In one of the more hyperbolic segments to air on "Good Morning America," ABC reporter Bianna Golodryga fretted that November's unusually high gas prices could lead to poor health, less church and no Christmas. On Monday's program, Golodryga warned viewers that unnamed "reports" allege that "some people are foregoing routine visits to the doctor and are opting for cheaper foods, like pasta and peanut butter, as opposed to protein, fruits and vegetables, in order that they can save as much money as possible" at the pump.
The ABC reporter also managed to find an extreme example and introduced America to Juan Martinez of Phoenix, Arizona. According to Golodryga, the spike in prices has taken "a toll on the family's relationship with God." It seems as though the Martinez clan is cutting back on religious attendance due to the 40 mile journey trek to their church. (Are there no closer places to worship in the Phoenix area?) Additionally, GMA featured footage of Golodryga shopping with Martinez as she lamented, "...Even holiday gift shopping won't be the same." Apparently, there will be less Christmas presents this year.
Now, gas prices are certainly high for this time of year. (The average price in mid-November 2006 was $2.23.) However, Golodryga has a propensity for over-the-top rhetoric. The extreme nature of Martinez's $538 November gas bill is an example of selecting a worst case scenario. But this kind of dialogue isn't new for Golodryga. In October, the Business and Media Institute noted her odd assertion that slow sweater sales signaled an impending economic crisis.
On Monday, she began the segment in front of a New York City gas station that seemed to be doing reasonable, if somewhat slow, business. The GMA correspondent ominously intoned, "I want you to take a look at this practically empty gas station behind me, shocking because it's usually packed with cars this time of morning." According to Golodryga, this was "another example" of Americans altering their routines in the face of high gas prices. Of course, she seemed to ignore the fact that many Americans had November 12 off in honor of Veterans Day.
The ABC network also helped out in the panic department. A graphic gloomily asked, "Can you Survive $4 a Gallon?" Perhaps in an attempt to conjure up images of bread lines, co-host Diane Sawyer teased the piece by promising to investigate what "your fellow Americans are doing to get by." At that point, another GMA graphic declared that the gas situation is going "from bad to worse."
When gas prices inevitably correct downwards, can viewers expect GMA to report on all the Americans who will be rolling in money, ramping up their church attendance and splurging on gifts?
A transcript of the segment, which aired at 7:11am on November 12, follows:
7am tease
DIANE SAWYER: And gas prices have just gone up 30 cents a gallon in 30 days. The average family now paying $300 a month. What your fellow Americans are doing to get by. [ABC Graphic: From Bad to Worse]
7:11am
CHRIS CUOMO: File this under the category of sad but true. We can expect another new record for November gasoline prices when the government releases the latest numbers this week . Gas prices usually spike in the summer. Take a look at last year's price chart. You can see then they're supposed to go down during the winter months, but not anymore. Look what is happening this year. The national average for regular unleaded is now $3.08 a gallon. An all-time high record is expected for Thanksgiving weekend. Bianna Golodryga is out in New York City with more about this situation. Good morning, Bianna.
ABC GRAPHIC: Gas Prices Soar: Can you Survive $4 a Gallon?
BIANNA GOLODRYGA: Good morning, Chris. I want you to take a look at this practically empty gas station behind me, shocking because it's usually packed with cars this time of morning. It's just another example of how Americans are changing their everyday routine in the face of rapidly rising gas prices. Filling up his minivan cost Juan Martinez a mega-fortune.
JUAN MARTINEZ: This month, I'm tracking $538.
GOLODRYGA: He has the receipts to prove it.
MARTINEZ (ABC GRAPHIC: FED UP BY FUEL PRICES): I just can't believe it's gone from $260 to over $500 a month. It's just doubled.
GOLODRYGA: Skyrocketing gas prices are affecting this Phoenix area father of five across the board. Grocery shopping is scaled back to the basics.
MARTINEZ: You can't just pick up everything the kids want. You know, you got to make sure to cut back on certain things so, you know, it's still affordable and it's within our budget.
