The Wall Street Journal has released the 2010 survey of CEO compensation and who are the top guys getting the BIG money for what they do... And to surprise many it's not the "Evil Oil company" CEO that mainstream media love to attack at this time of the year... Out of the Top Ten see if you notice a trend here....
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1. Phil Dauman of Viacom $84 Million+
3. Leslie Moonves of CBS $53.8 Million+
5. Michael White of DirectTV $32.6 Million+
7. Robert Iger of Disney $27.2 Million+
10. Jeff Bewkes of Time Warner $26 Million+
20. Rex Tillerson Of ExxonMobil $21 Million+
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The first "Evil Oil company" CEO that I saw was at the #20 slot with the first 19 spots covered mostly by financial, computer related, and even the Ford CEO (which did not take the bailout money)...
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Notice 5 of the Top Ten CEO's are from media\entertainment companies?
Remember that when you pay your cable bill this month.......
"If allowed to proceed, it would eventually transport more than a million barrels of crude each day — more, according to Heritage Foundation analyst David Kreutzer, than we now import from either Saudi Arabia or Venezuela, our two largest suppliers after Canada and Mexico."
So now we have President Obama striving to outsource our oil\natural gas exploration, drilling, and production jobs to Brazil while his administration continues to block such jobs right here in America by continuing the moritorium...
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“It is beyond comprehension the administration would encourage trade for Brazilian oil while obstructing U.S. oil and natural gas development, eliminating related jobs here at home, and decreasing oil and natural gas revenues to the U.S. Treasury when the government is trillions of dollars in debt. The message from the White House to America’s oil and natural gas workers: we’re going to outsource your job.
“The administration is missing the obvious: what makes sense for Brazil also makes sense for the United States. Like every other nation, we should be developing our own oil and natural gas resources. It’s good for energy security, good for the economy, good for jobs, and it will help bring down our deficit.
“The administration says it supports more oil and natural gas development here in the United States, then at every turn discourages it. And today, the White House is making a deal with Brazil for the oil it is not allowing companies to produce here. There’s nothing wrong with buying Brazilian oil, but there’s a big problem when we’re forced to because we’re held back from producing our own.”
WASHINGTON, February __ – API President and CEO Jack Gerard said the administration’s offer to exchange batteries for oil from Brazil reflects its inadequate and illogical energy policy:
Attended the Americans for Prosperity Town Hall meeting today in Lexington where there was a crowd of 50 to 60 locals attending to hear about AFP's efforts and to discuss the repeal of Obamacare and the continuing overreach of the federal government...
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It was good to see AFP Virginia State Director Ben Marchi and guest speaker Gov. George Allen at the event which took up a full hour with many questions and comments from those attending....
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Governor Allens was asked several questions regarding the deficit spending in both the nation as well as the State of Virginia and responded with answers and examples of how its was dealt with as a Governor and U.S. Senator...
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Marchi then provided a 140 report on the 2010~2011 Virginia budget "A Spending Problem or A Revenue Problem?".....
Interesting report on the budget of Virginia and the excessive spending by a ever growing government and how the problem needs to addressed in the future... . Much info to review and will take sometime but I was impressed by the "simple set of principles that provide a readily applicable fiscal philosophy which policymakers can apply to the complex budget issues that confront them".... . The 9 R's of Fiscal Responsibility
The local Harrisonburg newspaper reports that a local "Environmentalist\Political activist" couple from the Harriosnburg area is now attending the Climate Action Alliance gathering being held in Cancun, Mexico.... (See above video of the event)
Both Charles and Cathy Strickler have been active in the area and I have seen their Letters to the Editors in the paper numerous times and they are indeed very "active" in the local happenings of the Valley....
During this same week the same newspaper highlighted some wisdom from Mr. Strickler in a Open Forumletter to the people of the valley. Impressive opportunity for Strickler to broadcast his views and beliefs but the original article printed in The News Leader should have asked the activists the obvious questions regrding the reason for this trip to Cancun and the event itself....
In his Open Forum letter Strickler stated:
The big financial institutions went happily on their way, selling homes to people who could not afford them, and passing the loans on to others who did not care about those involved. Just give me mine! Some even made money by betting that the market would crash (AIG). Some tried to get people to change their ways, to get better regulations on borrowing, etc., but of course, things got out of hand and now we are all paying the price. There were a few people who predicted the financial problem. What would have happened if 90 percent of all financial advisers had been saying that the economy was not sustainable?
