CNSNEWS.com caught up with U.S. Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH) and others recently to ask about how they would vote on the cap and trade legislation, which depending upon whom you believe, will solve global warming (oh, I mean, climate change, consultants have said quit using the phrase "global warming" because of all the negative connotations, wonder why) and create millions of green jobs, or it will cost Americans thousands of dollars a year in higher energy costs and cripple American business.
Boccieri recently sat down with some of the staff from The Daily Record to talk about why he voted for the legislation. The story and video from that interview (which included managing editor Lance White, reporter Bryan Schaaf and me) will appear in an upcoming edition of the newspaper.
However, the video below is from CNSNEWS.com and was taken before the vote. Boccieri is first up.
Here is Over the Rhine performing Trouble. I have been listening to them since 1993, but I have never managed to see them live. I am still holding out hope. Until then, there is this video ... and all of their releases.
Barbara Boxer of California carries the title of senator and allegedly represents the residents of her state in Washington, D.C. But, with this latest video clip from Boxer, I am not so sure just who she represents.
During a congressional hearing, Boxer had an interchange with Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh in which he referred to her as "ma'am."
Boxer did not like being addressed in that manner.
"Do me a favor, could you call me senator instead of ma'am? It's just a thing, I've worked so hard to get that title, I’d appreciate it. Thank you," Boxer said.
I believe her reply speaks volumes about her. Jesus said in Matt. 12:34b, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks."
In my role as a journalist, I come into contact with a lot of elected officials. I have talked to U.S. senators, U.S. representatives, governors, secretaries of state, auditors of state, state representatives, state senators, county commissioners, members of council, township trustees, judges and school board members. In those interviews, there was always a sense of public service, not entitlement, prestige, power or title.
"I've worked so hard to get that title." She did not work so hard to be a public servant, to serve the constituents, to fight for their rights. No, she worked hard for that title.
Can you just imagine her on the campaign trail:
"Hi, I'm Barbara Boxer. I would appreciate your vote so I can have the title of senator."
"Hi, I'm Barbara Boxer. If you send me to Washington, D.C., I promise I will fight hard for my title. I won't let no military man call me ma'am. No, sir. Not me."
It seems to me, Boxer is in this for power, not for service. What a shame.
Never in a million years did I think I would post anything from the Daily Kos, however, it appears what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Fox News reports about how GOP thinks it is unfair and unprecedented ABC gets to broadcast news and hour-long health care special from the White House. Seems like Fox News had its own unprecedented access to Bush 43 and Dick Cheney. Thanks to @jaketapper via Twitter.
The above video, wherein Dream Theater percussionist extraordinaire Mike Portnoy talks about a great band from the '80s, Zebra, is bittersweet for me. I jumped onto the Zebra bandwagon from the first time I heard "Who's Behind the Door," from the band's debut album, on WDIZ Rock 100 in Orlando.
That first album, which featured "Who's Behind the Door," "Take Your Fingers From My Hair" (which Dream Theater covers), "The La La Song," "Tell Me What You Want" and "As I Said Before," was an incredible effort. I was excited when I had the chance to see the band perform live in Orlando at Tom's Point After. It was a small club, and the band was great.
I eagerly awaited Zebra's sophomore offering, No Tellin' Lies, but it failed to measure up to the debut release. There was not really any memorable songs for me on No Tellin' Lies, but it was Zebra.
The third album, 3.V, was much improved, with several memorable songs, like "He's Makin' You the Fool," "Time," "Better Not Call" and "Your Mind's Open." Despite producing a solid record, the band from Louisiana that made it big in New York did not have the commercial success of its initial release.
Zebra's fourth release was a live album, and it was a good release, a veritable live greatest hits album with a Led Zeplin cover, "The Ocean."
I would continue looking in record shops, and later the Internet, to see if there were any more releases from Zebra. The band sort of faded into obscurity. I did not hear much about Randy Jackson (guitars, vocals), Felix Hanemann (bass, keyboards, vocals) and Guy Gelso (drums, percussion, vocals) after finding "Zebra Live" in the early 1990s.
