which ended up being declared so interventionist that they violated the Constitution. Many were intended, such as the WPA, TVA, and others, to provide jobs, often temporarily in building infrastructure such as power plants, dams, and bridges. This was one of the first large scale government attempts at government job growth in order to lower overall unemployment rates during peace time. There were also the regulatory agencies such as the FDIC and SEC which were to allow the government to regulate the businesses from causing unintended job losses.
It is this approach that led to the increased debt of the government as it needed to pay for the programs. The resulting policies combined taxes, bonds, and printing money in order to thwart the costs. This policy declared (theoretically) that the recovery of the economy was less important than the easing of personal suffering. This approach to government intervention was in place until Ronald Reagan took office.
Ronald Reagan observed the forty years of Roosevelt’s taxing for spending on government involvement policies resulting in a devastating economic situation during the Carter administration. The inflation rate was over 10% when Reagan took office. In order to limit government involvement Reagan had a different approach to the first hundred days.
Instead of proposing legislation that would have removed the programs created by Roosevelt, Reagan pushed for a major reduction of taxes. Most of his first hundred days was spent trying to get the Economic Recovery Act of 1981 passed. It did not pass until after the hundred days were up. Despite the slow appearance of this action, the negotiation and formation of this policy during his first hundred das would alter government involvement in the economy once again.
The mandatory reduction of federal taxes proposed would cripple the government’s ability to pay for the immense spending programs. It also did something else; it improved the economy in the long run by keeping money in the commercial sector instead of in the welfare and government sector.
Then the programs could not be revived to operational levels without deficit spending or raising taxes. For those who supported the Roosevelt economic government policy the ability to propose increases in taxes or deficit spending was now the topic instead of the possible benefits of such programs. Reagan used that to maintain his reduced taxes during his own deficit spending later in his administration. In addition the recovery of the economy was now seen as the best way to ease personal suffering instead of government action.
This policy was seen as the best way to go for twenty years. It was renewed with the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts by George Bush. While this led to (perhaps coincided with) the longest continuous growth of American jobs in history, many believe it was ineffective at preventing the economic collapse in the last year and a half of the Bush administration. Barack Obama won the election vowing to remedy the economy and end the Reagan economic policies.
Already having the Troubled Asset Relief Program in place, Barack Obama had the door open for government intervention in the economy to begin. The administration had the government become part or full owners of automobile manufacturers, banks, insurance companies, and mortgage lenders in the first hundred days. The proposals for government intervention in airline industries and newspaper companies was not accepted.
The spending had started but now the question was how to pay for it. A proposal to crack down on overseas tax havens for companies was proposed in the last few days of Obama’s hundred days and included was an implementation of taxes on profits earned in other countries for companies and their subsidiaries operating overseas. The expansion of the government into these industries with the tax on business was a clear signpost for the return to the government intervention of the Roosevelt era. In this way Obama had reversed the policy of Reagan. The reversal of policy is not only evident in their first hundred days legislatively. The truth of their intentions is evident in their speeches.
Roosevelt followed a man who infamously said that “[poverty could be gone within our lifetimes.]” Roosevelt approached poverty as a chronic disease. Something that required a long-term government program to solve. Hoover was of the mind set that it was the free market boom known greatly in the 20s that would end poverty; not a government program. Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his first inaugural speech on March 4, 1933 said “This great Nation will endure as it has endured, will revive and will prosper … the rulers of the exchange of mankind's goods have failed …Our greatest primary task is to put people to work … It can be accomplished in part by direct recruiting by the Government itself, treating the task as we would treat the emergency of a war.” In this he made his commitment to involving the government in the nation’s economy and not in the hands of businessmen.
Reagan spoke in his first inaugural address on January 20, 1981 saying “These United States are confronted with an economic affliction of great proportions … Those who do work are denied a fair return for their labor by a tax system which penalizes successful achievement and keeps us from maintaining full productivity … But great as our tax burden is, it has not kept pace with public spending. For decades, we have piled deficit upon deficit, mortgaging our future and our children's future for the temporary convenience of the present … In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem.” There is no doubt that, like Roosevelt, Reagan knew the nation’s problem. His plan was to go against the decades of spending, the Roosevelt policy of larger government. It is in this statement that we all see the change. Roosevelt promoted government, Reagan devalued it. Reagan was going directly against Roosevelt. Obama proved to go against Reagan.
Barack Obama in his first inaugural address on January 20, 2009 said “Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some … Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many…The state of our economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act—not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age…The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works…this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control.” In this way the business is again vilified. Reagan’s policy for limited government programs is denounced as leading to this utter failure of a nation. The government will now have programs to cover everything it seems.
Obama’s speech never mentions the banks, or the car manufacturers, or the insurance companies. As of his first hundred days, the roads and bridges is all that is committed to final proof through stimulus bills. Obama’s New Deal of sorts contains ten major pieces of legislation in his first hundred days. Now the question to ask is how long will it be before another Reagan shifts the nation’s role of government once more?