But yet was it not the Democratic Party majority controlled Congress that allowed the above actions to continue and infact encouraged it? Remember Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and how many of the Congresspeople from the Democrat party supported its actions in loaning money to those who obviously could not afford it?.... Remember the videos of Congressman Charlie Rangle on the floor stating Fannie and Freddie are just fine?..And as much as I am sure that the Stricklers love and appreciate the predictions made by Glen Beck, he has been reporting and predicting the current financial mess for years.....
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On the climate side, there are some who get it and are doing all they can to change their lives by reducing their carbon use. Besides, it also makes good economic sense to insulate your house and drive a fuel efficient vehicle. And if you truly understand the science, you have great concern for your children and grandchildren.
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Now about those 1,500 activists that are attending the get-together in Cancun, Mexico...
What is the "Carbon footprint" of that travel and how was that trip to and from Harrisonburg, Virginia? Maybe the Stricklers bought the appropriate "Carbon Credits" from the Al Gore boondoggle of a program....
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Models of our environmental future do not paint a very pretty picture. No one knows with certainty exactly how it will turn out, but the scientists whom we have relied on in the past tell us that we are headed for a very different and difficult environmental future. Can we as individuals and collective citizens make a difference in the outcome? I am trying to do my part and hoping that you will do your part too. .
Obviously... Are the numerous airpanes from Harrisonburg area airport to and from Cancun, Mexico of the Hybrid electric\gas type?.....
AFP-Virginia Statement on Senator Webb's Empty EPA Promise
Ben Marchi, State Director of Americans for Prosperity, today released the following statement regarding Senator Jim Webb's duplicity on the issue of over-reaching EPA global warming regulations:
"Outside the capitol on Wednesday, Senator Jim Webb promised a rally of coal miners from Virginia and beyond that Congress is "not going to let the EPA regulate coal out of business".
However, inside the halls of the Senate as recently as June 10, Webb was singing a different song. He voted against S.J. Res 26, which would have stopped the EPA's global warming regulatory onslaught. The resolution got 47 votes, 4 short of the 51 needed for passage. Webb not only voted no, but he also gave cover to other coal state Democrats to let the EPA power grab continue.
I find it outrageous that Senator Webb would promise hardworking Virginians that he would vote to prevent a power grab by the EPA when he voted just months ago, and in lock-step with the Obama/Pelosi/Reid machine, to allow them near-absolute regulatory power."
Webb is also being called out by the otherside and the enviromaniacs at Common Dreams.org
And why is Sen. Jim Webb appearing with such an extremist crowd? He wrote in his bestselling book, Born Fighting: How the Scots-Irish Shaped America:
"The ever hungry industrialists had discovered that West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southwest Virginia sat atop one huge vein of coal. And so the rape began. The people from the outside showed up with complicated contracts that the small-scale cattle raisers and tobacco farmers could not fully understand, asking for "rights" to mineral deposits they could not see, and soon they were treated to a sundering of their own earth as the mining companies ripped apart their way of life, so that after a time the only option was to go down into the hole and bring the Man his coal, or starve. The Man got his coal, and the profits it brought when he shipped it out. They got their wages, black lung, and the desecration of their land".
Both Senator Webb and Senator Warner are even getting flack over at Blue Virginia for their appearance at the rally by the coal miners...
Look, I know you've gotta do stuff in politics, and I know that the country's gone teabagger crazy and all, but Warner's (and Webb's) appearance and speech at this rally today were extremely difficult to swallow. I mean, just because a portion of the country's going stark raving mad, does that mean we can't have Democrats who stand up for what's right, who speak the truth, who don't use right-wingnut framing and talking points, who don't sell out to corporate polluters, and who fight back against the insanity? Ugh, so frustrating. And they wonder why there's an "enthusiasm gap?!?"
But let us not forget the stated "game plan" by the leader of the Warner~Webb Democratic Party, our President, Barack Obama...
It seems Senator Webb has gotten himself in the middle of many battlefronts and it is good to see AFP ~Americans for Prosperity~ call him on his conflicts such as his past voting history against the coal miners he claims to support...
Congressman Tom Perriello (Democrat 5th district) has changed his wording of his "Favorite Quote" as shown here...
Was it a slip of the tongue the first time or did he say what he believes and has since changed his "Favorite Quote" to avoid problems during his campaign for re-election?...
