Let’s hope the Senate can think its way out of a paper bag…..

The House has passed (barely) Nancy Pelosi’s vision for a better world – the Waxman-Markey energy bill. I won’t belabor the technicals imbedded in this whopper, but some commentary on the sales job undertaken by our rules-makers needs to be made. Essentially the supporters of this tax bill have positioned the global climate issue as a US generated, man-made problem. We are to take at face value the proposition that imposing significant mandatory CO2 emission cuts on our society alone will begin to solve the alleged global warming problem (let’s just ignore that pesky issue of all that belching smog in the developing world). And, amazingly, this huge imposition on our wealth and lifestyle will actually create jobs!!!... millions and millions of them, by golly.

The fascinating thing here is that seemingly intelligent people make this pitch and seemingly intelligent people (some) actually catch it. Mind-boggling. It’s a wonder that reasonable minds can believe the notion that we can actually tax our way to prosperity. The only (loose) analogy that I can come up with was the New Deal, where government spent because there literally was no alternative. We managed to put food on the table through this transfer program, but I don’t really recall any long term industrial benefit derived. It should be clear that the unilateral imposition of an additional cost/tax burden on our industrial base will make us even less competitive globally. Taxation and increased government intervention is and always will be a job killer.

Beinvenidos, muchas gracias por venir

This is big, really big…for me at least. For you, I worry if you are actually interested in peeking in. Let’s get this show on the road by initiating commentary on the biggest current event out there -- of many actually… no, not Michael Jackson’s early, but not completely surprising, demise – sorry, I still can’t get too worked up, you know, because of the pedophile thing….. no, not Farah or Ed’s sad passing…. no, not even the US losing to Brazil on Sunday (how in the heck did that happen??). It’s the upcoming Tour de France. This is huge. Lance is back after a 3 year absence… eh, retirement. And on the Astana team, absolutely loaded with Contador and Levi. This is going to be great fun to follow and watch. Talk about an interplay of talent, history, egos, sport. Lance is talking the good talk of being a team player and domestique for Alberto, AS LONG AS HE IS THE STRONGEST RIDER. When interviewed, the Spaniard looks p**sed to even have to deal with it. Double L just looks constipated when he has to talk about it. Oh, how enjoyable will it be to watch if the team manager, the great Bruyneel, has to actually make that decision? The course is laid out perfectly as well, starting in Monaco and ending at the massive Ventoux Col. The 20th stage on that hill, after 2000 miles of grueliing racing, is what it’s all about. Can you imagine a close ending here with the likes of Vande Veld, Sastre, Contador, maybe Double L, maybe Lance, running neck-and-neck?? I’m hooked in and ready to roll. This is why I’m back on the bike – love to relate, in my own very modest way, to the drama, the pain, and the glory that goes with this great sporting event. there truly is nothing like it. I suppose a fan needs to have a favorite, so my brain is going with Contador. Just too strong a rider on too strong a team.. My heart though goes with Lance. Would in not be wonderful to see #8?!?