College Republicans Update

While four days past the deadline, the UMaine at Orono College Republican leadership filed the necessary paperwork to remain an organization on campus. The recognition was going to end on the 10th of December, the paperwork was needed by the 30th of November. However, this grace period filled the requirements.

It came closer than it needed to.

Economic Analogy

The government is not pushing the pedals of our economy. They are in fact just making the chain on our bicycle longer by printing more money. Push the pedals and make the money chain move faster, instead of just making our money chain longer.

If you still don't get it after that analogy, please take the time to unregister yourself from the voting rolls.

Interesting News Story

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/01/AR2009120101841_pf.html

Now, work those gears and think about how it was always said no nation would ever do that. Now, could America do the same should, say, $106 trillion in unfunded liabilities isn't paid off when it comes due?

I also find it funny that corruption in North Korea is law:

The government has also criminalized everyday market behavior while creating a new kind of gulag for those it deems economic criminals, according to a report released this fall by the East-West Center, a research organization established by Congress to promote understanding of Asia.

The report says security forces in North Korea have broad discretion to detain without trial nearly anyone who buys or sells in the local markets. But if traders can pay bribes, security officials will often leave them alone, the report says.

Obama's Speech Tonight

Obama took 92 days to write a good speech about how he is going to use common sense in Afghanistan.

I Hate Stupid People 1 (European Union)

The EU proposed East Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine. The Palestinians are a people, without a country. They have land, but no government. To recognize the capital of a non-existant government in a nation that doesn't exist is ridiculous. It is unorganized land with Palestinian residents. The Palestinians are fighting a civil war and to begin to draft this utopian vision of a great Palestinian nation is completely stupid. Right now there is no Palestine, and no agreements between Hamas, the Heles clan, Jawes clan, or the Fatah groups exist to form a government. The elections most likely won't happen in Gaza as Hamas will boycott and Fatah can't agree to be united as one political party with a youth movement pushing for its own party.

You can't have a capital without a nation. You can't have a nation without a government. You can have pride and a culture, but no capital without a government to operate from it. Jerusalem, in its entirety, has more respect for all cultures and faiths than it ever had under Arab rule. To protect the history of the Holy Land, Israel must exist or one can easily see a wave of retribution against all non-Arab cultures lead to the destruction of religious symbols such as the Taliban conducted in Afghanistan.

How To Deal With Darfur

What measures internationally would lead to a successful arrest of the president of Sudan? I will detail them in a coming series: "Darfur Politics".

Europe's Solution: Ban Freedom

News from: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jSvKwQU-w3j6Gp8PWHRzV2hnh54QD9C9EES80

Whether it is the Nazi, Fascist, Communist, or now Socialist movements that Europe is always in a race to the bottom when it comes to using failed philosophies as a basis for their legal code?

What brings me to this conclusion? Switzerland, the great neutral peace loving nation of Europe, has banned mosque minarets.

The catch? The current minarets won't be affected. How many are there? 4. In the whole of Switzerland there are four minarets. So my question is what do the Swiss people think they have accomplished by banning minarets?

They have angered the Muslims many would say. That part doesn't matter though. Simply making someone angry isn't a reason to not do something. However upholding certain principles should be a guideline of what one should or should not do.

Switzerland and Europe often do the one liners about freedom and liberalism, yet banning a minaret is an obvious restriction of two very fundamental elements of freedom:
Freedom of religion
Freedom of expression (architectural expression)

So I really don't care who is angered by a law banning something. I care that this law bans something which has other elements of freedom infringed by it.