So, I am excited my favorite band, Dream Theater, decided to cover "Take Your Fingers From My Hair." When I first listened to the cover, I had wished the guys would have done more with it. However, after listening to it a few times, it grew on me (though I still like Zebra's original version better).
What was bittersweet about the video was Portnoy's comments about Zebra being a forgotten band. The band might not have experienced the commercial success of its debut effort, but for true fans, Randy, Felix and Guy were never forgotten. Missed, but not forgotten.
During the run-up to the 2008 Presidential Election, I took a few of those online tests to determine which candidate best matched my views. In every one, my approach and philosophy of government aligned more with Ron Paul than with any other candidate. I always appreciated his passion for the Constitution and his Libertarian bent, but because I disagreed with him about the War in Iraq, I never really considered voting for him. I felt the Bush administration pursued a policy needed to protect this country. While I never considered Bush a conservative, I appreciated how he acted in a way to protect this country. However, Ron Paul's speech has me rethinking my position.
Here is some video footage I shot on my cell phone (a Palm Centro) of cars that were torched during a fire behind the Wayne County Care Center outside of Wooster on Memorial Day 2009.
President Obama has no idea who is secretary of defense is. He refers to Secretary Robert Gates as William Gates. This, despite the ubiquitous and obligatory TelePrompter.
U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) questions Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner about what will happen when TARP money is paid back (it will not necessarily go toward debt reduction) and when will the U.S. government return control of companies like GM and AIG (hint: not any time soon).
Liquid Tension Experiment, which includes three from Dream Theater -- Mike Portnoy, John Pertrucci and Jordan Rudess - and Tony Levin, gives its rendition of George Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, and it is incredible. I have been a Gershwin fan since the early 1990s when I heard the London Symphony Orchestra perform some of his compositions in Daytona Beach, and it is a pleasure to hear how "Dream Theater" treats one of Gershwin's most enduring and popular works, Rhapsody in Blue.
My wife and I recently watched a fictionalized biography of Gershwin on American Movie Classics. During the performances of An American in Paris and Rhapsody in Blue, I could not help but thinking if Gershwin had lived in these times, he might have been part of the progressive rock music scene. I believe he might be composing the type of music Dream Theater does.
I was happy to hear Liquid Tension Experiment performed -- and recorded -- Rhapsody in Blue. Below, you can see trailers for the deluxe DVD set being released later this year.
<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:cfd9977e-105a-4d72-a106-c8edd06ab2b0&showPlaylist=true&from=msnvideo" target="_new" title="LTE Live in NYC DVD Trailer">Video: LTE Live in NYC DVD Trailer</a>
<a href="http://video.msn.com/?mkt=en-US&playlist=videoByUuids:uuids:37ff9511-0cd8-4fec-9544-8154d1985fe0&showPlaylist=true&from=msnvideo" target="_new" title="LTE Live in LA DVD Trailer">Video: LTE Live in LA DVD Trailer</a>
Major Garrett of Fox News asked press secretary Robert Gibbs if President Barack Obama believed Nancy Pelosi's accusations that the CIA lied to her and misled her regarding briefings about enhanced interrogation techniques. Gibbs replied that the president believes the best thing to do is to look forward.
Funny Mr. Obama wants to look forward now. Every time something goes wrong, the first thing he does is to look back at the Bush-Cheney administration and blame it for the country's woes. All Mr. Obama wants to do is remind us he inherited this, that and the other thing from the previous administration. Obama and his appointees have spoken so often about inheriting problems from Bush that I jokingly tweeted how I wondered if Obama had to pay estate taxes because of all he has inherited.
I have no idea if Pelosi is lying or not, but Obama needs to be a man, take a stand and quit skirting the issue.
Do the United States need to be more like socialist Europe? Should government redistribute wealth? Should taxpayers foot the bill for everyone's health care to drive down the cost for automakers? Check out the video from CNBC.
CNSNEWS.com caught up with U.S. Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH) and others recently to ask about how they would vote on the cap and trade legislation, which depending upon whom you believe, will solve global warming (oh, I mean, climate change, consultants have said quit using the phrase "global warming" because of all the negative connotations, wonder why) and create millions of green jobs, or it will cost Americans thousands of dollars a year in higher energy costs and cripple American business.
