http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/members_rss The following posts were created from our member blogs. 545 PEOPLE By Charlie Reese Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a presi dent to do one cotton-picking thing. I don't care i f they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine how he votes. Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party. What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for origina ting and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to. It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can not replace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 pe ople exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist. If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair. If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red. If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ , it's because they want them in IRAQ. If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. There are no insoluble government problems. Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like 'the economy,' 'inflation,' or 'politics' that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do. Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible. They, and they alone, have the power. They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. What you do with this article now that you have read it is up to you, though you appear to have several choices. 1. You can send this to everyone in your address book, an d hope 'they' do something about it. 2. You can agree to 'vote against' everyone that is currently in office, knowing that the process will take several years. 3. You can decide to 'run for office' yourself and agree to do the job properly. 4. Lastly, you can sit back and do nothing, or re-elect the current bunch. YOU DECIDE, BUT AT LEAST SEND IT TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK, MAYBE SOMEONE IN THERE WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/diannehammond/BG3 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/diannehammond/BG3/commentary#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2008 14:55:13 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/diannehammond/BG3 User from Grand Coulee, WA User from Grand Coulee, WA 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BG3/ There is a relatively easy fix to most of the subprime mess. It is just that the folks wanting their obscene profits are willing to bring down civilization rather than allow a precedent of giving the little guy an even break. There are many subprime loans that cannot be paid and many neighborhoods that are already ghost towns of foreclosed homes that cannot be sold at any price. Fannie and Freddie are already in Government hands as is a great deal of the subprime debt. For those who still have mortgages the Government could force them to stay at the teaser rates. The profits would go down but the principal would be paid eventually. This would stop most foreclosures, stabilize home pricing, and most importantly not dislocate the family often forcing the loss of the job that did exist. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/Freedem/BGQ http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/Freedem/BGQ/commentary#comments Sun, 28 Sep 2008 18:15:09 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/Freedem/BGQ Freedem http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/profile_picture/21bf1691c7054bddaf_apxmv2wfd.jpg Freedem 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGQ/ Who's the newest Elkonian? How much stock does the Weekly Reid own? What does Tom Udall do with the newspaper ads attacking him? Reid On!   Nevada First : Department of Rural Outreach . Senator Barack Obama brought his Presidential campaign to Nevada last week , and his first stop was the booming metropolis of Elko . For too long, national campaigns haven't spent time in rural Nevada. The idea was to run up the totals in Clark County, and let the pieces fall as they may in the other 16 counties. Frankly, it didn't work. John Kerry lost Nevada by 20,000 votes, and Senator Reid argues that half of those votes could have been flipped if he spent more time in rural Nevada. Fast forward to 2008: Barack Obama, on his third (!) visit to Elko, asks if he can be an "honorary Elkonian." Will he win Elko? Perhaps. It'll be a tough fight. But the importance of playing in rural areas, and other areas typically hostile to Democrats, can't be ignored - we're building a national campaign here folks, and we can't ignore places that may not love all of our policies. The fact of the matter is simple: The failed policies of the Bush-McCain Republican Party have hurt Americans all across this county: from Elko to Eugene, OR, from Las Vegas to Lansing, MI.  Sen. Obama's campaign for change resonates in cities all across America - and it's our duty to spread that message. Plus. If we can force McCain to spend money in places he wouldn't otherwise, that's less money for him to spend in Ohio and Florida. Department of Green-Vada . The Weekly Reid's been flooding your inbox with updated registration numbers for the last six months. Nevada is becoming Blu-vada. But have you noticed that it's also blossoming into the renewable energy capital of the world? The Clean Energy Summit hosted by Sen. Reid helped focus people's attention on the Renewable Wonderland that is Nevada. And he's not stopping with conferences - he's using his clout to deliver much needed jobs to Nevada (in Las Vegas, the unemployment rate has spiked to 7.1%). Two nuggets for you today: First, the Department of Energy announced last week a grant of $600,000 for a Las Vegas based company, Acciona Solar Power, to help fund renewable projects. Nevada's got a lot of sun, and there are plenty of smart people looking for work. Second, there's a new company on the scene in Nevada, and its aim is to provide Nevadans with homegrown energy. NV Energy - formerly Sierra Pacific Power Company and Nevada Power Company - promises to focus attention on the renewable energy options in Nevada. From a press release: NV Energy will continue to focus on a statewide three-part energy strategy that emphasizes energy efficiency and conservation, the development of new renewable resources, and adding generation that uses the cleanest available technologies. Same goals, new name. That's branding at work! Must Reid : Department of What The… The Weekly Reid isn't going to delve into the why's and the how's of the financial meltdown. At all. Not just because none of it makes any sense. Rather, since the Weekly Reid owns exactly zero stock, he's got no horse in the race. Here's what the Weekly Reid will say: Oversight matters. For 8 years the Bush Administration has treated oversight and accountability like…well, no analogy quite captures their utter disregard for two staples of our democracy. The hands-off  philosophy of Bush-McCain Republicans has brought our economy to its knees - and now is the time to put the American people first. Here's what Democrats will do: First, protect taxpayers. We cannot afford to give a black check to the very same administration who has abused such power in the past. We must make sure taxpayers can reap the rewards - not just swallow the risk. As for executive pay? Why should execs who abused the trust of the American people ride off into retirement on our buck? There needs to be a limit. Second, protect homeowners and strengthen the middle class. We need a second economic recovery plan; one that keeps people in their homes and creates jobs. The bottom-line? Democrats will work this week to restore stability to the markets - but we won't rush into something, taking George W. Bush's word for it. Department of Oh, We Also Need to…  While the American people are looking to the Hill for solutions to the greatest economic crisis in the Weekly Reid's lifetime, there are a number of other pressing issues that must be addressed before Congress breaks for the election. The tax extenders for renewable energy projects will come to the floor this week. Also, look for a deal worked out to pass a CR towards the end of the week. Democrats would like to get one passed to keep the government working through March of '09. Bush-McCain Republicans are hoping to get the Columbia free trade agreement and an India nuclear deal done in a lame duck session. No word yet as to whether or not there will be such a session. Reid's Watching : Department of Big Spenders . A lot's happening down at the races. The NRSC barely out raised the DSCC last month (by less than a million bucks). But the DSCC is spending aggressively to support our candidates around the country, pumping nearly 14 million bucks into competitive races around the country - Colorado, North Carolina, Mississippi, to name just a few. What does this mean for our chances of getting to 60? Anything's possible . But to get to 60, we need to win in places like Oklahoma (Andrew Rice) and Georgia (Jim Martin, one of Harry Reid's favorites).  Remember: The DSCC was there, in October 2006, when the races in Virginia, Missouri and Montana tightened. Their hard work secured victory in the most competitive races then, and will do so again in 2008.  