Sure, Muslims shouldn't be discriminated against, but neither should Christianity or Judaism or Buddhism (as such symbols are destroyed by Muslims throughout the Middle East. At least they don't pretend to stand for democracy or freedom and come right out saying Sharia Law, so kudos for honesty).

So what do the Swiss believe they have accomplished? I want this answer but know approximately zero Swiss citizens. However, they have alienated and, to put it bluntly, pissed off their Muslim citizens.

You open a dialogue with those you disagree with, and if that doesn't resolve your issues there is one last step before stupidity must take over. Agree, as two entities of culture which can't seem to agree, to live and let live. Have a live and let live agreement where you don't attack their beliefs and they don't attack yours. This means don't go forcing your message on others by cornering people on the street with pamphlets, or other crazy stuff. It also means that during the holiday season let it be celebrated which whatever symbols (within civility) each culture feels represents them best.

Live and let live.

American Revolution

We are witnessing an American Revolution in this country. An American Revolution is all about changing the way people perceive the role of government in our lives. It is about saying we will not be enslaved by the government. The Tea Party movement across this country is Americans standing up and saying they will not be enslaved.

The first American Revolution was twenty years of changing how people in this country saw the rule of Britain, essentially a foreign government, over the colonies. It was changing the acceptance of the Mercantile system and standing up. Britain did not accept this, and a war broke out.

The civil war was slightly different, but the principle that the oppressors did not want to end their enslavement of a population was the same.

It is happening again. But this time violence is not necessary. Our founding fathers gave us a system in which we can say no to tyranny by voting it out of office before it begins. Well, it has begun, but we are not yet entirely helpless. We can still stand up, and we are. However now the question is will you as well?

Note on Cyber Warfare

It should be noted that the scandal revolving around the current climate scientist cover up regarding global warming was brought to us through the hacking of emails. Civil disobedience may be the hackers only defense if brought to court. Sure, they are still guilty, but hey, something good came of it right? Well, not if your Phil Jones, the scientist who was oddly "cheerful" at the news of a rival skeptical scientist in Tasmania being dead.

I have shortened the list of questionable things in the already short summary by the hackers:

1189722851.txt * Jones: “try and change the Received date!”
0847838200.txt * Briffa & Yamal 1996: “too much growth in recent years makes it difficult to derive a valid age/growth curve”
1225026120.txt * CRU’s truncated temperature curve
1062189235.txt * Osborn: concerns with MBH uncertainty
0926947295.txt * IPCC scenarios not supposed to be realistic
0938018124.txt * Mann: “something else” causing discrepancies
0939154709.txt * Osborn: we usually stop the series in 1960
0933255789.txt * WWF report: beef up if possible
0998926751.txt * “Carefully constructed” model scenarios to get “distinguishable results”
0968705882.txt * CLA: “IPCC is not any more an assessment of published science but production of results”
1075403821.txt * Jones: Daly death “cheering news”
1029966978.txt * Briffa – last decades exceptional, or not?
1092167224.txt * Mann: “not necessarily wrong, but it makes a small difference” (factor 1.29)
1188557698.txt * Wigley: “Keenan has a valid point”
1118949061.txt * we’d like to do some experiments with different proxy combinations
1120593115.txt * I am reviewing a couple of papers on extremes, so that I can refer to them in the chapter for AR4


Source: http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/hadley_hacked/

Warmest Year On Record

Just in case you were wondering it was 1934. Look at the actual temperature data yourself, not any analysis, but the actual core data and do the math yourself. You will be surprised. Use NASA, or any other statistical collection you wish, but 1934, not 1998 is the warmest year on USA records.

Climate Scandal Emails

They have been confirmed by the numerous sources I use, and I examined several myself. Quite simply, aside from the larger picture, my initial grasp of these scientists is how childish they all are. Not only is their willingness to communicate in proper English an issue for them, they can't hold back from insulting each other for one minute. The arrogance they have against "laymen" is astounding. If their jobs were based on getting elected by the populace, they would fail at even giving a basic conversation with the "laymen" of the would, never mind getting our vote. They are immature, childish, and the most pathetic people I have ever eavesdropped on.

Update: Even when making an appropriate and positively supporting reference from the book "1984" one engineer manages to add an insult to the person she is complimenting! These scientists are worthless as human beings as far as I'm concerned.