Fortunately in this video a constituent at one of his townhall meetings called him on his "Favorite Quote" as the media should have done...
Keith Drake has some interesting points madehere.....
Democratic Party Candidate Greg Marrow is running for the Delegate seat representing the VA 25th-district and during a debate last night stated that the $125 million dollars from the stimulus package not used for VA unemployment was"Free" money and "was lost to other states"
There seems to be an obvious pattern here with the views and agendas of our Democrat friends when it comes to our taxpayer money.....
Representative James Moran, Virginia-Democrat, recently criticized Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s request for the supporting data related to the research of climate scientist Michael Mann while at the University of Virginia.
Moran accuses the Attorney General of using his position to “Stifle academic freedom” with his request for the data Mann gathered while at UVA and now being used by the Environmental Protection Agency to potentially regulate greenhouse gasses. These regulations will cost both Virginia and the United States millions in lost industry and jobs…
Attorney General Cuccinelli is seeking the data from Mann’s research to see if it was flawed, manipulated, or misused before it was used by the EPA in developing their new regulations. This after it has been learned that vast amounts of data from other research institutes has been manipulated in a way to support the “Global Warming” theory and thus the EPA’s decision.
Now we have numerous academic groups and even the American Civil Liberties Union expressing their objection to the AG’s request.
The Attorney General has responded with:"The use of manipulated data to apply for taxpayer-funded research grants in Virginia is potentially fraud. Given this, the only prudent thing to do was to look into it."
If Mann’s research and data is the product from tax funded research grants it should be available for public and peer group review, and if there is nothing to hide this should be a non-issue…
Awhile back I did a post about how there is such hunger for grants at colleges and how Research Grants has become BIG business...
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In fact while attending a community College and studying Marine Biology as a past time, I was also working on a Sportfishing boat as a living and the Marine Biology Director suggested I take a grant to "Count Birds"...
With our Government(s) being Trillions of dollars in debt and even more Trillions in unfunded liabilities. We have elected officials who refuse to directly face the obvious threat and continue to ignore that promised benefits must be cut. They fear and know that many will not be re-elected if they cut benefits to many Americans who depend on these benefits but yet they do not understand they would get the votes and approvals from those paying the tax bills...
(Consider the 47% that does NOT pay any Income tax and who they will support)
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Now after saying this what should those who have sacrificed over the years, saved their money, invested in a retirement plan, and worked towards securing their future retirement without depending heavily on the Federal government, what should they do?
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Should we leave our money in the 401K account, Stocks, Mutual Funds, Bonds, with the hope that the government will not determine down the line that to "make the playing field more fair for all" changes are needed. Will they determine that we have too much in personal savings and the government will need those assets to provide for those who did nothing for their retirement?
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So should I cash in my 401K and assets into Gold bars?
Or add to what I already have in the Coffee Can buried in the backyard?
Is it wrong to protect these assets from the Government and would that make me a "Bad Guy"?...
It has been reported that there has been a "Significant new oil discovery" in the deepwater of the Gulf of Mexico and it is the result of some very impressive technology, investment, and effort...
. The find is located in the Appomattox prospect area in the Mississippi Canyon. The well was drilled through more than 7,200 feet of water to a total depth of 25,077 feet where it found a 530'-thick layer containing oil.
A published report indicates the discovery is estimated to hold at least 100 million barrels of oil.
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The above video is from the recent "Summit on Virginia's Energy Future" at which time Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell describes how 37.5% of the royalties coming from the Gulf of Mexico goes directly to the Gulf States and their budgets...
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We NEED to develop the known energy sources offshore of the Virginia coast to benefit the Citizens of Virginia and the United States...
That was the answer coming from the President and Chief Nuclear Officer from Dominion Virginia Power when he was asked how Virginia was going to meet the increased energy demand in Virginia’s future…
He went on to explain that there is no one energy source available to Virginia to meet it’s energy needs and that it will take a combination of many different forms of energy production. Some may feel it odd or strange coming from a “Nuclear” guy that he was not pushing for an increase in nuclear production, but like many assembled at this summit, we all know it will take investment in many available forms of energy to fill the need….
Forms of energy such as: Coal Wind \ Solar Nuclear Conservation “The fifth energy” Oil \ Natural Gas
Another interesting point made was that 60+% of the increased demand for energy in Virginia came from behind existing meters showing that it is not new growth but higher demand in locations with more and bigger toys to run. Homes with multiple computers, flat screen T.V. / monitors, and energy hungry electronics…
“This is not just an issue for Congress to deal with but an important issue that Virginia must also deal with“.