GOLODRYGA: Vacations will be short hops and even holiday gift shopping won't be the same.
MARTINEZ: Not get as many presents as they are as accustomed to, as they would like.
GOLODRYGA: It's even taking a toll on the family's relationship with God.
MARTINEZ: Our church is approximately 35, 40 miles away. We've really cut down on the amount of times that we've come in to service since the price has gone up.
GEOFF SUNDSTROM (AAA): These very high gasoline prices are coming at exactly the wrong time for millions of American families. It's a budget-buster and it will change their holiday spending patterns.
GOLODRYGA: In places like San Mateo, California, the price of gas is already well over $4 a gallon. And with the average American family consuming 100 gallons of gas a month, the effects could be staggering.
SUNDSTROM: We'll be seeing a gasoline credit card statement at the end of the month that says $400 a month.
GOLODRYGA: Yet another bill Juan Martinez is terrified to look at. And for some Americans, high gas prices are not only affecting their wallets, they're affecting their health as well. There are reports that some people are foregoing routine visits to the doctor and are opting for cheaper foods, like pasta and peanut butter, as opposed to protein, fruits and vegetables, in order that they can save as much money as possible when they come up to fill up at the gas station. Diane, just a quick note: A few days ago, I was here. The price for regular was $3.17, just four days later, it's at $3.29. So, it is costing a lot.
SAWYER: Woah. Four days later. Thank you, Bianna.
—Scott Whitlock is a news analyst for the Media Research Center.
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Comments Policy
Peanut Butter, the natural
November 12, 2007 - 12:24 ET by Dan The Man 2Peanut Butter, the natural kind, is a good food. And veggies are fairly plentiful and cheap, it is easy to eat pasta-peanut butter-veggies and get by quite well. As far as gas I do 25K miles on my car and that comes to under $200 a month because I drive a car that gets 30 mpg by choice.
Also my kids dont get what they want either. We limit presents to $150 for each kid an ourselves. If the kids want something taht costs more they chip in to cover the difference.
Todays families dont know how to live within their means.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
Generous giving
November 12, 2007 - 12:55 ET by Lame CherryI preface this sir with no intention of insulting your generous giving to your beloved children, but I come from an era who was told every Christmas by my dad that, "All I got was an orange for Christmas".
We grew up with those Christmas eve trees that dad only bought because they were throwing them out and marked down. The entire needles used to shed just setting the thing down. I have never had a 50 dollar gift in my life. Most of our presents were clothes for school.
It is a wonderful gift you give in being generous with your children, but it just made me chuckle wide eyed as if my parents told me today I was getting something over 100 bucks I would think I had been adopted by Bill Gates. lol
Have a blessed day and Merry Christmas. Posted with no offense intended and an apology if it did not come out correct.
PS Existential experience is a valuable knowledge, perhaps sometime you could share about your car as real driver use and problems or non problems help all of us not buying lemons.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
Well we do have inflation -
November 12, 2007 - 13:02 ET by TruthMongerWell we do have inflation - but very nice sentiments, anyway
We will spend about $50 total on our 2 year old for 2 or 3 presents - the grandparents on the other hand...?
LC Christmas is all about
November 12, 2007 - 16:29 ET by Dan The Man 2LC Christmas is all about giving and my kids are 16,18, and 32 so $150 isnt going to buy much. I believe in setting a spending limit and my kids know this and they usually want something they cant afford on their own. So the $220 camera my daughter wanted last Christmas was subsidized by $70 of her own money.
If you have never recieved a bought gift Im sure a made gift far outshone any 150 dollar one. I still have the made gifts from my kids. Its not the price but what went into it.
In 1969 at the age of 12 I was making $150 a month throwing papers. If you really want something then usually you will find a way.
Nuke em til they glow then shoot em in the dark.
I still have, and use,
November 12, 2007 - 16:53 ET by Chaitealovera little blue, fingerprint impressed, catch-all dish my daughter made for me when she was in kindergarten.
