Ugh Mr President...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27812209/

So this is a fairly new news story so for those who haven't heard, the President wants to rush in new changes to the Endangered Species Act before tomorrow so that President-elect Obama can't reverse them when he takes office on Jan 20.

The President is basically once again trying very hard to pull the teeth out of the Endangered Species Act by changing the rules when it comes to environmental studies for new highways, dams, etc. Right now federal wildlife scientists and others need to examine proposed developments to see how they will influence wildlife. What Bush wants to do is "eliminate the input of federal wildlife scientists in some endangered species cases, allowing the federal agency in charge of building, authorizing or funding a project to determine for itself it is likely to harm endangered wildlife and plants," or in other words it makes it a lot easier to turn a blind eye to endangered species.

This is simply disgusting. That law was passed with the regulations it has FOR A REASON! It has actually worked to help endangered species! Look at the bald eagle and gray wolf for example. Was it not a REPUBLICAN who founded the National Park system which is basically a large scale and very obvious version of protecting all species and areas? I mean T.R. probably knew enough that if you over hunt, eliminate habitat, etc you WILL lose that species.

Bailout Bull

So anyone wondering why Congress wanted oversight for the $700 billion now? The Treasury Department is completely dropping what it said they bailout would be used for, buying up mortgage debt so it would come off banks' books, and is now saying they are going to use it to buy stocks in banks to try and prop them up that way. Ummm hello! Buying up stocks will do jack shit if these companies don't change their practices! So what happens if the stocks drop again after the government has bought them?? Oh nothing more than just tax payer money down the drain!

So now the Big 3 auto makers; Ford, GM, Chrysler, are wanting the government to bail them out. Well its sounding like a lost cause in Congress because some like John Boehner say "Spending billions of additional federal tax dollars with no promises to reform the root causes crippling automakers' competitiveness around the world is neither fair to taxpayers nor sound fiscal policy." Well lets see here now.....did the $700 billion bailout force companies to "promise to reform"in order to get their aid? HELL NO IT DIDN'T!!!!! In fact is anyone going to tell AIG to give ALL of its bailout money back because they are spending some of it to conduct "trainings" at 5 star resorts??? I think not because that might mean less campaign funds next time around...I mean come on, if anything the auto makers should have been one of the first group to benefit because they are tied far more closely to Main Street. If an auto company is forced to close down its plant(s) in a town, it could KILL the town. In some places the relationship between and auto factory and the population of a town is the exact same as a coal mine to a town. If the plant or mine goes, the town dies. If the Big 3 go under then its gonna hurt EVERYTHING tied to them, including any city/town that has a steel plant, tire factory, etc. Sure those products get used elswhere too and the Big 3 have reduced influence on US auto manufacturing BUT they still have a big part in it!

I was not a fan of the $700 Billion bailout and I'm not a fan of bailing out the auto industry either. But the precedent has now been set and if you are gonna bailout banks to help the economy then you have to do it for the Big 3 auto makers too given their overall value and influence to the economy. Even in terms of sybolism you have to do it for them. Ford, GM, and Chrysler are so well known worldwide, part of the image of the US is tied to them, and if they go down how will that affect the world view of the US economy?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27686318

Cal Prop 8

I hate California's proposition 8 that bans gay marriage. This is Keith Olbermann's Special Comment on it and I couldn't have said it any better.

Let history show that

Yesterday, Tuesday November 4th, 2008; the United States of America once again made history and took yet another step forward. Whether or not you agree with his policies or not, no one can argue the amazingly historical moment that has occurred with the election of Senator Barack Obama to be the 44th President of the United States.
Every person comes and goes in life, but history lives on for countless generations and to have been able to witness this historic election is something that I can’t describe in words. I love politics, and I enjoy history, and seeing the two combine in such a profound way is something very special to me. This is especially true because I not only got to SEE it happen, I was able to directly participate by voting and helping it come to pass.
We have now taken a step into a direction for this country and only time will tell where that direction will lead us. It may be toward a great future, and it may not, but in the end this country did what it needed to do and that is change its course.
I hope that we can unite and once again become the leader in the world, and I believe that the election of Barack Obama will be the catalyst and leader that we need to regain that position.
To Senator Obama I say this: we have entrusted you with the highest office in this country. Take this trust and use it to restore all of America to where it once was, both at home and in the world. We have opened the door for you, now it is time for you to lead us safely and securely through it.