EXTRA EXTRA, BLOG ALL ABOUT IT ...

The Detroit Media Partnership announced today a first-of-its-kind plan in the struggling U.S. newspaper industry — emphasizing more online delivery of news and information and cutting back home delivery days.

The Partnership, which runs the business operations of both the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press, will be eliminating home delivery on all but their most lucrative days, which are Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Printed "Express" issues will still be available at newsstands daily, but will be trimmed back from their current size, and the papers will encourage readers instead to check out daily digital editions available on their web sites.

The two papers, which are run through a joint operating agreement, are looking to save money on print and delivery costs, which have shot up over the past year with the rise in ink and gas prices. At the same time, circulation and advertising have dried up nationwide, and that’s been especially true in Detroit, home of the Big Three automakers who are seeking a federal bailout to continue operation in the midst of a devastating recession.

The Free Press, which is owned by Gannett, and the News, which is owned by MediaNews Group, have already bought out dozens of workers over the past two years. Circulation at the papers has plummeted by double-digit percentages since 2003.

This next step is a drastic one, and it’s unclear whether it will work. After all, the internet has been one of the main culprits in the decline of American newspapers, who have yet to figure out how to leverage new media advertising in an effective manner. Forcing readers online to get the paper could turn out to be a foolish strategy.

One of the advantages of paid newspapers has always been home delivery, a fact the free Examiner chain has recognized and used to its great advantage, giving it the ability to sell a more upscale demographic to its advertisers.

The print retreat will be a defeat that would alienate older readers, a key demographic for newspapers, who are unlikely to go online or even to the local newsstand to get their daily read.

Despite the amount of time I spend on line, researching and blogging, I still enjoy having the newspaper delivered to my door every morning. There's something therapeutic in enjoying your morning cup of coffee along with the daily news and sports. It's an American tradition that dates back to the days of Benjamin Franklin.

Starting now, my current subscription to the morning Free Press, will arrive each day in my email mailbox in the form of a password. With that daily password, I will then be able to link to the Free Press site where I can then access the digital paper.

So what happens when, one morning, the password misses the mailbox and lands in the bushes?

That'll be one call, to the circulation department. I can't wait to make.

Chucked Shoes - Sail To The Chief

A foul plan was afoot in Iraq today as an Iraqi Journalist hurled his shoes and an insult at President George W. Bush, causing the Commander In Chief to 'bob and weave' like a prize fighter. The President managed to dodge the podiatridic projectile, but not the insult, nor the foul odor.

Just after setting foot in Iraq earlier this morning, Bush side-stepped the issue on troop withdrawel, choosing to toe the line on the success of the surge. He then leaped into discussions on running a tighter command. He also skipped questions on his reason for jump starting soul searching meetings with arch rival leader Nuri al-Malikihis immediately.

After a short hike from the airport to the Iraqi leaders offices (which of course were a mere hop, skip and a jump away), the two leaders began their joint press conference, echoing Bush's earlier comments, while adding that "the time had come to heal."

The Iraqi Journalist, Muntazer al-Zaidi, then took matters into his own hand. Two size ten matters that is, or as Ed Sullivan would say, they were 'really big.'

Soles of shoes are considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture. After Saddam Hussein's statue was toppled in Baghdad in April 2003, many onlookers beat the statue's face with their soles.

Keeping in-step with proper protocol, some Iraqi journalists stood up to apologize to Bush. The President replied: "Thanks for apologizing on behalf of the Iraqi people." Playing down the incident, the president later added: "I don't know what the guy's cause is, but I didn't feel the least bit threatened by it."

The incident may very well sum up the George W. Bush presidency in one sentence:

"If the shoe fits ... wear it!"

Two Messiahs Birth In Question

Even though the U.S. Supreme Court turned down an emergency appeal from a New Jersey man (who says the President-Elect is ineligible to be president because he was a British subject at birth), serious doubt and legitimate concerns continue regarding the actual birthplace of the Chosen One, Barack Hussein Obama.