Recall Election

The madness surrounding the removal of Ed Barrett as Bangor's City Manager has prompted a recall petition. In order to do so the initial ten affidavits demanding the recall needs ten signatures in order to allow further gathering of over two thousand signatures for the recall to be approved. Tomorrow I am going to city council to sign my name to endorse a recall.

I encourage you to do the same.

They gave no reason other than wanting to go in a different direction. They have not yet said what direction that would be. In addition, they council is going to pay at least 15 thousand dollars to find a replacement. That is an expensive directionless change.

Change for the sake of change isn't efficient. However, change in order to end the mounting sequence of insane decisions from the council would work for the benefit of Bangor. A recall to end the madness and elect sane people. Our newly elected Cary Weston is among the sane, and electing more like him would be a step in the right direction for Bangor.

Right now getting the recall election moving forward is the task at hand and I fully support this effort.

Friends Helping Friends Who Cut Themselves

I know you are hurting because your friend or relative is in pain. However, you should focus on your friend's pain when talking about their cutting. Really it comes down to something they are avoiding or escaping. It might be as obvious as abuse by those they know, or less apparent such as stress from work or school. You need to ensure that you talk to them in an environment that will be safe for you and your friend. Most of all keep them talking, and don't be hostile. Your friend needs someone to not only listen to them, but understand and help them resolve the problem they are escaping. No matter how difficult it may get for you, remember you are helping your friend have one less scar.

From:
http://onelessscar.weebly.com/index.html

Quote

One person at a time will not change the world.
One nation at a time, now that is getting something done.
-RHK

Marriage

A difference with no difference is no difference. In the UK a straight couple is suing to have equal rights to gays and want a civil union. I do not know their reasons for not going to marriage directly, but I do know this simply highlights the insanity of the issue at hand.

Marriage granted to straights and gays, whether it is called marriage or not, is (in theory- but not in practice in Maine as I proved months ago) the same thing. The bureaucracy of having two names for the same thing (two consenting adults having their love of each other legally recognized) is pointless. Save paper and allow only one form of marriage to be available to everyone. Since love, not gender, decides the commitment people have towards each other so should a legal recognition of that commitment.

Afghanistan

A leak from the White House says we will be in Afghanistan for 8-9 years.

My gut reaction: Obama wants to anger his base and stir the anti-war movement to be more active than the Conservative revolution taking place so that he can say he was forced to compromise and pull out in two or three years taking the possible victory and leaving. If we don't actually have victory he can have the base explain it was impossible to win anyway.

I know one thing: Afghanistan could be a stable democracy allowing for our troops being removed in two years. We would need to fight the war like it was a real war, and not our current drive-by shootout strategy. Hold the line with 250,000 troops, build the infrastructure to support our troops, and when we leave allow the Afghan troops to continue using that infrastructure to use against whatever remains of an insurgency.

Utopia

The concept of creating an utopia is inherently a flaw of human existence as we all strive to achieve a better world. However, trying to make the leap from what we are to what we want to be sometimes defies nature. Communism and Socialism are two attempts at creating utopias, but they fail to recognize human greed, envy, and hatred will always exist. Not only that but humans will always be different than our neighbor in some way: if not our looks then by our thoughts.

The perfect society is one in which our differences are allowed to be as different as possible and still exist productively as a society with different interests yet also accepting others diversity. However, diversity for diversity sake is not logical, as all deserve the right to exist in their own diversity, one's diversity should not interfere in another's diversity.

Live and let live is the perfect world. When we can do that, then we will be as perfect as God or nature allows us to be.

The Truth Changes Everything

Remember when I said everything was about to change a while ago? Well it has. Today the beginning of what I see as a chain of events leading us through 2011 will alter what we know and understand of the world. The 1990s and 2000s had an increasing level of ignorance (I witnessed this first hand, at least in grade school everyone was on the same page. By the time I got to high school, people were claiming Republicans wanted to raise taxes....) However, the revelation of thousands of emails relating to the climate debate considering that science which showed data contrary to what was desired for a result was not only tampered with, but unpublished and censored. Scientists were threatened.

What is my source? You seriously need to become more self reliant and google it yourself. Mine was the New York Times, and my own further research to actually confirm it.

