End of the long weekend musings


While everyone was focusing on Governor Jan Brewer’s foot in mouth performance at the RNC Convention when she said she hoped for a President Obama victory, her administration was pulling some questionable and potentially unethical business dealings. As reported in the Arizona Republic, it seems the Arizona state Department of Corrections awarded a multimillion-dollar private-prison contract to Corrections Corporation of America.  The private prison firm with questionable ties to the Brewer administration employed Chuck Coughlin, an influential lobbyist who is a close friend and an adviser to Brewer.  Also, Paul Senseman, Brewer's former spokesman, according to  state lobbying records show CCA also employs Policy Development Group, a lobbying firm that employs Senseman.

But wait, there’s more.  The CCA contract calls for CCA to be paid a per diem rate of $65.43 per bed. The most recent information available shows the average daily cost per inmate in a state-run medium-custody facility in 2010 was $48.42. A 35% premium.  Now I know Brewer isn’t the brightest bulb in the chandelier, but certainly she can do simple math.  Right?


According to sources, The Church of Scientology held secret auditions years ago to find a suitable girlfriend for high profile member Tom Cruise.  No word if either Chris Harrison or a dozen roses were involved.

After watching two episodes of Here Comes Honey Boo Boo, I have decided it is the preferred show for people who thought Jersey Shore was too high brow.

 In the latest polling Barack Obama leads Mitt Romney 94% to 0% in African American polling and a 2:1 advantage among Latino voters.  Based on these numbers, Romney will need to garner 61% of the white vote. In 2008 McCain won the white vote 55-43.  Clearly if President Obama comes close to his 2008 performance his re-election will be assured.  Over the long haul, the GOP could be in trouble due to shifting demographics,  As Lindsay Graham said “We’re not generating enough angry white guys to stay in business for the long-term.”

Sarah Palin and the rest of the tiny brains on the right love to criticize President Obama about his energy policy. If course they offer zero facts, so allow me:

·         In the 1st half of 2012 foreign oil accounted for 42% of total U.S. consumption.  In 2005, under George Bush, that number was 60%.

·         Domestic oil production is growing at an annual rate of 20%

·         The EPA isn’t killing coal.  The natural gas industry is due to its cleaner burning properties.

·         By 2022 U.S. domestic oil production could hit 10million barrels per day or the equivalent of Saudi Arabia.

·         Majority of scientists say the President’s ‘All of the above’ strategy is the right long term path forward which is renewable energy sources will become a bigger piece our national footprint.

·         And Mr. Romney, there is no such thing as energy independence.  All oil is traded on the international market and it’s price is set on global supply and demand.  Just because we get more out of North Dakota doesn’t mean the price will come down.  Unless you support nationalizing the energy sector.

In case you missed it, 17 out of the 24 Romney national security and foreign policy advisors worked in the Bush Administration.  Yes because the Bush foreign policy was such a stellar success.

And if that isn’t bad enough, Romney’s economics team is also comprised of Bush retreads including Hubbard and Mankiw.  Wake up America, this is back to the doomed policies of 12 years ago.

Enjoy the Convention.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

A Secular American Jew and a Love for Israel

Sunni and Shia: So who are the bad guys again?

September 10, 2001 was a Monday