Senator Barack Obama may have just received a death blow to his presidential run for the White House. It’s no secret that the Clinton regime is very upset with the fact that this up-start Senator, who came out of nowhere, stopped Senator Hillary Clinton in her tracks. Former President Bill was looking forward to sleeping in the White House once again, and former first Lady Senator Hillary, really wanted to sit behind the big desk in the Oval Office. Many thought it was a slam-dunk for Senator Hillary. After all, she’s a Clinton and in what’s turned into a Bush-Clinton White House dynasty, she was the apparent heir to the big chair. But, then out of nowhere, a young Senator by the name of Barack Obama shows up on the scene. Not only does he out charisma her, but he out fund raises her too! Then he out spends her and ends up with enough money left over to offer to help pay off her debts!

Wow! Talk about a coo! The unseating of the Clinton regime. But, now Obama’s run could find itself derailed as the Clinton’s throw their support behind him.

Senator Clinton was back on Capital Hill this week calling this a “make or break” election. She then told reports that even her husband, former President Bill Clinton, is prepared to campaign for Senator Obama as well. The Senator told reporters that “he has said he will do whatever he can and whatever he’s asked.” Hmmmm….we know how well that worked for her on her bid for the Democratic nomination. It seemed every time her husband opened his mouth, she spent more time doing damage control than anything else. At times it looked like the former President was out to sabotage her run for president rather than help her run. Later in the press conference Senator Hillary Clinton went on to say, “I am, uh…100 percent committed to doing everything I can to help Senator Obama.” It sounds like she’s not too sure about that statement.

What does this mean in the long run? It might mean Clinton revenge could be heading toward the Obama camp. Senator Hillary knows if Obama gets in, she won’t have another opportunity to run for president for 8 years. Does she really want to support him? Then, on the other hand, former President Bill stirs up more scandal whenever he opens his mouth. Knowing that he derailed his wife’s bid for office, how much more will his stupid comments do to derail Obama’s run.

Senator Obama, you might want to walk very very carefully around the land-mines possibly heading toward your campaign for president.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

The Democrats want us to think they’re looking out for us when it comes to gas prices, but their actions certainly tell a different story. It’s been said that actions always speak louder than words. In this case, their actions are speaking loud and clear. The Democrats, whether it’s at the State level or the Federal level, really don’t care that we’re being gouged at the gas pumps.

In New York State, the state with the highest gas taxes of any state, the Democrats consistently vote down any kind of tax break on gas. Time and time again whenever it comes to either the Senate floor or the Assembly floor, New Yorkers can thank the Democrats for the high gas taxes because they vote down any measure to lessen the tax choke hold.

On the Federal level, once again we can thank the Democrats for consistently voting down a decrease in gas taxes. They also vote down any kind of expansion when it comes to drilling in the United States. Once again, we discover the Democrats really don’t care about the high gas prices. Now, in an even more interesting turn of events, we can thank the Democrats for telling Iraq to slow down on western oil contracts. That’s right folks, the very party that likes to scream the War on Terror is really a War About Oil has told the Iraqi government they need to slow down on oil production. The screaming left, that love to say President Bush lied and people died for oil instead of terror, are throwing up roadblocks which would increase oil production in Iraq. Of course an increase of oil production, would bring gas prices down simply because there would be more oil on the market. But no, the very politicians who love to scream that it’s all about oil, are telling Iraq not to supply oil.

Iraq wants to award no-bid deals to Western oil companies to help improve and increase oil production. But, the Democrats want nothing to do with that. At a recent news conference, Democratic Senators Charles Schumer, John Kerry and Clair McCaskill are all telling Iraq to slow down. Don’t do it! A few weeks ago it was announced that U.S. workers were planning to go into Iraq and help Iraq revamp the old oil production facilities, which would of course increase the oil supply. Updated facilities means more oil production. It’s simple economics folks, as supply goes up, price goes down. But no, thanks to the above mentioned Democratic Senators, that may not happen. These Democrats who say they’re looking out for us at the gas pumps even went as far as to call on Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to intervene in Iraqi oil. However, once again we discover some Democrats have no clue when it comes to the constitution as a State Department spokesman said the U.S. is not at liberty to interfere in matters of the Iraqis arranging contracts with outside sources.

So, the next time you hear that the price for a barrel of oil has hit yet another record high, you can thank the likes of Schumer, Kerry and McCaskill. The next time you hear that gas prices have hit yet another record high, you can say thanks to those Democratic leaders. The next time you have to decide whether you’ll buy a gallon of gas, or a gallon of milk, you can send a great big thank you note to Schumer, Kerry and McCaskill. While you’re at it, maybe you can ask them for a few extra bucks so you can buy both a gallon of gas and a gallon of milk.

Hey even better, the next time you head to the voting booth to pull that lever electing a Senator to office, maybe you should think twice and ask how much that vote will cost you in your gas tank.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

Greetings all!

