GREEDY SPECULATORS?

Washington Times
By Richard Rahn

Are you aware that without speculators, most food and physical products would cost a whole lot more? Many members of Congress have been looking for the villain who is causing gasoline prices to soar (they seem to be mirror-less). A large number, mostly, but not exclusively, Democrats, have decided that speculators, or at least "greedy speculators," are the villains.

Many members of Congress make up "solutions" to things they do not understand and cause problems where there are none or make real problems worse, which explains the current run-up in gasoline prices. (Read more.)

It's Past Time to Expand Domestic Refining Capacity

By Rep. Joe Pitts and Rep. Phil English

With the price of gas well over $4 a gallon nationwide, with no end to the high prices in sight, what is Congress doing? Voting on legislation to regulate the import, export, transport, and sale of “nonhuman primates.” This is not a joke, though it must seem like one to the American public. Instead of voting on a single bill to increase American made energy this week, Congress instead voted on H.R. 2964, the Captive Primate Safety Act.

The American people must be rightly furious that Congress continues with their business as usual, as if families aren’t paying $70 to fill up their minivans so they can drive to work, or take their kids to soccer practice.

A step closer to educational fascism

Why bureaucrats, NEA so despise homeschooling.

This year is the 160th anniversary of public education in California.

That might seem to be a landmark – a cause of celebration in some circles. However, the dream that motivated the pioneers of taxpayer-supported schools in the mid-19th century has evolved into a nightmare of illiteracy, chaos, incompetence and indoctrination.

In 160 years, California, and, indeed, the nation, has gone from the one-room schoolhouse that was considered a privileged place of learning for motivated students, some of whom had no parents to teach them, to mandatory state-directed detention of millions of young people from age 4 through 18 on a daily basis.

There are essentially two purposes to these government education camps: (Read on.)

“The United States leads the world in too many areas for us to start imitating those who are trailing behind.”

—Thomas Sowell

The Imitators

By Thomas Sowell:

Part One
For some Americans, it is considered chic to be like Europeans.

Part Two
It must be a bitter disappointment to those in the media and in politics who have been dying to use the word "recession" that, for the second quarter in a row, there has been no downturn in the economy, though growth has been slow.

Part Three
Some of the people who are most adamant against outsourcing economic activity from the United States to other countries often seem to think we should outsource our foreign policy to "world opinion" or act only in conjunction "with our NATO allies."

“The most fundamental fact about oil worldwide is that there is lots of it. Though frequently overlooked, the ability to refine crude oil plays an essential role in the supply and demand equation.”

—Alan Caruba

“Obama would bring us back to September 10th America. And September 10th is sure to be followed by September 11th.”

—Andrew McCarthy

“When the terrorists attack again—as Homeland Security has repeatedly warned us they will—how many survivors will be consoled because the Supreme Court and the State Department looked out for the ‘rights’ of terrorists before the rights of their dead loved ones?”

—Cal Thomas

Capitalism Said Key to Finding New Drugs

The New York Sun

The vast majority of drug development takes place within the private sector and not, as some claim, in government-funded laboratories, according to a new report.

Media Try to Cool Down Oil Drilling Fever

Did you know a majority of Americans favor more domestic oil drilling? The mainstream media haven’t told you. They’re too busy dismissing arguments for expanding the oil supply.

Bless the Speculator

By John Stossel

It's clear McCain does not understand how markets work or why they are good. He certainly doesn't understand the role of speculators and other middlemen. He's not alone. Speculators are among the most reviled people in history. When they were members of ethnic minorities, they have been easy targets for economically illiterate people who were jealous of their success.

McCain wonders "whether speculation has been going on." He needn't wonder. Speculation always goes on. Speculation means to take a risk on what the future holds in hopes of making a profit. The world's stock and commodities markets are based on this principle. Sen. McCain must have meant it when he said, "I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues". Continued...

The Energy Quagmire

By Ken Blackwell

America is in a worsening energy crisis, and the increasing consumer costs associated with it are wreaking economic havoc on American families. Tackling this crisis has fallen prey to presidential politics and looms large as a top-shelf issue in this fall's election.