Click over to the DSCC's website and help them out raise the Republicans this month. Department of in the trenches . The Weekly Reid's taking a look at three races this week: New Mexico : Things are looking better and better for Tom Udall. Pollster.com's poll of polls has him up 55-41, and his newest ad, "Polly" makes a big joke out of Steve Pearce's inane attacks. New Hampshire : Jean Shaheen's been leading in the polls since she lost to Sen. Sununu in 2002. But this is one of those races that will tighten as we get closer to election day. Gov. Shaheen's doing all she can to put the election away now ( ARG has her up 12), and ads like this one, Dig , is a great step in that direction. Tag line: "The President has dug us into a very, very deep hole." And John Sununu's helped rubberstamp it! Minnesota : SurveryUSA and Razz have this race very close - one point stands between Norm Coleman's reelection and his gradual fade into obscurity. Al Franken has really turned this race around in the last few months. And despite brutal attack ads from Coleman's campaign, Al's playing it straight (well, as much as he can be expected to) and running some of the best ads of the year. Here's his newest . And it's the Weekly Reid's favorite type of ad: the direct, stare-in-the-camera and remind-voters-what-the-issues are kind. Have a great week! Tune in next week for another edition of the Weekly Reid! http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BG2 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BG2/commentary#comments Fri, 26 Sep 2008 09:50:29 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BG2 Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BG2/ Did John McCain really use the words "Fundamentally Sound"; and "the economy" in the same sentence? Guess what turned 14 over the weekend? What's happening at the races? Reid On for a Jeopardy version of the Weekly Reid Nevada First : The Yucca Stops Here for $200 . Early last week the Nuclear Regulatory Commission said it would officially look at licensing the waste dump at this (unstable) location. What is Yucca Mountain? Correct! Over the next four years, commissioners will dig deeper into the proposal. The Weekly Reid can save them a lot of time: Don’t. Even. Think. About. It. 77,000 tons of nuclear waste. Shipped from 100 sites around the country. To a mountain 90 miles away from one of the hottest tourist spots in the world. In an earthquake prone area. Above a water source. Really? Fortunately, Nevadans have Harry Reid on their side. In an editorial last week, the Las Vegas Sun asked all Nevadans to mobilize against Yucca.  The Weekly Reid wholeheartedly endorses this idea. And while you’re at it, remind everyone that this election is critical in the fight against Yucca. John McCain ( Bush 44 , according to Joe Biden) thinks Yucca is a good idea. Barack Obama doesn't. One more thing: Congresswoman Shelley Berkley caught House Republicans trying to pull a fast one on Democrats by slipping in a whole bunch of extra money for Yucca in an Energy bill in the house. Great catch Congresswoman!. Memo to all NRC staff: Put “ The China Syndrome ” at the top of your Netflix cue. Must Reid : “ Anything Goes” for $400 . The failed economic policies of this President led to the market meltdown of 2008. Who is George Bush? Yes! And let’s add to that, John McCain, who claimed just yesterday that the fundamentals of the economy are sound. Sound? Sound? Please explain Senator. … Senator? Harry Reid spoke out yesterday (video here ), asking the question middle class Americans have been asking for months: “For whom is the economy strong?” The economy certainly isn't strong for the 606.000 Americans who lost their jobs this year. This is 606,000 people, and you have John McCain saying the economy looks good? I really don't understand what he means, the fundamentals are good. There may be places in America where the economy is strong – country clubs, a few board, firms that haven't – boardrooms, firms that haven't folded. For the rest of America this country is not strong and won't solve itself. No matter what President Bush and Senator McCain say, fixing this mess will take real leadership and a change of direction. Thanks Sen. Reid, for putting that in perspective. Thank you for reminding Americans that what’s brought the American economy and Wall Street to its knees are the failed policies of Bush-McCain Republicans. Thanks for pointing out that the failure to police lenders and protect consumers will be the long lasting legacy of the GOP in the first decade of the 21st century. On The Docket for $600 . DOD. Energy. 2nd Economic Stimulus. What are legislative priorities of the Senate Dems for the week of 9/15/08? Absolutely. Cloture was invoked for the DOD authorization last week - and the measure passed today. What does it do for our vets? Gives them a pay raise of 3.9% for starters. Plus, helps them get back into school and find a decent home. The fight to get this passed wasn't easy - to quote the leader, "it certainly would have helped move this legislation forward if the ranking Republican, the Republican nominee [John McCain is the ranking member on Armed Services], had shown the leadership and commitment to this cause by bringing his fellow Republicans on board." The big push this week is energy. Here’s what we’re hoping for. There are a few options on the floor that are great starting points. The Bush-McCain Republicans are asking for one thing over and over and over again: DrillDrillDrill. Democrats want to ease the financial burden at the pump now - not 10 years from now (which is about when the DrillDrillDrill policy will actually start paying off). We want to roll back the HUGE tax breaks for Big Oil and extend tax credits for investment in renewables. The Hill will be buzzing this week with energy talk. Let's hope Obstructionist Republicans decide to do more than just talk: they need to join with us to get something done for the American people. Democrats would also like to get a second stimulus package to the floor before the session is out. Republicans don't like the idea. And the President would likely veto it. But that hasn't stopped us before. Not when the American people are counting on us. Standing Up for $800 . In 1994, the Senate passed this civil rights act, written by Sen. Joe Biden. What is the Violence Against Women Act ? Right, again! Over the weekend, the VAWA turned 14, and the Obama-Biden campaign is bringing it back into focus this week with a series of events centered on how an Obama-Biden administration would stand up for women’s rights. Tomorrow Joe Biden and Sen. Clinton will host a joint on-line conversation with women from across the country. Also, the Senate may take up again the Coburn Omnibus, which includes the Combating Child Exploitation Act (held up by Tom Coburn). This bill, also written by Joe Biden, is being championed by everyone’s favorite media mogul, Oprah . It’s nice when priorities merge like this, isn’t it? Reid’s Watching: Ad Wars for $1,000. Many political junkies point to this weekend as the “official” start to serious campaigning. What is Labor Day weekend, Alex? Right, for $1,000. Well, Labor Day weekend has come and gone. The primary elections have all been held. And, frankly, the gloves have come off and the the race is on. Here's the Weekly Reid's update on some of the key races Harry Reid's looking at this fall: Oregon : Merkley’s up 2 in a new internal poll. Even better - Gordon Smith’s approval numbers are in the tank . Ad: Jeff Merkley channeling his inner populist . North Carolina : A slew of polls - Hagan up one says Public Policy , down two says another . This race is tightening, folks. Kay can hang in there - can Liddy? Here’s Kay’s newest ad - she knows how to balance a budget. Mississippi : Interim Senator Roger Wicker is up five on Gov. Ronnie Musgrove. The Governor has closed this gap greatly in the last month, and he's got statewide name ID. And he’s also successfully challenged the location of his race on the ticket. Mississippi Republicans attempted to have his race put at the bottom of the ballot in November. Looks like it’ll be near the top, where it belongs. Ad : The DSCC hits Wicker on exporting jobs. Have a great week! Tune in next week for another edition of the Weekly Reid!  http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGL http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGL/commentary#comments Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:15:36 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGL Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 1 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGL/ Which way does the Truckee River flow? Who's the nation's most famous Snake Oil Salesman? Who's Harry Reid's newest favorite challenger? Reid on! Nevada First : Sharing The Love . After the lashing DC and the northeast took at the hands of Hanna, you may have had enough water talk. But, if you hang around Nevada politics long enough, you quickly become an expert on water. Water usage, water rights. Water. Last week, Harry Reid, along with representatives from Nevada, California, and the federal government, met just north of Reno for the signing of the  Truckee River Operating Agreement . Here’s what’s at stake: “Under the agreement, California will get two-thirds of Lake Tahoe's water to Nevada's one-third, while Nevada will receive 90 percent of the Truckee's water to California's 10 percent. It also calls for Nevada to get 80 percent of the Carson River's water to California's 20 percent.” Behind the agreement: Lawsuits going back a century. And Harry Reid, who laid the groundwork for the agreement 18 years ago with the Truckee-Carson-Pyramid Lake Water Rights Settlement Act. There’s an old saying in Rural Nevada: “Politics STARTS at the waters edge.” And thanks to Harry Reid’s ability to work across party lines - and his patience - the TROA will help development along the  Truckee . Blue-vada . The Weekly Reid’s been hyping the new registration numbers for the NV Democratic Party for months. And we’ll keep hyping them all the way through to November 4th.Here’s the  latest : 565,855 Democrats. 489,802 Republicans. That’s 76,000 more Ds than Rs. In Washoe County - where the Presidential election may very well be decided - we’re only down by 5,217. But take heart - 12 months ago that number was 16,000. We’ve made tremendous gains in the reddest parts of the state. Must Reid : We’re Baaaaaack!  