Those worried that Obama might be all talk when it comes to needed reform had a real scare in July, when the senator failed to show up to vote for the Stop Excessive Speculation Act, a bill designed to curb rampant oil speculation. Oil speculators provide the perfect microcosm of what happened to the economy under Bush. Back in 2001, investment banks like Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan got together and created an online exchange called the ICE for trading energy commodities. The ICE ended up buying the British-regulated International Petroleum Exchange; it then opened trading windows in the U.S., allowing Wall Street investment banks to make oil-futures trades on American soil, on their very own commodities exchange, without any federal regulation whatsoever. “In financial terms, they were playing blackjack at tables where they themselves were the dealers, in casinos they themselves owned,” says Warren Gunnels, a senior policy adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders. “It was crazy.” Trading on the ICE had a massive impact on U.S. gasoline prices, and more than one legislator wondered if energy speculators were manipulating the market, as energy traders like Enron had been before. The speculation bill was designed to regulate the ICE and place limits on trades. But on the day before Obama returned from his eight-day, eight-country, megadazzling international photo op, Democrats failed by a vote of 50-43 to force a vote on the bill, as heavy lobbying by investment banks like Goldman Sachs torpedoed the effort. Not only did Obama not show up to vote, he appeared at a public forum three days later flanked by Jon Corzine and Robert Rubin, two former Goldman executives, to discuss how to revive the economy. Here you have the basic formula of campaign contributions in a nutshell: Powerful investment bank gives big money to candidate, needed reform requires candidate to cross said investment bank, candidate *** out and finds way to be gone at the moment of truth, candidate resurfaces later in arms of aforementioned investment bankers. Obama’s absence on oil speculation was eerily reminiscent of his previous decision to change his mind about giving retroactive immunity to telecom companies for spying on Americans. Obama withdrew his pledge to filibuster the immunity bill right around the time the Democrats announced that AT&T would be sponsoring the Democratic convention. So no filibuster on retroactive immunity from the top Democrat but conventiongoers in Denver will get tote bags emblazoned with the AT&T logo. So that’s something. Article address: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/22210615/candidates_for_sale/3 This is just a small portion of the article. I would suggest everyone read the rest.

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Political and corperate coruption.

The Obama administration said Wednesday it has suspended joint military operations with Honduras to protest a coup that forced President Manuel Zelaya into exile. The U.S. withheld stronger action in hopes of negotiating a peaceful return of the country’s elected leader. The Organization of American States, meeting in Washington, gave Honduran coup leaders three days to restore Zelaya to power under threat of suspending Honduras’s OAS membership. Afterward, several officials said the administration is still reviewing the possibility of cutting off U.S. aid. Robert Gibbs, the White House press secretary, said, “We continue to monitor the situation and will respond accordingly as events transpire.” At the State Department, spokesman Ian C. Kelly said the department’s top diplomat for the Americas, Thomas Shannon, met with Zelaya at OAS headquarters on Tuesday evening. Kelly would not reveal details, except to say Zelaya thanked the administration for supporting his unconditional return to power. Kelly said he was not aware of any plan to recall the U.S. ambassador from the Honduran capital. Another official, speaking on condition of anonymity in order to discuss internal deliberations, said the administration believes it stands a better chance of achieving a peaceful outcome if it keeps a diplomat in Tegucigalpa. The official also said the U.S. was not advocating that the matter be taken up by the U.N. Security Council. Kelly said the administration was still studying whether the forced removal of Zelaya was a military coup in a legal sense that would trigger a cutoff or suspension of American financial assistance. “Our legal advisers are actively assessing the facts and the law in question, which we take very seriously,” Kelly said. The administration appeared to be counting on the threat of Honduras having its OAS membership suspended as leverage in getting Zelaya back in power. While the administration joined the OAS in calling for Zelaya’s unconditional return, with no limits on his presidential powers, it also seemed open to some form of compromise. U.S. officials said they were pleased that Zelaya, who had vowed to return to Honduras on Thursday, put that off after the OAS announced the three-day deadline for the country’s interim leaders to accept him back. Zelaya was in Panama on Wednesday to attend that country’s presidential inauguration. Zelaya said he would put off his return until the weekend. The decision to suspend U.S. military activities in Honduras was announced by Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, who said, “We’ve postponed any activities in Honduras right now as we assess that situation.” Whitman would not be specific, but the suspension could have broad implications because the United States runs a large Central American security and counternarcotics operation from a jointly run air base in Honduras. Whitman said only operations affecting Honduras itself are on hold. Earlier, OAS Secretary-General Jose Miguel Insulza delivered what he called “an ultimatum” for Zelaya’s safe return. In a sharply worded resolution, the OAS said it vehemently condemned the coup and “the arbitrary detention and expulsion” of Zelaya. The coup, the OAS resolution said, has produced an “unconstitutional alteration of the democratic order.” Calling Zelaya’s overthrow an “old-fashioned coup,” Insulza said: “We need to show clearly that military coups will not be accepted. We thought we were in an era when military coups were no longer possible in this hemisphere.” Zelaya has said he intends to return home accompanied by Insulza, the presidents of Argentina and Ecuador and the head of the U.N. General Assembly to seek restoration of his authority. Roberto Micheletti, named by Honduras’ Congress as the new president, said Tuesday that Zelaya could be met with an arrest warrant if he returned. Article address: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090702/ap_on_go_ca_st_pe/us_us_honduras This is totally messed up, Zelaya tried to circumvent Honduras’ constitution to keep himself in power indefinitly and we’re supporting him?! Iran shoots it’s own citizens and we say we don’t care, we’ll still negotiate with you. Now we have a country enforcing it’s constitional laws and we want to punish them for it? This is just disgusting.