UMaine At Orono College Republicans

Long story short the forms to be recognized for another year have yet to be filled out so a message to the College Republicans was sent informing them to fill out the forms at a certain office time. So the VP of the UMaine college Republicans decided to parody it switching the references of Student Government to College Republicans and vice versa with office hours listed as never. Point is I am really leaning towards doubling my efforts for the College Conservatives. Anyhow, if anyone knows me they know I love to hate stupid people and wrote the following message in response:

Hopefully the forms will be filled out without further immaturity? In case you forgot the governor election is this election cycle and the GOP candidates would certainly enjoy having UMaine volunteers. Losing recognition would hinder the outreach opportunities and thus hinder the overall efforts on campus.

Susan Collins Update

One thing I like about being on Susan Collin's email update list is that I actually get updates. Mike and Olympia send something once every two months, Susan sends something it seems at least monthly or every two weeks and makes it relevant and has details. Today having a lot of news without the world actually changing gives me the opportunity to update you of how I view the day to day operations of Susan Collins lately.

I want to first thank Susan for recognizing Hasan's actions in the Fort Hood shooting as a terrorist attack. It shows some common sense on her part still exists.

Mostly she is doing a good job, some things I did take notice of. Such as:

U.S. Senator Susan Collins, a member of the Senate Appropriations and Armed Services Committees, today announced that the Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations spending bill which includes her request for nearly $50 million in military construction funding for Maine projects.

-28 million for a new Aircraft Hangar at the Bangor Air National Guard base.
-$7.1 million for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery to be used for security improvements at Gate #2.
-$2 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery to be used for the planning and design funding for the Consolidation of Structural Shops.
-$12.9 million for the Joint Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC) at Brunswick Naval Air Station.

The legislation also includes $53.2 billion in Department of Veterans Affairs discretionary funding, including $50 million for a new Rural Clinic Initiative for additional to provide for additional Community Based Outreach Clinic's in rural and highly rural areas, such as Maine.

Excerpt from a press release over. How about we put 50 million to making absolutely certain our border guards have memorized the terror watch list? I am not aware of nor concerned about terror plots against Maine. 9/11 proved our open border with Canada and lax security at our airports, not only in big cities but Bangor International as well, enabled several of the terrorists to conduct their attacks that day. I do not believe we need to improve our physical security and base capabilities in Maine, only the ability of those protecting us.

Sources (Bibliography) :
"SENATOR COLLINS SECURES MORE THAN $50 MILLION FOR MAINE IN SENATE MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS BILL"
http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=092d0551-802a-23ad-4f8d-df4eb26dfaf0&Region_id=&Issue_id=&CFID=20904891&CFTOKEN=46174388

This is an interesting proposal:
"SENATOR COLLINS TO INTRODUCE BILL TO SUPPORT DEEPWATER, OFFSHORE WIND POWER RESEARCH"
http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=092e9c6c-802a-23ad-409d-b62eabb6decc&Region_id=&Issue_id=&CFID=20811960&CFTOKEN=67643797

U.N. Wants False Barrier In Climate Change Debate

That is how I interpret their focus on women in the debate over climate change. They use a person's emotion instead of the facts to support a cause, which actually means nothing about the cause. Prove it, don't personalize it. And don't allow yourself to be fooled by such a simple tactic. Use facts, not emotion, to support your various causes.

From: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C11%5C20%5Cstory_20-11-2009_pg7_28

1984

Is knowing a lie any better than not knowing?
No.

The government should guarantee a number is accurate 100% before reporting it. No more estimates, no more fictitious jobs. No more campaign lies and an end to having three health care bills at once so you can say one claim isn't in one bill, even when it is in another one. One bill at a time. You want to get rid of pre-existing conditions, then have a bill banning pre-existing conditions. I don't care if it is only five lines because the size doesn't impress me. The benefit will impress me.

Update: No more public speaking by Joe Biden.

Climate Change Hurts Women More

The U.N. study released this week says that women produce less carbon emissions but are the most affected by climate change. Quote:

"Poor women in poor countries are among the hardest hit by climate change, even though they contributed the least to it," said the United Nations Population Fund Executive Director, Ms Thoraya Ahmed Obaid.

"The poor are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and the majority of the 1.5 billion people living on $1 a day or less are women," she added.