Teachers' schools flunk math prep

USATODAY.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — For kids to do better in math, their teachers might have to go back to school.

Elementary-school teachers are poorly prepared by education schools to teach math, finds a study being released Thursday by the National Council on Teacher Quality.

THIS IS SO SAD

Canadian Court to Father: Grounding Daughter 'Too Severe' a Punishment

What started as a simple case of parent-child disagreement has turned into what some fear is a precedent-setting ruling.

In Quebec, a 12-year-old girl repeatedly ignored her father's rules and posted a profile of herself at an online dating site. Her father then grounded her from attending her sixth grade field trip.

The punishment lasted as long as it took the girl to notify her court-appointed lawyer, have the judge "fast-track" the case, and ultimately get her punishment overturned by a Quebec Superior Court.

We do not want to get to this point.

Dems Oppose GOP Call for Increased Domestic Drilling
Democratic senators are skeptical about new Republican efforts to increase offshore drilling.

Income Redistribution: Mundell on taxes

From the Patriot Post:

"Nobel Prize-winning economist and Columbia University professor Robert Mundell is often credited as being one of the original “supply-side” economists, so when he speaks, one should listen. Mundell now advises that if the Democrat-controlled Congress follows through on its promise to rescind the Bush tax cuts, “the U.S. [economy] will go into a big recession, a nosedive.” He further warns Democrat nominee and sworn tax hiker Barack Obama, “It’s a lethal thing to suddenly raise taxes. This would be devastating to the world economy, to the United States, and it would be, I think, political suicide” in a general election.

Instead of the typical Democrat solution, Mundell advocates lowering taxes even further. Specifically, the marginal rate, which is currently 35 percent; it should be 30 percent, according to Mundell. Additionally, the corporate rate should be cut to 25 percent. He advocates making the other Bush tax cuts permanent because “[e]liminating that uncertainty would be more important than pushing for a further cut—in the income tax rates, anyway.” The uncertainty is all the more glaring when looking at the history of income taxes. The top marginal rate has been anywhere from three percent when first instituted to 92.5 percent during World War II. Should Obama be elected and Democrats further expand their congressional majorities, the “change you can believe in” may be only what you can find in the couch."

In addition, Barack wants to double the capital gains tax from it's present rate. This will have a terrible negative impact on the stock market.

NOT OF SOUND MIND

“I am profoundly disappointed in Justice Roberts and Justice Alito, both of whom assured us of their respect for precedent. With this decision, 70 years of precedent has gone out the window. And I believe the people of this great country will be less safe because of it.” —Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

A few years she commented on her own “right-to-carry” permit: “I know the urge to arm yourself because that’s what I did. I was trained in firearms. I carried a concealed weapon. I made the determination that if somebody was going to try to take me out, I was going to take them with me.”

Ahhh ... A true elitist: I live by a different set of rules than you peons.

“The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

—Samuel Adams

A Problem of Ignorance

By Walter E. Williams

"I have no idea of the number of traffic signals in our country, but whatever the number, how many of my fellow Americans would like the U.S. Congress to be in charge of their operation? Congress, or a committee they authorize, would determine the length of time red stays red and green stays green and what hours of the day they can be flashing red.

Or, how many Americans would like Congress to be in charge deciding what items, in what quantities, your local supermarket has on its shelves? Right now the average well-stocked supermarket carries somewhere between 50,000 and 60,000 different items. Do we really need such a choice in light of the fact that several decades ago Americans made do with just 10,000 different items? Would you also want the government agency that delivers our mail to also manage delivery of items to supermarkets?"

Federal Police Official Killed in Mexico City

Washingtonpost.com

MEXICO CITY, June 26 -- A high-ranking federal police official and his bodyguard were assassinated here Thursday, the latest in a string of killings attributed to drug cartels seeking revenge against law enforcement agencies.