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U.S. suspends military relations, sides with would be dictator.

interesting. i wonder if anyone will follow arizona with this. really right now i’m thinking this healthcare reform thing is slowing becoming dead in the water.

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Arizona Considering Opting Out of Fed Health Care

Definitely scripted, you should watch NEXT–now that’s a funny show because it’s so evident that it’s scripted.

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Question for MTV viewers re: Parental Control

MINI E - click above for high-res image gallery BMW has gotten a lot of press (some bad ) for their MINI E project. Even though the all-electric car comes with a plug, the plug-in advocacy group Plug In America (PIA) has a problem with the way that the Bavarians might be able to get a lot of legislative good will without really putting EVs on the road for good. PIA released a statement (read it after the jump) that criticizes CARB’s loophole that could allow BMW to get as many Zero Emission Vehicle credits for the one-year lease of the electric cars as it would for a standard vehicle production program. PIA’s legislative director, Jay Friedland, said that, “CARB is allowing BMW to game the system by accruing the maximum number of ZEV credits with the least amount of effort.” Friedland said that lease-only programs are what led to the EV crush-fest in the 1990s, something that long-time PIA members still remember as a real slap in the face. PIA wants BMW to only get the credits if the MINI Es are also offered for sale. Another criticism of the lease program is that, according to CARB, when the June 30 deadline got closer and closer, BMW began: dumping dozens of cars into municipal fleets to be leased for only $10 a month, most recently pulling some of those vehicles from retail consumers who had been willing to pay full price and complied with the nearly 8-month process required to get one of the cars . Not long ago, we heard that the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department got a good deal on some MINI Es . CARB’s response was to say that it will look at its regulations next year and that “we’ve urged BMW to consider extending that one-year lease.” Undoubtedly, there will be more to come on this. Gallery: MINI E [Source: PIA, Reuters ] Continue reading Plug In America criticizes CARB loophole that could help BMW with its MINI E Filed under: EV/Plug-in , BMW , Legislation and Policy Plug In America criticizes CARB loophole that could help BMW with its MINI E originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 19:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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Plug In America criticizes CARB loophole that could help BMW with its MINI E

Tomberlin Anvil NEV - Click above for image gallery Tomberlin, a manufacturing and distribution company based in Georgia, recently unveiled the Anvil, its latest low-speed electric vehicle, on the CBS News Early Show. As a neighborhood electric vehicle, the Anvil is capped at a top speed of 25 miles per hour and is legal on roads in the U.S. with a speed limit of 35 mph or less. Base price for the Anvil will be $16K. Tomberlin is claiming a 40-mile range from the aptly named 1,797-pound (with six 12-volt batteries installed) Anvil, which reportedly features a powerful 50-horsepower motor, front disc and rear drum brakes and an on-board charger that can plug into any standard wall outlet. What probably sets the Anvil apart from most other NEVs is its interesting appearance. Looking something like a mashup between a Jeep Wranger, a Hummer H2 and a golf cart, the Anvil doesn’t really look like any other low-speed electric vehicle in recent memory - for better or for worse. Click past the break for two short videos of the Tomberlin Anvil in action. Gallery: Tomberlin Anvil [Source: Tomberlin , Dealernews ] Continue reading Tomberlin releases Anvil NEV [w/VIDEO] Filed under: EV/Plug-in , NEV (Neighborhood Electric Vehicle) Tomberlin releases Anvil NEV [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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Tomberlin releases Anvil NEV [w/VIDEO]

