Oil Spill May Speed Up Energy Legislation

Even though it’s an election year, energy legislation may be pushed up because of the urgency provided by the Gulf oil spill. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid says he’ll bring legislation to the floor this summer. Oil industry liability rules, drilling safety, and policies that shift us away from oil will be on the agenda. Democrats will meet Thursday to discuss.

Ahead of that session, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) plans to outline proposals Monday for curbing reliance on oil, and will speak on the matter at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank with deep ties to the …

A Trillion Dollars In Mineral Deposits Found In Afghanistan

In what will surely transform the economy of Afghanistan, and probably the war, a trillion dollars in mineral deposits was discovered in Afghanistan by a team of Pentagon officials and American geologists.

The previously unknown deposits — including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium — are so big and include so many minerals that are essential to modern industry that Afghanistan could eventually be transformed into one of the most important mining centers in the world, the United States officials believe.

Now look for another kind of war to begin.

Instead of bringing …

RIP Jimmy Dean 1928-2010

Long before he was known as the sausage king, Jimmy Dean was a famous country singer who had his own TV show. He passed away at his home south of Richmond, VA.

Born in 1928, Dean was raised in poverty in Plainview, Texas, and dropped out of high school after the ninth grade. But he went on to a successful entertainment career in the ’50s and ’60s.

In 1969, Dean went into the sausage business, starting the Jimmy Dean Meat Co. He sold the company to Sara Lee Corp. in 1984.

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Bush Daughter Barbara Glad Health Care Reform Passed

Fox News Sunday featured an interview between host Chris Wallace and Barbara Bush, daughter of W, who is promoting her non-profit Global Health Corps, charged with bringing equity in health care to Africa and the U.S.

“What do you think about Obama health care reform?” Wallace asked.

“Obviously the health care reform bill was highly debated by a lot of people,” Bush responded, “and I’m glad the bill was passed.”

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Don Lemon Asks Alvin Greene If He Has “Any Mental Impairments”

CNN’s Don Lemon has another bizarre interview with South Carolina Democratic Senate candidate Alvin Greene. Asked if he committed a crime, Greene says, “No comment.” Lemon made a good case that whether Greene committed a crime is relevant to his campaign. Lemon also asked Greene if he has “any mental impairments.” Greene: “I’m okay.” (h/t Mediaite)

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400 Barrels Of Oil Spill In Utah After Governor Calls For More Production

Fifty gallons of crude oil leaked per minute into a Salt Lake City creek, adding up to 400-500 barrels before crews could stop it (h/t Think Progress).

Chevron determined the pipeline broke at 10 p.m. Friday, and police and fire crews were notified of it shortly before 7 am. Saturday.

Officials were unsure of the cause of the leak, near the University of Utah campus, or the extent of the spill’s environmental impact. Mayor Ralph Becker said drinking water for residents was not affected.

The underground pipeline that goes from Utah to Colorado, left birds and ducks covered in …

Congress Not Renewing Emergency Health Care For Unemployed Workers

Emergency health care for unemployed workers expired May 31 and Congress is balking at renewing it, against the wishes of President Obama.

Not three months after lawmakers passed his $1 trillion insurance overhaul, Obama is facing a rare defeat on health care at the hands of his own divided Democrats. Moderates have rebelled against adding billions more to the deficit in a treacherous election year.

“The same Congress that spent all this political capital trying to get people health insurance is going to take a crucial benefit away from unemployed people,” said Andrew Stettner, deputy director of the National …

Hall And Oates On Arizona Law: I Can’t Go For That

Daryl Hall and John Oates, who I will always admire for their “heartfelt farewell” to me on The Daily Show, have canceled a concert in Phoenix and are encouraging other artists to stay away from Arizona because of their immigration law.

“The rock duo Daryl Hall and John Oates announced Monday they will not be playing Phoenix next month following an Arizona Diamondbacks game.

Their manager Jonathan Wolfson told The Associated Press from Los Angeles that Hall and Oates will not play Phoenix July 2 because of their personal stance against Arizona’s new immigration law.

The pair …

Palin Calls Boxer “Silly Senator”

Sarah Palin is using Twitter to promote the California Senate candidacy of Carly Fiorlina.

BarbBoxer sez”greatest security threat”is WEATHER.Not nukes,or unsustainable debt leading 2 insolvency?Silly Senator,glad theres competition 

SarahPalinUSA

Of course, what’s really going on is right-wing opposition to energy reform legislation, and against a Senate vote against an effort against the authority of the EPA to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. Alaska Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski wanted to infringe on the EPA’s ability to protect the environment.

Murkowski argued the debate shouldn’t be about science surrounding climate change, but rather should be focused on who has the power to reduce …

In Case You Missed It: Florida Minor League Baseball Team No Longer Takes “BP”

By Sinfonian

Although the infamous Deepwater Horizon oil blowout is in the Gulf of Mexico, west of Florida, residents of the state’s eastern coast are taking notice as well.  Scientists are speculating that in the weeks to come, predominant ocean currents could carry oil, with its slicks and and sheens and tar mats and balls, through the Keys, around the peninsula, and up the Atlantic seaboard well beyond the Sunshine State’s shores.

One Florida group is taking a novel approach to protesting BP’s environmental destruction and subsequent efforts to spin their way out of the public opinion doghouse.  The Brevard …

Michele Bachmann Agrees With Radio Host That Obama Is “Worst President In U.S. History”

Speaking with radio host Ben Shaprio, Michele Bachmann claimed that Barack Obama is the worst president in U.S. History.

SHAPIRO: Is President Obama better or worse than Jimmy Carter?

BACHMANN: Worse. Easily worse.

SHAPIRO: I agree. So far, you’d have to say he’s the worst president in United States history …

BACHMANN: No question. No question.

Bachmann went on to say that wherever she goes, “People ask me, ‘Michele, can we impeach the president?’” And she insists he won’t run for re-election because “no one would vote for him.”

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