Once again one of our local businessmen here in Augusta County has taken it upon himself to ask the questions that many of us have been thinking about and in a way to publicly do it....
The owner of Blue Ridge lumber has once again posted large 4x8 signs asking where are the leaders like James Madison during a time where the Federal Government is running unrestricted and using whatever made-up rules and procedures to get their way...
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He has done this in the past and I have always enjoyed looking for the next thought provoking "Question" to be posted as well as the quick conversations we have when it comes time to plant some campaign signs in the area...
Just some of the places where the Obama Stimulus money has gone and something to think about this month while you are doing your yearly tax payment\return...
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11. $3.4 MILLION FOR A TURTLE TUNNEL IN FLORIDA: “The Other Third Of The Stimulus, Government Infrastructure Spending, Has Been The Most Controversial From The Start. Some Proposals Have Been Criticized As Wasteful, Such As … A $3.4 Million ‘Ecopassage’ To Help Turtles Cross A Highway In Tallahassee, Fla.” (“The Challenge In Counting Stimulus Returns,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/27/09)
President Obama threw out many bones to many different groups last night during his State of the Union speech...
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Like many of the promises he made back during his campaign, he has not delivered or followed up on many of his "Hopes" and in fact has ignored many of his claims during the campaign...
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So don't count on many of those promises made last night and enjoy your bone for now. But be sure to watch for somebody from Virginia who will be sure to hold the President on his stated claim to develop domestic energy sources offshore...
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Meet Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his response to the State of the Union speech found here...
Marketwatch has released the final auto sales for the year and it appears that the majority of the auto purchases went to other auto manufacturers other than General Motors \ Chrysler, better known as "Government Motors"....
I had heard this theory before but I had to run this example by my "Democrat" friend to see if it applied here also....
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It is being reported that Democratic Virginia Governor \ Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine is looking at cutting back or eliminating the Car-Tax relief all together to fill the $2.7 to $3.5 billion state revenue void...
. "One of the sacred cows in Virginia's budget, car tax relief for residents, is among the spending items outgoing Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and his team are analyzing as they look to plug a state revenue hole estimated to be anywhere from $2.7 billion to $3.5 billion."
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The first time I heard this "Democrat-theory" used was when many were saying that by allowing the Bush tax-cuts to expire it is not an actual tax increase but just allowing the tax rate to return to where it was before the tax-cut(?).....
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Somehow I feel that there will still be less money in my paycheck and a even higher amount going to the government via the tax "adjustment"...
. "An outright repeal of the car tax subsidy could save the state $1.9 billion over the upcoming two-year budget cycle and fill a large chunk of the projected revenue hole. But it would also place localities that rely on those funds in a tough spot and likely mean higher tax bills for vehicle owners."
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Fortunately House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith sees this for what it is...
. "House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, said any reduction to the car tax refund amounts to "a huge tax increase" that "hits the families of Virginia right in the eye." Anything the state withholds, localities would be "entitled to bill" to their residents, he added."
The Americans for Prosperity "Hands off my Healthcare Express" tour bus made a stop in Waynesboro today with Senator\Governor George Allen and State Senator Ken Cuccinelli who is the GOP Candidate for Virginia Attorney General... .
This tour bus is traveling across Virginia to bring the message regarding the Health care bill that the Obama administration, with the help of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, are trying to push through Congress...
. "Some in Washington think Americans’ passion at August town halls was a fluke, but you and I know better. As the details of legislation are released by Congress, the level of government intrusion attached to health care reform becomes a frightening reality."
"The promise that ‘if you like what you have, you can keep it’ rings hollow when people see the reality of what Congress is proposing"...
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Senator Ken Cuccinelli with comments regarding the bus tour and the truth about the proposed Health care reform bill... .
Americans for Prosperity Virginia State Director Ben Marchi speaks with George Allen, Senator Ken Cuccinelli, and Scott Sayre (Restore the Founders' Vision) looking on....
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Ben Marchi responds to comments made by MSNBC Rachel Maddow to this as an "Astro-turf" effort and then goes on to discuss the ratings of her MSNBC show...
Energy Year in Review
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Despite occasional policy obstacles, the U.S. energy revolution continues
to enhance America’s economic and national security and deliver major
benefits to...