I just wanted to do a quick post here to let those who read this blog about a feature I’ve started on another blog I write. It’s called Frenzied Friday. Take a look and get involved by writing a post of your own about your past week, and how you plan to wind down as we hit another weekend.

All the details are found here!

Thanks!
Dr. Rus

In the continuing Rochester, New York Fast Ferry saga, we have yet another interesting turn of events. On the heels of rejecting two plans by companies looking to start a ferry service between Rochester, New York and Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Rochester Mayor Bob Duffy and the rest of his politically astute council buddies have instead given the green light for a nightclub/bar at the Port of Rochester. That’s right folks. It’s another example of your tax dollars hard at work in New York State.

From the beginning the whole fast ferry business out of Rochester has been a joke. Millions and millions of dollars were tossed at what was, for the most part, a sinking proposition from the get-go. Then when a pair of companies come up with a proposal to get the ferry running again, Rochester City Council says no. Instead, they decide to approve a nighclub/bar for the location! Amazing, now the millions of dollars spent using tax payers dollars, will support a place for alcohol and over-indulgence. This, on top of the fact that Mayor Bob Duffy has been doing nothing but whine about how he feels Rochester doesn’t get enough state money to balance the budget.

Here’s an idea Mayor Duffy. Maybe you should stop running to Albany every other day to beg for money, and spend more time trying to figure out how to balance your own budget. Green-lighting a bar is not the way to balance a budget. It’s simply a feeble attempt to fill space in a building venture that was taking on water from the beginning.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

It’s official - former Vice-President Al Gore has put his support behind Democrat Barack Obama for President. At a Joe Louis Arena rally in Detroit, Gore told the crowd he feels their determination to win back the White House. But, the whole situation begs the question - Will this endorsement really help Senator Obama? After all, he’s just received an endorsement from a man who’s still living in the past and crying about a hanging chad. During the rally Gore once again proved he’s living in the past by saying, “In looking back over the last eight years, I can tell you that we have already learned one important fact since the year 2000. Take it from me, elections matter.”

Okay, so he’s still not over it. Al Gore, the man who spins more yarns than my grandmother used to spin with her knitting needles, still has not moved beyond the fact that he lost an election. It makes me wonder if he may become more of a weight which will pull the Obama machine down, or will the endorsement really help. Of course in the overall scheme of things, endorsements usually don’t mean a whole lot anyway.

But, making matters even more interesting were Senator Obama’s comments after receiving the endorsement. The Presidential hopeful said, “When I am President, I will be counting on Al Gore to help me lead the fight for a clean energy future here in America and around the globe.” Great, just what we need. Another politician chasing after pie in the sky fantasy concepts with no scientific proof to back up his wild fantasies. But then again, lets not forget Senator Obama also said in the United States, the land of the free, we should all roll our thermostats back, get rid of our air conditioners in the summer, and stop driving cars because people in other nations don’t like our prosperity.

Senator Obama, maybe you should remember you’re running for the position of President of the United States, not the world. If you want to work in the world market, maybe you should look at the U.N. instead of the White House.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

So, just who’s in bed with whom here? Big Oil, that would be the “BO,” are probably sending a lot of thank you notes to the GOP today. Or maybe they’re just writing great big campaign donation checks to Capital Hill Republicans. Why you ask? Thanks to the GOP, the BO will continue their price gouging ways, sticking it to the consumer at the gas pumps.

The Senate voted 51-43 to impose a windfall profit tax on the nation’s five leading oil companies in order to ease some of the pain consumers are feeling at the pump. The outcome of the energy bill was far less than the 60 votes necessary to overcome a promised GOP filibuster. As a result, the legislation is effectively dead. If the measure had passed, it would have taxed the “unreasonable profits” big oil companies are now raking in on the backs of the consumer at the pump. It would have also allowed the federal government to clamp down on oil market speculation, which is one reason for the soaring prices of crude oil. In other words, it would have started to clamp down on the obvious price gouging at the pumps now going on by big oil.

But alas, nothing will change. The big oil companies continue to laugh all the way to the bank in the midst of their monopoly. They will continue receiving billions of dollars in tax breaks from the government, and they will continue to pad their bank accounts. The government had an opportunity to start addressing the big oil monopoly, but instead, they did nothing.

I guess in the end we need to thank the “Good old Boys” in the “Grand Old Party” for once again forgetting about the little guy. Instead, they’re sticking up for the big guy who in turn give millions of dollars to their fund raising campaigns on a yearly basis.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

New York State lawmakers approved the rise in the maximum penalty for price gouging from $10,000 to $25,000. That’s in addition to restitution for aggrieved consumers. Has the price gouging penalty ever been used before you ask? Yes it has. The New York State Attorney General’s Office sued three gas stations in 2006 for increased prices of 25 to 72 percent immediately after Hurricane Katrina.