Hybrid transit buses using the GM-Allison Two-mode hybrid system are becoming fairly common in North America with several thousand now on the road. In the UK however, the two-mode buses are brand new, with the first four recently going into service in London. The two-mode hybrid transmissions are installed in Optare Tempo bus chassis that are being used as part of a hybrid test program in the British capitol. Several different hybrid systems are being evaluated by Transport for London. The two-mode hybrid is the basis of the system being used by General Motors in its full-size SUV and pickup trucks. The only difference (other than size) is that the light duty versions have a clutch system that provides up to four fixed gear ratios and direct mechanical drive for better highway efficiency. Since the buses typically operate at lower speeds, this isn’t needed. The buses use a 340 hp diesel engine and a nickel metal hydride battery pack. Gallery: London two-mode hybrid buses [Source: Allison] Continue reading Two-mode hybrid buses debut in the UK Filed under: Hybrid , UK Two-mode hybrid buses debut in the UK originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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Two-mode hybrid buses debut in the UK

Dean Kamen’s Stirling-powered hybrid scooter patents - Click above for image gallery We’ve known about Dean Kamen’s work on the Stirling engine for hybrid vehicle use since the inventor introduced the DEKA Revolt late last year. According to some recently-filed patent applications, though, it would seem that Kamen has lots more up his sleeve for the good ‘ol Stirling engine, including a possible hybrid scooter. According to Gizmag , Kamen is thought to be using a prototype scooter featuring the Stirling hybrid powertrain at his personal residence on an island a mile off the coast of Connecticut . From the patent drawings, we can see a that the Stirling engine is mounted at the rear of the bike while a rechargeable battery pack for the electric motor sits under the scooter’s floor. According to the report, Kamen has invested some $50 million into the development of the Stirling engine, though it’s unclear whether there are any possible production plans for this particular hybrid scooter. Gallery: Stirling-powered hybrid scooter patents [Source: Gizmag ] Filed under: Emerging Technologies , Hybrid , On Two Wheels , Green Daily Dean Kamen working on hybrid scooter with Stirling engine originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Read  |  Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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Dean Kamen working on hybrid scooter with Stirling engine

Kangoo be bop Z.E. - Click above for high-res image gallery If you count yourself as a fan of the shortened Kangoo that will become the be bod Z.E., Renault’s first widely available electric vehicle, this post is for you. On the other side of the jump you’ll find three videos that show the car in motion, the interior and undergoing the recharging process. That last video shows the three options that owners of the Renault EV will be able to choose from to recharge their batteries: a regular slow charge at home (takes 6 hours), fast charging (30 minutes) or battery swap (3 minutes). The swapping video is quite similar to what Better Place showed us in this video . Gallery: Renault Kangoo be bop Z.E. [Source: Renault via YouTube] Continue reading Renault shows off the Kangoo Be Bop Z. E. in three new videos Filed under: EV/Plug-in , Renault , Europe/EU Renault shows off the Kangoo Be Bop Z. E. in three new videos originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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Renault shows off the Kangoo Be Bop Z. E. in three new videos

General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Honda and everyone else may not think there is much of a market for mainstream diesel vehicles in the United States, but Volkswagen would beg to differ. Since it launched its new generation diesels last fall in the Jetta and earlier this year in the Touareg, they have been selling like hotcakes with June being its best month yet. Last month was the best sales month to date for the Sportwagen with 1,982 sales, a whopping 81 percent of those were equipped with the 2.0-liter TDI four cylinder. Among the 8,431 Jetta sedans sold in June, 40 percent were also diesel powered. And while the Touareg followed most other SUVs with a 41 percent overall decline to only 330 units in June, 29 percent of those had the 3.0-liter V6 TDI engine. Rabbit sales were down 69 percent in June, but a redesigned Golf is arriving in September including a TDI and, if fuel prices keep climbing through the summer, it could get a huge sales spike as well. Gallery: In the AutoblogGreen Garage: 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI [Source: Volkswagen] Continue reading Diesels grab 81% of Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen sales in June Filed under: Diesel , Volkswagen Diesels grab 81% of Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen sales in June originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink  |  Email this  |  Comments

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Diesels grab 81% of Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen sales in June