Monthly Archives: February 2012

Moderates from Both Parties Fleeing the Senate

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Terry| 2 Comments
Sen. Olympia Snowe

Another one bites the dust, as "Moderate Senators" become an endangered species in Washington.

While the eyes of the political world were on Michigan today and the Republican primary, a more significant political event in my eyes occurred when Sen. Olympia Snowe from Maine announced she was retiring from the Senate.   As a Democrat, I suppose I should be giddy about it, right?  After all, Snowe is a Republican, and Democrats have a very good chance of taking that seat, with Snowe’s retirement.  Her shocking and unexpected move today significantly reduces the chances of Republicans taking control of the Senate come November.

However, I don’t take Snowe’s retirement as good news.  Snowe joins a host of other long-time, more moderate Senators who are retiring, including Joe Lieberman, Kent Conrad, and Ben Nelson.  Other long-time Senators who USED to have a bipartisan streak, such as John McCain, have increasingly moved away from the center, echoing a trend in Washington that just keeps gathering steam.   The House is already a steaming pile of partisanshi$, where neither party seems capable of having a simple civil conversation, much less cooperating with each other to do the Nation’s business.  The Senate USED to be the more “civil” bunch, where Senators reached across the aisle to pass crucial legislation. 

So much for that.  With Snowe’s retirement, with the retirement of moderate Senators from BOTH parties, and with the steady radicalization of the rest of the Senate, the Senate simply becomes a smaller and equally nasty version of the House.  It’s a horrible trend, given the archaic rules of the Senate, where the filibuster already has made passing legislation a complete impossibility at times.   Now, with moderate Senators fleeing in droves?   It matters little who takes the Senate in the fall.    Neither party will be able to pass any meaningful legislation. 

Remember late last summer and early fall, when Obama and Boehner had supposedly reached a “Grand Bargain” of a debt-reduction package?  Of course the radicals at both ends of the political spectrum made sure that backroom agreement went nowhere.  With the continued radicalization of Congress, with moderates dropping like flies, and with the complete and utter hatred the two parties seem to have for each other, it’s damned hard to see meaningful deficit reduction legislation (or ANY truly meaningful legislation) being passed in the next Congress.

Posted in Politics

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GOP Misguided Attempt to Politicize Gas Prices

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Terry| Leave a comment
U.S. Domestic Oil Production

Not that Republicans would ever let little things like "facts" get in the way, but...since early 2009, U.S. oil production has been increasing, the first time annual increases have been noted in over 25 years. In reality, there's little the U.S. government can do to control gas prices, but the GOP might want to think twice about using the term "Drill Baby Drill", when looking at the basic facts about domestic oil production.

Gas prices are on the rise.  Of course that means the GOP sees blood in the water.  Every other line of attack against Obama has been falling apart for the GOP, so why not, right?  Republicans already have a rich history of trying to resonate with voter’s wallets and pocketbooks, by politicizing something that nearly all Americans deal with every day. 

Given Republicans COMPLETE lack of concern for the environment (or our children’s futures…don’t get me started), the mantra of “Drill Baby Drill” comes out from the right EVERY time gas prices creep up a little bit.  EVERY time gas prices creep up, the GOP blames Democrats for overregulation of oil and gas drilling.  The GOP presidential candidates today are spouting the same nonsense that was spouted 4 years ago by McCain and Palin in during the 2008 campaign.   The facts of oil and gas exploration and drilling under Obama don’t support the same old GOP rhetoric, however.

U.S. domestic oil production declined steadily for over 25 years…until early 2009, when U.S. production began to increase.  Hmmm…what happened in early 2009?  Oh yes, that’s right, that’s when Obama took office.  NO, I’m definitely NOT saying there’s a direct correlation.  However, it IS quite laughable to hear Republicans talk about Obama as being some evil mastermind behind rising gas prices, when it is under his administration that domestic oil production has risen for the first time in a generation.

The rise has more to do with technological improvements in oil access, and discoveries of new fields such as in North Dakota, than it does with politics.  In fact, there’s VERY little a sitting U.S. President can do to control oil prices.  U.S. domestic production is a drop in the bucket on the global market.  We could open up the Arctic Slope National Wildlife Refuge for drilling, we could dramatically decrease regulation of drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, we could wring EVERY LAST DROP of oil from American lands…and the impact on global markets still wouldn’t significantly alter the prices you pay at the pump.