Prosecutors held back on using Obama's name in Rezko trial

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Barack Obama's name could have been invoked more at the corruption trial of his former fund-raiser Tony Rezko.

But it appears prosecutors opted against bringing Obama into the mix during the two-month trial.

N.J. moves closer to universal health care

Philadelphia Inquirer

New Jersey took an important step this week toward becoming one of the first states with universal health care when lawmakers approved a bill expanding a health insurance program for low-income families.

Legislators trimmed funding in many areas of the budget this year after Gov. Corzine prescribed "cold-turkey therapy" for the state's chronic overspending.

But they included $8.9 million in a bill that would require all children in the state to have health insurance and expand FamilyCare, the state health insurance program, to include more poor parents.

Lawsuits Follow Landmark Gun Ruling

Following Thursday's Supreme Court ruling on gun rights, Second Amendment groups are preparing to challenge gun bans in cities other than Washington, D.C.

The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) announced Thursday they already have filed a federal lawsuit challenging Chicago's long-standing handgun ban. The case is McDonald v. City of Chicago.

The National Rifle Association has said it also plans to challenge gun bans in Chicago and San Francisco.

Democrats Offering 'Sham' Energy Legislation, Republicans Say
As oil prices hit yet another record, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi insists that Democrats are doing something to reduce prices at the pump, “here and now.” Republicans scoff at the notion. They say Democrats are offering nothing but “sham” legislation, blame and excuses.

Court says no deadline for EPA on global warming

Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON - A federal appeals court refused Thursday to make a resistant Bush administration speed up a decision on whether greenhouse gases and global warming threaten public health and welfare.
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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied a petition by 17 states and several environmental groups asking it to order the Environmental Protection Agency to make that determination within 60 days.

Such a finding is a necessary first step to regulating carbon dioxide.... (Read more.)

McCain backs gun decision, Obama straddles issue

Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON - John McCain welcomed a Supreme Court decision invalidating a District of Columbia handgun ban. Barack Obama sought to straddle the subject by saying he favors an individual's right to bear firearms as well as a government's right to regulate them.
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The hotly contentious issue surfaced in the presidential campaign Thursday after the Supreme Court ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to own guns and struck down the city's thirty-two-year-old ban. (Full story.)

Questions on the Flooding in Iowa:

The self reliance shown by people of the mid-west stands so far apart from the 'people' in New Orleans that were in the same situation and who depend on government to take care of them.

Where are all of the Hollywood celebrities holding telethons asking for help in restoring Iowa and helping the folks affected by the floods?

Where is all the media asking the tough questions about why the federal government hasn't solved the problem? Asking where the FEMA trucks (and trailers) are?

Why isn't the Federal Government relocating Iowa people to free hotels in Chicago?

When will Spike Lee say that the Federal Government blew up the levees that failed in Des Moines?

Where are Sean Penn and the Dixie Chicks?

Where are all the looters stealing high-end tennis shoes and big screen television sets?

When will we hear Governor Chet Culver say that he wants to rebuild a 'vanilla' Iowa, because that's the way God wants it?

Where is the hysterical 24/7 media coverage complete with reports of cannibalism?

Where are the people declaring that George Bush hates white, rural people?

How come in 2 weeks, you will never hear about the Iowa flooding ever again?

Republicans Assail Democrats on High Oil Prices

By Matt Purple

The GOP had harsh words for Democrats on Capitol Hill this morning, accusing them of misunderstanding the economics of oil and stalling needed drilling initiatives.

“We ought to take a square look in the mirror,” said Rep. Kevin Brady (R.-Tex.). “We need more American-made energy and Congress has resisted it. We need more supply.”

“Democratic leaders have offered no solutions, only gimmicks, from suing OPEC to windfall profit taxes,” he added. (Read more.)

Right to Bear Arms

By Linda Chavez

Washington, D.C., will become a safer place to live and work thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling Thursday against the city's absolute ban on handguns. The Court ruled that the Second Amendment's guarantee of the right to bear arms is an individual right, not just one that permits states to maintain militias, striking down one of the nation's toughest anti-gun laws. As someone who lived in the District at the time the city imposed its ban 32 years ago, I say it's about time. (Read on.)