Her oldest is at the University of Montana now.
The blue dish sits on my vanity, where it still 'catches all.'
Made gifts keep on giving long after the bought ones are forgotten.
Chai
The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life. Theodore Roosevelt
I agree with the peanut,
November 12, 2007 - 14:56 ET by motherbeltI agree with the peanut, butter, but I gotta tell you, as a fresh fruit and veg lover, it's almost cheaper to buy meat... my big chain supermarket this AM had big oranges for $1.50 each. I asked the produce guy if they had gold nuggets in place of seeds....
Canned fruit and vegetables, along with frozen veg, are still a bargain though.
I also agree with you on the living withn means. Something more of us should be doing.
PS Did Sawyer make some kind of dippy comment about not being able to fill her tank, like the Couric "take out a loan to fill my minivan" line? I just love it when the elites try to sound like the hoi polloi.
And wasn't it the libs MSM
November 12, 2007 - 15:00 ET by dscottAnd wasn't it the libs MSM complaining about the obesity crisis??? So if people eat less, that's a bad thing? I guess Al Gore will just eat more to make up for it. <sarcasm>
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
Does Algore purchase
November 12, 2007 - 16:08 ET by motherbeltDoes Algore purchase "calorie offsets"?
A 10% jump in gas prices
November 12, 2007 - 12:35 ET by Roger the ShrubberA 10% jump in gas prices double's one's monthly gas bill?
Interesting.
10% jump in gas prices
November 12, 2007 - 16:11 ET by billbHow does this jump compare with the jump in college tuition for the past 20 years. Everytime a new tax gimmick appears to "HELP THE CHILDREN" pay for college, tuition goes up in proportion to the gimmick +10%
}}---> Textbooks too
November 12, 2007 - 16:14 ET by Cool ArrowChange a comma placement in "Intro to Psychology" and it's a brand spanking new $400 edition.
Amazing how the MSM all of
November 12, 2007 - 12:39 ET by dscottAmazing how the MSM all of a sudden gives a $%&#$^ about the average person. <sarcasm> Yet these are the same people who complain Bush isn't doing anything about AGW and insist on the Dem plan to raise the gasoline tax by 50 cent a gallon and impose onerous regulations further driving up the cost of energy while not providing enough of it to go around (opposition to nuke and coal electric generation). And I haven't even got to the part about raising taxes for Socialized medicine.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
the Dem plan to raise the
November 12, 2007 - 15:01 ET by motherbeltthe Dem plan to raise the gasoline tax by 50 cent a gallon
It's different, you know, when it's a tax, for crying out loud. People have money for taxes, just not money because gas prices are going up. And that's good, because you know, instead of the money going to "Big Oil", the Congress will spend it and put and end to global warming....yup...right after they fix up the roads and bridges they were supposed to spend the roads and bridges money on...
<sarc off>
canceling church - so is
November 12, 2007 - 12:40 ET by TruthMongercanceling church - so is the MSM saying that high gas prices are a GOOD THING?
}}---> What's the downside
November 12, 2007 - 12:41 ET by Cool ArrowCancelled Dr. visits? Must not have been sick in the first place.
Cancelled Church visits? Are there Liberals who see this as a bad thing?
Higher Gas Prices? Doesn't this translate into lower carbon emissions?
Am I missing something here with this Liberal agenda?
Yeap, it's only bad if they
November 12, 2007 - 12:43 ET by dscottYeap, it's only bad if they didn't initiate it or think of it first. <sarcasm>
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
it's only bad if it makes
November 12, 2007 - 13:03 ET by TruthMongerit's only bad if it makes conservatives look bad...
Higher Gas Prices? Doesn't
November 12, 2007 - 15:14 ET by motherbeltHigher Gas Prices? Doesn't this translate into lower carbon emissions? -Cool Arrow
That's another thing...isn't it always the libs who say that we should be paying $5 a gallon for gas, like they do in Europe?
I guess high gas prices are only a good thing if it's their idea.