Traffic in DC just got a whole lot worse. There are a lot more suits on the Metro. Recess is over and the Senate reconvened yesterday afternoon. So what’s on hand this week? What will the Democrats bring to the floor? And what will Bush-McCain Republicans try to block? Here’s the Weekly Reid’s forecast for the coming week: 1. DOD Authorization. There’s no fooling around here folks. Our troops need to be equipped with everything they could possibly need in the field. And the Democratic Party is ready to give it to them. Before recess, the GOP refused to allow the DOD reauthorization to come to the floor for a vote. Yesterday, however, the motion to invoke cloture passed 83-0 (they quickly slipped back into their obstructionist ways by blocking attempts to move on the Highway Trust Fund bill - this is a big deal folks). For you C-SPAN junkies out there - look for Armed Services Chair Carl Levin to make another emotional appeal to Senate Republicans to put aside their partisan agenda and stand up for our troops. (Did you miss his last appeal? Read it  here . Key line: “This cannot just be another vote, another vote which divides us Republicans from Democrats….This is not our bill. This is their bill. Let's vote to take it up and set a place, a firm place, where we can protect the men and women in uniform.”) 2. Energy. Energy! ENERGY! Here we go again folks. Another round of debate on critical legislation freeing us from dependence on the oil oligarchs who are draining the pockets of middle class Americans. There’s a lot of background discussion among senior Hill staffers on what exactly will come to the floor, and under what conditions a vote will occur.Democrats are using the Gang of 16 proposal as a starting point - What matters most is that the American people understand the Democratic party is standing up for them. Standing up to obstructionist Republicans. Standing up to (in the words of Harry Reid) “third world thugs, whose only virtue is their control of petroleum-based energy.” We've given Republicans 17 opportunities to lower astronomical energy prices. Their response? Drill! Drill! Drill! Drill! That's it. Like a CD stuck playing the same 3 seconds of your least favorite song.  Hard Hitting . Know why Gov. Palin went out of her way to mention Harry Reid in her speech to the GOP last week? It’s because of Harry Reid’s speech to the Democratic National Convention. Did you see it? If you didn’t, you should watch it  here . Or read it  here . He takes John McCain and Bush Republicans to task for their years of failed energy policies. A few key grafs: “Senator McCain and the Republicans have centered their answer to our vital energy needs on one solution: off-shore drilling. Senator McCain calls for it in every speech; his party has demagogued the issue in both houses of Congress.   So, is off-shore drilling energy policy or snake oil? Let’s review the facts. White House analysts, congressional analysts, and the oil industry all agree that off-shore drilling won’t add one drop to our energy pool for at least ten years. The way things are going now, in another ten years we won’t need more oil; nobody will be able to afford it. [snip] But even if Doc McCain’s magic off-shore oil elixir won’t work, will it do any harm?   The answer is, we just don’t know, and neither does he. It might not ruin tourism in the Gulf or on the California coast. It might not destroy vital fisheries. It might not pollute our waterways. Nobody really knows. But kindly old Doc McCain would like to sell it to you anyway.   The simple fact is that the promise of more oil isn’t part of the solution; it’s part of the problem. At best this is an 18th century answer to a 21st century crisis; at worst it’s pure baloney.” Baloney! Get that? Now, the Weekly Reid loves baloney and mustard on white bread as much as the next first grader, but a baloney energy policy -  based not on reality, but on election year politicking? When it comes to solving our country’s energy crisis, John McCain doesn’t have any of the answers. Well, in fairness, he does have one answer, and it’s George W. Bush’s as well: drill. That’s not the change we need; that’s more of the same. Harry Reid’s been working with policy experts, business and labor leaders, as well as his colleagues in the Senate, to craft an energy plan that will set our country down the path to energy independence. A lot of the ideas were discussed in his speech, and a lot were covered in depth at the Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas last month. Read up on them - change is gonna come. Reid’s Watching : Profiles in Courage . Challenging an incumbent Senator isn’t easy. And taking on one of Washington’s most entrenched incumbents is event more difficult. But this weekend, two papers profiled our challengers who are doing just that. One from the NYTimes, profiling  Jean Shaheen , and another from the Charlotte Observer about  Kay Hagan’s effort to unseat Liddy Dole. Both Jean and Kay are making their case to the voters - and their opponents are running hard away from the Republican party of Bush-McCain obstructionists. With a combined 60 years in Washington, that’s probably a harder task than Kay and Jean have. Georgia on his mind . Close your eyes and go back to the fall of 2002. Think of one race that enraged you more than any other. Picture the one television ad that boiled your blood. Chances are, you’re all thinking of the same race and picturing the same ad. Saxby Chambliss won his Senate seat by smearing one of the finest American heroes to ever serve in the Senate. And now, Sen. Chambliss is in a fight for his political life. Jim Martin’s behind by a mere  six points . He’s Harry Reid’s newest favorite challenger, and he’s committed to helping Jim raise some dough to take back Max Cleland’s seat. If you’re in DC on September 24th, Harry Reid would love for you to join us for a luncheon with Jim Martin. See the invite  here . Ad Watch : Two great ads for you this week.  Tom Udall  in New Mexico reminds voters why the Democrats are best prepared to address the national energy crisis. And  Dina Titus , running in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional District, introduces voters to her mother - who taught her what’s worth fighting for. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGX http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGX/commentary#comments Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:30:49 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGX Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGX/ Washington is out of control because of the rancor, the partisanship, and the demeaning spirit evidenced by no other than the Democratic leader of the Senate, Harry Reid and leading Democrats. For years the nation has witnessed a deliberate attempt to demean and delegitimize the office of the Presidency and why? Not because of Iraq, but because he "stole" the election in 2004 and dared to win in 2004. How can overseas nations respect and follow our leadership when they see a constant barrage of insults hurled at our President, like when Reid called him a liar, a deceiver and his most recent assinine insult, that the President sleeps in his office. Does anyone expect any foreign nation to follow our lead, our advice and our visions for the world when they witness the near hatred expressed for the democratically elected President of the USA. Reid and the Demos have much to atone for. This nation is in serious trouble because of this disgusting partisanship. Reid, you are a disgrace to the U.S. Senate. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/alcampbell/BGt http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/alcampbell/BGt/commentary#comments Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:37:51 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/alcampbell/BGt Unknown user Unknown user 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGt/ The history of the last hundred years has been a toxic mix of oil and war. Wars were funded by, impossible without, and usually fought over oil. Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor, the Nazi invasion of Russia, Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, and countless other conflicts have been based in whole or in part on the world's addiction to oil. Even today, dictators and authoritarians from Venezuela to Russia, from Sudan to North Korea, base their actions--and their power to oppress their citizens and threaten their neighbors--solely on access to or sale of oil on the world market. Since the turn of the new century, those hard facts have come home to America in the most vicious way. Attacked at home by oil-funded terrorists, at war abroad with oil-funded insurgents, threatened in global markets and faced with acquisition of our industrial base by oil-funded multinationals, we must defend America or face her utter destruction. If we continue to follow this slippery, oil-slicked, downward-winding path, our citizens will shiver in darkness as our resources hemorrhage to Third World thugs whose only virtue is their control of petroleum-based energy. These threats are real, they are immediate, and they are potentially overwhelming. And the saddest part, the most terrible irony, is that we finance them every time we pump gas or pay utility bills. The threats are not new, nor is their solution. President Carter warned us about it in the 1970s when he proposed real solutions--conservation, fuel efficiency, and alternative fuels--to what he correctly named the "moral equivalent of war." His proposals were ridiculed by Republicans who forgot that both Presidents Nixon and Ford had joined him in calling for America's energy independence. That bipartisanship, however, became partisan as this nation entered an era of oil industry dominance when, for the 28 years since 1980 except for the Clinton presidency, former oil industry executives have been president or vice president of the United States and indeed, for the past eight years, have filled both offices at once. For the past eight years, the man in the Oval Office has tipped his hat over his eyes, kicked back his chair, and snoozed at his desk. Charged with protecting our national interests, he slept on duty while his vice president conspired with oil industry cronies. Tasked with cutting off funding to terrorists, he slept on duty while oil shortages worsened, oil prices soared, and dollars by the ton were delivered to terrorists' banks in Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. Faced