The Republic of Kennedy

By Mona Charen

In the United States today we no longer enjoy the rule of law but instead the rule of lawyers -- robed lawyers with the exalted title "justice" -- but still unelected lawyers enacting their own policy preferences.

Before their commonsense decision in the Second Amendment case, a different complement of justices (Justice Anthony Kennedy siding with the liberals) demonstrated what a flimsy hold the words of the Constitution have on our jurisprudence. In fact, when you consider that the court is pretty well divided between four liberals and four conservatives with Justice Kennedy swinging from one side to another as the spirit moves him, we now enjoy a Republic of Kennedy. All this fuss and bother about the presidential race is misplaced. The most powerful man in the land is someone most Americans couldn't pick out of a lineup.

(Read on.)

Why Liberals Lie About What They Believe

By John Hawkins

Once you've watched liberals long enough to understand how they think -- scratch that, how they feel -- they become extraordinarily predictable.

To begin with, the liberal agenda is, in many respects, the same as it was in the thirties. Whether you call it communism, fascism, socialism, liberalism, or progressivism, the only real difference is how much they believe they can get away with, the way they sell it to people, and the latest trendy name for what they believe. (Read more.)

Obama's Long March

By Charles Krauthammer

Obama's long march to the center has begun.

And why not? What's the downside? He won't lose the left, or even mainstream Democrats. They won't stay home on Nov. 4. The anti-Bush, anti-Republican sentiment is simply too strong. Election Day is their day of revenge -- for the Florida recount, for Swift-boating, for all the injuries, real and imagined, dealt out by Republicans over the last eight years.

Normally, flip-flopping presidential candidates have to worry about the press. Not Obama.

(Read more.)

Evolving Standards of Indecency

By David Limbaugh

The Supreme Court's barring of the death penalty for child rapists in Kennedy v. Louisiana underscores the hazards in the court's abandonment of moral absolutes in favor of "evolving standards of decency" and the court's unbridled arrogance in substituting its subjective judgment for the legislatively enacted will of the people. (Read more)

Playing the race card --- AGAIN

Obama Plays the Race Card
—Hugh Hewitt

Campaigning in Florida last week, Barack Obama asserted that the Republicans would use racism in the fall campaign. He said we should expect to hear this from McCain?s campaign. [Obama]:"He's got a funny name. Did I mention he?s black?"

This is a slander and an outrageous one. No Republican leader and certainly not Senator McCain have stooped to such tactics and they won't. The only one playing a quote race card is Barack Obama himself, and it is a repulsive bit of victim politics combined with Chicago hardball/sleazeball.

If John McCain ever did use race in his campaign, we'd condemn it, but thus far the only candidate to appeal to resort to race-based politics is Barack Obama

"[H]owever weak our country may be, I hope we shall never sacrifice our liberties."

-- Alexander Hamilton --

Free Speech at Risk

By David Aikman

A prominent conservative Canadian author and journalist, Mark Steyn, is facing trial in Canada on charges of offending Muslims. An article by him in Canada's leading weekly McLean's Magazine mocked Islamic radicals in biting terms. The article was based on Steyn's book, "America Alone," in which he decries the collapse of resistance in the West to creeping Islamic dominance in society.

In the US, Steyn's book was popular and provoked no legal issues. But in Canada, the state's concern for social harmony extends to seeking to protect the feelings of Muslims offended by his article. But people's feelings are always being hurt. That's why, in America, the First Amendment protects people's rights to free speech, not the right not to be hurt. We should be thankful for that.

OBAMA AND HIS ACORN

The ACORN Obama Knows

If you don't know what ACORN (the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) is all about, you better bone up. This left-wing group takes in 40 percent of its revenues from American taxpayers -- you and me -- and has leveraged nearly four decades of government subsidies to fund affiliates that promote the welfare state and undermine capitalism and self-reliance, some of which have been implicated in perpetuating illegal immigration and encouraging voter fraud. A new whistleblower report from the Consumer Rights League claims that Chicago-based ACORN has commingled public tax dollars with political projects.

