Couple quick asides before I link this. One topic in particular has been on my mind.I am convinced that liberals are, for the most part, masochistic, which leads into my second but main point.
While it may fall to a generation of freedom loving conservatives as yet unborn, we should take solace in the notion that conservatives are strong on the Second Amendment. While far-Left liberals might just have a "Strawberry Fields" day outside the Democrat convention in Denver this year, if too much freedom continues to disappear in America, it will be the gun owning conservatives that will eventually take it back. Revolution is something of an American tradition, after all.
That said, yes, they are clueless in San Diego.
Yes, even after the ACLU cost them over $900,000 in city tax dollars in their attack on the Mt. Soledad cross, the Sana Diego City Council voted yesterday to pass a resolution “commending the American Civil Liberties Union of the Sana Diego and Imperial Counties for its continuous advocacy for the rights and freedoms of all San Diego” and proclaiming an “American Civil Liberties Union Day” in the City of San Diego.
jharp, it just might be that his greatest accomplishment was unintended. If we confront the energy crisis due to high prices caused by this war, and other factors, and solve our energy problems, it could be that this might very well be "his finest hour".
In all seriousness, I am extremely excited about wind energy. The US will soon become the world leader, and we are adding tremendous capacity here in the US, for example, power produced by wind is set to double by the end of next year, I believe, to something in the neighborhood of 5200 megawatts. I believe so much in wind that I put my money where my mouth is, and have invested heavily in it(for me). I'm not as excited about solar because of its unpredictability in most of the country, but the southwest is of course open to developement.
Posted by: templar knight | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 04:29 PM
Good luck with your investment.
I think long and often about the energy future of the U.S.
Something I think that will happen though not in our lifetimes is a dramatic shift in the design of our cities.
The cities (close to downtown) will be for the well to do. Suburbs for the not so well to do. Much less reliance on the auto.
Think Manhattan, Hong Kong, London, Paris. Most of the world lives as such now.
Posted by: jharp | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 04:38 PM
"The cities (close to downtown) will be for the well to do. Suburbs for the not so well to do."
As transportation goes dont you have that backwards? All the community transportation (buses, cabs, trains) are in the cities now. I am in the unfortunate position that "town" is rapidly creeping into my country paradise and while I admit it isn't so bad being five minutes from Wallyworld, the traffic and neighbor noise bothers me badly.
"I think long and often about the energy future of the U.S."
Harpie I'm concerned about you. When do you fish, play golf or have a beer with a friend? When I asked your age earlier, I'd just come back from a little photography joint. Geeze man, get out and play once in a while before you become chrissy.
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:04 PM
"jharp, it just might be that his greatest accomplishment was unintended. If we confront the energy crisis due to high prices caused by this war, and other factors, and solve our energy problems, it could be that this might very well be "his finest hour"."
Your point is well taken however it sort of like what me me a safe driver.
After I crashed a few cars.
Let's just hope GWB didn't "total" the car.
Posted by: jharp | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:06 PM
jharp, the US is blessed with the largest potential energy resources of any country in the world. Huge reserves of coal and natural gas are there for the taking, and there is more oil left in the US than what the government estimates, much more.
If you wish to move away from fossil, you can do that as well. The wind energy potential in just the states of No. and So. Dakota could power half the country. Solar will become viable in some parts of the country, and can be of help in certain regions, and fuel cells and a variety of other technologies will also help.
There is no....and I mean no...reason for us to be dependant on oil from the ME, and it's a shame we still are after what happened in 1973. Every President and every Congress since then is culpable.
Posted by: templar knight | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:15 PM
Wahoo,
Too tough to explain via posting. Maybe just think a lot less reliance on the auto. Like Manhattan.
Yeah, I haven't been out much as I've been working on some business deals. And when I do it is fishing and golf. This year I have vowed to fish more and golf less.
Believe me I've spent plenty of time out. Too much. Over a year in Asia alone.
As far as golf I'm a 10 hcp.
And I love the country. Actually thinking of moving to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in a couple of years.
Posted by: jharp | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:18 PM
"Upper Peninsula of Michigan"
If someone told me I had to move north or die, I would go to U.P Michigan or Pennsylvannia. I don't play much golf, not enough to claim a handicap, I go with one of the SNL's once in a while when his buds can't go with. Oh and I understand your thinking on the city country thing but I still think gentrification will have the bigger effect on wealth concentration.
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:25 PM
Where are you gentlemen from?
I grew up in Ohio, short time in Michigan, now in central Indiana.