with a new kind of war, this president and his vice president helped their friends the old-fashioned way: through war profiteering, tax cuts for billionaires, and in many cases out-and-out corruption. There are honest answers to the problems we face, but they call for hard solutions and common sacrifices, the kind of sacrifices that this administration has only asked the American people to bear when it lined the pockets of the obscenely rich. There's an answer, but only if someone will speak truth to power. There's an answer, but only if someone will unite Americans to share common burdens to reach common goals. There's an answer, but only if someone has the values, the virtues, and the vision to lead us through these troubled waters to that beckoning shore. There's an answer. There's a man. Barack Obama. Barack Obama is unique. So are we all. Each of us brings to the world our own strengths and weaknesses. What qualities then, have earned him our support for the highest executive office? Even his opponents agree Senator Obama is smart and thoughtful. His biography proves he's committed to basic American values like hard work and fair play, and that he is honest and forthright. He articulates a vision of energy independence that is comprehensive and based on sound science and sound policies, science we know will work. These policies include the answers we discussed at our energy summit in Las Vegas last week: wind, geothermal, and solar power generation and the development of efficient power transmission. Even more importantly, they include conservation measures ignored and indeed ridiculed by the current administration: smarter vehicles, more efficient and accessible mass transit, energy-effective building codes, and retrofitting all have their place in Senator Obama's vision of an energy-smart America. But John McCain has a vision too, which in fairness I must address. When doctors screen out the quack nostrums and phony remedies we call snake oil, they use two fundamental principles: the maxim "first, do no harm" and the question "is it safe and effective?" In Congress, as in medicine, when we are offered snake oil as a remedy for the nation's energy ills, our question should be: "Is it safe and effective? Does it do more harm than good?" Senator McCain and the Republicans have centered their answer to our vital energy needs on one solution: off-shore drilling. Senator McCain calls for it in every speech; his party has demagogued the issue in both houses of Congress. So, is off-shore drilling energy policy or snake oil? Let's review the facts. White House analysts, congressional analysts, and the oil industry all agree that off-shore drilling won't add one drop to our energy pool for at least ten years. The way things are going now, in another ten years we won't need more oil; nobody will be able to afford it. T. Boone Pickens said it right: "We can't drill our way out of this crisis." But even if Doc McCain's magic off-shore oil elixir won't work, will it do any harm? The answer is, we just don't know, and neither does he. It might not ruin tourism in the Gulf or on the California coast. It might not destroy vital fisheries. It might not pollute our waterways. Nobody really knows. But kindly old Doc McCain would like to sell it to you anyway. The simple fact is that the promise of more oil isn't part of the solution; it's part of the problem. At best this is an 18th century answer to a 21st century crisis; at worst it's pure baloney. There are no quick and easy answers here, folks. For over a quarter of a century, the Republicans have sold their magic beans with a promise of a giant beanstalk and gold over the horizon. Look what they've done to our country. Look what they've done to our planet. It is time to bring our nation back to reality. It is time for an energy policy that recognizes national security means ending dependence on oil and that the future is about new ideas and change for the better, not snake oil and quackery. It is time for recognition that threats to our planet are threats to our great country. It is time to understand that in the long run, indeed in the short run, we must wean ourselves of addiction to oil. It is time, my friends, to elect Barack Obama as President of the United States. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGZ http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGZ/commentary#comments Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:36:04 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGZ Harry Reid Harry Reid 1 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGZ/ Whether you are watching the convention on TV, or in are in Denver I want to welcome you to the West. As you watch the convention unfold, it is important to remember the "New West" - Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming -- is emerging as the future of the Democratic Party. In 2004, George Bush won all the states listed above. Today, four of those states are considered up for grabs - and if you ask me, are likely to be won by Barack Obama and Joe Biden. In recent years Democrats have picked up two Senate seats, seven House seats, in addition to winning two state legislative chambers. And Mark and Tom Udall are well positioned to win Senate seats in Colorado and New Mexico this year. Throughout the week, you will hear from some amazing western leaders. Be sure to watch Governor Napolitano and Governor Schweitzer speak from the podium Tuesday night. They are two true leaders of the New West. So as you watch the convention this week remember, with four battleground states in 2008, the road to the White House will run through the West! http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGq http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGq/commentary#comments Tue, 26 Aug 2008 10:53:49 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGq Harry Reid Harry Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGq/ Where in the world is Harry Reid? What's Schumer's First Rule Of Political Campaigning? And what does Han Solo have to do with Al Franken? Reid on! Nevada First : Prevention Funding. There are few things in the world as tragic as suicide. Our country has made great strides in its efforts to combat suicide. Sadly, Nevada’s rural counties have a suicide rate twice that of the rest of the country. Thankfully, Nevadans have Harry Reid representing them, and he’s been one of the Senate’s loudest voices for suicide prevention. Sen. Reid penned an op-ed last week, in which he outlined some of the ways to reduce suicides in rural communities - starting with telemedicine. The Weekly Reid mentioned the way the VA is using telemedicine a few weeks ago - and now Sen. Reid wants to apply the same principals to suicide prevention. Read the whole op-ed, and pay particular attention to the part about the Stop Senior Suicide Act. Sen. Reid lost his father to suicide 35 years ago - so the issue is a deeply personal one. Must Reid : CODEL-rific . Sen. Reid took to the skies last week, on a Congressional Delegation to Afghanistan and the surrounding region. One of the first stops was Kyrgyzstan, where Sen. Reid and his wife had lunch with five Nevadans stationed at the Manas Coalition Air Base, which is just outside the capital, Bishkek . He also met with President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, with whom he discussed the burgeoning democracy in his country. From the Department of Understatements of the year: After the meeting, Sen. Reid said, "While many Americans may have never heard of Kyrgyzstan, as an important developing democracy in Central Asia, ensuring its success is vital, especially given its proximity to Afghanistan and the role this country plays in our fight against terror." Many Americans have never heard of Kyrgyzstan? Come on! In Afghanistan, Sen. Reid met with President Hamid Karzai , and also with American generals who are leading the fight against a resurgent Taliban and al-Qaida. The meeting was productive, and Sen. Reid left the meeting sure of two things: First, we need to focus more attention on Afghanistan. And second, one of the keys to stabilizing the region is reconstruction. “I am proud of our men and women in uniform and what they are doing to defend our country. Their service fighting the Taliban and al Qaeda, as well as helping the people of Afghanistan, is invaluable and has not gone unnoticed,” Sen. Reid said. Setting the Agenda . Before he left for his CODEL, Senator Reid also weighed in on the September work period in the Senate. There’s a lot left to do, and Sen. Reid laid out an aggressive agenda. On that agenda (described by Roll Call as “hectic”): Tax Extenders (blocked numerous times) , an energy bill (blocked countless times) , the DOD Authorization (which didn’t come to the floor before recess because Obstructionist Republicans preferred to talktalktalktalk about offshore drilling) , LIHEAP (blocked) , the Tom-nibous (more exciting the second time around) , an expansion to the Americans With Disabilities Act, and, just for kicks, a CR that would fund the government and avoid a shutdown. Just so you have something to look forward to, the Weekly Reid will be providing a blow-by-blow account of each and every Republican filibuster. Reid's Watching : Schumer's First Rule. Kay Hagan went up today with her first ad of the general election - it’s great, because it reminds North Carolinians what Kay Hagan’s been doing for the last ten years: balancing budgets and standing up for North Carolina’s families. And Al Franken, the winner of the Give ‘Em Hell Harry “Pick A Candidate” contest, is  also up with a new ad . The Weekly Reid loves this ad because it follows Schumer's First Rule of Political Campaigning: If they hit you, hit ‘em back. Hard. And the stay tuned bit at the end? America loves a cliff hanger. Like when the Weekly Reid saw “The Empire Strikes Back” and put his Han Solo action figure in the freezer until “The Return of the Jedi” came out. Classic. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGc http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGc/commentary#comments Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:46:15 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGc Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGc/ An email from Al Franken to the members of GiveEmHellHarry.com: Thank you for voting in the "Give 'Em Hell Harry" contest. It'll be great practice for when you vote on November 4th and elect a stronger Democratic majority in the Senate for Harry Reid to lead in support of President Barack Obama. CLICK HERE TO HELP ME JOIN HARRY REID IN THE SENATE! And, of course, thanks to you and Senator Reid for this opportunity to ask you for your support. By which I mean money. It's going to take a lot of support (money) to beat Norm Coleman, one of the best-funded Republican incumbents in the country and one of George Bush's favorite rubber stamps in Washington. Make no mistake: Norm Coleman needs to go. He's voted with President Bush nearly 90% of the time, rubber-stamped the war in Iraq, and taken more money from Big Oil than any politician in the history of Minnesota. I'm working hard every day here in Minnesota to spread our positive message of change - but I can't do it alone. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO HELP ME WIN THIS CRITICAL RACE! On January 20, 2009, George Bush leaves office (you can go ahead and applaud). And on that day, we'll swear in President Barack Obama. But if we're really going to change this country, we'll also need to swear in enough Democratic Senators to give Harry Reid a real working majority. That's how we're going to get to universal health care. That's how we're going to end our dependence on foreign oil, cut the price of gas, and build a renewable energy economy. That's how we're going to turn our economy around and make it start working for working people again. That's how we're going to restore our standing in the world - starting with ending the war in Iraq. I'm ready to join Harry Reid in the Senate and get to work - but I need your help. Can I count on you to make a contribution - whether it's $500, $50, or $15 - today? PLEASE CLICK HERE TO MAKE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TODAY! I know that Senator Reid works hard every day to get this country moving in the right direction again. And I know that you work hard to support him in his efforts. Thank you for everything you've done - and, more importantly, thank you for supporting my campaign (with money). Sincerely, Al Franken http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGW http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGW/commentary#comments Fri, 08 Aug 2008 12:40:07 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/harryreid/BGW Harry Reid Harry Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGW/ Polling in NV-3? Why are veterans thanking Harry Reid? Who is Mark Begich sending through the car wash, the local car wash? Reid on! Nevada First : We’re Up. Up. Up And Away . Great News. Huge News. But not Surprising News. Dina Titus, the congressional challenger in Nevada’s 3rd Congressional district leads Rep. Jon Porter 50 - 43 . For the last three months (remember, Dina got in this race late) she’s been all over the 3rd CD, talking to some of the 25,000+ newly registered Democrats and reconnecting with those folks who supported her in her gubernatorial bid in 2006. And all that campaigning is paying off. She has her finger on the pulse of the 3rd CD. Jon Porter? Not so much.  He can't get anything through Congress. And he's becoming more of a partisan, Bush-McCain Republican every day. Oh, and he hasn’t been campaigning. In fact, it's been so long since he's been seen on the stump, that Las Vegas bookstores are considering replacing their stock of Where’s Waldo books with the new Where’s Jon Porter edition.  Dina’s going to win this race because she knows what Nevadans want - someone who can think for themselves and isn’t beholden to special interests . Or the Republican Party and their failed policies . In fact, that's exactly why Dina first ran for office 20 years ago. News That's Fit To Print . Last week, the Weekly Reid mentioned Harry Reid’s Clean Energy Summit, set to start on August 19th at the UNLV campus. Well over the weekend, Harry Reid had an op-ed published in the Las Vegas Sun, where he again called for making Nevada the renewable energy capital of the world. “Nevada is an independent state born of opportunity and of the great resources we held both during the Civil War and today. The treasure we have offered to the country in silver, gold and minerals, we can now offer in heat and power from our vast solar, wind and geothermal potential.” And channeling his inner-Obama, Sen. Reid continued, “Our moment, as Nevadans and as caretakers of our families and our planet for generations to come, is now.” With partisan bickering and Republican obstruction dominating the energy debate in DC, there aren’t too many people who could pull together a bipartisan energy summit with as many big names as this one. But Sen. Reid’s got clout, and he’s using it to showcase Nevada’s natural resources - and remind Americans that we can be energy independent. We Have Sen. Reid To Thank . The Weekly Reid couldn’t have said this any better : “Rural Nevada veterans now have easier access to federal benefits information and assistance through an innovative Remote Benefits Delivery Program using video conferencing technology. In partnership, the Nevada Office of Veterans Services (NOVS) in Elko and the Veterans Affairs Regional Office in Reno will be providing this additional service to an estimated 7,671 veterans who reside in Elko, Humboldt, Lander, Eureka and White Pine counties. [snip] ‘We have Sen. Reid to thank for this enhanced service which will benefit our rural veterans. Through his efforts at the federal level, our State is the second in the nation to obtain this Remote Benefits Delivery Program,’ said Tim Tetz, Executive Director of NOVS.” The Weekly Reid covered Sen. Reid’s request to the VA back in April. Let’s be honest - we owe it to our returning vets to provide them with the best care possible. They’ve stood up for us, and we need to keep our promise to them. Must Reid: The Recess Recap . The Congress stands in recess for the next five weeks, and each of the 535 members are back in their home districts, meeting with constituents, and (for all but the 66 Senators not up this cycle) campaigning for reelection. Follow the Weekly Reid down memory lane, as we look at what each party has to be proud of as they head home to talk to voters. Democrats: We listened to the American people and passed sweeping and far reaching housing legislation . At first the President didn’t like our bill, but after a record-breaking seven cloture votes the bill that emerged did more for the American Family than anything the Republicans did in their years in the Majority. Before the bill passed about 8,500 Americans received foreclosure notices every day. Since the bill passed, more than 50,000 Americans are safe in their homes because of our Democratic majority. With the help of Ted Kennedy’s surprise arrival on the Senate floor and his now famous, thundering “Aye!” Democrats passed the so-called “ Doctor’s Fix ” of the Medicare bill. Millions of America’s seniors breathed a sigh of relief. Teddy - their favorite liberal lion - was back, and their doctors were going to get paid. Under the steady-handed leadership of the Democratic majority, the Senate passed a bill to combat the Global AIDS epidemic . To their credit, the (normally obstructionist) Republican minority saw the light and supported the legislation. You know, people around the world look to the US for leadership on the most pressing issues of the day. If we’re not leading in the fight against global HIV/AIDS, then how can we expect the world to look up to us? In a last minute flurry of activity last Thursday, Democrats in the Senate led the charge and passed two bills especially important to middle class families - The Higher Education Opportunity Act and the Consumer Product Safety bill . Now, American parents can sleep a little better, knowing a college education is back within reach for their kids, and the toys in the game room are safe to eat(?). Republicans:   (crickets)    Well, they did block a few things. Like Mental Health Parity. Like LIHEAP. And the Department of Defense authorization bill. And the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act (this, on the heels of Friday’s report that the economy shed 51,000 jobs in June - nearly half a million since January). They stymied our efforts at a tax extenders bill that would have provided tax credits for companies investing in renewable energy. These are just a few of the 92 bills they’ve filibustered in the 110th Congress. Republicans are on the ropes. Rather than listening to the American people and working with Democrats to solve problems, Bush-McCain Republicans are resorting to partisan attacks and political chicanery. They know they can’t win on ideas, so they’re throwing a wrench in the whole political process. Reid’s Watching : Perfect Timing. The Weekly Reid LOVES Mayor Mark Begich’s ads. In the (timely) ad “ Car Wash ,” Mayor Mark takes a subtle jab at the corrupt, scandal prone Alaskan GOP. And Mark had a great week last week - he’s up 21 in a new poll . Other great ads this week: Al Franken and Kay Hagan (this is part of the ad blitz the DSCC is paying for, highlighting how ineffective Liddy Dole is).   Bloggers for Reid. Harry Reid’s been on the cutting edge of technology for years now (unlike John McCain). Rumor has it he had one of the first BlackBerries on the Hill.  And he’s also one of the Hill’s biggest supporters of the blogosphere . Two weeks ago, he sat down with a few of the most prominent political bloggers for the second installment of “Meet the Bloggers.” Check it out here .  