And I haven't heard any of them calling for a reduction in the gasoline taxes, even in the short term, to ease up on the poor consumers....
Who Cares
November 12, 2007 - 12:46 ET by tater...about rising gas prices when global warming is going to do us all in </sarcasm>.
Also missing church due to gas prices??? I guess we know where their priorities are.
Do you realize how much it costs to run for office? More than any honest man could afford. -Montgomery Burns
Government Regs make Gas Prices High
November 12, 2007 - 12:47 ET by Lame CherryI would call Newsbusters attention today to the Iowa governor who signed a relief mandate ALLOWING FUEL SUPPLIERS TO WORK LONGER HOURS WHICH WILL ALLOW FOR A REDUCTION OF FUEL PRICES.
Iowa did this same thing this past summer when gas went over 3 bucks a gallon to bring down prices.
If the government would get out business by 1/2 the prices on everything would come down. The only reason gas prices are up is because of all the taxes on fuel, all the regulations on fuel and all the moratoriums on production from drilling, refining to storage.
Add to this MSM of 100 million gallons of gasoline BEING BURNT UP DAILY BY 40 million border busters.......and you soon realize why supply in America is taxed in more ways than one.
*HIC IACET ARTORIVS REX QVONDAM REXQVE FVTVRVS
ALLOWING FUEL SUPPLIERS TO
November 12, 2007 - 12:51 ET by dscottALLOWING FUEL SUPPLIERS TO WORK LONGER HOURS
Whut? What is their thinking on limiting the hours? Is this say a maximum daily 8 hour rule on delivery drivers or something stupid like not delivering gasoline between certain hours?
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
Taxes and fees on gasoline
November 12, 2007 - 13:59 ET by BruzillaTaxes and fees on gasoline and other petroleum-based fuels have remained largely consistent over the past years. Also, the availability, transportation, refining and pumping capacities have all remained constant as well. The reason that gasoline has gone up, without regard to traditional supply/demand issues, is futures trading.
It was bad enough when we had to deal with host countries gettign their profit, then the oil companies, then the refiners, then the oil companies again... now we have to deal with speculators buying up oil futures and driving the price up higher than any supply/demand issue could.
I know folks don't want to hear it, but the fact is that if we took all the profit out of refining and selling gasoline, and treated it like water and electricity, we would be paying about $1.05 for a gallon of gas.
Then we would be looking at
November 12, 2007 - 14:32 ET by dscottThen we would be looking at a shortage since onerous regulations would continue to limit supply with no means to manage demand other than rationing. There are three parts to the problem, limited supply (due to incompetent legislation), rising demand (i.e. population) and fear (Iran).
But I agree with your analysis on the speculators, someone is taking advantage of the situation, but in actuality they are just re-acting, the culprit is Iran instigating fear of war, it is in their interest to force up the price of oil. Take note that every time the price of oil starts down, Adjad, the nutjob starts shooting off his mouth about 3000 centrifuges enriching uranium, if it isn't that, then Iran sponsored Hezbollah is making trouble in Lebanon, etc. Adjad is just pulling a Howard Dean, lot's of frothing at the mouth which distracts from the real issues, the old stealing the wheelbarrow using sawdust trick.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
$1.05 per gallon
November 12, 2007 - 14:39 ET by ScrapironOld, Retired and glad of it.
And you can back that up with what truth??? No need for you to go to church. You learned to lie early and are still at it. I'm still hoping for $5 a gallon gas to see what the 'American' people will do. They all know there is no shortage, just a blockage of development (oil,gas,nuclear)by the democrats. We say Enviro whacko's but we know it's the main stream democrats that back it. They can't get their communism passed without destroying freedom first.
When you look at the price
November 12, 2007 - 15:30 ET by BruzillaWhen you look at the price of gasoline in stable countries that have state-controlled gas distribution, gas prices are at about .75 to $1.10 a gallon. The low-end of .75 is in Venezuela, where the cost is partially subsidized. The higher end is in Saudi Arabia where gas is sold absent any moderating retail operations (our convenience stores for example). What I would like to see is for fuels to be treated just like water and electricity, and have price AND supply regulated (in the 70's we only regulated price, which was a total failure). Then we could lease out the secondary retail operations to vendors, and have those monies used to further offset cost to get us down to the $1/gallon range.
