Income rates grow more under Democratic presidencies than Republican ones.

Income disparity: Growth rates 1948-2005 The trick is how they get poor and middle income people to vote Republican. Will they do it again with all of these dirt poor tea baggers? We'll see.

Dispatches From the Culture Wars

"From 1962-2001, the average growth in total federal spending under Republican presidents has been 7.57%; under Democrats, 6.96%. Bush certainly did not help those averages any after 2001. During that same period, the average yearly deficit under Democrats was $36 billion; the average under Republicans was $190 billion. So under Republicans, spending grows more but revenues grow less because they always insist on tax cuts."

Qivitters Are losers

While Alaska melts and the oil dries up, the governor qivits. Hensley was profiled in John McPhee's, Coming Into the Country.

Mrs. Whippee, Fire up the Way Back Machine

Gov. Palin is pro-life but anti-nature, which as a biologist I find puzzling, but in the course of human events one credo rules: follow the money. Left to their own devices people in power will take the money, and the future be damned. Palin even prays for it at revivals. Once higher powers tell leaders what to wish for, there’s trouble afoot. In this case a national problem. As Sherman in the cartoon once said, Mrs. Whippee, fire up the way back machine.

Hail to the Vice-Chief

Palin Biography Well it's not a vanity press, but close. An MFA credentialed writer penned the Palin book about her former mayor and neighbor in Wasilla, Alaska. A place almost nonexistent in 1975 when I first went to Alaska. Regardless of experience, once someone is a governor of any state in the union all bets are off as to the next leap. Sometimes getting there is the ball game. Palin's views are decidedly flat-earth. She typifies the wrong-headed selfishness of the GOP. Me, me, me, take, take, take; the selfishness of large out of control families akin to those found in third world countries. Of course that's what Alaska is, and most residents live like it too. A handful don't and they are hooked to Ted Steven's beleagered wagon. This governor is just the latest. Follow the money.

Unlike Democrats, who get saddled with charges that aren't even true, crimes that are don't stick to the GOP. At least not since Watergate.

If I were Obama/Biden, I'd worry. I'd worry a lot. Clinton should have been the nominee, and at least the VP.

Earth Day!

Go Hillary! There's work to do since those nearby planets are either too hot or too cold with no atmosphere at all. Only this one is just right.

Presidential Science

So the candidates have turned down an invitation to debate science on Charlie Rose. This is the reason Americans are so dismal and unprepared in science in general, even as we have some of the best in the business on our team. Alas, not enough.

The Society of Environmental Journalists held a conference today and each candidate had an advisor show up in their stead. I think it's time the candidates did. The voters need to hear the facts of science as understood by the three citizens who will inplement, or in the case of the current occupant in chief, hinder American progress.

Science Debate 2008

My candidate, Hillary Clinton, is the only candidate on record who has given a major science speech. It's no accident. She, John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich were the only ones at the Grist Global warming forum here in LA last fall. Only one candidate has a viable plan to combat climate change and the stifling of scientists like the country's foremost climatologist, NASA's James E. Hansen. The future is now.

Dems Debate

Well, I thought Hillary kicked butt tonight! Obama strikes me as a very untested newbie. He's the easiest target for wingers to exploit as a peacenik, without a defensive leg to stand on. I maintain were it not for his ethnicity, he couldn't get the time of day. He's recent smoker, so I don't buy his health practices knowledge either. Congratulating himself for giving nice speeches is the sound of one hand patting his own back. Very tacky. The reporters and pundits are just blinkered by his mediocrity.

No Hard Questions Please

GOP sniing and softballing was upset by planted opponents? Gee lets keep the audience friendly, lest something hard be asked for these rich boys. CNN did a bad enough job choosing questions dominated by idiots and the only two that were tough, based on staunch positions on of course sex, a long time Republican hang up, are in question? Did they think all the voter questions would come from registered Republican voters? Give me a break.

Grist Sponsors Presidential Forum

Grist Sponsors Presidential Forum. I was there sitting with CNN as it were. Good presentation and I give the highest marks to Hillary. Edwards and Kucinich reached too far in fighting world poverty, which makes real problem solving on global warming by rich countries and China look like it's in the realm of the Miss America pagent. Don't bite off too much. Just get something viable. And soon.

Although only three candidates showed up, others who propose things like carbon taxes for everyone on a gallon of gas are losing proposals in my view. We have enough poor people taxes as it is. What we need are corporate penalties for not producing the same dirty coal and gas and credits for converting to green energy. Carbon credits. Only then we get them from free market capitalism. The beauty of this system is it can be directed to produce any damn thing we need. It just needs a little nudge. A truly green eccomony will be the result and profits will soar from helping insdtead of hurting our home. We can do this.