http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGv http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGv/commentary#comments Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:35:08 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGv Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGv/ Who's ready for the National Clean Energy Summit? Who was running around the Capitol on a Saturday? What are your favorite campaign ads so far this cycle? Reid on! Nevada First: File Under “Clout and Clouds.” An oil man, a former president and the Senate Majority Leader plan a trip to Vegas. There are a lot of ways this story can end - but none better than "and they host the National Clean Energy Summit!" We’re talking about a meeting of the minds - politics, policy and power. Harry Reid, President Clinton , and T. Boone Pickens. Solar power, wind turbines, and breaking our dependence on foreign oil. Here’s the deal according to Jonathan Humbert , of Channel 8 News: “A landmark clean energy summit is right around the corner, and it will be held right here in Las Vegas. Political heavy hitters are expected to work with industry leaders to shape renewable energy policy and bring much needed jobs here to the valley.” It’s a renewable energy party in Las Vegas - and Harry Reid’s playing host. How is this possible? “ Clout and Clouds ”  (and Casinos?). That’s Harry Reid’s commitment to making Nevada the renewable energy capital of the world , and his fighting for Nevada in ways only he can. And that’s the great state of Nevada, battle born, with her abundant natural resources, bright sun and environmentally minded citizens. Sen. Reid said it best, “As we know in Nevada, we know the sun shines all the time, the wind blows a lot and we have that steam pouring from the earth that has just been wasted all these many generations.” Let’s harness those resources and break away from the oil oligarchs. The National Clean Energy Summit is set for August 19th, on the UNLV campus. Attendees who arrive in Hybrid cars or Jet Packs get priority seating. Must Reid : File Under “Even I Had the Day Off” When the Weekly Reid woke up on Saturday and turned on the C-SPAN (isn’t that what you watch on Saturday morning?), guess whose face graced the screen? Harry Reid. On a Saturday. Thanks to obstructionist Republicans, the Senate convened for a rare Saturday session. On the agenda: the Housing Bill (which had an astounding 8 cloture votes associated with it) and LIHEAP (the low incoming heating assistance bill championed by everyone’s favorite independent, Sen. Bernie Sanders). After President Bush signaled he’d support the Housing bill it passed overwhelmingly. File Under “Made for TV.” Sadly, LIHEAP didn’t go nearly as well. By a 50-35 margin, the cloture motion failed. You read that right. 35 United States Senators voted against providing millions of dollars to keep low income families, seniors and disabled Americans warm this winter. How many Republicans with tough reelection battles in ‘08 voted against it? 3. And one was Sen. Ted Stevens from oh-so-tropical state of Alaska! Last time the Weekly Reid looked at a globe, Alaska was, like, in the Arctic. Which Senator facing a tough reelect didn’t bother to vote at all? Liddy Dole. Memo to Mark Begich and Kay Hagan and the Obama campaign: find a few of the Alaskans and North Carolinians who stood to receive some of the $96 million the LIHEAP expansion would provide. Put them on TV. File Under "Business as Usual." On the floor this week, two things are certain. The Republicans will try to block something, and Democrats will have our agenda - both short- and long-term solutions to the energy crisis - subjected to cloture vote after cloture vote. We’ve got the ideas and the solutions. Republicans would rather TALK TALK TALK about the problem. Reid’s Watching: File Under “New Addition. ” You’ve asked for it. We’ve listened. The most popular websites the Weekly Reid links to are campaign ads. So we’ve decided to scour the Internets for the best political ads each week. See one you like? Drop us a line at weeklyreid@harryreid.com . We’ve got two great ones for you this week. First, Mary Landrieu . We don’t talk enough about Sen. Landrieu. She has drawn an opponent this cycle, but she’s proven she’s the best leader Louisiana could ask for - and that doesn’t stop her from having great ads that remind folks of her leadership! Second, we have Al Franken. One of the best things about AL Franken is that he’s raising good money from a large network of grassroots supporters. This ad shows that he’s much more than a one trick pony. His jokes are great, but his politics are better. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGr http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGr/commentary#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:23:30 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGr Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGr/ Dear Senator Reid: I find it almost unbelievable that the "green" machine, yourself included has not grabbed onto the geo-thermal power productions advantages over ALL other forms of energy production. The use of geo-themal power (gtp) would solve two major problems we have in this country. As you may or may not know the state of Utah has just built a huge gpt plant that is coming on line. They built the plant in 10 months, yes 10 months at a cost of 40 M-illion, yes that is with an M, to produce energy. The U.S. Geological survey of hot spots around the nation has identified over a thousand different hot spots capable of producing energy from geo-thermal methods through out the U.S. Yet not you or even Al Gore, gives this totally non-polluting, 24/7 power production source more than a glancing comment. Why when we can produce so many power plants from this source in our OWN state of Nevada, have not more gtp plants been built instead of the coal fired plants we now rely on?? Why has not Nevada led the nation in the development of these plants as we already have up and running gtp plants in existence now. Why have you not realized and promoted to the rest of the nation this resource and instituted actions to secure funding for the building of these gtp plants throughout the nation and employed AMERICANS to build them. AMERICANS who need jobs? I don't blame you solely for being slow to pick this up, even Al Gore has only given this source of energy a parting mention in his presentation. Yet we have models of entire countries that are run on geo-thermal power, i.e., Iceland. Remember it costs only 1/10th the cost to construct a gtp plant as opposed to a nuclear plant (H-undreds of B-illions of dollars), produces NO pollution, no radioactive residue, can be built and producing energy in less than 2 years, could in five years lessen the importation of foreign oil to this country by 50 PER CENT!! Where is the leadership in Congress to make this type of energy production a MAJOR component of our energy production NOW, not 5 or 10 years down the road. WE know how to do this NOW, so why not implement it NOW??!! We need the energy, we need the jobs. Why is there no BIG push to see that this energy sector gets all the funding that they need to get on line NOW??!! I smell another rat with big coal and oil calling the shots. Remember both oil and coal are finite and geo-thermal is not and never will be. Please tell me where is the leadership on developing this source of energy. Thanks for your time. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/timsanders/BG4 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/timsanders/BG4/commentary#comments Thu, 31 Jul 2008 12:09:24 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/timsanders/BG4 Tim Sanders Tim Sanders 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BG4/ This is an exciting time to be an American - we have the opportunity to make some changes in this country and restore faith in America as a force for good - no more unnecessary wars no more lies no more spin no more torture of prisioners we're all in the human race - let's embrace the current challenges and go forward together - Jesus was a liberal. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/jchoeseberge/BGm http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/jchoeseberge/BGm/commentary#comments Tue, 29 Jul 2008 12:51:19 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/jchoeseberge/BGm User from Long Lake, MN User from Long Lake, MN 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGm/ I was just listening to Earnest Fritz Hollings with Bill Moyers. He wrote a book saying that the Senate and the House are not serving the people because everyone is in a constant battle for funds and that everyone is campaigning 24-7. He also said that Wall Street runs congress and that the American government sold the people out to the banks and wall street. According to him, this government, democrat and republican, have allowed the shipment of all our industries to China and other countries where Labor is 54cents an hour and that Wall Street will never allow businesses back in America with Clean Air, minimum wage, health and retirement, and all of those other forward policies. He said that America is basically screwed and it is all because congress is tethered to the handouts of Wall street for re-election. It seems that you poisoned the golden goose in America and it can't lay any more eggs. More importantly, you let George Bush have a free hand in Milton Freidman's Chicago economics and Naomi Klein's disaster capitalism. It is clear that over the past 30 years, the boarders have been open to foreigners to take jobs that are under minimum wage and that Labor has all but stagnated because wall street and congress undermined it. In addition, the free trade agreements have undermined the American labor force and the critical pivot point in the American economy centers around consumer spending which is tied to American Labor's income. The true reason why the housing market collapsed is that the consumer spending failed because Labor was undermined by you bastards. More importantly, there is no saving the American economy when the American worker is going down the drain and has to compete with Chinese workers making 40 cents an hour under free trade agreements. Who needs terrorists when we have democrats and republicans screwing out country? You guys have killed us all. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/frankkahana/BGP http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/frankkahana/BGP/commentary#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:51:46 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/frankkahana/BGP User from Philadelphia, PA User from Philadelphia, PA 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGP/ Al Franken has a Midwest Values pac but there is nothing about his career that would suggest midwest values. He has been tagged for failure to pay taxes in 17 states, fined $25,000 for failure to pay workers comp, swearing wildly at public events including the "F" word, and pornographic writings including jokes about women, rape, drunk driving and more. He is now 15 points behind in the latest poll and to give him a dime is a waste. His performance has been sad and Minnesotans are not turning on to the guy from New York City. When the disclosures became public about his problems, he lost ground quickly. The latest Quinnipiac poll reports that 20% of democrats intend to vote for Coleman. This spells danger for the entire ballot if Franken gets blown out as it seems he will. There is a credible primary challenge from Priscilla Lord Faris. She has started late but there is an opportunity. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/robertmattson/BG7 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/robertmattson/BG7/commentary#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2008 20:52:31 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/robertmattson/BG7 User from Naples, FL User from Naples, FL 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BG7/ In all of the rhetoric to protect families and the under current provide our children with safe, secure and loving environments where is the effort to find competent foster parents? Where is the energy and means to provide well for all children? This is like the good samaritan getting a petition signed that no one should be allowed to beat people up in back alleyways, whilst leaving the beaten man on the side of the road. I am quite sure that the Levite, the Pharisee, the High Priest, all, would have been very willing to sign the petition and would have done so. Unfortunately for the Christian Right and the so called God fearing church goers, the Master, Jesus Christ taught another story... It seems all to often a common thing to hear some intone the "family values" mantra only as a shield to increase adult rights at the expense of the most vulnerable in our society, children. I wonder, do we really care about children? Do we make sure that all children are fed, educated, clothed, housed, washed? Do we anoint them with our finest oils? opportunity, love, understanding, respect, patience, forgiveness? We feel that they cannot make their own choices but we prosecute a 14 year old boy as an adult for murdering a gay school mate that crushed on him http://www.newsweek.com/id/148817  We worry more over whether parents are the "right kind" rather than if they are loving and nurturing. http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/214725/ . Why do we allow the hate mongers to control our debate? We should be asking ourselves serious questions about our society and how to make things work better. How is it christian in any sense of the word to punish children for the actions of the adults around them? http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/davidberni/BGY http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/davidberni/BGY/commentary#comments Mon, 28 Jul 2008 13:37:38 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/davidberni/BGY David Berni David Berni 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGY/ What did Harry Reid do for Nevada this week? What plan of Obama's are people coalescing around? Can you really put a hold on Superman? Reid on! Nevada First : Help is NOT on it's way . Just how badly damaged is the GOP brand in Nevada? Ignore the “voter’s remorse” many Nevadans are feeling about sending Jim Gibbons to the Governor’s Mansion. Pay no attention to the massive voter registration advantage Democrats now have ( 60,068 more !). And Mac’s down to Barack in the latest Razz poll? Forget about it. The clearest sign that the GOP brand is crashing faster even than Fred Thompson’s presidential bid - They couldn’t get 675 people to show up to the State Convention. So they canceled it. As Blue Sage Views noted on Friday, the NV GOP needed just .1% of the 390,443 registered Republicans in the state to sign a card (postage paid!). Our convention? 2,500 - and there were plenty more who wanted to come. The GOP reminds the Weekly Reid of Mrs. Fletcher, from those Life Alert commercials in the 80s. It’s fallen - and it ain’t getting up. Support you can count on . Senate Democrats have done a lot this year to take away the GOP's favorite talking point - that Democrats don’t support the troops. We passed the 21st Century GI Bill. We’ve voted 30+ times to bring this war to an end (more on that below). And just last week, Senator Reid announced he helped secure $194.5 million in funding for Nevada’s military bases. About $80 million of that will go to the National Guard and the Army Reserves. Harry Reid - fighting (and delivering) for Nevada’s veterans in ways only he can. Must Reid : Look who's walkin' back . The weekend news cycle was dominated by the back and forth and back again over Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki’s comments to the German magazine Spiegel. In case you missed it, he basically endorsed Barack Obama’s position for withdrawing troops from Iraq. This puts John McCain in a pretty pickle - he keeps saying we must stay to finish the job, leaving only when we’ve secured Iraq, finished the mission and have been asked to go. His is an open ended commitment. If he were to backtrack now...well. To paraphrase the words of a Republican strategist, as quoted in Marc Ambinder’s blog , they're in trouble. (Bonus question: Who was Ambinder's source? Email your guesses here .) Look. The Iraqi people are coming together around Sen. Obama’s plan. The Iraqi government is coming around to Sen. Obama’s plan. The American people support Sen. Obama’s plan. And, as Sen. Reid said on the Senate floor yesterday, “Even President Bush – who bears the primary responsibility for this incompetently managed war – is now belatedly and gradually moving toward some elements of key Democratic positions – on Iran, Afghanistan and Iraq.” Once again, times are changing. The political landscape is changing. And John McCain is behind the ball. In related news, John McCain got on the Internet yesterday. All by himself . Coburn-tastic ! The Weekly Reid brought you news of the Coburn Omnibus a few weeks ago. As a recap , the bill is really a package of bills that have passed the House, cleared the appropriate Senate committee and typically have broad support. Pretty much everyone likes them except Senator “Dr. Tom” Coburn. Here’s just a sample of some of the bills packaged in the Coburn Omnibus: The Emmitt Till Unsolved Crimes bill, The Runaway and Homeless Youth bill, The Combating Child Exploitation bill, The ALS Registry bill, and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Act. Who’s against helping runaways and the homeless? Who’s for Child Exploitation? How can you possibly put a hold on Superman!? Reid's Watching : Begich Buzz : New Razz poll has Mayor Mark Begich up 50% - 41% over Alaska’s Founding Father Ted Stevens. The poll was taken after Mayor Begich started airing two new (and awesome) ads . Other polling updates: Oregon Assembly Speaker Jeff Merkley’s up over Gordon Smith 43% - 41% . That’s an 11 point swing in the last month (in our direction). We’re up 6 in Louisiana , 9 in Colorado , and we’ve all but won in Virginia and New Hampshire . DSCC’n . In the past, the campaign arm of Senate Democrats - the DSCC - has been a valuable resource for challengers and incumbents alike. The DSCC has the ability to shift large amounts of money around in the final weeks of the campaign - right when races tighten and the attack ads start flying. Well this year, according to both the WaPo and Roll Call , the DSCC is going to be more than just an ad machine - they’re investing in field operations. Great idea. Independent and undecided voters pick a generic Dem in most polls these days - let’s make sure they get out and vote for our candidates . http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGs http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGs/commentary#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 12:09:17 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGs Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGs/ How many Nevadans are going to sleep easier this week? Guess who showed up and shocked 9 Republicans? What's up with Dina Titus's fundraising prowess? Reid On! Nevada First : Throwing Lifelines . Last week was a hectic one on the Hill. And while some of our legislative priorities were blocked by obstructionist Republicans, Senate Democrats threw more than one life preserver to the American people.  