ViceZilla’s Views

Senator John McCain accused Democratic presidential hopeful Barrack Obama today of being insensitive to poor people and out of touch with economic issues. McCain thinks that he is Omnipotent of all things economic, he based his criticism on the fact that Obama opposes McCain’s idea of a fuel tax “holiday” for the summer months. Who’s the one out of touch again?

John McCain seems to think that a “holiday” from the Federal fuel tax of 18 cents per gallon is going to make a difference in people’s wallets this summer, so anybody who opposes it is of course out of touch. It seems that Mr. McCain is the one out of touch, because a savings of 18 off per gallon of gasoline at the pumps this summer will amount to a couple of bucks for the average motorist. Wow, a few extra bucks to splurge, thanks John!

McCain equates his fuel tax “holiday” as a break for low-income Americans, because “low-income people usually have older cars that guzzle more gas,” and his proposal would allow these low-income Americans to “travel a little further and a little longer, and maybe have a little bit of money left over to enjoy some other things in their lives.” Way to look at the big picture John!

Seeing as John was born in 1936, maybe he’s forgotten exactly how much 18 cents will buy now as compared to then. When he was 18 years old, in 1954 for example a gallon of gas cost 21 cents a gallon, and you could buy a brand spankin’ new American made gas guzzler for around $1,700.00! Once you factor in for inflation, a dollar in the 50’s is worth only about 12 cents today. So in the 50’s 18 cents would of bought 3 ice cream cones (roughly 5 cents each), as compared to today where 18 cents mike get you a lick of one!

So instead of insulting the “low-income American” by claiming a temporary reprieve of paying the gas tax at the pumps this summer, will make a whole lot of difference to their quality of life, which it won’t, how about some possible solutions to the problem? We already know he will take care of the wealthy by making Bush’s tax cuts permanent, but what about the single mother earning one wage who shudders at the grocery check out till when she has to pay nearly $4.00 for a gallon of milk for her children!

Who’s the one that is really out of touch with the average American, I wonder? If McCain gets his way, I hope he will understand why we subdue our “temporary gratitude” towards his “temporary generosity.”

Tags: 2008 Presidential Candidates by vicezilla
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Military officers supporting Zimbabwe Dictator/President Robert Mugabe have enacted operation “Where Did You Put Your Cross?” in an attempt to put his opposition into exile before a run-off presidential election.

So far, 250 people have been rounded up and put into jail under the operation. Amongst the “detainees” were 24 babies and 40 children under the age of 6 locked up in filthy prison cells! According to the timesonline, thousands of people are trying to flee the violence of the so-called war veterans, who are attacking people and burning down hundreds of houses for voting “incorrectly” in last month’s elections.

Just another example of in some countries the people are given the right to vote in a “democratic” process, as long as you cast your vote for whoever they tell you to. How else do vermin like Mugabe keep control of power? Locking up babies and children to keep control of a country is just plain f**cked up, f**ked up on so many levels!

Does anybody have a bullet?

Tags: Musings by vicezilla
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Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali Hosseini, said on Sunday that an attack on Iran is unlikely because of the “disastrous situation” facing the United States in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the U.S. domestic situation.

“We think it would be unlikely the Americans would take the decision to get themselves into a new fiasco, the consequences of which they themselves have acknowledged would be painful for the region and the world.”

Think again Mr. Hosseini. If he really thinks that the Iraq or Afghanistan quaqmires, OR concerns about trivial things like money will stop Bush from launching an attack on Iran, he is sadly mistaken. Bush has been beating the war drum for a while now trying to muster support for an attack on Iran. Like Iraq, he is doing his best to find excuses for an attack, and those that he can’t find, he is more than capable of making up.

So a warning to Iran, never ever underestimate the thinking of a man who is really past the point of giving a shit anymore!

Tags: Bush Administration, War in Iraq, War on Terror by vicezilla
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Nobel Laureate economist, and former World Bank chief economist Joseph Stiglitz answers the question of who’s to blame for the U.S. economic mess we’re in. Like we didn’t already that answer!

The government of George W. Bush, and Alan Greenspan are the culprits, according to Stiglitz:

“His first one was to support all the tax cuts which were introduced under Bush — they didn’t stimulate the economy very much …

What? Too many tax cuts aren’t a good thing? Geez, I wonder why? He also went on to say that the burden caused by the war in Iraq was a major factor as well.

Well, what the hell are we to expect from a president who before he got into politics managed to bankrupt every company he had control of? Bush is no more a business man than he is a master of the English language! It is comforting to know though, that the person who wants to replace him as president also claims that “economics is not his strong suit either.”

That sure is reassuring isn’t it?

Technorati Tags: Bush, US Economy, Alan Greenspan, Joseph Stiglitz, Tax Cuts

Tags: Bush Administration by vicezilla
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After the last debate in which ABC News, George Stephanopoulos, and Charles Gibson proved once and for all that there was no more need to have any more debates between Clinton and Obama, as it was just a colossal rehashing of the dirt we already knew about them. What I want to see most is this race come to an end, one way or another. The last thing I wanted to see was another debate between these two. That is until now.

Clinton has been chomping at the bit for another debate ever since the ABC News debacle in Pennsylvania, which Obama has been less than receptive too because he claims the debates “focus too much on political trivia and too little on real issues.” A statement we probably all agree on, too much fluff and not enough substance. Clinton has proposed a debate with no moderator involved, a la “Lincoln-Douglas” style.

“Just the two of us, going for 90 minutes, asking and answering questions, we’ll set whatever rules seem fair.”

The more open style of debating where each side presents an argument gets its name from the famed debates that took place during the 1858 U.S. Senate race in Illinois between Republican Abraham Lincoln and Democrat Stephen Douglas.

No moderator, their own questions, and a pre-agreed upon set of rules. Barrack of course has no choice but to pick up the gauntlet thrown down by Hillary and accept the challenge. Hillary is a strong debater that’s a fact, but she’s also got quite a few weak spots in her armor as well. Barrack is no slouch either when it comes to arguing his point. This debate, depending on the “pre-agreed” upon rules is just what the doctor ordered to put an end to the Senator’s bickering and finger pointing.

Of course the rules will need to be clear and concise, no gray areas. The questions need to be focused on the issues, and only the issues. No Rev. Wright questions, no “with my extensive experience” segues. Only questions pertaining to present issues relevant to us, the people need to be asked, all others should be forbidden.

Restoring the Bill of Rights, and other Constitutional issues, the war in Iraq, the economy, unemployment, healthcare, education, foreign policy, international trade, oil dependency issues, the rising costs of living, etc etc. Anything and everything having to do with fixing what needs to be fixed in this country is fair game to be asked. And the answers should be limited to how he or she feels they could be fixed.

This debate needs to be focused on what the candidates are going to do to get this country back on her feet, not the reasons it got to where its at now. Both candidates claim they will bring change to Washington, and get the country back on the right path. Well, here’s their opportunity to prove it. If they can show that they are capable of being professional, civil and above all respectful of each other and stick to the issues at hand, there might be hope after all for the Democratic party to enter the general election pretty much in tact.

Technorati Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barrack Obama, Debate, Lincoln-Douglas style

Tags: 2008 Presidential Candidates by vicezilla
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