At the time of his birth, his mother (the Virgin Ann), was American and his Kenyan father at the time was a British subject. There appears to be evidence that the President-Elect was indeed born in Kenya, then moved to Hawaii. Other reports indicate that the Messiah Obama may have been born in Indonesia.

The U.S. Constitution, Article 2, “Executive Branch”, Section 1, “The President”, clearly states the following: ‘No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President; neither shall any Person be eligible to that Office who shall not have attained to the Age of thirty-five Years, and been fourteen Years a Resident within the United States.’

Fuel to the fire came from Obama’s campaign, during his run for the Presidency, when it was proven that the birth certificate document presented (claiming he was born in Hawaii), was indeed a forgery. According to many legal scholars, although the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to take the case, Obama still may face serious challenges.

Meanwhile, in a related story it appears that a team of researchers, headed by Australian astronomer Dave Reneke, claim that a bright star which appeared over Bethlehem 2,000 years ago pinpointed the date of Christ's birth as June 17 rather than December 25.
The researchers claim the 'Christmas Star' was most likely a magnificent conjunction of the planets Venus and Jupiter, which were so close together they would have shone unusually brightly as a single "beacon of light" which appeared suddenly.

The team used complex computer software to chart the exact positions of all celestial bodies and map the night sky as it would have appeared over the Holy Land more than 2,000 years ago.
It revealed a spectacular astronomical event around the time of Jesus's birth. Reneke says the wise men probably interpreted it as the sign they had been waiting for, then followed the 'star' to Christ's birthplace in a stable in Bethlehem, as described in the Bible.

Generally accepted research has placed the nativity to somewhere between 3BC and 1AD.

Using the St Matthew's Gospel as a reference point, Mr Reneke pinpointed the planetary conjunction, which appeared in the constellation of Leo, to the exact date of June 17 in the year 2BC.

Mr Reneke, who is editor of Sky and Space magazine, said: 'We have software that can recreate the night sky exactly as it was at any point in the last several thousand years”, and adds, 'We are not saying this was definitely the Christmas star - but it is the strongest explanation for it of any I have seen so far.”

Following the release of this incredible historic finding, a brilliant proclamation was made by members of the Faculty of Astrological Studies in London, when they concluded that: “If the Australian team is correct, it would mean Jesus was a Gemini, not a Capricorn as previously believed.”

Lessons Learned - Lest We Forget

While the sitcom “Welcome Back Carter” prepares itself for it’s premier on January 20, 2009, even as we all got a sneak preview yesterday in Chicago, there is an urgent need for two critical issues to remain front and center.

The fear is that, as in the days of Jimmy Carter, critical decisions that will affect the very existence of this country well into the future, will either be completely ignored or grievously miscalculated.

As we head into a new administration, the fear is that the entire issue of open borders and Illegal immigration will once again fall off the radar.

Reforming immigration policy fell to Ronald Reagan after fumbling attempts at reform by Carter. “This country has lost control of its borders. And no country can sustain that kind of position” claimed Reagan at the start of his Presidency.

However, nearly 27 years later, uncontrollable numbers of illegal aliens continue to pour into this country at an alarming rate. There have been far too many examples, most recently with the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India, where we have failed to take advantage of lessons learned.

We can only hope that President Elect Obama, and the Democrat led Congress, react to the opinion of 84% of ‘We The People’, and seal up our borders, now!

The second critical issue, as we discussed briefly here yesterday, has to do with rising fuel prices and the absolute need to refocus our energy on America’s own natural resources.

Opening up more land and off shore sites for exploration is the answer to decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. The outer continental shelf, ANWR, and similar places should have never been placed off limits in the first place. That was national economic foolishness in order to appease tree huggers who want us to revert to a nineteenth century way of life.



We need to ‘drill here and drill now!’ Do it responsibly and hygienically, but do it yesterday. And by the way, just because an oil company has a lease on land doesn’t mean there is oil there. Stop with the smoke and mirrors rhetoric. Congress needs to get out of the way and let the professionals decide when and where to drill.




