"Something Left to Save" by the Hangdogs

The streetcar preacher says, "just have faith,"

He says, "Jesus comin' back to take us home someday."

But He's runnin' short on time.

And something left to save.

Prince William County Supervisors Vote to INCREASE the Foreclosure Rate

Prince William County, Virginia, is the epicenter of the Washington, D.C. area's housing bubble crisis, with some foreclosed properties currently listed at more than 60% below what they sold for just a couple of years ago. According to the Washington Post, the default rate for mortgages in the county in February was a staggering 5.5% of all homes.

And yet, in an astonishing act of cluelessness the Prince William County Board of Supervisors voted this week to INCREASE the county's property tax rate by 27%. So, if your house is assessed at $250,000, you'll pay an additional $675 a year in taxes.

No one is disputing that the county is in deep financial trouble, but how can the supervisors possibly believe that pushing even more struggling homeowners into foreclosure is going to help? There is only one solution for the county, cut services. Your constituents are clearly maxed out, and if enough of them end up defaulting because of this additional monetary burden, the result could be even LESS tax revenue.

Cocaine Smuggler Hobnobs With Hillary

As long as Hillary is going to play the guilt by association card against Obama, here is a picture of her all smiles with cocaine smuggler Jorge Cabrera. Here is a blurb from a New York Times article in 1997:

"Cabrera attended a Christmas reception at the White House hosted by Hillary Rodham Clinton. At the events, Gore and Mrs. Clinton posed for photographs with Cabrera, who has two felony convictions dating from the 1980s and is now in a prison here on a drug-smuggling conviction."

I'm beginning to think that the toxic shrew from Illinois/Arkansas/New York would accept contributions from Osama Bin Laden if she thought it would get her elected.

More Criminals Hobnobing With Billary

More criminal scum who have supported the Clintons. Here's the story:

"Here we have a photo taken at an official DNC fundraiser with Bill and Hillary posed with Ng Lap Seng, Macau Crime Lord who controls Prostitution in that region. His Fortuna Hotel is actually a high class bordello where young girls (often underage) are available for a price. Ng, through his American contact Charlie Trie, donated close to a million dollars to the Democrats."

Yes, working class America, she empathizes with people like you.

Chimpy Set to Throw Out the First Pitch at the Nationals Home Opener

Yes, it is unfortunately true, Little King Dipshit is taking time out from his "busy" schedule to befoul the Washington Nationals new stadium by making a soft toss off the mound before the National Anthem on Sunday Night. The White House has said that he will be there unless there is a "national emergency." Well, pardon me, but I think what is happening with the economy, not to mention the recent increase in violence in Iraq, pretty well qualifies as a fucking national emergency.

Chimpy, I know that having the prez-net throw out the first pitch on opening day is a silly Washington tradition and all, but do us a favor and stay the fuck home. As a season ticket holder, I know I'll be one of the ones booing myself hoarse.

Larry "Wide Stance" Craig to Officially Retire

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/03/24/politics/politico/thecrypt/main3962749.shtml

The notorious homophobic hypocrite and cruiser of mens rooms for anonymous sex is taking his wide stance, and presumably wide rectum, back to Idaho with his...uh, tail between his legs.

And another of Chimpy's conservative Republican enablers has officially bitten the dust.

Lewis Black on How to Implement Corporate Reform

"If you have a company...and it can't explain...in ONE sentence...what it does...it's illegal."

Bringing Up Baby Will Cost You a Cool $200 Grand

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080324/lf_nm_life/usa_children_dc;_ylt=AiJNcLyh2nx.XhZEcE3.MusDW7oF

And, according to this article, that is BEFORE college expenses. Now, I readily acknowledge being a DINK, but I didn't post this story to gloat. Rather, it is to point out a likely reason why so many middle class families were living at the edge of their financial means through no fault of their own even before the recent run up of food and energy costs.

Despite this obvious reality, as recently as last October so-called "financial analysts" were saying that rising gas prices weren't a big concern for the average consumer and therefore wouldn't affect the overall economy.

How can I get a job where I can be so blatantly, stupidly wrong and still be employed?

Grandpa Fred Goes Back to Acting

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080324/ap_en_tv/fred_thompson

Yes, a mere weeks after ending one of the lamest Presidential campaigns in American History, the man Richard Nixon referred to as one of the dumbest bastards he had ever met has gone slinking back to Hollywood in search of more lame acting gigs.

Poor Fred, Reagan made it seem so easy for a washed-up, has-been actor fond of his afternoon naps to be entrusted to the world's most powerful office.

Number of Food Stamp Recipients in Ohio Has Doubled Since 2001

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Food_stamp_use_hits_alltime_high_0324.html

That's right, nearly one in ten Ohioans are now receiving food stamps, twice the number from the year Chimpy took office. And yet the state gave its electoral votes to him...twice.

The mind boggles.

4000

The question is not, as John Kerry asked about Vietnam, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for a mistake?"

The question is instead, "How do you ask a man to be the last man to die for one asshole's ego?"

