Gas

There's been a lot of gas talk lately coming from the presidential candidates-in-waiting. It's certainly no secret that gas prices are becoming unbearable, gone are the days where the price for gas was between $1.20 and $1.40 - and that was in 1998. So with oil companies, gas prices, and the safety of the environment hot issues around the water coolers, it's time we found out what the candidates plan on doing about it.

Sen. John McCain set his plan before the country, a plan he calls the Lexington Project. According to his campaign website he will make the choices in "...producing more power , pushing technology to help free our transportation sector from its use of foreign oil, cleaning up our air and addressing climate change, and ensuring that Americans have dependable energy sources." So how will McCain produce more oil? As Tim the "Tool Man" Taylor would say, "more power." He plans on lifting the ban on offshore drilling, therefore making us less dependant on foreign suppliers, in addition to furthering our advances in technology that will help us become less dependable on oil itself. Now one would assume that the more we supply for ourselves, the lower gas prices would be - but to be on the safe side, never assume.

But the problem people have with McCain's offshore drilling plan, including Gov. Schwarzenegger (a McCain backer), is its potential harm on the environment. If people were really serious about not wanting to harm the environment, then we'd all be living like the Amish. McCain will also grant a $300 million prize to the "development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars."

While McCain hopes to offer Americans some psychological relief, Obama laughs saying that's just Washington talk for saying their doing something when their really not. Well in all honesty Sen. Obama, don't all politicians do that? I mean they say they will change the country for the better is that supposed to make us feel better and look to you as candidate to vote for? Just a though. Anyway, I already stated on another post Obama's energy plan but there's no problem with posting it again.

• Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
• Invest in a Clean Energy Future
• Support Next Generation Biofuels
• Set America on Path to Oil Independence
• Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030
• Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change

Sen. Obama has recently stated that he would push for a second stimulus package that would help Americans be able to pay the high gas prices. But for Americans to get such a rebate the oil companies would have to be taxed, and if their having to pay taxes then they'll need to get that money back. How do they do that? By raising gas prices, which result in a never-ending cycle.

Short Term Recap:

McCain-

• Gas Tax Holiday
• Lift on drilling ban
• $300 Million Prize

Obama-

• $50 Billion Stimulus Package
• Windfall Profits Tax
• Crackdown on Oil Speculators

One of the things that both candidates have in common is that some of their goals would not see results until long after they have left office. The only way for their plans to be carried through with is if the following president goes along with it. There's a risk in everything and with politics that's no surprise. Just thinking about it can make a person's stomach upset, and I think they call it gas.

Obama Has Gore

In an effort to help Democrats fully claim Washington in November, former Vice-President Al Gore announced his endorsement of Barack Obama. You probably recall that Gore went up against current President George Bush back in 2000. In addition to his role in politics, Gore is widely known for his Academy Award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth. His work in the theory of global warming led him to earning the Nobel prize.

Sen. Obama had this to say about Gore, "He's somebody who is a visionary, not just for the party, but for the country." It's possible that Obama has Gore in the back of his mind when it comes to his own plan on energy and the environment. And just so you have an idea, Obama's plan includes the following:

• Reduce Carbon Emissions 80 Percent by 2050
• Invest in a Clean Energy Future - $150 billion over 10 yrs.
• Support Next Generation Biofuels
• Set America on Path to Oil Independence
• Improve Energy Efficiency 50 Percent by 2030
• Restore U.S. Leadership on Climate Change

Al Gore has stated that he intends to do whatever he can to make sure Obama is elected the president. This includes asking members of his website to contribute to Obama's campaign, and helping to push for a recount whenever needed- hah.

During Gore's official endorsement for Obama, he made it very clear how elections matter. It's also very possible he may have been blaming the current administration for the Tomato problem. Whatever the case may be Sen. Obama has Gore.

Remembering Tim Russert

Today was supposed to be just another summer day for me, but it wasn't until I heard about the passing of Tim Russert when this ordinary day changed. Tim Russert, who died at the age of 58, was the Washington Bureau Chief for NBC News, and moderator of Meet the Press. Russert was an American journalist who devoted his life to telling the people of America what was going on in the world of politics, and yet he did so much more. It was that same strong passion he put above his own needs right up until his final moment.

During the school year my sister and I turn the television on and watch the Today show. And every now and then there would be Tim Russert commenting on the daily political coverage. I remember watching him with Brian Williams on the MSNBC debates. Tim Russert asked those questions that for me at least were the ones that mattered the most. It was during a Democratic debate when Russert asked Senators' Clinton and Obama if they held the right to go back into Iraq as president. Hillary Clinton told him that he asked a lot of hypothetical questions (which wasn't true) and she went into her plan of bringing troops home (trying to avoid the question). It was only because of the persistence of Russert that she finally gave the answer he was asking for.