Leave the strategic oil reserve alone. It is for real emergencies, not false ones created by extremists who purposefully decreased our oil supply by making it harder to get and refine our own crude oil.

And real emergencies with nations who hate us are coming due to this Congress backstabbing President Bush and our troops in a time of war, and thus emboldening our enemies.

So what does Congress do? They pass legislation to force higher mileage standards for cars and trucks? That does me and my neighbors no good when we can’t afford these new vehicles. Any savings at the pump are eaten up by a big car payment. Besides, these new vehicles will be more dangerous because they will have to be small and light weight to meet the new mileage standards. As a home owner, I have to haul things all the time. How is a battery-powered car going to haul around anything besides two skinny liberals?

What about having stuff delivered? OK, that means added cost and we are back to needing oil to power more diesel engine delivery trucks that can deliver heavy loads. Is there anything even remotely on the horizon of technology that will ever replace the internal combustion engine for hauling heavy loads? I seriously doubt it.

Just take a look at the Nancy Pelosi led Congress three bullet points regarding their accomplishments on this very issue:

1. “Took action to investigate price gouging and ensure that retailers aren’t artificially inflating the cost of gas.”

What about government at all levels gouging us with ever increasing taxes on energy? What about government farm subsidies that artificially inflate the cost of food? I still can’t get over the notion that government forces me to pay taxes and then turns around and gives that money to farmers so that they will alter their actions in a way that drives up the cost of my groceries.

2. “Passed investments in renewable and alternative energy and reduced taxpayer subsidies for oil companies.”

What about getting rid of the stupid ethanol subsidies that are driving food prices higher? Oh that’s right, because ethanol subsidies buy the Democrats more votes from the Corn Belt farmers. So my taxes go to prop up a failed alternative energy source, making my grocery bill higher just so Democrats get more votes.

Wind and solar power are unpredictable. What will we have as backup energy on windless and cloudy days? Besides, they are a visual blight to our countryside. I thought you Democrats cared about the "pristine" environment.


But no, you will throw up these ugly wind generators and solar panels everywhere in the lower 48 states before you will drill for oil in a barren, uninhabitable, desolate place such as ANWR that is in darkness most of the year.

Why not invest in more nuclear and hydro-electric energy generation? France has been generating electrical energy with nuclear power safely for many years now. And the last I checked, the water cycle of rain and rivers is about as renewable as you can get. We need to build more nuclear reactors and hydro-electric dams for power. That will help us bring down the cost of our electric utility bills.

3. “Passed a Farm Bill that makes a historic investment in Bio-fuels made from crops other than grain.”

Oh great, what other food sources are you going to subsidize with my taxes, making less of it available to eat thus driving up our grocery bill further and starving the worlds poor just so you get more votes?

How do you power ambulances, freight trains, and airplanes on carrot juice? Maybe some day alternative energy that doesn’t have to be subsidized, will not visually pollute our landscapes, and will not lessen food sources (and drive up prices) will be available. Until then, we need more of our own oil out of the ground and refined here and now to keep the American economic engine rolling. Let’s do it cleanly and safely, but let’s do it now. Stop wasting our time and money trying to synthesize cheap, magic pixie dust so we can all fly around like Peter Pan.

The Truth About ANWR

The Artic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is the secret that Democrats in Washington don’t want the American people to know: This is a treasure trove of energy that will yield a lot with only minimal intrusion.

For far too long, Americans have been told by the environmentalist left that drilling in Alaska would hurt the abundant wildlife and natural resources there. This is simply not true. ANWR is a small part of the Arctic Circle in northern Alaska. Energy exploration would be limited to a small 2,000-acre lot within ANWR. That is comparable to a postage stamp sitting on a football field.

Exploration of ANWR revealed that almost no wildlife exists in the 2,000-acre area proposed for drilling. It is flat arctic tundra with absolutely no trees in view. Alaskan Caribou and wildlife were nowhere near the possible drilling sites.