Global demand for oil is rising, particularly in the booming Asian economies of China and India.  The people and countries of the Middle East seem hell-bent on self-destruction.  These are issues a sitting U.S. President has little control over, and are the MAIN reasons why oil prices have risen so sharply.  

“Drill Baby Drill” may sound like a “winner” to GOP candidates.  Given the utter ignorance of most Americans, “Drill Baby Drill” also WILL resonate on the campaign trail.   But we’re already increasing domestic oil production during the Obama Administration, and prices have continued to rise. 

Just remember, GOP, your turn is coming.  The next time a Republican is in the White House, gas prices will continue to rise.  What will be your excuse then?  Also realize, ignorant American voter, the ONLY thing “Drill Baby Drill” is going to get you are locally devastated environments where your children and MANY subsequent generations won’t even be able to drink the water or breathe the air without serious health consequences. 

Try looking at the actual facts behind U.S. domestic oil production, global oil prices, and the price you pay at the pump, before blaming one party or one president.

Posted in Politics

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Drawing – Crested Caracara

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Terry| 2 Comments

Crested Caracara - by Terry SohlIt’s been a nice relaxing weekend, and I had a chance to draw a bit again today.  This is a Crested Caracara.  They’re a very unusual raptor that’s found in Texas and Florida in the United States, as well as in the American tropics. 

As usual, another one I don’t have a photo of.  Also nice to have one that I’m actually happy with, after not being that thrilled with the last several drawings I’ve done.

Posted in Bird Art, Birds

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New Political Battle Front: Children’s Entertainment

Posted on February 26, 2012 by Terry| 1 Comment
Callista Gingrich

Republicans "fighting fire with fire". Since Hollywood is CLEARLY attempting to indoctrinate our children in the evil Liberal agenda, champions of conservatism such as the Gingrich's are using the more DIRECT approach to indoctrinate children in conservative principles. Here, I believe Callista Gingrich is teaching the children that Obama is an evil Kenyan Socialist Muslim.

Lou Dobbs is such a tool.  What was it?  Was CNN not paying him enough?  He USED to be at least rational, bordering at respectable!   But what’s happened over the last several years?  I’m mean sure, taking a job at Fox “News” is bound to warp ANYONE’s soul, but who knew that it could happen so quickly?  Now every time Dobbs opens his mouth, you’re waiting for something stupid to come out.  In other words, he’s become like FAR too many Republican politicians or talking heads. 

Dobbs’ latest crusade?  An issue that threatens to destroy the moral fabric of America itself…Dr. Seuss, and the upcoming “The Lorax” movie.  Dobbs claims that the Lorax is a result of “the president’s liberal friends in Hollywood”, and is attempting to “indoctrinate” children in a “liberal agenda”.   In The Lorax, a strange woodland creature fights against removal of all the trees.  According to Dobbs and Fox News, The Lorax is some offshoot of Occupy Wall Street.  According to them, Dr. Seuss and children’s entertainment in general are trying to push a “liberal” agenda. 

Give…me…a…freakin’…break.   First of all, why is it a negative to say that we shouldn’t cut down every single tree (as is done in the Lorax)?  Is EVERY other movie that features ANY kind of wildlife or conservation theme really part of one big liberal agenda?

I can see the Republicans coming out with their “alternative” versions of movies.  In the Republican version of “The Lorax”, God will float down from the heavens and inform the people of the town that Earth is there for people to rape and pillage, leading the villagers to throw the Lorax in prison and convert the entire town to one big oil-fracking field.   In the Republican version of “A Dolphin’s Tale”, instead of saving the dolphin and giving it an artificial tail, Winter the dolphin will be slaughtered and sold to a Japanese sushi conglomerate.   In the Republican version of “Big Miracle”, the whales will be allowed to die while BP peppers the region with offshore oil platforms. 