As for the supposed "blockage of development", when was the last time you saw oil and energy companies launch a million dollar ad campaign to call on voters to call their elected officials and demand more refineries or more oil exploration? So you don't waste your time... it's never happened. Now, when was the last time these companies launched a million dollar ad campaign to call on voters to call elected officials and demand that no new taxes or price regulations be put into place? That would be just last year. Oil/energy companies have never had any problem getting their way regardless of who was blocking them, so if things like more refineries or oil resources are being blocked, it's because these companies want that to happen.
Last time I checked all the
November 12, 2007 - 15:52 ET by dscottLast time I checked all the ME countries subidize their gasoline sales to the public, even Saudi. Additionally, they have no need to tax their fuel, they get their income/revenue from selling to us. Let's not also forget, they have the capacity to refine their oil for domestic use and hence don't have to add the price of transportation across the oceans, so that's 3 things that greatly affect the price of gasoline, you are comparing apples to oranges.
Don't think for one minute there hasn't been lobbying going on in the background, but the fact of the matter is there are more greenies who vote than there are oil people who vote and the greens message has been very slickly crafted on the emotional level with little regard for the facts. In the end he who has the votes get their way, and both sides are monied interests. You will have to talk to the Dems why they sacrificed oil production and refinery capacity for votes, because it doesn't make sense other than on an emotional level.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. dscott's corollary: The line between malice and stupidity is called depraved indifference.
Rising gas prices should
November 12, 2007 - 12:50 ET by DaMavRising gas prices should certainly be an issue in 2008, over the top reporters aside.
http://www.damaveric...
No Christmas, No gas, No nothin'
November 12, 2007 - 12:51 ET by merlin61Boy oh boy, the msm just can't wait till we
really have a recession or depression. They are
pushing it every day just because they don't want
to believe the economy is so good, and because
they hate George Bush so much and want to
prove he's a failure to them. Lets all just crawl
in a hole and cry!!!!
Cherry Picked
November 12, 2007 - 12:59 ET by deerjerkydaveYes, cherry picked anecdotal evidence is very convincing ABC. Actually, there are probably a lot of publicly educated liberal cool aid drinkers out there who soak this up like it is the gospel truth.
High gas prices exist because voters vote for politicians who think that it is impossible to acquire energy without killing the planet. I always enjoy watching voters in blue states complain at the pump. This is the bed they made, time to lay in it!
The Republican party is failing right now. This is a perfect chance to call for oil exploration that can be done in a way that will not hurt the environment. I hope that technologies in the future will be able to replace oil energy, but until a viable alternative is found, oil is going to power our cars and homes for many more years to come. Wake up Americans! Put down the cool aid for a minute, it's time to exit Disney Land and step into the real world logic, reason, and common sense.
Here! Here!
November 12, 2007 - 13:39 ET by Tom in NCThe only way we are ever going to get out from under the shadow of depending on middle eastern oil is to open up ANWR to drilling and explore for oil off of our coasts, the oil is there for our taking. We also need more refineries and nuclear power plants. It's time to tell the liberals and the nut job environmentalists to take their alarmist attitudes and their junk science and stick them in their rectal cavities. It's time we started looking to ourselves for our energy needs.
It's not Liberals who are
November 12, 2007 - 14:01 ET by BruzillaIt's not Liberals who are blocking ANWR and building refineries... it's the oil producers and refiners. They have no interest in increasing the supllies of either crude or refined products, so they're just going to sit back, relax, and do nothing.
Give me a break
November 12, 2007 - 15:40 ET by Tom in NCSo you are telling me that the oil companies in this country would rather pay all the import tariffs, and additional shipping costs associated with bringing middle eastern oil from halfway across the world rather than drill it here and refine it here and keep more profits. I'm sorry but you sound delusional.