Who in Washington will fight to ensure that your money isn't being spent on these radical activities?

Don't bother asking Barack Obama. He cut his ideological teeth working with ACORN as a "community organizer" and legal representative. Naturally, ACORN's political action committee has warmly endorsed his presidential candidacy. ACORN head Maude Hurd gushes that Obama is the candidate who "best understands and can affect change on the issues ACORN cares about" -- like ensuring their massive pipeline to your hard-earned money. Let's take a closer look at the ACORN Obama knows. Read more at HUMAN EVENTS

The Truth about Gas Prices

"It is the good fortune of pandering politicians that Americans don’t even bother with the notions of wants and needs anymore. They simply insist that whatever they happen to want is a “right.”

The idea of taking the Metro to work instead of driving, or not taking their annual summer vacation, is not an acceptable alternative for Americans addicted to the good life. By golly, “cheap gas” (as subjectively defined) is a right, because … well, shucks … because politicians say it is.

When the history of Western civilization is written, it will be clear to all that it was not Islamic terrorism that destroyed it. The culprit will be the perverse, widespread belief that people have a right to anything they happen to desire."

-- Robert Ringer, author

Reclaiming the American Dream

One of the many hard-to-stomach slogans that has made its appearance in the current charade of "representative government" is the use of the term "Reclaiming the American Dream" as a euphemism for more government.

To reclaim something, you must first understand what it is - and I can tell you with certainty that the American Dream is not what shameless politicians would like you to believe it is. It is not about "socially progressive" judges promoting social justice. It is not about "excess profits" taxes. And it certainly is not about political thugs divvying up an imaginary pie in a way that they believe is most likely to keep them in power.

The American Dream is about self‑responsibility - about an individual's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And the only way he can pursue those rights is if the government gets out of his way.

-- Robert Ringer, author

Democrat Backs Away From Call to ‘Socialize’ Oil Refineries
The communications director for Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), says Waters did not mean what she said about “socializing” oil companies.Both Waters and Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) have said in recent weeks that U.S. oil refineries should be run by the federal government.

Supreme Court Rejects 'Green' Challenge to Border Fence
"The American people expect this department to enforce the rule of law at the border," said a Homeland Security spokesman on Monday. She spoke after the Supreme Court, without comment, denied the appeal of environmentalists who want to stop the federal government from waiving regulations during construction of a border fence.

UN Faces Clash Over Iran’s Security Council Bid
Two weeks before Americans go to the polls in the fall, an election at the United Nations will pose a challenge to the outgoing Bush administration and possibly to its successor as well. At stake: five two-year seats on the U.N. Security Council that will coincide with the first two years of a McCain or Obama administration. Iran is contending for one of the seats.

Over 1.1 Million Americans Call on Congress to "Drill Here, Drill Now"

Have you signed the petition? If not, go here.

AMERICAN SCIENTIST PROMOTES STALINISM

Put oil firm chiefs on trial, says leading climate change scientist
The Guardian

James Hansen, one of the world's leading climate scientists, will today call for the chief executives of large fossil fuel companies to be put on trial for high crimes against humanity and nature, accusing them of actively spreading doubt about global warming in the same way that tobacco companies blurred the links between smoking and cancer.

WEDDING PICTURES

ABOVE AND BELOW: THREE DAUGHTER DANCE WITH DAD (HH)- BRIDE HIDDEN FROM VIEW IN ONE PICTURE

THE RINGBEARER (MY GRANDSON) ON THE DANCE FLOOR ATTRACTING ALL THE YOUNG AVAILABLE LADIES

MY THREE DAUGHTERS AND GROOM

ABOVE AND BELOW: BRIDE AND DAD (YOURS TRULY -HH) DANCING

BRIDE AND GROOM SMOOCHING ON THE DANCE FLOOR

The Don't Drill Democrats
By Hugh Hewitt

Congressional Democrats have defeated an effort to open the outer continental shelf to oil exploration. This proposal from Republicans would have limited new exploration to areas at least 50 miles from the American mainland. Still the "Don't Drill Democrats" said no.