I guess it shouldn’t be a surprise, since the new crop of Republicans don’t even seem to CARE about our children’s future.  They don’t seem to CARE whether our children have clean water or air, or an adequate environment to support humanity.  And (GASP!!!) if you teach our children about basic conservation issues, they might grow up to (GASP!!) APPRECIATE the natural world and live in harmony with it, rather than treating it all as one big opportunity for short-term economic gain. 

Thank GOODNESS we have champions of Republican conservatism to counter this evil liberal Hollywood plot to indoctrinate our children in basic environmental responsibility!!!   Not only do we have beacons of conservatism like Dobbs to protect us through open criticism of children’s literature, we now also have Republicans fighting fire with fire!  Callista Gingrich has a children’s book out called “Sweet Land of Liberty“, about a history loving elephant (no attempt to “indoctrinate” children with the use of the elephant as the main symbol of the story).  

I’m SURE we’ll see Dobbs appearing on Fox News soon, railing against Callista Gingrich’s book, right?  I’m sure we’ll see Dobbs having an on-air rant against the Creationism museum and its attempts to teach children the “truth” about evolution, right?

Posted in Education, Environmental Awareness, Politics

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Drawing – Kirtland’s Warbler

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Terry| 1 Comment

Kirtland's Warbler - by Terry SohlI told myself I’d try to draw something at least once a week.  Three hours left in this week, so I guess I barely fit this one in.  This is a Kirtland’s Warbler.  Very interesting species.  It’s another one I don’t have a photo of, and is one that is endangered.  They only breed in a very small part of upper Michigan and now a tiny bit of Wisconsin. There are only about 3,000 alive.  Tough species to try to protect, because they have such picky habitat preferences.  They typically only breed in large swaths of very young jack pine trees.  Historically, they preferred burned forest areas, breeding in the small jack pines that grew up when the mature forest burned.  With active fire suppression across their normal range, there simply isn’t enough natural, young pine stands for the species.  Now, the species is managed through active forest management, cutting forests and ensuring enough young jack pine is available for the species to breed.

Think this is about my 12th drawing since I started around Christmas.  I’m getting less and less happy with each drawing I do.  I think it’s supposed to go the opposite way, isn’t it?   Either I’m getting worse, or I’m getting pickier.

Posted in Bird Art, Birds

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America: Home of “Political Bigotry”

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Terry| 4 Comments
Limbaugh

Rush Limbaugh, father of American "Political Bigotry".

Few things bother me more than bigotry.  When people think of bigotry, what  typically comes to mind is racism or homophobia, or, as I’ve noted in recent posts, bigotry based on religious belief.   I think we have a relatively “new” form of bigotry that is perhaps as equally destructive…”political bigotry”.

Politics has always had a nasty side.  But in my lifetime (I’m 45), is there any question that basic civility in politics has been in decline?   The current GOP has adopted intolerance of Democrats to the point that it’s seemingly their only party platform, as the party of “no” seemingly is incapable of coming up with a coherent strategy for governing other than opposing ANYTHING proposed or done by Democrats.  Partisanship obviously isn’t unique to the GOP, as Democrats are sometimes just as guilty (although they haven’t honed inter-party hatred to the fine edge that the GOP has).   But…

During my lifetime, and from my personal perception, it seems that start of the decline in civility was during the Clinton years.  In Congress you had Newt Gingrich and fellow Republicans hell-bent on trying to personally destroy the Clinton administration.  On the airwaves, Rush Limbaugh started the now well-established tradition for talking heads to whip up hatred towards Democrats and liberals.  Over time, the pure HATRED towards other political groups has led to two parties that refuse to cooperate on even the most basic and uncontroversial pieces of legislation.  Gridlock is now the standard in American politics, where every piece of legislation is considered more for the political implications and the next election, rather than on its merits for improving the lives of Americans. 

What bothers me the most, however, is how inter-party battles have spilled over into the American mainstream.   The ridiculous battles, the COMPLETE lack of civility now seen in American politics has spilled over into the lives of everyday Americans, and how we treat each other.   Inter-party battles between the GOP and Democrats, the pure HATRED being spouted on the airwaves on completely one-sided political shows, have infiltrated the lives of Americans to such a degree that the American people themselves are seemingly at war with each other.

