Christmas Presents for the Planet

Want to give a more thoughtful gift this year than another tie or sweater or crummy box of chocolates. How about giving a gift that helps the planet and your fellow earthly inhabitants?

Get a Terra Pass!
http://www.terrapass.com/

For as little as $29.95 you can buy a carbon offset for a car, house, or airplane trip. A Carbon Dioxide offset reduces your carbon footprint, in other words the CO2 gases being released in the atmosphere due to your every day activities.

Give the gift that future generations will appreciate! - IFK Editor

2008 Presidential Polls are Laughable

Did you hear the latest poll? (2 years out from anyone actually voting)

People say they like McCain, Giuliani, and Obama! That's great, but it's meaningless.

Lets see where the polls stand when the primaries start.

Lets see where they rank in comparison to John Kerry after 250 MILLION DOLLARS of negative ads are aimed at them.

Kerry ranks low now because people think they know him, but they really have no idea who the rest are. The rest will sink and Kerry will rise, when people once again realize everyone running for President is a mere mortal. -IFK Editor

Poll: Giuliani, McCain, Obama rank high

US Ranks 53 out of 56 For Worse Global Warming Offenders

Global Warming solutions should rank high among the new democratic agenda. I've been following and posting articles about it since starting this blog and hope to see some movement from the US Government now that the Democrats have control of both Houses. Kerry spoke extensively about this issue on the campaign trail in 2004 and since then, however you wouldn't know it from the sound bite media who never seems to care about issues that mattered, but are happy to make up non issues to cover.

There are some moderate Republicans who will be willing to work with Democrats to fund alternative energy solutions and carbon emission regulations so it's a good issue to tackle, and SOON.

Climate Crisis is a national security issue, an environmental issue, an economic issue and a moral issue. What shape will we leave the planet for future generations? -IFK Editor

Sweden tops climate change list
Sweden, Britain and Denmark are doing the most to protect against climate change, but their efforts are not nearly enough, according to a report released Monday by environmental groups.

The United States — the world's biggest emitter of greenhouse gases — ranked at 53, with only China, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia doing worse.

"We don't have any winners, we only have countries that are better compared to others," said Matthias Duwe of the Climate Action Network-Europe, which released the data at the U.N. climate conference. "We don't have big shining stars."

The index ranks 56 countries that were part of a 1992 climate treaty or that contribute at least 1 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions. The countries make up 90 percent of global carbon dioxide emissions.

Dems Win. Now We Want Leadership

If you're like me you were more relieved than excited by the Dems sweeping into office.

I'm not celebrating much. The challenges they face are many. I'm hopeful, but realistic. They will face an obstinate president and a Republican "Noise Machine" that once they get over the shock and finger pointing will regroup to go on the attack. Dems will need to show quick results and work even harder. Not only will they have to challenge Republican ideology, but they will have to govern, trying to undo the mess Republicans have made over the last 12 years.

The temptation for both parties will be to start the '08 horse race already, before even doing the job Americans are paying them to do.

With great power comes great responsibilities. Don't let us down.

IFK Editor

Dems Win. Now We Want Leadership

If you're like me you were more relieved than excited by the Dems sweeping into office.

I'm not celebrating much. The challenges they face are many. I'm hopeful, but realistic. They will face an obstinate president and a Republican "Noise Machine" that once they get over the shock and finger pointing will regroup to go on the attack. Dems will need to show quick results and work even harder. Not only will they have to challenge Republican ideology, but they will have to govern, trying to undo the mess Republicans have made over the last 12 years.

The temptation for both parties will be to start the '08 horse race already, before even doing the job Americans are paying them to do.

With great power comes great responsibilities. Don't let us down.

IFK Editor

Vote Nov 7 - Democracy Requires Participation!

Maybe Americans get what they deserve from our government. All the flag waving and talk of patriotism by both parties and in many states less than half of the eligible electorate can even be bothered to vote. Here are the numbers.

Makes you wonder how much we value the freedoms we've supposedly championed since our birth as a nation when it's too hard to even participate in the process of being a democracy.

Please get informed and go vote this Tuesday. Nov 7. Don't vote for a party. Vote for your country.


-IFK Editor

From the Associated Press

State by state voter turnout, by percentage of voting age population, in the 2004 presidential and 2002 elections. Turnout historically is higher in presidential election years.

State 2004 2002
Ala. 55.1 40.7
Alaska 69.9 53.1
Ariz. 53.4 34.1
Ark. 51.3 40.1
Calif. 59.8 36.6
Colo. 65.0 44.9
Conn. 66.1 42.7
Del. 62.4 39.6
D.C. 58.2 32.9
Fla. 63.9 44.2
Ga. 53.8 34.2
Hawaii 48.9 44.4
Idaho 60.8 43.6
Ill. 61.7 41.8
Ind. 54.0 33.8
Iowa 68.8 47.2
Kan. 60.8 43.3
Ky. 57.3 36.8
La. 58.7 38.2
Maine 75.3 51.9
Md. 62.7 45.4
Mass. 64.6 48.9
Mich. 66.4 44.1
Minn. 77.3 62.8
Miss. 52.9 32.1
Mo. 64.4 45.0
Mont. 63.5 48.0
Neb. 62.0 38.8
Nev. 54.3 35.1
N.H. 71.9 48.3
N.J. 63.3 37.2
N.M. 57.2 37.8
N.Y. 59.2 36.7
N.C. 56.4 38.6
N.D. 64.8 48.1
Ohio 66.3 38.4
Okla. 56.7 40.8
Ore. 71.2 50.5
Pa. 62.5 38.6
R.I. 58.1 44.3
S.C. 51.9 36.2
S.D. 68.2 60.4
Tenn. 54.6 38.0
Texas 52.2 32.8
Utah 58.5 36.8
Vt. 66.5 48.9
Va. 60.5 29.2
Wash. 65.4 41.0
W.Va. 53.1 30.9
Wis. 73.9 44.5
Wyo. 64.1 50.0
U.S. 60.7 39.7
___
Source: Center for the Study of the American Electorate, American University

Kerry's "Stuck In Iraq" Joke Frames The Debate Around Iraq

Love him or hate him, John Kerry's joke gone bad about getting "stuck in Iraq" has focused the midterm 2006 election back on what the GOP least wants: IRAQ!

Beneath the hubbub about a joke is the underlying truth that Iraq is a quagmire. 100+ American soldiers died in October alone. Bush has no solution. Iraq is a tragic and massive failure and the President and his party are responsible for it. He lied about WMD's as an excuse to invade and he's too stubborn to alter course. American lives and tax payer money are being wasted. It’s a national disgrace, which has taken a toll on how we are viewed around the world and how we view ourselves as Americans.

Sure the Republicans, sensing an opportunity to score quick political points at the expense of Kerry, attacked his comments as anti-troops, but the 800 pound gorilla in the room still remains the President's "stuck in Iraq" policy.

Most average voters know John Kerry is a distinguished Vet himself. They probably realize he made a stupid blunder and will forget about it.

What they won't forget when they enter that election booth next Tuesday is that President Bush is an incompetent leader who lied about the reasons for going to war in Iraq and who has no plan to win the peace and bring our valiant troops home.

So please by all means when you go to the polls on Tuesday Nov 7, ask yourself which party is really going to serve the troops by providing leadership that can help them complete their mission and get them home?

-IFK Editor