Politics: June 2008 Archives

It's all settled then. Americans overwhelmingly support off-shore oil drilling in U.S. coastal waters and more than half like the idea of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. So much for coral reefs and caribou.

The above is courtesy of the latest Zogby Poll, which in a telephone survey of 1,113 likely voters nationwide, found 74 percent support off-shore oil drilling and 59 percent favor drilling in ANWR. The poll also notes that these same folks might support John McCain because he thinks we should do the same to increase our energy independence.

McCain also has come up with another alternative energy plan, one in which he wants to award a $300 million (of your money) prize for the development of a battery to step ahead of what's now commercially available for plug-in hybrids or electric cars. Ah, those would be mainly Japanese vehicles, although Chevrolet is working on its Volt vehicle. He calls it his "heroic efforts in engineering" idea.

Great, now we're beholden to the oil cartel, soon we'll be beholden to the battery cartel. Where's the Energizer Bunny when you need him?

Those Republicans certainly are full of energy ideas this election season. U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, unveiled his "moon shot" program, the Apollo Energy Independence Act which proposes long-term market incentives to spur technological breakthroughs for the development of renewable and alternative energies, vehicles and fuels.

The Hound hears this country has been talking about energy independence since the first Arab oil boycott of 1973. Looks like we haven't come that far since. Especially since we're now paying about $4.15 a gallon for gasoline.

Let's start drilling offshore now and make sure you get a geological survey of your back yards. Heck, let's also look into the parks and forest preserves. Who knows where oil lurks anymore?

Remember that old "Where's Waldo?" cartoon, where you'd have to find a half-hidden Waldo in various locales? The Hound used to love doing that puzzle as a pup. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was kind of like that on Friday.

While the nation's Democratic governors were invited to Chicago by Sen. Barack Obama for snacks, a campaign moment and a discussion on the economy, Rodo was downstate acting, well, like a governor. He made his third visit in a week to flooded areas as rising Mississippi River waters inundated acre upon acre of Illinois land.

Or was the reason he wasn't at the Obamafest because Illinois' economic performance is ranked 48th in the nation? Or that the Democratic presidential hopeful didn't want to be seen with Rodo. Or that he just plain wasn't invited.

After all, some Illinois Democrats want to impeach Rodo and the governor did take about $1.4 million in campaign donations from Obama's housefinder, convicted felon Tony Rezko. Usually, the governor of a state is a presidential candidate's honorary statewide campaign chair. That may not be the case in Illinois this year.

Meanwhile, where was Rodo? On Friday he was in Quincy and Alton. At the same time, he asked President Bush for expedited federal disaster assistance, including some for Lake County.

Obviously, Rodo felt do that was much more important than listening to a bunch of talking policy wonks discussing politics. Wonder if he hopes those downstaters remember his flood visits in two years?

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has taken a few pokes from Republicans who contend his diplomatic naivete was showing when he said he'd sit down with Iran's ruling clerics. If the Illinois senator does, he should bring along a few Barbie dolls.

Authorities in the Islamic nation went on a rampage recently, contending young Iranians must be protected from Western cultural toys such as Barbie and Ken, along with Harry Potter books, compact discs and videogames. Despite their best attempts to ban them, Iran's toy market apparently is being inundated with Barbies. The Hound is unsure if Skipper is a big seller in Tehran.

According to the Agence France Presse report The Hound stumbled upon, the Iranian prosecutor general was quoted as saying the toys "do not respect the required norms" and "present dangers" to the nation's youth.

Two years ago, AFP said, police raided toy shops and put black stickers on Barbie doll packaging to hide their bodies, as required by Iran's strict Islamic laws. Sara and Dara, Iran's answer to Barbie and Ken, are sold in toy stores and show respect for Islamic rules., AFP said.

But, Iranian girls still want Barbie dolls. And which little girls don't? Well, the ones that prefer Bratz. Wonder what Iranians think of those obnoxious little imps?

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There is life in the Illinois Republican Party after all. The Hound thought the folks from the Grand Old Party were on life support, but with all the Democratic feuding and conviction of Tony Rezko, Gov. Rod "The Mod" Blagojevich's chief fund-raiser, and real estate buddy of U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, things maybe looking up for the down and out GOPsters.

Party big-wig Andy McKenna even had the temerity to call on Blagojevich to return all the money raised by Rezko for the governor's re-election campaign, including $1.4 million raised from 2001-2004. Like that's going to happen.

But the point has been made that Blago campaigned for his first term on bringing trust back to Springfield and state government after four years of Republican George Ryan in the Governor's Mansion. So much for that promise. Blago hasn't even lived in the mansion, preferring the city lights of Chicago to Springpatch.

Now comes House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, circulating a memo to legislative candidates spelling out how they can discuss whether Blago should be impeached --- with talking points that compare corruption under the governor to a
tumor that must be removed. Yikes! It's getting nasty in the Democratic trenches.

The Associated Press came upon the 14-page rundown of Blagojevich's alleged "misdeeds and malfeasance" which is sure to deepen the feud between the two Democrats. That, too, would create another opening for Republicans to make political hay.

Just a few months ago the Republican Party looked like a bunch of dysfunctional pols. Bet it's good to see the other side undergoing the same treatment. There may be hope after all.