America has become a place where “political bigotry” has defined us just as much as has discrimination based on race, religion, or sexual preference. 

Given an individual person’s religion, place of work, and background, the people we associate with often DO have similar political beliefs.  Just because of where you end up in life, chances are that for many of us, our friends and colleagues, overall, are more likely to have political beliefs similar to your own.  That’s the case for me.  Despite being in a very “red” state, most of my friends and colleagues are relatively liberal, just because of my background and where I work.   However, I also have friends and colleagues who have very different political beliefs, and we’ve managed to remain friends and colleagues without killing each other.

It seems, however, that for an increasing number of Americans, that simply isn’t an option.  Given all the pure hatred that has infiltrated American politics (and again, Repubs, sorry, you get most of the blame here), for substantial numbers of Americans, simple CIVILITY towards someone from the “other” party isn’t an option. 

Look at how Republicans use the term “liberal” as if it’s an insult, hurled with as much venom at another human being as someone might use a traditional curse word.  If someone sits around and listens to a Rush Limbaugh for day after day, week after week, year after year, is it any wonder how indoctrinated many in the general public have become in treating the “other” party as the enemy?   It’s to the point where a person’s political beliefs are EVERY BIT as much of a grounds for bigotry, for hateful or discriminatory treatment, as other characteristics that make people different. 

The same lack of civility, the same lack of cooperation that’s seen in Congress or during any American election is now a part of many Americans’ daily lives.  We’ve become a country where one group no longer considers the other real “Americans”, simply due to political persuasion.   It’s an ugly trend.  Despite what some would have you believe (Rush Limbaugh, Anne Coulter, or ANYONE on Fox “News” come to mind), you CAN disagree with someone and still treat them with civility.

Posted in Deep Thoughts, Politics

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Shut the Hell up, Newt

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Terry| 2 Comments
Newt Gingrich

George Bush was horrible, but I think he probably was just following his (screwed-up) heart. I actually don't think Romney is all that bad personally, but this race has warped him. Ron Paul? He's a wacko, but he's an honest, straight-shootin' wacko who says what he believes. But Newt Gingrich? He's the ONE GOP "leader" who I truly believe is just one PIG of a human being, be it in his personal life, or political life.

We’ve been in Afghanistan for 10, very long years.  It’s becoming more and more obvious that we’re no longer WANTED in Afghanistan, as attacks on Americans and other NATO troops by Afghani troops have been on the increase.   After 10 years of American troops on the ground, we are viewed more as occupiers, than as liberators from the Taliban.   Then comes the recent incident where Korans were (unintentionally) destroyed at a U.S. military base, and all hell breaks loose.

At this stage, it’s difficult to see what the end game might be in Afghanistan, or what we might have gained for the 10+ years of effort.  But whatever benefits we may have gotten from the Afghanistan war may go out the window in less than a week, given the pure outrage from Afghanis over the Koran incident.   President Obama RIGHTFULLY issued a formal apology to Hamid Karzai and the Afghani people.  It was the right move both from a practical standpoint (trying to calm the furor over the incident), and from a standpoint of showing respect to the Afghani people and their primary religion.  Not only the right thing to do, but a no-brainer.

But then along comes Newt Gingrich, NEVER one to pass up an opportunity to make a complete ass of himself.  He’s expressing “outrage” over Obama’s apology, saying that these are people “who do not deserve an apology from the President of the United States, period!!!”

Just the kind of pathetic pandering CRAP that appeals to the red-neck component of the Republican conservative base.  And just the kind of completely irresponsible statement that gives you a shiver up your spine, thinking a complete buffoon like Newt Gingrich actually has some SUPPORT in this country.  Can you imagine a foreign policy under Gingrich?  It would make George Bush’s utter disregard for international opinion look tame in comparison.   Gingrich and his immense ego seems to often extend into a VERY distorted “America First” view of the world, where the rest of the world is simply present to do our bidding.

Can you imagine the outrage from Newt, or American “Christians”, if the situation were reversed?  What if we had found that Afghanis were burning Bibles?   Don’t you think there’d be just a WEE bit of outrage?  Don’t you think some kind of apology would be warranted?  