The report shows that the fight against climate change is more likely to be successful if policies, programmes and treaties take into account the needs, rights and potential of women.

It reveals that women are more likely than men to die in natural disasters--including those related to extreme weather--with this gap most pronounced where incomes are low and status differences between men and women are high.

The report shows that investments that empower women and girls--particularly education and health--bolster economic development and reduce poverty and have a beneficial impact on climate.

Excerpt over. The contradictions are startling. First they declare the de facto cause of climate change wealth, and say wealthy nations' climate change affects poorer nations, particularly poorer women, more. Then it says making women wealthy will have a beneficial impact on climate change.

Remember my false barriers post? If not read it. Already, knowing how wealth and male-female reasoning is used in this report I can direct you to why the U.N. report means absolutely nothing and how we can really look for an actual solution:
http://rhkinc.blogspot.com/2009/11/barrier-manipulation.html

News Article:
http://allafrica.com/stories/200911191053.html

Economics

I take your dollar, promise to pay it back, and buy candy. I eat the candy and don't pay you back when you want me to. I just say I will, but not now. Meanwhile, every day I don't pay you back I take another dollar for more candy. You would get rather angry wouldn't you? You wouldn't let me take your dollar.

The government is doing very similar things. It is taking your dollars, creating jobs in fictitious districts, promises to give some of it back, and then says it is with holding your return in order to create another fictitious job as you are on the verge of losing your own.

America, our current situation with the spending levels topping the 12 trillion dollar debt mark is unsustainable. Many news reports then say how much that is per person. It doesn't matter. I didn't want that money to be spent, and sadly I was alive for at least 7 trillion dollars of that spending. I'm only 18 years old. However it doesn't matter how much that is per person because I am not going to pay that debt. I didn't spend that money. I just know I'm not giving the drug addict more drugs.

Just say no. I am not buying health insurance and I will not let the government pay my bill. Once you let the government pay for something you don't want or need they own you. I will not be a slave. On our current path in the next 18 years of my life I fear to see that not only will the government demand I pay, but tell me what job I will fulfill for maximum returns in order to pay.

We have already lost our freedom. It is time to take it back. You want change? Then actually change something and declare your independence and freedom from being controlled by the government. Respect the government, and understand you are the government. Any government operating against your wishes and controlling your life is one of tyranny.

To the human race, if you live under any government like this you must resist. Fight back before a global dark ages comes upon us.

Stupid Economics

Obama's advice was as follows: Speaking in the heart of America's biggest lender, President Obama told Fox News in an interview Wednesday that the piling on of U.S. debt could drag the country into a "double-dip recession," though he said he's still considering additional tax incentives for businesses to reverse the rising unemployment rate.

Excerpt over. If debt could cause the recession to worsen, one would presume the next statement would be about lessening the debt. Instead, he proposes to increase the boom before the next bust by increasing the debt even more. This is just ridiculous.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/18/obama-warns-double-dip-recession/

Afghanistan Solutions

From Reuters:
Most Afghans see not Taliban militants but poverty, unemployment and government corruption as the main causes of war in their country, according to a report by a leading aid group released on Wednesday.

Excerpt over. Well, since the same issues in our country aren't even being addressed by the Obama administration, I think it is a safe bet that Afghanistan will not improve in the coming years.

Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP426013

Fiscal Order for Maine

Some candidates for governor have been providing general ideas to get the budget in order. Here are three things which I see could save hundreds of millions of dollars:

End Dirigo Health.
Merge the overhead of Presque Isle and Fort Kent's universities.
Spend only on existing infrastructure before expanding within the bi-annual budget.
Disregard stipulations of further spending in regards to non-essential projects in the Stimulus.

Stop Foreign Aid Immediately

I demand this because of this: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/17/millions-hungry-households-us-report

Yes, I am saying the hunger of an American is more important to me than the hunger of someone else. Deal with it.

Journalism FAIL

I rarely post a full article's text as some are ridiculously long, but if I didn't you wouldn't believe me on this one (because I wouldn't believe myself if I told myself this one) :

Poll: Half of Southern Democrats dislike outburst
The Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. -- About half of the Southern Democrats responding to a poll say they were either opposed or outraged by South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst as President Barack Obama addressed a joint session of Congress.

