All the News That's Fit to be Tied

I have an axe to grind, but unlike the New York Times, I freely admit it.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Obama and The ME Peace Process

The President has walked back from what seemed like an obvious desertion of Israel last week, but he has not walked back from the one statement that is the key to Israeli security and its very existence. "The Palestinian people must have the right to govern themselves, and reach their potential, in a sovereign and contiguous state." After listening to his Arab Spring speech last week and reading his AIPAC speech today one thing is clear. Despite the President's rhetoric his declaration that a Palestinian State must be "contiguous" means Israel must give up the Southern half of Israel or the Palestinians must give up the West Bank or the Gaza Strip. In truth the only real solution is for the Palestinians to trade the West Bank for an enlarged Gaza to form a nation between Israel and Egypt. Without that trade there is no peace.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

The Alternative Energy Pipedream

American taxpayers are providing $2 million for a wind turbine energy project that will save a municipal bus company $35,000 a year in energy costs. At the current cost of energy it will take 57 years of energy savings to pay for the project, while the turbines have an expected lifespan of 20-25 years. In truth there are no savings because the turbines will have to be replaced before the savings are achieved. So in the final analysis alternatives such as wind and solar are far more expensive per kilowatt hour than fossil fuel. Although this is a small project it demonstrates all the shortcomings of alternative energy in a neat little bundle. The equipment is expensive, the “return on investment” is negative and the entire system requires a fossil fuel backup system to insure constant energy generation. America must continue to use fossil fuel until these alternatives are developed to the point where they are competitive without subsidies because while the location in question will save $35,000 a year in energy costs, it will cost the American taxpayer $2 million it will never get back. So once again the taxpayer is the victim of the alternative energy pipedream. America must continue to exploit its carbon-based fuel resources or find itself in the economic dustbin of failed nation states.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

The Greatest of Them All

The death and disappearance of Osama bin Laden will grow into the largest conspiracy in the 21st century. In 2067 it will still be under discussion: "Hey, have you heard that they may have discovered bin Laden's shroud at the bottom of the Arabian Sea." Are we to believe that there is no film of him being carried off the Helicopter on the USS Carl Vinson. Some Admiral just said clean him, wrap him, and get him over the side. Not one seaman, officer, or civilian on board took any pictures, movies, nothing? What about the guy who prayed over him? Who is he? They just say; "We killed him, he's gone. That's it." Give me a break: If this doesn't say conspiracy, nothing does. If this doesn't say something funny is going on, nothing does. If the conflicting accounts don't confuse you, what does? Obama's strategy will make Osama bin Laden a martyr in half the time a great conspiracy theory could.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Thinking the Unthinkable

Barack Obama decides to change his politics and become a Conservative. He sees the light on taxes, jobs, regulation and decides to turn the economy loose. He cans Benanke, eviscerates EPA and Interior, orders immediate oil, gas and coal processing and reads the riot act to State, Justice, HHS and the Treasury. Maybe it's too much to ask for, but there is always hope that running with the winners’ means something.