On the Monday following, John McCain called for the repeal of the federal ban and to allow the states to decide whether they would permit offshore drilling. Good for Senator McCain.

This is a huge difference between him and Barack Obama, just as it is between Congressional Democrats and Congressional Republicans. McCain and his GOP allies know the only answer to soaring oil and gas prices is more exploration of domestic reserves. Democrats know that too, but they'd rather keep the ban on exploration and have you pay at the pump. A lot.

Summary of Obama's Ties to Socialism...

TAXES

Obama wants to roll back Bush tax cuts and raise taxes even though we are being taxed nearly 600% higher than we were 100 years ago¹


Year - Tax Burden

1900 5.90%
1910 5.02%
1920 11.96%
1930 11.61%
1940 17.98%
1950 24.87%
1960 27.88%
1970 29.90%
1980 30.68%
1990 30.80%
2000 33.98%
2001 33.01%
2002 30.27%
2003 29.51%
2004 29.69%
2005 31.53%
2006 32.29%
2007 32.69%

Source: Office of Management and Budget; Internal Revenue Service; Congressional Research Service; National Bureau of Economic Research; Tax Foundation.
http://www.taxfoundation.or g/taxfreedomday/

Drive energy policy by markets, not politics

By Star Parker

The “progressive” taxman cometh

"Barack Obama thinks it is fair to increase the tax on the man who harvests 200 watermelons, and reduce the tax on the man who harvests 100 watermelons, using the flawed logic that since the second man has more, he can afford it. This logic ignores the principle that what a person earns should be his. It ignores the principle of equal opportunity, and equal burden. And, perhaps worst of all, it penalizes productivity and success." --Henry Lamb

Hagel says he'd consider VP offer from Obama

Democrat Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel says he would consider serving as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama's veep if B.H.O. asked him, but he doesn't expect to be on any ticket.

Obama vows crackdown on energy speculators

Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON - Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday said as president he would strengthen government oversight of energy traders he blames in large part for the skyrocketing price of oil.

Bush says Democrats keep blocking his energy plans

Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON - President Bush is accusing Democrats in Congress of blocking his energy proposals, saying they are partly to blame for high gasoline costs pinching Americans' budgets.

OBAMA AND THE PRESIDENCY

"From the time Barack Obama was sworn in as a United States Senator, to the time he announced he was forming a Presidential exploratory committee, he logged 143 days(4&3/4 months), of experience in the Senate. That's how many days the Senate was actually in session and working. After 143 days of work experience, Obama believed he was ready to be Commander In Chief, Leader of the Free World, and fill the shoes of Abraham Lincoln, FDR, JFK and Ronald Reagan. 143 days. I keep leftovers in my refrigerator longer than that."

Columnist Cheri Jacobus

MCCAIN SCORES WITH OFFSHORE DRILLING PROPOSAL

By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN

John McCain has drawn first blood in the political debate following Barack Obama's victory in the primaries. His call yesterday for offshore oil drilling — and Bush's decision to press the issue in Congress - puts the Democrats in the position of advocating the wear-your-sweater policies that made Jimmy Carter unpopular.

The Democratic ambivalence stems from liberal concerns about climate change. The Party basically doesn't believe in carbon based energy and, therefore, opposes oil exploration. That's why Obama pushes the windfall profits tax on oil companies - a step that tells them “you drill, you find oil, and we'll take away your profits.” But Americans have their priorities in order: more oil, more drilling AND alternative energy sources, flex-fuel cars, plug in vehicles and nuclear power.

With his willingness to respond to the gas price crisis with bold measures, McCain shows himself to be a pragmatist while Obama comes off as an ideologue to puts climate change ahead of making it possible for the average American to get to work.

Read more.

WEDDING A SUCCESS

My daughter's wedding was a success yesterday. The weather cooperated. Everything went well - - without a hitch.