The State of Columbia reported that the Winthrop University poll also showed large majorities of both independents and Democrats reacted negatively to Wilson's interruption of Obama's speech by shouting "You lie!"

More than 43 percent of Southern Republicans liked it when Wilson berated Obama as he spoke in September.

Winthrop's poll, which included questions asked exclusively for The State, showed almost 68 percent of independents said they were opposed to Wilson's outburst. Overall, 30 percent of independents said they were opposed to and outraged by Wilson's actions.

Far fewer Southern Republicans - just over 11 percent - said they were outraged by Wilson's remark. But another 36 percent of Southern Republicans said they opposed Wilson's outburst.

Just under 65 percent of all those polled said they opposed Wilson's actions.

Nearly 30 percent of all poll participants said they not only opposed Wilson's actions, but were also outraged by them.

"It was stupid," said Charles Marshall, a 74-year-old retired marketing and sales representative who lives in Bluffton and backed Obama in the 2008 presidential election.

"He acted like a redneck," Marshall said of Wilson. "And I'm no elitist by any stretch of the imagination. He was appealing to the emotions of his constituency, and that's dumb."

Wilson apologized to Obama's chief of staff for his outburst. But he has made no apologies for the millions in campaign contributions that have poured in to him since he interrupted the president's speech with his shout.

"A lot of people have contributed because Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi and MoveOn.org have raised money for my opponent," Wilson said. "It was an understanding that I had become a target."

J. Chester Gambrell, a 57-year-old salesman who lives in Florence and who voted for U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., didn't approve of Wilson's actions.

"I'm not sure if that was the right time to say that, whether you think Barack Obama is a great guy or not, out of respect for the president," Gambrell said. "The man is president.

The survey was conducted Oct. 24-Nov. 7 by telephone. There were 866 respondents, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.3 percentage points.
Information from: The State, http://www.thestate.com

Article over. Go back through and find the data for Democrats. It only mentions Independents. They seem to be getting confused. Just because Independents voted for Obama once, that doesn't make them automatic Democrats. While it can be inferred from the overall total, the actual figure for Democrats isn't even given in the article. Journalism FAIL.

Source:
http://www.thestate.com/statewire/story/1029538.html

Change the Majority of Fear

I want to leave an impact on the world. I want to do something that won't be forgotten in a generation. I do not want to be the name on the family tree that is remembered as the odd one that did nothing. I want to leave an impact.
I question college. I'm there now doing the essays and journals and tests and prelims and at first it was fulfilling, but now I see how pointless it all is. Every meal a person makes for their self is about survival. It leaves an impact because if you didn't eat, you would die. You take a test and fail, you can take another and pass. You go on whether you pass or fail for a month in college, yet if you didn't eat for a month you would die. You can fail a whole semester and still go on. Until you get that piece of paper.
I could die tomorrow and be remembered for nothing. I could die in four years with that piece of paper and be remembered for nothing. I could save someone's life tomorrow and be remembered. Should they not be remembered I wouldn't be remembered either, so I want a more direct approach. I want to be a name that no matter how many times history is rewritten, I will still be there for what I did.
It isn't enough to be a senator, or even a president. We remember some presidents because they are recent, but we really remember Washington, Lincoln, FDR, and Reagan. Why? Because they changed how the world thinks and sees itself. Egypt had many rulers, but we remember Cleopatra and King Tut, why? Because what they did changed how the world saw itself. King Tut changed how the world saw Egypt's past. Cleopatra changed how the Roman Empire existed.
You don't need to be a president or king to be remembered. Ben Franklin wasn't a positioned leader, but he is remembered. He has been dead for many generations but we know him. We know he was a patriot and diplomat and free thinker ahead of him just being a scientist. Why? Because anyone can be a scientist and figure out what he figured out. However, not everyone can sway the minds of people. Thoreau and Paine are remembered for changing how people saw government. I want to be remembered.
That piece of paper gained by college means absolutely nothing. The work put into something other than changing the world is worthless. Sure, you can gain pleasure from working for money and getting newer and shinier things, but your existence will have been wasted. Unless you change the world in a way that can be remembered more than two generations after you existed your life is worthless. That is why the Kaiser was just another leader of just another warring nation notable for it breaking records in number of dead. Hitler is remembered for changing the world. Good or bad, he changed the world.
I know you see this as true. Yet we do nothing about it. Why? It is that we don't want to change the world? I think we all would like to. Not being able to change the world is actually why voting is ignored by so many. So that can't be a reason, since we do want to change the world. Is it because although everyone wants to change the world we think only one or two people possibly can change the world? Are we afraid of the majority of fear?
I say we should rise above the majority of fear to change the world. We can see the benefits of our change in whether or not it reduces the fear of people and increases their willingness to strive to change the world. That would lead to more entrepreneurs, scientists, moral politicians, and leaders of all kinds than we ever dreamed of. The best part is this world of leaders can be formed by us all. We are the change we want to see. However, our existence will only be remembered if we take up the challenge and work to change the world. Otherwise, we will turn to dust just like that piece of paper.