You’re an egotistical, disgusting pig of a man, Newt….on SO many fronts.  Thanks for not letting me down on this issue Newt.   I saw this morning that Obama had issued a formal apology, and I immediately thought to myself “Which GOP candidate will be the first to bash Obama for apologizing to (GASP!) Muslims?”. 

Thanks Newt, for not letting me down!  I should have KNOWN you would have been the first GOP blowhard to make an issue of the Obama apology.

Posted in Politics

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Scum of the Week: Rep. Allen West

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Terry| 2 Comments
Scum of the Week

Congratulations, Rep. Allen West! Here's to you, and the rest of Americans with some sense of entitlement to drive monstrous over-sized vehicles, yet still complain about gas prices.

Never underestimate the stupidity of a politician.  Does Rep. Allen West REALLY think the way to get at Obama is to bring up the cost of filling the gas tank on his Hummer?   Poor West.  He says it cost him $70 to fill the tank, and he blames Obama for it.

I’m using West as the “Scum of the Week”, but it might as well be the other millions of Americans who complain about gas prices.  First of all…there’s VERY little that the U.S. government can do to control gasoline prices.   Prices are going up right now due to drastically increased demand in China and elsewhere, and tensions in the Middle East…not exactly issues that the U.S. government can immediately address.  The mantra of “drill baby drill” isn’t going to substantially reduce global oil costs, or gasoline prices.

But the real “scummy” part of this story are Americans and our sense of entitlement, with regard to cheap energy, and massive vehicles.   The most straightforward way to reduce energy costs and dependence on fossil fuels from overseas?  Efficiency and energy savings, NOT destroying the environment to wring every last drop of oil from every last square foot of American soil.  Mr. West’s Hummer gets about 15 mph. How dare he complain about the price of gasoline, when he (like MANY Americans) drives a monstrous vehicle that eats gas like a kid with candy on Halloween. 

It’s a shocking difference, driving in the U.S. versus driving in Europe.   The size of cars is so much smaller in Europe.   But evidently for West and millions of other Americans, it’s a god-given, American right to drive a monstrous vehicle, AND sound like a jackass when you complain about gas prices.

Posted in Politics, Scum Of The Week

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E.J. Dionne Column on Obama

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Terry| Leave a comment

If you get a chance, check out this terrific column from E.J. Dionne regarding Obama, and the fantasies those on the right have created to denigrate him.

Posted in Politics

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Santorum, Science, and Satan

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Terry| 1 Comment
Satan, Academia, and Global Warming

According to Rick Santorum, Satan "took over" academia "long ago". He also says he's the one who is "pro-science". You know, like the science of the Devil actually being the cause of global warming.

Yes, I know this is about the 29th straight post commenting on Rick Santorum.  But c’mon…the man is a walking disaster, and it’s SO easy to poke fun at him.  It’s also damned scary that this man is getting anything close to a sniff of the presidency of the United States.  You KNOW you’re a wacko if Rush Limbaugh is worried about your wackiness, and is warning you to tone it down.

Limbaugh came out with concern about Santorum’s ability to address some of the wackier comments he’s made in his recent past.  In those comments from 2008, Santorum commented on “Satan’s” war on America.  In a speech that sets a standard of wackiness that is amazing even for Santorum, he states that “Satan” has been the “most and first successful” in taking over academia, going on to say that academia fell to Satan “long ago.”

Interesting comment from someone who might be the flag-bearer for the GOP, when just this week, he came out and said that it’s Democrats who are “anti-science”, while Santorum isn’t.   

Sigh. It’s quite depressing to hear the Santorum revelations.  As a scientist, as someone with a strong academic background, I’m a little disappointed to know that all I learned in college was really just Satan spouting off.  I’m a little disappointed to hear that all of the work on climate change that we’ve done at USGS, and indeed within my current project, is one big lie perpetuated by Satan himself.  What are the implications for a liberal, government scientist who contributes to the science of climate change?

I’m going to hell, that much is obvious.  I really had no chance, with both academia, and my chosen profession, seemingly taken over by Satan.  I just take heart that my young son and any future grandchildren have someone as “wise” as Rick Santorum to lead us from the Devil’s influence.

Posted in Climate Change, Politics, Scientific Awareness

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