I saw Mr. Russert more on Today then on Meet the Press, but I made sure to download the podcast, just wished I had watched it more. He wasn't running for office but he made sure you knew who was. If you are to leave this blog with anything, remember how much he loved this country. We may not be perfect but we can certainly try to make things for the better. An inspiration to me, and an inspiration to his country. Today we are remembering Tim Russert (May 7, 1950 - June 13, 2008).

Ron Paul?

You may have thought that Gov. Mike Huckabee was that last candidate to go up against John McCain, he wasn’t. Tonight Rep. Ron Paul made his official withdrawal, and you thought Hillary Clinton was dragging it out. Ron Paul certainly never had a chance of the presidency, no offense to the man; he just didn’t have enough backing. Though he didn’t fulfill his dream, you can’t deny the strong dedication of Ron Paul.

Taking Off

While we all know that Hillary Clinton's run for president is now a definite thing of the past, she will not be officially making her exit until tomorrow. I love how these politicians have to wait a few to make a formal announcement when their advisors already tell us everything we want to know days before.

Hillary's official withdrawal comes just a little under two days since she met privately with Sen. Barack Obama, the now presumptive nominee for president the Democratic party. And both Senators' Clinton and Obama went to great lengths to meet in private. They met at the home of California Sen. Dianne Feinstein Thursday night to discuss what happens next. And while they chatted, the press was being flown around after getting on a plane they were told had Sen. Obama.

Along with her withdrawal, Sen. Clinton will be formally endorsing Barack Obama. Well of course, I mean how would it look if she didn't? Her backing Obama means her supporters will hopefully back him - and for his sake, strong emphasis on hopefully.

Now there have been questions as to whether or not Hillary would be considered for vice-president to Obama. Clinton knows the decision lies with Obama, but she has also stated that she does not intend to seek the vice-presidency, she is however seeking a new pant-suit.

So with Hillary bowing out tomorrow, and Barack Obama working to unite the Democratic party, we can now say that things are finally taking off.

The End of One Historic Journey and the Beginning of Another

So apparently Sen. Barack Obama was able to gain enough delegates to be the presumptive nominee for the Democratic nominee for president. Speaking in Minnesota, Sen. Obama stated to the mass of supporters, “Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America.”

The final Democratic presidential primaries held tonight in South Dakota and Montana when one to one for the two candidates. Sen. Obama winning Montana, and South Dakota going to Sen. Clinton. But while it would seem that Barack Obama will be the Democratic nominee to go against Sen. McCain, Sen. Clinton has yet to concede. Shocker. So for now Hillary Clinton will be meeting with her party leaders to discuss her next move. The news has also been going around that she would be willing to be Obama's running mate (VP), but would he want her?

So until the end of the summer when both Republicans and Democrats embrace their candidates for president, it would seem that we are finally entering the next chapter in this election. Or as Sen. Obama stated this evening, "We mark the end of one historic journey and the beginning of another."

An August Finale for the Democrats?

Well big news this past weekend, Sen. Hillary Clinton won Puerto Rico's Democratic presidential primary. While this is certainly a huge plus for Clinton, at this state in the race, and unfortunately for her, winning Puerto Rice is liking getting honorable mention. No offense to the senator, but while Clinton had quite the lead ahead of Sen. Obama, he still leads in delegates needed to win the party's nomination. Obama has 2,076 delegates, Clinton has 1,918, and to claim victory they need to have 2,118.

But don't worry sports fans, the two senators will go head to head on Tuesday, and they will do it in the states. Nothing personal to Puerto Rico, but until I see a star representing you on the flag, there's no reason you should be voting in an American election, commonwealth or not. And what's the point? Puerto Rico can't even vote in the general election. But hey, Puerto Rico was able to bring a smile to Hillary's face, even is she's not seeing the outcome we've all been seeing for the past couple of months.

The final primaries in Montana and South Dakota mark the final innings in the Democratic primaries. And while Obama does have a substantial leap ahead of Clinton, South Dakota and Montana only offer the Illinois senator 31 delegates, not enough to officially call victory. So while it seems that Obama will likely being taking the gold, it all lies with the delegates, especially with those super-delegates. With the Democratic convention in August, Democrats can only hope that with whoever wins the nomination, they are still able to beat out Sen. John McCain. So unless Hillary Clinton sees the light and gets behind Sen. Obama, we're looking at an August Finale for the Democrats.