Thats like saying a cattle rancher won't sell his cattle on the market because he wants to use their manure to keep his lawn green
gas prices
November 12, 2007 - 13:18 ET by conantI quit going to church when gas was at 27 cents per gallon. Guess that makes me a trendsetter.
Mass-media playing ignorant about world gas prices
November 12, 2007 - 13:29 ET by PlaceboConant: ironically, me too! All I have to say is the mass-media is, outright, ignorant – oil prices are not so bad here, when comparing them to UK or the Euro-continent. Besides, I see more SUV’s and other guzzlers on the highways and streets than not; most are, likely, driven by those believing it is “conservatives” causing them to pay big bucks at the pump. The media has a very shot worldview; they cannot or dare not see beyond the end of their noses. It will be interesting when, god help us, the lowlife Democrats take over. Who will they place the blame upon, then? Undoubtedly George W, as he will be held culpable for the US’s and world ills for a decade or three after this tenure.
Too funny
November 12, 2007 - 13:28 ET by September$3.08 a gallon.
Oh, I wish! I haven't seen it that low in months.
I remember paying $3.95 for a time this summer. Was anybody interviewing me about my 30-mile commute?
And for some Americans, high gas prices are not only affecting their wallets, they're affecting their health as well.
What affects my health the most is listening to the doom and gloom of the MSM. CBS radio just did a pessimistic report on gas prices and on holiday travel being "the worst" in years. I turned it off.
The price for regular was $3.17, just four days later, it's at $3.29. So, it is costing a lot.
SAWYER: Woah. Four days later. Thank you, Bianna.
That is not unusual. Where does Sawyer live?
GOLODRYGA: It's even taking a toll on the family's relationship with God.
Does that sound like a comment on the family's shallow relationship with God or is it just me?
MARTINEZ: Our church is approximately 35, 40 miles away. We've
really cut down on the amount of times that we've come in to service
since the price has gone up.
What's more important, God or cable/dish/whatever expensive TV?
I'll give GOLODRYGA credit for bringing the whine out of the populace.
"The price for regular was
November 12, 2007 - 14:02 ET by mikej"The price for regular was $3.17, just four days later, it's at $3.29. So, it is costing a lot."
Let's see, my minivan holds about 25 gallons, so the difference between 3.17 and 3.29 for me to fill up is $3 dollars.
Which comes out to $12/month.
So $12/month is bankrupting people? I would like to know if Mr Martinez eats out alot or buys cokes or candy from the vending machines at work.
Things won't be bad......
November 12, 2007 - 13:49 ET by Prester John........until we start seeing piles of cell phones, PDAs and cable boxes in the streets.
Then maybe I'll believe that people are hurting.
"...some people are ...
November 12, 2007 - 14:11 ET by MikeB"...some people are ... opting for cheaper foods..." Well, duh! This so-called reporter needs to take a course in micro-economics. When the price of beef goes up, the demand goes down for beef and up for chicken and pork. When the price for chicken and pork go up, the demand for beef goes up. People nearly always buy whatever is cheapest that also meets their needs.
"...some people are foregoing routine visits to the doctor..." So what? Not everyone feels the need for an annual physical and, in fact, get along quite well without one.
As for "record prices" for gasoline, are they truly record prices? Yes, you might be forking over more pieces of green paper for that gas than before, but how much time are you working for that gallon of gas? In other words, in real terms, is the price of gasoline truly at record levels?
"A communist is someone who reads Marx. An anti-communist is someone who understands Marx." Ronald Reagan
People are driving less and
November 12, 2007 - 14:36 ET by MidAmericaPeople are driving less and eating less meat?