Furthermore, we know that nine months out of the year this area is hidden under snow and ice and three months out of the year the area is covered in complete darkness.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that there are 10.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil in ANWR. And these estimates are based on exploration done in the 1970s. Federal moratoria on these lands have restricted even modern technological investigation of what oil reserves may be available for tapping. Imagine what modern surveying techniques might show. It gets better; the EIA has also stated that the production of this oil would create an estimated 750,000 American jobs. At a time when our nation is hurting because of rising food and gas costs, more domestic energy and new jobs would give the economy a much needed boost.

The fact of the matter is that Congress is standing in the way of $1-2 per gallon gas (as the rule, instead of the current exception). As mentioned, in yesterday’s article, don’t be fooled by the $44 per barrel today. Planned cuts in production (see Jimmy Carter era) will force supply and demand strategies to once again drive up prices, and as early as February 2009.

It is Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrats who are refusing to let commonsense energy legislation come to the floor. The American people are hurting and gas prices will continue to spiral out of control. But Congress continues to turn a deaf ear.We have the resources available in areas like ANWR, Colorado, California, and off-shore, to lower oil costs and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.

Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less!

Give The Gov. A Hurrumph - UPDATE!

Illinois Gov. Blagojevich meeting with Obama earlier this year.

CHICAGO – Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich and his Chief of Staff, John Harris, were arrested today by FBI agents on federal corruption charges alleging that they and others are engaging in ongoing criminal activity: conspiring to obtain personal financial benefits for Blagojevich by leveraging his sole authority to appoint a United States Senator; threatening to withhold substantial state assistance to the Tribune Company in connection with the sale of Wrigley Field to induce thefiring of Chicago Tribune editorial board members sharply critical of Blagojevich; and to obtain campaign contributions in exchange for official actions.

As stated in my column on our beloved State Governors, just last week: "... and the hits just keep on coming!" http://rougerevival.blogspot.com/2008/12/give-governor-hurrumph.html

U.S. Atty. Patrick Fitzgerald said today that federal authorities arrested Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich today because the governor went on "a political corruption crime spree" that needed to be stopped.

We discussed the corruption in the State of Illinois politics. William Ayers, Tony Rezko, former Gov. George Ryan, Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama (oh no, wait a minute, he somehow snuck under the radar). The list, however, of Chicago 'thug' politicians, and associates, is long.

And here we go again.

Fitzgerald said secret tape recordings showed Blagojevich was attempting "to sell the U.S. Senate seat" that President-elect Barack Obama recently vacated. Fitzgerald said, "We make no allegations" that Obama was aware of any alleged scheming by Blagojevich."

No allegations yet! The governor has the sole power to pick Obama's replacement under the state constitution. You can't tell me that Obama wasn't making his own recommendations.

"The conduct would make Lincoln roll over in his grave," Fitzgerald said, quoting Blagojevich as saying the Senate seat is "a bleeping valuable thing. You just don't give it away. ... I've got this thing and it's bleeping golden." Fitzgerald called the corruption charges against Blagojevich "a truly new low."

Blagojevich wasn't against the corrupt deal for the Senate seat, he was against "being stiffed in the corrupt deal," Fitzgerald said. The remarks came at a news conference to discuss charges against Blagojevich and his chief of staff, John Harris. Blagojevich and Harris are scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Nan Nolan.

As Bob Parks correctly stated this afternoon, on his daily 'Black and Right' blog: "After three hours of wall to wall coverage, today on CNN, the coverage included the dismay, disgust, and disappointment of the anchor, the host, and guests. But can any of you tell me the one word I didn't hear ... the one word purposely not spoken?

'Democrat.'

I guess we should be appreciative of the fact that CNN saw no reason to interject politics into this sorry chapter in American politics."

And then you had Robert Grant, FBI special agent in charge of the Chicago office, characterizing Illinois' place in the pantheon of political corruption. "If it isn't the most corrupt state in the United States, it's certainly one hell of a competitor," Grant said. "Even the most cynical agents in our office were shocked."

Shocked? Oh Really! As we clearly stated in our article, from earlier today (see below), Robert Grant, the FBI, CNN and all of the liberal mainstream media need to: "buy a clue!