Imagine that, a penalty for price gouging. This New York State news came just ahead of the weekend news which said gas prices hit yet another high, breaking the $4 dollar a gallon nationwide average. Today economist Mark Zandi of Moodys-Economy-dot-com says there’s no end in sight to the price hikes. Zandi says, “We’ve gone from $3 dollars a gallon at the beginning of the year to now $4 dollars a gallon nationwide. If oil prices stay where they are, we’ll be at $4.50 a gallon by July 4th.” Meanwhile energy analyst Peter Beutel at Cameron Hanover says, “If this continues, it’s very possible that we’ll seen even $5 dollar a gallon gas before the summer is out.”

When will this madness stop? At some point the bubble has to burst here and gas prices will start to drop. Or will they? I always find it amazing that even when the cost for a barrel of oil goes down, gas prices seem to stay the same, or they keep going up. If that’s not price gouging I don’t know what is.

But here’s another amazing piece of information to keep in mind. While I do realize gas station price gouging can be a problem and that’s why New York State enacted the price gouging penalties. But, reality is this, gas stations make very little profit when it comes to selling gas. Who’s making the money? We know who and we’ve pointed at them many times before. It’s the big oil executives. They are the ones who are aggrieving consumers these days. But, time and time again, nothing happens to the monopoly known as big oil. Instead they keep spinning their web of lies and for whatever reason, politicians keep believing that they’re telling the truth.

Here’s an idea, maybe New York State, and any other State with similar laws about gas price gouging, should all file lawsuits against the monopoly known as big oil. Maybe then both the federal government, and big oil, will figure out that consumers are sick and tired of being held hostage by their big money making machine.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

From the stupid law files — Canton, Ohio passed a law this week in which residents who are ticketed a second time for having lawn that is too high can be fined up to $250 dollars and be sentenced to a maximum of 30 days in jail. City officials previously passed a law which made a first high-grass violation a misdemeanor subject to a $150 dollar fine, but no jail time. However, apparently that wasn’t as effective as hoped. Canton Mayor William J. Healy II said of the new law, “This is the type of action we need to take in order to clean up our neighborhoods and our city.”

While I agree that long grass in neighborhood yards can be unsightly and frustrating, sending someone to jail for not cutting their grass is just silly. While we laugh at this silly law, lets bring the whole thing into perspective.

In Wayne County, New York a man accused of drunken driving following a hit and run crash that killed a teen was indicted by a Grand Jury. Now, bear with me here because right now you’re probably saying this is a good thing. But, here’s the twist in the story. The guy fled the scene of the fatal accident and then later turned himself in. That means, he’s already admitted guilt. But after the indictment was handed up, he pled NOT guilty in court. This is where the law is even more silly! He already admitted to hitting and killing the teen on the bike. How can the judicial system allow this guy to enter a NOT guilty plea? It just doesn’t make sense.

But wait…there’s more…

Not only did Anibal Fontanez hit and kill the teen — not only did he flee the scene of the accident — but he was also drunk. His blood alcohol content was twice the legal limit. And if that’s not enough, this is not the first time he’s been arrested for DWI. As a matter of fact, he’s been convicted of DWI on three prior occasions. This raises a number of questions. What in the world was he doing driving? Or better yet, why is out of jail in the first place? As a result of a defective legal system a man with a drinking problem and a total disregard for the law, took the life of a teen who was just one month away from his 18th birthday.

Suddenly the idea of tossing someone in jail for not cutting their grass seems even more silly.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

We’re not sure if this guy was listening to the Mississippi Squirrel Revival by Ray Stevens at the time, but we do know he was having squirrel problems.

Rochester, New York paramedics treated five people for exposure to pepper spray after a man tried to force a squirrel out of his home by spraying it with the substance. Emergency crews were called to the house and washed out the victims’ eyes. Firefighters put fans throughout the house to flush out the pepper-spray-filled air. Rochester Deputy Fire Chief Scott Williams said, “When the fire department went in and opened up all of the windows, the squirrel decided to leave.” Williams went on to say, “I guess he figured his work there was done.”

Ray Stevens, where are you when we really need you.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus

The Senate is asking that very question - Is there an Enron type scandal going on in big oil? - Some of us have been asking that question for ages. Some of us have figured out that’s pretty much what is going on. Big oil is nothing more than a monopoly and it’s pretty obvious they do a lot of price fixing, which goes hand in hand with price gouging.

The sad thing is, if the government holds true to form, the Senate will bow down at the altar the big oil executive excuses. That means nothing will change, nothing will happen and we the consumer will continue to be price gouged at the pump while the oil execs continue to pad their already inflated bank accounts every day. I find it amazing how the oil execs manipulate their excuses every time it’s pointed out that they’re making record profits while the consumer suffers. I don’t know about you, but I’m to the point where I don’t believe a word they say. It’s time to break up the monopoly, and it’s time, if it is like Enron, to send a few of these oil execs to jail.

Just my two cents,
Dr. Rus