My son, HH Jr., did a great job on the solo he sang at the church ceremony. He received many compliments.

The reception was a blast. My sister and niece came from Arizona and I had not seen them in several years. So it was nice that they were able to make it here to good old Minnesota.

My thank you speech went well.

I drank. I danced. And, I crashed.

What a fun day it was.

HOGWASH

Group Taps Anger Over Gas Prices to Promote Government Regulation
“My family can’t stand these outrageous gas prices much longer.” That’s the pitch from a liberal-leaning group that is demanding more government regulation of the oil industry. Full news story.

Hogwash. We have too much government already. That's why our prices are high now. Taxes on gasoline, a ban on drilling and on building new refineries, has contributed greatly to increased energy costs. These are market manipulation policies of our government that are key factors in our gasoline prices today. So don't tell me we need more government regulation. We need less.

Tangentally, a limited supply of oil - whether real or imaginary - will cause the speculators to bid up oil futures, thus causing the cost of a barrel of crude oil to go up.

These "failed policies of the past" (are you listening Obama?) coupled with an increase in global demand and our existing self-imposed restrictions on oil production is going to limit our supply. Demand up, supply down, equals price escalation. Elementary, my dear Watson. - ( HH)

Mexican Smugglers Making U.S. Lands Unsafe
“Once pristine landscapes on the U.S. Southwest border have become dangerous corridors for drug smuggling operations and other illegal activities that threaten Indian communities, public land stewards and recreational visitors,” the U.S. Interior Department's Web site says.

Hugo Chavez Style Government Coming to America

About one month ago, John Hoffmeister of Shell Oil warned that prices will continue to go up unless Congress allows further drilling to which Rep. Maxine Waters (S-Venezuela) (D-CA) replied:

“And, guess what this liberal will be all about? This liberal will be about socializing... uh, ... will be about, ... basically taking over and the government running all of your [oil] companies.”

Now Maurice Hinchey (S-NY) is echoing this sentiment: “We [the government] should own the refineries. Then we can control how much gets out into the market.”

That's what socialism and the (liberal left in America) are after, whether it's oil, light bulbs, or global warming: Control. (HH)

Related commentary:

Is the Democrat Party the CPUSA in Disguise?
By Alan Caruba

One might expect members of the Communist Party USA to advocate the nationalization of our oil companies, but hearing it from the lips of Democrat Party members of the House of Representatives should send a chill of fear through every American.

It was the former Soviet Union's reliance on revenue from its nationalized oil industry that proved to be a major factor in the collapse of that totalitarian regime. It is, in large part, Russia's nationalized oil and national gas industry that props up the current regime, a thinly disguised resurrection of the former communist party.

Full commentary.

Race hustler Sharpton owes back taxes

The “Reverend” Al Sharpton, professional race hustler, is under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service for owing nearly $1 million in federal taxes and $365,000 in New York City taxes. On top of that, Sharpton’s National Action Network owes $1.9 million in payroll taxes and penalties. Several companies that have been subjected to the Sharpton shakedown, including Anheuser-Busch, have received subpoenas for records of charitable donations to his Network. The beer maker gave between $100,000 and $500,000 to his charity last year. Predictably, Sharpton played the victim, saying the subpoenas were part of a “fishing expedition.”

-- The Patriot Post

Israeli jets 'practise Iran atom plant raid'

Israel carried out a large military exercise this month that appeared to be a rehearsal for a possible bombing raid on Iran's nuclear facilities, it emerged today.

More than 100 F-16 and F-15 war jets took part in the manoeuvres over the eastern Mediterranean earlier this month, unidentified U. S. officials are said to have told the New York Times.

It claimed the aircraft flew more than 900 miles, roughly the distance from Israel to Iran's Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, and that the exercise included refueling tankers and helicopters capable of rescuing downed pilots. More.

My paper's been dropped like a polonium-filled potato for poking fun at Putin, says Moscow editor

"'They're here,' my colleague whispered. It was 11am, exactly the time the Russian ministry officials said they would arrive at our office to carry out an 'unplanned audit' of our newspaper's articles.