Posted by: jharp | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:29 PM
"...Upper Peninsula of Michigan.."
Oh, boy! I'll come visit you in the summer, but forget the winter, it's too cold up there for a Texan, even one raised on the cold plains of West Texas.
"Geez, man, get out and play once in a while before you become a chrissy."
Good advice for everyone, Willie. But, the pollen is killing me, so I'm having to stay in as much as possible until it settles down a bit.
And Willie, my oldest son is on a backpacking trip near Bryson City. Is that very close to you?
Posted by: templar knight | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:32 PM
"Where are you gentlemen from?"
Abilene, Texas is the nearest city, Snyder is the nearest town.
Posted by: templar knight | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:35 PM
TK, I'm between Wilmington,NC and Myrtle Beach, SC on the coast. Harpie, Bryson City is about 4-4.5 hours west of me. While he's that close, I hope your son visits Kings Mountain Battlefield which is a great place for back packing. I guess he's visiting the mountains and it's a good time for it. Fall is better.
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:41 PM
"...between Wilmington and Mrytle Beach.."
That's beautiful country, Willie, and oddly enough we took our senior trip to Myrtle Beach. My family had always vacationed at Navarre Beach on the Redneck Riviera(we still go there every year), and frankly I wanted to try something different. It was quite an experience, and we went down to Charleston and made a fool of ourselves there as well.
jharp, I've never been to Indiana or Michigan, either. I think I would like upper Michigan. I hear it's beautiful, and remote.
Posted by: templar knight | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:48 PM
We're rapidly being bulldozed down here TK and I'm always in some fight with developers either over the environment or desecrating cemeteries. One has to get way off the road to enjoy the red neck life anymore. It's easy to make a fool of ones self in Charleston, but easier in Myrtle Beach, at least for the youngun's. Thankfully, I stay pretty calm these days.
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:58 PM
Bryson City.
Spent some time there recently looking for a vacation home with my extended family.
Liked it a lot there. Smokies are one of the real treasures of America.
My preference is fresh water locations, and you can't beat the Great Lakes. And I don't like it where it is arid. Love the big trees and forests.
Indiana's nice enough but I wouldn't make a special trip.
Posted by: jharp | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 05:59 PM
Oh Harpie you should have looked around Lake Lure or even Lake Wylie, well the latter is over built and too close to Charlotte I guess.
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 06:03 PM
"My preference is fresh water locations..."
Good thing you didn't come to W. Texas, as about the only decent water you can find is an occasional tank for the cattle. But I found my vacation home in Arkansas on the Little Red River at Tumbling Shoals. Greers Ferry Lake is nearby, trout fishing is the best in the World, turkey's are gobbling this time of year, and the trees go as far as the eye can see. For now, at least.
Posted by: templar knight | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 06:13 PM
Lake Lure or Lake Wylie.
Hate to sound too crazy but this is the truth.
I don't like the impoundments (man made lakes). I don't like em messing with the water levels, don't think they support as many fish, and they just don't seem right to me.
As an aside did you they destroy the natural fisheries in the building of the dams.
I can perfectly understand if you think I'm a nut but that's just me.
Posted by: jharp | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 06:33 PM
"Hate to sound too crazy but this is the truth."
I dont think it's crazy. The diff being that the vast majority of impounded lakes are so old that they seem natural to me. I'd be outraged if they were damming streams now. Yes, I also knew that a lot of natural habitat....and good farmland was destroyed by the dams. BUT!! there's one of your "clean energy" sources. Just imagine what the beaches will be like with big ole turbines floating in the surf.
Posted by: WAHOO WILLIE | Thursday, March 27, 2008 at 07:18 PM
RE:San Diego City Council voted yesterday ...“commending the American Civil Liberties Union...for its continuous advocacy for the rights and freedoms of all San Diego” and proclaiming an “American Civil Liberties Union Day”...
LIKE GIVING THE BANDITOS A HAPPY MOTORING AWARD!
Posted by: joy mc | Saturday, March 29, 2008 at 11:49 AM
If no laws were broken, why is Bush pushing so hard for retroactive immunity?
He's even uttered the greatest bullshit line of his "presidency", and brother, he's laid down a lot of bullshit:
"Companies 'believed' to have assisted after 9/11"
Believed! Yeah, that's the ticket, the FBI doesn't even know if they were helping out with the illegal wiretapping! They coulda been freelance telcos! They coulda been dicking around!
My god. I am so glad I don't have to defend this tripe.
Posted by: scarshapedstar | Sunday, March 30, 2008 at 01:09 AM