City Mananger's Release

I've held back from making a statement on Ed Barrett being "encouraged" by the Bangor City Council to retire after 22 years on the job. I was hoping the council would either say why he should have gone or at least better explained the "disagreement" they had with his plan.

First, you do not fire someone who does their job and comes up with a proposal without having a plan of your own.

Secondly, someone in a respected position does not just go in the middle of the night from a job they had for 22 years. If wrong doing occurred, he did so with taxpayer money and taxpayer time. That alone deserves explanation.

I am going to leave the issue at that because the list of somewhat odd decisions and statements by the council since I started observing over a year ago have been growing and I am finding it hard to not just simply list every incident I've seen. A new councilor is there this year, so I will give Cary Weston time to shift the council's viewpoint of the intelligence of the residents of Bangor.

Should this shift not take place, you can forget the referendum on Obama next year because Bangor will be looking for new, transparent ideas.

Guantanimo Bay Prisoners Trial In New York

While I am certainly not happy about the decision made, I am not surprised by it. I am more surprised that people didn't know this was coming. America, wake up. This is the leadership we have in place. This is not a moderate administration. It just isn't. They will place other nationalities and minorities of any form, other than opponents, ahead of common sense.

I am not being a bigot of any kind, I am observing what has been happening. Perhaps if you did the same you would notice it as well. What to do about this other than make myself aware of situations and ultimately treat others as I want to be treated I do not know.

Yemen Situation Worsens

In the past week the situation in Yemen has escalated to levels worthy of accusations and counter accusations of responsibility for the Houthi rebel's success. Iran blames the U.S. for Houthi defeats, and demands Saudi Arabia stop getting involved. Saudi Arabia however can't really do this since the rebels crossed the border and started attacking Saudis. Yemen and Saudi Arabia are blaming Iran for arming the rebels, and the reason this matters is because the conflict has forced Saudi Arabia to evacuate 250 villages. Now, last I checked evacuating populated areas is a sign you are preparing for those areas to enter the conflict zone. So with yesterday's 250 and today's increase by 170 to a total 420 village evacuations the situation is worsening quickly. Pakistanis have also been fighting with the rebels which is something I just can't figure out a motive for other than the possible Taliban and Al Qaeda connection.

Why does this matter? Well, thus far Iran's involvement with Hamas and Hezbolla and the Somali Civil War has been ignored by the Arab world. Now, however, two clearly Arab nations are facing the end result of weapons and finance support by Iran to rebel and extremist groups. How the Arab nations unify or divide over this will be very indicative of the possible alliance system should war with Iran unfold.

However, the reason the situation may be worsening could be due to the effectiveness of the Saudi forces:

Meanwhile Saudi's armed forces arrested a sorcerer attempting to plant magic spells in the conflict zone in support of the Houthis, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported.
The man was initially believed to be a refugee fleeing the conflict but security forces searched him and found amulets, animal remains and scrolls containing symbols.

The detainee admitted he was planning to plant amulets in the conflict zone to help the Houthi rebels sneak across the border and win their war against Saudi Arabia.
When asked why he had long nails, he claimed that he is obeying the order of the jinns, or spirits.
“The jinns will be infuriated and will kill me if I trim or clean my nails,” he told his interrogators.

Excerpt over. So as the Houthi rebels (an ethnic, traditional, and Shi'ite minority) are gaining ground, Saudi Arabia is cracking down on animists.

http://www.kippreport.com/2009/11/fighting-forces-mass-evacuation-in-saudi/
http://www.alarabiya.net/articles/2009/11/15/91350.html