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1. Chuck | August 20, 2012 at 6:34 am

   Is this all the Dems have to offer this go-round.

   http://news.yahoo.com/democrats-target-paul-ryan-womens-issues-064450094.html

   Attack the other guy? This time we no longer get “Hope & Change”. This time we have Romney/Ryan putting their plans out there and we have the Dems tearing not only the plan, but the other guys also, down. Is this really all you’ve got? How bad the other guy is?
2. 89Hoo | August 20, 2012 at 8:48 am

   Here are the Germans, reversing some post-WWII restrictions on armed German soldiers on German soil. Nothing to be concerned with…they’re just keeping up with the Americans (thank you, PATRIOT Act and NDAA):

   http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19295351

   Outtake:

   The German military will in future be able to use its weapons on German streets in an extreme situation, the Federal Constitutional Court says.

   The ruling says the armed forces can be deployed only if Germany faces an assault of “catastrophic proportions”, but not to control demonstrations.

   No definition of “extreme situation”, “catastrophic proportions” or on the distinctions between mobs, riots and demonstrations.

   That’s okay…US law is equally vague.
3. John R | August 20, 2012 at 9:33 am

   Wind and solar tax subsidies are a bad deal for the taxpayer, do nothing to supply our energy needs, and hurt the energy market. Wind and solar can’t survive without taxpayer subsidies, Solyndra being the most famous of the solar power failures.

   Per megawatt hour of energy produced, solar receives a staggering $775.64 in taxpayer subsidy and wind receives $56.29. Compare that to natural gas, oil and coal which receives a total of 64 cents and hydropower 82 cents per megawatt hour produced.

   For every tax dollar that goes to coal, oil and natural gas, wind gets $88 and solar $1,212! In 2009 coal, oil, and natural gas generated 78% of the total US energy production. Renewables accounted for only 11% of total energy production.

   Coal, oil, and natural gas companies paid more than $10 billion of taxes in 2009, that was more than they received in subsidies. Wind and solar were a net loss for the US Treasury. This has changed little since ’09.

   All energy subsidies should be eliminated and the government should get out of the business of trying to pick winners and losers with taxpayer money.

   Before some liberal claims subsidies are necessary in order to promote renewable energy in order to “save the planet”, let me remind that US CO2 emissions have decreased 40% over the passed year because of the increased exploration, drilling, and usage of natural gas, all through the efforts of the private sector.

   Unfortunately the EPA wants to reverse this trend. The USA could become the Saudi Arabia of natural gas which would be the biggest boon to the economy in years.

   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903285704576559103573673300.html?KEYWORDS=the+energy+subsidy+tally
4. Kristen | August 20, 2012 at 2:20 pm

   #2, how is this different from the conditions under which we can deploy our national guard? Granted, the Guard units are usually controlled by the state, not the feds, but Germany is a lot smaller and doesn’t have a local paramilitary force like the Guard.
5. 89Hoo | August 20, 2012 at 2:33 pm

   4 – what does the NDAA authorize the Executive Branch to do, Kristen. And Guard can be called by – and controlled by – the national government as well as the states (look at all the Guard units deployed).
6. Kristen | August 20, 2012 at 3:12 pm

   The National Guard can be deployed in case of riots, civil unrest, terrorist attacks, and other “extreme situations of catastrophic proportions”. And yes, the Federal government has reserved the right to deploy the Guard as well. So how is this any different from what German has done? The Guard existed long before the Patriot Act.

   I don’t grasp your meaning as to what the NDAA authorizes the exec branch to do, having waded through some NDAA paperwork it’s mostly budget and funding.
7. 89Hoo | August 20, 2012 at 3:27 pm

   I think I said in my post, Kristen, that the Germans now do as the Americans do. I’m not arguing with you on that.

   The point is the Germans, after WWII put those limits on themselves to guard against a tyrant abusing the authority. They have now removed that safeguard, and authorized the use of national army force against civilians in certain, very poorly defined (i.e., easily abused) circumstances.

   Just as the NDAA (a predictable extension of the rights eroded under the PATRIOT Act) gives the executive branch the authority to target US citizens with federal force. Seriously, you don’t see the parallels.
8. gdad | August 20, 2012 at 5:09 pm

   #3 John R, even though you don’t mention it, I’m SURE you must be aware that federal subsidies for oil exploration often lead to natural gas discoveries. Right?
9. Sandi Saunders | August 20, 2012 at 7:57 pm

   Rest in Peace Phyllis Diller. I loved you all my life!
10. Sandi Saunders | August 20, 2012 at 8:00 pm

    Well Chuck, at least your candidate is not attacking anyone, dodging any questions, withholding any information or refusing to tell us what he will do if elected, we just have to elect him to see. Yep, definitely has the high ground.