Given Obama’s plans for significantly-increased spending, many have wondered where the new tax revenue that will be required will come from.  We know about the new taxes on the “rich”, but certainly the hundreds of billions can’t all come from there.

An interview with Obama from almost a year ago tells the tale.  In it, Obama talks about his energy policy and his plans to adopt Al Gore’s “Cap and Trade” system.  But we should let him speak for himself:

“Let me sort of describe my overall policy… What I’ve said is that we would put a cap and trade system in place that is as aggressive if not more aggressive than anybody else’s out there…”

“Every unit of carbon or greenhouse gases that is emitted would be charged to the poluter…”

“So if somebody wants to build a coal-powered power plan, they can.  It’s just that it will bankrupt them because they’re gonna be charged a huge sum…”

Now whenever producers are taxed, these new taxes must be passed on to consumers – you and I.  Since about 50 percent of US electricity production comes from coal, we’re talking about potentially huge increases in the cost of energy in the US.

So let’s be clear.  Obama’s policies require not just new taxes on the rich.  They are new taxes on everyone.

I hope America knows what its doing.

Barack Obama is a great orator, but do you really understand what his plans are? What about the Democratic Party? Does it really matter as long as we change from Bush’s policies?

Consider this. President Bush has some very unpopular policies, but he is also operating with both the House and Senate in control of the opposing Party. And the national media has countered Bush by being, on the whole, very unsympathetic to his agenda.

Regardless of the results of this election, Bush is out. And although John McCain has demonstrated that he is very different from Bush – if elected President he will face significant opposition to his policies. Since Congress is predicted with near-certainty to remain in Democratic hands, then President McCain will be forced to seriously negotiate and compromise with the Democratic Congress.

But President Barack Obama will have no such hedges against his power. He will operate with near impunity; all branches of government will be firmly under the control of his party – and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. And with much of the national media clearly enamored with him, will a President Barack Obama be critically investigated by the press? Has he been to date? more »»

John McCain, in his acceptance speech as the Republican nominee for President of the United States at the Republican National Convention, talks about what his administration will be like.

Thank you all very much. Tonight, I have a privilege given few Americans — the privilege of accepting our party’s nomination for President of the United States. And I accept it with gratitude, humility and confidence.

In my life, no success has come without a good fight, and this nomination wasn’t any different. That’s a tribute to the candidates who opposed me and their supporters. They’re leaders of great ability, who love our country, and wished to lead it to better days. Their support is an honor I won’t forget.
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I have read many blog posts today on the Sarah Palin speech, from many different political spectrums. A number were critical of Sarah Palin for her attacks on Barack Obama. Many reactions were, to me, irrational.

I ask, isn’t Governor Palin allowed to respond to attacks from the Obama camp (and their surrogates) which are critical of her own experience?

Some of her critiques of Obama and the Democratic left were quite effective – and all done with humor:

• “… I was mayor of my hometown. And since our opponents in this presidential election seem to look down on that experience, let me explain to them what the job involved. I guess… a small-town mayor is sort of like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities.”
• “I might add that, in small towns, we don’t quite know what to make of a candidate who lavishes praise on working people when they’re listening and then talks about how bitterly they cling to their religion and guns when those people aren’t listening. No, we tend to prefer candidates who don’t talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.”

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(The transcript of Governor Sarah Palin’s acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, as delivered)

SARAH PALIN: Mr. Chairman, delegates, and fellow citizens, I will be honored to accept your nomination for vice president of the United States.

(APPLAUSE)

I accept the call to help our nominee for president to serve and defend America. And I accept the challenge of a tough fight in this election against confident opponents at a crucial hour for our country.

And I accept the privilege of serving with a man who has come through much harder missions, and met far graver challenges, and knows how tough fights are won, the next president of the United States, John S. McCain.

(APPLAUSE)
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An interesting and very revealing exchange, on the subject of VP candidate Sarah Palin, occurred Tuesday night on the floor of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul Minnesota.

Referring to Sarah Palin, MSNBC’s Ron Allen said to former Speaker Newt Gingrich: “But to be fair, her resume is not something we’re familiar seeing with presidential candidates.”

Gingrich’s response was immediate and very assertive:

“It’s stronger than Barack Obama’s. I don’t know why you guys walk around saying this baloney. She has a stronger resume than Obama. She’s been a real mayor, he hasn’t. She has been a real governor, he hasn’t. She’s been in charge of the Alaskan National Guard, he hasn’t. She was a whistleblower who defeated an incumbent mayor. He has never once shown that kind of courage. She’s a whistleblower who turned in the chairman of her own party and got him fined $12,000. I’ve never seen Obama do one thing like that. She took on the incumbent governor of her own party and beat him, and then she beat a former Democratic governor in the general election. I don’t know of a single thing Obama’s done except talk and write.”

“I’d like you to tell me one thing Sen. Obama’s done.”

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In a bold move, John McCain has apparently selected Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice-Presidential Running-Mate.

From her web site, she is:

1. Pro Family
2. Pro Traditional Marriage
3. Pro Life
4. Pro Gun Rights
5. An advocate of increased drilling for oil and natural gas
6. Believes that Global Warming is a large issue, but is skeptical that it is caused by humans.

She is young and relatively inexperienced – but still has more executive experience than Barack Obama.

This is a very interesting choice, and a fresh face.

Here is a related article on Fox News: Alaska Gov. Palin to be Named as McCain Running Mate