On Friday, the Senate passed a version of the Housing bill . The bill, which was sent back to the House for some additional tweaking, focused on the root causes of the (much larger) economic crisis in this country - home foreclosures. You’ve probably heard Senator Reid hammer home the point on C-SPAN: This bill will keep people in their homes by allowing 400,000 American homeowners to swap their adjustable mortgages with ones backed by the FHA. With stable monthly payments, homeowners can turn their eyes to other pressing matters - like saving for their kid’s college education. President Bush (surprise!) vowed to veto the bill. What does this mean for Nevada? It means that thousands of Nevadans can sleep a little easier this week. It also means that Nevadans looking to buy a home for the first time can get a credit of $8,000. Senator Reid has made solving the housing crisis one of his top priorities. And while the bill isn’t totally ready, we’re one step closer. The Investment That Keeps On Giving . Proving once again that he stands up for Nevada’s interests like no one else, Harry Reid announced on Monday a nearly $1.5 million grant for the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization. The non-profit brings together public and private organizations and aides them in the research and development of clean, renewable technologies. What does this grant mean for Nevada? Jobs, for one. As Sen. Reid works to make Nevada the world leader in clean, renewable energy, more companies will invest in Nevada’s workforce. It also promises to make energy cheaper for Nevadans - and all Americans. Harry Reid’s worked for decades to protect Nevada’s natural resources, and breaking our dependence on foreign oil is just one piece of that puzzle. Must Reid : Saving the Day . Words cannot explain what happened on the Senate floor Wednesday, nor can they adequately describe the shiver that went down the Weekly Reid’s spine as it watched the roll call vote on the Medicare “Doctor’s Fix” bill. Senator Reid did his best summing up the dramatic events of Wednesday : ““They [the Bush-McCain Republicans] thought they had us beat until the last minute. They didn’t know I started working last Thursday in getting Sen. Kennedy here.” And get him there he did. After a standing ovation, the Liberal Lion - who was there in 1964 when Medicare was born - cast the deciding vote for cloture, thus ending debate on the “Doctor’s Fix” Medicare bill. With Senator Kennedy on the floor and passage of the bill a sure thing, 9 Republicans - 9! - broke ranks, changed their vote and joined a united Democratic caucus in voting "Aye." Think about the scene (if you haven’t seen it, check it out here ). Sen. Kennedy, who got on a plane right after getting a chemo treatment, his immune system weakened, makes a triumphant return to the floor of the Senate to cast the deciding vote saving a program he has long championed. How could you not be moved? The Weekly Reid won’t speculate as to what was running through the minds of those 9 Senators. But it was either that, or more banal things like getting reelected. Oh. The president vetoed the bill. Thankfully, House and Senate Democrats brought enough Republicans on board to rebuke (for the fourth time in two years) Mr. 28% . One more thing: if the 69-30 original roll call vote looks weird to you, it does to the Weekly Reid as well. Who would have missed this vote? Someone seeking to avoid casting a vote that would placate the base of his party, yet enrage average Americans? Yes! John McCain - missing yet another vote. Who has your back ? Pop quiz: What are three things Democrats are doing to solve our energy crisis? What are the three things Republicans are doing? For the former: standing up to greedy speculators (bill coming this week), investing in renewable energy (see above), encouraging oil companies to drill on the 68 million acres of federal land they already have access to. For the latter: … Um. Nothing? Unless you count giving tax breaks to oil companies for NOT drilling on the 68 million acres of land they already have and lining the pockets of oil executives for NOT investing in renewable energy.  Bush-McCain Republicans in the Senate must think the oil companies need more power and influence over our energy policies. And they must think that Americans are going to continue shelling out $4+ for gas. Democrats are working to lower has prices by combating speculation - Bush Republicans should join their Democratic colleagues in supporting the bill. Reid’s Watching : Money Money ! Fundraising numbers are slowly trickling in, and we’ve got good news. Our two Nevada Congressional challengers, Dina Titus and Jill Derby, turned in great quarters. Dina raised over $575,000 (her opponent raised a disappointing $418,000) and Jill over $280,000 . Jill also raised more than her opponent. Read those two sentence again: both of our Congressional challengers raised more money that their opponents. Think Nevada's ready for change? On the Senate side, Kay Hagan raised $1.6 million . With her serious (and much needed?) ad blitz, Sen. Liddy Dole spent more money than she raised - and her cash on hand dropped by nearly half a million bucks. What’s Kay got going for her? A lot of grassroots support - and an opponent who can’t seem to break 51% in any reelection poll. http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGy http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGy/commentary#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:55:13 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BGy Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BGy/ Which agency lifted a moratorium this week? Know what the Coburn Omnibus is? What was the first casino on the Strip? Reid On! Nevada First : Filed Under "That'll Show 'Em." Last week, we brought you the news of the opening of the Ausra plant in Las Vegas (Remember? It builds components for solar thermal power plants). Hot on the heels of the opening of the plant - more good news for Nevadans and renewable energy fans across the country. The Bureau of Land Management lifted a moratorium on the development of solar plants on public lands (3/4 of Nevada's land is managed by the BLM). Why the sudden change of heart? Two words: Harry Reid. Nevada's senior senator was a vocal opponent of the moratorium. And someone at BLM must have seen his ire coming, because they never gave Sen. Reid the customary heads up. He read it in the paper. But there's more at work here than just a simple clerical error. The Bush administration refuses to fully pursue viable options for renewable energy. Two weeks ago, Bush-McCain Republicans blocked a bill that gave tax cuts to American innovators and entrepreneurs who developed clean and renewable alternatives to foreign oil. The Republican Party of Bush and McCain refuse to stand up to Big Oil and would rather line the pockets of oil executives than lower gas prices for American Families. They'd rather fill their campaign coffers with contributions from oil executives than invest in renewable energy. Now that the BLM has realized the error of their ways, will Senate Republicans follow suit? Filed Under "Odds and Ends." Harry Reid had a busy recess (as the LV Sun notes ). In Reno on Wednesday, Sen. Reid met with representatives from the various agencies working to ensure Nevada is prepared for this year's wildfire season . Meetings like this are one of the most important things Sen. Reid can do for the state - bringing stakeholders together to share ideas and coordinate activities. Did you see this interactive map of the Las Vegas strip ? Scroll through the years and watch as the Strip blossoms from a " desert stop over town for GIs " to the glitz and glamor capitol of the West (Sorry LA). The newest voter registration numbers were released this week. And it's official - the momentum and enthusiasm the caucuses stirred up continue. We now have a 55,560 voter registration advantage. Help our congressional challengers talk to each one of these new voters - Dina Titus and Jill Derby . Must Reid : Filed Under "Forecast for DC." Sen. Reid took the the Senate floor yesterday to lay out a road map for this four-week work period. In a nutshell: "Everything you guys blocked two weeks ago? We're going to revisit that. Plus: lowering gas prices, PEPFAR, Consumer Product Safety, DOD Authorization, DOD Appropriations, and The Coburn Omnibus" (more on that below). The forecast for the month of July in DC is hazy, hot and humid. Bush-McCain Republicans won't find relief from the heat in hallowed halls of the United States Senate. We're holding their feet to the fire. Filed Under "Gotta Know When to Fold 'Em." Sen. Tom Coburn has placed a hold on hundreds of bills this year - bills that deal with minor legislative issues and typically have broad support. The Weekly Reid isn't going to bore you with an analysis of the legislative philosophy of Sen. Coburn; basically, it appears he simply doesn't like government or governing. Sen. Reid has found a workaround. Ryan Grim of the Politico writes , "In a stroke of legislative creativity that may have no precedent, Reid could lump all of the bills into one package and bring up the Coburn Omnibus for a single vote. Coburn can still object, but the broad popularity of the bills means that there would likely be more than enough support for veto-proof passage." How's that for thinking outside the box? Harry Reid: Giving 'Em Hell. Filed Under "FISA Fight." Miss the fireworks on July 4th? Want to see more? Just mention FISA or retroactive immunity in a political circle. Then sit back and enjoy the show. The bill is likely to come up for a vote this week, and Harry Reid will vote against it . Although the bill is likely to pass, Sen. Reid cannot support the retroactive immunity for the telecoms. Reid's Watching : Filed Under "Big Time Attention." The Udall cousins, Mark and Tom, are hoping to bring their Democratic "New West" philosophy to the Senate in 2008, and they got a major press boost on Monday from the New York Times . Know what's great about winning these two races? They'll bring with them the Udall commitment to protecting the natural resources of the West - a longtime priority of Sen. Reid. Filed Under "On The Air." Anchorage Mayor Mark Begich is up statewide with two new ads, " Path " and " Energy Leader. " Mayor Mark's making a whole lot of noise up there. Alaskans say "North to the Future" but the Weekly Reid says "North to Victory." Help the mayor keep these ads up on the air . http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BG9 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BG9/commentary#comments Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:51:03 EDT http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/post/weeklyreid/BG9 Weekly Reid Weekly Reid 0 http://www.giveemhellharry.com/page/community/comment_rss/BG9/