The Wednesday ‘BushWhack’ing

Hump day, mid week, let’s get to it…

• Sen. Obama is criticizing Sen. McCain’s energy plan and calling them “gimmicks” that will only “increase our oil addiction for another four years.” Obama’s plan on the other hand would include taxing profits from oil companies and then using that money to help families pay their energy bills, it would close the Enron-loophole that allowed that corporations to engage in unregulated speculation that drove up the price of oil and would raise fuel standards while investing $150 billion over the next 10 years in alternative energy sources. (So let’s see… Obama’s would try to get out from under the thumb of oil companies while McCain’s would continue to kiss their collective asses…)
• James Dobson is criticizing Obama because of comments he made in a June 2006 speech… a June… 2006… speech. (Um, Mr. Dobson, that was like 2 years ago, little behind aren’t you, you meddlesome schmuck?) Obama has fired back at Dobson and has even offered to meet with his cult group, Focus on the Family… (Won’t happen. The last thing Dobson wants to do is meet with someone and talk, he would rather listen to something that happened in the past and throw out accusations and attacks based on that)
• Markets are driving up the cost of oil and NOT the speculators…
• CNN continues to ask the tough questions; “What’s on Obama’s iPod?” though looking at his list, it sounds a LOT like my iPod…
• Sen. Clinton is turning her attention back to her senate duties…
• Acting like he’s one of the few Democrats with balls, Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT) delivered an impassioned speech on the Senate floor last night in opposition to the FISA reform bill, saying; “Either the companies and the President acted outside of the rule of law, or they followed it. […] Either the underlying program was legal or it wasn’t. Because of this legislation, none of the questions will be answered.” Dodd was then joined by Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI and who I think would make an interesting VP choice) in saying that they would filibuster the bill “as long as it provides retroactive immunity” for the telecoms.” (What’s this, a backbone? Keep at it Mr. Dodd and Mr. Feingold, maybe you can entice more to join you)
• The House overwhelmingly passed a bill yesterday that will prevent a 10% cut in Medicare payments to doctors that was going to take effect on July 1. Good news, as the legislation probably would have lead to a plethora of docs opting out of treating Medicare patients, which is NOT something that this nation needs. Good to see there’s still some intelligence in the House…
• And have we mentioned? That former White House press secretary Scott McClellan apparently doesn’t like Vice President Dick Cheney? While speaking at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco last night, McClellan said that Cheney had a “terribly negative influence over this president” (tell me something I DON’T know) and even suggested some title ideas for a possible Cheney autobiography; “The Lies I Told,” or “I Upped Halliburton’s Income - So Up Yours.” (Nicely put Scott, well done. He also had a suggestion for Rove’s book; “The Lies I Told to Whom and Why” and Scooter Libby’s; “Well, Pardon Me”)