Exxon: No Increase in Oil Production Thorugh 2012

http://www.businessweek.com/print/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2008/db20080319_269345.htm

More evidence that those who are raising the alarm about Peak Oil might just be on to something. Exxon, world's largest publicly traded company and bane to environmentalists, global warming activists and hippies everywhere, announced that it will not be see any increase in oil production over the next five years, despite record profits from oil shooting over $100 a barrel.

Does this make any fucking economic sense? Only if you draw the obvious conclusion: they won't increase production because they've reached their absolute production limit.

Be afraid, be VERY afraid.

Sweet Sounds: "Color Them Blue" by Half Knots

Here's a band that doesn't get nearly the acclaim they deserve. The Half Knots produce sublime jangly guitar pop with just a hint of melancholy. Color Them Blue is the band's sophomore effort after their outstanding self-titled 2005 debut album.

Should you decide to try an itunes sample, highlight tracks include: "Footsteps," "Balance" and "When Are You Going Home." In truth, however, this album is a rarity these days in being strong all the way through. It creates a mood from the opening notes that never lets up.

Cost to Fix Nation's Highway Bridges: $188 Billion

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20080323_The_extreme_cost_of_fixing_bridges_and_highways.html

An interesting article regarding the cost to fix the nation's crumbling Interstate Highway system, highlighted by the recent closure of I-95 in Philadelphia (pictured). States desperately need fixes, but are reluctant to raise taxes as the economy slows down.

This is yet another domestic need going sorely unmet because of the budget drain of Chimpy's War.

rubenation's Top 3 "Scumbags of the Week."

Welcome to the second installment of rubenation's "Scumbags of the Week," my weekly choices of the individuals who did the most during the previous seven days to accelerate the ongoing demise of America. A non-partisan rant, this week features two Republicans and one Democrat. Enjoy and get angry.

1). John "Hundred Year War" McCain (Presumptive Republican Presidential Nominee and Assisted Living Candidate). Okay, it was one thing five years ago for Chimpy to not to understand the difference between Sunnis and Shias before ordering the invasion of Iraq (though that was bad enough). But five years later for doddering old fool McCain to STILL not understand the difference (or the difference between Persians and Arabs, for that matter), is truly mind boggling. My vision for 2009: a disoriented McCain wakes up in the middle of the night and, thinking he's calling for his nurse, a pushes THE BUTTON.

2). John "Never Saw a Defense Contractor I Wouldn't Accept a Campaign Donation From" Murtha. (Congresscritter, D-PA). Somehow, this corrupt lifetime politician managed to convince people he had principles by speaking out against the Iraq War that he voted for. Well, he managed to reaffirm just how full of shit he is by endorsing for President another politician who voted vote the Iraq War, lending his antiwar "credibility" to Hillary's hideous campaign.

3). Richard P. "Go Fuck Yourself" Cheney (Vice President, Evil Overlord). When asked whether he was concerned that two-thirds of the U.S. population is now against the Iraq war, he essentially gave his standard reply, "tell them to go fuck themselves." And yet there are still idiots out there who think this war was all about promoting "Democracy."

Until next week, peace out.

One House in Virginia Drops 63% in Value While on the Market

Check out this lovely abode located in Rappahannock County, Virginia, which sits on a gorgeous 51 acre lot with a pond. It went on the market on May 4, 2006, and was listed at $2,275,000. It sold on December 27, 2007, for $850,000, after 574 days on the market and a whopping $1.425 million price drop.

That's gotta hurt.

Cost of Producing a Barrel of Oil Has Tripled Since 2003

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080320.IBEUROPE20/TPStory/Business

One aspect of the recent rise in oil prices that has been relatively overlooked is the skyrocketing cost of pumping oil out of the ground. According to this story, the price of producing a barrel of oil began rising in 2003 after being static for many years and is now three times higher.

Though the overall cost of production is still quite low (around $15), the 300% increase in just five years has grave implications carried forward. At this rate of increase, the cost of producing a barrel of oil will reach $130 in just ten years and that is BEFORE refining and shipping.

That is what Peak Oil is all about. It is not that we are (yet) running out of oil, it's that we are running out of CHEAP oil. And that is a very grave threat to our way of life.

Poll: 71 Percent Think Iraq Spending Hurts Economy

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/18/poll.iraq.economy/index.html

When asked for comment Dick Cheney replied, "tell them to go fuck themselves."

Bill Maher on Abu Ghraib

"Abu Grab-Ass Prison was the Muslims' worst nightmare--that we would invade an Arab country and there would be pictures of our hillbilly women pointing at their wieners."

Lynndie England: "It was the Media's Fault"

http://agonist.org/20080318/she_is_one_sick_peep

Is there ANYBODY in America willing to take responsibility for their own actions anymore? I was as sympathetic as anyone to the notion that the soldiers caught up in the Abu Ghraib scandal were not nearly as culpable for their actions as the brass who put them there and got off scott free.

Then I see this, and I just shake my head. Here is a direct quote from England:

"I felt pissed off. If the media hadn't exposed the pictures to that extent, then thousands of lives would have been saved."

Also note that this story was published in a German news magazine. I guess if you're a young American woman, our corproate media doesn't care what you have to say unless your name is Brittney Spears, Paris Hilton or Lindsey Lohan