Despite $44/Barrel, We Still Need To Drill Here

Sometimes I wonder where liberals come up with their ridiculous notions about life in America. Right here in Michigan we are surrounded by misguided left wing loonies, who desperately are in need for all of us conservatives, to send them each one shiny ‘State of Michigan’ State Quarter.

Maybe then, they’ll buy a clue!

Leading the pack is Queen Loon herself, Obama Economic (pause for laughter) Guru & Prognosticator (I’ll wait), Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

But I’ve picked on the governor enough already this week. It is time we take a look at one of our great leaders (pause for laughter) in Washington - Senator Debbie Stabenow - who claimed earlier this year that rising gas prices were being "fostered" by President Bush and Vice President Cheney because of their former ties to the oil industry. Sen. Stabenow and her Senate colleagues only needed to look in a mirror to find the real culprits.

She has voted against all proposals for new oil drilling. There's tons of oil out there we cannot touch because the environmental movement owns the Democratic Party. Of course, the mainstream media gives these people a pass, but the facts bring out the truth.

Gasoline was high, this past summer (near $5 per gallon) because the world market for oil has been growing, while the Oil supply is static.

Sen. Stabenow and her colleagues are more responsible for the rising price of oil than the oil industry, the president, the vice president, his relatives, their friends, my friends, and your friends combined.

Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), could have had an impact stabilizing the world price for a barrel of crude. Since the environmental movement owns our great State Senator, she had to vote against it.

I believe Stabenow knows many Americans are ignorant about economics and do not understand the law of supply and demand, so she makes ignorant statements and gets away with it. (It also amazes me how illiterate the mainstream press corps is about economics).

Sen. Stabenow wanted the public to put pressure on the Republicans when actually, the public needed to put pressure on the Democrats. They control Congress. They could have slowed or even put a halt to the rising price of oil if they would have opened up the Coast of California and ANWR to oil drilling.

Some say that any chance of her approving such a plan, came to a screeching halt, when she learned last spring that her husband, Thomas Athans, had done a little ‘off-shore drilling’ of his own.

Now that a barrel of oil has fallen to under $45 a barrel, it is no time to even think for a moment, that we are out of the woods.

Prices have dropped significantly based on the pressure from President Bush lifting the ban on drilling in U.S coastal waters, mixed with, the current economic slowdown which has forced many to cut back on fuel consumption.

Economic lesson #1: This is a temporary solution. Production will soon be cut forcing ‘supply and demand’ (look it up libs) to rule the day. Although we may not get back to the $5 per gallon levels (for now), we could be up around $4 per gallon by February 2009.

Happy New Year!

Sen. Stabenow does not agree with that assumption and once again needs to desperately by a clue.

Senator! You need a reality check to exorcise the Pelosi demons from your thought processes. Speaker Pelosi led you astray on the successful Iraq war military surge and now she is leading you astray on energy. The only reason I am taking time to try to help you is that you represent the state I love, which in turns represents the country I adore.

You have been quoted to have said: “The skyrocketing cost of gas is hurting families, already struggling from the automotive crisis here in Michigan. Fuel costs are making it more difficult for families to pay the bills, for community groups to feed the hungry and for local businesses to thrive and create jobs.”

Yes, and Democrats, especially the controlling liberal factions, and environmentalist extremism have played a very large role in creating these circumstances. By placing ‘off limits’ to drilling areas where we know there is oil, you increase our dependence on (what will soon be again) costly foreign oil. Through over regulation, your party has made it ever more difficult to build new refineries. By passing huge agriculture bills full of taxpayer funded subsidies for grain farmers, you continue to drive up the cost of our food. Your party and its supporters are largely responsible for this mess.

In tomorrow’s column, we will discuss here, why places like ANWAR hold the key to our future dependency issues, and why, liberals like Stabenow are attempting to sell us on her, Environmentalist friend’s driven, talking points.

For now, there are two things you can do now to fight back.
First, call or email your Senator and Representative, and tell him or her to “Drill Here, Drill Now!”

Second, please visit americansolutions.com/drillnow and sign the “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less” petition.