Wow! Just like that, we've cut our greenhouse gas emissions. Problem solved. Nothing more to see here . Time to move along.
yup
November 12, 2007 - 14:51 ET by CatherwoodI agree with that idea. I find myself going fewer places than used to. It's not that I can't afford the gas either. I just hate paying such outrageous prices. My wife and I skipped a trip to see the children this week in a college town five hours away. We wanted to go but didn't because of gas. Today we wanted to go out and eat at Outback which about 40 miles away. We skipped that too. As far as shopping goes, say for Christmas, we've already decided not to make the drive to a nearby town with all the stores we like. Because we live so far out in the country we've decided to buy online what we essentially need and skip the frivolties. If I'm any measure there will be less bought and less shopping done this Christmas. Hell with it. Exxon can kiss my *&^%$^%&*.
My situation...
November 12, 2007 - 14:59 ET by tater...as far as gas is pretty good. I understand a lot of people can't do this but I live around a mile from work and all the stuff I need is within 5-10 miles. I fill up my tank twice a month if I don't go anywhere other than work or town. I figured I spend 80 bucks on gas a month (but I have a low paying job so it really helps to be in this situation.)
Do you realize how much it costs to run for office? More than any honest man could afford. -Montgomery Burns
Hey, where's all this
November 12, 2007 - 14:58 ET by MightyMouthHey, where's all this freakin Oil we keep going to war for? </sarc>
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
}}---> I know MM
November 12, 2007 - 15:05 ET by Cool ArrowIt's off the coast of Florida except we've ceded it to the Chinese who are much better stewards of our resources than we are.
Form over substance every time.
Man those Chinese got some
November 12, 2007 - 15:12 ET by MightyMouthMan those Chinese got some long drill bits!! :-)
"There are two types of people in this country; those who provide freedom and those who enjoy it." MM says...
}}---> Long (naughty) drill bits
November 12, 2007 - 15:15 ET by Cool ArrowIt's a joint effort with the Cubans.
The Sky Is Falling Redux
November 12, 2007 - 16:18 ET by Free StinkerMSM Strategy Sessions throughout 2007
Let's criticise the GOP for corruption. Oops. More corrupt Demoncrats than Republicans . . . let's bring up the "falling" stock market . . .
Oops. Even "dropping" to 13,000 it's still very high, let's criticise the surge in Iraq . . .
Oops. The surge is working so let's move on to the bad economy . . .
Oops. Economy is growing . . . let's move on to rising gas prices . . .
Well, winter is coming, that
November 12, 2007 - 17:35 ET by Roger the ShrubberWell, winter is coming, that means "Accu-Stormcenter Watch 7" will be ready to drive the old yinzers in Pittsburgh into a frenzy to flood the local Giant Eagles to stock up on toilet paper, bread, and milk because, gasp, it might flurry tonight!
um, wondering where this family goes
November 12, 2007 - 17:01 ET by gordonSo, just for argument's sake, say they're paying 3 bucks a gallon. Divide that into 538 bucks and you get 179 gallons. Say their car gets an average of 20 miles per gallon. Thats 3,580 miles in one month or 119 miles a day. Kinda makes you wonder where the heck they're going every day, doesn't it?
"...some people are
November 12, 2007 - 20:39 ET by stratman"...some people are foregoing routine visits to the doctor and are opting for cheaper foods, like pasta and peanut butter, as opposed to protein, fruits and vegetables..."
This woman and those that proofread her copy are propagandists or morons or both.
Peanut butter has:
protein (just like meat and fish)
fiber (just like fruits and vegetables)
sugar (just like fruits)
fat (required in any healthy diet and found in meat, vegetables and even fruit like avocado)
vitamins and minerals (B3, E, magnesium, folate - aka B9, arginine, and an antioxidant p-coumaric acid)
Peanuts are a true powerhouse food when eaten in proper proportion.
Maybe this Liberal reporter has forgotten (or never learned) about George Washington Carver who promoted the use of peanuts as a staple food (amongst other things) for the poor and as a product for the poor to grow and sell for profit to raise their economic plight. Peanuts became an important crop in the South and helped a number of poor black subsistence farmers through the oppressive Democrat-supported Jim Crow era.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, ABC.
Killing them with kindness isn't working. Time to get scrappy with the Donkeys.