A film of sweat hit my back.

The officials from what is known as the Federal Service for Mass Media, Telecommunications, and the Protection of Cultural Heritage had specifically requested my presence for the questioning, so that I might 'explain' our articles.

I had seriously considered absconding - and now that I was there, I wondered if I hadn't just made the biggest mistake of my life."

Read more.

Muslim extremist Abu Qatada to receive £8,000 incapacity benefits a year - for his bad back

Abu Qatada is to receive almost £8,000 a year in benefits because he has a bad back.

The fanatical cleric, said to be Osama Bin Laden’s ambassador in Europe, will get £150 a week of taxpayer’s cash after being released from jail last week.

He was granted the incapacity benefit because his condition makes him unfit to work – even though a curfew allows him out of his home for only two hours a day, meaning it would be almost impossible for him to get a job. Full story at the Daily Mail.

Scientists exaggerate climate-change fears, majority of Britons believe

Most British people still do not think climate change is caused by humans, according to a poll.

Many of those interviewed also believe scientists are exaggerating the ‘global warming’ phenomenon, according to the Ipsos MORI survey.

And in another blow to green campaigners, many of those polled for The Observer said they did not want to restrict their lifestyles and only a small minority believe they need to make 'significant and radical' changes such as driving and flying less. Read more.

Second Amendment Security for Leftists:

“If [Republicans] bring a knife to the fight, we bring a gun.” —Barack Obama, who also thinks guns never made anyone safer.

From the Patriot Post

“Once upon another time, namely Franklin Roosevelt’s, most of a group of German saboteurs that had infiltrated this country were caught, tried by a military tribunal that was convened by executive order for that purpose, promptly convicted and then executed—all within seven weeks. Can anyone imagine that kind of swift and effective justice from this court?”

—Paul Greenberg

Truckers Call for Gas Tax Holiday, Question Global Warming Legislation

By Matt Purple

Truckers in Albany protested at the New York Capitol amidst concerns their industry would be hit hard by skyrocketing fuel prices and climate change legislation.

About 100 truckers attended the demonstration, where they paraded big rigs past the Capitol building and blasted their horns. Read more.

"Cap and Trade" Fallacies

By Wayne Winegarden

Thankfully, cap and trade – aka the Warner-Lieberman “America's Climate Security Act of 2007” – suffered a quick death in the Senate this year. Cap and trade is an inferior, anti-growth, environmental policy that imposes significant costs on our economy and people’s lives. Cap and trade allows Congress to pass a huge tax increase while never formally voting to do so. The large tax increase will diminish our overall economic vitality and reduce everyone’s welfare. Read more.

The Facts in Iraq Are Changing

By Michael Barone

As we enter the second half of the campaign year, facts are undermining the Democratic narrative that has dominated our politics since about the time Hurricane Katrina rolled into the Gulf coast -- most importantly, the facts about Iraq. Read more.

You Need a Weatherman To Tell Which Way Obama Will Go

By Mary Grabar

When I heard that a major part of Barack Obama’s resume included a stint as a “community organizer,” I asked myself what the term meant.

It’s sort of like “activist.”

I had always wondered what the job description for “activist” was. How do you apply? Where do you apply? It was unlike any of the jobs I had had, whether it was pouring beers, serving fish fries, cleaning toilets, pruning in snow-filled vineyards, or marking grammatical errors on freshman essays. Read more.

“National defense is one of the cardinal duties of a statesman.” — John Adams

"The state governments have a full superintendence and control over the immense mass of local interests of their respective states, which connect themselves with the feelings, the affections, the municipal institutions, and the internal arrangements of the
whole population. They possess, too, the immediate administration of justice in all cases, civil and criminal, which concern the property, personal rights, and peaceful pursuits of their own citizens."

-- Joseph Story

"[T]he government of the United States is a definite government, confined to specified objects. It is not like the state governments, whose powers are more general. Charity is no part of the legislative duty of the government."